Darkened Waters (Closed RP)

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Sith Lordess Dara Shadowtide tossed and turned in her bed in TSE headquarters as the time approached. It happened every night, like clock work. The nightmare always came as it had every night since her father's death a year ago. Vivid images of his brutal murder played out night after night as she slept.

After a successful trip to Coruscant, Dara and her father entered space en route to deliver their latest cargo. Her father was so happy and a smile was ever present on his face with this particular deal. The contractor was very rich and had hand picked Cale as the best of the best. The cargo was secured in some of the latest additions to lower decks of the Resilience. Dara and her father had just sat down to play a game of Sabacc, Dara of course determined to beat her father this time as she carefully looked at her cards.

Suddenly, her father, Cale Shadowtide, is assaulted from behind by three attackers who had stowed away on their ship after a smuggling mission. They came out of nowhere, their footfalls as silent as death. One assailant grabs Cale and as the blade pierces her father's chest and his blood spills to the floor, Cale's body drops in a heap and the attackers laugh. Dara screams and is dragged to a holding room on the ship.

Dara was beaten and tortured by one of the attackers until by one of her first aggressive uses of the Dark Side she had just begun to wield, she force pushed him backwards and rammed his skull into one of the lighting fixtures on the wall. The metal pierced his skull and he fell to the ground lifelessly. Grabbing a knife from the dead man's body, she exits the room in search of the other two men.

She knew this ship like the back of her hand and maneuvered her way in and out of it stealthily until she came upon the second man with his feet propped up against the windowsill, looking out into space with his back to her. She stayed low to the ground and came up behind him, the only sound in the room a stifled gurgle as blood rushed from his throat where she had sliced open his jugular vein.

The final attacker was on the bridge in the captain's chair smoking a cigar while humming some annoying and repetitive melody. Dara kept against the wall as she made her way around the room and in position to take down the final murderer of her father. Her concentration was broken slightly as she saw her father laying in a pool of his own blood where he had died earlier in the day. Rage flowed through her body as she looked from her father's body to the remaining man.

A savvy warrior, the man spun around in the chair to face her with a smile on his dirt covered face.

Man #3: "Hello there little lady, and what might we be doing out and about? I guess you need me to show you who's in charge here huh."

Dara: "And I shall show you how to bleed at the end of my blade. Now... die!"

:: Dara rushed forward and the man stood up and ran toward her, his scimitar pulled from his belt with ease. She gripped the knife firmly and dropped low to the ground, sweeping him to his feet as he sliced her lower calf. Dara screamed and jumped on him, stabbing the knife deep into his chest. She remembers the look on his face as she plunged the knife in... it was a look of disbelief. He groaned and then lay still as the blood flowed out onto the floor of the bridge.

Her hands shaking, Dara piloted the ship back to her home on Garqi where she removed the three men from the ship and left them propped up next to the storage building out in the north quadrant of her family's property. Dara buried her father next to her mother under the ancient oak tree covered in a purple djorra vine. Her parents were united again at last as Dara was completely alone in the galaxy now. As Dara set out on her own, she passed by the storage building but only two men's bodies were there...

Dara's eyes open suddenly as she sits straight up in her bed. Her body covered in a cold sweat as she was awakened by her own scream. She lays her head in her hands and closes her eyes ::

< Father... >

:: Sith Lord Sumor Rayial hears Dara's scream and runs to her quarters where he pushes the bell rapidly to get her to answer. Dara climbs out of bed and wipes the tears before opening her chamber door. Sumor sees the expression on her face and takes her in his arms, just holding her. After several minutes she had calmed down and he spoke softly ::

Sums: "Look, I think you need to go back to Garqi and put this to rest at long last. I will go with you if you want, just get this taken care of, ok?"

:: Dara looks up at him and speaks quietly ::

Dara: "Alright, you're right. Let's prepare to depart tomorrow then. I won't ever be ready to return but there is no point in waiting any longer."

[Sumor Rayial]

**They sat together the rest of the night. She had briefly fallen asleep again but not for long. He knew what she was feeling, or at least had a pretty good idea, he had been plagued by nightmares for the past couple of months since returning for Tarris.

