The Power of Focus

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Hyperspace Enroute to Nar Shaddaa

Vu’thari had given his two padawans time for themselves following Utapau and their time with Ezekial. It was important to the Jedi that they spend that time to digest what was learned. When tapping into the depths of the Dark Side, it was not a journey that one could move along without processing. Vu’thari took no chances when dealing with this subject matter. It was important that he gave his apprentices the time they needed and they could speak to him when they were ready. But he felt they needed to move to the next step…

The science lab onboard of the Apogee had taken on a new purpose for this voyage. Small parts were neatly arranged all over the ship space. It was a vast collection of power cells, hand grips, activation plates, belt rings, blade length adjusters, emitter matrixes, recharge sockets, lens assemblies, and power conduits. They were divided by part and splayed throughout the space. Small floor rugs were spread out on the floor. Usually, the science room was sterile and brightly lit, but now the room took on a different personality, complete with candles and a mild incense burning that brought out a subtle, yet pleasant aroma.

Vu’thari came to both of his padawan’s quarters on the ship and rapped on the door, saying from outside, “Come join me in the science lab…bring your crystals.”

The door to the science lab was open when the pair arrived. The incense touched their sense of smell and though not as bright as usual, the illumination was plenty enough to clearly see within. As they entered, Vu’thari explained, “It is time for you to take the next step to becoming a Jedi Knight…you will construct your lightsaber.”

Pause.

“On Kashyyyk, some of us were gifted with a limb of Brylark. I cut down the limb into individual housings for those that attended that pilgrimage.”

Looking over at the Galtean, Vu’thari said quietly, “Yours is over with the hand grips, if you wish to use that as your base…”

Looking back at Prax and then to Ayasha, he continued, “You may build this with your hands or you may use the Force to construct it. I thought it would be easier with my hands, but when I tried it with my mind—it was easier to me. Maybe you will find the same experience. There is a chart on the wall for your reference in building the weapon, but I assure you…if you let go? The Force will guide you every step of the way…”

He stepped out of the padawans way, intent on letting them meditate on the mats once they gathered their parts. He added, “May the Force be with you…”

@Wolf
@Critas

 

[Ayasha Waya]

The glow of the lights within Ayasha's room was dim, something akin to dusk. The raven haired woman had returned from the cave and immediately went to her quarters to be alone. She had changed out of her typical garb into something more comfortable with the intention of spending a great deal of time in meditation. Wearing a simple pair of black leggings that stopped just below her knees and a black halter top, the young woman sat down upon her bed and folded her legs in. She tucked several stray hairs behind her left ear as she leaned over and took the turquoise crystal in her right hand.

A weak smile appeared upon Ayasha's lips as she held the glowing stone and her thoughts drifted to Ezekiel. In one final selfless act of grandeur, the little green alien had given both padawans two gifts. First, he had bestowed upon them his wisdom and insight. The lessons taught within the cave would not soon be forgotten. As he faded from this life and became one with the Force, he had left them each the crystals needed for their lightsabers. The irony did not escape Ayasha as she realized that his final step on his path as a Jedi had been one of the most important she would take.

The raven haired woman removed her hand from the crystal and it began to hover in the space before her. Though she did not fully understand the depth of the connection between herself and the stone, she embraced it without question. There was something natural within the bond as if she and the crystal had been waiting for one another. Ayasha closed her eyes and felt herself sink beneath the powerful waves of the Force. In spite of the emotional experience caused by Ezekiel's teaching, the woman was remarkably grounded.

She had come to learn and accept the difficult truth that just as she had held onto the hope that there was good within every living thing...there was also darkness. The most difficult part of this revelation was accepting the darkness within herself. She had seen it with her own eyes and now she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it was there. In spite of this revelation, the padawan had been equipped with the knowledge and the tools to help her continue to choose the light, even in situations where embracing that which came naturally would be far easier.

For a long while, Ayasha sat silently in deep meditation. She found that completely clearing her mind and opening her heart to hear the Force was the most rewarding way of spending this time. The padawan was coming to learn that not only was the unseen energy that connected everything something to wield, but it was something she was engaged in relationship with. The Force closed the deep emotional wounds that had been ripped wide open within the cave. It saturated her entire being with peace and replaced every ounce of sorrow with joy.

