Overcast: Rememberance of Past Glory

[Figrin D an]

*** Another drop of sweat slipped from the Jedi's brow as he reached above his head for another hand hold. Looking upward, he saw a small crag in the rock face that appeared to be large enough to establish a frim grip. Shifting his feet slightly to stabilize his position, the Jedi stretched out his weary arm, towards the small hole. He clawed slightly at the rock face, finally placing the tips of his fingers into the crag. He winced slightly as he forced his tired muscles to stretch out further, allowing his right hand to become more adequately afixed in the ancient canyon wall.

'One step at time...' the Jedi whispered to himself...

Coordinating his his arms and legs, the Jedi propelled himself upward until he could rest his right foot on the next stable rock protrusion. His arms trembled slightly as he spyed his next hand-hold on the rock face.

*drip*

More beads of sweat slipped from his face and arms and plummeted into the dense foliage of the valley floor, now nearly 1500 ft below him. The sweat has begun to drip into his eyes as well, stinging each time he looked upward at the summit above him. The sun was not yet at it's peak point in the sky, but as the bright golden star neared its apex, the heat that the Jedi felt upon him intensified.

Figrin pulled himself up yet again to the next stable foothold...

'Just a few more feet...' he calmly told himself...

His left hand reached upward again, like it had a thousand times previous, to grasp at a small formation jutting outward from the rock surface. He always found it fascinating how eons of rain and wind had caused the strange formations on the surface of the ....

*CRACK*

The Jedi could feel himself start to fall as the foothold under his right foot gave way. He tightened his grip with his left hand and he swung to his left, his right hand impulsively grabbing for the the same hand hold...

Figrin hung there for what seemed like an eternity, looking downward at the death he had narrowly escaped... in his younger days, he would have been terrified at such a thought. Now.... it was different. While his instincts and rock-climbing experience had saved him, his mind was completely at peace... he finally found his bliss... his contentment...

The Jedi swung his left foot upward and to the side, jamming it into another gap in rock face, while simultaneously reaching out with his left hand to a similar hand-hold. Once he was stabilized, he push away from the life-saving hand hold stretched out with his right hand. His and shot above the plateau, and arched over to grasp the level ground of the summit... Releasing his left hand, he accomplished same with his other arm slowly pulled himself up over the edge until he his torso could rest on the dusty roof of the the bluff. The Jedi rolled over to his left and stretched out his fatigued body, breathing heavily...

The sun, now nearly directly above him, forced him to eventually sit upright to protect his saline-stung eyes. Figrin slowly got to his feet and held his hand above his brow allow his eyes to adjust to see across the landscape. The forest below him stretched for many miles, but beyond it was one of the larger settlements on his homeworld. He continued to admired the natural beauty of scene laid out before him as a cloud passed over, shielding him from the sun temporarily. The Jedi removed his leather climbing gloves and dusted himself off. Quardelonix really was a wonderful world to for Figrin to escape to. He longed to have more time to spend at his home, but he often didn't get to Core World border regions to have the opportunity. It now seemed he had to arrange special trips specifically for that purpose...

'Ah, well,' he thought, 'perhaps now that my research is wrapping up, I will have more time for such endeavors.'

He was overjoyed when he discovered that he would have nearly two weeks between the completion of his research paper and his presentation to the New Republic Historical Archives Committee. He knew immediately that he wanted to come here... the place he called home. He was naturally anxious to present his findings to the committee and to the rest of historians of the galaxy, but a temporary distraction was desired... and needed... to clear his mind and spirit.

The Jedi sat back down and crossed his legs. He allowed his mind to float into a meditative state as he allowed to Force to flow through him... ***

[Jeseth Cloak]

"History repeats it's self so often, does it not?"

A shadowed figure stood nearby, no weapon in hand... What a shame it was in Jeseth's eyes that so much history would soon be given over to the hands of weak fools who knew little more than how to read it properly - how could they ever hope to truely comprehend it? It was madness. He couldn't sit by idly and allow such an event to transpire. He had been waiting for this moment, counting his days as he continued his search for Delirion.

Where was she? Soon he would be heading back to Vjun... but with what? Nothing. If he had to return to his brothers without his sister, then he would make sure that he would not be left empty handed.

"There are quite a few of us who are eager to see that it doesn't."

