Ask Ahch-To The Shadows Of The First

[Alyse Ti'Varnus]

Nodding silently, Alyse allowed the Jedi to approach. Her brow furrowing as she turned her gaze off to the side, feeling the sensation of the Zeltron's touch. Wincing slightly not at the touch and pressure of the Jedi placing and holding her fingers against the Sith's' cheek but the sensation of the Lightside that Kori was channelling. The warmth that radiated from the Jedi, was whilst soft and soothing, carried a slight sting as it ran through her - the blonde's lips parting to reveal gritted teeth as she weathered the stinging sensation that the Jedi was causing. Even though she knew and could tell that the Jedi's intentions were pure, seeking to heal the injury. But the touch of the light side to someone who was so wholly wrapped in darkness was like introducing heat to an ice cube.

Still regardless of the sting of the lightside, the blonde, remained still. Her eyes looking elsewhere as the Jedi master continued to heal the Sith's cracked jaw, it was only when the Jedi's hand lifted away from the Sith's jaw, that Alyse rose up from her feet, taking a few heavy footed steps as she walked in a tight circle to walk it off. With a deep breath the sith came to a standstill, dropping her head and closing her eyes.

Several long drawn out breaths later, Alyse raised her head opening her eyes as she did so, before looking towards the Jedi. "Thank you" Alyse offered, her tone carrying a genuine sincerity despite the pained reaction that might have indicated her response may have been otherwise. "Though perhaps next time I may stick with a bacta patch" she added with a slight grin before looking around the makeshift camp that the Jedi master had set up, her eyes setting on the pile of clothing that had been left beside the access door to the ship. Holding her hand out the blonde summoned the hooded robe to her, unfurling it before setting it to her side.

The distinct sound of a zip running its path could be heard before the blonde, with her back turned to the Jedi removed her soaked tunic, shoulder by shoulder before peeling it down off her torso. and letting it hang off her hips for a moment, revealing a mass of scars, that made her near perfect alabaster like skin look like a topological map, the grim sight further being built upon as her hands raised up behind her back to unfasten the clasps of her bra top before fully removing any clothing from her upper body and then reaching down to pick up the hooded robe and wrap it around herself.

With a slight bit of fumbling the Sith eased the soaked tunic from off around her hips, before stepping out of it, bending over for a brief moment to pick up the soaked bundle of clothes and laying them out beside the fire. Once she had attended to the matter of removing her wet clothing, the Sith tightly wrapped the warm cloak around her body, before sitting herself back down onto the stone.

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Something didn't feel right. Although Nykoria hadn't practiced Jedi healing techniques more than the Order's curriculum and her rank of a Master required her to, it wasn't supposed to add more pain. Alyse was forced to weather what was supposed to offer relief. And yet the blonde persevered, not saying a word. Was the Darkness in her so strong that it rejected the Light, even when the Light sought to help? Kori hadn't thought of that until it was too late. Even treating the Sith proved to be more taxing than she had anticipated. So, Kori was relieved physically, emotionally, and spiritually when it was finally over.

The Zeltron's eyes would open slowly, with weariness kicking in. The blonde didn't seem to be much better off, circling around. The Jedi simply followed her with her eyes, still recovering herself. Alyse's sincere gratitude and a cheeky remark made the corners of the Zeltron's lips curl up a little: "Way to rub it in." Nykoria Tallis wasn't an accomplished healer like Izel Thral or Nara Allam. But maybe, there and then, that was exactly what was needed. Helping the Sith in need there and then... just felt like the right thing to do.

Then the blonde proceeded to change into something dry—seemingly not paying any mind or objecting to the presence of the Zeltron nearby. Even if the scars were noticed, no comments were made; lest it would indicate peeking and snooping. When Alyse turned her head back towards the stone, she'd find the Zeltron with a plate and a fork already, gazing at the "meal" that she had just cooked. Just succulent meat and frozen vegetables; fried over the open fire, but without any spice. A mixed bag, like Kori's "healing". And yet...

"Here," the Zeltron offered the warm plate to the blonde now sitting on the stone again. "You might need it more than I do." There was an awkward pause, followed by an explanation: "I can make more later, and this might help you keep warm now. What happened out there?" the purple finger pointed at Alyse's jaw, and Kori's eyes glanced at the new lightsaber again.

