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[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain had been a Jedi Knight, focusing her learning on the powers of the mind. Mental fortitude and Battle Meditation were what she was strongest at. Now as a Sith Knight, she continued to focus on her mental abilities over those of the physical.

After her metamorphosis, her master had told her what she would become in the future. When that time came, she needed something that would keep who she was secret. This something would also need to be intimidating and strike fear into the hearts and minds of others.

In her quest for knowledge and power, she learned about the Dread Masters. Who each of them had been and what their masks had looked like. This was what she was going to become. A simple façade covering her head and nobody would know who was influencing their minds. They wouldn't even know it was being done. Her skill would be so great.

Having once before searched for one of their ancient artifacts, she knew what she needed to do. Within the sith, she didn't really know anybody and would need to find somebody to go along with her. Doing something this dangerous alone, she felt would be suicide. Not knowing anybody to accompany her though was a problem.

Confident of her safety on these common and lively worlds, the former Jedi kept a hold of her guiding droid as it lead her through the crowds of the spaceport. It did its best to keep her from running into people, but that didn't stop them from colliding with her.

This was exactly what happened, but she was actually pushed hard enough she lost her grip on that droid. It wasn't the first time, but Jairdain still let out and irritate growl at the discourtesy shown as the urchin that had run into her escaped into the crowd.

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

Who had he been?

It was a question that crossed his mind at times, but Nick knew not to dwell on it any longer. He was an agent of the dark, and that was all that mattered... What his Master commanded, was what mattered. And his Master had commanded him one simple order... His two years being re-trained in the arts were all for this, he had been told. His order? To go out into the wide, black galaxy, and gain experience... Whether it was via gaining faction influence or if he was motivated by money, either way the lesson remained the same... To gain power. Only through getting stronger and regaining his link to the Force would he be able to serve the whims of the dark side.

Through some matter of circumstance, Nick had found himself being hired for credits by a Sith Knight in her own right. Nick really didn't care for artifacts and the like, they were nothing but useless trinkets to him, unless they were worth a lot of money... So the girl could keep them for all he cared, so long as he was paid. But Sith temples, Sith ruins... They always held dangers to them. Dangers that he, deep down, found a sick joy in pursuing and tackling head on. They were a challenge to him... A chance to test his abilities and hone them further.

So he followed just behind the woman who had hired him, lost in his thoughts for the time as they walked to wherever it was she desired. But don't you worry any... He would be completely focused once they reached their destination. He didn't even seem to care that the woman was blind... It didn't matter to him how they got there, so long as they got there.

He would come to a ginger stop, from under the black hood that covered his body, icy blue eyes staring venomously down at the girl as she took her tumble... An urchin had knocked her over. His expression did not change, simply retaining the poker face they had since she had met him. At least, not at first.

After a few seconds, his lips slowly twitched into an amused smirk as he stared down at her and spoke with a voice that very much indicated his amusement very bluntly and clearly toward her.

"That kid must have been a Jedi Master in disguise, taking down the big bad Sith..." He spoke softly.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

The companion she had hired for this expedition was a little odd to her. They were both sith and knights, yet they were different. Each of them had their own strengths and weaknesses. He was here to more or less keep her from physical harm when they got out of the city.

She was unable to see his physical features because she was blind, but she could see him through the Force. He was actually darker than she was. Her being just set on the path of the sith, was still colored by some of her past.

One thing made her curious about what just happened though, why did she know it was coming? Her foresight should have warned her. Just something she would have to practice more on it in the future.

Letting his comment about the urchin pass, Jairdain climbed to her feet and started walking again.

"While you may not care personally about any of the artifacts, if you find any you want, you're free to have them. I just want one thing from this expedition for sure."

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

The blind woman would rise to her feet, and the Sith Knight would merely watch as she found her way up. He did not pretend to be a gentleman, nor pretend to like her, by offering to help her up. Despite being a Sith, Nick was an... Interesting case. He said what he was going to do and he would do it. If he said he was going to kill you, odds are you were dead before long. He would happily tell the Sith Emperor to their very face he was only working for them for the influence and that he'd kill them the very second they gave him a reason to. So no, he wasn't going to pretend to be a gentleman now and then stab her in the back later. If she pissed him off, she'd know when there was a lightsaber in her chest.

