Light's Distance, Shade's Calling...

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

From Temple to Planet, to Battle to Chase... A long time this one's been under eye, disappearing just as he would reappear; more challenged than the last. Just as he was gifted, he was conflicted; afflicted with his search of 'how', of a means to fill his interpreted emptiness. The most difficult entity to track of date, this Shade only left an emoting signature for but the most skilled to even get a moment's hold of in his confusing efforts to understand himself.

Ledo, devouring any bit given within his reach, the predator in every meaning; would sip into the hinted mind like the drinking of a poison into an already deluded liquid, to mix with the swirling likeness of thick methanol in water.

Having delved into premonition of planning, the two figures stand in silent conversation as his prey approaches. Upon further examination, the Shade would have no doubts in seeing that familiar Khutarrah standing uncomfortably close with his chin over an unknown figure's shoulder; and vice versa. In the dark of Nar Shaddaa's compact shadows, the second figure's back is all that can be seen in this intimate dialog. Though, as the prey approaches, the peculiar unknown would lift away from Khutarrah in response to the Shade's arrival; with plenty of time to disappear, Ledo (with no particular alignment or aura) would step off and vanish into the crisscrossing paths of the distance.

On reaching Khutarrah, his words would slur. He would not understand the immediate circumstances, his senses and memory absent previously to just now begin returning to him. All of his thoughts and words would point to the man he spoke with moments before, ignorant to his identity. An undeniable urge to follow the figure would reinforce with a flash of his face, most prominent in the depiction's eyes and jagged teeth. Just as alluring, would be his vanishing challenge of truly masking his visual image in a complex puzzle with intentional weaknesses to be unlocked by his follower should he decide to follow. If not, Ledo had something else in mind...

 

[Denzein]

Shade had come to Nar Shadaa again. He had come to see his brother, abandoning Belial to his secret knowledge in favor of catching up with his true companion through the nothingness. He had left the Kiffar on Necropolis after terrorising the populace of that damned planet once more, ensuring that they knew not to bother him again. He wanted to make that planet his home, and that would only work if the citizens knew their master would tolerate no unrest. That place was his now.

He came across his brother not far from his home, and was bemused by his company. Khutarrah would never get so close to one other then himself, he could tell instantly that something was not right. Perhaps Khutarrah thought that the robed man was himself? Perhaps Khutarrah was not Khutarrah at all? Some illusion put there through the force? His eyes narrowed, he would getto the bottom of this. Someone was going to great lengths to get to him, and he saw no better way of confronting them that springing their trap.

He stepped off the building he had been perched on, hitting the floor with a muted thud, his cloak fluttering down around him like a halo from the void. He stood, and moved over to Khutarrah, calling the force to him and lifting his brother into the air, threatening to crush him if he showed the telltale signs of being a force induced copy. His eyes were cold, showing nothing, giving nothing away to what could be a clever enemy's tool. When he spoke it was a barely controlled snarl, if someone had harmed Khutarrah to get to him he would break them utterly...

He asked a question that only the real Khutarrah would know, something that would never be squeezed out of the Noghri he knew and loved. If he got a wrong answer he would crush the copy with all the force he could muster. He would get to the bottom of this, and no one would get in his way. The Destroyer had returned.

"Who was the murderer of our Ghosts? Who brought vengeance upon them in the ice? Quickly..."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

The Noghri layed out in silence, pausing in his answer. It was clear that this Shade would not fall for light tricks ...how perfect. And so, to be as clouded in his forwardness as ever, the Noghri spoke with a foreign voice unknown to Shade. "...face the source of your animus". The base levels of the voice would be coupled with an intertwining mirror of levels in tone, further echoing through the Darkside. "...I accept your challenge, light". So unclear were the words, that one might misinterpret the last to mean less than it did. "manifest your ambition... focus your soul, whole". The levitating character seemed possessed, loosing its form as a living being. His flesh seemed to thin, as the body rapidly decayed into a stream that lead off into the direction of the character that disappeared. "I am Ledo, Pseudon of the Animus", were his last words before the end...

 

[Denzein]

Shade raised an eyebrow, apparently he had done the correct thing. The stream that had been the illusion trickled off down a side alley, and he followed. His opponent was skilled in the force, that much was apparent, whether or not he had an edge over Shade though, that was the question that needed answering. The Destroyer thought not; his brand of power was different to the norm, he lived and breathed through the force, utterly receptive to its every nuance and fluctuation. It was what had given him the gift of Nothing, the gift of Shade.

