Open The Second Leg

[Talak Rand]

Back on Gree again, the Arcanist wore the same survival outfit and rebreather to accommodate the hostile atmosphere of Gree. It had been quite some time since he was last here because he'd been sidetracked by many other things in the prior days. The last time he was here, things hadn't gone very well. He'd found what he was looking for, but his partner had been nearly crippled, they'd both been nearly killed, and he was hoping the Force was with him more this time.

He decided doing this alone might not be the best bet, and had asked Rain to come along on this particular job. Although they weren't likely to leave Gree's archives for this particular leg of the journey, it also meant that two eyes were better than one... oh, and Rain was also a skilled slicer, which would be more than useful for breaking into old records and archives.

He waited outside the building for her arrival, and although his normal clothes were left behind, he still had his utility belt and the pair of hidden lightsabers. He didn't anticipate combat, and even if there was "combat" he wasn't here to kill anyone, but being prepared was better than being caught off guard.

 

[Lilith Vye]

The Rain found herself on Gree for the first time ever. There were so many planets, so many places for her to experience in the galaxy. So much of her life had been wasted on one planet.

She was wearing almost the exact outfit and rebreather as her master, albeit smaller and slightly different colors. Her datapad and both her lightsabers were on her belt, although one was red the other was white. Due to her abnormal connection to Oren, he had purified her second lightsaber during their last encounter, by mistake or purpose she wasn't sure. Two years had passed since then, yet she still worried about their next meeting. She didn't want whatever they had between each other to grow, but felt that it was going to happen anyway.

She still hadn't learned how to hide her emotions that well, so Talak would be able to feel that she wasn't in the best mood when she arrived. There was a constant...rockiness to her ever since Endor, but with a new mission she hoped to be distracted.

"Master," she said as she arrived, in respect and also to add, "Where exactly are we headed?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

He sensed Lilith approaching before he saw her, and she was rather turbulent. He didn't know what was bothering her this time, but it was undeniable that something was on her mind. Perhaps it was something they could discuss or perhaps it was something she'd rather keep to herself.

He motioned above them to one of the buildings towering over the rest. It was the main archive building and they would have to find a way inside.

The Archives. Last time I was here I found the name of someone involved in the design of the hypergates, he said. I'm hoping we can find old records of where he lived. The old masters were very secretive about their technology, and he may have kept evidence at his home, he said. They weren't the first to seek after hypergates, but the Force could elucidate things that others might miss.

You seem troubled, he said after a moment, turning to look toward her, not that the helmet would allow him to see her face or vice versa. He was going to save the question for later, but there it was. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

"Hypergates..." she mumbled to herself. It wasn't the first time she heard of them. There were murmurs on the home world about the subject, but Lilith hadn't paid much attention to them. Perhaps they were important if her master was after them too. She simply nodded and started to walk towards the direction he'd motioned.

And she even kept going when he mentioned she seemed trouble. The moment he did she knew she wasn't going to be completely truthful about the subject. She hadn't from the very start when he first questioned her about it on Naboo. But maybe he could give some insight—or even a solution—to her problem. It might be the perfect time to dicuss seeing as the Jedi was now out of jail.

She stayed quiet at first however, trying to navigate fairly broken steps to get down the hill they were on. After a minute she broke her silence, "I feel this... connection in the Force to someone. I can't exactly put it in words. It's like I can always hear someone.. No, hear him in the far distance. Its not strong, it's so distant but the last time we encountered each other that voice grew... louder," she paused with a huff chewing her bottom lip to vent some frustration. "I don't understand it or like it."

There wasn't much further to go to get to the bottom of the hill, though Lilith paused when she sensed danger. The sense of it wasn't exactly required because there were several ominous rumbles coming from the same direction. "Are those... eyes?" she asked, grabbing for her back hilted lightsaber. It looked like there were a lot of pairs of eyes.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak kept his eyes peeled as they started making their way through the city. It was old and many parts had been abandoned or run down over the years. He wondered what would have happened to this civilization if they hadn't let themselves fall into ruin. That seemed to be the way of all societies. Eventually they would just fall aside and another would rise. He knew there would be people working at the archives, but it seemed for every one building in use, four weren't. It was an odd sensation.

