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Author Topic: What You Leave Behind  (Read 55763 times)
Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #195 on: November 04, 2021, 11:50:07 PM »

 
Chapter 30 — Unearthings
Chillum
“They are Mak’Tora Runes…albeit of an little ancient dialect, and the crests on the columns are of the Xandir clan.” Le’Nas’Vam of the M’Tzigon museum explained summarising the initial findings of the Shrine beneath the Temple

They were in the labs beneath the museum, the crystal sitting in a safe field slowly changing from light to dark blue, Chillum himself, Len and Kir’Kas’Ren, a Silver Knight and responsible for analysing unusual Force artefacts, most recently Zearics daggers and the Oblivion Orbs, albeit with little success. 

And of course Karmack who had refused to leave the crystal unattended and escorted it the whole way to the museum, his son-in-laws face etched with a mix of anxiety and anger.

 “So far we’ve been unable to translate the words, there seems to be a…cipher of sorts in use…we’ve tried traditional ones, Clan names and such, but no success so far.”Kir’Kas explained having finalised his preliminary examination.

“And the crystal?” Chillum asked.

“That is a curiosity…it seems to have a suppressive quality, the likes of which we wouldn’t have even realised had we not spent so much time with Zearic daggers…we think it works as a kind of shadow field similar to Stygium crystals which are used in cloaking devices, pure ones - rare it must be said - were used historically by Jedi and Sith Shadows and assassins to augment stealth abilities,”

“But this is a Kyber?”

“It is, but it’s been - programmed - one might say…whoever made this was familiar with Stygium but wanted the better Force ‘capacity’ of Kyber.”

“Stygium…” Karm chewed leaning over the crystal in its small sealed transparisteel analysis chamber on the desk.

Chillum checked his watch, it had been just over two hours since they had gotten the crystal…
 
“I thought Kage Racc wanted to see you about now Son?”

Karm dismissed his concern

“This is more important, that crystal called out to me as soon as it was touched,”

“Master Mack…” Kirk interrupted…

“Not to underestimate your abilities…but we only just found this crystal, working all nighters it will take weeks to…”

Karm wasn’t even listening to his petty concerns, staring at the crystal in the field, it looked much like the ancient one, perhaps more smoothed on the edges, more oval shaped...feminine?

Without asking he reached out to touch it, deactivating the stasis field with a thought.
“Son be careful…” Chillums warning fell on deaf ears
As Karmack caught up the blue crystal, cool and light, yet unresponsive to touch it seemed.

He probed gently with the force…but it seemed…slippery, diiffuse…a thread there in the distance…stretched out…Stealth indeed

He paused considering whether to use the Ancient One to enhance his probe…Chillum too wondered the same thing.

If it were Chillum…he would be cautious, putting too much power in a strange crystal was dangerous, it may have been found beneath the Temple surrounded by Mak’Tor runes…but were they warnings not to use it in a dialect long forgotten? And then those Aertemis girls had been in there for nearly an hour alone with it…had they set a trap?

Karmack considered none of these issues, confident in his connection to the Song and the power of the Ancient one- he was a Master Singer affirmed by Odjina himself – if anyone, in deed the only one who could scry the secrets was him.

Opening a channel of power he allowed the melodies of the Force all about him to flood in…there was Lens, Kirks…Chillum strongest of all…the underlying beats of the city of Sierra…

He focused in on the wavelengths closer to the crystal…faint…only the highest notes…closer still…the upper quarter of the spikes of song…closer still…there a pattern, a steady and gentle flow that wanted to stay close to the underlying rhythms of the force…stealth by subsuming within nature, elegant he thought…closer…

A blinding flare of blue hit him from all sides – his stomach was retched in a queer parallel to his vision surviving the thought bomb…the Ancient one burned in…Recognition?

“Whoa…”

He was not in the lab…no…yes…no…it was a workshop…queer archaic devices neatly arranged on the tables, metal arms holding two crystals that looked so familiar yet so…different…

Incomplete

There was a figure sitting beside another crystal whose outlines were so much like the one found in the Shrine…

A man, weary, determined…the Force flowing through him to the crystal…he was a filter for the power of Life, adjusting, choosing and shaping what flowed into the crystal….he was making it…creating the crystal Karmack was touching millennia later….it could only be

Klu Xandir himself!

But then what was this crystal? Karmack knew of only the Ancient One – also known as the Sunfire, and the lost Starfire…what was the third?

As if in answer Klu stretched out his task finished and lifted the blue crystal to the light

“For you Kay…the light of the Moon that shone in your eyes and under which you would run…” 

Kay…who was Kay?

Before he could get any answer he was back in the lab Chillum starting at him

“…arm…Karm…”

“I…I’m fine…just a vision…the…he…I saw Klu Xandir himself making this crystal…it was for Kay…the Moon…the Star…the Sun…the third piece, the Lost One, the Hidden One…the Moonshadow…its Song…I can hear it…I could always hear it…”

He stopped dead as he heard it…everywhere…and Everytime… it was part of the background of M’Tzigon it was…

“ha…hahaha…Genius!” he boomed out
“This is…our first line of defence…the Moonshadow! It…is in the Song but it holds it, counters it, covers it up…disguises our use of the Force! A stealth device for the whole planet! it masks our use of the Force with a counter song of such…such precision…such amazing precision…Klu was a true genius!”

Images, ideas, faces flicked across his mind as he opened a Channel into the Moonshadow its history laid bare…

“And Dorian…he must’ve worked out how to use it…then…Odjina…he took it with him, set it here after the Exile…before he went to Vyth for the second colony…but never had time to…he had an idea…but didn’t…”

From the elation of Klu and Dorians, Genius Karmack suddenly felt the depth of tragedy for Odjina well in him once more…
“If he had time he would’ve made another…hidden Vyth in the same way…”

He had to focus…this discovery was…as important as the Ancient One…possibly more for this affected the whole planet

“If I can duplicate it…we can cloak all our knights, our ships…healing centres…not fully but at least in part…give us an edge…”

Chillum and Lens simply stared blankly.

