The Temple Of.... Silence

[Damocles]

Shinn followed behind Loren and Rylar to the turbo lift. While riding it he looked over at Kat's data pad, he heard voices coming from it and he wanted to know who it was as well. Kat looked at all three in the turbo lift and turned her data pad around to show them the image of Kamille.

Kat: Meet Kamille, former jedi or well the A.I. construct of a former Jedi

Kamille: Nice to meet you guys

Shinn leaned into the pad, the name Kamille it was etched on one of the walls upstairs "So, you really were a guy?" Shinn asked "Kamille is kind of a girly name" He finished, Kamille growled.

Kamille: I could shut this turbo lift down you know, let you all starve in here for breaking in.

Kat: That's not really jedi like

Kamille: I wasn't exactly the most Jedi like, me or my master. Speaking off yes there are drinks in here, there is something down stairs once we exit the lift.

"Hey" Shinn asked "Why exactly are you helping us?" He asked the A.I. "Shouldn't you want to guard this place and well kill us?" he asked.

Kamille: No real reason, you guys seem cool. Besides I was getting tired of being stuck in here...here's our stop.

The Turbo lift stopped and the door opened Shinn and Kat walked off looking around at all the artifacts, different swords everywhere. Shinn walked over to one and grabbed it, it was a katana had a nice feel to it.

Kamille: That is the Th'um it was my master's Templar sword. Light but tough can cut through most anything and most important light saber resistant.

Shinn swung it a few times getting a feel for the weight before putting it on his back. He turned to look at Kat who picked up a blaster.

Kat: Who did this belong to?

Kamille: Kailani Hellion, Drake Hellion's wife and sorta my adopted mother. Anyway I think what you guys are looking for are through those doors over there.

Shinn and Kat turned to look at the large doors, they both nodded and started to walk to it. "Whatever it is, be ready for a trap" Shinn said to the group.

[Zilfer]

Rylar smiled smugly when the AI commented that there was indeed alcohol hidden down below.

Rylar: Jedi brewmasters, you see now there's something I could really get behind. 

Once the doors opened Rylar headed down the stairs for the drinks and started pouring himself one and taking it. There was a slight grimace before he smirked once more.

Rylar: Going to have to save this one for later, good stuff. I assume it was a good year being about 3,000 years old.

Loren listened to the AI and other two's conversation, observing that the AI was indeed acting pretty weird if it was supposed to be guarding this place. Looking about she grabbed a sword off the wall as well, and noted the difference between the lightsaber she had practiced with. She didn't have the muscle memory for it with something so heavy. Shinn however seemed to be comfortable with the physical weight since he always carried around a melee weapon. Perhaps she would have to practice more with swords. 

"I'm surprised they left so much forgotten here," said Loren observing at the armory around them. Had the Jedi really needed so many weapons back thousands of years ago? She had always thought the Jedi were peace keepers, and perhaps naively rarely had to fight. Attention was brought to the door at the end of the hallway. Shinn and Kat were already moving up to it and Loren started in that direction. Rylar dropped a few bottles into a bag before following. There was a... presence coming from the other side of the door. It was muted but she could feel as if a slight breeze was coming off an ocean. "Your right there is something behind here...."

Pushing the doors open, the light of her green glowstick began to shine off thousands of reflective surfaces within the larger cavern that this opened up to. She was taken aback by the sheer amount of crystals that had grown here, and the force felt like she had just been stranded in a sea with no life boat. "This place is.... amazing."

Rylar: Are the crystal's valuable?

Loren didn't reply to the jibe this time instead moving into the chamber and looking around, before realizing she was probably acting suspiciously to the others, and promptly picked a crystal off the wall and tossed it to Rylar. "Grab some, could be valuable to someone," said Loren. Rylar caught it and looked through the small crystal for a moment before shrugging and throwing it in his increasingly large bag. 

Meanwhile deeper in the cave a red glow was starting to make its way towards them...

[Damocles]

Shinn and Kat continued to look around.

Kamille: not forgotten

Kat: what do you mean?