He picked his way through the overgrown street as he listened to what Lilith said. He had never experienced that before, but it was a sensation he had heard about before. He was curious who it was that she had developed such a deep connection with. To his knowledge, she wasn't that close to anyone, but there was also a great deal about her that he didn't know.

Sounds like a Force-bond, he said. A bridging of minds. It can happen between two people who are very close to one another, he said, casting a glance over toward her. He was curious, but he didn't ask. Even if he'd wanted to, the appearance of eyes shrouded in the darkness of an abandoned building interrupted the thought.

He snatched the lightsaber hilt free of his belt and looked back into the darkness. Whatever they were, they seemed to almost blend into the shadow itself. They were difficult to see even as the first one came into the light as if the light itself somehow bent around them. He could make out that they walked on all fours and looked definitively predatory, and they just... kept coming.

With ten of them streaming out of the building, Talak had no interest in staying and fighting.

Run! he said, starting to back up more urgently. He didn't want to bring his saber out if he didn't have to, but he also didn't want to die. He turned and ran to the next closest building, letting the Force spring him up to a second story balcony. Unfortunately, the balcony was old... very old, and as soon as his feet hit it, it gave way.

The Force cushioned part of his fall, but the creatures were now leaping toward him. His lightsaber flashed on and caught the first creature, but the second's claw tore into his left arm as he tried to roll away and spring to his feet. His saber swung in a wide arc to catch a third as blood began to soak the clothing on his arm. So far things were going quite well...

 

[Lilith Vye]

A bridging of minds? Close to one another? She hated that Jedi, or she wanted to tell herself that. She really, really wanted to believe he was just a... stupid idiot. But it was hard when they had both opened up to one another, both shared their most painful emotions and memories—their lives—with one another through the Force in such a personal way, and more than once. He had given her a second chance at life, even when she begged for him to kill her. He hadn't given up on her even when she tried her best to convince him to. Why was it this way?

But, this was a train of thought she couldn't keep following when her master told her to run.

Her master said to run. If that wasn't enough to give her goosebumps, nothing was. Lilith wasn't about to question it, and so she followed behind him quickly. He jumped and because she was use to following him, she too went for that cursed balcony. Because it broke before she even made it, she instantly started to fall. She was able to cushion the fall like her master but not as well, and grunted from the bit of pain that shot through her legs. That wasn't the last of it however, a much sharper pain shot through her back as one of the creatures took advantage of her predicament.

Lilith brought up her lightsaber and ignited the red blade behind her back. It staked the creature then Lilith turned around and sliced through another two that were close behind. They would've mulled her if she hadn't acted quick enough. She cursed under her breath and began to run again, along the side of the building.

The pain made running uncomfortable but Lilith saw a glimmer of hope in the distance. Homes. She didn't think about which one looked the best, she just ran for one and luckily it slid open. When or if her master followed, the door would hopefully slide close fast enough not to let any creatures in.

Unfortunately someone was home, which made sense since the door was unlocked. Lilith knew she had to act quickly, otherwise they may find themselves in more danger. But it was hard to ignore the pain from her back, so she clenched one of her hands as a way to vent her frustration while she waved the other and dug into the Gree's brain. She commanded the first thing that came to mind, "You will tell us anything you know about the main archive building."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Things were not off to a good start so far. He was already injured, and they had barely even started. He saw where Lilith was heading, and started running that direction as well. Another of the creatures caught a saber to the face, and in short order they had managed to make it to... a home of sorts.

He slammed the door behind them and slapped his hand over the bleeding arm with a hiss of pain. Lilith was already going after the Gree, and Talak moved through the building, rummaging for whatever might pass as medical supplies. Mostly it just ended up being some disinfectant and some rags.

Kriff, he spat angrily as he started to clean up the injury. He slammed a fist down on the counter as he slapped bacta onto the injury. When Lilith was finished with the Gree, Talak waved his hand in front of the Gree and it fell asleep in short order.

