Acceptance and Other Things(Complete)

[Lord Ghoul]

@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]
Abruptly, Mikhail paused midstep. That Jedi. The attractive one. He'd seen her before. And with a curse, Mikhail realized that there was one Jedi who had seen his face. The Jedi padawan Spencer Jacobs, Ashin's little blonde minion. Damn, I'm an idiot. Their cover had just been blown. How could he have missed this? A little convenient too, that he'd passed her within minutes of being inside the temple. The Force really did conspire against him. Or does it just attempt to weed out the weak? Shorn whirled around and began stalking back toward the blonde Jedi, his best smile on. She was headed toward the youngling center. Mikhail reached out in the Force. Maybe she hadn't noticed him. Maybe...

Surprise and fear emanated from Jacobs'. Mikhail, only an apprentice, used an immense amount of concentration to recognise what he sensed, but it was there. He followed after her, trying to hurry without appearing to hurry with moderate success. Warily, he glanced around, lest anyone else think he shouldn't be there, but he knew the golden rule. If you looked like you belonged, people would think you belonged. So, Mikhail just continued with an expression of purpose, but not one on a hell-bent mission.

The palms of his hands were slick with nervous sweat and his heartbeat kept up at a fast tempo. Despite the circumstances, excitement filtered through him and he smiled. Mikhail Shorn lived for danger, excitement, and daring escapades. It was part of the reason the Dark Side had such a strong hold over him. The allure of danger was something he could rarely avoid. It also happened to be the main reason behind his heretofor successfully womanizing ways. Jacobs is susceptible and easily frightened. He did not remember much of the blonde jedi, but what he could recall was how lost she had seemed among the Sith. Ashin had been the only one able to comfort her. And... she had not liked Mikhail, or at least had been frightened of him, if facial expressions were any judge. It would make things difficult.

Spencer rounded a corner and Mikhail followed several steps behind. The hallway was empty. Good. Some Sith would just kill the padawan and hide the body. As a Makashi practioner, there were few of his level in the Force that could best him in a one on one duel. He doubted this padawan was one of them. But that wasn't what he wanted. Mikhail suspected it would do more harm than good at the moment. Besides, Ashin would murder him if he sabered one of her underlings.

"Miss Jacobs," Mikhail's footsteps drew him level with Spencer. They both stopped walking suddenly. His pale blue eyes looked into hers with a through and through gaze. He saw recognition in her eyes. "We never had the chance to meet, officially." He smiled, disarmingly. "But you already know who I am." Threats would only scare her away and make her more likely to run for aid. No, he needed something more... winsome. He stepped closer, looking down at her. Not threateningly. Not with his smile.

Mikhail Shorn exuded confidence, non-chalance, and a certain bad boy air that made for a darkly charming aura. It helped that he wasn't the worst looking person either. Pretty damn far from it. In fact, he would be consider rakishly handsome by most. Obviously, there would always be detractors. But a poor, confused, young padawan who did not know what to do? Well, he would be terrifying, but also exhiliratingly charming. When Mikhail chose to put his best front forward, it was hard not to like him. At least, usually. Jedi might be a different matter.

"You're not going to tell anyone, are you?" Mikhail's expression became worried, those pale blue eyes, though piercing, were not unkind. "Master Varanin told you about what's happening, right?" He spoke to her as one would speak to a confidant: a touch of eagerness and a well full of trust. His force aura, covered by an illusion, would not betray him. "You don't trust me..." He said sadly after looking at her for a moment, his tone hurt. His smile disappeared. "We're not all bad you know." He filled his words with sincerity and a touch of the Force, making them meaningful. The words were not empty to him. In his heart, he wished them to be true. He simply took that truth - that wish - and imbibed it into the words he spoke. A rare gift, for an apprentice, but Mikhail had always had a deceptive streak. The Dark Side merely intensified it. "Some of us... well, we're like Ashin. If that makes sense."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa grinned at Hanna having lost her guards "They will be in hysterics, how can they possibly keep their jobs if they can't keep up with their Vice Chancellor." she chuckled "Training is going very well." she said her eyes flicking to Darren for a brief moment, she was about to ask another question when Hanna dropped her bomb shell on Darron. Her eyes widening she closed her eyes, she didn't need to see the barely contained scowl, she felt the flash of anger and that was more than enough to know that Hanna had hit a nerve she had no idea was there.
Opening her eyes again, deliberately avoiding his gaze she looked at Hanna and gave her a small shake of the head. "Bad call." she mouthed at her and the groaned at Darron's planned punishment, her own flash of irritation moving through the force.
"Its not like no one can see it, Darron." She replied a little more sharply than she had intended "Besides which you have me training night and d-" she stopped her face changing into one of confusion as something in the force shifted she could feel unease in someone. Frowning she looked away from everyone and tried to focus on it, finding the girl who had left them earlier.
Rising from the bench she took Darron's hand and extended her empathy again, taking him with her focusing on Spencer once more. "Something is wrong." The girl's aura had been so peaceful what, in the temple, could suddenly make her feel so uneasy?

 

[Allyson Locke]

@[member="Mikhail Shorn"]
She had stopped in the hallway; he was lead away from the group which left him here alone with her. He was over confident; she picked up on it though his force aura did make it a bit more difficult to pick up on his emotions. Turning, she smiled towards him. At one point they were teammates under the guidance of Ashin. Here though, they weren’t in that world they were enemies here and he was threatening her home. Like all the other Sith in that group, they all underestimated her. She was a lot stronger than she looked and with the private lessons from both Sirella and Ashin she was a bit more capable then she seemed.

