Her arms finding their way about her Adept, feeling the young woman's heart threatening to burst through her chest, Graysith closed her eyes to the mysteries of the All that carried them impossibly through space without touching time, and let a single tear squeeze from beneath her lids. It trailed down the planes of her face, at length dropping to wet Shayla's hair as she continued to hold the young woman with a grip born of something akin to despair.

All of eternity coiled into a knot, which suddenly unraveled and spit them out from its embrace. Together they stepped out, their feet crunching upon sandy and barren soil, their eyes blinking as they tried to accustom themselves to the dim light which surrounded them.

Shayla took in a deep and shuddery breath, and swayed. Graysith only tightened her arms about her, steadying her until she was certain her young adopted sister had gained solid footing. Then she moved her hands gently onto Shayla's shoulders, turning her around to face her. Her violet eyes, luminous with emotion, gazed into the shaken greeny-blue pair which widened before her.

Shayla opened her mouth to question, but was silenced by a gentle hand there. "Ssh," Graysith made a request of the order. "I haven't much time."

Glancing quickly about herself, her eyes at length rested on that which she had sought. "Come with me, quickly," she now commanded, and took Shayla by the hand. Moving with a swift grace, she approached the face of a fault scarp which towered in front of them; at it's base was an obscure little hole. Not even pausing once, she headed directly for that hole, which grew as they came nearer until it finally revealed itself for what it was: the entrance to a cave.

"All will be explained to you soon, my dear sister," Graysith murmured as she hurried Shayla along. "Come."

No more words were spoken then, and the Chosen Daughter pulled the One she herself had Chosen by the hand, and the two of them soon disappeared into the mysterious opening in the rock. To an observer, the planet appeared to remain as it had for an eternity: utterly devoid of life.

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

As Graysith turned Shayla to face her, reality of what the woman had done for her hit home.

She was risking so much...

...had given so much...

...and just Shayla had begun to truly believe she had again failed her. And maybe, on Sullust, she had. But the look in her sister's eyes assured her that while she might have failed, Graysith still had faith in that which she could do.

That which she might yet be given the chance to do even now.

Before she could ask a question, Graysith silenced her and took her by the hand, leading her into a cave. As they proceeded further and further into the cave, Shayla also realized that her recent aches and pains had all but left her, and was equally aware that a newfound love for she who had chosen her as sister was even now springing to life.

As they seemed to come to a bit of a slowing pace, Shayla whispered to the other woman the only thing she could think of for the moment. "Thank you...for believing in me, my sister..."

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

And she hoped with all her being that this place would be where that awakening would occur. The one thing that saddened her was that she would not be here to see when that particular bloom flowered into life. But she had every faith that it would happen, and perhaps more quickly if her dampening presence were removed.

There are times to teach... and times to retreat, and let the lessons be experimented with without the eyes of the Teacher looking on. For quite often those eyes can hold back impulsive acts... and quite often new discoveries are the direct descendents of impulse.

Graysith at length came to a place deep within the towering mountain range where she sensed the tunnel was opening up. As though she had lived here all her life, able thus to navigate with her eyes closed, she moved ahead into the complete blackness which surrounded them and headed with swift and sure steps some distance away from where she had left Shayla with orders to stand. Her hands played a silent duet on the surface they encountered in the dark, a surface which was quite definitely and most positively not rock but something else entirely.

Light burst into being around them, revealing the wonders of the Sith spread out in an array of ancient and utterly alien technologies. Graysith couldn't help but smile when she heard the gasp of shock which escaped from Shayla; she remembered how she had reacted when she too had first encountered this beautiful gem hidden so artfully from the eyes of the Galaxy, on that long-ago day when her Sire had brought her here to further her training.

Not to mention her reaction to that Other Place, the One of Ancient Ruin, although that memory was somewhat muzzy....

Turning to her Adept, she noticed for the first time the wounds and burns which covered the young woman's face and arms. A gasp of dismay carried her back, and she reached out gentle hands to her sister.

"I am remiss, to have let you remain in such pain!" she uttered with feeling. "You must forgive me my lapse." Speaking no further, she closed her eyes and reached out with the All, and in but moments Shayla stood whole and healed beneath her touch.

And in that healing, somewhere in the distance of the great cavern, a tiny little light flickered green.

Now she backed off a step, smiling at her handiwork. That smile widened into a grin, for it looked like Shayla hadn't even noticed what she had just done for her. All the young woman had eyes for were the banks upon banks of undecipherable machines and devices which hunkered before her, the complete immobility they had retained for over four thousand years marred only by that one little light. As though determined not to reveal any of the ancient secrets, the little light suddenly went out.

