A Message to What Isn't There

[Fusion]

Lamia held her former master's datapad in her hands. All she did was stare at it. The name of the person the message would be sent to, Ayisha Remy, blinked at the top of the screen while the message box itself was empty. After pausing for a period of time, the Sith Pureblood finally began to start forming a message.

This message has been sent to inform you of the death of your former Padawan Matsu Ike. While attempting to rescue her fiance, Chora Daun Wan, Matsu was evidently overcome by a party of well-trained Sith and killed. Recent information suggests that Chora was killed as well.

Lamia then broke off the genericness of the message and added in personalization of her own.

I was very close to Matsu. She gave up everything, including her position as a Jedi Master, to help me. Were it not for her, I would've fallen long ago. She protected me, trained me, and even purged me of my lifelong darkness. I still retain shards of her DNA that are intertwined with mine. She was the closest thing to a kind mother I ever had. As her former master, I felt you needed to be the first friend of hers to know. I am sending this message to you from Matsu's old datapad.

Hope you are doing well in your self-exile, and best regards to you.

Lamia Kressh

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to press the send button, causing the message to leave the datapad and travel throughout the galaxy until it wound up in Remy's hands, wherever they may be...

 

[Rev]

BEEP! BEEP!

The two iconic chirp sounds would fill the Dark Lords ears and her hand would reach into the dark cloak's pocket. The newest member to the select class of elite Sith would hear the familiar sounds but not expect to read what was there.

[INCOMING MESSAGE]...

...

...

[MESSAGE COULD NOT BE RELAYED]

Her only response was to slide the device back into her robes and continue down the hallway as planned. This was a matter she would have to attend to as quickly as possible. Proceeding to her meditation, that would go as planned; then she would be going to Hoth; where her original datapad lay encrypted within the confines of her old starfighter.

============================================================

Hours would pass before the Lambda class transport shuttle would arrive on Hoth. Their landing zone would be a few hundred meters outside the remnants of Echo Base; where she had met the Imperial Knights for the first time. With a gentle thud the ship would touch down and the landing ramp begin its slow whine before lowering into position.

Cold gusts of wind would hit the durasteel, instantly chilling the metallic surfaces. Hit with that same dreadful blast of air she was reminded quickly of her last visit to the planet. The numbness that consumed your body could never truly be forgotten until you left the planet. Yet, as a Sith Lord the pain was almost welcomed.. the feeling a realization that she was mortal; that her body did have feeling even if she had long since felt it.

The cloaked figure would stand in the tormenting cold. It was her first time on the planet when snow wasn't clouding her vision. Able to see for miles the view was unparalleled; mountains in the distance capped in whiter snow nearly put a smile on the dread filled woman's face. Instead she would look to the metallic craft only a few feet away before trudging through the deep snow.

It would take more than a few commands from her datapad to get the windshield to release from its locked position. With the aid of her lightsaber the craft would be opened; the interior letting off the smell of absence. Reaching into the cockpit her hands would search through the side compartments before the object was brought to her palm. Going through the few month old datapad brought up memories; but, she never the less found what she was looking for.

Reading the message brought a smirk to the Sith's face. It was her second time hearing of the death of Matsu Ike. Not something that inherently made the woman happy; but one that reminded her of what Illusia had been. This Padawan was obviously reaching out.. Searching for guidance.. Guidance which wasn't there. Her own fingers would begin working over the keys before her own message was fabricated.

"Lamia, it pains me to learn of such news.. I fear I have sensed her existence end as the bond between us was broke in her death. I had hoped it only to be a false feeling; but never feeling the return of her signature caused me much worry. She once tried to contact me in regards to you.. I-.. was in a dark place and chose not to respond and regret that decision.. If you know anything I would ask that you meet me on Tattooine. I've attached the coordinates to a remote location just outside of Mos Espa. I hope to see you as Matsu spoke quite highly of you.."

She would send out the message to the same location it had come from. With any luck Lamia would be foolish enough to arrive on Tattooine and alone..

