After Graysith's departure, an unspoken concern seemed to wash over everyone within the Dining Hall. Lord Recinis had gone out to the courtyard, possibly considering plans of his own, while others remained nearby, just in case they were needed.

And Terrin didn't plan on going far either. Aelvedaar would certainly be returning to the Octahedron from where he would watch all events carefully as they transpired, so Terrin decided the best thing to do would be to return to the suites he and Galen had been given in the Temple for a bit and let Darra get some exercise rather than constantly being held in one place.

Your Momma likes to take you to that little park to play...

At that thought, Terrin looked down into the little one's big blue eyes, somehow knowing that she was probably aware, at least on an instinctive level, her Momma was not here. Darra directed her blues back up into his own, and he smiled a wistful sort of smile, reaching out a finger to lightly touch her nose. Then he stood, nodding just once to everyone in the room then departing for the nearby suites, his heart yet heavy with concern for Galen. After all, waiting was never an easy challenge, even if one is certain he made the right decision.

But those who wait rather than rush into things impulsively are said to mount up with wings like eagles...

He was no master at the techneque, for he truly lacked the total balance needed to use it to its full capabilities, In fact, there had been no sith warrior to ever master this techneque, to ever fully reach thier bodies into the inate magicks which flowed through all sith, but he had achieved a mastery of it beyond what many had claimed, and it suited his needs...

within his mind there become an absent void, all that was, and all that had been no longer existed in recinis world, the void consumed everything, emtying him of any destracting thought, untill finaly the void consumed itself.

With a deep breath an image floated to the surfice of that empty thought, this image, among others, was dearly treasured by the warrior. it was that first awaking sight after his injury. That moment where he had opened his eyes to find graysiths own pair there, concern within her features. It was in that instant he had first started down the path he now so dearly treasured, it was this along with all other memories of time spent with the woman known as Jharmeen.

Silently he considered the contrast between his recent thought, Sometimes graysith, sometimes Jharmeen... WHat was he to call her?

he knew the answer, she was Jharmeen, To any other perhaps, Graysith, but no longer would that false name be within his mind, no longer would he claim to love a being who did not truly exist. His love was for Jharmeen, and that was simply the way it was, for she was not graysith, Graysith was that chosen by a mighty sorcerer, to bring forth the sith, Graysith was a cause, a desire, a wafting thought which merly distracted so the inner truth might be protected from those that need not worry themselves with the truth.

he focused now upon that image, those thoughts, the love, and that which the void had taken slowly renewed itself, in undying splender, no longer mere memories of a touch, they were all reborn, fresh in his mind, feeding him their silent strength.

Taking up that strength Recinis focused himself in yet another direction, attempting to reach out through those memories, wanting to reach though that link which was his love for Jharmeen Jhin'Darr, Using all his strength in his knowledge of their love, In order to give her everything of himself he could possibly give...

For he had vowed never to leave her side, And whether physicaly capable of fulfilling that promise or not, Mentaly, he would not fail her...

Deep within he hoped she could feel his strength, He hoped that that shield which so held them safely, would not impare his ability to assist...

Responding to an unvocalized agreement, Erik then walked with Shayla to the nearby lounging area, where they took a spot together on one of the plush couches. He looked to her, fully aware that she was ready if and when the time came to head off once again, somehow equally as aware of the reasons why Graysith did not yet want Shayla involved.

For he was also aware of that something that was now a part of Shayla's psyche that had not been there before; something that simply was not her otherwise, that left the smallest blotch of blackness and non-Shayla-ness to trigger unrealistic despair for who knew how long...

Its presence there was frankly disturbing to him, although he was certain Shayla was aware of it and beginning to deal with it as it was now a part of her. But the sheer fact that any being could plant such a thing into such a strong person was enough to make one shudder.

He strayed from his thoughts as he realized that Shayla was peering up questioningly at him, her greeny-blue eyes seeking answer in his browns. "I was just thinking..." he started, "Of that despair that ally of Roan's planted into your mind..."

He cocked his brow as if to ask exactly what it was.

She answered the unvocalized question. "I have within me what feels like the very despair and agony of the universe..."

She paused at that, shivering at the words, seemingly impacted at the mere mention of what had been placed inside of her.

"But--" she continued, a bit more quietly, "Acceptance of that very reality may be later used in whatever manner it must to assist us.

A wealth of various emotions flooded into him, coming from several sources. Some of these were shared feelings while others were very singular; however everyone shared a common concern for what might yet be taking place on Kamino.

And Shawn shared that concern with them, despite his deceptively calm demeanor.

Jedi were calm by appearances, but this did not mean that they did not feel.

Putting that tendril of a thought aside, Shawn continued to absorb all that was being done and felt in the confines of this protected city, all the while remaining attuned to the link established between he and Lord Aelvedaar, should it become necessary that the Sorceror send any pertinent information to him.

Hadn't it been too long already? Wouldn't they let him know if something had happened?

As his daughter played on a blanket in the middle of the floor, mostly beginning to become aware of her hands and her feet, Terrin's mind drifted off, concern rampant in his psyche.

What if something happened? This was Roan that they were talking about...what if...?

That lump that had been residing somewhere in his throat returned, threatening to burst. What would he do without her? And what about Darra?

Or perhaps she was feeling something that he couldn’t.

He reached out a reassuring hand and placed it on her shoulder, his brown eyes seeking an answer in her greeny-blues. But she did not yet say a word; rather she continued to keep her mind and heart focused on what had so suddenly grabbed her attention, paying no heed to the concern he was showing.

After a long quiet moment Erik at last spoke into the suddenly deafening silence, uttering one word in question and complete concern:

Shayla put every once of strength she could into the words she knew had to be spoken, knowing otherwise she would not be able to, at this point, speak them at all.

"Graysith is in trouble...they are all in trouble..." she started, her eyes darkening. Then she firmed, standing. "The bounty hunter has been downed, and Graysith has sent both he and Galen back to Prinn'chatka. They should in moments be reaching the shield, which Aelvedaar will most certainly drop to allow them passage."

As she continued to speak, her stance growing firmer by the moment, Erik stood with her. "You need to go find my brother. His healing abilities might be needed, and he'll need to let Captain Danner know what is occuring. I, meanwhile, must go to Lord Recinis, for certainly he will be going to the assistance of Graysith.

And, if I am allowed, I feel it may be necessary for me to do much the same."

With those words, Shayla departed to find the Sith Warrior, while her love headed for the presence of his future brother-in-law.

Their eyes met for but a moment, and they both responded to an unvocalized affirmative to head straight for Terrin Danner's suites. Shawn headed in with Erik on his heels, paying no heed to the shocked look on Terrin's face as he scrambled to his own feet, holding his daughter. Terror seemed to wash over every feature of his face as he read the concerned look in their eyes, and he opened his mouth to speak when Shawn quieted him with a preemptive wave of his hand.

"Can you watch her for a moment?" Terrin asked, handing the little bundle that was his daughter to Erik, who shot him a look he chose for the moment to ignore. "And--" he started, hesitating as a brief moment of conflict hindered his next words. At length he got them out. "Stay nearby in case we need you...or my daughter."

Now I turn to the Adept, who glowers at me as though the look alone would sway me. I hold up a pre-emptive hand.

"You have already seen how the Chosen Daughter has sent her sister and the hunter to us, and know how she has momentarily depleted her strengths by thus bringing them back as she did. And while the danger before her is grave, as we knew, to send you into a position where you may yourself only exacerbate matters by being in grave danger yourself is not fruitful. Nor is it logical to merely add more fuel to the fires already burning in Kamino."

I pause, pinning her furious eyes with my fiery ones, clearly seeing that inky blackness beginning to grow within her again.

"If you cannot tell me convincingly enough how you will serve to douse the flames rather than feed them, you must remain here with us at the command of the One who has taught you."

He had ruined her. She was useless to anyone, in her current state...

Completely useless...

...and somehow Shayla knew He knew what He had done very well.

She let the tidal wave of despair that rocked her shift to one of utter fury at being made so useless; and more than anything, of being made unable to assist the very one whom she so dearly wished to.

For only a brief moment did any of this show on Shayla's face. She firmed, opening her eyes, the only feature of her face which yet remained flooded with emotion. By all other appearances, she was completely calm.

"I...wish not to cause Her further harm..."

Shayla trailed, the despair rising despite her best efforts to hold it at bay. "I will remain here..."

By the look in Shayla's greeny-blue eyes, Erik knew what had happened. A slightly deeper inspection of that mental link he had with her confirmed this. By all outward appearances, excepting those greeny-blue eyes of hers, she was totally calm.

But Erik knew otherwise.

"Shayla, it's not your fault," he said at length, trying to think of anything to calm her. "Recinis will be more than capable of helping..."

At that he paused, waiting to see what she would have to say.

She paused, her eyes now darkening. "He has destroyed me..."

For a long length of time not a word was spoken, and all she could do was look into those very concerned brown eyes of his and seek strength there.

But he had not what she, at this moment, needed.

"I..." she started, wavering for the very first time since he'd stopped her. "I must find the others who have gone to the spaceport. Perhaps I can actually be of some use there. You'd best remain here with the child."

The look she directed into his eyes left no room for objection; he merely squeezed her shoulder and then removed his hand, letting her whirl and head onward to the place she intended to go. And though she knew he couldn't see the tears now beginning to form and trickle down her cheeks as she left him there, Shayla knew that he most certainly could feel her despair...

A fraction of another moment which was slightly awkward passed between them, and then Terrin just couldn't stand it any longer. He came to her, placing both hands on her shoulders, simply drinking in the sight of her, then enfolded her in an embrace. After a moment he pulled back a little, his blue eyes radiating concern.

"You allright?" Terrin asked quietly. "And," he continued, hesitating only a fraction of a second, "how is he?"

Graysith backed out of her daughter's essence, still frowning for the darkness she had sensed within it. She sighed, now physically leaning into Lord Recinis's strong arms.

"She truly sleeps," was all she said, bending quickly down to kiss ShaRhylla softly on her brow. Then with a little sigh she turned away, suddenly feeling as though the weight of the universe were on her shoulders.

smiling softly once more he kissed her cheek lightly. "you should sleep as well, my love... You must rest, much have you been through in this short amount of time, these things can not be taken without a break..." without waiting for a reply he simple swept her up in his stride, nodding once to aelvedaar, silently asking him to stand guard of the child, and swept her away to thier room, which he had made sure was close to the room they placed ShaRhylla in.

She finally settled on Jharmeen, and it was she who drew back just a bit to fully view her Lord's handsome features, and the concern and love so firmly planted upon them. One hand reached quietly up to gently caress his jawline as she whispered,

"In time she will learn to love you as her Father, even as I now love you, Recinis."

Then she tilted her head up to bestow upon him a sweet and lingering kiss, one all the sweeter for the fact that they were indeed back and safe together in Phrinnchatka. Indeed, mere hours ago that possibility seemed less than certain; now she only prayed that her daughter would respond to the sheer and simple sense of togetherness that Recinis and his Lady so openly shared. But on the heels of that brief concern came sudden reunion with the unique bond of utter love and assurety that her Lord shared with her, that deeply treasured knowledge that not only was he part of her, but was now a part of her daughter as well, and it was this simple understanding which managed to entirely waft away her worries and fears that she had somehow betrayed not merely her Sire but the entire Sith nation as a whole.

Abruptly, a heavy burden seemed to lift from her shoulders, and her eyes began to droop in spite of themselves.

"Events have taken a turn," Shayla said into the quiet moment. "Roan has suddenly departed, leaving Rhylla to us, believing that, because her hand was stayed by Lord Recinis, she is weak. They have returned here with her, and she is not yet aware of what has transpired, for she sleeps."

Maybe after what had happened she believed he might be angry. And perhaps he had been a little hurt, and was certainly more than just a little bit worried and frightened after having to choose her sanity over her safety...

...but angry? No.

Just get her down.

The next thing I was consciously aware of was standing in the spaceport, Terrin's arms around me, his blue eyes looking down into mine. He was saying something; another little inner shake of my head, and his last word came into my ears:

"Galen..."

