Hoth

[Heero]

Heero remained silent the entire time the sergeant was speaking, merely following him and absorbing all the information spoken. His facial expression was serious and didn't change for even a second as he stepped into the office behind the Alliance official. His Prussian blue eyes moved from the face of the man down to the papers he was to fill out. It had been quite some time since he had filled out any sort of paperwork, but his information hadn't left his mind for even a moment.

 

When he spoke, he kept it terse. ”œI'll fill it out here.”

[Hrist]

Jzora's mind danced with malice as he watched in an almost detached fashion as the events of the day spiraled out of his control. He had lost it somewhere between the room and the door, perhaps he should have taken them down when he had the chance? He pushed the thought aside as he was escorted down the hallway, Xand still wanted to see where this would lead him. Be it for good or ill, he was having too much fun to stop now. Especially, since this was such a little snag. So with the ever broad smile on his face he allowed himself to be thrown into the brig, very uncustomary for a Falleen to show such emotion, then again what did these lessers know of his people?

 

Xand's reptilian head turned to his right to see IG-101 droid standing in his cage, apparently unable to do anything more than talk and at the moment, which he was doing and nothing more than chiding his captors. Belittling them in front of all to witness, and oddly he looked to enjoy it. What a weird thought, a droid truly enjoying something. Perhaps it was time for a memory wipe? His mind wandered as he watched the human soldiers patrol the room, he was slightly saddened to see not a female among them. The smile only grew wider as he realized that this General Ehawk was not as stupid as the rest of his race, most (perhaps not most, but a great many) would have overlooked that simple fact. Though he (the General) had still erred. It would have been safer in having the room guarded by droids, though Xand was fine with the current situation. Slowly and ever so lightly he began to exude those same pheromones that had lulled the female officer to his will. Though, this time it was different, the scent was different. It was nearly irresistible to behold, though not yet strong enough for any to bare witness to. Not even those closet to his cell were aware of any hint.

 

Jzora took up seat on the cot in the room and laid back against the wall leisurely. His smile dimmed from his face and his eyes closed, he propped his legs atop the cot and folded them. Jzora began to breathe in deep breaths, centering himself, he leaned forward and with a loud pop his arms were once again in front of him. The fallen opened his eyes again to see several of the guards watching the display. Then he slowly exhaled and with it any pain or discomfort he felt. With his arms forward once more, he was more than capable of defending himself and even attack his would-be guards. Once more he leaned back against the wall, his black ponytail, draped across his left shoulder, once again he repeated his breathing techniques only this time he did not move. No, instead the slight scent of his pheromones intensified twenty fold, it began to blanket the room, heavy and thick in the air. All were affected and none were immune except for his droid Eli, who was oblivious and still belittling the soldiers. Before the men new what was happening they all longed for Jzora Xand, with an intense desire to have him, the fumbled over each other in their dash for his cell.

 

The Falleen remained in his transitive state, aware of what was going on around him, but so heavily concentrated on keeping them pliable to his scent, that he cared little for what they would do, until the cell was open. Instead he focused briefly on changing his skin color to a more appealing red, slowly the pigmentation began to change, only intensifying their urge. They began to fight over who would open the cell doors, of the eight two were knocked out and the rest in an intense scuffle. To Jzora Xand, none of this was fun, it had lost that appeal the moment he began his meditation. No, he hated using his advantage on the males. After all, Xand a creature of the ladies, men held no appeal to him. But, he would do nearly anything to escape his prison, though apologizing was not high on that list. Xand was a very prideful person and such a small thing like that, was an enormous obstacle for him, because it meant he was flawed. And Falleens weren't flawed.

 

Finally, his eyes snapped open, revealing their cold and lifeless violet orbs. He stared devoid of everything at the mass in front of him, tentatively considering if they were truly his or not yet, time would soon tell. A singular phrase was released from his now parted lips. "Release me." In complete monotone, he truly hated seducing men and only practiced it for those rare times (such as these) that it came in handy. He waited for their next move, seemingly calm and at peace but ready for anything, given his mediative state of being, and semi-consciousness. He was completely aware.

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant looked at Heero as he read over the documents, then turned back to his computer screen. "Your background check is done, and it matches pretty much everything that your papers say, but I also see that you left out a few things," he said. He then cleared his throat. "I see that you used to be a Sith Lord. Normally, that would immediately disqualify you.

