Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
T W I N S A B E R S
Chapter Seven
Composed by, The Nova Scribes
Aln-Mai skidded into the training chamber, slightly out of breath.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, Master Skywalker. I was distracted with other things," Aln-Mai apologized, bowing respectfully to the Jedi Master.
"That's all right," Master Skywalker said, motioning for Aln-Mai to sit beside him.
"Aren't we going to practice with stun rods, Master?" Aln-Mai asked curiously.
"Not anymore," Master Skywalker replied with a small half-smile.
Aln-Mai's heart gave a double thump in his chest at those words.
"I want you to start constructing your lightsaber," Master Skywalker said.
Aln-Mai was excited beyond belief, but he managed to control the urge to leap into the air and whoop. "Yes, Master. I am familiar with the basic construction, but where am I to get crystals for it?"
Master Skywalker smiled. "In most cases, I would have students scour the jungle and surrounding temples for their crystals. However, in your case, I have something for you."
Master Skywalker reached behind him and pulled out a small containment device that required a code to open. Aln-Mai recognized it as being the same parcel given to Master Skywalker the day he had arrived at the Jedi Academy.
"When you were sent here by your poor parents, they had but one valuable. They decided that they did not have a direct need for it, and told me to give it to you when you had reached the appropriate time in your training," Master Skywalker explained as he punched in the code at the top of the box. With a hiss, it opened and deposited a glittering gem in the Jedi Master's lap. Aln-Mai sucked in his breath. It was a kaiburr crystal, the most sought out crystals in the galaxy for the construction of lightsabers.
"But Master," Aln-Mai protested, holding up the crystal, "It is too large to be put into a single lightsaber. How am I to use it?"
The Jedi Master smiled. "I leave that to you. I have only one precaution for you, though," he said as he stood up. "The kaiburr crystal focuses the energy so well that it has the power to cut through virtually any object, including the blades of other lightsabers, if they are poorly constructed." The Jedi Master lowered his head. "I already had that happen just a while ago, you might recall."
Aln-Mai remembered. The muscular red-haired girl, Tenel Ka, had had her arm severed because of a hurried construction of her lightsaber. It had failed in practice, and Jacen had accidentally cut off her arm.
"Yes, Master. I will get to work right away."
"Bring your lightsaber to me for inspection when you have finished it, just to be safe," Master Skywalker said.
"Of course, Master Skywalker."
He almost sprinted out of the chamber and came face-to-face with Kir.
"Kir! Guess what? I'm constructing my lightsaber!" he said with boyish enthusiasm.
"I see," Kir said, folding her arms across her furry chest. "And this is desirable?"
Aln-Mai stopped, looking puzzled. "Of course it is! It's one of the best parts of training to be a Jedi!"
"Is it not also dangerous?" Kir asked.
Aln-Mai was brought up short. "Well, yeah, it is. I suppose I shouldn't get all worked up about it." He took a deep breath to calm himself, then exhaled. "I need to find some casings about this long," he said, holding his hands about one and three-quarter feet apart.
"Why so long?" Kir asked curiously.
Aln-Mai smiled. "You'll see."
The young Jedi labored over the work table. This was not as easy as it looked.
Aln-Mai had studied the history of the Jedi arts carefully. He had studied old lightsaber fighting styles and new ones. He had examined readouts of ancient lightsabers and the principles behind their construction. Now, he believed he had the solution to his problem.
In the earliest days of the Jedi, many had become completely devoted to the study of the lightsaber. Some of the greatest fencers had used a lightsaber with two blades, one on either end. Aln-Mai realized that this was the answer.
He had been meticulously cutting the kaiburr crystal into two equal halves for the past half hour. He wanted to make sure that his lightsaber was a good one. He and Kir had been scouring all the old meeting rooms that had been used by the Rebel Alliance for three days and, together, they had found enough hard metal to contruct a long, rather slender handle for his lightsaber.
