To Redeem a Broken Soul

[Darth Morrow]

The woman sat on the floor in silence, the place she traveled to in her mind a moment of peace, nothing to haunt. Yet only so shortly after was she so rudely dragged from her focus, her burning red eyes locking on the door as it finally was knocked upon hours later. Standing she made way over, placing a hand on its surface and warping the metal back to a close to original shape, before it opened and she stepped out.

Looking to the droid she sighed before moving on. Valeska knew this palace, as much as she wished she hadn't. So much time had been spent here during her years as an apprentice, now, she spent the time here as a prisoner.

Not waiting for the droid to follow the ghostly woman proceeded to the throne room, a place he had always demanded they meet. Arms crossed over her form as she entered, glancing over the room with hidden caution, awaiting the meeting of summons. This was to be no gift, she knew that much at least.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The wide scarlet curtain behind the Emperor's throne had been pulled aside slightly, a column of light pouring in through the sliver to illuminate the otherwise gloomy chamber. The ray of sunlight cascaded over the Emperor's head as he sat upon his throne, two of his Crownguard flanking either side of him as Morrow and the holodroid entered through the far door. Carnifex said nothing as Morrow approached him, his smoldering eyes watching her every movement before glancing down to the floor in front of her as a circle of electronic lights blinked to life near the base of the throne's raised dais.

A bisected panel slid away into the hidden partitions in the floor, revealing a black circular chasm two meters in diameter. For several seconds nothing happened, but the sound of something rushing up the chasm quickly filled the room before a cage covered by an elaborate sheet of silk suddenly appeared from the floor. Though the cover was impossible to peer through, it was evident that something living yet lurked behind the luxurious fabric.

"I know you are wondering why I have brought you here, and what gift I intend to bestow upon you. Indeed, such revelations will come in due time, but first I must bring you back to an earlier conversation you and I had." The Emperor leaned forward in his throne, both hands now clasped together as his elbows rested on his knees. "You told me that there was nothing in this galaxy that you yet loved, but we both know what an awful little lie that was. I had been patient, I had been lenient, but it appears that my kindness will no longer be reciprocated. So I have endeavored to teach you a lesson, one you will not forget even in the darkest depths of madness."

The drapery around the cage descended, pooling up around its base to reveal what lay within. Inside was a small child, a boy, breathing and full of youthful vitality. It would be a child that Valeska was more than knowledgeable of, one that she had tried so hard to shield from her master's piercing gaze. She should have known that he would find them, that he had methods beyond mortal reckoning by which to locate those he seeks. His Eyes peered far into the Cosmic Force, and his Reach cast a dark shadow across the galaxy. Little could be done to obstruct him, and what obstruction barred his path did not stand for long.

And so, Valeska's defiance had brought them to this point. The Emperor looked from the child to his apprentice, sadistic mirth glimmering in those molten orbs. And he spoke in that dark tongue of control, the involuntary command that Valeska had no hope of resisting.

ฆ่าเขา

Kill him.

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

The breath left her chest.

Blood pounded through her head as the sound of her own heart beat filled the moments of silence, the second between realization and command stretching across the span of eternity as time slowed, and all she could do was stare.

Her eyes remained locked on the child before her, her child. Kaalia failed to hide them, that was their last chance; it was their only chance. Large dark eyes stared back at her as she stood immobile before the throne, and the cage. A moment of recognition gleaming in his eyes before the command word reached her system, her muscles locking up and her eyes widened.

"My Lord, please, I will do anything, you can do anything to me but please don't make me do this!" The plea escaped her lips, but the body continued forward, a step, followed by another.

A quiet word escaped the child, inaudible due to the fear pulsing through her mind. Her eyes shot between the boy and Carnifex sitting in his thrown, leaned forward to watch with hidden amusement. This wasn't a harsh punishment for him, this was among the first steps.

Another step, and another, the distance between them closed evermore as her mind drifted more and more towards breakdown. He wasn't going to stop her. He wanted to watch.

"I will submit to you, please stop this! Please!"

The fear became evident on the child's face, eyes wide and hands trying to push her away. But it was no use. Muffled screams filled the room as tears rolled down Morrow's face, a sickening snap filling the silence as she collapsed to her knees and his body fell from her hands.

