Crusade of the Temple Raiders (Melori Raaf)

[Kendrix]

Epsilon. Kendrix didn't understand if it was a planet or a cluster of them but either way she didn't care. She had a job to do. Her sister sent her to find and take any artifacts in the system. She still didn't understand what exactly the job would require of her but Kendrix was good at just taking things. She wanted to make her sister proud and find one of these 'artifacts.' That is until she got on to the transport ship and found out this wouldn't be a solo mission.

Kendrix glared at the passenger in front of her. Her eyes fixed on the blonde haired girl anytime Kendrix caught her make the slightest movement. This was her sister's apprentice. Kendrix didn't glare hatefully but still it was a cold and indifferent stare. When she wasn't staring her eyes focused on the handle of the broken sword in her hand. It was her father's. His sword. Her memories flooded to him more than ever since leaving her homeworld.

Her will to please her 'sister' turned into spite. Did she still want to be the first to grab something and take it back to her or... will she deliver any item found to her own master instead? Kendrix was sure Limbthír would enjoy the gift as much as Kendrix would enjoy getting back at her sister.

"We've arrived in orbit," the pilot voice came over the intercom.

Kendrix glanced back up at the girl one more time, "You are the apprentice of my sister the Loicairon?" Kendrix paused giving her a quick glace up and down before switching to her native tongue, "Le sintuva amarth faeg."

[member="Melori Raaf"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori was never sure where the role of apprentice ended and underling began. In truth, it didn’t matter. For the foreseeable future, she would do as her Master demanded. One day, she may have to kill her and assume her position – but for now she had too much to learn to even contemplate such a possibility.

And she’d been given an accomplice. Melori was unsure as to the nature of the company. Was it a test, or someone to watch over and report back? She’d not asked and until now hadn’t been particularly bothered. She was confident of her own abilities and hadn’t even considered double-crossing her Master. Perhaps that was it? Maybe she should be more scheming?

She shrugged off the moment of self-doubt. She was aware of her ambition and drive and did not contemplate either failure or unfulfilled potential. So she sat back and waited. And she hated wasted time. So she meditated, strengthening her connection to the Force. It was better than nothing.

“We've arrived in orbit.”

She opened one eye and as her fellow passenger spoke, she opened the other.

“You are the apprentice of my sister the Loicairon? Le sintuva amarth faeg.”

“Yes and I have no idea, given I have no idea what you said.” Her voice was very matter of fact. She never was one for playing games.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

"Shame," Kendrix shrugged at her traveling companion. "Should I translate for you?"

With the last word the ship shook. Kendrix gripped the handle of her father's sliced sword so that it wouldn't fall out of her hand. She then stood about to go see what the pilot was doing that caused the ship to react so violently. She didn't like to be on the ships anyway. She had no idea how they worked. When she was small she believed them to be large metal beasts.

"We've cleared the asteroid field. It's nothing to-" The pilots words ended with another loud crash that shook the ship again. This time killing the power and activating the emergency lights and alarms.The impact knocked Kendrix off her feet and into a wall. She grimaced at the sudden misfortune then shared another look with the girl in front of her before shaking her head. She didn't remember the fall only a sinking sensation and then the ship making a splash. The ship was nose down the floor slanted at an angle.

"Perhaps we should get out before we... undulava," Kendrix clang to her seat then forced her self to her feet. "What is your word for dying in water?"

[member="Melori Raaf"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori sat and waited for her companion to reply. Was that a genuine desire to translate or sarcasm? In truth she’d never know.

She ship was clearly in some sort of distress and the pilot’s words echoed that. Melori simply braced herself and closed her eyes. If they died, they died. But if she did, it wouldn’t be because she was wandering around on a ship that was lurching around.

The pilot’s false optimism was clear the moment she felt more than just the ship bouncing off something and rather hit something. And from the noise, that something was wet. An ocean, a river, a lake, a stream? It mattered little – Melori didn’t swim.

Now she stood up, but still held on to something – even sinking they might yet strike something else. “The word you’re looking for is die. It matters little how wet you are – you’re still dead.”

