Days To Come

[Dutch]

Renata's presence poured into his as easily as one would pour water from one container into another. Fresh goosebumps rolled down his body as she dredged up his most recent memories. The panic he felt upon awakening, the empty pit in him where Mephesa once was. The cold, unforgiving knowledge that again he had reaped the life of another lover. The physical pain, despite the kolto laden bandages that had been applied, his body was wracked with soreness from exhaustion and wound alike. As he stood there, it was like he could feel the pain fresh all over again. With muscles twitched and he cursed mentally at how his body trembled from the sensation. His eyes slid closed as he tried to focus further, nausea setting in his gut as he struggled to handle the combination of emotional and physical agony.

Instinctively his hand went to his chest, where a bandage still was set under his robes to cover the lightsaber wound Mephesa had lain down. Where she had cut into him. Her loyal, loving subject who would have once died for her. She had sliced into him, any deeper and it would have cut through sternum and heart. She had tried to kill him. She had betrayed him. And now she was nothing more than a stain on stone.

A fresh chill rolled across his body as he suddenly felt a light touch at his spine. Jessoin's eyes snapped open with a sharp inhale. Renata's words oozed through his mind, the man unsure whether she was verbally or telepathically saying them- the world hazy at best as memory mixed with reality. Only her touch seemed to anchor him as she walked fingers up his spine to cause another chill to run over him. His focus was on what she instructed, each ache and pain charted in his mind. Jess could feel it, realize it, but as he tried to end it nothing would happen.

"This pain is in your mind. I have brought it to the forefront of your thoughts because I am connected to you... Sever the connection."

Jessoin growled and gritted his teeth, Renata's touch no longer there for him to hold onto. It was just him, his memories and the pain. Jess stared forward blankly as he fought to focus, the pain threatening to consume him. Then he began to feel something almost cold over his hands and feet- numb almost. Emboldened he focused harder, a single vein at his temple bulging with the effort. After time unknown to the man, his entire body had been coated in that same cooling effect until he felt a snap in his mind. Jess gasped loudly and fell instantly to his knees. His hands shot out to rest on the hot stone below so he wouldn't collapse. Sweat beaded and fell from him to land onto the stone below, evaporating almost instantly. He felt like he could vomit.

But she was not fully out of his mind, he could feel it there like a cat stalking in the night. A small flutter of panic echoed in his mind. What if she would always be there now? Would Jessoin ever truly be just Jessoin again? Or was this his curse, to share minds with others against his will.

But you did allow her to... you need her to...

[Meira]

"Stand up." she said, moving back around his kneeling body so that she stood in front of him. He'd done well enough. It might not exactly have been the easiest way to train him. It certainly wasn't how she'd learned under the Jedi. But Jessoin didn't have the luxury of a full padawanship to learn what he needed to know to protect himself, and she certainly didn't have the time to hold his hand while he took baby steps. No, he would either learn, or he would fail.

"While it's not a muscle, your mind needs to be exercised like one." she said, intertwining her fingers in front of her body. "Practice makes perfect, as they say."

Without warning, she was once again in his mind, pulling that pain to the surface and pushing through the resistance he'd worked so hard to build up. This time, she stepped forward and touched her finger tip to his chin. With this contact, she was able to make the pain all the more real. He thought he'd felt it anew before... now he would know how wrong he was.

Renata's own muscles tightened at the feel. This power was not without its drawbacks, after all. But she was familiar with pain and so set her jaw to the task at hand. In her mind's eye, Renata walked herself through his system to Jessoin's brain stem where all the nerves came together and became the most basic, animalistic part of the brain. Here is where he would learn control. She stoked the fires, never allowing his pain to subside.

"This is an illusion. You know this." she said. "Deny the pain, regain control."

[Dutch]

The cough that wracked Jessoin's body made him see stars for a moment, his body exhausted from the mental exertion. He nodded wordlessly at Renata's command. The man would lean back onto his knees, his hands brushed together to knock off any sand that clung to his palms. His eyes peered up to find hers looking down at him, the symbolism of that moment was not lost on him. How often in his life had he been like this? At his knees before a woman that controlled him? Another dose of thick hatred slid through his core. Not for Renata, this one was solely for himself. Jess did his best to get to his feet quickly, no longer wanting to be on his knees while she stood. His head spun and the nausea was still there, but Jess stood before his Mistress with head held high.

"...And who exactly is they?"

Jessoin's voice was raspier than it had been before, though shaking slightly he still smiled as he spoke. Renata's answer was in the form of her mind surging into his. His teeth instantly grit together and the Zelosian tried to brace for what would come next. It was futile. For a split second confidence held sway, he thought he was steeled for the onslaught. Instead with but a mere touch of her fingertip, Jessoin's world ignited. Every nerve lit up at once, his eyes instantly shifting to gold and bugling from his skull. The same vein at his temple as before bulged as his jaw locked along with the rest of his body. Paralyzed by the agony that gripped him, a legion of nonexistent hornets dug and stung and chewed at his flesh. The only thing in his mind was the white, so powerful and shocking it left him unable to hear or see anything. Just when he thought it couldn't get worse, he felt Renata dig deeper into him. This time his jaw didn't lock, and his eyes slammed shut as a horrid scream tore itself from his chest.

