Light in the Temple (Open)

The temple reminded him so much of those days under the teachings of his uncle. The hard, rough stone along with the dim lighting of the halls and rooms gave the shadows the source cast a eerie quality. A wraith like figure moved down a hallway, pasting candle after candle stand that lined the walls. The cloak hood drawn back revealed a head of black hair and a face mostly hidden by a mask. Mostly only because the section that would hide the right eye was broke and let show a glaring yellow eye.

The fire from the candles lit in that yellow eye, dancing about in an almost merry fashion. A dance only the fire itself knew but Grawn Ianie cared for nothing dealing with the secrets of fire. No, he cared for power and obtaining it.

"Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory", he said aloud because of the fact no one else was in this stretch of hall. Those lines belonged to the Sith Code, a mantra that defined the order it was named after.

(((Ever hit Preview and think you posted so you hit Home to realize you didnt post and all the stuff you typed is gone? Just happened. This is going to be shorter then I wanted but that just totally killed my enthusiam >_<)))

Grawn walked to the courtyard outside of the Sith Temple and sat, reviewing in his mind the things he had studied over the past week. He was working on the ability to use the Force to set himself into a rage that increased his abilities and was close to getting a handle on it. He sat in silence for several minutes when something caught his attention, bringing him out of his thoughts.

He looked across the courtyard to a blonde haired woman that was walking towards the Temple. Grawn's eyebrow raised as he looked her over. If the Sith initiate had been a normal person, he would perhaps have not noticed anything past the "beautiful" surface the woman put up. However, Grawn Ianie was no fool and looked far deeper. Deeper then the surface of the water. Deep enough to see the monsterous fish that laid below.

Was this woman a monsterous fish or as niave as she appeared.

((My next posts will be greater, I just totally killed myself with deleting nearly a few pages of work >_<))

[to be continued]

She could hear something ahead of her, across the courtyard. Someone was speaking, but Alindra knew better than to bother anyone here. In moments, most of the people in the Temple could crush her. It would take time, allies, and a hell of a lot of charm. Lucky for Alindra, she prided herself on charm, or at the very least, good looks.

She watched as someone stepped out of the Temple and sat on the steps. Alindra didn't make a point of watching him, but she remained curious. What was he doing? She could feel a change wrapping around him, though she knew it wasn't meditation. The Sith had many ways about them, most of them pure mysteries. Alindra didn't know how she would be able to pierce the veil of those mysteries. Patience wasn't something she prided herself on in the least.

Alindra decided she was curious. After crossing toward the steps, she smiled and swept her hair back over her left shoulder. "Hello," she said, drizzling honey all over her words. There wasn't much else she felt she could say. Even a simple greeting seemed excessive, even though they were in a public place. What else could she do--aside from being open and cordial?

"Hello"

The word sounded so formal for such a dark place. A simple greeting just didn't feel right unless it was directed to a Master and even then it might have been to much. Grawn lifted his head to see that it had been the girl he saw from earlier. Up close she was as enchanting to look at as she was from afar. But he could tell she was trying to be formal. For what reason, he couldn't fathom.

Didn't she realize where she was? This wasn't the Jedi Temple and if appearance could tell all, she was better off there. Her features suggested she couldn't use the dark side or hold a lightsaber. But looks were deceiving and Grawn hoped for the girl's sake, his assumition was correct.

"Greetings. You require something?"

It was a simple reply. Grawn cared little for carrying out a conversation with this girl but if he had to he would. Drawing back the hood of his cloak, he stared at the girl with his visible eye. It would assume he looked quite odd with a broken mask but he could care less about his appearance. The mask itself was an artifact, letting him see the actual Force auras of beings. At least in his left eye.

Grawn looked at the girl now and couldn't quite decide what she was in the scheme of the Force. She looked physically about his age but her aura suggested she wasn't quite proficient in using the Force itself. It wasn't until he concentrated that he saw the redness and it was clear she was far from as innocent as she appeared. Grawn silently approved of her ability to maintain such an attitude as he awaited her response.