 

"Basically, you need to convince me that you're not going to kill everyone when we first start to trust you. We don't like Sith in the Alliance--they're our enemies as much as the Empire is, and now the two factions serve the same master," the sergeant continued. "So I need proof. If you can't give me any, I'm going to ask you to leave."

 

-----------------

 

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Septim sat at a computer screen that monitored the prison cells. Nothing was going on in most of them. There was a new prisoner--a Falleen, of all races, who was doing something rather strange. Then, suddenly, the guards in the room started fighting each other, trying to get to the cell.

 

Septim enabled the audio on that screen and clearly heard the words "release me" being spoken--by the prisoner.

 

The Lieutenant didn't know much about Falleen, but this was trouble. He hit a button. "I need security in Cell 327. Hm. Better make them droids."

 

He then hit another button that linked him to the detention cell captain. "Trouble in 327. A stun field would be nice."

 

The captain nodded, then hit a button of his own. Jzora's cell was immediately filled with a stun field which swiftly and soundly made the Falleen leave consciousness.

 

A moment later, a few droids entered the cell room and found the guards looking at each other sheepishly, then filing out of the room. The droids would stand guard now.

[Heero]

Heero's eyes narrowed at the man as his first thought was to commit the man's features to his memory, along side his name, so that down the road he could rectify the problem of this man some how knowing what he was. The only conceivable way that the man could possibly know was if the force had conspired against him on Coruscant, having one of the very few people that caught a momentary glimpse of his face in the under levels was someone he once knew and had reported to the Alliance that a new Sith had been confirmed.

 

The force had really gone out of its way to expose him, it seemed, considering that every other place he had shown an aptitude of commanding the force had been strictly Sith zones that had no civilian population on them. That merely meant that his objective would have to change.

 

Objective-Remain hidden; failed.

 

New Objective-”¦

 

”¦.

 

Retain Alliance trust while arranging something directly under their noses.

 

Mission Accepted

 

”œI can give you working knowledge on the planets Coruscant, Mechis III, Naboo, and Roon that would otherwise be impossible to attain or risk the life of your soldiers.”

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant raised an eyebrow. "Alright. You have one day to write up a full report with everything you know about the current status of the worlds Mechis III and Naboo. We'll check it with what we know. If everything's correct, the information could be quite useful."

 

He handed Heero a datapad. "This contains your room assignment. If you ask around, you'll be able to find the mess hall and whatever other facilities you need. I'm in this office from 0800 hours in the morning to 1200 hours and from 2000 hours to 2100 hours. Find me during any of those times and turn in the report."

[Heero]

Heero accepted the datapad and took it as a sign that he was dismissed. He gave the sergeant a curt nod and left the room, quickly navigating through the hallways and into the barracks. It appeared that he had arrived in the late evening, since many of the soldiers inside the barracks were preparing to go to sleep for the night. He found an empty bunk and ducked his head low, sliding into the bed.

 

He began his report immediately, starting with Naboo first. He listed several different types of soldiers that had been seen there, Crimson Dawn among them, as well as the patrol paths of outside of the city. The patrols used Speeder bikes and were covered by snipers that had taken up positions surrounding Theed as well as a few spots in the taller buildings located in the Area. There was one Imperial Star Destroyer in orbit of the planet that had come along with the supplies required for the rebuilding of the operations there after what was being called a ”˜freak accident' that had taken out their main HQ.

 

Mechis was decidedly easier to give a write up on, due to the fact that it was not a civilian planet in any sense of the word and was primarily used by Sith, rather then the Imperials. The Sith Construct was there, the primary location for the construction of cybernetics as well as where many apprentices, lords, and masters alike had been introduced into the computers on an entirely new level. This place was particularly valuable, considering the relatively low security (Nothing more then a considerably capable Sith Lord and some droids) and the high value of what could be taken. Supplies could be built there, along side various vehicles and it would be a prime spot to build a set of fleetyards. The construct held knowledge that would be invaluable to the Jedi order and Alliance alike, due to the intimate knowledge that had been uploaded by the various Sith, Kakuto Ryu included.

