Night and Day

[Joza Perl]

The hope that had flickered to life in Joza’s stomach suddenly turned sour as the lightsaber changed course in the last few moments, it’s trajectory altered just enough so that instead of aiding the Padawan, it would harm him. The realization hit her just as Blazing Eye did, and the reality of her own opponent came crashing back. She attempted to surge forward, but the large warrior had his iron grip on her wrist, snapping the bones as if they were twigs. A cry of pain forced its way from her throat and she stumbled, taking a few moments to steady herself as her remaining saber slid from her grip. But as her own lightsaber struck Vorian’s midsection, the pain searing through her wrist took a back seat.

The dark sided energy twisted itself inside her, threatening to break free. And in her moment of desperation, Joza allowed it to.

Sharply turning towards Blazing Eye, the Zeltron would growl before letting out a powerful scream laced with the Force, wrought by the failure to protect the apprentice she’d been trusted with. Vorian didn’t deserve this. He was a good kid. She was the one who deserved to be impaled on her own lightsaber, as wayward and rebellious as she’d become, straying further from the Jedi Code with each bed she slept in. The anguished Force Scream was not her first dip into the dark side, but it was as unpleasant as ever.

It was likely that the warrior would be forced to release her and be pushed back by the sheer force of the Force, but either way, the Zeltron would try her damndest to break free of his hold and rush to Vorian’s side if she could.

“No…” She gasped, clambering toward where the Arkanian lay. She quickly deactivated both sabers, not even bothering to call the one that had struck Vorian back to her hand. She hesitated, seeing the hole in his torso before moving to tear a strip of cloth from her robes, trying to at least cover his exposed innards. She was beginning to show signs of fatigue and wear, the injured arm hanging limply at her side as her head jerked up towards Abelain.

“Monster…” The words lingered on an exhale of breath before she raised her voice. “I don’t know what turned you to this path, but there is hope for your kind yet….though I know you do not believe me.” She cleared her throat, finding that her heart was practically beating in it. “I’ve seen it, a Sith by the name of [member="Krux Mullarus"]…he turned from the Dark Side and found salvation within the Silver Sanctum.” Still in shock and at a momentary loss of what to do, she instinctively ran the tips of her fingers along Vorian's forehead, smoothing some of the white-blonde hair from his face.

[member="Vorian Adasca"]
[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]
[member="Blazing Eye"]

Spoiler

 

[Blazing Eye]

[member="Joza Perl"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

The force of the scream tore at Blazing Eye's mind, pounding at his mind. The sheer concussive force blew him backwards and he slammed into a tree. Luckily, the swipe at his hand did not affect him. He slowly stood, head spinning and a visible bruise forming on his face. Luckily there was no lasting damage, though his head wasn't likely to stop ringing for a good long while, and he was going to have one **** of a headache. Standing slowly he saw the pink woman standing over her fallen comrade. So it was over. One Jedi dead or dying, and the other far too taken by her loss to pose anymore of a threat. Retrieving his weapon, he walked to stand over the crouching woman. He stood behind her, out of sight but not out of hearing range. He looked down at her and her charge, and felt an overwhelming sadness. It had been an honorable battle, fought between warriors, and Blazing Eye was proud of his victory, but it didn't mean that he liked to see a good warrior die.

"Who is the true monster?" he heard himself saying through the ringing in his ears, "The one who strikes the final blow, or the one who sends the soldier to the battle he cannot win?" Blazing Eye moved to crouch in front of the woman, on the other side of the body. Normally, if she was any other sort of enemy, he would stab her through the back and be done with it. But for some reason, right now that didn't feel right. All the combatants here no doubt knew that this battle had been worthless. While the battle was honorable, the reasons weren't. And this woman was no doubt feeling great pain. When she started trying to convince them to change their view, Blazing Eye knew she didn't have any fight left.

