Session export: The Blind Leading the Blind Leading the Blind...

Priestess Atyiru Caesura Entar Tyris Arconae, di Tenebrous Arconae - commonly known as Atty - slowed in her steps. Ice covered the floor and stairs of this ancient ruin. Sith ruins? * Atty wondered feeling a slight tingle of the Force, but there were also machines and ‘techy stuff’ hinting at the presence of many before her. *Let’s hope they’re not here right n…, Atty slipped on the spiral staircase leading downwards. “Oh crumbs - pickles! Oh nononono!”, she shouted waving her arms to regain balance. Her heart skipped a beat and she came to an halt about four steps lower with her face and hands pressed against the wall. Lucky the stairs were arranged in a circle or she would have reached the bottom at lightning speed and possibly with a couple of broken bones.

Why are they always in ancient Sith ruins? Although the ice and snow are a new thing, she mused making her way slowly but steadily down the stairs until she reached the lower level. There was a door at the end of the hallway - made of metal, modern. Atty hesitantly pushed it open. The cold metal bit into her fingers and if she had lingered with her touch her skin would have gotten stuck to the material.

The Miraluka froze at the sight the Force conveyed her. There in the middle of the room a person floated in a fetal position - arms wrapped around the legs and white hair floating as if under water. Machines placed along the walls hummed low. Sildrin! Atty thought. What escaped her Force sight was the mirrors placed around the floating woman - reflections giving the best view of her as if she were an object in an art gallery.

Atty slowly pranced around Sildrin, avoiding patches of ice and cables. It was clearly a stasis field, but how to shut it off? Atty turned to the machines along one of the walls. So many buttons and displays, but even if a button had clearly written “Off” on it, it was beyond the sightless Miraluka’s capability.

So there was only one choice left. Atty drew her saber. With a couple of slices and slashes she managed a similar result to an “Off” switch - a brute yet effective way.

A loud thud made Atty flinch. She turned around and gasped: “Oh - oops”. Projected via telepathy the concept of pain flooded her mind. Atty rushed to Sildrin who was on the floor rubbing her behind with one hand - the other rubbed the back of her head.

“Sorry, let me help”, Atty reached out with her warm hands - a gentle healing force soothed the pain and mended burst blood vessels beneath Sildrin’s skin.

A thought wiggled into Atty’s mind, first weak, but gradually more clear. … How long? … Why are you here, Atty?

A cloaked figure’s form shadowed the light coming in from the caves entrance.

Marick brushed snow off of his armorweave cloak and lowered the hood, revealing his ashen hair and bright blue eyes. He tapped his boots against the cold stone floor to shake off the elements, then proceeded calmly towards his wife and who the Force had seemed to draw her to.

“Atyiru…did you find her?” The Hapan’s voice echoed as he drew closer. “Aty-oh,” he said calmly as he saw the curled form of Sildrin on the floor with Atyiru standing over her.

Atyiru radiated warmth through the Force, determination set on her furrowed brow and freckled nose. Marick stood back quietly, observing, almost as if wary. On the surface he remained perfectly at ease, hands hidden beneath the folds of his cloak.

Years of sharpened senses and reflexes let Marick’s Force tendrils reach out in an instant - snapping the camera mounted at a wall, quite well hidden but not enough. His telekinetic powers crushed the technical device in an instant. No unnaturally enhanced physical action could compete with the quickness of this action. Atty turned her head towards Marick: “What happened?”. She heard the whining of misled electricity - the camera had eluded her senses. The Hapan stated flatly: “A camera. We were watched.” His composure had changed - no more wariness, but ready for protection, ready for a fight. Seconds passed, but nothing happened. A voice snuck into his and Atyiru’s mind: No need to worry. With Atyiru’s help Sildrin was on her feet - still shaky though and an arm wrapped around the Miraluka’s upper body for support. She was dressed in a simple white unitard and had swept up her long hair over her free arm. Suddenly Sildrin pat her friend’s back up and down. “Y-your hair…”, Sildrin’s voice slightly cracked from years of not having used her vocal cords. Marick grew impatient, the camera’s presence was more pressing to him than Atyiru’s haircut. His wife laughed: “Oh. I will tell you later. There was a fire and -”, he interrupted her: “We can exchange chitchatter later - what is with the camera? Why are you here?” Sildrin and Atyiru turned their heads towards Marick. Two blind women ‘stared’ at him. The half Sephi had to chuckle. The camera was for protection. And so my children and lovemate could watch me while I attempted to uncover some force techniques, she explained. Atyiru got excited and bounced a little up and down: “Children - you have to meet mine.” Marick muttered: “Then let us quickly head to the ship. This place is creeping me out.”

