Trinity Asunder

[Tam Jeneel]

(OOC: Thread takes place two days after this (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16446))



I'd spent the past two days in the best of company, with my old mate from the Academy, Zem, and his doe-eyed refugees. We'd parted ways with Lok, to visit a nearby planet full of a sect of isolationist Jedi she'd called Guardians. Their ways sure were strange, and I considered myself well traveled. We spoke our piece, and they agreed to help us in our plight. They were strange men, but we were treated warmly without reservation.

Now, it was time to return. I knew Zem was eager as I was to get moving, so we lit out first thing in the morning, with only a word among the refugee leader, Dan, to slow us. I'd a feeling he was wanting to hear something a bit more from us. I had a bit of sympathy for him, he was a fighter. Hopefully, he'd find us again, in a better position to stop running and take a stand against this evil. But for now, that would have to wait.

"Schwartzweld's coming up."

Zem was hard at work at the controls, and I just stared on, a bit useless. How a man had the wherewithal to suss out these Cizeri controls, I hadn't the foggiest. Vymes was always a bit of a gearhead, so it was probably simple mechanics intuition.

"Good. Wonder if she misses us. Enough to make breakfast at least!"

[s'Il]

The stronghold of House Richter was abandoned, its' solitary occupant having left earlier that morning. Things were as they had been; before the refugees. All was quiet, save for the occasional birdcall and the crashing of the waves against the closest shoreline.

Except for the clothes, neatly folded atop a small pile of leatherbound books. What possessions the children had deemed playthings had been returned, with the exception of a few trinkets that had been allowed to leave with a few of the younger ones.

From the treeline, a kha'ro bird took flight, and was soon followed by another. A warning cry could be heard, and within moments the entire flock - which had been roosting in the lower brushes - burst out from the trees, flying skyward. They scattered up in a line, and small earthbound creatures followed in their wake, also alerted to the impending danger, whatever it might've been.

Paws pounded into the soft dirt, and the unmistakeable sound of a body crashing through the foliage heralded the arrival of their hunter. Now out in the open, the smaller creatures split apart; some doubling back into the protection of the wood while others rushed on blindly forward. They had grown complacent, running unchecked upon the island for untold years. There had been nothing to stop them, after all, from breeding and living for as long as their little lifespans would allow.

But now, on this morning, they had been torn from their previous existance. The stark white beast that burst out into the noonday sun was proof enough. It surged forward, powerful muscles driving it onwards, after those that had unwisely chosen to continue running straight ahead.

Whiplike tail acting like a counterbalance as the great white vornskr gave chase, it began closing the distance.

[Zem-El Vymes]

We coasted through the clouds, lazily coming up on the island where House Richter stood. I aligned the ship for a gentle descent onto the main meadow, where we'd landed before. Nearby, I could see Tam's T-wing, and the blaster pocks on its hull, miniscule set against the Lupine mansion.

"Breakfast, I don't think you'll need to worry. She's not a girl to skip her meals."

Almost on cue, I watched a white blur coasting lazily along the banks of a field of green. Almost too miniscule to see from this altitude, there seemed to be animals running in front of her, likely flushed from the forest.

[s'Il]

With wild abandon the beast charged onward, her prey running for all they were worth. The whine of repulsar engines cut the sky, and caused the smaller animals to bank away, with s'Il still churning up the ground behind them.

Closer she came, and her lips curled back to reveal a row of glistening teeth. The creatures swerved back around, and the vornskr cut a sharp turn to effectively close the distance even further. She could smell their fear. One of them lagged behind, and her jaws dipped down, catching it by the lower spine before twisting violently and throwing the animal to the side.

One more should do it...

[Tam Jeneel]

"Well that'll do then."

I shifted in my seat a bit, still a bit unaccustomed to the Cizerack accoutrements around me. Zem, for his part, touched down a soft landing, and we were happily on the ground in no time. I sighed, stretched, and hopped out of the seat, lending my comrade a hand as we exited the ship.

"I figure we can enjoy a little more sunshine, discuss our next steps, before we're cooped up in this tin can again."

[s'Il]

It was the distant sound
of landing struts descending that finally pulled her from the chase; she'd been so close, too! With a sigh, the white vornskr slowed to a gradual halt, mindful to keep as much out of sight as possible. Tam didn't know, and for now she would want to keep it that way. She knew that Zem would not tell him.

With a snorted breath through her nose, the Lupine watched longingly at the fleeing animals as they disappeared once more into the woods.

Her frame heaved in spent energy, and she shook her body. The shoreline wasn't far off, and turning around, her gait lengthened into an easy jog, back to where their breakfast had landed.

It'd been too long since she'd had red meat, and s'Il found herself very nearly salivating at the thought.

Her reversion was smooth, and soon enough her bare feet stopped at the small-ish creature's body. Crouching, s'Il turned it over, examining her handiwork. The spine had been severed; it'd been a quick kill. She couldn't remember what the thing was called here, but it seemed to be related to jakrabs, if not twice the size. Not to mention it had far more meat on its' bones.

Grabbing ahold of the hind legs, the Lupine started off towards the castle stronghold, dragging her catch along with her.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Yeah, I did want to get around to that."

I was eager to pick Tam's brain. He'd arguably gained as much ground as we had, if not more. We needed to know the places we were welcome, the places we weren't, and everything in between. I was fresh off this last mercy mission and eager to find the next unfortunates to help.

We made our way to the ad-hoc campsite we'd established a couple of days back. I could tell that s'Il had tended the fire when we were gone. I ran my hands a few inches over the ash pile and it was still hot.

"Coals underneath. Best get this fed."

I stirred a stick about, knocking over fresh coals to be seen, as I laid several other small sticks atop them in a cris-cross fashion. A few minutes later, the flames started licking the wood, and we were on our way to a decent fire.

[s'Il]

The thing was heavier than she'd thought, but it still presented little problem; just meant more meat. Which, in itself would be a bit of an experience for her; like the Lupine liquor, she hadn't really ever gotten much of a chance to sample what had been her own people's normal foodsource. Though truth be told, she wasn't sure that whatever it was she'd done in used to be considered edible, or worth eating even.

Dragging the dead animal - why couldn't she remember what it was called? - through one of the archways, the Lupine trudged onwards, still very much without apparel and approaching the restoked fire.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Look lively, man. Open air and a warm fire. Damn sure we won't be seeing sights this beautiful in the next few days."

Tam helped himself, kneeling to the fire and extending his palms. He smiled contentedly, closing his eyes. When he reopened them a few seconds later, he spotted s'Il, dressed in the only suit creation had given her. Tam stammered, and eventually blurted out the obvious.

"Oy! Your clothes are off!"

[s'Il]

She smiled wide, still hefting their meal in her wake.

"And you're staring," she grinned back. If it hadn't been before, it was certainly now more than apparent that s'Il had little to no shame.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"I think what Tam is saying,"

I ventured with a diplomatic tone, smiling in a bemused fashion as I spoke

"is that it might be a little too cold for that this morning."

I smiled politely back at my padawan, implying that she should either find some garments, or come up with a clever explanation to pass off on Tam.

[s'Il]

Zem's look was caught by the corner of her eye, and s'Il dropped the creature beside the fire. Taking a knee, she wiped away any excess mud and grime from her hands using the soft fur, looking at Tam from over the tops of her eyes.

She nodded politely, mindful to keep her gaze locked with his.

"I took a swim earlier, and napped on the beach."

With one last wipe, the Lupine rose to stand while inclining her head to Zem. The mirth in her eyes was plain to see.

