The Blind

[Shanoed Marais]

She felt rather then saw the moment the beast started to charge her. The ground shook beneath her feet. She lowered herself down, waiting.. waiting... A sudden wave of Light swept the room, and the beast faltered. She fought her own distraction, as she still a deadly beast coming right at her. When it had almost reached her, she shot up.

A dark violet blade erupted from the unstable Saber. It was turned down as the Spyder reached the height of her jump and started to come back down. Both of her hands gripped the hilt as she landed on the beast's head, forcing the unstable saber deep into the creature's eye. The cry of pain tore through the cavern, and she was thrown to the side as it shook it's head.

She rolled with the fall, grunting softly. Her saber was left stuck in the beast eye, the blade clearly sparking unstably, as if it was about to explode. She leapt back to her feet and cursed under her breath. "Oh come on, I was so close to getting what I needed to repair it.." She growled and hopped from foot to foot. She wanted to leap back up there and turn the saber off before it imploded, but feared she wasn't going to be fast enough. She thanked her hesitation a moment later as the blade did just that, the hilt shattering, it's scorched pieces flying in every direction. "Kriffing Bantha poodoo!"

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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The Terentatek's roar was loud enough to shake the cavern's wall. It reeled about in pain, its large talons swiping desperately at the lightsaber that sparking in its eyesocket. A moment later and the weapon exploded, sending fiery plasma coursing over the beast's flesh. Flames licked off the monster's hide as it howled, its murderous one-eyed gaze turning on the Miraluka. The lazed slowness that had stricken the beast before was gone now, replaced by a primal fury that sought only to rip the blind women into several bloody pieces.

Cedric took advantage of the distraction. He called upon the empyrean, allowing its energies to fill his limbs so that he might close the distance between himself and the beast. The Blade of Ruusan hissed as it carved into the monster's lightsaber resistant hide. The cyan weapon cut deeper than a normal blade, searing through the tissues beneath the creature's flesh. It howled ever louder, a talon flinging back to slash Cedric clear across the chest, sending the Jedi flying several meters across the room where he rolled several times, finally coming to a halt when he hit the cavern wall.

The monster turned upon the Spyder, foaming at the mouths as it swung its massive talons wildly at her.

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

Spyder danced in place, looking around for something to use. Anything. And then the beast was charging again. She put her hands up, as if she was going to stop it's charge with with sheer strength of will. She felt Cedric move and frowned. No! He was on the beast. It wasn't charging her anymore. It was howling. She felt it's rage, felt it's bloodlust.

She was about to leap up to help him when the beast launched him across the cavern. "Cedric! You'll pay for that!" She roars in rage, launching herself at the Terentatek. She jumped from place to place until she reached the saber that was still lodged in the beast's flesh. Her body contorted in a flip as she brought her heel down hard on base of the saber's hilt, ramming it deeper in. She then swung down to the beast's head.

"Go down, your horrendous creature!" Spyder forced her hand into the injured eye, grabbing at the guts of it and ripping out. The beast roared and charged the wall. Shan quickly scrambled up, jumping for the saber and latching her hand around the hilt as it hits the wall. She kept going backwards, her weight catching and pulling the saber, slicing deeper into the beast. She plants her feet, pulling back with all her strength to rip the saber out. When it came loose she leapt back and landed before making a mad dash towards Cedric with his saber, hoping she could make it to him before the beast recovered again.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Terentateks were wholly unpleasant foes.

To the uninitiated, they were certain doom. To the tested, they were the greatest of challenges, and to masters, they were the unfortunate face of death itself. No Jedi ever escaped combat with them unscathed, though the blow that had been scored across Cedric's breastplate was a deep one. The phrik had protected the soft flesh beneath, and he rose to his feet with little more than the wind having been blown out of his sails.

It was then that he watched the Miraluka dance about the Terentatek with relative ease, the Blade of Ruusan dancing about in her fingertips as if it were her own weapon. Such a feat was relatively unheard of: the blade generally only worked for those of pure heart and intention. Perhaps in this moment, that was very much what the Spyder was.

The high powered blade gouged through the beasts hide far better than any normal weapon. When the guts of its eye were ripped outward, so too did many of its internal organs spill out from its open wounds. With one last groan, the beast slumped over, dead.

"Well," Cedric breathed a heavy breath as he drew close, "That was far more violent than I was expecting, I'll admit."

