Against the Odds (Baralai Lotus)

[Jorshal Vuntana]

In order to fracture or puncture the skull of any human and most aliens a degree of incredible skill is required on the part of the one who wishes to inflict such damage upon another's skull. The fist of the one on the offensive needs to be solid with the thumb outside the palm to avoid breakage. The proper muscle mass and power is neededin every muscle within the arm, onto the trapezius in the back and the pectoral muscle in the chest. The final most important ingredient in crushing the skull of an opponent is the perfect alignment of every bone from phalanges to the humerus to form a perfect, solid line.

Within the smoky and dirty cage that held Jorshal and his unnamed opponent, surrounded by dozens of screaming and shouting aliens and humans from across the galaxy, all of these settings were perfectly met. A second later the four armed alien, who insisted no one could defeat him in a fair fight, ceased to be alive. The referee shouted in Huttese that Jorshal was the winner and raised his bloodied arm high into the air.

With a victory under his belt, he left the cage for the bar once the fans had cleared out. He sat down with his ale and felt his ribcage. Two, maybe three, were broken. Four arms... that was an unfair fight and I still won! He thought to himself as he gulped down the ale. In mid swig, a vibrating sensation erupted against his thigh and startled him. It was the comm that kept him in direct contact with the Order on Korriban.

"This is Jorshal, what do you need." He said quietly as to avoid attracting attention to himself.

"There is an issue on Tatooine we need you to investigate." A deep male's voice said. "You orders are to rendevous with an apprentice and proceed with the instructions given there."

"Gotcha." He said "Where's the rendevous point?"

"Mos Eisley space port. Good luck."

"Right." He said but not into the comm. He glanced at his ale and then the time. If he gave himself a little time, he could make Mos Eisley by morning.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai sat in the ship that was transporting him to Mos Eisely. He had been ordered to go there in some mission that the Order had called upon. Still unsure of what it was. He was reading a book on Alchemy, letting the words sink into his mind. He looked up at the roof of the ship into it's metallic surface.

The image shot back at Baralai like a blaster. In the mirror was no longer the same Baralai he had been, but now it was one with several scars on his lips, light scars, but they were still scars. His right eye was covered by a patch, bearing the symbol of the serpent devouring himself. . .Ouroboros.

Baralai knew the worst of these injuries however, his tounge was gone. He could not speak, lest it was through droids or psychic communication, which he was still having trouble using. He focused his thoughts into the force, letting them start to flow out into the open. Slowly his mind formed a sentence, just calling to the man in front of him.

He focused upon the man and let the force flow through him, his mind gathering at him. Slowly but surely, Baralai let the thought leave his mind, and like a whisper in the back of his head, Baralai felt a whisper. Not his own, but someone elses. . .it was the mans. He had developed a link on his psychic signature, it was now possible for him to communicate freely with him for the most part. Although in fits of great emotion, his words would seep into the minds of everyone, as though he were screaming them.

Regardless, Baralai had figured how to at least communicate with one person, he just had to stay focused on them. Which meant that during battle or in training he could use nothing else if he was trying to speak. This left his guard open. . .he would have to speak with Sasha about that later.

A booming voice came over the loudspeaker as the ship rocked back and forth uneasily.

"We have landed at Mos Eisely spaceport, please gather your belongings and travel to the nearest exit. Thank you for flying with us, have a nice day."

Baralai stood up, having all his belongings on him and headed for the exit behind him. Stepping out of the ship he watched to see the three suns of Tatooine rising over the horizon. Such a sight, like an artist took the three deepest shades of red and threw them against a backdrop of dusty yellow. Indeed gorgeous. . .

Taking the beauty into account he walked outside the spaceport standing in its doorway and awaited the person he was to rendevous with, preparing a scrap of paper that described Baralai's situation on speaking.

[Jorshal Vuntana]

Jorshal sat with his knees pressed against his chin and both fists pushing against each other on a sandstone bench outside the Mos Eisely spaceport. The latest mass transport had arrived only a half hour ago. If his helping hand was on it, his temper might cool down. Otherwise he was about to loose his mind.

Exhaling harshly as he jumped to his feet and peered through the open gap in the wall. He didn't see anyone he recognized and moved down to the doorway. While pushing people out of his view he came to the conclusion that the Sith who was supposed to meet him wasn't there. Or maybe he wasn't being patient enough.

"If the darkside was recklessness, you'd be a master." His deceased master Southstar's voice rang through his head. "But it's not. The darkside is unleashed passion. It is not the foolhearty do-what-you-want attitude that you've got. You need to be patient, you need to be attentive and observant." To Jorshal it seemed that Southstar's lectures would follow him until he met with his dead master at the grave.

Jorshal walked to a vendor's cart and retrieved an ale to cool his parched throat and entertain his mind. "Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough." He mumbled perhaps hoping that Southstar's lessons would hear him and leave. He peered through another gap in the pasty wall.

Nothing.

But at another glance he saw a disfigured man standing with a bag at the door of which the interior met with the outside. He scanned the man as he approached for any sign that he was the Sith he had been waiting on. Jorshal glanced at the face and then a piece of paper in the man's hand. The face seemed familar, but he wasn't sure. He studied the note for a moment and found the Sith emblem at the head of it.

"The order has stationary... unbelieveable." He muttered again and took a swig of his ale. "You're him right? The apprentice I"ve been waiting on." The man did not respond but clearly had acknowledged Jorshal. "Yeah, you. You have any idea how long I"ve been here?" Still no reply. "Are you deaf or something?"

This better be the right guy. He scolded within his mind.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai smiled and scribbled on the note, before handing it to Jorshal. The note was jotted down in print, small letters, but it was simple enough to read.

Yes, I am the one you've been looking for. And yes, I can't speak. . .I'm learning to speak with my mind, but it's not going so well. So. . .you have to be patient with me. Baralai Lotus is the name. . .

Baralai opened his mouth and showed the stub of a muscle that was once his tounge. With that he looked at Jorshal and did his best to focus on him. Trying to get the force to just let him speak to him. He put his thoughts, his words out into the force and speak to him.

His mind started to ache, just like before. . .but he had to focus. Through his one blue eye he could see the face of Jorshal, and he focused on it, pushing the force into it. Slowly, he started speaking.

"Can you hear me?"

He kept his mind focused on Jorshal, but he was trying not to let the force get the best of him. He had to keep it in control, it was his tool to use Sasha had once told him. Baralai knew he wasn't advanced enough to fight and talk at the same time, but he could at least walk and talk to one person as long as he stayed focused on them.

Baralai shot a glance to him, and his eye stared into Jorshal's, trying to get him to acknowledge the voice of Baralai in his head.

[Jorshal Vuntana]

"Barely." Jorshal said and scrunched his face at the sight of the stub in Baralai's mouth. "Gross." Jorshal lead the way across the street with Baralai close in tow. So what was this about? he thought to himself as he crossed the street. It couldn't involve any strong Force users, otherwise they wouldn't have called me here, I'm no good against those. Must be regular trouble makers... Better ask Baralai.

"So do you know what our job is? The guy I spoke with on the comm said I'd be given more instructions once I'd met with you."