Well, RhyDin, it's been fun, but it's time to go.

These are his thoughts as he heads to the north of the city, into the woods. He remembers exactly where he hid it, of course, though it has been a bit since he last came out here. Still, this will be the last time - though nothing momentous has happened to drive him away, he can just...feel that it is time to move on to other places.

Since the last time he's been here - at least a couple years ago - the surrounding forest has grown a bit, but as he reaches the place, he looks up and can still see just enough open sky to squeeze through.

He reaches out to the Force, feeling...touching the currents that flow in this place...

Ah...there you are.

e focuses, shifting the ever-so-subtle flowing of the Force in the clearing in front of him...

...and suddenly, where there seemed to be nothing before, there appears the sleek, black shape of his fighter, the Fardreamer's Reach.

He reaches under his robes and pulls the two lightsaber hilts from his hips, walking up to the ship and touching a panel on the ship that is at eye height. In this he tucks the lightsaber hilts and, after shedding his robe, folds it and stows it in there as well, then closes the panel. Clad now in black, comfortable clothing, he reaches out to the Force again and triggers the canopy switch inside the fighter. It raises withe the soft hiss of hydraulics, and he nimbly leaps directly from the ground to land easily in the cockpit before the hatch is even fully open. He reaches over and taps the switch again, closing the canopy.

He takes one last look around the forest as he starts tapping the controls. Engines whine and displays light up as the fighter begins its diagnostic routine, going through automated checklists and prepping the fighter for liftoff.

A short time later, the sleek, black shape of the fighter ascends through the trees.

He takes a moment to orbit the town, looking down on it. This may well be the last time he ever sees it, and he knows he will remember the place fondly.

Moments later, the fighter is heading for space.

Once he is above the planet, he spies what looks like a jump gate. He's heard of it, of course, a sort of portal that will take the person using it to another system, and he's been curious to see what lies beyond it. After all, if it's at least as nice as RhyDin was, it could be a place to settle. For a while, anyway.

Without hesitation, he pilots the fighter in and, a moment later, emerges in Exodii.

WHOA!!!

He jerks the controls around and just barely misses the massive ship as he pulls away at the last moment.

Okay, no more flying with my eyes closed...

The *massive* ship hailed the other, "Fardreamer's Reach, this is the ambassador's vessel, Capital One. Nice moves. You okay down there? You're listed as this is your first visit from RhyDin. Welcome to Exodii. I'd suggest next time you want to hotdog it with moves like that, take it further east over the Sea. Just some friendly advice. Enjoy your stay. Capital One out."

The communication Aquil had to make, in order to go through the jumpgate, recorded the ship name and initial visit, which were then easily accessed by the Ambassadorial vessel.

Upon arrival, Aquil was approached by a female humanoid with bright literally copper red hair, metallic purple eyes and skin the tone of a peachy platinum. She was wearing a tight fitting long sleeved dark green shirt with swoop neck cut, a pleated dark green and blue mini skirt, dark blue tights and pair of black dress boots that went up just past her ankle. She seemed taller with those three-inch heels, but her stature was only 5'. Her hair was chopped in layers, some sticking upwards atop her head and others falling past her shoulders. She seemed young in human terms perhaps late teens. Her smile was genuine and natural, making one wonder if it was an android and something else about her...

"Welcome to Exodii City. I am Ms. Sunrest III, part of the welcoming service. Would you care for information? Directions? An escort for your stay? Tell me your desire..."

... She didn't sound or move like an android, and definitely there was something sentient about her.

One hand held a complimentary envelope to him complete with a map of the city and surrounding known lands; coupons for various vendors, restaurants and Inns; a list of community contacts, governmental, security, medical and the like; and a wafer thin pair of dinner chocolate mints. The other hand was held to shake his hand. She was as warm to the touch as any other humanoid normally was.

The android shakes his hand gently, letting go as he straightens.

"Hmm... let me think." she gave it thoughtful pause, trying to process the answer while looking him over appraisingly. "That would depend on what you consider relaxing. You look like the 'get away from everything' type. In and around the city, there are a lot of things to do. Most of them are listed in the information packet I gave you. Fishing in the lake.... hunting, camping, horseback riding in the forrest, or you can visit the library to borrow a good book or two if that is what you want. There are places to swim, both indoors and outside.

