Coruscant- Waiting from without the Temple

(Geez, thanks for waiting for me to post. At least I get make the 100th post of the thread. )

As Richter approached even closer, perhaps a great leap’s distance from Wind and the Sith, he felt a great pull from the necklace as if something invisible was snatching it from his hand. He almost lost his grip on it due the surprise of it, but he was able to grip the end of the chain, and fought with the Force that the pull that was coming from the Sith. Being that his Force powers were over their peak, thanks to absorbing Himiko’s lightning, he could easily overpower the Sith’s pull with his own. He increased his use of the Force in increments, just enough to overpower the Sith and let it the necklace return to his hand in snug handling.

“Well I must say that was a good try M’lord, but ye shall not be taking this with you. Thou shall have to leave empty if thou plans on leaving.”

The Sith would find it difficult to attempt to overtake Richter’s raw strength and defend Wind’s onslaught at the same time without overtaxing himself. Even with his talismans, two rather powerful Jedi that knew full well how to make combat were rather difficult challenges, especially if the two fought simultaneously. Wind shared with him and Vegito that the Sith was not entirely made up flesh anymore. Twas important information that Wind shared, and it was key to take advantage of that weakness. In any battle, one must take any advantage and use it as well he could. Wind took the initiative again against the Sith assassin with a rather basic move but used it rather well. At that same time, Wind sent a mental demand on destroying the amulet. He answered back in the same manner, and Ukushi agree with that, as she slightly approached the Sith.

“How the hell am I supposed to do that? There is more than one piece to the set. We should destroy them all together.”

Richter glanced at the hand that held the necklace, trying to decide what to do at this very moment. For an instant, his thoughts went back to Vegito and Himiko, hoping all was well within the docking bay, at least as well as could be at this point. Again he felt the pull of Sith increase on him, and again Richter responded by fighting back harder on the appropriate increment. He was tempted to use his own talisman, which would completely nullify the affects of all the Sith’s talismans. Under his breath he snickered at the Sith’s efforts to liberate the necklace from his grasp, because he was just wasting his time. At his point, his Force powers diminished to his normal peak, which was still far more than enough to make the effort.

It was like something snapped again, and the aura of the assassin prompted the doppleganger’s for a moment. However, this time his presence could be felt by those who paid any attention to it. What is meant by he is the ringleader of the possessors within the item that Richter retained with and without his consent. He had to share his amusement with the Sith assassin, but he said all he could manage at this point.

“Come now, do not continue this, but try again at a later time when it is better…”

His voice was eery and it echoed darkly with all the words he could manage.

He did not finish, as Richter managed to master himself, and based on his affliction his power ebbed and then flowed greater. Somehow, he knew he had to retain the necklace, and although the doppelganger groped for it, he wouldn’t have the strength to maintain control long enough to learn of its secret and take the soul that it held. Richter stopped walking and then looked with a icy glare at the assassin.

“Begone with ye, for thy errand will fail at this point. Depart and thine own life will spared with great mercy, before the wrath is upon you.”

His aura began to glow, as he would join Wind in the battle in the next moment. The might hunter and now Jedi Knight had laid down his demands. The wrath he spoke of was his own, the infamous unbridled wrath of the Belmont Clan.

The Jedi Knight had expected the darksider to block his attack, and was not too surprised when he held Wind in another weapon stalemate. The former Sith's intention remained solely on the necklace, and not on the elimination of any Jedi or friend there nor taking much initiative on offense.

“You may think the Force is just a convenient conduit of power, but without it, none of us would exist. The fleshling eyes betray their master, but the eyes of the Force see all.” Wind replied with a smile to the darksider’s comment on his blindfold. “These very eyes were the ones that led me to victory against the Dark Lord of the Sith, after all.”

The Jedi knew that the cyborg had greater physical strength, and so pulled his blade out from the curve of the scythe and slid backwards out of its range before his opponent could use his advantage against Wind, but maintaining a defensive stance.

