Inside My Veins, You're Burning Still (Invite)

[Viktor DuSang]

Valhalla
Isis Gamma Mine

The Resistance had grown bolder, smarter. They started forming cells on worlds that surrounded the borders of the First Order. So when their fleets descended upon worlds, there was already members of the Resistance set up. Valhalla was no different. Whilst the First Order claimed the planet, it had not been properly subjugated yet.

[member="Isla Ashen"] and her apprentice, Umbra Ren, had been ordered to eliminate these pockets of the Resistance on the newly acquired asset. No easy task. Resistance members were like cockroaches. If one scurries across the floor in plain sight, that means that there are thousands behind the walls. It had been a long two weeks.

He missed the Palace. Missed being alongside [member="Natasi Fortan"]. Missed the life of Viktor Maurow-DuSang. Here, among the stormtroopers and carnage of guerilla warfare, he was Umbra Ren. The cloak and dagger of the Supreme Leader. The Assassin of Ren. The smell of burning flesh from blaster bolts and lightsabers piercing flesh was forever etched into his nostrils. He smelled it everywhere here on Valhalla.

Intelligence found a large pocket of the Resistance operating out of the Isis Gamma mine near the South Pole. They were funneling resources meant for the First Order in order to fight the Imperials. Ridding Resistance control of the mine weakened the remaining pockets on the planet. Perhaps even in the entire sector.

Deep within the mine, the yellow eyed assassin took a deep breath. He had long lost his shirt, his olive skin covered in dirt and blood. Most of it wasn't his. He had long been separated from his master, going off on his own as he usually did. He enjoyed the hunt. At times, more than Isla.

Stepping forward, he spotted a shadow moving in the distance. The Force burned through his muscles as he sprung forward. In a blink of an eye, he was on the man, putting a hand over the barrel of his blaster pistol as he fought to aim the weapon away from him. The hilt from his lightdagger shot to his free hand, the yellow blade springing to life with a pop and a hiss.

Lunging his hand forward, he thrust the blade into the man's gut. The all-too familiar smell of burning flesh crept into his nostrils as some rock and dust fell on top of him from the mine's ceiling. Deactivating the blade, Viktor thrust his hand into the wound, ripping out the man's innards in one swift, violent motion.

"For the First Order..." he whispered.

The man fell back, coming to terms with his fading mortality as Viktor fell back up against the rock wall. He slumped down, taking a seat. He reached his hand into his pocket, a seering pain coursing through him. Pulling the pack of Coruscanti cloves out, he realized he had been shot. His hand that covered the barrel. When the blade entered the man's gut, he had squeezed the trigger.

Cold tendrils of the force brought the lightdagger to his hand as he carefully pulled a clove out of the pack. Putting it in his mouth, he sparked it up with the yellow blade before deactivating it. He could taste the blood on the sweet paper. His blood. He took a long drag, the sweet smoke rolling out of his nostrils.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Indeed, it had been a long two weeks.

The flame-haired woman known as Ashen Ren had never been much of a sentimentalist, but even she was longing for home. She had come to Valhalla with a fire in her emerald eyes, and a sense of duty that was unshakable. It was not the first time that she had dealt with the Resistance, and she knew that it would not be the last – but someday, she hoped that the First Order would be rid of this blight.

[member="Viktor DuSang"] had accompanied her on this mission, taken away from his life as a noble and his duty as a guard for the Grand Moff. She still remembered the first time she had met him, a man that looked so prim and proper that she doubted he had ever gotten his hands dirty. But he had proved her wrong that night. Here in the seemingly constant battles, he continued to prove her wrong.

She had noticed a marked change in her apprentice, now known as Umbra Ren.

And now, where had he gone? Isla only needed to close her eyes for a brief moment and reach out with her senses to find him. She knew his presence well by now, and was sure that it was the same for him. Of course, she had started to befriend a few of her other Ren, but had yet to truly form a bond with any aside from her apprentice. Isla felt close to him, and had even grown protective, in a way that an older sister might look after a younger sibling.