Kamille: she said this was forgotten, it wasn't it was stored, for when it would end needed most.

Shinn watched Loren with the sword, didn't seem like she had much experience with it. "Two hands" He toldid her "it's a two handed sword" He finished.

When they got to the cave they looked around at the crystals.Kat smirked and grabbed one.

Kat: so many, just like

She looked over at Shinn he was grabbing he chest he pulled out his crystal it was glowing like the others."Never did this before" He mumbled.

Kat: maybe it has to do with this place

Kamille: these crystals react to those who are strong in the force.

"I'm no jedi" Shinn retorted to kamille.

Kamille: maybe but perhaps she is.

They looked over at Loren who seemed like she was spacing out looking at the crystals. "Are we here for this?" Shinn asked kamille.

Kamille: No large crate far back and I suggest you hurry I believe we are not alone.

Shinn and Kat nodded and went to the back of the cave there was a large case there it had the symbol on it Kat talked about.

Kat: fairly sure this is what the church of the force wants.

"Then let's get it out of here" Shinn responded.

[Zilfer]

Loren reached up grabbing another warm crystal. It was odd a good number of these crystals felt different heats to the touch and this far under the ice it was disconcerting. She helped Rylar get a good sampling of crystals before meeting back up at the crate with Shinn and Kat. “I think we have enough salvage, now we just need to make it out of here. Does Kamilly the AI know a back way out of the temple maybe?”

There soon was a loud interruption of a hissing sound as a red lightsaber was drawn against the side of the wall screeching upon each crystal touched. A body was flung forward propelled by an unseen force. Rylar jumped into the path catching the body before Loren had registered what or rather who it was.

Inquisitor: I sincerely, hope I’m interrupting something.

“Jarlan! Is he ok?” yelled Loren down to a lower ledge. Rylar gave his universal thumbs up sign before letting Jarlan down. He moved to work his way up to join and give aid but a hand gripped him tightly.

Jarlan: Stop her; she’s going to get herself killed.

Rylar looked back up but it was already too late, Loren was moving towards the Inquisitor. “How dare you!” said Loren stalking forward and gripping the sword with two hands like Shinn had suggested.

Inquisitor: I can feel the force coming off of you here… and not just you. You as well boy.

When Loren had finally closed the distance he seemed to finally take notice of her hostile intent and with a bemused grin caught the blade with his lightsaber angling it off to the side.

Inquisitor: You are untrained, undisciplined. With time you could wield great power. As you are now however… Ridiculous.

Loren flew backwards with the telekinetic blast and she landed skidding towards a ledge. The sword scraping along the ground slowed her momentum. She looked at Kat and Shinn, “Take whatever it is up to the ship, we can’t run while everyone is weighted down,” said Loren secretly hopeful for any backup she got. She hadn’t noticed it before but the crystals were actually starting to lose their luster and a faint glow of red.

Inquisitor: Perhaps you’d like to enlighten me as to what you are all doing on this ice ball of a planet? This is Imperial space; owning contraband related to the Jedi is punishable by death.

Rylar climbed the last bit back onto level with the group with Jarlan on his back. Jarlan was tied to Rylar’s back, and seemingly unconscious at this point. At least Jarlan hadn’t said anything to suggest otherwise at this point. Rylar looked at the other two and shrugged.

Rylar: I’ll be back, no doubt our dark friend over there has left us some Stormtroopers to deal with at the ship. Either of you coming?

Despite his words he sent a furtive glance back over in Loren’s and the Inquisitor’s direction.

[Damocles]

Shinn looked at the crate and went over to it, he tried to lift it but it was too heavy. Kat sighed and looked at Kamille.

Kat: Anything we can use down here to get that out of here?

Kamille: To answer both yours and Loren's question Kat, yes to both. There is a hidden turbolift that will take us right to the surface behind the large structure that is conveniently blocked by this crate. Kat there is a lift droid that I can be uploaded into, make it quick please.

Kat nodded just then the other man showed up with a lightsaber, he was an inquisitor he had taken down that Jarlan guy and Loren was charging him in a blind rage. "Kat hurry" Shinn said to her as he grabbed for his vibroblade.

