Ilum

[Damon]

"Good Stephen. We will return to Ossus to finish your trails"

 

The two jedi boarded there ship and headed twoards Ossus. A call from master Hou-Jo told him to return to Haruun-Kal and prepare for battle. Damon turned off the com and turned to his padawan.

 

"Your trials are more imporatnat. We will attend later. Now off to your trials."

[Ary the Grey]

Aryian's ship came out of hyperspace, quickly descending to the Temple hangar and landing, at rather unsafe speeds. Aryian disembarked, hastily making way to a small storage room off to the side of the hangar, sealed with special codes. It was another one of the secret stashes he had created after the battle of Ryloth, containing weapons and armaments that no sane being could possibly wish to use. But Aryian was no sane being...he was a Jedi Master, and a rather combative one at that.

 

Through the Force, he touched the minds of all the other Jedi in the Temple, allowing them to see firsthand what Aryian had at Haruun Kal. Then, he loaded up all the equipment/weapons and grenade packs into his main internal cargo hold before activating several droids and welding magnetic panels all over the hull of his ship, which would reduce airspeed maneuverability and speed but served another purpose entirely in space.

 

Meticulously, Aryian ran the controls to the panels into the main AI system onboard the ship, then levitated several crates and attached them magnetically to the plates. The crates had long ago been welded shut, but now they would serve Aryian like he knew they would.

 

That being done, he boarded the ship and left the system, bound for another.

[Derek Suul]

It was a cloudy day...not a day at all like the happt ones that Ilum had recently experienced. It was if angels were mourning, mourning the dead, mourning for a new day, mourning to mourn. Snow began to fall, flake by flake, lightly dusting the landscape. The air was still, no breeze, and silence ruled the realm.

 

Snowflake by snowflake fell, softly, one by one...and finally, one landed in an unexpected spot. The lip of a young man, comatose, lying peacefully in a small field where a mighty Jedi Temple once stood, now empty, filled with grasses...and now, the landscape was dusted white.

 

Dalla slowly woke, opening his eyes, seeing the sky for the first time in an eternity, free from the pull of the Sith. He had not the heart to kill needlessly, and had long ago sought the Jedi, being healed by the one known as Tristin Stellar.

 

He rose, sitting up, holding his head with his hands. For now...he had no home, he had no ship, all he had was his personal effects. A Sith sword...an old lightsaber...his clothes, and the ability to choose for himself a new destiny, thanks to Tristin.

 

He stood, studying his surroundings, feeling the Force's flow in this area. It was strong, the light within strong. Long ago, though the memories burned fresh in his mind, he was trained in the Force, trained to twist and control the flows and eddies, to use it as a tool. Such views were of the Dark Side, and Dalla never got a chance to find out what good he could have done. But now...now he had the feedom to experience the Force through different eyes.

 

He spent a few minutes more looking around, contemplating the events that led up to this, Tristin and his motives, where he was on Ilum and how he would get offplanet, and why he had been given this second chance.

 

One thing was for sure...it marked the end of the Sith within, making way for a new beginning.

Edited November 12, 2006 by Guest

[Joreel Ordo]

The newly dubbed Jedi Knight made his way to the surface of the harsh frozen planet planning to create his new Lightsaber. He found himself calm, at peace, and completely in control of his own emotion. This was a little found thing after his years of agressive behaviour. Now, he seemed to have gained a pascifistic perspective that would forever shape his destiny.

 

When he arrived on the ground he found himself practically in the same location as his master had shown him on his first envoy here. He came to the blizzard blown planet without his helmet on, the snow pelting him in the side of the face with little remorse. But John was unperturbed by such things, instead he sat cross legged on the icy ground and meditated focusing on his memory of the contraptions he used to create his first lightsaber. He knew there was a junkpile near and that he would be able to find the peices there, but John decided to dabble a bit more in his training as a Jedi.

 

He reached out with the force and attempted to try to find each of the envisioned peices within the refuse pile. It took him a bit but he found a Lens Assembly and while still using his power within the force he called it to him. It came with little difficulty and John moved on to call the rest of the peices, to include a new handgrip, this time made of a new kevlar like material, heavy, rubbery, excellent for his dual bladed masterpeice. John stowed the peices in a satchel and made his way to the nearest cave entrance.

 

When inside he found more cyan colored Crystals and carved them according to his lightsaber. When he did so he placed them inside the emmitter matrix and thus continued to place each of the peices of his new Lightsaber together.

