Private Rest and Rylothxation

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

Jonyna purred as she climbed out, taking a moment to grab a towel and dry off the old fashioned way. She knew what came next, she just hoped that it would go smoothly.

Soon, they felt the lurch of the ship exiting hyperspace, as Jonyna led them back to the cockpit.

"Dice, land at the old spot. We'll be heading to Teemo's place, then to the old entrance."

The old bot beeped in agreement, as Jonyna let out a sigh. "Sorry for being so secretive, I just...I want this to be special. You'll be meeting someone important to me."

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

Dried and dressed, The couple loomed over Dice as the droid piloted the ship. Taam glanced curiously at Jonyna as she gave Dice direction where to land, and where they were going. While it was cryptic to the big Cathar, Dice knew exactly what the Denik meant.

She expressed again that there was a reason for secrecy, that it was someplace special she wanted to share with him. Then added that there was someone special as well. His curiosity piqued again, but made no effort to convince her to reveal spoilers.

Wrapping an arm around Jonyna's waist, Taam drew her closer, nuzzling her briefly. "Thank you, for showing me these things that mean a lot to you." he crooned. Being with Jonyna again had returned a richness to his life that had been missing.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

Jonyna purred at the sudden touch, leaning back and looking Taam in the eye. "I love you."

As she did, the ship broke through the atmosphere, and down into the spanning desert of Ryloth. Jonyna hadn't been back in a while, but she still felt that alien feeling of everything looking different than what she remembered. Rock formations that weren't there anymore, towns that no longer existed. The planet was still named Ryloth, but it felt like an entirely new world to someone like Jonyna.

But, there were still some things familiar. Slowly, the ship came down in front of an abandoned structure, a palace of some sort that seemed to have once been home to a Hutt of some renown, but now sat as only a ruin of such old tales.

"Dice, prep the Cheetah. I want to cuddle my Taamcat on the way there." She purred, as she looked out to the barren wastes ahead of them, with only a few outcroppings of rock off in the distance.

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

It seemed so natural, so right, when Jonyna leaned back against him. Looking into her azure gaze, he knew she meant what she said.

"Love you too." He crooned back softly.

As the ship penetrated that atmosphere and swooped lower over the landscape, the Cathar couple's attention turned to Ryloth below. He had only been to Ryloth a couple times, and never into the desert.

As they settled before the ruined structure, Taam peered out of the cockpit for a moment. There seemed nothing remarkable about the location, it was basically barren in all directions. Where was this place Jonyna wa taking him?

Joining the fiery Denik, they made their way to the exit ramp and the speeder bike Dice was readying. Taam's hand rested on the small of Jonyna's back as they walked, desiring to keep her close when he could. They were separated by higher callings often, and he would take advantage of every moment together to touch and be near. He was pleased Jonyna wanted to nestle close on the ride to...wherever it was.

Taam had to admit he was excited for this secret Jonyna kept close.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

Having Taam keep close was everything to Jonyna. She'd never admit it, but one of her biggest vices was just how lonely she felt on days without him. She'd dream about a day where she could hold her kittens close, with him guarding them all in bed.

But that was for the future.

As they mounted the bike, Jonyna made sure to allow Taam to wrap his arms around her waist, as she revved the engine, already knowing where to head. The ride was...quiet. She didn't have much to say that wouldn't spoil the surprise, but as they rode, Jonyna felt secure in knowing that Taam would pass the tests ahead of them.

At least, she trusted those in charge of said tests wouldn't hassle him too much about it.

Desert, rock formations, it all seemed to be the same for the next hour, before Jonyna finally slowed as they approached a new rock formation. "Here we are." She smiled as she brought the bike to a halt.

In front of them, from afar, looked like any other rock formation. But as they pulled up, Taam could see what it was pretty clearly.

Carved into the red stone, a massive door, it vaguely resembling the symbol of the old jedi order, just...shifted. Out of place.

Jonyna climbed off the bike, and gestured to it. "Care to take a crack at it? I already know how to open it."

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

Taam climbed on the speeder bike behind Jonyna, its repulsors groaning as the two powerful Cathars straddled it. Taam wrapped his arms around Jonyna, his hands splaying over her abdomen, where he could feel the subtle swell of her womb, as if to protect her litter forming within. He held mother and unborn close to him as the bike bolted into the desert.

The ride was welcomed. Quiet, the two of them alone, the pending secret keeping conversation to a minimum, as if to build the anticipation.

Finally, pull up towards a rock formation, Jonyna annouced their arrival. Taam eyed the door, noting how it kind of looked like an antiquated Jedi design. Was this some sort of old jedi enclave or outpost. He looked to Jonyna and quirked his brow.

Climbing off the bike with Jonyna, Taam eyed the curious door. His Denik girlfriend taunted him with a challenge to try and figure out how the door opens. He looked sidelong at her with a smirk. "You love to mess with me, don't you?" He teased, approaching the old door.

He studied it visually first, around the edges and the bordering rock, then the surface itself, his hand glided gently over the surface, looking for some clue as to how it might be opened.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

"I love to mess with everyone." Jonyna teased, as she watched him give it a go.