Other cities provide other recreation. Halexville is 100 miles east of here along the coast. It is filled with magical studies not normally found elsewhere, as well as technological research. It also has some spectacular fishing with the Sea of Life right there. You could catch a boat to one of the other cities to the south along the sea from Halexville. Zyphon is 50 miles northwest of here. It's a huge source of freshwater fishing. There's also rock climbing or spelunking especially around or in Magril, the dwarven city to the south. Actually, the city IS underground. If you don't want to fly to any of these, you can catch the tube there.. it's a solar train in a tube, simply put." Grin.

"As far as a place to stay, there is an Inn at the center of town where the portal to RhyDin resides in. It looks like a really huge barn. There are shops inside as well as outside of this barn. The Inn is just outside of it at the southern end where the North/South road emerges from the barn. It's a nice place, but if you want something more secluded there is a list of Bed N Breakfast alternatives to stay. They are all nice."

She leaned closer and whispered. " I'm not supposed to say this but .. What I wouldn't recommend is the bar to the north end of town... Greeble's Maid. There's never a night without a fight."

She relaxed her stance and spoke normally again. "Was the information what you needed?"

Timing was everything....

The small shuttle had landed just after the fighter. Alex had sensed something in the northern Polar Regions and had come to investigate it himself beyond his own instinct, just to verify and to warn. His mother was alive, that was certain... her shift in darkness was overwhelming, into a place not even Alex dared to go. He hated to leave the others on Marta, but it was necessary. He waved or nodded to many of the workers as he moved through the docking area. All responded with favorable greetings though some held concern...

"Hello Pepper!" he moved to the old droid, one Alex had helped build. Pepper wasn't too far from where Sunrest III was greeting the Jedi, within a fair earshot. "Colorful day today I see. How are repairs going?"

The droid, one of an elven build standing about 5'7", had strictly black and white metal parts randomly displayed... one white hand with a black forearm, white neck, the other hand black, jaw black, cheeks white and the forehead half white half black. The salt and pepper hair was evenly displayed. His clothing was colorful, at least for that day, a blue and grey mechanics suit instead the favored black and white.

"Alex! Sire it is good to see you. Repairs are going well. I have five ships to cover today, all general maintenance and most aren't due for a few days. A light day, sir."

"Very good. If you can squeeze it into your schedule, my shuttle seemed a little lagging on the pick up. Might be the regulator valve again. Could you take a look at it see what you can do to fix it?"

"Indeed Sire! I'm almost finished with this one. Yours will be next. The rest are not needed for two or three days. When will you need yours?"

"Excellent. I might need it later this evening, at the earliest. I haven't decided if I'll be staying the night." Alex looked the droid over as if analyzing its condition. "Good to see you are still functional, Pepper, after all this time. Penny seems to be taking good care of you. Carry on then." Alex patted the droid on the shoulder, an affectionate move to be sure, and headed back on his course.

Indeed, while Jedi weren't completely unknown to some on Exodii, they weren't a normally known occurrence in the place. Most people wouldn't recognize one. In fact, there had only been less then a handful ever known to visit the system. Alex happened to be one who knew of one .... His mother's friend Rick whom he barely remembered. His own grandfather had the proper training of a Jedi, but to say he was a Jedi would be incorrect at this point, as far as Alex knew. Jedi didn't marry and have babies so much. Rick was the only other Jedi Alex knew of until he walked a few paces more and saw Sunny speaking to one. The clothing was right... and the hint of the lightsaber beneath the cloak was seen to confirm it.

His pace slowed as he neared. She was leaning towards the Jedi and whispering, no doubt her usual warning. Sunny was a lover and never liked violence. She always warned most people about that place, mostly because she'd had one bad experience there and would never go again.

True, the authorities could've shut down the place, but the business they drew in had its positive influences. As long as the fighting stayed to fighting and not killing or maiming, and it didn't spill into the streets too much, they let them have their fun. Even his mother went down there every now and then, or used to.

Better keep an eye on that place... he silently reminded himself. But for now, he had more pleasant things to think about. The seriousness of his visage lightened as he approached with silent steps, mischief in his emerald hues as he snuck up nonchalantly behind her....

"Thank you, Ms. Sunrest, you have been most helpful."

"You are most welcome, sir. I hope you enjoy your stay." Ms. Sunrest cordially replied. She waited for a moment or two to see if he needed anything else. It didn't seem so as he closed his eyes. So she turned to move away.

Alex anticipated the move, shifting perfectly to keep behind her while she walked only a few paces away. Then he let her have the surprise.

"Sunny, are you up to your old tricks?" His baritone voice was heard quietly speaking though the smile and joy was evident in the inflections and emotions about him.

