Chandrila

[Garet Jax]

OOC: Sorry.

 

IC: Garet was even more angered that she'd dared to heal him. But he saved his rage for later. He was remembering something. As Garet had indicated to Kirana, he was no common Doshan. In his youth, he had been trained as a Temple Guardian, not raised among the common drabble as nearly all other Doshans were. And then when he had rejected the Doshan homeworld and was discovered by Rocketblaze, he had further distanced himself from the stereotypical Doshan thug thanks to his Master. Garet was ferocious, there was no doubt. But he was not ignorant. In a way, he embodied the snake Rocketblaze's sect represented. Deceptively wise, but still a ruthless animal in the end. So it was not surprising when he finally remembered something he had learned about Mirialians during the years he spent studying the styles of Jedi and Sith long dead. A few of these Jedi had been Mirilian. A smile crossed his lizard-like features.

 

"My intentions are not as pure as you believe them to be Jedi. You should know better than to trust a snake."

 

He vaulted forward directly in front of Kirana, his wrist rotating at incredible speeds once more. He used a combination of his Iron Reaver wrist and normal lightsaber maneuvers to gradually push Kirana back. He was able to activate and deactivate the rotation with a mere thought. Her defensive style would not have lasted against his self-created random style if this had been an all out duel. He knew that in his heart. But he needed to show the Jedi. He needed to reveal to her just how pitiful she was. He flipped backward and deactivated his weapon. He knew she would not attack. She was defensive to the point of being ineffective. Garet concentrated summoning his strength. It took only a few seconds. He had used this maneuver only once before, in a duel with a long since dead Sith named Neo. They had only been training too.

 

But I never forget.

 

He reactivated his weapons, charging again. This time, he called upon the full rage he had been building up as they battled. The air was charged with dark side energy. Garet hated this Jedi and everything she stood for. His hate was physically manifested as his red eyes took on an even more sinister look. They burned with the fires of the underworld. They seemed to be glowing and growing larger. Like a serpent his eyes held Kirana's in a dark gaze as they let the Force guide their duel. Suddenly Kirana found herself slashing at an empty black cloak. Garet had used the dark side to create an illusion. Neo had been weaker and easier to fool. With Kirana, he had needed to distract her with a brand new hypnotic technique. He was excited to see it was successful.

 

The real Garet had somersaulted over Kirana, landing behind her as she slashed at the illusion. His lightsaber had long since been clipped against his belt. Garet's Iron Reaver gripped one side of Kirana's head, and his normal arm gripped the other. His claws dug into her scalp. If she was like every other Mirialan she would have extremely sensitive organs on their heads. His attack would be beyond painful, almost paralyzing to the Jedi. This Child of Light would be in unbelievable agony. How would she defend against this? There could be no defense without the use of the dark side. Garet found himself yelling at her, still in a rage. It was a stark contrast to the calm warrior she had encountered at the beginning of the duel.

 

"What do you do now Kirana? Do you think this is a game?"

 

He violently shook her head back and forth.

 

"This is a contest of wills. The only thing between you and blissful death is the word of My Master. You should feel grateful he sees some purpose to you being here. I think he wishes for you to join us. Therefore, if I can help him fulfill his wish, that is my only purpose in living. Give in to the anger you surely must feel now. Doesn't it upset you to realize I could kill you right now? Perhaps I will. You don't know for sure. How loyal is a Sith to his Master? Surely you know Sith history. Giving in to the rage is necessary to preserve your life. Could your Jedi friends really fault self-defense?"

 

Of course Garet would not kill her. He was a Serpent, not a Sith, and so he was completely loyal to his Master. Rocketblaze represented his whole purpose for existing in this world. But Kirana could not know that. He dug in deeper into the sensitive organs.

[Kirana Sunrider]

((OOC: It's ok, I went with it ))

 

IC:

 

Mentally she berated herself for her lapse, for not seeing through the illusion. How did I not take precautions?? The pain he now caused in the sensitive regions of her head caused the Mirialan to find it extremely difficult to focus through the agony he was causing. She did know he could very easily kill her now having found her weakness, one which she would definitely remedy if she got out of this mess she found herself in, and that as a Sith, he would possibly toy with his victim for a time before ”˜finishing the job'. That was, if she didn't come up with some way to get out of this quickly.

 

This wasn't supposed to be a duel to the death, so Kira had let some of her guards down, actually fool enough to trust that the words of the Serpent's Master would be followed. She clutched the hilt of her saber tightly in her hand, trying to reach a state where she could focus beyond the agonizing pain in her head.

