On The Edge of Darkness

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene stood on the edge of a low rock platform just inside of a small village on the outskirts of a dirtball of a world. Opposite her on a small stone hut crouched her Sister @[member="Evelynn"]. Both women were perfectly silent of course each one staring into the small alleyway that was below them, each one remaining perfectly still, hidden in the darkness of night by black cloaks. Nothing could give them away, not sight or the force.

They waited in their silence, waiting for their target.

Nemene weeks earlier had broken into Republic communications with the aid of her slicer friend. She had received some data about Jedi patrols and where certain members of the Order were headed. Here on this dirtball of a world one of these Jedi was supposed to appear. Nemene and Evelynn had observed him several times, a man by the name @[member="Vulpesen"], a boy really, close in age to both she and her sister.

Their objective was quite simple, not to kill the boy, but to take him.

The two Queen of Rattatak wanted some fun, and the young Jedi would provide that fun. A smile touched her normally stony face, moonlight reflecting off her orange eyes seemed to glint with excitement. She could hardly wait.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen groaned and lifted his hands behind his head, resting against them as if they were a pillow. He had separated from the rest of the patrol in hopes of finding a relic somewhere near by. Dust ball worlds did tend to have them and he could sense a dark presence from somewhere. It was a gift he had, and one that had come in handy as a shadow. After the destruction of the empire he had grown rather relaxed, but still somewhat guarded as the occasional sith would pop-up. Still, he hadn't worried about such things in weeks and he was fairly sure that today would be one of the quieter days. He'd been called in for basic security and the possibility of an artifact. Nothing else.

As he walked alone, Vulpesen couldn't help but mentally berate himself for leaving Ace in the ship. He was bored as hell and the wolf had often been a source of entertainment in times like these. "Perhaps I should buy one of those holovid things. Maybe that'll help pass the time on these missions." Resuming his musings in his mind, he continued on, so focused on the relic that he failed to notice the hunters around him. @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Evelynn]

Waiting in silence was fast becoming a speciality of Evelynn's.

Of course, wasn't life spent just waiting for death? A game of lingering. The very thought made her mentally snigger, perhaps she would muse upon such a concept in her spare time. However this was not spare time, this was...one would hesitate before suggesting such...but...this was play time.

Her eyes peered down below piercing through the darkness, awaiting their hand-picked victim.

They were like vultures cloaked in the night, circling above, just waiting, salivating at the very thought of their next meal, this Vulpesen character. It amused the silent sister of just how drastically his day was about to change. One moment you're just strolling along, your guard is down and your mind is stuck within the inane. The next you're watching your mother get beheaded while you eat your former best friend in the form of a steak that was too blue for one's usual taste.

Oh, I'm sorry, that got personal.

He was in their sights now, Evelynn shot an all-too eager smile to Nemene and gave a simple gesture, a wave of her hand that said all that needed to be said:

After you.

@[member="Vulpesen"], @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

She moved before Evelynn could even finish gesturing. It was a simple slip and a fall really, less of a dash. She jumped in front of the Jedi with a simple glide, landing on her feet with a soft thud and immediately drawing her saber-staff. The two deep orange blades sprang to life with a loud snap and a hiss, though it was for show.

As soon as the lightsaber ignited Nemene shot her left hand upward, almost immediately red crackling sparks of lightning shot from her palm towards the Jedi.

The lightning was not enough to kill, but wound and cause immense pain, pain enough for a regular person to lap into unconsciousness. At the same time Nemene knew that Evelynn would drop in behind the Jedi and trap him in between the two of them. It was a simple pincher maneuver, quick, easy, and always effective.
@[member="Evelynn"] @[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen was instantly jolted out his his musings when @[member="Nemene Talith"] landed in front of him. As her saber ignited, Vulpesen had just enough time to raise up his hands in an attempt to ward off the attack. His effort stopped a few of the strands as he used the force to fight against her, but the rest caught him square in the chest, throwing the jedi back. "Son of a-" He stopped speaking as he hit the ground, of favoring instead for a grunt of pain. Keeping with the roll, Vulpesen's now alert senses picked up another presence landing behind him. Keeping with the momentum of the attack, Vulpesen rolled to a crouching position and executed a quick leg sweep, aiming to knock @[member="Evelynn"] off of her feet. He was slower than usual, a product o the lightning's pain, but he refused to lose consciousness. One thing he had been taught on the streets was that one should always remain conscious. It was a gift of sorts and if he could take a direct blow to the head, then he could easily make it past this enormous pain, using it to jolt his senses instead of deaden them.

