Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Something odd happened. A link formed, a bond, and unbreakable chain between two minds. To Soliael, it was a foreign thing. The melding of thoughts, of wisdom, of consciousness. At first he tried to fight it again, he thought it some new type of healing, he thought it another way for her to trick him, but it wasn't.

Calm.

There was calm.

He found himself within the abyss a second time. Darkness surrounded and shrouded him, emptiness once again being the whole of the universe. Save for one thing. In front of him floated someone else, another figure within the dark. Soliael opened his eyes, Pale orange staring at the figure in front of him.

There was no blood on her face here, no red smeared in her hair. Here she looked like Kira, she looked like the person she wanted to be, not the one that she was.

Soliael stared at her, unblinking.

“What did you do?”

His voice echoed and resonated within the blackness, as if it was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. Was this Soliaels mind? Was it a black Abyss? Was it a simply empty vast nothingness devoid of everything? Or was he still protecting himself from her? Was he still holding back, pressing her away so that she didn't kill herself trying to heal him. Did he have the strength? Did he had the power to resist her?

Outside of the world of darkness, Soliael slowly began to heal. It moved at a crawl, the blood slowly stopping, his wounds slowly sealing.

He still resisted.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Soliael "

Kira's voice would resonate, edged with an almost ethereal quality. They stood on the fringes of his mind, mere representations before the gatekeeper of the abyss of his mind.

She'd float closer, hands extending out to him in invitation. Serenity would bloom, stretching out its tranquility in an attempt to quell his suspicions.

[SIZE=10pt]"A way to help you, to draw strength from each other," [/SIZE] the Jedi Master would start to explain. [SIZE=10pt] "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." [/SIZE] her eyes would reflect a shimmer, her hands gesturing her genuine apology, but more so now that he could feel it. [SIZE=10pt] "I wish I could explain more, but we are running out of time."[/SIZE]

There was a pressing need, and the longer the attempt to strengthen the bond passed, the more he'd be able to feel and sense Kira as if he were her himself.

[SIZE=10pt]"I can't do this alone. It's the only way that I can teach you how to heal yourself." [/SIZE]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael stared at her with suspicion.

He knew she was telling the truth. He knew that whatever she was saying was honest, but what she was saying was an entirely different matter. She couldn't do it alone? Teach him to heal himself? How? His eyes faded slightly, and for a moment he looked like he was about to move away.

Then his eyes caught a glimpse of her expression. The sternness in her face, the confidence, the calm. Soliael looked at her, then slowly nodded. With his right hand he reached out and touched her, taking the hands that she had offered and slowly embracing her.

“Alright.”

The darkness blurred, and everything was revealed.

 

[Kira Talith]

Back in the cavern, Kira's body would be huddled over Sol's, her blood stained fingertips lightly pressed against his temples. At his acceptance, the mental connection between them would bloom as if taken into his embrace. The breath in her chest would hitch, her body and mind adjusting to that which would now connect them.

She would feel everything.

Like a tidal wave, his pain would become her own, crashing against her. The fingers at his temples would tremble, and her body would start to shake like a leaf beyond the frigid air that was now quickly delving her body into hypothermia.

Had it not been for the six crystals that would continuously envelop them in a blanket of calm clarity, Kira could have very well fallen into the abyss of Soliael's pain and hunger. Instead, she was a steadfast foundation. A lighthouse at the edge of an inky black sea in the midst of a storm, that guiding light that would provide a focus.

Both were now one, and she had to delve into the area of his mind where his brain stored the information the use of the Force. Where one would process knowledge and store it. Images not her own would come like ghostly shadows. Faces of strangers that were familiar to her at the same time. Places that would wind powerful resonances of emotions.

The sensation of air whipping past her ears as her -- no his mother would send him airborne, determined to teach him to learn to summon a Skreeve one way or another. The flap of it's wings as success would go surging through his veins.

The solitary abyss of the Pit, his body slowly rising as his palms would flex, the Force surging through him for the first time, bringing it to heel under his command.

So many different memories. It was a bit overwhelming, but the crystals would sustain her focus. Pushing past that, Kira would mentally lay herself down upon Soliael's body, interlocking her experience and expertise as she would start to guide him to an even calmer center. To a place where instead of standing in Void of darkness, they would be where Kira found her own tranquility.

