A Final Prophecy

[Trenton Vinh]

The Jedi Council Chambers were dimly lit by the dying light of Coruscant's distant sun, Coruscant Prime. The horizon line seemed to bisect the sun in half, and the towering skyscrapers of the city appeared as blades, skewering the sun from the bowels of the planet.

Of the dozen chairs normally occupied by the Jedi Council, only three were filled. So weakened and defeated the Jedi were, that their Council had dwinded to a mere trio of Masters with the wisdom and will to guide their falling Order.

They all felt it, but would not admit it; The Jedi Order was crumbling.

It was only a matter of time.

Jedi Master Soro Willns, a female barabel, stared at Jedi Master Gani Torre with a reptilian gaze, and said, "This one does not believe that The Jedi Order should tuck its tail between its legs and flee."

Gani Torre nodded slowly, "I understand your qualms with this decision, and I agree with you in some aspects. However, we cannot make ourselves a larger target. The Galaxy is aware that we are weak, and we are only becoming weaker as the Senate grows angrier. After Lance Henrikson's assassination..." He paused, not bothering to elaborate; All the Jedi in the room knew about the rogue Jedi who had murdered the Senator, "I think its time we stepped back and focused our thoughts inwards. We've been spread too thin for far too long. We risk being ousted by the government entirely, and I do not wish for the Jedi to be outlawed again. There hasn't been this much hatred towards the Jedi since the Great Purge, 150 years ago."

Soro turned her gaze to Jedi Master Vahara Ghand, and stated, "We should show our rezzolution to the Galaxy. The Jedi do not fear, and we must not allow ourselves to fear being exterminated. Whether or not the Senate wants us, we will not abandon the Republic in its times of need."

Vahara Ghand, stressed and tired, furrowed her brows, causing the lines that creased her stern face to grow deeper. Her gray hair was hanging loose about her shoulders. She replied, "Master Willns, The Jedi will never be exterminated. And we will not abandon the Republic. We will merely return to our roots, return to Ossus. There is a Temple there ready for us, we will be moving the students in the next week. The problems we have with the Senate will decease as we are absent. We will still watch and aid the Republic, just from a seat further to the back of the theater. We will keep ourselves away from the spotlight of center stage."

Gani Torre, human Jedi Master, his skin dark and head shaven clean, said in his deep baritone, "It is best for us all. I do not like it, and no Jedi would be. The will of the Force will be revealed to us all in time. We need to rebuild our numbers, regrow our roots, and make some changes to our Order. It is said that one can only help others once they learn how to help themselves."

The barabel responded with a slight hiss of resignation, and resplied, "This one's people have a saying, 'The hunt must not be halted just because the pack has grown weary.'"

By now, the very top of the distant sun had dropped below the towers of Coruscant, bathing the Council Chambers in a deep red glow.

Gani Torre could not deny the fact that he felt like the Jedi had lost its touch and influence within the Republic. The bath of red light filling the chamber made it seem like the Jedi Order was bleeding internally. The thought was closer to reality than he cared to admit.

The three Jedi Masters sat in silence for some time, lost in their own thoughts.

As darkness descended fully upon the room, none bothered to move to illuminate the room.
Vahara had entered a light Meditation, searching The Force for answers, for guidance. She found none, finding merely clouds of doubt and darkness. She felt that the future was just this, cloudy, murky, and filled with darkness.


Suddenly, the trio were bathed in blueish-white light as the holographic emittors in the ceiling crackled to life. All three raised their heads, jerked from their thoughts by the unexpected transmission.
"So uncertain, our future is." A voice said, as the projection in the center of the room crackled to life.
As the image cleared up, the being who had spoken was revealed. His dimensions, startlingly small, were not shrunk by his holographic representation. In fact, the one who spoke was a mere 67 centimeters tall.
His eyes were large and expressive, almost to the point of seeming oversized for his cranium, which itself was lined with deep wrinkles. The creatures face, even when filtered through the holographic image, was one that held great wisdom. Its ears stuck straight out of either side of its head, and they were long and curved upwards slightly. The creature held a small cane fashioned of an unknown wood, and it had spirals and symbols along it.
Although the hologram made the Jedi appear blue, all the Jedi knew his skin to be a pale green.
"Darkness, fills The Force. Difficult to see, it is, this murkiness is of such depth. But penetrated, the muck can be, by those with the discipline to do so."

The Jedi Masters looked on in awe. They didn't bother replying, somehow they all knew that this was a recorded message that had been sent, the communication was not streaming live.

"In grave danger, The Jedi Order is. Believe them beaten, however, I do not. Old am I, but not foolishly so."