Given they were sinking nose-first, Melori decided to blow the rear doors. Even if they were now underwater, it would enable them to see which way was up easiest. So she pulled the Force to her and with an effort, exerted a Force Push on the doors. After a few creaks, they flung open and fortunately air rather than daylight flooded in. At least for now.

“Drown,” she said to Kendrix as she clambered to the opening. “So let’s not, eh?” And as she reached the doorway she realised they were at least in a lake rather than the middle of the ocean. But then, to a non-swimmer, it was a small crumb of comfort.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

"Yes, Let's not... Drown," Kendrix moved to climb out of the ship when she heard the sound of screaming and pleading from the cockpit.

Kendrix glanced back down taking a moment to consider what to do before finally giving into curiousity. She slide down to were the pilot sat. He writhed in pain clinching onto his legs. Kendrix cringed at the torqued shape of his knees. Even a youngling could see he wouldn't be getting up from his chair anytime soon.

"Please help me," the pilot pleaded.

Kendrix stared at the man watching him squirm as water filled the cockpit. She couldn't carry him out. Her sister's apprentice wasn't much larger than her. Kendrix couldn't lift the man out and take him to shore while the same time swimming there herself. Even with the force.

"I can give you a quick death. Save you from choking to death on water," Kendrix watched as the man squirmed even more. "Or you can see if our companion has a different form of mercy."

Kendrix climbed to the light looking out at the lake and the planet's surface. Kendrix shared a glance with her sensing hesitation, "Problem?"

Kendrix didn't wait for a reply instead she used the force to leap from the ship. She managed to clear a good distance with the leap before diving in to the water head first. She resurfaced then swam toward the shore of the lake.

[member="Melori Raaf"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori was entirely focused on her own escape. The pilot and others would have to fend for themselves. She was aware that her companion was now conversing with the pilot.

She paid little attention as she looked out at the distance she’d have to travel to get to dry land. She was aware that her fellow Sith was now past her and heading out of the ship. She spared the pilot a glance, he was pleading with her now.

She headed down, into the cockpit and leant in close to the man, now sobbing for his life to be spared and clearly taking comfort from her proximity.

“Can you save me?” he asked as the cockpit in front of him showed this part of the ship was clearly underwater – at present able to cope with the pressure.

She smiled at him before a flash of yellow indicated she had managed to retrieve a buoyancy vest from under his seat. “Even better,” she offered, “I can save myself.”

She scrambled back up to the exit and donned the vest and leaped into the water. Upon contact with the lake’s surface, the yellow waistcoat inflated and allowed her to float to the surface. In a most undignified way she managed to scrabble her way to the shore – in the same direction as her fellow Sith. “One day I’ll learn how to swim – I promise.”

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix shook the water out of her hair as she stepped on the shore. She attempted to shake the water out of her clothes as well but they were a lost cause. Kendrix didn't mind however. They would dry eventually.

Her head turned to check and see if her sister's apprentice managed to get off the ship. She smirked even at the thought that maybe the girl had drowned. That would save her from her problem. She could go back to her sister with items in hand and 'remorsefully' tell how the apprentice drowned in the lake. Good riddance. The smirked turned into a scowl at the sight of the girl bobbing in the water in some odd yellow vest. Kendrix shook her head and rolled her eyes. How does some one not know how to swim? Kendrix learned from her father when she was little - barely old enough to walk even. Kendrix removed her eyes from the apprentice. She was over trying to figure out why someone wouldn't learn how to swim. She lifted her foot to take a step forward but she stopped short and paused. Her eyes focusing on something else.

A temple - large and weathered. Had that always been there? No. It wasn't there when she was on the ship or in the water. It became visible when she stepped foot on the shore. Kendrix mouth hung open at the sudden shock of it just appearing in her vision. The force must have kept it hidden. At least that what Kendrix believed.

She didn't even hear her companion behind her until she spoke about learning how to swim. She should learn. One won't always have a yellow vest to keep them from sinking. But then again Kendrix didn't care if she drowned or not.

[member="Melori Raaf"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori was soaked and not in the best of moods. She ripped off the yellow vest and flung it to one side. A loud ‘glug’ indicated the ship was now fully submerged. So as well as the task at hand, they’d have to find a way off this planet.