She felt a pulling in her mind and immediately knew where to go. Her boots carried her along the dark ground and towards the winding tunnels of the mine. As soon as she reached the entrance, it was clear that there was death here – the smell unmistakable. Isla went in, stepping over the cold bodies that were strewn just inside, their eyes still wide and afraid. Her own saber was in her hand now, wrapped in the grip of her gloved hand. Though, she did not meet anyone during her travels through... until she spotted Viktor slumped against the wall of the cave.

He was injured.

Isla crouched down next to him, her emerald eyes finding his yellow gaze through the smoke of his cloves. She studied him for a moment, he was eerily calm. His nerves were likely too tense to realize that he had been wounded.

“At this rate, my apprentice...” Isla started, “You will run yourself ragged.”

 

[Viktor DuSang]

While [member="Isla Ashen"] was becoming more established amongst those within the Order, Viktor was an outcast. His closeness to the Grand Moff left a bad taste in a lot of members within the Order. Even his master questioned his loyalties from time to time. True, he continued to impress her, and the questioning became less frequent. But, he could feel it always present at the back of her thoughts.

But in their time together, they had become comrades in arms. A companionship forged in battle and bloodshed. She took him under her wing, and he made sure to uphold his promise to not let her down. He pushed himself to new limits. He became stronger for her. He was her first apprentice. Each one of his victories reflected on her as a mentor and Knight of Ren.

He refused to fail her.

Her words snapped him back into reality. He pulled the clove out of his mouth, his tongue dancing across his lips as he tasted the residue from the sweet paper mixed with his own blood. He realized it was becoming increasingly difficult to move his fingers on the injured hand. The pain was starting to come through in waves. "Nonsense. I just need to catch my breath."

Slowly, he stood, walking through the piles of corpses he left in his wake. He found a shirt that wasn't too bloodied and dirty. Tearing off a large chunk, he wrapped it around his hand. He tied the bandage as tightly as he could, an immense wave of pain coursing through his body. "Karking sithspit!" he cursed, waving his hand around. His clove had long been ruined. Soaked in blood and long since extinguished.

"I need a shower. Probably some medical attention... Definitely some medical attention..." His lightdagger hilt flipped to the holster on his forearm as he leaned against the wall, smirking to himself. "Isis Gamma is clear. The mine is ours." He took a deep breath, feeling a bit foggy. "I doubt I've crossed her thoughts in my absence. When I come back to Avalonia, it'll be like I was never gone..." Slumping back up against the wall, he slid down until he sat.

He felt rather sleepy.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla stood motionless, emerald eyes narrowed in the darkness. She watched as her apprentice stood up, and walked among the dead that littered the floor of the mine. A tattered bandage made of a fabric scrap was now being wrapped around his hand, and his clove was on the ground... the last smoky remains drifting into nothingness. She could see the pain in his face, an opportunity for him to capture this feeling for his own advancement.

“Remember this feeling, Umbra Ren.” Isla spoke quietly, “Feel the pain, and become stronger.”

Isla stepped towards him as he spoke again. Yes, he did need medical attention; his light bandage would not do for long. Her boots moved along the ground until she was next to [member="Viktor DuSang"], now slumped against the wall again. She blinked a few times, he was rambling now, and his eyes had a dazed look about them. It looked like he was only a few moments away from slipping into unconsciousness.

But his words had not gone unnoticed.

Still, it seemed that the Grand Moff was in Viktor’s thoughts. Isla bowed her head slightly, and she knelt down next to her apprentice. Her hand found his shoulder, a gesture of tenderness perhaps, but she squeezed slightly to bring his attention back to the moment. Isla let her arm slide around his side, and she let his hang over her shoulders as she eased him up to his feet again. Once they reached the outside of the mine, and stepped back into the cold night air... it would bring him back to his senses.

“Viktor,” She addressed him by name, a signal that she spoke as a friend and confidant. “Perhaps it would be best not to dwell on such things.” Isla was now bringing him back through the tunnels, on the way to the exit – a tiny pinprick of light up ahead. If he had feelings for her, she would not tell him to abandon them, it wouldn’t be her place. However, she hoped that he would overcome them, and not let them be his downfall. In Isla’s opinion, it was an unnecessary distraction. It was one of the reasons that Isla kept herself from forming attachments like that.

