Shadowlands

 The hours continued on and the memories had become less and less. Gavin was thankful for this. The last thing he wanted to see was all the loss and hurt he had gathered. He was convinced it had to be this place forcing the memories from the depths of his mind. Never at any point of his life, especially the past thirty years of exile had he been forced to bear them over. And to think that it had only been two days since landing here. All he had seen was things that reminded him why he went into exile in the first place.

But no. He couldn't be seeing these to remind him why he was in exile. He was certain now that the intent of the visions was to remember what he lost yes, but to remember why the hurt was great. It was the connection he held with each of them. The reason the loss hurt as bad was how much each person meant, the value he had with each of them. Love was not a feeling that was a burden, but on that brought great strength, strength that couldn't be obtained through training alone. It was exactly the reason he had trained his apprentice, Tyra, the way he did and encouraged her relationship with his brother's adopted son. Loneliness was not something a person needed. Love, belonging, the warmth of another's embrace is what mattered. He felt that when he trained Kayden. He couldn't allow himself to fall away to emptiness. If he was to continue on in his exile, his heart would become cold, hardened, and hollow. In that, all the power he held would be less than it could ever be.

Gavin stumbled a bit as he walked. He had been using Force Concealment and Force Sight extensively for the past few hours and it was starting to take its toll. He was growing tired and his Force reserves were getting low. He needed to rest. And once he had, it would be time to make his way out of the dark forest floor and back to the light. Perhaps he could find a way off-planet, find somewhere he could belong. He dropped his Force Concealment, allowing himself to become seen. Luckily nothing was around. He focused his remaining energy into his jumps as he Force Jumped from tree trunk to tree trunk, getting high enough to find a strong enough branch to hold him as he slept. Removing his pack and sword, he laid them in his lap as he laid against the trunk.

Gavin closed his eyes as the faces of all those the memories held, though not in suffering or pain, but smiling back to him as he remembered them at the best. There was no longer a reason to worry or hurt. It was time to find his home again.

"I promise to you all, I will not fade into darkness of emptiness, but thrive in the light of the warmth of friends and family."

His stomach growled and he gave a light smirk. It had been two days since the crash and he had not eaten since. The first order of business after getting out the Shadowlands was finding something to eat. He gave a faint laugh as he let his body relax and fell into a light sleep.

*Gavin gave the smallest chuckle. Of course, admittedly enough, it was foolishness on his part to believe anyone followed his beliefs. He was a warrior, through and through. He believed in being up front, never attacking or doing anything when another's back was turned unless it was part of their training. He believed direct confrontation, but trained all of his apprentices in the reality that no one would wait on you to be ready, that they would attack at anytime, no matter the situation if they felt it best for their intentions. Those of the Sith and darkness most of the time operated in such ways.

He dropped his head though there was no one in front of him.*

"Of course, how foolish of me. I've forgotten not many hold to a warrior's code as I do. Especially those disciples of darkness." 

*His voice was calm and cool, though deep within its casual demeanor, there was a slight tone of irritation at the thought. But he pressed the thoughts from his mind as the rest of voice's words played through his mind. He gave the slightest chuckle, though it wasn't one of humor. HIs tone also began to grow colder. HIs eyes closed ever so slowly, his mind focusing on the voice. Electrix had remained in his tomb, and as he said, the Shadowlands were his domain, it wasn't unthinkable to know his voice seemed to reside within all aspect of the forest. He mind was trying to focus in on the presence, but he was currently unable to locate it. One thing he knew, aside from being a strong darkness, was it felt...odd.*

"Alive because you allow it?" *Gavin twisted his neck slightly to the left, letting it crack before continuing.* "Many times have I heard those words spoken to me, yet none proved to have such power."

*His mind raced further. Life. It was something becoming more of a curse to him, in some aspects. So many times had he been denied joining the Force and passing on. Always for one reason or another, he was brought back. It was a question he constantly asked himself. Why did the Force deny him passing? Was he meant to wander on aimlessly and in exile until his mind and heart finally broke? No, that couldn't be it. Despite the hardships he faced, the better memories still outweighed the bad. He hadn't forgotten, no mater how far the thoughts seemed.*

"I have yet to find any man or being to have any power over me in any way. And there has been no domain, free flowing or ruled, that I've wandered that has been able to hold me. Not even the Abyss."

