Hollow Bastion

[Kaalia Pavanos]

It was clear [member="Jairdain"] was uncomfortable following [member="Krest"]'s words. Kaalia had simply listened and waited after she had shed light on her view on the philosophical debate the other two, despite the fact she had the temptation to speak out on multiple occasions. Now she saw it to be the right moment to let her voice be heard again. "You want knowledge and happiness. It seems we have similar wants, then." She sat up straight again, the casual and laidback tone replaced with something filled with understanding. "When I grew up, I was conditioned to be a Jedi. From age three I travelled with a Jedi master from planet to planet, and all I knew was the Jedi way," she explained. "It felt... wrong, somehow. Being a Jedi. It wasn't who I was, yet it was the only life I knew. Only when I was sixteen I had the courage to seek my own path. Through that path I found not only knowledge, but also happiness." It was a very short version of what happened, but it was accurate nontheless.

"Now I wish to know, how much of those two things, knowledge and happiness, have the Jedi provided you? Are you satisfied?" It was a genuine question, without prejudice. Where most of the Sith would ask such a question in a sneering way, expecting the answer to be negative, the woman kept an open mind. "Or, do you feel like I used to? Like something is not right, but do you also feel afraid to step into the unknown because of the warnings of the people around you?" Kaalia pocketed the datapad and got up from her chair to walk towards the small kitchen. "My old Jedi master, he always warned me about the evil of the Dark side. He knew nothing about it, however. He was led to believe that the path to Darkness will lead to your destruction by his own teacher, and he learned that from his. None of them dared to seek the truth about the Dark side, but I did. They were all wrong." Sliding open a cupboard she took out a glass, then walk over to a cooler where she took out a bottle of water. Twisting open the bottle, she then poured its contents into the glass before putting the cap back on and placing it back. "But, that's my story. You said you cannot be a Sith. Why so?" The redhead remained in the kitchen area, taking a sip of her glass as she leaned against the counter.

 

[Jairdain]

Her head was turned away from the two of them when Kaalia spoke up. She pointed out they shared similar wants and a brief personal history. It was not how Jairdain had been raised though and they differed in that aspect. The woman did not ask for Jairdain's past so she did not speak of it. In this room, other than herself, only Krest had any idea of her past. If asked, she would share. The question not being asked yet, she remained silent listening to what Kaalia said.

She kept speaking not giving Jairdain the opportunity to answer the questions posed so she remained silent and filed them to be addressed when the chance was given. As she listened and thought of her answers, her face would express the emotions she kept locked away. A touch of sadness when she was asked about being happy. The Jedi had given her more happiness than she had with her own people. Since she had not grown up knowing the stories of this galaxy, the knowledge shared was also immense.

Her eyes narrowed at the suggestion of the woman that she maybe feared stepping into the unknown. Even without sight, her face and eyes showed what she felt. Jairdain held very little fear of anything on a long term basis. Nothing was deep inside of her that she truly feared. Situations would cause that to come and go, but it never stayed with her. Right now though, being captive, force deprived and blind...did hold some fear in her. She didn't know how long this would be the case or how long it had been since she was captured.

At the sith's last question, Jairdain's face became neutral again before she spoke to address each one in order. She only provided information pertaining to the question and brought in very little of anything Jedi related. These were all personal questions really and the only one having anything to do with the Jedi was the first one.

"They have provided both for me and for the most part. There is some knowledge I have sought out that I can't find out much on. I don't think that is a lack of them though. Nobody and no group knows everything. Nobody but my own people warned me away from anything dark and even then it was only at a time when an execution was taking place. And I can not be a sith because if that happens, then I must die too."

Keeping things short and simple, to the minimum needed to answer the questions, Jairdain again fell silent. Inside she wanted to cry, the situation she was in beyond her control and surrounded by people that would rather her dead. She couldn't trust the word of Krest and it was by his hand she was even alive still.

