This is What it Sounds Like When Doves Cry

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

Janus raised an eyebrow, examining the Jedi with a renewed sense of skepticism. He was expecting an attempted conversion right about now, but all he got was a nod and a thanks. Janus was glad his answer passed the scrutiny of a malnourished, stir-crazy Jedi Healer, at any rate. He folded his arms and reclined further into his chair.

"Tell me," Janus said, "What do you intend to do when you're released from here?"

 

[Avalore Eden]

The Healer's eyebrows disappeared beneath her hairline at this next posed question.

It was not so much the question as it was the way in which it was stated.

The man hadn't said 'if you're released from here.' He'd very clearly said 'when you're released from here.' Avalore's mouth drew small and eyes round as she ever so slowly squared her gaze upon him.

Sometimes I really wish I had a remote for the galaxy so I could replay moments like these a couple dozen times.

"...when you're released from here."

Her heart skipped a bit, somersaulted, and began climbing up her throat. Avalore swallowed a bit painfully.

The human heart was never meant to be swallowed whole. Only in pieces.

"I..." tearing her gaze away, the Jedi's fingers curled around each other in her lap, "I didn't realize that was...uhm,"

Coherent.

Sentences.

Can't.

Her eyes crinkled, frown deepened, "I was never given the impression I would be...released."

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

Most Sith, when they wanted to make Jedi squirm and anxious, would resort to either psychological or physical torture. Either of the Jedi itself or of something or someone the Jedi happened to hold dear. For Tyrin, all he had to do was misspeak. Well, technically anyway. He fully suspected either a sympathetic Sith or a Jedi task force would inevitably break her out. The laws of dramatic convention foretold as much. This Jedi prisoner was clearly important, if not for any discernible reason, then as a result of the laws of storytelling.

"I can't imagine they'll keep you here forever." Janus said. He appeared unmoved, but in reality he was taking in the anxiety rolling off the Jedi. Not his intended purpose in coming here, but a Sith had to indulge from time to time. "Or rather, I would endeavor disallow such a thing. Jedi or not, Force Sensitives should not be rotting away in cells for the remainder of their lives."

He paused before concluding. "It's wasteful." He added.

 

[Avalore Eden]

Well there was a strange new notion for Avalore Eden to chew on.

It tasted a bit like over-salted, dry chicken.

The Healer frowned. Force-Sensitive Supremecy? That was a thing? She really wasn't sure how to respond to that. The idea was just... surprisingly disturbing. Almost as disturbing as rotting in here forever ... or being forcibly recruited to the Sith even if they had so far turned out to be pretty concerned and ...emotional individuals.

"Ahm..." she began, "well...I didn't want to assume to know what they intended for me or...the others. I really thought I'd be dead by now."

Suddenly miserable and underfed wasn't so bad.

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

"You might as well assume whatever you like. You guess is as good as mine."

The dungeons were not Janus' domain, nor would they ever be. What the ultimate fate of these prisoners was unknown to him and likely to everyone else except the uppermost echelons of One Sith leadership. Then again, it also seemed likely that whoever was in charge here was content to just... Keep them around and ultimately do nothing with them. Whatever. Either they converted or that was one less Jedi running around fighting in the streets. They hardly cared in the long run.

Still was pretty wasteful, if you asked Janus.

"At any rate, I assume you would return to your Order and resume service?"

 

[Avalore Eden]

"I...suppose I would," Avalore replied, "it's all I really have to return to."

Family - dead.

Home - burned to the ground, new home inherited from dead Master in Council space.

Friends - well...she wasn't going to think too hard on that, but if she had any to account for they would be in the Order. Avalore didn't get out much.

Job - ...Healer. Sure she could wait tables, but who the feth wanted to do that for the rest of their lives?

Avalore supposed she could go back to school, get educated for a new career. Nurse Technician maybe, but how did one return to medical books when they had the power of the Force at their fingertips?

"I like helping people as a Healer. I'm good at it. Not as good as Master Organa, but she's been at the job a lot longer, you know?"

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

Janus shrugged. "I don't know, actually."

Given that he was not a Jedi nor well-read on their leadership, he had no idea who Master Organa was or her exact skill as a healer. Janus had little interest in healing. If he needed to heal himself, he would either drain the life from the nearest enemy or seek practical medical treatment. Like normal people. He wasn't about to quiz her on Master Organa or the rest of their rank. Janus had other intentions.

"I've heard a great deal of your number defected to the Silver Jedi. Have you considered the same?"

