The roar of the waterfall grew louder as they ascended. Raia found herself trying very hard not to look back, but she glanced over her shoulder once or twice at the depths of the tunnels. Her family was back there. She was leaving Atoa's veins, the protective chambers and the certainty of a death underground. There was so much she was losing and so much she was gaining by doing this; her self-confidence waned as they got further and further away.

One of the trio behind, Yvos, stopped short as they neared the waterfall. "Someone is there," he whispered to the others. "I feel him." The other two were nodding, but Raia felt nothing and she could not tell Sirejj. She only hoped he sensed it too.

"He's close." Sirejj muttered to himself. He slowed to a halt, mulling his options. There was one way out, but whoever was on the other side may cut them down as they walked past. He chuckled grimly. "Let's put him to the test, shall we?"

Whispering a few words to the runes on his staff, he reached into the planet's veil and looked into the chamber they were about to enter on the other side of the falls. Every inch of it was visible to him, including the intruder waiting. From a small ledge on the far side of the cavern, a figure materialized from the shadows. It was him, or better put, an image of himself, staff and all. It crouched, creeping slowly and silently closer to the dark figure waiting outside the waterfall.

The figure was seated on one of the rocks near the water's edge, methodically examining a long-handled saber as he hummed a quiet tune to himself. He was quite tall, trim but broad-shouldered, with a reinforced black tabard worn over a close-fitting shirt and loose pants. A black and white helmet obscured his face; it had been styled to appear like the skull of a vornskr.

The man stopped humming and looked up, spotting the shape. He remained seated but shifted his grip on his lighsaber.
"Strange," he said, addressing the projection. His voice was deep and resonant, with a hint of humor to it. He sounded much older than the other Inquisitors--somewhere between forty and sixty. "I was told you were a force to be reckoned with, but your signature is nearly nonexistent."

"I'm flattered." The figure leaped down from the ledge, shifting his staff from his back to his hand. He stood straight and tall, with a glimmer of mischief in his smokey green eyes. The apparition did not show it, but Sirejj again felt that small pinch of concern. This inquisitor was here for him.

"You're not like the others I've met. A year ago it took three of your kind to capture me."

"Many of us are better suited to working alone." The Inquisitor rose; he was well over six feet tall. "I hope you find me a more challenging adversary." He gestured at Sirejj with his lightsaber handle, which had an elegantly curved crossguard. "I was also told you wouldn't be alone. Where are your sheep, Nightbrother?"

He chuckled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He tapped the dull end of his staff on the ground, sending a sharp echo throughout the cavern. He flashed a grin, his sharp, white teeth showing. "I have little faith that one of Vader's groveling dogs will put up much of a fight."

Sirejj from behind the falls was focused intently. Casting these images wasn't difficult, but keeping them alive for long periods of time would be. He needed the inquisitor to engage, then he may be able to lead the four Atoans past the falls into the shadows of the caves.

A very slight spark flared up within the Inquisitor at the use of the word "dog," though the emotions behind it were difficult to pin down.

"I suppose we'll find out, won't we?" He ignited his lightsaber, and the crimson blade flashed out until it was almost as tall as he was.

Sirejj took note at the flicker of emotion and his grin grew just a little wider. He muttered a spell and the runes on his staff glowed a bright green. The light from the saber cast eerie shadows on the walls, drowning out the faint light of his staff.

"I think you'll find out Dathomiri are harder to kill than you think." He took a step back and melted into the shadows, but his green eyes still flickered. "We serve none but our own, something a Sith pretender would know nothing about." He verbally jabbed at the spark he'd ignited with his first insult. "Too bad you will return to your master empty handed- or not at all."

That appeared to have been the wrong angle; the spark did not flare again.
"I think we ought to get to know each other better before you make assumptions like that;" there was a smile in the man's voice. "I may trounce you right now." He stepped forward, tilting his head. "But there is something strange about you....why is your signature so faint?"

"If you knew anything about the Force, you'd know that answer." It was both truth and lie- if Sirejj had been truly standing there his signature would have been faint as well. It was how he had survived all these years without detection from the greater powers. "I do not wield it as you do. Mine is an art lost to the galaxy, remembered only by few who have not yet been stamped out."

Sirejj sensed him moving away from the entrance and took a few steps closer, watching with his own eyes as the shadowy figure moved closer to his illusion. Not much farther, then they may be able to move past using the jagged rocks and shadows to hide.

The Inquisitor moved toward the projection, then stopped. He stood still for a moment, unspeaking and unmoving. Then he wrenched a massive stone free of the wall and hurled it at the Sirejj simulacra with the Force.

Sirejj was startled by the power and control the Inquisitor exhibited. The others had not been this proficient. The apparition dodged, vanishing from sight. When the dust from the boulder settled his laughter echoed throughout the cavern.

"Going to have to try a little harder." His voice said, still hiding in the dust. A shadow appeared behind a rock to the Inquisitor's right, lurking just out of reach of his blade.

Sirejj motioned to the four that followed to move forward, but maintained his crouched posture. He held a finger to his lips- there was no other way to symbolize silence and stealth.

"That's a fine trick," the Inquisitor said, sounding genuinely impressed. He turned in a slow circle with his hand outstretched, the other one gripping his saber loosely. "Here I thought I was dealing with an amateur. Come out where I can see you, Nightbrother." His mind was in sharp focus as he turned toward the waterfall, hesitating there.

Suddenly a rush of wind enveloped the cavern in dust and green smoke, preventing anyone from seeing more than a few feet in front of them. Sirejj motioned emphatically for the four to go ahead of him towards the exit. "Move!" He hissed to Raia, who was closest to him. They had seconds to pass the falls, reach the cover of the rocks, and then enter the series of tunnels that led to the surface. They would have to move or be killed. The Inquisitor was becoming smart to his tricks. He would have to fight him soon he suspected, but the further away the Atoans were, the less likely things would get messy.

"Not in the mood for a game of chase?" His voice turned into a snarl that came from no particular angle. "I thought you were a hunter."

Raia ushered her companions forward, surging in front of them.

"A hunter, yes, but not one that wastes time when he could be productive." The massive saber came up with a low hum, and the Inquisitor lunged in Sirejj's direction.

Raia turned as the other Atoans made it past the waterfall and around the tunnels, her blood running cold as she saw the red light of the enemy's sword. She had seen that kind of blade once before. Did Sirejj know what he was doing?