Populate Outbound Flight: The Darkness Within [THR Populate of Adras]

[Pillar of Freedom]

This thread is open to all High Republic writers. Any character can assume the right to visit the flight, create your own reason!

Objective 1: Partner up with someone and share creepy visions of what if, or memories corrupted by a looming darkness.

Objective 2: Investigate the ominous ancient machine that sits in orbit over a Force dead gas giant.
You will be taking the first steps into a larger, more dangerous reality.

The crew and visitors aboard the Outbound Flight look out over the circumplanetary disk of a newly discovered gas giant.

Resting in orbit just above the planetary disk, is a mysterious object.

Reports begin coming in from the crew. Restlessness. Unease. Sleepless night cycles.

Something about this place, feels wrong. Madness seems to lurk at the fraying edges of the crews every waking thought.

The monolithic artefact orbiting the world was the sole reason for the Outbound Flight to drop from warp. Now, the boarding party has found its way inside.

Through a single small, entry hatch, they stepped into an empty, cavernous void where gravity feels like an afterthought.

A single, rusted catwalk stretches into the dark, leading toward a machine of ancient, impossible geometry.

It hums with a frequency that vibrates in the marrow of their bones. And there, at the edge of the shadows...lurks an unnamed presence.

Pre threads: One Small Step and Humanity By Proxy​

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Objective 1:

The shuttle’s engines flared quietly against the dark expanse of the circumplanetary disk, a subtle hiss that seemed unnervingly loud in the silence of the docking bay. Dominic’s hands were folded behind his back, fingers pressing against the small of his spine, as he waited. The shadows clung to the corners of the room, deeper than the overhead lights should allow, curling into shapes that teased the edges of perception.

The crew’s murmurs of unease, their restless pacing, had not yet reached him. He had dismissed aides, reassigned tasks, all to ensure that no one could trace this meeting beyond the necessary supply run. And yet, there was a weight in the air, something almost tactile, that pressed against the back of his eyes and damped his thoughts.

His mind wandered in fragments. Half-formed memories taunted him every moment. Sleep had become a luxury denied, and the yawning hours under the gas giant’s oppressive presence gnawed at him. Something lurked at the edges of his consciousness, a whispering presence that might have been real, or might have been nothing more than his own exhaustion spinning into shadows.

The hatch hissed, announcing the shuttle’s arrival. Dominic turned, shoulders rigid, and met the quiet, impossible elegance of the figure stepping down. Dominic inclined his head, voice low, measured. “We must make this quick,” he said.

His eyes flicked briefly to the viewport, where the gas giant churned in muted red and gold, a maelstrom of shadows and light. Somewhere in that swirling haze, in the orbiting monolith, the future of the Outbound Flight, and perhaps something far older, far darker, was waiting.

And yet, standing here, alone in preparation for this meeting, he felt it. The dread threading through his own blood. The certainty that nothing about this encounter would be ordinary. Nothing. Not with what lurked beyond the ship, and not with her.

Quinn Varanin​

​

 

[Tatiana Sah]

Objective II​

A figure cast in silver, wrapped in black, and adorned with a green leather jacket for 'character' crouched slightly to avoid striking its head against the top of the entry hatch. The feminine form stepped onto the catwalk and away from the hatch to allow others to follow. Its silver faceplate slowly turned to take in the full breadth and height of the visible surfaces before them.

"Curious." Tatiana's voice carried over the commlink for those wearing helmets, and was broadcast audibly for those without. "While the environment appears breathable, I recommend taking precautions." It was a most intrusing architectural design, and the fact it wasn't utterly inhospitable was noteworthy. So much so, she wondered if anyone really should be there without an EVA suit of some kind.

If there was time, Tatiana would try to take a molecular sample for study. Perhaps material taken off one of the surfaces. Nearer the machine might prove better; if something had left behind evidence of their passage it would be there wouldn't it?

Speaking of which, her faceplate turned in the direction of the machine. The resonance frequency it was emitting was more striking than the air sample, of course, but it had been important to reassure her fellow boarders whether it was safe to proceed. Considering exposure to space and organic residues were less of a concern for her, Tatiana had volunteered to go first. A needless precaution this time, but what were the Jedi participants of Outbound Flight if not to serve such a role?