“Your words say one thing, but your face says another... No, I’m not trying to warn the Masters – they’ve never listened to me in the first place so why should they start now. I’m heading towards the younglings to escort them out before the fight starts. They’re children; they’re not ready to see this sort of thing.”

While she spoke Spencer removed the cloaks she wore. If she was going to have to fight here, then she was going to make sure she could move. Echani blood flowed in her veins and she had learned some of their ritualistic fighting, of course the blonde preferred force technique. The young Padawan was trained by Ashin, she learned to recognize the woman’s traits and picked up on things that made her unique, a flare of anger came from the young girl as she listened to the Sith compare himself with Ashin – putting these intruders in her ranks.

“No I don’t trust any of you. I only trust those that have proven to be trustworthy. I trust Ashin and Sirella; both protected me and taught me. You and the rest of the Sith would have ripped me apart and you spent most of your time bickering like children. Don’t you dare place yourself with Ashin, you’re nothing like her.”

Taking in a deep breath, the young Padawan calmed her racing heart. She remembered her teachings and focused her entire being with the force. The Apprentice didn’t get to experience the young woman’s abilities back on Mon Calamari, the only people who had known what she could do was Ashin and Sirella. The Sith Apprentice was doing fine, what ruined everything for him was comparing himself to Ashin an obvious attempt at getting the young woman on his side.

Focusing herself didn’t take long, her hazel eyes locked onto the Sith Apprentice.

“You should have continued on towards your original target instead of following me here…I didn't even need to warn a Master because your stupidity just warned all of them you blew your own cover"

A burst of the force blasted out from the Padawan in a circle, she focused on creating a barrier of Force around her. The barrier expanded out and made a bit of a commotion.

“GET OUT! SITH DO NOT BELONG HERE!”

Her voice would echo down the hallway and to any ear in the area.

 

[Zalen Zennoch Ziad]

Zalen distantly sat on the corner bench of the hallway in the public accessable part of the Jedi temple with a brown hood on effectively hiding his face. He sat there just to sit there and was letting off little to none darkside energies. He continued to sit there in silence, still, but vigillant. He wouldnt move unless problems litterally came to the edge of his feet. He sat back and enjoyed the view casually as he blended in.

 

[Jsc]

*ooc: out of mutual respect for the plot this post is dropped. It will be deleted within 24 hours.

 

[Lord Ghoul]

OOC: well that's a different Spencer Jacobs than I've read before.
Everyone else, the "dark siders" auras are cloaked by illusions made by two Sith Masters. I'm growing a tad frustrated that this seems to mean nothing as every single one of the last Jedi posts has been "I sense bad gais." When there are no bad guys to be felt. It makes me sad.
@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

The force barrier rippled outward, making Mikhail sway as he regained his balance. An expression of true hurt flashed across his features and from him in the Force. Part of him had hoped she would listen to him. He felt so alone amongst the Sith. A small, naive part of him thought that Spencer might be his salvation, or at least someone to talk to. Really talk to. He was so tired of all the constant mind games, the trickery, the canniving, the backstabbing. But he had been a fool. I am incapable of being saved. There's too much blood on my hands. I really am just another Sith, aren't I? He so desperately longed to be different from the other power hungry idiots who lumbered around with their monologues, waving lightsabers and dueling everyone they came across. Yet, no one saw him that way. Just another Sith. Just another enemy. Just another villain.

With an extension of his sense in the Force, Mikhail ascertained whether or not any of the other Jedi had heard, by the mass feeling of surprise and confusion he guessed they had. His jaw clenched and unclenched. Apparently, he had underestimated just how much Spencer Jacobs disliked him. "I didn't blow my cover, barbie. You did that all on your own," He said coldly, with an accusatory stare.

His blue-grey eyes stared with anger, hatred, and... as the facade he wore slipped, anguish as well. Pale features contorted in rage. Desperate, hungry, unsated fury. Anger at himself. Anger at the Sith. Anger at Spencer Jacobs. He had tried so hard to be nice. And look where it got him. Better off playing the monster, that way at least people would know what to expect and not be disappointed. He would have reached out and destroyed her then. Padawans, no matter who they were trained by, were not on a different level of strength than a Sith Apprentice. Mikhail had seen Spencer in the midst of combat on Dac. Her abilities did lie in one on one contests, or else what he had seen was a complete lie. Power welled up within him. Power to crush her and then skewer that blonde haired, hazel eyed face upon his crimson blade. He began to reach out, but stopped suddenly. Those eyes. They looked like.... the rage was subverted in a flurry of emotions. Confusion. Grief.

He dropped his extended hand, his face rent by emotions. Confusion filled his voice and his face. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm nothing like Ashin. Or maybe you just don't know Ashin well enough." Pale blue eyes seemed to look through Spencer as he stared into her eyes. "You were right not to trust me. I don't trust myself." He turned his back on her, his arms trembling as he tried to restrain his vengeful fury. "Get out. Get out now and take the younglings with you before I change my mind."

Can I do one good act? Or is sparing a single life too much for me?

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

As the Sith spread out, moving on their different routes through the Temple, Tirdarius felt confident enough in the integrity of the illusion that the two Masters were projecting over themselves and the others - none of the Jedi had so much as given them a second glance as they walked through the corridors, the entrance to the grand building long past them. Not as difficult as perhaps we might have expected, the Sith Lord mused, pleased that everything was going to plan.

