Tombs and Power and Ghosts, oh my!

[Jarai Telo]

Venta’s ghosted image faded only some as her mood changed again. Her area of her eyes went between Mere and Jarai when he stated the girl was Evolve’s leader. She didn’t feel guilty over what she had done, no, but she was more thoughtful on it now. No wonder the girl had seemed strong. Leaders were strong. They had to be.

But she smiled at Wodahs and Mere. “If the child had wanted to take on the current overlord, I doubt she needed my holocron to do so. She is strong enough. For the dark side’s sake, she made it through my tomb and opened the passageway to you. Did you unlock the puzzles of this tomb with your mind and Force endurance?

“And Wodahs, if the fewer members you have to come against the Sith temple, how will you smite every one of the people who command the dark side and proclaim it their ally? I can imagine there are plenty of numbers with your ‘empire’. Two cannot take down one thousand Force users each, Wodahs.”

Venta’s shoulders seemed to rise with the unheard sigh. She didn’t hold Jarai from them any longer. The girl was unconscious and provided no further entertainment. The men before her, however, were much more interesting. One who idolized her husband; one who had the correct ideals of a Sith. Or what a Sith should be.

“The green thing? My holocron?” There was a short laugh from the ghost. “I dare say not. Let me direct you to this platform your friend so happens to be lying next to.” The slightly faded image of Venta stepped through Jarai’s body to gesture to the platform, the stone of it carved elegantly, decorated in symbols and artistic whims. Her hand ran along a group of them that painted the thick rectangular stretch at the top. “He who has a passion has a weakness that causes pain. And through experiencing pain, he gains strength. That’s what my stool here says. The child will be stronger when she finally awakens and the poison is dispelled from her system.” Her hands became rigid around the oddly shaped device sitting upon the platform. It rested on one side and held the frame of five sides instead of the standard three many Sith preferred to use. Venta had always made herself unique, and now in death. “It is this you seek. And it is in my statements to say I find your Gray Matter interesting. It’s always interesting what new creations each generation can bring.”

---

Why? It was the only question Jarai’s subconscious could bring to her. Why this? Why was it happening? They were quite possibly the questions that didn’t matter. It wasn’t like they stayed long in her mind anyway. She was too confused and in too much pain physically and was receiving a brutal mental… was it attack or was it a lesson? Was it something at all that affected her? Jarai didn’t know. She couldn’t think right.

Her senses were in overload. The mind punishment left her physical body tense and her breathing somewhat shallow. Her nails dug into the rock in attempt to sink them into something to hold on tight. Her lip would quiver from time to time and her brow usually rested heavy over her closed eyes as a faint sweat began to bead.

Anger, passion, lust, bitterness, pain… Each emotion had its own image. Each image was a series or maybe just a quick thing. Every so many images would be like a quick holoprojecting movie. Each had a different theme. Each created the feelings that continued to swell in Jarai and centered the main emotion steadily growing as well.

For anger she felt a skin needling pain as she believed raw power built within her was suddenly released. It ached and transitioned to whatever emotion or feeling was next. For lust there was a quickening of heart and a dirty thought to immediate mind.

Jarai would be growing wearier if Mere wasn’t loaning the strength she had already forgotten he was giving. She felt a desperation arise from her, the need to get out from this prison she currently couldn’t escape from. Fear was rising.

She. Wanted. OUT.

[Darth Wodahs]

Ichigo looked at what she showed to be her holocron. He frowned. He kneels down and picks up his mask, and puts it on. He look's around, from Mere, to Venta...he didnt doubt Venta's word, but he didn't trust Mere yet. Shadow's colodense around him and in a blink of an eye he is by the Holocron and picks it up. He looks around again and he disapears again, and re-apears beside Jarai. The only difence this time is, he is also by the tomb, by the door, and by the far wall, each one holding the holocron.and when he speaks, all four speak at once, causing an odd ecoing affect

"I am going to take Jarai from this place...wich ever one you think is me, you can try and stop..."--he kneels, and scoops Jarai into his arms, and shadow steps again, once again afour Wodahs's appear, and each one is holding an identica;, unconcious Jarai.

