Wake Up

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Well we are in the Rishi Maze..." Kira would remind the former False God. It was likely that supplies came few and far between. Who knew how many planets worth settling scattered across the satellite galaxy?

"Supplies are likely low; worse still if what you have ends up being taken by pirates." annoyance coated Kira's voice, a rare thing indeed. Then again, the Lorrdian didn't have much patience with their kind. Even if she still had Soliael ensure that the bulk of them on Rishi were still saved.

It is what happened when one married a do-gooder.

"Will we need to get parts?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"No." There likely wouldn't be any parts to actually get.

Soliael was pretty sure that he could fix this without having to run to twenty different places, but he knew that it would be difficult. His lips thinned for a moment and he glanced back towards his wife. The force was infinite in power, but it needed something to work with. Even a technomancer couldn't just simply summon machines out of thing air, their needed to be a basis for everything done. That was simple logic. Soliael frowned for a moment and then shifted his weight.

"Alright." He said finally. "I can make it work just need to..."

He trailed off, and then suddenly there was a loud clunk inside the machine. "There."

Suddenly, almost as soon as he began to speak a loud buzz came from the shield generator.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Then there was another subsequent spark. Kira gave a slight jump in alarm, taking a step back, her robes shifting along her legs with the movement. Her eyes had grown wide,and her mouth fell into a small 'o' of surprise. Did he do it?

The hum of the generator confirmed it so.

With a giddy grin that suddenly brightened her face, Kira threw herself upon her husband's arms, unmindful of just who else might be looking.

"You did it!" she beamed, her expression brightened with her sunny smile. As long as the generator was maintained and protected from the pirates, it should be able to last for a while.

In theory.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He smiled. "It'll go for a bit now."

Of course, that really depended on what the Pirates would be bringing to this place. If an entire fleet showed up this little generator wouldn't hold out longer than a few hours. Soliael didn't mention that to Kira though, mostly because he didn't want to bring down her suddenly lifted spirits. This was a small thing that they had done for these people, and taking that away from her would just be mean.

"Okay thats done." He turned back to her and gently placed a hand on the small of her stuff. "Let's get our stuff and head back to the shuttle."

They knew that the village was to the west of here, but he didn't want to walk to find it.

"We'll check out and head to that other village, maybe we'll encounter someone human." It would help, oddly enough. There was always a better connection with someone of your own species rather than an Alien.

It was easier for a Human to trust and speak to another human than for a Dug to do so.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"We may want to find a way to get there that would be faster than walking," Kira suggested, moving to take hold of his hand. His was far larger than her own, but it made the Lorrdian feel incredibly safe and secure. Not that Kira couldn't take care of herself. It was just nice to be able to depend on Devin.

"Think we can barter for a speeder bike?" that would help them cross the distance faster and be safer. The last thing they needed was to be caught out in the open with one of those violent sand storms. Neither one of them were very prepared or familiar with this world. Seventy-two hours of daylight was enough to bake anyone in that heat. Not to mention the water they would need.

Perhaps the Dug owner might have something available for them to use. He seemed rather happy to take that peggat Soliael had given him earlier. Even if the speeder bike was nothing but a rusted pile of bolts, Kira knew that her husband would be able to make it serviceable enough for the journey.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He turned to Kira. "I was thinking we just use the shuttle."

Soliael had brought plenty of gems to trade, but he was going to be a bit stingy about it in all honesty. That was mostly because he knew they wouldn't have a chance to go back home for quite a while, and if they ever needed to make a big purchase on one of these worlds he'd rather keep what they had than anything else.

"Besides." He leaned into her, not wanting to be overheard. "I don't want to take any of these people. Sure gems are valuable, but they won't exactly help against the pirates. Maybe a speeder bike will."

The idea was a bit of a stretch, but he knew Kira would agree with him.

His wife had always cared about others almost as much as she did her own family, she'd see his point in not wanting to take anything from this place.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

When Soliael framed his argument in such a way, there was little that Kira could do to argue his logic. He certainly had plenty of it. Kira knew her flaws and shortcomings. They usually revolved around her feeling the need to save just about anyone she could that could potentially be in trouble. More often than not, it was a sacrifice to her own safety and well-being; not something Devin cared for.

