Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Pain wracked his body.

Pure unadulterated agony that reminded of the hurt that he had felt during the stripping of his own flesh. Yet he suffered through it without hurt or complaint. His bones took the massive sparks of lightning, his flesh singed with the hurt of pure energy, his fingers blackened with power flowing through them. The Sith Lord did not use Tutanimis or Crucitorn. He simply accepted the pain, and let the calm flow through him.

“No.” Soliael said as his fingers tightly wound between her own and caught onto them. “I am.”

He should have put his sister down the moment he heard of her frolicking antics. She had been a danger. Surely his father would have approved of her, would have loved her antics and done everything he could to encourage them. In fact, Soliael did not doubt that Nemene had been the way she was because of Moridin, but to him? To him she was little more than a rabid dog biting at everything it didn't like.

Soliael had never truly liked Nemene. The woman had been insufferably bratty, even if she had been his sibling. He felt no attachment to her, and never had. She was the kind of Sith that bothered Soliael, the kind that never thought or planned, only did.

Now Kira had suffered at her hands.

There was a hint of sadness in his face, but not because of the pain he was currently feeling.

 

[Kira Talith]

Her shoulders would quiver, and Kira had a passing thought that what was going on in her chest was so explosive, she was going to shatter at any moment. The closeness and the contact would sizzle with agonizing pain, but with every passing second of his concentrated efforts to calm her down would cause the agony to wane. The scent of charred flesh would fill the air in a lingering cloud of ozone, clinging to her hair, her clothes, her skin. Her grip would hold fast against his hand, the muscles of her arms straining as her slide came to a slop on the floor.

The crackle of lightning would fade, and soon so would that lingering white hot glow, until all that was left was her knuckle white grip against his own.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Her head would fall forward then, strands of blonde hair shielding her face, the ends curled as if they'd gotten wet and had dried without being brushed. There were times she could keep handle this, times she could forget and just let it slide. But she was only human, and she could crash. She could break down.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael let his arms relax for a moment, though as soon as he felt her waver, he moved again.

Kira didn't have time to slump down against the walls, Soliael released her soft hands, his finger tips blackened and his veins poking out from his skin. He moved like a blink, sliding arms behind Kira and lifting her up from the floor before her knees could even buckle. He lifted her up into his arms and held her close.

Soft breaths still caused her chest to rise and fall and he relaxed a little as he saw that she was still alive. The Sith Lord eyed her, his muscles untensing further and the calm washing over both of them with this close proximity.

“Kira?” He asked, wondering if she was still conscious with a slight hint of emotional pain in his voice.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira had the vague sense she was being held. No carried. She'd look so small within his arms, her head settling against his chest with strands of hair half shielding her face. A fine trembling would take her, chest rising and falling with every breath she took. Her fingers would curl against the fabric of the bodysuit over his chest, her face moving to hide upon it.

The close contact would visibly start to affect her, muscles continuing to relax as her breathing would deepen, bringing with it deep breaths of the calming presence of his pheromones. She'd cling tighter, wrapping her arms around him, her face sliding to the crook of his neck and breathed deeply. Perhaps it was because she knew what he was trying to do, help her. Calm her down.

Pheromones or not, she needed something to focus upon and right now he was it.

"I'm okay," came her low voice as she progressively calmed down, feeling lighter but in the rear of her mind, troubled. She hadn't been able to separate reality from the nightmare. She was still having trouble with that.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He didn't stop moving when she responded. He simply nodded and kept moving. They had wandered all the way to the far end of the chamber, moved to the very end. Soliael had no intention of continuing this little adventure however. Todays fun in the fortress was over. Kira would have another day to explore the rest of the place, she needed rest, warmth, and perhaps an explanation that Soliael now owed her.

Looking down at Kira's hidden face, he frowned.

“I'm sorry, Kira.” He said the words again.

It wasn't his fault of course. What could he have done? Kill his sister before she ever walked the galaxy? That wouldn't have worked since he hadn't known of her existence for nearly twenty years of her life. There was no way he could have known what she'd do, what would happen to Kira. There was no way he could have foreseen this.

Yet he still felt guilty.