"This is an illusion. You know this."

He would gut her, lynch the red woman by her own intestines over the balcony.

He needed her, she would lead to his ascension.

He hated her, her arrogance and pride made him want to slit her throat.

He was saved by her, she could have left him to bleed to death.

"Deny the pain, regain control."

"Choke on it."

Was what he tried to say, but the only audible thing that came from Jessoin was a gurgling growl. His eyes were slowly forced open, the man now glared into Renata's eyes as his iris' shifted to blood red. He focused harder than he ever had, his hatred being coiled around himself more and more. Jess felt Renata's presence, his own now gripped onto hers with a clawed grip. His hatred seared and roped around his presence, the man trying to use to to wedge himself from the illusion. It wasn't easy, and Jessoin could swear his teeth would pop from how hard his jaw clenched. But like a pry-bar to metal he slowly, but surely wrenched himself free. Again he collapsed, this time stumbling backwards against the balcony. One hand clung to it desperately while the other gripped the robes over his chest, the cloth wound into his fingers.

With panting breath Jess fought to stay standing, soaked with sweat from exertion and sun alike. His eyes slid closed a moment before they opened again, his eyes their normal green once more. Jess gained control of his breath once more, never once did he look away from Renata. After he felt composed enough Jess straightened his still trembling form before his head turned to crack his spine with a series of popping sounds.

"Well that was... unique."

[Meira]

Her lips parted, her jaw sagging slightly as she savored the pain and determination. Never once did her eyes glance away or blink as she both watched and felt the struggle that waged within his mind. She held her breath, waiting for him to break. He was so very close. But slowly, surely, he brought himself back from the precipice. He resisted.

She could feel his will surround her presence in his mind as it clawed and fought to regain control. It was hard for him now, but in time he would laugh at his inexperience. She hardly resisted him, only deigning to let go when she had decided he'd done enough... for now.

The break came and Jessoin stumbled away from her, clutching onto the balcony railing as he gasped for breath. He watched her, and she watched him, the corners of her lips pulled upward just slightly. His eyes shifted back to their normal verdant glimmer as he stood and cracked his neck.

"Well that was... unique."

She allowed the smile to spread across her face as she approached him. "That..." she said, lifting her hands to his cheeks to pull his head downward slightly. She touched her lips to his forehead, and with that contact, she swept a soothing calm through his being, melting away the pain. "...was just the beginning."

[Dutch]

Jessoin's guard instantly rose as Renata began to approach, cursing himself as he visible cringed away from her for a moment. Her smile was hard for him to read. She was harder to read than anyone he had met before. Perhaps that aided in her position in the Sith? Perhaps this coy game she played gave her as much power as lightning and saber gave him. Despite the fear of her that had been seared into him by now, Jess had to admit his curiosity. The man steeled himself as Renata moved her hands to his face, expecting a new wave of agony to grip him.

Instead to his surprise, her touch was just as gentle as before- but this time with no sudden stabbing pain. He was wary to say the least, even more so as she pulled him closer. Jessoin let her, for reasons he wasn't even sure himself. Her hands and lips were cool against his skin, and he could feel her kiss press against his sweaty forehead. Instantly something new cascaded over him, fresh and gentle. Tides of soothing energy banished his still aching bones and muscle. Despite himself his eyes slid closed pleasantly, enjoying her touch and her presence as it aided his body. A chill ran down his spine. It was happening again. Pain and pleasure, pride and chagrin... Jessoin inhaled sharply and stepped sideways away from Renata. An expression of what could almost be fear looked down at the woman. Slowly he regained control of himself, capping that fear and channeling it to keep himself focused.

"Just the beginning you say? No doubt the duration of our relationship will be interesting to say the least..." Jess started before he fought his instinct, and stepped closer to Renata. Standing just before her now he peered into her eyes, looking into them as if searching for something.

"...But I'm more curious... as to how this will end... Clearly you know what I want from you, and I know what you want from me. At least I think I do. What I don't know, my Lady, is the why. After you're through with me, after I've ascended, what is to become of the man who stands before you?"

[Necro Stormborn]

Walking out from the Sanctum chambers with a brief containing star charts and fleet logistics under his arm, Dark lord Eurachis made his way towards the chamber of the Dark Lady Renata. He was humming to himself something soft and melodious when his datapad gave a quick chirp to alert him of an encrypted message he'd just received. He looked down and pulled his pad from his pocket with his free hand.

