Title: A Two-Tone Sabre
Author: Crell McLachlan
E-mail: [email protected]
Categroy: Old republic
Summary: A friend of mine does photo manipulations. See http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/silverberg/295/lightsabers4.html and look for the picture of a two-toned sabre. I just had to write the story for it.
Website: http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/jamestown/406
Disclaimer: sw belongs to george lucas, the two-toned lightsabre to the owner of the Ecletia web-pages (variously known as jedi qui or darth raith), and the story belongs to me, but i don't want any money for it- fan work is meant for fun, not profit.

Karin stood in front of the cabinets filled with sabre crystals, sorting through them carefully, trying to find one that spoke to her. There were no instructions for how a Padawan was to select the crystals the first time she constructed her own lightsabre. But there were plenty of rumors. Karin had decided to just come down here and start looking. Eventually, she found one crystal- a blue Cynthian sapphire. But, while there are no instructions for choosing the crystals, Masters generally gave some technical instructions to their Padawans, and hers said to include two crystals. She continued to search through the tray of sapphires, but could not seem to find one with a Force signature that matched the one she had already found.

"Is there something I can help you with, young Padawan?" Startled, Karin spun around and came nose-to-nose with Master Cealon. Startled again, as when she'd picked up new parts for her old student sabre a few months ago, she barely come up to the Sullust's chin.

"Um, sorry, Master. I'm just trying to find a matching crystal." She bowed slightly, and kept her eyes down to signal her wish to return to her search.

"Is your sabre in need of repair again so soon, Padawan Karin. I have come to expect better than that from you." Karin's eyes snapped up to meet hers, and Cealon's normally solemn face broke into a wide grin. "Apparently I haven't been expecting enough," she chuckled. Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she leaned forward and added, "Usually, selecting crystals for your own sabre requires several days of meditation and searching. In fact, Masters Yoda, Jinn, and Talone each found their first crystals outside the Temple."

"But Master, I have already found one crystal. Now I only need to find a match for it." Karin held out the Cythran sapphire for the Master's inspection. Cealon pulled her eyepiece down so she could inspect the crystal, chittering to herself as she discovered the properties which had led this particular Padawan to chose it yet be unable to match it to any of the other sapphires on hand.

"Do not be discouraged, young one. You are not expected to accomplish any stage of constructing your own lightsabre in a single day. Cythran sapphires are not uncommon. Keep your eyes open on your next few missions with your master, I'm sure you will find what you seek soon enough."

"Thank you, Master." Karin bowed again and left the lab to return to her quarters.

As she entered the common room she shared with her master, Karin noticed that their bags were packed and sitting ready by the door.

"Padawan," came Master Talone's voice from the kitchen, "did you have any success in the labs today?"

"Some, Master." She pulled out the crystal and walked over to the kitchen to show him. "I found a Cythran sapphire that I feel will work."

"And how come you have only one, Padawan?"

"It does not match any of the other Cythran sapphires, and Master Cealon said I should look during our next few missions."

"Well, it might take a while, because we are leaving this evening for a week-long negotiation on Ojavan. All Cythran products are banned from that system, and it seems to me that they are being optimistic as to the negotiations taking only a week."

"That is okay, Master. Perhaps I shall discover what is special about this crystal, and by the time we return have a better idea of what I need for the other."

Talone reached out and ruffled her hair. "You are a good Padawan, Karin. Go study the materials in the other room, and say good-bye to your friends. We leave immediately after evening meal."

Karin bowed, then got a glint in her eye. "Yes, Master. And thank you for packing my bags for me." Talone grinned at his student, then turned back to his meal preparations as she left to obey.

Later that evening, Master and Padawan stood on the landing platform waiting to board the transport that would take them to Ojavan. The ship's crew was working swiftly on their pre-flight, talking in quiet voices, moving efficiently between tasks, tools, and gestures emphasizing their words. Talone turned to his apprentice and said, "Karin, I want you to spend the time on the ship in meditation on the construction of your lightsabre. Don't build anything, and don't worry about the mission, just meditate."

"Yes, Master," Karin replied, and then they were being signaled to board the ship. Karin stowed her bags and her Master's, then found a safe place where she could meditate without being disturbed by liftoff or the jump to hyperspace. She pulled out her crystal to use as a focus, and settled into meditation.

"Karin."

