Private On the Other Side

[Sylvia Virtos]

Hunting for tech
Sakedo Tower ward, Seven Corners, Denon
Vaylin ​

---

Busy streets, hundreds of conversations blending into a singular blend of noise, and inspiration everywhere you looked- the only place where Sylvia felt more at home than cities that buzzed with life, was wherever Elle Mors was.

After stepping into one of the skyscraper's turbolifts alongside a small number of strangers, Sylvia deftly typed in the name of the store she was looking to visit on the lift's touchpad. After selecting it, the floor it was on was automatically selected. Surely it would stop at various floors before arriving to let more people in, though.

After the last person selected their floor, the turbolift began its rapid ascend. Sylvia turned around to look over the cityscape through the reinforced glass that separated her from the outside as it shot upwards, giving her an increasingly impressive view as it gained height.

Denon had at one point been somewhat of a home for her, as much as a planet could be for someone who never remained in the same place for very long. The number of visits she made had drastically dropped ever since reuniting with Elle, however. Her girlfriend felt much less comfortable in busy cities and much preferred the more quaint places in the galaxy, and Sylvia herself was slowly getting used to the peace and quiet.

Unfortunately, tech and specific parts she needed were nearly impossible to find in those places. Now that one of her projects required parts she had run out of and fell well outside of the range of things one could buy from a small merchant on a planet in the middle of nowhere, Sylvia had found herself a reason to return to Denon. While it didn't compare exploring the galaxy with Elle, it was still good to be back.

The turbolift coming to a halt pulled her drifting mind back to real life and she quickly turned around again, only to see this wasn't her floor. The young woman watched as a pair of ithorians exited, and right before the doors closed again the small crowd was then joined by a single zabrak.

At first, Sylvia didn't react. Then she recognized her.

A chill went down her spine. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to run. With the doors closed and turbolift moving, however, there was nowhere for her to go.

 

[Vaylin]

In some ways, Vaylin missed the stability being a Sith had brought her. There she had a place to live, to learn, to teach. Sure the location changed a couple times, from the fortress on Mygeeto, to the Dreadnought Serran. But it had kept the Zabrak in one place, her goals and desires kept together.

On the flipside however, Vaylin was glad to have the freedom she now had. Being able to just casually move about the galaxy, exploring places she hadn’t before, just simply…living.

No battlefields to descend upon, no wars to fight.

Just a simple existence, going day by day wherever the wind might take her.

Albeit, the Zabrak still needed to source a means of returning her Force connection. But progress was being made, slowly but surely. One day Vaylin would feel it again, but for now it was down to her to rely on what skills she had learned in her youth.

Information gathering was what had brought her to Denon, specifically the Seven Corners. During her time as Sith, Vaylin hadn’t overly bothered being involved with the Underworld. Her attention never really affixed to the galaxy’s scum and villainy. But now, Vaylin found herself without any of the power, and thus turned to the Underworld for answers.

After all, those that were looked upon with disdain; if not outright ignored on the streets, were the best info gatherers.

Vaylin stood before a turbolift, patiently tapping her foot as she waited for it to arrive. Internally, she was reciting the directions she had been given to her destination. Then the lift ‘dinged’, bringing the Zabrak out of her little trance. She paused to give the Ithorians room to depart, before stepping into the turbolift herself.

The Zabrak didn’t notice her at first, but it was the young woman’s sudden reaction that caught Vaylin’s attention. The magenta-dyed hair was unmistakable.

“Well, fancy running into you, Sylvia.”

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Vaylin ​

---

The one time I go somewhere without Ellie...

After the time spent in Carnifex' captivity and the horrors and pain that had befallen her in that small, lightless cell, she had come to fear Sith more than after anything that happened during her academy days. Not only had she been brought to the brink of death herself numerous times, being caught in the Sith lord's clutches had indirectly led to Elle's death. Even though Sylvia had miraculously been able to escape thanks to Allyson and bring Elle back from the Netherworld, the psychological marks still ran as deep as they ever had.

That one sensation, that utterly soul-crushing pain that shot through her body when she felt Elle's death still haunted her nightmares.

