Star Wars: Lost Soul

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Taryn chose not to acknowledge Vince’s automatic response of “Yes Master” knowing that over most of his life this has been his response whenever given an order. The first step had been crossed he has agreed to stay with her, which means he’s willing to step away from the darkside. They’d have to work together in the coming weeks and through that she hopes they’ll build trust. Walking out of the cockpit she hears him suck in a deep breath concern etches into her delicate features as she looks over her shoulder at him. Even though she could sense his discomfort he managed to give her a smile when he noticed her unspoken question of concern.

“Guess it was my fault Jedi, refusing to actually sleep in a bed.”

Raising her brow a smile softens her features, “Then perhaps you’ll stop being stubborn and sleep in a bed.”

Continuing her way through the ship she adds when they’re walking more side by side, “It is my wish that you will call me Taryn.”

A few minutes later Taryn meets Vince at the bottom of the ramp carrying a folded camo net in her arms, the package is heavier than she should be carrying, but with the help of the Force she has little trouble carrying it on her own. The air is thick with humidity. It will take some time to adjust. Dropping the pack on the moss covered ground Taryn lets out a breath, “The climate is warmer than I expected.” She comments with a tug of a smile on her lips, “This will be our first task working together.”

Crouching down Taryn unfastens the tie on the camo net and begins to lay it out, “Why don’t you climb up on the ship and I’ll send this up to you. Once that’s done we should familiarize ourselves with our general surroundings.”

Straightening up Taryn easily levitates the unbound net guiding it above the ship and towards Vince, who is now standing near the edge waiting for the net. Once the net is set a top the ship she circles around to the back of Fading Dawn and with an accelerated jump she catches the rungs of a side ladder climbing the rest of the way to the top of the ship. “You mentioned you’ve been before… I don’t expect we’ll interact with the people of Axum much, but when we do, is there anything we should avoid?”

The camo net doesn’t take long to spread out across the top of Fading Dawn their home base now perfectly blended into the jungle and away from prying eyes. Taryn walks to the edge of the ship and gracefully jumps to the ground and peers into the thick jungle as if searching. “There is a lot of wild life out there… we may need to tread carefully.”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“Then perhaps you’ll stop being stubborn and sleep in a bed.”

Vince just rolled his eyes and shook his head. He wasn’t stubborn, he just didn’t care to be in this Jedi’s company. However, given his current situation of being kidnapped and forced to have to work with her, at least for now he resigned himself to staying alive, if that meant he had to work with Taryn he would have too. Just wait for his first opportunity to steal the ship and leave.

“It is my wish that you will call me Taryn.”

“can wish all you want Jedi, doesn’t mean wishes come true” he shot back, looking around the wooded area his eyes scanned the surrounding area, he had never been here before, at least this part of the area so he knew very little of what laid in store for them, but he wouldn’t allow her the satisfaction of that tid bit of info.

“The climate is warmer than I expected. This will be our first task working together. Why don’t you climb up on the ship and I’ll send this up to you. Once that’s done we should familiarize ourselves with our general surroundings.”

He merely nodded, to that end he had to agree, they needed to cloak the ship, he hadn’t looked as they landed at the surrounding area and didn’t know how close they might have been to any local villages that could send out for the Axum security forces if they saw a ship land. Inhaling softly he looked up, crouching he leapt up, twirling in mid air he landed atop the ship in a crouch, walking the length of it before walking back he looked down.

Feeling the force flow around them as Taryn levitated the camo net up to him he grabbed it. Moving along the ships hull he pulled the net up completely, then jumped down the other side, pulling the net with him he reached out, several of the spikes used to secure the net into the ground came to his hand and he drove them into the ground, stomping them with his foot to ensure they were secure and deep enough he hooked the net to it and dusted off his hands.

“You mentioned you’ve been before… I don’t expect we’ll interact with the people of Axum much, but when we do, is there anything we should avoid?”


“umm……” he flinched as she voiced his own concern and he looked to her, hatred that she had trapped him with this flashed in his eyes, he knew he wouldn’t be able to lie to her, given his current state of mind she would see right through him and his shoulders sagged, muttering to himself he cleared his throat turning he looked to her and shrugged his shoulders “ive………. never actually been, on this side of the planet, last time I was here, was in one of the major star ports on the far side, i…umm……..dont know much about this side…………”

There is a lot of wild life out there… we may need to tread carefully.”

To that he just nodded in agreement, with a sigh he moved over to the supply containers and took stock of their resources,

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

The emotional turmoil within her charge is greater than she estimated. As soon as he lets his guard down it’s back up, and with a vengeance. Patience, understanding and keeping her distance is the only way to gain his trust. Still, a shadow of doubt lingers in the back of her mind. Had she chosen wisely? It is too early to judge. The loathing Vince feels towards her and the situation she’s placed him in can be felt in waves. His cooperation is fueled by the obvious wisdoms of staying hidden on a planet’s surface. Taryn isn’t discouraged, his anger is to be expected, but it’s her hope that the solitude of the planet will help him face the anger and reasons why he feels angry. From what she understands about him he blames the Jedi for leaving him behind, but like most hate it’s irrational.

Camouflaging the Fading Dawn goes smoothly and since she doesn’t sense any human life nearby no one should bother them. When the time comes, if the times comes, to visit a village for supplies they won’t linger as not to draw too much attention. Taryn listens to Vince confess he’s not familiar with this of the planet. “It doesn’t make much difference we’ll tread carefully if or when we need to restock our supplies.”

Taryn steps to the bottom of the cargo bay ramp staring out into the jungle, “There is a lot of wild life out there….we may need to tread carefully.”

She turns around looking up at ramp to Vince who taking stock of their supplies, “There are at least two months worth of supplies…. I’ve kept Fading Dawn prepared for long stretches of space travel.” Taryn walks up the ramp to join Vince in the cargo bay, “When the war ended I left Coruscant…for a time… I couldn’t stay at the temple or even on the planet…it was too painful.”

She didn’t look at Vince as she talks and she’s not even sure why she’s telling him. She doesn’t expect or want his understanding or his pity, but perhaps she needs to become a person to him, not the self righteous Jedi Master he believes her to be. “You’re not the only one who lost … lots of Jedi died…they sacrificed their lives fighting to keep peace and prevent more innocent lives from dying…” Taryn pauses by a locked cabinet on the wall and uses the Force to release the lock. “but I don’t have to tell you that… you fought in that war.”

In the cabinet are four blasters holstered, removing one she closes the cabinet and resets the lock, “Not typical for Jedi to carry blasters, but sometimes you find yourself in the company of those who don’t use a lightsaber.”

“I know you have pain, but you’re not the only one who lost that day. I lost friends and the man I loved, but I didn’t go hell bent after the Sith or anyone else. I dealt with my pain and moved on… it wasn’t easy and I still miss him, but the time comes when you stop grieving.”

Holding out the blaster to Vince, “Here you may need this out there….. head out north and circle around to the west. I’ll go the opposite way. I’ll meet you back here and maybe we can share a meal… or not.”

Once he takes the blaster she turns away from him heading back into the ship to change into clothes that would make moving through the jungle less difficult. Several minutes later Taryn dressed in ivory shirt tucked into a pair of tan trousers descends the ramp and heads south several meters from the ship treading carefully. She can sense Vince’s presence and wonders if they’ll eventually reach some common ground.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“When the war ended I left Coruscant…for a time… I couldn’t stay at the temple or even on the planet…it was too painful.”

