*PSSHK-kktk*

"Carnage, Carnage, this is Alpha-trey zero, flanking speed en route to--

"WHA-!

"Say, Gamma delta, did you catch a power surge... GODS! Where is that ship going?!

"Carnage, again this is Alpha-trey zero en route to flanking position. Target has accelerated and is proceeding toward planet at... well, at a gawdawful rate. Gamma and I are in pursuit.

"This is Alpha-trey zero, out."

*PSSHK-kktk*

[ 10-09-2003 01:19 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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

“Well,” he asked, “what do we do NOW? Doesn’t this ship have any weapons? I mean, that big thing will get in there if we don’t do some—“

His eyes grew wide as the tuk’ata threw its weight against a large rock it been working on and the entire pile slid to the side. In an instant the beast was knocking aside smaller stones and squeezed its way through the opening.

“Oh, mother of curses…” he said quietly.

He cast his eyes to Shayla and Erik.

"Do SOMETHING! I mean, cripes, you said you were a force user -- use it!"

Panthar let out a short, frustrated scream and spun around, sending his powerful fist into the bulkhead beside him. A small indentation appeared as the ship rocked slightly from the impact. A hissing whoosh came from below the dent and a small hidden door in the bulkhead slid open.

Panthar looked to Shayla, then bent down to peer into the little doorway. His eyes lit up as they landed on the strange yet unmistakable grip of some sort of blaster.

“Well, hey," he whislted. "Um, maybe you should check this out…”

[ 10-09-2003 10:04 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Panthar Dantares ]

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

...no, surge forward of its own accord. The energy burst was enough to pin all of the occupants in the cabin into the backs of their seats.

"Goddammit, what is going on!!!!!?????" Jasyn exclaimed even as they continued at a break-neck speed into K'eel Doban atmosphere.

Matt responded by reaching for the navboard, his hands playing about it frantically. K'eel Doba's surface was coming into view entirely too fast.

"Slow the ship down, dammit!!!" Jasyn then hollered.

"I'm trying! Matt said frantically. "Something's going on in the engine, and there's no way I can declerate enough..." He trailed, his focus on the navboard once more. The Vindicator was finally responding by slowing...

...but it wasn't going to be near enough to keep them from crashing.

"Brace for impact!" Matt shouted. "I don't think she's gonna slow down enough unless a miracle occurs!"

"Oh, kriffing Hell...!" Jasyn muttered, even as the [i]Vindicator continued its erratic...

...though somewhat slowed...

...descent to K'eel Doba.

[ 10-09-2003 08:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

I could sense the artificial gravity diminishing, and it's more natural state developing at a quickened pace.

This is indeed close enough.

My mind is but one thought, solid dirt.

The solid dirt of K'eel Doba that becomes exceedingly closer each passing moment.

I open my eyes to the glorious sight of a falling ship, one in which I feel no responsibilities to go down with.

Part of me still knows responsibility, that part is in the past. In my memory.

A sharp blast takes me from such context.

My awareness returning, the atmosphere is filled with bustle and smoke.

I orb to a ledge near the crash site, far enough to go unnoticed. I bide the victims of the heinous accident to emerge, and await their impending fate.

Ah, hell, but this was so kriffing familiar...

...a little too familiar.

He shifted his weight a bit, his eyes still closed, just to make sure everything was still working. Fortunately, he wasn't disappointed in that regard. But when he finally worked up the nerve to crack an eye open to survey the shattered viewport...

Oh kriffing hell, here we go again...

With a groan, Jasyn opened the other eye and reached for the navboard, one thought playing across his mind invitingly. He never thought he would be thankful Impys were following him in his life...

...but that thought was immediately cut short as he hit the comm switch and noticed that the navboard was totally dead.

A power short...or worse...

Now he simply scowled as beside him Matt Stanza began to stir. "Are we dead yet?" the other man quipped a bit drowsily.

"Not yet," Jasyn replied darkly, "But I'm gonna get the son of a space slug who caused this ship to crash. I know this baby was operating at 110 percent, I checked her out myself. Wherever that fourth lifesign reading came from...

...I have a funny feeling it had something to do with this..."

"Jasyn," Matt started, "Don't get any funny ideas about now. The Imps will be right behind us...

...I don't think it'd be wise for them to get here to you roaming about the ship with a blaster like a madman."

Jasyn scowled further. "Right," he then said. "So let's get the hell out of here and see if we can assess just what the damage is. Maybe we can ahhhh..."

