Ghost of the Past: Awakening

[Voices of The Deep]

Winter did not particularly agree with the choices she had made as of late...not long after she had unlocked the mysterious power of The Void she found herself having a rather difficult time controlling and manipulating the raw energy...even after remaining diligent for five solid days on that planet meditating and self reflecting upon herself...Apparently she did not have everything as figured out as she hoped. And now she was on her way home...back to the one place she had avoided since she was a child. She hadn't even heard news of her homeland. As far as she was concerned it was nothing but blood and ash scattered to the wind.

But perhaps that was her problem all along...she 'cared' to much...deep inside she wanted her home to be there...she cared about her subjects. And it was this very show of emotion she had tried to block off that was barricading her from the power of The Void. Winter was a cold woman...that much had always been known. But she held a spot of warmth for those who risked their lives for her. Every single member of her Royal Guard had put their lives on the line ever since she was a wee lass to ensure her well being.

Winter respected that about them...loyalty and sheer determination to a woman who had been dethroned but they still called queen. When she walked out of her every morning they would get on their knees and grovel...Winter 'hated' that. She did not picture herself as a true ruler...nor anyone to be bowed to. Winter use to view herself as just another girl with undeserved and unearned power...and thats honestly all she was. From the outside looking in, she probably looked like a spoiled brat who never had to lift a finger in their lives. And in all honesty they were not wrong. Winter had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth long after her family was removed from power...The Royal Guard helped raised her...and they had done a mighty fine job.


Now, their queen was at a point in her life where everything would change...no longer the sad little girl or cold callus woman...no Winter was turning into something so much worse...she was turning into nothing. The emptiness of humanity surrounded her like an aura...and as the shuttle ship continued through hyperspace Winter looked at the passing blue beams and narrowed her eyes.

"I finish this...now."

[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

Sitting in the cargo hold Vithar's eyes opened for the first time since he and Winter had departed The Pillar of Ascension to go back to their home. It was time for him to finally reclaim his father's legacy. Vithar had spent nearly all his time in the Cargo Hold meditating since they had set off. It was not only his way of keeping calm, but of tuning in to the limitless energy of the force. He would've went to one of the bedrooms however being as large as he was there wasn't enough room to accommodate him anywhere else in the ship. A ship that he very much hated, the halls were cramped and it wasn't something that a Queen should be flying in. Spots of rust stood out on the white metal and the cargo hold stank of expired goods. "Can you feel it father? We're almost to Glyss." Vithar said as he turned his head and looked out a viewport that was built into the hold. Outside stars blazed by as simple beams of light that were almost dizzying to stare at.

"Yes... I see my son. However you must be cautious. Glyss is nothing like it once was when I fought to defend it. You see that the current Queen does not sit upon the throne. The Zerith have taken the planet over, and at the first sight of her they will attack."

"You do not have to warn me on such things. I am more then aware of those that would want to kill Winter. It is simply my task to ensure they don't succeed." Vithar said a faint smile touching his lips.

"Do not get to overconfident my boy. There is still much you have yet to learn." Ublic's ghost said scolding his son.

"Yes and I'm sure you'll teach me." Vithar said as he stood. Bones could be heard popping with each movement he made and as he leaned his neck three sharp pops followed. Tapping on the control panel Vithar exited the Cargo Hold however as he passed through the doorway he had to duck down. The Ship didn't seem as though it was made to fit beings Vithar's size and as he made his way through the cramped hall he had to slightly bend his body, however after a minute of struggling he entered the slightly more spacious cockpit.

Standing in the doorway Vithar heard the words leave Winters mouth and he simply crossed his muscular arms over his chest and looked down at her. "Just what are you looking to end?" Vithar asked as he stepped the rest of the way into the cockpit letting the door slide shut behind him. He would've taken a seat in the co-pilots seat but it seemed like it could barely hold someone of Winters weight much less his own. "You might as well tell me. IT's my job as a guard to protect you, even if its from yourself."

