Damaged

[Keira Priest]

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. After being left alone with nothing but the sounds of her own breathing and heartbeat to keep her company, it was almost ironic that she found solace in that same rhythm so easily. But it gave her something to focus on, and it was better than the memories that came back in the form of spastic daydreams, or while she slept. Having been something of an insomniac before her capture by The Primeval, her experience with them only exacerbated the fact. Sleepless nights had accompanied her ceaselessly since the event, though she managed to catch a catnap in between her busy work with the Ravens, but even that was few and far between. Keira had been given her space, but she wasn't sure how much she liked it.

That would change today, however, as she was scheduled to have a visitor to her small apartment. None other than [member="Cryax Bane"], who she'd learned had the biggest part in orchestrating her rescue. It was something she was beyond thankful for, but this wasn't to be a purely social call. After having one of their own captured, the Red Ravens were out for blood. This was to be a debriefing of sorts, in order for them to learn more of just what enemy they were facing when it came to those who ventured to kidnap one of their own. The details weren't the most pleasant to recall, so this would be an experience for everyone involved.

Glancing to the chrono hanging on the wall she sighed quietly, running a hand gingerly through her now short cut hair, trimmed close to her scalp in order for the cuts on her head to be stitched by the doctors and med-droids from the hospital she'd spent a few days in. They were still visible, much to her minor irritation, and still slightly sensitive to the touch. This particular injury had been more her own doing than anything, as she'd provoked her captor into doing such. But that wasn't something discriminated against in the eyes of her friends within the criminal syndicate. And in minutes, the time would come to finally bring to light all that had happened.

 

[Cryax Bane]

As far as Cryax knew, Red Raven rogue Keira Ticon had been healing fairly well from her ordeal. Not too long ago, she had been kidnapped from Antecedent and had undergone numerous tortures on a ship stationed out in Unknown Space, where she was being kept captive by an even more unknown enemy. Whether or not she would be ready to have any visitors remained to be seen, but the Chiss needed to see her for himself if not just to debrief her on her experiences, but also because she was a close, personal friend had saved his life on more than one occasion. His conscience wouldn't settle until he knew that she was going to be ok. She was a tough survivor, of this he was sure. But even the strongest sometimes needed a helping hand.

Cryax brought her a get-well bouquet of Starflowers, an unexpectedly sweet gesture from the crime boss who was quickly gaining the reputation as a cruel, ruthless mastermind. When Cryax worked as the Red Ravens Secretary he was generally good natured and kind, if not a little high-strung and prone to irritation, but now he reserved that side of himself for only his closest friends.

With his security detail of droids and goons ever present, the Chiss crime boss stood outside her apartment door. As her employer, he had the passcode to her security terminal on the wall next to the entrance and he quickly pressed the alphanumeric code, door opening with a hiss. Paler and thinner than usual with her hair cropped short, she looked healthy despite the dark circles underneath her eyes. Stepping into the room, Cryax waited until security was inside and then closed it behind them. If she looked closely she might notice that his own eyes were sunken and his gait was different, but otherwise he seemed to be the Chiss she'd always known.

"I like the new look," he said gesturing to her hair with a soft smile and holding out the bouquet of flowers. "It suits you well."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Still slightly on edge, even after having been left to her own devices for the better part of a week or so, Keira's first instinct when she sensed someone outside of her door was to palm her lightsaber, but once it dawned on her just who it was that was paying a visit she let the weapon stay, instead standing as the door opened. The security detail gave her momentary pause until she recalled having heard that he was now President of the Ravens, a promotion that must have taken place when she was away. At the words spoken she returned his smile with a small one of her own, taking the proffered flowers and moving into the kitchen to search for a vase before speaking, filling it with water and placing the flowers in, setting the arrangement on the table.

It was a moment or two after she walked back into the other room before she spoke, albeit quieter than usual, "Thanks. It wasn't quite my choice, this time." She nodded towards the couch, where she'd been sitting previously. "Go ahead and take a seat. Do you want anything to drink?" Still she was avoiding talking about anything in regards to what had happened to her, though she knew the topic would have to be brought up eventually. For now it was simple courtesies., but they would move on to more serious topic just minutes later.