"Master," she said, excusing herself.

[Tam Jeneel]

I opened my mouth to say something, and promptly closed it, watching her walk away.

"Some of us taking advantage of the wide & open a little more, perhaps."

I was easily distracted by what she'd left behind, however.

"Well isn't that an angel."

Carefully wielding my lightsaber, I fine-tuned the blade to emit a sliver of light, and split the hide of the fresh game she'd brought, at once cutting it at the throat to bleed the beast. I hoisted it to the bough of the nearest tree, running a flexible branch around its hind quarters and tying a knot to stabilize.

"Not off the skillet, but do it yourself as you please. Now that isn't bad at all."

[s'Il]

Dressing was a rather quick affair, as her thoughts centered on her soon-to-be meal. Normally, she would have happily settled for eating the meat raw and uncooked, but it was not just her and Zem eating. It was well enough though; Tam's presence was worth the minor inconvenience.

The clothes she'd chosen were more suited to travel, and though she did gather a few more aesthetically pleasing outfits, for now practicality had the upper hand.

Her gait was casual as she approached the fire once more, her eyes drawn to the inverted creature.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Well, our time with the Guardians bore fruit. They were quite willing to help us."

I figured it was time to cut to the chase and talk details. I sat cross-legged at the fire, my hands folded in my lap.

"Suprisingly, they have no knowledge of the recent events."

[s'Il]

Emotionless as he spoke of the Guardians, s'Il let her eyes fall to the flame, watching as their forked tongues reached upwards. It was hypnotizing almost, and she felt herself relax a bit more as she took a seat close to Zem.

"Not surprising; the Leh'beni don't really make it a point to wander outside the system, and we're far enough away from Normal Space to really be of any sort of importance."

Opting to make as little mention of the Guardians as possible, the Lupine changed the subject.

"Where do we go now? If what you say is true, Tam, than it seems as though it'd be a good idea to avoid Imperial space as best we can."

[Tam Jeneel]

"Best we can, but not too much."

I kicked my boots off, opting to warm my bare feet by the fire as I lay my socks nearby for a little drying.

"We got too many good deeds that are left needing to be done, and I imagine more people will be looking for our help in low places. We can't just find a quiet slice of wild space and hope the Emperor forgets we aren't dead."

[s'Il]

s'Il accepted a slice of meat offered from Zem, and pushing a slab of rock as close to the fire as possible, she lay the raw flesh on it. It would take a short while to warm up and start to actually begin cooking, but she didn't need to leave it on for long. Closest to rare as she could get it, without raising any suspicion on Tam's part.

"Well of course," the Lupine murmured, leaning back to sit beside her master once more.

"Though it would be rather nice if the Emperor did forget we were still alive."

[Zem-El Vymes]

I continued to dress the fresh kill, laying strips of meat on the large cooking stones around the periphery.

"Is there a general plan among the survivors to form an active resistance?"

It seemed the logical conclusion. The more work we did out here, the more we would attract notice. A confrontation was inevitable.

[s'Il]

Leaving the two to their own topic of conversation, s'Il stared almost glassy-eyed at the meat she'd set beside the fire. She thought of Teagan, and wondered what the little girl was up to now.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Survival is the first order, but every friend we can find is a welcome one."

I went to work at searing some of the meat by the fire.

"The trouble is, we have to be transient, whatever we do. The threat of the Imperial starfleet is enormous. We can't lay down stakes anywhere, even this far out. We can't assume they won't besiege any stronghold."

We spoke on the matter, and I picked both of them for input on the issue. While the survivors I'd encountered had all agreed on this course, it was still important to gather their input. They'd spent a considerable amount of time on the lam.

We ate, spoke about unpleasant business, and more pleasant personal reconnections. Eventually, we concluded our morning ritual, and I re-applied my socks and boots.

"Great weather for a farewell, I suppose."

I looked up at the crisp morning sky. Vast expanses of blue with the light smattering of fluffy white clouds. It was very scenic.

[s'Il]

And so this was it. Her last day spent on Schwartsweld. A quiet stare was sent to the masonry andstonework of House Richter's stronghol. When would she be back? Would she be back?

But that was a silly thought; Zem had said they would be, and she trusted him to keep his word. They'd already stayed far longer than he'd intended, but it was something that she was grateful for regardless.

Her feet were still bare, and s'Il made no move to rectify the situation as she rose to stand. Without a word she took a step forward and headed for the outer stairs where she'd placed the few books that she intended on taking with her. A few other assorted items had been chosen as well, as she felt they might be needed. Carefully she gathered up the texts, a long wrapped bundle, and a few other small parcels.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Let me help you with that."

I parted from the fire, and joined my Padawan to retrieve her effects. I understood how much it meant to her to retain them. Tam, in the meantime, began to transfer his gear to the yacht.

"Every end is a new beginning. I think this is a good thing."

[s'Il]

The Lupine was quiet for a few moments, allowing him to take hold of the parcels and a few of the books. The rest she had little problem with.

As they started for the yacht, s'Il let out a wistful sigh.

"I know, it's just... home, is all."

[Zem-El Vymes]

Hefting her books, I walked along with her back to the ship.

"My home was the Academy. Yours, you can still return to. Some day."

[s'Il]

At this she looked up at him.

"You don't think that it'll be rebuilt?"

Perhaps it was her turn to give assurances; it was hard to tell with him sometimes, and s'Il had been finding herself having to strain to try and read him.

"I highly doubt that the Empire can keep the Jedi at its' swordpoint for very long."

[Zem-El Vymes]

"The future isn't easy to see."

I considered her reassurance, looked into the distance a moment, then smiled at her slightly.

"Perhaps some day."

We arrived at the ship, and I stepped aboard, mindful to stow her belongings securely. Tam had already made himself at home and had arranged his meager stocks in the galley.

[s'Il]

In the small cabin that she'd claimed as her own, s'Il carefully set the books she was carrying on the bed. Still holding the wrapped bundle, the Lupine watched Zem leave, her eyes lingering on the back of his head before he disappeared from view.

Letting out a quiet sigh, she turned her attentions back to the bundle she held. Sitting beside the books she'd placed on the bunk, s'Il gently began to unfold the cloth wrappings,mindful of what was held within. She knew what it was from the moment she'd seen it weeks ago, and knew also that when the time came for her and Zem to leave, she would take it with her.

The last of the linen fell away, and s'Il took the handle in a firm grip.

It was a sword; straight with an edge that was still sharp even after centuries of unuse. The handle a mix of metal and wood, s'Il ran her eyes along the blade before letting her gaze move to the pommel. Instead of the normal cap was a long hook.

She blinked, remembering what her father - Mr. Flux - had told her in the past of Lupine weapons. The hooked swords were terribly efficient, and meant to emulate the tail of the Lupines' vornskr form.

Holding the blade in front of her, she inspected it to be sure that no imprfections appeared in the steel.

Of course there weren't, but it was a force of habit by now.

Reaching a hand up, the Lupine tested the edge with her thumb.

[Tam Jeneel]

A knock came at the cabin door.

"Oy now, best be puttin that up when we push off. A nasty bit of something to fall on in turbulence."

[s'Il]

Without looking to him, the Lupine continued to run a finger along the blade's edge.

"You speak as though I'm new to this."

Her thumb reached the tip, and with a satisfied smirk s'Il twisted her wrist around so that the weapon pointed its' tip at an angle towards the deck. It had no sheath; perhaps she would fashion one herself. Tam had no way of knowing about the planet he now stood upon, but that didn't mean that his words needled at her any less.

