Finding The Light

[Arador Drakar]

Death Disabled / Maim enabled PVP.

Feeling the gentle Tanaab breeze as he stepped out from the shuttle onto the landing platform. The now fifteen year old had changed a lot. Not just the feeling of being paranoid for a reason he did not know. Well he knows just not the whole reason. But his appearance has changed a lot since he had been ripped from Alek Varsan's side. The teenager had grown his hair out and his outfit had a militaristic feel to it.


But one big change is that he is no longer the energetic teenager he had been before his kidnapping at the hands of Onyge, his two partners and capture at the hands of the War Master Kalladrrl. No now if someone from his past are to come across him he may appear the same. But he is not the same. One who is force sensitive may even detect the dark shadow that has embraced him the moment he was kidnapped and taken to Korriban.


After running away from Onyge and his comrades, the teenager mistakenly fled deeper into the Sith territory instead of heading out like he thought he was. At the time he was just desprite to get as far away as possible so he can recover from the whole ordeal. Just to get captured again. Just to endure far worse at the War Master's hands. The boy has no idea why the Sith Master left him alive. He didn't even know what was done to him. He had some memory of what had happened, but naturally his mind did it's best to block the painful, traumatic thoughts.


Walking out of the space port the teenager had no aid to help him see except for the force. Of course now after the whole ordeal his strength within the force has grown substantially. Enough that if he was a Sith he would he boasting about it. But Arador is not the boasting type at all.


Walking out of the town, Arador followed a trail until it led him deep into a large hill covered with trees. When deep enough, Arador came to a stop. Taking a deep breath the teenager calmed himself as he listened to the tree leaves and branches swaying in the breeze. At first he felt at peace, but then the feeling of being watched settled in as he picked up on the signature of someone following him.


@One For Sorrow

 

[Kane]

Kane was tired.

The Sith had all but snuffed out the entire Jedi Order, there were so few of them left now. Barely a flicker of their light to stand against the ever growing darkness. He himself had barely gotten off Tython, barely made it through relublic space. His new outfit had none of his armor attatched, that was stored in a locked trunk somewhere safe. His Vibro Claws with it. And for the first time in his seventy years as a Jedi he had altered the appearance of his lightsaber, now the weapon was disguised as a cane. With his hair shaven almost completely off and his dishevelled beard and clothes he looked the part of the old wanderer.

He did not know why the force had drawn him here, but it's pull was strong. All he knew as he set out into the forests was that there was something he needed to do here. So he walked down the trails leading out from the town, leaning on his cane as he went.

Eventually the old Crusader -if he could even be called that anymore- reached a large tree covered hill. Here. he felt the force whisper to him. So he slowly made his way up the hill, the feeling growing stronger thenhigher he went until eventually he reached the top. There he found the reason he had been called here. Young Arador stood there amomgst the trees, looking far different than he had the last time Kane had seen him. Feeling different as well, it seemed like there was a shadow hanging over the boy.

He watched Arador for a few moments before stepping into view.

"Arador my lad, what are you doing out here all alone?"

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador could sense that whoever was approaching was someone in the light. Following the path before him like he allowed the force to take him where ever it leads him without question. The boy wondered if he had done the same if he would have still winded up the way that he is now.

Alone and lost. Alone because he hasn't found Alek nor does it seem that his brother is looking for him. Or if he is it is all in the wrong places. And lost well.. That is for reasons buried deep down. The voice he heard belonged to someone who Arador is familiar with. Granted it has been some time since he had last seen the old knight. But he still recognized his voice all the same, "Master Kane.." He began as the teenager turned to face the man, "..isn't it obvious? I'm lost. Sir." He replied as he finished making the turn. Now fully facing the knight, "I was kidnapped from my brother's side and taken deep into Sith Territory. I.. Just got out of there. Though I don't know how I did it because I was captured." The boy said with a heavy amount of confusion as he continued to look at the Knight taking in what he was seeing. So it was true that the Jedi have been forced to go into hiding.

 

[Kane]

Kane could sense something...off... About Arador, as if his time in captivity had somehow tainted him.

"Well it is good that you escaped. I was unaware you had a brother. How did you get captured boy?"