 

After a short while his task was completed and Hartel activated his lightsaber. It was glorious possibly even more so than his first. But he was not done. After thinking about it John decided to have only one Lightsaber may be foolish. He had his only Lightsaber blown to smitherines on Haruun Kal and he knows better now to have multiple Lightsabers. The Mandalorian Jedi bent down and harvested two more crystals, a green and purple saber. After he finished taking these he made his way out of the cave and, with the use of his new summoning skill called two sets of lightsaber parts to him and created two more sabers, a Purple bladed, and green bladed, single-sided sabers.

 

After this he felt prepared and after a short prep he took off from Ilum and made his way back to Gala after hearing a message from the Jedi Master Kirlocca.

[Skye Organa]

Serenity arrived over the icy planet of Ilum, it's pilot taking the ship down, guided by the Force. Setting the ship down lightly, Skye turned back to Azrael.

 

"You will find all you need to in the hold near the work bench. Once you've made your saber, come and find me again"

 

She would leave him to his own devices to make his new lightsaber.

[Azrael]

The young Jedi Knight could remember making his first trip to Ilum. Although he had not created his first lightsaber here, he had felt the pull of the Force directing him to the icey planet. And for some reason, he could not remember anything that happened after that. In his mind he could see himself passing out deep inside one of the great caverns, and reawaking only to remember nothing about his past. It had been then that Darla had found him, clinging to life buried beneath the snow in the plains of Ilum.

 

”œI will be back shortly.”

[Skye Organa]

Skye acknowledged Azrael before she moved through to see how I-Nine had gotten on with the reproduction of the antidote. The Master Healer had enough crystals for her healing ventures from her last trip to this icy planet not to have to gather any more yet a while. Looking at the vials she saw there was now enough for distribution amongst the Jedi Masters and for the medical centers throughout the main bases. She thanked I-Nine and then moved through to the training room she had set up within one of the holds.

 

Taking out her silver saber and removing her outer robes, she activated the holo simulator for an exercise program against an opponent.

[Ary the Grey]

A small fleet of constructor ships emerged from hyperspace, descending towards a densely mountainous region. Little time was wasted as an operation began to roll into motion, huge constructor droids being deployed from the large, bulky construction ships, tearing into the ground and creating the kind of underground bunker outlined in the base plans. The Alliance personnel operating the machines had pretty much free range over the initial tunnels, but the construction site and the base design were exact, with no room for error.

 

The twin tunnels extended down into the largest mountain a good ways, and were immediately fitted with the highest in security protocols, several booby traps (One accidentally sprung itself while being set, trapping one of the construction droids in deadly webs of monofilament wire, damaging it a bit), autofire turrets outfitted with a special crystal array that allowed the sensors to detect the aura of Force around beings.

 

It wouldn't be able to distinguish between Light and Dark, however it could distinguish between a Force User and a Non Force User, and with the advanced technological components used, it could also recognize friendlies and hostiles based on an entire subset of variables (For example: facial makeup, how one walked, voiceprint identification, etc. Most of it was on file in the Jedi databanks anyways.). Once armed, these were programmed to immediately shoot at any Non Force user, and upon detection of a Force Aura it would consult its own database to confirm whether or not the person was a Jedi.

 

Once the tunnels were nearly two and a half miles long, the construction of the main cave began, large rooms and smaller quarters were immediately carved out by the larger droids, and a small army of smaller droids came in behind them to refine the details to exactness after the initial shape of the room was in place. This was where the walls were reinforced with thick layers of durasteel and other equally strong materials, preventing a cave-in in the main area.

 

The main rooms ran in a sort of ring, including such features as the main quarters and a chow hall, two weapons ranges, a special room outfitted with equipment for the growing of crystals, a laboratory with tools designed specifically to deal with Ilum crystals and other Force-sensitive objects (as well as one or two forges for making weapons and armors), a medical bay complete with ten cloning chambers, three training rooms outfitted with a basic complement of weapons and a few extra lightsabers the crew was given prior to their departure at Gala, and last but not least a large electronic library room, outfitted with droids programmed to help and gather every possible iota of information or documentation regarding Force techniques the galaxy had ever known, from any source. ((Holy shit. One sentence as a paragraph.))