If the Jedi sensed no emotion from the droid before, it was blatant now. No, she wasn't human, but she did have emotions. Though normally kept to an exceptionally low key, which might account for the Jedi not noticing them before, they could rise above normal levels even for a human. Now was one of those moments for her as an emotional spike of sheer joy rose.

"Alex!" she squealed with glee and practically jumped up with a bear of a hug on him. After the initial hug, she looked up at him, studying his features for a moment before she continued with much quieter, softened tones. "Are you coming back? Where's Lyndra and the others? And your Mother? I was so confused when you all left. I've been so worried ... and I've missed you!" She stepped back a step, glancing to the Jedi and tried to move Alex a few paces away out of respect for the new arrival.. who still seemed to be meditating or something.

Alex was no less interested in her and only pulled his gaze away to follow where hers went. Though she tried to move him a few paces, he didn't seem to want to go. His gaze returned to her. "I've missed you too, Sunny... but we aren't coming back. It's ... complicated. I can't explain right now anyway."

His emerald hues shifted again to the Jedi, who's eyes were still closed with obvious marked concentration. He wondered what the Jedi was doing here and decided he should probably venture a conversation with him to find out. His gaze came back to Sunny, his pet name for her. "I'll come see you later, Sunny...I promise. What time do you get done?"

Disappointment sank in... followed by an uplift of hope. "Another three hours."

"Date. I'll find you." He smiled and kissed her forehead.

She nodded, glancing to the side at another new arrival. "I have to go." Then she left to go greet yet another arrival to Exodii City.

Alex fondly watched her go for another moment before his attention was squared on the Jedi. He would wait until it seemed the man was done with whatever the man was doing behind closed eyes before he would approach him.

Meanwhile, Alex used his ability to try and sense just the emotional feel of the man. Was Alex gifted? psionically, yes.. Force sensitive.. yes, though unknowingly. But highly, and expectedly, untrained. He always thought he was tapping into the psionics. His mother never allowed Force training, or rather had always dissuaded and shifted away from it centering more on psionics and magic. Alex never really had much to do with either, especially magic until recently in his life. No, Alex had been the tech kid, thus his emotional attachment to the droids. There was no promotion of the Force in his life and little in the way of information about it other then it existed, and to Alex just another type of power to use.

"Greetings... we don't get many of your kind here. You are Jedi, no? I haven't seen a lightsaber since I was a boy." which was true. "I'm Alex Arrowny... a..." he hesitated to say too much. "...a native of these parts. What brings you to Exodii? Perhaps I can help you with your... quest?"

Alex grinned. "Sometimes finding a home is one of the more important quests. Welcome to Exodii. If home doesn't strike you here, then may business or pleasure bring you back. Buy you a drink?"

Well, it was the least he could do and besides, he got a brush of emotion from the man, a questioning sensation... a hesitation. Instinct, was it? Something nudged Alex to continue on.

"I've only known one full fledged Jedi ever ... he has not been here for years. The other was my grandfather, not exactly a full fledged Jedi as you can see, or I wouldn't be here. There were a few others in RhyDin, but not very many. Force users generally don't follow the code to the letter, if at all.. or so has been my experience, as limited as it has been. And I meant no insult for the mix up."

Whatever the reasons Aquil was no longer a Jedi, Alex wasn't sensing a blatent darkness about the aura, more of a mix perhaps. He felt comfortable with it.

"... But if you're going to be buying me one, I'll be obligated to buy you one, as well."


A brilliant smile on that. "Deal!"

Oddly enough, Alex was never one for drinking that much, but for some reason it seemed like a good idea to him. Why not two? or three?

"And if it's a good enough story, I'll buy another." he added boisterously.

This wasn't Alex. Something else was going on. That inner voice of his nudged him, but he was too surprised to change it now. No, he kept to his smile willingly enough. It would be interesting to him to hear those stories. What really bothered him was the craving for the drink... had he ever craved a drink like that before? He was sure he hadn't. He was sure that something.. somewhere was wrong.

As he steps away from the fighter, though, something else catches his attention, and his steps falter - a sudden upsurge in energy...Dark side energy.

He only caught it because he has been touching the Force, but it is enough to bring his attention around, his eyes scanning the world around him, and his senses as well. What is that...?

He knows the Dark side quite well, having had his run-in with it...in fact, that is exactly what got him exiled. This feels the same, but...

Darker.

More seductive.

Anger and betrayal.

And the feeling that whoever it is exercising this newfound darkside power is liking it...more...and more...