What an odd sensation from a man who just a few days ago had set in motion the extermination of an entire world. Something he felt no remorse for, and something that he intended to do again. Perhaps the Yuuzhan Vong deserved it, perhaps Nemene had deserved it.

 

[Kira Talith]

The steady thud of his heart was a soothing lull against the wash of Zeltron pheromones desperately attempting to calm her down. She could smell that faint tinge of his sweat with a metallic tinge; earthy and raw. Not altogether unpleasant at all. Different from the way Talon reminded her of moss after a summer rain. It was nice.

She could feel the strength in his arms, and she was never more reminded of the fact on how small she was compared to him than right then. Fingers would curl tighter, accepting whatever he was offering. She needed that stability then.

Find a happy place. Find a happy place! That childish chant would mock her, burying her face against the crook of his neck further, seeking comfort much like a little girl would to their father. Probably not the best simile in context, considering we were talking about Neth the Keeper here and one traumatized Jedi Master. Yet it is what it is.

It’s not your fault, she’d want to say. It’s mine. But for the present time she wouldn't speak. Instead the Lorrdian would retreat to her head’s safe house. She’d feel him carry her down the great hall, until the slight bounce of his footsteps would bring them up the stairs.

What a mess I am, she’d muse, one bare foot lightly swaying against a slippered one with every step he took, holding her tight within his arms.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael remained silent after apologizing a second time. Saying sorry again wouldn't help things, trying to explain things wouldn't either. She needed time, she needed calm. That was the only way to get over this. Perhaps in a few hours she would be up to speaking again, perhaps then he could explain why he was sorry.

The sound of his boots clacking against heavy marble steps resounded over and over again.

Within the empty Fortress it sounded like an army coming, Soliaels steps moving one after another until eventually they reached the same level where they had started. Listless eyes traced over the octangular room, searching for something that wasn't there. He nodded to himself, then proceeded to the hallway that held Kira's room. The doors swept open in front of him, the force unlocking them and pushing them apart.

With careful deliberate motions Soliael placed Kira back onto the bed, sliding her already under the covers in order to warm her. In the back of his mind her reaction still troubled him. Exactly what had started it? The word? His appearing so suddenly? For a moment he thought, then he remembered.

The Eyes.

Moridin eyes.

They all had them. Sven, Nemene, Anwen, and even he. All three of Moridins bastards had the trademark orange eyes. Yet she had seen them before, stared into them, it had been something else, a feature about them that had reminded her. He frowned slightly, half turning away to leave her to rest.

 

[Kira Talith]

Warmth would flow over her as the covers were carefully tucked around her. She'd curl into a ball, fists held close under her neck, her hair a veil of blonde hair over the right side of her face.

It was easier to breathe now, to think. Kinda like floating on air really. He really packed a pow with his Zeltron heritage. Must be nice...

All jokes aside, she was grateful.

She'd catch him frown, start to turn, and just like that, her hand would reach out to try and catch his.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Her hand touched his, slipping between his curled fingers and stopping him in his tracks.

He turned to face her almost immediately, letting her hand settle in his own for a moment and giving her a quizzical look. Of course the nature of comfort was not out foreign to him, but he couldn't imagine Kira wanting him here right now, after all it had been he who terrified her so much, it had been his fault she had been so scared.

Why should she want him around?

His eyes gazed down at her, a gentle but slightly quizzical expression on his face.

 

[Kira Talith]

It wasn't comfort she was seeking. He'd already given that with the manipulation of her emotions to get her into a more stable state.

No, she did this for an entirely different reason, slipping out in a low voice, a bit shaky, but clear.

"Thank you."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael waited for a moment, looking down at her with the same expression as before.

He hadn't really done this for her, well, in a way he had. Originally he had wanted to speak to Kira only due to his own curiosity. He hadn't saved her for her own well being, he hadn't done it to better her life. He had done it for himself. Soliael had saved Kira because he wanted to know more about her, because he had been selfish.

That was the simple truth.

Yet, something more had now happened.

Their conversation, however brief had made Soliael rather fond of Kira. He liked her, more than he had after that meeting on Metalorn, more than he had liked any stranger he had met in recent memory. As that realization came upon him confusion bloomed inside Soliael. This brand of emotion wasn't exactly familiar to him.

