[CLOSED] A Watch in the Darkness

[Xan]

The ground shattered at Xotomi's feet, sending shards into the air to rain down upon the heads of the two men nearby. The pelting sounds of the rocks sounded quite similar to rain, an unheard of phenomenon down in the deep sections of the Jedi Temple. Xotomi's head began to twitch as she began to seemingly lose many remnants of her fleeting sanity. The Dark Side formed a powerful nexus of energy around Xotomi, and when his eyes switched into Force Sight, Xanthus could literally see the quasi-real tornado of energy forming with his apprentice at its nexus. 'Quite a sight...' Xanthus thought to himself as his never-silent mind continued its calculations concerning the situation.

'Her insanity deepens.'

'True.'

'You are cold to leave her like this.'

'I am Sith. We are naturally made as such. Why should I intervene?'

The answer arrived in a flash of insight that widened Xanthus's eyes and stretched his lips slightly into a smile. White teeth would have flashed if Xanthus's helmet had been removed. 'Fair enough.' Xanthus thought to his council of voices that aided him in maintaining order within his mind. Placing a hand to his head, the Sith removed his helmet and tossed it behind him to land perfectly upright on the stone slab he had only moments before been sitting upon. Lambent silver eyes took a moment to look at Renelo, amusement forming around a statement spoken with eyes alone: 'Watch.' Xanthus silently commanded with his expression. Having been standing behind Xotomi, Xanthus simply reached upwards and placing his fingers along the nape of her neck. With a flourish, a metallic clink! could be heard as the chain binding the amulet to Xotomi's neck was undone, releasing the medallion to clunk to the floor. The golden artifact had simply surged away from Xotomi, as though glad to be free. With another smile, Xanthus curled his index finger, causing the medallion to jump into the palm of his hand.

Still smiling a half-smile, Xanthus took a few steps back and placed the metal chain around his own neck, placing the amulet within his armor to rest on his chest. The familiar heartbeat-like pulsing sensation swiftly matched his own pulse in a double beat. "Now now, Apprentice. If you can not handle a mere surge of Dark Side energy, how can you ever expect to master the Art?" Xanthus asked in an amused tone, mirth reaching into his glowing silver eyes. Taking a step backwards, Xanthus shifted his gaze from Xotomi to Renelo, cocking his head slightly to the right in the Korun equivalent to the shrug.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Sisk almost darted forward with his beskad. How dare that monster touch her! But prudence held him back, biding his time. The detonator on his gauntlet now seemed to weight a million times its actual weight. It was just aching to be used, almost as if it was alive. Sisk knew it was a falsehood, one perpetrated by his own desire for vengeance, but it was difficult to ignore. The beskad remained rock steady in his hand, Sisk ensuring that no sign of his anger reach his body language.

The amulet being removed was a complete surprise, and Sisk's eyes narrowed. This had to be a trick. In his mind, he ran through the movements needed to pull the shock sticks from his back and stun Xotomi if things got out of hand. But it would be a last resort. Until then, he just watched, and waited.

 

[Mistress]

Xotomi feels the prick upon her neck as Xanthus releases the Amulet from its cord. The Darkside Energy it needed to generate to match Sisk's intrusion was great. The main thing which changes for Xotomi after Xanthus removed the Amulet is that whatever Sisk has been pushing out to her, reaches her senses without diversion. A look of ultimate shock stole over her face. It is so intense an experience, that it causes her to hunch over where she stands, her mouth to suddenly drop open and her eyes almost to bulge as the blood rushes to her face.

She remembers him, everything, from love...

She raises a finger toward Sisk in warning. "Stop that. You stop that right now," Xotomi gasps, shaking her finger at him. She doesn't want to lose her link to the Force because of him. Erecting her stature, she turns to face him and takes a step towards him. Setting her hands firmly upon his chest, Xotomi physically thrusts him backwards as hard as she can muster; but he is so very muscular, it would be a personal feat indeed could she manage to make him budge. "I say, stop that!" She looks him in the eye.

