Private Hope and betrayal

[Darth Strosius]

​

"That is where you are mistaken young Darkseeker, there is one chain still left." A subtle correction but spoken with an edge that left little room for argument as the masked man's gaze drifted back up the ramp with a small nod towards the ship. "One that you've chosen to bind yourself with, and thus one that I cannot sever." His visor quickly snapped back to Kasir. "But not one that will hinder your potential I should think. Unless she becomes more of a weight than you can manage."

Darth Strosius offered a solemn nod at the assurance that the Darkseeker would nonetheless still pursue his typical mandate, even if he now lacked any direction from his peers. "I would expect nothing less." Kasir was one among the ranks of his Sith that he knew would keep close to his teachings and orders even if he didn't have direct instruction. It was one of the reasons he was a Darkseeker of course, the ability to be malleable yet effective in every instance was a rare and highly valuable quality. One that Kasir had in spades but one that he halfway hoped would not pass to the Jedi.

She would have to be rigidly instructed, her previous life and teachings wiped away with steady lessons that broke down her world and forced her to see the cracks that were already present in it. That was one such reason that Kasir alone wouldn't be responsible for her training, he would bend to get the easiest and most effective solution but flexibility in this matter could prove disastrous. A lesson that the both of them would learn by the end if all went well.

Darth Strosius hummed in thought as the question of where to begin instruction was presented, letting Kasir list out some options and their benefits as he rolled the idea around in his mind. Faldos would be the simplest answer of course but he quickly dismissed that idea, having her so close to an area of busy traffic would only heighten her chances of escape. Not to mention any possible vengeance being enacted on his people. Mustafar offered more obstacles than he'd prefer for training but it would indeed do well to add a harsh environmental element to her lessons.

At the mention of another observation he cocked his head to the side slightly, peering at Kasir as though he was inspecting his words with his unseen gaze rather than listening to them. "Is that so?" For one blessed with the Force to have specific inclinations within its influence wasn't unheard of of course, specializations and preferences were natural in that way. With such an inclination in mind though, it very easily settled the question on where to bring her.

"Mustafar. Stick to the lava plans where nothing can grow and flourish. As far from her element as possible. Give her nothing familiar, a task already aided with her having a new hand, and it should be far easier to begin chipping away at her Jedi training." He'd have to send for some additional hands and staff to be assigned to the outpost there in order to account for Kasir and his 'student' but that would be of little issue.

Suddenly he tensed, his gaze snapping to the ship and the Jedi within so quickly that an audible scrape from where the prongs of his mask impacted his chestplate could be heard. A sound which drew a few idle worried glances from the medics, especially since he was looking at their patient. When he spoke again there was a slight snarl to his words, disgust radiating as he slowly looked back at Kasir. "And make sure that she knows what she should pray to. The Light has failed her, but the Dark Side can embrace her if she is willing."

Kasir Dorran / Corazona von Ascania

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Corazona von Ascania | Darth Strosius

The words of the Lord Inquisitor cut through Kasir's pride like a lightsaber blade, searing his very soul. Having put little thought into taking her prisoner during Darth Nefaron's invasion, he had willingly surrendered to this new path, chaining himself to a mission that came with great responsibility. As his gaze followed the Sith's nod back to the cargo bay, the weight of his decisions felt even heavier. His grip on the Jedi's lightsaber tightened.

As the visor met his own cold gaze, the Darkseeker's features turned to durasteel. Straightening his posture, he refused to show any hint of uncertainty. “I understand,” he said calmly. “I will make sure she doesn't become too difficult to manage.” There was a brief moment of silence. “And if necessary... I will not hesitate to end her life.”

Another realization then hit Kasir, an awareness of the depths of Darth Strosius' investment in this mission. Consumed by so many thoughts since returning from New Cov, it simply eluded him upon their arrival. He imagined the Lord Inquisitor could have easily given the order for her execution, or kept them both under constant supervision on the Bailiff Station. Instead, he trusted him enough to venture to the hidden enclave on Mustafar, knowing that it would require the presence of others under his command as well to ensure its success. It struck him as an act of trust, which was rarely ever seen. "Understood, my Lord.” His voice was steady. "I'll ensure everything is in place to break her will and sever any ties to the Jedi. I do believe bringing her to a more hostile environment may even quicken the process. She will have nothing to cling to there.”

In an instant there was tension in the air that felt more like a physical force. The Darkseeker’s pulse quickened as he both heard and felt the intensity of the Sith’s next set of words. The scraping sound echoed in his ears long after it finished. He followed his gaze once more where the Jedi now lay vulnerable. Whatever it had been that caused the reaction went unnoticed by him. He then closed his eyes, focusing intently on the surrounding energies. With the Jedi, it was like viewing a pond with ripples, suggesting sorrow, loss, and even confusion. Still, there was nothing to savor from it for him in that moment, feeling nothing that could fuel his own dark power. Due to the relentless training which had shaped him, he simply recognized these emotions as weakness.

"I will," he finally replied. "Soon she will learn what true power is, and where her loyalties should lie.”

Several steps were taken back up the ramp, so that he may gain a better view of the scene before him, and past the medic team. With a furrowed brow, he glanced over to Darth Strosius. "Do you have confidence in my ability to handle her conversion from this point forward?" Rather uncharacteristic for Kasir, to be sure, but there was a touch of uncertainty when he asked the question.

With his aide, Yit Los'ena , the next act often felt like a delicate dance. But for the Jedi, it would be devoid of any affection; it was nothing more than a cold means of communication from the distance that now separated them. An entity cloaked in malice, he then reached out with a pull from his mind in an attempt to enter the Jedi’s consciousness. In his own mind, the Darkseeker conjured images of strength and collaboration.

<<You need not fight this battle alone. Embrace the darkness and let it guide you. I will be your ally.>>

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Exhausted as she was, Cora didn't have the strength to keep the Sith's touch from slipping through the cracks in her mind.

He wasn't violent. Not now, at least. Unlike the Dark Jedi she'd faced on Coruscant, Kasir didn't seek to twist her memories into something repulsive, nor did he try to beat her into submission.

<<You need not fight this battle alone. Embrace the darkness and let it guide you. I will be your ally.>>

Her mind drifted, entertaining thoughts of putting a sword through her father-in-law's gut and ending the bloated bastard's corrupt reign over Ukatis. It wouldn't even be a particularly difficult task, especially if she eschewed a poetic death for ruthless efficiency.

The complexities of what would follow - the lack of an heir, the stability of her home - had her shaking the haze from her mind. The crown would only be a burden. A sharp, heavy burden that deviated from the path of the Jedi. Who was she to try and wield it?

Cora quieted her thoughts and closed her eyes. This was about survival, not success, she reasoned.

<<You’d hate to disappoint him, wouldn’t you?>>

Kasir Dorran Darth Strosius