"Greetings. You require something?"

Alindra was amused by the response. It was just as brief as what she'd initially said, so it was no surprise. That's what I get, I suppose.

She moved a little spreading her legs out to better support herself. Her right hand fell to her hip, while her left arm went to her side. It was becoming more and more comfortable wearing black and red. "I saw you and you seemed interesting," Alindra said. "I thought I should come say hi."

The movement all around the Valley was still a lot for Alindra to take in. In time, someone would likely single her out, wanting to make an example of her. If she could create the illusion of safety in numbers, she wouldn't have to worry about as many detractors. To do that, she would have to do more than simply pose.

His left eye looked up at her, studying her. For a moment, Alindra thought she had come to the wrong place, that this was that random person who wanted to make trouble for her before she could deal with it. But it didn't turn out that way, so Alindra stayed calm.

Tilting her head, she asked, "Do you mind if I join you for a moment?"

"As you wish. I assume that you are new here?", he replied. Looking in both the Force and normal spectrum of vision was starting to annoy him. His hand reaching up, he removed the mask from his face and pocketed it in his cloak. Blinking once to clear his vision, he looked out into the Valley of the Dark Lords. He remembered not to long ago that a temple never stood here. Not to far from this very location is where he nearly died at the hands of a Jedi.

He had been then and he was going to make damn sure he would never be again. Grawn looked down at his cybernetic hand with a mix of disgust and reverence. While his entire right arm had been removed, he now wore a reminder of why he fought for what he did. Bringing his cybernetic hand up to his face, its sharp ended fingers as nontarnished as they were the day they were installed, he looked back at the girl.

"Go ahead and sit", he remarked. While he wasn't the social butterfly, Grawn possessed basic manners. If she wished to join him, it would probably be best to sit down to avoid attention. Brushing black hair that had gotten into his eyes away, his yellow orbs looked again across the Valley.

Zarene Yin sighed as she switched off the datapad. While many of the Order were out and about, some training, others sparring or engaging in random tests of strength to determine who was stronger, Zarene had been reading, a military treatise dating back from the days of Canthar, the warlord who had unified the Epicanthix people. For a girl with no social life, that was pretty much all there was to do. Read and train. A bit more reading as of late, with the coming war and all. Individual strength was important, but this was going to be something bigger.

The material was dense stuff, made all the more difficult by the fact that is was written in Epicant. Unlike most Epicanthix, Zarene had not grown up on Panantha. She was not taught the language during her childhood. She had learned it later, and even now still spoke the tongue with a heavy Basic accent. She lifted her hand slightly, and the datapad floated up off the desk to the counter next to the hard cot that was her bed. Some fresh air would be good, or at least what passed for fresh air on Korriban.

She passed many in the hallways, but most gave her plenty of room. Having a massive scar that covered most of your right cheek and a cybernetic metal arm tended to do that. As she started down the steps leading to the courtyard, she noticed a rather odd pair halfway down, one sitting, the other standing. She recognized the sitting one. He had been present when Iniquitous had first gathering the Sith, even more the Temple was built. Ianie,... greeting the newcomers? That's interesting...

"Yes, I just got here," Alindra said as she came closer. She watched the man next to her take off the mask he'd been wearing and obscure it within his cloak. The alterations to his body were brutal, a sign of horror and battle that only a Sith could endure. No Jedi could put up with such a clear sign of merging flesh and machine. He wore his cybernetics, bringing the mechanical digits close to his face for a moment.

He simply said, "Go ahead and sit."

Alindra didn't try to overdo it, gracefully moving to where she could sit down. "Thank you," she said. Extending a hand, she introduced herself. "Alindra Vordrinn."

While her hand rose, Alindra became aware of something else. Nearby, she was being watched, though she wasn't sure by whom. It wasn't an observation with the intent to kill or even wound. Someone was simply keeping eyes on her, possibly just in her direction. But she paid little attention to the sensation. Should the hidden observer wish to speak, he--or she--would only have to speak up.

