Favors and Negotiations (Aiden)

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Jon reluctantly led them onward through the passageways knowing it got worse from there.

“The doorway we saw is sealed and we haven’t worked on it yet. We found… other things… that seemed to take priority. Now we will follow the other corridor to its end. It opens onto a huge chamber. Watch your step. It’s in bad shape. We have a path through it cleared but debris remains.”

“You can see this area has had some of its ceiling collapse. Those openings face on the valley just behind the front mountain range behind the house. It’s how we get in and out. ”

They worked their way through the large room and came to a massive door.

“This is the first of three doors. The next room is where the place gets interesting. We call it the guardian room. Apparently some of the occupants were sith sorcerers. They bound some… spirits… here to stop the uninvited.”

“They have lost most of their potency so they won’t do anything now but frighten. Once we start through the room; however, don’t stop until we are through the next door.”

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Nothing had prepared her for this, the sensation of panic touched her, tiny goosebumps ran up her arms, and she could feel the hair on the back of her neck begin to move. Damn she thought. Frighten yes that was their job, and they were doing a very good job.

The eyeless, skinless faces looked at them with indignation that they should be so bold as to come hear the treasures they kept.

"isn't there a way to release the souls, to let them pass over?" She looked up again the swirling colors. Ok it was official, she wasn't thrilled to be here..

[member="Jon Burke"] [member="Aiden Merritt"]

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Aiden was horrified. Not that the ghosts were that terrifying, but, they immediately mentally placed him back in the days he spent in the catacombs on Korriban – and they sensed it.

Recognizing Aiden’s weakness the spirits attacked with a vengeance; robbing him of his memories and fears and implanting visions and hallucinations. Crushed to his knees by their onslaught, Aiden groaned, “Get her out of here, Jon.”

Then they began – Aiden’s darkest fears experienced as if living them.

An exodus of the inhabitants of the Gray Moon – forced into exile by the system’s new ruing House. The Mountain Villa crumbling under an aerial bombardment by the new House – wishing to wipe any signs of House ALGray from the system.

Aiden fighting another man – someone he didn’t recognize – with light sabers. The only problem was Aiden’s light saber was not his old familiar blue-green. It was a dark, crimson red. The color of a sith’s blade.

Jon Burke and a woman naked in bed, entwined in obvious passion. They roll to the side so that the woman becomes visible and it’s Melanctha. Aiden screamed with rage - rage relished and stoked on and on by the sith force ghosts.

Aiden climbed to his feet and pulled his light saber. He snapped it on and began a staggered step, each to the delight of the ghosts, towards the man he had to kill – Jon Burke.

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


[SIZE=12pt]Jon took Melanctha by the elbow and hurried her towards the next doorway. “Please hurry, Duch’a Dallamoor… I think Aiden is having difficulties with the guardians.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Jon hoped to get her through the door and return to help Aiden if needed. She would be safe from them in the next room although it would be darker.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Leading her through the door, he said, “I know you can’t see well in here. For some reason, we can’t make the lights stay on. Please stay here and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Jon turned back to the Guardian’s chamber and was contrite to see Aiden stalking towards him with his light saber burning brilliantly. [/SIZE]

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

"Issues? " Mel looked at Aiden the look in his eyes was nothing like she had seen before on his face. It seemed twisted in anger. She did not like being handled and shook her arm free from Mr. Burke. What was it he said the guardian's, " and just how is it you plan on helping him?" She was half way between worry and fear to emotions she never let strangers see.

She didn't want to be in the dark, was he planning on leaving her alone! Oh now. And no weapon.

[member="Jon Burke"][member="Aiden Merritt"]

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


[SIZE=12pt]Jon gave Aiden a force push, knocking him over and sliding him back to the far wall. That gave him time for the next step in his hastily devised plan. Gathering the force in greater intensity, Jon created force lightening between his hands, then rolled it into ball lightening. He then released it up towards the specters, discharging it in a crackling blue flash when it was between them. As he hoped they dissipated, leaving a dark void where they had been hovering. Jon knew it was only a temporary reprieve and hastened to help Aiden through the room.[/SIZE]


Slipping Aiden’s arm over his shoulder, he helped him back where Melanctha was waiting. “Come on, jedi,” he said softly so that only Aiden would hear. “You really need to work on that.”

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


The object of Aiden’s rage was walking towards him. Aiden raised his saber above his head, roared a challenge and charged… only to be unceremoniously knocked back to the wall behind him. A rational mind would have realized Jon could have done much worse if Aiden had been his true target, but, Aiden was anything but rational at the moment. However, he was rational enough to understand what was happening when he saw Jon forming force lightening – only he expected to be the recipient.