He didn't just follow the trail, his body vanished completely, flowing with the shadows of the dark alley like some thick smoke. If one looked closely at the flowing mass that was the Destroyer they would be able to see his two moon-like eyes, staring out of the blackness. He was not trying to hide himself, if he was he would have been utterly invisible. He was merely ensuring that no-one approached, and who would? He looked like some devouring spirit from the nether world, and that he was.

Following the trail he smiled beneath the mask he always wore, his silent companion through every single moment of his life. He would be confronted soon, and whoever did it would be the one who seemed so very interested in him... He was ready when they did.

If there was one thing that this stalker was yet to learn, it was the sheer power that Jairo Light and Shade were capable of. His smile bent into a twisted grin, slowly deciphering the words the "Khutarrah" had spoke before it had dissolved. His stalker was a riddler... What fun.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

It was as Ledo had foreseen. You are only in complete honesty when thought to be alone. This Shade not only knew he was being watched, but made sure of it. This cocky side was unfamiliar to Ledo, but predicted nonetheless. And as such, he thought to play a little more. One can only learn so much from distant observation, but now was the time for controlled contact. So far, it was all too easy.

Slithering along, the streaming residue seeped through openings and around shoulders between the passing peoples of commonality; and the lingering eyes followed. Becoming more violent in its movements, the blushing vapor rushed harshly with a growing hiss of a whisper; until a figure could be seen in the distance. The depicted stream had yet to reach him, yet it was clearly aimed for him. The hooded frame of a man, his back was to them and facing no one. He was alone and mysteriously empty, devoid of life and aligned spirit. Though as the vapor neared, the body seemed to fill with air in lifting life.

He was smooth and cool, as the desperately violent stream strove for connection. Much more than could be felt, was actually occurring; and but the visual was to lend in this Shade's evidence, as the number of bodies all around were nearly identical in mass. This figure was just the same, as all the rest; but to what end, and in what circumstances? Was this the character before the Light?

 

[Denzein]

Shade watched with interest as the stream desperately moved for this one man, this hooded figure. His attire was similar to Shades, and this made Shade uneasy. He knew he wore the strappings of the Dark Jedi, and if it was they who sought him out the situation had just turned serious. He could not fight an Order, not yet.

Another possibility snaked its way into his mind: This could merely be another trap, another game put forward by an opponent who didn't know when the Destroyer might snap. His patience was thinning, so he came up with a test of his own.

He reached out through the force to one of the surrounding buildings, not moving towards the figure like the stream suggested, but staying where he was, knowing what was about to happen. Once his hold over the building was strong enough he pulled, not towards him but instead towards the figure. Such was the strength of his pull that the building's foundations cracked, splintered and eventually ground themselves to dust as they twisted and writhed in the ground. People began to scream as the building swivelled, then began to collapse, all of it falling towards the hooded figure...

Shade watched, ignoring the screaming citizens. He had grown used to them, they came with the job.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

And as the figure simply stood there, he seemed unaware of the coming danger. From underneath his hood, the head motions of a confused soul seeking answers; the figure was not what he appeared, merely a common spacer with added projection. An innocent, he looked up to the collapsing rubble; his hood falling back as he screamed in terror.

Just as the figure, now revealed to be unimportant, began motions of his own control in confusion to first look around - screaming citizens broke from their dazed walks of life to run from harm; though as one particular woman twisted around to run past the Shade, a demented vision of ghostly implications contorted out from her face and neck towards Jairo. But an inch away from his face, the threatening holographic-like face snarled a raging scream through the Darkside at him in abrupt surprise. "My baby! You've killed him!"

In the like, so as to continue a lack of direct contact, another civilian's soul (or so it would seem) swirled out jaggedly to bite his words into the Shade followed by another still - some whispering satanically, others crying out past durability; though each voice would carry the punch of a blasting soundwave that popped into Jairo's personal space unforeseen. "He's here... I can sense him..." "Who am I?!? Who's doing this???"

Further still, the building would collapse on the helpless; showing no signs of deterring the calling presence. Though Light's little experiment did solve one thing, as the flowing mist evaporated away before reaching the individual in the distance. Though now, instead of one voice, there were many.

 

[Denzein]

Voices, voices, everywhere there were these voices.... WHY WON'T THEY STOP!

Shade said this through the force, telepathically screaming it to the heavens. Inside he was still calm, cool, collected. He was putting up a veil of fear and confusion that would look as if his fragile sanity had finally gotten to the point and snapped, and thanks to his dual personality, it appeared genuine. He faked clawing at his ears, smirking under his mask as he did so. People gave him a wide berth, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Destroyer who seemed so very out-of-touch.

Show yourself! Please!