She remained stoic however. But soon enough her features creased into a smile. Tam had always had that effect on people, and though she'd never been one of the more social padawans at the temple, even she was not immune to it whenever she'd found herself in his presence. The man was just so likeable.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I'd wrapped up the packing, and returned to the cockpit. With a few steps, I began the warmup process. The engines hummed to life as I ran the usual checks.

"Everything green so far. Tam, you call the grid."

[s'Il]

s'Il carefully rewrapped the blade with the cloth linens. Setting it on her bunk as she stood, the Lupine eased past Tam with a mild grin while wrapping an arm around his waste and pulling him from the doorway of her cabin.

"Come now; you should know better than to watch a lady in her own rooms."

[Tam Jeneel]

"You've nothing to worry over. I've seen you in your original clothes, so to speak, and I'm still a Caridan Oak."

I chuckled with a toothy grin slipping by. She still puzzled me to my wit's end with that one.

[s'Il]

With her arm wrapped about his waste, the Lupine deftly pinched at the flesh below his ribcage.

"Yes well, I may have been without my clothes, but I'm sure it's nothing you've not seen before."

The books and sword however, were things that he'd not seen before, and s'Il would've rather it stay that way. It wasn't that she distrusted Tam, it was just that it'd take time; as it had for Master Windu and as it had for her new master, Zem.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I continued the liftoff sequence, listening vaguely to the other two intermingling. It was good that s'Il was bonding again, and Tam was certainly a good person for that task. Still, I wondered if she might be looking for more, or something else.

Dismissing the thought, I withdrew the gangplank, engaged the repulsors, and gently lofted the craft into the air, drawing the struts up into the fuselage as I did.

"Alright everyone. We're spacebound."

[s'Il]

The sound of Zem's voice was enough to pull her from Tam, and s'Il took a few hurried steps so that she entered the pilothouse before him. She wanted to get at least one last look at Schwartzweld.

With hands gripping the back of Zem's seat in a tight grip, the Lupine kept her eyes straight ahead before whispering.

"We're coming back, right?"

[Tam Jeneel]

"It's what the man said."

I nodded as I crossed my arms, taking the seat opposite.

"There's no reason for the Empire to bring war here. So long as we overcome this threat, we will one day return."

The atmosphere melted away into a purple, then inky black set against sparkles of starlight.

"Zem, take coordinates to Rumigaar. It's on the conventional charts, but still outside the bounds of Imperial worlds."

[s'Il]

Only her eyes shifted to take in a quick glance at Tam before moving to stare ahead once more.

One hand moved down to lightly squeeze at Zem's shoulder however. All thoughts of Tam, the refugees, and even Dan had gone now.

Please.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Rumigaar, I don't know of it."

I plodded through the nav, flipping through the nearest sectors until Tam pointed it out for me by constellation. Some day, I was going to learn Cizeri and be done with the hassle.

"Got it."

I began to feed the coordinates, and as I did, I looked back empathetically to my padawan.

"One day."

The coordinates set, I reached to s'Il and placed my hand atop hers, as I engaged the drive with my other.

[s'Il]

It was a strange feeling, standing as he engaged the hyperdrive. But, it was nothing that would send her tumbling, and the Lupine easily shifted her weight while remaining where she was.

She watched the stars stretch out into lines, and with a smooth motion her wrist twisted beneath his so that she clasped his hand in a firm grip.

[Tam Jeneel]

The jaunt through hyperspace lasted less than a minute, and we were soon snapped back into realspace. Predictably, a klaxon went off on the control board, signaling no doubt that numerous metal objects were being detected in the system.

Fortunately, I knew well enough of them. Rumigaar was a Confederate staging zone during the war, until the Republic starfleet launched a full offensive. The Trade Federation alone lost a dozen droid ships, the skeletons of most still floated lazily in various levels of planetary orbit.

[s'Il]

Nervous eyes darting about the bridge, s'Il gripped Zem's hand just a bit tighter at the sound of the alarm. Had they been found? Were they on a collision course with something? She couldn't see any of the familiar-shaped Star Destroyers looming in their view, but the Lupine knew that that didn't mean much.

Without thinking, her fingernails began to dig a little deeper into the flesh of Zem's hand, a telltale sign that she'd become more than a litte spooked.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Relax, no enemies on scope."

I gazed at the field of dead starships in front of us, realizing exactly what it was.

"Trade Federation starships, from the war."

I began to move us closer to the graveyard, when my sensors picked up a power source ahead.

"Looks like another ship in the debris field."

I glanced back to Tam. Was this a rendezvous?

[s'Il]

She too, looked to Tam. Having let go of Zem's hand so that he could pilot, the Lupine gripped the back of his seat with still a small amount of nervousness. Even if the dead husks in front of them were lifeless, they still didn't look any less worrisome.

Out of anticipation, s'Il found herself grinding her back teeth.

[Tam Jeneel]

Tam leaned forward a bit, scrutinizing the shape in the distance.

"Looks like a Corellian patrol craft. Call out to it."

I waited for Zem to hit the channel.

"Zuris, Mari, this is Tam. Are we alone?"

We waited a moment for the response, and I looked reassuringly to s'Il.

"Tam, good to see you back. What happened to your T-wing?"

I shrugged it off.

"Gave up the ghost, I'm afraid. Fortunately I found myself with friends in low places."

[s'Il]

Zuris... Mari...

They were names she didn't recognize; but then again, s'Il had not been one to socialize during her time at the Temple. She had few friends, and preferred it to stay that way.

Tam's glance did ease her nerves somewhat though, and the Lupine let out a breath she'd not been aware of holding. Relaxing just a little, she loosened her grip on Zem's seat and leaned forward against it.

[Zem-El Vymes]

The name Mari sounded familiar.

"Mari Coreon?"

The familiar voice replied.

"Zem Vymes? Is that you?"

I found myself smiling. Mari was an old companion during the Sullust sieges.

"If it isn't, I need to see a doctor."

"Who else is with you?"

I looked to s'Il.

"Loklorien s'Ilancy, Master Windu's former padawan."

"I know of her." The voice that I could only presume was Zuris came through as well.

[s'Il]

Biting her lip, s'Il kept quiet. At least Zem knew one of the Jedi they were talking to. She shifted her stance, placing most of her weight on her left leg. The Lupine still felt a small bit of nervousness, but beyond that she could sense nothing; everything smelled... safe. Or at least, as safe as the air in the Cizerack yacht could smell. She knew that the only ones she could scent at the moment were herself, Zem, and Tam, and it didn't stop her from feeling a nagging trepidation.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Enough chit chat you two, lets get to the planet. We've done our hellos."

"Understood, Tam. Kor, Mitka, and Jossin are already down there. We'll walk you through the clutter."

The Corellian ship righted itself, and returned through the debris field. Zem followed their lead, easing the ship through the graveyard as we approached the planet. Rumigaar itself wasn't pleasing on the eyes. It was a grey, rocky place with inhospitable environment. Despite the clouds, it was rather hot and dry down below.

We followed the others to a relatively small valley and found a patch of rock with enough purchase to set down.

[s'Il]

More names she didn't know, but to her it mattered little. She watched in silence as the debris gave way to the planet's atmosphere, and following that, the breaking clouds over a barren landscape.

It reminded her of a picture she'd seen long ago. A picture of a desolate, dead world that was only ever spoke of in hushed whispers by her father. She knew that this was not the same world, but she breathed the first words that came to her mind.