[Darth Mere]

Mere looked at him, sudden anger flaring in his mind, such fury that he could not hold in the rage, "Fool." He snarled, he had been on the right path. He was going to win that holocron, and probably be able to use it. He too wanted its contents. He couldn't let that pig escape. His eyes shifted to Venta, she should do something, it was her holocron and nobody steals from a Sith. But he would not stand idle and let opportunity slip out of his grasp, "Put her down now before you wind up screwing this up for me!" If Wodahs did make it out alive, Mere would definitely have something to say.

He shot his Gray Matter at the door suddenly, and with his mind, gathered the energy from the coffin, and spread it out over the doorway so there was not an inch of room remaining for escape, the dark side energy turned into so potent a force it would paralyze anything it touched. It took a *lot* of energy for him to create the doorway, but he had plenty to spare, since he trained himself diligently and rarely even used his force powers.

"Allies or not," The words came out of his mouth, a low rumbling of now calm but still menacing spite. "I cannot let you leave at this point." His hair was brushed to the side, and his mechanical eye turned into dark side sensory, looking at the Wodahs to see which one was him. He could see which images were made out of the force. He pointed at the real one, "You." He began to finger his lightsaber.

[Jarai Telo]

Venta’s faded image flared up brilliantly when Wodahs stole her holocron. She wasn’t done talking yet! There was plenty she wanted to say about the holocron! And who dared touch the thing she had worked hard on in her living life without her permission? Ghost or not, Venta thought that was downright disrespectful and even rude.

When he took the girl into his arms… it made Venta back off some. The girl was suffering even in her unconscious state. The poison that raged almost uncontrollably in her system was reacting to the girl’s body faster than the Sith lady would have believed. Synox always worked quickly, but not it was working far too quickly for Venta’s tastes.

But still, she was irked that Wodahs had laid his grubby fingers upon her holocron. He was checked off her deserving list. She planned on rewarding those who showed courage and promise of the Sith. Or, she had expected a whom but was having to rethink her plan because she had three bodies, all of which had seemed able. Now, Wodahs had only showed himself as a thief and quiet desperate on Jarai’s sake.

“Wodahs, I would not fear much of Jarai for the moment. My presence and the poison will rage on her, but the more stupid decisions you create, the worse the outcome will be for her. And now, when my humor does not sprout from the pain of another, you must think you have some leverage in my promise. I will not play games, Wodahs!”

It seemed Mere wasn’t going to take Wodah’s crap either. It took a moment for her to realize the contained ball of Force within his hand was now spread upon her doorway. As she stated the law of Jarai’s life pending on decisions, the other man was taking actions to benefit himself. Venta murmured a purr of approval, more to herself than to Mere. Sith always looked upon how things affected themselves, and what they could get out of something.

“It’s fine,” she said to Mere, holding a hand to him, palm toward him in a gesture of halt. Her free hand was wafting upward with curling fingers. “Little boys will understand what their disrespect earns them from the teacher.”

Venta focused herself around her holocron, her presence fading some as she swirled the outside air pockets of the holocron. Faster and faster, creating a small fury battering of wind before she applied heat, making the metal the holocron was made of far too hot for one to touch. Her own fingers pulsated and electric fingers raked at Wodahs and already the smell of something burning, not necessary flesh, was being scented. It was but a small Force storm, the tiniest of fractions of what Venta could do. It was really all she could do as a ghost, but no one knew that. The heated, electrifying holocron was enough to give a surprise and a quick burst of agony before Venta’s hand dropped and the Force disbanded.

“Let’s settle this like civilized people, shall we? Remember: every decision can be vial for her life. If you really want her out of her, I suggest patience. Now, the poison is eating its way through her as I remind you of this again. Ever millisecond spent describing your position repeatedly decreases her chances of overcoming my poison.

“Now,” she continued with a sadistic smile, “I supposed you wouldn’t have any questions about me or you would like to ask?” Her hand was weaving again, and Semtri’s holocron could be spotted as only a floating history recording. It came back to the ghost, settling rightfully on its throne. “Ask about anything. Or simply there is just more you wish to speak about.”

