Power Revealed (Private)

[Flame]

It was dark inside the cave. Ken had been working for ages letting the dark side flourish around him. He knew that he had to get his lightsaber perfect otherwise everything could go wrong. His short, spiky, black hair ruffled a little bit in the breeze as he realised that he had the perfect combination. He put the hilt on and joined it together with the top using the force. Then he inserted the red jewel and turned around only to find that someone was standing in the doorway blocking his entrance.

 

[D.C.]

((OOC: I hope you don't mind I specified the planet we're on. If you want me to change it, let me know and I'll edit it ^^ ))
----

It was a dark, beautiful night on Naboo. A gentle wind blew and the starlit sky was cloudless. Everything seemed to be in perfect harmony, the air felt serene. Yes, he felt at peace that night as he was taking a walk across the fields near a small settlement. It was like meditation to him, and he found it was one of the best ways to clear his mind. A nice, quiet walk before going to bed.

Quentell Xall, the Shade Master and council member of the Shade Order, stopped to look up to the crescent moon in the nightsky. The moon was beautiful and Quentell was, as always, amazed that the nights on Naboo were so serene while the rest of the galaxy was at war. It was almost surreal.

He crossed his strong, bare arms. He was wearing a sleeveless white shirt, dark-grey pants and black boots. Both his lightsabers were clipped to his belt and his piercing blue eyes twinkled in the moon light. His long hair, once dirty blonde but it was starting to become grey, danced in the gentle wind. He was enjoying the serenity.

But still, something was wrong. It was a detail that could barely be noticed, but if one would focus enough, they would notice it. It was an unknown, dark presence in the Force. Quentell wouldn't exactly call it a disturbance, because it was not that. Still, it was something he had to investigate.

Quentell turned around and let the Force guide him. He had come to Naboo to find some peace instead of war, but it seemed like trouble was following him wherever he went.

After some time he reached a mountainside and at the foot of the mountain was the entrance to a small cave. Quentell could feel the Force in there and he recognized this as a crystal cave. He clenched his bearded jaw and frowned, he didn't know there were such caves on Naboo, but he wasn't all that surprised. Leaving the sabers clipped to his belt, he walked towards the entrance of the cave. If this Dark Stranger wanted to fight, he would have enough time to grab his lightsabers and fight back, but if the Dark Stranger didn't want to fight he figured it was best to not touch the sabers yet. He did not want to appear as an enemy.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Quentell asked when he stood in the entrance of the cave. He was a silhouette, the Dark Stranger would not be able to recognize his features. Hopefully that would work to Quentell's advantage. Also, if the Dark Stranger tried to see if Quentell was a Dark Sider or a Light Sider, he would find both sides were in perfect harmony. Like strands weaved together. This might confuse the Stranger, unless the Stranger had heard about Grey Jedi.

 

[Flame]

((I love the setting. Naboo really does seem like an oxymoron for my character to be there! Nicely done!!!))

Ken looked at the intruder straight in the eye. Or at least, what he thought was his eye. It was so dark in the cave it was hard to see him or anything that belonged to him. He couldn't even identify whether or not he had lightsabers on him, all he could see was a vague unidentified form. This was certainly not good.

Moreover, Ken could not use the force to reach out to him and identify whether or not he was a jedi or dark jedi. So he had no choice but to answer his question with a question. He saw no convenient reason to lie about his name, after all he was doing nothing illegal just by being here.

"I am Ken Brander and my business is my own. What about you? Who are you, and where do you come from? Perhaps you should tell me especially since you intruded on my business, and my privacy."

 

[D.C.]

((OOC: I'm glad you like it^^))

A question answered with a question. This Dark Stranger apparently did not want anyone to know what he was doing. Quentell thought that to be suspicious. The Shade Master didn't reply immediately, but was silent for a while. He was thinking of what to say.

"I am Quentell Xall," Quentell finally began. "and I came here to investigate what's going on in here. I come from a nearby settlement, and I live there for the time being. Now tell me, Ken Brander, what is it you are doing here? I won't go anywhere until you've told me exactly what's going on."

