Jedi Artisan 014

AN: Quick note, there's a difference between a THE Kaiburr crystal, and kyber crystals. The first one is a singular object, and the spelling is like that because it comes from an old comic. Enjoy.

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Entering the next chamber, Zane sensed something in the Force, and knew he was drawing close to the object of his desire. 

Where the previous rooms in the temple had been bone chillingly cold, full of traps, and the oppressive silence of a long dead civilization, this room was different. A smell like cinnamon entered the air, and a warm current pressed upon his skin like the first rays of the sun on a calm morning. Even the ancient stones seemed not to have aged a day, and were smooth to the touch. The statues in this room were not worn out, and depicted all sorts of monsters, and deities. A painting on the ceiling depicted people worshipping the clouds, and a bright pink light suffused the chamber, illuminating everything in a soft glow. 

Zane paused in his step as he felt his lightsaber resonating with something up ahead. 

Friend. Meet. Hurry. 

The childish, nascent intelligence of his kaibur crystal urged him forward. 

As he advanced, he beheld it. At the center of the chamber, suspended in midair, floated a gem the size of a watermelon. It pulsed with a soft, peachy-rose pink colored light. A gentle, heartbeat-like pulse spread throughout the area, inviting them to come closer. 

If Zane didn't know better, he'd be paranoid that this would be one of those ‘too good to be true’ traps. One that enticed someone with some grand treasure, only to be a curse. Thanks to his meta knowledge, however, he knew that the Kaiburr crystal was the real deal! When George Lucas first wanted to use a swamp world in Episode V, Mimban was the beta world until he settled on Dagobah. The people involved in creating the Legends book series had seen his notes, and the original idea for kaibur crystals in lightsabers originated from here, and not Ilum. According to Luke, if Zane took a shard of this Kaiburr crystal, and placed it in his lightsaber, it would be the strongest plasma-based weapon of its kind. No other lightsaber would be as potent. 

Merge. Add. Become One. 

His white kyber crystal urged him on once more. 

Shaak Ti stopped beside him, her expression shifting between both awe, and extreme caution. Pursing her lips, she held out a hand, as if to stop him in place. 

“That…is no ordinary artifact. We should be careful in our approach. Power so easily earned is the path to the Darkside.” She warned. 

Zane didn’t answer her, and like a man in a trance-or a stupified zombie-lurched forward with staggering steps. 

The closer he got, the more intense this otherworldly presence became. An invisible ripple in the Force gathered here. It was thick and vibrant, coiling around the gem like a lover coating their sleeping husband/wife with a blanket. 

“Be careful. You are not acting normal.” Shaak Ti pulled upon him once more. 

“Have no fear, Shaak Ti. This is the Kaiburr crystal. A gemstone that enhances the powers of Force Sensitives by a thousand times. As a Jedi Artificer, I had studied legends about this thing, but never expected to come across it in my lifetime.” Zane reassured, yet Shaak Ti was still somewhat tense. 

Zane stepped closer, and held her hand as he drew near. Then, everything changed.

The world around him seemed to vanish in a kaleidoscope of colors. A distant hum merged with his psyche, and faint drips of water somewhere deep in the stone echoed like a thousand drums. Shaak Ti’s presence beside him burned bright and steady, and their energies merged, forming a calm flame in this sea of overwhelming presence. 

Like the Earth keeping the moon in its orbit, the two of them subconsciously acted as one another's anchor, keeping them from going mad due to the sudden influx of overwhelming power. Even Vader-knowing Luke was his son-had been so overwhelmed when he came into contact with the Kaiburr crystal, he almost killed Luke. Holding onto her hand tightly, Zane felt like they were both stars in the Force. Luminous beings beyond mere flesh. For a time, he lost himself just enjoying her company. Leaning into one another for support, they slowly came to grasp this heady sensation, and reign in this power. 

What really woke him up from his stupor was a kiss on the lips. 

“Shaak Ti!” Zane muttered in shock. 

Instead of looking away-as per usual-the radiant red Togruta met his eyes. She didn’t say a word, and merely held onto him. 

His usual lazy demeanor remained, but now it carried a strange clarity, as if every shortcut in the galaxy had suddenly revealed itself to him.

“Will you go out with me?” Zane hesitantly asked, feeling his heart nervously shudder. 

“We'll have to leave the Order.” Shaak Ti sadly remarked. 

“Not necessarily. The current rules have only been around for a thousand years. With some effort, we can return the Order to how it was. Together.” Zane hurriedly whispered, afraid she would say no. 

Looking deep into his eyes, she smiled. 

“Troublemaker.” She huffed. 

“So that's a yes?” Zane squeezed out a smile. 

“Together.” Shaak Ti smiled, squeezing his hands once more. 

Her lips-like vanilla-carressed his own one more time, before she teasingly pulled back, and regarded the crystal. All flirtation had left her, as she once more transformed into the responsible, professional Jedi that Zane had fallen for all those years ago. 

“I think I am starting to feel…inspired.” Shaak Ti quietly said, and then, pulling out her lightsaber, began to perform several katas that previously had eluded her. 