“Look, I have no desire to kill you, Sith, ex-Sith, or whatever you may be. All I want is for the death to stop and the corruption to cease – that is the only reason I fight the Sith: to save others. If the Sith would just stop killing innocent people, I wouldn’t have to stand up against them. If you want to destroy that amulet, then we’ll apparently do your job for you. That woman’s soul has been tainted by the effects of this trinket, and all we want is her to be free of that dark spirit that lies within. We cannot let it taint anyone else. If the Sith have done you wrong, go and hinder them rather than us - we who wish you no evil.”

Wind heard Richter’s voice in his head and responded mentally. “I suppose we should just start with the amulet and destroy with a lightsaber, if that’s okay with Himiko. It shouldn't be much harder than that, unless it has an insane amount of alchemic protection. Hopefully she can also lead us to the other pieces. Destroying the pieces should break the shell around the possessing spirit and deplete its powers. It seems to have been relying on its shells and hosts to maintain itself.”

The Jedi Mystic then returned to his Niman stance, still facing the ex-Sith. Wind could feel Richter’s aura pulsing, and a sense of internal rage aimed at the darksider. He knew it was only a matter of time before the mighty Belmont joined in the fray.

“You’re outnumbered, darksider, but we have no desire to harm you. I’d rather not have to end a life over such a futile matter such as an amulet. This is your last chance to leave in peace. Please do so…” The Jedi gave a nod to the darksider then, a sort of gesture of assurance and honesty.

Despite the fact this man was a darksider, he did not seem to have the insane-murderer gene Wind had seen in others of this kind. As long as this former Sith left people in peace, the Jedi reckoned this man would never be have to be thwarted and killed.

Wind swiveled his head towards Ukushi for just a second, sending her a mental message as well. "I am hoping that he will leave now. If he does, please let him go. As long as we have the amulet, there will be need to pursue him."

Hmm... you are lucky I'm in a forgiving mood Jedi. But she calmed down and spoke out loud to the assassin, seeming to grow taller, "Man, you should leave us now. This power of the amulet will fail. The Force is strong enough to set combat for a small while at least, while we destroy the... thing inside it."

Ukushi was now thinking that Richter would lose his control. Using the feeling she had gotten from the other Jedi, she tried to mentally call out to him. A few words were lost, but the message was clear: Control self Jedi. Amulet die. Crush soon. We hold back man.

She didn't quite get it, but she was able to send the garbled words along with a feeling of peace.

"How can you still want to help someone like me? Im neot good.. "

It was apparent that it was still bothering her. A perplex moment as Himiko took a hand to the scare on her chest. It would serve as a reminder for the rest of her life now. However long or short it would be. The problem was, she didn't know how to remove the being inside her. Not without killing her. The part that was in the Necklece would kill her if it was destroyed now.


Yes, it would.. Nice little trick now wasn't it? You all fell for it. Binding me to you was very easy...."


Himiko Winced and looked to Vegito who was giving her a look of concerne on his face. It wasn't hard to read, but she knew he was determind to make her a Jedi and not one of the Darkside. They all were. Which was why she was so perplexed over it. Most would just lock them away and hope they might change. Not deal with words of kindness or a helping hand of gentle touch.


"He said we fell for it.. That that was what he planned. To bind me to him.. it was all a trap. Somehow he knew.. I was a fool. If we hadn't cut it out.."


She trailed off and bit her lip hard until she tasted her own blood. A drop fell on her left knee as she felt the sting. This was no ordanary Sith.



"He is Manaupitlive.. and we fell for it. The necklece could have killed me.. but now we dont' know. The deed was done and he's inisde me. "


The next steps woudl have to be trailed carefully if they Jedi were going to help her. If not, the path to the Darkside was ever so close. Running behind her at her heels and waiting like an ever patience dog.

His eyes switch to Richter when he speaks and the assassins eyebrow raises a bit as he listens. There was something about that man that intrigued the assassin, he did not know what it was but he had felt a darkness rivaling his own for a brief moment.

