It Starts with Curiosity

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

There were many uses for a crystal. This was the first time that Makari had seen it used as a doorstop.

“By any means necessary,” he chuckled.

He continued looking around as Cathbodua told him to be on the look out for things that might be of interest. His eyes were already on that coffin that he had seen earlier. The one with the carved writing on it that he thought resembled a language from the outer rim or maybe somewhere from the outer regions. He took out his datapad and headed in the coffin’s direction. “Before we leave this room, let me check out something right quick,” he told Cathbodua. “It won’t be long.”

Makari went through a few menus on his datapad and finally pulled up the option to activate his recorder. He bent down so he could record the pictures that were painted on the sides of the stone coffin, and then he shut down the recorder and activated the scanner that his datapad was equipped with. As he scanned the words that were carved into the coffin, Makari waved Cathbodua over. “I didn’t get the chance to mention this earlier with the crazy dead zombies trying to kill us and all….but I think a Sith might be buried in here. Maybe a Sith lord or something but don’t hold my word to it. Come over here for a second and look at these pictures.”

Makari squatted down and pressed his finger against one of the depictions. It was a picture of a man wielding a red lightsaber and shooting lighting from his fingertips. He was also depicted with yellow eyes. Makari shook his head. “Red lightsaber. Check. Yellow eyes. Check. Using Force Lightening. Check check check.” Makari stood back up and pointed to several more depictions that referenced sith magic or sith techniques that were only used by dark siders and he said, “I’m starting to think that someone pretty ominous is buried in this coffin. What do you think? Should we break open his tomb and give it a peek? Might be something valuable buried inside with him.” Makari started to snort as he thought of another possibility. “Then again, we might want to leave it alone. We might get hit with another trap if we open it. What do you think we should do?” Makari put away his datapad and put his hand back on the hilt of his vibroblade. If they were hit with another danger, he would be prepared.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

"Valuable is questionable... if it is dangerous though we do not want to leave it with a chance for some upstart sith to find it or some padawan who wants to know all of the dark mysteries of the force." That never worked out well while she was walking over and prepared to do any number of things using the mesh to let herself remain focused and ready to defend. She knew some history and a great deal about dangerous sith lords so if they could find a way to ensure this one was never found or at least had its things sealed away they could work with that. Her padawan had a decent idea. "Alright, get it opened and if there are any problems we will handle it accordingly." There was some deadpan to her voice but she was up for it and a great way to stop a sith was to punch them in the face.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

She gave him permission to open the coffin and he nodded. Let’s do it. Rather than use his hands, he thought he would use the force as a safe precaution. He stretched his left hand towards the stone lid and visualized it rising in the air and lowering down slowly on the ground beside the coffin. When it came to the force, he was learning that it was important to believe in what he was visualizing. He had to feel from the pit of his stomach that the force would move according to his will and grant his every desire. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to view the force that way, but it was what worked for him and it was what was working right now as the stone lid slowly rose in the air and began to move to the side, exposing a skeleton that remained inside the coffin.

Once the stone lid was on the ground, Makari leaned over the coffin and examined the skeleton closely. He didn’t feel anything particularly ominous from it like he thought he would, but after a while he started to hear a voice that was beckoning him to come closer.

Common sense told him to step the kark back, but his body didn’t listen to him for some reason. He leaned close towards the coffin. Close enough so that his face was directly in front of the skeleton’s and-

His mind went blank. His eyes rolled to the back of his head.

Something had just jumped inside of his body and something had just made him turn his vibroblade in Cathbodua’s direction. Without warning. Without a single word spoken. He lept in Cathbodua’s direction and aimed his vibroblade towards Cathbodua’s heart.

Help.

He wasn’t in control of his body anymore. He wasn’t in control of the terrible bloodlust that was starting to fill his body and was turning his eyes the color of crimson.

He had been possessed. But did Cathbodua know that or would she strike him down, thinking he was an enemy?

