Walk the path less walked

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

Stardust closed her eyes to let a heavy breath out, looking down to adara as she smiled, this girl had every reason not to hate the Sith empire and its leader, while stardust had every reason...such a interesting thing....

his blood amplified your powers, his name is cursed for what he has done...but...so is the Australis name. I cant judge you for not hating them or I would be as bad as everyone else who does...you've every reason and I mean every single reason in the galaxy to not hate them at all...but I do, unfortunately I do have a reason

Stardust said with sadness in her voice, then sighed as she looked away in thought...maybe hanging onto this anger wasn't good...after all it pushed her to do such stupid things...maybe she could learn something from adara

theres no reason to condemn you...as I've said I've committed worse...and look I still stand today some of the things I regret many I do not for they led me to here. I will find out ok? I'm sure..whatever you've done is merely a effect

She helped her into the room, patting her shoulder as she smirked

your mind is strong, but your body is tired, and both need to be rested in order for you to work perfectly. Just a hour nap is all I ask

 

[Adara Raxis]

“His blood is mine. His uncle’s blood is mine. His charity helped save me, and he bled to protect me. I’m sorry I can’t make it easier on you by hating him. I know he’s an evil man, but evil is after all, only a point of view. We all use detestable methods to save the ones we love at one or another point. But can we not find some form of understanding as to the reasons behind those methods? People the universe over keep trying to kill his family. His wives and children… wouldn’t you do what it took to save Brigh?” [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] seemed to absolve Adara then, an action that helped the girl-child recognize she wasn’t about to be culled by another member of the family.

It helped, at least. Baiko’s death hung over Adara, weakling child of a Mandalorian warrior and a long forgotten ghost.

Adara yawned and plunked down in her bed, the sheets tugging themselves up to her shoulders. The girl attempted to keep her eyes open, yet the struggle was lost. Childish lungs rose and fell, the danger of Adara’s powers momentarily over.

From the door, a shadow crossed.

Sigurd-Adolfo walked from the vigil he carried over Adara’s bedroom door back toward the study where he sat in odd command. Incapable of sleeping. Clone-son of Yasha & Kaine Australis, Sigurd-Adolfo was the progenitor of hundreds of clones, who served both Mandalore, and his parents.

He sighed and doubled back, handing [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] a mug of tea. Without word, the hulking half-Epicanthix man trundled off again toward his station.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

This girl, way younger then stardust,who'd seen more then stardust had at that age and been through so much, spoke words that made her freeze. Enough star simply stared at her till the girl fell asleep and sighed

your wise already...

She said, eyes glancing towards the shadow that crossed hand moving to her side out of instinct before she relaxed and stood slowly,meeting sigurd at the door accepting the tea as she looked at the cop and took a breath as she followed him to the command station

weve not met formally...then again I'm not sure how many family members I have hahaha

She laughed quietly and sat down sipping her tea

so....what's your name?

 

[Adara Raxis]

“We met. I was always in armour. My troops and I. Known you for years, Stardust. Mother spoke well of you.” Sigurd watched the Twi’lek walk beside him, off to the study converted into a Command centre. Holovids lined the shelves, projections peppered around which diminished to blinks of light the second Sigurd-Adolfo motioned with his hand. “I’m Sigurd-Adolfo, Commander of Australis battle groups. My gene-parents are Yasha and Kaine. Makes you my Aunt. Adara my half-sister, and Reyn my brother...”

He propped his considerable frame against the side of a shelf, sighing as he held his cooling mug of tea. For a long while Sigurd-Adolfo watched [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] in silence.

“Whatever Force called you here is meaningless. We take care of our own. Prepped a room for you and your daughter... no harm can come to Adara. I trust you know why.

Do you want to see mother?”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

yasha always admired my battle prowess, hate to say this is my first time knowing about you, but regardless your family just as anyone else is

She sipped her tea, eyes closed as she pondered a fee things, her confusion was only driven further and further by adaras words. Lookimg over to sig she was silent before looking forward

meaningless it is not, it saved her life...and now I'm not sure of its intentions...yes...yes I'd like to see yasha, please

 

[Adara Raxis]

“Saved Adara? Is that what you think? How noble.” Sigurd-Adolfo stared at [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] with Yasha’s amber eyes, silent as the armour he wore in the years before making himself known.

