The Thirst for Knowledge

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

Zazai stepped off of the ship's ramp onto the dusty floor below. A warm wind whipped at his black robes, sand stinging his face. This world was dead, but perhaps it held secrets that would help him gain more power.

He had only been training for a short while, but he devoured any training he received. The so call Masters of his Order were too slow, too weak to foster Zazai's potential. They were too worried about their parties and who they mated to offer any real assistance. They were weak, Zazai hated them as much as he hated the Jedi.

He had found mentions of a small Jedi outpost that had once been here. It was obscure, but perhaps its obscurity would mean it hadn't been picked clean over the millennia. He wasn't looking for anything in particular. If not here, he would keep looking elsewhere.

He made his way down into a canyon, spotting the cave just as the documents he had read had said. If they were correct, they would open up in a series of several large open caverns that had once housed the outpost.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Within the confines of the cavern, a lone wanderer scoured and searched the content of the underground chambers. Ti'Tani had seemingly lost track of time, her mind preoccupied on the task at hand; she was methodical to say the least. Meticulously cataloguing her discoveries, she continued her excavation. So far, two out of the five main caverns had been breached. Though the structural integrity of the outpost was precarious - at best-, it's internal contents were surprisingly intact. It was as if the outpost had been frozen in time, utterly untouched by the outside world. It was strangely...peaceful. There was only silence and solitude. Even the force was oddly muted, not that it unnerved Ti'Tani much. The Lorrdian's connection to the force was...sporadic, given recent circumstances. This simple assignment was her first step towards recovery; her objective was clear, catalogue the outpost and its content, then report back to the council. If there was any merit to her investigation, then the Jedi might consider re-establishing the outpost.

So far, the archives salvaged offered little in terms of information; many were simply records of times long since passed; journals and diaries of overseers and masters, detailing their accounts on the small, quiet outpost. Yet Ti'Tani couldn't help but wonder...If this was such a peaceful haven, what had driven its inhabitants away? As of yet, the answer remained elusive.

But then the veiled Jedi absently paused for a moment, the focus of her gaze stolen by the flickering of candle light nearby. There was not modern power supply to the caverns, the only force of light was through primitive means; candles littering the main caverns, as well as the tunnels. Though humid, the air was uncannily still; the canyon acted as a natural barrier to the wind, making sudden drafts and gusts a rarity. Least she was mistaken, Ti'Tani sensed she was no longer alone.

Still as a statue, the Lorrdian stood poised, intently listening for any echoes movement. Adventurers, perhaps? Misguided thieves? No, no... Ti'Tani could sense something else, something far more...sinister. A hunger. A craving. One that would not be so easily denied. Yet there was something strange about this presence. It seemed foreign, utterly alien to her. Unlike anything she had experienced before. How odd...

Her first instinct was to flee; never one to seek out conflict, the last thing Ti'Tani wanted was a fight. Yet, at the same time, she could not abandon her position; if there was something of value within the caverns, it must remain within the Jedi's possession.

Deciding to sacrifice the first two caverns, the Lorridan ventured deeper into the unknown tunnels; she hoped whatever (or whoever) it was, it would depart quickly once they found the meagre offerings in first few chambers. Hopefully, she could remain as she had always been; unnoticed and unacknowledged...

@Zazai Ta'Resh

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

The large Sith stepped into to cave, pulling his hood back. The quite seemed deafening compared to the wind outside. He pulled a small chem light from a pocket in his robes and scanned the opening chamber. There was nothing that would separate it from any other cave on any other planet in the Galaxy. A twinge of frustration built in the Sith, hoping he hadn't been led out here on a wild chase for nothing.

With nothing else to do but to push forward, he walked deeper into the cave. The sand floor turned to stones as he began to descend down into the ground. Some time past and the natural stone of the cave turned into worked stone. He had found the start of the outpost. His body nearly shook with excitement. He soon entered the first of the large caverns, various artifacts around.

He picked through them, going more and more frustrated as the minutes passed. It was all garbage, pointless garbage. This couldn't be it. There had to be more! His frustration finally boiled over into a growl and as hit an old vase, causing it to fall to the stone floor and shatter, sending echoes throughout the caves.

If this was all he found down here, he would find that data merchant and cut him down for leading him on such pointless endeavors. He was about to proceed further before something caught his eye. He swung the chemlight around. It was faint, but it was definitely there. A small half footprint made in the settled dust along the floor. Given the dust on everything here, these were at least semi-recent. Though if it was days or years he couldn't really tell. He senses extended out naturally as he looked around, but for the time sensed nothing. Perhaps whoever it was had moved on. Which wasn't good news. If they had left, they had likely taken something of value with them.