Eyes locked down, her pleas no more as her hands dropped to her lap, tears streaming down her face, yet not a sound escaped her.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor descended the dais, walking up to stand at Valeska's side as she wept in utter despair. His eyes looked from his apprentice to the corpse of the child at their feet, and then back to his apprentice again. With a wave of his hand, the cage retreated back into the floor to disappear as the panels slid back into place. Then he stood there, silent as Valeska sobbed soundlessly with bitter tears running down her face down onto the cold cruel steel floor.

"Finally you understand. The price of defiance is a steep one." Rasped the Emperor, "But now that you have tasted the bitter steel of loss, I hope you will endeavor to never defy me again." Carnifex turned to face the holodroid, which had remained silent and still throughout the whole ordeal, its red photoreceptors betraying none of its internal dialogues. "Escort my apprentice back to her quarters, and ensure that she remains there. I will send for her in a few days, after she's recovered."

He watched the two of them begin to leave the throne room, but as Morrow neared the door he suddenly called for them to stop. "And remember, my apprentice. You still have another."

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

The words he spoke passed through Valeska's mind, in one ear and out the other. Her eyes still remained locked on the floor even after the body of her son slipped through the opening, cage as well. In silent obedience the droid moved to grab onto Morrows shoulders to begin dragging her away, likely not capable of lifting her large muscular form. As the droid stopped for a moment to allow the Emperors final words, they sunk into her mind like a stone in water.

You still have another.

The state of shock she felt was so harsh that it was difficult to even see her body breathe. The tight breaths barely allowed enough oxygen to enter and escape. Her stare remained fixated, distant, as if she was somewhere else.

--

Dragged away and left to stew, Morrow spent the entirety of the days curled up in the bed left for her, body still, unmoving. Food left for her remained where it was placed, water beside it untouched. This was a grief she had never felt before, though in truth, she had never felt grief at all. Her mind quaked with haunting thoughts and any attempts at sleep were plagued by horrendous nightmares of her actions, of her past; of the little time she had with them.

She wondered how her daughter was, where she was. Did Carnifex have her locked away somewhere as well, waiting for another sign of disobedience before he forced her hand once more, what were the chances she was safe if he found her son.

There was no chance.

Her eyes remained locked on the far wall, waiting, hoping for death with every moment.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The next being to intrude on Valeska's solitude wasn't one of the droids that the Emperor sent to guard or deliver her food, but instead it was a man of above average height with short cropped black hair with the faintest echo of stubble across his jaw; a decent moustache perched on his upper lip. His eyes burned with the same restrained hate as the rest of the Sith, the sulfuric irises shining starkly against the whites which surrounded them. In his lips was a cigarra stick, the end of which smoldered brightly as he inhaled the rich velvety tobacco and blew out the acrid smoke through his nostrils.

He looked down on Valeska with some measure of contempt, briefly clutching his cigarra in between his fingers to dab a small scruff of ash on the floor before speaking. "Apprentice Valeska, my Father has again called for your presence. He told me that if you were uncooperative I am authorized to take you in by force, and considering how much this room stinks I assume that will be necessary." He stuck the cigarra back between his lips and dragged another inhalation of smoke, breathing it out through his lips this time. "But first we're going to have to clean you up, it is improper to come before the Emperor a filthy wretch."

A pair of armed Dungeoneers appeared behind the Zambrano Princeling, moving past him to grasp Morrow by the arms and drag her out of the room. Like most of the Emperor's goons, they gave little regard to her comfort as they hauled her through several corridors before stopping before a sealed metal door. Roughly they undressed her, practically tearing the clothes from her body before shoving her into the now open door. Inside was a white room lined with pressurized nozzles, which began to fire streams of sterilizing chemicals at Valeska. The chemical concoction was strong enough to clear away any grime that might have accumulated on her body during her isolation, though even after being washed away her skin would burn fiercely for minutes afterwards.

Then she was hauled out of that room, dried, and forcefully dressed by the same guards who had undressed her. Only then would she be brought before the Emperor, the Zambrano Princeling having made his way to the throne room ahead of the shellshocked apprentice. "As you have commanded, Father. I have brought your apprentice to you."

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

The man had earned no reply from Morrow as she remained quiet, her eyes locked in a distant stare. Her mind was, elsewhere, as if she barely held presence in the form she occupied. In truth, the former days had utterly broken the woman, never before had she cared for anything but her own desires, now she had fallen prey to what she so long tried to avoid. Ties, she had always said, were what left a person weak; they were what left hole in defenses previously unbreakable.