Kamille: Use the Thu'um

"What?" He asked realizing that Kamille meant he sword on his back, Shinn nodded and pulled it out charging towards the inquisitor. Kat ran over to the nearest large looking droid and plugged her data pad into it. The droid started up shaking and sounding rusty.

Kamille: This is weird.

Kat: can you get the crate out of here or not.

Kamille: Sure if this stupid 3000 year old droid body lasts that long, come on get out of the way lets see what I can do.

The droid went over to the crate and started to lift the machinery sounded as if it was going to give up but it managed to move the crate onto the lift.

Kat: Shinn we got it!

She turned to Rylar pulling out her gun.

Kat: Yeah right behind ya
___

Shinn ran towards the Inquisitor right when he knocked Loren back Shinn leapt at him swinging the Thu'um at the Inquisitor. He hoped Kamille was right about it being lightsaber proof, while swinging using one hand Shinn's second hand went to his katana pulling out reversed blade style to further slash at the inquisitor in cased he parried the first attack.

[Zilfer]

The Inquisitor deflected Shinn's first and second blows with minimal twists of his lightsaber, and then blurred visibly as he side stepped out from an attack from behind by Loren. Her  borrowed blade hit the ice with a clang, and she grunted. "He's faster than I thought," said Loren remembering the last time she had encountered an inquisitor. He had been fast too. The inquisitor frowned looking in the direction of their friends.

Inquisitor: None of you will escape in the long run. It would be an efficient use of your time to surrender.

Loren stepped forward in a thrust which was knocked aside and earned Loren a burning cut on her arm, and back as she rushed on by. Momentarily put down he turns his focus to Shinn.

Inquisitor: There's something different about you. Her I can read like a book, powerful emotions boiling over. It makes her strong but predictable. You however.... something darker about you.

The Inquisitor didn't wait for Shinn to attack this time instead throwing out a furry of blows meant to baffle and confuse, he wanted to test his opponent's dueling skill.

---

Rylar stepped out of the turbolift at the top avoiding commenting the feminine shape of the droid 'Kamille' was currently in. Luckily the storm was starting to die down and he could guestimate around where they had landed from the mountain in the distance. 

Rylar: Come on, I'm sure there's going to be company on the way.

Rylar lifted Jarlan's feet to his sides and started running through the snow, and making slow progress. Eventually they came to the crevasse. Looking down they could see Snow troopers patrolling the area around the ship. Rylar noticed a body cut in half piled off to the side and his eyes drew closed.

Rylar: Droid, take Jarlan into the ship. I'm going to kill every one of those Bantha kissing bastards.

Rylar let the rodian's body down lightly onto the snow and took out two knives from his side. He wanted this to be messy. For Glitches sake he would show the Snow troopers an Ecahni blade dance they would never forget.

[Damocles]

Kat and Kamillatron followed Rylar off the turbolift into the snow storm it was hard to see but Kamillatron could tell where things were through its sensors. Kat pulled her goggles down to better help with sight, when Rylar said he was going to go kill the storm troopers Kamillatron reached out to stop him.

Kamillatron: No, thats not a good plan, I can't carry both your friend and the crate, you have to get him to the ship, besides we don't have much time.

Kat looked over at Kamillatron confused.

Kat: What do you meant, not much time?

Kamillatron: That was a sith in there I believe, the crystals were starting to corrupt, my master installed a fail safe within those caves that would cause a cave in if the crystals became to stained with the dark side.

Kat: How the hell did he do that?

Kamillatron: I never asked, but your friends and the rest of us are running out of time, if that cave collapses then this entire area will go with it.

Kat: Well fuck...Shinn, Loren come in, that cave will collapse any minute now, get your butts to that turbo lift and to the ship, now

Kamillatron stood up lifting the crate the droids joints squeaked again sounding as if they would break at anytime.

