Devia kneels just beneath an ancient tree on a hill just outisde the clearing where the Village once existed on Dathomir. She maintains her meditation pose with practiced ease, yet her mind is racing with thoughts of her immediate future... and how things have now changed.
Unable to focus completely on her meditiation, she lets her pose relax, and then shifts so that she sits on the mossy ground. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rests her chin on her knees while gazing out over the ruins of the Village.
She smiles against her knees as she thinks, "I'll never forget the look on Noel's face... the overwhelming joy as he realized what the sensations were that he was experiencing with me as we were linked." Her eyes become glossy with unshead tears. "The look that said finally... FINALLY... his dream that he thought was long dead was coming true, and that gave him such a feeling of pure happiness... and I have felt that from him so rarely."
Her hands fall to her abdomen, focusing inward as she feels the spark of life there now... just barely aware, but growing stronger and healthy every day.
She says out loud into the calm night air, "I wonder what kind of mother I will be..."
Healing a Kindred Spirit - Part 2
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Deiva gets up from the chair and connects up her food replicator, ordering a mug of Naboo's version of Earl Grey tea, she climbs back into the chair, still thinking about her past foolishness..
"At least we recieved good news in the end..."
------------------------------------------
The restriction was supposed only be for 12 hours... here it was 3 days later, and she was still under restriction in the Medical Center. Lying in the bed, she sent a mindcall to Katana, who was pacing restlessly outside. The big cat walks in, padding silently across the floor over to where Devia was lying down.. he heaches the strap with his teeth, tugging gently, causing the restraint to fall away... Devia quickly moves to release her other hand. Getting dressed, she slips out of the Med Center and back to her house in Rellig.
As Devia walks in the door, the house's auto lighting comes on. She walks over to the holonet terminal, going through her messages, and notices one in particular. Her contact. They were back at the stronghold, would be there for the night. "Now is the time to act." Devia thought to herself. Looking around for her armor, she spots Akilo's unused padded set standing against the wall. "How fitting. Yes, I'll wear that for this." she thinks. She picks up the Chestplate, bracers, and bicep covers, sliding them on slowly, her wounds still unhealed. Looking around, she is unable to find her Vibro Knucklers. Frowning to herself, she remembers that she left them in Smuggler's Luck. Leaning heavily on Katana for support, she makes her way to the shuttlepad. Boarding Koutai, she makes her way to Lok.
Now fully armed, Devia orders her figher to be prepared for departure once again at Nym's spaceport. She hears someone approach from behind. "Devia? Is that you?" the man said. Devia turns around, and sees Katurnus standing in the doorway. "Hi Kat." She says. "Hiya Dev. Where's your shadow?" He asks with a smile. Devia tries to keep her face from falling, "No longer walking with me, Kat... Have you also heard about Akilo?"He shakes his head no. "I found her dead in her house." Katarnus starts to look uncomfortable, seems to be looking for a way to change the subject. Just then, a wave of fatigue rolls over her, and she leans up against the Starport terminal quite heavily. "Woah, Dev, take it easy there." Says Katarnus, moving to catch her. He notices then that she's armored and armed. "Dev, where are you going?" Kat asks with some concern. Devia tells him the story of how she found Akilo dead, how she felt her terror and pain in the house. And that she has information that the men who did it are at their stronghold on Naboo. "That could have been faked, this smells like a trap, Devia." he tells her. Devia shakes her head violently, "No, I would know the difference. I'm going after them, Kat. They have to pay for what they did to her." Katarnus frowns, "Dev, you are in no shape to be doing anything of the sort." Realizing that he's moving into a position to prevent her from leaving, she bolts on board her ship, closing the airlock behind her. Kat pounds on the hatch, yelling "Dev! Dammit! They'll kill you this time! DEV!!"
Devia goes back to Rellig Steppes, needing to get a few things in order, needing some supplies from the Cantina. As she walks in the door, she notices Katurnus talking to Kisal. "Oh dammit!" Devia thinks to herself. She quickly enters the building, determined to get in, do what she has to, then get the hell out fast. Just as she's about to leave, she hears a familiar voice behind her. "Hello, Devia. What brings you here tonight?" Devia turns slowly, and tries to smile at Kisal. "Hiya Kis. Just picking up a few things to eat." she says, unable to look Kisal in the eye. Kisal smiles at her, "That's some nice padded armor, Devia. It looks good on you... That's Akilo's color, isn't it?" says Kisal, seemingly nonchalantly. "Uh... yeah. It was just gathering dust, and my other set is being repaired... so I figured I would wear it." Kisal nods at her and says, "Well, it looks great on you, want to sit down and have a drink?" Unable to meet Kisal's eyes, Devia shakes her head no. Then, feeling quite guilty, Devia blurts out "Kat told you everything, didn't he??" Kisal nods at Devia, with an odd look on her face.
Devia hands Kisal a datapad with a waypoint on it. "What's this?" Kisal asks, eyebrow raising at Devia. "That... is where the bastards are currently holed up for the night." says Devia, with anger in her eyes. Kisal looks back at Devia, "were you going to try to do this alone again?" Devia nods in embarassment. "I'm sorry, Kisal." Kisal ignores the response and looks at the datapad again. Unbenownst to both of them, Warod, Jani, Salkazza, Marlon, and Mohondo were drawing closer to them, straining to overhear the conversation. Kisal looks back at Devia, "So... you ready to go pay these bastards back?" Devia nods back, feeling her anger rise, adrenaline fueling her body to keep going. Jani walks up to Devia and asks, "How are you feeling, Devia?" Jani continues, "I told you I was not going to stop you from doing what you have to, but I am damn sure not going to let you go there alone." A growl of agreement from Salkazza, standing behind Deva. Nods from Warod, Mohondo, and Marlon echoed Jani's statement. A bit overcome with emotion, Devia looks around at her friends, tears filling her eyes a bit. "I can't ask you to come with me. This will be dangerous, and frankly, I couldn't take it if any of you got hurt because of me." Kisal walks up to Devia and looks her dead in the eye, "You are not going alone. Not this time." Smiling weakly at all of her close friends, Devia says "Then the meeting point is Keren, Naboo. Time to get them back."
The group approaches the stronghold quickly and silently. Devia feels a familiar presence approach, she welcomes him with a quick thought, then focuses back on the situation. She signals Katana, and the men at the first checkpoint are quickly brought down. Devia, filled with a battle lust, a coating of ice forming around her again, drops to one knee, placing her hands on the sides of the dying man's head, and ruthlessly cleans out his mind of any important information. Looking for the one who actually delivered Akilo's deathblow. Looking for the one who might know something about the substance slowly killing her. One by one, the sentries are brought down, one by one she strips their minds bare looking for any information she can.
The surrounding are clear, all that remains is the stronghold itself. Devia charges the gates, swept away on a tide of bloodlust and need for revenge. "YOU BASTARDS!" she screams at them, Katana charging by her side. "DEV! WAIT A MINUTE!" the group yells after her, trying to keep up. The maulers standing outside of the house all dead and searched, Devia still hasn't found what she's looking for... "Salkazza, time to open this door. Knock loudly." Devia says in a low tone. Salkazza picks up a charge, attaches it to the door, then decides to kick in the door instead. Devia goes charging into the house. Rounding the corner, she comes face to face with the leader of the gang. Almost in hysteria, Devia starts to yell, "SO YOU WANTED TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO, HUM?" She's seething, angry beyond any reason, "YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE EXACTLY THAT!!" She charges the leader, knocking him over, tearing him up, making quick work of him in her state of frenzy. As he laid there on the floor of the house, broken and bleeding, she approaches him, her hand clamping down around his temple as she growls through clenched teeth, "How does it feel?? HOW DOES IT FEEL???" She brutally tears the information out of the leader's mind. The poison was bio-engineered for her specifically. She saw a brief image of the one who supplied it to the leader of the gang..... Then she sees something else, something she never expected to see there... the image.. a sweet face, dark hair, blue eyes...
Devia straightens up, and with no emotion in her eyes, and without remorse..... savagely breaks the neck of the mauler leader. Kisal flinches away from Devia, a look of fear in her eyes. Marlon stared at Devia... his jaw hanging open, unable to believe what he just saw Devia do.
Devia stumbles to the wall, all her strength gone... leaning against the wall... room spinning.... no strength left... darkness about to reach up and drag her under... she's barely able to whisper...
"She's alive! Akilo is alive!!!"
She then promptly slumps over, unconscious...
"At least we recieved good news in the end..."
------------------------------------------
The restriction was supposed only be for 12 hours... here it was 3 days later, and she was still under restriction in the Medical Center. Lying in the bed, she sent a mindcall to Katana, who was pacing restlessly outside. The big cat walks in, padding silently across the floor over to where Devia was lying down.. he heaches the strap with his teeth, tugging gently, causing the restraint to fall away... Devia quickly moves to release her other hand. Getting dressed, she slips out of the Med Center and back to her house in Rellig.
As Devia walks in the door, the house's auto lighting comes on. She walks over to the holonet terminal, going through her messages, and notices one in particular. Her contact. They were back at the stronghold, would be there for the night. "Now is the time to act." Devia thought to herself. Looking around for her armor, she spots Akilo's unused padded set standing against the wall. "How fitting. Yes, I'll wear that for this." she thinks. She picks up the Chestplate, bracers, and bicep covers, sliding them on slowly, her wounds still unhealed. Looking around, she is unable to find her Vibro Knucklers. Frowning to herself, she remembers that she left them in Smuggler's Luck. Leaning heavily on Katana for support, she makes her way to the shuttlepad. Boarding Koutai, she makes her way to Lok.
Now fully armed, Devia orders her figher to be prepared for departure once again at Nym's spaceport. She hears someone approach from behind. "Devia? Is that you?" the man said. Devia turns around, and sees Katurnus standing in the doorway. "Hi Kat." She says. "Hiya Dev. Where's your shadow?" He asks with a smile. Devia tries to keep her face from falling, "No longer walking with me, Kat... Have you also heard about Akilo?"He shakes his head no. "I found her dead in her house." Katarnus starts to look uncomfortable, seems to be looking for a way to change the subject. Just then, a wave of fatigue rolls over her, and she leans up against the Starport terminal quite heavily. "Woah, Dev, take it easy there." Says Katarnus, moving to catch her. He notices then that she's armored and armed. "Dev, where are you going?" Kat asks with some concern. Devia tells him the story of how she found Akilo dead, how she felt her terror and pain in the house. And that she has information that the men who did it are at their stronghold on Naboo. "That could have been faked, this smells like a trap, Devia." he tells her. Devia shakes her head violently, "No, I would know the difference. I'm going after them, Kat. They have to pay for what they did to her." Katarnus frowns, "Dev, you are in no shape to be doing anything of the sort." Realizing that he's moving into a position to prevent her from leaving, she bolts on board her ship, closing the airlock behind her. Kat pounds on the hatch, yelling "Dev! Dammit! They'll kill you this time! DEV!!"
Devia goes back to Rellig Steppes, needing to get a few things in order, needing some supplies from the Cantina. As she walks in the door, she notices Katurnus talking to Kisal. "Oh dammit!" Devia thinks to herself. She quickly enters the building, determined to get in, do what she has to, then get the hell out fast. Just as she's about to leave, she hears a familiar voice behind her. "Hello, Devia. What brings you here tonight?" Devia turns slowly, and tries to smile at Kisal. "Hiya Kis. Just picking up a few things to eat." she says, unable to look Kisal in the eye. Kisal smiles at her, "That's some nice padded armor, Devia. It looks good on you... That's Akilo's color, isn't it?" says Kisal, seemingly nonchalantly. "Uh... yeah. It was just gathering dust, and my other set is being repaired... so I figured I would wear it." Kisal nods at her and says, "Well, it looks great on you, want to sit down and have a drink?" Unable to meet Kisal's eyes, Devia shakes her head no. Then, feeling quite guilty, Devia blurts out "Kat told you everything, didn't he??" Kisal nods at Devia, with an odd look on her face.
