Private Looking Into A Mirror

[Vaylin]

The Royal Academy of Bastion
Docking Bay

It had been years since Vaylin had last set foot in the Royal Academy. Well, that wasn't an entirely accurate fact, but it certainly felt like it had been that long. Typically Sith Lords came to the academy to look for prospective apprentices. But as a Valkyrie, the Zabrak never did. Their group always took the pick of the litter as it were. Amongst those that they captured, the Valkyries would take those they deemed potential Noviciates, and sent the remaining over to Bastion.

Given her occupation as a teacher these days, she often got the reports from the various Overseers. Their goal was to take a group of potential Sith, and weed out the weak and build up whom they found the strongest. It was a harsh, but necessary game that pitted students against one another, and even Overseer against Overseer. All looking to gain more approval from their higher ups, their betters. Part of Vaylin wondered how she would've turned out if she had gone through that process. If she hadn't been taken on by Aria Vale, and instead dropped into an Academy.

What had caught her interest, was the report from a specific Overseer. One that had been overseeing a group that contained two individuals, Sylvia Virtos and Elle Mors. The Overseer had been particularly detailed about his reports on them, especially of the former. The Rat of the group as he repeatedly referred her as, more than her actual name. Apparently the man had been tearing his already non-existent hair out trying to seperate the two, but all his attempts had failed. Until recently.

Something had arisen in the wake of Mors' evaluation, that had seen a change of plans and for the two to finally part ways. Much to the Overseer's joy, only for it to turn to chagrin when he had to begrudgingly report Sylvia had wiped the floor during a sparring match, one that had followed shortly after her friend's departure. That had caught Vaylin's interest, and something she filed away for later.

Right now though, she was currently stood in front of a shuttle that would take the young woman offworld. Another little Academy Initiative was letting the prospective students to accompany a higher up Sith on a field trip or two. It allowed the student to see what the Sith Empire did as a whole, get a bit of fresh air and experience what it meant to be Sith. A little taste of that power was all that was needed for some, to push them further into being the top student amongst their group.

She was very curious to see how Sylvia Virtos would do.

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

The rematch
​

Sylvia's mind was empty. All of her energy had already been spent on anger and self-hatred and there simply wasn't anything left by the time she stepped into the circle. Before her stood the same opponent as last time and his smirk was a bit too arrogant for his own good. He had defeated her last time after the woman made a fatal misstep, but the desperation to win she felt then was gone. Instead there was a tinge of malice in her eyes, she wouldn't accept this match taking longer than a single minute.

It wasn't like there was anything keeping her from going all-in anymore. Ellie was gone and she wasn't coming back, her only friend, someone she had failed to admit her feelings to, had left her behind. She had been abandoned in this Force-forsaken place. There was nobody left who would be there for her now. She could take the stupidest, most dangerous risks and nobody would care. A woman with nothing to lose, and those were the deadliest.

Two sabers ignited, the duel started, and without a single moment of hesitation Sylvia leapt forward. Three clashes of the saber preceded a vicious kick to her opponent's stomach, causing him to double over. Another kick to the hand caused his blade to fly off and making use of the utter state of shock he'd entered, Sylvia called upon the Force to push him down onto his back. Like he had done to her last time, she pointed her blade at his face before retracting it back into the hilt.

Her expression didn't shift as she stepped over him to leave the arena. Sylvia had been hopeful a victory would make her feel better, but still felt as hollow as before. Without saying a word or acknowledging anyone's existence, she walked out back to her dorm, locking herself in and laying down on her bed.

Tears began to flow uncontrollably.

The field trip
​

Sylvia was happy to take any excuse to get time away from the academy, so when she was told she could go on a field trip for a few days she was more than eager to accept. Even dealing with a Sith lord berating her was preferable over being in a place that only housed bad memories for her now. The crushing loneliness that loomed over her shoulder wherever she went weighed down on her, leaving her struggling to accomplish much of anything. The duel rematch had been a last hurrah and now she simply didn't have any energy left. The woman thought having nothing to lose would make her sharper and for a single moment it had, but now she simply couldn't bring herself to do much of anything anymore. Fortunately, the overseer hadn't noticed that change in motivation quite yet.