For just a few moments, Sylvia thought she was about to experience all of that pain, both mental and physical, once again.

"Well, fancy running into you, Sylvia."

Somehow, the way the zabrak spoke was different from what Sylvia remembered. Even stranger yet, her overwhelming fear lessened at that realization. A small moment of clarity allowed her to regain her composure somewhat, and with another look at the woman and a second sensing through the Force she realized this was not the Moirai she remembered. It was as though a different person occupied her body.

Despite the realization, though, Sylvia did not immediately let go of all of her fears.

"W-what?" she answered in the mix of mild fear and confusion that lingered. Being keenly aware that they were not the only two in the turbolift meant she could not simply blurt out everything on her mind, causing the young woman to fall silent for a moment before finally finding the words to say.

"Are you... you look different."

 

[Vaylin]

After Sylvia spoke, it took a few moments for the realisation to click in the Zabrak’s mind. The last time they had been together was when Vaylin was still a Sith, and Moirai was very much ingrained in her psyche. She had taken Sylvia to a tomb, one that contained a particular artefact that would aid in pushing the young woman further down the path of the Sith.

It seemed however, that it didn’t stick. That whatever else had happened between then and now, nothing was able to sink its clutches into her.

And she seemed happier too, well if you looked beyond the momentary fear seeing the former Sith anyway.

“Hmm, I look different? I haven’t changed physically, but I suppose spirtu-” Vaylin paused as she also realised she was still in a turbolift surrounded by strangers. All of which were either staring at them, or doing their damnedest to ignore them.

The Zabrak chuckled sheepishly.

“Right, we should probably find somewhere else to have a talk.” Vaylin’s gaze wandered over the people present, before landing back on Sylvia. “Worry not, I’m not with them anymore. If anything, I’m like you…free.”

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Vaylin
​

At first, the thought of following the zabrak just about anywhere felt like it was akin to suicide. Considering Sylvia had been lulled into a false sense of security the previous time she had come along, starting off with the experience of a lifetime feeling the engines of a star destroyer roar to life to being thrown into a nightmarish Sith tomb, her initial thoughts were of running the moment the elevator doors opened.

And yet, Moirai did come off like a completely different woman. Not to mention the fact that a Sith with high renown would never show their face in a place like this.

A compromise. She'd stay in sight of any public, but out of earshot. Surely that would be good enough.

"I sure hope so," Sylvia responded, a slight sense of uncertainty persisting despite the reassurance. The turbolift came to a halt before she could continue, and while she didn't even spare a look to see what floor they had arrived at, she subtly pointed towards the exit. Expecting the zabrak to follow, she walked out.

"It's a shopping floor, so there should be a cafeteria somewhere..." If they really were going to catch up, it was probably a good idea to do it over a bite to eat. After looking around for a bit but not immediately finding one, she started walking about. "But, uh, had a change of heart, then? Me getting out probably isn't much of a shocker, but you? W-with all due respect, of course, but you seemed pretty content where you were at."

It was as diplomatic as Sylvia could put it.

 

[Vaylin]

She was surprised that Sylvia hadn’t urged her to lead, rather than leaving her back open to the Zabrak. Not that Vaylin was going to do anything, but the scepticism and caution was warranted given past actions. It became apparent when she followed Sylvia, noticing the young woman was avoiding anything that wasn’t the main hallways.

Keeping herself within eye of other civilians…

Vaylin pondered if she should feel offended that she was doing this, after all she had made it plain she wasn’t going to do anything. But Vaylin understood why. Sylvia lacked some critical pieces of context. And even then, their last interaction hadn’t exactly been pleasant for the young woman.

“Indeed, even at the time I figured your interactions with the mirror wouldn’t stick.” And if Vaylin/Moirai hadn’t been so busy at the time, she might’ve chased things up and tried to further push Sylvia to the Sith. “In hindsight, I learned that day how much love could be a double-bladed sword. Can be one’s greatest weakness, easily to manipulate. But it could also be one’s strongest bond.”

After all, the mirror had focused on Elle Mors.

