Friendship in a Gathering of Enemies

[starwarsgirl008]

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Altra paced along the halls of the newly established Sith Temple, confident it was where she belonged. Altra had recently returned from a long and enduring mission that tested her patience. It was difficult for her to persevere, but in the end she was successful. Perhaps there was more Jedi in her then she thought. None the less, she was tired and jet lagged, and could do for some rest, but she had too much to do.

Altra had much to catch up on, as much had occurred while she was gone. After all, when she left the Sith Order were a bunch of evil pupils gathered on a desert landscape, and now they were an organized group stationed in a newly constructed Temple. Altra was amazed at how much was accomplished, and she had no idea how she would be able to take in all this new information in a proper amount of time.

Thus, Altra turned to gossip within the ranks of the Temple to catch up on what she had missed, which brings us to her pacing down the halls. She enters an open corridor, crowded by various figures, and simply sits down and waits for fate to find her.

[Foxfire]

A few hours had past since Cho met Novus the dark lady of the sith, and still Cho could not get use to the climate. The difference between Korriban and Zoist was what Cho imagined between the dark and light of the force.

Cho had started going to his quarters but wondered if they were already taken. A cool spot was his main concern though and his last room here was not cool at all. So down a to a common corridor one that had better ventilation and often some people. What Cho did not know was how much changes the temple has made since he left.

'It was just a week or so'... he thought. The changes were in fact great, more had come and the once quiet corridor was filled with new faces and force orra's. Ignoring the force signatures Cho made his way over to a out of the way spot where the air was stirred and cooled. As he moved through the crowd they parted. Whether if it was just his presence or the emptiness of the void orra of the force that they felt. Cho did not care any more. He had his fill of the stares and of their questioning of his sanity. They did not under stand that he had no point of reference to show him what was the light side from the dark. The darkness was him and he was the darkness. Cho let his eyes unfocus as he moved thru them, relying on his instincts to guide where he was. He finally settled down on a bench. The cool air was not as cool as he had hoped. Releasing just enough of his force to cool the air he let his eyes refocus.

He found him self sitting next to a togruta female. Her presence was more relaxing and seemed to cool his mood. When he looked upon her his eyes gave away no emotion. They were the eyes of a dead man. His mind searched for her face. He had not remembered this one, tho he did remove him self from contact of the others. Nodding his head he said....

Cho Wroth... that's my name. I am sorry for disturbing you. If you want to be alone, I will move from here. Though this is the only cool spot i know of since my return from Zoist.

Cho started to rise but his legs did not seem to want to work. 'Maybe it is a sign from the force', Cho thought. So he waited, he had not let him self be guided by the force in such a trivial matter in a long while.

[starwarsgirl008]

Altra turned her head towards the creature next to her that had suddenly begun talking. She was exhausted, thus her first instinct was to remain silent and glare. However, before she did so she paused. Wasn't this what she was looking for? Someone to talke to, to catch up with, to ally herself with? Perhaps some more exmaination was needed...

Altra slipped out a thin smirk and then replied, "Do as you wish, I am not bothered." She then returned to her lounging position, a little shy due to the presence of this new being. She wanted to talk to him, but her body wouldn't let her, yet something in her mind was compelling her towards interaction.

"Zoist?" she finally asked. "I've never been there, what's it like?" she continued with a soft voice. Altra wasn't one that usually made small talk. In fact, she often attempted to anger her enemies with linguistic skills to complete missions and such, and was indeed very agressive in battle. However, she had always realized the power and support allies can provide on the battlefield. She recognized the benefits of allies more then the negative effects of them. This made her social in a sense, not the most common skills you would find in the personality of a Dark Side user. Altra did not deny that there were others that fully practiced these social skills, but then again, too much anger divides souls rasther than uniting them. Altra knew this trait was one that even the wisest Dark Side masters strived to obtain, after all, why else would these masters be organizing a Sith Order? It was clear to Altra that these masters wanted to not only improve the skill of their pupils, but teach them to unite and fight as one. In the end those that looked past these traits would have to learn better. Afterall, it was either learn or die.

