Finding One's Self

[Raven Ashe]

She hadn't been at this for decades, but Raven had a good sense of people; and that sense told her this trip was going to be a waste of time. Of course she'd get paid either way, but actually finding something of value came with bonuses -- bonuses that she wasn't going to get this time. So why take the job? Because she needed the credits. Being new at the game also meant a good deal of debt to get geared up, make the right contacts, learn a few hard lessons... At least she hadn't made any deals with a Hutt or weird Centipede Ladies.

On approach to the forlorn planet on the map, the Pantoran woman started recording a personal entry in her journal. Not like there was much in the way of company on the trip. Fewer people to split the reward with. Still, it was just a touch lonesome floating there in space with inches of metal between her and certain death. Could probably stand to do this mercenary work for a time if the view out the window was anything to judge by.

As she breathed a few lamentations into the computer, the controls suddenly jerked and a few lights lit up. All a second before the ship began to turn on its z-axis. Raven's fingers wrapped about the shaft and as she tried to compensate for the increasing spin. Indications showed a loss of power to one engine and a surge in the other. Some sort of power imbalance, and the remaining engine was still running out of control. Her body began to sink deeper into the pilot's seat as the g-forces increased.

Another jerk followed a second surge and the computer announced the ship had begun to plummet toward the planet below. So much for maintaining orbit or plotting a safe entry trajectory. The ship was designed for re-entry even under emergency conditions, however, so it would just be a matter of--

Searing pain coursed through Raven's body from head to toe momentarily paralyzing her in the chair. Even the beat of her heart seemed to melt away in the second the pain lasted. Just as quickly as it had surged through her, however, it was gone. She heaved air in and out of her lungs as the computer cried about the next form of impending doom.

With a sharp oath, Raven stretched over and hit the heat shields as she fought to balance the power between the engines. Looked like a transfer system failure. But in both engines? Better not be some damn sabotage, the thought snapped through her thoughts even as her fingers danced over the controls. Several seconds later all she'd managed to accomplish was shutting off power to the remaining engine to stop the steadily increasing g-forces from causing her to blackout. It was already difficult to focus on the controls within reach.

After falling nose-first toward the planet for nearly a minute the ship eased out of the roll as Raven used the thrusters to even the ship out. Power distribution to the engines was still shot, but she could fix--

The cockpit vanished in the blink of an eye. Instead her eyes beheld a ruined, hellish landscape spread out before it. Like some sort of city under attack. Debris littered the streets. They were streets, she assumed. Difficult to tell with the rubble covering them. And the fire. The fire seemed to engulf everything. The air itself hurt to breathe...

--that. Raven shuddered at the strange sense of having been somewhere else for a moment. No, she shoved the concern away with the ground approaching at extreme velocity.

At last the energy began to trickle into the engines. The hell was wrong with this ship? Just a few more seconds and there'd be enough for a restart and to pull out of this death dive.

Without warning the Pantoran found herself flung out of one seat of her seat and into a nearby console. Her ears rang from the explosion. Her body ached from the shrapnel that had been flung throughout the room. She hurt. The world hurt. Everything. Hurt. Why had this happened? Raven panted as she managed to stay upright, one arm propped up on top of the console to keep her off the floor. Left side hurt like hell from the impact. What in the nine hells was happening to her? Why now? Why her?

"Pull up. Pull up. Pull up. Pull up," drone the computer as the ship continued to plummet toward its annihilation.

The light blue woman launched herself back toward the pilot's seat to grab the stick and pull back. Her other hand reached out toward the throttle to shove it forward in the hope the engines had recovered sufficient engine to avoid certain death. She reached out toward the heavens from whence the fire rained. Reached out hoping someone would take her hand. Someone...to stop the pain... Someone... Everything began to blur and dim as Raven fought to stretch out toward the control. It felt like the ship wanted to accelerate out of her reach. Just a few millimeters faster. Leave her behind, and race forced to embrace eternity. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to exist.

"C-Come... on," she breathed her last as the weight of two worlds pressed down on her. The tips of her fingers were just an inch from the throttle. They wavered and began to falter as consciousness slipped from her control.

