Private Shadowy Depths

[Syn]

The world of Auratera was a place that few went to... Which was what made it perfect for the wandering jedi master and Sera Inkari on the Alema. The Acablas cenote was also the main attraction they would have to get to as there was something here as the world had been isolated in the dark harvest and worse recent attacks from other groups. The Drengir were a threat but abersyn and other creatures were just as much. There was no real way to be sure as the jedi master meditated in the chamber on the ship. He breathed in and then outwards with the force going through his body when he had set the course. There was a danger in the galaxy now and this far out in wild space there was even less government oversight... the concord was gone, the silver jedi moving to aid others and a number of other galactic powers had disappeared across the galaxy. He rose up from his area in the center of the room.

The jedi master was moving and could feel the presence of Alema the ships well spirit as it were and it remained by his side. Allowing himself a moment or two while he was feeling it out in the force itself. He was making a plan for what they would likely need to do and the world itself well investigating it would prove useful. Sera was skilled and tempest was always one who could show up or Asha if they needed to help. THey were valued friends afterall and if they could provide aid well he was all the more for it. Sera though would do and the pair of them were able to traverse the galaxy, finding the greater mysteries that would prove to be something more dangerous... and they could handle it mostly. He would never let it be known if he couldn't and she was better at seeing into the future than most he knew so... that helped.

"Sera." He said it and thought about Kashyyyk and her vision, something had been seen that managed to get a hitch in her breathing but it wasn't something to fret about yet. She would have said if it had been bad or terrible which meant manageable.... he could work with manageable. He had his lightsabers for his hip holster and made sure his eye sash was secured before he was heading towards the observation window. He couldn't see what was there but he could look out in the force as they were going through space and more of it stretched outwards. He could feel the massive conflict on Exogal that was going on and the massive attack would likely see many more jedi involved. Others were at Coruscant and many on the high plane itself as the jedi master set about trying to prepare.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Subtle hum and vibration of their ship's travel brought a tactile representation of their journey. Traveling star to star, their constant vigil took them to many unknown places, and she'd become accustomed to their journey's cadence.

Sitting in her quarters, Sera was finishing her morning prayer. Modestly decorated in amber tones, a liquid not sonic shower, a simple wardrobe, and her standardized bed. The running fountain gave off recycled water as moisture, across a small ritual altar for prayer, and a large drinking container stood close at hand to quench her constant thirst. Candles were something she preferred, but she was still debating with their ship about the value or proper use of having lots of candles all over her room. Only a single large candle stood at the doorway, which she blew out.

Dressing in the dark, Amber Jedi Jewel Robes on, her veil unfastened, and the faintest burn mark on her cheek became visible until she brushed the thick locks of her hair to cover them. With the religious symbolism on her necklace clipped into place, Sera unlocked the door.

Breakfast was simple, three glasses of water and a small bowl of watery fruit. Giving thanks for her meal, she also thanked their ship, remembering to do so every day for carrying them to their destinations, and providing them with shelter.

Soft steps brought Sera into the room Syn was in, she was seeing if he noticed her. Hands folded together in her robes, looking out the observation room over his shoulder.

Sera?

She gave a small smile.

"Yes Master? Is something troubling you?" She too felt the galactic struggles, and how they rippled outward. Ripples that often needed their attention. Syn was a powerful guiding hand in their force, she'd seen him walk through fire for her and for others. One day she could say the same about herself.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

"Always." He said it partially as jest, partially as truth as jedi shadows... real jedi shadows were much more sinister then the silver shadows or alliance shadows. It wasn't a rank you used to invoke respect it was about fear. The shadows were chained under the council and rarely invoked because of their dangers. They avoided other jedi because the darkside crept through everything and they hunted it down even among their ranks. Those who served and called themselves it but took positions of power showed why they were not among the few. It helped of course they usually tried to justify it as being allowed to use the darkside or having codenames for themselves... made it more obvious aside from the lack or skill and power.

"But for the moment there is not much, we are headed to a world and it has fallen out of contact to the other jedi temples. Its proximity to three worlds in wild space that are threats on a galactic scale if they escape the blockades and quarantines of their planets." He said the last while walking and stopped looking at her. "If they escaped it would be bad, the abersyn seek to assimilate and control everything with their queen and hive mind, the nameless seek to eat the force and drive force users to madness and the drengir to plunge the galaxy into a harvest where they eat everything and all the species are born in the darkside but they are not sithspawn... they are natural."