...and she remembers her lies.

She is truly amazed that he found her. "You really are a prize to be had...for someone. But I'm not anyone whom you'd be proud to keep," she whispers to him, her face greatly pained with deep regret to need to say it, and moreso of how true she feels it to be.

Finally her brow droops, as her rage is nowhere near being satisfied. And to satisfy it, she certainly does seek! Xotomi turns in a most perturbed manner toward her Master and addresses him in a term she had never before spat, "Xaan-THUS!" She pronounces his name in such a way that would cause any man raised under normal conditions, (which most assuredly he was not) to flash back to his youth and thus falter! Xotomi's reactions are quick as she draws her lightsaber into her right hand. "WHAT..." Her eyes flash with such passion that reflects her very first encounter with him. "DID..." And she ignites her beam. "YOU..." She stretches out the fingers of her left palm as she Force Leaps towards him. "DO..." Her lightsaber raised high over her head, "...TO ME?!" and in a matter of a second Xotomi comes to crash down before him, forcing her blade straight down aiming through his midline as she lands. Surely he might think to step out of the way, lest he desire to be sliced in half. The intention of her action, is simply to gain the truth the Sith's Way.

 

[Xan]

The double pulse continued to beat from the amulet, a tiny heart outside of Xanthus's chest, the sign that the amulet was on his neck and attuned to him once more. The feeling was remarkably comfortable to Xanthus, considering that he could resist the voice that issued from within the golden medallion. The dark whispers, those that he had not heard since he gave the amulet to Xotomi, continued right where they left off, telling him strange things in strange languages. He almost sighed, but at that moment the Inquisitor had other 'things' to handle before he could relax his guard and return to studying the strange device around his neck. Xotomi's reaction had been as expected, considering the fact that with one influence gone, the floodgates were released and the other influence surged into the gap. The expression on Renelo's face was priceless in Xanthus's opinion, but it was Xotomi's reaction that almost made him give a rather ill-timed chuckle. Turning on his heel, Xanthus turned and began to walk away when he heard his name pronounced in a strange way, a way that he had not heard since...

The ignition of a lightsaber makes a rather particular sound, and as Xotomi's winked into life, Xanthus's near-chuckle was replaced by the sigh that he had held back when his amulet began talking to him again. Even before his Force training, Xanthus had been able to tell when he was being looked at. Now he could tell that Xotomi was giving him the death-glare of a lifetime, even without turning around. The soft crunching sound of extra pressure being applied to rubble was the only warning Xanthus received that Xotomi had leaped into the air behind him. Having placed his lightsaber away and not bothered to bring it back into his hand, Xanthus simply stepped to the side at the last moment before his apprentice's lightsaber came down. "You ask a question, then try to kill the man whom you want the answer from? I knew that I should have taught you how to interrogate." Xanthus said with a returning half-smile. Leaping into the air, Xanthus landed on the other side of the pillar that he had been sitting on, placing some distance between himself and Xotomi. He realized that with distance between himself, Xotomi, and Renelo, that there would likely be detonations soon, but he was rather uncaring about that right at the moment. 'Lightsaber trumps bombs.' Xanthus thought to himself as he made a pulling motion with his hand. His helm tore through the air to land on his head and seal itself, completing his armor suit once more. "As to your actual question, I'm sure that Renelo could probably give you the general idea of what happened to you." Xanthus said as he raised his arms and spread his legs apart slightly. He doubted that they would have recognized the stance, but Xanthus had assumed a stance that would classify as the physical manifestation of a Force Form. Merely because he doubted that either could harm him did not mean that he was going to die from his own arrogance. "Now then, I'm going to tell you to be calm Xotomi. Literally dozens have tried to kill me, with several of them being stronger than either of us. Trust me, neither of you will be the cause of my death."

