“As I said, I owe you transportation costs.”

He reached deftly into his pack and pulled out small golden-colored 100,000-credit bar and placed it on the table in front of Erik.

“Do you consider this to be enough? I rarely pay attention to the ‘going rates’ these days and do not wish to offend you.”

Erik stared at the bar, his silence satisfying Panthar into standing.

“I shall take leave of the two of you for now, I must retire back to my chamber and prepare for what I hope will be an informative meeting. If I learn anything of your friend – Galen? – I shall of course inform you. Oh—“

He reached into his pack again and came out immediately with a small figurine. It was the size of a thumb, made of clear crystal, and carved into the shape of a strange bird. He placed it on the table in front of Shayla.

“I will be able to send a message to you through this. Likewise, should you ever wish to contact me, simply hold this and concentrate. I don’t know what the range would be, it’s never actually been tested. But, where there is a will there is a way, no?”

Panthar bowed slightly and made his way to the door.

--------------------

Oh, so you would appreciate being allowed back into "wild space" after coming to this planet "in error," now would you?

In error... which explains, somehow, why you were found in orbit about the planet.

At this thought he lowered his composure enough to actually snort, his disbelief clearly evident. He turned to his second, barking orders to trace the signature of that ship and anyone and anything having anything to do with it since it was first designed.

He then leaned over the ensign's shoulder once more, and spoke smoothly into the comm.

"Might I inquire exactly what it is that has brought you out to this absolutely uncharted region of space, other than my immediate suspicion that you are more than likely pirates and thus deserve to be immediately spaced?"

Once again he hit the transmission switch, raising up to accept a cup of tea from a suddenly hovering recruit.

[ 07-03-2003 02:11 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

--------------------

His eyes closed slowly as he reached deep within himself, opening a small door of his concious that held a strength he viewed as great and unending... And that was the warmth he felt in his heart for all he cared for...

Jharu, and Jharmeen being the most outstanding of the memories he held there... But also were galen, Darra, Even ShaRhylla... also where his lesser contacts... Aelvedar.. Terrin... Jasyn... Shayla... Those were the people he knew... Those were his friends, his family...

He smiled softly as he thought of the words Jharmeen had just spoken to him. "Thank you Jharmeen..."

Then quietly he drew upon that inner well of strength, the inner fire that was his heart. His eyes opened slowly and he drew forth his sword, examining it quietly he probbed it with his mind.

Maladius... Demon! Your energies are within this blade... I call to you now... You will help me defeat your master... Or your existance will be tormented for eternity by love, and kindness...Should you agree to help me defeat Roan, i will purge your energies from the blade, so your soul might find peace... These are my terms... Agree... Or every ounce of possitive energy within me shall be flooded through this blade...

He then quietly awaited any feedback...whether thought, emotion, or just a reaction of the demons energies, that might be seen as an agreement, or denial...

As he sat his eyes closed, and he Focused intently on the blades pressence, prepared to recieve any message from the demon, but making assuring that the demons feedback could not harm him in anyway...

--------------------

Finaly he nodded to himself in self comformation of his readiness, taking a deep breath he began to spoke.

"Last night i couldnt sleep... So i went to the library... At first the librarian was kinda hesitant about letting me in because i was only half sith... But anyway, thats not the point... I started asking questions... And eventauly i asked what wars the sith had been in... There havnt been any wars mother... A race known for its warrior strength... Has had no wars.

On the surfice, that seems reasonable enough... Because if there warriors were so great, then no one would dare fight them, they would just follow blindly whatever the sith said... But think about it... How would military strength be proven without at least one? How would there warriors be so legendary if there hadnt been ANY wars...

on top of that... I asked what conflicts the sith had had with the dark jedi..."

he took another slow breath. "the machine just shut down... Mother... I could be wrong, and i might be over reacting... But shouldnt it at least have some file on that? if the dark jedi were the ones that destroyed the sith... Shouldnt there be something on them? The only way that could have happened, was if the dark jedi simply took the sith out in a single moment... But with the sith being such a powerful race, i really dont think thats possible... there would have had to have been resistance... and even if there hadnt been, there should be something... The machine shutting down, rather then saying 'nothing' Proves that theres something that someone doesnt want known... And that you were lied to, or are currently being misled... Something much bigger is happening mom...I dont know how else to put it... and im not sure how to find out more with the machine 'broken' but... Somethings not all right..."