He said it and well the idea that all of them were in wild space in somewhat proximity to each others given the region was charted and all of them were in a region of it that hadn't been at the time... was troubling of what could be there in that area. The jedi master was staying there while the ship continued forward. "The world also was used once as an exploration point for jedi and sith and jedi again, it channels the force within its waters and served as a meditative spot before they would head to explore a region that produced more dangerous things if they were not careful... and we are going to walk right into it." He said it and looked for a moment.

"It could be a difficult trial, the drengirs shadow is a powerful darkside presence that seeks to dominate and pull one into their root mind to make them a meat puppet as some would say enforcing their progenitors will."

 

[Sera Inkari]

Always.

Free from her amber hood or veil, her head dipped appreciating his poignant honesty. Truth was revealing of itself. Always callings requiring their aid, for as long their journey lasted.

Listening to details of their mission. Selfishly she was extremely gratified to be journeying to a world with plentiful moisture, even the possibility of streams or rivers. Before leaving her home to experience the galaxy, only in her dreams had she seen such places.

Taking a half step beside him, "are we to be caretaker or exterminator?" She asked, joining him to look out over their viewport's stars. Not quite the Jedi way to ask that question. Would they be stopping their danger from spreading past quarantine, or seeking more permanent solutions closer to the source? There was anticipation when Syn spoke of what almost sounded to her ears, like a ritual area, a meditative spot where Jedi would prepare themselves for what was to come. She wondered what might be required for such a blessing.

"I…. we are ready for the trials Master," Sera sounded overly confident, her blue eyes focused ahead on the future. The thought of confronting potent darkside energy for the first time really since she left it, had her guard up. It would be a test of her, and her Master's ability to guide her through any latent emotions or conditioning she still had. "Our force will not fail us," she said under her breath, holding a hand to her religious amulet and offering them both a few words of blessing for their journey ahead. The priestess would follow Syn wherever he led them.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

He listened to her and it was good that she seemed confident in their goal.... maybe. "We are going first as observers, if there is nothing there then releasing power would be fruitless... but if there is danger then we are to handle it the best way we see fit." He said it and to him the best way was making sure it wouldn't be a threat again in the future... but that would be excessive and not something many would do. He listened to her and her thoughts were always guarded which was a good thing but her still put a hand out for her shoulder and gave a nod of his head. "But we are not using this as a staging ground... instead we are here for now... the other places the jedi would travel to are for not not needed."

He said it as the ship was heading into the atmosphere and Alema appeared, the form slender and had awaken Liber who was standing there with a towel around her hair and form. "Master we have arrived in the atmosphere, scans show the hanger bay is damaged and there is damage but it is not recent to the temples surrounding the cenote." The ship spoke and Liber looked at them but shrugged as she spoke. "I'll be here if you need any back up... jedi temples and me aren't exactly on the best of speaking terms." She said it and offered a smile on her face though for the pair when she was turning around to go and get changed.

"Lady Liber, temples cannot speak, they have not been given a personality." The ship was correcting as the smuggling jedi spoke. "Alema you are going to need to learn sarcasm... maybe or I'll just have to show you how to get really drunk." The ship seemed to be thinking about it and how it would process but was continuing the conversation in Libers room as the jedi master didn't need to turn his head... the benefit of miraluka senses was that he didn't need to follow physically he could just do it with the force intently. "We'll head down now. Remember that I am here with you and you are here with me. We keep each other from being overwhelmed in places like this."

He said it and gave a small nod as the ship moved into position over the ruined hanger bays and the doors opened. Adjusting for the pair to be able to gather their equipment and head out as the jedi master stood there looking down and into the force to find the edges that would be more dangerous as he lept out. The force guiding him and wrapped around in a cushion at he went through some fo the debris passing it and landing with a softened sound from the controlled descent. He looked around for the moment and moved as the silence of the temple settled over and even the ship was barely making a sound this far down.

 

[Sera Inkari]

"Observers as you say." She was leaping ahead to action rather than investigation, old sith traits that required her observation and prayer for guidance. Feeling his hand steadying her, she closed her eyes and nodded softly.