"Before I bring you to mother, please remove any armour or weapons. Not a stitch, not even a beskad, the Biot will sense it… we’ve lost enough people to save her.” Sigurd took her to a room set for Stardust & Brigh’s use, and left her to disarmour.

Once Stardust was appropriately disarmed, Sigurd brought her through the corridors to a well fortified area of the Manor. Technology was more rampant here, than in the finery of the aristocratic House. Guards lined walls, an anteroom housed sleeping medics, nurses, and Doc Allard scrubbing his arms down with hot water and soap.

“Star… how… when did you…” Doc Allard rubbed the bridge of his nose, grunting with fatigue. The whiff of Adara’s magics played across the man, unnaturally preventing fatigue and stretching out his conscious moments. Under her thrall, he worked without rest. Clothing fell slack on his once muscular form. The man who had been Yasha’s chief physician since before the birth of Adara struggled against a yawn.

“Nevermind. I’ll take her, Sig.” Anything to save Adara’s mother.

“Best whisper at first, we can never tell what the Vong biot will do when it sees someone new… just… stay calm.” Theo brought Stardust through the anteroom and into a massive bedroom laden with the finery Kaine purchased for his wife. In the middle of a bed large enough for even Yasha’s seven foot frame, nigh pale as the starched sheets, the Infernal.

A breathing mask remained fixed to her mouth, nose and chin, raven hair shorn short to a scant three inches, splayed across her forehead and pillow.

The right side of her body was no longer her own.

Green speckled flesh knotted and gnarled by exoskeletal crab-like living armour, elongated fingers with spiked nails rested atop the cream sheets. The Vong-flesh continued up Yasha’s neck, encompassing her right ear, décolletage, and ducking under the cotton shift she wore. The hand quivered, fingernails rising as Theo Allard winced.

“Careful… the spikes. They can fire like missiles.” Theo moved cautiously to Yasha’s side, checking her vitals on a screen above her bed.

“Yasha. Yash’ika, Stardust is here.”

Dim amber eyes flickered open by microns, as red rimmed and pale eyes adjusted to the near pitch black of the room. Taking the breathing apparatus off Yasha’s mouth, Theo put a hand to her forehead, before settling into a chair beside her bed.

A set of near alien eyes at first came with no recognition of the Twi’lek in the room. Yasha’s brow furrowed, mouth worked.

“Stardust, Yasha. Your sister, Stardust.”

“St-star…” Vocal chords damaged by tubing and repaired by medical science and Vong rejuvenation warbled weakly.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Adara Raxis"]

She glared, then sighed and closed her eyes, walking with sig she gave a sideways glance but compiled takimgbher weapons and armor to her room and came out

what do you mean? I know she has a bit but....

Turning she saw the doc, sure she knew the man but not enough of him...but enough he could call her by her nickname. Frowning she spoke

a hour ago...adara...

It was worse then she thought, star was trying to keep her composure going silent to avoid out burst as she silently walked beside the doc. Entering the room star froze at what she saw, guilt, anger, sadness bubbled up then settled as she swallowed and slowly approached no longer hearing the doctor as she crouched beside the bedside and gently took yasha hand squeezing gently as she finally broke down a tear falling as she blinked it out

yasha...by manda i... manda I'm sorry

She said trying to speak but couldn't hold back her tears as she lowered her head to rest her forehead again yashas hand as she shook her head

I failed you, I failed my family I should've came back and fought with you i... I'm sorry

She let her guilt escape finally, her will was strong, but she was a living being as well

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Incognizant eyes peered through the gloom of pain to [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] ’s tears. Yasha’s left hand was as feeble and cold as her daughter’s, fingers laying limp.