He pulls his senses and thoughts back to the present. He can't do anything about something he can't see, or bring into focus...but still, whatever it is does not bode well for him here at all...or, more likely than not, for anyone else, either.

Alex noticed the faultering step just as he suddenly felt a surge of .. something ...

Darker.

More seductive.

Anger and betrayal.

It wasn't psionics... he wasn't sure if it was magic or not. Alex didn't really understand that it was some disturbance in the Force ..... but that it was connected to his mother was certain... and geared more keenly towards himself.

It felt like it was building in strength, like breathing.. like a slow moving earthquake growing in strength towards some crescendo that hadn't been heard yet. Even so, it caused Alex to sway where he stood like a drunken sailor.. or a sober one trying to remain upright in the middle of a storm.

He'd heard a voice in his mind and his gaze darted around. No one else seemed to notice anything, no reactions on anyone except for the one he slowly realized whose voice had just popped into his head, or had it? Alex wasn't sure, except who it came from. Suprised emerald hues glanced to Aquil, his voice kept low between them.

"I.. don't know what that was either. I don't think anyone else noticed. Maybe we should go for a fourth round. I may have a story or two for you as well."

He hadn't expected an answer when he had asked what the sudden upsurge in dark power was...so when he gets one, he is utterly surprised. He's been around plenty of Force sensitives in his travels of varying degrees, of course, taking the time to learn from those who had some form of skill and picking up quite a lot of knowledge. With that knowledge, he could tell that Alex had Force potential, but it was largely untrained. So he shouldn't have been able to pick up on his stray thought, really...

...and yet, somehow, he had. Easily, enough to answer him. And to feel that sudden upsurge, as well. Those copper-colored eyes turn to regard Alex once again, this time with renewed interest. He's never had a student of his own, never felt the need to take one, but this man...well, he seems like a good one, and perhaps...

...no. He's got his own share of problems, and he is an exile...he wouldn't want to be responsible for the fall of someone else, as he had fallen. That wouldn't be right, for the student or for him. He turns away for a moment, again regarding the sleek, angular lines of his fighter.

He could get back in and take off for the next place. This isn't really his fight any more...but then, it hasn't been his fight for quite some time, and he's been fighting it anyway.

With a sigh, he turns back, his gaze settling on Alex once more. He is shocked to find the man looking shocked, pale, as though paralyzed by...fear? He reaches out with his senses and feels the shock the man is feeling, and with a quick stride closes the gap between them, a hand reaching out to his shoulder. "Hey...are you all right...?"

As Alex is collapsing, Aquil goes down with him, more out of habit than anything else, and - with instinct taking over - reaches out to the man with the Force, feeling for his thoughts, his emotions.

As it turns out, he is remarkably open, in his shock perhaps forgetting that he ought to be shielding himself from a Jedi, whose reputation for mental penetration is legendary, to say the least. Aquil, having learned from a great many different Force-influenced and adept cultures and orders, is able to pick up on what Alex is feeling quite keenly.

Fear...loss...confusion...and a deep, echoing sadness that Aquil cannot fathom, except that it has something to do with his mother, and the loss of two lives - a mother and child, though not Alex's he can sense. Through Alex, he can feel the loss as well, though not in the same way. There's something...odd...about this man, something that Aquil can't quite grasp. He is tempted to probe deeper, except that there is no time - he can feel Alex's sense fading quickly, and Aquil is able to stop it.

Hopefully.

He turns his thoughts inward for a moment, recalling the technique he had learned from an old, grumpy Jedi Master a few years back, then reaches out to Alex's mind. The empathic action he performs are twofold - the first to cut him off from the Force and that dark influence he feels, severing the connection temporarily. It will re-establish itself gradually in about an hour or so. The second action passes through Aquil himself, channeling some of his own Force energy to Alex, an act meant to re-invigorate his mind and body, and help him clear it of that darker influence.

The whole process takes only a few moments...the question is, will it work...?

He keeps a careful eye on Alex as the man regains his feet, only seeming slightly embarassed. For himself, he doesn't see why - Alex had just sensed something that most fledgling Force-sensitives wouldn't have felt at all, or if they did it would be in the most peripheral way. Still, he doesn't seem to know - for the moment - what Aquil did, though as the severing wears off, bit by bit, he may figure it out. For the moment, though...

He looks back at his fighter, then shakes his head. "Tell you what...I'm already here, and I could use a drink. Besides, just by being here, I'm already involved, and I don't like leaving things unfixed. So let's go get that drink, and you can tell me a story, and I'll tell you one. And we can go from there."