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Sisk moved carefully, his feet keeping him facing Xanthus as he edged to the side. His beskad switched hands, and he reached over his shoulder and drew one of the shock sticks. It looked crude and unfinished, but it could penetrate any armor, and deliver a debilitating shock. After all, it had been designed by rock people to stun rock people. That meant it had to be the most potent shock device ever made. The silvery wire looped its way up the hardened wooden stick, which hummed with an unknown energy. For some odd reason, the shock sticks could even resist the blade of a lightsaber for short periods, and it might come to that. "Overconfidence dar'jetii. Your whole order is based around it. Hate, arrogance, and overconfidence. The three things that are the most easily destroyed."

 

[Mistress]

Xotomi stood and blinked at Xanthus' reply, his usual brush-off. 'God damn his smile.' First she grunted, looking up into the air as she shook her head in aggravation, flinging her arms in the air while she turned on her heels 360 degrees. "Unbelievable!" is the only thought she could put into wording which unconsciously found its way to her lips. She extinguished her lightsaber beam before she finally brought her fists to her forehead and sighed, because she doesn't want her Master dead for criminy sakes! A little reaction would suffice!

"I don't want you dead, Master," she declared rather kindly, but his title a bit laced with sarcasm. "I just want to strangle you!" rendered not so kindly. Then Xotomi tossed her head back and laughed heartily until tears forced from her eyes. It was not a display to reveal that she had lost her marbles, in fact it was just the opposite. She was seeing rather clearly, which might not be a good thing; she has no clue. But she has no inkling of the threshold upon which she stands currently, how her whole world might be presented with the opportunity for change, or forced into it, in a matter of rapidly approaching seconds. And that somewhere buried deep inside, her decision had already been made long go.

She found herself suddenly feeling out for Sisk's presence. The contrast between Xanthus and he was remarkable. Her very first sight of him at the shady little dive on Napdu flashed back to her mind. He felt stronger now, and yet that strength was masking some hidden powerful sense of loss. Up until this point, while she began to remember key events of her past, she hadn't experienced her emotions. But they started surfacing now. A long stagnant desire for a true home, suddenly felt like a need. Xotomi just stood and stared at him.

But she found his shadow also very deep. She noticed the stand-off, and she doesn't quite understand it. 'What the heck is it between the two of them?' Nothing that she knew of. She didn't like the looks of it, where it might be headed.

"Gentlemen? How is this supposed to end?" she asked cautiously. Whatever both of them had in mind, she wasn't liking it one bit.

 

[Xan]

'Hmm...' That was Xanthus's only reply to his Apprentice's question for the longest moment as he considered his various options. In truth, there were several opportunities here, ripe for the manipulative hand that was Xanthus's will to pluck. Then again, it was also true that Xotomi had served for long enough beneath the banner of the dark side in any form, whether in knowledge or in ignorance. 'How intriguing.' Xanthus thought to himself as his considerations showed no signs of ending any time soon. "I suppose...that the answer to your question is entirely dependent upon your perception of me, Xotomi. The man who was once your savior, then your Master, then the man who set you free...again. Were I to be behaving in the traditional manner of the Sith, I would have simply ordered you never to enter into this chamber while I dealt with Renelo." With a flat voice, Xanthus added in Renelo's general direction: "With her will enslaved by the pendant, she would never have come here had I ordered it. This meeting is a reality merely because I willed it, whatever you two might deceive yourselves into thinking." After letting another long moment pass while the Mandalorian and the likely soon to the former Apprentice digested his words, Xanthus reached up slowly to again remove his helm. Tossing it behind him and out of the room to land perfectly upright again, Xanthus turned his lambent silver gaze first to Renelo, then back to Xotomi.

