Walk the path less walked

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

Her room was silent, the force moving all around her, loose strings that connected everyone flowing about as she let a deep breath out and frowned images floating by her eyes. Trying to calm herself she felt a darkness loom over her and then suddenly images of the dead being siphoned...stardust let a loud gasp out as the planet of eiru popped into her mind....the planet that yasha had told star to escape to should anything happen

But why now of all times? Then again star had hid long enough she needed to see if her family got there...adara especially and yasha! Definitely yasha as well. Standing she requested a ship be prepped, moving to the landing pad she entered the ship, unknown to her, brigh had snuck on...being 15 now she wanted to explore

Up into the air, star sat at the controls and sighed before speaking

brigh cone on out, I know your there

Brigh popped out from a maintenance hatch, dusting off

jeez mom ruin the fun

Star smirked, motioning to the chair by her

strap in we are gonna hit hyperspace

Brigh plopped down and strapped in

A day or so of travel the small shuttle popped above the planet, slowly descending as she opened dup the old channels to her family

this is stardust, anyone on the channel?

 

[Adara Raxis]

“You don’t get to die a hero, silly old BOAR!!!”​

Adara turned in her bed. Sweat bathed her brow, the quiver of the recent past gripped her young muscles. Two heartbeats thudded and fought, crushed not by the debris above them, or the structure pocket keeping the beings clinging to life.

Crushed by Adara’s anger. Destroyed and siphoned by her desperation at seeing [member="Kaine Australis"] and Sigurd-Adolfo Australis’ bodies tangled on the ground where the Sundari Palace once stood. Lives destroyed played at Adara’s subconscious, even now memories spilling from the fabric of what was sovereign to Adara, and the ephemera of her burgeoning powers.

“You don’t get to die a hero, silly old boar.” Life swept into Kaine from his daughter’s ghastly fingers. Shunting into him with an imperial dignity and treacherous care. How dare Kaine leave her in battle for Mandalore?

It was always for Mandalore, wasn’t it? Everything in their family was for Mandalore, mother’s Mantle as the Infernal, her brother Sigurd-Adolfo’s clone-vat creation, the mass of weapons and ships and hours away from family…

… Boarding school outside Mandalorian space for Yasha’s eldest child. A remedy for Mandalore. Adara growled as she thrust herself out of bed and called a dressing gown around her shoulders, the belt tying itself as her hair unknotted, braiding down her back via telekinesis.

Pity mother Yasha never visited the Academy she’d sent Adara to. Not that it would matter, she wouldn’t have understood anyway.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Adara padded down the hall to hear Sigurd-Adolfo at the comm station in the Command Centre near where Adara chose her advantageous room.

“Ba’vodu Stardust, this is Sigurd-Adolfo. I’m sending you entrance codes and coordinates for the Estate. An escort will fly you down… I hope you’re here on happier business than of late.” Happier business… the comm clicked off, and Sigurd sat back, a hulking mesh of Epicanthix and Human muscle in the command chair. Without turning, Sigurd sighed. “Couldn’t sleep, little sister?”

“I’ve always been older than you.” Adara snapped, sighing as she walked cross-armed over to her brother.

“I know… but you’re still smaller.” Sigurd hazarded a timid sort of smile, as Adara burbled another sigh and sat on the arm of Sigurd’s chair. He set his arm around her, and pulled her into his side, passing her a cup of tea. “Tinget root. It’ll help you sleep.”

She played with the mug, roiling mind searching upward in the vault of stars for [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] and her impending ship. Adara’s mind was… silent as all Epicanthix minds. Immune to the mentalism which many Force Users depended on to sense the condition of a person’s qualities.

“What does Ba’vodu Star want?”

“We’ll soon see, vod’ika.”

