Welcome to Gaia! ::

"It certainly has," her tranquil voice rang out with a touch of surprise and a great deal of serene pleasure. This beach was like a new home to her - so far away from everyone else - and aside from the house they shared, she felt most beautiful when she was on the sandy shore, gazing out into the ocean or staring into the endless blue sky. Night and day were both pleasant whether she did anything or not, and today she hadn't planned on doing anything, feeling terribly lonely without her mate, but now she might be easily convinced to do something more active. She could feel the life returning to her just by being near Aasritha.

"Where have you been all of this time," she asked gently as she shifted nearer her lover and slung her left arm across to catch the black kitsune's waist to pull her into a long deserved kiss. Aasritha's lips were like honey and her breath like lavender perfumes. Every time Red kissed her, the passion sent her body into a sensual frenzy that could not easily be elated. Still, she knew there was a time for making love, but for now they would talk. "I missed you."

The loose fabric of her plain blue sari billowed behind her in a passing wind as she took in all the features of her lover's face, noticing almost immediately that there was something different about the once completely black hair which she loved more than even her own. A single silver streak on the left side stood completely contrast to what red was familiar with, and though the chance was not unwanted or unattractive, she had to inquire about it.

"I see your hair looks different. I think the silver suits you very well," she could not resist kissing again. It was like a drug she had long since become addicted to. Now that she had a fresh supply, she was gonna make like a kid in a candy shop and have her fill. "Are there any other changes I need to know about?" She of course mentioned nothing about the vast amount of power she felt coming from Aasritha. For some time she was aware that the younger girl could be several times more powerful and dangerous than even she was, so it came as no shock that she would become so mighty a woman in so little time. In fact Red felt a sense of pride knowing that she was taken care of finally, having worried since the death of her brothers how strong she would have to be to take care of herself. Although technically she still took care of Aasritha, what she needed did not lie in material or even homely needs.

"By the Mother herself...I'm so glad you're back."

"I reached forward to open the door but saw there was no handle. The shifting pattern on the door was still attracting my attention so I decided to lay my hand on top of it. I lightly placed my fingers then pressed down on the strangely cool pattern with my palm and the stone door simply slid upwards and open. I stepped into the room and the door suddenly shut. I turned to see why and found myself looking across a field. The door was nowhere to be found. Across the field I saw a strange dark force that seemed to be growing as it approached, covering the fields as far as I could see. I did not seem safe to be in its path in a place I did not know, so I did what seemed most intelligent at the time. I ran. I found myself in front of a cave on an island that was degrading by the second. I walked in. There were many corridors to follow in the cave. I choose whatever I felt my heart was telling me. Finally I reached what I supposed was my goal. A small room like cavern with two exits. The island seemed to have degraded completely as this small room was quickly filling up with water. I found myself drawn to one room but something about it seemed wrong. Either I was clumsy or my staff somehow tripped me, but as soon as I stumbled I regained my senses and traveled down the less appealing, yet somehow more right, corridor. It seemed to get darker and darker as I walked and the walls seemed to be getting closer. Somehow I ended up on the floor, crawling. And tighter still it got finally scratching up my bare arms till I popped out of the corridor into a cold ice world. This was not where I wanted to be. I was much too lightly dressed for this weather so I found shelter in another cave and tried starting a fire. It refused to start. I was cold and hungry and hurt and tired but I couldn't sleep or I would die. So I moved on. I felt like I should move towards the oncoming blizzard so I did. I pushed harder and harder through the blinding snow till the pain gave way to numbness. My life seemed to me to consist of this battle with nature but I did not give and somehow I was through. The blizzard had led me to an oasis with soaring temperature but food and a place for a few moments rest. I grabbed some fruits, reached down to drink some of the deceivingly cool water and felt myself being pulled through the water. I fell farther and farther and faster and faster and heard myself screaming when with a thud I landed on the ground. When I regained consciousness again I saw again the field and the growing black force, but was too weak to run. I did not want to die lying down and had lost my dagger during my trip but pulled up my staff and using the last of my energy struck a defensive pose to the oncoming horde. Then I ran at them and just as we were to meet I fell through the door and back in the original room. I looked back just as the door closed and saw the pattern was menacingly changing colors and patterns quicker then I could see before it slowed down minutes later to the slowly changing silvery blue. I then fell asleep."