He pulled the lightsaber from his belt and held it in his hand opposite of the light just in case as he slowly moved further into the caves.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Ti'Tani's spine stiffen, hearing the distant sound of shattering ceramic echo in the dark depths that surrounded her; now she could sense it, the frustrated anger of the unwelcome visitor. Thwarted pursuit embittered them. But there was more to it than that. There was something... dark about this stranger. Something eerily familiar. This was not a common scavenger, this was someone searching with a purpose. Someone who knew what they were looking for. That worried Ti'Tani most. What exactly were they hoping to find?

Her green eyed gaze now travelled uneasily down the tunnel. Tendrils of fear began to crawl up her spine, but she quickly willed them away. Now was not the time to falter. Beasts could smell fear miles away, it only served to feed their excitement; in order to stay in control, Ti'Tani had to remain calm. Glorious Mother, she prayed in utter silence, Guide my way and preserve my spirit.
The veiled Jedi quickly navigated her way to the last chamber, willing to hide herself until she thought of a rational plan. But she paused upon reaching the mouth of the chamber; once again, a cold sensation began to take hold of her. It was like a chill, infectious and utterly unmistakable. The dark side. How? How could its taint possibly stain the tranquillity of this outpost? More importantly, why was it suddenly awakened? The last few days, Ti'Tani had sensed nothing of sort within the caves. But now the once dormant plague was not resurfacing. This time, the young Jedi glanced back towards the tunnels, uneasy. This stranger...could be possibly be...an exile? She feared she would soon find out.

Heart beginning to pulse quicker, Ti'Tani unwilling entered the final chamber. Trapped within the confines tunnel would offer little advantage; if she were forced into conflict, an open space would be much more beneficial.

How she regretted her decision. No sooner had to lit a few candles was she then stopped in her tracks. The whole chamber...it was bathed in a dark signature. It housed numerous trinkets and statues, depicting twisted and morbid figures. A few scrolls and tomes were dotted about what seemed like a displace altar. Could it be...a previous generation of Jedi had studied such forbidden things? She dreaded to think such things but a sinister tome - aged and bound in its strange design- was sat perched within sight, as if newly forgotten after its previous use. Ti'Tani was sickened at the mere sight of it. Who knew what untold secrets it housed, what temptations it could inflict. What horrors this dark sider could discover...

Unwillingly, Ti'Tani reached for the literary artefact, gasping at the furore that assailed. Even through her gloves, the book felt blisteringly cold and oddly heavy. It only confirmed her worst suspicions. This was a source of evil. It had to be destroyed, quickly before it fell into the wrong hands.

But it was too late. She had been found...

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

As he moved closer he began to wear the whisperings of the Force, urging him forward. It was a quiet storm of chaotic utterances on his mind. He felt his heart quicken, there was something here. He could feel it, taste it.

He moved through the chambers, disregarding the garbage the Jedi had left behind so long ago. Those things offered nothing of value to Zazai. All the while, the call grew louder, more frantic. The darkness pulled him in. He stopped as he saw the lights in the distance, the flickering candlelight.

He approached the lit cavern slowly, seeing the woman at the far end of the cavern. She was reaching for something, the same something the called to him. He would not allow anyone to steal this away from him. It was his right, his destiny.

He stepped into the candlelight, lightsaber in hand. He bathed in the darkness that filled this room. It was strong here, the voices almost physically audible. He saw the book she held. He could feel her apprehension at holding such an item, he could sense the lingering presence of fear in her. She was strong no doubt, but she was no Sith at least yet.

He took several slow steps forward. "It calls to you too, doesn't it?" he asked in a low, quiet voice. "and yet you fight it..." he said turning his head slightly "Why?" he asked. The runes on the books cover seem to pulse in the flickering candlelight. "You have been led here, just as I have. Do not shy away from destiny." he said taking another set of steps closer. He now stood about 15 feet from the woman as he waited for her reaction, ready to destroy this woman should she try to oppose him.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

A demon. A strange, exalted being of some sorts, the likes of which Ti'Tani had never seen before. He looked like a creature from a depraved nightmare, and yet, here he stood, mere feet away from her. This was no dream, this encounter was truly happening. Viridescent eyes could only gaze on owlishly at the red man; evidently, the veiled Jedi was surprised by his mere appearance (not that she could talk, being as heavily clad as she was). Admittedly, he certainly cut quite a profile, a sharp and predatory profile that is; bony spurs protruded from under his skin. Perhaps even more astounding were the cheek tendrils that hung down from his high cheekbones. Cranial horns, pointed teeth, simian mouths below his robust nose, indeed the stranger certainly was unique. But it was his eyes, his glowing yellow eyes that unsettled Ti'Tani the most; they blazed with the intensity of an inferno, a fire which could not be stopped.