He finally cut through the crystal with the laser cutter. He switched it off, and carefully inserted one of the halves into the end of the saber, making sure all of the ends met. He fused the focusing lens into place over the crystal, then repeated the other procedure on the other side. Finally it was done. He laid aside his tools and picked up the weapon. He held it out before him and ignited one of the ends. A pure white blade erupted from the lightsaber with a hiss. He smiled, studying his handiwork. He ignited the other end, and the lightsaber became a deadly two-ended weapon. He twirled the saber above his head, and it buzzed through the air. He felt the throbbing power in the blade, and it energized him inwardly. He switched it off, and clipping it to his belt, rushed out of his room to show Kir.
In the few weeks that the Rinaim had begun studying at the Academy, she felt that she had learned much about the techniques of the Jedi. She had even managed to gain some old books on the subject from Aln-Mai and another girl whom she had met in a class conducted by Master Tionne. And, while Kir was normally very reserved, she had to admit that only the small portion she had read was enough to make her very excited.
She was poring over an especially dusty volume, constantly holding her breath to keep from sneezing. Kir, although she was used to the sterile environment and stern architecture of space stations, found her new home a very different and pleasant change. She had known very little of Rinai VII, for her parents had left it when Kir was very young. The young Rinaim had been told that her world was similar to places like Yavin, but she doubted it was as wild and untamed as this jungle.
From her comfortable, and what would seem precarious to most, perch on a narrow tree branch, Kir glanced around the lush vegetation and inhaled deeply. All in all, she did like it here. The surroundings did something to one's mind. They reminded her that there was life, both smaller and bigger than just her. Kir turned her attention back to her book. 'A Jedi respects all life, be it larger or smaller than they,' she read, and flicked one ear in amusement at her earlier thought.
Her study was interrupted by a sudden whistle. She cocked her ears and sat up straight, listening for the source of the sound, all her instincts on alert. The shrill sound came again, and Kir turned around fully on her perch only to see and sense too late the large bird dive-bombing her.
She yowled in surprise, tumbling off the branch at the flurry of feathers around her. Kir fell a good twenty feet to the ground and landed on all fours. A heavy object with a sharp corner struck her right shoulder, causing the muscle to spasm and go limp as her book bounced off her and hit the ground. Her right arm collapsed beneath her and Kir struggled to her feet, more surprised than hurt. She looked around her wildly for her attacker, claws splayed and teeth bared.
Her ears heard the fluttering of wings an instant before she registered the soft thump of a landing behind her. Kir froze for a brief instant, then turned with all of her fighting skills ready, her right arm still hanging useless at her side. The next moment, she found herself stuck in place, unable to move. The Rinaim found herself face to face with an aviatory alien, most likely a student, holding one winglike arm straight out in front of it. Faintly she could see bony fingers hidden within the feathers, and she understood that the other was holding her in place with the Force.
"I am sorry," the being trilled, "I did not intend to hurt you or cause you to fall. I merely wanted to surprise you."
Kir relaxed, some of her initial tension dissolving. She found herself released, and moved to recover Aln-Mai's book. It looked none the worse for wear, but when she opened it, a section of thirty pages or so fell out. "Oh, no. This was on loan to me from a friend. See what you've done!" she exclaimed, not knowing anything of how to go about mending the novel.
The other student cocked it's head and blinked before folding it's arms behind it. "I did apologize," it pointed out, "and if you were in tune with the Force you would have sensed me as I approached and not fallen."
Kir's temper flared and she snarled back, "Your apology does not fix my friend's book! And I am not trained enough yet to know how to be in tune with the Force all the time. This is only my first week here and it was going well until you came along."
The bird drew itself up proudly and puffed some of it's russet feathers up. "Do not talk to a Knight that way, Trainee."
Kir bristled at the insult and drew herself up, Aln-Mai's book tucked safely under her good arm. She knew that she should not react out of anger, but her instincts screamed to lash back. "If you are a Knight, then I respect your authority over me," she took a deep breath, "and I am sorry that I spoke to you disrespectfully."
The Knight looked at her with obscure, black eyes for a moment, and when Kir sensed that it had nothing else to say, she turned and left, feeling achingly beginning to return to her fingers.
Aln-Mai pressed the buzzer on Kir's door for the fourth time. No answer. He punched in the manual override and the door swished open. He poked his head in and looked around the room, which was, for the most part, completely devoid of any decorating objects. Kir was not in her room.
