[Jedi Mission] Birthplace of a Shadow Harlequin.

[Denzein]

"A number of shrines and temples on Alderaan have been ransacked in the past few months, with a number of deaths taking place on each instance. A religious cult based on the same planet has claimed responsibility though investigations point towards probable involvement of Force users. Lightsaber marks and eye witness descriptions of feats accomplished by them which would only be possible for a Force user, all point towards the involvement of a dark sider. Due to the threat such a person or persons, the jedi order has been asked for assistance."​

The news report flashed across the screen that Eleanor was watching with only half her attention. The rest was focussed on bringing the Jedi carrier ship into land on Wekkai Spaceport. It was a small place, barely used in comparison to the major spaceports of Alderaan and that suited their purpose perfectly.

This was her chance to prove herself. Aden had brought her here to help get to the bottom of the "Templegoer massacres". The rumours of dark-sider involvement had been easily enough for the Jedi to send agents, and so the pair of them had been dispatches post haste.

As far as she could tell she had piloted the craft as well as Aden had taught her, but that wasn't even a challenge compared to the task before them now. Not only did they have to find and eliminate someone who could quite possibly be many times more powerful that the pair of the combined, they had to do it in such a way that would stop the murders continuing. The size of the mission pleased her: It presented plenty of opportunity for promotion.

They touched down with a gas-cushioned thud. She swivelled in her chair to look at her blind teacher expectantly.

"Are we going, Aden?"

 

[Wit]

Aden Vaal, seated in the co-pilot's chair, prepared himself for what was to come. He had let Eleanor pilot their craft on this journey and she had made the journey to Alderaan without any hiccups. But he knew, as he was sure she did as well, the task they were about to take on was much more difficult. But at the same time he was also confident of her abilities and was sure that she was ready for such a challenge.

As they touched down, Aden felt Eleanor turn towards him a fraction of a second before she spoke. "Yes, we are going. But remember Eleanor, we must take every precaution possible as we really have no idea of what we are going to be up against. We might very well be blindly walking into a rancor's den. So keep your eyes and ears open and stay on the alert at all times. Come, let us go and find the person in charge here and get a clearer understanding of the situation."

As they walked out of the ship, Aden extended himself in the Force, searching for any disturbances in their vicinity. After getting some directions from one of the locals they made their way to the closest temple to have been ransacked. Upon reaching the temple, asked to wait for the temple head priest, Aden once more reached out through the Force, sensing the residual darkness in the Force. As they stood in the main chamber of the temple Aden turned to face Leanor once more, "What do think? Feel anything?"

 

[Raider]

*He sat in the center of a small camp. Some of his servants prostrate before him. Others attending to tasks he had assigned them. He'd been drawn to this planet. The dark side had beckoned him here and lead him to the cult of dark side worshipers. They attempted to kill him initially, but he had twisted their meager weapons as a display of the power at his command and they had fallen in worship of him. Their worship ment nothing to him, but they had proved useful. Assisting in acquiring several artifacts for him that held the secrets to wielding even greater power. He turned one such artifact over in his hands contemplating how to make this one surrender its secrets when one of his servants returned to the camp. It was the one he had assigned to watch the comings and goings at the local starport.*

*The servant kneeled and was signaled with a gesture of the hand to come closer and relay the news he had brought. The servant obeyed and whispered in his ear the information. He regarded the messager for a moment, before dismissing him with another gesture. He breathed in slowly and with that breath came all the power at his command. It twisted and swiraled around him as he reached outward. Searching for the two he had just been warned had arrived.*

*Yes. He could feel them now. Those luminous, transparent beings who's aura shone with like sunlight in the Force. He lips slide into a sly smile, yellow eyes flashing with cruel delight. Jedi. The word echoed outward through the Force and it were as if someone were leaning in from behind and whispering softly into one's ear. He ceased to shield his presense and it was akin to suddenly being dropped into the very depths of an ocean; crushing in it's cold intensity, calm unwavering darkness washing over the area threatening to suffocate those caught in it's path. He remained sitting. They would come to him soon.*

 

[Denzein]

Reaching into the force, Eleanor took a moment to scour the planet for traces of darkness and corruption, things so very different to her own perfect soul...

Many things stood out to her. Adulterers, murderers, sadists, racists, cultists... Alderaan was advertised as a civilised place free from barbarism. What they had replaced it with, Eleanor realised, was depravity. Father was right.

One dark blob of foreboding stood out above the others, however. To the east, where on the horizon lay a small cluster of what looked like buildings. Something burned like a dark phoenix over there, and it hurt to even think of what could be causing it.

"Over there. Darkness."

She set off, knowing Aden would follow. He was like that.

 

[Wit]

As Eleanor began walking in the direction of the dark presence, Aden followed, extending himself in the Force, focusing in on the being whose presence had suddenly appeared in the Force and almost seemed to be pouring darkness into it. The more he focused, the more he sure he became that this was the same being as the one whose presence was still lingering in the Force all over the ruined temple. And even if this was not their query, the strength of this person in the Force and the darkness he seemed to be so seeped in meant that they had to deal with him regardless of his involvement in current events.

