2.0 - Lure of the Lost

"Well, I can tell you that Lorrd University is famous throughout the galaxy as a place for academic learning. Their proximity to the Core Worlds makes this somewhat unusual, but it specifically has very solid programs in pangalactic studies." She pauses to consider, "Given its scholarly bent, it'd be unlikely that the Imperial presence there is scant. The Empire likes to be on top of information and culture. The school's reputation, alone, would be enough to ensure that there was significant forces there."

"I've not heard of lightsaber crystals coming from Lorrd though. Perhaps your holocron friends have some information?"

"Sounds like Phemis is our most concrete choice to me, Romund." Heyop states flexing his forearm his muscles still feeling the effects of being chewed on.

Hethan nods to Heyop, "It could be. But some of these other worlds are new to me -- so they may be better choices." She proceeds to the holoprojector and connecters her pad to it wirelessly. After a few more taps, the Curator replies on her pad and to you all, "The frequency of crystals -- and the ability to find them varies based upon the planet in question. Our records indicate that Ilum had an easy abundance of crystals that made locating a crystal for one's lightsaber an important, but not difficult ritual. Next easiest were the crystals on Phemis. Though somewhat harder to mine than the the caves of Ilum, Phemis had abundant crystals that served the Jedi Order. Other crystals are more rare naturally -- such as the Adegan crystals in an around that system. Or have external mechanisms that generate the crystals -- like those from Dantooine which grow inside the eggs of the kinrath spider -- the Crystal Cave of Dantooine is referenced in our materials. Still others exist on worlds that have a harsh environment and may be difficult to locate as a result -- the Bharab crystals are among those. Lastly, Lorddian gemstones were created long ago as a result of a conflict there. They are not naturally occurring stones, but stones that have been enhanced in some way that is lost to us -- so they may be quite difficult to find."

The Curator shrugs, "The most likely place to find abundant crystals is assuredly Phemis. After that, it would seem Dantooine may be a reasonable place - though the dangers there may be more about natural issues than interdiction by humanoid forces."

Csillag nods in agreement with Heyop's suggestion, "How long of a trip is that again?" she asks, trying to hide the fact that she's terrible at reading maps.

Hethan says, "Probably about a week or so to the Corellian sector from here. The Perlemian Trade Route runs nearby, so there's a pretty major hyperspace thoroughfare that can get is close to the Core."

"Does one of you have a ship?"

"I booked travel considering the situation... I didn't think you had a lot of time to get something more coordinated together Romund... with that said I for one don't have a ship let alone know of a pilot off the top of my head..." Heyop admits looking to the rest, "Do we have a ship? It's been a while but Urik how'd your captor get planetside?"

Dagger has been sitting back listening to the banter back and forth. Still sore from his bout with the wolves he has been slow to move and act as he recouperates, but is feeling almost back to normal. He remembers back to being dragged out of the cave, covered in his own blood, and that of the wolf. Did it at least look cool? was all he could manage to ask as he could barely keep his feet underneath him.

He has made sure to keep his blaster close since. Diving into melee may not be his best tactic it appears. He finally speaks up, How did we get here for that matter? On a ship. Someone on this planet has to have a way to get on and off world. Either way, I'm more knowledgable with the big cities, obviously my interactions with nature have been...mixed.

He shovels another forkful of food into his mouth, wincing a little bit as a shot of pain shoots through his arm.

As he gulps down his food he adds, Can't wait to build me a shoto, or maybe two. A smile starts to cross his face as he continues to eat his food.

Heyop smiled inwardly an appetite was a good sign in the long silent Dagger who was usually pretty talkative, between the shell shock of combat and the meds he had been somewhat silent, either foggy in a haze trying to figure out what was going on for the last few hours or finally having enough energy to interact. Heyop hadn't meet the lot of the other three until he found himself drudging in the same direction the four of them silent and quiet for a moment before finally continuing on looking upward realizing they weren't enemies and having the same goal but very different lives. Silent for a change he wondered how Csillag and Kaveri had gotten on world, details seemed to be fuzzy for Dagger or he possibly forgot. Looking up from the display he looked at the two ladies.

"I couldn't pilot a cart, let alone a ship." Csillag blurts as she catches Heyop's gaze. "I was fortunate enough to catch a ride along a supply ship that was passing through this sector. If Romund's signal has arrive just hours later I may not have made it here at all."

Kaveri chimes in: "Hey, if none of you want to use your ships, I guess we can take the Kirtan Strider." She looks at their blank looks. "That's my ship, the Kirtan Strider. I docked it at Reles when I came here to find Hethan. It's not fancy, but it can get us there."

Heyop's head jerks at the new bit of information from Kaveri, Uh yeah, I vote Kaveri takes us since she seems to know what she's doing..." he stated before rubbing his eyebrow with the tip of his thumbnail, "We have an agreement on where we're headed though... and uh... maybe Dagger can find Urik a backup weapon..."