Kane leaned on his cane, allowing the metal rod to take most of his weight. Arador seemed very confused as to the circumstances of his escape, and that worried the old Jedi.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador took a step back away from Kane as he felt that the other Jedi was studying him. Trying to figure out the boy. The blind teenager had no idea why it made him feel uneasy. Besides it being an affect from being in captivity.

"Alek Varsan. The one who brought me to the order. I called him Ori'vod. Mandalorian for big brother. Because I came to see him as such." The teenager told Kane as the man told him he was not aware that the boy had a brother. Of course no one but Alek knew that Arador came to see Alek as an older brother.

"Me and Alek went on a diplomatic mission to gain allies for the Order. A Sith by the name of Onyge was there.. He attacked Alek and took me away after knocking him out. I tried to stand up to him but I was not strong enough to resist him. The Sith had two others to help him.. Take me to Korriban." Arador further explained looking away from the knight as the memories flowed like a torrent in his head, "He.. Trained me in the ways of the Darkness. But it was not to make me his pupil. It was to consume me. That was his plan.. But I didn't know until he tried to do it."

 

[Kane]

Kane nodded as Arador spoke, that explained the slightly dark taint in the boy's aura.

"That is...troubling." the old Jedi said as he stroked his beard in thought. "It is very good that you escaped. That would not have been a pleasant end for you."

Kane made no movement toward the young Jedi, noting the boys discomfort. The old Crusader knew that on occasion his gaze could be a touch more penetrating and scrutinizing than some liked. He was however concerned by Arador's confession of having been trained in the dark ways.

'Tell me my young friend. This training, how much has it affected you?"

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador nodded in agreement, "I imagine that I'd be begging for a swifter end if they got a hold of me.. I guess I picked the one place to hide long enough that they didn't know to look there.. Or I just got lucky thanks to the force. Who knows." The boy ran his hand through his hair a bit, closing his eyes tightly as he admitted to training in the ways of the dark side. But he had to tell his friend so that the man somewhat understood more of the darkness that dwelled with in him. Thank goodness it is Kane and not Alek. He has no idea how well his brother would take all this.

The teenager looked back to the old crusader. Biting his bottom lip a bit. His hand going to one of his lightsabers. To the one on his left hip, ".. Well.. Not as much as it could have. I resisted as much as I could during my captivity.. I will admit though that. I am afraid Master Kane. He taught me powers that I know I will never be accepted into the Order for." He flicked on the blade. It was a dark bronze in color with a small tinge of red than the last time Arador looked at the blade, he then got his second one activating the yellow blade. But it too had changed to be a bit more orange thanks to the flecks of red, "I did my best to resist.. But I guess my best was not quite enough.. It may have been enough to survive. But not to resist." Arador deactivated the blades, putting them back in their designated pockets, "Though I guess the powers he taught me may prove useful against the Sith.. But something tells me that.. The moment that I try that.. That I try it will not work. That it will backfire to where I will use it against my comrades and friends instead. Like.. They did something." Arador looked away from Kane as he felt a wave of aggression, like something was telling him to attack the man. The boy shook his head as he resisted the overwhelming feeling. He doesn't want to attack Kane, or any of those he saw as friends or family.

 

[Kane]

Kane shifted his grip slightly on his cane as Arador activated his lightsabers, but he relaxed again as the boy deactivated the slightly reddened blades.

"It's not too late my young friend, the darkness can always be overcome."

He took a few steps towards Arador, looking over the boy kore closely now for any signs of dark side corruption. Overcoming the darkness was always possible, but the old Crusader needed to know how bad it was.

"You didn't have lightsabers last time I saw you, they look well constructed. We can purify and heal the crystals."

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador shook his head, "I don't know what was done to me though.. How can it be overcome if I don't know if they have turned me into some sort of puppet or not? If they did.. Then anyone who get's too close is in danger." The boy cautiously watched the old knight take a few steps closer, "I.. Don't want to hurt anyone." He said the last bit quietly as he started to feel fear, and with it the darkness creeping closer.

Arador looked to Kane, "Thank you. I made them just before the diplomatic mission. Maybe a week before. I think. Lost track with all the training after I made them." The boy was not sure of Kane getting closer was a good idea. As the man got closer, so did the shadow, "M-master Kane. Please don't get too close.. Feels like as you get closer... So does it." He explained taking a step back.

