Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jayul slid into the hallway on bloody feet. He was panting heavily as he pressed his back against the wall to peek down the corridor he just arrived in. When he spotted no one coming he took a moment to attempt to center himself. Bis breathing slowed rapidly, his heart rate dropped, and the bleeding from various cuts was staunched. He looked down to the lightsaber in his hand and cursed the last droid. It's armor must have been laced with cortosis; why else would his weapon have deactivated. A sound caught his attention and Jayul peeked around the corner again. A large multi-armed droid was skulking across the floor examining the bloody footprints that Jayul had left behind. He tried his lightsaber again, but it only sizzled; definitely cortosis. A moment later the droids head turned the corner getting a full view of the spot Jayul had been hiding only moments before. "Come out vessel, it is time to finish this. You don't even want to be the vessel anymore. You don't want to fight anymore. Remember? Come out vessel, I'll find you if you don't!"

Another taunt, from another droid. Jayul's next stop was to his calander. He'd found a wall in a vent that he was small enough to squeeze into. In there he had been recording the days as they passed by. He counted quickly and then added a twenty-sixth strike. The Lords said I only have to survive for twenty days. Why is it still chasing me? The sound of metal ripping ended his brief pause. The droid was ripping the wall out to get at it's target. It cleared a hole and acquired visual confirmation of the target. Before it could lift the lightsaber that the droid wielded, a kick came out from the hole. The foot caught the droid full on in the face,and with the strength of the force behind it, the kick sent the droid crashing into the opposing wall. It's face plate had been dented, but that didn't register in the slightest.

Before the droid could sit up another kick connected with its chest. The impact created a crater in the stone wall around the droid and cracked it's chest plate. Jayul held his lightsaber's emitter against the droid's eye. "E chu ta!" He said and activated the ignition switch. There was the familiar snap hiss of a lightsaber igniting. The blade burst from the back of the droid's cranium and then fizzled out again. The droid lay motionless after, and Jayul slowly stood to his feet. He expected his masters to arrive and disciple him for passing where they were sure he would fail.

Then the sound again, Jayul pulled himself forward as the force screamed out in his head. He moved in time to save his life, but now Jayul had a burn scar seared across his back, from left shoulder to right hip. He turned trying to click on his own lightsaber but the cortosis left it disabled still, and it would be for several more minutes. The droid started to rise, one glowing red eye looked down at the vessel. "Did the vessel think my only processor was in my cranium? It's time to end this vessel. The master's have ordered, they've found a new willing vessel."

Then the droid reached into the tattered robes that shrouded it and pulled a second lightsaber free. Both ignited, and the assault began. Without his lightsaber Jayul had to rely on his reflexes to keep him safe. But it had been a week since his last meal, even longer since he last slept; he was wounded, and highly fatigued. Using the force to lead him away from the strikes saved his life, but his movements were sluggish; and the droid's were not. Tag after tag connected leaving seared pock marks in his flesh. Then the droid trapped him.

This was the end, both bolts of light were coming down at either side of him. He grabbed the force; gripped it and built it up in his hands. Jayul reach out and grabbed the blades of the lightsabers. The smell of ozone filled the air as the vessel had stopped the attack. Smoke rose from his hands as Jayul channeled the force into his grip, and inch by inch he pushed the stronger droid back. Then once he had earned himself some distance, Jayul yanked one of the lightsabers from the droids hand. Then he grabbed the empty arm and with a scream of fury, and a ripple through the force, Jayul ripped the droid's arm free with his bare hands. The second lightsaber came in, but the Zabrak ducked the swipe. He grabbed the other arm, ignoring the kicks that not came from the droid. Again he guided the force, used it to fuel his muscles and augment his strength. The sound of tearing metal heralded the separation of the droid's second arm.

Fury dripped off him like sweat. They replaced me? How dare they replace me. My life has been this shrine! I am the vessel! Only I am powerful enough. He hoisted the rest of the droid up and drove his fingers into the cortosis weaved chest plate. In a spray of sparks, and shattered components Jayul ripped the droid in half. Only then did he release his grip on the force. The weight of his injuries, and his level of fatigue tried to drag his knees to the ground.

"Vessel! It's time to end this!" The same voice called out to him again, he could hear it echoing from across the shrine. Another droid... the masters were serious...


Five days later.

It had taken him far too long to find the real cause of his trouble. Jayul was missing his right eye, his entire body was covered in a mural of fresh and dried blood. He stood at the edge of a lake of lava. Behind him was the wreckage of the third cortosis laced droid. This one had found his lightsaber and almost killed him with it. Shame the weapon had fallen into the lava below. It was about to be done, his masters were set on being rid of him. After all they had a replacement. Well not after today. Jayul held the bundle out over the lava and looked the infant in the eyes once more. This child was a better vessel than himself; his flesh was red, and he was born to a nightsister.

Something called to him in the back of him mind, a small speck that whispered that he should take the infant and run.

"Jayul, put the vessel down. You have passed the test, we will repair you and release you. There is no more need to fight." There was concern in the voice of his masters. The three men appeared behind him silently, they stood beyond the destroyed remains of their droid. "Bring him back to us and you're free to go. It's over."

"No it isn't over... I am the vessel!"

"So you are. Now we return to the shrine and continue your training." Jayul collapsed at their feet, and for the first time in his life he received something close to mercy. A repulsorlift stretcher was used to bring him back into the shrine. "Before we drop you in the bacta tanks, you must reconstruct your lightsaber vessel. Then you will be repaired, and training will commence."