 

[Fusion]

Lamia sat, waiting around, when she heard a ding on the datapad. Looking over the message, she thought to herself how she as going to get out. Typing out in the dtabase that she was taking a mission to Tatooine, she grabbed only her lightsaber and black robes and veil, leaving the rest of her belongings there. She didn't want to risk losing them.

JUST OUTSIDE MOS ESPA, TATOOINE, 2 DAYS LATER

Lamia overviewed the datapad once again. Landing her shuttle at precisely the coordinates Remy had sent to her, she stepped out as she looked around the area, the city visible a few miles away as the ends of her veil and robes fluttered in the desert wind.

 

[Rev]

Illusia had landed a day prior to Lamia. Her ship would be cloaked and out of place; the only other monument within reason of the coordinates was a small shack. It had been beaten to hell and looked to be long past salvageable, yet it was liveable. Treading through the hot sand her black cloak and robes would only radiate the heat further. It was upon entering the small house that she began stripping down and putting on the robes she had once worn as a Jedi; Aÿisha Remy was once again existent. After a few cosmetic alterations and hiding the Darth outfit she would meditate until her target arrived.

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The touching down of Lamia would break Aÿisha from her meditation. Slowly rising to her feet she would look over herself one more time before stepping into the hot sun once more. Raising her hand to block out the nearest of the burning orbs she managed to shade her face from its blinding rays. Using her other hand to call out to the young woman stranger her voice would carry out as loud as it could in the open Tattooine air.

"Lamia?!? Lamia Kressh!?!"

 

[Fusion]

Lamia spotted a human figure cloaked in robes that was calling out her name. Assuming correctly that this was Remy, she ran over to meet her master's master, or more precisely levitated over to her.

Yes, that would be me. I can assume you are Ayisha Remy?

 

[Rev]

The woman would laugh at the girls comment. She in a rather odd way already was a reminder of Matsu Ike; it was evident the two were close. Nodding to the question her words would further answer Lamia.

"Yes.. I am indeed Aÿisha Remy."

She would motion for the girl to follow her as she started walking back towards the house. Upon entering a lone lantern would light the living area. There was a makeshift chest covered with various rags and would-be blankets. It had looked like someone lived there for weeks if not months. Sitting down softly on a chair which came in the form of a broken pod thruster she'd smile up to the stranger.

"So let me first say thank you for coming.. and to press on to more.. saddening matters. Tell me, what do you know of Matsu's death?"

 

[Fusion]

I do not know the full details. Neither do the Knights, so far as I can tell. What we believe happened is that Matsu died after being trapped by the Sith while trying to rescue her fiancé, Chora Daun Wan. I know she is dead. I felt her pass on. I'm going to assume it took a couple Sith Lords to take her down, maybe even Darth Exodeus himself. No average Sith could kill Matsu.

While talking, Lamia was feeling something. She couldn't tell what it was, but it felt... Dark.

 

[Rev]

The exiled Jedi would smile at Lamia before peering out into the endless sand dunes which made up Tattooine. Her thoughts lingered on Matsu for a moment before reaching out to Lamia; hoping the questioning would further mask her hiding dark energy.

"What makes you so sure the Sith are behind it all? I had learned Matsu had made many enemies.. the Jedi included."

She would sigh before staring at Lamia for a long moment. The girl was a curious one; there was a lot of emotion dwelling deep inside of her. The Sith Lord could sense the fear in her, the uncertainty. She was a cesspool of emotion waiting to be let out. Frowning to cover the fluttering joy inside of her she'd extend yet another question to Lamia.

"Why is it you came to me? I had expected a higher ranking Jedi to tell me the news.. It certainly came as a surprise."

She'd lower her head to stare at the sand. Letting out a sigh of grief, perhaps one of the only true emotions to leave the woman since Lamia's arrival; it was saddening to know her old friend was dead.

"I wish she would have came to me.. asked me for help before going on with something so foolish."

 

[Fusion]

Lamia simply looked at Remy before continuing to talk.

