A portal tears open in front of us. A blast of wind rushes past as the cooler air of the temple seeks that of Koris'ian; the increasingly excited howl of a tuk'ata is heard.

I open my eyes; the Portal remains steady.

"Shall we go."

Without waiting to see who follows, or in what order, I step forth into the Elseness, away from that which men term real.

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

Panthar wiped the sweat from his brow and looked around at the few remaining people. When he came to Thoran’s stern gaze, Panthar at first lowered his gaze, but then a small smile formed on his lips and he quickly followed through the portal.

Thoran exhaled slowly, then turned to Aeylmaar.

“Take care,” he said. “The Master is very good at creating a paradox. And with his new dark powers, who knows what else he can do. There’s something going on here that’s giving me chills.”

And with that, Thoran stiffened and walked through the portal, immediately seeking out Panthar’s location.

[ 04-25-2006 04:09 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Thoran ]

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Shayla had just been stepping through the portal behind Terrin Danner's two employees--if you could call them that now, anyway--but she was not far enough removed to not here Thoran's words before he began hurrying through the portal himself, nearly knocking her over.

She whirled to face him, unintimidated by his size.

"You're right, there is something going on here," she said sharply. "There is a body out there that the Master could throw Jharmeen's spirit into, and Phalomir doesn't seem the least bit worried. Don't come in here with all the answers in the Universe after you've walked the fence over and over again."

She paused a moment at that, calmly assessing him with her greeny-blue eyes. "There are two sides to every coin, Thoran. You don't like that Phalomir is being left behind--and frankly, neither do I. But then, where he is, he is safe. And the future of the Sith, as well as Jharmeen's, need him to be safe. And while you seem concerned for Phalomir...

...should we all maybe instead be concerned that you refuse to explain the reasons for the bodies....?"

[ 04-27-2006 10:23 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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“I was trying to tell you something, actually,” he said, facing a wall. “But everyone is all action all of a sudden.”

He turned, looking for Panthar, who was staring at him intently. Thoran swallowed hard, then looked away to Shayla.

“I don’t know for sure what he intends to do with those bodies,” he said. “But I do know where they came from. You see, once he was inside the Darker Realms, as sort of a visiting professor, the Master spent a lot of energy learning about the relationship between dimensional space and time. He knows how the Sith came forward in time, and he used that knowledge to figure out a whole lot more. He learned how to look backward along the line of time, and in a limited way even how to follow it into the future. What was worse, he learned how to travel backwards, even sending things – and people – back. He’s messing it up, and it’s just going to get worse.”

Thoran inhaled deeply before continuing.

“He pulled those bodies from the future, at the points of their deaths. All I know is that they were pulled from different times. But I also know that he meant for Phal to be here at this time, too. It was a long, complicated plan, but it involved getting him situated as Dark Lord and then killing him. Well, that failed, and the Master devised a new plan. If at first you don’t succeed, and all…”

Thoran looked around at everyone.

“Don’t you see? He is trying to change the future to match what he sees as the ideal. I don’t know how this all works, but for all I know he could be spawning timelines and picking the best one to follow! He’s constantly changing direction, all geared towards reaching some perfect goal.”

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

Nothing.

"Only the weak or cowardly would force himself upon the lesser; state who you are and what it is you believe you can accomplish by hiding in this manner."

I stand quietly, preparing both mentally and emotionally to do whatever is necessary to protect myself and those with us, should the even arise.

As, indeed, I fear it shall.

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

Frowning, Shayla sensed outward...

...and was hit by something most peculiar. And somehow familiar at the same time.

Her frown darkened. "The Darker Realms..." she whispered, but not quite so low she couldn't be heard.

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“I am the Order Within Chaos,” Panthar stated. “I am the Madness Within Reason. I am here to protect you, of course. To aid you. Your quest holds more at stake than you know, my mortal friends, and I am here to see it through to a successful end. Have I not already rooted out the traitor in your midst? This vessel carries me by request, I only answer the call.”

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

I cannot help but narrow my eyes at the obvious deceit, however.

"You state nothing but lies," I state matter-of-factly as I shoot Thoran a glance, then cast another over the remainder of our party, warning them with my eyes not to do anything rash.