I opened and closed my mouth voicelessly a couple of times, still not quite able to grasp that I was indeed standing where and with who I was. All I could see was the hideous sight of Him, standing there with that young and oh so haughty girl... all I could remember was the look in His eyes when the young girl with him had raised her hand and blasted Sorben...

He had tried to defend us. He had tried to defend me!

...and then everything had erupted into a whirligig of actions and cries and shouts and noises and overlaid upon it all were those horrible turquoise eyes of His momentarily staring directly into mine as suddenly there was a blaster in my hand and I was pointing it....

I trembled a little, wrapping my arms around myself in the enclosure of Terrin's arms, a block rising up in my thoughts to keep any others from taking form, but they persisted.

I pointed that blaster to kill that blot on the face of the universe because I just knew he had killed Sorben. But was that indeed the final reason?

The mental block slammed home at that, and I pulled out of Terrin's arms, still shaking my head. I didn't know what to think, everything had happened too damned fast. But finally some of Terrin's first words to me wormed through the confusion into coherency. I glanced up at him.

"No, I'm not all right," I whispered, fresh tears springing to my eyes as I then turned to where Shawn and Shayla were moving from the ship dragging Sorben's limp form between them. I hesitated just a moment longer before I stepped out to follow where they were taking him.

And they waited as beside them Galen stood, Terrin's hand on her shoulder.

She had absolutely no idea where she was. An incredibly faint image came into her mind of a similar room, one seen through the eyes of an infant, and for a moment she thought she had returned to that place she couldn't really consciously recognize, but could at least feel to be something closely approximating what others would call "home." As this thought slowly coalesced into a possibility, she sat quickly up, letting the covers drop from her to puddle in her lap. Without really understanding how she was doing it, she sent a tendril of her essence out, seeking the indefatigable strength of the one she had only so recently come to know as "Father," yearning to find that strength that it could then be somehow incorporated into her own, just as this eerie co-mingling had begun joining them together back on Kamino.

Back on Kamino. Now, why and how did she remember that?

Her uncanny eyes widened as consciousness slammed fully into her, bringing with it remembrance, total recollection. For the barest of moments her eyes darkened, her upper lip curled almost in derision....

Then she threw back her head and let the wildest and most gutteral scream she could vocalize rip from her throat. It crashed against the walls of the room she now found herself in, a room she knew to the depths of her soul was not one whose corridor without would lead her to her Father.

And so she screamed like a banshee, wild and unfettered... and sending out great blasts of the All in a manner equally as unfettered. Although that wondrous power would not let her harm others, including herself, it simply had to respond to the inherent command within her. A compromise as such then formed:

Should a certain wandering jedi padawannabe have come along to inadvertently stumble into this room, he would have quickly backed out. Else he would have run the very dire risk of having his head bashed in by the myriad objects now flying through the air as though caught up in an invisible whirlwind, a young lady with eyes literally on fire screaming over and over in the middle of it all.

Silently my own existence creeps forth into this place, through the walls, the ground, the air, even through the very thoughts of all present, untill i find that which i seek... the energy i find there is indeed what i am meant to seek... yet the control is not desirable... more time may pass...untill then, she is denied me...

Here they were, Galen's old flame possibly dead, and probably because he'd acted on her behalf. And here Galen had pulled away from him and trudged off after Sorben. Which was logical, considering what had happened.

But was that all of it?

Some shoulder devil popped up to point out something he hadn't been listening to until now considering the worry he'd been feeling.Buster, your wife is falling for her old flame, and you are just standing around letting it happen.

So what are you gonna do now?

Terrin frowned at that, took a final glance at the downed bounty hunter then, as discreetly as possible pulled Galen out of the Sith home and towards the Sith Transport. She must have been in shock; she didn't say a word.

Not until they reached the Sith transport did he finally turn to her, still completely silent, and pinned her with his blue eyes.

The look in his read hurt. "Shawn and Shayla will be able to take care of Sorben," he said quietly. "I need you to trust me on that, ok?"

He quieted at that, now beginning to move for the Sith transport once again.

It was like I came around from somewhere very far away, only to find myself sitting inexplicably inside the transport, whether going to or from the spaceport or Khaandon alone even knew where, with Terrin's words suddenly impacting my ears. He was talking about trust.

Trust.

I still couldn't realize totally what was guiding my hand. I hadn't had anywhere near the time I needed to sit down and inspect this whole affair from start to finish. All I knew was that the hunter Sorben Tarnus had taken what might end up being a fatal hit and here I sat, my husband trying to talk about trust.

I exploded.

"Who are you to even bring the subject up, after dragging me here like you did?" I seethed, fresh tears springing into my eyes as I clenched my hands into fists with the effort not to let any words which might be considered unthinking erupt from my lips.

What the hell is wrong with you, buddy? a shoulder angel piped up. She thinks you don't trust her...

...well, since when has she been trusting YOU lately?! the devil replied.

"I do trust you, love," he said at length as the Sith transport came to a stop. They remained inside however. "And we'll check on Sorben very shortly, but I need you to hear me out," he continued.

"I personally blame myself for not having been there to take the fall instead of Tarnus. But from the day that you took off from my arms to go after our daughter I knew that you were still struggling to trust the Sith, and that convincing you to return here by my own words would never help you do that. I knew that you had gone to find Sorben, and I was fairly certain you intended to use him as a link to Roan.

"Never did I dream he would get hurt, or else I would have stepped in sooner. But I felt the place I could best help you from was here, for I was fairly certain you would chose to remain on course to help Graysith find her daughter, and I wanted to be ready should back-up be needed. And I wanted you to gain that trust that I knew you needed..."

His words trailed at that, and for a long moment his blue eyes met her browns as he waited to see what else she might say.

Somehow, in some manner, it was just like it was then. I couldn't rationalize, I couldn't believe what was happening, I could scarcely even think at all. All I could do was just sit there and let even more emotions rear up their heads to join the crowd already milling around somewhere in the pit of my stomach. It was as if I was some kind of helpless passenger on a roller-coaster ride spiralling hideously out of control, and all I wanted to do was get off. The only difference between this time and the last was that now I simply didn't know why.

But one sentence Terrin now spoke, as before, managed to worm into my brain and raise a finger for attention amidst all the others he has said. My mouth opened and shut a few more times before I finally managed to whisper,

...yes, his very words.

He closed his eyes for a moment more, letting all the stupidity that had been running amuck in his mind and even in his eyes wash away.

Sorben Tarnus lies somewhere possbily dying, and here you are talking about what you want for her and what she needs?! Now is not the time...

"I'm sorry, love, I'm sorry," he said quietly, his blue eyes, seeking forgiveness, once again meeting her hurt brown pair.

Hurt that in his stupidity he'd placed there.

He reached out a hand, gently squeezing one of hers with it. Then, without another word or the least bit of further hesitation, Terrin did what needed to be done to get them headed back towards the home where they had so recently left. In but a few moments they had arrived and, quite gently helping Galen out of the transport, Terrin wrapped an arm about her shoulders and lead her back to where the hunter yet laid.

Even though she had protected them both with the erection of her shield she couldn't help but instinctively cringe back as a rather large and beautiful stone vase careered directly toward her head. It impacted upon the shield, which with an air of almost total nonchalance not only deflected it off into another direction but totally absorbed the energy of its impact. The vase then continued on and struck the nearest wall, where it simply hung listlessly for a moment before sliding down to land on the floor of the room.

As did the candelabra, the ornate framed bas relief, and yet another vase, in short order.

Graysith glanced quickly into Recinis's eyes for a moment before stepping fully into the room, letting the door close quietly behind them. Not saying a word, she just stood quietly until all the objects that had been whirling about, including those already shattered into remnants and shards of their former beauty, had found a final resting place on the floor. Only then did she raise her eyes to directly meet the seething pair of her daughter.

"Are you quite finished yet?" The words came calmly enough from her lips, but the meaning they carried was anything but. By that one simple statement, the Chosen Daughter clearly meant to inform this hot-headed child of hers that not only would any further tantrums prove to be utterly fruitless in the long run, but would quite easily be taken under control by the intervention of herself and her Lord.

"You!" she seethed, actually growling in her throat like a Garosian boetay before completing that image by leaping from the bed in a movement as graceful as it was quick. En route to her seeming attackers she strove to lash out with the All...

...which of course remained absolutely passive to her command in the matter.

Frustrated into a sheer rage which was seemingly a palpable thing, she merely shrugged off the fact that her power seemed to come and go at a whim, and for some inexplicable reason would not obey her now. But it didn't prevent her from continuing upon the course she had set.

In front of her, the woman's eyes seemed to brighten the slightest before hooding altogether. She made the tiniest motion with one graceful hand...

...and the daughter of the Chosen Daughter of the Sith was able to then actually run through the place formerly occupied by the barrier her mother had erected, and come to a screaming halt about two feet in front of her. Her eyes blazing with fear and outrage and complete fury gone wild, she hauled back a foot and kicked Graysith square in her shin.

Then she just stood there, her eyes blazing, her hands fisted, smiling to hear the little cry of pain her mother let loose with, daring either of the two in front of her to do a single, solitary thing.

Indeed, Father was right! This is nothing but complete weakness standing before me...

Then, drawing herself up in queenly self-absorption, she let her foot shoot out yet again, this time to impact in utter contempt upon Recinis's shin. Her strangely bi-colored eyes forced themselves into his for a long moment before she turned from them as if he was but dirt beneath her feet. Giving a little sniff she then began to head past them and to the door, in order that she might investigate where in fact she was, and to thus learn all she could about this place.

Utterly, completely and totally intolerable.

She stood staring at the closed door, her anger mounting by the minute. Thought every black and dirty thought she could possibly ever conceive of regarding them, struggled to reach out with her innate, if uncontrolled, talents to let them know those thoughts, suddenly realized that she too was now reacting as she so sneeringly had pointed out they had been acting mere moments ago....

She couldn't stand it any longer.

"I do hope you are not too greatly disappointed with my daughter, my love," she whispered as she continued to let him draw her along. "For while I do feel she will eventually come to her senses, every hurtful thing she says to you is as the slice of a sword upon my flesh. She is to be your daughter as well, and it is not fitting that any child should treat her parents in the manner she is treating you, or me. Please forgive her, Recinis."

With that he leaned down to kiss her gently. "come now, let us get something to eat... This day has been filled with much..."

You should have gone to Kamino, Terrin, a small voice whispered. Maybe if you had, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if you had Galen wouldn't have had to face being hurt like this...

His mind stopped short at this thought, his heart once again in his throat.

You wanted her to trust the Sith, but did you go too far to have the point proven?

Terrin couldn't help but shudder just a bit at that thought.

It is your fault, the devil whispered. He closed his eyes a moment at that, seeking to shut the door which his thoughts were seeking to pass through. Then quietly giving Galen another supportive squeeze, he waited.

Indeed her sister Galen seemed to be coming to her senses, but was this merely due to the natural cohesiveness occurring when a common enemy is faced by two? Would she return to her former suspicious state once again? Could she, Graysith, thus continue forcing her to remain here in Phrinnchatka, even though it was a given that her niece could not ever be allowed to leave? Would her own child, likewise now forced to remain within the secret confines of this place, ever come to her senses as well, or would she always be nothing more than a beloved enemy in their midst?

That final question brought her thoughts back to the mysterious personage who had confronted them on Kamino. Who was he, and what did he mean by the horrendous words he had spoken to her?

Frowning now, Graysith gave up all pretense of eating, and laid her fork aside. Folding her hands upon the table, she now leaned forward and studied Recinis with intense violet eyes.

"My love, do you recall the one who confronted us on Kamino?" she began slowly. "Do you-- do you think there is any bearing on the words he spoke to us? He did know of the sith, and that they are to be brought back to glorious life once again. By his words it would appear that my own daughter somehow stands in the way of a nation, and deserves to die...."

There was no time for chit-chat...

"We are not safe here..." Lo-Ban said, quickly coming to his feet...