When the day came for Sylvia to finally get some time away from the academy, her bag had already been packed and waited for her by the door of her dorm. Between her alarm going off and slinging the backpack on and walking out the door, she needed only ten minutes to get ready. Turn on her caf machine, quickly get dressed, make sure she looked at least presentable enough to go out into public, grab the caf and quickly working away at it, burning her tongue twice, and she was ready to go. She'd grab her breakfast on her way to the hangar, where one Darth Moirai would be waiting for her.

Her breakfast-related choice ended up being a mistake, however. The line was way too long and time was running short, leaving her no choice but to get herself to the hangar on an empty stomach. Mindlessly wading through the crowd of other students she felt her stomach complaining, but there wasn't much to be done about it. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened this week, she'd either get used to it or properly start taking care of herself. Deep down though, she knew it was going to be the former.

Arriving at the hangar, Sylvia took a deep breath as she looked around. She was told to look for a zabrak woman, which wasn't the most exact of descriptions. She ended up noticing one standing in front of a shuttle however, seemingly looking for someone herself, and decided to see if she was the Darth Moirai she was looking for.

"Excuse me," Sylvia asked as she approached, "am I right to assume you are Darth Moirai?"

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin had spotted Sylvia the moment she had arrived into the hangar. She said nothing though, and instead left the young woman to scan the open area for herself. In the meantime, the Zabrak watched her closely. How Sylvia walked, with an eagerness in her step no doubt happy to get away from the Academy even for a few days. But at the same time, Vaylin saw a degree of weariness in the young woman. What the source of it was, she didn't know. But the Zabrak intended on weeding it out before they embarked on their trip.

Finally, Sylvia caught sight of her and walked over.

"You are correct, and you would be Sylvia Virtos?" It wasn't really a question to be answered, Vaylin already knew who she was. The report on her provided a description. "Good. The less time we waste, the better." With that, the Zabrak turned on her heels and walked up the ramp. She waited until Sylvia was onboard, before raising the ramp and slamming a fist against the hull. The shuttle was lifting up a few moments later.

"You've in a bit of luck, the Valkyries are about to head out on a mission." Vaylin walked over and took a seat. "Means we're taking the Serran to our destin-" As the Zabrak spoke, a low grumble filled the otherwise empty seating area. Vaylin looked over and raised an eyebrow at Sylvia, a look of amusement in her eyes. "Looks like we might need to get you fed beforehand."

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Relieved to know she hadn't approached the completely wrong person, avoiding the embarrassment that would've come with that, Sylvia nodded in confirmation to the Sith Lady's question. "That would be me," she replied, her voice dipped in a level of passive confidence she didn't actually possess. The intonation was a mask, concealing the weakness that was her self esteem. The woman was convinced she wasn't good enough for anyone's approval, but that didn't mean anyone needed to know that. Weakness got one killed, but only if the other knew to abuse it.

Following Moirai's lead Sylvia made her way up the boarding ramp and into the shuttle. The zabrak wanted to get going as quickly as possible and she found herself agreeing with the notion. Ever since that day the academy felt suffocating to be in and simply stepping into the ship made her breathe easier already. She found a place to sit, slinging off her backpack and setting it down on the ground next to her first. Moments later the shuttle took off and Darth Moirai took a seat of her own.

Not knowing much of anything about what the field trip was going to entail, Sylvia was looking for a way to ask. Luckily, it seemed the explanation was already coming without her inquiring. The mentioning of the Serran had the magenta-haired woman look a little excited for a moment, until her stomach began to rumble in protest over its owner's lack of breakfast. The excitement disappeared as Sylvia was caught off-guard by Moirai's reaction before quickly scrambling to regain her composure.

"Oh, I'm... fine. There's no need."

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

A particular look fell over Vaylin's face in response to Sylvia's refusal. That of a teacher to a student, or a mother to a child.

"Oh, I insist. I can't have you going on this trip with an empty stomach." Not like Vaylin hadn't done the same thing when she was her age. But now the Zabrak had the hindsight to know that cons of not eating outweighed the benefits, both in the long and short terms. More so if their trip did indeed extend a few days, meaning they'd have to camp out and potentially hunt for further meals.

The shuttle ride didn't take much longer, flying up into Bastion's atmosphere and towards the Serran that was presently orbiting the Sith Capitol. It settled down into one of the hangars, and once again Vaylin was up and leading the way. Down the ramp and across the hangar, but before they left Vaylin stopped one of the guards.

"What can I do for you, Elder Moirai?"

"Is the Feasting Hall still open?" She asked, getting a nod from the guard. "Excellent, send word to the chefs that I want something prepared, for two."

