We considered. "We will not pretend to understand your magicks or powers in any way directly, but we would wish to think that closer contact would be required if she was to be held in some sort of thrall. Otherwise, we would be led to conclude she acted of her own steam."

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The Onidorei had been witness. With his own brand of eyes and ears he had seen and heard. He, of all present in the Dining Hall, had more than mere speculation or supposition to operate upon.

He had firsthand facts... if, indeed, what he was relating was the truth...

The Dark Lady's eyes flashed open as that final thought struck her. Moving away from Phalomir and Terrin she approached the odd entity, who had remained silent for so great a time but who, for once, when finally speaking had presented information that could not be ignored.

She stopped before him, nodding once, and held a small hand out to him, palm up.

"Forgive me... but, may I?"

She gave her head a nod in Shayla's direction, knowing the Onidorei had witnessed as well how she had discovered the whereabouts of the Jedi Shawn and his companions. Doing nothing more than keeping her hand reaching out, she remained silent before him, awaiting an answer to her request.

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We bowed our heads just slightly, and then awaited whatever Graysith might do.

[ 12-11-2005 11:03 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Onidorei ]

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"I intend you no harm," she said as she then reached out to lay the palm of one hand against its porcelain-smooth forehead. An eerie electric tingle jolted through her at the contact; shivering, she strove to ignore it and let her essence begin to worm its way into his elaborate circuitry.

"Please, recall the image of that of which you last spoke," she murmured, gritting her teeth as yet another jolt shuddered through her.

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Then, in what seemed as though a days rendition, at the speed of energy itself, the experience, the sensations (good AND bad) flew forth from us and no longer existed in our conciousness- save for a blunt monotone of memory without the flavour we had experienced.

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“There are things which I overheard between the Master and Roan during my – time – in the Darker Realms. Things which strengthen my suspicions of ShaRhylla. I was in and out of consciousness, but I am certain this is at least partly her doing, and that Roan is behind it. There was something about her and the vials on the ship, but I do not completely recall that conversation.”

A rush of other memories came to Phalomir, causing him to shudder and take a step backwards. Thoughts of torture, of being surrounded by a dozen winged female demons biting and sucking his skin, taunting and tearing at his body… pain everywhere… each one whispering his name in deep seductive voices as they probed and bit…

He shook off the image and braced himself on the back of a chair.

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To get Galen and Darra the kriffing hell away from here, since it was suddenly seeming oh-so-dangerous in this supposed place of protection.

Terrin looked Phalomir, the look in his eyes suddenly hot. "So you are all telling me," he paused, looking to Galen in concern before returning his gaze to Phalomir, "Telling us that Darra, who, because of her age-advancement, is as innocent as a little child, has been here with ShaRhylla...

...who quite possibly is involved with a plot to make her own mother at least appear to be dead? Am I the only one here who things she intends to claim the "throne of the Sith" for herself? And what kind of position does that place Darra in? And furthermore, you're telling me Roan might also be tangled in this whole thing? And kriffing hell, aside from what Rhylla can do..."

He trailed a moment, now able to clearly remember that day back in the darker realms when Rhylla had altered his own mind.

"...we all certainly know what Roan can do."

Quieting at that, Terrin's eyes fell into a very worried Galen pair...

...hell, more than worried.

Terrin's look darkened at that, and he made one final comment. "Doesn't sound like Darra is the least bit safe here anymore."

[ 12-12-2005 03:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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Her lips curled in an instinctive smile, but it was not one of joy or amusement. At length she pulled back from the Onidorei with a sigh and let her hand fall limply to her side.

"It is true," she said morosely, choking back the sudden rush of tears. For indeed she had thought her daughter was over her horrific experience in the Darker Realms, that she was healing. For promises of the bright young lady that she could have been had indeed flicked into existence here and there, responding to life in the Temple and her position therein.

Now Graysith knew those promises to be built of ash.

She hung her head a moment, studying her feet. Then she jerked it upright, stared Terrin straight in his eyes, once again ignoring the growing thundercloud that was her sister by blood.

"I shall send for JhinDarra," she said simply, going once again to the bell-pull.

"This must indeed be stopped."

[ 12-12-2005 05:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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But no.

She was coming here.

Now.

I blinked, letting my mouth fall agape as I struggled to find words to speak. For suddenly the rising storm within me had totally dissipated, letting sunshine begin to peep out to warm me.

She was coming here. Now!

Suddenly I realized what I must look like; clearing my throat self-consciously, I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one foot.