For the last three minutes Karmack had been babbling…his mouth running like a man on Death sticks, fast and incomprehensible…occasionally Chillum caught some words – Dorian, Cloak, there was an Odjina in there too.  He leaned forward and grasped his son in laws arms

“Karm…Karm…Kirk get the healers!”

Karmack suddenly stopped

“What…why nothing is wrong, weren’t you listening?! This is wonderful…the edge we need!”

“Karm, you've been talking gibberish for minutes…”

How could they not understand…it was so obvious…but…they can’t hear the song…I keep forgetting…they’re so...deaf to everything

“I…sorry I got carried away…but…” he looked to the crystal in his hand
“We need to put this back...it has an important role here on M’Tziogn, until I understand it better it needs to remain.” He glanced over to a printout of the rune from the Shrine, it explained the function of the crystal as he had just seen in the vision.

“But…it says it right there?”

Chillum looked at the print out.

“You can read that?”

“Of course…isn’t it obvious?”

Len looked astounded at him “It’s in a cipher…what is it?”

“Cipher…its…”

Karmack stared more intently…they were right it was…gibberish

“It’s covered by the Song…only a singer attuned to the crystal can read it…but I can translate,”

“Maybe you should sit down first son,”

“No…no time,” he pushed off Chillum and grabbed a pen

Chillum had heard of amulets that allowed bearers to read ancient Sith scripts, it made sense a Mak’Tor might use a similar method…and he was genuinely happy for Karmack, he had obviously found something important…still as he looked in Len and Kirks worried faces…

What is this power doing to you Son?

Even as he thought his commlink buzzed on high in his pocket, leaving Karmack to frantically write he clicked it on, the chime was Arnor’s

“Love, what's the matter?”

“Dad where are you, we need to speak now,”

<<<<>>>>

Arnor
“We must go there straight away…find out what Aertemis has done…”

Karmacks tone broached no argument as they stood in the museum lab surrounded by barely legible scribblings of the translations from the shrine.

The father looked as drained and frantic as the son after Ken explained what he had not found.

Len, Kirk and Chillum all bore grave expressions, but ever the voice of reason Chillum spoke.

“We don’t know it was Aertemis,”

“Of course it was” Karmack snapped, “They are doing everything they can to destroy us, first Mendax now Morrigan, it fits the pattern,”

A pattern we only have your word for Arnor found herself thinking.  Perhaps it was her anger at him literally running out to be with a crystal instead of her, she wanted to believe her husband but he was increasingly on edge. 

Disturbingly she found herself agreeing with Cha in that respect. Her husband was not slowing down after the battle - if anything speeding up.

And she felt he was leaving her behind.

“You should speak to the Kage son,” Chillum said calmly

“She’s expecting you, I’ll check the cavern with Ken, call Ju’Lus to get some Silvers together on the way to help check it out thoroughly,”

Begrudgingly Karmack agreed,

“Fine, The Kage ought to know,” he checked his Chrono.  It was nearly midnight.

He strode straight past Arnor, he hadn’t said a word , not even a glance. 

Was she being selfish to expect some small nod of acknowledgement given the stress of the situation?

The door slid shut behind her husband as her father came up to her.

“You alright love,”

“Fine…” she lied
“Just tired,”

Chillum simply placed his hand on her shoulder seeing in her face every doubt and pain his daughter was feeling.

“I know love, I know, we just have to try and keep him grounded,”

<<<<>>>>
Logged

Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Karmack
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« Reply #196 on: November 08, 2021, 06:23:21 PM »

I love this chapter.  The scene with Karm and the Moonstone...   There's a line here that Karm crosses, hitting another gear with the stones and Song, but more than that.  He's so focuses and intent, that he's losing his connection to the people ... and forgetting the really important things.

He is committing the ultimate sin of a Gray - he's losing his balance.  

And that parting shot, walking past his wife, his lover, his friend.  His other half.   Walking past her without even an acknowledgement.   Ouch.

They are right to worry.  

****

Side note:  Thanks LSG for posting this!   :-)   
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TheDutchman
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« Reply #197 on: November 12, 2021, 05:07:55 PM »

Poor Karm: here we see the beginning of his ascent, made all the more tragic by the fact that he isn't exactly wrong to want to safeguard those around him.  The irony is that in trying to secure himself/his family/his friends/his Order/M'Tzigon, he is beginning to alienate those same people.  Not that I particularly agree with the old adage, but I believe that it might be pertinent in this case: something about the road to Hell and Good Intentions...

The problem is that while the Men-At-Arms are busy looking within for enemies, they've become myopic to the real danger that they've already invited in (those Mark IVs are just too damned dangerous...)  Too bad that Cliff has already decided that Karm is a liability instead of working together.

But then, there wouldn't be much of a story, would there  Wink

DEFINITELY "Thank you, LSG" for getting the ball rolling here again!
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Karmack
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« Reply #198 on: April 25, 2022, 09:05:23 AM »

FINALLY!    The next chapter....

Chapter 31 Stalled Meetings
Zearic
Dust flew back in his face as his fist hit the punching bag, once…twice…three times…  The sneeze was sudden and explosive, interrupting his rhythm.  Immediately the midnight-black  dagger clattered to the floor as the sequence broke.
“Damn…”
Huffing out he stepped across to take it back up…the Tenebris seemed less obedient than the Nocte.
During the battle around the Temple the daggers had seemed to have a mind of their own, saving him more than once but never firmly under his control.  He needed to establish that control, and was practising having the blades ‘orbit’ him with the force whilst performing simple unarmed routines.
He had mastered keeping the blade moving in time with his strikes easily enough.  Now he wanted to be able to move his body and the daggers ‘out of sequence’ with each other so his moves were less predictable to his opponents, so he could ‘flow’ as a water warrior should on two different levels of combat. In time he would combine the dagger orbits with his sabre work…but…little steps.
Tossing the blade in the air he tried again.  It levitated mostly under its own power, but was fidgety compared to the Nocte.  The Tenebris also still probed at his fears and worries; not as strongly as before with his now ‘activated’ genes, yet still…
As he hammered the bag with a left hook his mind kept coming back to his father…to Kazic…

What more had he known…that his father knew of the BA’s was a certainty - he not only sealed the records on Oblivion materials but all but deleted them…

As the Tenebris split the air behind his head he felt a new appreciation for the dagger – it might stimulate paranoia…but in doing so it did open his mind to new possible threats and doubts he had not considered. 