Devia hands Kisal a datapad with a waypoint on it. "What's this?" Kisal asks, eyebrow raising at Devia. "That... is where the bastards are currently holed up for the night." says Devia, with anger in her eyes. Kisal looks back at Devia, "were you going to try to do this alone again?" Devia nods in embarassment. "I'm sorry, Kisal." Kisal ignores the response and looks at the datapad again. Unbenownst to both of them, Warod, Jani, Salkazza, Marlon, and Mohondo were drawing closer to them, straining to overhear the conversation. Kisal looks back at Devia, "So... you ready to go pay these bastards back?" Devia nods back, feeling her anger rise, adrenaline fueling her body to keep going. Jani walks up to Devia and asks, "How are you feeling, Devia?" Jani continues, "I told you I was not going to stop you from doing what you have to, but I am damn sure not going to let you go there alone." A growl of agreement from Salkazza, standing behind Deva. Nods from Warod, Mohondo, and Marlon echoed Jani's statement. A bit overcome with emotion, Devia looks around at her friends, tears filling her eyes a bit. "I can't ask you to come with me. This will be dangerous, and frankly, I couldn't take it if any of you got hurt because of me." Kisal walks up to Devia and looks her dead in the eye, "You are not going alone. Not this time." Smiling weakly at all of her close friends, Devia says "Then the meeting point is Keren, Naboo. Time to get them back."
The group approaches the stronghold quickly and silently. Devia feels a familiar presence approach, she welcomes him with a quick thought, then focuses back on the situation. She signals Katana, and the men at the first checkpoint are quickly brought down. Devia, filled with a battle lust, a coating of ice forming around her again, drops to one knee, placing her hands on the sides of the dying man's head, and ruthlessly cleans out his mind of any important information. Looking for the one who actually delivered Akilo's deathblow. Looking for the one who might know something about the substance slowly killing her. One by one, the sentries are brought down, one by one she strips their minds bare looking for any information she can.
The surrounding are clear, all that remains is the stronghold itself. Devia charges the gates, swept away on a tide of bloodlust and need for revenge. "YOU BASTARDS!" she screams at them, Katana charging by her side. "DEV! WAIT A MINUTE!" the group yells after her, trying to keep up. The maulers standing outside of the house all dead and searched, Devia still hasn't found what she's looking for... "Salkazza, time to open this door. Knock loudly." Devia says in a low tone. Salkazza picks up a charge, attaches it to the door, then decides to kick in the door instead. Devia goes charging into the house. Rounding the corner, she comes face to face with the leader of the gang. Almost in hysteria, Devia starts to yell, "SO YOU WANTED TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO, HUM?" She's seething, angry beyond any reason, "YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE EXACTLY THAT!!" She charges the leader, knocking him over, tearing him up, making quick work of him in her state of frenzy. As he laid there on the floor of the house, broken and bleeding, she approaches him, her hand clamping down around his temple as she growls through clenched teeth, "How does it feel?? HOW DOES IT FEEL???" She brutally tears the information out of the leader's mind. The poison was bio-engineered for her specifically. She saw a brief image of the one who supplied it to the leader of the gang..... Then she sees something else, something she never expected to see there... the image.. a sweet face, dark hair, blue eyes...
Devia straightens up, and with no emotion in her eyes, and without remorse..... savagely breaks the neck of the mauler leader. Kisal flinches away from Devia, a look of fear in her eyes. Marlon stared at Devia... his jaw hanging open, unable to believe what he just saw Devia do.
Devia stumbles to the wall, all her strength gone... leaning against the wall... room spinning.... no strength left... darkness about to reach up and drag her under... she's barely able to whisper...
"She's alive! Akilo is alive!!!"
She then promptly slumps over, unconscious...
Healing a Kindred Spirit - Part 1
Devia gently runs her fingers across her closed eyelids, remembering how they felt a short time ago after another healing session on Shalis's eyes. Now fully healed and sighted once more, Devia thinks about how educational this whole experience has been, and how many more healing sessions will be needed to return Shalis's sight to her.
Devia was surprised when Noel asked her help in healing Shalis, another one of his students. Once Devia met Shalis and heard the story, she felt a strong kinship with the young human, and a burning, fierce need to assist in her recovery, even if Noel hadn't asked for her help.
Shalis had been poisoned. A poison that was engineered especially for her, to do great damage. Unfortunately, Shalis had been infused with a colony of nanites, and as an unfortunate side effect in their attempt to heal her of the poision, also caused her blindness. The nanites were all dead now, but the neural pathways will have to be completely reformed and stabalized.... and that wasn't something Devia could heal in one session, much to her frusteration.
Devia remembers the poison that was once engineered for her... all part of Akilo's disapperance:
------------------------
Placing a few finishing touches on Warod's Dojo in Rellig Steppes, Devia steps back and takes a good look at the finished decoration placement. "I think Akilo would be proud of the job I did recreating what she did for Warod's Dojo in Wildfire Plains." Devia thinks to herself with an all too rare smile on her face. "Yes, this definately looks as good as it did before, maybe even a bit better. I hope he likes it."
Stooping down to pick up her pack, her right hand spasams, causing her to lose her grip on the handle. Numbness spreads through her palm, and small pains move up her arm. "Ouch! I can't believe that this hasn't healed yet. It's been a week, and god knows I can heal myself.." she says aloud to nobody in particular in the now empty Dojo. She reaches down to pick up the pack with her left hand. A sudden wave of fatigue followed by a severe case of nausia causes the room to go dim, and she falls to her knees. Breathing slowly and deeply, she concentrates on fighting the nausia, using her Teras Kasi meditiation techniques also to attempt to regain a bit of energy to combat the fatigue.
Straighting up and walking slowly into the shower area of the Dojo, she moves to the sink and runs some cold water into the basin. Scooping up some of the water, she brings her hands to her face, cooling her skin. She places her hands on the sides of the sink, letting her head droop down a bit between her shoulders, trying to regain some balance... some control over her body. Pulling the hood of her cloak back, she looks into the mirror above the sink at her reflection. Pale skin beneath her blue facial tattoo. Unhealing scars forming a lattice of angry red marks over her face and neck. Bruises and swelling. She points a swollen finger at the mirror and says, "You... look like hell, Dev." She remembered Derek telling her something similar a few days previous when he checked in on her to see how she was feeling.
..... "What the hell is happening to me?" .....
A few days later, Devia was helping set up the guild hall for the memorial service for Cobb. "I think we're done here, Derek." She calls out to the leader of the guild. Smiling down quietly at the small Bothan standing next to her, "Parn, you've outdone yourself again." She sighs softly, looking around the hall. It's been a few more days, and her condition hasn't gotten any better. In fact, it's gotten worse in some ways. Derek knew it too, but to his credit, all he asked her was "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Dev?" She tries to hide it from her friends though. There's been enough bad news again. Her eyes well up with unshed tears. "May the gods bless you and keep you safe Cobb. Wherever you are." Devia says sadly aloud.
A small feminine cough from behind her lets her know she wasn't alone. "Devia?" Says the voice. Devia slowly turns around, smiling gently at the young woman who was trying to get her attention. "Yes Jani?" "Um... Last week, when you, um... did that thing to me. I reacted kinda um... badly." Jani says a bit hesitantly. Smiling at her gently, Devia says quietly, "Jani, no. I'm the one who should appologize. I should never have done that to you without warning you first." Jani shook her head negatively at Devia and replied, "Derek really reamed me out for doing that to you. Told me that if I kept it up, I couldn't be trusted." Blinking in surpise at what Jani told her, Devia said, "Well, I don't know why he would go off on you like that for. I certainly don't think it was warranted."
Devia remembered all too clearly what happened. The memory of the look of horror on Jani's face... the revulsion.. the FEAR... still painfully vivid, still so very fresh in her memory. She and Jani had been talking outside of the City Hall one day. Jani didn't know about Akilo's loss. Devia told the young Doctor the story of what she found when she got home to Wildfire about a month ago. "But why are those people after you, Devia? Why would they kill Akilo to get to you?" asked Jani. "Because I can do things like this." Devia had told Jani... but she had spoken that phrase directly into Jani's mind. Indeed, Jani had reacted badly to that... But it was Devia's own fault. She should have simply told the young woman instead of frightening her so badly.
Devia looked at the young Doctor who was standing in front of her, such a look of earnest appology on her face that an idea formed. She takes a few steps over to Jani, bending down and whispering to her, "Doctor, I think I need your help. My wounds are not healing, and they should be nearly gone by now. There are also other symptoms. Would you please come with me to the Medical Center? I would appreciate it if we could just keep this between you and I." Jani nodded at her once and said loudly, "Well, I think I need to go over to the Med Center to change his bacta bandage, Devia." Devia smiled at Jani, "I'm heading that way myself, Doctor. Mind if I walk with you?" They make their way out of the guild hall, even that small amount of effort knocks the wind out of Devia. She whistles shrilly, and Allegro appears at her side. Devia heaves herself up into the Dewback's saddle and follows Jani over to the medical center.
Devia askis, "Which bed should I go to, Doctor?" "Just pick any of them Devia. There's no nurse on duty, I can walk over to whichever one you choose." Devia falls down onto one of the beds, pulling back the hood of her cloak again, allowing Jani to finally see her face, and Jani stops dead in her tracks at the sight. "WOAH!" Jani exclaims. "Devia, why aren't you healing yourself? I know you can!" Devia whispers painfully, "I have been trying, Doctor, but I can't seem to make any headway. Besides, my energies are needed for other things at the moment unfortunately, and that is why I need your help." "I'm sorry Devia. I am no nurse, I have no words to comfort someone, I tend to just tell it like it is. I don't know how to simply tell someone that they will be alright, when I don't know if they will be." says Jani. "Don't worry, Doctor. When it comes to things like this, I prefer the news hard and between the eyes." "Do you mind if I take a bio scan of you?" asks Jani. Devia looks a bit hesitant at first, but reminds herself of why she's here in the first place. "Of course, Doctor. Whatever you need to do."
The scanner hums quietly as Jani takes the scan. Frowning at the read out, she walks over to the databanks, flipping through a few pages. "Devia, I need to know exactly what your symptoms are, and where your pain is happening. Also, what types of weapons did they use on you?" "Well, I have no strength in my hands or legs. It is becoming increasingly difficult to walk. I have shortness of breath, fatigue, and my abdomen is quite painful. As for weapons.. Mostly melee. It's hard to remember, most of it is rather fuzzy at the moment." Jani frowns, and she flips through a few more pages, reading a few items on each. Jani gets up and walks back over to the examination bed. "Well, it could be one of 2 things. One, you've been poisoned. Two, your immune system is not operating as it should and you have developed a bad infection." Devia looks at Jani and adds, "Or three, both of them are true." Jani looks at the scan readout again, and notices something in particular. Looking at Devia with a very troubled expression, she stands back up and heads into the back room, saying quite distractedly, "You're going to be just fine, Devia." Devia laughs slightly and says, "Now Doctor, you just got done telling me that you don't say that..."
The expression on Jani's face worries Devia. "Doctor, I need to be able to fight in the next few days. Kisal and I are going to take these people out. I have to be able to do it." Jani Shakes her head "Dev, whatever is in your system is eating you from the inside out." "Can you at least treat the problems for now, and worry about a cure after this is all over, Doctor?", asks Devia. "I will do what I can, but for now, you are not leaving this Med Center. I want you to lay down, let the medicines take effect. If you can't sleep, simply stare at the ceiling. Don't read, DON'T THINK." Devia chuckles at Jani "Doctor, thinking has not been one of my strong points lately. If it had been, I never would have gone after these guys alone in the first place." Jani Nods and approaches Devia with the medications and a monitoring armband. After administering the medications, Jani strapped the monitor around Devia's upper arm. Devia feels a slight sting as the monitor enters her skin to take random blood samples, ect.
