Scenes From a Memory [Elara Wahia]

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

A trail of blood forked down his arm, running through the crevices of his fingers and mingling with the steel hilt in his blade hand. Vond was on one knee now, too wounded to raise himself to his feet. Above him, his opponent smiled, his lips ripe with the satisfying grin of victory. The rival Acolyte would relish in his death, Vond knew. A lifetime of opportunity would await him, where as for Vond Greifen... the end was to be here, in the bloodstained sands of the Sith Academy. It seemed too cruel to be true.

From where had he gathered strength in the past? Memories came flooding into his mind, emotions flashing by in quick bursts. Birth, family, war, the Academy, death. The events of his life seemed incredibly inconsequential as they flashed back in a split second, not even enough to fill the page of a book. They say that every life serves a purpose... but what was his?

He felt a sudden surge of the Force in his body then, which took him by surprise. It was as though an unknown entity was reaching out directly to him, grasping his entire body to relay a message. This would not be the end. Strength may still be found - somewhere, deep within. Vond searched his memories. A picture came into his mind then, clear as the day before him. It was the picture of another face.



Several years ago...



The streets of Adumar were much as Corporal Vond Greifen had left them a day earlier. The planet had offered little resistance to the One Sith as they had conquered it, and so the streets offered Vond and his men no resistance as he moved through them, the crowds of people parting like curtains as the soldiers of the One Sith moved through them. Compared to his other assignments, this was like a vacation. And that was why Vond hated it here.

He would be getting his review from the battalion Captain back any day now. Vond had applied for promotion to a higher station of leadership, and had also requested reassignment to the front. The latter, near-suicidal a request as it was, was sure to be granted. Probably for that very reason. The former request, however, would be slightly harder to obtain. But Vond had sworn to himself that he would not return to the front without more men at his back. He was ready for leadership.

The rest of his men had left to patrol further down the streets, leaving Vond to sit alone at a small cafe table next to the villa fountain. Seeing that there was no danger, Vond felt that he might as well sample more of the local wares and cuisine. His eyes scanned the premises, giving one last glance around to see if he could spot anything out of the ordinary, before he would finally let his guard down.

 

[Elara Amadis]

Traveling her father said they'd be traveling for another month this was just a stop along the way. That was a month ago.

But today the sun was high in the sky the hope of freedom and leaving had disappeared with presence of the war machine known as the Sith. Elara was in the square sitting on the edge of the fountain the spray of water rose up and covered her in a fine mist. She was watching the soldiers their perfectly ironed uniforms. The sharp features of their faces Elara watched for a hint of emotion, and saw none.

Curiosity. She slid off the fountain with catlike movements she walked across the square to where she had seen one if them go. Her tongue swept over her canines. She pushed back her long two tone hair, sweat had beaded on her brow and nape of her neck. She would welcome a cool breeze right now as her nerve at approaching the Corporal suddenly began to slip away.

She stopped and gathered her courage again, what could he do to her? Plenty.

She slipped around to come from behind did he hear her? She moved a chair and sat down he was at her back.

"So. How long does the army stay?" She turned toward him. "Hi I'm Elara"


[member="Vond Greifen"]

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

Vond's head turned up when he realized he was being addressed. He had heard the woman's voice asking the question, but only now did he realize that it was actually directed towards him. He scanned the woman who had boldly approached him. He was on the lookout for anything peculiar, and it seemed Vond had certainly found something. Her strangely-colored skin was glazed over with a fine gloss of sweat, echoing his thoughts about the day's heat. She was an off-worlder of some sort.

"It would seem the intention is to stay forever. The One Sith are not particularly fond of giving up their conquests," He shot her a smile.

He explored her features a bit more. At a second glance, Vond wondered how he had ever missed her vibrant red hair from across the fountain. As she stood in front of him, her hair shimmering in the sunlight, it seemed like it could be visible from space. Meanwhile, the rim of his helmet cast a shadow over the sharp features of Vond's face, masking his eyes.