"Welcome to the Heart of the All, Shayla," she now uttered with a joyous laugh. "That place where it's ultimate energies were finally harnessed to be used, and through which the Sith will at last come forth into their own once again."

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

The heart of the All?!?

Shayla stood at the center of the room, turning and gazing for a few moments at each device surrounding her.

WHOA BABY!!!

The Heart of the All...

Sith coming forth once again...

"The return of the Sith?" Shayla whispered in awe. "As in the True Sith? When? And do I get to be a part of that?"

As the myriad of questions escaped Shayla's lips, she turned, her final question directed directly at Graysith. "What is it that you wish me to do here, my sister?"

[ 02-16-2002 08:10 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

Graysith ignored that question for the moment. "Let me tell you a story, my dear sister."

With a wave of her hand, she indicated a nearby set of stools. It was obvious to them both that they were not built for human use; their seats towered nearly four feet off the ground, and the two women had to haul themselves up to be seated. When they were ensconced as comfortably as they could be, the Chosen Daughter drew in a deep breath and began:

"Many centuries ago the Galaxy belonged to the Sith. They were a powerful and magickal race, and at first quite benevolent to all although admittedly they did rule with an iron fist. Their powers emanated from the Force still used by Jedi and Dark Jedi; at the time they had no awareness of the All."

She paused for a moment, settling herself more comfortably on the hard stool. Around her there was only silence; Shayla practically held her breath waiting for her to continue.

"The Sith divided themselves up into different clans, dependant on their abilities. I do not know how many there were; I am aware of the Sorcerer clan, of which my Sire and He Who Chose Me is a part; of the Clan of the Weapon Makers, and of the Warrior clan, to which my Dark Heart belongs." She paused again, this time in response to the quick slash of pain that flooded her. Fighting back an onrush of tears, she continued, as though the very words would wash them away.

"The head of each clan was called the Dark Lord; this one was the most powerful one in regard to what that particular clan involved. Aelvedaar is the Dark Sorcerer Lord, Roan is the Dark Warrior Lord.

"Shayla," Graysith interrupted herself, now searching intently into her Adept's eyes. "You must understand this fully. Aelvedaar and Roan are those actual clan Dark Lords; they both come from the end days of the ancient Sith civilization. I myself brought Aelvedaar into this time; I do not know how Roan came here. That he has yet to divulge to me.

"But!" she went on, once again silencing another flood of questions with an upraised hand. "Here they are, and here they remain until the destiny begun four thousand years ago comes into fruition.

"Through me."

Now she fell silent, scrutinizing her Adept's face, seeking to find something there which she wasn't even aware that she needed to find. Paused in the midst of her soliloquy, she waited to see if Shayla had any other questions to ask of her.

[ 02-16-2002 08:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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

As well as of the fact that She would be the one to at last bring the True Sith back into life. Back to rule the galaxy.

Though old Shayla, whose roots were in the Jedi way, would have been horrified by the idea of the Sith of old returning to rule, old Shayla was no longer. And a truth presented itself to Shayla; the Galaxy had recently been blighted by the Yuuzhan Vong and nearly eradicated by them. Between squabbling government officials and a host of Jedi who continually argued the lines of defense and offense amongst each other, Shayla wondered how they had ever managed to push the Vong back at all.

And something in Shayla wondered if they could truly keep the Yuuzhan Vong at bay in their current state of corruption. Perhaps the returning rule of the Old Sith was just what the Galaxy needed.

Shifting away from her thoughts and focusing on Graysith, Shayla smiled and placed her hand atop her sister's. Then, leaning in a touch, she murmered quietly, "I will help you as you need me."

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

And HE thought she had chosen unwisely, and had no right to have done so. INDEED!!!

Then the chuckle faded and was lost to the shadows of the great cavern, and the Chosen Daughter's eyes grew vague. "I yearn for nothing more than that you will be able to assist us, my sister," she whispered softly. "Although I wonder at times if when my youngling is born I shall be needed anymore myself."

She pursed her lips, and held up her hand again. This time though, it was not to ward off a flood of questions. This time it was to quiet the rising tide of anger which began to well up within her Adept, as clearly evidenced by her growing look of outrage when Graysith's words hit home. When she was certain that Shayla would remain silent, she continued on.

"You are quite correct, my sister, in your quick observations. The True Sith are to be brought forward into this time. For they were, quite simply, robbed of their future."

The last remnants of anger in Shayla's eyes were replaced with wonderment at that statement. Her mouth open in mid-word, she silenced and remained still as stone as her Teacher continued on.

