He squinted, it was too far away to see clearly.

But wait... Isn't this something yo'd use the force for?

He concentrated. The image had to appear closer. Something was wrong with it, it needed to come closer to be in accord with reality. This was a mistake, to correct it the image must move towards them. Slowly but surely, it did, the image appeared to inch forwards in his vision, and yet it was as if he had not moved at all.

"...Yes master, I can see it. But I cannot tell what it is, is it human? And if so, why is it running like that?"

This was most peculiar. As his master had requested he had put the blaster away, but his hand strayed there, resting near-by in case he would need it.

(2bump)

"I think this is marked territory, Dolash. Nonetheless, we've got to gain it as shelter, at least for the night."

The figure continued to move steadily forward. The two Jedi had been spotted, but not for long.

"Keep moving, Dolash, I've got an idea... be sure to keep quiet too. I'll see if I can get us to appear unseen to our greeter..."

Donovin frowned as he concentrated on reaching out toward the unknown figure, finding difficulty.

"It's not working, we'll need to get a bit closer.. see if you can get the form to approach a bit more quickly, Dolash."

Dolash wasn't sure what to do? Make him get closer? This was confusing. He couldn't do anything like that from here, what was he to do?

The force. He needed to access it. But so far all he had done was shape small patches of stone and move specks of dust, he couldn't lift a life-form. And if his master could not fool him, what hope would he have?

Then a thought from his mentor, General Regrad (before his promotion and the Hephastus Revolt) reappeared. He had once spoken to his young assisstant at the First Krakken War and said The smallest stone can bring down the greatest boulders.

With that in mind, Dolash closed his eyes. He could feel the being, who radiated a veil of darkness around himself, and he could also feel, just barely, a wall of rock and snow a distance behind it.

He reached out, like a ghost trying to feel again, and brought his senses to a small pebble trapped under a large rock. Slowly, he pushed against it.

It was the strangest experience, as if the whole world was a shadowy copy of reality, and he was moving around this pebbel and yet standing still by his master at the same time. He put his etheral strength against the pebbel, and pushed.

Now, for those who know about Azguardology, you know that each Azguard is two people. So, at this time, there were TWO etheral shaped pushing against the pebbel, although their combined strength was not greater then an equal jedi with only one personality. It merely manifested as two people. Slowly the pebbel moved. It was almost loose! But they weren't strong enough to get it completely out of the way

Unfortunately, for those who know A LOT about Azguards, you know that Azguards are very visual beings. Everything is seen, abstract is hard on them. That is why Dolash is seeing his mind manifested in its' two personalities. But the Force comes in both Light and Dark varieties, and until now Dolash has only been able to draw on the power of force energy in between those two lines, hence his poor development.

Suddenly, Dolash felt a harsh mental block. Someone was stopping him. This person was powerful, seething with dark energy, drawing his force power from the dark side and being far too strong to stop. His manifestations flew away, colliding with the body with such strength that as Dolash opened his eyes he fell over on his back.

But he had succeeded, as the pebbel fell, a large rock held up by it rocked and fell, as did another, suddenly a rumbling began. Snow and rocks kicked up a fierce cloud behind the figure, which procceded to try and engulf him. The figure was now moving towards them.

"Master, I do not think he is a good person." said Dolash between gulps of air as he pulled himself up. "And he is coming this way."

Dolash had pracitcally no power over the force yet, but he had an Azguardian Fighting Sword, and drew it now.

Well that went well.. What’s my next plan?? That’s right.. There isn’t one.. Guess there’s nothing left to do but..

Donovin wasn’t exactly good on thinking quickly when it was needed, but he did not have much choice. It was now left up to fighting; there was no time to think over anything else.

"Catch," Cole said, tossing Dolash his spare lightsaber.

"I realize you might not know how to use one of these, but I know you've seen one before. I don't have much time to explain on how to use it, but it's just like lifting the pebble. Instead of focusing that energy into the pebble like before, guide the energy into your hands."

Donovin frowned.

".. No time for the footwork and technique. Just go with your instincts."

Okay, so that wasn't exactly the best instruction Donovin could have given, but he was a little pressed for time.

There was not much choice in the matter. It was either fight.. or die.

"Get ready.."

Dolash stood with the lightsaber in his hands, holding it tightly. He wasn't scared, because frankly he wasn't quick-witted enough to realize the danger of his current situation, however he was fast enough to engage the lightsaber and stand ready.

The shadow was getting closer. Dolash braced himself. He called on all his physical and mental reserves, and tried to make the force flow. It wasn't easy, he felt as if he were trying to push lead through his veins, but slowly he felt it, charging him, giving him a little more strength.

The figure was close now, Dolash saw the light-saber, the dark cloak, and braced for the collision.

Then - impossibly - the figure leapt over him and turned for a slice at his back. He blocked it, but began to lose his balance and would have been finished had his master not been there to help.