 

A task force armed with various EMP technology and perhaps even the force voiding slugs was suggested for Mechis III, with support coming once key locations were secured. For Naboo, the task of reclaiming the planet would be decidedly more difficult. Letting several of the more charismatic members of the Alliance move in and mingle with the citizens to stir up a fierce rebellion supplied by the Alliance was viewed as the most effective option in that particular instance.

 

Heero was standing outside of the Sergeants door at 0800 sharp, waiting for his arrival with report in hand.

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant opened the door of his office and nodded as the recruit called Heero entered. He accepted the datapad, admittantly impressed that Heero had been so punctual this morning. No doubt the recruit was trying to make a good impression, of course, but sometimes it deserved to work.

 

But punctuality and good impressions didn't erase the fact that Heero was a Sith Lord--or, at least, had been.

 

Still, most of that underlying suspicion disintegrated with the solid information the recruit provided. The sergeant had taken an hour or so to brush up on the current information the Alliance Intelligence had on the two locations, which were active in the war, and what Recruit Yuy had provided appeared to be accurate.

 

"Very well," the sergeant said, "you've convinced me. This information could be helpful. I'm still a little bit wary of your past, but as of now you are Lieutenant Yuy. Since you have some combat experience, report to the Alliance Headquarters base on Gala. Maybe you'll be one of the officers that can put some of this information to use.

 

"Dismissed."

 

As soon as Heero left, the sergeant transmitted the data to Gala for further analysis.

[Vladimir Faust]

In a random sweep and sampling of planets per Faust's orders to find the rebel base, an Imperial probe droid like the one that discovered Echo base in times past, makes its way through the icy cosmos, lands on the only arguably warmer planet of Hoth- far, far from the rebel base. It is wholly ignorant that this all but chance stroke, given from vague memories of the rebels hiding there from times past and for the need to be thorough, was so close its master's target. Indeed, this random dropping was not expected to yield results and Imperial attention was at best fleeting for this rather ironic placement.

 

Landing on almost the completely opposite side of the planet, the droid registers as a meteor stroke on rebel sensors, with an abnormally high metal content. The droid, still in no immediate danger, not for a day or two, of stumbling on anything that might clue the Imperials to the Rebel's last hiding place, slowly pulls itself up, and begins making its exploration of the planet...

[Heero]

Heero gave a quick nod of his head and took his leave from the room. He moved straight for the hanger bay, having not yet been issued a uniform of any sort and having no personal possessions save for the clothes on his back and the collapsible staff hanging beneath his overcoat. In the Hanger bay, he quickly found his ship and climbed a ladder into it; five minutes later he was gone as fast as he had arrived.

[Onderin Starlisk]

Advanced Alliance scanners continue their sweeps, monitoring anything that could be metal in the area and tagging them. Anything that both moved and was metal would be assumed hostile unless tagged otherwise.

 

As the Imperial probe droid got nearer (though not near enough to detect the Rebel base, whose scanners, being station-based, were much more powerful), it was tagged as hostile and a few snowspeeders were launched to intercept it.

 

They flew close to the ground, hoping to evade its scanners until the moment they struck....

[Vladimir Faust]

The droid, still making its approach, far, far from the rebel base, picks up what it believes are life forms and traces of metal- not enough to warrant a transmission back to base- but enough to make an approach with caution, its shields up and blasters ready...

[Onderin Starlisk]

The captain of the snowspeeder group spoke in the private comm to his squad. "Tighten up. Jam communicatons. We don't want this thing labelling us before we hit it."

 

The snowspeeders sent out a jamming signal which would quite effectively keep the probe droid from reporting back to the Empire. At the same time, it probably made the droid rully realize that there was a military presence on Hoth.

 

It didn't matter, however, as the snowspeeders swept in and, with a couple of well-placed shots, destroyed the robot and started their return circuit back to the Alliance base. "We were right--an Imperial probe droid. But I think it's safe to say that the Empire doesn't know we're here. Still, we should be on alert," the captain was saying.

[Guest]

Azula's ship came out of hyperspace above the barren and very cold planet of Hoth, the scanners on her ship picked up what appeared to be lifeforms, and machinery down on the serface of the small planetoid. She couldn't be sure though, the scanners readings were being scattered by a blizzard down on the surface.