[Darth Wodahs]

Wodahs let out a sour string of curses as the metal of the holocron super heated, and he was forced to drop it. Whats more was Mere had prevented him from aiding, Jarai. Damn it to the Force. He met Venta's gaze, clenching and un-clenching his burned hand. He could still use it in a fight, it was painful, yes, but pain only brought him greater strength. He eye's his ancestor with somthing akin to respect..and hatred. Both burned hotly in him for Lady Semtri. He nodded at her for a moment, then slowly set Jarai down on the ground. He needed Jarai for his own plans to come to fruition, yes..that was all..or so he kept trying to tel himself. He needed her to find Kurisaki's tomb, and only the force knows where that is. Bu there was somthing deeper, much deeper than that. Somthing he was still having trouble coping with.

"So it would seem...that trying to get her out of here is futile...and your wondering why..possibly thinking me a thief...your wrong, I need both her and the holocron at my feet..to find somthing....nothing more"--yeah fracking right.

Wodahs contemplates her offer...and decideds it will be worth a try--"Where is , Kurisaki's Tomb?"

[rc83]

Darth Mere calmed down on command of Venta, but he was still fairly angry. He did, however, keep up the barrier of Dark Matter. Watching Venta's rage as compared to her attack strategy, he slit his eye ( Squinted ) in deep thought. Why not attack with more force than that? He should be truly punished...Maybe...He looked over to Jarai, who was in his other hand at the time. His eye returned to normal as he made his conclussion. The strike was not as powerful as it could have been, because Venta wanted Evolve to survive. And she couldn't hurt Jarai in order to do that. Amusedly, Mere smiled.

"So it would seem...that trying to get her out of here is futile...and your wondering why..possibly thinking me a thief...your wrong, I need both her and the holocron at my feet..to find somthing....nothing more"--

Mere's features twisted with a half disgust, but he quickly quelled this. Excuses. Besides, it was common for a Sith to lie, but to do it so poorly? Not only was it a poor lie, but it was also plain wrong. A thief is anyone who takes something without the owners consent, which is what Wodahs almost did. He also had...Obvious affection for Jarai, which he tried pathetically to hide.

[Jarai Telo]

“I am not wrong in calling you a thief, Theif,” Venta came on forcefully with the name-calling, a snake’s hiss between front teeth. “My holocron is mine unless I decide that I wish to give it away. Your impatience will get you no where!”

She had to admire the young man in some ways. His feelings and emotions were not hard to pick up. Her tomb granted access to as much. Even his thoughts were laid open like an old book for Venta to read. He hated her, yes, she had expected for him to as much by the time she was done toying with them. He also respected her, she sensed. He’d better. She just burned at least a blister onto his hand. She deserved much more than he was giving her. She had been through a lot, and the fact that Venta now stood as a ghost did not mean she was to be disrespected.

Yet, as he rested Jarai back on the ground, the ghost felt a pang of remembrance. Ghost she was, she was still Venta and Darth Semtri, in every aspect of the name and title. Jarai’s limp body jolted as Venta remembered Ichigo carrying her off the battlefield, snapping the head of one of her allies with a quick word or two. He loaned her healing then, and she had awakened not long later. Could Wodahs be wishing to take care of Jarai in a similar fashion? Venta surely hoped so.

She snapped out of her long buried past when Wodahs asked for the location of Ichigo’s tomb. Her blue-ish form dulled some more. His tomb? Venta’s eyes went from Jarai’s body to Wodahs’s intent stare, crossed to Mere’s somewhat patient form and finally ended with a look to the floor. She turned around, seeming to float over by her coffin. Her illusion ran fingers over the sealed lid. The other hand touched the carved symbols along the wall beside it.

“I don’t know,” was all the ghost could muster to say. “I died before him. I don’t know where he ever planned to be hopefully buried away respectfully. Besides, my death was rather… unexpected.” She had to falter some to search for the right word. The dulled image turned to face the men and Jarai again. Venta was lying. She knew, but she didn’t want to tell. It was better to lie well to Wodahs. And to read what was in the phantom’s head was near impossible, just nearly impossible. They would know if the cause of her death would unexpected, which it was, but there would be nothing that spoke of what transpired when she and Ichigo spoke to each other personally. To know if what Venta had just said was true or false, someone would have to access her holocron and view it until she spoke a little on her personal life.

“I don’t have a solid answer to your question, Wodahs,” she said. Her eyes drifted to Mere. “Is there anything else you want to ask of me?” Her glowing, blue hued eyes seemed to be waiting something from Mere, as if expectant of a certain question. “Or, should I say, anything more you wish to attempt to coax from me?”

