He raised his eyes to Graysith's.

Graysith smiled.

"This is not how we treat our guests here, Salandaar," she said easily, now reaching a hand down in offerring to the man who yet lay on the floor. Beside her, Salandaar growled deep in his throat, but obediently sheathed his sword. He did not, however, budge from the position the Chosen Daughter had commanded he take, but remained standing next to Panthar, watching him carefully and ready to defend his Lady at the least provocation.

"Come, Mr. Dantares," Graysith's voice broke the awkward moment. "Let me assist you to your feet. Perhaps you would like some more brandy...."

[ 06-21-2003 07:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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“I am the conqueror of worms,” came a thought reply. “I am the squire to my liege! Do you not know your Thoran?”

Thoran? I know you? Yes, I know you! Sweet Thoran, you stood by my side when the… the… when what?

“When the bastard child of the Warriors sent his devils to kill you and your father, my liege. Many flowers bravely fought but perished in groveling gravey.”

Thoran, I need you to do something for me. It is very important. I am recovered now, I need you to let me assume control.

“But liege, there is a woman of fire and sweet sugar candy who may beguile you! And a fierce devil of the bastard son waiting to create much havoc upon your collar!”

Yes, I know, Thoran. That is why I need to assume control. I must speak.

After a pause, Thoran thought once again. “Very well, my liege. I will hide in the corner like a pulsating petal of the cat. Call upon me when you need more aid.”

The Ghost saw the Dark Lady extending a gentle hand. His eyes narrowed, the strange sense he encountered at the door once again prevailing around the Lady.

“No, please, milady,” he said. “I must again beg forgiveness. The brandy seems to have caused a very odd reaction to my system. It has been yea-- I have never tasted such a concoction and humbly ask to not be served another, lest I cause even more embarrassment to myself and my companions.”

He slowly stood, bowing his head to the Lady. He turned his slightly to the giant warrior standing nearby.

“And to you, also,” said The Ghost. “I apologize for the disrespect I have shown you. Never shall it happen again. I know well the anger you feel and ask for a chance to redeem myself.”

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

The Lady Jharmeen was helping a man to his feet, with many other people close by. All strangers, none he was interested in, except, perhaps, as tools.

The guard noticed that Graysith's child was in the room, standing near to her mother. The controlled guard approached the Lady Jharmeen and her daughter. Her child.....Daughter of the Chosen Daughter. She could be the most useful tool of all.

As though Graysith could sense this unspoken threat to her daughter, her head snapped up, and she spotted the guard. Confusion filled her eyes for a split second, then was replaced by cool recognition. The guard walked right up to Graysith, speaking in that same, strange voice.

"Lady Jharmeen, I must speak with you soon. I know now is not the best time for you, but it is the only time I have. You may be unaccustomed to taking orders, but you will obey me now. You will speak with me, and you will use nothing of your All powers of any kind while we are speaking. If this demand does not persuade you....."

The controlled guard paused, looking down at the child standing near Graysith, staring at him with the same coldness of her mother, albeit with noticably more fear. Slowly, the guard lowered a hand, and placed it on her head.

"......then we will see how it would sway you, hearing it out of your own daughter's mouth."

The guard the brought his face up to meet Graysith's eyes. He saw the cold fury in them, and also the power. He grinned, awaiting Graysith's answer.

[ 06-21-2003 08:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by MindMaster ]

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...and his hands never left Shayla's shoulders. Instead he looked to Jharmeen. "Indeed, perhaps this one would benefit better from some rest..."

...and a good punch in the nose, a voice deep in the back of Erik Kartan's mind added.

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

"Oh, pfft," she snorted, quite easily reaching into his mind with her powers and tracking along the connection that had taken him until...

...until she found... it.

"Bother," she commented offhandedly, summoning forth her powers, heedless of who was present to witness the act. Indeed, while to those present she might look odd for her stance, they would not see the fruits of her labors, which were occurring somewhere else...

...where a strange and powerful being quite suddenly found the very essence of space and time about him begin to roil and seethe as a portal opened up. Before he could react, a gentle nudge from the Chosen Daughter shoved him through into the Elseness, that mysterious place where time is sideslipped from reality, and continues on for the observer in a forever Mobius loop of Now. Nothing but the use of the All would return him to the reality of the galaxy from which he was thrust.

Certain that this little dilemma was well taken care of, especially since the controlled guard was now falling abruptly to his knees in shock, Graysith nodded. The brilliantly flaring Glyph on her forehead slowly backed down the electromagnetic spectrum until it was once again a soft violet glow. Then she turned back to Panthar.

