Transcendent Skies

[Sreeya]

The pain from having cuffs on her wrists throbbed as a reminder of their misadventure earlier. Andraste hadn’t said much on the journey back, and they still had several more hours to go. She was exhausted, but she had gotten the chance to change once on the freighter. Their mission only called for a small transport, meaning she and Gabriel were in the same compartment. She stared ahead on a table between them. Wrapped up in paper was the artifact they had gone to retrieve. Neither she nor Gabriel had exactly investigated it, having been too caught up with the battle.

Andraste looked up at Gabriel, who was sitting across from her. They hadn’t spoken much since the incident, both reflecting upon what had happened. It was more death than she had ever been responsible for in the past. However, she couldn’t deny the thrill and the adrenaline rush that coursed through her while she was caught up in the moment. The sight of all that blood drove her mad, and she had briefly lost control. She did not know when she had been freed of her cuffs. And now, she was on a freighter back to Korriban as if nothing had happened. She reached a hand out and curled her fingers around the small statue, pulling it to herself.

Instantly, she felt the Force pulsating through the artifact, which was laced with a malicious energy. Andraste felt oddly relaxed and soothed by it, and gentle whispers and murmurs encompassed her mind. However, she had been warned about the lure of this artifact, and knew better than to let it take a hold of her. She peeled the paper away, tilting her head to look at the strange figure.

“How do you suppose this was made?”

It was a question directed at no one in particular. It vaguely reminded her of the artifacts made by Sith Alchemy.

 

[Gambler]

The artifact murmured to Gabriel's heart. It whispered and caressed. It's words were incomprehensible, but soothing. Soft incantations wound their way between the murmurs. They filled Gabriel's mind. They soothed the edges the battle frayed, icing his anger. Its replacement was darker, patient.

His felt his anger draw in itself, softly recoiling from the touch of the artifact. The serenity replacing it mocked itself. Peaceful, but insidious. He felt a stirring. Never had his desire been more clear. Power was a goal. He craved it, but even more he craved crushing the cravings of others. He longed for the satisfaction. He needed it.

He wanted to watch as the world crashed down on his victim's shoulders. He wanted to see reality set in. He wanted to draw them close and whisper, "Your dream is... a lie." Their eyes would widen. Defeat would edge around the irises. They wouldn't admit it at first. The horror would slowly beset them, engulfing every other thought. They wouldn't be able to escape.

And then, he would kill them. Their blood would pour over his hands. He would hug them close, listening to the thrum of their fading heartbeat. Their breathing would slow until their last breath ebbed. He would steal that breath, savor it. They would die, knowing complete helplessness. They would know violation of their sanity, of their lives, and die, unable to stop it.

He chuckled, a low, breathy sound.

"I don't know," he said. "Do you feel it? The... thrum. It's a whisper. An echo of power. The shattered remnants of a dream."

 

[Sreeya]

"Dreams.. what is it with you and dreams?"

Her tone was not condescending, but one marked clearly with curiosity. He was an enigma, one different than she was. She did not understand herself, but he appeared to know himself quite well. Every motion was practiced, every posture was confident, and it left her feeling much more vague in contrast. He was difficult to gauge, yet simplistically blunt at the same time. She gently put the statue down on the table, tendrils of the dark energy wanting to cling onto her slender fingers.

"Something is trapped within it. It's a dying whisper, a nightmare that exists to plant itself within the mind of the next victim. That's what happened to that so-called Prophet. Dreams are what became his undoing."

She knew the artifact beckoned to Gabriel as well. She hadn't missed the glint in his eyes as he withdrew within the confines of his mind. It was a curse bestowed upon those with a knack for the dark side of the Force. There was something incredibly seductive about the dark energy that existed within the artifact, and it was possible that people had gone crazy simply listening to the whispers for eternity, wasting their lives away. It was a dangerous artifact, and she found it astounding that two acolytes were sent to retrieve it.

"It seems like they're trying to kill us. Everything is a test. Every step is measured. We are probably being watched this very instant."

