Lifting the Veil

[Brayden Antares]

Krant

Bright eyes...eyes shared with those of his family but most notably his twin sister [member="Scherezade deWinter"] gazed out at the landscape of Krant. The Executor had no words or rather...no desire to describe the landscape that he saw. As the YT-2000 broke through the cloud layer, Brayden often preferring to operate his own vehicles as opposed to the transports provided by the Knights Obisidian, the Sith Lord issued succinct instructions to the black and silver robed warriors at the controls. "Maintain a direct approach to the Viceroy's residence. I would rather not give this...[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] a reason to engage in unnecessary hostilities."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Inhaling steadily, Brayden briefly adjusted the sleeve of his own black and silver tunic. As this was largely a social interaction, the Sith had opted not to don the traditional Obsidian Strike Armor. His arrival within the atmosphere of Krant had been planned but not exactly...communicated in advance. It had taken a simple amount of effort to confirm that the Viceroy was indeed scheduled to be on the planet prior to his arrival in system. Further more, he'd been passed a fair amount of information about the woman from his uncle. What Brayden had not been privy to, however, were the...silent thoughts that had readily passed between the two during their second and, most likely, final meeting.

Good thing. Brayden no doubt would have judged his uncle harshly for the interaction. As the vessel made a shallow bank onto its final approach course, Brayden watched as the flight crew went through the final phase of the landing cycle. Like Dianah had, apparently, done on Druckenwell, Brayden did not bother with much in the way of communication outside of responding to simple instructions that would invariably be sent to the YT-2000. For the time being, it broadcast an identification code that clearly marked it as a vessel of an Executor of the Knights Obsidian. "I will be in the cargo bay. Notify me if there is an issue."

No response was received before Brayden came to his feet and departed the cockpit.

 

[Darth Miseria]

Deep in the heart of the viceroy's palace Dianah Vi'Dreya sat hunched over the polished wood desk, paper scattered this way and that. One hand rested on her head, fingers impossibly tangled in the thick mass of curls that lay there. It had been a good few hours now since she'd heard a peep from anyone but herself. While she was ordinarily rambunctious and eccentric she still enjoyed the peaceful moments whiled away in the sanctuary her study offered. So, when the hallow sound of someone knocking on the locked doors echoed out through the silence, Dianah couldn't hide her disappointment. She turned slowly, stretching each muscle out gingerly, all to aware that she had been sat still in one place for too long. She knew for a fact the interruption would be a welcome one but it still pained her to stand up and cross the distance to the door.

After a few minutes of fumbling with the lock it swung open on bright silver hinges. The servant that greeted her did so with a bright smile and a cup of something hot and sweet. Dianah took it gratefully as the young woman dove into her explanation. 'Your Highness, someone has just entered Krant. The codes are linked to Brayden Antares, an Executor in the Knight's Obsidian.' A half-smile formed on her expression as she took a slow sip from the steaming cup. 'A surprise visitor?' She paused to mull the name over in her mind. Of course, she knew it. Not because the young woman had just given it to her but because it also belonged to a very near and dear friend. Dianah pushed her slim frame away from the door to step over the threshold and let it swing to a close behind her. 'I suppose we have no choice but to entertain. Prepare something to eat and drink, I think we'll take it in the sun room.'

With a nod the young woman shot off, leaving Dianah to make her own way to the circular room in the shortest tower. She had insisted on gutting the thing entirely till nothing but the structure remained and replacing the ceiling with beautifully crafted glass that let the natural light stream in, no matter day or night. The rounded stone walls that made the room up were covered floor to ceiling in thick rainbow colored materials along with strings of sparkling lights that adorned its circumference. Dianah settled herself into one of the plush chairs, leaning back a little to catch the clouds streaming over the glass roof. It was peaceful in here, far enough away from the main part of the palace to ensure that they wouldn't be disturbed. After all, the brother of one of your best friends didn't show up practically unannounced to make small talk.

[member=Brayden Antares]​

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden had spent the time during final approach silently meditating. His presence stretched and rolled over the landscape of Krant, clearly not used to the concept of being restricted for any reason. There was nothing remarkable of note that immediately touched his senses. It seemed to be a well-populated location, and he detected nor impending malice or hostility.

Within thirty minutes, the YT-2000 had nestled softly onto the ground of the directed landing position. Though it was not necessary, the Lieutenant in charge of Brayden's detail of warriors entered the cargo bay, making a simple statement. "We have arrived, My Prince."

Opening his eyes, Brayden casually came to his feet. "Very well. Remain with the ship. The last thing I need is for the Viceroy to think I have come to engage in hostilities." The Lieutenant offered no response as Brayden, dressed in silver-trimmed black robes of his home planet, proceeded down the loading ramp. The moment he emerged from the modest-looking vessel, the Sith Lord drew in a deep breath of fresh air. He did not prefer life aboard a ship, but he acknowledged the necessity for transport purposes.

The Executor was met immediately by a young woman. Long strands of sandy hair fell to his shoulders, a couple errant strands partially obscuring his bright gaze as it settled on the woman. In a deep, rolling voice, Brayden introduced himself. "Executor Antares. My...apologies for the sudden arrival." Pleasantries exchanged, Brayden followed the woman to one of the towers of the estate. Once inside, Brayden was abandoned at the entrance to a circular room which he could plainly see contained no shortage of sunlight.