"Please excuse the interruption," she said smoothly, wiping her hands upon her cloak as if to eradicate the feel of dirt from them. She lifted a brilliant gaze to his face.

"You were saying?"

[ 06-21-2003 08:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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The Ghost turned his eyes towards Shayla and Erik. “And to you, both of you, I must also humbly beg forgiveness. Although the feelings conveyed were, I am sure, earnest, the manner was not excusable. There are certain business matters we must attend to before meeting with the Dark Lord, if you would permit me to continue in your employ.”

“Which brings me to one final request, Lady Jharmeen. My pack was understandably stripped of me upon our arrival. As your guards have surely ascertained by now, it contains no weapons, only travel necessities and items of my past research which bear great import to me. Should you find it in your wisdom to return it and its contents to me this evening, I would be most grateful.”

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

He had underestimated Graysith's powers, that was true. He never liked to admit a defeat, but she had certainly beaten him in this little encounter. Still, he was not completely defeated. Far from it. In fact, this could actually prove advantegous. This new space, this Elseness. He had thought, speculated it existed for some time. Now that Graysith had shown she could transport others into it, he could use it to his advantage.

Graysith. Her abilities were indeed amazing. All the more reason for him to covet them on his side, serving him. Salvaging this situation, though, could prove difficult. Summoning all his powers, the being spoke to Graysith, impossible as it seemed.

Very well done, my Lady. I begrudge this match to you.

I beg you forgive my...ah...eagerness before. I should have known that your powers controlled space and time. A fault on my part.

I realize it seems impossible for me to speak to you. Well, it is a complicated manner. If you wish, I shall explain it to you. First, though, I.....have a request.

I humbly ask that you come and make parley with me in this other space, this....Elseness. Do not think I am a fool for asking this, attempting to lead you into a poorly disguised trap. You clearly have the upper hand here. Bring anyone you will. I simply wish to speak, to explain myself. Perhaps we may actually reach an agreement.

Now you have heard my request. I wish it that you will give the matter some thought, at least, before discarding it entirely. We could be powerful allies, Graysith.

With that, the voice departed for the time being.

[ 06-21-2003 08:35 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by MindMaster ]

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"But of course, gentle guest," she said graciously, motioning toward Salandaar who immediately departed, a frown still creasing his fearsome features, to retrieve the man's appropriated pack.

"You must forgive me for keeping you up so late into the wee hours; I myself do not sleep much, and time does have a way of... carrying me off with it, upon occasion."

Now her brilliant eyes brightened further as Salandaar returned with the requested item held in his immense, clawed hand. After shooting his Lady a final disapproving look, he thrust it out toward Panthar as though it would bite him in that motion.

Graysith merely nodded, then turned to include Shayla and Erik in her following statement.

"Please follow Salandaar to your rooms. I trust you will find them not wanting in anything. Close to the beds you will find a bellpull; please use it if you need anything.

"And now, unless there is anything anyone needs further, I shall bid you all good-night and good sleep."

With that she bowed from the waist, then turned from them, one hand motioning Darra to come to her side. After ascertaining that there had been no harm come to her from the brief, if horrific, interruption, she sent her on her way as well.

Then she stood staring quietly into the flames, waiting for all to depart, that she could continue on with another task, one placed upon her so unexpectedly this night.

[ 06-21-2003 08:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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The being had no way of knowing wether or not Graysith would come. She was indeed, truly unpredictable. He had never incountered such an interesting being as her. Strong and stubborn, with powers immense. She was one of the few beings in the galaxy that he felt was worthy of his attention. They would indeed make powerful allies. But, for that to happen, everything had to go as planned, and that was not happening already.

Could he ever really control her? She was so strong, so vibrant and independant. It would take all his might to overcome a mind such as hers. Even so, it was possible, if not probable. For the time being, he was content to have her as an ally.

And so the being waited.

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

...well, full of holes. She wasn't even certain of who she was, or of just what she had been doing for such a long time. Everything was just gone...

...or at least mostly gone...

...and the only possible link to that missing information had now been declared false.

But was it...?

Jerking herself from this line of thought, Shayla looked towards Jharmeen though her back was now turned to them.

"Thank you for your kindness to us," Shayla spoke softly, only then moving to her husband's side to now join him in following Salandaar in leading them wherever he may.

[ 06-21-2003 09:15 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Finally silence descended upon the waning night of Phrinnchatka... and the Temple settled down into the cool solitude only the very first hours of the day can bring. Heaving a sigh, she waved a hand, almost dispiritedly, and opened a portal into the Elseness....

