Private The Light That Follows

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Flickerfox

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

The hum of the Flickerfox filled the cabin, low and steady, like a heartbeat that refused to stop. The storm of Teth was long behind them now, its mist and ruin shrinking into hyperspace blur, but the silence it left hadn't lifted.

Ace sat in the pilot's chair, shoulders heavy, one hand loosely turning the yoke just for the motion of it. The stars stretched into silver lines ahead, but his thoughts lingered behind, on the ziggurat, the rot that breathed beneath it, and the darkness that had nearly consumed them both whole.

Tic perched on the console beside him, lens flickering toward the med-bay every few seconds. The little BD-unit chirped, soft and nervous.

"She's still out." Ace muttered, voice low and rough. "Vitals are stable. Domxite's keeping watch."

He didn't need to check again, he could feel the faint pulse of her through the Force, dim but steady, like embers under ash. For a long moment, he just listened to the ship's hum. Then he exhaled and reached for the comm panel. Static crackled before he switched frequencies and started recording a message.

"Aris. It's Ace." He paused, then sighed quietly. "We finished the Teth survey, or what's left of it. There's something under the surface there… a nexus. Dark, old. We stumbled into it before I realized what we were walking into."

He leaned back in the chair, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "Zaiya neutralized it. Saved my ass, honestly. But it hit back. Hard. She's alive... breathing, stable, but she hasn't woken up yet." His tone softened slightly. "I'm taking her to Odessen. She'll get proper care there. You'll want to be with her."

He ended the transmission, watching the small holo-indicator blink before the message queued and sent into the stream.

Tic trilled once, quietly. Ace gave a faint nod. "Yeah. I know."

The BD-unit chirped again, this time softer.

Ace's gaze drifted back to the starlines. "Still..." He murmured "He deserves to know she's coming home."

He leaned back in the chair, the stars reflected faintly in his dark eyes. Then he slid out from it, turning toward the corridor, making his way to the medical bay. The hum of the engines followed him, steady and low, as he reached the door and keyed it open. The sterile light washed over him, and there she was, lying still beneath the monitor glow, Domxite stood protectively by her shoulder.

Ace stepped inside, quiet, gaze softening as he stopped beside the cot.

"Hang in there..." He said under his breath, the words almost lost in the hum of the ship. "We're almost home."

Zaiya Ceti | Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris took a breath.

It wasn't the kind of message he'd wanted to get. News about Zaiya being hurt, he'd near shattered the holodevice in his hand before he could take a moment to collect himself. Overprotectiveness was one of his flaws. As that moment passed, that dread in his heart at another he cared so much for being hurt, he couldn't help but smile.

"Of course she neutralized it." He certainly didn't need to hear it to know that whatever had knocked her out was worse off. He stepped out into the cold air of Midvinter, from the home he, Zaiya, and Thurion Heavenshield had made as he rushed to his own ship. He still wasn't confident in his ability to fly, but he wasn't going to let her wake up without him there.

He could fly to Odessen at least, probably.

Acier Moonbound

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Acier Moonbound Aris Noble

Zaiya stirred as conciousness came in soft degrees, a soft groan escaping her as her eyes fluttered open to the dim ship lighting and the low hum of engines. For a moment, she wasn't sure where she was, but then came the familiar sound, a gentle series of clicks and a worried hum.

"Hey…" the word came out rough as Zaiya gave a light greeting to the small droid. She blinked a few times, and Domxite immediately hopped to the edge of the bunk, tilting their small head in concern.

"I'm fine… really, really," she murmured, though the faint ache behind her eyes said otherwise. Still at least this time waking up wasn't like before. No overwhelming drain or dizziness. Just a dull throb and a lingering warmth that made her mottled spots give a little spaz of colors.

Opal blue eyes drifted around the room and a soft recognition dawned.

"Oh… guess Ace got me back on the ship."

The Lovalla sat up slowly, her bare feet finding the cool metal floor beneath her. The steady thrum under her palms told her what she needed to know even before she asked, "Are we traveling in hyperspace?"

Domxite trilled as they gave a quick confirming beep.

"Oh! Okay. Come on, then…" She pushed herself up, slowly rubbing her forehead and glancing toward the corridor, the long lenght of her multicolored cobalt, magenta, and teal hair falling along to tickle her colorful bare cheeks.

