Into the Abyss (Enyo)

[Laira Darkhold]

Orthus smashed hard against the wall from the concussive blast of the missile, his frail form not suited to taking heavy bumps and so he had been unable to remain upright even though Enyo had dissipated a great deal of the force with her protective shield. He groaned to his feet, no adrenaline to dull the small pains in his chest or back. Numbness didn't describe his condition, just desensitized to the more enjoyable parts of life. All the pain still felt real.

With a wave of his hand, he pulled the water from his cloak and let it fall, droplets peeling from his form to mix with the sea water on the floor. The small little glowlamp floating near his head, casting its light down the now quiet corridor. Orthus made note that next time he should act more defensively and protectively, but it had been such a long time, over a decade since he'd participated in direct combat. His skills were rusty. The Sith had never been trained or taught the rigors of war in their totality, having been raised to be a mystic and a spy. Even before he had ever become a Sith, Orthus had been an agent watching and observing, compiling data and wreaking havoc through various followers.

Such acts were not his strengths, but they were necessary. He made a mental note to pick up training and sparring with Siv once more, she was more his speed for battle compared to the others. And she would likely revel in the opportunity. These two seemed to be better suited for combat than he, and so he decided to support them rather than directly participate were possible. "We should be careful continuing on. That much noise may attract more of them. Or whatever else is lurking in this place." Palpatine had written a book on the creation of monsters, and this was the remnants of his private laboratory on his secret throne world.

At least the scan of the droid would be useful for the Revenant.

~

Deep in the unknown of space a single shuttle returned to the titanic silhouette of the Erebos. Its passenger passed through corridors at a leisurely pace, bright red skin contrasted by the white dress she wore and the black tattoos on her neck and back that were visible. Darth Siv strode from the hangar closest to the Dark Master's sepulchre. The darkened corridors were bare and empty, the Dark Acolytes who normally frequented the area had already turned in for the night and the maintenance droids were making a point to remain out of sight and out of mind.

The doors of the Inner Sanctum slid open, Siv flowed into the room. The throne was empty, but her master never much liked the chair. He used it because it was a symbol that projected authority and its ability to assist him with the more complex Sith Rituals. She could remember him having her use it to cast certain spells during her training, proving to the other two that she was the one destined to succeed him when the Dark Master was finally permitted to retire in the comfort he deserved.

She knelt in the center of the room, "Master," her voice cool and coquettish, almost sweet. "My mission was successful, I-"

"He's not here." The mechanical voice, altered heavily by the vocalizer in the helmet spoke. From the shadows Cerberus emerged.

"Where did he go? He didn't mention anything to me?" The pureblood spat, as though addressing the older man was almost beneath her station to do. "He would never have left without saying something."

"His Voice had a meeting with some woman on Byss."

Oh good, she thought, quietly suppressing the initial twinge of fear and worry that had arisen when she thought he had left in his true body. Then instead of fear and worry, jealousy and envy took their place in her heart. "What woman?" The venom in her voice was clear.

"Enyo Typhos." Cerberus was never one for words.

Siv simply glared at him, considering he should have left with the Master and remaining here was negligent. Even if it was his Voice, the Master had used that body her entire life and he would no doubt be devastated if it was lost. Cerberus should have known better and escorted him, or at least suggested it. "Well, I'm sure she will be honored to have met the Master in person." The redskinned woman turned back towards the throne. It called to her, but she wasn't ready. Orthus would tell her when it was her time to sit upon it, to project her authority across the Revenant so that he didn't have to, but not yet.

The sooner he could, the sooner she could bear the burden and he could recover from his centuries holding the galaxy together. "I'll be in my quarters. Ensure that I'm told when he returns with enough time to clean up and look presentable before he lands."

Cerberus didn't respond, he just slunk back into the shadows of the room where he had been. He'd better tell her.

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


Enyo gave the Sith Lord a curt nod. "You alright?" she asked Alexia. Her tone was void of emotion.

"Fine," was the response. The code of the 'tough queen' was never to show weakness or admit discomfort. Even if to do so was common sense. She noted that Enyo's organic covering had taken damage, but said nothing. Here and there cracks could be seen in her flesh.

