IV: The Force

It is early morning as I arrive at one of the Jedi Temple's main hangers, where class is set to meet for a special occasion. I'm aware that I'm late, but I feel no real need to hurry. I am the last of my classmates to arrive and I'm greeted by Kira.

"Hey you," she says as she ruffles my hair, "I see that you managed to get out of bed this morning."

"Yeah," I answer..

"Come on," Falen says, coming over to join us. "Not even Janus could sleep in when we're going to build lightsabers." He and I have developed a friendship over the past couple of years. Still a rivalry, but one with no anger or hate between us.

"Ohh," Kira says excitedly, "we're finally going to build them!"

"We don't know that," I point out. We'd never been told the purpose of this excursion.

"What else could it be?" Falen responds. "I bet this has something to do with building our lightsabers."

I nod absentmindedly. We'd never left the Jedi Temple before, so I don't really know what to expect. I'm more interested by the fact that no teacher was present, despite the fact I'd arrived late.

"Is Master Sinube coming with us?" I ask. "Or Master Yoda?"

Falen shrugs lazily as Kira answers. "We don't know. This is the right place, but no one else is here."

Just then a Jedi, an apprentice judging by his padawan braid, steps out of the hanger. "Ah, I see we're all here, finally." He gives me a knowing look. "I'm Padawan Obi-wan Kenobi, and I'll be your guide on the most important test of your young lives."

"Excuse me," one of the other children says, "what test?"

"This is the time for The Gathering," Obi-wan answers. "We will travel to the planet of Ilum, an ancient world sacred to the Jedi. There you will begin the construction of your own lightsabers."

All of us children burst into cheers at the prospect of constructing our lightsabers. Falen punches me playfully in the shoulder in a "I told you so" manner. I respond with a shrug and even I have to admit that the prospect excites me.

Obi-wan started to walk away from the celebrating students. "Well, come on. It wouldn't be good form if you didn't complete the trial because you missed the ship to Ilum."

Caught off guard by the comment we stopped our cheers and, in a panic, raced to get to the transport, getting their well ahead of Kenobi. The padawan maintains a slow pace, smiling as we speed past him, desperate not to be left behind.

We maintain a nervous energy as we board the ship and it holds as we take off, not dissipating until we leave the atmosphere of Coruscant. As everyone settles, getting over the excitement of being in space for the first time in our memories, the group starts to talk about what their lightsabers will be like.

I don't find this particularly interesting, so I go off explore our small transport. Most of it is simple. There is a cockpit, which I'm not allowed into, a cargo hold, which has nothing in it. I travel from place to place on the ship, moving quickly past unremarkable spot after unremarkable spot.

Lastly I find the storage lockers. I open all of them to find several sets of cold weather gear, heavy coats, snow boots, and the like. I inspect them closely to find most of the clothing is our size. Obviously this was meant to be here and Ilum is likely very cold, so I go ahead and find a set that fits me and put in on.

I decide that I was done with exploring and return to my fellows to take a seat next to Kira as Falen finishes describing his lightsaber in great detail.

"What are you wearing, Janus?" Nahdar asks.

I motion at the storage lockers. "I found some heavy winter gear. Ilum is probably very cold, or at least the part we're going to"

"Hm, sounds like there aren't going to be a lot of people there," one of my classmates says. "Why would they send us to someplace desolate?"

"That's probably part of the point of it," I reply.

"I see you've already figured that out" Obi-wan says, leaning against the door frame leading into the cockpit. "I was intending that to be something of a surprise, but no matter. I suggest you go ahead and gather your gear, we'll be arriving at Ilum within the hour."

The others dutifully get up and head towards the storage lockers. Having already done that I remain sitting.

With no one to talk to and nothing new to look at my thoughts turn to The Force. Having lived my life up to now on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple, I'm used to being surrounded not only by large numbers of people, but by people strong in The Force. You can feel the strength and power in the temple, but out here in the vacuum of space there is nothing and it seems empty by comparison. Yet still I can feel an echo of The Force, and there is something hauntingly beautiful about it way out here.

After everyone returns with their new cold weather gear it takes another 30-45 minutes for us to arrive at Ilum and another five to land. The whole time there is an air of anticipation as everyone thinks quietly on what could possibly be awaiting us.

Then we land and Obi-wan, in his own cold weather gear, leads us of into the bitter winds. In front of us a large and ancient temple, covered in layers of ice and snow, looms. The last to enter, I hear our transport take off and leave as I cross the threshold.

Realizing that we're likely to be here for a while, I take a deep breath and lower the hood on my coat as I walk into a large, high ceilinged chamber. In the center sits Master Yoda, meditating.

"Welcome younglings," the diminutive master says as we gather around him, "today, begin the construction of your lightsabers, you do." His own weapon floats out of his robes and activates before hanging lazily above our heads. "At the heart of the Jedi's weapon, the Kyber Crystal is, a conduit of The Force." The lightsaber deactivates and returns to Master Yoda.

Obi-wan steps forward and motions at a large archway on the far side of the chamber. "Beyond that are the Ice Caverns. Within you will find your crystals. But beware. Take too long and you will sealed in by a wall of ice, trapped within until the next sunrise."

