Lifetime of Work

[Kulan]

How long had it been since he had returned to Tatooine? It seemed like a life time while at the same time it wasnt long enough. It was the home to his torture, the lab that changed him into what he was and as a cruel joke to himself and those that had turned him into this weapon he now stood at the rim of the crater that was once the home to the lab buried beneath the sands. In all those years since he had left this planet he found the crater nearly full, just a large lip of rocks at the edge was all that remained and soon enough in time those too would be gone, nothing more than a memory of what once happened, while leaving clues to those in the future to tell them of what had happened. His eyes took in the sight of the sand slowly blowing over the crater, filling it as he turned away to let his mind no longer dwell on what had happened and to focus on his next action.

Kulan had merely returned to this planet to put the finishing touches on his lightsaber, and now with it done he had no reason to be here at all. He was merely staying as an effect of his own mind telling him to stay, feeling some kind of an attachment to the world that allowed him to walk the path of the Dark Side. He found hatred and anger here, two emotions that he seemed to live off of, hungered for as he spent his days on this unpleasant rock of a world. It wasnt too difficult for him to stay out of the watchful eye on a world full of scum and filth. The many cantinas seemed to spring up left and right on this world just as if they were rodents. One couldnt take too many steps from one until they found themselves at the door of the next. It was these holes in the walls that gave him the best hiding spots. He kept his eyes on all those that entered the cantinas, never letting anything pass him that he wouldnt need to be aware of. A jawa to the right just five feet away, an Aquilian at the bar, a group of Trandoshian hunters in the corner bragging about their recent dragon hunt, and the wookie by the door wanting to tear their arms off.

It wouldnt be these groups though that would peak his interest, no it would be a single person that walked through the door. One that seemed to stand in the darkness just as Kulan did. It was this person that caused him to take a real notice. His eyes never left the new subject of study, never once though letting anything else get out of his sight as he noticed the Jawa inching closer to him, seeing the shining metal that was attached to his belt. Kulan slowly counted, waiting for the Jawa to move closer until the bar was filled with the inevitable scream and loud crash of a Jawa being thrown across the room and into the cases that sat next to the band.

[Rugs]

"Of all the damned planets I could've chosen, I chose this place." Nieraan put his glass down on the table and looked out over the crowd that sat in the cantina. Even though he sat at a table in a corner, the young Firrerreo stood out from the crowd, with his odd attire. He was, as per usual, in a black jacket over a grey shirt underneath, with a long white cloth with some design on it hanging from his waist, covering his black pants. Two lightsabers hung in a holster of sorts from his belt. His hood was down, and his shaggy, shoulder length blue-streaked lack hair hung free about his face.

He'd needed some time to think about recent events, and so he'd gone to a world where he knew he wasn't likely to be bothered. Tatooine happened to be just such a world. I'm a Sith now. Honestly, he still couldn't believe it. When he went to the Temple on Korriban, he'd gone with the intention o f making them know his strength, along with establishing the fact that they would need him more than he needed them. But he'd quickly been put in his place. Nieraan was strong, there could be no mistaking that, but there were those within the Order that were stronger, and while he might one day become a valuable tool for the Order, they'd been doing just fine without him. While his pride had been a bit hurt, he'd come to the realization that if he wanted to get the power he wanted so badly, he'd have to fall in line. So that's what he did. Of course, he would--and was--make it known that he was not one to be cowed, but in the end, he'd do as he was told.

Now he was conflicted. Of course he was eager to be off to do work for this Order, as a chance to test himself, but at the same time, the part of Nieraan that resented being stuck under the heel of someone else was wary of his new situation. Time would tell if his decision had been worth it in the end, though. For now, he'd just take some time to come to terms with things before devoting himself fully to the Order.

He was pulled out of his musings my the presence of another Force sensitive. Nieraan's yellow eyes turned up, and almost immediately found the man. It was a simple task, given the fact that the man was dressed more inconspicuously than he was. "I wonder..." a smirk played at the edge of Nieraan's lips. Was this man, this odd looking man, strong? So long had passed since Nieraan had been in a good fight. Subconsciously, his hand drifted down to his two sabers, but he made no move, no motion toward this person. No, though he wouldn't mind a fresh chance to test himself, Nieraan wasn't so jumpy as to attack people at random. Well, most of the time anyway.

