Path toward the Light - Day 1 ~ Nupraptor

[Master Yoghurt]

It was early morning. The first beams of sunlight had just hit the surface of the Temple. The pyramidical shaped structure reflected the light back as a crystal chandelier. The only entrance, a quantum armored drawbridge lowered over the moat. A green tiny creature appeared and hurried toward the woods..

************
Meanwhile - inside the living quarters

A slightly confused protocol droid had been walking in a rather bewildered manner trough the corridors for over half an hour. It was somewhat of a difficulty finding what one was looking for holding a map upside down.. finally.. there it was. The set of doors. Namesign had just been put up. "Nupraptor", it said.

<font color=yellow>**Knock-knock!**</font>

[Nupraptor]

No sooner than the 'droid rapped against the door did it slide open in response. Although he had just woken up, Nupraptor showed no sign of grogginess or weariness. The 'droid took a slightly startled step backwards before collecting itself and speaking up.

"Excuse me, sir, but Master Yoghurt..."

The padawan cut him off in mid-sentence, waving his hand in a dismissing manner.

"I know, he wants me to meet him for training. I will be there shortly. I just need to find something, first."

Unsure of what to do, the Protocol 'Droid simply stood in the doorway as Nupraptor shuffled through his belongings in search of something.

Cautiously, the golden 'droid stepped inside the room and picked up the metal cylinder that was laying on his bureau.

"I'm sure this is what you were looking for, sir." (http://nupraptor.clanhappy.com/pd1chg_5.wav><font)

Turning around to face the 'droid, Nupraptor gave it a wan smile, picking up the lightsabre in it's metal hand. It had been a long time since he had handled this weapon, but it felt just as comfortable in his palm as the day he had built it. Taking it from the 'droid, he headed out to meet with his Master and begin his training anew.

[Master Yoghurt]

Master Yoghurt finally reached his destination: Some old temple ruins hidden among the dense vegetation of the forest. Unlike the more modern Temple Avalon, this building appeared to have been abandoned. It would be reasonable to think whoever had resided there, left a long, long time ago. Surely, there would be no one left. Or would it?

Most of the area were nothing more than rubble. However, one section seemed to have stood the test of time a lot better than the others. A stone pyramid.

The Jedi Master found a huge stone slab close to the stairs leading toward the entrance. The old man sat down to rest his feet. He waited patiently. With the Force as guidance, Nupraptor would have little difficulty finding him..

[Nupraptor]

Some minutes later, Master Yoghurt caught sight of the golden form of the Protocol 'Droid approaching, apparenly a bit bewildered. The robot was turning it's head from one side to the other, surveying the surrounding woods with some dismay. When it was only a few feet away from the waiting Jedi Master, it spoke with a bit of reservation.

"I'm sorry, sir, but your student seems to have gotten lost on the way -"

Interrupting itself this time, it quickly turned it's head to look out just a little past where Yoghurt sat.

"Oh, there he is. I am relieved."

Stepping forth from one of the shaded groves of trees, Nupraptor walked calmly up to Master Yoghurt, his arms crossed under his robes. He gave a slight nod of his head as a greeting. When he spoke, his voice came out somewhat distant sounding, echoing as if from down a hallway.

"I am ready to begin."

[Master Yoghurt]

"Greetings. I see you are acquainted with my protocol droid already. Good. Once, I had to wait the whole day for that droid to deliver me a message because he could not find the powercoupling for his left knee joint. Servants these days are not what they used to be. Now, take a look at these surroundings.."

The Jedi Master peered over the area.. then pointed at the pyramid with his walking stick.

"Have you ever seen such an eerie building before? As a coincidence, when scouting these areas in order to establish our new base, we found this place, well hidden. Apparantly, some kind of fanatical cult lived here thousands of years ago. Legends tell about a fierce warrior race. The structure appears to some kind of Temple.. probably used for religious rituals. When finding this place, we decided against entering it due to the many warnings written on the side of the building. It would have to wait until a later time. It cant wait forever though.. please, take another look.."

The structure was rich in ornaments, depicting monstrous creatures. Sculptures of ominous looking warriors were placed in what had once been the garden surrounding the Temple. Perhaps as a warning for any visitor who would happen to stumble upon it. Surely not the place to enter for the faint hearted.