Open​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Dominic Praxon //:
//: Objective 1 //:
//: Attire //:

The shuttle settled into the hangar of the ship. As much as Quinn liked being involved, this was a bit too involved. She only knew as much as her contact wanted to tell her, and knowing her luck, this was a trap waiting to be sprung. The Republic, though, despite its flaws, had been upfront with her; the conversation with Sibylla still weighed on her mind.

Quinn leaned back into her seat with a click of her tongue. She hated how much the woman had left her exposed. How long will it take for her to cover it all up again? Quinn groaned again as she waited to be allowed to leave. The faster this conversion occurs, the faster she can head back to…

"Safe to disembark." The steward nodded towards the woman, offering his hand as aid. Quinn took it and smiled softly. Everyone aboard knew who she was, what she was, but she had been kind for the most part, so they were in return.

Either out of fear or out of kindness.

It didn't take long for her to arrive down the ramp; she looked neither Sith nor Jedi — instead, today she was an invested businesswoman, another mask to add to the plethora of identities.

"You sure know how to greet a lady, Senator." She smiled weakly at him. Her eyes lingered on the brow, the tension in his frame — something more was at play. Instantly, her suspicions played along her mind until something in her chest thumped.

Quinn cleared her throat, a hand covering her lips as she looked away. Something lingered and weighed heavily here. She could feel it now as her attention was drawn to it. The phobis device, it ached, twisting, clawing to get to what lingered. It was familiar, perhaps? Something like kin to it.

Dread called to it, the darkness…

She blinked and smiled again. "Sorry, I have never done well in space; it can be dreadfully cold." Her eyes glanced around before settling back on the Senator.

"Well, if it needs to be quick — let's get right to it."

 

[Sela Basran]

THE ARTEFACT
OBJECTIVE II
ENTRY
​

Sela Basran had thought better of traditional Jedi robes for this excursion. The older Jedi Master had been alerted to the presence of a strange artefact in Outbound Flight's regular reports to the Jedi Council and, curious, she had volunteered to join the team to investigate it -- more as an observer than anything more formal. But cataloging knowledge was part of her role as head archivist and curator.

Plus, she observed as she took one apprehensive step through the entry hatch, it was terribly exciting.

"Good idea, Knight Sah," Sela answered through the comlink feed in her breather bask.

She adjusted her breather mask carefully, making sure the seal was still in place, and made a few more tentative steps along the catwalk before stepping out of the way to allow others to pass by if they needed. As she paused, Sela drew the lens that rested at the end of a durasteel chain around her neck. Her fingers held the lens up to one eye and she squinted through it, subtly channeling the Force along her eyeline, through the lens itself.

"Fascinating," she said softly, tracing the line of the catwalk with her eye.

Tatiana Sah | OPEN

​

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Objective 1:

He kept his eyes to himself. Best not give a Sith even the wrong impression of any degree of sway over him.

Dominic did not trust Quinn Varanin. But he did need her. The dance of procurement, appeasement and image maintenance was a tawdry affair, one that he needed to manage carefully. Senator of Naboo in League with Sith Princess was not a headline he needed ending his career.

"Forgive me, Princess," he said, bowing his head, "it is more than just this meeting that has me on edge."

He turned, hand directing towards a padded bench off to the side of the boarding area. It was more for those on space walks to rest, and remove their boots. Far less suitable for a princess and a nobleman to sit, and discuss illicit financial arrangements. But utility was the child of secrecy. It would do.

"Please, sit," he said, before pausing.

His head turned sharply to the left, and hand brushed over the nape of his neck. He had felt what seemed to be a breath, damp and hot. "What the Sithspit," he cursed quietly, and then looked back at the Princess, his eyes widening just a hair. He just prayed she didn't hair it. No need to upset her further.
Thrump. Thrump. THRUMP.

Dominic's heart beat against his chest.

The sound of children. Laughter. A boy and a girl seen running from the corner of his eye.

Worriedly, Dominic's eyes turned towards the door, where the children stood. The elder by a few years at least, a boy, shoved a young girl to the ground. "Go away, Bastila. I don't want to play with you."

Dominic's eyes looked quickly to the Princess to see if she was looking towards the children too. But quickly looked back to the odd sight, only to see just the boy, standing so very still. He smiled. His face contorted, taking the smile beyond nature's allowance. Dominic stepped back, away from the putty-like malleableness of the child's face.

