Episode 1: The Search For An Apprentice

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:25 am Post subject:

[Safia]

She smirked when the Transdoshan told her to make them pay. The images of her ordeal kept flooding her thoughts…..the pain…..the humiliation. They didn’t even give her a chance to defend herself, to fight back.

She looked back at the man called Fripp. She leaned down with her head to the side of his and whispered “I’m going to make sure no one has your babies.” She took great pleasure in watching him squirm as she moved her lightsaber closer to his groin. One flick of her wrist and it was done leaving him withering in pain.

There were gasps and moans coming from the others and she turned her attention to them. She walked among them saying “Who is next? Which one shall I take a little piece of now?”
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Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:25 am Post subject:

"Good, good." Shensen clapped happily as he moved around to the front of the desk.

"Feel the force as you have never felt it before. No longer the calm still pond to dip into, but now a raging river full of power. Ride the rage, feel its flow through you and the focus of purpose if provides." He cooed at her. "I can teach you to use it, control it, and unlock powers greater than any Jedi has ever achieved."

She was still facing the kneeling captives with her saber and eyes blazing with righteous vengeance.

"All I ask in return is obedience." He leaned back against the desk and folded his hands behind his back. "If you can listen, you can learn."
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Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:26 am Post subject:

So now the time had come. The decision would be made here and the intricate weave of possible paths would be narrowed down from many to a few.

She would make the decision, and based upon that decision she would live or she would die. If she did not accept his offer then she was just another force wielder that needed culling from the herd.

He sensed Hashum getting closer. He must have received the coordinates that were sent. Things would get interesting around here.

Perhaps he would have one turned...perhaps two?
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Hashum · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject:

“Your wife is here, but I doubt you will like what you find.”

The message was very disturbing, somehow I knew it to be true, and I knew it would also be a trap. The Dark Side of the Force was strong; I could sense it shortly after starting towards the coordinates. The temperature seemed to drop off sharply, I pulled my cloak closer to my body but it was no help.

I no longer needed the coordinates, something had changed, this dark presence was new and now stood out like a black dagger and I had no trouble following it through the streets. As the main city began to fall away behind me I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head, there was much hate here, I knew I would not be welcomed, not warmly anyway.

The Force surrounded me; I walked with a slight slouch leaning forward with my face looking towards the ground. The Force making me seem nothing more than another lost soul wandering the street. Many of the residents had little interest in anyone else’s business and some of those who otherwise would pay me no mind, their weak minds dismissing my presence as intended.

As the buildings became smaller and closer together and the local’s became less destitute and more crooked, most of the lawless men probably establishing a safe haven here. I could now feel eyes giving me a little more noticed, those here would not be so easily swayed, the years of crime and sharpened some of their minds. At least two I was certain were now following me.

I turned down the next street much the same as all of them around here, half full of garbage and a few drunks scattered passed out long the sides of the street. I waited as the two approached, I slid my back down against the wall until I was sitting on the street, pulling my knee’s up so that I could wrap my arms around them and then draped my cloak over my body, lowering my head to at my knee’s and then continued to wait.

As they turned the corner they took a look down at me, and for a moment seemed as though they would dismiss me and continue on but instead stopped just a few steps away. I continued to sit as the walked back in front of me, I could not hear them but it sounded as if they were motioning to each other. One took a few steps to my left and then each of them grabbed one of my arms and pulling me to my feet.

One of them had a vibroblade which was quickly pressed to my throat, and I thought I felt a blaster in the other man’s hand pressed against my side.

“I thought it was you, thought you could just walk in here?”

I remained silent which didn’t seem to stop the man from carrying on.

“You’re face has been all around down here, someone’s pretty set against you bein’ here I’d think.”

“As a matter of fact considering what he’s offerin’ I’m quite sure he doesn’t want you here.”

“Guess we’re just lucky we were the first to notice ya.”

The man grinned, with the last remark and I felt the blade move from my throat as he pulled back to drive it through my throat.

Having remained motionless and silent to that point I pulled up my knee driving into the man’s groin, my other assailant momentarily stunned then went to pull the trigger of his blaster but his hesitation cost him his chance and as soon as the man with the blade had stumbled back holding his groin I pulled the blaster to my free hand. Quickly pushing the now unarmed man into the wall I slammed the butt of the blaster on the back of his head and he crumpled to the street.