"She'd better be okay," I tried to grumble, though the attempt at threat came out sounding more like sour grapes. That wasn't what I wanted either, so I settled on hunkering close to Terrin and closing my mouth.

She was coming.

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...and most definitely not the demon on Galen's shoulder...

...snorted in warning. Terrin did his best to ignore the thing, and focus on every nuance of the moment. Hoped like hell that what appeared to be about to happen was going to happen.

Hoped like hell that Darra would recognize her mother, despite the fact she'd been told by Jharmeen that she was Darra's mother.

"She needs to know the truth," Terrin stated pointedly, managing to remain the thundercloud of concern that he already had been, if not more so.

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"She will be, you must trust me, Mr. Danner."

With that the Dark Lady nodded once more to Terrin before moving off to stand by herself a moment, seeking refuge in being by herself for a bit so she could think.

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...which took him so much by surprise that he took his eyes off the goblet and directed them first her way then towards Terrin and Galen, then towards Matt, then back again to Graysith.

Til at length he started noticing that his arm suddenly seemed rather wet. Frowning at that, Jasyn looked down, and with a curse stopped pouring the brandy bottle and sat it back on the bar. His goblet had been full a long time before, and the overflow of the green liquid had now left its mark on his left arm.

"Oh, kriffing hell!!!" he sputtered, no doubt drawing scowls and looks of surprise from everyone else.

Totally ignoring the looks, however, Jasyn took the goblet in his hand, upended it, and took a healthy swig.

Then he eyed Graysith, clearly feeling invincible. "This better be for real," he commented, taking yet another swig...

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Tossing it uncaringly to the floor, she then leaned forward into his personal space.

"Believe me," she hissed, letting her lip curl at his dependency upon alcohol.

"If I were being anything but truthful regarding JhinDarra's sake, it would be the farthest from that which you would be worrying about."

Pulling back, she let her demeanor lighten, folded her hands inside the sweeping sleeves of her robes, and was returning to her spot when a servant entered, bowing before her.

"The visitor's coming in to Ch'arlingua are arriving, milady," he said, clapping his fist over his chest, his eyes riveted to the floor.

Graysith nodded, cut a look to the others, then turned back to the minion.

"This is good, show them here the moment they arrive," she ordered, then waved the servant away.

"And now we begin to delve into mystery," she said at length, letting her gaze sweep over all before stopping at Phalomir, giving him a look that stated she had most assuredly not forgotten all he had mentioned earlier, but that she was waiting until all allies were together before speaking further of his concerns.

And, perhaps, at a time when Galen's new little pet was caged for its daily nap...

[ 12-12-2005 07:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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With a smirk, I added a small stagger to my step as I stumbled towards the door to the hall, a look of slight delirium upon my visage as I shoved the doors open, and shoved past a startled looking servant. Upon seeing them all, suprised at "salandaars" interuption into their midst, I slammed my closed fist against my chest as hard as I dared for a wounded being, and bowed.

"Milady- I knew it could not be possible.... you have returned! I did not-" I stopped, as though one who was realizing himself. "My appologies. It pleases me to know that you have returned safely."

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"Salandaar! What has happened to you--?" She reached out to lay her hands upon his shoulders but then paused as the great, ornately carved door into the Dining Hall burst open a third time, once more spilling forth a servant but one who was now leading a small group of people into the room.

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Odd. Nefrai had killed one of their own, and they had been hailed as strangers. Only to be escorted to the Temple with such aplomb?

Well did Shawn know the path they were taking, for he had been here before, and with others. And he certainly hoped that it would be with others that he would once again cross paths, sometime soon.

Which he would do perhaps sooner than he expected.

As he and the others were lead into the Dining Hall of the Temple of Prinnchatka, Shawn kept his hood over his head, not wanting to alarm the Sith gaurd by any unexpected movement on his part. They were lead into to face about three Sith, the Dark Lady...

...and a rather familiar bunch of humans. Relief poured into Shawn, and he nodded respectfully to Lady Graysith. "My friends and I have been sent here at the request of Captain Aaron Barnes, to seek out two of his employees and Galen Danner. He was very concerned as to their safety after their departure from the Hornett some time ago...

...as I was about yours, and yours," he added, looking first to his sister then to Erik Kartan.

Shawn trailed, turning a moment to look at the others. "I am glad to see that..."

He trailed then, his eyes widening as they fell on Terrin's tall, lanky frame.

"Terrin?" Shawn queried in surprise. "Aaron told me that you were dead..."

