Chapter Three
Rebuild
A single snowflake fought to keep itself up in the air. This snowflake was different from the rest of the others, granted no single snowflake was just the same but this one was very different. It's shape and pattern was completely different from any normal snowflake, almost as if it was scarred. Not only was its appearance different, but also it was doing something all the others weren't. It would seem that it was trying to defy gravity. Curious. While others fell into place, down and sideways this one fought its way up. It rode the currents of air, trying to reach the very top. But a strong and powerful burst of wind caught it, pushing it down. On the way down there was one more hope of trying to reach the top but ultimately gravity demanded it to the surface. The hard, cold surface of Illum.
The snowflake whipped past the face of Aaryn Karsa. It seemed his eyes met it, but only for a moment. His eyes now turned towards their destination on the snowy planet. The Sacred Caverns of Illum – where the "Temple" resided. Aaryn had done his homework on the way here and now it was just a few klicks away. He pulled his robe hood over his head and gave a glance to his right seeing Gep approach.
"Kind of cold, huh?" The red skinned Twi'lek shivered.
"Kind of?" Aaryn flashed his white teeth.
"Yeah," Gep replied, not catching on Aaryn's sarcasm.
"So why are we here again?"
Aaryn turned his head to look at him. "Why are you here? You're the pilot."
Gep shrugged. "I was raised on Ryloth, I mean yeah it could get pretty cold at night but I've never seen snow like this. Plus, all this Jedi business is exciting."
"That's one way to put it," Aaryn said more to himself.
"Less talking. More walking." Serick said, coming up on Aaryn's left.
"Such a poet, Serick." Aaryn looked over at the Nitko. His stone hard face did not budge. Serick kept walking and Kaylee came up in the spot where Serick was standing.
"He doesn't really have much of a sense of humor," Kaylee smiled.
"No, he's a comedian. He just doesn't know it yet." Aaryn said and they all shared a small laugh. Aaryn returned his attention to the caverns in the distant, and Serick walking towards it.
"Let's go meet our mysterious new companion." Gep interrupted and got a move on to catch up with Serick.
***
The team of four reached the entrance and the Force radiated from it. He could feel it swirling out and around them. Aaryn pulled his hood back, entering first into the cavern. Good thing too, because his jaw almost hit the floor. The thousands of crystals illuminated the cavern, maybe millions of crystals imbedded into the floors, the walls, the ceiling. They definitely didn't need any glow lamps in this place at all.
"This is amazing," Kaylee muttered.
"You can say that again," Gep said his eyes never leaving the ceiling.
Then suddenly from behind the entrance began to shut, and shut very quickly. They barley had time to even react before it was all the way shut. An eerie silence filled the cavern. Aaryn tightened his fist. He didn't like situations like this, yet he found himself in them all the time it seemed.
"Can we be sure this Jedi is still sane?" Serick broke the silence.
"Malak suggested him, right?" Kaylee asked.
"Great reference," Aaryn muttered.
"What did he say his name was?" Serick asked, still looking around.
"Dison Gynt," Aaryn replied. "Squint – sorry, Malak said the last time spoke to him was two years ago."
"So he doesn't even know we were coming?" Gep gulped.
"You're deductive reasoning is quite good," Aaryn said.
Aaryn closed his eyes, searching out what he was supposed to do in the Force. Usually the Force whispered its will to him, but not anymore. Now he felt something else, heard something else. It was more like echoes. But he only heard them once since being back…alive. The Force remained silent this time. So, he would do what the Jedi always taught – use his instincts.
"I think I need to go on alone," Aaryn said.
"That is most unwise," Serick interjected.
"Probably," Aaryn agreed. "But I need to do it alone,"
"Aaryn I don't know if that's a great idea," Kaylee said.
"What's the worse that could happen? Die? I've done that before, it's not that bad." Aaryn tried to smile.
"Whats the big deal, this person is a Jedi right?" Gep asked.
"Exactly, I knew I kind of liked you." Aaryn pointed.
"Then we shall wait here," Serick nodded and then sat on the floor, crossing his legs.
Kaylee glanced at Aaryn. She clearly didn't like this idea, but Aaryn felt like his gut was telling him this was the only way. He simply nodded and she watched him turn towards the rest of the cavern. He took a deep breath and step forward.
***
The Force was alive in this place that much was for sure. Aaryn had been in a place similar to this back when he was training on Dantoonie when he was very young, and the masters had led them there. He didn't remember much about his time on Dantoonie, but he remembered that vividly. Probably because of all the colors.
