Private Progressive Annihilation

[Arcturus Dinn]

Well, this wasn't Korriban.​

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Certainly it wasn't the Netherworld.​

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Yet he was here all the same. And he wasn't alone, either. As he made his way through the frigid landscape of Salis Sterili, the one who had accompanied him on this venture showed no signs of experiencing the blistering cold that Thesh was presently dealing with. Even bundled up in a fur-lined coat he couldn't quite shake it, even with the Force to blanket him it still gnawed its way through.​

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But Kal was fortunate. The shade did not have to suffer through it the way mere mortals did. There was much to feel envious about when looking upon the Netherworld inhabitant, but right now that was chief among them.​

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The Temple of Annihilation lay just ahead of them, but he couldn't afford to simply land Leviathan beside it and call it a day. That would have been much too simple... And besides which, those who inhabited it weren't particularly fond of strangers.​

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Hence the tedious, chilling walk.​

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Now that it was in view he slowed to a crawl and pondered just how exactly it was they'd get their way inside. Kal wouldn't have too much of an issue, he could pretty much go where he pleased, but Thesh... Well, Thesh wasn't quite so well versed in such. Though he wasn't exactly a stranger to stealth either. The ring upon his finger, which he'd worked on during his time on Ession, was worked back and forth. It would bolster the techniques he had been taught back on Korriban... Perhaps he'd get to put all of it to use.​

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"You're sure this is going to be worth it, right?" he asked, giving the shade the side-eye. He was only semi-serious in his delivery though, a light smirk forming upon his lips. If what Kal had said was true, then there was no way he'd be hesitating - he wanted the pools which lay in the depths of the Temple, to test the properties they could bestow. If anything he was eager, it was the only thing which made the chill manageable...​

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The pair hadn't really done this sort of thing together before. They'd met first in the Netherworld, during the search for Spencer. They'd existed alongside one another in the Academy of Korriban, though neither had really approached the other. He'd bought a few things from the shade, but that was done digitally via the holonet. Nope, this was the first real expedition they'd taken together.​

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And it had only come about after Thesh purchased a particularly intriguing ship from the boy. Could one really call a shade a boy? Well, he would regardless.​

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Either way this was sure to be fun.​

 

[Kal]

Inhospitable, distant, and thoroughly unpleasant - for most, there was little reason to visit the chilly salt flats of Salis Sterili, but then most did not know about its little secret. About the so-called Temple of Annihilation that gave meaning to an otherwise insignificant world. Given the reason for their presence, Kal had opted to bring a body for the occasion, albeit a convincingly claywrought simulacrum rather than one of flesh and blood.

It certainly made the trip a lot more pleasant than it otherwise would have been, as Thesh could likely attest to.

"Only if you share my interest in exploring the unknown." Much like his companion's question, Kal was only half-serious. The assessment he had been given and had in turn relayed to the Lorrdian was quite appealing - a place of great potential and great risk, but only for the careless.

If this some glorified collection of hovels could survive around the site, Kal had no doubt he could withstand its interior.

"I don't think anyone's spotted us yet; if you're willing to play along I should be able to make us seem utterly insignificant, as if we were little more than pieces of the background. Assuming we don't bump into anyone, make any loud noises, break my concentration, or meet the monks."

From what he had been led to believe they tended to be Force Users - he doubted he could hide them from their gaze.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

"Oh, I am all about the unknown," he continued on, though this time there was a little more sincerity behind the words even if his tone remained light. The Temple held many potential wonders, and he hoped that at least some of them were true and not just a way to mystify the place, make it seem more sacred than it was, provide them with an excuse to keep people out. Man that would suck.​

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He rubbed his hands together, hoping to pick up some circulation that might warm him up, and nodded his head some in regards to what Kal said next. The form he had chosen was intriguing, not least because Thesh truly enjoyed working with the material he was constructed out of. Even now his ship held the product of its creation, his beloved Nwit, but this wasn't the time or the place for the miniature golem to be following at his side.​

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"Sure thing; I'll keep quiet, don't worry I won't blow the façade."​

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Or he'd try not to, at least. Were he better versed in the art he might have drawn upon Art of the Small, he'd received lessons from Arthos Vynea and later a more private class which drew upon similar aspects. The latter would be of little use here, they weren't among Jedi, and while the former could he wasn't so sure he was better at it than Kal was at whatever he wanted to try.​

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Wasn't worth the risk for him.​

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"So what's the plan?"​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

Pausing a small distance from the settlement, Kal watched the comings and goings of its residents for a while before answering. A rugged crowd for the most part, just as he had been told. Not somewhere one went without good reason, whether that involved escaping the law, tending to the temple itself or, in their case, making use of its more unique properties without the permission of its custodians.