There was something... something that just wasn't right...

Naad could fend for himself, as he did to escape... I must keep harm from coming to the child...

He wouldn't let another young girl die in his arms, as he did he little sister... at the hands of a jealous fencing competitor of Lo-Ban's...

As that thought came to his mind, he did all he could to regain himself...

Ok... where to go... the safest place possible, Prinn'chatka.... I only hope Aelvedaar will accept me if I can, in fact, get through to him...

Or least who appeared to be doing so.

I frowned at that thought, tried shrugging it away.

Well of course they were working to revive him, can't you see that? They're doing everything in their power to heal him...

...aren't they?

Now I gave my head a little shake, striving harder to put that thought back into the dismal little hole from which it had come. It poked it's head back out; I shoved harder, tried covering it with dirt. It just laughed up at me, its mouth full.

They all know Sorben took you to Actar, don't they...?

Something in me froze at that thought, like a gandy rak in headlights. I struggled not to let this notion slip, but merely stood there a moment longer, still watching, only now more closely.

What did I know about the jedi? And this Shayla; who the heck was she anyway? How could I be certain they were really doing all they could to heal Sorben; for all I knew this was just a pretense they were going through to make it look like they really tried... while all the time not doing everything that they could.

I don't know where the logic in all that was; Khaandon knows I wasn't looking for it now, nor had I been for quite some time. All I could see in my mind's eye was another time when I had slowly awakened, crawling in a dark and dank cell, and had come across him lying there just as pale and still.

I had plead with him then not to die, just as I was now doing under my very breath.

I couldn't stand it. There had to be something...

Inspiration. Shooting a look up into Terrin's eyes, I suddenly whirled and fled the home they had taken Sorben to. My feet flew on instincts of their own, running through the Phrinnchatkan streets until they at last found our own...

Empty. I frowned, then turned about and ran on. Back through the windless streets I ran, back in the direction from which I had come, shooting up one silent street and down the next until I at last came to that great avenue which led to the central Temple. Up the steps I flew, my heart pounding, my breath ragged, into the great courtyard and gigantic foyer beyond.

"Erik!" I cried out in great gasping heaves, my breath coming in quicker and quicker pants. "Erik Kartan! Where are you?"

Finally I came into the dining hall and skidded to a halt. Bending over and placing my hands on my knees, I just stood for a few seconds trying to catch my breath. Then I straightened.

"What is it?" he asked.

About this time an equally breathless Terrin Danner arrived behind her, the look on his face concerned as well. Erik frowned a moment more, not sure what was happening.

But he waited to see what either of them might have to say.

"Thank you for babysitting while I was gone," I said quickly, cringing inwardly for the banality in those words. But there was no time for explanations; those could come later.

Whirling with Darra held tightly in my arms, I nearly crashed headlong into Terrin. For a split second I shot another unfathomable look into his eyes; then gripping my daughter more tightly to me I took off running once again.

In less time than I thought I found the house where I had left the healers and, I thought, Terrin. Although neither Shawn or Shayla moved or expressed so much as a smidgeon of surprise, I knew that somehow through their working my presence was duly noted.

And I fervently hoped not noted to the degree that nagging little voice kept suggesting that it was, either.

One way to find out. I raised JhinDarra to up in my arms, tilting my head down to kiss her soft little cheek. Then I quietly approached the too-still form of the bounty hunter.

"Look, Darra," I whispered, bouncing her little body up and down in my arms a bit. "Here is a nice man who I want you to meet. I know he would love to meet you, sweetie, but he can't right now... and I know you can help him, just like you helped your momma."

With those words I laid her tiny body on Sorben's chest armor and backed carefully away, praying that whatever the link she had maintained with her mother would somehow be activated in her biological father.

Surely this would work....

Perched on Sorben's chest like a kitten on a rhinoceros, Darra merely kicked her legs, let out a little coo, and stuck her fist into her mouth, her big blue eyes looking around the room with the vagueness of those of an infant...

All he could do now was wait and see, he didn't want to interfere, although he so dearly wanted to show his support. But regardless of that, he just simply had to...

...trust.

Now I fight encroaching fatigue. Long have I stood thus, watching over all. My guidance is needed, I feel, especially in the matters of the young daughter of Graysith. But that must wait until later, for now I, as any mortal, must shed these mundane coils of reality and lose myself to the restorative peace of slumber.

Now, to whom shall I present the child...

Shayla was the only answer, he had recalled hearing a discussion on that very subject...

It did not take Lo-Ban long to sense Shayla...

Something terrible has happened...

"Ok... I am going to find one of your friends, I'll be back before you know it..."

Lo-Ban walked briskly toward where he sensed Shayla... he couldn't believe the scene he had walked in on... all he could do was wait, for the man to be healed... anything else was unthinkable...

Who was this guy, anyway... it's gotta be that Sorben guy...

Quietly he stepped back into the Sith home to find little Darra laying atop her biological father, her big blue eyes alert, her legs and arms squirming. He smiled a bit at her complete innocence, then his look sobered once again.

He shook his head a bit, and turned to Galen, gently placing a hand on both shoulders to direct her worried eyes to his concern-filled blue ones. "I'm sorry about all this, love..." he started, not sure what he needed to say to at least reassure her that he was there standing by her even still.

Sorry doesn't begin to cover it, pal...

"I should have gone to Kamino; perhaps then you would have come back with me and Sorben would be safe, or I would have at least been there to take the fall for you like I should have been. But I so desperately wanted you to be able to trust everyone here on your own; had I even had a clue this would happen I simply would not have taken the chance."

He paused, sadness clouding his eyes. Then something seemed to prompt him onward. "No one here wants this man to die, and I certainly don't, knowing what he meant to you," Terrin said quietly. "And you can trust me on that, for I recall a time I promised you that we would find Sorben and make sure that he was safe," he stated very solemnly, recalling his promise to her back on the Bounty Hunter's World. "You still have my word on that, Galen; you can trust me on that even if you are unsure of everyone else here," he ended with, at length quietly stepping back just a bit to see what might happen next.

But Shayla wasn't sure he was getting through; not yet.

She looked up, still never leaving the bounty hunter's side, her eyes meeting Galen's in concern. "You can trust we are doing all that we can, Galen," she said quietly, her words gentle. "Think about it: if we didn't want this man to live, why would your sister have ever returned both you and him here to safety? For it certainly would have been simple enough to leave him downed where he was if she didn't care."

Shayla wavered a bit, her own mind and body starting to become fatiqued from the energy she was expending. After a moment, however, she stood, coming to place a hand on Galen's shoulder. "I know this is difficult; I..." Shayla hesitated, a wave of pain crossing her features "...I have lost loved ones in my time as well. I lost my parents at far too young an age; I know the feelings well, especially considering that I blamed myself for not being there."

She quieted a moment, letting her words sink in. Then, "I know trusting your sister and the Sith and all of us is difficult; I am well aware of all that you have been through. But please remember that we are mortal and all make mistakes, but at some point you must leave the past in the past and move on to the reality of what is happening. Think of us not as the Jedi or the Sith, but as mortals with feelings just like you, Galen.

"We will continue to do everything we can here. Please don't turn away from the people who are here, right now, showing their concern by their very presence here," she ended with, momentarily glancing over to Terrin then returning to her seat beside the bounty hunter yet again.

Who in the name of all that Khaandon made holy was she??? Terrin's alter ego?

Worry for Sorben began to be pushed to the side as a slow wave of anger began to rise up in me, hot and fresh. Ever since I had been yanked back here, all I had heard from anyone --anyone --was "I, I, I." The word ricochetted around in my head like a bolt from a blaster, growing hotter and more dangerous with each impact it made there. And with each laughing strike it made, another tear came welling up into my eyes.

They didn't understand, none of them did. Trust, they both talk about... How can I trust when I'm not allowed the freedom to do so on my own? And Terrin had the unmitigated gall to state he knew what Sorben meant to me....

Meant?!

They still didn't get it; for all Terrin professed to care about me, for all this Shayla seemed to try to prove she knew me through this power-thing she had, they both had missed the boat completely in the matter. How in Hell's Seven Circles could they have done that? The damned thing was as big as an SSD! One that had come up from a far-away port to run me over with an ease that was laughable.

I didn't know what to say. I could only stand there, shaking my head slowly from side to side, letting the tears run down my face as I turned away from Terrin then to continue watching one of my greatest and most deeply held nightmares come to life, where it continued flaunting me with each moment that Sorben remained unresponsive.

Sorben had taken what might yet be a fatal hit... and it was because of me. And it had been precisely to prevent this possibility from occurring that I had left him to begin with.

This is the end of the road, pal. You are losing her. And all because, by your current words and actions, she can't see that in letting her go as you did, you did the one thing you could to hopefully bring her to complete trust, and now that has been destroyed.

Despite her tension, Terrin placed a hand on Galen's shoulder and leaned in, emotion filling the eyes she could no longer see, that she hadn't yet seen. And as much as he so dearly did not want to totally back away, he knew he had to, just as he knew he had to on Sullust when Roan had had his damned way with her. "Despite what you may believe at the moment, I do love you," he whispered quietly, his voice wavering, "Though I struggle to say it and sometimes to show it, the safety of you and Darra will always come first. But this time your peace of mind even supercedes that," he added quietly, shooting Shayla a warning gaze to not say anything further. He gave her a final gentle squeeze, then, "I'll be just inside the other room should you need me, for my presence here and my words to you, unintententional though it has been, have caused you only more pain. But please know that you do not have to go through this alone should you need a shoulder to lean on."

At that he quietly stepped out of the room, not wandering far, shooting Shayla yet one more warning look as he left.

It's one thing for me to hurt the one person in my life that means more than anything to me. It's another for you to go and help.

Fully knowing Shayla heard the words, Terrin began to step out, but then paused in the door frame, something suddenly occuring to him. He pointed a finger in Shayla's direction, then spoke up silently, "You do everything you can to make sure this man lives," he said, a lump in his throat. "My little girl deserves to know her biological daddy..."

With that he stepped out, never straying too far yet doing the one thing that came with the most difficulty:

Letting Galen go to see the truth of the situation. Trust had never been an easy thing for Terrin, but he certainly didn't want the people he loved most to believe that he didn't trust them.

Because he did.

But not this time. This time there was nothing more I wanted than to run to someone's shoulder, to burst into tears thereupon, to have assistance in dragging the dragon from its lair that it might be faced and a resolution of sorts might be made.

And this time I just couldn't do that... for how could I run to the only shoulder openly offerred to me with this particular fear that was haunting me? How could I bawl on Terrin's shoulder about Sorben, for Khaandon's sake? Here I thought I had carefully laid our past together to a quiet rest... only to find those ridiculously flimsy barriers I had erected blasted flat in one fell swoop.

Now I knew why I had grabbed that blaster and turned so hopelessly on the monsters who had laid Sorben low. It was that part of me which instinctively recognized the fact that, yes Galen, guess what. You love this man as much as you ever did, don't you? And that little part simply forgot the rest of your post-Sorben life in an avalanche of pure reaction, illogical though that reaction might have been... and thinking that he was dead, wanted to die with him as well.

How could I go to Terrin with this? The emotions were too raw, too unsettled, still swirling about in my heart and my gut, battling with others they encountered there.

Through all this introspection I managed a slightly derisive "hmmph."

I sure hoped this Shayla's healing abilities were better than her empathetic ones, sheesh....

I didn't like where that line of dark humor was leading, so I shied away from it like a nervous ronto, forcing myself to just keep standing there watching with tears finally beginning to dry on my cheeks. Time ticked on in which both Shayla and Shawn remained absolutely still, and Darra lay quiet on Sorben's chest... too long.

I couldn't stand it any longer. Now blinded by fresh tears, I turned dully away from the somber scene and fled the house altogether. I came out into the streets without really being aware of it, turned at random, and started walking.

I didn't know where I was going, or what I was even thinking, to be honest. All I knew was that I was feeling... feeling entirely too much. And somewhere there had to be a means of resolution, for if not I simply didn't know how I could carry the burden I was carrying without literally going insane.

