The King is Dead, Long Live the King.

[Morgue]

Ith'li Shaon rode the new ship, a luxury yacht dubbed Remembrance, into Coronet City's grandest starport. The ship ID's were registered in the name of Veralae Lo, as he had been able to dupe the system with the HoloNet still damaged from Mekhetu's passing. Not many knew Ith'li had a long-dead lover, let alone her name - the ones who even knew he had a son didn't bother to question about the mother. It was a certainty that there was a reason a Sith Lord wouldn't bring such things into conversation, and since he'd given up the title he'd been mostly in exile. It had been a few hours since he'd landed. For his attire, Ith'li used a template of what the Jedi and Sith in the Old Republic had usually wore. His pants were thin, spun fabric gray and flowing.

They seemed as if they were made for a man whose legs were as thick as his waist, and tucked into black boots. A simple tunic of the same material, but black as his boots, was underneath an overshirt of gray. His tabbard and the flowing pieces that hung down in front and back from a white sash, belted with a black nerph-hide belt and carrying Murra's lightsaber, was also gray. His white hair tied back with a black thong made the scarred man seemingly devoid of color. Even the lightsaber shone a bright silver, when activated. The only hint of color he wore was not visible to the eye - a small red cloth with black burn markings tucked into his sash. One was the symbol of the Commenor defense fleet burned into the cloth. Another, that of the Sith, and of the Alliance of Free Systems, and now,

A key whose headpiece seemed to be not only an eye, but a sunrise or a sunset over a horizon. Tied to the cloth was an actual key of this design that opened nothing, and was the symbol marking him as a Keeper of the Dawn. He'd tried to find Keiran some time ago, and had tracked down his leave from Coruscant to Corellia. Coronet being the most populous city, Ith'li wasn't sure what Keiran had to do on Corellia, but if it was anything important, it was probably needing to take place here. He'd searched for a while now, opening himself to the Force, around ports for a trace of Keiran's vessel. If he'd still had the intelligence of Delan's men and the power of the AFS, he'd have had Keiran tracked at all times, ship ID's monitored so he'd never lose sight of his friend and sometimes

Ith'li may have been searching Coronet City for Keiran Lang, but he may instead stumble upon the Force signature of Marcus Thorne instead. Having separated from his companion after they had arrived on Corellia, Marcus had taken time to visit through Coronet City, being around his fellow Corellians once more.. but this time, however, he didn't feel the same for his fellows, and instead saw how they were once more falling into the trap of corrupted government, once more leading to their own destruction. It sickened the former Jedi, and he ended up cutting his trip short, heading back to Port where Keiran's vessel sat docked.

Ith'li indeed did feel Marcus Thorne when he felt out with the Force - having had deep conversations with the young Jedi, and once wishing to turn him to the Dark Side and have him destroy Lotus Gi to become his apprentice, Ith'li had decided he would make do with what he had and not corrupt another - which he viewed it as corruption, since he'd changed his heart; or rather, discovered where it truly lied, around the time he was planning to do so. Ith'li opened into the Force. He no longer believed in the Dark Side the way most Jedi and others do, but he did believe that there was much of him that was dark, and in passing through him, he could *make* the Force be of the "Dark Side." However, it was something that would catch the mental eye of anyone trained in the Force, so he tapped into it and opened his emotions to send a spike of anger through the air. He hoped Marcus would find him, as well, and they would then make easier time by walking to each other, instead of Ith'li following him. Reverting to his normal state, Ith'li sighed and made sure his echo was still heard, though not full of the emotions and selfish want for the power of the Force. "The Jedi view the Force as an end," he thought, "and the Sith thought of it as a means to an end. As I did. I must find the balance between that."

Marcus froze midstep, a very familiar sensation touching the Force from nearby. Ith'li Shaon, Sith Lord and former ruler over the Alliance of Free Systems. He was in the general area, and he was not keeping himself hidden. The former Jedi thought this over for but a moment, and turned to his left, starting back in the direction he could sense the Sith in. Marcus had once hoped to learn from the Sith Lord.. not in the ways of the Dark Side as Devynth Anon and Caedmon Cato had feared, but in pure understanding of a different point of view. The war that sparked had prevented him from gaining that perspective, but perhaps all was not lost after all.

Ith'li hastened his step in order to get to Marcus quickly. He wondered what he was doing here. Ith'li had seen him coming ahead, and, being the older of the two, stopped at a bench in front of a clothing store for human females. The fashions of Corellia were always a little crude and utilitatarian, but that wasn't something Ith'li ever would have paid attention to, anyway. As he sat, he took a moment to breath. How would he call upon the Force? Was it that he had to be at peace, devoid of emotions? Certainly, he couldn't use him emotions as he had. That did him in, before - and pulling away from that and reverting after so long of time, he wasn't able to control himself as he once had. Perhaps being nuetral in the Force meant to let it pass through you, like a wind passes through a cookout. When the air came, it was the same as it had left, but carried the scent of food. Perhaps, in shaping the Force to what he wanted, he must simply not change the to his own will. But then...to do that would mean he'd have to be like a Jedi, following the "will of the Force." Perhaps...since the Force didn't seem to have a sentience, and it was sentient creatures who classified it into light and dark, one must simply rid themselves of the darker portions and use the Force for something they believe in, not something they have and hoard and use only for themselves. That was obviously not the way, or else it wouldn't have aged him so quickly and destroyed his body. Ith'li centered his breathing and closed his eyes for a moment, waiting for Marcus.