 

In the center of the ring was a single small room, with a hidden door from only one of the other rooms. The construction worker bots couldn't comprehend what it was for, but it was in the design anyways. this was built rather like a vault and a safe room at the same time, lined with Cortosis and the thickest layers of durasteel, several feet's worth. The only real thing that was thicker was the hull of a Star Destroyer. The room itself was stocked with food in several hidden compartments, as well as the basic necessities two needed to live there for three months, including entertainment and an outside computer uplink. The other thing it was stocked with was two cloning cylinders, unactivated. It was like a miniature base in and of itself, meant for only two people. As soon as this was complete, this part of the plans was wiped from the droid's memory, erasing any trace the room was ever there.

 

The last thing that was built was a hangar to the side of the main ring, with a vertical tunnel that shot straight up and out the side of the mountain. This tunnel had several thick durasteel doors lined with cortosis installed into it, and the outer end of the tunnel was camoflaged to look like the outside of the mountain. Five B-wings stocked the small hangar, as well as parts and equipment to maintain them and a variety of other small ships.

 

Outside, on the mountain surface itself, sensor nets were peppered over the area, masking the base and making it impossible for even low-flying craft to tell anything was there. One would have to have prior knowledge of where the base was before they found it, such was the secrecy. Defenses were also layed into the ground, small anti-air missile launchers with three missiles each were implanted into the ground, and several antigrav mines were laid, intended to be triggered by repulsors on troop carrying vehicles. Other mines were layed as well, antipersonnel and even a few mines for wheeled and treaded transports. All in all, the base was secure.

 

A job well done, the construction droid's memories were wiped for the next job, and the fleet packed up, jumping to hyperspace as soon as they were ready.

 

The final base Aryian would ever need was now complete.

[Derek Suul]

Miles and miles Derek walked, Unhindered by the winds and the occasional light gust of snow. He was wrapped warmly in his clothes, and where he was on Ilum was not at all as hostile as a few other places he had been, and he had survived those quite easily. Sith were very resourceful, and Derek had been no exception.

 

Eventually, he saw a structure in the distance, and continued walking towards it, hoping that someone would be there, possibly to help him find his way offplanet.

 

Near sunset he neared the massive structure, easily recognized as another Jedi Temple. It seemed the Jedi were fond of this planet, as Derek had become as well. As he approached the large entrance, he said a silent prayer for himself, hoping to be clean enough to not desanctify the place. Tristin had cleansed him, but Derek still had his doubts.

[Azrael]

Ilum was no stranger to the presence of the Force. For centuries, members of the Jedi Order had ventured to the frost covered planet in search of the crystals that would in essence become the heart of their energy blades. While normal crystals such as diamonds, and gems found deep in the hearts of other planets would suffice in the creation of these magnificent blades, the crystals on Ilum were prefered by members of this ancient order due to the presence of the Force in these crystals. They seemed to almost contain the very essence of the Force within their brittle walls.

 

But Azrael did not need Ilum for its crystals. Yes, the crystals on Ilum would help create his blade. It would not be in the traditional way that Jedi Knights used crystals. It would merely be their presence and their connection to the Force that benefitted the young Jedi Knight as he created his second lightsaber. In his minds eye, he could already see the hilt of the weapon being constructed. Bracing himself against the cold, Azrael found himself at the mouth of a large cave, no light eminating from within. Focusing with the Force, Azrael began to inspect the cave, hoping to find nothing of danger, and allow the Force to direct him to where he was meant to be.

 

As he walked silently through the winding caverns, he could feel the wind whipping through the folds of his cloak. Thanking the Force for preparing himself against extreme weather, the young Jedi Knight began feel the touch of the Force against his conscious mind. Stopping in his tracks, the Wayfarer allowed himself to be over taken by the Force, allowing it control his thoughts and his movements. Before long, he found himself in what appeared to be small meditation chamber, built by Jedi hundreds of years ago. Deciding that the Force had brought him here to build his saber, the young Corellian tossed his pack to the ground and removed his robe. As he folded the brown cloth, he was suprised to find warm air filling the chamber. As he made his way around the chamber he began to get a sense that the crystals in this cave, were different than those of the rest of Ilum. Intrigued by this discovery, the young Jedi Knight gathered several crystals and arranged them on the ground.

 

Feeling that the time had arrived for the creation of his weapon, he laid out all the tools that Skye had provided for him, and began to gather to him the most important tool in the construction of the lightsaber: the Force. Holding his arms at a 45 degree angle form his body, and opening his palms to the ceiling of the cavern, he began to build his saber. He could feel the Force flowing through his body, bringing strength and relief to his muscles. It was like a refreshing stream constantly bringing fresh energy to his body.

