Jul 15, 2018 22:09:23 GMT
"Do try and keep up, Kallis" said the wizened Jedi master as he painstakingly lowered himself into the black Dathomiri swamp water from a crumbling stone wall. His dark wool Jedi robes fanned out around him and the neat knot of his silver hair grew lank and heavy with the kiss of that swamp as he swam slowly out. Kallis watched his mentor and master for a moment before replicating what Ebil Urdan had just done. The younger man smiled briefly, seeing his master as some large sea beast from his own youth on Selonia, instead of a man who had long ago peaked. "What is the point of this, Master? The Jen'jidai haven't been spotted in any system for ages..." Questioned Kallis, who swiftly dismounted the stone wall and entered the water with surprisingly little noise. It was one of his natural uses of the living energy in all things that made his physical endeavors seem effortless and annoyed his master to no end. Ebil laughed in disdain "Thick headed and willful boy..." before clamoring over a collapsed pillar and continuing deeper into the temple proper. Some battle or a hellacious storm had long since demolished most of the structure, marring and stripping it of any beauty. "Just because they haven't come forth into the core worlds with fleets and armies innumerable, doesn't mean that they are gone. The Jen'jidai were resilient, even for those who practiced the dark arts. This was one of their temples and so it contained some of their knowledge. We can learn from what is inside and we can prevent it from falling into the wrong hands..." He looked over his shoulder and smiled, "Satisfied with that answer, Master Kallis?" The younger Jedi rolled his eyes as he swam after the old man. This was how most of their interactions went anymore. There was no denying that Kallis was soon destined to become a Jedi Knight and little doubt that he would become a master. His connection to The Force was powerful but his mind was ever thinking, ever questioning and doubtful of everything. Often times he wondered if the old Jedi had become jealous of his strength, of his power but he pushed those thoughts from his mind as often as he could. Ebil was a good man and had shown Kallis the love of a father. Kallis was thankful to have such a man for his mentor.
The pair swam further and delved deeper into the temple, wary of the multitude of glowing eyes watching them from the cover of night. Occasionally something would stir within the inky depths and Kallis would feel the surge of fear creep into his veins before he focused himself and drove it from his very being. It was more so this place and less the creatures who now called it home. There was a darkness in the very heart of this planet and it wore away at them all, like crashing water over so many stones. Ebil stopped his forward movement and began to tread water, motioning to Kaliss to join him. "This is the place, Kallis. This was once the personal study of a feared Jen'Jidai, one who is rumored to have often cheated mortality...a perversion of the natural order of things and a true danger to the balance of the universe... especially now with this evil disease running rampant." Ebil's steel grey eyes met the deep brown of his apprentice. "These are dark times, Kallis...as a Shadow I have dedicated my life to exposing darkness to the light of the truth. Now more than ever, we must be successful in our efforts." The sincerity and urgency brought Kallis to the surface of his thoughts, Ebil's plea and the dark surroundings made for a bleak tone. "I understand, Master Urdan. I will not fail you" he replied. "Good" Ebil said with a smile before taking an aquatic breather from his utility belt and popping it in his mouth. Then the old man was gone from view, his scarred face and silver hair disappearing into the void of the Dathomiri swamps. Kalis quickly followed suit, calibrating the breather on the fly, plunging into the depths without hesitation. They descended for several meters before coming to a seemingly impregnable door, the faded twisting knotwork of an order long since destroyed still evident upon the blast door. Ebil was already tampering with the control panel, wrist deep with some homemade tool, trying to open the 10x10 door. To Kallis's surprise, Ebil was only mildly shocked once by the electronics before the doors slammed open. Something stirred within, a loud mechanical grinding began to shake the very walls before submersible turbine pumps switched on to do their old duty and began to swallow the swamp that engulfed the long-abandoned ruins. Ebil turned to his apprentice, wide-eyed and with hands in air to suggest he hadn't know that this would happen. Kallis knew better.
The pair swam further and delved deeper into the temple, wary of the multitude of glowing eyes watching them from the cover of night. Occasionally something would stir within the inky depths and Kallis would feel the surge of fear creep into his veins before he focused himself and drove it from his very being. It was more so this place and less the creatures who now called it home. There was a darkness in the very heart of this planet and it wore away at them all, like crashing water over so many stones. Ebil stopped his forward movement and began to tread water, motioning to Kaliss to join him. "This is the place, Kallis. This was once the personal study of a feared Jen'Jidai, one who is rumored to have often cheated mortality...a perversion of the natural order of things and a true danger to the balance of the universe... especially now with this evil disease running rampant." Ebil's steel grey eyes met the deep brown of his apprentice. "These are dark times, Kallis...as a Shadow I have dedicated my life to exposing darkness to the light of the truth. Now more than ever, we must be successful in our efforts." The sincerity and urgency brought Kallis to the surface of his thoughts, Ebil's plea and the dark surroundings made for a bleak tone. "I understand, Master Urdan. I will not fail you" he replied. "Good" Ebil said with a smile before taking an aquatic breather from his utility belt and popping it in his mouth. Then the old man was gone from view, his scarred face and silver hair disappearing into the void of the Dathomiri swamps. Kalis quickly followed suit, calibrating the breather on the fly, plunging into the depths without hesitation. They descended for several meters before coming to a seemingly impregnable door, the faded twisting knotwork of an order long since destroyed still evident upon the blast door. Ebil was already tampering with the control panel, wrist deep with some homemade tool, trying to open the 10x10 door. To Kallis's surprise, Ebil was only mildly shocked once by the electronics before the doors slammed open. Something stirred within, a loud mechanical grinding began to shake the very walls before submersible turbine pumps switched on to do their old duty and began to swallow the swamp that engulfed the long-abandoned ruins. Ebil turned to his apprentice, wide-eyed and with hands in air to suggest he hadn't know that this would happen. Kallis knew better.