Sith Journey III--Redemption

[Firestar]

I have descended from the Cloudtop, and with Blacksight I have wandered through the dark; and now I am hoping, begging for there to be a way to redeem myself...
Is it possible that I have spend an entire year like this? I remember vividly everything I have done. I see the face of every man and woman I have ever killed. People who never knew me and I had never seen before. I hated them. Without reason or cause, I hated. I blamed them for my brother's death. I see now my mistakes, but can I correct them? Can I redeem myself after having shed so much innocent blood?
***
Karan walked down a street in Coruscant, trying to fight off the desparing voice in her head. Was it possible that this was the voice that had sounded so inticing, so seductive only a year ago? Now it terrified her, tormented her, and would not leave her alone.
There is no way to save yourself, Blacksight told her. Just let me be in control again. Karan fought that part off.
Karan. She was startled by a gentler, kinder thought, Remember the building, where you and Liam climbed to the top. You saw the beauty of Corellia spread out before you. Everyone sees your planet as a place of danger and scum and cheaters. But you saw it for what it really was.
And what was that? Another bitter, mocking thought.
Beautiful.
Karan stopped, realizing that these gentler thoughts were how she had thought before Corran had died. Sweet, gentle Cloudtop.
She paused and got her bearings, realizing where she was. She was standing before the Jedi temple.

OOC: I want to try this from a different approach and see where it leads us. Who knows? Maybe Sirius will reach her first and make her confused again. lol

[Max452]

OOC: I promise no random proposals. lol

Liam glanced around the city, trying to sense where Karan had run off, but he barely felt her presence in the Force. He groaned to himself, knowing that the Dark Jedi was a few clicks from the planet. He would have to hurry soon. Maintaining as much calmness and clarity he could, Liam continued his search towards the last clear signal he could obtain from Cloudtop. The Jedi Temple.

***
Sirius struggled to keep his anger in control. He had no desire to kill everyone on the transport, but his anger at Blacksight was growing immensely. She was proving to be a difficult thing to control. Sirius wondered if this was all worth it, but the need to have an apprentice was growing on him. The line must be preserved.

Not long after his aimless pondering, the transport landed and Sirius quickly descended and immersed himself into the crowded city. He could sense Blacksight with ease, as the Dark Side of the Force was still prominent around her, but it was waning...

He hurried to the Jedi Temple, masking himself as he went. He wouldn't want any unwanted Jedi to deal with.

***
Master Donar was walking slowly with another Council member at the Jedi Temple when he sensed an odd disturbance in the Force.
"Much pain, I sense." The Yoda descendant commented with worry to his companion. "A familiar presence, it is. Sense it, do you?" He asked the Council Member as they walked towards the exit of the Temple.

[Firestar]

OOC: gee thanks. lol.

