The Bold and the Beautiful

[Darth Athora]

Zahat'n'ira

The image of a cobalt blue starship came gracefully landing upon the planets surface. The somewhat harsh rain nearly drowned out the sounds the ship made as it landed, but not by much. Inside, Lady Jala Rekab of Ensolica was preparing to exit her ship to begin her mission. She took it upon herself to venture to Zahat'n'ira in order to catalog the flora and fauna of the world and bring her studies back home. It was rare for her to joruney so far out of the way, but something enticing drew her to this planet. Nothing could stop this mission.

With her coolth suit tucked gently under her clothes and her lightsaber strapped to her lower back, she stepped out of the cockpit and walked towards the ramp. As she stepped down, her icy blue eyes scanned her surroundings. She was lucky enough to find an open field to land in. She spotted nothing dangerous as of yet so she stepped off the ramp.

"R8, take care of the ship. I'll be back."

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

the temperature had grown cold today - or perhaps that was the cooling system for the terminal that had been built into the simple log cabin which Vitor lived in. Despite his control over the company known as Emeritus, Vitor preferred a mostly hands-off approach compared to his predecessor - he monitored things from home, ensuring they went according to plan. Despite this, though, he found himself somewhat shaken by the chill, moving to turn the heat up. It was an unnatural feeling, a bizarre one...

Almost as though someone else was here in these woods.

 

[Darth Athora]

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

Jala stepped through the grass which was tall enough to gently tickle at her knees. She approached the woods cautiously, making sure to keep a sharp eye out for anything unusual or dangerous. This world was new to her so anything could pop out at her. Each step was taken very carefully, avoding anything that might cause too much noise. She pulled her hood over her head and continued walking. She stopped for a moment, hearing something rustling above her. "Just the wind..." she whispered to herself. She looked back to the clearing where her ship was resting then continued on.

 

[Onrai]

The feeling still clawed at the back of his mind, scratching again and again until he had to go outside. The urge that someone was there, hidden amongst the chilly grass and trees continued to chortle deep within his psyche, and with a rather normal-toned voice, he responded: "Hello? Is anyone out there?" He had naught but a weapon to defend himself with, yet despite this, he still would be ready in the event that something was there.

How ironic that he was so unknowing.

[member="Jala Rekab"]

 

[Darth Athora]

Eventually, Jala found what appeared to be a path in the woods. Nothing like stone or brink, but it was clear that something or someone frequented that path. Instead of walking directly on it, she stayed within the woods near the path, following it up. As she went further up, Jala could spot something in the distance. She couldn't put her finger on what exactly but her curiosity pulled her closer. Then she heard a voice. Whoever it was seemed harmless. Jala continued walking closer and closer. She would have replied but she did not want to startle anything that might be resting nearby.

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

He continued to look around, seeing nothing, and was about to go back inside until he heard the crunch of footsteps on the soft grass. "Hello? Someone there?" He continued to wait, frozen in a moment of statuesque pondering. The less he focused on moving his body, the sharper he could make his senses, in the event that whatever was out there proved hostile.

Well, at least his reception wouldn't be chilling.

 

[Darth Athora]

Jala walked a bit closer before stopping. She did not want to reveal herself just yet. But she did reply to the man. "Hello. I mean you no harm. I'm just a little lost." Her voice was soft and elegant. She stepped out of the woods and into the mans view. She was dressed beautifully in a light brown dress, nothing too flashy. Her hands were raised up to show she was unarmed. "I do hope I am not disturbing you, sir."

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

"Hardly..." He sighed. "I rarely have company out around here, to be honest." He looked her over, pondering over what exactly she was and why she was here on the world. "Surprising to see someone of your race around here... The jungle is quite humid. I'm surprised you haven't suffered from heat stroke... but please, do come in." As he stepped back into his cabin, keeping the door open, his eyes opened wide for a moment.

"I forgot to introduce myself... name is Vitor Imperieuse."

 

[Darth Athora]

The rain, thankfully, was dying down to a light drizzle. Jala stepped closer and removed her hood. She gave him a gentle smile. "I am Jala Rekab. Pleasure to meet you Vitor." The rain stopped. She was amazed by his supreme detective skills. Enso looked no different than any other human so it is not like it was something on her face that gave off some signal to her race. "How did you know what I was so easily? It's not really obvious. I look the same as you or any other."

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

"You're exceptionally pale." He nodded. "Not to mention you're giving off some seriously cold feelings. Feelings in the Force as well." He nodded, sitting down as she came into the room. "I know enough about the various species of near-humans to know what is what." Of course, a good deal of the knowledge was not technically his own - but such was one of many secrets he would keep with him. "You don't seem to be that skilled in such, though - have you ever considered learning?"

After all, with enough training, perhaps she could be free of that suit.

 

[Darth Athora]

"Heh, well I do enjoy staying out of the sun. You've got me there." She chuckled a little before following him into his home. It was quaint. A little warm for her taste but she was comfortable. "You're certainly..straightforward." She was kind of nervous around this man. He seemed a bit too friendly for her. Mostly cause she's used to dealing with scum. "What is it you expect to teac me, Mr. Vitor? What makes you think you have anything to teach me? We've only just met and you only know my name." Jala took a seat at the closest available spot. Once she sat down she crossed one leg over the other and stared Vitor down.

