Ask Yavin IV The Shadow Within

[Sybella Demici]

Yavin IV, Jedi Planet, 2103 Hours ​

"You're quite certain? And you've checked the entire archives?"

The maintenance droid, standing only a full third of Sybella’s height, chimed and beeped in its usual binary sequence. Frustratingly, it relayed to her the same message as before. Nothing. No one was currently in the temple’s library, nor were they using the adjoining chambers. Given the late hour, that wasn’t unusual; many would be resting now and most facilities would be otherwise unused.

Still, it wasn’t the answer Sybella was expecting and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t mildly frustrated. "Someone must have entered here. I saw them with my own eyes."

Again, the droid repeated its observation. Scans detected no lifeforms within the vicinity and systems reported no other anomalies. Despite this, the droid seemed intuitive enough to recommend further security measures; they could raise the alarm and alert the Order’s hierarchy.

"No!" That singular word was spoken so harshly, that it near enough echoed against the cavernous walls; even the droid seemed startled, so much so it faltered in distance from her.

Sybella saw this and was instantly filled with regret. It was not her intent to use such a tone, especially when the droid had done nothing wrong. Sighing, she offered something softer, "No, thank you. Do not trouble the masters with this...It is late. Perhaps I just made a mistake."

With that, she left the archives antechamber. If she were wise, she’d return to her room and try to salvage some sleep but prior experience told her differently. Wandering the halls had become somewhat of a routine now. From the early hours to late at night, Sybella would walk the temple’s expansive grounds; she’d visit the training grounds and frequent the library, before rounding on herself to scan the halls. She’d actually become quite well known because of this and, on more than occasion, stopped to converse with her fellow Jedi. Yet her focus was always elsewhere, her eyes glancing about. Searching. Scanning. Seeking.

“Where are you…?” She murmured, “I know you’re here…”

Spoiler

@Scoobert @Fynn Tarrell

 

[Fynn Tarrell]

Fynn had been on his way to the gardens for some time to meditate. The schedule has been busy lately and this was his only time to spare. So grabbing his warm tea he would make his way out of his room in his common Jedi robes. The Sephi passed by everyone greeting them as he made his way around. The tall Jedi Councilor was happy to see more inflation of Jedi presence here. Perhaps things were getting back into the flow of things.

As he was passing by he found something a little odd.. A Jedi Knight he had noticed around and knew enough about her to know her name was Sybella Demici. She seemed a little on edge. As if looking for a foe in the area. Curious as to what was going on he focused his hearing on where she was, and could make faint mutters out. It was interesting. Perhaps hide and seek? Only one way to find out.

"Knight Demici. May I ask whom you may be looking for?"

His head slightly tilted with interest as he had stopped to stand next to her. If a Jedi needed assistance he was going to help even if it were small. He had hoped it were nothing serious but you can never be too careful.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

So focused on seeking, Sybella found herself startled by the sudden presence of Councilor @Fynn Tarrell. Though their meetings in the past had mostly been fleeting, she still knew him well enough to pay the appropriate respects. Coughing ever so slightly, the heiress hoped she came across as more composed than before; yet even now, her eyes wandered.

"Oh, Master Tarrell, good evening. I don't wish to trouble you..." She trailed off as if to better ponder her next choice of words. "But, yes. Perhaps you can help."

Surely @Fynn Tarrell, of all Jedi, would be the best to ask. Whilst he might not be acquainted with every single individual, he would no doubt have some inkling of where to start. Still, Sybella was hesitant. what if she were mistaken? Would he think her foolish? Or simply crazed?

"The Jedi in red robes, have you seen them recently? I must speak with them."

These sightings had been fleeting at first. Every so often, Sybella would spy a flash of red; always, it would be on the periphery of her sight, never fully in view. Coming to Yavin IV seemed to exasperate the matter. The apparitions were becoming more frequent, more exposed as if from the shadows, she was being...watched. If this was indeed a Jedi, then Sybella would seek them out and confront them on this behaviour. Perhaps it was the Force, guiding her towards this particular person? If so, then why be so elusive?