[member="Krest"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"You misunderstand Sith then." Another smile formed over Krest's lips as he watched [member="Jairdain"] and [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] . The threat of death was now clear, but as a Jedi she never let her fear get to her. It was impressive, especially with only the dark to comfort her with the Force gone. "The Sith are not the Dark. Anyone can use the dark side of the force. Dark Jedi, Witches, Ren." Blue eyes glanced over to Kaalia for a moment. "But only the Sith control the Dark. Control their emotions and use them for power. While Jedi like yourself just lock them away in a box."

Krest knew about Jairdain's box of emotions within her mind. Lykos had told him much. "Don't hold back your emotions here. Anyone else would have succumbed to despair when death became an alternative. Yet you've remained strong. It shows how powerful of a Jedi you are and how large of a threat you would be as an enemy. I have one last question to ask you. Your people are dead, their actions and choices leading to their downfall, indirectly or directly. If they had sought control of the Dark rather than fear it, do you think they would have survived?"

The only answer the Sith expected from the blind Jedi was no, but only because of how she was brought up. From her people who killed the Dark to the Jedi who fought against it, she never once saw the good or the power behind it. Behind control. It would take time, but Krest would show her the true purpose of the Sith.

 

[Jairdain]

Krest spoke up and Jairdain turned in his direction. Almost as if compelled to.

He felt she misunderstood Sith, that they weren't dark. At that a look of disbelief crossed her face, but the Jedi remained silent. He listed off a few others that could be considered users of the dark and stated only Sith could actually control it. That they controlled their emotions and used them for power. Then threw what she saw as an insult to herself and the other Jedi.

Jairdain had not spoken with any Jedi about what they did with their emotions when they were faced with them. She had no idea if they had the same type of mental box she did. This was a lesson taught to her by her own people and one that stuck with her.

His suggestion to her of not holding her emotions back went against everything she had been taught and her teeth clenched together on their own. Her own stubbornness kicking in and she resolved to keep them locked away. His words about giving into despair were true, but her fortitude had sustained her before when was held captive and would do so again. She would not open the door to what was already knocking on it. The needles of what fear she had were shuttled into that box and held there. This situation similar, but yet far different than that last time she was captured was pushing her far worse than the previous thread of death had. Even then she had not given into her despair and had faced the situation bravely. If she died here, it would be in the light even if she didn't have the Force.

The only question he posed did not require any thought on her part and she shook her head.

"No, death is a part of life and it would have happened anyway. Think about it, if they had not perished the way they did, we would not be having the conversation. I would not have been banished and would be dead with them."

In looking at from that perspective, she had faced her own mortality more often than she had previously thought.

[member="Krest"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Whilst listening to the two talk to each other Kaalia briskly walked from the kitchen area back to where the others were. Turning her back towards a wall she took a few steps back, leaning towards it as she took another sip. In the meantime her gears were spinning, trying to assess what [member="Jairdain"]'s mindset truly was like. Her faith in the Light was strong, and so was her faith in the Jedi. It was greater than what the redhead herself had had while growing up, which left her with an interesting scenario. How does one convince another of the flaws in the other's ways, while not fully grasping their beliefs in said way?

"Tell me," Kaalia then said after a short moment of silence, "have you been taught to reign in your emotions, to be a servant of the Light no matter what?" Not only was she curious to know, it was also a question that would lead to the message she aimed to send. "I did that from birth to age sixteen. I was told, over and over, that my emotions were dangerous, uncontrolled, nothing but destructive. I believed it." Despite that, she doubted the Jedi way. It didn't feel right to her. Yet, it was the only thing she knew and so she followed that path. "But, I already told you. My master was too afraid to seek the truth, and I wasn't. And what I found in embracing what seperates a living being from everything else in this galaxy, the one thing that makes one alive, was freedom. Happiness. True happiness." She took another sip from her glass, letting the cool water slip down her throat. "I felt like I broke myself free from the one-dimensional view I was being restrained to, a false reality. My happiness used to be fabricated, not real. Eventually the cracks became visible, which caused me to break free." Another sip was taken, a large one this time, which finished the glass. Walking over to the table she set it down before walking back to the seat she was in before and sitting down. "Have you ever questioned your reality? Or have you always just assumed things were just as they seemed? I didn't know any different, but do you? Have you ever seen the Force from a different perspective?"