Instead, he watched the stranger as he finished off the rest of his drink, right up until the man threw the Jawa across the room with the Force. Everyone else in the place got quiet. Everyone else except for Nieraan. No, he laughed a genuine laugh and clapped for whoever that man was. "Excellent," he said before drinking the last of his drink and setting the empty glass down on the table. He stood to his feet and stretched before starting toward the man. "Do you do that often? It really was entertaining. But that's not really what I really want to talk to you about." He pulled one of the chairs from the man's table to him with the Force and turned it around, sitting down in it backwards with his arms crossed over the back of it. "Tell me... are you strong?"

[Cadyren]

As the transport finally landed upon Tatooine, the planet where he had begun his fall to the Dark Side, Cadyren let out a sigh. He was probably wasting his time visiting this world, but he had to remind himself why he now walked this dark path so that he wouldn't be consumed by the dark power he now controlled. He knew that the Dark Side was already beginning to control him, tempting him to kill anyone that stood in his way. He could just stop, forsake his powers and try once again to live a normal live as he had before, but Cadyren knew that wasn't the kind of life for him, he could never become a farmer or some shop keeper.

As he exited the ship many looked upon him with curious faces, his dark robes and cloak sticking out among the light tan clothing of most of the settlers and the bright colors of some of the travelers. Cadyren wondered how many of them realized what he was, how many would realise that a Sith had decided to make the journey all the way from Korriban to this planet on some soul search.

As he traveled through the town he tried to remember where the shop was, the one he had spent months of his life working so that he could survive, so that he could be free from the control of the Jedi and their Code, and the place where he had learned what it was like to love. As he walked along the streets memories flooded his mind, some of helping the owner of the shop fix up the place and others of his time with the mans daughter, Elain. A tear began to desend down his cheek at the thought of the now dead girl, but he quickly wiped it off his face, not wanting anyone to see him getting emotional.

When he finally found the shop he was surprised to find it just as it had been when he had left, that the old shop owner had managed to keep the place running even without Cadyren to help fix things and Elain to watch the counter. As he stepped inside he saw the old man, who was explaining to a customer how amazing the Astromech droids in his shop were. Once he saw Cadyren however he immiedietly stopped talking and just looked at him, as though he was a ghost.

"Cad, is that really you? I haven't seen you since....The old man stopped before mentioning the death of his daughter, who had been shot by a thief when she wouldn't cooperate.

I know. I'm sorry I left, when Elain....passed away I realised it was time for me to go. Cadyren said, barely able to hdie the sadness in his voice. Part of him wanted to leave, to forget about this place, but he had to remember why he had chosen to fall, why he had become a Sith. He did so to make sure that he never had to feel the lose of someone close to him again, to become powerful enough to destroy all who attemtped to harm them.

I...think I understand. It has to do with your past doesn't it? Elain told me. the old man responded. Cadyren hadn't told anyone about him being a former Jedi Padawan except Elain, not wanting to become a target for those who had a grudge against the Jedi Order on the planet, and there probably were a few seeing as many people on Tatooine were into illegal activites. So why are you back here? Did you come to pay your respects to her?

No, I have to leave soon. I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright. I should probably be leaving. Cadyren said, still having trouble controling his emotions now as more memories floode dhis mind of the things he had done in the store.

Alright, but if you ever need a place to stay your welcome here. th eman said, obviously upset that cadyren wasn't staying, but knowing that he couldn't convicne Cad otherwise. He went back to the customer and Cadyren exited the shop.

On his way back he sensed something in the Force, a Dark Sider was nearby. He quickly turned direction and began to travel toward the dark power, somewhat afraid that they may cause trouble in the city, which could put the old shop keeper in danger. He was also a little curious as well, was this aanother Sith or just a Dark Jedi hiding from the Order? As he enared the source of the dark pwoer he saw that it came from not one but two Dark Siders, both in a cantina.