[Skye Organa]

Skye completed her exercise against the holograms, shutting down her saber and re-clipping it to her belt. All through her routine there was something teasing at the corners of her mind. Bundling herself up for the cold outside of her ship, the Master Healer slipped a vial into her pocket and informed I-Nine to have the ship ready for departure once she and Azrael had returned, and that she would be back soon.

 

Leaving Serenity Skye let the Force guide her through the icy landscape towards that presence that had been teasing at her senses. Her pale green and white robes whipped around her with the chilling breeze that flowed around her. The Healer gathered the light energies around her, stimulating the molecules in the air so it appeared as if a warm bubble of air surrounded her. She walked comfortably towards the structure she had landed not that far from.

 

As the sun began to set, she approached the Jedi Temple, zeroing in on the tainted one she felt. She felt a mixure of light and dark within the presence she was drawn towards. Slipping through the empty corridors of the Temple, Skye approached him, stepping out of the shadows and under one of the skylights so that she could be seen, deciding to wait until he spoke first.

[Derek Suul]

Derek didn't face her, merely inclining his head as he half-felt her to acknowledge she was there, his senses attuned elsewhere. He turned back, studying the few decorations that this temple had.

 

"It used to be so beautiful...the old one. Shame this Temple was not built like the one I knew. Solid blue crystal, an entire palace of it. Destroyed by hate and greed...kinda like me."

 

He walked forwards, studying a large statue of a nameless Jedi Master of old, no doubt pulled from some older obscure file in their dusty databanks. Still, it held an air of regality to it, not quite prideful, but strength and honor were clearly written across the statue's face. Derek remembered the pride, but never had he considered himself worthy of the titles of honor or regality. Strong, he had been. Strong enough to see the truth for himself, to see that he had mistakenly chosen the lie his parents had, the lie his master had perpetuated, the lie that was both the cancer and the fuel of the Sith Order.

 

That the Dark Side was more powerful, offered more.

 

All it had done for Derek was ruin his life, leave him stranded on a planet to wake years after, whole parts of his life simply missing. He wanted it back, but he knew it was the price he paid for selling his soul to the devil and then wanting it back.

 

Derek turned, finally looking at the person who had approached him, hopefully the owner or contractor to the spaceship he had seen outside. Someone to get him off the wretched planet, be them Jedi or Sith or the very Devil himself. She was beautiful herself, half hidden in the shadows. It accentuated her features slightly, enough so that she had a sense of mystique around her, but still felt warm and loving. And she had an aura, that was obvious, which immediately gave her away as a Jedi.

 

"Well...do what you will with me. Tristin forgave me, tried to heal me. He succeeded, to an extent. But you can feel it just as well as I can, the taint, the stain. I'll never be pure again, pure like I could have been. And now, look what I have to show for it."

 

He turned dramatically, sweeping his hands up to the statue, jutting his arms in the air, crying aloud words of frenzy as if he had lost his mind, even though they both knew he was perfectly sane.

 

"And look at me now!! Look at me! What am I? What have I become? What will I be?!? I slit the gullet of my life open for a complete stranger to see, and I still don't care. Maybe because it doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters. Nothing ever did. That was the problem, still is the problem, my problem. Nothing mattered enough to try and make a difference...and that was how I fell."

 

He dropped to his knees, looking up towards the heavens beyond the ceiling of the Temple, hoping there was some essence of a god to hear him. Here he was, pathetic and torn, speaking now with a heavy sarcastic drawl.

 

"I am Derek Suul. Hear me roar."

 

He stayed there for a few more seconds, looking, studying, hoping. When nothing happened, no sign came, he hung his head, quietly rising once again to his feet. And this time, he spoke directly to the other, not the tone he had been using before, where he could have simply been talking to himself. He calmly cocked his head over his shoulder, still facing the statue.

 

"Please, I'm sorry you had to hear my sob story. Usually, I'm not this...emotional. I've just been through a rough time recently."

Edited January 14, 2007 by Guest

[Skye Organa]

The Jedi Master Healer remained silent through his rantings, allowing him to say what was on his mind. At the mentioning of Tristan, her interest spiked. Still she remained silent until he had finished, gaining a further insight into Derek Suul.

 

"I can help you... if that is what you wish. You say you have a problem... maybe I can do something to help you."

 

Skye radiated calm empathy, waiting for his response.