Without hesitation or concern, Brayden stepped inside. For a moment, he allowed his gaze to take in the decoration of the room. It was...very bright. In fact it almost seemed a touch excessive to Brayden, but he was but a simple warrior accustomed to sleeping in the dirt among the creatures of nature. Eventually, his bright gaze settled on the woman that matched the image of the Viceroy of Krant. Silence lingered on Brayden's part for a moment before he offered a polite half-bow. "Your Excellency. I apologize for the intrusion." The Sith Lord wanted to immediately get to business, but he was working on his...diplomatic abilities. He had only recently learned that his penchant for getting straight to the point could come off as abrasive and hostile, making any further conversation and progress difficult at the very least.

Though Brayden knew little about Dianah, he wouldn't immediately peg her as the political type. Something about the room and her general appearance seemed to...bright? Then again, Brayden was not about to let them lure him into sense of security. He preferred to err on the side of being polite and courteous but having a plan to kill literally everyone he met.

The exceptions could be counted on one hand, and he was out of fingers for [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] to occupy at the moment.

 

[Darth Miseria]

The refreshments arrived in a timely fashion and were arranged on the large patterned table in the very center of the room. Dianah didn't expect him to actually want to eat or drink anything but it was there if he wanted it, and she was more than happy to indulge in it herself. Nestled on the fluffy carpets, right in front of a fire that was usually lit later in the day, was the massive silver frame of her Loth puppy. Murugan, as he had called himself, was almost as big as her six year old daughter despite being less than a year old himself. He seemed to grow noticeably bigger every day. Dianah wouldn't wake him from his sleep but having him there was a comfort. One caramel colored hand draped lazily over the edge of the chair and reached out to scratch the smooth snow white fur covering his body.

She was just about to tuck into the array of sugary confections displayed in front of her when the door swung open. Dianah stood smoothly, sweeping the green fabric of her dress behind her. Brayden Antares looked nothing like she had expected him too. What had she assumed he would look like? Half of her had expected the double of Madalena, they were twins after all. The other half of her had expected him to look something like his parents, but he was nothing of the sort. The only thing that was remotely similar were the powerful silver-green eyes she had grown accustom to. Nimble fingers flicked thick curls behind her shoulders as she crossed the room to greet him. 'No apology needed. I'm fond of surprise visits. Dianah will do just fine, thank you.' She spoke sweetly, with a pleasant lilt in her tone and a bright smile on her face. 'Please, have a seat.'

Dianah returned to her seat by the snoozing puppy, though instead of idly scratching his head she lent forward to pour out a drink for her guest, followed by one for herself. He could drink it or not, either way she was content to lean against the high backed chair to sip at her own steaming cup. 'So, Brayden Antares. Prince of Endelaan. To what do I owe the pleasure?' As she spoke her eyes scanned his frame and drank in his appearance properly. He was such a commanding presence that she very nearly forgot herself, but Dianah had been down this path before. She remained cool, calm and collected just as a royal should. The only indication that she felt anything at all was the rather amused smile that lit up her dark, chocolate brown eyes.

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Silver-green eyes took in the Loth Wolf...briefly. As his not-sister had stated, Brayden was prepared for the beast's presence. However, he made no move to befriend the creature despite the fondness he indeed had for Madalena's. The unfortunate truth of Brayden's appearance was that he took after other members of his family yet not his direct mother and father. Like his Aunt Asteria and Great-Uncle Jonathan, he had lighter colored hair. The dissimilarities actually stopped there, however. He was the same general build as his father, and his temperament was a pretty even split between mother and father. Given his close connection to Nessarose deWinter in the Darkness, his eyes were more like hers than those of Diomedes.

When the Viceroy offered him a seat, the Sith Lord moved to take it wordlessly, though he did offer a barely perceptible nod of the head. Bright gaze had already lifted to regard [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] when she'd addressed him by title. If this meeting had occurred perhaps a week earlier, he might have actually had a reaction. However, after a recent forced meeting between himself, Caid, and Alwine, Brayden realized the secret of Endelaan had likely already been betrayed by both Caid and Scherezade. Further more, he'd conveyed the truth of his past and family history to Faye not one week later during a particularly...emotionally-charged meeting. Truth be told. The secret would cease to matter in rather short time. Whispered rumors of the planet's existence could remain, but the location would continue to be closely guarded as precious few knew the location still. Purposefully placed Endelaan Warriors within the rank and file of the Confederacy were there to see to this rather...specifically.

"Brayden," the Prince calmly corrected. He was not now nor would he ever be Dianah's Prince. Prior to making this journey, he had...investigated the Vi'Dreya name further. A connection to the Cavataios was not overly complicated to discover, and he knew of the Cavataio connection to his own family perfectly well. He would have loved to say it was not a blood connection, but that was doubly false. However, the Vi'Dreya's were not blood relations. Therefore, for the time being, he regarded them as outsiders. Naturally, it was the child of Asteria and Angelo in addition to Caid that he worried about. How close was the Cavataio clan?

