"I need to speak to you. In private. Ten minutes. Your room. I'll be waiting.
The guard then turned at walked off, leaving Graysith alone.

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

"I don't like this," he whispered. "Something's going on here with your guards, and its starting to get under my skin. Maybe you and your guests should go to a more...secure place?"

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

The thought of the daughters being alone in their rooms while this unknown presence waded so effortlessly through her guards' minds gave her sudden pause, however. Her eyes widened, and she sensed out along the links she constantly maintained with them.

In her private chambers, emotions still roiling from her strange experience, ShaRhylla was awake. That beautiful halfling, in mere years so young but in experience ages beyond the lifespan of most mortals, immediately responded in turn.

"I shall be untouched, Mother." her voice oiled along the link back into Graysith's mind. "Fear not for my safety."

A smile flickered upon Graysith's lips as she received that telepathic statement, so much like ShaRhylla herself for its imperious self-assurance. She then turned her focus to JhinDarra, who had yet to reply.

Of course, Graysith reminded herself. She has yet to master her abilities.

Her eyes grew dark with import. "JhinDarra, return at once to the Dining Hall," she commanded her, then backed out of the young woman's mind when within it she sensed immediate obedience. She then turned to Salandaar, nodded to him that he make certain that Darra did indeed make it back without any untoward occurrences.

Then she turned back to Romanus.

"I have no fear for my own safety, but I agree with your assessment," she began. "There is something strange afoot within these walls, something which must be ascertained, and quickly. I find it disturbing how easily my best guards minds have been overwhelmed...

"...almost as disturbing as the fact that this power has not attempted to broach mine, nor yours, Romanus."

Her eyes darkened more as she waffled briefly as to her course of action. Something was pressing for her to follow that guard, for she sensed that the words he had spoken had not come from himself, born from any sudden knowledge as to this new and possible threat, but rather sprang forth from the mysterious entity who had implanted himself in his mind. She knew that to go speak with him would be to speak to the owner of a power cunning enough to turn heavily disciplined minds into mush... and she was curious to see who this was.

Not to mention what it was he wanted.

But she was not foolish. Though she knew the All would protect her, it would simply just not do to traipse along in the wake of this one who so casually attempted to command her.

And... to go to her room with him??? Intolerable.

She spoke up to Romanus once again.

"Go, find this guard and bring him back to me. No mere man commands the Chosen Daughter of the Sith, and none shall find himself alone with her in her chambers.

"I have faith in your abilities, Romanus," she finished, but to make certain that no mysterious personage would begin creeping about in his mind she suddenly reached out to him, her slender fingers finding the special ganglial points on his skull and temple as shown to her by Aelvedaar. His skin was hot beneath her cool touch; closing her eyes then, she let her head fall back a moment and released a tendril of herself into his brain. That tendril coiled around his conscious and unconscious, carefully avoiding making any personal contact with them but erecting a protective barrier about them.

Any attempt to muddle with his mind would only be channeled into her.

And easily dealt with.

"Go now," she nodded again. "I will discover who this is, and what it is he demands... but on my own terms and as I choose."

She then turned away from the bald-headed Dark One, and quite casually returned to the others still seated in front of the fire.

[ 06-21-2003 12:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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... familiar. Even so, Shayla couldn't pull up a thing in her memory banks to explain this, couldn't recall one instance where she might have met this woman at all. But it was then a more recent and unhindered memory surfaced, one explaining that she, Shayla Stargazer, had some sort of an association with a woman called Graysith...

...a woman who was named also as the missing Galen Danner's sister.

Was this her? Galen had red hair and was short of stature like this woman...

...she certainly could be Galen's sister.

Sister...

With effort, Shayla shook herself from her thoughts, her keen Force senses picking up no imminent danger...

...not from Jharmeen Qu'taro anyway. Shayla turned her eyes to the Ghost, this Panthar Dantares, cocking her head thoughtfully and regarding him for a moment before then looking to her husband. He was yet shooting a look which could kill in the stranger's direction, and though Shayla could understand his feelings after the man had so suddenly kissed her hand, she yet sent a somewhat warning look in Erik's direction. After all, they still didn't know all of the story.

As it was with other things here as well.

Turning her greeny-blue eyes then to the violet ones of Jharmeen Qu'taro, Shayla took up a small goblet of the Sith brandy, took a sip, then spoke, her voice even.

"My name is Shayla Stargazer Petrolu-Kartan," she started, "We have come in search of a woman by the name of Galen Danner, whom we have been told is your sister. We believe she crashed a ship on this planet, and..."