---

Venta. It had to be her. It had to be where the images were coming from, the feelings that were leaving her almost numb. The onslaught of punishing emotions that were shoved upon her to beat every sense from her. They had to be Venta’s. They had to be Venta’s from some time period. Pains of facing a master, physical, and emotional pain that was recognized as ones own, as if they had ripped their heart from their chest and stabbed it with a vibroblade a hundred fold. That dull aching of cramping from an overloaded work out or simply failing some kind of exercise. Longing of the heart, a void that made her feel hollow.

And with a jolt, Jarai’s mind was savagely tossed into something that felt as if her nerves were being pinpricked by needles. Extreme rawness of the dark side sped through her veins, feeling as if it were ready to split her in two. Anger and frustration were combined, and Jarai caught brilliant flashes of lightning against the darkness beyond. At first, it hurt, but she noticed a surge and felt as if everything of her being was thrust in many directions.

And simply like that, she collapsed, her mind shutting down. Jarai felt within her body, but outside of it as she was witness to a feeling of pure health, soothing energy to be placed in her body, and then noticing the pitching of emotions of another person, thoughts angled at someone Jarai couldn’t detail as existent.

Jarai’s mental image may have screamed in confusion and agony of these experiences. She swerved around, wondering where Mere’s presence had gone. Had he faded away? Had she lost one of her lines out of here?

And truly on the outside of her body, there was a very low, almost inaudible groan after the sudden spasm she had committed. Someone better get her out of here soon. She wasn’t sure how much enduring her mind could go through at this pace.

[Darth Wodahs]

Ichigo bristled slightly when she said she didn't know were Kurisaki's tomb was...she was lieng. The holocron said the way to Kurisoki's tomb can be found in Semtri's tomb. He removes the holocron from his pocket, having reclaimed it when Jarai was done with it.

"You know what this is?"..ofcourse you do..you help Kurisaki make it"--he activates the Holocron and access it's final entry. An Image of the original Ichigo comes up, and he stands, as large as he did in life. The holocron Ichigo look's around, and smiles at the ghost of Venta--"And why am I here"

"You told me the way to your tomb was here...that only Venta knew were it was hiden..she claims she does not"

The hologram Ichigo laughs as richly as he had in life--"she know's were it is, even if she has never been there...Near the waterfall..a rather...secret place she and I found...our daughter's saber crystals came from there"--he look's at Venta and smiles--"Think my Love...my spirit is there..you are most welcome to join me there at anytime..let this one know as Skywalker know..he is worthy of my secret's...but only let him..and possibly this Jarai know"--The hologram disipates

Wodahs kneels and retrieves the holocron--"Well...were is it?"

[Jarai Telo]

If a ghost could have shown a flush, Venta had. Her image shimmered, as usual, but a sudden fluctuate of her image showed that she understood that she was caught. It also let the men know she was surprised. Her glowing form rested against the edge of the coffin, slightly stirred by Ichigo’s image being projected before her. Why did she still have such strong feelings? Not that she disliked them, no, but, she disliked how much information they could give away.

Seeing Ichigo’s projected form, it had made the ghost jolt and notice that the Skywalker character had her. It didn’t matter all that much. And despite what Ichigo had said, Venta only felt for the Jarai person. She didn’t think Wodahs deserved anything: admiration gained from her or not. At the very moment, Venta wished Ichigo had just lied then. Curses. She didn’t need to be reminded of where his tomb had been planned to be. No descriptions had been needed. At all. Because, of course, Venta had only been lying.

She thought it had been a pretty good lie.

Her head dropped when her husband’s figure vanished, staring through her knees to the ground and slight edge of the coffin below her. It would appear that the ghost was thinking about Wodahs question. Well, she thought of that too, but the failing vitals of Jarai were more of what the ghost thought on. The synox was working at alarming levels in the girl’s system. It was enough to be terrified about. Venta cut the string that had bound her and the girl for the last several minutes or more. With the poison raging wildly and feasting on her health, it didn’t help the girl to have her mind brutally attacked upon at the same time.