"Grawn Ianie", was all the Sith gave the girl back in return as a response when she spoke her name. Alindra's hand would be risen as long as she kept it there, he had no intention of giving a hand shake. Before she sat down, he could feel her curiosity about his arm, but gave no heed. When you follow the dark side and eventually battle the Jedi, you tend to lose something if you're not properly prepared. Unfortunately at the time, Grawn had been that.

Even with the power of Korriban at his feet and the dark side clouding everything, he had lost himself and his arm. A part of him died down in that dark chasm that he was cast into, but once again with great apathy, it bothered him none. Weakness shouldn't be given the chance to prosper. While he was grateful Lady Renata plucked him from his almost grave at the bottom of that cliff, he often wondered if it would have been better to leave him there.

When he felt the girl tense a little, he knew she had finally become aware of someone watching them. Grawn had sensed it previously and had been trying to sort through the masses of people around them. None of them seemed to have any interest in either Grawn or Alindra, so who else could it..

Then he felt it. A slight curious thought from a single person. Not threatening but apparently curious about the Sith initiate and neophyte conversing. Turning his head, he looked to see a female not to far from them. Grawn remembered her from the ceremony, but her name was currently escaping him, it was on the tip of his tongue. Amusingly, enough he had forgotten he wasn't the only one missing a right arm. A scar covered most of the right side of her face and while most might cringe in sight of her, it actually did the opposite for Grawn.

It gave him a certain amount of respect for the woman. Some Sith that dwelled at the Temple didn't have near crippling injuries and most of them derived their power from anger and hatred of their choosing. Not exactly the case for Grawn and he assumed the woman he saw. No, pain was the catalyst for their power or at least for himself. He made eye contact with her for a moment, making her aware that she had been found out, then looked away.

Grawn didn't really care. If the choice was his, he wouldn't be sitting next to a Sith wanna-be and out in the open. What vital research he could be conducting or what else of importance could he be accomplishing to further himself right now other then sitting about.

Sampson appeared before him, the black hound looking at his master curiously. The Sith initiate just stared back at his imaginary companion with no interest at the time. While Grawn cared for the thing that had been with him since his days of training, he was in no mood for him. The dog seemed to notice this and gave a snort, began to walk in circles then slowly evaporate back into his mind. All the while, the other two being clueless to the dogs presence or passing.

The thing didn't actually exist. Not that Grawn knew, though. It was all the making of a twisted, cracked mind.

He wasn't going to return Alindra's politeness. It was something she was still getting used to, the way everyone in the Sith acted standoffish. They trusted no one--rightfully--but they didn't give anyone the chance to trust them. She put her hand down. "It's nice to meet you, Grawn. I'm sorry I haven't learned the secret Sith Force push greeting yet."

It wasn't Alindra's way to joke a lot, but she was curious if she could even amuse Grawn. When he didn't immediately respond, Alindra looked over at him, noticing his attention was elsewhere. Grawn must know who's watching.

Brushing her hair back as a distraction, Alindra turned and scanned where Grawn was looking. Her vision tried to lock in on anyone who stood out, or at least looked like they were looking back. Some distance away, she saw someone watching, a woman, just as mangled from battle as Grawn.

Partially being polite and partially to see what might happen, Alindra, lifted her hand and gave a slight wave to the woman. It might get me killed, Alindra thought, but I've got to get some of these Sith talking to me or I'll never learn a damn thing.

Marie padded silently through the halls of the Sith temple, her slippered feet making absolutely no noise. Her eyes darted from side to side, in a wariness that had been picked up since her early days with her uncle, learning the ways of the Force from him. She took great care to never leave any traces of her presence that she could erase, and she had gotten good at it, too. Granted, there were still moments, even now, when her skills failed her. The only movement from her outfit was the saber that was still hooked to her belt. She never left it behind. It was there no matter where she was.