Now aiming the blaster at the first assailant I switched the setting to stun and fired…

Hashum · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:02 am Post subject:

A moment after pulling the trigger I cursed myself. I had just alerted the entire area! I could already hear several people approaching. I could only hope the area was all to accustomed to the random shooting and that most might dismiss it as nothing out of the ordinary.

I walked out of the alley and quickened my pace, there was no time to lose now. Only a couple of minutes down the street I started to hear shouts, apparently shootings weren’t that ordinary around here after all. I took a look back to see several people pointing in my general direction and that was enough for me to bolt.

I could easily out run the mob behind me, none of them would be able to keep up. I was more worried about the attention I was going to draw ahead of me moving like I was. I scolded myself again for being so reckless.

Several blaster bolts came at me from behind a dumpster and I had to slow down and veer to my left to avoid the shot. When both feet were planted I leaped onto the dumpster and then flipped off the top turning in mid-air landing behind my assailant all in one fluid motion. As he turned around to face me I pulled the trigger and his stunned body fell to the ground.

More shots began to fire, some from the roof of a near by building and several from nearby alleyways. I dropped the blaster I’d been holding and tried taking cover by wedging myself behind the dumpster. Several men came out of the alleyways trying to get a good shot. One shot hit the wall beside me and singed my left bicep.

Taking a deep breath I pulled my lightsaber from my belt and dashed across the street. Two of them men that had been approaching fired and my saber came to life deflecting both shots away. As I came to a stop with my back against the wall of a building on the opposite side of the street they fired again and this time I was able to reflect one of the shots back hitting one of the men in the chest killing him.

I start slowly creeping down the street with my back against the wall. Continuing to deflect as many shots as I could and taking cover whenever possible. I had managed to kill the another one of the men in the street but there were still at least five to seven more that I couldn’t see. There were probably two on the roof and four or five in the nearby alleyways.

There was a small alley not far back to my left. I’d passed it earlier not wanting to get cornered but considering I wasn’t any better off now I reconsidered. I slowly start back, again some of the thugs seeing what I had in mind began trickling out and started converging. Deflecting the last round of shots I slipped back into the alley out of their line of sight briefly.

Down the alley only a few meters was a metallic door. There was no handle and as I ran my hand along cold metal door saw no means of opening it. I took a quick look back to my left to make sure no one was in firing range yet. I thrust my saber into the door slowly melting the metal. As the metal started to glow orange and begin dripping I started to carve out an opening.

Before I could finish however a shot came down the alley narrowly missing me. I had to pull my saber from the door as two men came down the alley single file. Another shot came from the street behind them as they approached and as I moved to deflect that shot the first man in the alley fired, striking me in the leg before I could react. My leg buckled forcing me to one knee. As he fired again I reflected the shot but missing him. I pushed myself back with my good leg putting me directly in front of the two men in the alley using them to block any more attempts from the street.

The second man then moved to my right so that the two blocked the alley exit. Stretching out my arm I sent a wave of the Force into the two, they both flew back several meters landing on the ground and more then likely unconscious. With them out of the way several more shots came from the street which I was able to deflect.

With little other used the Force around me to cloak myself, appearing to vanish for a moment I pulled myself back to the door. I pushed my saber back into the door, allowing myself to return to visibility. Summoning the Force around me temporarily protecting me from the blaster fire long enough to carve out enough of the door to allow myself to get inside…

Hashum · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject:

The interior of the building was poorly lit, and reeked like a wet Wookiee. The building appeared to be something of an old hotel, there were doors running down the entire length of the hall. Several of the doors were hanging on their hinges or just missing altogether. There was a lift about half way down the hall but it was apparently out of operation. A little further down the hall there was a wide elaborate staircase leading up to the next floor.

This floor was much more open, in front of me there were two large doors, probably to meeting rooms of some sort and then another hallway much like the one downstairs. I continued down the hallway towards the opposite end of the building. I finally reached the other way only to find a dead end.

I turned around to try back tracking but there were two more goons now coming up the stairs. I quickly slipped into one of the rooms conveniently missing the door. Holding my lightsaber I waited patiently. Once the first goon popped his head inside the door way to take a look inside my blade ignited and his head dropped to the floor followed by the rest of his body.

