Private Show and Tell

[Hazel Zanteres]

In transit to an unknown location…​

There was an amusing sense of deja vu to this whole situation. Many many moons ago, Hazel had fled from Monastery, abandoning the Order of the Sacred Lotus. And in her wake, broke the friendship of someone who looked up to her. And shattered the bond with someone who saw her as a teacher.

Why?

Because she had hit her rock bottom. The disease she had tried fighting for years, Jedi healing and routine medicine keeping it bay, finally losing its effectiveness. Her body had become a ticking time bomb towards death. She was desperate, and acted accordingly. But did she regret her actions that day, after all these years?

No, no she did not.

Nylea and Nora would’ve stopped her, no matter what it took they would’ve kept her there. Her impulsive act had made sure that wouldn’t happen. But shortly after her departure, after she had found a place to sleep, she was whisked away in the night.

A polite way to say she had been effectively kidnapped.

That was the day Hazel learned Kaine Zambrano had eyes and ears all around the galaxy. Barely any time passed between her act on Monastery, and it reaching the Sith’s attention. Thus she was ‘involuntarily relocated’ to the depths of the Dark Lord’s Palace. But her time there had provided her a new path, a new means to tackle her ailment.

Its complete eradication through the Dark Side of the Force.

The ritual tore into her, reached and clutched the decaying Light within her. It followed the diseased threads to the source, and crushed it. For a split moment Hazel had died, only to awaken more powerful than she ever had been. The room left in tatters, all but two of its occupants drained of their life force.

A new Hazel Zanteres had been born that day.

From there, years passed by. Hazel travelled with Gallar, the two eventually finding a suitable planet to call home, with subjects suitable and malleable to rule. But every now and then, Hazel felt the urge to venture out into the galaxy. She still felt that urge to play doctor, even if her means of ‘healing’ weren’t quite as…Light these days.

Hazel had been tending to some patients, wounded in some recent warzone. She had just finished her shift when a figure approached her. Hazel didn’t know them, but she immediately knew who had sent them.

Darth Carnifex

She was given an invitation to visit the Sith at a designated planet. The purpose was not given, which was unusual. Hazel had paid Carnifex a few visits over the years. Whether it was to further develop her new abilities, or to assist the Sith in some matter or another that required more than his usual doctors.

The mystery, if anything, made Hazel more interested. So she accepted the invitation, but requested she be given time to make some arrangements beforehand. Thus she returned home, shedding her simulacrum and resumed full control of her real form. It was very rare for the woman to leave home in her original body. So she wasn’t going to miss the chance.

Now she was aboard the shuttle Carnifex had sent. The Hapan was dressed in an ornate kimono, jewellery adorning her hands and neck. Her skin now bore a healthy tanned complexion, courtesy of her home’s warm climate.

To say the least, she stood out amongst the drab interior of the vessel.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The shuttle's coordinates brought Doctor Zanteres deep into Wild Space, beyond any known charted hyperlanes or inhabited star systems. But the path had been marked, the shuttle's ease of movement through what should have been a dead zone was a clear indication. No one but the Dark Lord of the Sith knew just how many of these secret paths existed throughout the galaxy, and the Dark Lord was loath to divulge such secrets to anyone but Himself. Undoubtedly, this was but one way to wherever the Dark Lord wanted to bring Doctor Zanteres, and after her journey came to an end the path she took might no longer exist.

Incandescent spiraling chaos melted away into a backdrop of blackness perforated by the distant pinpoint lights of stars. The brightest of all was the one that illuminated the star system the shuttle had entered, the vessel diving towards one of the large gas giants halfway between the star and the edge of the system. Several large moons orbited the gas giant, most of them barren rocks with little to no discernible features other than craters from meteorites and other errant objects. However, there was one moon that stuck out against the others, one that was covered in dense greenery with the faint blue halo of an atmosphere wreathing the moon's silhouette.