“Rrrgh. Stop calling me that, ad’ika.” Adara growled, hugging the tea. Sigurd-Adolfo chuckled, patting her shoulder as any big brother should.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Silence, for what seemed like a.minute as worry grew before the comms crackled to life as she sighed and watched the coordinates and entrance codes come up on her computer as she nodded to brigh who began inputting the numbers while star guiding them to fly by a mandalorian fighter that came up beside them

copy that....we shall see about happy business

She said nothing more, nothing less. Adara would be able to feel star, a rolling calm that held back a furious storm, two different feelings mixed into one united. Landing at the estate she took a deep breath and closed her eyes to utter a silent pray then stood

brigh, I need you to stay on the ship for now...

Her daughter went to protest, however it was silenced before she could speak by her mother's gaze. Star turned and left the ship glancing around the landing pad

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Stay here. I’ll see Ba’vodu Stardust in the conservatory.” The storm rushed closer to Eiru’s surface, an Infernal dragon descending. Hugging the mug, Adara took hesitant sips. Not even tinget root could settle her stomach.

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] didn’t come all the way to another Galaxy to visit. Calm and rage. Serenity and power, the hallmarks of the Twi’lek Master of the Force. Had Stardust discovered that Adara was on Mandalore?

Did she have information about her mother, or the dealings of the Sith? Inhaling deeply, Adara fled the room with the mug back in her brother’s hand. She rushed to her room with supernatural speed, a pale green empire waist chemise dress veering onto her body. Ribbon belt cinched, emerald green over-layer veered onto her body, which over the years lengthened and rose from the dwarfish height of her childhood to a petite (for an Epicanthix) six feet. Thin but taken by a vigour her child-self didn’t have the health or strength to conjure, the girl fled her room.

Would Stardust notice the changes? The spastic and overwhelming nature of the Dark in Yasha’s eldest born child? Her mind secure, Adara knew her aura was not.

“So you’re not dead, Aunt Star.” Adara stood in the hall, aura as black as the vacuum of the space Stardust travelled to arrive. “Would you like some tea? A snack after your journey?”

Why... why was she here?

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

Grey, that's what would meet adaras aura, a mass of power that was held back by her own will. Stepping out she let the words ring through the air as she had a tinge of regret as she took a breath

no, I had to escape and get brigh to safety....

Wind blew, moving little dust that settled when the shuttle landed. Eyes narrowed as she watched that aura and frowned a little bit...what had happened...had tasha broken down and allowed THEM to train her? Questions flowed around before all came to a calm silence kne more as she spoke

tea would be nice, think we can have it out here? The stars sure are looking good this evening

A direct approach wasnt smart, star knew that, she needed to approach it calmly and slowly at first maybe work the info out

 

[Adara Raxis]

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] ‘S aura spoke only of the balance she ascribed herself, and Adara’s stomach flipped. She tried to repress her inner self, a fluctuation in the outer expression of her aura. Fledgling. Clumsy and barely aware of success or failure in her technique.

“But Brigh’s safe, right? She got out...” her cousin had to be safe, Adara gave them time. She told Tamar, and admitted what Raya Zambrano, Adara’s friend, said.

“Don’t let your brothers go to school on Mandalore tomorrow. Get... get everyone you love off the planet. Tomorrow, okay? You got that? Tomorrow.” Raya’s Echani features contorted on the holo, before her mother [member="Ahani Zambrano"] came wafting over to see what her daughter was doing.

A message between girls. Innocuous, but for its’ meaning. But for the one who sent Raya to do his bidding.

The Sith Emperor didn’t want Adara or the children harmed on Mandalore, even if in battle he killed her mother. Would Carnifex have killed Yasha, if she’d done what Adara told her to do? Would Yasha have died if she ran?

Yes, the medics got her heart pumping. The corpse breathed once more, but it was hard for Adara to see her mother in the ghost left behind. The paraplegic and broken figure healing away from prying eyes. If only... if only she’d listened to Adara, and left.

Blinking a bit at Stardust’s refusal to come inside, Adara tangled her fingers in front of her.

“Sh-sure. We can have tea outside.” Two members of her Militibus ex Infernis guards flickered out of the shadow and into the house, soon to exit with two mugs of tea.