Marick had some other choices thoughts, but as usual remained quiet and passive, and instead focused on leading the other two back towards the ship.

Without really meaning to or thinking about it consciously, Marick made paths in the snow with telekinetic willpower, hands never even moving.

The Encanis II shimmered into sudden view as Marick deactivated the cloaking mechanism. The ramp lowered, and a small, waifish girl stood in a long, warm winter coat, waiting patiently as two stones.

Kirra waves at her parents and Sildrin.

Unfazed by the cold - bare feet - Sildrin stepped up the ramp with little help from Atyiru. Stopping in front of Kirra, she tilted her head lightly. There was something about this child - a hint of a different shape, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “Oh hello little cub”, she said - still unused to speaking out loud instead of just using telepathy. Kirra suddenly looked nervously at her mother, but assured by her mother’s shrug and smile, her gaze fell upon Sildrin’s long hair. “Mom, dad? Can I braid her hair? Please?”

Kirra hoped she wasn’t being too forward. But her hair was long and lovely and was asking to be put into a braid.

She had taken her own mess of hair and tied it off in a sideways ponytail, leaving her messy bangs still in place.

“Hello, it is ever so nice to meet you!” Kirra greeted.

Sildrin was sitting at the table, while Kirra started to braid her long hair into intricate patterns and designs. It was the perfect chance to squeeze information out of this newcomer while having a reason to stay.

Although Sildrin patiently answered any question - Marick and Atyiru started to take over the conversation. Adult talk. Kirra pouted shortly, but her bubbly nature quickly took over.

Kirra was happy she was still able to slip in a couple more questions and she was even more excited when her mother started to talk and introduce the newest member of their family.

“Lady Sildrin,” Kirra asked primly, trying to be proper. “You mentioned children of your own. Would they want to play with my siblings and I?”

Sildrin nodded: “I am sure of it and I would like to contact them.” She turned her head towards Marick, lightly tilting her head. Marick nodded and walked Sildrin over to the com system. There was braille on the buttons, helping Sildrin to set up a communication channel. The holo screen flickered, showing a white haired man in his fifties - Echani, as Marick noticed. He had tousled medium-length hair and was wearing round sunglasses. The holo flickered and Marick noticed it was a heavily secured connection; hence the bad quality of the picture. “My beloved,” he started but was immediately pushed aside by two children. “Mother!”, it rang from both mouths. Sildrin smiled: “My dear children.” She turned to Marick and Atyiru: “Can we meet up with them at rendezvous coordinates?”

“Fine by me,” Marick replied, and moved back to the control of the Encanis II and setting the course based on the provided coordinates. He left the stealth drive off as they jumped to hyperspace.

Marick leaned back in his seat while the Encanis II was heading towards the rendezvous coordinates. There were still many unanswered questions. He still wasn’t sure why Sildrin was gone for years. He had a few hints, but no confirmation – there was a vulnerability to her. She hid it well, but maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere where he caught a small glimpse of it.

Too many questions, he thought as he continued his research on the person they were meeting up with. An art dealer – not unknown to the Brotherhood – as he was responsible for a couple of kidnappings for his ‘art collection’. It included Sildrin and Thane Skotos. Marick had no clue how this cumulated into Sildrin having a relationship and even children with someone like that. He would make sure not to drop his awareness.

Marick didn’t turn, but sensed Sildrin hovering behind the cockpit, Kirra fussing with her hair.

“So, this art dealer?” he tried not to pry, but subtly was not the retired spymaster’s strong suit. He worked with data, and the less of it had, the more uneasy he was under the surface. Outwardly, of course, he was his usual calm, unconcerned self.

Sildrin’s thoughts were projected into Marick’s mind. “Let me tell you a story.” Sildrin paused as if gathering herself.

“There once was a woman who tried to fill the void in her heart and buried herself in the first mission she could find. But this art dealer snatched her. She was placed in a collection - a rare piece of art. Any attempts to flee were thwarted. He was at first proud to talk about the precautions he had taken to prevent anyone from rescuing her.”

She stopped for a moment.

Just so you know, I’m giving you access to my mind, telepathically, out of trust. Don’t break it- Marick started to reply mentally before being cut off.

IGNORE MISTER GRUMPY PANTS, SIL DEAREST, PLEASE CONTINUE Atyiru’s telepathic thoughts interupted.

Yeah Papa, shh Kirra added.

A muscle in Marick’s jaw twitched.