 

[Kane]

Kane stopped short at Arador's request, holding his hands up at chest level with his palms towards the boy to show a lack of aggression. He could feel the young Jedi's fear in the force, whatever they had done to the boy it was not going to be easy to undo.

"Arador, if you were their puppet you would have attacked me by now. Without the explanation of what had happened to you, broken as your memory of the events is."

Kane lowered his hands slowly, resting them on his cane in front of him.

"Whatever they have done to you we can and will undo, You have my word on it. Perhaps some meditation, reflectingnin on yourself could be a good start to determine exactly what they have done. I would suggest going to a temple but...well I fear they are all gone."

Arador seemed...well twitchy was really the only way Kane could describe the boy's behavior. His young friend may not have been turned into a puppet as he feared, but it seemed that whatever darkness had been put into him was struggling for control.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador shook his head, his body starting to shake as he tried to keep the shadow at bay. Yes the old jedi showing no aggression helped keep it away, but the boy has no idea how long he can keep it away, "It's because I am resisting it Master Kane. That is why I haven't attacked you yet.. I don't know how much longer I can hold it off." The teenager shook his head as he resisted what the shadow was telling him to do. To cut down the jedi while he is unarmed. Totally against why Arador wanted to become a jedi in the first place.

The young Knight plopped himself onto the grass and tossed his lightsabers away, the motion seeming to work now that well he had no means to attack the other jedi. The boy sighed softly as the shadow seemed to retreat a bit for the first time. He used the possibly small window of time to listen to Kane's instructions, "You know.. The reason why I wanted to be a Knjght was because of something I read in a book before I lost my sight and finding out I am force sensitive. That a Jedi always protects those who cannot defend themselves either because of being disabled or simply having the odds stacked against them. And equally are not to harm or kill anyone who is defenseless or not a threat.." The boy trailed off as a single tear trailed down from his right eye, "If.. They are trying to make me their puppet. It is against what I read.. The reason I wanted to be a Jedi." The boy looked to his tossed lightsabers then over to Kane. He felt very lost, thinking that perhaps to protect the other Jedi he will have to stop trying to be one to stop what ever the Sith are trying to use him for.

 

[Kane]

Kane resisted the initial instinct to pull Arador's discarded sabers to himself, not wanting to seem aggressive towards the boy.

"You can still be a great Jedi boy, and we need those more than ever in these dark days."

He sat down on the spot, cross legged with his cane laid accross his lap. He let the light side flow through himself, hoping that it's presence would help to soothe his young friend.

"Try opening yourself to the force, allow the light to flow through you. Let the light purge the darkness. I will help you, if I can."

Kane had a plan, it was not going to be easy but if his theory was right the light side of the force would burn the dark out of Arador. The old Crusader was prepared to do anything he needed to in assistance, as long as Arador let him.

 

[Arador Drakar]

The old crusador's encouraging words.. They seemed to have lit a spark in the teenager as he looked over to Kane. Perhaps he is in fact looking at the whole thing the wrong way. What if this whole thing will make him a better jedi? More powerful.. Stronger so he can defend others...no! He can't go thinking about power. It will draw the darkness closer. He can't think about those words that will draw it closer.

Feeling the Knight let the light flow through himself. It was soothing, encouraging the boy to do the same. Something that for some reason he was afraid to do. But feeling it from Kane, it was so warm. The teenager looked down to his hands resting on his knees. When did he place them there? It was as though he was subconsciously entering a meditative state. Feeling the gentle breeze that winded through the forest at a regular pace, he matched his breathing with it. Pretending to match the planet's breathing. Letting himself feel everything.

Closing his eyes the boy felt the light starting to purge the darkness. But it was fighting back. The light showing all he had accomplished, his friends.. But the dark was showing what had happened. And seemed to be taunting him with the muffled words of the sith words that were said to him. He whimpered as he felt the struggle becoming too much, the darkness telling him to burn out the light. To kill the jedi who was only trying to help him.

"Master Kane.. It's.. Fighting back." Was the only warning he could give followed by, "Y-you need to defend yourself.." As the boy brought both lightsabers back to his hands. Though he was still letting the light flow through him to purge the darkness. It seemed that the dark was throwing everything it had to gain control of the boy. But in an attempt to give the light an advantage, he warned Kane hoping the Knight will see why he is warning the old crusador. As well as the boy trying to purge the darkness.