He looked down at her leaning up against him and shook his head slightly, trying to force the thoughts of his dreams from his mind. Right now his thoughts were on the dreams that haunted her mind, he would deal with his at a later time.

Morning came early for the pair. Sums left her to get ready for their trip, and around noon Munto Codru time the pair met up at The Resilience. Sums stowed their gear while Dara started the pre-flight check list. Sliding into the unfamiliar right hand co-pilots seat, Sums buckled up. Meeting her eyes as they moved to the elevator for the ride to the surface, he gave her a reassuring smile.

As soon as they had entered hyperspace heading for Garqi, Sums turned to her.**

How are you doing?

"I'm fine, just a little tired."

Hey, I can take over for a while, why don't you go lay down.

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara looked over at Sums and could tell he was concerned about her. She gave him a warm smile back ::

"Thanks, I think I will take you up on that and go to my quarters for a bit."

:: She put her hand on his and gave it a quick squeeze and then walked to her quarters. Her mind was flooded with the memories of the last time she had been home. It was a year ago today that she had buried her own father next to her mother under the large tree outside their family dwelling.

Dara cursed herself for not killing all three of the men that day, for one had escaped her wrath. It was her own lack of training at that time that caused her to not execute them flawlessly. Her training at the Empire would most assuredly remedy that now. She would hunt the remaining man down and kill him slowly and painfully for taking her father's life. The Sith Lordess had seen plenty of people killed in her lifetime, usually by her own hand. But seeing a family member's blood ooze from their body as they gasp and take their last breath was just different for some reason.

That did not make her weak in any way however, for it is well established that emotions are very powerful when used in battle. Emotions are what make a Sith unlike a jedi. The jedi employ calm and self control when in reality, they could be so much more if they just let their anger and rage out. That glorious rush of adrenaline as force lightning exits the fingertips and wraps around an opponent like a web of death, now there is a truly wonderous emotional display.

There was simply nothing that could compare to experiencing the power of the Dark Side as the crimson blood flowed freely from an opponent. Their pitiful plea for life crushed in the blink of an eye for the glory of darkness. She revelled in bloodshed and carnage and had lived her life as such.

Her thoughts then returned to her father, uncertain as to what she would find in a home she walked away from. The only home she had known. She walked to the viewport and gazed out into space ::

[Sumor Rayial]

**He smiled and watched her go. Reaching down he removed a small data disk from his bag and slipped it into the slot. A minute later music filled the cockpit area and he found himself with a glazed look in his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder about the dreams that were haunting her. Dreams were a powerful thing, nightmares the most powerful of all, drawing off your deepest memories of terror and horror.

Hours passed like minutes as he stared out the view port at the stars streaking past. The only thing that snapped him out of it was the hyperspace alert telling him that they had reached their destination. Dropping the ship out of hyperspace, Sumor slid all the engine throttles to idle and let the ship drift in space. He looked out over the system and spotted their destination. The beautiful blue-green oceans making it easy to spot.

Flipping his wrist he looked at his chrono, he wanted to give her plenty of time to sleep now, for he doubted that she would get much later on in their trip, but he needed her to pilot the ship down to the surface. Sliding out of the chair her walked down the silent halls, the hard soles of his boots ringing off the metal grating. Arriving at his door he tapped lightly on the metal.**

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara finishes up another entry into her holojournal and then slips it into her satchel. Just then, she hears a knock at her door and she smiles. She gracefully crosses the room and opens it to look up into Sumor's eyes ::

Dara: "Hello. Are we ready for descent to the planet's surface already?"

Sumor: "That we are. Shall we?"

:: She nods and leads the way back to the cockpit where they slide into the chairs and check the monitors for planet conditions and a secluded landing area. Finding all systems go and the ideal place to land, Dara pilots the ship downward and sets it down with ease. As the hum of the engines subside and they finally power down, she just sits in the chair lost in thought. Sumor looks over at her and touches her arm lightly ::

Sumor: "Hey, you ok?"

Dara: "Actually I am. It's a strange feeling to land here without my father on the ship, however somehow I feel his presence with me. Let's head out. I am more ready than I ever have been."

