*I could feel every step as if a hammer against me, the world shattering with each pounce. My view narrowed as the rain poured down, streaming like a jet behind me with the jacket billowing in replete of my speed as I jumped from ledge to ledge. I faltered not for a moment, despite my vision. There was a mission, I knew it. We had engaged the enemy and one of our own, of particular importance to myself, had been taken captive. I was on a mission of retrieval and the mission hadn't even begun yet before everything went dark.*

*His head pulled away from the table slowly, the sense of numbness in his right cheek was met with the sudden flush of blood and tingling sensation, as if he had been sleeping there for an eternity. His eye blinked steadily as his vision betrayed his wish to understand what exactly was going on: nothing but motion, blurred by his anticipation, filled his singular eye sight. And then, as if his physiology was responding to his mental desire, the mist quickly withdrew and the darkness of the room became ever more apparent as a physical notion, not one of his blurry misconception. In front of him rested a crooked table, wobbly with a slight push and decorated with a melted candle and jug filled with some mysterious brown fluid. He looked back and forth across the dimly lit room and met eyes with several visiting customers of what could only be the shadiest tavern of whatever city this was.

A slouched over individual, slightly large in build and to the left of his table, cowered in the corner, peering out at Reverance from the midst of a hood. Another individual looked up at Reverance from the slop of their bowel, smiling in between spoonful's and slurps, a menacing tooth filled smile. Reverance licked his lips and starred back down at the metal jug, his mouth as dry as the wind blown deserts of tattooine. He felt the jug, the metallic touch of it, and the lukewarm temperature as his hand circled around the handle, as his left eye squinted to adjust to the darkness in search of the server.*

*Warm...I must have been here at least an hour. I have no recollection.*

*His hand jutted out instinctively, grabbing the waitress by the arm and sending her into a bit of jolt before looking down at him. She had never seen such a man, run down so hard. He spoke in quite voice, the raspiness hardly enough to blow the cobwebs out from the tunnels that felt unused and unpracticed.*

"Where is this place? And where am I...how did I come to this place."

"Uhh, darlin, you look terrible. This is a local diner in Ahto City. You walked in here yourself now three hours ago."

*Reverance let out a sigh, letting go of the waitress and resting his arm on the table.*"Ahto city...I'm back on Manaan. You said three hours ago...thank you, I'll need another cup of whatever this is please."

*She ran off, a whisper to leave him in whatever peace she assumed he found in the answer. He slouched over in the chair and cradled the warm drink in his hands in anticipation of what he assumed would be a much colder brew on the way.*

<< You see, this is the last place I could think of to take you...your mind was not easy to...interpret >>

*Reverance almost jerked the drink free of his hands, giving it flight like qualities. After a bit of slosh here and there, Reverance gazed around the dark cantina and brought his hand to lightsaber on his hilt.*

<< No need for that my friend. Besides, I'm currently...well, far enough away for that to have no effect. Unless your lightsaber can span open space and galaxies. >>

*Reverance gritted his teeth as the waitress brought the second cup and pried the lukewarm from his limp fingers.*
<< Who the hell are you and how did I get here? What happened back there?!? >>

<< Well, you see, sorry, but I gave Reverance control of your body. He seemed eager and that tumble you took down the side of a building incapacitated you. It seems he decided to run rampant with your body for the duration of his stay until he decided to come back to Manaan. Now, who I am is not important. What I am is far more compelling. What I am is out of your league or really anyone you know's league. You see, I know everything about you and I know all of your weakness. >>

*Reverance grasped his chest and clenched down on jaw, the feeling of being stabbed in the chest and having a hutt sit on him combined to create an extraordinary sensation quite unknown to him. He breathed heavily and rested his forehead against the table as the pain slowly passed into a throb.*

<< You see. Reverance was reluctant to listen to me as well...but I can be persuasive. That was merely a taste. >>

"Listen to him, he's capable of things I can't even comprehend. When he 'persuaded' the body take over, he removed your presence altogether. I thought I was free of you."