 

[Kane]

Kane leapt to his feet as Arador's sabers flew to his, twirling his cane into his right hand and activating it. The bright yellow blade snapped to life at the tip of the cane, and Kane held it out to thr right, pointed at the ground for now.

"]ARADOR! FIGHT IT!"

As the old Crusader readied himself he pulled the force around him, focused in his left palm. He would wait for Arador to charge, and when the boy inevitably did he would release a short burst of force light to distract and harm the darkness taking hold of his young friend.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador activated both blades the moment they landed in each hand. His bronze in his right, and the yellow in his left. As the boy struggled to gain back control of himself, he kept his blades pointed at the ground. The inner struggle clearly showing as the teenager shook violently as he resisted what the darkness was telling him to do, "I am fighting.. It Master Kane." He deactivated his two blades, seeming to get control.

But when the boy looked over to the old crusador, in a heart beat he was charging at the knight with both blades activated with a soft hiss. The darkness telling him that none of the jedi deserved his friendship or mercy because none of them came for him. The boy faultered, giving the darkness the time it needed to gain control. But before Arador could get a strike in he was blinded by Kane's force light. As it blinded him for a moment, it distracted the darkness letting it loose some of it's hold on the teenager.

 

[Kane]

Kane flicked the power setting on his saber to non-lethal so that he would not hurt Arador, and as the boy stumbled due to his force light he could feel the darkness recoil ever so slightly.

"Push against the darkness boy, while it's thrown off!"

As Kane bellowed at Arador he charged at the boy as well, lunging forward and stabbing towards his friend's left side. At the last minute he would turn the attack into a sideways strike at the hand holding the yellow bladed saber in an attempt to disarm him.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador felt the darkness recoil due to Kane's force light. Though it blinded even his force sight at the same time. It strangely brought some peace, as well as reminding the boy of one thing he accomlished. He learned how to see through the force.

He felt himself gaining control as he watched the old jedi charge at him. The boy moved to block Kane's attack when the direction was changed. Though the blade was powered down, the contact still burned his hand causing Arador to drop the yellow blade lightsaber. Before the older crusador could get another attack in, Arador used force speed to get around behind the knight, "You're going to have to do better than that to help me push it out."

He may be facing the knight now. But in his head, it is the darkness he is battling. Once he got behind the knight he swung his blade in a left sweep at Kane's legs.

 

[Kane]

Kane leapt straight into the air and over Arador's blade, spinning in the air to face the boy as he landed.

As his feet hit the ground he quickly struck towards Arador's midsection with the blunt end if his cane and then leapt back several feet.

"I don't want to hurt you Arador, keep fighting it."

As Kane spoke he pulled Arador's dropped saber to his left hand and tucked it into his belt before assuming a defensive position once more. He knew that the trick with the force light wouldn't work again, so he reached into the ground with the force and felt all the roots around them in preparation for Arador's next attack.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador didn't anticipate the old jedi's next move as he jumped over the teenager. Landing in front of the boy. He doubled over a bit as his midsection was hit, knocking the wind out of him. Though the blow felt like it knocked the shadow away as well. Well at least it seemed to be that way to the boy.

"I am fighting it Master Kane. I'm fighting it." He told the Jedi Knight. He watched as Kane took the lightsaber he had dropped, placing it on his belt. Then something that Arador couldn't explain happened, he felt so much anger. Charging at the knight the boy gathered the force into himself, working himself into a rage. He headed in one direction, then moved into another, swinging his blade to the right violently. Though he will not be able to continue the use of the force rage for long.

 

[Kane]

As Arador began his charge, Kane was slightly shocked. He had not expected the darkness in the boy to be that strong that he could go into suvh a rage so fast.

During his friend's charge he pushed his built up force energy into the ground and through the roots, making them shoot up through the ground and grab at Arador. Kane brought his saber up to intercept the savage strike, only the added leverage from the cane hilt of his saber allowing him to stop Arador from cleaving him in two.

As the two locked blades the old Crusader stomped his foot, sending another pulse through the roots to send them grasping at Arador's wrists and ankles.