Marcus turned the next corner to find Ith'li Shaon sitting infront of a simple clothing store, as if he was no one, just a simple being out looking to buy his simple needs. For some reason that sent a spike of anger through the former Jedi, seeing the Sith Lord reduce himself to such common acts.. but he quelled the emotion quickly, and stepped towards the man, moving to a second bench just to the left of Shaon and taking his seat. "I thought you were dead.. but then again, perhaps the Ith'li Shaon I once knew is dead."

Ith'li Shaon stayed seated. "Ah, the Ith'li Shaon you once knew is very much more alive than he was at your last meeting him. No longer a slave to his emotions. It's as if the Sith were mocking themselves, knowing that the Dark Side of the Force was really only the darkness within themselves, and that they would be forever trapped in it - almost as if the Force was saying to them that their hatred wasn't natural and that, being born of sentience, they were upsetting the balance of the Force and Nature, and closed them off, forever doomed to spiral in their own emotions inside their own egoes. "The Force shall free me - hah! - and indeed it did, Jedi Thorne." Ith'li stood and smiled, clasping his hands together at the small of his back. "In case you hadn't noticed, I haven't the ithlishaon: : slightest idea what I am speaking of. If only the Force simply could answer us when we asked it what it was and what it was meant for. My belief is that the Force is the opposition of science, what brings into balance the fact that everything can be explained - and so it becomes the unexplainable." He extended a hand to the young man. "Greetings, Jedi."

Marcus listened silently to the older man as he told his tale about change, seeing that Shaon had indeed reached an understanding about his former philosophy and the difference this understanding had brought him. Thorne smiled just barely as the hand was extended to him, reaching out his own to shake the other man's. "Greetings, though.. I no longer consider myself to be a Jedi. Each time I try to put my faith in their beliefs and their Order, I seem to be disappointed. They are trying to relive a glory that hasn't been known for ten generations, with no one knowledgable enough to guide them. They are losing themselves all over again.. and this time, I refuse to be a part of it."

As Ith'li and Marcus confronted one another... a third figure rounded the corner. Keiran Lang's voice was calm as he interjected himself into the conversation, "As I told you before... Marcus, the time has come for a new order, to match this new age in which we forge." Keiran was still several yards off from either of the men, though he drew closer with every second... "I see you have found our old friend" The philosopher's eyes moved between Jedi and Sith.....

"I know exactly what you mean," he said with a smile. "However, while I may never be a Jedi myself, I know they have their place - which is why I was so eager to have you on my side in the war and exploit the talents I knew you could use. Hopefully, I would have repaired your status and redeemed the Sith, as well, in their eyes, by working with you. But what's more, is they'd have their eyes off me because the Sith had 'changed,' and my new friends the Jedi would be together - at the Bastion post - and exalted for their good deeds in the AFS, also bringing down whatever sad excuse for Jedi that Ashmael - I mean, Phobos had." Ith'li turned to see Keiran come into view. Amazing - not only had he found Marcus Thorne, one of the two Jedi - or former Jedi, he'd come to learn - that he'd been searching for, but also found the real reason he'd come to Corellia, Keiran Lang. And they knew each other! Simply amazing. "I believe more in the Force every day. What a coincidence, as it were. Greetings, Keiran." Ith'li smiled. "I have grave news, but it can wait. How have you two met each other's aquaintances? I'm certain it ended with a few bruises. I still have a chip in one of my teeth from when I met this cocky individual," he said with a bit of sarcasm.

"I believe the Jedi will no longer have their place.. and they shall be replaced with--" The former Jedi paused his statement as Keiran arrived, with Thorne turning his head and nodding to his companion. "Yes, Yes I have." He then turned back towards Ith'li as the former Sith spoke, nodding. "Yes, we've met a few times beforehand, and I travelled with him here to Corellia.. but no, it hasn't turned to violence, not yet anyway," he finished with a grin.

"This was no coincidence.... Ith'li Shaon." Keiran stepped up to the other two men, and hooked his thumbs into the belt about his waist, "Marcus and I have never propperly gotten to know each other, though I think soon enough we shall." He offered a bow at the neck to the Dark Lord, though his eyes never left contact, "War draws closer... I'thli Shaon.... I sense by your presence here, that you've become more receptive to my thinking."

"I have searched for you, actually, but the reason is the bad news that is for another time I mentioned. Not yet. Young Marcus need not hear such things - I have always had confidence in his abilities as a young Jedi Knight, and he has given up the code. I've known enough Jedi to see that they can be impressionable when they don't have a code to adhere to, and since I am feeling the same way after nearly forty years of being a Sith and five as the Dark Lord." He looked to Marcus. "No offense, but Keiran and I have something we should discuss in private, but that will be for later. For now," he said looking between the two of them, "how did you to come to meet, and most importantly, why is war drawing so near?"

Marcus stared towards Ith'li for a very long moment, not saying anything or responding in any way, before finally turning to gaze away from either of them, letting Keiran answer the former Sith's questions.

