Ties that bind ...

Ryker · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:05 am Post subject: Ties that bind ...

Solora Jarr sailed over the sun baked earth as quickly as his hopped up TR-53 swoop would allow. He checked his chronometer as he gripped the accelerator tight, hoping the added pressure to the throttle would somehow erase the fact that he had missed the shuttle and had to trek accross the vast Lokian landscape using only a rented speeder and his own merit.

He looked up just in time to wrench the handlebars to the left, narrowly missing a flock of flit, carelessy hovering around their hovel.

"C'mon, c'mon ..." he egged the swoop. "Let's move it."

Wiping away the dust from his goggles he could see the township on the horizon. He smiled faintly as he licked his dry lips, tasting the dust and dirt as it saturated his face.

The Ryker delivery wasn't so much a priority as the Otto. The good General was never happy with the amount of time it took for his illegal bottles of Ryl seeped wines to break through the blockades and find their way to his drunken lips.

As he moved over the final mound, his heart dropped into his stomach as he saw a vague figure directly in front of him, no more than twenty meters.

Pulling off the throttle, he jammed the stopping mechanism with his right hand, clamping down hard as he adjusted his bodyweight to the right, subsequently spinning the speeder around 90 degrees ... and stopping only a few feet from the wanderer.

Placing the swoop in stationary mode, he tore his helmet from his head and threw it into the dirt.

"What the hell do you think you're doing out here!" he screamed. "You could get someone killed with stunts like that!"

"Pardon me?" the man said quippingly.

"You heard me." Solora yelled as he slid off his dirt laden glasses. as the man began backing away slowly.

"Sir I dont wish for any trouble." the man replied.

Solora tossed his glasses aside and replied "Well you found it buddy ... get ready for an a ..."

He stopped short as the man cowered back a bit.

"Oh ... oh my ... Doctor Corinthos ... Oh I'm sorry sir ... I didn't ..."

The man's brow slanted slightly as if confused.

"Are you alright sir?"

"A bit lost actually."

"Sir?"

"I said I am a bit lost ... I uh ... got stuck in a windstorm and now I can't seem to find my way back."

"Sir ... you're just outside of Nocturnus." Solora said as he pointed behind the doctor. "It's just down that path."

"Ah yes ... Nocturnus ... that's it ... Tatooine?"

"Um ... Lok sir. You are on Lok. Are you sure you're ok?"

The doctor pushed his hand up to his left temple and rubbed it slowly. "What is that sound?"

Solora listened carefully.

"Sound sir?"

"You don't hear that voice? Do you have a comm active?"

"No sir ... it's just you and I out here."

The doctor looked at his as if confused, then he smiled half heartedly.

"Yes ... just us. I must be more tired than I thought. Getting lost out here and all has taken it's toll."

Solora looked at his wrist chronometer and sighed. "Oh no ... I am way behind today. Otto is going to ... say? Doctor Corinthos, would you be heading back towards the Courier office?"

"Um ... of course ... I ... would ... be. Why wouldn't I be?" the doctor spouted.

Solora walked quickly to his swoop and removed a medium sized box from his side satchel.

"Normally I would never do this, but would you sign for his package? It's for Mister Ryker."

The doctor looked around for a moment, then he stared intently at the package itself.

"Doctor?"

He just stared.

"Doctor?!"

Corinthos looked up to him.

"Uh ... well normally I wouldn't, but since you are in such a hurry ... I'd uh ... be happy to take that ... take it from you ... for you." he mumbled as he reached out for the box.

"Uh ... maybe I'd better do it myself."

The doctor frowned.

"No! .... I mean ... no ... it's really no trouble. And you said yourself that you were running late. Please ... allow me."

Solora looked down again at his chronometer.

"Alright. Thank you sir. I owe you one." he said as he handed the doctor the signature pad.

The doctor signed the pad and replied "Nonesense. It's my pleasure."

Solora scanned the barcode on the package and mounted his swoop. As he turned the ignition he said "Thank you again sir. I'm looking forward to tales of the next trip you sponsor. I still hear stories of the Ryatt Trail."

The doctor nodded as his gazed fixed upon the box "Uh ... huh."

Solora waved once more and hit the accelerator as he tried to justify the handoff to himself.

The good doctor worked closely with Mister Ryker.

They even owned an agency together.

He could trust the doctor.

Besides, it was only a box.

What's the worst that could happen?

Reaction · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:52 am Post subject:

"Who was that courier, and how in the hell did he know me?" I thought to myself. No matter, my curious by nature attitude had no issues taking a box meant for someone else. Maybe I could even get a finder's fee, or maybe a tip for delivery?

