Nom Anor's avenger

"This is going to feel different than a lightsaber once you get to that point in your training but this is the closest substitute that we have," Nemo said as he positioned his blade into a high guard. It was time to test the bothans fighting capablilites. by the looks of him, he didn't seem used to a sword, rather some other brand of weapon. Perhaps they would get to more complicated weaponry a little later on. Nemo ran at the bothan, his blade moving from its high position into a powerful vertical strike, aimed to split the hopeful in to. The Jedi Knight would hold back and go easy. Perhaps things would pick up in time however, now he was going to see what combat this bothan was capable of handeling. ((feel free to post the two of them dueling a bit, have fun with it.))

Nemo was confused for moment as a man entered the room, declared something he didn't quite here and then left. He thought about worrying about it but the man left soon afterward. The Jedi Knight did however, nod with approval as the book slowly rose into the air. It wasn't quite as graceful as the Knight's demonstration, but for the first attempt, it was rather impressive. "That's a bit of the basics concerning force control. Nemo smiled a little as he removed a vibro-sword from the many hanging near the room's wall. "Why don't we try some combat training. Grab a sword and get ready."

((I've been waiting for Rufus to post but it looks like he isn't so I'll go ahead and continue.)) ”œThat's pretty good for the first time,”

With a final nod, Nom turned to leave. ”œAnd may the Force be with you.”

”œAccording to this description, you want me to take a team of republic soldiers and try and retake control of Bespin from the Sith and Empire?”

Nom waited a moment, half expecting Scorp to keep talking. He didn't even notice Scorp's comment about being humorless. The Jedi Master would have laughed had he heard it. Unfortunately, his inaction proved to validate Scorp's comment, even though made in jest. ”œI guess I will choose one of these options and get to it,”

Nom eyed the massive contents of the datapad. The list was certainly extensive and required lots of man power. Scorp certainly wasn't lying when he said there was plenty to do. He wondered which task had the most pressing need. He met eyes with the councilmen at the mention of a new apprentice. Surely the Jedi were in dire need of masters if they were to ask him to train someone so soon into his reintegration. Since being knighted, Nom had trained three Jedi. Two of these (the last he heard) were full knights in the order serving across the galaxy. A small part of him hoped to see them again. His first apprentice however, was now a full member of Sith. Nom sighed a little as Revan's face entered his mind. Upon their last meeting, the Jedi Master was forced to kill the young man. He was put in a position he rather wanted to avoid. The brisk air of Manaan brought him back to the present. The air was colder than he remembered, forcing the hairs on his check and neck to stand up. ”œThis is quite the list,”

Nom got straight to the point, not wanting to waste any of Scorp's time. He gave a slight nod to the other Jedi sitting nearby. He guessed the two were probably training. ”œI've been gone for quite some time now and I need to get reintegrated back into the Jedi Order. Is there a way I can get in touch with the leadership? I'm sure things have changed a great deal in my absence.”

The coordinates to the Jedi facility flashed across the X-Wing's nav screen. Nom changed vectors and continued along his path. His vessel gradually descended towards the watery surface of the planet, its reflection quickly scurrying over the waves and currents of Manaan's vast oceans. In only a few moments, the Jedi Master was aboard the eternal vigilance. He remembered the days when the massive facility housed hundreds of Jedi. The hustle and bustle of busy people constantly filled the now empty corridors. It was an odd sight to see such a vacant image of what had once been so crowded. There must be other bases the Jedi had since relocated to in the time of Nom's hiatus. Reaching out with the Force, the Jedi Master located other organisms nearby. It was an interesting sensation to be around Force users again. Their presence beckoned to him like a delicious meal. It had been a long time since he had contact with others who could feel the force as he had. While this separation was intentional, he couldn't help but feel glad at his return. Nom entered a room inhabited by two men, the first living things he'd seen since coming aboard. He didn't recognize one of the men, probably a Jedi who had joined the order recently. The other Jed, who was standing on a landing ramp leading to the open air, held an appearance Nom knew quite well. ”œScorp,”

OOC: Scorp has deligated the posting of Nemo to me, so I'll go ahead and keep going for you. Nemo smiled to himself as he listened to the young bothan speak. He certainly wasn't a stranger to the wars that have been plaguing the galaxy since the birth of the Republic. The constant tension between Jedi and Sith were stuff of legend. Though never actually engaging a Sith himsefl, the Jedi Knight knew of their evil. "You are half correct young one," Nemo said, his voice fully of serenity. "The Force is in fact the heartbeat of the universe. It pervades everything, even filling the air you breath with its presence." The Jedi Knight began to pace back and forth as he spoke, "However, let's save talks of the Dark Side for a later time. There are more pressing things you must learn." Nemo halted his pacing a few feet from the two Jedi hopefuls. "I want you to close your eyes," He instructed. "Tell me everything you see, with as much detail as you can." Nemo's words started to get softer, his voice slipping into peace and quiet of the Jedi Temple. "Let the voice of the Force be your eyes."

