The Demon Within (Siobhan)

[Cora Passek]

Tygara - Firemane Base

Cora had come a long way from where she had started. The girl was working slowly onto a path of redemption and away from the outright terror of old, especially after having been forced to face the simple reality that she had the Force all along. The sweet blonde had signed a contract with Sio for which she was expected to come and serve in the Kerrigan-Alcori household, which she could not complain about, the pay was fabulous, and the job cushy, quite enjoyable as well.

Navigating Don't Panic through the atmosphere, Cora soon came to land at the base, eager to meet her Mistress. As she rose from her seat, she patted Fluffy on the head before leading him back into the cargo bay, since that more or less counted as his room. It would keep him out of harm's way, and safe. After he was tucked away in his room, Cora finally headed to the boarding ramp, grabbing her bag before she stepped off the ship.

The spirit within, she could already feel pulling at her. As she exited the ship, Cora found herself clutching at her head in pain, trying hard to ignore that inner demon that she'd been forced to live with for so long. The Ancient Sith had taken a bit of a backseat role lately, leaving her be for the most part, unless he wanted something. What are we doing in this hell hole? It's hardly worthy of your skills and talents. Will you please hush? I'm just not in the mood for this. I have a job to do, and you can go to hell. Only if I get to take you with me darling.

If only Cora and Vahri had any idea of the day they were about to have, she might just very well have turned right back around, got back on her ship and ran then and there.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Mirien Valdier"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


As the ship came in to land in the large open field now scorched bare of grass, a welcoming party was waiting for Cora and the Sith Lord who was time-sharing her body with her without having asked her permission first. The escort consisted of Firemane troopers, all of whom were both strongly built and female, and Harmony was leading them. The beautiful Dahomian was not a soldier like the others but one of Siobhan and Tegaea's attendants, in other words a concubine, which meant she had the same as the sweet blonde. For the occasion she was wearing a lovely white dress and gave Cora a smile when she appeared.


"Welcome to Tygara, Cora. I'm Harmony, one of Lady Kerrigan's attendants. You could say we're colleagues. Please follow me, the Lady is expecting you in her suite. If you like, you can freshen yourself up a bit first," she said brightly, but then an expression of concern crossed her features when she saw the cuddly terror clutch her head. "Are you alright, dear? Do you need an aspirin? Eileithya is here if you need medical help," She obviously could not know that poor Cora had an evil Sith Lord in her head.

 

[Cora Passek]

"Thank you, Harmony." Cora said as she managed a small smile. "Colleagues, I see. Of course." It was such a strange situation to be in. She didn't know really that this could have ever been a job prospect, not that she was complaining. After all, she was getting what she wanted out of it, and finally would have a bit more of a relaxed life. Something she desperately needed after all the hell she'd been through. Though she had imagined that she would be the only one. With Siobhan, she should have known better.

"It's just a headache from the flight, I'll be okay soon enough, I promise." A lie seemed far easier than the truth. After all, no one wanted to learn that you had a Sith Lord sharing your body. Somehow she didn't feel that would go over well with anyone. "An aspirin would be marvelous, thank you." Vahri's insistent tugging to try and gain control was starting to become a little too much for her to deal with. She wanted her freedom somehow some way. Still that seemed like a distant dream for her.

You aren't doing this. You are going to leave, now Cora. Go back to your ship. Go back to the stars where you belong. I will wrest control from you, if you keep this up. For the ancient Sith was getting antsy sensing the other dark powers about. It wasn't Siobhan that concerned him, but someone else. He feared being exposed and losing his position and life within Cora. It had been the only way he'd survived this long, body hopping from person to person. He sure as hell wasn't about to risk that now. What the hell are you afraid of? It's just sex, and pleasure. It's not what. It's who. Do you really wish to have it discovered that I reside in you? Here? It seems unwise. Unwise, is listening to you babble. I swear child, I will crush you before I'm done with you. Yeah .... yeah, you need me though, so go ahead, kill me. You'll only kill yourself in the process. From there the spirit grew quiet, knowing that she had a point.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Harmony did not have fancy Force powers, but she could notice that something was troubling Cora. Maybe it was just nerves, but it seemed ike something more. She gently patted the blonde on the shoulder. "The Lady has...voracious appetites. But you're very special to her, she's talked about you a lot. If you need a headsup on her tastes or moods, just ask me. Or Chesna. I believe you two have already met! We're all a small family here." She gently took Cora's hand into hers and began leading her away from the landing pad towards the suite.