She looked around herself, and then out the window. She only saw her own reflection, the glare from the light obstructing her view.

"Is it....wrong that I wish to keep this artifact instead?"

 

[Gambler]

"Dreams are the driving force behind mankind," Gabriel said. "To dream is to aspire. The weak who aspire to be strong dream of strength." And I want to watch their dreams burn. He left the last part unsaid, but the thought was prevalent in his mind. It was possible Andraste would pick up on it given their mental link.

"That much is obvious," he said, nodding to Andraste's theory. "A dying whisper... a nice way to put it. It has no power of its own. It merely borrows from ours, amplifying it with an echo. Not a constant echo. Our strength, our desire, it bounces them back to us. Our power is reciprocated in the artifact." His eyes narrowed pensively.

"The prophet was lost in it. The whispers called to him, and he jumped into them. He didn't understand what he was getting into. He let his dream guide his rationality." He paused. "He lacked the strength to defend it." He deserved to die.

He looked at Andraste. "Yes, it is wrong to wish. You will become a puppet, strung on by half-understood desires. The artifact will feed off you and give you a measure of confidence. Artificial confidence, shattered by the loss of the object." His eyes locked onto Andraste's.

"I can see it's touch in your eyes."

 

[Sreeya]

"A shame too. Who knows what the Prophet could have amounted to? The fact that the artifact chose him suggests that he had potential...but not enough to rise above the lure."

She looked at Gabriel when he spoke about the artifact's effects on her. His words had caught her by surprise. She returned the gaze, his stormy gray irises as mysterious as ever. They were not unlike the everlasting vortex within the mind, that chasm of insanity that always existed a single step away. It was something she was constantly aware of, something that was difficult to convey to anyone. Andraste smiled at his words, not breaking eye contact.

"Are you concerned for me?"

The inflection was difficult to judge, but the smile remained on her face. She finally looked away from him, letting her gaze slide down his neck, his chest and finally off him entirely. She looked at the artifact once more.

"Aren't we already puppets? We are strung on by promises of power. This is merely a different venue. There comes a point, a line that one must cross where the boundaries of choice exists. Once you cross over, you relinquish that and become enslaved to a domineering entity. This artifact operates the same way. It simply needs to be reminded who its true master is. The same applies for dreams...and fate."

Andraste looked at him again.

"Perhaps what you saw in my eyes has already existed there."

 

[Gambler]

"Calling it a shame implies that you pity his death," Gabriel said, his tone unreadable. He watched Andraste's eyes search him, delving into his own before trailing over his body. A small smile tugged at his lips, a growing sin. He let his eyes roam her body, admiring the soft curves around his hips and chest, wondering what they'd look like in a more suiting outfit.

"Concerned?" he asked. "Yes." There was more in his voice than he intended to put there.

"Perhaps you'd be better off being concerned for yourself," he retracted. "My concern only goes so far." The edge of a sword. Knife deep. He met her gaze on the artifact. Their eyes touched between the artifact's self embrace.

"You choose what you are. Believe you are a puppet and someone will treat you as one. Believe you are the puppeteer and the puppets will flock to you. Dreams are chosen. Fate is an illusion meant to oppress the weak." He paused. "Perhaps what I saw in your eyes was a reflection of what lies in your heart." Or mine.

"Do you believe in fate?"

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste was once again surprised by his answer. She hadn't expected him to actually say yes, having expected a cocky answer. It left her confused, though she did not outwardly show it. What he said next made her smile.

"Concern is a waste of energy. Why not take things as they come?"

She had missed his gaze roaming her body, far too curious about the artifact. There was something that existed between them that had nothing to do with the strange energy the artifact gave off. She hadn't spoken of it, and neither had he, and she left it alone. It was territory she did not understand. She was glad when he asked a question.

"If I don't believe in dreams, perhaps I should believe in fate."

The words flowed out of her before she could stop herself. Mulling over them, they made her unhappy, as if she weren't in control. What made him so different than her? What put him in control and not her, though they were headed down the same path?