Just then, a gentle knock slipped alongside the woman's thoughts. Without first hearing his voice, Ayasha could see within her mind's eye Vu'thari standing in the passageway. “Come join me in the science lab...bring your crystal,” he called out to her from the other side of the door. As the padawan felt the twi'lek's presence fade away, she drew in a deep breath and opened her eyes to the glowing stone gently hovering before her. With a smile and a strong sense as to the nature of Vu'thari's request, Ayasha took hold of her crystal, placed her bare feet upon the cool floor of her quarters and made her way to the science lab upon the Apogee.

Before even stepping foot into the room, the pleasant aroma of incense greeted the padawan's nose. As she rounded the corner and stepped inside, her caramel skin was bathed in candlelight. Her honey colored eyes took in the scene before her and she could not help but smile. Just as she had suspected, the lab had been arranged in a manner ideal for the construction of a lightsaber. “It is time for you to take the next step to becoming a Jedi Knight...” Vu'thari spoke before confirming Ayasha's hope.

There was a pause as the padawans and their Master stood in the midst of the serene environment that the twi'lek had taken time to create within the lab. He began to speak about Kashyyyk and the limb of Brylark that Ayasha and a few of the other padawans gathered there had received as a gift. “Yours is over with the hand grips, if you wish to use that as your base...” he added while nodding to a handful of cylinders upon a nearby work bench. Before the woman had a moment to study that which would become the hilt of her weapon, Vu'thari began to instruct his students about the process they were about to undertake.

He compared and contrasted the methods of using the hands or the mind to build a lightsaber. He admitted to having thought there would be ease in using his hands but soon discovered that the process was easier with his mind. “There is a chart on the wall for your reference in building the weapon,” he added while motioning to the aforementioned diagram. Vu'thari noted that if the students let go and simply relied upon the Force, it would guide them every step of the way.

Ayasha was filled with pride as she stood with her crystal in hand, moments away from constructing her own lightsaber. In many ways it had felt like such a long journey to this point...but in the same sense, everything seemed to have moved so quickly toward this moment. “May the Force be with you,” Vu'thari concluded before stepping out of the way of the padawans. The raven haired woman shot a smile in the direction of Prax. He had become a fast friend and in many ways, a lot like the brother she had lost when they were little children.

The young woman turned her attention to the work bench where the hilt of her weapon rested, waiting for the internal parts that would bring it to life. A broad smile swept over her face as she reached out and retrieved the piece of Brylark that had now been crafted into a beautiful cylinder with the image of a black wolf upon the wood. The wood itself was nearly as hard and as strong as steel, something that surprised Ayasha. She shot Vu'thari a grin, wondering how it was that he had arranged for such an ornate design that resonated with her deeply.


@Mithias
@Critas

 

[Prax Dek]

Prax had emerged from the cave with Ezekiel unscathed physically but mentally, that was a different situation. The thoughts in his head swirled but he was finally making them into a coherent pattern towards a goal. Up to this point, Prax had been just surviving. He had been taking life as it came and playing with house money as it were. That rainy night on Nar Shaddaa, he had not jumped, and that choice had made him feel like he had nothing to lose. His life had been restarted on that ledge and he had been just going through the motions.

In the cave, Ezekiel had given him not only knowledge but purpose. No longer did he feel like he was flailing about, trying to find meaning in this new life. He had been given a second chance and he meant to take advantage of it. It was not every day an awakening happened in your life, this Prax knew for certain. It was his time to make a change, to understand not only the galaxy around him but himself as well.

On the ship, he made his way to his room and removed his armor and weapons. This change was made in favor of the simple homespun shirt and loose pants that he preferred for training. He pulled on his boots and belted his pants at the waist, clipping a vibro knife onto his belt. Even in the confines of the Apogee, his old habits of always being armed won the day. He had felt he needed to train, he needed to dissolve himself in sweat to help bring focus. Then came the rap on his door and Vu’thari’s calm voice asking him to come to the science lab and bring his crystals.