That statement alone gave him pause and he halfed turned, his brow furrowed. His head tilting just the slightest bit. A look of confusion, like trying to recalculate the laws of physics, and having trouble with the math crossed his face, what pain could she be talking about? She seemed intact, whole, loved, the jedi took her home,

“You’re not the only one who lost … lots of Jedi died…they sacrificed their lives fighting to keep peace and prevent more innocent lives from dying…”

Just as suddenly his face turned into a scowl and he snorted, shaking his head his shoulders raised and slumped with a breath, but this time, instead of lashing out at her he just kept his comment to himself, he was getting tired of listening to Tayrn stick her foot in her mouth reciting that mindless Jedi prattle of selflessness and “protectors of good” speech. He’d heard it enough so far in his life and knew it was a lie

“I know you have pain, but you’re not the only one who lost that day. I lost friends and the man I loved, but I didn’t go hell bent after the Sith or anyone else. I dealt with my pain and moved on… it wasn’t easy and I still miss him, but the time comes when you stop grieving.”

The revilation of her statement did not pass him, the Jedi code forbid any and all romantic relationships “path of the darkside” and all that bullshit, and once more he had to look to her in a new light, his face mired with a nasty scowl yet his mind was working, processing everything she told him, storing it away, he’d always had a sharp mind

“Here you may need this out there….. head out north and circle around to the west. I’ll go the opposite way. I’ll meet you back here and maybe we can share a meal… or not.”

He looks to the blaster, taking it he watched Taryn turn around and just walk away, a twinkle hit his eye and his hand raised, the blaster pointed straight at Taryns back. His finger tripped the safety and turned it off, he could do it, It would be so easy, just pull the trigger, kill her, take her ship and go anywhere……….his finger itched, and he stroked the trigger, he could do it, .he could………it would…be………..with a sigh his arm dropped and his shoulders sagged again as he felt himself lean back against the ships bulkhead………coward………..

“As you wish Taryn”

He pushed off the bulkhead and headed north into the brush

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

The jungle sweeps past Taryn in a blur as she runs the perimeter of their camp senses focused, drawing on the Force to alert her of any possible danger. She doesn't think about Vince, instead uses this time to exercise and familiarize herself with the surroundings. The air of the planet is heavy, the humidity of the jungle feels like a moist blanket against her exposed skin.

Several meters away from where Fading Dawn sits Taryn slows to a walk there were no persons living out in their area, but there is plenty of wildlife. She feels no immediate threat, so they must not have tripped any sensors when Vince brought them to the less populated side of the planet.

Though she knows she should be able to see the ship from this distance the camo net had hidden it from view fairly well, she needed to study the area to see the outline of a hulking mass. As she draws nearer she begins to wonder what mood she will find companion. At least, the last time he thought of killing her she felt a positive shift in his mood, not that she expected it to last.

Taryn can sense Vince's presence as she arrives at the ship and walks up the ramp, but she doesn't go to look for him. As before, he will have to come to her if he wanted to talk and they didn't even have to talk about why they are here. A normal conversation would be more of her liking, but that could be a long way off as could any real progress in him letting go of his anger. Then there is the possibility he is too far gone or too stubborn to give up the destructive path. She doesn't believe this is the case, but would be naive to not consider the possibility.

Walking through the ship Taryn enters the galley and begins to heat some water for tea as well as prepare a light meal. Two plates are set out on the counter, but Taryn only prepares her plate with food. The rest of the meal is left in the pan for Vince. A mug of tea in one hand and a plate in the other she walks to the common area setting the food on the table and taking a seat on the couch.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

Vince sighed, watching Taryn take off with a burst of speed he shook his head, turning he pulled his cloak off, leaving it laying over the upperhalf of the landing gear strut he looked at the blaster, felt the weight of it, with a nod he gripped the blaster then tucked it into the back of his leggings. Looking skyward towards the trees he reached out. Sensing the force around him, the life around him he began to walk. Unlike Taryn he would take his time, he wanted….no, needed to get a good layout of the land around them. Scooping up his travel pack he slung it over his shoulder and fitted the buckles and hiked off.

After about an hour he had scouted the about the first few Kilometers of his surroundings, shorts bursts of force induced speed helped him to cover ground, coming to a cliffside he looked up the rocks, placing his hand on the stone he reached out, searching. After a minute he pulled his hand back, and dug into his ruck sack, pulling out a small pick he chipped away at the rock. Little by little untill he revealed a patch of quartz stone, with little effort he managed to chip away a small fragment of the clear crystal like stone and tucked it away.

Shrugging his pack up higher on his back he proceeded back towards camp heading west before cirling around, setting up a perimeter with his senses, a visual map of their surroundings, he felt the wildlife, the predators, the prey, but nothing that was an immediate threat, his mind however. That was another story, he was confused, every time he thought and expected one thing Taryn threw him a curve ball. For so long all he had wanted was to kill the jedi that abandoned him, to blame them, to feel some kind of anger towards them to have faith that he could kill them.

Yet he could feel no anger, nothing that lasted, Taryn was a mystery, she was unlike any other jedi, at least that had known and had been taught by his old master, so far he had attacked her with everything he had, short of physical violence but he was outmatched there, she still had her saber……for now….. Returning to the ship sometime just as the sun began to set seeing that Taryn had cooked he looked around, his jaw flexed, his stomach had begun to growl, yet he still didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of poisening him. Reaching into his pack he pulled out his pack of rations and dug in.

************
Two weeks had passed, and Vince had slowly relaxed, now used to Taryn being around. They talked, albeit briefly at times. His temper would flare and fall but it was becoming less frequent. Every morning Vince would grab his pack and go hiking, Storing away odds n ends he would find. About a week back Vince had found a small settlement after some bartering and “persuasion” he had purchased the last few pieces he had needed for his project. Returning to the ship just after mid day he looked around. Not sure where Taryn had gone he shrugged.

Looking up to the ship he gathered the force around him and leapt, twirling in a graceful fashion he landed gently on top of the ships hull where the sun still shone, feeling the warmth of the hull beneath him he kneeled, dropping to his knees he reached into his pack. He had continued his meditation practices at odd points, finally all the parts he needed had been collected.

Closing his eyes he lowered his head. Letting go a gentle sigh. For any force user concentration was key, piecing together, tuning the crystal. Slowly pieces he had collected lifted. Twisting, turning, forming the almost artful curves. Powercell, focusing lens, casing. Each piece fitting together. The small piece of quartz lifting, turning, embedding itself in the housing

After what seemed like hours he finally opened his eyes, his newly constructed lightsaber hovering, held by his power, it had taken weeks to find everything he needed, he missed his dual blade, but he would settle for what he could find. He reached up, palming the shinning saber. Rising to his feet he thumbed the activation switch and he smiled as that old familiar hum sprang up, the Green blade of his saber, the color of the crystal he found. He palmed it, twisted the saber in his hand, felt its weight, its balance, reaching up he adjusted a knob then locked it in place.

Once more he closed his eyes, twirled the saber, felt it slip between his fingers with ease, over, under, Vince twirled on his heel and spun, and fell into a short series of saber forms, parry, twirl, strike, dodge, after only a few short minutes, a smile of accomplishment on his face he thumbed the switch, the saber turning off he cliped it to his belt.

