Private Broken Wings

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: Interrogate the prisoner
Location: Unknown Location
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Katherine Holt

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

A lot has happened since Coruscant, including inheriting the ISB position. It was always my dream, although maybe not at this time. That defeat at Coruscant was very painful for everyone in the Empire, so I got the position immediately afterwards. I didn't want to know what had happened to my predecessor; I had some ideas, they were probably accurate, but I didn't follow up. Now that the most important matters were taken care of, it was time to turn my attention back to my prisoner. Perhaps it was just as well that she had spent a few weeks in complete isolation, with no one to talk to her.

I placed the young woman in a prison in a secret location, which was in the hands of the ISB. Deliberately as far away as possible from our common border with the Galactic Alliance. I wanted to make sure that if she was capable of communicating over long distances through the Force, we were far enough away that she couldn't contact others. I know I could have put her in a cell that blocked the Force, but that left me with some hope. And hope can be a cruel thing, especially for the desperate. And I hoped that I could achieve that. As I thought about it earlier, the best-case scenario is that the Dark Side Elite gets another member in their ranks if she defects to the Dark Side.

And the prison was on a space station, just to make the isolation even greater. This is where I arrived on my ship to talk to the young woman. From the hangar, I walked through the corridors of the wing of the space station reserved for special prisoners. When I arrived, the guards opened the room. Inside I was greeted by a large empty room with several energy cells, but they were empty, only the angel-winged woman was inside, no one else. I walked up to the cell and stopped in front of it.

"Good morning Miss Holt. I hope you have not been bored during the time you have had to spend alone. The good news is that you'll have company today, the bad news is that you probably won't enjoy it." I told her, my lips curling into a cruel predatory smile.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Since leaving Coruscant, Katherine had been caught between a state of unconsciousness, and foggy consciousness. Whatever they had sedated her with, it had kept her body effectively ‘frozen’. The Padawan was able to waken, but almost all of her senses had been dulled and/or paralysed. Only her sense of hearing was still functioning, and even then everyone around her was tight lipped

But during that time Katherine was able to overhear a couple things. Namely that the Dark Empire had ultimately been forced to retreat from Coruscant. That, and her dear host had other matters to deal with before she could start the interrogation.

After that, the Padawan was lulled to slumber again, and the next time she awoke it was in an energy cell. One of several that lined the large room, with Katherine being its sole occupant at present.

Her first instinct was to use the Force, which she was able to. That caused a great deal of confusion in the Padawan. Why the hell would they not use something to suppress her connection? It immediately had Katherine suspicious, and refrained from using it any further for the time being.

Not like there was some convenient switch in view that could just disable the energy cells.

Katherine’s next thought had been the charm Kahlil Noble had given her. It had come extremely handy when Darth Moirai had tried to possess her, allowing for her Master to quickly teleport to her relative location. But it was no longer on her person, nor was her armour at all. The redhead Padawan was still covered in her bodysuit, but everything else was gone.

Right down to her personal effects. So unless she could find out where they secured them, it was going to be impossible to activate the rune etched upon it.

Eventually though, Katherine felt a stirring of emotions in the vicinity of her cell. The guards were more alert, more at attention because of something…or someone. An answer came in the form of Ellayina finally walking into the room.

“I’m just surprised it took you so long. Had to spend a lot more time than you expected? Licking yours and the Empire’s wounds after having your arses kicked off Coruscant?”

Ellayina L'lerim​

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: Interrogate the prisoner
Location: Unknown Location
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Katherine Holt

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

"I'm patient, very, very patient." I said calmly, in a cold voice.

Fortunately, I have learned this part of Force using, how to control my emotions and calm myself down. Even as a young child it was important to learn this from a nobleman, who was also an heir to the throne, who had to learn it very quickly. It also came in handy at that moment. After all, what the young woman had mentioned was really sensitive and really painful. Even for me, as it was the reason for my promotion.

"Licking the wound is the problem of the senior management, which suited me, my task was a complete success." I said in a satisfied tone, with a wicked smile, a kind of riposte.

As if I were a simple agent and not the director of the ISB and SHADE. I had quite a lot to do to "get" the title of Director. It was also part of the psychological warfare to keep the other one waiting. I'd been in meetings almost constantly since Coruscant and... actually I was already part of the senior management, but that was another thing she didn't need to know. And who the members of the Imperial Ruling Council were was none of her business. But the Galactic Alliance was still licking its wounds from the day the Dark Empire moved into the Core Worlds.

"In fact, the Jedi Order and the Senate are still licking their wounds from the loss of Empress Teta and Tython. Are you aware that they're so scared that the Alliance has a new capital already?" I asked sarcastically; the data shows that they've moved the capital to Fondor.

