One of the myriad of voices then won out.

"No, that is not the sole reason I am here; we need to find the Eye. before it falls into the wrong hands."

Here she glanced to Phalomir and then back. "As you have stated, this link I have might lead us to it..."

Looking to Phalomir, she then ended with, "...so let's use it."

[ 09-27-2003 05:26 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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For a long moment she stared at the defiant Shayla, using every last bit of her own strengths to present a completely unreadable front to her, while deep within the Beast seemed to open it's great clawed paw just the slightest and snarl as if finding something frail and delicate trapped therein. That massive paw snapped closed with Graysith's next words.

"As I have already stated, your message has been delivered and is understood. As is the one your new companions have brought here as well."

A vision swam in front of her eyes, one to break the strongest unity: a triad of violet and turquoise and blue. She grunted, pulling away from that vision.

"Go chase your ghosts, Shayla, although I would heartily recommend that you leave well enough alone and go back into the realm from whence I pulled you. For if you do not heed my words--"

A rumbling bass snarl seemed to underscore her final words.

"You shall surely die."

She fell utterly silent then and just stood there, staring strongly into Shayla's widening eyes.

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

...but even she wasn't certain that she was entirely successful in that matter. But knowing that perhaps the link she held was of a danger to Graysith...

...Shayla knew it was best that she did leave, and now. "Allright," she said softly, "I'll go."

Quietly then she turned, and took her first step out towards her waiting husband. But then she froze, turning back to Graysith, unable to restrain her final words. "But know this; no matter how I have failed you...

...I loved you as my own sister...

... and I always will."

Saying nothing further then, Shayla turned back to her husband even as he met her, his hand going around hers. "Let's go," he said softly, his brown eyes peering deeply in her own and reading something therein.

She nodded once in mute reply...

...then simply let him take the lead back to where they had berthed the transport which had brought them to this place to begin with.

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

...who gave them pause, literally within the frame of those massive doors, by four softly spoken words. Four words uttered when she was certain that Shayla and Erik were totally beyond earshot.

"She must never know."

Phalomir turned round at that, surprise evident upon the strong planes of his face. His eyes widened in further surprise to see Graysith standing where she was, her hands quietly clasped, a single tear standing diamond-bright upon her cheek.

Their eyes met, his full of wonder, hers with the sudden release of pent-up grief held back far too long. Deep within herself the Beast rose to its feet, nosing about as if in quest of something, whining strangely when unable to find it. She fought against that, and instead raised the Claw-bearing hand smoothly, already knowing the questions he was readying to ask her, even while fighting against that Beast within so she could make answer to him.

"I too have had visions," she whispered, her thoughts going back to that last encounter she had with Lords Roan and Aelvedaar and Recinis amidst the gnarltrees on Dagobah.

"The unity of which your Prophecy speaks would mean her death. The link with the traitor is the key."

She blinked again, then again, unable to halt the sudden upwelling of tears which were now springing into her eyes.

"If she remained here, it would mean her death," she choked in repetition, sniffing and struggling to regain her icy control again. It floated as distant from her as the nearest star, taunting. "And knowing this would only press her into remaining here further with me. I could not beg her to go, not for her own sake...."

She paused again, her vision a watery blur. Her jaw worked a moment before she managed to continue.

"I lost a great deal of my love that day on Dagobah," she went on, heedless to the fact that Phalomir probably hadn't the slightest clue as to what she referred to, "but not quite all of it. Not... entirely....

"She must never know, for she would only come back. To save her life... she has to go."

With that she silenced for the final time. Then she whirled so as to present her back to those yet in the room, and simply stared at the wall behind her as if seeking answers there.

But she never really saw it, cold and stony there, at all.

[ 09-27-2003 07:07 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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“It must be a terrible pain to lose one’s love,” he spoke softly. “More terrible than losing one’s time and memories… and one’s purpose.”

He felt something rise in his throat, and he paused a moment to regain control. He closed his eyes.

“I have been the pawn of the future and the past for too long,” he whispered, unsure if he was heard and not really caring. “All I want is the present… all I want is you.”

His eyes slowly opened.

“Not all prophecies are true, my lady,” he said.