 

She smiled,

 

Could this be where the alliance is?

 

Her heart jumped, she hoped they would let her join so she could make her revenge against the Empire...surely they should have noticed her by now....she would let them make the first move sinceshe could not be sure it was the alliance and not some band of smugglers...

[Onderin Starlisk]

"We've got a ship incoming," a sensor officer said from a scanner board. "It's not Imperial."

 

"We have word of a recruit that's supposed to find her way here," another officer said. Then he turned to the communications officer. "Give her landing instructions. I'll have the sergeant go meet her."

 

The communications officer nodded, then opened a channel to Azula's ship. "Incoming vessel, proceed to hangar bay 3. We're sending you coordinates."

 

Meanwhile, the sergeant was pulled out of his office. He headed down to the hangar where Azula had been told to land. He had an escort of a few armed troopers, just to make sure that this wasn't an Imperial trick. What we really need is a damn Jedi Knight to find out if we keep taking on Sith, the sergeant grumbled.

 

But, to tell the truth, he loved meeting potential recruits. It showed that the galaxy was ready to help the Rebellion against the Empire.

[Guest]

”œIncoming vessel, proceed to hangar bay 3. We're sending you coordinates."

 

Azula's heart jumped again, it was the alliance! And they were letting her land! She quickly replied,

 

”œYes Sir! I am on my way down.”

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant looked at the girl as she slipped upon leaving her ship, then rose with youthful vigor to snap off a salute. He almost chuckled--she was just a kid! The Alliance didn't usually accept recruits unless they were at least 18....

 

Of course, the sergeant was authorized to make such a decision. The girl carried a blaster pistol, which probably meant that she knew how to use it. She had her own ship, it seemed, and she had piloted it down here, a spectacle that had been disastrous in nature but very well-handled once stress had kicked in. She was a little clumsy, maybe, but that wasn't unusual for new recruits.

 

For a moment, he wondered why she was here. He would have expected a youth from some backwater world, dreaming of adventure and battling the Galactic Empire. But there were a lot of things that were common among those from backwater planets, and, at first glance, this girl didn't have any of them.

 

He made a note to read all the way through her background check once it was in--which meant that he had to least take steps into bringing her into the Rebellion. But, should she enter, he expected she would have a few rough weeks of basic training ahead of her....

 

The sergeant returned the salute, then approached her, studying her attention posture. It could use some work, but only due to ignorance--she put a lot of effort into it. "At ease, recruit," he said, encouraging her to relax.

 

"I've seen a lot of people say they want to be in the Rebel Alliance," he said, trying to make his feelings clear and taking a few steps off to the side, no longer facing her. "A lot of them are young and full of spirit. They're also innocent and they view war as some great adventure rather than what it truly is.

 

"They race through the sims and remain optimistic, but then as soon as blaster bolts start whizzing by, they realize that they had no idea what they were getting themselves into." The sergeant turned to face the girl again. "You're the youngest recruit we've had in a long time. In a time when the Alliance was enjoying military dominance, we probably wouldn't accept you.

 

"However, such is not the case. I am willing to accept you for the application process to get into this faction. However, before you decide to jump in, you need to understand something. There is nothing good in war except why we fight them. War is not a game, and war is not an adventure. War is hell.

 

"If you think that you're going to fly through training, jump through the ranks and become a galactic hero, you're in the wrong place and you might as well run back to your parents right now," he said harshly. "But I will not bar you from entrance. If this is what you want, and you're willing to give everything you have for this cause, I can accept you into our ranks."

 

He paused and looked at her with hardened eyes. "Speak," he said. He wouldn't give her the apps until she decided.

[Guest]

"Speak"

 

Azula nodded and began,

 

”œWar is no adventure sir, as you said, War is nothing but Hell. I may be young sir, but I have had my fair share of blaster-bolts shot at me.”

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant held the girl's gaze and listened to her brief tale about Coruscant. When she had finished, he looked at her with even more intensity, his gaze daring her to lie to him. It was a bold claim, stating that one was willing to give up everything for a cause. Not many who made such a claim actually lived it out.

