IC Thread: Chapter 1, Scene 1 - Peace Is A Lie

Tobin is a young man who often has a distant look in his eyes. He tends to stare at things, sometimes blankly, sometimes with a thoughtful expression, and at other times with a kind of intensity. It's almost as if he sees things that other people don't.

If asked, Tobin will say he knew he'd end up where he is now. He was told by his foster father some time ago that Darkness would snatch him away, and that he'd need to "remain whole". It would be a time of trial and the beginning of Tobin's future. It would define his place in the galaxy. Because of these things, Tobin is quiet and does little more than bear his fate.

Tobin is an orphan. His parents, glepok farmers from the relatively isolated Outer Rim world of Handen III, wasted away to disease. But before they perished they entrusted their only child to an eccentric "wizard" who lived nearby, a terribly old, human man by the name of Vespin Feebler. There was no one else, and Tobin was already a teenager at that point anyway.

Vespin, an odd fellow, awoke an awareness in Tobin, not just of the Force, but also of... everything. The man taught less than he pushed Tobin hard in tasks and chores. The boy hated Vespin at first, cursing his fate. But when awakening began creeping into his senses, he stopped complaining and thinking about running away. In the beginning Tobin stuck it out just for the sake of his parents, but in time grew to see a rich wisdom in the old man.

Then, one day in Tobin's early 20's, the prophecy was given, and Vespin announced his departure and left. Tobin had no idea where he went, or even where he could have gone. The man seemed to have vanished. And that, for some strange reason, didn't anger or frighten Tobin. He was somewhat stunned and confused, but otherwise he simply accepted the loss.

Not long after this, the Darkness came.

At this moment Tobin stands, hands clasped behind his back, eyes closed, head a little lowered. He's listening to everything and nothing. He's feeling the ground beneath his feet, the air against his body, and the rising sun on his head. Meditation is getting easier for him. It was something he started practicing not long before the Darkness came, and once it did, meditation became his only refuge.

Davit from an early age was a so-called "troubled spirit". But one have to mind that being part of a wealthy family makes it so much easier to be a "troubled spirit". You can try many things. And David was constantly looking for something. Knowledge was his first obsession. Although this one quickly got boiring for him. Then Strength. By learning from the best sword masters he wanted to by the strongest. Which was surprisingly quite in line with the ancient tradition in his family: to learn the way of the sword. But even in this case, patience did not last too long.

Then it was Cleverness. Some people from the local criminal underworld began to impress him. Their hard conduct seemed to exude cunning, strength, and an innate natural knowledge. He thought: this is it! That this is what the person who found the "code of conduct in this world" does. They had everything... women, money, power, respect. What more could you want? He joined one of the local gangs and began to climb the ranks of their structure. But the higher he was in those ranks, the more uncomfortable it became for him. Is someone stong when they harm other for their own benefit?? He wasn't so sure any more... But in that peroid he learned how to cope with the streets ... and in space. He managed to avoid thos more brutal actions and missions, tried to by more of a support for his gang then active participant in some worse deeds. He learned a lot. He did some things he is not proud of but in general he was fine with what they were doing. Stealing from rich... giving to poor... - at least that was what he wanted to believe and was told by higher ups. But it is always a lie.

And then what he did not expect: happened. He was sent on a mission to collect a "tribute" on one of the planets at the Outer Rim, from one bar at. It turned out that it was not a bar... but a slave market. And the head of his unit, in exchange for some ship parts, added ... David himself to the bargain, laughing mockingly in his face.
"You wanted to be a good guy!?! Huh?! I think you will be a perfect fit for slave camps. You will be able to do a lot of good out here... hehehehe!"

It was the moment Davit realized that the world he had lived in the last few years was not about strength. The only thing driving those people he admired so much was ... sheer greed. And weekness of not being diciplined enough to make things better, harder way. And the rest of what they do is just a good face, for a bad game.

What he experienced in this very momenet and weeks after seeing to what criminal activities can lead to - for ordinary people and aliens... changed him forever.

But he still knew there is more. He could feel it. This is what he was looking for, but it was the moment he realized that he would not find it in humans. They are never the source of Wisdom (incorrectly called by him Cunning), Strength and Knowledge. These aspects of our reality come from outside. From the source. But what is the Source?

