Chapter 55: 56. Chapter

Lightsabers are made with extremely sophisticated technology. It has been like that, ever since the first one was created. Most people still today don't know how lightsabers actually work.

The way they are created is handled as a secret in the Jedi Order, to stop other non-jedis from creating their own. The very act of creating a lightsaber through the use of the force is a show, to make everyone think that there is an actual need for some supernatural power serving as a medium to create one... Hah, it certainly makes things easier, but in all honesty it isn't necessary to use the force to make one. Anyone could create their own with the right materials and knowledge.

Selling actually functional lightsabers was the first step the Grey Order took to earn big money after its formation so many years ago. That was the basis of our founding money.

The Jedi would think of this act as some sort of sacrilege, no doubt, but they have long forgotten, what it feels when your pockets are empty. It's not that we did it so happily back then, but this was the only way we could make a ton of credits in a short amount of time without becoming wanted throughout the galaxy. We were hiding our presence after all. Also, selling lightsabers to collectors or even to the underworld isn't as dangerous as you might think. The lightsaber as a weapon is basically useless in the hands of a none-force sensitive, and even if someone actually took the time to master it properly, without support from the living force, you have an equal chance of beheading yourself as to kill anyone else in a fight. This is a widely known fact, and people who are still willing to buy them are usually locking the weapons away in secret storerooms, only to show them to their trusted friends on some happy occasion two or three times a year.

Why did I specifically state that lightsabers are extremely sophisticated? Did you ever wonder how these blades are able to create and keep up an incredibly intense plasma beam seemingly effortlessly? The reason for that is the electromagnetic vortex engulfing the weapon when the blade is ignited and it's blade is not in contact with anything else. The undisturbed electromagnetic field channels the blades energy back to the power cell almost without losing any of it.

This so-called vortex is created by the built-in power field conductor, and power vortex rings carefully placed around the Diatium power cell that serves as the battery of every saber. Yes, the lightsabers aren't fueled by magical energies. They have a battery just like everything else. Well, a bit more complex, but you catch my meaning.

Obviously there are times you are still required to change the power cell. In case it is damaged, for example. Modern lightsabers, are often equipped with extra parts and new design elements. Those upgrades can make a difference in battle, but they always make an already complex weapon into an even more complex one. By that they also make it less reliable. They can over-drain the power cell or make the weapon unstable in some other way.

My blade is created to be reliable, and it has never let me down since the moment I earned it from my master years ago.

-Hi there guys. I see you are still in one piece, what a relief.

I heard Aomi's voice coming from my left. She was walking towards us in the company of Rika and Equ. I guess it is time to ask my questions.

-Yeah, we were fine. There was nothing dangerous we encountered out there. Would you now finally tell me what you were afraid of?

-Didn't meet with a single one? Come on... I was waiting for your reaction... Eh...

So there are some strange creatures out there after all...

-What kind of creepy surprise did you have in mind?

-Well... ~ She pouted. -It's not really a surprise if I told you...

I sighed, I am about to lose my patience...

-Aomi, please...

I said the words feeling a bit tired by her antics.

She petted my head as a reaction, while saying with a large smile.

-Good girl!

-Sigh... 

Why does this feel so embarrassing yet at the same time so satisfying, that I started to yearn to be praised. I don't want to turn into a praise whore.

-Well, there were a few bunch of Tuk'ata roaming around here last time. So the fence is a must. These sneaky animals are way too cunning, and patient; also I don't want to be on my toes all day long.

-What!? How the hell would a bunch of Tuk'ata end up here!? Are you joking?

-No, they are really here... also it's complicated...

She said that while looking at the ground, she was clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

-Aomi... what did you do?

-Nothing... well, it was an accident, I swear.

That was the moment when Equ interjected and began to reveal a series of extremely destructive raw facts about the incident without a hint of mercy towards his comrade's future respectability. By the way, I still don't know his real name, or his rank... I need to ask that too, later.

-She hates rats. There are a lot of rat-like rodent around here. So she thought that bringing in a few trained Tuk'ata would solve the problem. She released them here, then left and forgot about them for more than thirty years. The Tuk'atas had a lot of food. They normally live in caves, so the environment was ideal. Soon they began to reproduce. Now there are hundreds of them living in these caves, and these ones were never trained.

A deathly silence descended upon us after Equ finished his explanation. By the end of it, Aomi's face took a lighter shade of blue, clearly from the embarrassment she suffered.

The silence stretched further. I looked at the people who were gathered around. This was the whole crew, as far as I was aware. Ashoka, still sat on the top of a box next to Laora and was currently trying to figure out what this situation meant for her. She clearly didn't know what a Tuk'ata was... I looked at Anakin, who was standing nearby, and his expression was between shock, worry and anger. That's a relief. He seems to at least know what creature we were talking about. Tuk'atas were pretty famous creatures. They were modified by sith alchemy thousands of years ago. The Tuk'ata was one of the best results of sith alchemy. An ideal companion for a Dark Lord. Ideal for creating a bloodbath with the least amount of effort.