 

"I can see that there's no turning you back," he said. "That's good. Follow me; I will take you to my office, where we can make your induction official. But know one thing--bravery is admirable, but it can lead to foolish actions. Remember: it is more admirable to live humbly for a cause than to die gloriously for one."

 

Though without sacrifice, very little would ever be accomplished, he added mentally. Here was a girl not even come of age joining the Rebellion with sacrifice on her mind. But he didn't want her throwing her life away at the first chance she got to do something heroic.

 

But perhaps she had a successful career ahead of her yet....

 

The sergeant made good on his words and led the girl to his office, where he handed her a few sheets of paperwork. "Fill these out," he said. "I should have your background check completed by the time you're finished." He sat down at his desk and started working on a computer.

[Guest]

Grey sat down, exausted. It had been hours since Fynn had gone out, and she had been doing the same routines that he had shownher the entire time. They weren't that tiring, but after hours and hours of it, it got tiring mentally and physicaly. She shut off the training saber that her master had lent her,and headed back towards the front of the cave. She was starving, and her growling stomach, which made itself known the whole way back, was proof of that.

 

She looked arount for some scraps of food, not wanting to have to eat one of her rations. They were hardly even considered food, let alone dinner. Grey sighed, not finging anything. She grabbed her equipment pack, and pulled out a ration. Sitting down right outside the cave, she began to chew on it.

 

When she was gone, she sat out in the snow a few minutes more, taking in the sunset. it was almost as beautiful as the sunrise. Except it was getting colder by the second, it felt. Grey pushed herself up and went back inside the cave.

 

'No use in freezing myself to death.' she thought to herself.

 

She made her way back to the back of the cave, only this time, no growling followed her. Picking up the lightsaber again, she went back to practicing the few moves her master had taught her so far.

[Guest]

Azula filled out the Paper Work

 

 

-Name-

 

Azula Athinion

 

-Species-

 

Echani

 

etc....

 

Azula finally finished and handed the paper work back to the sergeant, and gave him a crisp salute...she waited as he finished with his computer work..

 

(Sorry, school has been really hard recently so...my apologies..)

[Onderin Starlisk]

The sergeant accepted the paperwork. "Well," he said, hitting a few more keys on the computer keyboard, "everything seems to check out. You're young, but you've got a lot of spirit, kid. Or should I call you Lieutenant Athinion?"

 

He stood up. "Welcome to the Rebel Alliance," he said, throwing her a salute and handing her a datapad. "This datapad has a base map and the location of your quarters. There you will find your uniform and military ID. You have the rest of the day and tonight to get used to the setting, then you'll be in for some training first thing in the morning.

 

"Dismissed."

[Tiana Calthye]

((I promise we're totally not here to interfere with the Alliance at all. Planets are big, you totally don't need to ever notice we're here. ))

 

Hoth... ...she remembers... That jewel in the sky that's only bright, blinding light reflected from its all ice-coated surface, no magma to shatter that illusion of perfection in the universe. To land on the surface was to land in impossible, bitter cold... to land in furious light, to land in possible death.

 

Tiana has a robe and the Force--and that's good enough for her, but what about Raven? She remembers this too, after that nervous moment of hanging in space, and remembering...

 

...To be a child again, to land here as a hopeful and walk away as...

 

...A refugee.

 

She wants. For a moment all Tiana wants is to make a transmission, and say--Jedi Padawan Tiana Calthye... I've come back... requesting permission to land...

 

She fingered her brown robe, remembered her X-wing, still the same one as the Jedi had given her for a mission--that...

 

...Had essentially killed her...

 

But the Jedi were long gone from Hoth, and if the Alliance was here, the snowstorms that racked the planet didn't reveal anything. They headed in to land on practically the other side of the planet, and it was a ...relief... to not be on a planet smothered in black once more...

 

Unfortunately, due to the lack of landing locations on the other side of Hoth, when Tiana and Raven's ships hit the ice, they skidded until both ships were stuck in the snow. Tiana sent a short-range comm, from habit, on an encrypted channel, to her apprentice. "Well, now we're screwed. Do you want 'survival in frigid cold planet' 101 or shall we see if there's an Imperial or Alliance base around here, and sign up to kill whoever's on the other side?" Tiana reached out with the Force for a moment, and sensed nothing but ice, snow, and bright. Completely the opposite of Blivy's furnace room. She pulled her robe on tightly over her flight suit. "Looks like it's going to be survival 101, though. Why did we come to this ice ball anyway?"