He then nodded his head in ending. "thats everything i had to say..."

--------------------

A distant screech filled the room, bouncing from the walls and rebounding until the very atmosphere vibrated with that tormented cry. The sound met itself, gradually coalesced, and high-pitched and gibbering words began to slice the air.

"Freed from torment? To slay the Master??? Only more torment to face.

"Nay, he shall defeat thee... and in that my Master shall come and set me free with the blood of your heart."

The words escalated upward, growing louder and more and more indecipherable until they were once again no more than wailing and drooling gibberish, which gradually descended into the approximation of hell from which the demon had been summoned.

The blackness faded, and the sword became no more than that once again.

Simply a sword.

"Demon...Only I can free you...I am your only salvation... In destroying roan your torment will end... In my death every ounce of energy stored in the blade will live on in eternity, bound to my soul... A soul which will use all the memories of life to torment you... To tease you... Or of course i can slay your lord by other means...And live on to torture you just as greatly... But if that is what you desire, then so be it demon, it makes little difference to me."

The sword then slid deeply into the ground where it would sit, and he returned to meditation, his mind swirling around possibilites... Every stone had its flaw... Every wall was built with those stones.... Every building is made of those walls... Find the key to toppling one stone... and the entire structure will collapse...

--------------------

Or his interest.

At last he finished, and fell quiet. The room rang with ensuing silence.

Which, at length, she broke.

"There is a darkly suspicious streak in you, son," she finally said. "This must be confronted, and overcome, before you have within you the quality necessary to understand the answers to questions you think you now need to seek."

She quieted, sighed a little. Then she reached out a cool hand, and laid it atop Jharu's head. Her fingers played a bit with his hair.

"Your father battles to the death on the morrow, my son," she said abruptly. "I would devote my energies in prayer to S'slan that he succeeds in that battle. For the Dark Lord is no easy adversary."

With that she bent from the waist and bestowed a cool kiss on the top of Jharu's head. Then she turned to depart, knowing that machines do not aways shut down merely because someone wants them to.

But because, sometimes, there are equations without solution.

[ 07-03-2003 11:29 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

"You have already condemned me; there is no surcease! But it shall be lessened; I will find delight in that you will never gain my assistance!

"He will not be slain; YOU shall. Horribly... and in that horror I shall live again!"

"but...Dont you see it mother? If it couldnt answer that question... Then your involvment in the sith... is a lie..."

Again his head shook, before her other words struck him full force.

"to... The death?"
FATHER!

His heart pounded, his eyes snapped open.
no... he cant... If he loses... if he loses then... then...

Tears brimmed on his eyes, but just as quickly as they had formed, in a blink the tears were wiped away, and determination became set in his gaze.
There has to be a way to help him... There has to be a way to make sure he wins, without breaking any rules... but how?

As he sat to think he held Ellresars sheath firmly in his grasp, consentraiting on the very idea of the sword... the concept of battle... Trying to undestand it enough to assist...

--------------------

Now the Dark Lady of the Warriors rose to the occasion. She whirled, strode back to Jharu, and gripped him by his shoulders.

"You shall not interfere, son!" she said in a low whisper, a whisper so low in fact it almost came out as a hiss.

"This concerns things pure Sith; you shall not dishonor your father by trying to lend aid to him!

"Is that understood?"

She fell quiet then, her violet eyes piercing her son's, gripping him fiercely and not letting go.

--------------------

Recinis... What will you do... How can you possibly win this battle? If you take one aggressive move against roan... Then you will be slain... If you do not make an aggressive move towards him... He will slay you anyway... You are sith... You can not die so easily... You must find a way around it... This is your path... But how... In your fathers name you have vowed to fight with your heart... Your love... If that is not strong enough then what can you possibly use to defeat him? Not hatred... Not sorrow... These things are not befiting for one that wields there heart as a weapon...

He rumaged over his thoughts for a moment, attempting to collect himself, whispering quietly. "i was told that once i learned to wield my heart fully... I would be as my father... the greatest warrior... I have known the purest love... Indeed dispite resent changes... That love still burns in my breast... but then... how?"

His eyes opened slowly, examining the blade of his sword intently as though something had just struck him...

A sword has two edges... And sometimes...
A memory flashed itself in his mind... A moment shared with Jharmeen... She had revealed her past to him... revealed her previous love's existance...