Your intentions in telling her to trust had been good. But intention does not always equal function; you jumped the blaster by preaching at her when she just really didn't need that. Not in the slightest.

"I'll be right back," she whispered quietly, getting to her feet with some effort. Heading for the streets of Prinn'chatka she followed the despairing sense that was Galen Danner, still very keenly attuned to her agonies and likewise very keenly feeling them. At length she found Galen, and very quietly and gently, she stopped her in her tracks.

There really was nothing to say, not at this moment, not when emotions were so mingled and the future was so vague. Shayla's greeny-blue eyes met Galen's browns in complete empathy, her arm then going around her shoulders in support.

You hurt with her, don't you Shayla? some little voice whispered. That monster ally of Roan's thought he'd had his way with you...

...but can this yet be of some use to convey to this woman that you do indeed care?

And after all, how would you feel if Erik took a shot for you? How would you feel...

She halted that thought at that, not liking where it was going. Geniune tears prompted by the utter despair of the moment began to fill her own eyes. "Don't give up yet," Shayla whispered quietly. "You aren't in this alone..."

"What are you doing here instead of helping him?!" I seethed, yanking myself away, closing up every inner door I possessed, locking her out with the slamming of the final one.

"Just leave me alone!"

Pausing only long enough to glare her fully in the eyes, I whirled from her then and continued walking along, still trying to come to some sort of compromise with myself...

At length I roused myself enough to notice that I had stopped. I peered through the quasi-gloom about me to see I had come to the little park where I liked to take Darra to play. Tears threatened at the mere image the park presented to me. I sniffed angrily; then my knees weakened and I simply plopped down where I stood.

Com'on, com'on! some little voice inside her head prompted. This is taking a toll on every single soul here...

Shayla opened her eyes a moment and eyed Loban, who was standing there simply waiting.

But she could sense his concern...

"We need your strength," she said directly to him, indicating that he join them beside the downed man's bed. "You wanna learn to use the Force; now's a good time to continue that journey."

Without waiting for so much as a yea or nay, Shayla closed her eyes once again, placing her heart and soul into all that she was doing and praying to any god who would listen in particular.

Come on Sorben. We know that you are in there...

They needed someone higher up...

Shawn immediately remembered something he had not considered til the moment and reached out to that link he'd been maintaining with Lord Aelvedaar, the Dark Lord of the Sorceror's Clan.

The bounty hunter is at more risk than I would like to admit. We continue to work, but I feel that more help would be beneficial...

But then he started to feel a little niggling of something striving for a voice.

On second thought, maybe we've got it...

...but quite suddenly it was showing its face once again.

Of course the infant had no conscious thought of this, nor of what she was doing. All she knew was that something was creeping stealthily into her on a level beneath that of her basest of instincts... and from that deep level something else found kinship and leaped out from her in sheer and simple joy.

As though utterly surprised with herself, Darra pulled her fist from her mouth with a little pop. Then she lay perfectly still, as though suddenly being made aware of the heavy responsibility being now asked of her and settling in to the task.

As a child, he was never sick, never injured... Even when he would catch a scratch during competition, he healed too rapidly to notice it...

Lo-Ban came to Shawn's side... He allowed the force to channel through him...

Some time later...

With the 2 force users, Shayla, and the babe at work to heal the fallen Sorben... success was near...

Yes! Finally! It's gonna be allright...

It was as though the weight of the Universe was falling off Shayla's shoulders. She opened her eyes and looked to Loban. "Go, find Galen and tell her that all is not lost. Sorben is coming around..."

How wonderful to have the very epitome of what sentients have come to call a "soul mate." She did not need to voice a concern, state a problem but Recinis was understanding it first, seeking to rectify it before she was scarcely aware something was bothering her, striving to lighten her load by taking it upon himself without comment or query. Never had another shared of himself as did her Lord; never had any other been more attuned to her very being... with the possible exception of her Adept. Shayla too held that uncanny knack of being there when she needed her; now a slight frown came across her face as she considered how remiss she must be appearing to her young apprentice.

Indeed, I must make a point of seeking her out. We have not had time to share anything with each other ever since we returned from the Valley of the Lords....

Now her lashes fell coyly as the events transpiring on that flight home replayed themselves once again in her mind. She sighed a little, leaning into Recinis's strong embrace, then continued to walk along in silence, still lost in thought. Those thoughts continued from where they had left off, until at last they had come round-robin to those concerns she had presented to her husband over their dinner table.

The smile faded from her lips, the Glyph darkening to a dim splendor. She remained silent a moment longer, knowing Recinis was aware of all she was thinking, of every nuance of feeling now coursing through her body, of every question still hounding her from the shadowy corners of her mind. And even though being aware of this, she still respected the reality of the spoken words she shared with her Lord.

He sensed Galen's great emotion, quite easily...

Some time later...

He approached a sith park, and noticed the crumpled form of Galen...

I lifted my face up to Loban's, blinking for a moment while the words he had said pressed into my brain and took root.

Sorben had been revived....?

Sorben had been revived!!

I leapt to me feet so fast I nearly bowled Loban over, blinking back as yet another fresh cascade of tears burst from me. But this time they were tears of joy.

"Is he all right? I mean, he's all right, isn't he?" I babbled like an idiot, actually reaching out and grabbing a double fistful of Loban's robes. "He's talking and walking ok, isn't he?

"Oh, Great Khaandon's Ghost, what am I doing? I have to... I have to--"

I'm happy that lifted your spirits...

Quietly he quested out with a tendrel of the force, slowly finding who it was held such feelings, and a brief smile crossed his face once more... For sisters they truly where... each had found reliefe from something haunting them, connected beyond what even they could realize...
he squeezed Jharmeen gently at that. Changing thier course slightly, so they would not intercept, and possibly interupt galans moment of joy, for during her stay in this city, such moments had been few for her, and hopefuly, this would be one of the first, of many to come...
With a slight turn in his mental pathway's he returned his thoughts down the road consisting of Jharmeen, and himself, together always, the return to that wonderful place bringing once more a soft swelling to his heart, one which could never be deflated...

As they continued on a waft of sleepieness crossed into Recinis concious, and with a bit of a chuckle, and a light grin he quickly, and surprisingly scouped Jharmeen into his arms, turning into a sith home, carrying her through the doorway as a groom might his bride on thier wedding night, finding a soft bed and seting her down upon it quietly, and soon joining her on its luxurious comfort.

Smiling brightly as he spoke, his words came out filled with a gentle calmness, and all the love and caring in his heart.

"Let us stay here for the night Jharmeen... a night away from all others so we might not be disturbed by any idle callings, or pointless disruptions."

with that he gently wrapped his arms about her, drawing her into him as if they were two pieces to a puzzle, each complementing the other, snuggling warmly on a bed, so soft it could only be made by a sith hand.

He then set upon her a soft, lingering kiss before speaking once more. "i love you my dear Jharmeen, let yourself be free..." he smiled then, letting his eyes fall deeply into her own, complete joy evedent in his own eyes at being able to simple live forever in those soft violite orbs, which represented a doorway into the very place he loved most to dwell... Her soul, her heart, her love... All the things in this world he so cherished most, and that cherished feeling came simply because it was her... And with her he knew he was complete, and such a wonderus completment it was... indeed, he loved her more then any save her would ever be able to comprehend.

"What of ShaRhylla?"

Then the Glyph on Graysith's forehead flared in a softly radiant glow as the answer to that question came directly on its heels, an answer she knew which came not of her own thoughts nor of Recinis's, but from the wonderful and nearly indescribable union which they were together:

Let her then find her own way within the Temple, and the city as well. Let her discover the first step in knowing the love we have for her, that there are no fetters or chains upon her, nor doors to lock her in, nor hands to grasp and force her in one direction. Let her be free to discover this freedom.

With that, Jharmeen Q'utaro let herself simultaneously go limp and flare out in all directions in the pure joy of the moment, as the love of her husband entered into her being to take her upon even greater heights of ecstasy... one begun when he had managed to utterly surprise her by literally sweeping her off her feet, to bear her away into this quiet corner of the world, to then offer to her yet another wondrous new chapter to read in the Book they were still writing together. A Book without ending; they would pen it for eternity....

Seeking that eternity with him now, that this moment would not end, Graysith merely smiled and whispered up into Recinis's ears, "Again you have succeeded in freeing me from the moment of our daily trials, my dearest husband. Do you know how much it is that I love you?"

Then the Lady Q'utaro lifted her lips and her arms to her husband, and let him continue to sweep her utterly and cleanly away with him.

And Galen nowhere to be found.

Terrin finally decided to step completely away from the matter for the time being, his heart heavy with the thoughts of another man possibly dying while taking a place he felt he should have been there to fill.

What had prompted an attack on Sorben Tarnus like that, anyway? Had Roan tried to get his claws on Galen again...?

Dear gods, he had to know she was alive now...

Terrin shuddered at the very thought. He strayed from it, angry that he hadn't been there, unsure of what the ramifications for that might be.

She's in love with Tarnus, and you know it, a damnable shoulder devil popped up and spouted. That's what you get for falling in love with someone who loves someone else, Danner! And then YOU didn't even have the nerve to go and protect her...

...her ex did!

Terrin's pace slowed a little and he closed his eyes a moment, trying to sort out the thoughts that were whirling through his brain.

It was never, ever, ever that he didn't want to be there to protect her. Rather it was because he had chosen her freedom to gain peace of mind over everything else.

And what if Roan had gone after her and you had taken the fall? That would have really given her peace of mind, now wouldn't it have, buster?

But again the devil persisted. Wouldn't have mattered. She doesn't love you like she loves him. You are just second best...

He sighed at that, mentally flicking the devil that kept badgering him as far away as he possibly could.

He couldn't believe that, at least not yet. He trusted Galen enough that she would be honest with him about this, no matter how much it would hurt him. And after all, a whole Hell of alot just came down the spacelanes and landed right into her lap...

...kinda hard to figure out just HOW you feel when emotions are slamming you from every direction fathomable.

It's too soon to know what will happen. Cross one bridge at a time, as they come. And in the meantime sincerely pray that Sorben Tarnus can be revived.

Now if someone would be so kind as to get the blasted thing back to its wallow, I'd be more than appreciative and would then be able to get down to the business of figuring out just what in Hell's Seven Circles had happened to me.

I won't say that I've ever felt worse than I did right now, but Fates know I've certainly felt better. The last time I felt remotely as awful as I did at the moment had been that time Galen and I had decided to partake of Quee's absentee hospitality, only then I at least had the 9700 credits worth of Alderaanian wine under my belt in compensation. But now....

I tried the groan again, and this time it managed to sigh out from between my lips. Immediately I felt cool hands on me; someone was then trying to say something to me, but strive as hard as I might I just couldn't make out the words.

All of a sudden it was just too much of an effort altogether to even think of listening, let alone try and decipher what the words were saying. The dewback seemed to shift its weight obligingly as well, now perching upon my eyes which although still closed, suddenly became impossibly heavy.

Injured. Not dead. Just injured. Thank the Maker...

"He sleeps," she whispered quietly, channeling to him as much comfort and warmth as she could. Then she looked to little Darra, who had been quite contented through all of this to simply remain where she was, occasionally kicking and cooing happily. Shayla rubbed her on the back softly, then returned her attentions to the injured man.

"We could get all this heavy gaunleting and chest armor off him," she observed. "Might relieve some of the pressure," she ended with, looking to Shawn.

He simply nodded and they went to work, waiting, yet remaining in place to provide all of the assistance that they could.

For although he appeared as silent as he had been when I had left, I could just tell by the look in Shayla's eyes when she turned her face up into mine that he was indeed now in the stage of true and restorative sleep.

Dad always said the universe was open, and now I knew it to be true, for I could feel it literally exanding as it moved out and away from the place upon my heart where it had been laying. I let out a deep sigh of thanks to Khaandon, and then a more mundane and verbal one to those present in the room.

