Quaxo9
Arksynn was surprised to find his shoulders relaxing as the Jedi fumed. He'd been told that Jedi had no emotion - that they couldn't feel anything - but she was angry. He felt himself connect with her at that moment. If she could feel anger, then she really did have a chance at understanding him and Reyth. That this anger wasn't directed at either of them hadn't escaped his notice and he had to admit that also felt good. He kept silent while Siralai gave her opinions on how masters were supposed to relate to apprentices. It wouldn't do to interrupt. He also couldn't fathom how things could be any different.
Upon their arrival at the cottage, he was surprised to find more Sith Purebloods - even a Sith lord - just...hanging out with humans, Jedi and Twi'leks that weren't even slaves. Arksynn scooted into a corner at his earliest convenience, a bit shocked by the camaraderie. Accommodations were made for Reyth and he almost followed her. Almost. She would be safe here, but if their master found out that they were alive - she would never be safe. No, for her sake he needed to get to Dromund Kaas.
As people volunteered for the mission, he finally stepped forward. "You need to take me with you. I know where Lord Anewe takes people when she wants to be alone with them. I also have her access codes - when you muck something up and trip a lock down, you'll need me to release them."
He sounded bolder than he felt, but he also thought he presented a solid case for inclusion. That small victory won, he turned his eyes on Lana.
"Of course, I don't want to go in unarmed."
Outside the cottage a very different conversation was taking place between Teizi and her padawan. The boy looked crestfallen as his master stood with her arms folded over her chest, an immovable statue.
"But this is going to be a dangerous mission, Master - I should be at your side, not here babysitting!" Colour rose in the young man's cheeks as he gestured at the cottage itself as though it were the source of all his woes.
"Dallyn. This mission has multiple objectives - only one of which involves Dromund Kaas."
"You're just saying that because you don't want me to go."
Teizi took a deep inhale and Dallyn suddenly worried that he had crossed that invisible line. Instead, she simply said, "Walk with me." and turned to stroll down the beach at an uncommonly leisurely pace.
The padawan followed, the sting of being left behind replaced somewhat with curiosity.
"I am asking you to stay for several reasons. One, if things go poorly on Dromund Kaas and Pyrran's master catches wind that Pyrran has lied to him, he may send someone else to Rishi after Felix. I want you to be an extra defence against this possibility. Two, if things go well on Dromund Kaas and we free this Neva but are identified...well, it is not the Sith I fear so much as what the Jedi Council may say to this unsanctioned invasion of the Empire's home planet. I don't want you to be collateral damage. Three, frankly, the people here need help. All those girls who have been rescued need healing and that takes a lot of energy. I want you to serve Master Visper as well as you have me and help her to care for these people."
Teizi abruptly stopped and turned toward Dallyn, meeting his gaze for the first time since they left the cottage on their way to the arena. To her surprise, she found pride there, not disgust or disappointment. There was a smile on the boy's face and he stood tall. A small smile formed on hers as well even as she finished, "I hope you can see how instrumental you are to finishing this mission well."
"Yes, yes master I do. Thank-you."
She wasn't sure what he was thanking her for, but at least he seemed to accept his role and that was enough. The two returned to the cottage just as things were finishing up and she reiterated her pledge to assist, and suggested Dallyn would be of assistance to Master Visper. She hoped that the other Jedi took it as an offer of assistance, not a 'babysitting' job as Dallyn had first perceived it to be. To her own pride, Dallyn stepped forward and pledged to be of the best service possible.
The fourth reason for leaving him behind was that she hoped Dallyn would come to understand that good people came in all races and sizes, and perhaps learn to take the measure of someone before making a judgement. She could only hope that experience would be a good teacher.
A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Monkey Kitty
Lana looked to Siralai - it was, after all, Siralai's friend who was missing and the Mahrs who would be going on the mission - and Siralai nodded. Much as it unsettled Siralai to involve someone so young in potential combat, that was the Jedi and Sith way. Arksynn was already involved, for better or worse. His arguments for why he should be included were sound, and he had a strong stake in the matter. Better to include him than to deny him. With his place on the team established, Lana handed him back his lightsaber. That particular point required no discussion; if he was to be present, he could not be defenseless.
When Dallyn offered his services, Visper nodded her thanks. "I appreciate that," she said. "I could certainly use the help."
They did have a lot of patients, after all, and while Lana also had some healing abilities, they also needed to conserve their energy for defense if needed. Many hands made light work, and anything Dallyn could accomplish was one less thing on Visper's plate. He might not be a full-fledged Jedi, but every little bit helped.
With arrangements thus complete, Pyrran's ship took off for the journey to Dromund Kaas.
***
Pyrran had been doing a lot of thinking, the past twenty-four hours. He loved his sisters. The two of them and Vette were everything to him. But he was increasingly realizing that he was not able to give the twins the lives they deserved. He couldn't provide the safety and nurture that the Mahrs could. It wasn't a matter of money (although he was rather short on that too) or space (although packing more people into his small apartment would have been difficult.) It was that the life he lived in the heart of the Empire was so harsh and dangerous, so devoid of compassion. The twins had so much trauma to heal from - and healing was never going to happen on Dromund Kaas. He didn't want Korriban to be their future. He wanted them to live a life of love and learning - everything he had seen the Mahr children experiencing here.
Of course, that would mean Pyrran had to say goodbye to them... and he knew that was going to be the most difficult thing he would ever have to do. Once they had a new family, there would be no place for the extraneous adult brother from their abusive former home. He would miss them terribly. But that sacrifice would buy them so much, and he was sure that someday - when his sisters compared their lives with the Mahrs to what they would have had with him - they would understand.
There was just the matter of convincing the Mahrs to say yes. When they had a moment on the ship, he asked to speak to them privately. Pyrran decided there was no use beating around the bush; he came to the point as quickly as he could.
"You're good people," Pyrran said bluntly. "You're a good family. I like the way you raise your children. You're kind to them. You love them. You've adopted other Sith. And if you're willing, I really want you to adopt my sisters too. I want them to be happy. And they'll be happy with you. Please."
Siralai and Trystan exchanged a look. They had considered this possibility, and had prepared how they were going to respond. "We're willing," Trystan said. "I promise, we'll do everything we can to take good care of Vanity and Apathy."
Pyrran's tensed shoulders slacked - with both relief and sorrow, because this was right but was going to be so hard.
"There's just one condition," Siralai added. "We're going to need you to stay involved, Pyrran. Your sisters love you. They look up to you. They're always going to need you. You can't walk out of their lives. We'll be their parents, but you need to keep being their brother. Can we make that deal?"
A lump rose in Pyrran's throat. He told himself that he was being ridiculous. Sith didn't cry - so why did he want to? But this seemed like the best of all possible worlds. His sisters were going to have the home they deserved - and Pyrran didn't have to be cast off to make it happen. Knowing he mattered to the Mahrs meant more than he would have expected.
"I promise," he told them.