He still had reservations about the plan - truth be told, he had no expectations that they might all get out of this one in a single piece, but Tirdarius felt you had to be realistic about such things. We all serve and place our lives at the disposal of the Empire, he mused, though he was well aware that few of his brethren felt that way. No matter - whether they see themselves as part of the greater whole or think that they are using the Empire for their own purposes, they can still die for it, willingly or not. He hoped it would not come to that, naturally, but he wasn't about to deny the possibility.

The weak point in the plan was naturally the Apprentices - the two Masters could more than handle themselves, but their younger brethren weren't so well trained and probably would find themselves in serious trouble if the illusion were to waver or dissipate entirely. After all, a Master who can create one illusion can easily generate another of better use. The Apprentices would not be so lucky: once their shielding vanished, they'd be fodder for every Jedi in the building. Though no doubt they'd do their share of damage first. It wasn't going to come to that, however.

A loud shout within the corridors drew his attention, as it did of every Jedi in the area. Tirdarius prepared to draw upon the energies around him with the intent of severing the illusion and preparing for a heated defense, but his sense of the Jedi around him did not suggest that he had been revealed for an imposter. This is something else, he thought reflectively. The shout said 'Sith', so we have been compromised...but to what extent? The Sith Lord projected his sense out to touch the minds of the others, trying to work out who was the one responsible. Nearly getting us all into considerable trouble, naturally.

Ah, there it is. It was the presence of Mikhail that he could feel fluctuating within the link, the emotion they were supposed to keep concealed boiling up to the surface and lightly penetrating the encompassing net of the illusion, no doubt exposing his presence. And so, climbing that mountain, I must make the decision to cut the cord, the Sith Lord mused. Inhaling a deep breath and coming to a brief stop within the corridor, he worked inwardly to modify the illusion he had cast - a difficult thing to do in the middle of a tense situation like that. To drop the net in one place without showing that there is one...that's the tricky part. Mikhail himself had given him the opening to do it, though: the outpouring of emotion that was coming from the younger man just had to be allowed to penetrate the net just a little...

It was as though a mist were suddenly dissipating across Mikhail's mind, the emotions beneath the surface suddenly far more visible than they had been before, as though he had been concealed by a pond of placid water and had suddenly chosen to surface. Not that doing so is a voluntary act, is it?, Tirdarius mused, dropping his protection over the young Apprentice, the illusion void on the boy, so his nature was fully exposed to the Jedi. Now, a true lesson for you, boy: survive when all else is against you, if you can. Tirdarius had to surpress a smile at the thought. Now we'll see if you're really Sith.

"Continue on your tasks, brothers," Tirdarius said, projecting his thoughts telepathically to the others. We're in business now, he thought with amusement, his features smoothing out into a calm expression as he turned his footsteps further down the corridor, heading deeper into the Temple and away from the now-exposed Apprentice, he who would bear the brunt of the Jedi's wrath, for now. And if he survives...well, we'll see.

 

[Darron Wraith]

Through the Force, he had felt the Padawan named Spencer's unease through the Force. Yet he had honestly paid it no mind, if he reacted to every Padawan in the temple who was upset with something he would never get any task done. It's nothing Wraith, he thought to himself as he watched the hand to hand combat before him. Neither man seemed to be in a hurry to attack the other, still in the stage of sizing each other up. I hope all this build up isn't for nothing, a soldier versus a Zeltron isn't an everyday sight. Every muscle in the men's bodies was taught and they both appeared ready to pounce on one another, their anticipation practically bubbling to the surface right in front of him through the Force. Can we go ahead and get this over with? He was normally a patient man, but he knew first hand from experience that there was nothing to be gleaned from simply sizing your opponent up, you had to get in there and actually fight to learn about them as a person.

I've really got to get out of this temple if this is all my free time has become, he thought to himself.

Blue eyes went to the Vice-Chancellor and Rosa, and he spoke to them, his words echoing across the training hall. "Well it might be visible, but it is still an eye sore. Had they spent half the effort it took to make that into trying to find me it wouldn't have been necessary. I guess they just liked the idea of a Jediscicle." He let the sarcasm drip from his words as he paced a little still waiting for the combat before him to start, his mind fully ready to start harping about the flaws of the Council. Well that was until he felt that same unease, then just at the edge of his hearing he heard a scream from the Padawan. I have no idea what she said but I heard Sith. His head snapped to the door and at that moment he could feel something revealing itself. It was dark, yet there where traces of sadness, but that undeniable rage was there in spades. A Sith is in the walls, that's why the Padawan is uneasy. His mind connected the dots quickly and he without hesitation headed towards the door.

His hand of durasteel quickly found Rolf's lightsaber hilt, the one with the azure blade and he tossed it to Rosa on his way out of the door. "Here, follow me and do not activate that unless I give you permission." He looked to the Vice-Chancellor and spoke in the same demanding tone. "You will follow me and you will stay close by do you understand? I will not take no for an answer and your safety is paramount. Now you two follow me."

His boots echoed off of the marble floors as he made his way down the hall and closer to the dark presence and the Padawan's unease that were practically radiating through the Force. The temple guards merely nodded to Darron as he confidently strode down the halls and towards the pair before him. So that's the Sith, and there's Spencer. The Jedi Master stopped next to the Padawan, and he crossed his powerful arms across his chest, his brows furrowed as he looked the man over from head to toe. Darron opened himself to the Force and allowed his presence to be felt for what it fully was. He had no intent on fighting with this man, besides there wouldn't be much of a fight between an apprentice and a Master. Play it smart Sith...please.

