Alpha Saber

"Master, it’s finished."

- Torfane Nijora.

The Alpha Saber was a rare lightsaber constructed from a blueprint belonging to an ancient Jedi order called the Order of Arrack, whose settlement had been stationed on the neighboring moon of the planet Krynore. The Alpha saber was built by two Jedi; Padawun, Torfane Nijora & Master Kentell Leknar whilst preparing for an impending imperial led attack. The saber’s alloy, focus crystals and power supply were all native minerals which were found on the planet Krynore. Accompanied with its aligned fighting form “Zenite” the Alpha saber was a dominant and exceptionally powerful weapon for any who wielded it. After its construction the Alpha saber was used by Torfane Nijora against an attack from Darth Vader and a select few of the 501st legion. Although the two Jedi were eventually overpowered and struck down by the dark lord, Nijora, whilst wielding the Alpha saber, managed to severe Vader’s entire left arm. After the battle had taken place the alpha saber was left behind on the Krynore moon.

Characteristics
Fundamentally the Alpha saber was an Order of Arrack designed lightsaber, the only distinguishable characteristics were a few alterations, both internal and external, and these were: the removable Krynidium power cell, interface socket and a Jeweliam emitter shroud that was taken from one of Nijora’s twin yeekel sabers. Although a small fraction of internal components were taken from one of Nijora’s sabers, almost all of its core electronic design were completely replicated from the original. The output and appearance of the energy beam was very unique to the Alpha saber (and order of Arrack saber), as it produced a highly powerful broaden beam of light that produced a distinctive bronze glow. Upon ignition and throughout the duration of the saber’s use, the beam would appear highly unstable and would crack with waves of plasmatic spark. The sheer amount of energy that would circulate through the blade meant that even thrusts cast at only half strength would often knock the opposing force user and there saber off balance. Also, upon locking with an opposing saber for a prolonged period of time, the Alpha Saber would trigger the opponents saber to overload, disabling their crystals energy fluctuation, and cause the energy beam to momentarily short out.

History
The Alpha Saber was among one of the rarest known lightsabers in the galaxy, forged during the events of Order 66 and the Great Jedi Purge. Creation of the saber was a joint venture involving two Jedi: Torfane Nijora, a padawun and Kentell Leknar, a Jedi master and member of the Jedi Council.

Nijora was held captive on a star destroyer which was orbiting the planet of Dantooine, having been taken prisoner by the third fleet battalion. He had been on a mission during which he witnessed the outcome of Order 66 first hand, his master gunned down by the very clones that had served them so faithfully. Though his master had been murdered, Nijora would not meet the same fate, he was taken alive by his one time comrades. This peculiar action conflicted with the very nature of Order 66, the purpose behind this change in command and Nijora’s capture would forever remain a mystery. While imprisoned aboard the star destroyer, within a concealed level, Nijora was heavily sedated and confined to a crio-capsule, unable to move and commune with the force effectively. When science officers along with a medical droid were administrating an aray of stimulants to trigger Nijora’s brain functionality, an overdose was given, causing the Jedi to fit uncontrollably. Nijora burst through the capsules confines, throwing all observers across the room rendering them lifeless. After the effects of sedation had worn off, the Jedi in a weakened state collected his possessions and cautiously went in search for any means of escape. Patrols however were soon alerted to his presence and were in pursuit. Nijora, determined to leave the ship, found and barricaded himself into an escape pod in hope of making a quick exit. Yet due to an altercation with the patrolling troopers, Nijora damaged the pods navigation systems. Gradually becoming weaker the Jedi was faced with a choice, he either would perish where he stood or take his chance in the void of space. Nijora sealed the hatch shut and upon ejection was left hurtling towards the atmosphere of Dantooine.

Master Leknar, having been effectively masquerading as a refugee for months, was in exile on Dantooine. Leknar had previously survived an imperil attack on a group of Jedi who had been staging an uprising since the conclusion of the clone wars. The desperate Jedi were within the final stages of their planed assault, when they were discovered and destroyed. Kentell barely escaped the onslaught with her life intact and spent the following year evading imperial entanglement by continually stowing away on cargo ships and freighters. She eventually found her way to the planet Dantooine, and while there went overlooked, until she became alerted to Nijora’s presence. Witnessing the skirmish involving a patrol of shadow trooper’s who had been dispatched to hunt Nijora down, Leknar came to the young Jedi’s aid and after a brief exchange of fire power the two were victorious over the troopers. Sensing that more imperial forces would arrive, the two Jedi lay low within an outcropping before acquiring a starship and fleeing the planet.