 

She cried out for the Force, willing it to dull the pain he caused as he shook her like a rag doll. A scream escaped her, tears caused from the torture trickling down her face as she battled not only the pain, but the will to give in to the taunts. Each time his claws tightened sent a new level of suffering through her, a new level of anguish. Kira bit her lip to stop crying out, the tears now streaming down her face as he demanded she give in, that she give in to anger. That he intended to convert her she couldn't”¦ no wouldn't allow.

 

”œNo”¦ I'll ”¦ never”¦ join”¦ you”¦”

[Tashkri]

Standing in a secluded and shadowed corner, Tashkri stifles a laugh that would have been directed at the two combatants. After taking note of the Jedi's weakness, Tash had nearly started laughing when Garet had dropped the Jedi and clutched at his own head.

 

She probably just gave him some sort of mathematical equation to try and solve.

 

With the white of his teeth the only thing that could be seen through the shadows, Tashkri watched, waiting to see how it would end.

[Xentar Kentam]

Feeling somewhat refreshed, Xentar returned to the room where Rocketblaze waited for him. As the Archserpent had directed, he ordered a dish that he found somewhat appetizing at the moment and sat. He didn't say anything--he rarely did--only waited for his food to arrive.

[Garet Jax]

Garet fell to his knees in pain. The lightside burned his mind and weakened him. But as Garet had told Kirana many times, he was not dependent on the Force. He was not that strong of a Force-user, he knew a handful of tricks and relied on his extensive combat training. Garet spoke, still clutching his head recovering from the lingering attack.

 

"You may dispense with the pleasantries, they would not have been able to stop me."

 

Garet had felt the pain causing him to panic. If Kirana continued the assault, Garet would allow himself to slip in to his primal form. When Garet felt the bloodwrath, he could not control his actions. He was fully animal when he allowed his subconscious to take over.

 

"Do not do that again, or I will not be able to stop myself from killing you."

 

It was not an idle threat. In spite of the pain, Garet stood and ignited his lightsaber. His face was greener than it should have been, which would have been hard for a non-Doshan to notice. But she still would be able to sense that Garet had clearly been affected by Kirana's powers.

 

"If you will not turn, then admit you have lost. I could have killed you several times during the course of our battle. Admit the dark side his superior. Admit the truth."

[Kirana Sunrider]

The light energies that had flowed through her during the light assault had healed her face, though the scars would remain. Kira still breathing heavily as she gave her head a little shake to clear it. Her hand automatically gathered her own hilt once more, hearing and seeing his spring to life again. Even in that attempt to get him to release his grip on her, Kira had withheld the attack to only a relatively minor one, the amount of pain she'd been in had seen to that. Her head still throbbed and clearly she wished she had been more prepared for battle when she'd gone to the old ruins to meditate rather than only having her light weapons on her. If only she had placed on her usual weaponry and had not gone with the minimum. She'd have had her blasters, her grenades, even her armour which would have protected her sensitive head.

 

All in hindsight”¦ all in hindsight”¦

 

Because this had been a practice duel, a non-lethal duel, she hadn't been looking for his ”˜kill zones', if she had of, she could have done a hell of a lot more damage to him than she had not even attempted to do. She was a Jedi, and she was of the Light. She didn't look to end a life if she didn't have to, her job being to defend life, not destroy it.

 

”œThe Force just is, it isn't light or dark, it is how an individual uses and perceives the gifts they have been granted. Neither side is more powerful than the other. The only thing I will admit is that in your own eyes, you believe the dark side is superior. I will not admit to that as I do not believe that to be. My perception is that the Force just is.”

[Garet Jax]

Garet sat down again, clipping his saber back onto his belt. He was slowly recovering from her mental assault. This training session had certainly taken a dark turn. He now realized he'd lost a bit of self control at the end, but it had been for the Jedi's own good. Common sense was just as important as fighting skill. If she hadn't expected this to turn ugly, she deserved to lose, she deserved to die. Everything within him wanted to kill her, but he obeyed his Master. It was also true that something she said had struck a cord with him, calmed him down.

 

She's right about the Force. That's something Rocketblaze might say. My loyalty is to him, not to the dark side. If using Force for good made me better able to serve him, I'd do it. But that is not the case.

 

"Look, I could care less whether the dark side or light side are superior. I spoke in a moment of anger at your refusal to submit even in the face of death. I should have asked you to admit the Serpents were superior, that I am superior."

 

His voice had risen slightly in anger at the last comment. His skin returned to its normal color and his red eyes darkened once more. The dark side emanated from the Serpent Lord.