"The Gate of Souls... "

[Zem-El Vymes]

I chose not to address her comment. s'Il was being rather dark lately, and I gathered it was stemming from our departure from Schwartzweld. Instead, I finished up landing procedures, and once clear, dropped the plank.

"Well, I suppose now's a good a time as any for reunions."

[s'Il]

She stood for only a few more moments, her eyes taking in the landscape that could be seen throught the forward viewport. It looked so much like the picture she'd seen that it was enough to make her pause.

She even half expected to see the Gate.

The Lupine knew that such fears were hollow; Rumigaar was not Weit-Fällt; it was as simple as that. But still she held back, mindful to keep close behind Zem.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Hello again!"

I exited the ship first, licking my lips as they hit the hot, parched air. Zuris, the Quarren, quickly drew a hood over her features as she left the ship, not suprisingly to protect her supple skin. Mari smiled serenely, her shaved head half adorned with a colorful tattoo.

"Weren't expecting you to find any company, Tam. The Force is with us."

With that, I gave a broad smile, watching both s'Il and Zem exit the ship. A few meters away, Jossin and Mitka emerged from a cave that had doubled as a rudimentary shelter. Kor, no doubt, was meditating. The Cathar had been of few words for the past week or so.

[s'Il]

The air; it smelled so vastly different than what she'd become accustomed to on Schwartzweld. She narrowed her eyes, lifting her head up slightly to test the smells and scents that hung lazily. s'Il let out a coughed snort and pulled an almost bewildered face. She did take solace however, in the fact that what she was smelling now was nothing like the stench she had endured on the drifting freighter.

The Lupine dropped back a few paces behind Zem, and eventually her gait slowed to a stop. She stood, still on the boarding ramp, head tilted up and her eyes mere slits as she continued to test the air.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Mari, it's been a long time since Sullust. Good to see you're well."

I gave our comrades a deep, relieved bow.

"Mari, this is my Padawan, Loklorien s'Ilancy. I've taken her as my student, since..."

All present understood, and nodded their affirmation. Zuris approached her, and nodded.

"Master Windu spoke well of you. I am honored to make your acquaintance."

[s'Il]

Pulled from her own thoughts, s'Il turned her attentions from the scents around her to the Quarren. She blinked awkwardly for a moment, then returned the nod. It felt strange to be known, yet not know a majority of those who apparently knew of her. It'd happened a few times at the Temple, and each time had been just as odd.

"Thank you," she managed, stepping fully off the ramp and onto the dirt-packed ground. Her boots - she'd thought the better of simply going barefoot as she normally did - scuffed loose sand as she shifted her feet.

She thought for a few moments on what to say beyond her thanks.

"It's an honor to meet you," she finished, not a little haltingly.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Your former master often spoke of your talents, forgive my forwardness. We've hardly met."

The Quarren didn't shake hands, but not from being aloof. They were mindful that an embrace from their species was less than desirable to some.

"Zuris, she was kind enough to take me in when my ship was damaged, and in the midst of saving nearly a hundred refugees from another Imperial attack. I think, combined with what we've seen, a case for war crimes is unimpeachable."

[s'Il]

s'Il blinked, but nodded her own thanks to the Quarren.

At Tam's words though, she reached up to scratch at an invisible itch at the base of her neck.

"Well, thank Zem more than myself."

[Zem-El Vymes]

Zem shrugged off his student's praise, content to let her have it all. Mari hung on Tam's words.

"Palpatine has acted quickly. The reprisals after the war have been utterly brutal. What we see here is mostly done to the Confederates, but I've heard from outbound travelers that there have been quiet crackdowns in the Middle Rim and further in. Naboo's senator was even censured."

Jossin crossed his arms, dark eyes meeting Zem's.

"The entire political structure is playing rally around the flag. Politicians who are slow to appear behind the Emperor will be left vulnerable. There's talk of a New Order. I heard from information dealers of a school on Carida being formed. Something about an inner sanctum of idealogues, dedicated to Palpatine by name."

[s'Il]

And again she fell silent, knowing that right now it was best for her to listen. She would go with Zem wherever he chose to go, and continue to learn from him. If that meant staying with the other Jedi they'd just found or leaving them and going their seperate way, than so be it.

Biting her lip, the Lupine looked off to the side and to the distant horizon.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Though I'm sure we have allies on Coruscant, we cannot rely on them now. It is too dangerous. Perhaps at another time, we can establish a fifth column, to resist the Emperor from within. Perhaps on Alderaan, perhaps on Corellia, perhaps Naboo."

Tam eyed s'Il, inwardly wondering what her take on the matter was. Padawans should abandon the decorum of the old ways. The needs were dire, and every opinion mattered.

[s'Il]

Staring at some unseen point on the horizon, s'Il pulled in a long breath, mulling over Tam's words. If they could not rely on those left behind, then what were they to do? What could they do?

"What do we do until then though? Surely we can't simply play good samaritans for however long it takes any sort of resistance to build itself up."

She refrained from any mention of simply hiding away; she knew well enough that Zem would not go along with such intentions. His actions and words already had told her that he wouldn't stand for such a thing.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"The Empire doesn't yet hold much sway in the Outer Rim. This isn't a secret to anyone. I think it will be easier to find initial allies here, before we make larger connections."

I paused, and conceded.

"Of course, the Empire will likely be looking for that. But that just makes our task merely difficult instead of nearly impossible. We can make enough connections to enable a secure corridor to get in touch with the disaffected souls who may fight against Palpatine.

We need idealogues, not mercenaries. I doubt any of us can scrounge a fraction of the credits that the Emperor would pay to have someone betray us."

[s'Il]

For the briefest of moments, s'Il thought of Dan. She'd not said any sort of goodbye to the man when he'd departed Schwartzweld, and she felt it odd that he came forefront to her mind. Though, considering Zem's words the Lupine concluded that it might not have been so unusual.

"What about Dan," she asked, adding, "He didn't seem to be the type who would turn to the Empire at the prospect of credits. Not after what happened to him and the others."

[Tam Jeneel]

"Does he have any military training?"

It was an absurd question to pose, since we beggars cannot be choosers. Still, we were deciding exactly on whose shoulders we would rest our burden.

They'd mentioned he was confederate, but with the rise of the Empire, this seemed a trivium.

[s'Il]

"I... don't know... "

Her brow furrowed in thought, but her memory couldn't recall anything in the few conversations that she'd had with Dan that included any sort of subject related to his profession.

"He is determined though, to fight them."

She looked to Zem then, hoping that maybe Dan had conferred to her master things that he'd not spoke of to her.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"He didn't seem to me to be anything other than a grieving husband."

I crossed my arms, looking at s'Il knowingly.

"I'll take heart right now any day over fighting prowess. If somebody's heart is in it, learning the skills is automatic. I have little doubt that Dan would work with us to the Core and back to make things right. He seemed to be hanging on our every breath to make it so."

[s'Il]

With what she could only guess was Zem's agreement, s'Il turned to look once again at Tam. She knew the importance of military knowledge - especially considering that they were talking of standing against the force of the Empire. She bit the inside of her cheek in thought.

Dan had heart, as Zem had said. There was no denying that. She remembered watching the man cry, and then in the days following their first arrival the hard edge and determination that had crept into his eyes. It'd almost made her avoid him for nervous fear of being overtaken with such thoughts of retribution herself. The Bloodline knew that she had every right to feel as he did, but she was a Jedi. And while her very ancestry relished the thought of revenge and bloodshed, she was a Jedi. And Jedi prized peace and tranquility over all else.