Thrump. Thrump. THRUMP.

Dominic blinked. And the child was gone.

His hands came to his face, brushing downwards over his face to try for composure. But he feared the moment was lost already.

Quinn Varanin​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Dominic Praxon //:
//: Objective 1 //:

She heard.

But she didn't hear him.

Instead, as Quinn looked up to see the bench they were going to sit on, Quinn found herself looking up at an older man. His white hair swept back, his uniform bloody from the attack. She was back… back on Eshan on that horrid evening.

The guard had been someone who could withstand being near her — somehow unaffected by the phobis device anchoring her soul. He played with her, he held her when she cried…

He protected her as a large Beskar blade meant for her skewered him.

Quinn shut her eyes, like she did as a child. She reminded herself this was just a memory — one that was triggered by the device. When she opened her eyes, she met the Senator's gaze. Had he seen what she had seen? It was not uncommon for her to momentarily lose control — to force images into others' minds.

She looked away, almost embarrassed as he ran his hand down his face.

Both were unaware of what the other saw. Quinn cleared her throat as she walked past him and took the unwanted seat. Something was wrong here, she wanted to ask, but assumed he didn't want to speak much on it with her.

She exhaled and gathered her composure.

"I understand being on edge. I'm unsure if your communications are up to date, but I was recently crowned the Queen of Eshan." She kept her attention off of him, focusing on her hand for a moment. Dealing with the Republic, she wished she could have asked for a Jedi escort.

Though she doubted any would volunteer as readily as maybe one.

She had to look at him at some point.

"As the Queen of Eshan, it makes me a Warden, which, with the accords in place between your government and the Mandalorians, our meeting shouldn't be seen as mmm… problematic."

Quinn looked away from him as she let herself take in the area around them. He was hiding her, which made sense — but it still made her feel like a dirty secret. She lightly clicked her tongue against her teeth as she crossed her legs and settled on the bench, trying to relax.

"So what are you needing, Senator, and you can relax — Your life isn't in danger being near me... or looking at me."

An annoying assumption, but she should have used it; nearly everyone in the Republic had their minds made up about her — at least Bastila didn't look at her like that.

 

[Dominic Praxon]

It was hard to parse. Had she seen what he had? She looked as though she had seem something. But she wasn't asking questions. Dominic certainly wanted to.

His heart was still thrumming within his chest. This meeting could not end soon enough. It was a rare event, but he was actively wishing to talk to the ship-board shrink. Was he going mad?

His shoulders squared, jaw set, and he turned towards his guest again. "Congratulations on your ascent, Queen Varanin," he bowed in deference appropriate for her position. The change in rank only served to make him more cautious, but those increases were in rather small increments now, given the magnitude of his suspicions. "The title becomes you."

His eyes flicked to the side, seeing no children, feeling no presence save the looming dread clawing at his skull. He blinked. Saw a brief, looming visage of a fang filled cheshire grin, and then it was gone the moment his eyes opened.

The pause in his words lingered longer than intended. Longer than decorum would dictate.

"Less problematic is still not entirely removed from problematic," he said, smile forced and uneven, "our connection is still not one that I wish to advertise. I am sure you understand how the media could twist...matters." Not that they would have to twist it much.

She prompted him with something, almost playful? He did look at her properly now. Trying to push past the nagging, fraying of his calm. "You will forgive my continued reticence, your majesty. Those with your lineage...do come with a reputation. If you do not live up to it, I apologise. But the power imbalance between us alone...is...more than enough to maintain my circumspection."

To business then.

"My office on Naboo is suggesting that the Republic Tax Agency may request an audit of the Outbound Flight project. I need to be absolutely certain that the Isotope-5 cannot be tracked to you. The shell companies that we worked through...I need access to one of their databases so I can confirm that there is nothing that will link us."

Quinn Varanin​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Dominic Praxon //:
//: Objective I //:

Quinn listened; she understood his position and the weariness that her existence brought. She wondered if he was like this with all Force users, or if she was a special case. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary; some felt uneasy around Force sensitives, but she had hoped.

Especially since there had been no evidence.

But he was right, those that came before her… they kept their monsters visible.