"Funny, here I was thinking the fire I built wasn't enough for you..."*He suddenly realized he was speaking out loud as he looked up from the table, the waitress staring down at him before passing by and filling up the bowl of soup for the slurper. He suddenly felt the grip on him again, but this time, it was met by his fist smacking the table and gripping it reluctantly, as if focusing on the pain.*

<< I'm not here to listen to you two converse. I have called you because I require your...assistance. This isn't a request Gabriel, I have duties I need accomplished. I think you and Reverance will be able to appreciate my vision, what I want of the universe. >>

<< You didn't answer my question... >>

<< All in due time. Now, time to move. There is so little time and so much I need accomplished. There should be a ship waiting for you in a the hangar...you know the one don't you? >>

<< And if I refuse? >>*He suddenly came to the realization that such a thing was likely futile.*

<< The rewards I am capable of are unmatched by anything in the universe...with the exception of the pain I am capable of bringing. You will not experience my direct presence again but should you fail me, you will understand the meaning of pain when you are forced to watch your family murdered for the rest of your miserable life. I have given you your life back in hopes that you will understand that I can bring it to a quick or slow end, depending on my mood. >>

*As soon as the last comment was perceived, the grip around him dispersed and he let out an audible growl of irritation at his own weakness. The voice spoke of a vision that he and Reverance could appreciate which could only be the culmination of fire and ending. As the universe burns and is reborn under the power of this being, the embodiment of the goals of these two would be met. He could almost see, as if sent a premonition of the future, as he stood up and flung his hood up and pushed his chair back in. He began to walk out of the bar as the waitress ran after him to give him his tab. With a quick backward motion of his arm, she became an ornament on the wall, mounted on the coat hooks by a now broken mirror.*

"Seems we're no longer in the company of the Dark Tide...I can sense the fading of their presence, a dwindling flame spurting violently before the end."

"Everything passes with time, even whole factions consumed by their ambition. You'll live, what does it matter of anyone else. So long as you willingly serve..."

"Some matter more than others..."*He felt the sudden weight of the crystal and metal chord hidden underneath his clothes, hanging from his neck.*

"You're getting soft again, perhaps I should remind you of our agreement."

"I can sense the fear in you of this figure. No need for words, I'll do as I'm asked and I'm sure we'll both be happy"

*He strode out of the cantina, closing the door behind him, and heading towards the hangar in a somber pace as his garbed skirted just above the ground behind him.*

*His hand hovered over the door terminal for a moment, as if halted by some unseen force of reluctance. After a slow swipe to the right and the catch of electric current from palm to metal, the doors swished open and revealed the open ended hangar. The stone and metal coliseum was filled with ships, sparks, and lackluster wreckage being taxi'd off to the local depository. Reverance's hand instinctively formed a salute above his brow to block the view of some of the sparks overhead as he walked through the entrance and passed some day laborers, blackened by streaked dirt and sweat. His left eye squinted as he was approached by a naval officer, standing in front of a large and shiny ship.*

"Lord Reverance, S-S-Sir!"*The man was donning imperial garb to the extent of going even with the cap and shiny shoes. His jaw was less than prominent and his weak facial features made his remembrance as likely as his current importance. His mannerism was even less impressive as he swung his hand out to the side to display the ship.* "W-w-we've been waiting for you, sir!"

*Reverance gave a little smirk and pressed his jaw against his chest for a second, a brief moment of disbelief before looking over to the ship, removing his attention from the officer. He shook his head for a moment and tilted it to the right slightly as his left eye squinted and his hand found the pocket of his pants. He gazed up at the ship, towering at least forty feet into the air: it had that new ship smell like the plastic covering on the seats were still appropriate for fashion.*

"W-w-we hope you are pleased. If you would like, we could sh-show you the layout."

