Private Words of darkness

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Darth Carnifex

How long had she been a prisoner to the darmanda? Least a few months, stardust had endured quite a bit of torture within those few months, her body ached and she had some new scars yet her lips remained shut and her spirit was still alive with that legendary fire it was known for. The dragon herself was remaining head strong and by now the torture at this point was just a damn daily thing

Every day between 1000 and 1300 she was sent off, tortured, then sent right back to her cell. Least they fed her some type of food even if it tasted like absolute poodoo, better then nothing and she knew that well. She awoke about 6 hours before her normal torture time, standing as she rolled her neck to work the soreness out and sighed as she got to the floor and started doing push ups, which wasn't really effecting her arms at all given they were cybernetics but it was just routine to help her. She moved to doing crunches then sit ups as the time passed by and if she was right they should be walking by any time soon

A death watch trooper stopped by her door and sneered at her

well well looks like SOMEONE within the empire wants to have a word with you, maybe they'll transfer you out so people can actually get some use out of you

He leered, causing stardust to growl from her darkened cell as he walked off laughing knowing stardust couldn't do a damn thing inside that void stone lined cell

All she could do is wait and wonder, just wonder who was visiting her...

 

[Darth Carnifex]

R E M N I C O R E​

The castle jutted out from the barren waste like a crystalline growth, jagged and unnatural. The antiquated stone block keep that had once rested on a steep hill had been torn down to construct this monstrosity of cold heartless black metal. Everything around the old keep had been demolished as well, rooted out and smoothed down to make way for Carnifex's fetid ambitions. Nothing of the ancient structure remained, save for the subterranean passageway into the tomb of a long-dead Dark Lord.​

​

Those who occupied the castle were as macabre as their surroundings, all individuality stricken from their minds as they went about performing their menial tasks. The guards were equally ghastly, standing as still as statues in their silent vigil over their master's domain. Those gaolers who worked the dungeons were more boorish than their aboveground counterparts, often taking the effort to inflict as much pain and suffering as they could in their lightless halls.​

​

It was in this environment that the Emerald Dragon found herself in, transferred from another detention center elsewhere in the wider galaxy at the command of Darth Carnifex. Down below she had been examined and her physicality and mental aptitude tested. They had come to the conclusion that she had held firm against all of the horrors inflicted against her in their care, far more than most who were sent down into the depths. ​

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Then, without warning, she was pulled from her cell and escorted up and out of the dungeon quarters. As they passed by a long series of windows, Stardust tasted her first sensation of natural sunlight for the first time in months. ​

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The light must have been blinding.​

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She was led to a long feasting hall with an almost equally long table positioned along its middle, the chairs that would have ringed it having been removed prior to her arrival save for one. The two guards led Stardust to that chair, forcing her down into it as the shackles around her wrists were magnetically clamped to the armrests. Then, without a word, they left through the way they had come, the door shutting behind them as they passed under it.​

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And Stardust was alone for nearly an hour, the minutes passing by agonizingly slow. She would find that her restraints were as strong as they looked, as was the chair she had been shackled to. No matter how hard she tugged or rocked against the chair, it wouldn't tip over. If she had the capacity to inspect the chair, she would find that it had been outfitted with a state-of-the-art repulsor system directly under the seat that kept the chair rigid against the floor and prevented it from tipping over.​

​

As a minute passed the hour ticked over, the door nearest the head of the table swooshed open. In strode Darth Carnifex, former Dark Lord and Emperor of the Sith Empire. It had been many rotations since they had last seen one another, so to see him now striding through the doorway would have been a surprise to Stardust. As would be his appearance; he had cut his hair shorter than before, allowed his facial hair to grow out, and sported a trio of wicked scars that ran from his hairline down to his jaw. Those wounds had healed, but it was clear that they had been grievous at the moment of their infliction.​

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Carnifex approached slowly, his boots echoing on the smooth marble floor with every step. He reached out to cusp Stardust's chin with a single gloved hand, pulling her gaze up towards him as turning her head one way and then the other as if inspecting her like one would inspect a slave on the market. He then relinquished his hold and allowed her head to move as she wished.​

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"Stardust," he said with that same velvety baritone he had always been known for. "A pleasure to see you again."​

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Stardust Solus Skirae ​

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Finally someone arrived and opened that door, had she the strength to she would've lunged like some animal, however she could only growl and resist slightly as she was void stone cuffed and pulled out. Not wishing to expand any more energy then she needed she went with it as she felt sun hitting her and was glad her eyes were enhanced as they adjusted quickly as she let a breath out feeling that warmth of the sun against her skin, she never thought in her life she'd ever miss the sun this much!

Something peeked at her senses, even without the force she could feel a evil presence within the area and frowned as she glanced around at everyone for but a second before she looked away from them

This wasn't a normal visit and she knew it...

Arriving at the fest hall she glanced over and saw no food so this definitely wasn't gonna be a good visit or least she humored herself with before she was forced into a chair and then cuffed to it as she gripped the arm rests and took a few breaths as she felt a void stone collar attached to her neck. Soon they just....left...stardust was just left there. She looked her seat over trying to see if she could move it but found whoever she was being brought to or whatever was ensuring she wasn't moving at all from that position. It was quiet, quiet enough stardust actually let herself go into a light sleep to try and regain her energy.