"Thank you, and I understand." It was all she said. She watched him. Dominic had always been a bit off to her, odd around her, but she figured again it was because of her being labeled a Sith. Yet, this was far more than she had ever seen from him.

There was something more going on. She listened and watched the way his eyes shifted; his muscles continued to tense. He spoke of the shell company and their deal that gave the outbound flight access to the isotope-5 deal she had with the Black Sun. Quinn sighed softly. He was worried about the ties — did he not trust her?

"Things are fine." She reassured him, her eyes lazily looking him over as if she didn't care he was frantic.

"The Shell company is tied to Theed Engineering Corporation. My mother had a cousin and several of her family line in high positions." A hand waved, "It would make sense for them to embellish your endeavors. They were always giving money away, giving things to those who wanted to go beyond the stars."

Quinn paused as she felt the pull in the back of her mind, the heat of flame touching against her skin. Her eyes shut quickly, and she feigned annoyance with the man as she quietly shielded her own mind from whatever wanted control. When the moment passed, she exhaled and then produced her comm device.

"The names don't line up unless you dig for them. Most forget that Ashin Varanin has ties with the Cardé family." She held onto the device that was now open to the information he wanted. "Those that did, are long gone, or have met a fate we don't repeat."

They both needed to be silent about their partnership. The last thing she wanted was for this to reflect badly, as much as she was a Sith… her actions weren't always about gain.

She didn't want her to assume the worst.

Quinn watched him again… this time, concern softened her face. She felt something — but she could protect herself…

"Are you okay, Dominic?"

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Objective 1:

"You will forgive my insistence that I be permitted to verify..."

He had not heard the question. Rather, it had washed over him, with the environment seeming to wash her concerns away. Whatever the malevolent force was it wanted him to feel alone. I am alone. No one will help me.

He shook his head. And with it, gather at least the feeling of concern that was on her face. He could ascertain she must have asked something regarding his wellbeing, just by her expression.

"Why do I feel it...and you not?" He said unintentionally out loud. His face drained of colour, more from loss of his delusion of control in the conversation, and he stood, quickly...moving towards a closed viewport in the docking area.

"I know my debt will come due one day, Your Highness. But the databases..." He said, not looking back but instead tapping the controls of the window, which hissed open revealing the ominous blood-red gas giant which had prompted their delay.

In the distance, almost a pin prick of light small than the stars beyond, was the shuttle docked with the fabricated metallic moon sitting just above the rings of the baleful planet that filled his view. He looked past his reflection which smiled back at him. His grimace only increased, as he turned, not witnessing the reflection maintaining its morphing ungainly smile looking across the Senator's shoulder toward the Queen.

You will take the lead in House Praxon. Your brother is joining the Jedi Order. We need you to be heir to your mother's House.

His father's voice echoed. The air filled with the scent of sunfruit blossoms filled the room, stirring memories of warm nights on Brentaal, long days of instruction in Noble decorum, while knowing his brother trained with lightsabers. The sting of rotten sunfruit spoiled the air. Dominic screwed up his nose, averting Varanin.

"...the databases...I must see them." The words came out through clenched teeth, more threatening than intended.

Quinn Varanin​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Dominic Praxon //:

His words were heard and understood. There was something, but while she knew how to push past it, he did not. Quinn had been pushing this type of feeling away, burying it deep into herself for as long as she could remember. It was second nature, but even then, she's lost control before.

The darkness, she felt it clawing, reaching into her chest to draw upon the anchor. It wanted to be amplified, it wanted her, and in particular, the unprotected senator.

Quinn stood the moment Dominic moved towards the viewpoint. She saw the red giant, and she felt something deep within her core scream for it.

Breathing became difficult as she felt the suffocating nature of it all — even with her defenses, it found new ways to press in. Again, the woman focused her mind, changing and shifting her mental shielding. If need be, she would use drastic measures.

She would not lose control here; she would not have the blood of those who were aboard this ship on her hands.

"I feel it," she answered, stepping forward towards the man. She could see the strain; he was fighting something, and she couldn't tell what.

Quinn stopped, his words hissing with threat towards her. While she didn't fear him, or whatever was there — she didn't want to provoke it. She had no reason to keep Dominic alive or to protect him, but she wouldn't be responsible for his death.