A dark, almost formless presence slowly began to take shape behind the collapsed Pantoran more on the floor than in the pilot's seat. Now was not the time for this one to perish. Perish it would. In time. But not here. Why it was not conscious of, but some part of its growing awareness understood a crashed vessel with no survivor made retrieval by other life unlikely. So the newly awakened essence reached forward and together its power and that of the nearly unconscious woman forced the throttle forward.

The ship's nose whipped up and presented its belly to the approaching ground. Engines glared to fully life, roaring with all their might to oppose the unwavering pull of gravity. Ships were not meant to crash, but to soar.

Rock burned as the engines super-heated the ground. Narrowly avoiding making a broken, metal heap, the ship soon ground against the face of the world. The engines drug the vessel a fair distance across the ground with a show of sparks, flares, and lost metal panels. A deafening groan filled the cockpit, but Raven had blissfully slipped unconscious as the roller-coaster of terror began. Only after striking an outcrop and the engines spurting out once more, one wing sent high into the air, did the vessel begin to slow.

Smoke rose from the ruin of the ship that could just barely be called in-one-piece. Its lone passenger lay crumpled on the floor no worse for wear from the turbulent arrival. The essence that had shelter her from being flung about the cabin and turned to mush faded from view. It was too hungry and the woman too spent to be of satisfaction. Hopefully others would arrive sooner for it to feed -- it had been far too long since it walked the realms. It hungered to return.

Tag: [member='Darth Animus']

 

[grammaticus]

Animus wiped his hand across his brow for the third time in five minutes, flicking his wrist to send the droplets of sweat flying across the small tent. It was colder on Pantora than Animus liked, and to deal with this issue he had brought along numerous portable heating units. They were a nuisance inside at the moment, but the moment Animus stepped outside he would begin to freeze. It was an odd situation he found himself in, but it was all for a purpose he had to remind himself.

The center of the tent was dominated by a single large table, with a map spread across its length held down by small daggers on each corner. It was a ramshackle construction, lacking the technological advancements he had become used to. He came to this world to track down strange feelings he had been getting in the Force. Through concentration and meditation, and a few well placed credits saw Animus locate the world of Pantora as the source. He had left at once with all haste, bringing with him what supplies he needed to run an archaeological expedition. He had been searching the world for nearly a week, and he was certain he was getting closer to that which he sought, but his pace had been slowed by the arrival of the Sith Empire.

Animus no longer considered the Empire to be his foe, though that did not mean he saw them as his ally either. What they thought of him mattered little, but he had decided in the moment that he best keep out of their way. Perhaps they had forgotten about him by now. It would suit his needs all the better.

Animus was calculating the approximate location of a nearby cave system when a new sound came from outside the tent. He quickly made his way to the entrance, brushing aside the two security droids he had brought along. In the distance, Animus watched as a ship of some kind plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground a short distance away from Animus's tent. Without pause Animus began to march across the landscape, waving for the droids to stay behind as he went to discover what was going on. As he drew closer however, the feeling he had come to seek also began to grow more powerful. He slowed his pace as he drew closer, casting his eyes in either direction as he came to a halt nearby the ship.

The presence radiating from within the ship was similar to that he had come seeking, but different in its own way. There was a connection there, Animus was certain of it. He had to find out what was going on here. Rushing forward, Animus gripped what was left of the pilots canopy, pulling it off in a rush of Force enhanced strength. Animus quickly then pulled the woman within out of the ship, noticing flames beginning to emerge from several of the consoles of the ship. Turning, Animus launched himself and the woman in his arms through the air away from the ship, landing a short distance away, putting the woman down carefully.

[member="Raven Ashe"]

 

[Raven Ashe]

The blue woman's body lay motionless where Animus set her down. A man of his caliber would know she yet lived, but the flow of the Force surrounding Raven flowed quickly and unsteadily as though disturbed by a nearby influence.

