Private Memory Is The First Thing

[Leru Dara]

His eyes snapped open, a flood of pain roaring through his head the moment it did, making him regret the simple act. It took him several minutes of labored breaths before he brought the pain under control, and it was only when his head stopped trying to kill him that he realized he was not breathing fresh air. Reaching up with his left hand, he tried to touch his face, only to find a smooth, cold surface preventing the contact. A wave of panic rolled over him as both of his hands shot up, grasping at the seemingly smooth surface of the helmet, unable to find a way to pry it off. The terror he felt brought a new wave of agony across his body as he began to scream, his hands traveling across the rest of his body and finding a similarly impenetrable suit of armor.

After a time he began to calm down, slowly at first, but then faster and faster as he began to claw back control of his mind from his baser instincts. Closing his eyes, he slowly forced his legs to move, the cold metal of the leg armor not hindering his movements as he pushed himself to his feet. It was then he noticed a pull at his back, and he reached back to find a cloak of some kind attached to the armor as well. A few experimental tugs led to nothing, and Leru resigned himself to the fact it was not coming off, just like the rest of the armor.

Turning his mind away from that problem for the time being, he glanced around at the landscape he found himself in. Rolling plains surrounded him on all sides, and in the far distance he could see what appeared to be mountains. He paused again at that thought, realizing he did not really know how he knew what they were. For that matter, the more he tried to piece his thoughts together and make sense of things, the pain he felt only increased. He knew what things wee, but not why. The only thing he knew with true certainty was his own name, but even that felt like a hollow echo in his mind. A last connection to a life before the pain. Discarding that train of thought for the time being, he decided that his first course of action now needed to be to figure out where he was.

That thought alone yielded an answer, and a small stream of information flowed across the visor of his helmet. If the armor was to be trusted, he was on a planet named Dressel. Habitable by most species in the galaxy, it was seen as a leisure world by some. As he was making sense of the data flowing across his helmet, he the sound of an approaching vehicle, accelerating quickly towards him. As he thought of whether it could be a threat or not, he heard a metallic clicking sound inside the armor and felt a small shifting of weight at his hip. Glancing down, he saw a dark silver cylinder now hanging from his hip, a small opening in the armor slowly vanishing. He pondered the new object as the speeder came to a halt near him, several cargo containers locked behind the vehicle clinking together as they all came to a stop.

"Greetings stranger, by the look of that there armor, I'm guessing you're not from around here." The rough voice of a weathered farmer called down to Leru from on top of the speeder, and the armored form glanced up to see a portly man and who Leru assumed was his son staring down at him. "If you are lost, I can give you a ride to the next town, a market place a few kilometres from here. Free of charge, if you don't mind helping unloading these carts. You look plenty fit for the task." With little other options available to him, Leru simply nodded his head, making his way towards the back of the speeder where the farmer indicated. Reaching up, he pulled himself onto the back of the speeder using a small foot railing, and had barely lowered himself into the small back seat when the speeder shot off once again, the long train of cargo containers following swiftly after it.

Sigyn Vanir

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

Peace. And quiet. Let the force flow through you. Sigyn sat meditating outside a small town on the world of Dressel, trying to focus on the force of the planet. She had tried to travel to different planets, to learn about their take on the force, and get to know herself better. Dressel was one of the better planets she had visited. Though it, too, was a bit too hot for the young Valkyri. But she was trying to learn how to not get affected by temperatures so much.

She usually chose small towns to stay at on the travels, if nothing more than the fact that she hated being in big crowds of people. But also because she felt it was easier to get a feel of how the world was in less populated areas. Easier to feel the force, because there were fewer distractions there. Plus, the people living in the smaller towns were often much nicer and more hospitable than those in the bigger cities.

After half-an-hour of meditating, Sigyn got up, and began walking back to the town. She had tried for a few days now, but she couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary on this planet. From what she had learned from the Dressellians, they didn't have any special connection to the force. No groups dedicated to it, no form of worshipping. Only members of their specias that had joined the Jedi, or gone with the Sith. While the planet itself had mostly stayed out of it all.

It was summer, so Sigyn was wearing light clothes. A short crop-top with a hood covering her face, and a pair of light-green pants. Pretty unusual among the Dressellians, who wore more clothing all the time. Sigyn felt the natives in the town look at her as she came walking in. They usually did, she had noticed. But she had gotten used to strange looks from people as she was travelling.