The Jedi Master that had sent the transmission, was known only by the enigmatic name of Harrald. He had been a part of the Jedi Order for over a century, but then left for unknown reasons. Some of the Jedi had believed it was because Harrald thought the Order had lost its way. Others believed it was purely because Harrald was a tired, old Jedi, who wanted time to study The Force without the distractions the Order caused. Harrald was deeply respected, most known for his legendary precognitive powers.
Gani leaned forward in his chair and rested his arm upon his knee, and his chin upon his palm, listening and watching the ancient Jedi Master intently.

"Little time left, I have. Yet one final lesson, I have. Request that a Jedi come to my final home, I do. On the planet Sarcophagus, I await. Few final words, I have, but the most important I have ever spoken, they are. May The Force Be With You All."

Harrald's hologram dissipated into nothingness, and the light in the room was once again smothered by darkness.

Everything was silent for a short time, until Soro Willns said, "I believed Harrald to be long dead."
Vahara nodded her agreement, and said, "He must be nearly a thousand years old by now...his species can be noted to have a long lifespan, although he is the only of his kind I have ever encountered."
Gani remarked, "Seems he is dying, and knows it. I met him on Tattooine, years ago, when I was still an Apprentice. He aided my own Master with a slavery ring we had tracked to the planet. He taught us a great deal, my Master and I. Such an enigmatic Jedi, his death will be a great loss."

Vahara nodded, "He always did like you, Gani." Jedi Masters rarely referred to one another in the first name, but neither minded the protocol breach, "You should be the one to go hear his final words. It will make him very happy to learn that you are on the Council."

Gani smiled sadly, "It will bring me great happiness to see him, and great sadness considering the circumstances. The trip may take a few days, will you two be able to handle the return to Ossus without me?"

Soro hissed with a bit of amusement, "This one thinks the Jedi Order may fall apart with you missing, Master Torre."

Gani acknowledged the sarcasm by his sad smile breaking into a grin, "Alright, alright. I'll prepare to leave immediately. I'm going to bring a few students with me. He always loved younglings, and I think it will be a great learning experience for them."

Vahara asked, "Do you have any in mind? I would suggest you bring Ben Joreth. He still has not built a lightsaber of his own, and needs to travel to Ilum to find a lightsaber crystal."

Gani nodded, "I will take him to Ilum after meeting with Harrald, Sarcophagus is not far from Ilum."

Soro said, "I sssugesst you also bring Master Reyne Grakin with you as well. He has been confining himsself to his quarters since he gave up his seat on the Council. His past addiction sstill haunts him."

Reyne Grakin had been addicted to a drug that had led to him feeding information unwittingly to his drug dealer, who had turned out to be a spy using their meetings to glean secrets about the Jedi, nearly leading to a Jedi being killed, and nearly leading to Reyne's own exile from the Jedi Order. Since the event, he had left the council, claiming he could not be trusted with the responsibilities of guiding the Jedi Order anymore. Some of the Council had tried to sway him, but others hadn't forgiven his errors.

Reyne Grakin was one of the few remaining Jedi Masters within The Order, and would have been very valuable asset to the Council. Soro, who was close friends with Reyne, asked him repeatedly to reclaim his seat on the Council, as he was needed now more than ever. Reyne refused, still weighed down by personal demons.

Soro, in stubborn barabel fashion, refused to admit defeat, and would continue to push his friend until he eventually gave in and forgave himself.

Gani nodded, "I will take both with me. Perhaps I should bring Padawan Gray as well? He would be a suitable apprentice for Ben Joreth to begin training, and would give them a chance to become more acquainted."

Vahara, while not an advocate of a Jedi as newly Knighted as Ben taking on an apprentice, nodded, "I suppose so. If Jedi Joreth is confident enough to consider taking on an Apprentice. Perhaps you can ask Joreth if he is prepared to begin guiding another. But I think you should not tell him to take on Padawan Gray as a pupil. A Master chooses his Apprentice, and should not be pushed or manipulated into that heavy decision."

Gani smiled, "Understood, Masters. May The Force Be With You."

The two Masters nodded, standing up to bow to Gani Torre as he left the Council chambers, returning his farewell.

[Trenton Vinh]

"So who is this Jedi Master we're going to see?" Ben Joreth asked Gani Torre, soon after their shuttle entered Hyperspace, leaving Coruscant behind.

Gani responded, "He was a legendary prophet, known for his precognitive power and great wisdom. His words carry a great deal of weight, and we will all learn much from him."

Padawan Jadd Gray, age 13, looked at Reyne Grakin, who was still sitting in the pilot's chair, although no one needed to pilot the shuttle while in Hyperspace, "Master, why are The Jedi returning to Ossus? Aren't we needed on Coruscant?"

Reyne nodded, "Yes, we are needed more than ever. But there are times when the Republic needs to sort out its problems on its own. And times when The Jedi need to focus on themselves, before aiding the Galaxy as a whole. We are spread very thing these days, and need to regrow our numbers."