It didn't make sense...

@Scoobert

 

[Fynn Tarrell]

When she began speaking of a Jedi in red robes, Fynn couldn't help but become slightly confused. He hasn't seen a Jedi wear red often, let alone a full set of robes. If a Jedi with red robes had come by he would have noticed it by now. Unless he was not nearly as keen in awareness as he thought he was.

"I'm afraid not.. Sybella, are you feeling okay?"

He was worried about the well being of the Jedi Knight. He couldn't afford to have someone falling ill with madness. It can cause many different problems, one of which was dancing along the lines of the dark side. Should she be ill then he would immediately look to take her to the infirmary. The healers may be able to help her as well as the medicinal values they have. In the case she's gone mental, then that would be another problem. Fynn wants to help of course but he can only offer so much help.

"If you are feeling ill then let me know. I have to know what is going on if you want my help."

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

It took every ounce of strength Sybella had in order to maintain her usual aplomb, yet the words of Master @Fynn Tarrell cut deep, and from the wound bled further unrest. Why could no one else see this figure? It didn't make any sense. Was there a purpose to all this? Hours had been wasted pondering such questions, yet never was there an answer to find. Having exasperated many of her options, Sybella soon thought it was in her best interest to simply reveal her plight. @Fynn Tarrell was a master, after all. Surely he had some inkling.

"I'm...fine. Please know this, I do not wish to cause you worry. It's just..."

The words. They were failing her; they died upon the tip of her tongue before even being uttered. Something within her simply refused; it would not yield nor relent. And in its grasp, it held Sybella firm.

Say...nothing...

Yes. Now that she had a moment to think, the more absurd it all seemed. Look at her, making an utter fool out of herself before a Jedi Councilor. Wasn't she a knight, ordained by the Order? How could she allow herself to appear so incompetent? Master @Fynn Tarrell had enough problems to deal with, the last thing he needed was a knight spouting nonsense. Yes. Perhaps omission would be best. This was nothing more than a flight of fancy. An errant experience. Saying nothing would be best for the both of them.

Sealing her resolve, Sybella opted to offer only a partial truth. "In all honesty, Master, I've not been sleeping well. The stress of it all, perhaps it's finally sinking in. Forgive me. I really should have more control over myself."

@Scoobert

 

[Fynn Tarrell]

It was clear she was troubled here. Something within her eating at her. Almost like fear. There was a beautiful saying used for centuries within the Jedi and now Fynn would bestow the phrase unto her here,

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering. Sybella I cannot let you suffer in silence here. If something is troubling you then let us speak. Please sit."

He would motion with his hand to the young woman to sit by the garden there. It was time for him to speak with her one on one. She seemed troubled and has yet to say what it was. Then a mention of losing sleep came. This wasn't the best situation for a person much less a Jedi. Fynn took a deep breath and then looked to her and spoke,

"Please elaborate what is wrong. I cannot help if I do not know."

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Sybella should have known better than to try and deceive a Councilor; after all, Master @Fynn Tarrell was a veteran of the Jedi Order, a champion even, not some artless fool. Of course, he wouldn't be so easily misled. Acknowledging this with a rueful sigh, Sybella had no other choice; she ought to concede the whole truth and nothing else, for her sake. Those words he had offered rang true; the longer she endured, the more she suffered. Even now, she was struggling to keep herself from falling apart. Fear had already ravaged her. The last thing she wish to invite was anything worse.

Following @Fynn Tarrell, the pair made slow progress into the gardens; the confines were rather peaceful and (thankfully) vacant. The privacy would serve them well.

"I'm not crazy, I can assure you of that. I know I'm not..." Admittedly, Sybella said this to settle her own nerves, just as much as Tarrell's. "It all started shortly after arriving. I began to experience...sightings. At first, I believed they were visions from the Force, guiding me, as they had done generations before."

