he then closed his eyes, his face becoming blank once more. Leaning his head against the wall he let his mind wander.

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"AHHHRRRRRRHHH"

Lo-Ban laid there a few moments, holding his head...

He then got to his feet... supporting himself against a bulkhead..."I felt something, something so fierce... hatred, or regret.. an unbelievable regret for something... rage... I have been able to sense the moods of many over the years, at times even there thoughts... but, this is a first... whomever felt this, is not in there right minds, not in the least... the only problem... I have no idea who holds these great and terrible emotions... but, I believe we shall find out soon..."

Lo-Ban quieted, then waited to hear from the others...

She scanned quickly through the glyphs within, coming at length to those particular ones showing the spatial coordinates of Korriban. Now she reached out to the navigational board once more, this time to key in those coordinates so the ship would not only know of its destination, but the most efficient means of getting to it. She then replaced the ledger and sat back, now flicking on the primary forward viewscreen to watch the almost unbearable wonder of starlight being taken up as though it were a tangible thing, and stretched beyond them in taffy strings billions of lightyears in length.

She sighed, allowing herself to relax, one ear cocked to the slightly growing altercation progressing between her love and the young Loban, and was just wondering if she needed to go see what the latest problem befalling the young man seemed to be when yet another thought crossed her mind.

Now her smooth forehead creased in a frown of disgust with herself, the Glyph proclaiming how she felt to all who happened to be looking. How careless of her... indeed, this could have easily been turned into a grave error indeed. She had been lucky in her forgetfulness....

With a small motion, she set a chronotic shield into being about the warship, that no harm would come to them in their journey to Korriban. Then she sat back with a little sigh, deciding her love could easily deal with the young man. Settling into the chair for the time being, she prepared herself to quietly sit and wait out the duration of the trip, wondering if this endeavor would prove to be a successful one or not.

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"Perhaps you should spend less time sensing the emotions of others, and learn to control your own."
he stated blankly, clearly hinting his obvious belief that loban was yet a child, and needed to grow up.

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When had she missed this? Was it yesterday when she had been taken hold by that horrible despair? Or while she had been away taking Graysith's place aboard the Vong ship?

She frowned a moment longer at this then her look lightened.

Oh well, it didn't matter. Besides, Loban wasn't really a Jedi anyway, and lightsabers were useless weapons considering what they would be up against if trouble came their way.

Shayla really wondered why Loban was here at all. But then, that wasn't her decision to make, and the Sith always had justifiable reasons for everything they did, if people looked far enough to find them.

But small minds did think in very small terms.

Sighing at this thought, Shayla settled back into her seat and waited to see what else might occur.

[ 09-09-2002 09:27 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Mara1Jade ]

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"I'm just trying to help here... I can't turn it on or off like a switch... I only share what I sense, it can only help to voice what I know, it is up to others to judge... you do your thing, and I'll do mine..."

Lo-Ban then shot a quick look in Shayla's direction... then approached Graysith and the baby,"such a small... child, for such great importance..."

The baby kicked a bit,"They are so cute at that age... how so much can change between here and two years from now, I know not..."

"...that was a joke..." said Lo-Ban, with a faint smile on his face...

[ 09-09-2002 11:09 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Recinis ]

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She let time sprawl between them in utter and compelling silence. Then--

"Indeed, this babe is small, as you declare. But perimeters can be deceiving; she is stronger than she looks. As you yourself appear before me now in such obvious innocence; tell me, Loban...."

Letting the words trail off as she turned to hand the quiet JhinDarra to Shayla, she now rose to her feet to confront the young man directly. Her very aspect described the words she had only just uttered; Loban took a step back as her small and slight frame bore down upon him.

"What is it you mean by that comment, that things may change two years from now? What is it you know? Cease now with these endless games you play of innocence and being the victim; take care, and speak truthfully, or you shall no longer be allowed to remain here aboard this ship."

With that she fell silent, her eyes suddenly blazing in tandem with the Glyph on her forehead, which was suddenly and simply ravenous.

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"I... I merely meant a case of the terrible-twos.... it was a joke, I apologize for taking the moment lightly..."

"It would behoove you to joke less from this point on, young one," she finally said. "I may not be as forgiving the next time."