Kazic had to have known more though…more about Zearic that he never spoke of – what and why – did he know they could control him?
And worse…D’Alyanna knew something…oh yes he remembered that line in white on blue on the screen

“Sealed by order of Seventh Speaker elect, Master Gray D’Aylanna Vih’Torr.”

They were keeping things about his own body from him…

They Left You behind for a reason

A hook, jab, right elbow, left elbow, twist…pause as the Tenebirs flashed between him and the bag…upper cut.

The bag rocked on its support with the power of his blow…strong as any human now if not a little more…certainly not as powerful as most meta-human species…but when blood was on the line it couldn’t hurt.

If that is the benefit after 20 generations of dilution…what must my ancestors original biology be capable of even without the Force…

That was a sobering thought.

So sobering he missed a beat and the Tenebris clattered again.

“Shavit…” turning round he saw a boot on the blade, following it up to see Er’Lav Racc…or rather Kage Racc

“Neat little toy…” she lifted her foot

“Heavy little toy…” he noted hefting it up

“So it seems…have you spoken to Karmack of late.”

“No…he’s been hard to catch,”

“You have no idea…” She gaze an exasperated look before continuing
“…I hear you two had something of an animated conversation before Mendax’ attack…”

Zearic managed to keep any hint of surprise off his face.  He didn’t bother asking how she knew about a private conversation in Karmacks home. 

The Kage continued.  “You expressed some concerns about the…arbitrary nature of some of Karmacks choices and actions.  I’m afraid it’s becoming somewhat worse.”

“Not without justification from what I’ve heard,”

“Perhaps…but he remains a…what were your words?  A ‘walking weapon of mass destruction who decides unilaterally how to employ that weapon’?”

Zearic swung upright, his face set in flint.  The Kage was serene - and unreadable.  Clearly cut from very different cloth than Silman…  “What do you require, Kage?”

Er’lav nodded “A contingency…something to put some torpedoes into the exhaust port before that ‘Death Star’ opens fire.”

Despite the serious import of the conversation Zearic smiled at the analogy

“And you want me to be that contingency.”

“I can’t ask another Mak’Tor…I could ask Scrubber’s silent friends but I’m afraid of the response I’d get…”

“And I’m somewhere in between, Gray Jedi but not Mak’Tor, armed with Oblivion Stone but not covered in it.”

“And you know Karmack better than I do…you’ll be able to tell where the line is…when he’s crossed it…and when he’s too far to pull back.”

Zearic flipped the Tenebris into the air….

Its bulk seemingly nothing compared to the weight of the task he was now taking on…even if…Even If it came to it…could he succeed…

I’ll need to perfect the daggers…train harder than ever before…find new techniques and tactics…

No. This was his friend…how could he train with the express goal of killing him?  And yet if not him then who?

He looked at the inscription on the Nocte, the oft repeated dictum that haunted his dreams strangely warm and comforting for the first time.

She left you behind for a reason

“If he crosses the line…”

He caught the Tenebris in reverse grip in his opposite hand.

“…not before,”
<<<<>>>>
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Karmack
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« Reply #199 on: April 25, 2022, 09:05:57 AM »

Ry
Stepping through the body scanner to the command Hub Ry smiled as the guard apologised, gently sweeping his body scanner over her breasts, under her arms then between her legs.

“Sorry Ma’am, standard procedure,”

“Not an issue,” Ry replied, compared to Chiss security checkpoints this was barely an effort and at least here she got an apology rather than sneer..

 Heading through the deep underground corridors she passed a number of red lit doors, the odd Guard or engineer moving to and fro, none acknowledging her, the Colonel or Tel’Owna.

Finally they reached the large durasteel doors that were green lit for them to enter – none of the rooms had labels, if you didn’t know where you needed to be, you were probably not meant to be there at all.

Inside Cha was already waiting along with the young woman for Aertemis Industries.  In the centre of the room hooked up to numerous cables feeding into the walls and ceiling was a large rounded computer glowing blue, with three indented stations with flickering blue screens.

“Anything look familiar?” Tel’Owna inquired
Ry looked the computer hub up and down,
“No…this isn’t standard Chiss design at all…”
“At least we know what it is not…” Tel’Owna smiled

“Ah Colonel,” Cha wandered forward “and Miss Tel’Owna and Lieutenant Tla…I forgot to ask how is the old Admiral?”

Ry nearly lost her cool, how could Cha possibly know about her grandfather in the Ascendancy…no this was how he worked, kept you off guard with subtle hints he knew more than he probably did.

“He’s fine, still stubborn,” she answered, taking him on directly hoping that would throw him.

“A family trait you blessedly skipped, Miss Aeresdottir is most looking forward to installing the system updates…” he gestured to the young woman Aeresdottir.

“Right shall we begin,”

Aeresdottir leapt up and seemed to be at one of the three consoles so fast Ry’s eyes were still on the seat she had been on that now sported a leather bag with small girly crystals woven into it in star patterns – once more Ry saw the girl as just that, a 18 year old tech whiz toying with coding which seemed incongruous with programming high end battle droids….perhaps it was an elaborate act of misdirection, appear child like to ensure everyone underestimated you.