Prax had not really considered the crystals after placing them on the small counter in his room. They had been there, shining against the surface. The knock brought his attention back to them and he marveled at how, without thinking, he had arranged them so that the low light from the room would just catch them and make them sparkle. A small smile crossed his face and then his attention was taken to the walls of the room. They were like a myriad of small purple stars, their source being the two crystals. They spread out across the room, the light shining through both created two halves that were one whole.

Not for the first time, Prax was amazed by the Force. Reluctantly, as he hated to ruin the impromptu Force shrine he had unwittingly created within his quarters, Prax collected the two crystals. He gave the room one last look, the purple stars still ingrained in his minds eye, before cutting off the light and closing the door. The crystals felt warm in his hands as he walked down the darkened corridors. Just the running lights were on, star ships did not use any more power than was needed. He discovered that having the crystals in each hand helped him focus. The swirl of thoughts, doubts, and distrust was gone in this moment of clarity. The scent of incense was in the air and he could smell the under hint of burning that goes with candles.

The science lab was not a place that Prax had visited prior to this moment. He had not needed to come here and had casually passed the room, not even really noticing it before now. Thus, its appearance having changed was not of note to him. He entered and listened to Vu’thari as he explained their next step on the journey, they had all three started together. It was time to put the two crystals to their purpose and create their light sabers. As Vu’thari laid out their components, the old Prax would have been touched with jealousy at the mention of an experience that Ayasha had shared with the Jedi. She had wood from Kashyyyk that had been obtained through work there with Vu’thari. Prax was not jealous, he felt pride in his fellow padawan’s accomplishment and offered her a friendly smile to show his support for her efforts.

As Vu’thari mentioned a schematic on the wall, Prax’s attention was drawn there. The light in the room was muted but he could still make out the directions of the schematic. He walked over and took a seat on the small rug that was placed in front of two neatly arranged sets of lightsaber parts. Prax sat down cross legged on the rug and opened his hands to look at the crystals and then the parts. A quick look back to Vu’thari cemented his resolve and a glance to Ayasha bolstered his confidence, it was time.

@Wolf
@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Hyperspace Enroute to Nar Shaddaa

Vu’thari watched with pride as his padawans settled in to begin their very important task. So as not to disturb them, Vu’thari picked his way to a corner and slid down to his knees and closed his eyes. Like Ayasha and Prax, the twi’lek was dressed for comfort during the hyperspace trip back to Nar Shaddaa with simple black breeches and a tunic. Pulling his own lightsaber from the folds of his tunic, he placed it neatly in front of him. Gently placed his hands in his lap, the Jedi “master” took a deep breath and then exhaled.

As he did so, an ornately carved brylark hilt floated from a small table at the far edge of the room. It hovered in front of him and lowered on its own accord next to his lightsaber. Shifting his concentration, Vu’thari’s lightsaber floated up in the air in from of him. As it came to a hover, activity began to burst from the object. The leather wrappings unwrapped and began to neatly fall to the side. The pommel began to unscrew, the guard began to unhitch and within a minute, Vu’thari’s lightsaber had been entirely dissected with all its parts bouncing around in the air slowly in front of him, including the shimmering green crystal he had discovered in Ezekial’s cave, just like his two padawans. The silver hilt he had used since a child descended to the rug in front of him and the brylark hilt took its place.

Another whirl of activity began again as each individual part of the lightsaber began hitching, screwing, turning, and twisting around their sister parts, combining together again. Only this time as the lightsaber was nearly complete, the gray and green hilt slid into place over the innards and clamped itself together, making it whole. While it was still hovering in front of Vu’thari, it began to face up.

On its own accord, the lightsaber ignited, giving off a strong green glow to the room and an added hum of the weapon. Seeing that everything was functioning correctly, with his eyes still closed, the lightsaber made its way to a table and then shut off, settling on the top surface. His eyes opened and watched the progress of his padawans.

Vu’thari changed out the hilt, marking the change in his journey, but also to show his padawans that it could be done strictly with the Force. All they needed was confidence in order to complete this task…

@Wolf
@Critas

 

[Ayasha Waya]

Ayasha's eyes scanned the parts that were scattered throughout the science lab. She had no idea what any of them did. Her mind was overwhelmed as she moved about, studying the various piles arranged by piece. The padawan drew in a deep breath, tapping into the guidance of the Force. In a small bowl, she began adding various parts that would come together within the Brylark hilt to bring her weapon to life.