Lost in a trance, Shaak Ti pranced around the room like a lioness on the prowl. Her blue lightsaber gleamed gracefully in every direction, her speed was like lightning, her steps fluid, like water. Zane watched in real time as this entry level Jedi Knight advanced in her technique by leaps and bounds. At this rate, he had no doubt his lover-what a beautiful thought-would become more powerful than her Canon or even Legends self. 

During this time, he had also become inspired, and previous roadblocks in his thinking, and various lessons from Master Oogway began to make sense. Recalling that before he left for Mimban, Master Oogway had said:  “I am here because the universe has placed me here. You are here because the universe has placed you here. And the needle-” He glanced towards Zane's side, where a tray of ominously shiny instruments just so happened to lie in wait. “-is also here.”

Zane, at the time, had confused his Master's words to mean he would experience something unpleasant in the moment. Little did he know, that Oogway was referring to his skills as a Jedi Artisan! Truly, the wise tortoise alien was deserving of respect! 

Reaching into his robes for something sharp, and pointy, he retrieved the Endless Thread, and Quick Needle. 

Whilst Shaak Ti-the saber monkey that she was-worked up a sweat, Zane, in typical lazy fashion, sewed himself a comfortable cushion, and sat down directly beneath the hovering crystal. Its light bathed him in soft pink hues, casting long, gentle shadows.

His hands began to move as he pulled upon the feeling of serenity that he had experienced when playing on that keyboard earlier. 

At first, his creation seemed almost mundane, as the thread didn't look like anything special. But as he worked, the Force responded. Threads aligned without tangling, knots tied themselves the instant he thought of them, and his magnum opus slowly began to take shape. 

Zane didn’t rush the process, letting his artistry flow naturally. His mind wasn't particularly active in the shape, letting the Force guide him into creating what the universe most wanted. The Darkside was making the Force bend to your will. As a Jedi who followed the old ways, he moved with the Lightside as a dancer moves with their partner. 

He didn’t strain himself attempting to make the most perfect item, nor did he half ass his creation. As a bonafide lazyman, each stroke, every motion was minimal, and efficient. Every movement was exactly what was needed in the moment. No more, no less.

Within minutes, something began to take shape. Like a 3D printing device, Zane's skills were superb, and virtually anything could be crafted from the Endless Thread. What formed in his hands was a small, golden harp. 

Delicate. Elegant. Its frame curved like a crescent, its strings thin yet shimmering faintly with the residual glow of the crystal’s influence. The spine-despite being crafted from threads-was strong and ridged, whilst the rest of the instrument was soft to the touch, possessing a magical quality. 

As soon as it was completed, he was left blinking his eyes in a daze. Like a man who had slept through three alarms, and had worked overtime last night, the soft glow from the harp left him feeling like he had woken up at 1pm after a day's hard work. 

Zane held it up, inspecting it with a thoughtful hum. His trip here not only led to a new item, but also unlocked several new routes for inspiration. Although he didn't learn any cool new abilities, he felt as if his connection to the Force had grown deeper. Additionally, several faint & grainy ideas he had-blueprints in his mind for future inventions-had become clear. When he returned to the Temple, there was sure to be another round of experiments! 

“You just created that from a spool of thread. You're remarkable, Zan Zan.” Shaak Ti paused in her step, and regarded him like he was some rare animal, or prized house husband. It was one thing to be handed a finished product, and it was an entirely different to see someone make it right in front of your face! 

“Yeah.” He replied casually. “Seemed easier than explaining the process. Your boyfriend is a bonafide Jedi Artisan.” 

She gave him a look, but said nothing.

Zane adjusted his grip on the harp, then lightly ran his fingers across the strings.

The sound that followed was divine. 

It wasn’t loud, complex, or intricate, but it resonated within the Force. 

The note carried through the chamber like a gentle wave, washing over stone, air, and spirit alike. Any tension they had felt due to the overwhelming nature of the Kaiburr crystal dissolved like sugar cubes in a glass of water. 

Shaak Ti’s shoulders lowered slightly, her breath easing without her realizing it.

“Oh. That’s nice.” Zane hummed with a smile. 

He strummed again, trying to put some skill into his moves. This time, the melody was soft, and flowed like an arrow to the soul. Each note played perfectly without effort or thought. The Force moved through the strings, and the strings answered.

Shaak Ti closed her eyes briefly, letting the sound pass through her, and she slowly clapped her hands. 

“Not all Jedi shape the Force through combat or diplomacy. Some choose to create. They give it form. If only we lived in a galaxy that allowed all of us to pursue such noble goals.” She sighed deeply with emotion. 

Zane looked down at the harp in his hands, and continued to play a melody. The Fairy Fountain theme from the Legend of Zelda came onto the scene, and the pink crystal above pulsed in quiet approval, a single drop of liquid manifested from its top, and began to form at its base, as if it were crying. 

Lost in the music, Zane subconsciously floated his own kyber crystal out of his lightsaber, and allowed this drop to fall upon it. Merging together, a wonderful harmony pulsed throughout the chamber. 

And in the heart of the ancient temple, beneath the watchful glow of the Kaiburr crystal, the melody lingered, and a profound peace spread throughout the land, relieving all living beings throughout Mimban.