That one time...

[TweedPawn]

"I'm a nice guy, so I'll count that as one question." Gaunerei replied, pointing to the female.

"Nah, it wasn't here. It was Bastion. A group of smugglers found a way to steal crystals from the Empire. Regrettably, I am currently conscripted to them" Gaunerei replied with disdain in his voice. Ugh screw those guys, seriously. Gaunerei would rather wash a bantha than be forced to work for the sith.

"that is not to say I am loyal to them, just between you and me." Gaunerei winked.

 

[Richie B.]

Jaleer was glad that the ferryman allowed Alisha's questions to count as one but right now thinking on everything that the man told him things were starting to make sense it a way that the sage didn't want it to. Looking in the ceiling the sage could only hope he was wrong but as he continued to think about it to try and reason as too why this was happening, if Ebberla had gone into hiding than why did he start to get the force crystals for the empire when Ebberla was the one that asked him to do that. Though the ferryman wasn't a Sith he was a asset to them which meant that he would need to bring in the man if he wanted to get more information on the enemy.

Thinking on the last question the sage got angry and the young man didn't try to hide it the thought of what the answer could be made the sage pissed, staring into the Ferryman's eyes to try and demand the strange man to tell him the truth. If the sage got a yes from this though it would mean that Jaleer had finally a path but if this was the truth the sage would rather if Ebberla had just went into hiding.

"Is Ebberla with the Sith?" Jaleer asked with a intensity that wasn't like anything the sage had used before, already the force built up within the sage though he wasn't going to hurt the man at least he wouldn't mean too but the fact that Ebberla might be working with the sith or worse a Sith herself made the sage angry as this would be the worst betrayal of his live.

@TweedPawn @Frannykins87

 

[TweedPawn]

Gaunerei raised a finger, as if to interrupt the Jedi.

"First of all, Ebberla isn't with anyone. Unless you count that babe of hers." He replied. He recalled not-so-fondly of how she had somehow rendered him unconscious, and promptly surrendered him to Geist Weiss in exchange to blow some base up. Come to think of it, why didn't she order the destruction of the temples? She would have known where the Jedi would have been trying to hide.

"Is she running their errands? Yes." but really they were in the same boat, weren't they? Two driftless ferrymen of chaos just trying to stay above the current. They were someone both now in the Sith. Funny how much the sith boasted about "freeeeeee-dum" when each member was being jockey'd by the council in the worst horserace ever.

"I can sense your pain, holmes. But here's what you gotta think about, I've seen every fall and redemption out there. These things are cycles. And in Ebberla's defense, you guys were a bag of smelgerrof to her. But you see, not every fall involves the sith, and not every rise involves the Jedi. You gotta look at the big picture. You gotta see the threads and where they are leading to. Man, I forget how easy it is be desperate when your lifespan's the size of a gnat on a flypaper." Gaunerei shrugged.

"So, what are you going to do? Go all Mustafar on us and burn the galaxy alive? Or maybe you take that pain and anger, and use it to help your people survive, in spite of those who want to see it roasted on a pike" Gaunerei knew a great deal about that sort of thing. Memories of his sacrifice formed in his mind's eye.

 

[Alisha Dawnstrider]

Alisha looked over at Jaleer with a very worried look on her face as the ferryman explained. The suggestion that his master may have turned to the Sith side was disturbing enough, but it looked like he wasn't taking it very well. And of course, Alisha understood. That sort of betrayal, if that's really what it was, was never easy to swallow. Alisha did not want to imagine what it would feel if Jaleer would turn too, and was trying hard not to panic, seeing as he was definitely getting agitated and angry. She shook his hand slightly, and reach his arm with her free arm, gently holding it.

"I'm sorry, Jaleer.." Alisha said to him, soft spoken, with a hint of fear as well. "But there might be another explanation for that..at least now we know where to start looking..." She suggested timidly, trying not to arouse his anger further. She turned to the ferryman again

"Thank you for answering the questions..Of course, I won't forget the deal..And wouldn't mind giving you a lift off somewhere, as long as you don't try to take over my ship or anything..."

Alisha hoped he wouldn't, but with trickster in his title, he literally could mean to do anything, although Alisha still doubted he'd mean either of them harm.

 

[Richie B.]

