Private Where the Truth Lies

[Nouqai Veil]

Location: Shipyard Inner Rim

After months with the Lightsworn, the sithspawn captive was now trusted with small missions mostly urged on by Kyric , the Jedi Knight she could almost call a friend. She was here once, the last time escorted by Bernard who wanted nothing more than the knowledge she gained with the Sith Order. This time it was to infiltrate and download data through the shipyard's control centre and the other ships around as the Star Destroyer refuelled. There was a tracking fob on her wrist, a precaution in case she decided to make a run for it - which she didn't think she would. The Lightsworn were helping her, they treated her well, leaving them would not be reasonable.

Dressed distinctively of the Jedi and Truth handing from her neck, she roamed around the shipyard acting as normal as she could even if her unique features turned heads. Sneaking around came naturally to her, granted from her previous training with the Tsis'Kaar. CTOii swiftly establishing connections to the networks in the vicinity, the powerful devices infiltrating whatever firewalls set. The mission here was to download, even what ever frivilous, not to analyse the data which would be a task for other Lightsworn personelle. The run down of data came flowing through, it had been a while since she utilised the device in her head for such a task.

Wandering down the aisle of the shipyard, she stopped in her tracks. Nouqai had caught the sight of someone familiar, a woman with dark hair and red eyes, once a friend during her time in the sith order. Slight panic arose, the amphibious sentinent quickly turned around and began making her way back to the star destroyer. She could not be quite sure given the distance, but she hope she was not seen. Where there was an apprentice, their Master was usually no further.

Balun Dashiell Darth Strosius Revna

 

[Revna]

The purpose of this trip into the Inner Rim was a bit of a mystery to the Sith apprentice - but sometimes her Master didn’t tell her details, and only had her tag along for assistance, or for learning experience. She supposed this time it was for both, working against the plans of the Jedi, weakening them wherever they could.

Perhaps that was why she found herself in the shipyards, seeking to sabotage the work of some group of Jedi. Her Master was out of sight, but she wasn’t concerned about this. She had grown immensely since she began her training with him; now, she didn’t need to be glued to his side at all times. He could give her directions and send her on her own and trust that she would follow through to the best of her ability.

Right now, she was simply to observe and report anything that seemed out of place. So far, nothing too interesting had captured her attention, but she didn’t let down her vigil. And her focus eventually paid off, when a figure entered the shipyard that seemed a little too…sneaky.

The small woman’s eyes narrowed as even from a distance, something about the individual seemed familiar. She moved from her perch and used the Force to conceal her presence as she moved to get a closer look…

She stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. Walking away, and with determined steps was a figure Revna had not seen in what felt like ages: Falentra. Shock and surprise flickered over her features…followed then by the dark shadow of some other emotion. A frown creased her brow as she observed the retreating back of the young fallen Jedi, a fellow apprentice and someone she had considered almost like a sister.

…who had vanished. Now only to resurface in an area that was being scoped out for Jedi involvement.

Had she returned to the Light? Betrayed Darth Malum? He’d been looking for her for so long, wanting to know the whereabouts of his lost apprentice. He had cared for her, saved her, nurtured her…if this was how she decided to repay that…

Revna connected to the direct line of communication with her own Master. Darth Strosius had had his doubts about Falentra, way back when she had first met the aquatic girl with tentacles for hair; that a fallen Jedi couldn’t be a Sith…ever. Revna had disagreed with him on that. But maybe he had been right afterall…

“-I just spotted someone trying to sneak into the shipyard. You’ll never believe who it is… it’s Malum’s missing apprentice, Falentra.-” Revna said in a low voice to her Master. She debated seeking his permission to pursue and engage…and then decided that she would do it regardless of whether he wanted her to or not.

She had questions for the girl.

Using her training from Malum, Revna virtually disappeared as she used the Force to hide her presence and her signature. Then she used her speed and agility and the environment around her to catch up to the rapidly leaving form of Falentra. She managed to get just ahead, perching on a high point like a panther in ambush, and dropped her cloak, her corrupted golden eyes staring holes into the young girl she’d spent time with.

“Hello…Falentra. Fancy seeing you here, of all places.” Revna said in a low, soft voice as she dropped down in front of the aquatic young woman, not appearing to be immediately threatening or dangerous. She really just wanted to talk first. What happened after that though, depended on Falentra. Memories of their first encounter on Krayiss II flashed through her mind - as well as the phantom pain of a book smashing into her nose. She was not someone to be underestimated.

“Where have you been? Why didn’t you come back?”

Did you betray us? Was the question she wanted to ask the girl…but left it unsaid, for now.


Nouqai Veil // Darth Strosius

 

[Nouqai Veil]

The voice of Revna was familiar, coming from above her. Of course, the apprentice would have received the same training to go undetected. The cloaked woman dropped down near her. Nouqai took a step backwards, creating some distance. Revna was one of the first few friends she made in the Sith Order, they had sometimes snuck away from their masters' supervision and dull tasks to go to shopping. Things were different now.

Subconsciously, her hand wandered to fiddle with Truth on her neck, the trinket sensed darkness near, making her slightly nauseous. "I... could not... And I don't think I want to. I have failed the dark as I did the light." She stated simply. There was no escaping the hold the Lightsworn had on her or the Azrael Asylum she was put in before that. The teen had long abandoned the notion that she would be rescued. Now Truth had already erased what knowledge she had of the dark - the ancient sith language, Ur-kittat which she once knew like the back of her hand, were now incomprehensible symbols.

Then she looked around warily. While she wanted to continue catching up with Revna, Truth was making her queasy just being around the dark aura. The darkside corrupted easily, and she could not let all the progress go to waste. "You are in Galactic Alliance territory. Please leave or I will have to report you, Revna." Or worse, fight you. Nouqai had no weapons on her, she was not allowed so. But even then, she was perfectly capable of fighting without or using what she could find.

Balun Dashiell Revna Darth Strosius

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Location: Enroute to Inner Rim Shipyard
Apparel: Field Apparel
Inventory: Lightsaber, Bryar Pistol.