He paused, grimacing at the improbability of his next words, "...fix it before we move on."

Matt shrugged as if reading Jaysn's unspoken thoughts. "Well, we can at least have a look and see just where in the galaxy we are..."

[ 10-09-2003 09:41 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

Floating alont, he reclined in his seat and looked at the holonet. Alot of things were going on in the galaxy as of now, one of which was the smuggling lanes between certian planets were cut off.

"Hmm...guess Datooine is off...bah! Wonder when the Empire is going to notice."

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

She eyed the blaster-like object in Panthar's hand, then let her greeny-blue eyes meet his. "You're right, we have to do something. That animal is lethal; I've seen...

... handiwork of its kind before, all too intimately..."

She trailed, her eyes growing vague for but a few moments. Then she snapped alert. "That thing simply won't be enough, however; these creatures are semi-sentient and extremely powerful. And I don't know enough about the weapons on this transport to even dare use them. I just don't know what..."

Suddenly, Shayla stopped mid-sentence, one of Panthar's pleading phrases slamming home.

You said you were a Force user...

... and you are still, Shayla Stargazer, came a mental addendum.

Her greeny-blue eyes refocused once more. Panthar looked ready to jump out of the ship and go shooting after the tuk'ata himself.

"Wait...!" she said then to him, a sudden calmness radiating through her words, "I think I know what to do. That blaster might not be enough by itself but..."

She trailed, pursing her lips thoughtfully for a moment and glancing at the stones which the tuk’ata had displaced at the entrance of the Temple before she continued on. “I have good telekentic ability; it’s always been a strength of mine. Between the distraction of that weapon plus me moving around some of those loose stones and using them as weapons,” she explained, nodding towards the stones at the entrance, “We should be able to buy Phalomir enough time to get out. He’s a sorceror; perhaps he too will come up with something to help himself while we do our part.”

“In the meantime...” then she turned to her husband, “I need you to man the navboard and bring the ship as close to the entrance as possible once Panthar and I get off. You’re going to have to make sure we all get safely aboard.”

Quieting at that, Shayla simply let her greeny-blue eyes rest in her husband's suddenly concerned ones. She was keenly aware that he wasn’t altogether thrilled with this plan...

...if at all. “You’re the only one who knows enough about Sith ships to fly this thing in my absence,” she said softly then, understanding that part of his qualms laid in the fact that he was not going to be by her side while she did this. “Everything is going to be fine; I can do this Erik, I know I can.”

Another moment frozen in silence. Erik’s brown eyes searched hers...

...and then, somewhat reluctantly however, he simply sat in the pilot’s chair. He nodded once in mute response.

I have faith in you, came his thought into Shayla’s mind ...but know I’m gonna be right at your back nonetheless.

Shayla wouldn’t want it any other way. With that she turned again to Panthar, who was then investigating the blaster-like weapon he had just found. “Allright,” she said then, “Unless you have some sort of addendum to the plan...

...I think we better get going...” she eyed the disheveled entrance. “And fast...”

[ 10-12-2003 08:29 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

Without hesitation he reached down and clicked on the button along the nav. board, leaning in to hear whatever the message was and respond in the most belligrent, irritive manner, yet that all vanished as he heard the familar voice of an officer in the Empire.

"What?" Za'in said puzzled, as he reached for the comm. unit, readying his finger to press for it's activation. When doing so, he continued on with a response, "I don't have an entrance code, but I am with the Vindicator. Relay my message to them about my presence and they will reassure you that I am not in search for bad deeds but a search on the planet. I'm a historian."

Za'in smiled, looking through his files. Activating the most mischevious elements of his mind he got to work into hacking into his own identification in the highest and lowest areas. Inputting a fake I.D of himself in a matter of seconds, he placed his name as he uploaded it onto all the sources for the Empire, down to the core.

"You may check if you want..." Za'in said as he reclined in his seat, his eyelids falling down as a show of his calm demeanor, yet his smirk signified his pride. He had no fear of the Empire now, no great smuggler did.

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

*PSSHK-kktk*

Captain Landarian reared back a bit from the communications station aboard Relentless, and took something of a deep breath. A frown traced a familiar line across his forehead as he pondered the implications of that brief but ominous, forwarded message. Something had caused the Eagle Enterprise's ship to spiral in almost complete helplessness onto the surface of K'eel Doba, and nearly simultaneously with the appearance of the unidentified craft whose pilot claimed to be an historian.

