"Maybe the Eye is somehow trying to point us to both the hidden Valley and the Canyon on Korriban, perhaps for entirely different reasons...

...or perhaps for two different reasons which are somehow intertwined. As Graysith has said, the movement could very well have been Galen...

...but it seems there is some sort of connection with Phalomir's father and the nothingness within the Canyon. Though neither place should be treated lightly to say the very least...

...and particularly the Dark Realm...

...I somehow feel there are answers we seek in both places."

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

"Well, if Galen is in that Canyon and there are answers there...

...then what the Hell are we waiting for? Don't get me wrong...

...I understand there are serious risks involved in all of this, but it's not like you all aren't somehow armed, if only by your unique...

... abilities."

At this he paused, his brows lowering a bit as a dark look briefly flitted across his features. "I'm a guy who likes to act when the opportunity presents itself; I think we'd better take this one soon, before it slips by..."

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

“The opportunity to visit a land of demons, to face evil in its home? We have no hard evidence, only speculation. It would be folly, an unnecessary risk, to look for ghosts at the beckoning of a device we do not fully trust…”

He thought of the dark lands, the twisting river of blackness… the terror he felt there. A terror he must face.

“When do we leave?”

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

“We shall strengthen ourselves, and then depart, if this is what all have decided. I feel it would be best to first travel to Korriban; if Galen is indeed there, she will be needing assistance as quickly as possible. And, since it was from there that the Valley was taken into the Darker Realms, it is likewise from there that we will find a doorway through which we all might enter together.”

She fell silent then, recalling the reaction of the Eye when she had used her powers in its presence, and winced.

“I’m afraid we might have to travel by more traditional methods.”

She then fell silent and upon her breakfast, pausing only once, fork in mid-air, to study those around her. Phalomir stood looking like a pod-racer about to depart, Shayla calm and supportive, while her son was doing his utmost to present nothing but outward calm in her direction.

But the look of astonishment she caught upon the faces of Matt and Jasyn….

“Please, gentlemen, a few moments more will make no difference, other than giving our bodies the nutrients they need for the travails which may yet lie ahead of us.”

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

...when he thought better of it as something she had just said collided with something in his memory banks. He let that index finger relax with the others, gave a sigh and sat back down, his look darkening.

"You mention travel in a more conventional manner," he started, "I'm certain you are already aware of it, but there is an Imperial blockade out there which may make such difficult..."

He trailed a moment, frowning to himself before he finished with, "...and they know what Matt and I are here for since we had to bargain with them to get past the blockade. I don't know what they're up to, but considering their rather generous assistance...

...I suspect they may be up to something. I'm sure it would be no difficulty for you, but I have to ask...

...can we evade them while on our travels til we can ascertain just what they are up to?"

He quieted at this, biting the corner of his lip. Then his brown eyes flicked to the brandy bottle still in Phalomir's hand. "With all that may be ahead, a little brandy couldn't hurt..."

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

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

"By traditional methods, I mean those traditional to the Sith, Mr. Lancaster," she said, setting down her fork to then lift her cup of by now cold caf in a salute to him.

"I do have not only Sith fighters but a warship at hand, and as the Dark Lady of the Warriors they stand ready to do my bidding at a moment's notice."

Her smile broadened, and she lifted her cup higher before suddenly setting it down. That smile still planted on her face, she got quickly to her feet and approached Phalomir.

Before the startled Lord knew what she was up to, she had taken the brandy from his hand. She then returned to Jasyn by way of the sideboard, where she took up a wineglass.

"Shall we then toast to the success of our endeavors, Mr. Lancaster?" she purred smoothly as after pouring him a hefty glassful, she raised that bottle to her lips and took a weighty swig herself.

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

"Yes, indeed, a toast is called for."

He finished the bottle and handed it to Jasyn. He smiled down to the Dark Lady, eyes twinkling.

"To all of our endeavors," he smiled. "Now I feel ready for the day."

[ 01-10-2004 12:11 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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...and the fact he had a full glass of Sith brandy only aided that feeling. He rose it high, something akin to eagerness planted on his features. "Kriffing hell," he blurted then, "I'll drink to that!"

Then he lowered the wineglass to his lips, taking a good swig of the liquor.

Damn, he thought to himself, This stuff is even better than I remembered...