"Dianah. I'm certain your time is precious as is my own. I'm here to discuss Madalena Antares...more accurately Scherezade deWinter, my sister. Unfortunately, I was separated from her some time ago, and I've only just now managed the ability to return. Yet...I have returned to a woman that is, in no way, my sister." The similarities did not matter. Madalena was not Scherezade. "I've heard from many, including Madalena, that you share a friendship. Recently, I've learned that you shared a friendship with Scherezade, so I have one question up front. Are you part of the reason for her feeling so useless and unnecessary that she did this to herself?"

Dianah's answer would directly influence the quality of her life in Brayden's eyes. He wouldn't kill the woman, of course. There was scarcely a point to that at the moment.

At the moment...

 

[Darth Miseria]

His question gave her pause. Such a pause that her tea remained inches away from her pursed lips for more than a minute or two. At first she had no idea what to think, his question was so bold and forward it had taken her completely by surprise. The main emotion coursing through her blood was anger, it bubbled to the surface like a pot of water coming to the boil. Her dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly in the direction of the man who had invited himself into her home then accused her of something beyond horrific. She took a sip of her drink. The blazing hot liquid didn't seem to do much to quench her anger but there was little to do about it now. There was every chance he was just asking for the sake of asking, but Dianah wasn't a fan of his tone or the way he conducted his business. When she spoke she was surprised to hear her voice was calm, but she couldn't prevent the words from flying speedily out of her mouth.

'I'm honestly surprised by how little you've researched into myself, our relationship and this entire mess. Especially considering you've invited yourself into my house to question me.' She leaned forward and set the china cup on the polished wooden table. Murguan stirred slightly at his masters voice but his loud snores quickly filled the quiet room once again. 'It's true I know Madalena in a personal capacity but in the entire time Scherezade was still around I had met her only twice. Once in during a mission and once during a very memorable night out. Neither times did I claim to know her as a friend or otherwise and neither of those times did I have the ability to get to know her on such a level that I could cause this amount of pain, or put that idea in her mind. But thank you very much, Brayden...' She let the word hiss from her mouth, partly in disgust and partly out of annoyance. 'For really putting all your effort into researching this properly and for assuming that I would and could have the capacity to do that to someone. It's very polite of someone I consider a complete stranger.'

[SIZE=10pt]'I don't know how you go about getting information from people in Endelaan but you're not there now. If you're after something specific from me and you're not just here to throw blame around needlessly then please, go ahead and ask. But otherwise you can see yourself out. Third door on your left, straight up the corridor and take a right.' Dianah folded one leg over the other, raising a pruned brow at the now slightly unwelcome guest. [/SIZE]'Will that be all?'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden expression remained flat, stolid. His question, quite literally, had been to trigger an emotional response. It was when one permitted emotion to take hold of their tongue or facilities, that they delivered the rawest form of their truth. The statements from [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] rolled forth without second thought or any of the restrictions he knew many a politician were fond of. That was what Brayden did not have time for. Outside of that, there was certainly no public information available on a personal relationship. That was preposterous. Further more, interrogating Madalena on the subject was out of the question. If Brayden had done that or notified Dianah in advance, then Madalena would know what he was doing. That was not an irritant that the Sith Lord required or was willing to endure.

After several long moments, Brayden allowed a broad, almost charming smile to slip across his lips. Eventually, a brief, deep laughter rumbled from within the core of his diaphragm. Eventually, the laughter subsided as the Sith's bright gaze lingered over Dianah's lithe form. A single nod of approval and just maybe a hint of something more preceded his next statements. "I get my information from asking questions to which I do not know the answer. Since my arrival within Confederacy space, I have discovered my twin sister, a piece of my soul, to be other than my sister. In my investigations, I eventually stumbled upon the indication that her condition is self-inflicted. From there, my mission has been to find the reason...the cause for such a reality to come to pass. From betrayed love, to betrayed friendships, to lack of appreciation for her services, I have discovered that my sister, my blood has been completely without the feeling of true friendship, love, or even just simple decency. Every single time she placed her trust in someone, it was betrayed. Now...your name was among precisely three that Madalena has mentioned to me, mentioned as friends. Yet for all that my investigation has revealed, the overwhelming majority of her friends have betrayed her."

A brief pause hung in the air as Brayden waited a moment. "So if you were expecting me to arrive here, full of trust and respect for someone that, clearly, knows Madalena is not who she is but has, for all I can tell, done nothing, you are in the wrong. I do not care if this is your residence. I do not care if you maintain stewardship over this planet or any other. I'm not here for you or your planet. I am here for my sister. A sister that I entered this galaxy with. A sister that was ripped from me at infancy...can you imagine the pain of feeling part of your heart ripped from you as you are plunged into eternal darkness? Just to emerge and realize the galaxy you have emerged into is nothing like that which you left. To realize your parents and anyone that could have known you is dead and gone. Living with that reality for years upon years. When you are reunited, you realize people have either caused the person that holds your heart pain...or simply stood by while she descended further into a life, a person that is not her. My sister, for all intents and purpose, is a prisoner whether of her own hand or not, driven to this state. You cavort with this false-self and somehow imagine you are without any blame or deserving of some type of respect? Well. You are wrong."

If Dianah really wanted to know how he felt, what this was like, he would happily remove all that he held dear in her life from existence. See how much she cared to be polite and respectful as she discovered all that were responsible one way or another. Dianah may not have caused this to happen to Scherezade, but she certainly was not lifting a finger to correct the situation. Pausing for a moment, Brayden came to his feet.

