Within the Dark [Ask]

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Knight Mullarus"] | [member="Vaulkhar"] |

"There is no death, there is the Force."

Ella was not suicidal. She believed in something larger than herself, the One Sith, the Galactic Republic and the two Sith Knights that towered over her tired, beaten body. Peace would be secured- the citizens of the Galactic Republic would live- and the people that she committed to serve would continue to fight for democracy. No, the Galactic Republic would not fall.

She was resolute in her faith.

"Preparing the Republic and the Jedi for the onslaught is not a solution, Vaulkhar. Negotiation, diplomacy- surrender- are the last options available."

Ella turned her eyes to Vaulkhar, to say to him, "Vaulkhar, you came here by your own accord, in order to try and free me because you thought I had been captured, for interrogation and torture. You are a good man and I can't thank you enough for coming to help me. If you are still willing to help, then there is something I will ask of you."

The Jedi turned her hazel, brown eyes to Mullarus next, to say, "And you, Mullarus, who could have killed me on Condruum or sounded the alarm when Vaulkhar came to help me. You are also a good man. I sense good in both of you."

Summoning the last bouts of strength, Ella stood to her feet. "Help me find your leaders. Darth Vornskr brought me to Coruscant and you were brought to me. This is by the will of the Force. I can feel it now."

Gingerly lifting both hands to place them on either of the Sith Knight's shoulders, the Jedi Knight said, "Leave this place. Tell your leaders that I am down here. That I have come to end the war and award them their victory. That I wish to meet with them."

Lowering her hands back to her side, Ella went on to say, "And regardless of whether or not peace is achieved- whether or not the One Sith agree to a Republic surrender- come with me back to the Jedi Order. You call yourselves Sith Knights, but you are the most gentle individuals I have come to known. Don't let your passions, the dark side or your masters stop you from doing something good."

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Suddenly, Mullarus remembered standing before his grandfather as he was told of the fate of his family. The sudden burst of emotion that changed his life forever. The passion that opened his connection to the Force. He felt the passionate hate he held for the murderous Republic War Machine that he clung to for power for years to come, until recently, when his hatred began to replace itself with experience and wisdom.

That was not the Sith Code. What has gotten into Mullarus? The opportunity to end the war was here, and he would not see them slip from his grasp. He would see them burn.

Mullarus stared coldly at [member="Ella Nova"] and lifted a hand, aiming a weak, but well-placed Force Grip at her throat, beginning to lift her into the air and slowly start dragging her back to the center of the room over the stasis field. Assuming [member="Vaulkhar"] would not try to stop him, he would start walking past him and over to the controls for the stasis.

"This war won't end until the Republic is nothing more than a memory. I will personally see to that. I have not forgotten, Ella, you may be a woman of honor, but you are still an agent of their deceitful corruption. It will be purged, and you with it if you stand against me."

 

[Vaulkhar]

The words of Ella brought a pang of pain to the young man's heart. He was on a better path already, one he was proud to walk, and her offer brought a smile to his face. One that he quickly forced away. As much as he respected her actions, even though they weren't the brightest, he knew how this ended. He knew what would become of her if she approached the Dark Council. There would be nothing but blood. Caught in his own considerations, the actions of Mullarus almost caught Vaulkhar by surprise. Almost. The moment he reached out with the force towards Ella, the moment Vaulkhar could sense the very movement within the force, Vaulkhar dashed towards Mullarus, pulling his lightsaber from place at his belt. The vermilion beam and the moment it burst forth from it's hilt, Vaulkhar was already swinging an upward arc, one meant to severe Mullarus' arm at the elbow.

Through his dash towards Mullarus, Vaulkhar pulled the force around him, enhancing his speed greatly, to the point where he was a blur to the untrained eye. The swing of his lightsaber mirrored the movements of his body. It was clear from his actions, there was no room for conversation anymore. Vaulkhar had a goal, one he intended on following through. Even if it meant the death of Mullarus.

[member="Knight Mullarus"] | [member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Mullarus had a feeling [member="Vaulkhar"] would act against him. For this purpose? That was a surprise. With his lightsaber? Well, it was time to think fast.

The Force granted Mullarus reflexes that allowed him time to withdraw his arm in time to save it from being severed. [member="Ella Nova"] would drop to the floor next to the stasis field, safe, as Mullarus stepped back and ignited his own exotic crossguard lightsaber, lighting half of the room with the color violet to combat Vaulkhar's vermillion red. "Here we are again, with the brash Vaulkhar acting against the judgement of the One Sith. First he releases a prisoner, then tries to sever the arm of a fellow Sith! I'm starting to think you're on their side, you brat. Do you seek a fight, because you're on your way to having one, only this time you won't get the chance to sucker punch me like a coward!" Mullarus held his lightsaber by his waist, the long blade extending up longer than that of a normal lightsaber's blade. It was like a knight with a greatsword.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar took a slight step back, raising his lightsaber into a defensive stance. It shielded his torso, his hands holding it low, closer to his abdomen. His lips pulled tight into a frown, one that revealed his clear disdain involving the entire situation. His left foot slid back slightly as he stared Mullarus down, considering the next several minutes of this encounter. He could go about dueling Mullarus if he desired. The confrontation would not be without reason, as his desire to get Ella out of the pyramid was more than enough reason to take on the Sith. But from the last few minutes, just watching the way Mullarus reacted to what Ella stated, it was clear violence was not the only path.