"Search your feelings... Ith'li Shaon. You already know the answer to that...You simply refuse to see the truth of it." Keiran's eyes were focused on the Dark Lord... His voice calm, but there ... in the way he stood, in the way he spoke, that inner fire that had possessed him from the first moment Ith'li Shaon and he had met, blazed within his gaze.

Ith'li shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure of the ways of the galaxy anymore. I have been gone for some time, but I do know that Maltez' death will come as a shock and anger the New Order. But I don't know if that will bring them to war or just wish to exterminate anyone with a lightsaber. I let my son think that I did it, so that he might report as such back to Xaiyla Buffton and let the brunt of any blame fall to me, though I don't think I can take that away from Caedmon Cato as I wished."

Keiran spoke flatly, relaying the events at the Capital so that The Dark Lord might have a better understanding of what exacitly it was that was going on...."The death of Matlez Buffton, has already sent Coruscant into civil strife. The Bufftons will be forced to use extreme measures to keep the population in order... once word gets out of the attrocities they are commiting against their own population.... the planets that have wavered in their loyalty to the Galactic Order, will begin to fall away. Galactic Civil War will begin... " Keiran almost seemed sad when he continued, though an empathetic smile played across his lips, "You were strong once I'thli... you might have even been able to unite the galaxy, had you stayed the course. But, your time has past.... as has the Jedi."

"Indeed, it has. I believe that tasks falls on the younger generations, and those of the new way. Those who haven't seen anything good in this galaxy and want better," he said, looking to Marcus. "What were you doing in Coronet?"

"I.. don't think that's what he meant, Shaon." Marcus slowly stood, turning to face the former Sith Lord. "These tasks do fall to younger generations, but sometimes the older generation doesn't know when to let go.. they don't know when their time is up."

"What a disapointment you have become my old friend..." Keiran canted his head to the side as he spoke, "I have tried, for so long to make you see...Since first we met... and even now, at the end you are blind. This galaxy must be clensed. The Galactic Order, and the Free Republic are as corrupt as the Old Empire." A hand lifted as he spoke, hammering at his points as they came up. "There is no room for a middle ground. I state it simply...Join us or die." Perhaps now Ith'li Shaon might realize finally, who and what drove the comming conflict...

"As was my own AFS. My council was nothing but highly popular people from planets that I wanted to sympathize with - a Rodian for the people in the outer rim of the Protectorate, a Wookiee General from the Clone Wars. An ithorian refugee to lure in all those that lost their homes due to the MDF and Hutt war. I even had a neimodian doing my taxes, and a former slave doing public relations. I was pulling for sympathy, and in an area where the Imperials were dominating and human was the most abundant race, I was human and chose all different types of species for the rest of the council. Every one of them in my pocket at the chance to 'make a difference.' I've..." Ith'li cocked his head to the side. "Now, I understand trying to put responsible people in power, but are you pushing for this war to happen? War will not weed out the corrupt, Keiran. A warrior perhaps, but a war affects more than the people that die. It corrupts the good of heart, as well."

Keiran actually listened to everything that the Dark Lord had to say... and as Ith'li finished, stunned and questioning... Keiran's expresion remained as focused as he had ever been. "Conflict, Ith'li Shaon. Life depends upon it... to weed out the unworthy, to forge the strong into something more than they already are." As he spoke however, Keiran's hand reached out purposefully.... grasping the silver cylindrical handle of his father's lightsaber. He brought the weapon to bare, and with a definite click of his thumb, he activated the intensely green blade. "Your final chance... I'thli... I would not kill you, but I will not have you interfere. Your time is past."

"You know, Keiran, I was beginning to think that under all the philosophy, you were trying to tell me what I needed to hear to get to where I need to be. And what you wanted from me was my sword, all along...for your own aims. Perhaps it is not something you will gain from yourself, so I cannot blame you for wanting to do for others...and I know your conflict with the Jedi, and that they protect the weak. Perhaps society doesn't grow that way. But the Yuuzhan Vong thought a similar way, as you do...cull the weak so the strong may flourish. But in your blindness for one goal, you've cut out a very important piece." Murra's lightsaber flipped end over and up above Ith'li's head and his arms came up to grab it. The blade angled diagonally back and up from his head.

Immediately, its silver blade flared to life. "Even if you 'weed out' the weak, as you say, you are still left with the corrupt of the strong." People were stopped and watching now on the streets, and Ith'li began to focus on clearing his mind.

"Then we rid ourselves of them as well." Marcus finally spoke back up, his own lightsaber in hand now, silver blade igniting in hand, the hilt curving on the end to point the blade downward, his index finger guiding it's direction. "I'm sorry that it has to come to this, old friend, but you have made your choice, just as I made mine." He didn't approach further, he didn't make an aggressive stance.. instead, Thorne waited for Keiran's actions, preparing to follow his companion's lead.

Keiran's weapon swept upwards, saluting the Dark Lord even as Ith'li came into his gaurd...."Farewell old friend..." Then in a slicing thrust it swept out from its vertical position and jabbed at Ith'li's face...Keiran fought in a style seperate from Jedi and Sith traditions... using the blade like a foil, so quick that any non-force sensative would see only a blur from the green blade as it twirled inwards seeking to get past the Dark Lord's gaurd and puncture his throat. Keiran himself fell into an athletic stance... his legs still coiled and ready should the thrust go awry...

