A Voice Anew

[Lira Dajenn]

Now this was interesting.

She felt power flow through her, power like never before. The force ran through her veins on a new level. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she reached out within the force. For the first time in her life she actually managed to feel the flow and tug of the force. She sensed the crew members, she sensed her slaves, and she sensed Evie. She saw them all, as if they were standing inches before her. Nemene's muscles flexed, strength enough to break through a mountain flowing through her.

Suddenly her eyes snapped open, the power leaving her in a rush as Evie struggled to maintain the spell. The Raven Haired Queen let out a loud exasperated breath, as if she already missed the feeling of strength that had been granted to her moments ago. Her chest rose and fell, heavy breaths staining the air as she wrapped her head about what had just happened.

A smile grew on her face, and she patted Evie on the head.

“Very good.” It was good. Doing this during combat? Strengthening herself to those heights? The heights that her father had reached, oh yes, it was very good. She would be able to fight anyone, beat anyone. Her hand closed into a fist as she thought of the possibilities. Her strength would be unmatched.

Her smile faded widened slightly, purple lines growing dim as the last of the extra strength left her.

“I have a surprise for you, since you've done so very well.” Her voice was sultry and enticing. “A Scavenger hunt.”

 

[Louise]

Silly little Evie. In the moment that the spell faded alongside her own stamina she felt a twang of despair, if only she was stronger, she could have kept going and her Goddess would have been able to exist upon that higher plane of connectivity.

Time, it was going to take time to get stronger, learn more spells, become the greatest pet sorceress to grace this great galaxy and all for Mistress. Better tricks. Better treats.

Nonetheless she had pleased her Goddess and that in turn delighted the simple little creature. Whenever her Mistress smiled she felt warmth within herself, a tingling in her head that signified that she had done well. Evie was good. Evie liked being good. Evie lived to be good. But not only did she get a personal treat in such satisfaction but she was to get another gift from Goddess!

Those icy blue eyes gazed up still lost in adoration, and slowly the pet began to smile, beam even with both pride and joy. A scavenger hunt for Evie! What a lucky girl!

“Goddess is so good to Evie!” she exclaimed, not questioning, never questioning.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene only nodded.

“Yes, she is.” Nemene said as she motioned to the slave that had come in behind her. The woman quickly undid Evie's chain from the pedestal holding it in hand instead and drawing the Sorceress up from her knee's.

This would be less of a Scavenger hunt really, and more an adventure. In order to further Evelynns knowledge in researched they would need more than just this book. It was of course a rare and powerful item, but it contained only so much knowledge, it needed to be expanded upon and explained by one who knew more about Sorcery and its more...subtle intricacies.

Of course Nemene already knew a Sith Sorcerer, her brother, Soliael. She also knew however that he would not help her in this endeavor, especially given that poor precious Evie had once been his apprentice, though very soon she would not be recognizable even to him.

That brought a smirk to her face, though it quickly disappeared.

“Do you remember Evelynn's mother, Evie?” Nemene asked the question as though Evelynn were a completely different person, which of course she was. Evie was a pet, Evelynn had been a sister. It was that simple. The two were entirely different, and Nemene would drive that point home. As she waited for Evie to answer, Nemene began to walk, the slave and the Sorceress quickly following after her with almost gleeful steps.

 

[Louise]

Back onto her feet Evie continued to look on in absolute wonderment, in this state she was content. Goddess was pleased, Evie was good, the entire balance of the Galaxy was just right, exactly like this. If only she could have frozen this moment, kept it forever.

They began to walk, and little Evie frowned as she pondered the question that had been thrown her way, she frowned at the mention of that ungrateful witch's name.

On one level both aspects of the woman existed inside a single brain, and therefore memories of Karin Dorn were there and yet, that wasn't her mother, that was nasty Evelynn's mother. She could dredge up the memories of her ill-begotten self with no emotional reaction. The creature recalled the exact moment that Karin Dorn's head was separated from her shoulders, and she recalled that moment without a hint a sorrow.

“Y-yes Goddess, I remember.”

The pitiful thing hobbled behind her Mistress, that familiar chain around her neck gifting only comfort. After Evelynn's horrific leg break unimpeded walking had become a thing of the past for the woman, it wasn't that movement was painful, no, there was no more pain remember? Simply limbs that had healed in such a crude and gnarled manner that they no longer moved in an conventional sense.

“Wasn't sh-she a S-sorceress, Goddess?”

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Very good Evie!” Nemene said praising as they turned a corner. The Sith lady had to slow her steps to ensure that Evie would not lag behind. She did not want to have to explain herself twice to the stupid creature so it was best to slow down now, and simply wait. They made their way through the Slaver frigate quickly, her footsteps loudly ringing throughout the hall as they neared the Hangar. The ship was not well decorated here, too much wear and tear.