Journey to the Arrack Outpost
The Jedi knew that both the Emperor and his infamous apprentice Lord Vader would be unrelenting in their pursuit of the remaining Jedi; and due to the Empires possession of the Jedi temples archives, they would now have near full knowledge of all the known sacred sights and outposts scattered throughout the galaxy. The empire would use the information to eliminate the remainder of those Jedi who were unaccounted for, in-turn ultimately eradicating all historical and visible reference to the Jedi’s existence. Believing that the force was somehow guiding them, Nijora and Leknar journeyed deep into the Joreki quadrant in search of an ancient outpost that was supposedly only known by a select group of Jedi. Leknar had previously seen this outpost in multiple visions which she had experienced while in her exile on Dantooine.

After five months of deep space travel, stationed on the neighbouring moon of the mysterious planet Krynore, master Leknar and Nijora found the sacred sight of “Arrack”. The ancient sight had supposedly been deserted for over six hundred years, untouched since the order mysteriously vanished. The moon itself was a deselect wasteland seemingly devoid of any life; what made up the majority of its surface were its endless dune seas with pockets of dense shrubbery randomly scattered throughout.

While at the outpost, the two Jedi spent every waking moment in preparation for the immanent attack that would in due time take place. Leknar and Nijora studied the Arrack orders teachings and traditions as well as the once lost exclusive duelling style of Zenite; which although being extremely efficient, upon being observed would initially appear to be slower then that of others. For Zenite to be truly unique, it required an equally powerful lightsaber, and following blueprints that the two had found within the outposts archives, they ventured to the planet Krynore in search of the needed components. One of the components required was the mineral Krynidium; this would be used as a main power source. Once the mineral was found within some underground caverns, the Jedi forged a two part power cell, an internal and external supply. Due to the minerals weight (Krynidium being quite heavy) the external supply was made detachable, giving the saber more versatility. When the external Krynidium was attached, its power output, weight and movement were identical to the arrack original, yet even without the separate power cell the lightsaber was still uniquely impressive. A strong and adaptable alloy that had been found within the same caves as the other minerals was used for the hilt. Some internal machinery was taken from one of Nijora's twin yeekel saber’s, and along with the two native (Krynore) focus crystals, the exreamly powerful blade emitted a broad width, forming a distinctive bronze glow.

During their time on the Arrack outpost the Jedi were in need of developing some defensive measures to counteract the imperial forces which would arrive. The outpost had no external protection that was visible, so the Jedi once again explored the orders archives, searching for anything that could be used as a suitable method of defence. They soon discovered that a certain plant species named Charnnar, which had been in a forced state of hibernation could possibly be used to their advantage. From the historical documents that were available, it was explained that the strange species had inhabited the area surrounding the outpost for thousands of years and had natural hibernation periods of up to two hundred years. The vine-creature had defences of their own, consisting of poisonous mucus glands which upon contact would paralyse there victims, and tentacles’ which could crush even the hardened of limestone. The vines also had underground burrowing systems which led into individual nesting sites. The Jedi learned that the arrack people had found a way of controlling these creatures by means of implementing an artificial state of hibernation using a noxious gas. Although the Charnnar had been anesthetized they were brought out of their docile state by the two Jedi as a strategic measure. Once this was set in place the Jedi never ventured outside the confines’ of the outpost. As the Jedi discovered more about the history of the puzzling order they eventually became aware of a secret chamber situated six levels below the surface. It was a meditation chamber, enclosed with thick stone walls which created an insulating affect on force energy. Once inside the chamber the Jedi were able to sense disturbances and movements in the force outside the confines yet their presence would remain hidden from those externally. The chamber also contained a type of port array technology which was capable of instant transportation throughout the outpost and it’s exterior.

