How Darksiders Make Enemies

[Serie Fond]

Serie was back again, another temple, another day just like any other really. She had her usual gear on her, although minus the climbing gear she had had on the last mission here. Thankfully this temple was one that just had a long as hell stairway going up to it. She wasn't winded by the time she got to the top, but she was sweating through her shirt and pants pretty good. She let out a 'whew and continued inside the temple.

She was of course here for the same reason as she usually was in temples. More ancient Jedi texts and tomes. If she got lucky though there was always the chance that she would find something even better than that. As she removed her hood from her head and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear she went further into the temple, as she did though, she felt the presence of something familiar. Although she couldn't identify it just quite yet, she knew it was something she had encountered before at the very least. How very curious. She mused to herself as she stretched her back and continued into the barely lite temple.

@Nastalle
@One For Sorrow

 

[Tynian]

It had been about a year since "the incident" with the Sith.
The whole thing still gnawed at Tynian's mind... the defeat at the hands of the exile, the humiliation of knowing he failed, and the frustration of feeling worthless. He was supposed to be a Jedi. One that would be able to protect the weak against such evil... but he failed, miserably.
It took a while to heal both physically and more importantly mentally from the encounter, and in facing the truth that he wasn't as good as he thought he was, Tynian threw himself into his training. He was determined never to let something like that happen again. He began exercising to hone his body, he studied at the Jedi library for ways to control the force better and more efficiently, as well as search out those who could help him learn all there was to know about lightsaber combat, no matter the style.
He knew he had a long way to go, but he had already improved since that day... yet something still nagged at the back of his mind.
He had to prove to himself that he was improving, and not just against training droids.
So he decided to test himself...

He left a note in his master's room, on his desk where he would easily find it.
It read:
Master Zane,
I feel like I need to work out a few things on my own. I will return in a few days.
May the force be with you.
Tynian

The shuttle Tynian used entered the atmosphere of Ossus and landed at the site of another ruined Jedi temple... He walked down the ramp and toward the ruins with a bit of determination in his step.
The force had drawn him to Ossus, the very place where the fight weeks before had happened... this was where he failed.
He briefly struggled with that in his mind, but then remembered that he had been taught by his master to face his fears and he surmised that the force brought him here to do just that. Trust in the force, it will guide you... he thought.
He knew he wasn't there to find anything hidden object in the temple itself, but more to find his own purpose and healing. He took comfort in that thought as he made his way to the temple.

As he walked through the rubble and toward the broken entrance of the temple, he could feel another presence in the area... It was dark, but not pinpointed. He brought the force around him as a protection and continued into the temple...

 

[Serie Fond]

As Serie stood in one of the small rooms she was fairly confident she could feel the presence getting closer. And what's more it was becoming more familiar to her as it approached. She chuckled a bit under her breath as the force signiture got closer. She was pretty sure she knew who it was and she was more than ready to take care of this problem once and for all.

She pulled her lightsaber off her belt and twirled it between her fingers as she stood in the center of the large room. There were statues along the walls along with broken pieces of wood and stone, some old metal chains hanging from the ceiling. She took in her surroundings and immersed herself in the dark side, letting it flow through her body, giving her focus, making her even stronger. She figured it would be like lighting a beacon for the boy to find. She pushed her cloak from off her shoulders and prepared for the Jedi to finally find her. Once he finally did she would take her cloak off and ignite her lightsaber, waiting to see what he would have to say about their last encounter. She figured she would have to do her best to antagonize him over the fact she had so thoroughly defeated and humiliated him. She smiled thinly and awaited what was going to happen next.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian stopped. The dark presence that he sensed earlier was making themselves known to him.. He stretched out with the force and his eyes went wide as he realized just who it was.
Oh great...he thought. Is this some sort of sick joke?
At this point he knew he was still not ready to take on a Sith, let alone the one who had defeated him only weeks earlier. But to turn tail and leave would make him even weaker, and it wouldn't accomplish what he set out to do. I suppose facing this fear is a must. he resolved in his mind.
He pulled the force around him even more so, making his senses heightened and more alert, as well as physically faster and stronger... His body was different as well, more honed and less... flabby than before.

