Hallelujah

[Allyson Locke]

Eshan
7 days after Lujo
[member="Jared Ovmar"]

...and she broke your throne...​

​

The palace remained shut down, doors locked and no visitors were allowed to pass through the gates. The planet mourned along with their queen as a shadow cast over them. Talks of war echoed through the halls, down with the republic, down with the republic – though at this time the Queen did not care for war or for the politics behind it. She sat in the middle of the training room that was specifically built for her after she had taken the throne, even that building was on lock down. Several of the hand maidens had tried to get into contact with the Queen, but they could feel her pain through the cracks of the palace.

Crying echoed the hallways down to the training room, tears stopped coming from her eyes and Spencer realized there was a point when someone cried so much they ran out of tears. Still there was nothing more she could do or wanted to do at this time. Every part of her being hurt, physically and mentally the woman was drained. Still she continued to force herself to give enough energy to lose her mind to her memories. It was easier to fall into the flow walking when she was intoxicated, she could pull several memories at once feeling numb to the damage it was doing to her mind. Wine bottles littered the training room along with packets of glitterstim.

There was a knock at the door and Spencer snapped her head causing one of the wine bottles to fly towards the door. The bottle shattered into a million pieces and she shouted, horse from her crying. “Leave me!” Nothing more came from the outside world and the Echani soon began to prepare a funeral rite for their Queen. Her death would soon come, following her lover into the shadows of death. It was all Spencer wanted, nothing else mattered anymore. Looking around the room, she spotted a bottle of the sweet wine that she hadn’t consumed yet and her mind was waking up from the drunkenness. Slowly, she stood pulling off the blanket cocoon she had wrapped herself in. She still a blood soaked tunic, after math of her slaughter of whatever remained on Lujo with her. Spencer couldn’t remember anything before she had released the Phobis Device. Anything after that was a blur and she honestly didn’t care. The one thing that anchored her to this life was gone. Teasingly she believed she felt something, but even then she didn’t know if she could trust herself. A hand reached out as she collapsed in front of the bottle. Four days without food and nothing but alcohol was wearing on her. Hands fumbled over the bottle, until she gave up and used the force to remove the cork.

Bringing the bottle to her lips, Spencer chugged not bothering to taste the wine. It was warm and stale, obviously not taken care of. The taste didn’t’ bother her, the bitterness spiraled down her throat as she continued to take massive swigs of the wine till the bottle was finished. It didn’t numb her anymore. Standing once more after several times collapsing to her knees, she eyed the last package of Glitterstim on the table. Remembering what it did and how it enhanced her flow walking, she reached out and stumbled to the table. Her legs gave out and she slid on her knees into the small table causing it to crash to the ground knocking the glitterstim off. The package ripped and spilled the contents onto the floor. “No, No no no please…” Spencer frantically tried to pick up the dust and put it into her hand so that she could ingest it. It was no use; the fine dust had scattered along the floor of the training room.

Desperate for the touch of the memories, she put her face to the ground and used to finger to help her gather what she could. Shoving it into her mouth, she felt the high almost instantly. Laying there, she closed her eyes and soon her body and mind were in the trance of the flow walk. Vivid memories of Ashin filled her mind as she lay there almost lifeless. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek as she experienced once again their wedding day. The touch of her lover felt almost real – her mental abilities enhanced with the glitterstim. Her fingers twitched as she brought her hand slowly to her lips as the memory continued to play out and she felt the warmth of Ashin’s lips against hers.

Again she broke down and tears once more stained the floor of the training room…​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

A nondescript ship approached the private royal starport of Eshan. Stealth systems were, in fact, not engaged for once and codes were transferred the moment the ship was in transceiver range. At first glance the codes wouldn’t be recognized, until they suddenly got picked up as deep-source diplomatic codes usually reserved for those closest to the Echani Royal Family. Nobody held those codes, nobody should have those codes except a sparing few of individuals that were no longer active in the Galaxy… but here they were currently.

With a paradigm at place.

The flight lieutenant pondered at the screen. Staring at the blinking message that had just popped up with the clarification of what that code meant. He could run it up the chain, but with the state of Queen? Who knew what would happen.

Ignoring it could mean a commendation or it could mean gorram execution. Desmond licked his lips, before closing his eyes and tapping a button - it opened a secure channel to the ship.

“Unidentified ship, what is your purpose in this system.”

Static was all that returned to him.

“Unidentified ship, your codes have not been in use for years, unless you identify your purpose on Eshan I cannot clear you for landing, please respond.”

Silence followed, before it was broken with a heavy sigh on the other end. It was a deep voice, filled with mirth, grime and toned by a lot of use.