There was a moment of silence. The heavens seemed to freeze in hushed expectation. Suddenly, in a flicker of psuedomotion, a small X-Wing flashed out of hyperspace. Seemingly insignificant, the snub fighter carried a man who was anything but. He was a Master of the Jedi Order, a man whose renown and exploits had echoes across the galaxy. Yet such achievements existed only in the form of history. For all the great things he had done, for all his previous glories, the Jedi Order persisted in his absence. The world persisted in his absence. Nom Anorus had been gone a long time. He even wondered if his title of Jedi Master would even remain. He only pondered the question for a moment, recognizing the futility of it. The rank ”œJedi Master”

--Updated Character Sheet-- Name: Nom Anorus Nick Name:: Nom Age: 37 Species: Human Height: 6'0'' Hair: Silver Eyes: Green Sex: Male Homeworld: Coruscant Alighnment: Chaotic Good Weapons: Two lightsabers, one blue and the other silver. A flechette launcher and a pack of assorted grenades. Also a small hidden dager kept somewhere on his body. Inventory: Comlink and various medical supplies. Force User: Trained by: Mathis Qui-gon Trained: Revan Khanjell, Master Scorpio Armageddon, Delita (inactive), Delita/Yue. Rank: Jedi Master Other information: Nom specializes in melee combat. He is a frequent user of Form III lightsaber combat desgined for defense. He has mastered the use of fighting with just one blade as well as two and can swtich between them on the fly. Nom has a history of repeated defeats in battle yet identifies himself as a warrior. This diacotomy has led to an interesting perona. Once a fun loving Jedi focused on protecting the innocent, Nom no longer can hold such a carefree demeanor. He now roams the galaxy under the guise of a Jedi Master, yet desperately searches for his true purpose in life.

A lone Jedi star fighter, of quite modest accomidations, streaked through hyperspace. Sitting within the cockpit, wearing a forlorn expression if there ever was one, was Nom Anorus. He poured over his nav-computer almost obsessivly. Returning to civilized society was a lot harder than it looked. The Jedi Master did a quick scan of knowable Jedi bases, hoping to find the Order in a planet that he knew. He obviously struck Ilum from the list, having returned from that very location. Several locaitons remained however, leaving his search that much more difficult. Having remembered something about Gala mentioned before dying at the battle of Csilla, Nom decided to begin his search there. He would prove to be a tad too correct on his assessment upon arrival.

He was surrounded by pitch black, every inch of space shrouded in darkness. Nom Anorus, Jedi Master, lifted his hands in front of him. It was a strange sensation, feeling the brain signal the arm to movement, yet the visible confirmation of the act lay hidden amidst the black. Thinking on instinct, the Jedi Master ignited his lightsaber. This time, a marvelous silver pillar of light cut through the darkness. Surprisingly, the light humming from the Jedi's blade did nothing to cut through the pervasive darkness, despite its ability to cut through most anything else. A crimson blade joined his as a second lightsaber ignited, one wielded by someone else. "Nom Anorus, we just keep meeting it seems." The sinister voice of Raynuk Montar, Darth Quitus rang through the night with particular familiarity, the masking presence of darkness failing to hide the malicious presence beneath. "Your efforts are in vein naive Jedi," the Dark Lord continued. "Every feeble attempt you make to save life fails, your life as well as those you seek to protect vanishes by the end of my blade most of all," Quitus added, chuckling slightly. Even though Nom could not see the man, he was more than willing to bet anything that the Dark Lord was smiling. "You rise defiantly beneath the crimson blade fight after fight Jedi. You give your life for the cause so many times. The epic duels you wage need no introduction to the pages of legacy." Quitus began to move forward, the haunting crimson lightsaber dancing even closer to the Jedi, closing the distance between the two warriors. "Yet correct me if I'm wrong," Quitus mused playfully, "but I find no victory in those pages for Nom Anorus, no light at the end of any chapter. Your glorious righteousness has done nothing but thrown you into shadow. You valiantly charge into battle and lose EVERY TIME!" Quitus' screams echoed through the chasms of darkness, accentuating the last two words of his fierce diatribe. Nom Anorus, Jedi Master, servant of light stood motionless. The defiant smirk of confidence that once graced his features remained invariably absent. For the first time in his life, no witty retort escaped his lips. Only silence echoed from his fleeting mouth, against the dense blackness surrounding him. Quitus took his opportunity to continue, taking advantage of Nom's hesitance. "How has the light served you Nom Anorus?" Quitus spoke as if he already knew the answer to that question. ”œYou have denied the power it grants for the sake of the innocence in the galaxy. It's funny really." Quitus twisted the blade in his hand, as if not paying full attention to the one-sided conversation. "Whenever I try to purge that innocence from this world, I always seem to succeed." Anorus opened his mouth, desperately trying to find any words to spring forth. Yet try as he might, he was still bound by silence. All the while, Quitus continued to speak, his voice driving to a crescendo. "The light side of the Force is weakness, Nom. I know it, and I believe you are finally beginning to understand. Give into your rage Jedi!" Quitus snapped his fingers and the room flooded with light. His face sprang to view, the horrible visage of his eyes shinning with crimson fire brighter than the weapon he wielded. Those eyes shattered the great burden of silence weighing down upon the Jedi. Oh how he wanted to see those flames extinguished! "No." Nom's words were weak, his voice barely breaching the barrier of silence that once pressed down upon him. "You are foolish Jedi. You lost everything and will continue to do so until the day you cease to exist. Why do you keep fighting? The innocence you protect?" The question again sent memories to the Jedi Master's thoughts. He remembered his very first encounter with the Sith Lord. He ravaged the streets of a broken Coruscant and literally killed all who were unfortunate to cross his path. Nom, still a promising Jedi Knight, took up the burden to protect those who could not protect themselves. After a well-fought duel however, the Knight fell to death and defeat. Quitus after defeating his foe, continued to purge the streets of life once more. How often did that scenario occur? Nom's recollection brought him back further, bringing each important duel, where the drive to sustain life motivated him, to his mind. The scenario was the same. Each valiant effort ended in his death, and the death of several more after him. He was but one amid the ocean of murder, never managing to stem the tide. "Yes, you see don't you Nom? You fight a losing battle, one in which you will never win. The desire to preserve that which is dear," Quitus voice fluttered to a comical tone, obviously mocking the Jedi, "has failed you. You need a motivation greater Anorus. Only then, will you rise to your potential as a wielder of the Force." Anorus could only see the truth in the Dark Lord's words. Looking back, the resolve built by years of self sacrifice had yielded him nothing. Nom Anorus, Jedi Master, had not saved one single life since dawning the lightsaber. Such a realization was enough to send any Jedi into a massive life reexamination. The case was no different here. "You're right," Nom sputtered, his voice still tipsy within the presence of the great Dark Lord of the Sith. "Good Nom, now harness the Dark Side. Let its endless stream of power fuel you!" The Jedi squinted his eyes, confusion laid upon his brow. He began to shiver, slowly losing control of the will to stand. He crumpled to the floor, his body hitting the hard stone. Could he save life, preserve its precious existence by switching to the Dark Side? He would have never thought it possible, yet the Light Side of the Force certainly failed him. How could he save the lives of those ended by the Sith by joining him? That possibility seemed equally impossible. Both ends of the spectrum, Light and Darkness were of no use. The Jedi Master got to his knees. His flowing silver hair contorted across his face, sticking awkwardly to his skin due to heavy sweat. "I cannot join you Quitus." Nom's voice was not full of self righteousness or valor, but of complete sincerity. Only after truly thinking about it and weighing the odds, did Nom come to that conclusion. "What will fuel you then?" Anorus slowly got to his feet, his body swaying delicately. Had there been any wind within the room, it surly would have blown him to the floor. "I will make my own way. One carved by my own blade," Nom spoke with his eyes intently glued to his lightsaber, the silver blade ever tempting his gaze. "Without the Dark Side, you will know no victory." Quitus spoke not with the bemused mockery he usually did, but with subtle intensity. He was simply stating a fact. "I will seek to rid the galaxy of your kind. The protection of the innocent no longer fuels me. I live to see your head and others like it within my grasp." "That sounds awfully close to darkness to me," Quitus responded, not sounding convinced. "You are flirting with Dark Side Nom Anorus." "Then so be it!" Nom snapped back, his second blade igniting with his words. A blue lightsaber streaked into being, humming softly with the silver blade resting in the Jedi's right hand. With that, the torn Jedi Master rushed forward, blades raised. He would not halt until Darth Quitus was dead. He closed the distance, charging with all his might. This time, he was fueled not by light, nor by the darkness, but by himself. * Nom's eyes fluttered open, the haze of Ilum's cave slowly forming within his perceptions. After a moment, vision as he knew it returned. Two lightsabers now rested in his lap. He took each in hand and ignited them. Just as the vision had indicated, one was blue while the other was silver. ”œThen so be it”¦”