He could have asked, but that would bring with it the very real possibility of them saying no.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission, if it came to that.

"I say we enter there..." A single slender finger pointed towards the most crowded area, a market of sorts. "... fading into the background should be easier the more people are present. We are more likely to meet a Force User, perhaps, but they shouldn't notice anything immediately off about us."

Unless their senses were fine-tuned enough to not only see through the fog of anonymity but to detect them through it and at that point he doubted sneaking in the back door would be met with much success either. Unless Thesh had some clever cards up his sleeve.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

It made sense that a mere drop in the bucket where foot traffic was concerned was less likely to be noticed than a lone ship out at sea, especially if they did not draw attention to themselves or act out of place. Confidence was usually key with such things, nay not confidence... Normalcy. To act as though this was nothing new to them. Easier said than done, he had no clue the layout inside or what to expect. Hopefully Kal knew more than he did in that regard.​

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"Yeah," he said, with a thoughtful nod of his head, "We just have to make it seem like we're supposed to be there."​

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He did have a few tricks up his sleeve, a newly crafted ring upon his finger would aid with any attempts at being stealthy they might make, but that might also draw more attention to them for their efforts. Best they keep their heads down. He glanced over the Temple guardians, those few who were actually permitted entry, and tried to deduce if there was any sort of attire which set them apart. Robes, that sort of thing. Perhaps they could get their hands on some first, if so.​

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Or they could just go for it. Kal at least wouldn't have to really worry about getting caught, he could poof away if he needed to right?​

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At least, that's how Thesh thought it worked.​

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"You know... You could always possess one of them," he suggested, only half jokingly. Who would deny them entry if they literally belonged there? But he didn't know Kal's views on such, where he stood in the way of the ethics of it all. Besides, what would happen to the clay body he was currently in? Would it just sit here in the sand waiting for them?​

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Still it was an option... If they needed it.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

Possess one? Not an approach he had considered, but it was not without its merits - he was not one to harm the innocent, but at the same time he had a tendency to approach morality differently than, say, your average human. Both mind control and temporary possession were perfectly reasonable approaches to conflict resolution so long as no long-term damage was done to the victim's body or cognition.

"That may be an option, in an emergency. There is a chance they may be able to fight it off, however, which would leave us in an awkward position."

Best to try to avoid detection, at least initially. Mind set and approach finalised, he led the way into the settlement and true to his word the residents made no efforts whatsoever to greet them. Not that they were necessarily the most welcoming lot, to begin with.

His little infiltration going smoothly enough initially, Kal led them through the main market, on a little circuit, then towards a side entrance. With any luck they would be safely within the bowels of the ruins before anyone was the wis- "Hey, you! What are you doing there?"​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Okay, then it was decided. They'd approach normally, trying to blend into the crowd, and then if push came to shove they could go with other, arguably immoral options. Not that Thesh really saw it as all that immoral to be honest, it was only a temporary fix and then they'd be back to normal soon after. Far worse things were done by men and women across the Galaxy each and every day, at least it wasn't permanent, or damaging, right?​

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He followed the shadow-filled clay construct through the market area, eyeing up some of the stalls here and there for added authenticity, and with genuine intrigue, and when the time was seemingly right they approached one of the entrances to the Temple proper.​

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That was when the Force screamed danger into his brain, as a voice rang out toward them. What were they doing? Chit, what were they doing? His mind went blank, as he fumbled over how to remedy the situation. Were he a Jedi he might have just tried to trick them, wave a hand and send them on their way, but he'd never been trained in such techniques. And besides, Mind Tricks only really worked on lesser minds, weren't the ones guarding this place fellow Forcies? Yeah, probably wouldn't work on them, then.​

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The boy glanced around, checked to make sure this was the only one, and upon noticing that there wasn't anyone else hot on their tails he reached into the pouch upon his belt and loosed some sand from it. He did draw upon the Force, if only to direct it properly, and sent some of the newer strain of sand he'd been working on directly into the man's eyes.​

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Provided he didn't act fast enough to prevent it.​

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With any luck he'd be asleep on the ground momentarily. They'd have to find somewhere to stash him, preferably somewhere that he couldn't immediately escape from when he awoke. There was no way of knowing how long he'd be out for, after all, this strain of sand was a little unpredictable in how it worked against sentients. Could be 5 minutes, could be an hour... Could only make him drowsy but not asleep at all.​

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Either way he'd done what he could.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

Arcturus was quick on the draw, so to speak - before Kal had the chance to begin uttering some explanation or another a handful of sand was flung at the surprised cleric, a cleric who promptly tipped forward. Shooting forth to meet him, Kal caught the man and gently placed him in an alcove. Not the best hiding spot, but there was a chance any who found him would simply assume he'd fallen asleep.

