The Crystal Cave (Talmic, Anyone)

[Isus Jarode]

'I don't exactly like hovering over a Jedi infested world, but here 'goes nothing!'

The thought was instantaneous along with Isus Jarode's natural reflex as his right hand clicked in the final coordinate sweep flying over the landscape of the planet Dantooine. When Isus had fallen out of Hyperspace had had expected to find a poorly recovered world, its surface formerly burned and deformed from the alien configurations of Yuuzong Vong occupation. Now Isus was beginning to suspect that the discovery of Force-sensitive Vong just after the war had granted the Jedi Order with the tools they needed to completely clear the beatious planet of that monstrous race's taint.

To the truth, Isus had rarely ever been to Dantooine before the invasion. In his days as a youth, the Jedi Academy had been housed on the forst moon of Yavin, officially titled as Yavin IV. The moon itself was never truly destroyed, yet after the Vong were defeated and the Jedi in need of a more defended fortress, the galaxy renowned planet Ossus served as the headquarters of the Order for a time, and by Solis Fay'den's orders, the official Academy returned to Dantooine, a place that had supposedly not seen such a presence in four thousand years.

Now in complete clearing from the atmospheric entry, Isus decreases the power of the multiple hyperdrive engines of his Corellian Frigate to meet environmental procedures. He knew it was rather odd that he planned on landing his enormous red contraption planetside, but he needed a place to stay during his trip; besides, he would prefer his ship to the Jedi Academy any day.

Passing the Termination (Twilight) line and coming near the infamous Crystal Cave entrance at last. The view from high altitude was still relatively impressive; four thousand years of excavation and protection had granted the now massive Kinrath race an extensively large nesting ground. The species had extended its spider-like appendages all across the grassy world, creating hundreds upon hundreds of small infestations. Yet on the southern most continent, supposedly farthest from the Jedi Academy, lay an extremely large canalwork.

Reaching out for nearly one hundred kilometers lay what seemed to be a barren crater of rocks, several boulders peaking out from the earth; surrounding the brown-orange rock and dust were the race that sternly cut through the world to build their ultimate homage: the Kinrath. A species of sturdy fleshed, eight legged spider like mammals that used numbers and close quarters combat to kill their prey. Not a very dangerous species on the plain, yet in their caves...

Finding a clearing a few dozen meters from the crater was easy enough: a miniture valley filled with grazing beasts and the occassional bird. Landing briskly a few moments later, Isus powers down the Ragnorak and activates the automatic self-defense turrets stationed on the underbelly. It was designed not to immediately fire.... at least until it found a particular target as hostile.

Sitting back in his plush chair, Corellian native Isus Jarode, former Jedi, former Sith, current Gray Jedi and yet also a worthless old man, sits idly by, waiting for something useful to arrive at its appointment.

[Talmic Jarac]

It was only a few hours from the suspected deadline Talmic had set up for himself. The time was early morning, around 4-5 AM by his guess, on a 24 hour clock that is. To most it would the very peak of sunrise over the Jedi Academy on Dantoonie, when most would either be in sleep or deep meditation. Talmic Jarac however was one of the few in deep meditation. His mind was spread out all over the edges of Dantoonie, the extreme sap on his body apparent as beads of sweat rolled off the young Padawna's brow.

I know you'll be here soon, you aren't one to be... wait... what's that... could it be.. it is!

Talmic's eyes snapped open as he felt a disturbance, a small prick on the outer edges of his mind. Only Talmic would be one to sense this presence, well maybe some of the masters if they had also been in this deep a trance, but Talmic highly doubted it. Quickly moving off his bed Talmic gathered up what he knew he would need. He grabbed a small rucksack, twin light saber hilts stashed inside, eagerly awaiting their new crystals. Enough food rations for a week and two bottles of water, pure and simple. Talmic was traveling very light this way and could travel very fast as well.

Turning to his footlocker Talmic opened it up to reveal the armor from one months ago. Also there was a new set of clothes, ones that would allow Talmic to pass as a normal citizen of Dantoonie. Smiling to himself at his strategy Talmic donned the armor and then slipped his new outfit over all of it, the pants a bit tight but none the less the armor protecting stayed. The chest plate was very obvious, with no tunic on Talmic merely had the long trench coat that came with the outfit on. On each forearm rested Talmic's newest Jedi gear, cortosis weave arm guards. Talmic had also relieved those form their mutual enemy back on Coruscant, the stupid creature to stupid to realize what they truly were.