Landarian's frown deepened, and he hit a switch. Immediately information about a particular historian began scrolling across his screen. Everything concise, everything correct, everything corresponding exactly to the known data the great destroyer was able to glean from that little ship. Everything pat and tidy.

Too pat and tidy. And oh so conveniently unmentioned by the Vindicator's captain or indeed, any of her occupants during their brief contact with Imperial forces.

Landarian straightened into a human ramrod, and sniffed with disdain. As far as he was concerned, one and one added up to an entirely too transparent of a two. He reached a command hand forth, now leaning down a bit as he spoke into a ship-to-ship mike.

"Unidentified ship, this is Captain Landarian of the Imperial star destroyer, Relentless. While the codes and signatures you send appear to be valid, unfortunately we are unable at this time to confirm your connection to the Eagle Enterprise ship which has made planetfall upon this world.

"Until that connection is verified, entry is denied.

"Landarian, out."

A quick flick of a finger sent the message winging on its way. Then he turned a thoughtful gaze inward, pondering whether or not Lt. General Tarnus would need to be disturbed in regard to this latest event.

If it were up to me, I'd send down those TIEs to finish the job, he mused to himself as he eyed the communications console thoughtfully. He reached out to it once more, keying in an interception code in order to make direct communication with Carnage's watchdogs.

"Alpha trey-zero, this is Relentless. Continue all cautionary measures, but follow lifesigns to whatever destination they may... reach. This includes any terminal ones; I want an eye on those people as long as they're breathing, but absolutely no active involvement on your part until I speak to Lt. General Tarnus about this.

"Landarian on Relentless, out."

With that he turned, nodded to the ensign whose station he had usurped, and departed from the bridge.

[ 10-13-2003 11:56 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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

...enough damage, in fact, that he knew there was a 99.99999 percent probability she would never be flightworthy again, and most certainly not right now. Which meant that the worst was confirmed...

...they were all stranded here. So even if they did happen to find Galen, they’d never get out of here, not unless one of two things happened: the Empire picked them up for whatever reason, or two...

Jasyn bit his lip thoughtfully in consideration, then realized that they were going to have to take a few gambles either way if they were going to get out of here at all. It was just a matter of which gambles he was willing to take...

...and which ones he would have to make regardless. How he hated being backed into a corner...

“Hey,” Matt said suddenly, looking up from a gear bag which he had been digging through up until this point. “This location-thing of yours is is picking up a large object...

...possibly a building...

...in the nearby vicinity. Could be a good walk, but it might be of interest.”

“Life form readings?” Jasyn queried curiously.

“Undertermined at this moment. From the looks of things, however, probably not alot. If we were near a main city we’d already be getting readings.”

“Ok, might be worth a look,” Jasyn agreed, “But first, we need to reestablish contact. If the Imps are going to be of any help to us at all...

...or if they would like to make us think they will be anyway...

...now is a time they could take advantage of that.”

Saying nothing more in explanation of his next move, Jasyn raised his wristcomm to his lips after opening a general frequency. “Imperial blockade, this is Jasyn Lancaster. We experienced a power surge aboard our ship; we are currently awaiting the arrival of your escort...” Here he hesitated a moment, “...and the arrival of a second ship piloted by a Za’in Almar, who was going to assist us in our search. My apologies for not notifying you of his arrival earlier; it slipped my mind in my haste to make planetfall. Any assistance you could give us would be greatly appreciated...

...Lancaster out.”

[ 10-14-2003 09:01 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

He staggered back a step, not fully aware of doing it, then reflexively caught his balance just as the sounds of crashing stones and massive claws upon rock came blasting from behind. He whirled around clumsily, still half swooning from the shock of new power, just as the massive tuk’ata bore down upon him. Phalomir fell backwards, the enormous jaws and tendrils filling the space in front of him. He tried to call forth a blast of Sith magick, but it was too late. He braced himself for the impact and pain, and as he instinctively closed his eyes to meet his death his mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of the Lady Jharmeen, and was immediately saddened that he would never walk with her again…

But the pain did not come.

Phalomir felt a hot breath upon his face. A wet tendril played softly upon his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw the huge head of the beast hovering inches from his face, yet no attack came. The tuk’ata cocked its head and inhaled a long, slow sniff. It whined softly and backed off a step, giving Phalomir room to stand. Phalomir gazed curiously at the beast, as it in turn seemed to stare back at him. He reached out a hand towards the tuk’ata, expecting to pull it back suddenly, but to his amazement the tuk’ata raised several face tendrils and stroked Phalomir’s palm.

