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RickSWEF
Strangest of the Strange
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Tiinaxl - Apprentice
Tiinaxl's Quest for Crystal
Ambria, Anoth, Arkania. All three had incredible possibilities to contain the crystals Tiinaxl required to put a saber together. In his mind's eye, he could see the design clearly. He knew how he would form the hilt and of what materials. He knew where to place the crystals and how to shape them. The hilt would fit his hand well. Its organic shape would make it a bit difficult for anyone else to use, since Tiinaxl's fingers are thinner than most he has seen. The crystals would be placed in such a way that they could be focused from a wide blade to a needle thin blade and with varying lengths.
The small single seated shuttle dropped out of hyperspace just beyond the edge of the Ambria System. It slowed a bit and changed course to head for the planet. It's small shape was sleek, making it easy to avoid detection. That was the main reason Tiinaxl had selected the shuttle. However, being small and sleek also made it more difficult to allow room for weaponry. Armed with only shields and a single set of autoblasters, made the shuttle the least liked among it's pilots. Tiinaxl's abilities to pilot the shuttle would have to be at it's best for his quest to be successful.
The planet grew larger and larger on his display. He worked the controls to make his flightpath less than straight, so not to be seen as a ship. Once he reached the atmosphere, he slowed the shuttle to a near stop so to not attract attention to himself by creating a fireball. The slight angle he chose would mean taking a complete pass around the planet until he could break into a steeper decent. Tiinaxl watched the surface of the planet carefully, as he passed over it. He hoped to see very little activity. If he saw sudden activity, it would likely mean he was detected. Something he wanted to avoid.
After what seemed like forever, Tiinaxl angled the shuttle towards a series of canyons. It snaked its way in and around the rocky formations at an incredible pace. Suddenly it slowed and lowered down to a small flat area at the bottom of one of the canyon's many veins. It powered down and the dust around it also settled. The subtle breeze blew wisps of dust through the canyon and created little vortexes until the wisps dissipated.
Tiinaxl waited inside the shuttle, his eyes closed, as he reached out with the Force to detect any other presences. It was a risky choice to make, but he felt it better than taking a physical chance. He didn't sense anyone or anything within the canyon that would present any danger to him. A few small creatures going about their own business. The type that would scurry away at the first sight of him. With a touch of a button, the canopy slid forward. The hot air rushed into the shuttle. Tiinaxl took a minute to adjust his breathing to the heat, before climbing out of the shuttle.
The ground felt firm under his feet. His eyes searched the area for anything that might be useful but found only rock. His hand slid across the hull of the shuttle and stopped. With a tap of a few fingers, a hatch popped open to reveal a small pack and some climbing gear. He reached inside and pulled the pack out, strapping it to his back. His hand thrust into the compartment again and pulled out the climbing gear. The gear that he could wear, he put on. The rest he carried, as he rushed off towards the canyon wall.
He looked up towards the top of the wall, wondering if he could find an easy way up or not. His eyes gazed across the rocks, picking out facets and ledges. Some barely useful and others not worthy of consideration. After several minutes, he decided on a way up. His mind played the path over and over in his head, as he rubbed his hands together, preparing for the climb. He walked up to the wall and began climbing, feeling the coarse rock under his fingertips, as he pulled himself up. Once he had gotten about ten meters up, he found himself standing on a ledge. He looked down and then up again, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He remembered his training. He had climbed a cliff twice. The memory was a harsh one, but something that would stick with him. He shook his mind free of the memory and focused onto the next ledge, some five meters above and to the left of him. He crouched down low and jumped up. The Force engulfed him, as his body was launched towards the ledge. Tiinaxl reached out and grabbed onto a rock, as his feet came down onto the ledge. A smile crossed his thin lips.