When she swivelled her head and neck back to face the fellow Sith, she saw it. How she hadn’t noticed it before was beyond her. Perhaps it was some use of the Force to disguise the temple from prying eyes? But proximity perhaps made it visible?

Either way, it mattered little. It was there and she could see it – what else was important? “A coincidence or our destination?” she asked as she trudged forwards, her clothes heavy and uncomfortable with the water. She was tempted to start a fire and dry them, but there was no way of telling who might see the flames, so she put up with the soggy garments for now at least.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

"There are no coincidences with the force," Kendrix developed the same tone her companion had before on the ship before it crashed.

As her companion moved in front of her, Kendrix couldn't help but to smirk. Did Kendrix look so wringing wet? She didn't feel it, but then again she refused to wear the stupid academy outfit that her master asked her to wear. At this moment, she was glad she did. Her cloths didn't collect nearly as much water as her companion's. Kendrix didn't plan to wait for her to wring out her clothes should she chose to do that at some point.

"You should lose the unnecessary layers," Kendrix shook her head then followed after her. Her clothes weren't encumbering her so Kendrix kept them. "Unless you really want the clothes to rub your skin raw."

With her last statement she went around her companion and up the steps to the entrance of the temple. Any where else it would have had a door that was open. Not this one. Kendrix felt the slab over the door feeling the strange symbols that she didn't recognize. She then stood back holding her hand up to the door closing her eyes as she reached out in the force. She could feel the temple. She paused opening her eyes to her sister's apprentice giving her a nod toward the door before going back to her previous position.

[member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori removed her cloak first and felt lighter but still very wet. As much as she didn’t want to hear it, she had little choice unless they decided to stop and start a fire.

She quickly removed the jacket and trousers of her robes and reattached her belt. She was essentially wearing her underwear and a long black vest. At a night-club it could probably pass as a very short dress. But this wasn’t a night club and now she was cold. So she moved quickly to compensate.

“Layers lost,” she said, “But I’ll have to endure blisters on my feet – I’ll not give up my boots.” And she followed her companion as she ascended the steps of the temple. On it were written runes – many of which she recognised.

“I take it your languages don’t stretch to Sithese?” she smirked – glossing over the fact she’d only just learned it herself and was hardly an expert. “We need blood.”

She reached to her belt and took out a small blade. Cutting her palm, she pressed it on the door and recited the words she was sure she could read. Most of the symbols were a story of sorts – the instructions to open the door were thankfully short.

“Anga is tave vadinti iv tave jen’ garthaz.” Translated as ‘Open in the name of the Dark-side.’

From a flat slab of stone, a fissure appeared and soon a vertical line was visible before – which an audible crack – the door swung inwards about three feet. "After you," she indicated with a sweeping bow.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix lowered her hand and raised an eyebrow at the sight. So her idea of forcing the temple open wasn't necessary... She knows this now. The language sounded familiar. Kendrix knew that it was taught at the academy. She remembered walking out of that class to tell the truth. Maybe she should attend classes like her master instructed. That didn't matter at the moment however. They had a job to do.Maybe this apprentice of her sister was worth keeping alive instead of at the bottom of the lake.

Kendy gave her another judgmental glance up and down then proceed down into the temple. Steps up toward the door steps down into the temple. They were thin. Kendrix and Melori couldn't walk side bu side even if they wanted to. Who ever designed this temple needed a sword through their chest. After fifteen feet down, Kendrix glanced back at the sound of the door shutting behind them leaving them in complete darkness. Her eye glowed an eerie green tint as they adjusted to the lack of light. Her hands went to the walls. She could touch both at the same time. Then she felt a sinking feeling. This would be a trial - or worse. Either way something told her not to touch the walls again.

"Save yourself," Kendrix wasn't the best with how she worded sentences or used context. Her hand grabbed her companions wrist and placed it on her shoulder. "I can see well enough for us. Do not fall on me."

Kendrix added the last sentence sternly before she lead them in deeper noticing as the symbols began to appear again. When they reached the first chamber, they were still in darkness, "The symbols are on the walls and three stone figures are in the middle of the room... I can't tell them or not."