Adara’s eyes never left Stardust. No... she couldn’t know. It was just a bizarre night, another in a string of dismal days. “They’re new. The stars, they’re odd and different than... than home.”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

yes, i... I got her back to zeltros, i couldnt have her witness her home attacked again

All those years ago on commenor, the day she swore the Sith would forever be her enemy. Only for a year later to be her...ally...tch...what a stupid decision that was, however back then she felt it was duty, duty to use it to keep her family safe only to now have a knife in the back

Vengeance would come eventually

Thought drifted back to now, those green eyes staring back at adara, behind them a beast held back, the dark side always made her uneasy but to know adara had reached this level made her even more so. As the guards left and came back with tea she politely took the cup and sipped it setting on the ground

true, I've seen many different evening skies on fifty years...why don't you take a seat weve got stuff to talk about

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Oh, Id forgotten she was planet-ward, back then.” Commenor... Adara’d forgotten the invasion of Aunt Kay’s Regal planet cost so much for her family. “Seems strange... she must have been terrified. I was aboard the Behemoth, sitting on Glomkhoduil’s knee until mother came to get me. I didn’t know what he and Prazutis were doing below.”

She hugged her arms across her chest, mind flung back to such diffident traumas. In the days before the attack on Commenor, Adara survived Baiko’s attempt to kill her only due to Darth Carnifex’s rushed rescue on Sabarene. Wounded and weak, the child seeped in the Dark under the care of Carnifex and Prazutis. They played games with the child. Sang lullabies and gave her new dresses to replace her ripped clothing.

And when Yasha came to take back her daughters, Adara was barely aware of the cost.

Commenor or Adara and Bethany. Commenor or Kay’s life.

“I’m not used to seeing strange stars... are you here to kill me? Like Baiko tried, the moment she realized my soul... wasn’t what she wanted?” Smoothing her dress as she sat down, Adara hugged her tea and continued looking at Stardust. “That’s why mother sent me away isn’t it? She couldn’t stand how her step-mother perished... isn’t it?”

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

she was young then, didnt know what war was because me and my husband sheltered her...I regret doing so a bit

Star went silent, calm eyes gazing upwards as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Unfortunately it was a image she clued never rid of not even in her dreams even if it was years ago...it haunted her. Opening her eyes she heard the question yet didnt look over

no, the very reason your alive is the dark side, if I was to kill you over that I would have to kill myself after.

She finally looked to adara, her face neutral as she let a sigh out again and reached Dover to place a hand on her shoulder

your mother sent you away so you wouldnt live the life she had, she didnt want you to grow up constantly fighting...you had another fight to fight and that was with yourself to survive

She said then sipped her tea and sat it down

no, I came to try and reveal a path to you that many do not follow, many outright do not believe in such a path... a path that neither goes right nor left bit down the middle

She looked her right in the eye

the path that uses both sides of the force

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Sheltered. Must’ve been nice. Mother never… Baba did. Baba was the one to hold us and shelter us, even if it was from his own stupidity. Silly old boar.” Adara’s voice broke, when speaking of her Baba, her adopted father [member="Kaine Australis"]. Clan Australis being the clan of the Boar, she grew older using the honourific, but now…

‘You don’t get to die a hero, silly old BOAR!!!’ ​

… she gasped and tried to hide it with a yawn, eyes momentarily wider, red and black. None of the calm blue she’d displayed in past years, as she learned more of the control of the Force.

Her teacup clattered out of shivering hands.

Two heartbeats crushed by ephemeral fingers. By those hands… it hadn’t mattered, they were just two souls in rubble who would never last. Never get out before the Palace collapsed completely around them. And even if they did, the Sith were still exterminating Mandalorians… she… it was a mercy killing.

Baba and Sigurd-Adolfo needed their heartbeats more. In her distraction, Adara missed some of what [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] said, words of understanding, of also knowing the Dark.