@Topher

 

[Alyse Ti'Varnus]

Looking over the offered plate, the blonde lightly smiled, before picking up one of the slices of cooked meat before gesturing for the Jedi to keep the plate. "Thank you" Alyse responded before brining the food morcel to her mouth, before raising her second hand to cover her mouth whilst she chewed on the slice of meet. Her chestnut hued eyes narrowing as she listened to Kori as she inquired as to what happened whilst Alyse was away within the sunken cave, before tracing the Jedi's gaze towards the additional black hilted saber that she had returned with.

Swallowing the meat, allowing it to slide down her gullet and sit for a moment before the Sith reached down to the ground beside her feet, retrieving the claimed weapon. Holding the business end of it away from herself and the Jedi. "Has your Jedi training ever involved confronting your own darker self?" Alyse questioned, with an inquisitive arch of her eyebrow. From what she had recalled from reading through some of the Jedi texts, there had been mention of reflection caves being part of a Jedi's training, but given the copy she possessed predated the Galactic empire, there was the chance that it was no longer practiced.

Whether Kori revealed whether had gone through the exercise or not, a hint of what had happened lay within the question. The confirmation followed after the Sith pressed a finger against the activation stud. As an almost guttural growl resonated from the hilt as a violent and fire like crimson hued blade erupted from the hilt. The edges of its blade was a stark contrast to that of a conventional lightsaber, as evidenced by the ignition of the Sith lord's primary weapon. The purple hued blade's edge was crisp and almost sharp in nature, whilst the crimson blade's edge pulsed and surged with raw energy, faint crackles and arcs similar to lightning could be seen dancing along it's edge at intervals.

"This was dropped by... myself" Alyse spoke tentatively as she shifted her gaze away from the blades and over towards the Jedi. "Well the volatile and baser version of myself" she elaborated, before deactivating both of the lightsabers and setting the hilts down beside her, only to then proceed in tightening the fabric of her cloak around her form. "The side of me that I suspect in your eyes would make me comparable to how you see the Sith"

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Well, a morsel and a "Thank you" were a start. Considering the fact that it was a Sith and a Jedi sharing food, and the Sith also happened to be the Jedi's "jailer", one could say that a certain level of trust was established. But even while grabbing a piece of meat for herself with a fork, the Zeltron retained a certain level of concentration. If only to ward off the cold presence that made the campfire less welcoming.

The question caught the Jedi Master unprepared. "On a couple occasions," she nodded after a brief contemplation, gazing at the fire. "Though not in a way you would imagine from the legends of Luke Skywalker." Truth to be told, Nykoria's Master had opted to forgo that part, reasoning that Kori had already confronted herself: first in her pre-Padawan years Coruscant, when her outburst led to an injury of her friend; and the second time during an ill-fated mission to Tatooine, which led to Nykoria's ascension to Knighthood.

It would appear that Alyse had faced herself in a more literal sense. And even picked up a trophy. How the hell did she do that? Wasn't that darker self a spectre or something? But the Force did work in mysterious ways. Of course, unless the Sith had lied and simply found and corrupted a lightsaber already present on the planet. That new blade seemed similar to what Kylo Ren had wielded a century before.

"I see," the Zeltron replied the first thing that came to her mind. For a moment, she didn't have anything else to say, so she did the only logical thing there was: went for another bite. After going through with it, she added: "Let me guess: a murderous monster with only her self-interest in mind, and no care in the world for anyone else?" The question wasn't didn't sound like an accusation; it lacked the poignancy or disdain. If anything, the tone was the same as if Kori had asked Alyse how her day was going.

@Topher

 

[Alyse Ti'Varnus]

The blondes eyebrow arched as the Jedi commented about how she saw, defined and even describe the Sith. Though there was perhaps little that she could really blame the Jedi for making that conception about the Wider sith as a whole, the age old adage of tarring with the same brush coming to mind - but when the coverage and the front men of the Eternals ranks were in the news for exactly that. There was little means to dispell that portrayal, even though the Sith Lord herself had encountered others during her years within the order that did not prescribe to the same mindset, some scholars, one an artisan, and some in her eyes just seemed to be pretty grounded people.