As he casually walked towards one of the walls, he allowed himself time to evaluate the decor. "Now should I..." Halting his progress, Brayden turned to affix Dianah with a serious glint as he approached her, walking behind the seat upon which she dressed so elegantly. "...give you a moment, or are you willing..." Stopping behind her, Brayden leaned forward such that his head was beside her own but not so intimately inside her personal space. Turning his head to gaze upon her, long strands of sandy hair obscured one of his bright orbs. "...to continue?"

A flutter of something was easily forced down as Brayden pushed away from the Viceroy's seat. Quietly, he returned to his own and sat once more. There were beautiful, alluring women everywhere, but in the end none ever held a candle to the absolute other half of his heart. In that moment he longed desperately for Faye's presence. A constant sensation that he was only marginally successful at overcoming from time to time when his focus was absolutely necessary.

Even then, the powerful radiance of her strength and beauty always pushed at the edge of his mind. A constant reminder of the perfection that awaited him but a mere spacecraft ride away. First though, he would gladly burn this woman's entire world around her if she insisted on playing games and thinking only of herself and her respect than someone she apparently claimed to know as a friend. "If you were not one of the plethora of people responsible, but you do know who Scherezade is, then perhaps you might explain to me your relationship with Madalena. More specifically, I'm curious as to what your motivation has been for playing along with the situation, so to speak?"

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her eyes flickered from the table to the blurred outline of Brayden beside her. As he came into focus she rolled her eyes, obviously and in plain sight of him. He thought he was being cute but it was more irritating than anything. She did have a moment to think about why he was there though. She couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy for the Endelaan Prince. She knew little of his personal life but she knew a lot of Madalena's, Dianah imagined his wasn't that much different. Regardless, she waved her slim hand in his direction, focusing her attention back on the spread in front of them.

When she opened her mouth she seemed a little more relaxed, answering him with an apologetic note to her lilting voice. 'Madalena is my friend. We went on our first mission together some months back and we stuck like glue since then. That's where we got the Loth puppies, I'm sure you're very familiar with hers. This is his brother, Murugan.' She paused and pursed her lips a little to think hard on what her words would be next. 'I knew it was Scherezade when I saw her. The eyes gave it away. But... let me ask you a question. Do you walk up to someone you barely know and tell them they're not who they think they are, completely destroying their world and dragging them back to an existence they were all but ready to give up for good? I mean, obviously you're completely fine with walking into strangers homes and demanding personal information, we've established that. But to rip them from their life, their happy life and back into one that was filled with a pain so deep it would have never been cured? Not my style, thank you very much. I might be knowledgeable on the subject but that was only after I met Madalena for the first time. I barely knew Scherezade, she wasn't my acquaintance, or a friend. She was just a person. Madalena is more than that to me. She might not be your sister but she's a person in her own right. It was Scherezade's decision to do this and hers alone. Nobody could have stopped her.'

'I think you answered your own question. Self-Inflicted. Nobody had anything to do with this beside Scherezade herself. And nobody, not even you Brayden, would have been able to stop her once she had made her mind up. Gerwald caused untold damage, to her mind and her spirit. I barely knew Scherezade, not enough to have an opinion on the matter anyway. I couldn't have stopped her even if I was there that night. You know yourself she's stubborn and immovable when she wants to be. What right did a stranger have to interrupt her life and a decision she'd been making for untold months? None. Neither of us where there when it occurred but I can tell you it crushed her. She wasn't the Scherezade you knew, even though her mannerisms might have been the same. She was a shell of a person. Barely spoke, barely ate, drank only alcohol... she wasn't happy.'

'I played along because back then I had no idea why Scherezade had done that to herself, nor did I have any right to know. She wasn't injured, upset, anxious or anything along the lines that suggested she might be in some danger. She seemed happy, happier than when I had known her briefly as Scherezade. What right does a stranger have to interrupt that? I couldn't have found a reason in the entire Galaxy, not even if I spent a million years looking for one.'

Dianah reached for her cup once again, bringing with it a sweet treat. She could still feel him behind her but that was of little importance. Dianah didn't quite know how to make this man understand that there was nothing she could have done, even if she had wanted to do something. He would just have to take her word for it. 'Why do I continue to treat her as Madalena and not Scherezade?' Dianah shrugged her shoulders softly, humming as she took a sip of the now chilled liquid. 'I know now how much it hurt her being Scherezade, how much pain it caused her. But even before that, before I knew, before I pieced the puzzle together... I continue because she's my friend, and she is happy.'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Sympathy was neither what Brayden wanted or need. If that was an angle or a need he had desired to stroke, his approach to [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] would have been much different. The Sith Lord had read a number of operational reports on the woman, including her psychological profile. While a series of documents did not give any real clear insight into a person, it gave...an impression. The simple reality was, Dianah had the capacity to feel just as much as she had the capacity to take life. In that regard, they shared a lot in common. Brayden knew true love too, he knew a longing for something more, but it did not make him anything other than focused in his objectives.