​

The darkness of the Void would melt away, and in its stead light would permeate with the kiss of a lazy summer sun. They'd stand in a field of gold, the soft breeze bringing with it a sweetness in the air. That is when another face would flow from a distant memory. This time from Kira's own past.

Master Bethany Kismet.

Tranquility would only grow in strength, and in that Kira would take Sol's hands. Healing through the Lightside of the Force took patience. Good thing Soliael already had that in spades. In this, through a combination of her memories as if imprinting them onto his own, the Lorrdian Jedi Master would go through the steps along with him to slowly take over where she had begun on her own.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

For all he knew they were within the field for an age.

Soliael lost himself. The False God finding no words for who he was, or what exactly he was doing there. The memories of his long life melded together with Kira's own, short flashing specs of the things she had experienced. Stinging memories, but also pleasant ones. Her time on Kuat, her time in the Jedi Temple, Nemene, Soliael caught clashes of them all. He did not truly understand any of it, and in truth it was not that they happened to Kira, but that it happened to them both.

It was an odd effect, this melding of the minds, one that Soliael did not yet fully grasp. He couldn't, his mind began to focus, guided by the strong calming presence that was Kira Liadain.

He stood in the field, opposite Kira, he stood holding her hands. Upon his body his wounds began to appear. Broken ribs came first, massive removal of skin second, blood shot eyes, gaping wounds, and a snapped finger all appeared upon his body. It was a stark opposition to Kira, his broken, bruised, and bloody form, but as it appeared Soliael stood proud, he stood tall in front of the tiny blonde woman.

Light began to radiate from her, and slowly poured into him.

“I would do it again.”

He said quietly, his voice hardly carried, still rough from the puncture within his lungs.

“In a heartbeat.”

Slowly the wounds upon his skin began to fade, the wound in his leg knit together, the skin on his chest and abdomen became scarred and grown over once more, the ribs in his side snapped back into place with a sudden jerk.

Soliael became whole again.

 

[Kira Talith]

He meant every word. Kira would feel it as if she'd said those words herself.

[SIZE=10pt]"I know." [/SIZE]

A soft gust of wind would toss her hair into the air. A flash of her smile would shine upon him. However, in the next moment it would wane. The amount of concentration and focus to led the Force Meld and guide Soliael into learning how to start the process to heal himself was draining her, and it would start to show.

Her hold on their current area would start to wane, prompting their surrounding areas to start to fade, as if the sun was sinking into the distant horizon. Darkness would fall in inky indigo and crimson hues.

[SIZE=10pt]"We have to go back." [/SIZE]she told him, and her weariness would reveal itself in the shift of her image in front of him. The blood stained hair. The streak of crimson over her right cheek. The hollows of her cheeks, the shadows under her eyes. Her skin a pale clammy white edged with the blue of the freezing cold.

[SIZE=10pt]"Wake up McSparky," [/SIZE]

Wake up.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He woke up with a suddenness that would have startled a bantha. His hands became unclasped from her hair, his body shook, and his chest rattled slightly as he took in a deep breath. His lung burned with the intake of air, his skin prickled with pain and other sensations that were impossible to describe. His eyes darted open, looking, searching for something.

He saw Kira, he saw the blood, and he felt nothing.

Calm still ran through him, the contact of her body was enough to keep the bloodthirst away. He blinked, his skin prickling, his leg hurting to nine hells, and his upper body seeming to feel as raw as when he had removed the techno virus.

Yet he was awake, he was aware.

He knew who he was again, though something within his mind fogged. He knew what his name was, though another one stung within his brain. Kira. She was slumped back against the rocks, his eyes found her easily enough once they began to look for her.

With a strain, and more pain than it was worth Soliael managed to sit up, abdomen screaming at him for the pain that he was causing himself, torn muscles and tendons not yet fully healed, if they would ever be. The False God rounded on her, turning and touching her gaunt face. His thumb stroked across her cheek, his hand raising her head so he could look into her eyes.

“Kira?”

What the fuck just happened?

