Our own Yellow Brick Road

[Jake Daniels]

Anahita motioned for Ereza and her escorts to follow. The Estate was absolutely large. She was careful to show each room thoroughly; the dining room, kitchen, study, the various bedrooms (except for Jakes private quarters which were strictly off limits), and the back gardens. The one area that was not shown was the basement. That was a place that when people went down with Jake they never came back up. It was a place that the other side of Jake, one that both terrified and tantalized Anahita emerged.

The Twelve guards had known of Jakes past. The stories he shared. At first they did not believe him. That was until they saw the darkness for themselves. He was a ruthless monster when the darkness emerged. Just how dark could he go? Perhaps Jakes guest would know.

Anahita led them to the sitting room. Waiting for them was Brianna Rush holding a silver tray of various teas. As they found their seats, Anahita took the first cup.

"Thank you Brianna." Anahita said before her attention turned towards Ereza.

"As you can see Mr. Daniels has taken great care of this home. Its proven useful for his endeavors here in the core worlds addressing the threats that had face you and yours." Anahita explained. She did not elaborate. It was not her place.

"May I ask something?" Anahita set down her cup of tea on the table and rested her hands on her knees.

"I know Jake spent some time on Honoghr with you. Were you two involved?" Blunt question and completely unnecessary but the question was a clue to Anahita's own desires. She then followed up with a second question, "How strong in the force was Jake the last time you saw him?" There was a key word in that question; was. Would Ereza pick up on it? Would it go over her head. Anahita did not often leave bread crumbs for people but with what was affecting Jake, she needed to know just how bad he has gotten. To do that she needed to know what his strengths had once been.

 

[Ereza]

Ereza remained reticent throughout the entire tour, taking in the sights of the home with a curious, level gaze. She might have used this as a way to gauge Jake as a person, but knowing him the way she did (Silencia's memories had been quite complete), there was nothing here to learn of the man that she could say she did not already know. The formality was as much for Jake as it was for anything else.

A way to show some unspoken appreciation for his effort, if it could even be construed in that way.

The Mal'ary'ush did not partake in the tea and remained standing, inspecting a painting in the room as Anahita concluded the tour. Might've declined the girl's request for a question had she the time to do it, but Anahita didn't give her the opportunity.

A sharp gaze needled the young woman for such a bold inquiry on such a private matter. Involved could mean many things to Ereza, though she suspected that Anahita was getting at more something more intimate. The closest Ereza had been to Jake was in mending his wounds and dancing at the Prom. More often than not, Ereza maintained her physical distance from the grieving man, though she tried to be open to him for emotional support.

The bread crumb did not escape her and the woman's eyes narrowed to indicate the thin ice Anahita was treading upon.

None of this was of this woman's concern.

"Thank you for the tour, Miss Loreno, we're finished here."

 

[Jake Daniels]

“Sir?” Mycell asked as he stood at the open door to Jake’s bedroom.

He watched as the Duke packed a travel bag with clothes. Jake Daniels was all about style and that reflected in the selection of attire he gently placed in the bag. What drew concern from Mycell was the large amount of pill bottles that lay neatly out on the bed beside it. The Left Hand of Daniels could only wonder if his condition was worsening at a faster rate than anyone realized.

“Come in Mycell.” Jake replied.

The Duke looked at each bottle carefully, popping their tops and doing a brief count of the pills inside. Once content he packed each one with cotton balls then stuffed them carefully in a side compartment of the travel bag. This would prevent the bills from shaking thus preventing Lady Ereza from hearing them.

“I believe that Anahita has finished the tour of the home.” Mycell noticed Jake stop and turn his head slightly towards him. “All except for the basement of course.”

With that Mycell watched as Jake finished his packing. The one thing he did not take were one of the four lightsabers that rested on mounts upon the Duke’s dresser. Everyone knew Jake was a force user but it had been a great while since anyone had actually seen him use it. That was part of his condition.

“I do wish to let you know that things seem tense between Anahita and your Lady.” Mycell said.

Jake groaned.

