She could feel his feelings where she stood, and hated herself for that even more.

Gulping a little, she bowed her head before him; then to the amazement of Recinis and the even greater incredulosity of the young jedi hovering in the background, she slowly fell to one knee before the horned one before her, bowing her head until her hair flamed down and entirely hid her face from his view.

But not from his sight.

Silence held sway for a long moment in which she struggled with what she should say. Then she let out a little sigh, and the words quickly followed in its stead.

"Forgive me, my Sire," came the barest of whispers. "I was wrong in how I acted toward you, in the thoughts I held toward you. My anger was great in that I felt I had been deceived by you; indeed, perhaps on one level I had the right to hold that anger against you. But--!"

Now her head came up, and once again she met his eyes with her own. "I have come to know that to act as I did was in response to my own feelings, and not for that of the Greater Good, which is why I am chosen by you. I did not see beyond my own nose; all I could see was a short byway of the path you have placed me upon. A path which I have readily taken; and once cleared of much obscuring overgrowth, one that I adhere to."

She paused a bit, swallowing again, forcing the remnants of her pride down and away, trying to remember all that he had taught her. Much came rushing to the forefront of her mind, bringing with it a coolness to relieve the pain she was feeling at having to humble herself before the great Lord of the Sorcerer Clan of the Sith. Then even that feeling washed away as she realized there was no humility to be dealt with whatsoever.

All for the Greater Good.

She calmed further.

"I need your help, my Sire," she requested softly. "There is one with whom I have allied myself with, whose love needs the assistance of one far stronger than I am."

With that she fell silent, remaining on her knees, letting her mind open itself to the keen blade of Aelvedaar's wisdom and abilities, that he should know everything that had happened to her and her destiny in the short time she had removed herself and her Sister from his protection.

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

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

Now I reach out a clawed hand, and slowly cup her face, entwining the locks of her hair between my fingers, allowing myself just a moment to marvel at the wondrous feel of it there, like spider-silk. It flows like my thoughts; with a bit of effort I bring the latter back under control and focus instead on the problem at hand.

"There is no need for apology, my Chosen One," I state lightly, now moving my hand from her face to her arm. There it applies a slight pressure, guiding her back once again upon her feet. "You have grown."

I now turn away from the surprise I see in her eyes, and letting my hand slide down to grasp hers, I then lead her and her new companion past the young jedi who yet hovers at my heels. Together then we go from the receiving room where I have brought my Chosen Daughter ere she had stepped foot back upon this place some would call K'eel Doba. The small smile on my face broadens at the thought of the ease with which she has come here, simultaneous with the dropping of the protective chronotic shield, which nanoseconds later once again formed a protective cover over this capitol city of the Sith.

None would know she was here... as none would know of Phrinnchatka.

Still smiling, I lead the threesome onward, coming at length to the incubator in which the babe yet floats in pre-birth slumber. I wave a hand toward the device; the other slips up to wrap about Graysith's shoulders and hold her tightly to me.

"It is time," I say simply, and press a button on the control panel hidden in a small alcove beside me. The churning sounds of Life fill the room with their robust beauty as, with the music the ocean wave sings upon a beach, the waters within the incubator abruptly descend, carrying the sleeping babe with it until it is gently deposited on the floor of the incubator.

A small door at the base whooshes silently open.

Within, the babe opens startlingly blue eyes. It--no, she, looks about herself, then kicks her tiny feet. Small hands ball into tinier fists, which she tries to stick together into her mouth. She does not succeed very well; eyes like a brilliant spring morning widen in surprise, then turn our way to place uncanny questioning into our midst.

I smile more broadly, and turn from the niece of my love to face her and Recinis and Erik.

"Here is your answer," I tell them quietly. Then I calmly wait for the outburst I am certain is to follow.

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

How was she the answer? Who was Graysith allied with? What gives here...?