Dolash regained his balance, and joined the fray.

Had been, being the key word. Donovin had tried to swindle the dark presence, but in the end, it was Donovin who had been duped.

Not even more than five minutes into the fight, and the Jedi felt his legs go out, his head coming to slam against the snow covered mountain top, leaving the padawan to fend for himself against the darksider as all went black, Donovin falling to unconsciousness...

Dolash turned. His master was unconcious, the dark figure was standing nearby, slowly advancing, a note of caution in his step. Dolash looked at the lightsaber in his hand, it was just too small. But he didn't have much choice in weapons. Or did he?

Crouching, he threw away his sword and lightsaber, extended his claws and fangs, and uncoiled in a mighty spring towards his foe-

-Who was ready for him. With a wave of his hand, Dolash went flying into a snow-drift. But that would not stop him. Lifting himself up again, he roared and leapt at his opponant, only to be hurled once more into the snow.

It was hopeless. Or was it? His exhaustion was washed away by a sudden feeling of renewed strength. He opened his eyes.

Once again, his limbs aching, Dolash rose. His eyes hardened and he brought all the focus and concentration of both of his minds to bear on his target. He coiled to leap, his opponant raised his hand, and then -

- With a heavy crash, Dolash barrled into the surprised figure. With almost twice his height, Dolash easily overpowered him and threw him to the floor. The figure rolled away before regaining his footing and rising once more.

Dolash had the faintest of white glows playing about his features. He reached down, picked up the light-saber his master had thrown to him, and stood ready.

The figure stopped in its agile movements, weapon still in hand.

The figure encircled Dolash; steps slow, as he took his time to leisurely walk around the padawan. His gaze never separated from Dolash.

His weapon would swing, as its handler twirled it within his grasp, to taunt the padawan.

His funny was just beginning.

Before the padawan's very eyes, another figure appeared upon the mountaintop.

A replica of the first.

With Cole still unconscious, the battle had become two against one…

… or at least it seemed so.

Dolash's mastery of the force seemed to fluctuate constantly, but as an Azguard there was one thing he could always do. Fight.

Dolash swung at the original, trying to land a blow. But it was no good, whenever he got an opening facing one the other would attack, drawing his attention.

He was overmatched, and had to keep fighting just to fend them off. Suddenly, one lifted its' hand and a wave of energy sent him flying away. Dolash crashed heavily into a snow-bank, and for a moment saw stars. A blow like that would have knocked him out, but the white light he felt was there to support him, picking him off and dusting him off.

Dolash stood, and with concentration stared hard at his discarded Azguard Fighting sword and drew it to him. It took a serious, concentrated effort, and he was still quite surprised when it came to him, landing poorly in the snow near his foot. He grabbed it, and gave the two swords a swing. The two figures were rushing him, and Dolash lifted both blades in response.

As lighstaber met blade, a thin weave of green ore glowed brilliantly along the length of the sword, and the two clashed together. Fighting fiercly, Dolash's eyes clouded over has half his brain shut down. The other half, far less friendly and a lot more angry, turned on. Dolash's swings became fiercer, faster, the force was finally starting to reply to his direction, and he could feel it pooling in his arms. But it was also giving him a splitting head-ache.

Finally, he saw an opening against one of the figures, the slower one, and lashed out with his foot. The force of the blow sent his opponant skimming across the snow, coming to rest on a rock dislodged from the avalanche.

But he had, in turn, left himself open. A slash across his chest left a horrible black burn across his ribcage. Shrieking in pain, all his concentration broke down, the force dispersed in a practical mist around him. Staggering and confused, he barely had time to block the blows of his enemy, drastically slowed as he was.

He couldn't keep this up much longer.

The slower figure seemed to vanish suddenly, mysteriously into the air, not to be seen from again.

Donovin arose shortly after from his unconscious state, only to find Dolash and the darksider heavily dueling with one another.

The Jedi seemed to recover rather quickly as he quickly got to his feet, sprinting after the darksider.

However, before he could, a speeder intervened. It was traveling at a rather fast velocity, Donovin barely got out from its path, tumbling slightly as he swerved out of the way, just seconds away from becoming mincemeat.

"Dolash! Look out!" He shouted louder than usual, hoping the padawan could hear him.

He watched on as he again tried to make it to his feet, the Sith pushing the Azguard off of his feet ever so slightly. The speeder stopped within its course, the Sith moving to hop upon the vehicle within a flash, but not before waving a device (what, Cole could not see from his distance.) toward the facility.

The figure set the device back into his black robe, maneuvering his speeder toward Cole. He hovered near the Jedi, his speed descending slightly. He spoke to Cole.

"Detonation in five minutes," he said before zooming past Donovin to head, to what Cole could assume, toward a ship of his that was most likely near by.

"Dolash.. we've got a problem.." Donovin said as he cleared the small distance between himself and Dolash.