“My change of heart though? Well…” Vaylin’s voice drifted off as the pair entered a cafeteria, finding a table to sit at. “Do you think this place serves any alcohol?” She joked, but was partially serious in probably needing something to tell her tale. “Let’s just say, Moirai and I split apart…quite literally.”

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Vaylin
​

"Yeah, it really didn't end up having the intended effect," Sylvia quickly responded with a small chuckle. The mirror had caused a crisis of faith that, ironically, ended with her escaping the Sith. Perhaps her mental resilience had always been much greater than everyone, herself included, expected. It simply didn't show in any conventional way. Now it turned out that even the zabrak had taken something away from Sylvia's moment before the mirror.

"That girl ended up saving my life. I wouldn't even have tried getting out had she not done it first." Even though she had no hope of ever seeing Elle again back then, merely the courage the blonde had shown by doing what she had done was enough to set an example she could follow.

The first place to eat looked fine enough, and so she led the zabrak in before finding a table. While they did, though, Sylvia would learn that the woman she knew as Moirai had gone through her own set of tribulations in order to separate herself from the Sith. Even though she had not even begun her story yet, the short version was more than enough to confirm that.

"Well, chite," the younger woman said, her tone shifting to a more serious one. "That sounds unpleasant, to say the least. So that whole Moirai... persona? Like, broke off? I... don't think I really grasp it." She scratched her neck as she grabbed a laminated drinks menu with her other hand. The most she knew about one's being was that enough willpower and a powerful bond could guide a dead soul from the netherworld back to life, and only because she had done so herself. How it had even been possible was still mystified her to this day.

"But I guess I don't have your name, then?" Sylvia had only known the name Moirai, after all.

 

[Vaylin]

A small smile appeared as Vaylin watched Sylvia talk about Elle. Even back then the Zbarak could see the affection Sylvia had for the blonde woman. Albeit, at the time it was something to exploit for her own ends. Ultimately a fruitless endeavour, as the young woman was sat before her, completely disconnected from her old life.

The Zabrak’s expression turned wistful, reminded how much she envied Sylvia for having something she hadn’t.

Love.

Something that now in hindsight, Vaylin realised had been a missing piece that could’ve kept her from spiralling into the abyss. Even if things with Jorryn hadn’t turned out as they had, Vaylin now knew that hadn’t ever been true love. Just mutual physical attraction.

Vaylin’s melancholic thoughts were broken by Sylvia’s question, pondering over the details of her split from Moirai. The Zabrak chuckled, shrugging her shoulders.

“It’s…complicated. Suffice to say, the Force is capable of things you can’t imagine. The Dark Side corrupts absolutely, and well…let’s just say there were some underlying issues that led to it all.” Even Vaylin didn’t know all the details, just enough to know she had fallen so far her very being was capable of being split apart.

The Zabrak’s eyebrow raised at Sylvia’s follow up question. Vaylin paused, realising that the younger woman had indeed only known her as her Sith persona. And it made her think back…just how long had it been since she actually went by her own name.

“My name is Vaylin.”

Sylvia Virtos​

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Vaylin
​

Underlying issues. Sylvia was fairly certain that every single person with Sith history had those. Some simply dealt with them in healthier ways that others. As for herself, she was well-aware it took her embarrassingly long to see that her approach was far from adequate. "Sounds just lovely," Sylvia responded in a sarcastic tone.

'Better late than never' was next in that particular train of thought.

"And it's nice to meet you, Vaylin. Is Vay okay?"

In strong contrast to the mostly-reserved character she displayed in their first encounter, Sylvia assertively waved over one of the waiters. After the customary 'welcome' and 'how can I help you', she voiced her order. "The spiciest noodles you have, and a stimcaf." From the spiciness to the high level of caffeine, the woman clearly liked it strong. She was clearly unbothered by the unorthodox combination of meal and drink, too.

A look towards Vaylin as she was given the opportunity to order as well later, the room for conversation had once again opened. "Props on getting out, though," she complimented. "The rubbish ones like me just gotta live to tell the tale. You had a lot more chite to deal with."

Even if she didn't know the full extent of it, Sylvia was convinced of that.