​

The Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter shot through Hyperspace with the low hum of the hyperdrive while Balun Vale sat nestled comfortably within the cockpit, eyes closed and silent. Chip, the BB-Model Astromech maintained watch over the vessel's sensor and energy readouts while Balun focused on his objective ahead of him.

This would be Balun's second attempt at freeing his friend from the clutches of the Lightsworn, a perilous extremist lightside group that called themselves Jedi. They had somehow managed to capture Nouqai Veil . Despite Nouqai's departure from the New Jedi Order and his embrace of the Darkside, he remained Balun's closest friend. His perspective of the Lightsworn didn't paint them in any greater light than what he thought of the Sith. His first attempted rescue had gone poorly, thanks to the intervention of Bernard , a Lightsworn Jedi...-Or perhaps The Lightsworn Jedi.

This time around however, word had reached Balun that Nouqai had been sighted in the area. She was a striking figure, someone who stood out within a crowd, and while Balun had secured his place within The Nest, and the Tingel Arm Coalition, he had put word out that he was looking for her. The Tingel Arm Coalition had many contacts through a select few rather well-known and experienced members. With Balun living within one of the forward operating bases, their connections were quickly becoming his own.

Suddenly, the droid's sharp whistle announced their arrival and gave Balun cause to pull himself out of meditation, immediately drawing back on the Starfighters acceleration, the Hyperdrive kicking back and bringing them reeling back into real space. The Shipyard, appearing in sight, soon confirmed that they had arrived at the provided coordinates, and he made no time in setting about docking within one of the Station's Hangars using his status as an Aquilian Ranger. While this wasn't the Outer Rim, they were still quickly becoming recognised as men of law and order, especially those who were Jedi among their ranks.

Nouqai Veil | Revna​

 

[Revna]

Revna did not approach any closer to Falentra, giving them both space as the other girl seemed rather…uncomfortable in her presence. Her amber gaze flickered to Falentra’s hand as she seemed to grasp a hold of a necklace at her neck, almost as if it was there to soothe her. A slightly frown furrowed Revna’s brow…something was off here, but she didn’t really understand what or how or why.

But there was the taint of the Light side around her former comrade. For most Sith, this would have made them immediately turn hostile. But Revna was no ordinary Sith; she looked at things differently, looked at everyone differently.

She was still and quiet when Falentra tried to answer her questions: she couldn’t return to Malum? She didn’t…want to? She failed the Dark as she had the Light? Revna noticed the aquatic girl looking around herself warily, and she could only imagine as to why. The Light corrupted one’s mind and viewpoint, made friend into foe.

But that could be said about the Dark side as well.

Revna huffed slightly at the younger girl’s warning. “I am a Sith. I go where I please. And you were Sith once too. You also could go where you pleased. What happened, Falentra? Malum has been worried sick over you. He tried to find you, but it was like you just vanished without a trace.”

The Sith apprentice cast her gaze about them once more, hoping that no one would disturb them in this very delicate moment, before she looked back into Falentra’s face. She still hadn't moved closer, and despite the tension that was beginning to rise, Revna wasn't showing any hostility towards her friend. Where they still friends?

“I don’t know what you are doing here…but you can leave this all behind you. Come back with us…come home.”


Nouqai Veil // Balun Dashiell // Darth Strosius

 

[Nouqai Veil]

What happened... Revna had asked. Hearing Darth Malum of House Marr 's name evoked a conflict of emotions. It all started on Jedha, where Malum had brought her to accompany him on a mission to defend the temple - or more so seize it from the Jedi. Then upon encountering an old friend Raphael Gallustrade from her time in the Jedi Order, they fought, she had preyed on his weakness, carving those runes into his neck, it had turned against her. The apprentice had called out to her master through the force when she was slowly suffocating, but she was not answered, she could not sense his presence within the force.

Then she was more concerned that something had happened to her master on Jedha than her situation inside a NJO detainment facility, but then soon, she was convinced he wanted to get rid of her. It had been months, the sith lord would have discovered her whereabouts by now surely. There was hurt in her voice. "Then where is he now?" This sithspawn had disappointed him and was nothing but a failed pet project. But now to hear that he had been searching... that he was worried. "I did not vanish. Malum did not answer my call for help on Jedha. He lost me to the Jedi."

"I doubt he is as worried as you say, he has three other apprentices to inherit him, an absence of one should be of little concern for his plans."

What was home? Once it was the coruscant temple, then home was with Darth Assimilus , where she travelled with him during the 3 years as his padawan. Then there was Alvaria, if only for a few months. "I'm sorry, I cannot. I do not belong with the sith. It is too late for me, I've been helped," The path of light was the only one for her now, she had no choice, but it wasn't too bad, she wasn't suffering or in pain. The Lightsworn were helping her through the process. "Goodbye, Revna." Then she turned... she turned her back on a sith, she started to walk away, back towards the Lightsworn starship.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun had been searching throughout the shipyard station for some time before he finally picked up on Nouqai Veil 's presence in the Force. Surprisingly, it reminded him of how her presence felt when they were still part of the New Jedi Order. The absence of darkness still seemed unusual to him, as they had remained friends even when she had admitted to him face-to-face that she had joined the Sith.

He hadn't abandoned their friendship because of her decision; it wasn't in his nature to turn his back on his friends unless they forced him to do so and went to great lengths to achieve it. Nonetheless, he honed in on her signature in the Force, her presence growing more prominent the closer he got to where Nouqai Veil would be found. Unknowingly, walking into something of a tense situation between her and Revna .

Abruptly, Balun came into view of the pair, jogging around the corridor's corner and skidding to a halt as his eyes landed on his friend. "Nouqai!" he called her name, finally finding her again, though she wasn't alone. The other woman, Revna, didn't share the same presence as Bernard of the Lightsworn. No, hers was much darker, and he could only assume she was of the Sith. Or, at the very least, tied to the group Nouqai had joined. House Malum.

"Name's Balun", introducing himself to Revna, though he maintained some distance from the pair as a precaution. He didn't know how Nouqai would respond to his being there, let alone a Darksider. Turning his attention back on Nouqai, he was glad to know she was no longer being held captive; "I see you managed to escape the Lightsworn" he pointed out her lack of a guard, "Bloody hard people to track...-How'd you get free of them?".

