Yukiko looked down at her unfinished weapon. Weapon...she could hardly believe that she was being asked to do this. She was not ready, and yet...she knew that when she agreed to go with Nat on this voyage.
"For Nat," she said with determination, pulling her welding shield over her face once more. She set to work attatching the switch and power source into the casing, securing them tightly. The crystal lay lonely on the floor of Yukiko's work space. She glanced at it from time to time, feeling uneasy about it, but thinking of Nat helped. She would do this for her.
It was then that she realized what she was doing. As a Jedi she had a responsibility to all life. She, who had the strength to see things before they happened, to feel how another was feeling, to have such a deep and utter understanding and connection to the universe, had an obligation to fullfill. She could not run away and cower. She had to be strong in order to show the universe what was right.
With this newfound strength, she worked harder on her saber, fitting the pieces together tightly and securely, and finally, she picked up the crystal. She held it in the light, inspecting it carefully. She twirled it around a few times, and gently rested it in the casing of the lightsaber. She closed the casing carefully, and switched the power on.
A brilliant, dark purple blade flickered to life. It died after a few flickers, but Yukiko merely opened the casing once more and adjusted the crystal. She moved the switch once more, and the blade hummed to life. She stared at the blade for a long while, feeling afraid of the lives it might claim.
Shutting it off, she welded the casing shut, finishing the weapon. She hefted it in her hands carefully, testing its weight, and let out a breath.
It was done.
Yukiko put her scrap materials away, and as she did so, a piece of dark wood clattered to the ground. She picked it up and examined it carefully, tracing the grains with her fingers.
An idea came to her, and she set to work whittling down the chunk of wood to a curcular shape that would fit the end of her saber, opposite the blade end.
With a carving knife from the tool kit, Yukiko carved a symbol from an ancient script of her people. It was the symbol that represented peace. Satisfied with her carving, she attatched the wood securely to the end of her saber, and emerged from the storage space.
She walked down the corridoor and back to the sleeping quarters she had been assigned to. Laying down on her bed, she looked at her weary and battered hands, bending the fingers gingerly. Her lightsaber lay in the hilt of the belt of her robes. It felt very heavy to her for one reason or another.
Tenel Ka came into the room, and asked to see her weapon. Yukiko handed it over gently, and Tenel Ka examined it.
"Very good work," she said, her tone grave despite her praise. "It is a very sturdy saber."
With that said, she handed the lightsaber back to Yukiko, who placed it back in its hilt, turned over on her bed, and fell asleep.