Only a moment after Raven was set down did the shadowy presence emerge once more. It silently surfaced behind the Sith Lord. The Force swept to the nondescript, only vaguely humanoid form. Two clawed hands reached out for the man's head eager to assimilate the living one's darkness as its own. A lethal process as there seemed little reason to do otherwise. There was that sense of needing to leave this one live, but it needed to feed and this man was a succulent meal waiting to be devoured.

Hardly subtle, Animus was sure to banish or evade the first, second, and even third attempt. The entity would vanish each time only to reform in a slightly different location. Even unable to latch on to Animus to drain him of the Force tainted in darkness, it managed to absorb the radiant energy put off by the living one. Scarcely enough to be called feeding, it helped ever so slowly invigorate the creature from a very long dormancy period.

At last it reappeared hanging upside down over Animus' skull. Gravity and orientation mattered not to the shadow. Suddenly a quiet, but harsh voice carried on the wind, "Mine."

As the starved beast confronted the far stronger Sith, the flow of Force surrounding Raven had begun to grow steadily calmer. An eddy before among the rapids of the lurking darkness. Slowly her breathing grew stronger as consciousness threatened to draw her back to the waking world.

Never alone.

Never forsaken.

Never...

Abandoned. Forgotten. Lost. Afraid...

The Pantoran woman's eyes cracked open before they squeezed shut at the intrusion of light. A low groan followed a subtle shifting of limbs as an ache in her side reminded her of colliding with a console. It took a few seconds before her eyes slid open to reveal the golden rings of her kind. Was that... the sky? She stared up at the heavens as fragments of thought floated through her growing awareness. Something felt wrong. She knew something was wrong -- where had the sky come from? -- but she also felt something wrong.

With clenched teeth she rolled onto her better side. Raven clenched her abdominal muscles and lifted her upper body to prop one arm under her body.

"Mine," the voice hissed scarcely audible to man and woman as the shadow faded from view before Raven's clouded vision could make it out separate from Darth Animus that stood there.

Ground. So she was on a planet. Breathable. Somewhere she was going? And a man stood there. Did she know him? "Who...?" Raven paused to close her mouth and try swallowing to moisten her parched throat. In the meantime her eyesight had begun to clear as well and clarity returned to her thoughts. "Who are you? How did I get here?" Last she remember the ship was in danger. Something happened and then... Fire? A city in fire. Why did she remember a burning city?

 

[grammaticus]

Animus had barely gotten back to his feet when he felt the overwhelming power come to life behind him. He spun on his heels, the two lightsabers at his hip flying into his open hands through subtle use of the Force. He turned to face the thing behind him. He did not even have time to register what it was that was before him when his instincts took over. The two clawed hands that came for him were attacked by Animus's sabers, though the blades themselves did little damage, simply passing through the beings shadowy claws. Thinking quickly, Animus sent arcs of Sith lightning running along his lightsabers, tightly controlling them so that they arced up and down the blades without dissipating.

His next attacks proved more effective. The Force energy coursing through and around the blades now made the attacks land damaging blows to whatever it was before him. Where he cut the shadows seemed to melt away, not reforming this time as they had before. Each counter attack by the thing before him was pushed back, and in time Animus was no longer on the defensive. Just as the creature was nearly gone, Animus deactivated his sabers, clipping them to his hips before bringing his hands together. Whatever he fought was not a corporeal being, but something of the living force. He doubted he could kill it here and now, but he could perhaps banish it for a time. He had seen such a thing done by Witches on Dathomir in his time, he just hoped he remembered the spell properly.

Contorting his hands, Animus channeled raw Force energy into each brief gesture he made, before finally turning back to the thing before him and thrusting his hands forward. The channeled and controlled Force energy hurtling at the shadow as it hurtled itself at him once more. When the Force energy struck the creature it seemed to freeze in the air for several seconds, before Animus turned and slammed his outstretched hands into the ground. The creature followed the gesture, and when it struck the ground the smoke seemed to pour through every crack and crevice it could find, vanishing before the two's eyes. Rising back to his feet, Animus stared at the spot where the creature had vanished for several moments before turning back to [member="Raven Ashe"] to check on her.