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

While Jairdain and Krest spoke, Kaalia was moving around, getting a drink and listening in. After the Jedi finished, the other female interjected her own question and her past again. Mentioned she had found that in embracing her emotions she had found happiness. Talked that it made her a living being instead of what she obviously thought of as people living in a different reality.

Jairdain did not follow the woman's movement with her head, until she set her glass on the table and returned to her seat. She just listened as she spoke and would answer only what she wanted to. In the end it would probably be all the points though.

"No to your first question and to the second part, it is my choice to stay in the light. It was not something taught or required by my people. In fact, they themselves didn't know light or dark. They weren't Jedi and so I did not grow up Jedi as you appear to think. We were warned to not allow our emotions to control our actions. So you are correct there. However, I was not taught emotions are bad. They have their place or we wouldn't have them. I push them away for a time and analyze them after whatever the situation that caused them is over."

Kaalia would know the full attention of Jairdain was on her, even if the Jedi didn't have the Force. The last set of questions confused her though. This would probably show on her face as well as through the Force. She did not bother to push this into her box as it should be assessed now.

"I do not understand what you are asking, Kaalia."

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Krest"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

It seemed that [member="Jairdain"] was taught in a somewhat different way than Kaalia was. She was honestly happy this was the case, not wishing such a way of upbringing to anyone. "That's good. In the end, that is what preserved your humanity. Letting your emotions control your actions does lead to disaster, but I think Krest already explained that situation well enough." Perhaps that was the opening they could use to make the Jedi see things from their perspective. The perspective of the Dark side.

It seemed that Jairdain was not completely understanding of her question about it, however. "Have you ever tasted the Dark side for yourself? Your claims seem resolute, which is admirable, but are they founded on your own knowledge or on that of others?" The redhead shifted in her seat somewhat. "That is what I meant with your perspective on the Force. I hope that clears up any confusion."

[member="Krest"]

 

[Jairdain]

Jairdain made no further comment on what Kaalia said about her upbringing. The woman stated her acceptance of her emotions is what had preserved her humanity. Raising an eyebrow at that comment, the jedi just shook her head.

When Kaalia clarified her questions by phrasing them different, Jairdain then understood what was being asked. Her face actually expressed little emotion as she seriously considered her answer. It was thoughtful and fully focused on coming up with one.

Through the age of ten, she had a normal childhood or as normal as it could have been for a blind child. She had been using the Force to see with for as long as remembered and it had always been there. No other skills had manifested though until she was tested at age ten. So in thinking back on things, she wasn't sure of how to answer. All of her emotions were around and it wasn't until she went to the special school that she learned more things about the Force. Even there, they weren't told to keep their emotions in check and were taught there were times they came in handy, but were warned about allowing them to run out of control. It was only when people did allow the emotions to run free was when they were executed. When they got destructive and hurt others.

"I am unsure honestly. Very likely no though."

She no longer looked in the direction of Kaalia or Krest, but instead more at the tabletop in front of her. Slowly something dawned on her and even if she was blind, she blinked her eyes a few times. She could feel a little of the Force again. Not much and she gave no outward sign of this realization. There was the chance this was being done on purpose though and Jairdain would be on her guard more than she was already.

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

As soon as [member="Jairdain"] began to actively feel the Force again a hiss sounded off. It was quiet at first, easily going unnoticed if someone wasn't looking for it, but more hisses began to join in, creating a chorus. Jair would be able to 'see' the creatures that were making this noise all around three of the four walls of her prison, and dark eyes all focused in on her. Their feral minds held only one thought, to kill.