"It will be done, my lady." The guard gave a short bow, before they headed off to fulfil the order.

She looked back at Sylvia, nudging her head forwards to continue following. They took a more leisurely walk through the confines of the Super Star Destroyer, allowing the younger woman to take it in. Hallways were packed with people, going one way or another. The morning chaos was ever apparent as students and staff alike went about their routines.

Vaylin recieved brief greetings and nods of respect as they passed, with curious looks thrown Sylvia's way. It wasn't unusual to see the Zabrak accompanied by someone, but it was often her silver-haired apprentice Safina . So the younger woman certainly drew her degree of attention, especially with the particularly colourful hair.

She knew there would be gossip amongst the students. Whether the newcomer was a potential Noviciate, or she had taken on a new Apprentice. Or, and Vaylin hoped they'd have the sense, did some actual research and realized Sylvia was an Academy Student.

Eventually, the pair finally reached the doors of the Feasting Hall. And with a wave of the Force Vaylin opened them.

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

When Moirai insisted, Sylvia relented. She had learned long ago not to pose too much opposition against a Sith, though she couldn't always keep things to herself in emotional moments, something as simple as a meal wasn't worth the animosity.

She remained silent for the remainder of the short flight to the Serran, though by the time the dreadnought had appeared in one of the viewports the woman couldn't help but gawk at it. She had never seen anything like it apart from pictures and videos, but there it was, right in front of her eyes. The ship was absolutely gigantic, an engineering marvel that filled Sylvia with all kinds of wonder and excitement. For a moment her troubles took a back seat an an almost child-like glee that she was rarely even allowed to show took the forefront.

The sense of wonder didn't cease when the two entered the hangar and exited the shuttle. Sylvia barely remembered the last time she had been off Bastion and being on a vessel like the Serran was a dream come true. By the time they left the hangar and traversed the hallways she had completely forgotten she was hungry, her attention completely fixated on the intererior of the ship and the people that were there. This was the empire Sylvia was a part of, the side of power. Perhaps one day she could find her place within it.

"Wow..." Sylvia said under her breath, taking in everything around her. She had given up hope trying to hide her excitement before she even got off the shuttle.

Though the two had walked at a leisurely pace, it didn't last nearly long enough until they arrived at what was called the Feasting Hall. When the doors opened before her, a rumbling stomach once again reminded her that is was still empty. Perhaps the Sith Lady wasn't entirely wrong and having something to eat beforehand wasn't the worst of ideas. "It definitely smells a lot better than at the academy cafeteria."

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin chuckled at Sylvia's comment, not disagreeing with the young woman's statement. She had heard plenty of stories from other students, who had came from the Academy and pushed into the direction of the Valkyries.

"We do keep a particular high standard here."

The Feasting Hall was a prime example of that. With its ornate aesthetic and large open area. There was an open stretch straight down the middle, with a single long table placed on either side, both clearly able to be moved and adjusted where needed.

At the far end up on a slightly elevated platform, was a third table laid out horizontally to the others. It was where the leaders of the group sat, places for the Matriarch and Elders. Albeit, it was mostly empty unless there was a grand feast, or special event going on.

Vaylin in particular had her meals in her office, whenever she had the time to anyway.

"Come, let's find ourselves a seat." There were honestly plenty of spots to pick from. It was bustling just as much as the hallways. With people coming in either individual or in groups, to get something to eat or about to leave. Some were idyling around, chatting with one another. The typical morning hustle and bustle.

Not long after they had found a spot, one of the Valkyrie staff approached with two trays evenly balanced in either hand. "Elder Moirai, Miss Virtos." She placed a tray before each woman, containing a plate of food suitable for a morning meal.

"Eat up. You will need your strength." Vaylin picked up her own utensils, surveying her plate before she picked something to cut into. "And perhaps, given we do have a good bit of time in hyperspace, we could potentially explore the Serran if you'd like?"

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Darth Moirai's demeanor towards Sylvia up to this point had been a little puzzling for her. The overseer's dislike for her caused others to be quite apprehensive about her before they even met the woman, and there often was little to nothing she was able to do about it. It was a fate she had accepted long ago and in fact leaned into. If everybody believed she was a good-for-nothing rat no matter what she did, there was little reason to put in the effort to be likable towards them either. The vast majority Sith and other students were rotten to the core themselves, anyway.