Liber and Alma bantered. Temples all have their own communication Sera pondered. Designs of their altars or symbolism, their rituals, and their daily routines, were all practiced over and over. Visitor's daily life at temple was their speech, becoming muscle memory from their acolyte's actions. About to speak when Liber departed, she smiled and dipped her head.

"Alma silently you speak to us," Sera said softly, resting her hand against their ship's wall to let her know she cared. Hum of their ship reminding them all of their companion and journey. With their time on-board, when something was wrong, or everything was normal they probably all sensed alma's condition by sound or touch. "Many blessings for your watch over us." She withdrew her hand and followed her Master to get ready.

Remember that I am here with you and you are here with me. We keep each other from being overwhelmed in places like this.

Her turn to be for him as he was for her. Touching her hand to her forehead and cheek in blessing. Pouches attached to her cloth belt, saberstaff, extra flasks for water, and communicator in place. Turning to face him as he leaped down. She looked, sensing her best spot to join him below. Gracefully she didn't stumble with a bend at her knee. Touch to her hair, hood back up in place framing her thick amber locks.

Sera reached out her senses to see what she could feel. Focusing not on their futures, but their present, if their force allowed. Kintan's priestess found her senses seeking out water, but also where that water led, a mix of both present and future.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

The landing was good and Alema moved off to a safer location so attention wouldn't be brought to them. The sounds of the water below muffling much more while he could taste it. The visit that rose up where it fell down from the larger distances and clung to the metal and walls of the temple. The jedi master was moving and looking in the force at more of the temple for themselves. Old stone pathways littered with weeds and leaves but nothing saying danger right away. Evidence of animals coming around from time to time and even left over supply packs from visiting jedi who likely came to explore and meditate.

He allowed himself to focus and the robes he wore provided limiters on his power largely to keep him concealed as he wasn't one for being stealthy and subtle in his approach... but it wasn't imposed aside from himself doing it. That was the key to the shadows he tried to teach them... the few he trained in this well lonely endeavor. THey were stronger than most and made to endure because they had to but they were usually much stronger than some of the other jedi who were around them so limiter and largely avoiding those who might be tainted with the darkside was important unless you were working to aid in the redemption of one.

He kept moving forward and allowing the force to breathe around himself was important... stretching out as he could feel its shadow there below them. The first thing coming to him was the scent and he moved crouching lower towards old shells that were broken underfoot. The slime from them long since dried but it left a scent in the surrounding dirt where it sank in. Rank and something you didn't want to have. "There was something here, old eggs likely brought by smugglers or a jedi team could have but they should have kept it in nullification resin."

 

[Sera Inkari]

Heeding his unspoken instruction for a quiet approach, running water gave both relief from any listening ears, while thick humid air brought her sustenance. Sera savored every breath she took, giving thanks silently. Despite a pull to immerse herself in sensing water, graceful steps avoided any stray weed or cracked chipped stone as she followed Syn's lead.

Sera didn't have Syn's robe's suppressive qualities to quiet her force signature. Instead her own tempered any darkside urges that she felt still, giving her time to heed Syn's warning or her own conscience before acting and speaking.

Arriving at the shells, her clothes were usually simple, her shoes just sandals. The dirt and smell didn't repulse her, she bent down toward the resin, trying to sense what the creature was or its intent. Eyes closed and breathing deeply. Sera began trying to track what this creature's future was. Their present fell away and she immersed herself in the probable future, one of many strands that had the most connections. Her hand stuck out sharply, pointing in a direction, unsure as to what was there, only that its future came from that direction.

"Fading ash color, a bird, three shells, and a body of water."

Her eyes opened and she steadied herself.

Sera didn't ask who built the paths or who used them now, instead, ~will others follow in our future, or is this place forgotten?~ she spoke gently through their force to him. Perhaps important for her to know if their path would ever be followed, or if this attempt would be the only one made at their task.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

'It is never wise to go alone.' He said it in the force for her and allowed the force to guide him while he was looking at it. 'We are jedi and we might walk alone but others will always be there if we need it just might take some time.' He said it and followed allowing the force to guide him as his senses tracked the being that was there. Allowing his sense of smell to guide him over the old lingering slime towards some of the water. "Whatever it is, it washed down into the waters which could be either good or trouble. If it survived." He said it but was moving as the surrounding temple gave way in some places but extended down and outwards towards the massive hole in the center. Dozens of waterfalls from streams and rivers.

