The Rebel Faction

Trazu continued to guide them down the passageways, passing through one of the connection chambers, the very one he had meet that one strange creature that claimed to be the keeper of the place, though now he knew that had been a lie. He wondered briefly what happened to the creature: he knew the K’Satizitus failed to kill him and he had escaped, but where did he go after that?

Doesn’t matter right now. He thought, then yelped in pain as he stubbed his foot on something. He hopped on one foot a moment, muttering curses in his native tongue before realizing he had done something like this before. Shining his light on the floor, he found the same broken transparent half sphere he had stubbed his toe against last time he was here.

“We’re getting close to the sphere chamber.” He announced, shining this light at the ceiling. “Let’s see if these work like last time.” He directed his beam at one of the intact ‘light bulbs’ and like before it absorbed the light and started to glow. The one next to it started to glow soon after and the one after that. The chain reaction however stopped after five ‘bulbs’ and he quickly saw why: the warping of the tunnels had caused more of them to break off and crash to the floor. Still, the increased light helped them to see more of the carvings and one in particular caught his eye.

It depicted a large cloaked figure wearing a full helmet and looked half man half machine, holding over his head another cloaked figure, only this one twisted and thin, arcs of lightning firing from his finger tips and into the first. Unlike the one depicting the Jedi Purge, this one was clean and clear. “The redemption of Anakin Skywalker…” Trazu said softly. When the balance was restored.

It started to dawn on him what this place meant, what the carvings meant. “Is it me…” Trazu said to the party. “Or are all these carvings depicting events that were directly connected to the Force itself?”

On Dolash's mind was nothing but finding the source of this corruption and putting an end to it - for surely that was the Force's purpose in guiding them here. He expressed this feeling aloud.

"It appears to me that this corruption is what the Force has sought to reveal to us and set right. Once fixed, maybe some new secrets will reveal themselves in this place?"

"Maybe..." said Proq "But it's probably best not to jump the gun here, right? We'll know when we get there?"

"Councilling caution - most wise, Proq."

The group continued their journey through the history of the Force, as more recent events began to play out on the walls. Dolash began to eye them with renewed interest - some even began to seem familiar.

Throughout, however, the caves had been darkening. The walls began to blacken and twist, altogether becoming fouler. Then, quite suddenly, all that changed.

The cave walls suddenly took on a new appearance - and if it was twisted before, now all the moreso. The twists were not just bends in the structure, it seemed as if the whole tunnel were being torn apart. Stone of all kinds jutted awkwardly from cracks, and the carvings became more and more indistinct.

As they reached 'the present', Dolash stopped, and said "Slaskia - I feel we are reaching the central chamber of this place. As you know the most, I ask that you lead the way, and light our journey. And Marek? stay close to me." Protectively, Dolash moved to ensure he was within reach of his padawan - he was filled with equal parts curiosity and suspiscion as to what lay ahead, and he didn't intend to be unprepared.

"I... I can't go on." said Barris, and she stopped. "It's too... strong, up ahead. Or too weak... I don't know."

The group turned with surprise to the ghost, as she seemed to struggle against some invisble wall. "I'm sorry, it's just too thick. I can't do it."

"That's not the Barris of history." said Katria, her brow furrowed. "The archives said you were reknowned for your courage to move forwards, even in the face of danger."

She seemed torn, but Katria continued. "It's not much further - here, I'll take your crystal. Hold on to me if you have to, and I'll take us both through it."

With that, Barris seemed to sink into Katria, yet something in her eyes suggested the ghost was still there.

"An admirable sentiment, surely." said Jubaz "But there are still dangers in bringing a ghost into the close proximity of the mysterious. Be warned, is all I advise."

Dolash, however, was thinking. He had an idea, but instead of speaking it he turned to Marek as the group moved forwads again and said "Tell me, what do you think that suggests in the Force? If Barris finds it difficult to move through the Force ahead, what do you think that indicates?"

Dolash once again put him on the spot.