Pushing her lips for a moment, the blonde nodded lightly to the statement. "I suppose in a way" she confirmed lightly, but with a slight air of non committal to her words. "But in a way that wouldn't be much different to who I am now" she added before casting the Jedi a brief glance, before cautiously adjusting herself in her seated position. "Though whilst I do not actively seek it, I would have no hesitation nor regret in ending the lives of those that would threaten either the lives or safety of myself or those I care for" she elaborated, before trailing off in a slight sigh. "To some definitions within the Jedi's beliefs killing is only an act of a last resort. If I'm not mistaken that would make me little different to a murderous monster?"

"The manifestation of my alternate self, would be best described as the representation of a more primal side of my connection to the Dark Side, raw emotion, raw power" Alyse resumed after a brief silence, before extending her hand out and gesturing towards the fire - the campfire almost on cue with her words intensifying with the heat spilling out from it, along with a near blast furnace like ferocity to the flames. "But raw power and emotion, is only effective for so long untill the fuel is burnt out. That is where purpose and control come in" she added, looking up from the fire and back to the Jedi, before with a slight motion of her hand, the ferocious flames simmered down to little more that a slight whisping flame atop of embers - yet the intensified heat that radiated from the fire remained. "Having purpose and more importantly control over something as potent as the dark side, I would argue is far more imperitive"

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

A "Yes, but no" was a common persuasion tactic. But there were subtle hints to something more than that. The unusual tension, a slight sigh, or a sideways glance; hints that indicated that Alyse wanted the Zeltron to understand her way of thinking, if not accept it. The Sith even went as far as to explain her own attitude to killing. An attitude that was not unlike many of the people Kori knew. In fact, if faced with the same choice—risk the life of a friend or take the life of the being that threatens the friend—could Kori say that she'd make a different choice?

But for the time being, the Jedi simply sat there, tucked in her own coat. As the campfire flame and heat intensified, it was the Zeltron's turn to cast a sideways glance at the Sith playing with fire. The heat increased to the point that Kori stood up and took off her own cloak, folding it and putting it by her side before sitting down again; remaining only in a dark-grey hooded robe with a skirt-like appendage, similarly-colored pants, and leather boots. Warm enough for the rain, when next to a fire that potent.

"The lack of regret... or introspection... Is probably the concerning part," the purple-skinned woman replied after a while. "Even if it's only after the act." She didn't turn her face towards the blonde for a while. Instead, she opted to stare at the embers and a spark that still remained in them. Her answer didn't sound like it was set in stone though; the Zeltron was wondering what Masters Tionson or Grayza would've said on the matter.

In the end, she got her answer. And it was an unexpected one: "But otherwise, even the Jedi kill, threaten, or inflict pain. At times. When they can't avoid it." Max Tionson came to mind; how he had saved Kori from a Zygerrian bounty hunter on Tatooine, threatening the feline thug to cut off his limbs. Hannibal Grayza had attained the rank of Master by slaying a very powerful Sith, or so the story went.

The Zeltron knew little of the power of raw emotion. Only a couple of past experiences, that resulted in her losing control over herself. Alyse preached control over it, and having a purpose of your own. Something that even the Jedi would arguably agree with. Of course, they'd advise to just steer clear from the Dark, and they'd probably be right in most cases.

A chuckle escaped the Zeltron's lips as she thought of something. Turning her head towards the blonde, she asked calmly: "Do the Sith even care for something or someone?" After a few moments of contemplation, she'd elaborate: "I mean, beyond their own ambitions and seeing someone as an asset." Another pause was followed by a question that was the toughest yet: "And while we're at it... What is your purpose?"

@Topher

 

[Alyse Ti'Varnus]

Running her tongue around the inside of her mouth, the blonde listened to the Jedi's airing of her concern, over the lack of regret and even introspection for those who would be killed by the Sith Lord. It was yet another of the clear chasms in their two trains of thought. Clearly the Jedi were to be the ones that sought repentance and understanding for the lives that they claim, whilst the Sith on the other hand viewed it perhaps with a far clinical manner. "But where does your regret and introspection take you?" Alyse questioned, as she cast a cursory glance towards the Zelton sat opposite her. "More importantly what does it bring you? The comfort that you had no over option, the justification that what you did was the right course of action?" she added, before turning her gaze off to the side, with a sigh.