As he walked toward the inevitable, he battled in his mind the doubt and fear. Despite who it was, this would be the hardest part of the fight. Knowing her arrogance, she would surely try to "get under his skin" by talking about the last time they met... He would have to fight to remain calm no matter what she was planning to come at him with.

As she came into view he gave a subtle smile and bowed his head slightly. Still keeping his distance and the force around him, he decided not to go for his weapon just yet. "Hello again m'lady. Seems we just can't stay out of each other's way." He kept his hands in front of him in a non-aggressive sign. "What are you looking for this time if I may ask?"

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie listened as the Jedi talked, although she was somewhat intrigued by what he had to say. She was also wondering why he hadn't immediately gone for his lightsaber. Then she remebered. Oh yea, he's a Jedi. Peacekeepers and all that. Well I'll just have to antagonize him. I absolutely love watching Jedi fall into darkness. She mused to herself as he kept his distance, still not going for his lightsaber but gathering the force around him. Surely he can't think he's ready to face me after what happened last time. He's not as smart as he looks. She continued in her own head.

Indeed. And I'm just here for some ancient Jedi texts, if there's any left anyway. She said, slowly advancing towards him. How did that taste by the way? Oh and how about waking up with more dirt in your mouth? I mean, that has to be pretty hard to 'swallow' given that self righteous indignation all you Jedi seem to have. She said giggling, knowing she was pushing just the right buttons to get this teenage boy to lose his cool. Once she had finished speaking she would stop advancing and take her usual form III position and got ready for the Jedis angry assault.

 

[Tynian]

"Oh that," Tynian smiled, not allowing her taunts to affect him. "I'm sure you've eaten dirt before. You know how it is, once you've had it, it all tastes the same." He stayed put as he still gathered the force around him. "I grew up surrounded by dirt. It's no biggie."

The memory of the "boot incident" returned to his mind along with anger toward the Sith… Tynian fought against it in the depths of his very being, knowing full well this is what the force brought him to face. The struggle within was immense, but he showed non of it on his face... he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing about it at all.

He noticed she took up her usual defensive position, but he still made no move to attack. "In all honesty, I didn't expect you to be here. I don't really want to fight you." His muscles tensed slightly in expectation of what she would do...

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie tilted her head to side slightly, examing what he had said. Maybe he is just trying to play it off or something. She thought to herself as she considered what to do next. She wondered if maybe she had hit him in the head so hard he couldn't really remember looking into her eyes while she tortured him. Then she got a deliciously malicious idea.

She started to subtly wave her fingers, fluidly moving them like she was a puppeteer. She sent the force into his mind and started tearing it open, removing mental barriers as she went. Until finally she found the moment in time she was looking for. Amplyfing it with her force fear ability she would make him hallucinate like he was back in the temple they had first met in. Only this time he would be experiencing it almost for the first time due to her illusions. While she couldn't control every aspect of the illusions she was casting, she could base them off of a certain moment in time. He would be forced to relive what had happened but one thousand times worse somehow thanks to her illusions. She was actually fairly curious what it was that he would see and decided after she used the power she would have to watch intently to see how he responded so she could best guess what was going on in his mind.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian was expecting an attack, but not on the scale of what hit him. Wave after wave of darkness hit his mind, ripping through memories and tearing through his mind and until it reached the point of his defeat.
The Ysanna fell to one knee as the assault crashed into him... Then the heaviness of the dark side pushed its full force upon him until he could offer no resistance.

The memory of that day began to replay in front of him as if he was there in reality. The emotions, the fury, the fight, and the humiliation grew until he felt like he was going to be overwhelmed by it all... Again and again the taste of dirt filled his mouth, making him gag over and over. The feeling of blood trickling down from his nose and the pain in the back of his head throbbed as if he had been struck by a large hammer over and over again...
Fear gripped his soul as he relived the utter hopelessness of failure as tears began forming and running down his cheeks.