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

It’d been two weeks since they’d come to Axum. Two weeks of Vince’s unpredictable behavior. By now Taryn had thought and hoped they’d be friends, but their conversations were few and rarely lasted past a meal. He seems determined to keep himself closed off, so when they talked it was usually Taryn sharing pieces of her life, but she rarely mentioned her affair with Xavier, his name only offered when he was part of the story. What Vince learned is that she was a stubborn youngling, an inquisitive and often disobedient Padawan and that her methods of training were sometimes questioned. According to the council and sometimes other Jedi was she gave Cal too much freedom and treated him as her equal rather than a student, but in her opinion that is what was required for his personality and when the time came to face the trials he graduated to Knight. He’d also learn she’s always listened to her instinct even when she knew she’d be criticized by the council. She has always accepted their advice and faced the consequences when they felt she’d gone too far.

In the last couple of days Taryn had noticed Vince had again become withdrawn and to this behavior she assesses he’s hiding something. She could try using the Force look into the possible futures, but when they’d landed on the planet she made the decision to keep her mind clear. If something truly dangerous presents itself she will face that challenge. Each day while she mediates she focuses on the present and seeks guidance. She’d recently sought out Cal through the Force only to learn he’s under orders by the council to find her location. The bond they developed over the years is strong, but she’s able to hide herself from him. In time she will return to the Jedi Order to face the consequences of her actions.

Before dawn Taryn had left to hike the nearby mountains. It was the furthest she’d ventured away since the day they arrived. She’d remained close in case Vince needed something or had tried to take the ship; she hadn’t been able to trust him straight off. Even now she remains guarded against his unpredictable moods. The challenging workout of the climb is invigorating, it’d been too long since she pushed her body, by midday she finds a ledge on the side of the mountain to sit and meditate.

The climb down the mountain proved to be just as challenging at times and once safely on the ground she breaks into a swift jog to return to the ship. She senses something has changed, but looks no further, instead she remains on her guard. Rushing through the jungle she dodges low branches and jumps over fallen tree trunks. Her body is fatigued and will be sore in the morning. In the distance she can sense Vince, he’s at the ship, and his mood feels confident, accomplished. Slowing her pace she enters the perimeter of their camp she takes a deep breath and while she has the urge to call out to Vince she instead leaves him on his own. She believes eventually he will let down his guard but until then she will continue to give him his space.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

Vince stood there, letting the sun bath him, he had closed his eyes, let his body drift, let his mind take in everything. He gripped his saber in his palm, finally opening his eyes he looked to the hilt, head cocked to one side, almost lovingly at the weapon in his hand. He strangely, felt whole again, like without his saber he had felt alone. He Frowned then, But he hadnt been alone. Taryn had stayed true to her words, she didn’t bug him, didn’t try and co-herce him, she’d offered him nothing, pity, sorrow, happiness, absolutely nothing….

Two weeks, for two weeks he snapped at her, bitched, hollared, did everything he could to provoke her, to prove himself right about her, and she gave him nothing back, till he had nothing left. His frowned eased, a prickle through the force he turned his head, looking back over his shoulder, he saw Taryn enter camp, she hadnt seen him. But she had felt him, he felt that hesitance, felt the………he didn’t know what he felt from her, concern? Maybe? Vince walked the wing of the ship then jumped down, his shoulders squared, head held high, a smile on his face.

“Its been two weeks jedi……Two..long,… uneventful weeks. You’ve stayed true to your words, and have left me a little more confused then I was….. But my Meditations have shown me much, as has my time alone”

He Thumbed his saber and it hummed to life, his smile curled up, reaching his eyes, almost an evil smile. But there was no malice in his words, no anger, no hate, his voice sounding little more then neutral, almost with a hint of a laugh as he watched Taryns face.

“3 weeks ago, you brought me to my knees on Coruscant, you, out of everyone I had ever fought, “

He twirled his saber in his palm, bringing it up into a high guard and cracked his neck, his smile gentled some from the self satisfied smirk he had been sporting

“Im feeling a bit rusty, but im ready for a re-match”

He lunged then, a burst of speed he screamed to her “Teach me!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Taryn’s steps stop short as she enters the clearing and Vince drops to the ground from the top of the ship her gaze immediately shift to his hand, which is clutching a lightsaber its blade humming softly.

“So this is what you’ve been doing these last two weeks.” The Jedi Master says softly lifting her gaze to look at Vince and she can see the delight in his face at her surprise. Will this be the day that it all ends? Will she be forced to kill him? She’s unsure. There is no malice in his tone and she doesn’t sense any hate.

“3 weeks ago, you brought me to my knees on Coruscant, you, out of everyone I had ever fought. “

Taryn’s pale gaze doesn’t leave Vince as she shrugs the backpack from her shoulders readying herself for whatever may need to be her next move.

“I’m feeling a bit rusty, but I’m ready for a re-match,” He tells her as she watches the subtle change in his body movements, she knows his next move. As he lunges forward with lightning speed she calls her own lightsaber from her hip to her hand just as he yells, “Teach me!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A flash of green slices through the air blocking Vince’s attack sparks of energy bounce from the connected blade. Teach him. If that is what he wants then she’ll step into that role. “I will teach you.”

She begins and forces her blade to the right disconnecting their blades, “Don’t make your attack so obvious, I saw your muscles flex and tense seconds before you lunged. I had no need to sense your attack.”

Side stepping to the left Taryn blocks another swipe at her side though he doesn’t strike with the intent to kill and she’s perfectly aware this is a spar, but in his unstable emotional state she knows it can quickly change. “Remember a Jedi depends against an attack and only initiates an attack to defend their self or another.”

Swinging her blade around she strikes quickly at each of his sides testing his ability to defend himself, “Keep yourself focused, allowing the Force to guide your actions and yet you must remain peace. Striking out of anger or fear will only allow the Darkside to take foothold. You’ve seen its affects on your own life.”

Driving Vince back with fluid strikes of her blade Taryn gains the advantage as she continues to push him. “Concentrate Vince don’t give into frustration instead study my movements, my patterns and form your own strategy with the guidance of the Force.”

Taryn then pulls back giving Vince the advantage and defends herself against his strikes before she again takes the upper hand and strikes quickly. The two move around the perimeter of the camp and she continues to challenge him to the point of defeat before breaking off her attack to give back ground. Each time it is more difficult to gain the advantage. He’s a quick study and must have once been the pride of his Jedi Master. Monitoring his emotions she offers advice to keeping a level head, “You’re strong Vince, stronger than you know, but you must relearn focus and let go of your arrogance.”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“So this is what you’ve been doing these last two weeks.”

“yes, along with many other things”

He lunged, felt the thrill of the sudden attack, the anticipation of battle, he watched her call her saber to her hand and then their sabers met, Vince’s body tensed as their blades locked, blades hissing as he listened to Taryn speak, He Felt Taryn’s saber twist then she broke off and she backed away. Vince rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, licking his lips he couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t make your attack so obvious, I saw your muscles flex and tense seconds before you lunged. I had no need to sense your attack.”

“well….i wanted to give you some warning, you’ve surprised me a lot these past few weeks. “

And then it was on, he knew, just from his first battle with her he was gunna be out matched, and he was right, Again she drove him back, but he was at a disadvantage, he’d spent years, used to his double blade the single blade felt odd to him, he hadnt had a single hilt weapon since his days in the jedi academy. And Taryn gave him no quarter, no length of pause as she drove him back into defense but his training was coming back to him, he changed his grip on his saber, as it began to feel apart of him again.

“Keep yourself focused, allowing the Force to guide your actions and yet you must remain peace. Striking out of anger or fear will only allow the Darkside to take foothold. You’ve seen its affects on your own life.”