Anahita had a certain way with people. She was just as suspicious as Jake, extremely protective of the man, and too some extent the Duke knew she was attracted to him. He however never returned such glances. His focus had always been set on his family. Not himself. Not on his Twelve. Not on the Home. His family. Even his health took a backburner to the tasks at hand. Once he was done with his Mal’Ary’Ush, Jake would return to Honoghr to die in peace; to let go. No more medications. No more doctors visits. He would not even be buried. He would be forgotten.

“Mycell, ready the kitchen.” Jake said.

“Sir?”

“The best way to lighten any mood is with food. Let us treat My Lady as she deserves. Let us apologize on Anahita’s behalf with a meal unlike any other. Put on some music to play softly, light the fireplaces, and make sure the doors throughout the bottom floor are all open. I want the smell to radiate throughout the home.” Jake said.

“Who is cooking?”

Jake turned to Mycell and smiled, “I am. Go downstairs and inform them of the change in plans. My Lady has a strict dietary requirement so her food is on her ship. Alert her escort’s and that will be brought here. Once here I’ll handle it. Oh and tell Anahita to meet me in the kitchen. I wish to speak with her in private."

"As you say, Sir."

~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Mycell was a stellar opposite in his approach to Lady Ereza. He had excused Anahita, having sent the right hand to Jake while asking for the items Jake requested. He explained politely to Lady Ereza that Jake wished to cook everyone dinner, which did seem to go over much better than anything Anahita had done. As they had sat in the sitting room, Mycell had shared stories of his own youth though was very careful not to speak about or for the Duke. He knew nothing of Lady Ereza but hopefully, even if she found his stories boring, he at least healed some of the damage done by Anahita. When fragrances began to fill the house a smile crossed Mycells face.

"Please come with me. It appears dinner is about ready." Mycell said.

He escorted Ereza into a fine dining room. There were fourteen plates set up and already seated were some of the twelve. Upon entering they rose to greet Ereza.

"Lady Ereza. These are Elisha Reynolds, Eduardo Cruz, Nicki Lyons, Nathanial Ray, Stephenie Montes, Josiah Falkner, Brianna Rush, Edwin Sharpe, Maryam Fuller, Alexander Green. We all owe Jake a life debt. We will serve him to his last breath; guarding and helping him as needed. This afternoon he has Eduardo, Nathanial;, Stephanie, and Maryam provide protection for you and him when you were in the capital." Mycell explained. "As we serve Jake, we do know he serves you, and as such you have the head near the windows."

Anahita soon emerged laying out dishes for everyone in complete silence. She was shaken and upset. It was visible in her eyes. While Jake was usually laid back around the house he did not tolerate disobedience. His house. His rules. Anahita broke it with her attitude towards Ereza and it appeared she had been momentarily demoted to the status of "the help".

Mycell found his seat once Ereza had. His was to the left of Jakes.

Once all of the twelve had been served, Jake finally emerged from the kitchen. While the twelve had dishes specially prepared by Jake himself, he had also prepared two meals for he and Ereza. Ereza's was a raw meat; very lightly seared on the sides to give the illusion it was cooked. The Twelve did not know what Ereza was and frankly it was none of their business. She was also given her bloodwyne while the other twelve were given traditional reds. Jakes meat matched Ereza's except his was cooked completely.

As he found his seat, Anahita sat to his right and every set of eye's fell upon him.

"Thank you everyone for being here tonight. I know we do not normally eat together. With me running around like a chicken with his head cut off it's hard for us to enjoy each others time." Jake said.

Missing from Jakes meal was a drink. There was a reason. The Twelve rose their glasses, Anahita with them.

​"I wish to toast our honored guest, my Mal'Ary'Ush and thank her for being here tonight." Jake said with a tone that hinted at a truly charismatic side he very rarely showed. "Tonight we dine together as family. We allow my Lady to get to know us, and us her. However I ask that people be respectful."

Anahita clenched her fists. Jake saw it in her peripheral and the woman was on very thin ice. Jake placed a hand on her fist as both a means to calm her as well as warn her. What was it about Ereza that she despised so much?

