this dying light makes it hard to tell wrong from right

[soloing]

Characters: Jacen Solo, Kyp Durron, Malik, Anakin Solo, Altair, Catty Turner, Isolde, Atton Rand, Jaina Solo, with a special hideous guest appearance... by Malak
Location: The Sith Academy
Planet: Korriban
When: FUTURE DATED to 2 days from now
What: Jacen and Kyp lead a rescue attempt
Rating: Uh probably PG-13 for violence and character death

Comments

THE GREAT ESCAPE

[astrongchin]

[ the sounds of heavily booted feet echo throughout the hall as Malak makes his way towards one of the entrances of the Sith Academy. All who see him immediately drop to a knee and lower their heads as he passes.

A wise decision, as Lord Malak was not in one would call the best of moods.

He spies an academy security guard. They are unfamiliar to him, a recruit.

They are sweating, eyes wide with fear. ]

Where...are the intruders?

[ the guard is finding it hard to breathe. Her hands claw fruitlessly at her neck ]

And who...let them in?

[ the veins near her throat protrude, standing stark against the red flushed skin ]

And where-

[ her eyes bulge out, her feet kick fruitlessly as they leave the ground ]

-are the traitors?

[ she chokes something out that sounds like a beg for forgiveness. But Malak does not hear it. All he hears is the last of her air escape her windpipe before it is crushed when his own extended hand makes a fist. ]

No answers. And that is why you are deserving of your fate.

[ he drops his hand, and turns

[soloing]

[It's almost been too easy, which is exactly why Jacen knows the escape won't be. Their distraction worked, they've only faced minimal resistance, Catty and Altair are in tow...

And yet he feels the danger approaching like a tangible thing on his radar as they head through the hallways. He glances back over his shoulder, obviously distracted by these thoughts.]

[pathtosacrifice]

[Catty knows it's Malak, can feel herself beginning to choke on his presence, even from this distance. There's a connection there now, between predator and prey, and her body shakes.]

We need to hurry.

[soloing]

[Jacen notices Catty's anxiety and stretches out his own senses, allowing a momentary connection that lets him see exactly who is after them - and allows him to feel Jacen, as well. There's no escaping the inevitable confrontation, no matter where they go now, or what they do.

He can only affect what that confrontation will be, now.

The answer's stunningly clear to him, as is the realization of exactly what it was he'd been foretelling in his dreams.

He keeps his voice calm as he addresses the others.]

Kyp. Take Catty and Altair and get them to the ship. [He slows to a stop.]

[pathtoatonement]

[It takes Kyp a moment to realise that Jacen is addressing him, focussing on Catty as he is. His head jerks over and he frowns at the man, shifting the way he holds the girl slightly]

I - what? [A beat. He can feel that dark presence approaching inexorably through the halls] You can't stay behind by yourself, he'll kill you! [Inexperienced as he is, even Kyp can tell that there's no beating Darth Malak on their own]

[pathtosacrifice]

[Catty realizes what Jacen's doing the moment he slows, and it's in that same moment that she begins to struggle, a renewed sense of strength flooding through her, and even a rock could tell that it's from fear and anger that she's getting this strength.] You can't! You can't, Jacen!

[It's not worth it, she wants to scream. She's already half-dead anyway, and dying doesn't feel like anything to her. She doesn't want him to stay behind for them; she wants him to get on that ship. They can leave her behind. It'll be easier.]

[soloing]

[Jacen feels the emotions swelling his apprentice, and fixes her with a calm stare.]

I'm not leaving Jaina. [His words make it clear that he's immovable on this, but he can tell they aren't going to accept just an argument. He turns away from them once more.] Kyp. You gave your word. I'll give you plenty of time to get clear. [He takes a few steps forward and then with a quick motion of his hand to the side, a wave of energy slams back against them, enough to stagger them clear of the doorway, which he seals closed with another flick of the wrist.]

[astrongchin]

[ rats fleeing a sinking ship. It's the only thought that Malak can attribute to the pathetic weaklings as they flee with their tails between their legs. The matter of the traitor would be taken care of easily enough, but he had hoped to make an example to the others who had pledged themselves to the Sith cause in hope of a cure

PLAYERCEST AW YEAH

[abovetwinsuns]

[ the body of the guard is as limp as the dolls senators would use to give her when she was a child, but Jaina kneels down beside it to check the pulse anyways.

Nothing.

The eyes are glazed over and the wrist she's holding is already cold.

Jaina swallows, she hadn't wanted them here. Any of them, but the alerts and the own feeling of her twin and younger brother through the Force bonds they shared was enough to tell her she didn't get her wish.

Idiots.

Jaina dropped the wrist, closing the guards eyes before grabbing hold of her lightsaber and running towards the docking bays.

She only hoped she could get there before the dark presence in the Force did.

The one that was targeting her twin.

She inhales and sends a message through their bond]

Get the kriff out of here! He's coming!

8'D

[soloing]

[This was something he didn't expect.

For Jaina to come to him now, when Malak was on his way...

He should have known. He should have expected it. But it wasn't how he wanted this to proceed, so he sends her back a message just as fiercely:]

Stay out of this, Jaina. I can fight him.

[he doesn't know why in the world he's so cock-sure about his ability to hold off Malak, but he knows, knows from that vision, that someone is going to die in this, and he's willing to accept that person being him.

he won't accept jaina as that casualty.

he can't.]

I know what I'm doing.

[did he?

kyp and catty were beyond that door now, and he could sense their anger at him, but they would be safe. they had that chance now.

he turned towards where he felt malak's approaching presence, lightsaber hilt dropping into a ready position in his hand, though he doesn't activate it yet]