After finding out the location of the agency that An'drew worked in, I started to make my way to the outer edges of Nocturnus. "This city is as big as it is ugly," I mumbled to myself. What a complete joke of a town. This is going to be my first and last trip to this godforsaken place. I was ready to rid myself of this burden on the front step of the agency when I heard a voice.

"I don't believe we have met."

I jumped where I stood. I turned around quickly to see who it was, but no one was there. I looked around the corner of the building, nobody. I didn't understand, and then the voice started again.

"I think it is about time you and I chatted. I don't really need to see An'drew Ryker just yet, his time will come. Much as yours will, but your time will be one to shine, not to perish."

The voice was calm and soothing. It almost made me ignore my complete surroundings. I still saw no one, but for some reason I didn't care. I couldn't tell where it wasn't coming from, but I continued to listen.

"Pick up the box and head towards your house. It is the one just over the dune. We will continue this discussion on private quarters. Or should I say I will continue telling you what you need to do to become what you have always craved: a hero."

A hero. Deime Corinthos, Hero. I like the sound of that...

Reaction · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 7:08 am Post subject:

As I walked into the house that this voice told me I had owned, I was completely at peace. I had never felt this way. It was like nothing in the entire world mattered but what this voice had to say. None of my fears, my paranoia, nothing. As I sat on my bed, mesmerized and box in hand, the voice started again.

"I spoke of you being a hero. You were once trained by a pupil of mine, a disgrace who has since been punished for his [color=darkred]worthlessness. His destiny was to destroy his 'brother', but it seems that instead of fully preparing and focusing on his destiny he became engrossed with collecting and examining those with abilities similar to his own. You may know him, as you called him Master much as he called me the same."

The calm that I had was now touch and go at best. "You knew Daygrah?" I said with just a bit of terror in my voice.

"I knew your Master. I trained him."

"If you trained him...that means you are,'

"Yes, I am his Master, Darth Phenum."

At this point, I threw the box at the wall. I didn't know where the voice was coming from, but the box seemed to be the only logical choice outside of my being crazy. As it hit the wall and fell to the floor, one side opened up slightly, and I saw a glow. A warm, red glow. I walked slowly to the box and as I reached for it, I heard the voice again.

"Do not fear me, Deime. I am not anything close to what Daygrah was. I do not wish to control you. I do not wish to steer you to anything I do not already know you are capable of. I do not wish to manipulate you. I wish to help you do what you already want to, but do not have the capability to do."[/color]

"And what exactly do I wish to do?" I said as sarcastically as possible.

"Do not play coy with me like you play with so many others. I am not here to waste time with your mind games, or your pathetic attempts at them. If you are truly ready, we will begin with your memory."

"What mem..."

And at the moment the box flashed the hottest white my eyes had ever seen. I felt a searing pain in my head, and everything rushed back. Every memory that I had ever had from Ruby Lake to my latest encounters in Nocturnus, all at once. Every good time I have ever had.

And then, everything else started to come in. I saw my father slaughtered at the hands of the slaves he had a hand in selling. I saw my friends from Ruby Lake die. And then, I saw him. He was standing there with a light behind him as if he had been the knight in shining armor for his entire life. There was every person he had ever 'helped' out of any problem.

Finally, the last image came. I could see myself in the background of every image involving him. No one paying any attention. I knew I could do anything that he could do if I had the years of training and special attention that he recieved. He was born, or created, into a privileged life. He was destined to be a hero.

"Now, are you ready for your destiny"

I grabbed the box and opened it. The holocron was now a emitted a hot red light. I sat the box on the bed and leaned in to pick up the ancient relic.

"Yes, Master."

And with those last words of acceptance, I placed my hands on into the light. As I touched the holocron I felt power surge through my body. More importantly I felt his presence enter me. He never once tried to take control much like Daygrah had when he was training me. The presence felt more like it was adapting to me, using my personality to morph the powers of a dangerous Sith Lord around. How do you like that, a Sith Lord changing to abide my rules.

It had begun. It was time for me to be seen as the hero. It was time for him to be brought back to the ground, right where he belonged.

"This will be slow process. He will feel true pain, true loss, like we have. We are coming for you, An'drew. We hope you are ready."

Deedle · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject:

Rolling over she feels a sharp stinging sensation as her face hits the pillow. Sitting up she hangs her feet over the bed as the cloudy image of a face forms in her head. Still confused and concerned over the strange encounter from the previous evening, she decides to seek additional guidance from the Goddess.

