Back to the Present III

[Laira Darkhold]

Tython. It seemed like I spent too much time on this planet these days. What had been a temporary alliance brought on by payment and delivery of services on Contruum and Balmorra had evolved into more of a partnership in my eyes. While I was well aware Darth Carach in no way believed us to be equal in terms of influence or personal power, he was willing to work with me and assist me in certain small projects on occasion.

This time he had something he wanted to go after, and there just happened to be something I wanted I could grab while helping him capture or locate whatever dark artifact he was after these days. That was one obsession I didn’t truly understand. By all technicalities his own Holocron was more valuable than the ancient ones he dug out of caves, but if that is what he wanted, that was fine. I was more than happy to help him obtain his goals if I could obtain a goal of my own in the process.

“Tell the Voice we have arrived. I don’t believe he wants a massive army this time, but we are here if he decides he needs a few hundred mandalorian warriors.” I said to Aten as I walked down the corridors of the ship. Fast and Light was often the way to go, and I had the ability to be stealthy if I wanted to be. Good to be able to fill any role when working as a mercenary.

The shuttle ride to the surface was short, the storms and energy pulsing around on Tython the same as I remembered from the last time I had come to this planet.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Draco Vereen"].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]It was a name that held many interesting qualities, most of which to do with the person it represented. A Mandalorian in heart - a mercenary, an opportunist and in the very end a man who enjoyed to be on the [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]winning[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] side of things: perhaps not something that he enjoyed to think about, but this was a thing that I had noticed across the many years. The first time we encountered each other was with different faces, I was Darell Irani… CEO, respected businessman and philanthropist, his corporation needed succor and this I could provide.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]The Techno Union had been full of potential back then. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]A corporate entity founded on the principle of free trade, mutual respect for one another and a [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]desire[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] to profit of opportunities. That was a long time ago, though, and Darell Irani was no longer quite that interested in the Union. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]It had served its uses, but at this point I found it to be a dying mammoth. A thing that refused to die with dignity much like the Republic - it was distasteful, but hardly something that affected me on a personal level. Perhaps it would save itself, stave off the illness that plagued it and survive for the nearby future. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]But one could not escape fate for long and especially not forever.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]My interests were secured and that was all that mattered in the end.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]For this one time Draco did not have to be guided through my entire fortress, passing the numerous guards and other defensive measures, to find me in my study. Instead I was already waiting for him in the courtyard - perhaps it was a new measure of respect afforded to his person, maybe I was simply trying to enjoy the nice breeze… in the end he would have to guess at what I was getting at: part of the game that I loved to play.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]As one of the attendants guided him into the courtyard, I would give a short nod.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“Vereen. A pleasure meeting you again. How fare your studies?”[/SIZE]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The courtyard was surprisingly calm. No rain, no howling winds. Just a gentle autumn breeze blowing through it. Breezeways and the Fortress itself surrounded it and Darth Carach sat alone in the courtyard, guards visible and nearby but not crowded around him.

“They work out alright, thanks for asking. And thanks for the assistance in that regard.” Politeness brought politeness. It didn’t hurt that Darth Carach had always been one willing to pay for services I could provide and willing to grant certain things for me to use to improve my abilities with the Force. Last time he had allowed me to study the Holocron of Naga Sadow in order to improve my prowess with Alchemy and Illusion casting. It had been… most advantageous on Contruum and with the planet secured, debts had been paid and services rendered.

“And I presume you fair well, Darth Carach? But to cut to the meat of the matter, what job do you have for me now?” I asked pulling my helmet off and cradling it in one arm. I always liked to know the nature of the work before attempting to set prices for suck services. Somethings were simply more valuable and other things were incredibly valuable to others, but not to beings like Carach.