His words were like velvet, pleasing to the ear, dripping with persuasion. Yet the Lorddian was not easily swayed. As the red man approached, Ti'Tani edged back, cautious and wide eyed until finally she was backed against the stone alter. It couldn't be helped, the alien was a hulking height; he easily towered over her.

But to her credit, Ti'Tani remained passively calm, speaking in an even, unsettled tone, "Destiny is an abstract concept; it is what we make of it."

Her saber, concealed in her robes, had yet to be drawn; the last thing the Lorrdian wanted was a fight. Still, her grip on the book hand't loosen. Briefly her bewitching gaze flickered to the side; she contemplated the thought of burning the book over the flames of the candles. But would it burn well enough before this red skinned beast pounced? She couldn't be sure. Lorrdians were notorious for their visual perceptions; a quiver of a lip, the narrowing of eyes, any physical tell could be picked up. But not this male. His face was harder to read, the sharp angular features somewhat masking his intent. Ti'Tani needed to proceed with caution.

Hoping to buy herself some time, the veiled Jedi decided to try and seek out some answers. "What..." She then stopped, reconsidering her words, "Who are you?"

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

He stood his ground, flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows on his face. The Force swirled around the pair. It called to be drawn upon, desperate for an answer. For now, he remained still, making no sudden movements to betray his intentions. He pondered her question for a moment, tilting his head slightly.

"I am Zazai, as for what, I am student, just as you are." he said pausing as he took another step closer to the woman. "I just know what I am seeking." he said taking yet another step closer. He searched her eyes intently, focusing his gaze on her even as he reached out with the Force to touch her mind.

Now seven feet away, he let the room fall into stillness. Even the flickering candles seemed to freeze in place. The only sound was the almost audible hum of power this place held. He finally held out a hand to the woman. "I have no interest in harming you, Jedi" he said assuming her allegiance. He was still new to the galaxy, not familiar with the countless of force cults, both dark and light that dotted the Galaxy. "I offer you the chance to partake of this knowledge with me, and if not that, let me have the book and I will go." he said quietly.

He had been told about the Jedi. They were closeminded, only seeing half the Force. In that way many of the Sith were identical. Only seeing what they wanted to see, what suited their view on the Galaxy. Zazai was different and he had never met a Jedi. He would offer this one a chance to join him, to transcend both of their Orders. Though he readied himself for the conflict his training said would come. They had told him the Jedi would hate him for who he was.

His hand tightened around his hilt in anticipation even as he willed himself to stay still, stay calm. All the while, that dark song still called to him. To seize the knowledge for himself, to destroy the light the woman carried inside of her. and prove himself worthy of its power. The Force was a thing to be controlled, brought into submission. He wouldn't allow himself to be goaded into conflict so easy.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

The tension in the air was slowly growing, the Lorrdian could sense it. There was no avoiding what was about to unfold. Nevertheless, the stranger had been rather in introducing himself, it was only fair to return the courtesy. After all, politeness was a virtue.

"I am Ti'Tani Fay."

She bowed her head humbly, though still kept her near luminescent eyes fixed on his own. Despite her Jedi allegiance, Ti'Tani still maintained the demure of a nun, a prioress even. Most usually found this disarming, even charmed by her pious nature. But she doubted such a trivial matter aura effect this dark sider. Truly the only common ground they shared was that of scholar pursuit. She would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted by knowledge as well, especially when it was literally within her grasp. Shame struck her, as well as a guilt. Such desires were unbecoming a Jedi. Already, in the past, she had fallen prey to such seductions. Never had she regretted it more. ​

Still, the veiled lady visibly balked at this male's immodest attempt to touch her mind, what's more she seemed struck by his brazen nature. Her mind was a fragile place, something of which she was still missing together, the last thing she wanted was to reveal that to someone like him. Still, it did not stop her from doing the same, tentatively reaching out to test him as well. If she could not read his features, then perhaps she could read him through the force. She instantly regretted the act. At the first minor taste of pain, Ti'Tani recoiled, her expression mirroring that of discomfort. Though she could not garner exact details, she empathised the suffering experienced. It reminded her all too well of the Argazdans and their brutal enslavement of her own people. Whoever this Zazai was, he had suffered great hardship, that must was certain. It made her next action all the more difficult.

With great reluctance, Ti'Tani made her decision. No doubt the book within her grasp contained dark secrets, secrets that were best left forgotten. There was no telling what horrors could be unleashed; Ti'tani would not forgive herself if she allowed such evil to take place. This male was far too driven, far too hungry, to simply be denied. She possessed the object of his desire, and she would not relinquish it. She muttered, more to herself than anything, "Goddess forgive me, for the choice I must make..."

She drew her saber, a blade of lightest blue and stood ready, now clutching the book close to her chest. "I beg you, go now in peace. There is nothing for you here." Once again, her eyes hardened with steadfast conviction, ready for the conflict that was ultimately unavoidable.