"All set, lets go."

Talmic rounded the door to his room and met no one in the hallway. Quickly but quietly making his way out of the sleeping temple Jedi Padawan Talmic Jarac started the long journey to the place where he felt Isus Jarode, Grey Jedi.

- a few hours later -

Talmic stopped by a low waterfall and filled up his water bottles, taking careful time to check for anything damaging Talmic gulped down some water and then let out a satisfactory sigh. It was already late morning, the Dantoonie sun beating down on him from afar, Talmic had no choice but to continue on. His sabers were at stake here, and the guns on each of his hips attested to that. Talmic had gotten rid of the repeater rifle in favor of two smaller blaster pistols. Just as effective for what he needed but less weight. Talmic, standing only 5'10" was a bit short and a bit underweight to wield such a heavy weapon as a repeater rifle. Either way, the blasters worked out fire and in the limited training he had gotten with them h was about 79% accurate Of course, switching from a light saber to a blaster was hard, even for one as adept in battle as Talmic.

- late that night -

Talmic silently thanked whatever Force was watching over him and started his descent into the low valley, the fields below dark and lit only by the single moon of Dantoonie (I think so at least). Slowly fallowing a shallow path down Talmic drew one of his blasters as he approached the red ship before him, a frigate by the looks of it. It wasn't that hard to find, not with the recent training Talmic had undergone. With a bit of Isus' help and that of Master Solis Talmic had increased his force potential greatly, and was now leaning more toward a sentinel type Jedi. However his home would always be the battlefield, so Talmic chose to remain a Guardian.

Finally reaching the large craft Talmic holstered the gun and set his hand on the grip, just in case. Slowly approaching Talmic noted several automated turrets on the hull and gulped, without a saber he would fall apart in one shot from those massive guns. Reaching out with his mind Talmic searched, and was rewarded with a familiar mind. Speaking through the force Talmic TRIED to reach Isus, although his experience with telepathy was limited, to that of just once with Isus.

Teacher, are you there?

[Isus Jarode]

Enjoy your hike?

Isus Jarode smirks jovially at the detection of his newfound "Apprentice", Talmic Jarac. The young man was standing rather stiffly (obvioulsy because of the large defense turrets), and had just called out to Isus through the Force. Standing up from his comfortable plush couch on the second level of the landed Frigate, Isus deactivates the holovid - which had been previously playing out a thirty year old Corellian film revolving around a well known myth, a 'Superhero'. While the myths most likely began in relations to millennia-old Force wielders, Isus found it amusing that the extraordinary system still held firmly to the old tall tales.

Walking down a set of formalized stairs to reach the lowest level that stationed the atmospheric entry and his [Prowler's[/i] hangar area, Isus decides to make a quick spot at the security station. From there, Isus targets the cameras of the defensive turrets onto the form of Talmic, and orders a full body scan for the Friend-Foe databank. After memorizing the body structure, heat signature, and formal facial recognitions of the young man, the defense system announces his title as a 'friendly'.

Smiling broadly, Isus speaks out to Talmic, No need to fear the turrets, they seem to like you now. Meet me at the entry gate, its just on your right.

Following the hallway onward to the gateway, Isus presses in the decryption keys to unlock access.

A moment later, the fatigued form of Talmic Jarac, dressed in common attire for the hike, stands only seven feet away in the Dantooine shadows.

"Welcome aboard my student! Welcome to the Ragnorak! Come along, I'll show you to your quarters for the night."

Stepping aside for a moment, Isus allows Talmic to step inside, allowing Isus to seal the ship from the outdoors. Turning back to his Apprentice, Isus smiles in a laugh, "You actually hiked all the way here? Heh, I would have easily accepted a transport, but hey, you Guardians were always the 'tough' ones."

Stepping away and leading on, Isus takes step by step of his metallic spiral staircase as if in some formal ceremony; it was obvious how much he truly loved being the Captain of his own vessel.

Upon entering the second level (just for reference, the small Frigate is composed of five levels and one belly level, level number moving upward) Isus takes a right turn through the typical white hallways to find a single door, its frame built in traditional ship-waring fashions.

