Private Voice of an Angel

[Falentra]

A little more than a month ago, she was invited into a life new. Bestowed upon her was a new name. No longer was she known by Nouqai Veil. A name entirely beautiful, dark and so incredibly perfect that she felt like had always been hers to begin with.

Falentra of House Marr. Not by descent, but rather, acceptance.

Once a padawan, now following in the ever so patient guidance of her new Master. Malum taught her the ways of the life so new to her. It was a life she never expected, one of luxury and of family, no matter how chaotic it was. Falentra felt like she finally had a purpose and a place and a home.

Most days, she was deployed on missions or undergoing more training. Days like these, when she was off form work, she would spend piloting her ship and exploring the territories around her new home.

The purple nebula surrounding the enigmatic place called the hand of the makers would not go unnoticed. She had heard rumours about the area... the way it was haunted. The area was full of debris collected through centuries of old crashed ships and parts floating about. She had spent time exploring the area... until she encountered a ship - half of it.

There wasn't much interesting at first. With a respiratory system like hers, Falentra had not needed her mask to breathe, the moisture system in her exosuit was ample enough. It seemed like it was a carrier ship with cells - some of them carbonite. While she thought they all were empty, the young woman was quite surprised to find out that one of them was not.

Perhaps it was curiousity or more so the sudden urge that overcame her, like an overdrive of all her caution. She drew nearer.... now wanting to free who ever that was frozen within the solid substrate. A desperation even. Her hand rose, and her clawed fingertip pressed it, the button to release.

Koto Demascón

 

[Koto Demascón]

Tac. tac. tac. tac
It was the only noise left really, beyond the occasional beep of a system, like his own carbonite casing around him. He couldn't see, he couldn't truly hear, it was the force that alerted him of life. There was so little of it around him now, they were like little tone's reaching his ears. Precise in location, but imprecise in details. He only knew it was alive, or it was moving, or heard a rush of anger or fear. Most of those had gone now, he'd heard their fear in the force, or calm, or...something. Relief maybe. Acceptance. Anger. It was almost all gone now, he imagined he was almost forgotten by now.
Tac. tac. tac. tac
And then there was another tone, maybe they were replacing the guards. He sent out an urge in the force, a visualization of what he wished, attempting to impress on their mind, as if it were their own thoughts and intents, to release him from carbonite. To finally free him. He was a mixture of rage and relief that he had been conscious so long. It wasn't supposed to work that way. He wasn't supposed to be consciuos in any sense of the word. And yet, he was, even if it was mostly by the power of the Pelacotan. Or by some strange abnormality in him now. He couldn't truly act, couldn't shove his slab one way or another. But he could hear through the force, and project his mind outwards in a way. Not enough, he thought, to truly fix his predicament.
Tac. tac. tac. tac
But maybe, maybe not it was. THey were moving closer, moving to free him! Finally!
Tac. Tac. Tac. Tac
He continued to try and push, to urge that motion forwards. As though they were just finishing a motion they had set out to do, like a blacksmith taking a sword out of the forge. It had to be done on time, but it was no more strange than any other action. To seem natural.
Tac. Tac. Tac. Tac.
Their finger was over the button, just another inch!
Tac. Click. Tac. Tac.
RELEASED!
Burning filled him, cold, and hot, and motion. MOTION! Finally! Tac as his body began to be freed, he fell forwards, onto the ground. Ever so weak, still almost imobilized by the systems activity. Tac but he wouldn't let that stop him. He couldn't risk that they could come to their senses! tac he had to act fast. He tried to will them to wait as his body began to catch up. His eyes were open, but saw nothing! He'd have to rely on his sense empowered by Pelacotan. He sent a surge of strength through the force to his limbs and body, imbuing them with energy. If he were at his full strength yet, it would have given him inhuman levels of ability. As it was, it only brought him up to normal. Which even so, was that of a 6'5" Korun man. And from where the tone came from, he knew he had the advantage of size. He only hoped he was fast enough. Tac
He rushed his hand forwards, a short burst of flame as it surged towards the supposed guards throught trying to grip it and burn it at the same time intent on shocking them enough that they wouldn't try and stop him. He had to be in control of the situation, he couldn't let them know he couldn't see. Words barely escaped his lips as he did so, coughing carbonite before he did so, "I need....ship." he demanded. Tac and he'd listen for threat, for motion, for danger. He couldn't let himself be caught like that again. Eternity like that was too terrifying. Too agonizing
Falentra

 

[Falentra]

A soft hiss was emitted as the pressure was released. The carbonite liquifying and the entrapped specimen within started moving. Nouqai pondered a second whether to catch him as he stumbled forwards, but instead took a wary step back. the body crumpled to the ground on its knees, still covered in the silver substance.

