That Escalated Quickly (Invite)

[Amnell de Portiers]

Following behind Anja, not that Amnell really had much option at this point... her eyes did wander taking in all the machines in sight. So many ships, soldiers, and work being done around them. It was becoming clear to her that these people, whoever they were, were preparing for some military operation of some kind. But what, and against who that was the real question. That and she still had little clue who these people were to begin with.

When Anja stopped to face her, Amnell couldn't help but take a step back wanting a little space between the two of them. "Pardon?" She didn't quite understand where Anja was going with this.

Her brow knitted together, "Well, yes. It's all I do. Make droids, upgrade systems and improve droids current weapons. Anything to improve upon the old. Made a few of my own designs over the years, when money wasn't a concern. But ... why? Why is this important?" Surely this wasn't the reason she'd been taken. There were so many other droid engineers out there with far better pedigrees than her. Who were more talented, more experienced. In the scheme of things, she was nobody. "Not only that, but how did you know I did that? Did you have me followed?" So many questions raced through her mind. What little Anja did speak just kept throwing more questions onto the pile of things that Amnell desperately wanted to know the answers to.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Anja had eyes and ears everywhere across the galaxy. Her agents constantly sought out potential talent to be kidnapped and later indoctrinated into The Primeval. For some, however, it was more useful for them to retain their original personalities unspoiled... Usually the creative types for obvious reasons.

"Not important." She responded to her last question before crawling back up to her first. "I need you to make droids. I've been told you have an eye for innovation, and that you can do it with just about anything." She went on with what she was saying. It almost sounded like a pitch but of course the one difference was that the level of choice involved was severely limited. More like it was you either do what she asked or died.

The witch walked forward and observed her forces below before turning back around and facing her.

"You will be given a facility, assuming you can achieve it. All the hands you need and whatever materials are required. All I ask is for your service..." Again the mood changed from hostile kidnapping to a relaxing meeting over Caf. Except there wasn't any Caf, but if there was it'd be just like that. It was somewhat odd that Anja was being unusually social with this girl. There wasn't a particular reason for it but the Host Lord felt oddly comfortable with her. There was just something about her the witch couldn't describe.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

She gave a small shrug, "I've learned to make do. I'm sure I could build a droid from a little bit of scrap metal and a powerpack from a blaster given enough time." She then sighed as she looked up to her kidnapper. "I'm assuming I have little to no choice in this matter. I do this for you or I perish I'm guessing, yes?" The terms she wanted to know, quite specifically. Even if they were less than pleasant details.

"I can do it." She said softly, as she glanced over her shoulder ... Looking back the way they came. A part of her wishing somehow, someway that she could just take off right now, run back the way she'd come and escape this whole mess. "What are the droids for? What do you want them to do for you, to be capable of?" A relevant question. "Further more, again I still don't even know your name much less who exactly you work for ... Or even what cause you people support. I can see plain as day you've a hell of an army, training for some major operation. My guess is that you want military grade droids. Possibly for some kind of invasion force. Am I wrong?"

Another sigh fell from her lips,"There is a small matter that will get in the way on my side of things." Actually a large matter, but she did feel the need to lay her cards, all of them out on the table. Which was why she was bringing this up now.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Pacing back and forth the Host Lord looked on towards the Sith Academy. It would eventually become a home for acolytes from Sith and Primeval alike. A testament to their lasting Alliance, the final slab put in place to solidify a relationship that was once thought to be unlucky. Anja didn't toss away help but many expected the divine leader of an entire people to be prideful and ignorant yet she seemed quite open-minded, relatively speaking. The wind grew stronger... Strong enough that her brunette hair blew with it, locks smashing into her face and clouding her pale eyes.

Turning from the breeze she walked back towards Amnell who obviously had a lot to say. "I have no name for you to speak of. Who you are working for is The Primeval." She raised her voice with a sudden gust; this one was strong enough to shake a small vehicle. They weren't brought here to stay, however.

"We're nearly ready!" A solider shouted as the shuttle's engines started up once again.

Anja took them here to prove a point. She intended to show the woman a small symbol of her authority but who exactly Anja was to her would remain a mystery. Surely she couldn't have been that powerful if she herself was the one kidnapping the cripple but she radiated in a way that screamed to the very world her status. "Your observations are well founded." She remarked sarcastically towards her comment on the invasion force, a yes to her question if she could guess. Whatever the young woman was playing at with the "small matter" Anja had no intention of giving her bargaining chips.