"It's not the first time I've felt something like this. I know how to at least stave it off."

The databases could wait; what was important was stopping whatever was causing him to be like this. Quinn moved closer, hands raised to show she meant no harm.

"I can help you, you… just have to trust me."

She knew that was an impossible ask; she knew Dominic would rather be anywhere but here in her vicinity. She was labeled an enemy, the embodiment of evil. The thought wasn't lost on her. Quinn knew what her existence represented.

Imagine how the Republic and the Jedi would treat her if they knew what she truly was. Imagine if they knew what anchored her life into existence…

Quinn wasn't delusional, but she hoped that maybe she could be seen as something more than a monster.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, I promise."

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Objective II
Aboard the Vel'serenne | Diplomtich Naboo Vessel
Aurelian Veruna

Truth be told, Sibylla had already tangled with enough Gods.

The last thing she needed was to walk down into the abyss of an ancient artifact and end up with another fragment of some anicent being that dabbled with her dreams.

Which is why instead of heading own into the artifact, Sibylla was instead staying with her two feet firmly within the diplomatic vessel from the Republic observing the team decending into the artifact.

And it wasn't the only artifact set to be discussed and investigated with scrutiny.

Sibylla paced in front of the highly encrypted holographic array in her private suite on the ship, which was to her favor, as the lines of tension and concern flowing from her in waves was enough for the man projected on the pale blue holographic screen to notice. She had just received word of Cassian Abrantes 's disappearance and while her father had assured her they were doing everything in their power to search for him, the incessant need to try and personally do something about it rose within her breast.

It wasn't long either since the message regarding her brother from none other than Quinn Varanin -- and to say reading its contents placed her in a position of wondering just what the blonde meant and if her words held true. Part of her wanted to. Another, the one who had just recently dealt in the fall of Acier Moonbound to the Darkside and his quest to wreck havoc on every tyranical entity including the Covenant itself, couldn't help but view it with a more cynical edge. Both sides clashed with the woman who had saved her life on Moorja and with the knowledge that Quinn was also a Dark Councilor.

So many unknowns.

It obviously made her mind bleed elsewhere when this call regarding the artifact found on Naboo and how it had curiously begun to react made one question just what it was capable of.

As if they didn't already have a lumbering artifact Outbound Flight was currently exploring.

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

It felt good to be out, to get herself away from the way the galaxy was. She had a few messages with her father, he was getting slower in his old age but the Tachyon Rising was keeping him and so many lost pilots alive. That was why she did what she did, that and it being her natural skillset. A pilot and explorer, and now? Apparently shore team. Not something she was super excited for, but something she could do, and if not her, then who?

Her ExCon suit was prepped and updated for the missions, Silk and Starchaser Enterprises equipment. Sealed for the environment, she looked out onto the catwalk. It wasn’t what she was hoping for, and she quickly tapped her datapad and called for Drifter to leave the shuttle. She didn’t take her personal ship to this, just the shuttle from the larger vessel. Felt weird, having the other ship, but this was such a short hop.

Kaia looked around, her goals were to figure out what was actually in this structure, and map it for the cause. She didn’t need to investigate it too far, but get enough details that someone could. And she knew she wasn’t the only one here. Fine by her. Sah was good, the other, she didn’t know.

“Can send Drifter ahead. If you’d like.” She nodded to her droid.

Tatiana Sah Sela Basran

 

[Luke Montann]

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Locations⠀ Gas Giant, Entry Team
Objectives⠀ Artefact
Tags⠀l Tatiana Sah l Kaia Starchaser l Sela Basran


⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀LUKE MONTANN.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Engineer.
"The stars are ours to see, the galaxy is ours to set foot on."
Follow the stars..

═ Man's Gotta Earn a Living⠀═

Darkness.

He'd felt it.

He'd heard it. It called to him. He'd been close to it before- but not this one. Something similar. Something dark. The Engineer in him knew it was mechanical, somehow. A machine, but even machines could be evil. Or perhaps this escaped his understanding. And only the Jedi he was with, they would understand it better than him.