The silhoutte of Jeseth Cloak stepped foward from the slightly shadey area in which it basked. Now the Dark Jedi was clearly visible, if his brother of the light would bother to open his eyes.


<img src=http://www16.brinkster.com/jesethsworkshop/Jeseth.jpg>

[Morgan Evanar]

It had been expensive. Damned expesnsive, especially since onsite slicing was no longer Evanar's decided career. But no one else was either "crazy" or talented enough to do it, save Morgan.

So they paid his truly exhorbinat named fee.

Why did I get myself into this? he pondered as he hung swaying in the wind, hands dug into the rock face. His legs swayed slightly in the rising wind, 450 meters of air and rock between him and the ground below. Rock cracked under his left hand; he had been holding it too tightly, and the handhold gave out. Damn me and my genetic legacy.Morgan swung himself slightly, spying a handhold above. Just before the pinacle of his swing, he curled his right arm, lifting him higher. He grabbed hold, and suddenly found that yes, it was indeed a good handhold, good enough to house some loose rocks on the edge. Morgan's eyes were wide with terror as he found a rock in his hand, and his right hand tightend instictively.

By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late. The rock in his right hand cracked slightly. Evanar's sword was suddenly free, and he waited until he finished flipping backwards in the air, plunging metal into the cliff face.

Thank the force, it held. Morgan heaved a sigh as he found a better path up the face, one where his strenght was not as likely to betray him.

Five meters from top, he felt something.

"Jedi" he hissed between clenched teeth. Evanar skewed his force presence, and light bent around him. Now only his scent and sounds could betray him.

Damn it all! he thought as he finished the vertical climb, cresting the top. The sound was too hard to obscure, required to much concentration, surely, the Jedi would be alert now.

[Figrin D an]

*** Figrin felt a flicker in the back of his mind just before his ears first detected the voice behind him. His danger sense nearly took over as his hand moved toward his sabre...

But before it did, he vaguely recognized the presence behind him. He relaxed slightly and held his meditative position. ***

"The man who allows history to repeat itself is the man that is ignorant to his own being..."

Figrin stretched out his arms to his sides, soothing his still tense muscles.

"It's been a long time since I have heard that voice... Tell me, how did you know I was here?"

Figrin laughed lightly, "Am I that rusty at masking my trail?"


At that moment, the Jedi Master detected another presence... yet another that was familiar to him...

"Looks like we'll have some company in a few moments, Jeseth..."

[Jeseth Cloak]

Figrin's words were spoken wisely... he was worthy of the knowledge which he possessed (at least, in Jeseth's eyes) - but that said nothing for those who he would bestow it upon.

"A long time... Indeed it has been."

Jeseth sorted trough his memories, remembering his encounters with the Jedi, and his failed attempt to collect all of their history. Too much had come in the way... How could they have forbid him study of the Dark Side? it was a wonderful tool... and they had kept that from him! Attempted to deprive him of knowledge!

"Perhaps it's not the fading level of your abilities which made it so easy to find you, so much as growing potential of mine."

The Dark Jedi reached casually down for his saber, clutching Ascension in his pale slender hand. They both knew what would transpire atop the mountain tops today: Figrin needed no one to tell him what Jeseth's intentions were.

"A shame things had to turn out this way."

Jeseth's ears picked up something... a subtle crumbling of rocks, and then a clanging of something metal.

So, you're not alone afterall...

"Looks like we'll have some company in a few moments, Jeseth..." Figrin said, seeming to be in a state of calm. Was the Jedi playing some sort mind game with him, or was he as clueless about the additional presence as Jeseth was?

[Figrin D an]

*** Figrin closed his eyes and drew upon the inner strength of the Force. He had never cared for violence, but was often forced to partake in strange dichotomy... memories of when he was a Knight sometimes came flooding back to him... the horrors of war he had seen first hand, and participated in... watching brave soldiers and Jedi being killed in droves...

He cringed further at the thoughts of what he had discovered in his research...

It was purely by accident when he found the first clue in the archeological records of the last major excavation at Mt. Tantis... it was like following a trail of breadcrumbs the size of sand grains, but he eventually found himself jumping across the galaxy from site to site, searching through local records on Imperial activity, probing citizens for second-hand information... all to eventually led him to a nameless storage planet and ....

