OoM11 | "Dawn"

Theme

An even longer time ago, in a galaxy just as far away...

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Knight Sentinel Enelya stared out of the window at the rising sun while it slowly peaked from behind Tython's silhouette as her shuttle descended from the orbital station; it would be early morning at the temple, ample time for her to enjoy some time among the next generation of Jedi and catch up with her former instructors before meeting with the Council.

Enelya reveled in the company of the younglings and enjoyed sharing some of her experience and knowledge with the older padawans; humbled as ever by the praise of her former instructors. But the appointed time soon called and Enelya found herself stood at the door to the council chambers with butterflies in her stomach. As she patiently awaited her summons she recounted the last time she stood outside these doors with such a feeling; the day she completed her training and was knighted. The young woman ran a finger through her long dark hair, brushing it back behind her ear before folding her hands serenely behind her back; a small smile creeping across her lips while her bright blue eyes sparkled with the memory.

As a young padawan; Enelya had eagerly walked through the council chambers doors and strode confidently down the long hall. Standing proudly at the front of the ceremonial hall which the usual arrangement of the room had given way to. That was until she saw who was stood at the Grand Master's side; her mother. Enelya recalled the feeling she experienced in that moment; for all the teachings she had absorbed, the proud girl still humbled in her mother's presence. She closed her eyes briefly reforming the memory in her minds eye; stood in front of everyone wearing the traditional garb fashioned after her mother's own style with her head held high, but still finding herself averting her gaze as her mother stepped into view. For as strong and capable a Knight as Enelya had become, she always felt paled against the legend that her mother had become among the Jedi. Being the daughter of Aeoni Cloud was a heavy burden to live up to; even if none would hear of it Enelya always felt deep down that there was an unspoken expectation of her to live up to her mother's name. Taking her place of honour at the Grand Master's side that day, Enelya recalled her mother leaning in ever so slightly from behind her and softly speaking in her ear, "I'm so proud of you", and how hearing Aeoni say those words brought a lump to her throat and almost a tear to her eye as she stood centre stage.

Enelya opened her eyes once more, allowing the past memory to slip to the back of her mind as she refocused her thoughts on the present. Though she still did not know the reason for her summons here today; the Force was guiding her instincts and she felt her mother's influence in what was awaiting beyond the grand doors. Checking her chrono one last time for confirmation, she took a deep breath and swung the heavy doors open with both hands and walked purposefully towards the central chamber. Once more her footsteps echoed through the long hallway, though this time it was different to her memory; the echoes were not met with the sound of distant chatter and as she drew closer, Enelya could see the council's large round table sat unattended - beckoning her closer. Her eyebrow subconsciously quirked at the unexpected sight as she drew closer, surveying her surroundings and confirming that she was indeed all alone.

Keeping her hands folded at her back, Enelya encircled the room. Taunted by the echo of her lone footsteps on the stone floor as she slowly moved around the central table, Enelya retraced the details in her mind; briefly wondering if she had been mistaken, or misinterpreted her summons. But no, this was exactly as per her instructions - so where were the council - where was anyone? As Enelya continued her inspection of the room - indulging in this rare opportunity to soak in the strength and serenity of the place - she idly traced her hand across the back of her mother's council chair, almost as though she could feel Aeoni's presence resonating through it. Almost as though her present action triggered it; the holocom beeped into life on the central table. Glancing around once more to confirm she was indeed still alone in the chamber, Enelya shrugged and leaned in across her mother's chair to activate the nearby console and accept the incoming transmission.

As Enelya activated the holo, an image flickered into life above the centre table - one which she almost wished she had not anticipated as the image quickly formed into the smiling face of her mother, "Hello my daughter." Aeoni greeted with a soft and caring smile as she got her bearings from the holo's perspective and focused on Enelya, smiling to herself in seeing that her daughter had naturally found herself stood at Aeoni's place around the council. "Thank you for coming here, Enelya. I am sorry that I could not greet you in person". Enelya looked up at the flickering image of Aeoni, maintaining a serene tone and collected composure, "Mother; this is quite the unexpected turn of events. I... would inquire as to your well being, but I sense that time is short." Aeoni's smile grew with pride in her daughter's perception, "You are quite right my child; I have received some troubling news and fear I must ask of you something which I had hoped never to do." Enelya's brow furrowed at the uneasy implication as she briefly looked away in contemplation before turning her gaze back to Aeoni, "Do not fear mother; that is a path which will only lead to darkness. What would you have me do?"