Feeling her Master's hand on her shoulder and hearing her name, Karin pulled her consciousness away from meditation and back to the moment. She looked up and saw concern on her Master's face, and quickly rose to her feet and bowed to him.

"We've arrived at Ojavan, Padawan. Gather our bags and meet me at the exit ramp."

"Yes, Master."

A few minutes later they were waiting just outside the ship for their escort to the negotiations. Karin was sitting on their bags, her crystal once again in her hands. Talone smiled down at her and asked, "How did your meditation go?"

"Fine, Master. I saw myself holding my completed lightsabre and presenting it to you, so I know I will be successful. I am no longer worried about this task. I will find my other crystal when it is there to be found, and the construction will follow in order."

"Very good, Padawan." He looked back up and saw a figure approaching through the crowds of the spaceport. "It appears as if our escort has arrived."

Karin quickly stood and placed her crystal in its pouch on her belt, then picked up their bags and followed her master as he stepped forward to meet the escort. The Ojavanian returned the bows of the two Jedi, then removed the pack she carried on her back and set it on the ground. When she had straightened up, she slid her hands into her sleeves in imitation of the Jedi and looked them both straight in the eyes before speaking.

"Welcome to Ojavan, Master Jedi Talone and Padawan Karin. I am Sran, a Captain in the Ojavan Ceremonial Corps. My unit will be providing the security for the Oskinwa-Ediban negotiations, and the two parties have asked that we, as a neutral party, find an appropriate gift for Jedi. When my Lieutenant identified a gift, both parties provided an equal amount for the purchase of this gift."

"Thank you, Captain," said Master Talone, "and thank your lieutenant for us as well. We will convey our thanks to the negotiators ourselves."

Capt. Sran knelt, and retrieved a small box from her bag, then stood holding it in front of her in both hands. "While my Lieutenant was researching what would be an appropriate gift for Jedi, he discovered that your Padawan is approximately the age at which most Jedi apprentices construct their first lightsabre, and thought an Ojavan emerald would be appropriate. We do not know if it will actually work as a lightsabre crystal, but at least it can be a symbol to you that we, Ojavan, Oskinwa, and Ediban, all understand the importance of the Jedi to the Galaxy, and appreciate your assistance in these negotiations." She held out the box and opened it, and Karin caught her breath. Talone shot a quick glance at his student, and say that she seemed to have slipped into a meditative state, the same one, in fact, that she entered every time she held her Cythran sapphire in her hands.

"Thank you, Captain. Karin is ready to construct her lightsabre and has selected one crystal already, but was unable to find a match for it. I believe you have." He placed his hand on his student's shoulder and continued, "Karin, I will not require you to attend the negotiations. Take the crystal and spend the week constructing your lightsabre." Karin came out of her trance, plucked the Ojavan emerald from its box and placed it in the pouch with her Cythran sapphire. The master turned back to the captain and asked, "Captain, could my Padawan have use of a small electronics lab for the duration of our stay?"

Capt. Sran snapped her mouth shut and swallowed once before speaking. "Yes of course. And I will have someone contact the Jedi Temple to make arrangements for spares."

On the last day of the negotiations, the Padawan joined her Master. After the treaty had been signed, but before the group broke up to prepare for the reception that evening, one of the junior negotiators stood and addressed the Jedi.

"Master Talone, since you excused your Padawan so she could construct her first lightsabre, and since she is now present, many of us are assuming she has completed her task. We would ask the two of you for a demonstration."

The Master looked at the Padawan, who slowly stood and bowed to the delegate. "Thank you. Since I have not been participating, I do not know if you are aware that your gift to my Master and I was a Ojavan emerald. The reason I was excused from the negotiations to build my lightsabre was because this Ojavan emerald's Force signature matches that of the Cythran sapphire I had already chosen." She strode out to the middle of the room and pulled her lightsabre from her belt. "I would be pleased to demonstrate for you, as I feel the joining of two stones from different worlds in my lightsabre is an appropriate representation of the joining of your two worlds in this treaty." She ignited her blade, and everyone in the room rose to their feet. The blade was of two colors- bright green where it extruded from the handle shading to bright blue at the tip.

She saluted the Captain of the Ceremonial corps where she stood by the door, each of the leaders of the negotiating teams, and finally Master Talone. "Master, would you join me in the Grand Dance?"

*end*