We need to see if there's any med supplies here, he said, motioning to her own injury. Or we can head back to my ship, he said. He knew he had plenty of medical supplies there. He was starting to think that getting a restart on this whole fiasco from a new angle might be for the best.

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith was surprised when her master made the gree sleep, instead of waiting to see if the thing had any information. "I'll find med supplies," Lilith answered with a frown tugging strongly at her cheeks. She was in pain, but lately she'd been getting hurt it a lot it seemed. Of course, the more blood she lost the worse she felt. But firstly she bent down and ripped off a strip from the gree's clothing, wrapping it around her back and chest as tightly as she could to slow the bleeding.

"I don't want to go back master... please," she started, looking back at him. He wouldn't see the mix of upset and determination in her eyes, but she wasn't willing to let him down. She'd rather die of blood loss. "I can handle this." She wasn't actually sure she could, but she wanted to be able to.

Since Talak already ripped through the house, Lilith went to the wall, which was attached to another housing unit. With a snap-hiss she reignited her saber, slicing a hole in the wall into another home.

When she pushed the piece of cut out metal and walked through she found herself in a... lab of some sort? There was medical supplies galore and she went to some, ripping off her make-shift bandage, grabbing bacta and pouring it down her back, even though it soaked her clothing it was actually ideal in a way. She also found a stim and stuck it in, though not without having momentary flash back of Endor.

Lilith breathed in and steadied her hands before she could grab some fresh bandages and wrap them around her back. There wasn't much more she could think of doing for herself at this point. Well, except maybe clean up the scene, but she turned to her master who had probably been doing the same as her. "Can we start questioning that gree or head out now?" she asked, almost with some annoyance in her voice. It almost felt as if her master had questioned her, even though she knew it didn't make much sense to think that way.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak came back around as she cut into the building next door and... wow, apparently she had much better luck than he did. There were more medical supplies than they could carry, and he almost wondered if he could come back and raid it to supply his ship later. It probably wasn't realistic, though.

He wrapped up his own injury, stopping the bleeding, covering it with bacta, jamming in a pain killer and some antibacterials. It wasn't a fun process, but one he was quite experienced with. He'd learned to do it to himself and to others as well. He should have become a paramedic or something... weren't the Jedi good at healing people?

When all the bleeding stopped and the two were mostly patched up - if a bit stiff and in pain - Talak stood up. He started cleaning up some of the mess, burning in the fireplace anything that had blood or other DNA, and disinfecting the rest. And that was when Lilith asked her question.

In truth, Talak had been in a foul mood since leaving Coruscant, and his patience had been thin in general. Nothing he would normally do to cope had been working. He could hear her annoyance in her voice. He'd been able to sense her own distress on arriving here, and he turned abruptly as he tossed a rag into the fire.

If you have a problem, spit it out, he said. His voice was icy and probably harsher than deserved, but he'd rather have it out. He could use a good fight with someone, which... probably wasn't a good thing, but the darkness had been gnawing at his mind with greater frequency. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Once again her master surprised her and it only made her more upset. "You always have to do that, don't you?" she said back in a low growl, a mix of upset and anger clear in her voice. "You always have to comment on my moods and dig at them!" It was the first time she raised her voice at him in years. And for good reason... it was risky but he was asking for it this time.

Him digging into her moods wasn't why she had been upset however, sometimes it lead to guidance she needed. Nor was she interested in telling him why she was upset in the first place because she realized how illogical it was. But she hated being snapped at by him, especially right now.

It hurt and there was only a few ways Lilith knew how to react to being hurt this way, "Ever since Naboo I have dedicated my life to working towards the Empire and to you!" she yelled again, her voice wavering slightly with more upset than anger.

Lilith turned away from him, grabbing some random bottle of liquid—probably medical supplies—with the Force and smashing it into the ground as hard as she could. "I don't deserve to get snapped at!" she added immediately after. She knew he probably had loyal men and women out there working for him already, and she was just a tool to him... but this was how she felt even if she was just a tool.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak wasn't sure what he had expected to come out of this particular fight, but it appeared that she was going to meet him on equal footing for it, and that was fine with him. He really wasn't a very good master, was he? He wasn't even sure how he'd managed to come into it. He wasn't nearly old enough or experienced enough to be training someone else, was he?