He needed money sure, but it was not the subject of his lust. No, he lusted for Power, and from power flowed all other things. It was good, because that made our working relationship easy. I didn’t care for anything beyond personal power and then only so that I might obtain glory. I was simply put, a glory hound chasing battles. Made me useful to those that sought influence and political power and made me notorious to Freedom Fighters.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[SIZE=10.6667px]In reality it was something else that guided my movements, but he could be forgiven for mistaking my motivation for a hunger for power or something as mundane as that. The truth of the matter was that I had all the power that I could ever want… and perhaps even more than that. No, it wasn’t power that was missing, I was hungry for [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]knowledge[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] and it was a pursuit that would never really end, because there was always a new thing to learn.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“I was glad to be of assistance.” it was always an exciting prospect to help cultivate a new player in the game. To see what they were made of… to push them into the right direction, guide them and then use them as a polished tool. Vereen had been happy in that usage, I saw, and it was no surprise. Because any sword, gun or other weapon was inherently made for killing and destruction, they were happy to be used in that capacity, even if they claimed otherwise.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“Not a job… an opportunity.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]And suddenly he would notice a gleaming dark cane. I was leaning on it… but it hadn’t been there just a few moments ago, had it? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]The staff was [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]strange[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] in a lot of ways, and I still wasn’t quite sure of its limitations and all of its capabilities. A frightening prospect: its subjugation had been a whim, ushered on by the staff’s whispers to regain freedom… but it hadn’t been expecting me - or perhaps it hadn’t been expecting the Heart of Graush and what it had done for me in those few crucial moments.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“You have been curious lately about the Je’daii, yes?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Draco Vereen"][/SIZE]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Well, it hadn’t been something I had kept secret exactly. I was sure I told some folks, especially around Tython, the location of the temple that I really needed. But it was long since destroyed. Long since gone. “Yes. I have been studying Metalugry. A book I researched noted that a Je’daii created a metal through a various form of alchemy and it was used to make Force Katanas back in the day, prior to lightsabers.”

Madog something or another. A Je'daii of Vur Tepe, lost long ago. He made his own metal with science and the Force and it was something I kind of wanted to replicate. The metal he made was partially lightsaber resistant and Force Imbued. I was looking for something a bit different, but his knowledge would prove invaluable for my research. Whatever scheme he had in mind he had something he wanted to gain from this excursion.

“Well, what is it we need to do?” Obviously I was needed for something other than my own devises. Get his thing, help him with his bit of whatever he had planned, then go get my own objective. Simple, ensured customer satisfaction, and got me my pay quick. The basic principles of mercenary work that I had come to live by in recent months.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

"Quite simple, really." the Sith Lord replied with a shrug. It wasn’t simple at all. In fact, what they would do would shatter every single rule of physics and would probably warp the fabric of reality itself just a little bit. But Carach was not really all that concerned about it - mostly because this Galaxy had already gone through a lot; trillions of people transported from their verse to the Netherworld, billions suddenly pulled from their time to the time of the Kwa, zombie hordes and other madness, no, to say that a simple trip could cause any irrevocable damage after all of that had happened?

Carach did not think it likely.

"We need to travel back in time."

The fact of the matter was that most artifacts from the Je'daii Order were long gone. So many years had passed that any shred of their existence was simply wiped off the Galaxy and anything that might have remained was swept away in the tide of the Force Wars.

No, Carach had taken a great amount of time to come to this conclusion. To travel back in time and take what they needed was the only way they could achieve both their goals.

What the Voice’s goal was in all of this? Who really knew? But it was probably important enough to warrant the inclusion of Vereen.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Time Travel. Perhaps Carach watched too much space Tv. Perhaps all the Dark Side Artifacts he had had finally poisoned his mind and driven him insane. Those were all possibilities, especially given his habits and usual tendencies. A small part of me wanted to laugh at the concept, but I thought about it for a moment. First, laughing at an insane, very powerful Sith Lord was ill advised. Second, he would not have suggested it unless he believed he had the power to do so. And that, while a frightening concept, meant He had probably tried it out a little and succeeded.

"If you think you can, I will help if I can." I responded after taking a second to think. If he really can, he will was the thought process, and if he can't, well... I suppose nothing will happen and move on with our lives.

"What do we need to take with us? Or is this good enough?" I asked motioning at my equipment I was wearing. Sure I didn't have the glove on, but if we were time traveling, that was probably for the best.