Heyop wondered if there were a few things they could do before they left as well, it'd be painful to go through this all over again with some random squatters.

"And anything we could do here at the temple before we leave so it's more secure? Or I guess to repair broken systems...It might take a bit to prep for flight offplanet." Heyop added.

We still have an extra blaster or two. If you can get him to part with that sword, Dagger jests, flipping his own vibroknife around in his hand, although I know how fun close combat can be.

Urik Glares at Heyop. Pats the light blaster holstered at his side, "I have a spare weapon. I'll happily wield a lightsaber of my own over Malefax's tainted sword. But do not think to patronize me Heyop. You are no Master to tell me my place. I have no master. I will never again call anyone 'Master'!" Urik shouts this last sentence.

Then he goes and sulks moodily in a corner.

Dagger looks at Heyop and gives him a slight grin as Urik walks away, then goes to clear his plate.

"I'm not going to patronize you, you are not a child. I'm not here to coddle you I hold you just as accountable for your actions as I do myself, and we both know the sword is dangerous. You can't deny the feelings it tries to worm into your head. My worries are worries breed from experience, it's one thing to take out someone you know is filled with malice and hate that doesn't eat you up inside.

It's another to see a comrade in arms dying from chemical or toxin inhalation or an infectious disease, or seeing a situation that is going to kill the squad if they take another step towards you and someone needs to put them down. Or the look when someone stares at you when they dive on a grenade... Or realize his mind is broken from having to kill too much more than he wanted to, that he needed to.

It's not a good place to be even when it's the right call. And you're god damn right I'm not your master, and technically none of us have a real master either, we had a mentor with the knowledge but didn't understand the feelings behind all of..." Heyop barked back, "THIS and we have digital Jedi." he added raising his voice letting the confusion and rage inside him the feeling of being there but not, feelings of being slightly sluggish and dead push out using his force power of influence.

"Everyone has pain Urik... everyone has a burden in life that weighs them down Urik that they can not break free of... But is it a weight you carry or a crutch you use to hobble through life... That is your decision... Those wolves didn't want to be that way in that cave... they probably wanted to just eat, sleep, and poop, live their life and be done with it. Hell for all we know Malefax could have been like you once and he was just repeating the cycle or break someone and twisting them. Warping their mind in some sick ideology that justified what he did. Or he was always that way and he just wanted more power." he continued falling silent.

"Having a master or not having a master doesn't mean we don't learn... it doesn't mean we stop." Heyop adds in a more rational tone his jawline hard and rigid.

Snapping his neck to the others he remains silent his shoulders relaxing and shakes his head, "Let me know when we figure out what we need to do and when we need to do it by... I need some air." Heyop states and leaves the room. Sounds of something being thrown clatters outside the room and his rapid footsteps soon fade quickly.

Urik's face goes red at about the spot where Heyop starts talking about his "comrades in arms" dying.

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE F^$% UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME OR WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, WHAT I'VE SEEN! NOTHING! THAT SCUM KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY," Urik draws Malefax's sword, "WITH THIS!" his voice quiets slightly, though he's still red in the face and the hand holding the sword is shaking, "You say I will bear responsibility for who I am? I already have. Malefax came for me. And everyone I love is dead because of what I am.""That's right Heyop, walk away! Turn your back on the painful truth! NOW WE KNOW WHO THE CHILD IS HERE!!' Urik turns and lashes out with Malefax's sword at the nearest inanimate object available to smash; something non-vital, like decorative vase. Then storms out of the room swearing, making for the space he's chosen for himself to sleep in.

Banter went back and forth between the two Heyop finally leaving in the end.

Stopping at the doorway Heyop paused shaking his head, "Neither of us can bring the dead back." Heyop states not facing the younger man, "If you've taken responsibility what do you want to do now since they died because of you, to honor their death, so it wasn't in vain. I'll walk away since it's better than continue to yell at one another we'll do nothing but continue to butt heads until we come to an understanding, that's not going to be right now. I'm walking away to think because the truth is painful. It should be. If I'm a child because I don't have the answers for you or myself or any of us really well I guess I'm a child Urik... does that make you feel better? It doesn't make me feel any different. Are you wise enough to know what to say if Dagger died today? We meant well... we weren't taught by a master... We tried... Do you know who to point the finger at? Would you start to second guess your own judgment? I don't think I did the best I could today, does that mean Dagger needed to die because of my short comings? I'm not your Master, I'm not your family, we're not even friends... but we have something to do, and I'll continue to call it like I see it when I see the bad. We'll just have to swallow down everything else and see this..." he states fling two fingers over head in a circle, "comes to a head and deal with the rest later."

Heyop looks over his shoulder at Urik, "You done or you want to take a swing?" Heyop asks.