 

[Darth Strosius]

The normal hustle and bustle of the shipyard was suddenly interrupted as the lights all across the station went out at once, the luminous halls and rooms plunged into darkness for a brief moment before the orange alert lights flickered to life and began bathing everything in spinning cones of their glow. Blast doors began to lower as well, with the announcement speakers around the station letting loose a small burst of static before cutting out and leaving the inhabitants themselves and the dropping doors as the only sources of noise.

"Well well well," A shape dropped from the catwalks above the trio at the beginning of a confrontation, landing a short distance away and most importantly blocking one of the rapidly closing blast doors. The heavy robes adorning his frame spread out on the floor as he landed in a kneeling position, soon flowing like a river in reverse as he rose to his full height. His expressionless mask and pitiless visor set its baleful gaze upon the figure at the center of the trio.

"Falentra."

The name slipped from his mask in the same manner that one would utter a bold yet personal prayer, and with it the air within the hall they all stood in seemed to grow noticeably colder as his head cocked to the side. "What a pleasure it is to see you again, what brings you so far into Jedi space?" There was a subtle shift of his hands as his arm moved out, revealing a datapad with schematics and blueprints encompassing its screen. His mission had been a success it seemed.

Then his gaze shifted to the young man among their number and the datapad was quickly stowed into his robes as his other hand raised up. "Ah, and speaking of which, look what you've found. A morsel." The fingers on his raised hand clenched into a fist and the blast doors at both ends of the hall slammed shut in time with the movement. "Revna, Falentra, you know the rules. Whoever slays the boy first gets his lightsaber."

Nouqai Veil / Revna / Balun Dashiell

 

[Revna]

Revna could sense the conflict arising within Falentra when she mentioned Malum’s name. Something definitely wasn’t right here. Had the young girl truly gone back to the Jedi and betrayed them? She knew it wouldn’t have been the first time something like that had happened.

…but to hear that Malum hadn’t gone to her when she called out to him for help made a cold chill dance over her skin. Especially since she had seen and heard his anguish in looking for her. But, if he had truly wanted her back he would have done everything in his power to get her back. So why hadn’t he? Because he was too busy now being the Emperor’s Dark Councillor to be concerned for someone he had said was family?

He had always been an ambitious Sith, chasing after influence and prominence to raise their family’s name back to the heights of its former glory. Had he forgotten that Falentra was a part of that legacy, as his apprentice?

Revna truly had no response in the moment to her friend, her fellow sister-apprentice, in that moment. That was until she heard the parting words of the aquatic girl, and a frown creased Revna’s brow.

“I won’t speak on Malum’s behalf - he can answer for his own sins…but did you even try to get away? Were you so enamored with the Light side that you would so willingly let it call you back? Did you truly ever turn your back against it in the first place?” came her soft, quiet voice - hurtful, yes, but they were like that for a reason. Revna wanted to hear what had truly happened, and maybe by provoking her she might get some truth out before she walked away.

The situation shifted moments later however, when another individual made their presence known, calling out a name Revna didn’t recognize. That must have been Falentra’s name when she was with the Jedi. Revna’s gaze snapped to the young man who appeared on the scene, and she could sense the Light side on him.

Great, another Jedi to deal with. Tension coiled within the small Sith, as she didn’t know what was about to happen next. She’d had…unique interactions with Jedi in the past, but she was always wary and cautious when a new face made an appearance.

He introduced himself as Balun, before turning his attention to Falentra and Revna heard him mention something about some Lightsworn, and assumed Falentra had escaped from whatever that was. The apprentice’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, as she turned her gaze back to Falentra to see just how she interacted with the newcomer.

Alas, her questions would not have their answers - as a rather familiar and powerful dark presence made itself known, before she ever heard or laid eyes on him. Revna’s face went pale and she stiffened slightly when the robed form of her Sith Master, Darth Strosius, landed near to where she was from the catwalk above. Her heart fairly pounded in her chest as her gaze flickered briefly to her High Priest, then back at the other two, as she listened to his voice as he spoke to Falentra, as if she was still a Sith apprentice, as if nothing had ever changed.

…Did he not sense something was off about Falentra too? That was probably a good thing, she mused darkly to herself. He had been suspicious of the young girl for a while, and he had made it quite clear his belief that a Jedi couldn’t be converted fully to the dark side. Was he about to be proven right, in this situation?

A situation which became far more dire when he used the Force to seal the doors on either side of the hall, sealing them all together…before issuing an order to both of them to kill the other Jedi who had just arrived on the scene.

Revna had had no intention of fighting him, or Falentra, unless given no other choice. If Strosius figured this out…

Chit, this is bad, Revna thought to herself grimly. Especially when she didn’t immediately move to obey that order. She didn’t even reach for her saber. She wanted to say something, anything, to stall…but no words came out. She simply stared, frozen in place by indecision, as damning as it was.


Darth Strosius // Nouqai Veil // Balun Dashiell

 

[Nouqai Veil]

In some ways they were similar, Revna was much a follower, less of a leader. Incredibly devoted to the ones she followed. Once, Nouqai followed the path of light so fervently. "I had plunged a saber into my heart, chose death than darkness - only went so far because Malum saved me. I believed he cared, but yet he left me to die - to suffocate in Jedha. Do you believe the sith truly care about those below them? Strosius left me at Tion to fall into the empresses' mercy, so do you think your own master won't abandon you when its most convenient?" Revna did not know what she spoke of. Only Darth Malum of House Marr and Grrwunhoool knew the struggle and conflict she endured facing the call to the dark.

Then she heard her true name called by a voice all too familiar. "What are you doing here Balun?" She hissed, although she knew well of the answer to her question: her friend was here for her, just like the last time. How he tracked her down was a mystery. "I have not 'escaped' the Lightsworn, nor do I need to be 'free' of them. They have been helping me, and I am returning the favour. You wouldn't understand." There was frustration in her voice, she did not need help, she was already being helped. While slightly relieved to see her bestfriend, her expression on the matter did little to convey as it remained placid. With a Sith in their presence, albeit still an apprenice, she was now concerned. Where an apprentice was, their master was not far away.