She wondered in Master Tarrell was familiar with the Demici name. Countless Jedi had bore her family's name, each contributing a piece of themselves to its legacy, for better or for worse.

"It's always the same thing." She continued, "Over and over. A woman in red robes. At first, I thought she was a Jedi but she never talks, she never does anything. She just...lingers."

What Sybella revealed next was perhaps most frightening. "The last time I saw her, she was almost corporeal. I think... it - she is growing stronger. "

 

[Fynn Tarrell]

Fynn had listened to what Sybella had said. She was definitely experiencing something he hadn't seen in his lifetime. There was something eerie about seeing visions of someone in the real world rather than in their sleep. Something felt off, but at least she was being truthful now. He could feel her struggles through the force and knew it was truth she spoke. When she mentioned she just lingers and doesn't talk, Fynn was slightly confused. Yet she felt the ghost was getting stronger.

It was off putting hearing this, but he had to remain professional to answer her plea for help. "This vision of the woman.. she hasn't shown aggression at all?" A valid question. If she was seeing violence no else could she had to be treated with caution. Darkness came in many different forms, he knew this so when hearing this he had to be sure she hadn't had any connections to the dark side.

"Another question.. have any of your ancestors been succumb to the darkness?" His eyes rested on her, he was looking for any facial expressions telling him all he needed to know. As well as body posture, and what she says. Something was weird about this but he was a caring man. If one of his comrades need help then he helps them.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Sybella pondered for a moment before finally shaking her head. "Aggression? No, nothing like that."

Up until now, the vision had been rather passive, barely present for any meaningful interaction. At first, the young knight was rather hopeful, if not a little naive; originally, she had thought this was some guiding entity, a presence making itself known through the Force. Such things were not unheard of (if the archives were to be believed). Yet the longer this persisted, the more uncertain Sybella became as to this spectre's intent.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she tried her best to put into words her exact predicament. "She seems....curious? I don't know how else to describe it. It's like she's waiting for me, waiting for me to do something..."

Now that she thought about it, a trend had recently started to develop. More often than not, the vision had started to appear more frequently when Sybella was training. Whether with the saber, or the Force, the woman in red would soon materialise as if she were an overseer. Of course, she wouldn't stay long; as soon as Sybella tried to acknowledge her, she would simply fade out like she was never even there. It was during these moments she appeared most solid. Everything else was simply fleeting; a stolen glance here, a lapse in visage there.

A pool of dread slowly began to bubble within the moment @Fynn Tarrell made mention of ancestors. Sybella couldn't hide her distress even if she wanted to. The shame was simply too great. Hanging her head, she recalled bitterly the failure of her family. "Her name was Lujayn. As you might expect, our family records like to make an example out of her. She's somewhat of a cautionary tale..."

That was putting it lightly. For generations, Jedi bearing the Demici had served the Order faithfully. Then she came along and ruined their good name. Humiliated by her actions, the family forsook their fallen kin, choosing instead to relegate her as nothing more than a footnote in the archives of history. That was the legacy of Lujayn Demici. Her disgrace was so profound, much of her existence had been erased. Not even a portrait of her memory was allowed to be displayed.

Rightly so, in Sybella's opinion. "It was during the Clone Wars, I believe. I don't know all the details, but I was told she fell under the influence of another dark sider, a man known as Count Dooku. She betrayed Jedi and became an acolyte. Naturally, she was stopped by a Jedi Master named Mace Windu. He...put an end to her."

As if struck with revelation, Sybella looked up in a panic at @Fynn Tarrell. Could this woman in red...be Lujayn? Her ancestor? Is that what he was suggesting? Impossible! It was simply inconceivable. Dark siders couldn't become force ghosts. Even Jedi younglings knew that - only those who became one with the Force were able to achieve a legacy.

"Master Tarrell...it can't be. It just....can't."

@Scoobert