The Completion of the Alpha saber
Though the Alpha saber was constructed by both Jedi, it was eventually given to Nijora, this was a tradition shared within the Arrack order, where a small communal group of Jedi (those who had mentored the Padawun) would all contribute in the saber’s construction. When the saber was complete it was given to the padawun upon becoming a Jedi knight. When the Alpha saber was completed and Nijora had chosen an emitter shroud (taken from one of his twin sabers) he bowed low and presented it to his master, who intern began the coronation from Padawun to Knighthood and returned the saber to him. Nijora abandoned his previous saber stance and fighting form, and completly immersed himself in the teachings and fighting style of the Arrack order. Leknar however continued to use her own lightsaber and amalgamated her fighting style with that of the Zenite.

Arrival of Vader
"You will soon be dead... bringing the complete annihilation of the Jedi one step closer."

- Darth Vader

After half a cycle following the construction of the Alpha saber, the moment the two Jedi were expecting, had come, Vader’s arrival. Once Vader’s ship had been detected, Leknar and Nijora fled the upper levels, venturing six floors below the surface to the outpost’s meditation/training chamber. The meditation chamber was an extremely large area, made up of hundreds of internal chambers, including numerous port array discs that gave instant access to specific locations throughout the outpost, including the moon’s surface: the Jedi would use these transport devices as a strategy to confuse their opponents, transmitting them self’s and their enemies throughout different locations. As Vader and a select few of his personal guards “the 501st legion” arrived, they were meet with an eerie silence, all that presented before them was the haze from a miner sand storm. As Vader’s troops moved ahead to find some covering and locate an observation point of the outpost, Vader kept a slight distance, puzzled and uneasy at the force disturbance he was sensing. Then, at the very instant some troops sensed movement of what appeared to be vines in near bye foliage; they were rapidly surrounded and dragged away by the mysteries entity. Vader in that moment had no alternative but to keep moving towards the outpost. Some of the troops that had not been either taken or left paralyzed by the lethal vines, advanced on speeders bikes, deploying thermal detonators as they sped through dense shrubbery. While on the move, Vader was brought to the ground several times by the spawn’s tentacles, yet he managed to keep them at bay. Using his lightsaber and the force, he carved through the enemy and hurled its loose ends into the undergrowth. Upon his arrival to the outposts entry point, Vader was accompanied by only twelve remaining troopers, this was a huge blow to the notorious “Vader’s fist” but they had not, and never would conceit defeat, they remained loyal as ever and awaited there masters orders. Sensing no immediate danger within the outpost, Vader and his troops proceeded to enter. At this point Vader could dimly sense the Jedi but it was progressively growing fainter, as there seem to be something clouding his ability to focus on their location. Some of the troops tried to override the outposts interface but could only access basic information on the construction and layout of the first three levels. Vader, being familiar with the Jedi achieves, and being skilful in electronic functioning, didn’t take long to bypass the mainframes security system and have near complete access to all the level layouts and archives regarding the history of the outpost. It was during the study of the archives that Vader discovered the Charnnar spawn were a force sensitive species. Vader learned that despite the spawn being a dangerous adversary, they were also the very thing responsible for his inability to sense the two Jedi. The spawn had a capability of feeding upon the living force while in there hunting state and this made