"You may think me a monster, but that is far from the truth," he said, "I am a warrior, but I am an honorable warrior. I follow the path of blood and steel, but I know that there are times when a blade is not the right way." Blazing Eye sighed as he looked at the body. He kept his weapon ready, his mind sharp, and his peripheral on the woman, but in all other cases he would appear as a friend. He looked down at the wound, and knew it was no use. The man was all but gone; only the greatest of doctors could save him now. Blazing Eye was usually a brutal warrior, shredding his enemies apart, but now he knew that that would do nothing for him. There was no longer any need. Blazing Eye moved his head back up and looked the woman in the eye. The look in his eyes would be of pure sincerity, a desire for peace. Then he looked up at his commander.

"The battle is won, dark one," Blazing Eye said, "I ask your permission to spare the woman, if she agrees, and give the man a burial befitting a warrior." In his head, Blazing Eye opened his mind for the briefest moment to allow Abelain to see inside. Through the Force, he would get a sense of Blazing Eye's emotions. He would see Blazing Eye's thoughts as clear as a neon sign.

You are in no shape to fight, Blazing Eye would say through his emotions, This battle must not continue. We have beaten them, and that is enough. Blazing Eye then turned back to the woman.

"Please, I beg of you," he said, his eyes once more a beacon of sincerity and peace, "Enough blood has been shed today. Lay down your arms. I don't want to kill you."

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Blazing Eye"] | [member="Vorian Adasca"] | [member="Joza Perl"]

The exhausted and badly wounded Arue'tii stared upwards at it's dying prey, satisfied with it's work in allowing Adasca to achieve Escalation. The female Jedi had abandoned her combat with Blazing Eye, choosing instead to comfort her dying ally in his last moments on the mortal plane. It was not in his nature to strike at an opponent who was looking away, but he wouldn't have judged the Esh-Kah if he had simply plunged his blade into her exposed spine and sent it rippling out of her chest. It would bring with it further bloodshed, but also a greater deal of finality than would be accomplished with removing a single opponent from the fight. Instead of following through with his assault, the guardian appeared to simply wish to console the grieving Jedi, and to negotiate an armistice to their conflict, especially now that they held an easily discernible advantage.

The Dark Side had exhausted itself from within Abelain, and anger quickly followed it's retreat. He attempted to raise himself from the ground, but found pain pulsating through his system whenever he maneuvered his wounds. His finger had been effectively ruined until it could be repaired with extreme surgery, and the wound in his chest was hammering away at any resolve remaining to finish the battle with the aggravated Jedi. He did not believe it was necessary to eliminate any further opposition, though logic spoke against the idea of leaving a vengeful enemy behind one's back. It did not need to be so extreme as to break her hold upon the mortal coil, but he would definitely be reassured of their safety on the remainder of the trip if she was wounded or captured and imprisoned somewhere until they had finished their quest.

Her words reached him, gentle noises vibrating across the wind and forcing his mind back into a state of conversation. She called him a monster, a hypocritical term, but that subject had already terminated. He was far too weary to pursue it a second time, and decided to account for the insult as an act of emotional instability. Blazing Eye seemed to be far less tired, and defended their morality with steadfast perseverance; a trait that the Arue'tii highly approved. He began to approach, slowly pressing down jungle grass and trampling it beneath his feet in a wounded shuffle that left him hunched, and with a hand pressed against his chest wound. His Sith vibroblade was retrieved and returned to it's fetter at his side as he neared the female.

It was the name of Krux Mullarus that changed the basis of the conversation. He had wondered for a long while which of the Jedi factions his former master had betrayed the Sith for, and now his answer was given. He stood behind her, speaking warm words through the smile that crossed his face, "You know of Krux Mullarus? You are those of his ilk?" He questioned, though the answer had clearly been given only moments previous. "He betrayed me, he was my former teacher and I revered him for his talents only for him to stab me in the back, and to murder hundreds for lustful revenge." The very thought of his rival brought a spark of anger into his heart, but the fuel for it had since burned to embers, and he found that he could not raise the energy to make himself angry again. His words instead became cold and apathetic, his mindset shifting from a desire that no further bled be shed to justice being paid in full. "He told me the same things you tell me now, that I had fallen for vile tricks and been deceived, and that I could find my salvation if only I could look beyond my pride." He cast a glance at the lightsaber in his hand, now extinguished. "I slew him upon Dagobah, left him to bleed to death in the mire."

