Home Again

[Seo Linn]

Every time Seo Linn visited her family on Lorrd, she ran the risk of being discovered by the Sith. This world was firmly under their control, but they treated their people well. So her family stayed quiet and lived the lives they had always known. She belonged to Silver Jedi and rarely went to any effort to keep what she was secret or hidden.

Maybe it was because she had never been spotted visiting before or because she was confident. Lorrd was her home and she knew it quite well. Bringing her ship in just like she always did, she landed in the spaceport and rented a speeder to make the four hour trip to her small city.

She learned her son had returned home and wanted to know how his own adventure had gone. Travelling the familiar route, Seo was more lost in thought than paying attention to what was going on around her. Almost nothing ever happened along this path and it brought back many memories to her.

Some good and some bad and it was the good ones she dwelled on. Smiling at a story once told to her, she drove past the slave pit. Instead of remembering what happened to her there as a child, she thought about the story told to her as an adult. Time had passed, but her memory of her time with a man she thought she had loved. That had proven to be wrong and they had each moved on with their lives.

Pulling into her city, she waved at the people that greeted her and made her way to her parent's home. Here she set the speeder down and climbed out. Before she had gotten very far, her little sisters rushed out to meet her with hugs and laughter. Pulling her along inside, her arrival was a surprise and she greeted her entire family.

The small reunion didn't take long and soon enough they were all sitting in the front room chattering and catching up on everything that had happened.

Kao Xusros

 

[Mauda]

Jedi. Sith. The pair of them held equal disgust in Orex's torn mind. The both of them had been at each other's throats for as long as anybody could remember, and this simply hadn't changed. All throughout their ancient conflict, countless lives had been lost. And while great wartime technological advances had been made, all of these had been in the name of destruction. Orex understood the irony of his goals. To slaughter countless in the name of life. It was a painful Irony for the Galaxy, but it was the only solution he was willing to work on. If they were unwilling to give up their primitive contest of religions, then both sides would have to be forcefully removed from the game.

The Black Corvette, The Myrkur, came punching through the Lorrdian atmosphere with tremendous cracks. The personal craft of the Cabal's First Superiex. Wherever it went, death followed. The Cabal was drawn to artefacts and people of great importance. Either to capture, retrieve or kill. But Orex had new plans in mind. Perhaps it was simple entertainment, but he enjoyed disguising it with real motive.

To hunt the Religious.

Every Jedi killed, the less he would have to deal with in the long term. Every Sith removed from existence is a cell destroyed within their screaming war machine. But these were negligible values. So it would be more appropriate to call it his idea of sport. The Myrkur descended upon the Lorrdian surface and Orex began to find his way to the ground. It was a planet most odd to him. One renowned for its academic prowess, yet littered in slavery and despair. But this was not currently of concern to him. He was here for an individual. One he'd had his eye on for a number of weeks, silently tailing her across the stars.

Orex made no effort to hide himself. Even if he tried, anybody even remotely connected to the Force could feel his beacon within the Dark Side. His Mask, his Soul, His Armour, his Emotion. Each aspect of his being served to amplify the other. It was a compounding cycle that shouted into the depths to anybody with an ear. And now, this contorted beacon made its way with resounding thuds toward a simple house. One harbouring Light. Light that needed smothering.

Orex's boots punched across the ground one after the other toward the door. Without stopping, he sent forth a powerful kick that tore it from its hinges. A brief creaking groan followed by a loud, metallic thud announced Orex's physical presence. He slowly stepped through and halted.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

This world was under the control of the Sith and to have a shining beacon of light hiding there was something odd. Though Seo had come and gone freely for over a decade now, it always ran the risk of her and her family being discovered. She had taken care to hide what she was when she was here, but when she wasn't on Lorrd, then she did not.

That was a mistake and she had picked up a trail. It was one she was unaware of and carried on with her life as she always had. Here at home, she was herself, but kept her Force presence muted and muddy. She smiled and laughed with her little sisters and son. Her parents had done a good job of raising all of them and she was chatting with Aodhan when an approach was felt by her.

Before Orex had even kicked the door in, Saraid had taken her daughters and gone into hiding. Her father and son stood at her side and faced the figure that had just broken in. Daithi, pulled out a blaster and fired a warning shot in the direction of the intruder. Her son flicked one of his wrists and held a knife in a hand now. Her own hand fell to her belt and rested on her lightsaber hilt.

Her father stepped forward.

"What do you want here?"

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

A bolt flew toward Orex and collided with the doorway. Orex looked at the hole it made with a hint of surprise and anger over his face. His head turned to face the man who fired the bolt. Without a word, Orex's arms snapped forward, hand outstretched. Anger poured from his being and he dragged the man into his grip, throat in hand. He pushed the man onto his knees and moved the Force through every intricacy of his body. It had been a while since he had practiced that which he specialised in. The manipulation of that which makes a body. He looked up at the pair stood before him and began to tighten his grip around the Father's throat.

