Cosmic became nothing but a blur in the forest once he had left the comforts of his tree. He had located three other individuals with the distinguished Royal Guard armor, and identified them as Trigit, Phoenix, and Cyanus. He brushed past the foliage and neared the trench where the three Dark Jedi and previously dug in. Cosmic strapped the A-280 Rifle back onto his back and unlocked the grasping metal on his right leg that held his lightsaber secure. The blood-red blade emerged from the emitter matrix with a thought from its master, and the wielder's hands clasped around the 1.5 foot hilt with high determination and certainty. Cosmic raised his lightsaber to his side, holding it like a baseball bat, analyzing the squad he was about to engage, and deciding the best course of action. Due to his unique fighting style, he wasn't going to effectively deflect a volley of blaster bolts; he was going to have to rely on swift, strong sweeps of his blade to eliminate his target. Gathering in a deep breath, he pushed through the branches and ran to his prey.

"There! There, damn it!" barked the squad leader. Her squad was almost parallel to the next nearby squad coming in for a joint attack on the three red-armored melee warriors. The squad had briefly lost sight of their target, and was now relocating their positions. The squad leader's fast run came to a grinding halt when one of her squad member's yelled out a warning. She looked in the direction he was motioning to, and spotted another individual in the Royal Guard armor coming through the bush towards them. This one, too, had a lightsaber by his side - but something was amiss. Unlike the three other's, this one held his lightsaber high and to his side, not in front of him.

A hint of concern crept up upon her, but she pushed the feeling away and took in the fact that he didn't seem especially anxious to defend his front side. She motioned towards the oncoming individual and barked out another order to fire at will. The entire squad made an about-face and raised their weapons, taking aim. Right before any of them could fire, their target suddenly disappeared from sight, and a massive blurred object was speeding towards them. A few managed to fire a few bolts at their target, but the blur only moved aside. The red blurring light that was his lightsaber came crashing down into several of the squad members, slicing them in half, making a diagonal upper cut. The Dark Jedi disappeared just as quickly as he had sliced into their ranks, and the squad was scurrying around, trying to relocate their target. Suddenly, their ranks were attacked again, but this time the target was visible, and the color of the lightsaber was different. The six remaining squad members fired upon their new target, but their shots were easily deflected from this armored warrior. A few moans haunted the air as two more of their squad members fell to the ground from a rear attack.

Cosmic now stood in full view in the middle of the squad; one squad member's body slowly slumped to the ground - the blood-red lightsaber held at ease to his right.

"Nice entrance." Trigit gave a nod.

Cosmic looked over at Trigit and motioned to the four squad members between them. They had halted their fire, knowing that they had been defeated.

"Do what you will with them," Cosmic looked over at the squad leader. "She is mine."

Trigit smirked and changed glances over to the squad members. "Time for a little fun, eh boys?"

Cosmic took a few steps toward the squad leader. Her helmet lifted up off of her head by an unseen hand, and her shoulder-length blonde hair fell from the interior of the helmet. She appeared confident, but Cosmic could easily sense the fear that lay beneath the façade. He extinguished his lightsaber and patted her shoulder. "Nice try." All of the weapons that lay on the ground, including her pistol, flew about fifty feet away from where they stood as Cosmic turned to leave. She had an extremely confused expression on her face - she expected death.

Cosmic looked in Trigit's direction and saw four corpses on the ground. The Sith Guardian was already walking towards him, his duty fulfilled. Trigit seemed surprised and stopped at Cosmic's side.

"You let her go?"

Cosmic grinned, "Of course not. She is New Republic. Her empire must fall." Cosmic walked on, but Trigit stopped in his tracks, a little surprised at what he just heard. "Behind you," said Cosmic. Trigit looked around and saw the woman grabbing at her chest, trying desperately to rip off her chest-plate. He winced as the left side of her chest-plate ripped outwards, blood poured out of her chest, and she collapsed to the ground. Trigit turned and saw Cosmic calmly walk away as if nothing had happened. "Hmm."

Cosmic sighed, "And such a nice a heart."
 
-----------------------
Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
CoT/BG Cosmic/HCA-3/SL/3SQD/2PLT/1COMP/1BAT/Tadath/VEA/VE [OPE][OTH][OPA][EW1][CDS][IH][GS][LM][SoS][CoH][PoC][MSM][SCP][SoA][IOC]
-----------------------
Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
SL/KPR Cosmic/Lion 1-1/Lopen/VEDJ/VE [VP][KC1][OAK]
-----------------------

He felt Raziel's distress at almost the same time his transmission came over the comm system. Heeding Raziel's warning, Phoenix nixed the idea of getting airborne, and instead used the Force to bolster his speed. Cyanus did likewise, the pair becoming nothing more than two red blurrs screaming across the landscape.

The two hit the treeline at full tilt, stretching out in fron of them with the Force and sensing the trees and other obstacles in their path. With inhuman reflex, they dodged left and right, weaving through the dense foiliage and leaping over rocks.

Phoenix and Cyanus burst into the clearing the Titan Walker had made with its energy cannons. Trees lay scattered across the 40 meter wide clearing, the stumps they left behind still smoking. The ground was a thick black ash, the plants and grass having been incinerated by the superhot lasers.

And there, falling fast from the sky, was Raziel. Exhausted from his run, Phoenix knew he didn't have the energy left to try and slow Raz's descent, which left only one option.

"Those rockets will catch you before you get to him Phoenix." Cyanus panted in between breaths. His strength being severely drained as well.

At first Phoenix didn't respond, he had already known that. After a brief hesistation, but he couldnt stand by and watch Raziel die. Punching the controls on his jetpack, Phoenix blasted off the ground. Pushing the jets for all they were worth, Phoenix caught a brief flash of a rocket  being launched by a power trooper.

Cy, take out those launchers He projected towards the distancing Knight.

Phoenix could feel the heat from the rocket through the Force, his only means of tracking the metallic object. Emporer's black bones! Those things are fast.

Fifteen meters off the ground, Raziel began to slow as a presence exerted itself on the falling Krath, but Phoenix knew it wouldn't be enough.