The Arue'tii cast it's insect eyes upon the form of Blazing Eye, beckoning him to arise and taking notice of the look in his eye as he pleaded for peace with the Jedi. The Esh-Kah was not a fool, and could very clearly tell that his master had been wounded beyond the point where he wished to continue combat, but he was still learning how the Jedi of the age acted, how wicked they were in their prosecutions and righteous slaughters. "Blazing Eye, I grant your wish that we not kill the female, and even that we bury the male, though it shall take time away from our goal. However, we will not depart with the female completely capable of assailing us, it is simply a tactical error." He pressed the still warm emitter of the cylindrical weapon near the back of the pink-skinned woman, "I give you your test of loyalty to me, Blazing Eye. Remove her primary hand."

 

[Blazing Eye]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]
Well, it was better than nothing. Blazing Eye understood why the strike was requested, though it still wasn't the peaceful solution he had intended. Still, removing her hand was better than her head. At least she would live.

"I do not like this," he said, "But I have sworn you my loyalty, dark one, and I must obey. But know this: You may have my loyalty, but I still have my honor."

With a sigh, Blazing Eye reached for the woman's hand with his own left, holding his blade in his right.

"Don't resist, please," he said, "Be thankful that you will live to see another sunrise, and not walk the stars with your comrade. Your life is worth far more than your hand."

He held out his left hand, palm up. If she gave in and place her own primary hand there, he would cleave it off at the wrist quickly and completely painlessly. If she attempted to resist, he would grab it forcefully and strike in the same way.

"Go in peace, warrior," he said as the severed hand fell to the ground. He stood and wiped the blood from his blade before returning it to his sheath.

 

[Joza Perl]

Joza listened to Abelain’s words, stunned to the point of silence that he knew of the Silver Jedi. What’s moreso, the creature revealed that Knight Mullarus had been his teacher, and she imagined that it was similar to how he’d taught her. She’d been a new Padawan when she’d first met the masked Sith turned Jedi, and though she didn’t recognize it then, now she could recall the traces of dark side corruption in his face. He’d taught her while still fresh from him desertion, struggling to find his place in the light. It had been a while since Joza had seen him, and figured that he was simply off-world, busy with some sort of goal. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Jericho or Dune, her own former Master since he’d left to serve the Republic. Those who had taught her faded from her life quickly after her apprenticeship was done.

“No….you….?” A look of disbelief struck her face upon learning that Krux had been slain by this…beast. Deception and betrayal were difficult emotions to deal with, and perhaps Joza would have allowed herself to feel sympathy for Abelain had he not destroyed Krux. Or had he? In her experience, Sith were tricky with their words. But she quelled her anger while glancing down at Vorian. She could feel the life drain from the young Jedi and knew that there were more important tasks at hand.

Speaking of hands…Abelain’s final order to his comrade caused Joza to tense, teeth gritting as she exhaled sharply through her nose. The Zeltron still had fight left in her, but it wouldn’t be enough, and time was of the essence. She wasn’t aware of it, but the Mandalorian blood within her raged, urged her to call her saber back to her one good hand and defend it from being removed. But she didn’t move from Vorian’s side, silently accepting her fate. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she would clench her right hand into a fist in a deliberate motion, using the Force to activate the ship’s distress signal via a remote hidden within a pocket on her robes. She feared that the Sith would become suspicious if she was too obvious, but she was not calling for assistance in combat, only wanting safe passage from this jungle world.

Joza glared up at Blazing Eye, grunting as her grasped her wrist, resisting his hold with the last bit of her strength. Though she’d given up and accepted her fate at the hands of warrior, she hated it. She hated him and how gentle he was acting when only moments ago he’d been taunting her. She hated herself for allowing Vorian into such a condition. And so, her meak struggling against the massive power of the armored man was her last act of defiance.