*Reverance diverted his attention back to the officer and allowed his presence to talk hold of the figure. Like a fence gate trying to hold back the flood and boards breaking from the pressure, his aura became more apparent for a brief moment. Beads of sweat poured down the officers forehead, his hair slicked from the tenacious hold Reverance now had on him. He froze up and the crimson eye unwaveringly looked out with no hesitation, no movement. The air seemed to stop in the building, the stale flow was as pugnant as it was docile. The sweat and stench of the room was enough to choke the comfort from even a seasoned veteran. He let go and looked away, out to the open port, and the world seemed to start again.*

"You will not speak to me again officer...unless I broach the discussion first. You weakness sickens me..."*He stated in a rather nonchalant manner hardly distinguishable from an audible sigh.* "If I have to smell of you again, you will understand the cleansing properties of the vacuum of space."

*The officer motioned to say "yes sir" and was met with Reverance bringing his right forefinger to his pursed lips and shacking his head. Dropping his hand and glancing at the officer one last time in a slight face of disgust, Reverance walked up the platform into the hull of the ship. The interior was a long and narrow corridor, cold and inviting. Vibrant colors of blue and green randomly blotted the interior. On the left led to a medicinal lab, cargo bay, bunk rooms and a dinning area lounge combination. On the right led to a main meeting area with computer equipment and a holonet terminal which was then continued on to the cock pit. As Reverance passed the terminal to proceed into the cockpit, he noticed a blinking red light next to the control panel. Pausing, he swiped his hand over and stood back as the room darkened and the inner circle was lit up by the figure of a robbed man.*

"I see you found your way to the hangar. I hope everything meets your desires and needs."*The robbed figure had a familiar raspy voice but there was no apparent visage, only the hint of a jaw protruding from the dark hood.*

"I see you went with the lowest bidder on company escorts and ship guides. The ineptitude of that stutter was almost palatable if not for the aroma."

*The jaw moved in a motion as if smiling, though hardly noticeable to someone not looking.*"You will find that my humor has bounds Reverance and you would do well not to test that. Now, I have locked coordinates into your ship and the...stutterer will be your pilot for the time being."

*Reverance leaned forward against the holoterminal, twisting his head upward to look upon the 2-D hologram. The flicker of blue and black highlighted his face as he white-knuckle gripped the metal base.* "What do you want from me? Are there not others who can suit your purpose? Leave me be."

"And waste all that potential? I think not, my young sith. I need warriors and as I have seen, you fit the mold. Besides, who else in the universe has the potential to remove your...mental disease?"

*Reverance lifted slowly away from the holoterminal and hesitated before crossing his arms and smiling, now a few feet away from the machine.*"Disease? I'm in my prime. If I had this disease, why would I want to rid myself of it when I seem to be faring so well?"

*The hidden figure let out a brief chuckle without threatening his composure.* "Please Reverance, do not play coy with me. I know your past and I know of your condition. If I was able to give one of you full control, would I not be capable of the alternative?"

*The corner of Reverance's mouth ascended slightly and pursed as he noticeably considered the option* "You can cure the condition? You can rid me of the pain?"

"The condition...yes. The pain, no. I would never do anything to threaten your...capacity for damage. Work for me Reverance, serve me well, and you shall be free of your duality."*He paused before breathing out and speaking once more.*"And whilst on your journey, I beg you to consider this: If a coin has two sides and is flipped, how can one side possibly overcome the other? What makes one more powerful than other?"

*The holoterminal clicked off and the red light turned into a solid glow. Walking over to the table in the same room, Reverance sat down and held his head in his hand, scratching the wrinkle across his brow. Through the drapes of his black hair, he watched the young officer scurry by into the cock pit.*

"You're not really considering it, are you?"

"You ran my body into the ground for long enough. Not a day goes by that I wish your removal wasn't a true one, that our mother had been more successful and that time hadn't given you your chance. Whether for him or for you, the ends will be the same."

"You're so confident...who knows, maybe he'll give me the body and cast your soul to the wolves."

*Reverance leaned back into the chair and flipped his hair back as he gazed up towards the metal hull* "If only I were so lucky..."*The sudden pull of the ship left the vehicle taking off from the hangar and into space.*