"I'll be blunt with you about some things for once, Apprentice. No clever wordplay, no cryptic secret messages, no hidden subliminal messages. You even get to look directly into my eyes as I speak." Taking a deep breath, Xanthus's expression changed from calm and calculating to an expression that suggested that he was about to do something exceedingly unpleasant. "The reason why I freed you from your darkside bonds is simple: I need help, and unfortunately only you can offer me the sort of aid that I'm thinking will be required. Well, not only you, but you are one of the very few who can help me." Xanthus began before his face adopted a wide smile, one that was almost pleasant, which would have been red flags for most people who knew Xanthus. Again, he decided to allow his apprentice to digest that particular piece of information. In his own memory, Xanthus could recall only few times of requesting aid. Xotomi's expression would likely be priceless!

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Sisk was taken aback, but was very careful in his movements and tone. Giving any indication of how he was feeling would only work to his disadvantage. "You're nothing but a puppet master. Scared to give those you claim as apprentices free will. You sicken me." A quick blink-click closed his visor again, and he was once again surrounded by the swirl of information, and the cool, filtered air of his systems. "Bic ni skana'din.Gar naas a'demagolka." His anger was being stoked even hotter, and it was growing difficult to control. The raw Force energy that he had been pulling in was reaching a near-unbearable level, and he would either have to release it soon, or use it against this hut'uun kyramud. He would prefer the latter. He hadn't pulled in this level of power since he had killed Darth Malice 13 years before, and at that time he had used it to incinerate the body and to tear the soul asunder. It would be no problem doing it again, making it as if Xanthus had never existed, not even allowing his essence to merge with the Force. It was an act that had made him infamous, among both of the religions, but it seemed that every time he fought a blasted Force Sensitive, they had forgotten.

Xanthus' next words made him pause, but only for a moment, his muscles still taut, ready to strike. His lips curled into a sneer, and he felt his hands tighten around his weapons. "Help? You rip her life away, try to control me, and you want help?" He would have laughed if he had been so inclined. "I only thought you were insane before. Now I know you truly are."

 

[Mistress]

'I freed you from your Darkside bonds,' these words Xanthus spoke rang like an alarm inside her head. They represented to her, his spoken testament that he no longer valued her. She didn't want that to be true. Her Master's rejection after all they have done, would hurt her more than anything he could bring himself to render her physically.

Xanthus has smiled at Xotomi many times. But she can finally see him as he is, now through different eyes, regardless of his mask. Something had begun changing inside her. She doesn't necessarily see Sisk's analogy as true, that she was played as a puppet in any way. It is for the differences noted between herself and Xanthus, that she now took precaution.

Her mind flashed to the Jedi children she just lead to him. They would already be beyond an easy redemption, no doubt. But it was she who altered their lives. She recognized her feeling of sudden guilt and fought to suppressed it, along with an onslaught of other regrets that she found flooding into her mind. She knew she didn't need these emotions to manipulate the Force; she remembered having protected Sisk through her love for him, and she would do it again if needed.

Xotomi looked at Sisk at her revelation that she loved him. She realized his value to her, so she took a few steps to stand between Sisk and Xanthus. Both of them challenged one another. She hoped her standing between them was enough to cause them both to reconsider.

Xotomi faced Xanthus. "Master," she spoke softly. Her one last attempt to prove her genuine endearment to Xanthus. "What is this you are talking about? What is it you require of me?"

 

[Xan]

For once, the smile that Xanthus gave Xotomi was genuine, not one of his half-smiles or a mocking grin. He was pleased that she decided to hear him out rather than immediately strike out against him, or simply brush him off as he had been half-expecting. "Before I get to that, dear Xotomi, allow me to set your lover on the right course." Xanthus said, calmly looking past his Apprentice and into the place where Renelo's eyes would have been if they had been visible behind his visor.