Phalomir smiled.

He now noticed the tuk’ata’s face was bathed in a soft red light, then became aware of the red glow coming from his own face. He held his hands in front of him, the light illuminating them brightly. He touched his cheeks and discovered they were very warm to the touch, and traced along his face until he discovered another warm spot on his forehead.

“There are other trials,” said Phalomir. “Other challenges. I know not where this road shall lead, but I trust the path.”

The tuk’ata growled a deep, low growl. Phalomir turned and proceeded to the lone door he saw earlier at the other end of the grand hall. A soft whine from behind gave Phalomir a strong sense, as if a thought somehow was carried in that sound. I be waiting shall, may truth find you.

Phalomir stiffened and paused, then continued. He reached the door and pushed it open. On the other side was a long, narrow hallway, well lit by burning torches. He walked into the hall and turned to softly close the door behind him. He turned back to the hallway, and was taken by surprise by the change in scenery. He was still in a long hallway, but now it was lit by lamps and glowing spheres. Ornate carvings lined the walls and runes were laid into the ceiling and floor. He felt he had seen this place before, very recently, and as recognition dawned upon him a soft voice echoed in the back of his mind.

Tell her… tell her now… it may be your last chance…

Before he had time to ponder the notion of yet another voice in his head, he was frozen by soft footfalls and the sudden appearance of the Lady Jharmeen from around the far corner of the hall. She stopped, and for a brief second that lasted an eternity, they stared at each other.

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

Leaning back, he stared at the ceiling, a line on his forward caused by a furrow his brows. He had became interested in the senses that he was startting to read from somewhere, telling him that it was all going to be good. That he'd get his clearance soon, if not now.

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

Thus it was that as she rounded a certain corner connecting two labyrinthine corridors she really wasn't paying much attention. It took her a full four or five steps until her sense of unease escalated dramatically, and she came to a halt. She lifted her face, tossing errant tendrils of her hair back, then froze.

He stood before her in equal silence; whether the silence of expectant command or utter surprise, she could not tell. She blinked.

"How--" she began hesitantly, taken aback with herself for that hesitancy. Firming, she closed her mouth a moment, thought briefly, then continued.

"What are you doing here?" she asked at length. "I thought you had gone--"

Again she stumbled to a halt, suddenly aware of the intrusion of strangeness into her peripheral vision. She cut her eyes quickly off to one side, took in the image of quietly glowing spheres, cut them back to Phalomir's still silent form.

Her eyes widened against the dimness, a dimness lit only by those glowing orbs. Without being aware she was making the gesture, she lifted a slim hand to her mouth, as if utterly stunned.

"Where am I?" she whispered at length, taking a cautious step backward. "How did I come to be here? I did not use--"

Again she came to a stop, her eyes shining huge and violet, the Glyph on her forehead now beginning to send it's ultraviolet radiance out to combat the soft red glow coming from Phalomir's face. She took another step backward and halted there, while behind her came that most singular of sounds: the rising ululation of an anxious tuk'ata... a low yet rising caterwaul which was suddenly echoed from the shadows behind the Sith who yet stood so quietly before her.

[ 10-15-2003 03:31 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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

“My lady, I –“ he began. “I do not know… I was in the temple, and now—“

Tell her, she must know, for the sake of unity…

The soft voice was followed by a sudden, sharp roar inside of his head. The beast within his memories lifted a paw and allowed a small trickle of light to show, filling Phalomir’s mind with images.

He confronts Aelvedaar in the Temple of the Sorcerers. He tried to reason, but the Dark Lord will not hear of it. Using the All, Aelvedaar attempts to send Phalomir into the elseness, but a blast of magick and energy channeled through the Finger of R’lous leaves Aelvedaar in a crumpled heap. At first Phalomir is distressed, but the feeling is soon replaced by feelings of satisfaction… of victory… and he relishes it.

He stands high on a mountainside, two comrades at his side, and faces a group of Sith warriors led by a hooded figure. Using the Finger of R’lous, he channels magick and strikes down all of his attackers.