Vince merely nodded in response, his eyes steady, watching, his body reacting, each time she attacked he grew more certain of himself again, his shoulders straightening more and more, Dodge, parry, a saber flurry as he spun, calling the force to him he rebounded off the side of the ships hull, twirling mid air to drop behind Taryn he backed off a few steps, his smile still on his face.

“You’re strong Vince, stronger than you know, but you must relearn focus and let go of your arrogance.”

Vince let his body relax, all the tension in his shoulders eased and he closed his eyes, feeling Taryn turn to look at him, the hum of her saber as she brought it up in a ready stance Vince thougth back, through everything all the pain, his training, Vince had always enjoyed battle, reveled in it, take pride in himself at one time. Thought back to his fight with Taryns friends, back on Coruscant. With a roll of his wrist, his eyes opened, steady, heated, he twirled his saber and brought it up into a high guard.

Vince let himself go the force to his guide, one second just standing their, the next he was before Taryn. One minute Shii-cho then next Vaapad. His forms ever changing, drawing in the force, his motions fluid once more, he drove Taryn back, Soresu, then settling into Djem-so he smiled, elation in the fight, his smile became more open, he eased up and backed away from Taryn as they neared the edge of their camp, his shoulders rising and falling heavier with his breathing

“its…..its been so long……I’d…………….forgotten the feel………”

Vince looked to his saber, the muscle in his arm tightening as he lifted the saber , thumbing the switch the blade retracted into the hilt, as the force left him all his memorys came back, all the people he’d killed. Jedi, civilian, even other so called sith… and he started to shake as realization hit him

“gods, what have I done………………” Vince sank to his knees trembling his eyes opened wide, as if a great dam inside of him broke “what………..what have i…….done……..” he started to cry

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Throughout their spar Taryn can feel Vince take her advice and open himself up to the Force. Slowly he becomes stronger, more skilled with his blade, but there is a part of him which holds back. Even though he challenges her skills it’s all technical. She reminds him to let go of his arrogance. That is when the tides changed and he grew stronger, his strokes become swifter and challenge her skills as a swordsman.

As they near the west edge of their camp she begins to feel herself losing the advantage. He won’t need much in the way of instruction if he continues down this path. When he shuts down his blade Taryn smiles pleased she’d not made a mistake by bringing him here. The slender Jedi Master watches Vince as he catches his breath and tells her, “Its…..it’s been so long……I’d…………….forgotten the feel………”

“You’ve done well, Vince… why don’t we…” Her voice trails off as she senses a shift in his mood.

“Gods, what have I done………………”

Taryn takes a step closer as Vince sinks to his knees trembling with sudden emotion.

“What………..what have I…….done……..”

“Vince…” her voice in soft as she approaches him seeing the tears well in his eyes, “You made mistakes… but that is past.”

Kneeling down beside him Taryn feels compassion for what he must be going through and though she wants to reach out and comfort him she doesn’t cross the boundary she respectably put in place over the last three weeks, so she hopes her presence is enough. “It’s not too late to atone for the past. You can change and turn your back on the darkside. If you chose this path I walk beside you as a friend… if you’ll have me.”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

Vince kneeled there, his eyes open, images, he felt his connection to the force, in rapid succession, his eyes flicking back and forth, he realized too late, it was a vision, the force was showing him a vision, his past, his failures, all the innocents he’d killed, he panted hard, falling forward onto his arms. He’d burried everything, after being abandoned, he shut down, hurt, exhausted, he just let himself fall, he had no longer felt that he was good enough to have just been discarded.

“wha…what……..” his body convulsed as more images, his sith master, her seduction, her false sympathy, she told him everything he had wanted to hear, everything he wanted to believe, and she’d given him promises, and he’d let himself fall, let her twist him, train her, heal him Vince rolled onto his side, curled up as if in pain. Fast forward, dantooine, Kamino, other planets, a gun for hire, bounty hunter work.

He cursed again, his breathing deepening, corellia, tantooine, being caught, too fast, the images where coming too fast, he didn’t know how to stop it he only briefly heard Taryn’s voice
“Vince…You made mistakes… but that is past.”

Coruscant, the Jedi councils verdict, his death sentence, fastforward to now, two weeks, finally feeling the connection to Taryn, her patience, her questions, the force showing him just how much she really wanted to help him, how much she cared that he could be saved
“It’s not too late to atone for the past. You can change and turn your back on the darkside. If you chose this path I walk beside you as a friend… if you’ll have me.

Vince felt bile rise up in his throat, rolling away from Taryn he rose to his arms, wretching violently in dry heaves, lasting only minutes he kneeled there, panting, his body trembling, the vision left him, his body twitching, his head hung, his body heaving with heavy breaths, spitting on the ground to try and rid his mouth of the taste of stomach acid he finally managed to get himself straightined up on his knees, taking a few deep breaths he managed to calm himself enough to open his eyes

“you right, and…ive…ive been wrong……soo wrong…..sith spit, that sucked, “ he panted looking to the ground he called his saber to his hand and clipped it on his belt “gods never let that happen again, or be that harsh….”

He looked to Taryn

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Still kneeling on the ground Taryn looks to Vince with a small smile at the corners of lips. It hadn’t been easy watching Vince go through the pain of what the Force had chosen to show him, but it was necessary. Only by facing what he’s done and forsaken and truly feeling regret can healing now finally begin. Straightening to her feet the Jedi Master feels a sense of relief as she had not wanted to kill Vince and during their duel there was a moment she was nearly convinced that was his fate. “Welcome back, Vince.”

Taryn’s smile grows brighter, “The path ahead will be filled with struggles and you’ll always struggle between the paths of light and dark, but today proves you were not lost.”

There is a visible ease to her posture as she turns to walk back to the ship and speaks loud enough so that he can hear, “We will celebrate this evening. I think we can fashion a table and stools out of the cargo containers in the cargo bay, which I’ll leave to you. Tonight we’ll share a meal outside and finally have an actual conversation.”

She remarks with a laugh in her voice as she walks by her backpack and picks it up slinging it on her shoulder, “I’ll put together something, but perhaps tomorrow we can venture into one of the villages to buy some fresh supplies. We’ll make an adventure out of it.”

Half jogging up the ramp she disappears into the ship. She decides to prepare a stew out of seasoned meat and frozen vegetables. While the stew is cooking she showers and thinks about her own vision earlier today showing her that the council has sent Cal to find them. She knows there will be consequences, but when they return to Coruscant the council will not be able to overlook the fact Vince has changed. Pulling on a simple, short sleeved dress, which falls to her ankles she fastens a belt low on her waist her lightsaber dangling at her right hip.

Instead of the typical pot of brewed tea Taryn presents a bottle of wine to the dinner table, “I think we both deserve a drink tonight.”

Sitting down at their makeshift table the young Jedi Master smiles to her friend and pours them both a glass. In the center of the table is the pot of steaming stew with some rolls in a small basket. “All the comforts of a home, don’t you think? Not that either one of us really know what a home is like.”

Serving up the stew Taryn knows she will have to tell Vince what she saw this afternoon, but that can wait till tomorrow. Pushing the food around with a fork she stares at the stew and sighs softly before looking up as if she’d forgotten something. “Hm... we should begin with a toast.”

Reaching for her cup she lifts it in the air, “To new beginnings and long lasting friendship.”