"I'll get you that aspirin and some water. Come on, dear." Little did either know that their brief walk would be interrupted by a certain ice queen.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien could sense something amiss. A great dark power had just arrived and she was determined to find it's source. She snuck quietly across the base and soon enough spotted the blonde. Cora? Can't be. Cora isn't a force user. Or she wasn't in any of the time I knew her, and guarded her on Atrisia. Something is not right here.

Mirien inched closer, still clinging to the shadows. Oddly enough as she reached out to brush against Cora's mind, Mirien could sense a grey and dark aura in addition to a completely separate aura of pure darkness. Instantly she could feel that dark presence try to mask itself from her sight as she probed it further. Cora indeed was the source of what she had been feeling.

Reaching down to her waist, Mirien removed a blaster from her belt and took aim. With Harmony so close by, the former Inquisitor did not wish to risk a serious confrontation. Not when it could get Harmony and others hurt. She waited another moment, having lined up her shot and fired a series of shots at Cora as she stepped from the shadows. No doubt this would throw all of those around the blonde into Chaos but it needed to be done for the safety of them all. Mirien was going to get to the bottom of this, of why Cora suddenly had powers she should not have had, and why in the name of the stars she was carrying another presence that clearly did not belong to her.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora managed a small smile, "Oh, I know she does. Had a bit far too much fun with her at the spa, but that's a story for another day I think." She said quietly. "But glad to hear that I am special to her, that makes things a little better, easier that way. And thank you, for your kindness. I'll be sure to ask if I need anything of the sort."

With that said, Cora fell in stride beside Harmony, following along. As they walked on, Cora's paranoia started to rise within her chest. Something was going on, they were being watched and she knew it. Vahri within, she could already feel twisting and squirming most restlessly. Can't you just calm down? There's nothing here to be afraid of. We are fine.

You don't know that. He replied sharply. I sense someone dark, powerful.... and close.

Well Siobhan is here after all....Maybe it's just her you sense.

No, darker than that. After all I've been with you when you were first with Siobhan. It's someone else.

Hmph and you have the nerve to call me paranoid.

It was then that Cora actually felt the touch against her mind, and stopped instantly. The blonde spun on her heels, eyes searching to find the source of that touch.

See I told you ... Someone is out there and they know I'm here within you now ... You need to leave, right this second.

But I can't leave now .... It was then that she saw the glint of a weapon raised in the shadows, but did not see her attacker until it was too late. The shots were fired and Cora tried to dive for cover, but failed. Three stun bolts in quick succession hit her chest, and shoulders. Instantly the blonde was tumbling to the ground, out cold as her head finally fell against the ground.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


BAAAM BAAAM BAAM Abruptly Cora went down and fell to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been pulled. In the light of the fact that the poor was time-sharing with an evil Sith spirit, the analogy was not that inaccurate.


Poor Harmony, who did not know about these weird space magic things, looked shocked and quite frightened. Mirien...was rather scary to her. Very hot, but mostly scary. "Lady Valdier, are you out of your mind? Why did you shoot her? She's one of us," she shrieked at the former Grand Inquisitor, before rushing over to Cora to check up on her, finding that she was stunned.


Back in her suite, sitting behind a desk, Siobhan perceived a...disturbance in the Force. The sensation of a malevolent dark power. It was chilling to the bone and so she got to her feet and gripped her cane, moving to head out.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien approached most cautiously, sparing a glance to Harmony as she kept her eyes mostly glued on Cora. "No, I'm perfectly in my right mind. Because she is one of us I didn't kill her, first." She said coldly, without much feeling.