And sometimes... The heart is dark... Like the sword... The heart must have two edges...

As the thought came through his mind he reached down and unlatched the darker sides of his emotions, allowing them to flood through him and meet the light, where they swirled against eachother like two wind fronts meating to create a screaming tornado...

With this he reached to the sword once more.
"Demon! Come forth once more... You will serve me in this task...You will serve me or the torture you meet will make you beg for that which Roan would give you should he see you again...Remember, you have failed him... It seems to me that roan is not a forgiving master... Not one that would welcome you back...Your loyalty with him is possible only as a resault of two emtotions... COmplete and undying love... Or total and unending fear... You are not a creature of love... You fear him dont you? You dont want to leave the sword, not because you have faith he with destroy me... but of what would happen should you fail to kill him and he know of your pressence... You dont view this sword as a prison do you... You see it as a sanctuary... What if i were to release you to him? release you powerless and helpless... Give you to him so he might show his views of your failure... What then?"

[ 07-03-2003 09:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Recinis ]

--------------------

"Release me to him then, pretender!" he howled in pure hatred and rage. "And I shall then go to HIS assistance against you!

"You know not of that with which you meddle; my Master does, and with that knowledge I remain loyal to him and him only, for all eternity!

"Bring on your tortures, your torments, your proud and prepossessing words! They shall not sway the dark to do bidding of the light! I await my Master's victory, for indeed he shall slay you! This is something you must indeed fear, else you would not be seeking my assistance so persistently, and with such determination!

"Hah! We have won already, puny one! My Master is victor, and I shall be freed!"

"And just who was it who said they'd know if we were hiding anything?! If you were going to make up a lie, you should have at least made up a good one!" he growled, his eyes still focused on Dash Kelderon, who had taken it upon himself to take over the comm controls. "Now you've made things worse. They'll never let us go at this rate..."

Unconsciously, he pulled at the neck of his flight suit.

"Will you just shut up a minute?" Matt suddenly butted in. "They'll trace this ship, and might figure out something about us. We might as well be straight. And after all, we really know very little about the planet down there."

Jasyn closed his mouth, and settled into a scowl, watching Matt as he then assumed control of the comm unit. "This is Matt Stanza," he started, "We have not come upon this planet in error, yet we know little of the planet other than of its coordinates and a very vague knowledge of its inhabitants. We traveled here because a friend of ours might have crashed on planet; even so we have yet to find her and were discussing our next move in determining her location when we were caught up by your tractor beam."

Matt paused, praying that the New Empire would be understanding. "It is urgent that we continue our search for our missing friend; we are willing to be entirely compliant in any questions you may have so that we can be on our way."

[ 07-03-2003 10:21 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

--------------------

He opened his mouth to speak... when the officer on deck glided quietly to his side and whispered something at length into his ear. His other brow rose to meet the first, and he turned to his second.

"That's an Eagle Enterprises yacht, and according to the latest data from Sullust, two of their top men are aboard her. Matt Stanza has already identified himself; I'm certain the second one is Jasyn Lancaster."

His Second Officer blinked, and cast his captain a knowing look. That look was returned whole-heartedly before Captain Landarian turned back to the officer on deck.

"Has every bit of information we can dredge up from that yacht been recorded?" he asked, pursing his lips at the affirmative reply. He followed this with a command to hack into their computer logs, and upload every speck of info they might have gleaned while on the planet. This was done in minimal time, and quickly but thoroughly scrutinized. Time ticked by... and then the log officer reported in.

"Nothing specific, Sir," the report crackled over the intra-ship speakers.

"Just some generalized geomorphological and meteorological data, and notation of cities and inhabitants. No mention of who those inhabitants are, nothing but information one could glean from any planet in any system.

"Sir."

Captain Landarian turned back to his Second Officer. A waggle of a finger invited him into his private ready room. He turned upon reaching his desk, leveling a heavy gaze into his second's equally concerned one.

"Thoughts, Number Two. Do we risk it?"

His second paused a long moment. Finally-- "It is EE, Sir, with two of its top men aboard. There are risks either way we go with this. I say--"

He paused for a final consideration, swallowed, then straightened to ramrod stiffness.

"I say release them under oath to keep their mouths shut. After we delete their data and navigational coordinate banks. Sir."

Landarian allowed a bit of light to come into his eyes. His lips quirked.

