P.S. He Loved You

[Jaxton Ravos]

The rainforests of Erida teemed with life, the Force, and, perhaps expectedly, rain. The sky seemed to be pouring buckets on Randial as he explored the jungle, looking for a Sith Huntress. Her trail, as expected, was difficult to follow. She moved light, quick, took varying approaches, left no patterns. It seemed she was not only a huntress, but a skilled one as well. Though Randial kept on his target, just at the Huntress would her prey. His steps, though quiet, were not too quiet. His moves, though precise and efficient, were not graceful. His body, though strong, was large, powerful, and deep shade of blue that did not blend well with the jungle or the rain, though much of that appearance was hidden by the mud and leaves that stuck to his body. He passed several beasts, whether non,semi, or fully sentient, but let them all be, his eyes focused on only one.

Eventually his determination and patience paid off. From the brush of a strong tree he could spy the Huntress. She might have seen or heard him coming from a kilometer away, but Randial had no way of knowing. He knew only that his target was close, and that for the moment, it was her move. Randial had determined in the past that he would discover the secrets of Odium's power, his flight up the ranks of the One Sith. Now that he was dead that determination was not gone, only redirected. To her lover, the wild [member="Quinn Vos"].

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

The rain water dripped down the contours, curves, and valleys of her mocha-form in small rivers. Mud-brown hair spunged against the curve of her bare shoulders. Even in the thrum of drops against the ground, she heard him from a long way off. Bare feet pressed into the sloppy soil. She had lead him to this exact spot.

She knew of Odium's fate. His blood no longer cried in her body. Of course, she didn't know about this stranger or why he seemed to be seeking her out. All it would take would be a brush of her exposed skin against his.

She turned to face her prey.

Bow was taught, arrow notched in his general direction. There were traps all over the Forrest and in this clearing. With a nudge of the force or fire of her arrow she could set one off and end this. But she waited as the warm rain continued to trickle down her back.

"Why are you here?"

Fiery orbs as green as the jungle locked onto his.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

Red pupil-less eyes focused on the huntress, her bow trained on his image. Despite the danger of her weapon his gaze was without fear, hesitation, or doubt. He grabbed the inside of his robe and pulled out a small piece of flimsi just far enough out of the pocket for the Huntress to spot before putting it back in it's pocket, where the heavy rain wouldn't distort it's fragile form.

"To deliver a message." The Chiss said in a statement that was brief, to the point. His voice cold as the droplets slipping through his armor, hard as the water beating on his helmet, heavy as the Huntress's now-soaked hair. Eyes remained focused on the bare-foot in front of him. Figure still as the great trees around him, unmoving save for the motion of mouth and vocal chords. It would be clear that while the chiss did not challenge the Huntress or her arrows, neither did he show them any fear, or any reaction in truth.

"You are Quinn." Less a question than a statement it was, like his first words, succinct. Perhaps the mention of her name would make her lower her weapon. Perhaps it would result in her attempting to interrogate or mug him for his information. Perhaps it would result in full-blown combat, and Randial would have to deal with a loosed arrow and whatever other traps might have been hiding in wait. But whatever the future brought Randial was not one to believe anything was to be gained by avoiding the issue.

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

Fiery-orbs narrowed. She did not trust him. He knew too much. Hidden deeper in her depths was a flash of curiosity and the flame of hunger to know more about that piece of flimsi.

"You know name but I do not know you."