Krest would remain silent long enough for the Jedi before him to hear and perhaps see the creatures around. Then he would motion to the glass of water she had. "I would suggest drinking that. They feel the Force of those who use the light, and they are trained only to kill. They also hiss, which is a nice alarm to know when the drug is wearing off." [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] would receive a nod from the Zabrak as he stood. "Your droid helper will either inject you with the drug or you can eat and drink it yourself. Just know that trying to get out of it will have these creatures after your head. As for why I want to keep you from connecting with the Force, as I'm sure you're wondering, it's not just the Dark that influences the mind. You will spend many weeks here, perhaps months or even years, and I want you to be in your right mind. Not warped by the light or taken over by the dark. When you join us, I can show you how to keep control of yourself. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

The nod to his apprentice was the signal to leave. Right out through the doorway he walked without once glancing back to Jairdain. She was strong, resilient and disciplined, but naive. It would take some time to show her the truth. Once a sufficient ways away from the womans cell he would pull out a holocommunicatior, punching in the number for a dear friend.

"[member="Darth Lykos"] I have a friend that I think you'd enjoy speaking to again."

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Meditation through sitting still, allowing the world to pass by him without any reaction nor the slightest shift of movement, was something that was an unusual experience for Darth Lykos, as he had always preferred to meditate through Alchaka, but it was one that he had found himself preforming more and more in recent times. Whether that was for Onis Fahde Meni or even his recent desire to further understand and explore the Dark Side of the Force, he had found himself kneeling, head bowed and his mind awash within the Force so as to devote more of his focus to exploring those aspects. As such, when Krest's holocall came through, it was initially greeted with an annoyed twitch of the Iridonian's brow as he roused himself from the depths of the Force.

After what had happened on Charros IV, Lykos had simply allowed his ship, an interceptor common to the Sith Assassins that he had never seen fit to name, float randomly through space after making a series of random and staggered jumps away from Charros IV. So, when Lykos pushed his way to his feet to respond to the holocall, his bared feet met cold metal as he prowled through the ship towards the cockpit, passing by a cloaked, feminine form that was also kneeling in meditation. For the most part he ignored the kneeling form, apart from a slight brush of his flesh and blood hand across the cloaked head which garnered a nod of understanding as words never uttered would sound within her head.

Settling him into the seat within the cockpit, Lykos called up the log of incoming calls and began running a brief scan on Krest's call, wanting the scan to reveal where the holocall was originating from. Waiting until confirmation that the scan was in process, Lykos would redirect the holocall away from his chambers within the ship and towards the cockpit instead as he would lean back in his seat.

"Considering your brash actions on Charros IV, where you demonstrated your skill at not being an assassin but a welcome distraction for assassin, and the Jedi I had reported as to being on Charros before more flocked to the planet, would I be correct in assuming that the friend that you speak of is Jairdain Ismet? Whom you have already expressed an interest in shaping into an image of your choosing? A modern Dread Master?" Lykos' voice would sound through the holocall, dry and droll in measures equal to just how emotionless his words would be. A rumbling sigh would come reach Krest's ears, followed quickly by Lykos' voice once more. "Might I ask as to what you have so far chosen to do to my Zirial? And why have you now chosen to contact me on this matter? Surely not to 'enjoy speaking to again' as you claim'."

Despite the request that could be found within his words, the newly appeared hard line of steel that sat within his voice, however, revealed that Lykos would not accept anything that did not answer his inquiry, that he was willing to impose some form of authority of the older Zabrak. Especially so when one considered the possessive nature of the Assassin's word choice. Ever since their encounter on Iridonia, when Jairdain had seen to seek him out after they had met through metal avatars on Vjun, he had seen her as his. To be precise, his little, intriguing Jedi. His Zirial that he was Found Bound to.