Well, here they both were, so there was no point in wondering and picking at the thought.

She was yelling at him now, and even if some of what she said was right, it didn't help his mood. He was already angry, and that was easier than facing anything else. What was he even doing here? Trying to reform the Sith Eternal from within was feeling like more of a fool's errand than anything.

Did it even matter? The one thing that was holding him back from giving into the darkness was gone now, wasn't it? Turned her back on him. What had he always said: it didn't matter what other people thought, and he was a hypocrite for acting any differently.

His fist - imbued with the Force - flew into the cabinet next to him and it cracked with the impact.

Don't pretend that this isn't something you want, he hissed. You demanded that I take you into the Sith Eternal, and you're every bit as much invested in this as I am, he said. He had brought her into this, but she had chosen it. He had tried to take responsibility for people before, but he was tired of questioning it.

So either get on board for yourself or don't! he all but shouted. She couldn't just be doing this because it was something he was working toward. The two of them didn't fight often, but they were Sith... when they fought, it was bound to be loud and harsh. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

She clenched her fists even harder out of anger and... because he wasn't entirely wrong. She wanted to help the galaxy and she did believe the Empire was the best way to do it. She was working towards this for herself too. It was something that she honestly hadn't self-realized up until this point. Why he had taken her master yelling at her to realize it, she'd never know. So maybe she should've added something about her own desires to what she had said, but what she had said was still true.

And some of what he said made her laugh darkly, in that twisted darksider way, "Oh, I'm sorry, I happen to remember you basically telling me that the Jedi weren't an option for me if I wanted to use the Force properly," she hissed back. Totally done with holding anything back at this point. If he really wanted a fight, then fine, he'd get a fight.

She turned around to face him, this time grabbing an empty glass container and smashing it near his feet. "You're right I need to get on board myself, but that doesn't make that comment from you any less rich," she added, frowning now. "You pushed me towards the Dark Side then told me not to embrace it minutes later. So what is it hmm? Are YOU going to get on board or NOT?!"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

The Arcanist's head cocked to the side as she talked about the Jedi. Could she possibly be that naive? If she was, then he was going to tell her and in the most cutting manner possible.

Yes, you know what? Go to the Jedi. I'm sure they'd love to have the slicer, murderer, criminal from Nar Shaddaa in their ranks, he said cuttingly. There were many reasons the Jedi weren't an option for her. The fact that they used the Light was only a fraction of that.

You are the only person I know who could whine about being given the whole story. I'll be sure not to give it to you in the future, he said as she raged about being told about the dark side and then being told not to use it.

Still, her words about him weren't off base. He hadn't made a fully commitment to the dark side, and now that he was here, at the end of his wits, he wondered if that wasn't what he was always destined for. His fist clenched at his side until his muscles began to hurt. He almost looked like he wanted to hit her, but his face behind the helmet was still concealed.

You've seen me when I give into the dark side, he said. His voice wasn't yelling anymore and he almost didn't sound like himself. It was low, cold, and harsh. How fond are those memories for you, he asked, acid in his tone. The last time he'd truly given into the darkness without holding back was the day on Endor when he'd flung her around like a rag doll and let lightning course through her. It wasn't a fond memory for either of them. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith's eyes widened and she looked away, sharp spikes of upset rippling through her. His cutting words were just that—cutting. Part of her had started to maybe, maybe consider there was hope for her because of what the Jedi Master had said. But Talak had no clue how much power his words had over her.

"The whole story?" she snapped back, fighting back tears now. "You're suppose to be my master not some idiot. I haven't had the whole story ever. Not about the Force and most certainly not about you!" she added.

She started to walk towards him when he mentioned Endor. Flashes of it playing through her mind painfully, but she pushed through the pain and stopped only inches away from him. "Yes. You... broke me on Endor and I will never, ever recover from it," she said, no longer yelling either. A single tear rolled down her cheek, escaping her grip. It was shortly followed by another and Lilith thanked the Force she was wearing a mask.

