Shades of Rheason

[Rhea]

Mygeeto was where Rhea chose to hold her test. Around her rose ice pinacles shaped like jagged teeth; a glacial wind howled through them. She stood on ancient stone steps, flakes of snoke and ice swirling around her as the snowstorm raged overhead. The Force sustained her where others of her species might have already frozen to death. With her was another Dark Jedi (@Orbit)—she suspected one whose importance went beyond that of a casual partnership with Alais Drast, though she had no concrete evidence—and one with whom she still knew so little about.

But that was about to change. Now that Alais insisted that his man, Sirius, was to join the group on Prakith, Rhea had decided to test his usefulness for herself. The girl could have her consorts, her boyfriends, her mates, as she pleased (and if that was truly how she viewed the man), but Rhea did not want her to invite distractions into the group. Distractions that might limit her overall effectiveness. So Rhea had invited Sirius to Mygeeto, whose freezing tundras had killed many humans, but had a special connection to her past.

"It was here that I first began to learn the secrets of the Force—and here where I first felt the call of the dark side," Rhea explained to the man on the steps beneath her. "This world is cold—it is cruel and unforgiving. It is impossible, I think, for even the staunchest Jedi not to feel the call of the dark side here in such an uncompromising and unforgiving environment. But I have not brought you here to acquaint you with my past, Sirius." She appraised him from under the cowl of her robes. "I have brought you here so that I might see what she has come to see—if, that is, there is anything to see at all. I wish to see just how powerful you are with the dark side; but, more than that, how perceptive and resourceful you are, as well." She raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you could survive such a test?"

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris stood at the mouth of the steps, hood drawn to withstand some of the cold with this thickened robes. During her speech, Siris extend his senses, heightening in case Reha had a trick up her sleeve. Alais warned him of how invasive and deceptive Rhea was and he was equally as good to Rhea at hiding his emotions and safeguarding his thoughts. He's been cloaking them for years, feeling utterly exposed if didn't. Siris knew Rhea was familiar with Alais but he never knew how. This may have been a test, but it was an opportunity to find more about this woman. Whatever test it was, Siris would pass it. He made a promise to Alais and he intended on keeping it. It was duty now and he accepted it.

Siris gazed up at the women, attentive to her words as she spoke a small piece of her backstory. He didn't want to miss a word, every one of them a small opportunity to learn more about her. She told him that this planet is where she learned and cultivated her abilities on the dark side. Siris could easily piece together that she was powerful, Alais was cautious of her and that was a hint enough. Alais was one of the most powerful force wielders he's ever witnessed. If she was worried about Rhea, it must have been for good reason. He tucked it into the back of his mind, speculating if he could learn further about made her powerful while he was performing this test.

His silver eyes bore into Rhea as she questioned him if he was strong enough to pass this test and prove himself. He didn't know what to think of the women, but he would pass this test to protect Alais. He uttered one word, "Yes." He didn't need to give her a monologue back of how he would beat this test. He didn't what kind of dangers he would undertake but he was determined to succeed.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea took a few paces down the stone steps, walking directly passed the man. Beyond these ruins lay a frozen wasteland. Malola—the star of Mygeeto—was setting and, with it, the temperature was dropping as well. Soon, even protective clothing would not protect them from its biting winds and raging storms. Only the dark side would provide for them, as it had for her so many years ago.

She paused to regard Sirius behind her, "As the night progresses, the cold will threaten to freeze your blood. Too much time here and we will both succumb—provided we do not find other means of heat." She glanced back out at Mygeeto's hellish landscape. "When last I was here, I was convinced I would die. Then, the dark side had not yet taken an interest in me. Over the course of this test, you will think as much as well, but perhaps you will rise above your human limitations and prove to be greater than the environs of this hellish world."

Carefully, she peeled back her hood, exposing her face to the elements and allowing him to see her for the first time. She was a woman in her mid-thirties. An Echani, made obvious by her skin, which nearly matched Mygeeto's landscape in color, and sharp blue eyes—though they had begun to take on a yellowish hue during her time with Alais. She subsumed herself in the dark side, using its power to raise her body temperature and ignore the biting winds that raged around her.

"You are guarded," she noted, regarding him again, "and rightfully so. You have little to fear from me. My powers only work on the weak-minded and those without the foresight to close their thoughts off to my sight. But there are other ways for me to learn about you—without having to use the Force or ask a single question." She waited a moment, perhaps to see if that bit of information had the desired effect, perhaps to allow it to sink in. "You see, I was raised amongst the Echani and my people have other ways of discerning another's thoughts. That is what I have brought you here to do. To test your mettle and see you for who you are. Perhaps, if you are skilled enough, you will learn something about me as well."

