Request received... and compliance forthcoming....

Graysith didn't even have to slow the momentum of the craft when something once again opened up in their direct line of flight; something which allowed them entry into the hidden spaceport of Ch'arlingua. The ship howled to its berth therein, swallowed up by rock and something not quite of the "normal" realm of living things...

...and immediately stopped, its mission complete.

Graysith flicked a graceful finger along a particular row of mysterious sigils, letting the ship know it was indeed truly home, and that its occupants likewise were seeking there own. The ship responded by immediately opening its hatch and extending its gangway, before once again sinking back into cyberbiotic slumber.

The Chosen Daughter rose from her seat, and proceeded aft.

"We have arrived, my allies," she said briefly, then continued to the open hatch. There she stood momentarily before proceeding down to where the Dark Lord of the Sorcerer clan awaited their arrival. He greeted her with a clasp of hands, his volcanic eyes shooting deeply into hers. Then he calmly turned and proceeded to lead the group back to where they could finally begin planning their strategy.

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

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

As she continued to follow, Shayla could also sense the lurking--and somewhat surprisingly more contented--presence of Erik. He was somewhere nearby, probably aware that plans would soon be discussed. Nodding to herself, she sent a tendril of affection out to him alerting him to her presence, and continued forward to meet with the others.

[ 08-12-2002 06:15 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

...although steps this time leading them into a room she had never been in before. She paused in the doorway, momentarily taken aback by its quietly rich splendor: ancient and rune-carved furniture, well appointed with deep and luxurious cushions, were scattered tastefully about, highlighted here and there by the quiet elegance of individual tables provided for the use of the room's guests. An immense stone fireplace took center stage, its glowing light warming the air and the souls of all who entered therin, reflecting off the face of one Erik Kartan. That particular individual reared up from the chaise-lounge upon which he had been semi-reclining, his face glowing with more than just the fire's light.

Aelvedaar went to the fireplace, turned, and spread out his hands in welcome. She followed in his footsteps, feeling all her inner tensions beginning to drain away, somehow knowing within her very soul of souls that everything would somehow turn out right.

Sinking into the deep recesses of a magnificent couch, she quietly waited for all to gather, smiling to herself to note the absence of a particular threesome....

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

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

"She's got your spirit, you know," he said softly, smiling more broadly. Then, his look softening, he added, "And she's already stolen my heart. Like mother, like daughter," he chided. Then, turning completely serious, he reached out and took Galen's chin in his hand and pulled her lips to his, drinking in her warmth and basking in her wonderful proximity. Then he pulled back, still staying close by so that he could again look deeply into her eyes and simply swim in them. "I love you so very much, Ms. Galen Danner."

Saying that, he gently pulled her more closely to himself, quietly thanking Khaandon and whatever other gods that would listen for the great grace they had bestowed upon him and his small family.

Life was at last peaceful and so very, very good...

[ 08-12-2002 06:24 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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

"I believe my Sire will be wanting to have discourse with him, in but a few moments," she replied lightheartedly as the Sith Lord turned back to his guests. Then she smiled up into her Sire's exotic features as he came up to her and offerred her a goblet as well.

She accepted it with a nod of her head, then raising it to her lips settled back against the couch once again, her violet eyes never straying from the somehow defiant form of the young man Recinis held.

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

"Miss me?" she asked, reinacting his words to her on Khar Delba.

He smiled at her and leaned forward, giving her another long and full kiss. Then he leaned back to look into her eyes, smiling broadly. "Does that answer your question?" he quipped, finishing the reinactment.

Shayla rolled her eyes in bemusement then, her hand firmly emplaced in his, she lead him to a couch where they both sat and sunk into the luxury and warmth of the room which surrounded them.

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

Matt, beside him, merely rolled his eyes.

Jasyn moved the half-drunken goblet before his eyes to survey the remaining contents, considering the shimmering liquid. "Sith brandy..." he muttered, as though trying to memorize exactly what it looked like should anyone ever offer it to him again. And Matt had a suspicion he was doing just that, just so he could argue with anyone who didn't give him something vintage.

"I wonder where the Boss is," Jasyn mused into Matt's thoughts.

Matt turned his green eyes to his co-worker, who was taking another good sip of his brandy. "I think you can put two and two together and figure that out."

Jasyn shot him a lopsided grin. "Would that be two and two, or two and one, or..." he hesitated, grinning further, One and One," he ended with, snickering.

Matt rolled his eyes again, taking a sip of his own brandy. "You could grow up sometime soon," he then commented lightly.