:: He smiles and squeezes her hand and the two Sith set out on foot toward her childhood home. The planet is green and lush and almost a small paradise hidden away from most. Familiar sights and sounds are all around her as they travel unnoticed toward her first home. The surroundings seem familiar however Dara has not recognized a single person they have encountered yet ::

[Sumor Rayial]

**He could feel the eyes on him. Not that it was unexpected, his black fatigues alone would have caught attention not to mention the Desert Eagle strapped to his thigh, the sabers and knife on his belt. He made a not to change into something a little less noticable when he had the chance.

Not really knowing where they were heading Sums just followed Dara his always alert eyes scanning the area around them for anything out of the ordinary or odd.**

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: She led Sumor up the road and then took a sharp left turn, heading down an overgrown stone path. The smell of the ocean permeated the air as she saw the waves crashing against the shore the closer they came to the dwelling. The dirt path turned to sand as they came upon her old home.

It was apparent that no one had been here for some time as they walked into the abandoned house. Dara hit a switch and the coverings on the windows in the ceiling slid open to let light into the home. Furniture was scattered about and it looked like the locals had ransacked it.

She and Sumor entered and decided to search the place separately. Sumor went into the living room and Dara headed towards her parents bedroom. Dara walked slowly toward the dresser with the large now broken mirror. She saw the picture of her mother crumpled on top of the old jewelry box which now sat empty. She flattened the picture out and looked at it for a long time. So many memories flooded her mind.

Dara then slipped the old photo in her satchel. Looking up on the wall, she saw a picture of her father's ship, the Resilience, and reached for it. As she undid the picture from the hanger, a click sounded behind the dresser. Dara walked around and saw a small door had popped open.

Reaching around she pulled out a long rectangular box from inside the hidden storage area and slowly opened it. The box contained two similar pendants and a holonovel ::

<img src=http://www.sseverything.f2s.com/pics/PBOTH.jpg>

[Sumor Rayial]

**While Dara went to search the bedroom, Sumor moved into the living room. what greeted him as he stepped down into the room through an arched opening was a panoramic view out over the ocean. As he looked out the large floor to ceiling windows, Sumor noticed that the sun was beginning its downward arc, and that it would eventually produce a sunset that would probably have been viewed many times from this room or the small patio that adjoined it.

Taking his eyes off the windows he took a glancing inventory of the room. The furniture was showing it's age and had been tossed around by someone at one point in time or another. His eyes moved over one of the walls where a fireplace sat in the middle, a large portrait of a couple and a young child hung over it. Sumor smiled as he realized that the child would have been Dara. As he looked at the painting a glint of metal caught the corner of his eye. Looking over he saw the source coming from beneath a toppled chair and table. Uprighting the table and then the chair Sumor's eyes glazed over momentarily at the sight before him. A huge smile crossed his face as he reached down and picked up a scarabbed <a href=http://www.sseverything.f2s.com/pics/katana.jpg>Katana.</a> Slowly he withdrew the blade from its scarab and marveled at its beauty, it was odd that whoever had ransacked the house had not taken it, but having found it under the chair they might have missed it.

Almost timidly Sumor sliced the razor sharp blade through the air a couple times testing the balance. The sword was too light for him, but he enjoyed the feel of such a lethal weapon in his hands just the same.

Looking up he noticed Dara looking at him from the entranceway, a small box in her hands.**

I see you found something too.

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara still holds the opened rectangular box in her hands as Sumor approaches her. She looks directly into his eyes and nods and then looks back to the box. Her fingers slide over the small oval device and she lifts it out gently as her thumb fits perfectly in place to open it with a soft click sound. An image comes into view and it is a woman.. it is a woman she knows.. it is her.. <a href=http://www.kenobrien.com/royo/mlr-04.jpg>mother</a> ::

Brianna Shadowtide: "Hello my unborn child. Although you have not made your presence known in this world yet, I wanted to give you a present already. Your father had acquired these pieces of jewelry on one of his trips and not really knowing what it was, he gave it to me as a thoughtful gesture. The jewels are quite beautiful and rare in their own rights, but upon my travels to see a Sith elder, I have found out that these two pendants are quite unique in what they can do. These pendants were fashioned by an apprentice to one of the first 12 Dark Lords of the Sith. When worn by a dark couple, these pendants allow each of them to channel the Dark Side into the very center and always know the precise location of the other one. They can also communicate with each other via the Dark Side through the pendant. Love is a rare and precious thing to find, my child. May these pendants find their way into your hands at the right moment in time..."