 

"I think you are weaker than you realize. A Doshan or a Sith have weaknesses, but Garet Jax does not. You are not a soldier anymore, you are a Jedi. However you feel about the Force, as a practical matter, the Jedi code makes them weak. A soldier that has no code has an inherent advantage. I believe with all of my soul that if we were fighting for real I would have crushed you. Why do you belong to the Jedi? I can understand if someone rejects the dark side, but that doesn't mean they have to embrace the Jedi."

 

At that moment, Garet's focus had shifted away from battle. He was weak in the Force, and so it was only just then that he sensed Tashkri. Garet hoped he'd gotten a good show.

[Kirana Sunrider]

Seeing him sit down, Kira's silver blade retracted into the hilt, soon being clipped to her belt as she sank down to a sitting position herself. Her breathing still labored, her head still pounding. As he spoke again, she continued to focus energies on relieving her pain, controlling her breathing. Her vivid blue eyes met with his,

 

"You are one that seeks power. I am not. I use my gifts to aid those that can't defend themselves, the innocent. You say the Serpents are different from the Sith, but do you stop the Sith from mindless killing? Or do you join them in their genocides and massacres?"

 

She had felt the deaths in the force, heard millions of voices crying out as their lives ended. Just where they were though she had been unable to ascertain. While she was here there was no way she could find out, unless they knew of which planet the sith had attacked. She was just one though, it would take many to bring justice to those that had been killed mindlessly.

 

She sat quietly, calmly, waiting for his response, still ready for anything.

[Garet Jax]

Garet looked upon her with pity. She was so brainwashed by her Jedi teachings that she could not see reality. The Serpent Lord spoke, disgust thick in his voice,

 

"I have killed more Sith than Jedi, that should tell you something. But yes, on occasion we have given aid to the Sith. Do not think I take pleasure in these actions. I do as my Master commands. I do not seek power for my own sake, but I do seek it in the service of Rocketblaze."

 

The urge to slay her was still strong, but Garet was slowly controlling his instincts. This battle had increased his hate for Jedi exponentially. Kirana wasn't doing a very good job of convincing anyone that the Jedi were a better path.

 

"You still have no answered my question. Why follow the Jedi code? Surely you could do more for the galaxy if you were not bound by its rules."

[Kirana Sunrider]

"I don't know much about the Serpents. Only what Rocketblaze told me, basically that the Serpents were different from the Sith by embracing the darkside instead of just using it, something about the next level. I'd not even heard about your Order before now, so how would I know if you'd killed more Sith than you had Jedi?”

[Garet Jax]

Garet was surprised she was so forthcoming with knowledge about the Jedi Order. Especially since she was a captive here. Garet knew that Rocketblaze may very well let her go, that was his way. But she surely thought that her chances of escaping alive were minimal, not knowing much of his Master. It seemed to him unwise to share such knowledge with enemies of the Order.

 

Whatever her motivations, this knowledge intrigues me.

 

It interested him for more than just intelligence about the Jedi. He was always interested in finding out knew ways to think about the Force, new ways to fight. Garet was willing to use any combat knowledge he came across.

 

Another difference between the Jedi and myself.

 

He thought about the code she had related to him. Some of them seemed foolish, such as never attacking others or becoming guardians of peace. But he also valued life, at least non-sentient life, he was always interested in improving himself, and he was subservient, not to the people, but to his Master. He could see some similarities at least.

 

"I became a Serpent because it was my Master's desire. Rocketblaze brought me out of ignorance and granted me the ability to become the warrior I desired to be. When he proposed splintering from the Sith, it was only natural that I follow him. I prefer to bind myself to a person, not an arbitrary code."

 

Those words were truthful. Garet could not follow a set of ideals, but he could follow his Master. He could follow someone with greater vision. He was the fang of the Serpent, and Rocketblaze was the mind.

 

"But I do not see how that is any different from what the Sith claim to do. Some realize what they do is selfish. But others certainly believe they are doing what is best for the galaxy. Some of the most self-delusional Sith would suggest they follow those exact same set of rules. How can I be certain you Jedi are not just as self-delusional? Who is to say your method of protecting the people is any better than theirs?"

 

He knew deep down it was better of course, but he also believed she would not be able to tell him why. There was no objective reason.

[Kirana Sunrider]

Kira had only mentioned what was common knowledge or becoming common knowledge to the public. If she could enlighten them that the Order was changing”¦ for the better”¦ Rocketblaze had said he started off at the Jedi Academy years ago. He had said to act as she would a new comer to the force”¦ what she had described had been along those lines with only general information that anyone could find out. She hadn't named names, nor would she, likewise regarding locations. Not that there weren't any that the sith hadn't already found out about with maybe the exception of one or two. That would remain secret as it was the easiest one to hide.