"Take point," Enyo commanded the one Dark Trooper who was left standing. Orthus was not the only one who saw the value in reverse-engineering Palpatine's ancient toys. The Cyborg could make good use of it and undoubtedly improve on the design.

"By your command," the droid spoke in its dull monotone and moved forth to act as point man. The fact that it had been shooting at them just a couple moments ago did not faze it. Droids were easy that way since it was all just programming. Regardless, off they went into the dark.


Water levels seemed to rise as they moved deeper into the facility. Down here, there was barely any illumination. Power seemed to have died ages ago. Here and there, they came across skeletons that had long been stripped of flesh, broken droids or computer monitors that had given up the ghost ages ago. Alexia moved cautiously, keeping an eye on the war droid, just in case Enyo's preternatural reprogramming was undone in some way. She could not shake off the feeling that they were being watched.


Silhouettes moved in the shadows. Then they came. The corridor was narrow, the turbolift far ahead of the party was dead. Monstrous beasts pounced them, with vertebrate-like bodies, protective exoskeletons, long, forked tails and elongated domed heads that sported toothed maws. Speaking of teeth, there were a great many of them and their mouths dripped with acidic saliva. Despite their size, the beasts were quick on their feet, matching the agility of a Force-User with a good grasp of Force Speed, though they still fell short of the high standards established by Sonic the Sith.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

She appeared injured, but her presence expressed no pain or discomfort that he could sense. Either she was very good at concealing the minutia and details of her presence, which would indicate a great deal of control. Or she wasn't in any pain. Experience told Orthus the later was most likely correct, and he was certainly curious in his own way, mostly to know the details simply to know. Information was the path to power he had walked all his life, why would it suddenly change now. He made a mental note to investigate the situation once they had claimed their prize within the tomb of old Byss, better to wait and not have his curiosity take control.

The water deepened, his trousers and floor length tunic clinging to his skin once more as the now four made their way into the tomb. Mechu-deru was an interesting specialty, and spoke to one of the many reasons Enyo Typhos's name had frequented his logs in regards to cybernetics and droids. As knowledgeable as the Dark Master may have been, proficient in every use of the Force he was certainly not.

Dim glow from the floating orb dulled in this dark place, old monitors, skeletons, and rotted tatters of clothes and uniforms littered the area. His senses were condensed, focusing on himself and his companions rather than attempting to find every living creature in the facility. Instead he was focusing his senses on prediction, as was his nature as a Voss. Suddenly there was the strong sensation of malice, impending violence in the back of his mind. "Danger-" was all he was able to mouth before the first creature pounced from the darkness.

Teeth and claws, spear-like tail all came at him. Red Lightsaber hissed alive, putting super-heated plasma between himself and the creature, but this was just instinct. His thoughts turned to defensive, as his initial lessons had taught. Protect himself and outlast. Physical endurance may have been beyond his body and spirit's ability, but the wellspring of the Force was as deep as ever. Outstretched claws dug into black fabric before Orthus could even protect himself, trying to smash into him with the beast's full weight and send him crashing to the ground. Lightsaber dug into one of the beast's shoulders, but it was too late for it to attempt to stop. Maw opened and toothed tongue visible in the gloom readied to pierce the Sith's flesh for his intrusion. Just before it could, the creature impacted an invisible barrier of kinetic energy as the Sith Lord created a small pulse of energy careening down the corridor. It's claws took small pieces of the Dark Master's body with it, blood dripping from several opened wounds and torn clothing.

Separate, isolate. Two simple hunting tactics used by pack hunting predators in the wild all across the galaxy. It would be easier for his more melee suited companions to fight these creatures off if they came in piecemeal.

More importantly, it would be easier to survive and stick together if the creatures had a harder time separating the quartet from one another. Orthus shifted his position to stand behind Alexia, his palm falling against her back gently, flooding her body with a fragment of his power in the form of raw physical ability. At least this way Enyo wouldn't be slowed down by having to wait on the Sith Lord, allowing her to do as she saw fit to benefit the group. He had to trust in her killer instincts, she hadn't survived this long by being careless.

A fortunate side affect was that it helped Alexia, and might help her to trust him, even if her body was being surged with his scarred and torn presence.

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


Suddenly, xenos!


