Chandrila

[Rocketblaze]

Rocketblaze quickly influenced the gravity between himself and Xentar. Having been prepared for an act of retalliation, the Archserpent forced gravity along a lateral line, sending the dagger's hilt into the head of his apprentice. The blow knocked him off of his feet, but was not of such a force to send him unconscious.

 

"Have a bacta bath and come back. You can then justify yourself in your actions and learn a better way."

 

Rocketblaze then started sorting through the cache of weaponry around him.

[Xentar Kentam]

OOC: Just a reminder, RB, Xentar may be new to the Serpents, but he is not an apprentice. He is close to being eligible for Sith Master among the Sith...he's not inept.

 

IC:

Xentar, stunned, sat up, pulling his back off the ground. He had been admittantly unprepared for the swift counter of his retaliation, and frustration welled up in him for a moment before he let it out and stood. He was here to learn, not subject everything else to his own will.

 

Standing, the Sith Lord shook his head. "I don't need any bacta," he said. "The wounds you have inflicted upon me are minor and I can ignore them. I am here to be taught the ways of the Serpents, and yet you call for breaks as if I were physically the equivalent of a child. Teach me, that I may learn, and stall no longer."

 

It was a little bold and perhaps a little foolish, but Xentar was determined to move the training forward out of the tiny opening stages which had laster hours already.

[Rocketblaze]

Xentar had made a potentially fatal mistake. He thought that he was entitled to something. Rocketblaze decided to make it clear to the foolish man that the Sith always failed in the end for a reason. The Archserpent surged forward in a torrent of power, knocking Xentar off balance. He was then behind Xentar in nearly an instant. The Archserpent grabbed onto Xentar's head, flowing the body of his apprentice over his own with a distinct crack entering the air. When Xentar was done bouncing to the floor, Rocketblaze enlightened him.

 

"Your neck is broken. I used the Force, but not the dark side. That is what makes the Serpents superior. In time you can learn this, but for now all you can do is blink. If you would like to be healed and continue to learn, then blink in rapid succession. But know this: My demeanor is light, but my intent is passionate. If you ever cross my authority again, I will kill you."

 

The Serpent Master watched the eyes of Xentar for emotion and set his hand over the wrist link on his right arm, ready to call droids for emergency surgery. He was impressed with the ability of the malcontent Sith that had come to him, but breaking the headstrong attitude gained in the Sith Order was proving to be a daunting task.

[Kirana Sunrider]

Kira kept her face neutral as Moric was told to go clean himself up, turning again to face Tashkri as he spoke again.

 

"You will probably be surprised that we had at one point had those amongst our number that did go on the offensive. Let us just say that it wasn't a viable option."

 

Kira didn't want to go into any of the details. She had no reason to. It would be giving away information she wasn't willing to let known. Just like her opinions of one of his suggestions weren't going to become known.

 

"If you're so intent on giving suggestions, would your Order be willing to aid the Jedi?"

 

She threw the question out, interested to see how he would answer it, if he would prove her suspicions wrong. Her eyes going from one to the other, quite sure she knew the answer before it was given, she'd be very surprised if they did prove her wrong.

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar hesitated. He did not fear death, but he did not wish to stoop to the demands of this man, however powerful. Begrudgingly, he did as he was told, blinking his eyes. It would be foolish to die here, and he would simply have to resign himself to some indignities in order to pursue the goal that he had set out for.

[Rocketblaze]

Rocketblaze commanded the droids to restore Xentar to his maximum health. It was done. First the droids scanned his body to find his wounds minimal, save his neck. He was lifted and moved onto a table that was taken down the hall into a small infirmary. The Serpent compound was equipped with multiple sick rooms, opting for comfort over the efficiency of a single sick bay.

 

Xentar was put unconscious before having his neck repaired. As the droids buzzed about the room, Rocketblaze watch the unmoving form of his new apprentice. The Archserpent thought of the progress that Xentar had made already, even if he had not realized it himself.

 

More material was taken in and out of the room, but before long it was done. Xentar was hooked up to a respirator and bathed in bacta. Rocketblaze gave instructions to the chief medical droid and left the room, headed for his own. A decision had been made in his mind to change rooms. He decided to keep the alchemic supplies in his current room, opting to change it into a large storage closet. His personal affects were taken from the room and combined with the items that he had brought with him from Neo-Mid.