"If I believe I am a puppeteer..the true puppeteer will have me slain. We learned that within our first few days on Korriban. Us killing that marauder did not go unnoticed. We have far too much attention on us."

She sighed.

"Sometimes I wonder if I ever had a choice to begin with. Perhaps that line never existed for me. I was raised to believe that I was always meant to be a part of the Sith. As if it's a crime for me to be Andraste..for me to be me instead of this vessel, this weapon.."

A look of concern flashed quickly before being replaced by a mask. She met his gaze, wondering if he had caught it. She was telling him more than she intended, but perhaps she wasn't the only one doing so.

 

[Gambler]

Gabriel caught a flash pass over Andraste's face. He made no note of it, focusing instead on how the light hit her eyes. It was easier to deal with. His eyes fell back onto the artifact. If he squinted he could barely make out oily tendrils emanating from it. For a moment they seemed to swirl around Andraste, like a marionette.

"Fate is an ultimatum," he said. "Either you are or you're not. Everything you do comes to an eventuality from which there is no escape. The weak believe such. They believe it because the strong force them. They believe it because it gives meaning to an otherwise meaningless life." His eyes narrowed.

"Pathetic." A chip fell from his mask of serenity. "Those who believe in fate accept the hand of the strong to guide them. They refuse to progress. In turn, they die ants. If I had to worry about the ants I crushed beneath my feet I would have no room to walk," he said.

"You have a choice. If you wish to test it out, then kill yourself. Suicide ends your 'fate.' You choose the time and place of your death. You choose who to hurt and why. There is no greater force acting upon you. It is pure choice." Panic flashed through his eyes before he could erase it.

"Perhaps I like your attention."

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste had to bite back from grinning. She couldn't tell if he was openly insulting her or simply firmly stating his beliefs. Regardless, she let him finish, wondering exactly why the topic triggered such a powerful response. His last words made her look up, confusion clearly etched upon her countenance. He had thrown her off yet again, making a million questions pop into her mind. The artifact appeared to thrive off the tension, pulling and tugging at it, drawing it in. It was borrowing from them already without even being touched. It was a sinister thing, and she could almost hear it laughing at them in amusement.

"What of visions granted by the Force? That is not any one strong being oppressing the weak, but merely life itself speaking to you of your future. Would you not heed the calls of the Force?"

She pondered back to his comment on suicide and quickly rolled her wrists back into her sleeves. The marks from her self inflicted injuries had yet to disappear. After a moment of pause, she finally looked at him again. This time, her face was devoid of emotion. She leaned forth in her seat, openly staring into his eyes.

"Tell me, Gabriel. When you look at me, do you see me? Or do you see someone else? Perhaps...someone that no longer lives?"

 

[Gambler]

"Visions are facets of your mind, albeit parts that have glimpsed something worth knowing," Gabriel said. He contemplated her words, meeting her stare boldly. He waited until she finished speaking, assuring that their eye contact remained unbroken.

"When I look at you I see..." he trailed off in thought. "I see you. I see beauty, I see pain. Scarred perfection atop a cultured facade. When I look at you I see fear." He leaned forward, elbows almost touching the artifact.

"What is it you fear?" he asked. "Right now, do you fear my answer? What did you think I would say?" He paused. "Do you think I could see the face of another when I look at you? Do you think that my eyes can take in you for anything but what you are?" He sneered.

"When you look into my eyes, what is your fear?"

 

[Sreeya]

This was a battle, one that she had begun and had expected him to back off from. Instead, he met her head on. With how close he was, she could almost see the edges of his person being tugged by the artifact, his outline blurring slightly. It was surreal, as if he were a painting and someone had begun to smudge it. However, his words rang through her mind, making her want to shrink back. She did not heed her mind's warning, keeping that gaze held. But that only held for so long.

His words forced her to inch back slightly, each question a blow to the chest. It wasn't painful, but something that frightened her. She remained silent, her eyes suddenly open windows that let him peer through them and into her very core, where the fear existed. Andraste slowly backed away, pondering on his last question. His voice lingered within her mind, the words echoing over and over again.