The Shade Master was determined to find out what the Stranger was doing. This cave was Force Sensitive, and if this Ken Brander was a Dark Jedi, he might be meditating in here to succumb to the Dark Side of the Force. But then Quentell noticed something. The Force was still raw within this man, untamed. Ken Brander didn't seem like a full-fledged Dark Jedi and if that was true, Quentell had nothing to fear from him. But then again, maybe the Dark Jedi was masking his power, hiding it from Quentell's all-seeing eyes.

Still, Quentell was glad he had his lightsabers with him. Even though is power was most likely superior to Ken's.

 

[Flame]

It was at this point that Ken Brander knew that he was trapped. This man had to have been a jedi and that's why he was so inquisitive about what was going on. "Just......CHECKING THINGS OUT!!"

He said as he shot a blast of force energy at the man attempting to knock him away.

 

[D.C.]

Quentell was somewhat startled when Ken suddenly released a blast of Force Energy. Almost on instinct, he immediately reached out his hands and used Force Absorb to absorb the blast. If Quentell had been a split second later, he probably would have been hit. He wondered if the blast would have done any serious damage though.

"I'm not looking for a fight, lad!" Quentell said with a loud voice. "But if you are so foolish to engage me in combat, whether it's through the Force or by physical means, I will break you!"

Quentell clenched his hands to fists and the Force began to swirl around him. His piercing blue eyes began to glow with a faint, blue light and it was as if a wind suddenly began to blow, letting his hair dance in the wind. Sparks of lightning emitted from his fists.

"Are you willing to risk something as valuable as your life while you could just answer my question and avoid violence?"

It might have looked impulsive, but he in fact he was trying to avoid combat by intimidation. If Ken still wanted to fight, Quentell was ready for it, but Quentell hoped the man was aware of the fact he didn't stand a chance.

 

[Flame]

Both Ken and Quentell knew Ken didn't stand a chance in a fight. He had just made his lightsaber, and this Quentell fellow had been living and breathing and fighting with the force for years. All he really wanted with that force push was to knock him down. But he had not succeeded. He figured that this man was probablly a jedi because why else would he call himself "A Master".

But he figured that he could learn something from this man's awesome power. He knew that he had great power, because he could feel it around him. So he merely told him the truth. "I was building a lightsaber." He said while looking at the ground.

 

[D.C.]

((Just for the record: Quentell hasn't told he's a master of anything yet. It's no big deal though, just felt like mentioning this.))
----

Then everything calmed down again and Quentell figured he had prevented a fight, but he was still on guard just in case. So this one had constructed a lightsaber? Quentell was not all that surprised, but it was kind of strange one who apparently hasn't been trained yet was able to build one already. Without the aid of a master. It was interesting.

"A lightsaber?" Quentell asked. He did not sound angry anymore. On the contrary, he even sounded interested and curious. "Do you serve a master, Ken Brander? Or are you independent?"

Quentell was suspicious, Ken could be a Dark Jedi of the Bogan, and if this was true they were - technically - enemies. The Shade Order would side with the Jedi Order against the Bogan. The question was, did Ken Brander know this? Anyhow, Quentell would not attack Ken Brander unless Ken Brander was so foolish to attack again.

 

[Flame]

Ken thought for a moment and once again saw no reason to lie. "I am looking for a master. But at the moment I am independent." He said thoughtfully turning his gaze towards the Shade. He did not tell Quentell about his hatred of the jedi though, and if he asked he wasn't sure what he would say.

Death might be imminent if he told the Shade about his hatred of the jedi. At least talking prevented the shade from destroying him utterly.

 

[D.C.]

"You are?" Quentell asked and he raised an eyebrow - but of course Ken wouldn't be able to see this because of the darkness. Still, it was fair game, Quentell could not see Ken clearly either. He saw the silhouette and he could see some of his features, but it was still too dark to get a good look.

"Independent and able to construct your own saber. Impressive," Quentell continued. "Why don't we exit the cave and talk for a bit, you and I."

Without waiting for a reply, Quentell backed out of the cave. He didn't turn his back on Ken and walked backwards. Then he stopped and crossed his strong arms, waiting for Ken to come out of the cave. The crescent moon and the stars made it possible to see The Shade Master. His two saberhilts, clipped to his belt, could be seen as well. Two impressive hilts, one constructed by Quentell himself and the other one taken from a defeated Dark Jedi and then reconstructed by Quentell.