For a moment the former Inquisitor paused, as she looked down to the blonde's prone form. "There is a dark malevolent presence within her, one that is not her own. Whatever it is, exactly .... It's dangerous. And last time I knew Cora, she could not touch the force, but it seems she can now. This, is not a good thing. One just doesn't suddenly gain access to the force overnight without there being some underlying cause." Mirien said with a sigh as she reached the blonde's body.

"It is cause for concern and I will get to the bottom of it. So, I merely stunned her, to give us an opportunity to figure out what the hell is going on, before she becomes a danger to us all." With that said, she knelt down alongside Cora. Gently she moved the woman's hair out of the way before she placed a force nullifying collar around the girl's neck. Sighing heavily, Mirien then scooped Cora up and tossed her over her shoulder.

"Harmony, dear... Would you please tell Siobhan to meet me in the interrogation room. Let her know that we have problem." She said calmly before she started off. This she wasn't looking forward to having to explain to Siobhan, but unfortunately, it would have to done. That and Sio was bound to notice that her new pet hadn't arrived on time and start looking for the blonde. It seemed far easier to be upfront about it, than hide what she was doing.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mirien Valdier"]


Harmony was not a happy camper. She loved her Mistresses - and their money! - but sometimes they were just a bit insane. Especially when they started dragging you into their Force voodoo stuff, which was also quite scary. Still, she managed to shake herself out of her shock and nodded, shuddering a bit. "Poor Cora," she said sadly, then quickly stalked off.


It did not take her long to encounter Siobhan, since the Countess had left her suite and was now looking for her pet. "Harmony, there you are. Have you seen Cora? She's overdue," the Countess sounded a combination of annoyed, irritated and concerned. She frowned when she beheld the look on Harmony's face. "Is something wrong, dear? I sensed a disturbance in the Forcr earlier."


"Yes, Mistress, there is," Harmony said in an exasperated tone. "Cora just landed earlier, she seemed...off, then Mirien showed up and stunned her. She...," however she did not get any further because Siobhan was so impolite to interrupt her.


"What? Why the feth did Mirien stun her?" To Sio's credit she did not make a lame joke about bondage and stuff.


Harmony held up her hand. "I was about to get there, Mistress! She that there's a...dark malevolent presence inside her. She doesn't know what it is...and somehow Cora has the Force. She took her to interrogation. Please go there."


Siobhan took a breath, looking troubled, then steeled herself. "There better be a damn good explanation for this," she grunted. She gripped her cane tight. "Thank you, Harmony. I'll get to the bottom of this. You're relieved of duties for today. You can go watch over Galina. She could use the company." She limped towards the interrogation section of the base.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien headed down into the basement of the interrogation section of the base, and soon enough came to a room. She shuffled the blonde on her shoulders and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, there was a single chair with plenty of restraints. And even now as she settled Cora down into the chair, she could feel that dark presence growing. It might have been locked behind a force nullifying collar, but it still clearly was there.

Sighing, she had no doubt she was going to catch hell for this one, when Siobhan arrived. Because Mirien knew, just knew that the second Harmony told Sio what had happened that she'd be heading her way. For now, Mirien only bound Cora's hands to the chair and let it go at that. It was simply a safety precaution for them both. Then Mirien moved over to lean against a table by the door, just waiting for Siobhan to arrive. This is far too complicated. Too weird. I've not seen anything like this in a long long time. Not since ... Oh boy, this is going to be fun. She grumbled to herself as she slowly started to put her theory together.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mirien Valdier"]


Tap, tap, tap, Siobhan's arrival was heralded by the sound of her cane against the floor. There was a hiss when the door opened and then she was faicing Mirien. She did not look pleased. "Right. I was just told that my beloved bond sister riddled a very dear friend of mine with stun bolts, cuffed her and hauled her off for interrogation...and that isn't all part of a kinky present she wanted to make me," she said as she stepped inside.