The young woman watched, her hand lingered at the hilt of her retractable light dagger at her side. Not unsheathing the blade she would soon learn was a mistake. It lunged forwards, the ignition of flames from the surface of its palms toward her. Mouth open to let scream as it grazed her skin, searing the surface of skin, but before a sound could escape, the same fist wrapped tight around her throat.

While she didn't need her throat to breathe, the blood to her brain was vital. And any tighter, this man could crush her throat or break her neck.

He made his demands. It must be frightening - to be trapped in there for who knows how long. The reaction was reasonable, but Falentra was stuck in this dilemma she needed to diffuse should she wish to walk away with her life. A wrong move could cost her.

Diplomacy first. This alluring charm she possessed, her voice as velvety as an angel's…. More akin to a siren's. "I won't hurt you. You're alright…. Let me go." She cooed as best as she could with her airway within a vice grasp.

 

[Koto Demascón]

There was a sizzling noise as his hand made contact, more than he was expecting certainly. A tone of surprise echoed briefly in the force, as the strange surprise as his finger brushed moist skin at the top.

A second tone of shock echoed as she spoke, it was so....sweet. He felt not just like he was intellectually stunned, but like his whole body could relax. Finally. It was....startling, yet without even thinking properly, his hand slowly released itself. His feelings in the force were not hidden, they came through not just to any force sensitive, but almost any living being could have sensed them. Even though his face didn't necessarily represent that, having spent so long as he was, it was as though his body was just...there. He could feel it, move it, yet it was almost disconnected from him.

As he let go he stepped back, blinking as his eyes still failed to catch anything. He could hear her, and despite that she'd only spoken two sentences, it was like the voice continued in his head. There was a sense of caution still from him. Yet, there was also relief. He tried to look at her, again forgetting, he couldn't see in the slightest. It was a woman, that much he got...he didn't think he remembered her.

"I need to get out of here." He demanded, the sense of intent and need to escape rippled towards her in the force as well. It was more gentle though, and it was clear he was intrigued, and relieved.

 

[Falentra]

It worked. The grip loosened, relief washing over as he withdrew his hand. Slight dizziness overcoming her as the blood rushed back up to her head. Bent over, Falentra coughed, her hand rubbing her neck instinctually, the fresh burn stinging from the touch. She winced and let a small whine of pain. Minor enough of a wound to heal with the right care.

Stepping back, she grabbed her sword, not unsheathing the blade just yet, careful not to startle the man again but ensuring that she was ready to strike. Quite the force empath she was, she could feel his emotions bleeding into her, there was confusion, perhaps agitation, and behind that was relief and a subtle sense of serenity. Like a light sedative, her voice had allured him. If calmness wasn't maintain, if it were overwhelmed by other emotions, its effects would be temporary at most.

Another demand. It wasn't usual that she would want to help someone who harmed her instead of seek revenge in a way, but once again, she felt the same urge to assist him. A desperate, desperate urge. For someone who had just hurt her, her sentiments towards him was far from negative, oddly so.

Some how, Nouqai felt the odd sense that she needed to lead him. Her clawed, web hand, reached for his. "Ship's this way." Again, her voice smooth, uttered an octave above a whisper. "Do you have anywhere you need to get to?" She asked, navigating through the eerie abandoned hallways. Why was she doing this? It wasn't like her!

 

[Koto Demascón]

He listened, still cautious, but there was still also something about that voice. He'd heard her step back of course, and was ready to take another step afterwards. But he didn't hear another yet.

A little surprised though he felt her take for his hand telling him where to go, it was an odd hand too. At least he thought so, but perhaps his senses were still trying to catch up with the mind. Still warped by such a time imprisoned immobile. He'd go with her as his brain still tried to sort through the situation and his uncertainty, and the odd easing. He intended on keeping a tight grip on that hand, rescuer, on purpose or not. Whether out of appreciation, or concern that she might intend to just get out of his grasp at an innopurtune moment.