He would look at her when she would remark that he could have the other artifacts, and slowly nodded his head in return. "Thank you" He spoke calmly. He didn't seem to talk much...

Well, he supposed he could make a profit off any he found... Might as well. Being a Sith didn't pay the bills. If she didn't want any besides the one, hell, he didn't care, he'd take em.

With that, he would motion with his head for them to move on. Granted, he remembered after she couldn't actually see him, but that was her problem.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

It didn't bother her he did not help her up. It wasn't his job to do that.

She could see his aura more or less and while it was mostly of the dark, there was still a touch of light in him. It seemed everybody had both light and dark in them. Jairdain had yet to meet anybody that wasn't a mix. Even if they didn't know it themselves. This is what she suspected of him. Fanatic in almost everyway, but something within him was light.

He thanked her for the offer of any items he wanted, but somehow she didn't feel he would find anything of interest for himself. His voice was oddly calm considering his appearance to her.

This would be an interesting experience for her, that was a sure thing.

"I think it's this way."

Having been in touch partially with what she was searching for, Jairdain led them out of the spaceport and turned left.

"I can feel the power coming from this direction. There is much more than just this one item."

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

That was good... The less problems, the better.

If there was light left, it was faint. There had been light, once... Light that had been begging to be let out. He had released it, once. He had managed to set it free and be free to do as he wished, without the constraints of the Dark Side binding and chaining him... But now that was gone. He was binded once again... And now, he didn't even have any memory of that light even existing. In the two, three years that had passed since he had lost his memory, that light had been snuffed out, at least by what he could see.

His only aim now was to do as his Master wished him to do.

----------

"Wha...? Where am I...? Who are you?"

"You... Will call me Master in time."

"What...?"

"You were weak, when I found you. There was a light... You could say it threatened to swallow you whole. But I have brought you back to the darkness where you belong before it could... And for that, you owe me your life.

Do you remember anything?"

"No..."

"Not even your name?"

"No."

"I see... Then you need a name. Nicholas, Nicholas was your old name... But your surname has been lost to time, I'm afraid."

"Lost?"

"It has become naught but a burden, so you shall not know it..."

"What?"

"Silence!"

"Wha-

Guh-Ahhh-AHHHHHHHH!"

"You belong to me now, Nicholas Dragmire... And now... We will begin to rebuild what you have lost."

---------

To be frank, he intended to take anything he found, if she didn't want it nor need it. Sith Artifacts tended to fetch a decent price, and while he had been satisfied originally with what she had offered, if she wasn't opposed to him taking a bit of a bonus with him? Well, might as well not let it go to waste. Someone else would just take them otherwise. He felt no personal interest, nor connection, to the artifacts, unless any of them could actually increase his power. To him, they were just means to a profit in this case. He felt no care, no personal interest... But he was interested in what he could gain from them, if anything. If they weren't worth anything... They would be useless to him.

He did not speak as she would lead them out of the spaceport. She claimed she could sense power, power not just emanating from the item she sought... He couldn't help but perk up a little.

Perhaps what he would find would be of value after all... Or perhaps, even help him to reach desires that he held, deep down inside...

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

He followed silently behind her. A shadow to her steps. The robot she didn't feel she needed kept people away from them however and made sure her path was free of anything that might trip the blind woman.

The area she had felt was much closer than she expected and was hidden in what was now a park of some kind. The ruins from millennia ago covered by the ages and turned into a park. She wondered if it was darkness under the ground that kept the people here from living on top of it. Did it really matter though?

Heading into the park, she stopped to get a better bearing on where they were headed. Appearing to look at the park, she turned one direction and then the other. Striking off to the left and forward, her pace looked casual. As they walked, her hands were at sides, but open and feeling out with the Force to find what she was looking for.

This being a public park, there were dangerous animals on the surface. Who knew what might lay under the ground though? When she found what was the strongest concentration of power, she stopped. In front of them there was nothing but rubble. But under their feet was so much more.