He looked the man right in his pale blue eyes and let his power in the Force roll over him, trying to show him that there was no point to even try and fight at this point. "Listen, I don't know who you are or why you are here, but I will promise no harm will come to you as long as you cooperate. Do we have a deal Mr...?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

@[member="Mikhail Shorn"] @[member="Darron Wraith"]

After the blast from her body subsided she blinked and listened to him talk. Her body was hit with another array of emotions from the man, this time they were different mixed with much hate from him. Of course, hate was a staple emotion from the dark side, but his was different. She looked at him – differently now of course. Most would have attacked her as she let his position known, but he didn’t he thought about the younglings in the next corridor, he wanted her to get away from. Spencer felt somewhat guilty now; she assumed and gives him the benefit of doubt. She was no better than the blind masters who hunt down the sith never giving them time to reconcile.

Spencer felt her hands ball up into fists as she fought the urge to blast him with another force power, she hadn’t liked him when she worked with him when she was with Ashin, but the guy hadn’t done anything wrong. She was no better than the Sith wanting to fight him. Spencer pondered, wondering if it was her own selfish need to show him that she’s strong that drove her to attack, either way she was in the wrong here. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as a couple of the younglings had poked their heads out wondering what was going on. They were worried and scared, Spencer felt that and her attention returned to Mikhail.

“Maybe you’re right, maybe I don’t know Ashin as well as I like to think…but I trust her. As for you, I don’t trust you, but I can’t live with the fact that I just probably signed your death certificate.”

Moving forward, Spencer reached out and grabbed Mikhail’s hand. At one point they were team mates even though they were from different sides of the force. There shouldn’t be a good and an evil the more she thought about it. They were all special and they needed to work together to bring a balance to life.

“Master Wraith?!”

Spencer listened to the Master Jedi speak to Mikhail, she knew she had caused him to get caught. Guilt washed over as she stepped between the Master Jedi and the Sith Apprentice. If anything she could protect him from anything that the Jedi were going to do.

“Master, he has nothing to do with anything. He’s just…lost. I’ll show him the way out.”

 

[Rosa Gunn]

The emotions screamed at Rosa as the were revealed and she look at Darron as he moved without missing a beat and tossed him Rolf's saber. She caught it nimbly and offered her hand to Hanna, waving a hand in acknowledgement to Darron. "Do you have a comlink? Now would be a good time to find out where your guards are." She realised then that Darron was making a beeline straight for the sith.

That's it Darron, she thought to herself rolling her eyes, lets take the Vice Chancellor to the Sith. Still she followed him nonetheless her hand wrapped tightly around Hanna's. As he approached Spencer and the sith, Rosa slowed down, falling back from Darron and placing herself firmly between Hanna and the sith. Extending her empathy she reached out to both of them, searching for something to make her understand why Spencer had just screamed out to warn them all and yet was leaping to his defence. She picked up on recognition and guilt.

"You know him," She said softly stepping forward cautiously "Why would you alert the whole temple of his presence and the defend him?" she wasn't really looking for an answer, more voicing her curiosity. Switching her gaze to the Sith pushing harder with the force to reach deeper into his mind searching for an answer, for memories, her eyes fluttered closed as she did "Why are you even here?" she whispered, both in his mind and to those around them.

 

[Lord Ghoul]

@[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Darron Wraith"] @[member="Rosa Mazhar"]
The clatter of boots upon marble flooring alerted Mikhail to the presence of more Jedi. Rage flickered behind his eyes as he felt Tirdarius release the Force illusion over him. Cutting him loose. Mikhail reached out in the Force, but felt no other stygian presences. The others were still cloaked. He should've seen this coming. Oh wait, I did. Is it strange to tell myself "I told you so?" Hmm, I might be going insane. He barely restrained himself from whirling and impaling the Padawan in retribution for what she had done, despite the consequences But there were a great many reasons why not to. Still, none of those reasons would have mattered if not for those eyes. Hazel. Like Alexis'.

Mikhail shrugged his shoulders as the Jedi approached. He turned to face Spencer. "Well, blondie, looks like it's out of my hands." Probably just as well, for you. His dark brows drew together over wide eyes as he stared accusingly at her, but when she spoke she said she couldn't stand signing his death warrant. He scowled. Riiight. Sure. He turned to face the Jedi as they drew within conversational distance. A blond haired man stood foremost in the group. The man seemed oddly familiar for some reason. Mikhail had seen him before, but where?

Tall, he towered over Mikhail by several inches. Where Mikhail was pale and lean, this man was tan and well muscled. Where Mikhail's face was made for mischief, with a seductive smile, expressive eyebrows, and secretive blue eyes, the blond giant had a stern face. Like granite. A face one didn't trouble without having a deathwish. Good thing Mikhail had one. Pale blue eyes met electric blue. Ice met lightning. Power in the Force aside, two powerful and polarizing personalities met for the first time. And not a few sparks flew.

Immense power surged outward from the Jedi. As powerful as Tirdarius? Certainly. Perhaps more so. Mikhail had never felt a presence this strong in the Force. Light or dark. But then he had never encountered many of the powerful figures among the Jedi and Sith. A reason he was still alive, no doubt. But for how much longer? Mikhail raised an eyebrow, his laughing eyes watched the man mockingly, smirk still plastered on his face. The Jedi spoke.

