What Is Freedom? (Vaulkhar)

[Asajj Novar]

"I'm fine." Her voice was hoarse, as if recovering from a recent throat infection. Her figure was mangled and currently bandaged. Her legs were broken and her feet gone. Her left arm was in a similar situation, as if her forearm had been twisted off instead of broken or chopped off. Bandages were wrapped tightly around the left side of her head and only a single eye peered up at [member="Vaulkhar"] . What should have been muscle on her remaining arm seemed limp and malnourished, much like the rest of her body. What ever she had gone through was clearly an ordeal.

"I didn't mean to spy, but no one has ever beaten all of them one after another like that. Well, no one but the King. Who are you?"

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar looked over her in silence, no emotion escaping his being as he did so. There was no pity for the woman. He moved closer and gently placed a hand onto her knee as he knelt down beside of her. He knew the workings of the Sith when he saw it, it need not be written in stone for him to know only creatures as twisted and vile as his former master's could do such to a young woman. Once upon a time, Vaulkhar would of done such to the very same girl if he was ordered to do so. Now, well, things were different or so he liked to believe. Offering a gentle squeeze of her knee, he straightened once more and looked back to the recovering guard force. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he considered the damage done to those who faced him.

"I am Vaulkhar. The king's apprentice and it appears like I am now the captain of his palace guard," the half breed turned his gaze to look down at her with a soft smile. "And you are?"

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

As soon as [member="Vaulkhar"] reached for her knee sheer terror filled her remaining eye, her weakened body shrinking away as feebly as she could. Anger and fear replaced her previous joy, bleeding from her. But, as soon as she felt his touch, the kind gesture he gave, the fear melted away and a shaky sigh of relief escaped her. She lifted her head almost pridefully, staring into the Half breeds blind eyes.

"Asajj Novar."

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar expected the reaction, so he kept it slow and careful. As said, his touch was gentle and the squeeze mirrored concern within his persona. No pity or distaste. He strode around the room, offering a hand to anyone who needed it, aiding the various guards back to their feet. A few compliments even escaped him in regards to the warriors form, speed, ferocity. Each of the Zabraks were given a genuine compliment from the half breed as they were helped up and sent off. As the last one left, a yawn broke from his frame and he slumped a bit.

"Jeez, all appearances aside, that was exhausting," he offered a grin to Asajj before a wandering over towards her. He slid down beside her and pressed his back against the wall before tugging his leg up. He rested his elbow at his knee and looked up at the ceiling, his eyes closing as he began to relax. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Asajj. Are you an adviser to the King? I've not heard of you from him before."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

Each of the Zabrak grumbled to [member="Vaulkhar"] as they got up, but each immediately slammed a fist to their chest out of respect. He had beaten all of them, and thus earned his spot as their leader for now. They all left, but bowed to Asajj when they passed by. A deep, deep bow. The young woman watched the half breed as he took his relaxing position beside her. She smiled to him as he did so, nodding her head to his question.

"Of sorts." Asajj giggled, clearly hiding something more about what exactly her position was here in the castle. "And I'm sure it was exhausting. You were rather impressive. It's no wonder the King chose you for his apprentice."

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Interesting."

Vaulkhar shrugged at her compliment, though he quickly nodded his head in acceptance. The former Sith was used to this sort of grueling, exhausting training. There was never a congratulations, praise, or rewards for success. There was success or there was death, that was the way of the Sith. Had he thought about it further, it of likely driven him to a rage. So he simply ceased his thought process and relaxed a bit more against the wall. The actions of the Zabraks confused him. They respected strength, yet they showed the woman was likely incapable of defending herself a fair bit of it. Rather strange.

"I am the son of a powerful individual in the galaxy. I believe Krest saw the opportunity to make something of someone destined for greatness. He molded me into a rather powerful assassin, one skilled in the art of killing. So I have him and a few others to thank for such training," his gaze panned back to her after a moment of silence. "What's your story? Why sit in this room on this particular day?"

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"To see my father." Once again she left out any details, and once again she giggled. Asajj smiled wide at [member="Vaulkhar"] when he looked at her. When was the last time she felt like this? Felt happy enough to laugh and smile around strangers? She leaned back in her hoverchair, reaching up with her right arm. Her smile faded for a moment as she remembered, and quickly switched arms to try and cover up the mistake.

"Truthfully I'm much more interested in you Vaulkhar. You're not a Sith, but you're.. Dark. I can feel it. Yet, you're kind. What's the full story of Vaulkhar?"

 

[Vaulkhar]

"My story?" Vaulkhar considered the question for a moment, various thoughts and memories fluttering through his mind. "There isn't much to my story, well not much I'd be willing to discuss so openly," he gently ran his hand through his hair, pushing his thick black tresses out of his face before releasing a yawn. "I was born to Kaine Zambrano, championed his and the Sith's cause for several years. Eventually I was found by the King and trained under him the remainder of my time with the Sith. I grew tired of it and now I aim to help the king liberate the galaxy from the clutches of the Sith... or at least I think that's what we're doing."

Vaulkhar shrugged his shoulders weakly and raised a hand to touch his closed eyelids.