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

He could feel her conflict, her shame. He remained silent as she continued to struggle over her next decision. He tilted his head at the mention of a goddess. The Jedi didn't believe in such things, at least according to his studies. Perhaps she wasn't a Jedi, though she at least held somewhat to the belief in the light side of the Force, he could feel as much.

She fascinated him. Were all Jedi like this, so pious? The description he had heard from others indicated otherwise. He straightened his gaze as her hand came out from underneath her robe revealing the lightsaber which she then ignited. The threat was obvious in her action, but Zazai did not take the bait. If she wanted to strike at him, he would not make it easy, giving her justification. "Why do ask your goddess for forgiveness when you have already decided to do something that would displease her?" he asked as he returned his own lightsaber hilt to his belt.

"I have come in peace." he said holding his hands out by his side, palms open towards her. "You are the one who draws a weapon against me" he added. He took another step forward, hands still at his side. "Your code demands the pursuit of knowledge over ignorance, it is, for this reason, you can not destroy the book and you are not willing to partake of its lessons." he said taking another step forward, not just outside the reach of her lightsaber. "If you give the book to me, you have to do neither, and there is no need to ask your goddess for forgiveness." he said, reaching out a hand towards her.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Ti'Tani stared at the red skinned male in utter bewilderment. How? How could he sound so logical? Better yet, how had he make her into the aggressor of this situation? She appalled violence, even if at times it seemed necessary. But strangely, Ti'Tani now felt she was the one being unreasonable. Tentatively, she lowered her weapon, though only by a fraction. This was not the first time a person had used her beliefs to make her question her actions. Indeed, the Jedi had encouraged her to abandon such revenant worship, fearing such aspects would clash with their Order's own philosophical ideals. Yet to Ti'Tani, the Goddess Via was a comforting deity, a motherly figure who's compassion battled the otherwise cynicism of the galaxy. In times of doubt, Ti'Tani turned to religious teachings more than she did the Jedi code. She hoped it would not steer her wrong.

"The Goddess knows we are flawed children; prone to mistakes. She accepts us and all our shortcomings." And Via knew Ti'Tani had a number of transgressions. Shaking her heads of such thoughts, the Lorrdian remain resolute, "At times, it is better to seek forgiveness, than to ask for permission."

She was wary now. Dark siders were cunning, they could manipulate even the most assured Jedi masters. Though soft spoken and calm, she did not entirely trust this strange, red skinned visitor. He was persistent. She couldn't help but wonder where in the galaxy he had originated from, or better yet, how he had ended up on this exact path. Truthfully, he unsettled her. His eyes. They were not empty and depraved, not like other dark side beasts she had faced. They were sharp and intelligent. But also heated and passionate. His eyes reminded her...reminded her of Vex.

Trying to gain purchase of the situation once more, Ti'Tani began to step to the side of her dissenter, edging towards the doorway whilst still manoeuvring safely around Zaizai. "This book," She gestured to the tome clutched securely in her gloved hand, "Why do you desire its content greatly, so much so that you might court attention from the Jedi?"

​

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

He listened as she explained who odd philosophy. He had never served a Master who accepted one deviating from their will. His body was littered with the scars of his failure. "Why serve a Master who can accept shortcomings with such ease." he asked, momentarily distracted by the woman's words. "Such a Master seems weak and undeserving of your loyalty." She treated him as a hostile predator, and he supposed she was correct in that assumption. He would not go out of his way to seek conflict, but he wouldn't let it stand in the way of the knowledge he wanted.

She held up the book slightly and she took several steps to the side. While he was fascinated by this woman, he would not let her slink away so easily. He took several steps as well, cutting her off. If she made a break for it towards the door, she would have to move within striking distance of him. "I have heard tales of the ancient wisdom contained here. I could feel it calling to me from across the stars. I have followed it here, to this book, to you." he continued, eyes blazing with intensity as he searched for any sudden movements.

"That is why I must have it." he said "Why do you insist on keeping me from it?" he added. "Tell me honestly what I may do to convince you to give the book to me." he said offering her one last chance to provide him with the knowledge he sought after. If she refused further, he would pounce and take it by Force. She would be a fool to mistake his questioning as a sign of weakness. She was the cornered prey here. With nowhere to go, he hoped she would see reason.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Ti'Tani couldn't help but feel a degree of sympathy for the male standing before her; she had escaped slavery relatively unscathed. He had not. He had suffered, as many others had suffered. And it was evident in his mentally; those who had been slaves for most of their life often felt cowed to one master or another. And very rarely were those masters merciful. She challenged his question with one of her own, "Why serve a Master who would seek only to punish you for your failures? They might gain my compliance but never my true loyalty."