He shuddered... Palpatine was twisted man, one capable of untold horrors... but this was almost unfathomable...

And now Jeseth wanted to know what Figrin had found. Figrin wasn't sure how much Jeseth already knew, but obviously not enough to his liking... he was ready to kill the Jedi Master to find out more...


Yet, another presence was after him as well. Figrin concentrated and probed though the Force, looking for this other being...

Finally, he recognized the being as Morgan Evanar... a familiar face, yes, but what was his motive? The Jedi Master could not get a clear read on the man...

Morgan would arrive at the top of the cliff shortly with an unknown agenda. 'This could get ugly if I'm not careful,' thought the Jedi.

Figrin stood up and brushed the dust from his climbing suit. He chose to not look at Jeseth for the moment, and calming walked towards the cliffs edge and peered over as Morgan struggled to reach the summit.

"Yes, I did hear you, so if were looking for a surprise attack, I'm afraid your out of luck."

Figrin could see Morgan scowl at him, muttering something under his breath...

"Don't worry, you'll get your chance."

[Morgan Evanar]

Figrin D an, while a known face, was an unknown factor in combat. This was more than a minor incovience, and he doubted the Jedi would simply let him pass. What a horrid complication.

He scowled at the Jedi Master through narrowed eyes, sun coating the world in a soft haze of purples, golds and pinks. Morgan had opted not to wear his trencoat, instead opting for multipocketed kahki colored pants and shirt; most of his gear was stored in a pack on his back, save his Desert Eagle and sword.

But why was Cloak here? Chances were that he would side with Morgan, but Jeseth was always an unknown quantity in anything, and oft his motives were purely known to him and the members of the Black Hand. And sometimes, he suspected, not even to the other members of the Black Hand.

"Move, Jedi. I've got a job to do."

[Jeseth Cloak]

Jeseth heard the voice as it called up from the cliff side, filtering around and through Figrin's form. Those tones just seemed so familiar...

Morgan. Why would he be here, too?

Evanar might just as well be here for the same exact thing that had managed to lure Jeseth into the area. It would only make his job all the easier, and then they could divide up the spoils of the victory and part paths once more. Evanar might have been a Sith, but he certainly didn't think like one...

Hmmm...

"You know, Figrin, I don't really enjoy needlessly taking the lives of others... So why not just <font color=darkred>hand the research over to me?</font>"

Jeseth's words seemed to carry a powerful sway, permeating the Jedi's thoughts and emotions, making him feel just the slightest bit more... trusting.

"After all, we're both scholars.."

[Figrin D an]

" .... hand the research over to me?"

The Jedi Master flinched for moment at these words... partially in curiosity, but partially for a reason he could not explain. What was Jeseth trying to do?

"After all, we're both scholars..."


The words swirled in his mind... he pondered the consequences of sharing his findings with Jeseth...

Figrin shook the thought from his mind. Jeseth was good... very good. Figrin could tell that the Dark Jedi was well-versed in many different Force arts, including mind control. A dangerous adversary he was indeed. Figrin would have to employ extreme caution...

The Jedi Master turned toward Jeseth, almost forgetting about Morgan hanging on the side of the bluff.

"You champion the cause of historical truth, an honorable pursuit and one that I share. But within that cause lies a responsibility... to use that knowledge to better the galaxy. We both know there is much knowledge of the past that could be used to throw the galaxy into turmoil... and destroy millions of lives. What I have found is dangerous... especially in the hands of those who would try to use it for personal gain. I'm sorry, Jeseth..."

Figrin could tell that the Dark Jedi was frustrated... but he contained it very well, not letting his facial inflection change at all.

[Jeseth Cloak]

I didn't think that would likely work on one as skilled as him... but it was worth a try. I suppose I'll be scrapping his research off the bottom of the canyon.

"Then I'm sorry too, Figrin."

A wave of Force energy exploded forth from Jeseth's hand, racing towards the Jedi Master and threatening to send him bounding off the side of the cliff face. In that split second, Jeseth's eyes gleamed in anger.

"Don't make me to destroy you!"

