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The Force Storm strengthened and intensified, booming along stone anyone walls…inimical to man and beast. The storm raged wildly all across Tython. Master Quan-Jang held on tightly to the winged Rancor, Butch, who was being tossed around in the howling winds with no more difficulty than a leaf.

"Up, you beast! Up!" commanded Quan-Jang.

But it was no use. Butch fell to the ground, her wings shredded. Rori and hawk ran to the Temple Master's aid, hoping he would still be alive and unharmed.

"Master!" called Rori.

"Quan-Jang! Do you live?!" shouted Hawk.

The Rangers found the Master. Quan-Jang stood over Butch, calming the creature as he eased her pain.

"I do. But Butch's wings are shredded and she is exhausted. I can ask no more of her. Live or die—she remains here." stated Quan-Jang.

"Our beast is spent as well." told Rori.

"Then we must challenge the Abyss of Ruh on foot. Our path lies ahead—in the teeth of the storm…as do our three Journeyers and their quarry." explained Quan-Jang.

XXX

Sek'nos, Tasha and Shae tried their best to fight the saarl, but none of their attacks had proven to affect the great rift worm.

The Twi'lek dodged to the side, avoiding a lightning bolt sent out by the saarl. Shae attacked the beast's left, only having to dodge to keep the massive jaws of the saarl from consuming her. Sek'nos tossed a rock at the saarl. The beast did not even react to the rock, continuing on with its attack. Tasha was just about ready to give up.

"This isn't working!" exclaimed Tasha.

"Has the saarl eaten us yet? Then keep throwing! And go for higher ground!" shouted Sek'nos.

Shae glared at the Sith, striking again at the saarl with all her remaining strength.

"If you didn't make me give our only weapon back to that greasy pile of Rancor droppings, I'd be carving saarl steaks right now! He'd better hope I don't catch him!" weakly snarled Shae.

Hidden above, the Force Hound Xesh watched, unconcerned. He knows all three cannot survive this. He wondered who will be the first sacrifice. Cull the weakest warrior, of course—the Twi'lek girl they called Tasha. It was what he would do. She would serve as a distraction while the other two ran, leaving her for the creature. An insignificant loss.

The saarl riled up, shooting bolts of Force lightning from its mouth. One bolt hits Tasha, causing the young Twi'lek girl to scream out in pain. Tasha fell to the ground, unconscious.

This is the moment Xesh knew the other Je'daii had been waiting for. He expected the Sith and Dathomiri to run, leaving the Twi'lek to her fate. Instead, what happened next caught Xesh completely off guard. The Sith actually ran in front of the fallen Twi'lek, using his body as a shield between the beast and the girl.

"Back! Stand away from her!" commanded Sek'nos.

The saarl struck the Sith down with its tail. The Sith fell, landing beside the Twi'lek.

This makes no sense. Why would the Sith risk himself to save the Twi'lek? She was far weaker than him. Her death would have been an insignificant loss.

Xesh tried to make sense of what he had just seen. Perhaps the Sith was no more than thick-headed brawn. That had to be it. The Sith was easy prey, but Dathomiri were cunning. The red-haired female would see her opportunity and take it. It's what he would do. She will run… She had to.

The red-haired female stood her ground. Armed with only a long branch, the Dathomiri stood her ground before the saarl. The Force Hound could sense the female's fear—her heart racing, breath rasping in her lungs, Force senses on edge. Walking the thin line between life and death. Intoxicating.

As suddenly as the female's fear had appeared, it vanished. The Force Hound was confused. She does not run. She will die protecting the fallen, the weak. Never, in all his journeys, has he seen this…felt this…

"Death and blood!" cried Xesh.

The Force Hound ignited his blade, charging into battle. The female soon joins him. They act together, no words passing, as one in the Force.

Tasha Ryo slowly opened her eyes. Forcing herself up, the Twi'lek crawled to the unconscious form of Sek'nos Rath. She placed a hand on the Sith's chest, trying to draw the strength to heal him. But she had none. Tasha barely had enough strength to keep her eyes open, let alone heal Sek'nos.

Luckily, reinforcements had finally arrived.

"Shae Koda! Above! We are rescued!" joyously called out Tasha.

Atop a hill stood Rori Fenn, Hawk Ryo and Quan-Jang. They had arrived just in time.

"Master Quan-Jang! The storm's vortex forms above us!" observed Rori.

"It focuses on the warrior with the blade of light. Quell him while I focus on the storm." instructed Quan-Jang.

Rori Fenn and Hawk Ryo charged into battle at each other's side, as they had done hundreds of times before.

"Snout or belly?" asked Hawk.

"Snout." answered Rori.

Hawk attacked the creature's slide, cutting away at it with his sword. Rori distracted the creature, allowing Shae and Xesh to get to safety.

"Shae! Get behind my blade!" ordered Rori.

From the hilltop, Quan-Jang studied the fury of the storm howling above him. He briefly wondered if the message he had sent to Akar Kesh reached Master Ketu and the Council. Alone against the storm's wrath, Quan-Jang meditated, delving deep into the Force by which a Je'daii was bound to all living things..dark and light… The force by which all Je'daii are bound together.

