[19 BBY]
[Secure Laboratory, Site Delta, The Hanging Valley, Hoth, Hoth System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
..there was a reason to store my Force crystal staff in the R lab, as was proven right now as I used it as focus, drawing in power and forcing it into this...Celeste Morne. Sure it'd seemed strange to my engineers and such, but the Force was just magic at times, and this was very clearly some really screwy lich-ghost...thing...and that I could not allow. The crazy lady who'd come out of the box had been warning about Rakghouls, and then THE GHOST OF KARNESS MUUR was RIGHT THERE with just a touch of power. Nott only had I a strange veiled lady ghosts, but now I'd the Rakghoul Guy one apparently seeking to run to life, offering me power and all the jazz.
I gave a snort at that ""Oh, I'm sure you say that to all the schmucks! But that confirmation is all I need, thank you very much..."
Focused then drew power into me; the Force and binding it in the runes, the staff, before gripping said staff with both hands and thumping it off the metal floor "Goodbye!"
Power ignited and I drove it through the conduit, the woman Force user, to attack the phylactery and force it from its host. That was the key, I didn't know nearly enough, but I did know that getting that 'mind control' using artefact off the Force User was a good start in my mind. Now that I knew what to look for...I could FEEL the thing, its need, its power, and I pressed the attack. Ethereal flames burned around the amulet-talisman, then around the red-tinted ghost-lich as started my attack to its hissing shriek of pain. Something I imagine he, it, hadn't felt in some time by the look on that see-through face that caught alight...
But, that was the rub...
"RAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" the roar of pain and rage shook the room as the Dark exploded out, the lights growing dim, the droids sluggish as an unseen pressure came upon them. Force Ghosts could be dangerous, but in part that was because very, very, few knew how to actually confront them. I was inexperienced, but the knowledge was there even as I braced against the blast of power, the roaring that pressed at us, demanding obedience, submission. I glared back, cold, calm, as I felt the spikes of anger and defiance from Asajj and the Nightsisters and gathered my strength...
...Now...
...in the end the lich-ghost was fighting me, and fighting to control the Force Sensitive whose body it needed to draw power from...
Yes he, it, was a powerful and dangerous Sith Lord Ghost...
Yes he, it, raged and lashed out with all the might he, it, could muster...
And yes, the knowledge there to create such a thing in the Force was dangerous...
...but, and it was a rather large but...
I was alive. I was anchored in a circle of my power.
I had reserves, he, it, quite simply did not.
The Light ignited in the room, banishing the old stale, Darkness. It burn through my limbs as I focused through the Staff I'd created. I was a Priest of the Shrouded Lord once again, a cleric channelling and wielding the power of the positive energy realms to burn. Blow for blow with moving, driving back the spirit as I was wreathed in a cloak of spectral flames for both a moment. The woman was unconscious now, slumping down but held up by the struggling, burning, talisman on her neck as Aaron and Abigail held firm with on hand each as the crimson ghost fought and howled. Fought, howled, then vanished as the amulet began to creak and grown, shimmering cracks of light erupting on its surface...
...then it released, Aaron and Abigail holding firm it came alive like a golden scorpion, gems gleaming, shuddering as it undulated. Droids weapons tracked it, and I stood firm, taking on hand off the staff and gesturing at a hardened container as I continued the pressure "Aaron, Abigail, place the item in that container and maintain grip. Once held there fill the container with duracrete and then detach your holding arms when it is flash hardened, then secure within the secondary container there! Karis, Naa'leth, watch the female!"
"What the kriff was that?" Asajj grumbled as I followed the droids over to the container as the, clearly damaged, talisman struggled futilely within my droid bodyguards mechanical grip. For a few seconds before the sludge like material filled the container, then watching as it hardened and both my droids detached their now duracrete trapped hands before placing in a larger container, filling that with duracrete, before securely sealing the large specimen holding container.
"Karness Murr...Rakghoul Murr..." I replied after a few seconds as I let up the tiring assault, resting my staff, as I glanced at the unconscious women in white clothes. Rakghouls, I couldn't take unnecessary risks, but I could at least avoid certain problems "...medical droids deploy strong sedative, Force User strength, immediately on that person"
Asajj glanced at me, and I held up a gauntleted hand for patience as I reached out with the Force and telekinetically held up this Morne woman and allowed the medical droid to administer the sedative via a needle to her neck. Mildly chaffed and reddened neck where the talisman had been, which could just be a sign of wear, but also of other dangers; she didn't wake at least as I released her, two medical droids taking position on either side of her to hold her up.
"Now, strip her of her clothing and jewellery, then full contamination shower and cleaning of her body before placing in medical unit Alpha. I want everything analysed for ANY sign of potential infection, every scrap of data that can be yield...and then I want them burned, and the ashes and smoke placed in a secure container and placed with the container here..." to be shot into a sun somewhere nearby "...and I want this lightsaber disassembled and studied as well before placing in storage. Full spectrum analysis of that box she came out off and anything that might still be in there"
I gestured at Asajj, Karis, and Naa'leth in their light full body armour as two of the B-1R's began stripping the unconscious Force User before us "You three, we guard her every second, every step of the way, till we can get her into the medical capsule in the adjacent room. Do NOT let your guard down, not till she's secure and I can be a hundred percent that the spirit was fully driven from her"
That was the danger of course; I didn't know enough, and her glowing red eyes earlier were a concern to say the least. Ideally I'd be able to keep her unconscious a few hours while blood and saliva were run through every scan we knew, and I could perform a true ritual exorcism and check there wasn't any chance of 'Haha! I was merely hiding inside this woman!' situation. Thankfully all three nodded, not even making a sarcastic comment at the now nude human female as we lifted her up, dragging her through the contaminating showers as I held the staff ready in one hand, my lightsaber at my side if needed.