“Now, we shall get you some medical attention and much needed rest.” Her eyes shifted to the side.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

A concept that had been spoken to him on Korriban. In the duels with assassins, getting knocked to the ground of the temple. Remember the pain. Let it reforge your mettle. He was no stranger to the concept. Killing was becoming just as easy as putting on clothes. Something that he had done so long for so often that it just became second nature.

She helped him to his feet, and he let out a light exhale. "Merci beaucoup." he said lightly. He was growing increasingly tired, but he didn't want her worrying about him. Or carrying him. Walking was just a recession of one foot in front of the other. Focusing on each step, the journey seemed to take forever. As they got closer to the entrance of the mine, the air started to cool.

His exposed skin dropped his body temperature, causing the blood to retract into his core. He began to sharpen up a bit. The cold started getting the cloudy out of his mind. As they reached the exit, he couldn't help but shiver. Yellow eyes looked to [member="Isla Ashen"] as she spoke to him. Dwell on things? Had he spoken about Natasi? "Forgive me. I have limited filter when I'm slipping out of consciousness."

The comrades made their way back to the mobile headquarters. Bone, muscle, blood, and skin were all replaced in a few hours. You couldn't even tell there had been a hole in his hand unless you really looked closely. There was a slight discolouration of the skin that would go away after some time in the sunlight. He made his way back to his room, and disrobed as he walked into the shower. All of the excess blood, sweat, and dirt of the day washed away. He felt like a new person. Drying off, he slipped under the covers of the bed they provided him, and he fell asleep.

"Ophelia!" he yelled, sitting up in the dark. He was covered in sweat, his hands gripping the sheets with such strength he could hear the fabric tearing. Tears streamed down his face. In his nightmare, he was back on Coruscant, standing over [member="Ophelia DuSang"]'s lifeless body. Their father ran up to him, shaking him violently by the shoulders. Demanding to know what he did. That he was responsible for her death. He brought his hands over his face, trying his best to muffle the sobs.

The hours passed and he found himself unable to fall back asleep. Throwing on a pair of urban camouflage pants and a black tank top, he made his way to the mess hall. Grabbing some breakfast and a tall glass of stimcaf, he sat down at an empty table. Pulling the datapad out of his pocket, he began scrolling through it. Sipping his stimcaf, he caught up on the daily news. What the buzz was on Dosuun.

Hopefully, they'd be home soon.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla had remained at the side of her apprentice, just until his wound had been seen to. Soon enough, his hand looked good as new. But no doubt, the muscle and bone would still carry the memory for a time. After bidding a goodnight to [member="Viktor DuSang"], she departed to her own quarters. The space was small and cramped; it made her bunk back on Virgillia seem like a luxury hotel room. But she would not complain; it served its purpose well enough. Isla cleaned herself up quickly, and fell into her bed, finding sleep almost instantly. It was a good thing, too... for she knew that their work here was not over.

She awoke with the sun, she felt refreshed, for she had slept the whole night through. She dressed quickly and made her way out into the daylight, emerald eyes squinting in the brightness. The aroma of food found her instantly, and she made her way to the mess. It was a popular gathering place, and this morning was no exception. Hungry service men and women were in line to be served breakfast, Isla joined them, taking up the spot at the end. As she waited her turn, she spotted Viktor seated alone, seemingly absorbed in his datapad.

Once her tray of food was in hand, she made her way to her apprentice’s table, pausing to view the contents of his screen over his shoulder. It looked like a publication of the First Order State Media. Isla moved swiftly to the other side of the table, taking a moment to observe Umbra Ren. There was fatigue hiding behind his yellow eyes. Her attention shifted down to his food, it looked like he hadn’t even taken a bite yet.

“Did you sleep?” She asked, knowing that even if he had... he had not slept well.

Isla took a large bite of eggs, and then followed it with a bit of bacon. Having grown up on a farm, breakfast had been one of her favorite times of day. It gave her the energy to get on with her day.