As she walked towards the loading ramp, "You have no fears with us. You may be my captive but you're not a slave... What matter could possibly get in the way?" She was genuinely curious, though, not just trying to be smart.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Amnell sighed at the response. The woman was quite strange to her. Quite strange indeed. "I see." She said flatly as the vehicle shuddered in the wind. Things certainly weren't making any more sense to her now, than they did a few minutes ago.

Hearing the soldier's words, she lofted a brow and stepped towards the viewport to see if she could get a glimpse of what they were doing down below. The brunette nodded to Anja, at least that was somewhat of an answer. Confirming a little of what the young woman thought. War and invasion, how interesting... She thought to herself. Is this something you really want to be a part of? No. It's not. But I don't exactly have much option, now do I? Unfortunately not.

Another sigh fell from her lips as she looked to Anja. This wasn't a subject she liked to discuss. It wasn't something she shared with even those closest to her, and now to share it with her kidnapper seemed odd. "You know well enough by now that something isn't entirely right with me." She said softly, her eyes dropping to the floor. "The term is Quannot's Syndrome. Essentially as time progresses my nerves and muscle tissue degrade, leaving me in an enormous amount of pain and agony. Without medications, treatments ... I will be useless to you unable to leave my own bed without a great amount of help. There isn't a cure, and eventually it will take my life. I probably have a decade left, if I am lucky. Otherwise ..." She gave a shrug, "My time is much more finite than most."

Reaching up, she groggily rubbed at her eyes, trying to think and piece together all the things that had happened so far. "It just, possibly could get in the way of me helping you, if I don't have proper treatment. That's all." Though Amnell hadn't exactly explored the full range of possible treatments. Conventional medicine had failed her, but that wasn't to say that some version of the force, alchemy or some other strange medicine couldn't help her either. It wasn't exactly a resource that had been widely available to her. "I'd rather you be aware of such now. Before it becomes a problem."

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Anja couldn't help but feel that the tone in her voice was that of someone trying to test the waters. Perhaps it was the girl's intention to try and see if the Host Lord compromises at all or just as likely she was truly concerned for her state of health; yet she was oddly okay with the situation. Although one could surely understand that there was little to be said or done in hostage scenarios it still roused the woman's suspicion. Walking into the shuttle once more she took her usual seat; thinking it over.

It didn't take too long before Anja finally had an answer for the engineer. "Doctors aren't hard to come by," that was her only answer, as casual and seemingly thoughtless it was.

As far as the force went, the witch's practices had not been for the purpose of healing or experimentation but she couldn't help but think back to when she saw a Sith put a Gendai back together and turn it into a Sithspawn. It wasn't that she herself had the intentions of doing just that but it did raise the question of what her powers could do for this medical condition she spoke about.

The engines fired up and the shuttle began to lift off the landing pad. Red dust was blow away from where the thrust propelled towards and banners moved in the opposite direction of the wind. The starship ascended further and further, passing through layers of clouds until it broke atmosphere. Once more they left a planet behind but instead of breaking the gravity well the shuttle made its way towards a warship floating just a little ways off of the main fleet. The frigate-sized starship had a large open hanger to which the shuttle guided itself.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Amnell followed back into the shuttle and took a seat. Her eyes almost curiously studying the woman before her. For her part, while captivity did concern her she still had concerns beyond being a prisoner. After all the kind of pain she'd suffered through in her life before treatment was enough a grown man cry. It was not something she ever wanted to have to experience again.

She nodded slowly at Anja's answer. Her eyes dropping to the floor as her mind drifted. For a while, there was simply nothing to say, but eventually the engineer found an answer. "Good. I may not have a choice in working for you, given I am your captive as you so quaintly put it, but at least I do not have to suffer in agony while here." That was her true concern at the end of it. The woman had already been through far too much in her lifetime and had no desire to have that added ontop of an already unpleasant situation.

Once more she fell silent. Not paying any mind to where they were going at that point nor the starship hangar that they were soon to land in. "Where are you taking me? Can I at least know that much?" She asked softly. Somehow at this point she seemed to have resigned herself to the fate that had been handed to her. And truthfully, it was not like running at this point would do her any good. Not when the only place she could run to, was a cold vacuum where death was assured.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

The shuttle continued its voyage towards the warship at the edge of the gravity well. Beyond them the massive fleet whose towering durasteel walls were little more than illuminated specs from the sun's reflection. Anja remained silent once again, heeding no attention to the initial comment made by the woman. Her health was of no concern to the Host Lord and if what they offered could not keep her alive then that was that. The idea of using the force to heal was beyond the witch's expertise.

As their shuttle began to land inside the starship's hangar, Anja turned back to answer the girl's question.

