Hearts of the Stars: A Sci-Fi Romance Pt.2
Liora hopped onto the transport vessel, breathing in the fresh morning air. Her short blue hair moved freely with the wind, and a smile crept onto her face at the excitement of visiting Caralho. All around her, various other student Jedi were also engaged in their own preparatory processes, and Liora hastened to check her own equipment.
She silently went over a checklist of survival equipment in her head. Lightsaber - check. Protective breathing mask - check. First aid kit - check. Knife - check. Comms - check. She was ready to go, and strapped on a storage pouch beside her backpack.
As she stepped onto her assigned vessel, Liora inhaled deeply to calm her nerves. Nodding at her fellow students, she was happy to note that their assigned instructor today was none other than Master Valin. Liora had spent many hours learning from Master Valin, the renowned Jedi researcher who specialized in biology.
The ride to Caralho was marred by a rather violent episode of air turbulence. She couldn’t help but squeeze her eyes tightly closed and grip her seat as the transport sharply dipped. Liora could hear shouting from the cockpit as the pilots fought to keep the ship flying. Their battle was won as the ship righted itself and flew into calmer air.
She glanced around, and saw that Master Valin was in deep thought. I wonder whether this was a planned test for us to gauge our reactions? Hmmm. Just as she was about to speak, Master Valin stood up and calmly spoke. “We seem to have been thrown off course by an unpredictable storm. We are near Jedha instead of Caralho, which is an unknown land for us. Indeed a chance for you to prove your worth. Survive for a week alone, and ascend as a Jedi Knight.”
Liora again couldn’t discern whether the masters had abruptly changed their mission on purpose. A Jedi must be able to adapt and survive in all situations. She remembered the teachings with a fondness as they landed. Not much was known about this world, and it was already mid afternoon.
The news had already spread through the monk community about this sorrowful day. Accompanied by his other fellow monks by his side, Riktor visualized and felt the elder's heart beating it's last before hearing his final breath. He had finally passed on while the desert storm roared wildly through the covered entrance of the cave.
"Peace be with you master... Live on without boundary and suffering to the promised land..." Riktor did not shed a single tear, for showing emotion was a sign of weakness for the monks. The monks would bring his body away deeper into the cave to later be incinerated once the desert storm would cease.
Riktor softly ran his fingers across the X shaped scar left from the operation when replacing his eye, he felt something strange in a way as he caressed his semi mangled face before looking over at the other monks "I feel something... Someone just landed onto our territory..."
Without even needing to lift a finger, he was fetched his staff in which he had made modifications for each end to produce a yellow plasma blade from a very rare kyber crystal they had found in an old mine deeper within the heart of the caves.
He carefully ignited the staff and weilded it carefully, the crackling sound of the staff's tips could be heard as he swung it around carefully before stopping the blade below his fellow monk watching him carefully as he didn't flinch before disengaging the blades and covering his face with his Maroon coloured robe "Take shelter while I seek what has landed onto our sacred grounds brother... I will not be long"
Riktor carefully left his brethren in their hidden village within the mountains, climbing down to the sand floor before swiftly making his way through until he could barely spot the ship that he had felt from earlier. “My senses haven't failed me... Bless me elder for your teachings as I await to battle”
He gripped his staff tightly as he engaged the thermal imaging functionality from his eye to be able to better visualize through the storm to be able to watch as the people would soon disembark from their ship...