Lana looked to Siralai - it was, after all, Siralai's friend who was missing and the Mahrs who would be going on the mission - and Siralai nodded. Much as it unsettled Siralai to involve someone so young in potential combat, that was the Jedi and Sith way. Arksynn was already involved, for better or worse. His arguments for why he should be included were sound, and he had a strong stake in the matter. Better to include him than to deny him. With his place on the team established, Lana handed him back his lightsaber. That particular point required no discussion; if he was to be present, he could not be defenseless.
When Dallyn offered his services, Visper nodded her thanks. "I appreciate that," she said. "I could certainly use the help."
They did have a lot of patients, after all, and while Lana also had some healing abilities, they also needed to conserve their energy for defense if needed. Many hands made light work, and anything Dallyn could accomplish was one less thing on Visper's plate. He might not be a full-fledged Jedi, but every little bit helped.
With arrangements thus complete, Pyrran's ship took off for the journey to Dromund Kaas.
***
Pyrran had been doing a lot of thinking, the past twenty-four hours. He loved his sisters. The two of them and Vette were everything to him. But he was increasingly realizing that he was not able to give the twins the lives they deserved. He couldn't provide the safety and nurture that the Mahrs could. It wasn't a matter of money (although he was rather short on that too) or space (although packing more people into his small apartment would have been difficult.) It was that the life he lived in the heart of the Empire was so harsh and dangerous, so devoid of compassion. The twins had so much trauma to heal from - and healing was never going to happen on Dromund Kaas. He didn't want Korriban to be their future. He wanted them to live a life of love and learning - everything he had seen the Mahr children experiencing here.
Of course, that would mean Pyrran had to say goodbye to them... and he knew that was going to be the most difficult thing he would ever have to do. Once they had a new family, there would be no place for the extraneous adult brother from their abusive former home. He would miss them terribly. But that sacrifice would buy them so much, and he was sure that someday - when his sisters compared their lives with the Mahrs to what they would have had with him - they would understand.
There was just the matter of convincing the Mahrs to say yes. When they had a moment on the ship, he asked to speak to them privately. Pyrran decided there was no use beating around the bush; he came to the point as quickly as he could.
"You're good people," Pyrran said bluntly. "You're a good family. I like the way you raise your children. You're kind to them. You love them. You've adopted other Sith. And if you're willing, I really want you to adopt my sisters too. I want them to be happy. And they'll be happy with you. Please."
Siralai and Trystan exchanged a look. They had considered this possibility, and had prepared how they were going to respond. "We're willing," Trystan said. "I promise, we'll do everything we can to take good care of Vanity and Apathy."
Pyrran's tensed shoulders slacked - with both relief and sorrow, because this was right but was going to be so hard.
"There's just one condition," Siralai added. "We're going to need you to stay involved, Pyrran. Your sisters love you. They look up to you. They're always going to need you. You can't walk out of their lives. We'll be their parents, but you need to keep being their brother. Can we make that deal?"
A lump rose in Pyrran's throat. He told himself that he was being ridiculous. Sith didn't cry - so why did he want to? But this seemed like the best of all possible worlds. His sisters were going to have the home they deserved - and Pyrran didn't have to be cast off to make it happen. Knowing he mattered to the Mahrs meant more than he would have expected.
"I promise," he told them.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Quaxo9
Teizi Lin and Arksynn
She had been sorely tempted to leave her holo behind on Rishi, not simply because she despised the thing, but to avoid potential conflict if a holo came in while on this mission. However, that would have suggested that she thought that joining the missing was the wrong thing to do - which was not true. The woman who had been captured certainly needed rescuing and who better to do so than a Jedi...or two...and a couple Sith. It was so strange to be accompanied by Sith to achieve a common goal. All to often the two sides seemed to clash over nothing.
Once on board the vessel, there was no turning back and Teizi relegated herself to the med bay to meditate. Seating herself on the floor, she settled her back against the Kolto tank so she could face the doorway and thereby have some measure of connection to the rest of the ship's occupants. Only a few minutes in, she felt eyes on her, though that alone did not stir her from her meditations. Teizi didn't move even as she felt the boy approach and stand in front of her; she was aware that he was armed, but she still felt confident in the waiting. Finally he bent low to bring his face directly across from hers.
"What are you doing?"
It was more of a demand than a question and Teizi's eyes cracked open slightly to take in the stern visage of the young Zabrak apprentice mere inches from her face.
"I am meditating. Do you wish to join me?" Arksynn sneered in her face and looked about ready to spit, but Teizi continued, "It is the same Force in both of us, after all."
Arksynn withdrew slightly, still prickling at the invitation. "Why would I want to do that - meditation is for the weak - my Master says so. The full power of the Force should be with us at all times."
At this, Teizi raised an eyebrow and opened her eyes fully to meet the boy where he stood. "Interesting. I have seen many a Sith lord in meditation upon the battlefield. I have seen the power they call to themselves by seeking the Force as they ready themselves for battle." she paused, then turned her head slightly to the side, "Do all apprentices prescribe to their Master's views?"
Arksynn nearly gave a sharp retort, but her question had seemed...genuine. Like she actually wanted to know. Then again, perhaps she was questioning him in order to gain the upper hand and gain information she could share with the Jedi Council. He needed to keep the power here - he couldn't forget that.
"Have you killed a lot of Sith?" he deflected her question with one of his own, certain that would bring an end to the conversation he'd started. He was jubilant as the Jedi broke eye contact and looked past him. Hah, he knew that she'd never answer such a pointed question. Jedi were so weak when it came to following their own pathetic morality.
"Yes. I have. A great many, actually. Why do you ask?"
Her voice was as calm as ever and to Arksynn's frustration, completely devoid of pride or mockery. How could she just admit that she was a killer - it was like it was nothing to her! Arksynn nearly booted her in her stupid, bland face. Why did he ask? To shut her up, of course. But why hadn't he expected an answer? What was he supposed to do with it now?
"If you've killed so many how can you think you're any better than my Master?" he finally blurted out. This time, his remark seemed to hit home. The Jedi's eyes widened, her body stiffened and she looked almost afraid. He laughed, a short barking sound, and raised his hand to push her head back into the Kolto tank. She wouldn't dare touch him while he was under the protection of that other Jedi - he had won this battle without even raising his lightsaber. However, even as the heel of his hand pressed against her forehead, he could feel the shift in the Force. The Jedi remained immobile and most annoyingly had settled herself back down into her meditative posture - eyes included. Arksynn was frozen in place, perhaps to ensure he heard everything Teizi was about to say.
"I do not know your master, but I will define myself and allow you to be the judge of whether or not one killer is any better than another. I have killed Sith as they threatened to destroy entire cultures, planets, and peoples. I have killed men for threatening the lives of innocents and I showed them no mercy when it was certainly within my power to do so. I have saved countless lives from rash individuals who thought those same lives worthless. I work to end suffering of some by the execution of others. Everything I do, I do with the aim of peace - though I have found that peace rarely comes without there first being friction. I can only hope that what I do makes changes for the betterment of others, whether or not it ends up applying to me."