"It's under the ground. Is there a way to go down from here other than digging?"

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

He couldn't help but be curious... When a Miraluka walked, they used the Force to help them see, help them walk. They were born blind. Yes, they had an enhanced connection to the Force, but... Being able to use the Force to operate even without your sight was a basic thing taught very early. This woman, as far as he knew, was no Miraluka, no, just blind... But... He'd even been re-taught it himself in his own training. It was such a basic thing. And yet she did not. Instead she relied on that droid to get around and not bump into things. It was super obvious to all around her that she was blind, and if someone went and destroyed that droid... Would she be useless?

It was not his business, he knew, but he was curious nonetheless...

They would find themselves in a park when the woman would stop. Here? This was where the artifacts apparently were? Or, under here, she meant? So she was to tell him that there was a Sith ruin, under this park? The question then, was, how to get down there?

"I'm not an expert on underground travel around here. It might be best we ask someone if anyone's dug under here before. Or at least knows if there is a passage."

Unlike some Sith, Nick had no issues with swallowing his pride and asking for directions, if it got the job done. Better than wasting valuable time and effort, when that could be spent taking on whatever was down there...

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

His answer was quite simple and obvious, Jairdain just nodded and turned her gaze around them. Yes she could see just fine with the Force. The droid was there more as a spy than anything she actually used. She didn't know it was spying on her activities and reporting back to Krest. In fact, she didn't even know why he required her to have the droid come with her. It got in the way more than it helped and she would gladly be rid of it.

"Sadly, there isn't anybody nearby. Maybe if we can find a groundskeeper or somebody that works here."

She headed further into the park to see if there was some sort of building or a person to ask. Jairdain had no issues asking for help if needed as well.

Unfortunately there wasn't one she could find or any other people. It seemed while this was a public park, not many people came here. Maybe it was just a bad time of day. Either way, she didn't feel they would find anybody to ask.

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

The Sith Knight would growl as Jairdan would admit that there didn't seem to be anyone nearby that could help them. A groundskeeper or someone that worked there could work, but that was less likely to be found. Finally, he let out an irritated sigh as he would merely nod his head in turn. There wasn't many people here, though employees or a groundskeeper were more likely to be found...

"Let's find a uniform" He spoke flatly, trying to ignore the beeping that had been steadily going on over and over again since they had walked though the crowds. It was as though ever since she'd collided with the kid, that droid had been letting out an annoying beep, over and over again. And it had NOT stopped, ever since!

He tried, hard, to ignore it, but he was beginning to lose his patience at the beeping. He would note someone that seemed to be wearing a uniform, and would take a breath as he would walk toward them... Motioning for Jairdan to do the talking. He didn't do talking well.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Nicholas mentioned looking for somebody wearing a uniform and Jairdain gave him a rather flat, emotionless look. He was the one with eyes that worked. Letting him lead the way, she followed behind him. The droid next to her must be having some sort of malfunction since it was beeping incessantly. She wanted to ditch the thing, but if she did, she had the feeling it would be missed by Krest.

He went to the top of a hill and at the bottom there appeared to be a worker of some sort. She did see the motion of Nicholas and went down the hill. The droid followed her and she just shook her head.

"Is there a way to see the ruins under the ground here? Tunnels or something."

The man was confused at first, but figured out what she was talking about. He took a tourist brochure out of his pocket and handed it to her. In her turn she motioned for Nicholas to come down. He would be able to read and see what was on the map.

"Go around this path here," the man marked the starting point on the map. "From there you'll be able to see the temple that was here. Who knows, somebody may even be there to give you a tour. Normally it's closed." He elbowed Jairdain and gave her a wink. He didn't get a reply from it, but a dirty look. Giving up on flirting with her, he finished answering the question. "There are tunnels that lead inside, but there's nothing left."

He went back to doing whatever he was working on and Jairdain turned to Nicholas.

"Lead the way, since I can read that piece of paper he gave us."

