a   young woman stood in a darkened forest,
 firelight  casting stark 
shadows across her terror
stricken features, her black eyes wide in fear. Then
another figure entered the 
clearing, advancing
menacingly toward the girl green eyes flashing in the
flickering light. She backed 
up shaking her dark head
,wordlessly ,too frightened to speak. Suddenly the man
made a commanding gesture 
towards the girl. Eyes
widening further, this time in pain, the youth -Iocina-
fell to her knees and then 
lost consciousness as the
dark figure caught her in his arms. 
Smiling, satisfied with his efforts, Allekhin Verscian
strode from the clearing 
cradling Iocina in his arms ,
heading toward the fortress in the distance. 
The young sith apprentice 
looked down at his captive
blond hair falling into his eyes. Iocina should never have
tried to escape, his master...their master... was very
displeased with her. Damaerydyn 
was awaiting their return
at L’Kharn castle, and he was preparing a... gift,  for the girl
so that she would not wish to stray again.                                      
  
later at L’kharn castle

Damaerydyn, a tall,  dark skinned man with piercing
blue eyes watched Iocina 
closely for any reaction. 
Iocina sat rigidly in an uncomfortable chair in
Damaerydyn’s sitting room 
as he stood behind her casually
stroking her hair as he spoke.

“Deianeira.” He said softly, he had given her this name
some weeks before and it was 
getting harder and harder to
remember that she had been named Iocina, “Why did you  run
away again my child? We both know that you cannot escape,
you don’t want  to leave here do you?” The sith master
continued to stroke 
Iocina’s/Deianeira’s hair gently in
contemplation.
Iocina faltered slightly. True, she actually had no where to
go if she did manage to escape and it dawned on her that if
she ever did get away that they would kill her. They really
couldn’t have her running to tell the jedi of their
whereabouts. True, they 
hadn’t treated her badly ; had actually
given her more attention and respect than she had ever
known.
She had been living in the lower levels of Coruscant
when Allekhin had abducted 
her and brought her here to the
planet Noreq. Noone was looking for her. Why not stay here?
She thought, but before she could reply a wave of dizziness
ran over her like water and she slipped into
unconsciousness.
Damaerydyn smiled darkly as Iocina slumped down in
the chair.”Allekhin, 
take her to her chamber and let her ‘rest’.” 
As Allekhin moved to obey he allowed himself a small
smile of triumph.It 
wouldn’t be long before Deianeira fell.
Tomorrow. The next day. It didn’t matter, it would happen
soon. 
Lifting Deianeira in his arms the young sith looked down
at the girl, then back at his master, an odd thought crossing
his mind.”Master...why her?”
Damaerydyn was silent for a moment, then replied,
“She is strong with the 
force and that is all that you need to
know. Now take her to her chambers!!!” 
Allekhin was a bit taken aback by his master’s strange
response but knew better 
than to question him again and
left the room without further comment.
As his apprentice exited Damaerydyn sat down in th chair
that Deianeira had just vacated and sighed. If Allekhin knew
the real reason he had chosen the girl he would think him
weak.
In truth, he had felt sorry for the young woman and she
reminded him of something 
he hadn’t thought of in over a
decade. 
Twelve years ago he had been a jedi knight named Airon
Laer’sa and had stumbled 
upon sith teachings here on Noreq
while on a mission with his padawan.That’s who Deianeira
reminded him of. 
His padawan’s name had been Kitarni Naesc. She was a
vibrant young girl with 
coal black hair and dark eyes. When
the council had discovered his fascination with the sith they
had exiled him and taken Kitarni away. He hadn’t heard
anything about her 
for a long while....
Anyway, that was in the past and Allekhin and Deianeira
were the future. The 
jedi would pay dearly for exiling him
from the civilized planets of the republic... dearly indeed.

Iocina lay in her bed the next morning and stared at the
ceiling. She felt ... odd. Something was wrong in her mind
but somehow she couldn’t seem to do anything about it;
couldn’t quiet the 
strange low buzzing sound that filled her
ears and mind......