"..The unknown..."

She whispered the words, lowering her gaze. She had fully expected him to withdraw at her question, fully expected him to delve into his memories of a lost love, something that would allow her to be the one to see into him. But he had turned the tables on her.

"My fear..my fear is that we all wear masks. You can be wearing one as we speak."

She finally mustered the courage to meet his gaze again.

"Then again..perhaps you see something that I myself cannot."

 

[Gambler]

Gabriel's eyes bored into hers. "Why would I wear something that weakens me?" he asked. He continued to lean forward as she shrunk back, savoring the lingering scent of her fear. This was unknown to her. She was afraid of it.

"Do you want to know what it is I fear?" he asked. He let the question linger for a moment, giving Andraste time to think about it. He wanted her to understand the gravity of the question. At the same time, he didn't want to let her answer.

"I fear being crushed." Why am I saying this? "I fear someone with the power to prevent me from progressing. Because of this, I look beyond masks. Wearing them weakens me. They make me vulnerable." He couldn't articulate the point.

"I do not want someone to know I am wearing a mask. I want to see their mask and tear it away. I want to look into their heart and see their dreams. I want to twist their dreams around my finger and shatter them." It took him a moment to realize he said the last aloud. Uncomfortable, he turned it around again.

"Perhaps what you see is twisted by your mask. Your vision is distorted, paranoid. You wear your innocence, little flower, and see only pity."

 

[Sreeya]

"Then perhaps it is best that I do not dream."

She spoke quietly, looking down. His words were powerful, and suddenly she felt very small. It was ironic, as he spoke of being crushed and vulnerable, yet he appeared to tower over her at that instant. She looked up at him when he addressed her. It came out of nowhere, an abrupt streak of anger. It was like a bolt of lightning, one that struck her deep. She suddenly rose to her feet, the Force projecting out of her. The artifact went sailing across the compartment, slamming against the wall and falling to the floor. She paid it no heed, scowling at Gabriel.

"Enough."

Venom dripped from her voice.

"You think you know everything. You think you're a puppeteer. You think simply because you've ventured down a path I've never...never.."

Her voice cracked slightly, and fear crept into the inflection. However, she did not back off.

"It's because I'm not wearing a mask that I believe I'm in danger. It's because I'm being Andraste and not 'a Sith' that I believe I am destined to possibly fail. And here you are, always up on your high horse preaching about everything. You are like ever other mindless dog back at the temple. Always hellbent on destroying and crushing. You don't understand.."

She closed her eyes, an eerie smile appearing on her face.

"..People's foolish dreams crumble around them. They crush themselves. They destroy themselves. You...you don't have to lift a single finger."

 

[Gambler]

Gabriel tasted Andraste's anger. It was sweeter than her innocence, more delectable than her fear. She directed it at him, and he basked in it. So much bitterness. A few words, an appetizer, and she gave him an entree.

"A puppeteer?" he asked. "No, never that. A puppeteer twists the strings of a person's life, devotes himself to the control. I couldn't care less about control. That's not what I want." His voice was velvet.

"Can you truly compare me to the others? Their dreams envelop them, as the night sky envelops the world. In the end they are nothing," he echoed. "Mindless curs, worthless dogs, they are nothing. Do you truly compare me to them?" He lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Is that what I am to you? Nothing?" He didn't back down. He drove his point home in a soft voice. A velvet blade laced with poison.

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste remained standing, though that didn't make her feel any taller. His words caused her to remain silent for the longest time. Did he realize what he was saying? She had never been put in this situation before. Andraste was rooted in place, completely lost on how to answer. His emotions were radiating off him, the artifact across the room happily soaking it up. Andraste had to choose her words carefully.

"What you are to me?"