“She was indeed, a powerful one.” Nemene didn't know much about Karin, but what she did know was enough. “She had an...association with my father.”

That was a strange way of putting it. When Moridin had been Emperor Karin had been somewhat of an archivist or librarian. Her knowledge in such things as Sorcery and Alchemy had been unmatched by even her father, something he was loathe to admit even in his own private Journals. It was in those very journals that Nemene had discovered that Sith were petty creatures, including Karin Dorn.

It appeared, that Karin had sent Moridin her Holocron, a sort of “look what I know, and you don't”. The thing was supposedly locked somehow, but Nemene knew that if anyone could open it, it would be Evie.

“Her Holocron, rests in one of my fathers vaults. Were going to find it.” The words left her mouth just as they found their way to the hangar.

 

[Louise]

The praise brought another grin beaming onto her face, it was an utterly dim-witted expression, to only be associated with a dog and its bone. Although there was a hint of distress knocking upon her mind, noting that her Goddess had to slow down because stupid little Evie was just too slow. Try how she might those legs just didn't respond.

Karin Dorn lingered on the edge of the brain.

Forgive me.

Memories, not Evie's were dredged up and lingered about. Those were Karin Dorn's last words to her daughter. No. No, that's sentimentality talking. That's not true.

Silly girl. Don't speak.

Evelynn stirred somewhat, extremely sluggish, a tickle barely noticeable in the back of the pet's mind.

Those were Karin Dorn's last words and the pitiful creature's facial expression slipped back into one of vacancy as the memories of another swirled around within her. She didn't care, she hadn't been told to care. She had been powerful? Well that's nice and all but in the twisted mind of little Evie there was none greater than Goddess, none more powerful. None.

“Yes, G-goddess,” she nodded, having nothing in her mind to add to the scene as they entered the hangar.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene walked Evie into the Hangar bay, pointing her towards the boarding ramp of the Sicarius class stealth yacht. The two of them went aboard the ship, with Nemene halting in the central chamber. There were no slave room onboard, no cargo hold where Evie could be held. For this trip and this trip alone she would have her own room...Well, nearly. She would be sharing with the slave currently holding her leash, just to ensure the pet didn't try anything.

“This Vault, this storage place of secrets is in a very dangerous place.” Nemene said to Evie very carefully to make sure she understood.

Squatting down to be at eye level with Evie a slight smile crossed her face.

“It is a world of lava, fire, and death.” She spoke of Mustafar of course, a world used for its geothermal energy and rare minerals. Moridin had deemed it the perfect place for one of his vaults, one filled with far...richer materials than usual. “We will face many dangers, so be good, and rest.”

She poked Evie lightly on the nose, smiling slightly and turning around in one liquid smooth motion, heading to her state room.

 

[Louise]

The mentions of a dangerous place made the creature's eyes grow wide. It was as if she were getting told of some fantastical place in a holo-novel. Of course there came a moment of thought for little Evie, a touch of worry. What if it was too dangerous a place for her? She was only in the process of learning Sorcery and her beast mastery was utterly useless.

How fortunate for her that Goddess would keep little Evie safe.

You have been good, haven't you?

Like a child she nodded very carefully, blue eyes filled with wonderment staring at her Mistress opposite her, feeling oh-so-humbled that she chose to squat down next to a creature so lowly. Goddess was truly gracious.

“Evie is good,” she re-affirmed before getting prodded on the nose. To most these slight touches were nothing less than insulting and degrading, but they gave the pitiful pet goosebumps.

So without further hesitation the creature went to rest in her luxurious room.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene quarantined herself to her state room for the entirety of the journey.

Mostly, it was due to her skin. It was not that she did not find herself beautiful any longer, it was actually the opposite. But she wanted to know if there were...adverse reactions to displaying herself like this, if the darkside that now prickled her skin would somehow damage those around her. When she determined that she had no such luck, the ship finally arrived over Mustafar, sailing gracefully, and unnoticed through space.

Nemene watched the approach to the ball of fire on the observation deck, her eyes shifting quickly between the planet and the small data panel that sat next to the viewport. Mustafar was dangerous, there was no denying such things, but with her own skill in acrobatics, it should pose no great problem for her.

She frowned slightly, thinking of Evie's hobbled legs.

Quickly the ship dashed towards Mustafar, breaching the atmosphere just as Evie and her handler walked into the observation room. Nemene nodded at the slave, and then looked to the little crippled Sorceress. Her frown deepened.