"Bet he's probably worried."

The little droid chirped again and leapt to her shoulder as Zaiya started toward the cockpit, still trying to steady her steps as she went.

"Ace??" she called out quietly, a soft ripple of muted bioluminescence hues dancing over her cheeks and rippling down her arms.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Flickerfox

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

Eventually, Ace returned to the cockpit. For a while, he waited, boots resting on the dash while tinkering with his lightsaber, adjusting the focusing ring with absent precision. Tic perched beside him, lens flickering curiously as the young rebel worked. He wasn't really fixing anything. Just… thinking.

After a while, he heard Zaiya's voice all out. It was faint at first, soft, uncertain, but unmistakably hers. Ace's head snapped up. A long exhale slipped out of him, tension leaving his shoulders. He was on his feet in an instant, boots hitting the deck as he crossed the corridor toward the med-bay. The door hissed open just as she rounded the corner.

"You're awake." He said quietly, a small half-smile cutting through the fatigue.

Tic peeked from behind his leg, chirping a stuttered series of clicks that almost sounded like relief. Ace glanced at the little BD-unit, then back to her.

"You scared the hell out of him. And me." Folding his arms, Ace nodded toward the med-bay, brow raised. "Should still be resting. You burned through a lot back there." His tone wasn't scolding, just that steady, low kind of concern that didn't need to be loud to be real.

For a moment, he just looked at her. The color had returned to her skin, the dim shimmer of bioluminescence starting to pulse again in rhythm with her breathing.

"You pulled us both out of that mess." He said, quiet but certain. "Whatever that place was, it's dormant now. Jedi'll clean up what's left."

The ashen-haired rebel tapped his boot a few times, loosening his arms. Then he closed the distance, gently placing his palms on her shoulders - directing her back toward the med-bay.

"We're almost at Odessen. Aris should be on his way, I sent him a transmission." His gaze softened slightly, a trace of wry humor flickering through. "You'll see him soon enough. Till then, med-bay. Doctor's orders."

Then, quieter, more to her than to the ship, he added, "It's good to have you back, Zaiya."

The soft wail of the navicomputer cut through the hum of the engines. Outside the cockpit, the starlines folded back into stars as the Flickerfox dropped out of hyperspace. Odessen bloomed ahead, a world that looked, at least from orbit, like peace.

Ace's gaze drifted toward the sight, then back to her. "Home stretch." He murmured.

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti​

 

[Aris Noble]

Were there speed limits in space?

Aris wasn't sure, but he also didn't really care. His poor pilot droid on the other hand was left at the mercy of such laws and regulations as he not so subtly mentioned how important it was they flew quick. There wasn't much he could do like this, sitting on his ship, waiting for the lines to fade and for the planet to drop into view.

He didn't like it. Idly he toyed with the charm, the connection point he had with Zaiya even across all this distance. He could feel her warmth, that she was alive. But that was the extent of it. He couldn't comfort her, couldn't see her with his own eyes. By the time the ship landed he was on the ramp, hurrying down as he full sprinted towards where Acier had said they were going to touch down.

Acier Moonbound | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Acier Moonbound

Zaiya offered a faint, sleepy smile, her mottled spots and stripes flickering with soft blues and curious citrines that shimmered faintly against her rosy golden skin.

"Hey… oh." Her glow dimmed a little at his words, guilt curling at the edge of her tone. "I scared you."

One colorful hand drifted up to the small necklace resting against her collarbone. Through the faint hum of the Force, she could feel Aris's lingering worry pulsing through their bond. The sensation tugged at her heart.

"Sorrrrr-y… didn't mean to."

She crossed the small space to the nearest chair and sank into it, Domxite hopping up beside her with a cheerful wiggle of their paint-splattered head, chirping a quick greeting to both Ace and Tic.

"Oh. So you told Aris." Zaiya blinked as the realization dawned as her eyes went a little wide. "That explains the worry I was feeling through the necklace."

Her fingers fumbled with the comm at her belt.

"I'll send him a message to let him know I'm okay. But if he's in hyperspace too, he won't get it until we're both out."

She tapped a few quick words into the comm before setting it aside with a sigh.

