Whatever It Takes

[Ta'hok]

Leah could only shake her head. "I'm afraid you do not understand. Before I left for Naboo I was as good as hidden, and unknown, safe if I may use the term, though it is relative. Once I reached Naboo and delved into the mind of a boy there I exposed myself. I fear I have alerted him to my presence as I was made aware of his. You see I tried to kill him once before. A long time ago before he knew how to wield the force very well at all. Before he gained a thirst for blood and a skill with weapons beyond comprehension. Before he became a master of the mental planes. He was young then, he challenged me to a battle for foolish reasons and I thought I had won. I had nearly ripped his throat out as it was. But somehow he managed to survive that wound. That encounter has made him just as cautious as any sith. He won't strike unless he is certain that he will succeed. In the meantime I will be left exposed to his surveillance. I can not hide from the shadows I use to conceal myself. I fear it is only a matter of time before he comes after me and I doubt there are those strong enough here to challenge him. You've no idea how dearly I wished that I had killed him back then. Long before he became an assassin of unsurpassable skill. Before he became an enigmatic shadow. Would you not similarly be afraid in my situation? I fear where once I was hunter and he prey that I have become his prey."

[Ghev Dralin]

Konnor listened to her words, weighing up the implications.
"If he is as powerful as you say, and if he will come to kill you, then your presence here is endangering the Brotherhood" he said, his words not meant to imply or fault her. "It might be better to speak to one of the Masters about this..." he suggested thoughtfully. "Master Sunder or Paladin. Not Darth Nefari. She's busy, and if she learns of the threat your presence could pose..." he said, then cut himself off.

He swallowed hard.
"We're anticipating the arrival of a Jedi task force. When that happens, the Sith will be evacuating, and covertly. We can't be exposed, and every stringent security measure has been taken to ensure we remain secret" he explained. "Master Sunder or Paladin will likely show some lenience, but Nefari has made her stance clear on this issue. All threats are to be removed".
He stood up suddenly, as something black launched from the shadows, twin-pointed fangs gleaming. It landed around Konnor's shoulders, and considered Leah thoughtfully.

"The padawan has arrived. Nefari is with him now" Xavier said, his orange eyes half-lidded, as though Kessel was beginning to bore him.
"If this shadow-man finds you here, Leah..." Konnor said, looking down at her, "then the whole Brotherhood is at risk of being exposed before it's time"

[Ta'hok]

"I understand the danger you fear, but I don't think that will come to pass. Though the Shadow Stalker may come for my life he would not spread the news that the sith grow strong. I doubt he'd care one way or another feeling that it wasn't really his business what happens to the rest of you. But perhaps caution should be taken. I'll see what Master Sunder, and Master Paladin have to say." She turned to look after Konnor as he started away before saying with all sincerity, "Thank you. I doubt anyone else would have spoken to me with as much concern or patience. I really appreciate it. Perhaps we merely got off of the wrong foot."

[Ghev Dralin]

Konnor petted Xaviers head, which the Gurlanin obviously took a disliking to; he dropped from Konnor's shoulders, and sniffed the air, licking his lips.
"I smell mynocks. I'll see you two later" he rumbled, vanishing into a small hole in the floor.
Konnor watched Xavier disappear, then turned to Leah, listening to her words.
"I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, yeah. But Nefari and the others preach about trust and unity, so it's best to begin somewhere" he muttered, cautiously extending a hand for her to shake. He didn't normally speak this much to anyone, let alone people he barely knew; it was refreshing, but he doubted it was a path he wished to pursue with others. His silence kept him unnoticed.
"Konnor Stern" he introduced himself.

********

Cyrus looked down on Nefari from the observation platform. At her behest, he remained silent, and drew no attention to himself.
It was intrigueing, at first, to watch the Dark Lady of the Sith work on the unconscious boy, but after a time, Cyrus grew bored. There was no spectacle to witness, no display of unnatural powers, no insight into how Nefari worked... as always, she downplayed the situation, not catering for voyeurs.

He walked away, silent as the grave, placing his helmet on and quietly scouring the HoloNet via his HUD display. Nothing of interest appeared in the headlines;
Chancellor Winger implies Mandalorian leader Ghev Dralin in assassination attempt on Senator Garm Rahl.
Naboo under attack, evacuation operations under-way.
Dantooine declared off-limits to civillians.
Tingel Arm under surveillance.
Nothing that immediately affected Cyrus. He didn't much care about the threat posed by the invading forces; as long as there was war, there'd be bounties on either side. As long as the war continued, he didn't need to take interest in who was winning which battles.

