Chapter 3

Marik was heating up some food in the oven of the Levana's kitchen while the rest of the group was in the game room watching a holonet show. Marik peeked his head around the corner to watch Alanna. He gazed dreamily at Alanna for a long time. He watched her talking and laughing. Not only is she beautiful in form, but she also has a beautiful soul. I am truly blessed to have met such a lady. Suddenly, Alanna became aware of his gaze and looked over at him. Marik blushed and thought for a moment that Alanna would give him a condemning frown. Instead, she smiled back at him and winked.

Shiro looked over at Marik. "Hey, Marik…"

Marik continued to stare dreamily, not noticing Shiro.

"MARIK!"

Marik woke up. "Hm?"

"Is something burning?"

Marik's eyes went wide. "Oh frell!" He rushed over to the oven and saved the food just in time. After a few minutes of letting the roast cool, he set it down on the table and the group began to eat.

Between chewing, Shiro asked, "So, Marik, will it be hard to get the crystal?"

"It shouldn't be that difficult. I know how to get in without the Empire's troops seeing us. And after a year there, I know the mountain and cave system very well. We bought some climbing equipment so we'll be prepared."

Alanna gasped, "Wait a second. The Empire's on Ilum!"

Marik nodded, "Unfortunately. At least they were when I was there last. That is why Master Garen and I had such trouble leaving once we sought shelter there." Marik's voice caught a little at the mention of his former mentor. Alanna put a hand on his shoulder.

Kyra spoke up, "Think we'll see any gorgodons?"

Shiro raised an eyebrow. "Gorgodons? What are gorgodons?"

Kyra smiled, "They're…"

Marik cut in with a cough, shaking his head at Kyra, "I certainly hope not. Nasty pieces of work, they are. Sightings are rare but… you can never tell what may happen."

Alexia countered, "What do you mean 'we?'"

Kyra's head snapped back, "I just meant when Shiro, Marik and I go to the planet."

Alexia flushed with jealousy, "What makes you think you're going with Shiro?"

"Shiro wants me to go with him. Don't you, Shiro?" Kyra smiled at Shiro.

Shiro looked back and forth from Kyra to Alexia. "Ummmm…..Well Kyra did volunteer first. But if you also want to go, Alexia, I guess you both could go."

Alexia folded her arms.

"But it mostly depends on Marik. What do you think, Marik?"

Marik thought for a moment. "It could be perilous. And if we run into gorgodons, it will be a very serious situation. But if you feel up to the risk..."

"Then it is decided," Kyra answered.

Shiro noticed the tension in the air and thought it best to change the subject. "Will I have to undergo a Jedi Quest to obtain the proper crystal, Marik?"

Shiro referred the ancient Jedi method of obtaining the right crystal to use through meditating and sensing the will of the Force around oneself. The will of the Force would then direct the Jedi to the right crystal to take from the cave. Usually, the Jedi would then use this crystal for powering his lightsaber. But Shiro had a far more important task in mind for the crystal he selected. This crystal would help bring freedom to his fellow students. Undergoing the process to select the crystal included facing the darkness within one's self in a ritual known as a "Jedi Quest." Often the process would expose one's true fears and doubts and the Jedi would have to confront these to select the right crystal. But for Shiro this would not be as problem. He faced his demons daily.

"Perhaps."

"Sounds like another headache, but on the other hand, my whole life has been a Jedi Quest so there won't be much of a change, will there?"

Marik chuckled, "I guess not." He turned to Alanna and said, "I think that maybe you should stay on the ship. We can't actually land on Ilum or the Empire might find us. We'll need to use the speeder you have stowed on your ship to make it to the cliff of the mountain. It's too cold and dangerous to use the entire ship. You will need to pilot the ship and I'll contact you to let you know when to come pick us up."

Alanna nodded. "That is fine. Though it is small, my speeder has capabilities to travel from outer space to planet surface. There's enough room for you and the rest. I can program my computer to watch over the ship while I'm away."

"It would probably be wise to land somewhere lower than the cave we are climbing to, since the cold atmosphere might do damage to the ship."

"That's fine. I'm just worried about the dangers you will face climbing the steep rock face in the freezing cold."