 

She listened intently to what he had to say regarding the Serpents, finding it interesting though she much preferred her own chosen path”¦ that of the Light.

 

”œI would say it is a lot different. The sith kill whole populations, wipe them out. You can't tell me that is good for the galaxy. All of the lives killed for no good reason other than a persons insane glory for power, battle and death.”

[Rocketblaze]

((OOC: Sorry it's taken me so long to post. The 'get a new car' thing kept me busy all week.))

 

IC:

 

Rocketblaze finished his meal and observed the dish Xentar had ordered. As the man across from him began to eat, the Archserpent considered him to be real for the first time.

 

"Why have you actually come here? What about the Serpent Order appeals to you?"

 

He got up from the table and started to walk around in the dining area. Rocketblaze was looking for filth, but there was none to be found. The cleaner bots had kept the compound spotless in their absence to the Chaos battle.

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar considered the question for a moment and chewed thoughtfully. Swallowing, he spoke. "A year or so ago, I exiled myself from the Sith temporarily. I sat aboard my ship in the middle of nowhere, where no one would ever find me. I kept myself in a constant state of pain and deep in meditation and thought.

 

"This went on for two months, and I survived off of very little, only the rations that I had brought with me. But due to my contemplations, I realized that there was, perhaps, another way to access the Force other than the Dark Side's anger and aggression.

 

"I could never give up the Dark Side altogether, but I had heard about how the Serpents treaded the line between darkness and the way that Jedi access the Force with ease and precision. I heard that they had more freedom about how they accessed the Force and what they did with it--both the Jedi and the Sith are dogmatic in their teachings."

 

Xentar paused. There was no point in withholding the other reason he had sought the Serpents out. "Additionally, I was slain on Coruscant by a Jedi after taking another one's life. I have slain four Jedi now, but my defeat showed me that I was not pursuing the path that I should.

 

"My lightsaber and the armor that I wore were taken by the Jedi that defeated me. I have no need for armor anymore, and I have not rebuilt my lightsaber. The previous time that I attempted to join the Serpent order, one called Yahn grew angry at me and nearly killed me without using a lightsaber. He imparted upon me that a Serpent did not need a lightsaber or protective armor, that one could fight only with the Force."

 

Though his purpose was, quite possibly, clear, Xentar put it into words. "I fought one of your members, Moric Thian, and he used advanced pyromancy to bring our fight to an end. I wish to be able to continue to fight not only without drawing on only the Dark Side, but without a lightsaber or protective armor. I wish to be able to fight with the Force and this pyromancy."

[Garet Jax]

Garet was curious as to whether Tashkri would show himself as well. The Doshan was not good at this sort of thing. He wasn't stupid, but he wasn't verbally gifted either. Tashkri was. Nevertheless Garet wasn't one to back down. He wanted to make it clear that Kirana lived in a universe that did not really exist. Like all Jedi, and most Sith, she was living in a dream world.

 

Protecting the innocent is something I have no interest in doing, I have to admit that. But I don't go out targeting the innocent either. I fight those who are capable of fighting. And I have not yet encountered a Jedi who as innocent.

 

The Serpent Lord spoke,

 

"I am not here to represent the Sith. I represent the Serpents. We may have helped them from time to time, but never have we aided them in the destruction of entire worlds. My Master has his reasons for our alliance, but do not think we are not an autonomous group."

 

Garet lifted his hands, gesturing to the walls surrounding them,

 

"Look at Chandrila. Do the local populace even know we are here? Have any of our warriors ever killed a native to this planet? The answer is no. Not a single resident here has died at a Serpent hand. A Sith would have conquered and enslaved this planet. A Jedi would have attracted Sith here trying to "protect" the people. But we live in harmony with Chandrila because we do not care. There was a time when Rocketblaze had disappeared and Cineon Yahn had taken control of the Serpents, that he tried to lead us down a path of destruction. The Serpents are not Sith, we are merely allied with them."

 

Garet patted the saber at his side.

 

"Trust me, Cineon was not leader for very long. The Serpents, including myself, kill without remorse. But we do not slaughter the innocent for our amusement. I kill only those that are able to defend themselves, like yourself for example. That is where I find my amusement. I would hardly consider you innocent. The Jedi have to make as many morally ambiguous decisions as we do, they cannot be considered truly innocent."

