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.

[ 10-04-2002 01:25 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

"I wish to go home," she whispered, then fell silent, letting her hands fall loosely into her lap. Her face fell down, her hair tumbling to hide her features as she appeared to be quietly studying her fingers, every so often letting out with an involuntary sob or a soft little hiccup.

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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.

[ 10-04-2002 01:50 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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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:

"...whelp."

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Then, he spoke up, and addressed ShaRhylla..."Are you able to walk?"

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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.

[ 10-04-2002 02:10 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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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.

By anyone.

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"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...

[ 10-04-2002 02:29 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Loban ]

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"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.

[ 10-04-2002 02:30 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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Lo-Ban then started to walk toward the outskirts of city,"No need to run, and catch attention to ourselves... tell me, is there room for another force user, in your quest..." He then quieted, and looked towards his path, waiting for ShaRhylla to reply...

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"Shayla, do you remember me? Do you know where the others are? If they are alive?"

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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...

[ 10-04-2002 11:20 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Mara1Jade ]

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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.

If she was in the Temple, he was going to at least be close by if needed...

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

...mess...?

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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."

At that he headed off, leaving Shayla behind, wondering just where this next little incident might take them.

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"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...."

She then stepped gracefully out, drawing her husband with her by the hand. "Come my dear Recinis, let us go now to my Adept that she may tell us all of what has happened, and that we might then come to the correct solution regarding this latest dilemma now rising before us."

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

At length she met with Graysith and Lord Recinis, and she lowered her head respectfully to them both. She went directly to what had happened. "Lo-Ban brought your daughter to me, believing she was injured. She talked of home, of wanting to be there; I honestly believe she is feeling betrayed by her father, although I could be wrong. I am unsure what she intends, but I'm almost certain Loban believes he can help her get out of the Prinn'chatka shield," Shayla ended, waiting to see what would be made of this.

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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.

At last he interjected. "So then what do we plan to do about this?" he asked, a sudden and quite natural worry beginning to niggle in the corners of his mind.

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"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.

[ 10-04-2002 02:13 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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"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.

he knew not where they would go, but in no time at all, he would be upon them... And when that happened, roan would be destroyed... The burning passion within his eyes assured that that was so, no room was thier in that gaze for other opinions.

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"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."

Thea dropped her eyes knowing how hagrid she looked, her Praxeum clothes were torn and stained and her hair had fallen loose in a massive mess of knots and tangles. Her face was smugged and filthy, and she was covered in bruises and cuts. She hoped the Jedi wouldn't find that to be a reflection on her work at the Praxeum, somehow she was sure he wouldn't. After all he was a Jedi.

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"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.

"And, in the meantime," he said, realizing how she felt about her torn and tattered clothing and dirty hair, "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..."

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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.

turning suddenly he sprinted back to where he had left the others, a now saddened look within his eyes. "she has been taken, and young loban as well..."

Turning suddenly he took them within his now calm, and control wake, wrapping an arm about jharmeen once more, quietly moving to the meeting area where he knew he would find alevedaar, and perhaps all others that were not with him, This was indeed a grave sitiuation... For the shield was gone.

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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.

[ 10-04-2002 09:21 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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