"Thank you," I said quietly, somehow uncomfortable around Shayla for how I had treated her earlier. I looked into her greeny-blue eyes, then shifted my glance quickly away; time for apologies later, if the time came for them. I mean, a more thorough one than the purely heartfelt one I had just uttered....

I blinked, then moved up to Sorben quietly and laid my hand on his chest. He didn't move an inch, but snored on uninterrupted. I smiled down at him, the joy in my soul pressing outward even more until I couldn't stand to hold it in any longer. I simply bent down and kissed his cheek.

Then I gathered my daughter up into my arms, and turned to leave.

Insufferably.

At length ShaRhylla sat up in her bed, her face reddened and puffy from the effects of her tantrum. All about lay yet more shards and splinters, attesting to the strength of her latest caterwaul; she merely shrugged, deeming the destruction of priceless objects d' art as unworthy of her attentions.

Then she slid out of bed, stalking the perimeters of the room to determine what it yet held that was in one piece. A gigantic wardrobe lurked in a shadowy corner; going to it she flung it open, rummaging around to finally draw back with a pale aqua gown of sheer star-sprinkled gossamer in her hands. For a moment her face softened as she caressed the luxurious material, then with quick motions she ripped off the rather plain gown the Kaminoan scientists had provided her, and slipped into the utter heaven of one once belonging to Sith nobility. It fitted her like a glove, showing off her blossoming frame to perfection. Going to a mirror, she smiled in genuine joy to see her reflection shining out at her there: indeed she now looked fitting of the mark her father had told her of, the Emblazonment of Roan, to which she was heiress. She looked at the black tattoo on her right wrist, wishing it were gold, knowing one day it would be so.

Then she whirled around, placing her former air of queenly hauteur about her like a cloak, and striding to her door grasped the handle. For a brief moment she paused, half expecting to find it locked. But it opened smoothly beneath her hand; and she stepped out into the corridor beyond.

Tossing her head, well aware of the exquisite beauty she presented, she set out to see what she could learn about this place which she had awakened to find herself in.

"Brought you something," he said, presenting a small package that he had been carrying. "All your eating needs, directly from the Kartan catering service," he quipped.

They always manage to get at you, don't they buddy? Just when you aren't looking, that's when they pipe up to argue with you about things you can't even control: namely the past and the future.

What you've got here is the present. Don't let that slip by into the past as well by being an idiot and dwelling on those things you simply can't do a thing about.

Right now you have the present. That you can do something with.

So what exactly are you gonna do with it, pal?

First things first, of course. Stop worrying about things that have already been decided, and have already happened. Fretting over them isn't gonna do you any good. That'll just waste MORE time.

And then? Don’t worry about the things that might happen, that haven’t even happened yet. The only way you can change any of that is simply by what you are doing now. After all, there are sayings in nearly every religion dealing with the fruitlessness of worrying about what is yet to come.

So what are you going to do, right now, to best show that you love Galen and only want she and Darra to be safe and happy, that you trust her, and that you are there should she need you?

Actions speak louder than words, pal. Ultimately it boils down to you letting her go to discover the truth of all this, because the truth of it all is most certainly there.

Leaving his mind to rest on this final conclusion, knowing that he simply had to trust Galen on all counts and let his actions pave the rest of the way, Terrin quietly headed to their little Sith home, which was a heck of alot closer at the moment than the Temple. He didn’t want to be too far should she decide she needed him, but then Terrin didn’t want to be too close should she feel that he was stifling her, although he would have liked to check to see how Tarnus was doing. To do so might imply to Galen that he didn’t trust her to tell him what was going on, and he’d already clearly stated that he was ready and waiting should she need him.

And in all honesty, Terrin could see why she might struggle with bringing her feelings on the matter regarding Sorben Tarnus to him, so he again decided the best thing to do would be to simply wait. All these things decided, he headed inside and got a little something to eat, leaving part out should Galen return, and then remained patiently waiting.

Terrin.

I heaved a sigh, suddenly shaking as memories of him and our time together now raised its figurative head to clash directly with those of the time I had shared with Sorben. It really was rather weird, had I been able to somehow step out and look at myself objectively: the image of a short redhead rocking a baby in the middle of a silent Sith street, all the time obviously occupied by something none other than she could see. But I could see it all too well: in my mind's eye the image suddenly seemed to switch about, the figures segueing and blurring into each other until when they parted they were both armed for battle... which they then proceeded to ensue directly against each other... with neither side taking any sort of clear advantage, let alone anything remotely deciding a victory.

I jerked myself back to reality with another sigh, blinking out from introspection with a quick mental jerk.

How could this be? What was the correct course to follow? Whatever in Hell's Seven Circles was I going to do?

This had never happened to me before. In fact, I had never really dreamed it was possible to ever happen to anybody. It wasn't logical; but then, whoever said affairs of the heart ever were? I started to shake my head again, instinctively backing off from this particular dilemma, a need to once more run and find a sympathetic shoulder welling up inside me. But then something else within me nipped that reaction clean in the bud; I stopped suddenly, firming.

Running away isn't going to help, Galen Jhin'Dar Danner! a little voice spoke up inside me, shaking its diminutive finger at me for emphasis. And you know it. This is something that YOU have to face, and YOU have to decide; all the crying on anyone's shoulders, all the advice the universe has to offer isn't going to do a damned bit of good until YOUR head is clear enough to make use of it.

But I wasn't running away... was I?

Conflict raged within. I drew Darra up more closely to me, burying my nose in the soft, clean scent of her, debating back and forth with my inner demons until suddenly a road of sorts opened up in front of me.

I needed space. I just couldn't go home, not after what I had seethed at Terrin, not with this emotional clash still struggling within me. Not until I had had a chance to sit down quietly someplace, let my inner self calm down, and then inspect what to me was not only something bordering upon the unbelievable, but which a growing part of me was beginning to see as probably being completely unsolveable as well:

What does a person do when she finds out she loves two men at once? Or -- and Khaandon help the soul if this was the case -- at least supposes that she does?

Struggling yet with the incessant back-and-forth aspects of my raging emotions, I then turned in my tracks and headed off to where I knew I could at least find food and a room to call my own while I mulled things over. However long that would take.

"Let's go and see your aunt, Darra," I whispered into the soft swath of her shockingly red hair as I let my feet take on a mind of their own and begin leading me back to the imposing Temple in the middle of this ancient city of the Sith.

As he noticed this, he reallized something...

Galen has feelings for Sorben, as well as Terrin... perhaps we have something in common... I have feelings for Shayla, yet there is another in the way...

After realizing this, he decided to follow Galen... not to lend advice, but... perhaps, they could help each other...

He noticed Galen stop in the middle of the street...

Is this the time to approach her? She is with her babe, seeming to decide which she shall choose...

Then, Galen started to head toward the temple...

A rather stale cake at that...

Jasyn grimaced a bit, eyeing the little seven year old named Thea that they'd apparently been left to babysit.

Babysit?! Yeesh! Last time he'd babysat anyone was his kid sister back when he was a young teen and she was about the age of the little girl currently in question. Needless to say, it was the only time. But maybe that was because they were playing hide-and-go seek, and he'd made sure to forget to seek when his sister had gone to hide...

But it wasn't that Jasyn didn't like kids. He just didn't like kids he didn't know, annoying kids, or kids who thought the Universe owed them everything.

That, in his opinion, was the approximation of the majority of the kids in the Universe...

Scowling again, Jasyn folded his arms, rolled his eyes, and simply waited for someone to say something or do anything. Idly, he fingered his blaster for no apparent reason.

Where the Hell WAS everybody anyway?

Odds were that she would become lost within the great echoing sanctuary in less time than it takes to tell about it. But the young halfling was incredibly lucky, unbeknownst to her. As she wandered along, she at length began to focus on a soft sort of buzz coming from somewhere up ahead. Her interest peaked, she homed in upon it, following it as a migrating bird follows the magnetic field lines of its homeworld, until at last she came upon a particularly rich set of wooden door which oiled open at her slightest touch...

...to reveal a grandly apportioned chamber set out to be a central gathering point. Luxurious couches and setees were scattered artfully about, a great fire roared and crackled in the most beautiful stone fireplace imaginable, one made not of regular rock but of graven slabs of semi-precious stone instead. But what caught her eye was the immense and nearly overladen sideboard hunkered against a far wall, fairly groaning with the bounty laid out upon it.

She paid scant heed to the men or the little girl who were lightly chatting in the room, but made an immediate bee-line to the sideboard. True to typical teen psychological response, the moment Lord Recinis had mentioned food, she had gone into what seemed to her to be paroxysms of starvation, her stomach rumbling intermittantly through her ensuing tantrums, the empty hole in her middle expanding outward at an exponential rate. True, she wouldn't have admitted this fact to anyone, not even to herself, but the sight of the food was enough to bring her hunger to the fore.

Who in the bloody ghost of the Fates was this?

Hadn't that Adept whosis of Graysith said something about Graysith's daughter being retrieved?

But Graysith's daughter was around Darra's age...

...right???

Then something else registered.

Not since her visit to Kamino, probably. And bloody kriffing Hell! The kid had slapped down Sorben Tarnus, and she was just idling about?!

Something was very, VERY wrong about this picture.

WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Jasyn was beginning to get on the defensive nature. Before he knew exactly what he was doing, or could even think about it for that matter, he grabbed little Thea and pulled her closer to him, his hand on his blaster, his eyes suddenly alert.

So much for not liking this kid. Fates knew he had a bad feeling about this...

Something dark and menacing began to grow within her, and she tilted her head down, her eyes now beginning to slit a bit. Had she inherited her mother's shining Glyph, it would have been ravening up into the higher frequencies about this time....

he took graysith up with him, and smiled into her loving eyes, kissing her softly before speaking. "I love you"...

With those words he awoke slowly, his mind turnign back to reality from that wonderful dreamland that had shown him things he so dearly wished to come true...

As conciousness hit, he realized that his arms were still wrapped around graysith, and thier lips were still gently pressed together.

On impulse he renewed that loving kiss, which they had fadded into slumber with, now using it as a guide to return to reality.
They had slept for a bit before this, and so a great deal of sleep was not needed, but indeed they had needed this rest, he could feel that she was as refreshed as him...

Slowly his eyes opened, and were looking into those wonderful, soft pair of violet orbs, that seemed simply lock into his own pair of emeral orbs.

He smiled for a moment before kissing her again then drew her up with him and drawing apart to speak.

"Are you well rested my love?" her shinning eyes more then answered his question, so he simply nodded and took her up with him, kissing her once more in a loving union before they turned, and headed off to the temple, arm in arm, each leaning into the other...

But a wise man once said, better not to act first. Or move at all, least ye attract more attention.

Jasyn slooowly took his hand off his blaster, all the while holding a shocked Thea close, simply waiting.

You just eat your food, kiddo, and we'll mind our own business...

Then, as if some gift from the Maker had been bestowed upon him, deciding that he just might not die today, Graysith and that protector Sith stepped into the room.

He breathed a sigh of relief. But a barely perceptible one at that.

Who knew how fast that kid could move...

For some reason, he had just realized that he had forgot the reason he was out here in the first place...

He came to a dead run, passing Galen...

He slowed as he entered the greeting room...

A smile then spread from the frown which had creased his face.
Turning away to continue thier walk and sit upon a soft couch together, he spoke as they passed her. "i am pleased to see you have found your way about the temple... Enjoy your meal"
with that he sat and smiled at graysith for a moment, looking deeply into her eyes, which had momentarily darkened with sight of her daughter glaring at Jasyn.

Lo-Ban approached Thea,"Lets get you something to eat..."

He kindly took her to a table... as she found a place to sit, he went for the food...

He noticed a young lady in the middle of the food sideboard, blocking Lo-Ban from reaching anything... without being rude...

So, he waited... until either she quit eating, or gave way to him...

Her eyes slitted, and her lip curled yet again.

After Lo-Ban and Thea had finished their dinner rolls, Lo-Ban yet again approached the sideboard...