Tynian screamed against the onslaught of darkness, grabbing the sides of his head and writhing in pain. "Why are you doing this to me!" All while clutching at his arm as the "s" burned anew into his skin.
Collapsing onto the ground he felt his life ebbing away from him...
​

But just when he felt like he would surely perish, a slight flicker of light caught his attention. In the midst of the pain and agony, a sliver of hope made its way into his mind. Trust in the force a voice whispered through the darkness. At first it was barely audible, being drowned in darkness and turmoil. But then the voice began to grow louder each time...Trust in the force it repeated.

"But I'll fail!" he screamed..So what. Face your fear...the voice echoed again, and trust in the force. "I'm not strong enough!" he screamed... You don't have to be. the reply came... Trust in the force.
The light inside grew closer and more intense against the darkness that clouded his mind... Trust in the force...face your fear... trust in the force.
The living and breathing force held fast to him like an anchor in the midst of a storm. He began slowly focusing on the light side of the force as he watched the scene over and over again...A strange calm washed over him as the scene became nothing more than a distant memory, powerless and insignificant.
As he watched, a revelation so to speak, an epiphany came to him. It soothed him, comforted him, calmed him, and strengthened him, and he slowly began to get up from off the ground.
Around him the force itself began to form a bubble, it started growing and pushing the darkness away from the Ysanna as it continued to whisper to him, giving him something to hold onto.

"It doesn't matter if I fail." he said as the light side of the force grew within him...the realization still working in his thoughts. He let go of his arm.
"I am not defined by my past." he stated as the dark side abated and lessoned its grip, and the light grew even stronger within him. He got to his knees.
"I am with the force, and the force is with me." he stood up and opened his eyes looking directly at the Sith standing in front of him, squaring his shoulders... the darkness was now no more than an annoying fly easily swatted away...

Wiping a tear from his cheek he smiled at her. "I need to give you my thanks Serie." he said with a calmness he had never experienced before. "You have been my greatest fear for over a year now. I honestly didn't know how to overcome it. I was gripped by the fear you had over me." He clasped his hands together in front of him, "Now, once again, I have had to face that fear. Yet this time I have finally conquered it... with your help. And I thank you."

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie watched intently as the Jedi crashed to the ground clutching his head. Her eyes widened a bit in anticipation as she eagerly awaited to see him fall into a unending spiral of fear and despair until finally driven insane. She probably could have killed him right there, but then she wouldn't have gotten to observe what he was going through, and that would be a waste she thought to herself. She had used the ability to see what would happen when she focused it a little better and now with him fully locked into the memory, he would relive it for what would seem like eternity. A part of her almost felt sorry for him as he started making gagging noises, no doubt licking her boots for what would seem like years. Quite the horrible fate to be sure.

Suddenly the boy seemed to start talking like he was speaking to someone else. Speaking about him failing and not being strong enough. Well that's odd. There wasn't anyone else there in the room. Oh maybe he's seeing his master and is trying to find the courage to resist. She considered all the while still standing there watching the Jedi.

Suddenly he began to resist very strongly. The light side suddenly pushing back against the waves of darkness she was unleashing upon him. She tilted her head again and raised her eyebrows in surprise as he got up.

Finally as he made it to his feet he said "I am with the force, and the force is with me." And she could only stand there wondering how he had managed to accomplish such a feat. If nothing else he was an enigma.

Then something even more surprising happened. He thanked her for allowing him to overcome his fear. Her head dipped back and she looked down her nose at him. She really didn't know what to say at the moment. On the one hand, she really wanted to see this Jedi fall, and on the other, there was a tranquility to him now that made her jealous. Like he was the perfect center of a storm whirling around him. She pondered for a moment how she should react. He still wasn't drawing his weapon, so she decided that she would have to take things into her own hands to truly test his resolve. She caustiously got even closer to him, to point where it would be incredibly dangerous for him to be so close to her without a weapon in his hand if he wanted to stay alive for a moment longer. Obviously given her amazing skills in third form lightsaber combat, she would be able to intercept any strike that came her way while she approached.

