Private Shadows in the Garden

[Tycho Arak]

Good. She was determined to make things go the way she wanted them to go. She wasn't limiting herself to only the ways of the Jedi and that improved her odds at defeating the Nameless. These were not creatures that cared what side of the battle one aligned themselves to. They ate what they wanted, whenever they wanted, and there was little they could do to stop it. Little they could do unless the utilized the Force to its full potential and fought back with the knowledge of what they faced.

As she attempted to project the lightning from her fingertips, he was pleasantly surprised to see a small crackle come from her fingertips before dissipating, but he smiled at what she said.

"I'm sure Valery wouldn't have it any other way," he said, reaching out to touch her hand, a small shock discharging between them. "BUT you made a spark. The first time I tried? Nothing. It took me a long time to get where you already are."

He walked around her, crossing his arms over his chest, one hand still holding his bottle of water. There was great potential within her, and Valery was doing an excellent job of bringing it out. Between the two of them, they could get Anneliese to a place where she could face this creature and she could win on her own. Though he had every intention of not letting her face it without him being there in case she needed his help. Like it or not, the connection the two of them shared made it so he couldn't help but care about her.

"Open your mind. Don't let what you've been told about this ability cloud your mind. It's just energy. It does nothing unless you direct it to. Let's try again. I want you to get this down before we move on. One step at a time."

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Coruscant I Sentinel Headquarters II Training Dojo
Objective: Down the Rabbit Hole
​

Anneliese stood now, both hands extended forwards as she focused internally on her body and its pathways. Impulses from the brain were sent down in nerve-endings... there was a super-highway of electricity that powered her body, and in that power -- was the force, driving her life force... all she had to do, was harness that potential... easy right? Hardly.

Time pushed forward... sweat now beaded on her forehead as she focused intently on the tug that came from her core, willing that feeling up and down her arms took every bit of effort she could muster up, in the end, time after time -- small sparks sputtering just off her finger tips or --other times nothing at all happening. Sitting down, her breath hitched she grabbed the water bottle and greedily drank from the bottle as her emerald eyes stared dead ahead at the wall with intense focus.

Starting out this little field trip, how he'd introduced himself, the things he said -- had given way to fear. Tycho was... different, but not evil. His philosophies differed -- but they could still work in harmony. He wasn't evil.. he'd been dealt a really crappy hand, but he made a change, a conscience effort to do good for others vs. becoming another product of bad things... she could be a product, an agent of change.

Her thoughts had dwelt heavily on everything that had taken place over the last few weeks, feth -- it'd been a crazy year in general. From the crystal caves, to classes, to missions, free time, and alike. In this time, she learned a lot of things... but mostly, things about herself. Her mind often tried to stop her -- limiting her potential. When she allowed fear to leave, to not dominate, a sleeper from within would arise and awaken -- and only she would remain, fierce and ready to take on anything, no matter the challenge. She thought of this as she thought of what she could actually change -- what she needed to do... and for a moment, she believed she could... she could take this on, and she could restore honor to her bloodline and bring peace once and all to it.

Looking at Tycho with a weary smirk, her canines flashing. "Just call me sparkles -- I'm trying, and their consistent... but, this is exhausting. It feels like I'm using more energy than I'm used to using -- I'm not saying "can't" -- that's not a word generally accepted anywhere, but -- it might take a little longer to... grasp then a few hours." Taking another swig of her drink, she smirked inwardly -- something new to add to her early morning practices... something new to add to her routine... but it was definitely not going to be easy. The concentration alone in gathering the energy require and channeling took extreme effort... this move, this ability, was far beyond her years of experience and as such, would take time to master.

​

 

[Tycho Arak]

When he'd first found her the fear had been palpable. Had he said nothing to her then, what would have become of her? Would Val's training be enough to keep her alive? Maybe. Val was more than capable of teaching her to fend for herself. If there was anyone he could trust among the Jedi, other than Ran, it would certainly be her. But he didn't like taking that risk. The notion of letting an evil being have its way with an entire bloodline, taking over her? No, that was something he couldn't abide by. As a Sentinel it wouldn't be right for him to have done nothing. And now? Now she was focused, determined. If nothing else, he'd gotten her out of her funk.