 

"It's time that I revisit my past to embrace my future. I can thank Xentar for that realization."

 

The Sith behaviors that Xentar had carried were all too familiar to Rocketblaze. He was finally ready to embrace what he was before in opposition to what he had become. So to honor his acceptance of self, the Archserpent made his way into the largest personal room that he had constructed. It was waiting for him since the creation of the compound, a complete replica of his former residence with changes made only in light of his growth.

 

After the stunning golden lighting had flooded the room, he looked down on the velvet carpet. Red with vines of golden color dashing across its surface, the floor was a sight in its own. Then looking upward he caught sight of the bed. It carried the same golden vines, but had a base of black that ran to the gorgeous piped headboard. Soft golden walls wrapped up the room, making breaks for his private restroom and main door only. Rocketblaze was truly home.

 

A datacube with an order was sent to Xentar's room, calling for his appearance in the new Archserpent Rocketblaze Suite upon his awakening. In the meantime Rocketblaze sat next to his bed in a black chair, running his fingers along golden vines and sipping at a fine, light wine in honor of a special lady from his past days.

[Moric Thian]

Moric grudgingly left the room silently muttering to himself. Apparently a dabate can't take place about the values of the galaxay when a participant was covered in blood. The voices of the Serpents seemed rather agitated at this point while the Jedi still seemed calm and collected. She was probably used to these kinds of situations. All the Jedi did was talk about their holy mission to rid the galaxy of all "evil."

 

The youngest, yet still experienced, Serpent Lord contemplated this as he slid his bloody garments off. The cool air of the Serpent compoud felt nice against his bare skin as he stood in the shower. The water streemed down his body washing old blood stains away.

 

After a few minutes, Moric emerged with a fresh set of robes donned upon his body. Still in need of entertainment, he set off towards his earlier position amid the backround of the debate. He needed to relax after his grueling session in the forrest. This time he kept his mouth shut, checking on the current progress of the conversation. He was going to add something serious this time around.

[Garet Jax]

((Cool gift))

 

Garet listened to Tashkri's long-winded explanation. He couldn't deny the man had a gift for speech. One had to when they were less endowed in the strength and speed departments. Despite their various draws in their previous battles, Garet stubbornly believed himself to be superior. Tashkri just rubbed him the wrong way. He turned his ire toward Kirana speaking sharply,

 

"That is up to Rocketblaze. He would consider anything that advanced his goals."

 

Garet would rather gouge his eyes out then help Jedi. He was confident Rocketblaze felt the same. But he wasn't sure, and in the end he would do as his Master wished. Garet stretched his legs out, his red eyes narrowed in annoyance.

 

"You're trying to dodge the subject here. From our perspective, the Jedi and Sith are both useless. We have a tendency to favor the latter when it suits our purposes, but we have no use for either group. As I told you, I've killed more Sith then Jedi."

 

Garet grinned at those fond memories.

 

"The point is that the Jedi do more damage than good. At least most Sith admit they are a destructive force. When I said the Jedi should disband, it wasn't because I wished to take over the galaxy in their absence. For all I care, the Jedi could form a new group or join ours. The problem is that Jedi ideals are as harmful as the ideals of the Sith. They should disband for the sake of the galaxy if they are unwilling to give up their self-righteous beliefs."

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar's eyes popped open and he gazed through the murky bacta that he was submerged within. This was not a new experience to him, but he was slightly annoyed that they had been sure he was unconcious before operating. It wasn't a big deal, he realized, trying to adopt the sort of passive emotions of the Serpents that he perceived through their leader. This Rocketblaze seemed to not harbor many emotions, and even anger had been little displayed.

 

Frankly, Kentam could live with that as long as he could still access the Force in full. Presently, it was his passion for power and his anger against those who were self-righteous that fed him. He had slaughtered four Jedi Knights with that power, though he was by no means all-powerful just yet. It seemed, however, that a combination of Force access techniques, neither the dogmatic view of the Jedi nor the narrow view of the Sith, would yield what he sought.

 

The former Sith Lord emerged from the bacta tank fully healed and feeling better than he had in some time--it seemed he was always carrying an old or fresh wound. He allowed himself to enjoy feeling good for a moment, rather than being annoyed that he could feel no pain. He clothed himself in a black robe, his only possession, and found a datacube instructing him to find the Archserpent's suite for continued instruction.