At first, she felt nothing. It was surreal watching her hand fall to the ground, detached from her wrist in one clean swipe. She supposed that she should be grateful for that, but she wasn’t. Either way, the pain would follow shortly after and a cry of pain was ripped from her throat as she hunched over. Blood began to seep from the open wound and she said nothing, staring at her severed hand where it lay for several long seconds. After what seemed like ages to the pink woman, her face would slowly tilt upward towards Abelain. Green eyes widened, striking against the bloodshot background as her lips slowly moved.

“…Krux would be disappointed in you, Abelain…”​

[member="Blazing Eye"]
[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]
[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Joza Perl"] | [member="Blazing Eye"] | [member="Vorian Adasca"]

The sudden surge of blood triggered a familiar sensation within the olfactory senses of the Arue'tii; hunger. The sudden surge of the iron-scent coincided perfectly with the surgical removal of Joza Perl's hand, and the scent struck him at about the same time that the hand made it's final resting place upon the ground. Many around the galaxy would have seen the order as cruel by many degrees, but Abelain did not care for the morality of the galaxy in their own terms, but rather held a tightly formed morality of his own, forged through years of experience and indoctrinated into his being by the culture of his people. It was evident that Blazing Eye found some fault with his orders, though he carried them out without serious complaint, and that solidified the trust that was placed within him. The Jedi were both incapacitated now in varying degrees, enough that the journey away from them had been guaranteed as safe.

He cast a final glance over the prostate body of Vorian Adasca, hoping that he would truly find his Escalation when he finally snapped the mortal coil that bound him to their reality. It seemed likely; he had fought well, but he could not know of the results of his work until he himself had finally passed into the embrace of eternity. He did not fear the end as many had the custom, but he did not welcome it's hold upon him until his work had been completed. It was a sad state of affairs that they had been forced to fight in the beginning, but decisions such as that could not be quickly reversed, and the Jedi would now feed upon the grains they had sewn.

The Arue'tii returned his attention to the female in time for her to spout words of anger; clearly triggered by the loss of an appendage. It was surprising that she had not immediately fallen into shock, but he assumed it would only be a matter of time until she was writhing upon the ground, subject only to the whims of nature and biology. Her words were empty, though he decided to answer them as consolation for what he had ordered taken, "If Krux Mullarus had not been a traitor, and still lived, I might have listened to his opinions. You have far more concerning things to worry of than my morality, Jedi." He spoke with words tinged with gentle malice, an obvious dislike of her type mixing with a profound respect for the losing party of their engagement.

Abelain spun himself about, listening to the wind whisper gently through the foliage as the sounds of battle had finally died. The sky was filled with a cloud of wood-scenting smoke that threatened to obscure the blue hue, but failed in concealing the entirety of it. His red cape rustled upon the jungle grasses as they sprung back from being trampled underfoot, and the explorer knew that the damage to nature would heal with time, and that the situation would resolve itself with it's passing. The pathway that led to their original goal now lay unmolested, and the idea of holding the holocron within his palm was enticing after the crucible he had endured. His feet were heavy with exhaustion, but he shuffled them forward, forcing himself to take steps that the pain in his chest despised.

"Come, Blazing Eye. Our goal awaits us. We shall return after we have it secured and bury the warrior as you have requested, until then, let us now give much chance for our foes to reinforce." He paused for a moment, glancing off to the side and into the deep foliage that obscured vision in that direction, "We are unaware of the validity of the presence of an Archaeological Corps of Jedi, and it would be against our health to be caught by them whilst burying their comrade." With his order given, and reason stated, the Arue'tii began to move down the path.

 

[Blazing Eye]

[member="Joza Perl"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

Blazing Eye sighed again and rose. The galaxy was always moving, and now so was his commander. Blazing Eye began to follow, then looked back over his shoulder at the woman.

"Learn from this day, young one," he said, "Whenever you seek battle, even for the noblest of reasons, you must be prepared for the consequences."

Blazing Eye was a brutal warrior, but he still had a heart. With a final nod to the woman he continued to follow his commander.