This didn't last long, the door near the head of the table opened and in flowed a dark sensation, her eyes snapped open and focused on the figure as her eyes narrowed seeing him and she relaxed...yeah this was most definitely the end for her so why worry? Sitting up a little she glanced over his figure especially the new style of hair and the cuts, looks like he ran into someone that definitely did a number. Before she could speak he grabbed her chin and began inspecting her like some mere slave, she had some bruising and a few cuts on her face but nothing that brought stardust down, when he let go she growled a little before she frowned and chuckled

cousin kaine, I suppose seeing you is better then any of the other sith, hows gunnr and the kids doing? Hopefully your keeping them safe yes?

Star spoke like she was speaking to anyone else, treating him not like the powerful monster he was but a normal person like her

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"They are content," replied Carnifex, walking to the side of Stardust before disappearing from her peripheral view.​

​

He moved until he was standing directly behind her, his hand reaching out to gently grasp the tip of one of her bright green lekku. His gloved digits rubbed against the soft flesh, a far gentler touch than she had been afforded during her detention in the dungeons below. He ran his hand up from the tip of her lekku to where it melded with the rest of her head, tapping his fingers on the top of her cranium before letting his hand rest atop her head.​

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"Perhaps you will get to see them, Stardust, or perhaps you will never see them again. Such things are within my power to make a reality." He reached down and gently tapped a single finger against the restraints anchoring Stardust's arms to the chair, which decoupled with an audible pop and Stardust could suddenly move her arms again.​

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"The outcome depends on you, Stardust." Slowly, Carnifex placed a long vibroknife down on the table next to them, patting it once before pulling back his hand. The handle was aimed towards where Stardust was sitting, easily within her reach.​

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"I have devised a test for you."​

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His lips were suddenly uncomfortably close to Stardust's ear, his voice a husky whisper, "Do you think you are up to the challenge?"​

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Stardust Solus Skirae ​

 

[Gunnr Zambrano]

Sleep, dragon, regain your strength. A thought unbidden, hidden in the coils of ginger hair and olive skin.

The woman veiled within a viewing platform out of sight of Stardust Solus Skirae sighed at the theatrics. In her heart she knew her husband’s mind games were as necessary as Ahani’s ventures throughout the galaxy, but the warrior in her clutched to the spear in her mind. If there was conflict, be out with it. If there was need to see a being’s worth, was it not more expedient to have a battle, to fight it out and be done? But, Gunnr knew the timbre of her husband’s voice, the method to his actions and the spread of his mind across more than the present Gunnr lived in with an exclusivity it caught her breath.

Stardust. The name whispered on her pouted lips, a chant familiar if elusive. As elusive in its’ comfort as the Anubian Skorvek , who clung to Adara’s wellbeing like some form of overprotective parent.

The knife glinted to Gunnr’s eye, a danger and release in tandem. What would Stardust do with the knife? Why did a thrill of rage echo across Gunnr with a ferocious desire to see the bruises on the Twi’lek removed? Skinned off her emerald visage with a healer’s balm? Gunnr exhaled deeply, when she felt her son Girak Cadera 's hand press on her back, his head tilted into her side. Arm tugged around his shoulders, she watched Stardust, and both Kaine’s, the junior always the more sensitive of their twin boys. With a smirk, Gunnr wondered what Othyn would do standing in silence? Probably the same that Gunnr desired at first, challenge the threat discovered to a duel or some mean amount of battle. No, Girak-Kaine was the worthier son for this mission today.

The more capable to watch and observe.

‘Cousin Kaine…’ Gunnr’s chin tilted, her brow furrowed at the familial word, how odd it felt to her ears. Almost as strange as white noise or the rush of a waterfall, which brushed her initial thoughts from her mind. Girak-Kaine’s eyes pulled up to her mother’s face. He took her hand and squeezed his fingers between hers, a slim smile twinged with the ever-present sadness that seemed to consume her second-born son.

Gunnr clenched her fingers round Girak-Kaine’s, and found a smile for her son, yes. It was right they were here, that he was learning his father’s trade and that they watched their… cousin.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

well, good enough for me then

Her eyes remained forward, not following his movement as she inhaled sharply when he touched her lekku, letting a breath out at that odd gentleness of his touch that immediately sent her on edge as she felt him move up her lekku to the top of her head and patted it. Looked like the games had begun and stardust frowned slightly before watching the restraints unlocked and she moved her arms as she rubbed her wrist and glanced back

given I've got a massive disadvantage I take those words quite seriously...you've got the home field advantage

A blade was slid in front of her, ger instincts said to reach for it and her hand did move towards it as she grabbed it and felt the handle of the cold blade as she looked the sharp edge over and then glanced to carni as he leaned in a bit closer then she'd want right up to her ear...she could hit him right now....grab his head and ram that blade through his skull

That's exactly what he'd expect wouldn't he?

what is this challenge kaine? You've my interest so far

Darth Carnifex Gunnr Zambrano

 

[Darth Carnifex]

There was the briefest twinge of disappointment when Stardust didn't immediately attempt to end his life once her fingers had wrapped around the handle of the vibroblade, he would have enjoyed that little struggle, but then again Stardust was not so willing to dispose of her own life so callously. ​

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"A simple test of how far you're willing to go..."​

​

The table at their side suddenly began to descend, hidden hydraulics lowering the table into a hidden space below the feast hall until it completely disappeared from view. The gap in the floor was quickly replaced as the partition was closed seamlessly. The door at the far side of the room, completely opposite from the one that Stardust has come through, opened up as a pair of guards pulled in another individual. Their head was covered by a black hood and their hands were bound behind their back. ​