But the zabrak's first words hadn't been spoken with the usual layer of preconceived contempt and in fact, had even looked out for her in a way, ensuring she was well-fed before getting to work. The little voice in Sylvia's head started warning her that it was a front, a trap, that this was just to lure her into some kind of cruel twist. She was quickly proven wrong though as shortly after sitting down, both Moirai and herself were presented with a plate filled with food. Good-looking food at that. After quietly nodding at the woman who had placed the plate in front of her she turned her attention back to the food.

After the verbal encouragement, Sylvia carefully cut up a bite-sized piece and bit down. Just that one piece was enough to make it very clear that even the 'good' takeout nearby the academy had nothing on actual good food, though after the initial surprise the woman outwardly remained quite stoic. Her gawking at the Serran, both the interior and exterior, had been too much already. Anyone seeing her acting like that was embarrassing at best.

The offer to explore more of the Serran very nearly broke through that veil of stoicism, though. Sylvia used the fact she was still chewing her food to give her time to get herself in check before properly answering. Only then did she swallow.

"Sure. It would be a good way to kill time, I guess." Internally, the woman was as giddy as could be. Without even noticing herself she started eating faster- she was only barely able to contain her excitement.

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

The Zabrak refrained from openly chuckling at Sylvia. She wasn't fooling anyone, especially not her. There was an obvious excitement within the girl when it came to the Serran, or just general engineering marvels.

Vaylin didn't see it personally, but then again when she was Sylvia's age all her focus was trying to not get lost.

The pair ate their meal in relative peace, aside from the occasional interruption. The same staff member as before appeared with a selection of drinks on offer. Vaylin had selected her usual; caf, not particularly caring that it wasn't her own stuff. She needed the energy boost all the same, especially if she was going to also be keeping an eye on a Sylvia during their trip.

Aside from that, only a couple of the Zabrak's students made their presence known. Greeting their teacher and sparing one to Sylvia are being introduced. Asking a question here or there about upcoming lessons, before they parted ways.

With her plate now clean, Vaylin finished her caf and let out a content sigh. She looked over at Sylvia, who had more than likely been waiting on the Zabrak. She had taken a much more leisurely pace with her eating in comparison. "Feeling better with a full stomach?" Vaylin stood up, stepping free of the bench and stretched slightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when the Serran shook slightly, and the mood across the Feasting Hall shifted.

"Sounds like we've finished refueling." Vaylin looked at the younger woman. "Come, if we're quick enough we'll be able to explore a good number of areas."

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Watching the students of Darth Moirai come by left Sylvia feeling a little like the odd woman out. That was to be expected, she was essentially a guest here after all, but she did feel a little awkward because of it. She'd passively sip away at her own caf while the Sith Lady spoke to them, hoping with every single student that came by that they would be the last one. Sylvia had finished her meal long before Moirai but made sure not to seem impatient, instead trying to take as long as possible with her drink to keep herself occupied.

Finally the zabrak would finish her meal and when she went to stand up Sylvia slowly followed, on purpose to seem less excited than she truly was, only to nearly fall backwards from the Serran's shaking. Luckily she was able to keep her balance, even if barely, and recovered without having to stand back up. The ship had finished refueling, she was told, meaning the dreadnought was bound to set off any moment. The exploration had essentially been set to a timer, much to Sylvia's disappointment.

"I do prefer not being hungry, I guess," the magenta-haired woman replied after the shaking had ceased. In the end, skipping breakfast had paid off in the form of a much better meal than she could've had at the academy. "So, thank you." It was a bit of an awkward show of thanks, she rarely had a reason to be thankful and wasn't used to it, but it was genuine nonetheless.

"I'll be right behind you," Sylvia replied to what Moirai said next, her voice containing a little more eagerness than she wanted. "It's not everyday that someone like me gets to be on a dreadnought."

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

With the Serran refueled, everyone was now in a hurry or at least in a more hurried pace. A majority were quickly finishing their meals before heading off to their respective duties. A small amount remained, likely due to not being part of the upcoming mission. For Sylvia and Vaylin however, they took a more leisurely pace through the hallways.

"You're quite correct, we all start from the bottom and have to climb our way up." Vaylin had gone from a simple Dark Jedi, to an Elder of the Valkyries. But it wasn't an easy journey to that point. "You might find yourself commanding such a vessel if you climb that ladder, kicking the opposition off and proving your strength."

