A Famliar Source (Closed/Warvanus/Kieran)

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus left Sojourn in his shuttle craft, he had been sent by Lord Blood to investigate a disturbance in the Force. It was a disturbance that Warvanus did not feel. Lord Blood had told him it had a familiarity about it. That the source felt nearby and that he should start by investigating the planet Vaal.

He had packed his shuttle craft with KL-PK1 his protocol droid, along with Nemesis Enforcer one of his two Sith Warbots. He had a vibroblade sheathed, and his lightsaber clipped to his side. Also he kept in the cargo his new flyer and a probe droid. He wore his bone armor and kept his PSG clipped to his side. He would be prepared for whatever was this disturbance in the Force was and more importantly it’s cause.

The trip was not a long trip and before he knew it the shuttle craft dropped out of hyperspace as KL-PK1 piloted the shuttle down to the surface. Once landed Warvanus activated security mode on Nemesis Enforcer as KL-PK1 would be ready for a quick departure. Warvanus disembarked he looked ready for a fight. Maybe one would happen maybe not. He had landed outside the nearest settlement, and he would begin his search there.

[Kieran Sontebren]

It was dark when he opened his eyes, Kieran Sontebren examined his body to see if he was harmed, but no, he was fine, only a small headache that was disturbing him, why he was there, this seemed like a cave, but the walls were carved as some sentient did it, the small light was just enough for him to see, but from where it came from, he must find that answer, better, he needed to find the entrance or exit. Kieran slowly was walking trying to find a way out, when suddenly in one of the walls he found a carving, it was like an arrow, and it was pointing to his right side. Kieran, intrigued by the signal, went to the direction it was showing, a small glowing dot appeared as he was close, then a second and a third, at like one hundred meters, a small message appeared, "Look down", he ducked to see what was, it was wet, somehow cold, dank and viscous, but wasn't the only place it was like this, he felt it like a small river that came from another place, the light was flowing more, or his eyes were more used to that dim light.

Kieran saw that the cave was big, it was extended like five hundred squared meters, the ceiling was semicircular, in a grade of perfection, at one end there was an opening, and the liquid was like flowing from there. Kieran closed his eyes and tried to sense if there were someone or something, but he didn't felt anything at all, at least anything of importance, small vibes came from the nearby, so tiny like insects flying around. He went letting the Force as his guide, what he found could shiver and made pass any other mortal, but he had a cold heart and that didn't impress him a lot, what he found was several bodies cut in pieces, piled two bodies and a circle was made with them, and now he knew what the liquid was, blood. Kieran circled the bodies trying to find answers, he wanted to know what happened, why he was there and why his life was spared.

He returned to the previous chamber, and while thinking what just happened he saw a blinking light in the opposite site of where he was first. Kieran thought that he could find the exit, and probably the answers. Last thing he remembered was that he was in a mission in a lost ship, and now he was like abandoned again. He just found a backpack with some items, a heavy combat armor, a DH-17 heavy blaster inside a holster which he put in his belt and a wristband with two buttons. He wore the armor and put the wristband in his left hand, punching one of the buttons he saw that a pair, no twelve pairs of eyes appeared suddenly, various mechanized voice around, he couldn't believe it, there were twelve destroyers droid, and he assumed were under his control. 'Now, let's find the way to the civilization, and a ship to leave this square...' said Sontebren as he was closing in to a distant source of light.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus was not sure what he was looking for, as he kept his ears and eyes open. He heard no whispers of anything unusual. The town was similar to the nomad colony he lived on back when he was truly Kell Sangros. The Traders and vendors of the town were selling their wares on the street. People going and coming conducting whatever affairs they had, It was good that nobody paid him any special attention. He looked up and it was a cloudless day.

He scanned his surroundings again in an attempt to get a clue on where to proceed next. He opened his awareness to the Force, and drew in its infinite energies, from there he extended his senses open to the currents of the force, would the Force grant him what he sought? The Force was silent. It had nothing for him here. He turned around and began to make his trek back to his shuttle. He would not leave this world, not until his mission was completed. It was then that when he began to head back that he felt a nudge in the Force as if the Darkside was giving its approval in the action he had chosen. Something told him that staying with his shuttle was key right now.
It took Warvanus an hour to get back to his shuttle. He once again opened himself to the Force, it revealed nothing, but he had the strong urge to remain where he was. Maybe it did not come back so silent afterall he thought to himself.

KL-PK1 was waiting for him at the top of the boarding ramp. “Are we getting out of here Master” it asked

“Not yet Karl” he said no more about the matter, then as a afterthough “Bring Nemesis Enforcer online”

“Oh all right, I mean Yes Master”

Warvanus gave the droid a dark look

The shuttle was in a clearing, he would keep his senses open , he could not report back to Lord Blood with a failure. That was no option. He would be patient and let the Force reveal in its own time.