This wasn't the first time that Corellia had been the focus of terrorist attacks by force users. As matter of fact, Shaon, Lang and Thorne were just a few miles short of where a Jedi Master had helped demolish a whole city block. This time, CorSec was more prepared for it. People were stopping, watching stunned... a few were lifting comm-links to their mouths, calling for the authorities... whether or not these dueling denizens of the force could finish each other, before CorSec came and tried to slag them all... well that was a concern for the duelest when the time came.

Ith'li bent at the waist to the right, away from Marcus in case of any incoming attacks, letting go of his lightsaber with his left hand and putting his arm down so that it wasn't the accidental victim of the strike aimed at his neck. The strike could have easily been manipulated to go to Keiran's left and decapitate Ith'li, but dodging was only the primary defense. His right hand came down nearly straight in front of his face, angling the blade to his left as he knocked Keiran's lightsaber aside. To finish the defensive manuever, he let the rest of his body flow with the direction his waist had started and rolled to his right over his shoulders. His saber came up in a two-handed grip that started at his waist and angled up; Keiran's method of attacking was much like Marcus' and it would be difficult to defend against that with his usual high guard. Now that niether one of them was flanking and the bench was no longer behind his knees, he grinned. "And to think, Keiran, I was going to tell you that I've renounced the Dark Side and I needed training to fight without it. Looks like you're going to bring out the worst in me," he spat out as a spike of anger flared through the Force. Betrayed again...there was much to be done by the Keepers, and now that Marcus Thorne was in on this...oh, this was going to be good.

[Morgue]

"You seem to fall back into old habits rather easily, Ith'li." Marcus was sidestepping around the Sith, moving to place the dark sider inbetween himself and Keiran. Blade held low, pointing to Shaon's shins, he closes the distance between himself and his target, still allowing Lang to play the aggressor, waiting for the right time to get involved.

"You were never strong enough .... Ith'li. You've never had the will, to do what was neccesary... " Keiran wasn't angery, that had never been his style. No, unlike the rampaging Sith before them.. Keiran was a ball of focused ferocity. Ith'li would have no time to breath as he finished the rolling manuevre in attempt to escape, for Keiran simply stepped with him even as Marcus slipped round to his flank.... cutting down from above at the top of Ith'lis head as the other man came out of his tuck.

Ith'li laughed as the blow came down and brought his hands up, his blade at an angle, to intercept it. Ith'li was old, but he had been strong in his day, and not much had changed. With his emotions to empower him in the Force, perhaps he was falling into old habits, but a battle of this magnitude could not be risked on something he had only been doing for a short while. As the two lightsabers touched, Ith'li kept his blade pressed to Keiran's own green weapon and pushed off with his feet, trying to ram his shoulder into Keiran's chest.

Marcus chose that moment to strike. Just as Ith'li threw his shoulder towards Keiran's chest, Thorne dashed forward with Force-enhanced speed, cutting the distance between them in half almost instantly, drawing his right arm back slightly before thrusting forward and downward, aiming a stab towards the upper right thigh of the Sith's right leg, trying to take the limb out from under him.

The Bull against the consumate matador... had the Dark Lord caught Keiran with his ramming chest, the man would have bowled the younger warrior right over. As it was however, even as the dark lord leaned in... commiting his momentum, Keiran sidestepped opposite Marcus thorne's attack...and slipping out of the way allowed Ith'li to pass by... Green sparks flared, Keiran's lightsaber rolling along the sith lord's silver....as he twisted it, using the point of contact like a fulcrum to scythe the tip across at Ith'lis neck....

As Ith'li found no purchase with his shoulder ram, once again he allowed his momentum to carry him forward into a roll, coming up to face the two again. Since he kept moving, the strike from Marcus had only grazed the back of Ith'li's gray cloth pants, sending smoke into a confusing trail as Ith'li moved forward. Now Keiran and Marcus were again in front of him, each essentially in a different direction. Ith'li spun towards Marcus - he wasn't sure who was stronger of the two in the Force or even with a lightsaber, but he knew Keiran was a fierce warrior besides either of those two points - and aimed to place the White Knight between himself and Keiran as he made a low slash for Marcus' knees, on the alert for incoming danger from the Force.

As Ith'li began his attack towards the former Jedi's legs, Marcus leaps up and forward, allowing the blade to pass beneath him, aiming to jump over the Sith's right shoulder, his own lightsaber held out to his right side, aiming to slice through Shaon's chest and right shoulder if the man didn't move. Upon passing the dark sider, Marcus would twist his body just enough so that when he landed, he was facing the then back of Ith'li, with the Sith being directly between him and Keiran.

Keiran himself continued his attack as Ith'li rolled out of the way of his decapitating stroke....He simply wouldn't allow the older man a moments breath. He didn't bother with any force attacks... He was like a meat grinder, for as Ith'li swept his lightsaber at Marcus' knees and the former jedi lept over the Dark Lord's shoulder, Keiran's own weapon thrust.... the man lunging to slice his saber at the middle of Ith'lis waiste line... his stroke comming in opposite that of Marcus.