Next to Ahsoka was Laora. She was currently... half asleep? Okay, next, Equ, he seems to be happy. Unusually so...  That is suspicious... Oh, I see... He is siphoning in the negative feelings, that were created by his explanation... He is snacking on us. What a jackass. I sent him a glare, and, as he realized that he was busted, hastily stopped it.

Oh, probably this is the reason why Laora is that tired... Is that boy a complete fool? Aomi was still embarrassed, but she was getting over it. Rika was slightly fidgeting, standing behind Aomi and Equ. She was mostly out of sight.

I shook my head and released a long sigh. At last I placed my right hand on my hip, and asked in a commanding tone...

-Tell me, why did we come here. It is obvious that there is more to this cave than it meets the eye.

I wanted to sound cool, but I only earned a cooing sound from Aomi, who decided to hug me instinctively while she completely forgot about her embarrassment.

I tried to push her away, but it was futile...

-Damn it! Cut it off already! Do you hear me!? Let me go!

-Let me heal from this single hug just a little more, then I will answer your questions.

-Sigh... okay, but only for a bit...

-Thanks, dear. Your kindness towards your friends and family never ceased to amaze me.

She playfully poked my nose as she released me from her warm hug. I.. kind of missed that warmth already... It is strange to be shown such kindness, from a stranger who isn't really a stranger... especially after I spent so much time alone. Master never showed me that kind of love... Maybe it is the child speaking from me again... but I am not sure...

After she released me, I wanted to get back to my initial question, but a sudden voice stopped me from doing so.

It was Anakin's voice, but I couldn't focus on what he said as a powerful force grabbed me and pulled me backwards. Seconds later I saw a dark shadow fall from the roof to the exact place I was just standing. I instinctively rolled on the ground backwards to work off the energies of the force pull that saved me. I saw Anakin jump in front of me with his ignited blue lightsaber. I stopped after a few rolls, and hastily looked around, still kneeling in the sand. I was confused. I thought that some type of monster attacked me, but I couldn't see, or sense anything like that nearby. Anakin slowly turned around, as he stepped towards me, holding out his hand to help me stand up. He also showed me a warm caring smile?

I... I blushed a bit... this was surprisingly nice of him... too nice, in fact. Is he planning some type of prank on me? In the middle of a battle? Well, maybe it was a prank from the start... I raised my hand to accept his offer, just to figure out what his deal was. 

Then the same voice, even more irritated, shouted at me, but not from the direction I expected. I turned around half way. My eyes widened as I saw a pretty irritated looking Anakin watching me with a repulsed expression. I looked back to the first Anakin, who was standing in front of me. But this time, there was a familiar irritated expression on him, that was more believable, I thought, still quite shocked from what was happening. 

Then it raised his lightsaber; and without the smallest suspense he attempted to cut me in half diagonally from my left shoulder to my right hip. 

I quickly ignited my own saber as I raised my arms to block the incoming strike. The moment our blades met, I felt my arms numb from the sheer power behind that strike... He or... this creature, that was mimicking his form, clearly didn't hold back. Our two blades sizzled and I realized that I couldn't hold out in a saber lock for any longer. Especially not in my half kneeling position. I angled my blade slightly towards the ground while still defending most of my body. His blade as the angle changed yet his direction of exerting force remained the same, slid down on the side of my blade cutting into the sand, immediately melting it, that turned it into liquified and extremely hot glass. In the small opening, when he got unbalanced as a result, I stood up and jumped away while kicking it in the left shin, which kick I also used to propel myself away faster. That idea proved to be right as just a second later a blue blade cut through the air missing me by an inch. Yet it still splattered me with a few drops of white hot liquid glass. Luckily I was in proper gear this time, and my clothes protected me from them, as they sizzled on my body, quickly cooling down and falling to the floor in small pieces.

As I finally landed at a safer distance standing guarded against possible attacks. I heard many different voices shouting at each other as the sound of other ignited lightsabers filled the cave.

I heard Ahsoka asking something from me, but the sudden pulse of adrenalin flooding my system muffled her voice, as if she was speaking from underwater. Well, we were technically underwater in an underwater cave... 

I managed to focus on the voices, as I slowly began to realize what had happened.

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Equ, Anakin, Rika, and Laora, who at last seemed completely awake, began to encircle the creature. Before any of them would come to blows, a high-pitched, angry scream filled the place with a series of thundering cracks closely followed. Then a single burst of purple lightning hit the creature that currently looked like Anakin. There was a wave of burning hot air extending outwards from the creature as the lightning hit it. There was no screaming from the strange entity, even if it was capable of eliciting some sort of voice. There was no time for that to happen, as it literally blew apart from the incredibly intense energy that was pumped into it so quickly. There was only black goo left behind covering the sand in its place. 

The moment I saw those purple lightning, I knew, that the battle was likely over. I felt a bit weak in my knees now... so I let myself flop on the sandy ground, while trying to spit out a handful of that sand at the same time. Rolling around here will get you eat some eventually... 

I heard Ahsoka's worried voice.

