Paneau: capital city of Dalon
Rys'tihn Manor
5.4 APC

"...High Commander?"

As he began redressing himself, pulling his shirt sleeve over his arm, Koril hadn't even noticed that his personal medic Raval had begun asking him his routine daily questions. His thoughts were already elsewhere entirely. "Sorry, what?"

"Any falls today?"

"No."

Entering Koril's answer into the datapad in his hand as he did with each one, Raval continued. "Any heavy lifting?"

"No."

He'd been through the same interrogation day after day for months, enduring a number of tests and examinations every evening to check for injuries he might have sustained without his knowledge. It was a practice Elena had designed, and she had the Manor's staff put it into effect even while she was away on her mission to Montar. Though Koril had mostly been in a catatonic-like state through the majority of the early check ups, he could already recite the list of questions back to Raval from memory.

"Close proximity to a crowd?"

"No."

Of course, Raval jumbled the order of the questions each time to ensure an honest response, and sometimes he asked the same question again later on in the list if he suspected Koril's first answer was false. Each exam took less than half a standard hour, but already tired after a long day and little sleep the night before, Koril wasn't interested in making it any longer.

"I observed no bruises or cuts, and the scan found no fractures, so your physical exam passes. What about any dizziness or lightheadedness?"

"No."

"Yes."

Still sitting on the exam table, Koril didn't have to raise his gaze from the floor in front of him to know the look of disappointment Elena had on her face as she stepped into the room. He had hoped to evade her scrutiny, thinking she had remained occupied with putting their children to bed upstairs, but he should have known better.

Raval sounded confused. "M'lady?"

"He nearly blacked out last night."

Raval's reaction was just as Koril expected: shocked and slightly offended. "I - I wasn't informed of this!"

Elena sighed. "He was supposed to tell you...but I know him better than that."

Controlling his rising frustration, Koril looked up to Elena with a disappointed expression of his own. "I wasn't - ...it didn't have anything to do with me." Shifting his gaze back to Raval, he continued pleading his case. "It was something I experienced within the confines of a meditation, through a connection I share with...someone. I was experiencing the same thing they were; it only affected me for a moment."

Raval looked far from dissuaded as he shook his head. "I'll need to run a full battery of tests to make that determination. Please, lay back down on the table, High Commander."

Koril began to protest again, but Elena interrupted before he could say much. "He didn't tell you about the pain he felt, either, did he?"

He couldn't help but feel and look somewhat betrayed. "Elena..."

Raval nearly dropped his datapad in disbelief. "Pain, Sir? Where!"

Realizing he no longer had a choice but to give in, Koril heaved a tired, frustrated sigh as he swung his legs back up onto the table. Before Raval could lend his aid, Koril wordlessly fell back against the minimal pillow under his neck, turning his head and shedding the left sleeve of his shirt for the medic's inspection. "Left side of my neck."

As expected, Raval quickly tracked a small, handheld scanner over Koril's exposed skin, and though he still seemed deeply concerned, the alarm in his eyes had somewhat subsided with the scanner's readout. "It's not detecting any tissue damage. You said this happened last night? Are you still feeling any pain now? Any discomfort?"

Knowing Raval's thoroughness was only rooted in his High Commander's best interest and in maintaining his well-being, he withheld his irritation as best he could. "No, nothing. I told you, it didn't affect me for very long at all. As soon as I came out of the meditation last night, it was gone."

Still, Raval continued studying the scanner's screen, seemingly convinced it was defective. Interested in distracting the medic somewhat, Koril continued with a question of his own that had been on his mind since the night before. "Raval... If the Huxnel virus completely destroyed my nerves...how could I have felt such real, intense pain? My skin felt like it was on fire, but I don't understand... How is that even possible?"

Raval considered his thoughts for a moment before returning his attention to Koril, glancing at Elena briefly as he responded. "Yes, your nerves were destroyed, Sir, but it's likely that the pathways themselves were left intact." Unsure what he meant, Koril furrowed his brows, prompting Raval to continue explaining at a basic level. "When tissue is damaged, either by pressure, temperature, or trauma of some kind, the injured cells send out a chemical signal that nearby nerves have specific receptors for. When the receptors are full, they excite the nerve into sending an electrical charge to your brain, which then interprets the type of pain and its location.