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]Nikias had gotten the distress beacon long ago and exited hyperspace right above the planet Felucia. If his sensing skills in the force had been more honed[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] he probably would've been able to feel Joza's pain considering how good of friends they were. But he didn't sense anything[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] nothing new. A part of Nikias knew that Joza had somehow gotten herself into trouble one way or another and that he'd have to go get her out of it this time around. The fact that it was a distress beacon drawing him to the planet however spoke magnitudes for what could possibly be happening. Why didn't she just have me join her if it was going to be so dangerous? Nikias thought as he guided the unmarked shuttle into Felucia's atmosphere. The frame of the ship shook from the force of entry[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] but the moment Nikias entered the atmosphere the distress beacon became stronger drawing him in.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The one problem with Felucia was that it was a forest planet making it hard to just land a ship without first finding a clearing[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] and found a clearing Nik did. For a few seconds he sat in the pilot’s seat dozens of possibilities running through his mind. Of what sight he might find[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] or who he could possibly encounter waiting for him. While not a newbie to fighting Nikias would prefer to get the jedi off the planet and away to learn about whatever had happened. Lowering the ramp from the pilots’ chair Nikias reached over grabbing a first aid kit filled with everything from morphine to bacta stims and patches just in case. Still geared for battle Nikias stepped off the ship and into the humid air. Almost immediately bugs began to swarm him and nip at his flesh drawing blood from him. Now that poison did not run through Nikias' veins the bugs were more than happy to feed from him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Finally stumbling upon the beacon once again Nikias followed it[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] and as he drew near the first thing he found was an Arcadian that lay on the jungle floor. A hole in the young man's stomach[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] traumatizing to some. Not in the least phased by the injury Nikias kneeled near the Arcanian and dug through the first aid kit. "You poor jedi." Nikias said shaking his head. With a quick stab he injected three doses of bacta in near the wound and placed one patch on the jedi's back before rolling him over and doing the same for the front. The bacta wouldn't be able to completely heal the wound but would last long enough for them to get back to the ship and get the Arcanian submerged in a bacta tank. Reaching out with the force Nik wrapped the man in a protective force bubble and lifted him free from the ground not yet ready to return to the ship... Not till he found Joza. The fact that he had found one jedi meant that she had to be near. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The smell of iron filled his nostrils and Nikias knew it. The smell of blood[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] running while still holding Vorian in a telekinetic grip Nikias came across Joza[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] and what he found was her near unconscious and blood pooling from an open wound where her hand should've been. Just the sight of it brought up an inferno in Nikias' chest and he knew from that moment he would hunt down who had done such a thing and they would pay. Gold eyes roaming her body[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] Nikias kneeled near her bandaging her wounds. Whoever did this shall know PAIN! Nikias screamed inside his mind as he tied off the bandage with a bacta patch beneath it. Retrieving Joza[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] Nikias took her and Vorian back to his ship. [/SIZE]

(Evac post, short and sweet. Be seeing yall on the battlefield. Soon™ )

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"] [member="Blazing Eye"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Vorian slipped in and out consciousness, darkness flowing and receding at the corners of his vision like some vast midnight ocean. He tried to move, truly put every ounce of effort his broken frame could muster into triggering the most feeble twitch of his muscles. To no avail. Above him, the dark siders chattered, spoke of him as he was already dead -- and why not? Even Vorian knew few who survived a direct lightsaber strike to the torso. Why not let go? Be carried off in the swirling waters of the great abyss..

One with the Force.

Becoming one with the force. A central Jedi tenant. After death, all beings merged into a gestalt consciousness for all of eternity -- a thought that utterly terrified Vorian to his core. The very concept of losing one's own individuality, the total sum of knowledge, feelings and ambitions of decades of life being drowned in a sea of screaming souls. Perhaps it was this inner revulsion of such a fate that allowed Vorian to cling onto life, like a sailor would a floating wooden board upon a ocean.

He heard a feminine scream, undeniably belonging to Joza.

Above him, Vorian perceived a gray dot racing through the atmosphere. Salvation? The Arkanian Padawan wouldn't know, as the darkness once again began dragging him away from the mortal coil. A shiver traveled throughout his body, despite the overwhelming, humid heat of the Felucian Jungle. For a moment, he found himself back on the snow swept plains of Arkania, except that it lacked every single facet of it's character -- from the spiraling cities to the impoverished slums -- except for one.

