Fate's Delusions: Stones and Voices

[Delirion]

(Closed RP, following immediately after Unbridled (http://pub47.ezboard.com/ftheblackhand23755frm4.showMessage?topicID=17.topi c))

The long hall through which Delirion led the other, was cast in darkness. No natural light had ever graced these walls, had filled them with warmth; and long gone were the days in which torches and even glow-crystals had pierced the dark and cast the hall in brightness.

Peculiar was the silence that permeated this part of what had once been Bast Castle. Peculiar, and malevolent to those who were not accustomed to it. Yet it was not a complete silence - no, the silence was but for those who had no affinity for that which was commonly called The Force. For within the walls, within the stone itself, lived doomed to eternal hell the souls of generations of Dark Jedi who had once walked these halls in the past.

Whispering, they were; whispering of anger, of hate, of pain and suffering, of great victories and great loss, of the burning fire that had struck the Castle not long ago, of the silence that had entered the halls afterwards, of the fates that had befallen so many as they had watched and waited. Watched and waited they had, so many generations, doomed to eternal wakefulness within the stone; doomed to rely on senses that could not see, not feel, not taste, not smell, not hear, not speak, yet so they did. With senses other than those experienced by ordinary humans, they sensed and touched their way into the darkness of the galaxy surrounding them, into the minds of a multitude of spirits, in life and in death.

They sent out their calling, sent it out, and waited for events to unfold in the shape they had molded it. Sometimes fate would work for them, bringing them closer to one being, providing them temporary shelter and nourishment, and in return they would give the support these frail creatures needed.

Such a one had been the lonely creature they had once before known to haunt these halls. She had come back to them, come back after the other she had been with, had died. They had watched her, in old times, watched and waited, waited for another time, a different life; and it had come. The being they had once known as her master, now lived contained in her own mind, controlling her; still they watched. They had not wished her to come to harm, had given her the strength and support and nourishment her frail spirit had needed; still they had held back, had waited. This life had another fate in mind for her, and the hour was near in which events would come to pass. They waited, therefore, and held back, watching the spirit crawling through her own thoughts; waited for the call.

Yet another one had come to answer their calling - another one, bound to another spirit. Fate was different with this one, held other treasures in store, yet now they themselves were the catalyst of change.

As Delirion led this woman down the hallways now, they whispered, the multitude of disembodied voices filling her mind with song, leading her further and further towards the fate chosen.

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[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

The sea of voices that intertwined into the beckoning song emerged from every stone down this hall. Her eyes darted left and right as the song swirled around both of their forms. One moment it was stronger behind her, then quickly the songs of sorrow and anger became sharp to her right. All the voices that found refuge in her mind were so heavy and deafening, it was so difficult for her to keep moving her feet.

Speaking no words, Dalethria shook her head, "No more ... no more. Why must we go here?"

Delirion tugged on her hand to urge her to continue, but Dalethria tried to pull away and stop. She wanted to stop the voices but why would they call her here? Had to be a reason. What was the reason? The single voice that invaded her mind called her here? No! Vicet called her here. Delirion found her and brought her here. Down this hall. But why??? What did they want with her?! Delirion was a key or they key? Don't know. Never know ... most likely know.

Frantic she was and it was easy for Delirion to continue on down the hall with Dalethria. All the music that played in her head left the once Sith in a daze and almost comatose in her own thoughts, trying to rationalize what could not be rationalized.

With a stabbing pain, the song of symphony became a solo ballad. The quite familiar essence of the one that caused her grief was trying to etched and clawed and bite its way forefront.

Dalethria moved forward and hugged Delirion, frightened that this being would make her try and hurt her new friend.

"Make her go away ..."

No more of the violence could she take. Blood, blood of family was on her hand. She was wielded like a weapon out of control and she liked that. Oh yes, the creature within liked that. The creature was pleased especially when the dragon continued to feed into her soul. Actions weren't always her own, nor were feelings. The dragon didn't like that for some reason. Dalethria didn't know the reason, she only felt that two ... no she would be three ... beings were trying to gain control. Was the dragon helping or hindering ... suppose to be a guide but was that true? Truth ... in the stones.