The deserted cave reveled in absolute silence as Nom's icy breath filled the air. He staggered back, the whites of his eyes still brimming with shock. The initial adrenaline rush of the situation ebbed, replaced with a powerful rush of fatigue. Balance forsaking him, the once Jedi Master crumbled to the ground, landing upon the hard rocky surface with a thud. His eyelids grew heavy, as if the weight of the cold crusted on the edge of his lashes. They slowly began to sink, his field of vision fading to black. Before darkness shrouded him, a tiny sparkle of light caught his wavering eyes. Curiosity seemed to overpower the intense fatigue and confusion welling inside the once powerful Force user. He staggered to his feet, which proved to be a task quite daunting, and stumbled to the carcass of the soon-to-be rotting lizard. Two beautiful crystals say next to the beast, each reflecting what little light filtered into the cave into a spectral of various colors. He took the two in his hand, inspecting them carefully. The two crystals seemed mesmerizing, the various array of colors tempting his eyes to close. Any kind of defense the Jedi might have erected fell to the imposing figure of fatigue. His mind wasted no time bringing visions to bear”¦ * Nom Anorus stood amidst a forsaken room, its emptiness all too apparent. Small tufts of smoke filled the area, making eyesight significantly limited. How he could even tell the room was empty was a mystery to him, yet somehow he knew. Everything changed however as a shrill shriek pierced the silence all around him. Within moments, a woman breached the smoke, her visible form becoming more crisp and sharp as the seconds passed by. The first thing Nom noticed was the desperate glaze in her eyes. The rest of her appearance seemed to follow suit as her clothes were torn and her hair rested atop her head in complete disarray. She was running from something. Nom tried to yell, to grab her attention in some way. It was as if he wasn't there at all. She took no notice as she streaked quickly passed him. The shadows began mounting behind her, finally forming the darkened outline of a man. The seconds revealed the physical nature of this second figure as well, the form of Kakuto Ryu appearing amidst the smoke. His hair shone with the brightest silver, his eyes bathed in pools of crimson. Anorus, beckoned by his natural inclination to protect, stepped between the two. Kakuto Ryu stopped, a malicious smirk adorning his devious face. His crimson lightsaber pierced the smoke as he charged the wary warrior defying him. Nom's jade green blade ignited in response, its sharp light much shaper amid the dense smoke. As Ryu approached, his own blade sharpened as well as he moved into focus. The two blades met, crimson and jade dancing to melodies of pain and anguish. Strength was not one to accompany the righteous endeavors of Nom Anorus. Ryu's lightsaber was inches away from Nom's neck. The only thing standing in the way was Nom's own weapon. Slowly, the crimson blade closed the small gap as the Jedi's own muscles failed to repel certain death. The result was swift, Ryu's lightsaber digging into the crevices of the Jedi's neck. Anorus could only scream in pain as tangible agony overwhelmed him. * Nom's eyes fluttered open, a new haze of reality forming in front of him. He was amid a dark street as small droplets of rain fell from the melancholy clouds above. Children's cries filled the night, each more desperate than the last. A cloaked figure dawning two crimson blades thrashed through the alley, viciously cutting down all in his path. Anorus wasted no time with questions. He flashed forward, his own crimson blade igniting as he went. Upon closing the gap, he could see the Sith before him. ”œHephaestus, you will kill no longer.”