With that she departed from his presence, going now to where Recinis was sitting with the sorcerer, both seeming lost in quiet reflection. Not wishing to break the mood but simply to partake of it, she sat down, smoothly joining into their circle of two. In thus a manner she quietly waited to hear if anyone had any comments or questions about what lay ahead of them when they arrived at Korriban and the Valley of the Lost Lords.

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He then turned his gaze to loban for a moment, considering him in quiet contemplation.

He must find a way to control his emotions...i would teach him...but could one such as himself even grasp the concepts that took the sith eons to even imagin?

He sighed slightly, he would rather spend as little time as possible with loban...

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He didn't bother to turn, he merely lowered his head in disgust of his actions... he knew he shouldn't have made the joke, he just knew it...

Lo-Ban found a dark corner to sit, and ponder a few things...

Why did I come, indeed... you have a purpose... HOW? you have one, you just don't know what... but, you will make a difference... I WILL, no matter what, I will make a difference...

Such a small...child, for such great importance...?

It wasn't the words themselves she found herself not liking. There was just something eerie about his tone, something she made mental note of, should it later become important. But for now, she'd keep the baby as happy as she possibly could...and as far away from Loban as she could for the moment too. Something just wasn't right about the kid...

Looking down into JhinDarra's big blue eyes, Shayla couldn't help but let her mind wander to future hopes of having a little one or two of her own...

...with her future husband.

She grinned at the thought for a moment then sobered, turning her mind to the mission ahead, to Recinis's inquiry on the length of the journey. That particular detail Shayla wasn't sure of, but she had experienced the power of the Eternal Flame before. What she wondered, however, was just how they were planning on going about this. Would it take the strength of each one of them, along with the Eternal Flame, to bring Graysith's own little daughter to them?

Shayla voiced these two questions aloud in addition to Recinis's own question then quieted, gently rocking the baby as she waited to see what Graysith might reply.

[ 09-12-2002 10:36 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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But, then he sensed something... protection... from him?

He knew it was coming from Shayla...

but, why?

Had she miss understood him as well?

'small'... minds do think in small terms...

Could he have misjudged Shayla...

No matter... He planned on changing most impressions, on this pilgrimage...

She then turned her attention to the young Loban. Strange, this one is, she mused to herself. There is such a demarcation within him; it is almost as if he were actually two people encased in one, and each unaware of the other. As with the sorcerer, I do not sense any active potential for deceit; on the contrary he is quite filled with resolution... She smiled faintly, making a silent vow to herself to keep an eye peeled on this young one.

Next she turned her focus to Shayla, who was still sitting at the control center, quietly rocking the babe in their charge. Her faint smile broadened as she sensed the emotions that simple act set free in the soul of her adept; again her thoughts strayed a bit off-track. My Adept is to become one with this Erik Kartan, she reflected, unable to keep from shooting a slightly wistful glance in Recinis's direction. Indeed, I have been remiss in discussing this wonderful news with her; I must make certain to do so when we are safely back home....

Home. Such a simple term, yet one carrying so much meaning. So wonderful after a period of almost three years to have a place to consider such again....

Now she let out a little sigh, drawing outward once more, back into the reality of the warship, now taking in the words Recinis and Shayla were speaking to her. Waited a heartbeat more, and then finally replied to both in one smooth statement:

"The Valley shall reveal to us that which we need to know, and it will do so when we get there. Which will be in approximately 5 hours."

With those words she opened her eyes and shifted in her seat, moving her gaze between them all. "Does anyone have any other questions or concerns at this time?" she asked quietly.

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Why couldn't he understand the reasons everyone was so leery of him? Why couldn't he see that the jokes only made him appear entirely too unconcerned about the things which might occur?

Perhaps he was too caught up in the idea of finding adventure in life to realize that life, in fact, wasn't always that enthralling. That truly living was something beyond simple fun and games.

For even those with many adventures had many responsibilities.

Considering he was a Jedi wannabe, Loban sure didn't appear to be used to taking responsibility.

But then maybe he would learn, in time.

At that thought, Shayla suddenly realized something...or rather someone...that no one had thought about lately. "What of the young Thea Morgan? Should we recover her, would we then dare take the risk of sending her back to the Jedi Praxeum, or something else entirely? I'm not too certain she will be willing to trust us..."

