Private Approaching the Crossroad

[Katherine Holt]

Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, thoughts and speculations. On one hand, she hoped that the Aing-Tii would have a viable solution. But on the other hand, the Padawan dreaded the possibility that it could lead to another dead end.

Or that she might screw something up and they turn them away.

Katherine took a deep breath before nodding to Kahlil. “About as ready as I can be I suppose.”

A few moments later they finally came to a stop. Katherine carefully got out of the speeder, as Kahlil was lifting her chair out. Her legs felt somewhat weak, but she didn’t know how much that was just her nerves at work.

Letting Kahlil take the lead, the Padawan hovered closely to his side. Though as they neared the Aing-Tii’s camp, she suddenly stopped.

“Wait, is there any specific etiquette I should be aware of? Like are you supposed to bow when greeting them?”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

He paused as she did, blinking in surprise. Then laughed. "No, no, nothing like that. Just be polite as I taught you, and you'll be good. They're not the type to be offended easily. They probably wouldn't even realize you were insulting them unless you're direct with it, but there's no reason to be anyway." Kahlil offered a warm smile as he proceeded ahead anyway. The camp itself was more a small city. Very Aing-tii in style. There were some wandering about as ever, but a pair stopped before them. They knew, though whether it was because Kahlil had informed them ahead of time or not came up.

"Welcome, Jedi friends. This way." They motioned to one of the buildings before starting to walk that direction. Well, one walked. The other floated.

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine looked around in wonder as they entered the Aing-Tii encampment, though to call it that would be understating how vast it felt. It was more like a settlement, if not an outright small city. Much like the Epicanthix, it seemed the Aing-Tii had taken to Niv Hani well, enough to carve out a significant place for themselves.

Their buildings were a mix of local resources, and what she could only assume was their own material. From her research, she knew the Aing-Tii were capable of some matter of semi-organic technology.

As they were led down the street, Katherine glanced around at those they were passing. Most ignored them as they passed by, while others spared a momentary, curious glance before returning to what they were doing.

She wondered who they were being taken to see. If she remembered correctly, the Aing-Tii society was composed of monks, meaning it was highly likely to be their leader, or ‘High Monk’ or whatever the correct term was.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I imagine they're taking us to where we can discuss what you're intending. They're very aware of others intentions, for better or worse." It was part of why he and Valery Noble had ended up on their homeworld to help them evacuate. They knew to ask. Sure enough they were lead into what was very clearly the head monk's home, where the Aing-Tii in question was waiting. The very same he and Valery had met all those years ago.

"Welcome, welcome. You may ask your questions now."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

The Padawan was admittedly a little taken aback by the sudden question. She had expected there to be some manner of formalities and introductions, but it seemed the Aing-Tii were quite to the point. Or perhaps it was just the Elder Monk’s way of going about things.

Katherine could certainly appreciate that.

She found herself instinctively giving a small respective bow of her head. “My name is Katherine Holt, I’ve come here today to ask…to petition your aid in a personal matter.”

One thing in particular she noted about the Elder, was that she could feel their age. There were no obvious visible signs, like wrinkles you’d find on most humanoid races. But there was just something about the Aing-Tii before then, the way they held themselves spoke of both age and wisdom.

“In particular, towards healing the ailments that have afflicted my body.”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Your soul is damaged and your body cannot heal from it. You've been treating the damage to the body. Are you hoping to treat the soul here?" The Elder Monk floated over, cross legged as he relaxed and seemed to smile. "Come, sit. We will talk more on this, yes?" They turned their gaze to Kahlil, who took a seat to sit with a faint smile. For now, though, he was quiet.

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

It had never occurred to Katherine that her soul might’ve been the issue. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Especially given just how insidious Sith Alchemy and Sithspawn were.

Was this what’s been constantly at the back of my mind?

Something had been for the longest time, that gnawing thought in the back of her head telling her the issue was beyond just what she knew.

Katherine nodded in response, though she was already seated, the Padawan did adjust her hoverchair so she was at the same level as the Elder Monk. She opened her mouth to speak, the usual explanation on the tip of her tongue, as she had spoken so many times already.