Ith'li let his momentum continue in his original spin, except now he dropped his body weight down low, below the slash to the chest. His left hand found purchase on the ground and he went lower still, lower than Keiran's attack. His right arm came up with his silver blade in hand to keep something between Keiran's saber and his head, but as his second revolution came full circle, about the time Marcus hit the ground, Ith'li kicked out his leg in a sweep at Keiran's legs. Marcus would now be behind him, but if Keiran didn't go down he'd be harder pressed than he already was to defend an attack from him - if he had to worry about Keiran immediately as well...

: The former Jedi's feet had barely touched the ground before he sprang forward towards the Sith once more, this time aiming a simple downward thrust towards the small of Shaon's back, high enough to likely be shooting directly for Ith'li's right kidney, while at the same time being ready incase the Sith's weapon came back towards him.

Ith'li was still a terrific opponent... despite his age... despite the damage done to his body. On another opponent...he might have taken his quary down. Yet, with the blink of an eye... Keiran's sideways slash turned into .... with the rotation of his wrist, a hacking sweep back across.... The green saber twirled, like a the blade of a propeller to cut down and across at Ith'li's oncomming leg... Keiran, meaning... obviously... to chop it off at the knee, and leave the Dark Lord with one less limb to defend himself...

When Ith'li realized his leg wouldn't find purchase, and worse - be cut off if he pursued the same course of action - he put it flat on the ground only for a moment to give himself a push, then pulled it in quickly. His right hand came back around the back of his head in a sweeping motion to push aside the other white blade of Marcus. His leg that was now tucked in, when he had pushed, rolled him to his left, over his shoulder. To his dismay, however, there was no skillful way to stop Keiran's attack as well - with the way they fought and working together, Ith'li couldn't match the astounding warriors with only a display of his lightsaber. He was a great warrior himself, having fought Phobos and lead the majority of the fight against him, and having vanquished Lumiya with Devynth <C>

Anon, along with countless Dark Jedi and self-proclaimed Sith that had attacked Murra, time and time again. Speaking of Murra, he had fought the Jedi Master and her brother on Ossell II - it was time he pulled tricks out of his back. But, despite his being a formidable fighter, he couldn't avoid Keiran's attack fully - the green blade sweeped across his right leg, searing pain and ripping through some muscle tissue. As he came to stand and face them both, he winced but grinned. "A moment, if you will, for an old man. If you have any honor," he said, favoring his left leg. <E>

"You'll have your moment, old friend.. a moment that shall last an eternity as you become One with the Force." Marcus spoke, as he slowly began to walk towards Ith'li's right side. He pauses once he reaches parallel with the Sith, then takes one more step forward, thrusting his lightsaber forward towards Shaon's right side, aiming just below the rib cage.

Corsec would be arriving shortly, Keiran didn't need take his eyes off the Sith Lord to know that much... Keiran circled opposite of Thorne, and as the Jedi thrust... Keiran himself swept his saber across, single handedly striking at Ith'li's shoulder in a diagonal stroke meant to cleave him from clavical to hip socket....

What was more.... As Keiran's stroke came down, his left hand foudn purchase on the black handled saber of Malik Tekal.... nestled till now, snuggly at the small of his back. The weapon flared to life... bright crimson and ready for action as the warrior delivered his right handed attack.....

Ithlishaon: Ith'li stepped heavily on his right, the pain flaring and agitating him more. He pointed his blade along the right side on his body, pointing downward to intercept and move Marcus' stab. He let his blade ride along Marcus' as he stepped in close to him. As soon as their blades collided, with Keiran at his back, Ith'li's left hand flung out. The ferrocrete bench he had been sitting on moments earlier now flung from the ground into the space behind him, fueled by the anger at having been hurt by Keiran. It was moving to the spot Ith'li had just been - if Keiran stayed put, it was feasible that it would be easy to dodge the large object - but if he had advanced, he would surely meet it. It would either hit him or buy

While stepping in, Ith'li played with his footwork so that his left was behind Marcus' right foot (if the man had stayed still when Ith'li deflected the blow.

Marcus didn't budge, and instead he pressed his strength against the Sith's blade, hoping to keep it in place. As Ith'li called the bench towards Keiran, Marcus pulled at the second hilt on his belt with the Force, tugging it free, and pulling it towards his left hand. With his lightsaber locked with Shaon's in his right hand, Thorne thrusts the hilt of his shoto lightsaber towards the right side of Ith'li, just under the arm, igniting the shorter blade just as it should reach its target.

As Ith'li slipped away ... and the ferrocrete bench ripped itself from the ground to fling between the two men. Keiran himself hesitated... Ith'li had escaped, though only for the breifest of instances. Annoyance flared as the obstacle flung through the air... But as Ith'li had long since known... Keiran was a master of Teras Kasii.... and, rather than using a pure force technique, Keiran's body sprang upwards in the air, twisting he delivered a round house kick. A loud crash errupted as his foot impacted the bench and it twirled end over end.... fueled by his own unique ability, to rip it from Shaon's distracted grip and right at the Dark Lord's backside.