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

The blind woman turned and gave him a flat, emotionless look, as though scolding him for something. He knew full well what it was, and he stared right back at her. It wasn't his problem that she was blind. Still, the fact she was blind was not lost on him, thus why he went looking for the man in uniform himself instead of waiting for his employer to make an attempt. Apparently he was being paid to be her eyes today, as well. Geez, he should have charged more.

With that, he would let the woman talk to the guy in uniform. He knew well enough they'd spill their guts to a pretty girl more than to a scary guy, so it was easier to just let her talk. He wasn't a people person anyway.

Rolling his eyes when she held out the brochure to him, he would walk over and take it, letting them finish their conversation. He noted the flirting, and the reaction. He remained cold, stone-faced throughout. Finally, she got the information she needed, and the two would be on their way. When Jair would command for him to lead the way though, he couldn't help but speak when she accidentally said "can read".

"Can't" He corrected, in a blunt, flat tone as he kept walking without bothering to help her figure out what he meant. She was on her own for that. The beeping, unfortunately, had continued. And continued and continued on as they got closer to their destination. He tried, he really did, to keep his patience for the sake of not alienating his employer for this job, but the beeping was getting incessant.

Finally, he took a deep breath, and spoke.

"... What... Is the purpose of your droid?" He would speak, though not looking at her, preferring to keep his gaze ahead.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

If she had taken her little device out, it would have read the words on the paper to her. It would have been pointless though since she couldn't see the map. He took the map from her in a grumpy manner, but knew what he needed to do.

She spoke with a slight accent not having Basic as her native language and accidently left off part of a word. Granted it was an important mistake, but he had call her attention to it. Letting out a colorful phrase under her breath at him, she followed in his steps.

The robot that followed her around everywhere was apparently just as annoying to him as it was to her. She felt it growing on him and when he asked what the droid was for, she shrugged before answering.

"It was given to me and I was told I need to keep it with me. Probably a spy, but I am aware that if it's destroyed he's going to know."

That man was Krest, the one that revealed the truth of her life and how the Jedi had muddled her mind.

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUs4foG53fg&t=258s​

The man, who had a young man's voice by the sounds of him from under the black hood, would slowly nod his head at her response. He had given her a chance to give her reasons, given her a chance to explain the reasons why she kept it around and why it shouldn't be destroyed.

Unfortunately, her reason wasn't good enough. Not to mention... She had said "I am aware that if it is destroyed, he's going to know"

And he heard.

"Destroy it please."

Finally, words formed from his mouth, slowly, flatly... As blunt and wooden as a slab.

"... I see."

His movements were slow for a bit almost like he was debating something. Unfortunately, that moment didn't last long, as the Sith Knight would hold out a hand toward the droid, and a blast of fire in circular form would suddenly strike the droid. The droid was set on fire immediately, and the knockback of the air from the blast would knock his hood off, revealing a man that looked to be in his mid 20s with long dark red hair that fell down past his shoulders. Not that she could see it, of course. His eyes were a bloody crimson as rage had completely overtaken him as the droid's screams inside both gave him a sense of insurmountable joy and glee, like he were a child in a candy shop... And at the same time, it's screams only served to remind him of the ear-wrenching, biting beeping that had not stopped since the moment it had collided with that child.

Within moments, a red lightsaber had been ignited, every bit of inner rage that he'd been holding in throughout this releasing as he would strike the droid with an overhand, slicing it. But he didn't stop as he would hit overhand after overhand with the blade, long after the droid had been cut into pieces as parts exploded and were sent flying apart everywhere. His anger escalated to the point that he wielded the blade one-handed and still kept cracking it down on the droid as though it were a whip, over and over again as he continued hammering on it with unyielding anger toward the thing that had annoyed it to no end.

Finally the beeping stopped, as Nick let out a series of pants, staring down at his handiwork. Finally he relaxed, deactivating his lightsaber and placing it back on his belt as he stopped, staring long and hard at [member="Jairdain"] without really caring whether she was upset about the droid's destruction or not.

"... My finger slipped."

Was that his attempt at humor?