 

Because you missed it, the Sith in her mind taunted.

 

Sentiminent isn't exactly a good reason to endanger both you and your apprentice, the Jedi side reminded her.

 

Bah. It's way more fun this way, Tiana reasoned seperately, and ran a diagnostics test on her X-wing. Everything looked fine, except for the fact that the coolant fluid and everything in it would probably soon freeze. Fortunately it was still day, so it wasn't going to kill them to stay on ship... of course, they would need to get their ships out of the snow, too... if snow creatures didn't get them first... or any sentients on planet... or the impossible, bonechilling, life-sucking cold!

[Raven Nasra]

”œI do not know master, if we are here then we are going to be here for a long....time...”

[Tiana Calthye]

Tiana drew the brown robe tight around herself, covering her flight suit. She would have to exit the ship if they were to have any hope of extricating themselves from the snowbank, but to spend much energy out in the blistering wind could kill them both. Neither were properly dressed for the weather. Since both had personal sized starfighters, they both wore full body flight suits, gloves and boots, but even though their suits protected them from the chill of space that seeped into their ships, nothing could prepare them for the blast of frozen water hurled around by foul winds.

 

She opened her X-wing's hatch, taking a supply pack and left.

 

Though she had been on Hoth before, it was barely enough to prepare her for Hoth now, Hoth without proper clothing, the temperatures far below freezing and enough to kill any animals once nightfall hit.

 

Humans were like animals.

 

Already ice gathered on her eyelashes and her face grew red, nose dripping from the cold. In this cold, tears could freeze””but more importantly, so could your blood.

 

She extended her focus into the air, to the snow and to the thought that underneath the snow was just water, hardened into a new form. Water could be commanded, and thus so could snow. Her focus grew shaky, but around her and Raven, the biting flakes began to crumple to the ground, the wind began to lessen, and they were safe””for a short while. Tiana had no strength to even try warm the air--what would have been simple telekinesis before was now made an impossible task by her focus, the Force protecting them from where the wind and snow would have battered them down.

 

She gasped for breath. If the temperature started to drop, the air would freeze in her lungs and eventually her only strength would be left to keep herself alive, and even then only in a trance on ship. They wouldn't have long to free themselves.

 

"You've learned... basic manipulation of the Force," she managed to say. Sweat gathered on her forehead. It was too big.

 

"Like you can amplify your hearing or your sight, you can decrease a sense. To increase your vision, you would focus on your eyes, and extend the Force through them, to see further, clearer. To run faster, you would bring it into your muscles. You've already learned some fighting technique. In the same way, these can be applied to feeling... in reverse. You can turn off sensation. You will not feel as cold. And it's child's play to generate a small amount of heat. I suggest you learn fast, because we will have to extricate my ship and use its tow line to pull yours back to the ice..."

 

A particularly strong blast of wind shattered Tiana's focus. Without eyes, telekinesis was not so simple. She moved into the shelter of her X-wing and turned her focus inward. Where the tips of her fingers were losing sensation, she focused and brought the same shuddering sensations to the air. Compacting the pressure, it protected her fingers for a short while as she tried to regain her focus.

 

Around the hottest parts of their ships, ice would have formed from the impact. A blaster on low setting or her staff could melt it away. Telekinesis could be used, but Tiana doubted she would have the stamnia to move a ship--and Raven certainly wouldn't. No, once the front was extricated, if Raven survived she would have to fly it a short ways, out of the loose snow, and then the same process with the other ship.

 

If the apprentice could survive that long.

[Tristin Stellar]

The snow storm that was Hoth's surface was not something to be trifled with. Yet here in what would seem to be the worst part of it, a man walked unhindered by the cold or the gale force wind warping around him. He was wearing a simple robe with the hood over his head.

 

He glanced through the snow to either side of him and seemed to sigh for the briefest moment before his right arm rose up allowing his sleeve to fall down revealing a black leather bracer on his arm. With a spinning gesture the wind and the biting cold ended abruptly in a cone of tranquility where not a flake of snow would drop.

 

His arm came down just after un-hooding himself and he glanced first at the one called Raven before looking at Tiana.

