Ask Another One

[Talak Rand]

Talak felt like he was back in the Sith again. The instincts that had been ingrained into him for years were still present and after all that had happened at Sullust they had boiled back to the surface again. Everything turned back to the violent cycles and he felt those same instincts of being hunted again.

Perhaps this paranoia settling in was why he could sense Lilith. Her outburst toward him already demonstrated precisely how she felt and he half expected that she was going to try to attack him when she finally caught up with him.

He was in no mood for this argument, either. Frustration and worry was still clawing at him and he had the distinct feeling this conversation was not going to go over well.

He made his way to the exterior of the temple, looking out at the sun. Normally he would have enjoyed a world like this: the wind on his face (bit tough now that he had a helmet on), the sun lighting the beautiful tree line, and the sound of the birds in the air. Now it did nothing. He felt empty and disconnected.

You going to try to stab me again? he asked, turning around to where he could sense Lilith was approaching.

 

[Lilith Vye]

When Oren took his eyes off her for a second, Lilith slipped away. She'd heard the Jedi Councillors words about Talak but didn't understand them. What did he mean by the light being difficult to find? Hadn't Talak already found it? None of this made sense to her.

She strode towards Talak with purpose, ignoring his comment about her lightsaber. Sadly Oren still had it, otherwise she might've pulled it out. "WHY!?" she growled as she continued to walk. He'd likely be able to sense her intentions weren't friendly and figure out that she wasn't going to stop before getting to him.

If he didn't move or stop her, she'd get right in front of him. Right in his face before bringing up her hands up and shoving him. "Has everything that's ever come out of your mouth been bullshit?!" she continued. He'd convinced her to look at herself. Helped her find the light. Told her that he'd found peace and now he reeked of the Dark Side again. It didn't make any sense to her, unless he didn't actually believe what he'd said to her.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

He could sense she was coming toward him in anger and wasn't sure if she was going to attack him. Rather than let her get in range to actually strike him or whatever she intended, he flicked his hand, putting a barrier between them that was enough to make her stop before arriving. When she stopped he would let it drop once again. His helmet was blank, revealing nothing, but he didn't shield his annoyance.

Because you've never made a mistake or slipped up, he said flatly and cuttingly. She was awfully quick to accuse him for all that she had done, and he wasn't going to sit here and play defensively with her. He didn't owe her an explanation.

Stop blaming me for all your problems. You were happy in the Sith? If you want to go back to the Sith, then do it. You're an adult, start acting like one, he said. He knew she had no interest in doing that despite the struggles she had with the darkness. That was the exact point he was making. He was tired of having her blame him for her decisions and today he had no patience to be her punching bag.

Now are we going to have a productive conversation or are you going to unload your frustrations on me, because I don't have time for that, he said, waiting a moment to see if he was going to simply walk away because she kept yelling at him. He was easily in the worst mood she had ever seen him in, but whether or not she noticed was still in question. If she paused for even a moment to recognize it, she might pick up that there was something truly bothering him. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith let her former master have at her. She tried to pretend his words didn't cut, though obviously he'd feel that a few attempts landed. She didn't want to go back to the Sith. She'd never belonged there, and... she cared about some people now. It was still hard to admit that... one of them was standing in front of her.

"I care about what you've said and did because I use to look up to you," she snapped back, in regards to him simply dismissing her anger towards him as misplaced. Maybe a lot of it was. Maybe she still felt he was to blame for a lot of things, but he'd still been her master and what he said and did effected her. Unfortunately. "Obviously..." she grumbled. "Ever looking up to you was a mistake."

She paused when he asked his last question. There was obviously something wrong for him to fall, though she still didn't understand why he'd let himself. If she'd look inward again maybe she'd understand, but she had a hard time with that. "Fine. Productive, whatever. What happened? Why are you like..." Lilith waved her hand at him. "This?"

Whatever answer, if any, there was a high chance she wouldn't like it and her body posture and face showed that. Her eyes bore into him with anger and confusion.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak's teeth gritted together in frustration at her, himself, and everything about his situation. He pushed the thoughts out of his head and tried to calm himself or center himself without a great deal of success.

He ignored her comment about looking up to him, though it cut a bit. He was well aware that he had failed all of his students miserably and his legacy was one of disaster.

Because I'm a work in progress, he said. How often do you still struggle with the dark side? Are you over it? Because if you never struggle then I envy you, particularly when someone you care about is hurt, he said bluntly. He knew she had to struggle. He couldn't imagine anyone who had come out of the Sith not struggling, but she also hadn't been raised in it since birth. Perhaps it was easier for her.

I never told you there wasn't struggle, but neither of us is running back to the Sith, he said. Even the word was enough to make his blood boil. He wanted to hunt them down and make them pay. Perhaps he still would. He'd nearly murdered Ana flat out, and he didn't know if he ever saw her again if he wouldn't. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

The anger in Lilith's eyes weakened somewhat, though when she realized the show of weakness she tried to cover it up. He was right. She was struggling, and right now. Though she hadn't fully acknowledged it till this moment.

"Someone I care about being hurt..." she echoed, her eyes lingering on Talak for a handful of seconds. Talak, her former mentor and only friend for a time, who was hurting... who was struck again in the sickness of the Dark Side, before she looked away to the side. She tried her best to protect her mind for the moment.

Regardless of the other thoughts, it didn't take genius to put together that he'd went to rescue Trys, someone he cared about, and that she could've been hurt during it. That didn't help Lilith feel better about his choice. "So Trys is hurt?" she said, her voice carrying no concern. "Trys is tough as nails. I know it first hand. She'll pull through fine whatever it is, even if she lost a leg or arm."

