A Woman Scorned
| A Woman Scorned | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 21 June 2025 |
| Location: | Aklyrr Bend - Tenoo - Outer Rim |
| Synopsis: | Malgabar makes a proposition...and is denied. |
| Cast of Characters: | 159, Cayde Alexis |
- Athena (159) has posed:
It's two hours past midnight. Nearly everyone in the colony is asleep (not including Vons, he claimed he had better focus only after midnight) - or so it would seem. An eerie quiet has settled over the site, and a light fog has permeated the area, making it hard to see two feet past the entryway of one's own habsuite.
All of the residential units have gone lights out, except for two - the doctor's tent, and Cayde's own.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Right...Vons is always awake almost all night. Cayde wonders sometimes if the Zeltron ever sleeps. Not that he himself sleeps much, either. And especially tonight. The young Jedi is once again tossing and turning in his bed, unable to even come close to sleep.
Finally, he gives up and gets out of bed, heading out of his room. He glances over at Vons' room briefly on his way out, just to see if the man has fallen asleep at his desk yet...
- Athena (159) has posed:
The Zeltron man has just dozed off when Cayde comes to check if he's asleep. The motion sensitive light clicks off just as Cayde peers in.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Huh, he didn't usually fall asleep until at least an hour or two later than this. But perhaps today had been particularly stressful. Cayde leaves him be and heads out of the hab. He starts through the fog toward Xera's oversized accommodations, peering through it to see if any lights are on.
- Athena (159) has posed:
There aren't any lights on, but before Cayde can even look for a way in, he'll suddenly find a pair of pale skinny arms wrapping exuberantly around his neck just as a diminutive female figure jumps on him from behind.
<I missed you so much> Her telepathic project barges in, unannounced and without permission, bombarding him with feelings extreme emotional attachment mingled with relief and unadulterated ecstasy.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Oh, -no-...Cayde had been hoping she'd have forgotten about him by the time he'd returned from Ilum. It seems that couldn't be farther from the truth. He frowns and wrestles her off of himself.
<Not now> he insists. <Why aren't you asleep??>
- Athena (159) has posed:
She looks hurt when he pries her off of him. <Don't you... remember me?> she asks.
She doesn't answer his question. <Will you marry me>
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
<Of course...I do> Cayde answers. How could he not?
He stares at her when she asks that ridiculous question. <...Jedi don't marry> he tells her simply. <Now...go sleep> And he tries to push past her.
- Athena (159) has posed:
Her lower lip trembles and tears start to form in her eyes. She reaches out and grabs him by the wrist, clinging him to him desperately. <B-But ... but...>
He can feel it. She's shaking, crushed, beaten, heartbroken. Not only that, but she ... doesn't look well. She looks twice as skinny, and sleep deprived. It was like she'd partially decayed while he'd been away...
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde sighs deeply. Wasn't Dr. Cassias supposed to be helping her? He turns back around. <I am your friend...is that enough?> he asks.
He frowns, looking concerned. <You are not well...you should see Soren>
- Athena (159) has posed:
She shakes her head, still clinging to his arm, apparently now at a complete loss for words and in a state of shock.
<you kissed me> she says. <don't you remember...>
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Oh no...Cayde feels his insides twist as he realizes she not only remembers him but she even remembers the kiss, which he had been -so- certain she wouldn't. Of all things, she had to remember -that-?!
<What....no....no..> he insists, all the while trying to remove her memory of it. <That never happened>
- Athena (159) has posed:
But she's resisting, and resisting a lot more powerfully than he might have expected her to given how frail she's acting.
<You're lying> she says, and starts sobbing. <Why would you lie to me? I was there. I know it happened...> The memory starts flashing in his mind, vivid and visceral.
The young padawan might desperately start to try to erase the memory again, but all of a sudden, he'll find himself disrupted by none other than Gael, her older sister.
"-You-!" she growls with rage. "You filthy, scheming, selfish little womp rat!" If he doesn't dodge in time, she'll send him flying into a flat slab of rock jutting out of the ground nearby.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Caught off guard as he is in the midst of continuing to try removing the memory, Cayde is thrown into the rock.
He doesn't get up right away though, as if waiting to see what Gael will do. Would she try to kill him, even in front of her sister, knowing it would only send the poor girl into even deeper sorrow?
- Athena (159) has posed:
She doesn't attempt to attack Cayde anymore, thankfully, but she leers over him as Mal sobs, trying to squirm away from her older sister's grasp begging her not to hurt the young padawan.
"Stay the hell away from her," she says, "consider this a -mild- warning."
Then she begins to drag Mal away, while the girl sobs and trembles.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
<Tell -her- that> Cayde sends back to her as she drags Mal away.