There was something strange about this place.. almost as if there was some kind of presence.. one would almost feel like someone was watching. A hidden power held its ironfist grip over the place.. something.. evil.

"So, what do you say.. shall we enter?"

[Nupraptor]

Softly, Nupraptor chuckled. Somehow, he knew that would be what his Master was getting at. Lifting his head some, the padawan surveyed the structure for a moment, taking in the magnificence inherent to it's antiquated beauty.

"Please, lead on, Master. I am eager to learn what lies inside such a... foreboding place."

Warily, Nupraptor looked around once more, his ingrained paranoia beginning to surface.

[Master Yoghurt]

"Very well.. I admire your enthusiasm" *chuckle*

The two walked up the stairs not saying any further. In quietness, they observed the exteriors of the pyramid.. horrible images of monsters and the most hideous creatures were carved into the bricks. A rectangular shaped opening seemed to lead inside..

Two giant stone pillars supported the ceiling near the entrance. The stone pillars were filled with engravings of creatures of undescribable ugliness. Too late for last regrets. What had been started had to be finished.

"Be alert.. we must be cautious..", were Yog's last words as they went inside..

[Nupraptor]

As they progressed forward, the dank hallways began to become increasingly dark. The air was old and stale, like that of a tomb, and it reeked of death. Before too long, the inky blackness was all-encompassing.

Although he could navigate safely while using the Force, Nupraptor liked the extra security that the visual enhancements of his mechanical eye granted. Everything was bathed in a slightly reddish hue for him as his gaze darted from one direction to the next, constantly aware of his surroundings. Occasionally, he would stop and attempt to read some of the writing on the walls. To the best of his understanding, nothing here was exactly meant for casual visitors to view.

Instinctively, his hand fell towards the lightsabre at his belt. Although he hadn't worn one in years, it was still a natural reaction for him. A reaction that he suppressed, dropping his arm back down to his side. He had been able to get along thus far without one, no need to get back into the habit.

A slight chill breeze rippled through the air, causing gooseflesh to pass over his skin. On second thought, it was nice to have the added protection.

[Master Yoghurt]

After several minutes of walking, they reached a dead end. The Jedi turned to go back the same way they came form, but every hallway seemed the same..

"You know what? I think we are lost."

Before Nupraptor had the chance to answer, the creaking sound of a door opening into the distance cut through the silent darkness like a knife..

Yog exchanged much saying looks with Nupraptor. They were not alone..

"Did you hear that?"

[Navaria Tarkin]

Navaria sat in the jungle forest near the Jedi Academy, waiting for her Master Leia Solo, to begin her training once more. This world held so many emotions for her that she needed to clear her thoughts before embarking on the journey to understand the Light ... and to conquer her own fears. If she was ever to beome a Jedi Knight she must learn control.

The humidity of the planet felt like it was a record high this day and she had to remove her outer robe for comfort. It was set gently by her side as Navaria sat crossed legged on the ground. Breathing slowly through her nose and out her mouth, a thought dispersed from her mind each time. She was getting closer to complete peace when she felt a presence ... no ... make that two presence's in the area. It shouldn't have broken her concentration and it made Navaria realize she needed more practice in blocking distractions. The signatures that she felt were quite strong and both she recognized.

One was Master Yog and the other Nupraptor. Both tried to save her from the Sith so long ago ...

She quickly blocked those thoughts out about them and stood up, trying to ignore her problems as she grabbed her brown cloak. As she walked towards the great concentration of Light, she felt that it was surrounded by an evil that was hard to grasp. She also felt a looming danger and saw the cause of it.

The jungle opened up to reveal ruins. Ancient ones by the cracks and rubble scattered all over the ground. It was overwhelming to see such a thing, at least until see saw a Protocal Droid hovering around the entrance of the one structure that still intact ... a pyramid. The befuddled looking droid took away from the mystique of this place rather quickly.

Reaching the gold droid, Navaria placed a hand on its shoulder, "Excuse me ..."

It quickly turned around and yelled out in terror but then quieted itself down when the droid registered that it was a Jedi that was before it. "My humblest apologies! This place is quite lacking in greeting and I wasn't expecting anyone else to be in this area. May I ask, why are you here?"

She knew it was foolish to try and stop the droid from rambling but it was odd seeing it here ... alone. And why would Jedi enter this pyramid? Curiosity brought her here, that much was certain. "My name is Navaria, Padawan to Master Leia Solo. I felt others here and came to investigate."

