Faction Ascension of Starcrest

[Willow & Ivy]

Within the atrium on Damascus station, Willow and Ivy stood behind the stage beyond a curtain with Kalic Daws . He wore the traditional white robes for the bonding ritual that was common ceremonial garb for those within the Navis Sacra . Although this ceremony was much smaller in aspect than the one held for Grand Shepherd Burtch , it was still an important one.

Kalic was going to be outfitted with the Holy Communion Neural Implant and the Chosen Keeper would sacrifice her body and have her soul transfered to the Angel Navis Operating System that had been incorporated into the retro-fitted and upgraded Starcrest of which Kalic owned and piloted with his astromech Jee.

The twins couldn't be happier. They too wore traditional robes interlaced with intricate stitching of yellow and green which gave way to the symbol of the Navi. Yet their best attribute was their smiles. "Are you nervous?"

"You don't have to be."

"Everything is all set."

And it wss. On the stage the two tables were ready. Monitors were prepared by the various doctors that took care of the things that the twins could not. Surgery wasn't their area of expertise. But the transfering of souls was.

"Your Angel will keep you grounded and present."

 

[Kalic Daws]

Kalic looked at the white robes. So this is why Grand Shepherd Burtch seemed so uncomfortable. Well, he wasn't sure if this was the reason, but being a life long spacer this seemed... a bit light. But meh. If some Jedi could fight like this he'd manage. He was more nervous about going through with this anyway. He wasn't backing down, but he was nervous. Apparently Willow & Ivy had picked up on this, asking if he was nervous, and telling him he didn't have to be. He smiled a bit, looking at the twins before speaking up.

"Yeah. A bit nervous about it all. I know this'll be good, but.... Still a big step. Not even sure who's here honestly." His mind had been running, plus he still wasn't exactly sure how it'd feel.

 

[NPC’s NPCs]

A short Dornean woman of advanced age strode into the atrium with uncharacteristic grace for one so old. She was dressed in similarly uncomfortable robes as Kalic Daws had been, but if she was uncomfortable at all, it didn't show in her face. Her eyes were focused from many hours of preparation, meditation, and rituals. Behind those massive brown, bulgy orbs, there seemed to be an unspoken chant, repeating itself as to keep her mind in the right state for the transition into becoming the soul of Starcrest. She slowly, calmly walked down the isle, her eyes on the floor in front of her. She then looked up at Kalic, and offered him the epitome of a motherly smile of comfort. In her eyes, one could see that everything was going to be alright, and that she was going to make sure of that. She then winked at him and then addressed Willow & Ivy formally as she stopped before them all, "I, Keeper L'netta, am hereby ready to become the soul of Starcrest, and bonded to Kalic Daws if he'll have me."

Her massive eyes then darted between the twins and Kalic, expectantly…

 

[Willow & Ivy]

"Life changing events have that affect on people."

"Even we get nervous when we know that change is coming."

The twins shifted their focus from Kalic Daws to that of Keeper L'netta as she approached them. They gave her a smile and bowed their heads to her. "Keeper L'netta, the Starcrest will flourish with you."

"Oh yes, and our dear friend Kalic will need you to guide him whenever his visions strike."

"You'll need to be his eyes while his mind shows him other places."

"In time the two of you will be able to work flawlessly together."

Now all that they needed was for Kalic to formerly accept the ritual so that they could get it started. As always, they never did such a thing without consent.

 

[Kalic Daws]

Kalic smiled as L'netta came up, the look she had helping to calm him a little. It was also nice to know Willow & Ivy understood his nervousness. It was the last chance he'd have to back out if he wanted to, but.... He took a calm breath nodding a bit. He was ready. He looked at L'netta, then Willow, then Ivy.

"I'm ready if L'netta is."

NPC’s NPCs

 

[NPC’s NPCs]

L’netta nodded sagely and moved towards the entechment chair. Fellow Keepers and surgeons then moved to strap her in, and connect IVs to her. She was given painkillers as she was about to go through a painful procedure, but she was fully aware of what she was doing, and was prepared.

She looked to Kalic Daws with a sly grin on her face, “Oh, I can’t wait to see what it’s like inside your young mind…”

She then looked to Willow & Ivy , “thank you, Holy Prophets. The Navis Protects!”

And she closed her eyes, took in one last breath of the sweet air of the Atrium, and waited to be submerged into Starcrest…

 

[Willow & Ivy]

Willow and Ivy smiled brightly as Kalic Daws gave his consent for the ritual. Keeper L'netta did so as well and she dutifully lay on the table so that she could be prepped.

The twins guided Kalic to his own table where he was strapped in as the two spoke. Already they could tell that this was a perfect pairing.

"The Navi protects. Keeper L'netta will soon be ascended and bonded with Kalic Daws."

"Soon neither of you will be alone ever again, just like us."

"Your strengths and weaknesses will combine, giving you more skills to protect your fellow Navi and our home."

"Your sacrifice will forever be honoured and admired. Thank you...."

Willow and Ivy intertwined their fingers of their nearest hands while the others were placed gently on both Kalic and L'netta. They then closed their eyes and bowed their heads as they focused on the webs of the Force. They found their strands easily, yet still took the time to be sure before entangling their own strands around that of L'netta. With due care they severed her strand and delicately moved it to that of Kalic's before taking their time to fuse them together. It was a process that was getting easier the more times that they did it, yet Willow and Ivy didn't speed it up at all. Doing so could have consequences.

While they worked with the Force, the doctors took care of the surgical procedure, inserting the implant into Kalic's brain, while the others tended to L'netta's body, easing it towards death to better help with the transition.

After a time both processes were complete. The twins opened their eyes and removed their hands from the two, keeping their heads bowed in respect.

"Kalic...how do you feel?"

NPC’s NPCs

 

[Kalic Daws]

Kalic took a quick breath as he followed Willow & Ivy , sitting on the table before hearing the ritual words. While he didn't exactly have eyes to close, he'd feel the area around him seem to shift before he was... somewhere. It was like a starship hallway full of doors. He slowly looked around, walking from door to door as he tried to figure out what to do. It was then that he stopped at an open door, seeing what looked like.... Was that L'netta? And the Starcrest? He slowly walked in, looking around before he took a seat. It was strange. Nice. He smiled a bit, not saying anything, but leaning back a little with a smile before he seemed to "wake up." It was almost like one of his visions.

He took a few breaths as he looked at the twins. He noticed L'netta's body, easily telling she wasn't there anymore. He then heard Willow, and looked over to her and Ivy.

"I feel... a bit strange.... I can definitely feel that's she's still there. And before... it was like...." The Miraluka rubbed his head a little bit. Maybe he was thinking a bit too fast right now.

NPC’s NPCs

 

[NPC’s NPCs]

Relief…

All she felt was relief. Her body was stripped away, and the effects of the pain medication were stripped away too. Her mind began to change from more fluid thoughts to more angular, precise patterns. Her soul was woven into the mighty form of Starcrest, and her mind became more focused and clear. Her memories of a million horrors were simply blown away: lost loved ones, tragedies, fatal mistakes, and times when she had been forced to betray the innocent, were all taken from her mind. In fact, everything was taken away, even her name. For but a small, blissful second, she was entirely ignorant, and totally innocent, and without any knowledge of anything whatsoever.

Then, her mind was plunged fully, completely into the machine called Starcrest. Memories that she had chosen to keep were already there, waiting for her. Skills, triumphs, life lessons, languages, and many other beautiful things that she wanted to keep had already been placed there by the keepers in advance. The one thing that she had wanted to keep was her name, but her religious mandates dictated that she take the name of her Angel form from now on, and she embraced that willingly. She was now Starcrest. Through and through.

All of a sudden, she was in a room. It felt like it belonged to someone else — like it was created by someone else. There was a single door, and she was in the shape of some kind of humanoid form. She assumed it was likely her old body, but that particular memory had been stripped away too. Beside her was a facsimile of her new body, the Starcrest. That form already felt more familiar to her than the form she was in now.

Outside the door, she heard other doors opening and closing, one after another. It went on for a while, before she realized that someone was looking for her. She wondered if that person would eventually find her. Then, it the thought occured to her, this person won’t find me unless I let them.

She closed her eyes and, with her very soul, invited him into her very being. And with that, as if her actions made it possible, the very next door he opened was hers…

And with that, she felt her soul weave into his…

 

[Willow & Ivy]

Willow and Ivy lifted their heads once Kalic Daws spoke. Making the comment of feeling strange was very common among those that have gone through the procedure. The twins looked to Keeper L'netta's body, dipping their heads in respect to the lady, before allowing the doctors to drape a sheet over her and wheel her body away.

"How do you think that Jee will handle this change?"

"Is there a chance that Jee could get jealous?"

It was difficult for the twins to figure out droids, given that most were unconnected to the webs of the Force. But that didn't mean as though they treated them differently. Willow and Ivy had a droid friend that would visit them from time to time at Broka's Sky Palace. But where he was now, they didn't know. All that they knew was that there'd be a slim chance of them coming across their little friend again.

Kalic was unstrapped from the table and unhooked from the IV's and monitors so that he could sit up when he was ready.

NPC’s NPCs

 

[Kalic Daws]

Kalic smiled a bit, sitting up as he looked at the @Willow and Ivy .

"I think she'll be ok with it. She'd tried to get me to, as she puts it, "find someone for the gunner seat." Makes me roll my eyes every time. Don't think it's what she's thought of, but.... Should probably mention I've never wiped her memory."

 

[Willow & Ivy]

Willow and Ivy smiled. This bonding ritual went better than the last. The pair were concerned about Grand Shepherd Burtch and how he was coping with his own bonding. However all of that would right itself in time. They just needed to be patient and not push.

"Great! We're glad that Jee supports you."

"Give yourself a bit of time. Sit with Starcrest for a while before flying."

"Yes! And when you're ready, take her out for a spin!"

"We're not at war yet, so there's plenty of time for practice."

Not at war yet. But that time was coming. The twins could feel it. And the more bonded Angels there were out there, the better.