I started, nearly falling on my butt.

Panthar-- what the--

What in Hell's Seven Circles does he think he's doing?

I didn't have time to wonder; it seemed I had only traveled another twenty feet or so, when the big red lug came sauntering casually around from behind the group of rocks he had made such a beeline for.

Still some fifty meters or so below and ahead, the specks that were Jasyn and Matt looked up from the soil upon which they lay.

I bet they're surprised; hope they don't have a blaster on 'em or anything; Jasyn can be a touch wee trigger happy...

I raised my arm, momentarily forgetting that Shayla and I were still gripped within the confines of the invisibility shield. Figuring we needed it no longer, I turned it off.

Beside me, Shayla quickened her pace. And as for me--?

Well, you know what they say about the sandcat!

Nodding to myself as Red and Shayla converged on the guys, I altered my own route a tad and headed for that group of rocks that the big Sith had found interesting enough to haul hiney for. I figured it was safe enough, hadn't he just emerged from around them without so much as a scratch or bite?

Slowing to a saunter myself, I made it to the rocks and went around.

There I froze, literally nose-to-nose with the biggest and ugliest and hungriest looking tuk'ata I had ever seen....

[ 09-10-2004 08:59 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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

"Matt...?" he queried, his voice sounding as dry as his throat really was.

"Yeah, I see," the other replied, immediately understanding.

Even so, Jasyn continued to stare, as if he were just waiting for the vision to disappear. But then Galen--

--or at least, the person or figment of his imagination that looked like Galen went off behind a rock pile not too far away from them. Jasyn frowned, cocking an eyebrow in that general direction for a long moment until at last he became aware of a rather large shadow falling over him. He redirected his gaze and realized that Shayla seemed to be right in front of them.

But hell, she wasn't that big. This had to be a mirage or something.

But then a big booming voice grabbed his attention, and he turned to see the towering form of a Sith not far from him. Jasyn scrambled to a sitting position. Unsurprisingly, the first words that popped into his head then popped out of his mouth.

"I sure as kriffing hell hope this is a rescue party," he said first to Shayla, then looking to the Sith, "And if you don't mind my asking, who the hell are you, and what the hell happened to the other person who was with you, cause she looked a heck of alot like someone I know..."

[ 09-11-2004 04:29 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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Panthar looked to Shayla.

“Looks like they need some water, maybe you better do some of that healing stuff on them, you think? I’ll go check on Galen, there was a frozen tuk’ata back there.”

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

...hurry and go get her. And if you need help..."

She paused a moment, turning and looking to her husband, "Have Erik holler."

Once more she paused, her eyes only for Erik as if silently asking permission to say what she was about to. "He'll go with you. In the meantime, I'm going to do a little healing...

...but not alot, cause as soon as you get Galen, we need to get out of here."

Saying this, Shayla then turned and began following through on the words she had just spoken, knowing that behind her Panthar was likewise acting on his own.

[ 09-11-2004 05:52 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

Man, I wish I had something to eat or drink on the long voyage here. That might have helped me. I thought.

I kept walking ever so slowly. Falling to my knees every 5 minutes, but slowly getting right back up and continuing.

Then once when I fell to my knees, I didn't get up. I streched out with the force searching or calling for anybody.

Someone help me. Someone.... I called.

I'll just take a little nap. I thought as i closed my eyes.

[ 09-11-2004 03:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dash Kelderon ]

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Graysith waited impatiently for Phalomir to react to her startling double revelation. On the one part of it, the lack of any signature of Sith physiology upon the planet below could well be due to the fact that they simply had arrived at Korriban before Aeylmaar.

But what in all the fates would humans be doing on this blasted and highly secret world of the Sith?

For a moment something flashed through the block in her mind; an image. One of an older human, white haired and bearded, leading two young redheaded women into another desert, just as drear as what this planet promised to show them. Nothing much was in that desert, but at a particular point a tiny bit of rock thrust up from the hardpan, one which after months and months of careful excavation proved to be a portion of a weather-pitted and ruined statue.

