But in the meantime, we can rig that signal from the spaceport so we can piggy-back some messages on it. Something tells me we might be needing it.

Jasyn?"

The crewman, who had been silent up until this point, goaned in response instead of simply asking what Terrin needed, clearly still experiencing the effects of a hangover.

Terrin just rolled his eyes. "We need your technological wizardy, my friend.

Jasyn merely nodded, and Terrin wasn't sure if he was indicating understanding or trying to clear brain fog. Either way, the assignment stood.

"Let's get going with this while we are still waiting..."

[ 08-17-2002 10:03 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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

Suddenly recinis motion stoped, and his eyes snapped open from there trance, his head clear, filled with only that which he needed.
he quickly returned to the temple, and approached those sitting about discussing plans, he noted that now Terrin was leading the plannign, and that shayla had gone not of yet returned. sitting down he looked about and sighed.

"I am slightly curious, as to who among us will be able to do battle with roan, after all, we can not expect him to return graysith without trying to stop us..."

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

Lo-Ban didn't know if this was the best time to introduce himself, but... Lo-Ban wanted to do something, something to help... He then approached Terrin...

Then, turning from Recinis, Terrin became aware of the words the young Loban was speaking to him. He sent a bemused grin at the young man, all the while keenly aware of the somewhat-unstable Jasyn, who was heading for the door to go to the spaceport.

Might as well make the kid feel useful...

"Think you can help with setting up to piggy-back our outgoing signal?" he asked, waiting to see what Loban would reply.

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

Terrin pointed in the direction Jasyn and Loban were heading. "Keep an eye on those two."

Matt nodded and headed off, and Terrin leaned back a bit, scanning the room at the remaining parties.

Himself, Erik, Shawn, Narcolm, and Recinis.

Now, if only Shayla would return...

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

"Wait," she said, causing everyone to turn and stop what they were doing, "I cannot find Lord Aelevadaar, and cannot retrieve the locator although I have tried. We need to go forth and try to get in contact with Lord Narcolm's source immediately, which will require my attention.

But, I must know," she said, turning to both Jasyn and Loban, "Is it possible for us to replicate the locator technology?"

[ 08-17-2002 11:32 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

I waste no time with preamble.

"I have found her," I say, quickly raising a hand to still their outcries and comments. "But the All is not only a beautiful Mistress, it is a commanding one as well.

"Intentions for the Greater Good must always... always ...be maintained, no matter the cost. And in this the All demands perfect balance to be used."

Now I pause momentarily, fighting with myself a short while, not willing to say the words I know I must speak, knowing the full import which they carry upon their backs.

"I cannot retrieve her," I whisper in a voice which crashed upon them to echo in the suddenly pregnant silence.

"I can only replace her."

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

Not intending to be impertinent in any form or fashion, Shayla still couldn't stop the one word which escaped from her lips. "No."

Like a rising and falling tidal wave, her innermost emotions shifted back and forth from anger to sorrow, falling in tandem with the thoughts which clouded her minds eye.

She wasn't willing to give up. She WAS willing to do whatever it took...

...Dark Lord Roan had done this to Graysith. To the Sith. Damn Him. Damn Him to Hell...

...they couldn't let this defeat them. They couldn't let HIM defeat them...

...and they couldn't risk...

Shayla paused at the thought which now began to upwell inside of her as a sudden realization snapped in place.

Why would Dark Lord Roan want to capture Graysith while leaving everyone else to scurry about and look for her? What did He wish to accomplish?

Well, what had he been intending to do all along?

The answer had been well known. He was going to create a Sith Empire of His own. Which meant...

...which meant...

Shayla shuddered at the very horror of the thought.

Roan thought Galen was dead. Or at least useless to His cause. So therefore, his initial plan to use Galen as "breeding stock" had been foiled. But he already had one child with Graysith...

...why not remove her from the wonders of the All and then try for yet another? And perhaps he even thought that he could sway Graysith to his side...

Shayla gasped at the conclusion rising inside of her, oblivious to anyone else in the room. Her eyes locked on Aelvedaar's molten pair, sensing that he was aware of her every thought.

She began to shake her head from side to side, and that one word escaped her yet another time. "No..."

[ 08-18-2002 04:01 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Mara1Jade ]

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

I draw back from her mind, once more looking about the assembled company. Then, as if to underscore my former revelation to them, I speak up once more, quietly and succinctly.

"I cannot retrieve her, only replace her," I reiterate, the words falling like a death knell of a funerary bell. "And this must be done through the sorceries of the Sith, and not by use of the All. For she is indeed within a ship of the Yuuzhan Vong, where Force-sense is eradicated, and the wonders of the All strangely impacted."

I pause, unwilling to bring forth additional words which in reality have only sprung into being from nothing but conjecture... and the firm knowledge I have of my erstwhile "brother." My jaw works, anguish welling up that I cannot send myself to take her place.

"I estimate that at their current velocity they will gain the outskirts of our galaxy in about ten years...."