"Enelya this is... it's your sister, Enelya; I have felt her presence in the Force and she is shrouded in darkness" Enelya gulped back a nervous lump in her throat at Legacy's mention. She had neither seen or heard anything of her younger sibling in all the years since she had ran away following their fight. "Mother this is... most disturbing news, are you certain it is her?" she asked, already knowing the answer; after all Aeoni would not be telling her of this if she wasn't certain. Aeoni nodded sagely, "It is Legacy. And I wish that was where the bad news ended, but that is unfortunately not the case." While Aeoni paused allowing Enelya a moment to absorb this information, her daughter's expression did not change as she remained ever professional in her composure and patiently looked up at Aeoni's image, awaiting her to resume when she was ready, "Tell me Enelya; are you familiar with the Sith; Darth Atropes?" Enelya blinked a few times before responding with a slightly tilted head, "The Dread Master?" Aeoni again nodded sagely, her head remaining almost shamefully bowed as continued, "Legacy's presence in the Force has been engulfed by that of Atropes. I suspect that the Dread Lord has taken your sister as her apprentice." Enelya's steadfast composure finally slumped at this news and the trepidation could be heard in her voice, "What... do you need me to do, mother?"

Aeoni looked down at the small holo image of her daughter; ever proud of the strong Knight she had grown into. Now feeling an unsavory taste in her mouth at the prospect of giving the order to Enelya she had hoped never to speak, "My daughter; your sister shares your strength in the Force. Atropes can not be allowed to corrupt her and turn her strength to her own gains. Find your sister; find Legacy and... and do what you must to keep her from the eternal grasp of the Dark Lord." Enelya bowed her head in acknowledgement, "I will return mother; and I will do so with Legacy at my side..." she looks up again to meet Aeoni's eyes, "...I know her spirit is pure and will find a way to pull her out from the overbearing shadow of the darkness. On this you have my word, mother" Aeoni forced a smile of confidence, "If anyone can reach her; it is you my child. Now go; save your sister." With that she closed the call, taking a deep and steadying breath. She had done what was necessary now in setting Enelya on this path, now the fate of not one - but both - of her beloved daughters was up to the Force.

Before Enelya's ship even pierced Oricon's atmosphere she could feel the ever looming dark presence that emanated from the Dread moon, even now after their joint task force has decimated the Dread Guard here. Enelya knelt in the meditation chamber aboard her ship while her trusted padawan piloted them ever closer. She held her eyes gently closed as she focused on her breathing; hands folded neatly in her lap as she channeled her connection with the Force to seek the strength and guidance to complete her objective. Once landed, her eyes were quickly met with the distant sight of the Dread Palace's main tower looming over the horizon of the dark and corrupted world; to think of her sister being here sent an unwelcome chill down her spine.

With a reluctant Kira resided to waiting with the ship, Enelya moved cautiously forwards; her route eerily quiet as though the entire region was still rife with the death and destruction the preceded her current visit. She soon found her way into the Palace grounds and instinctively drew her distinctive black-core'd gold lightsabers as she could feel the dark presence grow ever closer. With a thunderous clap her attention was drawn skywards; her jaw hanging agape as out of nowhere an Imperial fleet descended through the atmosphere with swarms of fighters strafing across the landscape - apparently her mother was not the only one to have sensed the dark presence of Atropes here and now the Empire had returned to finish what it started. With a renewed vigor, Enelya quickened her pace as she strategically worked her way through the palace grounds and up the central tower. Stepping out onto a balcony she watched with a mixture of awe and dismay and the Imperial fleet laid waste to the already barren landscape.

As Enelya stood leaning on the balcony's railing, she felt the all too familiar chill of a dark presence. Drawing her lightsabers once more as she quickly turned, the Knight was thrust right into a defensive stance as she was met with the blur of bright white lightsabers swinging across her. Barely able to avoid the attack, it was all she could do to parry it, sacrificing one of her blades in the process. She quickly reestablished her posture - holding the single blade now with both hands directly in front of herself as she eyed her opponent. Enelya stared into the hungry ice blue eyes of the young Zabrak girl who stood prone across from her. The Zabrak was clad all in white and silver to match her head adornments and brilliant white blades; a small girl but clearly empowered by the Dark Side. Enelya could see that her opponent was enraged by the sight of the Imperial forces in the distance behind her; apparently associated Enelya's presence with that of the Imperial Fleet and holding her personally accountable for what she was witnessing. As much as this rage made the Sith dangerous; Enelya knew that her meditative mind would afford her the greater advantage, "What have you DONE?!" The Sith angrily challenged Enelya, who calmly looked back into the confused and emotionally tortured eyes of the young girl, "Search your feelings Sith; you know I do not stand here for the Empire." The Zabrak girl snarled and swung her blades together across Enelya's waiting lightsaber. Enelya kept it held out to her side while the Zabrak retrained one of her blades in an accusatory aim at her, "Do not presume me a fool, Jedi! You are here for the Master, but you shall not have her!" Before Enelya could formulate her response she heard the thud of someone dropping onto the balcony behind her, her fingers flexed around the hilt of her lightsaber and she she closed her eyes; willing her other blade back to her waiting free hand.