[Derek Suul]

Derek snickered to himself at what he said, not caring if she heard. His head dropped back down, and he closed his eyes, once again raising his head, simply feeling the Temple's pulsations around him. It was...peaceful. Calm...something he hadn't felt in a long time. And though it was soothing, there was still the sting her words brought his thoughts. Her compassion was great, but her comprehension was a little low. Maybe it was because she hadn't had coffene earlier this morning, Derek honestly didn't care.

 

"I guess you don't get it...unless you can give me the past, I'll always have my past. I'll always have my pains. That...that much is unavoidable. You can help my problem of being on this planet, you can help by educating me a little in your Jedi arts if it strikes your fancy, but I will never heal..."

 

He reached his hand out, drawing on the Force, focusing his energies on the statue, though it was a weaker connection than he remembered, and the dark energies that had once flowed through him, ready to do his bidding even if it was no longer fueled by hatred, was gone. He could feel the Force, but he couldn't use it in the same way.

 

Time and again he tried, only to become frustrated and give up. He was weak...and he knew he needed to once again be strong. Whether or not the Jedi could teach him was a gamble he was willing to take. Hopefully, it would pay off. Otherwise, he knew he would never be the same.

[Skye Organa]

"I may not be able to heal your past, though I am a Healer."

 

Skye remained calm, herself gazing at the statues and their surroundings. She had come to terms with her own past, with what had happened with the father of her children. Thinking along those lines, though not letting any of it escape the confines of her mind, she spoke.

 

"We all have things in our past that we would rather forget, though they all do happen for a reason. You learn from your mistakes. Even if you don't think you do. People that have and will come into our lives, have or will effect us in ways that you'd not have imagined... good or bad... though you will be stronger for having gone through it."

 

She turned back towards him, meeting his eyes.

 

"You might not think you would heal from it, though you will find that from having gone through those experiences, you will grow from it."

[Derek Suul]

Derek turned, sneering her words in desperate denial. He heard her, but he didn't want consolation...not right now. It wasn't hatred, not of her anyways. He was simply lashing out at her, being the first person he had seen in years, it was only logically natural, but he didn't know that, and didn't really notice. He honestly hated himself, but was afraid to admit it.

 

"Maybe. Then again, growth is different from healing. True, I will grow from this, but I will grow with it. It's just...inside me. Forever... It's this pain that makes me who I am. Makes me human. Tristin cured me of the poisons Ar-Pharason infected me with, but that doesn't cleanse my soul. I'm still tortured, drawn between two worlds that don't want me.

 

"True, I could go back to the Sith, but I'll never be the powerful master I could have been. I might get the rank, but it would be meaningless in front of the other Sith. I could learn the Jedi ways, but there would always be doubt about me. Just like there were seeds of doubt in the Jedi when I left this existance...that's what constantly tears them apart. Mistrust of their own ranks."

 

He grabbed his lightsaber, igniting it, the red glow lighting his face. The act was more idle curiosity and something to do with his hands than anything else. He stared at the blade. Though he knew he was not in it, it was his, and it was still a part of him, whether he liked it or not.

 

"That's what I never liked about the Jedi...always thinking away from emotion and more towards strict logic. It's our pains that keep us alive, let us know we're still living. Our pains that make us stronger. But...pain and suffering were of the Dark Side. Maybe...maybe that's how Jedi can be strong. We all are of the Force, but some focus off of a different part of the cycle than others."

 

He disignited the blade, tossing the hilt to clatter on the flagstones at his feet. Again, with renewed vigor, he attempted to use the Force to raise the statue, and after a long moment of straining, gave up.

 

"If you'd like to be useful, you could heal my connection to the Force or something. I'm not sure how it works...I never heard anything about the healing energies of the Force except by name."

[Skye Organa]

Skye let his emotions flow over her, passing to vanish into nothingness. The name Ar-Pharason familiar to her as well, having heard of his demise and destruction. The hum of Derek's red blade still didn't cause her to move from where she stood, still beneath the skylight, half in shadow, half in light.

 

"Not all of us think away from emotion. Some of us have learnt to control those emotions, to let them be part of us, though not to control us. Myself, I have three children. I couldn't have had them without feeling emotions now could I?"

 

Skye raised her eyebrow at him, her green eyes sparkling. It used to be unheard of at one point in time for a 'Jedi' to have children.

 

"Uncontrolled anger leads to the dark side, though pain and suffering can be absorbed, turned into compassion, empathy. If one is in tune with the Light side of the Force, one can even heal injuries that cause some measures of pain, in turn, relieving suffering caused by physical pain. Mental pain is more difficult to heal, though it too can be done."