He was moving through the temple and stepped back quickly, grabbing the wall and plunging his hands into the stone as cracks appeared and slipped away. The jedi master dangling for a moment until he steadied himself and looked down listening to the muffled sounds of the stone crashing into rock and water. He moved back over and looked down while crouching and following it. A leap here was possible but if there was more debris below them it would make the landing the hardest part. Better to keep looking as his hand went up the wall to the ceiling and he was gribbing the struts that were in place for support and tested them.

Then he was climbing across to the other side and a doorway that led to an old lift going down. He made it so there would be an area to grip and remained close for Sera to follow and assist if she needed the help but motioned for them to move.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Feeling apart but not alone while he was here, and their ship was a constant companion in space. Sera didn't know Liber as well as she'd like to, but her presence brought comfort when she was near. She could sit with others and try to be part of their conversations or groups, but she never felt like she was part of them, unless they were speaking to her or interacting directly. Her feeling was a selfish way of looking at being a Jedi in a wider sense, and she knew it.

His words helped, and she was honestly vulnerable with him, "I struggle to think of myself as part of the Jedi Master, unless they are here with me, like you." Dipping her head to turn from her feeling, there was a trace of sadness and fragility.

Endless waters ran downward in a picturesque view of isolated streams, she wanted to dip her toe but was uncertain if the liquid was safe to do so. Breathtaking, she inhaled softly, quietly watching the captivating downward rush of liquid.

Not wanting to fall too far behind. Sera followed his climb, using the grooves he'd help test. She was doing okay but struggled to hold on toward the end, sweat on her forehead matched with stone dust. Only having one lung since she lost her second to a sniper's bullet, meant sometimes she was feeling her exertion toward the end of a task.

She swung her legs one way, and then made a small jump for their doorway, landing gracefully with a soft dip to pull her robe straight. "What should we look out for Master?" Sera asked, keeping her senses outward and balanced.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

He could feel her getting tired and was prepared to catch her and support if needed but she made it which was a nod of approval moment. The jedi master looked down and around as he was staring over the edge down into the waters below. "We should look for signs of activity if it is there, we want to find any information we can hear first, and then we will likely have to go down." He said it and stood, moving over and turning to look at her. "I should have thought better of over exerting you." He said it and looked at her more searching for any signs of danger to her body. She was strong but if there was a risk her body would betray her then he wouldn't have it be because he took her into danger.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Sera didn't often show signs of exertion, usually better able to hide her discomfort. Only when really pressed and not thinking of what she was doing. "It is a little thing Master, of no consequence," dismissing her breathing injury out of hand. Some might say too easily. She dipped her head to return his concerned nod.

Leaning forward to view their waters below, she sensed for a smallest hint of life. Any signature they could follow which felt uncomfortable, "Do you sense any darkside presences?" For she did not, and uncertainty of where their trial lay concerned her. Resolving herself, eyes deepening drawing her further into their present moment.

Unfolding her hand, air above her palm began to warm and slowly ignite, forming a small flame to guide them. Her small guiding torch shone a hazy amber glow, more precise than when she was a Sith. Flames were still unpredictable, but ahead of them, they were folded into a sphere. "Seek." Sera whispered, the sphere of living fire ahead of her travelled forward. Her first conjuration of it, another might celebrate, but she showed no sign of more than a small smile. "Our force guides our way."

If nothing else they would be warm and their path well-lit.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

He looked at her and gave a single nod of his head. He didn't need to speak about it beyond that as she would let him know should anything become a problem. The jedi master turning back to continue as heading down into the cenote was only the first real part. The living flame he could feel for a moment and then he was following it as his senses reached out and expanded themselves to search the area. He was letting the force expand further as he lept down and drove a fist into the side of the hole to slow his descent and avoid the debris that was around them. He followed the scents down more stopping and listening as the guiding light he could se in the force and it illuminated the arrea casting it in different hues across his sight. "There are no presences yet... but I wouldn't expect it to be that easy." He said it with a tight lipped smirk on his face and he was thinking about it as they could go deeper. He was expanding in while letting the guiding fire take them down deeper into it and the scents changed with the jungle disappearing and the feeling of mist around him before he pushed forward to the edge with more water that went into the different tunnels. "We will need to swim deeper."

 

[Sera Inkari]

Little of worth was ever obtained easily. She dipped her head in acknowledgment.