[Ta'hok]

Leah gave a genuine smile and took Konnor's extended hand. "Leah Tasidor. And I must agree with the masters on the matter of unity. The Jedi do draw a certain strength from not having to watch their own backs." Leah wished she knew how much time she had before the assassin was on her trail. Thankfully she didn't have to worry about falling into paranoia again. Konnor had helped her take her situation and stop blowing it out of proportion. Perhaps she could find a secret weapon that would give her an advantage over the shady fellow. Some ace in the hole that would spell her victory. "I don't suppose you know where Masters Sunder and Paladin are do you?"

[Ghev Dralin]

Konnor shook his head a little, trying to recall when he'd last seen the Masters.
"Last time I saw Master Paladin was here, when he was showing you how to meditate. And I haven't seen Master Sunder since we arrived at Kessel" he said, looking apologetic.
If you give me a moment, Xavier interjected, interrupting Konnor's thoughts, I'll go and find one of them.
I thought you were off hunting mynocks?
It turned out to be dead. And rotted, I might add.
Konnor laughed, as he could hear the disappointment in the Gurlanin's telepathic voice.
"Xavier says he'll go and look for them" he said, realising it must be strange to see someone laughing at nothing, his cheeks flushing red.

"So... forgive me for being rude, but it's bothered me since I first saw you" he said, looking down at his feet. "I've studied many of the galaxy's humanoid species, as part of my training, but I can't seem to pin-point you" he admitted. "At first, I thought Zeltron because of your skin hue, but now... well, I haven't felt any empathic emotions, or detected the presence of pheremones, so I'm not sure..." he said, realising how stupid he must look to not be able to identify her.

[Ta'hok]

Leah smiled and let out a short laugh. "Well you are smarter then the average sentient. Most suspect I'm of Theelin descent because of my tattoos," she gestures at the crimson covering her arms the and violet along the back of her neck. "After all," she continues, "how could a Zeltron carry such cruelty, but I actually am a Zeltron. Though when looking at the Zeltron's typical life style I can see where others think that I couldn't possibly carry that type of blood. My brethren are so focused on pleasing others that I stand out like a black spire on Hoth. I was so odd my birth parents abandoned me when I was still very young. I was later found and adopted by an Umbaran couple who taught me much in the ways of their society.

"As for my innate abilities I don't use them all the time. The thing with pheromones is that they don't always work the way you intend them to. If I had used them on Nefari I might have been able to get her to like me more that she did at first glance but I could also have been discovered. The thing with force users is they have very strong wills and they also look to the force in times of need. If she detected my pheromones before they took affect then she could have blocked herself from their affects making them useless to me and putting me in a even worse situation then where I began."

[Trenton Vinh]

Raeph Sunder stood beside his old master, Drake Paladin, a hint of eagerness in his voice, "Any idea how long it will be before the Jedi arrive?"
Drake merely shook his head, deep in reflection. Raeph was a much more visceral Force User. Raeph let Drake look to the sky and stars for answers, whereas Raeph preferred the more earthly, natural, primal instincts and emotions guide him. A Sith by definition. Drake was a Sith because there was no other name for him.

Drake said quietly, "All I know is that the boy has arrived, and that Jedi will be on the way eventually. Perhaps they have yet to notice his disappearance, they do have many matters to deal with."

Raeph bared his teeth, "I do not know how they live."
Drake raised his eyebrows curiosly, and Raeph continued, "The Jedi. How can they get out of bed every morning knowing there's more and more problems to deal with. And to have to solve them calmly like robots...it must be depressing."
Drake had once been a Jedi, and while he did not agree with them, he wasn't dumb enough to pass them off as fools, and had nothing against them anymore. He had transcended hatred. He respectd them the way a hunter respects his prey.

Raeph went on, "The fools, prancing around the Galaxy helping everyone but themselves. Selflessness is boring, I want my take."

Drake looked at Raeph and replied simply, "Self-absortion is foolish as well. The life of a Jedi is fulfilling. Doingone's duty because he has the ability to make a difference. He doesn't have to, he chooses to. It is not a weakness to look down at them for. Its their greatest strength. Remember this."
Drake shrugged at Raeph's confused expression. Clearly the man had expected Drake to agree with his every word.
Drake turned away and made for Nefari's quarters to gauge her progress with the boy.