"Listen, I don't know who you are or why you are here, but I will promise no harm will come to you as long as you cooperate. Do we have a deal Mr...?"

I love Jedi. Codes. Honorable Jedi. Wonderful Jedi. They adhered to codes . He wasn't a fool. Trying to fight a Jedi in the Jedi Temple he would end up skewered fifty ways. But who said he couldn't throw a few verbal punches? They would not murder him if he came without resistance. He thought. He resurveyed this Jedi. No, he doesn't seem like the sort who'd chop off my head if I 'surrender'. But I've been wrong before.

Suddenly, Spencer grabbed his hand. Mikhail raised his eyebrows as she covered for him. What, now she cares? Wow, this could've come sooner. Mentally, he shook his head. Using the Force, Mikhail telepathically communicated with Spencer. As an Apprentice, it took concentration, but the Jedi Master would not be able to intercept thoughts. He hoped. "Way too late, blondie. Nice try, but this won't work. You're only going to end up on the wrong side of Jedi Justice over there. Remember this. This is you handing me over to your Jedi friends. Even though I work with Ashin. You're trying to fix it now, but you screwed up. Now should I keep your secret? Even when you didn't keep mine?" His mouth crept sideways in half-faced, toothless grin. "Didn't think of that, did you? We'll see. Depends on how vengeful I'm feeling."

The Sith Apprentice made no move to draw his weapon. He simply glanced behind the big, blond Jedi and at the padawan and... vice chancellor behind him. Mikhail winked at them. The fact that he was still able to keep up a facade of non-chalance even when things seemed bleak spoke a few volumes about what type of man he was. Or maybe just a few words. No, one word: danger. He lived for it.

"Mikhail Shorn." Realization suddenly hit the Sith Apprentice and he remembered where he had seen Wraith before. He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes curiously. "Didn't I see your face on a statue outside?"

The Jedi behind "Master Wraith" stepped forward and asked Spencer some rather pointed questions. She's not wrong. He glanced back to Wraith, but felt a foreign presence touch his mind in the Force, seeking answers. The mind behind the touch clearly did not know the subtleties of searching another's mind as the encounter was rough. Mikhail had had more than a full year of training under the most horrific conditions the Sith had to offer. In that gladiatorial camp of initiates, where the weak were bled out, Mikhail was forced to survive; survive against other initiates trying to kill him before the final day, when all initiates fought to the death and only six remained, the lucky few being named apprentices; survive against Sith trainers who sought to break him at every chance, both in body and in mind; survive against his own weakness and petty emotions. It was not his choice, but the ordeal forged him into a man whose mind was not so easily revealed to one who had only just discovered her talents.

Many initiates had tried to use their powers to crack other's minds. The simplest response and one not requiring much skill in the Force was feedback. Mikhail didn't have to fight her. He would just give her a bit more than what she was probably looking for. Rather than retreating from her touch, he sent her a vast flood of emotions, happy to have an outlet for his rage at last. A wave full of his enmity, unspent fury, confusion, anguish, suffering, grief, loss, heartache, loneliness, chagrin, animosity, vengeance, sadness, and loneliness roared over her. The emotions were unconnected to any memories or events. Just pure, raw feeling. Without any reference for where the emotions came from, well, the effects could be quite breath taking... even painful. After all, she was feeling how Mikhail felt. With such a tide of emotions, only the more skilled of Force Users, Knights and Masters, would be able to distinguish individual feelings. To everyone else it was just... a lot of pain. Pain and hate. The very things Mikhail had to live with every day.

They were human feelings. Yes, there was much anger within him, but many beings were filled with anger. Not necessarily Sith. Regardless, the electric blue eyes of Master Wraith did not look fooled by Spencer's attempts. And Mikhail really did not like people prying into his head. His pale eyes snapped to the other female Jedi's face with a piercing gaze.

"Hey," he said, his tone offended and sharp. "Ever heard of asking first? It's not okay to just rip into someone's mind like that." He turned to look at Spencer. "As for barbie Jedi and I..." He reached out and put an arm around her waist. "We're terribly in love. Can't you see?" The frown disappeared and a smile absent teeth or any humor save snide cynicism formed upon his face again.

 

[Hanna Ike]

Hanna was really wishing she had some way to defend her self. She decided running would draw attention to the fact the Vice Chancellor was indeed in the room with a sith. So she pressed the button on her person, that sent her location to her guards. She smiled as 4 men came guns out and ready for anything. They only recognized Rosa so thus they shouted " Step away from the Vice Chancellor" Surronding the Vice Chancellor and Rosa.

 

[Darron Wraith]

Darron could feel Rosa's thoughts radiating off of her, and her doubt didn't sit well with him one bit. "Rosa, the Vice-Chancellor would be safer with me in a war zone than alone with a room full of her guards. I promise whatever you throw at me I can handle, wouldn't be the first time." A knowing look crossed his face as his electric blue eyes stared deep into the Sith's pale blue eyes. This man before him was a few years younger than himself, probably early twenties at the oldest. Judging by the way he carried himself, Darron could see the certainty of a soldier and a warrior, he was comfortable in his own skin clearly. Though his face had stubble and his hair was longer, this man clearly had held another position before joining over to the darkside. His eyes conveyed the undeniable rage and hate that powered his abilities, there was absolutely zero emotional control there and Darron could see a bit of himself in the man. Behind every man's hate and anger, there is always sadness and pain. Someone, or something hurt this man and I intend to learn just what you are doing here.

