Wake Up

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Then it was agreed. Feeling that the big lug needed a hug, the Lorrdian came up and went over to Soliael. With a smile she swung her arms around him and wrapped them around his torso. They went snaking past his ribs to come to rest upon his back. There her fingers splayed wide and she tugged him close.

Kira then pressed her nose against his chest and his own arms rose to encircle her. They both took in a deep breath, enjoying the moment together. This was nice. This was comforting. It was odd but as long as she had Devin, Kira felt at peace. The Jedi Order had long since said that having attachments were bad. That they would lead to the Darkside.

Kira didn't believe that. Couldn't really. No, for her, while there was a bit of worry now and then her life had been filled with joy.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

His arms slipped around Kira, hands gently sweeping around and squeezing her.

There wasn’t much else to say.

They would talk to their eldest daughter when they got back home, though how many months away that was neither of them could really tell. He doubted that Aela would ever be involved in anything...extreme, but the thought still made him cringe more than anything else. He wanted his children to be good oddly enough, despite his own actions throughout life.

”Alright.” Soliael said quietly.

There was still a lot to do, a lot to see.

”It’s our last day here.” He said as he kissed the top of Kira’s head, having to bend in that odd way so that he could actually reach it without straining too much. ”Let’s not stand around the entire time.”

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"We can simply clean up and maybe hike over to the lake. Take a few holopictures and then go back to the shuttle." if this fog cleared up at least. But that way they could spent some time outdoors instead of diving deep underground again. Taking a walk to the lake and having some fresh air would do them both some good. Clear their heads and perk up emotionally.

"We already have enough scanned from the probe. We can take this to the New Jedi Order when we go to visit Esme and see what the would like to do then." a small pat of his butt followed.

"Then we can go back to the ship and see which other planet to go visit."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Sounds good to me." Soliael agreed.

Cleaning up wouldn't take too long. The tent would really be the hardest part considering that it was mostly canvas and tent poles. He half turned around and looked at it, frowning for a moment and then shifting so that he could slip from Kira's grasp.

"I'll take the tent and sleeping bags." He told her. "You get the rest."

He smiled.

If they divided the work it would go much faster. A lesson that they had learned early on in their marriage. The two of them had always divided things rather fairly, trying to make sure that all their tasks were distributed evenly and to one another's strengths. That way nobody minded doing chores too much and they actually got done as opposed to just sitting there for weeks and weeks as they waited for someone to do them.

Better really.

Key to a successful marriage. That and sex.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The clean up did not take them long. Almost three decades of working and raising a family together allowed for an efficient system. The fire was the last thing that they'll need to snuff, but Kira used it to warm up some water for tea. During the time it took for the fog to dissipate, the sun once again went peeking through scattered clouds to warm them with its light.

"Can you check on the probe?" Kira asked Devin, hunkering down to pour herself a cup of tea before snuffing out the coals.

"We should have it skim over the lake once more and then follow back to the ship. That way it will be easier to store it again before deployment."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

Soliael complied with the request without word or argument. Technology was one of his strong points after all. It was one of the many skills that he had managed to cultivate throughout his lifetime, and technomancy...well it came as naturally to him as breathing. Slowly he wandered over towards the probe, not really requiring the datapad that was normally used to interact with the machine. Instead he simply closed his eyes and began to concentrate.

There was a slight...spark.

Not one of electricity or malfunction, but something more unique. What many beings did not understand was that Droids weren't of course technically alive, but there was something about it. Perhaps a...soul in a way. Soliael couldn't have really explained it to anyone that could not sense it, but it was there. Each individual piece of technology had a sort of feeling to it, something that marked it as beyond what it was...beyond a simple machine.

His fingers curled.

The probe sprang to life, buzzing for a few seconds as it's repulsors kicked back into life.

Soliael opened his eyes and smiled. There wasn't much else that he needed to do now. Technomancy was...well in truth a very amusing skill to have, especially when you were annoying your wife with changing holo-channels in the middle of her programs, or deploying droids without their control module.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Show off." Kira caught him amidst closing his eyes and using the Force instead of the datapad to summon the droid. Oh, he and Nohei were like peas out of a pod with technomancy. They enjoyed pulling little tricks and showing off at any given opportunity. Normally of which resulted in Kira punching her husband on the shoulder or smack him with a pillow.