As if she'll listen...he sighs, getting up and dusting himself off. He watches them leave, until they're out of sight. Then he starts back toward Xera's hab.
- Athena (159) has posed:
as Mal is dragged away, her fading projection will continue to call out to him until both her and Gael are out of range.
Once his attention is back on Xera's habsuite, he'll be presented with a problem - it looks like she has enhanced security on all her windows and doors. If he wants in, he's just going to have a carve a hole in something.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde sighs...he does feel sorry for Mal. But...he is far from the best person to help her. He barely knows how to help himself. Hopefully someone else will come along one day. But it occurs to him that maybe Thaarin could help. Had she met him yet?
Still, that was for another time. He approaches Xera's hab, noting the security. But he wasn't planning any sneaking. Not trying to hide anything. Well...except from Navi. He glances around, making sure the Sephi girl is nowhere to be seen, and he even checks for her presence nearby. When the coast seems to be clear of her, he simply approaches and presses the door signal as if this were just a normal visit.
- Athena (159) has posed:
There's no response, at least not right away. It's 2 am in the morning, after all. After a moment, a droid comes to answer the call. "Lady Graf is not taking visitors right now," it drones. "Please come back in the morning." Then it starts to close the door.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde brings a hand up slightly as the droid starts to close the door, and it suddenly seems to stop in the middle, as if jammed.
[Will not be long] he tells the droid, and starts to enter through the partly open door.
- Athena (159) has posed:
The droid then just moves to intercept Cayde. "The Lady will not be taking visitors," the droid repeats itself. "Any further attempt to enter the premise and disturb Lady Graf will be considered trespassing and a violation of her privacy rights," the droid intones again. "Such violations of protocol will warrant notifying security and detainment for up to a minimum of an hour."
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde considers. Well, why not?
Finally he nods. [Okay] However, he continues to stand in the doorway, watching the droid as if expecting it to do or say something else.
- Athena (159) has posed:
The droid doesn't do anything though. It just continues to stand there, barring Cayde's way. Intermittently it will tell Cayde to leave, but it neither closes the door or allows the young padawan inside.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
This goes on for a few minutes. Cayde just stands there, not leaving but also not entering. He seems to be staring past the droid, as he tries to search for Xera's presence. Was she asleep?
- Athena (159) has posed:
She was inside, sleeping, but her presence feels muffled and far away. There are multiple closed doors between him and her, and the droid standing in front him is yet another blocker.
It is actually just closing the door again, perhaps in hopes that Cayde will move out the way like a normal person.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
He doesn't, and again catches it but this time just with his own hand. It bounces back when it encounters the obstacle, and he finally seems to turns his attention back to the droid.
[When do I come] he asks then. Why not? Surely, plenty of people had requested...an audience.
- Athena (159) has posed:
"Tomorrow morning," the droid intones again. "You may speak with Avi and request to see Lady Graf. She will tell you when the Lady is available to see you."
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
[Okay] Cayde signs. After a few more seconds, he glances at the time and then looks back to the droid. [It is morning now]
Really, it is. After all, it's a good few hours after midnight.
- Athena (159) has posed:
"During Avi's office hours," the droid specifies. "Of 8am to eleven. You may ask her then." It attempts to close the door again.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
[Okay thank you] Cayde finally lets the droid close the door. He considers for a moment, glancing at the time again. Well, there's no way he's going to be able to sleep, but he goes back to the hab anyway.
- Athena (159) has posed:
When he arrives back at his hab, he'll discover Mal is sitting right outside of it on the doormat, looking as miserable as ever, sobbing her eyes out.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde sighs deeply. Ugh...not this again.
<Please...leave me alone> he begs of her, before walking past her and going inside. Hopefully, this would be temporary, and she'd find other people who would give her a sense of community and belonging. The last thing he needed--or anyone for that matter--was a fight with Gael that could result in collateral damage or even death.
- Athena (159) has posed:
<No no no> she insists, her hands shaking. <You're the only person I have left now> she says, looking utterly distraught. <...you don't understand>
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
<Then fix that> Cayde tells her, shaking his head and closing the door behind him. No. No way was he going to get into a fight to the death against Gael...no way.
- Athena (159) has posed:
But she claws her way through the door. <Please> she says. <you have to help me> she cries desperately.
<I don't know what happened. I think... I think...> she trails off, as if doing her damnedest to try think about what would make the most sense to do. <Is the doctor awake? I think we need him to help my sister>
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde sighs heavily again as she manages to come through. Oh, yes, she can help Gael by staying away from him, and it certainly seemed as if she'd very much agree.