Jeseth gritted his teeth, intensifying the shock wave of Dark energy and slowly begging to unleash the pain and suffering which he stored deep within. He knew that he was giving the Jedi Master more than enough of an opportunity to avoid the earth-shattering push, but he didn't wish to kill him right away - No, if Figrin wouldn't cooperate, then he would make sure he left the Jedi behind alive. It would be a shame to waste such a valuable asset... after all, this wouldn't be the only such fathering which he would attend.

"Personal gain? Personal gain?! Order will restored to the galaxy through that information which you posses, and I will be the proper catalyst!"

[Morgan Evanar]

ggggruuummmnnnn AH!

With a soft thump, Morgan landed onto the plateau, neatly crouched. He had finally managed some decent hand and footholds, although it had required a bit of dangerous stretching.

Figrin nearly crashed into Morgan, but reflexes saved them both from tumbling over the edge.

"RrrrrrrrooOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!" growling, sound much like a large feline of some sort, he picked up the Jedi Master, swung him around, and flung him back at Jeseth.

Jeseth's eyes widend, surprised as Figrin slammed into him violently. Morgan decided he wasn't really interested in whatever Jeseth was after, but now, he wouldn't mind removing a limb from Figrin. He narrowed his eyes as he slowly closed the distance between them, sword drawn.

[Figrin D an]

*** Figrin regained his footing and pushed away from Jeseth. The Dark Jedi nearly toppled over backward as a result, but was able to shift his feet enough until he stummbled against a large tree. Figrin used the momentum from his push-off to to roll to his right, putting some distance between himself and both Jeseth and Morgan. In one swift motion, was out of the roll and on his feet, lightsabre drawn and ignited. The dark blue blade hummed as Figrin twirled the sabre hilt in his right hand, finally pausing as with the hilt bottom pointed outward and the blade angled off to the side and slightly behind the Jedi Master.

He shook off the effects of the dark energy wave Jeseth had throw at him. Somehow, he had a feeling Jeseth was capable of much worse. Morgan was certainly powerful as well. The Sith's arrival made the situation worse...

Figrin held his ground, keeping both Jeseth and Morgan in his view. Morgan was slowly moving toward him... it became clear that the Sith was after a trophy this day... Jeseth stood a slightly greater distance away not showing any immediate signs if further attack. Figrin knew that the Dark Jedi would wait until Morgan got Figrin into a bad tactical position, then take advantage of the situation and attack...

Morgan had closed the gap between him and Figrin. With burst of speed, he charged the Jedi. Figrin held his ground as the Sith brought his sabre to bear on the Jedi in a horizontal slashing motion. At the last moment, Figrin dropped to ground. Morgan's sabre cut through the air where the Jedi had previously stood, leaving his side unprotected. Figrin, now laying on his side, launched a kick upward into the rigth side of the Sith's torso. Morgan cringed as the cordite-reenforced climbing boot crushed into his gut, slightly throwing him off balance. Figrin swung his legs around and moved to a crouching position and shifted his lightsabre to his left hand. Exploding upward, Figrin attempted an uppercut to Morgan's chin. The Sith recovered just in time to bring his arm around and catch the Jedi's right hand just short if his face. Figrin reacted quickly, spinning to his left and slamming an elbow into Morgan's stomach. The hit stunned the Sith just long enough for Figrin swing his left hand upward and crack Morgan's jaw with the hilt of the Jedi's sabre. The Sith was knocked backward a step, and dazed slightly... he recovered just long enough to see Figrin spin a again and unleash a Force-enhanced open-palm punch to his chest. The punch sent the Sith staggering backward, finally falling to the ground a few meters away.

Figrin readjusted and now faced the Sith, slowly recovering from the series of hits. The Jedi looked to see that Jeseth had not moved yet... He's waiting for me to make a mistake., thought Figrin. It was tough not to admire his control of both Light and Dark aspects of the Force...

Figrin turned back towards Morgan Evanar, still in an en guarde position. ***

"I'm afraid you won't find your trophy today, Sith."

[Jeseth Cloak]

Just as Figrin completed uttering those words, something snapped up around his leg and took a tight hold. His own shadow was playing games with him now... and that was something that would be difficult to avoid. Jeseth knew it would do little more than to irritate the Jedi Master, but that was all he had intended. Now he need but bide his time, and wait until all the surrounding factors came into play.