He didn't know... but he felt it... and by this... he was lost... in his life... once again.

Few years have passed. He was moved, sold, form one slave camp to another. This was almost in another time, almost another life... And then he met... Ben. Ben Lasaro...

As he stood there in the square, he had an impresson for a moment that Ben was there with them. That he also is one of the captured by the Siths. He smiles, as usual, full of peace and says: "Such a chill that I almost hope that they will make us run until we drop exhausted again." But after a while, Davit realizes that it was most likely just an illusion. He just missed that old monk who seemed to be the only human in the galaxy who knew about the Father Who Is - God who seemed to be that Source that Davit was looking for and explained most of the things David felt and chased for over the last 20 years of his ragged life. He was 33 now.

Once at the new working camp, after somebody finded out about Davit's abilities - reinforced by Ben's teachings - they both knew it was only a matter of time when someone will show up and take him from there. And that's what have happened.

Once again Davit was alone in his search for the right path. Only: this time he knows "where" the Source is. After opening him on to it it seems to lead him, to talk to him...

The problem is: this time he has got into such trouble that only the Father Who Is can actually get him out of it ... Unless he has already lost patience for him...
Well, I guess that's not why I screwed up so many things in my life, then found the Source to now die of cold listening to the speeches of these dark buffoons. Who - it seems - think that the Source is some impersonal Force that is sometimes black and sometimes white."
"The source allowed me to find it, so I hope it has at least a more interesting plan for my end than this forgotten hole. I believe there are more things it wants to show me."

He looked at his new "friends". He haven't called anyone with that word in serious manner for a very long time. Except Ben. They seemed fine - what was quite uncommon for this group - but to call them friends for real and meaning that, they will have to work for it. And Davit will have to work for their trust too.

But he could see the same spark in their eyes that he felt in himself. A spark that refused a version of events other than the one in which they emerge from this forgotten planet. Those sparks were surely given to them by the Source. He realy hoped that it have other plans for them. Different than: black clothes, grim faces, and destroying everything what is good.
"How many hours of speeches do you anticipate today?" he whispered and winked at his companions. But he was not smiling.

Tobin hears Davit ask the question, and tilts his head ever-so-lightly in response.

Tobin opens his eyes and raises his head for the speech, but otherwise remains still. His facial expression takes on a mild thoughtfulness at times as the loud, harsh words tear through the area. And as he listens to the cheering he can't help but feel pity... pity for all these lost, deluded people.

Davit nodded at Ly-Riik's remark agreeing with it... but he couldn't resist to also say:

"Hope... and salvation... good to know. Now we are all safe." - in a low, quiet, serious voice. But there was something else in his eyes ... something that might even have been taken for amusement.

Ben once told him: "Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin what good forces have invented or made." and Davit recollected that at this very moment.

"Indeed... they even use the same words..." - he added even quieter. Noticing expression on Tobin's face... Davit somehow had idea what Tobin could feel right then. But Davit tried to resist to go this way... and tried to transform the feeling into compassion. Not fully successful... to be honest, but he knew it was the right path for him.

Tobin allows his arms to fall slowly to his side. (He was holding his hands behind his back.) He sighs as he looks over at his companions, Davit and Ly-Riik. "I knew the day would come when they'd set us at each others' throats." But Tobin then smiles, adding, "Yet this is how we know the Brotherhood will fail: it's a house divided against itself, and quite nakedly at that. Now we need only last through the trial... but the Creator's will be done."

Walking closer to his companions and whispering: "So I presume... we are one of those teams. And I say we should go last or almost last if that would be possible. To see what opportunities do we have."

Tobin hears his companions speak, replying, "I doubt the masters would make it easy to use this as an opportunity to escape. But going last might indeed provide an advantage."

Davit not seeing any other way than ending with her in the group(and to start any real relation the soonest he can) just says: "Hirani... am I right? I mean 23... of course." - he says with a little smile - "I was a slave too... but maybe in lighter camps as I can see... I think we should stick together... those who know the value of freedom the most... Will you join us, to make the best of this situation we can?" - he ended with a question to check what is her attitude to the all of this... if any.