As the woman offered her response, the Endelaan Prince listened intently. There were just so many branches and random connections between Scherezade's actions, Madalena's actions, friends that crossed the boundaries, some that did not. The Sith Lord rejected the notion that nobody could have stopped Scherezade. That was a cop out, an excuse that everyone would utilize after the fact to justify having done nothing. However, as Dianah, apparently, had not known Scherezade, no blame rested with her.

It did amuse him, however, for Dianah to imply knowing him or his sister so well as to know what would or would not have helped her, stopped her from becoming this. However, rather than have much of any reaction apart from a single raised eyebrow, Brayden was a beacon of tranquility. "She's your friend," Brayden quietly repeated. "She is a fabrication. While neither of us really know why she created this persona, I'm sure we are both intelligent enough to arrive at a logical conclusion."

Brayden exhaled softly. "She did this to create a persona, a projection of what she thought people wanted, expected her to be. So, yes, of course this projection, this false person is happy. She was created to be so, to be appealing to others." Leaning forward slightly, Brayden posed another serious question. "Do you think that you...reacting precisely as Scherezade likely thought all those around her would act is helping Scherezade? If anything, you only consistently remind what is left of my sister inside that mind...that everyone really is better off without her, that nobody really wants her."

Brayden shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I cast no aspersions on you for enjoying your time, but as I said, I'm not here for you. This is not about you. This is about a piece of my heart, my family that feels she needs to stay hidden away because the galaxy and everyone in it is better off. I do not care how broken Scherezade was, became, or seemed to anyone. She is my sister, my blood either way. I do not care if it takes all of the rest of my years, I'll not have her go on believing that people want and enjoy this Madalena more than her. All I really need to know...is if you will help me give Scherezade the opportunity at happiness?"

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah remained entirely silent while Brayden spoke, one hand wrapped around the cup and the other resting on top of the Loth puppy. He kept his emotions close to his chest, enough so that she couldn't really tell how he was truly feeling, but that mattered little in the moment. For some reason he was determined to find someone to blame or someone to pin the whole mess on save for the only person who's fault it truly was: Scherezade. Not that it was her fault exactly, but she did set the whole situation in motion and make the choice to do it regardless of what her friends said.

'I'm not sure what you expect me to say. I'm sure I would have loved Scherezade as much as I love Madalena, but I never got the chance to know her so the question is mo0t.' Dianah rolled her eyes and lent back against the chair, heaving out a heavy sigh as she spoke her next words. [SIZE=10pt]'I'm not sure what you're trying to suggest but you're completely wrong. I didn't know Scherezade before Madalena. I met her twice. If you're trying to make me feel guilty about it all then I'm sorry but it's not working. I had nothing to do with what she did to herself, nor do I have anything to do with it currently. If you're looking for someone to partially blame you can go and find Josh Dragonsflame or Daisy Americus. They both knew Scherezade very well before she turned into Madalena.'[/SIZE]

'I'm aware it's not about me, yet you've come here to ask me questions. I'm just answering them as best I can. Whether you care to hear it or not I'm sorry you lost Scherezade, truly I am.' [SIZE=10pt]Dianah paused. His last question was difficult to answer. Madalena was first and foremost her friend. She had never gotten the chance to know Scherezade and what knowledge she did possess of the woman wasn't enough to decide if this whole situation was what she really wanted. The pause lasted for longer than she expected it too, but eventually she opened her mouth to reply. 'What do you need from me?'[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member=Brayden Antares][/SIZE]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden too remained silent throughout the entirety of Dianah’s retort. It seemed as though she still was not understanding him, but it seemed of little consequence. He supposed the woman could not be blamed for inadvertently making [member="Scherezade deWinter"]’s situation worst, but she did deserve to know, to understand why his emotions on the matter were so strong.

At this point, Brayden was well past genuinely blaming anyone. What had happened...happened. Now, the Sith Lord merely wanted to fix things. The question was...how to revert Scherezade to her previous state safely and effectively? The entire reason he had traveled to Krant was to find out the most effective way to do this. What he had not considered...was that Madalena had crested her own life with her own friends. How did he justify the destruction of one to save another?

The answer was easily, but give and take would always exist as a real concept. What would his father have done in this situation? The answer was immediately apparent. He would have done anything and everything.

”Your help. It would seem you are the one to know Madalena best. I need to know if you’ve ever noticed...anything they might indicate a weakness, a fault that could lift my sister from her self-imposed exile.” Pausing, Brayden considered something for a few moments before he concluded. ”In return, I will show and help you preserve the essence of the person you have come to know as Madalena Antares. I can teach you to assist me in placing her in her own body, enabling her to live her own life. This, however, is not possible until we break down the spell my sister has created.”

Leaning forward, Brayden’s expression softened as his bright silver-green eyes sparkled with honesty and no small amount of compassion for the predicament Dianah was in. ”One need not die for the sake of the other. Will you help me?”

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah nodded and lifted herself up off the chair. With a simple wave of her hand the ornate fire place burst into life and spread a warm glow around the circular room. The Loth puppy seemed to enjoy this immensely, he rolled her and stretched out, tummy facing the blistering heat that rolled off the flickering orange flame. She sighed, a deep thoughtful sigh that seemed to stretch way beyond the glass ceiling. How could she trust this stranger to keep her friend safe? Madalena might not have been his sister, and she may have been prancing around in a body that didn't rightfully belong to her, but she was a person in her own right. Hell, Maddy didn't even ask to be born never mind having any kind of say in Scherezade's life or decisions. Could she bare to lose her best friend in order to make someone else, a complete stranger, happy?