"Elara? I'm Corporal Greifen," He answered her finally, introducing himself. He would refrain from giving her his first name until he knew more about this strange woman. "Strange. You're the first civilian to approach me here. But I suppose you're not exactly from here, are you?"

 

[Elara Amadis]

She looked at him a little closer now that he had turned his head interesting face for certain different from hers. But then again many were not like her nor did they look like her or any from her species.

She laughed when he said that they would be here forever. Not the response she had hoped for, she tilted her head. She could not see his eyes though the helmet provided just enough shadow that seeing into them was prohibited.

She was relieved that she was not afraid as her skin would shimmer from gold to silver an odd affect that had given the inhabitants of the last planet they were on quite a stir. For what she was going to do next might cause concern to others.

"I can't see your face is that intentional, Corporal Griefen" So formal he was in his introduction, except no first name. They must be trained to be so regimented.

"I am not from here" she said most matter of fact as she looked around; "I don't quite blend in with the others" No she did not.

She looked back at him sitting so calmly taking her in, least she suspected he was. "But then you aren't from here either, are you?" She gave a small smile to him and arching a brow.

[member="Vond Greifen"]

 

[Greifen Ren]

"How rude of me," A smile crept its way across Vond's lips as his hands slid up to unfasten his helmet. Soon it was off and placed on the table in front of him. The shadows retreated from his face, revealing a sharp, youthful smile and brown hair shaped into a military undercut, long strands on the top waving in the gentle breeze. A thin row of sweat was seen where the brim of his helmet used to be, matting some of the front of his hair down.

"It seems we're both strangers in this place, Elara," Vond repeated her name, as if trying it on. "Though if I had to guess, you are here by choice, whereas I am not."

He motioned to the chair across from him.

"What would bring an outsider such as yourself here? Surely it's not simply to make time with the handsome soldiery, although this one won't complain." His blue eyes shimmered brightly as he grinned wryly.

[member="Elara Wahia"]

 

[Elara Amadis]

"Ooo aren't you confident" She took the offered seat. Now seeing him she could see his features sharp yes with keen eyes, aristocratic nose sensual lips, he was quite easy on the eyes.

"Had I known about the handsome soldier I would have sought his company much sooner" She smiled broadly forgetting that she might frighten him with her canines. She realized and quickly put her hand up.

"I am not here by choice I follow my parents till they are settled my father is a consultant for a weapons manufacturer and we travel a lot" A waitress droid came out, "Oh hot tea, Corporal buy you a drink. Are you allowed to fraternize with the locals?" She gave him a mischievous grin.

He was quite interesting.



[member="Vond Greifen"]

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

Things on Adumar could be worse, Vond figured to himself. His answer from high command regarding his requests was due to arrive at any time now, and there was naught else to do but wait. If this deployment was to be a waste of his time anyway, then why not ham it up with the locals?

Although this woman before him was anything but. He had caught a glimpse of her canines before they disappeared behind her lips yet again. Perhaps it was the novelty of never encountering one of her species before... or perhaps he had spent far too much time out of the company of women. She was the first female he had spoken to in months. Whatever it was, male nature took over in Corporal Greifen, and he found himself uncharacteristically excited.

"Well I hope I never find myself on the other end of your father's weapons," Vond quipped. "Ice water, please," He said briskly to the droid before waving it away.

"I'm allowed to speak to locals to a certain extent," He replied to her. "If anyone asks, I'm interrogating you. If my platoon comes back, we might have to head over to that wall for a strip search to make it look official," Vond flashed a teasing grin.

 

[Elara Amadis]

Oh! "And if you do meet up with my father and the business end of his stick I suggest speaking quickly and feigning interest in his daughter, a sure way to calm him."

Adumar was slightly more interesting today the Corporal had a wit about him that she enjoyed. Not many could pull off the easy dismissal of the droid or the ease in which he spoke the vernacular.

"A search. " she laughed, "a strip search" she kept trying not to smile at him but she found she couldn't stop. What was it that left her smiling like a Cheshire cat. "While I might enjoy a private search by a certain soldier I don't think I can do groups" She was flirting with him shamelessly. Boredom could breed such behaviour.