The bridge of the shuttle was one of its three compartments. Behind them was the galley, on the other side of the galley was the refreshers and cramped living quarters. The exit ramp extended from the front of the bridge, directly below the forward viewport. The Jedi had needed the larger ships for transport, and this shuttle, while cramped for four Jedi, was all they would need for their journey.

Torre said, "I believe Harrald has some final words for the Jedi. He has been living in solitude for years now, and no doubt has some wise words for us all."

Ben asked, "And you will take me to Ilum afterwards, so I can build my lightsaber?"

Torre nodded.

Reyne turned his chair around to face the navigation console, where both Ben and Gani had been seated. Jadd Gray was sitting to the right, at the sensor station. Reyne said, "Have you an idea of what your weapon will look like, Ben?"

Ben shook his head, "Sort of...but whenever I envision it, it is not complete, its still...a work in progress. I don't understand why, I thought most Jedi could see their lightsaber in the Force and construct it by my age."

Reyne shrugged, "Every Jedi walks a similar path, but each is different. Your lightsaber is a part of you, if it is still a work in progress, than you are as well. And rightfully so, a Jedi is always a work in progress."

Ben nodded, understanding the wisdom beyond the words, "I'll meditate on it, Master. Perhaps by the time we get to Ilum, I will understand why I cannot yet idealize my weapon fully."

Gani noted, "Take as long as you need, Ben. If you are not yet ready, do not rush it. However, keep in mind that your lightsaber is a symbol of you Knighthood, and your only possession. It is not becoming of a Jedi to be caught without his weapon. You may come to across a situation that you will need it."

Ben nodded again, more vigorously, "I understand. Perhaps...Do you think Master Harrald will have some guidance for me?"

Gani nodded, "I think so. Feel free to ask him when we see him. There is nothing he loved more than helping young Jedi find their way. But do not expect him to do more than point you in the right direction."

Ben stood up and said, "I'm going to Meditate on this, to see if I can learn more before we get to Sarcophagus."

Gani and Reyne nodded, and Ben dismissed himself. As he headed for the back of the ship, he heard Jadd Gray ask, "Why is the planet called Sarcophagus, Masters?"
To which, Reyne replied, "Sarcophagus was named after its purpose -- it is a graveyard planet. It is a moon that orbits Sacorria, and for centuries has been where they buried their dead. Some beings travel there...as it is a place to contemplate death, and a final resting place for many."

[Trenton Vinh]

Ben Joreth sat with crossed legs, closed eyes, and an open mind. Deeply immersed in The Force.

Immersion in The Force was similar to standing in a pool of water. His actions, and the actions of anything else within this pool, would cause ripples, stir the still water.
The object of Ben's attention was at the floor of this pool, however, the pool was murky -- the bottom was unclear. Some actions caused the dust to unsettle, to whip around in a slow-motion dance that obscured that which he searched for.
The spinning waves of murk came from the general haziness of the future. Always in motion, always difficult to see. But there were other implications in this dark cloud that hid Ben's future from his view. The Dark Side had been growing, it was at a point where the often cloudy future was next to unreadable. Perhaps Harrald had a way to circumvent the clouds of darkness, a way to penetrate it with the light.

The Jedi had, in history, all but lost their ability to read into future events. This often came before war, before awful events, before Dark times.
Ben grew fearful that there were dark times ahead. But he would be resolute, and help light the way to a better future.

His Meditations carried through the night, and when his mind finally wandered back to the present, he opened his eyes to find Gani Torre kneeling across from him, in a deep Meditation of his own.
The dark-skinned man's face was creased with concentration, and his brows were furrowed.
They snapped open suddenly, as if he had been startled by something.
He looked around, then, noticing Ben's gaze, made eye contact and said, "Ah, Ben. You were meditating so peacefully, I thought I would join you. We will be arriving at Sarcophagus shortly."

Ben asked, "Did you see something in your Meditation, master?"

Gani did not speak for a moment, and looked at Ben, his face unreadable. After a moment, he replied, "Yes...I think so. It was very vague, very difficult to see through the darkness."

Ben nodded, "I had troubles looking into the future as well. My master taught me not to dwell on the future, because it will come to pass regardless of my ability to foresee it. I hoped to glimpse my future lightsaber, but the darkness proved impenetrable."

"Perhaps, you are not meant to see it, Ben." Gani said.
Ben frowned, "Perhaps. You still did not tell me what you saw, Master."
Gani smiled, "There's no getting past you, is there?" Before Ben answered, Master Torre added, "Jet taught you very well. My vision...is something I feel should be discussed with Harrald. If you are present for it, you may hear it then. For now...I believe it is time we begin our landing."