 

[Flame]

Ken walked out of the cave nervously. Then he saw them by the light of the crescent moon. His two saberhilts! This man was a jedi! No dark jedi would carry 2 lightsabers!! He had been tricked! The shade knew he was a dark jedi and he would kill him now that he was out in the open!

Ken started sweating beads of sweat and prepared to join with the force.

 

[D.C.]

Quentell examined Ken and saw what he really looked like now he was lit by the stars and the moon. He also noticed Ken appeared to be nervous. Maybe Ken was afraid of the mighty Shade Master. He folded his hands behind his back and took a step backwards, to allow Ken some space.

"Easy now," Quentell said in a calm voice. "I am not here to kill you. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already. I only carry my lightsabers with me in case I need them to defend myself. I only wish to talk."

Quentell had hoped the serenity of the clear night would calm Ken, but still Quentell could feel the tension in the air. The Shade Master had to do something about that.

"Forgive me for asking so many questions, but I sense a lot of darkness inside you. I want to warn you, young one, the Dark Side of the Force is not what it seems. It can consume you, utterly destroy you, if you surrender yourself to it completely. I have seen and fought many Dark Jedi and I felt how warped their Force Power was. Although I use the Dark Side of the Force myself, I still warn you. I know how to use it without letting it consume me, but many Dark Jedi do not.

"The Jedi say the Dark Side of the Force is the most terrible thing that's ever existed." Quentell went on. "They have devoted themselves to the Light Side, but because they devote themselves to one side, they miss out the true benefits of the Force. I have found a middle way. Many call me a Grey Jedi instead of a Light Jedi or Dark Jedi. I can teach you that middle way, to prevent you from being consumed and weakened by the Dark Side, for it doesn't make you stronger if you don't know how to control it."

Hopefully Ken would listen. Quentell had come across many young Dark Jedi who just didn't want to listen and were only angered by Quentell. Most of them thought Quentell was another of those Jedi who wanted to redeem them, and that was when they attacked.

Quentell waited for Ken's reaction patiently, but at the same time he was ready to grab his sabers and defend himself.

 

[Flame]

Ken knew this jedi/shade whatever he was could talk all he wanted. In the end he probablly was just trying to recruit him for something or other. He wasn't quite sure exactly what. He didn't know if the man was speaking the truth or not. But he decided to trust him for now.

"What do you mean a middle road?" Ken asked interested. Ken was interested in wiping out the jedi, so after all if he could use both sides for power then imagine how strong he could become. "Be clear with me are you affiliated with the jedi or NOT?!!!" He said raising his voice and starting to become angry. The dark side was swirling around him waiting to be unleashed on this man, but he contained it for now.

"No jedi would use the dark side of the force. So are you an ally of theirs? I am confused, enlighten me please."

 

[D.C.]

"Yes. I am. Does that make a difference?" Quentell said. "But I am not a Jedi and the Jedi would never accept me in their ranks. All I am trying to say is that you don't control your anger, but the anger is controlling you. Otherwise you would not be angry right now. If you want to be strong, you will have to learn how to wield both sides of the Force. Don't you see, Ken Brander? The Dark Side is calling your name, clawing at you and begging you to surrender to it, but that is exactly what makes you weak. I can teach you how to tame the beast and how to gain perfect control over it. I can teach you how to use the Light Side at the same time. I can teach you the true ways of the Force, as it is meant to be."

Quentell illustrated his words by reaching out his right hand and clenching it to a fist. He spoke with a passion, a determination. He believed every word he was speaking and if Ken would have looked into Quentell's eyes, he would have seen the faint hue around them. It was the Force that was swirling around him, awakened by Quentell's passion and maybe even strengthening Quentell's words.

 

[Flame]

"I hate the jedi. Everyone of them, and I want to destroy their order! Why should I care if I destroy myself in the process, they destroyed the only woman that I ever cared for!!! They did it with ease and smiles on their faces too, as they got promoted from padawans to masters!! How can you be allys with these dictators!!"

He said passionately as his anger flared up again at the very thought of what the jedi had done to him. Rationally he knew that he could not kill this man but every fiber of his being wanted to right now for siding with the men who had killed his mother. What they had done was despicable. All his mother had been trying to do was to provide for their bare essence and they had taken even that away. That was why they needed to be wiped out. So that this atrocity didn't happen to anyone else ever again. Ever.