"Excellent work - quite the interesting piece of artifice you have there." Eying the slumbering cleric thoughtfully, he reached out once more, this time placing his fingers on and around the man's temple. "It would be best if his memory is fuzzy when he comes to, I imagine."

Altering a Force User's perception was never easy, but sudden unconsciousness already had a habit of interfering with memory formation - all he had to do was build on that a bit and their passage would hopefully remain unnoticed. Assuming no one found him while in an artificial slumber.

Still, no reason to stick around unnecessarily.

"Shall we?" Without waiting for a response, the Shadow-in-a-claywrought-form slipped inside the ruins, considered his prospects, and began to head towards the lower levels. <You can feel it, can't you? The potential? It is strongest at the centre, but perhaps best to avoid that.>​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

As quick as Thesh might have been to toss the sand, Kal it seemed was equally as fast in catching the man before he hit the ground; into an alcove the poor cleric went, granting them a way forward without hinderance. Forward into the unknown... It was intoxicating in truth, the strange and mysterious sensations resonating from below the ground. It set the tiny hairs on the back of his neck to attention, and allowed that bittersweet lullaby to begin anew within his mind. It called him on, and he was more than happy to oblige.​

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"Thanks; always knew this stuff could come in handy." Boy was he glad he'd continued to work on the pocket sand idea, even after some had looked at him like he was crazy for even bothering. MK1 had its place, of course, it was nice to blind mid battle, but when you wanted to utterly avoid detection? Yeah, sleepy sand was great! He practically beamed with excitement at seeing it work so well.​

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"You can do that, can you?" he inquired, curiosity brimming within his tone, as the shade mentioned messing with his memories a little. He wasn't outright erasing them, but still. It was intriguing all the same. If that was something Thesh could learn to go alongside the sleepy sand...​

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But that wasn't why they were here.​

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"Lead the way," he said with a nod, following after Kal as they entered the structure proper and began to head down toward the source of all that power. I can feel it... It's almost suffocating. You're right, probably best we don't rush right for the center. Who knows what's causing it.​

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But he was curious. He did want to know, figure out what it was capable of in truth. Still he let Kal lead the way, he was the one who had discovered the potential this place had, Thesh was just happy to be along for the ride and study what he could.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

"It seems quite useful, yes." Kal said happily, continuing their somewhat-more-quiet conversation even as his senses were directed outwards in an effort to avoid any awkward meetings with further clerics. "Mhm. Tinkering with minds and memories is a bit of a speciality. I've always had an aptitude for the little details." Quite different from some Force Users, in other words - no grand battles or ragdolling foes for him.

Altering the minds of the Forceful was a complicated affair, of course. Best fall back on simpler deceptions - obscurement and the like.

Much like Arcturus, Kal felt the draw of the Nexus' centrepoint, but knew better than pursue it. Too visible, too much risk of confrontation.

Besides, the depths were as well or even better suited for their purposes. "I have it on good authority that the waters of this place alter objects with which they are put in contact, that they imbue them with some of the Temple's own power. Such a process is worthy of study, certainly - and could well prove an excellent starting point for further efforts." They were both students of the alchemical arts, after all.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

An aptitude for the little details... Yeah, that seemed about right. The thought made him smile. Arcturus wasn't much of a fighter either, certainly not a manipulator of individuals, he just liked to tinker and figure things out. To make and break and reinvent. As of late he hadn't had much time for any of that, but hopefully that would change in time.​

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It was only natural that he hold excitement and curiosity for the pools in this temple.​

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"I am intrigued to learn more about these waters, to be sure... I did bring a couple of items, hopefully we can compare and see how it effects them each."​

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Being here, alongside the Shade, things almost felt normal. Like he was back on Korriban, or off on some Maliphant-approved assignment. Like he wasn't really in a self-imposed exile.​

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"Have you been back to the Netherworld since... Well, the Spencer thing?"​

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Down down down they ventured, voices hushed but still he wanted to use the time to talk. Kal had always intrigued him, and there was plenty to be said when they weren't surrounded by countless others. It was hard to hold a conversation in those environments, at least one that was more personal and specific to their shared experiences.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

Nodding enthusiastically at Arcturus' plans, Kal patted his own pockets in response. "I've brought a few miscellanea myself. Small trinkets and the like, easy to bring and easy to hide, if it had come to that. I am especially curious how readily the process can be manipulated, directed towards a specific result. This site itself makes manipulating the invisible currents of the Force feel easier, somehow - let's hope the waters are as cooperative."