She kept at it for some time. He was impressed with her resiliency and determination to keep going. She could have done well as a Kage warrior if she'd been one. Not that he would ever wish that life on anyone else, having lived it. The progress she made was good, but she was right, it was going to take some time, and a lot of practice to get herself to the point where she could reliably make use of that ability. He was confident, though, that it would be a surprise for her foe.

"That's good," he said before checking his chrono. "I don't want to keep you for too long and I don't want you overtaxing yourself. You have your Jedi studies to attend to as well."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit chit, which he walked over and held out to her.

"Why don't you go back to the temple and get some rest. You can come back and find me here when you want to learn more. Use the credit chit to pay for a transport back. Anytime you come here, it's on me to pay for you to get here. And if you see your master, tell her I enjoyed working with her."

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Coruscant II Sentinel Headquarters
Objective: Down the Rabbit Hole
​

Anneliese couldn't help but feel gratitude for the chance meeting that Ashla had fated her with, her eyes staring intently at Tycho -- she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness for him. His life by no means had been easy, which was not fair, but as she'd learn several times over, it never was. Despite the bad, it had made him strong. His views, while hardened in some ways regarding the force and its facets-- shaped him to who he was, and she knew she could learn a lot from him... but she was not going to once give up on showing him the joy and warmth the light from Ashla gave her -- she was going to show him the unconditional love as a human being he deserved to receive.

Looking down at the credit chit that was handed to her, she tilted her head slightly, the sweat glistening off her forehead and arms as she smiled softy at him -- pure, innocent and child-like kindness emanating from her. "Are you sure? That's a lot of money..." However, not wanting to quench the spirit of giving in which he gave, she nodded once again. "Thank you Tycho -- for caring, and wanting to make sure I make it to and from the Enclave safely. That's incredibly sweet of you, and I promise to keep it safe so I can come back and train some with you and to just visit."

Looking back at the wall again, a certain tenacity in her eyes, she looked back at the chronometer... he was right, time was moving regardless what transpired -- but she felt she had to give it just one more attempt. Looking back at him her voice chimed in the air, the determination clear in it. "Let me try... one more time."

Squaring off her stance she brought her hands together as if praying, her chest rising and falling as her steady breath filled the room -- the concentration heavy, and palpable as the sound of her inhale and exhale echoed in the room. Drawing on the force she began to allow the light that was her breath fill and expand -- focusing on all that was and has been. "Believe in yourself..." the words echoing from the crystal caves filling her mind. The love Valery Noble showed her daily -- whether it was through the example she set, checking on her, or admonishing her. The love Roman gave, and shared with her -- and the gentle moments they shared together. The friends she had made with the NJO and all the adventures she'd had.

Joy -- utter joy and gratitude filled her heart.

Her mind came to the entity and its curse on her family -- the shadow of the past that now loomed and hung over her... the power she'd allowed it to have... power, she would no longer give it. It was a ancient, and hungry, malevolent being -- a being whom she was bound to by fate. Remembering the prophecy, the words as clear as day in her mind, she repeated them in a soft whipser.

"Should she falter, darkness shall reign,
The Nameless One's power unchained."

She refused to allow this thing -- this creature to rule her life... she would get stronger, she would stop running like a child, she would defeat it and she would believe in herself and remember her strength. She was Anneliese Kaohal, daughter of Valera. She was Padawan to Valery Noble, Grandmaster of the NJO. She was a daughter of the light, of Ashla. Feeling a surge of pure light energy within the pit of her stomach beginning to form and rise, stemming from the things that brought her desire to protect and to defeat the Nameless, she willed the energy up and down to the ends of her hands, a cry of sheer adrenaline breaking forth from her lips. Emerging forth from her hand came a singular arc of lightning, bursting forth like the brilliance of the sun -- several small tendrils branching like hands as it hit and pocketed the wall she stood in front of, no bigger than the size of a pea, a small wisp of smoke rising from the spot.