Stepping out into the non-ness of the ever-existing present, she shook her brief emotional low from her, girding herself with her formal fiery elan, and took a look about. That is to say, she sensed about... the Glyph leaping into brilliant life like a flaring supernova as she closed her eyes and reached out for...it.

And she found It... and her eyes darkened with terrible joy when she felt him acknowledging her presence. A new and different kind of smile curled upon her lips, and she awaited his approach.

[ 06-21-2003 09:20 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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He closed his eyes and called up a power, reaching out in a circle around him and then extending it until it reached the walls of the room and beyond. While power flowed through this entire building, The Ghost now felt sure there was nothing magical set in this room to keep watch upon him.

He opened his eyes and reached gently into his pack. Pleasantly surprised to find everything intact, he removed an item encased in a carbonite shell. He turned the dial on the control panel and the carbonite melted around the loaf of bread contained within. He broke the loaf open and softly scraped away the crumbs from the crystal object hidden in the bread.

He held it up to his face, looking closely for scratches or flaws, but the large crystal was pure and unscathed. When he first discovered the jewel lying inside a skeleton, he had no idea what it was or what power it contained. Had he known, the escape from the cave would have been greatly simplified. But it was not too late, and with much of his knowledge restored he smiled and caressed the crystal.

“The Eye of R’lous’”, he sighed.

The Ghost removed his shirt, exposing the lean, muscular frame of Panthar Dantares. The crystal now pulsated slightly, casting a soft red glow on The Ghost’s exposed skin. He gently moved the crystal to his lower abdomen, looked upwards, and thrust the crystal towards his body. It met no resistance and passed through the skin, sealing itself inside of The Ghost’s body.

The Ghost smiled, feeling power rush through him and meld with his spirit. “500 years or no, at long last, father,” he said softly, “I shall avenge you.”

He pointed a trembling finger at the door to his room, which in turn glowed a soft red briefly. Comfortable in his security, The Ghost repacked his belongings and retired to the bliss of sleep.

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

And yet something more comforting presented itself as Erik laid down beside her, his arms going about her as the lighting in the room strangely...

...dimmed to a warm blue glow to suit their mood and posture. Shayla turned in his arms to swim in his deep browns. For a moment she said nothing, then opened her mouth to say something, only to be stopped by Erik placing a finger on her lips. "We'll figure it out tomorrow," he said softly, knowing her concerns. Then he pulled her close and kissed her softly, and with that touch all those worries just seemed to melt completely away...

...and for the moment Shayla Stargazer Kartan allowed hersef to become lost completely in him.

[ 06-21-2003 10:01 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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"Jebbua, we are just outside a large city. We are going to give ourselves up. I'll do my best to hide the comm so you can follow the signal. Use great caution and stealth. We may need rescuing later. So be on your guard and don't get captured! Dash out."

There was movement in the foliage behind us. I stashed the comm unit in a very inconspicuous fold in my cloak.

A group of the Sith warriors surrounded us. I was shocked by the sight of them. So thi sis what a true Sith is supposed to look like. They don't look so evil. But looks can be deceiving!

I held my hands in front of my chest and opened my cloak. "I have no weapons. I am here seeking an audience with Graysith. Would you be so kind as to escort us there?"

After being disarmed, we were taken to what appeared to be a great temple in the middle of the large city. Large wooden double doors opened up into the main hall. Silk like tapestries decorated the walls with pictures of grand battles, and other more serene images. The stone work of the temple was old and well worn, but somehow managed to retain it's beauty and luster despite the obvious years of use.

We walked through several sets of large double doors. Some opened with the slightest touch, others took a little push from one of our escorts. We travelled in complete silence until we reached our destination. A large lounge area, furnished with ample seating, tables adorned every seating arrangement, so patrons could put up thier feet or sit doen thier exotic smelling beverages.

We were told to wait there. It was early morning, at least for persons using standard time. Who knew what time it was here. But by the apparent lack of patrons using this esttablishment, I figured it was sometime in the middle of the night on K'eel Doba.

One of our escorts ran off to fetch someone. We waited...

[ 06-22-2003 05:55 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dash Kelderon ]

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"I am looking for Graysith, along with my other friends as well. Can you take me to her?" I asked.

1 of the sith aproached me and took my blaster from me.

Yeah i guess i won't need that. I thought.

The lead me to a city and before i knew it Dash and the others were in front of me.

"You know, its kinda hard to sneak around here." I wispered to Dash.

"So, now what do we do?" I looked at Jasyn to see what he might have to say.

[ 06-22-2003 07:17 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jebbua Dahutt ]

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"The rest of the intruders have arrived, my captain," he said a bit breathlessly as he slid to a halt and saluted the aquamarine-eyed Sith. "They are being detained in the Dining Hall, as ordered." He finished his announcement by slapping a fisted hand across his chest and bowing, his eyes still turned up into Salandaar's.

