The Other Side of the Fence

[Pom Stych Tivé]

Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems, Capitol planet, remnant mining colony​

This isn't happening.

The sedative began to wear off. Pomsty opened her eyes to find herself, delirious, but well aware of what a headache is. She awoke perplexed to discover herself lying prostrate upon a cold slab. She quickly deduced she is alone in a brightly lit holding cell. Crystals flickered and hummed, imbedded into the walls which pointed towards her from all angles. She immediately raised her hand to reach into her vest pocket for a potion to soothe her ailment. She grunted, as the dart had pierced her shoulder. Feeling her potions confiscated it took only a second to identify that terrifying feeling lingering in the back of her mind as that of metaphysical helpless.

"No," she cursed, while she ran her hands up toward her neck where her relics had been, only to discover they too had been confiscated some time ago. No Potions for defense or to raise hell! No Relics to command the dead to her servitude! No Amulets to ward off ANYTHING terrible!

The last thing she remembers is…

"Oh. Crap."

…killing that man and his wife.

She had to do it! The two were exceptionally repulsive! They came off as being pustules on the butthole of humanity! Pom Stych Tivé is all about controlling the masses under the iron fist of a seemingly peaceful everyday town life, and these individuals were against everything the natural order necessitates. They let the people know that they are slaves to their economy. They bled them dry and kept them downtrodden. A government of ideals cannot control a people who have discovered they are slaves. Only people who are ignorant are controllable.

But she just had to do it. The wife wanted her husband dead because she was greedier than she should have been. The husband because he oppressed the locals by force. And neither of them felt so much as a stitch of compassions while their neighbors cried for mercy. They thought Pom was there to kill them, although the wife called her to kill her husband for her, and the wife revealed in this idea, using Pom as a thread to bleed more money from her destitute neighbors.

Pom had told all of this to her captors before they made any real attempt to detain her. Because the sorceress had no witnesses willing to validate the fact that the wife had called her there, she could not substantiate her story. All she can hope is that the people terrorized by this family will come forward, that nobody hoping to take their place is threatening these people into silence.

After the act was completed, Pomsty was caught by an officer who just had to come to where all the screaming was going on. The neighbors still thought themselves intended victims of the foul play. It seems a visiting witch, also alerted to Pomsty's presence, identified the Potion utilized in their demise as a Sleeping Draught.

She just stepped foot off her ship, which she stole from Lord Depravious, and this is the welcome she gets!





[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

​

Geonosis {Golbah City} | Late Night | [member="Pom Stych Tivé"]​

No, Malphas did not often take interest in cases such as this. In fact, he often went outside of his way to avoid smaller cases such as civilian murders. However, there was something more than what the investigating officers had found. The Dark Side of the Force was usually elusive, even for a Sith Lord. It could not be completely brought to heel, no matter how hard one tried. Yet today it flowed through him as if it was a stiff breeze on a summer day. The last time the Force had spoken to him in such a manner, was when he stumbled upon his Miralukan apprentice, [member="Xobos Yakieer"].

Curious.

He said nothing for a long while, standing in his office in Golbah city he found his mind made up. His eyes were a deep shade of crystal like amethyst, cutting through the darkness with a subtle hue. He wore a slate suit formed from shimmersilk and a phrik armorweave. It appeared to be no different from any other tailored suit. His hand adjusted the greyish tie that was wrapped firmly around his neck. Closing his eyes, he dipped his head as he began to mutter slightly to himself. The Sith incantation was low and mysterious, damning to the untrained ears. His voice had an echo to it, a monstrous one more akin to a beast than a man. Finally he glanced up and drew his lips into a thin smirk. Brushing a strand of hair from his brow, the room around him began to grow dark. It was as if it was fading from existence, ceasing to be. Shadwoy tendrils arose from the ground, wrapping themselves around the Exarch in a serpantlike manner. They enevoped him, making him one with the darkness that had overtaken his office.

Mining Settlement Jail​

​

In Pomsty's cell the crystals that projected themselves from the wall seemed to shimmer, like a failing light. It would be momentary but eventually the darkness would overtake them. From within, the crystals light would diminish as the stones turned a void shade of black. Still, they illuminated the cell, only barely. The walls around Pomsty would also seem to become wrapped in a thick wall of shadows. It was as if the shadows siting within the room would expand...overtaking all light, all hope.

Silence.

It was so silent, even if Pomsty attempted to speak she would not hear her own voice in this void. Then...

Step. Step. Step.

The footsteps sounded faint, far off but they grew louder as from a distance that had only just existed, Malphas approached the woman. Even in the darkness, he had a shadow trailing behind him. Though his own features were handsome abnd youthful, the shadow was monstrous. Where the Exarch was fairly tall, it was a goliath, and where Adron's smile widedned to reveal pristine teeth, this beast seemed to have a maw of blood-soaked fangs. However, th beast faded, and the shadow morphed into that which was more fitting of Malphas, a man.

