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Post by Cain on Nov 30, 2009 16:40:42 GMT -5
OOC: Maybe you're not supposed to defend against it =P
IC:
Janus had hit by the force but he managed not to die. A bittersweet ending for Cain, though he would not feast on this one's life he had provoked him into not only feeling the dark side, but using it to some extent as well. His progress showed a great deal of promise.
After Janus fell to his hands and knees Korriban began to grow dark again, surrounding Janus in pitch blackness before lifting to reveal he was still on the landing pad where he had started... not having moved more then two steps, "If your Sargent values his life he will leave this place now," Cain said inside Janus' head, "As for you, if you can still stand come inside my Temple. I will be awaiting your arrival... follow your feelings young one. You'll know where to go..."
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Post by Kayen/Saul/Katarina on Nov 30, 2009 19:02:07 GMT -5
Kayen screamed loudly as he was sliced and diced. He fell to the ground with dozens of charred wounds around his entire body. His robes and body suit were in pieces as he listened to Cain and when he was told to get up, he tried to sit up but his body wasn't cooperating. He shut his eyes and then he focused on the force. He started to draw on the force to fuel him and then he roared in agony but he rolled over and pushed himself to his feet, picking up his lightsabers in his hands slowly as he gritted his teeth. "I'm still... standing......."
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Post by Gamov on Nov 30, 2009 22:21:33 GMT -5
His words were answered in silence as the world around him slowly began to evaporate. The sands withered beneath his knees, the light of Korriban's star dwindled until there was nothing left but a cold wind brushing against his face. Janus' eyes snapped open, his breathing shallow and rapid as beads of sweat rolled down his face. He slowly registered his surroundings, the crumbling ruins of ancient Sith temples now replaced by the familiar sight of a darkened Jedi Temple set against the sprawling cityscape of Cosuscant.
It was all an illusion? A trick of the mind? But how? It felt so real. Even now, the pain lingered in him, a deep ache penetrating every inch of his body. His ribs felt as if though they had been crushed by an unseen force. He looked to his hand and abdomen, both mysteriously clean of any trace of blood. Yet they both throbbed in pain from where the Emperor had forced him to his ends.
As the ring gradually subsided in Prescott's ears, he lowered his hands and opened his eyes once more, only to see that the Captain had been released from his trance. "Sir...." He acted quickly, moving to support the beaten man on his shoulder as Janus tried to stand under his own power. "What the hell happened?.... Never mind that, let's just get the hell out of here."
Janus shrugged the Sergeant off as he saw him begin to make a move towards the shuttle, pulling himself free of his grasp with what little energy he could still muster at the moment. His first step forward on his own saw him stumble slightly, falling to a knee before catching himself.
"Captain." Prescott moved back to his leader, only to be denied.
"Get off of me, Sergeant!" Janus protested, throwing his hand back at him. "Leave this place, return to the ship and await my orders." Though his words seemed labored as he tried to speak through the pain, they were none the less assertive and stern.
Prescott was slightly dazed, questioning the order, thinking the Captain may still be under the control of the thing that had attacked him before. "Sir, I...."
Janus shot an angry glance over his shoulder. "I said go!" A slight cough wracked his words, forcing him to clutch his stomach. "Return to the ship and await my orders. Do not make me say it again."
Swallowing uncomfortably, Prescott bowed to the order, reluctant though his agreement with it was. "Yes, sir."
Janus watched the Sergeant make his way back to the shuttle and depart the landing pad, leaving him alone on the surface of the world. Turning his attention back to the Temple, the large doors that had been slammed shut on him before were now left open, allowing him entrance. Moving slowly, nursing his multiple wounds, Janus managed to force himself through the door to this foreboding place, finding its interior to be even less pleasant that what it had given him for an appearance outside. If he felt uncomfortable just looking at the front door, inside this lair of darkness, he felt as if though death itself stalked him from every shadow.
Even still, with a sense of fear lurking deep inside him, he had to press forward. If the illusions he experienced outside the Temple were any measure of the Emperor's true powers, then he had indeed come to the right place. But where to begin his search? That was proving to be his next task.
"Follow your feelings young one. You'll know where to go."
Cain's words were fresh in Janus' mind, offering him a clue as to where he may find the Dark Lord. Unfortunately, he had no real idea how to "follow his feelings". Was he supposed to use whatever it was he used in the illusion to survive being crushed alive? That was likely the Emperor's intent for him. But how was he to use it? He had only managed to use it in a fluke moment in time, and even that moment was hazy to him. He could still recall what that sensation was like, though. Perhaps if he tried to remember what it was like.