He of course only responded with an amused expression cast her way. Those orange eyes of his glowing with humor.

"Want some of my tea?" she would offer, extending her cup. With her tea done, they could have a few snacks and she could snuff out the fire. A bit of telekinesis to use dirt and sand to cover up the still glowing ember and that should do it.

"Should maybe take an hour or so at the lake." they need not dawdle.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Nah, no tea." He wasn't really all that thirsty.

In truth he was eager to get to the next place.

The Temple had...well it had an off effect on him. Five decades ago he likely wouldn't have cared, he would have taken the crystals they had found and do something with them...but now...Now that he had his own kids, it all seemed rather dark. He didn't like it. The thought of someone doing something similar to his own children, the thought of them doing it to someone? It unsettled Soliael quite a bit. Kira would know that, she would be able to sense it quite easily in fact.

"Let's just get going." He told her as the tent was quickly folded up. "See if you don't wanna splash around a bit."

He offered he a low smirk.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

So Kira drank her tea. With her husband so unsettled, Kira wondered if it would be best to simply head back to the shuttle. Maybe call it a day and end their trip to this nameless world early? His uneasiness would be transferred to her, heigthening her own and making her wonder. That was the side effect of the ring he wore. It amplified and transferre the emotional backwash that Soliael felt.

"You know," she began, tucking her cup away in her bag," We could head back now." a quick tie of the strings on her satchel and it was secured once more.

"Get and extra day to search for another planet? Be a bit more comfortable back on the ship." a quick tug and she slung the bag over her shoulder.

"Cuddle in bed?" that came along with a perk of her brows.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He shook his head.

"I know you were looking forward tot he lake." Kira had talked about it rather excitedly earlier, and he knew his wife well enough to say that she wanted to stay, at least long enough to see the lake. Soliael was willing to be a little uncomfortable if it meant that Kira got her way with this. In the end it wasn't all that big of a deal, he could stand to sit there for a few moments and enjoy the view, just had to put the truth of this place out of his mind.

"It's fine." He told her. "I just don't like this Temple."

It was unlikely that once they handed this place to the SJO that he'd ever return. "I'll be fine."

He told her with an honest smile.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

A crush of dirt under her boots and Kira came to a stop just in front of her husband. She stared up at him with concern and affection, ending with a push of her tippy toes to give the extra inches as she went reaching up to cup his bearded cheek. A soft smile hung on her lips, and she pressed that smile to his own.

Were all marriages like this? Often times the blonde would ruminate over the feasibility of such a possibility. There were few married couples that the Taliths knew. Amorella and Cameron. Dissero and Verie. Beyond that were just casual acquaintances and social friends. Not many of the Jedi Order sought attachments of family. And on Soliael's mother's side, well, that was kept mostly quiet. Devin wasn't the sort to go out of his way to socialize with others unless he had to. He had a deep rooted curiosity, yes, but most typically would join his wife in their travels or they would both stay at home.

Even their senator life was spent mostly on responsibilities of both the Order and the Senate; although they made ample time for each other.

"Alright." she told him, rocking back down on her feet. "Let's go."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

The path down to the lake wasn't too far, and thankfully was mostly down hill. Like most lakebeds the massive body of water had been carved at the bottom of the valley, likely first created millions of years ago upon the melting of a glacier or something similar. Soliael wasn't a geologist by any means, but he knew enough about the generalities of these things to guess at how this place had been created.

They wandered through the jungle towards the lake, receiving a nice steady stream of wind on their way down.

It was no surprise to Soliael that the edges of the water were rimmed with a calm sandy beach, waves gently lapping onto the side. There were some cliffs on the other edge of the lake leading up to a mountain range, but he doubted that they would travel all the way over there. He frowned for a moment, looking at the vast body of water as they finally exited the jungle and stepped onto the calm sands. "Different than home."

He said to his wife with a smile.

"Bigger grains of sand." He leaned down and scooped up a handful.

