Private Wayii!

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"I hope you care to be recalled to life?"

***​

A fat little ship sat in a wheat field on Concord Dawn, in a place that had been ruins not many years ago.

The Pomojema II was a cavernous luxury freighter caught in the throes of serious modification. One of the renovation priorities was the installation of a Lords of the Fringe Spaarti cloning system - five cylinders, gene-tailor droids, a small and extremely discreet staff - adjacent to the excellent stock medbay. And in said medbay-

A gasp of effort exploded past Ashin's teeth. Hands shaking, she took a seat in an armchair she'd dragged in for just this purpose. Resurrecting someone - dragging them out of the depths of the netherworld, reawakening them if they'd begun dissipating into the Cosmic Force, shoving them into a mindless purpose-built clone body - was no joke. But she'd failed to resurrect Spencer half a dozen times, and while she still pursued other avenues, she needed to make sure the fault didn't lie with her technique.

Besides, the being she'd just dragged back into mortality had plenty of utility for her crusade. Two birds with one stone.

"Olarom bah Concord Dawn, Ijaat Mereel . Ashin Varanin, hibir bal ad be Jasper Ordo."

Welcome to Concord Dawn, Ijaat Mereel. Ashin Varanin, student and daughter of Jasper Ordo.

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

One moment he was resting in a field of blades, pausing in between endless fights. A peace had come into his soul after his death by Cato Fett , a calm. Indeed, had the years kept stretching on, Ashin Cardé Varanin may not have had the chance to revive him once again. His presence had been faint, and not precisely willing. Had he realized the tug, and what it meant, he may have fought it. Death was his choice last time, after all.

Regardless, the voice that rang in new ears was similar to one he knew. If not exactly calming. He took a moment to adjust before answering.

"I know your voice, Jasper'ika. Your father is known to me, as you are."

Slowly, eyes opened, looking around. He didn't move though. He just tested out his body, flexing fingers one by one and in group. Toes too. Tensing muscles, but leaving limbs still. As per usual, things were quite fresh in this body.

"Any surprises, before I sit up? And what's the mission?"

A Netti master of the Force had healed his mind. The sickness that had drove him mad had left. Now, the warrior and blacksmith remained, no specter of vengeance. There was no thirst to murder, not even the Sith. Ashin was one he owed a few times over. If she had bought his life back again, she had damn good reason. Her and Draco were probably as close to trusting as he came with others.

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"No surprises. Physically, you're more or less what you were in your late prime, early middle age or thereabouts. My people used myostim units to give you general muscle tone and flash-learning for basic combat muscle memory, but you'll need to physically re-train before you're back where you should be - it's a process I've faced a time or two myself."

She rose from the stool and came over to stand by him. A fingernail had fallen off; she tucked it in her pocket.

"Did you know my wife, Spencer Varanin ? The Sith Empire killed her and so far I've been unable to bring her back. Bringing you back is practice, and you're the kind of maker who could help me. Not to mention you know portions of the Netherworld."

She took his agreement for granted.

Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

'I knew her by reputation and traveling in the same circles. Not by much more. But I owe you a fair turn. And something tells me you have a specific idea how I can help, or you wouldn't have spent the practice effort."

The dar'manda and perhaps the most skillful goran the Mandalorians had ever produced sat up, slowly. Hands at the edge of the table, he slid forward and smiled as he stood, stretching and rolling limbs and muscles as if preparing for a marathon. He cracked his neck, perhaps unneeded but habitual for the old warrior. He eyed Ashin Cardé Varanin , nodding respectfully. Instead of frenzied passion in his eyes, they were hawk-like orbs of concentrated intellect. Calm. With a touch of a ghost of the pain that had ignited his journey to madness. The loss of his own wife to the Sith. To his own uncle.

"I will help you. I would regardless, in truth... But... I have been where you are and lost as you have. I would help regardless of the debt between us for this purpose."

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

A firm nod.

"Well then."

She backed away from the medical bed and raised her hands. Illusion wasn't her forte, but she could manage well enough for illustration purposes. A map took form above and around them - a partial map of the Netherworld of the Force.