Something forced her to look down at her hands in memory of that day, but she managed to continue after taking some time to think on it all, "...but maybe it's for the better. Maybe the Dark Side—you—pushed me here in order to save the galaxy. And maybe whether I become a monster in the process or not doesn't matter if the goals are met." Her eyes drifted, settling on his fists then the way he was postured. "I don't know but it's clear there's no going back for me, whether you choose the Dark Side again or not. I'm broken forever, so you know what? Just hurt me if that's what you wanted out of all of this. Just do it so we can finish this karking mission you brought me here for."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

When she told him that he was supposed to be her master and not an idiot, he was fuming. She had no idea what she was talking about or what she was asking. No. Idea. It would cost him every last piece of his soul that he had left to do to her what had been done to him, and that wasn't something he ever wanted to force on someone.

She had no idea how much he struggled with the path he was walking himself. He had no business leading anyone else down it, and yet here he was.

When she seemed to break down, he was frozen in place. He wasn't interested in hurting her. That helped no one. It was senseless and illogical, but he couldn't deny that she had managed to piss him off royally. She seemed to have a unique skill for getting under his skin, and he realized that was an unusual trait that only a few had. Was it because he was still raw after Coruscant or was this because she had actually become something to him?

Asking someone to hurt you isn't befitting of a Sith, he said. He did understand the irony and hypocrisy of what he said, but he also recognized he was a terrible Sith.

He stepped back, but didn't actually have anything else he needed to do at the moment, so he was forced to face the situation. This was a common theme...

Look, you need to figure out what you want. I can teach you about the Force, but I can't tell you what you want out of your life, he said. He was about to tell her he had his own problems, but he was her master whether he knew what he was doing or not.

We all have pains. You'll learn to cover yours up in time, he said. That statement was far less accusatory and angry than much of the rest. It spoke to a pain below.

He didn't leave the house. He waited. She made it clear she had questions and he could sense it even now. Might as well hash it out now rather than wait for another time. It was always easy to wait for another time, but even the mission they had now wasn't on a tight timetable. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

She simply nodded when he said it wasn't befitting of a Sith, and it helped her relax some because she didn't actually want to be hit, she just wanted to stop fighting.

"I understand," was all she said at first, to both of the last things he said. The Empire was something she wanted out of life, but she wasn't sure there was much more for her beyond maintaining it if it ever came to fruition. How could she expect more out of life when she thought... knew that forging anything beyond that was a waste of time? No one could be trusted. Well, almost no one? Talak and that Jedi had... oddly been able to get some from her, but trust was a fragile thing.

The young Sith expected that to be that, and for them to move on back to their mission but Talak just stood there after. He was waiting for something. Maybe he had sensed she had questions, though she was hesitant to ask still. Why would he answer them now? But she supposed there might not be any harm in asking.

"I met that woman on the holonews that you seemed to want protected. Trys. She does know you. What is she... a spy?" It seemed unlikely that he'd want to protect a spy that badly, but she couldn't think of many other things. "And I'd like to know why you decided to be an asshole and pick a fight with me. What has your mood so soured?"

Lilith looked up at him, then away because she didn't want to see any bad reaction to her questions. "You always poke and prod my moods and business, so even if you don't want to answer I don't want to hear that I'm being nosy."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak ran the whole gamut of emotions as she mentioned that she had gone to see Trys. She had gone to see her? That same flare in the Force when he had first received the message would be evident in the Force again. Confusion led to anger led to frustration and finally concern. He didn't say anything, though, as she continued to speak.

And you're always the pinnacle of forthright with me? he quipped at first, but then relented. He didn't need to start another fight about... anything right now.

He moved into the other room and sat down on the couch. Not that the "couches" the Gree used were very fitting for a human anyway, but this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have standing up.

How could he even explain this? There were some things about this that he simply wasn't willing to share, but she probably deserved some sort of an explanation. Part of the problem was that he didn't even know all the answers. Trys had been a lover, but now... they weren't even speaking.

