Breaking the Ice

[Jacobi Wylcott]

By this time now the Dark Side of the Force was receding from him as he had little means with which to keep it, his sporadic connection disallowed the drawing and storing of energy as any typical Force User would be able to do. He also found it interesting how easily he was able to tap into the Force a moment ago - clearly his powers were slowly returning and the effect of their temporary resurgence was even more amplified by the Darkness of Ziost itself. But unlike many other times so far in their times together the brief appearance of Tormentous’ wrath had come and gone - this time his left eye no longer carried Jacobi’s blue but the iris remained golden yellow. Of course it had faded much already, but the change in hue remained as a sign.

From this point it became the age old war within his mind. How Jacobi Wylcott desired nothing from the Force. He could fend for himself and live and die by his sword and bare hands - to him the Force was a crutch. But to Tormentous it was an intoxicating miasma that he lusted after and to feel it just for a moment brought searing pain to his mind for such unnatural contact to so much power so abruptly did not sit well with the natural flow of things. But Tormentous hated the Force too for this reason and in that hatred he was granted power beyond fathomable measure. To be separated from that brought savage rage to his heart only kept in check by the will of the Mandalorian.

But Tormentous was returning - bit by ruthless bit the Dark One was coming back and as the days wore on and Jacobi fought to assume greater control of the mind they shared, he began to slowly realize that this was not a battle he could win. We became mad at himself for being arrogant enough to think that he could overpower a Dark Lord of the Sith in the arena of the mind. Even as strong of will as Wylcott was, just a fragment of Tormentous seemed to be superior due to the Dark Lord’s unhinged access to the power of the Dark Side to support him.

Jacobi looked to Kita, mostly bare and freezing to bits, the fire crackled and gave them heat to combine with his own body warmth. She sputtered protests at his actions and the first words he ignored. Of course a young woman wouldn’t be pleased about being forcibly stripped to near nothing and he appreciated or respected her dignity for Jacobi was an honorable man - a cold blooded killer maybe - but he was honorable above all else. He’d have given her his own jacket had he not removed it earlier during their training and right now he couldn’t leave her to fetch it or he’d return to a Kita-sicle. As he looked at her he knew she would be very curious about how he’d produced such power when previously he hadn’t at all. But he smiled at her defiance and yes he was being sarcastic - something that Tormentous didn’t appreciate because to the Dark One, Kita was a tool, a weapon to be molded. To Jacobi she was becoming a friend.

A friend. Such things could not last. Tormentous would destroy it as he did everything else and once he got to Blood and he had no use for Kita anymore he would destroy her too if she got in his way of total and utter domination.

How to even start?

How to explain to someone that you had a terrible demon inside of you that was gaining in strength by the day and eventually he would surface fully and have the power to annihilate entire worlds. Pure as the void itself - Tormentous was hatred incarnate.

How? How in any of the galaxies’ worlds did you explain that!?

But - one thing was certain. She couldn’t run away in disgust or terror…

Just as Jacobi began to open his mouth and tell her the truth. Tell her that Blood was nothing compared to Tormentous and then to tell her to get to his ship and take off - the Dark One loomed in upon his mind and clouded it in the darkest shadow of the Dark Side. ‘Not yet.’ He hissed. ‘Soon and within days the corruption of Kita will have commenced and then there will be nothing anyone can do to save her soul. Ziost will do this for me.’ Jacobi suddenly learned Tormentous’ ploy - Kita had been brought here to Ziost not to train and hone her abilities - but to be torn from the Light and cast into the Darkness.

Even as Jacobi fought to maintain himself the vile machinactions of Tormentous just laughed at his meak struggles. ‘Haven’t you realized yet? Both you and Kita Ikari belong to me, there is no escape.’ Tormentous voice them boomed within Jacobi’s mind, ‘And I didn’t have to lift a finger.’

Jacobi blinked and he realized he’d been staring at Kita. He looked away, “When we get you back on your feet we’ll see if you can back those words up.” He moved his own hands over her arms to work warm fresh blood back into them, even secured here away from the water she could still easily freeze. But Jacobi didn’t intend to let that happen and so he sat there quietly and tended to her. Together they watched the crackling fire dance in the night air and for the most part his mind was no longer at war with itself - Tormentous had struck the rebellion from his mind at least for now and so Jacobi was content to sit there. Not that he would have been forced to sit here alone in the woods with a half naked girl cuddled up to him. The point that she didn’t have much choice was besides the fact.

Time felt as if it was bleeding by slowly and as they sat there he could begin to feel the effects of exhaustion. He wanted to nod away and sleep but he did not and kept himself upright and alert to continue to care for her. Through the night he would stay awake and watch her closely in case the temperatures dropped and she stopped breathing.