"Are you like Jake?" Nicki asked as she began to cut into her meal. "A force user?"

[member="Ereza"]

 

[Ereza]

Ereza was nothing if not polite with the change of guides. The woman kept the company of Mycell with quiet interest, saying nothing to speak of herself and only offering words to further the stories he told. She was a model of decorum and tranquility, gracefully moving from one room to the next as the evening shifted from the parlor to the dining hall.

Pale eyes took in the many gathered faces, recognizing those who had appeared in varying capacity over their journey thus far. It was good to put names to the people who kept Jake's safety as priority and she graciously accepted the head seat. If she was moved by Anahita's apparent distress she did not show it, nor did any ire towards the woman filter through. The neutral gaze she wore more often than not - the same one that had lead Jake before to believe she was without emotion - remained fixed in her expression.

"Thank you all for your service to Mr. Daniels and the House of Shamalain. I am most proud of your efforts, and grateful." Earnest words without fanfare, the Lady Ereza took her seat and left her gaze of ice and fire to survey those in attendance. They came to rest upon Jake as he spoke, fingers lightly clasping her glass in a grateful cheers. The red of the blodwyne had just touched her lips when Nicki broke the ice with a rather forward question.

Ereza took a moment to consider her response, setting her glass down and licking the red from her lips. A fleeting, bemused smile was offered in return with her reply, "In a way. I am a Master of Lanu ... something rather different from your Force. The same as Mette Masenre... the late Lady Shamalain."

 

[Jake Daniels]

‘Is everything ok?’

Jake sat quietly his fork staring down at his plate. It slowly moved about, pushing around the greens and what meat remained upon it. His mind had fallen into deep thought as the Apprentice contemplated everything that was going on around him. His world had become upended and it was simply due by the fallibility of simple human emotions. Tonight had been at the request of Cerusia Shamalain. Things had become incredibly tense between the pair.

Jake wore the formal attire expected of him by his master, his Lady Silencia, for this evening. Traditional and sleek the one part that stood out was the Shamalain family symbol emboldened over his right breast. For almost a half hour Jake was silent. It was something that was not typical of the young man. He had been placed in the stead of Cerusia; to serve as faithfully a protector to her as he had been been to his own Master. The problem? The damn emotions.

‘Jake?’

Perhaps his greatest weakness was also his most telling trait. His emotions, which burned like a wildfire through a dry forest, swelled from the man unlike any other. He was as easy to read as a childrens book to those that knew him; and knew him Cerusia did. She knew when her human Guardian was acting abnormal. Tonight there was a momentary lapse in her otherwise stoic gaze. A small sign of worry.

Jake, himself, had surrendered. Within his mind the Eternal Apprentice combated the memories of what they had already been through. More importantly he combated what he felt. He loved her. This was not some school yard crush. This was not some simple infatuation. The woman whom carried the child of her ex-husband, the woman that had publicly dressed down her guardian and escort in the middle of a ball, held in her heart the man whom sat across from her.

Since the ball Jake hadn’t really spoken. Embarrassed and ashamed of his actions, the wanna be protector of her honor he retreated back into himself. Silent. Methodical. Deadly. He was sent her to protect her. Not love her. Still he could not control these emotions. Had his Lady Silencia known this would happen? There could not have been a possible way. Why then… why Cerusia? She had Noghri. They were better than Jake, by and large. They knew her. They grew with her. Was Jake dangerous? Yes. Would he die to protect the family he served? Without hesitation and without question. Perhaps the issue was his imagination. His wants and desires.

Cerusia Shamalain was what every man strived to want in a bride. She was vastly wealthy. She was quiet and studious. Her family held vast political connections. Every woman would be foolish enough to not want to be her and every guy would be moronic to not want to be with her. For all the reasons Jake thought of, none of them were why he loved her.

‘Jake!’ Cerusia’s voice broke through his concentration.

Icy oculars slowly looked up from his plate. Across the table his gaze befell the woman. His heart skipped. His skin flushed. His hands were Jell-O. While men would look to her as an object, people looked at Jake like a weapon; a tool. A blunt object utilized by his Lady Silencia to beat down her opposition when she did not want to get her hands directly dirty. Cerusia never viewed him as such. She looked at him like a man.