Of course, her expanded senses picked up the people at the door before she reached it, and she sank into the shadows within view of it. A girl, and a rather strange looking male. But where was the third that she sensed? She didn't see anyone, but then she spotted the other person. An Epicanth. They were an odd race from what she knew of them, which wasn't much. Shaking her head, she crept along, keeping to what little shadows there were at this time of day. She muttered something silently under her breath, and then sighed. "To hells with it," she murmured, and stepped out from the shadows, leaning on one of the lit-up sides of the pillars out front, waiting for any of the three to notice her.

She had gone with a more subdued look today, choosing the black robes rather than the deep green ones she had obtained, to try not to draw attention to herself, and also to help her fade into the shadows better. Of course, this also made her stand out like a sore thumb in the bright light. But that was a two fold blessing and curse at the same time.

Looking over the three, she thought she recognized the male, but the girl and the Epicanth were new to her. Most of her time had been spent in her room, studying, reading, checking up on what little of the history of this planet remained. So it wasn't surprising that she had no clue who the other two were. But that male... she KNEW she'd seen him SOMEWHERE in the temple before. Shrugging, she looked out over the plains, her stance and the look on her face giving the realistic impression that she just didn't care what any of the three thought.

The woman had sat down as well when she approached. The slightly nervous way that she moved marked her out. Definitely a newcomer...

It was amazing how many new people were showing up at the Temple each day. Where did all of these dark jedi come from? She had known about a few of them from before. Working with the Exchange generally kept one well-informed. But the number was still surprising.

Why question a good thing though? A war was coming, and the Sith needed all the strength it could get. Most of the new recruits were worthless rabble, but there were a few gems here and there. And usually there was no way to tell just by looking at them.

"Stuck on the welcoming committee today, Ianie?" she asked with the eyebrow raise. She turned towards the woman, and held out her metal right hand. "Yin," she said curtly. "And you are?"

Another flare of the Force told Alindra she was being watched, almost studied. She had been ill-prepared to meet all the anonymous scrutiny. Looking around, it was clear to Alindra that she stood out. Her demeanor, even though it was a holdover from her days of dancing and being a slave, clashed with practically all of the Sith. And her appearance, much brighter and livelier than most of the Sith as well.

Her eyes passed over the community, wandering about their various duties and quests. There was doubt in some of them, but Alindra had no doubt at all. She knew this was where she needed to be, even if she lacked many of the abilities and skills other Sith had. Alindra was willing to learn, even if it meant bathing herself in blood once more--an exhausting process to say the least.

The woman Alindra had seen and waved at approached. There was a clear note of intelligence and strength in the way she moved, aside from any cybernetic implants of Force abilities. Also, the weight of the arsenal the woman carried had its own presence. Blasters weren't something Alindra had a great deal of exposure to, having only touched one to use it as a club.

After a brief mocking meant for Grawn, the woman extended a metal hand toward Alindra and said, "Yin. And you are?"

"Alindra Vordrinn. And you're right," she added with a slight tilt of her head upward so she could see Yin better. "I am quite new around here."

With a smirk, the Sith stood up and placed the mask back on his face. As his vision adjusted to everyones Force aura, he looked at Zarene Yin and gave a sly smile that was hidden behind the mask.

"I was. Welcome to your new post. I'll catch you all later. Going to go exercise the saber muscles."

With that, Grawn walked back up towards the Temple, finding he had enough of fresh air and wide eyed neophytes. He had a real craving to hear the clash and sparks of lightsabers or at least the feel of it cutting through metal. Deciding he'd hit one of the training rooms, Grawn was out of sight.

(((Grawn isnt much of a talker. If anyone later in the thread is interested in saber training or something, he'll be in the training room.)))

Zarene shook her head and arched an eyebrow as he left. "Can't take any responsibility," she muttered. "Will always be a mook."

Her eyes turned towards the newcomer. She was an interesting one, elegantly dressed, with blond hair that was more well brushed and styled than anyone at the Temple, framing a pretty face. Too pretty for her own good.

"And what makes you think you can just walk into the Sith Temple?" She spoke slowly, her voice quiet but firm. "This isn't some country club that you can just waltz in. So tell me, why are you here and what is it that you want?"

