Airus and Codari were bringing the ship in for a landing, The Blind Luck was here to assist the researchers and archaeologists at the request of the Jedi Order. Kanis was on the ramp already as they touched down. He wanted off this ship, to wander and roam; a Mandalorian needed something to fight... And the beasts of Yavin four were new and yet unrestrained by his blades and blasters. The two nerds would be talking with the research staff and he could explore with Sparks. “Come on, you bucket of parts. Let’s get out here and find some trouble.”

Meanwhile Varina was exuberant as she dressed in her old clone wars armor over her robes. Gripping her saber staff as she twirled it happily, heading to speak with Morgi her mind roaming through thoughts of meditation and art yet unseen. The fabled city of the Jedi and more supposedly here on Yavin, certainly something she’d have to look into but for now she’d worry about Mor’gann, curious if she’d managed to meditate on the crystals enough to empower them yet. It was after her first order of business and it had been a couple of days since then, Varina had seen many younglings do it in a day or less, though she had more crystals than most.

Mor’gann for her part was perched in the shadows of the ship’s hangar bay—the darkest part, out of sight- or at least physical sight. The old habits of keeping to herself had hardly been broken over two weeks after a lifetime thus far of them keeping her alive. The crystals were walking across her fingers absently as she gazed into the in-between looking across the bay, noting what she saw and dismissing it. The angry boy, Kanis, was leaving with some strange droid as if it would be of aid. Droids on this ship appeared to have their uses but offship? The Dxun native was hardly sure. Sensing the approach of danger, she flicked her eyes towards the entrance and Varina. The woman was someone she had taken particular care to avoid. Now she was here and looking about, most likely for her as the other two- the blind miraluka- would not have needed such. “Require I, for what you wish-?” The Basic structural form still slipped her tongue from time to time. Though she paused the crystals walking across her fingers to slip them all into a single palm.

“The temple here... Is a powerful place to meditate. A vergence of energy, this temple is built upon it. The inner sanctum would be a great place to meditate and finish our saber... And if you want Airus to turn you to explore a new planet unattended you will need your new weapon. Unlike him you can’t make any stick into something that can defeat an Inquisitor.” She smirked, the red head gave a signature smirk looking at the woman. “Besides... First time on a new planet... Are you ready to see the moon where Jedi resist the Sith time and time again?” She spoke tugging on a belt of goodies and supplies... Or rather listen to the nerds argue about translations of ancient words and riddles?” Varina asked seriously, giving her a choice of who to go with. “Who knows we may find an ancient Sith Battle Hydra!” She spoke as if it was nothing to fear.

Watching the woman as she uncoiled from her seat with the slowness that belied the speed of which she could strike, Mor’gann only understood a handful of words that did not make… “Inquisitors-? Sith Battle Hydra-?” Though she felt a slight familiarity, perhaps something heard in conversation while she had foolishly dwelt on another matter. Yet the rest… “Fought with only sticks, stones, strikes and metal on Dxun.” She recalled with dry reality. “Killed many, I did as well.” Stowing the crystals into a pocket within her tunic, she eyed the jungle. Still she trailed in Varina’s wake keeping a healthy distance- out of arms’ reach- from the woman. A ship between them was better but that option was not available.

“Inquisitor. Jedi Hunter’s specialists in hunting and killing force users like us. Airus faced down three of them alone after his wife died. Along with many of the traitor clans of Mandalore.” The Artisan turned, stepping out into the sunlight Varina’s armor was dozens of different colors, a splattered rainbow of colors over a simple brown robe as she spun in the light of the temple. The Great Temple was huge, big enough to dwarf the Cruiser they had arrived in as people moved about it Varina pointed to the symbol on her shoulder, a saber ignited with a star shining from its hilt flanked by wings. The symbol of the Jedi Order, of freedom and hope.

“As for the Battle Hydra’s... Think of the biggest nastiest dragon... Give it a dozen heads, bigger, and eat people who use the force... Also biologically immortal!” She chirped cheerily skipping ahead of Mor’gann. “But don’t worry... I’ve faced worse. You get that saber built, I'll tell you about the battle of Ryloth sometime.”