Knowing the answer anyway, she still had to ask and pointed at the pyramid, "Who went inside?"

"Master Yoghurt and his apprentice, Nupraptor."

"I thought as much. Continue doing a fine job of guarding." She nodded slightly with a smile and headed to the stairs.

"Mistress Navaria! I don't think that is a good idea!"

Without turning around, she waved off his warnings and walked up the stairs. She didn't need a droid to tell her there was danger. It was carved on the outside of the structure and she could feel it in her bones as a coldness washed through her when she entered.

[Hideous Monster]

The sound of a door slammed shut could be heard. A chilling wind rushed through the corridors of the temple. Out of the cold dark void, a shape appeared. It breathed heavily as it limped toward them.

"Who isss disssturbing?", it whispered.

The two Jedi watched in horror as the monstrous being approached them. A creature so gruesome in appearance, it looked as it came from a nightmare. Its skin was pale as of a dead body. Its yellow glowing eyes widened as it sighted the two Jedi..[/b]

"Ahhh... vissitorssss. Fourthousssssand yearss I have waited for vissitorsss. I mussst destroy any intruderssss... I musssst obey my Masssster. Dinner iss ready. Yessssssss..."

<font color=red>In a motion blur, the creature darted towards them extending its razor sharp claws..</font>

<img src=http://www20.brinkster.com/boardpics/brom13.jpg>

[Nupraptor]

It came as little surprise to Nupraptor that he and his master were being assaulted; In fact, he had mostly anticipated it. He raised one hand, barely encumbered at all by his dark robes, and displayed his open palm to the creature. It gave him a quizzical stare, suddenly finding itself frozen in mid-stride. Still restraining the creature with invisible bonds, the Jedi Padawan lowered his hand slowly to his side, looking the creature over. To the surprise of both his master and the monster, Nupraptor spoke up, a gruff yet sympathetic tone to his voice.

"Why is it that you strike out at that which you know nothing about, creature? Why harm that which means you none?"

The Monster growled something inaudible, testing it's invisible bonds once more.

"Come, come now... speak up. I know you can talk."

[Master Yoghurt]

Master Yoghurt watched in surprise as Nupraptor started to talk with the monster. Certainly an original way of approaching a clearly dangerous and hostile creature. This Padawan seemed to be full of surprises!

"Good.. the Force is used for knowledge and defence, never attack.", Yog thought to himself.

[Hideous Monster]

The monster wanted to attack the two Jedi, but could not. It really tried to jump at the two.. but to move its feet was impossible. It was like some greater force intervened.. Nupraptors Mind trick certainly had its effects.

"Noooo... I musssst obey my Master. You musssst die..."

[Protocol Droid]

Meanwhile, on the outside of the Temple..

Standing in stand by mode, the protocol droid watched as Navaria went inside. It decided it was a good idea to follow Navaria's advice and stay here. Logical circuitry would not need to do much calculations to find going inside would be dangerous. It was also a good time to recharged its secondary power cells. While recharging, the protocol droid scanned the surroundings with its visual sensors. The inscriptions on the side of the Temple was a most peculiar dialect.. it seemed similar to scrolls of writings found in some of the Masassi Temples westwards. However, the databank had not enough entries to decipher it.

"Need more data.."

It started to walk toward a sloping wall on the far side of the Temple entrance. There seemed to be some more inscriptions there..

[Navaria Tarkin]

She felt cold and death wash over her completely that she almost became lost in it. Staggering back, her hand braced against the wall so she would not fall. Her stomach churned from the power this place radiated. The thought of coming in here was starting to look like it wasn't a good idea after all but Navaria didn't think she would have been affected as such.

Danger was looming further into the temple but could she possibly be able to walk further ... not knowing if the affects would worsen.

[Nupraptor]

Nupraptor frowned, staring into the Eyes of the Beast. It was proving much more resistant than he had anticipated, and it was fully intent on killing both him and his Master. There were a great many ways he could resolve this, the easiest of which involving him incapacitating the monster by shutting off certain parts of it's brain.