Swooping down through the moon's atmosphere, the vessel dipped and weaved over lush jungle and sparkling lakes before reaching a cleared section of jungle. Figures could be seen moving at the edge of the clearing, tall men and women with tanned complexions and hard muscled bodies. They only paid the ship a momentary glance before continuing their work, disappearing into the darkness of the jungle. Waiting for Doctor Zanteres to emerge from the shuttle was one of these individuals, their muscled body garbed in loose translucent vestments that did little to conceal their bare skin. They bowed in reverence to the Doctor, "His Excellency is awaiting you, Doctor. He's quite eager to meet with you after all this time."

The emissary turned and led Zanteres through a pathway etched into the jungle, a trail which changed elevation several times before finally reaching a large cave opening through which a wide river rushed down and into the subterranean caverns. A way had been chiseled through the rock, lined with crude torches that illuminated their every step. Others of the same species could be seen in the cave, working amidst torchlight on various inscriptions shrouded in gloom. At the end of the underground path was an even larger opening than the cave, one that had been artificially widened to accommodate thousands and thousands of people at once.

Crude structures had been formed out of the rock, and they were inhabited by the same people as seen previously. But these were not the hardy workers as before, these were families with children and babies. They all retained that same rugged leanness as the workers, but wore garbs resembling those of clerics and warriors. Like before, these people only paid Zanteres a brief curious glance before turning back to their tasks. Only the children maintained their stares for longer than a few seconds, their curious minds intrigued by the arrival of a strange alien visitor. At the center of the wide cavern was a larger structure, though made in the same manner as all the smaller houses.

Zanteres was led through the clothed opening, her guide remaining outside as she was permitted inside. Inside were several guards, black geometric tattoos etched across their tanned skin. Through another door was the man she had come to see, the Dark Lord of the Sith. He wore simple Sith garments, ones that could be found at any academy or temple. He was speaking to one of the other tanned people, one that was dressed like a priestess, with various elaborate jewelry sewn through her clothes and woven into her black hair. She bowed and turned to leave through a side door shortly after Zanteres entered the room, leaving the two of them alone.

"Ah, Doctor Zanteres. Welcome, welcome, to Somvdyoli'. I am pleased that you could travel all this way, I understand that it is quite removed from the civilized galaxy."

Hazel Zanteres ​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

Hazel felt the Force bristle, like goosebumps beneath her skin. The life force that flowed through her body kept her in tune with the Force. More so than she ever had years ago. Albeit, she was sure constant use of healing hadn’t helped with that. But for years now she was unrestrained, unshackled from that weight.

Thus, she felt the telltale shift in the Force as the vessel left the confines of known space, slipping into the unknown expanse of Wild Space. It was not the first time the Hapan had been brought here, but it was the first time the feeling was so apparent.

A short while later and the shuttle had reached its destination, settling down on the landing pad. With the click of heels in her wake, Hazel strode down the ramp to the emissary awaiting her.

“Excellent, lead the way.”

She followed behind, her amber eyes lingering around as they followed the pathway. Hazel took note of how dense the jungle still was, mixed in with natural rock formations and bodies of water. Every now and then she’d catch sight of a worker or two, though they paid no attention to anything but their work.

The Hapan was surprised by how primitive it all was, having half expected to see something of concrete and metal again. It was a pleasant surprise however, being able to take in the scent and presence of nature.

She paid little heed to the people that stared at her. Hazel was far too familiar with those looks, having garnered plenty back home. Even after years of being saved from their previous plight, they still looked upon her and Gallar with wonder.

The Hapan didn’t need to see Carnifex to know he was within the large structure. She could feel the man’s presence in the Force. Although there was something…different about it. Something significant had happened since she last laid eyes on the Dark Lord of the Sith. The Hapan filed that curiosity away for later as she was ushered inside.

“I thank you for the invitation, Lord Carnifex. It has indeed been far too long since last.” She smiled, followed by a small courtesy. “Oh, I relish any opportunity I get to travel in this form. And any invitation to one of your projects has always proved to be fascinating.” An amused glint shone in Hazel’s eyes. ”Although, that agent of yours was awfully tightlipped about even the tiniest hint about this one."

