The End of Innocence.

[Edric Vanyan]

Glyph sighed as he leaned against a wall with a book in his hand and eyes running over the pages as he smiled. It was an older thing but he couldn't help but enjoy the actually feeling of pages instead of a datapad, closing it though he leaned back against the building before standing up straight and heading back to Naboo's palace.

He should probably get back though, it was likely that by this time his friend would be up and around, and he had to make sure no one got to her again so soon after she escaped. He needed to be stronger though, his abilities were no where near enough to do this, and he needed to be stronger if he was ever going to protect his friends. With a sigh he looked towards the sky and continued walking.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

Taeli had decided to give herself a small vacation after she had been doing for the Sith, fighting and developing could take a lot of a girl. So, using her Eriana Glasin alias and suppressing her Force presence by focusing on her coral seed, she had gone to the picturesque world of Naboo to enjoy its natural beauty and architecture. The world might be within the Omega Protectorate, so she had kept a low profile, but she still had enjoyed herself immensely, especially being right underneath the noses of the Protectorate. It paid to be unknown for the most part outside of the Sith, and she quite enjoyed what that offered her. Cunning and patience were so much better ways to gain power than brute force and fear of your image and name.

Thinking of incorporating some of the architecture she had seen whenever she decided to build herself her own estate, the Sith Lord was walking through the city of Theed one last time. She was too busy looking around the city to notice a very familiar being headed her way, looking up at the sky and not watching where he was going.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

Without even noticing her coming towards him either he ran right into her, blinking as the book he had been holding was sent flying across the ground and his eyes focusing in on the woman he had run into. "Wh- sorry, i wasn't looking where i was going." He rubbed his eyes and moved to grab the book he had dropped as well as anything that the woman he crashed into had dropped. "Uh here, ssorry." He looked up and stared at her face, something was all too familiar about her. "Do i know you?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

"Not you again," Taeli groaned. She had thought this pickpocket would have died by now, given the circumstances of the galaxy, but apparently the Force had a sense of humor when it came to the beings of the galaxy.

"I'm sure your hand remembers me from when you tried to rob me on Coruscant," Taeli said, keeping her presence carefully suppressed. Some things had changed since that day, she was far more powerful and experienced than she had been then. It seemed so long ago already. Still, he didn't seem as . . . lively and carefree as he had been during that day. Even in the face of danger and death, he had been grinning from ear to ear.

Now though, he was quiet and solemn, almost as though he was conflicted about something judging by his body language. Conflicted . . . or worried perhaps? Still, she didn't want to cause a scene with people milling about, along with Naboo and Protectorate security forces watching for trouble makers.

"What are you doing here and it had better be to not steal from me again," she said, scowling.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

He was glaring, not on purpose but a Sith had taken his friend and hurt her, and now this one was here, the one he had a personal meeting with before was here on Naboo and no doubt hiding her being a sith with how she dressed. "I could ask you the same schutta." He muttered the last word as he no longer said sorry, his hand closing on the previously broken one subconsciously and his eyes looking for a weapon on the woman. "What are you doing here, and if its what i think it is im going to have to make sure you don't take one more step." He would not see another Sith touch his friend, he would not even let one come close to the palace, if she was here to cause pain then she was going to leave and now.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

"For your information, I'm actually on vacation," she said, still scowling. "I might be . . . what I am, but that doesn't mean I don't need to relax and enjoy myself without all the killing and such. I enjoy Naboo architecture and decided to vacation here, right under the nose of the Protectorate, because I like the Naboo. So there's no need to be rude, you stole from me and I retaliated, that's what happens when you fail to get away from your mark."

His body language was screaming something, she just wasn't sure what it could be. He seemed far more angry and hateful than last time, oh that could be a problem for him. Taeli was always looking to try and tempt others to her side, especially as a Sith Lady now, she wanted to build her own core of followers, apprentices, operatives, and forces. But right now, she wasn't sure how exactly to deal with him.

"What did you think I was here for?" she asked, slightly curious. He seemed to assume she was up to some dastardly deed, or some plot of such.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

He went pale then, she wasn't here to... wait maybe she was lying, she was a Sith, he wasn't sure though. His hands closing tighter. She had to be lying, why else would a Sith show up so soon on the planet, one that he already knew could harm someone without a second thought. Slowly his hand was moving closer to his saber now as it then rested on the weapon and he glared at her. "You need to leave, you can't be here and i won't let you remain here." He was worried, his eyes running across the crowd. There were no guards, if she choose no to listen to him it was easy to simply kill him then and there and he tried to put out of his mind his worry and his regrets by they were there. 'Stop it Glyph, you can't think about that.' He said in his mind, trying to get her out of his mind too, not the woman infront of him but Felicity. The thought of her broken form being returned to the palace spiking a hate for the sith again.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

"I don't even have my lightsaber on me currently," she said, holding her hands out wide to see all she had on her was her blue and purple sundress. She didn't have her satchel around her shoulder as she left that on her shuttle. "So let me ask you, why would a Sith that is carrying no weapon, is trying to keep a low profile, wearing a bright sundress that would in no way have any camouflage abilities try something on this planet?"