___

Shinn's face remained calm as his first and second blows were blocked, he'd expected much from this guy so it wasn't a shock, he wasn't even shocked by the man's speed not as much as Loren seemed to be. "Don't be reckless, he isn't an armature and that weapons is dangerous..." he warned Loren, but his words fell on death ears as she pressed her attack and was knocked out.

The Inquisitor's focus was now on Shinn, he stepped back pulling out his second sword, was no point in pretending like he didn't fight duel wielding the inquisitor probably already determined that. "She fights out of desperation" Shinn said about Loren, "Afraid to die" Shinn continued on. When the Inquisitor came at him Shinn cranked up his speed to match the man's blocking the attacks that came at him. "Me, I'm just following orders" he finished saying.

Shinn jumped back and swung his sword slashing one of the crystals it fell down and kicked the spike ended rock at the inquisitor. Using this a distraction Shinn quickly ran around the other way to attack from the side without the lightsaber. Both Shinn's swords came at the Inquisitor in a cross slash at the waist.

[Zilfer]

The robot’s plea was too late as Rylar was already full running full tilt towards the first snow trooper, before he could get a cry out, a dagger plunged under and then up into the man’s throat. A second vibrodagger spun through the air catching the partner between the shoulders. He readjusted the man’s body he held on the knife to take the third’s blaster fire and running forward. Rylar threw the armored body into the other and sliced the man’s neck on passing.

He grabbed the second knife from the back of the second and came forward at the two guarding the ship’s entrance. They leveled rifles at him and he ran low lessening his profile to them. His armor took one of the blows to the shoulder stinging his arm but keeping him mostly protected as the other bolts flew high. He almost could have sworn the snowtrooper looked surprised he had actually hit for a moment, but that was erased a moment later, when his cross slash beheaded the man. Another clean throw straight through the eye socket of the other snow troopers visor.

Rylar didn’t stop to observe his work, instead he ran back and grabbed Jarlan looking towards Kat who had provided covering fire against the further away snowtroopers.

Rylar: You’d better be a pilot because ours is currently unconscious, and the girls’ not here yet.

He hefted Jarlan and ran towards the ship. He proceeded quickly into the med bay pointing down the hallway further towards the cockpit. It was a one man pilot seat arrangement which suited Jarlan’s preferences.

Rylar: Down the hallway last door in front of you. Make sure they didn’t cut the power, robot check for any sort of power draining on our batteries or a lock on the hyperdrive. Pirates sometimes use them to stop people from escaping, right now I wouldn’t put it past the imperials to use such tactics.

---

Inquisitor: You’re right, just look at the crystals they are reacting to her emotions quiet well.

His lightsaber came to bear on the crystal slicing it in half, while his other hand moved out towards Shinn’s approach, letting him get close and then unleashing a torrent of lightning from his hands. The room both lit up and darkened all at once, the bright flash of lightning illuminated but the outside parts of the room growing dim and red.

Loren forced her to stand using the sword to steady herself. She was at first amazed by Shinn’s speed but then she connected the dots her mind had held onto. ‘He’s like me.’ she thought. Now was not the time to hold back to maintain the status quo. Taking her blaster out she carefully held it up concentrating and moved slowly to the side with it floating in the air, for now the Inquisitor hadn’t noticed her standing back up.

Once she adjusted her new approach she pulled the trigger, aiming the gun to hit the inquisitor was beyond her skill but a few shots would distract him enough for a nice blow. She charged drawing her vibrodagger in her off hand and slashed. As she thought the force warned the Inquisitor of the incoming danger of the blaster going off and he easily deflected the bolts only to notice a moment later it was floating in air. He spun just in time to catch her sword cutting through it easily this time, but her other hand punched in low stabbing the Inquisitor in his gut.

There was a roar of pain as he backhanded Loren across the face with an assisted telekinetic slam. She landed hard sliding near Shinn. Her head spun but she forced it down both hands below her pushing upwards. ‘Stand up girl. No one’s going to pick you up when you fall down,’ said a familiar voice in her head. “Your kind killed my Master,” she said forcing the words out through the nausea. When she looked up the Inquisitor had pulled the knife from his stomach, it was bloody from the blow but instead of horror written on his face he had already began to laugh as if she had done nothing more than jab him with a stick.