The cold.

[member="Nikias"]
[member="Blazing Eye"]
[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]
[member="Joza Perl"]

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] | [member="Nikias"] | [member="Blazing Eye"] | [member="Joza Perl"]

The Arue'tii pushed aside a branch, snapping it about the middle of it's length and allowing it to clatter noiselessly to the ground. He continued on the pathway, his olfactory glands on alert for any hostile predators that may have been attracted to the recent conflict, and the blood that it had inevitably spilled. Thankfully, no such things appeared, and the trip seemed to be without interruption. He could scent his companion following behind him, and could all but sense the disappointment he felt in having to conduct more bloodshed when the battle had very clearly concluded. "Blazing Eye, you have done well in proving your service to me. I shall try not to require you to conduct actions of that form in the future." He cast a glance behind him, observing the Esh-Kah for a moment before returning his gaze towards the pathway.

It was a winding and overgrown path, and at times the foliage required Abelain to slash with his vibroblade, but it was very clearly the path towards the holocron. There was simply no reason it would not be at the end of the hidden trail. If rumors had proven true, it had been discovered in ruins, and had been left there for fear of traps or of upsetting the archaeological site. The explorer did not fear such things, as it seemed especially unlikely that a Jedi would leave lethal armaments active to perform macabre eliminations of potential explorers. "You do not understand why I despise the Jedi in the way that I do. You cannot trust them Blazing Eye, they are the greatest hypocrites of the galaxy." He spoke softly, his voice gravelly in it's delivery, a hand pressed firmly against his wound. "I have seen them assault the Sith before, and they care not for the manner in which they murder, only that they accomplish their goals." He paused, the wounded hand clenching slightly, it's damaged finger continuing to hang on it's muscle noose.

"They are deceitful, and traitorous. They hold no honor." He reminisced for a moment on his apprenticeship to his former master, the one that he had killed upon Dagobah. He had started as a reasonable and talented individual, a teacher who spoke truth, and was well learned. "My master was once of the Sith, he held honor. One day, he snapped from violent rage and murdered hundreds of innocent citizens. When he had confronted his actions, he ran away and joined the Jedi." The Arue'tii shook his head, an angry growl emanating into his words, "They did not punish him for his actions. They accepted him as one of their own in a heartbeat, and never mentioned his brutality. They did not care that he had committed actions that their code states must not happen, they only cared that he knew how to fight." He paused, the structure of an ancient ruin coming into view. "That is why I hate the Jedi."

 

[Blazing Eye]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"] [member="Nikias"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Joza Perl"]

The words of his commander as the two warriors walked through the jungle sounded like the words of one who had suffered at the hands of Jedi before. Blazing Eye felt sorry for him. Certainly he had not met a true Jedi, one who actually cared about the safety of the galaxy. Although, he did have a point. The Jedi and Sith both killed to achieve goals, whether it be self-defense or galactic conquest, but at least Sith were open about it.

"Not all Jedi are like that," Blazing Eye said as he ducked underneath a branch, "Though I have been in stasis so long things may have changed." With a twinge of nostalgia, Blazing Eye remembered the Barsen'thor, the Jedi warrior he had served millenia ago.

"I once served a Jedi," he said, "He was a good warrior, and a good man. He never struck out in anger, only when his hand was forced. He never fought an unworthy battle." However, in the back of his mind, Blazing Eye remembered just how powerful the Barsen'thor had been when his hand was forced. He shuddered to think what would happen if Abelain met that ancient warrior on the battlefield.

"I am sure you are wondering why I spared the woman," he said, "After such harsh words claiming I would do otherwise."