"I mean it about not going anywhere for at least 12 hours, Devia." Jani tells her firmly. "In fact, I will leave Mech here to keep tabs on you. I'll let Derek know why you can't be at the memorial tonight." Giving in to Jani's wishes, Devia lies back on the bed. The sedative that Jani also slipped in with the antibiotics and broad spectrum antidotes now starting to take effect. "Thank.. you.. Doctor" Devia says quietly as she falls asleep on the bed. Jani nods at the now sleeping Devia and says, "Keep an eye on her, Mech. Let me know of any changes." and walks out the door.
Devia was surprised when Noel asked her help in healing Shalis, another one of his students. Once Devia met Shalis and heard the story, she felt a strong kinship with the young human, and a burning, fierce need to assist in her recovery, even if Noel hadn't asked for her help.
Shalis had been poisoned. A poison that was engineered especially for her, to do great damage. Unfortunately, Shalis had been infused with a colony of nanites, and as an unfortunate side effect in their attempt to heal her of the poision, also caused her blindness. The nanites were all dead now, but the neural pathways will have to be completely reformed and stabalized.... and that wasn't something Devia could heal in one session, much to her frusteration.
Devia remembers the poison that was once engineered for her... all part of Akilo's disapperance:
------------------------
Placing a few finishing touches on Warod's Dojo in Rellig Steppes, Devia steps back and takes a good look at the finished decoration placement. "I think Akilo would be proud of the job I did recreating what she did for Warod's Dojo in Wildfire Plains." Devia thinks to herself with an all too rare smile on her face. "Yes, this definately looks as good as it did before, maybe even a bit better. I hope he likes it."
Stooping down to pick up her pack, her right hand spasams, causing her to lose her grip on the handle. Numbness spreads through her palm, and small pains move up her arm. "Ouch! I can't believe that this hasn't healed yet. It's been a week, and god knows I can heal myself.." she says aloud to nobody in particular in the now empty Dojo. She reaches down to pick up the pack with her left hand. A sudden wave of fatigue followed by a severe case of nausia causes the room to go dim, and she falls to her knees. Breathing slowly and deeply, she concentrates on fighting the nausia, using her Teras Kasi meditiation techniques also to attempt to regain a bit of energy to combat the fatigue.
Straighting up and walking slowly into the shower area of the Dojo, she moves to the sink and runs some cold water into the basin. Scooping up some of the water, she brings her hands to her face, cooling her skin. She places her hands on the sides of the sink, letting her head droop down a bit between her shoulders, trying to regain some balance... some control over her body. Pulling the hood of her cloak back, she looks into the mirror above the sink at her reflection. Pale skin beneath her blue facial tattoo. Unhealing scars forming a lattice of angry red marks over her face and neck. Bruises and swelling. She points a swollen finger at the mirror and says, "You... look like hell, Dev." She remembered Derek telling her something similar a few days previous when he checked in on her to see how she was feeling.
..... "What the hell is happening to me?" .....
A few days later, Devia was helping set up the guild hall for the memorial service for Cobb. "I think we're done here, Derek." She calls out to the leader of the guild. Smiling down quietly at the small Bothan standing next to her, "Parn, you've outdone yourself again." She sighs softly, looking around the hall. It's been a few more days, and her condition hasn't gotten any better. In fact, it's gotten worse in some ways. Derek knew it too, but to his credit, all he asked her was "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Dev?" She tries to hide it from her friends though. There's been enough bad news again. Her eyes well up with unshed tears. "May the gods bless you and keep you safe Cobb. Wherever you are." Devia says sadly aloud.
A small feminine cough from behind her lets her know she wasn't alone. "Devia?" Says the voice. Devia slowly turns around, smiling gently at the young woman who was trying to get her attention. "Yes Jani?" "Um... Last week, when you, um... did that thing to me. I reacted kinda um... badly." Jani says a bit hesitantly. Smiling at her gently, Devia says quietly, "Jani, no. I'm the one who should appologize. I should never have done that to you without warning you first." Jani shook her head negatively at Devia and replied, "Derek really reamed me out for doing that to you. Told me that if I kept it up, I couldn't be trusted." Blinking in surpise at what Jani told her, Devia said, "Well, I don't know why he would go off on you like that for. I certainly don't think it was warranted."
Devia remembered all too clearly what happened. The memory of the look of horror on Jani's face... the revulsion.. the FEAR... still painfully vivid, still so very fresh in her memory. She and Jani had been talking outside of the City Hall one day. Jani didn't know about Akilo's loss. Devia told the young Doctor the story of what she found when she got home to Wildfire about a month ago. "But why are those people after you, Devia? Why would they kill Akilo to get to you?" asked Jani. "Because I can do things like this." Devia had told Jani... but she had spoken that phrase directly into Jani's mind. Indeed, Jani had reacted badly to that... But it was Devia's own fault. She should have simply told the young woman instead of frightening her so badly.
Devia looked at the young Doctor who was standing in front of her, such a look of earnest appology on her face that an idea formed. She takes a few steps over to Jani, bending down and whispering to her, "Doctor, I think I need your help. My wounds are not healing, and they should be nearly gone by now. There are also other symptoms. Would you please come with me to the Medical Center? I would appreciate it if we could just keep this between you and I." Jani nodded at her once and said loudly, "Well, I think I need to go over to the Med Center to change his bacta bandage, Devia." Devia smiled at Jani, "I'm heading that way myself, Doctor. Mind if I walk with you?" They make their way out of the guild hall, even that small amount of effort knocks the wind out of Devia. She whistles shrilly, and Allegro appears at her side. Devia heaves herself up into the Dewback's saddle and follows Jani over to the medical center.
Devia askis, "Which bed should I go to, Doctor?" "Just pick any of them Devia. There's no nurse on duty, I can walk over to whichever one you choose." Devia falls down onto one of the beds, pulling back the hood of her cloak again, allowing Jani to finally see her face, and Jani stops dead in her tracks at the sight. "WOAH!" Jani exclaims. "Devia, why aren't you healing yourself? I know you can!" Devia whispers painfully, "I have been trying, Doctor, but I can't seem to make any headway. Besides, my energies are needed for other things at the moment unfortunately, and that is why I need your help." "I'm sorry Devia. I am no nurse, I have no words to comfort someone, I tend to just tell it like it is. I don't know how to simply tell someone that they will be alright, when I don't know if they will be." says Jani. "Don't worry, Doctor. When it comes to things like this, I prefer the news hard and between the eyes." "Do you mind if I take a bio scan of you?" asks Jani. Devia looks a bit hesitant at first, but reminds herself of why she's here in the first place. "Of course, Doctor. Whatever you need to do."
The scanner hums quietly as Jani takes the scan. Frowning at the read out, she walks over to the databanks, flipping through a few pages. "Devia, I need to know exactly what your symptoms are, and where your pain is happening. Also, what types of weapons did they use on you?" "Well, I have no strength in my hands or legs. It is becoming increasingly difficult to walk. I have shortness of breath, fatigue, and my abdomen is quite painful. As for weapons.. Mostly melee. It's hard to remember, most of it is rather fuzzy at the moment." Jani frowns, and she flips through a few more pages, reading a few items on each. Jani gets up and walks back over to the examination bed. "Well, it could be one of 2 things. One, you've been poisoned. Two, your immune system is not operating as it should and you have developed a bad infection." Devia looks at Jani and adds, "Or three, both of them are true." Jani looks at the scan readout again, and notices something in particular. Looking at Devia with a very troubled expression, she stands back up and heads into the back room, saying quite distractedly, "You're going to be just fine, Devia." Devia laughs slightly and says, "Now Doctor, you just got done telling me that you don't say that..."
The expression on Jani's face worries Devia. "Doctor, I need to be able to fight in the next few days. Kisal and I are going to take these people out. I have to be able to do it." Jani Shakes her head "Dev, whatever is in your system is eating you from the inside out." "Can you at least treat the problems for now, and worry about a cure after this is all over, Doctor?", asks Devia. "I will do what I can, but for now, you are not leaving this Med Center. I want you to lay down, let the medicines take effect. If you can't sleep, simply stare at the ceiling. Don't read, DON'T THINK." Devia chuckles at Jani "Doctor, thinking has not been one of my strong points lately. If it had been, I never would have gone after these guys alone in the first place." Jani Nods and approaches Devia with the medications and a monitoring armband. After administering the medications, Jani strapped the monitor around Devia's upper arm. Devia feels a slight sting as the monitor enters her skin to take random blood samples, ect.
"I mean it about not going anywhere for at least 12 hours, Devia." Jani tells her firmly. "In fact, I will leave Mech here to keep tabs on you. I'll let Derek know why you can't be at the memorial tonight." Giving in to Jani's wishes, Devia lies back on the bed. The sedative that Jani also slipped in with the antibiotics and broad spectrum antidotes now starting to take effect. "Thank.. you.. Doctor" Devia says quietly as she falls asleep on the bed. Jani nods at the now sleeping Devia and says, "Keep an eye on her, Mech. Let me know of any changes." and walks out the door.
Setting up a new house in New Libertas, Naboo - Part 3
Devia sighs to herself, shaking her head sadly. "I was so headstrong, so stubborn, and far too independant."
Glancing across the room, she sees her old set of Blue and black padded armor hanging on the wall, a reminder of who she once was.
"I very nearly died. I guess it's true that fortune favors the foolish. I SHOULD have died."
More memories cloud her vision...
----------------------------
... Dazed ...
*groan* Where am I??
... Flash of purple flowers ...
*twitch* Dantooine?
... Sound of music and people laughing ...
*winces and whispers* "That sounds like the Jam... How did I get here?"
... a pained whine from Katana ...
*reaching a hand out to feel a furry shoulder* "Girl? Where are you? What happened?"
*shivers* "Over there... if we can just get over there..."
Badly beaten and almost mortally wounded, Devia stumbles up the stairs to The River Bed Cantina in Rellig Steppes. Walking over the threshold, her beaten and bloodied form falls over, hitting the floor like a backpack. *THUD*
"DEV!!" Yelled Derek, rushing to where she fell. "What happened?"
A crowd suddenly forms around the badly beaten Zabrak female and her Gurrek. Both familiar and new faces were frowning in concern for the person who made such a dramatic entrance.
Derek pulls off his jacket, draping it over Devia who was shivering due to blood loss. Many of the patrons of the Cantina who were also medics surged forward, stopping her bleeding, bandaging her wounds. Derek kneels down close to her and whispers "Dev, can you hear me? What happened to you?"
"I found them...." Devia whispers, eyes trying to focus on the direction of his voice.
Silence descends in the room, and one of the new faces in the crowd speaks up "Who did you find?"
Only the sound of Jarren's music droid continues, and various medical instruments deploying, Devia whispers, "I found the ones who took something very precious away from me."
Looking somewhat confused and bewildered, Derek says "Who? What?"
"Akilo", whispers Zilda.
"I found the bastards who killed Akilo, Derek." Devia hisses through clenched teeth as another broken bone was discovered and set by the medics surrounding her.
Zilda catches Devia's eye with a look as if to say "watch me", and starts dancing. Suddenly feeling a sudden rush of relaxation, Devia gives herself up to the ministrations of the Medics.
Suddenly remembering the state that Katana was in, Devia struggles to sit up. "Where's Katana? Is she okay? Take care of her first!" Several hands prevent her from sitting up, gently laying her back down. "I haves her, Devia. She okayes." says Niyama.
Kisal paces nervously behind the crowd surrounding Devia, watching the scene. She smiles slightly as she hears Devia ask about Katana.
Flinching in pain a bit, Devia sits up, "I guess I couldn't take them all on myself, eh? At least the Bastard know's I'm coming for him now.", chuckling at herself somewhat self-depreciatively.
"Why did you try to take them on alone at all, Dev? We're all a team here." Derek says quietly. "Because I couldn't take it if another person is hurt because of me, Derek." Kisal walks a bit closer and shakes her head. "He won't be expecting you to have help next time."
Devia shakes her head no, wincing at the movement. Kisal simply LOOKS back at Devia, a clear indication that there is no WAY she's letting her go back there alone.
Suddenly shots ring out inside the Cantina. All heads snap up and turn to see Niyama firing at one of the entertainers performing on the stage. Everyone scatters, diving underneath anything to block the energy bolts from hitting them. Devia tries to fall to the floor, but isn't fast enough as a stray bolt hits her in the arm, sending her into unconsciousness.