 

She observed him each time Derek tried to lift the statue, feeling it out with the Force why he couldn't.

 

"You know, if you released your anger and calmed your mind you would be able to access the Force easier."

[Derek Suul]

"I assure you, I have complete control and focus over my anger now...and it won't control me."

 

He ignored her last sentence for a bit, continuing his futile struggle with the statue. Both were silent for several minutes as the Force ebbed and flowed around them, seemingly escaping him. He strained with all his might, trying to tap into his feelings that lied beneath, just like Ar-Pharazon had taught him. But what he knew was completely different from what the Jedi had just said. It was a totally different world. Tiring of the constant struggle, he sighed, giving up again, and instead called for his saber to return to his hand, turning to face her.

 

And stopped halfway as he realized his saber wasn't responding to his miniscule grip on the Force. In fact, it was barely nudging around on the ground, twitching as if alive, but otherwise not even making headway in his direction. That was what set him off. Again, he tried, much with the statue, to lift this small object, using his frustration, his anguish, and still, nothing.

 

"You're kidding...please tell me you're kidding..."

 

He muttered under his breath, but he was sure the Jedi had heard. Finally, after several more seconds, he caved, trying to follow the Jedi's advice as best he could. Calm his mind, release his anger...

 

Think happy thoughts, Derek...

 

He snickered as the thought passed through his mind, but it was gone as soon as he could manage it out of his mind, trying to calm the tidal wave of thoughts. It was far more difficult than he though, calming his own mind, and he struggled with the most basic thing for another several seconds before making yet another attempt at his hilt. This time, he reached out to the Force around him, trying to gently will the hilt up into the air, to at least bring it off the ground.

 

And for a few seconds, nearly four, he was successful, the hilt wobbily raising off the floor nearly an inch before hitting the floor again. He sighed, finally admitting to himself his situation.

 

"Fine. Show me. It's not that I want to learn from you, but I want to learn, alright? Just so you know."

[Skye Organa]

His frustrations and his sarcasm were not lost on the Healer, and though she could have laughed at his efforts, she didn't. Instead she showed him compassion. She heard his quiet comment to himself, still remaining silent.

 

After he had limited success with attempting to calm himself, and after he requested her help, Skye spoke gently.

 

"I understand. Breathe deeply. Calm yourself and you will touch the Force much easier."

[Derek Suul]

Deep breaths...Quiet your mind. Calm the ocean, Derek...

 

Derek did as she requested of him, taking a large breath, and nearly immediately felt some of his frustration and tension melt away. He focused this time, spending much more concentration on the task than being anxious to complete it. And when he felt he was ready, he tried again.

 

This time, when his hand reached out for his saber hilt, it jerked once as he grabbed it wih invisible hands, then effortlessly glided over to his outstretched palm.

 

"So...is this what the Jedi do to use the Force...it feels strange and almost awkward, but easier to tame than the Dark Side. It...it feels peaceful."

 

He felt her smile at this, and turned his eyes back to the statue.

 

"I don't think I'll try to lift that...not yet. If I lose control, it might break..."

 

He trailed off, thinking about what he had just done. It seemed simple enough, to calm his mind to do something like this, and the Force was just as responsiive to him as ever, yet he didn't need to use his rage to harness it. However, his thoughts quickly went to how the Jedi got on in battle, how they calmed their minds to quickly call on the Force when they desperately needed it. He had never thought of it that way beefore, and marvelled at how the Jedi must have been the true Masters of the Mind.

 

And then, he realized his thoughts were trailing long, his mind a numbing warm buzz. He noticed his pride had vanished, and it was then he chose to spark it back up a bit, if only to retain some of his dignity.

 

"Interesting. I'll have to practice with that more."

[Azrael]

Sunlight streamed down across his face, warming his skin. It warmed him to his soul to be able to see the sun streaming through the clouds, bringing light to the rolling plains. He watched as the wind whipped through the tree branches, and his eyes tracked several leaves as they broke loose from their stems and they soared through the air. A smile graced his lips and a tear feel down his cheeks. He was seeing through normal eyes, watching things as a regular person saw them. How badly he had wished for this gift so many years ago, how he had wished to just be normal and be able to see the people he had cared about. But as that thought passed through his mind, he was reminded of his gift. Because of his blindness, his connection to the Force was much stronger than that of a normal Jedi. But still, the gift of sight was something he still longed for.

 

”œI know your heart Azrael.”