With a slight frown she noted that she'd neglected to slip on a jacket, so her cybernetic left arm was visible. It wasn't a result of what had happened as he would most likely assume, but the result of a sparring match gone slightly awry. The replacement had taken time to adjust to, but she had acclimated quickly. Now it was the matter of explaining things to any concerned parties, which inevitably included the Chiss before her. Next would come her brothers, and perhaps the other members of the Ravens, if they so wished. That would most likely come in time as well, as she'd caught wind of a bounty having been put out within their own network for any members or followers of The Primeval.

"President, huh?" Another small smile. "Congratulations."

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

"I would love a drink, thanks Keira," said Cryax who was all too eager to consume anything that would numb his own psychic pain. He, like Keira, had also endured horrific trials recently, although not at the hands of homicidal zealots in Unknown space. His torturer was someone quite different, and once he knew that she was emotionally able to hear it without the triggering of flashbacks, he would share his account of what happened to him while he was missing for a few days after the Red Ravens operation on Teth. No other Ravens other than his boyfriend Jalek knew any of those exact details. Publicly he was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong and had spent a week in a Bacta tank, but the specifics ended there for most. For others, the look on his face upon his return merely said, "don't ask."

At Keira's congratulations on his promotion, the Chiss smiled and just waved his hand in a gesture of humility. Cryax was still getting used to his new role in the Ravens, and wracked with self-doubt about it. Not to mention emotionally fragile from his torture. To talk about his new title might break the dam barely containing a flood of raw emotion. Then Cryax raised his eyebrow at her cybernetic arm, and suddenly crossed the room to hug her tightly. He wasn't sure if she'd appreciate her friend's sudden breach of her personal space, but he didn't care. He was glad Keira was safe and wanted to show it.

Releasing her, he finally sat on her couch and looked her squarely in the eyes, his voice lowering to almost a growl. "So, Keira, It might be painful, but I want you to tell me everything. From the beginning. I need to know all I can about these freaks who captured you so that the Red Ravens can squash them like maggots."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Blinking in slight surprise as he hugged her Keira smiled gratefully, stepping into the kitchen to pour him a glass of whichever alcoholic beverage she'd managed to procure despite being underage, mostly due to the help of her brothers, specifically Diego. After passing it to him she sat down on the couch as well, not quite sure where to begin with everything. Sure, he'd said to start beginning, but it wasn't quite that easy. However, it was easier for her to recall what had happened while she was still on Antecedent rather than the events that had transpired after the fact. That also happened to be the timeframe that she didn't mind mentioning, while the rest would take a bit of coaxing for her to even want to recall.

But, no matter how much she didn't like it, it was necessary that the entire tale be told. "It was simple at first, but I guess that's how every story begins. I was walking around the Casino because I couldn't sleep, and something was off at the apartments down the street. So I went to take a look, and ended up in the middle of...something." What those who had captured her had wanted with the Zeltron woman in the first place she had never figured out. "It wound up being a chase around the apartments until we all ended up in the docking bay. I'm not sure who the guy was, but he was Force sensitive, untrained. I don't know his species either. He wore his armor the entire time."

That was where she left the story for a moment, not so much unsure where to begin next as to being reluctant to bring up that side of things. While the events that transpired in the docking bay after what she had told him were hard to remember for reasons she was unsure of, the rest was vivid in her memory. "After that, I don't remember much else. When I woke up, I was on the ship." Again she stopped, momentarily wishing that she'd had the hindsight to pour herself a drink as well. While she didn't want the alcohol to interfere with her memory, it would have made it all a bit more bearable, at least.