She glanced at Sylvia slightly, watching her reaction to the next part. "And remove any distractions that might hold you down."

They eventually found themselves at one of the main elevators. Stepping into it, Vaylin went to select their floor but paused. She looked over at Sylvia, and stepped away, waving her hand towards the holo-display.

"Your choice, anything in particular you'd like to have a closer look at?"

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

The ladder Darth Moirai mentioned seemed like the only thing Sylvia had left. It was a long path and many were going to try to knock her down, but at this point she felt like she had nothing to lose. All other doors had already closed right before her eyes, leaving only the path to power. The woman carried no significance now, but she was ready to do everything in her power to change that.

Her demeanor shifted to something more reserved, her attention distracted from the technological marvel she was aboard on by the battles in front of her. There was a spark of determination, ready to ignite the fuel that was her desperation to actually be something. To matter. If she couldn't matter to someone she cared about, then this was the only way.

"And remove any distractions that might hold you down."

And suddenly that spark was snuffed out. A crack formed in Sylvia's reserved demeanor as her eyes went wide in slight shock. The words, more specifically the intentionally aimed nature of them, caught her completely off-guard. She felt her heartbeat quicken and there were butterflies in her stomach, realizing that the Sith Lady more than likely knew more than the magenta-haired girl expected.

"There isn't much left to distract me." A lie. Ellie's departure didn't mean the 'distraction' was gone. Sylvia still had those same feelings for her and still wanted to be with her, as far out of reach as that was now. She wasn't ready to move on. Somehow everything she did was still with the blonde in mind, and she hated it.

That dumb smile still haunted her dreams. The sound of her voice was a memory that wouldn't leave her consciousness. That warm soul and kind heart still owned her own.

Sylvia spent the rest of the walk to the elevators in conflicted silence, until she was asked where she wanted to go within the vessel. Her mind had been made up about that a long time ago, though she had to take a moment to recollect herself. The last thing she wanted was to sound the way she felt.

"I'd love to take a closer look at one of the engines."

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

Then to the Maintenance Level they went, after a quick press against the holo-display, the elevator began to descend. A good few minutes passed with nothing but silence, nothing being said which was probably a hopeful wish for the young woman. But Vaylin wasn't going to allow that for much longer.

"You're lying to me, and worse of all, to yourself too." The Zabrak had turned to face Sylvia fully, mutely demanding the young woman's attention. "Emotions can be a powerful thing, a tool just like the Force is for us. But you can just as easily fall beneath it if you let it become too overwhelming." She crossed her arms as she stared at Sylvia. "The physical distraction might be gone, but memories are harder to be rid of. It is the stronger distraction, and one that will set off a domino effect if you do not expunge it before long."

She held the stare right up until the point of the elevator stopping. It dinged open, and remained so for several moments longer. Eventually though, Vaylin uncrossed her arms and stepped off, holding the door for Sylvia. It could be argued that letting the young woman explore the Serran was just another distraction, and it was, but a short term one.

Merely a tool to keep young Sylvia's mind occupied before the field trip.

Vaylin led the way through the Maintenance Level, towards where the Serran's sublight engines were located. No one raised a fuss about their presence there, given the Zabrak's presence, merely gave the pair looks of acknowledgement before they returned to their work. One would imagine Vaylin was looking for a Head Engineer or something, but in reality she was looking for a particular individual.

"Engineer Myra!" They had stopped before some machinery, where a pair of legs were present sticking out from beneath. The sound of the Zabrak's sudden call resulted in the mysterious figure slamming their head up into metal. A soft 'ow' slipped out, before a pair of gloved hands appeared from the depths of the machinery and the legs became a full person.

Myra was a young woman, couldn't be much older than Sylvia. With slightly tanned skin, and a short; but stylized, bob of red hair. Dressed in whatever passed as typical mechanic overalls, with a pair of protective goggles over her eyes. She stood up sharply, immediately raising her arm to salute but just as quickly winced the moment her arm got too high, the muscle aching from the sudden movement. "Sorry Elder Moirai, was just doing some last minute checks before the Serran kicks into gear." Myra pulled down her googles, revealing what looked to be cybernetic eyes. But a blink later and they appeared like a normal pair of green. Her interest immediately flipped over to Sylvia the moment she noticed her. "Ooooh, and who might you be?"

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

"You're lying to me, and worse of all, to yourself too."