(OOC: Sorry this is going to be a long a complicated post if you need me to explain anything just PM me)

Jaleer couldn't believe it the fact that he was right that his master would do this to the order that though mistreated her many looked up too her and saw her as a friend, leader, mentor and just someone that could bring back hope. But now it seemed his master as forsaken all of that, no matter what the ferryman said the truth was Ebberla lost hope in the light side and now it was clear what the sages new goal was. Though by the ferryman's own words Ebberla wasn't with the Sith the fact that she forced this man to work for the Imperium, and has decided that the people who has killed trilliions of innocent lives was a good enough organization to help expand.

At that moment his other two personalities began to lash out, one full of hot passionate hatred, the other a cold empty feeling of nothingness both feelings one could get from the dark side which was making it hard for Jaleer to think clearly. At that moment the sage knew that if he didn't do something about his disorder the sage would lose himself before he could bring back his master and save her from this foolish mistake the went against everything she once was and stood for.

The sage picked up the ferryman with the force levitating him up though not in a quick manner the sage was acting very strange almost twitching he just wasn't able to full accept the fact that his master had turned to the Sith dragged the strange man with her and was now threating her own family. It just was so much emotions and feelings at one moment and with the extra personalities screaming in his head the sage needed a way to fix himself so that he could confront his old master before she does anything else to threat the hope the Jedi were too the galaxy.

"Listen ferryman, I need only one thing from you my... I am not stable Ebberla was the one that came to me because I asked for help in my mental issues she was the first person other than my mother that I saw which I wanted to be like she was my goal. Now you tell me she has lost her way an fell to the Sith, people that had been killing her family way before we treated her cruelly I wish she hadn't but to work with children killers do you understand how much of a hypocrite that makes her. Please you say that you have lived for so long an your power with the force is great could you help me, please it will give me the strength to chase down my master, I am not going to redeem her I am going to wake her up from this nightmare she created than I am taking her to the Jedi, the family that still loves her." The room would start to feel a mix of cold and hot the dark side was emanating from the sage and it was clear he was not in right of mind at the moment, right now Jaleer's eyes began to change colors like they do when the other personalities try an take control, his right eye turned red full of rage and hatred, his left turned orange calculating and lifeless the sage knew he was acting no better than a Sith but it was the only thing he could think of at his current state.

@TweedPawn @Frannykins87

 

[TweedPawn]

Gaunerei could feel the surge of darkness in the Jedi. He started to move backwards towards the window, his hands up defensively. Now how often had others asked him for his power? Tried to pull it out from here.

"Whoa easy there. Just take a deep breath. You don't want to go down this road, trust me. I get she's hot and everything, but you do not want to try to stick your sausage in that." He felt himself being lifted up. Okay, think. Use the light. His skills with the Light were rusty, but it was better than using the darkside. He sent out a push, hopefully enough to release the grip on him.

"What do you want me to do? What are you trying to gain from me? I got nothing for you." Okay, maybe it was time for an escape. He reached into his pocket. He eyed the girl with the blasters. If Gaunerei blinded her, she wouldn't be able to stun him. She was the more agile threat.

"Don't go darkside, don't fall into that trap. I was cursed for eons because of it."

 

[Alisha Dawnstrider]

Alisha saw the change. Until that point, Jaleer had no mention of his mental issues...She thought she knew him well by now...but now she wasn't so sure...Alisha's eyes widened and stepped back from Jaleer, letting go of his arm and his hand. She saw the eye change color in him, and took another step back. She was not prepared for this...she never expected Jaleer could...have such...hatred...

"J-Jaleer?? What...what is that...please...d-don't......."

She looked back at the ferryman and knew things were getting out of hand. He was clearly eyeing her up, and reached into his pocket. She looked back at Jaleer and saw him shaking, almost struggling to keep control. She was frightened. Less of the ferryman, and more of Jaleer.. She had no idea he had that inside..if he had told her before, she would have tried to help...

"No..look..I have..no intention of doing anything" She directed her to the ferryman, with one hand out as if to try and refrain him from doing anything. She knew her blaster wouldn't really do much, not against a force user, so she didn't even reach for it..but she then gulped and stepped slightly forward again. She didn't want to lose Jaleer, not to the dark side...

"Jaleer, love....please? Calm down...." She says pleading, her tone full of sentiment but also fear. Her eyes were begging as she looked straight into his eyes, that were still changing colour, as if he was struggling within himself.