Throwing a robe over her shoulders she walks barefoot toward her adjoining sanctuary. The smell of incense still permeating the room from the evening blessing. She stops suddenly as she catches her reflection in the glass that separates her office and bedchamber. “It was hard enough last night to dart around questions regarding this, but how will I explain it now?” D’dle’Ana wonders while looking at the raised and slightly more purple hued welt on her cheek.

She enters her private sanctuary, walks over to the statue and kneels, her head bowed in deference to the Goddess. She inhales deeply as she remembers asking for the same guidance at Temple last evening. She exhales and looks behind her as if expecting to see the same man that disturbed her prayer that same night. Satisfied that her thoughts will not be disturbed in the only home she feels safe, she turns and bows her head once more.

She had heard this name, Deime Corinthos, spoken outwardly on many occasions by citizens of Nocturnus. Perhaps even An’Drew had mentioned this man in passing but she was never introduced. She certainly had no connection to the man, but with a swift hand was starkly made a messenger for the Kiva’s to keep their distance from him.

“The one night I chose to seek guidance from you at Temple and I receive this for my answer?” Her palm turned inward toward her cheekbone as if to point it out to the Goddess. A smile crawls over her face and then she winces as the pain provides yet another reminder of his message. “He could have just as easily provided this message to the Kiva’s in person.”

Instinctually, she had memorized his face, clothing, and any other recognizable feature. Remembering your customers was important for return business, a practice which overlapped even in circumstances such as these. This man made it clear that she was to tell no one about the encounter other than to deliver the message to the Kiva’s. She did as such, but the image was still burned into her memory. Perhaps in time she will discover the deliverer’s identity.

She sighs, still contemplating how to explain the bruise. “Goddess, give guidance to one that is so lost.”
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Ryker · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

Deime could not be read as he could before. The fact that his once weak mind was now shielded by some unseen force only cemented the idea that the empty holocron had made a drastic impression on the doctor.

But how much of an impression?

Was it the teachings enscribed on the surface ... or was it something else?

Deime had never been strong in the Force. His connection was treated more like a burden than a gift. But now ... now he was different. He had changed into someone ... something ... new.

As the Regeneration Chamber door lowered slowly, he closed his eyes. His fingernails dug into his palms as he unconsciously turned his hands into fists.

"What have I done ..." he whispered as the chamber began to hum softly.

"What have I done ...?"

Amunet · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:55 am Post subject:

Wrapping herself in her cloak she lays by the fire. The loud snaps and crackles of the burning embers echoing off the trees in the dense woodlands of Rori.

Holding a Durni close to her chest, she strokes its back while recalling the evenings events.

"His strength was most unexpected. I never felt one so powerful before. His force grip was like a steel claw, his fist like a hammer." She says quietly to her companion while running its ear along the side of her face.

"This is not the weak and mind-numbed man that first came to our Academy. Something has changed, he has changed. But into what?" Grabbing the Durni by the scruff of the back, she sits up and looks into its eyes as if waiting for answer.

Cradling it like a baby on its back in the fold of her arm she continues. "He thinks we are puppets. That we are being manipulated by An'Drew. Used for some purpose we are not aware of yet."

She tugs at the Durni's ears gently.

"Is there truth in it though? Is there a motive to bringing so many of us together? What happened to those like us in Ruby Lake? Is our fate to be the same?"

She stops suddenly as the Durni cries out in pain, not realizing in her own frustratation that she was squeezing it tightly. She lets it down gently to hop away.

Laying back down she looks into the fire and sees the face of Deime Corinthos.

"You admonish me for believing in him." Her fingers trail down the side of her swollen jaw. "Perhaps there is wisdom in listening, but wrath will be brought upon you if An'Drew is who he claims to be."

She closes her eyes and listens to the nearby Tuskcats fight over the freshly killed Durni meat.

Ryker · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:08 am Post subject:

After hearing that the doctor took it upon himself to assault the woman he loved, Drew decided it was time to stop things before they started.

He smiled at her as her eyes began to tear slightly.

"Ill take care of this." he said softly.

As he made his way outside of the Angel, he removed his comm from his belt as it began to buzz.

He looked down and was a bit taken by the sender. It was from Amunet ... marked urgent.

Amunet · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:21 am Post subject:

Shielding her eyes from the bright morning sunlight breaking through the trees, she pulls her hood up and opens her datacomm to type a message.

"An'Drew, it is imperative that we meet as soon as possible. I believe based on last evenings encounter at the Ryloth Ryll Den that Deime Corinthos is a danger to our Academy. I will provide details when we meet."

Closing the comm she packs up camp and heads back to Lok.