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Dragging the prisoner towards Stardust, they threw him down onto the ground and tapped the shackles binding his arms behind him. With his arms free, the prisoner reached up to yank the hood off of his head and throw it to his side. Underneath was a plain-looking Human male, of average height, build, and appearance. What really distinguished him was his military cut hair, and the Mandalorian tattoos running along his arms and onto his torso. ​

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The fact that recognition dawned in his eyes as they settled on Stardust helped as well.​

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"A prisoner from Clan Solus, not yet blooded." Carnifex walked behind Stardust, placing both hands on her shoulder as the guards tossed a similar-looking weapon to the one Stardust was holding down at the other prisoner's feet. The prisoners grabbed the weapon hesitantly, anticipating some sort of cruel trick, but when none came he tightened his hold on the blade and held it up defensively. The guards moved back several paces, watching the prisoner warily but not doing anything to interfere.​

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"Spill his blood and take his life. Do this for me and I will tell you what really happened to Yasha Cadera."​

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Stardust Solus Skirae | Gunnr Zambrano ​

 

[Gunnr Zambrano]

A test within a test, within a test. Every second at Darth Carnifex ’s side was a lesson in vigilance and restraint, until the proper tests were complete. As the table vanished, and the prisoner was brought forth, Gunnr leaned against the wall, checked her fingernails for any caked blood from the last… activity she needed to complete. Danger was the thrill of their lives, paired with a doting passion. Yet the voice… Stardust’s voice garbled in Gunnr’s senses. She set her fingers on her brow and massaged away the furrow, took a deep breath and tried to remember the last time she slept.

Then, a smile came to her ferocious Epicanthix lips. Sleep, a wholly unnecessary act for one, whose spouses peddled greater rejuvenants in the Force. But, Gunnr slept. She curled into luxurious cushions, sheets and a massive bed no matter where they ended up, her head oft curled on one of their spouse’s or concubine’s laps. It was comfort, a luxury Gunnr knew was provided by her husband’s dotage. Although she could not remember ever being denied sleep, she craved and loved it. Gloried in the simple privilege of curling up with her head on his lap to rest.

As she looked at the worn green of Stardust’s face, Gunnr felt a fatigue she held no context for, and the relief of it being sealed away.

“And I will tell you what really happened to Yasha Cadera.” A gravel-thick fog descended, the syllables of her husband’s words utter nonsense to the coil of Gunnr’s perfectly crafted ear. Crafted, not grown in some serendipitous rut, but a body created for her soul’s use, when she drowned. A promise from her husband to never let his beloved die. Yasha, her unfortunate cousin, the Mand’alor used by Mandalorians when their grandfather Girak Kierke was desperate to bring her back to Panatha, where it was safe. Where the Infernal could heal. The pit of emotion which swelled as she began to ponder her cousin swirled down and away.

Replaced with the flow of warm, dark waters. Pristine, black waters.

Gunnr stepped to the edge of their hidden spot, until Girak-Kaine’s hands gripped her bicep, his adolescent strength yanked back. Lips in a thin line, Girak-Kaine shook his head. Wait, mother, he seemed to say.

Wait.

The boy shivered in near mania, he chewed on his lip, toes scrunching in his boots as he watched the woman. As if every fibre which created his body willed Stardust Solus Skirae to pick up the knife, and learn. To let this blood sacrifice end the ignorance all seemed to have but he and Adara, when he discerned what his father had done. When he discerned who his father was, as a small child.

Please… Girak-Kaine thought the word to the ether, unapologetic at the reckoning that his father would be able to feel the eager hope in his yet-unjaded young son. Please, Aunt Stardust. Please…

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

hehehe

There came a dark chuckle stardust didnt often utter, how far she was willing to go? Then again carnifex never truly saw just how far stardust would go for something, she's went far to get exactly what she wanted even if it meant to play two face just for the time.

The table began to descend down into the floor, before it was closed up leaving a empty space between her and the exit which she had half a mind to make a run for. That same exit opened to show two guards and another prisoner it seemed, she watched as they were uncuffed, threw their hood off and got a weapon just like stardust has. Eyes narrowed as she recognized the tattoos and cut of the hair right before carni confirmed her suspicions. Letting a annoyed her breath out she was about to turn and try to attack him when his words rang in her head

I will tell you what really happened to yasha cadera

Eyes closed, she strengthened her resolve before a breath was let out as she started striding over with a dark look on her face

I'm sorry

She said as she bared her teeth, letting a loud battle cry that ringed across the room as her legs crouched then launched her forward, ignoring any pain or complaint of her body as she collided with the younger mandalorian, the knife raised and came down rapidly, stabbing right into the neck as blood shot out covering the floor and her face. The knife kept coming down until she saw the life and light fade, standing slowly she kept ignoring the pain as she felt the adrenaline flow through her body, closing her eyes she wiped blood from her face or tried before she let a breath out and turned to face carnifex

that was no challenge and you knew that, that was execution plain and simple

There was a sudden urge, she glanced to one of the guards and flipped the blade to where she held the tip and launched it with blinding speed, sending it right through their head and impaling them as she let a dark laugh out and then calmed herself as she walked away

now then, that's out of the system

She began walking over, not caring to clean up as she left footprints of blood leading right up to carni as she stopped about 3 feet away as if she hadn't straight up killed a guard

I believe, you've something to tell me, that I've been seeking

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Carnifex watched silently as Stardust resigned herself to playing his game, his face an impassive mask as she told the other prisoner that she was sorry for what she had to do.​