Karan sat on the steps of the Jedi Temple. Blacksight was angry, even ferocious. Seeing Liam again had somehow broken the control she had. Karan's goodness, her own light side, had emerged again. And those two sides of her were battling, trying with Blacksight trying to control her and Cloudtop trying to protect her.
As if to enforce her battle, she felt two presences, which had followed her from Tattooine. Liam and Sirius.
~~~~~
Inari walked with Master Donar, her eyes far away. She felt a sense of pain, with a darkness shrouding the source.
"It has been a long time," she said when she identified the new presence. "I wonder what has happened." What has happened since she murdered her master before the entire counsel.

[Max452]

Donar narrowed his eyes as they reached the exit of the Temple, where, on the very steps, sat the source of the pain. "A light, I sense." He looked at Cloudtop. "All hope, not lost." He glanced off into the distance. "Leave this to Cloudstrider, we must." He stated, remembering that this was his mission. "Standby, we will, hmm?" He smiled, a glint in his eyes. He then sat down where he was at, ready to watch what was about to occur, as Cloudstrider tore from the crowds and was running across the courtyard to the Temple. "Sit, we will." He patted the floor next to him, inviting Inari to join him.

***
Liam skidded to a stop when he spotted Karan on the steps of the Temple. "Karan!" He shouted when he spotted Sirius stopping about 20 feet from his left.

Master Donar narrowed his eyes at the Sith, sensing the ancient darkness from Sirius, albeit, most of it was still shrouded in secrecy. He was still unsure if the Dark Jedi was a Sith.

He was half tempted to end this battle, but for the sake of Cloudstrider and Cloudtop he would refrain. He looked at Master Raincloud, wondering what she would do for those in her Order.

***
Sirius sneered at Liam and glared at Blacksight. "You've been very troublesome, Blacksight. I don't like my time wasted. Do you not want power?!" He shouted at her.

[Firestar]

OOC: Hey, Yoda at least speaks some straight forward sentences. lol.

Inari watched the two young ones of her order as they interacted. She felt the presence of the dark side nearby, and not just from Karan's conflicted feelings. She sat gracefully beside where her fellow master was.
"I will remain here," she replied to Donar's unspoken question. "This is something they must do for themselves. However, I would have someone inform Master Cloudflyer of their return."
~~~~~
Karan looked up at the sound of Liam's voice, a smile spreading slowly across her face. But then another voice distracted her. She looked at Sirius, and suddenly the entire last year, and everything she had done, came to her mind. Lives she had taken, people she had ruined, families she had managed to tear apart. And her enjoyment of the whole thing.
Yes, Sirius! Blacksight would have cried out gleefully, I want this power! You will not be disappointed in me. But something held her back. Be it her conscience, or Liam's presence, or the debated that had been going on inside of her, she was unwilling to say the words.
She looked over to Liam again. She was torn in two. The hatred that had consumed her, given her pleasure and a sort of peace, and her love, her true desire to leave the dark side far behind.
She felt a dull, burning throb in her head as her two sides fought against each other. She lowered her head for a moment, her jaw clenched.
"Yes, Sirius," she said in hardly a whisper. "I want that power...the power to let others know the pain I've been through. The power to make them feel what I felt."

OOC: bum bum bum!

[Max452]

OOC: Where's the fun in that?!?! lol

Donar merely nodded to Inari, his eyes watching the Dark Sith carefully. "Worry am I not." He said to Inari, but his suspicions of Sirius was on his mind as he tried to figure out the Dark Jedi.

***
"Then embrace it, Blacksight! They deserve to be punished! And you have the power to give it to them!" Sirius shouted.

"No! Karan! Don't listen! If you give into your desires for revenge, you'll never escape the dark side! You'll only find more pain. There is no happiness in your future if you choose this! Please! I beg you, don't listen to him!"

"Shut up!" Sirius snarled and sent a force push Liam's way.

Liam dodged nimbly, ignoring Sirius. "There is good in you; I can sense it! There is still hope for you!"

"What makes you think what she's feeling is a bad thing!?" Sirius laughed. "Power. True Power, can only make us happy. We have the power to end more suffering. Don't you agree, Blacksight?" Sirius turned his eyes to Karan. "Or do you want more people to endure what you've endured? Only through control and fear can we end suffering."

"That's a lie!" Liam shouted. "Don't listen to him!" He pleaded with Karan.

[Firestar]

OOC: pfft...now that you're about to leave, I finally come back and post.

Karan looked back and forth between Liam and Sirius and they both tried to sway her. Blacksight was rejoicing, believing she was about to give in. Karan paused.
"I want to cause them harm," she said, looking at Sirius. "Make them feel pain. But more than that, I want to know that it is possible to forgive, and break the cycle of hatred that has consumed us for so many generations." She looked at Liam and smiled, and Blacksight howled in rage in her mind. "I want to know that it is possible for me to come back."