Moirai's cold, blunt words were a shock to Sylvia's system. A lump formed in her throat and she was pretty sure her heart completely stopped for a moment- she had been caught in the act. The Sith Lady saw straight through her, reading her like a book, and she was right. The magenta-haired girl absolutely wasn't over Ellie, not in the slightest, and it was distracting her. Sylvia truly did not have the slightest clue where to even begin with that process. The blonde still meant too much to her and it left her feeling hopeless.

The stare was paralyzing and Sylvia didn't dare move a muscle until the elevator finally came to a halt, and by that time it felt like hours had passed. She never felt particularly confident, but she had never felt as small as she did in that moment. When the elevator opened up, she didn't know how quickly to make her way out. She was suffocating, but now she could finally breathe again. The girl had been given a serious reality check and now, she was going to have to figure out where to go from there.

Deep breaths. She could worry about it later.

After taking a moment to recollect herself, Sylvia's attention turned towards the hallway leading to the Maintenance level. She followed Moirai though stayed a few paces behind, looking from left to right taking it all in. The place was massive, and even though she knew that already seeing it with her own eyes was a completely different thing. Though she still was a little shaky, it didn't prevent her from being fascinated by all the moving parts present.

Eventually the zabrak would come to a stop and one Myra was being called upon, prompting Sylvia to look towards the pair of legs. When this Myra came out from underneath the machinery and hit her head, a look of concern formed on Sylvia's face. It seemed it didn't bother her that incredibly much though, seeing how she quickly turned her attention to the magenta-haired girl after she had noticed her presence.

"Uh, hi," Sylvia responded, a little unsure how to react to Myra's more bubbly personality. "Darth Moirai is taking me on a field trip, I'm a student at the Academy of Bastion," she explained. People generally avoided her there, so this was a bit of a strange experience. "Oh, and my name is Sylvia. Nice to meet you, uh, Myra, was it?" A hand was extended for Myra to shake.

"I'm a bit of a tech nerd, so I wanted to see how the engines worked first hand. I have to say, this is a bit of a dream come true." A nervous scoff escaped her lips.

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

"Yep! That's ma name." Myra smiled wildly, going to shake Sylvia's hand only to pause halfway. Realizing she was about to use her grime-coated glove, Myra quickly pulled it off then shook the offered hand in earnest. Her eyes lit up at the mention of being a tech nerd. "Well, welcome to the Engine Room, Sylvia! Oh, it must be a breath of fresh air getting off Bastion, aye?" The redhead began to lead the way, beckoning her to follow. "The Serran is a gorgeous ship, couldn't believe my luck when I got selected to work on her."

And just like that the enthusiastic engineer set off, pointing out things as they passed, stopping here and there whenever something had caught Sylvia's interest. Myra was an open book, eager to talk someone's ear of, especially if they had a shared interest.

Vaylin remained back, given the pair some distance. It also allowed for her to quietly muse on recent events, namely Sylvia's reaction in the elevator. The girl looked as though she was going to suffer a heart attack. It was a quite severe reaction to the Zabrak's statement, one she acknowledged was about as blunt as a durasteel mallet.

But the Zabrak found she didn't care, and did wonder if she would've pre-Remnicore.

Probably would've felt some measure of guilt, not intending to be so harsh to the younger woman. But she had no such restraint now, and was content in that it seemed to at least get Sylvia more focused. Attention not slipping off into the distance, lost to her thoughts. Her point had been made, and for now Vaylin would leave it there.

She looked back at Sylvia and Myra as they continued to discuss the Serran. Vaylin had made a delibate point to pick the young engineer, knowing Sylvia's lack of...interest in listening to authoritative figures. So the Zabrak had opted for someone much closer to her, in age and well maybe not personality, but someone who'd speak more candidly about an interest they both had.

"Oooh, we should be departing Bastion in a minute. Wanna hear the engines purr?" Myra looked like she was about to start bouncing on the spot. Vaylin bit back an amused snort, following behind them. Although, something did crop to the Zabrak's mind as she thought about her magenta coloured charge.

"We'll also be jumping into hyperspace shortly after. Tell me Miss Virtos, have you ever watched a ship enter hyperspace?"

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

"You sure could say that," Sylvia responded, the scoff that followed giving away just how right Myra was in her assessment. If she could, she would've stayed away from Bastion for the rest of her life. The planet was far from a pleasant place for her anymore. And she'd be able to, if only she could convince the overseer to link her to a master.