Conflicting emotions to be sure, but they were an inner struggle that she kept very well hidden.

[Tam Jeneel]

I deferred to their wisdom. They'd been there.

"You were with him, you can vouch for him. Truth is that we need help. If that comes from a man with no formal military training, then that's more help than none. If he's legit, he'll have my backing."

I looked to the others, who echoed me with a nod.

"Fair enough. We'll arrange a look-up, yes?"

[s'Il]

s'Il made a face.

"You'll have to do it without me, unless you plan on taking him off of Leh'ben."

[Zem-El Vymes]

I laughed in a muted tone.

"Right. Of course. I don't mind making that trip myself then."

In the distance, I saw a shape appearing out of the haze of the atmosphere. It was still faint and miniscule, but it moved in a way that I knew to be artificial.

"Is that..."

[s'Il]

Head snapping in the direction that Zem was staring in, s'Il arrowed her eyes at whatever it was that was slowly taking shape.

She took a small step back, still unsure of what it was that she was seeing.

Out of newborn instinct, the Lupine felt her hand close around the hilt of her sabre.

[Tam Jeneel]

My merry demeanor melted away at the sight of what appeared to be an unannounced ship descending.

"Alright everyone, back to the caves! Hustle up now!"

We scrambled along the edifices in a quick line, making our way to the cave in which our Cathar brethren had holed himself up.

[s'Il]

Going from the outside light to the dim illumination of the cave that Tam had herded them into was an easy transition to make, the Lupine's eyes adjusting in a mere blink.

Perhaps it was the sense of self-preservation that fueled her onward, but whatever the reason s'Il was more than happy to push further into the depths and whatever santuary the inside might offer.

A figure stopped her though, looming up before her like a silent monolith, and she recognized the being as coming from the cat-like Cathar species. Slowing to a stop, the Lupine looked up at the Cathar without a word in greeting.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Kor looked up from the fire he had lit in the cave, and saw the others returning. His fur flattened back on his face, and he watched as they settled in. He didn't have to question the reason they had arrived. He knew.

With respect, he withdrew from his position at the fire, allowing s'Ilancy to take it. His fur was matted by a series of paint smears he had rubbed on his face, creating a masque of some fearsome appearance.

[s'Il]

With a sidelong look to the Cathar, s'Il hesitantly sidled her way closer to the fire, but made sure to keep her gaze in the direction of the cave's opening. She pulled an odd face though, at the sight of Kor's painted features, unsure of how to interpret such markings.

She turned her attentions from the Cathar to Zem and Tam however, knowing that whatever happened in the next few minutes would be crucial, to say the least.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Were you followed?"

I glanced back to Jossin, the dim firelight showing the edges of his face and blue beard.

"Of course not," I scoffed dismissively, "I know how to lose a tail."

Yet this was the onion. We were obviously being visited by a starship when there shouldn't be one within a parsec of here.

"Look, I don't think we've been seen. We may still have them unawares."

I inched to the mouth of the cave, keen to not expose myself too much but also to let my eyes adapt to the waning light of the approaching sunset.

[s'Il]

Out of instinct, s'Il ran her hand over her hip and the familiar shape of her sabre - even though it'd been her practice blade, the advent of the Purge had not allowed her the luxury of building her very own. She crouched beside the fire then, fingers idly going to the myriad of pebbles strewn about the cave floor.

Why had they left the safety of Schwartzweld? She should have been more insistant! And now they were hiding in a cave on some near-forgotten planet. Plucking a small stone up into her palm, the Lupine closed her eyes and pulled in a long breath; as if she was testing the air once again. Her head tilted upward, and her blue orbs cracked open to stare glassily at the inky blackness above.

She recoiled then, exhaling in a painful cough and letting the stone drop from her hand. It clattered on the ground, bouncing toward the fire.

Scrambling back, further into the cave, s'Il watched a scene that no one else could see. A roiling, black mass of malignant energy coming for them. There were no colors, no gentle and carressing hues; no, what she saw was a writhing advance of the Force, twisted and bent in such a way that she could barely recognize it.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I caught her by the shoulders and pulled her to one of the water-smoothed rock edges of the cave.

"You feel it too, then?"

It was a familiar feeling. Both of us knew. It was the same as it was that day in the Academy.

[s'Il]

For a moment, s'Il could only look past Zem, over his shoulder and towards Tam who was near the mouth of the cave. She focused on her master then, blue eyes wide. Yes, she most certainly felt it.

Slowly recovering, the Lupine found that she'd dropped her hand to her side and clutched her sabre tightly with white knuckles. She ground her teeth, eyes narrowing.

"It means to send us to the Gate of Souls."

[Tam Jeneel]

"Come off now, that's enough."

I scolded the padawan's doomsaying as I continued to look from my vantage.

"I've a bad feeling, but there's been enough of that these days anyway."

A pause. I scooped up a handful of dirt at the cave's mouth, ground it through my fingers, and continued to look at the downsloping crags.

"I'm going."

[s'Il]

s'Il pushed past Zem, half-way shoving him to her side as she started after Tam. His tone of voice went unheeded , his rebuke ignored.

"No! Don't go out there, please...

"You don't understand what's out there."

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Tam, I think you'd better not. Whatever is out there, I think I've come across it before. This is all wrong."

I paused. What was there to do?

"We have to get out of here. All of us. I fear the Emperor has found us out."

[s'Il]

She could still see the rolling blackness coming at them; it wasn't the most welcoming of sights.

Doggedly she held her ground at Tam's statement, and her eyes swept over the other Jedi.

"Is there another way out of here... ?"

[Tam Jeneel]

Kor reached over and caught the padawan by the shoulder, spinning her around to face him. He studied her expression carefully before speaking. When he spoke, it was a dead-calm voice.

"No way out...but through."

He closed his eyes and smeared a daub of paint that he'd put onto a rock palate, and carefully drew two half moons at Lok's cheeks.

I looked at Kor sternly. The Cathar had gone spooky the past few weeks, and this was about the norm lately. The only trouble is, it wasn't crazy at all. It was the dead truth.

"He's right. We get out of here, we go right out the way we came in."

I wasn't terribly contemplative of it.

"I'm not going to get flushed out of a cave."

And that was that. I cinched my gear and hopped out.

[s'Il]

Taken aback by the Cathar's actions, s'Il remained motionless as strong fingers made the simple patterns on her cheeks. Half-moons. Whether Kor knew or not - which she knew the he most certainly did not - the symbol itself was her sole identifir. Half-moons; the symbols of her House. The symbols of one of the two oldest Lupine Houses.

Her eyes closed as she heard Tam leave the protection of the cave. But, that they had no other way out left them with only the one option, and reaching out to dip her own fingers into the Cathar's paint palate, she drew her own House's crest on the furred chest before her.

Her eyes opened then, a new color in them. Tawny swirls worked their way into their normal blue hue, and she turned to face Zem. Jawline tightening, the Lupine then followed after Tam.

[Zem-El Vymes]

That was it. The die was cast. I knew Tam was right, but it wasn't easy choosing between an impossible choice and a merely difficult one.

"We stay and we die. Come on."

The remaining five rose, and followed me as I followed my padawan and Tam. I glanced back to Kor, who looked off into the distance, and then down to his own saber.

He broke ranks with us, setting off toward the canyon.

"Kor!"

The Cathar spun about on a boot, regarded me, and nodded.

"Victory, or nothing."

He turned about, and I was restrained from following by Jossin.