"That will be a walk." back in the direction from whence they came. Her blue eyes went up to look at the peach colored sky.

"At least we won't be walking in the high heat." they still had a few concerns with any incoming dust storms. They came with little warning and varying strength.

"We'll get some water first," Kira suggested to Soliael, dusty boots turning the petite blonde back towards the cantina.

"Head off from there."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Water is a good idea." They had to get their stuff from the Inn anyway. There wasn't a lot, but Soliael didn't want to leave anything behind. The more they wandered around these worlds and the more they left the less they would have. Ultimately they only had limited resources, and although The Freya was packed full with things right now it would only be a short while before they were out of things entirely and had to scrounge around.

Well, maybe not a short while, but eventually.

His arm slowly wrapped around her as they walked back, Soliael no longer caring about the playful act of Kira being his servant. The dugs would think what they would, he didn't particularly care, but in that moment he simply wanted to hold his wife a little bit. There was nothing wrong, not really anyway, but for some reason this all weight heavily on him. Perhaps because once upon a time he had been the caretaker of dozens fo worlds just like this.

"Reminds me of Exocron." He said quietly. "Before I shaped it."

There was a bit of nostalgic longing in his tone as they wandered back towards the inn.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Oh?" Kira's voice gave a slight inflection of curiosity. While Devin never held anything back from her, he also hadn't really divulged stories of his past. As Neth The Keeper, he had been one of the most powerful Moross Gods, and for a good reason. The terraforming of Exocron had been one stand out story that she hadn't heard from his own mouth before.

"Tell me about it." it would be interesting to listen to the tale from him, her own arm snaking to curl around his waist. If anything, the pair would always be openly affectionate regardless if they were in public or not. If anyone had any issue, then they would need to speak up. However, it was doubtful that Soliael or Kira would really care.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Exocron wasn't worth much then." It was a back water world in the most backwater part of the entire galaxy. The planet had been colonized thousands of years ago, but its residence had never truly done anything of note or...well regard. They eeked out a living on small farms and in hunting communities. They had modern technology, but most of it was outdated enough that they recognized it was barely running.

Then the Crusade had come.

"Lots of dust, mountains, a few forest." He shrugged. "Isolated communities that knew of each other but never really bothered."

The idea of that in it of itself wasn't really bad of course, not everyone had to know about everyone else all the time. "I didn't really change it into a few years after the Crusade began to take planets. It was supposed to be a 'miracle' of the gods."

Just another lie.

"It was just the force though." Another shrug. "Same thing I use to make it storm."

She'd experienced that more than once.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"With a lot more energy, I bet," Kira replied. Truth be told, even imagining the sort of energy and power through the Force that it would take to conduct that level of altering the environment was mind staggering. That wasn't to say that the Lorrdian didn't belive her husband; she did. More often than naught, Kira had been witness to Devin's incredible ability to produce storms. A few on request in their more... intimate moments out of pure curiosity.

"Micah has been traveling old Moross Territories." Kira began, moving on with the topic.

"He says that there are still a few who still believe in the old Moross Gods." not surprising. "That they are not dead but that they will one day return."

Unfortunate that Kira and Devin were in another galaxy and unaware that Amorella had suffered a terrible fate.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Most of it comes from the planet itself." Soliael answered. He'd never quite explained that to Kira, in fact he'd hardly ever explained anything he did with the force to her. She'd never really asked either, well save for one technique that he could not disclose. "Every world, every environment has a connection to the force. Whether its a desert or a forest. Changing, shaping things around you is all about using that power."

He shrugged. "It's actually easy when you know how to do it."

Or perhaps it was just easy for him. Soliael was undeniably powerful in the force. His mother had told him often that he was stronger than his father, and most of the Sith and Jedi Masters he'd met usually complemented him on the strength he held. He shrugged after a moment.

"That doesn't surprise me." People liked their religion.

"It saddens me a bit though." He said quietly. "I'm not exactly proud of How I did it all."

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The shift in Devin's tone, the way she felt the flutter of a faint stab of guilt within the link between the ring prompted Kira to lift her head. Her blue eyes went surveying through the familiar weathered angles and planes of her husband's visage. The thick brows, the peppered beard, shapely lips and the way his eyes would just glow with the same quality as that of the Twin Suns.