Raziel was no more than 15 meters off the ground now and the rocket was rapidly closing the distance between itself and Phoenix. Directing himself at a slightly vertical angle, Phoenix began to gain some altitude.

Carefully choosing his intercept point, Phoenix cut the power to the jetpack and dove. Tucking his arms to his sides, he was now only two meters away from Raziel's continuously slowing form.

The rocket meanwhile, having lost its heat signature, plowed itself into a hillside, exploding in a brilliant flash of heat and light.

At five meters off the ground, Phoenix grabbed onto Raziel. Stretching out with the last of his strength towards the ground and simultaneously hitting the controls on his jetpack, Pheonix began to breathe a sigh of relief...only to find the jets wouldn't fire.

Pushing with everything he had left against the ground, and rolling himself underneath Raziel's lightly armored form, the combined mass of Phoenix and Raziel slammed into the ground.

Hitting the ground, Raziel's weight bounced off his chest and he flew off to the side. The air immediately gushed from Phoenix's lungs, and he heard a loud *snap!*, and felt something give underneath him. Praying it wasn't his spine, Phoenix tumbled over a rock and felt a couple of ribs give. Rolling end over end, he finally came to a rest about a dozen meters from his point of impact.

Pain rolled in waves through Phoenix's body, but he didn't mind. Pain meant feeling. Feeling meant he wasn't paralyzed. Blood spattered his lips, and more pain racked him as he coughed up blood from his lungs.

Without the strength to tap in to the Force, Phoenix was without a way to blunt the pain. So he lay there. After a few seconds, the pain began to dull, and he decided it was time to move.

Rolling over onto his side was a big mistake. A new stream of mind-bending pain slammed into his, causing a slight scream to escape his lips. Fighting through the pain, Phoenix rolled onto his knees. Lifting up his faceplate, he spat up more blood onto the dirt below him. His right arm dangled useless, his shoulder dislocated. Grabbing it with his left hand, Phoenix yanked on his right arm.

A sickening crunch brought tears to his eyes as the ball and socket joint slipped back together. Falling forward onto all fours, Phoenix took deep, pain-filled breaths. Voices filled his armor's comlink, the other Dark Jedi feeling the two explosions of pain through the Force. Paying the voices no heed, he used his good left arm to push himself up onto his feet.

That was when he caught his first look at Raziel...


 
-----------------------
Dark Jedi Knight Gunnery Sergeant Phoenix
Cult Member (CM) - Sith Knight - Eagle Sect -
Squad Leader (SL) - Demolitions - Raider Squad -
CM/DJK Phoenix/Eagle 1-4/Sith/VEDJ/VE/Lopen
AS-2/SL/GSG Phoenix/3SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/Tadath [LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [BoA]

"Join the Darkside...get a free cookie" - Talon

There was yet another squad within the vicinity, and Cosmic could sense that four Dark Jedi had just been a brawl, one of whom was injured. Trigit had remained close to Cosmic as he made his way to the next New Republic squad in the hope that he could learn more about what had happened to his long-time friend. He the shock of seeing that female squad leader's heart rip out from her chest still lingered, but he kept close to the changed Krath Prophet nonetheless. That action was not something the old Cosmic would've done. This identity, this Cleric, appeared to be a whole lot more aggressive than the Cosmic he knew - more anxious to spill blood... more like a Sith.

Cosmic halted suddenly. Trigit was about to question why, but he soon received his answer. He heard Talon's voice in his head ordering all Dark Jedi to engage the two walkers. Trigit acknowledged with a slight nod through the Force and began walking in the direction of the walkers' location. Cosmic continued walking in another direction.

"Hey, Cos, Talon said to engage the-"

"I know what he said." Cosmic interrupted, continuing to walk towards his own destination.

"Then where are you going?"

Cosmic stopped once again and closed his eyes. Scenes of a past that was all-too-familiar began to flash before him. He was once again on a war-torn battlefield. The ground was red with the blood of the weak, and the painful screams were carried in the wind. Figures in dark robes lunged at each other in combat, each with their anger, fear, and passion.

Cosmic turned his head to Trigit, "I'm going to do something that I actually know to be familiar with." He continued his quick pace towards the NR squad.

"Talon will not be pleased of you disobeying his orders, Cosmic."

Trigit suddenly felt a forceful ripple, and Cosmic made an abrupt about-face, "Then go on!" Cosmic shouted. "Run. Obey your master."

Before Trigit could reply, Cosmic had disappeared, and he could slightly make out a blurrish figure way ahead of him.

Trigit shook his head, disappointed. Not only did he feel that a close friendship was slowly slipping away, he was left with only more questions.
 
-----------------------
Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
CoT/BG Cosmic/HCA-3/SL/3SQD/2PLT/1COMP/1BAT/Tadath/VEA/VE [OPE][OTH][OPA][EW1][CDS][IH][GS][LM][SoS][CoH][PoC][MSM][SCP][SoA][IOC]
-----------------------
Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
SL/KPR Cosmic/Lion 1-1/Lopen/VEDJ/VE [VP][KC1][OAK]
-----------------------

His knuckles went white as he began to regain consciousness. From the depths of his trance the reassuring feel of his saber served as his point of contact with the real world. Raziel's eyelids felt heavy, but he forced them open. He released hiss grip on the saber hilt and it dropped back onto the soldier's chest it had destroyed only a few minutes previously. The pain had reduced to a sharp pain in his side and a dull throbbing in his temples. He had managed to stabilise his internal injuries in the trance, but there were still toxins in his system and he had a lot of damage to ligaments and tendons.

Raziel struggled to get one knee under himself. He paused for a moment, reassessing his situation. Phoenix was sprawled only a few metres away, Raziel could only assume that the brave knight had attempted to save Raziel's life at his own expense. Not attempted, Raziel corrected himself, succeeded, and for that he would be grateful. There were at least some members within the order who he could still trust. Raziel extended his senses out towards Phoenix's mind. The Sith knight had regained his connection to the Force and was in a deep trance. Raziel reached out and tried to give Phoenix a subconscious push in the direction of his worst injuries. It was the least Raziel could do, but he couldn't hang around.