Ith'li was glad for this. Since Ith'li had spun around clockwise with his back to Marcus, when he blocked his right-handed blade and kept pressure on it, it would have his right arm across his body. When his attack came from his left hand, on Ith'li's right, there was nothing keeping Ith'li from moving left. Keiran had kicked the bench towards Ith'li's back, and Marcus was dead in front of him, only blocked from the damage himself by Ith'li, whose left hand was still free, thanks to his pulling of the bench with it. With the defense still pressed, Ith'li crossed his left arm across his body with the momentum of his physical, inward motion he used to focus the Force technique. Bending his body forward a bit to move his midsection back away from the stab, Ith'li grabbed for Marcus' incoming left wrist with his own left hand. If he could grip it, that would leave Marcus' arms crossed. At the moment of capture (or when it would happen) of Marcus' hand, Ith'li let the pressure go with the saber, pulling on the arm and moving to his left (Marcus' right) hopefully with the White Knight's wrist in hand to stand on Marcus' right side. As he moved, he brought the lightsaber up and around Marcus' body, crossing his arms, hoping to still have hold - and slashed to the right, aiming to hit Marcus in the back.
As Marcus and the Dark Lord struggle with one another in close combat.... the bench whirled towards the pair of them like a wrecking ball. It had been a long bench....and though it flew wildly through the air, it was most definatly large enough to hammer into both of them, despite Ith'lis short roll to Marcus' left. Would both men be crushed by the adhoc wrecking ball? Only time would tell..... and the audience of shocked onlookers would find out, in less than the blink of an eye...

A mental warning from Keiran let Marcus know the position and attack vector of the bench, just as his stab with the shoto misses Ith'li, and the Sith's hand goes to grab the former Jedi's wrist. Knowing a big heavy metal object was inbound, Marcus deactivates the shoto while simultaneously twisting his wrist away from being bound, and moving to fall forward. Ith'li breaks free from their lightsaber lock to move around and slash at his now falling form, and Marcus continues to drop downward toward the ground,
marcus_thorne: lightsaber still in his right hand held out infront of him as he falls, aiming to slice through the Sith's left leg. As Marcus drops below the attacking Sith's saber, he twists his body so that he would land on his back, also swinging the blade around as he hits the ground, so that it slices out wide to his right just as the bench flies over top of him and towards the Sith.

Since Ith'li couldn't land the arm grab, as he moved and slashed and Marcus rolled forward under the bench, nothing had gone according to plan. An attack coming low at his legs and Keiran to his right, the bench coming from his right...Ith'li couldn't move forward, left would just mean the bench would still be coming. If he rolled backward, the slash would hit more than his leg. He did the thing that made the most sense - as his slash missed Marcus, it moved through and cleaved the bench in half. As his white saber soared towards it, he did a backflip to dodge the slash, and the bench moved through empty space and crashed to the ground. Ith'li landed and backpedaled quickly, ignoring the pain as he had countless times before in his training, putting distance between them all.

As he stepped back, he had time to talk, Ith'li's second most powerful weapon. "You fight well, but your plan to cull the weak is wasted - you deserve more worthy opponents than weaklings...you could destroy me, indeed, you have the power combined. But together, none could stop us - there are already none in the galaxy the match for either one of you, let alone both together."

The bench rolled to a crashing hault behind Ith'li.... but Keiran was already giving chase to the Dark Lord flying past the white knight and taking the initiative from Marcus.... Red and Green sabers held to either side he marched after the Dark Lord. . "You're getting tired old man, your tongue is starting to wag...This is the end... " He launched into another ferocious assault as he spoke.... Keiran's right saber slashed out flicking upwards to cut Ith'li from hip to shoulder... the crimson blade held in reserve, ready to counter any riposte the Sith Lord might deliver.

As the bench flew by without issue, and with Ith'li backtrailling away, Marcus jumps back to his feet just as Keiran rushes by to give chase. The former Jedi rushes after his companion towards the Sith, letting Keiran initiate the confrontation, even as Marcus rushes past the two (keeping enough room between himself and any stray lightsaber swings), stopping and turning a few feet behind Ith'li, preventing the dark sider's retreat from continuing. Saber in his right hand still ignited and held low, while the shoto in his left remains unused, waiting for the perfect moment to re-enter the fray.

[Morgue]

Ith'li moved his saber low and to his left to block the coming saber, taking in a deep breath. The reverse-bladed saber left him open, but deflecting attacks from one person, no matter how many blades, was easier than two on different sides. He was backpedaling all the way, moving closer to another street. Then Marcus came and he could back up no more. Ith'li opened his mouth and released the breath he took - in the form of a scream. A very loud scream. A Force-scream - powered by the rage and anguish he had stored inside him. With the Dark Jedi that had stolen Ureala, he learned this, and it had shattered eardrums, as the invisisteel windows around them did now. With Murra, it had sent fierce vibrations through her whole body and tossed her back. It had killed Lumiya. <C>

Now, he wasn't as hurt, wasn't enraged as it was with Lumiya, so it couldn't have been that powerful, but Keiran was close. It wouldn't effect Marcus as much because he was behind him.