A smirk of sheer accomplishment stretched across her lips as her vision began to double -- her body feeling like she'd just run a hundred miles, her arms burning and aching as her limbs began to shake. "Boom." Her smile nothing shy of smug, but still maintaining a air of humility and poise she dropped onto the mats, passing out black from the excessive use of energy she'd exhibited. This girl was a firecracker.

​

 

[Tycho Arak]

"I'm quite positive," he said when she asked about the credit chit. "I want you to be safe and I know it's not the safest out there right now. People are still picking up the pieces and there are a lot of Imperial's lingering about."

Not to mention a cold-blooded terrorist on the loose that had no problem causing people to commit murder and other heinous crimes. He hated to think about some of the awful things that people had done to each other back on his home world, things he'd seen first hand. Those sorts of things, plus the ones he'd seen since leaving? A man killing an entire family so he could butcher them and eat them? And that wasn't even the worst of what he'd seen. If something like that happened to her, or worse, he'd never be able to live with himself. It was well worth the cost to ensure that she had safe transport whenever she came to visit.

She looked at the Chrono and agreed on the time, but she also wanted one more chance to try what he'd taught her. He didn't have a problem with it. Given that had no curfew, no family to go home to, he could stay there all night with her if that was what she wished. He was going to stay there all night anyway, pouring over data and reports he'd acquired from local law enforcement until he ended up falling asleep at his desk. It's what he did every night. There were freshers and that in the building, and he didn't own a home anywhere else. That was his life.

He remained standing off to the side, well out of her way, as she lifted her hand and concentrated on the wall opposite from her. This was her moment, and as time drew on, he could feel the power welling within her. Not evil power, just power. Power drawn from the things she cared about. Power drawn from strength of self. Power that had been locked away inside of her, unknown, until he happened to cross paths with her. The Force works in mysterious ways, he thought to himself as he watched her, continuing to feel the building tension, the electricity in the air. The time had come. He could feel it in every fiber of his being.

And sure enough, an arc of electricity leapt from her fingertips to strike the wall, singular, but strong enough to damage it. It might seem miniscule, that pea sized dent in the wall, but it wasn't. It took immense power to damage something physical in such a manner. His own electrical show hadn't damaged the walls or ceiling, after all.

"Incredible," he said, moving over to her and wrapping one arm around her in a hug, but also to keep her upright because he could see the strain it had put on her. "You have great strength inside of you, Anneliese. Strength only you can bring out. That divot in the wall there? That's your strength, your perseverance. Never doubt yourself. In time, you will defeat that which haunts you, I know it."

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Coruscant II Sentinel Headquarters
Objective: Down the Rabbit Hole
​

As he helped to support her weight, her body shook like a leaf. Her limbs felt heavy and the odd sensation that moved down them had yet to subside. Hearing his remark about what she'd accomplished, she couldn't help but to feel the pride that swelled within her come to her mind and slowly stretch across her face in a contagious, but weary smile. She'd done it -- she'd fething done it... and it was amazing.

Fear had left -- and once again, only she'd remained -- she believed in herself.

She'd heard it several times over the years -- and here lately, with everything that had happened, it began to tie it all together, and solidify it all. She was stepping into a new chapter of her Jedi Journey... and she knew it would be different moving forward. Evil would have no sway over her -- neither physical, nor mental. Looking over at Tycho, still clinging onto him as he supported her weight. "Pretty sure now, I'm done for the day. I wasn't expecting that to take such a toll on me..." She winced slightly as her body shivered. "But -- the more I practice, now that I know the feeling, the surge of power -- I can replicate and hone it like a edge..." Smiling at Tycho once again, her nose scrunching just slightly. "Thank you Tycho -- really. You didn't have to stop, and you didn't have to help... but I'm so thankful Ashla let me meet you. You have a beautiful soul -- and I appreciate everything you've shown me. I look forward to stopping back in between my missions and classes."

Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and sighed. "I also think I need to do the hard thing -- and simply ask for help and talk to Val about what happened. Thank you for helping to remind me asking for help isn't a weakness, but a strength."