 

Now that he was starting to understand the Serpent take on the Force, he felt confident that training in their ways would move forward. That is, he would not resist it as he had been, and opting to receive instruction in something often required that one let go of their former teachings. While he was by no means going to let go of who he was, he would be open-minded towards advancing himself in whatever means were necessary. If he ended up a changed man, so be it--he would have more power.

 

Xentar put on some boots and gloves and navigated the halls towards the suite, taking in his environment as he did so. The Force--both sides of it--was surrounding him, and he breathed it in and expelled it with satisfaction.

 

After a few minutes, he reached Rocketblaze's suite, knocked, and entered.

[Kirana Sunrider]

"The maybe I should be speaking to Rocketblaze instead of you about these matters then."

 

She stood from where she had been sitting and stretching. It had been a long time since she'd had refreshment of any kind.

 

"From what I was led to believe by him, I am not a prisoner here. So if you will excuse me I am going to go and have something to eat and drink."

 

She moved past the Serpents in the room, politely inclining her head before she exited the training room. What had started out as a solo training session with remotes, it had soon become a full on battle against one of them, then an interrogation by all of them. She would also need to borrow a change of clothes if she were to remain here much longer. She had been cleaning her clothing and having them dry overnight so they would be fresh for the next day. It was difficult with only the one set of clothing. Again she wondered why she was here.

 

Kira entered the dining hall, moving down to make her selection from the cook's displayed list. She chose simply, a sandwich and a glass of a nutritional juice. If the others wished to continue their interrogation, it would be here in the open, not in the training room where she was surrounded by them.

[Rocketblaze]

A slight motion from his hand sent a glass of the wine to Xentar. Rocketblaze swelled as he made a toast.

 

"To your liberation."

 

The Archserpent downed the last of his drink, then stood, ready for the fun to begin.

 

"You have come to terms with your own self. In refuting death at the cost of pride, I hope you can now see that there is no such thing as pride. There is only honor."

 

He had been thinking ahead as he waited, now sure of what should be done.

 

"Xentar, make yourself a new weapon. This planet is plentiful in supplies. Some are here, some in the ground, while others are available in the city that lies two days in the distance. Forge your new weapon in the way you did as a Sith, but now grant it the strength of your true self. Report to me when it has been completed and we will then begin to mix philosophy with physical ability."

 

Rocketblaze escorted his apprentice out of his room before turning to find the Jedi. After feeling out the unique presence that she held in the compound, he sat down across from her.

 

"Kirana, I trust that you are about fed up with this planet and those around you... So now, as you take a break from them all to enjoy a meal and reflect on your thoughts, I give you the opportunity to express yourself exclusively to me. Anything you want to say, I'd like to hear."

 

The Archserpent kept his composure in the most sincere look that he could. He feared that the Jedi would get involved in a debate rape and hoped that she would still be open to him. At the very least, he hoped that she would vent her frustration.

[Kirana Sunrider]

Kira looked up as Rocketblaze approached, her gaze a little on the wary side as if expecting the third degree again. He seemed to have her thoughts picked... either that or he knew his own people so well as to know they had been giving her a hard time.

 

"Some of your people are like dogs with a bone... one in particular seems to have it in his head that I am here for conversion. I can tell you now that if that is the goal, you are wasting your time."

 

Nor am I their 'plaything'.

 

"So tell me. Why did you bring me here, telling me that I was here to enlighten your people with regards to the Light side of the Force when they are so set in their ways? I will not be used as a 'training implement' for them to use against the Jedi."

 

She had only tried to enlighten them, get them to see the Jedi side. But they had their own views on that. While she respected each to their own views, when they began to make her question herself, her own beliefs, she knew she'd had enough. Kira needed to be with her own people, with Lightsiders that wouldn't be making her question herself constantly.

 

"Garet fights well, though loses his temper, Tashkri has the gift of the gab. Moric lightens the mood from being tense though you all track the light with a hunter's instinct."

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar nodded when he received his next task. He had originally wanted to learn to fight completely without a lightsaber and therefore not need to build a new one, but he could see that it would be important to make a transition from his current style of combat to one that relied less on the weapon before removing it altogether as a factor.