Ith'li Shaon's force scream blasted the warrior head on.... Keiran was flung from his feet, and tossed like a rag doll through the air stumbling and rolling onto his back. Transparasteel shattered intot he streets.... exploding inwards and peppering the insides of shops on either side of the street. The green lightsaber which he had used to attack the Sith Lord was flung from his grasp.... and rattled to a hault within the rubble near by, its green blade disengaged. When Keiran finally stopped.... blood trickled from his nose... and ears.... and he struggled in vain to right himself and climb back to his feet.

Marcus was completely unprepared for the scream, and had he been any closer, would likely have been taken out of the fight. The former Jedi was knocked backward by the force of the attack, falling flat on his back, while his head tried to make sense of what just happened. As if on instinct, Marcus stands once more, shoto gone from his left hand, and that hand holding the side of his head while his lightsaber in his right points directly to the ground. He takes a deep breath and allows the Force to clear his mind, bringing him back into the game.

Ith'li grabbed his sore throat with his left hand and sat straight down on the ground in a meditative stance. He extinguished his lightsaber and set it in his lap, waiting for the other two to get up and regroup.

Keiran struggled to find his footing... His left eye looked like it had hemoraged. The white, or what had once been the white of the orbit was filled with blood. Streams of crimson dribbled down from his nostrils....over his upper lip and into his mouth. Then, with dogmatic will power, he stooped to pick up his fallen lightsaber... A thumb flicked the beam to life. In the silence left behind after Ith'li's force scream.... the thrum of that weapon might have seemed deafening. That is, if Keiran could still hear.... Then, he turned his head and spat a long stream of the globbing blood from his mouth onto the street. "Not.... strong enough... Ith'li."

Marcus had faired better than Keiran, and had been able to keep all his blood on the inside. With the moments granted by the Sith's lack of a follow-up attack, Thorne was able to come back to his senses, now fully understanding what had happened. He slowly begins to walk towards the meditating Shaon, lightsaber still held ignited by his left side.. though he doesn't move to attack, not while the man is seated and unarmed.

Ith'li's own ears were now dripping steady streams of blood, as was his nose. Spitting down the gray of his robe, he cleared his mouth of blood as well, which dribbled. He had to open his mouth in order to breathe, which seemed to pain him. The Force Scream was usually and end all move, but Ith'li had not used it to his fullest advantage. When he used it against Lumiya, he was being ripped to shreds, and the fear for losing his life and the anger of being beaten tore his insides apart in a forceful scream that took months of rehabilitation to fix inside bacta. This was a mere hiccup compared to that, but Ith'li knew it. He smiled despite the pain - he had gone through worse several times. But these were two formidable opponents. "You will defeat me today if this battle continues, no doubt," Ith'li said in a warbled, raspy voice that was somehow audible enough to be heard. The Force had to be at play for such a weak voice to manage above a harsh whisper. "Your father came to me once, Keiran," he strained. "Told me I'd redeem myself in the Force with the war. I do not see myself being redeemed. I helped murder the galaxy when Phobos and Mekhetu took trillions with them." The voice was failing, burbling, but Ith'li coughed blood and managed a bit more. He smiled. "If you will not cease your attacks..."

"Tell you father you're a disgrace when you become one with the Force." Ith'li stood with an almost palpable surge of anger in the Force, Murra's white lightsaber snapping to life and coming to his hands as he pummeled straight forward towards Keiran, bloodthirsty with rage. The fight was all that mattered now - not dreams of living to redeem himself, not hoping to outlive this so he could cease his use of the Dark Side and learn more of the Force. He gave himself truly to the fight and to the Dark Side, to his emotions of anger. As he surged forward, Ith'li kept his saber mid-level and slashed right to left - Keiran's left to right - with all his strength

Ith'li had finally given himself over... tipped himself to fully embrace the power of the Dark Side. As he bull rushed Keiran yet again, meaning to finish the vigorous warrior with his hacking stroke ....however, Keiran met him mid-way.

While Ith'li was powered by his raw emotions, his anger, frustration, desperation and his fear. Keiran's motivation was wholey different... He wasn't peaceful, like a jedi.

No...

Despite the blood that trickled from his nostrils.... and filled his eye... Keiran was fueled by a determination, perhaps wholly unique in all the galaxy. He was the calm center of the hurricane... Ith'li's words meant nothing. He failed to see, as he always had.... what had been necessary.

Keiran's green blade moved, deflecting the Sith Lord's own, and pushing it down and away in a shower of sparks..... before he lashed out, thrusting Malik's crimson saber straight at Ith'li Shaon's heart.

It was a simple, effective and lethal combination...

Ith'li wasn't able to evade the stroke but it didn't hit him where Keiran wanted to.

Lowering his body mass, Ith'li impaled his left shoulder all the way through to the hilt, screaming and spattering blood onto Keiran as he did so. Something in Ith'li's eyes changed at that moment.

He dropped to his knees, the saber cleanly tearing through the top of his shoulder, splitting his collar bone right in half.

He smiled, but tears cleared way through the blood on his face. He seemed to be looking past Keiran. His gray robes were red to the white sash down his whole left side, and he was losing blood in visible burbles.

"Don't you see?" he said to the two displayed before him and seemingly no one. He disengaged the lightsaber and his hand stretched out.