This dark sider was a strange one. Unlike any other she had encountered. He was not blinded by rage and anger, fuelled by it perhaps, but not blinded. He seemed also...naïve to the Jedi; he did not curse and rant against its teachings. He seemed generally intrigued to know more, if not about the Jedi then about Via and her glory. Perhaps Ti'Tani could use this as neutral platform. She decided to take a risk and change tactics.

"I have failed myself numerous times, Goddess Via knows this well," She again felt shame for her previous failures, but soon a smile chase such feelings away, her eyes creased ever so slightly, revealing the small smile she hid under the veil. "But she is patient. She is compassionate. She forgives my transgressions and continues to guide me, no matter how far I fall." Taking a step back, Ti'Tani sheathed her saber, "Do you know why? Because she has faith in me. Because she trusts I will find my own way back to the righteous path. A master, a true master, does not need to dominant; they merely are there to offer us guidance so that we can learn to lead ourselves."

The Lorrdian stared at the red man, cantered her head in question, "Do you have faith in yourself? Do you trust yourself and the actions you take?" She wished to know more about him, about his motives. "Do you know which path you wish to take? Have you chosen it...or has it merely been chosen for you?" She knew how the exiles worked. They promised and tempted, bullied and enslaved. They freed some from slavery only to shackle them with different chains. Could he be just another victim? Perhaps he needed to be a shown a different path...

She did something strange; she knelt to the ground, taking a modest posture as if to meditate. It was an incredibly vulnerable position to be, one that would put her at a disadvantage should he choose to strike. She was trusting him, her otherworldly green eyes regarding him for every moment that passed. She then did something else. She placed the book before her, on the ground and relinquished her hold. It was there for the taking, should he desire.

But then she beckoned him, every so softly. "Please, come sit with me."

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

He eyed the Jedi as she spoke. He let he step away as her stance changed, no longer moving towards the door. Was this Jedi Tricks? He had been taught about their treachery, about how they hide behind pure sounding words. She was his enemy, His Orders were to exterminate any Jedi he could, and yet found he didn't want to. Even in this dark place, he found it unnecessary.

He listened to all of her words, starring at her with a cold gaze. He had no faith in stories of old gods. His elders had spoken of their own gods when he was a child. He prayed to them every night, begging for freedom, and there was nothing. "We all have our paths chosen for us. I did not choose the life of a slave. I did not choose to watch my family die when they became to weak to work the mines. I did not choose to be free, I was placed on by the Empress herself when she came for my people. Where was the Jedi when my people suffered, where was your goddess?!" he spat, temper flaring as the ground trembled beneath his pain, his anger.

He clenched his hand into a fist but did not reach for his weapon. Even now she kneeled only mere feet away. He had been commanded to extinguish the Jedi, and here one was and he found himself hesitating. He was weak. There would be no forgiveness for him if this was discovered. There would be punishment and through that punishment, he would become stronger.

He reached out with the Force as the book flew from the ground into his hands. The darkness called to him. This was power, real, tangible power. It sang to him, urged him to kill the Jedi and drink of its knowledge but again he hesitated. He wanted to leave, but his feet did not move.

He had what he came for. The book was his. He stayed. When she asked he sit, he paused for a moment. The whispers were louder know, fueled by his outburst. He would listen to this Jedi. He convinced himself that it was so he would learn of their lies. He would destroy her after she had taught him what she could.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

"And where was your Empress when my people suffered? When we were nearly driven to the brink of extinction?"

​

For a moment, Ti'Tani's eyes glinted, the exile's raw frustrations mirroring her own. Though no sooner had the spark ignited did it quickly fade away, schooled once more by the Lorrdian's personal code. Anger was not the way. The past was the past and nothing could change it. The present was now, the task at hand standing before her. She had to refocus her efforts. When the book flew into the dark sider's hands, she did not stir. She simply remained seated. Even her expression barely faltered. There was no disappoint, no fear because of his actions; she simply stared at him, openly without judgement. She allowed him to speak, to vent his frustration and anger, fully acknowledging them as if they were her own. She discovered he felt a sense of loyalty to the exiles, a debt perhaps that needed to be repaid. Ti'Tani understood such notions, as yet again they were similar to her own. But her service was to the Jedi and their Order. Still, she couldn't help but wonder, what if things had been different? What if their lives had been reversed? The force worked in mysterious ways. It was like they were cut from the same crystal, yet shaped into different vessels for the force. One of light and once of darkness.

It was not the dark side per say she disapproved of. It was his loss of faith. The tribulations of life could wary even the steadfast of worshippers. Yet it was all a test, one of character, one of spirit. "The Goddess gives her greatest challenges to only the strongest of her children; such trials strengthen us but also allow us to appreciate when those times have passed. The more we suffer, the greater we are rewarded when returned to her embrace."