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

"Damn," he said then aloud, breaking the silence, "That stuff sure is good...

...but now that that's said and done, I think it is really time we get going."

With nothing more than this, he got to his feet, brushing off any slight imbalance he might have due to his intake of alchol. He cocked a brow, nodding towards the Dining Hall entranceway. Something of a Han Solo-ish smirk graced his features. "I'd be happy to lead the way, but ahhh...

...I don't know exactly where to take us..."

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

“Then perhaps the Dark Lady should lead us,” he said softly. “Unless there is more need for discussion?”

Apparently everyone had had their fill of discussion. Jharmeen stepped forward and turned to face Phalomir, smirked, and called forth a warrior to make preparations for the warship’s departure. In a few moments the group found themselves on their way to the port

[ 01-11-2004 03:57 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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Standing up, he forced himself to the chamber doors, his fist beating against the door. Sliding his hands slowly back into his pockets, he drifted back, awaiting the entrance of the warriors.

"Hey, you two. I'm ready to go back to Jasyn," he said abruptly, his head motioning up to the taller specimen. At first, they didn't respond, they just stood there, emotionless. Then, as if they suddenly registered the words, stepped forth and escorted Za'in out the quarters and through elaborate, long corridors.

Finally stopping near the port, the group watched as Jasyn and the others drifted toward them. A twinkle came to Za'in's eyes as he watched them drift unknowingly toward them.

Quickly, Za'in stepped forth. A glare graced his eyes as they fell upon Jasyn, watching as he walked. Then, came a smile on Za'in's face as he reacquainted himself to Jasyn by softly elbowing him in the side.

Taking one quick gander at the others, who stood infront of the brown eyed man, he gave a small wave, though the pleasant smile on his face had faded away into oblivion.

"Hey, Jasyn, where are ya' going?"

[ 01-11-2004 04:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Za'in Almar ]

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“Stranger, you do not belong here,” she said, cutting each word off with a precise snip of her teeth. “There are matters of great import we must attend to; it would do you well to either remain behind, or depart to whence you have come. Either choice shall be up to you; we hold no prisoners within our city this night.

“Unless, of course, you should find a means – and quickly, I should think – to prove yourself useful to us. Mr. Lancaster, perhaps you might have something to say to this one before we depart. But do so quickly; I shall tarry no longer.”

With that she nodded to nearby warriors, letting them know that this silent young man was clearly not to accompany them further, watched a moment as then restrained him by iron-gloved hands upon his arms. Then she turned away and continued on, heading toward the fantastic Sith warship which loomed on the tarmac ahead, the others keeping an easy pace with her.

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

"Let me go, I'm going! I didn't come all this way to be left behind during the juicy parts," he called at the walking Graysith. Quickly, he pulled, his muscular arms finding a way to slide out of their grasp. The pull, however, was far too quick and drove him into an inbalance.

Falling forth, he banged against Jasyn and went bouncing against the wall. Managing, in his fall, to pull his hand out and hold Jasyn up he gave him a embarassed smile.

"Sorry," he whispered, "But I'm not going to stay back, no matter what, after all that crawling I did in the night."

Finishing that whisper, he stood up straight with the help of the wall, glaring at the back of Graysith. Taking his beams from her cloaked body, they came to shadow Jasyn. Trying to keep his voice calm and collective, he casually let his hands drift into his pockets.

"Tell her I'm coming, I can't handle being in that chamber."

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

Jasyn trailed a second, then continued, "...but then, it has always been your choice. This time, however, it is not your choice or mine or Matt's," he pointed out as he nodded his head in the direction of Graysith. "Believe me, it is in your best interests not to go along cause we don't know what the kriffing hell we may run into out there. And if you are going to be that uncomfortable staying here...

...then I believe the Dark Lady left the option open for you to leave. But there is no way in hell I'm going to demand that she allow you to come, not now that we're possibly so close to finding Galen. No way in Hell am I throwing away the opportunity at hand. So this is goodbye, friend, at least for now."

Jasyn fell totally silent at that, turning even as the Sith guards established a ring around Za'in Almar to prevent him from following further. Jasyn hurried to catch up with Graysith and the others. Still walking, Matt shot a quizzical green-eyed gaze towards Jasyn.