Nouqai looked around as bustle erupted across the shipyard, the light flickering off, replaced by the orange glow of the emergency lights. Something - or someone had triggered a crisis lockdown. "We need to go now." The teen said sternly to Balun. But just as those words left her lips, darked loomed around them as a figure dropped down from above. Speak of the devil. Almost instinctively, she moved, placing herself as somewhat of a barrier between the Lord Inquisitor and her best friend.

"Alisteri." She acknowledged back, not using his Darth title. After the last incident at Tion and the terrifying dilemma with the empress, she held little respect for the Sith lord. "I was about to ask you the same." Her eyes narrowed slightly at the data pad in his palm and its holographs. Bold, had he forgotten what she did that ended up in the Empress' possession in the first place? Now to bring up his plans in a silver platter right to her. Wordlessly, like she did with Tion, she would operate CTOii to start slicing through the firewalls of the device now in his pocket.

> CTOii: connecting to nearby devices...

- connection success

> CTOii Privilege Access Granted.

However, while the connection was secured, it was hard to multitask, especially when he ordered them both to attack - as if she had never left, or as if she would follow his orders after what happened in Tion. And there was nothing anyone could do to turn her against Balun. They were trapped. Nouqai had no weapons on her, but she was confident in her own abilities even if she was at a disadvantage. Surprisingly, Revna did not move. But Falentra did not hesitate as she spat, dark viscous ink spurting at the inquisitor's masked face. If she could only hold the inquisitor off, buy them time, and find a way out. Pushing her arms outwards, she'd send a burst of force towards the two sith.

"Run, Balun!"

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"I have not 'escaped' the Lightsworn, nor do I need to be 'free' of them. They have been helping me, and I am returning the favour. You wouldn't understand."

"They're extremists, Nouqai. They kill Darksiders indiscriminately; they don't even try to avoid violence-..." he had started to try and talk some sense into his friend; however, something else invaded his thoughts, a sudden and unexpected surge in the flow of ethereal energies that surrounded them, as if a large rock had been dropped into an otherwise calm pool of water. Darkness surrounded them, enveloping the section of the shipyard station where they were all standing. It wasn't the Apprentice, but someone much more robust in the Force than Balun was. He could tell that much alone from how the air had become dense, and their presence in the Force drowned out all others.

Nouqai Veil stepped past Balun and shifted to his front, looking towards the figure who had revealed themselves to the three. While his friend had the Force, Balun had noted that she'd not drawn her weapon. The Lightsworn must not have allowed her to carry her Lightsaber. The boy, on the other hand, reached for his hilt with his right hand and freed his Bryar Pistol from its holster with his left, moving to place the sidearm to the back of Nouqai's hand so that she would have a weapon to defend herself with.

Turning back to glance over his shoulder at Revna , he was conscious that they were flanked on both sides—an Apprentice and their Master. "I'm here to help Nouqai; I have no quarrel with either of you", Balun spoke out, moving to stand alongside his friend, facing the corridor wall so that he was side on from both Darth Strosius and the Apprentice. They were some distance away yet, but it was not difficult to close in with the assistance of the Force. His right hand remained tightly gripped around his Lightsaber, thumb primed to trigger its activation at a moment's notice. The tension in the air was palpable, each second stretching out like an eternity.

"The Lightsworn, a militant sect of self-proclaimed Jedi, captured her. They do not follow the same code of conduct as the Order does and are responsible for Nouqai's disappearance. I've been tracking them, trying to free her," Balun explained, his eyes returning towards Revna, who had been the first to reach Nouqai.

Turning his attention back towards the Sith Master, Balun made no such attempt to convince him. It was without a doubt that Darth Strosius had already made up his mind about Balun, and so the young man expected that he would not be able to escape a confrontation with the Sith, regardless of his good intentions.

"I'll fight you in single combat; just let the other two leave", he challenged the Master, knowing that he had no way of winning but seeing it as the only chance for Nouqai to escape unharmed. Nouqai had been with the Sith when she had received the chip in her head, and at that time, the New Jedi Order had claimed she had been killed. He could not have known that his best friend had a card still hidden up her sleeve.

Unfortunately, Nouqai acted first. She slew some dark ink-like liquid at the Sith Master and then turned to shove him, telling him to run. Balun stumbled backwards, hesitating only to grab Nouqai's arm before turning and pulling her with him. He would not be leaving without her. He'd sooner take the Sith Lord's blade to the chest than leave his friend in harm's way.

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man didn't bother hiding the slight twinge of amusement that he felt as the trio all looked upon him with surprise and tension, even his apprentice. Her reaction was odd given that she had been the one to alert him to begin with but he chose to let it slide for the moment as Falentra addressed him. "Darth Malum must have let my name slip, how very bold of you to repeat it without any honorifics." Yet he didn't seem offended, if anything he sounded intrigued. As though he was wondering they why and how of such boldness.

His gaze narrowed as he saw the Jedi shift and reach for his weapons, his arms crossing behind his back as he felt for the lightsaber tucked up into his sleeve. "How interesting, we have the shared goal of helping the same person and yet we call her different names and intend entirely different things. I'd call that an area of conflict and quarrel, wouldn't you?" Darth Strosius of course knew what the boy had meant but he couldn't resist the desire to poke and prod. To wipe away the façade of control and calm that Jedi adorned themselves with and give way to the natural frantic state of being.

He raised an eyebrow beneath his mask as the Jedi mentioned the Lightsworn, idly recalling a report on a raid on Dromund Kaas performed by that very same group. Most interesting. "Militant, claims to be something they're not, penchant for kidnapping, they sound like typical Jedi to me." He actually gave a nonchalant shrug but he was very much still intrigued. "And, pray tell, if our dear Falentra was already captured by Jedi once...what makes you think I'm going to let you walk away with her this time?"