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Blazing Eye"] | [member="Vorian Adasca"] | [member="Joza Perl"] | [member="Nikias"]

Abelain listened wholeheartedly to his Esh-Kah guardian. One of the reasons that he had released him from his prison, and impressed him into service was for his wisdom and knowledge of the galaxy, a memory that far surpassed what the Arue'tii had since discovered. He was aware that Blazing Eye had once been a great warrior of his people, and that he had fought in numerous conflicts and managed to survive each, though the extent of those battles was questionable. It occurred to him that he knew far more about Blazing Eye than the Esh-Kah knew of himself. That was a curious state of affairs, and would likely be resolved in time, though that moment was not now.

Despite his previous knowledge of Blazing Eye's past, it came as something of a surprise to learn that he had once served a Jedi. He had been aware that he had hated the Sith; especially evidenced in their first meeting, but he had never questioned the reasoning behind it. He praised the ancient Jedi that he had served, and Abelain listened, admitting to himself that not all of the Jedi were evil. There was no such thing as an evil group, and Abelain barely conceded that there was such a thing as evil at all. Instead, he saw that there were actions which were selfish, and actions that were selfless. The greatest atrocities in the galaxy tended to be selfish, whilst selfless acts were commonly considered to be 'good'. Still, the point of Blazing Eye's message was not lost upon the Sith, he knew that not all Jedi acted the way he claimed, even if a majority had demonstrated that behavior.

The Sith glanced backwards towards his companion as they approached the structure; a stone and moss covered ruin with a snaking set of vines running through the entrance. It seemed impossibly dark, as if light itself died upon the entryway, and a rotten torch lay upon the ground, the wood long since having crumbled. The Arue'tii stopped at it's entrance, listening to the question that his guardian had presented, a statement thinly veiled as an interrogative. "I am not as curious as you believe, Blazing Eye. I expected that we would spare our opponents after their defeat, especially since their lives are meaningless to our goal. I believe you have differing ideals and motives behind your actions, however, so I will grant a modicum of interest in why you spared her."

 

[Joza Perl]

With the dark siders taking their leave, the last vestiges of Joza’s strength gave out and she collapsed onto the trampled ground below. The battle-worn fatigue and constant blood loss put her into a sort of shock, her mind swimming as it tried to comprehend all that had happened, and what would follow from this. The only hopeful note to this tale was that they were in Sanctum Space, so it was possible that their distress signal would be heard by friendly ears. Maybe.

Vorian…I’m sorry… Even though she had fallen facing away from the white haired Padawan, she tried to crane her neck towards him but the movement just wouldn’t follow. If she had more control of her saber, perhaps Abelain wouldn’t have been able to nick it from her grasp in a crucial moment. And she could say that she hated him for that more than for taking her hand. Her limb could be replaced, Vorian’s life could not. Beaten, she laid her head against the scratchy jungle leaves that blanketed the ground, matted from the skirmish and stared at her severed wrist in wordless disbelief. Perhaps the strangest sensation was that of the phantom limb, as Joza swore that she could still feel her hand as if it were fully and completely attached. She shivered, suddenly feeling nauseous.

Extending her presence in the Force, she was surprised to find that the apprentice was still clinging to life. Releasing what she could of her pheromones, Joza attempted to push them towards Vorian. If he was going to let go, she’d at least try and make him comfortable for it. In the back of her mind, she wondered if death truly was a comfortable affair as she’d heard it described as such many times.

By the time Nikias had found them, Joza was wavering in an out of consciousness. Her own blood pooled generously beneath her, staining the side of her face as it coagulated and crusted over. “Nik…get Vorian…find him….to the ship…” She slurred, her words jumbled but her intent clear. She wasn’t aware enough to tell that he had already attended to the more heavily injured of the two. Get us off of this humid hellhole, Princeling.

To hell with the holocron. To hell with the Sith, and the Esh-kah and whatever else they were. Joza didn't fancy herself a righteous defender, but the Sith's arrogance had left a bad taste in her mouth. Or maybe that was the bile.

Oh, and to hell with the jungle too.

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"] [member="Blazing Eye"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Nikias"]

 

[Blazing Eye]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]
"I spared her because the fight was gone from her heart," Blazing Eye said as he followed his commander through the jungle, "Killing someone in the midst of battle is different from killing them when they no longer wish to fight. One is war, the other is murder." Filius thought over his answer. Did it really capture his feelings? He had been ready to kill the woman, to slaughter her as he would any other enemy, but for some reason he had stayed his hand.