"When I awoke I saw that I was in a beautiful room surrounded and covered by soft pillows and blankets I was initially happy then suddenly frightened. I looked down and saw that I was still dressed in my former tatters and was somewhat relieved. Shortly upon my awakening, the man I assumed was the owner of the bed I was sleeping in came into the room and sat down on one of the chairs, watching me curiously. He looked to be an older man and seemed to have shifted into the more human shape as it seems I had done when I was traversing that strange room. He had a white beard and hair and was dressed neatly. He seemed to be full of a strange power I had never seen the likes of and yet I felt a sort of kinship with him. That was when I realized I too had this strange power flowing through me. He spoke. He told me his name and where we were. He explained that the room was one of the two most powerful beings in the universe, if they could be called that. It was called the Logrus. To traverse it is to give oneself mastery over it, for few can survive it mentally or physically. It was an ever changing maze that confused the mind and challenged the body. And only a direct descendant of the royal line could traverse it with least effect to the mind. He seemed to be looking at me strangely once again but I knew nothing of what he spoke though it did seem very familiar. He offered to train me with the use of my new powers and I too wanted to learn what I could do. After resting and reassuring myself that perhaps this was or wasn't a dream but I should do what I can when I can I accepted his training. I spent nearly a year hidden from the public and royal eye in training. He had said that if I did not know I was of royal blood then it is better for whoever my Chaosite parent was not to know I had learned what I did for they obviously withheld that information. After the year had passed I yearned to return to this earth and spoke to him of it. He nodded and handed me a trump with his picture on it and told me to contact him whenever necessary. I smiled and tucked it away safely and thanked him. Due to the time differential between the two worlds I had only been gone for almost a month, Earth time. I then started the walk back home. I reached home, but the road home was difficult and memories of the Logrus plagued me. When I finally reached the Island I once again screamed out and needed someone to help me find peace. I finally passed out from the pain and the memories. When I awoke I left you a note and the first Trump I had created of myself and left. I have finally decided it best to come to you now that I have control over my memories and I bring you these Trumps of the Island, Club Orion, Valin, finally one of yourself. They can be used for contact and travel."

She had left out so many details but it felt good to finally say all of that. She looked at her worn out lover and smiled.

"I love you Red."

She was looking forward to some rest...

"You don't know how much I want to celebrate love. No matter how much I wanted to know about my new powers, spending an entire year with an old man training left me more than a little drained. Besides, he wasn't nearly as sexy as you are..."

She was tired from her story and could see how tired Red was. But sleep could wait. It had waited before. Her lover was more important and she was feeling very selfish right now. So she pushed her lover to the ground and began to kiss her. Her hands were searching and feeling those curves she had so dearly missed when she realized how much she wanted to see Red completely. She gently unraveled the top layer of her lovers sari, then realized the beach was perhaps not the best place to continue. She replaced the sari and smiled down at Red once again.

"After you, my princess."

It didn't seem possible to her but she needed to have Red immediately as she watched her undress and as she stood ready to run after her but frozen in place Red disappeared from sight. She half yelped in kitsune then ran in after her lover somehow losing article after article of clothing. If anyone were on the island they would have felt that joyous, lust filled moment when Aasritha found Red. There was so much energy and passion filling both of them, yet all of it was hidden from mortal eyes. Tonight was their night and theirs alone. And to say it was beautiful would be an understatement...

The Jedi Knight held his back to Red. He didn't like to stare when talking about such things. In fact, he just didn't like to talk about it... but Red felt she needed to know this information or that she needed him to talk about it and get it off his chest.