"One: I did not 'rip her life away.' I restored it by killing the man who enslaved her and volunteering myself to make her strong enough to never be enslaved in that manner again. Two: Never once have I attempted to control you in any way. Three: Yes, I desire help. A Sith Inquisitor commonly thought of as an elite of the Sith is asking for help." Three fingers stood raised, each one ticking off Xanthus's response to Renelo's accusations. A fourth and fifth digit would soon join them. "Four: Yes, I am a puppet-master, and no, I do not apologize for doing what is expected of any person in my position. I'd have thought that my brethren would be able to appreciate a mind that can manipulate and plan ahead on a galactic battlefield. Finally: As you your insanity comment..." Here Xanthus merely shrugged, still smiling gently, though now his attention was turned back to Xotomi. "Apprentice, the 'help' that I require is rather simplistic in nature. You have been my teammate, my target, my opponent, and my Apprentice, but never once have you been my ally or my friend as these things go." Xanthus tilted his head backwards and exhaled a breath before continuing. "My time with the Sith was never meant to be permanent, and I am now preparing for the inevitable day when I will leave the Order. I will need friends and allies, not servants and mind-slaves. It would mean a great deal to me to know that I could count on you, Xotomi. I could even continue your training if you wished, though with more of an emphasis on Grey abilities instead of the darkside...and with less sadism. I would extend that same sentence to the mountain behind you, but on my power as a Inquisitor I doubt that he even believes what I just said is the truth."

Xanthus said with his smile turning into a wry grin. He suddenly seemed to be slightly tired. "You know, the irony with telling untruths and weaving webs of lies on a daily basis...is that when it comes time to tell the truth, no one actually believes that you are being honest. It's kind of depressing." Passing a hand in front of his eyes, Xanthus returned his typical half-smile onto its rightful place, and his eyes restored their typical half-mocking glance, though it could be seen as slightly less enthusiastic than usual. Turning about on his heel, Xanthus brought his helm to one hand and with the other gripped a cylinder upon his belt. Holding his helm in the crook of an arm, Xanthus began to walk towards the entrance to the chamber. "By all means, I don't expect your answer today, not with everything that has happened here. Clear your mind and celebrate the freedom to do as you please. We'll meet again, and you can give me your answer then. Until then, a gift for you, in remembrance of our first adventure together and the hope of future encounters. Look upon it and think pleasant thoughts about Xanthus." Xanthus tossed the cylindrical object, which would land on the pillar upon which he had been sitting. Without another word, he would then disappear out of sight, sound, and Force sense, becoming a void in the Force and leaving Xotomi and Renelo. Doubtless the former had much to think about, with her new life and her Master's offer in the air. If she looked upon the cylindrical object on the pillar, she would doubtless recognize the object as the lightsaber that had belonged to the Collector, the enemy that she and Xanthus had slain to begin her first liberation. Who said that Xanthus lacked a sense of romanticism and irony?

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

And just like that, he was gone. Sisk ran through the full array of vision modes, but the Sith had left, disappearing into the hallway, leaving a lightsaber sitting on the chunk of pillar. Sisk shook his head slowly."Dini'la demagolka." The Sith was obviously insane, although in denial to himself. If Sisk had lost his mind, he was sure that he would have told himself that he was perfectly okay, too. Dark side energies, when gathered in to great a concentration, rotted away at the psyche. It had been proven a thousand times, but for some reason, the petty fools who made up the dark side religion never seemed to learn. He shook away the thoughts, and kept an eye on his HUD, alert for anything that would warn him if the dark side user came back.

With a slow hand, he sheathed his stun stick, and carefully disabled the detonator, turning the lumps of plastique on the floor harmless. He turned to Xotomi, and took a deep breath. "Are you ok, Xot'ika?"

 

[Mistress]

A veil lifted from Xotomi's mind as Xanthus spoke. She hadn't noticed it before, but she knew he was right! She has matured since he took her under his tutelage. She is no longer shy and fearful of life's challenges. She may have acted as such at times, cursed and complained with intent to get out of Xanthus' Missions, just not out of any fear but rather simple laziness! There was always something better she could have been doing than tearing apart dragons and such brutal manly nonsense. Xotomi is not a hunting and sports fan in the least. Every time he made her do anything, it caused her to break a nail! But Xanthus taught her to buck up and deal with it! Her exception to this is definitely, -and hopefully limited to,- the discorporated soul of her Late Master.