[member="Winter Sovereign"]

 

[Voices of The Deep]

The Ice Queen had been so focused on her personal thoughts that the woman had nearly forgotten she had the company of another with her...the man she had come into contact with on the planet Dathomir during her search for the Book of Shadows...the man seemed oddly eager to accompany her during her quest to revitalize her culture. And as those cold blue eyes wandered over the rusted walls of the shuttle her eyes narrowed a bit when the very same behemoth of a man made his way from the storage hull and into the slightly larger cockpit. Winters gaze remained steady ahead of her, not sparing him a glance as he approached her. His large form casting an even larger shadow...


His question made Winter tsk, grimacing a bit as she tapped her foot along the floor and rubbed her fingers along her biceps. "This constant restraint...i'm here to find what was left behind. Once we are done we can leave..." She quipped coldly, lifting a leg and crossing it over her knee as they grew closer and closer to their destination.

"And don't baby me. I am no helpless woman incapable of getting dirty without complaining about broken nails...i may be a woman but i feel it is important that you understand i am 'not' a lady." She explained bluntly, feeling no reason to sugar coat her words or make them less crude. Straight forward, to the point. She was not here to impress anyone...she was here to get results. And no one would stand in her way of the discovery of the truth.

[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

Getting the cold welcome from Winter, Vithar could do nothing but lean his head back releasing a bellowing laugh fit for one of his size. A hand moving to hold his stomach as he continued to do so. How long it had been since he had truly laughed, since he had shown any sort of emotion besides regret. However now that his voice had returned he seemed much more vibrant with an undertone of calm. "Is that truly what you think? That I'm here to baby you?" Vithar asked with a tone fit more for a father talking to his child then that of a guard. "No. No No. That is not why I chose to join you on this mission my liege. I chose to join as there is a part of my families legacy left on that planet. Something that goes beyond jewelry, or a simple artifact." Vithar said as he looked out the viewport at the blinding beams of light. From the cockpit it was even more disorienting however the bluish glow of hyperspace gave it all a mythical feeling.

"So no I do not believe in protecting you because of you being a female. Even if you were a male or a mix between the two it would be my job nonetheless to protect you. You are simply the Queen." Vithar said with a solemn nod. "However I think that our home is not the way you remember it. From what I've heard its been completely overrun by the Zerith and they rule with Iron fists just as they did in the old days." Vithar said a grimace crossing his face as his lips twitched just a bit. He had yet to tell anyone about his father's ghost guiding him, and had no clue how to bring it up. Just who would believe him anyway?

Opening his mouth to ask how much longer they had Vithar heard the warning sirens go off and felt a sense of vertigo as the ship suddenly lurched back to real space. Reaching out both of his massive hands clamped onto the walls cementing himself in place. A smaller being would've probably been flung across the cockpit for making such a mistake. Looking up and through the viewport Vithar's mouth hung agape as he was able to see Glyss from a distance. From where they were the entire planet was an icy-blue color and behind it the sun Aradia glowed brilliantly. "Beautiful."

[member="Winter Sovereign"]

 

[Voices of The Deep]

Winter was not particularly amused with the mans sudden laughter at her previous statement...neither did she really care about whatever it was he 'thought' he knew. Winter had more important things to worry about than being protected by a man who could barely protect himself...but perhaps she was being harsh again. Winter knew she had been in her fair share of situations similar to the one she had discovered him in...only difference was Winter had no allies there to help her when she was wounded and bleeding out...when she was captured and chained to walls. No Winter had to escape on her own...survive on her own. Her title as 'royalty' was always something she downgraded because she felt it was undeserved...at least for now. If Winter was in a cage getting beat down then that was it...it was up to her to make it stop and escape...up to her to bring down her wrath upon those who have wronged her...and it would continue to be that way.

The frosty haired woman slowly lifted her head as they finally got out of Hyperspace...eyes narrowing tightly at the system before her as she rubbed her thumb along the leather fabric of her sleeves. She was aware that her home was not the same...but she was not here to save her people. Not yet...Not now. All she had was this junk of a shuttle and she was not going to put her newly formed faction to the test by taking back her homeland. That came later.

