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[Emryc Thorne]

He hadn’t released information about the Sith capture to the public just yet. No one knew Vahliri Kahtal was behind bars and still trying to pitch her absurd sob story and made up identity. It wasn’t normal protocol for the President to visit prisoners alone like this, especially ones suspected of being Sith. However, no one would say no to the President.

He had a bodyguard droid with him, but no one needed to know he configured it himself to do periodic memory wipes. Emryc walked down the corridor towards the last cell. He could see the energy shield already and he knew the Sith Master was on the other side.

The tall half Sephi stood across from her cell, adorned in a crisp suit and carrying himself with poise and confidence. Everyone knew when Emryc Thorne was in the room and everyone knew to stop what they were doing. Silver gaze took in sight of the diminutive Sith he had seen on multiple occasions through the visor of his helmet.

In many ways he felt a kinship to her that he didn’t with the vast majority of people. She was a halfling like him. Half annfyn or half Sephi were all treated the same - discriminated against, placed into the same categories and subjected to prejudice. He had been out of touch with Raze for a while now, but the monster was always hovering just beneath the surface.

For now he said nothing. She knew she would have a visitor. She did not know it would be the ISC President himself.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Hours had passed since her interrogation - and the half-Annfyn had since been moved to a more secure holding cell. For all the ways that Vahliri was abundantly confident, she didn’t fail to recognize how dire her current predicament was. She didn’t fail to understand how closely she hovered from the grave, now that her true identity was revealed to Consortium authorities.

Just as her last words to the interrogator indicated, she made no attempt to defend herself or continue the lie - in what was only a waste all their time. She was an ISC citizen, after all, and her identity was easier to verify than any of her allies. She was entirely at the Consortium’s mercy, and the half-Annfyn refused to spend those moments panicking or floundering to defend her position. All the same, the knowledge that one of her companions had betrayed her - either breaking under interrogation or confessing to save their own skin - still lingered at the forefront of the half-Annfyn’s mind, sending a distinct spike of anger through her.

If she managed to survive the coming few hours, it was a betrayal she intended to reconcile the moment it was possible.

The half-Annfyn sat with her back to the wall of her cell - head tilted back to stare at the ceiling. She was still dressed and styled in the same gown she’d arrived on Manaan in, albeit far less crisp and refined as when she’d arrived, stripped of any adornment or finery. There was the faintest twitch of her fluted ears upon hearing the commotion outside - from the shuffle of feet leaving the area, to the sound of someone approaching her cell. The fact that she had a visitor at this point was surprising. Still, she expected another interrogator or ISC official to arrive within moments, prepared to press information out of her by whatever means necessary. Not for a moment did she expect the President himself to make an entrance.

She couldn't help the look of surprise that etched across her fine feature - dark brow raising in response. She watched for a moment as he approached and came to a halt in front of her cell, greeting her with that silver, icy gaze. There was no mistaking who had come to visit her, and even in that moment, Vahliri couldn't help but admire the crisp and refined visage that towered above her. Her gaze lingered on his own fluted ears for a few moments - a constant reminder of the mixed heritage they shared. As an ISC citizen, there was a time when the half-Annfyn had looked up to the President for all of his successes and achievements, despite the prejudices they both faced in life. Only a few years ago, Vahliri never would've predicted meeting the man - let alone in the predicament she found herself in now.

Slowly but surely, Vahliri rose up from the floor where she was seated - opting to standing to greet the ISC President. She took a single step towards the ray-shield that seperated them, only making it more obvious the almost comical height difference between them. Her head tilted up to meet his gaze, staring back into those piercing silvers. "President Thorne," She began, offering him a small dip of her head. "A pleasure to meet you in person,"

"To what do I owe the visit?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc didn't respond immediately, surveying her in silence. He was never the type to make small talk, and it was a trait he was known for. Vahliri was a shadow of the woman he had seen on Korriban. Even as she lost that fight against her Sith peer, she carried herself with the sparks of what he recognized as leadership. Had he misjudged?

“I’m not sure which is more disappointing,” His deep baritone rumbled as he spoke, “The fact that as an ISC citizen aware of the Bothan Spynet you didn’t think to use a neutral world alias or..” Emryc paused briefly as his gaze drilled into hers, “The fact that you do not command enough fear and respect for any fellow Sith to know better than to divulge your identity.”

Emryc paused there, studying her still, “What do you think is going to happen to you, Miss Kahtal?”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her gaze fixed upon Emryc as the question was ignored - staring back into those piercing pools of silver. The half-Annfyn didn’t recoil or brittle in the face of his criticisms - in large part due to hours spent contemplating those same mistakes. As much as any betrayal from within, it was her own errors in judgement that put her life on the edge of a knife now. It was a reminder of how poorly she’d underestimated Consortium intelligence, and overestimated her own ability to evade capture.

As she listened, the half-Annfyn paid particularly close attention to the second half of what Emryc said - both hands folded against the small of her back. Deliberate or not, his word choice - specifically naming her fellow Sith - echoed in her mind. Though she’d established her own theories and guesses, there was no definitive way to determine whether it was Celeste or Val that had divulged information - until that moment. It was all the confirmation Vahliri needed, and was something that kept filed away in her mind for the time being.