Sounded like there was a small current of water running nearby, and the only other sound was the crunch of his boots. The Force didn't indicate that anyone was even in the place. Aaryn guessed he was several miles into the place now.
"Why have you come?" A voice called out. Aaryn stopped in his tracks.
"I am in need of help," Aaryn said after a moment of consideration.
Silence.
"Because of the Mandalorians…"
"Actually, I am seeking what is behind their invasion. I have reason to believe the Sith are involved." Aaryn said, still very still.
"You feel different," The voice was wise. "As if you are a mere after thought of the Force,"
Aaryn shrugged. That was a pretty good way to describe it. "I have been told you can help me, so will you?"
"You don't carry a lightsaber?" He ignored the previous question.
"It was destroyed," Aaryn said impatiently.
"A lightsaber is an extension of a Jedi, important to their connection with the Force."
"Jedi Teaching 101," Aaryn muttered to himself.
"Before I can help you, I most know if you are ready." The voice said.
Aaryn raised his brow and then felt the hot breath down his back. Oh. Krif. He thought. Using the Force he propelled himself up into the air and flipped forwards. In just enough time he saw that a giant energy spider was about to have its way with him only seconds before. This was the biggest spider he had ever seen. Why hadn't he felt it in the Force?
He stretched out his senses and then he understood why. The spider was giving off its presence in the Force as the crystals. Blending in.
"Nice trick," Aaryn said the spider. And then he realized he was talking to a spider.
The spider lashed out opening his mouth and showing its hidden fangs. It crawled towards him, chomping. Aaryn shivered. He was not a big fan of spiders, or bugs – especially the giant kind.
"Sink into the currents of the Force, feel." The voice said.
"Yeah, I know." Aaryn said not really listening.
He kept backing up, and the spider chased him. He looked to his right and then to his left. Nothing but crystals in every direction. He gulped loudly.
"Feel," The wizened Jedi said.
Aaryn calmed himself let his senses go to the current of the Force, and then he realized what the wise Jedi was talking about. He felt what he needed to do because he felt the pulse of a nearby crystal. He quickly rushed towards it feeling the pulsing in the Force. His eyes found it, surrounded by the blue and green in the middle stood a large purple shimmering crystal. Aaryn stood next to it and the spider rushed him, lashing out to grab him. Aaryn jumped upwards, extending his hands and pushed the spider down on the sharp crystal. Its head went right through, the body going limp. Aaryn landed softly on his feet.
With the Force he lifted the corpse of the spider off the crystal and put it softly down in a clearing. The blood of the spider spilled over the crystal, as if it was being pushed off. It still pulsed and even more so once Aaryn stood near it.
"This crystal responds to you," The voice said right behind him causing him to jump slightly.
Aaryn turned to see a green Nautolan with his hands pulled behind his back.
"Just like my last one," Aaryn muttered.
"Perhaps the Force is rebuilding you," He said. Aaryn frowned. "Recreating you."
Chill bumps were all over Aaryn's skin now.
"You died, did you not?" The Nautolan asked.
"I did," He simply replied. "How did you know?"
"I shall go with you on this journey, young one. Dyson Gynt," He bowed slightly.
"Aaryn Karsa," He said and his eyes wondered back to the shining purple crystal that saved his life.
***
Dyson and Aaryn returned, his brand new lightsaber crystal in hand. They all stood slowly, eyeing Dyson. The Nautolan nodded to Kaylee and Serick, a large wooden staff in Dyson's hand.
"Got a present, did you?" Gep referred to the crystal.
"We are ready to go," Aaryn ignored the question.
The group all gathered together and Dyson opened the gate way to the "Temple". On the outside Aaryn said all the right things and had the right reactions on the way back to the ship but inside he was all turmoil. What Dyson had told him deep in the cavern had worried him. Could the Force in fact be "rebuilding" him? What did that even mean? Each day he could feel the Force growing and growing within him but it still didn't feel the same as before. And this crystal had connected with him – urged him to build a brand new lightsaber. He didn't like what this may have implied. He was still the Aaryn Karsa that adventured with Jove, Maverick, Ta'sa, Vanuy and Belo? He wasn't so sure anymore. It sacred him. Hopefully he would be able to quite his turmoil finding his friends.
Reaching the ship, Gep turned and asked.
"Where too?"
Aaryn thought it over. The best place to start his search: "We are going to Coruscant."