It is not like Jedi to seek vengeance, at least not in a murderous way. Only the Sith would do such a thing. And it would take a powerful Sith or a group of lesser Sith to kill her. I came to tell you of Matsu's death because, to be honest, She was never closer to anyone else except for Chora. And now, both of them are dead...

Lamia began to cry. It was a rare sight to see a Sith Pureblood in the galaxy, let alone see one openly weep.

 

[Rev]

Aÿisha would watch from afar, the emotion that was pouring out of this woman's soul was unlike anything she had felt in.. Well in years. Taking in everything the young girl had to say the former Knight would reach over and gently place a hand on her shoulder.

"The Sith do seem to be a fair assumption.. She had always had a strong distaste for them."

She'd laugh to try and lighten the mood some and to get some joy of remembrance out of Lamia.

"The Jedi are not always as they are perceived, Lamia.. Why is it you think your former Master was no longer with them.. and why I am here?"

She shook her head some in disagreeance with everything that had happened.

"They have the right intentions, they just do not know how to enact them in the proper way. Remember her, do not weep her death but celebrate her life; it is how she would have wanted it.."

 

[Fusion]

I know about the Jedi. Self-righteous, answering to no one but themselves. It's lunacy at its finest.

But anyways, I have done my duty. I should be going now so I will not be that much of a burden to you. I do have one last question for you... From the moment I stepped in here, I have sensed darkness. Have you truly renounced and come to terms with what you did during and shortly after your fall, before you were redeemed?

 

[Rev]

"Then you are wiser than I was at your age.."

She would give the girl's shoulder a soft squeeze before letting go and relaxing back into the makeshift chair. It was the girls final comment and question that posed some worry to the Sith Lord.

"Darkness? I have too sensed it.. Dwelling in this place since my arrival. It masks my location from the Sith and even the Jedi.."

She paused for only a moment.

"I do not wish to be found out here.. I haven't made the best friends in the past months."

She would laugh at her comment if only to ease the burden on her own back. It was all a cover story to hide the truth from the young woman.

"Let me ask you one thing before you go Lamia. You are filled with such curiosity. Plagued with more emotion than I have ever cared to handle.. Why is it you went to Matsu to be a Jedi? For I too sense a greater darkness within yourself.."

 

[Fusion]

Why did I follow Matsu? She found me. Nurtured me. Unlike those in the order who hated me because of my species, she accepted me, almost as if I were her own daughter. She was the one who helped break my natural propensity to the Dark Side, as well as giving me the respect few others would be willing to give. When I was exiled, she followed me. I can't think of any current Jedi who would ever do such a thing. She was my guardian and essential stepmother up to the day she died.

Lamia thought about Remy's last words before answering them.

The darkness is natural for me. Surely you've read up on the ancient Sith. But I have counterbalanced my darkness with light, unlike my ancestors. In fact, I actually did briefly fall to the Dark Side after a Sith alchemist tortured me with his illusions. Geist Weiss, his name was. I can sense his dark presence like it was just yesterday... But I was redeemed through the help of Rouge and Matsu. But now that they're dead, all I feel now is more darkness...

 

[Rev]

Her words sank into the Sith Lords mind for a long moment. Darkness was a natural thing to her, and it radiated from her body like a beacon of hope. The possibilities that lay before her could've made Illusia salivate; but, for the sake of identity she frowned and reached out to the woman.

"Perhaps it is unnatural to become something you were not meant to be. I know your pains of exile.. Look at me."

She reached over and picked up a Tattooine stone; holding the warm rock in her hand before tossing it hard back where it had come from.

"The Jedi.. they try and bottle up these emotions. They do not understand, we are emotional creatures."

She smiled at Lamia for what felt like the first time before lowering her head some.

"I've heard of this man.. This Geist you speak of.. What if I could promise you something the Jedi cannot..? What even the Imperial Knights would not..?Revenge for your torture."