“Just go to one of the other consoles,” Aeresdottir directed, “They are all the same so three People – or outsiders - can work on the same or different things at once,”

Ry wandered over to an open console, brief curiosity about what People were compared to outsiders forgotten as she focused on the task at hand, Aeresdottir already punching in new lines of code that flashed across the screen.

“Umm can you slow down a little…this is going way too fast…”

“If you insist…”

Now only three lines appeared every second.

“Ummm…maybe one coding statement at a time?”

“It will take longer….”

“We have time don’t we?”

Aeresdottir made no reply but only input one statement for Ry to check. Finding nothing wrong she nodded for her to put in the next.

And so it went for the next three hours, a number of times Aeresdottir entered coding that was…bizarre to say the least requiring Ry to strain her mind and ask dozens of questions to understand it, but always in the end she realised it was a neat and efficient way of achieving something Ry would’ve required pages and pages of clunky coding to achieve.

Amidst the queries Ry did what she could to get to know her as a person, but she seemed…closed…polite certainly never complaining about her questions, but could not be drawn on any topic other than the one at hand.

“Next one loaded…” she said in her sweet slightly high voice

“Alright…let’s see…[Nip tun'ci en'casrt'is ( Vx>3.5% >> NAAH vx<3.5% Tasarah)]  -or in basic Nasal bridge distance greater than 3.5% variance deny, less permit…so did you learn Cheunh on Csilla?”
“Can I lock it in?”
“Yeah seems fine…or did you learn it online?”
“All my family know how to speak it,” she replied as if that somehow answered the question.
“You speak it at home?”
“No…we all know it.”
Ry frowned not understanding
“But when did you learn it? When you were little?”
“No…We…All…Know it…” she said slowly as if Ry were a simpleton before moving on.
“Perhaps we should take a break for an hour or two, freshen up, my fiancé told me about this great café, should be open at this hour, my treat!”

“Ch'ah k'ir nah ch'in'he'ah bisnisi nocsim'i” she replied in perfect Cheunh
“Ch'ah cart rost'sep vah k'ir”

The translation was ‘I don’t eat…foreign…food and I’m surprised you do’ – however she used ‘bisinisi’ for foreign rather than ch’atetin’b…both were correct but bisnisi could also be translated as ‘barbarian’ or ‘uncouth’.

“Veo Can M’tzigon,” Ry replied staying up beat – ‘when in M’tzigon’

“k'ir nah cssen'v to ch'avz”

‘don’t drink the water’

It was going to be a long day.
<<<<>>>>
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Karmack
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Light side points please.


« Reply #200 on: April 25, 2022, 09:06:44 AM »

 
Karmack

Head held high Karmack strode through the corridors of the Mountain, his robe fluttering behind him with the unnatural speed of his steps toward the Kage’s office.  His sudden appearance in the outer office startled Do’Nal at his desk.  “Maenowan Mack, the Kage will be with you in a…”
“I will see the Kage now, this is too important to be delayed.” Karmack barely broke his stride as he moved straight past the desk and pushed the door open with the force.
The office beyond was nearly completely empty, all of Silman’s modest decorations and books gone.  The only adornment Er’Lav had made to the utilitarian space was a simple but elegant display rack on her desk, holding her saber.
“You haven’t heard of knocking,” Er’lav said.  She made no effort to mask her irritation as she finished a text on her holo-comm.
“There is no time…the BA’s…they’ve released Morrigan, the Nameless One.” Karmack slammed the fake holocron Ken had found on the desk and leaned over using his height to the full to cast her in his shadow.  “We need to put an end to this, expel them from the planet immediately…”

Er’lav finally put her holo-comm down. “I’m assuming you have proof of these sinister intentions?”
“Proof?  I told you before they don’t leave proof!  They have the means, motive and opportunity, and ever since I refused them the Ancient One they have done everything in their power to…”
“This may come as a surprise Karmack but the galaxy does not revolve around you and your little crystal…” her voice was not loud but firm, the edge of sarcasm cutting like a scalpel. “...and unlike Silman I am not going to indulge your barely coherent ravings and flights of fancy.” she leaned forward and pointed to the door.  “On top of that, you are half a day late.  Now go outside and wait to be summoned again Maenowan,”
“What…”
“Do I need to repeat myself Maenowan?”
Karmack stepped back from the Kage’s desk.  “No you do not.”  He gave half a bow and walked back out the door hissing closed behind him.
Karmack paced in the outer office, fuming. What is wrong with her! The greatest Dark Singer is on the loose, BA’s are desecrating our shrines, killing our best warriors and she is worried about protocol!
Do’Nal busied himself, being very careful not to look in Karmack’s direction until the beep on his console forced him to speak up.
“The…Kage will see you now Master Mack…”
Finally
He strode forward determined to pick up right where he had left off, but Er’lav cut him off as soon as his mouth opened and the door closed.
“I said three hours, it’s been twelve.  Why were you late Maenowan?”
Karm bristled at being spoken to like an errant school boy
“Analysing the Crystal Aertemis tried to pervert took some time.  It is a creation of Klu Xandir, called the Moonshadow a partner to the Ancient One and another crystal named the Starfire. It is used to cover the use of the Song. My initial assessment is that the Moonshadow has been working through the Force Nexus around the Temple for centuries, suppressing the Force…radiation for want of a better analogy… emanating from M’Tzigon.  Anyone trying to sense centres of force power would feel M’Tzigon was only ‘average’ at best despite our presence here.  It is critical that it be replaced as soon as possible.”
Er’lav barely had time to blink as Karmack spewed words out. “I’m sure Lens, Chillum and Kirk can corroborate your findings….”
Karmack shook his head, the irritation returning to his posture.  “There is no time! It must be replaced.  We can analyse it further later, once Artemis is gone and Morrigan found and destroyed….you must use your powers of veto to enforce their expulsion.”