“You should eat,” Isla nodded to his plate, “There’s work to be done today. But, I think we’ll be back home soon.” She hastily tacked on the last bit, it was her weak attempt at cheering him up.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

He felt [member="Isla Ashen"] looming over him before she got her breakfast. Yellow eyes watched her as she gathered her tray. She was a strong leader. He honestly wouldn't be surprised if she acquired the rank of Master in a short amount of time. She was a fine Knight of Ren, and Viktor was proud to be her student. He admired her resolve, she were stronger than he was.

He went back to his datapad as she sat down. He peered over the top of the device. She slept well, you could see it on her face. This expedition had taken its toll on her as it has on him, but she always slept better than he did. It was something he was rather envious of. He would love nothing more than to have a good night's sleep, but it had been evading him as of late. Between being homesick and the nightmares, sleep wasn't friendly to him.

"Barely. Had that dream again." It wasn't the first night where he dreamed about his sister's passing. The vision of her lying there lifeless shook him to his very core. Above all, he loved Phie. She was one of the only things that kept him, well, human. Life in the Palace made him feel like a robot. Life within the Order of Ren made him into a monster. His sister was the anchor that kept the killer at bay.

"Same thing as before. It didn't feel like a vision. Felt like it had already come to pass." Taking another sip of his stimcaf, he set his mug and datapad down. Yellow eyes fell on the chocolate crepes as he poked at them with a fork. Reluctantly, he took a bite, choking it down with some stimcaf. It was rubbish compared to the food that Sebastian made. "It's so awful..." He continued to dig into the crepes, getting used to it with each bite.

Like some sort of food Stockholm's syndrome.

"I don't know. We should consider sticking around." He pushed a few buttons on his datapad, pushing it over to his master. "This mine was supplying quite a bit of Phrik to the Resistance. If we get it up and running, that ore coming in to the First Order, and we would get to keep some as a reward. I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things I could build with that. I think we've earned some new gear, wouldn't you agree?"

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla continued to scoop her scrambled eggs into her mouth, eating fast and barely even chewing. Just as she was about to lift a biscuit to take a bite, she paused, her emerald orbs searching Viktor’s face. It almost seemed like there was some strange specter haunting him, a dark and ghostly presence. Isla believed that most creatures of the night only existed in stories, but she could not deny that her apprentice’s dreams were mysterious. It did seem that this was not simply a case of having bad dreams; these night terrors had to be the key to something...

“Like a memory?” Isla had asked softly, but she was unsure how such a thing could even occur.

As far as Isla knew, his sister was alive and well. But the conversation shifted back to the present. A small smirk tugged at her mouth, watching as he prodded his crepes with his fork. She watched as he took a bite, and then a few more. It was good to see him eating; she certainly did not want to see the young noble waste away.

Isla took a sip of orange juice and gazed over the top of her cup at Viktor, listening as he explained about the mine. A brow rose slowly, her interest peaked at the mention of new gear. Indeed, it was time that she thought about crafting some armor to supplement the leathers and cloth that she normally wore. Isla had found her share of battles since joining the Ren, and thus far, had been lucky enough to keep all of her limbs. But she did recognize that armor would be helpful.

Her eyes shifted down to the datapad, and she narrowed her eyes at the screen as he presented it in her direction. She gave a nod of approval.

“I like this idea, Umbra Ren.” Isla said, a hint of a smile on her face. “Shall we return to see what needs to be done?”

Isla had only seen bits of the mine during her excursion the night before, but in the darkness it had been difficult to see the true condition of the place. If the Resistance had been using it, she knew that it must be somewhat operational. However, the mine had played host to a number of small battles, systems could easily have been damaged in the process. There was only one way to find out.

[member="Viktor DuSang"]

 

[Viktor DuSang]

"Exactly like a memory. Though I cannot recall it outside of the context of the dream..." he said, pushing the plate away. Finishing his stimcaf, he set the mug down. Pulling the pack of cloves out of his pocket, he popped one in his mouth before sparking it up. Taking a long drag, he put his elbows on the table, leaning on his palm.

"I figured we've been working pretty hard for the First Order. Why not get a little something for our troubles? The Supreme Leader would want us to be better at our jobs." Taking another drag off of the clove, the sweet smell rolled out of his lips. Placing the clove in his lips, he rubbed his hands together.