 

For a moment he dwelt on the construction of his previous lightsaber. It had been back when he had been apprenticed to Piro Ritt, who had since become increasingly important to the Sith Order. The apprenticeship had been immensely difficult and painful, a process that overcame even his self-imposed exile in difficulty and pain. But it had made him powerful.

 

His first lightsaber crystal had been synthetic, as was typical for the Sith. It had been made from a mixture of sweat and blood, thrown into a furnace and compressed with the Force itself. He had done it that way last time, at Ritt's prompting, and he would do so again, even though he was not technically a Sith any longer.

 

Xentar left the room he was in and made his way to a place where he could easily find the parts for his new weapon. Really, lightsaber parts weren't that difficult to come across, if one knew what one was looking for, and it was far easier even than normal due to the fact that he was in a base intended for Force users who would possibly need to repeat the process several times.

 

When he had what he needed, Kentam entered a room that had just the sort of furnace he required. Taking one of the tools he found nearby, he unhesitantly rolled his robe's sleeve up and slashed his arm, careful not to sever any important tendons or veins. The pain was intense, but he liked it. He leaned close to the fire, close enough that he immediately began to sweat.

 

Positioning a collection tray beneath him, he squeezed out blood and sweat and the process to creating a lightsaber crystal began.

[Rocketblaze]

((OOC: If you have a problem with this, just PM me about it. I'll make whatever edits I need to later, but I decided to just put something out there instead of take days discussing it.))

 

Rocketblaze got up from the table, making his way over to the other side.

 

"You have stayed strong enough when your values have been questioned, but you have also failed to teach the true intent of the Light."

 

The Archserpent sat next to her, looking directly into her eyes. Her composure seemed to be returning to its former passive state.

 

"Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my experience with you... but to find what I want to find, I need to explore more of your mind. Please relax and... as hard as it may seem, just trust me."

 

Rocketblaze took her hand gently in his. The physical connection was always helpful to him when linking emotions and thoughts. As he began exploring her mind, the Archserpent encountered many walls as well as felt her moving within his own thoughts. He was trying to convey his feelings, intending only to find her method of access to the Force. Rocketblaze came up on many general things, brief images of irrelevant nature along with random feelings from events past. With a little time and effort, he had found what he was searching for: the base Jedi training and few personal adaptations. Letting go of her hand, both minds retracted from each other. Rocketblaze opened his eyes and smiled.

 

"That's all. That is seriously all I ever wanted from you... No violation of your guarded personal being, no acceptance of our ways... But now you must leave us. I will remove your knowledge of my Serpent Order, my home here... but I will leave you the memory of events that have happened here, though you will not clearly remember images or names, save my own. I hope that one day the name 'Rocketblaze' will enter your life again."

 

Reaching over to touch her forehead, a deep calm overcame both of them. The Archserpent was making his first attempt at serene access of the Force. It was weak at first, but grew as the moments went by. With more and more time he used more and more of his prior knowledge. Stronger emotion built with him. The Archserpent was pulling on his hate for the condition of the galaxy, his contempt for the other Orders around him, but most importantly he pulled on his joy from what had just happened. A sudden shift of his focus was needed to produce the blast into Kirana's mind that would erase some of her memories. Rocketblaze was precise, with an execution that took just as much out of him as it did Kira.

 

"I'm sorry for this."

 

Knowing that she could not be allowed to stay conscious for long, Rocketblaze pulled a small injection from his pocket. He had brought it along from the medical room when he watched the operation on Xentar. Its contents were forced into her body, quickly putting her into a daze. The Archserpent lifted her out of the chair and over his shoulder. She was completely out by the time he started down the hallway. Putting her down on an operation table in one of the sick rooms, he took a moment to reflect.

 

"She deserves better than this, but at least it will keep us all safe."

 

Rocketblaze then fitted her with a respirator and sufficient oxygen for a week. With the help of droids, she was loaded and secured into a large crate. Mounting his swoop, RB took the crate to the city in the distance. He paid a transport merchant to soft drop the crate on Ilum, giving him the general location of where they had met. The Archserpent waited until the transport had safely left Chandrila, and then headed back to his people.

 

Arriving hours later, he thought over preparation for his next event as he checked up on the progress of his apprentice, the worthy Xentar Kentam.

 

"How is it coming along?"

 

Rocketblaze could see the determination on Xentar's face. The man had a strong focus that the Archserpent appreciated.