[Kieran Sontebren]

Kieran Sontebren saw a small opening, a man could enter without problem, but it was small considering the big space in the cave. Once outside he saw that the entrance was concealed, somebody in a ship or walking by couldn't find it if they didn't know for certain that it was there. From the entrance he follow a small stone-way, big trees covered it and the rays from the local star just bathed the location with several colors, it was an amazing view, the pathway lead to a cliff, and bordering it from the inside, walking through it was dangerous, a simple misstep and probably he would end in the bottom of the abyss.

Several hours passed and he was still walking, when he saw in the distance a small settlement, 'Probably I can get some answers there...', Kieran was tired and wanted to drink a whole river, and eat three banthas. But what was really in his mind was to leave this place, something was disturbing him as he was receiving a call. The town was small, just one street across it, several houses, a small marketplace in one open building with several tables well organized, fruits, vegetables, clothes, and electronics, all in one place. The street was deserted, nobody was there, even in the market, where the merchandise was located but nobody was attending, nor buying, it was weird, he continue until he found a tavern, that was the only building with the doors opened. Inside there were just three people, all located at the bar, two customers and the bartender.

Kieran asked several questions, but nobody wanted to answer, with his blaster, he repeated again, and then he could find some, the planet was Vaal, and the rumor said that a mage live among the mountains passing the cliff, people go there to make sacrifices, and mostly they didn't return, in the town there was only one person how confessed that he was there, and claimed that a dark magician was performing a ritual. The bartender poured a glass and offered it to Kieran.

"Then, how I can get a passage to a transport station? Or does this planet have a spaceport?"
"The spaceport is located in the other side of the planet, like six thousand kilometers, there's only one transport that go there, it comes every week, but fortunately for you, that day is tomorrow."

One more day there, then go back to the civilization, he wandered in the town, the people were like hiding from him, fear, anger, he felt it and was like a fuel to him. Kieran was passing by, when withouth noticing a woman, 23 years old, stumbled upon him, the girl tried to apologyze but Kieran grabbed her from her blouse, "What are you thinking, don't you know I can smash you?"
"Sorry sir, sorry."
"Is the only thing you can say?" Enraged he tossed her in the street, "Do you want to die here?"
"No sir, please, I'm sorry, please forgive me."
"Ok, lady, but with one condition, give me shelter, and food until tomorrow."

Next morning Kieran woke up with renewed energy, he went to the station forgetting the woman who was lying in the floor of the house he was spending the night, motionless, as if all that he was leaving was a path of destruction. He boarded the vehicle and went to the back of it, just three more passengers were there too, they would travel to the capital to find some stuff, Kieran was just looking for a passage out of that planet.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus began to feel like a caged animal. He hated to wait, especially when he was not entirely certain of what or who he was looking for. He had spent time meditating drawing on the Force, touching the Darkside. He needed guidance, a nudge. After what felt like hours, the Force obliged him.

It was nightfall now, when he heard a whisper in the Force, not audible but it was directing him towards this world’s capital. That would be where he would go. He re-boarded and shortly was off, it wasn’t a far flight into the capital, as he landed the shuttle at one of the ports at the spaceport. He stepped out keeping KL-PK1 close, with the warbot inside the shuttle acting as security.

He did not sleep that night, he often would go without sleep. The Force gave him what he needed. He could feel that he was close. He could almost taste it, it was like a sweet succulent flavor in the Force. He wanted to gorge himself on it. Anything to increase his growing power.
He shared the berth with other ships and freighters. It was a logical conclusion that if his query was here that he would be trying to get off world. This was as good a place as any. When morning came, he remained in the birth, watching the people passing by, boarding and disembarking from their ships. He was open to the Force. He knew the Force would reveal the source when the time was right. He had to be patient.

[Kieran Sontebren]

"Please sir, I beg for my life."
"You suck... in this world the strongest are the one who are rewarded with life... you are a pathetic girl who doesn't know your potential, you could yield a higher power, now see yourself, clinging for your life."

She didn't hear the last words, his motionless body fell to the floor as her life escaped from her.

****

Brutal, lethal, those words had been repeating in Kieran's head, nobody would stand in his way. Not like the persons in the cave, he now remembered what happened, was him that killed all of them, it was still confusing at first for him, but all evidences pointed to it. Yet he decided to decipher what was the purpose of it, and why the d-destroyers where there, he didn't remember to adquire it, and he wondered if the command in his wrist allowed to command them at that distance. He punched the button "follow", and a blinking signal appeared. He rested a little, the trip would take two more hours to the capital.

The capital seemed big compared to the town he was, but it wasn't as big as some cities he had been in the past. Kieran thought he could walk this city in a day from one corner to the other. It didn't have impressive buildings, as if this planet was still being developing. He got a map of the Starport, and it was in the northern part. He wanted to go away from the planet, but he still didn't know where to, and that was bugging him, also that he didn't have a lot of money was another issue he had to resolve. Find a job? That was a no for an answer, maybe he could find somewhere to do some errands, so he put on his hood and walked till something of interest appeared.