"Years passed in which they ruled the Galaxy with their great strength and power. But, as with any civilization, they began to degenerate. The power they held was all but absolute; it is well known that it therefore corrupts absolutely. I do not know what lead them to their demise, but I do know that the Sorcerer clan read the portents clearly, and worked desperately to prevent this from happening.

"They could not. But what they did manage to do was discover that the Force wasn't the only power in existence. It was but a part of a greater whole, that which I possess along with my love and my Sire. That which I am seeking to teach you: the All. The Sorcerer clan discovered this, and for years passed its secrets through succeeding generations, slaving to create the wondrous technology you see about you here-" She paused to wave a nonchalant hand. "Technology that would assist them in utilizing the All until they had grown to embody its very essence into themselves."

She paused once again for breath. "But this great discovery came too late," she pressed on. "Those who then were known as the Dark Jedi stumbled upon their ancient and crumbling civilization, and overwhelmed them. They used the magicks of the Force and took it unto themselves, blind to the discovery which had only just then occurred. This discovery was made by my Sire, Aelvedaar."

For a moment she frowned, as though a small but critical portion of the tale was missing from her memory. Then she shrugged, and continued. "They were overwhelmed and destroyed by the Dark Jedi before they could use the All to protect themselves.

"But through me, they shall rise again and be brought forward into this time to live. Whether or not this shall prove fair or evil for the galaxy is a moot point; they had their future robbed from them, and by rights they deserve to have it replaced."

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

Instead to understand as knowledge to be put to use.

One burning question presented itself to Shayla as she understood just what Graysith was presenting here to her both in her words and what surrounded them.

"So," Shayla finally said, giving voice to her question, "Through the technologies here, one can harness the All until he or she can use it fully?"

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

"Yes in that with the assistance of this technology, the All can indeed be utilized by one until it is fully embodied in that person. But no...." Now she smiled gently, seeing the sparks of eagerness beginning to dim in Shayla's demeanor. "No in that not just anyone can come up and consciously use it in that regard. Shayla, what I am about to say is difficult to understand, but you must if you are to ever gain use of this wonder:

"Not just anyone can use the All. But everyone has the potential within them to do so."

Now the Chosen Daughter of the Sith slid gracefully from her perch and held out her hands to Shayla. Her Adept dutifully followed; when she was safely on the stone floor, Graysith placed an arm about her shoulders and led her deeper into the cavern.

"Like the Force, the All is used from what has come to be known as both the light and the dark side of the inner psyche of sentients. But unlike the Force, the All encompasses both. In order to prevent All users from running amok and harming others, the Sorcerers created a dampener; it is another great device which is hidden someplace else, its location lost to the ages. But they realized that at times a need would occur where the All must be used against another; thus they created the Claw of S'slan."

Smiling a bit ruefully, she held up her right hand and wiggled her prosthetic finger for emphasis.

"But this is something which must be kept from the Galaxy," she continued. "If that were known, and every man finally learned how to utilize the All, I shudder to think what could occur. Perhaps a means would be found to bypass the restrictions placed upon it by the Claw; knowledge of the All must remain in the hands of the few, and those few bear a terrible burden. Shayla, have you not wondered why my Sire has not outwardly used this great power, or that my love has not used it to harm another?"

Once again she paused for effect. "It is because they have it within themselves not to do so. And that is something I do not even know if I myself possess as of yet."

Graysith came to a stop, turning now to once more take Shayla by the shoulders. Her violet eyes poured into Shayla's, practically willing the young woman to understand her next words.

"Shayla, I cannot show you what to do to take grasp of the All. There are no physical steps to memorize; there are no magickal incantations to say which would bring this about. It is something which comes from here..." She reached out a slender hand to lightly touch Shayla's forehead at those words. "...and here." Now her hand slid down to rest directly over the young woman's heart.

"All I can do is entreat you to remember all I have spoken to you, all I have shown to you. Remember everything, my Adept; from the time I took you from the Praxeum until this very moment. Balance is the key, but it is a balance you must find within yourself and not only accept as a part of yourself, but also be willing to act upon.

"And when you do...." Now she smiled broadly, and swept her hand about the magnificence which spread out around them. "All this will be at your fingertips as it was once at mine. It will then assist you in your endeavors.

"But now, before I take my leave of you, is there anything more you wish to ask of me? For once I leave you here, I do not think I can manage to return. I might fool my Dark Heart but only once; anything other than that would more than likely be seen as the act of a traitor, and I must avoid that at all costs."

[ 02-16-2002 10:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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...Balance...