Crouching down, Animus extended his hand, helping her steadily to her feet. "I am Darth Animus, and as for how you got here, you crashed into this world in that ship over there. I would answer more questions, but we really must be moving to safety."

 

[Raven Ashe]

The Pantoran's brow drew together above her nose. An outstretched hand only intended to display a willingness to help... Except Raven could read people. Not their thoughts, or some deep secret every person harbored. Just a sense about them. That was impossible, however. Her family had spoken about the Force and how it was used to confine some old spirit; but they'd also said every ounce of their connection to this all-pervasive energy field was committed to the prison that kept the monster at bay. Assuming any of that had been true, she never thought her sense to be anything magical. Though it was never wrong. Her interpretation of it, perhaps, but just that.

Animus? Darth Animus? Raven didn't need to be a fortune teller to know what the title was a harbinger of.

With the hand extended, Raven didn't move as her eyes remain fixed on the man before her. "What interest does a Lord of Sith have with me?" Of course she knew of the Empire. Ruins and artifacts were her job -- at least now it was. The Sith had plenty of treasures buried for countless centuries just waiting to be dug up. Probably fetch a mouth-watering price on the black market too. Could get a woman killed acquiring them, but... Wait, she hadn't acquired some artifact recently had she? Was that what Animus was here for? Damn pounding in her head made it difficult to remember the sequence of events that led to that moment.

Carefully, and without taking her eyes off Animus, Raven pulled her feet close to rise on her own power. Not that she hated the Sith -- they hadn't done anything to her that she knew of yet -- but she'd heard stories. Insane stories she wasn't sure whether to take at face value, or dismiss them as talk of drunkards. Was it safe to... touch one? From the tales it wasn't safe to even look at one.

"Thank you," Raven added cautiously, "for your help. I..." The smoking mess of the ship catch her eye then. That didn't look like it was going anywhere soon. With heavy breath escaping her lips, Raven nodded and extended her own hand out toward the man that had been nothing but cordial so far. "I could use a ride. But what do you mean? What's not safe around here?"

[member='Darth Animus']

 

[grammaticus]

Animus tilted his head slightly, regarding the Pantoran for a moment before turning his attention back in the direction he had banished the monster. He supposed she had slept through most of it, and he was not sure how easy it would be to explain such a thing. For certain, it would be too risky to take the time and do so here. What Animus had done to the thing had been nothing but a temporary measure. He needed to get clear of the area to begin further investigation. He had already gone out of his way to save [member="Raven Ashe"] so he might as well see her clear.

"There is a danger here, one that I do not completely understand as of yet. Whatever it is, I was only able to delay it for a time. It will be back, and I am certain it will be quite eager to make a quick meal of you." As he spoke he turned to look at his tent in the distance, sending a data burst command to the two droids standing outside. They quickly began tearing down the tent and everything within, quickly packing it away to make the short journey to his waiting transport. Turning back to Raven, Animus gestured in the direction the droids were now marching off to.

"If you would like that ride, I can answer more questions along the way. I would very much like to know what it is you are doing here."

 

[Raven Ashe]

A Sith Lord could only delay 'a danger' for a short time? That sounded serious enough. Hardly seemed worth lying about just to get her to go along with him, so for the time being Raven would take him at his word. The man was quickly getting his affairs in order to depart. With a nod, the light blue woman began to move in the direction Animus indicated. "Why me?"

Why me?

"I was sent here to investigate some archaeological site," the Pantoran answered without reservation. "I had doubts this one would turn up anything of value, but they weren't interested in paying me for my opinion." Someone wanted to waste their money on nothing? Who was she to tell them to spend the money on some other fool's errand. Raven would happily take their money for a little jaunt across the galaxy.

As they walked, she looked over at Animus with her golden gaze. "I've heard stories about Sith. Are they true? Drawing on some invisible energy and manipulating the world with it?" Raven had never actually meant someone that had done anything worthwhile with the Force. One or two people that did something any magician with some fancy sleight of hand could have done, but not grand feats of wizardry she'd heard in tales. "I've even heard people like you can sense potential in others."