​

Once she'd regained her strength, Annie would leave, taking the transport back to the Enclave -- safetly nestled and transported to and fro thanks to Tycho. As she stared out the window of the transport she couldn't help but to feel like the luckiest person in the world. She had a wonderful Master -- someone she aspired to be like. She had Roman -- and all her friends. She had the safety of the temple and all the Masters, a place she got to call home. Now -- Now she had a new person to call friend. Despite what others might say if they ever saw him, or judged him, she knew in her heart he was good, kind and she looked forward to visiting him again and telling him about her adventures, her progress and just checking on him.

​

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Sentinel Headquarters
Objective: Training
​

It was the following week since her first encounter with Tycho -- and since then she'd been back to the Sentinel Headquarters a number of times. In the Training Dojo that Tycho had appointed for her personal use, the young fierce red-head trained in sheer focus.

The flurry in which her hands and feet moved were terrifying as she moved through a series of unarmed kata movements. Kicks, spins, punches and blocks all in the air as shouts of adrenaline and focus escaped her lips. She had been working tirelessly on her form -- well, Tycho had frequented her training visits, critiquing where needed and ensuring she was building her body to withstand the mental training that he would one day put her through.

Coming to a stop, her chest moving up and down quickly, she stood in the middle of the training Dojo -- sweat glistening off her upper body.

Tucking strands of her hair behind her ears she held her sides as she winced, her eyes as she tilted her head down. This was the hardest she'd pushed herself. With the war on Tython looming in the near future -- the inevitable encounter she would have to have with the Nameless... she had to keep pushing herself, she had to be ready.

Straightening her posture, and bring her hands to center with her body... as she began to control her breathing. Focusing on her surrounding, she began to call upon the force… reaching out and focusing on the weights that were strategically placed in the floor throughout the training mats. Using the Force, Anneliese began to strain, her body shivering as her hands interlocked together as several of the weights began to lift up off the ground and hover in the air. This training wasn't just about the physical -- but mental. Tycho told her -- the beast, if it was this Nameless, it wasn't going to be an easy battle... and what was worse.. it had the ability to invade her mind and cause hysteria, flooding her mind, driving her mad. She had to be stronger... she had to be.

​

 

[Tycho Arak]

She returned and left numerous times, always seemingly stronger than the time she'd come before. It was impressive, her dedication to defeating the thing that aimed to wipe out her family line. He didn't interfere with her training because she hadn't asked him for help just yet. Working on her body seemed the goal. Strengthen the body and the mind will follow suit, generally speaking. It took a lot of mental strength to push the body beyond its limits. The only thing he did do was make sure she remained hydrated and took time out to eat. He didn't want her passing out, after all.

Though this latest time he felt there was something different. Her focus was less body, more mind. Even as he worked in his office he could feel that something was different with what she was doing. After a time, he left his desk and went to the training room where she was. There was a weight in the back of his mind that told him it was time to do something she wouldn't like, but something that was necessary for her growth. If Valery caught him doing what he was about to do, she'd beat him to a pulp.

Without her knowing he was even there, as he kept his presence minimal, he reached out through the Force, utilizing an ability that he did not employ often because its use was, well, just not good. Only the worst of the worst would normally get this treatment, and only if he needed something from them they wouldn't otherwise give up.

His hands moved in an intricate pattern, as if weaving a web, as he cast the spell Summon Fear upon his pupil, his daughter. He had dreaded this moment from the time he'd started training her because it pained him to cause her anguish or pain, but he knew that the hardest part of her training was strengthening her mind to the point that nothing she faced would be able to force its will upon her without breaking her down over a long period of time. To fight a Nameless, she had to be able to withstand his psychosis, which first meant she had to face her fears head on.

And so the Nameless One would appear to her as she had seen him last, materializing from nothing, taunting her, reaching for her, expressing its intent to inhabit her body.

He would have to be careful. Too much and he could destroy her mind altogether, but she had to face it, perhaps repeatedly, until she could face it without fear.

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Sentinel Headquarters
Objective: Training
​

Funny thing about falling -- you don't realize it till it happens.

A pit formed in her stomach as the familiar sinister presence of the Nameless entered her mind. Sucking in a sharp breath her emerald eyes blazing with fear as the weights around the room came crashing to the floor, her body froze in sheer utter fear. Frozen in deadlock she stared in the corner of the room which now seeped darkness and began to engulf the entire room.