She released her Force hold on him and Arksynn stepped back, clutching his hand to his chest as though burned. He turned and stalked out of the med bay without another word, blindly making his way to any place on the ship where he might find some privacy. The rail in the engine room stopped his progress and he leaned against it with both hands, willing his mind to stop racing.
What she'd said made no sense. Peace was a lie. Those people who needed to be defended were weak and didn't deserve to live. Weakness was unforgivable. And yet, here he stood. Hypocrite. He was enjoying the benefits of the Jedi obsession with forgiveness while condemning them for it. Suddenly, he felt lost. His world was tilting on it its edge and he felt like he was going to tumble off his precipice into the abyss below.
Kneeling, he took a deep breath, allowing the drum of the engines to fill his head and drown out all sound. Perhaps, if a Sith lord needed extra energy from the Force every now and then, it couldn't hurt for him to do the same.
Teizi Lin and Arksynn
She had been sorely tempted to leave her holo behind on Rishi, not simply because she despised the thing, but to avoid potential conflict if a holo came in while on this mission. However, that would have suggested that she thought that joining the missing was the wrong thing to do - which was not true. The woman who had been captured certainly needed rescuing and who better to do so than a Jedi...or two...and a couple Sith. It was so strange to be accompanied by Sith to achieve a common goal. All to often the two sides seemed to clash over nothing.
Once on board the vessel, there was no turning back and Teizi relegated herself to the med bay to meditate. Seating herself on the floor, she settled her back against the Kolto tank so she could face the doorway and thereby have some measure of connection to the rest of the ship's occupants. Only a few minutes in, she felt eyes on her, though that alone did not stir her from her meditations. Teizi didn't move even as she felt the boy approach and stand in front of her; she was aware that he was armed, but she still felt confident in the waiting. Finally he bent low to bring his face directly across from hers.
"What are you doing?"
It was more of a demand than a question and Teizi's eyes cracked open slightly to take in the stern visage of the young Zabrak apprentice mere inches from her face.
"I am meditating. Do you wish to join me?" Arksynn sneered in her face and looked about ready to spit, but Teizi continued, "It is the same Force in both of us, after all."
Arksynn withdrew slightly, still prickling at the invitation. "Why would I want to do that - meditation is for the weak - my Master says so. The full power of the Force should be with us at all times."
At this, Teizi raised an eyebrow and opened her eyes fully to meet the boy where he stood. "Interesting. I have seen many a Sith lord in meditation upon the battlefield. I have seen the power they call to themselves by seeking the Force as they ready themselves for battle." she paused, then turned her head slightly to the side, "Do all apprentices prescribe to their Master's views?"
Arksynn nearly gave a sharp retort, but her question had seemed...genuine. Like she actually wanted to know. Then again, perhaps she was questioning him in order to gain the upper hand and gain information she could share with the Jedi Council. He needed to keep the power here - he couldn't forget that.
"Have you killed a lot of Sith?" he deflected her question with one of his own, certain that would bring an end to the conversation he'd started. He was jubilant as the Jedi broke eye contact and looked past him. Hah, he knew that she'd never answer such a pointed question. Jedi were so weak when it came to following their own pathetic morality.
"Yes. I have. A great many, actually. Why do you ask?"
Her voice was as calm as ever and to Arksynn's frustration, completely devoid of pride or mockery. How could she just admit that she was a killer - it was like it was nothing to her! Arksynn nearly booted her in her stupid, bland face. Why did he ask? To shut her up, of course. But why hadn't he expected an answer? What was he supposed to do with it now?
"If you've killed so many how can you think you're any better than my Master?" he finally blurted out. This time, his remark seemed to hit home. The Jedi's eyes widened, her body stiffened and she looked almost afraid. He laughed, a short barking sound, and raised his hand to push her head back into the Kolto tank. She wouldn't dare touch him while he was under the protection of that other Jedi - he had won this battle without even raising his lightsaber. However, even as the heel of his hand pressed against her forehead, he could feel the shift in the Force. The Jedi remained immobile and most annoyingly had settled herself back down into her meditative posture - eyes included. Arksynn was frozen in place, perhaps to ensure he heard everything Teizi was about to say.
"I do not know your master, but I will define myself and allow you to be the judge of whether or not one killer is any better than another. I have killed Sith as they threatened to destroy entire cultures, planets, and peoples. I have killed men for threatening the lives of innocents and I showed them no mercy when it was certainly within my power to do so. I have saved countless lives from rash individuals who thought those same lives worthless. I work to end suffering of some by the execution of others. Everything I do, I do with the aim of peace - though I have found that peace rarely comes without there first being friction. I can only hope that what I do makes changes for the betterment of others, whether or not it ends up applying to me."
She released her Force hold on him and Arksynn stepped back, clutching his hand to his chest as though burned. He turned and stalked out of the med bay without another word, blindly making his way to any place on the ship where he might find some privacy. The rail in the engine room stopped his progress and he leaned against it with both hands, willing his mind to stop racing.
What she'd said made no sense. Peace was a lie. Those people who needed to be defended were weak and didn't deserve to live. Weakness was unforgivable. And yet, here he stood. Hypocrite. He was enjoying the benefits of the Jedi obsession with forgiveness while condemning them for it. Suddenly, he felt lost. His world was tilting on it its edge and he felt like he was going to tumble off his precipice into the abyss below.
Kneeling, he took a deep breath, allowing the drum of the engines to fill his head and drown out all sound. Perhaps, if a Sith lord needed extra energy from the Force every now and then, it couldn't hurt for him to do the same.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Quaxo9
Neva Xolte and Lord Anewe
The first thing she noticed was the familiar sound of a starship engine. Though the model was foreign, it was still comforting. The second thing she noticed was distinctly not comforting - she was lying on a metal slab still in her fighting attire. Her skin prickled with the cold and Neva realized she was at the point where she needed to open her eyes and figure out what was going on.
A medical droid stood nearby, fiddling with a datapad. So, someone fixed her up after the fight...wait. The fight. The creepy person in the robe who blasted her into the stands. Where was she? Propping herself up, she hugged her knees to her chest and squinted into the dim lighting beyond the med bay.
"Finally, you're awake. I've been waiting so long for our reunion." A shape moved through the doorway into the the relative brilliance of the little room, mostly illuminated by the Kolto tank.
Neva couldn't see the face of the person addressing her, but the voice seemed so familiar. Maybe it was the extra knocks to the head she'd taken. She peered into the space beneath the hood, suddenly wary. "Oh yeah? Like, how long?"
This question brought a laugh from the hooded figure and Neva felt another shiver pass over her skin, though this time she doubted it was from the cold. "You wound me, cousin. I would have thought..."
"Wait, Trura?"