Toned-arms shifted as she released the arrow toward a vine just to the right side of his face. If it hit, it would trigger the opening of a hidden pit beneath his feet. If he fell, he would have a two-story drop. But he would be lucky because this one didn't have any pointed spikes at the bottom. Instead, it was littered with bones and skulls from the natives that hadn't escaped Odium's force-drain wrath.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

[member="Quinn Vos"]

The arrow came quick, angled just a bit higher than normal to compensate for the above-standard gravity on Erida. Randial could see it coming, but he was not swift enough to catch it. Perhaps if he wasn't wearing his mesh undersuit or durasteel armor, but he was, and there was no point in physically attempting to avoid the attack. Luckily it didn't come to Randial, instead heading for just to the right of his face. The chiss wasn't sure if the shot's narrow margin of error was intentional, but he knew it was best not to let it get too close. Using the gentlest nude of the Force he pushed the arrow farther to the right, altering it's course just enough to where it didn't hit the vine. The vine did not cut, the ground did not open, and Randial did not fall. Instead he opened his palms and extended them from his sides, a sign he wasn't grabbing at the saber on his belt or attempting to pull anything. At least, not anything he could pull with his hands.

"I come bearing a message and am attacked." He said, his crimson lenses focusing upon the mocha-framed Huntress. "If this message bears such danger I shall destroy it and go my way, but I am in no mood for games."

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

In no mood for games.

"Me neither. So remember, you are out of your element here." She remained still, muscles tensed, and feet firmly planted in the moist soil. Tattooed-face remained calculating as fiery-orbs met his endless eyes of molten lava.

In one fluid motion, she lowered the bow, shouldered it, and sheathed the arrow.

She maintained her distance but tipped her chin slightly in his direction. "Come. There is cave up here. We talk." Turning, but never completely turning her back on him, she began weaving her way through the trees and undergrowth. They would have to climb a partially washed-out slope and pass through a small clearing of boulders before the mouth of the cave would become visible.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

The mocha-framed Huntress reminded him of the place he stood, as if he had forgotten the wilds of the forest, or the scent of the pouring rain. Perhaps the Huntress was used to dealing with amateurs. Perhaps he had given the impression he was one. It was no matter. She would learn he was no man to trifle with soon enough. She traveled a decent distance, certainly far beyond a weapon's swing length, and kept subtle watch on Randial. Leading him to a cave. It could have been a trap, but he suspected he was in a trap already. Whether or not this was her environment he trusted his mind and his body to get through the day. Let alone the power of the Force.

They trekked through water-soaked slopes and valleys of rock, neither an easy task. The Huntress of course had little difficulty despite the constant barrage of droplets on their person and the ground around them, and Randial did well enough. Not nearly as graceful or quick as the kiffar, but well enough not to be impeded. The obstacle laden forest didn't play to his strengths, or at the very least that was what he wanted the huntress to think. After all what was a Sith without secrets? Randial had his truths, the now-dead Odium his loves, and perhaps the Huntress the same. Perhaps that would be his price, a secret for a secret. Perhaps not and the Huntress could further his progression in some other way. Only time would tell, but Randial didn't have long to wait. The cave's mouth was visible from the end of his vision. They'd be undergoing their 'talk' soon.

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

She briefly disappeared into the blackness of the cave's mouth. A fire suddenly appeared from the back-corner and cast a warming glow to the space. Her form hovered on the edge of the fire's glow. Moisture dripped down her skin and clothes.

The glint from several daggers hugging the curve of her form sparkled as the light from the fire caught them.

She motioned to several perches that were free for sitting if he so desired but her posture was anything but relaxed. "Who are you?"

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

As they headed into the cavern Randial could feel warmth. Beyond the simple lack of rain beating atop them the light of a fire greeted the Chiss and the Huntress. The two bodies were both dripping by now, with the fire doing it's best to rid them of moisture. With the Huntress standing on the edge of the fire's light it was easier to examine her form. Her body held a brown tint, curves in her waist that implied femininity, curves in her arms and legs that implied strength, tone of figure that implied athleticism. While her hair was longer than a boys it was still kept short, with care taken to make sure it did not interfere with her eyes or fall into her quiver. Her dress was light and functional, the dirt and grime of use in the jungle evident. Most importantly however to Randial was the hand-carved bow across her shoulder, the rough and self-cut arrows amidst her quiver, and the array of daggers tracing the edges of her hips. While a few daggers looked to be iron or steel, 'modern' weapons seized through tactics, the majority were whittled out of bone. Though she held the Force the Huntress had no inkling of technology's aids. He wondered if that made her stronger.

