Let Your Darker Side Give In

[Connor Harrison]

Mid swing, the raps on the door and the calm voice of her Master stopped Joon. In that break, she composed herself and remembered to breath. Beads of sweat across her brow, arms and back under her black vest.

"You never need to ask, Master.”

Joon walked over bare footed, dabbing her brow with the back of her hand, and opened the door. Each time she saw her Master, she made her skin chill a little. There was so much to the woman she didn’t know, and she was an imposing character without even trying, but Joon did feel comfortable around her.

"I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

"I always need ask where your privacy is concerned, Joon..."

She was many things, but she did not break her word when it was given... Especially since it was never given lightly. Offering a slight smile she shook her head in protest of the girl's words.

"Quite the contrary, it is I who has disturbed you. But with good reason, I assure you. Come, I have something to show you."

As she stepped back into the corridor, waiting for Joon to follow, she pressed her comms.

"KayFour, please see to it that the guest suite is tidied up."

No sense in wasting time making Joon do it.

Wandering down the hallway and into the lounge, Ayvari led her student to a door that was usually inconspicuous enough. Barely warranted looking at. Dialing in a number to the keypad however revealed another small hallway, and beyond that a vast training hall.

A large, empty space, enough to go through all manner of drills without feeling pressed in. A couple of training dummies lined one wall, and a collection of training droids rested within a glass shelf. While the floor was devoid of anything aside from light padding, the walls held all manner of weapons. From simple kendo sticks, to even a Sith Sword...

"I should have brought you here sooner, truth be told, but part of me had hoped you'd stumble upon it yourself. You're free to make use of it whenever you like. It's soundproof, so you won't disturb me."

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Wiping her hair away from the brow, Joon nodded and started out the room to follow, glancing around a little warily at the mess she had made in a blind rage. It was only a bed, after all, but still…

Walking behind her Master, Joon rubbed her arms as she wondered what treat would be revealed next. Some huge map room, or weapons, or a new attire to wear? Part of her wanted to shed this image; it was an image forged out of rebellion to Ayra. The tattoo had to go; it wasn’t her. The hair was short and unkempt, like her. For the first time she felt like she wouldn’t be taken seriously.

And not just what Taeli had said, but also how her Master carried herself and looked without the need to look like a rebellious girl.

As they walked, Joon thought more and more as they passed through another door and the sudden vastness of where they were hit her as much as the cool air that greeted her. Now that was impressive.

She gasped and walked into the training hall and was in awe at how much it was like the Imperial set-up on Duro. Dummies, targets, weapons, climbing equipment. It was her playground.

"Thank you, Master," she mumbled as she walked ahead towards the swords.

Taking a hilt in her hand, she looked down the weapon and pressed the cool blade to her skin to feel its coldness and ability to kill. She cut the air once. Twice. Turning around, facing away from the Dark Lady, Joon focused and began a six-step move which consisted of 4 strikes, 1 backflip and a final strike.

She enjoyed the thrill of the fight; the dance once made before the kill.

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

Whenever you like turned into right now, though truthfully it did not bother Ayvari as part of her had been expecting this exact response. After all, had she not just found the girl kicking apart her bedroom? A much healthier way to let off steam, inside the room meant for such things.

A slight smile made itself known, before she made her way across the room and toward one of the two other doors which ran from it. One was the medical bay, and it was actually advertised as such by a plaque. The other, unmarked, was her destination.

Slipping inside the cells, for that was what lay beyond, Ayvari's gaze pierced through the darkness. Seeking, searching... Until it fell upon the young girl curled in one corner of a cell. It was tiny, not really meant for long term use simply transportation. How long had Sohna been here for now? Even Ayvari could not recall.

Soundproofing was a lifesaver sometimes. The girl had not even noticed her presence, she hadn't moved an inch, so she was able to watch without interruption for quite some time.

Why must you do this to yourself, child? You are your Father's daughter! You could have anything in this Galaxy you wanted if you'd only submit... This is not my plan, but his. Why do you refuse his path?

It did not make sense. Not one bit. Did she not love her Father? Did she not wish to make him proud?

What did Ayvari know on the subject, though?