communion with the force nearly impossible for other users. Using the computers reference chart, Vader quickly located many of the spawns nesting sites and gave the order for his ship to bombard the Charnnar with proton bombs. As soon as the order was given though, seemingly appearing out of thin air, Vader was ambushed and attacked by Master Leknar. Leknar had transported herself from the meditation chamber after sensing Vader’s plan (the meditation chamber was impervious to the confusion brought on by the active Charnnar). Using the force, Leknar immobilized Vader briefly as she pulled five troopers towards a port array disc, transporting them outside, into the oncoming barrage of proton bombs. Vader and Leknar continued dueling, and the seven remaining troopers ordered by their master broke off, scouring the other levels in search of the unaccounted Jedi. Leknar’s fighting technique proved initially difficult for Vader, due to its uncommonness, but Vader soon adapted. The two fought feverishly, matching each blow, and in an attempt to pin Vader against a power conduit, Leknar fastened her lightsaber against his and the two blades became immovable. Using sheer power, Vader soon broke free from the saber lock and began to force choked Leknar. Vader informed Leknar that she would soon die, bringing him one step closer to eradicating the Jedi order, but surprisingly Leknar freed herself from Vader’s grasp with a focused force repulse, resulting in Vader being thrown against a nearby control panel. This bought Leknar just enough time to access a port array, transporting her to the meditation chamber. Meanwhile Nijora was in of the living quarters on the fifth level, and was scouting the area for the intruders. Soon enough Nijora was confronted by three of the elite troopers, who immediately maneuvered themselves for a multiple attack. Nijora almost without thought ignited the alpha saber and lunged toward the nearest trooper. As the trooper rushed to find cover behind a hallway entrance, it shot off a burst of laser fire from its rifle. This however was a pointless act, upon making contact to with the blade the ammunition surprisingly wasn’t repelled but disintegrated. Then In one swift blow Nijora swung the alpha saber through one end of the thick barrier and out the other side, decapitating the trooper. As Nijora turned to face the others he was shot in his left shoulder, throwing him to the floor. This caught him of guard for a brief moment, but he quickly pulled himself together and presented his defensive stance. As one of the troopers moved in close, the other stood back, sighting up the Jedi for a more accurate ranged shot. Nijora casually force pushed the approaching trooper, tossing him down a corridor and at the same time flung the Alpha saber toward the sniper in hiding. The saber punctured the trooper at chest height severing his entire upper body. The trooper who had been thrown down the corridor was now on his feet but appeared unarmed; he ran at Nijora unrelenting and determined to go down fighting. Nijora imminently commanded his saber into his hand and used the force to levitate and restrain his opponent. As the trooper was suspended, Nijora ordered him to surrender, but the trooper, steadfast in his objective refused to give in. Then within the space of what would appear a few seconds in a foolish attempt on the Jedis life, the trooper pulled out a small blaster from under his chest plate but had no time to execute. Nijora reacting instantly, struck him down. In the meditation chamber Master Leknar was quieting her mind, drawing upon the force to recuperate and determine what her next move might be. She was now aware that the majority of nesting sites had been obliterated and the Charnnar along with them, this meant Vader’s connection to the force had been reestablished, making finding the two Jedi a much easier task. Sensing a confrontation with Vader was unavoidable Leknar spoke to Nijora through the force, and the two joined up on one of the observation decks.

