Hello there!
So... This one is a bit messy. Sorry about that. I'm still cranky after my kiddo's eye doctor appointment. Glasses are fucking expensive. Why are glasses so expensive? Oh, hey, you need these things to see? 900 dollars!
Ugh. Anyway.
Today I'm rambling about Lightsabers. The fourth book in the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta.
Wicket is not amused
Trigger Warnings:
Very brief mention of suicide.
Assassination attempts
Minor character deaths
Spoilers ahead!
The four Jedi are tasked with building their lightsabers. Jaina has enough random power sources laying around so that part is covered. But they need crystals.
This is the old Legends Canon so, kyber crystals that were only found in certain places throughout the galaxy weren't a thing. Instead, they can use random crystals or jewels. Luke does mention kaiburr crystals. Which I need to look up. (update from when I took notes: This is what Wookieepedia says on kaiburr crystals:
The Kaiburr crystal was an ancient Force relic, initially located on the planet Circarpous V, locally known as Mimban. When in its natural location in the Temple of Pomojema on Mimban, the crystal increased a Force-sensitive's power one thousand times over. Among its magnification of abilities were the ability to heal, to further augment a Force-user's connection to the Force, to project Force lightning by those typically unable, and to empower and energize a tired being close in proximity to the crystal. If cut properly, the Kaiburr crystal also worked as a lightsaber crystal.
At least that's the basics. So it's a Legends thing. Not a new canon thing.)
So, Jaina builds her crystal. Jacen uses the Corusca gem he picked up on Lando's GemDiver Station during the events of the second book (read my ramblings about that here ). Lowbacca finds his gem/crystal in the bits and pieces the Rebels left on Yavin 4. Tenel Ka makes her lightsaber casing from a rancor tooth, which I always thought was super cool. And just some random crystal she found in a volcano.
Luke had the four train against remotes together. Like how Obi-Wan trained him on the Falcon. Glad Luke didn't take away the kids' sight completely but still… seems unwise… Seemed unwise when Obi-Wan did it with Luke. Maybe I'm just projecting since I have seen my kid turn on a flashlight and blind themselves multiple times. These kids know how to turn on a lightsaber. It'll be fine.
Narrator Voice: It was not fine.
Tenel Ka destroyed her remote. Because of course she did. And she didn't need the Force to do so. That is a big part of her character. She only uses the Force as a last resort.
I feel like Luke rushed this training. I know he needs to get them advanced a bit thanks to Brakiss and the Second Imperium but fuck dude. These kids just turned on their lightsabers for the first time and, like, five pages later he is having them spar each other. Just seems a little rushed. Patience, Luke.
"She switched the lightsaber to her left hand to prove she could fight just as well with either arm. She had practiced equally with her left and right hands, knowing it might prove a useful skill sometime."
Well, that sounds like some foreshadowing.
Yep. Tenel Ka's lightsaber shorted out during her spar with Jacen and off with her arm.
Tenel Ka's family comes to get her so she can recover with them. But, Jaina notices that the ship had the markings of the Royal House of Hapes. Uh-oh. Looks like that secret is out.
By the way, this book is about Tenel Ka. The POV alternates as it has in previous books so you still get just as much Jacen and Jaina and Lowie, but this is Tenel Ka's story.
Tenel Ka is on Hapes with only her grandmother and Ambassador Yfra. Which is not good. Ta'a Chume is manipulative and does not approve of Tenel Ka's decisions.
Luke, realizing that Tenel Ka's parents are not with her on Hapes, decides he is going to take Jacen, Jaina, and Lowie to join Tenel Ka so they can all heal their mental wounds. Power of friendship, y'all.
I hope Luke told someone that he took three students with him… I know there is only one other teacher at the academy, and she is gonna panic if she goes to find the Solo twins and Lowie to see they're missing. Again…
Meanwhile, at the shadow academy, Qorl (the TIE fighter pilot from book one) is training Norys (gang leader from book three).
Luke and the Baby Jedi arrive at Hapes to an angry Ta'a Chume. Which, she's always angry. And Luke is not making her any less angry. Good for him.
The Baby Jedi are spending a month with Tenel Ka on Hapes. At the… lake palace… fountain palace… there was water and a Palace. But yeah. A month. A month for Tenel Ka to decide if she is going to continue her training as a Jedi.
Jacen made Tenel Ka laugh! Goal achieved.
Oh no! A bomb! I would be more shocked about this if I hadn't read this book a lot. I can't remember who is causing trouble (I have an idea) but I remember the trouble.
The Baby Jedi are sent to the Reef Fortress to hide out. Tenel Ka picked out their rooms, which were perfect for her friends.
Ambassador Yfra sends them out on a speeder to explore the ocean. She mentions a few times that she programmed it herself. Suspicious.
The wavespeeder was programmed to take them into the middle of some killer seaweed with no return course. Most suspicious.
Meanwhile, back at the Shadow Academy. Zekk must fight Vilas, Tamith Kai's apprentice from Dathomir.
Zekk wins the fight but feels bad for killing Vilas.
Tenel Ka wakes up to a sound that might have been an explosion.
It was an explosion! The shield generator is down!
Not just the shield generator. All the power is out!
Oh no! A Bartokk assassin squad! 😱
So, Bartokks are insectoids and they have a hive mind. And there is a scene where one gets their head chopped off but the body keeps trying to complete the mission. The mission being kill Tenel Ka's grandmother.
They all escape out the window and grab a wavespeeder to escape.
Jacen: You're not actually going into that seaweed field, are you?
Jaina: They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they?
They are their parents' children.
The monster seaweed takes out the assassins and the group goes back to the palace to find the ambassador taking control since Ta'a Chume and Tenel Ka were dead. But wait. How could she have known that there was any danger? The assassins took down the communications? Ah! She is a traitor!
And after the adventure, Tenel Ka decides she will continue her Jedi training. She makes herself a new lightsaber using a rancor tooth and a gem from her tiara from Hapes, cause symbology.
Jacen and Tenel Ka have another lightsaber spar. And the whole book ends with a rather cheesy scene about friendship and the four of them light their lightsabers…
Good book. Again, these are books for children so... But still a fun read. Now onto the next book. For some reason it is taking me forever to get through these lately. I keep getting distracted. Oh well. I'll get through them all. It will just take me a while.
That's all for this week. See y'all next week.
“I haven’t slept for ten days, because that would be too long.”
-Mitch Hedberg