She walked to the bar, even though it was still early in the day. Which was evident by the empty building she walked into, except for the owner, a middle-aged male Dressellian. "Good day, Sigyn," he said as Sigyn walked up to the bardesk. "The usual, I presume?" Even though Sigyn had been there for just a few days, she already had a usual. "Thanks, Ponna. You know I love your Erselu soup." she replied. And with that, the man walked to the backroom to bring her a bowl of the soup. And returned half a minutte later. "Here you go. And by the way, there'll be a market-day here today. Could be you'd meet someone who can answer more of your force related questions there."

"Could be, Ponna. Could be."

Leru Dara

 

[Leru Dara]

Leru had to give the farmer credit, he was not an easily intimidated individual. Leru had gotten the first good glance at his own appearance when they flew near over a lake, and the sight had not exactly be friendly. Such thoughts did not seem to put the farmer, or his son for that matter, in too much doubt as they tried to carry a conversations with Leru. He had started to grow slightly agitated by the sheer volume of topics to farmer seemed to be able to bring to bear against him, but Leru was starting to learn a few more things from what pieces he could pick up.

One conversation in particular had intrigued Leru, though he had not responded to it overly much at the time.

"You hear about them Silver's stranger? The Jedi up and decided to change the name of their corner of the galaxy and turn control over to some politicians. Even moved their capital half way across the galaxy it seems. But who can blame them for that last part, you know? I doubt them Wookies they lived with smelled very good on rainy days."

That conversation had sparked a new agony in his head. He had hunched over for a few minutes, sparking a second flurry of questions from the farmer, but the silence the man had gotten back had eventually led him to turn his full attention back to his son. The word Jedi had brought about the pain that Leru had nearly collapsed from, though it was a different pain from before. It was not just the siring agony of his mind trying to connect meanings together, but an underlining hatred, a dark desire, a need to hate. He felt like he should not enjoy that feeling, or enjoy the chain of thought that developed from it.

However...

His train of thought was interrupted has the farmers convoy entered the outskirts of the market settlement. Leru leaned out of the side of the speeder, taking in the sights as they passed through the rough streets of the small town. The inhabitants, mostly Dresselians though there were the occasional alien here and there, paid little attention to the convoy as it passed until they spotted the dark form towards the back of it. By then, the speeders and their cargo had passed by the staring forms. Several minutes of slow travel through the town eventually brought them to a halt at the outskirts of the large, central market center.

After hours of only limited sound; nature and the voice of the farmer and his son, Leru was momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden cacophony that slammed into him. Dozens of people moved about the stalls scattered around the market square, all spiraling out from a centrally placed fountain, spraying a constant stream of clear water into the air, and then into overlapping and incrementally larger pools. Leru climbed down from the speeder as the farmer and his son did, and his head snapped up to see a door open to one of the buildings surrounding the market. Another Dresselian walked out, so similar in appearance to the farmer that they had to be related.

"Ah, it's about time you got here brother! I was expecting you to be here yesterday. We almost missed the best buyers! And who is this?" The rush of words flowed out of the larger man's mouth as the farmer laughed, stepping forward and clasping the outstretched hand of the speaker. The farmer turned and gestured briefly to Leru, the smile never leaving his face. "The missus is sick, you know that brother. I had to make sure she was settled and the doctor arrived before I brought the crops to market. Good thing I delayed too, otherwise this man might very well have been left to wander out in the plains. Found him just standing out there. Brought him along to see if he could be useful, and maybe find him some lodgings till he can figure things out."

As the two men spoke, the farmers son came and gestured for Leru to follow him, and the two of them began to unload metallic containers from the open top cargo haulers. In short time the two of them had unloaded perhaps half the containers when Leru sensed something. His head shot up and he saw a small form moving across the top of one of the containers, the lid pried open and the crops within open to the air. The farmers son, following Leru's gaze, let out a shout and the street urchin leapt down from the container, sprinting off into one of the nearby alleys.

Leru did not know why, but he took off after the urchin, the metallic thud of his armored boots echoing down the alley as he charged on. The darkness of the alley barely hindered Leru, as only a few steps in, an enhanced vision system played across his visor, illuminating and locking on to the child running from him. He gained on the urchin easily, and in less than a minute, Leru shot his hand out, grasping the arm of the child and spinning him around just as the two of them exited the alley into another street, with what looked like a bar of some kind down the road a bit. The panicked eyes of the child looked up at Leru as he took another step forward, twisting the boys armor even further, an eliciting a pained cry from the youth. When Leru finally spoke, the first time since he had awoken, it came out of his helmet as a distorted, harsh voice. The sound of it brought out another cry from the child, even as Leru tightened his grip and turned to drag him back to the farmer.