As they walk along, he listens, taking in all the information. Being a Jedi with a photographic memory does have its perks, at times, he thinks, cataloguing all the info. He's never heard of this Jedi Rick, but then, he has been out of contact with the Jedi for a number of years, and as he understands it, the Nexus around Rhydin and its adjoining places has a strange effect on time, as well as space...so Rick could have come from an entirely different era, as well.

The whole story is interesting, though, and he's found, in his travels, that most legends and their explanations actually have a basis in fact - so the locals' explanation of events could have a note of truth in it, though it seems to be a bit fanciful. What he's interested in is what might have caused it. In the archives of the Jedi, there are documented accounts of Sith Lords and dark Jedi bringing about the destruction or creation of whole systems simply by use of the Force alone, though they often destroyed themselves in the process. He has oftentimes wondered if, were he to fall so completely to the Dark Side, he would be capable of such an act.

He isn't sure, and isn't anxious to find out.

"So, this...castle, the hole where it used to be...you say it has an aura of fear around it...that it is uncomfortable to be near, that any who go near it turn away from the sense of foreboding they have from it...is it possible to visit this place?"

He can feel the mixture of emotions from the man - mostly sadder ones at the end, talking about his mother, her husband and the events that had surrounded them. It's almost as if he feels he lost his mother and father, which is something Aquil can relate to. As the reach the bar, Aquil pushes open the door and lets Alex in ahead of him.

As they find their seats, Aquil begins talking.

"Well...I'm afraid my story isn't as interesting as yours. My parents..." He pauses for a moment. That memory is as sharp in his mind as it ever was, and painful, still, even nearly thirty years later. "...well, they were both Jedi, and they met during the course of their duties in a negotiation of a dispute. From there, I guess, one thing must have led to another and my mother got pregnant. I'm not sure if they left because of the Jedi's prohitive policies towards Jedi being together, or if they were afraid of being punished, or if they just decided they wanted a normal, Jedi Order free family life, but they left to a little, out of the way planet called Tatooine and settled down. I was born there, and we lived there for ten years...until..."

He breaks off then, recalling that day with perfect clarity. The Jedi in him knows that life ends - it's the way of all things, the way of the Force. One day, his own life will end.

But the human in him refuses to stop mourning the loss. He loved his mother and father dearly, and in his mind at times it still is not fair at all that they were taken from him at such a young age...

Alex's voice shakes him from the memories of the past, the feelings of injustice. There is nothing for it, really, the Jedi in him chides. The past is the past, and there is nothing he can do to change it. For now, he pushes that aside.

"Well...I was born on Tatooine, and I grew up the first ten years of my life there. My parents were teaching me, you see, in the ways of the Jedi - they didn't want to give me up to the Order where they wouldn't see me again. They were more interested in being a family.

"One day, we went walking in the Jundland Wastes, in a canyon, and we came across a cave. There was a beast in there, a Dark side beast called a terentatek. It had been sleeping in that cave for who knows how long, ages probably, before the Force presence of my parents and I woke it up, and it came for us...well, me, really. My parents died defending me from it, and it almost didn't matter - the beast came for me after it killed them. If they hadn't taught me as much as they did, I would have been done for, but using their lightsabers I was able to finish it, with their spirits guiding me."

He sighs, head drooping a little as memories flood through him. "I know that I shouldn't still mourn them, but sometimes I do...I wonder what my life would have been like if they had lived, if we had never gone by that way. Not that it matters, truly - everything happens in its own time, and we have no say in it."

He lifts his head and continues. "Anyway, after what happened, I just...walked. I think it must have taken me days to get to the nearest town, and to be honest I don't know how I did - Tatooine is a big desert, really, no open water to speak of. But somehow I made it to a town, and there just happened to be a Jedi there on some errand or another that picked me up and brought me back to the Council. His name was Tanis Suul."

He nods to all of the things Alex says. He knows all of that, of course, but even a Jedi can need reminding, at times. Still, there's more to the story, things he hasn't spoken of to anyone, really, in a very long time.

"Well, as I said, Tanis brought me back to the Jedi and before the council. They knew who my parents were - Jedi falling in love with anyone is rare enough, and two Jedi falling in love and leaving the Order even more rare. The Council were understandably hesitant to let Tanis continue my training where my parents left off, understandably so - I was hardly ideal for training, after what had happened, and they worried it would come back to haunt me one day."