The assassin however was not able to keep his attention on that man at the moment, for he still was engaged with the blindfolded Jedi who had left the stalemate and retreated to speak his mind. It was a rare occasion that the assassin actually listened to every word, so one would guess it was one of those times. As he listened he cleared his mind and resurveyed his situation. He was going to start running low on energy if he kept up the way he had been using the force.

When the blindfolded Jedi backed off and away from the stalemate the assassin continued to listen very closely. His eyes narrowing as the Jedi continued to speak. With a hiss in his cold heartless voice the former assassin of the Sith replied.

“As long as people like me exist death and corruption will remain. And do not think you know who or what I am for a youngling like you would not know. Not even the Sith knew when I was taken on as an apprentice those may years ago. And yes you are correct I am outnumbered, I have my own eyes, I can see. I will go for that mere fact. I prefer not to fight anyway. It takes much too long, just give me the kill.”

With that a wave of darkness flooded the area, stronger than it had ever been since the assassin’s arrival. It was thick and potent filling every crevice while giving of massive pulses of darkness. It cleared after a few moments and the assassin and his almost forgotten cloak were gone. He masked his presence in the force completely and fled to his ship which had been waiting for him not to far off. The former and most likely future assassin of the dark Sith was gone, for now.

The words were very touching as her eyes looked deeply into his. That she knew he ment that he would notstop until he saved her per say was nothing she could do. Vegito knew she had good in her. HImiko knew not all the good was purged. He was right in that regad about the being inside her.


" I think we have to do something.. Keeping it apart is like cutting a limb off me. Destroying it would sever that limb and I have not a clue what would happen."


The worst case was that she would loose more of herself and would die to let the control take total effect. In that they stopped, but it had the double edged effect that she now had it inside her. Whispering power to her sub concious. Could she make it her own power?



"So you're saying I could in a way absorb it>? And have the power of my own?"


It was a curious notive. One that ment that whatever side she was on, would be another Knight or major piece to the chess game. In other words, the Sith wouldn't stop now. Her silver eyes then lit up as she felt the climax of the battle and then the beign vanish> But not before she felt somethign reach out and touch her mind. It was him, in a small subtle way. Letting her know he wouldn't let the one small defeat defile what the bigger picture was. To Himiko, it was as if eh was reminding her what she truly was.. The calll was there.. only skin deep. Shivvering she stood and looked to the door.


" He's left... for now..."

The assassin apparently knew the situation was dire, and that he could not win. As he was already waning in Force power due to his cloaking abilities and his use of the talismans, the Sith took the offer to leave freely. Wind responsed through the Force to Richter during this time.

"Well, let's do that then. It wouldn't be a good idea to take any risks with harming Himiko by destroying the amulet, especially if this guy is leaving."

"I've been around longer than you might think," Wind smiled in retort's to the darksider's "youngling" comment. Although Wind was young in appearance, he too was from a past era. He had spent a good part of the past 50 years in sleep. "Maybe as long as you, even." Despite the fact Wind was not very familiar with this former Sith, he could not sense helping he had felt this assassin's aura at least once before...

The former Sith wrapped himself into a deep dark mist, covering his aura from all but very experienced Jedi and Sith. Wind noted that this technique was unneccesary - he promised the darksider a clean getaway if he left immediately. By wasting his Force mana thus, Wind or any one of the group there that could still sense him would be able to chase until his power ran out, at which point the darksider's Force pool would be entirely empty. But being honorable Jedi, they would stick to their word.

Wind deignited his lightsaber just after the assassin's departure and returned to its clip on his belt.

"Well, Richter, Ukushi, Vegito, with that assassin gone, taking care of Himiko should be much easier. We should let him go as I promised. I doubt he will be bothering us anytime soon." Wind replied mentally to his allies. "We should all get to the docking bay to help Himiko. I probably should get going from here soon, but I will stay as long as I can to help Himiko. I might know something that could help her."

Wind was somewhat familiar with possessing spirits and returns from the Darkside. He was not an expert, but he was no stranger to it either. With that thought on his mind, the Jedi made haste to Vegito's docking bay, and expected Richter and Ukushi to follow.