He closed his eyes and his mind drifted into the Force, into life itself. He felt the life of this islands - the trees, the animals, even the rocks. Almost everything existed within the Force... and just a few years ago, he would have told you absolutely everything did live within the Force. He opened his eyes after a few seconds, after preparing his response for Red. He shrugged off his dark brown cloak - underneath were the tans, dark browns, and light browns of the traditional Jedi robes.

"Genocide... no... what's the English word? Is xenocide even one in your language? It was more than destroying one race or people. The Yuuzhan Vong came to wipe the galaxy clean of all its native inhabitants. They wanted it for themselves alone and to shape it to their view of perfection."

He paused a moment, thinking. What did Red really want to know about? The war with the Yuuzhan Vong invaders... or this war between the Jedi Valin and Sith Rutum that came from it?

"The war started in 25 GSC - Galactic Standard Calendar," He began, which might seem like a tangent, "The galactic capital planet Coruscant fell in 27 GSC. That was when I began my descent into darkness."

He Jedi paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, "The war began badly. We were not prepared for their biological technology. The first battles went poorly - some ships wouldn't even recognize the Vong organic ships as hostile targets. We had to learn to adapt to survive. Then there were politics on our side screwing us over and the collaborators who thought that siding with the Vong would save them - it didn't. Planets were terraformed or outright destroyed. The Jedi were torn between going outright into war as warriors or being guardians and protectors. The Imperial Remnant first stayed out of the war. The New Republic Senate was paralyzed by incompetence and cowardice. They didn't take the problem serious until it knocked on their front door."

Again the Jedi Knight paused, thinking, deciding to make it more personal, "I was one of the few Jedi who wanted to take the fight to the Yuuzhan Vong. Jedi Master Kyp Durron spurred this movement - he blamed Master Luke Skywalker for the deaths of so many Jedi, that his policy of defense over attack was going to get us all killed. At the time, I would have followed Kyp to Hell and back. I couldn't understand why Master Skywalker - who took to battle to defeat the Empire - would not allow us to do battle with the Vong. I think he feared it would forge young Jedi like me into weapons rather than into protectors."

"I was a Jedi General - one of the few Jedi who led New Republic and Imperial Remnant forces into the fray. I have slaughtered hundreds perhaps thousands of Yuuzhan Vong warriors... and many of my own galaxy's people who collaborated with them in battle. You follow so far? I can explain any questions you may have. I swear my story will come to a point, soon."

Valin sat on the ground, folding up his thick brown cloak and placing it on the ground next to him. Then he began speaking again to his good Earth friend, "So I lead men, women, and those who were basically still children in battle armor to their deaths. Our weapons had little effect on Yuuzhan Vong crab armor and armies had to be retrained to aim for the weak and open spots of the armor. The Vong outnumbered us - they could send in waves of mindless slave soldiers to soak up blaster fire before the actual warriors came for battle."

Valin realized he was going more and more off the main purpose of what wanted to know, "Anyway, in 27 GSC, I and my Jedi Apprentice or 'Padawan' were on Coruscant, the capital of the galaxy and a planet that almost entirely a city. My Padawan's name was Kalee Vique. Funny that despite my going off to war, the Masters still saw me fit to train another Jedi. I guess by then - with the Jedi Temple on Yavin IV destroyed and so many of us being betrayed and dead - they didn't have much choice. We had been recalled to Coruscant to look for lost Jedi artifacts where the Old Jedi Temple once stood."

He paused for a long time, composing himself as best he could - but even though his voice sounded shaky and unsure at times, "No one really thought it possible for the most heavily protected planet in the galaxy to fall. But Coruscant did. Easily. Kalee and I did what we could - we helped people run into the Lower City once we found escape to be impossible. It was... a choice to stay and help rather than to leave and fight."

Valin's next words were full of pain and hurt, more shaky than the others, but also cold and to the point, precise because describing it hurt too damn much, "The choice lead to our capture by Yuuzhan Vong. Then to her death and my loss of an arm."

There was a lot to this story and... it was the whole reason for his fall, "You want me to explain, don't you? Because this is the reason for my descent into the Dark Side..."