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She was turning and looking at him with a look as he listened to it happen. The feeling of the force coming while she turned her head and felt the vibroblades impact against the meshed section of the bodyarmor she was wearing. Falling backwards a little before she realized how strong it was. The impact wouldn't be lessened but wintrium was able to resist heavily lightsabers not allowing them to slice through so she was not prepared for this when watching him with her saber coming up and she needed to find a way to rapidly save her padawan from the spirits influence..... Hmm the thought was coming to her while she was moving to confront him with a small look while she flexed her muscles prepared to duel her padawan and best way to get the spirit out of him is to punch someone really hard until they no longer have a spirit while the suit radiated the lightside of the force to recoil the dark spirit.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]


Makari gripped his vibroblade with scary ambition. He was not familiar with the lightsaber forms and yet he seemed to utilize Ataru as he moved forward in Cathbodua’s direction. He began with a series of attacks meant to keep on her on the defensive. His attacks were unrefined but powerful and deadly if they ever connected with flesh. He was utilizing a strength that wasn’t his own and every slash and swing of his vibroblade felt like a battering ram that was going at full momentum. He wanted to knock Cathbodua off her feet and unbalance her if their blades ever met. Blow her away with strength while she thought the speed of his attacks were the worst things she had to worry about.

Makari was surprised that his body was capable of doing this, but the spirit told him he was just getting started.

“Your real training begins here boy,” the spirit whispered.

Makari could only watch as his body continued to move of its own volition.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She didn't need to move, one she wasn't exactly weak when it came to muscles and it took a lot of strength to move her if she didn't want to be moved... unless jerocho picked her up then she just kicked his ass. FOr her padawan coming at her with an aggressive form while she was holding the saber in a djem so stance it also added to the not moving. Contraction, defense until they strike and then counter attack with power and push them back. Everything was built around her defense and power since this was one of the least stamina consuming lightsaber forms and she built hers up to be the highest levels. So as his slash came it met her blade and she pushed back not giving while the wrist weapon shifted and went to what she wanted firing a force blast from the crystal shot of force light to try and repel and beat back the spirit faster then if she was just punching him.

 

[Makari Valeal]

Overwhelming her with strength wasn’t working. It was time to switch up tactics. After avoiding Cathbodua’s concentrated blast of force light by disengaging and sidestepping to the right, Makari channeled all of the force flowing through his body, into his outstretched hand that was raised in the ceiling’s direction.

How good was she at dodging, the spirit asked Makari.

Makari didn’t get a chance to answer.

Spiked pieces of the cavern roof began to fall down in Cathbodua’s direction like projectiles. And it wasn’t just that, various rocks and stones were thrown in Cathbodua’s direction with the force as Makari used the distraction to circle around her for an unknown purpose.

There was something in Makari’s eyes that were dangerous as the darkness within him continued to build and build. It was like he was saving up his energy and strength for a devastating attack that was right around the corner…

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She kept her attention and senses trained on him while she was moving with attention on more of it. She waited until he was moving around and dropping the stones and rocks down towards her. She was in a djem so stance and moved with the attack letting the force repulse off of her while she was jumping to make a small pathway when she was jumping to be safe. Her body tucking in when she impacted against the stone and rolled popping back up to fire off another blast of force light allowing it to go in a wider spread when she was focusing the sigil's energies. The synthmesh could protect against things, her kinetic weave was impressive and there was always her own skill while pushing the rocks towards him with the blast of light.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

The darkness within Makari started to manifest itself into a bubble that expanded outwards to deflect Cathbodua’s force light. While her attention had been on him, his attention had been on the stone coffin far behind her. With the force he lifted the stone lid in the air and sent it in Cathbodua’s direction with great speed and momentum. His goal was to make her turn around and acknowledge the heavy object while he sped forward and took advantage of her diverted attention.

While the stone lid was soaring in the air towards Cathbodua’s backside, Makari drew on the force and channeled it into his limbs to increase his speed and strength. Whenever Cathbodua decided to defend herself from the stone lid, he would rush forward in a flash like lightening. Give her no time to think of a proper counter. Or at least that was how it was supposed to go.