"Does it matter?" Randial asked, though a quick glance could tell that was not what the Huntress would accept. With a sigh he continued. "A hopeful. I am called Randial, though the name bears no weight." It was true, he had done little to become well known amongst the One Sith. Still standing he watched the Huntress carefully. This was no home for him, nor their business a pleasant one. He'd go without sitting for now.

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

"Randial," she let the name roll off her tongue. She un-shouldered the bow and quiver of arrows. Eyes snapped back to his as she pondered his use of the word. "Hopeful?"

She took a step closer, like an approaching Nexu.

She wanted to know about the contents of the message, why he knew her name, and who wrote the message. But first she wanted to know more about this stranger. "What are you hoping?" Tattooed-face scrutinized his features.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

It was clear from the tone of the Huntress that she didn't know what he was, how the Sith hierarchy worked. Intriguing. If she wasn't a Sith what was her story?

" 'Hopeful' is a term the Sith use for someone who hasn't joined their ranks but is attempting to find a teacher." Randial explained. "As for what I'm really hoping for?" He shrugged.

"Answers I suppose."

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

He was right about her lack of knowledge regarding the One Sith. Her ties had been through Odium. He turned her. But now that the bond was broken, her future was less clear and as murky and unstable as the mud-slicked water running down the slope outside.

The embers of the darkside still smoldered in her core. When she thought of Korr they were almost doused completely. But when he wast near, the temptation to stoke the fire nipped at her being, like an addict's hunger.

It would always be her burden to bear.

She slid to the side of the fire ad motioned for him to come closer to the warmth with a beckon of her calloused hand. "I thought you were here to give answers." Fiery-eyes briefly traveled to his coat pocket.

"And the sith will gladly take another tribute into their ranks." There may have been undertones of disgust in her voice but it wasn't clear.

[member="Randial"]

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

Randial nodded at the Huntress in her last words. The lack of taste for the Sith as a whole was evident. It seemed that perhaps they had more in common than Randial realized.

"Indeed. It will be their undoing." Randial said, his tone neutral as one would expect would expect from a Chiss. Whether he meant through himself or others was unclear.

"And I am." He said, opening his coat and pulling out the protected piece of flimsi with Odium's Message on it. If it was psychometried she'd see Randial pick it up from Odium's bag, a pink skinned and blue haired man rumble through it beforehand and perhaps even Odium's death by said pink-skinned blue hair.

"I was attempting to find out more of a Nautolan Sith. Perhaps convince him to become my teacher. I followed him to a strange world beyond the Maw. I saw him fight a man and lose. This was what remained."

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

Throat closed, chest ached, but none of her discomfort showed. She closed the short distance between herself and Randial and plucked the flimsi away from his hand. As soon as her mocha fingertips brushed against the paper eyes blazed in a white-glow as the psychometry kicked in.

"A man with blue hair and pink skin," she muttered and he would be aware of her ability.

The glow in her eyes passed, a shadow of mourning passing over her features. Retreating to the light of the fire, she knelt down in the dirt. Fingers so unlike hers, trembled as she read the note from [member="Darth Odium"]. From Ket.

"I couldn't save him," she whispered, voice strained and hoarse.

There weren't words to describe his death. The part of herself that had been trapped and bonded by his blood was suddenly ripped away. In a sense, she had been freed. In another sense she became even more entrapped and alone. Thoughts drifted to Korr and his comm she had nestled away in her bag.

She crumpled the note and let it burn away in the fire. Running her index, middle, and ring finger across her chapped lips she bowed her head and offered a sign of farewell from her Kiffar tribe for the dead. Even with the presence of another, the moment was private.

She turned back to him as the ash settled. "What do you wish to learn? I can tea...point you to the right one."