Lilith finally looked back at Talak. "How is that a good excuse? Why wallow in sorrow, in the dark, instead of have hope for her recovery?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

He could see Lilith was hurting in some manner, and taking it out on him. He tried to back off his own aggression. He took a deep, slow breath to calm himself, reminding himself that there was more than just his concerns in the galaxy.

That worked right up until she said that Trys was hurt with a distinctive "so what" tone to it that said she couldn't have cared less. His hand clenched at his side and it was all he could do to keep from putting her on the floor then and there.

You have no idea what you're talking about, he said, each word practically growled, simmering with absolute rage. Trys was tough, but it wasn't a matter of losing a limb, and she had the audacity to stand there and tell him to get over it. For all she knew, Trys could have been dead, but she hadn't bothered to find out. She didn't know why he'd slid to the dark, how he'd had to fight his way out of the base after the Jedi had left him behind, and how he was determined to stop the Sith at any cost. She didn't know, she didn't care, and he wasn't going to waste his time making her feel better.

Trys may well never snap back from it, and you're going to sit there and berate me about what you think you know. Kriff you, he said, and turned to walk away.

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith didn't move an inch as Talak's anger came to a boil, even if she could sense danger. It was then that she realized how serious it was and how much pain Talak truly was in.

After it settled in, Lilith said a soft, "I'm sorry" her eyes lowering. "I just assumed she'd be..." Talak could likely piece the rest of the sentence together.

She didn't move to stop him from leaving either. "But... may well? Then there's still a chance she could recover? Then there is still hope," she continued, though she was almost certain Talak would only get more angry at her for the comment, or simply walk away. "A better healer? There has to be a way to help her through the Force. I could help you find someone," she offered. She's spent many nights researching places, people and hunting them down so the offer could have some value at least.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak could barely hear her as he began to walk away, furious with her and with himself for coming here. Furious that he'd let Trys get captured. Furious that he couldn't help her.

He stopped but didn't turn to face her yet as she spoke. He didn't have answers. The things that had been done to her mind was still unclear. He hoped she could remember. He hoped that the spark in her eye would come back and that the fiery spirit would return, but he didn't know.

I don't know what's going to happen. Her mind is... it's not good, he said. She had barely even recognized her own son when she saw him in the prison. It nearly brought tears to his eyes as he stood there.

I'll make sure she gets the best care possible, he said. She had been the reason he'd turned to the Light. She was the thing that had pulled him out of darkness and he didn't know if he could keep his head above water if she never came back. He needed to punish the Sith and stop them from doing this ever again. He knew it was about sating his own vengeance and not about bringing justice.

I know I should be better, but you know me well enough to know that I never have been, Lilith, he said. Perhaps there was no overcoming your nature and the training that was drilled into your head, but there was still hope for Lilith. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Her eyes remained lowered as he talked. She expected his voice to fade away, but it seemed he'd stopped for the moment.

So it was her mind? Lilith didn't know the name of an exceptional healer that could help with the mind, though it didn't discourage her.

"I know you probably don't need it, but you wont be able to stop me from trying to help," Lilith said brazenly, half-ignoring that he said he'd find the best care. He probably could, but maybe she could find it first. She looked up. "If you haven't forgotten I'm one of the best slicers out there and you've never been able to stop me from snooping before! So... I'll... I'll find your comm frequency and I'll send you anything worthwhile I find on healing the mind."

His mention of never being better made her pause for a moment. "Maybe you haven't... obviously, I haven't ever been great myself. I just think... I hope you can find peace again, Talak. Even if we've always hurt each other, part of me still wonders where you are sometimes, you know," she said. It wasn't exactly admitting that she cared about her old mentor, but it was close enough. Even if he hurt her and pissed her off all the time, he'd also helped her.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak knew that she was trying to help, and despite all that had happened, he had hope that Lilith might actually end up in a better place than either Ender or Ana.

Thanks, he said when she offered to find whatever she could.

I don't want you to go back to the Dark, no matter what happens to me. You have an opportunity, whether in the Jedi or somewhere else, he said. He didn't know what else to say. There was no justification for what he had done or what he might yet do.

He turned to look back at her.

Don't worry, we'll be crossing paths again, he said, snickering slightly with a laugh that was more irony than humor.

It's not like we've been able to avoid each other so far, he said. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith was a little surprised that he didn't protest to her unrequested help. It wasn't like she'd revoke it even if he did, though.

Though she felt some peace when he seemed to calm, his next words hit her harder than they should've. As much as she held anger towards him, as much as she regretted looking up to him, her old mentors words still had some power over her. At least... enough that him not wanting her to fall to the Dark meant something.

"I..." she paused for a second, trying to reign in her emotions. "I don't want to go back to the Dark. I'll try my best not to," she answered with a nod.

She smiled at his following words. "True enough. I'd tell you to stay safe, though we both know you wont. So I guess just... see you around," she answered softly.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

He knew she would be fine or at least he hoped as much. The future was always shifting and more foggy to him now than it had ever been before, but he had a feeling she would find a path with or without him. She had started on the right path and surrounded herself with good Jedi.

Likewise, he said. He knew she wouldn't stay out of trouble. She didn't stay out of trouble before she met him, and if there was one thing she'd had reinforced from watching him, it was sticking her nose where it didn't belong.

Take care, and stay with the Jedi, he said. He hoped she would. He hoped she would find the path of redemption. There was still hope for her even if there wasn't for some of his other students. She had clawed her way out of the Sith, and she could claw her way back from the dark as well.

He continued walking and headed back into the temple. There was still a great deal of business to attend to before he returned to the medcenter.