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As he had calculated.​

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Stardust rushed up from the chair, yelling a mighty battle cry, and grappled with the other prisoner on the floor. Carnifex approached slowly, hands clasped around his waist, and stood witness as Stardust took the blade that he had given her and drove it into the other man. She struck him again and again, blood arcing out to splatter across the floor in a crimson wave. She did not stop until all life had drained out from the other prisoner, his body limply lying in a steadily growing red pool.​

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Stardust rose, blood coating her beautiful green skin, and without remorse flung the dagger directly into the face of one of his guards. There was a gurgling cry of alarm, and then the guard toppled down onto his back and convulsed for a few seconds before falling still. The other guard did not move, his training and obedience rooting him to the spot even at the death of his companion. ​

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"Good, very good." Carnifex approached Stardust slowly, like a wicked creature stalking towards its cornered prey. He reached out and smudged a droplet of blood that had fallen on Stardust's cheek. "You have done well, Stardust. Though you should know that I had not been entirely honest with you," he walked over to where the prisoner laid, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Carnifex stopped just before his boots would track into the blood, which unnaturally changed course away from him.​

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"This was not a member of Clan Solus, nor was he ever a Mandalorian. He was the son of an Alliance senator, one whose own father surrendered him to me. And do you know why?" Carnifex shifted his body to look at Stardust, "Because I asked him to. Because this corpse's father serves me utterly; body, mind, and soul. Should I have requested that the Senator kill his son with his own hand, he would have done so. Should I have requested he kill his wife and her unborn child, he would have done so. Should I have requested he take his own life, shoot himself through the air, jump from his podium on the Senate floor in full view of his colleagues, he would have done so gladly."​

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Carnifex turned his gaze to look upon the last remaining guard, who remained frozen in place awaiting orders. "Just as this guard, which you have spared your rage, will do my bidding without question." Carnifex then gave the order, "Terminate yourself." The guard reached to his side, removed his blaster pistol from its holster, pressed the barrel against the underside of his chin, and pulled the trigger. His body collapsed the floor a moment later, blood pooling out from where the bolt had traveled through his brain and out his cranium.​

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Carnifex then turned his gaze back to Stardust, "Just as you have eagerly done my bidding, killed an innocent boy because I said the name of a long-dead woman. Do you want to know the truth about Yasha Cadera?" Carnifex approached Stardust, his form looming threateningly over her as he continued to speak. "She's dead, Stardust, I killed her in cold blood. Australis' bullets may have wounded her, but it was my blade that cut through her heart. That thing that cavorts with those fools on Alderaan? That's nothing more than a bundle of memories imprinted on living biotechnology, that's not the real Yasha, the real Yasha died on Mandalore."​

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Carnifex reached out, wrapping his fingers around Stardust's neck and lifting her up into the air as his immense power in the Force seized her limbs and forced them to remain at her side. "Do you want to know where the real Yasha is, Stardust?" His eyes then shifted to look at the spot where Gunnr and Girak-Kaine were watching, silently and out of view. "She's right here," Carnifex whispered, a far cry from the almost boisterous roar his voice had previously been mere seconds before.​

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His fingers released their grasp on Stardust's throat, and she was allowed to fall to the floor with full possessions of her limbs restored. His admission that Yasha was here at this very moment was the cue for Gunnr to reveal herself from the shadows and join her husband at his side. "After Yasha died on Mandalore, I came into possession of her spirit. The priests on Ithor attempted to hide from me what was rightfully mine, so I destroyed them and their precious pond. I brought Yasha's spirit back to Panatha," Carnifex reached out to gently play with Gunnr's hair, coiling one strand around his finger. "And I placed it into a new body, with new memories, with a new life."​

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"Gunnr is Yasha, she always has been. She has always been mine."​

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Stardust Solus Skirae | Gunnr Zambrano ​

 

[Gunnr Zambrano]

Tension twisted around Gunnr’s spine, until the man was dead. Firm words, a hand around Stardust’s neck, and Gunnr nearly charged… but for the faith she maintained in her husband. Words of Alderaan, of biots and Mandalore faded before reaching the lobes of Gunnr’s ears.

She would never hear them, they died too far off from where she gathered now, son in arm, to return to her place by her husband’s side. Gunnr cuddled into his right side, propped her formidable chin atop his shoulder, her body created to match his in height, and physical prowess. A contented purr echoed out of full, painted lips and she kissed his cheek as he played with a coil of her ginger locks. It was as if he spoke nothing of Ithor, or sequestering souls. The wash of his words bathed but did not linger upon her, this new creation.

“Of course I am yours, husband.” Gunnr laughed with a clear and unworried cadence, a smile familiar, but untainted by the pains of her former self. The soul-life she no longer held as passage or primogeniture. “I married you, didn’t I? And you are mine, I share you, yes, but when you are with me…”

Gunnr tugged at his shirt collar, pulled him an inch closer to her full, black painted lips. “… You are mine.”

Gunnr kissed him, the essence of her filled the room. No Mandalorian trickery, or void-stone necklace the shivering Yasha wore under her armour. No memories of the Netherworld, or soldiering before the blossom of youth found her steady hands. She was free of all traumatic entanglements, free of the decimations of her soul’s once-life.