"Miss me?...Young pup.... I've been watching you..."

His voice echoed in the room all around as tears streamed down her cheeks, her body frozen by the fear that gripped her very mind and heart. As the darkness completely enveloped the room, a heavy breathing would be heard as a red set of eyes and a sick and horrifying fang filled smile appeared near her. "I told you... I am... inevitable."

Screams broke from her lips as unrestrained, fear laced sobbing filled the room. No matter how hard she struggled -- she couldn't move.

It's voice broke the silence once again as she struggled in place -- a tendril of dark energy whipping past the right side of her face as a scratch appeared on her cheek, blood slowly running down her face. Inhaling deeply, the gruff voice -- which clawed forth like a lion to a lamb spoke. "Resist all you want -- fight... all you want. The smell of your fear and blood only draw me closer to you."

His presence encompassed the entire room now, but something broke and nagged at the back corner of her mind... the word, fear.

Her emerald eyes shone agaisnt the darkness that engulfed her -- a righteous fury awakening within her, breaking through the lie, and fog that had filled her mind -- breaking through the fear that gripped her heart. As her body tensed, the Nameless simply chuckled, speaking once again, the whispers moving all around the room. "He's not here this time to cheer you on -- without him, without your Master... you are weak pup. I took your grandparents... I took your Mother and Uncle -- only one has ever escaped me... and he is the Bane of my existence."

Even though Tycho had cast a spell on Annie originally... something about the event was beginning to take a horrible turn as the black, bleeding crescent moon on her lower back began to burn and glow with a faint red... a malevolent hunger beginning to feel the room... almost as if 'it' were actually communicating to her.

Her eyes met the red, demonic orbs with anger, her voice breaking the silence. "I don't need them to be strong... I. am. strong." Her words overly enunciated as he started down the entity in her mind, pain working its way up her back, a 'hiss' escaping her mouth as her fists began to clench. "I told you... who I was last time -- and I meant that chit." The force began to flow into her body as the fear began to dissipate. "I am, Anneliese Kaohal -- sole heir and survivor of my bloodline... and I will kill you."

Her words hung in the air, not a threat but a full bore promise as a rumble emanated through the room. Breathing in and out, the words echoing in her mind and her heart -- believe... believe in yourself. Roman Vossari flashed before her eyes, and the life she wanted with him. Valery Noble , and her love and they adventures they'd taken... and all of the friends and Master's she'd met, and of the confidence they had in her. "No more." She spoke aloud. "No... more."

A pulse of light radiated off Anneliese as her fiery red hair began to move gently around as if the wind itself was moving it. "This is the last time I allow you in my mind -- the next time we meet -- I'll be ready, and I'll be waiting -- and it is you who shall know the HORROR!" Light burst forth from her body as her voice howled and boomed forth -- light breaking the darkness as she inhaled in and out, over and over. "This is my mindspace -- this is my domain and I'm in control."

Fear incarnate now knew fear itself -- the young pup, the girl of prophecy, a lone figure, no longer faltered -- so she could finally stand. She would not be prey to this creature -- she was the apex... she was the Alpha.

Fear no longer reigned -- only she remained.

Holding her hand out she kept breathing -- her hand rising and falling rhythmically, the creature howling loudly as it cursed her in some unknown language. "I... will... get... you..." Her eyes, normally filled with gentle kindness, were filled with uncaring, righteous anger as small crackles of static popped forth from her hand until tearing through the void burst a bright, blinding orange bolt of light -- which violently hissed through the air as it hit where the dark creature stood, clad in shadows... the Nameless howling in pain as the darkness began to fade away like sand in the wind.

Standing now in the middle of the room, she stood, breathing heavy and soaked in sweat, her body shaking like a leaf, sobs breaking from her lips as the sweat dripped heavy onto the ground. She'd done it -- how, she wasn't entirely for certain -- and what even remained more was how it had managed to sneak up on her like it did... but somehow, she fought back, she resisted, she ruled. Staring at the wall where it had been, a smoldering chunk of wall gone her emerald eyes narrowed as a grin curled on her lips... she wasn't going to be stalked anymore, she wasn't going to fear this shadow... she was going to be the hunter and no longer the hunted. When the day would come finally to confront this beast... she would be ready.