Reaction · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:36 am Post subject:

OOC Knowledge about Deime/Phenum:

The Deime/Phenum being is more symbiotic that just a presence inside Deime now. Deime has fully accepted Phenum, and Phenum has fully accepted Deime. Their personalities are starting to intertwine (Phenum's normally cold and confident moods now have a serious hint of Deime's playful and brash attitude, while Deime's normal tendency to run from a fight is being pushed by Phenum).

Amunet · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject:

Kneeling in front of Mirage, she feels her chest tighten while she listens to the bellowing cries of the dewback.

“No need to be afraid my friend. He is not here.” Her voice soft and her tone soothing. She places one palm under her jaw to support her head while the other lies gently at the top of her neck. She looks into its fearful eyes and reaches out with her mind. Breaking gently through the natural barriers until she finds the corner where they meet.

She always found the experience of entering an animals mind quite relaxing. It felt natural to communicate with beasts on a more metaphysical level. It was as if they were allowing you to experience their point of view by bringing you into their environment. At which time you become an equal and can communicate on their virtual plane. Mat’Maka nurtured this natural talent in Amunet over the years.

In their minds she kneels on the hot sand before her. She ignores the grunts and stomping of large dewback feet around her. Surrounded by a barrage of slightly different colored reddish hued adult and young, they converse as if alone.

“What potential does he see in me that isn’t already being nurtured by An’Drew? Is it so wrong to trust in the man that has given me a safe haven, a place to grow and use my gifts openly?” She looks down at Mirage while questioning.

“The old Master’s do not speak to me. The holocrons do not impart their wisdom to me as they do for others in the Academy.” She says begrudgingly. “But the doctor, the one he warns me about, notices something not yet tapped into? Why doesn’t An’Drew see this? Or perhaps he does and just wants to suppress me as the doctor suggests.”

Mirage nudges her wrist with her snout. “I am always careful my friend.” She says stroking the side of her face before standing up to leave. Her mind pulling back, she closes the barrier doors as she retreats.

Opening her eyes she sees her pet lying at her knees. Feeling dizzy and exhausted from the journey, she lays down next to her on the bed of lush grass. Her last thoughts are of An’Drew asking to meet with her the following day.

Ryker · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject:

As his body lay dormant, the soft hum of the chamber was muffled by thoughts ...

A green saber glows against the night sky ... a yellow Twi'lek eyes turned red ... cries of pain ... the Temple is empty now ... the Academy destroyed ... a flash of light as Safia falls ... faces of friends scowling in disgust ... "You are not what they think you are." ... a crimson blade extends as the night consumes the wasteland beyond the gates ... The Kiva frowning as her face reflects insight of an unknown force ... Deime on his knees in pain as he struggles ... the glowing triangle explodes ... the blue square shines brightly ... A reflection in the mirror that is not his own ... "He comes from a place that only I have seen ... let me handle this brother ... you can trust me ..."

Kuri · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject:

Lok's desert nights are always cold but tonight seemed colder, darker and the looming shadows felt so close that they might touch her. Kuri laid another log on the fire and watched as the sparks swirled above the glowing embers.

"Goddess, guide me.", she leaned back into the chair, pulling Deime's cloak around her. Kuri quieted her mind and waited for a reply but all she heard was the crackling of the fire and the echo of his words.

"What will happen", was the only question she had asked, "if you are freed of him?"

"If he just left? I suppose things would go back as they were..", his voice trailed off and she knew he thought, as did she, of the oblivion in which he had lived during those months when his mind and body had failed him.

"But he says he will not leave. They will have to kill me."

"Li'at, you must rest, there will be no answers tonight.", Xyryn's voice was clear and her tone unmistakable. Kuri blinked as though awakening and reminded herself that Xyryn was visiting her family, recovering from the injuries sustained in the attack upon her.

"It must have been the other, not Deime. He would never do such a thing." She could not yet bring herself to allow the name to form in her mind. She reminded herself, "Keep perspective, Kuri, you cannot let anyone know." But she knew there would be nothing she could hide from Xyryn for long.

The cloak fell to the cabin's floor as she pulled the blanket over her shoulder. Her fingertips brushed the metal band he wore as he reached for her and she felt the weight of the matching ring on her own hand. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she fought the tears burning her eyes.

"You ok?", he asked.

"Just cold."

He pulled her closer to him, "I will always keep you warm.", he whispered as she felt him against her back.
_________________
Kuri, Esharra and Ninz
Sith happens.

xyryn · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject:

Xyryn sat back, keeping her eyes closed. Vanity tugged at her to clear up the yellowish remnants of the bruises. Politics suggested that was not wise. Certain people would notice that it was too early for such severe bruising to be gone. Five days wasn't enough time.