Another blue glow erupted forth with a snap-hiss, but this one was a darker and more concentrated hue. Trace Sha's saber Ascension, now in Jeseth's possession, came to life. The Dark Jedi glared at Figrin, growing tired of the childish game.

You're making this more trouble than it's worth, Jedi. I respected you once, but now I see you are as blind as the rest of them...

Something began to crackle forth from Jeseth's finger tips, blue static taking the shape of tiny arcs of lightening. His left gloved hand continued to grip the saber tightly, leathered bantha flesh stretching noisily underneath the strain.

With a burst of Force induced alacrity, Jeseth closed the area between himself and Figrin, their lightsabers coming just centimeters apart, but never touching, their dual hums blotting out all other sounds. Jeseth's eyes reflected the fragmented shades of blue light back at his opponent as eye contact was made. Suddenly, Figrin began to notice that the cliff behind him was quite a bit longer than he had previously noticed. Jeseth's eyes never relented in their intensity as he continued to attempt to push the Jedi back toward's the cliff side - but now, the cliff side seemed to fade in and out of focus.

Jeseth strained to keep up the illusion, pushing against Figrin's guard with calculated precision.

Just a little more...

[Figrin D an]

Figrin maintained his focus, blocking each sabre strike with relative ease. Jeseth seemed to expend only a minimal amount of energy with each strike. Not much brute strength accompanied each clash of the blue blades, yet Jeseth seemed to be concentrating intently on something... almost struggling to keep up some unseen Force power...

The Jedi Master continued to deflect each strike by his Dark Jedi foe, looking for a hole in Jeseth's defense. Jeseth swung his saber downward towards Figrin's legs, forcing the Jedi block low. The Dark Jedi immedately responded and spun around, bringing his sabre high across Figrin chest. The move was executed with great speed, before Figrin could move his own sabre into position for a block. Figrin lept backward, the crackling blade missing his tunic by a mere centimeter. He stabilized his footing, preparing for the next attack by the Dark Jedi...

Jeseth cracked a slight smile, standing just a meter away. His eyes burned with intense concentration...

' What is he trying to do?' Figrin wondered.

Jeseth attacked again, causing Figrin to step back again. The Jedi blocked with ease, but also began to probe Jeseth's mind with the Force. ' What is he hiding?', the Jedi thought. With an increased intensity, Figrin was able to break through the fatigued mental exterior of the Dark Jedi. At that moment, the cliff's edge seemed to rush toward him...

Jeseth attacked again. Figrin, now almost tetering on the edge of the bluff made the split second decision to drop to a crouched position. Jeseth's sabre attack missed high, putting him in a compromised position. Figrin swept the leg of his opponent, causing Jeseth to lose his balance and begin to fall over the edge of the cliff... Figrin grabbed the Dark Jedi's arm, thinking he might be able to pull them both back to safety...

But gravity proved to be too powerful an adversary.

The two warriors toppled over the edge of the bluff. Figrin let go of the Dark Jedi's arm and grabbed frantically for a hand hold on the rocky surface. He managed to catch one with his right hand after falling about 4 meters, stopping his fall, but wrenching his arm badly... he was lucky not to dislocate his shoulder. The Jedi Master clung to cliffside, his saber still ignited in his free left hand. He turned his head to look around below him, searching for Jeseth. The Dark Jedi had fallen only a meter or so farther than he. Jeseth similarly was perilously hanging to a handhold, and was clawing at the rock with his feet, searching for additional support.

"Now see what you've gotten us into?"


The Dark Jedi was noticably annoyed, yet said nothing. Both men continued to search for better handholds as Morgan Evanar, now up and once again aware of his surroundings, made his way to the cliff side to observe the Jedi and the Dark Jedi hanging on for dear life...

[Jeseth Cloak]

Jeseth hung there, holding onto the cliff face for a just another moment, a few beads of sweat dripped away from his face as the cool breeze moved over his skin, sending the tiny liquid crystals plummeting into the foggy reaches below. Jeseth squinted his eyes, only making out a few outcroppings of trees that were large enough to push their way above the mist.

He looked up and watched Figrin, who had by now begun to climb his way back up towards the plateau with considerable ease. He hadn't come all this way for nothing...