She let him think on that just as their tea and water arrived. The cup was hot now tiny wisps of heat wafted upwards. She wrapped her fingers around the simple white cup.

"So just so I understand you can conquer us but not talk to us. Is that right?

[member="Vond Greifen"]

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

Vond sat back in his chair and crossed his arms casually. "Groups... what makes you think I want to share?" He jested with a cocksure grin.

He couldn't help but find himself drawn to this girl, despite what his parents had told him about consorting with aliens. Neither of them would likely approve... but neither of them were here. Vond wanted to ask what species she was, but she seemed human enough; minus the skin tone and the canines, of course. The fact that she was the first woman he had seen in months was not helping either, he knew.

"We can talk to anyone we please," Vond shrugged, leaning in again to take a sip of his water. "Though other things are frowned upon. Pillage, rape, the sorts of savagery that armies are wont to do. We save those only for our worst enemies," He chortled.

"I must admit," Vond continued, "I have never encountered one of your species before. Forgive me, but I'm embarrased to say that I don't know exactly what you are."

 

[Elara Amadis]

[member="Vond Greifen"]

She sipped her tea and laughed softly, "I don't know I've heard rumors about the armies of the Sith you know how people talk" He didn't want to share that was good she would not, nor would any female she knew, well except maybe the twi'leks and zeltrons didn't take on more than one partner at a time.

He was now definitely looking at her, she arched a brow again questioning the look, What is he thinking? Do I dare continue this? My parents are going to kill me if they find out. She smiled still thinking about how her father would turn colors.

"I am glad that we are not some of the worst enemies of the Sith" Yes very greatful they were not none of what he mentioned was wanted or favorable. It gave her pause though had he done such things to the worst enemies. A rather sobering thought that was. She bit her lip for a moment, and once again took a sip of tea.

"I am of the race of firrerreo" She held her head up, proud of what she was even though she still had memories of human children teasing her. "You're human?" He looked human, he smelled human, but only he knew if he was.

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

"You are the first of the Firrereo that I have seen, then," Vond nodded to her. "If the rest of your species is half as easy on the eyes, I should surely like to visit your homeplanet."

Perhaps he was pouring it on a bit thick, but Vond didn't care. What did he have to lose? There was nothing else to do on this rock, anyway. From the stories he'd heard, it seemed like it was almost expected that the soldiers would find ways to entertain themselves.

"Don't believe everything you hear about the One Sith," His tone grew more reverent as he leaned in. "There may be other armies which commit all sorts of barbarities, but it might surprise you that we are remarkably civilized."

Then, Vond extended a hand across the table.

"Please," He said, "Call me Vond."

 

[Elara Amadis]

"You are a smooth talker but if I am the first of my kind for you then I should be on my best behavior to give you all the right impressions" yes the right impressions though all are different she just wanted to give him the right impression about her. Surely he knew that everyone was different.

"If all Sith soldiers were as nice as you perhaps so many wouldn't scream and run off yelling" there were probably those that would sit and cheer the sith armies not many but some.

She looked at his offered hand a gesture of friendship, she set her tea cup down. Extending her own hand she laid hers on top of his and gently curled her fingers around his. The grasp was warm. She couldn't help but have this smile of wonder. She had not found many that would extend their hand in such a way to her, or to many of her kind. Her green yellow flecked eyes looked from their hands to his face. "Vond, it is a pleasure to meet you and so far you are changing my mind about the soldiers in the Sith army"

She did not withdraw her hand quickly she enjoyed the simple touch. Realizing that he may think her a bit needy or odd she withdrew her hand. She picked up her teacup again. "I will have to leave soon so that I can be in before curfew. Unless you have a way to get me a special dispensation to be out after it." She was hinting at what he could do.

[member="Vond Greifen"]

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

"Well, you are changing my mind about this planet," Vond nodded with a smile in response. "I think I may like it after all."