"As far as I've been able to determine while studying the nerve biopsies we've taken from you, it seems that the Huxnel virus only affected your nerve receptors, leaving the rest of the nerve functional. So essentially, your nerves could still conduct a signal, but only with the influence of a stimulus other than the receptors. Ultimately, though, pain is perceived in the mind, Sir, and if your mind creates it, you'll feel it."

Appreciating the explanation, Koril nodded, even though he still wasn't sure that was what he had experienced the night before. He had felt Deilia's pain, he knew that much, but from across the galaxy? This new connection he shared with his twin sister was nothing short of baffling to his untrained senses.

Bringing Koril's attention back to his condition, Raval spoke up again, albeit rather reluctantly. "I'd...like to observe you overnight, High Commander. It's been so long since you've had any heart problems... I just want to be sure that I'm not missing anything."

Had Elena not been standing over him at his side, he might have declined, but for her sake he nodded, much to Raval's relief, as well.

"I'll gather my equipment," the medic said with a cordial nod to excuse himself from their company. Once Raval was out of sight, Koril closed his eyes, preparing himself for his wife's grievances...but they never came. Instead, her warm, soft hand caressed his cheek, nearly startling him. He looked back up at her to see only compassionate concern in her eyes instead of the frustration he expected. Holding his gaze, she let go of a slow breath before she spoke.

"You know I'm only worried about you... This isn't punishment."

He nodded after a moment, but he still had to make his feelings known. "I don't need to be monitored. I know why I almost blacked out last night." Earning Elena's curiosity, he continued. "I spoke with my contact on Coruscant just a few minutes ago... She found Deilia."

Initially, a relieved smile spread across her face at the news, but unsure how it related to what he had experienced, she awaited further explanation.

"She was...very sick. She had passed out from an infection that had taken hold of her. My contact found her and treated her before anyone else had figured out where she was or what had happened to her. She's safe, and she's going to be fine."

Pleased to hear his exiled sister's good fortune, Elena smiled again, squeezing his hand she was holding at his side. She remained silent for a while, thinking through all he had said, but something still seemed to be on her mind.

"So, what happened to you last night... That was Deilia falling unconscious?"

He nodded, but she wasn't finished. "Then...what about the burn? Deilia may have been injured in that house fire on Bakura...but that was weeks ago. Why would you have felt it last night?"

Flummoxed himself, he could only shake his head, leaving her curiosity unsatisfied. She quickly became concerned, though, as evidenced in her worried tone. "If it happens again -"

"If it happens again," he interrupted directly, "...we'll address it. It's long past now; we can't do anything about it."

Though she was hesitant to, she nodded in agreement, releasing another long, tired breath as she looked him over briefly. Her voice had softened considerably, perhaps tired by the late hour. "Is there anything you want me to bring you before Raval gets you set up here for the night?"

"No, I'm fine."

She gave his hand another gentle squeeze, but she abruptly turned and left his side wordlessly. He was unsure what to say as he watched her go, but as she stopped and began dragging a small chair back over to him, he became worried. "What are you doing?"

Positioning the chair at his side so he wouldn't have to strain his neck to see her, she sat and faced him with a small smile. "I'll stay here with you tonight."

But he shook his head immediately. "No, Elena... Sleep upstairs where you'll be comfortable and where you'll get good rest."

Though her smile remained, she, too, shook her head. "Koril, you know very well that I can sleep just about anywhere, and I don't need much sleep. I'm the reason you're stuck here, so...keeping you company is the least I can do."

Her presence would comfort him, even in his sleep, but he didn't want to cause her any unnecessary physical stress so early in her pregnancy if he could avoid it. Still, she had survived much worse, and she knew how to be cautious and how to keep from overexerting herself, so he had to trust her. "Are you sure?"