Meetra, Rhona:
RE: Thila, Operation Door Knock

That was all he needed to read to understand what she had sent him. He frowned at the idea that she had not included anything personal in the email, especially nothing lewd or lascivious. He would have to go over this information with the Dark Lady after he'd dispensed with pushing her buttons a time or two.

His hand returned to his pocket, dropping the datapad within, and then fell to his side as he walked briskly to his destination. A few flights of stairs and three unnecessarily long corridors later, after finding out his peer was not in her bedchamber, he found himself outside Renata's office.

Eurachis cleared his throat and readied himself mentally for her, as she could be quite intoxicating and intrusive if the mind was not steeled in advance. His presence could be detected in advance if one was paying attention, as he never hid himself in the force when inside the temple, but he did restrict the outward pressure of the dark side that rippled off of him with each step. The greatest show of strength, was control.

With a quick breath Eurachis placed his palm against the identification panel adjacent to the door. It scanned his palm quickly, announced him out loud, then opened the door. Before him stood the Dark Lady, and Jessoin, someone he'd met briefly, but also someone he'd heard much about.


"Ah...Working hard....", he looked to Renata, then back at Jessoin, "or hardly working."

[Meira]

He stepped away from her suddenly, his posture and face giving away a sense of something like fear. Perhaps she was playing too closely to the women he'd been subjected to. She had to admit that he made it easy for the right kind of woman to take advantage and dominate him entirely. But there was a line that those women had crossed with him, and it was one that Renata simply had no desire to cross whatsoever. He would learn that soon enough, and that time would help to cauterize the wounds those women had left on his mind. Something new would grow there, she knew. Something far more powerful.

He asked about the future, the long term, and why she chose him. She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at him. Yes, vision and ambition were important, if not vital, traits in those who might rise amongst the Sith. But too many in this new Order were too focused on the prize to see what was around them. That was what got people killed. Valuable people were the ones that were able to work in the present but toward the future. One thing was for certain, however. Renata was not about to dictate this man's fate. She would guide him, but she would not force him. If he was going to remain loyal to her even after his time as her apprentice, she would have to allow him the independence to decide how he might show that loyalty. It would have to be his idea. One could only force fealty so far. For it to be the kind of thing that would make a man throw himself from a balcony for her, it had to be genuine. It could only be genuine if he chose it.

"I don't make a habit of disclosing my motivations to others." She responded flatly. "But I will say that your... situation had intrigued me. That is why you are here. Or, at least, it is one reason. As to where you are going," she stepped to the balcony's edge, glancing over and down to where Dex's body was being carried away in a broken heap, "that is entirely up to you. Your fate is your own, Jessoin. I can help you discover it, but the task is yours."

Just then, Renata felt a presence just outside her office door. The sensation surrounded her only a moment before the security system sounded a tone and announced his name. What did he want? A mixture of annoyance and something more... off-putting seized her, but she composed her features before turning around and moving back into the cool shade of the building as the door opened and Eurachis stepped in.

"Eurachis." she said by way of greeting, even allowing him a slight bow of the head. Seeing a spark of recognition in his eyes when he glanced at her apprentice, she decided to get the pleasantries out of the way. "Have you met Jessoin? He is one of the newest arrivals at the temple." She turned toward Jessoin. "And if you haven't met him, I'm sure you've heard of Darth Eurachis." she said before turning back to Eurachis. "I did not think we were meeting today. Is there something you need?"

[Dutch]

He followed her to the balcony, eyes also peering down at the broken form that was once the Feeorin. Jessoin certainly would not go the route Dex did. The Zelosian was many things, but suicidal he was not. Twice now he had seen what Renata's influence was capable of. First there was Mephesa's death at his own hand, then Dex taking his own life for betraying her. He was cunning enough to see the trend: Cross Renata, and taste oblivion.

"Your fate is your own, Jessoin. I can help you discover it, but the task is yours."

"...Thank you, my Lady." He replied, somewhat reluctantly. Yet there was a hint of genuine appreciation in those words. Too long Jess had felt his fate was placed anywhere but in his hands. Yet here the Darth had just handed it to him on a gilded platter.

Jessoin's eyes darted as a new voice was heard. Instantly he recognized the man. Darth Eurachis. The muscle of their order, and the man spearheading the war movement. Jess bowed his head to the other man, a wry smile gracing his lips at the Darth's comments. He watched as Renata regarded her fellow Darth, Jessoin knowing body language well enough to see what was going on. His smile slid to near gleeful levels, a knowing glint to his eye as he too strode from the sun and into the shade of Renata's chamber.

"If the Lord would like to be alone with My Lady, I'm sure I could go find some entertainment within the Temple..."

His knowing smirk and words would probably end with some sort of punishment, but if there was one guarantee with Jessoin, it was that he never kept his mouth shut when he should.