"Dubrillion." She broke silence the moment their shuttle touched down in the hangar. The ramp dropped another time and Anja turned back as she began to walk out, "You might like it actually." The added comment was not intended for reassurance but she wasn't wrong. Dubrillion was a beautiful world with mountains, oceans, cityscapes, open plains, and sandy beaches. It was hardly a world whose impression fit that given off by The Primeval but the world was theirs by conquest.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Concern swept over her features as they approached the larger ship. Her eyes locked on the larger structure, what she could see of it against the sun. At the woman's answer Amnell sighed. "I see." Dubrillion she had heard of. It might have been a good place for her, if she weren't a prisoner. Sadly still on the side of the galaxy she wasn't too familiar with.

As they came into the hangar, the young woman reached into her purse and retrieved a small bottle of pills, her hands trembled slightly as she carefully opened it and withdrew a single tablet. Without much hesitation, she quickly popped it into her mouth and swallowed it. Pain medications, a requirement of her life unfortunately.
As Anja started down the ramp, Amnell slowly rose to her feet to follow behind as Nine whistled his concerns for her and the situation. As the droid caught up with her, she lightly rested a hand upon his dome. He'd been the closest thing she had to a friend, and frankly him being at her side made the whole mess a bit easier for her to handle.

"What will happen to me when we get there?" The curiosity couldn't be helped. Her mind was already working through the millions of possibilities. Whether she would be taken to some holding location and guarded for a while. Or if there was already a location for her to start working to design the droids. If there might be a possibility of escape at some point.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

The hangar was considerably sparse for a warship, there were no fighters nor bombers lurking anywhere in the area. Instead there was only debris, supply caches, and the occasional soldier. As she walked out, Anja listened to the brief question and decided that she would at least answer this one.

"You will be placed in a facility deep under one of the oceans. There you will work on droid designs with what we supply you with." She stated. Underwater facilities on Dubrillion dated back to the Galactic Empire which used such facilities for sensitive projects. In the case of The Primeval it wasn't so much secrecy as it was convenience. There happened to be a lot of room for construction in large oceans.

The hangar's large door slowly closed, the blue tinted shield kept the environment intact and unexposed to the space outside. When the large door did finally close, Anja had already made her way into one of the many corridors. This one in particular was route towards the command deck. Already the ship jumped into hyperspace, it was different than the shuttle; everything inside was tranquil. The nature of space travel was something that should raise a lot of questions but due to its commonplace amongst the galaxy few truly take the time to appreciate such advancements in technology.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

"Under the ocean?" A wave of fear rolled through her, for she carried a terrible phobia of deep water. Something that could be traced back to a near drowning incident when she was a young child. "M-must it really be there?" Her voice cracked a little, showing her fears plain as day.

Nine whistled soothingly to Amnell, trying to bring her some comfort when he knew too well her fears. Her heart already was racing at the mere thought of this. Slowly she ran a hand gently over the droid's head and sighed softly.

With her free hand, she brushed back a few stray strands of hair from her face still working through everything that had happened thus far. "I'm assuming that I'll be guarded for a while? Watched to ensure I'm actually doing what I said I would?" Details she wanted the answer to. Mostly Amnell wanted some small details of what her captivity would be like.

Closing her eyes tightly for a moment, she tried to force back the tears that were threatening to fall. It seemed like the reality she was having to face, was finally starting to sink in. And as the moments passed them by she could no longer deny that this wasn't real. That this wasn't some dream. It was her reality, and somehow, someway, she was going to have learn to accept it, or figure how the hell to escape this woman, and this group called Primeval. And of course, being deep under the ocean did throw a hydrospanner into her plans of escape. That was bound to make things much more complicated.

With it sinking in, she really could no longer hide how much the situation bothered her. Her hands were starting to tremble and a few tears slid down her cheeks. Reaching up, she brushed them away quickly, not really wanting Anja to see how much she'd been effected. Didn't want to show any more weakness, than she already had, to Anja.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Anja remained silent before halting suddenly as the girl began to tremble and weep silently.

Turning her head, "If you're trying to hide your emotional state you should know that my species can see more than pretty colours." Of course she was referencing to the Umbaran's ability to see in ultraviolet but also suggesting their equal capability of being able to read other people's emotional states or even sense dishonesty. It was somewhat surreal that their naturally deceptive species could also see through such deceptions and not just through experience, either. Anja did not grow up on Umbara yet she inherited many of their potent traits. Perhaps the only difference was that she grew up under an unblocked sun, making her skin less pale than usual.

Taking a moment to think briefly she then nodded to herself before continuing her march forward and down the corridor.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Amnell's brow knitted together as she looked up as the Umbaran woman spoke. It wasn't something she was aware of, that was possible within that species. In a way it was quite unnerving. Then again, she knew so little about Umbra and it's natives.