Using his abilities, he quickly grabbed ShaRhylla from behind and spun her to look in the other direction... by the time she spun back around he had a couple of plates filled with sith sweets...

"I don't fool around when it comes to dessert" He said, with a wink and a smile as he headed back toward the table...

"You're welcome to join us... the food tastes much better, while in the company of friends..."

Had Galen come back to check on her? Had she slept any? Had someone fed her?

Nevermind she was with a couple of Force-sensitive people who should be able to figure out the baby needed these things; Terrin still had that instinct to at least check and make sure she was well taken care of. So he wandered out to do just that, quickly finding out that Tarnus was in the clear, that Galen had come by, and that she had left with the baby.

Terrin sighed, feeling a little bit lonely despite understanding that Galen probably wanted some space and some time with Darra. He'd missed her so much, and he'd wanted to spend time with her so badly, but then he knew he couldn't push it either, not when the state of her emotions was so fragile. And after all, her needs came first. Still, that didn't mean he had to hang around by himself in the meantime.

Wonder what Matt and Jasyn are doing...

Realizing he hadn't paid his own crew members much attention, Terrin headed off to find out exactly that. As he began to walk once more, his mind started sifting through those things that he'd been thinking of over the past few hours, when one particular point nailed him right between the eyes.

Kamino. You've been beating yourself up about not going to Kamino. But how could you have gone there when Aelvedaar clearly stated that no one would be going except Graysith?

Why are you beating yourself up about that one again?

File that under things in the past that you never had any control over to begin with, buddy.

Wishing he'd realized this a lot sooner, Terrin continued to walk, disgusted with himself for his tendency to worry about things that were out of his control, reminding himself once more that life was too precious to miss the moments in the present while fretting over the future and the past.

"I'm Thea, Master Jedi, I'm a student at teh Praxeum - or I was until I was kidnapped. All I've ever wanted to be is a Jedi - really it's all I want. Could you teach me? What is your name?"

She paused for a moment remembering proper Jedi control and looked up at him politely through the accumilated filth of her long emprisonment.

"She speaks... Thea, that's a lovely name... I am Lo-Ban Kenobi, of Tatooine... I regret to inform you that we share the same problem, I am not even a Jedi... I apologize for disappointing you... but, I will be your friend..."

He then slid the plate in front of Thea, and sat down... waiting for her reply...

"That's ok, are you a Padawan like Logan is or was..."

Lo-Ban couldn't help but sense what Thea was thinking about...

"I am sure he is just fine, and you will see him again... in the meantime... I'll look out for ya..." Lo-Ban said, smiling once again...

No one... AND SHE DID MEAN NO ONE! ...makes a fool out of the daughter of Lord Ankrist Roan. Not if they wanted to keep all their working parts in good order....

Her stunned look rapidly transformed one that would make a rancor cringe. Her brow positively lowered to her nose, she abruptly dropped the piece of meat she had been gnawing upon, clenched her greasy hands into shaking fists, and descended upon Loban and the young girl he was sitting with like a hurricane.

"How DARE you!" she hissed through her fully exposed fangs, her eyes shooting daggers into Loban's as she slammed a fist on the table between the two. Her diminutive size was misleading; that small fist struck with such force that the sweets the two were sharing literally jumped from their plates.

"Don't scare the child... have you no manners? I apologize for invading your personal space, if that is what I violated... My intent was not to embarrass you, I cannot apologize for that... who are you, anyway?"

He awaited her response...

There was something terribly familiar about that little girl....

Then she shrugged it off. If it were important, it would come to her. No need to waste her time worrying about it now. What did need her attention was this young man who was so suddenly and infuriatingly polite to her.

She drew herself up like a queen.

"I am ShaRhylla Roan, daughter of Dark Lord Ankrist Roan, and Heiress to the Emblazonment!" she announced smugly, a curl on her lip, her hand shooting out palm down as offering for Loban to kiss it.

"ShaRhylla, that's a lovely name... Why don't you take a seat, take it down a notch, perhaps... you're too beautiful to have to use your anger to get your way... I'll take care of the food..."

He then lightly kissed her hand,"The pleasure is all mine... M'lady..."

As he got up, he motioned his hand so that she might take his seat...

Never shaking off his smile, he walked over to the sideboard, and filled 3 plates...

If the truth were to be known, the fact of the matter was she was furious. Furious that she was finding it harder and harder to stay furious... for every whim had been responded to, and at her desire. The young man was doing as she asked; it infuriated her even more that he was.

Conflicted, she stood a moment in seething silence. Then yanking her hand back, she plopped herself down in Loban's chair and glared at Thea while she wondered what she ought to be doing next.

He passed the two girls their plates, then took his seat... next to ShaRhylla...

"I-- I do not know, for certain," she finally said in the most civil tone she had yet managed since coming to Phrinnchatka. "I do not think I have been here very long.

"I do not know why I am here, it is against my wishes...."

"I could be wrong," she started, "But I think he's going to be out a while longer." At that she paused, realizing that the condition of the hunter had not been reported to anyone in the temple, at least not since he'd definitely come back around. So, along her mental link with Graysith, Shayla sent the news regarding his wellbeing and likewise retrieved images of what was currently proceeding in the dining hall.

Her mouth fell open as something registered. She turned and eyed the bounty hunter, a sudden problem of sorts occuring to her.

They'd have to treat this situation very, very carefully...

"Wait... do you mean to tell me, that you do not know these people? You have no idea why, or for how long you have been here either?"

Lo-Ban then lowered his voice,"and you're here against your wishes..."

He simply couldn't believe this...

What to do?? I must find Aelvedaar, and somehow convince him to let her go...

"There is no need for you to come quite this close; my hearing is just fine!" she scowled at Loban in rebuke before turning to toy with her food. For a long moment she remained silent, staring at her plate; then she let the fork she was holding drop to her plate with a sharp clatter.

"Yes, I am here against my wishes!" she spat, pushing her plate away with a quick thrust of one slim hand before settling back in her chair in a miasma of anger. "Everyone here is as sheep; I want my Father!"

"Woah, woah, woah... calm down... I apologize for getting too close, but there are things others need not hear... if I am going to help you, I need a promise that you will not lose your temper... and I promise to do everything I can to help..."

It took awhile, during which she merely drilled her violet-ringed turquoise eyes into Thea's surprised pair, before she was under enough control to speak. She settled stiffly back into her seat, her hackles beginning to lower, her feathers unruffling.

Her eyes shot from Thea's and trapped Loban's before he was even aware of it. Then, a sly little smile coming across her own face, it was now her turn to lean in closely to Loban. She turned her lips up to his ear.

These thoughts slipped away, however, as the young ladies voice intoxicated Lo-Ban...

Always the sap for a pretty face... OH shut up! this isn't the time for rational thought. I think I'm in love... only one way to find out if she is the one. say no!!

"Then I shall allow you to help me, and promise to hold my temper," she purred, settling back in her chair and reaching for her fork again. Spearing a choice morsel as though it were a victim laid before her altar, she turned those uncanny eyes of hers into Loban's again.

"You determine the manner, and when this is accomplished, come to me and take me to my Father," she asserted with a regal nod of her head. "I'm certain he will reward you handsomely for my return... um, what did you say your name was?"

Placing the fork's tip between her lips, she batted her eyes at Loban, playing the moment for all she was worth. Fool she was not; it would take more than simple help to move her heart, and all this particular halfling cared for at the moment was power, strength...

"I am Lo-Ban Kenobi, of Tatooine... but, I believe you miss understood... I simply meant I would help you choose... once you have made up your mind, then and only then, will I help you... I apologize for the miss understanding..." Lo-Ban said, bracing himself for quite the hissy-fit... that he expected was very near...

With a slow and determined air, she quietly laid her fork back on the plate. Pushed the plate away from her yet further, paused a moment, then scooted back the chair she was sitting in and got to her feet.

The look she drilled Lo-Ban with would have frozen the deserts of his home planet.

"As I expected," she finally purred in a half-growl, half-snort. "Yet another sheep...."

Something flickered briefly to life in the depths of her enigmatic eyes even as the words slid out from between her lips. Then she seemed to catch herself; her eyes immediately hooded and, straightening up into the most regal posture she could manage, she turned from the pair and stalked from the Dining Hall.

She didn't know where she was going. All she knew was that she needed to be anywhere that wasn't even remotely in the vicinity to that insufferably turncoat, Lo-Ban Kenobi of Tatooine.

Ok, that was unusual. Maybe they had gone somewhere else?

Terrin stepped into the Dining Hall and lounging area just to check...

...and promptly froze when he took in the scene he was presented with. Lord Recinis and Graysith, sitting on a couch, his two men sitting on another...

...and all eyes riveted to Loban and...someone...who was just exiting the dining hall, her long red hair and slim figure the only true things he could make out of her as she left.

But that someone...

Finally something Shayla had told them back when Galen had landed registered in Terrin's brain.

Roan has suddenly departed, leaving Rhylla to us, believing that, because her hand was stayed by Lord Recinis, she is weak. They have returned here with her, and she is not yet aware of what has transpired, for she sleeps...

Something inside of Terrin suddenly and quite immediately flared.

What the KRIFFING HELL was she doing here, foot loose and fancy free, WALKING ABOUT THE TEMPLE AND GODS KNEW WHERE ELSE after nailing Sorben Tarnus, and...

...face it buster, possibly playing a role in posing some sort of threat to Galen?!

WHAT was she doing sitting here, partaking of the feast provided, interacting with others that were here FOR PROTECTIONS' SAKE?!

Terrin didn't have room for any logical thought in his mind at the moment, and quite frankly he didn't see any logical thought in this situation to begin with. So maybe they wanted to give the girl a chance...

...but at the expense of risking the lives of others present...?!

His blue eyes read nothing but concern and anger and something else entirely as he stood there still taking things in.

This kid better not lay a kriffing finger, OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, on a couple of somebodies he held real near and dear, or there would be hell to pay...

Terrin tried his best not to, but he couldn't help but glare in the general direction of the young girl whom he was just certain would be the death of them all yet as long as she remained here in such careless freedom. All the while, a menacing little voice couldn't help but wonder in a sheer defensive reaction...

...where were Galen and Darra?

With that, he got to his feet, and exited in the opposite direction ShaRylla had...

Some time later...

It had been all she could do to bite her tongue when her daughter had first swept so regally into their midst. Her grip on Recinis's arm had tightened ever so slightly as that young halfbreed made such a fool of herself trying so hard to show that she was the center of the universe... all the while her very actions were showing her to be but the tiniest mote in the smallest corner of it. She had almost risen to her feet with a reprimand on her lips when ShaRhylla had stomped to the table where Lo-Ban and the little Thea were sitting, interrupting them in so imperious and rude a manner.

But when her daughter swept past her with a certain look in her eye, one Graysith couldn't help but recognize and instinctively respond to, she had actually turned to her husband with an intention to follow and at least try to offer something in the way of support.

That motion was nipped in the bud, however, with the sudden arrival of Captain Danner... who in turn was now actually glaring at the back of her departing daughter. His thoughts were transparent; the Dining Hall suddenly flared to ultraviolet life as the Glyph on her forehead burst forth in ravenous majesty.

She was on her feet like a cat, coiled and ready, her eyes flashing a dark promise. Biting back the call she had about loosed, she instead strode directly to Danner and came to a halt in front of him, staring up into his blue eyes with her suddenly raging violet ones.

"Take care of your thoughts, Captain," she hissed in a soft undertone. "You would do well to remember where you are, and to whom it is you have allied yourself with...."

With that she fell into a silence that would not be broached, and flinging him one final look turned and swept back to the couch she had been sharing with her husband. She just stood there a moment, shaking with all the anger she had been repressing; then with great effort she forced that anger down, trying to soften her demeanor for his sake.

How did he do that?

Dismissing this line of thought as being irrelevant, she merely strove to recapture her former queenly air. She lifted her chin, tossed her head, and crossed her arms in front of herself.

Ok, so he was probably overreacting. Graysith and Lord Recinis, and Aelvedaar for that matter, would make certain that everyone was safe here. And that meant everyone.