He was extremely touchy it seemed, how strange. Perhaps something had happened to that changeling she last saw her with, but she doubted that. A friend here on Naboo then? Now she was more curious than ever about what was bothering him and causing his body to scream he was . . . oh . . .

"Regardless, you can try and fight me, sure," she said, shrugging. "But, I was hoping not to do anything stressful today so you'd ruin that plan and I'd get annoyed and we know what happens when I get annoyed."

She actually almost wanted him to attack her, that would be a very interesting development. He was far closer to the dark side apparently than he even he realized.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

"Try it again, we aren't on Coruscant this time..." He stared at her, his other hand tightening and gripping at the air around it. She had to make one move, one thing that would show she was a Sith, and he could deal with her before she got anywhere near the Palace, or he could leave her to try and run while he contacted the other Guards on the planet, stop her from leaving the planet and lop of her own hands this time for thinking that she could do anything here... He could tell she was telling the truth though, his empathy more than enough plus her body giving him the other clues that it was all the truth. And that angered him more, Sith didn't enjoy beauty, they destroyed it. They hated it, they wanted death, and this woman stood here and spat in that fact. It made him hate her that she could be here with no motive to cause anyone harm.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

"You first, I'm quite content not starting anything," Taeli said, shrugging. "I only fought you like that last time because you stole from me, as I said, and that required a lesson to be taught."

Cracking her neck slightly, she continued saying, "I might be a Sith but I prefer the finer things in life, and I don't like seeing beauty destroyed unless it really cant be helped. That's why part of Alderaan remains the same, because I asked the Vong nicely not to shape it. It doesn't hurt I have operations there and a friend asked me to keep her home safe, but regardless."

"The choice is yours, stop me from enjoying my vacation or get out of my way so I can continue my walk," she said, dropping subtly into a combat stance if he tried anything. Once he did, or if he did, she would reveal just how powerful she really had become and allow her presence to fill his senses and show he was in way over his head.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

He hesitated, she was a sith and he couldn't let her go, if he attacked he would be the aggressor and what if she didn't use the force. There was no way to tell if this woman was a sith by her looks, she didn't even have a saber on her and he had to do something, had to stop her. "Turn yourself in, right now..." Sooo dead, he wasn't budging, and he knew he was probably dead in the water for this but this woman was not going anywhere. But the hesitation remained, he knew he couldn't actually fight her, even without her saber she had crushed his hand, maybe if he attacked first he would have a chance but what if she didn't use the force, it would look like he. He had no idea what to do, every plan would fail, he had to get her away from his friend for good. "What will it take for you to leave the planet now..."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

Well, he was stubborn she had to give him that much. He wouldn't budge, but he also didn't strike out at her and for good reason. If he became the aggressor, she was proven right in her thinking and she could easily defeat him if necessary. There had been a time they were equal for the most part, but that was long since gone.

"Uh, nothing," she replied to his question on what it would take to leave the planet immediately. "I'm enjoying myself here, seeing the sights, getting new books to read, so I'm sorry to say there's nothing that will force me to leave when I don't want to, especially since I was planning to remain here for a few more days. I hadn't seen the royal gardens yet, and I heard they were open to public viewing, but if you want to force the issue, by all means go ahead."

She knew any situation that resulted in a fight was in her favor, but she wanted to see what he would do. He had a lightsaber, she didn't. She couldn't really draw on her powers for long without alerting enemy forces she was here and a Sith, something she would like to avoid, but then he probably couldn't do that either unless he was connected to the royal family here.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

"They may be open but not to your kind schutta..." And like that he stupidly walked right into being more than obvious about what he was keeping her away from, his hands tightening on the blade as he thought he had the upper hand... probably for only a few seconds before he realized the mistake he made but for that moment he felt like he had the power and say into kicking her out of here or getting her locked up, thinking he had the authority and power but sadly without meaning to his mind drifted to protecting Felicity and keeping this woman as far away as possible,

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

"I don't see a Naboo guard uniform on you, so I don't think you have the authority to say where I can and can't go," Taeli responded, noting his tightened fingers on her saber hand. He was close to attacking her apparently, but he had responded even more harshly when she mentioned the palace gardens. Now that was interesting, but why react that way? Unless . . . the rumors she had been hearing around the city . . .