-Nizzy, are you all right, are you hurt? 

I deactivated my blade as I felt a pair of togruta arms wrap around me tightly after she looked me over and saw no visible injuries. 

-...I think that I am okay... but seriously, this was way closer than I would have liked it to be... I never saw that kind of mimic entity in all my years... It was literally invisible in the force. I couldn't sense it; there was simply nothing? As if it wasn't even alive... no even inanimate objects have some midi-chlorian count... that is why you can sense a rock if it flies towards you... But I couldn't sense anything in this case.

There were other closing steps, towards us. No doubt they checked if the creature would stay dead before they decided to come over. 

I looked up and saw Anakin and Aomi stopping a few steps from us. 

-Are you good kid? ~Asked Anakin. -I happened to see a stalactite break-off just above you, so I pulled you out of the way... I sure didn't expect it to turn into me later... Quite a surprise, that was. I can't wait to see Obi-Wan's face when I share this story with him.  

So he was the one who saved me... well, I guess I should thank him properly... 

-I... thank you, for helping me out... 

Anakin looked at me with a raised eyebrow, and said after shaking his head helplessly. 

-Don't make a big thing out of it... It is what every decent person would do. 

-But... I...

He rolled his eyes, then patted my head with his left hand shortly. My eyes widened, and my heart skipped a beat from the sheer shock. 

-I see what Ahsoka and Obi-Wan meant... I don't know what's your deal, yet... but you sure seem to be just another kid in the end. Even if a bit enigmatic. I may have judged you a bit harshly... sorry about that. Things were clearly tough for you, too. I don't agree with the jedi order attempt in trying to capture you. As I don't agree with many things they usually do. Sigh... Also remind me to never piss that blue lady off, okay? Seeing my own copy blasted into smithereens isn't good for my mental health.

Aomi smiled widely, after hearing that. And formed her own quality answer. 

-That's my man! I am a Chiss girl, by the way, I guess you never met any of my kind before? I could assure you, we only look cold from the outside, not between the sheets.

-Sorry, I already have someone... 

-Ehhh.... typical, just my luck... Revan turned into a little girl, and the hot boy is already taken. 

Equ cut into our conversation. 

-Aomi, you know, I am still free. 

Aomi looked at Equ, then she said after a few seconds of scrutiny.

-No, you are too desperate, too young, and you would drain my life half way through. First, try to learn to properly control your constant life drain idiot. 

Anakin turned to Aomi while carefully watching her as she scolded Equ, then lazily shook out some remaining static electricity from her palms. That was the moment he began to speak.

-No, I never saw one of your kind. In fact, I never even heard the name of your race. Where are you from? 

-No surprise there... My race is not exactly social, you see... We have a pretty large empire in the uncharted regions... but we originate from a planet named Csilla. Oh, by the way, I am different than them... I like to speak with new people.

Ahsoka butted in this time. 

-Who is this Revan you keep mentioning? 

-You are cuddling him right now, kiddo.

Ahsoka turned towards me with a shocked expression. 

-Nizzy... Are you a bo-boy? 

I face palmed.

Aomi, Equ, and even Rika began to laugh at that. Laora is currently trying to contain some of the goo left behind for later analysis, probably, so she ignored us, just like usually, while Ahsoka and Anakin became ever more confused. 

Then Aomi finally said after she stopped laughing. 

-You can relax kid. She is definitely a girl now. I would know, if she wasn't. 

I felt as if my face began to turn pink... 

-W-what do you mean by that?! ~I asked.

-But she was a boy in her first life that she is able to recall. That means we usually treat her as a boy or man, isn't that right, Revan?

I ignored her.

-Playing hard to get eh? Not cool. Anyway, the reason for that, is that the first life is the most powerfully remembered. Therefore, it has the most influence on someone's personality. Her first life's name was Revan. A name that you may know as Revan, the betrayer, and a Dark Lord of the Sith. 

There was a complete silence around us. I felt my heart begin to beat erratically, as Ahsoka arms that were still hugging me, shook from the information. She didn't let go completely, but her arms loosened quite a bit. I felt a cold fear settle in my stomach. Why... just why did she tell them... Why!?

She turned back towards me. 

-Your friend looks like someone who would accept the truth. This hot guy here just saved your life a few minutes ago. I think it is time for you to trust them. This is not the first time outsiders have learned of our existence. You know, just as perfectly as I do, that even if they know, they have no means to truly threaten us.

I relaxed a bit, and nodded, hearing her reprimanding tone. 

-To answer your previous question. We recently built a prototype star gate here, as a convenient method to escape this place after shit hits the fan, you know. 

There were another lapse of silence, to Ahsoka's and Anakin's complete dumbfounded expressions. Now my much-alike expression also joined. 

At last, all three of us shouted in almost perfect synchronization. 

-WHAAAAAAATTT?

-Oh! Now that I think of it, that thing must be the answer to why you didn't meet with any Tuk'ata. They should have flocked to you immediately... It must have eaten them. This place is more mysterious with every day I spend here. Watch out for suspicious stalactites, guys. 

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