If Cathbodua decided to fall for the ruse and shift her attention to the stone lid, Makari would indeed go forward like a flash of lightening. As soon as her body was in range of his vibroblade, he would seek to end the duel with a Falling Avalanche Attack. Every ounce of strength put into a vertical strike meant to crush Cathbodua completely and leave her no chance for a recovery.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She was looking at him and focused, he force warning her while she pushed forward faster moving with her feet and heard the stone coming. She could feel the reaction coming while the jedi knight focused the force through herself and the force augmented mesh of her armor. She was able to work it into a stronger attack before she stood there and focused with the force to repulse the energies. She was using force light and sent it out into a stronger area blast to disrupt and jostle the lid. Letting it fly to the side of herself, looking at the boy when she focused the energies when she watched him under the mask. She had taught the boy how to move and operate while being aware of your surroundings to the point you knew what was coming. THe spirit was what pushed it the way in her favor. it didn't seem to know the boys things which meant it dind't know the strength one could possess as she grasped out for him to grab and try to restrain him with a grip that would be more like an iron vice.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

Before his vibroblade could cut her in half, the force betrayed Makari and turned on him. Or rather not him, but the spirit that dwelled within. Although Makari was aware of Cathbodua’s abilities as a Jedi, the spirit seemed to be unaware of how powerful Cathbodua was when she really flaunted her abilities and flexed her strength in the force.

His body was still as the force restricted his movements and made him a victim to Cathbodua’s whims. If she wished to end the duel, she had the opportunity to do so. No matter how powerful the spirit might have been when he was living, right now he only possessed the body of a green padawan. There was only so much it could do with the body of a person that wasn’t fully trained yet.

The spirit tried to summon more strength to break Cathbodua’s force grip but that would take time. And time wasn’t something that it didn’t have if Cathbodua chose to take advantage of the fact that Makari’s body was currently still and motionless. If Cathbodua attacked now, everything was over. At least for the moment although the spirit was already thinking of a contingency plan in case it was forced from Makari’s body and back into its tomb.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She reached out with her arm, the synth mesh she was wearing was a lot stronger then many would think and as she had explained and showed with it. Her arm going forward as it radiated the lightside of the force and she moved to grab the padawan physically to hold him down on the ground as she flexed her own muscles and would let the full strength you could get from heavy gravity training work. Muscles built almost on more muscle and she could hold her own against super soldiers like Jericho. She looked down at him and spoke. "Stay still." Ready to keep him restrained in the area should it prove a problem here as her other hand came out and up making a small barrier.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

She managed to pin him down, but the spirit wasn’t ready to leave his body yet. Makari felt the spirit doing something strange within his body. It was like he was cutting open a piece of his heart and hiding something strange inside. Something dark and malevolent.

After a few seconds, Makari noticed the barrier that Cathbodua was forming around them. He wasn’t sure what she was going to do next but he thought she had his best interest at heart.

“Stay still,” she told him. He would have if he had control of his body, but the spirit was in control now. His body began to thrash about, his hands reaching for Cathbodua’s throat if he got the chance. But Makari felt like the spirit was distracting Cathbodua from something. Something that it didn’t want the Jedi Knight to be aware of.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She remained there and flexed a little more force energy into her body and through it to go at the spirit but she was uncertain of the best way to handle the situation here. She could keep a boy restrained better with one arm then most so that wasn't the issue and his flailing around would only serve to hurt him as she was certain punching her would not be a smart move on most normal beings parts. Still she could leave him like that and started to focus the force energies on him when she flexed the force to try and constrict the blood vessels of the padawan so he would pass out. A spirit was good but it was going to need a body that was able to do things. Her mesh wrapping around her made her a beacon of the light and the darkside she couldn't even feel uncomfortable around now when she moved her other hand to catch him and hold him in place. "I said stay still."