She opened herself to the force, and to an extension, him. She wanted him to know that the words she uttered next held no lies. "I know your pain." Slowly, as to not alarm him, she then held up her hands, symbolising the bondage of slavery, "I too was once chained. Forced to watch as my people withered and died. We were forbidden from even speaking, least we have our tongues removed from our mouths. Such was the fate of my father, or so I am told." Those were indeed dark times for the Lorrdian people. The Argazdan Myrialites were merciless and cruel, their horrors so grand that is still visibly shook the veiled lady. She remembered the screams of her mother, the sound of the lashing whip. ​

Ti'Tani closed her eyes, fearing tears would soon threaten to fall. "I was like you. Once all I ever saw was blood and darkness. And I asked myself why, why was I damned to this existence? What had I done to warrant such suffering? Eventually I stopped wondering. I stopped caring. I simply came to the conclusion that this was how the galaxy worked, and it kept turning regardless." ​

She opened her eyes once more, and truly they were windows into the soul. Opulent in their greenish hues, they mirrored it all; the pain and suffering, the loss and despair. Yet despite it all, there was hope. Somehow there was peace and tranquillity. And it seemed it was the Goddess that granted this to her, not necessarily the Jedi. "Do you know what the Goddess Via is? Via is sacrifice." Some of her Jedi scholars had debated with Ti'Tani on this mattered, attempting to argue that Via was merely a personified form of the Force and that the sacrifice she asked for was merely a notion of service, such like the Jedi practiced. A noble interpretation but never one Ti'Tani wholly accepted. There was so much more to it.

"In my darkest hour, the Goddess spoke to me." She removed one of her gloves, revealing a pale, dainty hand, which she then extended towards Za'zai, "Let me show you what exactly she showed me..." ​

​

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

She did feel a pain similar to his own. The Darkside fed on both his and her pain, growing its own power in the room. Zazai felt the pressure building. It urged him to action. He found it difficult to keep still, it screamed for him to fulfill the only true purpose he had ever been given. He forced it down for the moment, he would remain in control. The Force answered to him. It would learn who its master was in time.

He squatted down so he was eye level with the Jedi. "You say your goddess freed you, but she only did so to bind you to her, bind you the Jedi." he said

"This." he said holding up the book, tracing a finger along one of its ancient runes "represents freedom from the chains of any master, no matter how kind they would have you believe they are." he said quietly. "Even the Force itself yearns to be brought into submission by us." he said gesturing to air around him. "You must feel that. It offers you its service if you could only look past your dogma to seize hold of it."

"Your goddess is the same as the old Sith gods." he said "Nothing." he finished. There was no malice in his tone, only sorrow. He turned away from her. COnvincing himself he would leave. He took a step and he heard her stand. He looked back and saw he outstretched hand. More Jedi lies, tricks to get him to lower his guard down. What would he gain from humoring her more and still he remained.

He turned back around, facing her. "I will humor this last thing from you Jedi and then I am leaving." he said, his words turning to ice in the air. He took a step forward and the closed the gap between them. He reached out a hand that eclipsed her own.

As soon as their skin touched he found himself in another place, but so would Ti'Tani. The Force had things to show both of them it would seem.

*****************

Ti'Tani would look up at the blazing Koriban sun. Her body sore from the previous day's labor. The sun was then snuffed out as she entered the mines. The heat grew and grew, becoming first oppressive and then unbearable. She went further and further down and the crack of the whip across her back signaled it was time to dig. Suffering.

Hours and Hours seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye. She would look down to see her red, Sith hands bleeding from constant work. Her throat and lungs crying for water that wouldn't come. Pain.

She would then find herself back outside the mine, this time under a fading sun. Their clan had been gathered around in a circle. An old Sith slumped in the middle of them. She knew it was her father. She was vaguely aware of her mother behind her, crying. Fear.

Then the taskmasters came, the punishment for outliving one's use was death. Instead of doing the work themselves, they dragged her out into the circle and handed her the pick axe she used day in and day out. She would look back at her mother, one of the taskmasters holding a knife to her throat, threatening to end both of her parents if she refused her task.

She did it.

One Swing.

Pain and Suffering.

Agony so great, her lungs refused to fetch air. That is when the whisper came, singing the promise of strength, the promise of revenge. If only she would take hold of it.

Rage.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Za'Zai would see a garden surrounding him, a bountiful space alive with lush alien flora; it was an oasis, a paradise. A rarity on the otherwise cold, unforgiving world of Lorrd. But the harshness of this planet could not touch this singular isolated sanctum; there was an unnatural serenity here, as if it were blessed by the force itself. This was the domain of the Sisterhood, their sanctuary from the confines of the galaxy. None may enter unless invited and certainly no males had seen within its walls. Until now of course. After all, this was a matriarchal sect, one which routinely recruited from the pits of slavery; clearly Za'Zai was seeing this through Ti'Tani eyes. This was day a lowly slave was reborn into a follower of Via.