Aris Noble - The Best Fighter EVER! <3

Zaiya:
Hi! I'm okay! I just woke up. Had to do some Force light while out on a mission but Ace took care of me. I'll see you soon! XOXO <3
​

"I'm fine, really, really. Just using the Force like that just wears me out."

Domxite tilted their head, giving a soft, chastising trill.

"I know, I know," Zaiya said with a huff of laughter. "But you and Ace helped me with it. What else was I going to do?"

Those bright opal blue eyes turned toward Ace, the corners of her mouth lifting into a small smile.

"Which reminds me… you're an empath, right?"

She studied him curiously, a light ombre of citrines, ambers, and pale blues dancing along the edges in light bioluminescence as she spoke in a thoughtful tone.

"When I touched your hand back there, I could feel it. The way the Force moved through you, it felt kinda like when I'm resonating with someone."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Flickerfox

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

Ace couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at his mouth when she apologized. "Yeah." He said, dry but gentle "You did. But you're forgiven."

He leaned back against the bulkhead, arms loosely folded, watching her move with that groggy mix of exhaustion and stubborn life that told him she'd be fine. Tic chirped a greeting at Domxite, hopping up onto the console to mirror the little droid's movements. The pair of them looked like kids mimicking each other.

When Zaiya mentioned Aris, Ace's brow quirked. "Figured he'd want to know." His tone softened, still low but sincere. "He's probably halfway through the atmosphere by now."

As she sent her message to Aris, Ace pushed off the wall to return to the cockpit but stopped at her next question. His expression shifted and he hesitated a second before nodding.

"I don't know, I guess?" He answered, shrugging. Then his tone lowered, more thoughtful "Even before I started training. It just happened. I can feel what people feel, the strong stuff, anyway. Fear, pain, hope, all of it. Sometimes it's like standing too close to a speaker." He gave a quiet exhale through his nose. "But everyone can do that, right? Force users, I mean."

Ace's gaze flicked briefly to her hand, then to the faint glow along her skin. "What you felt when we connected? I'd never done that before. Was just, kind of, in the moment."

Then he made his way back to the pilot's chair, stopping for a second and turning to look over his shoulder.

"Might wanna buckle in."

The descent to the outpost on Odessen was smooth. As he docked the Flickerfox, Ace sensed Aris' presence below, the wave of worry and concern rippling through the Force's threads.

If Zaiya needed assistance, he would aid her down the Flickerfox's loading ramp where he saw Aris - sprinting toward them. A towering figure moving fast, expression sharp enough that, if Ace didn't know any better, he'd think the man was charging to attack.

Ace stepped aside as the distance closed, folding his arms loosely as he watched them. A small ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, the weariness in his eyes softening.

For the first time since Teth, the air around them felt lighter.

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Relief was pretty instant. Aris practically surged up the ramp, promptly pulling Zaiya into a hug that'd lift her right up from the ground. No words, he just held her for a moment. That was the only crack in his usually emotionally controlled demeanor before he looked to Acier, giving a small and thankful nod. "Seems like you both went through a lot. I'm glad you're alright."

Grant it, he hadn't set Zaiya back down. At this point he was very much set on carrying her. "I say food. Something proper for you both to eat. Relax maybe?"

Zaiya Ceti | Acier Moonbound

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Acier Moonbound

"Hmmm, yes and no," Zaiya replied, her tone thoughtful as she considered Ace's question. She had learned much about empaths from her Master, Iris Arani , and from Knight Corazona von Ascania . Ever since discovering her own empathic nature, the Lovalla Padawan had done her best to study others with the same ability, not just through the Force but among species who naturally possessed it.

"I'm Lovalla, so my kind can feel our direct kin, like our parents, until we find our mates. It's sort of a social bond, helping us learn how to communicate and connect until we choose our life partner. The Force seems to act like a channel for me to extend those empathic abilities beyond my people, through direct contact or bonds, and sometimes even when I reach out with my senses."

Her head tilted to the side, eyes bright with curiosity.

"We can talk about it more later, but I'd love to know what you've learned about it." She smiled warmly, adding with a playful tone, "But okay, buckling up!"

By the time the Flickerfox touched down, Zaiya could already feel Aris's presence rushing toward her, a swell of relief, worry, and fierce protectiveness before the ramp even began to open.