Perhaps that’s what hurt the most? She saw more in him than anyone could.

“Yes, Lady Reticea?” Jake replied.



“Jake?” Elisha’s voice brought Jake back to reality.

His eyes, filled with a sorrow few knew he had glanced at the people gathered around him. His own set of Guardians all held looks of unease as the man they had grown to care for had fallen into a near catatonic silence. Across from him, Jake looked to [member="Ereza"] with his gaze holding a near identical one it had for Cerusia years earlier. Shame. Regret. Embarrassment. What exactly was the man doing? He was good. In fact, Jake was great at tracking a target. None had ever been more important than his wife. He found her; albeit never actually going to her. The discovery of her keeping company with another man had closed a chapter on his life he had never once imagined ceasing.

He lost everything.

Cerusia had moved on. She had found the arms of another and currently roamed the galaxy. That part he did not lie to Lear about. He did lose track of her once she left the planet; he lost track because he stopped following. That both scared and scarred him. It was not long after that the man began to pushing everything and everyone away. His sons. Ereza. The Noghri. Even the Twelve he kept at arms length as best he could. This, them… and Ereza. It just hurt.

He was free falling and did not know how to stop. The stroke had not helped; something Ereza now knew but not his sons. It would need to stay that way. His body was failing him just as his mind was.

“Sir!” Nathanial snapped.

Jake’s sorrowful gaze broke from Ereza.

“Yes?” Jake asked.

“Elisha asked what will happen if you two need help?”

“Oh. I apologize.” Jake replied. “The Lady has an emence amount of security escorting her. There will be no concerns with her safety. As far as I can see, she is the safest woman in the galaxy.”

“You didn’t completely answer her question.” Nathanial said.

A look that read ‘damn you’ towards Nathanial was seen. Nathanial was a smart man; quicker than even Jake on analyzing the words of others. He spotted Jake ignoring the aspect of the question about his own safety.

“I will be fine.” Jake replied.

Nathanial turned towards Lady Ereza as if he wanted to say something. He was hesitant though. With Jake in the room the Twelve would not be able to speak openly with the Lady.

“Lady Ereza, your ship out there. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” Elisha said. “It moved so silently for something so large. How many people can it actually hold? Is it a retrofitted military vessel?”

God damn was Jake a mess. All he had to do was keep himself composed long enough to finish this mission.

 

[Ereza]

"No," Ereza replied gently, "The Baqani is a custom built diplomatic ship commissioned by the Mette Masenre before her death. It was originally crafted for her daughter, Amorella, as a wedding gift." But as they knew now, Amorella's death on Kuat had devastated the Shamalain family and the Lady Silencia herself, most of all. Her gaze landed on Jake's, watching him impassively as he wrestled with his inner turmoil. His struggle was plain to her, but this was neither the time nor place to discuss it.

The Mal'ary'ush quietly cut into her meal, announcing she would answer no further questions for the evening and imploring the others to enjoy their meal.


Several hours later...

"I received a missive from Lysander," Ereza began in the privacy of the study of Jake's home. The two were alone now and Ereza had chosen a seat near the fireplace to partake in a sten. Jake had entered the room to find her surrounded by the faint purple smoke, the scent of clove and something akin to mint lingering on the air. She watched him, unblinking dichromatic gaze following his progress into the room, faintly alighted by esoteric power. A plume of smoke furled from her lips not unlike a dragon resting and content after a meal, "He has arrived safely at Ceto and is settling in well at the company. Says the adjustment to his new body has been a greater challenge than his new job."

 

[Jake Daniels]

Mediation.


Something Jake had been taught but very rarely used. In fact it had been something his Master had been quite skilled with. So skilled in fact she could meditate while in conversation with someone. That was a skill a human like Jake just could not learn. Being in his own mind was dangerous for the man.

When Jake thought… for himself… with himself… it usually turned out bad.