A sudden hiss brought Neva up short and the cloaked woman came around the side of the bed to get closer to Neva. It was everything she could do not to scoot off the other side even as the woman held up her hand, then signalled a pause.
"It's Lord Anewe now - never use that name again in my presence." A deep breath from under the hood, then the voice suddenly became pleasant, "My dear cousin, the Force has brought us together again. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
Neva had momentarily lost her cool and had indeed slid off the other side of the bed to stand opposite her former family member. Her hearts were starting to speed up as the alarm bells rang in her head that something was definitely not right - aside from the obvious that her little cousin had become a Sith lord sometime in the last however many years. She knew that some of them went over, but Trura? The sweet girl she remembered just didn't fit into this picture.
"Are you afraid of me, my dear? Come now, we used to be the best of friends."
There was a dangerous edge in her voice. She was losing patience. Neva had to think of something fast - but what was she going to do? She was stuck on a Sith ship going who knows where and not a blaster in sight. Should she...play along? Fortunately she remembered how terrible of an actress she was and immediately ditched that idea. So maybe she should get some information of her own so she'd have something to work with. It wouldn't do to let Trura hold all the cards.
"Well, honestly, it's a bit of a surprise. I mean, my little cuz all grown up and Sith. What made you look me up?" Neva's question was answered with yet another laugh and the elder Zabrak couldn't help but look a bit confused by the response. Against her better judgment, she felt her temper rising and added, "What's so funny? You drag me all the way out here to stand there and laugh at me or what?"
The temperature in the room dropped by several degrees. Neva found herself trying to swallow the lump in her throat, but to no avail. The form across from her had gone completely motionless. Never had she felt such a strong urge to turn and run in all her life. The seconds ticked by. A trickle of sweat ran down her back in spite of the temperature and Neva steadied herself for the other shoe to drop. Why did she feel like this? Why this...dread? Where was it coming from? In the blink of an eye, the woman was beside her, standing so near that Neva took a step back only to bump into the medical droid. Anewe's hand reached out to caress Neva's face.
"Oh, dear cousin, why so nervous? Can't family just get together for the sake of getting together?"
Neva hadn't meant to react to her touch, but she hadn't expected contact...and Trura's fingers were corpse-like. The Sith had seemed actually pleased by the response and sought yet another as she yanked down her hood and exposed her face. The elder Zabrak gasped and turned pale, then ruddy, then pale as if she couldn't decide on the right thing to feel.
"Wha...what did you do." There was no question of who was responsible. The pride on the younger Zabrak's face told her everything she needed to know. Neva turned her head away in disgust, only to find Trura's icy grip on her chin had more strength behind it than she'd thought possible as her head was forcibly turned back to face forward.
Anewe was almost purring. "I had to leave my past behind. You see, my dear, those old values kept me from reaching my true potential - so I remade myself - in my own image. I used my first lightsaber to burn those stupid tattoos off my face and then I gave myself a new name. Lord Anewe. Has a lovely ring to it, don't you think?"
Neva couldn't tell if she was shaking from the cold or from rage. This affront to...everything...how much pain she had put herself through to break ties with her past life - a good life. She reached up and grabbed Trura's wrist in a vice-like grip of her own, tearing the woman's hand from her face and pushing it back towards her.
"You're sick. There was nothing wrong with that life. What happened to you?" She was shouting, she realized, and belatedly remembered that this was the same person who'd put such a sudden end to her match with that apprentice in the ring. Lord Anewe's hand didn't have to touch Neva to lift her off the floor by her throat. Neva grabbed at air, trying vainly to break free from something she couldn't touch. The Sith scowled at her and snarled a simple response before Neva blacked out.
"I got better."
Neva Xolte and Lord Anewe
The first thing she noticed was the familiar sound of a starship engine. Though the model was foreign, it was still comforting. The second thing she noticed was distinctly not comforting - she was lying on a metal slab still in her fighting attire. Her skin prickled with the cold and Neva realized she was at the point where she needed to open her eyes and figure out what was going on.
A medical droid stood nearby, fiddling with a datapad. So, someone fixed her up after the fight...wait. The fight. The creepy person in the robe who blasted her into the stands. Where was she? Propping herself up, she hugged her knees to her chest and squinted into the dim lighting beyond the med bay.
"Finally, you're awake. I've been waiting so long for our reunion." A shape moved through the doorway into the the relative brilliance of the little room, mostly illuminated by the Kolto tank.
Neva couldn't see the face of the person addressing her, but the voice seemed so familiar. Maybe it was the extra knocks to the head she'd taken. She peered into the space beneath the hood, suddenly wary. "Oh yeah? Like, how long?"
This question brought a laugh from the hooded figure and Neva felt another shiver pass over her skin, though this time she doubted it was from the cold. "You wound me, cousin. I would have thought..."
"Wait, Trura?"
A sudden hiss brought Neva up short and the cloaked woman came around the side of the bed to get closer to Neva. It was everything she could do not to scoot off the other side even as the woman held up her hand, then signalled a pause.
"It's Lord Anewe now - never use that name again in my presence." A deep breath from under the hood, then the voice suddenly became pleasant, "My dear cousin, the Force has brought us together again. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
Neva had momentarily lost her cool and had indeed slid off the other side of the bed to stand opposite her former family member. Her hearts were starting to speed up as the alarm bells rang in her head that something was definitely not right - aside from the obvious that her little cousin had become a Sith lord sometime in the last however many years. She knew that some of them went over, but Trura? The sweet girl she remembered just didn't fit into this picture.
"Are you afraid of me, my dear? Come now, we used to be the best of friends."
There was a dangerous edge in her voice. She was losing patience. Neva had to think of something fast - but what was she going to do? She was stuck on a Sith ship going who knows where and not a blaster in sight. Should she...play along? Fortunately she remembered how terrible of an actress she was and immediately ditched that idea. So maybe she should get some information of her own so she'd have something to work with. It wouldn't do to let Trura hold all the cards.
"Well, honestly, it's a bit of a surprise. I mean, my little cuz all grown up and Sith. What made you look me up?" Neva's question was answered with yet another laugh and the elder Zabrak couldn't help but look a bit confused by the response. Against her better judgment, she felt her temper rising and added, "What's so funny? You drag me all the way out here to stand there and laugh at me or what?"
The temperature in the room dropped by several degrees. Neva found herself trying to swallow the lump in her throat, but to no avail. The form across from her had gone completely motionless. Never had she felt such a strong urge to turn and run in all her life. The seconds ticked by. A trickle of sweat ran down her back in spite of the temperature and Neva steadied herself for the other shoe to drop. Why did she feel like this? Why this...dread? Where was it coming from? In the blink of an eye, the woman was beside her, standing so near that Neva took a step back only to bump into the medical droid. Anewe's hand reached out to caress Neva's face.
"Oh, dear cousin, why so nervous? Can't family just get together for the sake of getting together?"