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"If you wished to protect us," she then started aloud. "Why would you hide and not be truthful? What is it you are would gain by our success?"

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Ah, how lovely. Can't go on a trip without having an unexpected hitch or two...

Although he would have liked to state as much, Jasyn knew from the look in the eyes of everyone else that he'd better hold his tongue and keep his wits...

...at least, as best as he could. Still, suddenly viewing Panthar as someone he thought he could actually get along with, Jasyn couldn't stay totally silent.

"Yeah, right. Like Panthar would actually willingly let some other entity hide inside him. Hell no."

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"Seems after what all you've been through, the last thing you'd have wanted is to lend your body to yet another mind, right Big Red?"

In for a credit, in for the crown. Knowing that by my words I couldn't help but have drawn attention to myself, I guess I'd just as well finish the bed I had made.

"Lambast him, your Lordship!" I finished, the words meant for Aelvedaar even though my eyes never left Panthar's.

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...so I know he has to be trying to fight back. There must be something we can do to help him."

[ 05-07-2006 09:22 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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“There is more to existence than that which you see, more to living than what you have experienced. Your very existence is at risk, and you do not even know it. You struggle with yourselves, you spit in the face of prosperity, and you do not accept a hand from your superiors even when it is offered freely. Were it not for our own perils, I would leave you mortals to rot. But we are unfortunately tied together, our fates are joined. Allow me to aid you, you thankless organism, then you may go back to killing one another.”

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"Look!" I spat, too exasperated by these continuing and obviously delaying mysteries to register fear any longer.

"I don't know who you are, or why we're supposed to be so kriffing entwined with you, but buddy, I think you've got your lines crossed!"

I took another step forward toward Panthar, a larger step, and stopped perhaps a couple meters from him.

"We don't want your help; we don't need your help, and as far as we're concerned you can just high-tail it out of our friend and hit the road.

"Right guys?"

Crossing my arms, I glared up at Panthar's hulking Sith frame and held my ground.

[ 05-08-2006 04:16 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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You're a Force user, Shayla, some little voice within her prompted, Use your gifts. Your true potential...

The vague image of a Sith, the sorceror's clan tatoo clearly visible, crossed Shayla's mind.

You can do something here, Shayla.

So, seeing her opportunity, Shayla reached out with the Force, stretched out and into Panthar's mind...

...and easily found that little part of his brain that controlled his waking state...

...a rather simple feat for a natural healer, actually. And before even the blink of an eye could pass, Shayla niggled that small portion of his brain, turning it "off," so to speak, and causing Panthar's body to fall limply to the ground in a sleeping trace...

...and therefore rendering the body completely useless as a vessel for the entity lurking within.

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

"What's wrong with him? Shayla, you're a Healer; do something, can't you? Did whatever it is that's in him kill him or something?"

I turned back to Panthar, who was still in a bedraggled heap upon the ground. Seeing that he hadn't moved a muscle I broke free from Terrin and knelt on the ground beside him.

"What's wrong with him?" I repeated as I reached out a hand and laid it carefully upon his form, ready to spring back at the slightest motion on his part.

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

Shayla paused, looking towards Panthar's form. "Be truthful, and show yourself as you truly are," she spoke in his direction, the words clearly for the thing within. "There is no need for hiding and tormenting the spirit of this man any longer."

[ 05-08-2006 09:33 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Now I let the nod express itself, and close my eyes briefly. Reaching out with my own not inconsiderable talents, I clearly feel the seething anger of Panthar's mysterious possessor.

"Indeed," I agree with Shayla.

"Enough of such cowardice. Come out of the body you have taken; explain yourself to us, and pray cease with your tiresome riddles and innuendoes, if indeed you have the ability within you to do so."

[ 05-08-2006 09:24 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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Before he was really consciously aware of what he was doing, Terrin stepped forward, kneeled down behind Galen, and gently pulled her back, if only a little bit. "Be careful, please," he whispered quietly in her ear, hoping she understood the meaning behind his words.

[ 05-08-2006 09:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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Then the hidden meaning behind Terrin's interjection hit home, and I leapt back like a scalded sandcat. Once again I careened into Terrin, this time nearly sending the pair of us to the ground.