"Thief..."

Sigyn Vanir

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

The market day was here. Or, days would describe them better. Soon after Sigyn had entered the bar to eat her soup the previous day (OOC: day of my last post), farmers and merchants had arrived and set up shop. This was apparantly common for the Dressellians, to come the day before, in hopes of getting better prices for their wares. Another alien costum Sigyn would never understand. But safe to say, she had retired to her lodgings soon after the sellers had arrived. Too many people, and emotions, at the same time for her to take.

The next day had just as many people attend the market, but they were calmer today. So Sigyn actually decided to attend the market, in hopes of meeting anyone with knowledge of the force, or more about Dressel's history. But, sadly, there had only been merchants, craftsmen and farmers, all mostly there only to sell their wares.

Therefore, Sigyn had retired to the bar earlier than usual. She entered the bar, only to find it completly empty. Ponna the barkeep wasn't even there. "Ponna?" Sigyn asked out in the room. "Ponna, are you here?" No answer. From what Sigyn knew, Ponna rarely went far from the bar. The people she had spoken to there on late evenings had said that Ponna had never been outside the street that the bar was on. Still, he wasn't here now. But Sigyn stayed at the bar nevertheless.

Which proved to be smart, as only moments later, Ponna came walking in the front door, with a Duros walking beside him. "I'm telling you Laxo, this will be you..." Ponna paused, as he saw Sigyn sitting there. "Sigyn, you're here early. I appologize for not being here. But allow me to introduce you to Laxo Grent, an investor from Duro. I was just telling him about our little town here." Sigyn stood up, and shook the Duros' hand. "Oh, but where are my manners? I'll go make something for you two. The best Banthe steak I have." And with that, Ponna was gone into the kitchen.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, mister Grent. I can assure you that Ponna is an honorable man, only caring for what it-"

She was cut of, as she heard a horrible cry from outside. It sounded like a child was in pain. Sigyn rushed out the door, nearly knocking over a shocked Laxo. And there, across the street, she saw the source of the scream: a child being held forcefully by an armored being. Sigyn grabbed her lightsaber, and ran towards them. And as she ran, she heard what was probably the armored being speak. The voice was terrible, and it sent a feeling through Sigyn. And then she felt it: the being was strong in the force. In the dark side of the force. A sith.

The sith had made his way into the alley, which was probably good. Sigyn didn't like to be on display for such things as this. "Stop, Sith!" she growled, as she ignited her lightsaber. The green blade illuminated the alley, making the figure more visible. The armor of the figure confirmed it, no one but the Sith wore that kind. "Release the child, and leave this town. It is under the protection of a Jedi!"

Leru Dara

 

[Leru Dara]

Leru had only made it a few steps into the alley, intent on bringing the thief back to the farmer and his family to face his punishment when a wave of light washed across Leru's mind. It felt too pure, too organized, too controlled. He cried out in pain as the light side of the force flooded his senses momentarily, flinging the child around wildly as Leru grasped at his head. The sound of bones breaking was almost drowned out by the child's cries as Leru turned around, blinking against the pain in his head.

He stared silently at the Jedi for a moment, his eyes going first from her, then to the glowing green blade she held at the ready in her hands. Venom dripped from his words as he spoke, the words echoing in the alley as he took a step towards the Jedi. "Sith? I am no Sith. I do not know much, but of that I am now sure. But you...Jedi. I know what you are." That much at least was true. The word Sith rang familiar in his mind as he stared down at the terrified child, but he felt that it did not entirely...fit him. There was a truth to it, but a hollow one. The grimace returned to his face as he looked up at the Jedi. There was much less confusion in his mind on what he thought of her kind.

"This child stole what did not belong to him. He will face punishment at the hands of the one he has wronged." As he spoke, Leru lifted the child off his feet effortlessly, dangling him in the air before the Jedi. In the next motion, Leru turned and slammed his open fist into a nearby wall, the weak stone shattering underneath the blow and creating a opening just large enough for what the man needed. Gripping the child's arm, he pushed him into the opening, jamming him into the space and preventing him from escape without risking further damage to himself. A fresh wave of terrified cries answered this action, and Leru had to close his eyes briefly as the sound helped push away the taint of the light side from his mind.