Neva hadn't meant to react to her touch, but she hadn't expected contact...and Trura's fingers were corpse-like. The Sith had seemed actually pleased by the response and sought yet another as she yanked down her hood and exposed her face. The elder Zabrak gasped and turned pale, then ruddy, then pale as if she couldn't decide on the right thing to feel.
"Wha...what did you do." There was no question of who was responsible. The pride on the younger Zabrak's face told her everything she needed to know. Neva turned her head away in disgust, only to find Trura's icy grip on her chin had more strength behind it than she'd thought possible as her head was forcibly turned back to face forward.
Anewe was almost purring. "I had to leave my past behind. You see, my dear, those old values kept me from reaching my true potential - so I remade myself - in my own image. I used my first lightsaber to burn those stupid tattoos off my face and then I gave myself a new name. Lord Anewe. Has a lovely ring to it, don't you think?"
Neva couldn't tell if she was shaking from the cold or from rage. This affront to...everything...how much pain she had put herself through to break ties with her past life - a good life. She reached up and grabbed Trura's wrist in a vice-like grip of her own, tearing the woman's hand from her face and pushing it back towards her.
"You're sick. There was nothing wrong with that life. What happened to you?" She was shouting, she realized, and belatedly remembered that this was the same person who'd put such a sudden end to her match with that apprentice in the ring. Lord Anewe's hand didn't have to touch Neva to lift her off the floor by her throat. Neva grabbed at air, trying vainly to break free from something she couldn't touch. The Sith scowled at her and snarled a simple response before Neva blacked out.
"I got better."
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Quaxo9
Reyth
The gnawing emptiness was always the first thing to greet her. She despised it - which she suspected was the point. Her knees were already hugged to her chest as though that alone could keep the hunger at bay. Her morning routine. But something wasn't routine. Reyth slowed her breathing almost to the point of stopping and reached out with her other senses. Her head...was on something soft. It smelled like the sea. Otherwise, her environment smelled antiseptic, like a medbay. There was a strange hum, though, too. Fielding? Was she in lock up? Wait - the Pureblood and the Jedi.
Her eyes snapped open, suddenly aware that her environment might not be as serene as it had felt. She remembered getting a blow to the head, but her head didn't hurt - in fact, she felt...reasonably well. Her limited field of vision confirmed that at least her first guess had been right, she was definitely in a medbay, which possibly explained why she didn't feel any worse for wear. That brief feeling of relief was replaced with panic as she realized that she was not on an Imperial ship. The Jedi had taken her captive.
The panic soon turned to dread, then morphed into anger. At herself. At the Jedi. At that stupid Pureblood girl who wouldn't just do as she was told. Now what? She couldn't just lie here and wait for her Master to retrieve her - that would be worse than being captured - so she needed to escape or die trying. If the latter, preferably taking as many of the Jedi's companions down with her as possible.
She still hadn't moved, which should still give her the element of surprise. Her eyes flitted about the room, seeking an air vent she could exploit when the unmistakable shimmer of the force field she'd heard reminded her that she was truly captive. So - both of her observations had been correct. The burning anger threatened to boil over into rage. There had to be a way out. There had to be something she could do.
She reached out with the Force...and encountered someone familiar. The Pureblood. Lording over her, no doubt, like all the other Purebloods at the Academy. Laughing. Always laughing. Reyth flung herself off of the bed and hurtled her body at the force field, not caring about the snap back. She bared her teeth at Rossi before turning to take in the surroundings she'd missed - the small table with the welcoming items soon found itself airborne as she pounded it against her nigh-invisible prison walls. The contents of the shelf fell to the floor, ignored for now as the Sith raged. The legs eventually broke off the table, which she then wielded like twin swords and stabbed the medical bed until one of the legs was stuck and the other bent beyond usefulness. This she flung at Rossi's head, before she grabbed the pillow and shredded it like paper. It was all so pointless. Reyth flung her arms at the table leg sticking straight out of the bed, striking at it until it too bent under her hail of blows. She reached out with the Force, straining to lift the bed - she needed space - she needed to throw something - she needed to get out.
She fell against the bed, face first, breaths coming in ragged gasps. The bed was welded down and wouldn't budge - for all the good it would have done her to move it anyway. Pointless. She beat her fists against the edge of the bed, relishing in the fresh pain. The physical exertion seemed to siphon off some of the unreasonable rage she'd been gripped with and she stood shakily to face Rossi once more. She was going to kill this girl. One way or another. Reyth would have her revenge.
Reyth
The gnawing emptiness was always the first thing to greet her. She despised it - which she suspected was the point. Her knees were already hugged to her chest as though that alone could keep the hunger at bay. Her morning routine. But something wasn't routine. Reyth slowed her breathing almost to the point of stopping and reached out with her other senses. Her head...was on something soft. It smelled like the sea. Otherwise, her environment smelled antiseptic, like a medbay. There was a strange hum, though, too. Fielding? Was she in lock up? Wait - the Pureblood and the Jedi.
Her eyes snapped open, suddenly aware that her environment might not be as serene as it had felt. She remembered getting a blow to the head, but her head didn't hurt - in fact, she felt...reasonably well. Her limited field of vision confirmed that at least her first guess had been right, she was definitely in a medbay, which possibly explained why she didn't feel any worse for wear. That brief feeling of relief was replaced with panic as she realized that she was not on an Imperial ship. The Jedi had taken her captive.
The panic soon turned to dread, then morphed into anger. At herself. At the Jedi. At that stupid Pureblood girl who wouldn't just do as she was told. Now what? She couldn't just lie here and wait for her Master to retrieve her - that would be worse than being captured - so she needed to escape or die trying. If the latter, preferably taking as many of the Jedi's companions down with her as possible.
She still hadn't moved, which should still give her the element of surprise. Her eyes flitted about the room, seeking an air vent she could exploit when the unmistakable shimmer of the force field she'd heard reminded her that she was truly captive. So - both of her observations had been correct. The burning anger threatened to boil over into rage. There had to be a way out. There had to be something she could do.
She reached out with the Force...and encountered someone familiar. The Pureblood. Lording over her, no doubt, like all the other Purebloods at the Academy. Laughing. Always laughing. Reyth flung herself off of the bed and hurtled her body at the force field, not caring about the snap back. She bared her teeth at Rossi before turning to take in the surroundings she'd missed - the small table with the welcoming items soon found itself airborne as she pounded it against her nigh-invisible prison walls. The contents of the shelf fell to the floor, ignored for now as the Sith raged. The legs eventually broke off the table, which she then wielded like twin swords and stabbed the medical bed until one of the legs was stuck and the other bent beyond usefulness. This she flung at Rossi's head, before she grabbed the pillow and shredded it like paper. It was all so pointless. Reyth flung her arms at the table leg sticking straight out of the bed, striking at it until it too bent under her hail of blows. She reached out with the Force, straining to lift the bed - she needed space - she needed to throw something - she needed to get out.