His face hardened as he contemplated on him some more, he could feel a message being transmitted through the Force from him to Spencer but he didn't bother to try and intercept it. The fear and uncertainty radiating off her let him know he was in no danger from her, in fact it seemed as if she was trying to protect him. How noble of her, I'll have to write that in a report on how good of spirit she is. He filed that specific thought away as the man introduced himself as Mikhail Shorn, and how he was attempting to give the weakest of lies possible. Love, really? Darron could only shake his head at that feeble lie, he didn't need the Force to see through that one. It took a good bit of will power to actually keep himself from laughing, but he kept his composure nonetheless.

Rosa's Force signature radiated behind him and he could feel her attempt to get into Mikhail's mind, not smooth Rosa. As expected the Sith took offense and showed some of the rage that was buried beneath those pale blue eyes. Way to prove your innocence, lets just announce it shall we? Darron positioned himself between his Padawan and the Sith, just in case things got testy, his powerful arms still across his broad chest. "Listen, Rosa don't invade someone's mind without permission. Although it was a smart idea, even in the attempt you got him to show how he really acts." He made sure to keep his tone fair so Rosa knew he wasn't admonishing her, blue eyes turned to Mikhail. "You on the other hand need to watch your tone, you are in our house after all and should be respectful. Do that and we will treat you as fairly as possible am I understood?"

Darron could still feel Spencer's unease and he decided to try and ease her mind. "Listen Spencer, I promise no harm will come to him okay? I just know that he doesn't belong here for any reason, he clearly isn't here to defect and Sith rarely travel alone. I give you my word that I will protect him should it come to that okay?" He made sure to let the Force radiate through his words so that she knew he was being serious and so that she could feel his sincerity and honesty. As he spoke he keyed in a few commands on his comm unit in his prosthetic forearm to initiate a security scan of the temple just in case there were others. Once his orders were put in, he turned his attention to the echoes coming down the hall.

More Sith?

His senses reached out and he felt just normal humans coming his way, they where clearly the Vice-Chancellor's guards. Each one of them circled her and Rosa with their guns pointed at everyone else. Darron turned to face them while sending a message through the Force to Mikhail, try anything and I will put you down. It wasn't a threat, just the Jedi being honest with him while he assessed the situation before him. They were clearly doing their job, but he could feel their aggression and fear emanating off of them. "Vice-Chancellor, either call them off or I will dispatch of everyone of them before any of them can so much as pull a trigger."

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

A Sith?, Teynara thought, following the others to work her way over to Spencer, the entire group relocating, coming to stand around a young man with blonde hair, strange blue eyes and the look of one caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He's clearly not supposed to be here, Teynara thought, but in truth, she didn't imagine him nearly half as evil or horrifying as the others had always suggested. So, hasn't slaughtered any babies, isn't slathering at the mouth, hasn't instantly gutted the one person who gave him away... Either the other members of the Order were exaggerating (and she wasn't entirely convinced that they weren't), or something wasn't quite right here.

She paused and simply observed the conversation between her and that tall blonde Jedi Master who had seemed hell bent on bringing the Temple down around their ears for training purposes. Teynara still wasn't entirely convinced that he wouldn't before the day was over, but she'd never been overly approving of those who chose violence as their first reaction. At least he's restrained himself this time, even if that was more of a threat than a promise of protection, she thought, thinking of what the Master had said to this Sith...Mikhail, was it? Right, something like that.

In love, though? She turned her pale blue eyes onto this Sith, her expression becoming slightly disapproving. Lying through his teeth on that one...tilted his head slightly, grasped her too possessively, tone bordering on sarcastic... She really hated it when people did that - did this guy not get that there was a Jedi Master not a hundred miles away who would probably be quite inclined to rip his throat out if he didn't fully co-operate? At least, that's what I suspect he'd do. Thus far, Master Wraith hadn't exactly proven that he lived up to the reputation of benign and learned Jedi Master as yet - although, admittedly, she still wasn't entirely sure what to expect of one of the Masters. Not like there are many of them walking around and interacting with us subordinates, she thought.

Her reverie was fast interrupted by the arrival of several armoured guards, dressed in Republic Military dress and all armed with what looked like fairly well-kept Blaster Rifles, all trained on the group. The momentary shock of their arrival vanished quickly as that Jedi Master spoke again, threatening their demise if they didn't back down and stop aiming their weapons towards the group. Guess the VC hit her panic button...they really need to confiscate that thing at the door next time.

Stepping around the rest of the group with several short clicks of her bootheels against the polished stone floor, Teynara placed herself in front of the remainder of the group - since the guards had effectively cordened off Rosa and the Vice Chancellor - with a Sith right behind me, essentially placing herself right ahead of the blaster rifles, such that she could see right down to the barrels, knowing fully well that it would be fatal if they got twitchy. Her expression was cold and about as disdainful as it ever got, her usual calm face devolving into an obvious frown.