These thoughts raised her confidence level as Altra began her interaction with this Cho figure. "By the way, I'm Altra Rosa." she said, awaiting a response.

[Foxfire]

Here Cho was again surprised by a response. Not many would talk to the noghri or at lest for any length of time. Cho tried to compose some words in his head but all he could say was....

Cold, windy and very lonely.

He then removed a holo-cube from a pouch at his side and activated the video program of the Citadel of Zoist. The wind was roaring, and the snow of the higher peaks were blowing steadily toward the holo. This recording made the air seem colder than it really was. As Cho and the holo-cube got closer a ball of fur and teeth exploded out of the snow. The sound of a snap hiss and a varrumoomp was heard. The holo shook as a garbbled wet roar faded into the wind. The holo turned and Cho's arm extended to a bloody white spot. Then the holo jumped to the interior of the Citadel's grand hall. The wind was lessened and the snow gently wafted from the high windows.

Cho turn his attention to Altra.

Sorry, the rest is like this. My skill of talking is not good. I'm better with my saber.

Cho let a small part of his force seep threw. The feeling of his force was like that of the frozen Citadel of Zoist, bone chilling death. The small amount Cho released, he used it to sense Altra's emotions and whether she had alterer motives.

[starwarsgirl008]

Altra gazed into the rigid world of Zoist prvoidided by Cho. The cold air calmed her mind, and she began to relax. Her thoughts began to venture, and she lost grasp of what Cho was saying. Something about talking...

Then suddenly she was brought back to life with the word saber. "Good with a lightsaber, eh?" she asked with an evil smirk on her face. The more Altra thought about it, the more she began to like this Cho. She was beginning to notice this conversation evolving into something much more.

"I sense that one day I will be able to see this skill you brag about." she said. "But saying something is one thing, doing it is another." Altra explained, turning her hip inward to show Cho the lightsaber hilt that sat on a belt on her waist.

"Don't worry. That's not a threat..." she said, changing her smirk to a friendly smile.

[Foxfire]

Cho raised and eye brow ridge at the simple single blade saber. Showing no emotion Cho slowly moved his saber to his left hand and raised it for her to see. The solemn and unadorned dual lightsaber made of crystallized aluminum on the out side with two blade activators for one blade or two.

(Cho using his telepathy.) He quickly sent a memory to Altra. The sound of a snap hiss with a flash of a telepathic memory of one his brutal training sessions of a mastered Ataru and the building form of Juyo. Cho was spinning and slash with a pulsing blood red blade core with streaks of yellow. Each strike increasing in speed and deadly precision.

The color is due to a Vith Craw Gem stone.

Again he shared a memory of the giant 80' cloaking lizard and his cutting his way out of it.

He broke the link with her. He moved the blade away and spun it twice, activating and deactivating as the blade came near his legs.

If ever a weapon you need, I shall be not very far away.

[starwarsgirl008]

At the site of the lizard Altra showed no reaction. She had battled much worse things in her time. She let out a small laugh and then proceeded to speak, "I have battled things no male would ever be able to imagine, somethign more powerful than a mighty beast, more powerful then a Jedi Master, more powerful than every dark soul involved in this gathering. I have battled love, the most powerful of emotions, and I came out as the victor. Love is now my mere tool. Any fool can fall into love's grip, but I am one of the few that knows my way out."

Cho proceeded to talk about his weapon. Altra again smiled, "I have to admit, I like you. Both as a warrior and a conversationalist, but you must understand a lightsaber means nothing on the battlefield. When you are out there, the only thing that matters is the way you use it. People can claim that their weapon gives them aggression, gives them hope, gives them the will to fight, gives them power, but that all comes from something else. That comes from passion, from emotion."

Altra's smile began a thin, serious, line and she continued, "That is why the Jedi have power, and that is also why the Jedi forbid power. Don't get me wrong, I hate Jedi and I would slay whenever I am given the chance, but emotions like love and anger are too powerful. For a time, we can use this power, but if you don't have control, if you don't play your card right, that power will use you. Do you follow me?" she asked.

"But don't worry, you seem serious enough to know what you are doing." she smiled again, looking at Cho.