The moment Gani finished his sentence, the ship decellerated sharply. Rocking from side to side slightly, Gani stood up and offered Ben an outstretched hand. Ben took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Gani asked, "Have you considered taking an Apprentice, Ben? You would make a great teacher."
Ben thought of his brother Tiverian, who was teaching a pupil at the Temple.
"I've..." He used Gani's chosen word, "Considered it."
Gani raised his eyebrows, "And?"
"Maybe not yet. I have a bit more I need to learn before I'm ready."

Master Torre smiled warmly, and responded, "Often, Jedi do not feel they are ready to take a Padawan when they do. You may find that you learn as much from your student as the student learns from you. Just keep that thought in mind."
Ben promised he would, and then followed Gani to the cockpit, where Reyne was taking the ship into orbit.
Jadd Gray asked, "Where on the planet is Harrald?"

With a smile, Reyne answered, "I don't think he gave his location, but I have the feeling he will not be hard to locate."

Sarcophagus was revered by the Sacorrians, who did not permit outsiders to be buried there. Harrald was most likely to be an exception, but Reyne doubted the Jedi Master would even need a burial. Ben had heard of some Jedi Masters whose bodies had dissipated entirely upon their death, that they would leave no flesh or bone behind.

When the shuttle touched down in the small shuttleport settlement, the Jedi pulled on their robes and disembarked, Gani and Reyne leading them, Ben and Jadd following behind.
A pair of armed guards were awaiting them at the foot of the ramp, holding large staffs with sharp bladed ends. Between the guards stood a man in white robes, with a snowy beard and warm eyes. He smiled and said, "Welcome, Master Jedi. We have been expecting you for some time now. Harrald arrived here almost a year ago, and told me that you would be arriving this week. There is a speeder awaiting to take you directly to him. Normally, we do not allow outsiders to cross over on our moon, but Harrald is quite the exception. It is an honor that he has chosen this as his final resting place."

Gani smiled and said sadly, "His death will be a terrible loss, but with all endings come new beginnings."

The man bowed his head in acknowledgment, "I agree. Let us be off then."

The speeder was computer controlled, and it sped the four Jedi off along the landscape of Sarcophagus at high speed. Within twenty minutes, the speeder slowed to a halt outside a small rock hut, featuring a stone chimney puffing white smoke into the clouds.

The landscape of Sarcophagus was barren, in the distance, they could see tombs and grave markers. The shuttleport was a speck on the distant horizon.
The Jedi climbed out of the speeder, and Gani led the way over to the tiny hut. He was about to knock, when the door opened for them.
Gani smiled, and lowered his head to fit through the small doorway.

Ben felt the warmth from within immediately, and followed Reyne through the door, pulling his arms from his robes as he did so.

The interior of the hut was minimalist, with a small fire, a few chairs, a table, a single bedmat. Few possessions were littered about, a pot, a few bowls, a toolbelt was hung from a hook on one wall. Hanging from the belt was a lightsaber. It did not look like it had been used in years.

Harrald was in another room of the hut. Gani said, "Wait here, I will speak with him, and you can be introduced shortly."

Ben nodded, and him and Jadd sat in the seats around the small table.
Reyne waited outside the door to the other room while Gani strode out of sight.
The deep voice of Gani could be heard, but Ben could not make out the words he was speaking.
Ten minutes later, Gani exited the room, looking grim. He nodded to Ben, who rose from his seat. Darkness was falling outside the hut, the room noticeable dimmer than it had been when they arrived.

"He is quite tired, Ben. But he would be delighted to meet you. He has some very important things to speak with you about."

Ben nodded and followed Gani into the room.

When they entered the dim room, Ben's first thought was that Harrald was a froglike creature. Half Ben's height, the great Jedi Master was sitting cross-legged on a soft padded mat. He appeared to have been Meditating. His eyes were shut, and his wrinkles were deep. His mottled green skin and wisps of graying hair gave him a grave, but very wise appearance.

"Greetings, Ben Joreth. I am Harrald. Please sit." The Jedi Master crooned in a soft voice.
When Ben was seated, Gani dropped to the floor next to him. Harrald's eyes opened, and they shimmered with a deep internal light. He looked at Ben, a gaze that was gentle but piercing, as if he understood every one of Ben's doubts and fears.
"Its an honor to meet you, Master Harrald." Ben managed to speak.

"Mine, the honor is, young Jedi. Doubts, worries, you have. Tell me of them."

Ben said slowly, "I am to build my lightsaber, but when I meditate on it, I cannot envision the final product. It seems like something is missing. Something crucial."

Nodding his head slowly, Harrald's ears bobbed gently.

Ben continued, "I cannot see into the future as I once could. Darkness clouds everything. Years ago, I could almost always catch glimpses of one thing or another. I fear the Dark Side is growing once more."