:: Dara stands there in disbelief, never having heard her mother's voice before let alone seeing her other than the faded picture she had always kept. She looks at Sumor and then smiles, taking the larger of the two pendants and placing it around his neck while he returns the gesture, placing the smaller pendant around her neck ::

Dara: "There could never be a more perfect time than now."

[Sumor Rayial]

**He finished fastening the clasp on her chain before taking the pendant that hung around his neck in his fingers. Looking at it her words echoed in his mind, There could never be a more perfect time than now. He watched her as she walked to one of the large windows and looked out over the ocean, There could never be a more perfect time than now. Why did her words keep ringing in his head? He smiled sheepishly he knew why. Walking towards her he tossed the sheathed katana onto the couch, and fished into one of the pockets on his fatigue pants for something he had been carrying around for over a month.**

Your right you know.

"What's that?"

**She sounded almost distant, away in her thoughts as she stared out the window, oblivious to him standing behind her.**

About now being perfect.

**His voice dropped in volume slightly as he continued.**

I had everything planned, romantic dinner, killing of innocent bystanders, the whole deal, but...... Well it just feels like there would be no other time like now.

**With his right thumb he flipped up the top on a small jewellery case, inside sat a ring (http://www.sseverything.f2s.com/pics/ring.gif).**

Will you marry me?

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: His last words to her hung in the air like the fog on the early morning tide. She turned to find him standing directly behind her, his arm outstretched and a diamond ring in his hand. Their eyes met and she touched both hands to her lips as she smiled at this most unexpected moment in time.

Dara took a few steps closer to Sumor and placed one hand on his hand holding the ring, while slipping her other hand around his neck, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. She pulled back slowly her eyes still on his as she spoke in barely a whisper ::

"Every moment is perfect with you, Sums.. and so will the rest of my life with you be.. my answer is.. Yes."

:: Sumor took her hand gently in his and slipped the ring on her finger as Dara's face flushed with happiness. They pressed close together for one more kiss when suddenly the front door slammed open.

Men dressed in brown military attire rushed in and Dara and Sumor reached for their weaponry. A flash of turquoise and light blue illuminated the room as Dara's twin single sabers ignited. She nodded to Sumor and the couple set off to take care of the intruders.

The Sith Lordess rushed at the two men on the right, placing a stab to one's face and a nasty slice to the groin. Dara laughs evilly as she swings her blades around in a full revolution slicing cleanly across the man still standing, his lower abdomen spilling its contents on the floor of the living room ::

[Sumor Rayial]

**Sums met another attacker with a boot to the temple sending the man to the crashing to the floor unconcious from the blow. As he completed the spin kick Sumor saw two more men enter the house. One came at him and was met with a Sumor's Sith knife in his abdomen. Twisting it around inside the man Sumor made sure the damage was complete and fatal. Turning he caught second man in the corner of his eye heading for Dara from behind. With one hand holding the knife firmly in his first victim Sumor quickly unholstered his Desert Eagle. Taking aim and squeezing the trigger he watched as the mans back exploded with the impact of the bullet, a large whole signaling his final demise.

Pulling his knife from the first man Sumor bent down and wiped the blood on the mans own shirt before returning it to it's sheath. Looking over he saw that Dara had finished with her advisaries and was looking around. Catching her eye Sumor cocked his head slightly while arching an eyebrow.**

Well at least I got the death part in.

**Reaching to his left Sumor grabbed the still unconcious assailant and picked him up and tossed him onto the couch like a rag-doll.**

Well as much fun as that was, how 'bout we try and find what it was all about?