She fell against the bed, face first, breaths coming in ragged gasps. The bed was welded down and wouldn't budge - for all the good it would have done her to move it anyway. Pointless. She beat her fists against the edge of the bed, relishing in the fresh pain. The physical exertion seemed to siphon off some of the unreasonable rage she'd been gripped with and she stood shakily to face Rossi once more. She was going to kill this girl. One way or another. Reyth would have her revenge.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Monkey Kitty
Siralai Mahr and Pyrran Onyk
Pyrran was staring at the stars through the window, biding his time until they reached their destination.
"You know it will be difficult for you to return to Dromund Kaas after this," Siralai said gently. "Even if you aren't implicated in the rescue, they'll know we came on your ship."
"I understand," Pyrran said. "We're prepared for that. Vette and I both think it's time to move on."
Siralai nodded. She assumed that fact had crossed the Sith's mind - but she wondered what his plan was. "You're always welcome with our family, of course..."
Pyrran smiled - very genuinely - but shook his head. "That's very kind of you, Siralai, but I don't think it will be possible. I don't think someone like me will ever find a warm welcome on Coruscant. Even if they've accepted your adopted children, I can't imagine an adult Sith lord showing up and fitting in."
"You're right," Siralai replied honestly. "You wouldn't. But we won't necessarily be returning to Coruscant." At his look of surprise, she added. "Because you're right about all of it. For now, our children are accepted. They're seen as a novelty, perhaps, but ultimately they get the benefit of the doubt only because of who their parents are. That won't last forever. They won't be children forever. Someday they'll be adults too, and they won't always have an ex-Jedi tagging around to vouch for them. The heart of the Republic won't always be a safe place for them - and their safety matters more than anything." That had come to a head with Siralai's senator sister looming in the background... but she and Trystan had been talking about it for a long time. Now was the perfect moment for a change.
"Then I'm grateful," Pyrran said. "And I just may take you up on it if I return from the mission."
Siralai raised an eyebrow. "If? What makes you think you won't?"
Pyrran sighed. "My own inability to let go of things that shouldn't be my concern, frankly. I'm going to help you find Neva. But I have other business on Dromund Kaas. I need to kill my master - I don't know if I'm strong enough, but I have to try. Felix will never be safe until I do, and his safety is imperative."
"Why?" Siralai asked. "I mean, I agree with you. I absolutely agree we need to protect Felix. But you seem very... invested. You seem very worried about him. Is there a reason?"
Pyrran avoided her eyes, but nodded. "He's a good man. Good men shouldn't be killed by bad ones. He has my respect. Because of Evanni. Because he looked at this abused, exploited slave girl and his only thought was... that she would make the perfect daughter for him. A daughter. That was what he saw. A man like that shouldn't die for Sith greed."
Siralai nodded. "I agree. But we can help you fight your master, too..."
"There's a third thing," Pyrran blurted out. "A prisoner I need to rescue. He'll be heavily guarded, and I'm not sure it's even possible, but I have to try. That's why I'm so glad my sisters have you. If I don't make it back, they'll have you to care for them. And Vette can make a new home in the Republic. Everyone will be safe."
"Which prisoner?" Siralai asked, curious.
"His name is Cheketta."
"Cheketta? As in Grand Marshal Cheketta? Of the Republic forces on Balmorra?" Pyrran nodded. And Siralai was even more confused. "Why do you want to rescue him, of all people?" she asked. "He was your enemy. And he's of no military value to the Republic anymore, either, so it's not for a trade. Why him?"
Siralai knew about Cheketta. Everyone did. To save the lives of his troops, Cheketta had been forced to confess that the Republic had violated the Treaty of Coruscant with their Balmorra campaign. Which was, of course, true. But the Republic uniformly hated him for it.
"He made these recordings," Pyrran replied, sounding almost... embarrassed. "On Balmorra. It was to rally his own troops, and the resistance fighters, but... I heard them too. And it was the first time I ever felt real hope. I can't leave him to rot in an Imperial cell. Even if I die trying."
"I agree," Siralai said. "You have my lightsaber. I'll help you rescue Cheketta."
Pyrran was shocked. "Thank you," he breathed. "I didn't think anyone would care but me..." Suddenly, Cheketta's survival looked a lot more promising... as did his own.
Siralai Mahr and Pyrran Onyk
Pyrran was staring at the stars through the window, biding his time until they reached their destination.
"You know it will be difficult for you to return to Dromund Kaas after this," Siralai said gently. "Even if you aren't implicated in the rescue, they'll know we came on your ship."
"I understand," Pyrran said. "We're prepared for that. Vette and I both think it's time to move on."
Siralai nodded. She assumed that fact had crossed the Sith's mind - but she wondered what his plan was. "You're always welcome with our family, of course..."
Pyrran smiled - very genuinely - but shook his head. "That's very kind of you, Siralai, but I don't think it will be possible. I don't think someone like me will ever find a warm welcome on Coruscant. Even if they've accepted your adopted children, I can't imagine an adult Sith lord showing up and fitting in."
"You're right," Siralai replied honestly. "You wouldn't. But we won't necessarily be returning to Coruscant." At his look of surprise, she added. "Because you're right about all of it. For now, our children are accepted. They're seen as a novelty, perhaps, but ultimately they get the benefit of the doubt only because of who their parents are. That won't last forever. They won't be children forever. Someday they'll be adults too, and they won't always have an ex-Jedi tagging around to vouch for them. The heart of the Republic won't always be a safe place for them - and their safety matters more than anything." That had come to a head with Siralai's senator sister looming in the background... but she and Trystan had been talking about it for a long time. Now was the perfect moment for a change.
"Then I'm grateful," Pyrran said. "And I just may take you up on it if I return from the mission."
Siralai raised an eyebrow. "If? What makes you think you won't?"
Pyrran sighed. "My own inability to let go of things that shouldn't be my concern, frankly. I'm going to help you find Neva. But I have other business on Dromund Kaas. I need to kill my master - I don't know if I'm strong enough, but I have to try. Felix will never be safe until I do, and his safety is imperative."
"Why?" Siralai asked. "I mean, I agree with you. I absolutely agree we need to protect Felix. But you seem very... invested. You seem very worried about him. Is there a reason?"
Pyrran avoided her eyes, but nodded. "He's a good man. Good men shouldn't be killed by bad ones. He has my respect. Because of Evanni. Because he looked at this abused, exploited slave girl and his only thought was... that she would make the perfect daughter for him. A daughter. That was what he saw. A man like that shouldn't die for Sith greed."
Siralai nodded. "I agree. But we can help you fight your master, too..."
"There's a third thing," Pyrran blurted out. "A prisoner I need to rescue. He'll be heavily guarded, and I'm not sure it's even possible, but I have to try. That's why I'm so glad my sisters have you. If I don't make it back, they'll have you to care for them. And Vette can make a new home in the Republic. Everyone will be safe."
"Which prisoner?" Siralai asked, curious.
"His name is Cheketta."