This time he really didn't have an answer, at least not one he felt confident in.

"Uhh..Well.." he began to respond. The uneasy feeling he felt before was now multiplied ten fold.” Maybe the central chamber is crawling with ysalamiri's. I mean, Barris in her current state is more attuned to the force than any of us, maybe their force-negating effects are attacking her and we just haven't felt it yet?"

He wasn't very comfortable in his answer, but it was all he really had going on in his thought process.

Until...

"Or it's a trap and Barris is just luring us in to an untimely demise, the old rope-a-dope hope they fall for it routine." Still grasping at straws.

He shot a timid glance over to Katria and Barris. "No offense Barris."

Marek looked back at Dolash, "The only thing that I'm sure of is that something isn't what it appears to be."

He felt like he had just taken a test he hadn't studied for and completely bombed.

The Jedi filed into the central chamber with mixed expressions of shock, horror, and awe. As they moved, Dolash guided Marek towards the edge of the mists and said "Do not be too surprised that you weren't sure what was going on - I have been tracking this anomaly since it's first signs made themselves known ages ago, and I still do not grasp it fully. You were right, however, right to sense something was wrong."

As tentative steps were taken into the mist, Dolash continued "This is not merely the dark side at work - the damage may be shrouded in it, but the dark side is innately self-destructive and mustn't have realized the damage it's inflicting yet. This is neither good, nor evil. This is unnatural."

Suddenly, an unholy wailing from Katria tore their attention away from the curiosities of the Force. She had been struggling this far as it is, but instead of being pushed away being so close to the red cuts in the air began instead to pull her in, the air full of shrieks and crackles of Force energy.

Ian dased over to grab her, but the Force crackled off of her and earthed itself into his chest, sending the Jedi hurtling across the room into the wall. Proq and Jubaz quickly stepped up on either side of her, willing the Force to pin her in place. Finally, she was encapsulated into a bubble of energy and collapsed into a heap.

"Get her out of here!" exclaimed Dolash "We don't know what'll happen to them if they're sucked into one of these disturbances, it's too dangerous!"

Proq and Jubaz nodded, and with great concentration, began to move their companion using the Force, heading back out the tunnels. As Ian got to his feet and watched them go, he gave a look to Dolash. Dolash nodded, and Ian hobbled off after them.

The three that remained in the chamber turned back to the center of the disturbance, and Dolash shook his head. "This is not merely the absence of the Force as created by a Ysalmari, it's all the more terrible - I had thought the corruption we saw earlier was some sort of parasitic force or infection, but the damage seems deeper than that..."

Dolash turned and looked at both Trazu and Marek "This will be dangerous, and I know that I alone lack the power to explore the Force energy in this place, but if we are to find the root of this problem we must follow the strong current back to it's source from within the Force. Together, however, I believe we will have sufficient strength."

Dolash advanced to the Orb, which was strange and wondrous. "Trazu, you have said that this was meant as an alarm, or beacon, or something of that nature? The important thing is not it's intended purpose but the fact that it purely runs on the power of the Force. All such manipulations of energy can be unravelled and followed back to the mighty stream that is the living Force. I will need both of your help to do this, and if anything, something that threatens the Force in this manner is as much yours to know as it is mine."

Lavality approuched the chambers that the group had headed into, a moment before she saw two jedi run out with someone. As she got closer though something was tugging on her, like an unseen force

She took a few more steps and rounded a corner, staring straight into the chambers. She took a step away from the door.. and was astonished at what she was seeing. "How...." she said

You are seeing what I am seeing... but we mustn't stay here.. don't get any-

But Lavality ignored the voice, someone was calling to her and she felt a need to get closer. "Who...."

Lavality!! Stop!! If you get any closer y-----

But the spirits voice got cut off, and she could only watch as the girl she inhabited only got closer, not even realizing that the closer she got, the more likely she'll be killed by the spirits sudden disapperence.. and the spirit could already feel it occuring