All Signs Lead to a Crossroads (Tempus5)
  • Posted On: Aug 8 2003 10:40pm
... Moments before dawn, and not a soul in sight.

From dawn and all the way past dusk Arkan would work.

The Zabrak had come upon many crossroads within his life, but he would come upon many more in the insight that Zeta would give.

It is time.. The knowledge you seek awaits you, Arkan. Will you rise to the challenges that await you?

Dawn would break through soon. The Zabrak awaited Arkan's arrival at the entrance of the training chamber.

Zeta would wait until the very first light of dawn, if Arkan did not show; he'd find himself at another crossroads and without a mentor.
Posts: 54
  • Posted On: Aug 8 2003 11:35pm
This day held something different from any other day Arkan lived, perhaps it was because of this new form as a Zabrak, or perhaps it was the will of the Force. Whether one soul or another could compel him subconsciously like this, Arkan found himself knowing where the Sith Lord was. Not by the concentration of Force energy within the individual, but rather, the instinct he had within this mortal form. He walked steadily, almost like a trance.

Inevitably, Arkan found himself before Darth Zeta at the entrance. He nodded to the Sith, then took time to adjust his internal and external focuses to whatever the Zabrak had for him.

"So it begins. Whether this is the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end... each person holds their place in the everchurning maelstrom of purpose. Tell me, Zeta, do you believe in fate?"
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 2:31am
Tilting his head, Zeta mused over the question represented before him.

"I believe that everything has its results. One cannot transition throughout life without some sort of consequence to be had. I believe that one creates his or her own destiny, as well as do those they come across help to mold that destiny."
Posts: 54
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 2:56am
Arkan nodded, accepted the perspective like a component of his own.

"Destiny is the understanding of destination, may we be destined to be right or wrong is irrelevent. The Force is life and death. No end is wrong, all ends are different perspectives and pose true, given that they provide a part in a cycle. Such a cycle is like the belief of fate. Whether you serve the Force or use the Force, it takes one step to unlock the path. It takes people that serve the Force to provide the believe of living, using the Force, as such it could also work vice-versa. Almost like a symbiotic cycle of believe with one core ideal.

Thusly, we stand here now, governed by two ends. One by the Force, another of the Force. So where do we go from here, Zeta?"
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 9:07am
Such a trouble there was with Arkan, not the kind of trouble that was set to bring a thrashing. No, the trouble that Arkan brought left a rather boisterous last impression.

The Zabrak was philosophical. Zeta on the other hand... wasn't.

It took a great deal of effort on Zeta's part to try and connect with Arkan, and for the most part, he could. However, in order to do so he had to run the other's words through his mind a few times before he actually made a clear sense of recognition.

"That is not for me to decide, Arkan. It is your place to set the first step in motion, choose your destination.."

He paused as he looked past Arkan.

"... You have the force; it flows through you just as it does me. Where does it call you?"

Arkan had to find a place where he could firmly planet his feet before he could learn from Zeta. He wanted Arkan to be one with his environment.

... And from where they stood, it wasn't the training chamber of the Naboo Sith Order.
Posts: 54
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 10:06am
Where did it call him? Arkan was brought before Zeta, he had the understanding, but where to go from that point --that was the question. If anything, Arkan wanted to learn the Sith language, but in addition, he wanted to learn the ways Sith fought both with their magic and their saber-techniques. The many options Arkan had at his control were intriguing, some he could multitask, others he needed to focus on.

But with Darth Zeta, Arkan would drive the active education first.

"The knowledge of Sith saber-technique," Arkan put at front.

A sudden spasm of memory suddenly hit him, causing a shiver to go up his spine. He remembered a planet not too long ago that he passed over, marked on the charts as an ice-world, but compelled to it for some reason, the memory drew back to him like a response to his own request of subject to Zeta.

Between both Zabrak, the icy conditions of the world in mind would be just a nuisance than a pain to deal with and the environment would be great for extreme saber-combat. Ennarion, a Zabrak Arkan had met in the past, told him of his own training on that icy planet.

"Rhen Var," he announced under his breathe but audible to Zeta, "Given the settings of such a place, that would be an interesting environment to train in, with the constant blizzards and such. Especially since Ulic Qel'Droma is interred there, along with some other Jedi... it would be quite a trip, wouldn't you say, Zeta?"
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 6:07pm
"You long for a challenge I see," he said, a subtle smirk crossing his face at such a realization.

"Good... to Rhen Var."

Without another word the Zabrak began to head west, toward the direction of the docking bay. It was up to Arkan to follow and keep up on his own perpetual journey, if not, he would be left behind.
Posts: 54
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 8:27pm
And being left behind was the last thing Arkan found as any sort of challenge. He kept up to pace with Darth Zeta, curious toward what exactly the Sith wanted in his training, for in his entire span of knowledge, there was no Sith without some personal agenda, no matter how benevolent and understanding one may seem to be. It would seem that something was amiss, but for now, Arkan would go along with it and savor the lessons while they lasted.

"Truth is an event. Only through experience can the veracity of truth be verified. And perseverance through pain... or rather, a challenge, is the best possible method to attain experience... or rather, truth."

Raising his armor-plated, machine arm up to himself, Arkan pulled open a mini-panel built in. His ship, the Revenant was in orbit and would remain trailer a couple thousand kilometers as he traveled in space. This was a security measure so that the Firespray vessel would not be detected but would be of assistance in case of need. Give or take an hour or two. Arkan would not need the vessel, but would keep it trailing as he followed Zeta into another ship.
  • Posted On: Aug 9 2003 10:13pm
Truth be told, Zeta did have a personal agenda, and only a very few knew of it.

... But Arkan... He did not bring the Lord anywhere closer to fulfilling his plans. The Zabrak was merely being used to help Zeta pass his time away, but either way, it was to Arkan's benefit.

It was very rare for Zeta to give his services freely without wanting something in return in the end. For Arkan, Zeta had no means of a motive, except perhaps to pass on the knowledge that he knew.

The two had almost reached the docking bay when Zeta halted to a stop, his gaze sweeping over Arkan.

"If I did not know any better, Arkan, I'd say that you think that I might have something to hide..."

Zeta's gaze was cold as he paused, trying to come to a resolution.

"For your sake, I do believe to imagine that I may come to be wrong. I do not care to impose upon you my bad side so soon..."
Posts: 54
  • Posted On: Aug 10 2003 12:51am
"It is at this point, Zeta," Arkan began informally, "that I understand unpredictability amongst members of the Sith. Glad that I am not to assume the role of one, my ideals at this point in time suggest that I should be appreciative of the gifts, whether they be truth or illusion. It is the point of that event of appreciation that currently matters to me.

"In whatever way you find in my learning, it is that I am honored to learn from someone like you. Whereas I could have learned under Darth Noktu, you have allowed me this liberty to recieve what is from your experiences. That is all I have come to understand in my suspicions of this honorable opportunity."


Because of this odd arrangement between both Zabrak, Arkan did not fear betrayal or inevitable defeat if he crossed Zeta, but rather he was curious as to why this Sith was so humble towards a stranger. It made Arkan all but wonder if this was some sort of trap later on, should Arkan trust the Sith more.

As with every uncertain encounter Arkan had gone through --only time would tell.