*Now his dreams. As was said, the specifics were unknown. Of course they would be unless he was there. Or unless Gavin let them flow fully. But interesting? Of course they were. Such dreams and emotions were like finding gold to a Sith, a find that they could use to break others down. He had to admit to this as well, for they were greater than they would normally be as he had not felt them in a while. HIs time in exile had weaken his mind to the little things. But there was another truth behind the feelings showing themselves, an experience that almost cost him his freedom of will.*

"I'm sure those feelings appeal to you quite well. But I assure you, you have no power over them. Don't be mistaken in the idea that just because I shed a few tears for loss and pain that anyone can use them against me. I can feel your strength, your darkness. It is quite powerful. But it holds no power over me."

*Gavin placed the sword upon his back and opened his eyes, letting them scan back and forth along the heavy brush of trees, waiting to see if the invisible voice would soon have a form. He allowed himself a deep breath and sigh, calming himself. He had to keep his focus.*

"Well, in that we shall agree. What you see with your mind, what you feel with your senses determines your reality. Deception and illusions are quite effective, especially in portraying one's power."

He remembered. How long had it been? As one with the Shadows, despite being a warrior, it was all about deception and illusions. That's what them powerful and a force to be feared. They always stuck to the shadows, watching, waiting. You could be talking to one and never knew where their loyalty was. The Shadows were the watches of the galaxy, keepers of the balance. They were secret, only a handful at a time. Without lifting a finger could they destroy a mind, or even more. He still had this power, but rarely exercised it. It had been so long since he was truly apart of the Shadows. Balance was key to his path, but to up hold it was harder. It involved being unattached. At any moment, if the balance shifted, it was them to fix it, whether it be to eliminate a single foe, or a group no matter who it was. They had no tie to the Jedi, the Sith, or any faction. He couldn't take that responsibility anymore, being responsible for life and death as such. So he left and from that point, never looked back to them, nor mentioned their existence. They weren't supposed to, so that's how he'd keep it.

His eyes focused before him as a figure came into view. The presence was the one that the voice belonged to. Finally, he had come from hiding. As he looked at him, he began to see why his presence was odd. He was dead. Nothing more than a spirit, though his presence was still strong, he could tell. He watched as the form became clearer and clearer, taking in the appearance as well as the words he spoke.

"You may not seem to have an ability to do much, but I can tell you, there is still plenty of potency in your power. Even a man who is not so weak-minded may still fall simply from his overconfidence."

The question, however, struck Gavin as odd. Why was he here? He was certain it wasn't because of Electrix. He never knew of him prior. Of course, he had lost contact with the galaxy and the who's who involved. But why? True, he did not believe in coincidence, as there was always a reason, but to what reason was there? Gavin's head fell slightly as his eyes closed, his mind pondering the question for a moment. A few seconds passed before he spoke, not raising his head or opening his eyes.

"In truth, I don't know why I'm here. I've been in exile for over thirty years now. I've kept to myself, not interacting or existing to anyone. Twenty years in, I found a three year child on Dagobah. I took care of him there, raised him, trained him. When he was nineteen, I took him to Naboo and dropped him off there, told him to seek out others and gain relationships. In that time, I began to remember the value of having others around. So for the past two years, I've been searching for a new home of my own. But my hyperdrive went out a couple days ago, bringing me out of hyperspace above Kashyyyk. I crash landed here and my ship destroyed beyond repair. Since then I have been wandering here. Why exactly? I don not know. I could have gone to where I felt the Sith, I could have went straight for a city and found a way off this planet. But instead I've wandered, these memories of my past pushing to the front of my mind."

Gavin looked up towards Electrix's ghostly form. His ice blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, almost a piercing gaze. He gave of a small sigh, only one truth presented itself in his mind.

"Perhaps I'm here to remember."

Gavin listened to Electrix speak, not trying to interrupt him. He felt an agreement in the reality of death. Though his body was gone Electrix was still here. True, there were Force Ghosts and the like that one could conquer that aspect of death, but until you fully joined the plane of the departed, is one really dead? No, Gavin knew better than to believe that.