Trys is... a friend, he finally said. That same word that had nearly caused all sorts of trouble when he'd said it last. We haven't seen each other lately, but I don't want her in the Eternal's sights, he said. And that was true. The last thing he wanted was for the entire Sith Eternal to be hunting her.

He looked up at Lilith before promptly asking the question that was obviously on his mind. You're going to have to give me a lot more details than "I saw her,” he finally just said bluntly. It wasn't so much a "her master" demand as a "I want to know and won't take no for an answer" statement. No matter how much he tried to (poorly) hide it, this was obviously a touchy subject. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith crossed her arms when he mentioned that she wasn't exactly truthful either, but why should she be if he wasn't? The annoyance over it hit her hard but she didn't say anything. She really didn't want to fight anymore. Even if the fight hadn't lasted all that long, she was already tired.

She didn't miss that ping in the Force again; the same one on Naboo. It peaked her interest again, though she simply followed Talak, sat down and listened to him at first.

"Details...?" she echoed when he finished. She had a feeling he wouldn't really care about all the details, but at least she had some answers now; Trys and him were friends, enough that he didn't want her hurt.

"She was alone on Nar Shaddaa walking in some sketchy alleyway. I mean, so was I but I grew up on those streets. I didn't actually notice her until I sensed three signatures that most certainly weren't Jedi," Lilith said, looking away from Talak now. "I suspected you didn't want her hurt, so I... protected her. Obviously we both survived, and the other three Sith didn't so there wont be any retribution there..."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak mentally chewed through every piece of information in detail, and it was an almost noticeable shift in how he acted and reacted. It was an analytical, battlefield-like mind.

Nar Shaddaa. He wondered if she was there looking for him or rather the Arcanist. That was where he had done most of his work as the Arcanist, and it wasn't a safe world. But he had to remind himself that she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

Three Sith. That was exactly what he had tried to warn Trys of, but she was stubborn and had insisted on continuing her work. Though if they found her on Nar Shaddaa then perhaps there wasn't any point to her running anyway.

All killed. That at least meant that it wouldn't get back immediately to anyone that Lilith was involved. Perhaps if the bodies were found by other Sith they would assume a Jedi had done it.

And then there was the fact that Lilith had gone there and talked to Trys. He had mixed feelings, but ultimately the fact was that Lilith had helped protect her. He couldn't be angry about her actions...

Thank you for helping her, Lilith, he said after a moment, his tone softer and more somber. She had risked her own skin based on the suspicion that it was what he would want. She'd been right, and it showed the lengths she would go to to help him.

And I'm sorry for how I treated you, he finally added. Sith shouldn't apologize, and Talak actually made a habit of avoiding it, but this time it was warranted, and he wasn't going to let his ego dictate what he would or wouldn't do.

There was one issue that still needed to be addressed, and the answer was making his gut churn. Trys didn't know that he was the Arcanist, and he intended to keep it that way.

Did you help her as Rain or Lilith? he asked, hoping it was the latter and not the former. The back of his mind nagged him that it shouldn't have mattered. Talak and Trys weren't exactly... well even when they were "together" they weren't actually together, so defining anything became exponentially more difficult. It was all to say that right now they really weren't anything so it shouldn't have mattered... but it did. @Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

The young Sith was surprised when he thanked her, and the general change in his demeanor. A big part of her had wanted to be thanked, to be recognized for how hard she'd been trying to prove herself, but had it been worth it...? She wasn't questioning her loyalty to the man who had given her so much knowledge, that remained unwavering, but the vigor in which she showed it felt a bit spent now.

She stirred a bit when he said sorry, and part of her wanted to say sorry too. He'd picked the fight, but most of what he'd said to her during it wasn't wrong. But all of it, including this sorry, was too much for her to process and properly address now.

But she did reply when he asked another question, "As Lilith, though I did not give her my name and I only said that you and I were acquaintances." She finally looked back at him. "So if she says anything you can pretend not to really know me. That way my actions then and any in the future as Lilith will hopefully not be tied to you, at least in any way that you could get into trouble for them."

@Phoenix