They seemed to come from everywhere, clinging to the shadows ere they pounced. However, Orthus' barrier kept them from exploiting their numerical supremacy to the fullest. Crossguard lightsabre activated, Enyo lunged to plunge her blade into the elongated, domed skull of a creature that was coming at them from behind. Turning quickly, she raised a single hand and brought an invisible hammerblow down upon a beast, watching as darkened blood splattered upon the wall and anything nearby.


But the fight was not over. A xenomorph caught her across the chest with its huge tail and sent her tumbling down, impacting upon the floor with a heavy thud. Moving quickly, the beast pounced upon the Cyborg, straddling her. It tore at her with its huge teeth and claws, slicing through her flesh. Using its full body weight, it kept her down. Then there was a bright flash, and the beast hissed in anguish when an ion disruptor beam shot from her wrist and pierced its shoulder. Giving it no time to respond, Enyo grabbed its head and ripped it from the beast's torso. However, as she did so, she was splattered with acidic ichor. "Their blood is acidic. Avoid it," she informed her companions matter-of-factly, quickly willing her lightsabre into her hand to defend herself from another beast. Her blade moved in the fluid patterns of Soresu.


"Nice to know," Alexia grunted, her self-control eroding in the face of the onslaught. She was not equipped to fight hordes. Her shatterpistol had a low firing rate, after all. To fear was shameful, but she was afraid. Fear fed her anger. Anger gave her strength...as did something else, when she suddenly felt the Sith Lord press his palm against her back. She wanted to push the alien presence out of her mind, but then she was suddenly flooded with a surge of power.


Was this the kind of power Enyo felt? The one Masters wielded? This was not the time for deep thoughts. But she felt her horizons being expanded, her senses sharpened and her reflexes being amplified. Anger, fear and vigour found an oulet when she sucked in air and roared. Her scream produced a strong shockwave that shattered a beast's hearing and smashed into a wall. Spotting another monstrosity getting ready to leap down from the ceiling, the clone felt the Force surge through her muscles and leapt skyward. Its claws slashed at her, blood dripping from minor wounds, and she clove through its skull, quickly pushing the beast away. But where it fell, more came. She was lucky to dodge when a beast shot towards her.


Enyo, who was by now looking increasingly grotesque, had taken stock of the situation. The entire facility seemed to have gone dark. There was certainly no light in this corridor. This meant the creatures would be used to darkness. "Protect your eyes. I shall flash them." The primary use of Force Flash lay in remaining undected by temporarily disabling holocams. But it could also be used to produce an unnaturally bright flash of light to blind others.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

This sort of foe Orthus could at least do more than assist with. He could feel the twinges in their minds, the thoughts, above those of instincts and alchemically altered rage like the Terentatek. Enyo set about engaging them in close quarters with brutal efficiency, slashing and blasting with a combination of lightsaber and cybernetic prosthesis. She wasn't what the Sith had expected, but she was performing as he had hoped. More than just holding her own.

Alexia with a surge of his power manifesting within her was able to do likewise, though it wouldn't last forever before eventually his strength waned from her body. For now the adrenaline surge would serve its purpose and she would be able to hold her own against the horde. Afterwards he could show his kinder side and heal her injuries. Depending on how she took to him, she might make a good Voice one day, with the proper rituals and preparation, and depending on how strongly tied she was to the cyborg. Orthus and the darktrooper, already heavily damaged from acid and repeated strikes, were the last two standing side by side. One of the xenomorphs dodged out from the droid's autocannon and charged at the Sith Lord in the midst of the chaos.

"Stop." By the time the words left the Sith's mouth, the creature skidded to a hault, visibly shaking and struggling. Its mind was struggling against every fiber of its body, wanting nothing more than to kill, but it could not. The verbal and somatic components of the Force could be overcome, with skill and practice, but in combat, one always returned to their instincts. To move one's hand, to speak when giving commands spurred by urgency. Orthus was no different, as much as he would like others to believe so. "Kill your kin." With a jerk, the creature set upon another of its own, inner jaws puncturing the carapace of the other's head in a swift kill before going into a slaying frenzy against others. They realized and dragged it down, slaying it. It wasn't an end to the fight, but it sowed disorder and chaos in the otherwise fine tuned pack tactics the beasts were used to.