"Think he'll be here when we get back?" he asked.

Jasyn shrugged, slowing and allowing his buddy to board the Sith transport after the others had already boarded. "Who the Hell knows," he said with a shrug, then seating himself. "He's been given the option to walk away freely...

...but then he's been given that option before by us. We'll just have to see what he does...

...if and when we get back," Jasyn finished darkly as the transport came to a stop and they exited. Even as they hit the tarmac, the grand yet somehow difficult-to-look-upon Sith warship awaited them not far ahead.

And as Jasyn began walking towards it, behind the others yet with Matt not far behind him, he couldn't help but utter one final statement, one tainted with not only hope but worry and perhaps even a touch of dread. "Here we go again..."

[ 01-11-2004 10:53 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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“Stranger,” she called out, not even deigning to stop or send that call over her shoulder, yet knowing full well the young smuggler would easily pick up on it.

“Whether you travel with us remains up to you. You come secondary with Mr. Lancaster, an unknown to me, and do not bother to state who you are. Consider yourself lucky that I have given you the privileges that I have, and that you are not indeed held captive while we are gone.”

She paused a moment, then whirled. In the distance the defiant young man stood, once more in Sith hands. She stood calmly, crossing her hands in front of herself as she made a nodding gesture to Phalomir, that he would lead the others into the warship. Then she called out one final time to Za’in.

“Convince me, and quickly, as to why I should allow you to come with us at all, stranger,” she said, giving him a last and final benefit of the doubt simply for the fact that he had come to Phrinnchatka with Jasyn. For a minute she remained silent, pinning her gaze on him; then she turned from Za’in and continued toward the warship, noting that the others had already boarded her.

The gangway loomed mere meters ahead….

[ 01-11-2004 10:40 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Graysith drew in a deep breath and turned about to give Za’in a final chance.

“We are about to depart, stranger,” she stated clearly and perhaps a bit brusquely. “If you should deem to come with us, I need to know why…

“Why you have come here with Jasyn Lancaster, who you are, and most importantly, why you remain so stubbornly silent to my direct questions.”

Se fell silent then, letting a quiet look encompass the young Za’in, who was still in the hands of her warriors. As she leveled that look upon the little group, she took note of the rapid approach of another: Salandaar was hurrying toward her, and soon had come to her side.

“Where would you need me, my lady?” he asked with a polite bow.

Graysith smiled.

“I would need your eyes wherever this one decides to be, as long he is with the Sith,” she said softly, nodding once while she waited to see if Za’in would respond to her or not.

Now she lifted her chin and called out to him.

“Time grows short. What say you, stranger?”

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

...but then she could only sense the emotion and couldn't be entirely certain without prodding further than she felt was necessary at the moment. Her eyes then defocused a bit as she drifted into her own thoughts. Phalomir had spoken of Thoran...

...and he had spoken of his Father and another, bargaining for his life. An image of a Sith beckoning to her drifted into her mind's eye once more...

"The Sith who beckons to me in the vision I keep having, the one whom Thoran spoke of to me when he captured me..." she started rather randomly, "...I wonder if he is Thoran's mysterious Master or if he was merely a messenger of sorts. Cause if he is the Master...

...perhaps I may be able to identify him somehow..."

[ 01-12-2004 09:02 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Graysith, her temper beginning to grow short, crossed her arms. Behind her the Sith warship stood in greeny-gold splendor, its sheer presence felt against her back but not quite upon her retina.

I shall never understand how they built these… she mused briefly, uncrossing her arms and letting one slender hand reach out to caress the hull of the great ship. A shiver ran through her body at that touch; it felt strangely… alive beneath her fingers.

Quickly she withdrew her hand, and leveled a final gaze upon the young Za’in.

“So be it,” she said softly, giving Salandaar a nod. Then she whirled and disappeared inside the ship, where she cycled the hatch closed and headed to the bridge. She arrived there in time to overhear Shayla’s musing; smiling a bit, she let her eyes wander to Phalomir, expecting a reply from him. Her smile broadened when she saw the twin looks of apprehension and confusion on Matt and Jasyn’s faces… then blanked completely from her face.

She frowned, cast a look about.

