The Dune Sea

[momofjedi]

The Dune Sea, waves of sand dunes.

[yasser]

Ragab's fighter landed on one of the dunes, and Ragab stepped out, looking around and understanding his surroundings.

'COME,' was the huge haunting roar Ragab heard in the wind. He knew who it was... Morgul. Ragab walked in the direction of the call.

[yasser]

Ragab continued walking, despite the violent sandstorms beating on him as he continued to struggle on knee deep in sand.

'COME...'

'I'm coming, you dead bastard, just wait...'

Suddenly the dust clearedand Ragab found himself standing in the midst of millions of dead bodies, all of them mauled and body parts ripped off by some animal...

Suddenly out of nowhere a giant sand draigon came out of the sand, its giant metallic silver body glistening in the sun as it stood on its fours, ready to pounce on the tiny Ragab, who drew back his robes and pulled out Hussam, activating it and standing ready.

The Draigon's wings spread out and it pounced. Ragab pounced back and took a swipe with Hussam, cutting the Draigon's nose horn into two halves before the monster had a chance to shove it into Ragab's stomach.

However, as Ragab landed on the ground the draigon slapped Ragab away with its huge tail, and Ragab got back on his feet and jumped away as the beast stabbed on the ground with the sharp tip of its tail. Ragab continued to dodge the giant monsters tailuntil it stabbed and got stuck on one of the huge rocks that surrounded. As the monster struggled to break free, Ragab swung Hussam and cut the draigon's tail into two. Acid blood spurted out of the tail, covering the rock and burning it into a semisolid mush.

The monster turned and roared at Ragab, than whipped its tail releasing another spurt of acid, some of which fell on Ragab's robe as he turned to jump away.

Ragab quickly removed and threw away the robe as it withered into the ground, and Ragab noticed the monster had a little trouble standing ground on the withered sand upon which any acid fell... Ragab had an idea.

However the Draigon was faster as it spat out a fiery ball at Ragab, which he dodged as he threw Hussam at high speed to the monster.

The lightsabre hit the monster where its exoskeleton was weak. Acid blood spurted out of its neck and the ground softned under its feet as the monster sank. In frustration the monster swiped at Ragab knocking him away, but not before Ragab cut with all his strength to slice off the monsters arm. More acid flooded out of its arm as it sank further.

Ragab had the wind knocked out of him, and as he saw the monster's arm and tail regenerate Ragab sent a force message.

'This fight is meaningless and futile, wise beast. I mean you no harm and will leave your territory if you let me pass unharmed by your mate and imps.'

The monster paused, then gave out a short roar as it dug into the sand again. Ragab sensed the monster would let him pass, and its happy family wouldn't bother.

Ragab continued to trudge throught the sand, mowing through the dead corpses as the night began to creep in.

[yasser]

Ragab was catching first sight of the Altar, a large pillar surrounded by black clouds and a grey, heavy mist.

'COME...'

Ragab trudged through the rotting, blighted ground, struggling to move through the blinding mist al the altar felt closer.

Suddenly the mist cleared a little. Ragab was surprised to be about fifty metres from the dreadful monument. Suddenly ten cloaked figures emerged, the apprentices who were summoning Morgul in Ragab's vision.

Each of the apprentices drew out their lighsabres. Two had double bladed lightsabres, three were armed with twin sabres, four with curved sabres and surprisingly only one had a standard lightsabre although the hilt was curved like Morgul's.

Ragab stood ready, then pounced and landed in the middle of the pack. Suddenly all Ragab saw was red and blue, though he retained his focus and deflected the blows, then stabbed one of the apprentices through his double sabre's hilt and into his chest.

Ragab didn't have time to see the dead apprentice's body wither into nothingness as he faced the rest of his opponents, who suddenly let loose a combined force lightning that Ragb was barely able to dodge.

The nine apprentices prepared for another superbolt, but Ragab let loose a force push that knocked the nine off their feet, only to have five of them sliced into ribbons by an accurate force throw. Four left.