[Ta'hok]

Leah waited for Konnor to reply but it seemed he had finished asking his questions. She felt pleased that she seemed to be able to bind this brotherhood together. Perhaps that was all they had needed, a sister among the men. Her mind reminded her of Nefari's presence but she subdued that thought. Nefari may be female but she didn't take enough interest in all the other members of the brotherhood to really be involved. Of course that meant that Leah similarly hadn't bound the Dark Lady of the Sith into the newly forming group, a group of those who cared about one another, well sort of. Her momentary bubble of pride was thoroughly deflated. She let out a sigh and didn't notice Konnor's questioning glance as her gaze was on the floor. Konnor informed her that Xavier had found Master Sunder and Master Paladin. She smiled her thanks before levering herself to her feet. She started through the tunnels of Kessel anxious to find any answers that might gain her victory from her predicament.

[Trenton Vinh]

Drake was a patient man. He had waited five years for a chance to fight one man. He had waited his entire childhood to become a Jedi. He had searched for three years to find a Sith Holocron.
He had been impaled, stabbed, burned, electrocuted, crushed, broken, bloodied and beaten by friends and foes, in the name of his duty. He had had the patience to allow himself the time to heal before carrying on with his goals, and had spent more time than most in Hyperspace, waiting to get to thousands of planets he had travelled to. But now, during the eleventh hour, he found his patience was wearing thin.
He needed Trenton Vinh and his Jedi allies to arrive, soon, so he could begin his work. Trenton would show Drake the secret to immortality, and Drake would have to be patient whilst training and bending Trenton to his will. But he did not want to have to wait much longer for his chance at that.
He drew his comlink, while Raeph strode into another room, and sent Nefari a message, "How's your progress with the boy? Any ideas as to when his allies will arrive?"

[Ta'hok]

Leah was surprised when she entered a room to find Raeph entering the same from another entrance. She smiled crookedly. "Master Sunder. Just the one I was looking for. You see, I have a bit of a dilemma that I ran into during my trip to Naboo. What do you know about the Shadow Stalker?"

[Ghev Dralin]

Progress had been slow, but fruitful. Over the last few days, Nefari had kept Ben unconscious, and gently probed his mind, breaking down his mental barriers and learning how to navigate through his subconscious.
Planting ideas in his head wasn't a simple case of adding her own prose to his personal thoughts. She'd had to worry away at his doubts, and form ideas in his head that would seem as natural and seemless to Ben as if they were his own. She had to subtly alter the slightest questions in his mind, the uncertainties of his own future, so that they'd manifest and grow within him.

And Drake expected her to be quick about it.

"His allies will arrive in due time. Check the HoloNet, Drake. You may see a few familliar names associated with Naboo" she said scathingly; she didn't appreciate being disturbed.
Ben stirred; as was expected. She needed him awake now, for it was time to move the plan ahead.
"Where am I... oh... bounty hunter..." Ben mumbled, squinting against the light that shone down on him.
"The hunter is gone" Nefari said, raising her hood to cover her features. "It's just the two of us".
Somehow, Ben didn't seem comforted by that idea.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" he asked, trying to move; his constraints prevented that, as did they prevent his use of the Force.
"I'm a friend. You may even come to think of me as a mentor, if you accept what I'm willing to pass onto you" she replied, her voice soft and light, barely echoing around the cavern.

Ben's eyes finally adjusted; his head felt as though he'd been on the receiving end of a rampaging Fambaa.
"Pass onto me?" he asked, curious.
"You are steeped with the power of the Force, Ben" she said. She knows my name?
"How do you..."
"But" she interrupted, "you only know a margin of what there is to learn. Haven't you ever wondered, wished to explore other avenues, but found yourself blocked at every turn by your council?"
Ben mulled it over; to be truthful, there had been a moment onboard the 'Kylantha's Jewel' when he'd experienced self-doubt and uncertainty, about the future of Trenton and by extension, himself. But he'd always assumed that his future would lay with the Jedi, one way or another. The thought of studying other Force-steeped cultures hadn't really occurred to him.

"The others here wouldn't wish me to divulge this, Ben" Nefari said, stepping into the light, allowing him to see her face beneath her hood. "But I can make you strong. Strong enough to change the fate of yourself and your Master, to rid any doubt of your security and your place in the galaxy".
Ben raised an eyebrow, looking into the ghost-white face of this woman, taking in each fine etching tattooed across her fair features.
"Who are the others?" he asked, warily.
"They are your enemy" Nefari smiled.