 

You seem to be ill equipped for "training" in these parts.

 

He didn't carry the cocky smile he was known for wearing and his eyebrows lowered slightly as if he had noticed something, though what small secret he may have discovered remained unsaid as his expression shifted back to neutral.

[Tiana Calthye]

"Stick to the lesson plan," Tiana hissed to Raven, now that the wind no longer howled so greatly, and the snow no longer bit their faces. "Focus inwards. Turn yourself over to the Force and find what makes you feel cold." She moved slightly--moved from the shadow of her now unmarked X-wing to stand protectively in front of Raven. Her staff she held with only one hand, but it remained just a staff for now. No trickery, only simple cynicism and caution.

 

No normal person walked the surface of Hoth.

 

[Not ill equipped,] Tiana said--through the Force, as he had greeted her. [Simply ill prepared. But the lessons the Force would dare to teach are often the most... educational, wouldn't you think?] Her focus changed--from warmth to sight, expanding her bubble of ocular awareness to include this newcomer--clearly either a Jedi or a Sith--and sought to see him.

 

He wore a neutral expression.

 

And he reminds you of Jedi Padawan Tiana...

 

She brushed her hood a ways back. Only someone very powerful could disable the wind and snow to that extent.

 

...And he reminds you of her because...

 

Tiana stared at him with sightless eyes and gave a broad, cheerful--almost insane grin. The... "Why, Master Stellar! How pleasant of you to join us!"

 

...Jedi took over. She would die to make certain Raven was safe, but for now, this was someone she remembered...

 

She ran over and hugged the Jedi Master. "It's so nice to see you again! How's the Jedi Order going? Did they really blow Helix Station up? Say, how'd the war on Coruscant end after I crashed on that Star Destroyer and was left to die?!"

 

She gave him a cheerful, happy, oblivious smile. But inside, the Jedi found the bond she had with Raven and whispered along that line. [If he attacks me, take your ship and get out of here... I'll hold him as best I can...]

 

The Sith glared at her. Look, dammit, kill him!

 

Tiana said, No!

 

Besides, she added, do you have any idea how tiring it is being around Sith? You're all dark, dark, dark, blah blah blah... not that Jedi aren't all light, light, light, blah blah blah. Hells, I'm all OMG WTF BBQ NOTHING IS REAL, blah blah blah, but that's, incidentially, very beside the point...

 

You're insane! He's going to kill you! the Sith screamed in her ear.

 

Meh, the Jedi added in. Death's child's play compared to what you've been through...

 

...who you've loved... But he wouldn't hear that tormented fight within--always fighting, neither side winning””light versus dark from within””not unless he was actually trying to tear apart her most inward thoughts...

 

"Come to join in the wasteland training fun?"

 

((Incidentially, Tiana tends to remember every single person she's ever been RPed with--you're forgiven if you don't remember her. ))

[Tristin Stellar]

He nearly took a step back upon being hugged. It was an odd sensation, there was a constant shift of power, possibly from the girl in front of him. His eyes glanced back at Raven before responding.

 

Yes, a pleasure, please don't refer to me as Master. His voice sounded flat even as he maintained perfect eye contact.

 

I would sooner ask you of the Jedi Orders dealings as of late, I haven't been keeping tabs on the galaxy as of late. I've been training and keeping to myself. My failure with Helix was just one more reason to prove that I should not have been in power...

 

He glanced off to the left and coughed before looking back at Tiana.

 

Excuse me I'm sure you don't care about my personal struggles especially after such a bleak statement. I do not remember hearing of your struggles, but I see that the Empire or perhaps the Sith aren't very good at snuffing your life out.

 

He paused.

 

They did seem to leave a mark though. Irrelevant really, what I do want to know is what team are you playing for now? I won't strike you down if your working the dark arts now.

 

There was no malice in his voice just a sadness, one that hadn't been noticeable at first but had slowly leaked into his words the longer he spoke.

[Tiana Calthye]

"A pity you don't remember me so well..." Tiana gestured flamboyently. "You gave me the crystal to make my weapon. You sent me to Coruscant. I blame you, and my former Master, Leonardo Stovachi, for who I am."

 

Raven, she thought. I am not sure what will happen.

 

I remember him...