Green flesh parted. A milk-yellow eye revealed through the meat of Yasha’s right shoulder to peer warily at the Twi’lek. Spine-digits with spears on their end raised, trailing along the blankets to rest alien and uncomfortable on Stardust’s shoulder. No warmth of familial bond, nor ilk of humanoid kindness laid in the Vongformed biot which reached for Yasha’s sister.

It was all the comfort Yasha’s body still possessed.

Yasha’s distant amber eyes fluttered shut. Her head lolled on its’ pillow until the hot tears from Stardust’s eyes fell on her left hand.

“St-star…” A single croak through dry lips. Yasha’s throat clenched around the syllable, sound manipulated by feelers of the Yuuzhan Vong biot encroaching on Yasha’s right side. Thus, Yasha’s lips remained still. Her eyes barely open.

“Creche-mate…” All Vong young were creche bound, raised communally in groups which created the only true bonds any Yuuzhan Vong could in confidence put faith in. Yasha’s body jerked in the bed, throat undulating at the external and internal manipulation. Feelers working her lungs like bellows, changing circadian rhythms, she choked on air.

Shoulders wracked with a cough the Vong biot could not suppress. Sputum played on her tongue, crimson and raw. The ghost of Yasha Cadera was missing from this spectre of the once Infernal.

Yet as the Vong reached, and the body beneath contorted in its’ spasm, Yasha whimpered.

The fingers in her left hand clung to Stardust’s, with such strength as her body still possessed. The only sign Stardust would receive of her sister’s truth.

Stay… Manda, please stay…

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Yasha Cadera"]


Taking a few deep breaths she steadied herself, glaring to the alien eye on that shoulder as she watched the arm slowly approach, her right arm clenched up before she relaxed reminding herself that she could be perceived as a threat lest the thing attacked her

And star didnt want to cause harm to her sister in any way...shes suffered so much.

Hand gripping yasha she closed her eyes, rocking a little as she heard her coughing and felt useless. Useless that she couldnt help her suffering sister in the slightest, looking up to her she nodded her head and squeezed her hand

I'll find a way yasha, ill find a way to help you to stop this thing I swear on my life...even if it means I have to turn to my life long enemy I sear as your sister I will help

She said in a unsteady voice as she bowed her head to rest against her hand

 

[Yasha Cadera]

A mass of black fur rose up from the corner of the room, gaping maw clacking shut lazily as Ambrose yawned awake. The gurlanin padded softly to [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]’s side, plunking his aging head across her thigh in comfort. Tongue lolling along his gargantuan, wide mouth, Ambrose’s telepathic voice reached out to the Twi’lek who grieved over her sister.

His half-adopted cub. If only he’d adopted her formally, how would things have changed? Yasha did anything Ambrose ever asked her to, including taking the damned Mantle far too young. Far too damaged. Now the Mantle hung as a spectre of the past, nothing left of it but the weak pulse which fluttered across Yasha’s chest.

‘She’s too brave to die. After all done to save her, she clings loosely to this life. Yet I wonder how much of it is Adara’s refusal to let her go.’ Gravelled and rough, Ambrose’s telepathic voice echoed like teeth chomping bone for the marrow.

‘Our refusal to let her go. There is still fight left. The Vong biot has not succeeded in taking her over completely.’ Ambrose nuzzled his nose on Yasha’s left arm, teeth gingerly tugging the blankets more firmly up to her shoulders.

“Star.” Yasha’s lips pursed and moved, not from the bellows of the Vong Biot, but her own ability. “Mhi cyar’vod.”

The hand Stardust held squeezed feebly, shaking with the effort. Yasha’s head lolled toward the Twi’lek, as her breathing eased considerably and the Epicanthix seemed to fall into a restful slumber. The energy in the room shifted, Yasha’s struggle drifting to a comforted and heavenly healing as her sister held her hand. Ambrose gasped, himself losing more of his own tension of worry.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

shes seen the otherside before, the horrors that await me when if i ever fall in combat...but yes I think a large portion is adaras refusal to have her mother die...