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

Spyder huffs softly, moving to Cedric as she grabbed his hand and put his saber in it. "I'm sorry, I only used it because mine.." She cleared her throat and walked away then. She swayed as she approached the beast. She brought her right arm up, holding it at the elbow and supporting it. The moment she reached the beast though, her hands were up, in ready defensive positions. She walked in a slow circle, watching for any sign it was still alive.

When she was sure it was down, she straightened from her ready pounce stance and sneered at the creature. "I told you so. Shouldn't have hurt him." her voice was a growl. The right arm was grabbed at the elbow again as she started walking around the cavern. "Now... what were you guarding.?" Her voice was calming.

On close examination, it was clear that Spyder's shoulder was dislocated, which explained why she was holding that arm in place. Her face was a careful mask of calm, none of her pain showing through. Her vision was off, though. The pain made her mind hazy, so she didn't notice the change at first. Her bare feet back tracked and she stood there, tilting her head. She growled softly and let go of her arm to reach up and slap her own cheek. The arm was then grabbed and held tightly, her knuckles going white as she shakes her head and grits her teeth.

There. Her vision cleared and she saw it. She turned towards the cavern wall she was next to. "There is something behind this wall. Either we make an entrance, or find the entrance." Her voice was strained, but she still didn't make a single sound of pain.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Cedric eyed the fallen beast cautiously. Terentatek were fearsome creatures, and rarely were they slain so quickly. It seemed this one might have been malnourished, or at the very least aged far past its prime. The details didn't matter to Cedric, only that the creature was no longer a threat.

He gave the Spyder a vague nod of thanks as she placed the lightsaber in his open palm. It seemed she was far more trustworthy than he had initially expected, and more capable at that. He found himself rather glad that he'd elected for diplomacy before violence with the woman. "It's alright," he assured, shaking his head as he walked along the wall. The cavern seemed to have no further routes other than the one they had come from, but he felt what the Spyder did too. There was something just beyond.

"You dealt with that nicely," he added, still a little dazed from being hurled across the room. It was only then that he took note of the Spyder's injury - she'd hidden it quite well thus far. "Your arm," the Jedi frowned beneath his mask. "It looks like it's out of socket. Let's fix that before we move forward. Can you brace yourself against the wall."

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

The Spyder turned her head towards the man, a frown touching her lips. "I fight beasts only when I have to, but since my prey usually hides in the wilderness, that is more often than I desire. First time fighting one of those." She explained, not quite acknowledging his compliment. When he asked if she would brace herself against the wall, talking about her dislocated shoulder, her body tensed.

He would have noticed eventually, she knew. She chewed on her bottom lip, debating her answer. She wasn't used to anyone touching her that wasn't attacking her. She wasn't used to touching someone without the purpose of hurting them, for that matter. She had already touched Cedric, to return his saber. She wrinkled her nose after a moment then walked over to the wall. Her hand came up against the cool surface and the winds of the Force rushed in, swirling around her then shooting out.

Her head leaned back as she opened her Force Sight up, letting the Force show her every little detail about the area around her. There. Spyder drew in a slow breath as the winds coursed back to her, wrapping around her before dispersing. Her own whirlwind returned to normal. She turned her head towards Cedric then nodded, leaning against the wall and bracing herself. "There is a door, that part of the wall doesn't belong." She indicated an area of the cavern wall. In the dim light it was hard to see, but the wall had ridges, and didn't actually connect to the wall next to it. Like a piece of the wall was precisely cut out and then put right back in place.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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She didn't seem all that keen on solving the problem with her shoulder. Normally Cedric would have pushed the subject, but he suspected the Spyder would not particularly care for such protest. Writing it off for now, Cedric drew his plate-bound hand along the cold obsidian. His senses of general surroundings were not as developed as the Miraluka's - she had an innate ability that no amount of training would ever allow him to surpass. When she spoke of a door, he simply chose to believe her.

"Well, door's exist to be opened," Cedric mused, his mood lightening now that he was certain the danger of the terentatek was over. He strolled over to the spot she had indicated, and drew the empyrean's energies into his palm. He extended them further, invisible tendrils of telekinetic energy that obeyed his every suggestion. These tendrils poured through the minuscule imperfections where the rock had been removed and set back into place. They found purchase on the other side.