With the six rounds of the cherub gun which ended Australis, their resounding call wiped the last vestiges of Yasha from the soul which bore her. No more, the angry, fearful child, whose entire reason for life was serving those who would slit her throat lest she fall. Behind Gunnr, a blur of black and red clothing rushed in Girak Cadera ’s adolescent form. He tossed his arms around Stardust Solus Skirae , a desperate gasp to hold his beloved Aunt and know, know she would not defeat him, or mar their chance at once more being together.

“Aunt! Aunt!” Girak, sensitive Girak, buried his head into Stardust’s shoulder, taller now than the last he was seen on Alderaan. “Did you… did you ever think my father would let her go? Did you think he would stop loving her long enough to let her spark fade? No! No, he never did. My father never lets go. Not ever.”

The accent was Panathan, which came from Girak’s mouth. An admonition of his parentage, and the hope of a young boy to see acceptance in lieu of rebuke in his Aunt's eyes. He let go the embrace, and stepped back, a hazarded smile as his face swerved between Darth Carnifex and Stardust.

“He did it, Auntie. All those memories, the trauma, the pain in mother’s life. The ways she’d never smile, or always wore her armour for fear of being caught off guard. Every moment of pain in her life, father took it. He tore it away, gave her the childhood memories she’d longed for and spoke of softly. He didn’t abandon mother. He didn’t let her die, without fulfilling his promise. And when Adara brought us to him, I knew… I always knew. Mother has no room to fear her powers, or her strength. She got everything she ever wanted, she just… doesn’t remember. She doesn’t remember anything before being Gunnr.” The silent admonition: Adara. Of course, Yasha’s firstborn daughter was a memory unbidden to her mind, her mother stolen and removed to make room for the peace of Gunnr’s new self.

Gunnr did not remember Adara, she felt no maternal bond with the child, now young woman. Those months of Adara acting out, of her running off with Tuuli Miles, of being Prazutis’ gene-sired little girl, Adara most of any felt the sting of Yasha’s death. The arrow-point of knowledge that to remind Gunnr of the life she once led…

…. was to reintroduce the cruel, toxic waste of traumatic events long passed.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Stardust ignored most if not all of carnis I tial words, it mattered not who the boy was or who they followed star had searched for too long to let anything get in her way! With it out of the way she continued to listen to carnis theatrics, eyes looked up to hin as she let a huff of contained rage from her nostrils that almost looked like smoke coming from her nose

I knew that, i knew that wasn't yasha, I knew that damned thing was using her body like some damn PUPPET!

He grabbed he neck, her weapon went to swing but was froze as her arms were forced down to her sides as she closed her eyes and took a breath best she could body shaking with pure rage. He admitted to killing her, but then the next words came making her arms twitch wishing to strike him down before suddenly all the fight was gone as her eyes turned to see the figures that were hidden, her body hit the ground as she coughed and rolled to her knees as she took a few breaths her mind lost as she looked around trying to see if this was some trick...it had to be! It couldn't be...no stardust had suspected this the entire time but not to this level. Getting to a knee she swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked away trying to search her mind for the answers

Then a figure came and hugged her, bringing he remind back as she looked to girak and moved him back to look his face over as he spoke as a heavy sigh left her as she let go and closed her eyes to calm herself as she shook her head not wanting to believe any of it

Stardust sat there as she finally stood to her feet, still dwarfed by the two of them as her eyes stared at gunnr, who she thought was her cousin....was truely her sister...in the flesh without worry...she looked so calm now

carnifex

She said and her fiery haze turned toward him as she raised her chin and pointed to the collar at her neck, one made of void stone to stop her from using the force

remove this, I want...I want to feel her force signature carnifex

She said and took a few more breaths

you have my word I wont do anything...I cant do anything...I've made a promise to ya...gunnr in the passed life. Until I fall I serve her

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Their lips met, black on pale peach.​

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Carnifex held his wife close to him for several moments before finally severing the connection of their lips, a single translucent string briefly bridging that gap before it fell away. His eyes looked in her own, brilliant scarlet buoyed by an endless black sea before they turned to stare at Stardust and his son. ​

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Whether or not Stardust could be trusted once the collar had been removed was an irrelevant thought, she would not stand equal to him regardless. Still, he reached out and grasped it with his hands, a flex of muscle bending the metal and shattering the internal circuits before a sharp yank tore away the metal and caused the whole collar to collapse into scrap. Carnifex tossed what he had torn away to the floor, the clanging of the metal ringing out in the chamber.​

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"Search your feelings, you will know what I say to be true."​

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Stardust Solus Skirae | Gunnr Zambrano ​

 

[Gunnr Zambrano]

“Blech… eewwww.” Girak-Kaine might be a brilliant child in the arts of foresight, but he was still a boy. The kiss rendered him disgusted, and he hid his face in Stardust’s shoulder until the moment concluded.

The collar wrest with a crunch, the bloodied hall rang until the sound lost its’ last reverberant echo. Girak-Kaine removed his arms from his Aunt and returned to his father’s side. Gripped Kaine’s hand with the white knuckled faith of a child, who longed for the stability of knowing his family remained a whole and sacred unit. A quiet child, he searched his father’s face, knew this moment belonged to him and not his twin Magnus, nor their little brother Viggo, or the toddling Taiya. Of all Gunnr and Darth Carnifex ’s children, he, Girak-Kaine, the first-born son was witness.

Magnus’d just punch a hole in the moment anyway.