Had the hour already grown so late? Vond had hardly noticed at all, but to his surprise, the sun was beginning to loom low on the horizon in the high lazy hours of the afternoon, threatening to dip behind the buildings shortly. Elara's comment seemed to be an invitation to continue fraternizing, an offer that Vond would meet gladly. Bringing civilians into camp was against protocol, strictly speaking. However, that didn't stop the soldiers of the Army from finding ways to enjoy themselves, and often the commanders, knowing the needs of their men, were prone to look the other way. A typical army usually had a healthy amount of camp followers, and the One Sith Army was no different.

"I don't know if you have anything better planned," Vond said, "But surely, nothing could be better than joining me back at the festivities of the Army camp tonight." He smiled, preferring to leave the happenings of the Army camp to her imagination. Bored soldiers knew how to party, she would soon find out, if she accepted his offer. "I'm sure we can find a way to get you in. Ah, here... we can use these."

He held up the pair of wrist binders that were fastened to his belt, exhaling a smooth laugh.

 

[Elara Amadis]

[member="Vond Greifen"]​

​

Anything better? "On a planet where the soldiers just sucked all the fun out for themselves." She wasn't trying to taunt him but the truth was that once the Army arrived all citizens would be walking extra careful and stress would mount. Stress did not equal fun. Now she looked Vond over she wasn't opposed to fun, but what kind of fun did he have in mind with the cuffs?

And then there was the idea of going to the camp. Bored Soldiers, meant drinking for certain. Games of some kind. Could she resist the instinct to resist with a set of cuffs on. She wasn't sure and hesitated. Hissing through her teeth as she thought about what to do. She looked at him, then the cuffs, then thought about what her parents would do, and her friends. the few she had.

It would be a tail to tell wouldn't it, and it might just earn her some points and some popularity friends. You know the kind that only hung around because you're the flavor of the month.

"You will let me out of those, right?" She pointed to the cuffs, "You aren't going to throw me in a cell are you?" She just wanted to be safe, sure. free. She repeated to herself the free part.

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

Vond shrugged. "Don't worry, our cells are very clean. We even feed you once a week," He gave her a good-natured grin to let her know he was teasing.

Then, more seriously, "Camp followers are free to come and go as they please. Usually we only accept people who offer some type of service... like cooking, or repairs. HQ frowns upon us making friends with the locals and taking in just anyone, which is why these will be necessary," He let the cuffs clang on the table between them.

"...But once we're out of their sight, we won't have to worry." It was basically an unspoken rule that the soldiers would fraternize with the local civilians. The Army discouraged it, and would discipline men who were caught, but enforcement of the rule was low due to sheer logistics. As long as you at least presented a veneer of a passable story, there was little else to worry about.

She would have to trust him, however. Which was a big step for a person she hardly knew, and a foreign soldier no less.

"What do you say? Are you in?" He held out the wrist binders, ready to clasp them upon her.

 

[Elara Amadis]

Scary yet enticing she thought about it. What he said made sense, even if it was the first time she had heard it. She looked into his eyes he didn't seem to be lying his eyes didn't dilate. But maybe his species didn't. She stared at the cuffs.

She felt warm inside flush even looking at the cuffs.

She held out her wrists, "ok but I'll need protein more than water" a remark about the cells. She shifted slightly breathing heavy for a moment to contain her fear.

"Camp follower that seems to cover a myriad of people. They have other names too right? " She couldn't bring herself to say traitor or prostitute. Her look though should convey what she was thinking.

"I'm trusting you [member="Vond Greifen"] with my life" Of that she was certain.

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

Vond perked up as she agreed, smiling. "Let's go, then."

He wrapped the binders around her wrists.

To make things look official, he took her by the arm as he stood up, pulling her to her feet. Then, he led her towards his speeder, which was stationed at the end of the road. Meanwhile, behind them, the sun was beginning to hide behind the buildings, coloring the sky a deep orange almost as bright as Elara's hair.

"Hop on," He gestured. Since her wrists were bound, she would have to sit in front of him, while he reached around and piloted the controls, lest she fall off. He tweaked the throttle on the speeder with his wrist, and the engines came to life with a low whooping sound.