Borleias' beaches were filled with a fine, almost white sand, this was entirely different. More gritty, reminded him of Tatooine.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Well remember, Borleias has chains ancient volcanos that have fed into the sands." indeed, a few were black, some gold, and even a number pink from the battered coral reefs that have fed onto the shore. It was a beautiful world. For a moment, Kira felt a small pang of homesickness.

"Perhaps the sand here was fed from erosion of the valley?" her eyes would scour the landcape, taking note of the granite mountain ranges, the way the ground seemed to cut through the terrain.

"Glacial meltdown?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Probably." Soliael said.

"It's pretty." He commented as he slowly sat himself down on the beach. His pack was dislodged and placed to the side, his feet coming up so that he could pull off his boots. Almost instantly a foul stench hit the air, getting worse as he pulled off his socks and planted his toes within the sand.

"This world is old." Soliael said quietly. "Reminds me of some parts of Exocron."

That parts that he himself had shaped at least.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Her own bag came to fall with a thunk along side Devin's bag. Her nose crinkled and she chuckled at her husband. Taking a leaf from her husband, she too sat down and began to untie her boots. Socks came next, although nothing so foul as that which came from her husband wafted in the air. With small joy, she dug her bare toes into the thick grained sand, feeling the warmth seep into chilly digits.

"I've only seen the Palace." that had been covered by tundra and snow.

"We haven't gone back." not since they left.

"Do you ever want to?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

There was a question.

In truth Soliael hadn't ever really thought about it. The worlds in former Moross space had done well enough after their departure. The planets hadn't fallen into chaos and the people hadn't murdered each other, that was a positive as far as he was concerned. Yet that had been decades ago, now? Well it might have changed by now. He frowned for a moment and looked up towards the stars, a shrug rolling over his shoulders.

"Maybe." It was something to consider.

"Some have likely forgotten." Whether by choice or force. "Others likely still cling to the gods."

He frowned.

The question hadn't really ever occurred to him. There was still bound to be Temples there, the palace for sure still stood. Remnants of the living gods.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Mmm... well you don't quite look the same anymore. " she flashed him a grin. Just sitting her beside him, watching the water ripple across the lake, the way the light danced over it was satisfying enough.

"You don't quite yell out 'Neth the keeper'." she teased him, leaning in close to press a kiss on his shoulder.

"Although those eyes of yours are rather pretty." she then teased, wiggling her nose at him. It was true. His eyes were by far some of the most iconic out there. At times they appeared to glow with their own dim light.

"We should go back. " came her thoughtful muse.

"I'll even dress up." now that prompted a flirty wink.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

The truth was, Soliael didn’t mind the idea of going back. He had no idea what Exocron was like now, and a part of him was more than a little curious. Perhaps it was better off without him, perhaps not, or perhaps it was the same way he had left it. There was no way of telling besides going there.

”When we get back.” Soliael offered his wife.

They still had an entire galaxy to explore after all, and that was going to get done on its own. He smiled and looked up at her, toes curling in the sands as he considered her offer. In a way he had already accepted of course, but there was the other matter.

”We don’t need to go to Exocron to dress up.” He assured her. ”You brought plenty of costumes on the ship.”

Or rather, he had for her.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

A knowing smirk and a glint came to her aquamarine eyes.

"Oh really?'" Well, this would be interesting. Especially if Devin took it upon himself to bring more. A roll and she went to lean on her palms towards him.

"And just what sort?" she inquired. A bit more teasing and a light-hearted conversation wouldn't harm anyone. It would allow them to push from their minds the sorrow that came from this world. May not progress to anything beyond that right now, but at least make for an interesting afternoon.

Joking, talking, and simply being with one another.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"All your favorites of course." Soliael said with a smile.

Mischief played across his eyes.

"The nurse costume of course, the maid Outfit." He grinned as he went on. It was clear that one of the storage bays that they had filled likely contained all of these costumes that he spoke about, though which one was anyone's guess really.

They had their share of fun as husband and wife, that was undeniable.

"The Sultry Sith Master costume you enjoy so much." He tapped his chin. "Oh of course, your farmgirl skirts."