Chapter Text
“Younglings, gather round please.” Master Auros shouted over everyone, getting their attention.
The seven younglings immediately stopped talking amongst themselves and turned to face Master Auros. Almost as if on cue, the hum of the hyperdrive stopped as the ship dropped out of hyperspace.
“We are on our final approach to Ilum. Please prepare yourself, Ilum is an icy planet so please wrap up.”
Immediately, the younglings broke out in excited chatter. Brian boasted loudly, “I’m going to be the fastest to get mine. Nobody better get in my way.” He stared in Skye and Bailey’s direction as he spoke.
“He really doesn’t understand this.” Skye whispered in Bailey’s ear.
Skye’s breath on Bailey’s ear made her shiver a little. “Wh- what do you mean?”
“This is a test. It’s to teach us how to overcome their personal fears or failings and to find a kyber crystal attuned to our Force presence.” She explained, “this isn’t something we can rush through or be the best at.”
“That makes sense. Everything we do in training is to test us isn’t it?” Bailey said, more to herself than Skye. “Guess this isn’t going to be easy.”
“Not at all, and it’s not supposed to be.”
As the ship touched down, the eight of them gathered at the exit. As the boarding ramp lowered, they were immediately hit with an icy cold blast.
“Follow me younglings. Do not stray from the path.” Master Auros shouted over the wind noise.
As they walked off the ship, Bailey looked around. There wasn’t much to see. The planet itself was covered in 6 inches of snow and very flat. In each direction she could see nothing more than one large rock formation sticking out of the ground. Even though it was midday, it was very dark, almost dusk levels of light.
As they approached the rock formation, Master Auros called everyone to stop and wait. Bailey watched as he searched underneath the snow with one hand outstretched. Bailey instantly felt the light side of the force growing around her, almost as if it was taking hold of her. But it felt more like protection, than possession.
All of a sudden, the rock formation started to rise out of the ground, rumbling the ground almost like an earthquake.
“Welcome to a crystal cave.” Mast Auros said as the rock formation had finished rising. Representing more of a mountain now. “This is where you will face the test to retrieve your kyber crystal. Follow me inside.”
Excited murmurs flowed through the younglings as they followed Master Auros inside. As they entered, they were presented with a huge auditorium. A huge ice wall on the far side of the room, a huge kyber crystal and a small ray of sunlight from the top.
“This is a timed test.” Mast Auros announced once everyone was inside. “You will have 8 hours to complete the test.”
“What does he mean?” Bailey whispered to Skye.
Before Skye could answer, the ray of sunlight grew larger and moved, hitting the huge kyber crystal. As moved, the crystal concentrated the sunlight directly onto the ice wall. Melting it immediately, revealing a dark cave that looked like it went on forever. As quickly as the ice melted, it started freezing over again.
“Go fourth younglings. Your crystals await you inside.”
Bailey instantly felt her heart start to race. What if I take too long and get stuck inside forever? What if I can’t find a crystal? What if…
“Bailey!”
Skye’s voice snapped her out of her own thoughts.
“Come on. You’ve got this.” Skye said, grabbing Bailey’s hand and squeezing it a little.
“Yes.” Bailey said, blushing. “Let’s go.”
Before they’d had a chance to move, the others had already run straight into the cave with Brian leading the way. The two girls followed them inside, the cave only illuminated by the veins of glowing crystals inside the walls.
Once inside, Bailey suddenly realised she was still holding Skye’s hand. She suddenly dropped it “Oh, sorry.” She blushed.
“No.” Skye replied, “it’s fine.” She reached down and grabbed Bailey’s hand again. “Let’s go.”
The girls kept walking, for what Bailey thought must have been at least an hour. “How do we know where to go?”
“We don’t. The force will guide us and tell us where to go.” Skye replied. “From what I understand, from my research, everyone faces a different test. No two tests are the same.”
“I guess we should keep going then.” Bailey replied.
They kept following the path. Following the force, ignoring the paths leading off to the left and right, until the path directly ahead forked. Bailey went to go left, but Skye went to go right.
“I, uh, the force wants me to go this way.” Bailey started.
“I know.” Skye cut her off. “My path is in this direction. This is where we must go our separate ways.”
Bailey took a deep breath as Skye spoke. “You are going to be a powerful Jedi Bailey. Believe in yourself.” Skye leaned in and kissed Bailey on the cheek before heading down the path.
Bailey blushed, watching Skye disappear into the darkness, before turning and starting down her own path.
“Skye’s right.” Bailey said to herself after a few minutes of walking. “I can do this. The force is with me, I can feel it.”
No sooner had the words finished leaving her mouth, the floor she was standing on gave way. With no time to react, Bailey fell into the chasm. Freefalling into what could almost be described as a childs fun slide, rolling and tumbling, before stopping coming to a stop.