"I'm blind by birth. Half Miraluka, half Epicanthix."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Son of the Butcher King and emperor of the Sith huh?" Try as she might, Asajj felt herself reeling from the sudden revelation. Subconsciously she reached for the bandages wrapped around the left side of her face. Quickly she shook it off, smiling again as she looked to [member="Vaulkhar"] again. "You're pretty brave to go against your father." Despite her initial fear she did truly feel impressed by the blind man beside her. Most would just follow their father blindly.

"Blind though. You must be powerful in the force to be able to see those you were fighting." She paused, blinking slow. "To see me. You can see me right?"

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Some would call it brave, yes. Others, myself included, would call it stupid," Vaulkhar chuckled softly and pulled his other leg up before gently resting both arms upon each knee. He leaned forward a bit, his chest pressed against his thighs. "He's done terrible things, my father. Then again, so have I... I suppose this is just my attempt at trying to make amends for the both of us, so whatever is out there at the end of it all, perhaps he can find peace too." His hand rose to his head where he gently scratched the back of it, allowing his hair to fall down into his face a bit to hide his conflicted emotions. He was certainly struggling with taking a stand against his father. While they might not of been the closest individuals in the galaxy, he knew he loved and respected the man dearly. For years Vaulkhar strove to earn his respect and a place within their family and now... Well, now he stood against him on a growing conflict he wasn't sure he was ready to be a part of.

At the change of subject, Vaulkhar peered up and offered Asajj a nod. His force sense and sight abilities were far beyond that of normal. With both his ancestry and training put into it, he was able to create a mental image he considered more detailed than what the average person saw. Enhancing his other senses with the force, he picked up the sound of heartbeats and passerby's outside the room. Scents ranging from down the hall to within the room assaulted his nose with every passing second.

"Blind indeed. I can see you, to an extent. Not in the way another wood, but I can feel your aura about you and put shape to your being based on your actions. Though without touching your face, your arm, legs, I cannot entirely create a mental image of you."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

Hesitantly she reached out and set her only hand on [member="Vaulkhar"] 's shoulder as he spoke about his father. It was her own way of trying to show sympathy. Maybe it was for herself. To feel some sort of connection again that wasn't.. That was good. She had no idea what was going on in his head, but she could feel the unease coming from him. She said nothing further, though when the subject changed she removed her grasp, settling her hand back in her lap.

"I've never heard of it that way. I suppose not being blind makes it fairly difficult to imagine what it's like." Her violet gaze turned down to her one palm, staring at it for a long while. In a whisper she spoke up again. "Would you.. Like to see what I look like?" Fear was ever prevalent, but she was determined to get past it. Determined not to let what had happened run her life. Slowly she flexed her fingers before peering over to the blind man, waiting for an answer.

 

[Vaulkhar]

The half breed snapped his gaze to the woman, his brow perked. He hadn't even thought to ask, considering her situation as it stood with her various injuries she had to heal from. Was it wise to do such now? Would he wound her if not careful? He shifted so he was resting on a knee while facing her, his hands lazily drifting up to about head level with the woman. His empty, blind gaze settled on her good eye and he stared questioningly for several long seconds. If she opted not to turn away, he simple nodded his head. Vaulkhar could certainly feel it. Her desire to push past her fears and reservations to become a better person after it all. That he respected, though he was still unsure for the sake of her own health.

"If that is what you'd like, I suppose I am willing. I am still getting used to it so it be an opportunity to learn."

A smile was flashed in her direction, likely Vaulkhar's best attempt at keeping her calm before his hands rose to gently rest on her bandaged cheeks. He remained silent, burying his feelings as he silently explored her face, or what was left of it. His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of pain pushing past his vision as he progressed around her head, becoming painfully aware of her lack of both an ear and an eye. Whoever tortured this woman was thorough, which caused a growing rage in the half breed. His hands moved down her neck to her frail shoulders, his eyes flashing a molten orange color momentarily as the rage furthered within him. He bit the inside of his cheek, drawing blood as he forced himself to hold in the anger to the best of his ability. His hands trembled as they reached where her arm no longer hung. This time his gaze permanently switched the angry, orange color that spoke of the dark side.

Further he explored her broken form, his shoulders tense and jaw tightened as he forced himself to finish the task. He was not disgusted with the woman but rather what was done to her. Surely death would of been a better fate than what was done to her. It enraged him more than anything he could directly remember. More than his brother's death. More than the disappearance of the first man he considered his father. He sat back, his hands clenching into fists, knuckles whitening.

"Who did this? Give me a name and they will suffer."

His voice was shaky, hate leaking into his words.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

The fear never left. She flinched under [member="Vaulkhar"] 's touch, doing her damnedest not to pull away. It was as if Asajj relived each 'session' she had been through as each wound was touched by the blind man. It was when the dark leaked into the half breeds eyes that true fear gripped her heart. She froze, staring into the eyes that once loomed over her. But, she pushed through it none the less. He was not hurting her. She could feel the gentleness behind his touch.