Raziel's armour had cracked from the force of the fall, it was not the kind of impact the stuff was meant to take. He unfastened the chest piece and let it drop to the ground. He slid his helmet off and through it to one side. Raziel reached down, with mild discomfort, and unclipped Phoenix's A280 rifle. He took one load of spare ammunition and then rested his weight on the rifle for a moment. He took a deep breath and looked about again. He was not far from the edge of the woods and he could catch glimpses of the walkers moving about. Both were still intact, then. He moved to head off to join the battle, but then sensed something behind him. Although Raziel had many weaknesses in his control of the Force, he was almost completely numb to the physical world, he was very adept at picking up thoughts and life forces. Somewhere just to his right was a great deal of fear. He hefted the A280 up and threw the strap over his shoulder, it was a bit heavy for Raziel's liking.

He picked his way carefully through the woods, he was weak and could not move around silently and quickly at the same time. As he closed in on the group, he could pick out individuals. This was a rag-tag group of deserters, he could tell there were a few green troops and even a couple of non-combat technicians. Five scared men in total, men who wanted nothing other than to flee this place. Leftovers. It was the perfect test for Raziel's strength, he would enjoy this. He unstrapped the rifle and dropped it to the floor, his sabers dropped out of his sleeves and into his hands. A smile found it's way to his face and he ignited them, though it quickly disappeared as Raziel fell into the correct state of mind. That of a predator.

The group had little warning of Raziel's approach. The nimble Krath hopped from root to root, making no sound as he approached. As the group came into view, a sudden pain in his side stole his control. He slipped on the next root as he struggled not to be sick from the nauseating pain. He regained his balance in an instant, but his surprise had gone as his ankle crashed through some branches and sprayed them into the air.

"What was...?" shouted a technician as he turned towards the noise. All he saw was a flutter of black and red as Raziel descended upon them. The soldier's turned as Raziel brought both one blade across and sliced the technician's throat. They opened fire, but he already had one saber up to protect his body. Raziel used the Force to instil them with a sense of dread to try and reduce their effectiveness.

The soldiers spread out as Raziel moved between them. They were lambs and he was the wolf here. He stalked through them, cold, calm and efficient. Not one move was unnecessary, he wasted no energy at all in his ruthless slaughter. He left blade defended his flank as he cut down one soldier with two quick thrusts, he then spun about and lashed out with his left saber. The blade sliced a neat line through a third soldiers neck. Raziel simply reacted to his surroundings and to the will of the Force, there was no conscious thought involved. He was doing the dance of death, and he did it with them all.

In one graceful motion he twirled both blades around to catch a pair of blaster bolts, then in a movement that was too fast for the eye he stabbed out with his right blade and put a hole in the centre of the fourth soldier's forehead. Before the last soldier had even registered the movement, Raziel's saber was back between them both. His short, fast strikes meant that he was never open to attack from hostile fire. Four of them now lay dead and Raziel had exerted almost no effort. Each of the dead had minute wounds that were not obvious to the eye, a slight scorch line across the throat or a hole in the clothes. Raziel's work had always been thus, precise and efficient.

The last soldier had his blaster shouldered and his finger pressed on the trigger. Raziel paused for a moment, the target was out of reach by a few metres and he needed a method of getting to him fast. Raziel sensed the soldier's attention divert to a grenade at his belt, Raziel's abilities did not extend to catching a grenade mid-flight.

The killer detected a threat and reacted accordingly. He sprung forwards at the soldier, ignoring the searing pain. The soldier sprayed blaster fire and back-pedalled rapidly. Raziel did a hop and a skip from tree roots that jutted out from the ground. The soldier stumbled and fell backwards over a root, his rifle fell from his hands. As Raziel's feet touched down the second time he jumped high into the air, sabers raised above his head. The soldier looked up in fear as he unclipped the grenade from his belt. In one final act of bravery he would make his killer pay. Raziel's eyes widened as the soldier's thumb slipped into the ring pull.

Raziel landed as his right saber descended even faster than he had. The soldier screamed as he pulled the pin from the grenade. But his thumb did not react, he turned to his left arm to see his severed hand and the grenade drop to the floor.

"Nooo!" he screamed as the pain began to register. Raziel levelled his left saber blade at the soldiers chest. He nodded in approval of the soldiers actions. He leant forward with all his weight, until his face was almost touching the soldiers. The soldier gasped as he tried to draw in breath. His left hand grabbed onto Raziel's arm and clung tightly. Raziel brought his ear up to the man's lips to relish the sound of one final moan. He looked over the soldiers shoulder to see his saber protruding from the man's back. The grip on his arm weakened, until the soldiers arm dropped, limp.

Raziel stood up and deactivated his sabers. He tossed them from one hand to the other and then brought his hands together. In an instant the saber's were gone, back into their holsters under his sleeves. He stood victorious for a moment more, having cut down the last of the republics cowards. Then he dropped to one knee and grunted in pain. His hands found the ground underneath him and supported his weight. He decided he possibly hadn't been quite ready for a fight yet, as waves of pain struck him.



Raziel sagged against a tree trunk at the edge of the woods, Phoenix's A280 has served as a prop for much of the walk here. Spread out before him was the battlefield. Lights, sounds and smells assaulted his senses. The walkers had put some distance between themselves and an attempted to provide each other with some cover fire. The marines on the back of each of the walkers tried to pick of the Jedi assaulting the other walker. So far the tactic seemed to be having some success. None of the guardsmen could get airborne long enough to do some real damage to the titans. Instead they were flitting about underneath the walkers, slashing at the legs.

So far the Jedi were having marginal success, one of the legs on the walker to Raziel's right had gone limp and the other had several tree trunks protruding from its armour. Talon had obviously taken a shot at that one. Most of the Jedi were attacking the titan to Raziel's left, but it would only be so long before the other titan managed to pick them off with its laser cannons.

Then Raziel saw Talon once more, he emerged from the trees to his right. his red helmet was held in his hands, the faceplate was melted. Talon's face twisted into a silent scream of rage and he reached out with his hand towards the titan. Someone had made the mistake of angering a Jeeedai Master.

