NOVEL NEXT Chapter 96: Chapter 96
Entering the High Council Chamber, the Jedi Masters present stopped their ongoing conversation and turned to look at us. Looking at my fiancées and I warily, they all appeared a bit unnerved by what happened just a few minutes ago. Stepping in to explain everything to them, Anakin gave them a full report on our surprise run in with Palpatine.
"While I thank you for trying to help us locate Palpatine's cloned bodies, we would appreciate it if you did not antagonize him unnecessarily in the future.", Windu said, with a smirk, "That said, I would have loved to see the look on his face when you punched right through his mental defenses. His ego must be in tatters right now!"
"Before we get into the reason for your visit today. Can I please have a look at the lightsabers you found on your world?", Koth inquired, staring at the three devices affixed to my hip, "I want to try and confirm who their previous owners were, if possible."
"That is fine with me.", I agreed, tossing him all three lightsabers.
Pulling out his tablet computer, Koth began to take apart the devices looking for manufacturer stamps and serials numbers. Using the detailed records of his predecessors, the Jedi Master was hopeful he could put this mystery to bed once and for all. Leaving him to do his thing, we returned to our initial conversation.
"As soon as you get any information on the whereabouts of Palpatine's clones, please let us know. The sooner we cut the head off that snake, the better off the universe will be for all of us.", Windu commented, "Now then, Master Tiin, I believe we agreed you would work with him on building his lightsaber. Would you please explain the process?"
"Typically to build a lightsaber, a Youngling must challenge the Crystal Cave on the planet Ilum to find their kyber crystal. Since you are not joining the Order, you will not be required to participate in the trial, but we highly recommend it. While it is technically true that any kyber crystal will work, the kyber crystal that has chosen you will perform better than one who has not.", Tiin explained.
"Hmm…I was hoping to make a lightsaber from a Dragite gem, Ghostfire Crystal, Krayt Dragon Pearl, or a Zophis Crystal.", I stated, looking him in the eyes, "Is there a way to determine which kyber crystal will work best for me? Ideally, I would want to make one of each, but I understand that would be asking too much."
"You…you are rather well informed for someone who is not a member of the Jedi Order. How did you come by this information, if you do not mind me asking.", Tiin requested, with a nervous expression.
"I have a rather large intelligence network that brings me many interesting tidbits of information from around the cosmos. A rather drunken Jedi Knight, he spilled the beans after one too many drinks at a tavern.", I chuckled, keeping things vague as possible, 'Like I would ever tell them I have knowledge from a previous life and a data tap into the HoloNet. Even though someone else will take the fall for this, somethings are left better unsaid.'
Nodding their heads with pride, Mylene and Roxanne were pleased with my response while the Jedi Masters looked devastated. While I had not named anyone specifically, judging by how they glanced at one another, they already had someone in mind. Hoping my lie would not enact strict regulations on alcohol consumption, I felt they already had it hard enough as peacekeeping was not an easy job.
"Thank you for alerting us to this, we will address the matter internally so more sensitive information does not get out.", Tiin sighed, "As for helping narrow your search down, I suggest meditating on it. Sometimes the Force will reveal things to those who need guidance."
Having regularly meditated daily since I awoke my Force Powers, I had never actually connected directly to the Force before. Out of an abundance of caution for our homeworld's safety, my meditation had only ever been to compound and compress the energy I held within. Since we were not on our world right now, today was a good day to see what sort of connection I had to the Force. Taking a seat by the large, bay window, I began to control my breathing and shutout the world around me.
Feeling a tingling sensation at the base of my skull almost immediately, I felt myself suddenly enveloped by a torrent of energy. Allowing myself to meld into the flow, instead of fighting back, the raging surge soon gave way to a serene calmness. Watching a flood of images from my presumed future, I witnessed a bright future with my wives and children. Seeing many happy memories that were yet to be made, I truly wished I could just put all this bullshit behind me and pursue that wonderful life now. Knowing that it meant abandoning everyone we knew to fend for themselves, there was no way my wives would enjoy themselves if they knew people we cared about were suffering.
'Still though, seeing this makes me want to redouble my efforts to make this a reality.', I thought, seeing the gleaming smiles upon my family's faces, 'This is a future truly worth fighting for.'
Refocusing myself on the kyber crystal I was supposed to seek out, the Force showed me the Ewok's homeworld, Endor. Presenting me with two dazzling gemstones, one gold and the other purple, I assumed they represented the light and dark sides of the Force. Believing they suited me perfectly, as I walked the fine line between the light and darkness, I thanked whatever was guiding me before slowly pulling myself out.
"Phew, talk about quite a rush. I got the answer I was seeking.", I said, slowly opening my eyes, "I must go to Endor's Moon to get my two kyber crystals. Is something wrong?"
Staring at me with the color drained from their faces, everyone had moved to the other side of the room for some reason. Unsure if something happened, I looked behind me to see if the city was ablaze.
"Uh, did I miss something?", I asked, seeing nothing amiss in the city below.
"What exactly did you just do?", Windu inquired, with a serious expression.
"I closed my eyes, allowed myself to sink into the ambient Force around us, and sought the answer I was looking for. While I got my answer, I also got to see something that I would like to keep to myself as it is rather personal to me.", I chuckled, looking at Mylene and Roxanne, "Did I do something wrong?"
"Radiated both light and darkness of the Force you did. A conduit of Force Energy you became.", Yoda stated, with a curious look, "A unrivaled Force user you are. Continue to train you must."
(AN: I am doing my best with Yoda speech. My apologies, I know it is bad.)
Nodding their heads in agreement, the Jedi seemed convinced now that I was in perfect sync with both sides of the Force. Thanking Yoda for his kind words, I promised to continue honing and refining myself as complacency led to laziness. Finding my words very reassuring, he turned to Koth to give me the results of his investigation.
"I was unable to confirm the original owners of the two Jedi Lightsabers, but I am certain they are some of the first lightsabers our Order ever fielded. They did not keep such records back then so we may never know who made them originally, but some of the parts date back eight thousand years suggesting it has passed through many hands over the years.", Koth explained, "As for the Sith Lightsaber, it is indeed Darth Bane's personal lightsaber."
"I assume you would like to keep all three?", I asked, fairly certain where this was going.
"If possible, yes. We would prefer to keep dangerous Sith Artifacts under lock and key as not everyone is as gifted as you, and the Jedi Artifacts would make wonderful additions to our museum.", Koth said, with a hopeful smile, "You mentions getting two kyber crystals from Endor's moon. If you are willing to hand these three over, I think we can accommodate you by allowing you to make two lightsabers with the crystals."
"Of course, that is fine.", Windu agreed.
"I will agree to your terms, if you allow me the privilege of reclaiming and keeping the Darksaber.", I countered, "My intelligence network located the artifact sometime ago, but I have yet to go collect it. A man named Pre Vizsla currently possesses."
"Reclaim and use the Darksaber you can.", Yoda accepted, "A good wielder the Darksaber needs."
"If the Grandmaster of the Order says it is okay, it is fine with the rest of us.", Windu acknowledged, "Anakin and Ahsoka, since he is going to Concordia both of you tag along with him. We have reports of potential Sith activity on the moon, check things out and report back with your findings."
Excited to go out on an exciting mission, the Jedi nodded their heads and immediately went to pack. Thanking the Jedi Council for their time, my fiancées and I waited for Anakin and Ahsoka by the entrance to the tower before heading back to the Endless Horizons. Having Horizon chart us a course to Endor, we quickly got under way to our next adventure.