Yes! That's it!! The stones!!! They held the answer! That's why the song called to her because if she searched hard enough through them, they held the knowledge to fend off the essence that took root in her soul.

It seemed so simple now.

Letting go of Delirion, she snaked her way around the Dark Jedi and looked around frantically, trying to focus on the stones themselves.

She skipped over to the stone wall and felt the tempo of the song increase exponentially. It was just as she thought. It helped to blocked that bitch out of her mind! It was true power that called these walls home and she had to find the source. To find the source would be to find the cure!

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[Delirion]

"Make her go away ..."

Make who go away? Herself?

What was going through Dalethria's mind? The song of the stones had been going on ever since they walked down the corridor. Surely they could not try to harm her now? Yet... was it too much for her new friend? Unaccustomed to the song, to the multiple voices, maybe they were frightening her now?

Delirion tried to sense her thoughts, yet somehow, suddenly, Dalethria's mind seemed blocked to her, did not admit her.

What was she doing?

Then the woman let her go, looked around with eyes of madness. And ran to the wall with uneven steps, leaving Delirion behind, bewildered.

She tried once more to reach out to her, yet it seemed impossible for Dalethria to hear more than just her name as she called out to her. What had happened, what had the stones done to her to make this happen? Did they not want her to intervene, or did Dalethria not want it?

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

Her hands felt clammy against the stone wall, fingertips outlining the groves and scratches within the worn surfaces. Chewing on her tongue in thought, her head began to bob up and down all giddy with success. It was here, it was here, it had to be here! Soon Dalethria would have the power to lock her away, far away from her mind. Dalethria would be Navaria was to her. Yes, so good to have things come around full circle. Not the prisoner, the keeper, the one in charge.

A fist pounded against the wall and Dalethria grinned in pain. Over and over again she pounded against the stone wall, trying to break through to the otherside. The bruising matter little to her as did the cracked bones along the length of her fingers and hand. She needed to see what was there for her. It held the answer to her plight and she would kill for it. The voices inside her would not lie ... they wanted her happy and not in pain from the bitch inside her, trying to take over HER body. This was her body!!!

Growling incoherently, Dalethria was becoming frustrated. In this mindset, she was relying on primal instincts and she wanted that damn wall down. Clenched teeth and all, she slowly took steps backwards. Her shoulders rose up and down as her breathing became fast and full of pent up emotion that needed to be spent.

Then she stopped breathing, focusing solely upon that wall. That damn wall was the only thing from stopping her salvation and she would not give up until it was down. The voices inside cheered her, encouraged those thoughts as Dalethria let out a scream so intense that it had to be aided by the Force. Tiny stones on the ground were shaking as if there was an earthquake. Then suddenly they shattered as the insane Sith ran towards the wall.

She collided with the wall shoulder first, relying on brute strength to knock it down. A snap and pop forced her to back away and clutch her arm in pain. Her foolish attempt caused her to dislocate her arm. The wall was still there though, mocking her with sadistic glee. She couldn't help but cry from the pain, from the failure and oh yes, the voices were there to encourage her sorrow.

"I DEFY YOU!" Her good hand came up and smashed against the wall, her body slumping against it. Dalethria was sobbing so hard that she was gagging on each breath and rolling back and forth along the wall, waving off some invisible entity.

"Go away and leave me be! I will find my way past there!!!"

[Delirion]

She stared at the other woman with puzzlement, not knowing what was happening. Delirion tried to quieten her own mind, find an asnwer through the voices, but they remained as quiet as if they had never existed.

Have they shut me out now, too?

She watched as Dalethria's fingernails scratched against the wall - the smooth surface did not give away; it had been intended to withhold much more forceful attacks than this.

Her inability to tear down the smooth stone wall with her fingernails obviously only served to make Dalethria more determined. Through the Force, she could sense something monstrous building up inside her new friend, and for the first time, Delirion felt fear.

Was it the voices that were driving Dalethria to madness, or had she been like this before her arrival? Delirion did not know, but... she knew she needed to help her.

A scream tore through the corridors, directed at the wall. It slammed into the Dark Jedi like a massive wave of raw power, knocking her backwards several steps, pressing her against the wall.