"The Confederacy has a very bleak view on murder. Partcicularly murder of it's own citizens." His voice was...sweet. Firm, yet it had an angelic ring to it. There was a highborn tone there which hinted to the nobility. However, from head to toe he could appear no more than a well dressed politician or even a model if he wished. He smoothed his raven black hair against his head as he looked to the woman with an expectant gaze. Still, those purple eyes cut through the darkness as they looked to the Witch before him. "I imagine you'll be sentenced to die in the Petranaki arena. Or perhaps the Vicelord's Justice will put you to death himself."

His tone had some dark humor to it, but still it was light. "Oh, my name is Darth Malphas, I am the man who decides when and how you will die. A pleasure." He allowed one tight lipped smile to escape him as he let the reality of the situation dawn on her.

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

Darkness crept into the cell like a beast searching for a home, and it would find welcome within PomStychTivé. The motion of chaos felt familiar and thus soothing. She could not but suspect that it carried upon the coat tails of someone, although an unfamiliar. A portent of what comprises the majesty of her beloved Abeloth.

The first words out of his mouth is an accusation of murder, to which she raised herself upon the slab to a sitting position. "They began plotting their own suicide eons ago." It is true, both wanted the other dead, and that would have put either of them where she sits now.

The taunting mention of death felt like a relief actually. She would no longer need to be watchful over her shoulder, wondering when Lord Depravious will locate her and take her home. While love is a drunkenness, his is an obsession, controlling and deadly. "I suppose it doesn't show, but I have actually been dead once before." She hopes Depravious doesn't find her; he might only bring her back to life as her son had done two decades ago before he himself died.

Unconsciously she yawned while he spoke. 'I wonder if they serve waffles…
'Probably not, as they don't even provide a pillow.'

They took her magick charms away from her. Abeloth doesn't dwell here. She feels dead already. 'What is the difference?'

He would make a spectacle of her death as well, in the arena?

"It must be a lure, the impression that the Confederacy has grown beyond barbarism." She smiled to herself. "I knew it." The CIS hide behind peace, and nothing has truly changed, only the message on propaganda pamphlets handed out at rigged voting booths.

She blinked disinterested at the totality of words vomiting out of his mouth. He introduced himself, because she isn't dead just yet? She glanced around at the blackened crystals, and rubbed the back of her head. He seemed to love to flaunt himself. What she could make out of his attire is that it likely does not coincide with his nightlife. She, on the other hand, dresses to the nine to display her prominent personality.

"Charmed, I'm sure," she declared. "Just answer me this. How does someone like you, even get into politics?" What put him in charge, and her in this cell?





Adron Malvern

 

[Adron Malvern]

When the woman's dark eyes lifted to peer at Malphas, he returned her look with one of curiosity. As he reached out through the twisting nether of the Dark Side he could sense the woman's own dark presence. Was she a Sith witch? Or perhaps a follower of the Darkness in the same way he was. He did not know and for the moment it was of no matter. As she spoke of the couple she had murdered, the man could not help but chuckle dryly at her words. "So you released them from their burden, by killing them both. It does not change your crimes, nor your fate." He admitted, though he seemed to pause in a moment of consideration.

Then she spoke as death as if it was nothing more than a doorway to be passed through once and twice, and again if necessary. This, however, did amuse him. His own master had known death and life as if it was no different from a rising sun, hoping to set. "Death of the physical body is a simple thing to reverse. Now the destruction of the spirit which dwells in the deepest cores of The Force? That is another matter. Though you seem well versed in the ways of the Dark Side." He admitted to her. The power that was placed within her fingertips was not the kind one merely stumbled upon. No, it took a measure of understanding to bring a being to the point that she stood at.

​"The philosophies of a dead woman are nothing to me. It is the Vicelord's Justice that you die for your crimes. Barbaric or not you brought this upon yourself." The Exarch's tone was a bit darker, though it still held no malice or true weight behind it. His features were neutral as he slid a hand into the pocket of his trousers. When it came to her quip about his own position, the man smiled softly. "Kill the right people." A statement that was not entirely false. He had killed a number of individuals to be granted the power of the Viceroyalty, but in the end it was his mind that the Vicelord appreciated, even more so than his blade.

"Still." He began, smiling at the woman while brushing a hand against his chin. "Perhaps you could take a lesson from my book."

"The Confederacy has known stability and prosperity because it employs a powerful army. This army is composed of soldiers, mercenaries, droids, Sith, and even Jedi. It also employs witches." He said, looking to the woman with an expectant gaze before clearing his throat. "Snide remarks aside I've come to offer you a deal. As your investigation is still pending I can create only one path that leads to you keeping your life. The Knight's Obsidian are the guardians of The Confederacy, they are an elite Force Order that often are the difference between salvation and destruction. You will join the Mandragora, a sect within the Knight's Obsidian that deals with the dark magicks of the Force. Serve The Confederacy and we will consider your debt paid. You'll also be allowed to register as a Confederate citizen and be paid rather handsomely for your work as a Knight."

The Exarch produced a small datapad from his waist. He activated the device before looking to the woman with an expectant gaze. "So, shall I draw up the enlistment documents or the execution papers?"