Vur Tepe would be nice in the time of year he picked I hoped.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“Oh, it’s very possible, indeed.” the skepticism was keenly felt, but it wasn’t exactly unexpected, because in a Galaxy that was filled with the greatest of impossibilities. Which dealt with the lunacy and infancy of the abnormal. Which had nations rise and fall within the span of months, their rise miraculous and their fall prolonged but inevitable… something as macabre as [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]time travel[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] just seemed a straw that broke the camel’s back. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]But Carach had always believed in pushing boundaries. This was simply one of the last ones that would be finally done.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“I will only need to loan a [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]measure[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] of your power.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Which was not the entire truth. The Sith Lord was fairly certain he could transport both of them to the past and back on his own, but the sheer amount of power necessary to facilitate that would leave him in quite the… [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]fragile[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] state.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]And Sith did not leave themselves vulnerable to just anyone.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Draco Vereen"] [/SIZE]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Very well." I could feel the power thrumming through the cane he held. There was no doubt that he probably could manage such a feat if it were possible at all. But if teleportation was possible, and I had seen that done with my own eyes and senses, then Time Travel was only the next step. Flow Walking allowed a form time travel from my understanding.

"I can provide you with that." I said, waiting for him to take lead. Time Travel. The concept was hilarious, but there were things in the past I wanted, things I needed that the Master's of Vur Tepe had if I wanted to learn more about metallurgy and alchemy, and perhaps glean some other knowledge as well. "Take what you must, but I won't be much use if you take too much."

It might be a sign that I was slipping that I not only trusted this particular Sith Lord, but didn't mind loaning him my power to help himself. Come to think of it, I had done the same on Balmorra, draining the Sith I was there with to save them with a Protection Bubble. There is one thing a warrior always has though, and Carach could not take that from me even if he wished to, and I do not believe he would try anyway.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Carach silently approached his ally. There was no trepidation in his step, no hesitation or pondering, there was only commitment to the cause. The cane ticked softly against the flooring, every tick punctuating the distance closing between them - there was no need to explain the situation to his men, they already knew what was happening next. They would stay and protect the fortress… and if they did not return in a day, then they had their orders.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]A brow raised itself, question in mind. With Draco’s agreement the Sith Lord raised his free hand and let it rest on the Mandalorian’s shoulder.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]It would be as if they were suddenly yanked out of reality itself. Their very beings scrapped from the fabric, before Carach’s essence - channeled through his cane - bore a hole through that same fabric, putting them on a different spot.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]The Sith was used to this transition, so he simply coughed once and looked around. Draco might have had a different experience all together - the first time the Voice did this… well, let’s just say that his stomach was empty at the end of it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Force Travel was no joke[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“My apologies.” Carach replied after Draco was more decent. “The last thing I wished was for us to travel to a period in time where my keep’s location was still filled by the Je’daii’s construct.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]Are you ready?[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Draco Vereen"][/SIZE]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Wearing a helmet was normally a fortunate thing. Not so when attempting to vomit up your guts. Upon reversion I tore the helmet off and doubled over, puking up what breakfast I had in my stomach and dry heaving for a moment. Unpleasant wasn't the proper word for it in my opinion. It only took a moment to acclimate myself once the initial shock of the ordeal was over, and I stood blinking my eyes clear and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Replacing the helmet again, the world slowed down. Particles in the air moved sluggishly and the Sith Lord's movements were deliberate.

"Aye. I follow your lead."

It made sense for the Sith Lord to pick a time when the Je'daii were already long gone. Vur Tepe was still some ways away and it held the secrets I sought deep within its forges. Talk had not escaped me of the Jedi Alchemists of old and their forge master's creation of his own metals. Just complete the Sith Lord's objective, then my own, the catch a ride back to the proper time and go about my busy, having learned secrets that had been forgotten and lost several millennia before my birth.

One had to admit, the Je'daii had out done themselves with these temples and fortresses. Even without Carach's refurbishing.

[member="Darth Carach"]