She spoke again, he hesitated mentally. His thoughts roamed to home, but no. There was nothing for him there but the jungles. Where did he want to go? He just gave a simpler answer, Somewhere Else" was all he had. He wasn't sure he cared where, "Safe for me." these words had the same added push in the force as much as his earlier ones. A skill that, despite a lack of targets, had grown quite strong and subtle.

This skill however, was not one that in turn let him feel the way her own one worked. Not one that alerted to him that just as he might have influenced her, she had most certainly done so to him. But then, even if he did know, this was perhaps still for the best.
Falentra

 

[Falentra]

The grip on her hand tightened, it was alarming but Nouqai would try her best to maintain her calm. It was unlikely that the man had any weapons on him, while she did, that in itself was an advantage. The young woman would sense something amiss, how had she been influenced to be willing to take a complete stranger onto her ship? Then it occured to her... if she was using her voice on him, had he been using some sort of charm of his own? Of course, there was mind trick, but Nouqai wouldn't think herself that weakminded.

Yet she still found herself leading him towards the ship. The sensors picked up on her approach and lowered the hanger doors. Nouqai stopped, just as they were about to enter. It was not a good idea, but yet, the urge was still strong. Somewhere else... safe for him. With that she moved towards the cockpit, the urge more intent. She needed to get to somewhere safe for her too. "How about my home? Alvaria." The question was cooed softly, like an enticing lullaby. "And what should I call you?"

 

[Koto Demascón]

He followed as quickly as he could, the ground was...not as noisy as a living thing. He could sense it, feel it. And each step helped to guide him, echoing against the ground that he could not see with his eyes. He heard the sensors and the hangar doors lowing. And then the voice again, soft and pleasant. The only good sound he'd heard in a long time. The only sound he'd heard with his ears, since the awful horrid noises he remembered before he was frozen in the carbonite.

She suggested her home? That was...well he didn't know how to really respond on that one. It wasn't like he could offer anywhere else. His own home was how he got in this mess, and without thinking. He simply nodded, almost eager to see it...well...he was eager to see in general. Then she asked what to call him. He didn't hesitate, he probably should have. But she just seemed like someone he could give an answer for, "I am Koto." he gave. He didn't mention the name of Demascon. Nor his mothers. Because neither felt relevant. Not anymore. He was also eager himself to know, curiosity very much in his tone of voice, "Who are you?" it wasn't exactly just a request for her name. She seemed far too special to be just some guard, and whether because of her voice, or the saving, he felt he needed to know.

Falentra

 

[Falentra]

Nouqai was still wary of this stranger and his influence on her, but something told her that it wouldn't be a problem. If the sentiments she felt bleed from him was true, this man was relieved to finally be away from his prison. There was also a sense of eagerness as she mentioned her home. A fact that she would be taking a man she had just met back home... what would Darth Malum of House Marr think? She would find out soon.

Koto, that was his name. Now a stranger no more, but an acquaintance. A man she had rescued, a man who had such an odd influence on her. "You can call me Falentra." She shared her own, the name annointed when she accepted - no, embraced - the darkside within her. It wasn't quite an answer to his question. Who was she? A fallen Jedi? A sith? In all honesty, Falentra hadn't quite figured out her identity in this new world just yet.

"My... um..." She tried to think of a suitable word. "My family... will want to meet you." ** Family. It was a word in her vocabulary that she rarely used, a word so foreign as it left her lips. Even if she had been with the Marrs for albeit a month, it was the most fitting. **"How long have you been in there?" She asked, starting up the ship, the engine rumbled lowly as she turning the gears to get off the Hand of the Makers.

 

[Koto Demascón]

She gave her name now too, he didn't stop to question if it was a real one or not for some reason. Then again, he hadn't lied either. But neither really gave much more than names, yet. Even if he felt, literally and figuratively, like he must be more in the dark in this situation. It felt...awkward. But after the ticking, the sound of any voice, especially this one, was a welcome reprieve no matter how little he actually knew.

He tilted his head slightly at the way she phrased it, that seemed an odd suggestion. Blinking his eyes, though they still couldn't see. Blast that prison! Who brought a prisoner straight to their family? Actually, no, he would have done that if he was still with his family. But what outsider would do that? "Ok...?" the caution, uncertainty, and just general confusion was evident in both his voice and in the force. He didn't reject the suggestion, but the fact he didn't understand why she'd think that was readily apparent.