Would her legs suffice? Or would it bring them down on the surface of Mustafar?

It was a question that would have to answer itself. Nemene was not yet ready to heal Evie's legs. That was a gift that was far too grand to just give away.

 

[Louise]

Evie was told to rest and so she did.

As she slept there was nothing. No dreams, no tossing, no turning. It was as if her body had shut down in line with the command, a likely scenario. Although one could not doubt that the poor creature was exhausted. Sith Sorcery was something that took years to learn and decades to Master and little Evie was cramming it all in at an alarming rate.

So she slept, recharging those batteries until she was awoken by her Mistress' slave.

When the collar and chain returned to her throat she felt a little more at ease, a little more at home. Those were the garments of the good pet. Little Evie likes her chain, doesn't she? Yes she does. The chain of comfort, the collar of contentment.

Brought forth into the observation deck the stupid creature couldn't help but notice the way that Goddess looked at her. It was not the look of a pleased woman, no, in fact it was quite the opposite which of course sent notes of distress through the little Sorceress. Had she done something wrong? Oh no. Had Evie been bad?

Although unaware of the source of her Goddess's frown the pet looked at the floor, face full of shame as they began their descent onto Mustafar's surface.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene didn't notice the shame that Evie felt, or perhaps she just didn't care. They had a job to do, and she couldn't stop and comfort her pet whenever she was feeling down, that was far too much of a chore for the Raven Haired Queen. Instead she turned to regard the viewport again, watching as the shuttle cut through the atmosphere, slicing through thick sooty clouds and reaching the surface of the Volcano world in almost no time at all.

It didn't take long for the pilot to find a suitable landing plot, and within minutes the Sicarius found itself nestled on a rocky outcropping high above the lava flows, hopefully here the Star Yacht would be safe from any dangers, though it did mean quite a walk.

“The collar.” Nemene said to the lsave holding the leash. The woman nodded, and unlocked the collar around Evelynn's neck. Here on Mustafar the thing would be more dangerous than helpful and she wouldn't have all her efforts wasted by Evelynn pulling her into a flow of lava.

Shaking her head Nemene turned away from the viewport. “Come along Evie.”

She commanded, moving quickly through the bowels of the ship and onto the off-ramp in a matter of minutes. He heat touched her skin almost immediately, hot breaths causing slight beads of sweat to form on the nape of her neck. Her hair tossed and tasseled with volcanic winds, a frown forming on her face again. She turned to Evie, sitting besides her.

“Evie. Close your eyes. Stretch our those marvelous senses of yours, and find a pocket of darkside energies.” That would be how they found her fathers vault, the thing would reek of the darkside, and with luck Evie would sense it. “Quickly now.”

She said the words as a spurt of lava erupted in the distance.

 

[Louise]

Oh, you talk about the comfort of the collar one moment and in the next it's removed. Although it wasn't done out of any form of spite or malice. I mean it would be pretty anticlimactic if the pair of them died because there was a hilarious collar lava accident. Although a curiosity. What would happen to the other if one fell into lava?

Probably best not to test it out, that would very much be a bad Evie moment, if only Evelynn had a shred of control, our curiosity might have been sated.

Following her Mistress off of the shuttle the creature's face was hit by the hot suffocating air of Mustafar. Not that she would have complained at any form of discomfort. Although given that the majority of the time the frail form of little Evie found itself cold this was an almost refreshing change of pace. Almost. She was destined to live in the realms of relative discomfort.

A new command was given.

Marvellous. Her senses were marvellous. It brought a warmth to her that wasn't needed on the surface of the lava planet.

With her eyes shut little Evie saw in colour, one of the earliest skills she had learned was this. Seeing in a spectrum of the Force, although in that case she was seeking to heal rather than find. The Force colour-coded things for the simple. Red is bad. Blue is good. But that of course was for the perspective of ordinary people with standard morals. In their case.

Red was good. Evie was good.

Mustafar was a relatively easy planet, given that asides from lava there wasn't a lot happening in the realm of the Force. It took a moment, senses stretching all around her, delving into the ground even searching into the skies, it was unbeknownst to her but her head moved as she searched.

Until there it was, an ominous pocket of red. With those eyes still shut her arm raised, pointing in the direction that the Force guided her towards.

“Th-this way, Goddess...”

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene smiled slightly, pleased. This would perhaps be easier than she thought. Previously when she had hunted down her fathers vault the journey had been fought with difficulty and danger, not to mention an errant misunderstanding as to where she was actually going. This time however her path would be laid out by her Sorceress, and easy to follow map across the surface of Mustafar.

There would still be danger of course, but nothing the two of them could not handle.