"Here's your room for the night, have a good night, I'll be leaving you to get to regain as much energy as possible, because tomorrow I won't be allowing you to use much of the Force at all to hunt for those crystals. Meditate if you need, but meet me down in the hangar at 0900 hours.

Nodding to his student, Isus leaves him be, to do what he wishes.

*****

Like Isus had noted, the morning thereafter began early on at exactly 0900 hours. When Talmic was ready to join Isus Jarode in the hangar compartment, his eyes would catch a scene of an old rustic man trodding about in a heavy set of old Medium Armor passed down to him from his father: a slightly crimson flesh of metal and cloth, running from shoulder to foot. Sitting down at the base of a crate lay a matching crimson and white full body helmet, its visor running down the center in an oval-rectangular geometry. Sitting on that crate was Isus himself, his right hip holstered to his traditional DL-44 Corellian Blaster Pistol, his left hip plated with battery charges, a detection device, and a holopad. In his hands was a modified Czerka Semi Rifle, with Tri-light attachment and an added attachment for close range assaults. Isus's current dealings were in cleaning the scope of some debris, but Isus's right laser eye looks up brightly to his young student.

"Ready to blast a few Kinrath?"

[Talmic Jarac]

Soon enough a reply came over the link, that of his new teacher. Talmic smiled a bit as he soon replied again with a little joke, the turrets now recognizing him as friendly Talmic took his few steps right and was rewarded soon after as the door opened to the rather expensive looking ship. How much money did this man have? You would think one would be fine with just the necessities but then again Talmic had never known anything but the necessities, something this nice was rather awe inspiring.

"You certainly keep nice things about you Teacher."

Talmic said walking into the ship, his armor seeming a bit to big for him. He had done his best to form it to his own frame but sadly the armor was just bit big, thankfully the arm guards fit fine or he would have been very agitated. Those cortosis weave arm guards were going to be his saving grace, and he knew it. He had already worked out a nice little system of blocks and counters using practice blades and the arm guards.

Soon enough though Isus had led the young Guardian to his quarters, a nice little room in a second floor hallway that looked about as average as any ships quarters. Thanking Isus and bowing as the old man walked off Talmic tapped the pad and opened up the door. Inside it was rather nice, much more than he got at the Academy, and he was soon down to his tunic and pants, and fast asleep on the bed only minutes after the armor came off.

*****

The next morning at about 0730 hours Talmic awoke with a yawn and a crack of the neck. His muscles were a bit sore from the constant hiking yesterday and his feet were definitely going to be sore by the end of today. It was no surprise though, he had spent more than 16 hours hiking yesterday and it showed in his tensed arms and legs. He sat up and immediately crossed his legs. Settling into a meditative stance he closed his eyes and focused.

He let his consciousness flow out of him and into the ship, the world, and even into the air. Soon enough he was completely relaxed and ready to take on the day, no matter what it offered up to him. He was also a bit excited now, maybe they would find his crystal today, or maybe they would find what used to be a crystal cave today. There was a thought, if so many Jedi had come before him, so many had sought out crystals here... what if there were none left? Oh great, he may have just hiked half way across the world (or what felt like it) to come to a place with zero crystals.

Sighing to himself it was 0900 when Talmic entered the same room as Isus, fully garbed in his armor, the two blasters on his hips, and a rucksack on his back. Rummaging around thew the sack as he came in Talmic quickly found what he sought and produced a single saber hilt, the looks of which were simple. The actual grip was constructed of what looked like rubber weave, probably off the hilt of the repeater rifle. It's custom style grip meant that it would be comfortable, but at the same time practical for use reverse blade or regular blade style. The rest was smooth except for the activator plate, safety switch, and at the very end was what looked like a bulb of sorts. From here would the blade itself come, and it gave the overall look a very refined yet simple look.

"Yes actually and I have a hilt for whatever crystal we find out here, the other one I have a special plan for, that I'll need to go to Tattoine for. But for now, one saber would be a blessing of the Force."

Talmic quickly put the hilt away and soon he was ready to go, all suited up, fed from the rations in his pack, and armed with his twin blasters. He didn't know where the old man would lead him, but wherever it was it had better be to crystals.

[Isus Jarode]

"Tatooine? Should I even ask?" Isus' head had suddenly jerked up at the sound of the world's name; there was no problem with it, the world was just.... well...