 

[Evelynn]

Evelynn paused for a moment to glare at the space that Nemene had just occupied a mere second ago. Sometimes that woman had absolutely no patience. There was a slight shake of the head and a roll of the eyes before the young woman dropped down the join her sister in pincer heaven.

The silent sister dropped to the ground with a muted thud, not wielding that same all-out offensive as her fellow Queen.

She hopped backwards when the Jedi lashed out with his sweep, perhaps had he not been under the duress of her sister's considerable lightning then he would have been successful in knocking her over, but alas, it was not to be. Evelynn wrinkled her nose at the Jedi in response, appearing to be extremely insulted that he would dare to touch her.

A hand shot out, to attempt to perform a simple technique. A force choke. It was surprisingly delicate, not designed to crush windpipes but to just slowly, gradually limit the amount of oxygen allowed through. It was a subtle attack, you'd only know she was doing something by gesture initially. Spread a little panic. Deprive that brain. Savour that struggle.

Of course, it was likely that the Jedi could have resisted Evelynn through sheer force of will but then that would have taken the focus off of dearest Nemene, and that was a bad idea.

@[member="Vulpesen"], @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen growled as he felt his throat constrict and quickly lashed out with his left hand, sending a dagger in the general direction of his attacker while his hand reached for his lightsaber. Survive, Survive, SURVIVE! The single word raced through his head as he split his focus between the two opponents. They had him flanked in an alley and so far, he was in a bit of trouble. Still, he might just be able to squirm out if he played his cards right. He had the will power, he had the strength. He just needed a chance to breathe. A single moment of clarity in which he could begin his own attack.

@Evelynn @Nemene Talith

 

[Lira Dajenn]

There would be no pause, no time for the Jedi to catch his breath, no time for him to even understand what was going on. Before he could regain his footing Nemene dashed forward. Her double bladed lightsaber swirled slightly and cut into the dusty sand below. The super heated plasma melted the sand and burned it into glass, Nemene threw her lightsaber blade forward, tossing tiny miniscule shards of glass towards the Jedi's face.

Then in an instant she was upon him.

With a sharp force infused punch she shot a single blow to the Jedi's Sternum, then she deactivated her lightsaber and moved the hilt of her saber-staff into the boys throat, hopefully causing enough damage to lay the man out.
@[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Evelynn"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen let out a snarl as the glass went into his eyes. As the next hit slammed into his chest, Vulpesen found himself on his back with his saber next to him on the ground. As the final blow came, Vulpesen only had the strength to enhance his body to keep it from causing too much pain. Still, there was now a blade to his throat and he was well aware that survival often called for surrender. It hurt him to say it, but for once he had been caught and the fox was finally out of tricks for the fight. He would concede, at least for now. "With his eyes closed to keep out the pain, Vulpesen opened his mouth to speak, careful not to prompt any blade activations. "I'm guessing I'm more valuable alive or else you'd have killed me by now. So, either prove me wrong right now to tell me whats going on. This isn't exactly the best surprise party I've ever been to." He'd been hurt more, but this seemed to affect just the right locations to disable him. It was not pleasant and he was certain that he had been disabled until further notice.

Still, that was not to say that he was without a plan. There was one trick that didn't require the force and as not every sith was familiar with his pilot's status, he had a feeling that he might be able to get a simple message out to said pilot. Ace was too far for any complex messages, but all he needed was a few words. Captured. Sith. Get help. There would be no outward signs of the telepathic communication between the bond mates, and Vulpesen would be sure to keep it that way, keeping a secret of his Ace in the hole. Pun intended of course.