"Why is it so cold?" Anorus could barely get the words out of his mouth. His lips shivered so intensely, he could only speek in slurs which jumbled anything into a chaotic mess. Why he couldn't have just left his comments to internal thoughts only alluded to the heavy solitude weighing on his heart. He slowly worked his way through the sand as his throbbing feet trudged deligentlly through the frozen percipitation. He felt as if his entire body were about to simply fall apart, a would-be unfortunate end to an unfortuate journy. Through ice-glazed eyes, bearing small crystal fragments on the tip of his eyebrows, Nom Anorus located hope. Resting on the reaches of the horizen sat a cave, imbedded within a large rocky outcropping. He hastly headed in that direction, the concept of warmth and shelter already making his fatigued body rejuvinate. Upon entering the cave, Nom literally felt the feeling enter his toes once more. He slowly began to make his way deeper into the natural structure, lightly running his fingers across the smooth granite lining the walls. The rock seemed oddly cold, an intense sensation of feeling sprinkled across the tips of his fingers. As if spured from that occurence, a flash of curiosity spiraled through Nom's perceptions. He again placed his hangs on the rock, letting all of his nerves within his palm investigate this sensation. The reciprication seemed more intense, amplified by some unknown factor. He looked to the rest of the tunnel and beheld the corridors in unbelieveably good light. He found such an observation odd considering the exit to the icy surface of Ilum now shrank to a considerably smaller size. If he was so deep within the cave, how could he possibly see it in such detail? Suddenly, something rattled within the man's mind. The Coruscantian native wheeled to his left. Therebefore him stood a great lizard, a creature perhaps his size if not bigger. The creature took in air heavily, leaving visible whiffs of carbon dioxide behind. Nom froze obviously worried he had just disturbed the monster's nesting site. It seemed his worried were correct as the lizard immediately erupted towards him, having sensed the fear driving hesitation seeping from its new found prey. As if acting on instinct alone, the once fierce Jedi Master threw his arms forward. He wasn't quite sure what inspired such an odd response, yet it seemed like the right thing to do. As if hitting an invisible wall, Nom's amphibious adversary halted its carnivorous advance instintaneously. Nom's eyes widened, the whites of his eyes clearly visible. The supernatural ordeal finshed glriously as the lizard flew hard against the opposite wall, its life ending in a loud splat.

((Considering there is no activity in this thread, I will be making editions to one post creating a super long one in order to avoid double posting.)) IC: The icy planet of Ilum revolved slowly amid the infinite fringe of space, quietly resting in its place among the stars. The atmosphere of the terrestrial ball contained a swirling mass of clouds. Flakes of snow dripped from them like soft tears. The surface of the planet lay amid a vast ocean, rippled in waves of the purist white. Ilum's sun reflected beautifully off of the crystalline surface, drenched in layers of snow, sending small spectrals of light radiating from the ground. Trees swayed softly in the wind, their branches covered in a thin layer of ice, preventing any real foliage from growing. Tranquility only conceived of nature emanated from the planet. Untouched by the hand of man, creatures of all sizes and strengths roamed free under the distant sun. Despite the mild winds, a soft breeze, the planet filtered an array of silence so tangible; it seemed to outnumber the snowflakes. Such a thing is only a product of nature, the resolved fortress from mankind, who never ceases to destroy such a condition of peace. As if on command, that very curse unfolded. Deep within the currents of the wind, came a soft almost unintelligible sound. A consistent hum filtered throughout the air, a sound unmade by the natural processes of this planet. It came from a mass of ruined stone, the remnants of a great temple. For deep within this disserted structure, came life once again. Smoke expelled into the silent air as it slowly dispensed into the pristine atmosphere of Ilum. This smoke, a environmental terror produced by man continued to flow, as if unending. The hard impact was severally noticed as Nom Anorus painfully hit the floor. There was never an indicator of working nerves better than pain, which employed itself magnificently here. Sweat glistened from his naked body as every inch of his clean skin beheld flawless perfection. Nom's long silver hair flowed behind his shoulders undulating across his back. He breathed slowly, his new lungs getting used to their appointed function. Interrupting the vast peace that encompassed this planet was a man, lying naked on the cold warn floor of a once great Jedi Temple. The floor felt cold under his bare skin. It was a mixture of old stone and worn metal, ravaged by the constant decay of time. The human got to his feet, slowly testing the amount of weight his new body could handle. The slight gyrations in his knees took the man by surprise, sending him stumbiling forward. He stretched his hands forward, slowly contracting and relaxing his muscles. After a few moments of sublte stretching and heavy breathing, the man took a few laps around the room, working his lungs in a consistent strenious fashion. The naked man spotted found an unused tunic which was laced in brown and black trim. The robes were nothing special, obviously the customery set of clothing left for the newly clonned. That last thought, a flegent observation, held firm within the man's mind. He was a clone. He looked to his left, then to his right. Each speckle of skin seemed to shimmer, embroidered evenly across his body. A fresh, newly made clone. What am I... As if triggered by that very thought, a vast array of images rushed into the man's head. He saw metallic floors adorned with bodies, the reeking stench of carnage seeping into his nose. A green pillar of light shimmered before him and emitted a soft hum, practically soothing. A familiar man stood in the forground, a countenance plastered with malice. His creased into a putrid stare, drenched in crimson as if they were bleeding. The man's smile cracked across his face in almost direct contrast to his eyes. Was he enjoying himself? The green lightsaber rushed forward, tearing through the expanse seperating the two warriors. A viscious (and rather violent) entanglement ensued as the clone witness the memory. The image within his mind shattered as this man tore through him, his blade ripping him into reality. His back was pressed firmly against the floor, his newly aquired robes strewn about. Sweat drenched his skin causing it to stick to the floor. He breathed heavily, still not used to this plane of reality. He was Nom Anorus, Jedi Knight. Nom slowly rose to his feet and dauned his attire. The robes themselves seemed to trigger yet another thought. He searched every crevice of the room even checking behind the heavy machines from which he just came. Nothing...there were no lightsabers present within the room. Arn't Jedi suppose to have lightsabers... Nom's relapse of confusion remained intact as he wondered out of the cloning chamber and into the heart of the planet Ilum. A sad and ultimately depressing situation remained hidden from the newly clonned Jedi. He was the only sentient being on the planet, imprisoned in isolation and solitude.