This time though; something was different. The edge had come off as he spent his time staring at a photo of his Lady Silencia. Memories of both pleasure and pain settle his mind. Family. That's what he needed. The only one in his possession; the only thing image he still had of the woman whom had been so tough yet in her own way loved her Apprentice. They’re relationship was anything but Sith like. It was unique unto itself. God, how Jake could have used her guidance now.

“Sir. Lady Ereza is sitting in the study. We’ve left her to herself.” Nicky said just as Jake exited his private bedroom.

“Thank you, Nicky. You and the others take tonight and tomorrow off. Relax and have fun.” Jake instructed.

“Sir?”

“You heard me.”

“The guy who doesn’t have fun and can’t relax is telling us too?”

Jakes perked brow was enough for Nicky to shut up.

“Yes Sir, I will spread the word!”

As she trotted off Jake found his way to the study. Smoke, a scent that tickled his nose. Usually the man snorted, sneezed, or crinkled but this one was pleasant and had a unique effect on his senses.

He strode in confidently; like a man whom knew he was King of his castle. This was his home. This was his study. Like a lightswitch it seemed as though, for the moment, Jake had calmed emotionally. Before he could say anything about the purple smoke, his Mal’Ary’Ush spoke. This time Jakes nose crinkled with irritation. The words she spoke were rather unpleasant and the man was none to pleased.

“What do you mean his new body is proving to be a greater challenge?” Jake asked.

His eyes narrowed with worry for Lysander.

“Take me to him.”

That came off as a blunt order. Something incredibly rare for Jake when it came to those in the Shamalain family.

 

[Ereza]

Ereza fixed a calm gaze upon him, noting the curious change in disposition, "No," she replied, delicately ashing the sten in a nearby tray provided to her by one of the attendants, "he is perfectly fine and on the other side of the galaxy." A gentle pull on the sten, the woman turned to look back towards the fire, "There is no danger for him in his new body, he must simply come to terms with the stronger instinct drive. Lysander was born a fledgling to this galaxy, the Garhallan DNA of his ancestors diluted by the blood of his father and grandfather. Mette Masenre took care that the new bodies she provided for her family were greater than those that came before, so that they might partake in a life longer-lived. He is still who he once was, only now he reaps the benefits of his Garhan lineage."

"Strength, speed, longevity, heightened healing and senses, the weapons of an apex predator ... and the instincts of one, too. He will deal with bloodlust among all other needs, wants, and desires of his kind. I have provided him the necessary tools and training to learn how to control it, he simply needs time, patience, and practice."

 

[Jake Daniels]

“No?” Jake said as he found his seat.


That was a word he did not like hearing. Sure she explained what his issue was but that did not change Jakes demeanor; nor his desire to see his son. Jake was a walking bloodbag to his family; the feeble human who had to be stronger than them through sheer will and drive. They had all the advantages over Jake except for one thing; his experience. The man pushed himself. Did he understand what Ereza, Lysander, Romano, Cerusia, or his Master went through? No. He had a sense but he was not like them; he did not have a bloodlust craving. It was something he’d probably never experience.

“Of my son’s Lysander was always the quietest. When we trained that boy could take a beating from the Noghri, me, or my soldiers and he’d get right back up and step into our faces. It was only when something was truly wrong; something he feared out of his control that he would express any sort of worry.” Jake explained.

“You know Romano and Lysander better than me. You know what they go through so trust me when I say that any training you gave him may not be enough.” Jake replied.

Ereza was stubborn, that much was certain. He would not change her mind tonight about seeing his Son. That would be something Jake would have to do on his own it seemed.

“What do you think of my home?”

A change of subject was needed.

 

[Ereza]

"Indeed," Ereza replied, "and I know that if he requires help he will ask for it. You must put more faith in your sons, Jake," she looked over to him, expression immutable, "and in me."

His next question was cause for a raised brow. Jake liked directing things away from confrontation with her, which she could only credit towards his upbringing under their Master. It was a rare battle of any kind won against her, something Ereza knew all too well. Deflection was just another tool he used to keep things copacetic.

But Ereza wasn't here for such things.