Woefully unaware of Tycho's presence in the room, as she shakily stood up, she began to turn around, and upon seeing him, a joyful sob broke free from her mouth as tears streamed down her face -- she'd never been so happy to see someone as her legs attempted to move towards him, but began to give way as she reached out to him, like a toddler to a parent.

​

 

[Tycho Arak]

He was being extremely careful to control just how far things went with the ability. Too far and she could essentially become a vegetable. Too short and she probably wouldn't even remember it. The latter was good when using it for an interrogation technique, but not when you were trying to train someone to be strong enough mentally to withstand the assault of a Nameless. But he was practiced enough with it that he was certain she would be alright in the long run, though perhaps a little traumatized.

The strangest part of it was when he felt something else emanating from her. A malevolent hunger. He didn't understand how it was possible that triggering her fear would somehow create a connection between her and the real creature, but somehow, he had done just that. It might have only been temporary, but as soon as he felt that he dispelled the spell. Or tried, at least. It continued through the beast itself, much to his surprise.

But she was withstanding it!

Despite the thing out of his control happening, the outcome was proving to be worth it. She was resisting. He was fighting back against its induction of psychosis, a necessity for dealing with such a creature. She was fighting back against its impression upon her, and she was winning. Then she banished it altogether, leaving it to wallow in anger wherever it was hiding in wait for her. That was rather shocking. He had expected it to take several times for her mind to grow strong enough to do what she had done, but he had clearly misjudged the spirit of his little spitfire.

She turned to him, cried out, and started forward, but she was exhausted. He rushed forward and caught her in his arms, cradling her against him.

"Be still, my daughter," he said, holding her gently. "You have done well, and I am so very proud of you. You grow in strength every time I see you and now you have the mental fortitude to withstand the beast."

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber I Outfit X X II Equipment X X X III Theme Song IIII Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Sentinel Headquarters
​

Her body shook like a leaf as Tycho held her, keeping her from falling flat on her face. Her mind buzzed with mixing emotions -- pride, joy, fear, surprise, and confusion... but then, as Tycho held onto her, always there when she needed him from the moment she'd first met him, his words caught her by surprise, her breath catching in her throat.

Daughter.

Her emerald eyes came to his -- her body language as well as her mind at a loss for words... until, as she looked at him, they teared up. Was this what it was like to have a dad? Someone there no matter how much you pushed back -- someone that wanted nothing but the best for you and stopped at nothing to help you obtain your goals... despite the sacrifice it held on their part? Someone strong -- someone firm, unmoving. A sob breaking free from her lips she simply laid her head into the crook of his shoulder and collar bone as a light hearted giggle escaped her lips, sniffling heard as she breathed in and out, feeling a parental comfort engulf her.

Another sniffle breaking the sobs, she spoke, her voice soft and tired. "Thanks Tycho -- thanks dad..." The last part soft, but there as he helped her to the bench.

Taking the water he offered to her, she began to down it quickly as the bottle crackled aloud the room, her throat feeling like a desert.

Thinking on what Tycho had just said -- her mental apitude finally being at a point she could withstand its call -- she looked to him, questions still swarming in her head. "I still have a ways to go, but I think over the last few weeks -- there have been a lot of reminders about where my true strength comes from." She paused as she set the bottle down on the bench next to her, her hand slowly coming up and laying on her chest softly. "Its me."

Just... believe in yourself.

Her freckled covered face, the sun kissed skin that colored her body -- and the wrinkle in her nose forming as she smiled once again at him, her emerald eyes vibrant despite her fatigue. "I forget that often... that the power that others hold over me, is the power I give them. I am strong, I am loved, I am enough. I will strive to get stronger, everyday -- in my own way, with my strength, with you, Val, Roman, and all the others who walk alongside me... and I will be enough... because I am who I am."

​

 

[Tycho Arak]

Slender, ashen fingers brushed her hair gently as she rested against him. When she looked at him, his golden eyes stared back, unmoving. There was a giggle in all the emotions that raged within her, he'd heard it. But what he did know was that she was happy, that his referring to her as his daughter brought a measure of joy and comfort to her that only a father could. It made him feel good that she was happy to be referred to in such a way, and he held her tenderly, making sure she had all the support she needed.