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

“Well,” thought Panthar. “I guess I’ll just stand here then. Cripes, what a bunch of wookie dung this turned out to be. I can’t believe they’re just going to let Shayla and whatshisname walk out like that! I mean, come on, we wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for them. The least they could do is make a –”

He stopped in mid thought. A quick vision flashed into his mind, a time not too long ago, but back when his body was shared by Phal and Thoran and who knows who else. Phal was talking to someone, maybe it was the Eye…

And what of Thoran? The Stargazer shall be his salvation…

“Holy crap,” he thought. “This can’t be over!”

He thought of saying something but hesitated. Let Phal have his moment, he’s had a long day. But only a moment!

[ 09-27-2003 07:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Panthar Dantares ]

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"That is impossible," she finally whispered, turning smoothly round even as she spoke the words, coming then to a halt and standing quietly. Her eyes went steadily into Phalomir's green ones and remained there, unflinching, as though daring him to continue along that vein.

[ 09-27-2003 07:36 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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A slight smile worked its way onto his face.

“I already have…”

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

"You do not understand," she whispered, her voice then strengthening, her demeanor backing up the scale until it had returned to its former state of iced command. Her eyes grew hooded; something flickered there, silver and gray, like mercury in the mist.

"I did not lose 'a' love on Dagobah. I lost my love. My ability... and not by happenstance. I wrenched it from my being freely--"

She broke off, unwilling to divulge anything further. The Beast within was beginning to snap, preventing anything from so much as trying to peep in discovery upon the true Jharmeen Jhin'Dar Q'utaro.

She drew in a breath, and finally went on.

"It is not something anyone can assist in... my recovery from," she stated flatly and then turned to the sideboard. But the hand with which she reached for her goblet shook as though in complete denial of her words.

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

“I have met your beast, my lady,” he said. “I know of what you speak. I have my own beast, placed by my own will, though it guards something different… I believe…”

He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“I will be here if you decide differently.”

He looked to the door and crossed his arms together in front of him.

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

“Phal, buddy?”

Phalomir straightened but did not turn.

“Hey, remember a while back when you were asking the Eye or something about how to get back into your bodies? And it said something that we all thought had to do with that? Uh, yeah, OK, I admit, I was listening.”

He cleared his throat.

“Anyway,” he continued. “Remember when it said something about Thoran? The Stargazer shall be his salvation. Remember that? What do you suppose it meant?”

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

"The Stargazer shall be the salvation...of who? Of the one you call Thoran, the one who is so heavily mixed up in this entire black design of the snatching of bodies and the planting of false memories?"

Now she stepped forward toward Phalomir, reaching out an earnest hand to him. Her eyes grew huge and moist again.

"This might be the nexus which was revealed to me on Dagobah," she whispered. "This might be the connection which leads to Shayla's doom.

"You must not allow it to happen, not if--"

She broke off abruptly then and just stood there, suddenly realizing just how closely she had approached him in her concern for the one who was once her adept, but who yet remained and always would remain her sister.

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

He came to the past in search of a way to prevent the All from being discovered, but found himself entangled in a twisted plot of prophecy and conspiracy, played like a pawn in the grasp of some insane master. All he desired was to remain here, in the now, not fearing the future or the past, but basking in the arms of this human woman. But she had locked away her love and placed a powerful beast to guard it, what chance could he have in unlocking that love? What right had he to even try?

What was left for him then?

Something stirred deep within Phalomir, as if a slow, powerful creature had been suddenly stirred from an ancient slumber and its penetrating eye gradually opened. Phalomir was a Dark Lord, ruler of the Clan of the Sorcerers. He felt the power of the Sith surge within him, the magick of eons flowing in his heart, the strength of the Warriors coursing through his veins. He saw the Dark Lady’s face grow slightly curious as it was suddenly bathed in a soft red glow.

“I will be no pawn,” he said steadily. The Dark Lady watched as two tattoos seemed to burn through his face and cast a red light upon her. On his right was the symbol of the Sorcerers, but on his left cheek was the unmistakable markings of the Warrior clan.

“This I vow: I will bring this madness to an end. With all of the power of the Sith, I will protect Shayla and end the plans of these architects of the future. My life is a paradox, my will is stronger than destiny.”

He lingered a moment longer, staring into her eyes.

“She will live, my lady.”

He dropped his hands from her shoulders and took a step backwards. The symbols on his face dimmed to a cool black, but did not fade.