The young woman took the hilt in her hand and added it to her collection before selecting a floor rug to spread out on. Still relying on the Force to guide her hands, she placed the magnetic stabilizing ring down on the mat first followed by the blade length adjuster and the power adjuster. Her eyes searched the pieces in the bowl as her fingers pushed them around, waiting for the Force to instruct her next movements. She retrieved the energy modulation circuits and laid them down next followed by the cycling field energizers.

Ayasha breathed deeply as she glanced down at the lineup sitting at the top of her rug. She smiled, knowing that it was only by the leading of the Force that she had even come this far in the construction process. The young woman looked in her bowl of parts and pushed them around, somehow knowing what it was she was looking for. Next she pulled the blade energy channel out and set it down beside a focusing crystal activator.

The padawan smiled as she set the bowl of pieces down and held her turquoise crystal in front of her. It glowed so beautifully and she could have sat looking at it for hours. With a silent prayer over the stone, the young woman placed it next in the order. She lifted the bowl and went about the search for the next part, relying on the Force to choose it for her. Her fingers took hold of the crystal energy chamber and she set it behind the turquoise stone. Next she retrieved the primary crystal mount and the power vortex ring, placing them in order.

The raven haired woman shifted her weight from her position on her knees to a seated form upon the rug with crossed legs. Several parts remained and systematically, Ayasha pulled each of them from the bowl and laid them down in line. The power cell was first, followed by the power field conducter and then the inert power insulator. Finally, the young woman placed the Brylark hilt just below the collection of parts and surveyed the scene with a broad smile upon her lips.

Ayasha considered what Vu'thari had said as she sat silently for several long moments. She could certainly attempt to build the weapon by hand, but something told her that this was a project best left to the Force. The raven haired woman had made her choice as she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath through her nose, releasing it from her mouth. Her connection with the Force was ever present and slipping in even deeper was a natural process she engaged in daily through hours of meditation.

The woman raised her hands slowly and so did the parts from the floor rug. She moved her hands in a very intentional movement, utilizing the Force to guide the pieces into their proper places. Several clicks and snaps occurred ahead of the padawan, and though she wished to open one of her eyes to peek at her progress, she resisted the urge.

A few quick motions occurred as several parts shifted and connected, binding themselves to the kyber crystal that Ayasha had retrieved within the cave on Utapau. With another flurry of motion, the remaining parts and pieces fell into line as they hovered in the air around the glowing stone. The young woman moved her hands closer together and the Brylark hilt enveloped each of the pieces from one end to the next. One last clicking sound occurred, and a sense of finality rippled through the Force with it.

Ayasha's eyes opened at the very moment the completed lightsaber hummed to life before her eyes. A brilliant turquoise blade shot forth from the hilt, illuminating the dim room with a bluish green glow. The padawan's eyes grew wide to match the grin upon her lips. She pushed off from the floor and reached out toward the weapon, her hand hesitating for only a moment before she took the hilt in her grasp. Several emotions welled up within the woman's chest just then. She was incredibly proud and she could not stop staring at her accomplishment.

The padawan glanced over her shoulder at Vu'thari who had changed out the hilt of his own weapon. She could not remove the broad smile from her face as her honey colored gaze met his emerald eyes. This was a very important step on her journey and another step closer to the moment she would earn the title of Jedi Knight. Without a word, the young woman walked over to one of the work benches where she set the humming saber down. She closed her eyes and held her hands over the weapon. Within her mind in the language of her people, she prayed over the saber. She prayed that it would protect her and others in times of need. She prayed for the lives it would change, for better or for worse. She prayed for the lives it would inevitably take.

After several long minutes of silent prayer and reflection, Ayasha's golden eyes opened and she took the hilt in her hand. Her finger slipped over the ignition switch, drawing the blade of energy back inside. She returned to her floor mat with the weapon and sat down with her legs crossed as before. The padawan wished to wait for her fellow student to finish his lightsaber so she could celebrate this milestone with him. Today was one of the most important days of their lives, and she was so thankful to be sharing it with both Vu'thari and Prax.

​

@Mithias
@Critas