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

It was minutes before Joon stopped and turned, noticing she was alone and only the echo of her hitting the dummies filled the hall. It was ghostly quiet, but peaceful and cool. Lots of space, cool lighting and the gentle hum of the ship around.

Resting the metallic blade on the dummie’s shoulder, Joon licked her lips gently and looked around again for a few moments.

Probably watching me, she thought. Better not be complacent!

And with a cry, she cleaved the blade through the dummies neck and it wobbled and toppled onto the floor with a clank.

Walking away, she moved to a climbing bar near the wall and dropped the blade on the ground before starting to climb, all four limbs finding the right grip to move around on, feeling the strain of each muscle as she climbed higher up the wall, and down, and across, the thrill of thinking this was a secret lair she was breaking into or a mountain to reach a Jedi temple.

She spat the sweat out reaching her lips.

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

Ayvari left the cells after another minute or so, and slipped through the training room with just a slight glance in the direction of her student. Joon was hard at work it seemed, perhaps opening up this door to her would prove beneficial in the long run. Force knew that a lack of training and structure drove her up the wall, who knew what it must do to someone who had been raised primarily for such a purpose?

Still today was not to be the beginning of her formal training. No, they would wait until Duro for that.

​

Duro System

It was not too much longer before they reached their destination, a week at most. In that time Ayvari had not disturbed Joon once aside from their daily meal together which she insisted they have. To catch up on the days events, to see if Joon needed anything... In truth she loved the peacefulness herself, a lack of responsibility and forced conversations.

Alas it could not last forever.

Down below the Mynock Duro waited. This did not only mark the beginning of their working relationship, of her training, but also her first mission. Ayvari was genuinely intrigued to see which route her little Mockingbird would take. If she screwed it up then it mattered little, so long as she found a way to survive. Truth be told she had no real use for their target, Ven, Ayvari mostly just wanted to see what she'd do if given the opportunity. Would she try to convert the woman? Seek to train her in the ways of the Darkside?

Who knew.

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

She wasn’t exactly in a rush to leave the safety of the ship and the presence of her Master, especially not back to Duro. Two of the five people she knew in her current life found her here, and one had vanished again, the other betrayed and lied to her. Broke her.

There was nothing there but memories and the shell of where she used to call home.

However, the call came to head down to the rear hold to start the journey. And so ever obedient, regardless of her feelings, Joon pulled her hair back into a short pony-tail, now starting to grow it long again and the crimson streaks were fading. Her black attire would suit Duro for she was used to the environment and planet terrain and didn’t need anything special other than her usual clothing which gave her some comfort but no protection.

Her Master was stood waiting, as calm and welcoming as ever. Joon gave a small smile and walked around to her in the large hold.

"I am ready. This is just another place as much as Sojourn or Korriban. It will not hold me back, don’t worry."

What would await her as the hold opened? An army? Armed guards to detain her? A Sith Lord? A new world to explore? Her mind raced and her eagerness was spiking.

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

The ship sank down through the planetary atmosphere under KayFour's keen watch, all the while Ayvari prepared. Gathering her lightsabers from their place within the lounge, her beloved vibrosword - a gift from one of the only friends she'd ever known - removed from the training room, a fresh set of garments...

And then she headed down into the hold and stood before the ramp, feeling the ship shake slightly as it landed. Joon was by her side mere moments later, seeming a little uneasy but ready to face her homeworld with fresh eyes.

"Back to the start, with the surest of heart..."

With a nod of her head the ramp lowered, opening up into a bunker-like hangar. The world itself was obscured from view behind great durasteel walls, and as Ayvari took the first steps down the ramp if Joon happened to be following she'd realize that this wasn't the same laboratory she was from. It couldn't be, right? After all, it looked new.

She pressed a button on her comms, speaking into the device once her feet had landed on solid ground.

"KayFour, when you've done post-flight checks bring Sohna inside and transfer her to her new cell."

Ayvari flicked her gaze to Joon, the promise of further information on what that meant evident on her face. But now wasn't the time for talking about her Master's child.

"Come, Joon, I'll show you to your suite and then we can begin."

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The ramp opened and Joon walked right beside her Master…but noted it wasn’t outside. It was inside somewhere. This was Duro? It must be another place on the world…but where? Was it even the planet? It looked sort of Imperialistic, but so different. A million questions already flooded her mind, not even before the name Sohna was mentioned and something about a cell.