[Douglas9465]

Jeraldi walked nimbly as he felt a disturbance in the force. Ever since he had left the dark side to embrace neutrality in part, he had struggled everywhere he went to convince good jedi that he was of no harm, that he had left the dark side and that they were continually trying to kill him. He had felt stronger ever since he had rebellion against the council, and he had made this new found power his own. He felt unstoppable, but this power he felt, was unlike any other, it felt almost sith like, but it was going in and out, like there was some sort of struggle between the very forces of good and evil. "I, I know that feeling." He said to himself as he walked in the direction of the force. He had at one time been controlled by the dark side, unable to break the trance and the thirst for blood, but ever since he had discovered that the council had allowed his family to die, something much stronger had come over him, allowing him to break the chains of slavery and embrace his own ideas. "This fight seems internal, as if it is between two personalities. Maybe I can be of some help." He said running now towards the force.

[Douglas9465]

OOC: It has been a long time since I have posted lol. So I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things. Forgive me if I mess something up! I really need to brush up.

[Max452]

OOC: All righty...let's see if we can at least finish this legacy....

Liam gave Karen a heartfelt smile in return for her's. Please! Come back! His heart screamed out to her. "There is always a possibility, as long as you want it. You don't need to be ruled by hate, but rather, love. Please, let's just go home." He assured and pleaded with her. "If it is forgiveness you seek, then know that I have always forgiven you, and in time, others will understand, please, loose yourself of this evil chain."

"Why don't you shut up! Forgiveness? You really think that will solve the problems of the universe?" Sirius growled out, his saber ignited, intending to persuade Blacksight out in another way. "Hate is apart of nature. To deny it is to deny the half that pushes us to overcome this universe! Don't forget how much you've gained since you chose this path! Its far more enjoyable and more effective! Only through power can we obtain order!" Sirius tried to sway Blacksight.

"No! That's not true! If we are dominated by our hatred, we will only lose ourselves!" He glanced back at Karen. "Happiness is obtained when we forgive one another...but mostly when we forgive ourselves, and when we trust in others to help us. Trust me Karen and I promise I'll make you hap--" Liam was caught off short by Sirius when he charged at him, his lightsaber crashing down on the Jedi.

Liam reacted quickly, unleashing his white lightsaber to block Sirius' red one. "You are clouded in your own emotions and hate, Sirius...it will only lead you down a dark hole."
"You're wrong; my emotions strengthen me toward my goal. Blacksight knows this...she's felt the pleasure of having power and control....isn't that right?" Sirius' eyes briefly glanced over to Blacksight.
"I won't let you taint her anymore!" Liam yelled out, using his strength to push Sirius back. The two began to battle one another with amazing speed and agility, all the while, both hoping to sway Karen and Blacksight to their side.

[Firestar]

Karan heard the words that both Liam and Sirius were telling her. They were like echoes of her own mind, the words that Blacksight and Cloudtop were telling her.
You seek power, Blacksight told her. You want others to know the pain that you've felt, you want to make sure that no one can hurt you in such a way again.
Let go of the pain... Cloudtop's voice was quiet, less aggressive, but just as commanding for attention. Trust in your friends and remember the lessons of your Master, your true Master, Cloudglow.
He tried to suffocate you! To smother your potential and keep you in the lie of the Jedi! Sirius released you from this. He showed you the truth! Is he not more deserving of your trust and love?
Karan stared between the two men now battling, their attempts to sway her coming through in physical confrontation. She watched Liam and felt Cloudtop's love for him. Her affection and devotion, and her desire to never leave his side. And when her eyes fell on Sirius...an exact mirror of those same feelings came from the part of her that was Blacksight.
"You're both right," Karan said quietly. "Trust and forgiveness and power and emotions...They all make up who I am. I can't embrace the Jedi and reject the Sith; nor can I accept the Sith and deny the Jedi. They both make up who I am."
You can't have both, Karan wasn't sure which one said this. Maybe it was true, but she couldn't make the choice right then. But right now, she saw that she needed to do something, or else Liam and Sirius would kill each other.
"Liam!" she called out. "Let's...go home," she told him. Her eyes fell on Sirius then. She had made her decision for now, but she knew Blacksight was not going to sit by quietly and become forgotten. She had a feeling that she would see the Sith again.