With Anja walking on, Amnell actually froze as she broke into heavy sobs. There seemed little point in actually hiding her emotions if this creature could see through such attempts. "I want to go home." She mumbled beneath her breath. Every part of her wanted to leave, to attempt some method of escape. The Dubrillion location, under the ocean was far from her ideal home. It certainly wasn't helping that the woman was giving her little information, little clue to what life would actually be like once she got to this new world.

Turning her gaze back towards the way they came, Amnell wondered about her chances of making it to the ship and somehow pulling off an escape attempt before she could be stopped. Though her sobs only grew louder as she came to realize she stood no chance. Her body wouldn't carry her far enough, nor quick enough to actually make such even possible. It was a futile thought, but one she couldn't help but entertain.

Her attention turned back to the fair skinned woman. With panic rising within her, both hands she lifted to her cheeks, and nervously ran her hands through her hair. Her thoughts racing, making it rather difficult for her to put a thought together.

"Please .... Do we have to do this? Surely we can come to some sort of agreement. One where I'm not a captive. And I don't have to be trapped underwater, please ...." There was little the young woman could do to hide that fear any longer as she began to shake and tremble noticeably.

Nine beeped loudly at Amnell, trying to urge her to move on. "You cannot stay put. It won't do you any favors. Just keep moving Amnell. You'll be fine. You're alright." He then moved forward and nudged against her leg. Anything to try and snap her out of her panic, and fear to get her to move forward before the situation grew worse for the both of them.

At the nudge she looked down to him. He was being rather sweet and kind, but then again he knew her better than any living breathing creature did. Nine was the closest thing she had to a friend. A soft sigh fell from her lips, before she managed a nod. Finally she slowly stepped forward again, to follow along behind Anja as she cried. Though this time, her pace much slower. Anything really to delay the inevitable.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Home?

It was pitiful to consider how much sentiment this girl had for such a place. Alas there was no such thing as home as far as Anja was concerned... This universe was dying, a rotten cesspool of corruption, death, despair, and only by the Gods grace is salvation obtainable. The Host Lord did not expect this woman to understand their ideology or why they fight for a religion and thus she wouldn't arrogantly try to force her to understand. No; all understand in time and when they do it is then they see truth.

If nothing else she knew that at the very least this young woman would begin to realize how much easier it would be if she tried to conform in some ways. Peaceful assimilation was little more than a naive dream but for individuals to become indoctrinated into their fold was much, much more realistic. It was in that realism that Anja saw potential. Despite being 'just an engineer', the girl had many admirable traits beyond her courageous stupidity.

"I have spared your life and no harm done has been unjust. You will not be tortured, you will no go hungry nor tired. Your requests are quite selfish and with little place." Anja finally turned once again before continuing on at their slower pace.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Amnell blinked, pausing momentarily to make sure she had heard correctly. "Selfish? Did you really just call me selfish?" Raising her voice as she spoke. Anger bubbling rapidly within her. Those words she couldn't quite believe had been spoken to her. "Selfish?! You came from no where! Attempted to kidnap me at gunpoint! Then actually kidnap me, all to engineer you some droids! And I'm selfish? You could have just, I don't know asked me to work for you and paid me for my services! I'd not have said no." That was something Amnell had wondered since Korriban below, why in the name of the stars had this woman not just simply hired her. It certainly didn't make sense to Amnell.

"A contract like this would be a lifetime of work for someone like me. But, no.... You couldn't even ask me. You had to take me from everything I've ever known to bring me to some planet at some secretive base and location for god knows what reasons. You give me next to no information on what is happening?! How in the stars did you not expect me to be afraid, to be worried? To want to go back to what I know? How in the stars could you ever expect me to just be okay with this?!"

Reaching up, she rubbed at her eyes, trying to calm down even if only a little bit. "You knew enough about me, to know where I'd be, to come take me ... Did it not occurr to you just to hire me like any normal creature in the galaxy would? Or were you just so attached to your coin, that you couldn't dare be parted with a single drop of it? I don't understand you. And damn it, I want to so I can make some sense of what the feth is happening to me!" Her voice still raised, but at least she seemed to be somewhat cooling off.

Nine whistled harshly, "Shut up, Amnell! Not smart to yell at your kidnapper."

"Don't you even fraking start with me, Nine. Don't give a crap right now." Okay, maybe she was still a fair bit angry and not quite cooling off at all.

