Then he turned to Dat, nodding then to Sarisa's sleeping form before he spoke once more. "We should get moving. She will be in a trance for some time...

...but while she rests and recovers we cannot afford to wait. We will no doubt be met by the Sith; word of this event has most certainly gotten out."

He paused, eyeing Nefrai and then finishing with. "We might as well face reality and let them take us when it is time. If you could carry Sarisa, that would be very helpful. I believe the temple is..."

He trailed one final time, sensing outward then pointing eastward, "...that way."

[ 11-02-2005 08:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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She was also doing what she could to keep herself aware of what was going on. She couldn't hear words whent he others spoke to one another, but she could sense their feelings. She hoped she wouldn't have to be in her trance for too long in case they might end up needing every able body they could get.

Until then. time to enjoy her dream.

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"So... Why do we think that they'll help us at the Temple after all that's happened?"

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Kesh sighed, and reset his form to normality, stretched slightly, and loped over to where Dat was. "As Master Petrolu said... would you prefer if I were to carry Sarisa? Or would you not be comfortable with such a thing?"

He spoke almost cautiously, knowing he was quite close on the line. He held his arms aloft just slightly to show if Dat would like too hand her over or not.

[ 11-02-2005 08:55 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Nefrai Kesh ]

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"...Sounds like fun."

Dat shrugs his shoulders slightly. "I think I can handle it," he says, not even turning around.

[ 11-02-2005 09:01 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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...and simply halted where he was. "It's time," he stated simply, hoping the others would take his meaning. "This time..."

He trailed, looking at Nefrai specifically. "Do not attack. Or I will be fighting against you regardless of how it all might end."

Then, still standing in place, the others close behind him, Shawn spoke up, not necessarily to anyone in particular, but most definitely to any nearing Sith.

And he tried a bit of a new tactic as he then spoke, his voice commanding yet at the same time nonthreatening. "We seek Dark Lady Jharmeen Qu'taro regarding the disappearance of some friends...

...and some of us have made poor choices regarding how we could find her," he continued, his voice now actually showing emotion as he finished with, "Such loss of life was unnecessary, and not at all what I intended. My most deepest apologies to you all...

...do with me as you will."

[ 11-04-2005 10:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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But martyrdom?

Somehow it seemed strange, regardless of how noble Shawn seemed too be, it seemed as though he would have a greater purpose than merely sacrificing his life to these barbaric sith....

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If the Sith do come around, he's going to provide more of what he did before.

Actually frowning at the thought, Shawn turned to Nefrai once again. "Look, Nefrai. When I said that you should leave now...

...that is what I meant. Your presence here will put this team in jepordy, the people I'm looking for in jeopordy...

...and the Sith in jeopordy as well. Not all of us have the luxury of immortality."

Turning to Dat then, Shawn nodded in front of him. "Perhaps we have not approached the juncture yet I thought we might have. Let's keep moving."

With no further words, Shawn turned, doing precisely that, still certain that they would eventually be intercepted by someone.

[ 11-05-2005 12:21 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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He trailed at that, frowning, his look thougtful. "I have a suspicion the people we are looking for aren't here," he admitted openly to Dat. "But at any rate, this was their last know destination. I'm not certain how the Dark Lady will react to what Nefrai did, nor how she will react to our being with him at the time of the incident...

...which could retract from us getting any information from her. Still, we need information, and at the moment it would appear we have time. The only definite information I have is that Galen probably arrived here in Terrin's old lamby the Eagle. Matt and Jasyn took Aaron's lamby the Raptor...

"Maybe we should focus on finding the ships, rather than proceeding to the Temple where we may be taken anyway? After all, Aaron did say he might be able to track them, and I have his comm frequency. What do you think?"

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He was in a Healing Chamber, naked, upon a stone bed. A thin fur lay rumpled at his feet.

He frowned; then his eyes widened as recollection flooded in.

The Lady-- dead. Who was not the Lady, but some foul doppleganger.

The coming of the Dark Lord Phalomir and his compatriots, to try to discern the hand behind this subterfuge.

The demon which crawled forth from Hell.

Starting, he cast a quick look about himself. Thanks, however, to the Healing ministries of the resident sorcerers and inherently tough Sith physiology, he lived. He had healed.

He took a breath, relishing the slow but sure return of strength.

A bit of time longer, and I shall return to my duties... and try to discover what evil it is, what madness that has descended upon us.

"Master Petrolu-" he raised his voice slightly. "-I will depart from this company. However, I shall bring into note that none of us was ever nominated or declared leader. I shall leave due to the animosity between us. It is also that you forget that you would not be here were it not for my healing of Captain Barnes."