[Kita_Ikari]

Jacobi looked liked he was somewhere else within his mind even though he stared at her in silence. It had given her enough time to realize his once blue eye was now a golden yellow.
That's odd...I swear his eye was blue.
Well, you would know...since you been staring deeply at them for the past few weeks.
Kita frowned at herself from her thoughts.

Once he rejoined reality and turned his gaze away from her, she smiled at his reply.
When we get you back on your feet we’ll see if you can back those words up.
"Oh, d-don't worry. I w-will." She stuttered. Kita was unable to hide the amusement in her voice despite the freezing cold. As Jacobi began trying to get the blood properly circulating through her arms, she turned her head slightly to watch the fire dance within the darkness. It always was relaxing to watch the flames move about within a campfire...almost as if it were alive itself. Closing her eyes, Kita sighed and rested her head against his chest enjoying the warmth that was radiating from him. Her hair was still dripping wet, which was a concern. But there wasn't anyway to dry it other than let the fire's warmth nearby dry it for her.

Kita had been a pain in Jacobi's ass since day one. And honestly a part of her enjoyed it...but it wasn't in a bad way. She just loved getting a reaction from him sometimes. She found his responses comical in some odd sort of way...like a child in school picking on their crush. Maybe it was immature on her part, but it was just to fun not to egg him on from time to time. And him responding in a smartass remark back just made it even more hilarious and amusing.

Thinking on this however, for some reason made Kita hope Jacobi knew she didn't hate him. Not anymore anyway.
Kita wasn't quite sure what their relationship was at the moment. Aquaintaince? Friend? But she certainly didn't hate the mandalorian. He had kept her from blood and decided to help train her instead to bring the Lord Sith Blood down. Which to her was a exciting idea despite the dangers included to it. And a part of her growing up had always been seeking adventure beyond her home. But she could never get herself to leave her parents or the family business behind. But once not given that option to go back for awhile, she figured she would embrace the chance now before returning to her boring life on Tibrin.

As time passed, her shivering stopped and her body temperature started slowly improving. However, she still had a long way to go before being able to feel her own limbs again. She noticed the tired look in his gaze...and she silently wished he could get some sleep. But Kita knew better. Jacobi wouldn't give in to exhaustion until she was completely better.

"You know...I just wanted to say thank you for saving me..." she paused trying to think of how to explain herself. "I mean, I know its gonna be awhile before I can even care for myself again in these cold temperatures...but still, its better to thank you now then never get the chance too if anything changes within my current condition." She wasn't trying to sound morbid, but she knew their was a possibility of not making it through the night. No matter how stubborn she was. Sometimes things just happened. And you couldn't change them. Kita had learned that after her mother's passing. And whether she made it out alive or not, at least she knew Jacobi tried to save her.

"Also...I don't hate you anymore..." she added quietly while avoiding his gaze before looking back at him suddenly. Her blue gaze had a flicker of humor flash through them as she smiled. "But don't think for a second that's gonna stop me from being an annoying pain in your mandalorian ass. Because it's not."

[Jacobi Wylcott]

She thanked him. Of all the things he’d put her through so far and she still could see through it enough to thank him instead of curse his name. Honestly not many people had much to thank him about and he wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. “Well don’t get used to it,” he replied, “the longer you need rest the more time training we lose.” His tone was a low grumble as if he was annoyed but it was a show more than anything - in truth he didn’t mind and when she set her head to his chest his free arm reached up and stroked her golden blonde hair - but it was frozen and his fingers were caught in tangles and frozen ice. So his hand retreated and moved to hold her around the middle.

When she declared she didn’t hate him anymore he looked back to her curiously and they locked eyes for a moment. She held the look and didn’t turn away - he knew he was a scary looking guy, that she could see through it all was interesting. It showed she was a thinker and that was important. Having just another dolt on his side that couldn’t do more than run face first into a wall wouldn’t benefit him as much as a thinker who wouldn’t run into the wall but question why the wall was there and then figure a way to use that wall to her advantage.

Noticing she was slightly recovering he reached to cradle under her knees while supporting her back and he lifted her up and set her in his lap, flipping her hair over his shoulder so it wouldn’t continue to rest on her own back and freeze her. Like this their warmth was more easily shared. “You’re not so bad either. But likewise you better not expect me to take it easy on you just because you took a dip in the creek.” As if on reflex to the sarcastic remark he pulled her a little closer.