"The timing of their arrival could have been better," Salandaar growled aloud, frowning. "Clearly your squad will need remedial training in reconnaissance and capture." He returned the salute, sending the lower-ranking warrior on his way, and turned himself to then head back to the Dining Hall.

Upon entering he found no one. But at the back wall a lone Sith stood at alert attention. Salandaar nodded to him in understanding, and headed toward the lounge. There he found them: Jasyn, Matt, Dash and Jebbua, all standing together like a herd of Drallian sheep.

He sighed a bit to himself as he approached them, casting a quickly appraising glance over them and nodding to see they had been disarmed. At least it seemed that way; he looked past them then to the remaining warriors who were standing in unobtrusive guard, and made a motion with one hand. They reacted instantly, coming up to the guests and initiating some serious patting down of their persons. While no more weapons were discovered, they did find a few communication devices. These they took as well, then returned to their former positions.

Salandaar nodded his approval, and finally spoke. His voice was a flat monotone, the words he spoke perhaps a bit on the terse side.

"You will remain here until called for," he said, now making a slight gesture to indicate the lounge. After all, he had not been given orders to see these people to more comfortable rooms, and he did not rise to his current position in life by basing his conclusions upon personal assumptions. This lounge had cushioned seating, some appetizers and much to drink to offer. That would suffice.

Syphon to Graysith's mind...what the hell did she do to me?

He felt it now, a small weakness he felt in the Force. It was being channeled somewhere else, connecting to something Romanus couldn't see...or understand.

Damn. Nothing I can do now but wait it out...

Rather than bother with the new guests here, Romanus walked down the hallway instead, deep in thought as to what to do next.

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

Now what WERE they going to do? If they were stuck here, then they ALL were going to be stuck here now...

...unless perhaps Shayla Stargazer and her friends pulled through and came in after...

"I guess we're just gonna have to wait, and pray these guys are the honorable creatures Aaron Barnes said they were."

Unless, of course, you want to try to make a dash for it in front of all these Sith guards...

"You have a better idea?" he queried then, falling silent and unable to stop himself from standing, wandering the bar, and getting a glass of some emerald green liquor before seating himself. Taking a swallow, he merely arched an eyebrow quizzically at Jebbua, and a little voice far in the back of his mind added a particular acknowledgement concerning his drink.

Damn, this stuff was good...

[ 06-23-2003 09:51 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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Greetings, my lady. I am pleased that you decided to come. We have much to discuss.

I believe I am correct in thinking that, after tonight's display, you have come to think of me as an enemy. One could hardly blame you for that. I was too sure in my own power, you see. It is a fault of mine.

I seriously underestimated you, Lady Jharmeen. Underestimated the powers of the All. I was foolhardy to think my power topped its might.

I sense you have many questions for me. Now, I am free to answer them, as I have abandoned all my other distractions. You may begin asking me any of your questions, and I will do my best to answer them.

[ 06-22-2003 06:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by MindMaster ]

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Thought which had hurried to clearly announce its position in the power heirarchy with her... and she didn't believe its attempt at disarming her for one minute.

She took a stance in her own mind as if she were on solid terra firma, hands on her hips, her head tossed back, the Glyph alight and eager on her brow. Letting her lip curl, she allowed a response to simply flow out from her, knowing this unknown thing would receive it.

"I find the machinations you have gone through strange, not to mention overplayed, to just give me leave to ask questions of you!" Although her physical body didn't move a centimeter, in her mind she gave her head a toss and snorted in disdain.

"I have no questions of you! Rather, I think-- it is you who have questions... no, a request of me!"

For a moment she maintained the haughty aura, then let it slacken the tiniest bit.

"Or perhaps a suggestion...." she finished and thought out no more, but held her powers snugly to herself and refused to think anything other than that.

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

Do you understand now, what I am? Do you have any questions for me now?

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

"Why are you bothering to tell me of this? If you are as powerful as you say, to take over minds so easily, why have you chosen to come to me with this revelation?"

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

What say you, Lady Jharmeen, Chosen daughter of the Sith?

[ 06-22-2003 08:16 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by MindMaster ]

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Now she fisted her corporeal fists, as well as the ones of the image of herself she was maintaining in her mind. Her lip curled into a sneer, but the overtones of her next quietly thought statement were honey-sweet.

"And just why exactly should I take on an... ally in order to achieve that which I am so clearly capable of achieving on my own?

"I need no such assistance from ghosts; it seems, rather, that you need me."

[ 06-22-2003 08:33 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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