"There is a light here.. Step forward, Jedi"

He passed his stare between both the young blonde and her brother. He knew which one he was here for, but a game was being played and he was going to enjoy it.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened to Seo or her mother, but it was for her son and step-father. Each had only heard stories of this kind of event. To be part of it was different.

There was fear in the house that came from the little girls in hiding. Some from the man in the grips of the Sith. There was not any from Seo, her son or mother.

"Let my grandfather go!"

Even though, Aodhan knew he was facing somebody beyond his league, he still spoke out. Seo raised a hand and through the Force attempted to knock Orex away from her father.

"Get your grandfather out of here and to your grandmother. She can take care of him. If this man will you both go. He's after me."

They all knew that. Even if the stranger looked between Seo and her son.

"What do you want? To capture and kill? Torture? That is the way of the Sith and your kind. Let my father go."

She stood her ground and didn't shy away from the challenge he posed. If he let go of her father, then Aodhan would do exactly as she had ordered. Seo waited on Orex to give his answer. Hand holding onto the hilt of her saber, waiting to draw it until her father was out of danger.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

"Let my grandfather go!"

Orex turned his head toward the futile demand. Before he could respond, he was almost knocked off his feet by a push he hadn't noticed. Stumbling back, Orex took hold of the door frame he stood in to steady himself. His iron grip around the Jedi's father was unmoving, tightening as he composed himself. His blank expression was now one of anger, his gaze narrowing toward the Jedi.

"What do you want? To capture and kill? Torture? That is the way of the Sith and your kind. Let my father go."

Sith

The word struck a nerve. One that altered Orex's mental state to something much less logical. On top of that, Orex had learned information he cherished. The man he held was the Jedi's father. Grandfather to the younger boy. A mother and son.

"Sith?"

With a clench of his free fist, the man in his grip cried out, then began to gasp desperately for air. Orex released him, only for the old man to collapse onto the floor, clutching his chest, mouth agape. Orex had wrenched one lung from its bronchus, rendering it useless. He calmly removed his hilt from his waist and ignited his blade. A stream of black and red burst from the emitter, filling the room with a low hum.

"Not quite."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Daithi might not be Seo's biological father, but he had raised her since she was a teen. Just a little younger than her son. So she had taken his name and he had helped raise her son as his own as well. What was happening, she had seen before and they might have as well considering they lived under than influence of the Sith. Pain was written on his face and he cried out for a brief moment before starting to gasp for air.

He fell to the floor and Aodhan ran to his side. Her father was unable to rise to his feet himself, but he could crawl away with the help of Aodhan. The two of them removed themselves from the room and left Seo and the stranger alone. If the situation had been different, she would have been proud of her son for following her directions exactly as she had said.

Once they were gone, Orex drew his saber out and she did the same. The blue blade hummed along with his.

"This world is controlled by Sith, how can say you're not one of them? You burst into this home and attack my father. If you're not a Sith, then what are you?"

A barrier went up around the woman and her saber was held to defend herself when his attack came. This wouldn't be her first fight and hoped it wouldn't be her last. The Force flowed freely through her and she listened to its call.

Light against dark, Sith or not, it didn't matter. The two sides faced off and like a typical Jedi, she waited for him to attack her. Daithi would recover or not, his future was in the hands of her mother. Orex was testing to see far he could push her and so far she had not snapped. That had happened to her before and would again. In one way, Seo was not entirely a typical Jedi. She had a family and family came before Jedi or code. However, she would not be the first to initiate an attack between the two of them. So she waited.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

The boy came to his grandfather's aid, and Orex stared. Dangerously close to Orex's boot, the image of a swift kick and a swing of his blade flashed across his mind. But it was unnecessary, and so he elected not to harm them. He had established his intent already.

"I am change".

Orex was far from conversation. His presence was only death, something he conveyed through his Mask. His gaze fell full upon the Jedi before him, and he coaxed Nihilus from his recluse to inhabit his stare. It was a simple tactic. To devour your opponent, reduce them to nothing. They cannot fight, they cannot flee. Death is their only escape in the game Orex played. With his gaze locked onto the Jedi's, he stepped forward and brought his blade down upon her with the force of his teeming anger.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

The stranger stated he was change and Seo wondered exactly what he meant. It was quite clear he wasn't here for conversation and probably wouldn't answer the question if she asked it anyway.

Form I was the one Seo had focused on learning and against a single opponent, it was quite weak. However, this was just starting and his broad attack was met with a cast iron defence and held him off from hitting her on the head and ending it so soon.

This world was ruled by Sith and Seo knew where all the hidden weapons were in the room. Not taking any attention off from Orex, she took a step back. Hoping he would assume it was because she wanted a greater distance between them, she reached out with the Force and drew into the air a single dart.