Inches....inches separated Quietus from certain death. The Dark Lord, having been outmaneuvered by the skilled Jedi Master, resorted to the last possible tactic (a rather innovative one to be sure) allotted to him. Nom's lightsaber flashing dangerously towards its target missed its mark, its wielder's eyes suddenly covered in a rank mixture of blood and saliva. The impact of the livid solution altered the Jedi Master's concentration just enough to slow his attack. The result sent his blade careening over the Dark Lord's head. Much to his dismay, Nom's elbow shattered under the poignant strike of Queitus' vicious blow. So attuned was the Jedi Master with the Force, his senses amplified severely. He felt every bone within his arm explode. The resulting shockwave roared through the rest of his body, taking on the form of horrendous physical agony. The pain was enough to stun the Jedi, his own mind desperately trying to navigate through chaos. Taking advantage of this, the Sith Master grappled him around the neck, his heavy finger slowly cutting circulation from him. Through it all, the streaming violence possessing him, Nom did not bellow in anguish. His countenance, crafted from years of endurance, betrayed no weakness as he contorted into a stoic almost reverent facade. Again, as the Darkness spoke, Nom offered no response. His once resolved demeanor warped into a distant emptiness, his eyes staring directly into those of the Dark Lord's. These empty eyes, pools of gold, shimmered not with defiance, but with knowledge. Had Quietus taken the time to study them, he would not see pain or panic, but humble acceptance. Then came the addition of Sith Lightning into Nom's body, electric currents rushing through his veins. The Jedi Master remained within the Sith's grasp, motionless. His only movements were random twitches, a depiction of his body's violent reaction to the pain. Yet as his skin began to singe, Nom's eyes did not change. His continued to look forlorn, regretfully probing deep into his merciless attacker's eyes, patiently waiting. After a few more moments of silence, Nom Anorus spoke, his words barely audible. "It is finished then." Suddenly, as if responding to the very words he spoke, his eyes reverted into the intense passion they once knew. He smiled, his hair tossing tendrils of electricity across his face. His skin began to fade into a dry hollow gray, the vibrant glow of health dissipating. As fast as the lightning dancing through him, Nom's own hand shot forward, too quick for Quietus to intercept with his lightsaber. He placed his palm firmly against the breast of the Dark Lord. The Force exploded from his hand, its momentous power slamming into the torso of the Sith Master. The Force channeled through the Jedi Master's palm was so great, it instantly shattered any armor Quietus might have previously dawned. The sudden influx of power the Jedi Master wielded almost seemed unreal, defying reason. As Nom suffered at the hand of the Dark Lord, the putrid taint of the Dark Side filling him, the power of the Force did not forsake him. As bolts of lightning seethed his skin, burning him alive, Nom remained in heavy concentration. The Light Side within devised the perfect counter. As Quietus pumped legions of energy into the Jedi Master, Nom did not let it go to waste. Even as it ravaged his body, he utilized it, letting his intense connection with the Force absorb its power. So the sudden rush of power exfoliating through Nom's hand did not come from him, but from the very man it now struck. Every bolt of lightning was channeled into the devastating attack Nom now unleashed. In essence; Quietus delivered retribution unto himself, arrogantly providing the Jedi with the power he needed to vanquish him. Quietus streaked through the air, his own body practically crushed by the force of the powerful attack. For this was a Force wave unlike any the Dark Lord of the Sith had ever experienced, having been wrought by his own hand. He traveled at a speed so great; his momentum would kill him instantaneously had he hit a wall. What awaited impact however, was no wall. Two lightsabers floated softly in the air, hovering with blades extended. One sported a pure jade green color while the other joined it with crimson. The lightsabers, having levitated into position at the beckoning of their master, now rested directly in Quietus' path. The Jedi Master remained on his feet with considerable effort, blood splattered on his face. His hair floated comically into the air, having been charged considerably with Force lightning. Nom's elbow dangled uselessly at his side. His face was trodden with pain, his skin dawned a grayish tint. Cuts, bruises, and gashes littered his body. Each breath came with obvious effort, his chest rising and falling painfully. He looked broken, beaten, scoffed; physically devastated. However, his eyes shinned, glowing brilliantly amid the melancholy entombing him. They almost sparkled as they witnessed the Dark Lord's back begin to drive into the pernicious embrace of two ignited lightsabers. ((3, it was certainly a pleasure Raynuk, as always.))