There was something about all this he just didn't get. A piece or two or three or four pieces of the puzzle were missing. Realizing this, Erik resigned himself to waiting, glancing over to Graysith's new companion.

Who the heck was this guy? Where was Shayla?

Returning his gaze to the inquisitive blue eyes of the baby, Erik simply sighed a bit, hoping for some clarification in the matter; though he wouldn't be too surprised if he never quite understood, as this was somehow the norm.

Still, a certain shoulder-imp had it's way in gaining Erik's momentary attention as it very wisely stated, Keep your eyes and ears open, buddy...

[ 07-31-2002 09:48 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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For a moment I content myself with looking down upon her tiny perfection; then I turn to the Jedi and gently offer her into Erik Kartan's arms. His eyes widen a bit at that; they widen further with my next words.

"Silence is oftentimes an acceptable precaution, but nothing can be gained by not voicing questions within one," I say simply, clearly reading the thoughts tumbling about in his head. Then I turn from him, and motioning for the others to follow, lead them onward once again.

They do not hesitate, but follow where I lead. We depart this great temple via an avenue I have not yet revealed to anyone, travelling along a buried byway long forgotten by the Universe. At its end there lies an oval doorway; I lead the group without hesitation through it. We come to a platform of sorts, before which a sleekly strange vehicle awaits. The door in its otherwise featureless surface opens silently; one would never guess it had remained closed for over four thousand years. It closes in equal silence as we enter and seat ourselves therein, and a soft blue light pops on from no one spot, bathing us in its quieting light.

I cannot help but let loose a small chuckle as wonder laced with not a little bit of trepidation rushes through me: it is the transparent emotions of the others, who cannot help their visceral response to unknown Sith technology. "Fear not," I say, and offer no other words than: "This shall take us to our destination."

Even as I speak the car leaps forward; though we do not so much as wiggle as the inertia dampeners kick in, there is still a sense about us of great velocity and great distance being covered. I settle back to wait; the others follow my lead.

Time passes.

At length there is a sense of our slowing, again one we cannot consciously feel but are keenly aware of nevertheless. The door slips open and the blue light fades to black. Tipping my head so my horns will not impact the doorway, I arise and lead the others out of the transportation vehicle.

Before us is the Ch'arlingua spaceport, once the nucleus of the entire galaxy. Devoid of life, its myriad ships remain unaltered, dormant, awaiting their Masters both Sith and otherwise. Indeed, my placing the chronotic shield about Phrinnchatka forced more than my kin to stay here.

I indicate the spaceport with a wave of my clawed hand. "This is Ch'arlingua, and here you will find a transport. Chosen One can only hold two with any degree of comfort, and you have far to go, my friends."

Now I turn to the group, and once more await any forthcoming questions. Even the babe is quiet, as though overcome by awe of this place.

Or perhaps it is an uncanny form of eagerness....

[ 07-31-2002 01:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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"What is it i am missing? graysith, you know something, you have stated such before, what is it you have not told me?"

realizing what he had done afterwards, he froze.

your impatiants gets the best of you recinis he thought to himself...

[ 07-31-2002 01:12 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Recinis ]

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Erik then frowned, looking up to regard the back of the Sith Sorceror who was leading them, his senses keenly attuned to every aspect of his environment. Quietly he listened as the Sith directed them to the task, and paid heed to his reprimand.

The only stupid question is the one that's never asked, he recalled.

He nodded, and was just about to ask just who they were now allied with and just what they were about to do when Graysith's companion blurted out his own questions.

Erik halted, directing a curious expression at the new-comer, while the child continued gurgling and squirming in his arms.

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

She held out a hand to Recinis, placed it quietly on his arm. "All shall be revealed to you when the time is right, my friend," she said quietly. "For now suffice it that the Sith are dead, and their future lives lie in the hands of this little child."

Nipping off any further inquiries with a slight motion of her hand, she turned back to her Sire, waiting to see where he would lead them from here... yet somehow already assured of the answer.