I walked out the door seeing the next man already running towards me from down the other side of the hallway. And someone else was already on their way up. Reaching out with the Force I pushed the man down the flight of stairs bowling over his companion and taking them both crashing to the bottom of the staircase.

While they were pulling themselves back up I started back to the staircase myself. By the time I limped back they were already on their way back up and had their blasters drawn. As a shot came up the stairs I quickly stepped back into the hall out of their line of sight.

I let out a long sigh while they were getting a better angle. This entire mess was getting old very quickly. The door to the room in front of me was hanging by just one hinge. Running out of idea’s I pulled door loose holding it out in front of me with the Force like a frail shield turning it horizontally I sent it flying into the two men, pinning them briefly against the railing of the stairs.

I walked back into the stairwell and sent my saber flying at the two still struggling to move the heavy door. The blade cut through the closest man. I let the saber fall to the ground instead calling the dead mans blaster to my hand and shot the remaining goon. I then dropped the blaster, and recovered my saber before going back down the other side of the hall.

The building must have been quite old as luck would have it and there was a much narrower staircase at the other end of the hall. It went up for several floors before ending at a door that probably led to the roof. I went back down to last floor and entered the first open room. I slumped in a corner out of sight of the doorway.

My leg was still burning, luckily the blaster shot had cauterized the wound immediately. Still it was sore and I was unable to support myself on it. I just needed a few minutes to rest…

Hashum · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject:

I took several deep breaths and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself and think clearly. My body was aching from the ordeal already. Despite all my training extended use of the Force like this took a toll on the body. My shoulders and neck were starting to cramp and I had been sweating profusely. I removed my cloak and tossed it into the corner next to me.

I knew I didn’t have much time before more thugs came looking for me. As much as my body needed the rest I couldn’t afford it. I had to get moving again, before I did I called on the Force again, using it to help slowly heal the wound on my leg. I didn’t have time to heal the entire wound now, it would probably take me hours to do that. Instead I meditated over it for about 20 minutes until I was comfortable it could support my weight again.

Picking myself back up I peered up and down the hall and headed back to the door to the roof. As luck would have it, it was locked of course. Using my lightsaber I simply cut around the lock on the door and it slowly swung open.

As I stepped outside the sun was beginning to set and the sky had turned a light pink. I scanned the horizon which was filled with storm clouds in the west. The storm wouldn’t be far behind the setting sun. I walked around the perimeter of the roof looking for a way down, luckily whoever was on the roofs earlier must have gone down to the street by now as I didn’t see anyone else. Unfortunately the search proved fruitless, there was no means of getting back down without going back through the building. That was not an option I wanted to think about now.

Several of the rooftops were close together and so I jumped to the next building. This building didn’t seem to have any access to the interior of the building though so I moved onto the next. On about the fourth roof I finally found a large pyramid shaped window on the roof. I down into the building which appeared empty from this vantage point, I used the hilt of my saber to break the glass window and jumped in…

Hashum · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

I made my way to the ground floor with no trouble, the building was inhabited but most of them were scattered along the halls passed out drunk. I waited until the storm clouds overtook the sun and a light drizzle started falling outside. I stepped back out into the streets.

As I walked down the street I regretted tossing my cloak now. It was a light rain but it felt like ice on my skin. A flash of lightning cut across the sky followed by a clap of thunder. I stuck close to the building, taking cover from the rain whenever I could but constantly moving forward.

The street lights were dim, and many of them out completely. I didn’t need the light though, I was being pulled now and knew I was getting closer.

I walked through the rain for probably 20 or 30 minutes before I arrived at my destination. It was at the far end of a side alley, no one would have ever found this place. It radiated with evil, and without thinking I went to pull my cloak around me before cursing myself again for discarding it.

Just standing there in the rain I looked at the building for several minutes. Part of me didn’t want to go any further, I didn’t want to know what was inside. I took a deep breath and started to the door.

There didn’t appear to be any window’s, I’d walked around the perimeter hoping to maybe see something, but there wasn’t a hint of anything.