Three apprentices punced on Ragab, coordinating their attack so that Ragab was bombarded on all sides. They surrounded Ragab and were closing in on him, but he jumped out of the tightening circle and landed behind one of the apprentices, decapitating him. Before the other two would react Ragab swiped his arm, surprisingly sending the two apprentices on fire.

The final apprentice was left, the one armed with the standard sabre, Darth Midas. Midas charged with full speed and both their lighsabres clashed. Before Ragab could move a muscle, Midas sent out a force push that sent Ragab flying several metres away, landing on his back. The apprentice jumped into the air and landed next to Ragab, who moved aside to dodge Midas' downward cut and brought Hussam down, cutting the Sith apprentice into two.

Ragab stood silent, then looked at the Altar that began to radiate an evil energy that Ragab could not tolerate, as he threw Hussam with all his power, the lightsabre smashing through the monument and destroying it forever.

Out of the ruins of the dark monolith Darth Morgul emerged.

[AG]

A Delta 9 Aethersprite landed in the Space Port of Mos Espa. A man hurried to him saying he had to leave at once because he did not offer him a code clarance. Riko moved his hand out in front of him, telling him he is welcome to stay as long as he liked and that he can take his speeder bike at will, adding the weight of the Force into his voice. The man agreed at once and took him to his speeder. Riko jumped on at once and sped away into the desert. It was a barren dead ball, this planet was. Hardly anything was on it. At least it wasn't like Geonosis were there was nothing at all. There were several cities and moisture farms at least. He felt a disturbance grow ever stronger as he went on. Suddenly, two desert Dragon appeared from the earth. One was heavily injured, as if cut by a lightsabre.

[glow=blue,2,300]Ragab[/glow]
Riko said to himself.

Riko jumped off the speeder, which zoomed away into the desert and out of sight. The two Draigons attacked Riko ferociously. Riko Force Jumped, igniting Vision all the while and landed on the Dragon's back and with a powerful sweep, cut off the Dragon's head, using the Force to extend the sabre's slash by twice the length. Acid Blood burst everywhere from the severed neck. The other Dragon came up from behind but Riko simply Force Pushed it away, sending it hundreds of metres back. He jumped away from the Dragon, which started twithching as if in a fit. Riko turned to the injured Dragon which was charging back at Riko again. Riko jumped again, propelling himself with the Force and hovering in the air. The Dragon tried to catch Riko with its gigantic beak but Riko moved to the side and stabbed sideways on the Dragon's eye and a split second, jumped out of the way, leaping from the Dragon's head as blood started sputing out of the eye. Seemingly, a third Dragon began attacking and hit Riko on the back with its wing. Riko went flying into the sand. and noticed the dead Dragon wasn't there anymore. Looks like it regenerated. The other one had done the same. Riko spoke out to them, adding the Force into his voice.

[glow=blue,2,300]I mean you no harm, creature. I am just looking for a good friend of mine who just passed by here. Let me pass and everything will be alright.[/glow]
It took a few moments for the beasts to decide what to do. In the end, they hid themselves in the sand again, leaving Riko to mind his own business.

Riko walked on and soon enough, he found several dead corpses of Sith apprentices lying in front of a huge, dark altar.

[glow=blue,2,300]So its true. Ragab did come through here.[/glow]
Riko walked into the altar, hoping to find Ragab alive in there.

[yasser]

Ragab and Darth Morgul stood silent before each other. Ragab looked at the surroundings. Several inscriptions were carved into the ruins of the destroyed altar. It was a little hard for Ragab to read.

'Hehhehhhee. So predictable, I knew you would come.'

'You think I came here for revenge on what you did to Rain, corrupting her and using her as bait to get to me, then letting Xanatos kill her off like a fly. You manipulated her... It's called molestation, Morgul. I came to show you justice... at least someone will.'