The magenta-haired girl eagerly followed Myra. Even if she was perhaps a little too energetic for her to handle for too long, her enthusiasm was at least a little infectious. "Had I not been placed at Bastion, I think I would've pursued a career as engineer as well," Sylvia explained. The redhead absolutely had been lucky in Sylvia's eyes and she wondered what she would've felt had she been in Myra's shoes. Perhaps she would've felt more at home in such an environment, Force knew she didn't get along with many Sith.

While the two were here, though, Myra was happy to show and explain nearly anything they came across, and Sylvia was more than content to listen. It was fascinating stuff- she knew how a small ship was able to get off the ground, but a behemoth of a ship like the Serran was a completely different beast. Myra's passion for her work was refreshing to witness, too. Compared to the competitive nature of nearly every student on Bastion to this was a welcome change of pace.

"Oooh, we should be departing Bastion in a minute. Wanna hear the engines purr?"

It was a very tempting offer, one Sylvia really couldn't refuse. She nodded, though she did have one question beforehand. "It not going to blow my eardrums out, right?" She laughed, though sincerely hoped it wouldn't be the case. "If not, I would love to."

Vaylin caught up to the two and added another question, and it concerned something she hadn't thought of until now. "I haven't, actually. I don't remember ever leaving Bastion, or arriving there for that matter." The records Sylvia was allowed to look into didn't include her planet of birth, or her family. She wasn't even sure if Virtos was her true family name.

"I might uh, possibly need a bag or something along those lines. Just in case."

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

Myra let out a small laugh. "Oh no, you'll be perfectly fine. The entire area has built in sound dampeners, required if we want to do anything work while on the move. Now if you were right next to the engines on the outside...that's a whole different story." The redhead had begun to lead the way again, when the query of a 'bad or something along those lines' cropped up in response to watching a hyperspace jump. "Oh! We have those, they were mandated a good few years back. Had an influx of newcomers that kept throwing up."

Another laugh escaped Myra's lips as she led Sylvia back further into the Engine Room. This time though they went down a level to where the underbelly of the engines resided. Vaylin however remained behind, opting to remain above, leaning against the railing and watching them both from above.

There was something akin to an amused expression on her face.

Myra directed Sylvia around, telling her to step here, then there, then another spot. It took a bit until the redhead mechanic was satisfied with the placement. She stood opposite the magenta-haired woman, smiling ear to ear. "Wait for it...." The Serran was drifting away for a few moments, before the engines finally kicked in. Sound dampeners maybe, but they were still very large objects and the sudden activity generated vibrations all the same. Myra closed her eyes, absorbing the feeling of movement beneath her feet. After a couple minutes the vibrations finally settled to a measured pattern. "That feeling never gets old. Makes me wish I was a Force user, heard that was some fancy ability that lets you feel machinery, or something like that."

"All right you two, get back up here. We need to find a suitable viewport before we get far enough out from Bastion."

The small group were quickly back together only this time Vaylin led the way, but as they neared the exit she stopped. "Engineer Myra, the bag?"

"Oh, right!" Myra quickly disappeared into a side room, appearing moments later with a handy little bag that she gave to Sylvia. It even had branding on it. And just like that, they were off again, even Myra was tagging along. Unannounced mind you, but Vaylin voiced no compliant. Two were pleasantly conversing, and the Zabrak figured she'd keep her charge's mind at relative ease while she could.

As Vaylin led them back to the elevator, taking it up a couple floors. Myra was making idle chatter with Sylvia. Talking about how she had grown up on a shipyard, mother was an engineer and was why she had such an enthusiastic interest. Eventually they did reach their destination just in time, a quiet area with a large view port to look out into space from. Where it went noticed it not, Vaylin had deliberately picked a spot with little traffic. Should Sylvia indeed need to throw up, it wouldn't be around so many people.

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Sylvia, albeit a little confused by the barrage of small instructions to move over here, then another step there, and so on, eventually got to a place where Myra wanted her to stand. She braced herself as she felt the Serran start drifting, and when the engines roared to life it nearly knocked the girl down, though luckily she managed to hold onto something. All around her she felt the waves of energy and the overwhelming amount of machinery that created them inside the Force, and it was an experience like no other. Her head moved from one side to another, looking at invisible things only those gifted in mechu deru could see. It was nothing but awe-inspiring.