"Agreed," he said succinctly. Then he opened a channel to the bridge of the Relentless, and issued the orders to make it so.

[ 07-03-2003 10:35 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

--------------------

She pursed her lips grimly, letting her grasp on his shoulders soften.

"Son, it is a matter of honor, you know that," she began, trying to make him understand, her hands now unconsciously beginning to knead into his muscles as though to bring warmth to them, and thereby into his heart. She couldn't help but blink a bit in surprise at the sudden rush of responding warmth that rose up in her own being.

Indeed, she might have encapsulated all her love for Recinis to maintain the life of their unborn who yet floated in the Elseness... but she had done nothing in regard to the love she yet felt for her son.

Other than force it deeply into hiding, as other... concerns had risen to take precedence as of late.

But now....

She swallowed, tightening her hands upon her boy, and in a sudden movement gripped him with a strength only death could break, and drew him to her. She held him then, motionless, not saying a word, remaining in that position for a long while, thoughts of ShaRhylla whirling in a wild collage in her mind before finally drawing gently away from Jharu and releasing him with a final squeeze.

"Trust in your father's strength, my dear son," she whispered, sending a loving look deeply into his eyes. Then before he could respond in any manner, she turned on her heel and left him, to go back to her own lavish chambers and contemplate on the strange twists and turns fate had sent to her in so short a period of time.

--------------------

Frowning, Jasyn eyed the navboard suspiciously, as though expecting it to up and blow in their faces. "What the kriffing hell...?" he started when he was interrupted by:

"You have been given clearance to depart, and are strongly advised not to speak of these planets with anyone, nor return to them."

Jasyn's jaw fell so far and so fast he was certain it was going to hit the deck of the little yacht's cabin.

"They're letting us go...?" he muttered in utter disbelief.

But beside him, Matt didn't miss a beat. "Thank you," he replied simply to what was probably just a mere comm officer...

...and then got immediately to the business of warming the ship up for departure. It was as if he was thinking that they should scram while the scramming was good; in no time he had the little yacht completely ready, and in only a few minutes more had her headed for the skies. Once clearing the collective gravity wells emitted by the mass of Imperial ships, Matt then made calculations for a random hyperspace jump, dialed them into the navcomputer, and took the little yacht into the realms of hyperspace...

...and away from the Khar Delban system altogether.

(((OCC: Follow Jasyn, Matt, Jebbua, and Dash to A Needle in a Haystack in the CSWU, thank you.)))

[ 07-04-2003 09:13 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

--------------------

"You think it's something Sith?" she queried then to Erik, finally tearing her eyes from the bird and looking to him.

He was staring at the gold bar in his hand wide-eyed.

"Ummm...yeah, could be," he said moving his eyes from the bar with an effort of his own. Then, "Shayla, what are we doing here? Lady Jharmeen says..."

Shayla put a finger to his lips before he could finish. "Not everything we do has to have an immediate plan or purpose. It will gain its purpose in time. For now we're here because I'm curious about the obvious misperceptions the Jedi...

...and the Universe as a whole...

...have concerning the Sith. I want to know more."

"And?" Erik queried, arching an eyebrow.

"Because, whether I've been here before or not, it just seems this is where the Force is guiding me."

She quieted for a moment, searching his eyes for understanding. She wasn't quite certain she saw it just yet...

...but she knew Erik would stick by her. So she then turned to one of the Sith warriors, curiosity and geniune interest showing in her eyes. "Is there somewhere you can take my husband and I to learn more of the Sith...

...of your ways, of your lifestyle, anything? There is such an apparent contradiction between what the Universe believes concerning the Sith and what is; I would like to know as much of the truth as I can..."

[ 07-04-2003 10:53 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

"You may wander the Temple, and observe what you might see within it in those places allowed," he growled in a deep voice. "But anything more than that is forbidden to all who are not Sith."

He pulled back a bit further, as though to not sully his short robes by contact with non-Sith flesh, but never moved his intense gaze from Shayla's face. His cheek quivered as a muscle jumped beneath his flesh, as he finally finished with,

"Our history and knowledge is not something to be given freely away."

When they parted, that supercilious smile was still upon his lips.

"I battle the Pretender on the morrow," he announced as easily as if he were announcing a planned outing with his love. "He once fled in cowardice, and was fool to return. But--"

He paused, staring deeply into Kreesha's wide eyes, drinking in their glory.