Orthus returned to using his lightsaber to keep them off himself, the humming blade buzzing around in a wide circle to catch claws and tails sent in his direction. Enyo suddenly called out, and the Sith ensured that his head was turned away from her, trusting in the lenses of his mask to protect him from the burst of light.

It didn't occur to him, or he hadn't noticed in the darkness, that the creatures seemed to be affected by their own acidic blood. How interesting indeed, Orthus could use that.

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


Hearing the call, Alexia averted her eyes. Not a moment too soon, for shortly thereafter a blas tof blazing light emanated from Enyo's hand. Amusingly, in the moment this happened, one of the xenomorphs had pounced her and sunk its teeth into her hand. Biting through her light armour suit and flesh, it met solid Phrik.


Then it hissed in pain and anguish when that same hand suddenly blasted it with blazing light. Blinded and disorientated, it flailed about and she gave it a thunderous kick to dislodge it and push it away. Force Flash was a power she employed sometimes, but mostly to disable holocams and other surveillance tech, rather than on such a broad scale. Thus this onslaught was quite intensive, requiring a notable portion of mana, so to speak. But it served its purpose.


Xenomorphs screeched as the corridor seemed to light up. Being used to the dark, the bright light and searing burns were horrible for them. Some beasts ended up stumbling into pools of their own acidic blood. Yet amidst the screeches, not all beasts were taken out. Feeling excited by her strength, Alexia had advanced to finish beasts off. Yet as she put down a xenomorph with her shatterpistol, another pounced her. Knocked down, she fired once more, but a xenomorph grabbed her.


As the creature tried to drag her away, she swung her lightsabre, trying to dislodge the beast, but to no avail. Activating a concealed holdout blaster, she fired. The monstrosity held on to her tightly, its mouth full of teeth advancing ever close to her, then it was suddenly violently yanked back when Enyo seized it in an iron grip. Not caring about the beast clawing at her, she lifted it up and hurled it into a table. Anyone sensitive to the Force could feel sheer fury emanating from her like a tidal wave. The xenomorph knocked over the table and the old computer monitor. Lifting the monitor with her mind, Enyo smashed its skull. Once, twice. Then she turned and quickly headed over to Alexia, who was getting to her feet. She had sensed something odd about her earlier.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The blast of light flooded the murky corridor, sowing confusion in the ranks of the xenomorphs and silhouetting the trio of villains infiltrating their domain. Some splashed into pools of their own acidic blood, but the horde wasn't defeated, only stunned. Its numbers were thinning, but not their resolve. Whatever the beasts were, they were determined to kill the interlopers at all costs, their territoriality had to be admired.

Orthus acted swiftly, the blackness of his lenses fading as the light died away. With his hands he pulled, his movements becoming fluid as greenish fluid floated through the air, the acidic blood of the xenomorphs pulled into a floating ring surrounding the Dark Master. The ring grew in size and volume as more of their blood drew from the walls and water, joining to the control of the Sith Lord. Orthus stepped forward, twisting his body, hands flowing forward as he unleashed a spout of acid into a small group to cover Alexia's flank.

Arcing his movements, he pulled the spout in a wide circle to rejoin his ring. Perfect, the cascading liquid had resulting in the liquefying of a few of the remaining beasts. He lashed outward, his ring forming what appeared to be a tentacle as he warded off a pair of the creatures, burning their hands with the blood. As he was distracted, his senses suddenly blared with danger. A sudden threat pressed into his mind, but the attack was already underway, there was no undoing it. His senses searched rapidly for the source of the threat, and found it too late.

One of the creatures had slunk into the water, mingling with the bodies of his fallen kin and slowly approached. It had moved as slowly as possible, lurking next to the bodies when the Sith and his companions had been paying attention, and finally reached a point were it could pounce. Then, as the Sith attacked elsewhere, it lunged with all its might, leg muscles surging through the water as it propelled forward.

Orthus let his control lessen, his aid to Alexia slip, he simply couldn't focus on them both and defend himself. Once more he prepared a small barrier to drive the beast back. If his combat instincts had been more finely tuned he might have noticed the creature wasn't projected directly at him. As his kinetic blast erupted it twisted mid air, shifting just enough to land beside the Sith as it had intended, having seen the defensive tactic in use. Its tail was struck by the kinetic force, but simply whipped back towards Orthus.