“Is Jharu here, or has he chosen to remain behind with the stranger who has come with Mr. Lancaster, and who,” she ended with a definitive nod, “is choosing to remain behind by his unwillingness to speak with me. Jasyn—“

She turned to the EE employee.

“Just who was that young one, anyway?”

These questions having been tossed out, she moved smoothly to where Shayla was finalizing their departure codes, and took a seat beside her. She smiled to see the deft movements the young woman was making along the control panels, and nodded in satisfaction as sigil after mysterious sigil began lighting up in a soft but brilliant green.

“I see you have not forgotten how to pilot this ship, Shayla,” she said, sending a meaningful look into her eyes. Then she settled against her seat, and waited for the thrum of the engines to transcend into a roar, indicating their ascent from Ch’arlingua and K’eel Doba itself.

[ 01-12-2004 09:27 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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...since we first started looking for Galen, in fact. We ran into the guy on Kamino, where he said he was searching for some sort of information regarding his father's death. He's stuck with us despite numerous opportunities to leave..."

Jasyn's scowl grew more, "...and I'm not quite sure of his motivations for doing so. It's not like he has any personal connections with us or with Eagle Enterprises."

Shrugging at that, Jasyn quieted, strapping himself in as the warship began its ascent. How he would have liked to have more Sith brandy about now...

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

As the ship leveled and Shayla relaxed a bit, Phalomir addressed her.

“Shayla, what did Thoran tell you? When did you speak with him? If he told you anything regarding me or the Master, it should be considered with some caution. And what of this vision? Who came to you?”

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

“I don’t remember all that I may have told Thoran,” Shayla admitted. “The fact is, at the time I wasn’t entirely certain of your motives myself...

...but I was even less certain about his.” She paused at this, pursing her lips. “He told me that you had hurt Graysith, and tried to sway me to his side...

...but I don’t believe I told him anything about you that he wasn’t already somehow aware of. He knew you’d had interaction with Graysith...”

Here she trailed a moment, letting her look belie her meaning, “...and he knew that you were trying to unify the Triad. That’s all I really remember. And as for the Sith who beckons to me in my vision...”

Shayla paused once more, her eyes again turning distant as she tried to recall. “The vision is still to vague for me to describe him, let alone know who he is. Perhaps if someone could look into my mind, they could make out a description of him...

...but I don’t know. The memory of the vision is still too new for me to be certain.”

Then she turned her attentions to Graysith’s question regarding Jharu.

“And you know,” Shayla then stated aloud, the frown still planted on her face. “I didn’t see Jharu get on board the ship with the rest of us,” she admitted, looking to Graysith in concern. “Should we go back and look for him?” she queried then before proceeding any further with the departure cycle.

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

The blast from the Eye, which she half-expected to fly her way, did not come. Neither did the sought-after familiarity of like-blood.

She opened her eyes with a sigh.

“Jharu seems to have managed to remain behind,” she said slowly, halfway gladdened that his ominously altered personality was no longer with them yet also saddened that he was not. "I can sense him, but he is not aboard this ship."

She then straightened in her seat, and drew her hands down her cloak.

“Now that we have lifted, you may proceed onward to Korriban, Shayla,” she commanded gently, gazing eagerly into the forward viewscreen in eager anticipation for the first of myriad stars to appear.

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

...and froze, realizing she didn’t know the coordinates. She turned to Graysith once more.

“I’m afraid I don’t know the coordinates to Korriban,” she admitted, falling silent and waiting, suddenly finding herself eager for them to be on their way.

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

“I must apologize; it appears I was the one who piloted the last time we visited Korriban,” she said, now leaning forward toward a small and inconspicuous cubbyhole. Her hand disappeared into it; when it withdrew it was holding a book, one which gleamed strangely in the dim light of the cabin. She opened it gingerly, taking great care with how she handled its pages; even so, they seemed to mutter aloud as she turned them.

“This is the navigational log all Sith ships carry; the coordinates to every planet ever visited or known to them are inscribed herein,” she said as she turned yet another page. At length she stopped; her finger on one spot while her lips silently mouthed what she was reading in High Sith. The, closing the book in near reverence, she reached out again and played quickly upon the navigational controls in front of her.

“The coordinates are now set in, Shayla,” she said as she drew back, first placing the book back into its cubby.

“You may, er… engage.”

[ 01-12-2004 10:45 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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