Aln-Mai scratched his chin, trying to think where Kir might be. His lightsaber thumped against his knee as he attempted to concentrate. Kir loved the jungle, so she could be outside the temple. She also might be in the library. Aln-Mai rushed down the hall to the temple entrance. He rounded a corner and collided full force with Kir, who stumbled backward, quickly regaining her balance.
"Kir!" Aln-Mai gasped rubbing his back where he had landed. "I just finished..." Aln-Mai stopped, seeing the upset look on her face. "What's wrong?"
Kir's ears drooped as she presented Aln-Mai with his ruined book. "I was reading your book in a tree and a bird Jedi, a Knight, surprised me. I fell because I wasn't in tune with the Force and I did not sense him. I spoke words to him that no Trainee would ever use, and...your book...I am sorry." She felt woefully ashamed and embarrassed to admit her fault.
Aln-Mai's face grew set, though with a slightly bemused twist to his lip. "We'll see about this." He blasted from the corridor at the full speed of the Force and was out of sight in a matter of seconds. Kir dashed down the hall after, hardly keeping pace. She had a feeling she knew where he was going, and ducked down a different passage, utilizing a shortcut that let high outside the Temple. She had just lauched herself through the window when she heard Aln-Mai's voice from down on the ground.
"TURRO!"
Kir quickly scanned the skies for the creature that had attacked her, and spotted the blur of feathers streaking toward the ground. The being flared its wings and alighted on the stone steps of the temple.
"Yes, Aln-Mai?"
"I think that you need to double-check with Master Skywalker about your level of training, Knight." Aln-Mai waved the book underneath the other student's nose.
The bird-creature called Turro stared at the book, then guiltily at Aln-Mai. "Sorry," Turro mumbled.
"Just don't surprise people when they're reading in trees. It could lead to a disaster. And please don't try and call yourself a Knight again. Word travels fast around here, and I'd hate to see the expression on Master Skywalker's face if he heard that students who had only been in training for a year believed that they were fully qualified Jedi Knights." Aln-Mai gave the creature a small smile. "See you later, Turro."
Aln-Mai turned and walked back into the temple, while Turro took wing with a dejected look on his face.
Kir scrambled down from her perch and raced back down the corridor, trying to beat Aln-Mai back to the spot where he had left her. She didn't want him to know that she had been eavesdropping on his conversation.
She rounded the corner, ever so slightly out of breath. Aln-Mai came into view a few moments later, still carrying the book with him.
"I've cleared the whole thing up, Kir. And just for future reference, there are no Knights at the Academy. The only fully trained Jedi on Yavin 4 is Master Skywalker."
"But your book..." Kir said, puzzled.
"Ah, that's no big deal. I can get it fixed, and I got for free. Not a loss, really." Aln-Mai stopped, and his expression grew excited. "Guess what? I finished my lightsaber!" He unclipped it from his belt and handed it to her, waiting expectantly for her approval.
Kir knew nothing of the making of lightsabers save for what she had read in Aln-Mai's books, but she took it and weighed in her hands nonetheless, pretending to check its balance and igniting both ends, studying them theatrically.
"It is the best lightsaber I have ever seen," she stopped at the look of delight on her friend's face, and then Kir finished her sentence, "but that is because it is the only lightsaber I have ever seen."
Aln-Mai's face fell, and Kir flicked one ear forward in amusement.
"Do not worry, Aln-Mai. In my culture, we would say that I have just pulled your tail. I was joking," she reassured him. "It is a fine lightsaber, but in my studies, I only recall a use of this type of lightsaber by the Sith order. Is it safe?"
Aln-Mai bobbed his head in affirmation. "It has been used by Jedi, but very long ago, in the infant days of the Old Republic. Master Skywalker left it up to me how best to use the crystal. I had debated between this design or a two-lightsaber fighting style. I decided to do this. I think I can handle it..." he smiled wryly, "...with enough training, that is."
"I see," Kir said. She personally believed that handling such a dangerous weapon was beyond even Aln-Mai's ablilites, but she kept her doubts to herself.
"Come on, I'm supposed to show Master Skywalker so he can inspect it. Let's go!" Aln-Mai said, tugging at her arm.