"But after tomorrow he will exist no longer, and my love, we shall be one step closer...."

The rest of that statement was cut off as once again he descended upon Kreesha with a long kiss, one born of power and assurance and knowing that after tomorrow his love was but a day closer to regaining her full freedom of not only Phrinnchatka, but of the Diamond of the Sith as well.

And more....

His lips quirked at the look she returned to him, fangs peeping out to lay sharp and gleaming against his sensuous lips. Then he nodded his head.

"I go to prepare, my love," he finished, then with no further ado turned and left her, to go to his own private chambers and thus ready himself both mentally and emotionally for the upcoming battle. For although he was more than certain of his own strength and abilities, he was not fool enough to think he could walk in to a battle to the death without preparation of any kind.

--------------------

Two Sith guards approached him, talking quietly to each other. He tensed in preparation of the verbal and, most likely, physical abuse he would surely take. The two guards paid him no mind and walked past, turning a corner.

Phalomir detected a soft warmth in his abdomen, and understanding crept slowly into him. Without realizing it as he traveled the hallways, the Eye of R’lous had supplied his thoughts with the Sith magick needed to travel undetected. Indeed, this was a mystery revealing itself in small portions.

He decided to not press the matter and turned around to find his way back to familiar areas and his room. As he turned a corner a deep voice reverberated softly through the hall.

“I go to prepare, my love.”

Phalomir stopped and waited, watching as a giant of a Sith turned into the hallway and walked – no, glided – away. Just for a moment the giant paused and turned his head slightly in Phalomir’s direction, not looking at him but acting as if he were searching. Phalomir concentrated harder on his concealment, the Eye giving off a somewhat warmer feel. The giant staggered very slightly, catching himself quickly by throwing arm to the wall. He grunted, shook his head and muttered something quietly, turned once again and proceeded away down the hall.

Phalomir let out his breath softly.

[ 07-05-2003 05:28 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by patternghost ]

--------------------

Here she had a geniune curiosity, and hopes to set the record straight, and to no avail.

Then, as quickly as the frown graced her features, it disappeared altogether, and she merely nodded at the Sith guard, still showing the utmost respect.

Then she turned, placing the bird-like figurine in her pocket and then wrapping her hand about her husband's. "Come, let's have a look at what we can."

Then, with her husband at her side, Shayla began traipsing the hallways of the Grand Warrior Temple of the Sith...

...from the exquisite and beautiful tapastries and materials to the fresh and well-kept greenery and flowers. Her keen eyes even took note of the wall scones which lit the Temple in a warm glow; they were intricately carved with curved lines and various shapes. Shayla could hardly take everything in, there was so much to see...

...so she continued her trek down the corridors of the Temple, her curiosity causing her to begin traveling even a bit faster than her husband, who lingered somewhere close behind her.

--------------------

A deep sigh escaped from his lips and his head shook in deniale...

I know i cant interfer... I know its wrong... But what honor is there in being slain by a vicious demon, that's probably going to cheat in order to win... I may not know much about him... But from that time he talked to me i could tell... he'll do anything to get what he wants... Father i hope you'll be alright...

Then silent as death he grasped the sheath once more, drawing the blade effortlessly from the confining metal.

His eyes took in the flawless design the sword had, examining the smoothly etched runes, the perfectly forged edge...

And then in a blink he had slid the blade through half of a near by piller, stopping it before it could do any true damage to the structur, but nodding in the success of the swing.

"Roan had better not try to cheat... Once the rules are broken, they are broken... No point in trying to use what is broken afterall..." He nodded quietly and once again put the blade of the sword into the hiding security of its sheath.
But dont worry father... I wont disshoner you... I wont do anything to aid you... But no one better try to stop me if roan try's to cheat... I may not be a warrior... But i dont like cheaters...

He sighed again and sat down into quiet meditation, reflecting as always on his every thought.

--------------------

Her eyes narrowed dangeriously as her senses tingled.

"who's there?" her hand went quickly into her cloak, her head turning about cautiusly.

"you can't hide from me... If you dont come forth now... I will find and slay you"

Phalomir spent a brief second in silence, then the loud bellow from down the hall prompted his feet into action as he turned the other way and ran.

[ 07-06-2003 12:18 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by patternghost ]

--------------------

her head shoke slowly, eyes narrowing further, however she smiled softly and began moving after stealthily...

This one... This one was tricky... What good prey after having been away for so long...