"I just want clarity, damn it. And some option in what is happening. Some control. Surely, you cannot blame me for that." She snarled.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

The Host Lord halted in place, her feet stopped so quickly that it was almost as if she hadn't been walking in the first place. She didn't even turn around, interrupt, or say a word -- she just listened. She listened until the final snarl when it seemed the woman had fancied herself making a point. But that's just it, why make a point in spite of where one lacks. Wasn't it quite obvious that Anja in the harshest use of the words did not care at all? If she didn't realize yet that everything done was deliberate than she was sorely misunderstanding the character of those whose presence she stands in.

After an extended pause, Anja finally spoke...

"I've never blamed you for anything." The tone of her voice was like that of someone talking to a child.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Reaching up, Amnell wiped away a few more of her tears. Her eyes locked with Anja as she spun around. "Then what is it? I don't understand. I don't get it. I want to understand. I want to know why this is happening. Why you are doing this? Help me to understand. This would be a feth of a lot easier for me, if you could just stop and explain a couple things to me. It becomes easier to deal with this, this reality if I just have some clue why it's happening." Though really, she had no expectation that the strange woman would ever tell her a thing. It didn't change the fact that she desperately wanted that information.

"I get that I have no options, nothing. But can't you at least give me something? I'm not asking for the galaxy, I'm just asking for some small bit of clarity." The girl's breathing was starting to slow, as she calmed down a fair deal. Her anger was fairly short lived all in all. Just her frustrations were beginning to boil over. "Please don't leave me in the dark. It makes this so much worse than it has to be."

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

Anja's patience with her self-pity had reached its limit.

"Did you have a family, a lover, a best friend when I found you? What did you have that makes you want to leave this place and go home?" She responded rather quickly in retort to plea.

Continuing, "I have given you more than you ever had and yet you complain? Truly; you should begin to wonder which civilization is the backwards one. I have no need for wealth nor do I offer it because it is meaningless." She made sure the point was kept brief but nonetheless she hoped that it stuck.

For a moment there was another pause between her thoughts and her words. "You're asking all the wrong questions. Stop complaining and set your mind free of anxiety."

With that said, Anja continued walking towards their intended destination -- hopefully without further pause in steps.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]

 

[Amnell de Portiers]

Amnell's gaze dropped to the floor, feeling a bit like a scolded child as Anja spoke. Nervously she bit at her lip, wondering how much the Umbaran really did know of her. "I had my parents, who will worry on me. They worry enough as is, without me just up just suddenly going missing one day, without even a message to them. They'll be terrified, thinking the worst has happened." She said softly. Her parents had been there all along, for all the hospital stays and agonizing early treatments. They'd always been there for her, and incredibly protective of their only child. Keeping Amnell close to them, had been their comfort as the girl grew.

She sighed softly, admittedly beyond family Amnell had nothing to speak of worth while. Well there was Nine, but how many people really considered a droid best friend as anything more than strange. "I had my family, and my shop." A sad little life that she led, but it was her life. "It may not have been much, but it was mine. I've worked for years to have the money to buy that stop, and busted my ass to keep it going."

Slowly she shook her head, "I complain, because you forced me along on this journey. You gave me no option. Took away my freedom in what you have done. And I have every right to be upset about that! If you cannot see why that would upset me, anger me even then you really are a fool." Amnell's temper was starting to flare up again, getting worked up once more.

"And you tell me nothing! You've told me all of about three sentences of what you want me for, and what I am to do for you. You can't even give me details of the job you actually want me to do for you. I hardly know what you want me to make for you people, aside from just 'droids'." Amnell lifted her hands, using air quotes to emphasize the last word.

"And if I'm asking all the wrong questions, why don't you tell me what the hell the right question is? I can't read your damn mind woman!" Her frustrations and irritations with the woman growing more and more by the second. Sighing, she did at least start to following begrudgingly along behind Anja. Though her pace was intentionally a hell of a lot slower than before. Dragging her feet, as a small form of protest against what was happening to her.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

 

[Boethiah]

As they continued down the corridor, the occasional guard or personnel could be seen walking from and to the various stations throughout the warship.

"You will do as I ask, that is your purpose, details are not necessary as of now." She maintained her earlier points and despite the constant verbal opposition she did not lose patience in that response. If she asked again for answers Anja would only respond all the same. Truly; this was perhaps one of the most outspoken persons in such a position... Begging, whining, crying, screaming? Of course that was normal but steadfast? This was defiance and it wasn't working.

Continuing on her feet, "You stand aboard my ship, you have set foot on my world, and you will traverse a thousand stars that are under my authority. There is great importance in you." Honestly even Anja couldn't tell if she was trying to be reassuring or by now was purposely leading her on.

[member="Amnell de Portiers"]