Xaros shuddered deeply upon feeling the questioning malevolence engulf him.  It used his name.  Somehow it either knew him or had the ability to read his thoughts.  Neither was beyond the realm of possibility, but both were dangerous likelihoods.  He froze for a moment, considering the situation and trying to decide what to do.<br/><br/>Running wouldn't do much good if it was a hunter, he didn't need to run if it was a Jedi (even though it didn't feel that way), but whoever it was, maybe he could make them understand and they'd leave him alone.  That seemed unlikely, but he didn't have many options, so it was worth a try.<br/><br/>He replied through the force, pressing back outward at that unknown entity his own message, "I haven't fallen.  I am neither Jedi nor Sith.  I have no need for such pointlessly restraining dogmas.  I just wish to be who I am without any arbitrary rules forced upon me."<br/><br/>He closed his eyes, remembering why he left the Jedi order, and wrapping his left hand around his cybernetic right arm.  Whatever it was, it wasn't the arm that made him leave, but it seemed to remind him of it.  The arm was almost a keepsake of whatever loss still plagued him and had encouraged him to sever the bond between himself and the temple at Coruscant.  But he didn't hate the Jedi, it wasn't hate that motivated him.  There was a deep regret and twinge of loneliness and sorrow.