[Skye Organa]

Skye observed Derek as he quietened his mind, focusing on using the lighter side of the Force. She felt the currents of the Force swirling around them, stretching out to find that Azrael had started moving again. Her attention turned back towards Derek.

 

"Yes... it all takes practice...", Skye commented with amusement at his tone.

 

"Well, I'd love to stay here and chat, though there are things to do, places to be. If you like, you can come along with us."

 

She raised an eyebrow towards him before turning, giving the option for him to follow as she silently making her way through the corridors and out of the old Temple, heading in the direction of her ship.

[Derek Suul]

Derek, though having a hard exterior, was no idiot. He wasn't about to let his magnanimous Sithly pride get in the way of a ride offworld. Quietly he stalked behind her, not making any attempt to hide himself, yet not advancing near her to within thirty feet either. He had felt another presence on the planet, nearby, a powerful one. It was simply curiosity and caution that he was exercising now. Just because one Jedi was nice didn't mean they all were, the stinging memory of the first time Tristin killed him gorily coming back into memory...

 

And so he waited, silently, partially hidden by the dark unlit hallways, grasping his lightsaber just in case. You never knew when...

[Skye Organa]

Skye made her way across the icy tundra, her pale blue and white robes blending in with the scenery, though she made no real attempt to hide herself. She could feel Derek following, also feeling his caution. The Healer assumed it was because he could also sense Azrael through the Force.

 

Arriving at her ship, Serenity, Skye lowered the ramp and let I-Nine know she had returned, also that she was expecting another guest. She looked back over the terrain, taking in the details both visually and through the Force. Sitting down on the embarksion ramp, she decided to wait for the others before heading inside. She was still using the Force to create a warm bubble around herself so was quite comfortable, though the prolonged concentration she was using seeped into her body, fatiguing it slightly.

 

I-Nine approached soon after she had sat down, carrying a tray with a warm drink contained within a thermus, along with three mugs. Skye thanked her thoughtful droid, pouring a mug of the steaming liquid and letting the silver droid place the tray upon a shelf just inside of the entryway. Taking a sip she waited for the others to arrive at Serenity.

[Azrael]

As he neared the mouth of the cave, the young Jedi Knight began to truly see what Ilum looked like. His eyes darted about as rays of light were reflected off the small crystals that were forming on the mouth of the cave. A smile graced his lips as the beams fell across his hands illuminating his pale skin. Glancing around the lips of the cave, he watched as freckles of colored light danced about, withering and growing with the passing of clouds. Realizing he had spent far too long merely staring at the reflections of light, Azrael left the darkness of the caves and entered the world of light.

 

Although he expected to see the light from the sun for the first time, what he did see shocked him. Instead of the plain lights from the sun, the light had been reflected off the lake of ice outside the cave. Snakes of light could be seen slithering beneath the ice, causing the revelation of small fish living beneath the thick crust. Allowing his eyes to break from the ice, he saw Skye enter Serenity and lower the ramp, waiting for him to arrive. Her blue and white cloak almost perfectly matched the snow that she crushed beneath her feet. Noticing a dark figure following he, Azrael opened himself to the Force and felt a conflict within the person. He could feel the darkness ruling the mans life, but there some a small semblance of the light within him. Knowing that only with proper guidance could he be fully turned from the dark, Azrael decided that a display of aggression would not be the best choice.

 

Gathering the Force within him, the Wayfarer launched himself into the air, reveling in the wind blowing against his face and whipping through his hair. Spreading his arms out, he felt like he was flying, and reveling in the sight of the land quickly passing beneath him. Allowing himself to descend, the could feel the wind catching in the folds of his robe, he planted his feet in the snow, shook himself free of the ice particles and marched towards the Serenity. As he walked up the entrance ramp, he stopped in his tracks as Skye came into view.

 

What he saw stunned him to his very core. Before he had known she was a gentle soul, caring for him even though they had only met for the briefest period. Her generosity as a healer was unmatched by any being throughout the known galaxy. But even the kindness within her was unmatched by her beauty to him. Her auburn hair fell around her shoulders, framing her lovely face, much like the frame of a painting. Her emerald eyes seemed to light up her face, adding even more loveliness to her tanned face.

 

Recovering from his shock, he realized he was staring and averted his gaze to the warm drink awaiting him. Taking a seat next to the beautiful Jedi Master, he grasped the warm mug in his hand and brought it to his lips. The steaming liquid felt wonderful as it passed down his throat, warming him instantly.

 

”œSo, how has your trip been so far, my de”¦..Master.”