Confrontation with Vader
"The Jedi are a faded ideal, treacherous and unworthy of commanding the force, killing you both will be doing the empire a great justice."

- Darth Vader

"Treacherous? The dark side clouds your mind Vader, you still fail to see through the emperors lies!"

- Kentell Leknar

"You dare instruct me Jedi!... I have already seen through the lies!"

- Darth Vader

Upon their arrival to an observation deck located near the outpost’s summit, the two Jedi’s exchange was brief, interrupted by the unmistakable heavy sound of breathing apparatus. Vader had been waiting. Igniting his lightsaber, Vader emerged from the shadows and confronted them. Approaching the Jedi, he told the two that they followed a faded ideal, describing their order as treacherous and unworthy of the force; he then stated that their deaths would be doing a justice to the empire. Kentell passionately rebuked Vader, telling him that his mind was clouded and was still unable to see through the emperor’s lies. Aggressively Vader scolded Kentell, telling her not to try and instruct him, he paused briefly, and then in anger assured them he had already seen through the lies. At that, Vader brought down several temperature regulators from the surrounding walls, throwing them at the Jedi. In trying to evade the flying debris, Torfane was struck and briefly knocked unconscious, however, Kentell managed to suspend in mid flight one of the containers. Struggling for a short time to maintain her concentration and mental grasp, she eventually triumphed, sending the object hurtling back at Vader. The Sith Lord was now pinned amongst some wreckage and slightly wounded; this gave the Jedi time to regroup. Fuelled with anger and using his lightsaber to carve through the mangled metal wreck, Vader broke free and continued to pursue the Jedi. Leknar had been assisting Nijora to his feet, when the two were alerted to Vader. With his blade drawn Vader immediately began to attack Kentell. Before Nijora could reach for his lightsaber in defence of his master, Vader lifted the young Jedi knight and threw him across the room. Vader was unyielding in his assault on Leknar; the Jedi, barely able to fend off the powerful drive of his saber and having little chance to counter-attack. Backed into a corner and seemly trapped, Leknar made a desperate attempt to escape, using the force to propel her from the wall behind, she flung herself into Vader. She succeeded, catapulting them both in different directions. Once off the floor and with little time to consider a detailed strategy, Leknar decided to exploit Vader’s one weakness, dexterity. Leknar wasted no time, and charged at the Sith. Lightsaber in hand, Leknar began to leap around Vader, making several lacerations to his body. Despite his wounds and inability to compete with the Jedi’s speed, Vader remained casual and unwearied, waiting to seize the right moment. Then, in an instant, as Leknar sprang out from behind him, Vader took hold and levitated her. Using the force, he crushed her right hand, along with the hilt of her saber. With The Jedi now suspended in front of him, Vader drove his blade through her upper chest, and informed the Jedi of her imminent death. As Vader withdrew his saber, preparing for the finishing blow, Nijora suddenly appeared knocking Vader’s lightsaber out from his hand. With the Sith Lord exposed Nijora quickly drew the Alpha Saber, assumed his defensive stance and ignited the blade. The power of the saber coursed through the shaft of light, humming and cracking with electric discharge. Pointing the end of the blade towards Vader’s chest, Nijora moved in. Forcing Vader back toward the room’s environmental controls, Nijora swung. Vader managed to weave out of the beams path but just barely, again Nijora swung the blade. This time connecting with the side of Vader’s helmet and taking out an entire control panel. Vader had never encountered a weapon like this before, it was impressive, but he had far from out done. As Nijora came at him once more, Vader reached out with the force, and flung a supplies crate toward the Jedi. Nijora at once turned and struck the crate, slicing it in two, seizing the brief opening; Vader called his lightsaber into his hand and reengaged Nijora. It would not be long however before Vader would learn that dueling with the Alpha Saber would call for an entirely different approach. With every strike that came from the Nijora, it became increasingly harder for Vader to adequately defend himself, the immense power of the blade when connecting with Vader’s own, continually threw him off balance. It became nearly impossible for Vader to effectively attack, and he was forced to change techniques continually. The only way Vader could retain a slight position in the contest, was to make brief contact with the Jedi’s blade, minimising any prolonged exposure with his own.

Meanwhile as leknar lay on the ground semi unconscious, she rapidly slipped into a trance, found herself within the Jedi temples counsel chambers on corasont. Initially empty, the chamber quickly filled with numerous wounded Jedi. then, in unison all the Jedi began speaking out loud, but Leknar was incapable of understanding their screams.