 

[Avalore Eden]

The woman loosed a sigh. It was a bit...sickening? Disheartening? To be talking about all these possibilities while she was being held captive. Part of her thought that might be exactly what the man was after, to slowly turn a thorn in her mind until she broke under the weight of hopeless wanting.

The other part was simply tired, sore, hungry, but grateful for the otherwise genial company. It was nice to look at something well-kempt, too. She thought she caught a wiff of something on the air ... was that lilac?

Jedi robe sleeves pulled over her hands, she leaned to rest her elbows on her knees and her chin in the material covering her palms.

Itchy, she thought.

The woman slowly shook her head, "I don't see what I would have to gain by doing that. It's not like my master went there, she's dead."

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

Oh, the Master was dead. Fancy that. Another fun fact. He could probably build a portfolio on her if he stayed long enough, at this rate. Janus shifted about in his chair. It was not a comfortable seat in the slightest, but given that he was in a prison and he had sent an underling to bring it to him, he couldn't afford to be choosy. The Umbaran would retain an astute posture and folded arms for the duration of the conversation.

"From what I understand, the Silver Jedi are much less mired by controversy... And if your Master is indeed dead, then it sounds as though you have nothing to lose, either."

In truth, Janus hated the Silver Jedi more than he hated the actual Jedi. They were useless. Redundant. Idiotic. At least the Jedi were original. Tyrin had no patience for imitations borne of bad decision making and repugnant ideology. The Silver Jedi were also completely inept and content to stand around uselessly as far away from the One Sith as possible.

So the more Jedi that went over there, the better. It also really helped to make the actual Jedi of the galaxy angsty and malcontent.

 

[Avalore Eden]

"Thanks..." Avalore narrowed her eyes at the man, a bit dejected by his assessment of All the Things Avalore Eden Has to Lose.

Nothing, apparently.

Fetching.

She smacked her lips, gave a pride-regaining sniff, and proceeded to sag into her resting position, "I suppose I could follow the lot of them and leave, but I'm not deep enough into the Order to know about all this controversy you speak of. Besides, if we all left," she looked ponderous for a moment, "who would help the Republic? If its because something is broken, would make better sense to stay and fix it."

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

"Only the Republic could fix the Republic, I'm afraid. And the Republic has done a poor job of it so far." Janus sighed, shaking his head.

"Jedi wield no political power, nor do they have any desire to get any. They've excluded themselves from the political process or gathering any tangible influence just about anywhere. What makes you think that they can fix anything to do with the Republic? Or that you would make any sort of difference in that regard?"

 

[Avalore Eden]

Avalore Eden was well aware of how politics work. The daughter of the late Corellian Governor Isaac Eden, she'd spent enough time in her earlier years tailing him and his public agenda, both at his side and from home. While politics alone were never something she'd had much interest in due to he massive amounts of drama and attention, now that she'd spent over a year with the Jedi she was beginning to rethink her choice.

Had this garnered her any less drama and attention?

"You're right, the Jedi can't fix things directly. But they can help indirectly by aiding the people and providing their support to the Republic in ways that can strengthen the foundations of the system. It's pretty hapless right now, I'll agree with you there, maybe even a bit hopeless, but if the Republic doesn't have the support of the Jedi Council ... then what does it have?"

A lot of squabbling Senators and a frighteningly incohesive military agenda.

[member="Darth Janus"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

"That's like strengthening a foundation of sand by wetting it. A charming attempt, if futile." Janus retorted. "If the Jedi, an organization that flat-out refuses to involve itself in the political process or gathering tangible power, is the only thing holding your government together..."

The Umbaran huffed. "Well, the conclusion draws itself, I'm afraid. I wouldn't consider it a government worth saving. You've already admitted the hopelessness of the situation yourself. If the Jedi don't change that indirect action policy of theirs, it's a lost cause."

There was no way the Jedi would reverse their policy of prohibiting their members from holding positions of authority in governments and other organizations. At least, as far as Janus knew. It went radically against their code of conduct. When it came to Jedi and the choice between reformation or extermination, they almost always chose the former. It was really quite sad, considering this was supposedly the side of the Force that inevitably won they day by the end of the century.

Ah well. That was their problem, and Janus sure did love to talk about it.

 

[Avalore Eden]

"Well," Avalore gave a non-committal shrug, "maybe I can help make the change that is needed." If I ever get out of here...

There wasn't much more to argue than that.

[member="Darth Janus"]