Large ample beads of sweat trickled down Nom's cheek as he continued to push towards his opponent. It was a rather odd experience fighting a single enemy with a clone. Simply looking at his copy was almost enough to deter him from his endeavor. The Force however, had other plans for his attention. It continued to drive through him as he worked, his jade green and crimson blades slashing furiously. Normally used to defense, the Jedi Master thought it a bit awkward fighting offensively as he was, being a proponent of Soresu. The fact that his target was defending against two attackers however, gave the Jedi the leverage he needed to press his advantage. Even through the surrounded assault, maniacal laughter escaped from the Sith Master's widened smirk. The horrible dissonance of this man's laugh, plagued with sadistic amusement echoed through Nom's mind, haunting him as it had done for years. He remembered his first encounter with Quietus, an ambitious Jedi Knight confronting a dominate Sith Master. The result of the conflict left Nom recovering from the wake of his own fallen weakness. That fight, that horrific engagement plunged Nom Anorus into Dark temptation greater than he had ever faced. Only by confronting and dying at the hands of Kakuto Ryu, Dark Lord of the Sith, did Nom finally push the Darkness back into the abyss from which it came. Quietus' laughter reached into the depths of his heart, searching in futile vain for the awakening of what had been slain. Even though Quietus could no longer instill the fear in Nom he once possessed, his combat prowess proved quite capable. Surprise momentarily gripped the Master as the Dark Lord's blades disappeared, leaving Nom off balance. He shifted his weight immediately, drawing on the Force to keep from falling over. Unfortunately, the minor adjustment proved inconsequential as he felt a hand wrap around his ankle. He found himself tumbling to the ground as his balance was ripped from beneath. The impact was hard, stunning the Jedi. The result left him open, an advantage Quietus did not ignore. A hard kicked slammed just above Nom's temple, rocking the inside of his head. His illusion, having also fallen to the floor, vanished as his concentration diminished. The power of the attack also left its mark as the Jedi Master streaked across the room, his lightsabers fallen from his grasp. The sudden rush of pain accosted Nom as he lay motionless on the ground. His head pulsated violently, pain throbbing as if replacing his beating heart. Yet through the anguish, through the agony of physical mutilation, came a soft glistening respite. The harmonious relief descended upon the Jedi Master, its power purifying his mind. Nom would have to remember to thank Kirlocca later, his Force Meld achieving wondrous effects. Slowly, almost with difficulty, Nom worked his way to his feet. Quietus, having chosen to speak before attacking provided his opponent with enough time to gather his weapon. The jade green blade traveled to his hand, drawn by the infinite reach of the Force. The blade remained parallel with the Master's slender form, bathing his eyes in a clear green tint. Nom offered no response to the Sith's words, no witty retort. His eyes communicated far more, depicting a firm commanding intensity. The two blades finally clashed, putrid black slamming against a pure jade green. Each lavished the air with magnificent trails of light as they worked feverishly against the other. Nom found his rhythm, drawing on the Force as well as Kirlocca's distant aid. Progressively giving ground, he reflected each strike with an impressive ease of his own. Each of Quietus powerful attacks halted as Nom's refined skill silenced the threat. He worked tirelessly; searching for the opportunity he knew would come. Nom lifted his lightsaber at a direct horizontal angle, blocking Quietus' heavy vertical slash before it had a chance at connecting. He held the lock tightly leaving both weapon's hanging above each combatant's head. Because Nom intentionally parried the attack quickly, he was the first to react, taking advantage of the rather pervasive opening between the two. Sliding one hand off the hilt of his stationary lightsaber, while still maintaining the lock, he maneuvered his palm across the empty plain separating the two warriors. The impact shattered Quietus' nose as the Force increased its speed as well as added power to the attack. The result showered the ground with blood as the Dark Lord's facial features crumbled. Nom wasted no time as he spun to his right, breaking the lock he once held, now flanking the disheveled Sith Master. His green blade followed in the form of a powerful horizontal slash, if not stopped, it would separate Quietus' head from his body. First blood”¦ ((2))

((3 post Modded duel I take it? Ready, set go.)) As Nom neared his query, a vicious boot planted itself firmly against his face. The impact was harsh, knocking him backwards. The Jedi Master stumbled awkwardly, the attack having caught him slightly off balance. Nom accompanied the attack with a rather comical butt plant, the hard steal floor of the Vortex offering little in terms of cushion. That's Quietus alright... Nom reasoned, remembering the brutal hits he had taken at the hands of the menace now standing before him. The Jedi Master took hold of both his lightsabers, igniting their pearlescent blades once again. They shimmered softly, constantly feeding light into the darkest pits of his immediate area. His face looked carved from stone, as if emotion were chiseled away to make room for the mature, aged features now dominating his experienced countenance. Long flowing silver hair tangled form his scalp, adorning his dark brown tunic. Nom's eyes, pools of gold, shimmered defiantly. He took each breath with care, crafting a serene posture of mystery, his next actions clouded in the unknown. Then, as if shattering his sculpted face, he cracked a smile so blatant he almost surprised himself. "Just as arrogant as ever I see. Has cowering in fear taught you nothing Quietus?" Despite his comment, the Jedi Master knew something was different about this man....something illogical. It seemed he had fallen off the face of the galaxy, yet here he was assuming the mantle of flagrant intimidation once again. Even for a Sith, this level of arrogance seemed slightly unnatural. Unless Nom now faced an entirely different enemy than he once knew. Nom certainly was not the only one to have improved since their last engagement, the Force told him that much. Such improvement soon went on display as the Jedi Master moved into action. As coincidental as it might have been, he was now aboard the Imperial's Interdictor. His mission could not have been clearer. If he failed now, the Rebellion would be trapped under the Empire's relentless assault. With a swift flicker of motion, Nom was gone. His lightsabers receded into extravagant arches of lights as they trailed towards the towering Sith Master, the only indicator of Nom's position. As soon as the Jedi reached his location he leapt into the air, letting the Force carry him far above his opponent. As he traveled through the open currents of the hanger, Nom called upon the Force in mid-flight. The energy source quickly responded to his draw, its power ready and waiting to be utilized. As Nom manipulated the Force within him, its effects were immediately apparent. After reaching the height of his jump, Nom suddenly split into two exact copies. Long tendrils of silver hair reflected in perfect symmetry as the second Jedi Master dawned the exact appearance of its host. The two Jedi landed in cat like grace on either side of Darth Quietus. Both charged forward, one laying siege to the Sith's frontal position, while the other assaulted his back. It was time for the Sith two choose which was real and which constituted the illusion, before four lightsabers skewered him. ((1))