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"But...how can the baby help us now? Why should we take her from this place, where she is protected...?"

His eyes never leaving the blue eyes of the baby he yet held, he awaited the answer as patiently as he possibly could. She in turn cocked her head to the side with her own brand of infantile curiosity.

As he continued to wait he couldn't help but think, Kid, I get the feeling I'm more clueless about all this than even you are...

[ 07-31-2002 01:46 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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"The bond between mother and child is the strongest one of all," I say with the simplicity of truth. "This babe holds the All within her as you held a propensity toward the Force; there is a place where these two great strengths may be channelled, increased, augmented to where the mother's mind may be restored to her.

"But!"

Now I lean forward a bit, taking in the young Jedi, raking my gaze over the quieting Recinis, noting how Graysith merely closes her eyes, shuddering a bit with the full knowledge of what may come.

"You must be wary. I cannot send you through the All; this child would immediately seek it out, overcome by its beauty, seeking to learn its every nuance. For to her, that would be the start of the road to learning of herself. You would arrive at the destination, but until this one learns a modicum of control, I fear she would fly from your group with the simple joy of being, mother-bond or no.

"Thus you must travel by more conventional means."

Now I step forward again, and lead them to a particularly wonderful ship. About the size of a Corellian light freighter, it is a familiar greeny-gold in color, its geometries somehow wrong, and extremely difficult to look upon. It's abilities are the same, if not more deadly, than the fighters which up until this moment were the only Sith ships to rove the galaxy in this time. I indicate the ship with another wave of my hand, and turn to face them.

"Take the Child and her mother to Korriban, to the Valley of the Dark Lords," I let my final instructions fall from my lips. "I alone shall remain here watching over this city; nothing may bring harm to it if the Sith are to be fully revived in all their glory."

I then fall silent, unwilling to elucidate further, knowing my Daughter will clarify matters to Recinis as they travel the path I know lay before them.

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

The love of one whom Graysith had allied herself with...

...mother-daughter bond...

...the child would be the answer...

Suddenly Erik Kartan knew exactly who their new ally was.

He looked down at the little girl for one long moment, then back to the Sith Sorceror. He nodded once, indicating understanding, ready to do his part in the task that lay ahead.

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

"Thank you, my Sire," came her quiet whisper.

Then all semblance of softness, of femininity, hardened into the aspect of a warrior. She visibly firmed, straightening up, the Glyph on her forehead suddenly ravening up the electromagnetic scale to hover at the barest edges of visibility. Her cloak somehow transformed itself into a shield, the look in her eye into a sword of vengeance. She turned that look upon her companions, taking no heed as to whether or not they flailed before it or remained stalwart in their own strengths.

"It is time we depart this place."

The comment was little less than an outright command. She hesitated not but strode toward the Sith ship, knowing the door would open before her and remain that way until all were aboard. At the entryway she paused, turning once again to direct a cool gaze into Aelvedaar's eyes.

"I shall not fail you, my Lord," she said firmly.

Then the hatch whooshed shut behind the others as they boarded and looked about themselves. Catching a passing Erik Kartan by the arm, she held him back a moment.

"Will you pilot us back to Khar Delba?" she requested, suddenly polite, somehow elevating him to her peer by that simple request. Her hand now dropping to stroke the baby's head, she waited for his reply.

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

Then, he gently deposited the baby into Graysith's keeping, heading for the cabin of this wonderful ship to prepare for departure along a carefully plotted hit-and-fade course to Khar Delba...

[ 07-31-2002 03:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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"Do not hesitate to call upon me if you need assistance," her voice wafted in his wake. "I do not know what you have learned from my Adept; you may find the controls of this vessel a bit... unfamiliar to you."

She then turned round to Recinis, cuddling the child to her breast as she did.

"Come, my protector, and stand as witness," she commanded softly.