[Ta'hok]

Leah walked through the corridors after spending a hour or so in discussion with Raeph. Though the sith master had tried to help her as best he could she found that even together they hadn't been able to come up with anyway for her to help herself with her problem. The prospect of her departure was not very appealing but becoming more and more likely with each passing moment. She knew that she had no right to endanger the brotherhood. She absentmindedly kicked a stone into another rock in front of her and was surprised when the second rock cracked. She picked up the first rock noting nothing that appeared special about it when she was suddenly hit with a realization. The girl that she had seen that day so long ago and more recently through the force. She was the assassin's weakness. If she could capture the girl she wouldn't need to worry about him killing her. She crushed the stone in her fist, bits of sand trickling between her crimson fingers. The walls around her would have run if they could, from the expression of utterly evil cunning that she bore. Her plans began forming at a speed faster then could be followed or recorded. She would gain immense power from those plans she could see it now.

[Trenton Vinh]

Drake knelt on the floor of his room. He had sensed him not too long ago. He had felt Trenton Vinh in The Force. He had felt immense power, like few others had ever displayed. And it had been beautiful. Drake only wished he could have been there to see it with his own eyes. Perhaps he would flow-walk to Naboo someday to view the event. He couldn't now, of course, he would reveal his presence to the Jedi in the Force.

He had, however as Nefari had told him, he had checked the holonets about Naboo. He had ignored her attitude and taken up the idea. It seemed like it had been quite the battle to behold. However, it seemed to be wrapping up. The "Unknown Alien Forces", as the Holonets had put it, were in full retreat. Whatever had happened, it was nothing they had to worry about.
With the Jedi having done their job, they would soon discover that one of their most promising Padawans had gone missing. And then they would come looking. And Drake would be able to see Trenton's power, once more, in person. But this time, he would not be receiving the attack.

This time, I will be the one directing it.

[Ghev Dralin]

She was a vision of terrifying beauty, though Ben still didn't know what to make of her. She called herself Nefari, a name which hardly inspired trust, yet she spoke of wanting to protect him and teach him how to overcome his enemies. She hadn't explicitly stated who they were at first, and for three days he'd made assumptions.
On the fourth day, he'd asked, and she'd confirmed; the Sith were here. Ben suspected she meant Drake Paladin and Raeph Sunder; it wouldn't surprise him, by any means.
But Nefari intrigued him. It was obvious she had Force potential, though he hadn't seen her use it, so had no way of measuring her power. It was possible she was just a servant of the Sith, who'd had enough of her Masters, and saw a ray of hope within Ben. Whatever her intentions, she'd made it clear that she wasn't going to release him any time soon.

********

Nefari held the scorpion between her fingers, pinching it's tail just beneath the stinger. She held it close to her face, allowed it's pincers to come within a hairsbreadth of her eye.
"I will now begin to teach you how to overcome the pain that the Sith would visit upon you" she said, speaking to Ben though her eyes never left the creature in her fingers.
"What will it involve?" he asked.
"The best way to overcome pain, is to be subjected to it" she whispered. "It will not be pleasant, but in order to discipline your mind and make you capable of overcoming this threat to the galaxy, it is necessary".
She felt his indecision through the Force, and knew she must be making progress. She'd never be able to convert Ben to the way of the Sith; it was a choice he'd make alone. But it fell to her to plant the seeds, whether they sprouted or not.

She released the containment field, and Ben dropped to the floor of the chamber.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
Ben looked at the scorpion for a moment. The creature was all vile intent; a lifeform that knew how to defend itself from larger predators, and would do so without hesitation. What it perceived as a threat, it would eliminate, in order to ensure it's survival.
If he were to eliminate the Sith, to protect the galaxy, he'd have to become that scorpion.
"Do it" he said, surprised at the level of calm and maturity in his voice.
"Was that a command?" Nefari asked, smirking, as she reached her hand out to him, still clutching the scorpion. He saw it, coming closer and closer to his face, it's tail barb glistening with potent venom. Suddenly, he panicked... and by instict, generated a pulse through the Force, in desperation for his Master.
"Fool!" Nefari hissed, and Ben immediately felt the power of the Force within her. His body was wracked with pain, as she lifted him into the air and enveloped him in Force lightning.
The noise filled his eardrums, and his limbs spasmed out of his control, his vision blackening and contorting as the blue energy danced over and through his skin. Just as he prepared himself for inevitable death, however, he felt a familliar floating sensation; the containment field.
She'd imprisoned him again.
"What are you?" he gasped, lost without his connection to the Force. He didn't even know where he was, or how long he'd been away from Coruscant.
"You will rot here" she spat, turning her back on him. "Such wasted potential".