Shiro cut in, "Yet it must be done. There's no way around it."

Marik nodded, "As Jedi, we were trained to sustain ourselves in many harsh environments. I have confidence the Force will protect us. Anyway, what good is a Jedi Quest without some danger involved?" He now spoke to Alanna more softly. "I am sorry that you cannot come with us. I just feel that this will be for the best..."

There was more that Alanna wanted to say but she chose to stifle her words. Shiro looked over at her. "Hey, Alanna!" he said.

Alanna turned. "Yes?"

"What I want is what I hate, why you give is why I wait. Those who quit are naught but fools, those who try are bound to lose. To own me you must set me free, and tell the truth yet lie to me. The secret is as clear as day, yet dark as night...What is it?"

Marik, who already knew the answer, cocked his eyebrow at Shiro, wondering what his game was.

Alanna shrugged. "You got me. That's another vague one."

"The answer is all over you and Marik. The answer is love."

Alanna looked at Marik. Marik looked at Alanna. Alanna looked back at Shiro. She bit her lip. No!, thought Alanna. I can't do this! I can't give in to love when I know I may lose them soon forever. Alanna stood up. "I…I'd better go prep the speeder for our journey to the planet surface." She hurried out of the room.

Marik watched her walk away, wanting to speak to her but afraid to try. He turned to Shiro and frowned. "Well that was uncalled for."

Shiro smiled sheepishly. "Heh, oops."

Alanna's mini-shuttle descended beneath the thick cloud cover of the planet Ilum. This desolate ice world was covered with many high mountain ranges and the fierce winds of constant snowstorms dominated the climate of the world. The ice planet was home to many of the Adegan crystals used in the construction of Jedi lightsabers. The caverns containing the crystals were long ago turned into a Jedi temple. The temple had been destroyed during the Clone Wars but there were still many caves in the high mountains. The trick was getting to one of these caves. The freezing cold and powerful winds disabled the systems of big ships that remained too long in the atmosphere near the peaks. In order to ascend to the crystal cave they had selected, Shiro and his group would be taken quickly in Alanna's mini-shuttle to an outcropping some feet below the cave, then they would have to make a difficult climb to the cave alone, using their tools and their wits.

"There!" said Marik, pointing to an outcropping. "That looks pretty good. Drop us off there, Alanna."

The mini-shuttle landed near an outcropping in the mountain face. The group pulled out climbing gear to scale the mountain. They had already dressed in fur coats and climbing boots.

Marik looked at Alanna. "I'll call you for pickup when we're done. And Alanna, don't let your guard down."

As Marik exited the ship with the group, Alanna stopped him. "Marik, wait!" She pulled him toward her and kissed his lips strongly. As they parted lips, Marik stared at her, aghast. "Be careful. Call me when you are ready to come back." Alanna closed the door to the shuttle and the shuttle ascended back into the sky to orbit the planet until signaled to return and pick up the group.

Marik stood in shock, watching Alanna go. After a moment, he looked down and saw Shiro standing next to him, grinning at him impishly. Shiro gave Marik a playful punch. Marik chuckled and turned to face the three teens. He sighed, "Alright. Let's get started."

The group put breathing masks over their faces. Alexia walked toward the cliff face and looked up at the ledge where the crystal cave was located. Then she took a sweeping gaze around her. "Well, we're in luck," she said. "No gorgodons."

Shiro spoke softly behind her. "It may not be that way for long. They may be hiding, just waiting for the chance... to POUNCE ON YOU!" He sprang at her playfully. Alexia screamed in delight and laughed. Shiro chased Alexia, who chased Kyra.

They giggled until Marik coughed, "Come on, you three. We've got a lot of work ahead of us." Marik pulled out a gun with a rope and a set of steel hooks at the end, looked up at the mountain face, and after picking what he thought was a good place for a hold, fired the hooks into the rock. Marik attached a rope with steel clips to himself and then to Shiro, Kyra, and Alexia.

Marik looked at the three. "Are you ready?" They all nodded. Marik carefully began to climb.