“Ugh, what the…” Bailey spoke as her disorientation wore off. “What… oh my god!”
As Bailey’s eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, she realised she was stuck on a small ledge overlooking a deep pit. The walls around her were smooth so there was no chance she could climb out and the slide that brought her was closed off behind her.
“Great. Now what.” She said to herself. Looking around for a way out. The fear started to build as time went on and options seemed to get less and less.
Bailey could feel the fear inside her growing, and panic setting in, before starting to weep a little and slumping to the floor. “Why did I ever think I could do this?” I said between sobs. “I’ve never been good at anything. Why did I think this would be any different?”
She leant back against the wall, staring up into the dark void before spotting a faint glow, in front of her. She immediately stood up, calling out. “Help! Is anyone there?”
After a few more tries, Bailey gave up, realising no one could hear her and slumping back down to the floor.
After about 10 minutes, Bailey stood up suddenly, full of determination. “No. This isn’t where it ends. “I can do this.”
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and calling upon the force to guide her. “This is why I’m here. I need to overcome my fears.”
Almost as quickly as Bailey had called on the force to help her, it had shown her what to do. Almost without hesitation, she followed and jumped the almost 30 foot gap with ease.
“I did it!.” Bailey celebrated as she landed on the other side.
Looking down, she spotted the source of the glow. A blue kyber crystal. Which she immediately knelt down and picked up. It felt warm and like it was something she was always missing. She held it close to her heart before slipping it into her pocket and letting the force guide her towards the exit.
***
As Skye made her way down the path, she could feel the force calling out to her. She kept following until she came across a green crystal trapped behind what looked like glass. Skye knew this was hers but couldn’t see how to retrieve it.
After a moment of thought, she punched the glass as hard as she could. “Ow!” Skye immediately cried out in pain, rubbing the back of her hand, leaving her feeling weak. “I guess I’m not as strong as Brian is.”
She sat down, crossed legged, and contemplated what to do next. “Obviously I can’t break it. Brian probably could though.” She sat, thinking a little more.
“I bet Brian could break it.” She mumbled to herself, almost in jealousy that he’ll have had an easy time getting his crystal.
Skye went back to thinking. She cleared her mind and asked the force for help, trying to draw any strength she could to break the glass. But the force did not respond, leaving Skye feeling as weak and helpless as before.
Skye sat, contemplating her options over and over in her head but she could only think about brute force. She knew through the force, this was her crystal. She just didn’t know how she would retrieve it.
After about 20 minutes, Skye had an epiphany. Why am I only trying to brute force it? I’m not Brian.
She once again called upon the force to help her. This time, she felt the force respond. Eyes closed, she reached out and could feel the crystal, feel its power. When she opened her eyes, the glass was gone, the crystal free to take.
She stood, collected it and followed the force towards the exit.
Skye had not even made it more than 100 meters before literally running into Bailey.
“Oof.” Bailey exclaimed, “Oh, Skye! Did you get a crystal?!”
“Yes, I did.” Skye replied, “did you?”
“Yeah! Look!” Bailey said excitedly, pulling her blue crystal out. She couldn’t help but notice how soft Skye’s features were under the glow of the crystal.
“That’s amazing.” Skye smiled. “We should get going though, I don’t know how long we’ve been here and there’s a time limit, remember?”
“You’re right.” Bailey replied, pocketing her crystal. “Let’s go.”
When they arrived at the exit, the ice was most of the way down and 4 other younglings were already with Master Auros. For a second, Bailey thought they were last before she realised Brian was missing.
“Well done girls.” Master Auros spoke as they joined the others, all of whom were examining their crystals. “We’re just waiting on…”
Master Auros was cut off as Brian's shouts and screams could be heard from inside the cave. “I fear young Brian may not pass this test.” He said, looking at the ice wall. “I estimate he has no more than 10 minutes.”
“Wha- what happens if he doesn’t make it back in time?” Skye stuttered a little as she spoke. Wondering why she even cared, Brian wouldn’t ever show the same concern for her.
Master Auros didn’t reply. He just continued to stare at the rapidly freezing ice wall. Brian’s shouts were getting more and more desperate as time passed.
Brian was still not back as the frozen wall hit the bottom. The other younglings murmured amongst themselves as Master Auros sighed a little.
Bailey looked across at Skye who looked worried for the safety of her brother. She held Skye’s hand as she spoke, “I’m sure they won’t leave him there. The Jedi are compassionate.”
As she spoke, Brian arrived at the other side of the wall.
“Let me out.” He screamed, banging on the wall. “I have my crystal!”
Without saying a word, Master Auros approached the wall and motioned Brian to move to the side. Using the force, Master Auros blasted a hole in the ice, much to the surprise of the other younglings.
“The ice,” he started to speak to Brian but loud enough for everyone to hear, “is designed to give you all a sense of urgency. To assist you in breaking through the illusions the cave presents. Brian, you lack patience and this is why you failed.”
“What?!” Brian started to protest before Master Auros held his hand up to silence him.
“Anger will not change the past.” He explained. “What happened in that cave will remain. Come, we must get back to the Crucible.”
Brian immediately looked dejected and had the same glum expression on his face the whole way back to the ship. Once they were back aboard and the ship was in hyperspace, Master Auros led the younglings to meet Huyang.
“Younglings, please meet Architect and lightsaber designer, Huyang.” He said, as a humanoid droid entered the room.
Huyang is a Mark IV architect droid professor based aboard the Jedi vessel Crucible who, for a thousand generations, taught Jedi younglings how to construct their lightsabers following the Gathering.
After looking the younglings over, he spoke. “All have passed the gathering?” He asked, Master Auros.
“Everyone but Brian here.” He gestured to Brian as he spoke.
“You expect us to listen to a droid?!” Brian scoffed.
“Inside my memory banks I contain a record of every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who fashioned them.” He started, “Call me what you will, but I will be the one instructing you on the construction of your lightsaber. And I will continue to do this for as long as I am fully functioning.”
“Now, you need to all decide on what materials, and design you wish to use.” Huyang continued. “Saber staff, single blade? How about a curved hilt or using pastillian ore?”
“Yes, you have all brought me crystals but they are useless without giving them life. Do you know how?” Huyang asked.
“A lightsaber draws its power from a powercell.” Skye chimed in. “A blade emitter shroud, an emitter matrix and an activator.” She continued, reeling off a long list of different parts that could be used to create a lightsaber.
“My, my.” Huyang said, a little surprised. “You really do know your lightsabers don’t you? I can see the force is strong with you.” He continued, “I think you should go first.”
“I’m the strongest!” Brian shouted, as he barged this way to the front. “I should go first.”
Master Auros stopped him before he could interrupt Skyes part picking process with Huyang.
“Patience Brian.” He said. “This is a lesson you need to learn. Sooner than later. Becoming a Jedi is something you can fail.”
Before long, everyone had picked out their parts. Every lightsaber was going to be different. Skye had picked mostly simple looking silver parts, a black onk grip, a 45 degree emitter at the top with a round flared pommel.
Bailey on the other hand, had opted for 2 lightsabers. Both matching in design, a flat smooth golden emitter, leather wrapped grips as well as a black onk textured pommel. Both girls had coincidentally picked chrome square actuators and D ring clips.
“Now you have all your parts, it’s time to assemble them,” Huyang announced. “You must be careful here, it is important not to invert the emitter matrix or you will only harm yourself and others around you.”
“Each of you go and find some space, and draw upon the force.” He continued, “The force will guide you in assembling your lightsaber.”
Bailey moved toward the back of the room, mostly to be away from Brian but mainly so less people would see. “I can do this. I got the crystal, I can do this too.” She muttered to herself. As she finished psyching herself up, Skye appeared in front of her.
“Can… Can I sit here with you?” She asked, the nervousness obvious in her voice. “There’s nowhere else to go… and… I like being with you.”
“Oh. Yeah of course. I like you too, Skye.” Bailey said, blushing almost immediately.
The 2 girls sat in silence. Both with their parts and crystals laid out in front of them, drawing on the force. Bailey could feel and draw on the presence of Skye. She felt more confident, like she could actually do it.
Skye was equally drawing from Bailey, finally seeing herself as an individual for the first time. Both girls now, using the force, had their parts and crystals floating, starting to arrange them in the correct order for assembly.
“I am the greatest Jedi ever!” Brian announced, breaking Skye’s concentration and causing her to drop her parts, much to Brian’s amusement. “Ha! You can’t even assemble one, evermind as fast as me!”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Huyang chimed in, holding out his hand to inspect the freshly assembled lightsaber.
After a thorough examination, Huyang spoke. “The only person you’re going to kill with this is yourself. Your emitter matrix is incorrectly installed. The one thing I warned you about. Start over.”
Brian immediately looked angry as his lightsaber was given back to him before stalking off into a corner to start disassembling.
Bailey finished both her lightsabers as Huyang finished with Brian. He approached to check them both over. “Excellent!” He exclaimed. “These are both perfect. Go, try them out.”
Bailey grinned from ear to ear as she took both lightsabers back. Igniting them, the blue light illuminating the area and giving off the familiar hum lightsabers were famous for.
This only spurred Skye on to finish hers, as Bailey switched off her lightsabers, Skye stood, completed lightsaber in hand. Bailey gave her a small smile as Huyang inspected it. “Very good, this is one of the most well constructed lightsabers I’ve ever seen.” He said as he handed it back to Skye.
Skye took it back and ignited it almost as soon as it hit her hand. The green glow and hum filling the room. Brian could be seen scowling at her from across the room. Seeming jealous that Skye was outdoing him in every test now.