A little riposte never hurts and I wanted her to see that I was prepared, too, and I wondered how much of a wound this would leave or how she would take it. I then began to walk outside the cell, as if I were a predator waiting for its prey, just waiting for the energy wall to finally come down and give it what it deserves. After about half a minute I stopped again in front of the woman.

"By the way, I must say, Miss Holt, you are very popular in Imperial circles. Even the new Shadow Hand wants to speak to you..." I said to the woman suggestively and my words did not bode well.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine rolled her eyes at her host’s attempt to get under her skin. She kept her emotions schooled behind a neutral expression. But internally, the winged Padawan bristled at the reminder of Ellayina’s success. Yes, Katherine preferred it being herself that had been captured, and not one of the younger Padawans. But on the other hand, that competitive part disliked the fact she had been bested.

“You call it scared, I call it being prepared and thinking of the people. And sure, we might’ve lost Empress Teta and Tython, for now.” Katherine emphasised the last two words. “But they’ll be freed from your tyranny soon enough. We’ll succeed, unlike you lot who go so far only to fall at the last hurdle.”

The redhead crossed her arms, staring straight at Ellayina.

“I wonder what that kind of failure must’ve done to your supporters, your people. Had to be a blow to morale.”

Katherine knew she was poking the proverbial bear, with both her tone and choice of words. But she was working off the belief she was talking to a simple Agent, not the Director herself. Someone who had the authority to immediately make her stay hell.

Hearing mention of the ‘Shadow Hand’ had a glint of emotion flash in the Padawan’s eyes. But it was only there for a second. “Oh wonderful, I’ll have to let my Master know I’m already garnering some fame so early on.”

The winged Padawan’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. It was a front, Katherine knew it just as she knew Ellayina likely knew it too. There was nothing good about the Dark Empire’s Shadow Hand having an immediate interest in her.

Ellayina L'lerim​

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: Interrogate the prisoner
Location: Unknown Location
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Katherine Holt

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

"I heard that Tython's Nexus is now a Dark Side nexus and the Sith are building there." I said, almost purring. "And then what happens if you rebel? Another genocide and the killing of millions or billions and you will say again that this was the will of the Force and the Light Side? I wonder how long the NJO and Valery Noble can make you believe that destroying planets with their entire populations or just committing genocides are not a crime?"

I asked in a mocking and cutting tone as my words implied that their greatest "hero" the Grandmaster had destroyed an entire planet and more. Actually, when I was old enough to understand what had happened on Exegol and what the Jedi Order had done, I turned away from the religion of Ashlan and from ever following the Light Side values. If that is how a Lightsider thinks and acts, then the Force itself is corrupt and the various sides are irrelevant. This was confirmed by the fact that I asked in vain, and my aunt Eina never said anything about what was there at Exegol, I could only see the sorrow on her and in her eyes. And I know that she left the battlefield before the destruction to prevent the Dark Three from arriving into the Realspace. I chuckled at the young woman's words.

"Have you ever considered, my dear, that the Jedi are not better, but perhaps worse, than the Sith?" I asked her."You know, the side I'm on at least admits to war crimes... yours lies about it and makes the Will of the Force look like this, like you're just puppets of the Force. Are you? Or how long will you be able to convince yourselves and your consciences that the same crime that the Dark Side is committing is a war crime and the greatest evil in the world, while, if you do it, it is saving the Galaxy? From that perspective... Who is the greater tyrant and the crueller? The one who denies or the one who doesn't?" I asked inquiringly.

I have seen the recordings of the Hirkenburg Accord, it was actually my aunt, the Eternal Empress, who brought up this question of double standards. But I have to say I liked this perspective. I've had just about enough of the double standards being applied to the actions of different sides in the Galaxy, as if a Lightsider couldn't cause problems. There were already examples of this in the story element. Starting when Luke Skyswalker killed millions aboard the Death Star by blowing it up. Who knows if they all served the Empire willingly or out of fear...

I chuckled at her words.

"You didn't get it, but you're a Jedi... and you probably know what frustrated and cranky powerful Sith are like. They like to torture and kill others... Maybe you'd be happier if you were just a simple soldier." I smiled wickedly.

I didn't know what the reason was for Shadow Hand wanting to see her, but I could actually imagine that he really wanted to vent his frustration. I haven't had much to do with Sith personally, but there was plenty of history to inform me.

"So... it's really up to you how badly you want to get into a bad situation. I don't care if you remain a Jedi or if the Dark Side wins... in the case of the Shadow Hand, I'm not sure he'll leave you alone until you serve the Dark Empire..." I said viciously.