Her voice trailing then, Shayla's eyes defocused a bit as she again recalled her missing son, as well as her missing memories.

"...I come in search of some lost memories of my own, for someone has told me I have some sort of association with you and the term sister keeps popping up in my mind...

...and though to my knowledge I have never met you, something deep inside me trusts you immediately even so..."

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

"A sister-- I?" she finally replied, her eyes growing even wider and more guileless. She then turned away from the little group, passing a Sith serving girl with a tray full of goblets; one hand reached casually out in passing and removed a goblet without making a sound. The elegant metal gleamed richly in the firelight, creating an image of liquid fire held in her hand.

She strode up to the fireplace, and for a moment or two stared into the flames which danced and crackled there. Then she turned easily around, glanced at all seated before her, and finally spoke.

"Strange that you have found your way here, as we are rather remote, you know," she started. "But I find the purpose behind your visit here to be an even stranger one.

"Sister?" she repeated, and cocked her head to the side. Her long hair flamed down, her smoky cloak loosened to reveal her form-fitting practice doba beneath. Deep within the shadows of her person, something mystical glittered and gleamed. She shifted, the cloak loosening further, revealing a portion of that which glittered so: it was something metallic hanging upon her person.

She shot the group a smile that would diminish a star.

"Sister?" she repeated for a third time. "But-- you are mistaken, I'm afraid. I have no sister, I never have had a sister.

"And as far as the so-called holes in your memory, why my dear....

"I have never seen you before in my life."

With that she raised her goblet, and took a long draught of it, her eyes never leaving the greeny-blue pair they were pinned to.

[ 06-21-2003 02:10 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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That was too easy, a shoulder-demon spoke up.

Shrugging this off, Jasyn merely began walking once more with Kelderon and the others, now following the tracks of the Sith warriors. As they did so, it became increasingly obvious to Jasyn that there was simply no way they were going to continue walking unscathed even though they were trying, for as they began coming into what seemed to be a large city, it was also increasingly obvious that these horned creatures were all about...

...and that two human males and a Ch'iss were eventually going to stick out like a sore thumb. Even as Jasyn thought this, another group of the same sort of imposing Sith which they had managed to dodge earlier took particular interest in their party before everyone could all scurry to a hiding place...

...and began to approach, large weapons at their sides. "Better give in and let them take us where they will," Jasyn spoke up to Dash, "For if this Graysith is as powerful as Aaron said, I'd suspect she has a good amount of control here and they'd take us right to her..."

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

"I sensed that the lady Jharmeen would not meet with me in her own quarters. That is what I was expecting, so I came to meet you. I am also not going to attempt anything on your mind, as I know it would simply syphon to Graysith's, and I am not strong enough to take her on...."

A devilish smile crossed the man's features, the first sign of any emotion he had shown.

"...yet. I am sure you have questions for me. If you would be so kind as to escort me back to Lady Jharmeen, I will be more than happy to answer them for you."

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

“Are you sure this is right?” He thought. “I once knew a girl like this back on Agamar, met on one of my digs. Delusions of grandeur all the way, but HOT as you-know-what. It just took a little therapy from the love doctor to melt that little number.”

I sense that perhaps it is best if you make no such attempt in this case. This is not a ‘dig,’ this is an unfortunate meeting with the most powerful members of a powerful race. I must confess I do not understand the complete lack of respect that you and the others show to your masters. Do you not know these beings? Do you not recognize the capital worlds of the galaxy?

“Look, man. I’ve been to Coruscant,” thought Panthar. “This is definitely NOT Coruscant.”

I know no planet by that name. If you please, make an inquiry for me of the dark lady.

Panthar lifted his goblet and cleared his thoat.

“Excuse me again, miss Cootary, but I see my employer here is too taken by your beauty to explain more. The questions of Miss Shalya here are only part of the reason we arrived. I am Panthar Dantares. Perhaps you’ve heard of me? No? Ah, well. I am an archeologist of some fame, although most of my work has been done on the other side of the outer rim. Um, anyway, I’m here with these fine people to negotiate for rights to use your library for a short time, with an option to later contract for certain archeological digs if possible. I’m doing an important work on the life of one of the greatest Clan leaders your great people have known – Trelanicus?”

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

...and something deep within her, and not just necessarily on the mental level, echoed in resounding emptiness and loss.

Getting to her feet in a sudden yet smooth motion, Shayla tore her eyes from the violet ones still pinned to hers and paced a bit, her mind whirling.