Slowly she tries to reach for his hand again. She was terrified, but determined to not have Jaleer fall if she could help it, even if it meant putting herself in danger...at this point, the ferryman was almost irrelevant to her. She wasn't naive. She witnessed Sith murder in the street of Tatooine, just for sports, to prove themselves. Not on a regular basis, but enough times to know what kind of monsters they were. The thought that Jaleer could become one of them suddenly was very real.

"Please...." She begged, fighting back tears of fear and concern.

 

[Richie B.]

(OOC: I am so sorry for how long this is an if you have any questions just PM me.)

Jaleer was mad, frustrated, sad, depressed, wrathful, the man was almost unable to think about anything than hatred for his master yet the sage knew he was no match for his old master and if he got the ferryman to help him maybe the sage could bring back his old master. The sage thought of ways he could face his old master and what he would say completely ignoring the strange mans words, in the end Jaleer didn't care what the ferryman said as long as he helped the sage get to his old master. The sage didn't hear what the anyone was saying until the force push came and sent the man stumbling back finally getting a hold of himself the sage 's eyes went back to normal.

Now that Jaleer was in full control again the Jedi looked around seeing the ferryman looking scared and Alisha almost in tears the sage knew what happened his other side showed up something the sage had wished to be fixed so the one he loved wouldn't have seen it. Collapsing the sage's knees landed on the ground his back hunched the sage's eyes began to tear up. Though Jaleer was a knight he was still young, barely even a man and with the news that his master was with the Sith the sage just felt like everything was falling apart and now that Alisha had seen this side of him the sage just felt lost.

The man would not make a sound showing how depressed and lost the boy felt but rather the tear drops would be the only sign of how the sage was handling things. Unable to look Alisha in the eye the sage was afraid of what her eyes would look like if they would be judgmental or show how hurt/scared she was either way it would kill him to see it.

"I-I.. am sorry.. I lost myself.. Alisha I..... I am sorry." Jaleer said only to Alisha at first but than spoke to the ferryman the person who brought this out of him which subconsciously cause the sage to hate the man even if the ferryman wasn't the one at fault.

"Now listen... ferryman I-I need a favor.. I know you have no reason to listen to me or even come with us but I need this.... Could you somehow take me to my master.. I know what she is an how hard it would be. But I just need to see my master one last time maybe I could.." Jaleer wanted to say redeem her but remembering what the ferryman said knew that wasn't the right thing to do, slowly getting up the sage wiped his eyes with his sleeve taking care not to look Alisha in the eye's or fear of crying once more.

"Please I would like to meet Ebberla, think of it like this if you like chaos or would like to see the people that have hurt Ebberla fall or the people that imprison you fall than I could give that too you... just please could you help me see my master one last time?" Jaleer knew that most likely he might die and might never get to see Alisha again but the sage knew that was a risk that he was willing to take, too allow Alisha to be free of a broken dangerous man and in the off chance the sage succeed he could bring back Ebberla to the family that still loves her.

@Frannykins87 @TweedPawn

 

[TweedPawn]

Gaunerei felt exceptionally awkward now, and regretful. He mostly regretted getting into a deal with these two. The girl seemed reasonable enough. She was shockingly more level headed than her little friend there. It was like watching a diva cry. Still, the lad was highly emotional and stuffed full with little hand-wavy powers that could light up a factory.

So it made Gaunerei really tense up with what he was about to say next. He now began to draw the Force into his own being, it was chaotic, but not dark.

"Nope." he said flatly. He made sure to brace himself for whatever happened next.

"Let me tell you something about the sith and how they like Jedi. As soon as you set foot there, they're going to interrogate you, kill you, use your flesh for wallpaper, carve on your bones. And if you are really lucky, they'll do it in that order. I'm not sending a kid to an early grave. Go home. Be grateful for the friends you have at the temple."

He took out a tiny puzzle box, opened it, and began to write on a piece of paper.

"But you can still do something that will be invaluable to Orlaan."

 

[Alisha Dawnstrider]

When Jaleer dropped to the floor, seemingly back to his old self, Alisha rushed to his side, sitting on her knees, and put her hand on his shoulder.

"It's o-ok, love..." She whispered to him. She was scared, but also determined to do everything she could not to lose him.

She could see he was trying very hard not to look at her, which wasn't making her feel any better. She wiped her years from her face as she listened to the ferryman. Fear rose in her again as he refused Jaleer's request, but she completely understood why. She wasn't sure Jaleer would, however, in his present state. She didn't want him to burst out again, so got closer to him and rubbed his shoulder with her hand, hoping her affection would be enough to keep him.. himself.