[Derek Suul]

Derek neared the ship, sensing the other person wouldn't be much of a problem, but he was still cautious, untrusting. It was merely his way...but still. He knew there wouldn't be a problem. He took a deep breath as he approached the ship, clipping his lightsaber hilt onto his belt, and securing the Sith sword on his back. His dark clothing contrasted his skin, making it look pale, though in all actuality he had been tanned lightly from being out in the Ilum sun.

 

He walked up the ramp, looking to the new man and acknowleging his presence before sitting in a corner. He felt unwanted, though it was merely his imagination, or possibly his subconscious manifesting in that he needed to feel unwanted at that time. Either way, he knew it wasn't them, but it was him. He was the only one out of place, and for a good time to come, that's probably how it would be. He'd just have to get used to it.

[Skye Organa]

Skye looked up as she felt Azrael's approach, sensing something different about him. As he got closer, she discovered what it was... his eyes. They were normal, not crystaline. His dark blue eyes were startling in their intensity as she observed him, thinking that it must be so different for him to actually see rather than looking at everything through Force Sight.

 

She smiled gently as he averted his gaze to get his drink, her gaze returning to watch Derek approach. Skye figured that he must have had a different mental picture of what she looked like to how she actually did. Force Sight would only show so much, though nothing like 'normal vision', also figuring that was why he had stared before. His slip of the tongue caught her off guard slightly, though she didn't bring it up when she spoke.

 

"My trip has been eventful. How did you go with your saber. Judging by your eyes, I gather alot happened in the caves."

 

She fell silent for a moment, her gaze returning to the nearing figure.

 

"I see you have noticed our guest."

 

With Derek now joining them, she spoke up again.

 

"I'm pleased you could make it. Derek, I'd like you to meet Azrael. Azrael, this is Derek. He'll be travelling with us for a while."

 

Standing up now, she indicated to the jug and mug.

 

"Would you like a warm drink?"

[Derek Suul]

He looked to her as she spoke, nodding to Azrael when he was introduced.

 

"Yes, please..."

 

He poured a drink for himself, drinking it slowly. It warmed his insides, and his mood. Ever subtly, that hardened wall of caution was chinked away at, and Derek felt like he could be freer with himself around them. His thoughts went back to inside the temple, when he pretty much told his life story to the female Jedi, though he was merely talking to talk. Then, he didn't care. Now...now that he had a possible future, he did care. That was what had changed...

 

"I am fortunate the tales of Jedi hospitality live up to reality. So...you're a Jedi too, Azrael?"

[Azrael]

"Yes, I am a Jedi . But I am also more. What I am cannot be explained to someone who has never seen the extent of my abilities. Master Organa here, has seen a small portion of my powers, while the Sith Master Darth Mortis Diabolus has seen almost the extent of abilties. But if you want to use something other than my name, you can call me........the Wayfarer."

 

Taking another sip of his drink, he once again felt the warmth spreading through his body. Turning his thoughts inward, Azrael began to think on the words the Force had spoken to him. He was supposed to find two other people to help him stop the coming darkness. Unsure of who he was supposed to find, Azrael turned his eyes briefly to Skye, taking in her beauty once more before rising and heading inside Serenity. He needed to find some different clothes. The ones he was currently in were soaked.

[Skye Organa]

With the two introduced to each other, and Azrael retiring into his room in the ship to change, Skye looked back towards Derek.

 

"I'll show you to the other bunk room. You'll most likely find spare clothes there if you wish to change. I left spare clothing there incase my children should travel with me so you should be able to find something that will fit."

 

A brief hint of sadness tinted her aura at the thought of her two sons and her daughter though it was gone just as quick as she motioned for Derek to precede her into Serenity. Skye tapped the lever that would close the embarksion ramp as they moved further inside. She had found it interesting that Azrael called himself the Wayfarer. Pointing to an open door, Skye paused before it.

 

"Here we are. There's an adjoining shower room. I'll be in the cockpit if you require anything."

 

She left him there, joining her droid, I-Nine, in the cockpit. The preflight checks had already been done, all that was left to do was to lift off. Taking off, Serenity didn't so much as shudder as it pointed skywards, soon leaving the atmosphere of the icy world below.

 

As she was about to enter new co-ordinates into the nav computer, a comm came in requiring the Master Healer's attention. Seeing that she would be needed in her Healer's capacity, she logged in the new co-ordinates, Serenity disappearing into the corridors of hyperspace.

 

((to space thread))