Gravel began tumbling softly from the cliff side, Jeseth's hands gripping tighter onto a slightly loose stone as he called upon the Force, leaping upwards for nearly another meter, grabbing onto Figrin's ankle and deflecting the saber which came at him. The two energy blades clashed momentarily, crackling and humming in their attempts to purge each other.

"This is starting to really get on my nerves."

Figrin kicked out with his foot, attempting to push Jeseth away, but the Dark Jedi merely used the leverage to swing over beside him, striking down upon the stones which the Jedi clung to, severing them and sending him slipping down the rock face in search of another hold.

[Figrin D an]

Figrin's fingers scraped and clawed at the rock, his body finally jolting to a halt as he grasped a small crack in the rock face with both hands. His muscles stretched and ached, the fatigue starting to adversely affect him. The Jedi looked up to see the Dark Jedi Jeseth, his lightsaber still ignited as he struggled towards the top of the bluff. Still, Jeseth was making good progress, and would likely beat Figrin back to the plateau, despite Figrin's superior climbing skills. The Jedi, not seeing any good hand hand or foot holds around him, plunged his lightsaber blade into the rock face next to him. Pulling the hilt downward, Figrin cut a long gash in the rock face, about 1 meter in length. He swung one foot over to the gash, then the other, wedging them firmly into the rock face. Next came the hands, ensuring a solid grip with one before the other released from the original hand-hold. The Jedi was now in a better position to continue the climb. As he set out, he glanced upward to see Jeseth still on the rock face, but now near the top.

Figrin was at a disadvantage. He knew that Jeseth would soon reach the top and would be in a position to cause the Jedi to plummet to an ugly death... His mind raced as he thought what to do, playing out scenarios in his head. None of them ended well...

[Jeseth Cloak]

Moments passed as the breeze continued to blow over Figrin, Jeeth's boidy already over the cliffs edge and out of sight. He was dead. The Dark Jedi would make sure of that.

Suprisingly, though, Jeseth merely stood in waiting... watching, gazing down at the Jedi.
A few pebbles slipped out from underneath Jeseth's boot, bouncing down the rock face and over Figrin's head. The Dark Jedi continued speaking to watch him make his way back up. After giving it some thought, Figrin would merely come to realize that he had no other choice: He couldn't cling to the mountain side forever, and Jeseth seemed to have a good supply of patience in this aspect of the situation.

As the Jedi Master reached the top, a dark gloved hand gripped his wrist, pulling him over the ledge just as the holds became scarce.

"I'll ask you one more time to share your knowledge with me. I shoudn't have to waste an entire mind as brilliant as yours in order to advance my cause... but you're leaving me with little choice. You have more potential than that..."

[Figrin D an]

The change in the Dark Jedi's attitude caught Figrin off guard. He had never seen Jeseth show this kind of patience before. What angle is Jeseth playing? thought Figrin. It was clear that the Dark Jedi had a hidden agenda in addition to obtaining Figrin's research....


Jeseth helped Figrin to his feet, finally loosening his grip on the the Jedi's hand once Figrin had regained his balance comfortably. Both men were tired, a fact shown by their heavy breathing and long faces. They were both covered in a thin layer of reddish-brown soil that had been kicked up by the previous struggle. The sweat that covered each of them seemed to attract every loose molecule of dust on the ancient plateau.

Figrin stood, partially hunched over as he caught his breath, and looked at Jeseth. He could see the emotion welling up within the Jedi, almost ready to explode in a violent rage of anger and frustration. Jeseth contained it, though, and the attack that Figrin half-expected... never came.

The Jedi walked a few meters to his right, turning his back to the dark warrior. He finally found the energy and the resolve to speak.

"Why did you really come here, Jeseth? You had me trapped. You could have killed me and taken the data disks from my ship. I'm sure a good slicer would be able to access them in short order for you... You want something else don't you?"

Figrin put all his strength into probing the Dark Jedi's thoughts, trying to pierce years of mental training to block unwanted telepathic communication... a daunting task, indeed...

Figrin's eye's grew wide as it became clear... He turned back to Jeseth, the dark figure now standing confidently with his arms crossed and looking far off across the horizon.

"You need my help, don't you?"

[Jeseth Cloak]

"I came here to take that which is rightfully mine. The research you carry would otherwise go to waste... Those fools,"

Jeseth pointed his hand wearily at the large structure still a considerable climb above them.