Simple enough. Knocking her cup against his she takes a sip, “I’ve done most of the talking these past two weeks, so tonight I want to know something about you. Anything… good or bad or both.”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“The path ahead will be filled with struggles and you’ll always struggle between the paths of light and dark, but today proves you were not lost.”

Vince managed to finally struggles to his feet, his breathing finally slowing down he lays his hand on his head and closes his eyes for a moment before letting his hand fall away “god I havent had a headache like this since……….well….ever…..feels like I got body slammed by a Rancor…” Vince shook his head and looked to Taryn, he could see her smile, the change in her mood, and it was too infectious, he smiled back to her.

“We will celebrate this evening. I think we can fashion a table and stools out of the cargo containers in the cargo bay, which I’ll leave to you. Tonight we’ll share a meal outside and finally have an actual conversation. I’ll put together something, but perhaps tomorrow we can venture into one of the villages to buy some fresh supplies. We’ll make an adventure out of it.”

Vince nodded listening to Taryns suggestion, looking to the woods then to the sky, he needed to make a fire anyway, dusk was coming and it had been getting slightly colder at night, if his last visit and scans of the planet revealed anything this part of the planet was heading into winter, or would be in a few more months. Vince quickly gathered the supplys Taryn had listed, making a visibly ackward, but sturdy table with clamps, nails and what spare parts he could find vince started the fire, gathering the wood nearby he patted himself down and frowned not sure where he put his flint he grumbled.

“damn it,”

Pointing a hand towards the fire his face frowned deeper, a spark of lightning lashing from his fingers he ignited the wood and smiled to himself, wiggling his fingers he shrugged and turned, listening to the soft crackling he sat at the table as Taryn sat down he looked to the bottle and food she’d prepared and for the first time in what he felt was years he smiled

“all the comforts of a home, don’t you think? Not that either one of us really know what a home is like.”

Vince laughed softly at that and smirked shaking his head “I havent had a home in years, back water planets, ship bunks, allys, so this is paradise to me” vince smiled and held out his bowl as Taryn filled it, he cupped it in his hands, letting the soup warm his hands he inhaled and smiled

“Hm... we should begin with a toast. To new beginnings and long lasting friendship.”

Vince held up his glass “To the death of the Repub…………….” Vince stopped “ummm…….yea……” vince shook his head “sorry, it was…..habit….” vince looked away uneasy now, swallowing he shook his head again “sorry” he smiled again, although faintly and clinked his glass “to new friends”

“I’ve done most of the talking these past two weeks, so tonight I want to know something about you. Anything… good or bad or both.”

Vince stayed quiet for a while, holding his stew bowl, staring at it, his face showing his thoughts “i.. can only assume, before you took this assignment that you read my file, there isnt much in there you don’t already know……” he turned his face away again, half his face hidden in shadow, he frowned slightly, lost in thought

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

“I... can only assume, before you took this assignment that you read my file, there isn’t much in there you don’t already know……”

Taryn sits quietly and eats allowing Vince to stay within his own thoughts she wasn’t going to push him. They’d reached a milestone today, but the challenges are only beginning. She doesn’t know what is ahead for Vince or her, but she knows they cannot stay on Axum for much longer and eventually they will have to return to Coruscant. The Jedi Master’s pale green eyes reflect the fire as she gazes at Vince his features shadowed by the dark and outlined by the blaze of the fire. Finally breaking the silence she speaks softly, “Reading a file only informs you of the surface of a person, it doesn’t tell me who are you are. I do know that you were a promising Padawan with high marks and were very close to facing the trails to become a Knight when you were lost to the order.”

She pauses to sip at her wine and then continues, “Much of your recent exploits have been recorded, but that is your past. Once you forgive yourself you’ll find out more about who you are.”

Setting her cup down Taryn’s gaze stares out into the darkness sensing the nocturnal life around them, “We’ll stay on Axum another two days and then… we’ll go somewhere with a little more civilization. The council has sent Cal, my former Padawan, to find for us. I think we should have a little fun before he catches up with us.”

A smile touches her lips and a touch of mischief is in her eyes as she looks back at Vince, “Don’t you think?”

Standing up from the table she begins to clear the food, but leaves his plate. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts. Tomorrow is another day… perhaps we’ll talk more then.”

Taryn smiles at him one last time before leaving him and heading back into the ship.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“Reading a file only informs you of the surface of a person, it doesn’t tell me who are you are. I do know that you were a promising Padawan with high marks and were very close to facing the trails to become a Knight when you were lost to the order.”

He looked to her, face set in an almost solemn frown as he listened to what she had to say. He had know his master had been impressed with him and had often lauded his abilitys to other masters but he’d never would have guessed he had been close to achieving his dream…….

“Much of your recent exploits have been recorded, but that is your past. Once you forgive yourself you’ll find out more about who you are.”

“ya, I would suppose, just the act of whipping out a lightsaber, even without the deaths I caused would be cause for anyone to notice and make a note of it….”

“We’ll stay on Axum another two days and then… we’ll go somewhere with a little more civilization. The council has sent Cal, my former Padawan, to find for us. I think we should have a little fun before he catches up with us.”

“fun?” Vince blinked at that, the mischievous looked on taryns face now pulling him from his thoughts and towards other things. Vince looked to the fire, throwing what was left of the drink he had in his hand into the fire he rose to stand as taryn did the same. Arching a brow he couldn’t help but smile taryn was a pure mystery to him. And just when he thought he knew what to expect she threw him another curve ball

“I’ll leave you to your thoughts. Tomorrow is another day… perhaps we’ll talk more then.

Vince nodded and shook out his clothing dusting them off

“sleep well master”

Vince turned, not even having realized what he’d said he began cleaning up around the camp, he’d had a lot on his mind, and he knew he wouldn’t go to sleep right away, calling his saber to his hand he ignited it. On the edge of the camp he began his old saber excersises smiling happily for the first time in years

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Since the day Cal passed the trails and was promoted to Jedi Knight, Taryn had not been drawn to another youngling. Many of her friends had suggested she chose another to train, but the young Jedi Master had wanted time before devoting herself to another student. Then the reports of Vince Lunairis began to surface she knew this is where her path needed to lead. Though she never planned on disobeying the Jedi Council she could not in good conscious write Vince off as they were prepared to do and she was right, he isn’t lost, today proved that.

Using the makeshift table Vince had put together last night she has laid out pot of tea, a small bowl of cut up fruit and a few muffins she’d baked a couple of days ago. A mug in her hand she sips carefully at the warm tea while gazing out into the thick foliage. She still hadn’t decided where they should go next, but it should be somewhere with civilization where they can easily blend in. Her only plan is continue to help Vince reform and grow stronger in the Force. When Cal finds them is when they’ll return to Coruscant, but not until then. She hopes that by not continuing to run the council will understand what she felt needed to be done. They’ll have every right to ask her to leave the Order, but she’s at peace with the decision she’s made. Hearing the rustle of footsteps she turns her head and smiles to Vince, “Good morning, sleep well?”

Motioning to him to join her at the table she waits for him to sit, “The plan is to spend the day together by going for a run through the jungle, a small hike over the western hill range and into the village nestled into the valley. From the information in the ship’s computer it’s the closest settlement use to having outside visitors, so we shouldn’t attract too much attention. “

Not chattering on too much she finished her tea while eating a muffin and then clears the table once they’re done. Standing at the edge of camp she pulls on a backpack and waits for Vince to join her. When comes up beside her she smiles, “Ready?”