 

((OOC: Summary: This post is tentative. Kira had memories removed to protect the Serpents without compromising her person and was then safely sent to Ilum, where she had been taken from. Rocketblaze is now with Xentar, overseeing the production of a lightsaber. I will not continue until I receive approval for the actions on Kira in this post.))

[Kirana Sunrider]

(ooc: consent given. no info was exchanged that would be detrimental to either 'order')

 

Kira looked warily at him as he moved around the table to sit beside her.

 

"That may be, but you can't teach someone that doesn't want to know, and your people were more interested in conversion than they were of being enlightened."

 

She met his gaze, seeing that he was calm, not threatening to her. His request shocked her and while she didn't break the eye lock, she became wary once more. Just what was he playing at? As he took her hand she did break eye contact for only a moment, glancing down to see her hand in his before her gaze locked with his again.

 

"Trust you? That's a big ask"

 

She put walls up against against her most inner secrets, the jedi secrets, seeing that through the physical contact, he had easy access into her mind. He seemed to be showing her more about his own way of accessing the force, being equal with what he looked at as to what he showed her, just as he found the information regarding the base jedi training, the little adaptions she had made when training her own padawans. Part of her was concerned that it would be used against those she had trained, though each had gone on to learn more than just what she had taught. But he seemed different from some of his followers. She just hoped that the trust would be respected. It was a very difficult thing for her to do, even if she had felt compelled to.

 

"It has been an... interesting experience here." Her expression turned wary again, "What do you mean 'remove my knowledge'? You have my word I won't betray the trust you have shown me."

 

Kira felt the first tingles of a warning in the back of her mind, though Rocketblaze still seemed very calm. She gazed around the messhall before returning her gaze to him. The calmness that he attempted to have wash over her, made her relax somewhat though she still couldn't shake that feeling deep inside. It was too ingrained not to take notice of, she'd had too much happen to her in her past not to be concerned, though she wasn't sure what to be concerned about. He seemed to be working out the use of the lightside ok...

 

The blast caught her when she wasn't expecting it. Her mind throwing up barriers but it was too late. He'd already been inside her mind. Vaguely she heard his apology, her head pounding again as it had when the doshan had grabbed her... her hands went to her head... try as she might she couldn't remember the name of who she had fought... why? All of a sudden she felt drained, as if she had gone several rounds of a mental battle. Her look turned to horror as he brought out the syringe, not able to move to stop him from injecting her.

 

Why??

 

Being thrown over his shoulder and carried out, Kira soon felt her consciousness slipping...

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar was so focused on the task at hand that he was only vaguely aware of Rocketblaze's return and presence. He did not respond to the statement that he almost lost in translation, as if his immersion in the Dark Side unlearned all that he knew. For this moment, he only knew the Force and his pain and the heat that surrounded him.

 

Unthinking, the Serpent reached into the furnace with his bare hand and pulled out a perfect synthetic crystal. His arm came out unburnt, unscathed, supernaturally. Looking down before himself, Xentar found--half to his surprise, though surprised hardly registered--a mostly completed lightsaber hilt before him. It was chaotic and almost ancient-looking, as if it had been constructed thousands of years prior, featuring the elongated, spire-like shroud that was common in that time.

 

Kentam placed the crystal in the slot where he knew it went, then delicately and dexterously fit together the last few peices. Of course, the most important part of creating a lightsaber was after that. Still fully immersed in the Force, Xentar bound the weapon's peices together. It was as if everything snapped into place.

 

Finally he stood, his robe drenched with sweat and him arm still slightly bleeding (though barely). He looked over at Rocketblaze and hit the activation stud on his new weapon. Immediately a red blade shot out precisely 90 millimeters. Xentar didn't look at it. He held completely still for a moment, then deactivated the lightsaber.

 

"I am ready, Master," he said in a deep voice.

[Rocketblaze]

"Very well. Follow me and attack at will. I want to experience your style of combat to best transition you beyond the weapon."

 

The Archserpent took his own lightsaber into his left hand and began walking to the large training courts.

 

((OOC: Just start a duel wherever you want. I'd like to get a feel for how you have the character fight. We'll go for two posts of fighting before interruption.))