[ 09-27-2003 09:51 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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During this entire phenomenon, the entire length of Phalomir's discourse, she remained frozen in place, her eyes now glued in disbelief to the symbols affixed to either side of his face. Unable to help herself then, they flashed down to her own wrist, seeking reassurance of what had been endowed to her. Her own Tattoo of Entitlement lay there, silkenly gold and gleaming softly, a gentle reminder of a happier time in her recent past.

One of very few such times in her entire life. One of two....

Another shudder brought her focus up to Phalomir's visage again; it was stern and regal before her.

What evolution had the Sith undergone in days which were yet to come, which could bring such a strange union of clans into being within one Lord? Why these two? What of the dearth of Armorers... a dearth which-- She jerked with startlement, realizing this even as the thought came to her. -- a dearth which they did not have until brought forward into this time, her present....

She shook that from her, and let her eyes focus on Phalomir once again. Muscles worked in her face as she clenched her teeth together, working her jaw... and then let herself loosen. Let one final time the mantle of authority drop from her shoulders.

"That would... please me greatly, Phalomir," she finally said, and then fell silent with the somehow shared understanding that there was no need to speak of anything further.

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

“Panthar, come,” he said, still focused on the Dark Lady. “We must find Shayla and Erik before they depart.”

He bowed slowly to the Dark Lady.

“We shall first seek out the Armorers,” he said. “I feel there is something I must do there, something which shall make me complete.”

He then turned towards the doorway. Panthar, startled, quickly bowed to the lady and headed off after. Phalomir paid no heed to the confused guards and strode out into the hallway, Panthar struggling to keep up.

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

The other Sith, the uncomfortable one near Phalomir...he was also interesting. Ragorian had allowed his finely tuned senses for spirits to wander over the guests of the Dark Lady. Phalomir was a full-blooded Sith, and Erik and Shayla were both humans, with a seeming outside strength he could not place. Perhaps that was this Force the Lady had referred to.

That second Sith, though. He was not what he seemed. Though from the outside he was Sith, from the inside his spirit was definatly human. How this had happened, and if it could happen again, Ragorian was desperate to find out. Hopefully this Eye, if he could find it, would be able to help.

As he stood on the tmple steps, Ragorian reached out with his senses. He knew that the Eye dwelt somewhere on this planet, and he was hoping he could sense it's weilder. If it had a weilder, of course.

Streaching...stroving...his senses pushing to their limit...he finally found something. At first, the "scent" was only faintly human, but, as Ragorian persued it, he uncovered another layer. He sensed a spirit rich and familiar. The spirit of a Sith.

A Sith in a human's body. If that wasn't a lead, nothing was. Immediatly, Ragorian was running with Romanus' body, far faster than it coud take for long. Running across the plains of K'eel Doba, each step bringing him closer to his prey.

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

But it was not leading him anywhere!

Romanus' body was exhausted, so Ragorian stopped to think. The "scent" of this being, this Sith-in-human, was strong. He should have been able to follow it easily....but he could not.

Which was impossible. Ragorian's senses were never wrong. He had scoured this planet, but he had found nothing. The "scent" had not gotten any closer. That could not be happening...

Unless....unless the creature was not on this planet.

Improbable though it was, it seemed the only answer. Something was strengthening this creature's essence, so much that it could be sensed from another planet. What was it?

Ragorian thought for a moment, then laughed at himself. It was so obvious. The Eye! What else could have such power, so obviously Sith. It finally made sense.

Now the problem was how to get to this other planet. Ragorian soon remembered the answer to that one as well. Hadn't he come here in a ship? Yes...that Imperial fool's ship. Excellent. The pieces were falling into place.

Ragorian set off again, on a chase that would, he hoped, actually be fruitful.

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

Go chase your ghosts, Shayla, although I would heartily recommend that you leave well enough alone and go back into the realm from whence I pulled you. For if you do not heed my words--"

--you shall surely die."

At this thought Shayla blinked, closing her eyes then as if to shut out the emotions welling up within her.

There is no emotion, only peace, a little voice niggled, trying to remind her of something from long past. She pursed her lips, eyes still closed. That was NOT who she was. Everything, even one's own emotions, were part of a wonderful and complete whole...

Shayla pursed her lips together even harder. I can show you how to become whole...

And somewhere deep inside, something cried out in utter despair and sorrow.
And there goes another important person in your life, just like that. First your parents, then your brother...