It was a thought that had never crossed her mind. Was there a side to him she hadn't been seeing? She continued backing away, putting even more distance between them. She did not hide, she never attempted to be innocent or oblivious. She simply was. She had been plucked by a Sith Lord and molded like clay to embrace a destiny he had set out for her. Any emotions or this..this whatever Gabriel was on about was never a part of the equation. Andraste couldn't understand why emotion laced his words.

"Why...I don't understand. I don't understand what you are asking. I don't know what you want to be to me. I just..."

She wished she could escape, disappear and become invisible. This terrified her almost as much as the thought of facing her lord.

 

[Gambler]

"What I want you to be?" Gabriel laughed. Such a hollow sound. Like something dying, pretending everything was all right. Like holding onto a tuft of grass on the edge of a cliff. His laugh was dry, quiet.

"I don't know what I want you to be," he said. "I don't know what you are." The artifact loomed in front of him, but he couldn't see it. "Why do you have to be anything?" He tried to meet her eye.

"You don't understand?" he breathed. "I don't understand!" His voice was no higher than a whisper. He watched Andraste back away, slowly edging away from him. He half lifted a hand, but dropped it.

"What's there to understand?" There was something almost manic in his eyes. "You choose it. You don't understand? You don't want to understand!"

Where are my thoughts? They feel... empty.

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste's eyes widened. He had snapped. He had lost it. He made absolutely no sense. It was..unnerving. She backed up, her back pressed against the door. She did not want to make a scene by exiting, but he was truly confusing her. She remained silent, watching him reach for her. Andraste made no move to shift closer to him. There was pain, anger and a whole plethora of emotions coming off him. Something told her that he wasn't here, that he was far away, trapped within his own mind. However, the way he looked at her..he looked at her directly, he looked at Andraste, and not through her.

"I don't understand it! That's all there is to it! I'm not..I'm not pretending it doesn't exist. I'm not trying to be cute with you. I simply, truly do not understand. You have walked this path before. You have experienced the highs and lows. You.."

He almost looked broken. And she did not understand why. She did not understand what caused this, what brought this on. She did not know what caused her to utter her next words. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Are you...are you choosing this?"

 

[Gambler]

"Choose?" Gabriel asked. "What's there to choose? You've already made your choice. Why should I bother trying to change it?" He calmed down a measure. The distance between him and the artifact seemed to affect its hold. He took a breath.

"If you are so afraid that you are unwilling to walk down the road, then forget about it. Forget it ever happened. Go back to your bubble and continue living in ignorance." He didn't quite sneer the last.

He softened his voice. "Do you not understand, or do you not want to understand?" The edge was gone. The remaining whisper lacked any hint of poison.

"Are you afraid of the choice, of the unknown?"

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste growled in frustration. She began pacing, shooting him angry glances.

"You are making no sense."

She finally decided to close the distance between them. He was calmer now, though the emotions hadn't dissipated completely. She took a seat next to him, the closest she had been to him since they had been bound together. She did not meet his gaze, staring intently at the table in front of them.

"Yes, I'm afraid. There are few things that scare me and this is one of them. I don't know what you are asking and I don't even know where it ends and where it begins. I don't even know what 'it' is. I...just don't know how you know..or how it's so obvious to you.."

She sighed, looking at the artifact. Was it causing all this? She looked away from it and cast a sideways glance at Gabriel.

"I don't even know if it's the artifact's lure or...or your thoughts are your own.."

 

[Gambler]

"Maybe," Gabriel said. He watched as she sat next to him, eyes focused on the table. She avoided looking at him, her last words a desperate shot in the dark. He had no such reservation. As she spoke he watched the turn of her lips, the rapid batting of her eyelashes. He watched how her eyes moved, sneaking half-glances away from the table before settling back in the center.

"What I feel is me," he continued. "Maybe the artifact is making me say it, maybe. Maybe it's the reason I'd say it. But that doesn't change..." He cut himself off. Now, of all times, he couldn't say it. He listened to Andraste, savoring the sound of her voice in his memory, the sound of her breathing so close to him. It was too much. He leaned forward.

He seized her lips with his.