How could she teach if she was struggling with her own darkside connection. And with Ryan things were complicated. Taking on a student now would be too dangerous. If he found that something was wrong and reported her...

She would rather die on the battle field.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

[member="Quinn Vos"]

Blue hair and pink skin. Psychometry. So she'd seen him, both of him. More complications. Could nothing in the galaxy ever be simple? As the Huntress read the note, not merely physically but spiritually she nearly collapsed, falling into a kneel by a fire . It didn't take the Force to see she was stricken by the news. It seemed the love Ket felt for her was mutual. A shame. He had no desire for something like that to be destroyed. She said she couldn't save him and Randial wished to comfort her but he didn't know if he could. Or if he even should.

With nothing to say Randial pulled back, away from the Kiffar and the fire. He didn't go far, not wanting to leave her company completely, but rather giving her a moment to mourn for the dead. It was the least he could do. She came back to him in her own time, and he turned back to face her. She asked him what he wanted to learn. Though his face continued to be expressionless and stoic his thoughts were of her pain, her conflict. What he could feel of her.

"What I seek to learn is not something a person can teach." Randial replied. "Nor something you can give me." Randial continued, examining the Huntress. She was wild, passionate, and in flow with her emotions. Her 'membership' in the One Sith was of necessity, not desire. Based on a connection, one that ended far too soon.

"You hate Sith." Randial spoke. It was not a question. He was risking much with this approach, but this woman? She was in pain. The inner conflict with the Darkside and the Light was palpable within her emotions, in the Force around her. Perhaps she'd could become more than a condolence call. Perhaps she could become an ally.

"I do too."

 

[Quinn Vos]

The mouth of the cave closed suddenly, filled with rock and mud by no outward physical movement from Quinn, though the force flowed through the Kiffar as the earth bent to her will. The light of the fire was gobbled up next, with a gurgle and slurp from the cave's floor. They were left in sudden darkness, the remnants of smoke filling the air.

Her voice was behind him, in the deep pitch.

"You speak dangerous words all too loudly."

An eerie silence.

"But sith hating sith is not new." Her voice sounded to his right side, now, and a little further back. "Prove I can trust you and maybe I will."

[member="Randial"]

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

As the light of the cave vanished the Huntress began to circle him with remarkable silence. Her voice would come from behind, his side, further back as her position altered. A display of power with the cave-in, the movement of position, all meant to intimidate him. To make him feel he was not in control. He could have ignited his lightsaber and found the woman but he decided not to. There was little point in attempting to exert his own control. This was her cave. Her world. He had no impression that he could change that. But perhaps he could change her mind.

"The decision to trust me is your own. All I can tell you is I aim to stop this needless war, and to find a friend. Rosa Mazhar, if you know the name." Randial replied, his position still unchanging. "The ball is in your court Huntress."

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

She had her reasons for closing the cave and dropping them in darkness. It was more for protection of them both. Spies were too common these days. Ironic.

"Help me destroy the one named Darth Isolda and I will help you find your Rosa."

She waited quietly for his response, comfortable in the dark.

[member="Randial"]

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

Isolda. Randial knew that name. It was a powerful name. Ember of the Vahl, Voice of the Dark Lord. A name that held weight. Influence. Power. Asking for her head was no easy task. It was a person Odium did well to keep track of, to take notes on, to watch. Randial knew such a task was not easy, impossible even, but neither his form nor his voice wavered.

"It is a deal." Randial agreed. "So what happens now?"

[member="Quinn Vos"]

 

[Quinn Vos]

[member="Randial"]

He would soon find something that felt like a comm touch his fingertips in the dark. "Now we will speak no more of this until the time is right. Contact me on this if you need help. I will call you when she is...accessible."

It seemed the wild woman knew how to use some technology after all.

With a crunch and rumble, rocks, mud, and dirt crumpled away from the cave - making a new opening. The earth-bender stepped back, the glow of yellow fading from her fiery-green eyes.

"Now you go."