"Cheketta? As in Grand Marshal Cheketta? Of the Republic forces on Balmorra?" Pyrran nodded. And Siralai was even more confused. "Why do you want to rescue him, of all people?" she asked. "He was your enemy. And he's of no military value to the Republic anymore, either, so it's not for a trade. Why him?"
Siralai knew about Cheketta. Everyone did. To save the lives of his troops, Cheketta had been forced to confess that the Republic had violated the Treaty of Coruscant with their Balmorra campaign. Which was, of course, true. But the Republic uniformly hated him for it.
"He made these recordings," Pyrran replied, sounding almost... embarrassed. "On Balmorra. It was to rally his own troops, and the resistance fighters, but... I heard them too. And it was the first time I ever felt real hope. I can't leave him to rot in an Imperial cell. Even if I die trying."
"I agree," Siralai said. "You have my lightsaber. I'll help you rescue Cheketta."
Pyrran was shocked. "Thank you," he breathed. "I didn't think anyone would care but me..." Suddenly, Cheketta's survival looked a lot more promising... as did his own.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Monkey Kitty
Rossi Mahr
Rossi averted her eyes and kept working on her droid while Reyth raged. Not because she was upset about it or afraid - quite the contrary - but it seemed like a private moment, and she didn't want to be a voyeur, staring at Reyth's display of pain. She glanced up briefly when something heavy hit the forcefield in the direction of her head, but otherwise let the other Sith have her moment and get her emotions out. When Reyth seemed to have calmed, Rossi stood and approached the forcefield.
"It's okay to be mad," she said quietly. "I don't blame you. This probably seems like the worst thing that ever happened to you. I promise, it won't be - but I imagine it feels that way. I wish I had a way to make it easier, but I don't. I just... want to tell you that you have people who care about you, now. I know you won't believe me, and that's okay too. I just want to say it, so you can start thinking about it. I know people have treated you horribly in the past. But we're going to help you. You're safe now. Even if you're angry. Even if you hate us."
Rossi Mahr
Rossi averted her eyes and kept working on her droid while Reyth raged. Not because she was upset about it or afraid - quite the contrary - but it seemed like a private moment, and she didn't want to be a voyeur, staring at Reyth's display of pain. She glanced up briefly when something heavy hit the forcefield in the direction of her head, but otherwise let the other Sith have her moment and get her emotions out. When Reyth seemed to have calmed, Rossi stood and approached the forcefield.
"It's okay to be mad," she said quietly. "I don't blame you. This probably seems like the worst thing that ever happened to you. I promise, it won't be - but I imagine it feels that way. I wish I had a way to make it easier, but I don't. I just... want to tell you that you have people who care about you, now. I know you won't believe me, and that's okay too. I just want to say it, so you can start thinking about it. I know people have treated you horribly in the past. But we're going to help you. You're safe now. Even if you're angry. Even if you hate us."
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Quaxo9
Neva Xolte
She awoke the unpleasant sensation of someone slapping her face. That was annoying, but at least she was warm...on one side? The brain fog lifted a short second later as she realized her arms and legs were completely immobile. Her eyes snapped open and the flat hand crossing her face cupped her cheek in reply. Neva rolled her eyes to the side and met those of the Sith lord who was sprawled along the side of the bed.
"There you are! Really, Neva. All this time apart - we're finally together again - and you spend it sleeping."
She pulled discreetly on the restraints even as she squinted at her cousin. "What do you..."
Neva was shushed by the hand sliding over her cheek to cover her mouth. "Come now, cousin. Don't ruin the moment. Remember how we used to spend so much time together just like this when we were children?"
"For someone who worked so hard to forget her past, you sure bring it up a lot." Neva's voice was flat as she looked back up at the ceiling. She had expected the Sith to snap, but to her surprise and discomfort, Anewe giggled and moved her hand down Neva's neck to tap thoughtfully on her jugular vein.
"That's because right now it's important. Do you know why I brought you here?" She threw back her head and laughed, settling herself back onto Neva's arm and stretching her hand out toward the ceiling. "Of course you don't. You're so delightfully oblivious. You, my dear, have a special talent - one I think has been lurking in our family's bloodline for some time now. Think of it - all that power - scattered out amongst the stars just waiting for someone to gather it all up." Anewe turned back toward Neva, caressing her face once more. "And you are going to help me."
Neva wasn't following. Special talent, sure. Whatever. But how she was supposed to help find the rest of the family - even if she wanted to? She'd been looking for decades and Trura was the first one she'd met - and she definitely hadn't been looking for her!
"Look cuz, I'd help you if I could, but I have no idea where anyone else is." The words tumbled out of her mouth without her really thinking. Seconds later she realized she really should have invested in some acting lessons. Or maybe subterfuge.
Lord Anewe slid off the bed, her nail dragging across Neva's chin leaving a trail of blood. "I thought you might need some...convincing."
There was something ominous about the way she picked up the datapad and Neva made no effort to disguise her renewed pulls against the restraints.
"Hey now, I'm serious. I really don't..." Electricity arced through her. The brilliant purple light would have blinded her had been been able to keep her eyes open against the pain. As fast as it came on, it disappeared, leaving Neva panting for air - hearts pounding - joints aching. She didn't get a chance to recover between bouts. Electricity on - electricity off - on - off - on - off. The gaps in between jolts were randomly spaced - she never knew when the next hit would come.
Finally a longer gap presented itself and Neva turned her head towards Anewe, moving her lips as she tried to speak. The Sith lord leaned forward, triumphant. She put her ear next to Neva's mouth so the elder Zabrak could whisper her secrets.
"Go lick a Hutt, Trura."
The Sith's roar of frustration mingled with Neva's screams as their echoes filled the ship.
Neva Xolte
She awoke the unpleasant sensation of someone slapping her face. That was annoying, but at least she was warm...on one side? The brain fog lifted a short second later as she realized her arms and legs were completely immobile. Her eyes snapped open and the flat hand crossing her face cupped her cheek in reply. Neva rolled her eyes to the side and met those of the Sith lord who was sprawled along the side of the bed.
"There you are! Really, Neva. All this time apart - we're finally together again - and you spend it sleeping."
She pulled discreetly on the restraints even as she squinted at her cousin. "What do you..."
Neva was shushed by the hand sliding over her cheek to cover her mouth. "Come now, cousin. Don't ruin the moment. Remember how we used to spend so much time together just like this when we were children?"
"For someone who worked so hard to forget her past, you sure bring it up a lot." Neva's voice was flat as she looked back up at the ceiling. She had expected the Sith to snap, but to her surprise and discomfort, Anewe giggled and moved her hand down Neva's neck to tap thoughtfully on her jugular vein.
"That's because right now it's important. Do you know why I brought you here?" She threw back her head and laughed, settling herself back onto Neva's arm and stretching her hand out toward the ceiling. "Of course you don't. You're so delightfully oblivious. You, my dear, have a special talent - one I think has been lurking in our family's bloodline for some time now. Think of it - all that power - scattered out amongst the stars just waiting for someone to gather it all up." Anewe turned back toward Neva, caressing her face once more. "And you are going to help me."