He was on his feet moving forward again when the lightening discharged just above him, knocking him back to his knees. The disappearance of the ghosts was like being raised from drowning underwater for Aiden. His rage vanished, although the images he’s seen were still fresh in his mind and so vivid he questioned their surreality.

He looked at Jon with wide, mistrusting eyes as he helped him through the room never responding to his quip. Seeing Mel huddled in a dark corner didn’t alleviate his misgiving. He leaned against the opposite wall, not speaking to either of them, his eyes resolutely focused down the dark passageway.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Melancthat did not know how to react to any of this there was nothing in any training she had ever taken that told her how to deal with force users, and knowing now that Jon Burke was a force user did nothing to alleviate any misgivings or tensions she had about him but the look on Aiden's face when he came from the room.

What had he seen that made him look so hard, so distant. Moving slowly she approached but still keeping her distance "Aiden" she whispered, then she looked over at Jon Burke, had he done something to him. She leaned forward to try and look into his face. "Aiden" she whispered again.

This was not the adventure she had envisioned, force users, hidden rooms, hidden friends, so many secrets it was very very hapan, and she wasn't sure how much she liked it or not.

[member="Aiden Merritt"] [member="Jon Burke"]

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Jon watched the interaction between Melanctha and Aiden with concern. He’d had his own demons in the past and knew how they could turn fears into perceived reality. What had Aiden seen that made him so hostile?

“Melanctha,” Jon said softly encouraging her to step back nearer him. “Aiden was once trapped with a Sith Master named Marzullo in the catacombs of Korriban. What she did to him was apparently not nearly as bad as what the ghosts of that place did to him over the days he was lost in there.”

“They attack weaknesses. Whatever your greatest fears… they ferret them out and exploit them; giving you visions of those very things so real they may as well be reality. Whatever Aiden was shown just now, he’s having trouble discerning from reality. Was it real or just a bad dream, so to speak? Only time and a clearer head will help him now.”

“We need to move on. I’m sorry this area is darker than the others. For some reason we just can’t get the lights to work reliably in here.”

He looked at her and glanced at Aiden, “Stay close to Aiden and the two of you follow just behind me.”

Jon took a smaller light saber from his belt and ignited it. It blazed in a brilliant white light that illuminated a small area of the passageway. Jon started forward slowly, making sure they were following.

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Aiden cringed when she called his name. He wanted to turn to her and beg her to tell him it wasn’t true. His brain just couldn’t accept the impossibility of the nightmare he’d seen. What had he appeared like to her in his momentary madness? She just learned he was jedi, could she accept what she’d seen, or, would she never want to be around him again when they escaped this wretched place?

When Jon led off down the corridor, he slowly followed behind.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Perhaps this was too much. She looked from Jon to Aiden when Aiden moved away without a word she gave him the space he might need. She did not know what to do now it would seem there was lots about Aiden she didn't know they obviously needed to talk but not now.

So much for their fun day, it was now the things nightmares were made of. She began to walk the darkness reflected the mood that had fallen over them. She blinked hoping to push away darkness away. She could see the back of each of their heads perhaps lost in their own thoughts .

[member="Jon Burke"][member="Aiden Merritt"]

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Aiden shivered, perhaps feeling the chill of the ghosts for the first time as his body began to regain its self-awareness. He looked around as if he were seeing the chamber they were in anew. He looked for Melanctha and was surprised to find her bringing up the rear of their small procession.

He stopped and waited for her to catch up, then with his hand still trembling, took hers and drew her close enough to whisper, “I’m so sorry.”

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

[member="Aiden Merritt"]

"Its ok Aiden I'm stronger than I look but I think this means we have a great deal to talk about." She squeezed his hand trying to give reassurance.

"You can tell m e all about this in a private dinner. And if you leave anything out I will not forgive you, you understand right?"

She tried to smile. She fought the desire to hug him. Hold him and reassure them both it was ok.

"Your friend is like you?" Her gaze went to Jon.

[member="Jon Burke"]

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Jon led the two silently paying little attention to their murmured conversation. He needed Aiden to have his wits about him when they open the next chamber. It appeared to be the last in the series and, Jon hoped, the room he would find the artifacts he was looking for.

As they neared the massive door, he spoke up, “My crew has cleared the debris from this area making this last door accessible. Aiden, do you want to do the honors?”