And then she called him dad.

That word hung heavy in his mind. Not because he was afraid of it, but because it was something he'd never had. A father. She had accepted him as her father, and he didn't even know what a father was, did he? Suddenly a pang of fear ran through him, coursing through every fiber of his being, but he quickly squashed it. No, he told himself. You know what a father is BECAUSE you didn't have one. All the things you wanted as a child, all the things you needed but were never there. The comfort of someone to speak to about hard things, someone who would look after and protect you. That is what a father is and that is what you will be to her.

"Your progress is beyond what I expected it, my little spitfire," he said after she set the empty bottle down. "I have been watching and seeing your growth and you're coming into your own. There is great strength in you because you seek it and you nurture it. Strength doesn't come from power or ability, and that is why we are not Sith. We understand that strength comes from knowledge, spirit, and perseverance."

He kissed her forehead and then pulled back just a little bit.

"Strength also comes from family and it pains me but I must admit that I caused you to see the vision of the Nameless One using a spell that invokes your fear. I wanted to see how you would react because facing your fear now is the only way you'll conquer it then. I hope you will forgive me for doing so."

Truly he felt remorse for having done that to her. Anything that hurt her that he did was something he hated, but he needed her to be strong for her own sake. If he did nothing, and just watched her train, she still wouldn't reach where she needed to be. It was his job, wasn't it, to prepare her for what she would face? Yes, but not in the way his parents had. He was different from them. He hadn't abandoned her after throwing her into the fire, he'd been there to catch her after she faced the flames and defeated them. Surely that meant something?

Anneliese Kaohal

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber II Engagement Ring II Outfit X X II Equipment X X X II Theme Song II Bloodline Tattoo

Tags: Tycho Arak
​

She did seek to nurture it, she fought and clawed to hone her capabilities... it didn't matter if it was a lightsabre form, a force power, strengthening her mental capabilities or as simple as the proper block -- she sought to do it with as much precision as she could muster, disciplining herself and putting one hundred percent of herself in it.

As Tycho confessed he'd been the one that originally brought on the 'scenario'... but then admitted after he had it somehow actually established a connection, her emerald eyes flashed, a word gnawing in the back of her mind, a connection being made. "Fear." One word said, but that was the key. "It links to me through fear -- fear is the mind killer. I'm at my weakest mentally when I'm consumed by it... that's how it gets in." She took a drink as she looked at him. "The first time it ever happened, I touched a child's doll -- and I caught glimpses of the past... sensations, emotions. It made me feel overwhelmed and then before I knew it, I was in darkness and it was before me."

She sat next to him as her hands came up to her hair, slowly and meticulously braiding strands into a weave, a gentleness in her tone as she spoke to him. "Oh -- and I forgive you, its not like you would have known what would happen -- but now we do. The only question is... is that the only trigger?"

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[Tycho Arak]

TAGS: Anneliese Kaohal

It amazed him just how calm she remained when he admitted that he had been the one to cause her to experience what she just had. To be honest, he'd expected outrage, anger, hurt. It would have made sense to him if that was how she responded to what he'd done to her. The complete forgiveness was a bit of a shock. The fact that she was so focused on what had happened and what it meant was shocking as well. Not because he didn't think she was capable of such, just that he didn't expect it.

"Fear is the key to most problems faced in the galaxy," he pointed out. "Fear of the unknown leads to people locking themselves away. Fear of the other leads to wars. The feeling you felt when you touched that stuffy was fear left behind by its owner, and it probably surprised you and that opened you to the Nameless."

He sat beside her, watching her braid her hair. It was hard to stay focused on the matter at hand when his mind kept slipping to the fact that he now had a daughter. She was his daughter. They might not share blood, but that didn't mean anything. Family was what you made it and he would love and protect her as fiercely as he had wished his own parents had done for him. If that meant dying for her, then so be it. He would face the Nameless for her if he needed to. Not that he would tell her he intended to do that because she wouldn't like it if he did.