“I must, must I…” Er’lav was hardly a stranger to people second guessing her, as Kage it was important someone did…but the tone Karmack used was not mere suggestion. This was an order, as though he, and not she, had been elected.  She would not play his game nor argue on his preferred topics.
“I’ve read your reports very carefully - from Vyth to Geonosis to the Temple, I have also read those from Master Chillum, General Cliff and submissions from Aertemis Industries and the Rebel Commander Gingal and former thralls of Mendax, even Jaim’s reports on events in the deep core.  I don’t deny there are some unusual things going on, but so far as the Mak’Tor are concerned all I see is Aertemis industries showing extreme restraint and undeserved charity despite repeated assaults of their staff, attempted thefts and wild accusations against them.  So unless you have some new and compelling information beyond what you’ve already submitted ad nauseam, you can sit down and shut up”
The frustration was peaking. Karmacks fists clenched…why couldn’t anyone else see, or at least listen…unless…after so long with the Sons being near Black armour…was Er’lav compromised?
Er’Lav shook her head at his outward silence.  “I thought not.  Maenowan, in all these reports, all these instances of friction – not just with Aertemis but with the Men-at-Arms as well - there is one common denominator…and that’s you.”
She opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of flimsy
“Silman had agreed with the Council of Balance that it would be best if some distance was put between us all…so to that end…I am ordering you to commence investigations into and obtaining if possible the crystal termed the Starfire and by extension attempt to discern the location and find a hyperspace route to the planet of Ruusan.  Should you find it you will then be in charge of establishing the archaeological efforts on that world…assuming it is safe to do so.”

The Starfire… Karmack thought as his breathing settled if I’m to have any chance at defeating these BA’s, let alone Morrigan…I’ll need every possible advantage. With the Starfire and the Ancient One…that could be enough to defeat them all…
Nodding to himself not Er’lav he rose up.  “I will find the Starfire, fulfill Xandir’s legacy, and I will end the threats you won’t even acknowledge.”
<<<<>>>>
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Karmack
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« Reply #201 on: April 25, 2022, 09:10:02 AM »

Ry

 “Next one is up…” Aeresdottir said for the millionth time.

After the break Ry had tried another tactic to get something out of her – if she couldn’t get her respect being sociable, she would try by being capable, showing she was just a hard a worker and competent…of course after nine hours with a 90 minute break any attempt to sound intelligent in her responses to the coding sections was washing away with her stamina.

Aeresdottir meanwhile seemed…unchanged…as if she were a machine…maybe she’s an android…

“Well?”

“Oh, sorry…let’s see…looks alright but perhaps we can extend the precision to 12 decimal places instead of ten.”

“That will make the refresh time by 600 Plank seconds…”

“I think we can live with that,”

“It’s your droids I guess…” she said once more as if distancing herself from the imperfect changes being made to the droids.

“Well what would you suggest instead?”

“To not do this at all and revert to the default programming,”

“That wouldn’t solve the problem of Friend/Foe errors”

“The droids aren’t the problem, it’s the Men At Arms inability to record bio data on every citizen – we are not fixing the problem.”

Ry paused for a moment, she was impossible to argue with….but perhaps…  “Well the problem isn’t a mechanical one, it’s a customer service one, your customer wants something different, and whether that is optimal in your opinion or not doesn’t matter, you’re solving the customer’s problem here within all the limitations of the customer’s imagination and capacity that entails.”

Aeresdottir looked up from her console and stared at her.

“That is true…they are their droids…”

“But they’re not are they…” Ry probed “You made them to protect your K’ihn, and you don’t like making them less than they can be for someone else,”

There was little more important to Chiss than K’ihn – family or clan.

“You are correct….”
Like the Chiss, Aeresdottir took great pride in her work, so long as it was dedicated to her K’ihn, being here and adjusting them was…annoying at best for her…which made Ry wonder what they hoped to gain by selling these droids to the Mak’Tor at the price of their own designers satisfaction.

“…perhaps it is time for another break…” Aeresdottir suggested.

<<<<>>>>

The café wasn’t exactly buzzing but it was still three quarters full as M’tziogn citizens did what they could to support businesses in the wake of the battle.

Even so Aeresdottir was true to her word- she did not drink the local water instead sipping from a metal tumbler that even across the table reeked of something so sickly sweet it made Ry want to gag every whiff she got.

“Why do you abandon your K’ihn to be with these…outsiders?” she asked bluntly

Ry nearly choked on her caf  “cchhm…it's more complicated than that,”

“You’re not with the Ascendancy…you work for the humans…you even have sex with one…”

Ry could not tell with her quick high voice if there was any inflection of censure in her words or not.

“…sounds fairly simple to me”

“Perhaps...but…I guess I couldn’t be myself in the Ascendancy, here I have real choices, not having to do the family proud and the like…if I’d stay I would’ve…hurt my K’ihn more by being unhappy and underperforming.”

Aeresdottir seemed unconvinced   “But are not your K’ihn and culture inextricably tied to your sense of self?”

Once more Ry realised how futile it was to argue with her    “It’s true our K’ihn defines who we are in many ways, but that doesn’t mean we always agree with them or want to spend all our time with them.”

“Nor does that necessitate leaving them altogether…if you disconnect from them are you not disconnecting from yourself just as much…and if so how can you as you say ‘be yourself’”

Obviously Aeresdottir came from a culture with strong family ties like the Chiss and that coloured her responses…yet still she made a good point.  Ry had not left things well with her family, and that was in a sense walking away from herself just as much as enabling other parts of herself freedom.

“That’s true…”

Too true…

Ry had some calls to make.

<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #202 on: April 25, 2022, 09:11:56 AM »

Er’Lav

“Well she’s really gone…”   The cavern was, as Ken Mack had reported, devoid of all but the most basic force energies.   “Could it have been natural?  The barriers were millennia old, they couldn’t have lasted forever.”

Chillum, kneeling by the podium the holocron had once stood on, shook his head.  “I don’t think so.  The Song Lock was powered by the Force.  On its own it wouldn’t have been shut off.”