Inch by inch, foot by foot, the group slowly made their way up the top. All the while, the snowy winds moaned and howled and blew piercing cold air fiercely at them. Each member had a hard time gaining holds and footing because of the slippery ice. They had to use special grip gloves that extended claws into the surface when they flexed them just right.

Kyra's feet skidded on the icy rock. She gripped her rope to boost herself up. "I've never scaled this high before." She called out.

Marik talked to her without looking back. "You'll be fine." His muscles felt tense and sore but her plunged on knowing that if the rope came loose, he would have to use all his strength to hold on so that he and others would survive.

Shiro breathed carefully and paused while he climbs to gain his footing. "Just don't look down!" He looked back at Kyra and Alexia with a smile to cheer them on. As he did so, he suddenly lost hold of the rock and fell back, tugging ever harder on the rope, which was beginning to creak under the weight of the group. Marik looked down at him, frustrated.

Shiro smiled up at him "Oops!"

Then suddenly as Marik neared the top, he felt the rope slipping. He saw the hooks skidding for a hold. "Kids, grab hold tight! Grab hold of whatever you can!" Marik closed his eyes, gritted his teeth and used all his strength to pull himself over the ledge of the cave's outcropping.

Just as he was safe, he saw the rope, break loose. Marik stood up and pulled at the other end of the rope with all his might and Shiro climbed to the safe ground. He took a deep breath and used the Force to lift Kyra and Alexia up in the air and onto the ground. As soon as they were safe, Shiro collapsed near the ledge, breathing deeply and quickly.

Kyra and Alexia rushed over and shook Shiro. "Shiro?!" They cried out.

Marik brushed them aside. "Give him some air."

Shiro looked up at Marik. "Hey… Marik."

"I nearly thought I lost you there, brother."

"I… thought… you had too… brother."

The group waited for everyone to catch their breath. Then Shiro sat up and looked at the yawning cave before them. It looked like the icy mouth of some kind of beast, icicles hanging like teeth from the ceiling. "Whoa! That's it, eh?"

Marik nodded. 'Yes, this is it. It is the way that we escaped the caves before."

"I have to go in there and meditate or something?"

"Yes, as soon as we find the correct cavern." Marik entered the mouth and the rest of the group followed. They soon came to a split in the pathway, where three individual caves converged. Marik stopped and stood a moment in thought. Then he pointed at the tunnel on the left. "This one, Shiro. The crystals are in there." He beckoned Shiro to follow him. He turned to Kyra and Alexia. "Wait here until I return. Shiro must face this part of the journey alone. Shiro looked at his two friends.

"Good luck, Shiro," Kyra said.

Alexia patted him on the shoulder. "You'll do fine."

Marik and Shiro walked through the labyrinthine entrance. It was pitch black at first and Shiro had to feel his way against the walls. Then a bright light enveloped Shiro as he came to the end of the tunnel. Shiro squinted at first. Then he looked all around him. There were hundreds of crystals of green and blue, sticking out of the rock surrounding him and far above him.

Marik looked at Shiro. "This is the place, Shiro. We'll be just outside."

Shiro sat down and folded his legs. He closed his eyes. "I've been getting better at this since I met you, Marik."

Marik smiled. "That's good news." He walked back into the darkness of the tunnel.

Shiro calmed himself and entered a trance to pick the right crystal. Marik and the two girls waited outside at the main entrance to the cave.

After a long while, Marik felt a presence nearby in the Force. He looked around but he could see nothing. Unsure, he kept a hand on his lightsaber and continued to wait.

Inside, Shiro rose from his meditation and walked toward a green crystal in the wall. He pulled out his tools and slowly cut the crystal out of the rock. He opened his backpack and put it inside. Suddenly he sensed a presence and turned around quickly. There was a man with pale skin and dark tattoos over his face. His angry eyes burned into Shiro's soul. He ignited a red lightsaber and blocked Shiro's exit from the cave.

"Now you die!" he spoke.

"Wait a moment, Carnos!" said another voice. Out of thin air, the Sith agent Melkior appeared. "He deserves to understand our reason. He deserves that much." He lifted his hood and turned toward Shiro. "Hello, Shiro. Looks like we arrived just in time. Please, sit down. We have much to discuss."