His body how tired his fragile body was; how weak and malnourished it was, afflicted with hunger. His frostbitten extremities were utterly numb, the nerves deadened to any touch. It was as if his entire body was frozen to its core. He would have likely from such exposure, and yet something was preserving him. Healing him. The garden, he realised. It was alive, acting as a focal point for the natural flow of the force. Could this place have once been a fabled nexus? It seemed likely, given its Eden like ambiance. Whilst the abundance of flowers bloomed in the tranquil moonbeams, a rich, pure energy flowed through him, easing the years of suffering inflicted on his young delicate body. The ice within his soul slowly thawed, much like its physical ravages once fraught upon him. He welcomed it, letting it wash over him like tepid wave.
Harmony

A woman approached then from the East wing, clad in similar concealing robes. She seemed familiar. A source of warmth. And as she drew near, her exposed eyes were instantly recognisable. It was his mother. The one who had suffered numerous beatings. The one who had been forced to watch the maiming and murder of her husband. The one who loved her daughter more than life itself. Despite the sisters' modest code, she removed her veil, revealing a weary but relieved expression. Love and adoration shone like unshed tears. Against all odds, they had survived this nightmare. They were free. His mother then cupped his face within her hands, tenderly stroking his cheeks in the same manner any mother would do with their child. Ever so softly, she laid a kiss upon her forehead and bid him a peaceful rest. The first they would've had in a decade. Comfort

Yet Za'Zai felt restless. There was so much to explore in this new, strange utopia. With each passing moment, his strength returned to him, his soul invigored. With stars and moon watching over him, he had stumbled upon the meditative gardens and the altar to Via. The statue was that of female, though the following robes and veil created a rather androgynous figure. Nevertheless, he would kneel before the veiled statue, devoting the moment to prayer. This was deity responsible for delivering him from Hell. And he would forever be within her debt. Faith

Then it happened. Something strange and utterly profound, a sensation exploding out from within him. Slowly it began to build and built, transforming into something terrifyingly beautiful. He could see it within his mind's eye. He could see Her. An entity of some sorts, a body of pure personified energy. There was no light. No darkness. Simply...the force? He couldn't be sure. All that was certain was that he had never experienced such raw energy. Such untapped power. Surely, this was Via, a Goddess, standing now before him. He felt unworthy, ashamed to disgrace her presence with his meagre existence. And yet, he couldn't tear his gaze away, not when she so lovingly beckoned him. For some reason, this spectral being reached out to him, extending itself both mentally and spiritually until all was exposed. It was as if a cosmic force then erupted forth, tearing him to sunder whilst simultaneously connecting him to everything that existed. He was one with the universe. With everything. Every living being, every star and planet. For one crystallising moment, he was at...Peace

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Hear me, my child... ​

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Ti'Tani flung herself back, visibly shaking from what she had just experienced. It was too much to barely, too overwhelming to continue. If she maintained the connection for much longer, she feared she'd lose herself completely to the merging of their minds. Her breathes were haggard, quivering with uncertainty. Whatever it was that they shared, it was profound...and binding.

The Lorrdian waited for her heartbeat to ease its frantic drum; all whilst her mind tried to rationalise the entire situation. They had connected with each other on a far deeper level than intended. What would the Jedi think of such actions? Such exposure? Yet another secret she would have to conceal. They wouldn't understand it, her desire to spread the word of Via. An exile was an exile, a follower of the dark side. There was no path between the two worlds, the realm and light and dark.

Perhaps Via wished to change that. It seemed she had plans for the two of them, plans she had yet to reveal.

Struggling to her feet, Ti'Tani once more focused her eyes on Za'Zai. It was so surreal looking at him, it was like staring at piece of her soul, now detached from her own conscious. Not even her connection with Vex ran this deep. He could know everything about her. And she with him. How oddly...intimate?

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

He found himself being pulled in by that light, for the first time feeling free from the pain and suffering of his existence. She called to him and he found himself desperate to answer.

Then it was gone.

For a moment her voice still lingered in his mind as a fading echo, faint traces of that light before being drowned out again by the dark whisperings of this place. Had it been real? It had felt real, as real as anything he had ever experienced but she was Jedi, perhaps this was just another of their tricks. In the back of his mind, he hoped that wasn't the case.

He opened his eyes seeing Ti'Tani stumbling away from him. He felt connected to her in a way he hadn't experienced with others, their minds intertwined with one another. For a lingering moment, he could feel her breath, her heartbeat as sure as he could his.

He stepped closer to her until he was directly in front of her again. He looked down at her, locking gazes with her before he finally broke himself away.