Changing the subject briefly, she gestured to her cybernetic arm. "This isn't from what you're thinking of, either. I was in a match at the Fight Club, and things went differently than expected. It isn't that big of a deal. If anything, it's an improvement." She shrugged. It was never really in her personality to cause others to worry for her, and she wasn't about to start just then.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Once Keira starting talking, Cryax flicked on his Datapad's Holocam. "I hope you don't mind," he said. "This is easier than taking notes." Then he sat on her couch, listening with a deadly serious look in his glowing red eyes. She seemed reluctant to talk, which worried him. He drained his drink in one gulp and set the glass down. He didn't want to grill her. As tough as she was, if she'd gone through anything as half as bad as he, she might break, and he didn't want to be responsible for his friend's further suffering.

Using his most gentle voice, Cryax leaned forward and asked her some questions. "So once you were on the ship, then what happened? The more you tell me, the better chances we have of making these bastards pay. I've already got your brothers on my back about it. Your brother Diego even gave me a black eye." Here he smirked. With as much as Cryax had been through recently, that black eye was the least of his pains. Plus, he had made sure that for his transgression, Diego got put in a nice quiet room for twenty-four hours.

"Think hard, Keira. I need names, titles, physical descriptions. Are you able to recall any of these details?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Unable to stop a quiet laugh when Cryax mentioned what had happened with Diego, she only shook her head. "I'm not surprised. He'll have something to say about it later. You'll have to catch me up on that side of things." While she spoke she was deciding the best way to phrase what would have to come next in their conversation. It wasn't a topic she enjoyed bringing up, and beyond that some of the information he requested was unknown to her, it being the names of those responsible. There was, however, one that stuck out to her.

"We were left in a throne room, but they chained our hands and feet. The woman that came in was the one I was fighting on the ship. She kept talking about either the Rite of Service or the Rite of Pain." Keira shook her head. "Then she called a man in, Vile..." Here she paused again, closing her eyes for a moment, opening them seconds later, not quite ready to continue but knowing she would have to anyhow. "He's Umbaran, Force sensitive, covered in scars, and he wears a collar that lets him talk normally." That was something she could recall with perfect clarity, as he'd fumble for it whenever he spoke. It seemed to almost be due to his pride, that he wanted to be above them, for all intents and purposes.

Almost absently she ran her fingers over her wrists, as if in memory of the chains. "He was her apprentice, or slave, I'm not sure which. But he was the one we were left with, once she left. and we were brought to the med bay." She gestured to her short cut hair and the still healing cuts and gashes on her head. An almost smile turned up the corners of her mouth at the memory, as it had been the only time she was able to really get under his skin. "On the way there I tripped him with the Force, and this is how he retaliated. Once we arrived at the med bay he put me in an isolation chamber. I don't know how long I was left there." It was plain she didn't enjoy talking about it at all, but she was doing her best in order to assist the Ravens in any way possible.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Listening carefully, Cryax nodded as Keira told her story, with a quiet somber demeanor. It was painful for him to make her relive the experience, but she had invaluable information. Information that he and his team of slicers could use as a starting point to trawl the deepest, darkest sections of the Holonet for clues and connections to keywords such as "Rite of Service." and the name Vile.

Once she paused, he put his hand on her arm as a comforting gesture, and looked deeply into her eyes. "How are you doing? Are you able to tell me more? Did you catch the woman's name by any chance?" He remembered the woman from their skirmish on the ship during Keira's rescue operation. She seemed to be some kind of warrior and also one of their leaders. But was she ultimately the one pulling the strings or merely a puppet for a larger foe? Either way, getting her name seemed like a pressing task at this point.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Exhaling shakily, Keira involuntarily flinched at Cryax's touch, the room spinning slightly as flashbacks wracked her brain. They were short, indiscriminate, the final thing echoing in her ears being the sound of Vile's rasping laugh. But just as quickly as they appeared everything was back to normal, and she leaned back into the couch with a quiet sigh, able to feel the beginnings of a headache slowly throbbing behind her eyes. Slowly, she began speaking again, hazel green eyes opening once more. "He called her 'Master'. They're a religious sect, too." Here she smiled grimly, her voice taking on a bit more of its familiar confident tone. "At least now I know which gods to kill."