 

Garet fully believed the words he spoke. He was not employing Sith lies. Garet believed himself to be imparting fundamental truths upon this naive Jedi.

 

"Those decisions are much easier to make when one does not have morals to begin with. I do not believe we are doing any great service to the galaxy, but I don't believe the Jedi are either. The war between the Jedi and the Sith has caused the death of countless innocents. I would argue that the guilt for these losses is shared between them equally. At least the Sith admit they are a poison spreading through this galaxy. The Jedi are no better from where I'm sitting. I'm sure the innocents you speak of, caught in the crossfire of the long history of Jedi and Sith hatred, would say the same."

 

Garet fully realized he despised the Jedi as much as any Sith. But the Serpents did not actively seek to make war with the Jedi. Garet may have killed Jedi on an individual level, but that was not the sort of large scale legacy of destruction he was talking about.

[Moric Thian]

Plumes of fire and smoke filled the night as they engulfed yet another pathetic piece of prey. The creature had no chance to act before the fires swallowed him whole. There were two remaining.

 

The first creature as if filled with new resolve increased its speed, only moments from tearing Moric's flesh apart. The Serpent had different plans however. Keeping the flames pouring from his hand, Moric slashed horizontally across his waist, seeping flames into the evergreen grasses below. A wall of fire was born as a result, spreading with uncontrollable force. The ravenous animal had no choice but to stop before meeting the same fate as his brother. Moric had to use this to his advantage. He backed flipped through the flames, letting their heat rub against his skin. The fact that he was immune to all stages of fire kept him from being burnt alive right there on the spot. Dead leaves crunched under heavy boots as the Serpent Lord landed hard on the ground.

 

Hesitation was not present as a crimson beam of light sprang out of nowhere, nestling itself in Moric's palm. Small jets of gas and heat jetted off the surface like spicules from the sun. It was no lightsaber, but a sword bathed in fire.

 

The weapon seeped its flames into the back of the animal, burning its flesh to cinders. The creature yelped in pain as it died. Moric released his hold on the flame sword and let it dissipate into the night sky. A small plum of fire could be seen from the Serpent camp if anyone were to be looking from that direction.

 

Quickly, the Force rushed to Moric, heeding its master's call. Winds gusted from the palms of the Serpent working to extinguish the growing flames. They had done little damage to the surrounding forest.

 

The human amid the animals turned to face the last remaining beast. It seemed to be weighing its own options if that were possible. Considering what he did to its brethren, Moric didn't blame it. But on this last creature, there would be no fire, or lightsabers, or mind tricks. The Force had no place in this fight.

 

Moric seemed to lose all sense of thought as he circled the remaining creature. The eyes and mouth of the beast only seemed to illustrate one thing, death. The Serpent did his best to emulate the facial features of the creatures to the best that human contours would allow. He dropped himself into an almost beast like reverie as he snarled and tore bits of oxygen out of the air as if by force. And then out of nowhere, he pounced.

[Rocketblaze]

Rocketblaze was satisfied beyond expectation with the reply he had received.

 

"Go to where you would like to begin your training and call for me. I'll know when you're ready."

 

The Archserpent left the dining hall for his room. The subtle chamber was a welcome sight. He rested on his bed, thinking of how to improve the compound. It would be time for an overhaul soon, but first there was Xentar and Kira to attend to.

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar found it curious how this Archserpent seemed to constantly delay and stall. When he was obviously prepared for training, the Serpent told him to find a place to begin and call for him. When he was quite capable of going without a change of clothes and a meal, the Serpent told him to take his time, change, eat, and then worry about what was next.

 

He wouldn't say anything, and didn't find it annoying, but there was curiosity in analyzing it. Would this man be equally slow to action when something important happened? Or were his finest moments as a leader those in which quick action was required? Was this a test to see if Xentar was to get impatient? Or were they already past such tests as those?

 

These questions would all be answered in observation, Kentam decided. He would accept the Archserpent's trait as the hospitality that could be divined from it. He was more comfortable now than he had been when he arrived, and he liked the idea of picking his own place to begin training--every Sith had preferences on where they liked tapping into the Dark Side the most.

 

The new Serpent Lord walked off into the depths of the compound. The layout of this particular building wasn't too unfamiliar--many buildings followed the same general layout and this was no different. Xentar headed for the training rooms. But when he reached them, he continued past them, looking for something a little older and less pristine.

 

This will do, he thought as he entered what appeared to be a small, worn armory with simple and martial weapons the kind that had not been used for many millenia in actual combat. Some orders and beings could still find that simple swordplay and the swinging of a halberd could be the best path to discipline and skill, something Xentar agreed with. It wasn't all that uncommon.