“The… answer… is in my holocron, the only thing you cannot open, Wodahs. You’re an art of the sword, as much as Ichigo used to be. My holocron will be as tricky to open as it was getting through the locks of this tomb, without the poison, of course. That’s a reason I’m going to have to cut this short. The poison is eating at Jarai like starved parasites. If this doesn’t end, one way or another, she’ll be lost in the next few hours. The first step to recovering her will take well over an hour itself, as synox is a tricky poison and its been converted into air from the liquid form, making it all the more difficult to reverse the process.” There was a sly smile on Venta that was swallowed by a mask of seriousness. She didn’t want Jarai to die. She’d come to like the girl, in her own way.

Venta pushed herself from the coffin, gliding to her holocron for the second or third time already. Her fingers made some kind of contact and threw the device at Mere. “You are the stronger one in the Force between the two of you. If Jarai were awake, I’d be handing it to her. I will give it to you, but I want it in Jarai’s hands when she can stand. The steps for curing the poison are there, just make sure to access it correctly.” Again, there was an uplift of the lips from Venta. “And, trust me, Jarai’s not going to be standing for a little while.”

That allowed Mere to the holocron, but Venta didn’t care now. Her eyes riveted to Jarai, who had been tortured in the mind was once stiff and tense. As soon as the bond was cut, it was like she had been melted. Jarai’s body had relaxed and her head had tipped more to the side. There were no more groans from the girl, just a small hiss of air as she breathed. Nothing moved or twitched except for the rise and call of her chest to show she was still breathing.

However, if these men didn’t move it, Jarai wouldn’t be breathing.

“You might want to get started on the remedy.”

[Darth Mere]

( So you want him to access the holocron to get the information. )

Mere caught the Holocron with both hands, taking special care in its handling. At the same time the Gray Matter over the door uncovered. He looked up at Venta with one eyebrow raised. "You want nothing in return?" He asked. He turned to Wodahs and said, "Get her out of the tomb." Then he turned to Venta and smirked, "I respect you, and appreciate you." He reached into his robe and produced three objects.

He held up the first two holocrons and smirked, "Gray Matter is only the first of many techniques that can be found using my discovery. The first two holocrons I have are on the bases that allowed me to develope Gray Matter...Theory on darkside volumes 1 and 2, explaining the first, second, and the third plausible forms. The third holocron is on the Gray Matter itself. I suggest a trade of knowlwedge. I will allow you to read and look at my holocrons, and in return, I will come back many years from now, and we will discuss Dark Side theory. That is, if you accept my offer. That is all I can offer though, and in these extreme circumstances, I must be away. Think about it for a moment, and give me your answer, do you want to spend the next several years learning new things, or standing in solitude?"

There were two reasons for Mere to ask this;
1. He really was quite impressed with this Venta, and he wanted to return her favor of allowing him the holocron, which while Jarai was unconscious, he'd be able to listen to...or at least listen to what he could access. She may also have killed *Him* with the synox, and he's never had his life in someones hands like that before.

2. If she studied the Dark Matter, she may be able to develope new techniques, she might even open the third form. The third dimension, the ground leveler, and if he could learn how to enter third form, he would most definitely be the most powerful Sith to ever exist.

And now, he awaited his answer, he would get to Jarai the moment after her reply.

[Darth Wodahs]

Wodahs was not pleased with Mere receiving the holocron, but there was nothing he could do about it. He was insulted when she called Mere the stronger, but he was carefulll to use Ichigo's mind shielding techniec to keep people out of his mind. He was more than a simple swords man. He was well versed in the use of the force, and had even mastered all the techiec's on Kurisaki's, and Semtri's holocron...well, Kurisaki's anyway's. He had even improved upon the 'Flash-Step' and 'Flash-Dance'...but..it was out of his hands for the time being.

He looked at Semtri, and bowed a deep bow of utmost respect, and sent a mental message to her, leaving himself vulnerable just long enough for her to recieve it--"My humbalist apologieze...my concern for Jarai..got in the way of my beter judgement. I swore a sword oath to her, ancient even in your day's....and my oath takes presadence over even my own code of honor..once again..I apologize"

He turns, kneel's and lifts Jarai from the floor, holding her gently, yet firmly.When he straitens he turns and gazes into Semtri's eye's, and with his back turned to Mere, the lightend to the color of a clear blue sky. They show his concern for the unconcious woman in his arm's, and little more.--"Thank you"--In an instant his eye's turn back to they're usual amber. He turns and takes off at a run through the tunnel's, his feet a blur. Mere could catch up quickly enough. What was important was getting Jarai onto his ship and into the medical bay.