[member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

There was a small aspect of smugness about Melori now. She was hardly an expert in Sithese – in fact she was below average – but she knew more than her comrade and that counted for a lot right now.

Now shivering due to standing still and still being outside, she readily followed the other woman into the temple. The passageway was narrow and they were clearly descending.

And then the door closed and they were pitched into complete darkness. Force Sight would have been handy to have learned about now. She allowed the other woman to take her wrist and place her hand on her shoulder. “I’ll do my best.” Their conversations thus far had been at best cordial and primarily functional.

As they progressed, Melori shut her eyes and tried to picture the narrow passageway in her mind’s eye by using the Force but only got a blurry image at best. She decided to practice later.

“We need some light,” Melori said as they reached what she was told was a chamber. “The symbols are no doubt significant and I can’t see in the dark.”

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix decided the best thing to do was to go around the wall. Surely the architect of this temple meant for them to head straight into the room and to their demise. Kendrix knew better. She shuffled her feet toward the left careful not to step on or trigger anything. The last thing she wanted was to die in a place like this.

Her hand went to the wall as she noticed something new. Some sort of vine tangled and formed to the wall. She found it to hard to make out. She could see more than her companion but her eyes still couldn't see completely in the dark. The guessing game was starting to become frustrating.

"Don't you have a light sword like my sister?" Kendrix barked. She wasn't particularly fond of the situation they were now in.

[member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori never considered her sabers to be a torch, but they could always serve that purpose. And of course provide a beacon if anyone wanted an easy target.

So she unclipped one of the hilts and held the hilt away from her as her companion was moving them around the left of the room – assuming that is what it was.

With a snap-hiss, the blade activated and in the darkness, they were both illuminated by a crimson light that bathed the nearby vicinity.

And now she could see symbols on the walls and the three stone statues. Melori concentrated on deciphering the text.

Z’kaina – that meant worthy…yes? And Sergeti was definitely Guardian – or maybe Sentinel. Either way, she was pretty sure what it meant. She was sure Akmuo meant stone – because grovelling made no sense to her translation.

“Only the worthy shall make it past the stone guardians.”

She nodded at the statues. Definitely not grovelling guardians. “I guess we have no choice but to face them – whatever they are.”

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Face them? Kendrix’s brow furrowed as she grimaced. Can statues come alive? How do they face them? The thought of it confused Kendrix even more.

Her hand went to her companion’s belt removing the other saber from her hip. Kendrix didn’t think to ask if she could. They needed each other at the moment so surely the woman wasn’t stupid enough to strike Kendrix down. She rolled her eyes as it held the same ridiculous shape as that of her sister’s and master’s. With the same snap-hiss kendrix ignited the blade in her hand. She needed one of her own. The thought to take Melori’s didn’t cross Kendrix mind. She hated the curved shape. It seemed stupid in her opinion.

Kendrix used the crimson blade to light the stone in front of them.The wall were whole. There didn’t appear to be another way out of the room. None of the blocks on the floor seemed out of place. There wasn’t anything odd on the ground. Still Kendrix’s paranoia didn’t leave her. Her feet slid gently against the ground making her way over to the three ‘guardians.’ The sound of her steps were almost nonexistant. Her youth spent stealing and hunting gave her soft footing. She waved the saber in front of the statues examining each of them.

The first obviously didn’t have eyes chiseled into it. The second seemed normal. No. He didn’t have ears. The last lacked a mouth. Kendrix didn’t understand the purpose of making statues as such.

Kendrix eyes glanced over at her crimson lit companion. “Does the lack of eyes, ears, and mouth mean something? I do not understand this.” Under her breath, she cursed the statues in her native tongue.

[member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori was aware one of her sabers was taken. Fortunately it wasn’t Bane’s Heart, or the exercise would be humorous. At least for one of them.

No, her sabers were standard fare, albeit curved for Makashi. She could use it for the fourth Form fine and the shape often fooled opponents when she used that saber combat style.

So she took the other and rolled it in her hands, her wrists supple - which was the whole point of the curved hilt.

