1.0 - The Rescue of Hethan Romund

"She'll live... like the rest of us she's not at her best but at least it's not the our worst." Heyop stating in passing accepting the pistol in hand. Heyop couldn't figure out how to call the Gatekeeper but word of an apprentice and captive made him wonder which it was. Moving between Romund and the found captive as he moved about casually he asked a serious question while still in hearing distance of Romund. "Was he a captive before and still Romund... or is he our ally now out of convenience so he doesn't end up like Malefax?"

He couldn't be the gatekeeper... he knew too much of this place... Heyop thought trying to sort out the facts.

Heyop waited on guard for either sounds of a struggle or seeing Kaveri with someone else in tow.

Hethan shrugs at Heyop, and says softly for his and Csillag's ears only, "Malefax called him his apprentice. But it didn't seem to be going well." Kaveri easily manages to remove Urik's bonds -- they were fairly secure, but nothing someone with a bit of time and patience can't handle.

OOC: I've got a couple notes in here (for the first time ever) so apologies if they don't work.

At Heyop's call, the gatekeeper manifests himself in the Assembly Hall with you. "Hello again. Congratulations on removing the threat of Malefax from my temple. I thought it best not to intrude as you sorted out the events with your mentor, but since you asked for me, here I am." He gestures to Hethan. "The other mercenary, by the way, has left the temple and appears to be running down the mountain. I surmise that with his employer defeated he decided that discretion was the better part of valor."

The gatekeeper shrugs, "You cannot harm me with those." He pauses to consider, "And as a student of the Force you should perhaps approach life with a little more equanimity. Truly a Jedi finds unexpected turns of events everywhere in this universe. You can't shoot them all."

Hethan looks, confusedly, at Heyop. "Are you ok? Who are you talking to?"

The gatekeeper continues. "There is a residual corruption of the dark side over the temple and the valley. I humbly request the your aid." He specifically notes Heyop, Csillag and Kaveri, "You three can assist me with a ritual to cleanse the taint of the dark side." At Dagger and Urik he says, "You two would benefit, I think, from significant meditation on your actions over the past day or two. There is a specific place where this time would be spent most fruitfully -- and hopefully to the greatest benefit."

The gatekeeper smiles, "Ha! I suppose I am after a fashion. That's actually rather amusing." He smiles, and adds, "Holocrons are imprinted with the personalities of Jedi to provide an interface to access and understand their knowledge. I am the personality that is hosted by one of the holocrons of this temple."

Hethan continues to watch Heyop -- and now Dagger -- talk to themselves. "Are you all quite alright? Is there something happening to you? Did you say a ghost?"

The gatekeeper nods to Hethan, "Those who cannot use the Force, cannot interface with holocrons any more than you can plug into a computer terminal like a droid. Your mentor is learned and a good person, but if she cannot see me, she is not Force sensitive."

Hethan's eyes light up. "Did you say holocron? That's lovely!" She claps her hands together. "What does it look like? What's it saying? Does it know about the temple. What's its name? Oh.. I have so many questions."

Hethan nods at Heyop. "Well, it's true. I'm no Force user -- and you all know that. What I have done is study the Jedi in some depth, however, and I understand enough of their truths to have helped each of you in some small way on the path. Though," she looks thoughtful, "perhaps not always with great success. I'm not sure the Jedi would have such an unruly group as you as their.. um, apprentices." She looks, "So where is he? Can I ask him some questions -- perhaps one of you can ask them for me. Can he hear me?" She nods at Kaveri. "Quite right. What is the ritual? Can I watch?"

The Gatekeeper smiles serenely at Heyop, "No -- I cannot come back to life. I'm a highly advanced programmed personality. Not some vestage of a soul. To my knowledge no Jedi has that power. And I can assure you, I have no interest in dark side rituals. My objective is to return the temple and the valley to its proper state." To Kaveri he adds, "The ritual is simple -- it's a form of guided meditation. It will take a few hours and it will be tiring, but if successful, we can remove the taint of the dark side across the valley. As to Malefax," he gestures, "my sensors aren't in pristine shape, but they quite clearly indicate he's most assuredly dead already. Isn't that right, young one?" He looks at Dagger with this last comment.