"How does a person describe Tatooine any better than dull? What do you need to go to Tatooine fo..."Isus' face had been filled with utter confusion for a brief instant, then terrible fear, "Wait... you're joking! You're after a Krayt Dragon? A Krayt Dragon?! Do you.... ah hell, I give up..."

Isus drops his Sniper Rifle onto the crate for a moment before grunting, "You young kids are stubborn to change your minds these days." Sighing with frustration, Isus picks up the Rifle again, this time throwing the entire barrell and firing chamber over his shoulder, his right hand holding onto the strapping, "I'd better come along to make sure you don't get yourself swallowed up like a fool. Besides, we can at least try to kill the thing with this rifle here. Now..."

Heading towards the entry door and opening the hull, Isus nods forth, "Come on, we're taking a pair of speeder bikes as far as we can before having to leave them behind. I've already unloaded them. We just need to zoom off about thirty kilometers east until we hit the rough terrain, and then hike up about five or six kilos until we find a smaller entrance. From there, we blast our way down to the crysal shafts, grab ourselves whatever we need, and bail out like fools before the Kinrath Matriarch takes notice of us."

Stepping through the door and waiting for Talmic Jarac to pulse through, Isus locks the entrance shut, allowing the turrets to activate in complete stationary. Motioning to the pair of Corellian speederbikes - a somewhat streamlined, blue and black model frighteningly similar to the Imperial models. Taking a step over his own bike and activating the repulsorlifts, Isus nods to Talmic to follow.

"This place can get pretty confusing, so if you get lost, don't feel afraid to use the Force to find me. But I'd prefer you to try and rely on as much of the technology as possible this time. You'll learn not to rely on the Force as much. Just don't get your self killed."

Twisting the grips forward, Isus feels the sudden jolt as his bike throttles forward, the grassy plains rapidly degenerating into barren orange rock and clay. The skies were still filled with that blue-violet glow of the atmosphere, the golden sun beating down on the rocky pillars rising up from the dirt.

For about two hours Isus zips through crevasses and deep ridges of clear passage, his navigation not from the Force, but through year old sattellite imaging. His eyes constantly darting between the map sensors and the regions around them, Isus felt more than tempted to use the Force. Yet every time his mind questioned it, he denied access.

Finally, after a long and mostly dull flight, Isus deactivates his bike, taking a step out and looking upwards to the hike above. Removing his Rifle and checking the scope, Isus only grins, "Been a while since I've had a good hunt..."

[Talmic Jarac]

Talmic blinked a couple times as Isus went on his little rant about hunting Krayt Dragons. Sure it was dangerous and reckless and probably the stupidest thing Talmic had ever thought up. OK well it wasn’t the stupidest idea, there was tat one time on the cliff at the academy when he figured he would be able to catch that tree limb off the edge. Sadly he missed and spent the next two days in a becta tank recovering from a 50 foot fall onto sharp pointy things.

Now however Talmic wondered why exactly the old man would be tagging along, it wasn’t like Talmic was going to need him. The company was welcome mid you, and having something like a extra set of hands would come to be useful, but he already had one person coming along. Now there was something Talmic had yet to address and wouldn’t until the old man and him were done. It was best to leave thoughts like that until after the whole fighting for our lives for some crystal thing.

So they were to set off, taking speeder bikes it seemed to reach their next destination, which Talmic had no idea was. Hopefully it would be close by and they could get there and back in no time, maybe even make only a morning out of it ad return in time to have a peaceful afternoon. Oh yes, a relaxing afternoon was something he had not had in a long time.

While on the bikes Talmic was pretty good about staying close, only loosing his way once and then feeling out Isus, who it turned was just a few feet over and Talmic had totally missed him. Nearly loosing it once, nearly crashing into a boulder, and the usual fears that came with a speeder bike accompanied Talmic as they road, and road, and road some more.

By the force this is taking a long time! How far away are we? I know we’ve past two points already where he could have set that ship down fine and not have had to worry about anything. So why in the name of the Force did he set down so far away?!

About the time Talmic thought this they came to a stop, an imposing climb ahead of them. Talmic slowly got of his bike and retightened his rucksack down, the contents shaking a little. He still had plenty of food, plenty of water, and both saber hilts, as well as several medical boosters and extra parts for the guns. Coming up behind Isus Talmic let out a low whistle at the climb, they were going to take a bit longer.