Not waiting for an answer she darts of into the jungle in a slow jog preparing to make the first leg a bit of a workout. Leading Vince through the jungle she feels invigorated and decides to run through a thicker part of the jungle dodging low branches and vines. At one point they reach a stream and have to gingerly cross over it by gingerly walking across an old fallen tree. When they reach the hills they’re both forced to move more carefully because of loose soil and rocks. When they reach the top of the hill Taryn pauses and takes several deep breathes. Looking down into the valley they can see the settlement.

Dropping to the ground she shrugs off her backpack and pulls out two water pouches handing one off to Vince. “That was fun… but I think I may want to take it a little slower on the way back.”

There is lightness to her voice that’s he not heard, something carefree. Taking small drinks of water she relaxes and then looks at him, “What do you say we walk from here?”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

It was late into the night when Vince had finally crawled into his bunk and passed out. His dreams were empty, nothing, he slept the darkness of the dead but slept well. When morning came he rose from his bunk. Groaning he rolled his right shoulder hearing it crack. Changing into fresh clothing he walked from the ship. Seeing Taryn at the table with food he moved to her, still shaking the weariness from his body and mind, he had never been a “morning” person and was usually a little slow to get up when the force wasn't warning him of danger.

“Good morning, sleep well?”

“i slept alright, thank you” Sitting at the table he pulled a muffin to him and clasped his hand around it, taking a knife he cut it open and added a little butter to it and grabbed a few small pieces of fruit and began to eat as he heard taryn speak up again, his eyes lifting to her as he paid attention

“The plan is to spend the day together by going for a run through the jungle, a small hike over the western hill range and into the village nestled into the valley. From the information in the ship’s computer it’s the closest settlement use to having outside visitors, so we shouldn’t attract too much attention. “

Vince smiled as he listened, a run sounded good, different then what he had been doing the past few weeks it gave him a chance to not only gauge himself and how sloppy he'd gotten but also compare himself to taryn and see her in a more natural relaxed state. Wiping off his chin and lips with a napkin he tossed his trash into their makeshift trash bin and stood up, stretching slightly he groaned

“its been a few weeks since i've last had to run” he grinned softly at taryn as she too knew the last time he had to run, he heard taryn ask if he was ready but before he could answer she darted off, with a snort, a smile and laugh he leapt over the table before him with a deft twirl and hit the ground running, Taryn didn't make it easy either, he had to work to catch up to her, the urge to call on the force to catch her was great, but no, that would defeat the purpose he assumed of taryns desire to get him to exercise.

As he caught up to taryn he couldn't help but notice her grace, and elegance, even at this jogging pace, she was much smoother about dodging branches, and traveling over the obstacles of the forest while he was a little more showy, but his tactics also taxed him more as he called on the force, launching himself over branches, twisting, jumping he treated it more like a jungle gym then a hike, but he couldn't help but smile, this was fun

as they came to a stream he watched taryn as she balanced herself precariously on a log as she crossed, with a smile and laugh he watched as briefly taryn just looked back him, crouching he inhaled and leapt, the force propelling him up then across he flipped and hit the ground in a crouch “now wasn't that easier?” he teasingly laughed as she turned and ran again Finally they reached the top of the cliffs, where Vince, in his teasing showiness had stumbled and fell a few times because the loose soil and rocky terrain decided to punish him for his stupidity. Dusting off the knees of his pants he caught up to taryn panting

“That was fun… but I think I may want to take it a little slower on the way back.”

Vince laughed “yea, “ panting for breath he licks his lips, taking his water skin he takes a few gulps before wiping away the rivulets of water from his chin as he looked out over the valley he felt a relaxation come over him, he couldn't stop smiling, he just felt......different...... and the subtle change in Taryns voice shook him from his revelry and he looked to her with an inquisitive look

“What do you say we walk from here?” Vince watched her for a minute, his mind going totally blank, the backdrop of the valley, their surroundings the gentle sounds of the forest and the animals, birds, it was peaceful, utterly, he'd never known this before, this was new, strange to him, to not feel hate, to not feel anger, to just........let go......Vince frowned, but only for a moment before he sat down before Taryn

“yea, walking sounds good” Vince suddenly took on a shy air to him as other thoughts began to course through his mind, of men, and women shaking his head at the suddenly impure thoughts he looked out over the valley

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

She can sense the shift in him. The tumultuous emotions of confusion and hate have calmed and in their place is peace. During their run through the jungle she saw the change in him; the smiles came more naturally as did the pure enjoyment of friendly competition between them. They moved well together subtly challenging each other to push their skills as they dodged the obstacles through the jungle. He’d tried to show off and succeeded most of the time, but showmanship was never her forte. She has always been more direct, straightforward and stubborn; a trait frowned upon by Jedi, but one which had defined her as a person and Jedi.

As they sit at the top of the hill looking over the valley she senses another shift in Vince and looks at him out of the corner of her eyes watching him quietly and feels something she’s not felt in a long time. Shifting her gaze back out to the horizon she sighs softly and pushes those feelings aside. Finding him attractive is one thing, but to feel anything more than friendship, to be anything more than a friend and possible mentor would be wrong. She’d be no better than the Sith woman who’d taken him.

“It’s time to finish our trek.”

She says as she stands to her feet and swings the backpack around to her back sliding her arms through the straps. Taking a careful step forward she approaches an overgrown dirt path and begins to make her way down the hill keeping a steady pace. Once they are again in the thick of the jungle she takes the time to admire the plant life and untouched nature of the jungle. The wildlife is plentiful but hidden and many she sense are nocturnal. The quiet between she and Vince continues, but is not uncomfortable, in fact; it feels nice.

Though she has questions she wants to ask him she decides it’s better if he decides when to trust her enough to tell her anything about himself. Though she suspects there is probably much he may not want to talk about for a while. As the village comes into view Taryn finally breaks the silence. “We should proceed carefully and not wander too far from each other. I brought a few things along in order to trade since Republic credits don’t hold any monetary value in this system.”

Glancing to Vince she offers him a smile and nearly reaches to hold his hand, but quickly squashes that feeling and steps away wondering where the sudden urge came from. Keeping a slow pace she leads them into the village which has a bustling market even at midday. Browsing through the booths Taryn admires the craftsmanship of wooden bowls and other household items as well as decorative pieces. Clothing and metal works can be found in other spaces. For the most part Taryn takes her time in each booth talking and learning more about the culture for those friendly enough to offer information.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

Vince sat in the quiet of the forest, reaching into his pack he pulled out some trail bread he’d made and snacked on it, sighing softly he subtly watched Taryn from the corner of his vision, she was…..beautiful….blinking a few times he was roused from his thoughts as Taryn got up, turning to look at her he smiled and rose to stand as well

“It’s time to finish our trek.”
Vince nodded in agreement and put his snack away. Following taryn back through forest he watched her still, the way she admired the area, reaching out, touching flowers and other more interesting things as they walked. Vince for the most part had his hands tucked into his robe. Not really interested in the forest as much his thoughts, wandering, the past years, missed friends, death, hate, all of it, his life in a picture frame. But when he looked to taryn, everything she’d done, everything she’d said to him since the first time they met, and the pain just/……vanished…..it was weird and it puzzled him

“We should proceed carefully and not wander too far from each other. I brought a few things along in order to trade since Republic credits don’t hold any monetary value in this system.”