It was odd for her to feel so helpless when it came to anything, and at the moment she wasn't sure whether she wanted company or to ultimately be left alone. Having someone to talk to about all that had happened helped to lessen the weight of things to a degree, and knowing that an effort was being made to bring those responsible down allowed her to breathe easier. But still, his question in regards to how she was after everything that had happened and their initial talk wasn't one without its own irony. "I'm not dead yet, if that's what you mean. It's going to take more than that to kill a Ticon."

The answer to his second inquiry was an undeniable yes, but she wasn't sure how much further she wanted to dig into things. If he wanted to hear more, she would oblige, albeit grudgingly. "What else do you want to know?"

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

"Shh, it's OK," said Cryax, taking his hand off of Keira's arm, brushing her cheek very lightly, then letting his hand drop. "You don't have to tell me any more details until you're ready." He knew he was pressing her too much, too soon after the incident, and she was trying to be tough, but it was cracking her emotionally to recall everything. The Chiss recognized the signs as he saw them in himself, and he remembered how slow Jalek had taken it when getting him to relive his own uncomfortable memories. "You've given me plenty to go on for now. When you're able, you can tell me more."

He lowered his head and looked into his head as he spoke. "You don't have to worry about my judgement of you, as your boss or as your friend," he declared. "There's something I want to share with you. It's something that most Ravens don't know was done to me, and it has to do with what happened back on Teth when I disappeared." Here he swallowed audibly, and then unbuttoned his shirt slowly. She might have thought it strange, but he kept going until the last button was undone, and then opened his shirt to show her the letters on his chest, "WRETCH" spelled out in raised scars across his blue flesh. "I got this as a present from a Yuuzhan Vong overlord. Among other gifts," he said sarcastically. Then he looked back into Keira's eyes his red ones full of understanding. "I'm sure I don't know exactly what you went through and never will, but if you ever need to talk about it, I'm here."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

However much she disliked talking about exactly what happened to her, Keira had to admit that it helped, to a degree, to have someone who was willing to listen without judgement on their part. Typically she was one to not talk about the personal side of things with anyone, even her closest friends or family, so this was a new experience. But having him there helped to ground her, it gave her something to latch onto in case she began having flashbacks once more. It was just simple coincidence that they'd both suffered similar experiences at the hands of others. The coincidence was a beneficial one, as they both knew exactly what it felt like to be at the mercy of another.

The gesture of his removing his shirt was an unexpected one, but once the scars on his chest were revealed, the intention was clear. By showing her a side of himself not many had seen or would ever, he was showing solidarity towards her. And for a moment, she was speechless. A whirlwind of responses flooded her head, but after another long few moments of silence she simply hugged him tightly, a grateful smile on her lips. "Thank you, so much." Those were the only words spoken on her part, and in a quiet, hushed voice nonetheless.

Moments passed, and she finally released him, leaning back with the same smile and silent tears trailing down her cheeks. Wiping at them with a hand she remained quiet. This was yet again a side of her that she rarely ever showed, a side that was ultimately more vulnerable than the way she usually acted. And it was a side that none had borne witness, until now.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax tightly returned Keira's embrace, careful not to disturb the scars on her head. Those scars were a testament to the deep shame he'd felt about being capture and becoming Dredge's victim, especially since the nightmare was hardly over. So far only Jalek had seen him shirtless since he got back from the horrors he endured on The Omen. Cryax had been meaning to get the scars covered up with Synthflesh, but obsessed with getting details for Dredge, he didn't want to waste precious time on a plastic surgeon's table. Now with the Yorik-Kul implanted in his brain, he wasn't sure if that would even be a possibility anymore.

He couldn't see any upsides to his torture, but if it helped to give Keira some solace then he supposed it was a small victory for him in some way. As she grew silent again, he weakly smiled at her. "I wish I could tell you it gets better, but to be honest I have no karking clue. Right now it's just something we have to live with." Cryax started buttoning up his shirt again. "My personal hope is that I can turn all of this shame and rage I'm feeling outward, and make any beings involved in your torture and mine hurt until eternity." Here his glowing red eyes took on a sheen of pure malice as he continued. "And that Include allies and families and any others that they hold dear."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Having taken a moment to bring the flood of emotion she could feel gathering under control, Keira merely nodded at the words spoken, a part of her still not completely grounded, though she agreed with his statement wholeheartedly all the same. Once someone hurt one of their own, the Ravens were out for blood, with no exceptions. The same went for both of their experiences, with each harboring similar feelings towards both their own tormentors and those of the other. It was a twisted sort of bond, certainly, and probably not the most healthy, but it was there regardless. And it was one that would hardly falter, no matter what the two might have to face.