A wondering Recinis following behind, Graysith now made her way to the ship's equivalent of a Captain's ready room. The chamber, though small, was richly apportioned with tapestries and glowing woods and jewel-graven images carved out in bas-relief upon its walls. In the middle stood a table made out of some sort of precious metal, which glowed with a life of its own. She gently kissed her niece but once, then laid the babe upon the middle of the table.

Pulling back now, and indicating Recinis stand beside her, she now took her Tooth of S'slan from her thrimm and held it up before the child. Then she turned the blade against her own flesh, slicing open the wound with which she had bound Terrin Danner and his party to her. Dipping a forefinger into the upwelling blood, she leaned forward and softly made a rune upon the tiny babe's forehead, tracing the mystic design against the soft newborn flesh there. It stood out in scarlet splendor.

"As is the one you will come to call Father, you and your destiny are now bound as one to the Sith," she intoned. Her voice, though quiet, was grave and full of respect as she replaced the blade back into its sheath. Then she turned her gaze back upon the babe, her eyes suddenly widening as she gazed upon her as if seeing her for the first time.

"I know you, little one," she breathed in a barely audible whisper, her mind now tracing back through her memories and links with all she had ever come in contact with. Firming a bit now, the Chosen Daughter straightened, now tracing yet another mystical rune in the air over the kicking baby.

"Little JhinDarra," she breathed, then fell silent, her hand dropping to her side, the blood from the palm staining her cloak with its life.

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

He stood and headed towards where he felt his companions' presences, and found himself in a small ready room. Pausing in the door, he glanced down a moment at the table in the center where the baby yet lay. He cringed back a bit at blood he noticed on her head, concerned. Then he realized the blood was not hers...and looked to Graysith. Her arm was slowly bleeding, and a trace of blood could be seen on her cloak.

Erik forced himself to meet her gaze. "I...think I'll be taking that assistance you offered," he said quite calmly. Then he quieted, waiting to see just what Graysith would do.

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

"Watch her," she directed Recinis; then she proceeded to make her way through the labyrinthine corridors inside the Sith ship. At length she came to the command center, where she led Erik to the control boards.

"There are the forward thrust controls, and the lateral braking jets," she began, pointing to two strangely shaped sigils on the navboard. "And here is our Sith-cloak..."

Bit by bit, one by one, she familiarized Erik with the workings of the ship. He was a quick pupil, drinking up the unfamiliarity and making it familiar like a sponge drinks up water. At length she found herself drawing back.

"I trust we will have no need of our ammunitions," she finished, showing him how to operate the greeny-gold disruptive beam the ship, as did the smaller fighters, held as its major weapons source. "But just in case, there it is, and here is how you operate it. It has a cascading effect: one does not need to make a lethal hit for the beam to utterly destroy the target. Take care, should you find yourself having to use it."

With that she nodded in satisfaction, watching as the young Jedi seated himself and began to play his fingers over the controls. Knowing he would have no trouble guiding them back to Khar Delba, she sent a silent thought to Aelvedaar, informing him of their imminent departure so he could momentarily drop the protective shield around Phrinnchatka.

Then she returned to the ready room and Recinis, who she felt certain was filled with questions of his own.

[ 07-31-2002 09:38 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Shayla would LOVE this baby!

Then he sobered, directing his attentions to the task once again. Safely breaking away from the all but dead Sith capital, Erik activated the Sith cloak and plotted his course, punching it in. The ship in turn smoothly--and quite effortlessly--slipped into hyperspace. In only a couple of standard minutes, she would fall from that course right into the space existing around the Khar Delban primary...

(((OCC: Follow Graysith, Erik, Recinis, and baby JhinDarra into the "Cry of the Sith" in the Jedi Praxeum and Sith Temple forum. Thank you!!!)))