"would know not how to properly utilize it. The galaxy is in turmoil, and what is being done? Nothing. The Jedi brood amongst themselves, whilst the Sith control all commerce and trade. The New Republic does little more than bicker with the Empire about borders and colonies. You devote your life to peace and justice, yet look at the lifestyle which you support through your endevours...

Come now, Figrin, I know you of all people could see this just as well as I do. Why blind yourself to reality? Imagine what we could accomplish if we worked together..."

Jeseth raised a brow, watching as the Jedi considered his words.

"I've always admired you... and I know as well as you do, that deep down inside, you have a greater prupose than the Jedi provide for you. This galaxy no longer responds to the kinder gentler hand of the Light Side of the Force...

You need my help, as well."

[Figrin D an]

" you need my help, as well."

Figrin looked down at the ground for a moment, then turned away from Jeseth again. The wind had begun to pick up as large, dark clouds began to roll in from the east. The sunlight began to fade as the cloudcover grew. Lightning could be seen in the distance, accompanied by the low rumble of ominous thunder. A storm was on it's way...

Jeseth's words permeated his very being, sending a chill down the Jedi's spine. Not because of fear... no, fear was far from the Jedi's mind. Not because of hatred... the Jedi remained true to himself, and did not feel malice towards Jeseth...

It was because of.... truth.

Jeseth spoke words of truth... and deep within himself, Figrin knew this...

The Jedi were once the pride of the galaxy... defenders of the greater good and seekers of truth. Now, the truth was something that few Jedi refused to understand and accept. The Jedi Order was not what it used to be... beaten back by constant onslaughts from multiple fronts, first losing their home on Coruscant, then their base of operations on Dagobah... And yet, few seemed to be willing to take action. How long before the Jedi would be pushed back again?

These were all questions that the Jedi Master had pondered before... thoughts that deeply troubled him and to which he had few answers. He knew not what the future would hold... but something had to be done if peace and prosperity were to return to the galaxy...

But working with a Dark Jedi? Was this really the path the Force had chosen for him? Figrin was a wise man, one who had been and would continue to be both teacher and student. He had studied the Force since he was but a child, and knew that it was often hard to see the grand design of the the Force though the details... war and peace, life and death.

The Jedi took a deep breath and exhailed slowly, relaxing his body and mind. Figrin would continue to place that trust in the Force, and allow it to guide him upon this path....

The Jedi Master turned back to Jeseth, at last breaking the awkward silence.

"What is it that you propose?"

[Jeseth Cloak]

"I propose you come back with my to Vjun, and study the Dark Side of the Force... The time for kindness and empathy is at an end - Both Jedi and Sith must be dealt with accordingly. Both are a liability to the natural order of things. If we work together, we can uncover secrets burried for centuries in all corners of the galaxy, and exploit them for our greater purpose."

Jeseth swept his hand aside, the tree standing by them derooting and snapping up from the ground, flinging it's self from atop the cliffside in one blurring motion, plummeting the full distance towards the ground, and then finally vanishing beneath the mist.

"Or you can walk a path as my enemy."

<a href=http://www.method.org/sith/mm/lightsaber1.wav>Snapp-hiss.</a>

"The choice is yours."

[Figrin D an]

Figrin couldn't help but smile at the Dark Jedi's brash behavior... and bold suggestions.

The Jedi folded his arms and looked the dark warrior square in the face.

"It'll take more than parlor tricks to impress me, Jeseth. You of all people should know that."

The Jedi's eyes seemed to burn with a new fire. Jeseth attempted to read Figrin's thoughts, but to little avail. The Jedi seemed to block out his environment with surprising ease, despite the storm that now began to rage overhead. The wind began to howl more fervently, yet Figrin was unphased.

"You know, Jeseth.... I know more about the Force than you may realize. It's more than just Light and Dark. It's life.... it's existence at it's most basic level. You have seen the virtues of the Light and the strength of the Dark... but true power? That can only be achieved when you understand how they are linked together."

Figrin stretched out his right arm, reaching out towards the edge of the plateau they stood upon. Closing his eyes, the Jedi concentrated, finding the tree that Jeseth had ripped from the earth and flung over the ledge. The Jedi brought his fingers together, forming a tight fist, tensing... then finally releasing into an open hand. Figrin opened his eyes...