At that moment, she could hear the voices again.

...you are the keeper, not the prisoner... take back the control over yourself... this is the help you need... this is all we can give you... trust the stones...

It broke off again once she moved away from the stone wall. But it had been enough. She understood now.

Dalethria was indeed insane.

The old keepers were showing her a way to help her free herself of this insanity, yet Dalethria, out of that corrupted mind, misunderstood.

As the Sith woman threw herself with all her strength against the wall, Delirion realised that Dalethria could not help herself, that she would die rather than give up on whatever hope she saw in breaking through the solid rock-wall. The only one who could stop that from happening was Delirion.

But how?

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

Hot tears blinded her sight and she quickly jumped to her feet with new determination, "I will find my way back there!"

Dalethria spun on her heel, the dislocated arm spinning around lifelessly in the air. It was disgusting to see her arm twist in odd ways. The limb smacked against her back and the pain would normally drop any normal being, but whatever faculties that Dalethria possessed did not process pain at all.

She hunched down a bit and slowly tip toed back and laughed all giddy like. Her arm was swinging back and forth, looking as if it was hanging onto her shoulder by a single wire.

The air in the corridor began to smell as if it was tainted with ozone. The hair on Delirion's neck began to stand on end as goosebumps spread along her arms. A change was occurring ...

From her vantage point, the Dark Jedi could see strands of electrical energy coalescing around Dalethria's body. It seemed to emanate at her feet and shoot up her body, straight into her hand. It was like Dalethria was drawing upon ground for energy to sustain her powers. More and more hot white energy was pulled into her shaky left hand.

Cackling with extreme pleasure, Dalethria raised her hand and pointed a finger at the wall, "Bye bye wittle wall. Time for me to take what is mine!"

[Delirion]

She stared at her new friend with astonishment - she could feel what was happening; she could feel it so clearly, as if nothing else existed. It was as if her own senses were only focusing on one thing - the energy being drawn in, the energy coursing through the atmosphere around her. It made her skin tingle, her mind soar; it made her want to put everything else aside and give herself over to that feeling alone.

She had to will herself to concentrate on the reason, the consequences. It was not how Dalethria did it, but why she did it, that was important now. And that someone had to stop her.

But how?

Delirion still did not see clearly, could not fathom a way out of this situation. She would have to let Dalethria see that she misunderstood the old Keepers, would have to explain to her that she was only hurting herself; would have to help her find a way to keep her own mind in control against the multitude of the Old Keepers.

But how, if she could not even reach her? Dalethria seemed shut off from anything but her own pain, her own insane reasoning; even now she was preparing for something that would most likely kill both of them if she succeeded. How could Delirion stop her, draw her attention to something else, quieten her m-

Energy. Dalethria was drawing upon energy, getting ready to launch it against the stonewalls in one last effort to break them.

Energy was where the Dark Jedi’s greatest power lay in. Months earlier, she had used the energy from the fires and explosions that had rained down upon her when she had stood in her old Master’s chambers - it had rained down destruction on her, nearly killed her. Ever since, she had been fearful of using this power - fearful of using it without true knowledge of its powers. Yet now it looked as if this would be her only way out, the only way to keep Dalethria from destroying herself and everything around her.

If she succeeded, she would have the power and skill to break through Dalethria’s mental defenses, would be able to break through the defenses even the Old Keepers had set against her. And once that was accomplished, she would be able to help her new friend.

Doubts still lingering in her mind, she nevertheless stepped in front of the wall that Dalethria intended to break; opening herself to the Force and everything around her, she waited for the inevitable to happen.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

"Wha???"

Her hand did not lower but her eyes and face contorted to show her confusion. Even though Delirion had distracted her from the initial outpouring of her energy, Dalethria did not let up on absorbing the Dark energy which was plentiful.

Squeezing her hand into a fist, Dalethria began to understand what was happened. Yes ... of course! Her "sister" was jealous. That had to be it! Now she wasn't the only one that could hear the dark voices. It was a competition between them and behind that wall was the key. Dalethria had no idea that the stakes were so high! Now instead of her finding the answers to who were behind the voices, it was a contest for the prize!