Neva wasn't following. Special talent, sure. Whatever. But how she was supposed to help find the rest of the family - even if she wanted to? She'd been looking for decades and Trura was the first one she'd met - and she definitely hadn't been looking for her!
"Look cuz, I'd help you if I could, but I have no idea where anyone else is." The words tumbled out of her mouth without her really thinking. Seconds later she realized she really should have invested in some acting lessons. Or maybe subterfuge.
Lord Anewe slid off the bed, her nail dragging across Neva's chin leaving a trail of blood. "I thought you might need some...convincing."
There was something ominous about the way she picked up the datapad and Neva made no effort to disguise her renewed pulls against the restraints.
"Hey now, I'm serious. I really don't..." Electricity arced through her. The brilliant purple light would have blinded her had been been able to keep her eyes open against the pain. As fast as it came on, it disappeared, leaving Neva panting for air - hearts pounding - joints aching. She didn't get a chance to recover between bouts. Electricity on - electricity off - on - off - on - off. The gaps in between jolts were randomly spaced - she never knew when the next hit would come.
Finally a longer gap presented itself and Neva turned her head towards Anewe, moving her lips as she tried to speak. The Sith lord leaned forward, triumphant. She put her ear next to Neva's mouth so the elder Zabrak could whisper her secrets.
"Go lick a Hutt, Trura."
The Sith's roar of frustration mingled with Neva's screams as their echoes filled the ship.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Quaxo9
Reyth
As the Pureblood started to speak, she had begun pacing the small space at the end of the bed between the forcefields - so close she could have reached out and touched Rossi if those barriers hadn't been in place. Reyth never took her eyes off of her quarry - but as the girl spoke, she could probably see the gears turning inside her head. At first, the plain hatred she'd already wore seemed fixated in place, but then Rossi's words deviated from her understanding of the situation and the mask of loathing slid askew to reveal confusion. What was she talking about? Help - safe - she was a prisoner, not a refugee!
It came to Reyth's attention that she'd stopped and was simply staring at Rossi like the girl had sprouted two heads and was speaking Huttese. Something was definitely off about this whole situation and she didn't know what it was exactly - and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Maybe they were thinking to try to turn her to the light side and that's what all this talk was about...except that she could tell that the Pureblood was no Jedi. Nothing added up. Nothing about this made sense. S
he backed into the bed and leaned against it for support, though her body language suggested it was for comfort. It couldn't hurt to try to reason with her. If she couldn't punch or Force push her way out of this - then she'd need to change tactics. Reyth's face still wore a slight sneer, though it was visibly less wrathful than it was moments ago. She gestured at the invisible walls of her cage, then shrugged and pointed at Rossi before turning her hand palm down and using her index and middle fingers to simulate walking. Whether that was interpreted as 'fine for you to say, but I am in a cage while you're free' or as 'leave me alone in my jail cell thankyouverymuch' didn't matter much to Reyth. Either statement was one she could get behind.
Reyth
As the Pureblood started to speak, she had begun pacing the small space at the end of the bed between the forcefields - so close she could have reached out and touched Rossi if those barriers hadn't been in place. Reyth never took her eyes off of her quarry - but as the girl spoke, she could probably see the gears turning inside her head. At first, the plain hatred she'd already wore seemed fixated in place, but then Rossi's words deviated from her understanding of the situation and the mask of loathing slid askew to reveal confusion. What was she talking about? Help - safe - she was a prisoner, not a refugee!
It came to Reyth's attention that she'd stopped and was simply staring at Rossi like the girl had sprouted two heads and was speaking Huttese. Something was definitely off about this whole situation and she didn't know what it was exactly - and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Maybe they were thinking to try to turn her to the light side and that's what all this talk was about...except that she could tell that the Pureblood was no Jedi. Nothing added up. Nothing about this made sense. S
he backed into the bed and leaned against it for support, though her body language suggested it was for comfort. It couldn't hurt to try to reason with her. If she couldn't punch or Force push her way out of this - then she'd need to change tactics. Reyth's face still wore a slight sneer, though it was visibly less wrathful than it was moments ago. She gestured at the invisible walls of her cage, then shrugged and pointed at Rossi before turning her hand palm down and using her index and middle fingers to simulate walking. Whether that was interpreted as 'fine for you to say, but I am in a cage while you're free' or as 'leave me alone in my jail cell thankyouverymuch' didn't matter much to Reyth. Either statement was one she could get behind.
Re: A Pleasant Day at the Beach
Monkey Kitty
Rossi Mahr
"Sorry about the forcefield," Rossi said apologetically. "I really am. But we have to make sure you're safe. That you don't get hurt, and you don't hurt anyone else. I mean..." She gestured to the wreckage of Reyth's room. Not to put too fine a point on things, but the other Sith wasn't exactly putting on a show of stability.
"I want you to know that I do understand the anger. I wasn't always like I am now. Well... I'll show you."
Rossi closed her eyes and focused. She'd been practicing a new Force ability, and she was finally ready to show it off. She used her mind to project a memory. An image hung in the air of Rossi, a year younger. Her face was bruised from the trials on Korriban that she had only just survived - barely - and her lower lip was split. Her hair hung wildly around her face. Her expression was feral. Threatening. Murderous. She brandished her lightsaber and swung it for a strike... toward a very calm, serene Siralai. The vision faded.
"So you see. I get it. My mom said she's sorry she couldn't be here, by the way. Your master took our friend when she left Rishi, and my mom had to follow them to rescue her. And Arksynn is going to be okay. Don't worry. You knew your master stuck a lightsaber into him, right? Or were you unconscious by then? But anyway, Lana and Mom took care of him, and he's going to be fine."
Rossi Mahr
"Sorry about the forcefield," Rossi said apologetically. "I really am. But we have to make sure you're safe. That you don't get hurt, and you don't hurt anyone else. I mean..." She gestured to the wreckage of Reyth's room. Not to put too fine a point on things, but the other Sith wasn't exactly putting on a show of stability.
"I want you to know that I do understand the anger. I wasn't always like I am now. Well... I'll show you."
Rossi closed her eyes and focused. She'd been practicing a new Force ability, and she was finally ready to show it off. She used her mind to project a memory. An image hung in the air of Rossi, a year younger. Her face was bruised from the trials on Korriban that she had only just survived - barely - and her lower lip was split. Her hair hung wildly around her face. Her expression was feral. Threatening. Murderous. She brandished her lightsaber and swung it for a strike... toward a very calm, serene Siralai. The vision faded.
"So you see. I get it. My mom said she's sorry she couldn't be here, by the way. Your master took our friend when she left Rishi, and my mom had to follow them to rescue her. And Arksynn is going to be okay. Don't worry. You knew your master stuck a lightsaber into him, right? Or were you unconscious by then? But anyway, Lana and Mom took care of him, and he's going to be fine."