A humanoid statue, one bearing tattered remnants of royal robes, one weighed heavily with weaponry of an elegant and exotic nature, one with claws and horns and faded leftovers of color yet emblazoned in its eyes.

A Sith. Uncovered by her own father. Who then was to say that another xenoarcheologist could not have found his way to this place, via hint and nuance and ancient whisper echoing through time, to perhaps even now be stepping foot into the vast and wonderful and sacred Valley of the Dark Lords, where she and Shayla and Recinis had--

She stopped with a jerk as that inner door slammed closed. Frowning, she was turning back to Phalomir with further inquiry as to this place when yet another sigil flashed for attention. She stared at it a moment before its meaning finally sunk in.

"Phalomir," she said as she flipped on the aft view screens, ones whose visual input devices were situated close to the warship's only docking bay.

"There is another ship here, a Sith fighter, and it is coming to us."

Now she smiled, albeit a bit hesitantly. Could this be Aeylmaar, arriving at last?

This time not waiting for Phalomir's input about it, she sent out a hail, her smile evaporating even as she opened transmissions with the unknown ship.

"Unidentified Sith ship, explain yourself."

Her message swift, and as imperious as her nature, she followed it by reaching for silence once again, waiting for a response from any quarter before deciding whether or not to actively hunt down the humans whose unexpected presence was still marring the planet below.

[ 09-13-2004 06:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Raelgosh sat back, and began activating defensive magicks upon himself in the event that this "meeting", went sour in his direction. Now to await the product of my lies. Though I must say, it is slightly honest. If you could say bending the truth is honest.

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

"Did not Ayelmaar state the purpose in meeting us here on Korriban was to divulge information concerning some danger?" she asked simply, frowning a bit as she let her thoughts drift back to the last time they had spoken.

"Something about a Cult Assassin-?"

She paused, letting her expression darken as she strove to bring meaning to this title.

"What is that, Phalomir, a 'Cult Assassin?' I know of no such clan or cult; what is this?"

Now her frown segued into a darker one, one of disgust at her own intermittant memories. She pursed her lips, and raised a hand to her temple. Then she snorted, and went back to the controls. There she read out the signature of the ship again.

"This is a Sith ship, and the hail is most definitely not from Ayelmaar.

"Could something have happened to him, and he has now sent someone else in his stead?

"What think you?"

[ 09-14-2004 08:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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He stood up, gathered his sword and poisons. For the first time in many years, he would be fighting against those that were definatly a match for him. He knew that Raegolosh would have trouble by himself, but perhaps both of them would be able to defeat such a powerful being. The poisons he caried were of a sacred art, and took years to make. He only carried three doses at once, which was, at least in the past, always enough. Just a small amount would kill, but Sa'kal'ishaalas alway prefered to use his sword. Realizing that the assasination of these two would probably get rough, I raise my magical defenses.

Stepping into the cockpit, "Are they going to allow us in master?"

Raelgosh thought, Would aelvedaar betray us? Just to rid himself of us? Or mayhaps...

Raelgosh thought back to the horrified expression the younger sith, Ael-something had had when Aelvedaar had told them their mission. Could he be the one to betray us, if that so is the case?

Only time would tell.

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

“Ayelmaar has great power,” he said, looking off into the viewscreen. “I am sure of it. If something would have happened to him, he most likely would have found another means to deliver his message. I am wary of our visitors, my lady. Furthermore, our arrangements called to meet upon the surface, not aboard our ship.”

He looked to the Dark Lady.

“As for a ‘cult assassin’, I know only the stories handed down to me when I was a child learning the history of my clan. It was a sect, of sorts, left over from the ancient days. But that was all, their kind died with the old ways.”

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

He walked slowly to her and touched her on the shoulder. Her head snapped in his direction, eyes wide with panic. He put his finger to his lips and let his arm slide around her waist, then gently tried to pull her away from the still beast. When “gently” didn’t work, he gave more force and dragged her away quietly.