Cedric gestured for the Spyder to step aside, that violently ripped his hand back. The slab of rock ground against itself as it was ripped from its foundations, and went flying back several meters before tumbling across the empty chamber.

A cloud of dust obscured any vision into the room beyond. Cedric stepped forward, "Shall we?"

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

Spyder steps aside as she is instructed. When he threw the slab back, she waited. She waited until it hit the ground and then she slammed her right arm into the wall, a cry of pain escaping her just in time to be covered up by the louder sound of the slab hitting the ground. She leaned against the wall for a moment, panting, before she pushed away, gingerly rolling her right shoulder. It wasn't the first time she'd had to do that, but she refused to show weakness.

She was a fearsome hunter, nothing affected her. She was a weapon, impervious to pain. Showing weakness only let her prey think they held the advantage. They stopped fearing her. Her thoughts swirled as she swallowed the vomit threatening to come up as the pain from relocating her shoulder slowly dulls. She waved her left hand in front of her face, clearing the dust from her nose.

Her Force showed her the door through the dust and she walked up to it, humming happily. "Found you." Her fingers trail along the door, as she searches for the door's weakpoint. She takes a deep breath, holding it in for a moment as she drew her hand back. The Force swirled around her fist as she brought it forward, slamming it into the door. The ancient door groans, creaks, and then folds right where she hit it, weakening the integrity of the rest of the door. She then shook her hand out, stepping back and gesturing to the door for Cedric to finish the job.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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All the gloom of the cavern dissipated as Cedric followed in after the Spyder. He was near his goal, he could feel it just beyond the door, beckoning him. The Jedi Master gave the Miraluka a light nod as he strode up to the door. An open palm was placed against it, and it took only the slightest amount of telekinetic pressure for the ancient lock to unlatch. The primordial portal creaked like like a dying beast as it slowly parted, revealing the hidden chamber.

It was a room of pure gold. The floors, ceiling, and every bit of structure was dazzling with yellow sheen. The gold emanated a faint light, casting the chamber in a warm orange glow. The room was barren, save for a small throne forged from the same obsidian outside. Upon that throne sat the decayed skeleton of what looked to be a Nikto, but it was hard to tell.

"If I were a lesser man, then I'd just retire after this," Cedric mumbled as he strode up to the skeleton. The moment he drew near, an oppressive energy filled the chamber. The air grew sharp and coppery once again, and it had a heaviness to it, like the calm before a powerful thunderstorm.

"One of sight. One of mortality. Welcome to my home." The door creaked shut behind them. The skeleton began to twitch. It moved ever so slightly, slowly creaking upward into an upright seated position. Its eyeless sockets peered at the duo with unnatural intelligence. "You have come for my boon?"

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

The Miraluka moved in behind Cedric, her fingers reaching out to touch the wall as her lips formed an 'o'. "This seems unnecessary... Such a was-" Her voice cut off when the oppressive energy descended on the room. She turned slowly, facing the skeleton. "Fascinating.." She whispered the words, her pain forgotten as she approached the throne.

There was pure fascination on her face when the voice spoke. She turned her head towards Cedric then took another step closer to the skeleton as it sat itself up and looked at her. "A spirit, but not how I am used to seeing them.." Her voice was still a whisper as she watched the way the force moved in the room, moved around the skeleton.

Spyder kept a distance from the Throne, but stared at it, at the moving skeleton. She no longer looked like a hunter ready to pounce. She was a child who was seeing something amazing. "Your boon? Who are you?" She asked aloud before turning in a slow circle. She still stood on the balls of her feet, but she was putting off an excited energy. She seemed to ignore that the door closed behind them, choosing not to think about it at the moment.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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"I know of the boon you speak of," Cedric replied plainly. He'd come here in search of this lost spirit, and it seemed his curiosity had been well awarded. Time would tell if the legends about the long dead warrior-poet were true.

The skeleton made a tilting motion, as if it were trying to nod. It pointed a gnarled finger at the Miraluka. "Connection to the ancestors. This is a place of great resonance in the beyond. One can call forth those long since lost, should they have the will for it." The lipless mouth spoke.

"Do you wish to make the pact?" The cadaver waved a bony hand toward Cedric.

The Jedi master nodded. "Perhaps, depending on the price. I don't have much to give."