Kir followed Aln-Mai down the corridor to the lightsaber training arena, where Master Skywalker could usually be found. There were other students there, all practicing with their own lightsabers. A couple glanced at Aln-Mai and Kir, some with puzzled expressions on their faces as they noticed the unusual proportions of Aln-Mai's lightsaber.
Master Skywalker was on the other side of the arena, overseeing practice. Aln-Mai noted that it was Jacen and Jaina Solo who were dueling against each other. He walked around the chamber to him, being careful to stay out of the other students' way. He stepped up to Master Skywalker.
"Excuse me, Master Skywalker, but you told me to present my lightsaber to you when I was finished with it," Aln-Mai said.
Master Skywalker motioned for Jacen and Jaina to stop, and turned to Aln-Mai. "Already finished?" he asked.
"Kir helped me find the parts I needed, so the work went a little faster," Aln-Mai explained.
"Oh," Master Skywalker said. "Well then, let me see how you did."
Aln-Mai unclipped the long weapon from his belt and handed it over. He noticed that Jacen and Jaina stared at it with curiosity, but Master Skywalker seemed unperturbed, turning it over in his hands, testing the strength of the casings. He did not ignite it.
"Very well, let's see how you do with it in practice. Jacen, come and see if Aln-Mai did a good job with his lightsaber."
Jaina stepped away from Jacen as Aln-Mai took a neutral posture, facing Jacen. Jacen grinned as he ignited his green lightsaber. The grin quickly dissolved as both ends of Aln-Mai's lightsaber flamed into deadly white edges. He stepped away from Aln-Mai, protesting.
"Uncle Luke..." he began, but Master Skywalker cut him off.
"Why did you choose that design, Aln-Mai?" he asked.
"I read about it in several history books, and thought it was a good idea," Aln-Mai explained.
"I see. Aln-Mai, why don't you watch, since you haven't practiced with it yet," Master Skywalker said, stepping forward and taking the lightsaber from Aln-Mai.
Aln-Mai's stomach twisted with disappointment at not being able to duel Jacen with his lightsaber, but he bowed submissively and stood against the wall next to Kir, who was wearing an 'I-told-you-so' expression on her face.
Master Skywalker hefted the lightsaber, testing the balance, then held it in front of his chest, running diagonally down from left to right-a defensive posture. From that position, all Master Skywalker had to do was move it slightly to deflect any incoming attack.
Jacen swung downward at Master Skywalker's right shoulder, and Master Skywalker brought the end up to deflect it. The blades crashed together with a flash of light and a crackle of sound. Aln-Mai knew that he had the advantage in a lightsaber lock, because his longer handle offered better leverage.
Master Skywalker quickly spun the saber counterclockwise and directed an attack at Jacen's left shoulder, which he barely blocked before Master Skywalker reversed the direction of his attack, using the other end to assault Jacen's thigh. Again, Jacen barely had enough time to deflect it before Master Skywalker had spun the blade clockwise and was attacking Jacen's other shoulder. Aln-Mai's eyes widened as he realized the full potential of his weapon. Following a single deflection, Master Skywalker had taken the offensive and was driving Jacen backward.
Master Skywalker pivoted away from Jacen, returning to his original defensive posture. "Jaina, would you please join your brother?" he asked, not changing his stance.
It took Jaina a moment to realize what Master Skywalker had said. "You want us both to attack you, Uncle Luke?" she said uncertainly.
"Precisely," he said. "I'm trying to show Aln-Mai all the benefits of the weapon he chose."
Jaina stepped up next to Jacen and ignited her lavender blade. They looked at each other, then they swung, both of them going for opposite shoulders.
Master Skywalker didn't even hesitate. He spun the saber in front of him, deflecting Jaina's blow down and Jacen's blade upward. He continued the spin, bring the saber down across his chest, aiming a blow a Jaina's shoulder. She quickly brought her blade up, turning the other saber aside. Master Skywalker rotated the saber the opposite direction, attacking Jacen's right arm from below. Jacen swung his saber down, parrying the blow.
Aln-Mai watched in fascination as Master Skywalker held both Jacen and Jaina in check, even causing them to defend themselves as the twins attempted to force the Jedi Master off-balance. They had absolutely no success whatsoever.