 

I'm ready.

[Tashkri]

((All in good time. ))

 

 

Tashkri finally decided that it was time for him to enter the conversation. With every step he took forward, the shadows expanded from the corner, keeping the Serpent bathed in darkness. By the time that he reached Garet and Kirana, the entire room had become nearly as dark as night.

 

In an instant, the Serpent and the Jedi were blinded as light rushed back into the room. Standing no more than one foot away from them was Tashkri, who was wearing a rather large grin.

 

"I'd have to say that is a pretty good gift to get for participating in a blood bath."

 

That comment had been directed at Garet, who knew exactly what his comrade was talking about. However, the only purpose it had served for the Jedi was to make her hate them even more.

 

"Garet, for all the lack of gray material inside his skull, has been doing a very good job of explaining who we are and why we're here."

 

Tashkri took a quick second to gather his thoughts, as it was now his turn in the verbal sparring ring with Kirana.

 

"Garet spoke true when he said that we are no longer Sith. We started our training with them, but now we are solely Serpents. The Sith and the Jedi seek to bring an absolute to the galaxy, either peace or chaos. We, the Serpents, seek power through knowledge. We have not saught active war against anybody. As Garet said, those who live on this planet do not even know that we are here. We do not try to dominate the galaxy as the Sith do, nor do we attempt to unite it as your Jedi brethren try to."

 

Spreading out his hands, Tashkri called upon the powers of the Force. In his right hand, a flaming serpent appeared in his palm. In the other, Tashkri summoned his control of the shadows, shrouding his entire fist in darkness.

 

"We are not an army. The Serpents seek to better ourselves, make ourselves stronger. We have alliances because it is necessary, not because we want to have them. Our group does not have the manpower or the resources to operate entirely autonomously. Currently, the snake which represents the Serpents is comprised of Rocketblaze, Garet, and myself. Rocketblaze is the mind of the Serpents, Garet is its fangs, and I am the venom within those fangs. Moric will soon come into his full power, but he still has some training to do."

 

Extinguishing his displays of power, Tashkri returned his hands to his side.

 

"I heard you explain why you are with the Jedi. You wish to protect people from those who wish them injury and death. We do not go out of our way to kill, however, if somebody gets in our way, we will not hesitate. If you show mercy to your opponent, they will just use the advantage that you provided to strike you down. If you defeat an opponent, you don't give them a chance to attack you when you turn your back, you finish the fight. You say that you used to be a soldier. Soldiers have one job, killing people. Now you say that every life is precious. From your words, it is easy to see you have no love for the Sith. Do they deserve another chance? Would you not destroy them if you had the chance? So, are you being a hypocrite, or is there something you're trying to either hide from yourself or hide from us?"

[Kirana Sunrider]

”œNo one is ever truly innocent.”

[Garet Jax]

Garet shielded his eyes from the blinding light. Tashkri was always one for theatrics. He also knew that as a Doshan Garet was even more sensitive to light than Kirana. That was probably why he'd done it, to cause Garet extra pain. There was certainly no love lost between the Serpents, but they each knew their place. The last time they'd truly fought each had left with a respect for his opponent, even if they didn't like each other.

 

Well, Tashkri can show off and insult me all he likes. As long as he gives me a hand with this Jedi.

 

Garet listened to each of them. He knew what gift Tashkri referenced. Garet shared Tashkri's admiration of the Iron Reaver, although he couldn't quite be sure Tashkri wasn't being sarcastic. He wondered what Tashkri had been given.

 

I know he outlasted me, it must have been special.

 

Garet rubbed the pain out of his eyes as he continued to hear their words. Tashkri definitely summed up their Order much better than he had. But Kirana's reply, soaked in self-pity was still just as annoying as what she'd been spouting to Garet alone. The Serpent Lord knew Tashkri would have something long-winded to say, so Garet broken in immediately pointing out the obvious answer to her words.

 

"First of all, there is a contradiction in what you have just said. When you spare the lives of your enemies, it is isn't only you that you place in further danger. What about all the people they will harm in the future? That's one of my problems with the Jedi. They are more concerned with their own set of morals, and fail to see anything that is beyond. You may not follow the exact code that the Jedi used to, but as I see it, the result is the same. I killed Cineon, and although I don't really care, I'm sure that saved many more lives than you would have if you'd have spared him."

 

Garet watched her face carefully to see if his words had their intended affect.