"The rules of this combat are simple, in the Echani tradition. No weapons. No armor, save our clothing. And you may not use the Force to attack, enhance yourself, or defend—only to ward off the cold. In other words, this is a hand-to-hand bout," she explained. "Do you find this to be agreeable?"

@Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris watched as Rhea stepped down the stairs, passing him without a second thought as she continued to describe the planet. The cold felt even more frigid then before and he at least knew they were truth to those words. He could feel it biting through his thick robes and strike his skin, causing chills to erupt over him. He drew on the force as well, heating him up enough where it wouldn't drain his energy to fast and enough to make it where he won't be affected by the cold. He wondered what she did to make the Dark Side take an interest in her as she said. She murdered a village or pledged her soul to it? But before he can think about it anymore she drew back her hood.

Siris never actually seen her face, her hood covering most of in shadow. He always got glimpses in but she appeared human and never thought anything about. But she was Echani and he knew immediately what she meant. This was actually the first time he met someone of Echani lineage but he heard stories of them. He knew hand to hand combat was second nature to them, using it as a form to communicate with their people. It was a form of art to Echani and it was worth more than any conversation. It made Siris worry, not knowing what she would perceive as they fought. It also explained more of her nature, why she was so invasive when around people. Another detail he saved in his head. Even when they fought, he would keep his barriers up, not giving Rhea one chance to comb through his head.

It would be considered a disadvantage for a human to fight an Echani but he gained a vast amount of experience with his time on Alderann, usually having to use his fists to get what he wanted. He wasn't completely helpless without the force or his saber. He stood about 10 meters away from her, putting some distance between them before they started. His silver eyes remained locked on Rhea as he gave her a nod, a silent answer that he was ready to begin. He planted his feet into the snow as he honed his mind for the fight, he would have to be smart about this or Rhea would completely dismantle him.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea payed careful attention to Sirius's stance. He stood away from her, at approximately ten meters. This distance suggested caution. He knew what she was—her pale skin, pale eyes, and pale hair all indicated the Echani species. If he was a warrior worth his mettle, he would not only have heard of the Echani people but of their martial arts... their culture. She suspected that he did and she suspected his distance was a testament to that fact. His eyes were locked on hers, but her eyes were on his hands—his eyes, after all, wouldn't defeat her.

She decided to start with a simple exploratory maneuver, meant to test his reaction time and the extent of his reflexes. Balling her hands into fists, she raised them—one at chest height and one slightly lower—and spread her legs a shoulder's width apart, left leg back and right leg forward. A simplistic stance, she thought, but flashy was likely to get her hurt, especially given the weather. The Force coursed through her veins, raising her body temperature to a point where she could safely ignore the cold; and with that, she was ready to fight.

She did not lunge; she inched forward slowly. She would keep her guard up as she moved, ready to protect herself if he made a sudden lunge for her. She would continue shuffling forward until she was within arm's length of Sirius. Then, suddenly, she would lash out with her lower left fist—punching straight forward with the intent to strike at his jaw; but this movement was only a feign, intended to draw his attention to protecting his face. The true attack would come from below, from the right—a kick with her right foot aimed for Sirius's exposed liver.

@Orbit

 

[Rhea]

The man's reaction — his reflexes — were not sufficient, apparently. Rhea's punch connected with his chin, which popped his head back and would daze him. Next, her kick would connect with his liver; in addition to the sharp pain that would induce, the blow would also succeed in driving the wind from him. She did not imagine that he would be able to maintain his balance after such an attack; if, indeed, he did slip on the icy surface, he would find the ground as cruel as Rhea's fist or leg.

"You are sloppy," Rhea taunted as the man recovered. "Your reflexes lack refinement. Have you grown so accustomed to using the Force that it has dulled your combat senses? Have you grown so accustomed to wielding a lightsaber that you cannot even wield your own fists?"

She took a step back and resumed her previous posture: she balled her hands into fists; she raised them—one at chest height and one slightly lower—and spread her legs a shoulder's width apart, left leg back and right leg forward. This time, she would allow him to be the aggressor. Perhaps he would do better then. "Now," she said. "Try again."

@Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris stood there as she advanced, his hands still resting by his sides. He knew what was about to come and he remained in his place, letting Rhea approach him before landing a clean strike right in his jaw. His head snapped back and before he could recover the kick came in, slamming into his liver and emptying all the air out of his body. Siris surprisingly managed to stay on his feet a few seconds before crashing hard on one knee as gulped air back in. He stared at the snowy ground, slowly managing to regain his breath as he spat some blood onto the snow with an audible chuckle coming out of him.