So the Sorceress and her Master began to walk. The little pet moving before Nemene and heading towards the direction of the vault, The Raven Haired Queen following closely behind her. The rocky surface of Mustafar proved difficult to traverse, many times spurts of magma and fire blasted up besides them. Other times rocky cliffs fell away, eroded and cut through by powerful streams of lava.

The Surface of Mustafar was ever changing, and yet, they managed to find a hard point. A canyon of massive size, flows of strangely heading away from it, as if shying from some unknown power.

Nemene tilted her head as she looked into the canyons entrance, a tight rocky walkway that seemed to lead into a deep black nothing. She frowned, trying to pierce the black veil with orange eyes. “Evie, do you feel anything?”

Curiosity bloomed within her, were they close?

 

[Louise]

How gracious of Goddess to let Evie go first.

The path was treacherous, especially for the broken little creature that was leading the way. Her pace wasn't the fastest, not with those crippled legs but thankfully Nemene did not push her pet to go any faster. Probably for the best, in the name of health and safety's sake. Still, I'm aware that you too crave to know what happens to one if another falls into lava? In what manner would the other perish?

Just takes a stumble, you know.

Sweat beaded and trickled down the creature's forehead as the unrelenting heat of Mustafar did nothing but suffocate. When waves of such unforgiving heat were blasting upon your face it was hard to even keep your eyes open, but Evie was good, Evie had to help Goddess find the vault. Evie liked scavenger hunts.

They came to the canyon, stopping to observe the both intimidating and grand formation of nature and the pitiful creature turned to look upon her Mistress.

“Y-yes, Goddess,” she replied nodding, trying to find a word to describe the awe-inspiring yet terrifying aura of the dark side. Unfortunately stupid little Evie didn't hold the greatest vocabulary, the words were there of course, but shrouded by a impenetrable fog that only commands could clear.

She would sate the curiosity of her Goddess however.

That same incantation, the last one to leave her lips. You can talk about learning new tricks all you like but it would allow her Mistress to truly feel the daunting majesty of what her father had left behind. Allow her to break the boundaries of her dullness within the Force and feel that touch closer to the presence of her lineage. Pull the flow of power down into those hands, and push.

“C-can...can you f-fuh-feel it, Goddess?”

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Oh yes, she could feel it.

With new strength running through her Nemene closed her eyes. For the second time in her life the Raven haired Queen was able to fully stretch out her senses, far beyond what she would normally be capable of. She felt her fathers vault, she felt the darkside of the force. It was like a moving mountain. A beast of untold and unfathomable power. A shiver went down her spine, and the purple lines upon her body flared slightly as she took in the strength.

Yes, she felt it, they were close. So very close.

She reached out, pulling towards the unknown, trying to draw the Vault closer to herself. She saw a flash of something a door hidden within the stone. It lit up slightly, and Nemene's eyes snapped open all of a sudden, the purple lines ablaze with power.

Nemene didn't need her guide dog anymore.

“Come.” She commanded as she stepped forward into the valley. Quickly they found their way down, stepping among the rocks until finally they reached an almost unassuming bare rock cliff. The Queen reached out, tapping her knuckles against the stone.

Something flared, and a light began to shine.

“Evie.” Nemene said. “Open this door.”

She had no idea how the pet would do it, but she would figure it out. Or else.

 

[Louise]

Such a good little creature, helping her Goddess feel the remnants of her great father with a single shred of acknowledgement. Oh no, she did all so selflessly, purely her Mistress' gratification. After all nothing mattered more than the happiness of Evie's Goddess, nothing.

Naturally she followed behind little a good little girl as Nemene took charge of their navigation. She was a ridiculous sight, limping along as if she needed a butler's outfit and a hunch.

Jog on, Igor.

Now that progress had been made on the guide front a new challenge was presented to our little imbecile. Or rather a new command. A door stood in the way of her Goddess and her goal, and that was simply unacceptable! Of course, it wasn't a conventional door, behind it there was a treasure trove that would no doubt make any darksider squeal with delight, but Evie didn't care. Evie just had to get it open. Be good.

The creature hobbled up to the obstacle. Placing her hands upon the stone and feeling around as if the mysterious door was going to tell her all of it's secrets. It was likely had you placed Evelynn in front of the door that she would have found the correct method to break whatever seals or spells that kept it shut, it would have taken time but it would have been done properly.

Evie wasn't one for taking time. Goddess wanted and so Evie would provide.

The creature, with her hands still upon the door closed her eyes, focusing the raw power of the darkside down into her hands, spreading throughout her digits. Thick, black veins began to bubble upon her flesh, starting off strong upon her hands and fading as they crept up her arms. It wasn't a very fast charge of power, no, no, she was still learning. A few minutes passed by of energy being gathered.