She paused for a moment with a look toward the craft they'd board momentarily. The corners of her lips turned downward for a second. "Can you sense anything about me?" A sidelong glance was stolen at the Sith curious how he'd respond.

Was it something she wanted? In her childhood hearing all those tall tales about the Force and some ancient evil... Was any of it real? How could she believe in some invisible energy that would conveniently be forever outside of her reach because all that power was consumed keeping an invisible monster in an invisible cage? Maybe the only genetic thing she had to look forward to was early dementia.

What Animus had felt earlier had not dissipated even once he'd banished the shadowy presence. If anything that presence had relocated itself back to the vicinity of the Pantoran woman herself. However, the turbulence in the Force surrounding Raven had lessened by somewhat since Animus first laid eyes on her.

[member='Darth Animus']

 

[grammaticus]

Animus was silent as the two walked along the path towards the ship in the distance, considering the woman's words. After a short time he slowed his pace, turning his head slightly towards [member="Raven Ashe"] before he began to speak. "The Sith can connect to an invisible power, but it is not as mystical as the stories may say. The Force is a power that exists within our universe, unseen but ever present. It is within every living being, and everything you can see in the world around you. The Sith are able to connect with the Force on a deeper level than most of those in this universe. We can control it, and manipulate the world around us through it." Animus halted his progress, turning to look at a small cluster of rocks nearby.

He extended his hand, lifting it slightly and flicking his wrist. One of the rocks in the cluster suddenly flew into the air and hurtled across the landscape. With his other hand Animus lifted what was left of the rocks, balancing them end on end into a large two meter tall formation. Once in the formation, Animus closed his hand slowly, and the rocks shattered in a haze of debris. His demonstration done, Animus turned and continued the journey to the ship.

"Those who are connected to the Force can indeed sense it in others, and I am certain you have the potential to become something great. If you are willing to learn, I can turn what is nothing but a story to you into reality. Give me the chance, and I can make you a Sith." He came to stop at the foot of the transport, turning to look down at the Pantoran woman. He did indeed have interest in teaching this woman, if she was willing. The ability to pass on ones knowledge to another was one of the few ways that a person could live on. He also wished to begin the creation of a new organization, something he had been toying with for a few months now. It was a topic he was still looking into, but she would be an excellent addition if she chose to join. Perhaps most importantly however, she had the same feeling in the Force that the creature did. If she stayed close he would be able to look into the matter more. A new form of power perhaps untapped. It would be immensely valuable to get that kind of thing on his side.

 

[Raven Ashe]

Everything? Some all pervasive, all encompassing field of energy that couldn't be detected by scientific instruments... That certainly sounded fanciful to Raven. Just like the stories she heard as a child. However, the Sith Lord seemed to downplay it a bit; perhaps a edge of caution not to exaggerate the truth behind careless rumor or speculation. She was more inclined to listen to someone that didn't make outlandish claims they could never back up.

The two of them stopped moving as the Sith reached out toward some nearby rocks. The Pantoran woman watched curious what the man intended to do with them. At first, the demonstration did little to elicit a response as it was the same sort of isolated influence that might be explainable by something other than 'The Force.' Somehow Animus must have anticipated that, or felt the lack of inspiration in the woman at his side, however. A second feat of stacking and then pulverizing the stone without moving held her attention. Dark purple brows lifted swiftly at the sight.

Without waiting for a response, the Sith continued on his way and Raven followed. Why should she be any more terrified of the man now than she was before? He'd demonstrated his ability on rock rather than on her; seemed reasonable to assume Animus did not have any life threatening intentions. And she still needed a lift out of here. That broken ship back there was going to cost her...

"I do?" Animus wasn't making a joke at her expense, was he? "I was told, a long time ago, my family held a strong connection with the Force, but," the thought trailed off for just a moment. She continued after giving a thought how to explain her condition, "There was a tradition that sealed it away. I've never been able to move a pebble." Shattering rock with a gesture? A small display, she was sure. Was it all really within her grasp?