Shayla smiled at the naturalness of the epiphanies which now sparked within. Then, as she realized the growing need for her Sister to return to her Lord, Shayla cast a greeny-blue pair of emotion-filled eyes to her Teacher. Her Sister.

"I am ready to embark upon my journey," she said at last. "I hope that our parting shall not be long. I shall take all that you have revealed to me and treasure it in my heart, as well as sow the seeds which will grow the knowledge which has been you have planted in me."

[ 02-16-2002 10:33 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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Her Adept was close, oh so very close....

Now she straightened, and pointed to a lonely little control. "Of all the devices within this cavern, that is the only one whose strengths have been revealed to me. Much of the others are known only to Lord Aelvedaar, and even he is not in full command of the entirety that is here. You must remember this always: these machines are not to be meddled with, or played upon, or attempted to be divined in any manner. They possess a great array of self-protection devices; my mental signature was incorporated into them the moment I gained use of the All, and so you were allowed in here through me. Touch them not: they are simply to be, to come to your assistance when they are triggered by you.

"Oh, they will know, trust me, my Adept!" She held up a hand again, fending off Shayla's questioning protests. "I was as you are now when I first was brought to this place; the most difficult thing was learning to view all this not as something to be used, but as something of use when the time was appropriate."

Pausing once more, she turned back to Shayla. For a long moment she simply looked at her, her gaze sweeping up and down her slight frame, almost as though committing it to memory in the event she would not see her ever again. Her eyes squeezed briefly shut against that thought; then they opened and remained glued to Shayla's, moisture once more threatening to flood them. The movement quick and impulsive, Graysith reached out and hugged Shayla closely to her, kissing her softly on her cheek. Then she held her out at arm's length.

"You asked what I wanted you to do here," she said quietly. "And now I will answer that question. Shayla, it is within this great cavern that I want you to find yourself. I know in my heart of hearts that you can do so."

Pulling away, she turned and pointed once more to the singular control. "When I am gone, trigger that lever," she instructed. "It will place a chronotic shield about this planet, which will protect you from my Lords or any other until the time comes for you to leave of your own device. You will know how to do that at that point, my sister."

She fell silent once more, heaving a sigh as she lifted an arm. "Remember what I said. Balance is the key. For every great love there is a balancing evil... for every action, a reaction. All for the greater good, no matter how others might view it.

"You must find it within you... and the willingness to act in either regard."

Suddenly finding that she was quite out of words to say, all the Chosen Daughter of the Sith could do was give her Adept and Chosen Sister a final, penetrating look. It arrowed deeply into Shayla's heart, pinning her to the place where she stood, and rebounded to pin her Teacher and friend likewise to her.

"Fare thee well, my sister," Graysith whispered, and waved a graceful hand. In less than a heartbeat, she was gone, leaving Shayla alone in the cavern with the incomprehensible power of a civilization lost to the Galaxy over four thousand years ago.

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

For every balancing love there is a balancing hate...

And every person has it within themselves to harness the All...

...Every person has it within themselves to love and to hate. And truly, every person has that which they love AND that which they hate. But only with true acceptance and action upon BOTH can one truly be whole.

Turning inward, Shayla opened the doors she had come so close to prying open so many times yet only now had become strong enough to open with ease.

You know what you love, and you know, deep down, what you hate.

But have you had enough acceptance to act on either one?

No. You've been walking around with the man you love like a blubbering idiot and you've yet to truly act upon that love.

And likewise, you've had more than one opportunity to act upon your hate, and YOU HAVE NOT.

Time to accept that which is within yourself for what it is, Shayla Stargazer Petrolu. As well as take the steps of confidence in yourself to act in turn upon that which is within.

Stop gazing at those stars, Ms. Stargazer, and reach out and hold tightly to them for all that they are worth...

[ 02-16-2002 11:36 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

And in another place built of secrets and rock, a star smaller by far but one with the potential to shine as brightly, began to flicker into life of its own....

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

And regardless of how things appeared to the outside worlds, those actions which she would take, based on all that she had accepted inside of herself, would be the right ones.

But what were those events that she had come to terms with? What emotions was she accepting just for what they were?

The emotion of a little girl at the Praxeum, taken from her parents. Her life had been decided for her, and she was angry. To top that, her parents had been killed while she was away. That time she should have had with them before she lost them had been stolen. She was angry and scared. She didn't understand.

The Jedi had told her that the fear and anger she had regarding these events would lead her to the dark side. But in squelching those feelings, Shayla understood that she had squelched an important part of herself. This was the root of the reason that Shayla felt the child soon to be born should be taken from her home and from the Jedi who would protect her. Shayla knew that the Jedi would only misguide this little one. Tell her not to accept anything within herself that hinted of the Dark. And thus they would dampen the potential the child held.