Luke was named after heroes, but did not feel it so when he was here. His helmet glowed blue, compared to the clear masks of the Jedi. His suit was armored and layered, pouches and containers for scanners, tools, equipment- and explosives. But he carried a weapon now. And he held it tightly. Though he suspected, whatever this was, would do him no good. His air was filtered and his HUD displayed the status of the others with him, at least, those on commlink. Not all of them had his setup- the members of the Outbound Flight could see his oxygen supply remaining, his heart rate, the rest.

And his heart rate was growing. He was nervous. This thing- this thing orbiting, was evil. It was cruel. He didn't need the force to know that. It just....


Felt wrong.

And it was hungry.

And it was watching.

"Let's not stay here too long."

 

[Tatiana Sah]

Objective II​

The silver faceplate pivoted to regard Sela Basran as the woman emerged and breathed of it being fascinating. It was. Fascinating. Not everyone would think so.

Kaia Starchaser and Drifter entered next. Tatiana looked at the droid for a moment as it floated there. "If it wishes. Not too far ahead." Hopefully they didn't think the droid was expendable. Dee, meanwhile, was still back on the ship in order to support them should anything happen.

Luke Montann was not so taken with the moment. Whatever the cause, there was nothing wrong in what he said. The nature of what lay before them remain unknown. It orbited an equally strange planet as well. Ihese were not... typical circumstances.

"Then we should move to the device to inspect it," Tatiana added. She turned her head forward and began to take several strides with that said. No need to stand around debating whether they should act. Obviously, they should act. No observations of danger existed and therefore no need to delay further. "Any readings or observations should be announced or recorded. The more data we gather, the faster we will discover its purpose."

Sibylla Abrantes

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian moved down the corridor with a kind of purpose that suggested he'd rather be anywhere else. The ship hummed around him, all quiet tension and bad decisions. He still wasn't sure why they were here. The last time Sibylla got tangled up in ancient artifacts, she ended up sharing space in her own head. As far as he knew, that little situation hadn't exactly wrapped up nicely. Future problem, he told himself. They were collecting those.

Cassian's disappearance barely registered beyond inconvenience. If anything, the galaxy felt slightly improved. Unfortunately, Sibylla cared, which made it his problem too. That was the deal, apparently. Care about the person, inherit the chaos. And now Acier had gone fully Sith. Aurelian almost laughed. He'd called that one from the start. Somehow, against all odds, he was turning out to be the stable one in her life. A deeply troublesome development for those who knew Aurelian.

He reached her door and didn't hesitate, stepping inside like he belonged there, because he did.

His eyes flicked over the holographic glow, then settled on her pacing form. "Let me guess," he said, voice dry. "Another ancient horror, another brilliant decision to get involved."

He leaned against the wall, arms folding as if this were all mildly entertaining instead of catastrophically stupid.

"Is this Praxon's grand strategy?" Aurelian continued. "Throw Republic resources at every mysterious object until one of them eats us?" He tilted his head, watching her. "Because I have to say, it's a bold approach. Inefficient. Probably fatal. But bold."

​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

OBJ II | Creepy Machine
Caelian Tane Sela Basran Tatiana Sah Luke Montann Kaia Starchaser
​

"Let's not stay here too long."

Cora hummed once in agreement. It wasn't a pleased sound.

The mechanical fingers of her right hand flexed once, idly, by her side. "I don't trust it."

She'd grown up among plants and trees and clean air and dirt – even the few urban areas on Ukatis were comprised largely of ancient stonework, not durasteel and plastoid. While she didn't have an inherent distrust of modern technology, sometimes things went a little too far.

Case and point: this thing. It was like the opposite of the strange artifact they'd found month ago that swallowed the Force and muted anything electrical. This was uncomfortable in an entirely different way. Even the shadows were watching. In a way, it wasn't unlike some of the darker crevices she'd found herself in.

Cora nodded to Knight Tane, then to the cavernous space around them. She'd never imagined that an open swath could ever be so uncomfortable.

"What do you make of this?"

 

[Caelian Tane]

OBJECTIVE II -The Machine

Caelian walked in step with Corazona von Ascania as he looked around the room, the shadows seemed to dance here, like they were watching the party as they moved, laughing at us,

He looked towards Knight Cora when she spoke "What do you make of this?" she said
"Unsettling.." he replied, "I dont like how this room feels in the slightest" he continued, his hand resting on the hilt of the lightsaber hanging on his belt,

"The shadows seem seem to move as if they are alive" he said while continuing to walk.