"If we don't leave now, we never will."

I resisted for a moment, then relented. This was utter madness.

[s'Il]

With a pace that progressed from a brisk walk to ajog, s'Il kept on after Tam. Her brow was furrowed; what would come of this?

The Force all around her was ugly; there was no harmony in it. But still she pressed on, determined to not let the sight before her - the sight that only she could see, deterr her.

One hand gripped her sabre, and she pulled it free of its' clasp. The blade remained dormant however, until it was absolutely necessary, and a lingering thought went to the sword that she had taken from House Richter's armory. It would have been a welcome thing to have now, but the Lupine steeled herself.

She would be leaving this rock of a planet alive. Unlike Kor, s'Il refused to accept the 'nothing' of his parting words.

The Cathar, with his brief action, had earned her instant respect, and the Lupine drove onward.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Kor!"

I spun about and paused, then regained my wits. I impelled Lok onward with a crude kick at the ground.

"Go on now! Hustle up!"

For what seemed like seconds, I stood at a crossroads of whether to continue to the escape, or to follow Kor. It wasn't until Vymes more or less tackled me that the issue was settled. Even then, not lightly.

"We can't leave him, he'll die here!"

[s'Il]

"It is his path to choose," s'Il very nearly growled out.

As it was, her tone was sure enough. She knew what the Cathar was doing, and said a silent prayer to the Bloodline. If ashe ever was able to start writing her owntales as a final chapter to her species' existance, she knew that she would praise Kor as a selfsess stoic. To her it mattered little that that was the only impression of his that she garnered from this encounter. It would be how she would always remember him.

n arm lashed out, and she clamped a surprisingly strong grip around Tam's wrist, pulling him after her. She knew Zem was right behind; she knew he would never leave her. Just as she would never leave him. His words of their new, deeper commitment to each other still rang loud in her ears and she took them to heart.

They weren't far from the ships now, and spurred on by the thickening evil she saw around them, the Lupine surged ahead with new energy bourne out of a sense of desperation, still pulling Tam with her.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I begrudgingly assisted s'Il in turning Tam back. We were within sight of the shuttle when I heard Kor scream.

And that was that.

I hung my head as the others advanced toward the dropping gangplank of our ship.

Then, I felt a presence, and turned back to see a dark silhouette staring blankly at me from a nearby outcropping of rock. It breathed...unnaturally.

[s'Il]

She saw the figure too, mere seconds after Zem looked behind them.

The sight of the Force radiating from that dark figure was enopugh to make her gasp, and s'Il involuntarily loosened her grip on Tam's wrist.

Still she kept her sabre dormant. If they could escape without having to fight, than she would do her best to make that happen. The others in their group were forgotten the moment she heard Kor's cry. The Lupine felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as she stared at their black follower. She could hear the mechanical breathing as if whoever it was was standing just behind her.

And then even Tam was forgotten, and she released her hold on him completely. She lunged for Zem, grabbing him by the neckline of his robe and giving a sharp tug to break his eyes away from what she could only see of as a monster.

For no man could poison the Force in this way.

[Tam Jeneel]

I felt an invisible hand tighten around my throat, and I lost my breath. Held fast, I whirled about to the dark invader, knowing that he was the source of this evil. Unable to fight it with my own hand, I wavered, and dropped to a knee, hand clawing at the hem of my tunic in vain to free myself.

"G-ggghk..."

Jossin and Mari broke ranks to take the fight to the darksider, and I had no voice to stop them from doing so.

[s'Il]

Still pulling at Zem, the sound of Tam choking was enough to make her hastily replace her sabre onto the clasp affixed to her belt. With one hand now free, s'Il reached out and grabbed a handfull of Tam's shirt.

Her shoulder muscled bunched into cords then as she began to pull the two men towards the ship There was nothing she culd do to call back Jossin and Mari; they had made their decisions to fight.

Continuing to pull, the Lupine ventured out tentatively with her mind, trying to help Tam repell the unseen hand at his throat.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"It isn't working!"

I roughly shoved s'Il off of me, and decided that Jossin and Mari had it right on this. This evil had to be stopped, or Tam would surely die. I broke into a full sprint, only a moment behind the other two. Zuriss and Mitka trailed along as well.

We had now entered the fray. I tore my saber free and ignited as I ran full tilt toward the enemy. Already, Jossin and Mari had met him.

[s'Il]

She refused to give up, and with a shocked cry, s'Il watched as Zem made for the black figure. Everyone had left Tam's side to fight this thing. Everyone but her.

The Lupine doubled her marginal efforts, determined to drive any sort of mental wedge between their attacker and Tam. Alone with Tam, and desperately trying to pull him closer to the boarding ramp while keeping him from collapsing to the ground completely, s'Il grit her teeth.

She was not nearly skilled enough in the mental arts of the Jedi, but her inexperience and weakness went unheeded.

Images flashed through her mind's eye, of the once laughing and smiling Tam that had so joyfully met them on Schwartzweld. Her eyes flashed with a tawny glint, and she redoubled her efforts.

"Come on Tam," she grunted breathlessly while touching her forehead to his temple, "please... fight it. I'm here..."

[Tam Jeneel]

My world started fading around me. The sounds were muffled, and the sights blurred. I distantly witnessed my comrades rushing to fight this evil force, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Looking up at s'Il, my eyes fluttered, and then closed as I passed out.

[s'Il]

He was dead weight now, and s'Il scrambled to keep him fromsinking to the rockstrewn ground completely. She snarled, looking up sharply at Zem's retreating figure. The rest were there as well, their own sabres lit and swinging into action.

The Lupine would not leave Tam though, clinging to him and driving herself up over the lip of the ramp. It was slow going, but the further away from the black man-machine - there was nothing else that could breathe like that, no flesh and blood man at least - the more she hoped that whatever invisible hold had put the older Jedi down would weaken.

It was a vain hope that distance would help, especially considering to what extent this intruder was able to seemingly rot the Force around them all. It terrified her that such a thing was possible, yet at the same time spurred her onward and upward, dragging Tam's limp, unconscious body with her.

With one last cry of exertion, s'Il heaved the both of them through the entryway hatch and onto the yacht's decking.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Jossin met sabers with the being which could only be a Sith Lord, and within a few moments he was struck to the ground. Mari advanced, but I intervened desperately, driving into the black figure with a force push and sending him tumbling back from his perch. Stunned but for a moment, but it was something. Perhaps just enough to free Tam from whatever death vice had a hold of him.

Regrouped, Mari and I leapt upward, intent on pressing home our attack.

[s'Il]

s'Il left Tam for the ship's bridge. She'd seen her master begin the preflight sequences enough times now that she had a good enough notion of how to do it herself.


She worked as quickly as she could manage, and as the sound of the yacht's engines warming up reverberated throughout, the Lupine once more took to Tam, pulling him farther into the temporary shelter of the craft and towards the quarters nearest to them.

[Tam Jeneel]

"GHHAAAAAAAAA!!!"

My eyes fluttered open as I arched my back, lungs greedy for air that had been deprived. My extremeties tingled as I writhed on the ground, gasping and coughing.

[s'Il]

Scrambling out of the way of his limbs, s'Il crouched, almost impatiently watching with wide eyes as he regained his breath. Every second that passed was like an eternity, and unable to contain herself, she took his closest hand in hers with a firm yet gentle grip.

"You have to fly the ship," she whispered pleadingly.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Our gains were short lived. What power this thing had! I brought my best attacks to bear and it was just enough to keep me from losing ground. I was helpless to prevent the Sith from cleaving Mitka in half as he threw me across the spillway, sending me crashing into a pile of small rocks.

