In the Ashes

[Bethany Kismet]

A T R I S I A

The war was over.
​At least, the obvious parts. The parts that historians would identify. But then, they would be missing something still to come.

Bethany picked over the ashes, her movements slow and careful. The fires had died down, the Force Storm that had brought her here existed as nothing more than hot winds and an oppressive sensation at the back of her skull. It would be weeks before the dead could be fully tallied, even longer before a true rebuilding could occur. In this time between, before destruction could turn into growth, there was a tense hush that settled upon the planet. Business unfinished, left to swing carelessly despite the sharp, broken edges of it.

Something waited. Damaged. Dangerous. She could feel the knife's edge against the Force, slicing in both directions, dark and light. It frayed and tore and wept.

The events just past weighed heavily on the landscape and on the Jedi Master as she passed through it. The planet and the Force Storm had called her here. And while she knew that in some ways, part of her duty was finished....

There was still something waiting for her in the ashes.

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Devour, Consume, Destroy. The voices of the Sith Lords that had perished within the storm echoed in Spencer’s mind. This moment after the battle had been finished and people were gathering themselves and counting their lost. Spencer moved through the crowd, a hand pressed against her face covering her left eye. The ghosts of the Sith, lingered in her mind, the cold chill of the Force Drain weakened her and yet she felt stronger than ever. Tapping into the dark side like she had just done with the force storm and the drain always took a toll on her and that perfect balance she strived so hard to achieve had been broken. The corruption she had felt several years ago had been awakened and a hunger that she had been able to control once before clawed at her soul.

The Master of Balance had gone too far and too deep. Was it the right choice? Spencer continued to wander, waving off those that had offered aid. What they were offering couldn’t quench the thirst she felt on her lips. There was something more, something else waiting in the shadows that stayed behind the carnage. Spencer continued to wander, heading towards the outskirts of the battlefield. She needed to be alone, if she remained surrounded by the other Jedi, by the medics, and the injured she would lose control and begin consuming those around her.

Air became thick, filling her lungs with the soot that had been the aftermath of the fire cyclone. Falling to her knees, Spencer held her chest. The burning tore through her as she cried out in pain, the hand that clutched her chest attempted to heal, but nothing came from the Force, there was nothing and no one coming to aid her. It took her a few moments to regain some composure, to fight off the burning through crucitorn. Pain dulled for a moment some thing caught her eye. The metallic hilt of a lightsaber still held onto by a dying acolyte. Spencer moved closer, sensing the life force just barely holding on. The Zabrak looked at her, while he was crushed under some rubble. Blood pooled under him and Spencer watched just for a moment. She could help him, but that would risk a fight. The Sith reached out with whatever strength he had left and wrapped his influence in the Force around Spencer’s throat.

Instead of saving himself, he wanted to take a Jedi with him. The grip tightened and Spencer choked, she didn’t attempt to stop him, but instead allowed it to occur. She moved forward till she fell to her hands and knees. A hand reached out and the acolyte suddenly froze, his face twisting in agony, Spencer began to drain the Force from him using it to satisfy the hunger that was growing inside of her. It ended sooner than she had hoped and she cursed under her breath.

Devour.​

Consume.​

Destroy.​

The words continued to echo and Spencer covered her ears and cried out not only to the desert that surrounded her, but through the Force. She feared the worst was to come and she was actually losing control over everything. Balance needed to be found, but how? [member="Bethany Kismet"]