But Xanthus spoke while the amulet was on his person. As she felt him honest, she wondered if it was truly a powerful magic, or merely dependent upon the ideas of the wearer, to be used in conjunction with the Compulsion such as the one he had cast over her. Xotomi wondered about Xanthus' determination in regards to the future possibilities he just shared with her. Would their paths really cross once again? And how would he be at the time? Would he allow himself to become further consumed by the Darkside? She wanted to assure he too would break free if he willed it. She would meet him if he called for her; she knew it even at that moment.

He was correct too that she did feel very overwhelmed by the day's events. There is alot to sift through, alot to face. Her entire being, as well as her path is now drastically altered just from this morning. Xotomi is experiencing emotions she hadn't let herself feel since she first made Sisk's acquaintance. She would need to allow herself to become accustomed to them. Clearly, it is time for a drink.

Then Xanthus disappeared and Xotomi took one step toward where he had been standing, "Xanthus?" she called out to him with a hint of desperation in her voice. "May the Force serve you well," she announced without hesitation, hoping to reach his ear.

The Mandalorian had said something, but she didn't know what it meant. She hadn't even been trying to sense him until now, his presence was powerful enough on its own.

That coveted Lightsaber in particular, left behind by Xanthus, is truly a prize to be granted. She reached out for it with the Force and drew it into her grip. For a brief moment she looked down at it. It was exceptional, that it is far more advanced in technology and design than her original. In making her move to clip it to her utility belt, the Hologram she had momentarily placed into her chest pocket, ignited to life, lighting up the darkness around her. She withdrew the image now in motion before her eyes. Xotomi was instantly stunned by the intensity of the reflection of her and Sisk's expression, that it caused her to inhale abruptly. So much more emotion consumed her, that her legs fell suddenly weak. She felt truly caught in one Spell that she could identify, -a Spell which she needed to have pointed out to her at first. Even without seeing his face to assure the identity of the Mandalorian standing before her, she could remember how it felt to be near him.

He asked if she was alright. "No," Xotomi is not alright. She is something, but it certainly is NOT alright! It is so dark, and she wanted just to see his face and prove to herself that it is really him! Xotomi turned to face Sisk as tears started to form in her eyes. "I am feeling particularly found at the moment," she expressed, just as she had announced to him on the day they met.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Despite her words, Sisk could sense something... Wrong about her. The Sith that had just left the room caused a feeling of longing to spark within her. Sisk couls feel it, and it unsettled him. He released the gathered force Energy that he had contained within himself slowly, and turned to the door. All he wanted was to leave this place, and perhaps, some small part of his mind reasoned, leave her feelings for Xanthus behind as well. But another part of him, the logical part, knew that would not be so. She would never be the girl that he had set out to rescue, not as long as she held her former master close to her heart. "Although you are found, it is time to leave this place. I have a gunship in Hangar Bay A-2. It's waiting for us."

 

[Mistress]

She wasn't prepared for the sudden sense of aloneness she experienced when he released the Force he had been wielding all along. She had been anticipating finally acquiring a place to call a home, a family. And there is her sister's presence which elates her. After all this, Lutomi lives! What she got now caused a flashback to yet another memory of him. Xotomi walked in silence beside him through the twisting corridors of the dilapidated Temple. She recalled the sensation he incited within her when he distrusted her. Something felt crushed.