This couldn't be right, it just couldn't...

...it wasn't...!

Gaining hold of herself, Shayla stopped pacing and again whirled, her greeny-blue eyes again only for that strangely familiar violet pair. And it was then that suddenly and quite oddly, one other word wafted into the forefront of her pscyhe as she continued to lose herself in those violet eyes.

Failed.

Knowing not where this came from or why, Shayla wavered for but a moment then firmed.

"I...I don't believe it," she finally spoke up at last. "I just can’t explain it...

...I know I know you somehow...”

Again she trailed, trying to pull up recent memories, searching for any explanation. Aaron Barnes sure seemed to believe Galen had a sister named Graysith. And though this woman didn’t identify herself as Graysith...

Galen. Galen Danner...

...Terrin Danner...

...Blood Oath...

“And was it not you, as I have been told, who took a Blood Oath with the late Terrin Danner to secure the safety of his wife, one Galen Jhin’Dar Danner...?”

[ 06-21-2003 03:00 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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She smiled, letting the puzzlement she was radiating now flood into her eyes.

"I'm afraid I have no answer for either of you," she began, suddenly placing her palm on the top of the goblet, utterly squelching the resonating tones that had been emanating from it. Moving with a casually easy grace, the cloak loosening yet further, she moved away from the fireplace and set that goblet down upon a small yet richly carved and gleaming incidental table. Then she turned to face the group once again.

"Terrin Danner? Trelanicus? These names are not familiar to me."

A pause... then she seemed to come to some unspoken decision within herself. Drawing herself up regally, she spread her arms wide, letting the cloak fully reveal her slender form and the ominously gleaming Tooth of Sslan upon her thrimm.

"I am the Lady Jharmeen Q'utaro, Dark Lady of the Warrior clan of the Sith," she began simply, her outspread arms taking in all about her yet somehow extending to encompass the entire planet without. "My late husband, the Dark Lord Recinis Q'utaro, would vouch for my words, but unfortunately death has taken him into the hands of S'slan and the Darker Realms. The new Dark Lord, Ankrist Roan, may be induced to join with us on the morrow and go into more explanation; this is not a certainty, however. He does come and go as he pleases."

She paused again, cocking her head to one side as she chewed thoughtfully on her lip.

"We have existed here peacefully in this remote sector of space for millennia, unhindered by the approach of any other race. This was our choice; this is our way. It is only recently that we have decided to come out from our shielding which has blanketed us from the rest of the galaxy..."

She trailed off, turning her eyes once more to Panthar.

"Perhaps what you have learned on your prior digs was not quite what you thought, gentle guest. Unless it was something one of our more reckless youngsters had placed in hiding on some remote world as a prank, somewhere along the corridors of time. It is difficult, after all, to know what every single Sith has done throughout the four millennia in which we have remained isolated here."

Now she returned to Shayla.

"Blood Oath?" she said, her tone softening and growing somewhat remote. Then she firmed. "I know nothing of having a Blood Oath with anyone by the name of Terrin Danner; the closest to such a thing is our Blood-Hunt. And if that were the case, he would by now be dead."

Coming to a momentary pause, she stepped forward until she came up in front of Shayla. There she stopped, looking her directly in the eye.

"I'm afraid you must have me confused with someone else."

She then glided smoothly to where Panthar Dantares sat, all interest and big eyes. She paused in front of him, and clasped her hands in front of herself, directly on top of the ominously gleaming Tooth.

"I find it interesting as well how you have come to know of our Library here," she said, the tiniest bit of darkness now creeping into her voice. She pinned his eyes with a steady stare, held it until there was no mistaking the undercurrents carried along within that look... then lifted her chin and summoned a serving girl.

Moments later, all found themselves handily provided with food and drink. The Chosen Daughter merely took up another goblet of shimmering green Sith brandy, and retired back to her post by the fireplace. The shadow of her slender frame cast by the dancing fires matched exactly the color of her eyes.

[ 06-21-2003 03:40 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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There is time for this later. Ask the rest!

“Oh, heck!” Panthar spoke. He rose from his seat, and picking up his goblet he strode casually to the fireplace where the dark lady stood. Aware of the guards lurking in the distance, he stopped well short of her and held his hands in front of him at waist height, trying with difficulty to glance no lower than the woman's face. “Um, sorry to trouble you once again. I really appreciate the hospitality you’ve shown all of us and hate to intrude even more.”

The Lady Jharmeen regarded Panthar with a look caught somewhere between the realms of irritation and amusement.