Misty showers were her favorite kind, not too much to ruin your journey, but just enough to remind you where you were. With a warm smile on her face, testing her toe into watery depth below, she swirled her foot around. "Happily." Sera smiled and lowered herself into their current. Sandals attached to her belt so they didn't float away. There were few feelings she could describe as all-encompassing but today was near bliss.

The liquid current was refreshing and cleansing, ready to carry her away on a whim. She could just lose herself to their water's flow, turning around in what looked like a ritual dance underneath the surface. Their living flame would have to follow at a distance, seeking a way down that didn't extinguish it. Thankfully their near-sentient companion was small and able to move of its own accord.

Every so often she'd submerge herself and then rise. Doubtful that Syn had ever seen her as content and happy as she was. They shared a laugh or two sometimes, but rarely without her guard up. Today with their watery heaven, everything was different.

If only Alema had a pool, Sera thought to herself.

Feeling she was overindulging herself, she swam to the top to be beside him. "Master, I would like to come back again." She almost laughed, enjoying what time they had before their work began.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

He dipped into the water itself and the feeling was there as it was cooler and refreshing. He dipped under and followed the flow of the force and the current as they would be able to follow it and he felt things from Sera as they were going further. Holding the breath easily with the force when he broke the water and looked up and around. He moved further in and indulged a look over as her. "You would?" He said it and she seemed much different now... it was a strange feeling but she seemed happy and not just amused with something they were witnessing. "Master." The com on his ear chirped and he tapped it as the voice came through for the two of them.

"What is it Liber?" He said pausing and allowing them the moment to watch it. The voice was guarded but came out just. "Alema is detecting movement on the scanners, a lot of movement. You two seemed to have woken some things up but they are not close to you yet." She said it and was looking at it while bringing up the scan from the ship but he couldn't see it. IT would be more for Sera as blips were moving around them but still several meters away and through the stone and water. "Acknowledged." He stayed there for the moment but didn't let anything go into his voice as he motioned for Sera to keep following.

The feeling was there and he looked deeper dropping into the water and staying there for a moment. ALlowing the force to pierce through the various layers of the cenote and all the force energy that was there. HE could feel the movement... feel the rage and anger as the jedi master started swimming and looked down deeper into the waters where they were going. He reacted and reached out with the force to guide Sera towards the larger chamber and this far down they might not get all of the communications but he looked up at the cave. Hand slipping to the compartments on his belt and taking out signal boosters.

"Use the boosters in your kit, we'll try and stay in contact with the ship... whatever it is they were hibernating until we came down here."

 

[Sera Inkari]

A pleasant mood, a lighter side of her personality was allowed a moment to drift away. Holding her breath was also slightly difficult with her injury, and something Syn could probably teach her to mitigate, but she was enjoying her swim too much to be troubled.

Alema is detecting movement on the scanners, a lot of movement.

They were closer than she realised. Danger brought out a seer's calling, "there are so many," so much emotion. Swimming left them vulnerable, her senses were reaching out to find stable currents and future paths. Rage. All around. Anger. She felt it flicker in her heart, like something she'd left behind, a piece of her. Sensing where anger was headed, what the emotional conclusion might be.

Showing clear contrast between her happier swim, and determined stroke to evade. "Liber do you see any cluster, or small creatures?" Were their eggs all scattered around, or had their swim taken them closer to a spawning area? She looked to Syn to see what he thought.

It was a good environment for her to face these emotions, she could not let loose with fire to confront anger, not easily when immersed in water. Anger crept into her fingernails but found no easy release, like nails on a board. Guided toward a cavern, she found her comms fading and they were increasing alone. Like they often were. Static, she tried signal boosters he suggested, unsure if they had worked.

"We should face them," she said, curling her fingers, her voice curt, terse. Above them, their guiding ball of light circled around warning of an approach that they already knew. She would follow him, but her trial had begun.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

"We will." He said it and could sense more... the interface was being updated and the small AI built into it feeding him information about contacts on the scanner. To many to just stumble around but with the caves they likely knew far more about them then the two. They needed a better plan as Liber's voice came over the comlink. "There is a larger mass deeper into the caves... really larger and concentrated with the others circling around it." He listened to more and placed a hand on the ground while sensing more of it. Through rock and metals and time he could sense while pulling the layers away from them... his face turning to listen and feel more of it before he moved up and over wrapping an arm around the priestess and holding her close.