Xotomi didn't want to start off the way he made her feel just now as she read him. She stepped in front of him and faced him. She reached up and abruptly tapped upon his helm. "Remove that." She didn't want to advance another step until he did as she requested.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Her finger on his helm made a small thumping sound, and Sisk shook his head. "Active war zone. That means full beskar'gam and kit. Buy'ce stays on until we're on board the Tor." He put his right hand on her shoulder, the servos inside the crushgaunt whirring softly. The crushgaunts were powerful enough to crush beskar, but in Sisk's skilled hands, he could be delicate enough to lift a crystal stem glass without even cracking it. His hand was delicate as he touched her, and the tone in his voice was sincere.

"I'm sorry, Xot'ika. But if some bloodthirsty Jedi or Sith tries to stop us, I don't want to take the risk. Everyone is unlucky sometimes." He checked his HUD, and noted the distance to the gunship. For some reason, the trip down to the catacombs had seemed short, while moving back along the exact same path felt like an eternity. The mission timer in the upper left was clicking upwards steadily. A small red triangle appeared in his 360° view, and Sisk leapt into action.

A quick downwards, forceful push was meant to move Xotomi out of the way, while his left hand darted to his thigh, the ripper holstered there coming up in a quick draw that would put most gunfighters to shame, and when Sisk called on the Force to speed his movements, as he was doing now, he was nothing but a blur. he squeezed the trigger once, twice, three times, and the Jedi that had rounded the corner, lightsaber drawn, met his end quickly at the triple burst. Sisk spun the ripper backwards and slid it home, then turned to face Xotomi again. "I'm sorry, Xot'ika, but we have to go." He reached for her hand with his left, and if she took it, would resume their trek towards the hangar, scooping up the deactivated lightsaber that had clattered to the ground, just another trophy in this whole clustered affair.

 

[Mistress]

Xotomi felt stranger than she can recall ever having felt before. The whole foundation of her way of life is challenged. She couldn't find words to define how she was effected by the past half hour. She couldn't even make an attempt. Confused as hell would about do, but it isn't specific enough. Terrified, intensely as a matter of fact, however not about him, but of the change he represents. The path he leads is to a drastic change in store. And now come the first steps. She has no idea how to react to any of it. The desire to run back in the other direction is strong. And yet, equally strong is the curiosity to go with him. Something inside her doubts this is really happening. She felt she will soon awaken, and like always be back in her bunker. The only difference between this and her usual dream, is that her sister is crying out in strife inside her head all along. Xotomi had cut her sister off a long time ago, mostly in hopes that her doing so would convince Lutomi to return. Then one day, she found Lutomi had changed so much that she could not locate her. She is quite worried about her now.

But everything just seems surreal to her at the moment. She hoped he would show her his face. She thought if she could just have that visualization, she would have the proof she needs to believe in what is actually happening. She wanted a good slap! Then suddenly the man she faced, who rejected her desire due to the stated reason he felt more important than her need, unexpectedly thrust her aside and she found herself cast upon the stone floor with a thud. He definitely caught her off guard just then. Without warning he pulled his firearm and discharged three deafening rounds across the room towards the doorway. Well that sort of overprotective display seemed exactly like she remembered about her Sisk.

When he followed up with extending his hand to her, Xotomi grasped hold and allowed him to hoist her to her feet. But in his hasty action, she gathered that he didn't feel her adept in protecting herself. That definitely could not continue.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

He held onto her hand as they moved, not even breaking stride as he passed the new corpse, scooping up the blade as he moved. It joined the 27 blades stored in his pack, just trophies of the day. Jedi and Sith blades were jumbled together, and they would make fine decorations along his personal training room wall. The temple was chaos, both sides vying for control, and in the middle, the Mandalorians, the calm in the center of the storm. Chaos was where they thrived, where they lived, where they were most at home. Any Mandalorian worth his kit was able to keep his cool while everything fell apart around him. Sisk felt a glimmer, and spun slightly, placing his armored bulk in between Xotomi and the twinge.