When he did pull away the Dathomir wrapped her arm around her waste, gripping the stub of her forearm. "They're dead. All of them. The King.. When he found me he slaughtered all of them." She shivered slightly, though not from the fear. From the joy she felt hearing them all scream in their deaths.
"B.. But yeah. That's what I look like. What do you think?" She was quick to change the subject, forcing a smile to the half breed.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar began to relax, though he frowned softly at her reaction to those her father killed. Once more he gently squeezed her knee.

"It is not wise to find such excitement in death. You do not want to end up like your father and I," he paused at saying that and considered her question. He didn't particularly find her ugly, though he rarely found anyone such. "I think the struggle you've faced make you beautiful, Asajj."

He settled on that, in no way lying, though he struggled with his anger he continued to fight.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"I.. I know. I can't help it." She admitted, turning her head from [member="Vaulkhar"] in shame at her joy being caught. She knew it was wrong. Her father had told her similarly, that it would lead her back down the wrong path she had been on. His words did however make her smile genuinely for once. A girlish smile from when a crush gives you a compliment. She glanced down to him again.

"Despite the weight you carry and the darkness in your soul, you're kind. A bit lost, unsure on where to move next in the galaxy. You just need to find yourself and what you want to do." As she spoke the purple in her eye faded, paling as if in a slight trance. Dathomir magic. She slowly closed the eye, smiling wider. "Once you find a reason to be happy again it'll all fall into place."

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Just keep your gaze on the horizon and look towards a brighter future," Vaulkhar pushed himself to his feet at that and offered a smile before making his way towards his clothing on the other side of the room. He focused on his breathing, allowing himself a few precious seconds of meditation to clear himself of his emotional distress. He hated to lose himself in his anger. Whenever he did he was reminded of his father, the man he loved and respected who he turned against to help his master. Vaulkhar was unsure of how to cope with the entire situation considering he had turned his back on his family for the sake of the betterment of the galaxy, but was that the right choice? Was standing against the Sith, particularly Kaine Zambrano the means of doing so. Vaulkhar's family had always been there for him from the moment he joined the Sith Academy on Coruscant all those years ago. He scooped up his clothing and ran his fingers across the surface of the white cloth shirt thoroughly, looking for any blood or tears. Finding none he slid it over his shoulders before gripping the vest tight within one hand. "Seems as if I only got blood on the vest."

The half breed chuckled and moved back across the room towards Asajj, stretching as he went. He tossed his vest into the corner and slid down beside her, resting his back against the wall once more. He went silent, considering his feelings until she spoke up, resulting in a perked brow and even a slight blush to grow on his otherwise pale cheeks.

"I appreciate your words, though we cannot be sure if I can find a reason to be happy."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"No matter what's happened to someone they can always find happiness again." Her eye never left [member="Vaulkhar"] now, curiously watching him as he inspected his clothes. She took the time to take in his features now. Seemed only fair after allowing him to see her. He was strong of form, fit and powerful. When he turned back to her she glanced away, blushing faintly in the process.

"You're heart isn't gone yet. There's still a chance for you to be happy. Just don't give up on it."

 

[Vaulkhar]

"There are very few things I give up on, though I'm not particularly focused on my own happiness. As it turns out, the planets subjugated by the Sith require more focus than my own joy," Vaulkhar lifted his saber from his belt and inspected the hilt in silence. His hands gently ran along the surface of the blade. It had been a loyal companion of his for yours, helping him overcome more battle's than he could even remember. He held the saber out to the woman as his inspection came to a close. "I know my heart is not gone, though it might as well be. I've killed more innocent men and women than the majority of the Sith, I believe. Being the son of the Butcher King has created a reputation I could not ignore."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"So has my father. Whole planets slaughtered under his command. All to try and stop the Sith from within, but ultimately costing his soul until his death." Asajj took the saber from [member="Vaulkhar"] , looking it over. Hers had been taken from her a long time ago, the last means of her defense stripped to keep her complacent. She idly flicked the switch, letting the orange blade light up before her.

"Orange." She muttered. Like his eyes. She shut down the blade, handing it back.

"Our past does not define who we are now. You're not heartless, or you'd have left this crippled girl to her loneliness by now, yeah?" She smiled. "Our scars change us. But our hearts say who we are."

 

[Vaulkhar]

"You are ridiculously wise for someone as young as you are," the blade was taken back and returned to it's place on his belt beside another. "Orange? I was unaware, for obvious reason." Vaulkhar chuckled softly while considering her words. He was always unaware of Krest's actions as Darth Ferus. "When your father was Sith I was just an asset to the man, I cannot confirm or deny the words you speak. If they are true however, I am glad to know that is the case," once more he pushed himself to his feet, the energy from the duels from before clearly not out of his system. He ignited his saber and began a simple exercise, the blade gently flowing left and right, forward and backward; all the while Vaulkhar directed and moved after it.

"I've recently met someone else who has a very similar outlook as you on the past, funnily enough. I am not fond of mine and seek to forget it all."

The words hung in the air as he focused on his exercise silently. It was something he adopted years earlier to help him relax after a particularly bloody war front. And there were unfortunately plenty of those. Rather suddenly, the half breed paused and deactivated the weapon before returning it to his side.

"I am not sure it is fair to say I have a heart, Asajj."

[member="Asajj Novar"]