The Awakening. (IC)

[Zasz Grimm]

Zasz stood in the same hall that Hobgoblin; his master, had summoned The Hand previously. It was slightly dark, mainly because the Dark Jedi stood in the shadows. Oh, there was light, they were brightly lit. And he looked up at them as he stepped forward, dark glasses covering his eyes, his hands tightly wrapped behind his lower back.

The Hand, in his eyes, was extremely powerful, teeming with members, unstoppable. Sadly, though, it was also docile. Most members kept to themselves, doing things on their own, or stayed in tightly knit groups. Most studied underneath their masters, as Zasz had been doing, merely biding his time.

Underneath those dark glasses that hid his eyes, he closed them. He sent a low thump that eminated from his body, throughout Bast. Those who were there, would no doubt feel it. Zasz was making a show of power, for the second. However, the thump was accompanied by his voice. A voice that entered the minds of all The Black Hand members.

"An audience with you all, please come to the lower levels of Bast. "

The source of the thump, and his voice would no doubt be evident. So why even give them instruction. He held his stance, thinking. They should come. He had planned something quite large, something that would hopefully jump start the group.

Only if they would listen to him, though.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Lilaena, sitting at her desk studying the artifact she had uncovered on Vortex, felt the thump. And then there was a buzzing sensation in her mind, as though someone were trying to use telepathy, or was using it near her. She shook her head slightly, and returned to her study. Classifying this...thing had become very important. A minor seismic occurance was of no concern to her.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

"Stop with the noises!!!"

Came an un expectant, yet oddly, commanding voice from the threshold. Aliandra whined again in pain and on the verge of tears, burying her head in Dalethria's shoulder, who was carrying her.

It was rather fortunate timing on Zasz's part in requesting an audience. She was on her way back to her quarters from spending some ... quality time down here with Aliandra.

"Mommy make it stop!" :cry

Then on the other hand, his timing was poor when her child was in pain and upset from their lesson today. The importance of shutting out the voices of the ghosts of Bast went without saying. The day was difficult for the two year old and the incessant display of power was causing her to have the beginnings of a migraine.

Dalethria kissed the top of her head, blocking Alia's pain through their link and glared at her 'Brother'. "Was that really necessary?"

[Vega Van-Derveld]

It wasn’t only Dalethria who was in bad spirits when she arrived. Getting some well earned rest within his homely room, the Lupine was awoken with a shudder – taken straight out a very pleasant dream to instead here the voice of Zasz Grimm ringing in his ears. Muttering something along the lines of ‘bastard’ under his breath he’d dragged himself up and out, down to the hall a short while after the Mal Pannis’ had entered. Vega yawned as he ambled in, rubbing his eyes with his palm.

“Couldn’t you have just sent a comm?”

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha enters naked into the Hall of Sorrows. The call had disturbed her love-making with Tirsa. Now she stood gazing at Zasz, with a dagger in her hand ::

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[Maester Wargrave]

Sensors indicate a siesmic anomaly emanating from Bast Castle.

The man in the missile boat only nodded as it flew towards Bast Castle. The large structure, once an amazing and imposing structure, now reminded him of the castles he saw when he was young. Still quite ominous, but hardly something to fear. But seeing the entire structure physically shake from within was a bit...odd.

The missile boat, borrowed from the storehouses of Grand Admiral Taylor Millard of Balmorra, slowed down as it began to land on the single landing pad atop the castle. A minute later and Maester Wargrave, Dark Jedi Master, exitted the vessel.

He was coming here for a meeting with several of the Hand members. A bit of a strategy session so to speak. Lilaena De'Ville was not a part of the session...both of them hadn't exactly hit off on the right foot. No matter...she was a part of the Hand who probably would never trust anyone...even those she had 'personal' dealings with. Like a certain Balmorran General.

Wargrave had missed the telepathic message from Zasz Grimm, but as his boots *clomped* against the metal, then stone floors of Bast, he headed towards the deepness of Bast.

