Hu-eng, the droid that keeps the knowledge pertaining to the art of lightsaber design for the Jedi hummed and inspected my collection of parts.
"This is an interesting design. It will work, but I can tell that parts are missing..." he said and I nodded while trying to get comfortable on the too small pillows.
"All the parts I want are not available onboard. I can finish the construction later though, all those parts are secondary." I answered and he slowly nodded.
"What do you have planned?" he asked and I flexed my head feathers.
"I'm planning to install a repulsorlift, a small shield generator, a droid core and a more powerful power cell."
His optical sensors blinked as he looked at me. "A droid lightsaber?" I nodded.
"Indeed. I see no reason not to. There is plenty of room in the handle as it needs to be so big. And I'm not much for close-quarters combat, so why not let my saber handle that on its own?"
He hesitated before nodding. "Very well, if that is what you feel is the right thing for you." he said before he stepped back, "You may begin."
I nodded and closed my eyes, letting the force flow through me as I pictured each component of the lightsaber in my mind.
I slowly lifted the pieces into the air, carefully aligning them before slowly sliding them together. They interlocked and the crystal slid into place.
The pieces slowly fused together, forming a whole.
I extended my hand, letting the hilt fall into it before I opened my eyes. It felt right in my hand, like a part of me.
I aimed it away from anything important, then I pushed the button.
The saber activated with a snap-hiss, revealing a one and a half meter long dark blue blade with a bright white core, slightly thicker than a normal lightsaber blade. I turned it off and handed it over to the droid for inspection.
He spent a couple of minutes checking it over before he nodded. "Fine work. Unfinished, but the core is well done."
He handed it over to me before walking off to continue to assist the others, leaving me looking at the hilt of my lightsaber.
As I studied it, I understood why the Jedi put so much faith in these things. They are part of them, they really are.
I raised my crest feathers in amusement before I hooked the hilt to the carrying harness I was wearing. Just because the lightsaber feels natural doesn't mean you actually need to run around trying to hit people with it.
I still very much prefer a good blaster.
A day later I climbed up the ramp to Clear Skies. "Captain. Had a good... meditation?" Samantha Swan teased with a slight smile.
I snorted and shook my head "Too stressful for me. And you? Had a good time?" She nodded while joining me as I made my way deeper into the ship.
"I did." she answered with a smile.
I glanced down at her, having some suspicions about who she spent it with, before I nodded. "Do we have a cargo lined up, or do we need to go hunting?"
"We do." She nodded, "Captain Merrrrrok on the Green Leaf located a cargo on Merdonia that fits in our hold and is fairly profitable.
I trilled happily. "Perfect! Now we just need to get a load of money faucets...sorry, I mean passengers, and we are ready to go."
Sam snorted and shook her head. "Probably shouldn't refer to them like that, Sir. However suitable it might be, if the crew start doing the same it only takes one slip up in front of the passengers..."
I sighed and then nodded. "You are right of course, Commander. Very well, post the information and set the time of departure as... Tomorrow evening."
She nodded, "Very well, Captain." and made her way to the bridge as I stopped by my quarters.
As I coiled up around my pillar and activated the interface it beeped and the 'you got mail' light blinked at me.
I hmm'd and then opened it, making a hologram appear in front of me to reveal a human woman wearing a long red dress.
"Captain Atreus. It is well over time I sent you a message. I am sorry I haven't earlier, but things have been busy around here clearing up some matters, even after my Coronation." Princess, no, 'Queen' Ni'Korish said with a smile before she continued.
"I did promise to reward you, Captain, and I intend to keep that promise, though the matter of clearing out my cousins' spies and people needed to be handled first."
She smoothed out her red dress. "Included with this message is a numerical code. Include this into your ships transponder code and any raiders or patrol ships in The Mists that pick up your signal will escort your ship safely though. It is no hurry, Captain, you may come when you are ready." she said with a smile "I am aware you do have a business to run, and people you are responsible for. I know the feeling."
"Fly Safe, Captain Atreus."
The hologram message ended and I hmm'd softly, tightening around the pillar.
Interesting.