"I agree. Until one fully passes into the realm of the dead that they can no longer linger here, then they may not have a physical being, but are as much in existence in this place."

Gavin watched as Electrix mentioned the name Windu. It wasn't a name he knew of, but his knowledge mattered not. He could feel the darkness deepening around them, coming from Electrix. It was clear that this man was something he deeply despised. It was a feeling Gavin knew all too well. The image of Raziel came to the front of his mind. They were best friends and rivals, from the time they met until that final battle they had. But even still, the thoughts of him taking his family and torturing them always left Gavin with a deep hatred. It would be a feeling that would never pass.

Gavin took a deep breath before his own darkness of his memory could arise. He had had enough of his own memories for a while. Instead he leaned against the trunk of the tree and looked deep into what was Electrix's eyes. He was now curious of what brought Electrix to this place. Obviously from his claim about returning the Sith here to their former glory, he was here because he was a Sith of this planet. But why was he dead? The other name and the darkness that came with it suggested just as much.

So who is this WIndu? I take it from your reaction to his name, he was a partner or friend at one time? Betrayal? What happened that left you dead and exiled here?

Gavin crossed his arms and gave the slightest smirk, closing his eyes with a small chuckle. He should have figured. With Sith, more often than not, the one in charge is usually always challenged by the ones under him. Perhaps trying to overthrow him had a much deeper reason than just desire to rule themselves, but it was not a judgement for him to make. He was always the follower type, never cared much for leading. Whatever the reason, it was his. For each person there was a reason to fight for their goals. Power, justice, honor, it didn't matter. What matter was a reason for fighting. Opening his eyes, he let his head fall slightly to his right.

"Well, despite how powerful he was or thought he was, he did make a mistake. He might have destroyed your body, but your spirit remains. Whether cursed or not, you are still aware of all that happens around you here. And when you return to the fullness of your power, he will not be ready for what awaits him."

He remembered his time with the Dark Jedi. The man he called his master, who had put him through the most intense training and was also the leader of the Order, was Cthulu Plaga. That was a man of great power. He was known as the Dead Man. There was telling how many times he was killed and was brought back. He was especially gifted with reviving the spirits that wandered, creating new bodies for them and implanting the spirits into their new home. The thought of Electrix going through such a thing, gaining a new body and look and the surprise this Windu would face brought for a dark smile to Gavin's face.

"He'll never know what hit him."

"I'm sure you've had all the time in the world to prepare. Now all that's needed is the rest of the pieces to fall into place, correct?"

Gavin kept his eyes fixed up Electrix's ghostly form, taking in the things he said. While showing his display of power earlier, it in turn held no true sway, but seemed to moreso attempt to draw in who he might be able to use to bring his plans to fruition. Never let a piece of the puzzle go missing. The question now was, what else was he seeking, what was his plan? Gavin was quite curious. Pushing off the trunk he began to walk towards him, stopping a foot or two away.

"So, tell me. What exactly is your plan that you've been preparing? What benefit do you gain from this Jedi telling the Council? And what yet remains for to see completion?"

Gavin's words had grown a bit colder, darkness seeping the slightest bit into his tone. He was unsure why, revenge was not much of anything to him. But though he thought that, he kept remembering his own hatred that brewed for Raziel, the revenge he took. At times, it was something that couldn't be helped. And because of his own feelings, Gavin had a bit of a desire to help Electrix reach his own.

So there were secrets out there to actually find a way out of death. In truth, he didn't know the secret. All the times of his return had been by the Force's will. There was no other explanation. He never knew when the next time he died if it would in fact be the last. But if there was a secret, perhaps he could learn it and truly become immortal. No, no he couldn't think that way. He did not gain the power he had for such reasons. If he did, perhaps then the Force wouldn't be so generous with life past that. But that was him.

"I am curious as to how you even got a Jedi to remotely cooperate with that plan. Threat? Illusion? Or the chance to rid the galaxy of a suggestively more dangerous Sith?"

This thought was of the most interesting ones. To get a Jedi to possibly go with such a plan. He was truly curious to the answer.

"With the right push of promise, even the purest of the Jedi can fall. No being is without a weakness of some sorts. And what do you think would happen should she report you? Would they even bother? As you are, many wouldn't even perceive you as a threat."