Devia wakes to a sudden stim applied to her arm, and Derek dragging her behind the bar. The entertainer runs out of the building, Niyama following closely behind, firing her pistol. "What the hell was that?" Devia croaks.
Derek slowly helps Devia to her feet again, supporting her while Kisal helps steady her from the front. They lead her over to a chair and she sits down heavily. Suddenly, her head snaps up in alarm. "Oh no." she breathes. "They're here." Looking at Devia oddly, Kisal asks, "Who's here, Dev?"
"Moemeov and Talvia."
As if on cue, Moemeov and Talvia walk in the door of the Cantina. Devia makes a fast decision to get Derek and Kisal out of there, and suddenly becomes faint.. (which wasn't far from the truth considering all that she had just been through) Derek catches her and whispers "Do we need to get you over to the Medical Center?" Devia nods at Derek slowly. He helps her up and walks her over to the Medical Center. Unfortunately, Kisal didn't follow.
*whispered Comm* Kisal, where did you go?
*whispered Comm* Devia, I'm still at the Cantina. Zilda's facing Moe down.
*whispered comm* please be careful.
*whispered comm* I am in full armor and my helm is sealed. I am ready to strike at him.
Derek was suddenly called away on his Comm for guild business, and Devia took that opportunity to pull on her hooded cloak and goggles and slowly make her way to the cantina to see what help she could be. She whistles shrilly, and Katana limps to her side. She walks slowly over to one of the cantina alcoves and sits in the shadows, as he taught her how, observing.
Jarren suddenly stops playing, muttering about how he's going to be the person who has to clean up all the mess on his cantina's floor after all this. Taking his hint, Zilda invites Moemeov and Talvia to follow her out of town if they really wanted to fight this out. Running out, Zilda hops the shuttle to the Agro outpost, with Moe and Talvia in close persuit. Kisal and Devia walked casually out of the Cantina after the 3 people as they hit the shuttle.
Devia slowly walks over to the fountain, scooping up some of the cool water and applying it to her forhead in an attempt to ease her headache. Feeling it ease a bit, she decides to dunk her whole head in the cool water. She stands back up, flipping her hair over her shoulder, making it land on her back with a soft smack.
"You're going to get all kinds of sick if you keep that up." Kisal teases.
Laughing to herself, Devia thinks "Sick would feel better than I do now."
"I suppose that it will do no good to argue with you about going with me?" Says Devia.
"You'd have to lose me in order to stop me from going with you" Says Kisal.
Devia chuckles softly "And there's no way I can lose a Master Ranger".
"You've been hanging out with Taa'lon too long, Devia. You've become too independant. We're here to help you, and you need to let us."
Nodding slowly, Devia sighs acceptance. "Then we'll get them, together."
"We'll really make them suffer. Maybe drag them over to the Narglatch cave and leave them there?" Said kisal, looking rather bloodthirsty.
"No.. too much work. Forte needs feeding." Devia laughs..
"We'll get them."
Glancing across the room, she sees her old set of Blue and black padded armor hanging on the wall, a reminder of who she once was.
"I very nearly died. I guess it's true that fortune favors the foolish. I SHOULD have died."
More memories cloud her vision...
----------------------------
... Dazed ...
*groan* Where am I??
... Flash of purple flowers ...
*twitch* Dantooine?
... Sound of music and people laughing ...
*winces and whispers* "That sounds like the Jam... How did I get here?"
... a pained whine from Katana ...
*reaching a hand out to feel a furry shoulder* "Girl? Where are you? What happened?"
*shivers* "Over there... if we can just get over there..."
Badly beaten and almost mortally wounded, Devia stumbles up the stairs to The River Bed Cantina in Rellig Steppes. Walking over the threshold, her beaten and bloodied form falls over, hitting the floor like a backpack. *THUD*
"DEV!!" Yelled Derek, rushing to where she fell. "What happened?"
A crowd suddenly forms around the badly beaten Zabrak female and her Gurrek. Both familiar and new faces were frowning in concern for the person who made such a dramatic entrance.
Derek pulls off his jacket, draping it over Devia who was shivering due to blood loss. Many of the patrons of the Cantina who were also medics surged forward, stopping her bleeding, bandaging her wounds. Derek kneels down close to her and whispers "Dev, can you hear me? What happened to you?"
"I found them...." Devia whispers, eyes trying to focus on the direction of his voice.
Silence descends in the room, and one of the new faces in the crowd speaks up "Who did you find?"
Only the sound of Jarren's music droid continues, and various medical instruments deploying, Devia whispers, "I found the ones who took something very precious away from me."
Looking somewhat confused and bewildered, Derek says "Who? What?"
"Akilo", whispers Zilda.
"I found the bastards who killed Akilo, Derek." Devia hisses through clenched teeth as another broken bone was discovered and set by the medics surrounding her.
Zilda catches Devia's eye with a look as if to say "watch me", and starts dancing. Suddenly feeling a sudden rush of relaxation, Devia gives herself up to the ministrations of the Medics.
Suddenly remembering the state that Katana was in, Devia struggles to sit up. "Where's Katana? Is she okay? Take care of her first!" Several hands prevent her from sitting up, gently laying her back down. "I haves her, Devia. She okayes." says Niyama.
Kisal paces nervously behind the crowd surrounding Devia, watching the scene. She smiles slightly as she hears Devia ask about Katana.
Flinching in pain a bit, Devia sits up, "I guess I couldn't take them all on myself, eh? At least the Bastard know's I'm coming for him now.", chuckling at herself somewhat self-depreciatively.
"Why did you try to take them on alone at all, Dev? We're all a team here." Derek says quietly. "Because I couldn't take it if another person is hurt because of me, Derek." Kisal walks a bit closer and shakes her head. "He won't be expecting you to have help next time."
Devia shakes her head no, wincing at the movement. Kisal simply LOOKS back at Devia, a clear indication that there is no WAY she's letting her go back there alone.
Suddenly shots ring out inside the Cantina. All heads snap up and turn to see Niyama firing at one of the entertainers performing on the stage. Everyone scatters, diving underneath anything to block the energy bolts from hitting them. Devia tries to fall to the floor, but isn't fast enough as a stray bolt hits her in the arm, sending her into unconsciousness.
Devia wakes to a sudden stim applied to her arm, and Derek dragging her behind the bar. The entertainer runs out of the building, Niyama following closely behind, firing her pistol. "What the hell was that?" Devia croaks.
Derek slowly helps Devia to her feet again, supporting her while Kisal helps steady her from the front. They lead her over to a chair and she sits down heavily. Suddenly, her head snaps up in alarm. "Oh no." she breathes. "They're here." Looking at Devia oddly, Kisal asks, "Who's here, Dev?"
"Moemeov and Talvia."
As if on cue, Moemeov and Talvia walk in the door of the Cantina. Devia makes a fast decision to get Derek and Kisal out of there, and suddenly becomes faint.. (which wasn't far from the truth considering all that she had just been through) Derek catches her and whispers "Do we need to get you over to the Medical Center?" Devia nods at Derek slowly. He helps her up and walks her over to the Medical Center. Unfortunately, Kisal didn't follow.
*whispered Comm* Kisal, where did you go?
*whispered Comm* Devia, I'm still at the Cantina. Zilda's facing Moe down.
*whispered comm* please be careful.
*whispered comm* I am in full armor and my helm is sealed. I am ready to strike at him.
Derek was suddenly called away on his Comm for guild business, and Devia took that opportunity to pull on her hooded cloak and goggles and slowly make her way to the cantina to see what help she could be. She whistles shrilly, and Katana limps to her side. She walks slowly over to one of the cantina alcoves and sits in the shadows, as he taught her how, observing.
Jarren suddenly stops playing, muttering about how he's going to be the person who has to clean up all the mess on his cantina's floor after all this. Taking his hint, Zilda invites Moemeov and Talvia to follow her out of town if they really wanted to fight this out. Running out, Zilda hops the shuttle to the Agro outpost, with Moe and Talvia in close persuit. Kisal and Devia walked casually out of the Cantina after the 3 people as they hit the shuttle.
Devia slowly walks over to the fountain, scooping up some of the cool water and applying it to her forhead in an attempt to ease her headache. Feeling it ease a bit, she decides to dunk her whole head in the cool water. She stands back up, flipping her hair over her shoulder, making it land on her back with a soft smack.
"You're going to get all kinds of sick if you keep that up." Kisal teases.
Laughing to herself, Devia thinks "Sick would feel better than I do now."
"I suppose that it will do no good to argue with you about going with me?" Says Devia.
"You'd have to lose me in order to stop me from going with you" Says Kisal.
Devia chuckles softly "And there's no way I can lose a Master Ranger".
"You've been hanging out with Taa'lon too long, Devia. You've become too independant. We're here to help you, and you need to let us."
Nodding slowly, Devia sighs acceptance. "Then we'll get them, together."
"We'll really make them suffer. Maybe drag them over to the Narglatch cave and leave them there?" Said kisal, looking rather bloodthirsty.
"No.. too much work. Forte needs feeding." Devia laughs..
"We'll get them."
Setting up a new house in New Libertas, Naboo - Part 2
Staring at a point on the wall, Devia blinks a bit, coming out of her reverie..
"I should never have tried to go it alone, I should have listened to Derek and Kisal.."
More memories flood back:
----------------------------------------
Punching the controls on her navi-computer in her fighter, Koutai, Devia races her way twords the starport at Keren, Naboo. Relaxing during the flight, she remembers the recent events in her life that brought her to where she was.
*You cannot live for long in that ice fortress you have set up around yourself.* An old familiar deep voice echos in her mind.
*Haven't you heard? Don't you know what's happened?*, Devia mindsends back.
*I have. And I have grieved. Which is what you must let yourself do.* says the voice.
*I might as well have killed her myself. I wasn't here to protect her!* she cries mentally.
*That's foolish thinking. Do you remember nothing I tried to teach you? Analize the situation...Where is the profit? Where is the loss?* the mental voice scolds her.
*It's all my fault... it's all my fault...* Devia sends back... a quiet litany of self blame and loathing.
*Apparently I didn't know you as well as I thought...* The voice trails off..
Stunned, Devia sat there, not believing the words she just heard.... She never thought she would hear him say that to her... never in a million years. She tries to reach out to the voice... shaky, out of practice... looking for support, comfort.
She finds it from him, freely given, without hesitation. The sudden rush of comfort... caring.. the ice she surrounded her heart with starts to melt. She starts to cry, finally allowing herself to grieve. The support is not withdrawn. *That's it... let it all out... release it.. you are not alone*
Another scene forms in her mind.. Talking with Kisal by the new banking stucture in Rellig Steppes..
"I'd really like a chance to skin them alive as well" says Kisal strongly, surprising Devia.
"I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me, Kisal."
Walking away quietly...
.... a soft beeping from the ships navigation brings her back to the present ....
"Requesting permission to land in Keren, Naboo", Devia says to the neutral station.
"Permission granted, enjoy your stay in Keren, Devia." Says the station operator.
Smiling cooly, a small grin crosses her lips, Devia thinks to herself, "Oh, I'll enjoy my stay in Keren alright. I'll bet certain others won't be enjoying my visit nearly as much."
She slips into her armor.. feels for her VK blade... checks her datapad for the coordinates of the stronghold... of the ones who took her life long friend from her..
Devia supresses a quick pang of fear of facing these people alone... she reminds herself that she couldn't handle anyone else getting hurt because of her...
"oh, they'll pay..."
She mounts Behemoth, and rides off into the night..
"I should never have tried to go it alone, I should have listened to Derek and Kisal.."
More memories flood back:
----------------------------------------
Punching the controls on her navi-computer in her fighter, Koutai, Devia races her way twords the starport at Keren, Naboo. Relaxing during the flight, she remembers the recent events in her life that brought her to where she was.
*You cannot live for long in that ice fortress you have set up around yourself.* An old familiar deep voice echos in her mind.