Shambling over to a pillar, Janus placed his back against it and sunk to the floor, closing his eyes as he did. In his mind he was trying to remember what that feeling was like. It was so primal, so vivid and unrestrained. Yet, at the same time it felt natural, so it must be a part of him somewhere, buried deep within the recesses of his mind. Janus concentrated, trying to find that feeling again, and he did not have to wait long. The sensation came to him again, same as before.
The feeling of a slight electrical current sprung up through out his body. And, somehow, almost like a compass aligned to magnetic north, the power, or force or whatever it was that was inside him, managed to hone in on the strongest source of darkness in the Temple. His senses were guiding him into the lower reaches of the structure, undoubtedly towards the Emperor himself.
Opening his eyes, almost dumbfounded that he had managed to do something that he had, up until ten minutes ago, thought impossible, Janus looked towards a nearby staircase and shoved himself back to his feet.
"Here goes nothing" He though, pulling in a few deep breaths before he started to make his way down into the labyrinth below.
The underhalls of the Temple were dark and claustrophobic, easy to get lost in. But not for Janus. Somehow, something in his mind was just simply guiding him in a very specific direction. He followed the path for a moment or two before the dim light of candles began to emanate from a room up ahead. The Captain took a moment to compose himself, swallowing hard and pulling in a few calming breaths, well, as calming as they could be at this point anyway, before he made his way to the entrance of the room.
Peering inside, he spotted two figures sitting amid a circle of candles, their attention seemingly elsewhere at the moment. He hesitated to address the two figures, fearing a violent reprisal of sorts. He certainly couldn't survive another encounter like what he had endured on the landing platform. Some part of him wanted to just turn around and head back out before it was too late. But another part of him urged him forward. He had a purpose here, and he had little intention to have come all this way, and suffered as much as he had, just to turn back at the threshold.
Stepping forward into the room, Janus instinctively dropped to a knee, partly because he could barely stand under his own power, and partly because, if this were the Emperor, he would not wish to show him any disrespect.
"Emperor?" He asked, his mouth suddenly feeling dry, his pulse racing as the words slipped out. He desperately hoped that he was addressing the right man at this point.
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Post by Cain on Dec 1, 2009 13:18:54 GMT -5
Cain's calm expression became more focused, a dark look in his eyes as he glared back at Kayen, "Your emotions are a powerful weapon, Iridonian. But every blade needs a master. Without a skilled practitioner to wield it, a blade is useless. If you cannot wield it, then I will be the master and you will remain the tool."
The darkness then had completely surrounded Kayen to the point which even Cain was no longer visible. The darkness lingered, sufficating in its intensity for a long moment before finally lifting again. As it was with Janus, the long Cain had a hold on his victim the more realistic his illusions became. Kayen would find himself now back on Iridonia. The harsh terrain around him, the smell of sulfur bubbling up from the planet's acid pools... but that wasn't all. Before Kayen now was a familiar Zabrak and a twelve year old boy of the same species. The boy had many bumps and bruises on his body and face and was practicing his sword techniques when he accidentally missed a step and stumbled. The boy's father struck him hard with the back of his hand to correct him.
"When I was your age I was already a war hero!" the boy's father scolded, "This is very disappointing, Kayen. I don't know why I waste my time with you. You're useless. I'm just glad your mother isn't around to see this... You're going to stay out here all night until you get it right."
The boy tried to do his exercise again but fell down on one knee, he was clearly exhausted. His father's face twisted in anger before kicking his son hard in the stomach, causing the boy to crumple to the ground. Tears streamed weakly down his face, though he tried hard to hide it, "You want to quit!?" his father shouted, "Then just stay down there and sleep in the dirt like an animal. That's all you'll ever be!" The boy's father then left him, returning to his home and locking the door behind him, leaving his son out in the dark and cold.
Janus entered Cain's meditation chamber and addressed him as he knelt to one knee. Cain did not flinch, he remained seated with his eyes closed, "Have a seat, Captain," Cain's voice said inside Janus' head, "rest yourself here... there are still more yet to come..."
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Post by Kayen/Saul/Katarina on Dec 1, 2009 18:38:22 GMT -5
Kayen watched the vision silently and then he realized that was him... many years ago. He had almost forgotten about it and as he glared on, everything came back to him. He growled angrily as he watched and winced as the boy was kicked. He stepped forward slowly and then he realized they were just in his head and he grabbed his head speaking to himself "it's not real it's not real it's in the past!"
