Pink is the New Red [LA2]

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Unsurprisingly, I've had to learn on the job before. Seems to be how I face everything" she shrugged, a small frown "although this may be the worst facing I've had to do. As long as I won't have to face her alone, I think I can manage. She's strong, but a blaster is still a blaster, right? Not that I intend to fight her, especially not alone."

She looked thoughtful for a short while, thinking back on the night before, before nodding. "If I was able to tap into sensing with no training, I would guess that would be something I could learn faster. It seems a good first focus. "

[Moyr Ahaya]

"It is. In the beginning, it will allow you to detect life around you and sense emotions. This way you'll know if danger is coming. Progressively, you'll be able to reach farther and deeper. You'll be able to see thoughts. In combat, you'll be able to sense your enemy's intentions before they act on them."

She shook her head with a small smirk.

"I have a small blaster too. But it's not the signature weapon of a Force User. This is."

Moyr leaned away and, virtually out of nowhere, she pulled out the long and slender slick black hilt of her lightsabre. Then she fired it up and two blades of light of vicious, ominous red instantaneously emerged from both sides.



"This is 'Passion'. In time, you'll make your own hilt that will fit the style you'll commit to and find the crystal to power it."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"I would very much like to learn about that" Aphr said, although all conversations soon died off as the lightsaber was drawn. Her eyes widened, and she said quietly "the lightsaber from the dream" as she examined the trademark weapon of the force users. It was quite the sight. "You made this?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"With the hilt, I had help. I wanted it made before anyone else's. The crystal I pulled out of the entrails of Zash's former apprentice Faln who tried to mess with me on my first day on Korriban. Admittedly, Zash had damaged his brain as she has a habit of doing with those who serve her, so he was a bit crazy, but he had to go either way." She paused, turning the lightsabre off. "Your dream? Can you tell me about it again?"

[Aphr Ahaya]

"I see..." Aphr wasn't sure what to think about that - killing someone and looting their corpse for lightsaber parts seemed a bit morbid but the lightsaber was really quite something.

"The dream?" She nodded "it was of you, killing a blonde human woman on a Jungle world under a huge blood red...moon or planet. I think it was a planet. You were laughing as blood flowed from beneath your mask." She repressed a shudder as the dream.

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno was off in his own little corner of the Spaceport with his ship, working on his guard shoto.

D2 LA, Cool, Recover Strain: 1eA+1eP 1 success

1 strain recovered

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I didn't wear the mask yet when I killed Anya Veers on Yavin IV. I got the mask because I killed her. And I wasn't laughing. It was a solemn ceremony that allowed the spirit of an ancient Sith queen to leave the broken body of Veers and inhabit a new one of a willing Massassi called Jug'tih. By this, the Massassi of Yavin IV could unite under her rule and restore their dignity. They aligned themselves with the Empire. Jo'ren Rath, the friend I mentioned, accompanied the queen in her travels across the Imperial systems over the past few months."

She reached for the mask and put it on, feeling the vergence. "This is the face of Yavin himself who the Massassi worship as the Death God, a war mask infused with the power of the Dark Side, a gift from the Queen. And the story of it is about how you can shape the world."

There was a pause. "But the distortions may have been Zash's work."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"So it is something that has happened already, not something yet to happen" Aphr commented "or a sign of a scene to come, that is shaped similar to one from the past to allow guards to drop. Either way..." she stopped as the mask was donned, listening once more. "I see. The mask has quite a meaning to you then, with a story behind it."

I don't like it.

"I know Jo'ren, albeit briefly, from the Huttball game yesterday."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"He's an exemplary Sith. He is an apprentice to a respectable Councillor, Darth Vengean, but follows his own path, inspired by Exar Kun, the legendary master of the double-bladed lightsabre." Moyr gripped 'Passion' before returning it to its place on her thigh. "He is one of Zash's staunchest enemies. She killed his friend, one of our fellow students of the Korriban Academy."

She nodded.

"The mask marks my progression on my path to master the Force. It marks the birth of the Red Wraith." She inhaled. "You wanted to experience sensing more methodically. I'll show you. I'll form the connection between your thoughts and mine. Pull yourself together and focus on how I do it."

Moyr laid her hand on her sister's forehead and reached out through the Force.

LA2. Educating Aphr in Sense. Mask for +1 Dark Pip.: 1eF 1 Dark Side


[One-Directional Connection of Emotions and Awareness for 2 Dark Pips]

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr went quiet as they started to use the force, closing her eyes and focusing on Moyr as she focused on her. Trusting her not to hurt her again.