"Let's." he mused, standing up from the table. "I'm going to finish getting dressed. Meet me at the front." Cold tendrils of the force wrapped around the datapad as it levitated back to his hands. Putting it back in his pocket, he gave his master a pleasant bow before departing from the mess hall.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

“Indeed,” Isla answered, knowing that war was an ever present possibility for the First Order. “Armor will help; we do need to be prepared.”

For a moment, she merely watched as the ribbons of smoke twisted their way towards the ceiling. Isla mused that she would never forget the scent of the Coruscanti Cloves. She lifted her fork for another full bite of breakfast, nodding slightly to acknowledge that [member="Viktor DuSang"] was leaving the table. It was better than trying to talk with a mouthful of food. She figured that it would take her apprentice a few minutes to change, he placed more important on appearances than she did. So, she finished her meal and chased it down with a last drink of orange juice.

Feeling full and refreshed, she stood and made her way out of the mess hall. Her leather boots brought her in the direction of the mine. The bodies that had marked the grown had already been disposed of, leaving the area looking different now in the light of day. However, there were still spots here and there that were stained with blood. But after a good rain, no one would even know. Isla stepped towards the entrance, letting her hand rest against the edge of the tunnel. The Knight of Ren had little knowledge about how such subsurface mining operations were done. She surmised that these tunnels opened up into larger caverns below, and that there was likely some kind of generator to bring power to these places.

Isla scratched her head, her eyes still peering into the darkness. For now, she would simply wait.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

As the young noble stepped into his room, he flicked his clove into the sink. Going through the closet, he began to rummage through his clothes. Taking out a few outfits, he laid them on the bed. A finger rested on his chin as he began to pace back and forth. [member="Isla Ashen"] was correct in her assumption. Usually, the hardest decision of the day was on the subject on what he was wearing.

Yellow eyes rested on the various garments as he decided on a pair of black slacks and a black turtleneck. Getting dressed, he double checked himself in the mirror. A hand absentmindedly ran through raven hair as he smirked. Even though he was completely miserable, he still looked dashing. Though his lack of sleep was starting to show under his eyes.

Lacing up his boots, his datapad went into his pocket as he stepped back out into the mobile base. Both hands behind his back, he made his way through the complex before finally finding Isla outside, waiting for him. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long, Master. Did I find you lost in thought?"

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla turned slightly, and offered a small smile. She shook her head to indicate that she had not been waiting long. Her emerald eyes took in his appearance, as always, he was quite polished. A gloved hand motioned towards the entrance of the mine; she stepped into the darkness with [member="Viktor DuSang"] at her side. She had been lost in thought when her apprentice found her, and she took a sidelong glance at him out of the corners of her eyes.

“I was just thinking about how much you have changed,” Isla said, reaching over and giving him a light clap on the shoulder. Indeed, she could tell that life was taking its toll on him. But she also knew that he would come away a better man for it. She did not want to add to his burdens, but there was a feeling inside that told her there would be many battles to come. He would need to fight hard for the First Order, whether he did so as Umbra Ren or in his place as guard to the Grand Moff.

At least for the moment, they had a small interlude.

“Your shift into becoming Umbra Ren is admirable.” She finally continued, “I know – it has not been easy.” There were still instances when Isla had small crises of identity, but in these times... she would give away more and more of herself to the will of the Supreme Leader. She had changed as well, leaving behind her identity as the feral girl from the woods.

“Is there a generator nearby?” She asked, blinking. “Do you know the way?”

She figured that the first step would be to see if this mine was still operational.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

"You know, when father first enrolled us into the First Order, I was excessively reluctant to the idea. I figured it was simply because they were going to make him an Admiral. He did it for the glory. But, every time I asked him, he would simply say that he valued what the First Order stood for. What it was, and what it would become." He paused, smirking to himself.

"But, this time I've been under your tutelage, and at the side of the Grand Moff, I've come to love the First Order. This transition into Umbra Ren is because it's what I need to be for the Supreme Leader. A transition fostered by your teaching. My success is a reflection of you." Turning away from [member="Isla Ashen"], he pulled his backpack off of his shoulders and opened it up.