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

"It's how I conduct business, and it's how I conduct relationships, with my family as well as my friends. As is, I don't see why you could possibly be an enemy." He leaned back a bit in a wicker chair, one he had hand-woven himself a while back."I can sense the potential within you to be a Force user. It may surprise you to know that I too can do things with regards to such esoteric powers - thanks to an 'accident' from sometime back." It was best he ceased elaborating on such.

"For one, I can get you out of that suit."

[member="Jala Rekab"]

 

[Darth Athora]

"You're bold." Her expression changed. She was a bit disgusted by his remark. Mostly considering ther her suit was hidden by her dress. He was given off a certain creep vibe that rubbed Jala the wrong way. "Perhaps you should tone it down. Again, we've only just met." She took a quick moment to look around the cabin in case she needed a quick escape. "Yes. I am a force user. That much is true. But not very knowledgeable in such due to my previous master being as useless as a battle droid. How do I know you're any different?"

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to offend you. It's merely, well - haven't you ever wanted to be able to enjoy a myriad of environments without having to bring your suit along for the ride?" He reached over, tossing her a book - an actual book - with the symbols of fire and ice written on its dusty cover.

"There is a rarely practiced school of Force use. Elementalism - control of the elements. Most often than not, the duality of fire and ice is what finds itself chiefly focused on - and ice will be able to suit you amply. With knowledge of cryokinetic abilities, I fully believe you will be able to function on any world as easily as though you were at home."

Her last remark drew a bit of a sting. He sighed, reaching over to a large casket-like table. "This is an oubliette. An ancient artifact dating many years ago. This was crafted by a master of the Dark Side in order to preserve whoever was placed within. I know how to operate it. Do you?"

 

[Darth Athora]

"Not necessarily. No." she replied. "I actually like my suit. Not only does it keep me alive in warmer climates but it's stylish. Especially since I was given this new, less bulky version of the traditional suit." She caught the book in her lap and scanned the cover. It was intriguing to her. She could tell it held something interesting without him having to tell her so.

"I must say, the ability to control the elements does sound pretty neat. But I wouldn't use it to keep myself alive. That sounds exhausting. My suit makes me, like my people, feel complete. Like they're apart of us. At least, that's how I feel. Maybe the others who continue wearing the older model would be ecstatic to learn of cryokineses. But, that doesn't mean I would not wish to learn anyway. "

She looked over at the 'oubliette'. "I've never even heard of such a thing. How does it work?"

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

"Who made the suit, if I might inquire? I almost have the urge to try and go one better." He smiled, but accepted her response - if she wanted to keep the suit, he wouldn't stop her.

"Cryokinetic abilities are something I believe you might be more attuned to it than myself. They are rather useful, certainly."

Turning back to the oubliette, he shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I believe it produces a bubble of anti-time: a place in the universe truly three-dimensional without the aspect of time crossing into the fold."

He sighed. "It's unfortunate I didn't have what I needed back in the day. Perhaps things would have taken a different turn."

 

[Darth Athora]

"Subach-Innes. I worked closely with the CEO to design it to be functional and comfortable." She smiled back at him. It had been sometime since Jala had talked to the woman who helped make her suit. She had forgotten her name even. "I could find great use of such abilities, in fact. Perhaps help my people back home." She looked at him then returned her gaze to the oubliette. "So what you're telling me is that thing would allow one to travel through time, essentially, without aging?"

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Jala Rekab"]

"You worked with Circe Savan? A wonder you haven't been hunted down..." His dealings with her were unknown - never direct. Such was the reason she chose indirect means of contact through a private channel. "She had many enemies. Fewer true friends." He turned back, staring at the book he had given her. "The basics are simple enough - I can teach you those. The information in this book beyond those points will be yours to learn alone. I have resources, Jala, but there are things even I have never deeply studied. Not that I recommend you go and learn everything, tainted or not..."

He turned back to the Oubliette, a sigh on his face. "In a way, yes. When I was younger, the last known oubliette, the most infamous in the galaxy, had been deemed lost seventy years prior. A Jedi, driven mad by some sort of Sith artifact, had been preserved in it for over four thousand years. I have no knowledge of if the device was ever salvaged, or recovered - all I know is that I have two of them - mine, and Braith's."

Who Braith was of course was a story for another time.

 

[Darth Athora]

Jala smirked. "It was a very well kept secret I suppose. And it was a very brief project. Nothing that drew to much attention to myself." She took her right hand and grazed the book cover, feeling the indentations made by the emblems on the cover. "Very well. Whatever you can teach me, I would greatly appreciate it. After that? I will study the contents of this tome."

Her eyes returned to the oubliette. "Why are you showing me this, Vitor?" She was very curious as to reasons why he was showing a stranger such a device. There had to be some reason behind it.

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

A smile crossed his face as he eyed her, then the book in her hand. "She has many secrets. This I know. But so do most people - and so far as I know, Circe is long dead. As for your training... This depends on whether you can successfully remove your suit's gloves."

Turning back to the oubliette, he sighed. "You had... Doubts about my competence as a teacher. Doubts I myself have. And truthfully, they're all merited. I have never trained anyone before. But my knowledge must be passed down to someone who will respect it and use it wisely. I feel, if that is the right term, that you are the right person for this."

[member="Jala Rekab"]