There was a strange stirring sensation in her chest. It felt as though something were pulling at her. Adrenaline began coursing through her and the corners of her lips turned upward for barely a second. Use The Force? Become a Sith? So many opportunities would open up before her if Animus was true to his word. That ship behind her would be nothing compared to the possibilities ahead. It took conscious effort to maintain her expression and not come off as a giddy schoolgirl.

After she worked her tongue behind closed teeth, Raven felt certain should could reply without her voice breaking in excitement. "I am, Darth Animus. I've learned many things about exploring ruins and artifacts. I am now ready to dedicate myself to learning how to become a Sith with your guidance." What about the stories of the horrors visited upon people by the Sith? The conquest? One step at a time. Raven wouldn't let rumor and prejudice keep her from embracing Animus' offer. She would commit herself to learning about the Force... Didn't some say the Force guided people? Well it could guide Raven now.

[member='Darth Animus']

 

[grammaticus]

"Yes, I sensed the power within you the moment I met you. If what you say is true, this tradition of your family is likely nothing more than a ritual or Force ability in of itself. Both of which I am experienced in. Given time, I am quite certain I will be able to understand what it is that holds back your connection to the Force, and remove it. Until then, there are other aspects of the Sith that can be taught. Combat, alchemy, subterfuge and so many others." He turned and began walking up the ramp of the ship, passing the two droids standing at the top of the ramp. Animus turned to one of them, waving it off the begin preparing the ship for take off.

Animus then turned to regard [member="Raven Ashe"] again, gesturing towards a small room to the side of the ramp. "With your acceptance then, I name you my Apprentice. You shall learn well, and in time you shall become a force powerful enough that the galaxy will quake at your mere presence. In time we will discover all the secrets of your family, the reason they held back their, and your connection tot he Force. Until then, you had best prepare yourself. You may stay in these rooms until we arrive to Corellia, where I have made my home." With his peace said Animus turned and walked further into the ship, walking up a set of stairs near the back of the transport into the cockpit.

Once in the area, he lowered himself slowly into one of the spare seats as the droid pilot began to raise the ramp of the transport, and punch in the coordinates for Corellia. It would be a decent journey, one long enough for Animus to decide on what he needed to do.

 

[Raven Ashe]

Raven followed the Sith up the ramp. There was nothing left on this world for her; just a bust ship and a barren waste. She'd already accepted his offer for a ride, and now to follow him into the unknown. What was there to look back on?

But what if... What if what her family said was true? The Force was real. She could use the Force. Could the monster be real as well? Darth Animus offered to remove the barrier holding her back, but would that be wise? Her family had also said the loss of any one 'guardian' wouldn't allow the monster to slip free of its cage, however.

No. They only want to hold you back.

No. No, she wasn't letting the tale of some ancient monster hold her back. A real Lord of the Sith was offering to train her how to use the Force. Her. Was she going to abandon it in favor of taking jobs looking for ancient, buried scraps? Or was she going to make the galaxy quake at her presence? One corner of her lips lifted at the thought. It sounded wrong. Would they fear her? Did she want people to fear her?

The weak fear what they do not understand. What they cannot hope to become.

She couldn't control how people felt, and she wouldn't let their narrow mindedness dictate her course of life. Darth Animus had given her a golden opportunity and it was hers.

Apprentice.

For now.

It felt as though a heavy mantle had been draped across her shoulders with that title. "I will be ready," Raven declared without hesitation as the Darth turned toward the cockpit. She wanted to follow and learn more about what she'd committed to, but he had invited her to prepare herself in the room. A shower would do wonders to wash off the dirt. How could she arrive disheveled from a crash landing for such an occasion?

As Raven explored the offered room, a darkness began to swarm up along a wall and curl about the remaining droid. "Oh, dear," its synthesized voice intoned with none to hear. Swiftly as it had surfaced, however, it slipped through the walls of the ship into whatever realm it lurked. The temptation to feast on the Sith gnawed at it, but now they were on their way to a planet presumably with life with which to feast from. It had suffered in wait for centuries; it would manage a little longer. Once it threw off its shackles, however, many would perish for the centuries had left a deep and soul wracking need.

[member='Darth Animus']