The vibrations settled, and so did the energy waves she watched, but only when Myra spoke again did she snap out of it and returned to the material world. "Hooooly..." she mumbled, still in the process of regaining her bearings. "That was... something else." Slowly but surely she shook off the cobwebs and turned her attention to the engineer, chuckling a little.

"Funny you mention that," the magenta-haired girl finally responded, "because it's kind of my specialty. There's a reason I got a bit loopy. I've never felt so much happening at the same time." The sheer amount of, well, everything was quite something to handle, especially for someone who had never experienced something that intense before. "It's called mechu deru, in case you wanted to know."

After that moment that Sylvia wasn't going to forget anytime soon, the duo were called back to Moirai. With a bag in hand they returned to the elevator and took it up. It was interesting to hear how different Myra's story was from her own, even the simple fact that she grew up with her parents was wildly different from herself. Sylvia would tell her own story the way she had been told it, even if she wasn't convinced it was true. She had been told she was orphaned as an infant and after being tested positive for Force sensitivity, she was placed in a special institution until she was old enough to enroll into the academy.

Once they stepped out of the elevator Sylvia was quickly drawn towards the viewport. Seeing Bastion from this distance made her feel incredibly small- being off-world for the first time was an eye-opening experience. She made sure to have the bag at the ready though, in case she'd need it when the Serran entered hyperspace.

Vaylin ​

 

[Vaylin]

"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Vaylin's voice broke the silence as all three women stared out through the viewport. Sylvia was clearly enraptured by the view, making it obvious just how much of a new experience this all was for her. "The expansive city, the towering buildings, things you thought were giant and tall. Now made so much smaller the further you fly away."

The Zabrak had that same child-like wonder when she had originally left Iridonia. Having only been used to seeing small settlements and spare households across expansive fields. It very much had an impact on realizing just how small she was within the galaxy as a whole.

"Imagine having watched ships being manufactured. Seeing them being designed on a much smaller scale, then being able to walk within the final product." Myra sighed wistfully, clearly missing those much simpler days. "That was always quite the trip..."

"Speaking of," Vaylin chimed in, noticing the Serran had begun to slow to a crawl for a moment. "We've gotten far enough from Bastion." It was a warning to Sylvia more than anything, to prepare herself for her first hyperspace jump.

For several more seconds it seemed as though nothing was happening, but gradually the feeling of the hull being pulled stretched across the length of the vessel. Another indication was the stars that began to gradually blur into streaks, the smallest glimpses of the hyperspace tunnel beginning to form. Then within the snap of fingers, the Serren was thrown forwards into hyperspace.

Vaylin showed no reaction, didn't even glance over as Sylvia proceeded to throw up the contents of the meal she had eaten earlier. Maybe making sure she was fed beforehand wasn't the best idea...

Myra on the other hand, had immediately reached out and gently rubbed the young woman's back. "You'll get more used to it each time you experience a hyperspace jump." With her free hand, Myra reached into her overalls and pulled out what looked like a nutrient bar. "Here, have a bite of this once you've regained your appetite. Always found they help after a bit of sickness." She held out the bar in trade for taking the sick bag off her hands.

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Everything felt weird for a moment and as Sylvia looked out of the viewport, she noticed the stars around them stretching out, but at the same time her stomach also felt different. Different in a way that wasn't particularly great. Eyes went wide before the girl quickly opened the bag and covered her mouth with it. Moments later, her breakfast was inside of it and Sylvia was left catching her breath. "Oh, sweet Force," she muttered in the aftermath, followed by a burp.

Myra started rubbing her back and while Sylvia appreciated it, she still felt a little embarrassed. Throwing up in front of a Sith lady wasn't something she was proud of doing, to say the least. She was still reeling a little, but the worst of it came and, luckily, went pretty quickly. "I hope you're right," she replied to Myra after catching her breath, "because that was awful." The last thing she wanted was to have to deal with this every single time she entered hyperspace.

Though right now nothing seemed too appetizing, Sylvia nodded in gratitude as she took the nutrient bar and pocketed it for later. "Thanks," she said as she handed off the bag. She had made sure to properly close it up beforehand, she wouldn't want anyone to have to see or smell what was inside.

With another look out of the viewport, Sylvia saw nothing but countless streaks of light flying past. It was a strange but mesmerizing view, though a question that suddenly rose up in her mind made her look away and towards Darth Moirai. "I never asked this, but where are we going, exactly?"

Vaylin ​