He stood in front of a three story building, it was empty, as he could sense anything from it, save some small signs of life like insects or small rodents. Kieran entered, and the room looked like it was abandoned for centuries, dust covered everything, the hall, the walls's paint was deteriorated, the ceiling was falling apart. Kieran observed that this could be a hotel in the past, the room was big, several broken couches, the bar seemed destroyed, but some bottles were still intact, he got closed and observed them, took one and poured the liquid in a glass he had already cleaned, it tasted good, he filled again the glass and went to search if he could find a place to rest his body.

He went to a room, every furniture were covered with blankets, but at difference of the main hall this room was fine, just covered with dust, he cleaned a little, mainly the bed and one chair, he went to a corner and kneeling he started to meditate, Kieran wanted to open his senses, feel the surroundings, what was ahead of the place. His previous master told him that he was capable to sense anything from one hundred kilometers around, then he tried to do so. Life was meaningless, every dot was connected, and he started to make a map of the people in the city, it was hard at the beginning, was a long time he used that power, but he was growing it, those signatures were varying, animals, people, but one in particular was bigger than any, and was approaching his location, still was far, but it was like a something he could knew from the past.

Instinctively he put his hand in the blaster, he was expecting a confrontation with that man or woman, Kieran just wanted to know what was the reason that person was there, and if there were problems he could use the force, kill him or her, and just continue with his journey.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus had been approaching this all wrong; he was waiting for this source to reveal itself, or merely for the Force to reveal it to him. He had been watching the comings and goings of beings, then he felt what he could only describe as a spike in the Force. It was raw power , power that needed to be tempered. This bore investigation, maybe if he never found Lord Blood’s disturbance maybe he could bring a new apprentice to the ranks.

He brought the commlink up “Karl, stay with the ship, keep Nemesis in security mode, and comm. Me if anything out of the ordinary happens”

“Alright’ the droid said.

With that, Warvanus delved himself into the currents of the Force as he headed out of the spaceport and towards the direction of the source. He did not know how far he walked but he arrived at an abandoned building without incident. The source was stronger here. Through the Force he stretched out his senses and could feel the presence, it was vaguely familiar. Through the Force he touched his target’s mind and spoke only a couple of words to the mind *telepathy*

“Who are you”

He could see the furniture and other items covered in dust, this room had not been used in quite a long time he concluded. He activated his PSG unit just in case. He had His Bone Plated armor on, his lightsaber clipped to his belt, and his vibroblade sheathed behind his back. He would not draw his weapon, not yet. He searched the building what he surmised was probably once a hotel used in the distant past. His search bore fruit as he saw a man also searching with a blaster pistol already drawn. He would be able to sense him as he just stood there arms folded his frame and full height was menacing and intimidating to most beings.

“You will not find anything in this building” he said verbally to the man. Whose back was still to him. He could not shake the feeling of the familiarity of this man.

[Kieran Sontebren]

“Who are you”, Kieran heard those words, but it was not sound, he felt it was directly in his mind. He knew that some force users could do that power, he couldn’t, yet, but was he capable to answer it, at least. He tried to open his mind to the same person, maybe he was expecting an answer, he said with his mind “I’m a nobody who wants to make a name by his own, and will face anyone that stands in my way.”

It was an open invitation to a fight, would Kieran know that his next opponent was more agile than him, more attuned to the Force, more capable and trained in the ways of the Force itself, he would discover it. By this time he just wanted to test himself, was he worthy to be a ruler, was he worthy to be called Master, yet his path was large and this was the first stone to jump and left it behind.

“You will not find anything in this building” said a voice in Kieran’s back, seemed familiar, but who. Kieran prepared himself, he stood up and turned his face towards the door, he placed in a spot where he was able to either attack or jump from the window. And said “What are you looking for?”

[Kell Sangros]

He remain still as he stood there arms folded in front of him. When the man turned around he recognized him. He did not know him but he knew of him, from Lord Blood. He was an Initiate who went missing or something. It became clear now to Warvanus the source of the disturbance his Master had felt. He noticed the position he put himself in, through the Force he manipulated the energy field around the nearest windows and willed them closed. At his mental command the windows slid down. *Telekinesis*

“I know of you” he said his tone neutral “You were an Acolyte of Lord Blood” He knew all his acolytes and apprentices as he was the most advanced of Lord Blood’s apprentices. He did not hear what he spoke in his mind, but he did pick up the impression through the Force.

“If you want to be a Force to be reckoned with, you should have never left the Sith” he said, if Lord Blood allowed him back into the fold he would be shown the path to power and through that path he would be a force to be reckoned with. He had great potential. He was like Warvanus, he had a warrior’s heart. “However, if you prove yourself worthy of another chance, I will speak with Lord Blood on your behalf but you must prove yourself worthy” The only way to do that was for the two to clash in battle. Warvanus relished the idea of clashing blades with this specimen of raw talent.

Of course if he refused he would have to end the supplicant’s life. He was at a crossroads, what would he choose?