"I was also told that my very non-force-sensitive friend is suddenly a Forcer and has a dark presence inside her." Then she raised her voice for the first time since she had started speaking as her temper flared up. "Care to explain what the feth is going on? Cora is not a force-user, yet she freaking feels like one now."

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien sighed, and shook her head, "That would be correct."

Reaching up Mirien pinched at the bridge of her nose, still working through it all. "Cora, in all the time I have known her, have guarded her while she was with the Atrisian Empire, she showed no sign of ever being Force Sensitive. However come today, she most definitely has the Force in some regard. Further more, there is that dark presence, which even with the Force Nullifier on, I can still feel sitting here. Something isn't right with her. And while I can't put it all together until she wakes up and we get to talk to her ..... In the current state of things, she is a threat to all of us. I'd at least like to know how she suddenly came up with the Force, and how she managed to hide it from us for all this time." This was a mystery she didn't like. Not at all.

"I sure as hell wasn't going to let her near you until I could be certain I had it under control and that this wasn't some plot of Shadow's to kill you. It wasn't a chance I was willing to take." Lifting a hand she gestured to the blonde still lying motionless in the chair, "Beyond being stunned, and restrained, she has not been harmed. Cora will survive. She's been through much worse, believe me." Mirien then gave a shrug, "For now, all we can do is wait until she wakes up. Or alternatively there are drugs to awaken her. And then we can get to the bottom of this. Because any theory I have at this point is just a stab in the dark. None of this makes any damn sense but I know what I felt and what I still am feeling. I don't do things like this, Siobhan without rhyme or reason. I do things like this when I see a genuine threat to life and limb."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mirien Valdier"]


Siobhan sighed slightly. She was pissed off, irritated and deeply concerned for Cora...but Mirien had a point. The woman had to be so bloody logical sometimes...and protective. The latter was one of the things the Countess loved about her. It did not make her any happier though.


So she took a deep breath to calm herself down and restrain her at times rather violent temper. "I know, love. I know," she finally said. "Dark presence...you think she might be...possessed? Like Shadow did with me a long time ago?" she asked, shuddering a bit. It could explain the dark presence, but on the other hand if this was all a plot then going directly to the Firemane base would be a bad choice because even Siobhan had not sensed the malevolent presence, Mirien or Coryth would have. Of course, there were many pieces of the puzzle that Siobhan was missing.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien nodded at Siobhan's question. "That is the most likely of explanations, is that Cora has been possessed. Then the question becomes who, and why they did this to her." Reaching up, she ran a slow hand through her hair, letting out a heavy sigh. At this point, she was just trying to mask the great amount of stress she was feeling under the circumstances.

"If you don't object, I can go ahead and wake her with a drug. She'll be perfectly fine. It won't alter her state of mind, and it speeds this process up." It felt like forever ago since the last time Mirien had actually interrogated someone. Not that you ever really got out of practice, it still felt a little odd to her now. "I just want to get to the bottom of this quickly and find a solution. As I really don't imagine this is any bit pleasant for her either." She said quietly. "And unlike you, she has never had any force training, so if she is in fact possessed, it may be difficult to remove the spirit, since she will have little clue how to help purge it from her own mind."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mirien Valdier"]


Calm. She had to stay calm. Control was important. She managed, though it was a struggle. "We need to question her...and a plan remove the spirit if she is possessed. If it's got her mind in its clutches and she has no means to resist it, it could cause great damage to her. Wake her up. Maybe I should tell Eileithya to come over. She once said something about having been with Ashiran exorcists." At the time Siobhan had not been sure whether the woman was joking.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien nodded, "I agree completely." With that she stepped over to a cabinet filled with all manner of drugs and soon enough removed a single vial and a syringe from a drawer before she stepped over to Cora. "I think, contacting Eileithya would be a wise idea. I'm no healer, if it does any damage to her she's our best bet to help Cora." Mirien said quietly. "And if she has experience in this department, we certainly could use it."