I walked back to the door in the front of the building. I looked up at the building again and took a deep breath before reaching for the door. It opened effortlessly and I stepped inside…

Shensenn · Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject:

Blasterfire rang out in the distance and the low rumble of thunder could be heard on the horizon. Shensen smiled.

"Finish up with them," He said nodding toward the men. "then you can put these on." Shensen said placing a neatly folded bundle of clothing on one of the rickety tables. Her nudity didn't seem to be much of an issue for her, but she couldn't travel like that without attracting the wrong kind of attention in this part of the city. "We will have a guest soon, one who is very interested in meeting you." He finished with a smirk.
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Safia · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 12:12 am Post subject:

She looked at the Transdoshan as he placed the bundle of clothing on the table. Funny, she thought, she didn’t even realize she was nude. The only thoughts in her head were to get even for the wrongs these men had done to her. She felt rage…..hate…..like she had never felt before. She liked this feeling. It made her feel strong and powerful. She would use it to do as he bid….”Finish up with them”.

She drew upon the dark Force and struck with such speed that it amazed her. Their screams did not last long and body parts lay around the room. The only one she did not kill was Fripp.

She picked up the clothes lying on the table and put them on. Her dark red hair was matted and dirty and she tried to pull it back out of her face. Her eyes glowed as she turned to the Transdoshan and she looked at him curiously and asked, “What is it you would have me do?”

Shensenn · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject:

"Our guest should be here soon. I'm sure he will want to talk with you so give him a...proper welcome." Shensen grinned. "Be ready to move quickly when the time comes."

His eyes became distant for a moment. "He is here. Be ready."

Shensen pulled his hood over a little further as he backed into the shadows of the dark room. Safia stood calmly in the same place shooting venomous glares at Fripp, who continues to moan and cower.

He would not normally ask such a thing of a new prospect. A Jedi master such as Hashum would dispatch her quite easily, but Shensen was counting on the fact that he would be tired and likely wounded. Aside from that the shock value of seeing his bride like this would surely shake the stoic Jedi calm they all claimed to have.

Shensen had told the Council numerous times that not allowing Jedi to marry was an old tradition worth keeping, but they didn't listen. Now their mistake would be to his benefit...as it likely would many times in the future. He would prove them wrong one way or another. Ultimately it mattered not. Soon he would finish what the Emperor and his lackey could not.
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Hashum · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject:

Stepping inside the main room was very poorly lit; actually the only light seemed to be coming from a room down a hall toward the back of the building. As soon as I stepped in the smell immediately turned my stomach. But there she was still in one piece standing next to a small table, she was clothed in rags and holding her saber, I started to walk towards her and opened my mouth to speak but, it was then I noticed the floor littered with dismembered bodies, obviously seared by her saber.

I noticed one man still alive cowering away from her and fear and slowly sliding himself down the hall. She seemed to ignore him, and turned her head to face me. With the light from the room behind her I couldn’t make out any of the details of her face, but there was no mistaking her fiery red hair.

For a moment everything around me seemed to fade, and I started to take another step toward her. I wanted to say something, anything, but I couldn’t find the words. I just wanted to hold her again. To have her safe in my arms, as I took another step though the rest of the building came back into vision and I stood up straight for a moment. I turned my head to look to my right, there was a small nook in the corner shaded from the light.

I couldn’t make anything out but I knew someone was there, seeing Safia again was all I had cared about, but it wasn’t over yet. Now thinking more about it Safia had been facing the corner when I walked in. And I quickly looked back at her, but she was now watching the man continuing to crawl away. I then quickly looked back to the corner. This wasn’t right.

My eyes darted back and forth between Safia and whomever was in the nook, she quickly look back in the direction of the nook as if she were being spoken too. Than she began looking at me again, something was very wrong, I knew it, I could feel it. I still could think of no words, my mind was racing, what was going on.

She took a step towards me and my head turned back to the nook, as I did I heard a lightsaber ignite. I looked back and saw the pink blade of Safia’s lightsaber, she swung powerfully at my neck but my saber ignited stopping the strike. I could feel the heat of the two blades just inches from my left shoulder.

I looked her in the eyes questioning her without words, why? But there was no love in her eyes, and no reason either. They were just cold, and distant. Everything about her seemed cold. I wanted to cry, I could feel the tears starting to well in my eyes. I had nothing left, I was tired, I was drained, and no suddenly I felt hollow on top of it all.