"You-- you don't suppose it could have gotten into me?!" I garbled disgustedly. Grimacing, I began brushing off my body parts as if by doing so I could completely eliminate the taint that had come without invitation into our midst.

[ 05-08-2006 09:38 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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Then he shot a look towards the Dark Lord of the Sorceror's clan. "Lord Aelvedaar?" he queried simply, feeling no need to say anything further to convey his true inquiry.

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

"She is clean," I announce as I then pull away and direct my full attention back to the silent form upon the ground.

"I detect no darkness within her."

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The tuk’ata whined at the foot of the Temple, watching the group before it in the near distance. It rose to its feet when Panthar fell to the ground, but steadied itself.

Hearing him now… Calling me, he is. Fighting darkness he tries, but too weak. I hear, I know right he is. One way, one way.

The tuk’ata walked slowly towards the group, its steps light and sad. Everyone was still focused on Panthar’s body, and did not notice the beast in its approach until it was only a few meters away. It lowered its head and front legs, and whimpered. Galen took notice and looked at it, her own eyes reflecting the sadness that it emanated.

Know I, hearing him, knowing he right is. Darkness leave him never, never. Only one way, only one way…

With one more whine, which turned instantly into a snarl, the beast leapt. Clearing the distance in one bound, it caught Panthar by the throat and dug its fangs into his flesh. Panthar’s eyes snapped open, black as coal, but wide in shock and panic. His arms flailed as blood poured from his neck, flowing freely around the mouth of the tuk’ata. The color began to drain from Panthar’s red skin, and in a flicker of a moment the wound on his hand opened and a viscous tendril of black oily liquid shot from it and onto the ground.

The tuk’ata released Panthar and backed away quickly. The blood spurted from Panthar’s opened neck in a steady rhythm, and the beast let out a mournful cry. Panthar remained motionless as the ground around him turned violet.

Thus it is written, and thus has it always been so. Even now in this moment of danger the faithful shows why he is indeed chosen of the Sith, and why for that faithfulness he deserves the highest honor I can bestow.

"Healer, attend!" I cry aloud as, spying the pooling oil beginning to reach questing tendrils out, I flash one clawed hand in the direction of the tuk'ata, sending him flashing back hundreds of meters in but a moment. Our straits would be dire indeed if the thing managed to inhabit a body so fierce and strong.

It turns questing tendrils elsewhere... in our direction. I remain wary, unable to banish it to the Elseness for already are we there. Likewise, a chronotic shield will not work in this timeless place.

But normal Sith magicks do.

My outstretched hand reaches in the direction of the oily pool, taking hold of the very molecules of the air and crystallizing them about its foul presence. I do not know how long this can hold the thing; at least long enough for me to cast an eye toward the fallen Panthar.

He lies still upon the ground, his skin paling to a sickly mauve, streaked with deep amber.

"Shayla, your aid!" I cry out once again, even though only the barest of seconds have passed between that cry and the tuk'ata's surprising attack. I am unwilling to lend the full healing strengths which I myself possess, for this strength must be hoarded in preparation for the Thing's assured retaliation.

But I can send a minute portion to Panthar, enough to staunch the flow of blood pouring from his neck.

In this manner I stand, otherwise fully focused on the encapsulated blackness, knowing our comrade will be in good hands. Whether those hands prove skillful enough to save his life, however, only time will tell.

[ 05-10-2006 12:42 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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She'd seen one person die due to the wounds brought on by such a powerful beast...

...she did not wish to see another die.

Closing her eyes, she placed her hand directly on the wound, channeled every lick of strength and force energy into the already existing healing trance she had begun in Panthar's mind and body. Likewise did she stretch out into his psyche to search for that which was "Panthar." She quested for quite some time...

...but then she found something deeply rooted and ver much familiar. And she found that the spirit buried deep within was yet fighting.

She channeled all the strength she could directly to him...

...and took a brief moment to divert her attention marginally to speak to the others. "Galen, Erik, he needs your strength too," she whispered, now turning her attentions fully to Panthar once more. And she barely sensed that her brother--a healer as well--had already come to her aid.

Panthar could make it through this, Shayla thought deeply inside. She could just feel it...

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