Until perhaps now he’d not really looked over her body and he noticed she’d not taken any wounds during the fight, it meant she was fast and agile and that was a good thing. With a lithe frame like her’s she wouldn’t be muscling her way through a battle. But aside from the tactical analysis - her sun kissed skin from the islands of Tibrin and she was pretty easy to look at. He only lingered for a moment before tearing his eye out of her cleavage. Mandalorian’s code of honor or not, holding a half naked young woman in his arms was a tempting situation. Especially when she wasn’t pushing him away - that she would freeze to death without his proximity was besides the point. He almost laughed at the irony. At first she hated him enough to fight him off with everything she had - now she was leaning her head on his chest.

Time was passing along well enough and she wasn’t dead yet which obviously was a good thing. But they were still at least three or more hours from a proper sunrise thanks to the nearby mountains keeping the light away. And now that they weren’t actively fighting for their lives and the adrenaline had settled he was feeling even more of the effects of the fight itself which wasn’t awfully much to harm his endurance but it was the Force use that truly sapped it out of him.

The sudden burst of unfathomable power and then the lack thereof - it gave him a dizzying feeling and without any food in his gut his stomach twisted and churned. ‘Damn that Jedi!’ He hissed in thought to himself. ‘But with each day the connection returns. Here on Ziost it improves even faster. It will not be long and Blood will feel my hand on his throat.’

So much was going through his mind. From Kita’s curves to throttling Blood with his bare hands. Yes, there was much to think about.

[Kita_Ikari]

Well don’t get used to it, the longer you need rest the more time training we lose.
Kita didn't catch on to Jacobi hiding his feelings on the whole situation. Instead she took it seriously. Both filled with a part of guilt and anger, she lashed at him in turn. "Well it's not like I intended too fall in the river." She retorted. As his hand moved from her hair to her torso, she obviously showed her distaste on his comment.

When he looked at her, she couldn't help notice the curiousity in his gaze. Kita wasn't sure why he looked at her that way, but it piqued her own curiosity in turn. As Jacobi gently moved her onto his lap in a sitting position, she instantly laid back against him as she felt her own body beginning to thaw. You’re not so bad either. But likewise you better not expect me to take it easy on you just because you took a dip in the creek. Kita instantly blushed as he pulled her closer to him. Normally a young woman in this position should be uneasy about the whole thing...especially since she was only half dressed. But she truly didn't care. If anything, she found it a interesting experience being so close to Jacobi. Her body relaxed, molding against his own. "Well, if you went easy on me...than it would be boring. So I gladly accept that challenge." She replied amusingly.

True, she enjoyed the challenges thrown at her. It gave her something to fight for. Not that she didn't have anything at all in life to fight for to begin with. Kita just enjoyed taking on anything that was thrown at her, no matter how difficult. And Jacobi's own training methods did just that. In a way, the struggle to conquer it was fun. Of course...plunging into ice water was not.

Staring at the fire, Kita paid no attention to Jacobi's lustful interest on her. Instead she zoned out in thought, quietly registering Jacobi's own attitude towards her. She knew something was off about him. But she couldn't properly put the pieces together in her mind while in this cold mountain region. When they headed back to the ship after her training, she planned to relax alone in her room to figure out the mystery that was Jacobi.

"Why is it you were able to use the force even though you said you couldn't?" She asked calmly.

[Jacobi Wylcott]

“Then next time keep your eyes open.” He shot back with a more pleased tone after he found out that he’d aggravated her. It was the little victories. His hand stayed to her torso and when he felt her relax his grip tightened a bit more and he enjoyed her being so close. But amid that feeling of aggravation there was anger and Tormentous caught wind of it and fed from her emotions - for a heart beat’s time she was the most intoxicating thing in his mind.

Could he use her in this way? The question was fascinating.

Sure he fully intended to puppet her into getting close to Jacobi and then when the Mandalorian grew actual feelings for the girl then he’d rip her heart out right in front of Jacobi’s eye to finally destroy Wylcott once and for all - killing an interest with his own hand would be devastating. He also planned on using her in the final battle versus Blood for there was no telling how many lackeys the Dragon had. Another sword arm meant much.

But her anger, it fueled his vile heart. He wasn’t sure how he’d not seen it before. Perhaps because before when she hated him it was his connection that was weak but now within Ziost he felt far more alive but now with her fiery anger he fed from that emotion like a drug. This was but a taste - slight anger - if he was to provoke her then he would fully feel that rage brewing in her heart.

‘Through Passion I gain Strength’[/I]

Anger was an emotion and emotion was a form of one’s passion. It was the source of a Sith’s aura of power. Her heart beating with the hatred of a sun would provide him with a ready source where he could draw from at will.