Dianah, turning away from the fire to face Brayden, set her chocolate brown eyes onto his shimmering green ones. She stared for longer than she dared, trying to figure out if this man would keep his promise and save her friend as well as his sister. The conflict raging inside her was something she rarely had to deal with. Some people might have looked upon the situation and thought the decision was easy to make. Maddy wasn't really real... but to Dianah she was as real as the man in front of her, or the man she left behind in bed this morning, or the daughter that played loudly in the palace gardens.

She pressed her lips together, loathed to say the next words, but they came anyway. 'I will help you.' She shifted to perch on the edge of the table directly in front of Brayden. 'You won't need a weakness or a chink in the armor.' Dianah lifted her hand to the dip at the bottom of her neck and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She knew the moment she said the words that would be it, Brayden would have his answer. Whether he was a man of his word or not remained to be seen. There was no telling whether his promise meant anything to him, let alone if he truly realized how much it meant to her. There was a large chance she would lose her best friend, but what if it were one of her sisters in this predicament? She'd do everything in her power to bring them back.

'I know how to break the spell.'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden reaction was almost fantastically anticlimactic. This reality did not exist because the Prince did not care. Quite the opposite, there were a number of emotions radiating throughout his body. Chief among them...was his concern for his sister. A...distant...second was his begrudging understanding that the woman before him had created a relationship with Madalena.

Madalena’s rights did not factor in at all. She was not a life born into this world, she was a false persona created exclusively by his sister. It was the same as Scherezade having a split personality and someone deciding they liked one over the other. How did anyone choose between the two? That was the only real question, he supposed.

Yet one reality remained. Brayden wanted and needed his sister back. Madalena could have her life, sure, but she would absolutely and unequivocally not be a part of his. Further more, he had an idea as to how to bring her to life. He was certain Madalena would see it as her becoming his sister. In truth she would continue to be rather little more than an experiment gone wrong to him, solidified by her inhabiting one of the embryos left behind by his parents.

After several moments of perfect stillness and silence, Brayden had but one thing to say. ”Go on.”

 

[Darth Miseria]

'There are two ways. One is aboard the ship known as The Giggledust, owned by one of your Aunts. Morgaine, I think? It was were Scherezade broke. The first way is the hard way, the long and likely traumatic way. I'd suggest against it, but I can't stop you if you decide this is the best way...' Dianah paused and gave him an inquisitive stare. She wouldn't let him hurt Madalena and though she knew little of the woman who had come before her, she wouldn't let him hurt her either. He cared for Scherezade, clearly, but most of all he just didn't seem like the type. 'The entire first floor of the hanger bay is covered head to toe in blood magic. Her blood. Seeing it will shatter the spell and she'll come right back. I can imagine it would be a painful process for her though.'

Dianah paused for a moment. She couldn't decide if it was for his benefit or for hers. Did he need time to process it and think about how accessible the ship was? Did he want to consider ripping Madalena from the life she had been forced to live? With a shrug of her shoulders her train of thought was abandoned and she focused again on Brayden. 'The second is finding a place where Scherezade belongs. She left the Galaxy thinking there was nowhere. I'm not sure exactly how you would do that, whether it's Scherezade's idea of belonging or Madalena's or your own...' Now he had his answer. Scherezade would return. Dianah couldn't say how soon the Endelaan Prince would want to bring her back... The thought made her instantly want to call Madalena, to invite her over and spend a little quality time with the friend she wasn't sure she'd see again.

'That's it.' It all felt a little anticlimactic. For such an eccentric woman she often found herself in conversation with the most emotionally stunted people. Even her husband had been incredibly different when they had first met. Dianah shook her head and sighed heavily, the edge of the table pressing up against her thighs was starting to hurt. 'Can I come with you? To break the spell?' The question surprised her. As she spoke she seemed rather taken aback by her own words. Dianah couldn't decide if it had been rude to ask. This entire mission seemed incredibly personal in more ways than one, especially for Brayden. Yet the more she thought on it the more she realized Madalena should have someone there too. Someone who cares for her as much as Brayden cares for Scherezade.

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden was silent for several moments after [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] had finished speaking. The second method didn't even really seem like a viable method. The memories provided by his mother were enough for the Endelaan native to instantly recognize the name of the Giggledust. Where Brayden had been very emotional about getting his sister back, he was surprisingly serene now that he had the information he needed. The promise he'd made with regards to Madalena would be upheld. It wasn't really a big deal, but it would be time consuming. Further more, Brayden had merely said he would facilitate the transference of her essence. It was completely secondary, and Madalena still was not a real person.

Finally, Brayden came to his feet. There were plans that had to be put into place before he could even be bothered to coax Madalena onto the Giggledust. "Thank you," was the comment that fell from Brayden's lips as his silver-green eyes settled over Dianah's frame. Though his gaze certainly lingered, there was no other outward sign of any thoughts to the woman one way or the other. Following a much briefer period of silence, he replied to her request. "You and only you."