She listened as the ferryman continued. Even she knew how cruel the Sith were. She nodded slowly at the ferryman, acknowledging what he was saying, then turned to Jaleer with a very concerned look. She talked to him, softly and pleadingly.

"Jaleer...I beg you...Listen to him..I don't want to lose you to the sith..."
That thought made her eyes watery again, but she fought to push back the tears as she looked at Jaleer. She was desperate for eye contact now, as she waited for his reaction...

 

[Richie B.]

Jaleer wasn't surprised that the ferryman was not willing to allow the sage to see his old master it was the sane thing to do and after the young Jedi's outburst it was something that would clearly end him if Jaleer was too see his old master. Hearing Alisha speak broke his heart how hurt and scared she sounded it was just something the sage couldn't handle, soon the tears stopped falling the sage finally got control of his emotions and now he just felt regretful and shameful. But what made Jaleer upset was that when the ferryman decided to say temple, remembering that the Jedi no longer had temples no longer had places of peace besides a hunk of junk is the cold empty vacuum of space where they have been on the run for years.

"Remember 'friend' we Jedi no longer have temples, they were burnt down by the Sith." Jaleer said slowly but once again took control of his emotions finally reaching up to grab onto Alisha's hand it reassured him a lot more than the sage thought it would.

"I-Im sorry A..Alisha I promise you wont lose me." Turning to Alisha the sage stared into her eyes and got close enough that he placed his forehead against hers closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh the sage felt so ashamed to have done this to the girl he loved.

"Alright ferryman what must the grandmaster know?" Jaleer asked wondering what could possible be so important that the ferryman needed Master Orlaan needed to read.

@TweedPawn @Frannykins87

 

[TweedPawn]

Whew what a relief. Gaunerei took a deep sigh of relief. He finished scribing his note.

It was a drawing of a rabbit, with a tag and chain around it's neck. A symbol of the sun surrounded it. under it, was an inscription:

Still seeking paradise.

"Trust me. He'll understand. " He said, tucking the note into the small puzzlebox and closing it. He gave it to the female, maybe it was better that way. They still blocked the exit to the room, and it made Gaun a little nervous.

"He won't be able to find me. But he'll know what to do." he mentally thought to himself: and thanks for not trying to drag me to the jedi

 

[Alisha Dawnstrider]

Alisha felt a huge wave of relief wash over her as she felt Jaleer's front touch hers as he promised her she wouldn't lose him. She moved her hand from his shoulder to his face, gently caressing it to comfort him, smiling softly again. She then stood up and watched as the ferryman finished scribbling his note and handed it to her. She took it from him and showed it to Jaleer. If the ferryman said he'd understand, she wasn't going to ask further. It was none of her business. She did keep a hold on the paper, however, just in case.

"So, that's it, right?" she asked Jaleer, still a little uncertain on his reaction, however now a little calmer, since he also seemed to have calmed down.

She noticed that Gaunerei was glancing at the door nervously. Alisha had no intention of being in his way so walked to Jaleer's other side, and sort of softly shuffling him closer to her, so as not to obstruct the door too much.

 

[Richie B.]

Jaleer wanted in all his heart to drag the ferry man with him but thinking about it the sage realized he would than be like the Sith no better in fact if he stop the man from the Sith though the sage would say he was freeing the man, it didn't seem like the weird man was being held against his will. Seeing how Alisha was so worried the sage just let a sigh go looking at the ferry man he allowed the force to build up within him as he let the image of his master doing cruel things to the galaxy with her new Sith friends but he wouldn't do anything just scary the man into telling Ebberla what he wanted the ferryman to tell her.

"An tell my master the next time you see her, that I will be going after her that her crimes against the family that still loves her will not go unpunished and most importantly tell her..." Jaleer took a deep breath.

"That we are still here for her, an no matter what whenever she wants to come back we will accept her with open arms." Jaleer knew that most likely that wont be the case but in the end the sage just wanted to see his master again the person that helped him, looking to Alisha the sage grabbed her hand and held onto it, looking at Alisha with sad and sorry eyes the sage still spoke to the ferryman.

"So where do you want us to take you?" Jaleer asked remembering the deal they made.

@Frannykins87 @TweedPawn