But somewhere deep inside Terrin knew that this wasn't about trusting the Sith or not; he did trust them. This was about being certain, absolutely certain, that Galen and Darra were completely safe and secure. It was about a guy who was suddenly wondering if, while he completely trusted the Sith to protect Galen, he’d slipped up in not requesting allowance to go after her that day when she had left the safety of Prinn’chatka. Or at least by not requesting to go watch after her himself once they had come upon a plan of action in getting through the chronotic shield.

He’d known the possible danger she was heading into. And while his intentions for letting her go completely on her own were good ones, had he been sitting on his hands too much in the matter when Galen was trusting him first and foremost?

Not entirely, because he had been in the background making plans and so forth. But he suddenly felt like he should have been more proactive, rather than sitting around worrying...

...as he was doing just now. But some little mental niggle pointed out that Galen and Darra really weren’t in any danger at the moment. Heck, he didn’t even know where they were at all. But then maybe it was that very fact that was disturbing him, and not the fact that Graysith’s daughter was now walking about the Temple.

He was a married man, he had unvoiced duties of his own to fullfill regardless of whom he trusted to back him up. Shouldn’t he at least know where his own wife was even while fully letting her go to make some of her own decisions, just in case he was needed?

He nodded to himself unconsciously. No fault in awareness and preventitive measures. There was no reason that he shouldn’t continue to do the things he’d promised Galen he’d always do for her regardless of whether she needed some space or not, regardless of the people that he was trusting.

Because, while he wanted her to be able to trust the Sith as well, the fact remained that she was trusting him.

With that firmly implanted in his mind, Terrin shot an apologetic look in Graysith’s direction, nodding his head in understanding. Then he turned on his heel, fully trusting the Sith to continue protecting them all from whatever dangers they might face...

...and all the while knowing he had some responsibilities of his own to take care of that quite possibly had not been addressed recently in the manner that best reflected his true intentions.

"But I do have a choice," she finally snorted, crossing her arms and taking yet another step backward. "I do have a choice to trust, but that choice is at my own discretion! My father told me it is a dangerous thing to trust in another for anything; thus, I believe, I would be better off finding my way from this place on my own."

She finished her statement with a haughty nod of her head, beginning then to turn away from Loban to sweep past him when she paused. Her head shot off to the side, and she pinned his eyes with hers.

"I need no assistance from sheep, and I would certainly never go as far as to trust one!"

"I already have a way out... follow me if you wish to leave... unless, you are too proud to follow my lead... either way, no one deserves to be alone..." Was the last thing he said, before he headed out into the sith city... welcoming her company, if she had the courage to follow...

It was for those emotions that recinis stayed calm, he knew she was torn between feelings of protectivness, and some which reach into the beginings of disgust... He would remain thier for her, a strong arm to rely on, though he had a thing or to he wished to say to ShaRhylla himself...
"let us be off then, my love, wherever it is you wish to be, let us go..." he smiled warmly once more.

He then wrapped a supportive arm about her and they turned, letting her lead the way, to wherever it was she wished to go, he was thier for her... And would always be thier for her, together, they could not fail.

ShaRhylla bristled, then forced herself under a semblance of control, undoubtedly due to the fact that there wasn't anything handy to break, and for some reason her magnificent power simply dug it's figurative heels into the dirt in response to her first reaction... which was to slam Lo-Ban as hard as she could against the stone wall of the corridor.

With a little "hmmph!" she stuck her nose impossibly higher into the air, and continued to flounce down the corridor, simply letting her feet travel of their own accord.

She so much wanted her to feel the joy and calm self-assurance to be found in that sensation, a self-assurance she knew ShaRhylla thought she had found in her own anger, but one which indeed was false.

Then she sighed, stepping closer to Recinis, looking up into his eyes.

"I do not know where I wish to go, my love.... I just know I do not wish to remain here. Perhaps in walking my wayward child will calm enough to respond to us; do you think we should follow her at this time, or lay back and continue giving her the freedom which we have been?

"Your royal heiness, I expect to be rewarded well..." He bowed, then headed back toward where he had left Thea...

Soon they had caught up to her, thier knowledge of the temple allowing them to come out in front.

He raised a hand slowly to halt her, his eyes locking into hers before she had a chance to look away.
Those eyes were filled with a demand, a demand for attention, and thier iron will could not be resisted by even the most iron of all wills... The warrior had been long in this universe, and turning to such a fashion was one of the skills he had picked up along the way...

"We have come to speak with you ShaRhylla, you are filled with many a false notion, no longer will you be allowed to keep them blindly, kling to them if you wish, but no longer blindly..."

He then approuched her more closly, laying his hands on her shoulders, he knew she would not move away, he held her almost mesmerized with his demanding gaze...

"You are here against your will, by your own words, That is indeed true, but there is reason for everything, you are here because we would not let you be alone, you are here because of love..." he considered the thought for a moment, notting a few things about it which had suddenly become apparant, then continuing, "we have taken you here because your father denied you, his last words to us being 'Kill her then, For as weak as she is, she will not be of any use to me....' But kill you we could not, and it is love that has caused this... But then, perhaps you do not understand the implication of the word... No longer" It was then that he once more allowed emotion to pour through his eyes, as it once had upon his relization of his love for Jharmeen, and now directed that pure loving feeling into the eyes of ShaRhylla, as he allowed the warm feeling to suround her body, drawing the love from Jharmeen as well, and directing that within her to feel also, he spoke to her "this my dear child, is the strength of love, the warmth it may bring, it fights all other emotions with more strength then you acredit it..." slowly he ended that flow of love. "there is another emotion that you seem to wish to embrace, lonlyness... It is what comes to those that deny the love of the willing... No you will know it!" his words were harsh, and even as he spoke them he was drawing forth a memory of his past, a memory of the distant time when he was simply the warrior, with no friends, no one to care for him, and no family at all, the purest form of lonlyness, and abandonment one could ever feel now came through his eyes and filled the young girl, not stoping untill he felt a slight shiver beneath his touch, Then he withdrew it, allowing that warm feeling to fill her again. "make your choice, well informed you are, both emotions can grow stronger, choose which you will be filled with..."

back up a step, addressing more issues. "i wish for you to know, we are not 'Sheep' sheep follow the shepard blindly to thier doom, whereas we deny the shepard, and find our own way in this universe... It is not us who have trusted blindly the shepard, you must consider your actions, so blindly have you followed your father, not once questioning why he might do the things he did... My dear ShaRhylla, he wishes merly to use you in his plains, a shepard he is, and well has he guided his flock, please, break away from him...Join us, learn to be filled with the strength of love... " once more the warm feeling flowed through him into her, untill finaly he kissed her gently on the forhead, and stepping back, and releasing her from his demanding gaze...

"You are free to do what you will int his place, never will we put shackles on you, You stay here now for your own protection, from those in the universe that would harm you, and even from yourself. Be it against your will or not, this is a safe place right now, and it is her we so desperatly want you to stay."
It was them he took the slight from of Jharmeen into his supportive grasp once more, extending a hand simplisticly to the young girl he hoped would at least begin to see the truth... if she hated him for the rest of her life, he would simply be sad, but if she never saw the truth, indeed he would be heartbroken...

LOVE...?!?

Intolerable. Completely and utterly.

Or... was it?

Beyond stunned, the young girl could only stand with her jaw literally hanging. Her eyes rapidly grew in size until they were little less than huge black holes in her face, holes with began to fill with tears at a rate which not only astounded her watching mother...

...but astounded the young girl as well.

For a moment all she could do was stand thus, as though still entrapped in the iron-bound vise of her step-father's will... though moments had passed since he had loosened his grip upon her.

Then she simply burst into tears, whirled, and fled down the corridor back the way she had come, not seeing where she was running, not knowing where she was going...

He tried to dart out of her way, but she had choosen to sidestep in the same direction...

So, they lay on the floor of the sith temple...

Lo-Ban fought his heavy aching head, and asked ShaRylla if she was ok, and what the hell she was thinking...

All she could do was feel.... a great aching and empty hole which started out somewhere deep in her chest as a sharp little bite, as though a tiny creature had crawled inside her and had begun nibbling away there, more and more until the void it had created was so overwhelming she thought she'd fall into it completely and be utterly swept away.

"Kill her then! For as weak as she is, she will not be of any use to me...."

The words haunted her very soul, bouncing around there, poking against the haunches of the gnawing creature within her, prompting it to rip harder, deeper, and to not stop until she was dead.

Literally in shock by the revelation she so badly wanted to deny, but which somehow she knew to be true, just laid there on the floor, letting the tears course down her face to wet her hair and drop on the stones, her blank-eyed look staring outward and only seeing the receding form of her Father's strong back as he strode away, no matter how she held out her arms to him, crying out to him, entreating him to come back, his betrayal a hot coal burning into the very core of her being....

He quickly came to her side, and nealed there...

"Where does it hurt??"

Without reply, he quickly brought her up within his arms...

He ran, ran like he never knew possible... until he was before the house holding Shawn and Shayla...

He entered...

"I think she has been injured, possibly to the back of the head... you must do something..." He quieted at that, and waited...

He might have jumped the gun, but he wasn't going to allow another he cared about die... he would give his life, before that happened...

"Follow me," she said, motioning that Loban come with her. In moments she lead Loban away from the Sith home in which they were currently caring for Sorben Tarnus, leaving her brother behind to watch him. Erik followed her as well as Loban, still carrying the despairing young girl.

Shayla motioned him to lay her on a bed then reached out with that part of herself which was now revived, seeking and searching.

She hit the problem at once.

"She needs a healing of the soul, and not of the body..." at that she quieted, the tendril of herself still reaching out to ShaRhylla, ready to be examined should she dare take the chance.

Lo-Ban then clasped his much larger hands, over one of ShaRhylla's...

Felt the warmth, then spoke softly...

She was Roan....

With that she suddenly sat bolt upright where she had been laid, placing her hands over her eyes, and began to cry and cry as though her heart was simply breaking. At length the sobs quieted a touch, and she drew in a great shuddery breath.

At length her heart-rending sobs wound down, and she once more drew in a shuddery breath.

"Will-- will someone please just take me home?" she asked in a piteous whisper, blinking her brilliant eyes rapidly to shake from them the clinging tears that still blinded her.

Shayla knew the feelings coursing through this young woman. Knew them all too well. Feelings of utter loss of complete betrayal, let alone self-pity and projected hatred of practically everything.

Aside from one someone in particular; where he had completely rejected her she yet clung to him, seeking to prove herself, uncaring as whom she might have to step on to get there...

Yes, indeed, you are a Roan...

...but you do not understand that the great powers you have must be used for the GREATER GOOD, and not for your own wishes and desires.

Shayla's hand again flew out, this time gently yet firmly reaching out to ShaRhylla. Her greeny-blue eyes locked onto the young ones, demanding attention.

They flared in greeny-blue life. "Do you seek home, or something else entirely?" Shayla whispered quietly, her tone demanding an answer.

Eternities passed in the look she gave her. Then--

And the only way to reach a person was right on their own level.

And right now, ShaRhylla's level was a complete pity for herself, and a complete hatred for every single person here.

Shayla reached out, grasping Rhylla's chin with her hand and forcing her to again meet her turquiose eyes with Shayla's greeny-blue ones.

"This is home, ShaRhylla. You have been chosen to be here, for your own good, despite your unwillingness to see that." Shayla answered quietly.

"And you will not find us as easily manipulated as you seem to think," she added in a quiet yet firey whisper.

Not deigning to grace the response with a verbal one of her own, she chose instead to fling Shayla's own little gamepiece right back into her face.

Pinning her eyes directly into Shayla's own, she let something black and noisome flow between them.

"Then you have made an enemy of yourself to me, and for all time..." She seemed to pause momentarily, reaching deep into herself, into a memory not of her own yet somehow planted there for her use. Smiling a great crocodile smile from the essence of her heart, yet not letting a lick of this break through onto her tearstained face, she completed her the statement she had shot into Shayla's mind:

But Shayla was not quite so responsive to words.

