Private Worlds Apart

[Jairdain]

With the Hand gathering again, Jairdain knew who should be brought back into the fold. If anybody knew who she was thinking about, they would likely try to persuade her to leave the man dead. After all, he had sacrificed himself to keep his planet safe. He had failed the Bryn and then rampaged over nearly half of the Galaxy. Like many things, they, too, had faded away.

Having fought them countless times, Jairdain wanted to know what had happened to Kesh. Calling on her brother, she ran her idea through him, and they set off for Kesh. Holding onto a small crystal, it contained a part of the man she wished to bring back. Luckily, she wasn't going to need to travel into the Netherworld again to accomplish this. They just needed to find the place where he died and attach his soul to another body.

Part of him was in her hands, and she held the crystal out and looked at it through the Force. It gave off the familiar signature of Solan, and she knew her plan would work. Sitting on the shuttle that flew down through the atmosphere, she realized she was going to need protection before stepping off that ship.

A barrier wasn't a problem; she could control her breathing without difficulty.

"We're coming, Solan. Do you feel us?"

Speaking more to the crystal, she climbed out of the shuttle and headed toward where she felt another part of him.

Vulpesen Solan Charr

 

[Solan Charr]

It had been so long, so long that he had sat there with his mind wandering the force. The death of his home, the recovery of it by Jedi and Sith alike, all the efforts to help the people who had suffered to the Brynadul. So much had happened in such a short time cosmically, so many people hurt by his failure and so many people left without their home to return to. Even now the dark side spirit wandered the scarred and lifeless stretch of land. Outside what used to be one of the cities that Solan had constructed, outside one of the places he had put his love and devotion into and the spirit felt sorrow even now as he remained tethered to the place where he had destroyed himself and so many.

It was as the shuttle started coming closer that Solan would pause in his endless wandering. He had felt them coming closer, the reunion with the crystal that held a small part of himself. He could not be scene, not be touched or felt but all the same he was there as he looked up at the sky in this place where there was not a shred of life or hint of the light. His formless shape moved, changing and looking in the direction that the shuttle would have landed, out of sight and yet his spirit remained still as if captured in a simple spot.

Something about this day felt new and different and there was some kind of comfort in that direction. Yet the dark side spirit did not speak, it could not muster such strength with nothing to focus on truly. Instead it continued to roam once more, looking for the next creature that strayed into it's domain.

Vulpesen Jairdain

 

[Jairdain]

The woman had spent quite some time in the spirit world, and she had the feeling that the soul of Solan was close. He was why they were here on this dead planet. It had been a great many years since she had attempted to bring a person back from the dead. To the best of her knowledge, that man had since died again, and she wasn't going to bring him back again. If she had her way, there were more people she would like to get back. Right now, she needed to focus on Solan.

Smiling lightly, more to herself than to Vulps, she exited the ship and struck out onto the surface of Kesh. She held out the crystal with the piece of Solan's essence through the distance of time and space; she felt it could call him back into her life. Approaching the area where Jairdain thought he most likely sacrificed himself, she hoped they could accomplish their goal.

Solan Charr Vulpesen

 

[Solan Charr]

Jairdain would not have to search long, the crystal leading her right to where she needed and sitting there on the long dusted form of a droid was the spirit. It still retained a more formless nature to it, the air around her flooded by the sense of death, the loss and anger from that day. It was like a time capsule, the time since that battle having not seemed to move for a moment. Solan would look over his shoulder at Jairdain, his face ever shifting to where he could not create something she would recognize. Instead that form would shift and move with him as he turned to face her.

He would seem to look past her, out towards where Vulpesen would be coming eventually before looking at her again. As the dark eyes, golden in color landed on Jairdain she would find the air grow colder somehow, the land around her dying a bit more even though there was nothing there to be lost. The force shifted but in a way that threatened to take from her her very breath as the spirit looked at her. Anger and pain flooded into her being, the feeling that her body was tearing itself apart, that the force was taking from her as it took from everything around her. A cycle of life flowing into her before falling apart and being released.

It was what Solan had felt that day.

Each inch of her body threatening to tear itself apart in this wound that he had created.