Another day in time. Shayla as a teenager, making the choice to leave the Praxeum. She had felt unsure of herself, afraid that she could never fullfill her potential. In the years since, she had regreted that decision. But now, as she looked back upon it again, Shayla realized this had been one of the best steps she had taken in her life. The choice she had made had been the right one. She had come in contact with many people, and although not all of those relationships had worked out for the best, eventually she had found Erik.

Erik.

The man that she knew, without a doubt, she loved. All this time, she'd been afraid to accept that love; afraid to tell him just how she felt. But she loved him, and in denying that part of herself she was again squelching that which she was. This could be no longer. She must let him know just how she felt, and the next time she saw him, Shayla vowed to herself that she would do just that.

And there was the love she had for her Sister. This, though shakey at first, came to Shayla the most easily. Graysith had done so much for her; she had taken her under her wing and taught her. She had lead Shayla to understand herself.

Shayla smiled at the thought, then her look darkened as another thought and emotion welled within her.

Woe to anyone who dared harm a hair upon Graysith's head. That other woman had killed her sister's child, and taken from her something very sacred and very special. As if to mock that loss, she had again returned, only to let Terrin Danner take the Claw of S'slan, and in doing so, bring further harm upon her sister's person.

Though acting upon that seething anger which she held for these two at this moment would be unwise, Shayla knew there would come a day when she would be able to do just that. She loved her sister, and no harm would ever come to her unreturned. As Shayla realized this, the frown upon her face shifted to a rather cold smile. Someday...you'll get yours.

Then, her smile shifted to something more pleasant as she realized what was occurring within herself.

This was who she was. And what she should be. All those feelings that she held weren't just meaningless. All those feelings that she held, be them Light or Dark, defined her very existence. And when she took a step back and took a good look at herself, Shayla suddenly realized she liked what she saw. She was a passionate woman, full of loves and full of hates. And she was no longer wary of letting those loves and hates determine her reaction to future events; this, in fact, was exactly how things should be.

And she reached and grabbed a handful of stars from her sky...

[ 02-17-2002 11:27 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

...and a very close approximation of an apple falls from seeming nowhere to the feet of a startled young Adept.

[ 02-17-2002 12:50 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The All ]

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

That light...

...Graysith's healing of her...

...a light of that same nature flashing in regards to that healing...

Shayla's heart swelled with pride as understanding struck. You've got it. You really, really, can do this.

Unthinkingly, she picked up the apple and took a bite. Ah, but the rewards of true understanding taste so sweet...

Do it again, young Adept. Close your eyes and see the apple tree, then act upon your desire to pluck an apple from its branches. Accept that this is what you truly want, and take the one small step of confidence into a much larger world...

...just one small step...

Smiling, Shayla set the apple in her lap and closed her eyes, feeling her hunger and her accepting desire for food. Holding a hand out palm up, she waited for the apple she knew would come to fall into her hand...

[ 02-17-2002 02:36 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

What the HELL was she still doing wrong?

Suddenly angry, she immediately recognized her feelings for what they truly were. Not anger over not having been able to produce a mere apple, but frustration at not being able to harness that which she knew was in her.

Harness?

You blockhead!

You can produce the "apple" when you accept all that is within you, NOT when you try to manipulate outside forces. That you will never be able to do. All you, Shayla, can deal with and accept is that which you find within yourself..

For all that is will, regardless of what you do, continue to be what it is. And that which is within you will also continue, and can only be of use to you when you accept it for what it is. Though you may try to manipulate the inside to bear fruit on the outside, only when you let what is be as it is can you truly bear fruit at all...

[ 02-17-2002 04:36 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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And elsewhere, another withers and decays into the soil upon which it has fallen.

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

Before you were trying to manipulate an outside Force to bring the apple to you.

This time you instead turned inward and realized that damnit, you wanted an apple.

And THAT'S when the apple appeared.

When you accept what is inside merely for what it is, the All will respond...

[ 02-17-2002 09:34 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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

"Small minds think in small terms!"
~~CMH~~
(I am NOT turning to the Darkside...)

In the light of this wonder, the converse is but simple child's-play....

[ 02-19-2002 11:35 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The All ]

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

"Small minds think in small terms!"
~~CMH~~
(I am NOT turning to the Darkside...)

"Small minds think in small terms!"
~~CMH~~
(I am NOT turning to the Darkside...)

"Small minds think in small terms!"
~~CMH~~
(I am NOT turning to the Darkside...)

"Small minds think in small terms!"
~~CMH~~
(I am NOT turning to the Darkside...)