Raziel could feel an awesome amount of power build up. He could feel Talon begin to manipulate the world around him with the Force. Massive quantities of energy were being moved by his will alone. At first Raziel could not see what he was doing, but then he noticed the walkers legs slow down. He looked through the site of the A280 rifle and could see the air condense, and then freeze on the walkers legs. He was literally ripping the thermal energy out of the joints in the walkers legs.

The other Jedi looked on for a moment, unable to comprehend the power. Then Raziel was overcame as he could feel the jealousy emanating from the rest of the Order. Like an angry swarm the order rushed over the other titan walker. Powered by their jealousy they leapt from leg to leg hacking and slashing at it with renewed vigour, undaunted by their own vulnerability.

The metal which formed the walkers legs began to reach very low temperatures, the strength of the metal was compromised and it began to grow brittle. The walker slammed one leg down onto the ground and the leg snapped off. The titan lurched, and the soldiers riding on its back were knocked from their feet.

Meanwhile three guardsmen activated their jump packs and took to the air, heedless of the risk. The power marine with a rocket launcher brought it to bear. The three Jedi moved into an inverse diamond formation, with the from two covering the rearward guardsmen from blaster fire. The shot forwards, parallel to the ground directly at the troops onto of the walker. The power marine locked onto the forward Jedi, but as they approached him the two in front split away to the side and the rearward Krath shot forwards. Cyanus Raziel thought as the Jedi just slammed into the marine with all of his weight. With his jump pack on full power Cyanus literally shoulder barged the power suit from the top of the walker. The cumbersome suit of armour drifted through the air and Raziel felt the life-force of the marine inside being snuffed out as it crashed to the ground. The other two guardsmen landed on the back of the walker and dispatched the regular troops around them. With Talon ripping the other walker apart they were free to begin cutting into the walker.

Raziel looked across at the other titan, just in time to see both of the front legs snap off at once. The two power marines and troops on the back were thrown from their perch. They tumbled over the head of the titan and crashed to the ground. Raziel was mindful of the fact that the commander of the rebels was now probably dead, but he was of no concern. The last three legs broke off under the strain and the massive walker crashed to the ground. Talon dropped to one knee from the exertion.

A hot breeze blasted against Raziel's face and forced him to turn away. All that thermal energy had to have gone somewhere. When he looked back he could see the rest of the order attacking the other walker furiously. Several of them were on the head trying to cut in to get at the pilots and Raziel savoured their fear. Raziel pushed himself off of the tree and headed to see if the commander had survived his fall, the rest of the order seemed to have the battle under control now.

 
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+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +
PL:A/SGMRaziel/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/{EW1} (WoS1) (VP) {IG} {CDS} {BoA} {PoC}
Assistant Squad Leader - Squad4 Wraiths
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989.
CM/DJK Raziel/lion 1-5/Krath/VEDJ/VE

The heat was getting to be too much.  Still kneeling, Talon shoved the air around him and a noticeable whirl formed in the air as a cooler breeze swept in to fill the space that the warm air left.  The attack on the walker had been one of intense anger intended to humiliate his enemy.  There were still troops trapped in their walker that were not able to do much of anything anymore.  The only functional cannon left on the walker was driven barrel-first into the dirt.  There was no question that the gunner was now dead.  The walker had been silenced as all of the hydraulics drained out of the legs after having been snapped off.  It was now effectively a scrap heap.  Talon looked down at his helmet.  The red armor and black visor had been melted together and dented in from the blast he had taken.  Had it not been for the shielding it offered, he would be quite dead.  He was lucky it stopped flexing in where it did as well.  It had stopped not even an inch from his forehead.

Casting the useless helmet aside, Talon surveyed the battlefield from his kneeling position.  The last Titan was still being swarmed by the rest of the Dark Jedi.  A few seemed injured, though nothing that would take them out of the battle.  'Raziel... Phoenix...' Talon mused to himself as he identified the Dark Jedi through the Force.  He knew he could do little to help them heal, but could offer them some energy later when they had a break.  Talon sensed Cosmic to his left and past the walker.  It wasn't clear exactly what he was doing, but as long as he was aiming his attacks at the New Republic Marines and not his allies all was well.

A whimper through the Force caught Talon's attention and he turned to look in the direction that he sensed it.  The presence was weak and fading quickly.  "Shit." Talon hissed as he rose to his feet and sprinted toward the woodline.  The wounded man seemed to be in the cluster of overturned trees and dirt from the walker's hailstorm of turbolaser fire.  With a nimble leap, Talon cleared a large tree and rolled into his landing.  As his feet came back under him, he sprang forward and kept his momentum.  Two red legs poked out from around the corner of a tree that had been toppled.  Talon came to a halt at the base of tree and examined the downed Dark Jedi through the Force.  He was in intense pain and his power was draining.  He was fighting for his life and losing considerably.  'Vire?  No, don't let go.' he projected to his apprentice after sensing his identity.  With a quick glance at the entire tree, Talon closed his eyes and visualized the tree being lifted and hurled aside, well clear of both of them.  A loud crash and the cracking of tree limbs filled his ears as the Force tossed the tree away from the injured man.

Talon knelt and carefully removed Vire's helmet.  The lad was unconscious, yet still able to communicate through the Force.  'A healing trance.  Well done, Vire.  Just hold on long enough to get to a medic.' Talon told him.  Blood seeped from a gash above Vire's eye as he was rattled in his helmet.  The injury that worried Talon the most was the hole in the right side of his chest.  It was obvious that the branch that had impaled him had lanced through his lung.  Talon placed a gloved hand on Vire's forehead and focused on giving Vire a boost of energy.  'Vire,' he spoke telepathically, 'you need to heal yourself.  You know I can't do much for you.'

Finally the trainee replied, 'Master..'  There was almost a gasp for air in his thoughts as he fought to keep his focus.  'I'm too far gone.  Allow me to die on the battlefield.'

Talon grit his teeth and replied, 'You're not done your training Vire.  You're not getting out that easily.'  He wanted to present a challenge for his apprentice to match, but in all honesty he didn't want another person close to him to die.  'Too many have left me behind.' he thought to himself as he grimaced thinking about the running list that seemed to be growing steadily.  Vire's presence continued to grow weak and still Talon empowered Vire more.