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Your true form has always been one I have much preferred, Doctor Zanteres. It is your inner self magnified a hundredfold." Even back when the Dark Lord's agents had found Zanteres and brought her to Him, He had seen past her exterior to the true doctor within; long before she had embraced this draconic body. In contrast, only a few things had changed with the Dark Lord since the last time she had seen Him. His hair had grown noticeably grayer and longer, and there were several new scars over His tanned skin. His aura in the Force had also grown darker, or perhaps He had finally stopped holding it back from being fully sensed.

On the surface, it appeared like a dark lake; black and reflective. But once you pushed past that barrier, the horrifying darkness that opened upon before you was enough to drive you to madness. It was like drifting towards a black hole, the inescapable terror of being caught in the event horizon and the sinking knowledge that there was nothing you could do to escape it. But it was simultaneously enticing, beckoning you to fall deeper into its crushing embrace.

"My agent was instructed to maintain total secrecy, it was imperative." Carnifex extended His hand so that Hazel could slip hers overtop of it. Then He led her further into the structure, passing through another doorway before entering a large shrine-like room. On the far side was an elevated platform upon which sat an obelisk of glossy black stone etched with golden runes. Small braziers of copper fire burned around it, partially obscuring the obelisk from view. Upon closer inspection, the elevated platform was actually chiseled stone from the ground beneath their feet, and the obelisk was jutting up through the stone like an unnatural growth.

"After the Mandalorians burned Panatha, my people flocked to me for direction. I accepted them into my home and gave them new purpose, but it was not enough. They needed room to grow and to breath, lands like our homeland to flourish in. So I have scoured the galaxy for worlds that matched that of Panatha, and brought my people to them. This world is but one of many across the galaxy, but it is unlike any of the worlds that I have surveyed." Carnifex let Hazel's hand slip from His own as He moved to grab a spade propped up against the stone wall, taking hold of the tool and then slamming the sharpened head into the ground at their feet. Though it had only a few dozen centimeters into the rock, black liquid began to bubble up from the ground where the spade had struck. It resembled oil or tar, but was distinctly different from both of them. It also carried some resemblance to the glossy obelisk at the center of the room.

"We have found this material deep below this moon's surface. Not only that, but we have discovered ancient ruins as well, built upon vast deposits of it; both liquid and calcified as rock."

Hazel Zanteres ​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

The Hapan mused on Carnifex’s words, knowing full well Gallar would’ve agreed. She still held fond memories of Hazel’s original form. Of the blonde, kind, soft doctor who had been one of the first faces the Dravalan met in the Order of the Sacred Lotus. The person who had taken the wounded mother and her surviving children into her care.

But Hazel’s new form was something Gallar had appreciated immensely. No longer was the blonde doctor soft and vulnerable, but rather strong and powerful. The procedure had been gruelling, and a testament to her strength, in mind, body and spirit. And there was no doubt in Hazel’s mind that the Dark Lord’s ritual had ensured her the strength in the Force that she needed.

She pushed the thoughts aside as she raised her hand, placing it atop Carnifex’s, and allowing the Sith to guide her deeper into the structure. Again, her curiosity had her eyes wandering, looking at anything and everything they passed. But when they finally arrived in what appeared to be a shrine of some sort, her eyes were glued to the obelisk.

Her attention was broken however, by the Dark Lord’s words. His plight with Panatha and his people reminded Hazel of Gallar. She too went through the same kind of process, trying to find a home for the remnants of her people.

The Hapan watched with unhidden fascination, as Carnifex stepped away and grabbed a shovel of all things. And then with a single swift slam into the ground before them, blackish liquid came bubbling to the surface. Hazel crouched where she stood, watching the liquid’s movement as it flowed from the newly formed crevice. The Hapan’s scientific mind stopped her innate curiosity to touch it. But said mind was also a whirl with speculation.

“I have like almost half a dozen questions immediately at the tip of my tongue.” Hazel remained crouched for a few more seconds, before standing up and looking up further to the Dark Lord’s face. “What is this stuff? What does it do? Is that obelisk made of it? Is this why everything around here is still quite primitive?”