After walking for some time they finally approached a clearing containing a camp of sorts. As they reached the outer edges of the camp Aden stepped up in front of Eleanor to take the lead from her, "Stay alert." They could see some people moving about here and there, performing tasks, both mundane and weird. As no one stepped forward to stop them, they walked on unobstructed towards the darkness in front of them. As they finally reached their query, a red skinned and tattooed chagrin male, Aden stepped forward to speak to him, "Greetings, I am Jedi Knight Aden Vaal, and this is padawan Eleanor Lushkya Day. I suppose you already know why we are here?"

 

[Raider]

"Why no master Jedi. I haven't the faintest idea as why you and your apprentice have decided to visit this little camp of mine. Please enlighten me."

*The voice that spoke those words had a slight slyness to it. A playness that did nothing to hid the malice behind every word. The Chagrian rose to his foot as he spoke. Body covered in red and black tattoos, but what drew attention most were his eyes. Those sulfur yellow eyes that burned like a twin pair of suns. His servants had ceased performing their tasks. Watching now their master and the two Jedi who had arrived.*

 

[Denzein]

The tension that now permeated the little camp the cultists occupied was palpable, so real it was a sound, a slight yet incessant drone in the air. It was not lost on the young padawan, who stepped forward now. She didn't want it, but she had a nasty feeling this dark sider would try and kill them. More fool him.

Nothing's daughter would not be stopped by some anarchist punk with a penchant for angry colours.

She decided she had to speak up. The man believed he was toying with the pair of them... She would set him straight. There was nothing that couldn't be resolved here by words and civil behavoir.

At least until they discovered the murderer. He would not be excused.

"You must have heard of the murders, surely? They say they're religious killings... We felt your aura and decided you might know something that could help our investigation. You'll be in tune with the darker side of the world, we could use the information you have."

She was examining him closeley with both vision and mind. She was looking for even a hint of dishonesty, which would tell them so much more than anything the darksider actually said.

She hoped Aden would catch on before he opened his mouth again...

 

[Wit]

Aden was about to reply when Eleanor spoke up, her determined and enthused speech making him smile inwardly. While everyone's attention was undoubtedly drawn to her, he began reaching out in the Force, observing not only the chagrin but also the servants and aides close to him. Though not directly pointing charges at them, Eleanor's question would surely have made the guilty nervous. If these were indeed the culprits then hopefully one would show something in the Force. And if and when they did show any guilt, or deceit then he would be ready to catch it.

 

[Raider]

*He listened to the younger Jedi speak without interruption, but those sulfur eyes moved from her to settle on who he was certain was her master. He could feel the shifting currents of the Force as the elder Jedi expanded his conscientious outward. The Jedi was a fool if he thought his probing could go undetected while standing mere feet away. Though perhaps the elder Jedi simply didn't care. Yes, the self-styled guardians of peace and justice had always been faith-blind crusaders when it came to those who dared to explore the Force beyond the Jedi's "light". As the younger Jedi finished her explanation of their presence he spoke.*

"Yes I have heard the same, but it is incorrect to say they are of a purely religious nature. Several valuable items were taken, which certainly were goal, rather then the actual deaths. Marijan, Jalo, bring them our last guest. I think it will serve as better proof then my words."

*Two of his male servants bowed and walked out of the camp. He did not spare the two a glance as they did so, his attention focused entirely on the Jedi. The rest of his servants still stood and watched silently, but under that silence radicated nothing but distrust and hostility. Feelings that should be expected, for they, like their master. Suspected there was more to the Jedi presence on this world then the young padawan's explanation.*

 

[Denzein]

As the pair of cultists left the camp Eleanor kept her gaze centred on the darkling before her. It wasn't a fixed stare, more of the casual politeness that arises from pleasant conversation. Deceiving appearances were her specialty: If only the Jedi knew...

She waited patiently, digesting his words. She didn't trust them at all, and the presentation of a prisoner was not about to change that. She knew her father's ilk when she saw it. He was Nothing like the scum-bag before her now: if they were more similar she would have thought twice before deciding which side to take here.

Her pure soul was with the Jedi. It radiated brightness, as it always did. Her mind didn't falter. It was receptive, quietly and insidiously taking all in before it.

This man was guilty.

 

[Wit]

Aden heard his reply to Eleanor's question, not believing it one bit. Though the man spoke with confidence and didn't falter at the mention of the deaths, Aden could sense the darkness within him, that alone if nothing else making him reluctant to trust him. The sense of hostility he was getting from the servants only convinced him that one way or another, the two of them had hit upon something that needed their attention. These people had something to hide or some reason for not wanting the Jedi here and Aden thought their involvement in the robberies and deaths was what was making them react to the Jedi in such a manner.

As the two servants were sent to fetch this other guest, Aden spoke once more. "You seem to be well informed about these robberies, the apparent motive, what was taken."