 

"The simple answer to your question is to disband the Jedi altogether. If they are so hunted, perhaps their existence is causing more harm to the galaxy than good. But once again, the Jedi place their own existence above the needs of others. Sometimes it seems as if the Jedi and the Sith are quite similar. This is why we have chosen another way."

 

He fell silent, waiting for Tashkri to go into a ten hour speech.

[Kirana Sunrider]

Kira shook her head, it seemed just a waste of her time being here... again she wondered just why she had been brought here if everything she said would be twisted and used against herself and the Order she belonged to... not to enlighten them at all.

 

"Why kill someone who is just going to clone themselves to return anyway, and have them more vindictive than they were because they had been killed by someone?"

 

She had known of other Jedi that had killed their opponants, just to have that opponant show up again more vicious than they had been previously. She had at least taken the sith she'd fought out of a particular battle. She'd had nothing to gain by killing him, but again, because she hadn't she'd gained another enemy. She was damned if she did, and damned if she didn't. It was a no win situation.

 

"You would love the Jedi to disband wouldn't you."

 

It was a statement rather than a question.

 

"So they could be hunted down as individuals rather than in a group? Anyone with the title Jedi, or if they were light sided would be hunted by your dark side counterparts no matter what they did or where they went."

 

Unspoken she was sure that these would hunt them too given half the chance and given how their duel had gone.

[Rocketblaze]

Rocketblaze entered the room after a couple minutes. He picked up a throwing dagger. They were not his best, but he was familiar enough with them to cause damage.

 

"Evade the weapon without touching it."

 

With that, the Archserpent hurled the dagger at his new apprentice.

[Xentar Kentam]

Without using the Force (except for the passive, brief precognition that he could not easily suppress), Xentar leaned backwards and brought his right shoulder down and back. The blade, spinning with deadly speed, narrowly avoided his shoulder and clattered back against the wall.

 

Xentar straightened back to his full height, a large six foot seven inches. He said nothing, only waited for further instruction.

[Moric Thian]

Blood splattered the ground as Moric's wound burst open from the massive claws the beast had implanted in his leg. The creature continued to bite at his neck, rushing those massive teeth at him like cat looking for a particular tasty mouse. Yet the rage the creature was emanating could nowhere near match the vicious frenzy that had possessed Moric. It was as if his blood spilling on the ground had no effect on him at all. His mind couldn't even register the fact that he was in pain. He was nothing more than an animal amidst the hunt.

 

With a swift slash from his hands, the animal's face lurched backwards. It wasn't so much the fingernails but the blunt force of the blow that had done the damage. Letting instinct drive him, the now feral Serpent Lord dug his mouth into the neck of his adversary. The thick bed of hair acted as a nice shield from the rather bluntness of Moric's teeth, but he didn't care. He continued to tare and rip forward, momentary grunts and roars escaping his lips. Yet his noises couldn't really be interpreted as anything considering his nose was buried in the fur of an increasingly agitated animal.

 

Yet that agitation soon diminished as blood began to seep into the ground from the creatures neck, mixing with that of Moric's to great a hybrid liquid illustrating the primitive carnage that escalated from just a simple training hunt. Yet Moric did not stop there, he continued to press his advantage. The animal tried to bat the Serpent away, yet every time it tried; it either lost its balance or missed. The Serpent had turned to an extra lethal leech.

 

Moric broke from his deadly bit and rolled backwards. If surprise were possible on an animals face, it would be shinning like the great beacon of defeat it was. The Serpent's leg was beginning to close, invisible stitches lasing themselves around his punctured leg. A moment later, the wound was completely gone.

 

Vampiric healing; the gift he had received during the chaos god situation. Whenever Moric caused any type of damage, that would instantly act as a healing solvent for himself. The human smirked as he watched the animal's efforts wash away in vain.

 

Moric pounced again, throwing all his strength into it this time. He connected with the hairy side and immediately knocked it backwards, onto its back. Moric sat atop it raining blow after blow on the anima's skull. It was a nice little trick he had learned from Phillep back on Malturous. With each blow Moric launched, small scratches and scraps disappeared on his own body. Blood now began to splash into the air as the animal's skull began to crumble under the insurmountable force Moric was enveloping on his foe. Within moments, life seemed to slip away as the bear-like alien breathed its last. Moric rolled off his hairy mount and on the blood stricken ground, breathing heavily. If only vampiric healing worked on the fatigue too.

 

After a few moments to catch his breath, the hunter composed himself and made his way back to the Serpent compound. It was a bit of a relief to be back in any form of civilization. He had almost lost himself out there. He would have to be more careful next time.