@Evelynn @Nemene Talith

 

[Evelynn]

If there was a small saving grace for the extremely unlucky Jedi was that his dagger struck gold, or rather flesh. The blade caught her offending hand, causing her to withdraw those digits that weilded and weaved the force. Her choke halted, but at the very least Evelynn had distracted him enough for Nemene to further her assault.

She stopped, taking a precious moment out of her day to stare at her new wound. The young woman was almost entranced by it, forming a fist and watching as the gash on her palm furiously welled up. The girl smiled to herself, lashing out with her tongue to taste her own flowing crimson.

When the Jedi spoke she was brought back to reality and in response she offered him that very same, extremely disconcerting smile.

Evelynn crouched down at his head, her afflicted hand touching down upon his temple, the wet warmth of the blood like a kiss. He was certainly hardy. A lesser person would have been unconscious by now and as much as Nemene would have been content to stay here and knock seven hells out of the Jedi they had more sinister objectives in mind.

Time to rest. A weight would be applied to the atmosphere around them. She fed on the pain of her throbbing wound to influence the atmosphere around them. Warmth. Eyelids drooping. Her grey eyes stared into his as she suggested, no, urged:

Sleep.

@[member="Nemene Talith"], @[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

(In the interest of the story, I'm gonna go ahead and time skip us forward )
When the Jedi awoke he would find himself no longer on a dusty backwater world, in fact he would find himself in a room that looked eerily like it belonged in a hospital.

They had not taken him to a cold dark dungeon, they had not taken him to some medieval torture chamber in the basement of a mansion. There was no hint of dust or dirt, no hint of anything that would give this room away as a chamber meant for the Torture of Jedi and other good things. The only hint of this, as the wide array of tools displayed before the Jedi Himself.

Vulpesen would find himself awake in a blank white room, bright florescent lights glowing brightly with a sort of soft buzz. The room had no windows, but instead had white paneling from floor to ceiling. A certain...sterility clung in the air, and indeed the air within the room was warm and smelled faintly of disinfectant.

The Jedi would be tightly enveloped by strange organic ropes wrapping around his arms and legs, Yuuzhang Vong Biots that held him in place suspended in mid air, he would be able to move his head, but nothing else. In font of him he would see a small cart covered in a soft white sheet. Upon the sheet sat an array of knives and other blades, sharp as could be.

Opposite this cart was another one exactly like it, though upon this one sat an array of syringes, vials, and what looked to be strange bug like creatures, though they did not make a noise.

Silence would hang in the air, no noise except for the droning buzz of the lights.

The Jedi would be alone for hours, or perhaps even days. It was impossible to tell the passage of time, impossible to see how many hours flowed by. They would make him wait for the pain.
@[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Evelynn"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes flicked around the room searching the place around him. His body seemed to be healing alright, but he had absolutely no idea what was going on. Only one thing was certain. That fight was not a dream. After he finished taking in his surroundings, Vulpesen focused himself into a sort of healing trance, making his wounds nearly complete before calling out. "Hello, is anyone out there?" His eyes searched the shadows, looking for any hint of movement. "You know, its impolite to leave a guest in waiting." His focused changed again, this time searching for what he had on him. Where were his daggers and saber? Also, how far was Ace, he reached out through their bond the farther they were, the less their bonding would hold. Still, he wasn't without a chance. In those hours of being controlled, Vulpesen did his best to call the knives of the table to him in an attempt to try and slash through his bonds. One of the first rules of capturing a jedi shadow, never leave sharp objects in the vicinity.

@[member="Nemene Talith"] @[member="Evelynn"]

 

[Evelynn]

Naughty boy.

A snatched out, grabbing one of the knives that the Jedi was attempting to summon. The silent sister seemed to have appeared from nowhere. It really lead one to question their sanity? Had she been standing there the entire time? Watching? Waiting? Quite possibly. After all she was much more reserved than Nemene, more likely to just blend in with the furniture when she wasn't moving.