He closes his eyes, recalling nine years spent wandering the galaxy with Tanis. Good times, those were. "Tanis trained me for six more years, until I was able to go through the trials and become a Jedi. I think even he was surprised at how well I did. I learned a lot from him. He wasn't the most orthodox instructor, as I recall - he preferred to teach by showing, to let me learn by doing. We never really stayed in one place, just wandered around the galaxy. A couple years after I had become a Jedi, though, we ran into an uncharted planet, where a dark Jedi had taken up residence. He had taken control of a village of primitives there...enslaved them to his will. They managed to take us by surprise and killed Tanis..."

He sighs, shaking his head. "I suppose I had repressed the memory of what happened to my parents...the feelings that I felt about losing them. I went into a rage and killed the dark Jedi...and then I killed the villagers, too. All of them."

He falls silent, letting those final words hang in the air. He's not proud of what he did, not at all. He hates that he allowed it to happen. The villagers, while not being blameless, had been slaves to the dark Jedi's will, and didn't deserve their fate.

"Afterwards, I fled the planet - I retrieved Tanis' lightsaber and took it back to the jedi and told them what had happened, and they exiled me. I haven't been back since."

He thinks that question over as he takes a sip of his drink. It's a valid question, sure enough, and one he's thought over a great deal. His training had been quite unorthodox, and what he's gone through since, the things he's learned...

After a long silence, he answers. "To be completely honest, I don't know. I had thought of it once, but since then...I've traveled a great deal, learned more than the Jedi could have ever taught me had I stayed with them, from a great many Force-sensitive cultures and societies. I'm not even sure the term 'Jedi' even really applies to me, anymore."

He thinks for a little while more, sipping his drink for a moment, before continuing. "I've never sought to atone and return to the Jedi, to be honest, though somehow I get caught up in battles that are not my own to fight...and yet, for some reason, I do. I've caused enough death - perhaps helping out who I can is my own way to make up for what's been done. Whatever happens, though, whether I return to the jedi or not, is the will of the Force. I simply follow it where it leads me, and for now it's led me here."

He takes a gulp of his drink, thinking on what Alex has said. It is certainly possible, although why he would be the one chosen - if indeed, that is the way things are - is beyond him. Personally, throughout all is travels, he has learned a great deal about the Force and the universe, and has come to see - from his perspective - that he is but a mote in the great design. What Alex says about the evolution of this system, the way it used to be and how what is here has come to be, he finds quite fascinating.

"To be honest...what you say has merit. I don't know if I have anything to do with this, to be honest - asking the Force for guidance is really a day-to-day sort of thing. I've heard of Jedi who could see the future and at times divine the ways in which the Force works its will, but I've never done it myself. Doing so requires time, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the Force itself...I could try, if you would like, but we will need to be someplace that is a good deal...quieter."

He looks around the tavern they are in as he says this. It's not particularly loud in here, as far as noise goes, but there is still too much going on. Too many minds, here, all wrapped in their own thoughts. What he really needs is...

"...I would need a place that is strong in the Force. Someplace that acts as a focal point for this world would be the best...if there is such a place..." This last he says quietly, almost as if he's talking to himself. In a way he is, as some people think aloud, but at the same time he does it so that Alex can hear, if he should have any ideas.

It is a good question. What exactly makes a good focal point for the Force? He's not sure he knows. He's not sure anyone really knows.

Still, there are theories. "Well...some of them are located around events in the Force...either especially traumatic events, or else places where a major battle between Light and Dark was fought - the winner determines which side it is oriented towards. Or a place where a person strong in the Force has used it in a manner that exceeds the norm...or a place where someone that is strong in the Force has died. Other than that...there are times where a vergence forms and no one can explain why ore how."

He looks at his drink - almost gone. And now that he mentioned it, the park that Alex had mentioned seems like a good idea. In fact, the more he thinks about it, the better it seems...a prodding of the Force, perhaps? Maybe. In his life, he doesn't doubt anything.

He drains his glass. "Well...this park you mentioned...to be honest, I think I would like to start there. As you said, if nothing else it will be calmer than it is here."

As they travel along, he pulls from Alex's mind the memory as it is being offered. The memory is quite poignant, heavy with emotion and vivid to the point of nearly painful intensity. It's not often that he has ever been able to experience something so completely through another's eyes - in fact, this would be maybe the second time. Ever.

As they reach the park, finally, Aquil doesn't even need to get out of the taxi to tell that the Force is strong here. Very strong. Not, perhaps, the vergence he was looking for, but strong enough. There is a current of many emotions, many things in this one place, and above all, a very spiritual feeling to the place.

Yes, he thinks, this place may be exactly what he needs.