The woman pulled the hood of her robe up and let it rest low over her gaze. She looked at woman as she twirled about ridiculously. “Terrifying.” Her tone was icy as her yellow gaze scanned back and forth. The crowds of people were unnerving after two weeks and a lifetime avoiding them. Her steps hurried as Mor’gann wished she knew the destination if only to tow this crazed woman after her and get there faster and away from the crowds. Hydras would be easy compared to this. “This is worse.” She muttered in her native tongue.

“Relax. Place is built for thousands... And they have a hundred at best... You’ll have entire sections of the building you can pout in darkness from.” As they entered the main building seemed to have been refitted and changed into a military base of sorts. As Varina walked her towards the upper levels, a strange new sensation wrapped over her as they moved towards the vergence at the center of the temple.

Soon the sight of others vanished as they reached a chamber that had little change. “Ah, one of the meditation rooms.” Varina spoke, her voice soft, losing all the friendly cheer now sweet almost harmonic. “Ashla is here...” She spoke touching the walls, entering the room her mind swelled a moment she had to force herself to breath as the feeling of energy washed over her. “The reason these temples were built was to suppress the darkness of the planet with the energy of Ashla...” She explained as she took a seat coiling her legs to sit upon them. 

“What do you know of Ashla and Bogan? The light and the dark as some call them?” Varina gestured for her to sit, the serenity and peace of the room would make it a good place to meditate and teach the story of the two.

The woman trailed off the flowery creature, feeling that change herself she mistaken Varina as talking of a woman, not about some… What? The Force itself? It seemed particularly idiotic to separate and divide what simply was? “Those names…? Unknown.” She was examining this odd peace she felt. A life spent fighting? She found this alien and strange. “What is this warmth-?” She spoke in her native tongue. Wondering at it as she considered what it was as she settled in a meditative seat.

“This. This is what the Jedi draw strength from... From a love for all people, compassion in all things, kindness, and hope. Ashla is the side of the force that embodies this, compassion and strength of character. Where you come from Bogan, the darkness, the will to grow and dominate at the expense of all others. Jedi follow the Ashla, the Sith follow the Bogan. Varina spoke as she paused for a moment. “We struggle and argue over many things but there is a simple truth to each side. Those who choose light must be unflinching and resolute in the face of destruction, those who choose Dark choose to live no matter the pain or torment. I see it in the art works and murals Sith and Jedi paint, the art tells the soul of it’s maker.”

The woman had a considering look in her yellow eyes. There was some sense in it though all of it she could not grasp. Words seemed as an interruption and she considered the agony of her existence and the recent change. She had done what was needed and would again. Perhaps it made things different but she could not see the point in not flinching in the face of death. Death came and you fought and flinched at the same time. Surely she had done both.

“Now. I have not brought you here to show you the light and make a statement on what is wrong and right. We all do as we must... Your path is your own. However, I can only teach what I know and this place is as close to the old temples as we will get for months.” She shut her eyes and spoke now as her saber left her hip and floated up suddenly bursting into pieces, intricately floating around her. “You have meditated on your crystals... Focused your will and your purpose into each.” Varina’s mind flicked through parts and pieces of the blade as a bag floated out and suddenly the pieces she had gifted Mor’gann to build a saber were revealed.

“The Jedi have a right of passage.” The wall behind them moved and the chamber sealed as they sat alone. Varina focused her mind as each part clicked back together showing Mor’gann the pattern of assembly and disassembly. “Using the force you will build that saber... Should you fail... Well... That door does not open until we succeed dear girl. So let’s not think of that.” She spoke. “You can watch as I pull it apart and rebuild it as many times as you need. All your parts are here, I sourced as many as I could be like those of your home world... Only thing I may not do is build your saber for you. Ask anything of me... I am here to educate you.” She explained as to the real purpose of this trip, a place of silence and compilation where she could focus on this task alone and Varina could see into her actions when confronted with a task she must achieve.