[Max452]

"You honestly think that the Dark Side can be stopped?" Sirius sneered at Liam, who was holding his own against the Sith's strength. Sparks from their sabers ignited as Liam stared at Sirius with an odd calming look.
"I understand that a balance must be obtained in the Force, but the Dark Side is the one clouding your judgement, Sith." Liam retorted. His eyes flickered over to Karen, who was now speaking. Sirius seemed to have heard her too, as his body seemed to angle itself toward the voice, but both would not relinquish the battle.

Sirius growled out at Blacksight's decision, whilst Liam's heart seemed to thrill at Karen's decision. "You fool! Now I will show you the power of the Dark Side! I will bring ORDER!" Sirius snarled out as his pupils flickered black.
Liam could sense an odd surge in the Force and quick understanding dawned upon him. Sirius was getting dangerously out of control. "Now its time to show you pain, Blacksight." Sirius sneered out her name as he now intended to kill the one thing that was holding her back. "Foolish boy." Sirius voice seemed to echo as he Force Pushed the white Jedi back.

Liam reacted as fast as he could as he was tossed across the temple grounds. He used the Force to keep some marginal balance, but still was skidding across the floor. He stumbled to a stand and glared as Sirius now charged. Liam watched as he prepared for an attack, but as Sirius rose his saber to attack, Liam suddenly began gasping for air. His eyes darted to Sirius' free hand, which he had naively forgotten.

Sirius smirked at his successful bluff. He had distracted the stupid Jedi with a fake attack, and managed to get the boy in a choke hold. "It will please me to hear your last breath." He laughed, his eyes dark and sinister.

Liam rose in the air, as Sirius continued to use the Force to choke him to death. His eyes flickered over to Karen. "Run!" He hoarse out, not wanting Sirius to kill her too.

[Firestar]

Karan's eyes widened as she saw Sirius trick and overpower Liam. A scream broke from her lips and she lit her lightsabers, leaping forward to attack. She didn't care if she would get hurt. Liam meant more to her than her life. The part of her that was Blacksight was mildly annoyed by Sirius' statement.
"Pain, Sirius?" she asked him, her voice holding the same biting edge she'd always had as a Sith. "You claim that you will teach me pain? I could teach you a thing or two about it. You have no idea the depths of my pain. How else could I ever have come to be this strong? I only turned to you because I needed a guide, not a leader.
"Please...Please let him go," her voice changed to a more pleading tone. She couldn't bear it if Liam died. "Don't kill him...I couldn't live if he died. Just...just kill me instead and leave him alone." Though she moved to attack him, Karan knew she would never be able to kill Sirius. Something within her was just as devoted to him. And she wouldn't be able to live with herself if the Sith died, either.

[Max452]

A malicious laugh escaped Margos lips as he heard Blacksight's pleas. "Now? Why would I release him?" A sinister smile spread across his lips. "Its so much more fun to watch him suffer." He squeezed the Force around Liam's throat, causing the Jedi to cough and gasp. "Besides, you said it yourself - look how much more you'll grow when you feel the pain of his death."

"Karen....get...out...of...here..." Liam gasped out, as he began his best to remain calm, whilst channeling the Force to escape.

"Are you going to try and stop me, Blacksight? I rather thought you might enjoy this." Sirius echoing voice cackled. "What are you going to do? Attempt to kill me or watch your precious Jedi die? Either way....you're going to unleash your true self...and like it or not, a guide is a leader." His black eyes honed in on Blacksight. "Make your choice..." He squeezed harder.

Liam began to see white splotches. "No...I won't let you..." He concentrated on building the Force that he had accumulated...

[Firestar]

Karan looked back at Liam, his helplessness causing her heart to ache. She knew she couldn't let Sirius kill him, but neither could she raise a hand against him. These two men completed her, and in a way balanced her life.
"Sirius...release him," she said. "Allow him to live, and so long as nothing brings harm to him, I will do anything you ask." Her gaze grew harder as her resolve strengthened. "But if you kill him, I swear I will end your life in an instant...and in doing so, end my own life." She gazed up at the sky, still crowded with speeders like shooting stars, as she contemplated what she was saying. Softly, not believing either man could hear her, she added, "I can't live without either of you."