*Haven't you heard? Don't you know what's happened?*, Devia mindsends back.
*I have. And I have grieved. Which is what you must let yourself do.* says the voice.
*I might as well have killed her myself. I wasn't here to protect her!* she cries mentally.
*That's foolish thinking. Do you remember nothing I tried to teach you? Analize the situation...Where is the profit? Where is the loss?* the mental voice scolds her.
*It's all my fault... it's all my fault...* Devia sends back... a quiet litany of self blame and loathing.
*Apparently I didn't know you as well as I thought...* The voice trails off..
Stunned, Devia sat there, not believing the words she just heard.... She never thought she would hear him say that to her... never in a million years. She tries to reach out to the voice... shaky, out of practice... looking for support, comfort.
She finds it from him, freely given, without hesitation. The sudden rush of comfort... caring.. the ice she surrounded her heart with starts to melt. She starts to cry, finally allowing herself to grieve. The support is not withdrawn. *That's it... let it all out... release it.. you are not alone*
Another scene forms in her mind.. Talking with Kisal by the new banking stucture in Rellig Steppes..
"I'd really like a chance to skin them alive as well" says Kisal strongly, surprising Devia.
"I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me, Kisal."
Walking away quietly...
.... a soft beeping from the ships navigation brings her back to the present ....
"Requesting permission to land in Keren, Naboo", Devia says to the neutral station.
"Permission granted, enjoy your stay in Keren, Devia." Says the station operator.
Smiling cooly, a small grin crosses her lips, Devia thinks to herself, "Oh, I'll enjoy my stay in Keren alright. I'll bet certain others won't be enjoying my visit nearly as much."
She slips into her armor.. feels for her VK blade... checks her datapad for the coordinates of the stronghold... of the ones who took her life long friend from her..
Devia supresses a quick pang of fear of facing these people alone... she reminds herself that she couldn't handle anyone else getting hurt because of her...
"oh, they'll pay..."
She mounts Behemoth, and rides off into the night..
Setting up a new house in New Libertas, Naboo - Part 1
Devia supervises the movers as she settles her bunker in the new town of New Libertas, Naboo. Derek had asked her to help him establish his new city and set up a home there. She was more than happy to help, as Naboo had always been her favorite planet, and it wasn't that far from the cabin that she and Noel had set up in the Mountains, but rarely visited. She hoped that this might give them an excuse to visit more often...
"Ah Derek... so glad to see you working with Parn and Joras again to create a place where people can feel safe." Devia thinks to herself. "I'm only too happy to help you out my friend. Especially after you taking Akilo into Eris and making her feel welcome and needed once again."
Devia sighs softly as she sinks into one of the oversized chairs in her bedroom and closes her eyes, her mind drifts back to the first town that Derek asked her to join, Wildfire Plains, on Dantooine. Her face frowns as she also remembers it's fall... and how she failed to be there for Akilo, when she needed her most...
Her mind drifts back...
----------------------------------
With a heavy sigh and very evident weariness, Devia steps off the shuttle ramp, her Gurrek Katana at her customary position, following closely on her right. Taking a deep breath of unfiltered air for the first time in a very long time, she strides into the market area of her beloved home of Wildfire Plains, Dantooine.
She had been away for a few months, while trying to hone her pilot skills, as well as try to deal with recent ... changes ... in her life. Determined to not let her personal problems affect any of those around her, she chose to exile herself in order to sort things out, trusting that her chosen family, her guildmates, would be able to keep Akilo safe from harm while she was gone.
"Where in the hell is everyone?", she thought to herself. "The City's always been quiet, but I've seen graveyards that were livelier." Her eyes scanned over the familiar lanscape. Everything seemed to be in place, that was, until her eyes fell on the tent that had been Akilo's Mercantile, and widened in horror at the image it presented.
It was ripped to shreds, burned and in complete shambles. Devia walks somewhat shakily to the tent, and walks inside. Inside the tent, complete destruction, nothing left unbroken, anything of value removed. Shaking, she says out loud to nobody in particluar, "Oh by the gods, no."
Savagely repressing the emotions that wanted to overwhelm her and anyone that would happen to be near her, Devia scans the area for possible threat, signalling Katana with a thought as she pulls out her Vibro Knuckler, deftly switching it on. Katana immediately takes up a protective and agressive stance, ready for anything. "Let's take a look around, girl." she says quietly, without a hint emotion.
She sets out twords the Angry Jawa, thinking that there might be people there. As she approaches the building, her lips thin out into a grim line at the sight. In front of her, was what was left of the Jawa. "Oh my god", she whispers into the silence of the town. Turning, she sprints twords City Hall, and twords the WPM Guildhall. As she approaches, her mind goes numb at the sight. A smoking hole where the Guildhall once stood. Devia allows a single tear to roll down her cheek.
Almost afraid to look, she turns her head to the left where her and Akilo's houses lie. Devia's own house is still in tact, as is the factory and Lab behind it. As her eyes keep scanning left, they reach Akilo's home. An involuentary cry escapes her lips as she looks upon the wreckage. Tears filling her eyes, Devia runs twords the destroyed house, unwilling to believe what her eyes were telling her.
Refusing to admit to herself what she is likely to find, but forcing herself to look throught the house, she walks into the back room. Staring in disbelief, she sees Akilo's lifeless, broken body. It is almost unrecognizable, except for the clothing, and a strand of hair with one of the metal discs that she wore in her hair attached to it. Stunned, she falls to her knees, her mouth whispering a silent, morbid litany over and over again... "No.. oh no.. please... no.."
Taking one of Akilo's ruined hands in hers, tears running unchecked now, Devia brings it to her cheek. "I am so sorry, I promised you I would keep you safe from harm. I promised you nothing would ever happen to you. I promised you that I would die to protect you, no matter what. I failed you. Oh my god, how I failed you.." Unable to keep her emotions supressed any longer, a howl escapes Devia's lips. It was the sound of a dying thing... great racking, heaving sobs that threatened to turn her inside out. If anyone had been in range, Devia's gift of empathy, now completely out of control, would have sent them to their knees, experiencing her grief and dispar as she didn't even try to shield herself. Her grief was all-consuming. Katana's howl joins Devia's as the poor beast is caught in the emotional backwash of her master.
After about an hour, Devia forces herself back to her feet, body moving stiffly, mind numb, face unreadable, emotionally exhausted. She jumps a bit as Katana's cold nose presses into the palm of her hand, an almost inaudible, but undoubtedly concerned whine escaping the great beast's throat. Petting the gurrek on the top of her head, she wanders out of the destruction and up to the front porch of her house. The door slides open at the approach, her body on auto pilot, walking her into the safety of her house, absentmindedly locking the door as she enters.
Devia signals Katana to keep close, partially for protection, but mostly for support, tears rolling down her cheek. Katana, sensing her handler's mood, gently licks Devia's face with her raspy tounge. Devia presses her forhead against Katana's, her hands roughing up her beloved gurrek's cheeks, trying to draw comfort.
Devia slowly lets Katana go, sitting mutely and exhaustedly in the middle of the floor of her now cold and quiet home. Nodding to herself, she comes to a decision of what to do next... She gets back up, walks over to the weapons closet in the back room and hangs up her trusty VK, picking up an FWG5 from it's holder. Holding it clumsily in her hands, the weight toally unfamiliar because it's been so long since she used one, she stows it inside her cloak and walks out into the night, heading back for the shuttle port.
Landing at the Mining Outpost, she tells the shipdock support crew to ready her Ixyian fighter once again. Climbing into the cockpit, she sets the auto pilot for Lok. She seems to remeber placing a house in the town of Smuggler's Luck..
Her hand hesitates over the navigation panel.. "where do I start? How do I find them.. "
... And the ice creeps into her soul...
"Ah Derek... so glad to see you working with Parn and Joras again to create a place where people can feel safe." Devia thinks to herself. "I'm only too happy to help you out my friend. Especially after you taking Akilo into Eris and making her feel welcome and needed once again."
Devia sighs softly as she sinks into one of the oversized chairs in her bedroom and closes her eyes, her mind drifts back to the first town that Derek asked her to join, Wildfire Plains, on Dantooine. Her face frowns as she also remembers it's fall... and how she failed to be there for Akilo, when she needed her most...
Her mind drifts back...
----------------------------------
With a heavy sigh and very evident weariness, Devia steps off the shuttle ramp, her Gurrek Katana at her customary position, following closely on her right. Taking a deep breath of unfiltered air for the first time in a very long time, she strides into the market area of her beloved home of Wildfire Plains, Dantooine.
She had been away for a few months, while trying to hone her pilot skills, as well as try to deal with recent ... changes ... in her life. Determined to not let her personal problems affect any of those around her, she chose to exile herself in order to sort things out, trusting that her chosen family, her guildmates, would be able to keep Akilo safe from harm while she was gone.
"Where in the hell is everyone?", she thought to herself. "The City's always been quiet, but I've seen graveyards that were livelier." Her eyes scanned over the familiar lanscape. Everything seemed to be in place, that was, until her eyes fell on the tent that had been Akilo's Mercantile, and widened in horror at the image it presented.
It was ripped to shreds, burned and in complete shambles. Devia walks somewhat shakily to the tent, and walks inside. Inside the tent, complete destruction, nothing left unbroken, anything of value removed. Shaking, she says out loud to nobody in particluar, "Oh by the gods, no."
Savagely repressing the emotions that wanted to overwhelm her and anyone that would happen to be near her, Devia scans the area for possible threat, signalling Katana with a thought as she pulls out her Vibro Knuckler, deftly switching it on. Katana immediately takes up a protective and agressive stance, ready for anything. "Let's take a look around, girl." she says quietly, without a hint emotion.
She sets out twords the Angry Jawa, thinking that there might be people there. As she approaches the building, her lips thin out into a grim line at the sight. In front of her, was what was left of the Jawa. "Oh my god", she whispers into the silence of the town. Turning, she sprints twords City Hall, and twords the WPM Guildhall. As she approaches, her mind goes numb at the sight. A smoking hole where the Guildhall once stood. Devia allows a single tear to roll down her cheek.
Almost afraid to look, she turns her head to the left where her and Akilo's houses lie. Devia's own house is still in tact, as is the factory and Lab behind it. As her eyes keep scanning left, they reach Akilo's home. An involuentary cry escapes her lips as she looks upon the wreckage. Tears filling her eyes, Devia runs twords the destroyed house, unwilling to believe what her eyes were telling her.
Refusing to admit to herself what she is likely to find, but forcing herself to look throught the house, she walks into the back room. Staring in disbelief, she sees Akilo's lifeless, broken body. It is almost unrecognizable, except for the clothing, and a strand of hair with one of the metal discs that she wore in her hair attached to it. Stunned, she falls to her knees, her mouth whispering a silent, morbid litany over and over again... "No.. oh no.. please... no.."
Taking one of Akilo's ruined hands in hers, tears running unchecked now, Devia brings it to her cheek. "I am so sorry, I promised you I would keep you safe from harm. I promised you nothing would ever happen to you. I promised you that I would die to protect you, no matter what. I failed you. Oh my god, how I failed you.." Unable to keep her emotions supressed any longer, a howl escapes Devia's lips. It was the sound of a dying thing... great racking, heaving sobs that threatened to turn her inside out. If anyone had been in range, Devia's gift of empathy, now completely out of control, would have sent them to their knees, experiencing her grief and dispar as she didn't even try to shield herself. Her grief was all-consuming. Katana's howl joins Devia's as the poor beast is caught in the emotional backwash of her master.
After about an hour, Devia forces herself back to her feet, body moving stiffly, mind numb, face unreadable, emotionally exhausted. She jumps a bit as Katana's cold nose presses into the palm of her hand, an almost inaudible, but undoubtedly concerned whine escaping the great beast's throat. Petting the gurrek on the top of her head, she wanders out of the destruction and up to the front porch of her house. The door slides open at the approach, her body on auto pilot, walking her into the safety of her house, absentmindedly locking the door as she enters.