The energy stopped flowing through her body and Dalethria's nostril's flared. Her friend was now the enemy and she would do anything to reach her objective. This blasted Dark One would feel her wraith for dare interfering with her plans, for not telling Dalethria about what was within these walls. No ... she would die for betraying her ....

"VILE DECEIVER!"

Her words were twisted and laced with venom and Delirion could feel the mental backlash of Dalethria's anguish. In a blink of an eye, her other hand came up and the two smashed together. Sparks shot off from the point of impact as a brilliant light erupted. It blinded both of the women but Dalethria didn't need her eyes to know where Delirion was. No ... the source of her complete loathing was easily sensed and all the energy that she had consumed exploded off her hands. The distance was only a several feet and Dalethria laughed triumphantly, knowing full well that the frail woman hadn't a prayer of dodging the impact.

[Delirion]

The woman came at her with a ferocity she had not expected under these circumstances, but the Sith seemed so utterly possessed and driven by her own interpretation of the voices' song that she could not have stopped even if she had wanted to. But it was doubtful if she knew what she was doing - somehow, Dalethria seemed to see her as the enemy now: her one aim was to get past her, even if that meant killing her.

The Dark Jedi felt a little apprehensive in the face of what she was trying to attempt next, but it was too late now - with an angry curse, Dalethria struck out at her with lightning that blinded her for moments.

Delirion closed her eyes. It was not her intention to dodge the deadly energy, but to attempt the utter foolishness of standing deliberately in its way; yet what must have seemed foolish for many, was not for her. The Dark Jedi's greatest skill was the power to absorb energy, any energy, and to use it to strengthen her own bond with the Dark Side, to empower herself and perform those feats she would not ordinarily have been able to do. Yet this was but a new skill for her - even though it had been hers to call upon since her birth, she had not known of this power; knowledge of it had been withheld from her by her old Master who had been anxious to keep her weaker than she was. But she had learned, during the recent months, learned, and overcome her fear at the power it now lent her. She was not so weak anymore.

Delirion stood steadfastly in the way of the lightning bolts, and forced herself to take the raw power as it impacted against her skin within herself. The energy seemed to break through her skin, race through her bloodstreams like liquid fire, and it seemed too much for her to take.

Maybe she had over-estimated her own skill; it seemed she would burst with the sudden raw power that burned its way out of her body if she would not draw upon it in other ways. Unable to hold still, with nothing to hold on to, she staggered forward, and gripped the Sith woman by the shoulders.

With eyes almost blinded to the garish light within her mind now, she let her fingers touch along the madwoman's head, feeling upwards until her hands lay pressed against Dalethria's temples. She didn't know if what she intended now would be what was needed, or if she would be able to stop before she could seriously harm the Sith, but it was too late to do anything else now.

She swayed against her sister, her hands gripping the Sith woman's head in an iron grip as the woman tried to escape her grasp; then she released the energy within her, and it raced along her arms, into her hands....

.... and from her hands, into Dalethria's head.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

All the energy that she released, Delirion had somehow manage to absorb it and survive. Now the blasted woman was feeding it into her, trying to kill her! Dalethria lashed out with her hands and wrapped them around her Dark Sister's neck, trying to squeeze the life out of her so she would let go. Yet, the strength wasn't there. It was a pathetic attempt, only done out of desperation and survival instinct. The energy was swarming into her and around both of them, interlacing their bodies between the ripples of light.

It was also hammering into Dalethria's mind. She tried fighting against it and she started to build the walls within, blocking the invasion of her psyche. She rather die then have this bitch invade her mind!

<font color=red>"No! Don't fight it, Dalethria. It'sss the only way to control her."</font>

Her face was a mixture of pain and confusion as the familiar call of Vicet was heard. Dalethria was staring straight into Delirion's sunken eyes, wondering if it was another foul trick by this Dark Jedi.

<font color=red>"Allow her to finisssh what ssshe hasss ssstarted. Then ... you will be free."</font>

Finally be free?

...