Around the other side of the rock, he turned Galen to face him. Her face still showed the panic, and he tried to flash a big Sith smile. That didn’t help. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. Instead he placed both hands on her shoulders, motioned with his head for Erik to come, and bit at his lower lip.

“Hey,” he whispered. “I’m going to climb up and see what the heck is going on. You guys should start back and see if Shayla needs help. I’ll join you in a minute, I can probably carry those two back to the ship if I need to. But I gots to know what the heck is up with that tuk’ata.”

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

...all we need to do is get the heck out of here. It is not a good idea for you to stay behind here and investigate, that's the very reason I'm here to begin with. So just forget about the tuk'ata, and let's get going...

...and get at least some of you off this blasted ball of sand."

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

The look on Erik’s face made Panthar pause. The curious grin Panthar wore turned quickly to a smile, then faded into a frown.

“Maybe you’re right,” he whispered. “We came here to get the guys, let’s get back to the ship. Maybe Galen can buzz back over here and I can look from above.”

Panthar turned to Galen.

“Sound like a plan?” he asked.

Galen did not answer, but continued to stare at him.

“Um,” he said. “This doesn’t seem like a good thing. You OK, there, little red?”

Galen did not speak, but began to tremble slightly.

“OK, this is enough. I hope she doesn’t kill me.”

Panthar swiftly swept his arm under her and lifted, catching her in his other arm in a bridal carry. “Let’s go see how Shayla is doing, then I’m getting her back to the ship.”

Without waiting, he turned and trotted to where Shayla was working with the two men.

“Something is up with Galen,” he said, “she saw the tuk’ata and now she’s in shock or something. I want to get her to the ship, what’s the status here?”

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

"I just did some minor healing til we get back on the ship and do a healing trance..."

She trailed, turning to the guys, "...if you'll permit me to, that is."

Then, turning back to Panthar, "But I agree, we need to get out of here. I'll also see what we can do about Galen once we get onto the ship...

...maybe she is in a bit of shock, since she's allowing you to actually carry her at the moment. That's definitely not something I'd invision her doing. But the problem remains, how are we all going to get back to the ship, since three of us won't be able to handle the walk back there?"

[ 09-16-2004 03:33 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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...so he was very surprised when he heard Shayla mention that she didn't think they could handle the walk back.

"Whaddya mean we can't walk?!" he blurted. You just worry your pretty little head on makin' sure Galen's allright. After all, she just saw..."

Jasyn paused, something just registering in his thought processes that hadn't up until now. "Did you just say tuk'ata?!"

That word tattooed across his mind's eye, along with images of what such a beast could do, spurred him into motion.

Well, that is, almost into motion. Try as he might to get on two feet he couldn't.

"Dammit!" he growled, "Why don't you use your Jedi powers Stargazer, and get us out of here before that kriffing monster is mobile...?"

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

...or the sudden realization that I really couldn't move a muscle if I wanted to.

Er, that is, at least at the time of said plucking of my body, which was at the time, or maybe place, as motionless as the beastie whose presence triggered the tumbling about of the abovementioned events.

I could only stare fixedly toward the rocky horizon as I was carried away from the potentially dire predicament. But as I was toted farther and farther away, I found that one toe had the ability to wiggle, as did my nose.

Now I could see Shayla's blonde tresses in my peripheral vision, and a blur of something red-- Matt's hair? Big Red's ugly face?

Whatever.

My nose wiggled more. A lip jerked fractionally.

"Ooh ahn oot ee own ow," I managed, trying to make my entire foot, and then leg, follow the minute motions of the toe, so I could kick Red in whatever body part happened to be handily close. No such luck; I remained as immobile as the tuk'ata, although the farther and farther he carried me, the better I seemed to be getting.

When Shayla came into full view, I found to my delight that I could cock an ankle a bit.

"Ey, Ig Ed, I ed oo ahn oot ee own!"

Inside my stubbornly nonmoving lips, my tongue was finally beginning to function again; with great effort I licked my lips and tried again.

"Ut nee down!"

I would have glared at him, but my eyes were directed Shayla's way; all I could do was send her a pleading glance, one which I tried to fill with as much surprise and effrontery and disgust as I could.

I was not in shock, as Big Red thought. Damn if I wanted anyone here to think that.

What I was, though, was strangely unmoving.

Just like that damned tuk'ata.

Frustrated, I could only lay in Red's arms like some kind of reluctant bride, and hope to Hell's Seven Circles that mobility would soon return to me, so I could join forces with everyone again not only in finding out what the hell was going on, but in getting us off this rock to figure from a far safer place what we were going to do next.

[ 09-16-2004 08:15 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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He sighed, and stared out across the open stretch of unbroken hardpan. It stretched out below him, as flat and featureless and white as a frozen pond. This was the Field of Discourse, upon whose uncaring surface many a Sith had come to his timely, or as the case might be, untimely end. For it was here that the clan sub-lords would come in the Old Times, when there was need to meet and join forces. More than likely, such meetings would end in bloodbaths; the Sith, while actually being of high integrity, were fiercely stubborn when it came to their clans and personal beliefs.

He sighed again, musing upon this history while he waited for the arrival of the Lady and her companion.

How useless, to fight and kill and bluster... when a simple joining of forces would serve to strengthen the parts into a united whole. Unity brings stability; segregation nothing but squabbling and separation from each other.

He shook his head, then leaned back with a sigh. A blotch of cloud passed across the face of the lowering sun; the silhouette it presented suddenly reminded him of the beast he had found to be a potential threat when the Lady would arrive. It had been a simple procedure to reach into the tuk'ata and play with it's inner clock, slowing it down to where what would seem like a mere second of life from its perspective would in fact actually be the passage of years realtime.

Strange to find it away from the Valley, he mused further.

I wonder who or what could have lured it there?

He shrugged to himself, and shifted against the rock, now turning his thoughts to the Chosen Daughter of the Sith, wondering again when she would arrive.

He hoped when she did, she would have the foresight to scan the planet for his life-signature, and in the doing realize that he was not the only living humanoid currently on the planet.

There were others present, quite close by, actually; others from whom he was taking the utmost of care to keep his own presence known.

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

Saying this, Shayla stepped in closer to Galen, her eyes and ears and Force senses now keenly attuned to some obvious variables as Galen tried for the life of her to speak and move, but to not much avail. "Galen is not in shock," she then observed, "And we know for a fact that frozen tuk'ata back there isn't. I wonder if there is some sort of strange Sith magick at play here, something to perhaps keep the unwanted from getting too close to this place."

She paused at this, pursing her lips. Then, "I think we will go back to the ship, and do a fly-over of the area. And in the meantime, I think I'm going to consult the eye. And yes," Shayla finally said, turning fractionally to Jasyn Lancaster, "If the only solution to our problem is for me to levitate you back to the ship, then that is what I'm going to do."

She turned back to Panthar and Erik. "Now let's get out of here, and now."

[ 09-18-2004 05:41 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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It did not take long to arrive at the most logical of conclusions.

"If this unknown who hails us is indeed sent by Aeylmaar, then certainly he would have been directed to meet with us upon the surface, as Aeylmaar himself was to do. In this, I heartily agree with your assessment, Phalomir.

"And-"

Now she raised her head, tossing back her locks as she stared him straight in the face.

"If it is not Aeylmaar, I am led to wonder just how it was we have been discovered here, to thus in turn be hailed. Who would have known this was our destination, other than Aeylmaar himself?

"No, I believe there is something afoot; we should proceed from this point with the greatest of caution."

Turning away then, she opened the connection with the fighter.

"Identify yourself," she said tersely, her hands ready to activate weapons at the merest touch of a sigil. To Phalomir she concluded with,

"I hope nothing has happened to Aeylmaar."

While at first that comment was meant lightly, primarily from a viewpoint of self-preservation, for some strange reason she found it the reflection of a feeling growing more and more sincere by the minute.