"Growing, indeed it is. Darkness, there will always be, so long as there is light. One breeds the other. Gather the others, Master Torre, bring them to me. We will walk through the Force together, show you what I have seen, I will."

Gani nodded and left the room.

Harrald said quietly to Ben, "Great danger ahead, young one.But do not fear. When the time comes, all your doubt will be removed. Understand your purpose, you will, and fulfill your destiny, you shall. I have foreseen it."

Ben nodded, unsure of what to say. He asked, "Master Torre told me that my lightsaber in my visions is a representation of myself. That it is shown as a work in progress, because I'm still a work in progress myself."

Harrald responded, "Very wise, Master Torre has become. However, more than that, it means. The lightsaber of a Jedi is more than just an extension of himself, it is a representative of his confidence and experience as a Jedi. More lessons, you must learn. Completed your lightsaber will be, when confident in yourself, you grow. This growth will come from experience, young one."

Ben nodded, and Gani, Reyne, and Jadd Gray entered, dropping into Meditative postures before the great Jedi Prophet.

Watching them closely, Harrald said, "A vision, I had. A prophecy from it, I have made. Close your eyes, young ones, and we will see what all that is hidden from us."

Ben closed his eyes, and found himself floating from his body, feeling like he was floating away from Sarcophagus, floating away from the Galaxy as he viewed it, and ascending to a different plane of existence altogether.

[Trenton Vinh]

When Ben Joreth opened his eyes, he was startled to find that he was standing in the center of the Universe. Floating in space, the distant stars twinkling softly.
While taking in the beautiful view, he wondered what exactly was going on. He felt as if he was the entirety of the Universe, that the distant nebulae and stars were within him, and he was within them. They were one.

Harrald must have been using some kind of Force-Power to take him to this place. But where was Master Gani, Master Reyne, Padawan Gray?
Turning in place, Ben realized he couldn't walk. Instead, the mere thought of turning around caused him to do so. Behind him, smiling gently, was Harrald, the mysterious and miniscule Jedi Master.
"Fear not, Ben Joreth. At work, The Force is."
Ben asked, "What is this place?"
Harrald's smile grew, showing the tips of his pointy teeth, and he replied, "When a Jedi is One with The Force, experience the Universe in its truest beauty, he can. Taken you here I have, to show you how little to fear there is."
Ben frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. He spun around, away from Master Harrald, looking everywhere he could, "Are we...dead? Is this what happens to a Jedi when he becomes One with The Force at his time of death?"
Harrald's smile faltered now, and he seemed sad when he answered, "Dead, you are not. An incredible thing, The Force is. If chooses to see pain, one does, than pain he will see. If one chooses to see beauty, than he shall."

Ben asked, "Are you telling me that The Force is what I choose to make of it?"
Harrald nodded, "Yes, and no. The Force is what it is, what it always has been. Affect your life and your outlook on the Universe, your point of view will. Tragedy there always will be, war and death cannot be avoided. But as long as you are here, protect that which you feel is important, you must. Do what you believe is right, you will. True to your heart, you must forever be. Only then become One with The Force, you will. My lesson for you, this is."
Ben asked, "Master...You mean that you believe my lack of ability to envision my lightsaber, is because I still have doubts about The Force, and about how I view The Force?"
Harrald did not answer directly, and instead said, "It does not matter whether I believe it or not. Know it in your heart, you do. Your feelings you must not be afraid to search, young one. The Universe, within you it is. Within the Universe are you. Both are one, both are of The Force. Understand, do you?"
Ben nodded slowly, "I am part of The Force, and the Universe is as well. We are the same because The Force chose to bring us into existence...Or because The Force exists, the Universe and I do...or something. I need to take time to better understand this, Master."
Harrald smiled once more, "Time, you have lots of, young Padawan. But understand, you already do. You always have."
Ben understood that bit, "You mean that the pieces are already in front of me, I just need to choose how I wish to assemble them."
Harrald's smile was as wise as his words, "Make a great Jedi, you will, Ben Joreth. Fear not the road which lay ahead. Never more perilous is it than the road behind you."
Ben smiled, "I understand why you are such a great teacher, Master Harrald. Thank you so much for this..." He looked around again, "This lesson. I think in time I will understand it more properly."

The ancient Jedi Master looked around once slowly, as if he had not taken in their surroundings until now, and said, "Dark times, lay ahead of you, young one. Remember your training, remember my words. Serve you they will. Remember The Force, and that it is always by your side. Never alone, is a Jedi."
Ben smiled, "There is nothing to be afraid of, when the Force is my ally."
Harrald's head lowered slowly, and he said, "Sometimes, during my years training young Jedi, who taught who, I often wondered. The answer to that question, you have given me."
Before Ben could ask him what he meant, Harrald's eyes seemed to glow with an inner radiance. This light grew within him, and soon the small Jedi was filled with blinding light. Just as it grew so intense that Ben was forced to squint, the light flashed out of existence, and Harrald was gone.
Ben Joreth blinked slowly, and when his eyes opened, he found himself kneeling on the floor of the Jedi Master's hut, his companions beside him.
He looked to where Harrald had been sitting when they began their meditation, and found that the spot was empty, with not the faintest trace of him ever having been there.