None of it played out on her expression - unchanging as the question was laid out on the table. She had considered every likely outcome prior to that moment, but the President’s arrival had thrown several things into question. “The Jedi outside this prison will argue for custody of myself and Stythani,” She began after a long moment, “Where we will be executed.”

“The Empire is unlikely to barter for any of those captured,” She continued, “Nor would you entertain it,” It was well-known that Emryc was unwilling to accept anything but unconditional surrender, and negotiating prisoners wasn’t on the table. Manaan law was clear enough she didn’t need to spell out that any stay in ISC custody wouldn’t be an extended period.

She paused for a moment, watching the President for a long moment. “I expect that my fate depends entirely on the course of this conversation. Because I do not believe you would waste time coming to visit a woman marked for death.” There was the chance she had once again miscalculated greatly, but the half-Annfyn had little to lose in her current position. “So how might I help you, President Thorne?”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc didn’t answer nonsensical questions, so he didn’t respond to her query even the second time. Perhaps she would learn how to frame her queries better if she wanted targeted answers. The half Sephi relaxed his pose and paced slowly in front of the cell.

“What do you think makes a good Sith, Miss Kahtal? And what makes a terrible Sith?” He asked smoothly as he walked. Vahliri would quickly learn that she didn’t ask the questions. She didn’t direct the conversation. When he was in the room, he commanded it. It didn’t matter if it was the Grandmaster or a Sith Master across from him at the time.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her hands folded against the small of her back - carefully watching as Emryc paced the space just outside of her cell. If his reputation was anything to go based off of, the half-Annfyn wasn’t entirely surprised by the lack of response to a generic question. True to nature, she wanted answers and quite frankly to get to the root of what their meeting was about. But it wasn’t her that was in control of the situation, at that moment. Emryc commanded the room they occupied, just as he commanded the Galactic stage - and it meant playing by the rules he established.

Her head tilted ever-so-slightly when Emryc asked his question - seemingly coming out of left field. There was deeper purpose and meaning to the questions he was asking in that moment, though the half-Annfyn wasn’t entirely sure yet where he was going with it. Why did he care what made for a good Sith - let alone her perspective on the ideology?

She began to pace her own cell, considering the question for a long moment. The simple reality was that Vahliri had given quite a bit of thought to the question of what made for good and terrible Sith. It was what Trelain and her had discussed, before they were thrust into war with the ISC. It is why she had laid the foundations of an academy on Thule.

If there was any benefit to not being honest, Vahliri didn’t see it. Instead, she glanced up to meet Emryc’s gaze once more. “To be Sith,” She began slowly, pausing her pacing for a moment. “Is a refusal to be shackled by anything but yourself in this life. To shatter ones chains, and through the Force, to pursue your own passions and goals without reservation.”

“Good Sith?” She asked him, “Are those few who are willing to make the actual sacrifices to break their chains. To prioritize their own self-interest and ambition. They are those whose perception of strength is what it truly is - the ability to move quietly and strategically, identifying opportunity without exposing oneself.” She paused for a moment, considering something that was said during her conversation with Trelain. “They are those who recognize the error that most of our Order believe today - that to be Sith is the pursuit of leadership, only to rule,”

“Terrible Sith?” Her eyes narrowed. “Are those who believe that error. They are those who acquire power for the sake of it, or do not possess the stomach to truly break one's chains. They are those who rely purely on brute strength, and allow their own emotions to be their downfall.” The Sith embraced and utilized their emotions, but it was no secret that many were ruled by them. There was no mystery which individuals the half-Annfyn was referring to. After all, it was their own Empress who acted on brute strength alone, initiating the war between the Empire and ISC.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

“So why are you here, Ms. Kahtal?” Emryc asked quietly after her little speech. He had listened to everything she said with that same, impassive face. No one ever knew if he was judging, impressed or anywhere in between, “Why aren’t your chains broken and why have you allowed yourself to be at the mercy of others?”

Everyone had their own philosophy of what it meant to be Sith. He had established his a long time ago. How did his potential successor in the Sith Order interpret things?

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

It was impossible to discern what Emryc thought of Vahliri’s point of view - everything met with the same, impassive expression. Despite her internal desire to understand the President, his opinion had little influence on what was actually said. Vahliri knew that her views on the Sith and their current state in the Galaxy ran contrary to many within her Order, but she stuck by them all the same. Change had been discussed with Trelain on Korriban, and it was a goal that was never far from her mind.

“Falling short to live up to these ideals,” She said after a moment as simple answer, meeting the President’s gaze. “Trust and reliance upon others in order to complete an objective.” Celeste’s betrayal has sealed their fate - but her own failures in purpose had begun far before Consortium authorities were involved. “Commitment to an institution and others within it, instead of acting of my own interest.”