Er’lav chuckled.  “I know…just wishful thinking.  Still …  who and why…then we can worry about how…”

“I think Kage…given other events…” Chillum left it hanging

“Everyone likes to blame Aertemis…” she sighed “…but you’re probably right…”

She spun the false holocron in her hand.  Keeping Women against their will is mean and nasty! the inscription etched on each side read.  “Orr a group of feminist anarchists.  Still, they have a point: perhaps what Dorian did was excessive.”

Chillum stood, putting away the sensitive crystal he had tried to pick up residual energies with.   “Excessive?”

“Trapping a spirit for millennia and demanding she acquiesce to the morality of her captors before being released…that could be considered torture.”

Chillum raised an eyebrow, there was truth to what Er’lav said….yet still he was surprised that she had said it.   “The Nameless one committed many crimes…some might argue no punishment was ever adequate…”
 
Now Er’lav gave him and odd look

“…but others might consider forgiveness and release back into the Force more befitting a Mak’Tor.  I think Dorian never anticipated she would remain trapped for so long that it became a tradition to keep her here.”

Er’lav nodded looking about the caverns roof for any clue however unlikely.  “I’m wondering if we should do anything at all.  With the rebuilding, the Empire and Alliance still at war…I’m not sure it’s worth the resources to follow up on this.”

Chillum well knew Er’lav had to balance many competing priorities but a Dark Singer on the loose surely deserved some attention!  “If we do let it go…we have to hope the Nameless one does as well.”

“She had a name Chillum.  We do a further disservice to ourselves and her by denying Morrigan agency in that way.”

That struck Chillum strongly, emblematic of just how different a Kage Er’lav was to Silman, how she interpreted events and situations differently, and thereby responded differently. Silman would’ve already had Maenowans all over the nearby systems looking for leads. 

“But I take your point Master Chillum.  We need to be cautious, she may well decide to punish us for Dorian’s sins.”

Dorian’s sins! That was flipping things on the head…

And yet as he pondered he found the alternate perspective as refreshingly bracing as the icy alpine winds.  The Maker works in mysterious ways, perhaps Er’Lav really was what the Mak’Tor needed.

“For now seal up the cavern, put some monitoring devices about…I’ll arrange for an investigation straight away”

<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #203 on: April 25, 2022, 09:13:46 AM »

Cliff


 “The designs are mostly finished General, the main delay is simply that our engineers are unfamiliar with this tech – it’s not just old Republic like our ARC’s, it’s been refurbished and re-tooled with Imperial upgrades we’re not familiar with, once we have out head around it we’re looking at around a year and half.”

Cliff scowled at the Chief Engineer Mi’Cae’Ehl – Mic’s – report on the overhaul of the Requiem – a year and half was not tolerable given the dangers they were facing.

“And how much longer after that to get a crew trained in the new systems and operational protocols of working on a Star Destroyer.” Now he turned to Captain Kar'N'Xir, commander of the Lightray, the cruiser commander most likely to be given the Requiem.

“Months at least, full shakedown for a ship that size would be another year.”

He tapped his fingers on the desk as the holo of the Requiem covered in lines of the proposed repairs and upgrades spun slowly around…he needed people with expertise in Imperial tech, and operating on a Star Destroyer…

As damn luck would have it he had both – Lieutenant Nordas and 500 Imperials more than comfortable on a Star Destroyer, some of whom had worked on the Requiem for years…and then he had Aertemis industries, workers who helped..somehow…with the Raider 2’s and TIE fighters gifted to the Sons.

A huge resource right there to speed everything up…if only he could trust them…

“Give me options…what would it cost to get it up in one year?”

Mic simply shook his head   “General…even with twice the budget…it’s the manpower, training takes time.”

“Time we don’t have…thank you Captain, Chief...dismissed,” with Quick salutes they headed out of the strategium leaving Cliff alone with his thoughts.

They had beaten back Mendax…but it was a close run thing…next time, even with the droids upgraded and their targeting fixed…they would not be so lucky…the Requiems Assault had shown up the limitations of their Navy, they needed a moving fortress to centre the systems naval defences around…and needed it fast.

He was already in too deep with Cha and Aertemis.

“Frell it…” he grabbed his comm,  “Ensign get me Colonel Yarn…,”

Nordas it was.

<<<<>>>>

“No,”

“No Sir,” Nordas corrected

“May I ask why?”

“I cannot in good conscience order my men to assist a non-allied independent system to enhance and expand their military capacity.  Cleaning up rubble and repairing civilian housing is one thing, and I thank you for the work it is keeping the men occupied…but without instruction from a more senior Imperial officer I cannot assist you.”

Cliff breathed out slowly and deliberately frustrated once more

“You’re a loyal man Nordas, Maker damn you for it.”  If their roles were switched Cliff wouldn’t help the Empire refit captured M’Tzgion Naval ships either.  “And I won’t insult you by asking your men individually…”

“Thank you, sir.  I appreciate the offer nonetheless.” Nordas finished saluting then heading back to his tent.

Cliff looked to the empty skies picturing the next time a Destroyer class vessel tried to attack M’Tzigon…while the Requiem just sat unmanned in dry dock…

“Shavit,”

<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #204 on: April 25, 2022, 09:14:37 AM »

Ken


The last time he had been in the Kage’s office…a lot had been different.

Er’lav had replaced the books Silman had kept with clear walls except for a painting he recognised as the “Revan’s Fall”, the masked legend kneeling in the water of Cathar, raising up a Mandalorian mask.  Revan was shown from behind to the side, so Revan’s face and details were obscured, the mask the focal point surrounded by the floating bodies of the dead Cathar.

It was a poignant piece that could be read a thousand ways…for now Ken considered the implications of the reasons for ‘Revan’s Fall’ – for whatever the reasons and motives, in the end the Republic had been severely damaged by the attempt to save it. But then perhaps ‘Revans Fall’ was more a question, had Revan fallen at all, or been more true to the Jedi than the Council by intervening?