If the quake had come from anywhere...it was down below.

[Silus Xilarian]

Slowly, Silus staggered into the room, obviously drunk. He hadnt slept the night before, prefering to spend valuable sleeping time drinking. It really wasnt a fair trade off physically, but mentally, well, it wasnt a fair trade off either.

At least it seemed like the right thing to do at the time..

"You have to gonna....yeah"

Gently, the Dark Jedi leaned back against the wall and slid to a sitting position....

"What?"

[Kar'h'tzen Shaed]

Sweating from unaided physical exertion, Kar'h'tzen felt the tunnel around him quiver... and was hit in the heat by one of the looser chunks of sharp-edged rock that fell from the ancient lava flow's ceiling. He caught it deftly with his left hand and threw it against the wall in annoyance. And slowly lowered himself on his right hand, gathered the Force, and sprung from the handstand to his feet. Hm... the rock had only barely drawn blood. It was of no concern.

The call he'd just heard, though... well... he had nothing better to be doing that he was aware of. Tired from his exercises, he called his coat to his hands with the Force and shrugged it on as he walked upwards through the maze of caverns under Bast, making his way back inside the castle to where Zasz waited. As he went, he got a sense for who else was responding to Zasz'z call... five? Six? Several of them seemed annoyed... or more than annoyed. Shaed knew his master wasn't coming. Well, he'd tell her if anything interesting happened or was learned. Not many people realized Shaed was living in the catacomb-like warrens under Bast after his return from Ryloth, but De'Ville and he still occasionally talked.

He hoped the meeting would be worth the scratch on his head, and the... dramatic... means of communication Zasz took the liberty of using.

[Zasz Grimm]

Zasz stood silently, for a moment as the hall started to fill with members. He held his hands behind his back still, his face showing no emotion. He regarded Sorsha with an arched brow, and a gaze that lasted longer than it should have. He turned his eyes to the dagger in her hand, and smirked. He then looked to the others as they entered...

Silus seemed a bit..off. A slurr of speech, was he drunk? It didn't matter, he would no doubt understand what Zasz had planned. He grinned to Vega. Perhaps he should've timed this meeting at a different time in the day. No matter. He nodded to Shaed, one who was with him when he was tested for entry into The Hand.

"Indeed it was, sister. And I would like to apologize for interrupting your every 'day' activities. But please, stay and listen to what I have to say.."

Was this all that would be coming? He had hoped that at least he would have drawn the Siren, Milivikal. And of course his Master. Zasz watched carefully.

"What I have to say is of the utmost importance. If you all will be patient, we can wait a few more moments on any other members who wish to attend."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Lilaena turned another page, and then looked around her study for a moment, before returning to what she was doing.

[Maester Wargrave]

Wargrave kept walking down the dark stairs towards where he thought the quake had come from. He had no tools, only the sensor readings from the missile boat which, unfortunately, weren't much.

It gave no actual location, so Wargrave had to guess where it'd come from. So far...he had no clue.

He kept walking though, then almost thought he heard voices from somewhere down below.

Wargrave kept walking.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

A claw-tipped hand reached up out of the floor. It placed its' palm on the ground, and then pushed upward. Neither the hand, nor what followed it, bore any resemblance to the dwarf.

The being was tall, very tall, and thin. It was shrouded entirely in a robe that could not have been more than light reflecting off a dark black surface. The robe stretched to the floor, and the only openings in it were those for the sleeves and face. Nothing was visible beneath the hood except for two bluish swirls that might have been eyes, had they been more visible.

Obviously, the being could not have phased in through the floor and yet there was no question that it was there in some unfathomable sense.

"Speak," it commanded in a voice that rumbled across the floor like a crashing tide.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

"I don't have time to wait!"

Dalethria was in no mood for this, especially with Alia upset in being here at this impromptu meeting. Her daughter snuggled closer in her Mother's arms and she could fee her pain. She could give a damn about the others right now waiting for him.