The other Jedi all opened their eyes, looking around in a stunned silence.
Finally, Padawan Gray asked, "Where did Master Harrald go?"
Gani said sadly, "He is gone. He became One with The Force as we spoke."
Ben frowned, "You spoke to him too? What did he tell you?"
Reyne smiled, and said in a hoarse voice, "He told me...exactly what I needed to hear."
Gani nodded, patting Reyne on the shoulder, and leaned against the other Jedi as he stood. Ben stood to his feet slowly, feeling a mixture of immense sadness and confusion. Harrald had said so much in so few words. So much wisdom...
"It is time to go, let's head back to town and I'll buy us some dinner." Gani said, "I could use a hot cup of caf."

[Trenton Vinh]

"Do you feel it, Ben?" Jedi Master Gani Torre asked, as he watched Ben Joreth stare out of the forward viewport of the shuttle, arms crossed across his chest.
"Yes...I feel it. Its like...The Force is calling to me. To us. Guiding us to the planet. Is it the planet I feel?"
Gani smiled, "Sort of. The Force is very strong on Ilum. Its been a sanctuary for Jedi for over twenty-thousand years. Millions of Jedi have come here to meditate, train, and build lightsabers."

The group of Jedi had left Sarcophagus after a hot meal and cup of caf, and now they were in Hyperspace, in the unknown regions, flying blindly through Hyperspace.
Due to the value and rarity of the crystals native to Ilum, the planet's location was in very few star charts. Most non-Jedi didn't even know the planet existed. Few people traveled the unknown regions, and the planet was in a difficult location to reach -- some claimed that only a Force-Sensitive would be able to find it.

"Come sit here, Ben. Exit Hyperspace when you sense that it we have arrived." Reyne said, standing up and gesturing to his chair.
Ben nodded and took the seat, one hand on the Hyperdrive Motivator control.

The thirteen year old Apprentice, Jadd Gray, asked, "What color crystal will you choose, Master Joreth?"
Ben raised his eyebrows; it was not often he was called "Master". He was a Jedi Knight, and it was customary for younglings to refer to higher-ranked Jedi as such, but he was still not used to hearing it.
Jadd was average height for his age, dark-haired and inquisitive. Thus far, Ben had not interacted with the Apprentice very much at all, but so far he had no dislike for the young man.
"I always understood that the crystal chooses the Jedi, not the other way around, Gray. But Ilum is known to have Adegan crystals, either blue or green in color, so its safe to assume I'll end up with one of those two colors..." Ben trailed off, and concentration crossed his features. He appeared to be listening intently for some distant sound. Then he turned to the control panel, pulled a handle, and flicked a switch. The ship exited Hyperspace, and the starlines dissipated. a large blueish-white planet loomed in the viewport.

"We're here." Ben said.
Gani and Reyne grinned at one another, "Well done, Ben." Jadd said with a smile.


*****


Reyne took them in for a landing, and as the ramp lowered, he said, "Bundle up, its cold out."
The wind whistled and the temperature in the ship plumetted. The Jedi pulled their robes tightly around them, and Jadd asked, "Is the cave far?"
Gani Torre said, "I'd lead you part of the way there, but the journey is reserved for Ben alone. He must make his way through the temple himself. But be quick, you don't want to freeze out here."
Jadd Gray asked, "You're staying here?" to the two Jedi Masters.
"We need to stay here to discuss some things about the meeting with Harrald. You two should be fine, so long as you don't run into any Gorgodons. May The Force Be With You."
The Jedi Masters had dismissed Ben and Jadd, so the pair shrugged and headed down the ramp, into the blowing snow and howling wind.
As they reached the end of the ramp, Gani called out to Ben, "Do not fear, Ben. The Force will guide you."
Ben nodded, "Thank you, Master Torre."
Torre waved a hand casually and tapped the ramp controls. As he disappeared from view, the two young Jedi started uphill.

"The cave is at the top of the cliff, so it won't be too far, I hope." Ben said, as he shielded his face with his arm.
Jadd shivered and nodded, and the two continued to wade through the snow.
After a few quiet minutes, the temple came into view. It was beatiful, large ice spires and an archway leading into the mysterious cavern beyond.
"Hey Ben, whats a Gorgodon?" Jadd asked, as they made their way into the cave.
They entered the cave and followed the path to a large entranceway, with pillars of ice and stone walls.
The temperature was oddly warm, though no technology existed to heat the area. The wind and snow did not penetrate this place, so the two young Jedi wiped off their robes.
Ben answered, "Its a native creature to the planet...I think they don't come up the mountains unless they are hunting. Now that we're inside we shouldn't have to worry about them."