Her pallid visage frowned, clearly upset that their guest was misbehaving. There was almost a child-like quality to her features in that moment, as if she had been scolded and told to clean her room.

Evelynn shook her head at him with heaping teaspoons of disapproval. Telekinesis would not be a wise idea in this moment. Lesser beings not conforming to her unspoken rules? She would not like that, and believe me when I say that you do not want to trifle with her. She was coming.

A few clipped clicks of the heel and the Sith was directly before him. She lifted the apprehended knife and held it but a centimetre away from his left eye. I'd remain rather still if I were you.

@[member="Nemene Talith"], @[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

A small growl rumbled in the jedi's throat, but he remained still. Healed or not, he'd rather not start his injuries all over again and the sith was giving a very clear message. As he waited for her to explain or do something, his eyes flicked between the blade and her face. Still, his gaze was neitheri piercing or relaxed, remaining passive. Such an expression was rare but he was finding it very difficult to read this girl and he's rather not get hurt for either being too relaxed, or too hostile. Best to find a happy or blank and safe medium. Still, he was curious, and thus despite the lack of expression he did speak. "Where's your friend? I'm sure she wouldn't want you taking all the fun in this situation. I'm also guessing that she's the one who's gonna tell me what this i all about." His eyes finally left the dagger, looking into the eye of the wielder instead. He saw the insanity that crawled inside and as the most crazy person he had met yet was himself, he didn't want to know what this girl was capable of doing on a simple whim.

@Evelynn @Nemene Talith

 

[Lira Dajenn]

From seemingly no where the swishing of a door could be heard. A white wall faded away into the ground to reveal...more white. Then around a corner came a figure that could only be described as beautiful. Long flowing black hair, eagle like orange eyes, a face that was stern, yet downright gorgeous in any light. The woman did not walk into the room, but instead flowed like water. Not even the tiniest bit of emotion showed on her face as she fluidly moved across the small chamber, ending her seemingly liquid stride besides Evelynn.

For the longest while she did not speak, she did not glance at the blade held before the Jedi's eye or the woman holding it, she simply watched the Jedi, her eyes colder than the blackness of space. Finally after what seemed like an eternity she spoke, her voice as soft as a guinea pigs stomach.

“You'll have to excuse my Sister. She's rather shy around strangers.” Nemene smiled as though she had told a funny joke, though the Jedi would have no idea what she was on about.

Slowly, as fluidly as she had walked Nemene turned about, her black hair flowing and shifting slightly as she did so. She regarded one of the tables besides the captured Jedi, and with a delicate two fingered touch picked up her own blade, a small scalpel. Then she turned again, the sharp knife slicing into the Jedi's clothes with almost neat precision. Slowly she began to cut away at the cloth, blade coming nanometers from skin.
@[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Evelynn"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes flicked around the room before finally settling on the new woman. Why is it that the sith are the ones with the pretty girls, and why do said pretty girls always want me dead? Heaving a small sigh as the thought, Vulpesen held her glare, giving her a small smile as if he were rather comfortable. Still, he didn't speak yet. He figured that she would have her time. When she finally did speak, the Jedi increased his smile to respond to hers. "Well, she certainly seems happy with her form of introduction. Though I will admit that my hand was caught in the cookie jar." His voice was still light and conversational, almost as if they were old friends instead of enemies with less than friendly intentions.

As the girl reached for the knife, Vulpesen's smile dropped a bit. Generally blades meant bad things when pointed in his direction and he already had one in a rather unsavory place. As she started bringing the blade to the cloth of the tunic, he was happy that the jedi's clothing choices were rather cheap and easy to come by at the temple. His second thought was a bit less professional and despite a voice in the back of the mind screaming at him not to do it, not to say it, he simply couldn't pass up the opportunity. "Well now, shouldn't we at least go on a few dates first. Then again, you could also tell em what I'm here for." He was fully aware of the blades proximity and thus he was careful to not let his words push his skin towards the weapon, but he was still rather clueless as to what was going on. Generally people would ask for the information they wanted and other times, they would have simply executed him. A bounty would probably earn them more if he was in one piece so all in all, there were very few reasons to hold him here.