And as the shuttle moved through the system and neared the orbit of Glyss Winters cold eyes wandered over the icy planet...she could sense a disturbance from here.


And it made her sick.


[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

With another sudden jolt the shuttle shuddered as they entered orbit and near instantly as they did so the coms chirped to life. "Unidentified freighter submit your credentials and your reasoning for being here." While Glyss may have been out in the furthest reaches of the Unknown Regions it did not mean that they were archaic or stupid. In fact it was the complete opposite and the recent news of the Siths acts against other planets had put them on edge against any visitors.

Standing behind Winter, Vithar clicked the mute button on the console to buy him and Winter a few minutes to talk alone. "Do you plan on just landing at the spaceport? Or will we go directly to the kingdom? With the Zerith ruling the planet they will hunt you down the moment you are seen in public." Vithar said as he glanced out the viewport to release a growl as three sleek starfighters shot by them on began to circle around to escort them.

"I repeat, unidentified freighter transmit your credentials and state your reason for coming to Glyss... You have a minute to respond or else you will be shot down. This is your only warning." The voice said over the com line before it went dead.

"By the Force." Vithar said as he began making his way to the cargo bay. "If you don't plan on landing at the spaceport open the cargo bay hatch. I have an idea to get the starfighters off our tails."

[member="Winter Sovereign"]

 

[Voices of The Deep]

How predictable...resistance right out of hyperspace. Winter had anticipated as much. And as those fighters continued to swarm around the rustbucket of a shuttle the Ice Queen remained still both in body and expression...their warnings to enter their information forcing little more than the narrowing of Winters eyebrows. Vithar pressed the mute button so that they may talk...


Each time she spoke she imitated his words...echoing them as if she were trying to do an impression.

"Do you plan on just landing at the spaceport? Or will we go directly to the kingdom? With the Zerith ruling the planet they will hunt you down the moment you are seen in public."

Each word she spoke slowly began to sound more and more like him...it would have to do.

She had a plan...it was a risky plan but a plan nonetheless. And as the muscular brute headed back to the doors that lead to the cargo bay Winter looked over her shoulder and scowled at him.

"Get back over here...i'm going to need you perfectly as you are. Luckily, i did some digging before we arrived and i think i have an idea." She stated bluntly, returning to her own voice before standing from her seat and slowly walking up to the wall beside Vithar...it had metal bars, vents and other bulky pieces of metal decorating its surface. The woman took a breath and grabbed two of the bars on each side before exhaling...

Suddenly, as if the woman had lost her mind she began to ferociously slam her face against the metal wall. The first impact devastating enough to break her nose and bust her lip...blood covering most of her mouth as she pulled away and slammed her face against it again. Cutting into her forehead and cheek as she continuously slammed her head into it.

Pain quickly became an issue and after about a dozen or so slams she stopped and hunched over holding her face panting. Blood dripping onto the floor as her knees wobbled. Letting go of the wall and stumbling over to a mirror as she wiped the crimson fluid from her eyes, she looked at her reflection...running a finger over her chin as if she were checking for blemishes. "Mmm..." She grunted, spitting onto the floor and sucking in. "That'll do for the face...alright uh...uh, lets see." She went on, looking around the cock pit before spotting a long steel dagger. She sighed and leaned down, grabbing the blade and ruthlessly stabbing herself in the side of the leg...slicing through her thigh and forcing her to gasp in pain before pulling the blade out and clenching the wall. She sucked in a painful breath and walked over to Vithar and wiped the blade on him a bit to smear her blood...then holstered the blade into his belt.

"If they asked you used that to wound me..." She grumbled, stumbling over to intercom and pressing the speaker button.

She then spoke into the mic...using Vithars own voice as her own. A little trick she had taught herself to fool enemy forces when she took out their men...taking the fallen soldiers radios and comming in to mislead the rest...it served its purpose well for this as well.