...though gods know you shut him out as well...

...and now this. Why the change? Why the rejection? Was it something you did...

...or are you in fact correct in believing that perhaps something HAS happened to Graysith to change her...?

Shayla's thoughts were then interrupted by the approach of footsteps. Whirling, she turned in time to see the entering Phalomir and Panthar...

...and to see the two blackened tatooes upon the former's face. Her eyes widened once more...

...for she knew the usual significance of tatooes in the Sith culture. And upon further scrutiny, Shayla realized she recongized both of them...

The marks of the Sorceror and Warrior clan...

Shayla slitted her eyes. "Just how did you get those?" she queried then, suddenly feeling very suspicious, "And what do you plan to do now after Graysith's warning concerning our search for the Eye?"

With nothing futher than that, Shayla leaned back, folding her arms and waiting to see just how Phalomir might reply.

[ 09-29-2003 06:40 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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“Our search for the Eye is but a small part of our journey,” he said. “It is perhaps more important to all of us if we seek the being Thoran and his master.”

He smiled.

“You must know of things I have recently discovered of myself, I will tell you as we travel. Our paths are the same, Shayla, for we seek to defend that which we love, whether or not those wishes are shared with others. A wise man once told me to not lose hope in what you believe is true, for as long as you believe it then there is hope. If you are true to this cause, you will find no stronger ally than myself.”

He stared sincerely into her eyes, then set his face in a warm smile.

“Our first step in this journey is to speak to the Armorers in the grand Temple of the Weapons clan! Set a course for Korris'ian, if you please!”

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

...not until he gave the name of his next planned destination.

Korris'ian...

At that word, waves of memories splayed across her mind's eye causing a surge of emotion.

"I...I can't go back there," Shayla said softly, her voice trailing for a few long moments. Then, with effort, she refocused her gaze upon Phalomir. "I don't know if I could bear being in that place again," she then reiterated, "And aside from that...

...I don't know its coordinates..."

[ 09-29-2003 09:18 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Phalomir sat in a chair and looked back to Shayla.

“It may have much import to what needs to be done, or what may have been done already... or what may have been done at a time before yet still to come...”

He raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Oh, and as for the coordinates, the ship knows. There should be a diamond-shaped pad somewhere among the controls. Touch the one with the crest of the Armorers and a course will be plotted... I think. I at least learned that much in primary teachings.”

He smiled again, then cocked his head.

“By the way, how did I get those what?”

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

Only then did Shayla turn back to Phalomir to answer any of the questions he had directed her way. As she did so, her eyes grew a bit vague. "I'll manage allright on Koris'ian," she started, "But as for my experience there...

...someone I knew, who had strong involvement with the Sith...

...he died there. His wife was Graysith's blood sister," she explained, trailing then for but a moment then suddenly changing the subject to answer his first question.

"And as to what I was referring to when I asked you how you got those," she continued, "You have blackened tatooes of both the Warrior and Sorceror clans, one on each cheek. How in the name of all the fates did those suddenly appear upon your face...?"

[ 09-29-2003 09:46 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Blood sister? Is that what Shayla had said? Graysith had a blood sister? But when had this been? WHO had this been? Perhaps…

He looked to Shayla, who suddenly seemed sad beyond all sadness to him. He wondered at the possible answers to this…

“Shayla….”

She turned slowly to face him, her expression empty. Thoughts tried to form in Phalomir’s head, but he could not put the right words together. Finally he settled...

“We should communicate with the Empire and ask to leave the system.”

[ 09-30-2003 08:34 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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"Sir!" he cried out, still managing to keep his eyes pinned to the board in front of him even though the rest of his body cried out to his superior officer.

"That strange ship is leaving this planet; shall I pull out the tractor beam?"

The Officer on Deck approached and leaned over the ensign's shoulder, gazing at what the monitors were displaying for all to see. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the finger of the ensign, hovering anxiously over the switch to cut power to the tractor beam in the direct path of that ship.

"Negative, ensign; hold fast," the Officer on Deck ordered, his eyes pinned to the display. "We have our orders...."

"Aye, Sir," came the reply as the ensign whirled to face his station, watching and waiting over his assigned corner of the universe.

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

Leaving her request as simple as that, Shayla waited silently for the Empire's reply...

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