Devia signals Katana to keep close, partially for protection, but mostly for support, tears rolling down her cheek. Katana, sensing her handler's mood, gently licks Devia's face with her raspy tounge. Devia presses her forhead against Katana's, her hands roughing up her beloved gurrek's cheeks, trying to draw comfort.
Devia slowly lets Katana go, sitting mutely and exhaustedly in the middle of the floor of her now cold and quiet home. Nodding to herself, she comes to a decision of what to do next... She gets back up, walks over to the weapons closet in the back room and hangs up her trusty VK, picking up an FWG5 from it's holder. Holding it clumsily in her hands, the weight toally unfamiliar because it's been so long since she used one, she stows it inside her cloak and walks out into the night, heading back for the shuttle port.
Landing at the Mining Outpost, she tells the shipdock support crew to ready her Ixyian fighter once again. Climbing into the cockpit, she sets the auto pilot for Lok. She seems to remeber placing a house in the town of Smuggler's Luck..
Her hand hesitates over the navigation panel.. "where do I start? How do I find them.. "
... And the ice creeps into her soul...
Forgotten
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Devia bustles around her home in Reilig Steppes, picking up things, throwing things out that she doesn't need anymore, and generally attempting to tidy up after so many months of neglect. She pulls a well worn leather ball full of rather large tooth marks out from under the cooling unit in her food prep area.
She sits back on her knees and wipes the back of her gloved hand across her damp brow. A sad smile crosses her faces as she remembers the last time she saw Katana playing with it. "So that's where you ended up.. we were looking for you for the longest time..I had to buy Katana a new toy!"
While getting to her feet, Devia spots her datapad she had been using for her journal entries. Scooping it up in her other hand, she taps a few buttons, reading as she walks up the stairs to her sleeping chamber.. a sad smile at some parts,laughing softly to herself at other parts, and finally her face beams with fond remberance as she reads the part where Noel finally proposed to her. Placing the ball up on the fireplace mantle and the pad down on the end table, she peels herself out of her sweaty and dusty clothing and wraps her dayrobe around her shoulders, and heads for the bathing chamber.
Devia climbs into the tub, the waterfall cascading down the rocks behind her, echoing in the little grotto that she designed, she submerges once, then swims over to her bench, relaxing the stresses of the day away.
"So much has happened lately.. so much to tell." She says out loud, her words echoing about the chamber. "I should really make more time to record it, before I forget it."
"Yes you should, Tai Shen." Devia smiles without opening her eyes as she hears Noel walk into the chamber..
She sits back on her knees and wipes the back of her gloved hand across her damp brow. A sad smile crosses her faces as she remembers the last time she saw Katana playing with it. "So that's where you ended up.. we were looking for you for the longest time..I had to buy Katana a new toy!"
While getting to her feet, Devia spots her datapad she had been using for her journal entries. Scooping it up in her other hand, she taps a few buttons, reading as she walks up the stairs to her sleeping chamber.. a sad smile at some parts,laughing softly to herself at other parts, and finally her face beams with fond remberance as she reads the part where Noel finally proposed to her. Placing the ball up on the fireplace mantle and the pad down on the end table, she peels herself out of her sweaty and dusty clothing and wraps her dayrobe around her shoulders, and heads for the bathing chamber.
Devia climbs into the tub, the waterfall cascading down the rocks behind her, echoing in the little grotto that she designed, she submerges once, then swims over to her bench, relaxing the stresses of the day away.
"So much has happened lately.. so much to tell." She says out loud, her words echoing about the chamber. "I should really make more time to record it, before I forget it."
"Yes you should, Tai Shen." Devia smiles without opening her eyes as she hears Noel walk into the chamber..
Confessions on a Sunny Day, Part 2
Friday, February 24, 2006
Devia fishes 2 glasses out of the food container she brought with her, and finds the bottle she had promised to have ready, setting them out on the table of the camp. "I wonder why he wants or needs to see me so badly" she says out loud to herself as she sets the items down and covers them to prevent dirt or bugs from settling on the surfaces.
Shrugging slightly, she goes back to her chair and lets the warmth from the Dantooine primary soak into her skin again, relaxing her and soothing some recent muscle aches and injuries from her training. She lets her mind drift back to the urgency and regret in his mind voice. To her surprise, she felt the muscle tension across his shoulders even when they were a light year away from each other. "How can I feel that from him?" she thinks to herself. "It's almost like we have a bond between us." her face scrunches a bit in concentration/confusion. "No... that can't be it.. we haven't made a point to forge that bond.." she lets the thought trail off as she feels something suddenly block the sun's rays from touching her skin. A quick mindtouch prevents her from lunging for her weapon... it's Noel.
"Hello there, Noel." She says with a smile without opening her eyes. "Drinks are on the table. Go grab them and them come sit down with me in the sun?" Devia feels a slight pressure from Noel's mind against hers... as if he was searching for something in her mind, like a mental nudge to make sure she was okay. She can feel him smile slightly, even though his whole mind tone was one of worry and regret. Sounds of the stopper being pulled out, the sloshing sounds of liberal amounts of liquid pouring into the glasses, and then the stopper being pushed back in.
"You look like you're enjoying yourself there, Dev." Noel says as he hands her a glass. Devia pats the chair next to her and says, "Have a seat.. you look like you really need to talk." She gives him a soft smile. "What's bothering you, Noel?"
"As I told you earlier... I'm a Monster. I just wanted to make sure you knew it." Noel started quietly, staring at his glass. "I'm not sorry I did what I did, I had to, the permutations they represented and all the lives they would have destroyed." His voice betrayed his true feelings somewhat, but he continues, "I know I'll keep seeing their faces in my dreams, and I will be living with the consequence... it's part of paying the price.. part of keeping the balance."
Devia smiles gently at him and shakes her head. "As I said before you got here, Noel.. you are no more a monster than I am." she takes his hand and squeezes softly. "We know that there's a cost, we understand the balance. We don't do things just to do them.. We allow others to choose, and we live by a Code. Not one that many would understand, but a Code nonetheless."
Noel nods slowly, letting her words sink in, and his face and posture relaxes a bit. Devia sees it and smiles, then continues on, "Maybe that's why we don't let ourselves
find true happiness and peace." She finds herself staring at him, becomes accutely aware of his Presence in her mind, close in proximity, clouding her mind, she could even feel their hearts start to beat in the same rythym. Her shields were up, but he managed to get through them, they were in total synch with each other, and the realization of that fact stunned her.
She thought to herself, in what she thought was the private area of her mind. "I just want to be with you Noel.. I... love you. I always have.. I want to give a part of my life to you... but I don't know how you would feel about that." His head suddenly raised up, and he was searching her face for something. "Wow, did he hear me?" Devia thought to herself nervously.
They talked about his life, about her life, things that happened, things they wanted. It was another good talk, and it was apparent to both that they were walking the same path. She found herself saying, "I wish you would let me help you. Help you with your fights, with your teaching... with anything you need.."
Noel smiled gently, and then said, "If what we're talking about is what we're talking about... you should know I have prior vows which I can't break... I have godchildren, a family, the only one I've ever known... how fair would it be trying to build a life together when I might have to go die for them?" Devia could feel the anguish in his heart, it was breaking as he was asking the question. She was stunned once again.. He loved her!! It was as obvious as the expression on his face, he loved her!
Tears started to roll down Devia's tattooed cheek as she gazed at the man in front of her. "Noel.." She whispered. "I love you. I've always loved you, I just wasn't ready to accept it before." Her tears are flowing freely now, "I will love anything you love, help you protect anything important to you. Just let me stand by your side as a partner and be your love."
He just sat there, expressionless for a few moments, blinking in stunned amazement. Then emotion started to play across his features as he started rummaging through his pack, bring out his sabacc pouch. Devia could hear the sound of something clinking together, which was odd, the sound was metallic, not what you would expect to hear. He reached inside and pulled something out, but she could not see what it was, it was hidden in his grasp.
He set his glass down, and got up off his chair and walked in front of her..
Then he kneeled down in front of her.. "No... he doesn't mean that?" Devia thought to herself.
He asked her to marry him... right then and there... and there was only one thought in Devia's mind. Only one word formed... but it was the only one that mattered.
... "Yes." ...
Shrugging slightly, she goes back to her chair and lets the warmth from the Dantooine primary soak into her skin again, relaxing her and soothing some recent muscle aches and injuries from her training. She lets her mind drift back to the urgency and regret in his mind voice. To her surprise, she felt the muscle tension across his shoulders even when they were a light year away from each other. "How can I feel that from him?" she thinks to herself. "It's almost like we have a bond between us." her face scrunches a bit in concentration/confusion. "No... that can't be it.. we haven't made a point to forge that bond.." she lets the thought trail off as she feels something suddenly block the sun's rays from touching her skin. A quick mindtouch prevents her from lunging for her weapon... it's Noel.
"Hello there, Noel." She says with a smile without opening her eyes. "Drinks are on the table. Go grab them and them come sit down with me in the sun?" Devia feels a slight pressure from Noel's mind against hers... as if he was searching for something in her mind, like a mental nudge to make sure she was okay. She can feel him smile slightly, even though his whole mind tone was one of worry and regret. Sounds of the stopper being pulled out, the sloshing sounds of liberal amounts of liquid pouring into the glasses, and then the stopper being pushed back in.
"You look like you're enjoying yourself there, Dev." Noel says as he hands her a glass. Devia pats the chair next to her and says, "Have a seat.. you look like you really need to talk." She gives him a soft smile. "What's bothering you, Noel?"
"As I told you earlier... I'm a Monster. I just wanted to make sure you knew it." Noel started quietly, staring at his glass. "I'm not sorry I did what I did, I had to, the permutations they represented and all the lives they would have destroyed." His voice betrayed his true feelings somewhat, but he continues, "I know I'll keep seeing their faces in my dreams, and I will be living with the consequence... it's part of paying the price.. part of keeping the balance."
Devia smiles gently at him and shakes her head. "As I said before you got here, Noel.. you are no more a monster than I am." she takes his hand and squeezes softly. "We know that there's a cost, we understand the balance. We don't do things just to do them.. We allow others to choose, and we live by a Code. Not one that many would understand, but a Code nonetheless."
Noel nods slowly, letting her words sink in, and his face and posture relaxes a bit. Devia sees it and smiles, then continues on, "Maybe that's why we don't let ourselves
find true happiness and peace." She finds herself staring at him, becomes accutely aware of his Presence in her mind, close in proximity, clouding her mind, she could even feel their hearts start to beat in the same rythym. Her shields were up, but he managed to get through them, they were in total synch with each other, and the realization of that fact stunned her.
She thought to herself, in what she thought was the private area of her mind. "I just want to be with you Noel.. I... love you. I always have.. I want to give a part of my life to you... but I don't know how you would feel about that." His head suddenly raised up, and he was searching her face for something. "Wow, did he hear me?" Devia thought to herself nervously.
They talked about his life, about her life, things that happened, things they wanted. It was another good talk, and it was apparent to both that they were walking the same path. She found herself saying, "I wish you would let me help you. Help you with your fights, with your teaching... with anything you need.."
Noel smiled gently, and then said, "If what we're talking about is what we're talking about... you should know I have prior vows which I can't break... I have godchildren, a family, the only one I've ever known... how fair would it be trying to build a life together when I might have to go die for them?" Devia could feel the anguish in his heart, it was breaking as he was asking the question. She was stunned once again.. He loved her!! It was as obvious as the expression on his face, he loved her!
Tears started to roll down Devia's tattooed cheek as she gazed at the man in front of her. "Noel.." She whispered. "I love you. I've always loved you, I just wasn't ready to accept it before." Her tears are flowing freely now, "I will love anything you love, help you protect anything important to you. Just let me stand by your side as a partner and be your love."
He just sat there, expressionless for a few moments, blinking in stunned amazement. Then emotion started to play across his features as he started rummaging through his pack, bring out his sabacc pouch. Devia could hear the sound of something clinking together, which was odd, the sound was metallic, not what you would expect to hear. He reached inside and pulled something out, but she could not see what it was, it was hidden in his grasp.