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

He wasn’t sure what the spirit had done to his body. He felt like there was something in his heart that was unnatural. It was like there was a piece of him that didn’t belong to him and no matter how much he tried to peek inside and see what it was, there was always something stopping him. Always a barrier that he couldn’t penetrate.

Cathbodua told him to stay still and he tried his best to oblige for the most part. For some reason, the spirit’s hold on him was starting to weaken. He could feel himself regaining control of his body although it was at the worst time apparently. There was something within his body that was starting to make him feel light-headed and tired for some reason. It was like he was being forced to run through a desert with no water, it was hot as hell, and he was wearing a full kit of gear.

He passed out after a few moments of this, and his body that had been thrashing and jerking about, suddenly became perfectly quiet and still. Whatever Cathbodua had done worked. Or at least it would appear so on the surface.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She stayed there looking at him and moved her hands to her belt focusing on it to offer herself with a few other things they had. Developing for the jedi ways to handle problems like this she would hopefully be able to keep him restrained getting the binders for them. She pressed a few of the better things to ensure if he got up and was active he wouldn't be able ot move easily. Her own strength making sure the binders worked at his elbows and wrists for safety concerns. She moved over looking at the rest of what they found and crystals in here she could find a use for while loading up her case until she moved off releasing the malacia from the boy to leave him asleep.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

The spirit’s hold on Makari seemed to vanish the moment his eyes closed. While he slept, his body tossed and turned, but he was still for the most part. When he woke up, he thought he was conscious, but he was actually in a dream. He began to dream about a time when he wasn’t aware of the force or the responsibilities it burdened him with. He remembered when he used to go through life at his own pace, now everything felt like he was on a pre-destined path and he didn’t know how to get back to that earlier him. The one that was easy-going and carefree.

He continued to dream but soon those dreams turned to nightmares. Nightmares that made his body toss and turn again, but Cathbodua’s binders were doing their part to keep him from moving too much for the most part.

After a while he opened up his eyes and looked around.

“What happened?” he asked. He could tell that a great deal of time had already passed.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She was looking at him with a look on her face under the mask as she spoke. Remaining there before she was looking at the different parts of the tomb. "You were possessed and should be purged of the spirit now. Should it come back we will use more aggressive methods." She stood there lifting some of the other things and there wasn't anything else there for now when she looked over at it. "This tomb has a number of things we can use for research purposes but there is not much else. Seems there wasn't anything dangerous buried here which is good for us. Or it was taken long enough ago nothing was disturbed." She shrugged to herself while walking over with a couple of the things that were showing as she brought up the map from the probes and there was more all around them.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

Well being possessed could be struck off his bucket list. He tried to seem unfazed, but deep down he was shook a little. He wanted to tell Cathbodua he wanted to get out of this tomb asap but he was still a padawan of the Jedi Order. He couldn’t just run away from a mission.

While she spoke about this place being able to be used for research, his eyes traveled to the stone coffin where the spirit had originated from. He wasn’t sure if the spirit had truly been purged from his body, but he knew he couldn’t let something like this happen again.

He had to take his training more seriously. He had to condition his mind to take these kinds of mental intrusions and fight back, no not just fight back, completely repel and annihilate.

He wasn’t going to let this happen again.

That was a promise.

While Cathbodua brought up a map of their surroundings, Makari asked, “Found anything interesting?”

He was hoping she did, because he was eager to throw up the deuces to this place and move on elsewhere.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

"No, this all is fairly standard for a tomb." Which didn't mean much when she was going with some of it information wise, scan wise but they didn't need to take stuff going out back towards the entrance when she was walking. THe sun was appearing out before the clouds cleared with a nod of her head. "The sun being out will make things easier here in the mountains." Was was movign and leading the way through the mountains themselves now as more of the information came to the datapad. There were probes moving around above head as one stopped and linked up with her to show off a number of new things and information. Since they had a lot of work they could accelerate in some plans like the different places here on Rhen Var that they were showing off like the Seimei research near the jedi monument itself.