The moment Taam touched it, the reality of the puzzle revealed itself. The stones, while massive in size, were held precariously in position, waiting to be shifted. It wasn't exactly hard to see what the solution was either. The symbol of the jedi, just out of order. Out of position.

Jonyna smirked as she watched. Like a bit of deja vu.

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

The old symbol was familiar, but out of joint. Upon his closer examination, Taam could see how the disjointed sections were individuals stones. The one he touched shifted easily at his touch, in spite of their age. A simple puzzle. It took only a moment to shift the stones and restore the full complete sigil.

The puzzle pieces settled into place and a deep groan seemed to vibrate massive door. A moment later, it shifted and opened. But the Cathar knight didn't enter. This was Jonyna's place. He turned to look at her and grinned.

"After you..." He gestured towards the door. "Anything I should know before we go in?" Taam had sensed a hint of trepidation in Jonyna about the visit. It was more than showing him a place she used to frequent. It was about whoever they would encounter. The someone she had mentioned.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

"Just keep your wits about you. The owner of this place is...a bit of a trickster."

As they entered, they found themselves in a room seemingly made entirely of a dull metal, silver in color. But inside...

The room was caked in the dark side. Empty, black as night, and only Jonyna inside with him...

And yet, a faint giggle could be heard echoing through the room.

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

The moment he entered the room, Taam felt that oppressive uneasiness. The curious metal room was thick with the Dark Side. Jonyna's comment earned a scowl. He couldn't see how a place like that could have been associated with the old rebel cause and Jonyna. Her admonishment was heard, but his senses and nerves were already alert.

"Are you sure your friend still owns this place..." He asked, looking around but seeing nothing in the black room. Taam didn't hear confusion in Jonyna's tone, almost as if what they experienced the the entry chamber was not entirely unexpected.

Then, in the silence... a giggle. If Taam could point to the laugh of a trickster, that giggle would be it. "Lithka, what the hell is going on?" Taam asked, his voice calm but highly curious.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul​

It took a moment, but the Cathar's eyes adjusted to the darkness. She knew better than to tell Taam the trust, but...

She didn't like leading him on for too long.

"I'm sure. I know that giggle anywhere." She said simply. "Come on, this part isn't too hard." She took his head, and led him forward. For as dark as the room was, it was barren in it's interior. A box, filled with nothing but hate. Jonyna didn't seem phased by it at all. She'd stared hate in the fact. Shot at it. Wounded it.

And yet, at the end of the box, was...

A door. A simple door.

And on the other side, the sound of chittering. Jonyna let out an annoyed breath, as she ignited her saber.

"Taam, do you trust me?"

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

The Dark nature of the room focused into something intense. Hate. Taam was suspect that, in the eons since Jonyna had vistied the place, something of the Dark Side took up residence. This couldn't be right, whom she sought could not be in this place.

But as feline predatory vision set in, he looked at her. Jonyna's eyes seemed to blaze in the darkness. Taam was assured that this was expected. There was something to face beyond the door, dimly visible. It lit up when Jonyna activated her lightsaber.

The giggle sounded again. Creepy and irritating.

She asked if he trusted her. Taam met her gaze. "Always." was his only reply. He then slipped his new lightsaber into his large hand. But it remained inactivated. He would not ignite it until he saw what was on the other side of the door.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Taam Moghul ​

On the other side, something any Cathar would know simply by the sound.

That eerie buzz, to a non-native of the planet of jungle and savannah would sound like an idle landspeeder engine. But to a native, it was distinct. Unmistakable.

Kiltik.

Hundreds of them. Adapted to live in the darkness of the room, but ready to strike as Jonyna's saber lit up the room. What Taam could feel is that it seemed the dark side seemed to be contained to the last room. Instead, hundreds of the bugs awaited them.

And it didn't take them long to attack. All it took was one brave one to be slashed in half by Jonyna, who seemed to move in a poetic dance, shifting from Form to Form without a thought. It was something she didn't show often, her rebel training allowing her to improvise and shift without a thought.

 

[Taam Moghul]

Tag: Jonyna Si

The door opened, and the sound clarified. He did indeed recognize the telltale buzzing. Taam wasn't a native of Cathar, but he had visited it many times as both the ancestral homeworld of his people, and as Jonyna's home. In the glow of the Denik's lightsaber, he saw the myriad of large advancing insectoids.

His saber ignited as well, its blue-violet blade glow joining his partner's to further illuminate the chamber. He no longer questioned Jonyna. Whatever strange place this was, she expected it all. Instead, he simple felt the place for himself, through the Force. The strong taint of the Dark Side was left in the first room, leaving this one to hum with life. The life of the swarming insects.

Jonyna launched into the insects, and Taam took the span of a breath to admire how deadly and beautiful she moved with her saber. Damn, she was breathtaking. Exhaling, Taam surged forward as well, his saber swinging. His style was much less poetic, yet fluid as he focused his senses through the Force to discern the movement of each kiltik attacking him, guiding his saber to cleave through each in turn.

What lay beyond this room was not his concern, not until they carved their way past the kiltik guardians.