[Rocketblaze]

The Archserpent reassumed control of the dagger, now by way of the Force. It flew upward from the ground toward the backside of Xentar's spine.

[Xentar Kentam]

A moment's precognition warned Xentar of the second attack, but he was not fast enough to avoid it. The dagger embedded itself in the Sith Lord's back and he experienced for hardly the first time a sharp, deep pain. He did not cry out, nor did he even flinch. He straightened and pulled the weapon out of his flesh.

 

It was covered with his own blood, but he appeared undaunted. He was used to pain. Gripping the weapon, he hurled it back at the Archserpent angrily, letting his emotion turn to Dark Side energy and empower his throw with speed and precision.

 

That second attack was uncalled for and useless, Xentar thought, unsure of the Serpent's intent.

[Moric Thian]

The grass folded under the feet of a fatigued Serpent Lord slowly meandered his way to the Serpent compound. His mind began to recollect the events before his feral encounters with the wild animals. Had Xentar arrived yet? Before he could think more on the matter, another thought pushed its way into his head.

 

There was a Jedi somewhere. Curiosity drove Moric towards the room where the Force dictated the light was. It seemed a small party was in progress as Kira, Garet, and Tashkri were all together, seeming to be debating rather emotionally. The last thing Moric wanted to deal with was more tension.

 

"Hey everyone. Has the Jedi killed you yet?" The Serpent Lord usually carried himself in more of a respectful manner, yet after ripping something apart with his teeth, that wasn't exactly number one on his priority list.

[Kirana Sunrider]

She took in the bloodied appearance of the one that just came in... the one that had been introduced as Moric. Kira inwardly groaned. Now what? She was feeling the extreme urge to get back to her own people, wanting to get away from all these darksiders. She would need some meditating and discussions with her fellow lightsiders after she got away from here. The need to be fully immersed in the light again... away from all of this darkness. She refused to be turned to their ways, but they were beginning to make her question herself... her own beliefs. If it came to it, she would call on a friend to aid in getting her out of here.

 

That Moric tried for levity in his comment did ease the tension somewhat, but Kira was still on edge. She was surrounded by the darksiders, even if they were Serpents, not Sith. Mentally she gathered the Force to her mind, surrounding herself with it in an effort to relax, to not be influenced by their attempts to convert her. She would not betray her own, she would remain loyal to the Light no matter what cost, including if she had to take it with her to her death. Within her mind she built up a barrier, surrounding herself in the light that she clung to. Kira had one bond open, one she could reach out to if need be... two if it came to it... though the main one... with Locke, still remained steadfastly closed. She also had another means of contacting her friend that they wouldn't be aware of. She had that hope at least...

[Tashkri]

((Thanks for waiting for me G. BTW, the gift was the shadow control.))

 

 

"No killing has happened in here, but apparently you've been doing some of your own. Go clean yourself up, and then you can come back and talk."

 

As Moric went off to clean off the blood, Tashkri returned to the debate that was already underway.

 

"I don't necessarily agree with my scaled friend here. The way I see it, your Jedi have three options. First, they can take the coward's way. They can disband, run off to the far reaches off the galaxy, and wait for the Sith to hunt them down. The second is where the Jedi appear to disband to the public. Your leaders would send out small groups of fighters and diplomats to different systems. From there, if you are strong enough, you can collapse the Sith's empire from the inside by inciting rebellions throughout the galaxy."

 

Tashkri wasn't one hundred percent sure of the second option working, but he made it sound plausible anyways.

 

"For this final option, you might think that it'll go against your Code. Specifically, the part about never attacking others. Yet I think that it still fits, not in some abstract form, but in the very first line of this new Code. 'Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.' This line sums up the entire Jedi way of life, does it not? Then in order to guard peace, you must destroy the chaos that disrupts your peace. The Jedi need to gather a force large enough to sweep through the galaxy and crush the Sith. Some systems will despise and detest you, but others will see you as saviors. The only one true way that the Jedi can live somewhat at peace is if they destroy their enemies. In a battle, the one who will only defend will eventually fall. If they do not even try to strike their opponent down, then they will lose the fight. The Jedi are acting like a pet that has been struck over and over again. You are hiding in a corner, cowering, waiting for the next blow to come. In order to stop the blows from coming, you must strike back. Show them that you are willing to stand up for your beliefs."

 

Finally taking a break, Tashkri licked his lips, as they had dried out during his speech. He then waited to hear the Jedi's reaction to his theories.

 

 

((I know it's a lot of talking, but, hey, Garet said I was going to give a ten hour speech. ))