"Shae! No! get clear!" shouted Rori.

"Hey! Monster! Come get me!" taunted Shae.

The saarl chased after the female. Xesh could not let the female—Shae—come to harm. Lunging at the creature, the Force Hound landed on the saarl's head.

"Beast! Look me in the eye. See your death!" hissed Xesh.

Xesh plunged his blade into the saarl's eye. The beast cried out in pain, bursts of lightning erupting from its body. The electrical energy passed through Xesh, causing the Force Hound to scream. Energy spiraled from the saarl into the storm above.

Xesh stood his ground, continuing to fight against the beast.

"Name's Xesh—he's the lone survivor from the crashed ship!" informed Shae.

"He's also the nexus of the storm! If we can take him down we may be able to calm it down! Xesh! Surrender and we will not harm you!" spoke Rori.

The Force Hound felt their power—honed in on him. He has made a mistake. These are not allies after all. They are the enemy.

In the teeth of the raging storm, Master Quan-Jang centered himself. The master felt Tython out of balance. Skewed to the dark side, the planet itself reacts, the seas churning, the land quaking, the winds howling. The Force is at war with Tython. Then, through the pitch black darkness, he sensed points of light—the other Temple Masters in meditation. They are as one in a conference of power. The masters know all too well the cost of war. This war could cost them their homeworld.

Within the storm, Quan-Jang sensed the darkness. He felt the anger and fear of the Force-sensitives on the strange ship dying at once…coalesced energy becoming a dark, hungry beast. The storm feeds off Xesh and he off it—a terrible synergy.

"I will not surrender! Death to you all!" yelled Xesh.

The darkness of the storm blinded the Je'daii.

"Can you see Xesh?" asked Hawk.

"I sense him in the darkness, but there is no getting near him! The winds are too strong!" said Rori.

The storm reacted to Xesh's anger. It is like it knows Master Quan-Jang's intentions. Like the Force Hound, it will not surrender. Quan-Jang would not relent. One or the other—perhaps both—will die here. As the Force wills.

The master was ready. As one with the other Temple Masters in meditation, Quan-Jang knows peace and focus. He is the conductor of their will. When the balance is toppled, when the darkness overwhelms the light, there is nothing left but to banish the darkness…to allow the light back in.

A beam of pure white energy struck down the Force Hound. The energy pulsated from Quan-Jang, consuming him as it did the Force Hound.

"Master Quan-Jang! No!" desperately called out Shae.

Raged filled the young woman. Shae picked up the forcesaber Xesh had dropped, charging at the dark Force user. She pinned the stranger down, igniting the forcesaber.

"My master might be dead because of you! You deserve death!" angrily stated Shae.

"I expect it. I sought a good death in battle, but this is my fate. So be it. When your people eat my body, you should have the honour portion—my heart. You were very brave." weakly spoke Xesh.

Xesh waited for the female to strike. Instead, he felt her climb off his chest and drop the forcesaber.

"Stranger, that in not our way." told Shae.

"You…are very odd…beings…" said Xesh.

Xesh closed his eyes, darkness claiming him

XXX

The Force Hound awoke to a female gray and blue skinned female Selkath standing over him. Unknown to Xesh was the Selkath that stood over him was Calleh of Mahara Kesh, the Temple of healing. Calleh was the join Temple Master of Mahara Kesh alongside her mate, Naro.

"Have you come…to claim…my heart?" weakly asked Xesh.

"Ah, you are awake. Hmm. All of these old scars. You have led a brutal life. More than the Abyss did this to you. Poor child. I will not harm you. You are in Mahara Kesh, the Temple of Healing. My name is Calleh, a healer." gently spoke Calleh.

"What is a…healer? Will you kill me now?" wondered Xesh.

"No, child." reassured Calleh.

Ten days passed before Xesh and the Je'daii were given the clear by Temple Master Calleh.

Shae Koda and Sek'nos Rath were visiting master Quan-Jang, who was still bedridden.

"Glad to see you on your feet again, Sek'nos." spoke Quan-Jang.

"Ah, you know me, Master. Not a rift worm born that can keep me down for long!" laughed Sek'nos.

Tasha walked into the recovery room with her mother, Master Naro and Master Ketu. Sek'nos enthusiastically greeted the Twi'lek, taking her into a firm embrace.

Quan-Jang kept his focus on his apprentice. He had been told that Shae had managed to activate the weapon the stranger—Xesh—carried and the master wanted to know how his apprentice had done it.

"Shae, I hear you ignited the Force Hound's weapon. Hawk says no other Je'daii has been able to accomplish this. How?" questioned Quan-Jang.

"I don't know how I did it, master. I was angry—unbalanced. I thought Xesh had killed you!" explained Shae.

"You must keep your anger in check, Shae, or you will wind up on Bogan." stated Quan-Jang.

"Yes, Master." said Shae.

Tasha pulled her mother off to the side, wishing to speak with her in conference.

"Mother, how is the stranger—Xesh?" asked Tasha.