With a heavy sigh, she carefully rolled one of Cora's wrists over. With relative ease she quickly found a vein and injected the potent drug into the blonde's system. "Give it a minute or two and she should start to come around." Mirien then stepped back over to lean against the table by the door once more. Her eyes were locked on the blonde, keenly watching her.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Cora Passek]

It didn't take long and Cora started to stir. At first, slowly curling and uncurling her fingers, a slight groan as she shifted her head. Slowly the cuddly terror was waking. "Ughhh..." She moaned, her eyes fluttering as the girl lifted her head.

Another moment or two passed before those beautiful blue eyes opened. Instantly, her brow furrowed in confusion, trying to reconcile where her memories left off to where she was now. The blonde jerked hard against her restraints as she tried to pull free. Already Cora was panting as a bit of panic threatened to overwhelm her. "Siobhan?!" She cried, looking between the two women.

"The feth do you think you're doing?! Let me go this instant! This isn't a game!" She shrieked, clearly more than a little frightened and concerned to be done this way. "This isn't sexy. This isn't fun! Let me go!" Now Cora was shouting, as she ripped harder and harder at her bounds. "Please ..... Let me go!" Tears already were welling up in her eyes, not understanding how or why this had been done to her. "Please ..." She whimpered between heavily panted breaths. "Please!"

I warned you to leave Cora! Now you've ruined this for us both! I don't have the Force to protect us! I can do nothing you fool! How was I to know? How?! I didn't know they'd do this to me! You should have! Although ..... Don't you dare! I will destroy your mind if you give me up to them. There will be nothing left of you should you say a word of me being within you! Do you hear me?!That was a threat Cora took seriously. Vahri had already hurt her badly on a few occasions when she resisted and fought against him. Yet, here she was so close to help, but couldn't dream of reaching out without deadly consequences. Cora choked back a sob as the tears started to fall.

Trapped was exactly how she felt, trapped between a rock and a hard place with no foreseeable way out. "Siobhan... Please, this isn't funny .... Let me go. Please.... Please ...." The girl begged, so desperate to get free as she continued to twist and pull against the restraints that held her.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mirien Valdier"]


Siobhan stood her ground, although her heart went out to Cora. But...she could not help her by releasing her. The only way to save her lay in hurting her. There was a brief moment when Siobhan considered the possibility that this might be the dark presence talking and not Cora, trying to play on her sympathy, but then she dismissed that. The confusion, desperation and fear seemed far too genuine for that.


"Cora, I can't. I can't risk you hurting someone..or yourself. Listen to me, dear, I'm your Mistress, I'm here to help you," she said, reaching out to place a hand on Cora's shoulder. "You're possessed aren't you? There's a Sith inside your head? For how long? The same thing happened to me once...Shadow possessed me and tried to take over my mind, but he was driven out. We can help you, we will. But we need your help for that."

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Mirien just watched for a moment, letting Siobhan speak. After all Sio did know Cora a little better than she did. Well that, and Mirien was hardly in the mood to be comforting, not with such a threat present in front of them. "Until we know what is going on with you, how you suddenly have come up with the Force.... and that presence... You aren't going anywhere, Cora." Miri said coldly as she remained where she was against the table. "This is just as much for your safety as it is for ours."

Everything was up to Cora now. "We can help you. But you're going to have to answer the questions we have, first." She said as she folded her arms over her chest and sighed.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora shook her head, tears flowing so easily now. "Please ... Siobhan.... please ...." Still desperately begging for her freedom. "I ... I'd never hurt anyone. Not here ...."

Then came the question she hardly expected, but she was quick to shake her head, "No.... I ... I don't know what you are talking about. I'm not possessed, I'm fine." She said firmly, doing her best to mask the lie. Good girl .... Vahri said softly to her. Just let me have control for a while ... I'll handle this since you are incapable. Not that she really could have resisted as he stole wrested control from Cora. "I'm only upset because you have me here, with her, tied up after she shot me!" The blonde's anger flared up with that statement, more than a touch upset at this point. "You can't do this. Keep me here like some kind of criminal! I have done nothing wrong!"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]