“My mother sent me away because she hated looking at me. I looked too much like my father, and she killed him… at least that’s what I tell myself. ‘Cause it’s easier than ‘her duty to Mandalore superceded her desire to be a Mom’.” The spilled tea sloughed off Adara’s dress, back into the fallen shards of the mug as Adara concentrated and recreated it, a crumbling tea cup leaking tea.

Nothing the Dark created was as pure as it could have been… was it?

“How can one follow two paths? To be of the Dark is to deny the Light’s sovereignty. To be of the Light is to despise and destroy all Dark. How can you find a middle?”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Shattering

The cup shattering didnt even make star flinch, her mind was too busy sensing something, even though adaras mind was clear and unable to be read something came up that star sensed had happened more then once. Letting a breath out she looked to the cup now suspended in the air in fragments

both sides are ignorant. One claims higher moral standards while denying natural feelings. On the other hand...

Adara would feel the broken cup pulled away by the force, holding it up where both could see

the other side overindulges on power, they become drunk with no holding back at all...and oftentimes kill their own allies to gain more power...but

A subtle use of the force, the cup heated up, cracks forming into one another before the cup was whole again and floating back down into adaras hands

when you mix the two, dark and light, it becomes grey. For within the light there's dark, within the dark light. Balance

She said in a calm voice

power with control, emotion with understanding, freedom with care...that is the grey side of the force....to control both

 

[Adara Raxis]

A flash of red hit her cheeks as [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] spoke of ignorance. Ignorant!

Adara wasn’t ignorant of anything… much.

Just most things sapients did, felt, living for herself, oh, and laundry. Maybe cooking a little, and… The teenager deflated. Yes, she was ignorant of most things, wasn’t she?

Her eyes watched the cup, heat fixing cracks and repairing what Adara could only fumble together. The girl sniffled, rubbing her nose with a handkerchief from her pocket. “It’ll never work. Some things are too far to one or the other. They… ask too much. I’m not a being of Light, Auntie Star. When I was a kid, the Light hurt. It burned like acid on my skin. All those attempts at healing, and doctors, and even being around Beth’ika was … it was worth it, because she loved me, but it hurt. The Light is cold and unyielding. My Dark is warm. Comforting like… like a hug. Like being swaddled up and held into something so much bigger and knowing that forever you’ll… if you’re an obedient little thing, never fall. Not for long… I suppose it sounds silly, and you can do everything, but I can’t.

I’ve never been able to touch the Light without scalding.” She sniffled again, the Light would have made things easier, after all her Baba Kaine Australis was Jedi-trained. Her sister Beth’ika, a Light Healer. Aunt Kay, Star, Mig, Ba’buir Gray… members of her family who saw the Force also saw its’ Light as their bastion.

And there was Adara. Little contrary Adara.

She could never become a proper member of the family. No, she was always one step too far out. Too Dark, too frail, too ‘important to lose’, too far away… Adara’s wide and hopeful eyes began to sink into the despair of knowing she’d never find that place of holy bastion others in the family discovered as if born to it.

She was born dead, kept alive through infamy until her soul decided to spurn death’s constant call and soldier on. This creation of morbidity looked up at her Aunt, an untrained vessel but with ripples of power that echoed from her diminutive body.

“… it didn’t take control, you know. Mother didn’t listen. We were handed a way out of this mess, and what does she do? Go into battle after having twins, and not wearing armour for six months, but Baba had to defend Mandalore… Mandalore… tcht. As if a planet is worth losing our family. It’s just a place, but no. My parents had to die..” Adara’s voice choked. She shut her eyes and turned her face away.

“I shouldn’t have told them. I shouldn’t have admitted why we needed to take my brothers off Mandalore. I should have grabbed our family and left as if… as if I was just lucky, or had some premonition, or… if I’d have kept the secret, you, Brigh, Tamar, Mig, everyone we loved would have been gone from Mandalore, and Buir and Baba wouldn’t have… they wouldn’t have… I knew better. He didn’t tell me to let her fight!