Then he was there, his tall frame sweeping her into his arms before she could say a word. The air left her in a small happy laugh as she melted into the embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his ribs. She breathed him in, seemingly absorbing his presence.

She could feel how deeply she had scared him.

Zaiya buried her face against his chest, breathing him in as her bioluminescence flared to life. One could see how she was visibly becoming more and more vibrant over the hues and color tones over her skin. The mottled edges of her spots and stripes pulsed with golden light, her rosy golden skin shimmering with what could only be described as an irridecent glow

She was glowing.

"Food sounds great!" came her muffled voice from against his chest before she tipped her head back, a grin spreading across her face.

"I'm super dee duper hungryyyyyy!" she chirped before glancing over her shoulder at Ace. "Do you like burgers? We love burgers!"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Odessen - Outpost

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

Ace watched as Aris swept Zaiya off her feet... literally. For a second, he thought the Epicanthix was going to knock the air out of her again, but the sound of her laugh eased the last bit of tension he'd been carrying since Teth. The way her glow returned, that soft ripple of light over her skin, made the sterile hangar feel almost alive.

"Aw, guys." He said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips "All this mushiness is going to make me throw up."

Tic chirped beside him in what sounded like agreement, head tilting as the little droid watched Zaiya radiate color. Ace knelt briefly, tapping the BD-unit's head before looking up at the pair again.

"'A lot' is an understatement. But Zaiya handled it." He said to Aris, voice low but sincere. "You got here fast. Figured you would."

At the mention of food, his smirk widened, glancing toward Zaiya. "Burgers are nice. Last few days haven't exactly been gourmet." His tone was dry, but the weariness underneath it carried something else... gratitude, quiet and unspoken.

Tic chirped again, earning a brief chuckle out of him. Still, he fell into step beside them as they started toward the mess hall, the low hum of the Flickerfox fading behind them.

"I could use something that doesn't come out of a sealed pack." He said quietly.

After a beat of comfortable silence, Ace glanced between them, a small, wry edge in his tone.

"So..." He said, "How's Midvinter? Heard you two've got a place out there now."

The question hung somewhere between genuine curiosity and casual conversation... an easy lead into something normal after everything they'd just survived.

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti​

 

[Aris Noble]

Relief was a wild thing. Aris just smiled as he glanced between Zaiya in his arms and Acier, nodding once. Burgers were the best. Though, mushy? He tilted his head in thought before shrugging. He was happy to see Zaiya awake, but he wasn't about to let her down just yet. He'd get out of that mode eventually, but for now?

Indulgement.

"Midvinter is nice. It's been good to just live and relax in a home together, though we're not quite moved in together yet."

Zaiya Ceti | Acier Moonbound

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Acier Moonbound Aris Noble

Zaiya didn't even care; she simply snuggled close, keeping the conversation going between Aris and Ace as if this wasn't an issue at all.

"I have to be a Knight first!" her voice piped up before she managed to turn her head to look over at Ace, giving him a beaming smile.

"Then we can have a nest together!" it was a random odd way of saying it, but that was how Zaiya considered it. The implications on how that sounded well, went over her head. She was too busy enjoying being in Aris's arms again.

"We can tell you all about it. But food please?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Odessen - Outpost

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

Ace blinked once, caught halfway between amusement and confusion. "Nest..." He echoed, tilting his head. "That's… one way to put it."​

​

Tic gave a curious trill from his shoulder, head tilting in the same rhythm as if asking the same question. Ace glanced down at the droid and muttered, "Don't even start."​

​

His gaze lifted back to the couple, the ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. "Midvinter sounds peaceful." He said, tone low but genuine. "Good to hear you've got something that feels like home. But, why do you need to be a Knight, first?" He said, focusing his gaze on Zaiya.​

​

They rounded a corner, the smell of grilled meat and warm spice cutting through the air. Ace's stomach gave a quiet protest that made him smirk. "Right. Food."​

​

He fell into step beside them as the the mess hall came into view, boots scuffing faintly on the floor. "I'll take whatever passes for a burger on base." He said with a dry note, though the edge of weariness in his voice had eased into something lighter.​

​

After a pause, he added, more casually, "You two planning on staying planetside for a while after this? Or heading back out once she's cleared for duty?"​

​

He reached the mess hall doors first, stepping through into the wide, well-lit space. A few off-duty Path members looked up briefly, nodding in quiet acknowledgment before turning back to their meals. Ace didn't say anything. He just made a beeline for the serving counter, picking up a tray and sliding it down the rail until he stopped in front of the droid cook.