Darth Strosius cocked his head to the side as the hilt of his weapon slid into his hand, the blade igniting and rising above his head as he still held it behind his back. The crimson blade serving as a pillar behind him as he leered down at the pair before him. The challenge made him smirk but also shake his head. "Child, there is no point in me slaying you. I have felled my fair share of Jedi already, but the other two here are in dire need of practice. If you wish to embrace death so soon however-"

At that moment his visor was suddenly hit with a spurt of...something from Falentra, or Nouqai whichever was more applicable at the moment, and his remark was cut short by surprise. "Beg pardon?" A push in the Force crashed into him before he could reach up to wipe the muck away but aside from his robes being blasted back as though by a great wind the man himself remained unmoved. Yet he didn't make any moves to pursue or retaliate either. Instead with his free hand he simply reach up and rid himself of the grime with a few careful swipes of his clawed fingers.

His gaze, now free of blockage, settled on his apprentice who still had yet to even reach for a weapon despite the pair now attempting to escape. "Disciple," He spoke in a voice of displeasure and disappointment, albeit one that was not lacking in his usual determination. "Give chase. Kill the Jedi if you must, but retrieving Falentra is your main goal. I shall ensure that they cannot leave this station." His lightsaber was extinguished as he leapt back up to the catwalks above, landing on them with a seamless backflip. "Engage only if it is convenient and to your advantage, keep them in sight until we have them pinned down, now go."

Nouqai Veil / Revna / Balun Dashiell

 

[Revna]

Revna’s trick to try and force her friend to talk and tell her what had truly happened, seemed to work. Falentra’s words to Revna brought a small frown to her face; she hadn’t known that her friend had tried to kill herself instead of accepting an apprenticeship to Darth Malum. But it was like a knife to the chest to know that since the very beginning, Falentra hadn’t wanted to walk the path of the Dark side. And her challenging questions flung towards the Sith apprentice made her stiffen - and a dark frown creased her brow when Falentra said that Strosius had abandoned her on Tion, which caused her to fall into the Empress’s hands and even tried planting the seed of doubt that her High Priest would abandon her too when convenient. But Revna knew better than that, and she cast such an attempt aside.

“He has had chances to cast me aside and abandon me before this point, and he has not. And as the Master, he has that right to do so if he wishes. However, I cannot say why he would do that to you. Only he can truly answer that question. Though if I’d been your Master and he’d done that to you, I’d be furious with him.” Revna sighed heavily and her shoulders dropped slightly; if Falentra was paying attention she would notice a sorrow drape across the small woman’s shoulders. “I want to hear more, I want to hear the why. I won’t lie, I am disappointed and hurt to hear this has happened to you. I’d…I’d leave too if I felt like the two people who I thought cared for me, abandoned me.”

The arrival of the Jedi - Balun - added another layer of complexity and tension to the situation. Revna listened as the two exchanged words, mentioning something about “Lightsworn” - and how her Jedi friend had come to rescue her, but she seemed to reject that idea. Many things didn’t add up here in Revna’s mind, and she was beginning to grow more and more suspicious that these “Lightsworn” were perhaps brainwashing Falentra into believing they were her heroes and everyone else were her enemies. Balun turned to the small Sith and explained that he had no quarrel with her and he was simply there to help Nouqai, and much to her surprise he explained a bit more on just who the Lightsworn were and confirmed the small woman’s suspicions.

“Well at least they are Jedi I will have no problem with killing.” she growled, her face darkening. “I have no problem with you - not right now at least.” Revna replied to the young Jedi male as her gaze flickered briefly to the saber in his hand. He was ready to fight, but he hadn’t acted out aggressively yet. And to see another Jedi against others of their own kind really made her wonder what was going on at the core of this mystery.

But before she could ask any further questions to try and get to the bottom of all of it, her Master arrived, and the tensions rose to a point where any wrong move could result in a deadly confrontation that she didn’t want.

Revna’s gaze flickered once towards the masked figure of the Sith Lord before returning once more to her friend Falentra, and the young Jedi Balun. Falentra moved to be a protective shield between Darth Strosius and Balun, and she used his actual name instead of his honorific title. Whatever disagreement she had with Strosius was between them, and Revna would not get involved in that...Other than questioning the man on just why he would abandon his battle brother’s apprentice in the middle of a warzone. That bit of information really unsettled Revna, more so than she thought it would.

The small woman knew that Falentra wouldn’t attack her Jedi friend; if anything, they would either try to escape or attack both Sith before them. As much as Revna didn’t want a fight, she had a feeling one was coming. Especially as Darth Strosius fired back his own responses and ignited his lightsaber.

Balun tried to challenge her Master to a one on one fight - to allow Revna and Falentra to leave. She found that to be most interesting; she wasn’t afraid of her Master, by any means. Even though she knew she was facing an interrogation from the High Priest of Wonosa once they were back on their ship. Surely, he’d want to know why she hadn’t leapt to obey his command immediately. It had been the first time that she had refused to follow an order of his, and she knew he would take notice of that.

Unfortunately Falentra was the first one to make a move and thus setting into motions everything that would come next, spitting out a glob of blackened ink that smacked into the mask of Revna’s Master, catching him off guard before she unleashed a strong Force push towards both of them before screaming at her friend to run. The small woman braced against the Force energy sent her way and felt herself pushed back a step or two by its energy, but luckily she was not struck by the blackened ink spit that had been aimed towards the Sith Lord.

She watched as the Jedi, Balun, grabbed Falentra and tried to pull her away - intent on fleeing instead of fighting it seemed, and she was rather grateful for that.

Though her saber found its way into her hand, Revna didn’t ignite it as she sensed the disappointment and displeasure from her Master as he growled out her title, rather than her name. She felt a squeeze around her heart, a prickle of unease as she knew for certain then that he was not happy with her. He issued his next orders, firm and direct and she knew better than to refuse them a second time.

Revna instinctively reached for the Force, calling on it to hide her presence completely, just as Malum had taught her to do. She vanished from sight and from the Force with a warble, before taking off after the fleeing duo. Somehow, she would need to get ahead of them and cut off their route if possible. She used her surroundings to her advantage and her dexterity and agility aided by the unique structure of her body helped her catch up to the other two, but she was unable to get ahead of them like she wished.