As the LAF landed gracefully amid the Justicer's hollow hanger (all ships having been launched into battle), Nom sported a rather grim expression upon his stoic face. It was time for Nom to part with his old padawan, his own friend. As the ship touched, the Jedi Master immediately extended the landing ramp, the hard clang resounding through the room. "May the Force be with you Scorpio..." Those words, uttered by countless Jedi in the past accompanied the Jedi Knight as he made his way off the vessel. Somehow, each time they were said, profound truth was always present. "Oh, and thanks for the ride." The Jedi Master couldn't help but shake the slight chuckle from his voice. Never one for touching formalities, keeping the situation light always proved a worthy endeavor in the mind of this Jedi. Unfortunately, such haughty dispositions proved rather unfitting for battle, an observation Anorus made quiet rapidly as his ship entered the heated combat surrounding Csilla. The LAF streaked in and out of laser fire efficiently. Nom tested the controls, executing a swift barrel roll that positioned him face to face (or cockpit to cockpit) with an upcoming fighter. A quick application of the trigger sent the anomaly careening into the abyss of space. Anorus quickly disengaged the thrusters slightly as his vessel slowed down considerably. The fighter on his tail soon found himself flying over his target's head. Unfortunately for the Imp, his target was a good shot. The LAF streaked through the ball of fire as the TIE fighter flashed into super heated pieces. Through the action, Nom heard a small buzz in his ear, his Special Operations piece working at full capacity. Damon's voice could be heard loud and clear over the encrypted network. "I guess that would be me," Nom responded, having heard the news of Aryian's depature. "Any and all listening to this message, head toward's the fight. Join as many boarding parties as you can, try to aim for the flagship. We're going to try and take these guys out from the inside. And be careful out there." Nom could only sigh at his sudden thrust into leadership. He kind of wished he had more time for a briefing, but he would have to go with what first came to his mind. "Damon, I want you to report to Admiral Starlisk. You have a knowledge with the Rebel's fleet, I'm sure he can find a place for you. Everyone esle, you know the drill. May the Force be with you." With the slight break in the action, the Jedi Master took the time to survey the battle field. Imperial ships littered the immediate field of vision, star destroyers imposing their dominance. Since when did they ever amass such a fleet? Due to the rather ambiguous curiosity now arising with the Jedi Master, he didn't notice the TIE interceptor flashing lasers into the back of his own vessel. Had it not been for the quick reaction, bread from the Force, he would not have been able to switch power to his rear shields in time. Nom's gut feeling told him to kick it forward. Never one to argue, Anorus complied. This new development kept his LAF just out of range of his pursuer's weaponry. Unfortunately, rather massive Star Destroyer loomed before his flight trajectory. "Its not even shooting," Nom noticed as he continued to sweep towards it. In fact, the ship was just sitting there. "Don't tell me the Empire hasn't learned form Endor." The Jedi Master's sly comment proved too sly as his rear shields took a rather abrasive hit. Alarms flashed violently as his cockpit flooded with crimson warning flashes. To make matters worse, the LAF started to sink lower, its rear engine expelling smoke into the lifeless vacuum. The motionless Star Destroyer loomed ever closer as the Jedi Master spiraled towards it. He worked feverishly against his yoke, trying desperately to gain some form of control. His attempts, despite their honorable nature, were futile as he had no choice but to accept his grim fate. It had been too long since he had piloted, taken out by a basic Imperial pilot. "Oh how the mighty hath fallen." The Jedi Master closed his eyes, keeping his consious surrounded in the Force during his last moments. He waited, his body moments away from expanding into several tiny pieces. Nothing happened Nom opened his eyes and beheld nothing but empty space before him. His brain clicking on immediately, Anorus suddenly picked up on the situation. "Illusions..." With a smile, Nom continued to struggle with his out of control LAF. Spying the closest ship he could see, the Jedi Master angled his momentum in that direction. With the help from the Force, and just a bit of luck, he could make a clean landing. He closed his eyes again, this time for a much different reason than before. The Force swirled around within him, its succulent tenacity awaiting his command. And command he did as he slowly and surely guided his vessel into the Vortex. Had it not been for the convenient hole blown through the Vortex's side, the Jedi Master would have died in a shower of sparks. His ship skidded to a halt after traversing deep into the ship's hanger. The Force completely exploded in his mind, revealing the occupants of the Interdictor. "Quietus?" Nom spoke softly to himself, clear disbelief imbedded in his tone. His suspicion proved true as he beheld the Sith with his own two eyes, having exited the LAF. The Dark Lord of the Sith, lightsabers ignited moved towards Scorp, a Jedi Nom knew by reputation but had never actually met. This should be fun. With both lightsabers ignited, the Jedi Master rushed into a rather violent reunion.