[ 07-31-2002 10:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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It practically disappeared from orbit rather than descended, following the landing coordinates set up for it, homing in on a peculiar Sith beacon to where it had first departed, coming at length to what appeared to be a blank and featureless plain of sand and cratered rock. There it hovered briefly, until something opened up beneath it...

...and it was allowed entry back into the Ch'arlingua spaceport, buried deeply beneath the planet's surface on the outskirts of the hidden city of Phrinnchatka.

The barest of seconds had passed between the time the ship requested permission to land, had in physical fact done so, and the protective shield was once more raised. It settled into its berth with a deep sigh of content, opened its hatch, and promptly turned itself off.

Graysith nodded toward Erik in satisfaction, pleased with the way he had piloted the ship throughout its uneventful trip.

Uneventful indeed, she mused as she rose quietly to her feet. For while through the eyes of some this brief voyage would appear monumental in what it had procured, the fact remains that it could have been much, much worse for all....

Then she turned on her heel and made her way to the quarters wherein Captain Danner rested with his family. For a moment her jaw worked; then a slim hand raised itself to knock politely upon his door. A few rustles sounded within, then the door slid smoothly open to reveal a somewhat haggard looking Terrin. Behind him Galen and JhinDarra snored softly together upon the bed.

Graysith let a small smile escape her. "We have arrived back at K'eel Doba, Captain," she informed him briefly. "Lord Aelvedaar awaits us."

With that she bowed her head in brief acknowledgement to him, turned on her heel, and left him to exit the ship, coming out to stand at the top of the gangway. Her eyes scanned about the magnificent spaceport and came at length to where her Sire stood quietly waiting for them all to disembark. Bowing her head in a different type of respect, she came up before him and gazed quietly into his molten eyes.

"Our quest has been successful, my Lord," she informed him. "We have gained the personage of Galen Jhin'Dar Danner, and in good physical and mental health.

"But I regret to inform you that her emotional state leaves something to be desired. Although--"

Now her eyes slitted before his, like a cat's. Her following words were meant for his ears, and only his ears. And with a slight manipulation of the All she saw to just that assurance.

"Although in all honesty that is something which really has no bearing on the course of events from herein, does it not my Sire?"

She fell silent with that, smiling as he merely reached out one clawed hand to touch the top of her head. Then he turned in silence, and began leading her and those behind her back to the hidden Temple from whence they had departed from this place.

[ 08-06-2002 05:54 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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He sighed to himself, agony washing over him in waves he couldn't even stop.

He'd meant to protect them, not hurt her. He could never, ever, ever bear the thought of hurting her...

Tears glistened his eyes.

He was beginning to feel so very, very alone. Try as he might to fight it, when the one person in the Universe who trusts you withdraws that trust, it's really impossible NOT to feel alone.

He just hoped that she'd talk to him. Hoped that somehow she'd see past it all. He could never, ever stop loving her, no matter how terrible what he'd done seemed.

He HAD meant it for the best.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Galen, we are here."

Where exactly was here again...?

He continued to watch them quietly and simply waited for she and the baby to wake.

"How I wish you'd at least talk to me," he muttered, unsure if anyone was listening to him or not. "I only wanted for you and Darra to be safe...even from her..."

He trailed his eyes affixed to his wife's and daughter's apparently sleeping forms.

He so very desperately needed to talk to her...

[ 08-06-2002 06:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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Everyone, that is, with the exception of Captain Danner and his family.

Shayla began to rise to her feet when this slight annoyance came to her from her Teacher, but Graysith indicated she reseat herself with a slight motion of one hand. "This will not take long," she murmured quietly, turned, and retraced her steps back to the ship

That wonderfully greeny-gold paradox waited as before, somehow aware that sentients were still within its belly, for the still-yawning hatch beckoned before her. The Chosen Daughter didn't hesitate in the least but picked up the skirts of her cloak and reboarded the ship. There she strode uerringly to the quarters she had given to Captain Danner, and after knocking once upon the door, released it's mechanism.