"Mullarus, be smart." He straightened slightly, though his stance was still loose. "There is no need for violence. Ella being here should mean nothing to you. Her escaping, should mean nothing to you. The only reason you are acting is because of what the One Sith had beat into your head." Vaulkhar tillted his head slightly, watching the Knight with his empty gaze.

"Call me what you like, attack me if you so desire, but that will change nothing. You are conflicted within. Your views of everything you have ever known have been shaken to the core due to Jedi like Ella." Vaulkhar edged back slightly, preparing himself for an incoming attack. The Sith were powered by passion and rage. His words would either strike home for the man, or send him into a rage; or so he thought. "There is no sides. The Force is gray. It is the man or woman behind it that creates the sides, do not be foolish enough to fall for the same nonsense force users of all ages have fallen for."

[member="Knight Mullarus"] | [member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Mullarus frowned as well, his gaze only growing colder the more [member="Vaulkhar"] spoke of Mullarus just being a puppet with no mind of his own. "What are you, Vaulkhar? You speak as if you are not Sith. Like i'm the one stepping out of line. You don't want violence? Why, then, would you lash out at me with your karking lightsaber? Are you a hypocrite? I never took you for one. I figured Vengeance's apprentice would be above Jedi hypocrisy.

"If Ella escaped, she would know the location of hundreds of Republic prisoners like herself! She would return home to her karking Republic and the next time there was another Sacknig of Coruscant, it would be here, and you would be responsible! Don't talk like you're trying to knock sense into me when you are the one acting like a traitor!" Mullarus did not lash out at Vaulkhar. This was a very bad place to battle, especially one thought to be a fellow Sith. Mullarus had self-restraint, but he knew if the man tried to further help [member="Ella Nova"] escape, he wouldn't stand idly by. He was already debating on sicking the Imperial Guards on both of them. They would likely take the judgement of the apprentice to a Voice of the Dark Lord over one trying to help a prisoner escape.

 

[Vaulkhar]

It was clear as day, Vaulkhar took what he said into thought. It wasn't so much the thought of rescuing prisoners or even the lives of those within the room. It was more so the concept of all those who would die, innocents within the One Sith's empire who were simple citizens. Hundreds of innocents died during the raid upon Coruscant, not counting the thousands of soldiers and acolytes who fell to the attack. If the Republic were to launch another raid against the One Sith to save prisoners, more innocents would fall to the fleeting wraith of a Republic soon to be extinguished. Shaking his head, he turned his attention to Ella, though he was clearly retaining some focus on that of Mullarus.

"If you intend on staying completely, I will not remain here and die. I have responsibilities to who I now serve, and I do not intend on dying here." He began to move towards the exit, nodding towards Mullarus. "If you choose to serve on blind faith, I wish you well, Mullarus. One day I hope you can shape our empire mirroring your own principles." His lightsaber remained active, as he was preparing for a defense if necessary.

[member="Knight Mullarus"] | [member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

He certainly hoped his faith in the One Sith was not as misguided as [member="Vaulkhar"] must have thought.

As the other young, dark-haired Sith Knight approached the exit, his weapon still active, Mullarus deactivated his own, beginning to sense no desire to fight in him. He did, however, turn his attention to [member="Ella Nova"], "You're going to remain here. Whoever brought you here will decide what happens to you. That's a decision Vaulkhar and I should not make." he said, glancing at Vaulkhar again. "As for your...'mission'...I would wish you luck, though I hope you realize you will not find many allies here on Coruscant." As he said this, he slowly approached Ella again and bent over to gently place her back into the stasis field, this time.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Knight Mullarus"] | [member="Vaulkhar"] |

Ella had whacked her head, when she had fallen out of the Force Choke. She was weaker than she anticipated. Or Mullarus had grown stronger since the last time they had met. Perhaps it was both. But the Jedi Knight found herself helpless to stop the Sith Knight, even if she wanted too. Her confrentation with Vornskr was inevitable now. She only hoped Mullarus and Vaulkhar's encounter with her would go by unnoticed.

"There is still good in you," Ella whispered, before slouching her head forward, unconcious. Her words were directed to Mullarus.