Black, deep waters.
​

The first iteration of the Soul was a drowning weight of black, deep waters pressed against the chest. Deeper than such superficial items like meat-bodies and memories which could be so easily tricked, the dark waters of Yasha’s spirit dove into the intrinsic history. The only history which remained. A little girl stood bold before the gods of chaos, teeth bared and ferocious roars as childish as her relatively timid limbs. But she battled. She earned her canine teeth, and shook rivers run red, mountains and monsters… until the sensation of a maternal influence sold the piece of the child to the chitinous demands of freedom.

Trapped. Held down, pushed and locked under Force Death and Voidstones, a contaminant which did not recognize the reason behind its’ shackles and chains. Then the waters returned. Those damnable clean waters, a lake which shone as the sun which burned her eyes and tanned her skin. Drowning without death, the spirit soaked with the thrumming songs of those who wore holiness like cloaks against the danger in their lake. The hymns sung begged for sleep to take her, sleep eternal to lull her into a place of peace. A place of stillness in the deep, caustic waters.

But the little girl knew too well the song of war, the ability to fight. So she battled, so she grew and learned to be ineffable. Eternal. And she fought, until the heat of flame and indignant malice of pure unadulterated rage cut the hymn, excised it like cancerous rot. His hand plunged into the waters, and their fingers folded around each other. He lifted her from the caustic waters, this soul so like her own. Which knew intimately the same places and the undeniable fury of survival’s constant fight. A warrior, whose hope became the domicile of preparation and willful restraint before the battle line was drawn. As her spirit regained the memory of air and land, it witnessed the degradation caused in retribution to her imprisonment.

To cause pain for her pain, paid in kind and poured over, shaken down and poured again until the revenge overflowed tenfold.

And her spirit found the peace denied by mother, folk and fostered companions, for the first time. Gunnr breathed, she felt the baptism of warm, black waters, his hands holding her to his chest as he bathed her in the Nexus. Revitalized her shredded spirit with abundant power. Swathed her body in cloaks of chersilk, spider-cloth and soft linens. The focus of her rage and indomitable will to survive bent and narrowed, with training from her black-hearted husband. The softness of him denied trillions in his extensive campaigns to rip down, to tear down those fallen systems…

… like he tore down the lake of scorching, sunlit waters, which drowned her and drowned her and drowned her, and drowned her…

‘everything will be alright, my love. Trust me.’ ​

Every breath taken by the entity known as Gunnr Hadda Nussyn Fitz-Kierke Zambrano expanded in the space as if all oxygen, nitrogen and noble gasses were owned by the lungs which claimed them. Each exhale flowed with the flower-sweet scent of a soul defined by resilience, instead of Yasha’s fears. The plants sequestered in distant places throughout the room hummed with an enhanced life, the joy of a woman whose trust in the untrustable tyrant was rewarded with life, pure and noble life.

Eternal, brilliant and pure in the uncontained nature of her inner rage. Gunnr was the predator in the room, the alpha female of a pack built upon grit teeth and growling antagonism. In her feral intensity, she was gracious, she brought life to dour worlds and children whose faces would never fade. And as Gunnr searched this peculiar Twi’lek’s face, her brow furrowed. The dappled, freckled olive skin contorted as her head shifted to see Stardust from another angle. And the sensations of their bond, the emotions of familial connection swooned. Attached.

Gunnr Fitz-Kierke Zambrano rocked on the balls of her feet. Emotion without the grounds of memory flooded into her consciousness, untouchable due to Epicanthix genetics but for how she felt in the Force. Her arms wrapped around Stardust Solus Skirae in an embrace she knew would crush the spine of lesser beings. Stardust was no lesser being. If she were, there would be no reason to see her at all.

“I’m sorry,” Hot tears flowed from Gunnr’s eyes, down olive skinned cheeks and onto Stardust’s lekku as her arms refused to release the sister she felt in her soul. “I don’t know why I’m crying. How silly, this… this is… my sister. Pi’Star’eqo… my dragon-kin.”

Tilting her face away, Gunnr’s emerald eyes searched the blood-speckled face of a sibling whose history she remained in ignorance of, beyond the fact down to their entwined draconic spirits that they were of one eclectic kin.

“Skor… Skorvek . Our brother,” Gunnr’s face flashed hopeful and contented to her husband, searched the oft statuesque and perilous visage which few could read beyond the doom betrayed upon it. “He is alive? Where is he? Pi sezi, we have to see him, don't we? Stardust has returned to us, isn't this the most perfect day!?”

She laughed, an innocence and joy to the sound denied its' foreborne life. She was a being of the Dark, a being defined by passion's riddance of emotional restraint. Life abundant was not the bastion of restraint.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

The second that collar left her neck it felt like a dam had been opened, the force hit her and revitalized her, the room suddenly became almost as warm as standing on tatoonie at high sun for but a brief few seconds before it seemed to draw back into stardust as she let a breath out that made the air wave with wat and a grin filled her face for but the briefest of moments as she got herself under control and a glare was directed to carnifex

how do I know this isnt a trick...your the dark lord of the sith...you've razed planets and killed millions all for power you so crave...how can I be certain this is even m-

She was silenced, arms were around he much tighter then anyone shes hugged, they weren't her nephew either. Her eyes looked confused as she glanced to see gunnr hugging her tightly, eyes looked away and narrowed with even more confusion searching the force before they went wide and her breath left her as her arms raised and hugged her shakily as she inhaled and hugged her

Her sister...her sister was still in there. Even though yasha had no force signature their spirits had intertwined together. Two dragons that forever would remember one another for as long as either lived...or came back.

yeah...yeah it's me gunnr...your sister. Ive...I've been so unsure it was you i... I have been...