The queen's daughter had been kidnapped by a Sith and broken, both physically and emotionally from what she had heard. He was trying to stop her from getting anywhere near the palace and feared she was up to something. Oh that was interesting.

"Now that is interesting. You're trying to stop me from getting anywhere near the princess aren't you?" Taeli asked, almost certain she had just pushed the final button his self-control.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

And snapped he did, without any words his saber ignited before he even pulled out out of his cloak, cutting through that cloak as he brought the saber up and at her. He wasn't letting her get anywhere near Felicity, not now and certainly not ever after what the last sith had done to his friend. Problem was the crowd scattered immediately, some sticking by to watch as Glyph attacked the appearantly unarmed woman, hate filling his eyes as he charged. He wasn't weak, and knew fully well that his emotions could bring him power, but her didn't know how to control it well. So his use of it was a weaker and much less efficient form, burning off his rage quickly as he charged her.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

'Well that did it,' she thought as he ignited his lightsaber, through his cloak no less, and charged at her. She could see the hate in his eyes, but he didn't know how to fully use the darkness within to fuel his powers efficiently. She could see that, but now a decision had to be made. She could respond with her own use of the Force, but then security forces would be alerted and she would probably have to cut short her vacation. Or her other option was to avoid his attacks, run away and he got what he wanted.

Well, couldn't have that.

Switching her internal focus away from her coral seed implant, she allowed her full power to be felt by her opponent. She was far more powerful than before, and he would feel that, and then. . .

"Come at me then," she said, dropping into a full combat stance, the dark side enhancing her speed and strength for the coming fight. She couldn't be overt in her Force use, but she could be covert.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

"DIE." He held nothing back as he tried to skewer her out right and glared at her, having snapped and pushing on with as much power as he could muster. And when his physical strength alone wasn't enough he sent his other hand forward and tried to send a directed blast of force energy point blank at her chest. He wasn't sure what worked on a Sith like this but he didn't care. He simply wanted to sever her limbs, destroy her, keep this place safe and protect his friend. He would kill this sith spawn before the woman had a chance. He knew how strong she was now though and while he knew it was likely impossible, he would see through what he started this time and make sure she was dead by the end of this.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Glyph"]

She jumped back to avoid the blade heading for her chest, but she allowed him to hit her with the Force blast, sending her flying backwards and she landed heavily. She could have easily corrected herself in the air, landing gracefully, but that wasn't the point right now. Right now, it was shifting blame for the fight onto him in the minds of the crowd.

"You're crazy!" she yelled, her voice carrying to those watching. "I've done nothing wrong! Why are you attacking me?! What are you?! Some rogue Jedi?"

Psychology would be more useful here, covertness and being smart would win the day. Even as the crowd started murmuring and he charged in to attack her again, she was able to dodge his attack and smash her fist into his chest, using her Force enhanced strength to wind him or stagger him. She had to play the terrified person who knew how to fight, possibly make the crowd think she was an off-duty member of the Protectorate forces.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

He said nothing, he didn't care what they thought of him, he was going to carve this sith's heart out of its chest and throw it down into the ground before burning the body. He was simply mad and didn't so much as react past flying off his feet and onto his back as she slammed her fist into his chest. Staring up at her face his hands curled tighter as he ignited a flame infront of him and send the fire at her face, he would burn her, he would see her die, even if it was a basic form of Pyrokinesis it was something he had learned and would use against this woman. He would not let her leave he would not let her even think of escaping. Her life was his to claim for thinking she could harm his friend.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Holy kriff," she yelled, dropping to the ground to avoid the flames that were heading for her head, thanking her Force enhanced speed "Fireballs! Really?!"

As she continued to yell how crazy he was and if anyone was going to help, her thoughts turned towards just how full of rage and fear he was. Her opponent was trying desperately to stop her from going anywhere near the palace. She could respect that, but she was now more intrigued about possibly turning him to her cause. He was in way over his head, but he didn't seem to care.

Deciding to show him just how hopeless his situation was, she allowed a small fork of Force Lightning to lance across the ground to his body. It would be enough to stun him, and she would be able to get her feet. She hoped at least, but then another thought crossed her mind. The man fighting her was trying to prove something, he must have cared for the princess and when she was broken, he took personal offense to that and began thinking he should have protected his friend.

Now there was a path to offer him something.

[member="Glyph"]