So instead, she summoned forth her deeper energy and power and reached out to seize Falentra in a hold of Force Stasis, attempting to at least slow her or halt her completely.

“Falentra, Balun - stop, please! I am not here to harm either of you, despite what my Master has told me to do. I just want my friend back!” Revna exclaimed in a low voice full of genuine emotion as she dropped her invisibility behind them.

“Please Falentra… I…I miss having you around. Please come home…”


Darth Strosius // Nouqai Veil // Balun Dashiell

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Nouqai's brows furrowed as she shot him a look of disbelief. What the hell is he thinking challenging a sith lord? His reason to give them time to escape was admirable - chivalrous even, but it was incredibly reckless. Then again, he did not know the inquisitor. So when the dark lord's attention was turned away, she created a distraction of her own.

A first move against the sith lord, it was incredibly daring, but she was liking the adrenaline that came from it. Nouqai held a stance defensive, she was ready to fight. However, Balun would run, but only with her along. He had grabbed her arm and tugged her away from the other two.

They dashed down corridor afer corridor looking for an escape, however, the doors around were sealed shut. "Bale, listen, they want me. They're not going to do me harm, but if they get to you, I can't guarantee the same for you." Even the empress had done her no harm when she was in her custody. This was not Balun's fight, and she'd hate to see him harmed because of her."You need to find a way out, I'll try to connect to the control center and see if I can get the doors to open." She told him. If CTOii could get through the control center of the facility, she could easily disarm the doors then.

However, as Nouqai turned around, she'd immediately face the sith apprentice, shorter in stature. Revna held her in place with the force, then stating her wishes for her to return. Was it selfish of Revna to want to - or for Falentra in fact not to want to? She would be lying to say she did not enjoy their friendship, but for Nouqai, it was too late.

"It is not you I worry about. Its him. What do you think Strosius will do to Balun if he doesn't manage get out of here? You must understand that while you are a friend, but I've known Balun since we were kids." She had a favourite friend that was for certain.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Bale, listen, they want me. They're not going to do me harm, but if they get to you, I can't guarantee the same for you. You need to find a way out, I'll try to connect to the control center and see if I can get the doors to open."

"The only way I'm leaving you is if I know you are safe. If you choose to go with the Sith, that's fine, but I need a guarantee that you're not to be harmed," Balun told her, speaking directly and firmly, which Nouqai Veil knew wasn't like him.

Unfortunately for Nouqai, Balun didn't feel the same way about the fight on their hands. She was his best friend, the person he trusted most above any Jedi or other living creature in the Galaxy. He had more confidence in her than his Master due to what they had been through together. This was most certainly his fight. Any fight that was hers was one that he would be eager to fight alongside her.

Before there was time to speak further, they both turned at the sound of Revna's arrival.

"It is not you I worry about. Its him. What do you think Strosius will do to Balun if he doesn't manage get out of here? You must understand that while you are a friend, but I've known Balun since we were kids."

"The only choice you need to worry about, Nouqai, is where you want to be", Balun interrupted them both, trying to de-escalate the situation. He didn't know Revna like Nouqai did, so he wasn't confident that the Sith Apprentice wouldn't attack them; "If you feel you belong with the Sith, that's cool with me. It doesn't change that I've always got your back, but if you'd rather come with me...." Balun turned to look back towards Revna, speaking directly to her now, "Then we need to figure out how this is going to play out".

Darth Strosius

 

[Nouqai Veil]

At times, it was hard to reason with her good friend, they were at conflict again with both were clearly unwilling to let the other get in harms way. Nouqai wanted to chide him for his stubbornness, but knew she'd be much a hypocrite sharing the same attribute, so instead, let out a soft but frustrated sigh. Their situation was a precarious one, as much as Nouqai did not want the very person she cared most about involved, they were stuck in this together.

Despite her wanting to prioritise Balun's well-being and make sure he got far, far away from the Sith inquisitor, there were also the people that trusted her with this covert mission. Nouqai shook her head as Balun Dashiell suggested she went with him if she'd prefer that over returning to the sith. "I appreciate that. As much as I'd love to, Balun, the Lightsworn are expecting my return. " After all the group, radical or not, had done to help her, she could not betray their trust. It was why she was here in the first place, not because of Balun, or the two Sith.

Nouqai turned to Revna . "Your Master sends you to do his dirty work." She noted. "Does that not bother you? Two against one, and where is he?" Darth Strosius was either underestimating the Sithspawn and Jedi's skill set, or rather overestimating his own apprentice's - perhaps even forgetting the small skirmish when they first met in Krayiss, how Falentra had almost effortlessly put Revna in a vulnerable position threatening to rip her throat out.

The pair of cyan eyes swirling within a sea of obsidian found the cloaked figure standing on the catwalks above at a distance. "-And if Darth Malum truly wants me back, I will only hear it from him. I will not let you collect me on your Master's behalf on my Master's behalf." She told Revna. They were trapped, and there was only one way she could see them both getting out of here. It was a risk that she was wiling to take.

"I'll find us a way out." She assured Balun. The Force was manipulated, in a small burst around she had used it to propel her jump upwards. Certainly less graceful than the Sith Lord's own jump, but nevertheless, she had landed on the catwalk with a bit of a stumble. The tentacled hair sentient stood up straight with her visage fierce and determined, she raised a clawed finger pointing at at the Sith Lord across the bridge.

" Darth Strosius ! You have no right to keep me here. If Darth Malum wants me, he is capable of collecting me himself. Let us go." Her voice raised to reach him at the distance, pronounced and challenging.

 

[Revna]

As soon as the other two stopped and she knew she had their attention, she released her hold on Falentra. She looked at the two of them after saying what she wanted to say, torn between wanting to do as she had been directed…and what her heart wanted.

Falentra, or Nouqai, or whatever her name was now - responded back to Revna and she could understand where the aquatic girl was coming from. Truthfully, Revna didn’t really know what Falentra’s life was like before she came to be under Malum’s teachings. She knew she’d been a former Jedi and thus must have formed connections with others, and she was wise enough to know and accept that others would hold a higher place in Falentra’s heart than she would.