The skeleton made a chattering noise as its teeth rattled in its rotting mouth. The sound of rumbling laughter echoed through the chamber. "This one's blood. The great powers flow through it, and it is young, a mark of fertility. It will make for a good price."

Cedric did not respond.

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

As they talked, she turned back to face the skeleton, tilting her head to one side. Cedric knew more about this place than she thought he did. Of course, she rarely actually did any research on the ruins before going into them. She liked to court danger. It was one of the few things that made her feel alive anymore.

She saw the energy moving through the skeleton and she moved closer when it pointed at her. Connection to the ancestors? Her head turned towards Cedric. He had been seeking this place, there was an ancestor that he needed to contact. It gave her pause. Family. She had a family once. When had she stopped thinking about them?

Spyder listened silently to the interaction. She was certain Cedric could do it. Then he spoke the price. The Miraluka sobered, her face becoming a stone mask of perfect calm. Cedric didn't respond and she turned her head towards him slightly, tilting her chin up. "It wants my blood." Her voice was quiet, but there was no uncertainty.

She turned her head back to the skeleton, tilting her head in question. "How vague an answer. Some may think you seek only a prick, a drop of my blood. Others may believe you just asked him to rip my throat open and spill my life force upon your floor." She took a slow couple of steps closer to the throne. "So tell me, strange spirit, how much of a sacrifice must I make for this knowledge?"

There was again no uncertainty in her voice. She had no ancestors she had cause to call upon, but Cedric did. He had helped her, and in all actuality, saved her life. If she had come here alone as she had planned, the creature would have killed her. She owed him a debt she would see paid. Now, if need be.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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A pregnant, uncomfortable silence hung over the room. Cedric was still as a statue, his visage thankfully hidden by his helmet. He was unsure as to exactly what thhe price was, aside from a vague mention of blood. That was typical for these sort of rituals, though as the Spyder pointed out, the amount of blood in question had not been specified.

"She makes a good point," Cedric added, a hint of annoyance lacing his words. He'd imagined the spirit would want something form of a bargain for its services, but its choice of price was one Cedric was uncomfortable paying in any capacity. The Jedi was unwilling to let any other being find themselves diminished for his sake, and this was not even a situation where such sacrifice was truly required. His lips parted to speak, but the creaking voice of the old lord cut him off.

"I will give you the past, but I require the future." It spoke, a gnarled finger pointing at the Spyder once again. At first it pointed at her face, but the digit slowly drew downward, coming to rest so that it was pointing directly at her belly.

"To know the truth of times gone, one must accept their place in the present. You cannot look forward whilst looking back."

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

The Spyder drew herself up to her full height as the skeleton pointed to her belly. Her hands slowly moved to wrap around her belly protectively. She wasn't sure how to react to that. Was he asking for her fertility? Her children? Would she have children?

She turned her head towards Cedric falling into a contemplative silence. There was knowledge he wanted here, knowledge she herself was curious about. She frowned ever so slightly and and walked over to him. Spyder walked in a circle around him before nodding.

The Mira turns and walks back up to the throne, walking all the way up to it this time. "You ask for my future? That is little sacrifice. My future would have ended today without his sacrifice." Her hand moved to lay over her belly. "So long as you do not take my life, so long as I can continue to repay my life debt, I will give you what you desire."

Her head turned towards Cedric slightly, speaking to him. "Great knowledge comes at a great price. Someone must be brave enough to pay that price." She tried to convey her certainty, and ease whatever concerns he might have.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Cedric had remained more or less silent throughout the exchange.

His gut wrestled with the realities of the situation. His connection with his ancestors had been severed during his battle with [member="Darth Maliphant"]. For years, Cedric had relied on the advice and company of his progenitors, and now he was forced to live without it. He hadn't adjusted to the change well, and the possibility that later generations might be retain that severance was damning. The Graysons had thrived on their ability to retain knowledge and wisdom throughout the generations. Without that assured line, the legacy was in jeopardy.

The Jedi Master's gaze flickered between the Miraluka and the corpse. He'd expected her simply to say no, but her seeming insistence on paying off a perceived debt had led her to make an impossible decision.

It didn't sit right with Cedric. He shook his head.

"I'll not allow it." He said firmly, "This is an unfair bargain. It isn't right." Cedric shook his head as he stepped between the cadaver and the Spyder. "Keep your secrets old lord."