Safia lifted her blade slowly and I took a short step back…”How?” I thought to myself. But before I could answer my own question she swung again, I only had my right hand on my saber and as it instinctively moved to parry and as the two saber’s met she continued to push down towards my throat. As her saber slide along the edge of mine I could feel the sparks burn the side of my neck. I had to grab the hilt with my other hand before I was able to start pushing the saber’s away from my neck.

My heart didn’t want to accept what was happening here, I wouldn’t allow my mind to rationalize it, or even think it. It simply wasn’t possible. But she swung again, and again. Each time it was all I could do to block each strike. I was moving back around the room toward the hall near where she had been originally.

She swung the saber again and as I moved to block this one I tripped on a chair that was lying on the floor, landing flat on my back. Without thinking I kicked the chair towards her but she stopped it with her foot and stepped over it. That gave me time to roll backwards and back onto my feet. As I planted my feet though my bad leg buckled again and I feel to one knee.

I didn’t care anymore, there was just no point left to it. She was lost to me, she was lost to the Force. Tears began to well in my eyes again. This wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair…it just wasn’t fair.

“Why?” I asked finally, my voice cracking, the word was barely audible.

But everything about her remained cold, her eyes, her presence, she felt dead to me…

She said nothing and swung again to take off my head. I don’t know why I didn’t want to, I wanted to die now, but I lifted my saber again and stopped her saber.

“WHY!” I thought again, it just wasn’t fair, it wasn’t possible. And I could feel my own blood begin to boil, I willed it not to be true. I wouldn’t let it be true!

I grabbed my saber with my other hand again and pushed her blade away. It wouldn’t be true.

I stood up again and she struck again and again, and this time I pushed her saber away each time. Pushing her back now.

I thought to myself “This isn’t real, no, Safia wouldn’t do this, she couldn’t do this.” My heart refused to believe it, I wouldn’t believe it, I would never believe it.

With that I parried another strike and SCREAMED!

As her saber swung back I lunged forward striking it down and then striking it again sending it across the floor…

Shensenn · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 8:53 pm Post subject:

Shensen watched the exchange while using the force to gently probe her opponent. To put it mildly he was a wreck. She indeed had the desired effect. She was strong - much stronger than he had given her credit for.

Using the force he spoke to her in a whisper.

He is physically weakened. His emotions are no better. Stretch out with the force and feel his anguish. Your task is complete for now.

Shensen unleashed a fury of force lightning from his hidden corner effectively knocking Hashum sideways into the wall. Shensen let the sweet power flow through him a second or two longer than was necessary. Partly to ensure the Jedi Master would not be moving anytime too soon....partly.

Motioning to his apprentice her lightsaber flew back into her hand and they walked through the door into what was now a full storm.
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Safia · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject:

Safia walked down the hallway of her SoroSuub Yacht. It had been a harrowing few days and she was sure Hashum must be out of his mind with worry wondering where she could be. She had tried several times to reach him through the force while meditating but the distance was too great between them and the static of the Ion field around her surely paid a part in preventing it.

She still was puzzled that the ships sensors didn’t pick up the space debris heading right toward the ship. When it hit it sent the ship spiraling out of control throwing her against the ship’s panel and knocking her unconscious. When she awoke she found it had damaged the main controls and communication systems.

She put her R2 unit to work fixing the damage and was on her way to see if the droid was making progress. She was worried it would be unable to get the ship up and running and was hoping that at least the communications would be fixed enough to send out a message to Hashum so he would know she was alright.

She had had an uneasy feeling ever since leaving Coruscant and was anxious to get back to Tatooine. When she arrived in the main control room she checked with the droid and found that the communications were good enough to send out a message. She hoped he would be able to read it.

Wondering what route would be the best way back home; she picked the holocube up and looked for a map of this system. “Looks like it will be sometime before I manage to make my way home.” she said sadly.

Safia · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject:

>> >>Incoming transmission<< <<

....ash,
Shi.........hit by spa....debris.....ain controls and communica...syst....
..amaged. R2..........got communications....unning.....soon as.....ain
controls......orking I will....ack to.....atooine.

Lov....af

>> >>End transmission<< <<