Before Revna could respond, Balun spoke up and his response did surprise the small Sith. Now that is a true friend, she thought to herself as she listened to him speak to Falentra, and as he encouraged her to go where she wanted to be, regardless of what others said. His last statement was directed towards her, however - and she agreed with him.

She was about to respond when Malum’s former apprentice spoke up again, and she seemed to indicate that she wanted to uphold or prioritize whatever it was she was doing for these Lightsworn individuals, and this brought a small but brief frown to Revna’s face. Either Falentra was brainwashed into serving these radical so called Jedi, or she was truly wanting to serve them and was doing this on her own free will. Neither option was good, and it stirred a deep place of anger and hate in the small Sith’s chest, but neither emotion was seen on her face or in her eyes.

The other girl’s remarks about Strosius sending his apprentice to do his “dirty work”, and if it bothered her - brought a darkness over her eyes and near emotionless face.

“Would you rather he have come instead of sending me? I’m more willing to at least talk and listen than he is.” came the soft, somewhat cold voice from Revna’s lips as she stared at her former sister-apprentice. “And if you are angry at him, then confront him to his face, Nouqai. Don’t try to sabotage my bond with him because of your own issues with the man.”

Revna fell silent as Falentra continued, assuring her friend Balun that she would find them both a way out, and the small woman scoffed lightly and shook her head before looking at them both with a mixture of sorrow and detachment. “I was going to offer my aid to help you both escape. I can face my Master’s disappointment - wouldn’t be the first time he’s been disappointed or displeased with me for doing something other than what he expects me to do…” Revna’s words trailed off as she watched her former? friend use the Force to propel herself up on the catwalk above them, and her amber gaze followed the aquatic girl as the other called out to Darth Strosius, demanding that he let them go.

The small Sith turned her attention towards Balun, her expression dark and tinged with a hint of the emotions that simmered under the surface, then turned to walk past him and down the corridor and towards the door which was sealed, blocking them in. She paused and dipped her head as she closed her eyes, and reached deep into the pool of dark power that sat within her very depths. She summoned it up and through her and with a thrust of her outstretched hands, propelled a tremendous forward and towards the doors - blowing them outward with the rending sounds of metal and wires and anything else the door had been made of.

Revna opened her now smoldering eyes; had that blast been directed towards a living being, a corpse would have been the only thing left behind. She turned her attention back to Balun.

“The sealed corridor is now open to you. Go or stay, your choice.” she murmured before stalking past him and launching herself with feline-like grace to the catwalk above her, landing near to her friend before walking away from her without acknowledgement as she set her gaze upon the area where her Master was. A couple of jumps and graceful landings later, she stood in the same area as the Sith Lord with some space between them.

She regarded the robed man silently for a few heartbeats, though her gaze burned with a barely contained inner fire.

“...is it true?” she asked in a lethally soft voice of the man before her. “Did you leave her behind, your brother’s apprentice, my friend, in a war zone? Tell me she's lying about that...”

Darth Strosius // Nouqai Veil // Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"I appreciate that. As much as I'd love to, Balun, the Lightsworn are expecting my return.

Girls were so frustrating, and neither Nouqai Veil nor Revna would convince Balun otherwise today.

The Lightsworn were the last people Balun wished for Nouqai Veil to return to. She had been a member of the New Jedi Order, and she had put so much pressure on herself to pass the trials that her eventual failure had convinced Nouqai that she didn't belong with them. She had turned to the Darkness within herself, and together with her Master Darth Assimilus , they had concocted a lie to tell the Council, convincing the Order that she had been killed in the line of duty.

Her Wookiee Master had returned and driven the story forward, and today, he stood with the Lightsworn, only cementing Balun's disapproval of the extremist group. If ever there were an Order of the Light to return to, Balun knew that they were not the ones for his friend. He would sooner see her return to the Sith Order, as this was a choice she had made and felt right at home with. She had been content with herself when she and Balun had found one another again, and she had explained her affiliation with the Sith Order, fearing Balun would turn on her.

He hadn't then, and he wouldn't now.

“The sealed corridor is now open to you. Go or stay, your choice.”

While he appreciated that Revna had chosen to show him mercy, Balun wasn't convinced that Nouqai was making the right choice. While it was arrogant to assume he knew better for her, he was certain that the Lightsworn were somehow deceiving her.

The presence of the Sith Lord, despite being elusive from where Balun stood, had forced him into a precarious position. Darth Strosius was far more powerful than Balun was in the Force, both trained and willing to spill blood. Not only that, he couldn't be sure that the Sith Lord's apprentice wouldn't turn on him or Nouqai at the first chance her guard was dropped. He didn't know either of these Sith as Nouqai did, and while he'd have liked to be able to trust his friend's faith in the Sith Apprentice, once again, Balun wasn't willing to stake Nouqai's safety on such a gamble.

He followed suit, summoning the Force to aid in an assisted leap, climbing an unnatural height to reach the catwalk and move forward into a sprint after Nouqai. Revna had gained a surprising amount of ground ahead, but Balun could still sense his friend ahead.

"Chew me out for it later, but I'm in this with you to the end", He called after Nouqai, still clutching his lightsaber hilt in his right hand, though inactive and hoping he wouldn't have to utilize it.

(My apologies, but posting now as I don't know when I'll next have the chance).

 

[Darth Strosius]

Pursuing the fleeing pair was fairly easy along the catwalks, especially given that said features had been his and Revna's initial method of entry to begin with. Even though they did have a habit of veering off and splitting in order to reach different maintenance points they were nonetheless perfect to help close the distance between his prey and himself. The masked man watched the chase from above and quickly noticed the reluctance with which his apprentice followed after the duo, although it didn't surprise him admittedly.

Revna thus far had been spared the grim reality of how allegiances and individuals could shift and change, how they could betray or reveal true loyalties at any given moment. Once they had made their way back to Sith space he made a mental note to bring her along to the next time he had to execute someone for treason. The last thing that he needed was his Disciple of Faith faltering in her duties simply because of a familiar face here or there.