The other part of him was thinking about what she said about triggers. Fear was always a powerful trigger for those who wanted to do harm. Fear, anger, and hatred. Those were the things that tore people apart from the inside.

"Do you ever feal anger at what it did to you and your family? Hatred? Those are powerful triggers as well. If you don't learn to control those then it will devour you just as easy as it will through your fear."

 

[Anneliese Kaohal]

Items: Lightsaber II Engagement Ring II Outfit X X II Equipment X X X II Theme Song II Bloodline Tattoo
Tags: Tycho Arak
Location: Coruscant II Sentinel Headquarters
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His question about her family struck a cord.

At first she got defensive -- of course she wasn't angry about her family... you can't be angry about people you never met let alone never had in your life.

What a bold faced lie -- the hubris to lie to herself.

Of course she was angry -- feth, she was livid. This creature -- had feasted on her family lineage for generations. It took her mother, it took her grandparents, her uncles... and all the rest. Thanks to this, thing, she never got to know the comfort of a Mothers embrace, she never knew what it was like to come home to family after a long day.

She hated this creature -- and she knew this line of thinking... was not very Jedi of her.

Looking at Tycho she sighed as she polished off her bottle of water and leaned her head against his shoulder, inhaling softly as she felt her the fatigue setting in her body. "I do Tycho, I do hate it." She was too tired to cry, but her tone was heavy, sad. "It made me an orphan -- and I'll never get to know what my Mother was like -- what my Grandparents were like." Her emerald eyes began to glaze over as she let out a long sigh. "But your right -- these thoughts aren't whats needed, they will lead no where -- well, they'll end up being my end if I continue to feed into my self wallowing and stay put in my mud-puddle."

Having been staring straight ahead in a hundred yard stare, she looked up at him. "Tycho... can you help me to the transport... I think I'm ready to go home and rest for the day... I'm tired."

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[Tycho Arak]

TAGS: Anneliese Kaohal

Something he said made her upset, but she quickly let it go. Nothing he'd said was meant to upset her, it was just observations of reality. It was normal to have feelings of anger and hatred and sadness. They were living people and emotions were a part of them. That's one of the problems he'd had with the Jedi. Their rejection of fear, anger, hatred bordered on madness. They bottled all those emotions up inside of themselves instead of just finding a healthy way to let them out. That was why so many had turned away from the live and become evil. He definitely did not want that for his daughter.

"Hatred and anger are normal emotions that we all experience at some point in our lives," he said, rubbing her shoulder as she leaned her head upon his. "We have to learn to deal with those emotions in a way that doesn't hurt us or others. That's what makes us different from the Sith and Dark Jedi: we don't let those feelings control us."

For a time he still had. Even very recently. Valery had helped him to cut through the noise of his past, to realize that people could still care for him even if no one had before, and that it was normal to feel the need to protect his daughter at any cost. Sometimes you just needed a friend to help you get through things.

"If you control your emotions, release them, and let go of the past, he will not be able to use that against you. I know that's a big ask, but I believe you can do it. You should talk to Valery about it. Ask her how she helped me do much the same."

There was no problem admitting that he had needed help. Not anymore. Not with her. She needed to know that even her father was vulnerable. In realizing that, she could seek the help she needed from others without feeling scared or nervous about doing so. The help he'd received from her master had freed him to realize that he cared deeply about Annie, and that it was alright to do so because he wasn't like his parents and he wasn't going to abandon her.

When she asked if he could take her to the transport, he gently scooped her up in his arms and cradled her close. It wasn't hard for him to do. She was petite and much smaller than he was. Carrying her was very reminiscent of a father carrying a child based on the disparity in their size. He kissed her forehead, and then carried her through the HQ and outside to a waiting transport where he set her gently in the backseat.

"You be careful," he said, smiling at her. "Call me if you need me, but get some rest and then talk to Valery."

He closed the transport and approached the driver, offering him some extra credits.

"Make sure she gets home safe. Don't leave until you see her go inside."

Once that transaction was complete, he stepped back to watch the transport leave, feeling a small pang of loneliness now that she was gone again. But he knew she would be alright, and she'd be back. She was strong and he was proud of her. He turned and went back inside, resigning himself to wait until he could see her again.