“But,” Panthar continued, “I am very curious about an inconsistency in my research thus far, and a simple answer from you could help clarify things greatly. I have a source that states Trelanicus began his rule in the year 17879, figuring on the S’slan Recompense calendar. I have no idea what that means, and without a point of reference then I’m going to have some trouble. Would you mind terribly telling me about how long ago would that be in standard years? I'd really really appreciate it!”

Panthar directed a broad smile to the Lady and drank deeply from his goblet.

[ 06-21-2003 04:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by patternghost ]

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"Perhaps you did not understand what I have just imparted to you, Mr. Dantares," she began in her musical voice. "Much of what you and Ms. Petrolu-Kartan have asked are questions concerning subjects utterly unknown to me, and therefore any further inquiries regarding them could only result in fruitless guesses and speculation on my part. It is quite obvious to me that the information leading you here to our home is faulty, if not downright fraudulent. There is no Trelanicus that I am aware of, at least not in the history of this planet; therefore the date you seek is irrelevant.

"I really think you are following ghosts, Mr. Dantares."

She trailed off yet again, and taking up her goblet took yet another sip.

[ 06-21-2003 04:51 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Panthar bowed his head slightly at the Dark Lady. “I hope that I am not, this has been a life-long work of mine and I had hoped this trip would bring it to fruition. But, yes, I will not trouble you with my questions anymore tonight. I shall hope to discuss these matters tomorrow with the Lord Roan, perhaps he has a better recollection of Sith history than one such as yourself.”

I do not believe that was polite. Perhaps tomorrow it is best for me to speak.

Panthar glanced briefly at the slender form of the Lady and turned to go back to his seat.

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

I know nothing of having a Blood Oath with anyone by the name of Terrin Danner; the closest to such a thing is our Blood-Hunt. And if that were the case, he would by now be dead...

She wavered once more, something deep within wagging an accusing finger.

He IS dead. You don't have a clue how, but he is. And once upon a time, you wished for that...

...didn't you...?

Struggling with herself, with great effort Shayla kept any tears at bay. But she couldn't help but utter one little line, so lost in her thoughts that she barely heard the words of Panthar.

"Terrin Danner is dead," she said softly, that proverbial accusing finger shaking at her once more, cause a great pain to throb deep within her heart.

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

"Perhaps Lord Roan will deign to answer all your questions...

"...and perhaps not. He does, as I have mentioned, come and go as he pleases, and he never has held much interest in the race of mere humans."

Her grin quirked even more darkly then, and she rose to go get another goblet of brandy. En route back to her customary position at the fireplace, she paused once more near Shayla.

"Please accept my regrets for the death of your Mr. Danner, Ms. Petrolu-Kartan. It is always painful to lose a loved one...."

With that she nodded once, then resumed her pose by the flickering fire, goblet raised daintily to her lips.

[ 06-21-2003 05:13 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Terrin wasn't a loved one. She hadn't even treated him as a friend...

...and she was beginning to feel utterly hopeless. If Galen Danner wasn't here, as Aaron Barnes seemed to believe, then where had she gone? And just who had planted the coordinates to this planet in the Hornett and been able to make Barnes believe all this stuff about Terrin and Galen's sister and the Blood Oath if it wasn't true?

Her eyes still full of confusion, Shayla turned to Jharmeen, giving in somewhat. "Perhaps Mr. Dantares is right in that we should leave our questions to tomorrow, when perhaps this Lord Roan can give us more answers."

She trailed for a moment then, her eyes defocusing a bit, and ending with, "I for one would like to know just who gave my source his information..."

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

Before he departed he regarded the Dark Lady standing near the fireplace. This was the most curious piece the puzzle, for he could fathom no explanation for her presence in the Temple, her authority, or the strange symbol on her head. She did not appear to be Sith. Perhaps this mysterious object she held in her cloak pertained to her status.

The Lady cocked her head slightly, and her gaze floated slowly in the direction of the doors. The Ghost could sense a power reaching out, searching, beckoning. He darted quickly through the door and into the corridor.

The Ghost floated through the long corridor to the room he had discovered earlier. Again he saw the statues, but dared not dwell upon them. Instead he looked over the many paintings, looking for captions, dates, anything that might give a clue. Finally he came across an unfamiliar portrait of a stout, red skinned individual with tell-tale Sith horns. The figure was dressed in lavish robes and held an enormous staff with a glowing crystal head.

The ghost read the caption. “S’Helaroos Inaugurates the New Eye of R’lous.” The date was not long after the coronation of Trelanicus. The Eye of R’lous was familiar.