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar nodded and followed the Archserpent to a large, mostly open room that would decidedly serve as a location for the ensuing fight. It was a good location, without any distractions or terrain features that would remove them from the path of a straight fight. In an environment such as Coruscant, it seemed there was always some sort of loose objects that could be manipulated and hurled at opponents, but here it would be straight out lightsaber combat.

 

Although Xentar was drenched with sweat, he was not weary. He was feulled by so much more than the considerable physical prowess that he had built up. His arm was still injured, but it was not a debilitating injury--only a painful one. It would not hinder his movement in combat as long as he did not let the pain slow him.

 

Once again, the Serpent drew his lightsaber and ignited it. He brought it out to the side then slowly, very precisely, up to a medium-high guard favoring his right side so that his saber's shroud was at his eye level. As he did so, he brought his feet together until they were almost touching at the heel, drawing himself up to his full height--an intimidating six-foot seven inches.

 

When his temporary opponent, Rocketblaze, followed suit with the activation of his own lightsaber, Xentar took the initiative to move first. He dashed forward, leaning into the charge and shortening his profile. He neared the Archserpent and struck horizontally with a lightning-quick attack that turned his lightsaber into a brief blur, almost as if it were a blaster bolt instead of a blade.

 

Rocketblaze parried only to find that the blow had incredible strength behind it, strength that not only sprung from Xentar's broad shoulders, but the Dark Side of the Force. It was enough to batter aside the most solid of defenses, penetrate trained guards, and cut through any amount of armor or metal.

 

Showing a quality that seemed quite contrary to his first blow and his physical appearance, Xentar used the momentum of his attack to execute a mid-air somersault which he landed perfectly, then immediately spun and attacked three times--one from Rocketblaze's right and the other two consisting of a double-tap attack from low, the first more a feint than an attack--in the same second, each attack carrying nearly the power of his initial strike.

 

As he executed these first complex attacks, the former Sith Lord was recalling his previous combat expriences. The day he had fought on Ilum seemed distant to him, but the sensations and tactics he had learned that day were fresh. He recalled manipulating the Force to throw off a Jedi's precognition--his only real chance of stopping a series of attacks in rapid succession. He recalled mentally dominating opponents, leaving them too demoralized and in question of their path in their meaningless lives too properly defend themselves. He recalled slaying a Jedi while blind, killing another in front of his best friend. He recalled creating a sort of unnatural darkness that engulfed him and his opponent.

 

He could not expect to demoralize Rocketblaze, nor did he intend to try. But perhaps he could improvise another way to gain an advantage.

[Rocketblaze]

The Archserpent was pleased to see that Xentar was fully capable in combat, but wondered what would happen if they picked up the pace. He moved with Xentar, matching his blows with guards. Now opting to move into the offensive, he locked blades with his apprentice. Before throwing off, Rocketblaze flashed a little smirk to express his content.

 

Just as soon as the men achieved stablility, RB lept forward with his legs extended. Xentar was able to evade the advance, and they led each other through another series of lightsaber blows. Rocketblaze locked them up again, this time spinning away as he dropped out of the blade lockup. He took hold of Xentar's lightsaber and put his elbow in the face of his apprentice. Letting go, he dropped back and set himself. Weapon facing downward, he motioned with his right hand for Xentar to advance once more.

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar was somewhat impressed by Rocketblaze's ability to put him in a lock, then disengage it at will. Physically, Xentar was larger and stronger, and should by all means have control over such things, but the Archserpent had a way of finding ways around brute strength. Dexterity could be substituted for strength by only an experienced fighter, leading Xentar further along the belief that Rocketblaze was more powerful than he let on.

 

When an elbow cracked into his jaw, the Serpent Lord stumbled backwards and smiled to himself. It hurt, but he liked it. Immediately, he fell into a groove, the pain reinforcing his connection with the Dark Side and bolstering his memories of previous battles in which he had slain Jedi Knights...and the battle in which he had been slain by one.

 

Unable to put up an impenetrable defense as used by Jedi who studied Form III (or even one as solid as those of many of the other forms), Xentar pushed himself back on the offensive. He was competant in defense, but for him it was only one of two ways to wear an opponent down, and, at that, the more risky way of doing so. His own way was a brutal offense that required them to put strength into every block. His own perpetual stamina, drawn to be far more long-lasting by the Dark Side, would allow him to outlast any Jedi's defense.

 

But now was the time to range into the unexpected and the unexplainable, the risky but controlled.