Kir watched the entire exchange, ears cocked and swiveling, whiskers trembing in excited anticipation. She didn't want to miss even a millisecond of the exchange. Master Skywalker had never seemed so.deadly. For a species with no natural weapons such as teeth and claws, humans' ablities and skills were quite impressive. As the daughter of galactic emissary, few things surprised her, and Master Skywalker was one of those things.
The Jedi Master's gyrations with Aln-Mai's lightsaber grew quicker and more precise, and Kir was sure that if he pressed his attack any further, then Jacen and--Jaina, was it?--would be hurt. She let her eyes drift to her friend for a moment. Aln-Mai's expression was one of awe and hunger. Indeed, his lightsaber held incredible potential, but he needed to learn to master the techniques and advantages it offered him. Kir wondered offhandedly if Master Skywalker woud allow him to keep it. She thought it much too dangerous for Aln-Mai to handle, but then she was a student as well, and not a teacher.
Glancing back to the three fighters, she saw that Master Skywalker had halted and was holding the double-bladed saber in the position he had first started in. He then deactivated the twin blades as Jacen and his sister imitated him.
The Jedi Master handed Aln-Mai his weapon. "A well-engineered lightsaber, Aln-Mai. However, I am going to put a restriction on you, just for now. Only use your lightsaber in the classical configuration, that is, one blade only. You and I will practice dueling with both blades later. Now," he said, motioning Jacen and Jaina against the wall, "let's see how you handle yourself."
Master Skywalker removed his own lightsaber from his belt, activating it and holding it at his side, waiting for Aln-Mai.
Aln-Mai stepped up, activating it, and performing the traditional Jedi salute, braced himself for Master Skywalker's attack. He held his hands far apart on the handle, giving him maximum leverage and speed.
Master Skywalker came at him, directing his attack at Aln-Mai's neck. Aln-Mai parried easily, and aimed a thrust at Master Skywalker's abdomen, which was similarly deflected. They traded blows, neither gaining an advantage over the other. Aln-Mai's lightsaber design made up for Master Skywalker's clearly superior abilities with a lightsaber.
As Aln-Mai stopped a blow to his forearm, an idea occurred to him, and he decided to up the ante. He tapped into the Force, adding its power to his movements, giving him more speed and strength. Master Skywalker anticipated his actions and did likewise, delivering three rapid blows at blinding speed, all of which Aln-Mai deflected without difficulty. Aln-Mai opened himself to the Force, drawing upon all his knowledge of it. The Jedi Master didn't miss a beat, and the sounds of their battle blended into one constant shriek of lightsaber on lightsaber.
Kir was holding her breath, tail wrapped tightly around her waist in her unconscious anxiety. A thrill of excitement whipped through her as she watched her friend duel with her Master. Jacen and Jaina stood beside her, similarly motionless in awe. The Rinaim knew that both were skilled with a blade, but they had never encountered anything quite like Aln-Mai's saber.
Aln-Mai's movements got quicker as he defended, thrust, and blocked again. His shoulder-length hair, held only in check by a leather headband, whipped about his face as he jumped a stroke meant for his legs. Kir could almost see the Force flowing through him. Her body trembled with repressed energy as she watched the student and the Master.
Luke Skywalker was holding his own, testing what the younger man had learned. The longer handle of Aln-Mai's lightsaber gave him the advantage of leverage and balance, though he fought with just one sword. Then the Master's frenzied blows intensified, signaling his own grasp of the Force.
Back and forth the two went, locked in a graceful dance orchestrated by a power Kir was only beginning to understand. Master Skywalker and Aln-Mai moved with an unheard rhythm, in tune with the Force to such a point that they had let all other reality leave them. She could see it in the way they ignored all distractions, even when a student across the room shouted something in a language Kir couldn't identify.
Kir thought that certainly both had to be tiring, but neither seemed to be willing to budge an inch. If any ground was taken, it was soon regained. It looked to her to be a stalemate, but then she did not know everything of Jedi fighting.
At long last, after an eternity, the duet of shrieking lightsabers ceased. The young Rinaim was surprised to find that there was no air in her lungs. Mechanically, she forced herself to inhale. The stunning display of keen skills honed to near-perfection had left her breathless, not to mention speechless. And that was something that almost never happened to Kir of the Ver tribe.