“Sorry to keep you waiting…politics…” the Kage noted entering from behind noting Ken was entranced by the painting.

“Just a reproduction I’m afraid, probably better for it though, not as faded as the original,”

“It’s a nice piece,” Ken replied somewhat clumsily

“Well I’ll be brief…our investigation of Morrigan’s cave found nothing to indicate how she was freed, and while I’m inclined to leave it at that the Council of Balance wants an investigation, so as the one who found it empty you’re ‘It’ Koawan Mack,”

Ken didn’t know how to react – it was both…a daunting task to hunt the nameless one…and yet somehow Er’lav’Rac had just made it sound as glorious and important to her as cleaning latrines.

“I expect your ship, the Gryphon has had its weapons reinstalled after the trip to Csilla by now, let’s hope your investigations take you someplace warm.”

Now it made sense to him
“You want me off world, like my father.”
“Spot on Koawan Mack.”

Now Ken Really didn’t know how to react, she was using her power to send Macks on nigh impossible missions, and seemed utterly unapologetic about it – Silman had been a direct Kage for sure, but this was something else.

“A problem Koawan?”

“No…not at all…just not sure where to start,”

“Well I wouldn’t be averse to Maenowan Chillum assisting you,”

She is completely shameless…

“I’ll consider it…are there any other resources I can utilise,”

“Take what you need Koawan, but take it soon, I don’t want the trail going cold.”

He had no idea whether she was sincere in that wish or not.

<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #205 on: April 25, 2022, 09:15:24 AM »

Cha

 “Oh my…” he looked at the guest standing in the doorway to his room of the Sierra Arms Hotel where he stayed on M’tzigon in the Bridal suite because…well why not.

“…I think there might’ve been some confusion with the Escort agency…I asked for big bosoms and dark hair…not big boots and dark scowl.”

Zearic ignored the jibe

“What can I do for you Mr. Vih’Torr…I must say though I can’t arrange meeting with my employers…” he wandered back into the room inviting Zearic in with a gesture

“I’m here to talk to you not Them

“Really…little old me…” he slouched on the couch, the table covered in empty plates and trashy magazines while the holo-viewer played a soap opera in the background.

“..whatever for?”
“You were with the inquisition,”
“’Were’ being the operative word…I’m a lover not a fighter…” he looked over Zearic who remained standing in the door way.
“and long since retired…”

Without a word Zearic hurled the Tenebirs straight at his chest.  In a flash Cha kicked up the table, rolled to the side and summoned a double bladed saber - black and gold - from seemingly nowhere as the Oblivion dagger sliced through the table and couch, the kitchen partition…then into the wall.

“I hope you can pay for that!” Cha trilled fingering the activator on his sabre
“I take what I want…but I always pay for it,” Zearic noted solemnly

“And what do you want from me and what are you willing to pay?”
Summoning back the Tenebris he put it into its sheath on his left hip, the Nocte on the right
“I want you to teach me how to fight like a dirty Inquisitor,”
“And in exchange?”

Zearic held up a thumb drive
“This contains data, intelligence and briefings the Vhal Dan were given by the Templar Order as a thank you for our support against the Revenant…I’m sure you’re well aware of who they both are.”

Cha made no motion
“While I doubt you care personally, I’m sure your employers would be interested.”
Cha mused on his options as he twirled his sabre unlit for the moment.

“That…and a comprehensive list of Vhal’Dan facilities and the security details as best you can recall at each one.”
Interesting they don’t already know that…

The thought ruminated in Zearics mind – handing over the thumb drive was on the knife edge of treason as it was - only justifiable in that it was intelligence that was from a third party so contained no explicit data on the Vhal’Dan themselves.

To give Cha that would be stepping in deep, when it was discovered, not if, there would be sanctions if not outright exile…especially considering the situation the Vhal’Dan were facing – on top of the Revenant threat elsewhere, the Imperial Remnants myriad factions and ex-Inquisitors like Mendax and Jerec they now had the ambiguity of the BA’s to deal with. 

Yet how could Zearic protect his family against these and…Maker forbid…Karmack himself without new skills and abilities Cha could offer?

Zearic could live with himself if he were expelled, but if he came up short against an opponent because he had not taken every opportunity to grow his powers and abilities and D’Alyanna or Jorya paid the price for his weakness…that he could not live with.

His mind was already made up in coming here – whatever it took to become strong enough to protect his family – A call to Kage Oyuna Chan'dn to initiate Bellicose Protocols – the strict measures that had kept the Vhal’Dan alive during the Empires purges – would render all the details he gave to Cha worthless in mere hours any way.

Hours may be far more than BA’s need… he suddenly thought…

And what if he had already given over those details, the BA’s could’ve made him tell them anything in the Core and then make him forget just as easily…

It was a queer justification but Zearic could argue given that level of control they had over him those security details were already compromised, and a single BA warrior killing the Kage and crippling the Master of Blades and Balance of the Mak’tor in three minutes was more than enough justification for instituting Bellicose even without that slip of intelligence.

Cha’s expression had the hint of a winning smile, he already knew Zearic would agree – take what you want and pay for it

“Alright…” he held out his hand  ”Deal”
<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #206 on: April 25, 2022, 11:00:46 PM »

LOL Cha in the bridal suite!

Was great to get into Er'Lav in this chapter, in each interaction got to explore a little more of her character...but at the same time it only uncovers just how ambiguous she is - she's clearly dedicated to protecting the Mak'Tor, but her approach to doing so is very different to Silman, she's far more willing to sacrifice one (well Karm) for the many by getting 'rid' of him with a seeming impossible Quest (albeit cleverly one that aligns with his stubborn designs), and willing to both 'ignore' an issue in Morrigan (sending Ken seems more about getting another Mack off world than actually finding Morrigan), but also actively conspiring against Karm with Zearic. A very different dynamic and direction for the Mak'tor indeed.   
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Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

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« Reply #207 on: April 27, 2022, 11:57:52 PM »

Agreed.   More to come on that.   :-)
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« Reply #208 on: April 27, 2022, 11:58:28 PM »

Chapter 32 — Influence
 
Morrigan
An hour seemed insufficient considering how long since the last time…even so the water saver alarm beeped every few minutes.