 

[Kira Talith]

The blonde would stir in front of him, seemingly at his raised voice. Her eyes opened dazedly as she moaned, her lips parting around her ragged breaths.

Her lids would rise to half mast, a rather comical silly grin would draw over her face as her head would loll back against the cup of his hands.

"Heeey there.. McSparky." He sounded so far away. Ohhhh.... she hurt.

She moaned again and it sounded almost foreign, as if it were someone else. He was at her side now. She could feel his light touch by her head, in her hair, a thumb would stroke across her cheek.

"Y-you did it." Loopy McLoopy here. She was dazed, confused, and still rattling from the meld. Things were still trying to right themselves in her head. Odd to look at himself -- err.. herself... No.

This was confusing.

"Knew you would -- Who turned off the lights?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He let out a ragged chuckle, barely a laugh.

“Of course. I am me after all.” Always the braggart, always the ego. He still hurt all over. His body was screaming, his leg especially wanted to be done with him. Crucitorn was not likely to work anymore, not with this much damage to his body. Though the cloud still sat over his mind, he half heartedly considered returning to that void that had grown so small within his mind due to the crystals.

Seeing the confidence on Kira's face, the hopeful loopy little smile, he decided against it.

Instead he worked on clearing his head, trying to focus on the pain to make the fog around his thoughts disappear. Where were they? How far did they need to go? What was their situation? Could they survive a few more minutes? And most importantly, were there any more of those creatures coming? Those thoughts swirled in his mind.

He only managed to find answers for some.

One thing he knew for sure was that they had to leave. Even with his mind clouded, even with his thoughts skipping over themselves, he knew that they wouldn't last much longer if they stayed here.

Soliael tried to stand, his arms objecting in pain as he moved to lift himself up.

Only seconds later Soliael collapsed back down onto the floor, straining slightly as he pushed himself back up onto his hands. He had to keep moving, his eyes cast towards Kira, and he nodded to himself. Slowly but surely, Soliael managed to stand, keeping his weight on his left leg.

“Come on, beautiful.” He said to Kira, using one hand to support himself on the wall and offering the other to her. “It's time to go home.”

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira thanked the Force that he was here. Names came to her. Different names. No, wait. Her mouth attempted to say a name but she couldn't manage the word.

He stood. He fell. Concern would bath her face as she'd half mumble, "Easy McGruff..." he was like a newborn fowl getting used to his legs. She then felt herself get tugged up. Whoops on her feet.

"Home?" Where was home? Images came to mind. Some hers. Others not. There was a stumble there. Her legs felt like jello. The metallic tang of blood came to her again. Every sensation was so oddly acute -- touch. Smell. Hearing, even her perception of colors.

Things were so bright, and she felt as if she were floating on air. Well this was weird. Thankfully for the crystals, it kept her thoughts calm as she processed through it. A few more seconds and things would start to clear, sieving through the confusion in her mind.

Right. Things they needed to do. Okay, you can do this. Had to keep moving. Her body would tremble in the cold, face and lips tinged with blue. Her eyes would lock onto his own. Another loopy grin. Her beautiful?

"There can only be one pretty one," she'd make as if to take on the leading role, offering herself up as a pillar for him to lean on. This may or may not be a good thing as she was struggling with her own balance.

"And you have the lashes for it." came her half joke. Finally she stood, the dizziness waning, one hand braced against the wall.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He wrapped his arm around her. It was the only way they would be able to move, by supporting one another. Separately they might make it twenty feet, together they would make it back to the fortress. Slowly Soliael kicked them forward, taking a few calm controlled steps which Kira mimicked almost exactly.

“Well thats true. I am rather pretty.” He said glancing towards a shard of ice as if it were a mirror.

Then cast his glance down at Kira, a wide grin growing on his face.

“But I'm entirely sure you can still be drop dead gorgeous.” Looking her up and down for a moment as if needing to consider it, he nodded. “Yeah. Definitely.”

The duo stumbled forward. They shifted forward in shambles, feet dragging, hands holding against walls, and bodies resting upon one another. Slowly they moved down the halls through Soliaels direction. Shivering cold bit at them, injuries chewed on them, and the weight of gravity seemed to pull ten fold.