You're thanking me? I don't understand. I humiliated you. I hurt you and your master. Hell I just made you relive licking my boots probably a thousand times, how can you stand there and thank me? She asked, truly puzzled as to why the boy would thank her for such an experience.

@Nastalle

 

[Tynian]

In the force there was calm... a sense of serenity... a peace. Tynian was enveloped in it, and now after his trial a part of it. He finally understood what it meant to be a Jedi. It wasn't to be the strongest, or best. It was to work toward a balance in and through all things. To be the example of peace to the galaxy. In that purpose you train, you get better, you become more powerful... for the purpose of peace.

Serie moved closer to him, like a snake coiled to strike. Yet he remained calm. "You have done something that no one, not even my master, nor myself could have done. You have shown me how to face fear. You humiliated me yes, but I was weak. I didn't understand. And because of that I misspoke the last time we met." He smiled again at her. "You showed me that I was the one who was flawed. And the force showed me that it was ok."

He watched her advance, "If you would like to fight, we can. And you will probably win, as before. But there is nothing you can do to me now that will ever defeat me."

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie was more than a little perplexed, although she did basically grasp what he was saying. At the same time though, there was just a part of her that couldn't accept it.

She was now close enough that if she wanted to kill him she could. He was defenseless and unable to respond fast enough if she was to strike out at him. Instead though her hand softly reached out and touched his chest. Right where his heart was. She could feel it quicken just a tick as her hand was placed on his chest. She looked him in the eyes and smiled.

I think you're a good person. We don't have to fight. I think you actually might have...she suddenly trailed off as she sensed something dangerous about to happen. Without even knowing what exaclt was about to happen she grabbed the jedi and threw him back just as a massive clawed hand erupted out of the floor where he had been standing.

Just as she was about to jump back herself another hand emerged from the floor and managed to catch her by the foot, sending her flailing to the ground. Her lightsaber was sent flying from her hand towards the Jedi as she started to try and kick herself away from the massive beast that was currently trying to claw it's way through the floor towards them.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian sensed something was wrong right before he flew backwards from being thrown by Serie... In the air he twisted to land on his feet and at the same time grabbing for his lightsaber and igniting it. He felt that she hadn't thrown him out of malice, but for a very different reason. Annd as he looked back the reason was right there in front of him.
A huge clawed hand had broken through the floor exactly where he was standing. Tynian realized that Serie had actually saved his life. Great. She's not going to let me forget that one he thought.

Another hand shot up from underneath her knocking her back and causing her to loose grip on her lightsaber. He grabbed it and rushed back at the beast trying to climb up to where they were. Placing himself between her and the beast he tossed her weapon back at her and then swiped at the nearest clawed hand...

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie managed to kick herself away a few feet from the huge beast before the Jedi came running back in. Then it dawned on her that she had actually just saved his life. She didn't even know why she had done it but it happened all the same. She ambled back to her feet admist the floor doing it's best to give way underneath both her and the Jedi. Then he tossed her her lightsaber he had picked up already for her. Guess it's favors for favors now. She thought to herself as she activated her lightsaber and saw the Jedi cut part of the creatures hand off. Which of course only enraged it more and with one great spasm the floor gave way and both Sith and Jedi would tumble down into the beasts lair. Serie landed with grace, although she had little time to celebrate as she saw a massive bull rancor had somehow been kept here under the temple for years. She figured that her releasing so much dark energy she must have woken the massive creature up. She silently cursed herself for a moment as she took her stance and began summoning the dark side to her again, ready to strike down the beast at a moments notice.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian landed on his feet then rolled to the side to avoid some falling rocks...
As he looked up a large bull Rancor was charging at them.
How did one of those things get down here? he thought as the beast loomed over him.
Summoning the force he leapt away from a swipe of the beast’s clawed hand that would have cleaved him in two.
“I’ll try to get its attention!” he yelled over the roaring emanating from the beast’s throat...
He picked up a rock and used he force to throw it at the Rancor’s left eye...

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie jumped back along with tynian to avoid the creatures ship with it's giant claws. Then the young Jedi yelled he was going to get it's attention. She tried to open her mouth in time to tell him not to but it was too late as she saw the rock leave his hand and strike the creature in the eye. It roared in pain, lurching forward towards the Jedi.