He screamed telepathically, seeming desperate for it to stop. In truth he did want it to stop, but only because of his thinning patience. Why play with all these people? Why not just speak to him? Shade wondered if the stalker was trying to prove something to him...?

He remained standing in the crowd, stopping clawing at his ears with a snarl of frustration. He sent another telepathic message, louder, calmer.

Stop playing. Show yourself.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Rupturing into silence, Ledo appeared instantly upon request; all other effects numbing mute. His image fluttered to reveal a closeness of but inches between them, having kept the reduced level of his power output to well below the Shade's. This Shade would have yet to feel more than a fraction of Ledo's power, as per his ways of surprise in violence; his enemies never seeing the shocking immensity of his attacks until it is too late.

Ledo's hands down below, ready to catch any threatening movement or object; he was just as likely to kill him as kiss him, in total spontaneity. His energy was unreadable, as was his intentions. Yet politely he'd continue.

After a few screams blurted out from the crowd at Ledo's appearance, Ledo began; "Please forgive me for indulging my curiosities, but you are... different."

The voice of this hooded figure in black, would seem smooth and altered to form fit a younger version of himself. And as the building had collapsed onto more than just the one man, all eyes were on them; as well as a nearing security force. It was irrelivant, but Ledo did not wish to further aggrivate this one with powers in showing off what he could do; as hiding in a brainwashed crowd would not only change nothing, but it might lead the Shade to believe Ledo weaker in concentration. He wished none of these, and so he requested; "Shall we take this... elsewhere?" Motioning upwards to the terrace of an outer ledge along a nearby building, Ledo wished to explain himself to this man away from distraction. And in cooperation, he would show the growing opportunity for negotiation.

 

[Denzein]

Shade nodded: the only reaction that was shown outwardly to the change in situation. Finally the games had ended, now the business. Were they to duel? To test each other in the fiery gauntlet of single combat? He thought not. This man did not want him dead, he wanted to speak. That much was clear from the apparitions, although there was always the possibility that he was lulling Shade into a sense of security. The thought almost made him laugh: He couldn't remember the last time he had been at ease... Belial had taught him constant vigilance.

Living with the greatest threat to your designs does that.

He looked at the suggested terrace, it was a good a place as any. He leapt up to it effortlessly, the act not even registering as effort in his mind. He landed on his feet, bending his knees slightly on landing. He wondered if this newcomer would jump too, but was prepared for his appearance in thin air once more, or perhaps his levitation?

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Appearing like a splash of paint, Ledo lifted to a stand from atop the ledge just as the Shade landed. Unclear as to how he reached this point, his former self down below had vanished after Jairo's view took away into jump. The corners of each place along his tattered robes tossed in arriving motion, as he settled to look back down below; much of the crowd had watched the one leap away, and the other simply disappear.

In a way, Ledo took this moment to show that he did indeed have ability, as none could be felt in his diminishing art. A group of security or safety enforcers, Ledo cared not the make or brand, arrived on the scene to look around furvently as crowd members began pointing upwards. Ledo whispered with a crackling scratch that Jairo would no doubt be able to decipher. "Yes... your heart", he gave moment for his words to take effect. One of the crowd members had already pointed up directly at them, though as Ledo spoke this person felt a weight upon his chest. Gripping his shirt, he'd scratch at his skin in unanticipated pain; the crowd turning on him, forgetting all that had transpired. "...you died" The man collapsed, spasoming in agony and all others claiming they saw him fall but fifteen minutes ago in explanation to the authorities. The scene had changed in their minds, all to the immediate death of a heart condition of an unlucky man. His death had brought quite the roadblock in onlookers, and the real two of ruckus' origin were forgotten.

Sucking upon a portion of his lip, Ledo smirked. "Interesting, how much stock these creatures lay in other's misfortune..." Looking to his companion, he held no need to witness what was already becoming fact amidst the peoples, Ledo ignored the finality of the scene as authorities quickly tried to save the lost soul. "You and I are not unlike this distracted rabble. Though we've our power that lifts us to a tier beheld, we still loose ourselves in meaningless bright lights to be whisked away from our potential..." Ledo philosophized for a moment, trailing off to observe the Shade still; yet he could sense his edge, and wondered how much further a walk it was to gate's enraging horns to battle? Perhaps he'd make a point in there, but it wasn't a friendship he had come for. And so, he'd probe...

 

[Denzein]

Shade remained impassive, to all intents and purposes emotionless, for now. He was on guard, alert to any and every movement the man made. He was also watching his neural activity, any fluctuation would suggest use of the force, and he knew what most of the more generic powers looked like in terms of brain activity. He would know if the man tried anything he recognised, and would know of anything directed at him regardless of whether or not he was acquainted with it. He had learned to detect force energy directed at himself a long time ago, and the power had protected him more than once in the past.