"Be still." He said it and focused on pushing the limiters on his belt around the two of them so their presences in the force were small and concealed. The edge of his senses became a rumble and then almost a quake as the tunnels were filled with the purple scales of a wyrm pushing past and the jedi master was holding his breath next to Sera using himself as a shield between her and the beast. It moved past largely ignoring the pair as it went towards the massive cluster and several others were moving in that direction when he could smell it in the air but didn't move yet. He was expanding the force around them and could list staying close and his hand moved to her back to share the force and sustain her with the force so neither of them needed to breathe and possibly alert the wyrm.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Directing her firmly but not fighting her on her instinct was the mark of a skilled teacher. A large mass, she wanted to go there, to face their darkside, to pull and twist and to… Sera was held, but being still she found difficult. Pushing her nails into her palms and exhaling. Syn's strength keeping her secure. Washing darkside energy, a sensation that threatened to carry her along, was difficult to deal with, and she pulled her veil into place hiding away.

Be still

Trying, listening, holding still. She sensed the twirling sith serpent, following along with her mind, seeing the creature flowing into their tunnels. There was a turbulent switch of fiery force energy wanting to turn her around like their serpent. Twisting and flowing. Be still find stillness, find peace, find yourself. Sera's body was warm, any liquid starting to show signs of light misty steam until darkside energy had passed. Not fire or burning, but holding her was probably wasn't comfortable. "I'm sorry." Hoping she had not injured him, by being unable to pray or make a sound, she had to face her demons internally.

She hadn't breathed, their direct force connection and sustenance moving through her, and her warmth dimmed to mere heat. Swiftly taking a drink of her water when she felt safe, gulping down one of her belts bottles, to quench thirst she had built within herself.

Light touch, looking over Syn's arm, hopefully he was alright. "I'm sorry." She repeated softly. She was apologizing for reacting poorly, and her understanding that she wasn't controlling herself around sith creations. Today was a necessary day for her to face. Around her a subtle glow formed, heat to dry them, heat to comfort them, heat to light their passage and push against darkside influence. Heat for serving not for war. It actually looked pretty dancing across their cavern walls, when her focus became entirely on someone else, not herself.

Syn

 

[Syn]

Sera Inkari

He felt it first and remained still his body stiffening as the heat was there and he was able to resist much through sheer force of will but this was too close and she was sorry. His head turning a little to look at her as he remained there aand felt the healing energies and he hadn't experienced something like that for a time. Aside from Elayne who might worry about him because she wanted to kidnap him for her cave on Dathomir. "It is alright." He brought his hand up and mostly touched hers holding it. "You have done nothing but test yourself, push yourself and come through. You have everything to be proud of and this." He indicated the redness from the heat over his chest. "Meanss little as you controlled yourself, you didn't give in, you haven't given in." He said it while remaining there and bringing his hand up as he continued to expand the concealment around the two of them. "Plus, when we travel I do see things... most don't think the blind can but the force shows me a lot more then they would expect."

 

[Sera Inkari]

Relieved his pain was not great but horrified she had burned him, part of her hated her lack of control, days before in rigid dogmatic pursuit she would have never... never felt, never cared, never been anything but her vision.

Struggling with her own demons again, she tried to focus on him, not herself. Sera had never looked at Syn any different for being blind, he saw more than her, and for a Seer, she celebrated his vision. "Do you have moments" she asked, "where you remember what we were... before?" Already knowing his answer, she'd asked him before in a different way, and probably would again just to hear his words. Once upon a darkside path and always watchful of her steps. She felt she was being selfish still, asking for herself, but she saw her pattern more clearly.

Sera leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. His words were what she needed to hear. She wanted to pull her head away. Letting her guard fall was still difficult. "One day I'll be saving you," she smiled a promise. Her inner dialogue won out and she uncurled herself, but theirs had been a kind moment and she wouldn't forget his graciousness.

Straightening herself up, hair, robes, and composure. He spoke of seeing things beyond sight, and she didn't doubt him, her own visions opened up all kinds of avenues of exploration. "Tell me of your vision Master, what do you see?" She listened closely, forgetting for a moment there was a huge nest about to explode nearby and engulf them in sith-spawned horrors at their feet.

Syn