"Tell me of this Field of Discourse, and where we might find it. Perhaps Aeylmaar is already there, and knows there is something wrong, and has used his strengths to hide himself from he who would harry us, and thus would not be easily found. Perhaps we must track his location with greater intensity and care."

With that she quieted, waiting to see if the fighter would respond or not, and waiting as well to hear what Phalomir might have to offer in reply as well.

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

"I am Ralfarth, a servant of a, peculiar, sith. My personal guard goes by the name Sa'kal. We request permission to dock with your ship. If not, then to meet at a neutral location of your choosing in the immediate area."

Raelgosh paused.

"We have not much time here to speak with you, before we are missed by other parties."

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

"Otherwise, they would have requested we meet upon the Field of Discourse, where he had intended. Unless--"

She paused, chewing on her lip again.

What if Aeylmaar had been found out? What if those who might have prevented him from coming, if indeed that had happened, had laid a trap for her at the Field of Discourse? Is that why this Ralfarth was requesting she choose the place where they would meet?

But then, if that were the case, he would not have had the time to send someone in his stead, would he? If it was dangerous for him to come, he would have contacted her, explaining there would be another, would he not have?

She frowned, her mind circling about this dilemma like a vulture circles fresh meat. Speaking her conclusions aloud to Phalomir, she gave the unidentified craft one last chance to prove itself.

Her hands reached out and danced upon that section in which communications and its various controls lay. Nodding, she hailed a final time.

"Ralfarth, I thank you for your patience. You must understand it is something of a surprise that you have found me here; I applaud your tenacity in this.

"I have created a highly secured communications link between our two ships. If you would be so kind as to divulge this information which is of such great importance to me, you would receive my thanks."

With that she hit a particular sigil, which in turn sent the message winging through the ether into the receivers of the Sith fighter still lurking off her flank.

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

Phalomir thought of the beings he had encountered in his time here, their motives, and abilities. Who could have known their location? The Master, indeed had the ability, but it would be illogical for him to send assassins since all he had made it clear he wanted Phalomir alive. Roan could possibly have known were he alive, but his existence in the Darker Realms took away much of his power.

“Aelvedaar,” he mused aloud. “If anyone could have known, it would be him. And to send assassins after us instead of staining his own hand, either to distract, delay, or test us, fits within his profile so far. While we await a response, let us scan for Aeylmaar.”

A wry smile briefly crossed Phalomir’s lips.

“And when our friends give us their excuse for not sending the message, let us perhaps suggest we meet on the surface, say the Field of Discourse?”

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

But then Raelgosh had to wonder. We did pick up another ships ion trail, and he's the only other one aside from Aelmaar that could have tipped them off. So was it he that betrayed us? But then they have refered to a contact, so that must be Aelmaar. But what message would he deliver? Of course. Us.

Raelgosh turned to Sa'kal. "Keep quiet." He turned to the com sigil, and made his recording.

"Very well. We have been sent by Aelmaar, to inform you of a plot. Aelvedaar is sending assassins to kill the both of you. He told us that he believes that Aelvedaar wishes to conquer the other Clans, and take total control. He has given us a tablet with more specifics, that we were not to read, and were to give it to you directly. As I have requested before, I request you allow us onto the ship or that you designate a meeting place for us to give the tablet to you."

Raelgosh was beginning to fear that they may flee, or otherwise destroy their ship. He began scanning the ship, for another fear had arrisen. Aelvedaar had mentioned that the female quary had minor control over the all. In the event that she was skilled enough, she may flee using it, and go to the surface. There was no other reason they would come here.

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

“Yes, let’s,” he said. “And don’t worry, I can handle two.”

He shifted Galen around to put her over his shoulder. As he moved her head past his, however, he caught a glint in her eye that hadn’t been there before, something almost fiery. A look like she was calling forth the seven hells and focusing them on Panthar…

He paused, holding her in front of him and staring into her eyes. He held her there for what seemed like an eternity, focusing on that look. She looked so intent, so focused, like she was trying to tell him something…

He shrugged and continued to swing her over his shoulder. He bent his knees and held out a hand to the men.

“Who wants to ride?” he asked.

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