"Enough with the lectures!" Altra blurted out. "How did a guy like you end up here?" she asked. She found herslef being a little less cautious and a little more friendly while talking to Cho. It was a strange feeling, not that of love, but of caring. She ahd never felt this way before, and she was interested as to seeing how it would play out.

[Foxfire]

Cho's reaction to Altra's response of the lizard was what other ones had given to him in the past. When though she spoke of some thing no man could imagine or more powerful than any other here he was very interested. Leaning forward as she spoke, 'I have battled love, the most powerful of emotions, and I came out as the victor.' Cho's confusion became as an overwhelming wave crushing him.

Love,..... what is this thing? Is it the light side of the force? I do not under stand. All I have ever known is survival and hate. Ones speak so passionately about their hatred of the Jedi..... Why? Why is love even more powerful than the darkness.

I am so old and yet I know nothing.

Kill or be killed, this is how I grew up even here. Surviving on my will to learn. Yet none would teach me, but all hated me. Only one wanted to be near me.

He removed another holo-cube from his pocket. It beamed to life. It was one of Reylin's training cubes of Juyo.

This one was like me but not. The darkness was tainted by an odd feeling of lightness, more so when she was training me before her death. Then watching for five years the behavior of the animals of Korriban to continue to exist.

Cho's coldness grew even more as he remembered Reylin and the loneliness that followed.

[starwarsgirl008]

Altra examined the words of Cho, and chose her next ones carefully. "Truth be told, you must know that everyone is different, everyone draws their power from a different section of the Force, everyone wants something." she began. "Surely power and wealth remain near the top of this list of wants, but what good is it if you have no one to share with it? What good is it if you have no one to admire it? What good is it if you have no one to embrace it with you? That is where love comes in, for nothing is complete without love. Everyone wants love, whether you admit it or not. And love comes in many forms, whether it be a life partner, a friend or an associate. Isn't that why we are all here, to find love?" she continued.

Altra then paused to think for a minute. Each day she acquired a new piece of information, and Cho was definetly contributing to her learning that day. "Now you bring up the Jedi, and as I have expressed my hatred before, but the exsistance of the Light Side is neccessary for the exsistance of the Dark Side. How would you define dark: the opposite of light. You see the Light Side defines us, the Dark Side was only created to oppose the Light Side, and the Dark Side only remains to fight the Light Side. The reason we bother to fight is to gain an upper hand, to gain power, to gain wealth." she continued to explain.

"And you ask why is love so powerful? Because people want it and people will go to extremes to get it. People will kill and die for love. This is where I gain my power, from love. In the end all emotion boils down to love: the Dark Side is powered by anger and embracing emotion, anger is caused by not getting what you want, you can't achieve what you want until you have love." Altra yet again smirked. "The only way to fight is with passion, whether you admit it or not. Eveyrone fights with passion, it just takes some of us longer to realize that."

Altra finally remained silent for a time, allowing Cho to continue. She began to focus, and suddenly her concentration was broken when Cho shivered. "See?" she suddenly asked. "Would you have shivered if someone had loved you on your journeys? If someone had shared the memory with you?"

[Foxfire]

Cho listened to all that she had to say. A thought came to his lips before he could rein them in.

You are so much like her.

In shock Cho clammed up and totally shut off his force and moved over but just a little. Keeping his head down he apologized.

My regrets for saying that.

Longingly he viewed the holo-cube again. Slowly he released his hold on his force void coming back to his normal levels. As he did he found that same odd force signature that Reylin had then he knew that was what love was he to had that as well.

Cho closed his eyes and opened in flood gates of the force to flood his being. He focused on Reylin and the memories of her. Upon his limits of the force he found her. He saw her turn and said....

That is right my noghri the connection is love and will always be for you were my best.

Her words echoed in his mind and in his sole. He turned back toward Altra and nodded thanks.

[starwarsgirl008]

Altra's highs widened as Cho's words lifted from his mouth. Had she hit a soft spot or was Cho just crazy?

Altra watched as Cho though for a while, she could sense his concentration simply from the stillness of his body. Cho was no normal Dark Side user. Most would continue to argue with Altra, even if they knew she was right. Then again, is there such a thing as normal? If there was, Altra was surely far from it.