Serie knew what was about to happen. The gigantic creature would come barreling down on the Jedi and due to its tremendous size would easily crush him if she didn't do something fast. The only problem was she wasn't sure which of her techniques would work fast enough. She didn't think her lightning was to the point she would even shock the stupidly large creature, and cryrokeniesies would take even longer to get going. No choice then. She actually said out loud before stretching both of her hands out and latching the creature with what would feel like thousands of wires constricting it. The beast almost let out a confused grunt as it slowed then stopped moving, unable to move.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian didn’t move. He didn’t run, he just stood and faced the huge Rancor. Then it slowed and stopped moving at him like it was held back by a chain.
That’s when he struck...

He went for the legs first. Not the front of the legs where its leathery skin was the thickest, but the back of the legs where the beast’s hamstrings were located.
With his lightsaber he hacked at the hamstring, cutting through skin and deep into the leg’s muscles...

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie knew she wasn't going to be able to hold the beast for long. It's massive muscles bulged and pulsed trying desperately to free itself from its invisible bonds. Then the Jedi made his move. She sort of wished he had just killed the thing instead of disabling its legs.

After he struck, the beast began anew trying to rip itself from under series control. She realized that she wouldn't be able to hold it any longer, but tynian was still very much still on dangers way.

Deep inside her, something almost awakened. For her entire life she had always looked after herself, not caring who got hurt along the way. Now, for whatever reason, she felt the need to protect the Jedi that she had humiliated not several months ago. Her eyes reflected her new determination as she suddenly clenched her hands tight and the rancor stopped moving again. She breathed hard as such a feat was really eating away her stamina.

Just as tynian was about to make it back from under the beast, she could finally now hopefully get rid of this darn thing. She suddenly lifted both hands high into the air before slamming them to the ground. The rancor mirrored her movememt, first lifting off the ground almost through the ceiling, them straight down through the floor of the temple that it had been held in for so many years. She could it's roars as it fell further into the temple, but at the very least the Jedi could have the satisfaction of her not killing the beast.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian wasn’t worried about himself. For some reason he felt he needed to keep the beast away from the Sith... He wasn’t going to let this monstrosity near her....
Hamstringing it was working, but it still struggled to move against the force bonds that held it at the moment.
It reared up and roared loudly as its second leg was cut through.
Then Serie lifted it up off the ground and slammed it back down again... Which left a perfect way of getting up its back and ending it.

He ran up the Rancor’s spine and shoved his lightsaber into the back of the creature’s neck and directly at its brain stem.

The rancor lurched and a gross gurgling sound came out of its mouth as it’s eyes rolled back and the beast finally died.

After the beast gave its final breath Tynian deactivated his blade and looked over at Serie. “You ok?” the question wasn’t laced with sarcasm or harshness, but with genuine concern.

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie was pretty impressed with the way the Jedi had managed to dispatch of the massive rancor. She nodded approvingly to him as he walked up to her and asked if she was ok.

Oh never better. Massive rancors just burst out of floors all the time when I'm around. She said sarcastically, giving him a teasing gentle punch to the arm as they stood next to each other. In the excitement of what had just happened she had almost forgotten what they had been talking about. She looked at him somewhat in a new light however. She didn't see a pitiful boy that would try and usurp her. She instead now saw a young man who was determined to do the right thing no matter what. She smiled fondly at him and returned her hand to his chest.

I think you might have actually taught me something today, young Jedi. Let's start again. My name is Serie Fond, and it is a pleasure to meet you.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian’s eyes lit up and he smiled. Not a boyish, immature smile, but a friendly one that held respect. “I am Tynian. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Thoughts ran through his head, aren’t we supposed to hate each other, aren’t we supposed to be fighting...then a gentle reminder tough his mind. Peace.
He again understood. It didn’t matter which side of the coin they stood on, there was a strange bond between them, and he hoped inwardly it was the beginning of a friendship.

“So, if I may ask. What did I teach you?”