Abruptly, Brayden turned and began to retreat towards the room's exit. Pausing for but a moment, he looked back over his shoulder at Dianah. "There are preparations to make." The Sith Lord sensed the woman's present knowledge of the Force would be of little assistance in the literal process of transferring the essence. However, as he presently was distant from Madalena on purpose, she could serve him well as a mechanism for acquiring her participation. "I suggest you and Madalena take a trip. I'm quite certain she could do with friends now. I will send you the location on where to bring her in the coming days. Oh and Dianah, breathing a word of the true plan to Madalena will not bode well for any of us."

Swiftly, the Endelaan native disappeared from the room. He had only made it to the other side of the door when the tidal wave of emotions that he'd been holding back...hit him full force. Out of view from the woman, the large Sith stumbled, forcing him to reach out a hand and brace himself against the wall. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes, but he could not say what particular emotion they indicated. Relief at having discovered what was necessary to bring his sister back? Happiness that, potentially, in a few short weeks he might be able to hold her and truly learn what had happened in her life throughout their separation? Anger that anyone could have this level of knowledge and, obviously, insight into the struggle of the woman and do nothing? Seething hatred for those that had caused the situation in the first place? Longing to be in the tender embrace of Faye Malvern once again, undoubtedly the only place the Prince genuinely felt happy and secure as of late?

All of it, in the end, was no doubt true. Letting the tears roll down his cheeks, Brayden pushed off the wall and began walking once more. As he did, he withdrew his communicator and dispatched a message to Faye. He wanted her with him through...anything. "I need to see you, beautiful. I have news, and I need your advice."

 

[Faye Malvern]

Faye swung round slowly in the revolving pilots chair, catching glimpses of Krant as the viewport whizzed past her vision. When Brayden wasn't aboard, his ship was the most boring thing in existence. The vast rolling hills and tall mountains held her interest for precisely half an hour before they too became monotonous. For a large portion of the evening she had honed in on his emotions, using the connection they shared and her gift, but even that got boring after while. He was doing well enough on his own and, save for the sparse spikes of sorrow she felt, he didn't seem to need her help.

More than once she considered standing up out of the chair, abandoning the ship to the care of the guards and wondering through the palace to find him. More than once she talked herself out of it, reminding herself that Brayden needed to do this for himself. Instead she took the time to consider the whole crazy situation. She had met 'Madalena' only once but in those few minutes that they talked she could feel how much it hurt Brayden. Losing his sister but having her right there in front of him must be torture. She couldn't even begin to imagine how she would feel if it were Adron. Then again she didn't really need to imagine. She could feel how he felt consistently and, when he wasn't overwhelmed with the love they shared, he was thinking about Scherezade. A shrill sound broke her train of thought. Almost instantly Faye shot up out of the chair and scrambled toward the navigation console where her commlink sat. Her eyes skimmed the message as quickly as she could.

The landing ramp crashed to the ground, sending up a swirling tornado of dust and debris. Faye wasted no time walking briskly up to the palace doors, in fact she hardly even gave anyone time to answer the door. The closer she got the more she could feel his pain, it only made her speed up as she followed his signature through the maze of corridors. 'Brayden?' She called out, her usually sweet voice filled with concern. When her eyes found him slowly walking toward her she almost cried out. 'My love, what's wrong?' In an instant she had closed the distance between them, one of her arms slipped around his waist and the other wiped a tear from his cheek. The sight of him crying broke her heart into a million pieces.

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

The rapid closing of [member="Faye Malvern"]'s presence did not go unnoticed by Brayden. Taking an deep inhale, the Sith Lord attempted to steel his nerves just as he started walking once more. As soon as Brayden's feet started to move, Faye materialized from around the corner. Despite the number of emotions rolling through his mind, the feeling of Faye's presence closing and merging with his own was like a wash of warmth. As such, a warm smile spread across his lips as he accepted the smaller woman into his arms.

After depositing a soft kiss to the side of Faye's head, Brayden stopped walking and allowed his love to tend to the tears on his cheeks. "I'll be ok it's just. I never really realized how alone and rejected my sister felt here in the Confederacy. A part of me wonders if I'm even doing her the greatest kindness by bringing her back to all of this." Inhaling steadily, the Sith Lord slipped an arm around his waist. "I have to try though. She needs to know she's not worthless or pathetic. She needs to know that people do care for her. It just...it requires a lot, a give and take."

As the pair walked, Brayden concluded his thoughts. "I promised to preserve the entity that is Madalena Antares in another body, but it's complicated. Transferring the essence of an entity to another is...very dangerous. To do so without damage to Scherezade, requires the assistance of both Scherezade and Madalena." Brayden paused for a moment as they exited the large structure. "To say nothing of the need for a body. The most suitable I know..." Glancing at Faye, he gave her an unsure expression. "...is one of my parents' embryos. But that's a worry for a later time, I do believe we have your family's party to attend to in short order do we not?"

 

[Faye Malvern]

His arms felt like home. They felt like a life time of safety and an eternity of comfort. Once her tanned fingers had swept away as many tears as they could manage they came to rest on the curve of his cheek. His skin felt like silk under her fingers. In such close proximity his eyes always seemed to take her breath away before she even had the chance to inhale. The temptation to simply rest her head against his chest and encircle her arms around him seemed to overtake her quickly. When he slipped his arm around her waist she did exactly that, nestling her head into the crook of his neck. 'She won't feel alone for much longer though. You'll be here for her, and so will I.'