Despite her support, it was no secret that Vahliri had objections to the war with the ISC - only reinforced by every loss and embarrassment they suffered. People like Anaris and Draugr were prime examples of the type of brute force she had grown to despise amongst the Sith. Even still, commitments to people like Altair and her friends - commitment to her ‘home’ - had been the chains she struggled to shatter.

Perhaps it was the peril of her current position - or perhaps it was the questions posed by the President - that allowed her to view it all from a different lens entirely. “Weakness that should have been discarded long before I came to Manaan.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc stared at her blankly after she spoke, his fingers snapping at the droid. There was a soft, mechanical click and a silent command to keep from wiping the memory logs just then. The half Sephi crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at Vahliri.

“So you are Vahliri Kahtal and you are Sith,” He stated flatly. There was almost a trace of amusement in his eyes. She would realize then that he had been playing her - purposely pontificating about Sith ideologies to extract out of her the truth. There was a reason he got as far as he did in the galaxy. He didn’t even need to run any background cross-check before she volunteered the information herself.

“Discretion is not your strong suit,” Emryc observed, “Though I do commend you for recognizing the futility in attempting to harm me now. Even though we are alone here..” He looked around them, genuinely entertained at this point.

“You will be transported into Jedi custody,” Emryc explained, “You will likely be executed. Your family will be stripped of citizenship and imprisoned for life if they ever set foot in ISC space again.”

He turned and began to walk away. However, he paused, his head glancing over his shoulder, “Should you...miraculously escape, I strongly advise against striking at the ISC,” As he spoke, there was a sickening crunch as several of Vahliri’s ribs suddenly cracked at once. The pain would be terrible, but they would be on par with injuries she would have sustained if she truly had been thrown by Celeste, “Alvida,” He said simply in her native tongue. With the combination of words, his voice and the powerful command of the Force, she would begin to realize exactly who he was.

With that, he was gone, as was the droid. She was left alone with her haunting thoughts and terrible pain.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

There was a long, drawn out moment of silence from Vahliri, persisting even as her amber gaze never broke from the ISC President. She listened to everything he had to say, observing every glint of amusement and satisfaction that started to bleed into his tone and expression. The realization that Emryc had been playing her - slowly coaxing out the information he needed - slammed into her all at once, causing her jaw to tightened and posture to stiffen just the faintest bit. Though she said nothing, there was no masking the mixture of exasperation and confusion.

As a Sith, Vahliri was no stranger to the manipulation and psychological tactics that could be utilized against her. She’d witnessed it acutely while conversing with Trelain - but Emryc operated on another level entirely. The half-Annfyn didn’t even realize what had happened, until it had already happened. Only then did it dawn on her that the Consortium didn’t have anything to pin against her.. Save for the information she had willingly divulged.

Her fingers curled towards a fist when Emryc continued, explaining what would happen to her - and her family. The news that she would be transported to Jedi custody wasn’t surprising, but the steps taken against her own kin hadn’t been expected. Her family had been Induparan aristocracy for a thousand years, and had deeply established roots into the planet. It was her home and the place her family called home. Her parents, siblings and extended family were all being uprooted and exiled because of her actions.

And yet.. The half-Annfyn couldn’t pretend to muster any additional emotion, beyond that initial surprise and anger. Instead, her mind was almost completely consumed by her own survival and fate being placed in the hands of the Jedi - knowing that either execution, imprisonment or being stripped of the Force likely awaited her. It was a cold lack of reaction that surprised the half-Annfyn to her very core, and yet aligned with every bit of philosophy and rhetoric she’d just then espoused to Emryc. It was a cold lack of reaction that left her feeling hollow and repulsed by her own self.

She wasn’t, however, given much time to consider any of that. The half-Annfyn watched as Emryc began to walk away - but not before one final comment. A warning not to strike against the ISC - something that immediately caused her brow to furrow. She didn’t miss the word that was emphasized. He could have easily frozen her in Carbonite or otherwise subdued her for transport.. But he didn’t.

And then she felt as the Force coiled tightly around her torso, squeezing inward until her ribs began to crack. Fear surfaced and began to course through her. Hot tears began to form and stream down her cheeks, coupled with the pain cry that she couldn’t contain. Her knees buckled inward until the half-Annfyn was brought down to the ground, gasping and wheezing to catch her breath. Each inhale brought forth a new wave of agony, almost blinding to endure. Agonizing, and yet she didn’t miss the final words he spoke. She didn’t miss the implications that his final actions left for her to ponder.

Her mind was immediately transported to the Gala on Serenno years ago - to a dance with Darth Raze that she’d dared to initiate. She could clearly recall the way Raze made reference to her family - but only know was the half-Annfyn able to make the connection how the Sith Lord near of their identities. Only now did she realize exactly who was beneath the iconic mask, one that had struck fear into Sith and Jedi alike for decades.

There were no final words or retorts from Vahliri, but merely shocked silence. Her gaze followed Emryc, while her mind swam with the implications of the President’s true identity - hidden from the Galaxy and Empire alike, and the masterful way that he’d played nearly everyone he encountered. She couldn’t help but remain awestruck to the sequence of events, even as she pierced together how to ensure her survival going forward.

@Sreeya