Ukushi clipped her sword to her belt.

"I'm glad that freak left," she muttered, seeming a bit relieved and uneasy.

Hearing Richter's call, she turned towards the docking bay. Holding her head high, she followed Wind.

Jedi, this spirit cannot be destroyed by man alone. she sent, the voice grave with worry.

"No.. He's not.. I was meaning the Assassin.. The being.. He's still there. Laying in wait. Whisperign things to my mind."



Himiko replied darkly. COuld she do it ? Could she overcome it and make it her own? Or would it consume her before they could fix it? Himiko didn't know if she could even find that answer. Or if she would be able to be what she once was or could be. Things were confusing for her and she knew more anger then kindness.

Feeling that Vegito was awaiting the arrival of his allies at the entrance to the docking bay, Wind came to the door and entered as its owner opened it for his threes friends. The Jedi Mystic strode quickly to Himiko’s side, putting his hand on her shoulder as if in a gesture of support to her.

“You can overcome this. All it takes is willpower. I have seen this type of possession once before. It is difficult to overcome.”

Wind’s head would turn to Richter when he came in, and beckon the Jedi to give the amulet over to Himiko so that she could take the part of herself within it back.

“She will need that back before we destroy these. Or…”

Wind’s head turned back to Himiko, a serious but pleasant expression crossing his face.

“You can keep it. You can use this power of darkness for good, if you have the strength to resist its control. Although most Jedi fall to the call of darkness when they expose themselves to it, there was one who could use to his advantage. The Twilight Jedi. He could use the darkness against itself – Sith were slain by their own powers. He could resist the Darkside’s corruption. But that doesn’t mean he was the only one who could. It would be hard for you to do it as well, true, but you would be one more exception to the rule.”

Wind’s head looked around to his friends, as if he could see through the blind – technically, he could. He made sure to let them all know he was serious. Vegito might even know who he was referring to.

“It’s hard, that much I will tell you. The Force is stronger than the Darkside, I will tell you that too. But the Darkside’s power is easier to tap into - its deepest core is easily open if you will dive that far. Aggression, fear, the cover of shadows – these would be your weapons. Only the wisest of Jedi can counter these abilities when used by Sith.

“The Jedi use passiveness, serenity, and endurance, until their enemy’s focus slips through their rage, and then they take that moment to triumph. The path of the Jedi is more peaceful, but harder too in some ways. The path of the Sith can be profitable, but in the end, they always fail. A person in the twilight must face a part of both sides, but the road you tread must lead to dawn, lest you fall completely into the Darkside once more. It’s your choice. Give the word, and we will rid you of this darkness as best we can.”

Wind felt around, searching for the aura of the assassin from before. He was not close by at the moment.

“Don’t worry about the assassin. He won’t try to do you any harm for now. And we will be here for you.”

(Just replying to Vegito's question quickly here)

The Jedi Mystic turned his head in Vegito's direction after he was addressed by his fellow Knight.

"Yes, I think I can heal her spirit, if we get back the part of her that resides in the necklace. I could try to use Force abilities on her mind to erase the memories of this incident, if she wishes. Maybe even her entire experience as a Sith. Or she can choose to retain the memories and choose her path from there onward once we destroy all of the jewelry, or she can keep it and try to master it."

Wind turned back to Himiko.

"But this is your decision alone. Take your time if you must. There is no wrong answer. Only different paths."

She sat there, quiet and sullen for what seemed like hours as she thuought about what they all had said. here she was, a Sith, or something. Himiko wasn't even sure anymore of herself. The dark power was calling to her, but so was the kindness from Vegito and the others. Kindness that she did not know for a long time. As if dark shadows had cast along the sun and blotted it out, only to let it teasingly poke through as if a constent reminder of her failures.


" I would rather win against this thing.. If we take him out theres no answer to what could happen. It c ould go back into the jewls, or it could be a true wraith and bounce from person to object. There would be no question to where it would be and how to destroy it. There may be no way to destroy him."