[Moyr Ahaya]

The intention was not to hurt, but to spark awareness, and greed to know more. Whatever Aphr's thoughts were, Moyr was repeating or describing them in whisper, along with naming emotions, to help her realise how the Dark Side connected to her fears and desires.

[Aphr Ahaya]

The first few times Moyr spoke back what Aphr was thinking - how she was happy to see her sister again - the emotion returned was nervous. Then curiosity, and then interest. She found the whole thing enlightening, seeing what could be done.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr didn't overdo it so as not to strain Aphr's mind. After a minute or two, she withdrew. "As you see, through the tendrils of Force many things are possible. Instead of just reading minds and reactions, you could choose to shape them, bend to your will. Or you could learn to mobilise your body to increased physical performance, raising its strength, precision and reflexes. There is of course more, but I am just telling you of things I can do."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"I see" Aphr gave her sister a smile "thank you. It's...good to know, although..." she bit her lip, and paused to consider for a few moments before saying "shaping and bending minds is rather close to taking away someone's freedom, making them a slave to your ideals, is it not?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"You should never take freedom for granted, but learn to resist those who try to manipulate you into submission. Those who yield or are not strong enough to oppose can only blame themselves. Remember, strength is a necessary prerequisite of freedom, and passion is a necessary prerequisite of strength. Only those of us who desire to be free and strive to be free can accomplish it. This power lets you put minds to a test, or sort worthy from unworthy of your concern." Moyr replied. "It's the lesson Darth Hoshi's campaign teaches. Slavery is a state of mind. You can escape it only if you have it in you to defy and oppose, to fight for yourself."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr considered that. It somewhat made sense, but still seemed a cruel way to look at it. She nodded however. "I can understand that way of thinking. I think I would prefer to shield myself from such things instead of enforcing it on others though."

She smiled.

"I thank you for showing me."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Remember that the world is filled with filthy cowards seeking to find a way to take advantage of you. The battle of minds is as much a struggle as a shootout is. This use of the Force is the lightsabre of the mind, meant to defeat those who tighten your chains." Moyr commented.

[Aphr Ahaya]

"I will remember" Aphr nodded "I think I need to strengthen my mind before concerning myself with a mental shootout though. Much like steeling myself to face contracts."

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr nodded. "In the end, you have your own way of doing things. Seek insight and listen to advice, but it is you who is responsible for who you become."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Be your own master" Aphr smiled "that's my intent."

A pause, before she continued "are there others that I can...safely converse with among the Sith? I've met a few."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"That will require some introductions, but our name can resonate well with Jo'ren and Rumun Gol, apprentice of Darth Hoshi. You can probably expect good reception from Lord Zeno Deathwright, he's the apprentice of Darth Zash, however, and his bad life choices sometimes compromise his loyalty to those he considers his associates. But with Zhorrid on my head now, I judge him less. There is also Colonel Moraal, my close associate in the Imperial military."

She paused, frowning.

"I would not count apprentices of Darth Baras, Darth Vowrawn and Darth Marr, also present on the Moon, among those I could trust. Stuffed Dromund Kaas nobility and one attack dog. Some of them have a history with me, just not a very good one. There is a risk one of them may try to instrumentalise you against me."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"There is a Remmington Thalalas, who put together the Huttball team that I play on, and I've worked with Shaisha Vreysk before on missions for the Starcross" Aphr frowned a moment "both seemed quite nice at least."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"You asked me for opinion. I gave it. On Thalalas, I have little to say. On Vreysk, she is too closely associated with a man I find thoroughly abhorrent." She took the mask off and leaned back. "Sith are not nice by definition, not to strangers. If they seemed so to you, they may have had an agenda behind it." Her lekku braided protectively, as if fending off a bad charm or banishing a bad memory. Then she shook her head. "But rely on your own judgement, mindful that I might refuse to share the consequences."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr nodded. "I would have expected the Sith to be closer aligned to each other, especially in times of war. I'll remember this though - thank you" a smile "I trust you, I know you wouldn't steer me wrong. Jo'ren is on the Huttball team also, so not all is bad, right?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Oh, we are a very diverse and competitive bunch. That's the price of following the Code that allows you to have things your way." Moyr acytually snickered, showing teeth in amusement. "And Jo'ren is not half-bad." She bit her lip. "Ah, sorry, it's not what you meant. Yes, the instinct to cooperate toward the common goal is not lost among the Sith. We're just more mindful about this goal being really something we share."