Vince nodded. “I still have some money left from my last trip here, aint much but should be sufficient combined with what you have to trade, The locals here take anything and will trade anything for items they’ve never seen before, some of the more primitive tribes tried to buy my lightsaber for the equivalent of a couple million credits last time I was here” Vince smirked at the memory as they entered the village.

Vinces eyes moved about, watching the bustling locals he was surprised the market was packed even this late In the day. Smiling he watched taryn move off his eyes momentarily dropping to watch her ass sway again he shook his head cursing himself, turning on his heel he made his way into the market, moving to a jewelry booth he’d had a sudden urge to want to find a gift for taryn, partly in thanks for everything she’d done, and just an urge …well..he couldn’t understand it..

He could feel Taryn, through their connection, she was not far from him, although he’d remembered her warning about not getting too far apart Vince’s arrogance and the fact he was a jedi or had been no one could harm him so he’d let himself stray. Moving to another stall he found the necklaces and jewelery here to be unique in design, the metalwork was simple yet it flowed well with the small emerald jewel that was the centerpiece.

As Vince went to reach into his robes he padded his pocket and frowned. Opening his robes he looked to find his credit stick was gone. A scowl crossed his face, he turned to look out into the massive crowd, stretching out to touch the thoughts of the others he found one, that had the stench of guilt and greed all over it. He snarled and whirled his eyes searching the crowd he quickly landed on a shorter man, dressed down in almost peasant clothing making his way quickly from the market his eyes narrowed.

Vince shift on his foot and took off after the man his anger, buried for weeks roared to the surface, someone dared to steal from him? Noo fucking way. Vince stalked the bastard into the seedier parts of town and into a dark ally. The man had realized he was being followed not long ago but the fact he wasn’t scared told him the man had to have been a thief for a while………not caring about conceiling himself he entered the darkened ally and followed the man around to a dead end. Stepping from the shadows Vince growled

“you have something of mine, I want it back” The man turned and looked at him, a sneer on his face which only served to enrage Vince further the man just simply let go a sharp whistle and within seconds vince found himself surrounded by at least 6 men he could feel. He man just sneered at him like he had the upper hand. Vince cocked his head to one side as if bored. The next instant Vince’s hearing picked up the sound of a blaster clearing a holster. The Next vinces saber was in his hand as shots were fired, vince's cloak falling to the ground he heard several curses from the men around him as the green light of his saber illuminated the ally and the men realized quickly how fucked they were.

It took seconds only, vinces saber a flurry of anger, finding its mark time and again, hands, arms, a head went rolling into the darkness as the men around him fell. Vinces eyes fell on the man now cowering in the deadend corner of the ally vince stalked to him. With a yell the man tossed his Credit stick back at vince here take it, fuck take it take everything im sorry,
“your pathetic you little worm, how curious it was that you thought you could steal from me, and now cower in fear as you realize your death is at hand”

Vince reached out his hand, the force catching the man around the throat he lifted him up, pinning him against the wall as he strangled in the force grip. “your death will not be swift you little bastard, youll suffer before I send you to hell”

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Taryn hadn’t noticed that Vince wandered in a different direction. Today’s run through the forest had strengthened their connection she is still able to sense him while she shops and so she trusts him to stay out of trouble. She knows the nature of their relationship is changing and the feelings between them bordering on a dangerous connection. She’s supposed to be his friend not his lover; she needs to be his friend.

Approaching a third stand of handmade decorative items and jewelry Taryn greets the woman behind the table before beginning to browse and then pauses sensing a disturbance. Setting down the woven bowl in her hand she looks out into the crowd for a sign of Vince. “No..”

Taryn whispers as she steps away from the stand and begins to weave swiftly through the crowd. Once clear of the marketplace she breaks into a run sensing Vince’s heightened anger and nervous to what she’ll find. Stopping at the entrance of the alley she stares in horror at the dismembered bodies and then at Vince who has the last man clinging to life. “Stop! Vince, put him down!”

She yells as her hand calls her lightsaber to her hand and ignites the blade, but questions what she will do if he doesn’t comply. Will he listen? Will he turn on her? She should have watched him closer especially at such an early point of his recovery.

“Vince.” This time when she says his name he hears the disappointment.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

Stop! Vince, put him down!

For the second time…or was it the third, in as many weeks Vince frowned to find that Taryn had managed to approach him without being able to feel her, Vinces arms flexed though his grip loosening just enough to allow the man to breath Vince hears the hiss of a lightsaber activating and he jerks like he’d been struck, his face screwing up in confusion he turned slightly to look at Taryn, to find her weapon was in her hands

”Vince…”

Vinces frowned deepend, the anger, the rage easing from him slowly as confusion and…..hesitation……began to overcome him, the note in Taryns voice, had struck a cord within him, in the darkness of the ally two lightsabers between them vince licked his lips, “this man, and those of the croonies laying now executed on the ground are nothing more then petty criminals, this one “ Vince arched his head towards the man still hanging on the wall gasping “stole from me, when I confronted him his men attacked, I defended, They were weak and did not deserve to live”

Vinces voice held an edge of stone cold hatred, like every word had been etched in venom “this…worm..” Vince pulled the man back then slammed him into the wall with bone rattling force as he cursed at vince “has terrorized and stolen from others, by law he should die” Vinces voice faultered on that last, as if he didn’t believe his own words or was struggling to justify his actions to Taryn, The hard lined edges of vinces faced eased

But still vinces face showed confusion as he stared at Taryn, again torn between the two warring sides within himself, his Jedi training for the most part forgotten under the weight and hatred that had built up, but…..why….why could she not see what he was doing was right? Why…..had she drawn her weapon on him?!?! To defend this helpless and weakwilled piece of trash that caused nothing but strife and illwill towards others

“Taryn?!?!” again Vinces voice faultered, hesitation, apprehension……….fear……..would she kill him? Could he stop her?!?! No, he didn’t have the power, the man forgotten the force released him, letting him slump, unconscious but alive to the ground Vince turned to face his…mentor? Friend? What? Vince swallowed, his saber between him and her, a mexican standoff as people on earth had once said, she’d beaten him…twice…..why….why here? Why couldn’t she understand…….swallowing vinces saber hissed as he deactivated it, his hand shaking he tossed it away, his breathing had deepend and he fell to his knees, just staring at his hands “why………”

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

bumps to just clear dust

 

[SiaKlynn]

Taryn Nalani

Taryn can sense the hurt and confusion within Vince as he discovers her presence she had hesitated about drawing her weapon, but counted on possible confrontation to distract him from his attack on the man he currently has by the throat.

“This man, and those of the cronies laying now executed on the ground are nothing more than petty criminals, this one, stole from me, when I confronted him his men attacked, I defended, They were weak and did not deserve to live.”

“We are not judge and jury… it’s not our way.” She says calmly, “He should be turned over to the lawmakers of this planet.”

“This…worm…”

Taryn hears the icy cold venom in Vince’s voice and watches him slam the man into wall with bone rattling force. “Vince, please.”

“Has terrorized and stolen from others, by law he should die.” He continues.

“Yes, however it is not our place to be executioner. You should have brought him before this village’s law authority or at least come to me, first.”

Taryn’s voice is distressed as is her mood as they face off in the alley. Will he attack? She doesn’t want to fight him. His emotions are erratic bouncing back forth between the deep seeded rage and reborn peace causing confusion, which is written across his face.

“Taryn?!?!”