She closed her eyes as she felt tears spill forth onto that olive skin and laughed best she could as she leaned back and gave a smile as she wiped more blood off her face

Skorvek is alive, I've been keeping tabs on him the best I could, hes been watching over adara as well.

Now that she was...relaxed stardust felt her body aching even more and exhaustion setting in as she sighed

if it's to much to ask tell me but...I think I need a doctor to look me over im... not feeling so hot

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Carnifex felt nothing despite the outpouring of emotion around him, his face and stance were unwaveringly impassive. He was incapable of empathy, no matter how much someone attempted to project their emotions onto him. He felt nothing for the vast majority of life, except an undercurrent of hate and revulsion. Only his wives were truly capable of breaking away the firewall around his black decrepit heart and make it beat, if but for only a fleeting moment.​

​

He reached out with one hand to wipe away one of the many tears which streaked down Gunnr's face, one droplet clinging to his finger which he brought close to his face to look at. How long had it been since he had last shed tears, he couldn't precisely remember. Perhaps the last time had been when he was a child, oppressed by those creatures that called themselves his mother and father. Perhaps then he had cried, but those tears had dried as he came into his own and took the reins of destiny into his own two hands.​

​

He rolled the teardrop onto the tip of his index finger and then smudged it out with his thumb, he had no use for such displays of emotion. But he allowed Gunnr, the wife he had painstakingly taken for his own, flow with the motions of reunion with one she considered as close as a sibling despite not being related by blood.​

​

" Skorvek will come when he is called, he has no choice," commented Carnifex, "And as for you, Stardust, I will summon my personal physicians to inspect you. They will be more than capable-" His head suddenly pivoted towards one of the nearby doorways, his senses alerting him to the arrival of one who he did not expect to appear.​

​

"Or perhaps, she will serve better."​

​

Stardust Solus Skirae | Gunnr Zambrano | Raya Najwa Zambrano ​

 

[Raya Najwa Zambrano]

“Bop bop bop daddaddababa… Malsheeeeeeeeeeeem!” The beat thrums in my headphones, eyes closed I dance along the way Momi taught her wayward daughter. Sure, one might think being the healer-slash-falanassi light headed daughter of Darth Carnifex and Ahani Najwa-Zambrano might be particularly hazardous to one’s health, but… Anyhoooo, I dance in the flow. A Najwa appears where one is needed, and if I’m not needed, whelp! Time to dance on. Ah! An itch on my nose. Flailing to scratch it and maintain my sense of rhythm, I knock into a pillar which spins me round.

Daddy’s nearby. Sucking in a maniacal laugh, I tip toe into the next room, where the sight of emotions from… Stardust Solus Skirae ? And there is Dad brushing a tear from Gunnr’s face. The thud of my music discombobulates the beating of my heart, as I watch him inspect the small globe of salt water, as if it were a diamond or the most worthless collection of molecules in the universe. For one slim moment, my Dad experienced an emotion by proxy. Maybe I should feel jealous that Gunnr’s the only one I’ve seen who can elicit such a response, but it gives me a resounding gong-echo of hope. I ‘sneak’ (one does not actually sneak up on the Eternal Sovereign) behind my Dad and leap onto his back, arms around his neck with a gigantic smacking kiss to his cheek.

“OH HAI!” Doesn’t strike me till after I yelled at the top of my somewhat mighty lungs that nobody else is listening to deafening music. “Eheh.. oops. Sorry, Dad.”

My headphones fall around my neck, and I hop down from Dad’s back with a flourished bow. “Hiya MomiGun. Hiya, Stardust! We met once, when I tried not to let dragons kill your daughter. You look terrible… I can heal you.”

I waggle the fingers of my left hand, and a burst of multi-prismic sparks emanate, the sensation of comfort and warmth fills each one. I might be a Dark Side Disappointment, but Daddy’s little Ray’a Sunshine’s got skills.

 

[Gunnr Zambrano]

“It’s alright! It’s all alright now.” Gunnr ran her hand along the top of Stardust Solus Skirae ’s Lekku, drew her into the hug which began as a stilted affair, not the smoothest of transitions. Words of her husband’s infamy went heard but undiscussed, if only to ponder on Stardust’s point of view. Better than any, Gunnr understood to her core what the Eternal Sovereign’s plan was. How far reaching. The Galaxy was resplendent with others, who misused power, who claimed righteousness while stepping immoral over those they discarded. Righteousness descended to depravity the moment a ‘good man’ felt they would lose a battle. Who among them died of their high morals, or scooped to another path, when it suited better their instincts for survival?

“It’s okay, I understand, Star. These times, they’ve been cruel… well… ” She looked to Kaine, the tears still on her face. “I cannot say I’ve experienced a moment of cruelty since Koe saved me from drowning. Life, it… my life is pristine, perfect. There are battles to train me, good people to rule, our children to raise and many… finer moments.”

A flush to olive cheeks, at the thoughts of those finer moments and what they entailed. At least her husband’s infamy was open. One knew where they could find solid ground, if it was indeed capricious. As Seneschal of Malsheem, Gunnr controlled the daily operations of their planetary, yet transitory, home. Fair but firm. Follow the rule of law. Allow those citizens who proved their use and loyalty to enjoy a life of relative comforts, without becoming slovenly wrecks useless in battle. Survival and times of plenty would be their bulwark.