[member="Krest"] | [member="Jairdain"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Man, I'm the elder, but you're always so serious. Maybe I should start learning from you." There was a chuckle from the elder man as he continued to walk through the Sith Spawn infested dungeon [member="Jairdain"] was trapped within. [member="Darth Lykos"] was far more attached to the woman than he had thought and part of him knew he should have spoken to him sooner. But there were other matters to attend to first.

"You hold a connection to her. She has been deprived of the Force and will continue to be deprived so long as she uses the Light so the creatures that surround her room won't try to end her life. And yes, I do want you to speak to her. Her people have filled her mind with lies and fear of emotion, and I'd like you to help remove the veil she's been under." Regardless of how possessive Xavka was, she for the moment belong to Krest. There would be some respect for the younger Sith's connection, but at the end of the day his word would be law, and soon enough he would remind the young Chief of it.

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

A rolling grow of annoyance would rumble through the comms, one that was first given birth to after Krest's first comment and maintained itself since that point in time. A few seconds would go past, during which time the growl would be the only sound that Lykos made, before the communication channel between the two Zabrak would suddenly go silent as it was disconnected on Lykos' end. However, barely a handful of seconds later, the growl would reach Krest's ears once more, still maintaining an annoyed air, but, this time, it would not be a sound made through the constant electronic sound of a holocall, but, instead, it would sound out clearly and loudly from behind the Zabrak.

As Krest had been speaking the trace on his Holocall had finally ended, revealing to Lykos the planet that the Red Assassin, Kaalia and Jairdain were on. With that information, Lykos had then had an area within which to focus his Sight through the Force, allowing him to pinpoint the exact location of the red-skinned Zabrak. From there, it had not taken much for the White Assassin to shout an order back towards his Hand, Darth Gvibir, from the cockpit to where she knelt in meditation before folding and twisting the Force to his own will, bending and tearing a hole through space itself with extreme focus so as to prevent any self-inflicted injury, and arrive behind Krest, clad in a dark black robe and striding forwards from the shadows.

For Jairdain, it would feel as Lykos had suddenly appeared next to her as his Presence within their Force Bond would shift dramatically, just as it had felt to Lykos that Jairdain's own Presence within the Force was suddenly smacking him in the side of the face due to the sudden decrease in distance between their physical selves.

"I am more serious than you, Krest, because I, unlike yourself apparently, understand the when and wheres as to relaxing and being serious. So, perhaps you are correct and you could do with learning this aspect of personality from me." Scathing, annoyed and yet largely lacking in emotion, Lykos' voice would reflect his own Presence within the Force as he stalked towards Krest.

Stopping only a short distance from Krest, Lykos' growl would fade, as would the annoyance surging through his Presence, as he settled back into the emotionless state that he normally assumed. "You would have me speak to her, then? How ... unusual. A simple conversation between her and myself and yet you believe that that would be enough to entice her to the Dark?" Lykos' head would cock to the left slightly as he broke up his speaking with a slight hum of consideration. "Should I assume that this means that you believe that words are enough to achieve this end? And, should you indeed believe this, that you believe you have made headway with simple words yourself?" A small smirk would tug at the Iridonian's lips for but a moment.


[member="Krest"] | [member="Jairdain"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Jairdain]

Jairdain had exceptional hearing and very quickly heard the hissing of something around her. It was previously silent and not there, with the Force returning slowly, she could hear and almost see the sithspawn. She felt from them the desire to kill, but they stayed back not attacking. Her Force Sight wasn't something she consciously used and she calmly looked at the creatures as more of the Force returned to her. She had seen much in her time, but nothing like these things. If she allowed her fear to control her, she would have been a gibbering mess on the floor, but she filed it into her box and took a small gulp anyway.

She listened to Krest's words and followed his movements. Not moving yet to take a drink from the water on the table. He told her what the beasts would do if she tried to escape or channel the Light Side of the Force. Breathing harshly through her nose and keeping her anger in check, not allowing it to control her. It was a valid emotion in the situation and before she locked it away, she wanted these two sith to know how she felt. That anger was set into her box maybe to never come out again.

