OOM: AU Child! Ibani

[last_kallig]

The last few months have been even harder than usual, after the death of her mother figure. Perhaps grief made her weaker, more vulnerable to sickness, because she knows she's dangerously ill. She hadn't meant to wind up here, wherever here is, but it has shown up in the nick of time.

Ibani shivers against one of the walls of Milliways, her body wracked with fever and hunger both. She's somewhere between seven and ten, clothed in fabric with far too many holes in it, and wearing a slave shock collar around her neck. Her bones stand out too sharply against her skin, and her eyes are fever bright and darting around the room.

She's not sure if this is some dying hallucination, if she's gone mad, or if she truly HAS wound up somewhere utterly strange. Whatever this is, instinct and her body DEMAND food, fuel to fight the sickness that is killing her. Untrained in the Force, she's grasping on instinct for any energy it can give her.

Maybe, maybe if she gets close enough to one of the tables she can steal some food without anyone noticing. Yes, yes that's a good plan

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[last_kallig]

It's quick, for what it's worth. The sharp rocks pierce right through his hearts and death comes quickly.

"You're really clever," Ibani praises him, giving him a hug. "Though I was trying to spare you from more darkness today."

Probably a futile effort, since she's not free yet.

[27_53]

"I will be able to adjust," Skellig says, holding up the second communicator. "Then once you are free, I can relax further. I do not know...I don't quite understand what is happening, but I will help regardless."

Didn't he already DO this, somewhere else?

He glances back into the dark, towards where the first guard's corpse is slouched against the wall. "Are we far enough that he will be fine there, or do we need to keep moving him?"

[last_kallig]

"Should be far enough," Ibani decides after a moment of thought.

"There's an office, where the person who oversees the operation for the owner works. I've only ever seen them once or twice, from a distance. They might not even be planetside right now. I'm HOPING there's a key in their office."

She doesn't know WHAT they'll do, if there isn't a key there....

[27_53]

"Which way?"

Hopefully they will not run into any others as they make the walk to the office - he tilts his head, trying to listen to where the majority of the 'noise' might be coming from.

That way, apparently. Skellig takes her hand into his as they walk. "There should be a key," he says encouragingly. "I am sure of it. Then we will get this off of you..."

[last_kallig]

The walk back is a long one, but they manage to avoid any people. The sensors beep quietly as they enter the area, the communicators acting as keys to let them pass. The door slides open as it senses their approach.

A great deal has been written about the banality of evil. Of people who were just following orders, clerks and accountants filing paperwork and making numbers dance, without thinking too much about the cost and the consequences. The architect and overseer of this hell is that kind of soul, a man who looks about Skellig's age, dressed in a gray uniform with red and blue squares on one side of his chest to show his rank.

He sighs irritably as he hears them enter, but doesn't look up. "I already told you we haven't got the money to advance you your first paycheck."

[27_53]

This is all so...normal.

Skellig feels a pang of regret, knowing what he has to do in order to get this done - but it is dampened by knowing that if he doesn't do this, then Ibani could end up injured, or worse, with her brains splattered against the wall...

He 'nudges' the attention of the overseer in the opposite direction as he circles around the back of the desk; does he feel the shift in the air, the presence of another being so very close to him? It is hard to say. Fighting back the bile in his throat, Skellig reaches up quickly - much too fast of a motion to be human - and snaps the man's neck, his body slumping in the chair.

(It hurts him, deep in his chest in a place he can't ignore, it is worth it because it is to protect HER but it still hurts.)

[last_kallig]

Normal, mundane. Evil without passion, rote.

Ibani goes to Skellig immediately, wraps her arms around him. She can FEEL how it hurts him. "I'm sorry it hurts you so much."

[27_53]

At least this time, he looks at her without hesitation. He is grateful for the contact, the faint surge of Light; it eases some of the hurt, some of the ache in his joints and the weariness on his spine.

"I will recover," he says softly. "We need to get you out of here, get that thing off of you."

Skellig allows the body to slump down in the chair and then pushes it further under the desk - no need for it to be visible in case there are any monitors and cameras in here - and begins rifling through the drawers. He knows vaguely what the key looks like - after all, there was one in Bar, it should be the same, right?

[last_kallig]

Ibani wants to ease his pain, wishes she knew HOW. She can't escape the feeling that she SHOULD be able to heal the pain, make it go away entirely.