Her defenses had entirely shattered. The memory of murdering her own child drilled through her mind over and over again even as she was dragged from chamber to chamber and handled as roughly as she was. She at no point offered resistance to their dragging and cruel treatment.

When she finally arrived in the throne room before Lord Carnifex the guards released their grasp on her only for her to fall to the floor once more on her knees. Her stare vacant, her expression locked in an ever present gaze of loss, yet neutrality. Her eyes did not lift to meet the man on the throne before her.

Glancing over her body it would be evident it was neglected from recent days. Her waist hugged her rib cage ever so slightly more than previous, her face gaunt around eyes where darkened circles had formed. Nails had grown and remained unpainted or trimmed, and only by the brute force of guards had her hair been brushed and cared for to show even slightly presentable at best.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor had again changed his outfit, this time into something more sublime and regal. His chest was bare, his midsection and waist wrapped in banded leather, while a kama of six metal armor plates hung from the banded leather. Ornate poleyn protected his knees, while similarly ornate greaves protected his shins and calves. A pair of large metallic bracers covered both of his forearms, decorated with brilliant ruby gemstones and engraved with ancient Sith runes. Spaulders sat upon each broad shoulder, styled after the armor of long dead Dark Lords of the Sith from the age before the Four Hundred Year Darkness. He wore no weapons, though that did not mean that the Emperor was defenseless; he was far more powerful than his lack of all-encompassing armor conveyed.

Brilliant eyes descended on Valeska as she was brought in, made to kneel before the Emperor by the guards that had escorted her. Pleased with his son's swift completion of his task, the Emperor turned his gaze towards him. "Well down, my child. You and the guards may go, I wish to speak with my apprentice alone." They all silently bowed and left, leaving Carnifex all alone with Morrow. He rose from his throne, stepping down the dais to stand before the broken Valeska. He used the Force to turn her face up towards him, his eyes studying her malnourished body.

"And here is the great Lady of Pride, brought low. It seems the death of your son has struck a chord." The Emperor's comments were quite cruel, wholly unempathetic. "Your wallowing has no place in my Empire, apprentice. Should you remain incapable of even the most basic functions, I will have to destroy your daughter as well. But if you break free of your stupor, and serve me, I will reunite you with your son."

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

Empty eyes made contact with his own when forced, words of insult meaning nothing to the already destroyed woman before him. There was nothing in her stare, her eyes, while never having pupil or iris at all seemed still yet lifeless in their stare; usually, they presented anger, hatred.

"What use is having them around when you would kill them for any small mistake."

Words escaped quietly, broken; there was no hope in her voice, no taunting wit like she once boasted; no pride, no confidence, no these were just words on their own. Taking a deep breath her slouch lifted and her shoulders squared, at least enough to alleviate the pain stretching through her arched back.

"That child would never look at me the same way again. Death twists things. No clone would ever replace him either, you know he would never be as he was."

Eyes closed to avoid making contact with Carnifex's glare, only reopening again in a few moments. Fingers tensed around the cloth at her knees as if to regain feeling from a long period of cold; opening and closing slowly around the fabric.

"For my Daughters sake, I hope I never see her again. Because I'm merely a monster in your control."

A moment passed through Valeska's mind, the consideration of never seeing the girl again, hope at what she might become while unguided by those lesser than herself; lesser even as she currently was. Morrigan would never become a talented warrior, or one of force skills, though perhaps she would be something worthwhile even hiding as she was. That seemed as something Valeska would never know. Unwelcome a thought pushed way into her mind, her fingers once more tensing on her lap though this time remaining clenched.

"What is it you want from me. You wont let me die, and I know your reasons are more than you wish for me to suffer. Why do you need me, and me alone. Why not any other servant of yours, any other willing participant to your games."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Because you are mine, Valeska. You would do well to remember that fact."

He pointed his finger at her, as if to emphasize his point. He relinquished his hold on her face, letting it fall if she wished it. He stalked about her, like a predator ready to pounce upon its cornered prey, even his eyes gleamed brightly as if in hunger. "Your suffering would diminish if you simply heed my commands, apprentice. All that has transpired as been of your own making, do not think otherwise. Your son's death is entirely your fault."