Inquisitor: Than soon you shall join him.

Loren for the first time in her life felt an unveiling of the darkside, as if someone had pulled back the curtain to the universe and revealed its ugliness. Something in her was instinctively reviled at this, and as the cave lost almost all color she knew they were going to die or at least she was. She could almost see the force lightning coming, but then reality took a different turn and the ground shook, and rumbled throwing everyone off balance. The ceiling began to collapse and there was no longer time for fighting, but she didn’t have the strength to run, she took a few steps before stumbling.

‘Keep moving.’

[Damocles]

Kat and Kamillatron watched as Rylar ran out there to fight the snow troopers. Kamillatron looked at Kat.

Kamillatron: Your friend has no patience you know.

Kat: He's not really my friend, more like business acquaintance, whatever the case I am going to back him up.

She pulled out her blaster and took cover behind a snow dune and fired hitting one of the troopers, when the snow troopers were all dealt with Kamillatron ran up to the ship with the crate followed by Kat. Once on board she looked at Rylar when he asked if she was a pilot.

Kat: You really don't think Shinn is pilot between the two of us do you?

She said this laughing as she went to the cockpit, she walked in and looked around. Single seat indeed, but she could handle it she sat down and put her on her seatbelt before going over the systems on it. It wasn't too different from her ship so she wasn't going to have too much trouble with it at least. She got the ship running and gripped the controls before hitting the speaker system.

Kat: This is your pilot Katrina Asuka speaking, please buckle your safety belt gentleman and AI's in fembots.

Kamillatron put the crate down in the storage then the droid body fell over not moving.

Kammillatron: Great...

The ship started to move hover off the ground.

_____

Shinn was set to attack when the Inquisitor turned at him, he was fast and the lightening happened so quick Shinn couldn't react, he growled as he thrown into a wall by the attack, his ears and nose started bleeding as he slid to the ground not moving. He laid there his vision blurred for a moment.

Voice: Whats your orders?

"Huh?" Shinn said looking around he saw himself as a child with Adrian.

Adrian: You have one order and only one order. You could call this your a priority mission. Your mission is to live, no matter what you are to make sure you and your team survive. Even if you have to crawl on your knees back here you will survive. Understand?

"Right" Shinn said coming to, he reached and grabbed his viborblade "I'm not afraid to die, because I have orders not to. That is why I'll survive anything" Shinn said as he watched Loren get knocked across the room, he stood up and held his hand out the room started shaking Shinn looked confused until he realized the room was collapsing and it wasn't him doing it. He looked around going over to Loren he grabbed her and put her on his back despite the pain he was in his body, "hold on" He told her so she wouldn't fall off his back, he looked at the Inquisitor unsure if he would be able to get out or not through him.

Shinn ran towards the Turbo lift hoping the Inquisitor would be too distracted with everything collapsing around them to try and stop him.

[Zilfer]

Rylar pulled the last strap over Jarlan securing him to the medical table, and pulled it tight. He then proceeded over to a seat and strapped himself in before hitting the console near the door.

Rylar: We are good in here, hit it before we get any more disturbance. That ship in orbit will probably be starting to wonder why no one is checking in with them. I'd suggest exiting the other side of the planet if possible, first set down where the turbolift is, we'll wait there for the others.

---

Loren wrapped her arms around Shinn to aid him in carrying her. She locked her fingers together and looked back towards the Inquisitor who held his hands and tossed rumble falling on him aside before looking at them. There was murder in his eyes, as he strode forward, a hand raised above him to keep the falling ceiling at bay. "He doesn't know when to give up..." she breathed onto the back of Shinn's neck before flinging the sword straight towards the Inquisitor with the aid of the force.

Cursing the Inquisitor held forward his lightsaber hand and caught the blade telekinetically, it looked like he was going to send it back but a moment later he was buried beneath rubble. They made it to the turbolift shaft and started to go up the turbolift as the rumbling grew stronger.