I look at the archway, not thinking it too much of a challenge. It is massive and will likely take a while before it is sealed.

"Only you can know your crystal," Obi-wan continues, "when you have succeeded, return here."

Chattering excitedly amongst themselves the other children run into the caverns. I walk in after them at a leisurely pace. What was one group slits into two then again into three and then four and so on. I continue on my own path, disconnected from my fellows, not bothering to keep track of them.

I wonder the Ice Caverns for what seem to be hours. At times I see one or two or my classmates and we pass each other by without a word.

With no sign of anything resembling a crystal I start to become more frantic. I move faster and with greater urgency. But it is to no avail and my crystal is no where to be found. More and more my time grows short.

As I begin to feel the temperature drop I see Falen. He seems to be holding something in his hands, cradling it as if were something of great value. I suppose that it is.

"Is that your crystal?" I anxiously ask Falen as I get near him.

"Yes," Falen says quietly. He looks up from his precious jewel at me. "Found yours?"

"No," I answer as Falen's crystal faintly glows. "I haven't seen anything but ice and rock."

Falen starts walking past me. "You better hurry up. I think you and Kira are the last ones in here."

"Uh-huh," I say as I resume my search. I don't care about who else is in here. I intend to do this on my own.

I continue along the tunnel until I come to an intersection and take a right. I can't be certain but something tells me that I'm near the far back end of the caverns. The tunnel slowly slopes upward and I reach the crest I can see Kira standing at the bottom of a large formation of rock and ice.

Kira, who looks to have been pacing back and forth in frustration, sees me and calls out my name. I decide to go see what she has to say and approach her.

"Haven't found yours?" she asks as I near.

"No," I answer as I look around. More rock and ice, nothing that looks like a crystal. It's also a dead end, so I'm going to have to turn around.

"I've found mine," Kira says as she looks up at the ice formations. "At least I think that it's mine." She points up at ledge near the ceiling. "Do you see the glowing?"

I follow her gaze up to that ledge, easily 50 feet above us. "No, I don't."

"Hm," Kira replies before shrugging. "Hey, will you help me up there?"

I look at her for a moment before I start walking away. "No. Why would you need my help?"

"There are no good handholds," she replies.

I look up and see that she's right. "Yeah, but I've got my own crystal to find."

"Come on, Janus," Kira pleads, "we're friends, you should help me. And I'll help you."

"Alright," I say as feelings of guilt start to overcome me.

I walk back over to Kira and start to look over possible paths to the ledge. I shake my head. "There's nothing. No good hand holds and no lower ledges that are big enough." I turn to Kira. "Are you sure that this is it?"

"I'm sure, absolutely," she answers without looking at me.

I continue to think it over in my head until an idea comes to me. "I'll throw you up there."

Kira looks at me in complete and utter surprise. "What?!"

"I'll use The Force," I reply.

For a moment Kira looks as though she'll reject the idea but then she seems to accept it. "OK, but just…be careful."

I focus my mind and hold my hands out towards my friend. "Don't worry, I will." I reach out with The Force and grasp her with its invisible power. Putting all my physical and mental energy into it I sling her up. Panting from the exertion, I look up as she sails up into the air. At about 45 feet up she begins to crest. Reacting quickly I reach out with The Force. For a moment I think that I fail as she begins to fall, but then she lurches and starts to float in place. My arms shake from the strain as I try to keep her suspended in the air.

"Um, Janus, do something!" Kira yells from above.

"I am!" I cry out as I close my eyes and concentrate harder. I begin to sweat as I push her gently upwards. I open my eyes and see Kira grasp the ledge with both hands. I let her go and she almost loses her grip as gravity reasserts its control. But she manages to hold on and pull herself up.

She disappears from view for a short while but then reappears, holding something, presumably her crystal, above her head triumphantly. "I've got it!"

I smile at her good fortune. "Good!" Then something distracts me. There is a sudden burst of light from behind Kira, silhouetting her before dimming and becoming a soft glow.

I stand there slack jawed for several seconds before I shake my head and get myself together. "Did you see that light?" I yell.

Kira looks around her, confused. "No," she answers.

"Well I did," I reply, "and it came from up there."

"Do you think it's your crystal?" Kira asks me.

"Yes," I answer immediately and confidently.

"Ok…and how are you getting up here?" the Tholothian questions.

I pace around, trying to think of a way up there on my own. I stop when I realize that I'll have to trust Kira with my life.

"I'm going to jump," I yell out.

"What? You can't jump this high!" Kira points out.

"Yeah," I reply, "that's why you're going to bring me up the rest of the way."

Kira is silent for a moment before confirming that. "Ok. Ready when you are."

I take several deep breaths and crouch down into a jumping position. Using The Force to fuel the muscles of my legs and to propel myself upward, I leap. I make it about 30 feet before I start to crest and Kira catches me telekinetically. I feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness as I slowly float upward with no control. An enormous sense relief comes over me when I land safely on the ledge and a winded Kira relinquishes her hold.

"Ok," I say, "I'm never letting you do that again."

Kira shrugs as she sits down and catches her breath. "Hey, I put my life in your hands, you should only be willing to do the same for me."