Ben finished wiping down his robes and turned to the task at hand. He stretched out a hand and closed his eyes, opening himself to The Force. He felt the strong radiance of the Force Nexus that the temple had become after generations of Jedi had passed through.
He said softly, "Its so peaceful here. The Force is strong in this place. Lets go deeper."
The pair continued on, until they arrived at the main chamber.
A huge room with a dozen pillars hundreds of feet tall. The main floor was nearly a kilometer long, with a black stone floor and walls that seemed to swallow light rather than reflect it. The room would have been incredibly dark had it not been for the thousands of green and blue crystals that sprouted out of the stone. The walls and pillars were lined with them, radiating their soft colors brilliantly.
Both young Jedi gasped; the sight was truly incredible.
"By the Force..." Ben said softly, and then added, "Perhaps you should Meditate here...or...look at the walls."

Jadd raised his eyebrows, and was about to ask why he would look at a wall, but then he noticed that there were etchings in the stone, writings and stories of the past Jedi who had passed through.
He turned to look at Ben, and said, "This is ama-" He was cut off by a feral roar, and then a furry arm caught him in the back, tossing him three meters onto his stomach. Jadd yelled out in pain and surprise, and turned to see Ben dive, barely avoiding a lightning-quick tail swipe. The creature that was attacking was no doubt a Gorgodon.
It was covered in fur, with two beady black eyes set high on his head. It was hunched slightly, with a thick tail and thicker arms. It had sharp claws and three rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Jadd pulled himself to his feet, and yelled, "There's two more of them!" to Ben. A pair of the creatures had come charging out of the shadows, and were now moving in to surround Ben.
Ben jumped into the air, pulling his legs up to clear the low-swipe of another tail, and with a touch of the Force, handsprung out of the way of a chomping bite.
As soon as he was clear of the trio of attacking monsters, Ben drew his blaster and fired rapidly into the face of the closest Gorgodon. It howled and crashed to the floor. Ben turned to fire at the next one, but the monster spat at him, which would have been ridiculous had the brownish saliva not struck Ben's blaster hand and pinned it to a pillar.
Struggling to pull his hand and weapon free of the glue-like mucus, Ben yelled to Jadd, "You'll have to use your saber, Gray!"
Jadd realized he had been watching Ben fight, and not doing a thing to help. He drew his lightsaber and gripped it in both hands; thumbed the activation plate.
The blue beam of energy sprung forth with a snap-hiss, and both remaining Gorgodons turned to see what had caused the noise. The first Gorgodon rushed Jadd, who lept backwards and waved his blade before him defensively.
The other Gorgodon advanced on the helpless Ben, who repelled it with a Force Push. The beast stumbled back, then charged forward and slammed a clawed fist into Ben's stomach.
Ben wheezed and doubled over, his arm still stuck to the pillar, now the only thing keeping him upright.
The creature's neck snaked around his neck and lifted him off his feet, and Ben felt knots of muscle tighten around him as the monster flexed. Ben struggled to breathe, one hand desperately trying to remove the vice-grip on his throat.
Just as blackness began to descend on him, Ben felt a rush of Force energy, and Jadd Gray rose into the air behind the Gorgodon. The Apprentice's blade arced through the air, slashing the Gorgodons head from its shoulders.
The tails grip loosened enough to drop Ben, and as the Jedi dropped to the floor, a second precise swipe from Jadd's blade cut Ben's hand free of the saliva, but cutting his blaster in half as well.
Ben didn't care about the pistol, he was too busy kneeling and gasping to breathe.
Jadd dropped to the floor on his bottom, legs stretched out in front of him. His lightsaber had been shut down and returned to his belt.
He asked Ben, "You alright?"
Ben could only nod, then swallowed painfully and managed to choke out, "Thank you...that was close."
Jadd smiled, "Those Gorgodons are scary. Lucky my training saber has a high-power setting, or we would have been in a bad spot."
Ben nodded again, and was about to speak, but The Force touched him and stole the words from his tongue.
He looked up and saw a man he hadn't seen for seven years, a man who had been killed in a cave deep beneath a desolate planet. Jet Sumner, the Jedi who had found and then trained Ben and his brother Tiverian.
"Master Sumner?" he gasped.
Jadd was watching silently, and seemed to understand that this Jedi was one of great importance to Ben, and remained silent.
Jet Sumner's Force Ghost wore the traditional robes of a Jedi, with the hood down. He was smiling gently, with wrinkles creasing his temples,
"Follow me, Ben. I have something for you." the Force Ghost spoke in a gentle voice that seemed to come from everywhere.
Ben nodded, pain forgotten, and stood to follow his Master.
Jadd pulled his feet underneath himself, and began to Meditate as Ben left him behind. This way something for Ben to experience on his own.