"Look beside you..."

Jeseth turned his head... only to the see the very tree that he had destroyed, replanted in it's original location, life flowing through it once again. The Dark Jedi, shocked at what he saw, contained it well by mearly raising a curious eyebrow and glancing back at the Jedi Master.

"You are looking for a comrade... someone that can compliment your search for true power. Intrinsic to that is the ability of that chosen comrade to see things differently from yourself... to offer a disenting point of view at times.... even you know this to be true..."

Figrin walked towards Jeseth, stopping a meter away from the Dark Jedi and looking at him with a stone face.

"Will I study the Dark Side with you?.... Yes. Will I submit to it's power and allow it to control me?.... No.
I have my own views of the Force, many of which I have hidden for quite some time because they conflicted with traditional Jedi beliefs. No one will change those views, not even you my friend."

Figrin dropped his arms to his side, finally folding his hands behind his back in a stately manner.

"Those are my terms. Accept them, and we shall move forward. Reject them, and we leave this place on seperate paths."

Figrin, his stoney look still present, concluded, "The choice is now YOURS."

[Jeseth Cloak]

<a href=http://www.method.org/sith/mm/lightsaber2.wav>Hissss-click.</a>

Ascenion's blade vanished into its hilt as Jeseth nodded to Figrin, extending a black-gloved hand out to him.

"Very well, Jedi. Your wisdom would be welcomed in my studies... and perhaps there are things which I can learn from you, as well."

The Dark Jedi waited, watching as the storm above continued to brew, the skies growing darker and darker; Perhaps, Jeseth thought, they were a sign of things to come.

[Figrin D an]

Figrin reached out and grasped the gloved hand of Jeseth with his own, shaking it firmly. The storm was upon them, it's fury ready to be released upon the landscape. The two warriors looked out towards the forest that lie beyond and below the plateau. The wind played havoc with the trees, ripping leaves and small branches away and scattering them in the ensuing chaos.

"There is, no doubt, much that we can learn from each other."

[Jeseth Cloak]

"I think it best if we be on our way now... This storm looks like more than I would be eager to fly through..."

Jeseth reached into his coat and tossed Figrin a small chip, locations burried deep within.

"Those are the coodinates to Vjun."

The Dark Jedi yelled over the sudden bashing of lightening and pouring of rain - he almost felt at ease that he hadn't a need for a barrier to protect him from it; On Vjun, acid rained down from the sky, not water.

"I shall see there in 20 cycles! Make preparations!"

Jeseth released Figrin's hand and looked down to the valley below, then back up. His ship was a considerable ways down... and there wasn't any time to climb.

"Until then, Figrin."

The winged figure leapt from the cliff, vanishing blow the rising mist. As the Jedi Master utilized his Force=enhanced vision, he could faintl make out a winged figure gliding its way down between the trees. Moments later, a ship blasted up from the forest and toward's the cliff, stopping just in front of Figrin. The hatch slipped open, Jeseth standing there and gazing at the Jedi Master.

"You do have a ship, don't you?!"

The rain continued to pour down, lightening illuminating their faces, a twirling mass of destructive winds making it's self visible in the distance.

[Figrin D an]

Figrin looked up at the Dark Jedi peering out of the ships hatch. He only smiled at the comment and pulled a small control device from his left pocket. He tapped a small button on the hand-held unit, and waited calmly.

In the distance, the bright light of twin sub-light engines could be seen. The light grew larger and brighter quickly as Figrin's personal ship, the Azure Starfire roared overhead and slowed to a hover about 10 meters above the Jedi. A side hatch powered open and Figrin, concentrating with the Force, executed a perfect Force Jump to land in the open hatchway. The Jedi turned and yelled back to Jeseth.

"I'll be right behind you. Once you escape planetary gravity, bank your ship around the far outer moon before entering hyperspace. The natural radiation from the moon's atmosphere will help to mask your ion trail... in case anyone decides to come looking for either of us."

With that, the hatch closed and Figrin's ship began to move off, blasting towards the darkness of space, following Jeseth's ship into an unknown future (http://pub2.ezboard.com/fswvstitanicstarwarsroleplayingarchive.showMessage ?topicID=3718.topic)...