An explosion went off, one of the charges placed by the darksiders, and sent stone fragments whizzing through the hallway. It pinged and ricocheted off his armor, and Sisk grimaced as one of the sharper fragments found a gap in his joint, ripping through his armored bodysuit and digging into his flesh. He felt blood began to seep from the wound, but pushed the pain to the back of his mind, needing to keep his full wits and abilities about him. 5 minutes of bacta therapy would fix it when he got off planet.

"Kriffin Sith, always trying to cause all the damage they can." Sisk turned again, and tugged gently on her hand, drawing his ripper with his opposite hand. "Keep your eyes open. Tell me if you feel anything."

 

[Mistress]

Xotomi felt Sisk tense, and as he quickly turned, she instinctively drew and ignited her lightsaber. The blast was instantaneous, she didn't have time to react otherwise. He stood so close and still clutched hold of her hand. It had only been a few seconds since the last time he saved her life while risking his own. It was an act against everything she understood about human nature, maybe a cultural difference; she isn't certain. And yet, she recalled the last time anyone ever perplexed her this much, and his name just happened to be Sisk Renelo.

And the next thing out of his mouth was a curse against the Sith. Xotomi frowned. She was born, lived, and was educated among the Sith he cursed. She hated it as much as when he had repeatedly cursed Xanthus. And Xanthus did nothing against Sisk! Did he see this at all? His slip of the tongue, -or it could be justified to assume, his trained tongue,- was a slap against herself!

He bid her to relay if she feels anything. She wondered what the heck kind of request is this? She certainly is feeling something! It is too much of a whole lot of mixed emotion! But she knew he wasn't talking about what is overwhelming her at the moment. 'It's nothing! Really nothing!' She felt her mental stability slipping. Xotomi drew in all of her signature Force and crammed it inward, and disappeared, just like wanted to. She could ignore it all. Maybe she'll face it all some day, when she suddenly snaps! 'Nah! This stuff is normal for a Sith!'

Her anger did enlighten her senses. There is alot of life here, alongside, alot of life that is dwindling. Xotomi had been conditioned to see death, but never witnessed it on this magnitude. The lamentations of the dying grew so profound that she became again quickly overwhelmed by this new found experience. The depth of the sensation the soldiers were pushing outward almost broke her. She had to stop reaching out altogether. She felt utterly worthless. She could hardly articulate, "I can't." Didn't he feel it?

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

"You can't?" Sisk was perplexed, but kept moving, his eyes constantly checking his helmet for movement. He was surrounded by the dead and the dying, screams coming from those on both sides. He ignored them all, moving steadily towards his goal. The turbolift was in sight, and he quickened his pace.

"I guess it doesn't matter, we're almost there." As he stepped into the lift, he drew his ripper again, and released Xotomi's hand, using his now free hand to draw his beskad from its sheath. "I don't know whats up here, so keep your senses open and your weapon ready."

 

[Mistress]

She decided she preferred life when she could identify what she is feeling! Perhaps he didn't have time to understand her! But how could he, when she didn't understand this state she is in, herself? In the lift she asked him, "Why would you risk your life to come and find me, when you seem to detest the Sith so much?" It wasn't the place for conversation, but they had a few seconds to kill, so she suspected.

She looked at him, and she focused on him. She found him as the eye of the storm. He felt calming to her, while everything around them suffered utter chaos. There was a great tremor in the Force, and Xotomi paled considerably.

An ear perching screech thundered overhead throughout the shaft of the lift. The lift came to a halt, the floor jolting beneath her feet. "Here's that something you've been waiting for," Xotomi announced while looking straight upward.

Just a second had passed before a light was cast but briefly through an open gate overhead. A live grenade tumbled down to them. A blaster was heard and the caster followed after, free falling down the shaft, shot point blank in the chest. He was Sith.

Xotomi immediately reached upward and forced the body to drop down against the wall. She grabbed for Sisk's arm and taking hold of him, Jumped propelling them both upward towards the open gate.

The grenade exploded the lift, breaking it apart and sending fragments of the lift frame falling down bellow them.