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"This moon is primeval," answered Carnifex, "No civilization has graced its surface, until now." Tossing the spade aside, the Dark Lord watched as the bubbling tar-like substance quickly solidified into a crystalline structure. It appeared to only achieve this form when exposed to the open air, perhaps a chemical reaction with oxygen itself or some other quality of the moon's atmosphere. Reaching to His waist, Carnifex unsheathed His lightsaber and thumbed the activator. A blade of red plasma exploded to life, crackling in the air and casting a sinister glow over the chamber. With one swift motion, Carnifex carved a chunk of the crystal away from the larger seam.

It toppled over and landed with a plunk on the earthen floor, undamaged save for where the lightsaber struck it from the larger whole. Then the Dark Lord's blade retreated into the hilt, and He put it back on His waist. "Perhaps this is the reason, or perhaps it is the byproduct of millions of years of isolation. Regardless, our tests have provided some curious results." At His silent command, a pair of white-robed scientists entered the chamber and carefully extracted the separated crystal, placing it into a clear reinforced glasteel container with a hermetically sealed lock. They then handed it to Doctor Zanteres before leaving.

"The substance is memetic, it adopts the characteristics of anything it comes into contact with. We only discovered this when one of the workers of the first wave accidentally discovered it during an excavation, and was subsequently exposed." Carnifex produced a small holoprojector, the width of His palm, and pressed a button on its surface. An image was produced, one of the worker in question afflicted with some sort of necrotic disease. His skin was gradually turning black, wasting away, turning into more of the oily substance they had just extracted. Not only that, but the substance itself was becoming...

Fleshy.

"He died within several weeks, his entire body transforming into the substance. Curious of all, it appeared as though the substance was undergoing a transformation in the other direction." He pressed another button, this one of just the substance. "The worker was a Theelin. You can see right here," He enhanced the image. "The substance is starting to develop similar coloration and patterns as it becomes flesh, but we surmise its only adopting these characteristics and not transforming itself into a copy of the worker. When all of the worker's bio-material was gone, the substance only existed as a mass of flesh rather than becoming an entirely new Theelin."

Carnifex shut off the holoprojector. "I brought you here because I want your expertise in studying this phenomenon."

Hazel Zanteres ​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

Hazel nodded mutely at Carnifex’s words. It made sense then, if the moon had been primitive and untouched for countless millennia. Part of her wondered though, did the neighbouring planet and moons have an effect with its gravitational…no, Hazel shook her head at that line of thought. That was not her particular area of expertise.

But she did ponder if this was the Force at work. After all, its potential was as far reaching as one’s imagination was. Or rather…how far you were willing to go.

The Hapan’s thoughts were broken as the tar-like substance crystalised. Crackling like water freezing in sub-zero temperatures, the once malleable substance was now solid. That in itself fascinated the woman, a small part of her wanting to touch it, but thought better of that idea. Which was proven, when a pair of scientists entered and were particularly careful in placing it in a container. Airtight and durable, it made Hazel wonder if that was because the crystal was fragile, or something else.

She remained ever quiet as Kaine spoke, her eyes glued to the crystal as she turned the container in her hands. But Hazel did break that gaze when the Dark Lord stepped forward and activated a holoprojector.

The Hapan was immediately enraptured with what she was seeing. The necrotic state of the worker’s body reminded Hazel of her own ailment, now long gone. A disease that would’ve eaten away at her internal organs, if the very towering Sith beside her hadn’t performed the ritual that had saved her.

“It’s as if it has some kind of innate mimicry. But it requires absorbing biomass to adopt the characteristics…” Hazel spoke quietly, fascinated, as she stepped forwards to get a closer look at the projected image. This was as good as she was going to get, without being personally in front of the subject. “It could be that there wasn’t enough exposure to substance for a complete transformation? Or perhaps the Theelin wasn’t compatible? Maybe we’re not dealing with a thing, but an entity in of itself. Requiring more than one assimilation to properly adapt…” Hazel shook her head, realising she was really getting off track with her thoughts. Speculation would only get her so far, rather she needed to study this to find the truth.

And it just so happened that Carnifex spoke those very words.

There was an unmistakable glint in Hazel’s eyes as she turned to look up at the Sith. “Oh, I’d love to study this. First, I’d like to know what tests were performed already, and what results they produced.”

Darth Carnifex​