Without the aid of a gun, it might not do as much damage, but if it broke through skin, he would soon find himself feeling sleepy and dizzy. The poison on it wasn't fatal, but it would certainly slow him down. With the aid of the Force behind it, she aimed the dart at his side and brought her saber to lash out at his other side. She hoped her movement would be enough to allow that dart to reach its target.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

The young Jedi’s blade came swinging towards his side, to which Orex responded with a simple defence, placing his own in the Jedi’s intended path. As the two beams crashed together, a small impact alerted him to his other side. A dart had become lodged into his armour. He brought his blade around and smashed it into her own, and held it there. While there he removed the dart from his abdomen with his free hand and thrust it toward the Jedi’s stomach. Whatever was on it didn’t matter to him. If It hurt or incapacitated, it would work.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

The dart did connect with his side, but his armor prevented it from breaking through to his skin and administering its dose of tranquilizer. Seo expected as much, what she didn't expect was the turn the fight took right after.

Luckily she had placed the barrier up before this started or her stomach would have been punctured by that dart. As it was his fist did connect with her and knocked the force behind it knocked her wind out. The barrier devolved and went away. She wasn't as skilled as she should be and had to maintain at least a little bit of focus to keep it up.

Mentally cursing, she jumped to the side and attempted to take the fight outside. This was her home town and knew it better than he would. Here she could plan ways to lose him or even call on her friends to help detain him.

I hope he follows me.

If he allowed her out of her home, then she would leap up to the roof of the house next to hers. Dusk was falling and the tone of her clothing would help her blend into the night.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Orex's enraged stab toward the young Jedi's stomach had no effect. The dart collided with a barrier of sheer will. Thinking it useless, Orex dropped the dart and replaced his hand around his hilt. Before he could resume combat, the Jedi had fled outside. He followed close behind, in no rush. He stormed out of the house. Once outside, he glanced both directions, seemingly having lost the Jedi, before hearing the thud of footsteps upon the roof. He spun and leapt up to where he heard her. Together again, Orex entered his stance and began seeding her with lethal desire and anger. If she attacked, he would defend. If she ran further, he would follow. He was not tiring any time soon, and he certainly was not going to allow a Jedi to escape.

"Run, Jedi. Run further than your legs wish to take you. The Jedi are a bygone era. Once I purge this suffering Galaxy of your incessant plague, the Sith will share your fate. Run, and I will hunt you."

To purge the religious was a deep-seated obsession now. Once he despised them, now he dedicated himself to their destruction. He shrouded the evil he was doing in a guise of practical good. He was hunting a young woman, bent on her death. He had already all but killed her Father. If he had gotten to any others, they would have suffered. He was not lost to his darkness. He knew. But he had to. He was obsessed.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

The knight heard when he followed her and a sense of relief released a blanket from her shoulders. With him out of her house, her family was safe and that was one thing Seo had wanted to accomplish. Her mental fortitude allowed her to withstand and resist much of Orex's manipulation of her will. She did feel his desire and knew he would be relentless in his pursuit. This was her world though, the woman knew where to go.

She knew she wouldn't have the opportunity to catch her breath and would have to make do the best she could. Not allowing it to really slow her down, Seo cut corners and took shortcuts she knew about in an attempt to lead the stranger away from her town. Out in the desert, she would have the upperhand. Knowing where the pitfalls and other dangers were, there was her best hope for taking care of his.

Contrary to what Orex believed about her, she might follow the Jedi Code, but she was not one to preach about it. What one person chose to follow was on their head and as long as it did not put her or anybody she considered hers in danger, it meant nothing to her. Perhaps this was something he might learn about her.

It did not take her long to reach the edge of her town and she slipped out into the desert. Not masking the path she took, footprints were left in the sand to guide his steps.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

The thud of Orex's boots did not speed up. Heavy with anger, they remained at a fast walk as he trailed the Jedi across her town. Thoughts of razing the pitiful town came to mind. The Myrkur was after all, only a mile or two away. But such thoughts he beat away like a plague. Too much consequence from satisfying emotional thought, he reasoned. Even after losing sight of her, he could hear the chatter in his head. That voice that bonded with the Force, leading him to his goals. His path was unperturbed. None dared to intervene, regardless of what they may have seen. A man shrouded in darkness ruthlessly trying to murder a young woman in her own home.

Soon he found himself at the edges of town. A desert stretched out toward the horizon, and at his feet, footprints. Though he did not need them. His eye rested on the distant figure fleeing deeper into the sands. He clipped his sabre to his waist and stepped out into the wasteland.

His mind settled on his breathing as he trekked across the desert. It was heavy and the sound of it augmented by his Mask. His mouth remained closed, all air passing through his one exposed nostril. His entire journey, his anger remained. But slowly it was seeded by other things. His eye focused on the distant figure and he felt his jaw clench.

What are you doing

The thought pushed its way to the forefront of his mind. Whether he had wanted it or not.

What I have to do

For years he had reasoned. This was his logic. There was nothing more for him.

His son is not changed. He's dead.

Orex stopped so suddenly that the momentum of his walk carried him forward slightly. He clenched his fists as an overwhelming pain shuddered through his body, amplified like a scream into the environment by his Armour. Slowly, he resumed his walk.

[member="Seo Linn"]