Bast in the Glow

[Kyyrk]

Voph frowned slightly. This new Sith Empire was certainly different from the one he had left behind. "Hmph. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Still. It is unusual that you would abandon them, then retaliate against them and they are content to let you skulk away in the dark corners of the galaxy. The new Empire must have grown complacent and apathetic. Or at the least, posses confidence that your knowledge will not be sufficient to harm them."

He sighed quietly, turning to look at...something. Ra probably knew what he was focused on. The Nexus. They were close enough now that Voph could detect it. "You do, however, have my condolences. I suppose I am reasonably familiar with having one's life destroyed."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"They don't see us as a threat and for the moment, I am happy to have them think that. It allows my movement to grow momentum and power. We do it almost right under their noses too."

A time would come when they would feel the bite of the Hand and it was coming soon. Word had reached her and that was being investigated. If it was true, then a strike was going to happen soon and hopefully the Hand would leave an impression. If nothing else, they would get the opportunity to spread their wings a bit.

Nodding when he commented on knowing about having one's life destroyed, he would very much understand. While she hadn't played any part in doing it...she had been the one to deliver the news. For just a moment, there was a break in her facade and that rare bit of empathy she had would show.

"You do as well, Pilgrim."

Vincent stopped at a door and opened it slowly. On the other side was something that looked more like a courtyard, but it was a covered room. Vjun had acid rain and anything caught out in it would eventually melt. Ra had turned where the heart of the Nexus was into an internal courtyard with everything somebody would need for one.

"Stay as long as you need."

[member="Voph"]

 

[Kyyrk]

[youtube]https://youtu.be/j0OdssofckE[/youtube]​

Voph sighed quietly, almost as if steeling himself for what was to come. He stepped forward, slowly reaching up to remove his helmet. He paused near the center of the courtyard. It was strongest here. He knelt down, and set his helmet on the ground beside him. He drew his lightsaber, and set it on the ground on the opposite side from his helmet, before taking a deep breath, and bringing his hands to his knees to meditate. He sighed deeply and turned his head to one side, speaking to Ra. "I will warn you before I begin. Whatever I see may not...be exclusively shown to me. A byproduct of my people, I'm afraid."

He bowed his head, looking back to the center of the room. He took another calming breath, and began to reach out in the Force, allowing it to wash over him...consume him. The Dark Side surged around him, and his arms slowly rose to his sides, head tilting back as he allowed himself to become immersed in the Nexus. Then the pain began. Soft at first. But his chest soon burned with the fire of a thousand suns. And yet, Voph did not scream. He was unable to. His fingers curled into fists, his teeth clenching. An image flashed before him. Sovryn. Ilum. The Temple. The red blade erupting from his chest. He'd been stabbed before but there was something about this one. The way she screamed...Or the horrified look on her face to see her son standing behind him, lightsaber still in hand. It...burned. Cortrin. Where was Cortrin?

Dead. An image of a man, sinking to his knees, beaten and bloodied. He knelt in front of a tombstone. He was dying. Voph didn't recognize him, the twisted being of rage and metal. And yet he knew. This was Alpheridies. It was his grave. And his son had tried to stop them. But he failed. Even as Sovryn stood over him, ready to deal the final blow.

The pain was overwhelming now. Suddenly, Voph found himself keeled forward on all fours. The pain had stopped. The air was still. He was...there...and yet he was not. Everything around him was clearly visible. And across from him stood a figure. Dark. Looming. Ominous. And yet...It wasn't real. Voph knew this. Voph sat up, realizing that blood was running down his mouth and jaw. His nose was bleeding. He took another breath, and the world came in to focus again. Was that it? Nothing more? Voph's brow furrowed.

He stretched out a hand, calling upon the nexus to relive his final moments. There was something he missed. Sovryn. Ilum. Not Ilum. The Temple. The red blade erupting from his chest. His wife screamed. No. Sovryn screamed. His wife...his wife...Why was Sovryn not his wife? The force began to move around his outstretched hand. He felt a hand on his. A face began to appear, nestled in his hand. A tear slipped down his cheek. Somehow...somehow he knew. "Varessa..." It..felt good to say that name again. A name he had forgotten. And yet...here she was.

His wife. The memories came flooding back. She smiled at him sweetly, the rest of her body coming in to focus. She was just as he remembered her...Young...full of life... Voph swallowed, choking back a sob. He pulled the ghost of his wife close to him, hugging her tight. "I'm....sorry....I'm...so sorry."

He pulled back, and cupped the woman's face in his hands. She smiled at him again. "Hello, Kyyrk." There was a pause as Voph heard his name. His real name. He opened his mouth, but he was shushed. "You've been given another chance. Take it." She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "I love you. I always have. And I always will. And I forgive you."

Just like that, she was gone, and Voph knelt on the floor. He bit back another sob. She forgave him. After all this time. After all he had done. She forgave him. And she still loved him. Voph let out another shuddering breath. He needed to move. To stand. To go to the room that had been prepared for him. But he didn't want to. He wanted to stay here. To not move. To just...sit...here...He pushed himself to his feet. He picked up his lightsaber and his helmet, and spoke, in a somber tone, "You may lead me to my lodging now...And do not waste time on food or drink...I have no desire to eat..."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

She was a woman that allowed people their privacy usually. Not treating him any differently, she allowed him to go through this alone. Sometimes simple support was all that was needed. He would know she was there, like a small support seen offscreen. Not feeling he wanted her to witness something so personal, she would wait at the door.

While she was present in the room, what happened was for him and only what was spoken did she know about. Closing her eyes to the vision, Ra heard what was said. There had been no doubt in her mind that what Voph said was accurate. He was from the time he claimed and as the voice of a woman spoke, she nodded. Being given another chance...she wondered how many he might have had before, if any.

Time passed and she stood like a sentinel guard behind him. Just allowing him to do what he needed to do and not interfering one bit. Eventually his vision ended and he took a few additional moments to compose himself. Rising to his feet, he said he was ready to go to the room that had been prepared for him. Giving him a simple nod, Ra said nothing about what had happened.

"Follow us please. Vincent will take you there. If you have need of anything, let him know and I will be here for you as well."

Once he was shown where that room was, Ra returned to the library and took her seat back by the fire.

[member="Voph"]