He… he wanted Buir gone! Said she’d chosen her life and she was happy so let her be happy. Let her stay away like she promised and be a mother, but no. One word from the Mandalorians and my mother was back as if they actually liked her. As if half of them didn’t hate her like a wrecked scar. And look what happened, Auntie? Look what happened. How can being Light and Dark prevent this?”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

She let the young girl rant, watching her as she took a moment to look down and close her eyes letting a sigh out as she reached dout and pulled her close to hug her, tears forming

the force, can not control everything, no side of the force can control everything. Some things happenn...because it is out of our control

She sat back hands on her shoulder looking down at her

sometimes you can not change a thing adara, sometimes you can. And when that moment happens it can change the course of a entire event

She sighed, speaking unfortunately from experience, she sat back and took her tea sipping a long drink and closed her eyes

the grey side, the middle, its doesnt make you some all powerful being, but it helps you understand the ever flowing tides of the force

She spawned a fire ball

it is like fire, its power is all destructive and shows no mercy...but from the ruins of a forest fire, new beginnings come

She made it go away

 

[Adara Raxis]

Adara sniffled and rubbed her eyes with the handkerchief, hugging into her Aunt [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] ’s side. The Force was this… constant landscape to Stardust, a light and shadow diorama easily manipulated. How could she be both so hopeful and so reticent?

“It shouldn’t be. Nothing should be out of my control. I… I promise you… I’ll even stop people from dying!” Adara gasped and shut her mouth, nibbling her lip. Stardust would never know… never ever ever.

“I ensured you got Brigh off Mandalore… that changed the entire event…” Adara sniffled, her head on Stardust’s shoulder. Comforting and warm, Stardust was the kind of Aunt a child could get lost being cared by. Maybe she had been up too long already…

“But… but why can’t we be powerful? I like being powerful… even though I’m still quite small.”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

Star sighed, adara had lived such a turbulent life...star felt she was staring right into her own eyes...so young and lost out in the word with only but yourself and a power that was not yet trained and tamed

the price for raising the dead, is a heavy one adara. I could at any time learn it I've thought about it...but that power...that power is one that should only be used...when one needs it, not on a whim

Holding her close star closed her eyes again, then gently sat back to star into her eyes with a small smile

some things you can control, others you cannot, the true power if knowing when and when not your able to control it

Placing a hand on her shoulder, she let adara feel her presence, it was like one of the mighty dragons staring down upon her form

I didnt say it doesnt make your powerful, it doesnt make you godlike. You've heard stories of me in battle, I earned my title emerald dragon by being powerful...but you've also heard of the times even I wasnt enough

Taking a breath she spoke

I've seen one small as you be powerful, now you seem tired adara, and I want you to sleep on a question

With that star grew serious

if you'll allow me, I want to show you that you can wield the grey side of the force, I want to properly teach you how to control both. Dont answer now, think on it...that is a first lesson

She said and smiled standing as she helped her up

now let's get in, and get you to bed ok?

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Raising the…” Adara went ramrod straight, as she struggled out of [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]’s arms. “I don’t think anybody can do that outside Darth Prazutis, when… when he raised Ba’buir Aditya.”

A lie as consuming as Adara could manage burst from her young lips. No, could she ever admit it?

“I… I healed them… I didn’t… you don’t think I’m that powerful, do you? Silly little Adara? The Princess too weak to be a Mandalorian?” Adara sniffled and gazed up into Stardust’s eyes. “Oh, it’s not worth it to sleep, now. I’ll be up in a few hours anyway… it’s…”

Sleep sucked, to Adara’s teenaged and troubled mind. But Stardust’s offer made her consider… enough to rise up with her Aunt and stand leaning beside her.