Jasyn scowled. "Hey!" Then, as if realizing Matt had a point after all, he shrugged it off, the former lopsided grin returning to his face.

Matt just shook his head. Taking yet another taste of the brandy, he commented himself. "Hey, this is some really good stuff..."

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

I come to a halt before Graysith, and with a small motion indicate she remain seated. I now turn my eyes to Recinis, then after briefly raking the One he his holding with a most serious look, I speak in a low voice meant for his ears alone.

"I see you have been instructed to watch this one," I say thoughtfully, cocking my head now to scrutinize once again the one called Loban. "He looks harmless enough--"

I grin at the seeming naivity of my words, for well aware am I of the thoughts whirling about in both their heads. I simply blink, then affix my gaze to the young man, and lowering my voice even further direct him to reveal everything he knows about the one called Darth Tyberius, and most particularly how it was he had gotten himself involved with him.

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

"I met up with him in orbit of Tattooine, he claimed to be a member of the Jedi Council, and offered me a chance to become a Jedi..."

Lo-Ban continued,"He asked of me one thing, to 'prove' myself, by completing a mission... a mission of the utmost importance... The mission was to rescue Shayla Petrolu..."

Lo-Ban gave the man one more bit of information,"His true intentions are yet unknown..."

Lo-Ban quieted, awaiting the being's response...

I blink but once, then hiss softly so that none others may hear our discussion:

"And so, on the command of one you do not know, and whose true intentions you have no indication of knowing anything about, you set off to chase after a young woman hidden on a planet that no one ought to have been able to find."

I pause now, crossing my arms, and strengthen the look I give him. My chest expands as I take in a deep breath, my eyes fairly burning into his own pair as I finish with:

"And there is nothing... discomfiting ...you would find in this entire scenario? Where would you have taken the adept had you managed to persuade her into going with you?"

I fall silent once more, keenly aware of the soft footfalls as my Chosen One now approaches, to stand by my side as I continue to interrogate this young and naive person.

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

Lo-Ban paused, then answered the second question,"The plan was to take her to Tattooine, and rendezvous... today..."

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

"Perhaps we should send this one into Tattooine orbit, and lay in wait with a Sith ship, to discover for ourselves just what kind of threat this Tyberius really may be."

She now slid her eyes into those of Recinis, as though seeking some sort of answer there in a depth of his psyche he may or may not have been truly aware of....

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

As do I now in regard to the young Loban.

"Perhaps my Chosen One has come up with an interesting idea. While there is much we have yet to discuss, we do not need the interference of this possible danger to her Adept. Perhaps the All in its wisdom has sent you to us, boy, that we might discern for ourselves just how much of a threat this Tyberius may be.

"Would you go willingly... or if not, we can certainly make it under duress."

My eyes slit into golden shadows as I smile, nodding my horned head to indicate the suddenly smiling Recinis. Beside me, my Chosen One's lips curl into a predatory smile of anticipation.

[ 08-13-2002 01:57 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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

[ 08-13-2002 11:51 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Recinis ]

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

The guy is more unnerved about all this than he'll probably EVER admit...

Shawn's eyes then wandered to where Shayla and Erik sat on the couch together exchanging words and looks. He could feel the love simply radiating from them, and smiled at that.

Took you long enough, didn't Shayla? he thought to himself.

Likewise, he could feel another love radiating from somewhere; as well as the inner peace of a child in slumber.

He smiled even more at that.

Though inward thoughts that could be construed as "evil" flitted from here and there every so often, Shawn decided for the most part that there was nothing--absolutely nothing--that seemed untoward here.

Shawn sat back and considered that. Perhaps the Sith had truly been misjudged. The Sith that the Jedi knew...were different. These he now saw were of a different variety...perhaps of a higher class--and not meaning within a social heirarchy, but rather on a mental and psyhological level.

He nodded just once to this thought, then sat back further, continuing to simply observe...

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

"This one shall follow along with you, young warrior, and lay in wait beneath the protection of an All-shield. No Force user may penetrate such a device, only those who are skilled in the ways of the All. Together you two will watch that no harm comes to the adept, and that both she and the boy will be returned safely here. It is hoped with additional information, or perhaps with this Tyberius as yet another "guest" of the Sith."

For one moment I let that darkness within me rise up to rule my being, the thought of where that latter possibility may lead was that beguiling. My lips slowly curl into a smile of pure anticipation, my eyes fairly radiating actual heat.

My Chosen One cocks her head toward me, and lifts a brow in... amusement?