 

Deep in the Force, Xentar could see Rocketblaze's next move and thence block it correctly. In essence, he could attack with Rocketblaze's next parry in mind and adjust accordingly, but the Archserpent would also gain a precognitive sense of that adjusted attack, creating a paradox. But this was a paradox that could be thrown off.

 

As if he were writing effortlessly into the current of the Force, Kentam telegraphed his next move into it...incorrectly. Rocketblaze's precognition warned him that Xentar's next attack would come low and to the left. Xentar did, however, attack a full foot higher than was projected, and only Rocketblaze's natural reflexes made him able to alter his parry in time--barely. Unprepared for the exact location of the attack, the strength of it pushed the Archserpent back.

 

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the power of the Force was that, Xentar mused, one could imagine the most abstract of things then watch them come true; this was true power.

 

As his opponent stumbled back, Xentar moved forward. He kicked out low, connecting with the Archserpent's shin, then brought his fist around to hit the other man across the jaw, projecting through the Force that his punch would be to a rib.

[Rocketblaze]

Rocketblaze became aware of Xentar's method after taking the second hit. Logically, the only way to defeat the Force was to use the Force. Thus, being the type of man that he is, the Archserpent took to the floor in a roll to put some distance between himself and Xentar.

 

"Now it gets harder."

 

Harnessing the true Dark Arts, Rocketblaze was able to produce the lasting effect of invisibility over his body. Spectromacy was not something he had practiced much, but he would remain unseen for long enough. In the moments after leaving the realm of physical sight, he softly moved around the room while speaking.

 

"I cannot be seen by any means. All radiant energy is passing through my body. I will now slip away from the Force. Your task is to find your focus, which I see most strongly lies in your pain, then use it to summon whatever power you feel will locate me."

 

As he said he would, the Archserpent severed his apparent connection to the Force, leaving him with no prominent Force signature. Rocketblaze was doing the same thing that the ancient Serpent Order had done to preserve themselves when endangered. He only hoped that Xentar could now enter the same realm of the Force as the Serpents, enabling him to access powers that would awe and inspire his ambition.

[darth shadowlord]

Draken's ship exited hyperspace over Chandrila. Its lone pilot looking for more power began to scan the planet. The scan showed a temple that was likely to house the Serpents. Draken brought his ship close to the temple's location. while remaining in the air.

 

He sent a short comm out to the temple. Comm-- This is Draken Shadowlord, out of Carida. I have heard of the Serpents and wish to join them. --End Comm

[Rocketblaze]

The house computer system of the Serpent Compound sent a smart response to the hailing.

 

"You may land and enter the compound. Please wait inside the primary entryway until somebody comes for your. Hostile acts will be met with force."

[darth shadowlord]

Draken landed his ship inside the compound and looked around. The compound looked like any other. However the feel of the darkside was invigorating and he enjoyed the feeling of it. He exited his ship and sat down beside it.

 

Draken assumed a meditaive state as he waited. He drew the force to himself and began to meditate.

[Dagon]

::An encrypted comm reaches Draken, informing him of scenario 16 D.::

[darth shadowlord]

Draken received the comm and immediately boarded his ship and lifted off of the planet. He entered a set of directions that had come with the comm and as soon as his ship had cleared the gravity well he jumped into hyperspace.

[Garet Jax]

Garet felt Kirana's presence leave the planet. He was certain Rocketblaze had his reasons for allowing her to depart. Garet would have preferred that her life end on Chandrila. But he respected his Master's wishes. Garet and Tashkri were alone now.

 

"Well, that went badly. I thought you were good at that sort of thing? She wasn't persuaded at all."

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar raised an eyebrow when Rocketblaze became completely undetectatble through any of his senses, including his Force sense. It was an interesting development, but the Archserpent made it sound much harder than it would be in truth. He was effectively bending light around himself, the best way to become invisible, much as if he had a cloaking shield.

 

Stretching out with the Force, Xentar felt the dust particles that lay settled on the ground--and those that had been stirred by the two warriors that had tread upon them in combat moments before. Additionally, there were various peices of rubble and small objects laying around the room, though such distractions were minimal (as he had noticed upon entering).

 

Gathering them with the sweeping motion of his hand, Xentar hurled them at Rocketblaze's last known location. Sure enough, many of them entered the Archserpent's light-bending effect, and a few of the small objects even hit him. He had changed location since he disappeared, of course, and Xentar reacted.