"I don't believe the Netherworld, as it stands, is intrinsic or eternal. I believe it's emergent from the average expectation of those who snag in it rather than, or before, dissipating into the Cosmic Force. It may even have been deliberately constructed. As far as I could sense, I grabbed you from the Field of Blades, yes? And I'm familiar with a few other regions. What roads and areas do you know?"

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"Kandlekrypt. I... Sought wisdom there at first... And a way back. I've passed through other regions as well, but those two I spent time in... I'd agree with your assessment. It's a way for the mind to process the unfiltered truth and power of the Force. And I know the road to the Warlock Gate... Ember was a friend, and I tried to find him. But the facts remain, it's filtered glimpses of a whole. Reflections of singular facets."

Looking at the map, he nodded briefly. An idea had formed, and he grinned.

"There are ways to draw out spirits that I saw within. Temporarily... If we can locate her, we can transition her spirit wholesale from the Nether to the physical world. And, if she's willing, we can tether it to a body. It's both cruder and more sophisticated. But it' the same idea as the reflecting pool at Vametaye on Kuar. A physical manifestation of the spirit, and taking the object you anchored the bridge to and merging it to the flesh. Alchemy at it's most base, really."

For a man of his reputed attitudes and humors, the intellectual and mystical discourse might have been slightly off-catching. But Ijaat always did well at hiding his mind behind his fury.

"Whatever the object is, it would need to be damn near impossible to destroy. It would eventually dissipate into the flesh overtime, but until then... It would need to be strong... Unless you have a better theory..."

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

She released the illusory map as he spoke.

"I'm not familiar with Kandlekrypt or Vametaye, though I've heard both names. The plan for securing her back in mortality seems sound, even inspired. Finding her won't be an issue - Lord Dissero has been building me a compass of sorts, and I'm sure you know his work. After his contribution and yours, the two largest challenges are getting there safely and overcoming whatever keeps her out of my grasp. I've retained the services of Seydon of Arda of Arda to help with that - but any maps, tips, protection, guidance, insulation you can offer could go a long way toward filling in the gaps."

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"I can help fill in blanks and correct mistakes on your map. And guidance? Be at peace with yourself. The Netherworld has been unsteady for a while yet. In flux, as it were. And even if it is a construct, it's real to the denizens, which include your wife. So to an extent, no matter the intellectual underpinnings or objections, there are still rules to follow, yeah? Give the spirits there a crack, they will rend you to pieces."

For a moment he sighed and nodded.

"I'll help with the transference. And I can help Seydon keep you safe. Most beings that are more than impulse don't stand long in my presence. Even in the Field."

The last was a grim, but unadorned statement without boast. He was hardy as a warrior before. Years of doing little more than fighting constantly had made him something else entirely.

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"The transference work and the escort would both be immensely helpful. Let's take a look at that map again - I'd be grateful for any particular pointers. You'll note Kandlekrypt isn't on here - I don't know what planes or regions are adjacent."

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"Valley of Lies is where it is roughly. Though, as you know, that place is... Fluid in a few ways."

Fingers flexed, absent their scars and busted knuckles, and he pointed to roughly where the region he spoke of lay.

"What is important isn't per see going there. They have a place, the Underkrypt. If you can bring the skull of a passed on Force User there, it will anchor their spirit for an hour. Conversations, etc... I have been once, and studied the place... I think... Something similar can be made, but with less grisly fuel for the result, since you'd have a compass to find her. If you know where she's at... It's less a sprawling roam, and more.. One could precisely insert themselves with the device aided by the compass, summon her spirit into it, and have a limited window wherein you could essentially travel back to the materium, with the soul so encased, and anchor or transfer it however you do your works to a new body."

Here he snorted. In times, he still thought of himself as a simple blacksmith. A warrior. Just a simple man, trying to make his way in the universe. Truth was, especially after years upon years in the Nether and on Tython and Kuar... Well... He could speak on the level of those like Ashin Cardé Varanin and Seydon of Arda about the arcane arts and usages of the Force. A thin smile crossed his face.

"I just need some bes'manda from the homeland, and time. I can make the device. It may only function once, it'll be quite a task. And I'll need a workshop. "

Another pause.

"And definitely a drink and some food. Rebirth is not a laughing matter."