The Adept sent a final image to Talon of him in his white robe on the Citadel's steps, bowing with a smile across his lips.  With that, his spirit left him.  "No!" shouted Talon as he opened his eyes and looked into the lifeless face of his apprentice.  A gentle touch through the Force made the hair on the back of Talon's neck stand up and he could feel Vire say 'Thank you for the new life you showed me.  May the Darkness guide your steps, Master.'  The bond between Talon and Vire severed and the spirit disappeared as it returned to the Force.

Talon closed his eyes and laid a hand on Vire's chest.  "Gods of the Krath," he muttered, "keep this one safe.  He belongs to you now."  After a moment of silent reflection, Talon stood and telekinetically lifted Vire into the air.  With an unseen hand, he guided the body of his former apprentice to the south-western shore line of the island.  He could hear the battle rage on over his shoulder as he pushed off of the ground, levitating his own body off of the sand.  With another push, he propelled himself and Vire over the water, heading toward Jahnae Camp.  Reaching out to his Dark Jedi, Talon projected, 'Mop up the island quickly and head back to base.  We're pulling out as soon as possible.'  As he closed the link, two objects of note caught Talon's attention.  Two Force-sensitive beings were on the same planet.  He only hoped they were Imperial.  Those two would be coming with him if he had anything to say about it.
 
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OO/SM Sierra "Talon" Taurus/HC-3/VEHC/VE[BC][IOC][LoC][SoS][BM][CDS][MSM]
GM-SL/DJM "Nightblades"/DC-1/Elite Griffen Sect/VSD-II Griffen/VEDJ/VE[IOC][OQD][WoS 2nd Class]
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SCAP/COM Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ISD Nemesis/Offensive Fleet/VEN[=A=][LoM][IOC][IC2]
CEO Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ECHC-1/Endoven/Dome 8473/VEEC/VE
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Verastinian Republic

Raziel shuffled forwards, as fast as he could whilst keeping Pheonix's A280 shouldered. The pain from his wounds was kept just at the edge of his consciousness only be exerted all of his willpower. Even the burns where Japheth had turned his own saber against him as a lesson was aching again.

He kept the rifle trained on the group of bodies lying just in front of the fallen walker, the other walker had just succumbed to the rest of the order just to his left. He kept his focus narrowly ahead, even as the second walker burst into flames as a Sith cut into some fuel lines in the titan's under belly.

Talons presence receded away from him at some speed, Raziel did not turn to see where the Jedi Master had gone, but tuned his senses forwards. He could detect faint life signals coming from the group of marines who had fallen from the titan, as Talon had snapped its legs off. In that group, he knew, lay the commander of the republic defences here.

Raziel paused and dropped to one knee, sensing movement ahead. He flicked the safety catch on the rifle and aligned the sights. One of the marines was trying to get up from the round, Raziel almost felt sorry for him. He could sense that the marine was disorientated and confused, but the marines were tough. They would fight to the death if given the chance. Raziel didn't give him that chance.

As the marine stood straight, Raziel fired. The armour piercing bolt nearly cleaving the man in two. He felt the man's life force fade away, but he could still sense more, and yet could not distinguish between them. For all he knew all of those marines could be alive.

Raziel grunted through clenched teeth as he stood up, he let the rifle hang at his side for a moment, before bringing it up to bear again. He wouldn't be caught out in his current state.

He approached the group slowly and cautiously and soon he realised that only one soldier remained alive. The commander. As he stepped over the dead marines, he felt the commander awaken. The power suit hummed as it came back to life. Raziel took a few quick steps towards the giant armour suit and placed the nozzle of the rifle against the commander's neck, before the soldier could take any action.

Still Raziel could feel the commander thinking of escape, Raziel felt the commander plan to strike out with a strength enhanced fist. Before the wily marine could act on any of his thoughts, Raziel let go of the rifle with one hand, letting the A280 rest on the power suit's neck. A saber dropped into his free hand and he struck down with it, and activated it in one motion. The blade plunged into the side of the suit, but missed the body inside. Instead it severed several power cables in one precise thrust. The power suit stopped humming and shut down.

Now the commander was trapped within his own suit of armour. Raziel dropped his saber and grabbed hold of the rifle again, lifting it up to the commander's forehead. He quickly weighed up the options, before decided that the officer wasn't worth his weight. No-one would survive this island and the republic would here the rumours in the future. Raziel fired at point blank range. The power suit stayed locked in its position, the commander's upper torso sat upright, regardless of the hole through the helmet. Raziel let the A280 drop to the floor, not feeling any need to bear its weight any longer. He turned to watch the rest of the order cut into the remains of the walker and finish off the crew.

He wandered where he would be going next, his part in this campaign had been short so far and yet he already felt so very, very tired.

 
-----------------------
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +
PL:A/SGMRaziel/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/{EW1} (WoS1) (VP) {IG} {CDS} {BoA} {PoC}
Assistant Squad Leader - Squad4 Wraiths
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989.
CM/DJK Raziel/lion 1-5/Krath/VEDJ/VE

OOC: I really have been out of it, haven't I?
    Raiders.
    The image of his squad flooded into the Dark Jedi's mind right after Talon sent out his message. Cyanus paused a moment before the burning wreckage, contemplating. He knew the squad and its name, from bits of memory. But unfamiliar faces dotted what images were left before he truly became Cyanus.
    Whoever they are, I will not recognize them, he realized. Phoenix will help me.
    He sweeped the area around the hull of the Titan with his rifle searching for any remaining prey, then searched the bodies for usable things. There wasn't much, seeing that the explosion fried the bodies. The others were mopping up the last pockets of resistance, he observed. A few groans from behind the flaming hulk sent hairs running up his neck. He saw bleeding men with various severed limbs and raised his rifle.
    "See you around, infidels," he whispered into the vocoders and pulled the trigger.
    Cyanus rocketed toward the camp a few meters above the surface and trees.
    To be honest with himself, the Krath thought himself extremely lucky to come out nearly unscathed, save for a few black marks on his armor from the initial landing. He'd strayed away from the main lines and killed fairly few marines, most of them the heavy troops that shot at Raziel as he fell from the air. One rebel was run through, another had his launcher snatched from his secure grip. As for the rest of the group, Cyanus made them eat rockets. It was quite funny, how they flew away from the impact. No, that wasn't the right word, not for a fight where you lose allies. Rest in peace, Vire.
    Where was Phoenix? The storm knight reached out looking for his brother, only to find two unidentified Force signatures in Phoenix's direction. Who are these...?
    Left confused and feeling left behind, Cyanus found himself alone in the middle of a vast expanse. He wanted off this rock.
 