'Less talk. The altar is destroyed, and I have nothing to lose. Show me this... justice.' Darth Morgul activated Hellmorn and took his stance.

'For Rain, I'll be glad to.' Before Ragab could take out Hussam, he jumped aside as Darth Morgul charged and swiped down with his sabre.

Ragab landed several feet away, holding his stance with Hussam in hand. Morgul charged again and carried out a sideways cut, but Ragab blocked it and tried to kick Morgul, bbut Morgul disappeared.

Ragab looked behind him as Darth Morgul teleported there and brought Hellmorn down again, bringing Ragab to his knees after he blocked it. Ragab reacted by a sweeping kick at Morgul's feet, causing the giant to fall on the ground with a huge crash.

Morgul reacted even quicker, activating Vengeance which was attached to his boot and cutting upwards, slashing Ragab's thigh. Ragab was taken by surprise, and before he could react Morgul grabbed him by the collar and threw him into the stump that remained of the altar.

[yasser]

Ragab opened his eye to complete blackness. For a second he thought his head crashing on the wall rendered him blind, but as he shifted he realised it was the black altar that caused the illusion. Ragab was able to read the inscription on one of the shattered parts of the altar.

'He who stays pure against the corruption and is not broken by the pain brought by the spectre shall defeat the guardians and lead him from darkness and back to the light from whence he came.'

'Wha?' Ragab was confused and perplexed, but it suddenly came clear. Ragab was wounded several times by Morgul, but what happened to Rain never appeared on Ragab. Ragab lost Rain, but never went astray despit how much he missed her, and now he destroyed the apprentices who summoned Ser Dari back into the living world whenever Darth Morgul was defeated.

Ser Dari was a prisoner, bound by a curse and never going to know peace, and as long as this stood, the creature Darth Morgul would continue to wreak havoc and corruption, despite anything that this Ser Dari would intentionally do if he were actually alive.

Darth Morgul charged to Ragab but was stopped as Darth Morgul's strike was blocked by Vision, Riko's lightsabre. Darth Morgul recoiled at the Jedi and let out annother strike, which Riko also blocked. Riko let out a Force push at Morgul's legs, toppling him over, but Morgul let out another push in response that rammed Riko in the head, pushing him down to the ground. Riko then saw the sight of a black shape rising into the sky and coming down to behead Riko. However, Riko put Dasher up and blocked Hellmorn inches away from his neck. At the impact of the block, a black smoke puffed out of Darth Morgul and into Riko's face, but the Jedi kicked Morgul several feet away, standing up and taking his stance. Riko noticed his vision begin to blur as Darth Morgul advanced slowly, then his muscles paralysing and everything going black...

Ragab got up and turned, stunned at the sight of Darth Morgul holding an unconscious Riko by the throat.

Ragab then heard a softer voice, 'you know what to do. I'm not letting anyone else do it, and no one can defeat me if I don't want to be defeated. Don't let me kill your master even if I don't want to. You are the chosen one in this... curse. Free me.'

'Yes.' Before Morgul could crush Riko's throat, Ragab threw Hussam as hard as he could, severing Darth Morgul's hand and setting Riko free.

Darth Morgul's hand regenerated as he took out Hellmorn and charged. Ragab charged back, and both their lightsabres clashed with such strength and fury that an explosion occurred, the shockwave sweeping through everything around it, resulting in the ground around them being fkat and molded hard.

Time stood still for Ragab. He saw an opening. He concentrated hard, and Darth Morgul was blasted away by an explosion of flame that just spontaneously occured at Ragab's will. The ghost Sith landed on his feet a few metres away, but Ragab was already there, the blade of Hussam in Darth Morgul's stomach.

[yasser]

Riko was back on his feet, although he felt his skin all burnt up, but he looked and saw Ragab standing before Morgul, who stood still with the blade of Hussam pierced through his abdomen.

Ragab couldn't beleive it. His clothes were drenched in sweat, he was breathing hard and his heart thudded heavily. He whispered, 'I release you.' He pulled Hussam out and stood, waiting.