Casting a glance to where her lightsaber sat she called it into her hand via the Force, not having a particular reason for doing so, though the feeling of the worn leather grip in and of itself was a soothing one. The weapon had been her life in the years past when she still took the mantle Jedi as her own, and it had serviced as such in the years after, as well. And now that she was once more walking a dangerous path, it would serve again its purpose, which was ultimately survival. And, if she had her way, the death of those responsible for her capture.

For most that might have marked a descent into darkness, but for her it was merely business as usual. An eye for an eye, she saw it, and so it would be. What goes around, comes around, and she was intent on driving that lesson home, despite whatever obstacles might bar her way from doing so. Whether they were aware or not, a deadly enemy had been made once she'd been taken. An enemy that wouldn't forget nor forgive all the ill misgivings that had happened.

"You'll be killing gods, then." Her grip on the hilt of her weapon tightened. "And I'm more than willing to help you."

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

"They'll need somebody to pray to when I'm done with them," Cryax growled, his red eyes flashing with rage. Then he started typing on his Datapad like a madman. "I'm putting out word on the Cryptnet for all of our slicers to start looking for these animals. Then once we have more information, I can issue a galaxy-wide bounty. We'll get them, Keira. Even if the Ravens have to send a whole fleet to Unknown space."

"If you don't mind answering more questions, were there any other captives with you? Maybe if we can find out who they're targeting, that would be a clue." He stood up and crossed the room to her kitchen, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. Then he turned and gave her a pained look.

"I kriffed up royally on Teth, Keira. I shouldn't have left you and Logan and gone rogue like that. I messed with the wrong Yuuzhan Vong overlord, and I dunno what's going to happen now, but I guarantee it's not going to be good. Whatever happens next, just know that I'm truly sorry for it all."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

((*finally remembers thread* In my defense I've been super busy with school. ))

His warnings had an undertone of deadly seriousness to them that Keira could not only hear in his voice, but inherently sense as well. And what she felt she didn't like in the least. There was something at work behind the scenes, and it had everything to do with the sudden and unexpected attack of the Yuuzhan Vong on Teth. Although she was headstrong and confident to a sometimes overabundant degree, even she knew when they were in over their heads. But she wasn't about to stand idly by and let events transpire as they would. It wasn't in her blood. "You don't have to apologize for anything. It doesn't matter what happened then, because we've gotta deal with it now, whether we want to or not. If it means defending our own, then I'm ready for war."

Falling instantly silent after her speech that had her old air of self-confidence about it, she was hesitant in recalling anything else regarding what had transpired. There was every doubt in her mind that those whom had taken her had any specific group of individuals they were targeting. But she knew full well it wasn't Force users of any caliber, as they'd been hardly prepared to handle her, at first. It was a clue, however small of one. "There was just another, a Zeltron. I think her name is Jorda." She shook her head, looking down at the lightsaber she held for a moment. "I didn't see her after they put me in the cell. She was left with Vile, but once I was released..." There was another moment of silence in which she exhaled slowly, gathering her thoughts and doing her best not to remember too much too quickly, the efforts not being the most successful.

"I don't...they aren't targeting any specific group of people. I don't think they are, at least. But they weren't prepared to deal with any Force sensitives." She smiled grimly at the memory of the brief encounter in the hangar. "But their leader, or at least that's who she acts like, is at least aware of her Force abilities. All of them are sensitive to the Force somehow. She and Vile were, at least." It made it easier to speak about everything if she thought of it as strategizing, but even that was proving to be more difficult than she would ever admit.

Another small smile. "I guess that makes us even, too. We've both saved each others lives more than a few times."

[member="Cryax Bane"]