Raising a single hand, he gestured for them to take another path in response to some unseen obstacle. A while later, the faint sound of feet on stone could be heard from whence they'd come. After a while, Kal seemed satisfied in their privacy.

"Sorry about that, better safe than sorry." They were close, now. While they traversed the final stretch, Kal's belated response finally came.

"Frequently, actually. It is as much my home as Realspace, perhaps more so. You only saw the less pleasant parts, but I assure you it holds wonders aplenty, though they are often less accessible than the pockets defined by torment, trickery, and violence." It was all many associated with the realm as a whole. A damn shame, that. Hearing the trickle of water up ahead, a smile spread across his borrowed features - this ought to be interesting.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

He was glad to know he hadn't been alone in bringing things to experiment with, though he would have happily shared the odds and ends on his person to ensure Kal could get the most out of the situation if that hadn't been the case. A dagger, a ring, and a couple of other bits and pieces, including a pouch of unaltered sand. Hey, you couldn't blame a boy for finding what he liked and sticking to it. And the three more defined choices were his trifecta to be sure.​

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At Kal's mention of the Force feeling more readily available here, Thesh reached out... And couldn't help but agree. It felt strange, different, but yes definitely more reachable.​

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"Is this a Nexus?" he inquired; perhaps that was implied by all the oddities surrounding it, but he'd never been explicitly told, nor had he ever explicitly been in the presence of one so strong. It was worth asking.​

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When the footsteps came he followed Kal into a more secluded area and stood and waited for it to pass. Patience was a virtue the boy actually knew rather well, it was difficult not to be patient when your background consisted of slavery. Forever at the whims of another, stealing time for yourself and waiting for the right moments. As such he didn't really mind the wait.​

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"Better safe than sorry," he echoed, with a nod.​

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Soon enough they were back on track, headed deeper into the earth. He could practically feel the core of the temple pulsating with life now, they were nearing their destination and anticipation gripped him with no small amount of adrenaline.​

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"I think I should like to visit again, some day," he remarked, knowing that saying such to anyone else might have him labeled insane. But Kal would understand, surely? He'd know the temptations the boy felt, the curiosity, the intrigue. Thirst for knowledge largely untapped, to see a world that turned the regular on its head.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

"It fits that definition, yes. A confluence of mystical energies, this one unusually well-suited for our purposes."

Less so for long-term projects, due to its somewhat disruptive properties. The items being worked on would be just fine, but the artisan fading away into the vastness of the Force was quite the inconvenience, though technically one that could be overcome through rotating shifts or expendable craftsmen. Grey Ones, perhaps, or a Weaver or two. Something to consider for the future.

Clearly, Arcturus was having similar thoughts, sort of. Related thoughts, anyway.

"Yes, a repeat visit has some merit. More time to consider potential approaches. If possible being able to enter with the custodians' consent would be ideal... assuming my little memory trick worked." Only time would tell. "Aha, and there it is!"

A radiant smile on his borrowed features, Kal gestured towards the pool of mostly ordinary-looking water occupying the corner of a ruined room, a stream of further water trickling down from a crack in the wall. In stark contrast to its appearance, it felt decidedly other than the surroundings.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

As destructive as this place could be, as limiting the interactions ought to have been, he could not help but feel drawn to it. Perhaps it was its danger which urged him on, the fear of the unknown could be a powerful motivator both toward and away from. An opportunity to learn from a thing that most didn't even know about the existence of was too great to pass up.​

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Besides, what was one afternoon every blue moon? Certainly that wouldn't wick away at his life too drastically... Right?​

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"I do wonder if they would notice if a clone of one of them were to wander in... I'm unfamiliar with the process, however, does it require more than just a simple DNA sample? Certainly you could have an easier time getting down here if so, dressed as one, looking as one."​

