Conceited
"The Poltergeist Hack"
| [member="Jen"] | [member="Joon"] | [member="Ajira Cardei"] | [member="Ludolf Vaas"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] |[OOC: Consider this a follow up to the events of the Alliance dominion, set sometime in between then and the Gathering. Basically a connective between both threads, the reasons behind Jen's involvement, why Ludolf and the First Order are being framed, deduction and research etc. Enjoy.]
It was another dark, storm night on the Hunter's Moon. The clouds had parted, as they nearly always did at this time of the year, to allow another dose of torrential downpour to assault the Fort and it's protectors. A soft patter rung off the golden frame of the Sun Guards of Sojourn, who were due for another night of watching over the property of their Master. Most had gathered near the torches for warmth, as they surveyed the surrounding forest and land. They were on the look out for predators or stray animals mostly. Since they had taken up post on the moon, they had yet to find any trespassers unwelcome to Alicia Drey's home away from home. Their presence was more of a precautionary measure. The real defence laid in the secrecy of it all. Few knew of the Sojourn system, which worked well for the scheme that was under construction under the machinations of Sojourn's ruler.
Above the canopy of trees, a white light flashed over the horizon, drawing the attention of the Sun Guards that were dotted around the Fort. Training their HUDs upon the light, they would instantly recognise the vessel in question as the Initium. Procedure dictated that they moved into formation, covering the landing zone of the transport and overseeing that their Master safely made it in doors. Sat at the helm of the Initium, Darth Ayra went through the familiar procedure of landing the docking clamps; disengaging the impulse engines; and powering down the ship, before removing the belt that had kept her secured in the pilot seat from her body, so as to let her stand up and make her way to the back of the ship.
The shuttle bay doors opened, revealing the storm that was brewing outside. Instantly, the Dark Lord was sprayed with water kicked up into her face by the raging gusts, forcing her to shield herself from further assault by raising the cowl of her robe over her head. Stepping out into the rain, Darth Ayra turned her eyes to acknowledge the presence of the Sun Guards. The gesture was missed by her subordinates, due to the darkness of night and the hood that shielded most of her face from view. But the Dark Lord was ever meticulous, despite returning to Sojourn in victory, and always checked whether or not her subordinates were in line. Satisfied that the security measures she had put in place were still being followed, despite the near decade in which they had been formed, Darth Ayra continued to make her way through her land and up to the ramparts of her home, ascending the stairs and across the bridge to the gates ahead.
Waiting dutifully for the Dark Lord was a Chandrilan boy that she did not recognise. No doubt, he was recently sent to Sojourn by whatever university or program she was funding on Chandrila. On most of her returns, from whatever business she had within the Core or the Outer Rim Territories, she would acknowledge her servants with a kind gesture, such as a hello; a smile; or a friendly pat on the shoulder, so as to make them feel welcomed. But on this night, the Dark Lord was in mood to appease anyone. Focused on bringing to fruition the next part of her scheme, Darth Ayra ignored the boy, walking by him and opening the gate herself.
Stepping into the Fort, the Dark Lord lowered her hood and removed her waterlogged robe, dropping it into the floor in a nonchalant manner. Wringing her dirty blonde hair in either hand, Darth Ayra smoothed her hands along her damp clothes and then made her way forward, leaving the garment there on the floor for someone to collect. If she were paying attention, she would have assumed that the boy would pick up the robe when he went back in doors himself, no doubt feeling alienated and a sense of what he had done wrong to be completed blanked by his host. No doubt, it would be a topic of discussion in the morning, if the boy ever plucked up the courage to explain the strangeness behind his brief encounter with the woman he knew as Alicia Drey.
Moving towards the stairway, Darth Ayra begun her climb up to the next floor. Before she could finish her climb, however, she had to pause by the banister for support. Gritting her teeth, clenching her fist upon the banister she was leaning against, it took all she had not to completely lose it. It had been weeks since her excavation of Freedon Nadd's tomb. She had not left the ancient catacombs of the Dark Lord's resting place without taking something back with her. Feasting on her body laid three Orbalisks, who had found their way onto her body in order to eat away at her body and the dark side energies she possessed. Constantly, Darth Ayra endured the sensation of thousands of tiny teeth constantly burrowing away at her skin. She didn't want to imagine what was happening to her flesh.
Meditation, thus far, had been her coping mechanism with the pain. Since her tutelage under Darth Pandeima, she had learned that pain was something akin to an ally. It had taught her much during life, such as how to deal with it. But she had never endured anything as excruciating as this. During the trip from Sojourn to Naboo and then back, she had been gifted a day or two to prepare for the week long stay at Ajira Cardei's estate at Theed. At times, she had found it increasingly difficult to maintain the facade she had built over the course of twenty years, maintaining the fake smile and mannerisms associated with her alter ego. But there were moments where she could hold on no longer, such as the one she was going through in that moment.
Eyes watering, Darth Ayra gasped, gulping down air in an attempt to exercise the pain through breathing techniques. She closed her eyes and called upon the Force. Her synapses flashed, as a familiar sensation crept upon her. Standing on the stairway, halfway up to the second landing, Darth Ayra recalled it. The feeling of satisfaction, mixed with her loathing and hatred for the Jedi and their allies, as she watched pieces of the Royal Palace collapse beneath her attack, borne out of all her malice and hate for them and the Galactic Alliance. In that moment, she had exercised over three weeks of endured pain, caused by the parasites that hung onto her body and it had felt good. But the momentary lapse had just been that- momentary- and as soon as she had released the Force Maelstrom, she was brought back to the torment caused by the Orbalisks, ever present now since her failed bid to find Freedon Nadd's Holocron.
Taeli Raaf, thought the Dark Lord of the Sith. I sensed you on Dxun. I know- I just know- that you have the Holocron. But you are not aware of this. You do not even know who I am. Opening her eyes, Darth Ayra lifted her foot onto the next step, then followed up with the next. She felt herself return to a level in which she could cope with the pain, borne out of her malice for Taeli, who she blamed for becoming infected in the first place, knowing that one day, the Jedi Master that she had grown close too via her corporate machinations would pay for her suffering. Finishing her climb onto the landing, Darth Ayra made her way to the room at the end of the hallway, decorated with several screens and computers, who synced and connected to the latest news, stock ratings and transactions posted both on the HoloNet and black market. Aware that she was not going to sleep that night, the Dark Lord opened and shut the door behind herself as she made her way to a seat.