Sure enough the pair eventually ran themselves into a dead-end, with their path forward sealed off and the two Sith blocking the route that they had taken to get there. The doors were far from invincible of course but neither Falentra nor her Jedi friend would have time to slice, in both meanings of the word, through them to continue the chase. Darth Strosius loomed over the three once again but this time he didn't bother to conceal his place on the catwalk above them as he had before, his visor pitiless and unreadable as it's black reflective gaze settled upon them.

He silently watched as they spoke and argued amongst themselves but chose not to intervene. Whether it be mercy or sheer curiosity he was interested to see what Falentra and her little friend could come up with to try and get away, although at the moment it seemed like Revna had no real intentions of keeping them there anyway. Her hesitancy and reluctance might just be the death of her if the Jedi chose to strike before she could. Falentra was a threat as well of course but she had yet to draw any weapons, aside from whatever that horrid ink substance was, if she indeed had any at all.

Soon Falentra chose to leap onto the catwalk with the masked man, him raising an eyebrow as she stumbled and pointed at him. How very bold indeed, Malum sure knew how to pick them. "Would this not be the second time that I've had to retrieve you on his behalf Falentra?" Darth Strosius kept his arms behind his back, his lightsaber still clasped in one hand, as he took two very slow and deliberate steps forward towards the challenger. "I faced down an Empress to get you back the first time. I fear no Jedi, whether they be that whelp down there or these 'Lightsworn' that you've apparently become involved with."

His gaze shifted from the woman before him however to instead glance down at the Sith below as he sensed a buildup of power, watching the door be blown apart with more surprise than frustration. Revna had been growing even stronger than he had anticipated it seemed. "Oh, and would you look at that. The foolishness is contagious evidently." Darth Strosius straightened up slightly as he looked back at Falentra with a slightly narrowed gaze. "And pray tell, what do you think running will get you?"

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed both Revna and the Jedi leap up as well, both of them landing near Falentra. His apprentice silently returned to his side as the Jedi came to support his aquatic friend, with the masked man himself evidently having to handle the situation alone. "Think carefully young one." He spoke as he took another step forward, one of his hands gesturing out as though in reconciliation while the other stayed behind his back with his weapon clasped tightly.

"Flee now and all it means is that either myself or Malum will have to hunt you down. Whether it be this young man or these 'Lightsworn' or whoever else, we will use leads and brush our way through any that might stand in our way." Darth Strosius offered his hand despite still being a short distance away. "If you come with me now then none need come to harm. Your Jedi friend walks away and anyone else that you might be involved with will be spared any attention. Run and everyone gets put at risk. The choice is yours, but do not labor under the delusion that you will not be pursued. If not Malum then I will find you, and you know that I will be far less forgiving than he to whoever I find with you when that time comes."

At the soft, barely audible, question of his apprentice however the offered hand twitched and the fingers curled in on themselves as though in a flinch. He straightened up and glanced back at Revna, his head inclining slightly as he responded. "I sent her on a mission, she was intercepted. Unforeseen actors involved themselves and complicated what should have been a simple assignment. But I did find her. I confronted her captor and ensured her safety. That is the truth." His words were carefully chosen and spoken, as though he knew that he was walking on a wire.

Nouqai Veil / Revna / Balun Dashiell

 

[Nouqai Veil]

While Nouqai made her demands, she did not expect that they were ones the Sith Lord would comply. Nouqai had a blaster holstered at the back of her hips that her friend handed to her, but she doubted it would be much defence against the Sith Lord. "We seem to be remembering differently, Malum sent me where you were supposed to be. You did little to face the empress down, you simply gave Malum's name away just like that at your convenience." She scoffed. Although Nouqai could understand why with how terrifying the lady epitome of winter was, she would still prod at the Sith.

Darth Strosius' presence was much darker than his apprentice's. It radiated. Truth on her neck meant to keep her pure was protesting against the uncorporeal corruption lingering so close, making her increasingly unsettled a feeling as though thousands of ants were crawling under her skin. Again, subconsciously, her hand wandered up to fiddle with the trinket trying to ease its effects.

Her gaze followed his to the walkways down below, attention summoned by a loud burst, then feeling a slight relief that Revna had given her friend a way out. "You think mercy is foolish?" She remarked. The sith lord stepped closer, Falentra stood her ground, not sustaining the distance. While he was certainly a threat, the closer proximity was just what she needed for CTOii to reconnect to his device, slowly draining it of data as it was transfered to her own drives.

Nouqai's mindspace was flooded with a massive rundown of transcripts. However, she needed more time as it was apparent that the Sith Lord had been collecting a lot od those schematics. Revna joined her before approaching her master's side and speaking with him softly, words she couldn't pick up from where she stood.

"Am I that worth to you that you'd go through all that trouble? You didn't seem to give a chit about leaving me at Tion. You said so yourself on Krayiss - Jedi cannot be saved. Don't you think I am already proof of your statement?"

... Unless you are here to punish and execute ... inquisitor. You've already found me first..." The last few words spoken more for herself than the Sith Lord as the realisation dawned upon her. The sith were known to have selfish motives and at times coy means of achieving them. Did Malum agree to this? This situation was much more dire now, she now doubted her previous belief that she would not be harmed.

While she expected Balun to have left through the graciously broken down door, she would be lying to say she was surprised at the least to see him hop up the catwalk. "You're an idiot." She muttered under her breath. The sith lord had already made his threats. But as he was distracted speaking with Revna, Falentra moved her hand discreetly at her side, manipulating the force around she manouvred the datapad in his pocket out. Then her hand would raise higher outwards, tugging with the force.

As the propelled datapad reached her palm with a firm slap, an edge of her lips tugged upwards in shadow of a coy, mischievious smirk. In an instant, Falentra raised the blaster from her side, activating two shots in the Siths' direction, more as as a distraction than anything else. "Run." She told Balun before taking of, stepping off the catwalk.

The door was open.

Balun Dashiell Darth Strosius Revna