Grawn left to work on his lightsaber skills, and Alindra would have joined him if Yin had not turned to question her. "And what makes you think you can just walk into the Sith Temple? This isn't some country club that you can just waltz in. So tell me, why are you here and what is it that you want?"

It was exactly what Alindra knew would happen. Yin had said what many Sith had likely been thinking. Their rough lives and honed skills setting them apart from most Force users. Alindra only thought she had a rough life; she was physically intact, even the scar on her left shoulder was faint. She didn't look like most Sith, possessing neither harshness or brutality in her appearance. All Alindra could offer was beauty and attraction.

Wearing her smile, Alindra answered. "I walked into the Temple because it's the best place to be noticed. I don't have the same training a lot of Sith had; I was never a Jedi." The word lingered in the air, hovering like a toxic gas. "I'm here because I'm sick of being a slave, of being abused and used without my consent or desire."

Alindra then got up, making an effort to keep looking at Yin. Many would likely have expected Alindra to cower or lower her eyes, show total deference in some way. But Alindra knew she had to show the Sith that she had the strength they desired.

"I am here because the Jedi need to suffer, I need to become stronger, and through the Sith, I can make both happen. Besides," Alindra said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. "What I might currently lack in combat skill, I can make up for in charm."

Being off line is like begin dead. Your awarness of time stops and what was wrong with your life no longer mattered. Tho for a droid it is much worse the processors may have been off but the internal logics were still on. What the logics said is that if they did not have the pressure on the mid back it could connect with the lower circuits and be back once again.

As if asked for the weight lifted and the connections locked and activated and .925 came back on line with the secondary circuits and wiring that was still in good use.

System check, processor dump, actuating motor cervos, audio and visual processors on-line.

With that loud announcement .925 rose to his full height and turned to the crowd that had gathered since he went off-line.

Who here can tell me ..... who was sitting on me.. emeemeeme?

The bugs were still there but not linked like they were. .925 scanned each one in turn. The threat logics were still none functioning but his standard logics were as sharp as ever.

He looked down to the closest being, stooped, and asked once again .......

Who here can tell me ..... who was sitting on me.. emeemeeme?

"Is that so?" Zarene had to give the new girl some credit. So Alindra wasn't completely spineless. She certainly knew how to talk big. But no, that didn't mean that Zarene was going to go all easy on her just yet.

And there was something about her... the smile, far too perfect for Korriban. She looked more like a pampered noblewoman than a slave. It was either that or lady of the night. Neither option made Zarene particularly open to trusting her.

There were individuals among the Sith who could sense another Force sensitive from miles away. Zarene wasn't one of those, but standing only a few feet away from Alindra, she could get a rough sense of the other woman's power. What she sensed didn't impress her. Must be relatively untrained. What would this one know about Jedi?

"That's big talk. As it stands, a twelve year old padawan could send you crying back to your mother." She found Alindra's last sentence especially amusing. "What would you do, charm him to death?"

Yin made an interesting point. How would Alindra deal with a padawan if she came face to face with one? She had so little experience and little of it was combat training. Her skills and bond with to the Force were still growing and in serious need of development.

"As I currently am, I doubt I could do much to a padawan, or any Jedi. Unless I got lucky enough to find one I had the right sex appeal for, but that's a fool's bet." Alindra shrugged her shoulders, but still kept an optimistic tone. "I know I need to learn a lot before I'll be of any real use, but I think I can offer something until I get to that point."

Moving around Yin slowly, Alindra glanced at the both of them. When she finished her circle, Alindra spoke again. "I don't look like I Sith, I know that. I think it's actually the best thing I've got going for me. I'm new, I don't have any marks affiliating me with the Sith and I'm perfectly willing to do what I have to in order to get the job done. I might be minor, but I'm the kind of ally the Sith need--someone who doesn't fit the profile of a Sith at all."

A moment later, she heard something behind her, or maybe under her. Like a droid coming to life.