"Are you boys kidding me with this? This is a Jedi Temple," she observed with emphasis, placing her hands on her slender hips and staring at them with a disapproving expression. "You fire a shot and it's likely to get batted right back at you, so all you get for your troubles is a smoking hole where your chest used to be!", she added, rolling her eyes at the idiocy of the situation. "Not your fault that the woman you're supposed to be guarding gets a little twitchy with that panic button, and you should really talk about that sometime, but you've got no call to be aiming weapons at people who haven't done anything to harm her or you." She raised a fair eyebrow, as if to question whether they had any common sense on them. "Face it, if anyone here wanted to hurt the Vice Chancellor, her hand wouldn't have made it to the button. Think about it."

She shook her head with her long blonde hair flowing around her shoulders as she did so, her disapproval quite complete for the moment. Boys and their guns, she thought with a sigh. Why do they always have to act like the only way to solve a problem is to shoot it until it collapses to the floor in a smoking, bleeding heap, as if that ever does anything but give the rest of us more cleaning up to do? She never would understand that, but for the moment, there was another fish to fry...

"And as for you," she said, turning towards the tall blonde Jedi Master, her mouth pursed in that same disapproving expression. "Have you any idea how to talk to people without threatening them? Like, ever?" She removed her hands from her hips and folded them over her chest, staring up at the Jedi Master without a trace of any particular fear or concern. Might be big and blustering, but we all know what that means... "These men are doing their job: responding to a potential threat against their protectee. Is it stupid? Yeah. Did she panic? Absolutely. Do you need to cut them into tiny pieces simply for aiming a weapon at you?" She paused, letting that question roll around for a moment. "Obvious answer: NO. They serve the Republic, as you're supposed to. Stop worrying about them, start dealing with why the VC hit the panic button. Or had you forgotten our Sith friend while you're busy sizing up our trigger-happy companions?", Teynara asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

Jaxton's jab was blocked by the soldier's forearms as he raised he hands to block. He tried to get in closer to land a hit but Jaxton layed in another couple jabs, one connecting with his torso and the second jab being blocked. The soldier then took a step forward, and Jaxton leaned in for another jab, but the soldier took a step to the side and grabbed his wrist, stopping his motions by pressing on muscles Jaxton hadn't used in a fight before. Jaxton took his other arm and attempted a jab at the soldier, but he evaded the blow and connected two jabs to Jaxton's stomach. Jaxton recoiled from the two blows for just a second, then instead of trying to attack pulled his captured arm inwards to get closer to the soldier. The soldier came in a small distance, then let go of his arm and landed another two blows to his chest with a jab from each hand.

Between the heat of the battle and the pain in his chest, Jaxton couldn't see or hear anything that didn't involve his opponent. But then he began to feel something, something dark, he felt a Sith. A Sith on Coruscant. In the Jedi Temple no less. Something was wrong. Jaxton turned to see that his audience had left him, then used the force to increase his speed and doge an incoming punch from the soldier. "Something's wrong. We've gotta go." Jaxton said in an urgent tone that wouldn't be mistaken for cowardice or desire to get out of the fight. He used what little telekinetic strength he had to pull his lightsaber and Davin's blaster towards him, then threw the blaster at the soldier and began running to where he felt the Sith, to find the Vice-Chancellor surrounded by guards near Master Darron, a couple of padawans, and another man who he could feel was the source of the Dark Side he sensed.

"Stay away from the Vice Chancellor!" the guards ordered at the Sith, the Jedi near him, and the soldier and Jaxton on the other end of the VC. Jaxton froze, but held onto his weapon. He didn't want to start a fight with the Vice-Chancellor's guards, but at the same knew if the sith somehow got past Darron and the padawans he would end up protecting the Vice Chancellor much better than the guards ever could.

"Vice-Chancellor, either call them off or I will dispatch of everyone of them before any of them can so much as pull a trigger." Jaxton heard Master Wraith tell the Vice Chancellor. Jaxton had only known Master Wraith for a short time, but he knew from the fight he saw and the way he talked that he wouldn't make a threat like that if he couldn't follow up on it. Then the padawan who chastised Master Wraith for his destructive tendencies walked out infront of the guards and began a speech on the futility of their actions. The whole process must have been embarrassing for them, but they were doing their job. Jaxton then motioned for the soldier to follow him, then went around the Vice-Chancellor's guards, while keeping his saber on his belt and his hands visible to show the guards he meant no harm, then rushed into the group of padawan and Master Wraith. As he did this, the padawan then turned around and began to chastise Master Wraith for threatening the VC's guards. Jaxton found himself admiring the woman's brass, being able to challenge a master's decision as a padawan.

"Forgive me Master Wraith, as I seem to be two-steps behind at the moment, but why is our Sith 'Friend' here? And how did he get here?" Jaxton asked, hoping that he wouldn't be scolded for not detecting the Sith as soon as everyone else.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa retreated rapidly from Mikhail's mind with a small shrug though before she could respond herself Darron had moved between them. "I figured I would look because asking clearly isn't going to get us anywhere, but, point noted." from there the situation escalated quickly at the arrival of Hanna's guards. Darron's threat surprised her, but not as much as the girl with an attitude problem. Publicly talk down to a master and then lecturing the guards. She could feel the tension rising and her only though of what an appalling impression this was giving the sith.

Releasing Hanna's hand she slipped through the two guards closest to her and placed her hands on their weapons gently lowering them, the others followed suit. Moving to stand next to Darron she clasped her hands infront of her and settled her gaze on the girl with an attitude problem. "Threats and lectures are unnecessary. The Vice chancellor called them here because I told her to call her guards, they are doing their job and technically speaking what they are doing is completely correct, they know me, they know the Vice Chancellor, everyone else is a threat, regardless of whether their shots will get shot straight back to them this is what they are trained to do. That aside, I strongly suggest you show respect to a Jedi Master, his way may not be to your liking but that does not mean you have the right to speak out against it with such disregard for his status."