To Alex's question, he simply shakes his head. "No, no questions...I think you're right. This place...the Force is strong here. Not the focal point, really, as far as I can tell...but there is a lot of...feeling here. I think, though, that meeting at the coffee shop you mentioned would be a good idea - I don't truly know how long I will be."

He turns away at that and, closing his eyes, he reaches out and touches the Force. Oh, it is strong here indeed, stronger than anywhere else on this world so far. He opens himself fully to it, letting it guide his steps.

It takes a while before he is able to find what he is looking for - the central point of the 'hot spot' here in this park. He sits, keeping his eyes closed, and opens his mind, heart and soul to the Force, again reaching out as far as his senses will allow.

There is great strength here - again, sadness and joy, sorrow and mourning for the loss of so many, joy and celebration at the promise of new hopes and dreams to be fulfilled. Mixed in with it, as though inseparably bound, there is the darker, baser feeling of shadowy forces that joined to work with the light. Many things, all coupled together in the hope of survival, fighting for the chance to survive and create something new.

As he reaches out further, tapping into the strength of this place, he feels it flood through him, as though he is indeed one part of the greater whole. So much potential! But, then comes the sobering thought - he has not been guided anywhere or to do anything than come here.

And so, as he is waiting, he reaches out and touches the Force with his mind, sending this one single thought. Okay, I'm here...show me what you want of me.

In the meantime, Aquil is sitting in the middle of the park, waiting. He can feel the power here, waiting as well...as if for some other signal. Something here is waiting, as if it is looking for something, much as he himself has been for the past sixteen years.

Just as he's thinking that, he feels it.

A nudge...as if something wants him to look somewhere...

He follows that thread, stretching out further...and as he does so, there is an instant of complete emptiness.

And immediately on the heels of that, the whole world of Exodii, the whole solar system, and the thoughts and feelings of every living thing in it, floods in on him.

He can feel himself connected to the world, to everyone on it, and everyone close to it - not only on this world but, as he follows the sudden threads of the Force that appear to him, all around the system - the planets, the stars, and the moon overhead, that he identifies from the many minds he is suddenly touching as Marta, which is unexpectedly beginning to teem with powerful, new life. With a sudden burst of insight, he realizes that this is the vergence he was looking for...

At that moment, every Force sensitive individual on the planet would be able to feel the connection Aquilonius has just made. As if there has been a sudden upsurge in their awareness, as he connects to all of them, and they in turn are connected to him. The feeling would be akin to being simultaneously energized and drained, and for that moment, every Force capable being would become one with him, though unable to see everything he sees. Any psionically capable person would be able to feel Aquil's touch, as well, as his mind linked with theirs - in fact, they may find that they are able to see snatches of Aquil's own convoluted, wandering, lonely life, some more than others, depending on their ability, as his mind is opened to them. For anyone else, they would not notice much - perhaps, for just an instant, they may be able to feel as if they are capable of truly understanding the person closest to them...but that feeling would be fleeting. All any of them would know for certain is that someone has somehow connected to all of them, though not who or how, or even why...and for that fleeting moment, through him, they would be able to feel the entirety of the system and every living thing on it, though not be able to see things as he does.

He is able to see Alex, the family he harbors on the moon above. A family of conflicting individuals, dark and light and in between, all banded together for their survival, struggling to survive and strengthen once more. He can see the hopes he has of keeping them safe, sheltered, away from the madness and rage this Sha'uri feels at the injustices that have befallen her.

Much as the various conflicting facets of his very self have done...much as this entire world has done.

As he feels that and focuses on it, he is able to see through Sha'uri Woodshadow Arrowny's eyes, to the madness and sorrow and rage in her soul, the parts of her that are simulatanously trying to help her find her salvation and lead her further into the darkness. He can see what she has gained, what she has lost, all that has happened to drive her closer and closer to the edge, and finally, when the right thing came along, pushed her over it. As he tries to see where she is and what she's doing, though, the vision of her slips away, and all that is left of her in him is a deep, unabating sadness and sense of loss...and deep, deep down, a glimmer of hope somewhere in her soul...struggling not to be buried.

He can see Lyndra, whom he identifies through Alex's mind, giving birth to new life, the hope for a better future shining in her eyes, as well as the dread she felt as the one known as Sha'uri commit dark, dark deeds, and the peace she finds in the arms of another, one whom until not long ago she might have counted as an enemy.

Everywhere he looks here, amongst all the souls he finds, great and small, light and dark, the pattern is repeated, the one common factor is the same - love. Hope. And those things need to be brought together...nurtured...if this world is to survive...or it will be torn apart once more, and this time there will be nothing he or anyone else will be able to do to stop it. He can see it.