[ 09-13-2002 12:51 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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"Yes, Shayla, you are right to bring this up," she said at length. "And the point you make is a valid one. I agree the child would probably not trust us in the least, even though the few times I personally interacted with her I always tried to be as kind as I possibly could. It is so difficult for a child to understand the larger whole of which they are but the tiniest part; but then..."

She stood up, stretched a bit, laid a hand on Recinis's shoulder and squeezed it. "But then, it is due to this inability that they are so trusting in turn, for they truly need guidance from adults and unconsciously seek it. I do not feel we would have to persuade her in any manner at all, as we would with a mature Jedi."

Her eyes cut briefly to where Loban yet hunkered in a cloud of gloom, before she continued. "I feel that with continued kindnesses and as much honesty as a child can deal with, she may gradually come to view us as friends. And she must, for I simply will not allow her being returned to the Praxeum. It is too dangerous at this time. I hope that eventually she will be able to be returned to her parents, but for now, I fear, she will have to find a new home with us in Phrinnchatka."

She left unsaid what was quite obvious to both her and her adept: that the child simply knew too much to go anywhere. Instead she let the unspoken words pass into Shayla's being by a particularly intense look she bestowed upon her. Immediately her eyes returned to their former and almost languorous expression, skillfully masking the concerns she herself was harboring about the little girl. Perhaps her sister and husband would be kind enough to temporarily give her a home and the stability she was undoubtedly needing at this point...

The merest wisp of a smile graced her features as, giving Recinis's shoulder another meaningful squeeze, she finished with, "I believe I shall retire to the observation lounge for a few hours, until it is time to make planetfall on Korriban."

With that she let her hand trail off his shoulder, drifting up to lightly caress his jaw as it did so, and turning about quietly glided from the company of the others.

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Then she eyed the controls in front of her curiously.

This was one mother of a Sith ship! And Shayla figured, what the hey, with the time to lounge and wait she might as well look over the controls and familiarize herself with the warship a bit...

...just in case...

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"You need not ask to join me, Recinis," she said simply, taking his hand. "For to you, and you alone am I merely Graysith, and not the Chosen Daughter."

With another little smile, she let his hand drop. The motion almost acted as a trigger, tripping to let loose the sudden wash of trepidation which flooded into her from nowhere. She swallowed, blinking a bit, before whirling away from him to go to the alien viewport. There she sent an almost stony gaze out upon the nullness of their protective chronotic shield, yearning quite suddenly to see beyond it, if not into the very future indeed.

Would this work? Would the child be enough to reach out across the immensity of millions of lightyears, to then take her own daughter from the clutches of the dark one who held her? Was this to be a successful mission... or one leading to more danger by revealing this ancient and revered place to the eyes and ears of intruders, dressed in the attire of an ally though they might be...?

She said as much to Recinis, though her back was yet to him. Her unfocused gaze still sought the unseeable, and she shivered as her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

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I believe you, my love. I believe that all shall be right... and if any should threaten, you shall make it right once again.

So she merely snuggled more closely, letting herself bask in the nearness of him and the surety he offered, letting everything drop away and remain away for a spell of time which passed beyond the awareness of her heart. At length, however, she drew back a bit, tilting her head to gaze up at him. In the look he returned to her she thought she beheld that future she had so recently sought; not saying another word but simply staring up at him she waited to see if that image indeed was true.

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...a moment bisected all too swiftly by a sudden call to the command center. Graysith drew back from Recinis's hold, her heart pounding yet in cadence with his, the Glyph illuminating them in its soft violet glow. From thin air came the sound of Shayla's voice, informing them they were about to come out of hyperdrive, and that they were entering into Korriban space.

She let her eyes fall into the wonderful green pair before her, once more thinking how alive those eyes looked, how alive they made her feel, how they almost seemed to represent life itself. When she started to speak, her voice was shaky, barely above a whisper. It echoed loudly in the otherwise silence of the observation lounge.

"I-- we must go now, Recinis," she finally faltered, beginning to stand up. All the while she kept her eyes glued to his, drinking them into her, holding his hand as the ship gave the slightest of thrumms about them, informing them that they had reverted to realspace.

[ 09-14-2002 03:02 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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[ 09-14-2002 03:19 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Recinis ]

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