He didn't reply immediately, wondering what the man was hoping to achieve with his subtlety, his guile. Shade had once had a place for those things, before he had known who he was, what he was. He now knew that anything other than your utmost was not enough, any bluff was doomed to fail, any weakness would be eradicated. Destruction was all their was, in the end.

Shade looked at the man, his eyes merely silver balls of nothingness on a face that wasn't really there, that didn't, in fact, exist. He was a walking talking idea, a philosophy that would never submit to the nothingness it prophesied. It would outlast even death itself.

"My potential is not wasted, Unknown. It's not on show. Why are you speaking to me?"

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

"Because you will end those others cannot!!!" Ledo spat most directly, in a surprising manner unbecoming of any familiarity thus far - yet without movement of intent. Ledo was more than confident in his own ability, though always harbored mistrust in others.

Taking a moment to sit back into his elusive sway from earlier, the black robed figure knew not to waist too much time. Though any and every relationship was a play on intrigue; giving and taking, though some forms of giving may more suit the taker in the end... Ledo sought to take, though not from this one. He meant to take from those this Shade could endure. Ledo himself could face these whom he wished his 'justice' upon, though his time was precious and his risks were high. Ledo would not endure risks of any sort until the ultimate risk was upon him. For this, he may face in absolution. But to reach a goal, one must branch out towards it.

"You know what you are! It is in every motion of your conscious and unconscious mind, in every thought of disrupting any danger, in every stem of vengeful spite to those due it, and every demand in absolute self-confidence!" Ledo would probe no further. It was more than clear that the Shade had noticed his hidden 'hand' reaching into Shade's hidden 'pocket' of a mind, to reach to deep would surely result in the severing of that hand. Ledo knew this, and would not provoke any attack unless deemed beneficial to his recruiting cause. Though he did not require much information if any, as Jairo's every muscle movement and stance in posture gave away so much already to the supremely experienced human male. Yet in beginning with the use of 'you', Ledo hinted and Shade would no doubt here the easy replacement of the word 'I' there in its substitution; as to say that Ledo knew of of these. "I am here... for what you know." A released last tidbit, Ledo would trail off still in confidence though turning a head away to allow and learn from Shade's reaction. It must have been clear by now to Shade that Ledo had been watching him, at the references of 'difference' and 'Force use'. However, Ledo's meaning would embellish as 'what Shade knew' to be 'who Shade was' and 'what Shade was capable of'.

 

[Denzein]

The man spoke with archaic language that was not terribly easy to understand fully, but Shade knew what he was getting at. The man wanted him to kill... if only he realised Shade's true calling. He wasn't just some murderer up for enlistment, he already had a cause to rally to... and it was far more deserving than whatever this one was offering. Not even order or chaos had purchase on Shade's beliefs. Beyond them there was only nothing.

He decided to hear the man out, at least. It was the least he could do considering the figure had seemingly stalked him for months. He would not be made a pawn, but perhaps they could come to some sort of arrangement... it all came down to what this stranger was willing to part with. Was he accustomed to not getting exacrly what he wanted? Time would tell...

"tell me then, stranger, what do I know that you want to find out?"

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

"No... Not that I need to find out." Ledo already knew what he needed to know. It was the use of what Shade knew that Ledo desired. And he would pry no longer, however unable to shed the manner in which he told tales.

"See these masses before you. They carry no barrier to your might. ...Nor I. You are of a different sort. Yet see what you are without them? And so that end may be your better end, but take their uses. Even I, in all my time, do not understand your reasons; I do, however know of your methods."

"...I would ask ...that you bring me closer to my resolution."

Ledo paused. He knew the odds of convincing such a man to his cause. Yet when a comet passes, one such as Ledo does not let it fly freely without first attempting to alter and aim its course for his own benefit.

"...A resolution free from no light or dark, as none can escape it. Yet as they deny all that we are, so must they be forced to see truth!"

 

[Denzein]

Shade smiled slightly beneath his mask, beginning to understand the man's motives, his reasons behind his words and actions... He too worked towards a goal, some lofty aim that required the use of others for its completion. Shade understood. He had taken Eleanor in cold blood for the very same purpose, dominated her, enslaved her, liberated her.

He knew what this stranger wanted from him now, and he was not going to give it to him. The coming of Nothing was more important than any other goal or desire this universe possessed... He would not allow himself to become distracted.