And she allowed her companion to lead the way. She was not honour bound to protect her — at least as far as she knew — so she let her ascertain the threat before getting within striking distance of the statues.

Melori smiled at the question. The maxim was known in many cultures. See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. For some it was about not dwelling on the negative. For many — especially in the Republic — it meant a lack of moral responsibility, those who refuse to acknowledge impropriety.

But here was about the Sith. And to the Sith it was simply a code of silence. What happened here was never to be repeated outside of these walls. Any secrets unveiled should not be shared.

The noise was the first clue that something was about to happen. Like a chair scraping on a stone floor. A stone chair to be most accurate. For the three guardians began to move and as ‘arms’ came away from their bodies, stone swords were visible in their hands.

They stood in a line of three. And as they stood, it was clear that they had been placed on top of a set of steps that led down steeply into some room or maybe even floor below. But for now Melori’s eyes were on the statues, as they began to move quicker and quicker and those stone swords were being wielded with definite intent.

"I think they mean business," she said and took up a position alongside her companion. "But then...so do we."

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix grew up on a planet that was unknown to the galaxy until about a decade before her birth. Foreigners were still rather hated. Such a widely spread reference was completely unknown to her because the galaxy as a whole was unknown to her. Any mention of someone considered ‘famous’ would go straight over her head. If asked to name the core worlds, should could name at least one maybe two? She didn’t even realize how massive the galaxy really was.

Kendrix began to step back as the scrapping began. Stone being drug against stone. She stopped as she returned to the side of her companion. It was then her eyes fixed on these guardians watching them as they came to life. Kendrix shook her head. She couldn’t believe it. She had never seen anything like it. Her other hand tried to grip the saber. The shape of it making it difficult to hold two handed. She wasn’t use to that. She learned to fight with long handled blades she needed to place both hands on it. The statues had no problem wielding theirs however. Kendrix shook her head. Her eyes then fixing on the stairs they moved from.

“Galu, Malengwen,” Kendrix’s head tilted to speak to her. However her eyes stayed fixed on the stairs. She turned the lightsaber off as she ran forward leaping into a roll as one of the swords sliced neck level. She managed to throw herself between two of the guardians. A second sword coming down just behind her as she squeezed through the two statues. Kendrix exchanged one final glance with her sister’s apprentice before slipping down the stairs and out of harm's way… for the moment.

The stairs led to a long hall illuminated by lamps that reminded Kendrix of home. They weren’t electrical but lit. The flames flickered as Kendrix walked past them. This was easier than she had hoped. With that thought came a gust of wind, and the lamps all went out in a steady line. She felt a pain in the pit of her stomach. She still knew which way was the right direction. Her hands touched the wall to confirm she wouldn’t walk into one then continued blindly forward. Her eyes trying to make out any forms.

“Baralissel… Iellig.”

Kendrix gasped as the words touched her ears losing her breath at the sudden voice. She never thought she would hear it again. He vanished. The moment felt like a dream. Her legs shook under her as she gripped at clothes trying to grab her heart and stop it from beating so hard. She couldn’t stand any longer as her knees collapsed from under her.

“Ada...” Kendrix whispered her voice barely able to escape her throat. Tears streamed from her eyes. She opened her mouth wider, “ADAR!”

[member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

One moment they represented a united front against the statues, the next Melori was alone. And not only had she left her behind as she ran down the stairs, but she took one of Melori’s sabers with her!

“Kark it,” she muttered. Sometimes you just needed to swear.

She pulled the Force to her and her irises were now bright yellow, ringed with crimson. Before the statues could get within range she gave an almighty Force Push to the one on the left. It held firm for a second or two before tottering and falling backwards – shattering into pieces on the stone floor.

She turned her attention to the remaining two and wondered how to deal with them. From below she heard her accomplice shout – but the language was such she had no way of telling if she was dying or had found the secret to eternal youth.

Melori focused back on the remaining two statues, that now stood with one foot held back, clearly learning from the demise of the first. They were obviously created to ensure it took three different Abilities to defeat them.

Intelligent statues…just what she needed.

[member="Kendrix"]