Krest walked out bidding her to enjoy the rest of her evening.

"My allies will come for me, you arse-licking, mingebag. You are dead from the neck up and daft as a bush. Go plow a bantha, you gormless knob headed tosser."

She didn't speak loudly so her words may not have been heard, but the colorful language would continue for a few more sentences and ending with. "Farking areshole."

Through the Force Lykos came in strong. He had been a distant echo moments before, but now he was close. Jairdain did not fear that he was here to harm her. An agreement had been reached when they met after Vjun. Unless they met in battle, they would not fight each other. Their connection through the Force could be used and exploited.

One conversation with Krest had gotten to know more of her weaknesses and strengths. Bringing in Lykos, the man that knew her better than anybody else, the one that could use them to his advantage...now that scared her.

For the moment, Jairdain let out a defeated sigh and willingly administered to herself the drug that deprived her of the Force and her sight. Falling again into darkness as it went away, she waited in her room.

[member="Darth Lykos"] [member="Krest"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"You are young still Lykos. Don't get too serious or you'll have a permanent scowl plastered on that face of yours. Life is too short to not enjoy as much as you can." Advice that would have been better suited for [member="Darth Ophidia"] had he spent more time on her. After all, [member="Darth Lykos"] and [member="Darth Abyss"] were both hers and awfully serious at almost every interaction he's had. Still, he was correct that there were some times to be serious.

"Yes, talk. For now. You have your bond and you know her mind, but that doesn't translate to all of her cracks. Through words we can see more of who she is." He pointed back to [member="Jairdain"] 's cell. "After all, she had just decided to cuss me out in anger like a teenager. More and more layers must be revealed before we try to introduce the Dark. She would take her own life before using it after all." There was a light chuckle.

"Go to her, speak to her. Soon enough I will corrupt her to what I envision."

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

While the two Zabrak Sith were speaking, Kaalia simply leaned against the wall. There wasn't much for her to do at this moment and instead she found amusement in the exchange of words before her. They let them have their talk while she fiddled around on her datapad, sending a personal message to [member='Ishana Pavanos'] in the meantime. It was a fairly simple 'I love you, I'll be back soon' message, but the woman simply couldn't help herself. Unless Krest had anything specific for her to do still she would like excuse herself at the end of the day and head back home, wherever home was at that moment. Such was the life of a couple who lived out of an old One Sith TIE-fighter.

"Good too see you again too, Lykos," Kaalia casually said as she watched the screen of her datapad go dark, interrupting what they were talking about, not looking at the Zabrak she was talking to just yet. While pocketing it she looked over to him and gave a half-wave. "I'd love to keep listening to the two of you bickering, but I don't necessarily want to hang around forever doing nothing while someone is waiting for me." She kicked the one foot she had planted on the wall off of it, taking a step forward. "We've still got work to do."

[member="Krest"] | [member="Jairdain"] | [member="Darth Lykos"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

"You say 'like a teenager' when she is still one? Did you ensure that any and all information that you may of required as to Zireal before you ... acquired her, shall we say, was accurate?" The slight jab was delivered in a droll tone of voice, the only response that Krest's words would visible and audibly receive before Lykos' attention switched to the Redhead standing off to the side and listening into the trade of words.

When he spoke again, this time it was to the Knight instead of the Lord. "Indeed, it is good to see you again as well, Kaalia." As per his usual habits, it would be near impossible to tell if he had spoke in sarcasm or not due to the nearly fully emotionless tone his voice held. "And you are quite right. There is work to be done and time is but a precious, finite thing in the end."