As she finished Jaxton arrived and question Darron. "Something we are all wondering," she said her eyes settling on Mikhail's "but it's quite clear that were not going to get a straight answer from him." She looked at Darron for an idea of how he wanted to proceed.

 

[Hanna Ike]

Hanna couldn't believe it, her guards were being threatened by Jedi.. It was strange " Men, just that one.. there is a sith the rest our suppose to be on our side. " She pondered why they were so upset on her men doing their job. They seemed to forget that she was the Vice Chancellor of the Republic. " My guards are doing their job, which is protecting me. Now I am not quite sure what is going on but should we arrest the man, and kill him if he resists? " It was strange, the jedi talking to the man that seemed to mean them all harm. She looked to rosa, clearly out of her element. She felt so out of her element.

 

[Davin Jusik]

Davin caught the pistol thrown by the Zeltron and quickly ran after him, following him with an odd sense of urgency. Something was very, very wrong. As he approached the group he immediately raised on the guards who shifted their rifles on him assuming a crouched firing position. He'd be damned if he was going to die without taking anyone else with him. As the conversation developed he shifted his sights toward the man who was supposedly a Sith though he looked like the other Jedi.

The blonde spoke of blocking blaster bolts and Davin nearly lost his temper. The padawan's arrogance was nauseating, she seemed to believe Jedi to be infalliable. Davin looked to Darron and spoke

@[member="Darron Wraith"]

"I know how your code goes by I have no qualms shooting an infiltrator. Unarmed or not."

His hand tensed slightly, finger on the trigger and flirting with the idea of firing.

 

[Darron Wraith]

Blue eyes narrowed at the Padawan before him, are we really going to do this in front of people?

"Tell you what Padawan, when you survive just one of the missions I have been on, or done any one thing that I have ever accomplished in my career. Then I will let you criticize my judgment in how to negotiate with armed guards who are hell-bent on shooting someone. " His face hardened to stone, and he kept the same deadly calm to his tone as he continued. "Furthermore, the Council has seen fit that I have done more than enough to earn my rank as Master, while you have done nothing. I wish we all could live in a world where threats never had to be issued, but I refuse to invade Republic Soldier's minds and potentially harm them. Or pull their blasters to my hands and disarm them incase of an enemy ambush, or allow an opening for the Sith who most of my senses are attuned to." His eyes pierced deep into hers as he finished addressing her.

"I understand where you are coming from, but know my actions come from experience. Trust my judgment and I swear you will come out of this in one piece."

Darron turned to Jaxton, grateful to have another Jedi of the same mind with him. "I have no idea what he is here for, but I will learn as soon as we take him to an interrogation room, and don't apologize for being late. You missed nothing." He patted the Zeltron on his back before looking to Rosa, he could feel her concern in the Force and it warmed his heart to say the least. "Listen, I know my ways are rough, but know that I would never strike down a soldier of the Republic. I just had to let them know the strength of my conviction, you are all under my protection and I will not allow harm to come to any of you." He allowed a small smile on his face before turning to the Vice-Chancellor.

"Ma'am, with respect your guards will not touch this Sith. He could easily kill them all or invade their minds even at the apprentice level that his aura in the Force clearly indicates that he is. I know your men are doing their job, but they need to defer to my orders on this one. Go and read my file, or that god-forsaken statue." He allowed a glance at Mikhail at his own statement before continuing. "My job has always been to come in and strike down darkness that the Council wouldn't go near, I was the one who answered the call to get rid of the monsters that made them lose sleep at night. So please defer to my experience in the matter?"

A ripple in the Force brought the Jedi's attentions to Davin, his trigger finger clearly itchy. "Please, I beg of you to defer to my Order's code on the matter. It's what separates my Order from theirs and I will not compromise who I am or what we stand for over a simple intrusion. Besides he is worth much more alive, and he can even possibly be saved. Thank you for your concern and levelheadedness though my friend." The Jedi Master nodded to the solider, one of the true kindred spirits around. He allowed himself a brief moment to collect his thoughts before heading down the hall, his arm around the Sith apprentices leading him where he planned to go.

"If any of you are coming I am taking Mikhail to an interrogation room, someone get me the results of the security scans?"

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa gave Hanna an apologetic look, she could tell she was well outside of her comfort zone and while Darron's points were true, he was very blunt and to the point. A nessecity maybe, but Rosa had more experience in dealing with politicians, friend or no, than he did and she knew that his tone was likely to irk her. Catching Hanna's look to her for clarification she gave a small nod to get her to have her men stand down, moving to her as Darron led the sith down the hall.

"Feel free to continue looking around the temple but don't loose your guards this time." she said with a reassuring smile before addressing the guards themselves. "Should anything happen, your priority is to get her out in one piece, do not open fire at anyone unless you absolutely have too. I am not expecting anything else to happen for the record," she added, realising she could be instilling more fear "this is advice just in case he has not come alone. I'm going to go with Master Wraith to the interrogation, if anything happens comm me and I will find you." She gave Hanna's hand a reassuring squeeze before running after Darron and falling in step the other side of the sith.

"Remind me never to leave you in a room full of politicians" she joked with a small smile.