"Name ain't important...i've got business with The King...perhaps you'd better stand aside. I've got someone he's been looking for...Winter Sovereign. Princess of Glyss...i hear there is a hefty bounty for the man who brings her to the king." Winter said, pretending as if she were Vithar pretending to be a bounty hunter...there was a slight silence before they were responded to.

"Very well...pull into the port and we will check the validity of your claim...don't try anything or you will be shot on sight. But if you truly do have her...riches await you Bounty Hunter." The explained. Winter pressed the button and nodded.

"Mmm, i love a good pay day." She replied before muting themselves again, walking over to Vithar and holding her bruised face. "Get those cuffs in the back and restrain me...as of right now your name is Cad Bane, famous bounty hunter blah blah blah. Story is you found my hiding on Hoth and you caught me by stalking me out for a few days, weeks, ect. And whatever you do." She reached up and grabbed him by the face, pulling him down to her level as she stared into his eyes.

"Do not...break...character. Until the proper moment...kick me, slap me if i get snarky, sell yourself. As of right now i am no longer your queen i am your bloody paycheck." She scolded, mushing his face away and leaning up on the wall. "Lets get this done..." She muttered as she crossed her arms over that chest of hers as blood dripped down her face.

No sacrifice...no victory.


[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

This women is insane. That's the only conclusion Vithar could come to as he came back into the cockpit to see Winter slamming her face into the wall of the cockpit. Caught in a mix of interest and horror Vithar made no move to stop the women as he let her continue on doing what she was. If this was such a brilliant plan he was going to let her go along with it. He had no intentions of stopping her, plus the pain would do the queen some good. She was to full of herself, to arrogant, to sure of her own abilities. Something that Vithar had seen in many other members of The Awoken, and something he was well acquainted with.

However when she gave him the knife he simply shrugged. Her plan was straight forward and to the point. They were going to go to gain entrance to Glyss through using Winter as bait. It worked so as Vithar went to the cargo hold he grabbed the manacles slapping them on to Winter's wrists, however as he did so he smiled chuckling at her decisions. "You do realize my plan wouldn't have involved you hurting yourself, and could've been much simpler." With a final clack the manacles shut and activated and pressed Winter's wrists together. "All you had to do was listen, I would've put you in one of the cargo containers and hopped in another one, then all we'd have to do is ride them down to the surface. They are more then resilient enough to take the fall, and with the force we would've come out unharmed with the authorities thinking us dead after shooting us down. You do not know best Winter." Vithar said like a father would to their child and as the ship pulled into the spaceport Vithar opened the cargo bay.

Shrieking loudly the door opened and Vithar grabbed Winter by the scruff of her neck and her bottoms and hip tossed her out onto the snowy ground outside the ship where three Zerith stood. Their pale gray skin seemed to almost sparkle in the sunlight and their long lanky arms hung limp. They looked down at the queen before back up at Vithar with slightly tilted heads. The stories had been true about the appearances of the Zerith and the most unsettling thing about the creatures was their lack of eyes. "I believe you were looking for this women?" Vithar asked as he walked down the ramp wiping the blood from the dagger off onto his sleeves to make the act seem even more real.

[member="Winter Sovereign"]

 

[Voices of The Deep]

Winter paid little mind to Vithar as he chuckled while cuffing her wrist. She did not have the time to waste with hiding in boxes and being shot out of their shuttle...the faster they took her to the kingdom the faster they could get this done and make their get away...still, she admired the mans attempt. And as those rusty doors screeched open Winter stood there bloodied and battered as if she had just gotten out of a brutal asskicking...three guards just staring forward blankly given their lack of optical version...

Vithar kicked her forward, making Winter stumble forward and grumble something under her breath. The man asking if this was the woman they were looking for...the guards all remained silent before one of them took a step forward and grabbed Winter by the cheeks...forcing her to look to the left and to the right as he rubbed his cold dead fingers through her blood and licked his fingertips. Giving a slight nod of approval the guard spoke.

"It's her alright...Sovereign blood. Judging from the youth in her facial structure and the power of the force within her she must be in her late twenties...the youngest. Winter Sovereign...the king has been wanting to meet you for a 'very' long time." The guard growled, signaling for the others to bring about a small shuttle ship.