“My dear flight lieutenant.” the voice would respond. Desmond was confused for a moment, he hadn’t exactly broadcasted his rank. “I have been made aware of your Queen’s current… state of mind. She is an old friend, really. It is in your best interest to allow me through before she accidentally feths with all your minds.”

Desmond frowned. He had been feeling slightly… off ever since the Queen had returned. An unease creeping up on him when he least expected it, others of the palace staff had relayed the same concerns to him, but what can a man do? Something in his mind shifted, almost as if clarity lit up and showed him just what he had to do.

A nod followed. “Yes… yes, of course. You are approved for landing, personnel will be on hand to aid in the procedures.”

***​

Jared Ovmar strode through the long halls of the Echani compound. Interesting architecture, if a little too spartan for his liking… but what did he know? His fingers brushed the left wall. He felt the texture, felt the seeping of sadness inside of it - Jacobs had finally gone off the rails completely, it seemed. Even now her depression was ramping down on his mind, showering him with little, itty needles against his mental fortification.

By the force, I have forgotten how much potential she really has.

Two big doors came up before him. Red in hue with intersecting plates of aurum and silver, kittish this time. A detachment of guards stood on stand-by, but they moved to the side as the silver-haired man approached them.

“M’lord. Be careful in there… something is not right.”

Ovmar grunted, before nodding. Something was indeed not right. Though they weren’t aware of just how screwed they really were if Jared hadn’t come here today. People often didn’t though. So it shouldn’t really have surprised him as much as it did.

Why was it that every time he was almost ready to move on… something happened to pull him right back in again?

The doors opened. Spencer on the ground, entangled in blankets, dust on the face and blood stroked liberately. The guards tried to move in, but Jared stopped them. The closer he came the more he felt the pain increasing in his mind.

He stepped on through and with a flick of his hand the big doors closed behind him.

“Spencer.” he spoke through voice and mind equally. A subtle brush against her mind followed. Careful, gentle, trying not to stir her into a frenzy. “Little sister… you ain’t looking so good.”

What can a man say? What can a man do except be there to pick up the pieces?

 

[Allyson Locke]

In any other case, Spencer would have felt Jared a galaxy and a half away. His mind was something she was attuned to and vice versa. She had taught him nearly everything she knew – the rest he just didn’t’ figure out, quite yet. Their meetings as of recent weren’t common and even now she wished they had reunited on better terms. Laying there unaware of his presence, Spencer continued to flow walk. It wasn’t until he spoke and his presence forced itself to touch her mind. She did her best to ignore it, but with the distraction of his mind she couldn’t fully focus on the memories.

This frustrated her and as she came out of the meditative state she saw him as she laid on the ground. She heard his voice, she heard what she already knew. “Of course I don’t look okay…” Smelling like alcohol, drugs and despair Spencer laid there propped on her elbow slightly. She was still intelligent enough to know that was just at this moment waiting for death. His intrusion though was her focus right now. It was sudden as she focused whatever she could into a single force push aimed at him as she tried to keep him away from her. She knew he was here to help, but should he be?

“I told everyone to leave me, I just want to be alone right now.” Weak and unable to keep herself propped up, she slipped and laid back onto the ground. Her blonde hair shimmered of the drug that she seemed to have been laying in now. Hands patting along the blanket she pulled them around her tightly and she curled up into the fetal position, closing her eyes trying to find the memories again. “I have nothing left…”

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

I have been gone for so long and this is what I return to?

Intent turned into auction. Had Ovmar been less mentally close to Jacobs he might have not realized what she was doing, but as it stood the Sith Lord already moved before her hand swayed and lashed out against him. Right foot sidestepped behind his left leg and his body turned ninety degrees to the left. The telekinetic force, uncontrolled and chaotic, blasted past him and only knicked his shoulder. Jared frowned, but otherwise did not react to the outburst of energy.

Instead he kept on walking. Past Jacobs and towards the heavily-draped curtains in front of the big windows. They kept the sun out and kept her in the depressing moody darkness.

"You smell, Spencer." Jared calmly stated, suppressing the urge to coil his nose up. With a sweep of his hand the curtains diverted to the side and finally allowed the light to pass through the window into the room.

Sargon would have known how to handle this. He had always been more empathetic, more in touch with his feelings and those of others, better with supporting those he loved. Maybe his brother would have settled down next to Spencer, cuddled her and whispered sweet nothings, until she calmed down finally.

But Jared did not have any sweet words. He could no more understand the tender needs of his loved ones than the tide could understand the need to survive of the drowning ones.

"When was the last time you had a bath?"

Already the Sith was looking for a way to get these damn windows open. The room desperately needed some ventilation.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Insults. That is what he resorted to, she knew she smelled, she didn’t care really not like anyone was trying to see her. Bathing wasn’t her first choice of things to do, though with the flow walking she was getting lost and losing the sense of time. She thought about it as she watched him open the windows and search for a way to open them. Spencer couldn’t tell what day it was. In her mind, it felt like yesterday she was ripping through the minds on Lujo – when in actuality it had been a week. The blonde had laid here for a week ingesting glitterstim and wine.