There was no finesse here. The bottle had been shaken, and shaken. The cork beginning to loosen. Hands trembling upon the door.

Release!

The door, no matter how cryptic never stood a chance.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene raised an eyebrow as the door ahead of them was blown into pieces. She looked down at Evie, and tsked her, chiding the pet on her waste of power. She could have simply found the seams of the door with the force and pushed it open instead of blasting it apart. Shaking her head in disappointment Nemene stepped into the cavern before them, not bothering to look at Evie again.

She could now sense the darkness, the evil, the presence of something...familiar.

“Come.” Nemene commanded loudly as she walked into the cavern. The tunnels ahead seemed to go for miles and miles ahead, and yet...she could feel the way to go. Bright orange eyes adjusted to the darkness, and with a single jerk of her hand she began to lead Evie through the blackness of the tunnels.

A few time it seemed as though a bright light scanned Nemene and her companion. Each time they stopped, and watched as red lines ran over them.

Each time nothing occurred.

The Light scanned them, a soft beep rang through the cavern, and then the two women moved on. Four times it happened, and four times the women ushered themselves further into the blackness of the caves. Until finally, they reached an end. A massive black door with scrawling similar to the native language of Byss. Almost reverently, Nemene placed a hand upon it.

In an instant, thousands of bright red light blazed upon the door, each reaching out from Nemene's purple palm.

The door blazed with life for a moment, and then parted with a seam down the middle.

The black door opened, and revealed a room filled with treasure, blades, and a thousand other rare items. Scrolls, gold, journals, and millions of credits worth of random artifacts lay beyond the now open doorway, at the center of it, stood a pedestal.

Upon the pedestal sat a small notecard, and behind it, a holocron. Nemene watched the room for a moment, her eyes darting about and centering on the holocron. She regarded her pet, and spoke slowly. “Evie....fetch.”

A long lacquered nail pointed at the holocron, voice firm.

 

[Louise]

Immediately the creature shrunk away, the disappointment of her Goddess stinging harder than any physical slap in the face ever could. Brow furrowed and head stooped low the pet looked down upon the ground, shame coursing through her mind. Were they not currently engaged in the scavenger hunt she might have even suggested a punishment for her actions.

Devotion, both pure and unrelenting.

It took physical effort to follow her Goddess this time, although the heat and difficult terrain of Mustafar had long since doused the girl in a sheen of red-faced sweat and tired limbs. So she struggled to keep up, half-hobbling, half-jogging on those twisted little legs. Every time her Mistress stopped in the face of the scanners the creature got a slight chance to catch her breath.

Eventually however they were brought to a new door, one that her Goddess opened rather than her stupid little pet. Wouldn't want any more needless destruction now, would we?

By and large, the treasure in the cave of wonders did nothing for Evie, there was no sense of awe or wonderment, no, not when there was Goddess. There was nothing more beautiful, nothing that held more majesty, nothing that she could love more or treasure. She stood in the trove, eyes only for Mistress, looking upwards with a sense of trepidation and wonder.

That was until she was told to fetch, which of course she did. Gladly, eagerly. Evie was good. Evie would fetch. Fetch for Goddess. Good for Goddess.

Thankfully there were no cunning traps set up for those with their minds upon the pedestal and the creature swiftly swiped the holocron from its resting place. However what the stupid girl didn't count on was the device responding to the touch of her trembling hands. She was halfway back to the side of her Goddess when the hologram flickered into life.

Karin Dorn, the original incarnation. Arms folded across her chest, cruel features smirking as the Sorceress was want to do.

Poor Evie, confused by this looked up to her Mistress as the sight of the woman swathed in transparent blue sent Evelynn beneath stirring. The creature, steps now frozen looked back down.

To master the art of Sith Sorcery, you require patience, diligence and above all caution. These principles are key. Without them you will perish.

Evie blinked. Evelynn roused.

To master the art of Sith So-

That was it? Like a bantha caught in the headlights of a speeder the creature found herself frozen. The message repeating itself over and over again. Mocking. Smirking.

-patience, diligence and above al-

Karin Dorn hadn't sent knowledge to Moridin at all, she had sent mockery.

The confused pet felt the mirth of Evelynn trapped beneath her and in her panic dropped the accursed device upon the floor. With those blue eyes still so foreign to her face anxious little Evie stared down at the holocron.

-you will perish.

Slowly the girl's head turned upwards to look towards her Goddess. There was fear there.

To Master the art of Sith Sorcery, you require patience, diligence and above all caution. These principles are key. Without them you will perish.