Apparently they were going to ride in a small shuttle similar to the one she had just gotten out of...only this one was made for surface transport...perfect for escaping. Everything was working out well so far considering they did not just kill her then and there.


[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

Eyes scanning the spaceport Vithar saw the citizens of the city gathering as they looked on at Winter. Some with looks of horror and others merely shocked with seeing her there. While others fixed Vithar with a gaze of hatred for bringing in the rightful heir. With a shrug Vithar looked back to see the Zerith taste Winter's blood and a part deep within himself gagged at seeing it. The creatures were absolute abominations, and disgusting. Though outwardly he kept up the appearance of a grizzled mercenary and took a step forward to pull Winter back up to her feet. "She's mines till I see the credits." Vithar said with a growl while eyeing the two Zerith. There weren't many beings he had to look up to but these creatures were. However due to only one in every million or so of them being Force Sensitive the odds were in Vithar's favor.

Listening as the land shuttle pulled up next to their space freighter Vithar glanced over to see yet another Zerith in the pilots seat. It seemed as though the Zerith served in every position that had to do with security or the government. IT was a bit concerning as to how they treated the other Andre'al and what they possibly had them doing. "Come on your highness its time for you to meet the true ruler, and for me to get my check." Vithar said pushing Winter to the shuttle.

While their space freighter had been junky, the land speeder had an open roof and was all sleek curves with a magnificent blue paint, so Vithar sat in the passengers seat while both Zerith flanked Winter on each side. "So just how much is this fortune you're paying? Millions? Billions? It was not easy catching this women, she cost me a starship and killed the rest of my crew."

[member="Winter Sovereign"]

 

[Voices of The Deep]

Winter simply remained silent and focused as her cold gaze wandered over the port...she could see her people all staring in her direction gasping and scowling all at the same time...the Ice Queen merely scoffed and looked back towards the vessel they would be taking...there was a single pilot, and it seemed that only two guards would be accompanying them...they shouldn't be to hard to handle in all honesty. Either way, Winter rolled those hills on her shoulders and cracked her neck a bit. Stumbling forward as Vithar pushed her into the ship...

Taking a seat in the back and two of those faceless soldiers sat on either side of her, Winter relaxed and stared blankly forward. Her gaze wandering over the shuttle as she slowly tapped her finger along the metal wall behind her...The structure of the shuttle was simple and the layout painfully basic...they were not taking many precautions it seemed.


[member="Vithar Seth"]

 

[Vithar Seth]

Casting a sideways glance at the Zerith in the drivers seat Vithar shrugged before sitting back in the passengers seat looking out over the landscape below. Pillars of ice jutted up from the ground reaching high into the air, and down below large Duxalo could be seen being herded by their owners. It very much seemed like a perfect life outside of the tension that hung in the air. Everyone that there was an Andre'al there were at least ten Zerith somewhere near. Presumably keeping an eye on them and ensuring that no dissension was caused in the ranks.

"You will get your reward." One of the Zerith behind Vithar said and in his hand raised up a blaster pistol aiming for Vithar's spine.

Feeling the tingling at the base of his neck Vithar guessed now was a better time than any. He had been planning to kill the Zerith and dump their bodies into the snow later on in the flight when they got closer to the kingdom, however they had left him with no choice. Pouncing to his feet one of Vithar's legs balanced in the passangers seat and the other on the portion separating the front and back of the land speeder. Kicking out his left leg Vithar's boot caught the pilots face followed by a sick crunch as a splatter of blood painted the seat. The corpse slumped over its body pushing the land speeder into a dive towards the ground. They were lucky that they were in the open and no one was around to see.

The sudden lurch caused the Zerith that had intended to kill Vithar to loose his blaster pistol and with an outstretched hand it snapped into Vithar's own. With two quick shots both Zerith died before they could react. "Fly please." Vithar said shooting the cuffs Winter wore.

[member="Lady Sovereign"]