[ 12-12-2005 07:38 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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"It would appear he was quite alive, if our observations appear most correct. But where are our manners? We are the Onidorei. And you are?"

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I gave Terrin's hand a squeeze, shouldered by way past the mechanical entity.

"Not now, ya walking tin can," I muttered as I strode past him to come to a halt in front of the surprised Jedi.

Who only looked all the more surprised to see what I carried upon my back.

"It would appear that rumors of his death were highly exaggerated as well," I grinned, giving the scorpion-tailed creature another heft to get him more comfortably placed. Then my grin burst forth full force.

If this made Terrin happy, it made me happy, too.

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By her mother.

Instantly, sorrow flashed into incredible joy, the aura of bereavement she had carried disintegrating in the wink of an eye. Hurriedly, not even taking the time to wait for the servant to accompany her, she fled her chambers for the Dining Hall, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls of the corridors as she ran through them in a most unladylike manner, her hair trailing behind her.

Coming to the Dining Hall, she pushed the doors open, ready to enter therein--

--but paused.

Indeed, her mother was inside, alive and well. But she was accompanied by many others, others who were strangers to her, yet who seemed to be somehow familiar.

It was as if she had met some of these people in her dreams.

So she merely stood in the doorway, her slender hand laying alongside its frame, her own slight frame dwarfed by their immense, ornate splendor. Unmoving, not even calling out, she merely stood there watching what appeared to be some sort of happy reunion going on inside.

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Pausing at that, he squeezed Galen's hand in return then continued with, "It's good to see you again, Shawn. It's been..."

Trailing at that, however, Terrin's blue eyes wandered to the now-opening Dining hall doors. In the opening stood a young lady, red hair, blue eyes, and slight frame.

Spitting image of her mother.

"Galen..." he whispered, the word barely even coming out.

[ 12-12-2005 08:15 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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But in that brief movement they had swept across the space in the background, normally something to overlook, of course, just being a white noise kind of thing for the most part.

Except now.

For this particular background was filled with the double doors which led into this huge reception and dining area, doors now standing slightly ajar, the space between them being filled by...

I swallowed whatever else I might have to say, and simply stared at my daughter, for practically the first time in my life completely at a loss as to what words I should attach to the wealth of thoughts and feelings that were now sweeping over me.

[ 12-12-2005 08:40 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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...and of the young woman inside them. His jaw dropped, and in his drunken state the words in his head slipped from his mouth before he could really process them or the situation at hand.

"Woah, baby, who is that?" he queried, momentarily oblivious to the jagged blue look he was getting from his boss, let alone from others...

[ 12-12-2005 09:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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She took a step forward, raising both hands to beckon the young lady into the Dining Hall. The flame-haired young woman bowed her head and complied, coming quickly to stand before the one she thought to be her mother.

Graysith placed her arms about her in a warm embrace, lingering there for a moment before turning Darra about to face the others.

"You speak of JhinDarra Jhin'Dar Tarnus Danner," she said simply, squeezing the shoulders which began to stiffen in shock and wonder and denial beneath her touch.

[ 12-12-2005 09:11 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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How pathetic... he can't even attempt a mating call correctly. He watched the reunion though, with not just amusement, but a strange feeling of longing.

What was it to know that someone cared for you? Was concerned? Missed you?

Honestly, he couldn't understand, but he did feel a strange wish to know that.

Perhaps someday, perhaps.

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She turned her head, straining to look up at the Dark Lady.

"Wha-- what do you mean? I am of the house Q'utaro; this you have told me, Mother. I and my stepsister, ShaRhylla, are your children..."

But even as the words stuttered out, her natural empathic abilities stretched out with them. Roved the room, touching lightly upon the wonder and surprise and poignancy which filled everyone present...

...the latter coming from the dark shade hovering in the shadows, a personage seeming to be overlooked by all.

She gulped, finally turning her head to follow her feelings, coming at length to the red-haired young woman who appeared not much older than herself.

Who was standing there staring at her as though simply trying to drink her in.

Her brows creased, she frowned, wondering... and then a memory came flashing back.

This was the same woman who had held her with such love, who had taken her and placed her in a seat which hummed and thrummed as, unbeknownst to her, the ship they were in fled from the planet-city which called itself Coruscant.

Blood calling blood.

She gulped, now stepping forward, her head cocking to one side as her eyes narrowed just the slightest.

The call grew stronger.

"M-mother--?" she whispered, hesitating.

[ 12-12-2005 09:26 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by JhinDarra ]

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