I let the darkness subside, and straighten up a bit before the Look she is sending me. Then I turn and stare directly into her eyes.

"War strategist though I may not be, this is the by-way I have decreed shall be followed. We dare not ignore the possible threat this Tyberius poses to us... for we dare not risk letting slip the wonders of the All into other hands."

Graysith immediately ducks her head before me, easily reading the meaning inherent in those words I have just spoken. I continue, to clarify just a bit further.

"This one desires access to the adept, something I find strange indeed. Yet he has the ability to find her from a distance, hidden away beneath the protection of a chronotic shield. The latter I feel to be a result of the vagaries of happenstance, but the fact remains he has devices unknown to us which he has fashioned, or at the very least control of.

"The thought comes to my mind as to why one with such abilities of his own would seek one whom to others is merely a padawan who has disappeared from a jedi school of learning. There is something about her he is truly seeking, and will not stop if this one--"

I wave a clawed hand toward Loban.

"--fails in his mission to retrieve her and bring her to him. There most certainly will be others to come, and one of those others would be bound to succeed. We dare not wait like sacrificial lambs for him to choose that moment. Padawan she is no longer.

"We dare not let the All fall into his hands."

Once again, though that final statement is spoken aloud, it is meant for the ears of my Chosen One. She bows her head, again clearly reading the full meaning behind the words. For a moment she remains in this humble posture, then raises her head before me.

"The boy was to meet with Tyberius this day," she replies coolly. "It would therefore behoove us to implement this plan immediately."

With that she gives me a short bow, nods once to Recinis, and turns to bring the news of this sudden development to her adept.

I nod in approval and cross my arms, settling back in my stance a bit to calmly assess the young "captive" before me, as well as his integrity and worth. He doesn't even feel my presence tickling in his mind....

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

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

That young man is sitting now alone upon his couch, the firelight softly highlighting the scowl which darkens his features at once again being left behind. Blinking a bit in bemusement, I approach him, and clap him upon the shoulder as I did earlier.

"She will be more than protected, my young friend," I let the words come softly into his ears. "Indeed, it is best you remain behind, should a rescue in any manner need to be mounted."

Now I quickly raise a clawed hand, stopping the words I hear forming in his throat, words which so easily and so quickly come hand-in-hand with the sudden widening of his eyes.

"She is with Sith," I remind him quietly; then step back to encompass all with one sweeping glance.

"This room is indeed quite comfortble, my allies, but scarcely where one would make hearth and home. While this Temple does have room for all within its walls...

"...there is, after all, an entire city without, waiting for you to command."

I bow slightly, making an expansive gesture by the sweep of one hand, and quietly wait to hear how my offer will be taken.

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

Matt eyed him. "Hey, a whole Sith city to explore ourselves!" he said, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

Jasyn merely sat back, throwing an arm against the top of the couch. "I'll stay here and enjoy the reserves, thank you."

Matt rolled his eyes and stood. His look all but read, You are going to be SO sorry in the morning...

Jasyn, however, ignored it, and propped his feet up on a plush ottoman, a lopsided grin forming on his face. He held up his goblet in a shakey salute. "Go have fun, my friend," he blathered.

Matt paid him no further mind, but turned to look at an unsuspecting Erik. "Oh come on, someone's gotta be interested in traipsing the town besides me," he said, then eyeing Shawn.

Shawn cocked his head, and Erik stood, nodding. "I'm up for it," Erik commented, stepping closer.

Shawn in the meantime stood, gathering blue jedi robes about himself. He didn't say anything, but simply waited.

Behind them, Matt could distinctly hear the sounds of a somewhat unsteady Jasyn pouring himself ANOTHER goblet of brandy...

[ 08-14-2002 02:16 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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

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

Then, straightening, she looked Loban dead in the eye. "Two days isn't gonna cut it. We need to move NOW."

Pulling the All about herself, about Loban, and about the entire little L-pod in which they traveled, Shayla one last time opened a portal in the All. Still a very young All user, she made the step through the portal successfully, but she shuddered at the effort as the L-pod slipped through the portal into orbit around K'eel Doba.

She leaned forward as her small frame shivered a bit, both from the strain of the effort and from emotions she was keeping beneath the surface.

She forced herself upright, then played her fingers across the navboard, ignoring the gaping Loban for a moment as she continued to search, looking for anything she could use. She knew there had to be some way to contact the spaceport...

There. Just as she'd hoped.

"There's an outlaying signal coming from down there. Tap into it, and send a distress signal. Aelvedaar will know what to do..." she said, trailing.

[ 08-16-2002 02:27 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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