The Sith gasped. Feeling his stomach ignite with fiery pain filling his left side. He didn't need to look down, but he still did. The creature's tail was driven into his abdomen. In his moment's hesitation the creature rounded on him, looming over the Sith in triumph, prepared to claim its kill with a short puncture of its inner jaws. It didn't notice or care that the Sith Lord's hand gripped its tail. It didn't think about the danger until after lightning was coursing through its body.

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


First a great many xenomorphs were blinded by a blaze of light, then they were flooded by the acidic blood of the fallen keen. Their fierce, territorial nature and predatory instincts were something Enyo could respect. Perhaps these were creatures she could use...after implementing the proper mechanisms to control them.


Being bathed in their own ichor seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Enyo hewed down a beast as it charged her, carving through its tail. As it charged her in a rage, she raised her arm and fired a disruptor beam straight into its mouth, frying its brain. Angry hisses were heard as Orthus electrocuted another beast. Then there was silence.


Having reached the prone form of Alexia, Enyo bent down and knelt. The Dark Trooper stood watch. While damaged, it had made itself useful by shooting at beasts. "You must not be reckless," she admonished her sister. "You seemed stronger than usual," she added as she touched Alexia's shoulder with her partly damaged, metal hand.

"The Sith did something to me. I felt...powerful," Alexia admitted, clearly in pain from her injuries and the withdrawal.

"I see," Enyo's electronic eyes flashed red. "Bite down on some cloth. This will hurt. A lot." Alexia knew her sister was not joking. She never did. A moment later, Enyo poured her dark power into the clone. For Alexia, it felt like a xenomorph's talons were ripping through her and her flesh was burning. Dark healing was never pleasant, especially not Enyo's brand. Alexia bit down on the cloth to keep herself from accidentally biting her tongue off, for she could not allow herself to cry out. Eventually the pain ceased and her wounds seemed to slowly close. Enyo was not a good healer and so it was more of a bandaid than anything else, but it would help get her through.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Red blood filled his hand, leaking from the stomach wound. Already his arms bore scratches and lacerations from the earlier attack of the xenomorphs. With a groan, the Sith Lord stood to his feet clutching his wounded belly with one hand. The Force directed his bodily fluids around the wound, pushing platelets towards the open and torn blood vessels to repair or close the wound. Searing heat poured from his hand, cauterizing the wound as best he could. It would keep him functional, might even save him and allow the Pureblood to be saved. "Yes," He said, his attention turning to Alexia.

His face was obscured by the mask, but by his body language they could certainly tell he was injured. "Its a simple use of the Force, reinforcing your own spirit with my own." It could be made permanent if a ritual version of the ability was cast upon the girl, but he didn't have time to perform such a feat, nor the inclination to empower someone without significant efforts on their part. "Unfortunately I was not able to empower you and perform my own defense as well as necessary. We should continue onward as quickly as we can, before the fight alerts more of the facility to our presence." His voice was matter-of-factly, trying to hide the physical degradation the injury had caused him, purging the pain from his voice and trying to power through it while he contorted the insides of his body to assist the healing process. He watched the dark transfer take place, something he was familiar with, painful to the recipient, tiring to the user. Had he not been forced to focus on his own triage the Sith could have performed it.

"Alexia is it," He started, "You should remain close to me from here on out. I can help you, but I'll need someone to protect me more directly. Just keep your mind clear and open. It will be a stronger bond if you just let me in."

<Let me in.> Orthus whispered telepathically. Battle melds were simplistic for those raised together, trust was easy between those kind. Even his own acolytes took to the ability with some degree of success. For strangers like this, it required a great deal of risk, a leap of faith. Yes it could, if he went searching, reveal a great many secrets. But it would also allow his strength to flow through her, he could even purge her system of pain and discomfort.

"Miss Typhos, I think Alexia should lead the way. I've got her, fret not."

~

Darth Siv was sitting in a bath, lavender scents floating from the tub when she felt a pain in her head. A headache unlike one she had ever felt before. She took several, probably a few too many, pills to alleviate the pain as it radiated throughout her. The pureblood woman tried to ease back and relax once more, but deep in her mind she could feel that her beloved Master was suffering, her instincts telling her to reach out to him.