I rose slowly, my head bloodied and dripping onto the crags. Reaching for my saber, I reignited it. The other two fought desperately.

[s'Il]

It seemed that Tam was too busy to answer her, but the Lupine took it in stride and helped him shamble onto the bridge.

And that was where she left him. With grim determination s'Il was tearing through the short corridors of the Cizerack yacht and very nearly throwing herself down the length of the boarding ramp. As if of its' own accord her sabre was in her hand, and her boots hit the ground in a rapid beat bringing her ever closer to the desperate battle before her.

[Tam Jeneel]

I steered myself out of a haze, paying no mind to the horrible headache I now had from the oxygen deprivation. I gave myself a brief moment to get acquainted with the controls. We had to get out of here now, or we never would. I found the controls for the repulsors, and fighting the urge to lose conciousness again, activated them.

[s'Il]

There was a silent snarl, and her lips pulled back. With what seemed like reckless abandon s'Il nimbly dodged the upper half of Mitka. Her amethyst blade came to life, and she held it out to the side in a loose grip while calling the fallen Jedi's deactivated blade to her free hand.

She dove past Zem, the two sabres coming about in a blinding arc.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"s'Il, NO!"

I scrambled to gain momentum, and gave a mighty leap to the sky to return to the battle. Zuriss and Mari were met by my padawan, and all three harried the Sith, who caught Zuriss by the force, and hurled her crosswise into s'Ilancy's path, sending both back down the hill again. I pressed home, locking my blade tightly with the Sith in a losing struggle.

"Mari, get off this hill and get back to the ship. Get everyone out of here!"

As I was intertwined with the Dark Lord, I commanded stones with the force and launched them into action, pelting him from all angles. It would buy time at least.

[s'Il]

She tumbled a short way with Zuriss, scrabbled at the hillside for purchase before finding her feet. And again she was off, sprinting upwards, intent on reaching the top where their attacker was slowly pressing Zem downwards.

Coming up from behind the Sith, the Lupine let her blade-tips drag the ground. She came in low, intent on slicing through the black-cloaked man's ankles with a scissor swipe.

[Tam Jeneel]

As Mari fled with Zuriss, I could see the dark figure shrug through Zem and s'Il like they weren't even there. I tried to raise the ship in time, to bring it in a pass to scoop them up. If I could cut him off then I could get everyone to safety.

Seconds passed by like years, and I got clearance off the ground, swinging the lumbering ship towards the two, but the Sith approached rapidly. I could see them just shy of the gangplank as they were cut to pieces.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!"

[s'Il]

Anger and desperation shone in her eyes as s'Il flung herself headlong after the Sith. She overtook Zem, passing him just as Mari and Zuriss were cut down by the monster's red blade.

What was this thing?! Was it truly a man? If so, than he had just bested four Jedi! The impossibility of it ran amock through her wildly spinning thoughts, and the Lupine dug her boots into the ground for more traction.

There were none left now but Zem, Tam, and her. Flight was the only thing left. It was all they could hope for.

If not for the hulking black monolith barring the way between her and Zem, and the gangplank.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"Mari..."

I paused in my advance, nearly falling to my knees in grief. I couldn't find my voice to call off s'Il, as she maddeningly went headlong against the inevitable. Grimly, I returned to the fray, assailing the Sith while his back was turned to me. He barely paused as he threw me to the side, once again sending me smashing against the rocks. I fell limp against them, and didn't even feel the saber that pierced my side.

[s'Il]

Having been easily swatted to the side, s'Il scrambled to her knees.Mitka's sabre was left on the ground, and she brought her own in close across her own body, ready to defend against a crushing attack that never came.

As if in slow motion she watched; watched the Sith dip his sabre into Zem. There were no words. There could be no words.

Her breath caught in a sharp inhale, she only barely managed to choke back a sob while staggering to her feet. It was happening again. Master Windu first, and now Zem.

She was suddenly helpless, able to do nothing but stand and stare at the Sith in newfound horror. Her sabre fell from its' defense to her side, the tip igniting small sparks on the ground where it touched.

[Tam Jeneel]

In an act of desperation, Tam righted the ship about, and by some miracle managed to clip the Sith with the gangplank, sending him spilling over the side of a precipice. No doubt he wasn't even slighted by the act, and Tam was sure he would shortly return.

With shaking hands, Tam quickly landed the ship, sprinting out to where s'Il stood near Zem's fallen figure.

[s'Il]

The sound of Tam's boots broke the spell that had held her fast, reliving the recent past while seeing the present all at once.

The Lupine dropped to her knees at Zem's side, her sabre falling to the ground as she reached out with trembling hands, one shakily placed over the cauterized and blackened hole in his side while the other went to his cheek.

Tam was ignored, all but forgotten.

"Get up," she whispered, "Zem get up. Please get up... "

[Zem-El Vymes]

My eyes opened slowly, and I made a feeble effort to clean the blood off my face.

"The others...?" I inquired with a significant amount of effort.

[s'Il]

The answer was in her eyes well enough, though the welling tears were not for their newly lost comrades.

"Only Tam," she managed.

[Tam Jeneel]

I couldn't face either of them, and so I looked away. More to hide my grief than anything.

And it's then that I saw them. White armored clonetroopers, scrabbling up the rough terrain to our vantage.

I didn't even realise I was gripping my saber hard enough for the knuckles to go white.

[s'Il]

What Tam saw, s'Il heard. The sounds of boots scuffling over rock and stone spurred her into action, and she braced herself, trying to lever Zem up with a mind to his wound.

"We have to go," she sniffed and turned to look over her shoulder at Tam.

"Tam, help me... "

[Zem-El Vymes]

I wasn't dead or dying, but I suppose I could've looked better. Still I was very much in pain, and certainly not in for another fight.

At the mention of Tam, I looked over, and felt something change. Something was wrong.

[s'Il]

Still crouched beside Zem, s'Il leaned over and reached out a hand to lightly grasp Tam's pantleg a give a gentle tug.

"Tam?"

[Tam Jeneel]

The shaking stopped, transmuted into a terrible sound starting deep in my gut, then issuing forth in a blood-curdling scream that echoed evilly on the canyon rocks. Even the soullless clonetroopers seemed to give pause, even if only to focus in on me.

I tore myself free from s'Il's hand, charging headlong at the troopers. I brushed aside blaster fire as if they were raindrops, and tore into the enemy utterly without quarter. It felt good. It was as if I had lived my entire life hungry and tasted food for the first time. The more of them I killed, the more I yearned to kill.

[s'Il]

A startled yelp escaped her lips as s'Il steadied herself in the wake of Tam's sudden departure. What was he doing?! They were very nearly free! Had only to board the ship and escape this horrid planet!

Everything was happening too fast and she felt lost, unable to process what it was that she was witness to. Tam was but a blur of motion within the ranks of the clonetroopers.

Confusion clouded her eyes. Plucking her sabre from where she'd dropped it, the Lupine released her hold on Zem and rose to her feet.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"s'Il, get on the ship...NOW."

I winced, shakily sitting up and mustering the strength to get to my feet. The things I felt from my brother in arms were things I was taught since I was a child were wrong. It was a raw, animal feeling, and the bad feeling I got was only deepening.

[s'Il]

She stood, transfixed by the scene that was playing out below them. It was as if Tam was a wholly new person. She watched the Force flow around and through him. But there was a different tint to the colors she was seeing. Now, instead of the normal vibrant green that was his signature, it was a darkening gradient that was quickly descending into black.