She’d been nearly 2500 years without a shower, frankly a week in one wouldn’t be uncalled for.

Every sensation was as new as it was familiar, and she spent prolonged amounts of time just…re-experiencing all those things flesh and blood sentients took for granted.

Stepping out of the shower at last, the air blades soon had her dry and a quick spray of the abundant perfumes her benefactors had provided had her smelling divine.

Exactly why they considered her a Goddess she did not probe deeply, it was enough to have gotten out of the cave and off M’Tzigon…and into a galaxy in anarchy.

A dead Emperor, a civil war…bickering, backstabbing…

But Chaos, as they say, is a ladder…and she just had to work out how to climb it.

Throwing on one of the many outfits they had provided – all with the same curious label a stylised Senth and Aurek in the gaps between a three pointed star – she headed to the cockpit where M4 stood like a fortress, a cable linking him to the systems as he…or she…Morrigan was yet to decide what gender to allocate the droid…was too big for any of the seats.

“Goddess we are now reaching the Corellian Trade Route as instructed,”
Ah…so different yet so similar…
“What is your next destination?”

That is a good question….
She still needed time to fully recover her connection to the Force…only then could she even think of obtaining more Kyber crystals to…

She paused.  To what?  The last time she had pursued power and dominance she’d ended up trapped in a cage for centuries.  Absently she ran her hand over her breast and stomach, just enjoying the sensation of having sensation…then lower as she recalled something she had not thought of for so long…yet now seemed worth more than anything else.

“Where is somewhere close…peaceful…quiet where I can enjoy myself a bit?”
M4’s vast red eyes blinked momentarily
“All Nearby Systems designated [Hostile Extremis – Outsider presence]”
“Outside of what?”
“Error: that information has been removed from this model. Apologies Goddess.”
“Are there any systems not Hostile Extremis?”
“Several Goddess…Fresia designated [Safe-Relative] – presence of Incom Corporation results in neither Empire nor Alliance desiring to inflict significant infrastructure damage nor interfere in Corporate politics.
Canto-Bite Designated [Safe Relative] – presence of Casino operation results in neither Empire nor Alliance desiring to inflict significant infrastructure damage nor interfere in Corporate politics
Spira Designated [Safe Relative] –Presence of luxury resorts attended by Upper class members of Core Worlds and Corporate sector results in neither Empire nor Alliance….”

“Desiring to inflict damage, I get it…” She snapped, she didn’t recall droids in her time being this repetitive…but then she rarely used them at all then…

Shuffling into the pilots chair she scooted in comfortably.

“Tell me about these luxury resorts on, Spida?”

“Spira Goddess.  Spira is the sector capital of the Lytton sector. A popular tourist destination, it possesses 4,527 luxury hotels.  It is a favoured holiday destination for the Imperial Upper class, boasting guess such as Moff Jerjerrod [Deceased], Moff Kadir [Unkown], Moff Tavira [deceased],”

“I’m not interested in how many dead…Moofs…have been there what is the weather like,”

“Temperate and Stable, consisting of several thousand small islands coastal winds render the temperature on land an average 29.4 degrees Celsius.”

“hmm warm…well compared to the top of an M’Tzigon mountain at least…how long to get there?”
“Estimate 101.2 Standard hours.”
“Very well set course…no I suppose I ought to re-learn how to do it…”
amongst other things

The Force was slowly flowing back to her, gaining in strength hour by hour.  Her strength was not even half what she could remember, yet she could feel it blooming in her breast.
Soon…very soon…

<<<<>>>>
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« Reply #209 on: April 27, 2022, 11:58:51 PM »

Jaim

He handed over the message, noting the painting above the Kage’s desk…’Revan’s Fall’ was an interesting choice…what that betokened about the woman who chose it he couldn’t tell.

The Vhal’Dan had little information on Er’Lav Racc – naturally they had official records that the Mak’Tor shared – but no one knew her as a person – not even many Mak’Tor he suspected.

Er’lav finished reading the letter from the Vhal’Dan Kage, offering support and assistance in the wake of Mendax’ attack should they require it.  The Mak’Tor could be proud, so just showing up with goods might be a bit much, hence the offer.  Should a request return, then aid could be sent without risk of offense … though there was little chance of that now.  Bellicose Protocols were already being seriously considered in response to the’ attack and more critically to Silman’s death.

“I’ll draft a thank you to your Kage…but I hear you are involved in serious engagements with the Revenant.  I wouldn’t want to divert resources from that.”

Jaim nodded, the private instructions from his Kage had been to remain on M’tzigon to monitor Zearic and more importantly find out what he could about Aertemis Industries.

“We do have other commitments it's true, but there is little more important that supporting our fellow Gray order in need,”

“Indeed…will you be returning to Sekot soon?”

“I’ll…remain here with Zearic for a few weeks while he recovers from his…healing…”

Er’lav twitched a smile

“Last I saw he was more than recovered.  Reportedly stronger than ever.”

Jaim was taken aback by her direct response…it was as if she wanted them gone…

“Better safe than sorry, the battle was intense, and we also want to help with the recovery.”

“Well…last I heard Zearic was off on a little jaunt to the desert.  It seems like you are a Mission of one, Master Monecorous.  Still, I do have a little task you might be able to help me with…”

“Go on…” Jaim still couldn’t read her intentions, short of probing her with the force…but that was hardly conducive to a good working relationship.

“I have some significant concerns that members of Aertemis industries are manipulating high ranking M’Tzigon officials.  I need someone with expertise in that area to…probe the possibility.  I understand you have some experience in that area.”

No doubt she meant his hard earned expertise in mental Force powers.

“I…do…how high ranking are we talking?”

“All the way to the top…”
<<<<>>>>

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