Jart had made too many jokes, during that visit to the homeship, about his sibling wearing a bullseye. It had worried Mom and Dad. Thank the Goddess for M'ission, that quiet elder sister had a long discussion with their parents and they stopped worrying ... overtly. Of course, that hadn't stopped Mom from making Xyryn take a bacta bath, which had reduced the bruising quite a bit.

Politics and worrying. Li'at Kuri'au was worrying too much, also. Xyryn thought that it was no coincidence that her red friend had happened to find her heart yielding to the Good Doctor. That would actually help things, Kuri had a very level head no matter where her heart led her. And the political side of the situation would need some level heads. Xyryn could not have planned it that well if she had tried.

The big question was, why had Ryker let the situation develop at all? He could have stopped it in the early stages. So, why didn't he? What, exactly were his motives? Xyryn did not believe, for one moment, that he was building an army. His people were not puppets to be told do this, do that. They were all too much the individuals, with their own goals. So, what were Ryker's goals?

Xyryn was uncomfortable with the knowledge that Ryker had those two holocrons, that he had wanted to keep the red one intact ... that he wanted to use it, himself. Why? Had he known what that holocron contained? Or, was he innocent of wanting that power? Xyryn remembered too well that Shensen had deliberately sought such power; it had a great appeal for too many of the force sensitive.

And then there was the problem of Daygrah. One body and one spirit, separated. Xyryn had met the body some months ago. Now, she knew why it had not remembered her, the spirit was being held elsewhere. When she and her sibs returned to Noc, would that spirit still be where it was, or would it have been transferred, yet again? And why didn't "they" just get rid of it, once and for all?

Just how did the High Inquisitor play into this mess? He certainly had little interest in protecting Nocturnus, where all the maneuvering was currently being played out. So, what was he getting, that kept him involved? Did it have more to do with his office, or with what he is? Was it just the hunt for jedi, which he so focused on, or was he...

Xyryn flashed on the dusty street in Nocturnus...the High Inquisitor and one of his troopers standing on the porch of the Desert Angel watching Iafeu display awesome power as she choked Corinthos from meters away. Xyryn had glanced up at the Inquisitor, had caught an odd expression on his face. He was entirely too interested in that scene; what had he seen that she, Xyryn had not? Iafeu and Deime; Deime and Iafeu.

Xyryn opened her eyes, a hard glitter in them. This did not feel good, not good at all. What if the Inquisitor was looking for another apprentice? Did he even know what he was really dealing with?
_________________
"It is. Deal with it."

Ryker · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject:

An'Drew ran his fingers over the now smooth edges of the once vibrant red pyramid. Its markings had been erased as the good doctor had extracted its power ... and with it the essence of the dark Lord Phenum.

Why would they send this to me when they knew good and well of the past it would drudge up? Why would they be so careless as to give it to just anyone? Why didn't they see me directly? he thought as he looked upon the bright blue cube that lay next to the pyramid.

As he exhaled deeply, he thought for a moment, and then turned to Raven.

"Contact the Morgan Katara. It's time the Order explained thier actions."

Ryker · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject:

As his leather boots slid across the dew covered grass, the surrounding nighttime silence maximized the sound of his movement, allowing his breathing and casual footsteps to echo densely within his head.

The shuttle port landing array glowed softly as An’Drew moved south, quickly disappearing into the foggy night air. As each building sat engulfed in the rolling fog, the town’s streetlamps illuminated small sections of the main square, allowing only enough light for the casual wanderer the luxury of recognizing faint gradients of tan and brown that afforded each wall and stairway.

Though the visibility was low, it didn’t matter to Drew. He could have walked all the way to the edge of town and back without ever opening his eyes. Ruby Lake was his home, and long ago he had memorized every hill, every turn and the layout of nearly every building.

A few moments later, Drew had found himself standing still, just to the left of the Town Hall. Before him lay the now murky and still pond that once bellowed with Energy and Life. The tools that were not only of his brother’s exploits, but those that brought him back from beyond.

Kneeling down, he reached his hand into the cool water, rippling its neat and solemn surface as his fingers breached the barrier. Taking a deep breath he searched out for the powers that had once enveloped the land … and felt nothing but emptiness. An’Drew now knew why he had been summoned here to face Darth Phenum. With the guidance of the Coven displaced, the good doctor would have the advantage.

As he stood, he turned to look back in the direction from which he came. The heavy fog masked the quiet city as only faint green and red flicks of light from the shuttle array could be discerned. It didn’t matter though, because once his feet touched the freshly cut grass of this small town, An’Drew never expected to leave. He knew that there were only so many times a man could cheat death … real death … and his number would soon be up.