-----------------------


ASL/GSG Cyanus Cyanus/3SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1REG/VEA/VE[BoA] [ES1][BC]
CM/DJK Cyanus/Krath/Lion 1-6/VEDJ/VE
Dark Knight of the Krath
"...I think I'll kill you later." - Cyanus
Assistant Squad Leader: - Raider Squad -

  Four guardsmen carried a stretcher across the base, heading toward the medical wing. Vire D'sok was dead, but it was standard procedure to deliver any wounded there first. There would be a mass burial service for all of the soldiers who had fallen in combat the next day. Perhaps the Dark Jedi apprentice would get a brief eulogy of some sort.
  Darkhawk watched them carry the lifeless warrior away. Dark Jedi Master Talon followed close behind, seemingly refusing to let go of his apprentice. Eventually the shock would wear off, but for now Darkhawk could feel anger, pain, and regret resonating from Talon through the Force. The Grand Master had pulled his cloak over his face to conceal his face, but concealing one's emotions was more tricky, especially under times of great distress.
  The Sith Warrior frowned as he turned to find somewhere more solitary to think. Everyone else's mind was probably on the battle that had just transpired, but his thoughts strayed elsewhere...

          *          *          *          *          *
 
  "Enter." Darkhawk stepped into the Grand Master's chamber and knelt before the throne in the center of the room. He could feel Talon's eyes on him, but he knew better than to look up until he was granted permission to do so. "You may rise."

  He stood up, surveying the man sitting before him. Talon looked more fatigued than usual, which was saying something. There were dark bags under his eyes - bloodshot eyes. "It looks like someone could use some sleep."

  The Dark Jedi Master dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. "What do you want?"

  "I think I might have had a Force vision last night, Master."

  There was a long pause. Talon showed no reaction in his face or body language. Darkhawk shifted uneasily.

  "Well, go on."

  "There were two parts to it. One, I think someone within the Order might be in grave danger. I sensed... death. Loss. Tragedy."

  "Such things are a common occurence for a Dark Jedi. You know this."

  "This was more than the 'normal,' though. It was as if someone had died. Someone within the Order."

  Talon raised one eyebrow this time. "Who?"

  "I'm... I'm not sure."

  "Then that doesn't really do us much good, does it?"

  "No. No, I guess not."

  "And the other half of your dream?"

  "Again, it's related directly to the Order. Someone here is going to betray us. Soon."

  "Let me guess - you don't know who this time, either."

  "No. No. I saw who this was."

  Talon leaned forward. He probably didn't trust the Sith Warrior completely, but he knew that Darkhawk was gifted with the Force talent of Foresight. His visions were not to be taken lightly. "Who was it?"

  Darkhawk took a deep breath and...

          *          *          *          *            *

  A fierce battle raged on around the Sith Warrior. Every now and then he caught a glimpse of one of the other Dark Jedi amongst a group of New Republic troopers, clad in the Royal Guardsman armor. It was fairly easy to distinguish most of them because of their lightsabres.
  Darkhawk was not wearing the crimson armor - he already had his own armor. The black armor had made him stand out at first, but as the battle had progressed the Republic forces had turned their attention to the red-garbed fighters and forgotten all about him. To add to the stealth element, he had deactivated both of his lightsabres and was now running from place to place using various Force powers to wreak havoc in the enemy's ranks.
  He dashed by a small contingent of Republic troops and into a patch of forest in front of them. Using the Force, he ripped a large tree out of the ground and hurled it at the soldiers. They scattered in all directions, calling out for backup as they did. The commanding officer tried to give some orders, but Darkhawk was quick to pinpoint him and begin to use the Force to constrict his breathing. Telekinesis was not the Sith Warrior's strongest Force power, but he was strong enough in the Dark Side now to Force choke a weak-minded individual. Blaster fire began to head his way, but he stood calm and finished the job at hand. Only after the officer fell to the ground, blue in the face, did the Sith sprint off into the woods for cover. It was then that he sensed one of his comrades crying out through the Force.

          *          *          *          *          *

  "How are you doing today, Darkhawk?"

  The Sith Warrior looked up at the man who had entered his room. Talon looked slightly better off than the last time the two men had talked. Maybe he had finally gotten the chance to sleep for an hour or two. Force trances could only do so much for one's body.
    Darkhawk stood up and bowed. After six weeks of wearing his nanoarmor almost every minute of the day, it felt like another part of himself. He hardly even noticed it now unless someone called it to his attention. He was sure that Talon's question was directed in regard to his physical health, although the Sith's mental health was probably in question as well.

  "I feel fine."

  "We'll be leaving soon on a mission. Do you feel well enough to come along?"

  "Yes."

  "Good to hear. Seeing that you're no longer a part of any sect, you'll be with me at first. We'll see what happens from there."

  "Yes, sir." The Sith fought back a frown. At one point in time he had been the commander of Eagle Sect. Now the only title he held was the basically meaningless nomer of 'Dark Lord of the Sith.'

  "I'll let you know when it comes closer to departure time."

  "Thank you."

  The Grand Master turned to leave, and as he did Darkhawk sensed something in the other man. Usually Talon masked his feelings very well, but on this occassion something was slipping through.

  "Talon, wait."

  The Krath spun back around. "What is it?"

  "You're bringing Vire along on the mission, aren't you?"

  Talon's mouth slid into a half-frown. "Yes... why do you ask?"

  "Do you really feel like he's ready?"

  "Yes. Yes, I do. He's been through a lot."

  "But he's still only a trainee."

  "He's my apprentice, Darkhawk. Not yours. Besides, I don't believe it's your place to decide such matters. Leave that to the Headmaster or myself."

  "I'm just worried about him, that's all."