Her anger was a righteous one, fortunately not fueled with justice so therefore barely able to ignite the waning despair in her being that had been placed there.

See you not how your thoughts are not even your own? You respond with words implanted in you, you have memories that aren't even of experiences you have had.

He manipulated you. And when you failed him, he rejected you. And here you have been chosen...

...but it is your choice alone to accept.

At that Shayla's thoughts cut off, hearing Loban's words and being careful to pay heed to all that was occuring.

She hopped from the bed to stand strong before Shayla and Loban.

"I am quite able to walk!" she snapped, hurling one last lengthy and raven-haunted look into Shayla's eyes. Then she whirled about and stalked from the house, all the while berating herself for her momentary weakness in nearly allowing herself to fall before the myriad seductive words so recently spoken to her.

"ShaRhylla, wait..."

He ran, and cought up to her quite easily... the hard part was to make her listen...

"I still wish to help you off of this world... I apologize for the way I behaved earlier... which, someone of your grace and class does not deserve... you deserve respect, but I played with you, because I do that with those I care about... that is all I have to say, take it how you will..." He then came to a stop, quieted, and nealt on the ground...

"Then tell me NOW how it is we can accomplish this, and TAKE ME THERE AT ONCE!" she breathed in a whisper a hair shy of shattering the very night. "For I greatly tire of this place.

"But beware, do not fail me."

Then she paused, as if noting for the first time Lo-Ban's humble position before her. The glare on her face softened minutely.

"But stand by me in good faith...." She did not finish the statement but let it crawl to a stop somewhere en route of a wealth of possibilities toward which it had been heading.

Shayla had been in the process of pursuing ShaRhylla and the very wayward Loban when she realized what they planned.

Damn. This was no good. Did Loban have any idea...any idea!?...what he was getting himself into?

"Yes, I remember you Thea," Shayla said at length, her words actually gentle. "The other Jedi..." She hesitated a moment, not wanting to upset the child. Then, "The other Jedi I am uncertain about. But there may be one who can help you here. He's my brother, and he's a Jedi," she said, smiling, seeking to reassure the little one who had to be at somewhat of a loss here in Prinn'chatka.

With that, she simply picked up Thea Morgan and brought her to her brother. "Thea," Shayla said, "This is my brother Shawn Petrolu--Shawn, a little friend of mine from my tenure at the Praxeum. I'd love to stay and introduce you better, but there seems to be some trouble that demands my attention. You two get aquainted while I go look after it?" she said.

Then, without another word she gently sat little Thea in Shawn's lap and headed out, sensing outward, and following closely behind ShaRhylla and Loban, all the while sending news of what was occuring through the link she shared with Graysith.

I am willing to follow, but I fear more damage has been done than Loban ever intended...perhaps more than I intended. But there was something dark and very deceptive I sensed in her...she is using him, and he is allowing her to do so. She doesn't need a someone she can use at the moment; she needs someone who can be a friend yet stand up to her at the same time, I think. Should you wish me to return, I shall. If not, I shall continue onward. I think I know what they plan...

Sensing this, Shayla diverted course slightly, now heading for the Sith spaceport, her mind still clearly focused on that sense that was Loban Kenobi and ShaRhylla Roan...

And this wasn't about him showing up to envade her space or intrude upon the time she needed. This was about him making sure she knew where he was if she needed him, and making sure he knew where she was should something happen.

He thought a moment about the likelyhood of where Galen had gone; either she was somewhere within the city or had gone to the Temple. Problem was, both were pretty big, and with the way things seemed to shift so suddenly Terrin really didn’t feel he had the time to try to figure out where she was on his own.

And there were ways to find out where she was without ever disturbing her. And, at this point, Terrin thought this might be the best thing to do. Of course, at some point he might have to be the one to take the first step...

Deciding that, Terrin headed for the small Sith home where Shayla and Shawn had been assisting Sorben Tarnus, surprised that Shayla was missing and that the little girl from the Temple was now perched in Shawn Petrolu’s lap.

Terrin’s blues met Shawn’s greeny-blues in question. Shawn seemed to read his question before he ever asked it, clearly understanding what he was thinking.

“She’s in the Temple,” was all Shawn said.

Terrin nodded, turning to head back for the Temple.

Tell me, Miss Thea Morgan, how did you get tanled into all this..."

His hackles raised. "What the hell is going on now?" he said, his look demanding an answer.

Shayla quickly filled him in, surprising Terrin slightly.

Sith strategist or no, he'd never expected Shayla to trust him to tell him a single thing.

But then again, what reason did she have not to trust him? He was under the shield after all, he would find out what was going on one way or another.

He cocked his head, arching an eyebrow as he looked down on her. "You'll never get through the shield without Graysith. You know as well as I do where that kid is headed."

He shuddered a bit at that, not believing the stupidity of Loban Kenobi.

Kid is gonna get his head ripped off...or worse...

...It's so not comforting to know how that kid continues to stray on his own path, regardless of what he sees and hears here.

"Either Graysith will have to bring down the chronotic shield or we will have to wait and see if Roan lowers it himself," Terrin reiterated. "But yes, something's gotta be done. As much as I worry about her being here, I'd worry just a little bit more if Roan gets her back."

Shayla seemed to roll her eyes, perturbed by the interruption.

Terrin raised his hands in surrender. "Just telling you te facts," he pointed out. "I'm headed back for the Temple, where I feel I might be needed," he added. "You'd best get a move on anyway. If you can stop them before they ever get out of the shield here, that would be the very best route."

"There was something this young man had been about to pull forth from her earlier, my dear Jharmeen," he had told her. "Let him continue now unimpeded by us. For to follow may be interpreted as our being distrustful and possessive in her eyes."

And so they had turned from Lo-Ban's retreating footsteps and had come to the altar, where they had sat enwrapped with each other, quietly passing their thoughts and gentle kisses back and forth, sharing the love which only strengthened with each passing moment, readying it to be offered in even greater magnificence to the wayward daughter of Jharmeen Jhin'Dar Q'utaro.

That something was simply not right struck Graysith square between the eyes, causing the Glyph on her forehead to burst into life.

Shayla was sending a warning... there was a problem...

ShaRhylla!

Now a great sigh heaved from her breast, and she turned to Recinis. "My dear husband, I am afraid that what you attempted with my child may have failed. Even now she flees from the city, or rather is attempting to do so, with the assistance of the young Lo-Ban Kenobi."

She sighed again, not so much for their flight-- for indeed, it was destined to end in failure. How in the name of all the Ancient Lords did they expect to get out from under the shield? Thus it was not their running together which caused her the greatest distress: it was the fact that the girl was running at all.

Recinis had come so close... so close. That she herself had seen clearly enough in ShaRhylla's mere reaction, not even needing the unending link to her husband to sense this. She had been on the teetering apex of vulnerability at that moment, able to slide in either direction.

Was she now truly sliding into the blackness of her own self-imposed rage and continued loneliness? Or was she yet running away from a love she still deeply sensed she could have, one which so obviously was frightening her to the very core of her being?

Perhaps to save her soul much more would have to be risked than anyone here possibly imagined....

She turned a final time to Recinis, losing herself in the brilliance of his emerald eyes, reaching out now to lay a gentle hand along the strong planes of his face.

"Forgive the child her errant path, my love," she whispered up to him softly. "As well as the path I now lead us upon, should it indeed prove to be in error."

She reached up to give him a lingering kiss. Then drawing back, she sent forth a tendril of herself to Shayla.

"Let them go...."

No need to plot a course in this matter unless they knew just what they were all doing.

Someone should let her know what is going on. She was trying to help with ShaRhylla before, she is learning to trust...

...shouldn't someone extend that same trust to her by keeping her informed, even when she should stay here in the safety Prinn'chatka was offering her?

He kept this in his mind for the moment, making note to state as much as soon as there was a lull in the conversation where he could interject.

Then as he heard Shayla's words, he frowned.

How the hell did Loban Kenobi think HE was going to get through the shield here? And was he really that oblivious as to what he was headed for?

And what exactly did Graysith's daughter have planned after Roan had simply left her by the wayside? Was she aware of that fact, or not?

Terrin's frown deepened as he considered all these things, sensing very clearly that this new threat could involve far more than two people residing here.

"We are aware of this already, Shayla," she finally said softly. "Whether Loban believes he can leave Phrinnchatka and whether he actually can are two different matters entirely; I do not see how he can manage this feat, when I myself cannot drop the shield my Sire has raised.

"And as for the betrayal which my daughter feels... this was presented to her by my Lord and husband. It is a trouble no one may help her with; she must come to her own conclusions regarding it by her own device. Anything other than that would be seen as a devious attempt on our part to use her in some manner."

She then directed an intense violet gaze past Shayla and into the eyes of Captain Danner.

"And as for what we are going to do about all this, why at the moment Captain...

"Nothing... until the Dark Lord of the Warriors has his say."

With that she fell silent, one brow crooked upwards, turning her gaze back to Recinis to gain his input in all of this.

"This will be dealt with now... She has within her all the knowledge of herself, yet acredits it to all the wrong things, No longer will she be blind, A warrior her father was, and a warrior she is... Blindness is NOT exceptable."

With that he quietly spun, he had taken all he could stand of Roans corruptness, of roans dark and tainting spirit, and that spirit would be destroyed now...

Within his fiery wake he was not sure if any did follow, though most would probably be stunned by the aura of controlled rage which flowed about him now.

indeed his form as it walked at a pace none could hope to match, seemed a strang combination of angelic, and demonic, For within that stride lay possibilities of unleashing the brightest light, but also such a presence assured a never ending darkness to all that opposed.

Easily he followed the two children who fled so simply, his mind was racing, he had been in close contact with each, and knew thier emotions well.

"You will be safe here I am afraid of what has happened to our other Jedi friends, but you can trust me to see to your continued education.
Tell me, Miss Thea Morgan, how did you get tanled into all this..."

Thea looked up at the Jedi, gently cradling her, and tried to remember and use all she had been taught of calming herself as she simply answered.

"I was with Master Jeroc and Shayla when she was kidnapped by that evil woman. Somehow I could tell where she was even though Masters Jeroc and Cella said they could not, they took me with them to rescue her but it failed. Then I was taken but they rescued me quickly and took me back to the Praxeum. I stayed there with Logan for quite a while. I think... I think I was even making progress in my studies, then right before my birthday this thing came and took me, a horrible creature cutting and biting into me... He took me to this even more horrible man-creature thing, who left me to care for a baby on this ship going far away from everyone I knew. I couldn't sense anyone any longer - it frightened me. Then it gets a bit fuzzy, I ended up in a prison somewhere and this ancient soceror, I can't remember his name rescued me from there only to hand me over to Loban who brought me here. When he ran off after some teenage girl I followed Shayla's... well I could feel where she was and I followed that to her, and now she's brought me here to you. That is all I know, Master Petrolu. I'm just glad to be back with a Jedi and to have a chance to learn again. All I've ever wanted to be is a Jedi, Master, really."

"And despite initial appearances, Shayla's "captor," Graysith, is not an evil woman. The Sith are not what we have been taught, my young learner. I encourage you to watch carefully; only then can you truly see.

Deep within that door he had so brashly opened slammed shut, the fires of his eyes subsiding into thier normal calm, almost glassy appearance.

With a deep breath he released all that he was holding, now longer was it the time for such things, actions must be made.

And no Loban Kenobi. No ShaRhylla. But that particular fact wasn't quite as disturbing as the fact that anyone had ever been able to lower the shield.

For if things were as she had been taught, and unless there was more than she knew about this, something was horribly, horribly wrong...

Shayla shuddered again, wrapping her cloak about herself despite the fact there was not even a chill in the air and quietly followed the others in to a drawing table once more, sending out alerts regarding a new trouble to her brother and her love.

"You can clean up here in this little Sith home and possibly find you some clothing, although I must warn you the conveniences of Sith homeliving are quite different than what we in the galaxy are used to..."