Perhaps, just maybe, Tormentous could find it within himself to reevaluate Kita’s worth. Killing her could possibly be a waste if he was instead able to turn her fully to the Dark Side of the Force. He had much to think about on this matter. It’d allow Jacobi to survive which was an issue but naturally it was only details. The ploy to have him fall in with Kita and then have him murder her with his own hands was just a twisted way to get what he wanted. There were other ways to banish the Mandalorian’s spirit.

Until then - sure - he’d let Jacobi have his time with the girl. And in turn, Tormentous would stoke the coals of the Dark Side’s fire within her heart.

“It’s… complicated.” He replied in a gruff tone but not with a harshness. “When I told you before it was true. I couldn’t touch the Force at all. But here on Ziost - apparently I can.” He paused a long moment, running his other hand up her shoulder and down to the back of her hand in almost a more absent motion. He was trying to answer. Jacobi and Tormentous both didn’t care to lie - it produced ill results and the mistrust failed to accomplish long term goals. Didn’t mean he didn’t lie, cheat and steal, but if he didn’t have to then the distasteful nature of the lie he would so refuse.

“This world is close to the Force and those that can feel it can also draw from it more easily. It will also open the latent pathways of the Force as in my case. The Jedi did this to me.” He said with a venomous touch to his voice as he was still very much bitter from the ordeal where so many had betrayed him and tossed him to the wolves.

As they sat there he also supposed she’d ask why they had done this and so he preempted the question. “They apparently thought I wasn’t a very nice person.”

[Kita_Ikari]

Then next time keep your eyes open.
If there was any more of a time she wanted to smack Jacobi in the face, now would of been a good time to do so. You find that funny huh? Just you wait. You won't find it funny anymore soon enough. She stared at her hands begging them to move. With the effort of Jacobi's help bringing the blood circulation back to her arms, she did manage to move a few of her fingers...though the bitter cold while moving them made it painful. But it was progress, and that's all that mattered.

As Jacobi explained his sudden use of the force, Kita's own heart filled with pity for him. Though the Jedi were protectors of the galaxy, she didn't see what the Jedi saw. Kita knew everyone in life made bad choices, and Jacobi's circumstances weren't any different. But it surely didn't label him a bad person in her mind. She knew that Mandalorian's lived for battle and were honorable people. So his killing in wars was second nature and she knew that. That didn't bother her. But he had alot more to him than just being a warrior. He saved her life for one. Twice if she counted him keeping her from Lord Blood's wrath. He had morals...and that defined him from being a good or bad person. Kita could sense it. Truly evil people in her mind had no morals at all. And Jacobi didn't fit that. Though unaware to Kita, in the back of her mind Tormentous presence bothered her.

"Obviously the Jedi don't see what I see than." She stated seriously. Kita avoided his gaze as she wasn't sure how to respond further beyond that without starting to feel awkward within the conversation.
Why would you feel awkward? Doesn't he deserve to know what you "Like" about him?
Kita frowned as her own subconscious teased her. If there was a way to beat her own subconscious up...she would have. But she couldn't push the thought away. Was her subconscious right? Was she falling for the Mandalorian? If so, what would she do then? She couldn't stay with him forever...could she? She couldn't accept her feelings yet. It's probably just a crush. You'll get over it.
The thought alone made her feel guilty though. I can't leave my dad alone after just losing my mom this past year! What kind of person am I to leave him permanently after that kind of loss?!? He has been barely hanging on since her passing.

No. She had to go back after helping Jacobi. Crush or not, Kita knew her father was struggling and he needed the support from her. Though, she felt torn inside. A part of her did want to stay with the Mandalorian despite all the misfortune she had been through since meeting him. It was exciting not knowing what would happen the next day...and she truly enjoyed his company. It was better than dying of boredom while cleaning and selling fish to everyone in the marketplace. And she didn't feel lonely when with him. Which even when her mother was alive, both her parents didn't pay to much attention to her...nor did she have any friends. Acquaintances yes...friends? No.

She was the odd one out in social gatherings. She loved socializing. Always had been a social butterfly. But when in a group of people she got cut out and ignored. No one bothered to come by and check on her either after her mother died, or offer to invite her anywhere. So she sat bored and alone at home. And anyone who claimed to be a friend ended up always stabbing her in the back by believing people's lies about her and then treating her badly. A part of the reason she kept her guard up...or tried too anyway. It was a small community where she lived after all. Everyones entertainment was daily gossip. Which she grew to hate. The fact was, as much as she had been hurt in the past...she tried to look through it and move on. But sometimes the pain always came back and lingered.