I realize what she's saying and silently berate myself for my own hypocrisy. I then notice the thin glow coming through the wall of ice and walk over to it. "It's here," I say as I run a gloved hand against the cold surface.

"Ok." Kira says, shifting into a kneeling position. "How are you getting to it?"

"The Force," I answer solemnly. I reach out with this invisible energy once more, searching for weak points in the ice. I start to pull at it and slowly cracks begin to form. Very quickly it begins to shake and we're knocked off balance.

Already kneeling low to the ground, Kira remains rooted. I'm not so lucky and stumble backwards, taking several steps towards the ledge. I teeter on the edge, feeling the empty air at my back, knowing that a fall here would be lethal. Kira grabs me by the wrist and pulls me back in, landing bodily on top of her.

I breath heavily as the shaking subsides, my head laying on her chest.

"Janus," Kira says.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Get off me."

In a moment of panic I roll off the girl and scramble to my feet. Getting my bearings straight I see the damage I had done to the wall. It isn't all that much, to be honest. A dent in the wall perhaps half a foot deep. But it was enough. Embedded in this new section of the wall was a blue crystal, glowing with its own light. I pull it out of its socket and marvel at it. I can feel the power within. These crystals, they're like The Force itself given physical form.

After I finish looking at my new treasure I put it in my pocket and realize that we're stuck 50 feet in the air with no safe way down. "Um, how are we going to get out of here?"

Kira notices something and walks to a spot in the wall that is noticeably more cracked than others. Sticking her hand into one of the larger fissures she pushes at it until it falls away rather easily, revealing a large chute.

"This might lead out," Kira says, her voice echoing.

I walk over and stick my head into our supposed escape route. It's more than big enough to fit one of us, seems to go quite a ways in either direction, and it's angled in such a way that it wouldn't be a straight fall down. "I don't know. It seems rather convenient, doesn't it?"

Kira shrugs her shoulders. "Let's just call it The Force."

With that she jumps into the chute, sliding downwards on her feet.

"Ah, come on," I say as I go in after her.

The chute goes for longer than I had expected, leveling out as it nears its end. For several minutes I slide down, light filtering through the surrounding ice. When I reach the bottom my slide down turns into a run, my momentum carrying me forward. Too late I see Kira standing against a wall, searching it for ways through. I can't stop running and I go straight into her, my momentum and the weight of both of us crashing through the ice wall.

As the shards of broken ice slowly float down from the air, I quickly pull myself off my friend. Getting my bearings I realize that we're at the entrance to the Ice Caverns. "Well, would you look at that."

"Yeah, but we're too late," Kira says as she pulls herself to her feet.

Indeed she's right. The entrance has been sealed over by ice. I walk over to it and peer through. I can barely make out figures on the other side of the new barrier. I look over my shoulder at the wall we had accidentally broken through earlier and decide that something similar could work here. Stepping back a few feet, I barge shoulder first into the obstacle. With a thud I bounce off, the wall no worse off for it.

I pace and forth quickly in front of the obstruction. "We're going to have to use The Force."

Kira looks up at the gigantic, solid looking wall. "I don't know, Janus. We've been stretching our abilities far enough today and we've gotten more than a little lucky." She shakes her head, looking defeated. "I'm…I'm not even sure that taking that thing down is possible."

"If we don't do it now we'll have to wait until sunrise, with no food or water." I pause and look at the ice surroundings. "And I'm willing to bet that this planet has long nights." I turn my attention to my friend. "Besides, I believe that we can do it."

Kira nods, looking more confident. "Alright."

"Focus all of your effort on a single spot," I say as we prepare. "Together, one, two, three." As one we push at the same point on the wall. There is a loud groan as it began to shake and flecks of ice began to rain down from the ceiling. After several seconds of this a large crack began to form, growing and spreading from the focal point of our attack.

"More!" I yell as I put my all into it. Everything disappears from my thoughts except this single spot on this wall, my will, and The Force. With a great final push the wall bursts, chunks breaking off and flying into the entrance chamber.

As bits of sparkling ice fall to the ground Kira and I stagger out, exhausted by our endeavors. I make it a few steps before I fall to my knees, Kira doesn't make it much further. Breathing heavily I look up to see Master Yoda walking towards us, smiling.

"Well done, younglings," he says as I pull myself into a sitting position, "completed your trial, you have."

"Wait," Kira says, "I thought you said we couldn't get through the ice."

"Contain you, the ice did," the diminutive Master says, "but trapped also by your own preconceptions, you were. Learned anything else, have you?"

Kira thinks about this for a moment. "That I should trust in my instincts."

Yoda turns to me and I realize that he wants me to answer too.

Taking a deep breath I try think of something, then the answer comes. "The Force is my ally," I look over at Kira, "but it doesn't have to my only one."

Yoda smiles and nods approvingly.

"What now?" I ask.

"You've done well," Obi-wan says, "but The Gathering is not yet over. Next you must use your new crystals to construct your lightsabers."

The gathered children celebrate at that, happy to be reaching such an important milestone in their lives as Jedi. I sit there confident, ready for the next challenge.