“So up this little hike is our cave eh?”

[Isus Jarode]

"You got it kid." Isus Jarode quipped back in earnest, his hands flowing over his bike's controls to deactivate and lock down the vessel for its long loneliness. Isus' rifle had been tucked over his right shoulder at the moment, yet once he was finished his business, he turned on his heel to look upward. His left eye twinkled in keen interest for the fights that lay before them inside that cave.

Smiling to his 'Apprentice', Isus steps around his bike and begins the journey, following a somewhat wild and curved path that led around the far hill. Isus could hear his Apprentice following behind him, and as they completed their revolution of the hill curve, Isus relieves his weapon from his shoulder and prepares a shot; a Kinrath Furrower was just thirty meters ahead. Placing the Tri-Light Scope to his laser eye, the result is the green and blue of the scope igniting into one luminous red, and aiming upon the target like a liner. The creature never takes notice.... until the bright green bolt of light crashes unto its neck and slices its breath short.

Holding the rifle to his shoulder for another brief moment, Isus listens for any sort of reaction from nearby Kinrath, but nothing comes in return. Satisfied with the reaction, Isus Jarode drops his weapon to waist level for now and holds the median of the weapon with his right hand firmly. He makes no notice or check to Talmic Jarac; they needed to move onward.

For the next forty minutes the two hike, trot and drop, their escalation moving ever higher, but the occasional hangover forcing some awkward landings. The two would only come across about half a dozen more furrowers, thanks to the path that Isus had chosen; the entrance they would use was small and isolated, yet he sensed a small pool of crystals that would fit their needs just fine.

Whatever those needs Talmic inclined on however, that was another story.

At last the two were at the entrance, yet Isus knew that both he and his companion were not even close to exhausted.

"I merely took a leisurely way to make you suffer with impatience kid..." Isus laughs with a smirk, "Now.... I hope you're good with your shot Jedi boy, because this is the real thing now!"

Pulling his rifle towards himself and flicking the Semi-Auto sequence, Isus leans into the relatively small eighteen-meter cave entrance and peers inward, his laser eye penetrating the far off darkness....

And catching the attention of a group of Kinrath.

"Hehe, fun time!" Isus yells out, bringing the scope to his right eye and piercing down into the cave mouth, his tri-light beam catching notice of the large wave of the beasts coming forward.

'A good two dozen... this should be interesting...'

Fortunately the group of raiders were about four hundred meters into the cave, and the two Jedi were inclined on a high perch, giving them the eased advantage to slay the creatures. As the first half dozen lead onward, their Viper-red flesh implementing with the scope, Isus fires off his first three-round burst of green fire, catching the side of one Kinrath and forcing it down. Instantly rearing his weapon to the right a bit, Isus fires another burst, taking down another creature.

"Take care of the other four, I'll start work on the others!" Isus commands to Talmic as he begins random weapons fire on the farther wave, taking two three within about five seconds. It didn't matter to Isus how long it took Jarac to deal with his bunch and then assist with the bulk of the wave, as long as they were killed off before reaching striking distance, that's all that mattered.

Once the first wave was dead, Isus would make mention to begin rapid fire into the cave formation, knowing the crystals were safely out of sight, and knowing it would take too much time to merely aim precisely. Pulling rapidly on his trigger, Isus sends down another half dozen, leaving seven Kinrath still standing. Isus sends another volley and kills one more, but then decides to leave the rest to Talmic, deciding that sense he had already taken down four, it would be best to keep the numbers evenly set.

After a while, Talmic would complete his massacre as necessary. Isus nodded in meek satisfaction and merely stepped forward cautiously and took notice of the height of the cave....

A moment later, a squirm of legs were heard in the far off distance higher up, and Isus quickly volleys out six shots into the darkness, catching the noise and forcing it to crash down in mass upon the earth below. Smirking on the smoldering corpse, Isus continues onward, his eyes and ears keeping attention to the region around him, the occasional Kinrath that popped up behind them dealt with from Talmic. After about five minutes of slow, cautious movements, decisive shots, and confusing curves, Isus Jarode finds himself standing within reach of the crystals themselves, their multi-colored lighting a beauty to see.

But the two dozen guardians of the beauties, along with their Kinrath Matriarch, made things a little more difficult.

"You should see the Ancestor Kinrath, umph is that thing big!" Isus tells to Talmic as he crouches down to the earth, readying his rifle, "Get your nerves ready kid, we're gonna be hitting real soon!"

[toaster]

As I was ride along on a borrowed speeder bike he felt an explosion in the force. He was a long way from the academy and so it was odd to fell so muck force flowing throw that part the the planet and then it hit me that must be one of the crystal cave I have heard so muck about. deciding to take a closer look I quickly speed toroids the cave.

when I was right above the disturbance I was on top a cliff. good thing I have repealing rope. when I got to the entrance I hired firing from inside and figured someone might need some help I quickly.dashing inside hitting a stalag might or tight, not sure it was to dark to tell, he found two men standing at the entranced of a large room filled with light from the crystals.

"Hello, need some help."

[Talmic Jarac]

The climb was rather slow, although getting to watch the old man do his thing with the rifle was interesting. Of course Talmic was beginning to expect the unexpected from Isus. Since their first meeting back on Coruscant Isus had surprised Talmic innumerous times with his little quirks and surprises. From being a crack shot to being a competent pilot, no EXCELLENT pilot, and even being able to teach him a thing or two about the force he Didn't know.

He used the Force a couple of times to aid his jumps or his leaps to particularly precarious points, however at no time did he become impatient. He was used to long trips and slowly waits, hell it had taken him a day just to get to Isus, this was nothing.

Seeing a small cave entrance ahead of them Talmic's right hand fell to the holstered blaster pistol at his side. The pistol was only slightly modified and Talmic was sure that if he was seen with them around the academy he would have gotten in trouble. Now however he would be able to craft his own lghtsabers, sabers that were in tune with him and allowed him a much greater understanding of the weapon itself.

Chuckling at Isus' words about the leisurely trail Isus drew the pistol on the right and cautiously advanced behind Isus. Entering the cave it was easy to see why this area was an excellent spot to enter. There was very little to worry about and very little sign of activity around this particular entrance. Hearing Isus' words once more Talmic nodded and followed the old man in.

Seeing the Kinrath at about three hundred meter off Talmic lined up the first shot, a bit farther than he was used to at practice but even then at two hundred meters he was a dead eye. Who would have figured Talmic to be a sniper? Didn't matter now, the Jedi was already sending two blasts down range as the thought passed threw his mind.

The first of four dropped fast as the twin bolts of red hot energy passed through is right eye and out the back of his skull. He dropped like a rock and the other three merely pushed passed. Flipping the blasters into semi auto mode he let loose a three round volley and took another one out across the side. Two similar volleys would drop the other two.

Helping Isus mop up the rest was easy work as Talmic rapidly fired down range, yet kept a steady aim and made sure each burst at least grazed a Kinrath. Six more Kinrath later the duo would be moving again, and Talmic would finally get his first true view of a crystal cave formation. However between them and those lovely crystals stood two dozen Kinrath and the matriarch. Gulping down the pent up enthusiasm Talmic brought out the second pistol and created a wide arc with his arms, able to cover the entire entrance. From behind came a voice and Talmic ignored it, whoever it was they had shown up at the wrong time.

Looking p at the top of the cave Talmic grinned, easy kills to be had. Up top were a series of very fine but heavy stalactites, hanging spikes of death that would rain down on the poor Kinrath that were now starting to attack. Bringing both arms up Talmic fired a series of shots into the ceiling of the cavern and down came three dozen deadly projectiles. Within a matter of moments the majority of Kinrath were dead or dying, only the matriarch and two survivors were left.

Taking the initiative before even Isus could Talmic force jumped onto the top of a fallen rock. From here he easily picked off he two remaining guardian Kinrath a nd finally turned his attention to the matriarch. A few volleys of blaster fire and a quick dodge later the matriarch lay dead on the ground. Talmic was sweating a bit from the dodging he had to do while trying to bring down the much tougher Kinrath, but somehow he had done it, he suspected one or more of those shots had come from Isus.

Finally hoping dwon form a rock formation Talmic calmly walked back over to Isus holstering both weapons, his hands resting easily on the grips of each weapon.

"What now teach?"