'Speak now or we're gone. Then again ..."

She raised a brow as Sorsha entered, naked and upset, glaring at Zasz.

"... I might stick around after all."

And that was when Hob made his presence known ...

[SashaKovalev]

Alexander Millard had followed in the footsteps of his master. He was somewhat sullen on this day. Despite being a member of the Hand, he was not a fan of Bast castle. It was cold and dark and the damned ghosts of the hallways never gave him a moment of peace. Particularly the one who thought he was the rightful owner of the room Sasha inhabited when he returned to Bast. And more than that, he hadnt really bothered to create ties to those there. In fact, he’d jumped at the chance to move to Balmorra, live with his uncle and take classes at the university there while he trained with Wargrave.

And more than his passive dislike for Vjun, there were other things on his mind, things he felt he should be doing other than following Wargrave back to Bast. But those things were personal, and they would have to wait. His training had to come first. And more than that, his master had made it clear that it wouldn’t exactly hurt to put forth some effort in terms of making a few connections of his own.

He, too, had missed the telepathic message, but he followed Wargrave, and more than that, could feel the energy of Bast. It was a different feeling than he’d felt before, and his head lifted some to look about, a small grin of mischief passing briefly over his features.

[imported_Taja Loraan]

"Mother ?" whispered a low, hushed voice from the doorway through which the others had entered and beside which Taja now stood, one hand gripping the edge fearfully. Her eyes were wide and apprehensive as she stared ahead at her Master, Dalethria, and her child. She continued to speak hesitantly, "I -- I heard... felt... something, and..." But as her gaze followed in the direction all those assembled were staring at, the words slowly faded into silence to be replaced by a single syllable, cold and flat.

"Oh."

[Milivikal k'Vik]

Milivikal's entrance had been silent, a luxury graced by her control over sound through the Force. She had been showering, and her hair dripped on her red dress.

She openly sneered at Zasz: in her eyes he was an amature. The fact that he wanted to lead the charge of anything was laughable.

Perhaps her nude sister would kill the man-dog on the spot.

[Tirsa Krylana]

:: Annoyance became boredom, and boredom became curiosity. Tirsa wanders into the Hall of Sorrows, also bare naked as she looked at everyone ::

"Okay, what the frell is going on??? :grumble What???"

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[Aliandra Mal Pannis]

:: bounces in her mother's arms as she sees Taja ::

:D :crack :D

:: with most of her family here, and Mommy tending to her headache ... she was feeling much better. It didn't really matter that Auntie Sorshie was about to kill Zasz ::

[Zasz Grimm]

The presence and form of Hobgoblin was unsettling, and surprising, despite the other's who were angry at him. But he remained calm. They would not pressure him like this, though he needed them here. So he would satisfy their needs. Their demands. He arched a brow underneath his glasses.

"I'm sure most of you have realized that our order; The Black Hand, has recently been...docile."

He said this whilst back pedaling and stopping by the comm. He pressed it, and a chirp went through Lilaena De'Ville's quarters. And it was followed by Zasz's voice, as he angled his face from everyone in the room.

"Mistress...your presence is required in the lower levels."

And the comm chirped off, leaving Zasz's voice absent from the Dark Master. He turned his face towards those in the room, looking to those who were seething with anger. It even somewhat amused him, but he repressed his grin.

"You see, I have a solution. I believe that it's time to attain our goals, as Dark Jedi. And what are those goals? Oh, I assume most of you know what they are, rather, you should."

At the end of that sentence, his voice held something else. As if he were scolding some of the members, though he really had no place to do that. The thirty year old moved forward, back to the main group of those here. He looked them all over cautiously.

"Rather, I speak of a main goal, a want of all of us here. Peace. Order to the chaos. I believe it's time to bring peace to the galaxy. As we all know how. Through whatever means possible."