He cries out her name before finally making a decision of surrender tossing his lightsaber aside and falling to his knees. It wasn’t terribly long ago that they’d been in a similar situation, but this time she knows him and knows he wants to do what’s right. She shouldn’t have taken him among people so soon or at least, the very least kept him closer to her side. These men are dead partly due to her misjudgment. Deactivating her lightsaber Taryn clips it to her belt and steps to Vince sinking to her knees in front of them. Waiting till he meets her gaze a hand reaches to touch this cheek, “It’s alright… we’ll fix this, okay?”

Looking pass him to the man lying unconscious on the ground she presses her lips together knowing that what she’s about to do is wrong and against everything she’s been taught, shifting her gaze back to Vince she lets out a breath then speaks firmly, “I want you to go back to the ship, pack up our camp and make sure nothing of our presence is left behind. Once you’ve done that I want you to warm up the ship’s engines and have the nav computer calculate a route to the Taldot Sector. Do you understand?”

She waits for him to agree before resting her hand on his shoulder and straightening up, fingers squeeze gently before dragging away as she approaches the unconscious man. Looking over her shoulder she waits for Vince to collect his lightsaber; she doesn’t want him to see what she’s about to do. “Go.”

Once Vince has left she kneels down beside the man and rests a hand on his chest, his breaths are shallow, but his heart rate is normal. Gripping by the shirt she drags him to the wall and with a grunt sits him up against the wall and crouches down in front of him. Slowly the man begins to regain consciousness and groans in pain. “Open your eyes and look at me.”

Taryn’s voice is stern, laced with a dangerous edge that catches the man’s attention who forces his eyes to open and within those depths the Jedi Master can see fear. “I’m not going to hurt you, but you are lucky to be alive, he almost killed you.”

The man acknowledges her words with a small groan and nod. Taryn gazes into the man’s eyes using the Force to influence his memories, “You will forget what happened today. You did not have a confrontation with a Jedi. You killed these men after they crossed you and you will take responsibility for their deaths.”

“I killed them…” The man mumbles quietly his eyes barely focusing, but when they do he tries to avoid her gaze.

“Good. Now give me the credits you stole.”

The man reaches into his jacket and pulls a small pouch from his pocket, which he hands out to Taryn. Snatching the pouch from him she straightens up and takes in a deep breath letting it out slowly as she looks over the mayhem. She feels guilty for what she’s done, but it’s the only way to protect him. She saw the change, felt it, so she justifies her actions based on – based on their friendship.

Running through the valley on the way back to the ship Taryn clears her mind and opens herself up to the Force feeling the wild life within the jungle forest along with glimpses of the last few weeks. Vince isn’t the only who has changed and Cal’s warning comes forefront to her mind. He’d warned her about her stubbornness and about her motives for saving Vince. He wasn’t right about her feelings for him, not then, but now…

She can hear the whine of the Fading Dawn’s engines as she approaches their camp. Everything is packed and stored as she instructed the ramp down awaiting her return. Jogging up the ramp she pulls off her backpack and drops it by the half circle couch in the common area on her way to the cockpit. Vince is sitting in the co-pilot’s chair. Without a word she drops into the captain’s chair and hits the button to raise the ramp before glancing at the console to confirm they’re set to go as she instructed. Pulling back on the yoke the ship rises slowly until they clear the trees and then they race across the sky to the black.

Taryn is silent her gaze straight forward until they reach the hyper jump coordinates. Once Vince has pulled back on the levers to send them into the quiet of hyperspace she finally relaxes and exhales as she leans back. Turning her head to look at Vince those pale green eyes meet his gaze, “He won’t say anything about what happened and he will take responsibility for the deaths of those men.”

Rising from her chair she turns to leave the cockpit, “We’ll have to hide for a while longer… “

Leaving the cockpit she makes her way to the kitchen, she needs a drink, pouring herself a glass of Alderaanian wine she leans against the counter and sips at the wine ready to put the day behind them so they can move forward.

 

[LoganDarkHolme]

“We are not judge and jury… it’s not our way, He should be turned over to the lawmakers of this planet. It is not our place to be executioner. You should have brought him before this village’s law authority or at least come to me, first.”

Vinces eyes were pain stricken, he couldnt understand, he was always encouraged by his previous Master to "do unto others" as the saying had been, this man killed people so in turn he should be killed, but the obvious distress in taryns voice, and the hesitation she gave off had given him pause, his brow furrowed, shaking his head with a heavy sigh and cry of anguished pain he remained on his knees there in the ally., his saber discarded he felt again like he was back in that chasm, so confused, struggling for air he couldnt breath, why could he never please anyone?!?! the jedi, the sith, they were all the same in the end, confusing, always looking down on those they deemed weak

“It’s alright… we’ll fix this, okay?”

Vince just weakly nodded, his body quivering, again he was on the verge of tears, and it was taking everything he had to not break down, to try and shore up what willpower he had left. His eyes closed he couldnt even concentrate enough to call the force to him, to just lash out, let all his frustration, hurt, anger explode around him, the niggling thought in the back of his head that if he did that he could hurt taryn and he ....well..didnt want that to happen. shaking his head he frowned deeper, the sudden caress of taryns voice causing him to visibly shudder he looked up to you, his eyes red with held back emotion

“I want you to go back to the ship, pack up our camp and make sure nothing of our presence is left behind. Once you’ve done that I want you to warm up the ship’s engines and have the nav computer calculate a route to the Taldot Sector. Do you understand?”

it took a few seconds more then it should have for her gentle words to penetrate his emotion addled brain, blinking a few times he just nodded dumbly as it finally registered his voice was just a mere whisper as he acknowledged her command and he could force his body to rise, shoulders slumped in defeat, he looked around, finding his saber laying against a wall he moved and picked it up and clipped it to his belt

"what about him Master?" Vince motioned to the man against the wall,

Taryns reply was curt, but gentle “Go.” Vince just nodded, wrapping his cloak around him tight, drawing the hood down he left taryn behind, would she kill him? to save Vince the embarresment? no, she wouldnt, but obviously she didnt want him to see her fix his mistake. with a heavy burdened sigh he left the village, his feet on autopilot, his mind lightyears away. he gets back to camp. breaking down the food stores and table in short order he packs it away,

moving to the cockpit he slumps into his chair, thusters, check, stablizers, check, all mundane work, requiring no thought after so many years, once more just falling into the routine of always needing a quick get away, vince frowns slightly at the power output readings of the fusion reactors that power the hyper drive, and makes a note to check on it later

“He won’t say anything about what happened and he will take responsibility for the deaths of those men.

His head turns only slightly as he hears her voice, licking his lips he wanted to ask her what happened, what she did, but, honestly, he didnt wanna know, his mind was too vivid to actually wanna know the truth, with a sigh as watched as the ship eased up, rising above the tree tops before the ion engines kicked in and they were space bound

as they cleared orbit and made the hyper jump he watched taryn get up, maybe she didnt want anything to do with him right now? normally she would stay beside him, but she had become edgy, shaking his head he heard taryn after a short time sit back down the scent of wine wafts to him and his stomach rumbles in response*

"Master......im......im sorry..for.....the market, i...uhh... had let myself drift, just happened i had......found this necklace" *a blush rises quickly to his face and he pulls his cowel down farther* "it was beautiful, i had never seen anything like it" he trails off, for moments, before rushing through the last part "i thought it would fit you beautifully, it matched your eyes, when i went to pay i noticed my money was gone, i caught the hesitation and guilt of the man who did it through the force, and, well, i just kinda went on auto pilot......."

Vince turns his head ahead