“Get some rest.” He squeezed her palm, then turned to go.

 

[Kira Talith]

His hand would slip away, and hers would come back under the covers, watching him go. Outside the wind would howl, snow drifts dancing against the nigh impenetrable fortress of the Gods.

There was something about it that tickled the back of her mind, the lights fading to dark once he left. A ghostling tale. Myth really. About a girl left within the fortress of an unseen monster, where his disembodied voice and invisible servants would take care of her every need. And in exploring that fortress, she finds a marvelous house with golden columns, a carved ceiling of citrus wood and ivory, silver walls embossed with wild and domesticated animals, and jeweled mosaic floors.

Funny, what was her name again? She'd wonder, her lids feeling heavy. It was at the tip of her tongue, but for the present time, she'd push it to the side.

Slumber would take her, and she would rest.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael left Kira to sleep, he required his own time in reflection and the two were hardly close enough for him to sit with her all night. He however did not find rest, nor sought it. Sleep had always been one of his least favorite things, the need for it pestered him, and the requirement of it sickened him. Now that he was a Sith Lord he had managed to whittle down his sleep time to only ten hours for every ninety six that he was awake.

His natural Garhoon physiology along with the force allowed him to sustain himself for quite a bit of time without even a hint of being tired. This allowed Soliael to be more efficient, and while Kira rested and slept the False God wandered the halls of his fortress.

He moved through the Grand Hall, passed the massive entryway, the dining hall, and entered the bowels of the fortress. There he found workers diligently caring into the rock, slicing away and expanding the underside of the mountain into a massive cavern, digging up into the rock of the mountain. At the boom of the cavern sat a lake, a huge expansive body of water at the center of which sat a single island with a tiny black sapling.

Soliael watched as the workers high above chipped at the ceiling and the far walls, growing the cavern larger and larger so that the tree could eventually grow.

He observed them for nearly eight hours, directing and sometimes aiding the workers until he grew tired of them. Eventually, after enough time had passed Soliael wandered through the fortress again, taking the long trek to return to Kira.

 

[Kira Talith]

Maybe it was the physical and emotional exhaustion. Maybe it was just the hefty doze of the Zeltron version of Valium. Whatever it was, it knocked Kira out cold for the eight hours plus.

She lay in her bed. Alright, more like sprawled. She was never a restful sleeper. So there she was, wrapped in a tangle of blankets more akin to a Rodian burrito. A good thing, considering how things had ended hours prior.

The rest had certainly done her good. For now, she'd flop on her side, arms holding a pillow that was nearly as big as her.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

The Sith Lord poked his head into Kira's room.

He found her laying on the bed wrapped around a blanket with drool coming out of her face and her hair laying all over the pillow. He eyed her for a moment, trying to test if she was awake. After a minute or two he decided that she was not yet awake.

Better not wake her. Soliael thought to himself slowly slipping his head out of the door and closing the door behind him.

Then he stood outside for a few moments, looking around as if searching for something Soliael shrugged.

 

[Kira Talith]

The sound of the door closing would be the catalyst that would wake her, the blonde crown of her head popping up to blearily glance about her surroundings. Her pillow would be slightly damp, the drool and all y'know, perhaps not the most pretty of details but it happened to the best of them!

Brows would furrow in confusion, and it would take her a moment to register where she was at. The back of her hand would wipe at the corner of her mouth, while her right would push back the tangles of her hair.

Slowly, she'd push herself up and back, until she sat on top of her legs in a kneeling position in the center of the bed. Enter a big yawn, and arms would go up and over her head as her chest rose in a stretch.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael had wandered towards his own rooms as Kira awoke, walking into the bare chambers with quite a bit of noise.

In contrast to the fanciful and even overabundant decoration within Kira's room, Soliaels own chambers were bare save for a bed and a large painting on one side. The painting depicted a single world with four moons. One of the moons seemed to be extremely close to the planet, a dark green with a hint of red around its edges. The world itself was somewhat bright and tan, though of course had differing spots.