 

Still in direct interface with the Force, he launched himself horizontally towards the Archserpent and attacked with a wide sweep that made it possible to strike at the man without being perfectly accurate. A clash of blades ensued, and Xentar chained up several more attacks, determined not to let Rocketblaze out of his reach and again into the safety of invisibility.

 

It was the simplest and most effective solution to the puzzle, not as complicated as trying to sort things out with delicate Force applications but just as effective but for the fact that the location he had gained was only effective for the moment the particles hit.

[Rocketblaze]

The compound's central computer entered alert status at the sudden landing and departure of a vessel. Rocketblaze called the Force forward, suddenly rushing it through his body to impact Xentar. The blow forced his apprentice forward and himself backward.

 

"Hold... I'm glad that you've got the knack of bent light manipulation. The hard stuff comes after this, but I need to check this out. Come along."

 

Making his way to the command station, Rocketblaze was curious as to what could have happened. He checked the events logged by the computer to find that a ship had landed with clearance, a signal was directed to it, and then it suddenly cleared the planet. Entering a complex code on his wrist link, the Archserpent spoke over the PA.

 

"Everybody pay attention. We're going under. Brace yourselves and hope that this compound we've built holds up to its intended design."

 

Looking at his apprentice, RB had a serious look to accompany his tone.

 

"I have confidence in what is about to happen, but the ride might be rough. Be prepared."

 

The Blazetail emerged from its parked state and softly landed on the top of the compound. Locking into position as a dome covered the ship, it fired all thrusters at full power. While the ship did not move, the energy it spent was collected within the dome. The underwater turbine whirred at incredible speed as the docks disengaged from the edge of the compound, followed in turn by the outer circle of rooms. Then the central shaft shifted, bringing the core of the compound down into the depths of the lake. When it neared the bottom the Serpent facility suddenly shifted horizontally. It crossed a selective shield membrane, being received by a vast shell of impregnable durability. All the days that Rocketblaze had spent underwater had paid off when the core was securely sealed. His secret work that had taken place long ago was now a functional reality. While the Serpents had not designed an apparent defense for their home, Rocketblaze had been hiding one all along. Now safely sitting deep in the crust of Chandrila, Rocketblaze decided to continue with Xentar's training.

 

"Nothing else can be done for now. There's more to be seen, but this place needs time to collect all the appropriate energy. While it does so, we'll use the one remaining training room. I'm sure that the others will come to find out what's happening, but we can at least train until then."

 

Advancing a short walk into the training room, the Archserpent went to a trunk of weaponry that was not present in the other location. He took a dual-bladed lightclaw, tossing it over to Xentar.

 

"Put that on and advance against my lightsaber, adjusting your attacks to compensate for the lack of range. Try to make your attacks even more brutally powerful than they already are, but keep in mind that I will have the ability to control the distance at which we fight."

 

Rocketblaze was happy to keep his mind from worrying over the potential danger that the galaxy posed against the Serpent Order. It was nice to enjoy the progress of Xentar into a more alive and aware being. So he nodded at his apprentice, indicating for them to begin when he was comfortable with the lightclaw.

[Xentar Kentam]

Xentar looked at the thing that had been tossed to him, clipping his lightsaber back on his belt. Presently it looked like no more than a brass knuckle, and terribly unweildy at that. However, he knew that Rocketblaze had some sort of lesson to be derived from this, so he would quickly teach himself to use it and adapt a combat style suitable for such a weapon.

 

Placing the weapon on his hand, Kentam found an activation stud that allowed him to ignite the weapon by making a fist. He did so to find that two short energy blades erupted from it, causing the weapon to resemble a claw. It was more wieldy than a brass knuckle, but it was still a far cry from what he was most comfortable with.

 

He would just have to take some risks. Xentar swung it once or twice experimentally in front of himself to catch the general reach and direction of the blades. It was just like attacking with his arm, he decided, so he would have good control over it, though moving one's whole arm wasn't as quick as, say, flicking a wrist.

 

Drawing power from the Dark Side, Xentar abruptly leapt at Rocketblaze, bringing the claw horizontally across his body at the Archserpent and following it with his left fist. The claw would certainly not be his only weapon in this fight.