[Jarai Telo]

Indeed, oaths are powerful, Wodahs. I doubt your apology, but I don’t doubt your concern.[/b] Her hazed and obscure eyes because of Venta’s form were burning into Wodahs for the moment as she prepared to answer Mere’s proposal. Wodahs’ concern was sensed by the ghost. She could taste it as clearly as If she were savoring a delectable dish. And there is nothing to be insulted about, young man. Recognize the fact Mere knows more on the Force than you do.[/b] Person Mere may be, but Venta was a projection of the Force. And the Force did amazing things to one’s spirit when dead.

Venta’s hard stare flicked back over the Mere. The man wanted a trade in knowledge. Apparently he hadn’t been around ghosts. Or studied them for that fact. Her hands spread apart, locking gazes with Mere.

“I am of the Force, Mere. Knowledge and holocrons and power mean almost nothing of me as I am the very thing I thirsted and hungered for in life. It is a craving that is satisfied when you are what you sought for. You can give an example of a starving child: they do all they can to have one meal, especially one very GOOD meal. The child is satisfied when they have their fill and perhaps excess. It’s the way I sit right now.

“I do not need your holocrons. I don’t want them.” One of those smiles Corellians were famous for crept across her face. “I don’t stand in solitude. I can be fine being OF the Force. If you learned about ghosts from a Jedi, you would understand them, and the ghost of a Sith is no different. You are still apart of the Force when you die.

“I just so happen to be one of the few who can project herself into the universe’s present time. Of this world. That’s the hardest achievement to accomplish when your body has passed on. It took a little time. And figuring out the way of the dimension is actually mind numbing. But the gift of the Force willingly opens things to you.”

Venta’s hand made a circling motion to the main cavern’s entrance. The feeling of haste was suddenly projected around the room. “You need to hurry. Jarai was fading quite quickly when Wodahs left. Unless you figure the way to pry open the holocron and begin medication, which you might have to separate ingredients from other medications for it to work properly, your little leader will pass away.” Venta tried to sound as frank as possible. It was true; the medicine was going to be difficult to prescribe.

She just didn’t want to make things too easy, did she?

“If you want to come back in a few years or so, I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere. And I care not if someone visits or not. Just be prepared to witness a few more decaying bodies lying about the tomb and hope that I decide not to attempt at killing you out of pure fact I don’t wish to speak to you.” That hard stare fixed on Mere, seemingly cold. “Now, SHOO!”


---

It was absolute relief. The images and edgy, growing to unbearably painful emotions and feelings and racing thoughts had abruptly ended. This only concluded to Jarai's subconscious mind of the experiences coming from Darth Semtri. Everything now lay inky black and blank, nothing but a whirlpool and Jarai could sense her own feelings, instead of somebody else.

Venta had said it was a less--...

The thought drifted off. Unconsciousness poured over her, bringing Jarai over the edge and into total submission to anything that may be happening outside her enclosed space of the mind. Her brain just shut down, and this was the time when her body had become so limp. There was nothing swarming the girl's mind as her body did the natural instinct to attempt to put her out of her misery. And to attempt to heal on its own.

That was highly unlikely, as the synox poison hindered the body's reaction to heal. Instead, it gobbled up every chance, slowly making the young woman weaker and weaker as it fought with her body's defense and edged it closer to the heart of the Evolve leader. It was winning. It wasn't much a fight, as the strike after strike after blow to the defense in the beginning, when Jarai had relied on her own abilities to open the trap doors and unlock the puzzles as she staggered through the tomb. Had she decided to focus on the poison, she would've been fine.

But synox was funny that way. Jarai hadn't noticed it until she was starting to grow weak. And by then it was far too late to try to counter it. So, she pushed forward.

And therefore ended at the mercy of others.

[Darth Mere]

Darth Mere had done little more than tilt his head for respects to Semtri. The next moment he was gone, a whisper in the wind. After the intense run out of the tomb, he leaped onto the speeder and was off in a jiffy. He didn't stop when he arrived at the ship, but instead rode the speeder right up the ramp, stopping just before he hit the wall, then he was once again off the bike and he made his way to the medical room. Then, he sat down and began to figure out how to open it. ( You guys are going to have to take it from here, who knows when I'll be able to post next and I have to go now. Sorry, very sorry. )