“You’ll only get hurt., too”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

ahhh carnifex...he is powerful I will admit, but hes had years upon years and countless...atrocities...to make him powerful

Dhe had discovered the lie, maybe it was that maternal feeling or something. Looking down she smiled nice and big a proud smile

adara, everyone said as a baby youd die, yet you pulled through. Everyone said you woupdnt even survive yet here you are...strength it not always physical. Sometimes the strongest a person is, is with their mind

Walking slowly with adara she chuckled at her words

I've been shot, stabbed, crashed a few times, lost my arms and legs, survived a sniper shot to the heart...adara if you were to hurt me I'd give you a glass of tihaar freshly made by my hands

She said and smirked

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Ba’vodu, you do know Darth Prazutis and Darth Carnifex are two different but very brother-like people? Yep. Darth Prazutis is Darth Carnifex’s Uncle Braxus. He’s fun! He gave me necklaces and dresses when I was a kid. Picked me up and sang songs to me when I was hurt and scared. Dried my eyes with his cloak, when I was crying. Course people are usually scared of him, but I never am… it’s hard to fear the man, who rocked you, after your grandmother tried to murder you.”

Stardust’s mighty aura stroked across Adara’s senses. She quieted and sat glumly, rebuked by Stardust’s restraint. By how quickly she saw through her.

“My strength comes from [member="Kaine Australis"] telling death to kriff off. If… if it wasn’t for him… Maybe I am tired, but… I don’t want to go to sleep…. no reason! None, no rea-oh.” Adara looked up at Stardust. As ever, Adara’s skin was cold. The aura of the dark grew tangible on her skin, a deep gash in the Force.

“Eeewwwwwwwww. Tihaar is… is…. old people juice. I’ll take irli nectar, not that paint peeling gross stuff. Blech. How do you drink it? It’s ghastly! Just don’t wake mother. She… she doesn’t sleep much and… she needs to.”Adara chewed on her lip, as she ventured into the house, her voice lowering.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

Stardust blinked realizing her mistake as she chuckled and shook her head a minute further going forward with adara

the Sith are...odd people I will admit, I ended up befriending one ages ago...though her alignment has changed as many do sometimes

She was learning new things she wished she knew before, a frown washing over her face for but a second before it disappeared replaced with intrigue before looking to adara and offered a smile patting her cold skin

hmmmm...adara, your mind may be clouded and unable to be read but your still a child

She said as she chuckled and looked down at her with a serious look

I wont say a thing about what you've done...I've committed things that normal would be frowned upon as well, that's what makes us living beings, the ability to make mistakes

Stars footfalls grew quiet, chuckling quietly as she patted her shoulder

simple, when you upgrade yourself so much that you get a liver implant to make it so you cant get drunk, even the worst drink is like water

She closed her aura a bit, not wanting to overwhelm anyone or overwhelm adara

adara, at least a nap maybe? Your mind if troubled and I dont need the force to see that, at least a hour and a half of sleep will clear your mind

 

[Adara Raxis]

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] ‘s confusion gave way to a conspiratorial glance. Adara felt its rebuke, sinking into her shawl.

“They’re not... guileless, you know. They’re tyrannical because they have to be. People keep trying to kill their family. What wouldn’t one of us do to save our family from pain? Or harm of any kind? I... I know you lot hate them, but I can’t. I won’t ever.” Adara sunk into her Aunt’s side, taking the most important breath of her life. Then the next.

“I can’t hate my own family, Ba’vodu. Zambrano blood flows in my veins, just like theirs. Everyone keeps despising their names, cursing their memory... and every time they do it, it feels like they’re cursing mine. They gave me their blood, when my body was failing as an infant.”

A few hot tears spilled out of Adara’s eyelids, as she cuddled into Stardust.

“Thanks Ba’vodu. Maybe... maybe if you can forgive and not condemn me, there’s a bit of hope.” Tip toeing through the House, Adara knew it was silly. She didn’t need to tip toe, there was no possible way her mother could hear them. Not from as far away as Yasha’s bedroom was. But, a child was childish. “Buir isn’t... I don’t know what survived upstairs, but it doesn’t feel like mother...”

Adara stifled a yawn, coming to her bedroom door and tking it open.

“... I ought to get something done instead of sleep...” She staggered, this child of the pitious dark.