It opened silently, and she stepped within. There she came to a halt, eyeing the somehow shrunken form of Captain Danner, who was sitting on the bed with one hand upon the shoulder of his sleeping wife. It appeared he was trying to awaken her; Graysith's frown deepened, then she smoothed it from her face and came up behind him.

A slim hand raised, hesitated... then laid itself gently upon his shoulder.

"She has been through a lot, Captain Danner," she whispered softly, so as not to awaken the sleeping JhinDarra... to no avail. However quietly the words had been spoken, they entered into the ears of the little babe, who promptly opened her eyes and considered the pair in front of them in an uncanny analysis of the situation. For a moment all remained frozen in some sort of bewitched silence...

Then Darra gave out a little coo, stuck her fist into her mouth, and began to gum it contentedly.

Graysith smiled at her niece, and turned back to Danner. "You would find far more comfortable quarters for both you and..." She hesitated momentarily, then continued smoothly on: "...your daughter, if you would but follow us into the city of Phrinnchatka. Not to mention your wife, who I believe is in the direst need of comfort of all of you."

Terrin's head jolted up at that, and he turned his eyes away from Galen for the first time. They met Graysith's violet pair, slamming up against something quite unreadable in their depths.

She smiled a bit more broadly, then tilted her head to one side and let her lids drop briefly.

"This way, Captain," she said smoothly, indicating the door with a wave of her hand. "It would not behoove you to keep Lord Aelvedaar waiting."

Then she turned about and, giving him no more heed, led the way from the ship once again and back to where the others were waiting for them.

[ 08-06-2002 05:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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She seemed to tilt her head at that, then continued to chew her little hand.

She's probably hungry, he thought in non sequiter as he began to follow in Graysith's departing tracks. Better make sure she gets something to eat soon. And face it buddy, better get yourself some sleep soon too.

Grimacing at that admittance Terrin walked on, holding his small family protectively to him...

...onward to whatever Fate which laid ahead.

[ 08-06-2002 06:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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A short time thereafter, and we have arrived at the Temple, where I let my Daughter see to their creature comforts while I hasten to the Crystal Octahedron to see what state the universe is currently finding itself in. That accomplished, I return to the Great Receiving Hall, there to await the arrival of those who have just been privileged to enter into this ancient and thoroughly hidden place.

[ 08-06-2002 07:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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Little Darra...

She kicked a cooed playfully, still trying to stick her hand in her mouth. It didn't quite fit, so she gummed it up, her blue eyes all the while assessing him. He grinned at her in spite of himself, and stood, holding her out just a bit and swinging her in the air, then pulling her down and closely to him again in a fatherly fashion. She smiled.

"You're gonna wake your Momma up," he whispered to her, playfully placing his index finger on her little nose. Then, "Let's go see what's up, and get you something to eat while she sleeps."

Cradling his little daughter to him, Terrin turned and quietly walked over to his Galen, leaning over and kissing her softly on the forehead. Then he backed out of the room, Darra all the while cooing and chewing her hand in amusement.

We have really gotta find you some food...

[ 08-06-2002 11:20 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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"Is he always this much of a slackard?" she thought into her mind, accompanying that with yet another sigh of impatience. Shayla only crooked her brows and shrugged, the tiniest of gleams in her eyes.

At length the sounds of booted footsteps could be heard echoing hollowly from the anteroom without, intermingled with the joyous sounds of a baby's laughter. The former brought Graysith's inheld breath out in a whoosh; the latter, a smile to her face. She turned around and watched as Captain Danner finally made his appearance, nodding his head from one to the other as he first greeted Erik, and then more nervously, Recinis, Shayla, Graysith... and finally the Great Dark Lord of the Sorcerer clan himself.

As though suddenly aware of his humanity in the midst of this strange group, he came to a quiet halt, rocking the still-chortling baby in his arms. He stood in silence, as though trying to think of what to say.

[ 08-08-2002 05:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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