As the battle raged on between Nijora and Vader, Nijora knew that his only hope at stopping Vader lay within the saber he held. Nijora was well aware that Vader’s ability to command the force was vastly superior to his own, and he felt that as long as he maintained control of the duel, giving Vader little chance to position himself to an advantage, he would succeed. Although Vader’s attempt to maintain a defensive posture proved beneficial for a period of time, it was soon clear it was unable to be sustained. As Vader quickly deflected an oncoming thrust, he placed himself off to the side of where Nijora had swung. Observing that Nijora’s fighting form seem to be a slower more calculated movement Vader thought he could make an attempt to wound the Jedi mid range. He was however mistaken, Nijora sensing Vader’s movement, simply continued his initial swing, bringing it full circle back at Vader. Making contact with his saber, Vader was thrown to his knees. Temporarily at the Jedi’s mercy, Vader quickly propelled a concentration of force energy at his opponent. Although Nijora attempted to deflect the energy blast, he was incapable of repelling the entire projection, throwing him to a distance and widening the gap he had closed on Vader. As Vader rose from the ground, confident and with the intention of force choking his adversary, Nijora remarkably recovered, throwing himself back onto Vader. In Defence Vader instinctively brought his saber around to his front as to block the Jedi’s assault. Crashing their sabers together, the immense pressure forced Vader down and he struggled to maintain his grip. Nijora screamed at Vader, telling him he would pay for what he did to his master. Vader responded to the Jedi, revealing that the reason he would never succeed in defeating him, was his lack of desire to embrace his hatred. Then, with the sound of something like a fuse being blown, the crimson glow of Vader’s lightsaber was silenced. The prolonged contact with the alpha saber had caused Vader’s to short, allowing the prevailing beam of the Jedi to maintain its line of direction. In an instant Vader’s right arm was completely severed, falling to the ground with the hilt of his saber still clutched in hand. Shocked and weakened by the injury, Vader stumbled slightly then attempted to take hold of the Jedi. Nijora, commanding the force, suppressed Vader’s effort and sent him flying into a near by wall. Kentell was still deep within her trance and the voices were getting louder. Each Jedi that would appear before her brought with them a visual of there last moments before death. The imagery was overwhelming; and every Jedi’s final moments appeared to culminate around the same event. They were seen desperately fending off a robed individual before being slain by his lightsaber. It became obvious to leknar that the imagery was none other than the slaughter that took place within the Jedi temple during order sixty six. Leknar had not witnessed this atrocity first hand as she had been on a reconnaissance mission within the Terbia-maze system. Leknar had previously heard rumours amongst other Jedi over the identity of the one responsible for the temple attack, although to Kentell’s knowledge no Jedi had survived. However within the remnant of the Jedi, there were those who maintained the opinion that the attacker was chancellor palpatines undisclosed apprentice, Darth Vader. As the images of the senseless slaughter continued to unfold before her, Kentells eyes became fixed on the slayer. As the figure became increasingly clearer into view, it suddenly turned, looking directly at her. The individual was a small boy, tears rolling down his cheek as he struggled to find a way out of an obviously oversized dark robe. Kentell approached the boy, bending down to his level; she put her hand on his shoulder and asked him what was wrong. The little boy looked up at leknar, eyes wide and blood shot from his tears. He told her that he was lost, lost and unable to escape. As leknar gazed at the small boy, his life began to manifest before her, his childhood his adulthood,… his knighthood. This little child was Anakin Skywalker. Suddenly the little boy who stood before leknar had now morphed into the familiar guise of Darth Vader, and as he faced the Jedi he reached upward and began to remove his helmet. As the black gleaming headpiece came away from his face, darkness instantly covered the room. Then out of the darkness a familiar voice began to speak, it was an old friend, the late Jedi master Qui-Gon-Gin. The voice said, “Despite the path he has chosen led him to the dark side and he believes that he is captive to that very darkness, Anakin can still be free, he simply hasn’t realized it… he can still bring balance”. Then, the voice was gone, and instantly Kentell was thrown back into consciousness.

Nijora had Vader pinned up against a wall, and with the Alpha saber aimed directly towards the injured sith, the Jedi was but moments from dealing the final blow. As Nijora swung back the blade, a desperate cry rang out from behind him, it was his master. Kentell shouted at Nijora to stop, screaming - “Nijora, he must be given the chance…!” As Nijora momentarily paused, puzzled and bewildered by what he was hearing, a numbing sensation shot through his entire body. As the Jedi looked down, he noticed Vaders blade protruding out his chest; Vader had used the force to grip and levitate the lightsaber from his severed limb, driving the blade into the back of the Jedi. Then, first looking intently at Vader, then back towards his master, he fell crashing to the floor.

Seeing her friend lay dead before her, murdered at the hand of Vader, leknar was saddened and deeply conflicted. She struggled with the reality that the persona of Anakin Skywalker was actually within the menacing sith, and that somehow he was the hope the ancient prophecy had spoken of. Vader, badly injured, slowly rose to his feet, collected both lightsabers from under the lifeless Jedi and headed towards leknar. Leknar incapable of moving both legs and her right arm, made no attempt to flee, instead, choosing to accept her fate. With no words, only the now sharp wheezing sound from his damaged ventilator, Vader ignited the Alpha saber and aimed for the Jedi. At that very moment, as if peering through the shell of Vader and glimpsing at something else leknar gently spoke, “Anakin… Anakin… you can be freed, bring balance back to yourself, and the force”. Vader paused, clearly shaken by the impact of her statement. Then, as if in an attempt to silence what those words had produced within him, Vader swiftly struck down the defenseless Jedi. Clutching at the saber tightly, Vader looked down at the lifeless body, noticing an almost peaceful appearance on the Jedi’s face. Then, gazing briefly at the Alpha saber Vader released it, falling to the ground it rested next to leknar. Vader left the Krynore moon, choosing not to destroy the ancient outpost.