Shadowlands

Nyra let go of Turlon and huffed, angry that she had even touched the man. She took a moment to compose herself, which the composure really didn't last as the Bantha took off at a full gallop. While it was smoother, the wind did little good for her hair. She gave up on trying to keep her hair from looking like a rapid animal on her head and thought a moment about her life.

"Well I know I'm not as powerful as the Masters of your little Order here, but I like to think I have some skills. I'm not one to say I'm the most powerful user of the Dark Side, but I'm not the weakest either."

Nyra paused. Her eyes narrowed and she looked at the back of Turlon's head with frustration.

"You'll have to buy me dinner if you want small talk, tree-boy. And even then I'll probably prefer to skin you alive instead."

Nyra's hands went straight to her head to flatten her hair out at the frazzled comment. The anger burned in her eyes, and she had half an inclination to take one of her sabers and gut the man and his Bantha. But then she would be left out here. She didn't even know where they were. Who knows how long it would take her to find her ship? She cursed in her head and rolled her eyes at Turlon.

"Or maybe...they just hate you."

Nyra smirked at her own joke, but her joy was cut short as the Bantha lept over a fallen tree, and her eyes became wider than the Death Star, almost screaming but holding it in to not give Turlon the satisfaction. Her hands reached for something besides Turlon, which happened to be the Bantha's fur, which she grabbed and dug into to keep from flying off. When they landed she let go of her grip on the Bantha's fur and tried to calm her racing heart, and her queasy stomach.

"Are we almost there? I think I'm going to be sick..."

"Well either way I love it so it's all good."

As Menshin jumped over the tree Turlon saw Nyra have her almost-freakout. Not with his eyes but by flashes that he obtained through the darkside as well as his other senses. He was amused but said nothing.

"So fragile, you are. We're almost there."

<<Aye Menshin you haven't skipped since we were pups how bout you try it out?>>

Turlon privately told Menshin through the force and the Kahsyyyk Bantha began..to skip..or the closest thing a large Kashyyyk Bantha could get to skipping. It was all Turlon could do to keep his face frozen.

Turlon laughed out loud, he used his amusement and emotions to further connect to the darkside. Menshin easily smashed through most of the branches, which only made the ride much more rocky. Any limbs or branches that were too big where knocked aside with assistance from Turlon. Eventually Menshin began to slow and was panting, The Kashyyyk Academy appeared in the distance and they slowly came up to it. The blast doors and main door opened up and along with the guards stood a large muscular all black shistavanen, Darth Fang, one of Darth Talon's Sith.

Lord Talon it is good to see you once again.

"Oh I'm sure the whole academy has become extremely dull without me."

That is a huge understatement my lord.

They entered the Temple Fortress of Kashyyyk. The main door and blast doors sealing behind them.

Ooc: Continue in Temple Fortress of Kashyyyk

He gave one finally try. Arc threw his weapon to one of the tree's rising out of the mud, it severed the tree half way threw and still it didn't budge. His lightsaber hit the mud and sunk on the other side, then he focused his powers on the break in the tree. From its roots, to its top he felt the tree threw until finally he cracked it in two, almost shattering. He looked up and began to sink underneath so he took a deep breath and slowly he went under. Now it got much more quiet, like nothing happened. Like no one had ever been here. The tree ran across the muck, though anyone looking close enough could see the tree began cracking throughout its body. 

He gave no thought ever about how he would die. Just until he awoke hundreds of years later he did not care if he died since he had nothing to lose, though it was not going to be a death such as this one. His arm burst from the heavy mud and he wrapped it around the side of the tree he broke off. It was a challenge pulling himself to the tree with the force, he kept trying to lift himself out of it until finally he crawled up on top the tree and caught his breath. He got up. Looked around and brushed himself off, he'd have to find some sort of water source to wash himself off, Arc swept most of the heavy mud off, stepped onto the stable ground while he wiped his face off. He knew his lightsaber was gone and he was not taking another step into that. He wiped his legs off, unaware of his weapon rising from the mud, ignited and aimed directly at him. Though it was a voice in his head that warned him, the hilt flew directly in his direction and he quickly moved to the side avoiding its path. It moved into a tree and stayed there. He approached it then grabbed the hilt, taking a moment and thinking. 

He heard the sound of clothing wavering threw the wind, quickly he pulled the weapon from the tree and lashed out behind him. His fierce swing smashed against the red lightsaber wielded by some human female after she dropped from one of the tree limbs. The smack was so timed and fast her weapon flew from her hand, until she pulled it back into the grip of her fingers and raised the weapon against Arc's counter attack. He swung again, again and again. Now she questioned herself if it was wise to attack a stranger. He didnt even let up, though he also blew off some steam from the anger he holds within. She avoided his next attack then brought both of her hands up against his chest using the force, taking him off his feet and into a tree. He hit the ground, when he looked up her foot was coming down across him from above so he ducked, moved under her and twisted around swinging the weapon with his one hand like a bat. She flipped her weapon down across her back, pushed her weapon against his, leaned back against him quickly putting her weight against her block when suddenly she ran up the tree, landed behind him and pushed her weapon towards him. He slid to his left, grabbed her arm with one hand, placed his hand on her back and pushed her into the tree. When she hit the tree he gripped her weapon, threw it into the soil and pushed his bare hand against her neck and squeezed. You must have a death wish. 

He said starring into her eyes while he watched her choke from lack of air. Then he squeezed her tiny neck even harder until finally he stopped choking her, turned around after taking her weapon and began walking away as she coughed and recovered. She took a few steps away from the tree until Arc turned around one more time and used force push hurling her back into tree and knocking her out. He starred at her, then walked away. Now he was certain he wouldnt be folllowed.

I am again shaken from my meditative state, this time by the sound of an explosion. I jump to my feet and run to the cockpit.

"What's wrong?" I ask the droid pilot.


"One of our thrusters has failed. Do not interrupt me, I must maintain my focus."

I stand for a moment, trying to calm my anxiety, then return to my room. I hear another explosion, and the ship rocks, then plunges downward. I smell smoke. The trunks of Kashyyyk's giant trees rush by the viewscreen, and I grip the door frame, bracing for impact. The crash sends me flying, but I use the Force to slow myself before I hit the opposite wall. With my lightsaber, I slice an opening in the wall of the ship and dive outside, seconds before the ship explodes.

"Damn it," I say, looking at the smoldering ruin of the ship "I knew this bucket of bolts came too cheap." The ship is now a useless hunk of melted metal, and all my belongings were doubtless destroyed with it. All I have are the clothes I'm wearing, and my lightsaber. I think it could be worse; Kashyyyk is a fairly warm planet, so the fact that I'm barefoot and dressed in light, synthetic clothing won't be an issue. I'll miss my datapad, though.

I take a look at my surroundings. It's dark down here, which, I suppose, is why they call it the Shadowlands. This is a dangerous place, I've heard, so, best I find my way to civilization as soon as I can. When I reach out with the Force, my blood runs cold. There's evil here, an old and powerful evil. Using my lightsaber to light the way, I set off west from the crash site.

As the darkness around me grows, I realize I am not alone here. Then, the message comes.



I reply in kind. Who are you? I say through the Force.