"Questioning your actions only leads to doubt. That doubt will then consume you, make you second guess every decision, until you make a mistake that would cost you your life" the Sith lord explained, before returning her gaze in an attempt to meet the Jedi's should she be looking in her direction. "People question and doubt themselves because they are afraid to look at the path ahead of them. Even if you can't see the path ahead, you don't sit and reflect, you use your drive and your conviction to keep moving forward until you find it" she added before turning her gaze away and focused on the Fire.

The heat that radiated from the campfire following her manipulations, was enough to make it pretty toasty under the heavy and thick fabric of her hooded cloak. Even the Jedi master had resorted to shedding a few layers in an attempt to keep cool, unfortunately for the Sith, and her state of undress underneath the cloak that was wrapped around her, the option of shedding would be a limited one - not that there was anything that would make her uncomfortable about, the Jedi master was far removed from some lecherous creep and would likely not have anything different to any of what Alyse would have to lay bare. With a slight internal shrug, Alyse loosened the folds of fabric, easing it so that it sat loosely over her shoulders before one by one easing each arm out of its' cover and tucking the cloak into her armpits, looking as if she was now just wrapped in a towel rather than huddled up for warmth.

Then came the next question from the Jedi master, which illicit an expression over the Sith lords face, as if to ask are you serious? Was the Jedi's view of the Sith Order that clouded by the more noticeable of their ranks, that the rest were seen as just baseless animals obsessed with murder. Shaking her head, the blonde was internally flummoxed as to how she would even begin to answer that question. "Yes, the Sith are capable of caring for others. We are not dead inside, despite our appearances" she offered, before pursing her lips. "Speaking from my own experience, I have cared and even felt the emergence of a possible intimate connection and affection for a Mercenary Captain I had met on Naboo, he had that tall dark stranger air around him and despite the loss of his left eye and war ravaged features. There was an emotional intelligence to him, we kept in touch with each other, but unfortunately his correspondence fell silent" She detailed, a slight smile curling on her features as she reflected on the lake side walk she had shared with the man, completely unaware that she had described the Former Jedi Grandmaster, Oren Zapan.

The Sith's expression hardened as the follow up question came, as to what her purpose was. It was quite a tangent of a question to ask so soon after inquiring if the Sith were even capable of caring for things or others. Whether it was just an attempt to catch her off guard, or possibly even rile her up into launching into some monologuing tirade as to why she was superior. A slight chuckle escaped her lips as she dismissed the thought, before returning her gaze back to the Jedi master. "My purpose, is to drive change. The Galaxy cannot grow, if we are to be constantly repeating the same mistakes over and over. Whilst such ideals of changing the Galaxy for the better is just ideal grandeur, I am more than cognisant that it will take time to achieve, but if the foundations can be laid, then perhaps others may one day break this endless cycle"

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Kori just listened. She didn't wish to interrupt the blonde, nor to prove anything to her. For the Jedi Master, it was a learning experience. So when Alyse explained the the lack of introspection as a good thing, the Zeltron just shrugged; focusing on the fire instead, as she dwelled on what she had just heard.

It would appear that the second question was met with surprise on the blonde's behalf. Well, Kori couldn't blame her; Alyse was different from the other Sith that Nykoria had met before. Different from a so-called "explorer" who had turned on the Jedi with a loud "KILL THEM ALL!" at a moment's notice. Different from a ferocious Wookiee who cherished only murder and murder alone. Different from a bunch of masked freaks on Coruscant who had blown up the Ranger HQ and reveled in the atrocities they had committed. Different from those few unknowns who had sacked the Jedi Temple, slaughtering Padawans and Masters alike. Different from the Eternal, who was malice incarnate.

A light scoff of amusement followed as the Jedi attempted to just put "the elegant petite blonde with an agenda" amidst those monsters. The amusement from her face did make way for calmer curiosity as she listened to Alyse's story about the mercenary. It sounded like a joke, but there was sincerity in the blonde's words. The war-ravaged one-eyed man she described didn't sound like Nykoria's type. Yeah, way to go Kori, you might actually look like that guy yourself, minus the eye thing.

Then the conversation resumed a more serious tone, tension growing slightly. This time the Zeltron looked back at the Governor, curious what she had to say. It would take the Zeltron some time to process everything, and to come up with an answer that would both address Alyse's points and lighten the mood. While it all lasted, the gaze of the brown eyes was lowered aimlessly, as if past the blonde.