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Their thoughts were interrupted however, as they entered at last the chamber containing a pool of water. It was deceptively plain, mundane, in its visuals, but he could feel the pull of it, it was deeply saturated in the Force. Every instinct in him was screaming out to run, to leave this place in one piece.​

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Despite that, Arcturus approached the pool.​

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Kal ​

 

[Kal]

"Hmm, a DNA sample would be sufficient, yes. Assuming it's complete. It may be easier to simply pick a form that is able to shift to resemble one of their number, mind you - they are more likely to uncover a ruse through the Force than through medical examinations, I imagine." Hells, there were more straightforward ways still, holographic cloaking perhaps? "The idea has merit, I will have to consider it more closely."

For now, his focus like that of his companion was on the pool and the power it represented; it was not denser than the centre of the Nexus, per se, but its nature was more... giving? No, that was not quite it. It rubbed off easier, it had a habit of imposing mutability but in a specific direction.

Strange traits, bordering on the unique - very useful traits, for their purposes.

"It's... beautiful." Eyes glowing a soft white as he saw things this fleshy sleeve could not, Kal was distracted enough that Acturus would likely end up with the honour of being the first to test the waters, so to speak, but not so distracted as to not pay attention as his companion approached.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Shapeshifters...​

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Huh, why hadn't he thought of that? Certainly it would make far more sense for the Shadow to make use of such than it would for him to go through the entire process of cloning one of their species.​

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Still his attention was snatched away from the conversation at hand almost immediately.​

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As he approached the body of water Arcturus found his steps becoming smaller, slower, until he forced himself to a halt several feet from its edge. Beautiful the Shadow said... Beautiful indeed, even for one who could not see all the intricacies his friend could. Even in its most mundane state it was a beauty to behold. A beauty to feel through the Force.​

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Inhaling a slow breath to steel his nerves, he forced himself to press on a little closer. Once at its edge he knelt down, and observed it at a closer proximity. Then he removed one of the items he'd brought and set it on the rim of the pool, not touching the water but close at hand. A small dagger, not unlike the one he carried on his person most of the time.​

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"Do we try placing something in the water?" he asked of his companion, "Or do we simply keep them close by?"​

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He wasn't certain how this worked... But he was eager to give it a try.​

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Kal ​

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[Kal]

A tilt of the head, a brightening of the glow within his eyes, and a thoughtful look on his sculpted features - for the moment, that was the only reply Arcturus would receive. It was not that Kal was ignoring him, per se, but the answer was not immediately apparent; better to analyse the situation in place of an ill-considered preliminary answer. One could not be too careful when it came to volatile energies and fragile mortal forms.

After perhaps half a minute, the Shadow nodded to himself, eyes dimming as they turned from water to Lorrdian.

"Placing it within the water seems the better choice, I believe immersion is needed to achieve a desirable result. Submersion alone should produce some form of change, I believe it will be possible to influence this through relatively standard methods." Blinking softly, he flashed Arcturus a wry smile. "It goes without saying that touching the water with your own hands is ill-advised. I recommend the Force - or a tong."

Kal certainly had not opted to bring any such tools, telekinesis would do just fine for him.​

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

He waited patiently for the Shadow to finish up his assessment, eyes drawn to the water once more in lieu of spoken words. Then they followed the trickling of water to its higher source and glanced for some way to hang the pouch of sand within the throws of the falling water. He didn't wish to fully submerge it for fear of all the sand leaking out, but hang it by its closure and let the water trickle through?

Perhaps... That just might work.

Blinking back to the present, he glanced over to Kal as the Shadow stated his findings and then Thesh nodded his head. "Alright. No tongs, so Force it is..."

Still he hesitated for a moment, lingered with that thought. Then exhaled. Slowly reached out, and lifted the dagger into the water where it lay. The water almost seemed to bubble up around the edge of the metal for a moment, before it settled. How long did he wait? The boy truly did not know.

He reached for the ring, held it on his palm, turned it over, then looked to Kal again.

"Do you think the size matters? Should I submerge this for less time, perhaps?" He realized soon after that this was a new experience for the Shadow too. Maybe he should test for himself, rather than relying so heavily on Kal? So he did. He dropped the ring into the water, and monitored it too.

Still the matter of the sand... Maybe he could lodge something into the wall behind the waterfall, so it could be submerged? Then again he didn't want to risk breaking anything. He wasn't in any rush, if anyone came down here surely they could find a dark corner to hide in. Right?

Right...

Kal