"I will accept your offer as a master sir and I appreciate your offer too, but I will NOT accept the Jedi as an ally." He emphasized. "They are unacceptable to me, and pollute my very being." Ken realized that both men believed absolutely what they were saying and both were very strong willed. But Ken believed that Quentell would understand his hatred of the jedi and why he could not accept them as an ally. Why would they take the only person he had ever cared about?

 

[D.C.]

"You have the right to be angry, but what you say doesn't sound Jedi-like." Quentell said, he sounded somewhat surprised. "If things would have been different, the Jedi and I would not have worked together, though. We would have left each other be, but in these dark times we have no other choice but to join forces."

Quentell could feel Ken Brander's dark aura and he wasn't sure if it would be wise to take Ken as his padawan. If he would bring this one to the Shade Enclave, it was possible he would bring the Shades in grave danger if Ken was to fall to the Dark Side and join the Bogan. No, Quentell could not do that.

"I might be able to give you an informal training and you don't need to accept the Jedi as allies. You could become an independent Knight. However, I can't teach anyone who wants to destroy my allies. I cannot reveal the secrets of the Shaded Path to you if you are going to use that knowledge for the wrong thing. You have to get rid of that grudge you are holding...

"You can also choose to walk down a different path. The path of the Dark Side. The path that will eventually lead to your downfall... The choice is yours, Ken Brander. But if you choose to fully embrace the Dark Side I cannot teach you."

 

[Flame]

"Then I have no use for you if you won't teach me the secrets of your own kind." He said in anger. There was no use to take him on as an apprentice if he wouldn't teach him his own secrets. "Are you going to kill me then?"

 

[D.C.]

Quentell unleashed a very powerful blast of Force power towards Ken Brander. The blast would not cause serious damage, but it would sure knock Ken off his feet. Raising his voice Quentell said in a harsh tone: "Then you have no use for me? I am not just a tool one can use to gain more power! I will never teach anyone as power-hungry such as yourself! I should kill you indeed, but I refuse to make myself look like one of those narrow-minded Bogan! Get out of my sight and if we ever meet again and you have turned into a follower of the Bogan, I will not hesitate to kill you!"

The Shade Master grabbed one of his lightsabers from his belt and a moment later the silver blade ignited. He pointed the blade towards Ken Brander as if he was threatening the young man. To Ken Brander it would seem as if Quentell suddenly was extremely angry, but in fact he called upon his anger and could easily let it subside - he was in perfect control of the emotion. If Ken would try anything foolish, Quentell would use that anger to empower himself and finish the young man off - but only if Ken attacked first.

 

[Flame]

Ken was not quite suspecting the shot of pure force energy that was coming. It knocked him off his feet and he fell flat on his butt. Ken laughed at the man mercilessly.

"You old fool. You use the dark side but you don't embrace it fully. How can you ever say you are different from the old Jedi? Have you learned nothing from history? Sitting on the fence will only get spikes in your anus. You have to serve one side or the other." As the man was distracted by his talking Ken brander sent a showering of dark side energy on the man. He was attempting to knock him down.

 

[D.C.]

But Quentell was not distracted. He was an experienced duelist and he sensed as well as saw with his own eyes how Ken Brander prepared for the Dark Side energy. The Shade Master deactivated his silver lightsaber and crossed his arms in front of himself, his hands clenched to fists. The Dark Side energy never hit him and it seemed like it went around him. Quentell had shielded itself from the energy with the Force. Immediately after that he ignited his silver saber which was soon joined by its blue brother.

"I only spoke of Light and Dark so you would be able to understand what I was saying!" He growled back to Ken. "But in fact there are no sides, it's an illusion created by you pathetic Jedi and Dark Jedi. There is only the Force and only those strong enough are able to protect themselves from it. To gain control so it won't take over your senses and your mind! You are a fool to give in to this so-called 'dark side', Ken Brander. This is your last chance, get out of my sight and live!"

If Ken Brander would continue to act hostile Quentell would see no other option than to kill this one. He wanted to avoid it, but if it came to it he would not hold back. He would unleash all of his power upon this fool until he was completely destroyed. Erased from the galaxy. Quentell had given Ken Brander his last chance and the man would be wise to take that chance to flee.

((OOC: If you want a fight, you got one, but if you don't want to fight you'd better flee while you still can XD ))