He looked out across the landscape. "We both were hired for this endeavor, and I do not intend to fail at this. So I shall proceed in my own way so that I do not hinder you further."

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"Yes, I suppose I am at that."

She cocked her head a bit to one side, now taking in a closer look at Kelvendar, as though seeing him for the first time.

"You were the one, to come when I found--"

She stopped, her eyes now widening, staring about as she patted herself, seeking...

"It is gone," she murmured, half despairing, half angry.

"Did you take it?"

She turned her eerie bi-colored eyes upon Kelvendar, pinning him with a look which had a strange brand of darkness swimming across the surface.

Some would call her insane at that moment.

Others... simply dangerous.

[ 11-06-2005 12:11 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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"Are you not well? Perhaps you would do well to seek a healer?"

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"A Healer?" she queried back, cocking her head to one side, staring directly at Kelvendar but now looking completely through him.

"Wh-why would I need a Healer? I am well, I am whole, I-- I am... I am h-happy; no, I am angry... angry for it is gone, he took it, it wasn't you after all, was it, it was him, he, the blasphemer, the common thief--!"

With startling rapidity she began shaking, trembling, shuddering, her body defenseless as wave after wave of reactionary shock struck her a tsunami's blow.

Her eyes grew wider yet, mirroring the rictus her mouth had become.

Suddenly she fell to her knees, slumped back on her rear, hid her face in her hands. The dainty, pearly claws raked the flesh of her face, sending rivulets of reddish-violet blood oozing down her cheeks, her chin.

Father-- what have you done to me?

Why?

But none were there who could even come close to answering her anguished, silent cry.

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He quickly turned and sprinted down the passage, pounding away at the stone steps as he sprinted to find a healer, or even a warrior or servant to help the Dark Lady.

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Her mouth opened in surprised confusion, she stepped into the passage down which the blur had run.

"Sir?" she queried, calling after Kelvendar, holding her tray against herself.

"Do you need assistance? Is there something amiss?"

"Quickly bring a healer to her chambers, she must be tended too!"

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Down one passageway and into another she flew, coming at last to the section of the temple which housed the Chambers of Healing. Not bothering with any courtesy, normal for her species not to mention her station, she burst into the first one she came to.

"The Dark Lady is dying!" she cried out, glancing wildly about herself, seeking anyone who could help. She was soon approached by a Healer, who took hold of her arms, his grip a firm and steadying one.

"Show me," he commanded in a deep, quiet voice. One hand lifted from her arm to lay itself gently upon her face.

All he received was a vision of Kelvendar.

He drew back, a frown creasing his face.

"Where is the one you have shown me?" he asked, now staring deeply into her eyes. The look forced itself into her rising hysteria, banking it, bidding calmness come to the fore.

It came. She gulped, pointing behind her.

"B-back there, in the passage leading to the Lady's chambers. The Dark Lady's daughter... I mean, the Dark Lady."

Frowning a bit, the serving girl ground to a confused halt, staring at the floor as panic ebbed from her. The Healer understood what she had been trying to say, and after taking a precious second or two to assure that the girl was calm enough to leave alone, he hurried from the Chambers, following the course she had travelled.

It wasn't long before he found Kelvendar.

"You!" he called out, reaaching a hand toward the Sith.

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"Come," he said urgently.

"We shall go to her; perhaps I can discern what it is that has so suddenly plagued her."

For sudden this was indeed. As in the case of all large structures of political import, word oftentimes seemed to fly faster than light itself. All those dwelling within the temple's walls already knew of the heinous act of the strangers who were out there, somewhere upon K'eel Doba. Indeed, it had been less than an hour that the Lady had given forth her decree upon them. Found they most certainly would be, and quickly, but the Lady needed to be herself so as to deal with them when they were brought to her. For that was the way of the Sith.

Taking Kelvendar's arm, the Healer urged him on.

"Let us hasten," he said simply.

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The Healer cast a frown of alarm upon Kelvendar, then opened the door, allowing themselves into Lady ShaRhylla's private suites.

She lay curled upon the floor there, looking small and vulnerable.

Her eyes were wide, staring into nothing.

The Healer rushed to her side, reached out and touched key points upon her face...

...only to fall back with a gasp.

Darkness within. Darkness bearing ruby eyes...

...and eyes the color of the sky.

Shuddering, he gathered himself together.

He quieried, wondering what was wrong with the lady. He also strongly wondered what had caused such a reaction from the healer.

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