He smiled at it for a moment, then regarded his bed.

Sleep was not upon him, it wouldn't be for quite some time.

Wandering into the bath chamber Soliael began to ran hot water in the sing, stripping off the top of his garments and splashing cold water into his face. Flashes of memory struck him as he touched the cold marble, involuntary use of psychometry. He scowled slightly, seeing himself tear the flesh from his bones.

It had not been a pleasant experience for him, and apparently it hadn't been for the bathroom either.

 

[Kira Talith]

The hand at her head would attempt to comb through her hair, only to get caught. A slight grimace would go dancing over her expression, one blonde limp lock held out in front of her face before she gave a sigh.

She didn't quite forget what happened the night prior. No, it was still there. You could toss out the rubbish in a trash compactor, but take a good whiff and the stench would still linger. Here came the embarrassment along with the hefty dose of guilt and frustration.

"Ugh." hands would met her face and she'd start to rub, wiping away the last vestiges of sleep along with the blasted thoughts. Well, trying to at least.

Another puff of air would blow her bangs out of the way, and she would nibble on the fullness of her lower lip as she'd drop her hands to look at her surroundings. Her nose would crinkle, and sniff. Two handfuls of fabric would then be taken from her blouse and brought up to her nose. Not too shabby, but certainly would need work.

Now where was the sonic shower?

Her legs would go sliding off the edge of the bed, twin bare feet touching the rug. Her other slipper had managed to come off while she slept, revealing four toes sans one big toe on her left food. Nine in total gave a wiggle.

Alright... time to do a bit of exploring.

There were a couple of doors she'd noticed earlier. A pair of ornate wood carved double doors would be at the south end. Quiet as a mouse, she'd make her way over, both hands clasping the highly polished knobs only to push them forward.

Well she found the refresher.

At least, if you called a room almost as large as the bedroom itself a refresher. The same lavish decorations and expensive polished stone would fill the entire area. The natural veins of copper, gold, and silver would reflect the morning light, their rays complimenting the warm tones of the walls.

But that wasn't what caught Kira's attention. No, her focus was completely upon the wide and tall expanse of the floor to ceiling window that beheld a sunrise that could take ones breath away.

​

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael splashed his face again, this time taking careful measure to avoid touching the sink or anything else. Psychometry was not something he really had control of, unlike his sister or many other Kiffar the gift did not come naturally to him. Sometimes he caught flashes of the past, tiny snippets of what had once happened in a place, but that was it. He could not command the gift, he could not tell it to activate or press further into the past.

It was something that he could not control, and that annoyed him.

He didn't like not being able to train this skill.

If he had all the time in the galaxy, Soliael could still not train himself in psychometry. It was simply not in the cards for him. The water splashing on his face again snapped him out of the trance, his eyes following on the polished mirror before him. He frowned slightly, looking at the scars that still marred his upper torso.

Those would not face.

Quite honestly he didn't mind them, he didn't need his physical appearance to be top notch, and the scars were a good reminder of what his foolishness had brought upon him.

A deep breath left his lips and he shook his head.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Good golly," would come the rather amazed exclamation. For one who had never owned anything beyond the clothes on her back, the saber Ben gave her, and her one blue dress, this type of extravagance went beyond her wildest dreams -- and let me tell you, that ran rampant enough already!

Her slow walk would see her explore the refresher room -- is that what she should call it? -- her fingers slowly tracing the cool marble of the closest counter. Every want would be met in fresh towels, toiletries, heck it even had a spare brush! There were candles here and there, along with the soft glow of polished stones that would emit a pleasant light, something she'd figure would look quite pretty come the fall of the evening.

She'd make her way towards the window, the bright rays of the morning sun dancing along the snow capped peaks of the mountain range. Not a single cloud would mar the sky, the storms wake leaving a sea of powder soft snow. Beyond that, it was clear just how high the fortress lay, the valleys of the surrounding areas along with the mountain range making it evident how difficult it would be for any ground forces to reach it. Clearly all that was left would be air passage.

So much for disappearing in the middle of the night.

Slowly, it was starting to dawn on her just where she was -- and with whom. Things were starting to get a bit daunting...