But that... was something that the Padawan was more than hesitant to do. In fact, it was something he hoped he would never have to do. Nupraptor was uncomfortable with using his powers to enter another sentient lifeform's mind, even for the most benevolent intentions. It just felt... wrong. Wrong to invade another's thoughts and force it's will to bend to his own. Even restraining the creature as he was doing was a moral battle for Nupraptor. Unclenching the muscles in his throat with great force, he spoke:

"And who is this Master that you speak of? Surely, he is not still alive?"

[Hideous Monster]

The creature's weak mind was easily influenced.

"Oh, yesss... my Master.. my Creator.. he leadss usss.. preparesss usss for the Great Battle.. like the Prophecy told, he hass arrived. He instructssss usss to stop anyone tressspassssing. No one mussst dissturb hiss experimentsss. If I cant defeat you, othersss will. You are doomed.. yesss-sss--ssss!"

**The creature whispers a wicked laugh**

[Navaria Tarkin]

A cautious step forward, and another ... and another. Without the support of the wall, Navaria was sure she would fall to the ground from how weak she was. With the conclusions that came to her, she had to try and go far into this evil abode. Fear was her worst enemy. It didn't matter what the cause of the emotion but it seemed to be an easy emotion that decided to be apart of her. At first she thought it was the evil that was affecting her but that was only partly true. She was just simply afraid, combined with the maligned forces that permeated the stone structure of this temple.

In the distance, she felt a conflict, a blend of the light and dark. She had no idea what it meant. Navaria had to try and keep pushing herself. Trying to reach Master Yog and Nupraptor. If she could manage that, perhaps there was some hope to conquering a road that led to the Dark Side.

[Nupraptor]

A faint smile worked itself across the padawan's lips, creasing his features lightly.

"You seem to know that you're not going to win this confrontation... why persist? I have no desire to slay you, beast."

Nupraptor lifted his hand a bit and, in correspondence, the creature moved, against it's will, towards the wall. Waving, Nupraptor motioned for his Master to step forward.

"It pains me to do so, but I think the only way I can win us safe passage is by incapacitating this creature, Master."

[Master Yoghurt]

"Hmm... our friend difficult to convince not to harm him we are. Perhaps.."


Before Yog could finish, the monster who was now cornered by the two Jedi against the wall, suddenly twisted 90 degrees to the left, smashing its fist into the brick wall, exposing the Jedi with a cloud of dust raining rock debris. The distraction gave the creature just the opportunity it needed. With a motion blur, the monster fled into the dark..

"Hurry, follow to see where heading he is!"

The tiny Jedi Master sprinted after the creature with surprising agility..




OOC: I am awfully sorry for my absence. It is my work schedule which pulls a lot of time. I will try to reply on a daily basis from now on!

[Hideous Monster]

"Run.. run! I must run to warn my Master! Intruders!"

The creature run like a maniac along a narrow corridor leading to a larger hall.. the shape was quickly swallowed by the dark, cloaking him from the naked eye. For a few seconds he seemed to have disappeared.. where could he be..

The corridor opened to a wide dark void, what seemed to be a chamber of some kind. The dark hall was very dimly lit. Even the light of two torches by the entrance seemed to have very little effect. Along the nearby walls there were more statues like they had seen on the outside of the temple. They seemed so... lifelike..

[Nupraptor]

Reluctantly, the Padawan prepared himself for a sprint, ready to give chase to the monster. But something in his head tingled, and instead he halted.

"Master Yoghurt, wait! I sense another presence behind us! I believe that it is one who weilds the Light Side of the Force. Perhaps we should see if they need help?"

[Navaria Tarkin]

The cold walls felt like death and hatred were used to construct it but it was the only thing that could keep her standing up. Slowly she pressed onwards, wanting to find out what the source of the conflict was before her. It was her determination that pushed back her fear for now.

Finally, what seemed like hours, the ten minutes it took to reach the end of the corridor met with a decision. Navaria could go left or right. Standing up, she left one hand upon the wall to keep her steady as she focused on finding the sources of Light that she sensed. It was easier this time since the source of Dark was ... gone?

No wait! It wasn't. Somewhere that specific signature was close and it was heading her way. Snapping her eyes open in fear, sweat poured down the side of her cheek as she felt someone grab hold of her hand. The darkness somehow found its way to her and was trying to pull her in. Pale and grotesque hands firmly held onto her forearm, pulling her dreadfully closer. It took every ounce of control to not scream out in terror.