Caelian didnt mind closed spaces, even more since this Closed space looks so Open but it was un-nerving to say the least since he was used to the open skies about him.

"Have you seen anything like this?" he asked her.

Equipment Lightsaber- Frostforge Might​

 

[Dominic Praxon]

The itch was intense, burrowing under his skin like a parasite. No longer merely a thought, it was becmoing a conviction crystallising in the darkening recesses of his mind. Even as Quinn's voice reached for him, offering help, the darkness twisted her words. She is doing this to you, the itch whispered. A Sith's mercy is just a slower way to die.

"I am just tired," he snapped, the words coming out more jagged than he intended, "I just need to sleep...I am fine."

But he wasn't fine. Dominic recoiled, his boots scuffing the floor as he scrambled back toward the viewport. His hand found the cold metal of the sill, white-knuckled and trembling. Paranoia felt like the only logical shield left. Sith had mind-altering abilities. The Queen was a Sith. Therefore, the Queen was the source of the rot.

He shook his head violently, palm smearing across his face in a futile attempt to wipe away the visions. He was fighting...he was trying to hold the line...but the line was blurring.

Pathetic.

The word didn't come from the room. It rang from history, from the Lightspire, a memory coated in heartbreak. Bastila's voice. It merged with the low hum of the ship, a wound that refused to scar over. She had seen him for what he was that night. She had finally spoken the truth he'd been hiding from himself.

"She saw it," he mumbled, his back colliding with the bulkhead as the hangar seemed to tilt on its axis. He had lost all sense of geography, the metal wall the only thing keeping him upright.

He looked toward Quinn, but his eyes were vacant, fixed on a woman who wasn't there. A pitiful, resigned chuckle escaped his throat, a sound of total defeat. "She was right. Weak...so very weak..." He slumped against the wall, his voice a ghost of itself. "...Bastila was right."

Quinn Varanin​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Dominic Praxon //:

Bastila was right…

Quinn paused, letting the little bits of words he spoke linger in her mind. She ran over them, over and over, trying to piece together what nonsense he was speaking. If he hadn't said her name, then Quinn would have disregarded everything. Completely ignored it all and assumed it was the crazed ramblings of an overworked man.

But the way he said her name bothered the Echani. She bit her tongue, watching him squirm and writhe about, trying to escape whatever he was dealing with. She watched silently, weighing her options. If she did anything, he would assume she was the issue, that she had decided to turn against him. She was an easy scapegoat; she was a Sith and someone who wasn't supposed to be here.

Whatever was ailing Dominic began to beat at the walls of her own defenses. She didn't want to focus now on protecting him, but she couldn't leave him like this.

Especially if he was someone important to Bastila.

Exhaling, she walked close to whatever distance was made when he pulled away from her. Her voice softened as she reached out.

"She's funny like that." Quinn let her voice be soft, something that Dominic would have never heard from her before. There was a kindness that only escaped involuntarily when Quinn spoke of the Jedi.

"Bastila's beautifully observant, and at times brutally honest…"

A soft and gentle blush crossed her cheek as she tried to refocus her mind. She thought quietly of the dance, to their secluded moments away, all of it bled into the affection when she said her name.

As much as she wanted to let those thoughts linger, she needed to focus on poor Dominic. A hand rested just near his head, a gentle caress of the Force would wash over his mind as she did her best to try and share the mental defenses she had built over the years.

She wanted to ask what Bastila was to him, but she didn't dare. A part of her didn't want to know, didn't want to learn anything about their relationship.

She feared the worst, and in that moment, whatever was bothering Dominic… found its hook into her mind.

You're not enough… you're just a plaything… a distraction.

Quinn closed her eyes and exhaled as she focused a bit more, trying to push back whatever was tugging at Dominic's mind and now hers.
She tried to remember things that brought comfort, the truth of the matter, not whatever the darkness wanted her to believe.

She's an unwitting pawn… or perhaps she does know… imagine the glory to pull the strings and make a puppet of the Sith Heir…

"Dominic, just focus and don't listen to it, alright… please make this easier on me…" She groaned as the voice of her mother began to repeat the warnings she had heard before.

"The… right the databases — what do you need from them?"