She looked to Ayvari as they walked out, trying to look for hints as to what she was thinking. And she had a suite?

"What is this place, Master?”

Joon thought better to hold off from who or what Sohna was right now.

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

"Why, don't you recognize it? I do suppose it would look a little different..." she inquired and clarified without skipping a step, leading Joon through the large hangar and out into a long hallway. It was more narrow than she might have liked, but she had been working with limited space... Some things had to be put on the back burner.

On and on they seemed to walk, until rather abruptly and without warning Ayvari stopped and turned toward a door just as plain as the others which had lined the hall.

"Welcome home, little Mockingbird."

At the sound of that last word a slight bleep made itself known before the door opened inward to reveal a full suite of rooms. Far from the drab durasteel that had been seen up until this point it actually looked rather... homely. Not Ayvari's own design, but she had realized that not everybody enjoyed the minimalism that she did.

There was enough room for customizability though, as there had been on the ship. The suite held a relatively large central space which housed a seating area and a kitchenette. Two bedrooms led off either side, one more blatantly the master though the other looked just as agreeable. And of course there was a refresher or two.

"I do fear that you won't be spending too much time in here any time soon, but it's yours all the same. Clean up and change, and then meet me in the room at the end of the hall."

Without another word she left Joon there and disappeared from sight. Best she go ensure that Sohnas rehousing had been as smooth as Joons.

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

As the Dark Lady spoke, Joon looked around. I mean, it did have a feel of the Imperial facility to it – but it couldn’t be, could it? She saw it destroyed months ago; she lived in the ruins and knew the place like the back of her hand.

Hand it been rebuilt? Was she leading the new project?

Following beside her, Joon didn’t look overly wowed at the expansive room that was on show, for it was something she’d never known. All this was like treasure and wealth being dangled before her ready to be pulled away. It looked spacious, and that was one thing she had grown to love. Space.

Walking in, she stretched her arms out and felt the space to be had, and looked at the rooms with a twist of the head.

"Thank you. It’s more than enough,” she spoke , turning to her Master. But she was gone.

Joon looked left and right, and walked back to the door, but she had vanished. Humming to herself, she shrugged and went back in for a slow walk around. She was in no rush, and the fact the Dark Lady kept vanishing meant she obviously had other work more important than Joon, or something to hide. If there was one thing she was tired about, it was being kept in the dark and treated like a pet.

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]

 

[Lief]

Perhaps she ought to have stayed to ensure that Joon had no questions, but in truth she trusted her little Mockingbird to be vocal or solve a situation herself. And a little time to settle and think before her mission began wouldn't go amiss too, right?

The cells were not too far down the hall, and when she turned to enter she saw that Sohna was indeed rehoused. For once she was standing instead of sat in the corner, her fearfully curious gaze had been fixated on the door and now they lingered on Ayvari as she crossed the room.

Her hand moved out to press a keypad set on the outside of the cell.

"Good morning, Sunshine."

The young girl on the other side of the soundproof barrier winced to the sound of her voice and averted her gaze. Ayvari almost frowned; she could remember when her Master's Sparrow was bold, confident... strong. Now her cowardice shone through above all else.

Breaking her had not been enjoyable.

Removing her hand from the keypad, Ayvari turned her head so that Sohna could not read her lips and told one of the Guards to fetch Joon. The sooner she revealed this wayward student, the less chance there would be of distrust between she and Joon.

Besides, maybe Joon could find a way to use Sohna to her advantage.

Nothing was off the table here.

[member="Joon"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

She hadn’t been alone for too long, but had been there long enough to have a look around before two guards came for her. Not knowing why, Joon never-the-less followed out of the room down the corridor into the darker, colder depths of this place.

It looked like a military prison, but also a strange complex to live. It was very confusing.

Turning a slight corner, the Dark Lady was waiting, and Joon felt this was a very dark place indeed. In front of her, a cell door.

The guards stopped for her to walk the rest of the way alone, and she did so without breaking a stride. Not wanting to look and be nosy, Joon fought the urge and spoke quietly.

"You called.”

[member="Ayvari Dorian"]