But the Padawan paused, deciding to cut out the more pointless details.

“I was tortured. My captors; after physically damaging my legs, decided to use the darker aspects of the Force to inflict further pain and torment.” Katherine paused, rolling one of her sleeves up to reveal some of the lightning scarring. “The physical damage was eventually healed, but this damage went deeper, triggered an ‘off-and-on’ type of paralysis in my legs.”

She didn’t know what to say in relation to her soul. Katherine hadn’t really thought about it, or knew how to really ‘look’ into her own soul to see how it had been affected. The Padawan hoped their host had a solution in mind.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"The torture changed your soul, but your body cannot change with it. So, you must repair both soul and body to fit. That's what you're looking to do." The elder nodded once, slowly, before looking out to a display that had formed beside them. They reached a hand up, idly turning it on. "We have prepared for as much. We knew you were coming, after all."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine glanced towards Kahlil, once again wondering if her Master had informed the Aing-Tii of their arrival. But perhaps he hadn’t at all. The Aing-Tii were known for their ability to ‘flow-walking’, able to observe events of both past and future.

Had they somehow foreseen their arrival today? Already knew exactly what was afflicting Katherine deep within?

I wonder if they know my future- No Katherine, that’s a dangerous train of thought.

The Padawan looked at the display that had formed at the Elder Monk’s side. “What do you have in mind?”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"We give you new shape, to soul and body, to match who your mind sees you as."

Kahlil's brow furrowed for a moment, but, he stilled his thoughts before glancing to Katherine. This was ultimately her choice, and he did trust the Aing-Tii Elder. But the suggestion was to reshape her yet again.

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

The Padawan’s gaze lingered away as her mind raced with a multitude of thoughts. She remembered back to when Lorelei had pulled her into the depths of her own mind. Both Kahlil and Valery had to venture within to eventually free the Padawan.

During that journey they had encountered different ‘versions’ of her, both past and future.

Katherine’s eyes widened with realisation, her gaze finally returning to the Aing-Tii.

“Metamorphosis…” The word escaped her lips in a breathless whisper. “I was forced into one by the Sith and their experiments, but it had never completed. You’re suggesting…that my body and soul has been out of sync, ‘incomplete’ as it were, since that day?”

It would certainly explain a couple past events. Such as why the Creeping Lignan hadn’t been able to fully infect her. Or the fact she hadn’t succumb to the torture inflicted upon her by the Dark Empire.

“If I were to go through with this, what would it entail exactly?”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"We would reforge your body to fit your healed soul. Mending both alongside each other." Which was as much as the Elder could explain it. Given the nature of their buildings and their bodies, it was such a simple thought process that there wasn't another way for them to explain it. So it was Kahlil who did, glancing between the two. "It's the same as you've been through, but not painful, not dark. You'll be using her to guide the process, I'm guessing?"

The Elder nodded.

"Yes. You will decide the final result. Meditation while the menders work."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine frowned slightly.

She wasn’t exactly sure how one could ‘reforge’ someone’s body, without it involving some degree of pain. But then again, would she even let some pain be an obstacle in her way right now.

Not when there was a solution presented before her.

“I have a question, and I don’t mean to question you and your peoples’ abilities but…” The Padawan paused for a few moments, debating on her wording. “What are the chances of this going…wrong? The possibility of the process killing me?"

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"You will become what you believe yourself to be. If you believe you will die, then, that is your fate." The Elder nodded once, clearly very detached from the idea that Katherine could die or that something would go wrong at least on their part. It was all up to Katherine herself, how it would go, if there was a chance for something to go wrong. Belief was what mattered.

Belief and intent.

"We ca begin right away."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Again, Katherine was taken aback at how detached and blunt the Aing-Tii were. Kahlil hadn’t been kidding when he said their views and beliefs were quite the contrast to what they typically knew.

But if belief was going to be a contributing factor to the process? Well, she wasn’t exactly short on supply.

Though it did now make it more apparent why her Master had been initially hesitant about her going through with this. He had seen her at her lowest, where that belief in one’s self had threatened to evaporate entirely. But the Padawan has persevered, and now here she was, facing it head on.