He stands on a high balcony overlooking thousands of Sith, all cheering and shouting his name. Phalomir holds the Finger high above his head, daring all who would oppose him, and turns his face to the heavens. The Dark Lady stands by his side, cold and empty, holding a small bundle wrapped in ornate blankets. She looks to him, her eyes void of emotion. As he ignores her she calmly steps forward and falls from the balcony with the bundle still in her arms.

He sits on a throne, alone, in a chamber decorated with the bones and skulls of many races.

The beast within roared again and the images ceased. He staggered back slightly, reeling from the memories of things to come. He looked down at the Finger of R’lous in his hands, the instrument of his success… of his extreme power.

“No…” he said softly.

He looked to Dark Lady, still staring in confusion.

“I have brought this to you, my lady. It is the Finger of R’lous, a powerful channeling device. It will protect you… and it must never again fall into my hands.”

He held it out to her.

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

But she remained still, frozen, her feet as rooted to the cold stones beneath them as were her eyes rooted to Phalomir's shining emerald ones. The came closer to her, closer yet, once again filling her universe with their verdant aura, mesmerizing. Something inside her whimpered and leaned forward, even as the Beast whirled in consternation, now on the defense, verging on an attack of sorts itself. Its rumbling growl filled the blank void within her, muscling aside those waves of greenness which had insinuated within her being, pushing savagely against it until she stood once again in coolly aloof assurety, even in the midst of utter confusion.

Her eyes flicked from Phalomir's to the device he held out to her. It was strangely commanding to the eye, even as small as it was: a red-skinned handle hilted on one end by a heavy round stone, wrapped in gay strips of leather amidst which were set jewels of blue and violet; at the other end the device sported a four-sided pointed blade, flanked on all four sides by jewels of deep red. It lay in Phalomir's hand in silent offering, although something about its simple presence negated that image entirely and brought forth a vivid flash of something...

Evil.

Another shudder coursed through her, the Beast let out a challenging yowl; she ignored both, and reached a remarkably steady hand out to the device. Her slim fingers wrapped themselves around the red-skinned handle, and by that one gesture a command of sorts seemed to come to her. No imagery came to her eye or her mind, for they were too full of wonder and of Phalomir's tall form, but the sensation was clearly there. It was as if something more than mere power had been slyly introduced to her, something far greater than the hard strength leadership of either Triad or Unity entailed, something which coiled and writhed as it tried to worm into her, snickering as it went.

Her eyes widened at the intrusion, boring more deeply into Phalomir's own. Therein she read things she didn't know if she wished to see--

Not saying a word then, she merely tightened her grip on the Finger, but didn't pull back or remove it from Phalomir's grasp. Instead she stood there a moment, holding it with him, staring coolly up into his eyes and waiting for what she didn't know.

But that elusive something for which she unconsciously waited was something the Beast must have known, and very well indeed. It crouched back on its haunches, screaming in defiance, raking her with its claws, hunkering over her heart and soul as it snarled forth its dark promise of never, ever letting go.

[ 10-15-2003 12:15 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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

I sighed inwardly yet again as I ran through this latest information, and finally let my hand drop from my mouth. My gauntlet hit the table with a sharp noise, one soon replaced by the steady rapping of one finger as I pondered our next move.

Sure as there's Treasure on Roon, it never rains but it pours now, doesn't it? I thought to myself, fighting off an inward wince the former exclamation brought forth in me as it now brought forth an image of my gamin-faced erstwhile wife. I settled into my chair then, laced my fingers together to stop the rapping, and cocked my head to one side. I blinked; Landarian nodded imperceptibly, then took an easy seat in front of me.

We exhaled in synchronous and entirely false relief.

"Complely destroyed?" I asked, pinning my lips together in annoyance. The captain merely nodded to the Reborn who approached on sandcat feet to bring us both some cups of caf. He took one from the proffered tray, took a sip, took my attention again with the look which then crossed his face.

My lips tightened.

"And this new one, this... Za'in Somebody, Almar you say? He's assisting them, and he's an...historian???"

Now Landarian's lips mimicked my own; I know the shadows flickering in his eyes were likewise reflections of the ones flitting about my very being. I sat back in my chair, letting the cup I had taken settle to the table with a slight clink.

"I do not believe this; they are clearly up to something. How in Hell's Seven Circles would a-- historian connect with them to come to a planet which as far as the known universe goes doesn't exist except in rumor and myth? And more importantly, why?

"No, my dear Captain, there is more afoot here than meets the eye, I'm afraid. However, we have the means to keep it under watch, if not completely contained if necessary."

I hit a toggle; information about Almar's ship began scrolling across my screen, information brought to us easily enough by our deep-core scanning equipment. He was fairly loaded for rancor, but it wasn't anything we couldn't deal with if necessary. Another flick of my finger, and the screen went dark, revealing only a miniaturized galaxy which rotated slowly there upon my desk.

I lifted my eyes to Landarian.

"Give Mr. Lancaster's comm frequency to the TIEs. Have them make audio contact only with his party. Tell them we will stand by should any... assistance be direly needed, and that is all he needs to know at this time. They are to alter holding pattern Rancor to shadow-dianoga, and remain there as long as there are humans on that world, maintaining that comm-link. Oh yes, since Lancaster's ship didn't seem to associate too nicely with this planet, offer sensor assistance only.

"And as for Almar's ship...."

I trailed a moment, and once more found myself sitting with my hand playing about my mouth as I weighed one side against another. At length I let out a sigh, and focused my gaze on the captain once again.

"Allow him to make planetfall on K'eel Doba, and be prepared to assist should anything try to convert that descent into one less... controlled. He may not leave the surface until given permission, however; I want all tractor beams tripled in output, and the net brought to within 600 kilometers of the planetary surface."

Landarian nodded in reply to my orders, a grim sort of smile flitting about his features. Then he drained his cup, rose to his feet, performed a quick salute, and left to make certain those commands were enabled asap.

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

"Eagle Enterprise ship, this is Alpha-trey zero, holding shadow pattern per orders from the fleet. We confirm your life signs and have passed such to mother ship; we also confirm the destruction of your ship.

"Too bad, EE; perhaps your company needs a more qualified piloting instructor."

The pilot smirked behind his helmet at the joke he had made, then grew serious.

"Our sensors indicate an unknown lifesign approximately one-half kilometer from your present position, bearing zero-fiver two N by one fifteen mark thirty W. It appears to be approximately 500 feet in elevation above you, and at this time immobile.

"We offer sensor assistance and shadow during your planetfall; have a nice stay.

"This is Alpha-trey zero, out."

Nodding to himself the pilot barked another order to the other TIEs, and all four ships started to perform a beautifully, if in the eyes of some... lethally... executed ballet across the darkening K'eel Doban skies.

[ 10-15-2003 01:36 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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

“I like this plan!” he shouted, gripping the handle of the strange weapon tightly. “OK, so we go hit this thing with all we got and he flies in to get us all out, once we get Phal. Hit it!”

Panthar did not wait for a reply, but darted for the hatch control. It opened, and he jumped out, not waiting for the gangway to descend. He hit the ground running and made for the temple entrance at an incredible speed.

Shayla descended quickly and prepared to use her force abilities.

Panthar made it the temple steps and pulled the blaster out in front of him. As he bound up the stones he came to realize he had no clue about how top fire this weapon. He slowed his ascent and searched for a trigger of some kind, but did not find it. He stopped at the top of the steps and took a closer look at the weapon, noticing it was covered in tiny runes. The handle was coated in a soft rubbery material, and the long metal shaft came to a flat point.

“Oh heck,” said Panthar. “I’ve come to kill a monster with a screwdriver…”

A shout from behind made Panthar spin. Shayla was standing near the ship, frozen. On each side of the clearing a large tuk’ata stood, the furthest only 20 yards from the temple steps. Both were keenly aware of the Sith standing at the top of the temple. Panthar felt his head grow heavy, and a strange sinking sensation crept over him. From behind he heard a low, steady growl. He slowly turned back to face the temple, catching the glint of sunlight from a pair of eyes somewhere in the darkness inside.

“Um… nice kitty?” he said quietly.

The tuk’ata emerged from the temple and stood, still and majestic, and eyed Panthar. Panthar closed his eyes and froze in place. The tuk’ata cocked its head, stepped closer, and sniffed. It raised its tendrils and explored Panthar’s face, which remained frozen. The tuk’ata took a step backwards and sat on its haunches. Panthar opened one eye. The tuk’ata made no move. He opened the other eye. Still the tuk’ata did not move.

“I guess it’s full…” thought Panthar. "Sorry, Phal."

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

He watched his fingers tighten on the grip of the device, while his thumb slowly moved down to gently caress the fingers of the Dark Lady. He desperately wished to be done with this device, for behind all of its power and promise lay the cold memories of events yet to come, and an overpowering sense of something sinister emanated from it.

“I… can not… possess this… device,” he struggled to say.

Jharmeen continued to keep her grip on the Finger of R’lous, not pulling away.

Why, Phalomir? the soft voice returned. By the widening of Jharmeen’s eyes, Phalomir wondered if the voice was no longer only in his head. Why do you wish to be free from the promise of leadership of the Sith?

“I do not wish to be free from it,” he whispered. “But I cannot accept the visions of days to come. If ruling the Sith means losing myself, and the lives of those who I would love, then I pass it to another… someone stronger.”

The strange lights along the walls flickered.

This challenge is complete. The voice wafted in the shadowed hall. The Burden and Lordship shall rest upon two, sharing and complimenting. One shall be the heart and spirit, the other shall channel.

The red skin around the grip of the Finger glowed softly. A white mist arose from the upwardly pointed tip and dissipated into the air, and the sinister sensation abated. The glow continued, and the tattoo on Phalomir’s forehead glowed to match. Phalomir watched the soft light illuminate the Dark Lady’s face, then gaped in wonder as the skin around her wrist glowed as well. All red light ceased, leaving an imprint on her wrist identical to the tattoo on Phalomir’s forehead.

Phalomir’s grip loosened and his fingers finally released the device, leaving it in the hand of the Dark Lady. For a long moment neither spoke nor moved.

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

Yes, that was skin. And it was red.

--met the tips of her curling fingers and followed along a tangent to where a tattoo lay freshly imprinted upon the skin of her flesh. It was similar in design to the golden one which proclaimed her as Dark Lady, one which another tangential glance told her yet lay reassuringly upon her other wrist. The only difference between the two was that while the first one she bore glowed in shimmering gold, the new one lay dark and silent. A brief and errant thought flicked from nowhere--

What will trigger this?

--only to be quickly pushed away, repressed, handily cupboarded until a time when she could appraise it more thoroughly, more leisurely.

And while alone.

Her eyes returned to Phalomir's even as she pulled back a slight step, carrying the Finger along with her. Questions roiled through her, churning.

What was this device, exactly? How had it come into being? Who was the author of that mysterious, commanding voice, the one which proclaimed the joint leadership in the same tone, one brooking no denial, that she used when acting in the authority her title permitted?

And from somewhere even more deeply repressed, from a dim and dark and deep little place at the very core of her being, a tiny voice raised and screamed loudly enough that she could just catch the very fringes of it:

Why was this remarkable and singular offer extended to her, a human woman, and not to one with at least blood of the Sith flowing in his or her veins?

She pushed that back along with the second step that she took. Stopped in place and stared at the Finger now, noticing for the first time a strap affixed to one end of it, one bearing a hook which fit nicely upon one of the various carrying loops upon the belt of her thrimm. Forcing her breathing to remain steady, she hung it there. It lay against her thigh as if it had been a part of her forever, warm yet somehow carrying with it the sensation of extreme and deathly cold.

Sudden and intimately keen awareness of that device flooded into her, of a possibility of what its purpose might indeed be.

It was The Channeler. Of the All, more than likely. The ultimate means by which that strength could be used... by anybody. No balancing, no learning, no threat by the clouding powers of the Eyes of R'lous.

It was the All, all wrapped up tidily in one unique device. Giving the wielder something which approached absolute power.

Yet what then would control the wielder?

Another thought flashed into her mind, one borne of the stories her father used to tell her when she was a child, stories entwining his speculations about this ancient race with those history had already proven to be true, stories about those dark ones who took the name Sith upon themselves, to the dishonor of that race.

The dark jedi. Who called themselves Sith. Who commanded, not the All, but some of the magicks of the Sith, incorporating that into the Force they already used. Who were thus made into the most powerful of entities existing at that time in the galaxy... and who squabbled and fought over that power until by their own agreement -- perhaps -- it had come to be that only two should exist.

A Master and an Apprentice.

It was only then that she saw something flickering in the depths of Phalomir's eyes, something dark and deep and mysterious and somehow... hopeful. Between the pathway of their locked eyes there then arose other visions, visions only she could see, visions of her daughter ShaRhylla, of her niece JhinDarra, of a certain Dark Lord of the Sith and his own adopted son.

She shivered, and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were like twin amethyst crystals, cold, glittering, and adamantine hard. She smiled.

"How strong are you, Phalomir?" she whispered then, letting the smile which came nowhere close to touching her eyes broaden upon her face. The Glyph ravened into new brilliance, while somewhere in the distance there came a beastly yowl.

She wondered if he heard that cry as clearly as she did....

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

Though I hope the day doesn't need to be saved... He thought, scratching his head while the other one steadied the ship through the atmosphere and layers that allowed man to live in such a place.

When finally appearing in the sky high above, the beautifully engineered ship's windows revealed the awkward surface of the planet. It wasn't a pretty sight at all, nothing that would be considered a lounge but nonetheless his life had led him here and his descion was already made to help Lancaster.

Gliding above the surface, his engines boosted, keeping him suspended in the air while he took the time to open in his comm link. Placing his finger on the comm unit activation, he placed in the frequency.

"Hey, Jasyn this is Za'in. I'm on this crazy planet of your's and am awaiting your location. Over and out..." Za'in said, speaking into the comm unit.

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

...but suddenly, the tuk'ata simply sat back on its haunches, something about the creature's air implying that it was giving Panthar "permission" to enter the Temple. Shayla almost couldn't believe it, but as she had said herself, the animals were semi-sentient. After being around the Sith for such a great amount of time, it was entirely probable that there was some sort of kinship between Sith and tuk'ata, which would explain why the tuk'ata was such an esteemed animal among the race.

The long and the short of all of these possibilities, however, was that it appeared the tuk'ata was going to leave Panthar alone. Her, on the other hand....

Shayla's eyes snapped fully alert, and she was keenly aware that the two tuk'ata that had been flanking her were still there. Even so, however, they weren't moving a muscle.

What were they doing? Waiting for their prey to jump first? "Playing with their food" so to speak? Or was something else going on?

Suddenly Shayla was less than certain about using stones for weapons. An idea was coming to her mind, however. So, reaching out with the Force, she channeled thoughts towards the semi-sentient animals, one at a time, her demeanor and mind utterly calm as she did so.

I am with the other one.

Even as she kept that thought in her mind, she spoke quietly towards Panthar. "I think they are granting you access...

...let's pray they understand that I am with you and do the same for me..."

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

Phalomir thought of the visions he had experienced, visions which he believed were actual memories that he had somehow already lived through. Phalomir seemed to be a living paradox, and his head was filled with repressed images tightly locked away. Yet he also knew in his heart what those images would tell if he were to unlock them.

“Stronger than you know,” he said at last. “You have known strong lords, of that I have no doubt. But believe me, my lady, you have known none stronger than I.”

He took a step forward. He held his hand to his face and touched each of the tattoos in order.

“Warrior, Sorcerer, Armorer. I have the power, I have the desire… I have the strength to carry with me the burden of centuries. The true power of the Sith lies not in magick, not in the All force. It is a combination of those elements and others, and I shall find them all.”

He looked to the Finger.

“However, you are the channel through which the true power of the Sith shall flow. But you need the spirit behind that power, my lady. You need the strength to carry you through the trials to come. You need me.”

He paused, a thoughtful look coming to his face.

“I have heard you refer to yourself as the chosen daughter of the Sith. It seems the daughter has grown and is readying herself to fly, but I must ask, my lady, if you are ready for this new burden? What are you prepared to do to either stand with me or in my way? How strong are you?”

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

Her lip curled slightly.

"I am as strong as I only need to be," she whispered at length.

Daughter indeed....

Then, abruptly, she seemed to pull back, whirled on the spot, and began to leave, heading back to where she had come from, knowing this path would take her back to the Temple.

If not to more than merely that.

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

“My lady,” he said. “Wait.” She hesitated only a slight moment and continued on.

“There are things I have not spoken,” he continued, and followed her down the hallway.

“My memories, some of them were released by the beast within me, and though I cannot explain why, I do firmly believe they are genuine. I have come to you before, in another time, and have possessed the Finger. You and I have stood together, ruling the Sith, but I allowed the device to use me. I alone wielded the power, and was so corrupted by it that I let the one thing that could make my life complete slip from my fingers.”

He caught up with her, but stayed two steps behind, matching her speed.

“I will not allow that to happen again. You shall bear the device, but you shall not wield it alone. I sense something within you, the Finger already feeds upon your desire for power, your need to rise above those who have used you and so easily discarded you. I have traveled across ages to find you, to begin a new line of time, and I will not allow my failures to befall you.”

He stopped.

“I could not bear to lose you again,” he said softly. “My lady, are you strong enough to trust me?”

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