He stopped, wanting to hear the reactions before he went on, and also wanted to wait for everyone else to arrive.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha strides up to Zasz and places her dagger in his hand ::

"The only way to bring about the Order you desire is to kill me."

:: She stands before him naked, and smiles as she waits for the pain ::

[Lilaena De'Ville]

De'Ville frowned at the commlink on her desk. Required? That was a strong word. Grimm certainly wasn't interested in getting on anyone's good side. She set down what she was doing, and gathered up a cloak, taking her time.

With a sigh she turned off the lights and started down the passage towards the Hall of Sorrows.

[Zasz Grimm]

He looked to the dagger in his hand with a short side glance. He then clenched it tightly. For a moment it appeared that he would drive it deep within her breast, pierce her heart, and kill the woman standing before him. However, he moved the dagger behind his back, where he held it, as if he was pondering the matter for a second. He spoke, looking at her..

"You misunderstand. You have not let me finish, either, Sorsha."

He let her stay there. If she still did not like what his idea was, or what he proposed, she would no doubt say the same thing twice. Would he kill her then? He pondered this as he looked to her, someone with such power, ready to end her life by her convictions.

It was like that.

He waited for the others, they would be here any moment.

[Maester Wargrave]

Wargrave kept walking, getting himself lost for a moment. The voices had stopped...well...most of the voices had stopped. There was still one, speaking in accusatory tones to someone about 'Bringing Order to the galaxy.'

Deciding he had better watch from the shadows, Wargrave walked up a flight of stone stairs into a balcony above the ensemble.

Cloaked in darkness, he watched with interest, the proceedings from below.

[Aliandra Mal Pannis]

:: she yelled at Zasz ::

"Then why did you pause???!!!" :mad

:: Dale chuckled ::

[SashaKovalev]

Sasha had no interest in watching from the darkness above as his master did. Though it perhaps might have been wiser, he was young and sought to be in the thick of it. And so he descended to a lower level and entered through the doors where everyone else stood. Where they all stood just….waiting.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Lilaena entered the Hall of Sorrows, and walked past all of the standing beings, taking a seat at the long conference table. She looked down the table at all the empty chairs, and then noticed both Tirsa and Sorsha were [/i]sans clothing.[/i] She flushed slightly, and then fixed her eyes on Zasz Grimm.

"I hope I did not miss anything exciting."

[Zasz Grimm]

"You merely missed a small explanation of why everyone is here. But now, since you are here, with most of the others, I may begin."

He completely ignored Aliandra, he wasn't going to explain himself to a child, since he pretty much answer the question in his response to De'Ville. He still held the knife that Sorsha had put in his hand as he back stepped and then he began to speak.

"As I was saying, about how we all desire peace in the galaxy. Order to the Chaos. And what makes this chaos? What interfere's with our main goal?"

He let his question sink in to everyone. He let them all think of an answer. He wondered what went through their minds? It wasn't that late, but it was late indeed.

"Jedi. Sith. Those who don't use their power to create peace, and those who use their power to make chaos. Jedi who are cowards, and merely muck up space, Sith who thrive off of primitive emotions. These are who stand in our way. Stand against us, as groups."

He looked to them, giving no time between, except to breath.

"And what do we do? We argue as indviduals. We act as individuals. I believe that if we act as a group..We can wipe these groups off the face of the galaxy, and restore order. Restore peace."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Pretty words." She drummed her fingers on the table. "I suppose you have a plan to implement, as well?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's form became outlined in an aura of burning blackness as her gaze traveled to each of the members, finally settling upon Hob ::

"I am taking my leave of Vjun, because what I am is not in your natures to follow. Neither is it within my nature to follow the path you've set for yourselves. <a href=http://meras.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=186586#post186586>Lord Vega has been released of his bond by the lady</a>. I intend to become free of ours, Goblin, or I shall tear Bast asunder."

[Taylor Millard]

"I believe," a voice came from the doorway as a tall man wearing a black cloak, shrouding his face, strode in, "It is time we all decided.