Her hand came up, rising to gently cup his cheek. "We all made choices in our past, it's what we do following them that matters." she offered a soft smile. Kira was well aware of the capabilities of her husband and his history.

"It was all you had at the time to begin with." a desire to do more. He might have begun with a dark path, but he had already been treading a lighter one on his own with his intentions.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He smiled.

"I'm proud of what I accomplished." Though he had brought war to some worlds, he'd also brought improvement. Most worlds that had fallen under the control of the Moross Crusade had significantly improved, gaining modern technology, new cities, and a state of peace that couldn't really be described all that well in the Outer RIm.

That was something Soliael could, and was proud of at the very least.

"I think I did well enough." He sighed. "Perhaps I just wish I hadn't abandoned them."

Though he'd righted that act in his mind a long time ago. It had been time, Moross had become unsustainable, and even though they had all pretended to be Gods, they were only human. Humans with a bit more of a genetic kick than most, but they were still mortal. Things still weighed heavily upon them.

The weight of an entire nation was simply too much.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

It was a strange conversation to be had, but perhaps one they could explore. With the kids grown up now, Kira and Devin had time to themselves, to explore to do as they like among themselves.

"We... could go back?" it had been a while since they had traveled to Exocron. Years really. How many of those faithful to the Old Moross Gods were still there? So many had emigrated to the lost territories where the Lords of the Fringe once reigned. Now? Now those who believed in Neth, Inari, Kalee, Ithari.... were likely scattered to the winds.

"See how things are going. Perhaps... help there?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He shrugged. "Most of those worlds are now controlled by..."

What was the name of that thing? He frowned for a moment, not quite remembering. They had been somewhat established by the time he and Kira had left the galaxy, though whether or not they were an actual government was up for debate.

"Well, someone else." He said finally. "It's not my responsibility anymore, and from what Eleanin has told me most of the worlds seems to be doing fine."

That was enough. "They may miss their gods, but they're not holding revolutions and massacres."

In the end that was really all Soliael could hope for, that his legacy in the Outer Rim was a pleasant one.

Even if it was a lie.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"No, may not be your responsibility." Kira wasn't suggesting that, to say the least. Instead, she was offering a way for them to go back. To return to Exocron. Perhaps to help in a small way, be it whatever way or path that may take them.

It need not be some grand gesture.

"But perhaps we could at the very least see how thing are doing." they had the time; certainly would be better than dealing with pirates -- granted, these pirates would be dealt with one way or another.

"You've aged since then," the Lorrdian Jedi Master would tease, giving him a light rap with her elbow against his ribs.

"I doubt many would confuse you for Neth the Keeper anymore.... not even your priests."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Honey." He began. "We have an entire galaxy to explore."

She was right though. At this point it was unlikely that even his Crusaders would recognize him. He'd worn a shaved head and no beard back then, now? Well it was entirely different. His height would always set him apart though, as would his eyes. He mused for a moment. "Let's not plan too far ahead into the future."

He told her simply.

"I'm not against going, but we have the Rishi Maze ahead of us." So far they had only visited two worlds, and one of them hadn't really been their own choice but out of necessity. He smiled slightly at his wife and wrapped his arm tighter around her.

"This is our vacation." He told her. "From the Galaxy, from everything."

Including the past.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Well he had a point. A small shrug and a small sigh came from the Lorrdian. Glancing ahead, the Jedi Master considered their options. Well, to a degree she was a planner and at times she was a little bit reckless. Age had not changed her personality nor her thought process.

A soft, "Hmm," came, the pair reaching the cantina. All they had to do was check out and then head back for their shuttle. It would be about a half hour walk from their location; provided there were not impromptu sandstorms that would hold them back.

"Alright." she finally said. It was a simple as that.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He squeezed her gently.

Soliael didn't want to take the wind out of Kira's sails, he wanted her to be happy, but he could only let her do so much at once. Kira ahd a tendency to get ahead of herself, like having three more kids even though they hadn't even raised their first one.

That might not have been entirely her fault but...well. "I'm sick of walking."

He told her quietly.

"Should've learned to fly instead of teleport." He sighed. "That would've been more fun."