"Fair enough," Nykoria replied, still thinking. "But how do you learn what the past mistakes are, or if you're changing things for the better, if not for introspection?" An amused and somewhat self-assured smirk formed on the Zeltron's lips as she raised her head slightly again to look at her opponent. It would appear that Kori had just used the Sith's own words against her yet again. "When the time comes, you need to know what to do, and why you do that. And you achieve that by analyzing what has already been done." Apparently, introspection was a crucial part of attaining Alyse's own goals; or so the Jedi Master thought.

Letting the thought sink in, she stared at the fire briefly, her smile growing warmer as she turned her face back towards the blonde. "If it's any consolation, you don't look like you're dead inside," the Zeltron offered, her head tilted towards the fire. She did raise a purple finger as a means to show that she wasn't done yet. "Though I admit, the whole pale white iris-less eyes thing is kinda creepy. But if that tall dark stranger is into that sort of thing, who am I to judge?" The expression on Kori's face retained the mask of amusement, as she tried her hardest not to chuckle.

@Topher

 

[Alyse Ti'Varnus]

Pursing her lips in thought, the Sith listened to the counter argument, well more the twisting of her own words against her own argument. Her eyes narrowing for a moment ,before lightly shrugging off the Jedi's comments. The concern that the Sith had raised was the Jedi's obsession over seeking justification for their own regrets, where they choose to meditate over the slightest incident, which would beg the question where would the line be drawn for where the Jedi stop, do carry out soul searching introspection for every insect that they step on, or each fatted calf that is culled for their evening meal. A facetious thought in many respects, but given how the Jedi claim to cherish all life, it did make the Sith wonder whether it was hypocrisy or just that their claims were just selective.

Then the Jedi had said something that was to be expected, and that was the reference to the phasing of her eyes whilst she was actively channelling the Darkside, claiming that the look was in the Jedi's eyes was creepy. A slight snort of laughter escaped her lips for a brief moment, before the Sith raised her gaze to meet the Jedi's. "Given the examples as to how the Dark Side corrupts the flesh of the wielder. I would prefer the phasing state of my eyes, to looking like Palpatine any day" Alyse commented, with a slight smirk. "But I'm sure that had the time came to reveal myself to the Stranger, it would have come about at a point where I knew I could fully trust him" she added before fidgeting with the robe for a moment, trying to cool herself back down a little.

Given that the Jedi had already shed her layers, and the environment around the campfire was much more welcoming that what lay beyond the cover of the ship. The Blonde figured that it would perhaps be best not to dampen the heat that the fire was emitting, instead electing to rise to her feet, carefully ensuring that her cloak still adequately covered her naked self underneath. "I think I may be best getting dressed, maybe something light for an evening by the fire. Especially as this cloak is getting a little bit too stuffy" the Sith spoke out as she took a few steps towards the ship's boarding ramp. "I'll be back in a few minutes, and perhaps with a bottle of wine if you'd care for a glass?" she added, as she stopped for a brief moment to look over her shoulder towards the Jedi before disappearing up into the interior of the ship.

//Exit Thread

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Silence and a shrug were taken just for what they were: the Sith wasn't fully convinced. As always, the truth probably was somewhere in the middle, and a healthy balance was required. At least that's where Kori decided to leave it at. She wasn't the best Jedi to talk philosophy anyway. Max Tionson, Oren Zapan, or Hannibal Grayza would've done a much better job at that.

The Zeltron responded to Alyse's joke about the Emperor with a hearty giggle. "I think that stranger would do as well," she added quietly after the Sith had elaborated a little more. Meanwhile, the disproportionate heat radiating from the dwindling flame made Kori wonder why Alyse had tampered with the flame to begin with. Especially if she could just alter it at any time. And yet, Alyse didn't, opting for getting dressed and picking up a bottle of wine instead.

"Yeah, sure thing," Nykoria replied; after a moment of consideration she'd not to the idea of a glass of wine as well. However, there was one thought still lingering in her head. Something that bothered her; something that she just had to share there and then. "You know, I was wrong," she continued with a rather serious tone, thinking how to best put it. And then, she just did. "We didn't need swimsuits. We just needed a planet more suitable for this kind of stuff."

// End thread