The mess hall supported a comfortable atmosphere as Nom and his former apprentice dinned over a particularly delicious meal. It had been a long time since the Jedi Master had ever consumed something so filling. When running from one end of the galaxy to the other, prepacked food stamps left the body somewhat dissatisfied. Yet the temperamental state of his stomach soon ebbed as a plentiful harvest of nutrition appeased it. Nom Anorus could only smile at the thought of a full stomach, a luxury he enjoyed quite extensively at this moment. A calm before the storm indeed.... Nom thought to himself as he exchanged grimaces with his apprentice. The irony of the situation seemed limitless. He finally had a chance eat, yet the battle looming remained all too inevitable. "Just once I wish a meal could settle..." Nom's futile hope proved just that as the Force exploded in his mind. The Dark Side was present like a submerging cloud looking to blot out the sun. He could feel the shadow creeping across the horizon, tainting the icy world with a tangible malice. Scorpio, obviously attuned to the Force as well, felt the same warning. Nom took off almost immediately, following right behind the heels of his equal. The two Jedi Knights converged immediately within the hanger, the expansive room housing Scorpio's dependable ship. "It's time to see what this bucket of bolts can really do." Nom spoke with a smirk, yet behind the apparent jest came a sense of forlorn depravity. He could only sigh as he looked into the far reaches of space. Small explosions littered the horizon as the battle begun.

Nom's mind wondered considerably as he witnessed his former padawan take the lead. One thing was for sure, if anyone deserved the title of Jedi Knight, it was Scorpio. Perhaps his Knighting was long overdue, perhaps enjoying the man's company had lead to a slightly overprotective attitude. Upon seeing Scorpio operate now however, the Jedi Master felt slightly convicted that he didn't release this Knight into the order sooner. Even Jedi Masters are prone to the occasional respite of selfishness. His mind suddenly shifted back to reality as the two men before him halted. Nom really did need to cut down on his day dreaming. Scorpio probably thought he was mentally pondering some great truth or only moments from speaking words of valuable wisdom. In truth, he was about to do neither of those things, but he knew he could try winging it. In response to Scorpio's question, Nom pondered for a moment, attempting to formulate the best response considering the little knowledge he actually knew about the situation. In the end, the Force answered the ultimate solution. "I agree, I sense something is wrong here. Either the Empire is lying or it cares little about its merciless reputation. Something tells me its the former." Nom offered another smile, probably the last in a long time. "Things are about to get real interesting."

Nom listened silently as the message played. Tear's streamed down his former apprentice's face as thoughts of his parents obviously filled his mind. The Jedi Master said nothing however, knowing full well the ordeal of Scorpio's parets were his own ordeal to complete. Contrary to ancient Jedi beliefs, Nom always felt the desire for human relationshps necesarry in order to truly defend them. How could one sacrifice his life to preserve something he himself had never experience? Could he truly know the pain and hurt one feels when his wife fell victom to a Sith's blade? These questions cycled through Nom's mind his entire life as a Jedi. Only now through the wisdom attained by experiance, came a solution and answer to this question. He smiled as Scorpio, no crying to himself, seemed to understand the very thing Nom defined within himself so long ago. The Jedi Master crossed his arms as the message finished. He addressed the Knight before him, his voice filled with a twinge of excitement. "Lead on Scorp."

Air whipped around the vacant atmophere as its razor sharp Force-given properties ravaging Nom's armorless body. Small gashes of blood formed around him as its crimson shade tainted the sky. Fortunately, these wounds were not deep, allowing the trained Jedi a chance to regain his barrings. The pain coursed through him, nothing serious, but just enough to spark his feelings into action. The Force rushed through him once more, its powerful jaws gripping the whirlwind still swirling around him. The once strenious winds seemed like a relaxing breeze as the powerful Jedi Master released the energy now infusing the air. All was quiet as silence took hold, beating the whirlwind into submission. This all encompassing silence soon shattered however, as a flagrant Jedi Master rushed through the broken plain of Tatooinian sand. Green and red pillars of light soon clashed with orange as lightsabers locked once again. Anorus moved like a whilrwind himself, his blades lighting up the atmosphere like neon lights. Nom brought his green lightsaber into a horizontal slash, aimed for the neck of his apprentice. At the same time however, his crimon blade rushed vertically towards the Orange lightsaber handle now looking to block Nom's initial right handed attack. The three blades made impact at somewhat of an awkward angle, making it quite difficult for Scorpio to keep hold. The result proved true as his lightsaber spiraled out of his hand. Nom made quick work with the other as he proceeded to plant a rather decisive kick in his padawan's stomach. Rather than letting the Jedi regain balence, Nom followed with his left foot, skillfully knocking his other lightsaber out of his hand. Nom stood motionless over his now defenseless apprentice, each starring intently at the other as if their eyes were having a duel of their own. "You fought well Scorpio," Nom said as he visciously planted the butt of his lightsaber into his apprentice's face. Blood spurted everwhere as the boy crumpled to the ground. That was for the whirlwind, Nom thought as a small smile graced his face if only for a moment. It was quickly replaced with a stern face, carved from the stone of intensity. "That was the last hit you took as a Jedi Padawan. You now rise, a Jedi Knight....If you have the strength that is."