Yet as they rounded a corner, Soliael skin began to feel warmer, moisture filling the air.

A smile crept on his face, they were close.

So close.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Kid," Kira would huff out with a half laugh, working in tandem with Soliael to stumble forwards. Well, this was certainly some long walk in the fresh air!

"That's just the..." a few more steps, moisture starting to cling to her clammy face. Was she sweating? No. ".. half dozen knocks on your head."

The dim glow of the bioluminescent algae and fungi would grow more dense. Moss would line the black slate of the ground, the walls. Was it just her imagination or did it feel a bit warmer? She'd shake her head. No, that is ridiculous. Granted, the more they'd move, the less ice she could find. Water would drip from the stalagmites overhead, beading into her skin and rolling a trail across her cheek.

Her breathing would be ragged, but determination would flare within her breast. " But I do admit... " she'd flash him an impish grin.

"Must be the hair. Blonde!"

The further they'd move, the clearer the water trail they'd follow would turn. Steam would rise and the tiny hint of sulfur and minerals would hit her olfactory senses.

What was that?

She could breathe in the moisture. The heat. The steam. [SIZE=13.63636302948px]What came next as they'd stumble into a larger cavern took her breath away. [/SIZE]

Hot springs.

​

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Hot steamy air rose through the air, rushing to meet the both of them and warming the skin. Soliael stopped them for a few moments just passed the natural wall of hot hair that they had passed. His eyes closed, and a smile spread across his face.

Warmth.

True warmth.

It was something that they had not felt for days. Hot air. He grinned, then opened his eyes again to look down at Kira, he eyed her for a moment. Were they in better station, were they actually capable of standing, Soliael would have gotten her to swim, but they needed more than hot springs, more than just a bath. They needed sleep, rest, and everything that came with it.

“And the face, and the legs, and...well the entire rest of you.” He winked at her, then rose slightly.

They had to push passed the hotsprings.

On the far side of the cavern he could see the door, ornately carved and gilded in gold, Soliael would recognize it instantly. The door lead to the first floor of the fortress, three below the residential area. Luckily, the place wasn't entirely stuck in the past and had some turbolifts. Soliael slowly hobbled them forward, reaching the door within ten minutes of setting out for it, three times what it would normally take.

He swung it open, bringing them inside the fortress and immediately took a left. Down the hall lay a wall, a massive granite carving. Soliael stepped up to it, letting Kira lean against one side while he reached over towards one of the statues sticking out from the black granite. A small press of her belly button, and part of the granite removed itself. He looked at Kira with a smile, amused by the placement of the switch to reveal the turbolift.

With another few hobbles, Soliael moved Kira and himself into the Turbo-lift.

Moments later, Soliael lead Kira down the hall towards her bedroom.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Her belly button?" Kira would ask in breathless amusement, her blue eyes laughing at him. "Really?"

They would slowly stumble their way down the hall. A couple of steps, a grimace, and a slide of a foot or too. Both of her arms were wrapped round his waist, his arm around her shoulders. Stringy blonde hair would get into her eyes, and she had to constantly blow puffs of hot air to push them out of the way.

Warmth, true warmth was both a blessing and a curse. Blessing because as they'd made the slow stubborn walk towards her bedroom, warmth would roll into her body and bring with the the stinging ache of pins and needles. What had been numbed to the freezing cold was now starting to slowly bring an increase in circulation.

It was enough to cause a small silent whimper from the Lorrdian, a quiet gasp she kept to herself. When in pain, true pain, the Lorrdian revert into utter silence, much like when Nemene had her in that white room. She'd put up a half crooked grin of encouragement though, swallowing her own aches as she'd say.

"Left foot first Sol... right. Left... Right." in a mock command of a drill instructor. Her slight weight would bear his, and he would hers in turn. What an odd image it was, with him over a foot taller than the petite female.

Shoulders would slam against her bedroom door. Right, had to open the door. Her hand would attempt to make a grab for it, but it was still trying to register sensation. A mild curse about petunias would come from her mouth.

Another grunt, and then the knob would turn, swinging open to reveal the interior of her chamber. The door of the refresher was still wide open, but that wasn't her objective. Oh no. Sweet sweet solace had a name. That name was 'bed.' Nothing more beautiful in the galaxy to her right now.