  "You just worry about yourself. All right?"

  "Right. I'm sorry."

  "While we're on the topic of your apprentice, Talon..."

  The Krath narrowed his eyes. His apprentices, past and present, were an issue of extreme sensitivity. "What?"

  "What do you think about me taking on an apprentice of my own?"

  The Grand Master shook his head. "No way, Darkhawk. Not now."

  "But we've had a new influx of trainees, and I thought that-"

  "-no. That's my final answer."

  "What? Afraid I'll do a better job with mine than you're doing with yours?"

  Talon took a step forward. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  "How long has Vire been a trainee, Talon? He's not showing any progress."

  "He's showing plenty of progress!"

  "Is he? Really?"

  "As much progress as you've shown! You just sit up here locked in your chambers all the time, and the only moments you do show up all you do is cause trouble!"

  "You're comparing my growth in the Force to his? Are you serious? My Force powers have tripled over the past year."

  "And your intelligence seems to have been cut in one-third."

  "Oh, that's really mature of you, Master."

  "Don't you call me that." Talon took another step forward.

  "Why not? Isn't that how I'm supposed to address you, Master?"

  "You damn well why I don't want you to call me that!"

  "Oh? Does it have something to do with Riel?" Talon stepped forward again, and Darkhawk had to back pedal to avoid being hit. "Yeah, Riel. Remember him? He was your apprentice once. Not exactly a brilliant success story, huh?"

  "How dare you!" Talon could no longer contain his anger and he acted on instinct, punching Darkhawk square in the jaw. "Who are you to lecture me? I won't stand for it!" He punched at Darkhawk again, but the Sith dodged this time.

  "Why can't you look at yourself in the mirror? Admit your own mistakes, for once."

  "Me? My mistakes? Your entire life has been a mistake, Darkhawk. Daire. Jaeven. Whatever your name is. Or have you even really had a life?"

  "I don't know, Talon. Maybe if someone and his buddies hadn't screwed around with my mind-"

  "-oh, don't start this little game-"

  "-and you know what else drives me crazy about you?"

  "What? What? Go on, get it out!"

  "You and that woman you're always hanging out with!"

  "Skylla? What about her?"

  "Who is she?"

  "None of your business!"

  "She's Force-sensitive. Don't try to hide it; it's obvious. What are you doing with her? Training a 'secret weapon?'"

  "Nothing of the kind!"

  "Oh, what? So are you in love with her then?"

  "I said it's none of your business!"

  "What are you doing, man? You're the Grand Master of the Dark Jedi Order and you're wasting your time on a woman? Love is for the weak! Love is a pure emotion! Love is for the Light Side! How can you call yourself a Dark Jedi?" Darkhawk was in a full rage now, and he basically screamed the last sentence.

  "I've had enough of you!" Talon shouted back, just as loud. He extended his hand and a wave of pure Force energy came out, knocking Darkhawk against the wall. The Sith fought hard to put up some kind of defensive shield, but he had been caught too unawares, wrapped up in the heat of the moment. Talon continued to funnel his anger into aggression until the Sith Warrior passed out and collapsed to the floor, barely breathing. The Krath slumped down onto the bed, breathing heavily. He looked down at the man at his feet and sighed. The truth was, he wasn't as angry at Darkhawk - despite the Sith's insolence - as he was at himself. Sometimes the truth was hard to face. He had failed Riel; had he failed Vire, too? And what about Skylla? Was he letting his emotions get free, emotions that he thought had been eliminated? He had much to think about over the coming days...

          *          *          *          *          *

  Darkhawk burst into the clearing, expecting to see Vire standing in front of him. He had sensed the trainee crying out in pain through the Force from this location, yet now there was no sign of him. He stretched out with the Force, trying to sense the young man.

  There.

  Talon's apprentice was pinned beneath a tree and was badly injured. A sharp branch had pierced his chest and the gaping wound was letting out a lot of blood. Vire's helmet was crushed in at one point and as Darkhawk stepped nearer, the young man jumped with fear.

  He turned his head in the Sith's general direction and spoke in a raspy, strained voice. "Who's there?"

  "It's okay, Vire. It's me - Darkhawk."

  "Oh, Darkhawk. Thank... goodness."

  "You're in rough shape, kid."

  Vire laughed sharply, then began to wheeze and cough. "Thanks for... telling it how it... is, Darkhawk."

  The Sith smiled. "No problem."

  "Can you... help me?"

  Darkhawk did a quick scan of the nearby area with the Force. The Republic troops he had attacked were chasing him, and they would reach this area soon. On top of that, the enemy forces that had probably wounded Vire were still in the vicinity as well.

  I've got to do something, and quick.

  Calling for help never registered in his mind. He didn't sense any other Dark Jedi around, which meant it would be up to him.

  "Vire do you know how to go into a healing trance?"

  "Kind... of."

  "Here. I'm going to help you into it. There are enemies getting close and I need to drive them away."

  "O... okay."

  "Relax. Try to open yourself up to the Force, okay?"

  As he eased Vire into a restorative trance, an image flashed before Darkhawk's mind of a dream he had a week or two earlier. Death. He had even gone to Talon to discuss the gloomy vision. Could it have been referring to Vire? If so, there was nothing the Sith Warrior could do to save the young man's life, was there? Destiny was destiny, after all.
  Or is it? Just because he saw something in a vision, did that mean it had to happen? I hope not. The future should be malleable and receptive to change... just like the Force, to an extent.
  He took a long look at the injured man at his feet and then ignited his two lightsabres. Rest well, Vire D'Sok. And may the Force be with you. He charged off into the woods to confront his opponents.

          *          *          *          *          *

  The Sith Warrior changed his mind and turned around. He ran after the soldiers he had seen earlier and caught up to them a little farther into the camp. Talon was still with them.

  "Talon..."

  The Grand Master responded without looking back. "Yes, Darkhawk?"

  Talon had been calm around him since their... confrontation... earlier. But it was bound to resurface sooner or later. Darkhawk still didn't know what had gotten into him. He felt bad about it, but at the moment he was more concerned with something else.

  "About Vire..."

  "What?" Talon turned around, and through the shroud of his cloak Darkhawk could see fire burning in his eyes. "What do you have to say?"