"Masters Calleh and Naro say his body heals, Tasha, but he suffered a severe concussion and his memory is clouded. He's refused all the healers' effects to help him remember more, and they will not force him." informed Kora.

"Perhaps I can help him." suggested Tasha.

"Why would you think this Xesh would allow you to help, Tasha?" wondered Kora.

"I don't really understand it, but I share a…bond with Xesh. Sek'nos and Shae feel this empathic bond as well—and a shared vision drew us all to the crash site." explained Tasha.

"Very well, daughter—if the Masters agree you may try." reluctantly agreed Kora.

After receiving clearance from the Masters, Tasha was led to the cell Xesh was being held in. The Force Hound looked up when he heard the door to his cell open. The Twi'lek girl—Tasha—entered his cell and sat across from Xesh.

"Aren't you afraid to be in my cage with me?" asked Xesh.

"Do you sense fear in me?" gently said Tasha.

"No." responded Xesh.

Tasha knew she had to be careful when talking to the Force Hound. Even wounded and in a cell, Xesh could still attack her. It would take the guards a few minutes to reach the cells, giving the Force Hound more than enough time to inflict serious damage.

"You told Shae Koda that you were willing to let her eat your heart. Would you be willing to allow me into your mind, instead?" cautiously asked Tasha.

"Why ask permission? I am defeated—a prisoner. Yours to do with as you will." bitterly said Xesh.

"It is my will that you should not come to harm. Don't you want to remember who you are?" asked Tasha.

"Yes. I want that." replied Xesh.

"Then open your mind to me." told Tasha.

The two entered meditation. Tasha felt Xesh lower his mental shields, allowing her to reach out and touch his mind. Dozens of memories flashed before the Twi'lek's eyes, almost too fast for her to properly decipher.

"By the moons! I see… a dark world, with huge ships like the one that crashed here…all imbued with darkness. They have created armies…taken worlds…slaughtered and enslaved their inhabitants! A child…with the same tattoo as you. You as a child, Xesh? Yes. I sense…nothing in you…no empathy… No light. Only darkness. Only shadow. What did those monsters do to you?!" sympathetically spoke Tasha.

Tears freely flowed down Tasha's cheeks. Xesh was confused by the Twi'lek's eyes leaking water, but he did not show it.

"I am as I was made. Born to be a Force Hound. Fated to serve my masters." plainly stated Xesh.

The sound of footsteps was heard outside the cell. Xesh and Tasha took up to see Shae, Sek'nos, Master Ketu, Master Kora, and Masters Calleh and Naro standing outside the Force Hound's cell. Tasha exited the cell, knowing her time speaking to Xesh was over. As the cell door slid closed, Shae Koda stared at the prisoner inside.

"I'm not buying it. You feel nothing? Then why come back and save us from the saarl?" questioned Shae.

"What I felt..what I saw…is difficult for me to explain. I…could not let your light be extinguished. I could not bear that…" confusedly explained Xesh.

Master Ketu had had enough of these useless questions. The leader of the Je'daii Council directed everyone's attention, just as he did when a Council meeting became unruly.

"The stranger…this…Force Hound, Xesh, is very much out of balance. His arrival brought that imbalance to our world. Before my journey here, I conferred with the other masters. We are in agreement as what needs to be done. Nothing I have seen here changes that decision. Xesh must be sent to Bogan." declared Ketu.

The Journeyers were outraged with the Temple Master's decision.

"Master Ketu—no! Those who have been sent to Bogan—like Daegen Lok—chose the dark! What good will it do Xesh to meditate on Ashla when he doesn't know what the light is? Bogan is just another prison for him!" reasoned Shae.

"Please, masters, the Force led us to Xesh as surely as the Tho Yor called our ancestors to Tython!" exclaimed Sek'nos.

"The Will of the Force brought Xesh to us. Can't he be given the chance to walk the path of the Je'daii?" asked Tasha.

Ketu sighed. He saw the logic in the Journeyers' words, but his decision was final.

"Your empathy and compassion do you credit, Journeyers—but it is clear that Xesh is dangerous to Tython. Whatever his potential, he is unbalanced in the Force and can wield devastating dark power. He will be sent to Bogan. In time, he may discover the Light Side of the Force and learn Balance." finalized Ketu.

In a few hours, Xesh was led to the hangar by Rangers Hawk and Rori. The Force Hound had been given a change of clothes and his hands were bound, the two Je'daii guards on either side of him.

"This is for your own good. My advice? Spend your time on Bogan meditating on the light side. That is the way to freedom." suggested Hawk.

"The Force you Je'daii understand is different than the one I know—the path of the shadow warrior. That same shadowed path lies before me. It leads to Bogan. Perhaps, it time, I will understand the Force as you do. I know I will not stay on Bogan forever." coldly spoke Xesh.

As Xesh was brought onto the ship, one could not help but feel a great shift in the Force. Something was about to happen on Tython. And somehow, someway, that stranger and those who found him were involved in it. Only time would tell what the stranger's appearance would do to affect Tython and those who lived there.

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