He set his glass down, and got up off his chair and walked in front of her..
Then he kneeled down in front of her.. "No... he doesn't mean that?" Devia thought to herself.
He asked her to marry him... right then and there... and there was only one thought in Devia's mind. Only one word formed... but it was the only one that mattered.
... "Yes." ...
Confessions on a Sunny Day, Part 1
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Devia turns off the engine on her BARC speeder, and slides out of the seat, landing on the ground with a soft thump. Looking around at the familiar area, she sets up a small day camp of a comfortable chair, a cooling unit with food and drink in it, and another case filled with all the holo novels that she had collected, yet hadn't had the time to read.
The day was exceptionally warm for Autumn, the sun shone warmly on her skin as she puts on her eye protection and sits back in the chair, allowing the rays to warm her skin and relax her muscles. "I could get so used to this." She whispers to herself. "I remember doing this once in a while.. but it was more to get my Children out into the wild a bit, to let them stretch their legs. It's never a good idea to take a wild animal and keep them indoors all the time... they get... jumpy."
She feels a sharp pang of loss at the thought of the loss of her Children, but she quickly closes her eyes and turns within, breathing deep, starting her meditation rituals. "so to center... so to ground... balance comes" she whispers as her mediation mantra. Her body visibly relaxes as her training takes over. Before she opens her eyes, she sends a silent thought along the Force to those she has lost. Reaching down and picking up one of the holonovels , she sits back in the chair again and starts to read.
Suddenly the book drops from her hands and she sits bolt upright as a familiar presence brushes against her mind... familiar, however this time, it was full of remorse and self loathing, which was quite a shock.
*Noel? Is that you?*
*Dev... where are you?*
*I'm on Dantooine, in my usual day camp spot, enjoying the sunshine and treating myself to a completely lazy day. Where are you?*
*On my way to you. I need to... I need to talk to you.*
*Okay, I'll be here. Anything you want to talk about as you travel?*
Noel procedes to tell Devia about what had transpired on Talus.. the rampage he went on, killing 600 Troopers. Being stopped short by the 501st Garrison. "I'm a monster" he tells her. "I do evil things. Evil, but necessary things."
"You're no more a monster than I am, Noel. I've done my share of thinning out of the Snowflake herd myself. The less there are of those... people ... the better. Fewer people that can opress all the other races and people on countless planets." She uses her mind and her words to talk to him, to draw him out of the circle of hurt... just as she has done before, just as he has done for her before on countless occasions.
*I've just landed on the planet, I'll be out to you as soon as I can.*
*I'll have a drink ready for you when you get here, Noel.*
The day was exceptionally warm for Autumn, the sun shone warmly on her skin as she puts on her eye protection and sits back in the chair, allowing the rays to warm her skin and relax her muscles. "I could get so used to this." She whispers to herself. "I remember doing this once in a while.. but it was more to get my Children out into the wild a bit, to let them stretch their legs. It's never a good idea to take a wild animal and keep them indoors all the time... they get... jumpy."
She feels a sharp pang of loss at the thought of the loss of her Children, but she quickly closes her eyes and turns within, breathing deep, starting her meditation rituals. "so to center... so to ground... balance comes" she whispers as her mediation mantra. Her body visibly relaxes as her training takes over. Before she opens her eyes, she sends a silent thought along the Force to those she has lost. Reaching down and picking up one of the holonovels , she sits back in the chair again and starts to read.
Suddenly the book drops from her hands and she sits bolt upright as a familiar presence brushes against her mind... familiar, however this time, it was full of remorse and self loathing, which was quite a shock.
*Noel? Is that you?*
*Dev... where are you?*
*I'm on Dantooine, in my usual day camp spot, enjoying the sunshine and treating myself to a completely lazy day. Where are you?*
*On my way to you. I need to... I need to talk to you.*
*Okay, I'll be here. Anything you want to talk about as you travel?*
Noel procedes to tell Devia about what had transpired on Talus.. the rampage he went on, killing 600 Troopers. Being stopped short by the 501st Garrison. "I'm a monster" he tells her. "I do evil things. Evil, but necessary things."
"You're no more a monster than I am, Noel. I've done my share of thinning out of the Snowflake herd myself. The less there are of those... people ... the better. Fewer people that can opress all the other races and people on countless planets." She uses her mind and her words to talk to him, to draw him out of the circle of hurt... just as she has done before, just as he has done for her before on countless occasions.
*I've just landed on the planet, I'll be out to you as soon as I can.*
*I'll have a drink ready for you when you get here, Noel.*
Back to being a student, even after being judged a Master.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Devia curls up on the couch in front of the fireplace in her bedroom, her hands curled around a mug of hot Chava. Her hair is still damp from the shower, her robe wrapped around her body in a warming embrace. She reaches over to the end table and punches a few buttons on the recording device and starts to speak.
... I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star...
"My training in the path of the Grey continues, under Noel's tutelage. Life has never been clearer to me before in my life. I am still learning from him about the true nature of the Force, not the false constructs of "Light" and "Dark" that the narrow viewed dogma Jedi and Sith forced upon it."
She plumps a pillow and leans back against it, basking in the warmth of the firelight.
"I have always maintained that there is no good without evil. There is no light without dark. There is no up without down. Yin and Yang. All in life is a balance. I'm happy to see finally that I was right."
... We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light...
"When one door closes, another opens. It's funny, the Jedi would consider me a Master by their standards, yet I am still learning the truth, not their narrow viewpoint of it. Noel tells me over and over that I am his superior with the saber... yet when he came over tonight, I showed him the new move I came up with out of desparation when I misjudged the strength of the pride of Xandaks that I was hired to clear out.. He ended up cleaning my clock. He doesn't take near enough credit for his skill with the blade. That move may come in handy some day, and I will do what it takes to protect those I love."
Devia laughs out loud around her mug of Chava.
"He'd be the first to laugh and tease me that I sound just like him, and I can't think of any higher compliment he could pay me. I asked him once if he thought I was a Seer, but he doesn't think so. My skillset is different. It makes me wonder, has there evern been a Jedi or Sith with the power of Empathy? I have to say, I have yet to find my limits now with the full power of the Force to enhance it."
"I think I've stated in my musings once before that when I focus inward, then expand outward, I can feel life around me. The flora and the fauna. I once heard Z talking to someone in the Cantina in Reilig Steppes about the trees on Dathomir, and it intrigued me. I've been out there since, and I have to say it was a most incredible experience. The trees on Dathomir are almost sentient. I spent the better part of a day in meditation in a quiet grove, communing with a different form of intelligence. I wonder... I wonder if some day, she and I might see eye to eye enough to talk about my experience there. Life needs balance, balance in the earth beneath our feet... so to Center... and so to ground."
Devia looks out the window of her house, taking in the beautiful sunshine of the crisp autumn day on Dantooine.
"I wonder what the trees on Dantooine would say to me if I tried to talk to them... I think I'm going to make a day of it as I have nothing to do except enjoy the beauty of the day that nature has given me... maybe make a camp. I know just the place."
... I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star...
"My training in the path of the Grey continues, under Noel's tutelage. Life has never been clearer to me before in my life. I am still learning from him about the true nature of the Force, not the false constructs of "Light" and "Dark" that the narrow viewed dogma Jedi and Sith forced upon it."
She plumps a pillow and leans back against it, basking in the warmth of the firelight.
"I have always maintained that there is no good without evil. There is no light without dark. There is no up without down. Yin and Yang. All in life is a balance. I'm happy to see finally that I was right."
... We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light...
"When one door closes, another opens. It's funny, the Jedi would consider me a Master by their standards, yet I am still learning the truth, not their narrow viewpoint of it. Noel tells me over and over that I am his superior with the saber... yet when he came over tonight, I showed him the new move I came up with out of desparation when I misjudged the strength of the pride of Xandaks that I was hired to clear out.. He ended up cleaning my clock. He doesn't take near enough credit for his skill with the blade. That move may come in handy some day, and I will do what it takes to protect those I love."
Devia laughs out loud around her mug of Chava.
"He'd be the first to laugh and tease me that I sound just like him, and I can't think of any higher compliment he could pay me. I asked him once if he thought I was a Seer, but he doesn't think so. My skillset is different. It makes me wonder, has there evern been a Jedi or Sith with the power of Empathy? I have to say, I have yet to find my limits now with the full power of the Force to enhance it."
"I think I've stated in my musings once before that when I focus inward, then expand outward, I can feel life around me. The flora and the fauna. I once heard Z talking to someone in the Cantina in Reilig Steppes about the trees on Dathomir, and it intrigued me. I've been out there since, and I have to say it was a most incredible experience. The trees on Dathomir are almost sentient. I spent the better part of a day in meditation in a quiet grove, communing with a different form of intelligence. I wonder... I wonder if some day, she and I might see eye to eye enough to talk about my experience there. Life needs balance, balance in the earth beneath our feet... so to Center... and so to ground."
Devia looks out the window of her house, taking in the beautiful sunshine of the crisp autumn day on Dantooine.
"I wonder what the trees on Dantooine would say to me if I tried to talk to them... I think I'm going to make a day of it as I have nothing to do except enjoy the beauty of the day that nature has given me... maybe make a camp. I know just the place."
Cast your troubles on the sands of Mustafar...
"Why would anyone willingly come here for anything but working in the mining fields or a place for extreme physical training?" Devia thought to herself. "It's a good place to cast out internal conflict. You can lose your problems for a short while when fighting to save your life, that much is for certain."
Sitting out on the overhang over the lava falls at the Mesnix Mining Facility, she pulls a towel out of her pack, wiping the sweat off her forehead and the back of her neck. Frowning at the grime that covers it, she rolls it back up and stows it away again. Moving slowly, she pops the vertebrae in her neck and back, bringing some relief to her tension... but not all of it was physical...
"Conflict. Internal conflict. Yeah... I've had a great deal of that lately." She says out loud, causing one of the Mustafarian miners to look at her with an odd expression. Chuckling to herself she waves at the miner, confusing him more, she walks inside of the building, heading for the Cantina.
She orders a drink and sits in one of the back corner booths, her back to the wall so she can watch the entire room and her back at the same time. "Old habits die hard." She thinks to herself with a smirk. Gazing down at the amber liquid in the glass in front of her, then making sure that nobody was within earshot, she taps a few buttons on her datapad and starts to record again... talking about the past...
"He became my friend so quickly, and the pull twords him was almost magnetic right from the start. The night at the Jam when I showed up and danced for a while, I could almost feel his startlement when he looked at me for the first time as I danced on stage. I was not used to the attention he tried to pay to me, so I slipped out the door to avoid it. I was still too raw, not ready for the complications he could possibly mean in my life. *soft chuckle* How he managed to find me... actually, what was more impressive is how he sliced his way past the door locks to surprise me as I was working on my latest batch of armor. He just sat there and watched for a while... then we started chatting as I worked. He was interested in the manufacture of each piece. *laughing* The stinker managed to slip in several rather personal questions, and I was just as shocked to find myself answering them!"
She takes a long pull off her glass before she continues speaking quietly into the recording device.
"We saw a great deal of each other after that. Socially, that is. Lots of hunting, most of it on Kashyyyk in the Myyydril Caverns. Then one night after a particularly rough trip through, and lots of bumps and bruises.. Invited everyone over to soak in the tub and have something to eat... but he was the only one to accept.."
She smiles to herself as she remembers what happened that night, but decides not to go into great detail.
"We spent more and more time together after that. Days... and nights. *slight chuckle* That's when he started talking about how he was willing to change everything he was for me, to make me want to be with him, to change who he was right at his very core. I think that's what really.. well.. I wasn't ready to hear that from anyone. I wouldn't ever really WANT to hear that from anyone. If you truly love someone, you would never ask them to change, or expect them to change. That may have been why I drifted away from him... that's when Syclya turned my world upside down."
Devia drains the rest of her glass, then signals the waitress for a refill. Taking the glass from the young Bothan, she leaves a small pile of credit chits equaling the price of the drink at least 3 fold.