  I couldn't save him. That's what he wanted to say. Or, maybe, I told you someone was going to die. No, no. That was too harsh. Do you think the future can be changed, or are our destinies set in stone? An important question, but now was not the time. Darkhawk looked into this eyes, filled with so much anguish, and his heart went out to the man he knew as Talon. A man that sometimes he could call 'friend.'
  Damnit! I couldn't save him. I saw it coming, and I still couldn't stop it.

  "I... I'm sorry." The Sith Lord bowed his head, in shame.

  This must not have been the words Talon was expecting, because the fire in his eyes let up slightly. He paused for a moment, and then replied, "Thank you." He extended his arm and the two Dark Jedi shook hands. "That... means a lot to me."

  "I know how much he meant to you."

  Talon nodded. "But I can't dwell in the past." He watched the stretcher go, but didn't follow this time. "We should let the dead rest."

  "Indeed."

  "I... I've sensed some Force-sensitive individuals among the ranks here. I sent some of the others to check one of them out, but I was going to investigate the other. Care to come along?"

  "Yeah. I'd like that."

  Talon smiled. "Then, come on."
 
 
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COM Darkhawk/VEN/VE/(=A=)(=SA=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)(=FCO=)[LoC][BRC][CBV*][MC:1][VC:Ebony][KC:OC]

DLotS/SW Darkhawk/Sith/VEDJ/VE/[CR]

Darkhawk and Talon continued on in silence.  There was little to say.  As they neared the location of the Force-sensitive, Talon reached out with his mind and located the individual.  Digging into recently formed memories, he came up with a name: Kami.  The two armored warriors reached a large tent and Darkhawk yanked a flap back, allowing Talon to enter first.

Talon waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness before stepping into the tent.  He heard a rustle as everyone jumped to their feet.  'Aww, hell.  I forgot about that.'  He could finally see who he would later find out to be the Dark Dragoons.

A man bearing the markings of Squad Leader stepped forward and saluted Talon.  "Sergeant First Class Afyon, sir.  How may I help you?" he said with an obvious air of confidence, despite his battle fatigue.  It was obvious in everyone's eyes that they were tired.. the kind of tired one night could not fix.

Talon returned the salute briskly, silently cursing the fact that he had worn his rank bar on his Guard armor.  Taking a quick sweep of the room, he saw the one he was looking for.  Pointing to her, Talon said, "Sergeant, please come with me."

A brief look of confusion crossed Kami's face before she stepped forward.  "Sir?" she questioned, saluting as she approached.  If the Surface Marshal had seen the salute, he ignored it as he was turning to leave.  The tent flap opened before him as Darkhawk yanked it aside from the outside again.

The three walked far away from the tent, aiming for the nearby coast.  Talon turned and examined Kami silently.  He hadn't heard of her before, but that was to be expected as he grew farther from his ties to the Stormtrooper Corps.  The young woman looked a bit nervous as she counted out the squares on Talon's rank bar and sorted it in her head.  As she seemed to finish, Talon spoke.  "Sergeant Kami," she stiffened to attention, "relax, please.  How do you feel about the power to control and destroy people?"

Kami's brow creased as she thought.  The fresh tattoo above her eye shifted in the effort.  "Is this a trick question, sir?" she inquired cautiously.

Talon's emotionless face stared back at her.  "No." he answered.  "It's an honest question.  If you were offered the gift of the Force.. the Dark Side.. would you accept it?"

Surprise showed across Kami's face as she interpreted the answer.  She exchanged glances between Talon and Darkhawk.  The Dark Lord had been silent the entire time, and his helmet always had a habit of unnerving people that weren't accustomed to it.  Finally finished her pondering, Kami turned back to Talon and replied, "I would."

Talon turned and started away, toward the center of Janae Camp.  'Follow.' he simply said, sending the message to the new recruit telepathically.

---

Vire D'sok's body floated up the ramp of the VSD-II Griffen's landing shuttle.  The medics in Janae Camp had been kind enough to provide a body bag with chemicals to effectively suck the air out of the bag.  It would do a good enough job of preserving him until they could get to Lopen.  Behind him, Dark Jedi Knight Lonewolf limped his way up the ramp and secured himself to the nearest seat.  Between the medics' bacta and his own work with healing through the Force, Lonewolf was able to move around without the aid of a crutch.  The rest of the Dark Jedi Order present, mostly moving in a massive group climbed the ramp and found seats of their own.

Talon looked over as Darkhawk strapped in an unconscious Cleric.  They had found him wounded and passed out on the edge of the water, having made it across the water without his jump pack.  One last presence stuck out in Talon's mind.  'Zael.  We're returning to Lopen.' he told his Guard.  He was proud of his student.  While he was disappointed at the betrayal that Kyvaas had committed, he was pleased that it ended with the Guardsman given the moniker 'Bob' having come out on top.  While his healing had come a long way, Zael was in need of a long healing meditation and more specialized treatment than a combat medic could supply.

The presence of the Guard touched Talon's mind and said, 'If you will it, Master, I would like to complete my mission.  The General is still far from safe.'

With a sigh, Talon conceded to himself that Bob was right.  He did not want Fury left without protection.  'Follow the Darkness, Brother.'  Closing off the connection, Talon boarded the shuttle and headed for the cockpit.  Soon after, the repulsors hummed to life and the Sentinel lifted off.

(OOC: We've picked up Rizzit, FlyingKnight/Virius, and Kami.  A message is sent down the Chain of Command about each of them not saying exactly where they went to, but that they were called away.)
 
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OO/SM Sierra "Talon" Taurus/HC-3/VEHC/VE[BC][IOC][LoC][SoS][BM][CDS][MSM]
GM-SL/DJM "Nightblades"/DC-1/Elite Griffen Sect/VSD-II Griffen/VEDJ/VE[IOC][OQD][WoS 2nd Class]
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SCAP/COM Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ISD Nemesis/Offensive Fleet/VEN[=A=][LoM][IOC][IC2]
CEO Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ECHC-1/Endoven/Dome 8473/VEEC/VE
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Verastinian Republic - Minster of Antiquities (Fossil Technology)