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

...And if Graysith couldn't be found and retrieved with the All...

...Perhaps...

Freedon Naad and the Book of Ages. They might not be able to find Graysith, but at some point, quite logically before ten years if all she and Aelvedaar feared was correct, Roan would have her brought to him, if only for a time so that certain...things could occur.

Maybe they couldn't retrieve Graysith just yet. But they could most certainly find Roan with the Book.

And Shayla knew within her heart of hearts Roan simply had to be stopped before his ally reached the fringes of the Galaxy, or else he might arrive with the other child needed to complete a Sith triad already born.

"If we leave her to his devices we could quite possibly already be defeated," Shayla whsipered. Then, "Lord Narcolm tells us of a Sith Sorceror he has contact with by the name of Freedon Naad, who has something at his disposal known as the Book of Ages. Our conclusion was to return to Khar Delba to retrieve a medallion from the dead Naber K'oth which would allow us to contact Naad and retrieve the whereabouts of Dark Lord Roan...should Naad be willing to assist."

At this Shayla quieted, clearly still not willing to give up, waiting to see what else might be said.

[ 08-18-2002 04:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

Another sigh wrenches from my very soul, and I bring my face more closely into their midst.

"You do not understand, I fear," I drag the words out from the very deepest wellsprings of despair. "Sith sorceries cannot retrieve her... for she desires we do not do this.

"She would not bring harm to us by being the bait to draw us out to do battle properly; the only means by which I can bypass this reluctance to be saved is by replacing her with another. The All will not let me; it impedes even my full use of magick in this.

"She does not know we have found her... and by her very last thoughts she unknowingly blocks our completely successful rescue of her... and we do not have much time."

I pull back, then briefly drop my eyes before finding the strength to utter the last words that I must, words not meant to persuade but to inform, so all cards will be placed upon this particular table.

"Even now she is devising ways of ending her own life...."

[ 08-18-2002 05:18 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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

This meant there was only one thing she could do, and that was to trust that which Aelvedaar had decided upon.

Shayla pinned him with blue-green eyes that blazed with determination. Around the table, others watched the exchange like some sort of death-match, waiting breathlessly to see what would happen next. "How?" Shayla asked quietly at last. Then, "And...who...?"

[ 08-18-2002 05:32 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

My eyes tunnel into her own.

"Who is the one, you have the effrontery to dare to even wonder--?" I whisper, that one single word crescendoing in my being until I can hear no protests or explanations she may have been trying to utter. It crashes head-long into my instinctive willingness to send myself in the stead of my love... and immediately recoils with a quiet little whimper.

"I would have thought that you would have been the first to make offer of yourself!"

I now begin to fling her from me as though tainted by the mere touch of her flesh against mine... when I pause, my eyes narrowing to scrutinize her thoughtfully. My claws tighten their hold on her, as with the other I make a motion warning the others not to move so much as an inch in their seats. I draw her face even more closely to mine, melding my soul with her own, not liking what I see therein.

"You do not deserve that which She has so openly allowed you to learn."

And with no more preamble I close my eyes, reaching now into her very being with my talents, slashing into her mind to seek out every little neuron, every storage place within the tissues there where she has placed all her learnings of the wonderful power I so clearly can see her misusing. She has no time to raise a barrier before my onslaught; indeed, it would do her no good if she could. The motion a repetition of how my love once stripped her of her very emotions, I now strip her of all knowledge she ever held of the All...

...and place within her a block against ever learning of it again.

A great sigh heaves from me, and I let her drop loosely from my grasp. Then I turn about to see if anyone else has anything to offer us...

...to offer me...

...or if indeed we shall have lost the Chosen Daughter of the Sith forever.

[ 08-18-2002 10:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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

...something.

The words and events were still there, but some understanding somewhere was missing.

Something was gone.

But what?

Shayla frowned and shuddered.

Her. She was missing. The one she knew as sister. Something was being discussed to retrieve her...

...everything was so muddled...

...where was she...? How could she be helped?

Ah yes, she was in Vong space or something.

...How on earth could they get her from Vong space...?

Her Sister. The only Sister she had ever known. The only Sibling she had ever truly known...

...as opposed to OTHERS.

And how was it again that she had become a Sister?

Stripped of the one thing which would secure understanding, all Shayla understood was that Graysith was gone. Her Sister was gone. The one whom she Loved more than even her own Blood-sibling was gone.

But what was it that this Man now said he could do to save her? Who exactly was he again?

What exactly was it that her Sister was so important for? Chosen Daughter of the Sith, was it...?

Shayla firmed, trying to get a grip on the confusion.

But the confusion didn't matter! Her Sister was gone, in danger!

Though fragments of her mind were clearly missing and inaccessible, Shayla knew for certain her words had been misunderstood.

But what was it that had been misunderstood exactly?

Shayla shuddered again, tormented by the utter confusion.

Why was everyone staring?

Ah yes. He had...done...something...?