Looking off towards where Krest had pointed, Lykos' head would tilt to the side in momentary contemplation as to what his next course of action would be. Even thought the Aspect of Conquest could not see Jairdain, nor perceive her Presence in the Force clearly due to the Force Inhibitor she had imbibed, he could still feel exactly where she was in relation to where he stood, the vibration upon his soul where their Force Bond had settled providing all the information that he would normally require the Force to divine.

Between one breath and the next, Lykos reach out along the length of the bond, prodding and peering through metaphysical eyes at the blockage that stood between them due to the wall created by the Force Inhibitor drug. After all, even if he was willing to aid Krest in bringing his Zireal into the fold of the Dark, to assist in helping her realise true potential, he was true enough to himself to recognise that he was possessive by nature; possessive and largely selfish in his desires, even when he might act altruistic. He would speak to Jairdain as Krest bid him to do so, however, the privacy afforded to the pair through the Bond meant that he could also speak to her on his own terms, in pursuit of his own goals and with the desire of guiding what was his to greater potential. But, while the Inhibitors coursed through her blood, he would have to see about navigating the blockage that they formed. Something that would require a delicate touch, something that he could not accomplish without the aid of physical contact to aid with the connection.

Turning back to the two others gathered in the hall, Lykos would speak again, his voice reflecting none of what had transpired between moments, none of his quick look at the effect the Inhibitors were having on the Bond. Instead, all it would reveal would be slight contemplation as he spoke at a much slower rate than usual. "If you wish of me to talk to her, then, mayhaps, it would be a good idea to actually reveal as to what you have talked about so far?" Despite the fact that the question was posed to Krest, the slight flicker of his eye towards Kaalia would, he hoped, indicate his wish for her to jump in should his fellow Zabrak miss something.


[member="Krest"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Jairdain"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest waved a hand dismissively as [member="Darth Lykos"] spoke about [member="Jairdain"] 's age. "She's a Jedi. Age does not matter when she holds enough strength in the Force to be a Knight." Which was true. Even Krest had felt her power during the fight against the false Sith of the Dominion, and no mere teenager could do that. A silence fell over the three as Lykos thought on the matter, but soon enough the verbal exchange began again.

"What it was to be a Jedi and what it was to be a Sith. She believes that if she used the Dark she would have to kill herself to be forgiven by her people. Her dead people who let fear rule their minds. Other than that, more banter about Jedi and Sith. The usual beginning."

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

"'And I stand before you, resolute in my choice, defiant in my actions. Yet, the cracks are forming and I cannot refuse that the words you whisper coil around my mind. Temptation may be warring with duty and devotion, but, even you know that the solid state of loyalty shall always beat what promises you may whisper. And so I stand before you, resolute in my choice, defiant in my actions and I refuse you.'" The words would be murmured out into the quiet, nearly all but whispered in reverence as Lykos' gaze drew distant as he looked at something beyond time. "A conversation between Bez Lo, First Matriarch of Clan J'ku'linare and Nekamina. Prehaps, though, it can be applied well to this situation. She is bound to a sense of loyalty to her dead people and that is strong enough to resist temptation. I assume that you have already been doing this, though? Creating some doubt instead of assaulting directly?"

He would not wait for an answer before, with a slight nod to both Krest and Kaalia, Lykos would begin to stride towards where the bond between them told him Jairdain would be. As he strode away, he would speak out both mentally and verbally. The later was addressed to the pair, however, the former would be whispered into Krest' mind. "I shall go speak to her, then. See what I can achieve." 'And we will be speaking later, Krest. You live within the shadows, yet, I seek to embody them. I will not allow myself to be used as a piece on a chessboard for your goals.'

Minuets later, Lykos would silently push open the door to the room where Jairdain was being held, his mind still on the message that he ad spoken into Krest's mind. Something was off, that he knew. Yes, Krest had always acted more carefree in recent times, however, the extent to which he was doing so, coupled with the slight murmurs reaching him through the Force, led him to believe that something more was going on. His telepathic message was a simple declaration that he suspected something and how Krest reacted in turn would lead Lykos to conclude what his next actions would be. 'Still,' he thought as his mind turned to the blockage in the Force Bond created by the inhibitors, 'even if it is an obvious enough move that it will be suspected, I will have to ensure my interests are protected.'