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Post by Cain on Dec 1, 2009 20:34:18 GMT -5
The young Kayen remained on the ground, shivering from the cold. It had gotten dark, and quiet... very quiet. The air was still and the only sound came from the boy's shallow breathing. He carefully reached for his robe, his hand trembling as he removed a small lightsaber dagger from it. The boy had taken it from his father while he beating him without his father noticing. The sound of the young Kayen's heart beat rose as he held the dagger out in front of him. At first the sound was faint, almost imperceptible, but it grew louder as the boy stared at the blade with a pain filled look on his face.
The image of his father's mangled corpse then flashed in front of Kayen, his younger half now covered in blood as his heart beat sped up. The corpse of Kayen's father was littered with gashes, his chest almost completely torn open. Suddenly the Zabrak's eyes peeled back, he picked himself up slowly off the ground before turning to face the real Kayen.
"You thought you'd get away with it, didn't you?" Kayen's father said, "Well now its time to return the favor, Kayen. I'm gonna gut you slow..."
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Post by Gamov on Dec 1, 2009 21:26:49 GMT -5
Cain's words sounded out in Janus' head, the Sith Lord inviting him in without so much as even a feint twitch in his body.
"Rest yourself here... there are still more yet to come..."
More? He had just survived what he was certain to be a living hell, and the Emperor greets him by warning him that more of the same encounters were in their future? All the more reason in Janus' mind to keep his visit a brief as possible. With any luck, his ordeal would be over, his trials weathered and his goals achieved. They wouldn't come easy, this much he was sure of by now. Cain would force him to work for his desires. It was either survive his tests and earn what he had come here for, or die a broken man.
Pushing himself up from his kneeling position, Janus cautiously made his way to the circle of candles, glancing briefly to the woman and the Emperor before he took a seat by himself, removing himself as much as he could from direct contact with the two. This whole situation was beginning to have something of a draining effect on him. Fear was welling up in him, a deep fear that he was unable to repress in this dark, oppressive environment. He had never quite experienced the powers of a Sith first hand, but he had heard the stories. And now, he wished that they had just remained stories to him. Nothing could truly prepare one for meeting that level of power face to face.
Janus sank slowly into a seated position, crossing his legs, wincing at a slight pang of discomfort in his knee as he did so. As he gradually situated himself in the room, Janus kept a nervous stare at the two across from him, uncertain what to expect.
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Post by Kayen/Saul/Katarina on Dec 2, 2009 18:35:18 GMT -5
Kayen watched quietly and emotionlessly as he stood over his deadly father. When he sat up, Kayen jumped back quickly and he yelled "NO! YOU'RE DEAD!!!" He took a few steps back, his heartbeat quickening with fear. He backed into the shut door of the house, his palms sweating. He took a deep breath and drew his lightsaber from his belt (if it was still there), igniting the yellow blade slowly as he glared at his father coldly. "I killed you once old man..."
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Post by Tai on Dec 2, 2009 19:22:32 GMT -5
~As soon as he landed and Elasser dodged Tai turned to him trying to ignore what he had to say but he could not. He was driving him nuts and he was a face he never wanted to see again. "Im stronger than you will ever be!" Tai yelled out in outrage swinging at Elasser again with his lightsabers yelling as he did. Tai hated his family and especially his brother Tai, not even because he was mistreated like most people just because of there origin. The kinda people they were just pissed Tai off to no end and he was ashamed to call them family.~
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Post by Cain on Dec 2, 2009 20:28:06 GMT -5
A large grin spread across Kayen's father's face, showing off his reddened teeth, "You kill me? You sneaked into my room and killed me in my sleep, like a coward. You're spineless, Kayen," The Zabrak ignited a short red lightsaber blade, slowly moving in towards his son before stopping about five feet in front of him, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, "Good... Even now your mind is clouded by fear, it dominates you... I can feel it. Be afraid, boy. I want to enjoy this."
Kayen's father extended his arm, pointing his lightsaber blade at his son. Like Cain's lightsaber before the blade extended out in an instant at Kayen. The blade extended to Kayen's eye, not quite far enough to impale his head but far enough to burn his eyeball right out of its socket.
Elasser raised his lightsaber, letting it lock with Tai's as the two blades met. He pushed the blade hard into Tai, a sadistic look in his eyes, "You're stronger then me are you!?" Elasser shouted, "Even if you're not, at least you're stronger then that fool Kendal was. To die in such a pitiful way..." Elasser then shoved Tai back with his lightsaber, "You're stronger then me... prove it. Strike me down, brother. Do not hesitate. Show me you have the strength to do what must be done."