"Brought me back to this place? I hope that this isnt a farewell. I really do hate saying goodbye." The spirit spoke, but it's voice sounded sad, not angry, not in pain, simply without any warmth or comfort in it. It was cold, searching almost for something to latch onto.

Jairdain Vulpesen

 

[Jairdain]

There was a price Jairdain would have to pay to bring this man back. It was something she was willing to do. They would be bonded for as long as they lived. It had been this way with Krest when she brought him back. She also used to have a connection with Lykos, but he was long dead. Each one a mark on her soul, a scar that would remain until she died, and even then, they might never be wiped away. Did she want that to happen, though? Each scar was a mark of her life, and they should stay.

Allowing the crystal to guide her steps, she stopped before tripping over the lifeless droid shell. Solan's spirit was here, and she wanted to unite with it to bring him back. This bonding would possibly be far more intimate than they had ever been before. Theoretically, they would be in each other's minds for the rest of their lives. She hoped she made the right decision and Solan wouldn't resent her or Vulps for doing this.

She almost lost her barrier when he reached out and connected to tell her what he felt. Jairdain felt like she was going to splinter, with pieces of her falling around on the ground. His words echoed through her mind, and she could focus on him and her goal.

"Far from goodbye, Solan."

With those words, she held the crystal out, and now all she had to do was wait for her brother to join her in this.

Solan Charr Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Solan had been a friend. It seemed that Vulpesen had lost a lot of those over the years. After the miracle initiative, Vulpesen had considered vowing to never use his connection to the nether for those purposes again. What was dead ought to stay dead. That was the way of nature. Death was as important as life. But if the wilders wanted to pursue that course, they could go on and create the Mortus sect. Vulpesen served as the archon of the Vitae and he had in fact not taken that vow. Solan was a friend as his sister had asked his aid in bringing him back.

The spirit before him was an amorphous shade, incomprehensible as anything human to the eyes. But in the force, Vulpesen could see Solan clear as day. "Less a goodbye, and more of a welcome back," he said with a small smile. Already, the Valde had begun to gather the currents of the force to himself, strengthening his connection for the strain to come. Behind them, a pair of Veran soldiers would walk forward with a cryo-pod containing a body, little more than a soulless husk. Last time Vulpesen he'd resurrected the dead, he had been empowered by a menagerie of force artifacts. Without those, the process was a bit too dangerous without providing some materials.

Solan Charr Jairdain

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan continued to watch the two, his form continuing to shift and change but with a smile none the less forming. That smile would not be present on that amorphous shade, instead it's eyes would narrow a little. It moved without a word, inspecting the body that was brought to it and staring down into it's face. So much about that face seemed right, and he knew well why it looked correct. HE would close his eyes, reaching up and Vulpesen and Jairdain see the shade grab at something that wasn't there. He had lost the item long ago, on that day when the world had been cut from it's place in this universe.

It was the thought of Kira in his mind, how she could have been brought back like this if he had been stronger with the force all the way back then. His eyes closing and his mind running through all that had gone wrong but after a moment he would look over at Jairdain. He paused before one of the shadowy hands would take from her the crystal, holding it for a moment before looking at the two again.

"Open the pod." It was all the spirit mustered, looking at Jairdain directly now.

"And you, back up. You came here to this place with that inside you?" He would question, clearly referencing a child that he could sense as the dark energy started to twist in the area around them. Color disappearing as the shadow moved to stand before the body and wait for the pod to open.

Vulpesen Jairdain

 

[Jairdain]

Finally, Vulps join the two of them with a pod containing a new body for their old friend. She did not question her brother on where he had picked up the corpse. With how deadly Veradune was, she wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a visitor or somebody that had been murdered by the wildlife there.

There was no way for Jairdain to see what the body looked like easily. The only way she could think of using the eyes of Sage to look through. As she thought of her Ashlan Wolf, he poked his head out of the specially-made pocket and looked at the currently closed pod.

Her focus was on the spirit of Solan and the actions he did. He took the crystal she had brought along for this purpose. He knew what it was and used it to make himself more solid, so he turned his attention to her. He commented on her being pregnant, something she had only said to Jax, and she let out a small growl. She did take a step back, though.