Vicet had brought a moment of clarity to Dalethria's mind. She would be free from the control that her Dark Clone had usurped. After the death of Daalethria ... her energy and life essence was absorbed into Dalethria's own being. How that was possible, she didn't know, but it gave new insight to why Dalethria and all the clones held such an intense mental bond with each other. Since the night at Rama's where she attack Ogre, and then Kat, she was spiraling out of control and feeding into the dark desires of Daalethria. It was those powerful emotions that the voices were drawn to which was driving her quickly into the depths of insanity. And she almost killed the one person that could help her!

The weak grip around Delirion's neck was relinquished and Dalethria let all her mental defenses drop. Delirion continued to channel the absorbed energy into Dalethria where she followed Vicet's prompting and began absorbing it herself. The tendrils of light began to slowly loose their brightness as the voices were blocked out almost instantly. The power was so euphoric and it was almost child's play to force her foul clone into the deepest recesses of her mind. With the help of Vicet, Daalethria would have to crawl her way through an endless nightmare of chaos for all eternity ...

Her hands came up to cup Delirion's cheeks and she was going to thank her Dark Sister, but something was wrong. She had to have sensed that Dalethria was alright in being in such close proximity to. This situation had forced Dalethria to open her entire being to Delirion, creating a temporary mental link.

She reached out with her senses and backtracked along that link and knew instantly that Delirion was out of control. It was too much for her and if Dalethria didn't stop the flow between to the women, both of them were going to die from a burn out.

Dalethria's gentle touch turned into a fierce grab for the sides of Delirion's head, her wounded hand trying to protest. Flexing the muscles in her arms, Dalethria pulled her Dark Sister's head to her and rammed her forehead right into Delirion's. The sudden and painful contact forced the Dark Jedi to let Dalethria go. Dalethria stumbled back as the hallway began to spin. There was no way she could fight it and just collapsed on the ground ... silently laying their wondering how in the name of her grandfather Tarkin was she still even conscious!

[Delirion]

The voices came from afar, filled her head with silent whispering. Lifeless, weightless, without emotions she felt; numbed to everything around her. Reality was something far away, something she tried to keep locked out, locked away for now. Didn't want to return just yet.

But the whispering would not let her stay like this, would not let her remain in this cold state. It forced her to open her eyes, blink, take in her surroundings. It all felt so far away.

She was lying on the ground, not far from the other woman. Dalethria seemed still unconscious, unmoving, but the slow rise and fall of her chest at least told Delirion that she still lived. Again responding to the whispers in her head, she tried to sit up. And sank back again, with a gasp, as the world around her began to spin.

Closing her eyes again, to stop the dizziness she felt at only that one small motion, she forced herself to breath in and out a few times, before trying again. This time, slower than before, she managed to sit up; with one hand pressed to the side of her head, as if that could relieve the pain she felt in it, she surveyed her surroundings.

The corridor lay silent; as if nothing had happened in it. The wall ahead was still whole. Scorch-marks criss-crossed up and down its length, and the spot where Dalethria had tried to break with her bare hands glistened with wetness; with the wetness of blood.

The Dark Jedi turned her eyes upon the other woman. Oddly enough, the Sith wore a smile on her face, and, apart from her bleeding hands, seemed otherwise if perfect health. She looked as if she were merely sleeping, and dreaming of something joyous.

But her hands would not stop bleeding.

Delirion leant forward, got on her knees, and slowly moved over to the Sith. Pain still coursed through her body, but she had lived with pain all her life; she fought against it, until it was no more than a dull throbbing at the back of her head. Soon it would be no more than a memory.

Kneeling at Dalethria's side, she picked up the bottom hem of her own cloak, and ripped two long strips from it. Careful not to wake the other woman, she bound one of them around each of Dalethria's hands, to quench the flow of blood coming from her fingers.

Then she sat back and watched her, waiting for her to return to wakefulness.

[Dalethria Mal Pannis]

Her eyes snapped into full awareness and she grabbed at Delirion's arms, forcefully pulling her Dark Sister down until they were nose to nose.

Everything that had just occured felt sureal ... like it could not have possible happened. The now gentle words being whispered by voices of the past were a reminder to how very real her experience was.

Realization finally reached her disheveled mind as a triumphant laughter filled the air.

"I'M FREE!!!!"

The vice grip on Delirion's arms was relinquished as Dalethria pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Thank you, Sister!"