It was a lie and even if it wasn't no one would come from him like that. He would have to forge his own path to freedom, paved in blood.

He turned to leave, book in hand. He let himself focus on the dark energy of that book. It was too hard to focus on that light he had seen. It was a love he would never experience, a life that could never be his. He had his path and she had hers. That fact pained him.

He found strength in that pain.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

For a moment, Ti'Tani could do nothing but stare into the inferno of Za'Zai's yellow eyes; those amber depths, acidic in colouration. Whilst some may have found such a gaze too uncomfortable to bare, the Lorrdian held it, once more willing to peer in the Sith's intangible mind. She had seen his suffering, his depraved origins, but she wanted to see more. Surely there was some slimmer of hope, some evidence of Via's mercy. It couldn't all be darkness and blood. But then he did the unexpected.

He turned from her.

She almost felt hurt. They had shared a truly spiritual experience, the likes of which possibly hadn't existence until now. Had it scared him? Ti'Tani would be lying if she said she didn't feel the same. Still, Via would not be denied. They were fated now, bound by her will. Ti'Tani would not let Za'Zai forget that.

Boldly, the veiled lady moved between the mouth of the tunnel and the exile, her gaze marked with determination. "How can you turn away after what we have just shared? You saw Her, with your own eyes. Yet you still hold your doubts?" She then stepped closer towards him, undaunted by the physical harm he could possibly inflict. Yet again she was reminded of his towering height, as she stepped closer, she had to arch her gaze towards, ensuring she could keep his gaze.

She then raised her hand.

Not to strike him however. Instead, with the tenderness of a lover, her hand came to rest upon the sharp, angular contour of his cheek. It was a gesture of comfort more than anything else, though some may think otherwise. Nevertheless, she sought to challenge him; barely above a whisper, she asked, "Does it truly mean nothing to you?"

 

[Zazai Ta'Resh]

The Jedi quickly moved to cut him off. He just wanted to get away, not to face whatever this was. He had to convince himself this was all the tricks of a Jedi.

He stopped when she blocked his path. Surely she would not be a physical match for him, but that didn't stop her boldness. He wanted to shy away for her as she stepped closer. He almost flinched away from her touch as a reflex, but allowed her soft touch.

He was quiet, unsure what to say, still unsure what had actually happened. "You have seen my past." he said his eyes filled with pain, not anger. "and you think I am deserving or in search of forgiveness of my actions. I killed my own Father. Why would I accept the forgiveness of someone else when I will never forgive myself." he muttered. There was such pain in his eyes.

He wanted to tell her it had meant nothing to him, that she meant nothing to him. He didn't know this woman, but he also felt he knew her perfectly. It was easier when there had been a definite line drawn when she had been his enemy. That line had been blurred and was being blurred even more so now.

"If your goddess had any sense of justice, she would kill me, or have you do it for her." he said looking down to where she had stored her lightsaber. "I am deserving of nothing else." he said reaching up and taking her hand his, pulling it from his face.

 

[Ti'Tani Fay]

Ti'tani wanted nothing more than to ease the Sith's pain; he had suffered so much, he deserved some sort of reprieve. Yet he would never garner it not until he learnt to let go. There was no magical fix, no fast track to healing a fractured soul. The process would be long and arduous, even more so if he continued to shroud himself in the dark side. The green eyed Jedi feared that if Za'Zai returned to the exiles and their growing Empire, he would never truly be able to free himself of their taint. Yet he spoke of forgiveness; was that not an indication of hope? Had she detected a veiled desire for it? She pressed on, noted he did not completely distain her touch, "Such things take time. "The things you have done...They could not be helped. You were placed in such an unfair situation; you did what needed to be done in order to save the life of another: your mother. It might not mean much, Za'Zai, but I think no less of you."

When he began speaking of justice, she adamantly shook her head in blatant refusal. The mere thought was uncomfortable. Hurting him would be like hurting herself; instinctively wrong. "Via would never wish death upon any of her children. It would achieve nothing; ultimately, an eye for an eye will make the whole galaxy blind."

She could feel her words beginning to hold sway. Not enough to convert him perhaps, but enough to give him pause, to try and see things from a different perspective; from there, a new foundation of thinking could blossom, "Za'Zai, listen to me. We-"

Her words died in her throat. She sensed something, something close by. Intruders. She had been so distracted with the Sith, she had not sensed their presence, their malicious, murderous intent. It was an ambush of some sorts. At first she thought it was a trap now sprung, though she had sensed no immediate deceit from the exile. In fact, he seemed just as surprised as she at this intrusion.

Reluctantly, Ti'tani stepped away from Za'Zai, turning her attention instead towards the tunnel. "Who's there? Show your selves."

Only a blaster bolt fired in response.