Breaking their embrace for the briefest of moments, Faye's raven eyes caught his silver green ones. The sentiment, while sweet, didn't mean that much at all. Faye had never met his real sister, the real Scherezade. She couldn't shake the feeling that Scherezade might not be pleased with what Brayden was trying to do, but Faye would stand by him no matter what. 'If there is anything that will show her she's worthwhile it's all this. You've moved the Galaxy to try and bring her back, to try and prove to her that someone somewhere cares.' Faye's fingers stroked his supple skin lightly. A small smile formed on her face that curled the corners of her lips up as she spoke.

They fell into a walk, every step they took seemed to be in perfect sync with the other. Gentle taps from the heels of their boots echoed with each footfall. Faye slid her arm into his and let her head rest on his shoulder. No matter which way they fit together it always felt like it was perfect, like two hand crafted pieces of an ornate jigsaw. 'I think it's brave of you to promise that... Brave and kind.' Her other hand rested against his arm, fingers lightly tracing the tailored suit covering his skin. 'An embryo seems like the best option. Madalena will help you when the time comes...' For some reason Faye was almost afraid to say the words, she felt his hesitation at the woman who pretended to be his sister, but she said them anyway. 'She would do anything to help you.'

As they walked she risked a glance at his chiselled features. Brayden had an intensely deep knowledge of Faye, just as she had a deep knowledge of him. He knew all about her ability to feel other people's emotions, from the ones they wore plainly on their face to the ones they kept hidden away from any kind of light. When she had first met Madalena Faye could feel how much love she held for her brother, or the man she thought was her brother. Perhaps it would distress him to know she truly would move planets for him. Brayden broke her train of thought with the comment about her family party, to which Faye tutted and waved her arm in a rather blasé fashion. 'I wouldn't worry to much about that, we've been to a million and one parties. Adron won't miss me. If you need to concentrate on this I'm more than happy to cancel...'

[member="Brayden Antares"]

 

[Brayden Antares]

The overwhelming smile that spread across Brayden's lips at the simple touch of her hands, the sensation of her presence, hell her name on a piece of flimsi, couldn't be denied or contained in any way. [member="Faye Malvern"] had a singular ability to raise his spirits without really doing anything, and Brayden was certain that even though their relationship was still so new...nothing could change that reality. In fact the Endelaan native felt like he had known the Serenno Beauty for a year if not longer. Any separation, for any reason, tore at his very soul.

Regardless of whether or not Faye knew Scherezade, Brayden appreciated her words. Still...he found his smile faltering for just a moment. "Let's hope, my love. Let's hope. Truthfully I am operating under a lot of assumptions. Sure, my sister and I were possibly close as infants, but we were infants. The bond we shared transcended even the terror of the Darkness...until it didn't. Now we've emerged in different places, potentially at different times."

As he walked with Faye, Brayden exhaled softly. Her reaction to and perception of his promise to Dianah was comforting. However, he did his best to ignore Faye's comment about Madalena doing anything for him. It was unfortunate because as nice of a person as the young woman was, Brayden could not and likely would not ever truly look upon her as a sibling. Even at the conclusion of what he had planned, he would probably resent her even more. Brayden hated the idea of his mother's embryos being in existence. However, he hated the idea of killing a potential actual sibling of his simply to give life to this fake person that his sister created. He was going to kill family to make a fake member. It was hard to swallow, but it was a sacrifice he would make for his real sister a hundred times over.

"I force myself into the belief that I know her simply because of the bond we share. Yet...I never would have thought Scherezade to be one to effectively excommunicate herself from life." Turning his head to regard Faye for a moment, Brayden's voice caught in his throat. Gazing into her eyes and at the delicate features of her face had always been enough to nearly stop his heart. In this particular moment, he couldn't be sure anything he had to say mattered. In the end, his smile did return because of one simple reality. Faye Malvern would always be at his side and he hers. If nothing else in the galaxy went right, his would still be a life truly blessed because he'd had the opportunity to love her. "Whatever happens, Faye Malvern..." For a moment, Brayden stopped and turned. Taking both of her her hands in his, he leaned forward to kiss her softly on the cheek. "I will always be at your side."

Stepping forward, Brayden wrapped his arms around Faye and cradled her in his arms. For several long moments, he was merely content to share in the warm embrace. This was the only place he ever truly wanted to be. It was the only thing that drove him to do much of anything these days. Brayden Antares merely wanted to share his entire life with the woman, and he knew that was a desire that would forever be eternal.

Eventually, he murmured something softly into her ear. "No matter what happens in our lives Faye, you are my priority. You are what truly matters above all else." Slowly, Brayden withdrew from the embrace though his body never separated very far as he looped his arm with hers once more. "Let's go to the party. I can dispatch a message to Eve to make necessary preparations." It wasn't a conventional message, however. He would merely open himself to the Force to communicate with her through the bond they had established during his previous visit. Failing that, he could always reach out to Arash.

Another soft kiss to Faye's forehead preceded the pair's arrival at Brayden's ship. How did he ever even survive without her.