"The Black Hand is tearing itself apart, we've all seen it," he stated, looking around at the various members assembled, "The secret meetings between members on alliances against others. Planned takeovers, stopped by the Force knows what."

He stepped around the chamber, watching them all. He'd been watching and waiting in the shadows...unknown to both Wargrave and Sasha.

"Members not getting along with other members. And differing philosophies.

"I have stayed in the Darkness through all of this, believing this group could come together. But now...now I think it is time we do what we've always done when making a decision."

He pulled his hood back, revealing Taylor Millard's face.

"I am a member of the Black Hand. And I call a vote of dissolvement of the Black Hand.

"We will choose our own fate...and not have the wantings of a few affect the wants of the many."

HIs blue eyes looked at all of them.

"What will you choose?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

De'Ville stood to her feet, pushing her chair back with a scrape, and turned to leave the room. Just inside the door she spat on the ground, and then stepped through, expressing her contempt for the goings on.

Taylor used too many words, and no vote was really needed if it was going to happen anyway. Besides, where had he been for the last six months? Not here, that's where. What did he know about anything.

But De'Ville knew...oh she knew many things. And Silus knew some too, but he was pretty drunk and she didn't feel like disturbing him at the moment. Let him make his own decision... She had a moon to find.

Her angry strides echoed through the empty corridors of Bast.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

Dalethria watched De'Ville head off. Not too surprising actually considering her tardiness. She didn't want to be here anyway... for many reasons.

"Well then... You can talk amongst yourselves about the frelling Hand... I walk where my Sister walks. It's that simple." Her gaze fell upon Hob. "And if you stop her, you'll have me to deal with as well."

[Aliandra Mal Pannis]

:: She knew Zasz didnt like her. Wel she didn't like him either ::

:mad!

:: Sorsha was leaving :huh so was mom :huh Her little head was spinning ::

[Vega Van-Derveld]

What a bundle of paradoxes! Vega looked from scowling face to scowling face and watched as the Hand collapsed around him. So much power, so little space, so many conflicting interests. It was a long time coming and at least now it seemed the bang with which the group went off with wouldn't be too large. At least not large enough to cause further damage than it had already done (a glare at Sorsha).

It was time to get out, but there was a distinct problem of exactly where to get out to. Paths in all directions lay before the members of the Hand. Some were bound as Vega had been by their faith, others by more tenuous links. The Lupine lay between two alliances - one to Dalethria, as a student, and one to Xilarian and De'Ville, formed half out of a repulsion from Vicets and half out of the trios recent tendency to working together.

He stood perfectly still, frozen on the spot, as his mind reeled by and forth.

[SashaKovalev]

For Sasha, there was no question. He had come to the Hand in search of a new lease on life. It was there that he had believed he would learn the things the Sith Order had not been able to teach him. It was there that he believed he would learn to use the force in a more productive way.

Ultimately, it was there that he had finally become an apprentice to Wargrave. This occurrence was something that had been set in the hands of fate many years ago. It was with Wargrave that he belonged, despite the fact that at the moment, his master was not altogether pleased with him for a recent disrespectful comment.

Violet eyes looked on, turning first to his Uncle. He studied this man for some time before his gaze turned to look to the shadows where he had last left his master.

His uncle had always told him that Millard and Wargrave were...separate. To him, this did not mean two different people. To him, this had meant that there were times when his uncle was only his uncle, and times when he was not his uncle, but his master, instead.

He had not felt the presence of his uncle, but he had felt the presence of his master. He still did. And it was not coming from where Taylor Millard stood.

Violet eyes narrowed in thought, in confusion, but the sense was gone before he could make anything more of it.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

The being of shadows gestured at Sorsha and Dalethria. "Go then. But in this, the final moment of the Hand, I say a word of warning to my brethren."

"Beware the Dark Side."

The apparition vanished.