Even from the distance between them she could make out his face periodically, the once infectiously smiling features now a twisted mask of fury.

She heard Zem's order, but was unable to move, a new pain coming into her eyes.

She had never seen a person turn before.

[Tam Jeneel]

I was vaguely outside myself. I witness myself disarming fleeing troopers, smashing them together. Tearing them to pieces. I severed limbs with such abandon that they didn't fully cauterize, and I wore the spray of spilt blood on my face like a death masque. I caught a wounded trooper, tore his mask off, and bashed his head into the rocks until I had brained him, then threw him off a cliff.

Within a minute, the entire squad had been destroyed, and I was still not satiated. It was at that awful moment that I came to the realization of what happened, and switched off my saber.

I turned back, wild-eyed, trying to clean the blood off but failing to do so.

[s'Il]

With the clonetrooper ranks utterly decimated, s'Il moved. But instead of retreating into the safety of their ship, she started for Tam.

She stopped midway down the small hill though, unsure of whether or not to continue on. A furtive glance was sent back to the yacht, but she quickly turned back to stare wide-eyed at Tam as he scrubbed vainly at the blood that covered him.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I closed my eyes, rather than look at Tam in this terrible state.

[s'Il]

Sadness overcame her then. Her shoulders sagged as she continued to watch him.

Long moments passed before she finally spoke, but even then her voice was mournfully low.

"Tam... "

[Tam Jeneel]

"Get away from me!"

I staggered back, still feebly trying to remove the blood. The shakes returned to my hands, and I dropped to my knees.

[s'Il]

Gone was the smiling man who'd before been so quick to laugh. In place of him was someone entirely different.

She wanted to protest, to tell him to come along, and that they still had a chance to escape. She wanted to tell him that it was all right, though all of them would know that it would be a lie. She couldn't deny what she had just seen, just as he couldn't deny what he had just done.

Instead, the Lupine closed her eyes tightly. The very sight of his misery was too painful and she turned on her heel to stumble back up to Zem and the ship.

[Zem-El Vymes]

As I'd been taught many times over, nobody returns after crossing onto the dark path. It was such an utterly forbidden place for precisely such a reason.

I struggled to my feet, and regarded my friend for the last time.

"Goodbye, Tam."

[s'Il]

Realizing she still held her sabre in a tight grip, she clipped it to her belt while in the same motion sidling closer to Zem. She turned a questioning look up to her master, unsure of what would come next. Surely they weren't going to leave him here, she was positive of it. If they did that, he would be at the complete mercy of the Sith and any other clonetroopers that were most assuredly being sent to replace those that Tam had slaughtered.

Her eyes sought to meet Zem's, but it was as though he was intent on looking out at Tam.

Hesitantly she followed his line of sight and her gaze - still very much bewildered, hurt, and confused - fell upon the older Jedi.

[Tam Jeneel]

Part of me wanted this power. Whatever I had unlocked, it felt good, and I wanted to drink from it until the well went dry. But I knew what I still was, and what I'd been my entire life. Perhaps I couldn't resist this now, but there was something that could yet be done.

I rose to my feet, breathing heavily as I looked to each.

"Leave this place. Leave those you leave behind. Including me."

I held my lightsaber up.

"Tell everyone that I was a Jedi."

[s'Il]

It was in that moment that she finally understood Tam's intentions, and the finality in Zem's eyes. She opened her mouth in protest, but whatever words she wished to say died in her throat.

[Zem-El Vymes]

"You always have been."

I couldn't appreciate the magnitude of the decision that he must be making, but could only honor it.

"Brother, may the force be with you!"

[s'Il]

Her hands balled up into white-knuckled fists and the Lupine clamped her jaw shut.

This was not how things were supposed to happen. Taking a step that brought her closer to Zem, she clenhced her fingers around a fold in the sleeve of his robe.

"Don't let him do this," she finally hissed out between clenched teeth.

[Tam Jeneel]

"Don't mourn me, s'Ilancy. I want to remain the person you call a friend."

I drew my saber to my chest, still unlit. The twisted part of me wanted to continue on, assuring me that this power could be tamed and brought to my control. I knew better than that. Once you start down the dark path, it will forever dominate your destiny. For the benefit of everyone I cared about, this must be done, or I would destroy them.

That could not happen.

"Follow your master's teachings. He knows the way to follow."

I looked to Zem, a tear falling as I did.

"Don't let her turn out like I did."

My thumb fell to the activation switch.

[s'Il]

Her face was a stone mask, expressionless.

Only her grip on Zem's robe betrayed her emotion, and her free hand sought out his own, grasping it tightly.

[Zem-El Vymes]

It took every bit of my fortitude to remain as I was, and none for my sake. Now, more than ever, I was to do right by my student. There were no more excuses, no more leeway.

We couldn't even afford to pay our respect properly, which was the truly maddening thing.

"Help me to the controls."

[s'Il]

Eager to turn away from the sight below, s'Il released her hold on his sleeve and threaded her arm beneath his so that it went across his back.

She gave him the utmost of attentions, her movements gentle and cautious. Quick to push Tam from her thoughts, she refused to dwell on him. Without a word the Lupine helped Zem up the boarding ramp, stopping only to call his sabre up into her hand. Almost reverently she clipped it to his belt.

Navigating the small length of corridors was done smoothly, and head bowed, she kicked the captain's chair around on it's swivel.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I eased into the seat with a groan, suddenly realizing that I had wounds and they were vociferous as to the pain they caused me.

I returned the repulsors to active, and quickly drew up the struts and gangplank, mounting for the sky. We weren't out of this just yet.

"We have to focus. No doubt our assailant has a ship in orbit."

[s'Il]

She took the co-pilot's seat, acknowledging him with a grunt.

Lost in no particular train of thought, s'Il stared straight ahead through half-closed lids. There was no glint in her blue eyes; they simply... stared. A muddy, directionless gaze that led an equally lost mind.

She watched with little interest as the sky darkened into an inky blackness and became studded with countless stars.

Briefly, she wondered what could possibly happen next that could surpass what they had just had to endure down on Rumigaar.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Sure enough, a Venator hung in orbit, fortunately they were coming across the far side of the planet. Hopefully it would buy us time. I ran through the calculations as quickly as I could. Still, it would be uncertain if it was enough.

"Whatever comes of this, high or low, I promise to teach you everything I know."

The stars spun in a beautiful array as we hurtled through space. There was no time to appreciate the view, as I quickly noted the presence of V-wings on my scopes. The chase was on.

"You have to be prepared to do the same, one day."

[s'Il]

Turning a blank stare to the side, she locked eyes with him and gave a silent nod.

She latched on to his last words and mulled them over; the thought that in the future she could possibly take on a student of her own... if Zem expected that much of her, than it was obvious that he intended for her to reach knighthood at the very least.

A Jedi knight; the Lupine held on to the thought as she turned away to look once more out at the wildly dancing stars.

"I will be," she said evenly.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I dipped into the gravity well of a nearby planet, hoping to gain extra momentum to put some distance between the fighters, but they were still gaining.

This wasn't going to work.

My eyes fluttered shut. My navigational computer wasn't going to get us a jump in time. I reached out with my feelings, touching the fabric of space and everything beyond for light years. A hand beyond my own guided my navigation controls.

At last, I opened my eyes, and hit the hyperdrive. Flying blind.

We accelerated, and blinked out of sight.