Ben followed Jet through the temple, and was led up a long stone bridge that wound between the pillars. As Ben walked beside his deceased Master, he said, "My training is complete, Master Sumner. I'm a Jedi Knight now."
Jet's smile remained on his features, and he replied, "I've been watching, Ben. You will make a great Jedi, and a great Master someday. I'm very proud of you and your brother."
Ben forced himself not to choke up. He had not felt the Force Presence of his master in so long, and it was a feeling he had missed. Jet had always radiated a calm serenity that some other Jedi Masters did not.
As they continued through the Temple, Ben felt that they were moving towards the presence in the Force that had been calling to him since they neared Ilum in Hyperspace.
Jet continued, "Your training is complete, Ben, but there is always much to learn. You are the most curious person I ever met, and I hope that inquisitiveness remains in you for the rest of your life. It is one of your best qualities, and one that will help you to grow wiser than I could have ever taught you to be."
Ben wanted to say so much to his former teacher, to thank Jet for everything he had done for him, to ask him so many questions.
But he found he could only listen, his voice seemed to have been left behind with Jadd.
"I know you have felt confusion about your role as a Jedi, and confusion about your place in the Galaxy. But I promise you, that you are exactly where you are meant to be. The Force has its plan, and you will always be where it intends you to be. You just have to believe in The Force, trust in it, and do what your heart tells you is right."
Ben nodded, barely able to take his eyes off his Master to keep an eye on where he was walking -- the bridge had no railings and a misstep would mean a nasty fall.
Jet carried on, still guiding Ben towards that pulsing, yearning presence in the Force that lay somewhere ahead,
"Your beliefs will be challenged and your resolve will be tested, but so long as you remain certain of what you believe is right and wrong, you will do what is best for the Galaxy."
Ben finally found his voice, "I would never have come as far as I have had it not been for you, Master. I could never thank you enough. I'm so sorry things turned out the way they did."
Jet shook his head, and led Ben into a small room filled with crystals, and stopped. He turned to Ben and was still smiling. He said softly,
"You were a pleasure to teach, Ben. As much trouble as you got yourself into, I know you always just wanted to learn more, to understand, and to grow in knowledge."
Ben turned to look at a small crystal jutting out of the floor at his feet, and he squatted down to eye it. It was calling to him, nearly pleading with him to pick it up. He pulled it from the floor and it slipped out with little resistance. It felt warm in his palm, and all his sad and negative emotions faded away. He smiled, and turned his eyes back to his Master, and said,
"I am prepared to be a Jedi, and prepared to do what I must to help better the Galaxy, Master Sumner. I will help spread the Light"
Jet's smile grew, and he said, "Never forget, Ben: The light doesn't come from the suns and stars. It is not born of peace and serenity. The light comes from within you, you are the light. And on the darkest day, even the most insignificant light can hold the shadows at bay."
With that, Jet disappeared, leaving Ben in the small room, holding a small green crystal that seemed content to warm his palm and taste his emotions. He looked down at it, knowing that had he not been holding it, he would have been intensely sad.
He had not expected to see Jet ever again, and seeing him now, as short as the meeting had been, had been a great opportunity. There was so much more Ben had to say, and much more Jet could have said, but there was nothing more either needed to say. Jet would do no more good to Ben by staying any longer than he had, and Ben needed to rid himself of his grief. Their short encounter had allowed him to do that.
He strode from the room, back onto the long bridge and back the way he had come. His crystal needed his attention now, he needed to take the time to focus it and tune it to him. To tune himself to it.
This crystal would eventually bring life to the blade of Ben's lightsaber. Ben was the crystal that would pump the Force into the lightsaber crystal. Ben was the heart of the crystal, and the crystal was the heart of Ben's lightsaber. The Force was the crystal that gave Ben life, that pumped blood into the universe entire.
The Force, the crystal, and Ben were all connected, and were all the same. Each was a conduit for the others.

Returning to the ship, both Jadd and Ben were quiet. Jadd seemed to understand that Ben had thinking to do, and Jadd most likely had some thinking to do for himself.
When the ship took off, Ben retreated to his quarters, to Meditate, with the crystal floating in the air before him. He would pore himself into the crystal, pore The Force into it. The Force, the crystal, and Ben, would all grow close, grow more connected and intertwined until the three were inseperable and One.
Then, Ben would be ready to build the blade, which would allow him to hold at bay the shadows that threatened to snuff the light from the Universe.