Nothing came from her as he continued to comment on how she smelled. Hygiene had gone out the door and her staff was too scared to try and get her to do something. Shattered wine battles littered the areas by the door. Didn’t help that her force push had shoved more bottles into the doorway. Slowly but surely, Spencer worked her way to standing – it was a feat that she could only accomplish here and there. Wine and drugs fogged her mind as she stared at the back of his head.

“Why do you always show up? Just insulting me and stuff how dare you.” Hiccupping slightly, she stumbled on her feet. In her hands electrical energy began to work its self and begun to spin quickly as she already struggled to control it. She was angry, beyond angry to feel it. The energy ball continued to spin and the lightning continued to spark uncontrolled. Quickly she hurled it towards Ovmar. “I want to be left alone, Jared!” [member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

When did their dynamic change?

Jared could almost remember the time when she had to look after him. That fateful day when a bunch of thugs jumped him in the Coruscanti Underworld just to be slaughtered by Lady Yun-Harla… it was fresh in his mind now, from there on she had constantly saved his life. Every single day giving him a purpose, giving him a family, giving him the kind of love he had never been accustomed to.

Static cackled and Ovmar knew how late it was. He whirled around and managed to catch the lightning in his palm, it sizzled against his skin, but this man was no longer the young lad practicing against training drones.

He breathed out and transformed the energy.

A burst of force danced through his palm, up his veins - and it felt oh, so cold, like his blood was freezing over - and pumped itself down his other hand which was aimed at the window behind him.

"That… wasn’t nice." Ovmar simply said, before a rectangular field of destruction lashed out from him and disintegrated pieces of the window.

Fresh air swarmed into the room and replaced the sour, danky smell of wine and broken dreams.

"C’mon Spens, work with me here."

 

[Allyson Locke]

The energy cracked as it moved towards Ovmar, he easily took it into his body feeling the power an converting it to another burst of Force. The energy snapped back and shattered the windows behind him. He got his desire for fresh air, but Spencer stood unamused at the action. She knew he could do tricks such as that, the woman was his master and she in her own right was a master of Tutaminis. Glitterstim clung to the side of her face, she rubbed the back of her hand against the substance and looked down at it. It reflected the bright light that poured through the shattered windows. A part of her wanted to lick the back of her hand, but she dusted it off and put her attention back to Ovmar. Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus her mind, she was out of it because of the alcohol.

"Look at you and your magic tricks." Spencer smirked as she adjusted the stained white dress that hung off her frame. It was obvious the woman hadn't eaten in some time and the only reason she was still functioning because she was somewhat hydrated from the wine she had been consuming. The woman fought the urge to throw the glass bottles towards Jared or even toss him out the window like she had done once to a man named Shorn. Taking another deep breath she closed her eyes mostly to keep the world from spinning. With her eyes closed she as able to zero in on emotions that flew about the room. The empath felt the concern from the people in the palace and the strongest concern was from the man in front of her. Realizing this, she calmed down knowing that Jared was here just to be here for you. Spencer struggled to stand and she opened her eyes and stared at the man before her. He had aged more than she had and their dynamic had shifted greatly.

"I'm sorry." Her frame relaxed as she continued to feel the high from the glitterstim. Everything was starting to rush towards her as the people in the palace slowly made their way to the sound of the crashing of the windows. Spencer's eyes shut tighter as she placed a hand against her face. Legs began to give out and Spencer collapsed to the ground and she caught herself and stayed where she was sitting with her hands on the ground. She didn't say anything and began to breath heavy. There was nothing she could do to defend herself from becoming overwhelmed by the emotions running high. Knuckles turned white as she gripped the fabric that laid around her. "Jared...she's gone. She was my everything." A cough echoed the training room and Spencer covered her mouth and when she pulled it back she noticed speckles of blood. The woman quickly hid the fact and returned to her own emotional downfall.

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Ovmar sighed, before rubbing his brow for a moment.

Then, finally, he slid down next to her. His back leaned against the couch, one leg pulled in close, the other resting across the surface of the floor.

"I know, Spens." He finally responded, his voice was tired now. There wasn't the mischief or the amusement in it anymore. Just the genuine tone of a man who had seen too much already. "I am sorry too... I... am not good at this."

If allowed, he would put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in closer.

"Sargon was always the... emphatically one, but I am here for you. Whatever you need."

At the far end of the room one of the doors was pushed open, carefully, the head of one of the guards poked out to see what was happening. Only after locating Ovmar and Jacobs... dirty, grouchy and with emotions running high - but not dead - did he retreat again.