He kept a hand in contact with something, anything, preferably a shoulder or a hand. Something not made of uncompromising metal or plastic. Those things that never yielded, never aged. Unalive. At her question, his finger began to tap against the back of a chair, in exact one second intervals, not a fraction out of time, "I do not know. Too long. I don't remember when I started counting." and he had started counting, or at least, he started tracking seconds. He didn't know how long. But it was certainly a lot more seconds than he believed he could count to.

Falentra

 

[Falentra]

Falentra felt safer with the Marrs - with Malum specifically. With this man having hurt her, she was more forgiving unusually. There was some sort of control he had over her, the drive, the urge to help him was not natural, it was unlike her. Nouqai sensed that. Now she would return to her the palace of Alvaria, the place she felt the safest, and for her Master to decide what to do with him. It was the best plan, the safest plan.

Pulling the lever, she charged up the hyperdrive. It wasn't too long a distance to Alvaria. The ship burst forward into hyperspace, if only for a short few seconds before they slowed, the planet coming into view. Nouqai started hearing the incessant tapping, like the ticking of a clock. She shot him a glance, with a raise of an eyebrow. "903 ABY," she merely told him the date, to give him a sense of where he was at.

The enterred the atmosphere, the greeneries and mountains coming into a vew. ""Welcome to Alvaria. Its beautiful isn't it?" Manoeuvring the ship towards a large castle.

 

[Koto Demascón]

His blind eyes kept moving, blinking hard as if there was anything to blink away. He was still uncomfortable in the ship, it was not what he was used to still. And it was still too close to the carbonite.

His face didn't seem to change at the comment. Nor did the tapping hesitate. But his presence in the force jolted at the year like he'd been slapped in the face. A sense of pain, dismay, and shock. "Over 40 years...fifty maybe." he muttered. He didn't really want to figure out the math of it right now. He was still simply too jolted by the fact it had been any number of decades. How much could have changed in all that time, what had he lost, missed. Was he forgotten? They really did intend to keep him in there for eternity didn't they. Agitation flooded the force around him.

They stopped, he blinked, still nothing. The lack of vision and ability to respond to her comment didn't get hidden from her in the force either, another jut of pain, this time he just didn't respond. Just stared straight ahead. He wandered if she even realized he couldn't see...maybe it was best not to say. "This isn't a trap is it?" he asked, reaching to push for an answer, he hoped to all good or evil that it wasn't. Because if it was...well he wasn't going to go so gently. He was still not in great shape, but at least his body had warmed up. He wished his eyes would...
Falentra

 

[Falentra]

She sensed the surprise, shock and dismay reflected through the force. A long while, lost in space. Years, and decades lost just like that. From what she could tell, he looked slightly older than herself. The feelings that radiated off him were increasingly negative, agitation. In such an enclosed area, she couldn't risk him setting the place ablaze. So she tried again, with that voice of hers, trying to empathise and calm him down. "A long time. You're alright now. Free."

Then he asked. Defensive... on edge. If anything, the last thing anyone would think viewing such a beautiful scenery was that it was set to trap them. It was odd. Nouqai glanced at him again, finally notice the way he blinked, as if there was something in his eyes. Of course.... such a long time stuck in carbonite meant that it had affected his vision in some way. "You cant see can you?"

"It should wear off in a day or two. Would help if you washed it off." This time, she didn't answer his question on wether or not it was a trap. He merely had to trust her.

 

[Koto Demascón]

Koto felt himself ease a bit again as she spoke, of course the alluring voice itself was quite beneficial in that. Without it, his caution may still be too high. But the assurance of freedom was still valuable to him, even if he couldn't see where he was. Wherever it was, it was out of the carbonite. And beyond that, it almost didn't really matter. Just as long as it wasn't going right back in.

He swallowed as she asked, or aknowledge, that he couldn't see. Clenching his jaw and simply nodding a confirmation. "But I can hear very well." he assured her. It was more an intention to caution her against taking advantage of his momentary lack of protection. Though, she also said it would wear off. A day or two, he didn't like how long that would be. But he'd waited so long already just to be free, he could wait a little more before his eyes could finally open properly.

It wasn't like her telling him would help much. Unless she answered yes he supposed. Oh well. He took in a deep breath, just letting his eyes shut for the moment. It was good to breath again, feel things again. For there to be movement again, and noises of something other than a clock. Even if, in the back of his mind, and his finger replicating it. He still heard the ticking of each second. "Thanks."