Suddenly a bright glow emerged from the hole in Darth Morgul's stomach. It got brighter, and began to break through the chains in Morgul's armour, tearing through his tunic, ripping the evil ghost apart. A shrill, rough scream filled the air, 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'

Darth Morgul landed on his knees as more light blasted out of him, he tried to take out Hellmorn and take Ragab with him, but his limbs were useless as they broke apart and light came out of the cracks. Within seconds the colossal ghost was consumed in light so blinding it seemed as if a third sun for tatooine was in the making. Later the light faded, and all that was left were a few rags, which felt clean and uncorrupted, the remains of Darth Morgul.

Ragab ran to Riko, 'master, are you okay?'

Riko couldn't answer the question, 'look!!'

Ragab turned and stood still at the remains of the altar breaking apart as a light began to come from the ground under it, and the form of a man emerged, and advanced to the two Jedi. It was Ser Dari. He was taller than both Ragab and Riko and had a larger build, with very pale skin with blue eyes and blonde hair and a beard, and an extremely benevolent expression.

'Thank you. I'm free now. You helped me from this... evil that I wasn't able to break free from for thousands of years. My quest is finished. Yours has just begun. The Sith have become far more powerful, and you must work harder to defeat them. I must go now. Finally I will be one with the force. Thank you. And I will always be there for you, as I will never forget this.'

Ser Dari disappeared. Ragab waited for Riko's comment, although he felt a disturbance in Calamari that made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

[Veelo/Thia/Rouge]

Wendom walked slowly ahead. He felt how his knees started to fail him, how his bones almost collapsed.

His speeder had gone dry many miles away, and he did not know how long he had walked in the hot desert, fueled by pure hatred. He was dehydrated and tired.

His arms shook, and he felt dizzy as he fell down on the sand. He heard a grunt somewhere above him. He looked up, and looked in the face of a bantha.
This was not what disturbed him. What disturbed him was the Tusken raider riding the Banta, and the Tusken Raider pointing his primitive rifle at him, coffing out his words.
Wendom activated the emergency beacon, hoping the right person would see it.

Then it all went black.

[Veelo/Thia/Rouge]

Wendom slowly awoke.

The first thing he noticed was that he was laying in the same place as before he fainted off.
But he was laying on his back!

He rose his head slowly. He discovered the two dead Tusken Raiders. What had happened?

Before he found the answer, he passed out again.

The Beacon was still beeping.

[Nih Lism]

Nih shut off the landspeeders motor and rifled through his packs...Ah, there it was. He then climped to the top of the sand dune, towards where his locator was blinking. Leave it to Wendom to get himself lost again. Slowly Nih's head peeked above the top of the dune and stared at the scene before him. A campfires remains smoldered as the suns were rising. Wendom's still, unmoving body lay next to the blowing ashes. No other movement was around. Or so it seemed. Then, as if being born from the sand itself, two Tusken Raiders rose out of the sand. Their banthas were nowhere to be seen. Nih raised the blaster rifle to his shoulder and took careful aim. Two shots, two killes. Climbing down the dune hill, Nih cautiously went down to the body of his friend. Kicking the half-rusted carbines away from the hands of the dead Tuskens, he stooped and lifted Wendom to his shoulder, carrying him to the waiting landspeeder.

[Veelo/Thia/Rouge]

Wendom gathered his powers and opened his eyes slowly. He watched as he seemingly flew across the sand dunes.
He was on a speeder bike. He noticed that he was hanging onto Nih's back.

He rose up and said: "About time you came. You know how far I have been walking?"

Either Nih did not answer, or the sound of the speeder choked his voice. It did not matter.

Wendom let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes trying to meditate.
The city of Mos Espa was closing fast upon them. They would be there in about a minute.

[Veelo/Thia/Rouge]

**moved Wendom and Nih Lism to Mos Espa**