Spinning back to one side as she powered the blade of her second lightsaber she swung both weapons in opposing arcs - anticipating the coming strikes from both her assailants. With the fortune of prior knowledge on her side, Enelya was less rattled by the appearance of her sister than Legacy herself was. The fierce redheaded girl charged her older sister with a snarl on her lips while the Zabrak continued to furiously swing both of her blades one after the other with a hateful determination to break the Jedi's frustrating composure. As the two Sith steadily forced Enelya backwards one step at a time, the Jedi became increasingly aware that she was running out of balcony and she knew she could only match the combined flurry of strikes for so long; with her options limited thrust her arms forward sending a powerful Force wave against the two Sith, knowing it would not be enough to completely unbalance them she instantly stepped through her first push and jumped towards them again - slamming full force into the floor of the balcony and launching them both backwards in opposite directions.

Thrust backwards by Enelya's slam, the Zabrak girl was thrown hard against the wall of the tower and was knocked out cold, while Legacy found herself dangling over the edge - barely able to keep one hand grasped on the cold metal. Seeing the predicament she had landed her younger sibling in Enelya called out to Legacy and rushed to her aid; powering down her blades as she slid them back into the holsters on her hips she thrust her arm out and over the railing to grasp Legacy's arm, "I've got you little sister, don't let go!" Legacy stared up through vengeful eyes as her sister appeared overhead like a guardian angel shrouded in a halo of light. Her snarl slowly turned to a smirk as she feigned a lost grip forcing Enelya to reach even harder to keep a hold. In doing so Legacy kicked her feet against the lower wall and willed the Force to propel her high up and over Enelya's head; drawing her brilliant red black-cored lightsabers once more she planted a dirty kick square in Enelya's back as she landed, folding the Jedi over the railings briefly. Enelya was quick to spin and draw her blades however, just in time to intercept Legacy's downward strike. Their blades flashed and sparked angrily as they slid against one another until Enelya found the strength to thrust upwards and force Legacy back away from her. Flourishing her blades she dropped back into her natural combat stance, drawing one blade prone over her head with the other out in front of her body, "Don't do this Legacy, I still sense the real you in there!"

Legacy panted for breath as the rage swept across her, how dare Enelya come here now and so presumptuously spout Jedi dogma at her! Yet, she found herself unable to swing her blades. As the fierce young Sith stared across at her older sister her rage turned to confusion with her mind fighting to comprehend what it was experiencing, "You sense it too, don't you?" Enelya continued, relaxing her stance some, "Legacy you are my sister and I love you; /please/... come back to me!" she pleaded. While an increasingly confused Legacy stood across from Enelya a new voice came from behind her, "Sister?!" The Zabrak had regained consciousness and stood just behind Legacy, who did not react to her, "That explains your weakness!" Spat the Zabrak girl, "I see it is up to me to protect our Master once more!" With that she launched herself at Enelya only to be met the defending blades of Legacy. The Zabrak was momentarily stunned by her fellow Sith's sudden appearance in front her, as was Enelya, "Back off Serenity! I can't let you harm her!" Legacy warned as she stood prone in front of a shocked Enelya, who quickly stepped to Legacy's side. The Zabrak - Serenity - snarled at Legacy's betrayal, "They you can die with her!" she screamed launching herself into a fierce and overconfident attack against them both. Once more lightsaber blades cracked and sparked fiercely as the sisters matched Serenity's attack blow for blow. Being no match for the combined force of Enelya and Legacy, Serenity was soon outmaneuvered as Enelya swung a cunning boot across the back of Serenity's legs allowing Legacy to topple her with a powerful strike, sending Serenity's brilliant white lightsabers rattling across the floor.

Legacy instinctively raised a lightsaber over her head and swung it down across Serenity's defenseless form only to be intercepted by the gold and black blade of Enelya. Legacy looked at her in disgust, "You think /she/ would show /you/ the same kindness?!" Enelya gently encouraged Legacy's blade away and stepped forwards, swinging a fist hard across Serenity's jaw and knocking her out cold again, "Oh dear sister, what has become of you?" Enelya was clearly saddened by seeing her sister in this light after so many years apart, "Why kill her when I can save her, Legacy? She is brimming with light just as you are; surely even you can still sense that in her?" Legacy tilted her head slightly as she looked down at Serenity's motionless body, still breathing deeply with the fatigue of combat her rage rapidly subsided before she powered down her lightsaber, "Sister, I..." though she could not find words worthy of offering her estranged older sibling, she did not need to. Enelya moved quickly to embrace her young sister before moving to recover Serenity, "Come; my ship is waiting. We have much to discuss". Still in something of a confused daze after having Atropes' mental grasp over her broken, Legacy followed her sister's lead and before she knew it; they were on board the Jedi's ship and en route back to Tython, and her waiting mother.