Pulling out a pair of yellow glasses, he slipped them on before pulling out a black case. Opening it up, five small spheres lay inside. He waved his hands over them as they came to life, levitating out of the case. Putting the case back in his backpack, he slung it back over his shoulders. "I want a detailed map of the mine, show me generators, structural weaknesses, and anything relevant to getting this mine up and running."

The drones flew off as information began to feed through his glasses. "It looks like there's a generator in the next branch. It's not too far from here. Shall we, Master?" he asked, beginning to walk in that direction.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Their footsteps echoed down the tunnel, the darkness was beginning to close in around them. Isla cracked a glow rod to aid what bit of natural light made its way in behind them. Being in such a place made her feel uneasy, but it was growing easier to hide now. She listened to [member="Viktor DuSang"] speak about his father, a small smile formed on her lips. Indeed, she had heard of Admiral DuSang before, but had yet to meet the man in person. “Wise words,” Isla responded, nodding.

Truly, Isla was pleased to hear Viktor say that he had grown to love the First Order. It was that kind of passion that fueled their fight; it was a sign of unshakable devotion to their cause. Emerald eyes blinked a few times, unsure how to respond to such words of praise from her apprentice. She was touched, but kept her expression quite neutral in the face of such kindness. There would be tests and trials in Umbra Ren’s future, and she hoped that his time with her had prepared him well enough.

Her attention shifted as Viktor pulled a case from his backpack. She tilted her head slightly to get a better look at the small devices that sat inside. At the words spoken by their master, the drones took off into the tunnels. From what she could tell, the glasses that he wore displayed for him the visuals from the drones. Quite a useful concept.

“Yes,” She nodded, “I will follow your lead.”

Isla bowed her head and walked after Viktor, her eyes narrowing in the darkness. For a moment, there was silence between them, only the sounds of their boots against the rocky floor of the cave.

“Did you develop those drones yours--”

Her words were cut short as the ground beneath them seemed to shudder.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

Yellow eyes turned to [member="Isla Ashen"] as the ground trembled around them. Small bits of dust fell around them as he pulled her close, covering the both of them. Data continued pouring into his glasses as the trembling subsided. Slowly, he stood up as the dust began to settle. "Just a bit of seismic activity. Nothing to worry about." he said.

Coughing a bit, he brushed the dust off of the both of them before standing straight. "Odd. That should've fed into our sensors..." Turning back to Isla, he smirked. "Though, I wouldn't worry much about it." Brushing the remaining dust in his hair and on his shoulders off, he started walking again.

"A classmate of mine at the University of Coruscant built them. I paid him quite a fee to make me a set as well. They've come in handy more times than I can remember." With the light of Isla's glow rod, he was able to find the outline of the generator. Approaching it, he fumbled with a few of the switches as it slowly came to life. The lights throughout the mine began coming to life as well.

"Et voila."

 

[Isla Ashen]

As the ground shook, Isla was more than surprised to find herself in a protective embrace. Small bits of rock dropped around them, and the cave seemed almost to exhale a dusty breath. She turned her head into the crook of her elbow to cough, and cleared her throat. Before she knew it, [member="Viktor DuSang"] was working to brush her shoulders clean of debris. The redhead only smiled; a little bit of rubble never hurt anyone.

“If you say so.” Isla replied to Viktor’s reassuring words. Her voice was steady, but the shaking ground, coupled with the enclosed space of the cave made her nervous. Her gaze shifted to her left, she focused on the wall of the cave, forcing herself to acknowledge that they were not actually closing in. Slowly, her mind grew calm once more, and she let her attention move to the words Viktor was speaking.

A few more paces brought the pair into a large chamber, the dim shadow of machinery visible within. It seemed that they had found what they were looking for. Isla stood just off to the side as Viktor fiddled with the switches on the generator, she knew that she would be of little help to him. She listened to the hum of the machine, and watched as the lights flickered on. Just like that, the mine seemed to be alive.

“Well done, indeed.” She said with a grin, crossing her arms. “And now, I suppose we wait?”

Her gaze shifted about the small area, stairs and catwalks lined the walls. From what she could tell, they connected to tunnels and other chambers. Perhaps it would be worth exploring.