“Right here? Will this be enough room? Because if this is going to go the way I think it will, we’ll need some space.”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"There is."

The Aing-tii again tilted his head before motioning for Katherine to stand near the middle. The room itself shifted, the building as fluid as water it seemed with how easily it was to move chairs, tables, even walls. Other Monks stepped into the room, but it was Kahlil who was more focused on Katherine herself. The choice was suddenly there for her. He trusted the Aing-tii, trusted Katherine even.

But concern would never leave him completely.

"You've got this, if this is what you want to do."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

The Padawan watched with wonder as the room they were in suddenly shifted to make space. She had seen a handful of mechanical wonders, but this certainly took the top spot. The Aing-Tii’s mix of organic technology made the whole process flow naturally.

Katherine turned to Kahlil, giving her Master a warm smile. “It is,” she replied. The Padawan opened her mouth to speak further, but found herself unable to speak. She could feel the corners of her eyes sting, but Katherine was able to keep her emotions in check before the tears could flow.

“Thank you for being here, and for…everything.”

If the worst were to happen, at least she knew her body would be in good hands.

Taking a deep breath, Katherine turned towards the spot the Elder had motioned towards. She slowly pushed herself out of her hoverchair. With careful strides; one foot after another, Katherine walked into the middle of the room.

As the Padawan stepped into the spot, she could feel some kind of ‘buzz’ through the Force. A strumming of activity that she could only presume were the Aing-Tii preparing. Katherine closed her eyes, focusing both mind and body.

For several moments nothing seemed to happen, right up until Katherine started feeling weightless. Her body began to float, just a short distance off the floor. At first, Katherine thought she was being shifted into a meditative pose, but instead she was guided onto her side, curling her body into a foetal position.

One more breath, and a white light suddenly encompassed Katherine’s form. When it cleared, a large white feathery cocoon was there in her place. An antithesis to the fleshy chrysalis the Sith had once put her in.

And for Katherine? The moment the cocoon formed, she felt her consciousness slip into darkness.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil took a breath before reaching a hand up to ruffle Katherine's hair some. She had this. Worried as he was for her, it wasn't because he thought she couldn't do this. He just didn't want her to have to go through anything like this again. Even if it wasn't going to hurt, Kahlil just wanted to protect her. "Stay focused, yeah? I'll see you when you wake."

Then he stepped back to let the Aing-Tii take over. Mostly. The pat on Katherine's head would reveal just what it had truly done as she fell into her cocoon. She wouldn't be alone there. A friend to help, to listen. Harmony, close without being distracting.

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine felt a familiar presence settle across her shoulders, enough to stir her awake. She was greeted by a cloudy blue sky above, and the sounds of both wind and water crashing against something. The Padawan slowly sat up, taking in her surroundings. She was atop a cliff of some sort, the sounds of an ocean crashing against it below.

“Welcome Katherine, I was wondering when you’d make it here.”

Her head snapped towards the source of the voice, a person sitting atop a large flat stone nearby.

A winged individual.

Cautiously; both out of concern for her legs and the stranger, Katherine stood up and approached the figure.

Their wings consisted of more earthy colours, a mix of browns tinged with orange. A few spots of white here and there, but the majority of the feathers were showing age. Just as much as the woman’s face did as Katherine finally stepped before her. With a mane of dark red hair, darker than the Padawan’s, and almost borderline brown.

“Am…am I in my mind right now?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes but also no.” That certainly didn’t help with Katherine’s confusion. “Just as the ‘Past’ once helped the Nobles when they ventured into your mind, I am here to guide you.” The older woman let out a wistful smile. “I was the one that greeted them, albeit on a beach back then. And have remained here since, waiting for this moment.”

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Harmony remained on Katherine's shoulder, seeming to be asleep in the comfort they were offering to Katherine. They were a silent presence, though one of their eyes did open to watch the figure before the girl. Suspicion in truth, protectiveness given the nature of what Katherine was going through. For now they'd be very quiet! They didn't want to interrupt, but if something was fishy they'd absolutely speak.

Katherine Holt