"Perhaps the whole idea of stabbing someone in the back when they are kneeling on the ground repulses me," Blazing Eye said, "I am no Force-user, but you need not be one to see that she was being ripped apart from the inside. The death of what I assume was her apprentice no doubt hit her hard." Blazing Eye continued to think and walk.

"However, understand this," Blazing Eye said, "Had I had an opportunity in the fight to end her, I would have. Likewise if she had refused mercy I would have done the same. And I would not have stayed my hand if she faced me, and therefore faced death, with courage and honor. Any one of these ends would have been fitting a warrior. But stabbed in the back? What kind of legacy is that?"

OOC: Abelain has control of Blazing Eye until the thread is complete.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

The archaic stone felt cold, as if though all of the heat within it had seeped out over centuries. Vines curled inwards upon themselves, growing like gnarled roots and wrapping around nearly the entirety of the ruin. There was no doubt that the nature of the planet had long since created a hole in the defenses provided by the ruin, and evidence of that could be found in every corner of the stone structure. Abelain turned to his companion, listening to his speech about his motivations and reasoning, nodding along as he analyzed the answer. It was reasonable enough that an enemy might be spared if they no longer wished to fight, but the Arue'tii had fought many wars, and seen that deceit was often employed in an attempt to defeat a foe when their back had turned away, and their attention was focused elsewhere. While he himself, and his ally were honorable beings, that did not mean that the remainder of the galaxy shared their moral code.

He swept into the ruins, feeling the stone creak and crack gently under his steps. Dust fluttered about the room as it was disturbed, swirling around the room in a tornado of flakes. The entrance opened into a singular large room, and within it's center lay a block of tarnished metal. There lay no holocron in sight, but Abelain had the idea that the cube might contain his prize. He began to limp weakly towards it, one hand clutching at his wound as the other lay the room awash in crimson and bloody light, frightening away the shadow with it's ferocity. The red cape worn around his back scraped along the ground, collecting loose detritus into a pile of ruination as he walked, shaking free the grappling dirt occasionally as though locked in it's own battle.

The Arue'tii leaned over the cube, examining it for marks or symbols that might represent it's purpose, though he already had his thoughts upon what it held. The metal had long since become tarnished, and he found that it had been chipped and gradually covered in ravenous plants. For several moments, Abelain wondered what it would take to open the block, whether there was a puzzle or other solution to it's activation. Upon finding none, and without the reserves of Force energy needed to attempt any openings by that manner, he simply touched the corner with the crimson blade, allowing it's warmth to scorch the edges. While the metal may at one time have prevented the weak attempt at entry, it had since lost it's practical defense, and after a few moments a chunk of metal the size of his fist had been singed away.

Moments later and the top of the cube had been removed, revealing a triangular object in nearly perfect condition, remarkably untouched by the ruination that had permeated the outside of it's prison. Gently, Abelain removed his hand from his wound, grasping at the top of the shape and removing it from it's fetter. He held it up to his eyes, carefully examining the minor marks upon it which seemed to indicate language, but the low light and archaic nature of the item made it somewhat difficult to discern what it might have had inscribed. The Arue'tii attached the holocron at his side near the ancient Sith vibroblade that shared a position upon his person. His goal had been reached, and Abelain felt joyful happiness breach into his center, permeating out in a gentle chuckle.

He had accomplished his goals, despite the meddling of the Jedi, and as he exited the ruin and began to step towards his vessel; hidden in the jungle, he thought of what wonderful treasures might have been stuffed into the holocron, and in what ways he would extract the knowledge of Master Katarn. "Come along Blazing Eye, let us return to the Paladin." He spoke, suddenly glancing up at the sky and noticing the faint glint of a fleeing shuttle, acknowledging rapidly that the defeated Jedi had been extracted by their allies. Speed was necessary to avoid brutal retaliation, and so the Arue'tii hurriedly and expeditiously retreated towards his vessel, and the safety it would provide.