She placed her other hand in his head gently, watching yasha, taking shaky breaths full of sadness and anger for abandoning them back on mandalore. Looking over to Ambrose she nodded her head gently

she is...and always will be even into death, a fight, I've watched her risk her life and nearly be killed time and time again. Hell I've stood beside her through it... I stood beside my sister...but I failed to do so when truely needed [/colot]

Words reached her ears, not vong but...yasha! She held her hand moving closer and nodded as she swallowed, feeling the nature of the room change as she relaxed herself

mmm...I'm here sister, im right here

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Yasha fell into a deeper sleep, body comforted with her sister in proximity. The slight horrors lifted off her in a temporary rest. Ambrose nuzzled into [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]’s hand, a deep sigh rushing from his powerful lungs.

“We lost Tuulu. The boy, Reyn, he… thought to aide his mother against Carnifex and Tuulu paid his death-debt. Tuulu’s death shocked Yasha, she… panicked. I worry, Stardust. I worry what she’ll become when she awakes.” Huffing with his head in Stardust’s lap, the great gurlanin licked at Yasha’s left hand as she spoke, and fell to her rest.

“The worst of her wounds were inflicted by her husband, who fired when Yasha was in close enough proximity for Carnifex to grab her. Four doctors and one nurse are dead because of the Biot. They wore blaster pistols, all of them. The sheer sight of armour, and the Biot goes into a protective mode Yasha is too weak to control.” Shaking his snout, the telepathically speaking creature chuffed. “I was with her, when Carnifex took her to Helska after Orinda. I was there, when he carried her through the jungle to pick flowers, before the Master Shaper went about that terrible work. I watched him as his eyes never lost sight of Yasha, as the Yuuzhan Vong did her work, and in my arrogance I thought it was wisdom. Some form of friendship.

And now I see the youth I taught. The little soldier-child Strider and I gave armour and beskad to, a way to cleanse her anger by giving her focus. Even now I cannot say Carnifex’s Biot was a ploy. It alone was what the doctors were able to use to sustain her life. He must have known… for a brief moment, Yasha woke and spoke to [member="Reyn Australis"]. She… mentioned Carnifex’s last words before he plunged his sword into her spine. ‘Everything will be alright, trust me’.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to kill for this.” The loss in Ambrose’s features was a horrific admonition from the sword who destroyed any threat in Death Watch and the Infernal’s name. Rudderless, [member="Ambrose Cadera"] slacked his jaw. At least… at least Yasha was receiving rest.

As she would as long as Stardust held her, the safety of her sister letting what was left of Yasha’s guards release.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

She watched yasha, eyes relaxing as she let a sugh out and gently raised her free hand to place on Ambrose back and pat gently as she listened to the knees of tuulus passing and frowned, face wrinkling from age and years of war

there is no telling Ambrose,

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

She watched yasha, eyes relaxing as she let a sugh out and gently raised her free hand to place on Ambrose back and pat gently as she listened to the knees of tuulus passing and frowned, face wrinkling from age and years of war

there is no telling Ambrose...her daughter I fear more at the moment, the girl is conflicted within, the ones she trust the one that she grew around suddenly just ....turned on her family

A frown formed on stars face, rubbing yashas hand as she listened to Ambrose speak. A worried look grew on stars face when he mentioned what kaine did....sighing deeply she rested her head on yashas hand and then raised it to look at Ambrose

carnifex....truly he is a...man that even I truely fear. Howeve ri can neve understand his intentions for yasha and adara...adara i have a idea, no doubt he wants to train her in the dark side. But for yasha....

She left it at that to listen more, reaching a hand down to pet him gently as she relaxed and looked to yasha

many have failed us my friend, the jedi have failed to be the 'protectors of peace'the confederacy has a witch hunt they engineered themselves agaisnt us, and the Sith have put a dagger to our side

Stars eyes narrowed with held back flames, anger wishing to be unleashed

for now, we can only wait, we will take punches and stabs at them all...and for once, I will not hide what clan I am from, who my brothers and sisters are. Shall the jedi or confederacy want my head for it they will need a army to get it