It was like as soon as she saw that four poster frame, she got her second wind. Granted, it was only going to get her and Sol to the bed in itself, but she'd take it.

They'd land amidst freshly washed sheets and thick blankets. The sekret invisible servants hit again. Had she'd been more coherent and not in absolute bliss at feeling the comfort of the mattress and the sea of blankets under her, she'd have asked who had made her bed. Either way, regardless of the blood, the dirt, the bits of poop, and the dampness of their clothing, Kira would sink against the thick covers against Sol. A rather low moan of relief and utter exhausion would come out from her, but beyond that there was no moving her.

"Just... lay here... for a minute." her muffled voice would say against his chest.

Sweet oblivion took hold then.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael mimicked her behavior, falling into the soft mattress with a struggling release of breath that surprised even him.

Everything hurt.

Everything seemed frozen.

His bones, his joints, his muscles.

They were all put into place by the ice cold air that had penetrated them for the past day and a half. When they finally struck the warm bed Soliael wanted to scream in relief, but he had not the energy. His boots came kicking off, flying across the room as Kira lay atop of him. He nodded to her, not bothering to stifle a strong yawn that escaped his throat.

His hand began to grope for something, his eyes closing slightly when he found it.

The covers they were laying on were flipped around them and Soliael rolled slightly, wrapping Kira and himself in a tight burrito blanket. The False God let out a satisfied breath, and then slowly drifted off into sleep.

 

[Kira Talith]

Deep in her slumber, Kira would dream a little dream. Funny, that this particular one would come to play. It had been so long since she thought of him. Memories would come water-falling then. Of another time. Another place. A different life.

Of Ben.

I have one more surprise for you.
I made that for you after the attacks on Naboo.
I knew how much you wanted one and I figured why not go ahead and let you have one.
If you do not like it you can just use it for show instead of your actual lightsaber.
It’s…it’s beautiful
Thank you... No, no…I'll use it. I'll use it proudly.


Ben Watts. A friend. Confidante. And yeah, childhood crush. But all girls were allowed to have a kathpup love. It just so happened that hers had mysteriously disappeared after a long term mission for the Order. Without a single word.

Flashes of images would draw her years later. He had been the reason she went the Investigator route. Why she'd chosen this path. Chasing clues to find him. And when she finally did...

"How did you find me?" It was a simple question, straight to the point.

Truth be told, it was all Kira could do not to have her knees go weak. She couldn't have said whether her heart was pounding with terror or excitement. She only knew she hadn't felt this alive in years.

When the illusion had faded, when she could see straight past the charade, she felt her heart stop. But it had started beating again the moment when he had suddenly stopped and turned, his body taut with tensile grace she'd remembered so well.

Then he spoke. After all this time searching for him. Looking through records, logs, tracking every lead --- that was the first thing he said to her.

Somewhere, deep inside, something shattered.

Her lips thinned to a straight line, her shoulders rising as she took a deep breath. She blinked once, as if clearing her vision, before she finally spoke, her voice for once, lacking the normal cheer one would affiliate with the Jedi master.

"I guess I just have a knack at finding things," she said, her voice low and rich. Her chin rose, "Only that this is like the longest game of hide and seek,"she began, but there was no humor in her eyes.

Without further ado, her hand rose, and she gave a slight push against his chest; feeling the warmth of his body before she drew away. Yeah, he was real, beyond the clothes that made him appear like an old spacer. It was Ben.

"Tag. You're it."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He didn't dream. For Soliael there was nothing. Not the darkness from before, not the endless void that teemed on forever. He simply went through a stale, dreamless sleep.

And he loved it.

He awoke hours later. He had no idea where the sun was, the curtains were drawn. Around him was wrapped Kira, she had somehow ended up half naked, clothes likely pulled off in strained sleep due to the heat of four blankets stacked upon the pair of them. She now lay in a simple top and whatever she had worn beneath her pants. Her arms and half her body lay sprawled over him, her head rested on the crook of his shoulder, drool dripping onto his chest, some already dried in place.

Soliael looked at her, his right arm trapped beneath her tiny form and his left stuck beneath the pillows above them.