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Aiden reluctantly released Melanctha’s hand and stepped up to the door. He had found what he’d been looking for… the source of the darkness he sensed as far back as the lake house’s entry lay in these last three rooms they had traversed. With the exception of the guardians, he now sensed it as the residual of evil done in the past rather than some active malevolence. But, what was tying it here after so long?

The door resisted his efforts, but, once begun, swung open silently as if on well oiled hinges. Jon gathered several of the work lights from the previous room. Once out of the second chamber, they once again worked causing the young jedi to contemplate that center chamber briefly before the last was illuminated.

It was a large, cathedral like room. Two columns of stone benches ran down the center; angled forming a series of chevrons pointed towards the door through which they entered. They faced a raised dais on which a large stone alter dominated. High above, a large golden cage hung from the ceiling; the chain from which it hung running off to the side of the chamber to a wheel which apparently could be used to raise or lower the cage. A skeletal hand stuck between the bars as if pointing at the wheel.

What caught both Aiden and Jon’s attention most though were dozens, if not hundreds, of small cubes most of which were softly glowing with a pale white luminance. Aiden picked up one of the cubes and after a short examination began rubbing the dust off of it sadly like someone comforting a sick relative.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Melanctha was completely lost now watching the two men, and looking about the new room. The darkness having hid everything from her one moment, and then revealing it in the next. The lanterns, and lamps helped a great deal.

For the moment she felt like the spectator watching everything and trying to keep up. She could enjoy the architecture of each room what she could see of it, but these last few rooms were clearly for the force users in their little group. She peered inside the room that Aiden had opened she looked at the hundres of low lit lights scattered across the floor, having never seen one before she could only venture a guess right now as to what they were.

the question was what would Aiden and Jon Burke do with them, and did they know what they were at this very moment. She did not feel that she should break this silence that had fallen since the opening of the room, she watched, listened, and hoped to learn.

[member="Aiden Merritt"] [member="Jon Burke"]

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Jon picked up one of the brightest cubes and one that gave off no light and examined them closely.

“These don’t look like holocrons, Aiden. What are they?”

Jon put them down carefully. They may or may not be holocrons as he’d hoped to find, but, they were rare and had a value to them he sensed was far more than monetary. He stepped up to the altar and sighed. It had depressions carved in it to secure a human form and channels cut down the side where, he supposed, blood would drain. Human sacrifice, after all.

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Aiden felt ill. It was his worst fears about what they would find in this cursed place come true.

“They definitely aren’t holocrons, Jon. They are prisons.”

He rotated the cube he as holding, looking inside its various sides. “I assume that altar was used for ritual sacrifice; causing the jedi they capture a slow death so that their sorcerers could weave entrapment spells over them. Then as they died, their souls, or spirits, of ghosts, or whatever you prefer to call them were captured in these cubes and sealed with a dark binding spell.”

He picked up a cube that was void of luminance and touched it gently with his force sense.

“I guess jedi weren’t their only victims. These hold non-force users.”

He sat on one of the benches and thought about what they had found and what he should do about it. It wasn’t long before he reached a decision.

“I’m going to try my best to free these souls. I plan to use Force Light to break the dark bindings and release them so they can complete their journeys… to wherever their destinies lie.”

He turned and gave Jon an inquisitive, somewhat challenging look. “If you think you should leave beforehand, I’ll understand.”

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

She listened and learned as she did and what she heard struck her with a deep sadness, all of this before them was what remained of life. Ritual sacrafice it was unheard of Mel raised a hand to her mouth stifling the gasp. She looked from Aiden to Jon, they at least knew what they were talking about. And it seemed Aiden had an idea on how to help the souls...

She had gested earlier today about ghosts looking at the sea of lights she would never make that gest again. The reality of what was before her and what had been done to them sickened her, and drove home just how frail life was.

Now...what would Jon have to leave for Aiden to do this force light? She looked again at Jon, was there something different about him as compared to Aiden who could.....then color began to drain from her face. Aiden said he was a Jedi.......so.....was..................Jon........................................a sith? Her gaze was on him he did not look like a sith, perhaps she was mistaken..but why would Aiden say he could leave?

A secret? An alliance? ..what???

[member="Aiden Merritt"] [member="Jon Burke"]

 

[Jon Burke]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]


Jon was ambivalent about releasing the spirits. The portion of Samael that remained in him lusted after them; wishing to devour them as he had so many others during his existence. Jon, however, was really uninterested in having even more voices residing in his head, useful as they may occasionally be.

He wondered if Aiden was strong enough to break the old magics found in this chamber. It would be interesting to see.

“No, I think I’ll stay and watch this, if I may.”

Jon took a seat on the outside edge of one of the stone benches and waited as Aiden prepared.