Just silent, professional, work as the sprays descended, then cleared moments before the solid bunker doors opened. I allowed the medical droids secure the woman into the waiting capsule, large enough to hold a gamorrian or a wookie, but it adjusted easily as she went on her back and the contours flowed to match her body shape. Once we got the mask on, and the restraints on ankles, wrists, upper arms and thighs, I allowed myself to relax as the capsule sealed and the scans started to boot up. Not exactly the most chivalrous thing to do, but she'd used the magic word earlier, unfortunately for her; Rakghouls.
Investigation was mandatory as I keyed the controls and placed myself and the others on quarantine lock down with a few button pushes "Okay ladies, we are staying here for the next while, so are going to take shifts of two monitoring this room while the other two rest. So, who wants to go first?"
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[19 BBY[Thirty Hours later]
[Secure Laboratory, Site Delta, The Hanging Valley, Hoth, Hoth System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
Celeste blinked, her hand coming up to her eyes to shield them from the bright light...
Then shoot up into a sitting position as her hands reached for her neck...
'It's gone...Force it's gone...' flashed through her mind as she ran her hands over her bare neck, and the fluffy robes she...
Fluffy robes?
"Ah, the sleeper awakens again. Greetings" a masculine voice greeted her from across the room, and Celeste blinked, hands still rubbing her neck, and glancing down at bare feet and legs as she sat up upon a...divan, dressed in white robes that were certainly not what she'd been wearing in the oubliette. It didn't bother her, not exactly, but it imply she had been unconscious...again...for some time. Her mind caught up, and she let out a shuddering breath; hopefully it hadn't been another...millennium?
"Haa..." she croaked, then took another shuddering breath "...I...greetings"
There was a green skinned alien male, from a species she didn't recognise, sitting across from her, two droids with staff weapons of some sort behind him with a Dathomiri female sitting nearby glaring silently. Celeste forced herself to calm, to stop rubbing her...FREE!...neck, and patted down her new clothes apparently "Ah, I see..."
The male nodded "Apologies, but considering the talisman, well, I had you put through medical and Force testing while you were unconscious. I can't afford a Rakghoul outbreak for one, so all you clothing and your lightsaber were removed, analysed, and then destroyed. You will be compensated for them I can assure you, as I can assure you of your safety while here. Now that I am relatively sure you aren't...tainted, let's say"
Celeste nodded after a moment...yes, yes, that was...ideal. Better than she'd hoped really when Zayne had...
She nodded to the alien "I understand...my thanks for freeing me from that curse. What has happened to it? You must destroy it!"
The alien nodded firmly "Yes, yes, it does, and it shall. It's currently onboard a droid manned long range shuttle we afford to lose and currently on course for the sun of a nearby system. An uninhabited one, with no useful resources or much of anything in case weird Force problems from chucking the broken thing into the sun"
'Good...very good, if that is the truth of course' she thought, though it Felt like the truth so she let out a relieved sigh "That is very good to hear..."
"General Daron Stormcrow, Republic Aegis Guard, Grand Army of the Republic, and this here is Colonel Asajj Ventress, of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, and now the Republic Aegis Guard. No, you are a Jedi I gather from our...brief...conversation"
Celeste nodded, sighing as she luxuriated in being free, not fighting the madness and urges as she ran bare feet over the carpeted floor "Yes, Celeste Morne, Jedi Master. I...gather, that time has passed? Did we win...against the Mandalorians I mean? Do you...know what happened on Jebble? I had a...ally..." she let out a sigh "...a friend, who placed me in the oubliette..."
The alien...no, General Stormcow studied her a moment and she felt the...sadness, perhaps pity when he let out a weary sounding sigh "I'm afraid it's quite some time, and records are...spotty. You are talking about the war with the Mandalorians? Just after the Great Sith War?"
Celeste nodded slowly, that was the progression and the General hummed, nodding himself "Well, that was over four thousand years ago..."
It was like he'd physically punched her, driven the air from her lungs, though she hid it as he continued on "...and I'm sorry to say, by all records we have, Jebble was bombarded by atom-splitters to purge a Rakghoul outbreak at some stage. Your friend...I'm sorry, but that amount of time, your life"
She nodded numbly. Everything...just...gone...
Took a breath, focused on her training despite everything...because of everything she clung to it "I, I, understand. Force I don't want to, but, I...understand"
Then looked at him, bringing her hands together in her lap; she could worry about everything else later, first there was what happened right now "So, what happens to me?"
General Stormcrow mirrored her movements, leaning forward slightly and looking her in the eye "Well, I'm out of my bio-hazard armour, so take that as an assurance that I, at the least, believe you are you, and clear of any taint. Nor do I wish you any harm, but I must have you understand the Galaxy is at war, one that is not going so well to be frank. Now, there are things you need to know, history for one, and question I need to ask, but I promise you I will do my best to help you in this time and place"
He held up a hand "Once you have a chance to actually make an objective decision that is. My flagship is in orbit, and we have several hours left in quarantine here before passing into quarantine up there, so I'll open the database for you to study. And, after a few days, we can discuss what you want and your future holds, from serving under my command, or if you just want a ship, some supplies, and credits to fly off into the Unknown Regions...I'll ensure you have it. Honestly, you've suffered enough, and you've done a brave, brave, thing in securing that talisman till now..."
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