Private That Which We Serve

[Itzhal Volkihar]

| Location | MIV Ironsides, Hyperspace

Memories, long entombed within the shadowy depths of Coruscant's many levels, fluttered like fleeting phantoms across Adelle's face—each flicker peeled back the already frayed curtain, revealing a path carved of terrible loss and profound guilt.

Perhaps that was the reason Itzhal turned away when he did, towards the inert plate of beskar that formed the doorway, utterly unremarkable if not for what lingered behind it, somewhere deeper within the ship's bowels.

Armour-clad and stoic, he stood, a sentinel as quiet as the Mandalorian Iron that encased the chamber, firm, unyielding but not unkind. He'd been many things in his life: monster, hero, hunter, but perhaps more than any other, a shelter to those who needed it. Words did not cross his mind, no further wisdom spilt from his lips, only the quiet assurance that he was here as he stared off into the distance. Sometimes silence spoke louder than any platitude.

But mayhaps, if he were a little more honest with himself, most importantly, it allowed him to ignore the haunting expression of bittersweet fondness that split across her lips and shimmered in the corner of her eyes. He had no answers for the spectres of the past.

Even when it came to the spectres of the now, all he could offer was a temporary solution.

"It is not ideal," he conceded, taking a purposeful step towards the dimly lit doorway, the metal plates clacking beneath his weight. "But if we're fortunate, it may serve as a stopgap until we can uncover a more permanent solution."

His heavy boots struck the ground with a sharp rasp as he came to an abrupt stop, his gaze drifting back towards Adelle, concern etched across his furrowed brow, he inquired, "Would other members of the Iron Wolves be able to assist in the matter, or do you fear that whatever you have uncovered is," he flexed his hand, a swirling motion that nonetheless failed to pluck the words from his mouth as seconds ticked past, before eventually he settled on, "infectious. Do they have to see the trick, or does merely knowing about it risk them?"

Tags: Adelle Bastiel​