CHAPTER ONE: A MYSTERIOUS ARTIFACT
"What must I do next?" I asked Master Severns. "You said that I would face three challenges."
"As do all Younglings, but the tests are different from one potential Padawan to the next. Throughout your apprenticeship, I've noticed that you've been especially interested in Jedi artifacts and relics. For your second trial, I'm giving you the chance to retrieve one. In a certain cave near this temple here on Tython, there are crystals which are sensitive to the Force. After we have our scientists test them to ensure that they contain no Dark Side energy, we use some of them in our lightsabers. I would like you to venture to this cave and select your own crystal. As they are unique, each Padawan's saber should also be." Master Severns gave me the coordinates to the cave from the Temple. "You must go alone, but be careful of Flesh Raiders. They're as ravenous as ever, even though we're doing all we can to thin their numbers."
"I understand, and I'll definitely keep a look out." I bowed to Master Severns and left his Temple quarters.
The day was warm and bright, with just a hint of a breeze ruffling my hair. Perhaps rain would have been better if I was going to spend a lot of time digging around in a cavern, but I was nonetheless satisfied with the weather. Squaring my shoulders, I ignited my training lightsaber and headed off toward the cave.
Almost immediately, I was swarmed by a band of Flesh Raiders. They were revolting creatures who barely had enough brains to be considered sentient, but apparently knew how to use blasters, vibroblades, and other weapons. I cut them down without a second thought, dodging their sharp teeth as best I could. Were they native to Tython? I didn't know, but in my frustration, I almost thought that some not-too-bright animal handler had imported them here in order to test us Jedi. Well, if that were the case, they had certainly succeeded, but now the Flesh Raider population had grown completely out of control. What to do? The only thing we could do was hack and slash them to pieces, but they multiplied faster than gizka out here.
When I'd finally finished mowing through them like weeds, I found the cave entrance. Master Severns had given me good directions, and I kept my saber lit in order to provide illumination in the cavern. Even though the fields outside smelled of fresh dirt, grass and blood, the cave's odors were those of mold, moss, what might be bat guano, and water slowly seeping through its rock walls. It was strange: I felt safer inside than out, and not only because I doubted Flesh Raiders had set up their camp in here. Vast, open areas had always made me uneasy, because they reminded me of the immensity of space. That was why I'd never signed up for pilot training: I was too unnerved by the void that would surround me and my ship. I clung to the walls of the cave like I had Master Severns' guiding hand, when I was a tiny Youngling.
After several twists and turns, I was able to turn off my training saber because I'd found the hollows where the Force crystals grew. They gave off enough light to illuminate the space around them, glowing yellow and cyan, green and violet. Some were even orange, which was rare, and viridian, which was even rarer. The question was: which crystal was right for me? Which one should I choose for my actual lightsaber? I decided to let the Force lead the way, and it drew me toward a particular formation in the corner. A single crystal grew from it, of a translucent silver color. It filled me with peace and wonder, and I knew that this one was mine. I gently plucked it from its rocky base, picked it up, and was startled to see something else.
A delicate cube-shaped object lay near the formation I had just collected. I put it into my satchel, too. If it were another crystal, why wasn't it glowing? Perhaps, like the ordinary rocks in the cave, it wasn't sensitive to the Force. Then again, were ordinary rocks so fragile and perfectly six-sided? I didn't think so, but anything was possible. With my mission complete, I carefully made my way out of the cavern and winced when sunlight hit my eyes. It was back to the Jedi Temple, and unfortunately, back to more Flesh Raiders.
"Take me to your leader," I tried to tell one of them, almost yelling in its tympanic membranes. However, it was in no mood to negotiate. The foul-breathed brute and his allies charged toward me, and I shook my head. A Padawan's work is never done - or, at least a potential Padawan's work. Putting on a burst of speed through the Force, I raced ahead of the Flesh Raiders' second scouting party. I'd had enough extermination duty for one day, and was curious to know if my crystal would be good for a lightsaber. Not only that, but what else had I found? Perhaps Master Severns knew what the other object was.