He walked into the cantina hesitantly, not sure what the two Dar Siders would do once they found that another one of them was nearby. Once inside he quickly found the two sources of dArk power, one an old man and another younger man, who might have been an alien. Now that he was close he sensed that there was something odd about the older man, something that Cadyren couldn't place. He was unsure exactly what it was, all he kenw was that it made the man weaker then he could be. Inspite of whatever was wrong with the old man he was still powerful, or atleast powerful enough to be able to defeat Cadyren.

Cadyren walked closer to the two Dark Siders, though he did not directly approach them yet, though he wa ssure they would know he was here soon enough if they didn't already know. He took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink, non-alcoholic of course. As he waited for his drink he tried to hear what the two Dark Siders were saying, he managed to catch something about whether or not the other was strong or not, but he could have misheard him in the loud cantina.

[Kulan]

Kulan merely smirked under the breathing mask of his suit, he remembered a time in his own life when brash youth lead his actions. His eyes looked over the young man infront of him, gazing towards the two sabers on his belt, then over him as a whole. His own hand came up and touched his hip, the familiar curves of the hilt awakened his muscles and his memories. He listened closely to the young man and began to let out a laugh that came out as wheezes from his suit.

"Let me guess. In your eyes before you all that you can see is that of an old man, nothing more. You see no strength nor do you fear that this one is stronger than you. It is this brash nature that will see your down fall. Then again it is this nature that leads all who follow the corrupting power of the dark side to eventually fall"

He took another breath as he kept his eyes on the one before him, only shifting away to look at the one that had just entered. He knew that this new being tried to keep himself hidden and show disintrest with the two already there, yet he didnt hide it well. Kulan brought his hand up to the piece that rest against his mouth, running his fingers over the rough black surface. His right hand slowly slid into the rapier style hilt of his blade, his thumb rubbing against the button as he kept at the ready to move when he would need to.

Kulan's eyes kept watch on both of them now, knowing that should a fight come down it would be each of them for themselves. He knew there was a possibility that it could come down to a fight. He let his other hand come down and touch the table before him, running his hand along it as he felt the small impurities. He shift in his seat, ready to take action and any moment.

[Rugs]

That arrogant smirk that was sitting on Nieraan's face only grew when the other man, this Kulan, started to speak. The old man was presumptuous, to say the least. About a number of things. "My, my, eager to jump to assumptions are we?" The Firrerreo's stance shifted as he leaned back, resting an elbow on the edge of a table that was near him. "I never said anything of the sort. Are those things people think of you often?" Amusement suddenly flashed in Nieraan's eyes, and his voice took on a different note--a challenging one. "Or maybe you're nervous?"

Nieraan leaned forward, crossing his arms over the back of the chair once again as he locked eyes with Kulan. "Nervous because you can feel the power that's within this particular 'young' man, and you know it's greater than your own? After all," he said, rolling his neck to pop it, "there's more to someone than the outward appearance, no?" Surprisingly, that was a genuine statement; Nieraan was better than your average Force user at sensing things, both around him and within others. That proficiency, had, over the years, helped him realize that there was more to be gleamed of someone through the Force than what the eyes could pick up in a look.

"After all, I can certainly feel your power." Nieraan sighed, shaking his head disappointedly as he did so. "I have to say, I'm not impressed... There's strength there, but I was expecting more. It's almost as if part of you is missing, though with that suit..." His tongue tsked loudly as he shook his head once more. "And here I thought I'd found someone that might be a challenge worth my time. Instead I've nothing but some broken shell of a man. Though, if you wish to prove me wrong..." His hand brushed against the hilt of one of his two sabers. It was a rather blatant gesture, and its meaning should have been obvious.

"And you." Nieraan turned his yellow eyes to regard the new arrival; one that he'd felt a few moments earlier. He took in the young man for a few moments. Whoever he was, he was young, and the level of power Nieraan felt from him wasn't too terribly impressive, either. However, he did feel a sort of resonating darkness within the newcomer, one that seemed quite similar to what was within himself, and even the old man he was sitting near. "What's your business here, pup?"