Siv quickly dressed in a simple atrisian robe and left her lavish quarters, hair still damp as she moved through the corridors within the temple. Dark Acolytes she passed quickly stepped aside and bowed their heads, addressing her as "Lady Siv" as she passed them. They weren't worthy of any response, beneath her. Servants the Dark Master graciously allowed to learn the ways of the Force simply because it was useful to his ends. Winding corridor after winding corridor she reached the doors to the Inner Sanctum. The redskinned woman approached the doors and waved her hand, opening them with the Force.

Within, a single black robed figure waited, as though expecting her. "Amunet." It said in a heavily modulated voice, referring to her by a moniker only his personal attendants ever did. It looked back at the doors as they closed, before the mask regarded her quietly. Siv hated these servants, Orthus's personal butlers, they cleaned his quarters and took care of him. Something she was willing to do, but agreed would take too much of her time to accomplish anything else. Still, they never seemed to give her the respect she deserved. She had earned.

"I've come to see Him. Let me in, now."

"The Master is not taking audiences." The figure motioned towards the door Siv had come through.

"Go and ask him if he will see me, its urgent. It feels like he is in danger." The spot in her mind had not lessened, if anything it seemed to have gotten worse even though she had taken enough drugs to make her enter a euphoric state. And now she was wasting time talking to this servant. She shouldn't have to go through his receptionists, something she'd have to take up with him once she got inside.

The figure didn't take a step, only turned as though to look over its shoulder at the corridor leading to the other rooms. Then it turned back to her, "The Master would like to speak with you."

Good, he was paying attention. That was a good sign that he could feel her presence. The figure lead her through the corridor to the chamber at the end, a simple antechamber with the Dark Master's true form sitting in a comfortable chair. He had an intravenous line hooked to his left arm and two more of the attendants were injecting him with a drug and wiping sweat from his brow. The ancient form of the Voss Sith sat, looking diminished and broken, almost as though he was wasting away before her eyes. His normally vibrant blue skin was dulled, like how human's pale when their blood runs cold.

Siv didn't bother bowing, she simple hurried across the room to kneel, her chin against his knee. "Master, what's happening to you? You seem so sick?"

The metallic voice of her master resounded, "I've got her, fret not."

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


"Stay out of her mind, Sith," Enyo said...icily. It did not matter if the Sith's actions were helpful. It did not matter if he said he was giving Alexia a powerup to make her more capable to fight against the manifold dangers in the facility - and she doubted that was the sole motive. Ever since Archangel had intruded into her mind, she had a visceral revulsion to anyone tampering with hers or that of her siblings. Nor was she the trusting type. Sith were rarely, if ever, operating for merely one purpose.

"No." Alexia felt the Sith try to establish a link with her. She tensed, closing her mind to the best of her ability, just as her sister had taught her. She could, of course, not keep a Master out if he really tried to push...but Enyo would notice. There would be no strings on her.

"I said stay out," Enyo spoke in an even chillier tone. Her crossguard lightsabre was still in her grasp and ignited. If the Sith did not cease, she would not hesitate to strike. The damage she had taken from a Dark Trooper's rocket and what the xenomorphs had inflicted upon her, had turned her appearance grotesque. Her flesh was torn and ripped, revealing her mechanical nature.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Orthus looked up, starring at Alexia as he continued the process of healing his mortal coil. "Very well, if that is your wish. My apologies." He responded to Alexia, as though he wasn't registering that Enyo was speaking or posturing threateningly. He was aware, but it wasn't what she said that warded him off, it was the girl so swiftly and suddenly withdrawing from him that caused his disinterest in pressing the matter further. What little effort he had placed into whispering into her mind slipped back into his own self-preservation. Preservation was at heart, the primary reason for his willingness to establish a bond with the young girl, though Enyo would be quite correct in assuming he had ulterior motives and schemes which could benefit from such a connection. Most of which were contingency plans related to self-preservation.