Opening his eyes once again, he reached down to the lightsaber at his hip, igniting the orange blade and holding it at the ready to his side. "This child will face punishment, Jedi. I will not allow you to stop it." With those words, and those words alone, Leru began to march forward, the orange blade never wavering as he marching towards the Jedi, hostile intent clear in every motion of his body. When he was only a few feet away from the Jedi, Leru brought his blade up to a guard position, and leapt forward, arcing the blade towards the Jedi's neck to start the battle...

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

It was horrible to stand there and watch how the not-sith was treating the child. Even if it was true, that the child had stolen something, he did not deserve this harsh treatment. But it wasn't much Sigyn could do. The two adversaries were standing too far from each other for her to stop him before he could hurt the child more. And this was, in fact, the first Sith she had faced alone.

The first strike from the dark-sider came as expected. Going for a killing strike to start. Sigyn deflected it, and took a step back. And raised her lightsaber straight towards the other. "Why are you doing this?" she asked. "Why bring your wrath over this helpless child? From what I know, it might be true that he stole, but it couldn't have been bad enough for him to deserve this."

Sigyn had learned from the Jedi that Sith often inflicted harm, and ruled over people just for the sake of it. That was something she had never understood. Why would anyone do that? Now she had a chance to find out. At least try to. The armored figure was saying that he wasn't Sith, but Sigyn could feel the dark side of the force eminate from him. And that was close enough.

"There are better ways of doing things. But I guess inflicting pain gives you some sort of pleasure, right? Feeding your connection to the dark side."

Sigyn tried to sense of they were being watched, but luckily, none of the market-goers seemed to have noticed. Good. If it escalated to a full fight, it would be best if no one else were around. And other people's emotions could probably also feed into the other force-users powers.

Leru Dara
(shorter post, sorry. Replies might not be very fast these next days(and the days that just were) duo to me being on vacation at some relatives. But I'll probably try to get one out every one or two days)

 

[Leru Dara]

Leru was slightly confused as he took a step backwards, readjusting his foot placement as he moved to continue his attack. What did the Jedi mean, did the child deserve his punishment. He had wronged someone, committed a crime, what did it matter the severity of the punishment? The child should have never committed the crime if he wished to avoid punishment. The fact the Jedi seemed to think otherwise confused Leru, and confirmed to him that the Jedi way of things was not the right way.

"Crime has been committed, and punishment must be dealt. His pain is what he has garnered for himself with his own actions." His words were accented by a new flurry of attacks, directed at pushing the Jedi away from the position in which she stood. Her defense was solid, and unless he could get her to start changing her motions, this could end in a simple deadlock. Victory called for more drastic action.

Her next words rang in his ears as he glanced backwards at the child for a split second, before turning his gaze back to the Jedi. She had a point in that regard at least. Leru had felt the pain in his mind ease when the child felt pain, and he could only imagine what further experimentation could have brought to him. Perhaps if he expanded the number of people who felt the pain and terror the child did.

"Perhaps you are right, Jedi. Perhaps I should test to see where your words are true." With those words, Leru began to press his attack harder, seeking to drive the Jedi out of the alley, and back towards the crowds starting to drift in to the market square...

Sigyn Vanir

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

The dark sider spoke the truth. A crime had possibly been commited, and punishment was due to be payed. But the way he was doing it was wrong. The punishment should be corresponding with the crime, not be more severe. That was one of the fundamental differences between Sith and Jedi. The Jedi sought justice, while the sith sought revenge. Two identical concepts, yet so different.

"Argh," she grunted as the dark sider began his flurry. The defensive Soresu form was not Sigyn's strongest, but it would be enough for her to get her away from the attack. She blocked all the strikes, though some of them came way too close for comfort. But it did it's damage: she was being pushed back towards the end of the alley. All the people outside had nothing to do with this, they did not deserve to feel the terror of this fight. And the moment Sigyn had set foot in the town, she had sworn to herself to protect it while she was staying there.

"No! I will not allow you to do this." She forcefully deflected one of her opponents strikes, took a step back, and unleashed a powerful force push at the dark sider. "You will not sow any more terror in this village. Why do you seek to do it? What about it gives you pleasure, Sith?" She said the last word with poison in her voice. The Sith and the dark side were the enemies of the Jedi. They had always been. And they always would be.

While Sigyn was staring at the armored figure, she was beginning to hear voices behind her. Several voices, all speaking wonder and fear. Ponna's voice was one of them. She had lost. The people were afraid, she could feel it. "Everyone, please get out of here. This is none of your concern, I'll handle it. Don't be afraid!"

Leru Dara