"I think he softened me up... started to break down my barriers, which allowed Syclya to come in and knock the walls down completely. I did love her, I thought she was Tai Shan because of how strongly I reacted to her advances, to her love. She told me that she wasn't in love with Cobb, but that she had always hoped that one day.. *sad smile* that she would have a chance with me. My heart melted for her the day I found Katana dead in the Janta Cave that was near to where Wildfire plains once stood. Kisal got me home, but Syclya took the remains. She buried Katana just outside of my Solace in Reilig Steppes. I still remember standing in the rain, looking down at the fresh gravestone, and finally telling her that I loved her. *a long pause* Little did I know that our time together would be all too brief."
She takes another large drink from the new glass in front of her, then continues.
"Syclya disappeared suddenly from my life.. We didn't see each other for long periods of time. But what hurt the worst was the reports I was seeing on the Alliance information net, that she was seen with Cobb again, in Imperial Armor, and was listed amongst their database as a new recruit. I tried to talk to her about it. A while later, I started feeling things about her. The "dark" side of the force was eating her alive from the inside. Sure, she was more powerful than I have ever felt her before, but she was no longer the Syclya I fell in love with."
Devia dabs at her eyes with the bar napkin, her eyes a bit red with the tears she refused to shed in public.
"A day or so later, I lost my Children to the Imperial Troops. I've always hoped that she didn't turn me in to the empire, I always wondered how they managed to track me down so fast. The trauma of that, causing my connection to the force to blossom into full power suddenly and painfully. I know she felt it because I heard her say "Be careful, Devia. I can feel that you've found the power within yourself. *pause* She knew I was near death. She knew I was in pain. She didn't come to my side. I was suddenly certain, she no longer wanted to be with me. I remember the conversations I had with her mind to mind.. I remember facing Cobb in Reilig, demanding that he let her go... to give her back. I remember his mocking tone when he told me that she had made the decision on her own to be with him... I realized finally that she had made her choice. I could only give her my love, but Cobb could give her so much more of what she longed for. It broke my heart, but... I let her go."
She finishes off her second drink and looks thoughtfully at the amber residue.
"I'm sure that Noel didn't mean those things he told me the other night at his retreat... I'm sure it was the Scotch talking.. we were both rather drunk.. I mean, why would he still think so fondly of us as a couple after our failure the first time around?"
She turns off the recorder... looking around, she starts to gather her things to head back to Dantooine... but she suddenly stops, one thought rings through her mind, causing it to spin.
"...Noel came to my side that night..."
Sitting out on the overhang over the lava falls at the Mesnix Mining Facility, she pulls a towel out of her pack, wiping the sweat off her forehead and the back of her neck. Frowning at the grime that covers it, she rolls it back up and stows it away again. Moving slowly, she pops the vertebrae in her neck and back, bringing some relief to her tension... but not all of it was physical...
"Conflict. Internal conflict. Yeah... I've had a great deal of that lately." She says out loud, causing one of the Mustafarian miners to look at her with an odd expression. Chuckling to herself she waves at the miner, confusing him more, she walks inside of the building, heading for the Cantina.
She orders a drink and sits in one of the back corner booths, her back to the wall so she can watch the entire room and her back at the same time. "Old habits die hard." She thinks to herself with a smirk. Gazing down at the amber liquid in the glass in front of her, then making sure that nobody was within earshot, she taps a few buttons on her datapad and starts to record again... talking about the past...
"He became my friend so quickly, and the pull twords him was almost magnetic right from the start. The night at the Jam when I showed up and danced for a while, I could almost feel his startlement when he looked at me for the first time as I danced on stage. I was not used to the attention he tried to pay to me, so I slipped out the door to avoid it. I was still too raw, not ready for the complications he could possibly mean in my life. *soft chuckle* How he managed to find me... actually, what was more impressive is how he sliced his way past the door locks to surprise me as I was working on my latest batch of armor. He just sat there and watched for a while... then we started chatting as I worked. He was interested in the manufacture of each piece. *laughing* The stinker managed to slip in several rather personal questions, and I was just as shocked to find myself answering them!"
She takes a long pull off her glass before she continues speaking quietly into the recording device.
"We saw a great deal of each other after that. Socially, that is. Lots of hunting, most of it on Kashyyyk in the Myyydril Caverns. Then one night after a particularly rough trip through, and lots of bumps and bruises.. Invited everyone over to soak in the tub and have something to eat... but he was the only one to accept.."
She smiles to herself as she remembers what happened that night, but decides not to go into great detail.
"We spent more and more time together after that. Days... and nights. *slight chuckle* That's when he started talking about how he was willing to change everything he was for me, to make me want to be with him, to change who he was right at his very core. I think that's what really.. well.. I wasn't ready to hear that from anyone. I wouldn't ever really WANT to hear that from anyone. If you truly love someone, you would never ask them to change, or expect them to change. That may have been why I drifted away from him... that's when Syclya turned my world upside down."
Devia drains the rest of her glass, then signals the waitress for a refill. Taking the glass from the young Bothan, she leaves a small pile of credit chits equaling the price of the drink at least 3 fold.
"I think he softened me up... started to break down my barriers, which allowed Syclya to come in and knock the walls down completely. I did love her, I thought she was Tai Shan because of how strongly I reacted to her advances, to her love. She told me that she wasn't in love with Cobb, but that she had always hoped that one day.. *sad smile* that she would have a chance with me. My heart melted for her the day I found Katana dead in the Janta Cave that was near to where Wildfire plains once stood. Kisal got me home, but Syclya took the remains. She buried Katana just outside of my Solace in Reilig Steppes. I still remember standing in the rain, looking down at the fresh gravestone, and finally telling her that I loved her. *a long pause* Little did I know that our time together would be all too brief."
She takes another large drink from the new glass in front of her, then continues.
"Syclya disappeared suddenly from my life.. We didn't see each other for long periods of time. But what hurt the worst was the reports I was seeing on the Alliance information net, that she was seen with Cobb again, in Imperial Armor, and was listed amongst their database as a new recruit. I tried to talk to her about it. A while later, I started feeling things about her. The "dark" side of the force was eating her alive from the inside. Sure, she was more powerful than I have ever felt her before, but she was no longer the Syclya I fell in love with."
Devia dabs at her eyes with the bar napkin, her eyes a bit red with the tears she refused to shed in public.
"A day or so later, I lost my Children to the Imperial Troops. I've always hoped that she didn't turn me in to the empire, I always wondered how they managed to track me down so fast. The trauma of that, causing my connection to the force to blossom into full power suddenly and painfully. I know she felt it because I heard her say "Be careful, Devia. I can feel that you've found the power within yourself. *pause* She knew I was near death. She knew I was in pain. She didn't come to my side. I was suddenly certain, she no longer wanted to be with me. I remember the conversations I had with her mind to mind.. I remember facing Cobb in Reilig, demanding that he let her go... to give her back. I remember his mocking tone when he told me that she had made the decision on her own to be with him... I realized finally that she had made her choice. I could only give her my love, but Cobb could give her so much more of what she longed for. It broke my heart, but... I let her go."
She finishes off her second drink and looks thoughtfully at the amber residue.
"I'm sure that Noel didn't mean those things he told me the other night at his retreat... I'm sure it was the Scotch talking.. we were both rather drunk.. I mean, why would he still think so fondly of us as a couple after our failure the first time around?"
She turns off the recorder... looking around, she starts to gather her things to head back to Dantooine... but she suddenly stops, one thought rings through her mind, causing it to spin.
"...Noel came to my side that night..."
Truth seen through the bottom of a bottle...
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Her training on Mustafar was grueling, but worth it. When she looked within, she knew she was ready. If she had believed in the standards set by the Jedi Order, she would test and qualify for what they considered Master Rank. Reaching out with her Empathy, now enhanced by her connection to the Force, she could now sense the animals, the humanoids, and occasionally the trees (most noticably on Dathomir), around her. It was almost effortless, and she smiled happily at the feeling.
*a familiar mindtouch*
She recognizes Noel immediately... but something was off about his mind tone. He was extremely exhausted from the day of work he had.
*Noel, can you hear me?*
*Hi Dev*
*Wow, you sound tired... where are you?*
*In my retreat in the mountains, trying to relax, you?*
*On my way there, with a good bottle* *mental chuckle*
*I'll be here* *feels him smile*
She arrives at his retreat, and hands him the bottle as he kisses her cheek, just like he greets all of his female friends. Thrilling at the touch more than she should (or thought she should), she smiles warmly at him.
"You look like hell, Noel." He laughs and says "Thanks a alot."
They pour the drinks, discussing how her training has gone, the fact that she feels she is finally ready. It felt good to really catch up with her old friend, outside of the Master/Student relationship. She knew that there were some recent upheavals in his life, and some suprising changes in his family connections. She asked him what was on his mind... he told her everything... the Grandmother he never knew he had, the two brothers, who were both something like him, both businessmen of sorts. Told her about the new business arrangement with Advent, Ltd... how one of the two brothers was taking over... about how he felt with this sudden family thrust upon him.. It was a good conversation, good drink... in fact, they didn't notice that the once full bottle was now gone, finished off between the two of them.
"This will never do," chuckles Noel as he walks... none to straightly.. to behind the bar, and pulls up another bottle of the scotch they were drinking... "Care for another, Dev?" Devia laughs and holds up her glass in salute... laughing heartily, and feeling rather drunk herself...
The scotch lets them drop their barriers a bit ... they talk about the past... About plans... wishes... and about the relationship between them that neither were ready for... they had both been too wounded and were healing... Talked of regret... how both of them had changed since then... Dev catches him staring at her legs as she got up to get something from her packs left at the door.. his eyes watch her every movement.. Sparks fly between them.. old flames that the alcohol fuels... old barriers that it threatens to break down...
They both act... find comfort in each other for the evening... once again... the old promise of "No expectations" springing to life again... do either of them truly believe it?
Devia finally falls asleep with a smile on her face, and a quiet thought to herself...
"I wonder where things will go... but it will be an interesting ride."
*a familiar mindtouch*
She recognizes Noel immediately... but something was off about his mind tone. He was extremely exhausted from the day of work he had.
*Noel, can you hear me?*
*Hi Dev*
*Wow, you sound tired... where are you?*
*In my retreat in the mountains, trying to relax, you?*
*On my way there, with a good bottle* *mental chuckle*
*I'll be here* *feels him smile*
She arrives at his retreat, and hands him the bottle as he kisses her cheek, just like he greets all of his female friends. Thrilling at the touch more than she should (or thought she should), she smiles warmly at him.
"You look like hell, Noel." He laughs and says "Thanks a alot."
They pour the drinks, discussing how her training has gone, the fact that she feels she is finally ready. It felt good to really catch up with her old friend, outside of the Master/Student relationship. She knew that there were some recent upheavals in his life, and some suprising changes in his family connections. She asked him what was on his mind... he told her everything... the Grandmother he never knew he had, the two brothers, who were both something like him, both businessmen of sorts. Told her about the new business arrangement with Advent, Ltd... how one of the two brothers was taking over... about how he felt with this sudden family thrust upon him.. It was a good conversation, good drink... in fact, they didn't notice that the once full bottle was now gone, finished off between the two of them.
"This will never do," chuckles Noel as he walks... none to straightly.. to behind the bar, and pulls up another bottle of the scotch they were drinking... "Care for another, Dev?" Devia laughs and holds up her glass in salute... laughing heartily, and feeling rather drunk herself...
The scotch lets them drop their barriers a bit ... they talk about the past... About plans... wishes... and about the relationship between them that neither were ready for... they had both been too wounded and were healing... Talked of regret... how both of them had changed since then... Dev catches him staring at her legs as she got up to get something from her packs left at the door.. his eyes watch her every movement.. Sparks fly between them.. old flames that the alcohol fuels... old barriers that it threatens to break down...
They both act... find comfort in each other for the evening... once again... the old promise of "No expectations" springing to life again... do either of them truly believe it?
Devia finally falls asleep with a smile on her face, and a quiet thought to herself...
"I wonder where things will go... but it will be an interesting ride."
