Star Wars: Forgotten Heroes

Reign

Deep in the Unknown Regions on the fifth planet in its system, an adolescent omwati trudged through an unrelenting blizzard in search for shelter. He readjusted his footing as the winds kicked up, and kept an eye on the terrain-mapping device in his hand as he treaded carefully forward. The steady beeping of the device slowly sped in tempo. A slight, linear increase, but promising. He held it out left and right, fishing for the sweet spot, and slowly the rate of increase in the high-pitched beeping became exponential. He smiled and walked faster, staring at the device's small, frost

-encrusted monitor when a gust of spiraling wind blew him into a cave of solid, blue ice.

He stood and removed the thick, white hood that protected his head from the deadly cold, revealing his feathery, snow white hair. The blue of his skin matched the blue of the translucent ice walls so closely he looked like a refraction of light against it as he walked deeper into the mystical place. And the deeper he went the more awestruck he became. Though his connection to the Force was relatively weak for someone who had been admitted to the Academy on Coruscant, there was no doubt in his mind the place emitted great energy. In fact, it seemed to exude it in excess. The omwati remembered back to his training, and what Master Drallig had said, that the Force was stronger in some places and weaker in others. Well, this remote planet of Ilum was indeed a hub world of the Force, and for it, was at one time considered by the Jedi to be a home away from home.

Among the abundance of multi-colored crystalline solids that protruded from all angles of the massive, primordial cavity, were offerings to the jagged, luminous formations themselves that had been placed by pilgrims of the sacred place. Among the wealth of offerings were piles of stones with crudely carved symbols etched into them, coins from distant and forgotten civilizations, and stacks of republic credits, signifying more recent sojourns.

The omwati crept along the side of the cave and extended his hand so the tips of his fingers gently grazed the protruding crystals. Upon the quick and fleeting contact, some caused him pain like a sudden, piercing headache. And others called to him, palpating his very mind and warping his perception of reality to something akin to a dream.

Among the glints of greens, blues, and purples, was a brilliant golden crystal that shined like the Naboo Sun. Staring into it conjured up the oldest memories he'd forgot he had. Not specific instances of things, but vague recollections of when the brilliance and warmth of the Sun was still novel, inspiriting, and soothing all at once. He grabbed it slowly and carefully, the more he tightened his grip the more he felt the unyielding, bitter chill of the crystal pierce through his thick gloves and sting his fingers.

He laid a thick, woolen mat down on the flattest ground in the cave he could find and sat down crosslegged, closed his eyes and meditated in the place for hours, thinking of as little as he could to make way for the pure, whirling current of the Force. When the cold finally woke his motionless body from his trance, he unwrapped a velvet cloth that revealed dozens of small, highly specified metal parts that would make up the hilt of a lightsaber.

Steadily he crafted it, making sure to keep the golden crystal and upper focus crystal in place, as he followed the blueprints he'd conjured from memory when studying so intently at the Archives. After tightening a few of the joints under the activation switch and sliding the thin, gold metal flap over the exposed wires, he ignited the elegant tool. He felt the sudden force of the magical blade push against him and he gripped the hilt tighter in response as the rod of light extended. The brilliant, golden glow filled the cave and the abundance of crystals around him seemed to dance as he moved the laser sword slowly and respectfully, getting a feel for its weight.

Upon exiting the cave he was met with that same relentless blizzard that had become even more furious to the point he

couldn't see his own feet. He wandered forward, keeping the light of his newly constructed lightsaber close in front of him, having it act as a torch. Ancient Jedi had said that the lightsaber was not only a weapon, but an essential tool that could help align one with the Force. He held that knowledge at the forefront of his mind as he tried to let it guide him.