"Camp followers are all kinds of people," He explained to Elara, catching the look in her eye. Vond was sure he understood what she was talking about. "Cooks, traders looking to sell things. Entertainment for the soldiers," Vond figured that Elara would catch his meanings. He was of course referring to the prostitutes that inevitably followed armies, because the coin was good. "You'll be the first Firrerreo though," He chuckled.

"Your father won't wonder where you are, will he?" Vond asked while he set the speeder in motion.

 

[Elara Amadis]

[member="Vond Greifen"]​

​

When the binders wrapped around her wrists she felt a moment of panic she took a breath letting the tension ease slowly away as he walked her towards the bike. Those on the street looked over shaking their heads wondering what had she done to be taken in by the army. With the sun going down she knew her family would be looking for her soon they would need to send a message to keep them from trying to storm the gates looking for her.

She slid in front of him this was her first time on a bike she made sure her feet were not near anything that would hurt she looked ahead though, the humming of the engine vibrated through her. She laughed it felt odd, she could feel it from her toes to her teeth. She looked back at him. She did listen when he explained in turn nodded, "I don't know that I want to be entertainment for all solders" A fate that she would not walk.

The first firrerreo she did not know to be honored or concerned either way the answer lay ahead. She hoped she wasn't to be a giant bug shield for him she looked forward when he asked about her father, "He will, I would recommend a message to support my presence." That he remembered she liked.

They were beginning to move forward, the air moved only a bit faster she was breathing almost in time with the humming of the engine. She had to calm or pass out from breathing odd. She took in a breath and held it.

"Why are you with the army, isn't there something else you could do?" She thought of the reputation of the army. Was he like that? Did he want to be like that? She did not know.

 

[Greifen Ren]

[member="Elara Wahia"]

The speeder moved forward at a leisurely pace, hovering across the ground slow enough to allow the two of them to continue their conversation. Vond would remember to lend Elara his holocommunicator when they arrived, so that she could inform their father that she was safe. Some kind of lie would be prudent, considering if she told him she had been taken in by the Sith forces, that might not go over too well.

Vond arched a brow and looked at the side of her head when she asked her question, a puzzled look coming over his face. It was as though he had never considered this question before, as if the mere idea of being anything but a soldier was completely foreign to him.

"Something else?" He repeated. "I'm... not sure I follow." A few more seconds passed by, with nothing between them but the breeze of the air as it whistled by. Then, "I have never known anything else. I may serve the One Sith now, but it was not always so. I was born on Dromund Kaas. During the time of the Sith Empire."

He paused there for a moment, allowing her a second to process the information and recollect the great Sith Empire years ago, which he was sure she did.

"From childhood we were expected to do nothing else except serve the Empire. This is our way. And so when my parents moved to One Sith territory to continue their loyalty to the Sith... I became a soldier. For me to be anything but a servant of the Sith Empire, in whatever form... it's unthinkable."

Perhaps this made him sound strange to her. But this was his life, his experience, and it was all he knew. Vond decided to divert attention away from himself. "And what is it you wish do in life? Besides flirt with soldiers on the street," He smiled at her.

 

[Elara Amadis]

[member="Vond Greifen"]​

​

[SIZE=12pt]She looked at him, not follow? Oh he was born in Sith lands so naturally he didn’t know anything else but that.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She giggled some, “I don’t know flirting with you had gotten me a ride and a view into an army camp” Yet to be seen but still.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]“Me? I can become a doctor, a lawyer, a gem dealer, arms dealer, there’s lot of things other than soldier. But you know” she didn’t want him to feel bad, “it’s ok to be a soldier if you like it. I’m not sure yet, my parents are very much about my leaving home. I think they want to change my room into something else”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The truth was her parents wanted her to go to the core worlds and away from the influence of the dark forces. They feared it was having an effect on her. She didn’t know if they were right or wrong, she was just having fun.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]She smiled at him, “So will you be sure to keep me all to yourself when we get into camp?” She was a bit afraid of what could happen.[/SIZE]