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara disignites her sabers and clips them back to her belt after the short and very unexpected melee. She walks over to the large stonework fireplace and moves a brick, pulling out two pairs of stun cuffs. She then walks over to the couch, placing one set around the unconscious man's wrists and the other around his ankles. She looks up at Sumor and smiles ::

Dara: "There. That ought to keep him from going anywhere in case he wakes up any time soon. Father has little goodies like that scattered here and there throughout the house. You know, we're pretty close to the shoreline actually. Let's go down to the docks and see if there is anything to be found there."

Sumor: "Good idea. Let's go."

:: The dark couple makes their way out a back door and down a stone pathway that opens up to a sandy beach setting. The smell of salt permeates the air as a warm breeze floats along. They spot an older model AMPHIBION vehicle alongside the dock. Sumor and Dara head out to investigate the water assault ship.

Sumor flips a switch on the side and the armor plate folds down slowly. He steps on board and walks past the troop transport compartment and heads straight for the command cabin where he flips another switch to lower the blast screens.

Dara checks at the rear of the ship near the hover engines and antipersonnel gun turret to see if any clues could be uncovered as to their attackers just a while ago. Not finding anything, she makes her way to the weapons/first aid lockers and opens every compartment only to find nothing of interest within ::

Dara: "Did you find anything up there?"

[Sumor Rayial]

Oh I would say that.

**Sumor turned around to reveal what he had found. In one hand he held a silver plated pistol with a black grip. In the other the leather holster for the peice. She looked at the pistol in his hand and then at him with an arched eyebrow.**

"How is this of intrest to me? I'm afraid you've forgotten that I don't share your infatuation with firearms."

Not the pistol itself, look here.

**He opened his grip in the pistol and Dara noticed that there was a symbol of some type etched into the grip.**

It's also on here on the holster and on a bag in under the seat here. You recognize it?

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara looked at the symbol on the grip. It was somehow familiar to her, but she just couldn't place it at this time. She and her father had travelled so many places that it would be next to impossible to pinpoint the origin without some research, however she would find out what it meant and who it belonged to ::

"I know I have seen that symbol before, I will just have to figure out where and when."

:: She looks into Sumor's eyes ::

"I sure am glad you came across that. I think it holds the key to why we were attacked just a while ago. Well, I believe our trip here to Garqi has been rather productive, and I still can't believe how lucky I am that I will soon be your wife. Shall we head back to Munto Codru now with the good news?"

:: She smiles and leans up to kiss him softly ::

[Sumor Rayial]

If your ready. Is there anything else that you wanted to do here?

"No, I think I've found all I will."

Okay.

**Sumor placed the pistol back in it's holster and clipped it to his belt on his left side. After stopping to get the katana and some other things from the house they head back to the ship. After they had performed the preflight checks, Dara lifted the ship off the ground and piloted it out of the atmosphere. Setting course back to Munto Codru. Leaning back in his chair Sumor stretched and yawned slightly.**

If you have things under control up here I'm going to go get some rest in the back.

[Dara Shadowtide]

:: Dara smiled at Sumor ::

"I've got things handled here, you go ahead and get some rest. I appreciate the break you gave me when we were en route and now it's my turn to reciprocate. I'll message your quarters when we arrive back at Munto Codru."

:: Sumor rises and places his hand on her shoulder, giving a squeeze before retiring to his room. Dara's thoughts dwell on many events during this journey, many unexpected events at that. This was merely a journey to face her childhood home and perhaps make sense of the nightmares which haunt her.

However, during this journey she discovered hidden things from her past.. the sith amulets, the katana, and the hologram message from her mother. She also did not expect the proposal from Sumor but had been ready to say yes to him for some time now whenever he happened to ask her. This particular part of the journey began a new part of her life with him and she was very happy about that. She glanced down at her left hand and smiled as the ring sparkled in the light of the cabin.

Her thoughts then returned to the sudden attack and the ship which contained a clue to her intruders. The symbol from the pistol was now etched into her memory and she was determined to find out what it meant and who it belonged to. But for now, she focused on the upcoming wedding and knew that her past was not going anywhere. She would pick up the trail to discovering that which still lingered in her sleep.

Munto Codru came into orbit on a rather quiet journey back from Garqi. Dara provided the encrypted code to TSE HQ and began the descent into the landing area of the home base of the Sith Empire. She flipped a switch on the comms port and notified Sumor that they were home at last ::