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Sure it did." A frown settled on the lips of the elder Lord as he looked up from his table to the flickering screen of his droid to watch [member="Jairdain"] being unceremoniously being carved to pieces by [member="Nicholas Dragmire"] . That was a face he hadn't seen in years, and one that he wasn't too happy to see destroying his stuff. What's more, since when did his droid beep after bumping into someone? Part of it seemed more like Nickolas forced the beeping himself, probably with his own beeper, just to show off his own skill.

"Prepare my ship. I have to go make sure my.. Project doesn't go array." The Zabrak stood then, nodding to another of his droids.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

The simple words from Nicholas and his actions after quite surprised Jairdain. The total destruction of the droid followed and she was actually pleased it had been done. Knowing that it was gone though, she knew there wasn't as much time to find what they were after now.

After he viciously killed the droid that had been forced on her, he stood there panting for a short time before turning to speak to her. In the most dry voice she had heard, one not filled with any sense of humor. Unsure of how to take it, she tried to hide the smirk on her face.

"I'm sure it did."

Turning now to face the direction they had been walking, she struck off to where the entrance to these ruins should be.

"Lord Krest will be coming now he knows that machine is gone."

[member="Krest"] [member="Nicholas Dragmire"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

The Sith Knight would look toward her when she seemed to doubt that his "finger had slipped". Either way, he shrugged his shoulders as he continued in. She didn't seem to be upset at all that the droid was gone, actually she seemed to be a bit pleased about it, judging by her expression. But that didn't really matter to him. What mattered was that the droid, that had somehow started malfunctioning and annoying him to no end, was gone and the noises had stopped. That was all he cared about, so now he could work in peace.

As the two went on, Jair would explain that this "Lord Krest" would be coming soon, since he knew that the droid was gone.

"You have a very strange boyfriend" He responded dryly, not caring much as to why her Daddy Krest would put a spy droid on her 24/7, but still finding the thing having inhibited their movement until now annoying. It had slowed them down, since she'd had to lean on it this whole time despite her apparently being able to walk just fine without it. He spoke, after they made their way toward the entrance, seeming to find another silver lining in all this. And yet his voice still lacked any sort of emotion.

"Our progress will be very much better paced now. "

@Jairdain @Krest

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

The lack of humor in his voice again and like all the times he had spoke before, Jairdain wasn't sure if he trying to joke or not. Taking a breath and letting it out in a sigh, she turned to face him since he was behind her. Even though her eyes didn't focus, there was anger in them and for once she actually felt offended. They were both sith so the hostility and ease of rising to anger was more than natural.

"He's NOT my boyfriend!"

She spoke with a very firm voice and if he made such a comment again, then she would lash out at him. For now though, she kept the desire to fill him with electricity under control.

"The faster we move, the sooner we can get out of here and hopefully avoid a meeting with Krest. I'm not looking forward to his reaction to the droid being destroyed."

Of course both of them together might be able to take him on, but she doubted that.

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"] [member="Krest"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

His expression did not change even as she would lambast him for calling Krest her boyfriend. With that, he would simply shrug. "If not your obsessively controlling lover, who else would make you take a spy droid with you while they watch your every move?" He remarked dryly. Yes, he'd attempted humor before. But he really didn't... Know much about humor. So his delivery was just as dry as his last response.

He didn't seem to fear the idea that she might attack him, despite him expecting it the moment she lashed out in her words. He knew from the moment something began to flare to be on your guard... And expect an attack from anybody, especially in these instances. He didn't fear this Krest either. Nothing brought him fear, he knew none of it. He knew only his conquest.

He continued to lead the way, as the two would enter the ruins...

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

She didn't have an answer to provide him and it stumped her for a moment before words could be formed.

"That is really a good question."

Shrugging her shoulders, Jairdain fell into step behind Nicholas. Any irritation or anger she had was gone when he asked. What was Krest to her? The man that had captured her, told her the truth of the lies the Jedi had told her. An almost shudder passed through her at these thoughts and she turned her attention back to the task at hand. That of finding the mask she was after.

As they walked into the tunnel of the ruins, the darkness around them grew. While it would not bother her, it might him. Had he thought to bring a light for himself? If not then their sabers would light the path for him.

[member="Nicholas Dragmire"]