Continue, please, he replied telepathically to Sildrin.

Sildrin’s mental voice turned somber. “But days passed and turned into weeks and then months. No rescue. No search. Nothing. It didn’t escape Yuki’s attention. His prize had turned into a person who had been abandoned. He couldn’t ignore the Brotherhood’s silence.”

Marick’s blink rate increased barely noticable as her voice whispered directly into his ear: “They hadn’t even tried.”

Marick didn’t reply, and remained very still. The ship’s AI was doing most of the work anyway. He reflected somberly on the agents in the field he’d lost over the years. First as the Voice, now as Exarch. Envoys were less likely to go missing without warning, but he still lost lives under his command. He liked to think it didn’t bother him. It did.

He considered how no one had gone to look for her. He would have blamed himself, but that time was a blur for him.

He nodded for her to continue.

Sildrin continued sending her thoughts: “Every day he had told me about his security measures, but in the end he realized they were unnecessary - no one came.” Her mental voice appeared to drift further away as if she remembered the realization drowning her in the deepest dark sea imaginable. The silence in the room was nearly tangible.

Then she continued: “It also changed him. I was no longer a prize in his collection anymore. I was a person - abandoned and he couldn’t ignore abandoned objects. It stirred a yearning within him to protect that person. To protect me. To turn me into a found person.”

Broken things have a way of finding people to see them in a different light, Marick’s iridescent eyes shifted towards Atyiru, humming to herself as she braided Kirra’s hair for her. She didn’t turn to look at him back- didn’t have to, because, well, she didn’t look at anything. But he knew she understood. She had been his light. She had pulled him out of a broken thing and given him purpose.

Words mean little, but I’m sorry that no one came. Still. It seems that something positive came out of it?“ he asked, hoping she’d continue.

Sildrin had already dissociated, not hearing his words anymore - nor taking notice of anyone around her. Trapped in memories - how she simply had given up and Yuki dismantling the glassen cage in cold rage.

Soon began the time where she had simply shrugged off the Brotherhood and started a different life. The trauma stayed, but new memories were made. She would make sure to be cautious who to trust. Her mind drifted off into a dreamless sleep - it was still hours before the rendezvous.

Marick left her to her thoughts, and idly tapped at a few keys while speaking softly to answer Kirra’s unending string of questions.

An alert flagged his attention. “Looks like we’re ready to begin approach and dock,” he said quietly, hoping not to startle Sildrin from her thoughts.

After docking to the luxury liner Sildrin stepped through the docking station. Two small children, around four or five years old ran up into her embrace. Flaming red hair crowned their heads. A tall male Echani walked up to them, elegantly dressed, with white tousled hair reaching to his chin. He wore dark round sunglasses. He stopped next to Sildrin and the children and bowed lightly: “Welcome. Although you’re late. I had excepted people from the Brotherhood years earlier. A shame; I’ve already disassembled all the extra security measure.” His smoothe smile could not hide his disdain. With that he wrapped an arm protectively around Sildrin.

“A shame indeed,” Marick replied evenly. There were no hints of guilt or perceived slight. His features remained impassive as a stone statue and was perfectly neutral and unreadable.

As the two men maintained eye contact, Kirra stepped forward and went right up to the Echani.

“Hello, it is ever so nice to meet you! My name is Kirra.” She beamed a smile and did a little wave, and then looked over at the two other children. “Hello, how do you do as well!?” She made a polite curtsey.

The children looked at Kirra. The girl spoke first “We are very pleased” and her brother ended the sentence “with our mother’s return.” “Would you like to see” - “Otto, the Rancor skeleton?” This time the brother started and his twin sister ended his words.

Sildrin tilted her head slightly towards Marick’s direction. Yuki has undertaken preparations for a dinner. Until your departure you are welcome.

“Dinner sounds fine,” Marick answered verbally.

Kirra’s eyes, one bright blue the other opalescent, sparkled. “Oh yes, I would love to see it”. She clapped her hands together once.

The meal was over, the tea and coffee were finished. The twins were tired and leaned against Sildrin. Yuki picked up the kids who had dozed off in his arms. And he carried them into a separate room.

Marick and Atyriu, along with Kirra rose to their feet.

Sildrin lightly tilted her head and quietly said: “It is time.” And she gestured towards the door that led to the docked Encanis II. She said no more - there was no need for more words.

Marick made his way without looking back. Atyriu hesitated a moment. Sildrin was leaning against Yuki and Atyriu knew there was nothing left to do here. She and Kirra followed Marick.

Then the door closed.