Her smile broadened a bit more as she nodded, gently taking up his hand in her hold again. The warmness of her skin still surprised him each time she touched him, reminding him constantly of what he considered her delicate condition. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, Koril," she laughed lightly at the irony. "I feel good. No problems."

Pacified at least somewhat, he lifted her hand up to his lips to kiss it softly, subtly expressing his appreciation for her presence beside him. She reciprocated by running her fingers through his hair, giving a contented sigh.

"Now, relax and rest before Raval gets back. I know you don't want him to find anything that would keep you here longer."

He agreed with a weak laugh, closing his eyes to draw in a deep breath, settling his nerves.

Paneau: remote Naeron Mountain range
Rys'tihn Retreat

Stepping down the shuttle's ramp with Major Jax at her side, Elena expected to be met by other Royal Guards from the Retreat...but the hangar was empty in the early morning sunlight. With a cautious glance at Jax, she continued on inside, her hand instinctively floating above her lightsaber hilt on her belt. Jax remained alert, as well, but as they approached the inner hallway leading into the Retreat, Cade Rys'tihn himself met them at the entrance.

The Rys'tihn Master Ghost Heir seemed relaxed, expecting to see them, but Elena remained wary. "Is everything alright here?"

Cade nodded, curious about her tone. "Yes; why do you ask?"

"I thought we had left more guards in place here a few days ago."

"They're here," Cade assured her quietly. "They're inside. I send them out to their posts once our...guest is up for the day."

Though she wasn't altogether surprised at Cade's deflection, she strongly doubted that Major Jax's presence at her side was the only reason he had refused to speak Garran's name aloud. As Cade turned and graciously invited her and Jax inside with him, he of course kept the conversation moving along in a completely different direction.

"How did Koril's tests turn out last night? Anything wrong?"

Of course, the resourceful Ghost Heir already knew the answer, but Elena responded nonchalantly, anyway. "No, everything came back normal. Whatever happened to him the night before seems to be an isolated incident."

Cade brought them through the main foyer to the Retreat's small control center, not allowing silence to linger between the three for long. "And what about you, Elena? Are you feeling alright?"

She could hardly refrain from rolling her eyes, but she nodded. "Yes, Cade, I'm fine. Thank you."

Cade acknowledged her answer with a preoccupied nod, his attention already focused on several security monitors situated around a central console. Elena carefully peered over his shoulder, observing the guard patrols at their posts about the Retreat, as Cade had said. But after a few moments, she realized that he was checking each monitor two and three times, intently searching them. Was something missing?

"Lt. Kagna," Cade addressed one of his guards into a comlink in his hand. "Has Garran left his room?"

Stationed in a long corridor Elena recognized as the bedroom floor, a guard answered her wrist link. "Yes, Sir. He was headed downstairs for some breakfast, left a few minutes ago."

Again Cade studied the monitors displaying the kitchen and banquet hall, but both were empty. He had lowered his comlink, but it wouldn't have picked up his low volume, anyway. "...so, where is he?"

Becoming concerned herself, Elena stepped up beside him, looking over the console quickly; she wasn't entirely familiar with the Retreat's new security. "Are there any other rooms these cameras don't see?"

"No," Cade answered , checking a number of hallway feeds. "All the rest are restric-"

Stopping himself midword with a sudden thought, Cade turned to another console and keyed in a code that brought up an intricate map...and a blinking red dot at the entrance to what looked to be a hallway. He stared in disbelief. "How..."

Unable to recognize the map, Elena remained alarmed. "...Cade?"

Looking at her directly for the first time since they had entered the Retreat, Cade lowered his voice even more. "He's in one of the lower tunnels."

Though unsure herself how Garran would have gotten into one, either, she knew she needed to investigate with Cade. She turned to Jax, keeping her expression calm for him. "Stay here, Major."

Jax nodded dutifully, and Elena could hardly keep up with Cade as he left, headed downstairs to one of the passageways out of the Retreat that should have only been accessed by Rys'tihn Family Crests...