However, He turns around again, waiting for her to say her piece...
- Athena (159) has posed:
<She's hurt> she finally blurts out. <You have to tell the doctor> she says.
<please. He likes you>
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde arches a brow at her. But didn't Soren care about Mal too? Why wouldn't he listen to her?
He exhales audibly again. <Fine...but you leave me alone> he repeats, and starts heading out again, this time toward Dr. Cassias' office.
- Athena (159) has posed:
She hesitates, but then nods, covering her mouth. She watches him head out, but as soon as he's gone a few yards from his hab, she disappears completely.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde continues toward the the doctor's office, checking to see if any lights were on. Other than Vons and himself, Soren was probably the next most likely person to be awake at this hour...
- Athena (159) has posed:
Indeed the lights are on. Seems Vons isn't the only one burning the midnight oil tonight...
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
No surprise there. Cayde approaches the office and signals the door, waiting outside for the doctor to answer.
- Athena (159) has posed:
The doctor answers immediately, and Cayde will be able to tell there are many things on his mind that are bothering him a great deal. Mal was actually one of them.
"What is it?" he asks, his brows knitted together. "Is everything--"
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
[Mal said Gael is hurt] Cayde tells him simply. [Can you help] he asks.
- Athena (159) has posed:
"Shit," he mutters and quickly pushes past Cayde, running towards the hab suite where Mal and Gael stayed. "Mal? Mal where are you?" he calls out. But there's no response.
Cayde will notice immediately that the air smells like... something burned, as they near the hab suite.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde follows him, frowning as there is some kind of burning smell. He reaches into the Force, trying to see if at least one of them is inside...
- Athena (159) has posed:
Gael is inside, but she's unconscious. Alive, but unconscious.
Once both of them are inside, Cayde will be able to see that the inside is charred black. None of furnishings remain, there aren't even piles of ash. Gael is lying on the floor, nearly half her body covered in terrible burns. The doctor immediately kneels next to her and starts covering the burns with medpatches. "Get a medevac berth," He urges Cayde. "-Now-."
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde hurries to fetch the berth, pushing it along with the Force, even. But what had happened? Had Gael lost control completely? Was it because of him? Because of Mal's obsession with him?
- Athena (159) has posed:
These are questions that Cayde will not be able to know the answer to. Soren doesn't say anything to him after he brings the berth, he simply moves Gael quickly and carefully onto it and rushes back to the infirmary. "You should go back," he says. "To your hab."
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
They were irrelevant, anyway. What good would it do? If it had nothing to do with him, then it was of no consequence. If it did, then...well it would just make him feel guilty, and no one wants that.
He nods when Soren tells him to go back. Although he pauses a moment. [I had the records sent] he signs, looking for confirmation that they were received.
- Athena (159) has posed:
"I know," Soren says, but won't say anything else on the matter and won't even look Cayde in the eyes.
"You should go," he says again. "It's late, and I need to focus on stabilizing Gael."
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Well, at least that meant he must've received them.
[Okay...] Cayde signs, and turns to leave, his gaze downcast. Anyway now Gael would receive the medical attention she needed.
- Athena (159) has posed:
The doctor watches him for a brief moment, and then turns back to his work, allowing Cayde to leave.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde starts back toward his hab again, but then thinks better of it. He checks the time...how much longer before Avi's office hours would start? Until then, he makes his way to the kitchen in search of a quick meal from the emergency rations stock, as those were the only food left that had been brought from Coruscant.
- Athena (159) has posed:
There's no one there right now, so he won't run into any picky kitchen staff telling him he shouldn't take more than his own share of rations.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
Which is exactly what he expected. Of course they wouldn't be here right now. Otherwise, they wouldn't have let him eat the emergency rations. So he helps himself to a couple meal kits, quickly prepping them from the drinking fountain. Then he jumps up onto one of the counters and sits atop it as he digs into the food, as he is actually quite hungry.
- Athena (159) has posed:
He'll be able to eat his meal undisturbed, since it's so late and no one else at this hour is around. But since it's getting to be 3 am in the morning, he should at least head back to his hab to try to get some rest.
- Cayde Alexis has posed:
No, no...he can't sleep anyway he already tried. And now with everything that has happened tonight, it's bound to be even more impossible. He feels sorry for Mal, really he does...but he cannot help her, and there is nothing worse than feeling helpless to help another who needs it.
And Navi...what was becoming of Navi. No, he can't rest until he's put an end to it. So once he has eaten his fill, he is careful to throw away the empty packaging, then tries to get some meditation in. However he eventually falls asleep in the middle of it, flopping over onto the floor of the kitchen.