He himself had identically peeled off clothing in his sleep, though he had only had the bodysuit which made the task easier. The four blankets that covered them provided more than enough heat, and for the first time in a day and a half Soliael could honestly say that he was warm, due in no small part to the gremlin laying atop him.

The thought made him smile.

Kira Liadain.

Gremlin.

Slowly he began to stretch, only to suddenly wince as pain pulled throughout his entire body. His head shook slightly as it came crashing down on him.

The injuries, the meld, the healing.

His eyes bugged out for a second, and he let out a ragged breath.

Dull throbbing pain reached through him, though he chose to ignore it. Instead he utilized his trapped arm to slowly play with Kira's hair.

 

[Kira Talith]

It was the playful stroke and gentle tug of her hair that would stir Kira from her slumber. Ben's shadowy form, this coldness, the stoic words that feel between them would melt away. Slowly reality eased its way back to Kira in small doses as she would slowly open her eyes.

Only the soft lighting from a lamp in the refresher illuminated the room, casting muted reflections upon the ceiling. The last thing she remembered was near intolerable pain. No, the last thing she remembered was... amber.

Shreds of the Lorrdian's memories would rise to the surface, only to vaporize into nothingness. It made her head hurt just trying to think. Time to focus on other sensations. Like something wet was against her cheek. Her nose would scrunch as her hand came up to wipe it. A sheepish look and twin spots of color would flare over her cheeks as she'd start to awkwardly wipe away at the spot at Soliael's chest, then finally at the corner of her mouth.

"Sorry..." she'd say in a low voice, slowly testing her strength as she'd ease into stretching out her legs, bare skin sliding against his. The tangle of her shirt would ride up her mid-drift under the four blankets, and nine toes would curl in a tentative test. A wince and a grimace would slash though her, the throb in her head only growing. Fingers would pinch at the bridge of her nose, regretting moving to the point of easing back down against the crook of his shoulder.

A flash of concern would dart across her face, upturning to look at him. "How you doing kiddo?" she'd ask, blinking rapidly to get a good look at his face for her own appraisal.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael stretched the arm that lay beneath her, his arm straightening against her back which pushed her tighter against him. It had the added benefit of warming him even further, the body heat she gave off giving him a nice sense of calm and stillness that could only be brought on by someone simply being..comfortable with you.

“Kiddo?” Soliael said raising an eyebrow. “I'm what...two hundred years older than you? Gramps would've been better.”

He smiled down at her though, clearly just being playful.

The truth was he felt dull throbbing pain everywhere, especially his leg. He didn't want to budge even and inch, and in truth he much would have preferred to simply lay in bed with Kira all day than actually do anything else.

He had had enough of doing something else.

“Everything hurts.” Soliael said finally. His train of thought cut off suddenly, then he realized that she as well had been hurt in their treck through the tunnel, that she had been just as injured and nearly died of cold not once, but twice.

The heat she gave off now made that difficult to forget. "You?"

 

[Kira Talith]

He'd draw her closer, body flush now from sternum to hip. Kira paid no heed, she was still mostly going through a registry of her aches and pains. A snort then a grimace would come out of her.

"Gramps eh? Okay Grandpa, that's your new nickname," she'd tease, her voice a hoarse murmur. The freezing cold had done a number to it, not to mention the hyperthermia. Nerves would tingle, race. Sensation would burn. There were still parts of her that she couldn't quite feel, something of concern when considering potential frostbite.

"Bet I can find a new gray hair." she'd say, wincing to add, "Same.. everything hurts. The parts I can feel though." came her grave comment, both palms coming to her face to rub it. Another wince drew at how dry and raw the delicate skin over her nose, cheeks, and chin was. It had a massive freeze burn over it. Her lips were chapped, and she was still covered in caked dried blood and grime, her hair a birdsnest.

She could do with a bath. There was no denying that a good whiff would likely put her close to what bloodsoaked garbage compactor smelled like. Yeah, she was not in her best. At all.

But Force she didn't even want to move.

"You need a medic," she'd say after a few moments, sliding her hands from her face to look at him. Things were starting to come back to her. Flashes of images. Memories that were not her. The meld. The Ice Monster.

Oi vey.