A silent exchange passed, a faint nod from Ace, three fingers raised. The droid whirred in acknowledgment before turning to the grill. A few seconds later, three plates clattered onto the tray, steam curling up from the fresh buns.

​

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti ​

​

 

[Aris Noble]

Nest?

...

Love nest?

Aris banished that thought as soon as it arrived, only briefly and barely having a tint of red on his ears. That was a foolish thought to have. "We've already pushed a lot with being Jedi being bonded as we are. She still has to focus on her training. We agreed that she should." He would end up distracting her. Even when they had the dorm rooms together on Coruscant with Mahsa and Ayhan , he knew he'd been a distraction. He wanted to be, at some level.

Once they reached the mess hall, Aris still hadn't put Zaiya down. There was a brief thought that he should, especially once they stepped in, but the age old in for a credit in for many credits passed through, so he just carried her to the table before setting her down so she could sit. The eyes on them would've normally prompted him to have done so much sooner, but the worry in the back of his mind still hadn't fully settled.

"Maybe. Whatever you two had cleared out is something I think should be fully investigated, less the Empire or the Sith try to take up the scraps. I might go see it myself." He glanced to Acier, watching him for a moment. Then to the burgers. "I doubt you'd want to leave things unfinished anyway, right?"

Zaiya Ceti | Acier Moonbound

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Acier Moonbound tthe

Zaiya was happy as can be even as Aris continued to hold her as they entered the mess hall. Even as they got some odd stares, the Lovalla Padawan was just content and happy as can be, shimmering in happy tones that pulsed in joyful flushes.

Especially as she felt the warm zizzle resonating as Aris held her. Ooo, he was having happy, tingly, thoughts!

She liked it when he did that. It was better than him being worried. Unable to help herself, she flashed him a grin and gave his red ear a light little playful bap.

"A burger sounds amazing!" she chirped out, giving Ace and Aris a beaming grin.

"Did I tell you Ace that Aris and I try to look for the best burgers in the galaxy by trying every one we can find across several diners?" it was a proud moment of bragging rights the Lovalla liked to share. Not only was it fun, but super tasty too! Plus, she was with Aris and it made it even more extra special.

One he sat her down though, Zaiya considered what Aris said about it.

"You are right, it will need to get looked at again." She agreed, the droid working on their burgers but providing them their drinks first.

"Aris is a Knight and he's already had exprience with crazy darksided entities. Maybe we can all go back and go through it, but be better prepared for it?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Odessen - Outpost

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic

As the droid fried the burgers, Ace's attention drifted to what Aris had said earlier about pushing a lot because of their bond. Whatever that meant. He didn't even want to open that can of worms.

Then Zaiya chimed in, bright and oblivious as ever, and Ace's smirk tugged back into place. "Well, you're definitely not going to find the best burgers here." He said, glancing toward the droid at the grill. "Droids don't even know how to season."

The cook gave an indignant beep. Tic followed up with one of his own, clearly offended on behalf of his mechanical kin. Ace raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Alright, alright. No disrespect to the culinary arts of droids."

When the cook finally finished with their burgers, he motioned toward an open table tucked against the viewport wall. As he wandered over to the table, he deliberated on what both Aris and Zaiya had said about returning to Teth.

Setting the tray down, Ace took a seat with a quiet sigh, leaning back. Tic hopped up onto the table's edge beside him, chirping as if to claim his share. Before taking his first bite, he finally answered them.

"Yeah, I was going to let the Council know. Figured it was way above our pay grade." Then his dark eyes found Zaiya, softening with concern before settling on to Aris "We barely made it out."

He tapped a finger lightly against the edge of the table, eyes fixed on nothing. Truth was, he didn't want to go back. There were very few things that actually scared him anymore, but what he'd seen in that ziggurat... what he could become, that was one of them. Something he wanted to bury deep and never speak of again.

After a few moments of silence, a resigned sigh escaped him. "Alright." He said, finally. "If you're both confident Aris knows what he's doing. I'm in."

Then, he finally took a sip of his drink and reached for his burger.

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti ​