Shadows and Dust

[Kymrel 1,505]

When the droid opens fire on the librarian Ren-Do ineffectually tries to block the blast with his lightsaber, before realizing that without a stronger connection to the Force he would be unable to save the man. Instead, he places himself directly between the man and the dangerous droid, as if daring the beast to shoot him rather than the librarian.

 

He takes a few half-hearted swings at the droid, but his priority seems to be keeping the man safe. When the droid fires again Ren-Do instinctively tries to block the blasts. He manages to interpose his blade, but the force of the blast knocks the weapon on the ground. As the hilt clatters on the floor the blade is turned off. The Cerean has a surprised look on his face, but instead of diving for his weapon he keeps his position in front of the librarian, keeping the droid's attention focused on himself.

[Richardbuxton 7,319]

As each of his allies try to stop this surprising new threat Rin starts to realise something is wrong, something about this library. [i wouldn't come to a library! Why are we in this place? Books are useful but experience outranks everything...] and with that the library fades to be replaced with...

[Ulric dOrien 108]

Oblivious to anything outside of the combat, Sonya flows through the Kath Pack harries the Bantha, leaping to strike high, then rolling low finally slashing at mid height, scoring many superficial cuts. The droid sparks, some small flames erupt, and it gradually teeters and falls.

[Prophyt 776]

Rin sees through the illusory library of Ossus and is confronted with what looks like a giant's lounge room. If he pans his vision to the left, he can just barely make out a pattern of stars some distance away.

~ ~ ~

Once Sonya's strike defeats the droid, it collapses in upon itself, turning into the cylindrical shape of an old R-unit astromech droid contructed of the same crystalline material. It warbles a tiny groan in binary and falls over. With a flash of light, it disappears, leaving a green Ilum crystal in its place.

Edited August 7, 2016 by Prophyt

[Richardbuxton 7,319]

[what the bloody hell! That was an Astromec, and were in someone's house?] Rin takes a moment to look around the apparently real room they are in, taking in the decor, seeing if there was anything interesting to learn of the owner from the contents of the space... [this is a lounge room, couches and a small table, odd artwork on the wall... but who lives here?]

As he continues looking through the room he is in he sees some spots are dull, and details can't be seen. Trying one of the doors it won't open [odd, were bloody stuck ain't we]. It's then Rin notices one key object, a pair of Macrobinoculars on the table, their hinge snapped in exactly the same spot as his...[this is our darn ship, the room we where in a few minutes ago, but everyone is gone... Wait, this room I'm seeing is missing details, almost as if it's someone's view of the room... It's the Holocron's view! Huh it can 'see', wow.]

Edited August 8, 2016 by Richardbuxton

[ColonelCommissar 1,243]

Xaramis' heaving chest barely slows even as the droid collapses. He's not quite sure what happened - perhaps it was the state of his surroundings, or the shock of the droid suddenly turning hostile in the most lethal manner, in this apparently safe - and certainly purely theoretical - environment - but regardless he knows that when the moment of shock came, when he was needed most to provide aid in the heat of battle, he froze up. He did not aid his comrades; instead he stood staring gormlessly as they fought for his life as well as their own.

 

His guilt as palpable as he surveys the remains of the fray and sees the crumpled body of the Apprentice lying on the floor. He seems terribly injured, and as Xaramis looks he sees Ren-Do rushing over to administer aid. Without a pause, he too rushes over and kneels by the fallen body. "How can I help?" he asks reassuringly, eager to redeem himself in the eyes of the others. More quietly he whispers. "I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

[Kymrel 1,505]

Ren-Do looks at the strange droid changing to an astromech-unit, and then disappearing, leaving what appears to be a green kyber-crystal behind. He looks at Sonya as she recovers from cutting down the aggressive droid. “Take it,” he says to Sonya. “It seems to call for you.”

 

He turns to the fallen librarian, kneeling next to him on the floor. He notices Xaramis kneeling next to him, apologizing for not engaging the droid. “Don’t worry, I understand how all this must seem very alien to you. These are only your very first steps, hesitation is normal. Besides, I don't think your sword would have done much beyond scratching the surface of that droid,” the Cerean says softly as he rummages through his satchel for a first-aid kit. “Well, this kit is a lot bigger than I remember. All sorts of items of interest in here. I wonder what this does...” he says with a bit of a surprise in his voice when he opens the kit. He picks out several items and lays them on the floor. “Just hand me these when I ask for them. But first, help me get him on the back and open the robes a bit, I need to get to the wound.”

 

As the ghostly figure seems to recover a bit, Ren-Do speaks softly. "Are you alright? You seem to be out of danger but you should probably have a doctor look at that blaster burn. Eh. Assuming this place has doctors. I must confess I do not know much about this place, or the purpose behind it."

Edited August 8, 2016 by Kymrel

[Ulric dOrien 108]

Sonya nods to Ren Do and reaches for the green crystal,"Fit in a lightsabre, this might."

 

Then "Oh, swive!"

Edited August 8, 2016 by Ulric dOrien

[Prophyt 776]

Micc'm has just regained consciousness from the medical assistance of Ren-Do et alia and is about to speak when Sonya touches the crystal. With a bright flash of light, everything disappears...

[End of Session 2a]

~ ~ ~

[session 2b]

When the light fades, the group is once again in the hangar area of the Great Library. However, the vision is different this time around. The hangar itself is much larger and far more detailed than in the previous vision. The single green DeltaX-1 has been replaced by a full squadron of blue X-1s. Only one or two consoles and computer banks are in this area, and the view of anything not related to the immediate area is blurred and out of focus.

[Richardbuxton 7,319]

[Well well... Another test perhaps? this Holocron has some interesting quirks.] Rin muses as he heads carefully over to the X-1's, curious to see what they hold, yet trepidation slowing his approach due to the violent outburst moments before. Keenly listening for that telltale sound the Delta had emitted prior to transformation.

"Do you think these ones will bloody attack? I don't know if we can handle a whole Squadron. Now where's Micc'm"

[Kymrel 1,505]

When Sonya picks up the green kyber crystal Ren-Do blacks out for a moment as he experiences a vivid memory from his past.

 

He is cold. His fingers are almost numb. He looks at his hands. They look different somehow. Smaller. Young. He’s so young. He looks around. He’s in some sort of a tunnel. Stone and ice melts into one. Ilum. I’m on Ilum. He starts walking again, towards a slightly brighter light.

 

After walking a hundred meters or so he enters a larger cave with a deep chasm running through the middle. On the other side is his friend, Yasta, the Nautolean. She had somehow managed to cross a snow-bridge that crosses the chasm and seems to be drawn to whatever it is that is emitting the soft green light in the cave.

 

Ren-Do peers at the light. A crystal. A green crystal. Yasta approaches the crystal with slow steps and gingerly plucks the small stone out of the snow-covered stone. She allows herself a little celebratory jump, having found her very own kyber crystal.

 

The young Nautolean looks around and sees Ren-Do. “I did it,” she shouts. “I found my crystal.” She enthusiastically starts to crawl back over the thin snow-bridge, back to safety. “Look out,” Ren-Do shouts at her as the snow and ice starts to give under her weight. “You must find another way, the ice will not support your weight.”

 

But Yasta is having none of that and she instead moves quickly over the bridge. She only manages a quick yelp when the bridge collapses. Ren-Do steps forward, reaching out with the Force, trying to lift the small body of his friend to stop her from falling to her death. He feels how his fear for her safe being gives him strength, and how he is able to use that strength to lift Yasta up, and get her safely to his side of the chasm. As they both fall to the ground, he realizes what he’s done. He used the power of the dark side to save his friend.

 

Yasta gets up before Ren-Do does, and extends a hand to her friend, helping him get up. “That was close. Thank the Force you were here. Have you found your crystal yet?” Ren-Do can only shake his head. “I’m not sure there is one here for me,” he says hesitantly. “I should get back with you. Get out of here before the waterfall freezes over.”

 

But Yasta is having none of that. “No, you will not. You are going to go out there, and you are going to find the brightest, strongest crystal on Ilum. I know it. You just have to belief I’m right. And you know I'm always right. Now get up, and get on with it. Do you want me to come with you?”

 

Ren-Do brushes the snow off his robes. “Thank you for believing in me, Yasta. I will go search some more. I have to belief there is a crystal out there. You should get back. This is something I have to do on my own.”

 

As Yasta leaves Ren-Do tries to connect with the Force to get some sort of hint where he should go. Perhaps he should go after her, to make sure she will be safe. He would never find a crystal anyway, after using his fear to save his friend. After using the dark side of the force on his own quest for a crystal on the holy planet of Ilum.

 

 

As he snaps out he realizes that much has changed. They are now in a different place than before. "A test within a test," Ren-Do murmurs, as he follows Rin to examine the fighters. “I hope this one doesn’t involve flying. I loathe flying almost as much as I loathe computers. I’m an excellent passenger, but I don’t think I’m much of a pilot.”

Edited August 8, 2016 by Kymrel

[Ulric dOrien 108]

Sonya's eyes narrow at the change of surroundings. Diminished, our surroundings are. Perhaps understand it, I may. Fie! Learn new sentence structure at some other time, I will.

Hearing Rim mention Micc'm, Sonya begins to look for him. If returned my lightsabre and youth have, maybe my ability to sense has too.

She closes her eyes and tries to sense the Jedi...

 

"This helped me," the Quarren master told her. "When I could no longer see or hear, I became aware of the feeling of the Force and the connections it forges between us and all living things."

Sonya nodded at the master. "Thank you for going to all of this trouble."

"Helping another should never trouble a Jedi, youngling. Besides the bacta tanks need cleaning so filling one with water is something we need to do anyway. The sound and light dampeners are common on most vehicles so they were also very easy to come by. Also, when you are finished and out, I may relax in there." He grinned conspiratorially at her with this last part, not realizing that the sight of a grinning Quarren was terrifying to many a youngling.

She apprehensively climbed into the tank and put the plugs in her nose and breathing apparatus into her mouth. Then the horrible water poured in, dousing her fur. The light disappeared and the only sound was the filling of the tank. 

A wave of terror washed over her, she did not fear confined spaces but she was not entirely comfortable in the tank to begin with. The irrational fear of drowning combined with no sensory input was overwhelming. She had trained to fight fear, though. Before the panic took complete control, she began reciting the Jedi code, she then thought about the peaceful jungles outside the temple. Eventually she reached a balance, using all of her concentration she could barely maintain a calm. Any waver in the her thoughts resulted in the return of the fear.

After what seemed a lifetime the water drained away and other senses returned. The Quaren was waiting for her when she emerged. "I must apologize. An emergency called me away for an hour. When I returned and sensed your fear, I ended the session immediately. You did yourself a great credit in remaining calm throughout the experience. I do not doubt you will one day be a great Knight."

 

As she returned to the present Sonya realized she was not wet but dry and hairless and her normal height.

Edited August 8, 2016 by Ulric dOrien

[Jedi Ronin 1,588]

Kellen walks up to one of the X-1's and runs his hand along it.  He examines it to see what kind of condition it is in and what sort of distinctive marks it may have close up....

[ColonelCommissar 1,243]

Xaramis' response to their arrival in the hangar. "Oh look, another vision. I suppose this time the waste paper basket will turn out to contain a point defence turret," he looks around, bracing himself for a sudden attack. When nothing of the sort happens, he moves forward into the centre of the room, looking around and up. The area seems normal enough - the same sort of hangar as a hundred he's been through in his travels. This one though seems familiar - it seems to resemble the hangar of the Jedi Temple on the ancient world of Ossus, one he had read about in his book of legends as a child.

 

Taking a moment to contain his emotions at the sight, he looks down and sees a terminal across the room. His curiosity takes hold - he knows what he wants to do, and that is above all to explore, to discover. He heads over, looking to find some new information from the terminal that might illuminate his surroundings.

Edited August 8, 2016 by ColonelCommissar

[sonovabith 936]

When Sonya touches the green gem the buzzing in Tok's head intensifies briefly, causing him to clench his jaw and squint, but he keeps his guns out and ready. Whatever is going on here looks to have real-world consequences and he's got too much at stake to drop his defenses.

 

He shakes his head and sighs at the new visage while extending his left arm so he can look down Morra's barrel and make sure the sight isn't slightly off. 

 

"Maybe you people should stop touching glowing things," he says, keeping vigilant for new threats.

[kaosoe 7,573]

By the time Garon had joined with the main group, the strange transforming droid had been destroyed. He was about to apologize for his absence when the world around him dissolved. By the time he finished a particularly exceptional string of oaths, he found himself in a hanger of sorts. Before him was a small contingent of starfighters.

 

The Besalisk grew more displeased. It was clear that this Gatekeeper, whoever he was, had imparted knowledge of piloting into his Holocron.

 

Wonderful. he said to no one in particular. I already know I'm a terrible pilot. No need to make me prove it. Can I just go back to the library?

Edited August 8, 2016 by kaosoe

[Prophyt 776]

The DeltaX-1s appear to be in fairly decent shape. Their surfaces are solid to the touch. The only blemishes and damage on their hulls is from microimpacts of space debris, grit, or even salt, and some slight burn marks on the undersides from planetary reentry. All the starfighters in the squadron have similar paint patterns, though it cannot be made out in the monocolor atmosphere. Each of the ships however has a small series of identifying markers emblazoned on the hull around the cockpit bubble.

 

A voice emanates from the depths of one of the starfighters, possibly underneath it. "I can hear you all out there," it grumbles. "Can one of you pass me a hyperspanner? Size 3."

[Jedi Ronin 1,588]

"Size 3 hyperspanner? I'm on it!"

Kellen looks around for a hydrospanner or a tool kit....

"What are you working on?"

Edited August 9, 2016 by Jedi Ronin

[Prophyt 776]

Kellen easily finds the appropriate tool and holds it down at floor level near to where the voice originated. A lightly glowing tanned human hand smudged with grease reaches out and grasps it before retreating under the ship once more. "I always have trouble replacing the ventral coolant panels for the engine," the man's voice grumbles in reply to Kellen's question. "Had trouble with them when I was alive, so no matter how much practice I get, I continue to have the same problems now that I'm dead..."

[Prophyt 776]

[redacted; double post]

Edited August 9, 2016 by Prophyt

[Ulric dOrien 108]

Sonya nods to Tok and carefully speaks, "This is how they usually go, a mix of not too bad choices and disasters. Are you still hearing the buzzing?"

As Garon arrives, "Was the librarian helpful?"

[kaosoe 7,573]

The memory of the attacking droid was still fresh in Garon's mind. So when the starfighter spoke to the group, he felt a shiver run through his crest.

 

His thoughts were interrupted by Sonya's question.

 

Garon shrugged. Not really. The thing had no face and kept going on about star charts and such. What about you? Have you found the Gatekeeper to this thing?

[Richardbuxton 7,319]

"Dead! Blimey you could have fooled me, what's your name?"

[bloody Holocron and it's weird gatekeeper]

[Jedi Ronin 1,588]

Kellen got on the ground and slid under the ship.

"I'm not the best mechanic. I'm barely passable as a mechanic but I'll see what I can do to help you out."

[Ulric dOrien 108]

"The gatekeeper is Quartermaster Apprentice Micc'm, I believe. He is repairing the ship over there. The vision seems to lack details the farther you get from the center so it probably just did not bother to put a face on the librarian."

Sonya pauses, relaxing after using the new word order.