After pulling his Crest up off his neck, Cade pressed it to a recessed panel in a nondescript wall on the main level. With a soft hiss, the wall split apart, opening to a dark, somewhat dirty descending staircase, and the Ghost Heir disappeared down into the darkness, already armed with a glowrod. Before Elena could ask Cade to proceed carefully, he had already found the boy a few paces ahead.

"How did you get down here!"

Startled by Cade's booming voice echoing through the stony corridor, Garran whirled around to face him, having to shield his eyes from the sudden light. He cowered, terrified and unable to form any words in response until he recognized Elena stepping up beside Cade.

"...Elena?"

She gave Cade a stern look for his harshness before she approached the teen, softening her voice and her expression to calm him. "Are you alright, Garran?"

Though still eying Cade with obvious fear, Garran nodded, swallowing hard to slow his rapid breathing. She gripped his shoulder to comfort him a bit more, and finally able to gather himself, he answered Cade's question. "I was just walking down the hallway, when the door opened right next to me...and I was curious... I'm sorry." After swallowing again, he continued. "...am I in trouble?"

"No, you're not in trouble," she soothed, briefly giving Cade another reprimanding look. "We were just...confused."

"Did your mother ever give you a necklace?"

Again startled by Cade's intense voice, Garran responded reluctantly. "No..."

"What about Deilia?"

"Deilia?" Garran looked confusedly between them both, his volume decreasing in fear. "You mean Dee? No, she only gave me that painting..."

"It looks like this," Elena offered gently, tugging her pendant out from under her shirt for Garran to see. He studied it a moment, but his expression didn't change.

"I've never seen anything like it before."

Cade's tone was almost desperate. "Do you have anything of your mother's with you?"

Too scared to answer him, Garran looked to Elena for help. She gave him an encouraging nod, already aware what was in his possession that he was afraid to name. His hands shook as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the carved green stone, placing it in his palm as he held out his hand for Cade to see. "My Life Stone... It's all I have left from her."

The stunned look on Cade's face was all too telling; he knew exactly what it was...because he had seen it before.

Still, he swiftly snatched the stone from Garran's hand, looking it over intently for...something as Garran watched him worriedly.

"Please, be careful with it," he pleaded weakly; Elena gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Neither of them was prepared, though, when Cade seemingly pulled the stone apart in his hands, holding the two pieces separately.

"No!" Garran jumped toward Cade, and Elena was only just able to stop him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. She could feel his heartache, thinking his most prized, priceless possession was destroyed, but as Elena looked more closely at the pieces Cade held...she watched him pull a Rys'tihn Crest from one hollowed half of the stone.

No one said a word for what felt like hours, all standing in shocked silence in the eerie corridor. Cade was absolutely motionless as he stared at the pendant and stone pieces in his hands, his expression frozen in a kind of emotional pain Elena had never seen from him before. It was Garran who spoke first, though, his gaze fixed on Cade curiously.

"You have one, too," he observed innocently, seeing Cade's Crest laying atop his shirt, but he quickly shifted his gaze to Elena. "What is it?"

Elena looked up to Cade the instant he looked to her, and though she was fairly certain that the teen wasn't ready...it was too late to back down now.

"I think...we should go upstairs to talk."

Cade agreed without words, silently piecing the stone back together to give back to Garran. Keeping the spare Crest in his hands, he turned and headed back toward the stairs absentmindedly, leaving Elena alone with Garran momentarily. She tried to give the boy a supportive smile, but Garran was just more confused than anything. After inspecting it carefully for flaws but finding none, Garran replaced the Life Stone safely in his pocket as he walked with her upstairs, back into the vibrant elegance of the Retreat. Cade was already seated at a small arrangement of chairs in the main gathering room, dangling the newly discovered Crest just in front of his face as he studied it. Garran was reluctant to join him, but with Elena's gentle encouragement, he eventually sat opposite the elder Rys'tihn, watching him cautiously until she sat at his side.

Once more, it was Garran's innocent question that broke the tense silence between them. "Why is that necklace so important? Why did my mom have one of them?"

Elena had only begun to take in a breath to answer him, but Cade spoke up first, his voice nearly broken.

"It's not hers... It's yours."