My, your learning.. If that's what you want to believe.. But think all you like.. I will have you.. I can give you al lthe power at your fingertips. All I want is control of your body from time to time.. After all. I chose you.. and not the others..


The voice perked up and HImiko winced as it lashed its power into her subconcious. It was pain, but not as blinding as she relayed what it said to the others.


"Its a trap.. No matter what we do it has an answer, has fixed the loopholes...."

She replied with dread as she ran a hand over the scare on her chest.

"There's one way I know of..." Ukushi said. "Actually, there's two. One, we could kill you. Or, I could use a special power to blast it out of you and your mind, leaving the Jedi to deal with it. "

She was serious. They could do this, or kill her. Then a thought struck her.

"Jedi, could we bring her to Ilum?" Ukushi asked. She had heard of the place Jedi Padawans had gotten their crystals. It was apparently strong in the Force.

"I would rather have th epower for my own. it's my fault that I let this happen.. I should just bare with it..or die to compleate this.."


She replied to him with a gleam in her eyes. It was apparent that she was goign to do what she wanted. Even in this state. She didn't want that much help from the Jedi. That much even Vegito should know as he was and is th eonyl one to get as close to her. Richter came second, but barly as she hardly knew him.


"I don't want the help of being teated liek some kind of project.. Id rather not have your powers used on me.."

"And then what?"


She whispered and looked away. There was a sadness in her voice. Himiko didn't know what to make of it. So long she had always known what her days would bring. It was always the same. Yet now there was a future and she didn't know what to expect and she was worried. There was nothing in that future as she could see.

Wind listened to what everyone had to say, but was a bit shocked about Ukushi's first suggestion.

"Are you serious? What kind of an idea is that?" he told her mentally. He would not humiliate her verbally in front of the others, but he was a bit appalled she would say something like that. Wind returned his attention to the matter at hand.

"Vegito is right,"he exclaimed. "Destroying the necklace would crush his spirit, but if he finds another vessel in an Ilum crystal before his power is fully extinguish, he could survive."

Himiko made her decision. She had been following this path, and she let the spirit in. She wanted to follow through with her decisions. Wind nodded to her.

"Alright, Himiko. This is your battle now. But first..." Wind put his hand over the amulet. With his Force power, he drew out some of its power into himself. This would weaken the spirit within somewhat, so that his influence would be weakened. Wind himself would be vulnerable to dark thoughts for a time while the power he absorbed rested within him.

"That was a mistake, Lord Ventas," said the spirit, inside his head. "You think you can overcome me? Do you think she can?" Wind ignored the voice. It wasn't the first time he had done this, and Wind doubted the spirit would influence him at all this time either.

"Now he will be weakened. Ignore the voice. A Sith Lord's greatest power is the fear he can strike in you - all intimidation tactics. Empty threats. He is afraid to lose. I know - I've done this once before against a talisman possessed by the spirit of Exar Kun." He recalled the last time - he recklessly absorbed part of the spirit's power to help a friend in trouble, and he struggled terribly against it. This time would be different. Wind knew what had to be done, what kind of tactics the spirit used. Once is enough to understand how an evil spirit's mind works, and how to win. It would be much easier this time.

"You will not succeed, Jedi. Your spirit is weak," the voice taunted.

"Right, sure. If you're so confident, why don't you shut up and show me some action?" Wind snapped back.

"He's getting desperate," Wind said with a smile. The Jedi Knight felt the tug at his soul, the temptation of dark powers and vast gifts being thrown out at him.

"So many things I could do for you, If you'd only let me in." The voice said.

"Go back to Hell." Wind resisted the spirit almost too easily. He could only hope Himiko would do as well as he did. This would be her first time overcoming a possessing spirit, and the first time is always the hardest.

"Watch her closely, Vegito. Don't forget about what happened with me and Lord Kage." Wind looked to Vegito, hoping he would understand and remember what happened last time his friend witnessed the event. Vegito could help now, since he had gained experience in the Force since then. This would probably make Vegito recall Wind's true name as well.