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

The exarch started out facetious and snarky, enjoying taunting her critical circumstance with every word he uttered. She felt him radiate with Darkness, and decided to ask him how he had weaseled himself into politics. His reply was most epic, kill the right people. If those whom she killed weren't the right kind of people to kill to benefit the Confederacy, she would never know who were. She believes she did the Confederacy a favor, as these were not law abiding, tax paying citizens. Even the overseers were corrupted. They spat in the face of their officials.

Then suddenly he switched gears. She could not believe his offer, expecting him to just take it back and laugh in her face.

Of course she would rather not die in such a gruesome manner as he defined as the law of the land, any time soon, or ever. Even she provided a swift and painless death to the family of mob bosses who for decades had terrorized a forgotten mining colony.

If [member="Adron Malvern"] is not being malicious, but is honestly offering her a place among the ranks of the military, then all of this ordeal has served its purpose afterall. She never imagined she would enlist in anyone's military. On bad terms. she instinctively left her homeward for the first time ever, in order to seek out a new permanent residence. She can stay here, a place where she initially just ended up based on inputting random coordinates. Also she can remain out of sight from her husband of her past incarnation, Lord Depravious. It all felt like an opportunity she would be utterly foolish to refuse.

She rose from the steel slab which immediately receded into the wall. She approached the exarch as close as she could, with the cell shield still instilled between them. She peered into his eyes. "You are serious? I would serve," she answered.

 

[Adron Malvern]

She would serve.

To those who valued their lives, it was the only option. He had expected it and she had delivered admirably. So she was already proving to be a woman who delivered on his expectations. The Exarch drew his lips into a thin smile before chuckling softly at the woman. "Such a fire..." He muttered, once again pressing his will through the Force. The crimson ray shield had a low hum to it, that kept the woman imprisoned within her cell. In the next moment it flickered ever so briefly before finally shutting off. Adron tapped into his datapad, producing the documents he had prepared for the woman, in anticipation of her enlistment. He held the datapad over to her, while sliding a hand into his pocket. "My master will surely take great interest in your training. You're his type." He said nothing more on the matter, though he did glance down the hall that led to the woman's freedom.

"Guards." He called out, subtly. In the next moment a duo of droids made their way down the hall. Each of them were coated in dark blue paint, showing they were part of the Confederate security forces. "Yes, my lord?" One of them asked, holding his blaster rifle close to his chest.

Adron paused for a moment before looking to Pom with a look of consideration. "Alert the Dominus Prime, he has a new soldier. She'll be enlisting with the Mandragora. No doubt [member="Asher Mossa"] will make use of her. If not, she's his problem, not mine." The Exarch offered the briefest of shrugs before looking to the woman before him. "You'll do well in the Mandragora. I sense there is much potential in you, but not as much power as you would believe." The Exarch gestured to the two droids, before giving Pom an expression that could be considered one of amusement. "Welcome to The Confederacy." He passed by the three, before glancing back at the witch. For the first time he had a genuine expression, and not one hidden by snark or mystery. "The Confederacy improved my life, perhaps it can do the same for you. You'll only regret it if you choose to." He promised, before making his way out of the prison.

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

This thing they call the Force, as the Sith and Jedi manipulate it, Pom will find to perplex her regularly. While there are covens on Dathomir, aligned to the Light which generate magick without even speaking, the coven of far darker Nightsisters never progressed their skills beyond the need for their physical props. She could not wrap her thoughts around the possibility that her success in her magick is all in her mind, and not made manifest by rituals, incantations, or any properties instilled into magical items. Pom could sense that the exarch made the cell barrier vanish with his thoughts alone. Does this fascinate her? Certainly! However, she does not take the idea that they coexist to mean that her abilities are any less formidable…just regularly more time consuming! She cannot believe she can master any simpler way, than that which the nightsisters practice.

He held out the data pad to her, and drawing up her cuff, Pom held her bear wrist out to the sensor on the device. The laser flashed, its burn inscribing her new enlistment barcode onto her flesh. She tried to hold back an instinctive flinch, but it did not matter as the branding has already finished. Concurrently, her blood DNA is analyzed to determine her inherent traits. The sensor then lit up once again and scanned her serial number, and her personal information generated a file on her, listing her name among the personnel roster.

She had no idea what would follow for her life, spent before today solely among the Nightsisters. It left her naive to the happenings around the galaxy. She felt apprehensive, and yet excited to begin a new chapter. She took relief, that she shall be able to become independent, and also have time to think about what she will do about [member="Lord Depravious"]. His conscious awareness is always present to her within the back of her mind; she could not truly understand how they are mentally linked in this lifetime, not having performed any ritual bonding. He too is aware of everything she does. He has always been present in everything she has done, in her pastlife, and ever since her reincarnation. She shall fight to keep her thoughts her's alone, and out of his conscious awareness. It would be difficult, for she only just realized her connection to him to exist. To deny him now will come to feel like a part of herself has died, but she must insist the opportunity to evolve without mental or emotional coercion.

She could not figure out the exarch, [member="Adron Malvern"]. Whenever he spoke, he exhibited a constant shift of two personality extremes. She wondered which could be genuine. Soon, it did not matter anyhow, as she watched him walk away. She followed the droids to the barracks, where she found her possessions returned to her in a footlocker.

This indeed will be an exciting time!