His hand finds the key in the first drawer he rifles through.

[27_53]

Closing his fingertips around it, he feels a rush of relief flood his system.

"Here we go," his voice betrays a bit of the anxiety and uncertainty he was feeling. "Now, again...let's get this off you. And then you are never wearing one of these ever, ever again..."

[last_kallig]

She smiles reassuringly at him. He lifts the key to her to free her when the dream....breaks.

Ibani gasps in surprise to find herself in bed, curled up next to Skellig. As if, well, as if everything that happened had been nothing but a nightmare.

[27_53]

Skellig is a light sleeper anyways - but having been in her nightmare alongside her is mildly disorienting when she gasps awake, and his wing flares protectively to cover over her.

(His whole body is sore...why is he sore like this?)

"Right here," he says reassuringly, bringing a hand up to her neck - there are no visible wounds there, her skin is healed well after his efforts, but he feels the need to double check. "Safe."

[last_kallig]

"You're hurt," she says, turning to look at him, concerned. "Were you, were you in my nightmare?"

She looks devastated at the notion. "I'm so sorry. I didn't." She swallows. "That's never happened before."

[27_53]

"I am sensitive," he says. "To the space between worlds. It is not...not your fault."

Skellig sighs heavily. "It is not your fault. I...it is just how I am." He relaxes slightly against the mattress. "And these aches in my body are not...these are not from you. These are from living as I have before finding this place. They...flare, occasionally."

[last_kallig]

She hugs him, gently, not sure if her touch will irritate the aches. "I wish I could make your pain go away," she confesses. "I feel, I feel like I SHOULD be able to, but I don't know how."

[27_53]

"Maybe you will learn someday," he says, allowing her to wrap her arms around him - her frame is so much smaller than his, but her touch does not irritate the aches - if anything, it works to soothe them slightly. "Your inner strengths will grow along with your physical ones, as you heal."

[last_kallig]

"I hope so," she whispers. "Hate being weak, being helpless."

The memories of Before are especially close, after that nightmare.

[27_53]

"You were never weak," Skellig says. "You may not have been physically able to stand up to those who hurt you, you may have been beaten down...but that is not where true strength lies."

He presses his fingertips against her chest, near her heart.

"Strength is within. You are not weak. Nor helpless."

[last_kallig]

Ibani ponders his words. "Maybe. But I FEEL weak, feel helpless."

[27_53]

"I have moments like that too," he says honestly. "Even with the abilities that I have, there are times where everything is dark, overwhelming...feels like nothing I do will change the outcome, I am frustrated that I cannot 'do' more...that is all normal, to feel that way."

He sighs, brings his hand up to rest on her shoulder.

"I wish I could tell you it is something that quits once you reach a certain age, a certain point in your life, but I would not lie to you. What I will do is help you learn to fight it, fight those who would treat you poorly, fight against the darkness that tries to overtake your spirit. You are full of potential, Ibani...even though we are of different universes, I can sense it."

[last_kallig]

He is more right than he knows about her potential. She is strong in the Force, would have been a powerful Sith, one strong enough to stop a being intent on consuming the entire galaxy, had her path taken a different course. (One crueler by far to her heart, her soul, her body.)

"So much to learn," she murmurs, leaning into his touch, his presence. So much, in so very many ways.

[27_53]

"We both have so much to learn," he says. "About each other, and our own selves."

He lifts one side of his mouth in a smile. "I am glad to have such a strong partner to take on the challenge with." (Yes, Ibani - he means YOU.)

[last_kallig]

She laughs a little when he calls her a strong partner, but she's pleased. "A SHORT partner for right now. You'll have to walk slowly."

And how can she be sleepy after she just woke up, so unfair! She yawns lightly, snuggles back into Skellig.

[27_53]

Nightmare sleep does not count as good or restful sleep... that is his argument, at least

Skellig stretches slightly and allows her to settle back into his chest.

"I have no doubts of your ability to keep up with me," he mutters. "With some better food in you, you'll catch up in no time, I'm sure."

He yawns.

"Want to try to nap again? I think the energy is...better. No more nightmares."

[last_kallig]

"Sleep sounds good," she murmurs, snuggling closer. If she'd ever had a father figure in her life, she might start thinking of Skellig as 'dad'.

It won't be long until they both drift off into restful sleep.