"Let's hope this thing holds..." 

[Damocles]

Kamillatron laid there as the ship started to move.

Kamille: seriously I'm stuck here...

The ship made its way over the the cave in site and Kat looked around.

Kat: come on Shinn where are ya...

____

Shinn carried Loren through the collapsing cave to the turbo lift. She was right the guy wasn't going to give up, against his better judgement Shinn increased his speed again to get to the lift just as everything collapsed behind them. He sat Loren down once inside as the lift went to the surface "You okay" He asked her, he got it now "Force user, that's how you were able to trick that wookiee" He said to her.

Once the lift got to the surface Shinn helped her he wasn't sure if she was in walking condition. When the lift opened Shinn saw a bright light he grabbed his sword sure it was the imperial.

Kat: Shinn! Oh thank the godess...get on

The ship lowered and the hatched opened. Shinn sighed in relief and helped Loren aboard.

[Zilfer]

Loren grinned ruefully at Shinn's comment. No one had ever flat out stated it like that to her before, not even Jarlan or Rylar. They kind of just flew orbits around the subject calling it hokey religion which in part it was since her upbringing had taught her everything happens for a reason.

"Yeah, your right though I wouldn't mind you keeping that to yourself. I wouldn't want to paint a thermal exhaust port on my back," said Loren. "I don't expect you'd do the same either."

The turbolift finally reached the top and she was glad to see the hunk of bolts that was her ship. "I should be fine from here," said Loren allowing herself to walk the last bit of the way. The hatch closed to the YZ-900 and was soon rocketing into the air. The small corellian freighter made a beat out of the system as quickly as possible.

---

On the calm surface of Ilum a small rodent moved along the calm surface of the planet scurrying to try and find the next cave hole. It has escaped from the worm like creature that had pushed it from its home, and it's instincts knew that it needed a new home. After scurrying a few more feet something burst from the ground grabbing it around it's neck and it began to glow red as the life essence began to retreat from the small creature's body. More movement as a dark figure pulled its way to the surface.

The Inquisitor rolled onto his back, lots of his body crushed in places but he was still alive. He activated his emergency comm signal and it connected with the ship in orbit.

Imperial Command: You had gone dark for the last hour, is there trouble Inquisitor? We have readings of an unauthorized ship leaving space, should we pursue?

Inquisitor: No, patch me through to Inquisitor Jarik.

Imperial Command: Immediately sir.

It was a few moments before a man was projected via hologram to the small communicator. He wore black imperial dress of an Inquisitor, and his scarred face seemed to glare back through the hologram with little amusement. 

Inquisitor Jarik: It seems your 'simple excavation' must have met with problems. Do I need to clean up your mess yet again, Inquisitor Danall?

Inquisitor Danall: I met the girl who attacked you during your inspection of Bast Castle. She was here with another force sensitive boy.

Inquisitor Jarik: And you let them get away.

Jarik's tone was flat. Danall gritted his teeth through the pain and held his tongue for the moment. He knew mentioning that Jarik hadn't been able to apprehend her wouldn't help his rocky position with Jarik.

Inquisitor Danall: It just so happens I was able to place a transponder on their ship before they managed to escape. I thought perhaps this might interest you.

The line was quiet for a time and then Jarik stood up walking outside the projection of the hologram.

Inquisitor Jarik: Commander Sarkon, report to my sector for reassignment. I will be expecting you follow this directive immediately.

Commander Sarkon: But sir, what about Inquisitor Dan--

Inquisitor Jarik: Perhaps he shouldn't have disobeyed my previous directive to leave such excavations to the First Order. The capacity of the Imperial Remnant is to keep the peace within our borders not to seek out weapons against the Resistance.

Inquisitor Danall: You hutt slime! We need all the edge we can get against Leia's growing army.

Inquisitor Jarik: Supreme Leader Snoke will be the judge of that. Danall... you are dismissed effective immediately.

The connection to Danall's communicator fizzled and Danall screamed against the cold blowing wind. No one would hear him.....

<exit>