Clearing his mind of such thoughts as he entered the room, Lykos made no sound other than when he closed the door behind him, confident that, even through the haze of the Inhibitors, the vibrations running through the Force Bond would reveal to Jairdain who, exactly, had just entered her room. After all, while they created a blockade, the Inhibitors effected the body's connection to the Force, not the soul itself.

Striding over to Jairdain on silent feet, Lykos would bend down over her, his flesh and blood hand coming up to run rough and worn fingertips over the woman's jaw. A move similar to the one he had preformed when Jairdain had sought him out on Iridonia. The contact would be fleeting, held only for a moment, before Lykos would spin around in a flurry of robes and stride over to a chair set off to one side. Of course, such an action had not been preformed without purpose as Lykos was loath to ever act without some sort of goal, loath to waste energy and effort on nothingness.

During the time that his skin touched Jairdain's own, Lykos touch advantage of the sudden surge within the Force Bond to enact his will upon the Inhibitor blockage. A single seed of Darkness would be woven into its surface ready to be activated upon the moment that the block would collapse. From there, it would grow, surge into a direct pathway through the blocks later enacted by further doses of Inhibitor. That pathway, burrowing through the block set upon the Force Bond would serve to allow Lykos to speak to and observe Jairdain at his leisure. Furthermore, upon it's activation, it would evolve into a state that would allow it to reflect Jairdain's own Force Presence, meaning that unless someone were to examine her Presence within the Force and note that a minuscule section would not fluctuating as it should be in response to emotions she may feel they would not find the connection.

Settling into the chair to the side of Jairdain, his body tense as always even as he relaxed slightly, his voice would not contain any of the satisfaction he felt. The creation of 'seeds' of Darkness had become a particular skill of his and for it to evolve to such a state that he could utilise it as he had just done so was a point of pride for the Iridonian.

"I hope that you have not been mistreated, Zireal."


[member="Krest"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

While still irritated at the situation, Jairdain had that under control and sat quietly at the table with her arms across her breasts. Even if she couldn't touch the Force, she could still meditate and this is what she did.

Even without the Force, she knew Lykos was there. The connection had been formed on Vjun and went beyond the Force. Their souls were bonded and through that they both knew more about the other than almost anybody.

She knew when he entered the room, he moved almost silently, but her hearing picked up on the rustle of his robes. Even if he had worn nothing, she would have known it was him. If she could have looked and see him, she would have, as it was all she could was turn her head to face his direction.

Though there was no desire between them, when he touched her jaw like he had on Iridonia, Jairdain let out a sigh. It was a human need to have physical contact and while Kaalia had helped get her to the room, this was different. More person and connected. Almost as soon as it happened, Lykos pulled away and sat down in one of the chairs.

As he spoke a small and almost bitter smile crossed her face. A slight and single laugh came up, it wasn't full of any humor and the tone matched her smile. Bitter laugh and smile before the jedi answered. Her tone was not bitter, but it lacked much emotion.

"Mistreated?" She shook her head, "I have been treated fine."

[member="Darth Lykos"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

A grin formed as [member="Darth Lykos"] whispered in his mind, and Krest would respond in turn. My boy, I am that which casts the shadow you wish to embody. Krest would chuckle even after the younger Zabrak had left. He was always so serious, just like his master. "Avacyn, I have a task for you. Get me a Ysalmir. It would be a much better way to inhibit our guest than filling her with a steady stream of chemicals. I have something else to attend to."

Almost on que the giant form of a Maelridae stepped from the shadows. It was the creature that had hissed, and the elder Zabrak gently ran a hand over it's eyeless head. You did well, but our job isn't finished yet. Rest. It nodded before walking away. Oh, there was so much to be done.