 

[Fusion]

Revenge? You have heard of this man? The only way you would know of him is if you were a Sith, or one of his victims. He does not reveal himself to anyone.! I doubt he would be able to subdue you that easily.

Lamia paused before the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place for her.

I am understanding it now... You're unscathed from your time at the Jedi Temple when you went to confess to having fallen. A report mentions that a shuttle left the Temple before it exploded. You never directly answered my question on the darkness, which has gotten a bit stronger now. This can only mean one thing: you were behind it. You killed the council and Rouge with some sort of explosive before officially defecting to the Sith. Why did you do it, Remy? Rouge did not deserve death... She saved you after you exiled yourself to that frozen hellhole called Hoth. You betrayed her...

Lamia then said something that would perhaps impress the secret Sith Lady.

I am impressed. It takes some skill to do such a thing as flawlessly as you have.

 

[Rev]

"Tanaab.. he was one of the Sith that was there; I recall them saying his name to one another before they struck down Predor.."

She was lying, but to a complete stranger it could be taken as a truth; especially with the mask she was putting on it through the Force.

"..he was foolish enough to talk about his plans of torment and deceit within the Sith Order. Shortly after I was taken into their ranks where I succumbed to the Darkside."

Her head would drop as she would simply place images within her own mind to nearly develop tears of her own. Reaching to her eyes she would wipe the small beads away before looking back to Lamia.

"I too know of his tortures and would wish them upon no one else.. I simply am not in position to go after him."

Aÿisha would give a look of shock to the young girl before almost busting out into laughter. She was able to piece together quite the story, fabricate it even. Shaking her head as her hand rested on her kneecap she would look up to Lamia before speaking.

"Unscathed? Rouge was a friend as well as a mentor.. I'd never wish that upon her.."

As her words closed she'd reach to her robe, pulling up the right sleeve. Before the girl was able to arrive Illusia had been able to conjure up some cosmetic damage to her arm through the aid of her ships first aid kit. To the eye it would look sufficient, anything further would break the ruse.

At the close of her words the Sith Lord would hide her smirk from within. There was curiosity in the young woman indeed. Now it was about exploiting it. Having only paused a moment she would stand from her seat and walk towards the door. Letting the anger she had pent up freely flow from her voice the believable act would hopefully be enough.

"..I think it is time you take your leave, you have passed on what was needed and I thank you for that."

 

[Fusion]

If you insist, though to be honest, I do not fully trust you...

Lamia turned and started to walk towards the door.

 

[Rev]

Illusia's own dark taint would reach outward, tickling at the darkness that Lamia was born with. Her own emotions intertwining with Lamia's in hopes of pulling them outwards.

"Trust? What is it I've done to break it?"

She would follow the woman out the door but stop where the 'property' would end.

"A shame to let such a man continue living.. Probably torturing more like you.. if there are any left."

 

[Fusion]

You may keep your shroud in place, but I know the same as you that you have never truly been redeemed after falling. As for killing this man... I truly wish I could right now. But I have no idea where he is. If you see him, do tell him that he'll be a dead man sooner or later.

 

[Rev]

The Sith Lord's veil would still remain up, even after Lamia's lack of faith in Remy. Lamia was an intelligent one, there was no doubting that. But, what she made up for in wit, she lacked in persuasion. It was Illusia who had dangled the bait in front of Lamia. She had nibbled at it, but had yet to take it.

"He is quite a formidable man, I'd have hoped to of used you as bait to bring him out.. It would of course be a trap; but, your thoughts are elsewhere. You want vengeance for Matsu; not yourself."

She had hoped it would spur up some flare of emotions. The winds had picked up on the open dunes causing a stir of sand to pick up. It wouldn't be long and the planet would be put into a deadly wind storm; capable of ripping skin from flesh; but that time had yet to come. Calling out over the winds to the younger girl Remy would give her one final chance.

"I do not know if you are what I'm looking for, Lamia. I sense much change in you within your future.. Darkness has a way of blooming into something unique, a uniqueness that can fulfill an insurmountable yield of potential."