He turned back to the cyborg woman. She was intriguing, certainly why she was known for cybernetics and artifical technology. A shard perhaps? He'd hopefully get to know her more intimately and have more of her own design revealed to him. He wondered how the cyborg body limited her potential, if it did. "Miss Typhos, you are full of surprises." This was an exercise in trust as it was, and so he would have to respect what boundaries had been established thus far between the trio. Red eyes bored through the mask, watching her closely. Waiting to see if she was satisfied with his withdrawal or if she felt the need to turn upon the Sith anyway. It was possible after all. "I still believe I can assist Alexia without pressing against her mind, however. I will be of more use in such melee that way." Altruism and pragmatism weren't always Sith traits, even for Orthus altruism was not something he often displayed. Every action he took was to gain something, always. The only question here was what did he gain?

Allies, contacts, information from the laboratory they were invading?

"Shall we?" He motioned for them to continue down the corridor, watching to see what the pair would do.

~

"Why have you come to me, little one?" Orthus's voice was cracking, as though wincing with every breath.

Siv hugged at his emaciated legs, pressing her cheek to his knee. "I could sense you were in pain. Is it that Typhos woman? Do you need me to travel to Byss?"

Orthus pushed her head away with his hand, forcing her to look at him instead of burying her face in his robes. "Quiet." He hissed, looking forward into emptiness, his brow furrowing as he focused on something that was not there. She had seen this enough to know that his Voice was concentrating intently on something and that his facial expressions were copying that of his Voice. Sometimes he would also speak the same words if he was distracted enough that he could not carry both conversations at once. A moment passed, "Answer me, little one."

"I was worried about you, Master. I only wanted to ensure you were alright." Her eyes appeared wide, her normally harsh yellow eyes seemed soft and bright. She could see his face return to his expressionless demeanor she had grown so accustomed to.

"Help me. Help me to my bed, I need to focus on the task at hand." He muttered, holding an arm out for one of the Hand to help him stand. It was bad, his body was never meant to survive this long, and without his concentration it suffered and struggled. Without his Voice he would be at risk, but with it, his true form was weak when the Voice became too injured. The Hand approached, but Siv was already rising, glaring cruel daggers at the feminine form that stepped towards the Master. She helped support his weight, slipping under his arm as he stood to act as his crutch to move him into the next room. The female Hand carried the intravenous bag on a stand behind the pair, but was otherwise silent.

The Dark Master's bedroom was sparse, books on a shelf, a desk that he worked at sometimes, and a bed. At least the bed was nice. Siv walked him to the bed and helped him lay down in it, covering him up with a blanket despite that he was still wearing his robes and mask. She wanted him to feel comfortable. "Thank you, little Amunet." He said, his tone sweet and kind.

"Rest Master, I can stay if you'd like?"

"No, no. Return to your leisure, I need to concentrate." His hand brushed her shoulder gently.

"Alright," She said reluctantly, rising to stand beside his bed.

"Thank you, little one. I have always cared for you. You always take such care of me when I am in need." She smiled at his remark, feeling his presence and the emotions he felt when he said it. Her eyes watered, a hint of a smile on her face, hand clenched white knuckle tight. She could feel the hidden meanings and sentiments behind his kind words.

"I know Master. Rest now." Nothing, all he had ever felt for her. But he would, she'd be sure of it.

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Orthus"]


Enyo's robotic eyes did not resume their human colour. Perhaps the damage her skull had sustained had been too significant for that. They retained their blood-red colour. Where flesh had been torn by claws and shrapnel or burnt by acidic blood, metal could be seen. Her Force aura was...twisted. Fractured. Similar to Orthus', yet different. That of a being stuck in limbo between life and death, not quite human, but also not a pure machine.


"Yes," she said flatly. "Proceed," she spoke to the Dark Trooper.

"By your command." Being an obedient drone, it assumed the pointman role and advanced down the corridor. Maybe in the next fight this one would not forget about it. Presumably the war droid had made itself useful by shooting xenomorphs earlier.

Enyo pressed on, taking care not to stop into pools of acidic blood. Her eyes scanned the beast cadavres though. The beasts had been tenacious. Perhaps this was something she could use. Alexia followed in her wake. She had taken a beating and even with Enyo's dark healing, she was not back to being one hundred percent. But she was determined. The further they descended into the facility, the higher the water level. Soon they reached a section that was completely flooded, forcing them to swim.