Shock registered on Keiran Lang's features... it was almost as if the young man hadn't thought his strike would hit home. As if he had truely believed it would take something more.... to bring down this giant of a man. The saber in his hand disengaged, and he stood there before Ith'li..... watching as his hand stretched out ... and his eyes gazed seemingly into Oblivion.

Ith'li's hand reached as if something was just too far away. He looked up at Keiran, tears running down his face. In the Force, his anger was gone - it had vanished just like that. "I gave them a life...I wanted to free them from servitude," he said. "My actions...were..." he paused to let blood slump from his mouth. "I wouldn't have done it if I had known they'd all die. He was right...he was right about me." Ith'li smiled and looked back behind Keiran once more.

"You should have told me," he said to the nothingness behind his aggressor. To everyone's surprise, Ith'li summoned the strength - serene, calm strength - to stand, blood pouring more profusely from his shoulder. His left arm wouldn't move, so he gripped the saber in only his right and held Murra's hilt in front of his face.

The blade ignited pure silver. "Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." The last thing Ith'li saw before he slumped over unconscious from blood loss was Murra, standing behind Keiran, arms crossed and shaking her head. And she even wore that same old Tekal smirk.

"You fought with honor, and now you die with honor. Go, be at One with the Force, my former teacher, my former friend." Marcus raises his ignited lightsaber up before his face, pointing up into the sky, saluting the fallen warrior.

Keiran listened to Ith'li Shaon's words... and watched as the man reached out in his last dying moments. "Rest well now, old friend..." Keiran saluted the fallen Sith Lord, his arm moving slowly...his face somber.... and bloodied... Then, he took up a battle stance, saber lifted high and he struck it downwards... Green blade moving to take Ith'li shaon's head from his shoulders.

As Keiran's blade struck Ith'li's neck, Ith'li's bloodied robes fell to the Corellian pavement with not an ounce of blood staining them any longer. The lightsaber clinked against the ground as it fell through where his hand had been before. Also, a key fell from the sash he had been wearing to the ground - an eye shaped head that might also be a horizon with a sunrise. And Ith'li Shaon was no more.

Keiran watched as the body vanished.... and then, in a motion reminscent of the long dead Lord Vader.... he moved his foot, kicking at the robes upon the ground. "The king is dead..." Keiran spoke softly, just loud enough that Marcus might hear. He stooped.... clipping one saber to the small of his back, so that he might collect Murra Tekal's weapon, and the key that had bounced upon the ground. When once more he straightened.... Keiran looked across at Marcus meaningfully. "Long live the King."

[Ang]

I can't believe it's too busy at work for me to read this today. Fuck. I'll print it off and read it on the train home.

[Gabe©]

A man dropped to his knee on pavement that was still red with spilled blood. It was night in Coronet, though the city was large enough and important enough that it never truly slept. Holographic projectors offered ample warning to passers by that the area was off limits, due to a recent fight and murder between three lightsaber wielding human males. Normally, CorSec officers would also offer a deterrent to the curious. This was a bizarre situation, after all. No corpse had been left. Only clothing.

Set Harth's gloved hand dropped and touched blood just slightly tacky. The fight had occured just hours before, while he was in orbit high overhead. Curiously enough, he had been attempting to contact a certain man by the name Keiran Lang. He had been just about to ring Keiran up when a set of three presences had made themselves known. Most interesting. He stared at the blood, feeling waves of pain, regret, anger, and much more. Ith'li Shaon was dead. The footage that Set had manipulated CorSec officers into seeing as proof enough that Keiran Lang and Marcus Thorne had slain a former Dark Lord of the Sith.

But there were of course repercussions. You didn't kill a man of Shaon's caliber without reprecussions. The Force would always been twisted here. A nexus had been borne; darkness would slowly corrupt those who dwelled for any length of time around this area of the city. Perhaps a great Force scholar could cleanse the area and repair the damage, but for now this would be a cursed place. Set smiled as he considered that as he rose, his eyes shifting to two CorSec Guards who sat slumped against a wall, appearing to be doing nothing but taking nice, refreshing naps. Repercussions, for good or ill. That was the way of all men of destiny. Even men with little destiny were apt to shift the future in their own, minute ways.

Set peeled off his gloves and slipped them into his back pocket. He had business with Keiran Lang, of course. They both had similar interests in ancient history. The Sith sword that Keiran had was proof enough of that. Perhaps...

<Begin Text-Only Message>
From: Dr. Seth Thar
To: Keiran Lang
Subject: A Proposal

First off, I want to say our business on Korriban went flawlessly. The holocron and texts have given me a lifetime of material upon which to study the ancient Sith. I hope you find the sword to be equally valuable.

I wish to extend a proposal. I have come upon evidence that an ancient Jedi training center on Dantooine was built upon even older ruins. My associates within the archaeology department have reported that odd energy signatures have been picked up despite that fact that the ruins have been uninhabited for over four millennia. I believe that the ancient Jedi might have left relics behind when the last Jedi Council of that center was killed.

I propose that we explore these ruins. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

</message>

[Rich]

((Just a note, a newer 'building(about six years old now)) Was built atop of the older ruins, and what lay beneath them... I don't think Adia and her group of younglings are still there... so the basement of the basement would still have those Far Far older ruins.