The room rumbled with the being's detached laughter. "Such pride, flesh of my flesh. The blood runs strong through your veins." The being sounded pleased, a rattling finger gesturing toward Cedric. "I give you my blessing, flesh of my flesh, but you will have no further guidance. The future is your own now. Destiny is but dust in the wind."

The door creaked open behind them. "Go now, inheritor, and sow the seeds of change. The stars hold their breath in anticipation."

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

Spyder wasn't sure what she was expecting to happen, but it certainly wasn't what happened. She stepped back as he put himself between her, tilting her head. Why was he stopping it? Unfair? She wasn't worried about having a family. She couldn't imagine herself having a family.

She didn't refute him though. If he didn't want the knowledge, she wasn't going to fight him. She had no use for it. Then, something else unexpected happened. The spirit agreed to give his boon, without taking her sacrifice. Her brows shot up, her head tilting to one side. Had that been a test, meant for Cedric. She looked at him in a new light now, her lips pursed.

She turned when the door opened and walked out without saying anything, thoughts swirling in her head. She just kept walking until she reached the reached the exit, maintaining her silence. Once they were back out into the open air, she stopped and spun around, knowing Cedric would be behind her. She stared at him in silence for a little longer before she finally inclined her head to him.

"You are.. different. That sacrifice would have been seen as acceptable among the Luka Sene..." A frown touched her lips before she turned away. "You.. think different. I want to learn. I want to find your calm." She turned her head back to him. "May I accompany you?"

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Vicarion was last to him forever now. Cedric understood that, but he also knew the old man would have wanted to make the decision that he'd chosen. Vicarion had always been a kind altruistic soul; he would have no qualms with becoming one with the empyrean forever if it meant another sentient need not suffer.

The Jedi Master realized the temptation he'd felt was not that the desire to preserve his bloodline's connection to the afterlife, but rather to retain the company of his favored ancestor. Life was far too complex for such reunions, and the cost was far too high. Cedric would just have to adjust to walking on his own.

Cedric canted his head to the right as they came to the ruin's exit. He reached up to draw back his cowl, the popping of seals that followed to his helmet being removed as well. The man was in his late twenties, eyes like thunder, and features that were once patrician, but had been marred by so many nicks and scars that it was homely at best.

"I can teach you what I know. The Jedi path is far different than that of the Luka Sene, but it is a path anyone with the right conviction can walk," he offered her a seemingly nostalgic smile, "Show you what I can. I need your name first though. Can't just call you spider." He turned partly toward the shuttle that awaited him a few dozen meters away.

[member="Shanoed Marais"]

 

[Shanoed Marais]

Spyder considered him, her body shifting. This experience had reminded her of the woman she had once been. Reminded her that there were Force Users that were good people, that deserved to live, even at the cost of her own life. It was clear he was going to bring more good to the galaxy than her, as all she had delivered the last few years was death.

Could he retrain that? Would she ever banish the beast she had nurtured to protect herself? She didn't know, but she did know there was only one way to find out. It was time to take one of the scariest missions she had ever gone on. She was going to reenter society. She was going to have comrades. Could she be trusted? Could she control the beast if she was around so many force users?

"I will follow you. I will.. I will try to quiet my bloodlust.." She hesitated, running a hand through her platinum blonde hair before she turned towards his shuttle. "My name.. Is Shanoed. Shanoed Marais." The name sounded weird coming from her mouth and she wrinkled her nose, bringing a hand up to lightly rub her right shoulder. "The Crystal Spyder.. makes it easier to kill. Allows me to... forget that I am no different than they are. Shall we?" She quickly shook her head and gestured to the ship, her moment of uncertainty gone.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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And that was that.

Cedric understood the meaning behind the moniker. He had hid behind the title of Archlord in years past when matters of morality had not been met to full expectation. It made things easier: allowed oneself to disconnect from the natural desire to relate that all living beings shared, or humanoids at the very least. Without that, killing was as simple as any other daily task. It was just a part of life. Needless to say, the Jedi Master was quite pleased with her change of heart.

"I'm happy to meet you Shanoed," the smile he gave her was warm, beaming even. He'd come to this place in search of a lost companion, and had learned to move past it. The test had been completed, and his actions had helped another to see the power of the Light.

A good day indeed.

The Jedi drew his cowl back over his face as he started walking toward the ship. "Welcome to the cause."

[member="Shanoed Marais"]