"It's not like being here is going to hurt it. Hearing your voice again is wonderful. I can't wait to have you around again. I've been through this before."

Vulpesen Solan Charr

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen rose a brow at short conversation between the two, his eyes roaming up and down Jairdain. Inside her? What the hell was inside his sister? What' s more, why was Solan worried about its safety? Whatever the hell it was out, it would probably need to come out. And how were they calm about something living inside of his si- "Oh..." Vulpesen whispered simply as the realization dawned on him. "Ok, we're having a talk after this! But first we get this done. Jair's right. Largest risk is me getting myself burned up or yanked into the Netherworld. So lets keep our eye on the birdy please." He motioned to his men who opened the lid on the pod.

With a hiss of escaping fog, the glass carapace being removed to reveal the pale body beneath. The Galactic Alliance had banned cloning, and in joining their ranks, Vulpesen had been forced to shut down any programs that might create new bodies for his various eccentric plans. And, while Vulpesen might have had a few bodies laying around, he was eager to jump at the chance to save his resources. Edric had provided such a chance, having provided Vulpesen with a rather interesting specimen to bring to this particular task.

Jairdain Solan Charr

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan listened to Jairdain's words, hearing her mention that she had been through this before and then looking at Vulpesen. He stared at the man and would look down at the body for a moment more before breathing in and letting out a breath. Even though Sol had no lungs, the action would chill the air as it came to a complete stillness. There was no wind, no nothing and his hand raised to the front of him. Solan paused, closing his nonexistant eyes and with another breath out the shade released it's hold on it's calmness.

Around Vulpesen and Jairdain the force would stir. Death that had been caused decades ago stirred back to life, sickening sounds of bones breaking, bodies twisting, all that had been experienced in this place where so many had died was all there. The faces of the Keshiri who had stood beside Solan, and the Brynadul who had fought him, the both standing in captured torment as their souls were brought into the shade that was Solan. Tendrils of energy pulled out from the ground, pulled out from the very air but as Jairdain and Vulpesen would notice the area they stood was being spared this effort, left their small place of protection.

He would turn his head towards them, making the request one more time.

"Move Back, Please." He didn't want to ask again as the drain of the force and life around them increased in pace. The shade that was Solan held up the gem and he gripped tight on it, holding it there as the air lost all heat. The clothes they wore, the light of the very sun, all of it dulled as color and light were being stolen. What remained of grass, or bushes, or anything that could bear the briefest hint of life started to shrivel and die. Each second more and more of the life force that remained in this place was pulled towards Solan and into his shade like form.

During this process though, the Shade would start to look like the old Solan, the blue eyes, the white hair, the him that had been there on that day but at the same time he would look towards them again and in that moment they would see it. The waves of Brynadul he cleaved the life from with the Force. Tearing apart their souls until finally Solan released all of the energy and wiped out so many in just one moment while bringing his own end.

It looked nearly identical to now, but instead of his body shattering there was nothing to fall apart. Instead his eyes would shift, his gaze down on the resting form of the body before him and with a released breath he would speak.

"Rise." He would grip tightly on the gem, and in an instant the tendrils would increase in number in intensity as the very life of the planet under their feet was being taken into Solan. Even in the rampant and almost gluttonous act though, Jairdain and Vulpesen would notice not an inch of ground closer to them would be claimed, instead Solan made every effort to not involve them, to harm them.

Until finally, he brought the gem towards his center line, shifted it in his grasp, and brought it in quickly before plunging it into his chest. The reaction was instantaneous, his shade like form blasting apart in a moment and the Gem falling to the ground. All traces of the shade was gone, and if Jairdain touched the Gem, she would find the portion of the soul inside gone as well. Only a faint trace of those tendrils remaining in the area as Jairdain and Vulpesen were left there with the body and those who had brought it out.

Jairdain Vulpesen

 

[Jairdain]

It didn't take too long for her brother to figure out what Solan was talking about, and he told her they would need to have a conversation afterward. That was fine with Jairdain. It had been far too long since they had chatted—something like years, and she didn't even know how long she had been gone.

"Vulps, I've brought people back to life and can assist without the fear of getting burned up or yanked away. Besides, I know of ways to get out of the Netherworld."

Touching the arm of Vulps, she would attempt to merge with him through the Force and enhance what he was doing. Then again, maybe she should have done this with Solan. No matter, her choice was made, and the tether between the two of them was established.

As Solan began his actions, the area around her and her brother was safe. Maybe this was due to their own casting of a barrier or because their friend wished to keep them safe. Either way, it didn't matter, and they were here to bring Solan back.

Sage watched everything from his pocket and allowed Jairdain to see through his eyes. The vision in front of them brought back old memories for her. Ones she had thought buried and forgotten. He had been a part of her life when she had been her weakest. With his help, she had pieced it back together and now it was her turn to help him...again. Back then, he, too, had been at a low point. Smiling slightly, she watched things transpire around them.

The planet devoid of life seemed to lose even more, but then it appeared he needed to power his resurrection. If only he had allowed them to help her. Feeling the crystal go blank, she silently wondered if Solan could still use it. Reaching out with the Force, she called the empty item to her. Clutching it to her chest, she stepped out of the circle she and Vulps were standing in.

"Did it work?"

Using the Force to focus on the body that Solan had taken.

Solan Charr Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

As Solan began to work, drawing in the life energy around him, Vulpesen started to step back, gently pulling Jairdain back with him. As he did so, he sent out a small bubble of force energy, the barrier acting as both an extra layer of protection to the siblings, and an extra source of energy that Solan could draw upon. "We've both done this before, and even if you didn't know a way out, I could always come get you. But resurrections can be tricky. I'm opening myself to the netherworld as a link so he can come back over to our side of life and death," the Wilder explained. Feeling Jairdain's hand against his arm, he started to draw on her power, bolstering his two tasks with it to widen the metaphysical door for Solan's spirit.


He could feel the burning he had mentioned. It crept at the edge of his senses, somehow all over his body, yet not in any identifiable place. It was the force seeking a price for what was asked of it, and thankfully, Vulpesen was powerful enough to pay it. Then, as Solan found what power he needed and blasted apart, Vulpesen closed his eyes, focusing on his senses in the force. His methods would be crude, and if relied upon alone, would surely fail, but at the very least, he could guide Solan to where he needed to go. While unable to grab and wrangle his friend's spirit into the body, Vulpesen offered a channel of force energy to follow, doing his best to ease Solan into the body before reopening his eyes with a deep breath.

"I really hope so," he said, responding to his sister's question. Then, praying that the transfer had been successful, he poured his power into the body. He wasn't sure if a soul was enough to bring life into a body, and he didn't feel like his friend would appreciate it if he reclaimed a body only to be shunted back into death as the heart refused to start again. "Either he's back or things just got a lot more complicated." Still trying to catch his breath, he walked over to the pod, waving his men away as he stared down at the winged form. Then, tentatively at first, he jabbed his finger against Solan's cheek.


Jairdain Solan Charr

 

[Solan Charr]

For the few moments after there would seem no life remained in either the crystal or the body infront of them. Instead the body laid still, cold and lifeless while Vulpesen and Jair were left to stand there watching. Even when Vulpesen poked the body did nothing happen but after a few moments a small spark could be felt by the two. The energies released collecting inside of Solan, twisting at his soul while the body somehow seemed to go paler than it already was. It twitched, its limbs spasming while it laid there in the pod. Every inch of the body seemed to be twisting and destroying itself almost.

But death was not where Solan was bound for this time. He opened his eyes and gasped, his breathing heavy and strained, staring with wide eyes at the sky. His came up to his throat as the body continued to try and work through the damage as it repaired itself. A new series of dark tendrals launched out, these ones not at all caring what they hit but the two would certainly still be safe thanks to Vulpesen.

Dark marks in the ground around them though would show just how much Solan's being was struggling for any sense of control over the body. It would be a violent minute but finally his body would lay there, resting before he breathed out one last breath. The color returned to the body, him slowly sitting up and rubbing his head, looking at the two and giving them a smile.

For Vulpesen and Jair though, they would see just how fractured and twisted Solan's soul had become in the process. Even when he was in his old form, when he had taken himself out to stop so many of the Bryn, he looked better in terms of his place in the force. For those who could look through the force to see the true being of the person, it would look like Solan was still just that same dark spirit but this time puppeteering a body like a suit.

"That was... unpleasant. I remember the process being better... maybe a result of me having to do it instead of someone still living." He would breath out, looking at the two and giving them a small smile.

"But, hey, atleast im still h-" He immediately stopped, color draining from his face as he twisted and turned away. Leaning over the edge of the pod he started to barf, emptying the bile and remains of what had been in the body's stomach. Even after that, he remained there looking like death warmed over.

"This body is not reacting well to the process... suppose I deserve that." He could already tell, the body provided had a natural aversion to the darkside which meant this was probably going to be a common problem in the future. Still, he would turn his head and give the two a weak smile, showing he was at the least back for good.

Vulpesen Jairdain

 

[Jairdain]

Of course, Jairdain allowed her brother to pull her back from what Solan was doing. She couldn't help but chuckle a little at what he said about coming and getting her. The question remained in her mind: Why hadn't he come searching for her when she had been missing for years?

"I think we have done this too many times, and we might lose count."

Saying that with a smile, she lightly elbowed Vulps and reinforced the bubble around them. There couldn't be too many barriers in place. With her connection to him, she was able to assist in what they wanted to accomplish: bringing their friend back.

Letting go of her barrier when there was silence outside of it, they both approached the pod and waited. Each poured in bits of their essence and forced into the still-cold body. If she had known, she would have been ready to provide some jolts to his circulatory system to get his heart and blood pumping. As it was, only Solan could know what he needed. As the moments ticked, she eventually sensed life in the body Vulps had scrounged up. He amazed her sometimes, and this was one of those times.

When Solan finished getting sick, she released her hold on Vulps and attempted to wrap her arms around him and hug him.

"I am so happy to have you back. Adjusting to this new body will take time, but we'll support you."

Maybe she was speaking for her brother, but she figured he would agree.

Solan Charr Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen lifted his cloak to protect himself and Jairdain as the tendrils unleashed themselves, warding off any that would slip by his barrier. Solan was not the first person he had revived. Solan wasn't even in the first few billion on that list. he was however, the most violent resurrection that the Valde had witnessed. He grimaced as he watched the body of his friend contort and writhe until at last, the man gave a gasp of life. Then, only moments into speaking about his apparent relief at taking in his first breath of air, he leaned over and spewed his guts onto the ground, causing one of the grunts that had been carrying the body to share a grateful glance with his buddy. If Vulpesen's hadn't waved him off, it was likely that the bile on the ground would instead be on his trousers and boots.

"Of course we will," Vulpesen added to Jairdain's promise, crossing his arms as he went to stand on the other side of the pod. "Afterall, you still owe me some ships. Gotta make sure you land on our feet so I can come collect some day," he said with a wry grin, his tail flicking joyfully back and forth. The joke of past debts aside, he was ecstatic to see that their plan had worked.

Jairdain Solan Charr

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan would need a few moments to really right himself, breathing slowly and giving the two of them a really weak smile. He was turning to speak up and found himself being hugged by Jairdain. Shock turned to a soft smile as he placed one hand on her head and then looked over at Vulpesen. The man was someone he did not expect to see here, after all the ritual that had just been done was less than natural and he knew well that Vulpesen and him did not often agree on the actions that should be taken regarding threats or certain groups. Still he would wait for Jairdain to finish taking the time she needed to hug him before starting to speak again.

"Ya I noticed that I haven't quite settled on into it... that will probably take some time." For Jair and Vulpesen they would see what he meant the moment one looked through the force, his soul like swiss cheese with how fractured and broken it looked. He seemed to still be barely holding himself together as he sat there, his body still deathly pale as if it were reacting poorly to the dark energies that had been used to bring him back.

But, even with all that, Solan would give the two of them the same carefree and unworried grin that always came from the man.

"Now, why don't the two of you tell me what I've missed... and maybe lets find a bed I can get a good nights rest in. I haven't slept in over forty years..."

Vulpesen Jairdain