"Do not allow yourself to be distracted from the current mission at hand. You gave me your word you would assist in this endeavor."

 

[Jake Daniels]

Jake’s eyes stared in the flames. The heat that radiated warm and welcoming, as if daring the former Sith to reignite the fiery darkness that had long since been bottled away inside. He listened quietly as his Mal’Ary’Ush spoke. Her words ringing in his ears of faith. Not of that of some revered god but of simple human faith into someone else. Could Jake ever grant such faith? As he mulled her words his mind went back to try and find any moment in time when he had ever truly put faith into someone else.

Yes there were plenty of times people put their faith into Jake and the man christened Darth Gravis had never let them down. He always rewarded their faith that he would and always will be there for them in their times of need. Could Jake Daniels return such a favor though? A man whom some might consider a control freak letting go of something. A man whose son was struggling to adapt to his new body was simply told to let said son learn and adapt on his own? Dear God. How could he be asked of this.

Then her final words, putting faith into her. Jake had always put faith in his Mal’Ary’Ush. It was drilled into his by his Lady Silencia and later his Lady Reticea. He was natural to give faith in the person whom held the title in the sense that he knew she would lead Honoghr without discourse. He would be the shadow that overlooked her; a constant reminder that though the Noghri were fierce warriors, Jake Daniels was still the most dangerous thing around their Leader.

Ereza deflected his question with such submissiveness that she almost sounded like his Lady Silencia. She did not like his attempt at shrouding thoughts and notions; apparent in the fact that she more than curtly reminded the man that he had give her his word that Jake would lead Ereza on an exploration of the galaxy. That was not something he had not planned on breaking. Being home though; a place he had come to know as safe, as his den; a wolf surrounded by his pack, helped to ease the uneasy soul that resided in a body that would one day fail and a mind which could very well one day break.

Slowly his eyes turned to his Mal’Ary’Ush.

“I did.” The only two words spoken to her.

“Eduardo.” Jake barked.

It only took seconds for the member of The Twelve to appear.

“Yes, Sir?”

Jake tilted his head towards the man but did not look directly at him.

“I need you to load my supplies onto the ship. Outside my room you’ll find two duffle bags and a backpack. Take those to my Mal’Ary’Ush’s ship. No one will stop you. Have Mycell and Nicky load the following weapons; the DLT-19, a DC-17, a auto E-11, and a Valken 38x with standard, daytime heat vision, and night vision scopes. Ensure I have enough ammunition for all.” Jake ordered. The one thing he did not mention nor planned to bring was a saber.

“It sounds like you’re going to war, Sir.” Eduardo said.

Eduardo noted Jake was not wearing a lightsaber nor had he mentioned one.

Jakes eyes rolled back to the fire, and then Ereza.

“I may very well be.” Jake replied.

“Aye, Sir. Ten minutes and the Lady’s ship will be loaded. Any provisions you require?” Eduardo asked. It was his way of asking about Jake’s personal medications.

“Yes. I nearly forgot. You’re granted permission to enter my quarters. What I need is in my top dresser drawer to the left. Take them all except the blue and grey bottles. That will be all.” Jake explained.

“Aye, Sir.”

Jake’s eyes finally left his Mal’Ary’Ush’s.

“Raxus Prime, a relative junk planet, will be our first stop. It’s in the outer rim territories, greater Tion Sector, and in the Tion Cluster. It’s a part of a major trade route so its not like its unchartered; most just avoid going there. Ancient Jedi believed that the planet held many secrets that had yet to be discovered. If there are secrets to be discovered, I feel you may be best suited to find them. They may prove valuable to your collection of relics, artifacts, and texts. Otherwise you may find use for some of the materials that litter the landscape which could help with any needs Honoghr may require.” Jake explained.

After a moment of pause Jake slowly rose from his chair.

“I do not break my word, Mal’Ary’Ush. I never have. Just be warned that I am not exactly, as you would say, entirely stable. I have my own issues I am dealing with; ones I’ll inevitably have to address. I say this not to worry you or to ask for pity but to warn you.” Jake explained as he extended a hand to the woman.

“Let’s go.”