Half an hour passed and thin bony fingers grabbed onto the top of the canyon wall, followed by a blue, bald head. Tiinaxl had finally reached the top of the canyon. He pulled himself over and rolled onto the ground, looking up at the sky. Wispy clouds coasted across his view, before he sat up and looked around. All he could see was more and more rocky terrain. He stood and brushed off the dirt, turning around to take in the views around him. He sensed nothing of danger, but was still cautious. He felt on edge, expecting something to happen.
As he gathered himself, he felt a very faint pull on him, through the Force. He let himself follow that pull, and moved along the top of the canyon, keeping an alert eye out for the unexpected. He walked and walked, but the pull never got stronger. Tiinaxl was beginning to wonder if he was following the wrong thing. Should he had continued on with what he knew, which was a specified location found in the archives, or should he follow his feelings? Neither choice would have been guaranteed to present results. His feelings were what he went with, so he decided to follow through with them.
After climbing, jumping and walking along, Tiinaxl found himself at a fork in the canyon. He looked down both directions wondering if he should have stayed at the bottom or not. Using the Force, he searched deeper for where the pull was actually coming from. His eyes closed and the feeling became a bit more focused. It was definitely ahead of him. It wasn't stronger than before, but an absolute direction was felt. He opened his eyes and looked down. He had only one choice, other than climbing down, and that was to try and jump across to the other side. He had never made a jump that far before, and the thought of it was exciting. Yet, he was alone and no one was there to drag his broken body back to the Temple, if he didn't make it. Tiinaxl judged the distance and concluded that the one hundred and fifty meter jump could be done, but not by him. He began climbing down the canyon wall.
Once back at the bottom of the canyon, he began his walking away from the fork and into the main vein of the canyon. It was much wider than where he had landed the shuttle. As he looked ahead, he could see offshoots and crevasses. He knew that in one of those was what he was looking for. His pace quickened, as he felt he was getting nearer, still the feeling was not getting any stronger than it was when he first felt it. His concentration deepened, as he desired to find what was pulling at him. Offshoot by offshoot. Crevasse by crevasse. He stopped and looked, hoping something would show itself. He noticed that he was nearing a bend. There was no telling what was beyond that. His hopes were still high.
He made his way down the canyon, extending his feelings outward. Each crevasse made him stop and look, but only one made him climb inside. He squeezed his thin body into the tight crevasse, taking the pack off when it got too tight. After nearly half an hour, he found the crevasse widened. He put the pack back on, and continued. Several meters further, he felt the pull intensify. It was to his right and up about five meters. A small cave cut into the rock face of the crevasse. Tiinaxl felt his excitement get stronger, and he quickly made his way up to the cave. The opening was small, but he managed to barely fit. Once inside, he pulled out a glowrod and turned it on. Immediately the cave began to glow, as the light bounced off small speckles of shiny ore. It wasn't crystal, but it was awe inspiring, just the same.
Tiinaxl pushed his way further into the cave, being careful to remember his way. He wanted to find what had pulled him so far into the canyon. It had to be strong to be able to make him feel it. His pulse quickened, as he made his way deeper into the cave. Suddenly, he felt a change. Something darker. Tiinaxl stopped in his tracks and reached out, hoping to get a better sense of what it was. The darkness felt somewhat familiar to him. It scared him enough to make him take several steps back. Whatever it was, it was not to be taken lightly. Tiinaxl knew he could handle his own fear, so he continued on.
The cave came to a dead end, and yet the feelings were pulling him further. Was there something beyond the cave wall? Was it merely a trick of some kind to misdirect him? Why did the cave end? Tiinaxl reached into the narrow space that was left ahead of him and began to dig. He pulled the loose rocks back behind him. His fingers scraped the surfaces of the rocks, as his digging got more and more furious. Something was driving him to dig. It was strong within him, making him work harder and faster with each passing second.
The smell of death poured out from the new hole that he made. The stench made him draw back and cough, but he continued on. Soon the hole was large enough for him to peer inside. With his glowrod extended in front of him, he stuck his head in. At first he saw nothing, but as he turned his head, he was face to face with the skull of some ancient being. At first it terrified him, but he realized it was just a skull. There was something about it though. He began to dig around it. The ground was not rocky as it was in the cave. It was crumbling as he dug. Every now and then, he had to pull himself out to empty the loose dirt from the hole, before going back to work.
It seemed to have been hours since he found the skull. He now had a full skeleton in front of him. It was dressed in rotting robes. Bits of metallic jewelry hung from the wrists and neck, and there was remnants of a belt and boots. Tiinaxl pulled the skeleton into the cave and laid it down. His eyes moved across the dead being, looking for a clue as to why it brought him to the cave. There was nothing out in the open to see, so he began to search the small pouches on the belt. Again, he found nothing. As his hand brushed against the tunic under the robe, he felt something odd. Not with his hands, but inside. The terror he felt surged once again, but he quickly controlled it. He slid his hand inside to find a pocket. His fingers felt something metallic and flexible. Tiinaxl grasped at it and pulled it out. It was a chain with an amulet hanging off of it. In the middle of the amulet was a stone. The stone was gray and dull, with small veins of gold running through it. He shined the glowrod at it, but it did not shine back. It absorbed the light.
Tiinaxl put it back into the pocket of the tunic and stepped away. He was not certain, but the amulet was the source of what pulled him there. It may be of use to someone, but not to him. What should he do with it? Should he bury it again? Should he remove it from the cave and take it back to the Temple for others to study it? He decided to leave it buried. He knew where to find it if he had to return for it. If he removed it, there was no telling what could happen. Tiinaxl is not a superstitious person, but he had seen some quite unusual things happen regarding objects. He didn't want to find out if this would be one of those ind of objects.
After returning the skeleton and it's belongings back into it's hole, he sealed it shut. It was more difficult to bury the dead being, than it was to dig him free. It constantly urged him to change his mind, but he fought the urges. Once his work was done, he made his way out of the cave, as fast as he could. The longer he stayed in the cave, the stronger the urges became. It was as if once he touched the amulet, it had bonded with him. He did not hear voices, but the feelings were just as strong as if he had. It was calling to him.
Tiinaxl ran to his shuttle. He didn't want to look further on this planet. He wanted to put distance between himself and the calling amulet. The shuttle lifted off and sped away, heading for open space. He didn't worry about being detected. He just wanted to get away and free of the urges to return.
**********
Tiinaxl was relieved to be away from Ambria. As his shuttle settled down on Arkania, he knew this search would be different. The tundra he had passed was a vast difference to the desert he found on Ambria. There was one thing that was alike and that was his shuttle was sitting inside a canyon. This time the air was refreshing and cool, as the canopy slid open. Trade City was not far from him, but he felt it best to not let his presence be know, just yet.
Once again, Tiinaxl started off, heading in what seemed the best direction. He had read of the mines that were close by, and decided to take a chance at finding something useful there. He spent hours walking along the canyon floor, towards the mines. He didn't feel any pull of any kind. No evil. No good. Everything had a normalcy about it. Tiinaxl felt so comfortable there, that he didn't feel the need to rush. The cool breeze brushed against his cheeks, as he strolled along, looking at the canyon walls for evidence of the mines. He wondered if he would have to do some climbing to get a better view of where he needed to be.
Several meters later, his questions were answered. A long narrow opening in the canyon wall had signs of use long ago. As he got closer, he could see that it had been a long time since the opening was actually used. That was a good sign, in his mind. He figured that there had to be something there of value to him. Tiinaxl climbed up the narrow path to the opening and looked inside. Once again, he pulled out his glowrod and turned it on. The light bounced around the cavern inside, as the walls glistened. He walked inside to see what caused the walls to shine, and found out quickly, as he slipped and slid into a shallow pool of water.
He stood up and shook the excess water from himself. The glowrod still burned bright, as the water dripped off of it. He walked through the water to the other side of the pool and looked around. The walls were wet and droplets of water fell from the cavern ceiling. A damp and cold Tiinaxl continued on, to explore the cavern further. The cavern split into several different passages. Which to take? He decided to see if the Force would help him decide. His eyes closed, he reached out to feel for the correct passage. Most of the passages didn't give much to him, but one did. That was the one he decided to take.
Cautiously, he made his way down the passage. His feelings grew stronger, as he went. The winding passage grew wider and wider. Soon he was facing a large central cavern. From his vantage point, he could see old tracks used to guide the robotic trams that carried the gems from the mines to the large freighters. The feeling he felt was stronger, but he couldn't see it's source. The narrow ledge that led down to the main floor of the mine wound its way around the central cavern. Tiinaxl skirted along the ledge, keeping his eyes open for the source. As he reached the bottom of the he felt the Force a bit stronger than before. The source was definitely nearby.
He took his time, walking from one mine shaft to another, peering inside. He stopped at one and held his glowrod out to see something. A small glint of light far into the shaft. The shaft itself was at just a slight grade, so walking down it wouldn't be too difficult. Tiinaxl went down the shaft to investigate the glint of light. As he got closer, the light took on a color that was quite pleasing to him. He had only expected diamonds in the mine, but rumor had it that the diamonds had been depleted from the mines. Perhaps it was something else that was left behind since it wasn't a diamond. He had to go further to find out.
The color got more and more pronounced as each meter passed. Tiinaxl got excited, as his hopes were beginning to get larger. Was this the crystal he wanted? He couldn't wait any longer. His pace quickened to almost a run, but he slowed down once he was upon it. The glowrod's light shimmered across the walls of the shaft, as it passed through the crystal. The bluish, purple hue was exactly what he wanted. At least it was now. He had not really picked a color for his saber. He figured it would pick him, and indeed it did.
His hands went into his pack to produce a small hand pick. With it he hammered at the rock around the gem, being careful not to damage it. If he was lucky, he would find another to use as a spare. If not, he would do with what he had. He blew the dust away after each strike on the rock, just to see if he had made progress. His progress was quite well, as he was finally able to pry the crystal from the wall of the shaft. With great pride, he held it up to admire it, turning it to watch the light catch each tiny facet.
"Who are you?" echoed the voice down the shaft.
Tiinaxl looked back to the shaft entrance to see a silhouette of a robed man. He put the crystal in his pack with his hand pick and put the pack on again.
"I said, who are you?" Again the voice echoed down the shaft. The silhouette began to move towards him now.
Tiinaxl picked up his glowrod and held it out in front of him to shine the light at the man.
The man shielded his eyes with his arm, as he continued towards Tiinaxl. His hand went under his robe and pulled something out. "I said, who are you?". His voice sounded a bit more perturbed now.
"Tiinaxl is only here to find gems. Nothing more. He does not wish any trouble.", he said as his own hand went to his saber.
"Tiinaxl. A strange name. Where are you from?" The man continued to move closer.
Tiinaxl looked back and to both sides. "Tiinaxl is from far away. He has traveled far to find this place." He let the glowrod down to his side, hoping the man would stop and keep his distance.
"That really doesn't answer my question, does it?" He kept walking, not changing his pace at all.
"Possibly not. Do you own these mines? Is Tiinaxl trespassing?" He wanted the ball in his court for once, and getting to ask the questions might put the man on the spot.
"Own it? No. I am just exploring these mines. As far as you trespassing, I doubt it. No one has been in these mines for years, from what I'm told." The man stopped and started to act a bit more casual. "Are you sure you aren't from around here?"
Again, he was asking the questions, but Tiinaxl was ready to handle them. "Yes. Tiinaxl is sure. Are you from this place?"
"No, I am here for business, you might say." He moved to the wall of the shaft and leaned against it.
Tiinaxl felt uneasy by the man. Though he looked casual, Tiinaxl could feel something else within him. "Ah, business. What type of business do you do?" Tiinaxl began to move closer to the man, making it seem that he was interested in conversation.
The man pushed from the wall and stood. "I'm an explorer by nature, but my business is to keep the peace in the galaxy. They both go together well, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, it seems that they would compliment each other quite well. You must enjoy your work. Tiinaxl has no one job. He tends to take on odd jobs here and there. Wherever he can find something to pay his way in life." He was only three meters from the man when he stopped. The feeling he got from the man was something he felt before. It turned his stomach to remember where he felt it before.
"So you know a bit about a great many things, I take it." The man smiled to Tiinaxl. "What do you expect the gems from this mine will do for you?"
"Jewelry would look good with such gems, don't you think? Tiinaxl has not found much though, unfortunately. There will not be much for jewelry for Tiinaxl to sell." He gripped his saber tighter, trying to keep himself under control.
"Jewelry? You don't seem the type for jewelry. Maybe you are looking for gems to make something else. Maybe something like a weapon?" The man tensed a little on his last word, but did nothing more than that.
Tiinaxl grinned. "A weapon? What weapon would YOU make from gems found in a mine such as this? Tiinaxl is a peaceful person. A weapon would not be something he would with to use."
"Is that so? You seem similar to others I have met. Unlike you, they did not care for talking much. They were interested in one thing and one thing only." The man's voice came across as stressed.
"As you have noticed, Tiinaxl is not like those people. Therefore he is not one of them." He could feel the man holding back. He had to hold himself back as well.
The man gritted his teeth. "Sith are devious creatures. You could be biding your time to strike me down. Is that your game?" The man ignited his saber. It's yellowish green glow lit the shaft.
Tiinaxl stepped back quickly. "Do not mistake Tiinaxl for a Sith. It could be something you regret. Perhaps your judgment against the Sith is why they attack people such as yourself." He continued to hold himself back, not igniting his training saber just yet.
"Are you saying that you are not a Sith, but would side with them? You may as well be one, in that case." The man swung his saber around in front of him and brought it up in front of him, readying himself for a fight.
Tiinaxl chuckled. He could not see the reason for such a show. For him, he only swung his saber to strike or defend. Only in certain cases did he swing his saber to distract. He never showed off his abilities, though.
"You laugh at me? What is your problem? You should prepare to fight." The man was a bit miffed at not being taken seriously. In his mind, he was ready to destroy a Sith.
"Yes, Tiinaxl laughs at you. You think Tiinaxl wishes to fight against a Jedi? An inexperienced Jedi at that? Come now. We both know that this is not what is best for us. Put your saber away and leave Tiinaxl be. He has no quarrel with you. Don't make reason for one."
These words only drew the Jedi to swing some more and step closer. "Do not mock me. I am a great Jedi, and will destroy the Sith who wish to conquer the galaxy."
"Yes, well, good luck with that, Jedi. Tiinaxl is not a Sith, and does not wish to conquer anything. You are wasting your time on the wrong person. Now turn away and be gone."
"Either you fight or be captured. My Master would have many questions for the likes of you." The man swung his saber yet again, this time coming a bit too close.
Tiinaxl leaned backwards to avoid getting cut by the blade. "Tiinaxl has warned you, young Jedi. Do not think you or your Master will have use for Tiinaxl. He would rather die before being taken to the Jedi." He knew he could have chosen better words, but it wouldn't matter. This Jedi had his heart set on fighting, for some reason. Perhaps it was to prove himself or to prove his worth as a Jedi. Either way, he was forcing Tiinaxl to fight.
"Keep talking. I will vanquish you, Sith dog!" The man rushed Tiinaxl, swinging left and right at him.
Tiinaxl stepped backwards as fast as he could, but stopped and drew his saber to block one of the slashes the Jedi was serving. "You were warned." With those words, Tiinaxl moved his hand and called upon the Force to throw the Jedi away from him, to give him more room.
The Jedi flew backwards, but he managed to land on his feet. "I knew you were a Sith the moment I felt your presence. You can not hide from the Jedi. We will find your kind and wipe you out." He rushed again, at Tiinaxl, saber raised high.
Tiinaxl frowned. He only wanted the crystals, not a fight. Now he would have to put an end to it, in order to leave with his find. He took a few swings of his own, hoping to slow the attacker. The Jedi slid to a stop, just out of Tiinaxl's reach and jumped to strike. He moved his armed downward for the strike, but hit the top of the shaft instead. This threw his momentum off, and he came down unexpectedly harder than he wanted to. Tiinaxl ducked the possible attack and turned to see the Jedi tumble on the shaft floor.
"You judge things wrongly, Jedi. Just as you judged the height of this shaft." He looked quickly behind him and then back to the Jedi. "Be wise and do not come after Tiinaxl. It could be the end of your life, and Tiinaxl does not wise to take a life this day." Tiinaxl put his saber away, to show that he did not wish to fight.
The Jedi got to his feet. "You think escape will be that easy?" He rushed at Tiinaxl once again.
Tiinaxl grew angry at this Jedi's inability to listen to reason. He called up all he could to gather the Force and send a wave down the shaft at the Jedi. He hoped that the wave would push him far enough that he would be out of his sight. However, the wave was stronger than expected and it caused the shaft to shake and it's walls to crumble. Tiinaxl stopped quickly at the sight of what was happening. He turned and ran from the shaft. The Jedi was pushed back far enough to not get crushed by the falling rocks in the shaft.
He stopped in the central cavern to get is bearings, before using the Force to jumping up onto the ledge he used to descend into the cavern. Minutes later, he was through the passageway and back to the canyon. He didn't look back, because he knew that would only slow him down.
The shuttle was waiting for him, and it felt warm inside. The breeze outside had picked up, since he first started out. It only took moments to get the shuttle out of the canyon and on it's way to open space, once again. There was one other place he wanted to explore. It would prove to be the most difficult, but possibly the most prosperous.
As the shuttle slipped into hyperspace, Tiinaxl wondered about what the young Jedi had said in the mine shaft. Were all Jedi out to destroy anyone who weren't Jedi or had no Force ability? Do they always judge people before finding all of the facts? Perhaps they are just paranoid due to their past. He didn't know why they were like that. He just knew he would defend himself and his friends from the Jedi.
His thoughts shifted to the Sith, that the Jedi sought out. It seemed that they were mentioned often and yet not seen as often. Were there really that many Sith out there? He knew that they still existed, and that he did not wish to meet them, but he didn't think that they were as large a threat as the Jedi may think. He could be wrong, though. He did not know enough to form a solid answer either way. He didn't he ever would.
**********
The shuttle slipped out of hyperspace and zipped along towards what looked to be empty space. Tiinaxl checked his navigation computer to make sure he didn't misdirect the shuttle. Anoth had to be nearby. Everything he had read pointed to where he was.
Suddenly, a flashing in the distance caught his eye. There it was. Bolts of static shot out and around the strange planet. It looked as if the planet had broken apart and pulled itself together in some misshaped formation. Around the smallest clump was a haze. It was the only part with an atmosphere left to breathe. That was where he had to go.
He piloted the shuttle around the staticky planet, watching carefully to pick out any form of pattern to the bolts. If he could find that pattern, he could get past the static safely. As he watched, he noticed a few points that the static frequented. Those would be the places to avoid. He looked on to see if the bolts were able to be timed. If they were, he would know when to make his run for the surface. With luck, he noticed that there was a pattern and timing he could work with. It would be tight, but he felt he could get past it. Getting back would be another story.
The shuttle angled towards Anoth and slowed down to nearly a stop.
---
I'm CRAZY!!!!
Rick
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fm@swef.net
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