 

[Katherine Holt]

The Padawan frowned at the mention of Tython’s Nexus. It wasn’t a surprise per se, but it still put a bad taste on her mouth that the Sith had already twisted it. Ultimately however, it meant they’d just have to tear the building down when they finally took the planet back.

Katherine kept her neutral facade up, not letting Ellayina’s mocking and cutting tone get to her. She knew all too well what the woman was trying to do, even this early on in her ‘stay’ in the Dark Empire’s hospitality.

“In a perfect galaxy war crimes wouldn’t be a thing, but only someone truly naive would wholly believe it possible.” Her Master had taught her that the galaxy wasn’t purely black and white. Sure, you’d find some spots here and there, but the vast majority were varying degrees of grey.

“The Jedi have to take such drastic action because of the Dark Side. It’s a disease, a plague, spreading out across the galaxy like a poison. Exegol was just the latest source of it.” Katherine continued to stare Ellayina down. Yes, a part of the Padawan wished that they hadn’t needed to take such an action against a planet. But when a place has been steeped so deeply into the Dark, there are very few options left.

“If it was eradicated, and their allies; like you, are stopped, then such ‘war crimes’ wouldn’t ever have to happen again, would they?” Unfortunately history painted an ever endless cycle in the fight between Light and Dark. Even if one side fell, it would inevitably rise again.

“Honestly, it kinda amuses me that you’ve sided with them. Feels like history repeating itself.” The redhead walked up to the edge of the cell, close as she could get. She looked at her jailor with a mocking expression. “The Sith will backstab you, you know that right? They get a taste of power, and hunger for it, chasing after it. Bloats their desires with greed, to a point of killing their own. You’re a tool, one they’ll happily dispose of once they deem you’ve reached the end of your usefulness.”

After all, it was one of the biggest contributors as to why the New Imperial Order separated themselves from the Sith Empire. They had seen the inevitable writing on the wall.

Ellayina L'lerim​

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: Interrogate the prisoner
Location: Unknown Location
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Katherine Holt | Lea Vi

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

As I listened, I knew that we would never agree, even though, ironically, we started on the same side and were on the same side for a very long time.

"Is that the explanation? What makes it necessary for you to react this way? You don't believe it yourself... Because they think differently, believe differently, have different principles... What happens if the DE fails? Who will be next? The Sith? The Empire of the Lost? The Mandalorians? And then everyone else until you force everyone in the Galaxy to think and live the way the Jedi want them to? Isn't that exactly what the Sith want, or what we want?" I asked sarcastically.

I knew she would never see and accept that everything they did was exactly the same as everything they solved. And they say that darkness and hatred make you blind. Light does the same thing. In fact, I was a little sorry that I didn't know of any middle ground that would have been the downfall of both. And how much better a world without Force users would be, then at least people would be at war just for power; that's somehow more tangible than this nonsense.

"Have you ever wondered what if the Light Side is just as corrupt as the Dark Side?" I inquired.

As we continued our conversation, the possibility that the Sith would sell me out also came up. I had to chuckle at that. I knew it would happen one day, of course I did. I knew the history, but the truth is, that's the part that made the game exciting. The pressure and the constant doubt. That I could die at any moment. When I stopped giggling, I looked at the young woman and smiled slightly mockingly.

"I'm aware of that; but of the two of us, you're the one lying to yourself, not me..." I told her. "Well, the Shadow Hand is here in the complex, so I think I'll let him start your interrogation. Then I'll continue with what's left of you. "

I took two steps back from the cell's energy wall and opened a communication channel with Lea Vi , aka the Shadow Hand.

<< My Lord, the prisoner is ready for interrogation! >> I informed the man of the developments.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Again, Katherine had to refrain from rolling her eyes too much at Ellayina’s response. “Sounds like you’ve been drinking too much of the Dark Empire juice. You’re the ones that force others to comply and capitulate themselves to Imperial rule. The Jedi free people from those kinds of shackles, and let them continue living on as they were.”

Now the Padawan knew there were certain factions out there, past and fairly present, that were considered much more extreme in their views. The Lords of Light to name one, who were dogmatic in their beliefs of eradicating the Dark side of the Force. Even if it meant bringing overwhelming law and order to a planet to ensure it was cleansed.

At the mention of the Shadow Hand, Katherine couldn’t help but tense up. She had no knowledge of who that was within the Dark Empire, but she was aware of the reputation that the title carried. It was rarely (if ever at all) bestowed to someone who hadn’t earned the right to be called that.

Katherine wasn’t too concerned about trading barbs with someone she presumed was nothing more than a simple Agent, but the Shadow Hand was a whole other matter.

The redhead braced herself mentally, building and reinforcing her mental defences, just as Valery Noble had taught her.

Ellayina L'lerim | Lea Vi​