Cho began to turn and walk away. He gave a slight nod to Altra. Altra smiled, this time from her heart, not from her ego. This seemed like the first time she actually helped someone.

"Your welcome." she silently mumbled as Cho began to walk in the other direciton.

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi walked slowly along the halls of the Temple. It was a huge building. Perhaps even larger than the Jedi temple, which she still held dim memories of. But it held a power, a presence which the Jedi temple had never had.

Nirisi had ditched her robe. It would only get in her way, and there was no need for it here. She did not need to hide here. Her lightsaber thumped rythmically against her thigh, and she put a hand down, pressing her fingers over the smooth surfaces of the saber handle.

Her eyes moved from her boots to up ahead, where she saw a woman standing, watching a strange person going away. He walked strangely. But Nirisi didn't waste brain power wondering about it. There were thousands of alien species in the galaxy, and he could be any one of those thousands. She looked back to the woman- a Togruta, it appeared.

[starwarsgirl008]

As Cho left Altra began to feel comrfortable. The stress she had from previous days began to lift and she suddenly felt well rested. She was getting comfortable talking to others- and was quite well at it.

As she watched Cho walk away another figure suddenly appeared. This one was dressed slightly casual, with no sign of robes. Altra felt her somewhat straing, or at least looking, at her, so she approached.

"May I help you?" she asked, questioning her presence. Perhaps this would lead into a similarconversation thatshe and Cho had, or perhaps it would be very different...

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi looked the woman over as she came closer. Definitely Togruta. "I was simply observing." Nirisi said quietly. She hoped the woman wouldn't take offense- Nirisi didn't want to get into a fight right here in the middle of the Temple. Could get ugly.

"I'm Nirisi." she said by way of introduction. "I apologize if I gave any offense."

[Foxfire]

Cho did not walk to far away for even in the crowded hall like this one, Cho himself had killed others that stood in his training. So training or master no area was truly safe.

Cho settled in a darkened corner and watched the new encounter with Altra. Even at this distance and his hiding he still did not want to loose another one who has shown him what he now calls kindness. Shaking his head at the thought of kindness, Cho decided to use his kinetic power to scratch an arrow and the noghri word for watching/protecting in the dust at Altra's feet. What she did with that was up to her as long as she knew he was here for her. After all she gave him some thing and by custom he was now in her debt.

[starwarsgirl008]

Altra watched as a word appeared below. It didn't take her too long to figure out who it had come from. Was it a joke or was Cho thankful? Altra didn't have time to think about that, for she was about to interact with the other figure in front of her.

"No. no" Altra said, staring into the being's eyes. "You did not offend me in anyway." she paused and let out a bit of a fake smile to attempt and comfort the one who was called Nirisi.

"I'm Altra by the way." she said, stopping again to allow Nirisi to talk.

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi bowed slightly. "Hello." her gaze strayed to the other person who had been speaking with Altra. He was watching her. Nirisi boldly gazed back for a long moment, just to let him know she knew he was watching, then looked back to the Togruta.

"How long have you been here?" she asked by way of starting a conversation- in a probably futile effort to be polite.

[starwarsgirl008]

"A few days." Altra replied. "I just returned from an outer space mission." she continued.

"I am overwhelmed what they have been able to do hear in my time gone." she said, attempting to continue the conversation. "I don't see how we can revive such a great temple, yet we are not able to crush the Republic with the snap of a finger." she smiled.

"So how long have you been here?" she asked

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi nodded consideringly. "I am sure it will all come in time." she glanced abuot, and then the Togruta turned her question back at her. "A few days as well. I was on a mission. I believe many of us were."

She glanced back to the strange person who was still watching her. He gave her the creeps. She wished he'd stop watching her.

[starwarsgirl008]

"Don't worry about him." Altra said, sensing Nirisi's fear. "He won't bother us, and if he does, I'll chop him into pieces." Altra emphasized on the chopping part, hoping Cho would hear it and take a hint of some sort.

"Speaking of chopping, how if your skill with a saber?" Altra asked, tilting the conversation to one of her many passions, combat.