Hearing the wall click behind her Mor’gann’s gaze snapped to sharper focus, the icy chill freezing her wonderment and setting it aside as she came attention to the matter at hand. Those moments of wandering thoughts were well enough, and this was hardly the first time that she had been sealed within a chamber until a task was done. Usually it was not something so bloodless. Closing her eyes once more, she let her knowing of those parts, the crystals adapt to this strange warmth. They were to be a tool and one that would strike and do as was needed. It could not be weak. It could not waver nor more could she. The red crystals glittered as the shell about them shifted and twisted, the parts faltering and sometimes clattering to the floor as one was forgotten or her attention shifted to some minute detail that was a potential flaw. Yet the four crystals remained in constant motion. 

Minutes, hours ticked back. Thirst and hunger were not unknown to Mor’gann but her body had become accustomed to her needs being met. The slight pangs were complains that were fresh wounds even if she set them aside. Questions came, softly spoken and only when every piece had been tried and twisted and everything short of forced into what she desired. They were more mechanical questions. How did the hilts join, how did the one part effect another in material or what not. Emotion was erased from her rough Basic as sweat beaded across her brow. Setting the last piece in, she considered the structure of the saber and then sent the pieces breaking apart, not in destruction but separating. Dismissed for a flaw that weakened the join between the handles. “Why did you bring materials like Dxun-?” It was spoken in her native tongue as she slipped into it.

“Because... Your home is close to your heart. Same as Coruscant is to me and my brother... Materials of your saber are a reflection of you. The leather it is wrapped in is from Maalraas... The metals from pieces of sabers I found when we explored the lands there for the ancient Jedi beast hunters and long dead Sith. As you grow and change you will forge new weapons... I’ve built dozens of sabers in my life, it is my craft of choice. Because it is an extension of you the saber is a weapon without equal... But you must know yourself first.” Varina paused for a moment tilting her head as she reached forward, touching Mor’gann’s hand... Letting her energy leave her and flow into the young woman. Her thoughts shifted to her own for a moment she slowly pulled back. Letting her enjoy the new energy as tiredness and hunger left her. “A Jedi skill... A way to nourish the body without food, water, or sleep... One we got very good at in the days after the Order fell.”

“It was unnecessary. They could be ignored until I had the time to deal with them.” Mor’gann stated simply, bring the two sabers together again. Adjusting minute details between the joining when they would become a staff. “You give away what you may need later. It is a liability.” Nevermind she had done the same in the past though in more physical ways. “I know myself. Even if my self is not as I would have it be. There are flaws I should have discarded for all they are counted not as such among you.” Strange folk that they were. Hesitating she examined the saber, not confident in that it was complete yet. Not perfected.

“Kindness is never unnecessary. You forget... Should you not complete it I remain with you. It is a test of faith for the teacher as much as a test for the student... I have heard the tales of master’s who died waiting for their Padawan to return with a finished blade.” She added the importance of the test. “You know how it fits. Yet you hesitate... Why? What do you seek to improve with your saber?”

Mor’gann heard the criticism and her lips thinned. “There are flaws. They must be fixed.” It was as simple as that was it not? The fact they were minute and being the first saber she was making seemed not to matter to Mor’gann.

“No. You can’t fix every flaw... Nor should you. It is the confidence to live with those flaws to trust implicitly in something that is flawed... As we all are. From the greatest Jedi to the humblest farmer to the richest baron. Our flaws shape us like any other trait. We must embrace them.” Varina spoke. Her mind wandered a moment back to her own first saber... How she’d thrown it against the wall so many times in rage. How she had cried and begged to try again with new parts... How many years did it take before she understood that getting it wrong was a step on the path to getting it right. “This is art... Not science or skill.”

There was a silence then the saber clicked together. Finally fitting together. If she had to accept this flaw- for a time- she could and would. Though it would be fixed, at some point. Either a flaw to improve upon or one to explore into some use to her. “So be it.”

Varina smiled, her voice filled the room it seemed but her mouth did not move. She recited the mantra her master had when she was taught to construct her first saber. “The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined. The crystal, the blade, the Jedi.” She spoke, opening her eyes to rest on Mor’gann proudly smiling upon her as blade turned on for the first time.


“You are one.”