"Now, I'm ready." He stood up, shrugging his shoulders a couple of times before his eyes went to Rhea. He knew what she was and he would need every advantage he could. Siris wanted anger to bubble through him, giving him an advantage even though it would hurt to achieve that. Of course, with his guarded nature, Rhea wouldn't be able to feel his emotions as he locked them behind his various walls of protection. He raised his hands up, his right beneath his chin and his left by his chest. His legs were the opposite of Rhea's, left leg forward and his right back.

He stepped forward slowly like Rhea did, his eyes locked on her so to be spot any type of counter she would throw. Because of his height, he had a massive reach advantage over her and he would utilize it. He threw a feint right jab before immediately bringing back and throwing a left, aimed directly at her nose as he squared his stance. He was a safe distance away as he did the simple attack, testing her reaction and wanting to see her fighting style.

 

[Rhea]

The Echani Exile was more impressed—or was the word satisfied?—when Sirius got up and attempted his own attack. The man was guarded. His emotions were locked behind a clouded wall, which was also reflected in his stance: tight and protective, and there was caution in the way he mimicked her trepidatious advance. As a result, she treated his initial movement as she might have his speech—as a lie.

The right feint was an impressive movement, but she anticipated the true attack would come from the left—given the speedy trust and last minute retraction of his right fist. Once again, she saw signs of his guarded personality in his stance; he used his height and reach as an advantage to keep himself safe from her and to observe her to learn her own movements. She found it hard to believe Alais would allow such a distinctly untrusting individual into her inner circle, but that was neither here nor there at the moment.

As he swung in from the left, Rhea would pivot to her own left, turning her body as she did so that his fist burned through nought but air, all the while placing her close to him and leaving his right side mostly exposed. Whilst he was still in motion, and from her new position on his right side, Rhea punched out, aiming to hit him square in his right cheek.

@Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

As expected, the woman didn't fall for the feint and correctly dodged it. She was fast and smart. Even through the little move she conducted, it spoke to Siris as it did to her kind. He kept it in the back of his mind, increasingly cautious about his opponent, it was rare to find another good fighter. Rhea pivoted to her left, away from his fist as she brought her own punch aimed at his cheek. He ducked as soon as he saw it coming, barely avoiding the dodge as he shot his right leg out and sweeping her feet from under her. Whether or not the move worked, Siris would do a quick roll to safety before pivoting on his feet and facing the Echani.

His deep silver gaze rested on the woman, the light hitting his irises and creating them to appear shining. He took two steps backward before beginning to circle the woman in a wide radius. He studied her as if a predator would observe it's prey. His arms rested by his sides as he spoke to her, "Tell me about your people." As he awaited her response, he also awaited her attack. He wanted to react to her, note how she preferred to attack and what she favored. Even though his arms were rested by his side, he was at the ready to lift them for defense.

Regarding his statement, Siris was curious about the woman and her background. He has a devotion to learning any knowledge that he can, consistently yearning to know more. Besides his own reasons, there were others why he asked. He wanted to ease Rhea into the conversation, not wanting to create tension between them immediately with mentioning of Alais and what she planned to do with her. As he thought of this, his mind remained shut as ever, not permitting to even have a peek inside his psyche.

 

[Rhea]

Already committed to the punch, Rhea could do little in the way of dodging Sirius's attack; but she still had a trick up her sleeve. Using her free left hand, she intercepted his kick, catching him right above the ankle and preventing a unbalancing of her stance. He recovered quickly, however, freeing herself from her grasp and rolling to a safe distance before leaping back to his feet and facing her. She resumed her previous stance: she balled her hands into fists; she raised them—one at chest height and one slightly lower—and spread her legs a shoulder's width apart, left leg back and right leg forward.

But she also did not leave his question unanswered: "And what do you wish to know of the Echani?" she asked mockingly. "One might say—as certainly others of my kind would—that you cannot know us — not through mere words. Understanding, of the kind you seek, requires a different wellspring of answers. The kind only acquired through an exchange of fists." She paused and quite abruptly dropped her stance. "But that is not truly what you wish to know, is it? Your stance is guarded and you keep your distance. Those are the markings of fear... and curiosity. You are attempting to discern me. Very well. Here is your first lesson."

She threw out her palm—the abruptness and spontaneity of her attack would ensure that he did not sense her intent before it was too late—and unleashed a crushing wave of Force energy that, if it struck him, would throw him off his feet, carry him backwards several meters, and deposit him hard into the icy ground below.

"I do not stand on the principles of my people," she would say afterwards. "They—like everything else in this universe—exist as a tool to be manipulated and used... and are to be cast aside when they are no longer required." Her lips tightened. "Your first lesson is: betrayal."

@Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris listened to every word, halting his movements and standing directly in front of her. She easily cut through the guise of his question and called him out on what his real intent was. She was observant, he had to give her that at least. He studied her intensely, dropping her stance as she stood there open and exposed. He was seeking to discern her, knowing any sliver of information revealed would help complete the puzzle that she was. He stepped towards, ready to begin the attack again but she threw out her hand, sending a large blast of force energy straight to him before he could sense it.

He drew on the Darkside that surrounded them, creating a barrier of force energy quickly enough that it caught the blast sent from Rhea. He skidded back from the blast, his arms up as he braced himself for the attack. He peered at Rhea between the gap of his arms before dropping them to his sides as he took a step forward."Believe, I've had enough lessons of betrayal." It was second nature to him, experiencing it all during his young childhood on Alderann. It was what made him who he was today and his guarded nature, never attempting to be close enough to someone to experience the familiar sensation of betrayal once more. Even though he tried to follow it, Alais broke through all his walls and nestled into his heart. He failed miserably as he let it happen. It was the first time it ever happened and it was his greatest weakness.

He walked towards Rhea, his fists raised in the same position as he had them before. He threw another jab again at safe distance, this one being real as he followed through with a kick from his left, it aimed directly for her kidney. "You're an outcast." He commentated as he thought over what Rhea said earlier. Explaining how their principles should be manipulated and used. Siris had a feeling that was how she viewed everything. He wondered how deeply that applied to Alais and what type of hooks Rhea had in her.

 

[Rhea]

The man knew pitifully little of betrayal if his retort was to approach her with fists raised after she had just revealed to him that the Echani ceremony was a ritual she held as merely a tool to manipulate. The moment he committed himself to a real punch, she opened her hand towards the ground, spreading her fingers as though they were claws, and sent a jolt of Force lightning into the ground and towards him. The jolt would be strong enough to throw him backwards and painful enough to make his recovery slow, but it would get her ultimate point across.

"It would seem you were a poor pupil if this is what you learned of betrayal," she rebuked him. "You who have allowed a succubus to infect your mind and heart." She thought she caught a glimpse of his thoughts just then—like a glimpse of the sun's light through dense clouds. Such a glimpse could only be provided by conflict; his trust in Alais unnerved him and it interested her. "Ah, I see the truth of you, Exile, as you have seen it in yourself. You too realize the error you have made. Despite your... urges, it would have been better to deal with her than succumb to those feelings. She is a threat to you, but you ignore it for the sake of your kind's insatiable desires."

She kept her feet spread at shoulder's width, her right foot in front of her left. She needed to be wary. After two such betrayals, Siris was not going to be permit a third—not if he had any intelligence left within the shell of his cranimum. Her guard was up, her senses stretched out, and then she replied to him more directly: "And so what if I am? Does it matter? Of course it does. Such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark—categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

@Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

He knew what it was coming and it would hurt. He had no trouble noticing her betrayal of using the force during their "duel of fists." He chose to ignore it and advance, wondering if Rhea would actually bite or learn from her previous strike. Siris knew after a few seconds that when she dropped her defenses, she utilizes the force once more. As he threw the punch, he saw her fingers spread apart further before lightning erupted from her hand and struck the ground before redirecting to Siris and hitting him full on. He flew backward about five meters, his body rolling along the ground as small smoke trails rose from his black robes.

He laid on his stomach, breathing hard before digging his hands into the ground and pushing himself up. He did recover slowly but faster anticipated as he rolled his shoulders while erecting to his full height. He turned his gaze to the woman, his now striking silver eyes having flecks of gold. "And it seems you're a bad observer." His voice clear and cold as it reached Rhea. Lightning snapped loudly in his palm, some streaks of electricity climbing up his forearm and crackling more. With Siris keeping his emotions under control as he did, it gave the advantage of people not being able to read him but it had one drawback. His fighting, he couldn't draw on his emotions as easily as others so he required one thing. Pain, in it's purest form, to kickstart his system and Rhea happily obliged.

Siris drew on the Darkside that resided on the planet, surrounding himself with the force as he begun to circle Rhea once more. He almost laughed as Rhea mentioned Alais and a mistake it was. Rhea had no possibility of knowing, his mind encased by an iron curtain that couldn't be penetrated. She was grasping at straws to throw him off but he gave no indication that her words affected him, his face remaining passive as power surged through him. "Also seems you're a terrible bluffer too." He murmured, his eyes locked on the Echani.

Siris chose to not attack again, waiting for Rhea as stopped directly across from her. He didn't need a title to break the galaxy into light or dark, he knew the grey area that it was and it would never change. Siris was just learning more, now noting she was an outcast from her people and making him wonder what caused such a thing. "What caused your people to reject you?" He asked, actually curious of what made her who she was today. His theory was that they knew of the dark arts she transpired with and that was the reason for it. But, he could easily be wrong, Rhea being one of the biggest egnima he ever came across.