@[member="Nemene Talith"] @[member="Evelynn"]

 

[Evelynn]

Evelynn turned, still holding that blade to the Jedi's eyeball as her sister passed comment, shooting her an extremely wry expression. As close as they were, the girl found that Nemene was a woman who existed upon needless cruelty. Whether it was in the form of small barbed jibes or fully blown out torture she was a woman that reigned over her kingdom of viciousness with glee.

The Silent Sister finally took the knife away from his oculus, there was now no longer need to keep him still and compliant. Actually quite the opposite now. Now that they were both ready the Jedi would be expected to be doing a spot of thrashing very shortly.

This was merely the prep, they were setting the scene. Pace is important and anticipation can lead to a greater feeling of reward.

Almost absent-mindedly the girl fingered the various and frightening miscellanea that sat upon the second cart. It was almost as if she were picking out a slice of cake to have for high tea. She picked up a jar inhabited by a few fat sickly coloured maggots and an expression of almost child-like glee floated upon her face. Opening the container she tipped two of the creatures onto the palm of her hand.

There was no worries, they wouldn't hurt her.

Looking to Nemene with eyes that almost craved approval, she held up the muscle maggots. This was a collaboration after all, it's rude not to ask first.

@[member="Nemene Talith"], @[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes flicked down to the maggots, they looked rather unsavory and lucky for Vulpesen, he might have a few tricks to keep them from hurting him. He was after all, a child of Amar. "Something tells me I'm not here as a living decoration." This time his eyes hardened on @[member="Nemene Talith"]'s face, holding the hawk like intensity that accompanied him in times of possible pain. "Now then, why am I here?" The tone was serious and despite being trapped, he was not the sort of person who would stay as such without being informed of the reasons for his capture.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene walked around the lad and away from Evelynn, for a moment she said nothing, she simply drew out a small wooden box from a tiny bag at her hip. The box was ornate, carved with a dragon like creature and what appeared to be the face of a Devil. Slowly with a satin gloved hand Nemene drew open the wooden latched box, revealing within a carefully assembled package of tiny metal needles.

Each of the needles was a specially made blade, something that had cost Nemene a fortune. Every single one of the tiny metal pin's was a Devaronian Edge, a metal infused with the unique blood poison, sometimes referred to as the most painful venom in the entire galaxy. Slowly she drew one of these needles out between her thumb and index finger, her glove preventing the metal from touching her.

“You're here to help answer a question.” As she spoke she stepped up behind him, directly at his spine. She smiled the slightest smile, and then pressed the pinpoint of the needle at the base of his neck, right where his spine began. With the softest press imaginable she slid the Devaronian Edged needle into the Jedi's skin, sinking it in between his vertebrae until it came into a contact with a cluster of nerves. She smiled slightly, knowing that this way the pain would spread faster throughout his body.

The Queen of Pain did this over and over again, until 12 needles made their way down the length of the Jedi's spine, each infecting him with the worst poison imaginable.

When she was finished she slowly closed the box, and then beckoned to her sister. The Jedi would be in unbearable pain soon, and they were just getting started.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen raised an eyebrow at her elusive answer. "And what question is tha- ah... aH... AH SON OF A MOTHERLESS GUNDARK WHAT IS THAT?" Vulpesen shook in his bonds, growling at the pain down his back. He'd been blown up, slashed, and shot, but this was something new, and something far worse than each of those pains. A growl ripped form his throat as he tried to get away from the pain. "You know, I preferred your earlier methods of interrogation!" Despite his words, he was still dealing with agony and in hopes of giving them something in return, Vulpesen turned his mind to the maggots in @[member="Evelynn"]'s hand, using what focus he had left to dominate their minds, an easy feat for someone who had tamed a rancor. Turn yourselves upon them! Unless the sith happened to be as well of practiced tamers as the jedi before them, the sadistic girl would soon find his handiwork quite effective as her pets turned against her and attacked her flesh instead of the intended target.

@[member="Nemene Talith"]