Chapter XXII

Ilum, Crystal Cave

The old Crystal cave called to Ian. The cold wind whipped against his Jedi Robes, only the Force kept his body warm, or another human would have easily died. His Master Obi-Wan Kenobi stood a few feet behind him, his hand upon his shoulder, "you must enter alone, I cannot go with you,"

Ian nodded, and felt the darkness that echoed within the cave.

"Are you ready Ian?" asked Obi-Wan.

Ian nodded, "I am ready to enter," he entered the cave.

The slushy snow from outside of the cave squished and sloshed beneath his leather boots. Ian was silent as he felt and heard the cold wind still nipping at his neck and back, glancing slightly over his shoulder his master still stood outside watching him.

Ian shook of his fears and continued on, he had remembered the stories of the visions one would see while in the cave. The Force's strong hold on the cave would drive them into one's perceptions, their thoughts, mind and heart, until they believed what they saw was real.

Ian refused to allow this non-living thing control him, "nothing shall control my destiny but me," he said adamantly to the howling wind.

He stopped for a second and rethought his lightsaber's construction, soon enough after he had his crystals it would be complete, and he would be a real Jedi. Not an apprentice, or student, or hopeful, or padawan, but a real Jedi.

He glanced over his shoulders again to see if his master was still there, but he was gone, perhaps to start up the ship and reset its temperature gage, he guessed, turning back to the cave, his master stood before him.

"Turn back Ian," said Obi-Wan, "you cannot become a Jedi, you are too weak, return to the ship now,"

Ian was shocked, his master was before him, telling him to quit, "no," he replied, "master I can do it," he then started as Master Windu walked out of a cavern, his lightsaber activated and his robes tattered.

The revered Jedi Master sneered at Ian, "you cannot possibly expect us to allow you to become a Jedi Knight now do you?"

Ian took a step back, more surprised at Master Windu's appearance in the cave than his words, "I thought you were at Jadir Prime Master Windu,"

"We were recalled, we lost the battle, Master Secura and the other non-humans were killed, I barely escaped with my life," he replied nonchalantly.

Ian looked shocked, "what-wait," he replied, as knowledge and understanding dawned upon him, "you are both illusions," he continued past them, unstopped and unchallenged.

A few minutes later he reached the Crystal chambers, he watched as they glittered beautifully before him, "yes," he said rushing forward to grab a beautiful blue one, it refused to budge.

"Oh yea, the crystals must choose me," he muttered, turning around.

He grew silent in the Force and allowed it to wash over him, in quiet meditation he felt something calling to him, a crystal, he turned as two fell to the floor, an icy-blue, more like a glacier.

He called it to him with the Force and it came to him, it was perfect to fit into his lightsaber hilt, opening the crystal chamber, he snapped it in, and clipped it back into the hilt. Holding the lightsaber with an easy grip he touched the activation plate lightly, it hummed as it gave a snap-hiss and the pale blue blade extended, "marvelous,"

Ian admired the blade and did a few practice slashes, "great," he turned to leave and felt a dark presence, "oh no, trouble," he raced outside.

Obi-Wan's lightsaber activated as he felt it in the Force, and three Death Seekers appeared, "well hello there," he said before entering into battle.