He can feel it.

And as quickly as he realizes that, the connection to all on this planet fades...and he finds himself drifting in darkness.

After a few moments - or is it hours? - he can sense another prescence with him. Someone strong, and not only that, Force-sensitive...and trained to use it, just as he was, once.

A Jedi?

Without thinking, he sends a single thought, driven by curiousity more than anything else. Who's there?

"Captain, there's an incoming call from Jumpgate 1 guards."

Captian Hekstar grinned. "Excuse me, Sir. I need to answer this."

She left Alex there and made her way across the room to go deal with whatever was happening at the City Jumpgate. Whatever she was saying, Alex couldn't hear and he wasn't really paying attention. His gaze was glued to the console.

"Seems you have an old friend at the gates, Alex."

"Oh? Who?"

"One Headmaster Briarius Ravensheart."

Alex blinked. "Come again?" His gaze left the console.

"You're mother's employer.. or ex by now. didn't you contact him about her?"

"No... no I didn't." He'd had too much going on lately.

"Say no more, I'll take care of it. Maybe he knows something useful. Maybe that's why he's here. Then again, maybe he's just here because she hasn't been there and is looking to find out what happened to her. Either way... I'll bring him back here."

"Probably a good idea. In fact, I should go get our new friend and bring him back here as well. Thoughts?"

"Agreed."

"Then it's settled. I'm not sure how long it'll take, He's meditating with the Force. I don't want to interrupt him if it's not necessary."

"Then we'll set up quarters and food for them. You're friend isn't going to all night is he? We can meet in the morning unless something drastic happens."

"I hope he won't be all night..." Alex smirked and watched as the Captain left the room to go bring back one Headmaster Ravensheart. He moved to the door and was out, heading back the way he came in. That same cab was waiting there.

Sometime later, Alex had been sitting in the coffee shop the one he told Aquil to meet him in. How long, he wasn't quite sure but it seemed like hours had passed.

He had picked a quiet booth to sit in, secluded from most of the room but with a view of the park entrance. Alex watched it diligently. It was while he was sitting there that he felt something, an odd sensation that was both familiar and completely foriegn. It was a wide vast sensation and for a moment he swore he felt his mother somewhere in the mass of that sensation. For as intense as the sensation was, it was equally fleeting and he wondered if he had felt it at all, and yet the memory was strong. Indeed, he had felt something he just didn't know who, what or why.

His deep emerald hues looked to the sky as if that would give up the answers. The sun was setting and all would be dark in just a few short minutes, perhaps ten or fifteen at most. That's when he decided to just go find Aquil....

A curious thing as Alex approached, it wasn't Aquil he noticed first, it was the circling balls of dirt formed into the oh so familiar forms that Alex was very aware of. His steps were slow and silent, fearful of disturbing the man from his obvious connection. Alex marveled at the way the objects moved around Aquil as if he were the sun; more so at the details formed within them and the way the orbits were lined. Near as he could tell, it was exactly the way Exodii system was.

Alex came to a stop just outside the orbits and keenly watched Aquil's expressions as he seemed to be enraptured by something that Alex couldn't see. However, he sense the emotions pouring from Aquil. Whatever it was, it touched Aquil deeply. He felt the sudden sense of great loss in the ex jedi, and the hope...

Aquil's gaze seemed to shift toward Alex with a look that at first seemed to see him standing there. Almost in the same breath, the look was distant again, not in the manner of seeing something just beyond Alex, but the unseeing look caught up in vision. Alex knew that look well... he'd seen a million times on his grandmother's face and occassionally on his mother's. It was an intense several moments and Alex was careful not to move. Even when Aquil's hand came up and stopped the object's orbits, Alex remained motionless. Even while the objects around Aquil fell to piles of earth in the exact places they had been scooped up from, Alex remainded motionless.

Alex sensed the profound clarity in Aquil as he looked up to the sky. He sensed a deep conviction as Aquil softly spoke. He gave him a moment to adjust before he himself spoke up. His baritone voice gently rumbled as his opened hand lifted to point the way back to the entrance.

"Then perhaps you should come with me."

Alex grinned quizzically as he moved towards the path.

"I trust your meditation had some good results? Perhaps you will tell me about them on the ride back."

His pace was not liesurely and they were soon to the gates. The hovercraft awaited to take them back to the Exodian Compound.

The two got in and the craft moved along the crowded streets....