The Emperor did not believe himself to have committed any fault, as every consequence of Morrow's disloyalty, disobedience, and outright obstinance was entirely laid at her feet. Carnifex did not regret any of it, and he did not hold much patience to what he considered to be Morrow's moping.

"For your own benefit, and for that of your child's, you should put aside your worthless melancholy and commit yourself to serving the Empire."

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

(x) (x)

Valeska's gaze fell once more as Carnifex released his grip on her face and began to decent the stairs leading to the throne. Her form slumped slightly again as the man began pacing around her, waiting to act on what seemed like predatory desire for blood. Closing her eyes, fingers bunched in cloth of her lap, breathing slowed as she listened to each of his steps.

"I will not remain a toy at your whim." Orange eyes opened to stare at his feet for a moment before she started to stand. "You wish for me to serve, it will be of my own volition."

"Assure me that my child will not be harmed, and I will serve you. I will also be permitted to free my self of your sadistically hold on this crumbling body." Dark eyes locked on his own waiting for a response. What would she lose by extending a deal? Nothing. If anything, it was simply to make his efforts easier. Though how truthful her bending of the knee could truly be, that was yet to be known.

Fist clenched at her side, her glance following his circle yet not turning to watch him.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Empty words, my bold apprentice."

The Emperor did not trust her, not after everything she had done against him in these past months. He stood behind her, his form casting a looming shadow over her, engulfing her in darkness.

"What will keep you from betraying me yet again, Valeska? How can I trust you after all you have done? You have betrayed me on multiple occasions, attacked my person, conspired behind my back, defied my every command. You remain alive only because I am loathe to dispose of a still useful tool."

Now he stood directly behind her, almost an inch away from her.

"What assurances can you make that would convince me to grant any of your requests? Your demands?"

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

"You refuse my death because you have more use for me then you are willing to admit." Her form remained at attention, her eyes glancing to the side to get even the slightest view of the mans face. "Should you truly be as confident as you act, what is the harm in letting me roam. You get your wish, and stop wasting your precious time trying to break me."

Slowly she turned to face him, her eyes set on his cruel expression. "You aren't scared of a mere apprentice, are you?" A twisted smile tugged at the edges of her lips as the words escaped, her stare just daring him to respond with anything other than no.

"You wish for obedience yet you yank a chain to tight. It is only a matter of time before any beast turns on its handler that way. A beating is no way to earn a loyal subject." Looking off to the side for a moment she turned her head, a thought creeping unwelcome once more.

"And, if it doesn't work in your favor, what is stopping you from going further with your little power play? You must want something from me, and not a mindless body. You surely have handfuls of those."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Ah, there's that hollow bravado."

The Emperor's hand lashed out, fingers clamping around the back of Morrow's skull in a total replication of what had happened on Iridonia. Like before, the Emperor effortlessly lifted the smaller woman up into the air with only one hand wrapped around her head. Unlike before, his grip tightened around her skull until the pressure nearly threatened to crack the skull plate inwards, though it never truly went beyond the point of extreme discomfort.

"Now, this looks familiar, doesn't it? Care to beg like you did last time, apprentice? Or are you above that, even while your hands are still stained with the blood of your only son?" He pulled Morrow closer to him, close enough that he could whisper right into her ear. "You do remember what happened last time, don't you? Have you forgotten that lesson?" With cruel flippancy he flung Morrow back down onto the ground, his hands falling to his hips as he stared down at her with a dark and insidious smirk burgeoning across his hard and scarred features.

"Perhaps you need a reminder."

[member="Darth Morrow"]​

 

[Darth Morrow]

It seemed as though yet another show of brute strength didn't phase the woman beyond the pain she felt, fear had melted to disdain. The grip on the back of her skull threatened to crush it to shards, yet she stopped trying to grasp at his hands, instead she took a deep breath and waited; should he kill her, well then that was settled, if not, she would be tossed aside.

"You would rather allow your pride to get in the way of an easy deal." When Carnifex flung her to the ground she righted herself, turning to stand and face him.

"A punishment is not a punishment if one no longer cares either way. Brutality in the same is no way to win me over." Valeska bit the edge of her lip, the taste of blood filling her mouth as she distracted herself from the throbbing at the back of her skull, the spinning of pain near causing the man before her to split in two before he stood still once more.

"Go ahead and do what you think will mend the situation at hand, it will not change my stance." Molten eyes locked on his own, her hands resting back as she remained on the floor trying to regain her sense of balance and focus.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]