Falentra

 

[Falentra]

While he certainly wasn't very expressive, she could still sense his feelings through the force. It was a good thing that Koto was easing up. Although the tapping was incessant, Falentra didn't think it too much of a nuisance to tell him to stop. And if she did - it might only upset him further. They would land in front of the large Alvaria Palace.

The young woman heaved a sigh, perhaps relieved that this stranger had not another outburst on her. Pyromaniacs weren't the best people to have on a ship. She was also more than eager to have the wound on her neck treated - the pain nagging at her. "Come along, Koto." She said, extending her hand for him to take, but opted to placed it on his shoulder instead, due to his absence of sight.

Nouqai, with his hand in hers, led him along from the ship and through the doors of the palace. Darth Malum of House Marr She called out to her master, directed through the force, as they walked towards the throne room where she thought he might be. MALUM. Again, this time louder, it was skill still new to her, linking her thoughts to another to extend communication telepathically. She wasn't sure if he was home, nor what to do about this stray she had brought through his doors if he wasn't.

She also hoped he wouldn't question too much about the ugly burn on her neck, but she knew there would be a subject of conversation on how she got it.

 

[Koto Demascón]

Koto's eyes tried to move, lock on, but there was still nothing for it yet. Just the instinct of any person fresh to blindness trying to see whatever they heard and brush away the blindness. As if each glance might be the next where things were right.

He was about to take the hand, he understood where it was, roughly, but she moved to his shoulder. He wasn't sure if he appreciated it, or if it angered him. Either way, he came along peacefully and...relatively calm. It was not easy to be completely relaxed, not after what happened, and not in so foreign a situation as he was in.

Without the chair now, one of his fingers simply tapped at his side. It was obviously less noisy there, but it was still definitely there. He might not see Malum, or guards, or doors. But he'd be able to hear them. Creaks, crunches of grass, the slight rustle of the wind as someone walked through it. It was somewhere between comforting that things were moving, and intense to go from such utter nothingness to so many things.
Falentra

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Malum had found himself drawn away from his office, it was not as if he did not have much opportunity to be away from it. yet... though he technically had the right to choose his own hours to work, and after all he was working not to survive, but indeed to thrive, he did not have to work, he had the right to do whatever he wished.

He did after all rule this world.

And many of his subjects had a... disturbingly fanatical devotion towards him.

The 'benefit' he supposed in fulfilling prophecy, in tapping into the cult of personality and religion that had spanned this world for longer than it had even been destroyed.

But yes, though he would take small breaks to tour the grounds, gain some fresh air, eat, and train, even sit atop his throne at times to hear out petitioners.

More and more, he spent his time sat in his office.

There was always more and more to do.

Ruling a ruined world.

Leading a rebuilding shadow empire.

Dealing with a fractious head... and an even more fractured heart.

Suffice it to say, that Malum was far from the position he desired for himself, or perhaps... this was exactly where he was meant to be, he had just not expected such an immense workload.

Did he not imagine that as he grew in strength, power, and influence that there would be less demand to worry, to be stressed?

Alas, he found himself missing his apprentice and knight days far more and more often, when he held still a protector when he had the freedom to do whatever he wished, with the only consequences wrought from his own actions.

Now he spent his time doing more and more of everything, and anything.

Making allies among the Assembly had been a constant slow task, which had taken his attention. The Emperor's declaration regarding the opening of seats on the Dark Council had caused quite a stir, and he had decided, that it would be the newest feather in his crown, the next step in his ascension.

Unfortunately, discussing such matters with Sith Lords, Sith Lords that did not like him, was either the most riveting, or most brain-draining of experiences.

Such was why when he was given word that his apprentice, Falentra , had been spotted returning from the Hand of the Makers, he took it as excuse enough to stretch his legs, making himself to his throne room, surrounded by the raven familiars which had become to be associated with him. Even little Corvus, who as Malum took his seat, he caressed below its beak.

​

The familiar squawked appreciatively, seemingly, even as his familiar, missing its once master.

Perhaps one day Malum could teach Falentra the ability, and Corvus could be transferred to her command.

A ripple in the Force gave answer that she was here if the alert in his earpiece had not already done that.

Yet indeed, it seemed she was not alone.

As he awaited patiently for likey an interesting story.

As his amulet began to warm.

Koto Demascón