The Ghost drifted to the next painting, hanging crooked on the wall. The painting showed a scene of epic proportions, of thousands of Sith gathered in a field. The caption read “The Weapons Clan Returns”. The Ghost had no idea what this meant, but looked for the date.

This cannot be. If this is true… I have been gone for at least… 500 years

The Ghost snapped his eyes open.

Hey! What the- I thought we had a deal!

The room swam, images curving in bright arrays and spinning through the Ghost’s vision. As blackness overtook the Ghost, he heard a strange voice call out.

Fear not, my liege! I will speak for you! The rancors of eternal carrots shall tremble their antennae before me!

Panthar dropped his goblet as he fell backwards to the floor, unconscious.

[ 06-21-2003 05:58 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by patternghost ]

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Before anyone could respond, she was beside her fallen guest. One hand reached out toward his face, and as it had with Romanus found the ganglial pressure points on his scalp and temples. She let something of herself open up, beginning to send forth a healing tendril into the man's limp body...

...when she was brought up short by a wavering image she found within... one red-skinned, fire-eyed, horned, radiating a quiet power...

Sith.

She yanked her hand back with a jerk, and rose to her feet. Someone else would awaken him in some other manner.

But not she.

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

"What is it, what has happened to him?" Shayla queried worriedly, now kneeling beside the man. Then she turned to Jharmeen once more. "I have healing talents, perhaps they will be of help," she stated, now turning to place her right hand lightly atop Panthar's forehead. Then, closing her eyes, Shayla stretched out into that vastness known as the Force, established a link to this one Panthar Dantares, and began pouring healing energies into his very body.

[ 06-21-2003 06:16 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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“Lady making me feel alive!” he cried. “I am hoarding the wisest stalk of lemon for her in my will!”

Shayla gave Panthar a puzzled look. He rolled to his side and propped his head with his hand, looking into Shayla’s eyes.

“A greeny-blue ocean dances in your eyes. Never have I seen such a display of profound beauty in any living mortal! The Halls of R’lous resound with the echos of your sighs. My tongue is stilled with the endless longing of words to describe your gentle grace. I am left speechless in your presence, unable to find verse to expound the many feelings pouring from my heart!”

Panthar? What are you doing?

Nothing, I thought that was you.

By all that is sacred, we are in much difficulty….

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

...and something that seemed entirely wrong, and it was more than just the simple fact that they had been lead here to something that didn't add up to what it was supposed to have been. There was something about this man...

"What right have you?" she whispered in his direction, not so much as moving an inch out of Erik's grasp...

...which tighted in support...

...and perhaps something else...

...even as she spoke.

[ 06-21-2003 06:41 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

Aproaching K'eel Doba I put the Ship down Far as I could get from civilazation and grabbed one of Ruhatt's spare blasters just in case i needed it. I grabbed his comm. and put in Dash's frequency and spoke into the comm.

"Dash, do you hear me? Its Jebbua. I'm here on K'eel Doba, i'm going to lock on to your signal, but first answer me." I said.

I put the blaster in my holster and waited for a reply.

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

Her dark musings were interrupted as the double doors into the Dining Hall opened, spilling forth the strongly striding Salandaar, a somewhat mystified-looking JhinDarra in tow. Graysith lifted her focus from the still simpering form of Dantares, and gazed instead directly into Salandaar's eyes.

She nodded once toward Dantares.

Salandaar nodded his head in turn, his eyes closed in acknowledgement. Then he moved serenely to where the man lay still trying to make goo-goo eyes up at the startled Shayla Petrolu-Kartan and came to a halt, towering over him like a miniature mountain, one hand firmly upon the hilt of his sword.

Behind him, Darra's blue eyes only widened in surprise and confusion.

[ 06-21-2003 06:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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“Greetings, oh large one,” Panthar purred. “Are you in heat? I am trained in the many ways of repairing sub-light drives, perhaps a tooth extraction will make your face look better? May I get you a fruit? Why did you kill Trelanicus?”

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

All she knew was that someone was in terrible pain, terrible, terrible agony.

She grimaced, tears flooding her eyes and gripped her head. She twisted and coiled her flaming locks in her fingers.

"Mother, it hurts!!" she suddenly cried out, unable to remain silent any longer. A steady flow of tears now streamed down her cheeks... and then she suddenly realized where those waves of agony were emanating from.

It was the strangely grinning man laying on the floor....

[ 06-21-2003 07:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by JhinDarra ]

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