Private Mightier than the Saber

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Alina Tremiru

Breath caught in her throat, Adean's brain tripped over what to say, what to do, as the individual - no, creature, for they had long forgone the confines of sanity - addressed her. Or did it? The way they spoke, they way they moved, it was impossible to tell if they really saw her.

That sparked an idea, albeit vague in concept. But with such an entity claimed by madness, perhaps anything definite would be a bane more than a boon.

"I've always been here," the Epicanthix answered, voice landing in the middle ground between loud and soft. She schooled her face to remain blank, facing the maddened Sith head-on but always looking past them. Her mental faculties were well guarded by the nature of her blood yet she had also trained herself to silence her mind. In times of need, it would only freeze her. "Don't you remember?"

Distance was important. In all aspects, she strive to remain just out of reach. Perceived, but only so much as to call her entire being into question. And then, once the time was right, to flip everything on its head.

"It's happening again, isn't it? You're fading."

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Fading. .. Yes."

The figure froze once Adean actually spoke. For them, the madness had consumed the minds of all around them. Blubbering bodies of emotion, but no thought. It was part of why Alina had sent her in alone. Her Epicnathix mind was resistant, if not immune, to the effect this Sith seemed to give off. It was a danger for Alina, and one she didn't feel like handling.

A moment of clarity seemed to take over the maddened figure as they stood straighter, looked around. Sith eyes were visible under the mess of hair as they seemed to focus.

"Everyone died, didn't they?"

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Alina Tremiru

"They did. But it wasn't the first time, was it?"

If Adean was surprised by the response she received, she gave no indication of such. Less a matter of confidence and more so a sheer commitment to the role she'd created in the moment. It was almost otherworldly how stark the contrast was between now and Brassius, now and 'Tavis.

But with the Sith's seeming return to function came a moment of uncertainty. In a field where she was so clearly outmatched physically and in the force, the lack of clarity had been an edge she was prepared to cling to.

"You must be very tired."

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Tired? .. Tired. That's true. I've been walking around for so long. .. How long has everyone been dead, I wonder.." There was a drift then, a heavy loss of focus as the figure stared in the distance towards.. Nothing. There was a crack before the head swiveled to look right back at Adean, the yellow burning eyes staring in sheer focus that felt wrong with how insane she'd seemed to have been.

"How many times have they all died?"

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Alina Tremiru

"It's hard to say, now isn't it? Aren't we all just one big dream?" She risked exposing herself to the maddened Sith for just a moment, walking past them as if it were she who was caught in the memory.

Her distant composure was almost ruined when she caught sight of what seemed to be humanoid remains, once again forcing herself to look through the scenery and not at it. "They dream and they die and they dream again while you just get more and more tired. You know you're the only one who can wake them up."

 

[Alina Tremiru]

".. That's right. I've the power to wake them." They muttered softly before they reached a hand up. Madness thrummed. Whatever they were trying to do in the Force, they were putting their all in. Rubble shook and tumbled before lifting. Seething hatred flooded the area shortly after. Whatever they were angry at couldn't be fully understood. Was it their inability to wake the ruined corpses? Was it the fact they were dead? Had they started this then completely forgot what it was they were doing and got angrier by the moment?

It didn't matter. The pressure was going to start being felt on Adean herself in a moment, and the crushing weight behind it that threatened to break her completely.

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Alina Tremiru

What started off as promising was quick to turn to a horror show as the pressure the Sith exuded began to weigh down on Adean. She didn't know what they were attempting, nor was she convinced they knew, either. What matter was that whatever it was, it would bring no good for anyone. She had to wonder if Alina could feel it too, back on the ship or skulking around elsewhere.

As the Sith continued in their summoned distruction, Adean risked approaching. She wouldn't last long under the strain they were bringing upon them all and she had a feeling fleeing would be too little too late at this trajectory.

But their madness had enraptured them and that itself was an opportunity. Spurred on by the ever increasing pressure that had started to make her ears ring, she reached out a hand to the cylindrical object on the Sith's belt. Pulling the saber to herself, determination alone brought the acolyte closer to the Sith. "Yes, you can wake them," she agreed, approaching behind them, aiming to activate the lightsaber right into their back as she went on. "Now sleep."

 

[Alina Tremiru]

All it took was a moment to distract them. A moment to pull their attention, pull their focus. They needed to make this work. They would make this work. But that chance never properly arrived. They blinked behind their hair as red emerged from the center of their body. A lightsaber. Theirs? They turned to look towards Adean, but they dropped before they could even further comprehend.

Alina wasn't far behind. Whatever had happened, even she felt. Something trying to break something with the Force, which had Alina assuming the acolyte had already failed. To her surprise, though?

Alina just offered a fanged smile, arms crossed over her chest. "Well look at that. Seems like you survived. Good job."

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Alina Tremiru

Adean's eyes widened as the Sith turned to look at her before they fell into a crumpled heap. Yellow eyes already turning glassy, yet still retaining hate amongst their confused glimmer wouldn't see as her form joined it in collapsing to the ground.

She'd done it. Against all odds, she'd set about this far too vague a test Alina had sent her on and she'd succeeded. She-

She'd killed someone.

It was suddenly quite hard to breathe.

This hadn't been the first time someone had met their end by her hand. The first time had been purely accidental, self defense, and really more setting the bully up to meet their end as nature intended. Other times had also fallen into the self defense category. Arguably, this instance applied, too, but it was different, more hands on.

Her vision began to tunnel, ears ringing. And then amongst the ringing, a voice. Alina. She didn't actually hear what the Sith had said, but the voice alone was enough to almost jumpstart her body into getting a hold of itself. It had an image to protect, after all.

A few moments later, she was back to herself, drawing back to her feet on shaky legs. The cylindrical weapon burned in her hand yet her grip remained tight. "Are you satisfied?"