He looked the stranger in the eye, his impassive silver orbs boring into the man with the intensity of stars. There was always the slim chance... That he too could be working towards Shade's aim?

"Your resolution... And what is that? Do you fight for love... For power... For Nothing at all?"

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

"Fight?" Ledo could see that the Shade was almost mocking him. It was as if his words held no grip as he was so akin to with those seeking power, so easily seduced for his cause; such a different cause than that of simple wants and needs. No, it was far more destined that any individual's wants or desires to fight past. The end is inevitable. All shall face its embrace, and any that claim assistance to it gain no immunity.

"Living is a struggle ...but to die from it." Ledo's words would only drift in his melancolly rebuttle. "Life through death. I ask that you change nothing, give me... nothing. Do ...as you continue to do, yet end but one more than calculated." There was no dancing around it, even in Ledo's charismatic gibberish, and so he'd seek necessary payment. "What is it that you seek? Something in return?"

 

[Denzein]

So the stranger followed they way of Death. Shade could sympathise, he had done the same, before his enlightenment. The man needed to follow his belief through to its logical conclusion, only then could he realise what Shade had. Until then the Destroyer was adamant that whatever argument he gave this man about his philosophy would be scoffed at. The un-lit lanterns were usually the most narrow minded...

"You want me to kill. I do that already, but not for others. Killing is sin, a necessary evil that I must embrace if I am to follow my path... My reward for my works is already the greatest thing I could possibly acquire, there is Nothing you can offer me to dissuade me, stranger."

He smiled beneath his mask. How would this one take to rejection? He didn't know, but he felt not well. He was ready for anything should it come to violence.

"You see, I seek Nothing. That is its own reward, to someone who understands..."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Ledo was becoming annoyed. This Shade spoke in circles, to Ledo's understanding, and he hated it. He had simply offered Shade to continue to kill as he always has, changing nothing; but this almighty Shade sought nothing but to reject everything! Ledo had yet to reach his breaking point, but could only question what he did not understand.

"You seek nothing yet you kill? Everything gives or takes, and you would be lying if you thought yourself above such physics!" Ledo began to loose himself in his own self righteous beliefs and high arrogance. His image flickered, showing yet another wall of mistrust; and rightfully so, as things were not going his way. This could lead down a path he had not foreseen.

"You cannot fathom the extent of my reach! And you speak of rewards?!? Were I to offer you what I came here to, you would have to endure no such necessary evils! But perhaps you'd as well refuse that?? As even you have become attached to such "sin's"!" Ledo was angry at a prickly inference Shade might not be aware of, yet as Ledo felt the pressures of his past lying down on him he could not stand idly.

Several physically tangible copies of himself flickered into being with a simultaneous scream. "REWARD?!? What nothing gains you reward?? Tell me of this _PATH!"

Now there were four of him, all very violent in anger. The voices echoed in unison. Yet still Ledo's true presence did not emit the kind of power he held under his control. It was more than a second nature to him, as it was his first talent as well as specialization in his long life. He had survived as long as he had due to this technique, springing into action in an unforeseen supreme power previously held under radar; as all were incredibly surprised of a nothing, in all respects, to blast out in magnificent raging magnitude.

 

[Denzein]

The stranger was easy to bait, it seemed. This was not good or bad, it did not hinder or help. It was merely knowledge, and Shade thrived on knowledge. The figure was using a force technique that hid his force signature and dispersed him visually... Like a mirage, or at least that was what Shade was reminded of. He guessed that the figure was therefore powerful, hiding his true strength to surprise his enemies. It was a technique that Shade also used, when he felt the need.

He began gathering the force to him, vast quantities of energy that by rights should kill any other of his relatively young age. He was powerful, very powerful, and Ledo would be wise to recognise this as a warning. Age did not necessarily mean power, he was living proof. Nothing was power... Again, his continued survival was proof.

He didn't want to fight, for now. He was content to talk, to impart knowledge to this stranger for free, or so it seemed. He sighed... Time for some education.

"Everyone follows my path, stranger, although many believe otherwise. You believe all is death, yes? You are wrong. Follow your own philosophy through to its conclusion... Death makes decay, and decay brings life from the ashes. You are fuelling your own demise, because life will always spring anew from death which is just death.

But Destruction... Destruction thwarts even decay. Not only does it kill, it stops life from returning entirely. All destruction yields to is Nothing, and Nothing encompasses all. It is the natural conclusion to every argument, every belief and every philosophy, including death. Nothing escapes its caress, and all succumbs in time.

I told you I'm a sinner, and I am. Every time I kill I sin, unless I destroy... "

He waited for a reply, or a strike. Either way, he would not be caught off guard.