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Post by Tai on Dec 3, 2009 18:40:24 GMT -5
Tai was letting all his anger out he jumped back and he stopped talking. He ran towards the illusion once again throwing both lightsabers at him as he did. "I hate you!" Tai said jumping behind him letting the lightsabers fly towards Elasser intending to catch them if he misses or they go threw him. Emotions... something Tai never shows but when it comes down to his family, especially his brother his emotions are uncontrollable and it can even be felt in the force his anger. The dark side over whelmed him and here and now he intended to kill the filth he called Elasser, his brother....
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Post by Kayen/Saul/Katarina on Dec 3, 2009 18:59:04 GMT -5
Kayen screamed loudly as his eye was burned clean out of his head. At the same time, he swung his lightsaber around right into the gut of his father and then he fell to his back holding his head and rolling around and then he fell unconscious on the ground from the pain.
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Post by Cain on Dec 3, 2009 20:38:25 GMT -5
The dark side consumed Tai and in his anger his lightsabers connected with his brother Elasser. As they impaled him Elasser doubled over in pain... though when he raised his face again it was no longer Elasser looking back. Kendal's eyes watered, he swallowed hard, breathing faintly just as he had the first time Tai drove a lightsaber through him. He tried to spit out words but all he produced was blood as he fell to his knees and crumpled to the ground. The scene went quiet, there was only darkness now as Kendal took in a few last shallow breaths before going still.
"Familiar?" Cain's voice said from behind Tai. He stood with his arms folded over his chest, his cold yellow eyes staring through Tai. The two had not been formally introduced yet, Tai may not have known who this man was but his presence was undoubtedly a source of tremendous darkness, "It should be. You may be stronger then you were then... but there is still something that holds you back..."
Elasser then reappeared in front of Tai and Kendal, he was laughing uproariously, "Hahaha! What a fool... Well? What are you waiting for? Strike me down... show me you have the strength to do what must be done... no matter the cost!"
Meanwhile a medical droid entered the meditation chamber, dragging the broken body of Kayen with it. Though the visions were illusions, the damage done during them was very real, as Ashley and Janus could attest to. Kayen had been covered in bandages, including one wrapped around his head and eye. The bandages were stained red with blood and Kayen was still unconscious as the droid dropped him on the floor in the meditation room before leaving.
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Post by Tai on Dec 3, 2009 23:57:39 GMT -5
Tai froze, his childhood replayed before his eyes. He put his hand to Kendals face only to feel blood touch his fingers cold, cold blood. Not warm like most blood but it was cold like Hoth the planet full of snow. A tear fell from Tai's cheek but it could not escape the grip of his helmet. How could someone make him feel these emotions it was driving him nuts and with it he had replay his childhood. All in less than a day how could this be only someone truly influenced by the dark side could do such a thing. A smirk ran across his face as he force pulled his lightsabers from Kendal's body and turned the green one on.
Tai brought it up and swung down quickly towards Elasser's neck but than stopped right before hitting it and turned it off. ".... I will never bring myself to your level..." Tai said turning away and walking away towards Cain closing his eyes looking down. Tai had controled himself, self control was what he was best at and thats what he used. He had no intentions to kill Elasser, he had no reason to. He looked back at Elasser "Your not worth the energy.."
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Post by Cain on Dec 4, 2009 0:31:38 GMT -5
Elasser's smirk rapidly twisted into a scowl, "So be it..." he croaked once Tai had finished speaking. He ignited his own lightsaber again and pointed it at Tai, "If you will not fight... you will meet your destiny."
Cain watched stoically from the darkness. The tension all around Tai began to grow, it was almost electric. The connection now between Cain and Tai was a powerful one and Cain began to use this connection to feed on Tai's energy, slowly sucking the life out of him. It was a steady and subtle process, but still a violent one. The Force Meld was used by the Jedi to share strength and knowledge. This perversion of that ability had Cain taking without giving back, taking until there was nothing left.
"If you can't kill me, then you will join your friend," Elasser taunted, grinning wide again as he swung his lightsaber across his chest. Even though the saber didn't appear to come close to Tai, a sharp, focused rake of telekinetic power from Cain tore across Tai's chest, "You should have killed me when you had the chance! Now suffer for it! Unlike Kendal, your death will be nice... and slow."
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