With sudden nerves of steel, Shayla again stood, willing to lay her life on the line to get her point across. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew this..."The One whom I hold as a Sister closest to me has been taken! I don't know what has happened exactly and I'm clearly confused but...

...I know that I have been misunderstood. I love her dearly...and would do whatever would be required of me to assist her..."

Suddenly overcome by sorrow that she had somehow been able to hold at bay until this point, Shayla fell back into her seat and held her head in her hands, wracking sobs overtook her.

[ 08-18-2002 10:23 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

"The words must be spoken aloud, if they are to be spoken at all," I say in apparent non sequiteur. Then I fall silent once more, beating back my own inner Beast, and pray to all the gods that if something finally is attempted here it won't be too late.

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

The words? What words?

What was it they were going to do for Graysith again?

...something about taking her place...

...or something like that...?

Yes, that it was.

Shayla again rose her head, still keenly aware of the confusion, horror, and shock on everyone's faces.

She didn't know exactly how but somehow she knew that she had erred.

She would not be the weak link when it came to saving her Sister.

But someone must somehow take her place...

Shayla's greeny-blue eyes locked on to Aelvedaar's firey molten pair. She gave a little shudder, then firmed, and answered in an even tone.

"She is my sister. I will take her place."

[ 08-18-2002 10:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

"you say that the 'Greater good' prevents you from taking action...that the 'all' and graysiths own wishes prevent you from using your full power to retrieve her...this is understandable... BUT" he said the last word, picking up his sword, and returning it slowly to its sheath. "If you should choose another...graysith's place in the univers also fades...then likewise her place in this 'greater good' of yours fades away. while i do not know all the details behind your words, i can say, that if you can reach into the future, as you must have done in order to spark the power of the 'all' within graysith in the first place, then you can likewise either reach into the path and retrieve her yet again... or perhaps, Look to that which the 'greater good' can not see, graysith being left in there hands, whether she dies or lives, can only mean defeat for the sith. should she die, then all her knowledge passes, all that she contained ceases to be... With that, what provents roan from using her absense, to devestate the univers?" he then pauses, allowing all present to think of what he had said, continuing shortly he slowly came back to aelvedaar

"Should she live...that also means defeat...Roan would use her to create his own sith empire...or so i have heard...should this happen, where will we be? lost...defeated beyond beliefe. No matter what happens to us...she must live, and she must be with us. Graysith has chosen to die, but that can not be... Roan has forsaken our own access to her, but that likewise can not be, Should the 'greater good' truly be recognized, graysith must be returned to us-"

One thought then loomed in his head.

Graysith...if by some chance fate allows thoughts wings...here this...you must live...hold hope...

sighing he spoke again, hardly missing a beat "I know i am not the wisest of men, but hear me Aelvedaar, and understand, that there is no other way, perhaps i am mistaken, but, should you truly serve the 'greater good' you can find a way to save her."

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

Then, she turned back to the horrifying red-skinned Sith Sorceror. Her words were even and steady. "I will take her place."

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

do i truly understand...or once again am i being foolish? i seem to be noticing my foolishness at every turn of late...

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

Now I sigh, opening my eyes to find them locked directly with those of Recinis.

"And you her protector would be...." I say in a voice barely above a whisper, but one that I feel shatters into this young Sith's very self-estimations. Then I rear back and gaze around the allies gathered together here. One hand raises to point directly at Shayla Stargazer Petrolu.

"By her own mouth, the words have been said. Now I may proceed with the All."

With no further ado, I straighten up, and give all present one last meaningful, and sorrowful, look. Then, indicating she follow along, I turn and retrace my steps back to my quarters hidden so deeply in the bowels of this Temple.

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

...Shayla was certain it was something so very important. Something to do with the revival of the Sith, was it?

Very well then. To save her life, this is what Shayla would do.

She turned and followed the Sith Lord, willing herself not to look back, her heels hitting the floor with the knell of sudden assurety...

...and finality.

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

But now, as Fate loomed like a shadow, he suddenly understood his sister was about to take the place of Graysith aboard that Vong vessel.

As if in the same mind, he and Erik shot up at the same time. But Shawn placed a hand on Erik's arm, sending him a look and a thought.

Shayla will need you here. I...am her brother. I have misunderstood her time and time again, even to the point that she does not know how much I dearly love her.

I will do this, for the good of you all. Trust me.

With that, Shawn ran after Shayla and Aelvedaar. "Wait!" he said, drawing the attention of both the others, who whirled.

"I will go. My sister is needed here."

[ 08-19-2002 12:15 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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

"And in what way is this one so necessary, Jedi?" I query softly. "Your skills may be necessary here; there is more afoot in these dark hours than the threat of Lord Roan and his new companions.

"She has spoken the words, my young friend. And for the life of the Chosen One. I believe this is not the case with yours."

With that I turn my back, and continue the way to my sanctum sanctorum.

[ 08-19-2002 12:25 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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