 

...I don't know if we're in any danger. Be ready to flee or fight... but don't look like you're ready to fight! I don't think we'll have to...

 

She flipped her staff back around to lean on it as any person would. The snow was compacted enough here that it didn't sink far in. This time, she spoke through the Force, and through the Force alone.

 

[I am not working the dark arts, as you so describe. Nor do I call myself light. I do call myself a Sith--but only because the Jedi could never take back this. I wear the scars of a Sith Lord, I've faced their trials and succeeded, I've been through hell and fire and dark””and light. I've walked a fine line, and ultimately, this is what I am.

 

I am blind.

 

I am a Jedi.

 

I am a Sith.

 

And yet I will never be either...]

 

Tiana drew in an unsteady breath.

 

[My apprentice came to me as a student of the dark side, seeking to be a Sith, but she would follow me anywhere””even to the lightside if I asked.]

 

"And ultimately," she breathed, "I call myself a Sith but I could have struck you down there... and the thought of such a death repulses half of me and thrills the other! I have felt bloodlust! I've wanted to kill! I've wanted to have worlds fall at my feet! But every kriffing time I've tried the other half of my mind steps in and makes sure that I don't!" Her voice escalated from a mere breath to a scream in a sentence.

 

"You're right. They left a mark." Tiana sounded absently sad. "I play for no team. I'm a gray Sith, a neutral Jedi””I'd call myself insane, Stellar. I was a Padawan in the Jedi Order, and I've earned the rank of Sith Lord, and I could have earned the rank of Jedi Knight... and now, the Jedi couldn't ever accept this””and the Sith would never accept someone so close to the light..." She sighed, melancholy. "Tiana. I'm just Tiana. Whether you're light or dark now, I don't want to fight you. But enough about me... if you want to help us get our ships out of the snow, I'd be glad to listen to all the personal struggles you want to angst about."

 

Then there was a brief, absent smile.

 

The Sith had faded away for that time, on this jewel of a planet where ice reigned.

 

There was nothing.

 

Just her own thoughts...

 

"I suppose I've done my fair share of angsting... why are you here?"

[Tristin Stellar]

He listened intently showing no emotion until the mention of her being able to strike him down, that put a smirk on his face but he stayed silent to hear her tale.

 

Ah, Leo. Now the strange familure-ness is answered. He was an interesting Jedi or Sith depending on how you look at him. I make no excuses nor apologies, what has happened occurred for a reason beyond my knowledge.

 

His lips kept moving and he seemed to give a speech more for the effect of seeming philosophical but Tiana felt the force quiver about her as a different message was transmitted to her.

 

All of us have pains and I have already walked the dark path though not as a Sith, life is unforgiving but I will admit those whom are insane tend to be saner than they think.

 

-Both Raven and Tiana could both hear this speech. Fate can be truly unfortunate that's why you have to rely on Luck and the Force though many disagree with me I would assume.

 

As the message ceased she could hear his words as he finished his statement.

 

... Furthermore I've no interest in angsting any more than that but I will aid you.

 

Both of his robed arms came up one pointing at each space craft. The raw energy of the universe began to move at his calling, though nothing noticeable to the eyes happened at first. A small and calm cyclone of snow was moving away from each craft as if each and every grain of snow was being levitated into the air. It was a serene sight to behold as the last bits of snow lifted away leaving both craft sitting fully exposed and leveled for a text book lift off.

 

He glanced at Tiana. His words flowed into her mind soothingly as if trying to appease her troubled spirt.

 

You know perhaps you should speak with my sister. I don't know her birth name but she is referred to as Total Chaos. She is a self taught balance adept and a Par'sa Blademaster. If anyone can help you find a more stable balance within yourself she can.

 

He gave a sad smile to both of them before he turned as if to walk away.

[Grimo]

Erek's freighter blinked into existence into orbit over the iced-over planet. The autopilot kicked in as programmed and began the descent towards the Rebel Base. Erek had met up with Rebel operatives a few days before and had received detailed instructions on how to reach the current system without tails. So far, he'd succeeded, as far as he could tell. Now, he grew anxious to reach the base and meet with the Rebel officers. After all the running and gunning he'd done in the last year, he was ready to settle down and take the fight to his enemies.