The monstrous fiend stroked his thumb along his wife’s tears, brushed away the pains he promised years before to conquer in her many names. This man who never cried tears of joy, or knew the gladness of being found by family which loved him. As Darth Carnifex inspected his wife’s tear, Gunnr’s inner eye saw his. A child’s tears, no comfort or matronly hand to soothe them. No, Kaine Zambrano possessed no parental kindness in his history, nothing but the cold sneer of cruel eyes. Stuttering breaths helped end Gunnr’s tears, the wealth of pain and consolation from her family returned over what seemed like aeons. She held to the memory, an intrinsic knowing that none other could or would witness such images from the eternal shell of the man. Gunnr guarded them most of all, a fierce protectiveness over his ragged soul.

Hers. The image was hers alone. She, his innermost protector.

Gunnr leaned over and kissed his cheek, stroked her fingers along the other cheek and turned back to Stardust. “Good. That is most good, we should call for Skorvek , I want to see our brother… but… why would you be watching over our cousin Adara?”

Raya burst in with the aplomb of a parade of rainbows, and perhaps the confusion on Gunnr’s face reached Stardust’s eyes, the way Adara’s name gave no matronly instinct, or comfort to hear. Adara… it was her memory most of all which was eradicated from Gunnr’s soul.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Stars face relaxed, a ton of weight had lifted from her mind and burden that had been placed upon her was suddenly vanished, her purpose for continuing to fight had been completed.

She had no need to fight anymore

Setting back she winced and got a pained look over her face as she took a shaky breath with a smile...she was...happy. She knew the truth now and it eased her mind. Looking to her sister yes yes her sister though another body was still her sister in soul and that bond could never be broken ever, glancing to carni as he spoke there was a part of her soul that still held a infernal hatred that wished to see him turned into dust

A part that would never leave, not after everything

The arrival of raya confused stardust, she hadn't expected them to allow this child of light to even be here, however star chuckled and shook her head ad she felt the power of the force working to heal her bruised and tired body

I remember you quite well raya, quite a surprise to see you here

Looking to Gunnr Zambrano she gave a smile and chuckled as her hands came to her own face to feel a few scars as she closed her eyes and shook her head

I cannot say my lifes been horrible...but it certainly has been a experience given...well all I've done

It didn't matter how many times star said she was done, how many times she put up the weapons and armor and went to live that peaceful life she sought. Each night the drums would beat and she would replay every battle she had fought, each living being she killed without mercy, every army conquered, and every army she fought for that fell before she went to the next

War called for stardust, and stardust always answered it with that fire she was known for. That fire that cleansed the land in destruction and hell fire. Glancing back to Darth Carnifex she noted something she hadn't seen he was...observing the tear? There was a face of confusion, why did he observe something so small? A man stardust knew held no emotion but anger, one who sought destruction of all, looking away she turned her attention to gunnr again as she looked away while she was being healed and sighed. Of course carni wiped adara from her memory that was a direct link to her past life

her...birth mother was killed when she was a teen...by..

Who could star pin that blame on, her face scrunched up in anger as she realized just who stardust could pin the blame on

the united clans of mandalore that me and her mother served...they betrayed us...attacked us...killed her. I eliminated them all of them in pure rage

She hated lying like this, but she knew trying to explain would complicate things further, she bowed her head and sighed, glancing to carnifex as she asked

now then, what happens now carni, I know for sure you wont let me leave this place not alive [/COLOR]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Stars face relaxed, a ton of weight had lifted from her mind and burden that had been placed upon her was suddenly vanished, her purpose for continuing to fight had been completed.

She had no need to fight anymore

Setting back she winced and got a pained look over her face as she took a shaky breath with a smile...she was...happy. She knew the truth now and it eased her mind. Looking to her sister yes yes her sister though another body was still her sister in soul and that bond could never be broken ever, glancing to carni as he spoke there was a part of her soul that still held a infernal hatred that wished to see him turned into dust

A part that would never leave, not after everything

The arrival of raya confused stardust, she hadn't expected them to allow this child of light to even be here, however star chuckled and shook her head ad she felt the power of the force working to heal her bruised and tired body

I remember you quite well raya, quite a surprise to see you here

Looking to Gunnr Zambrano she gave a smile and chuckled as her hands came to her own face to feel a few scars as she closed her eyes and shook her head

I cannot say my lifes been horrible...but it certainly has been a experience given...well all I've done

It didn't matter how many times star said she was done, how many times she put up the weapons and armor and went to live that peaceful life she sought. Each night the drums would beat and she would replay every battle she had fought, each living being she killed without mercy, every army conquered, and every army she fought for that fell before she went to the next

War called for stardust, and stardust always answered it with that fire she was known for. That fire that cleansed the land in destruction and hell fire. Glancing back to Darth Carnifex she noted something she hadn't seen he was...observing the tear? There was a face of confusion, why did he observe something so small? A man stardust knew held no emotion but anger, one who sought destruction of all, looking away she turned her attention to gunnr again as she looked away while she was being healed and sighed. Of course carni wiped adara from her memory that was a direct link to her past life

her...birth mother was killed when she was a teen...by..

Who could star pin that blame on, her face scrunched up in anger as she realized just who stardust could pin the blame on

the united clans of mandalore that me and her mother served...they betrayed us...attacked us...killed her. I eliminated them all of them in pure rage

She hated lying like this, but she knew trying to explain would complicate things further, she bowed her head and sighed, glancing to carnifex as she asked

now then, what happens now carni, I know for sure you wont let me leave this place, not alive at least