Face to Face

[Vinny]

Dantooine
Late Evening

It did not make much of a difference what part of the galaxy you were in. Whether you were in the beating heart of the crumbling Republic, the domain of the Sith, the protected world of the Jedi or the war-territores of the Mandalorians. Walking the streets of a populated area at night was an oft-unwise and less than recommended practice. Yet the figure continued to walk, his hood pulled back just enough to show the faint outline of youthful features. His robes were light and it should have been easy to spot whatever weapon he carried. Yet for some reason not a soul even glanced his way, perhaps he was not even there, an apparition in the night.

Darth Cain, Dark Lord of the Sith, Lord of the Mind, Obliterator of Tython, Steward of the Dark Side and Pontiff of the Sith Empire. That was who he was. That was the horrific reality beneath the veneer of the charming smile he gave the Duros bouncer as he approached the cantina. That was the truth of the man who shook the Duros' hand and offered him words of pleasantry before stepping into the loud confines. That was the terror that had just stepped foot into an enclosed space filled with civilians, both armed and unarmed. Yet he was not here to cause a scene, nor was he here for mischief unless it found him.

He was here for a drink and good conversation.

Cain in the guise of the young Wake Olpierr, the identity of the man he left behind, made his way through the busy place. Music played around him with cheery ups and downs that drove the patrons to dance their cares away. Drinks rose and fell on tables as males and females drank, cards were dealt by droids and smiles abounded. Cain drank of all of it, after all-this too was a form of passion. He felt strong in this place, alive, more so than the abomination beneath the carefully crafted force illusions and barriers to disguise his presence. The six eyed creature lurking just molecules beneath the surface.

Another pack of patrons crossed his path. A male gave him a husky smile and he returned it, biting a lip and raising an eyebrow before passing him by. He winked at a female faleen as she brushed his shoulder, offering a word of apology. All the while he worked his way to the counter, and to that neat head of white hair behind it. It took some doing, but he finally found a seat at the counter. A trandoshan gave him a leery look and he shot back with a grin of his own, throwing back his hood and revealing his pleasant face. The reptile turned away, more interested in his drink as Cain leaned into the counter. He waited until she approached, and then he took in every detail of her face.

White hair and golden eyes marked a fair face that had been weathered by trials and tribulations. He leaned an elbow on the counter, resting his chin on it as she approached, appreciating her figure for a moment before locking eyes with her.

"Hello Shae. Haven't seen you since Ossus." He said, tilting his head subtly toward the crowd as a warning. He wasn't here for blood, but he certainly was not above drawing it if he had to. The entire cantina was his hostage as far as he was concerned. "How are you?"

@Sreeya

 

[Sreeya]

Being a wife, mother, Jedi general, Sith killer….all of these things were taxing. Sometimes she liked to get away and do her own thing. Normally, Corvo liked his alone time, and she happily obliged countless times. Tonight, however, she let him and Ciri have some father daughter time. Before she got involved in the war, she had spent many evenings moonlighting as a bar tender.

On Tython, she was a regular bartender at the Stout Bantha. The bar was near the temple and a popular place for Jedi. She smiled every time she thought back to the rowdy days where Jedi behaved rather ‘un-Jedi-like’. She had all the scoop on who did what, who said what and what new scandal happened. Her smile faded every time as she recalled how each and every single one of those individuals were wiped and destroyed with the planet. She herself had a hand in the deaths of several of them during the temple bombing.

The thoughts of the war and the danger posed to her family weighed heavily on her at all times. Tonight was an opportunity to get away and enjoy something she loved doing for many years. Dantooine didn’t have the same scene as the more metropolitan planets, but it served its purpose. The cantina was lively tonight, music blasting and some heavily drunk patrons dancing with one another.

Shae was used to it all, and she was behind the bar already impressing the others that worked. Her past knowledge of making original drinks came in handy, and soon there were countless requests for her controversial Stormtrooper drink, a white drink mixed with black. She set out a row of five shots in front of patrons that laid out significant amount of credits in return.

Being flirted with was part of the job, exactly the reason she had told Corvo not to accompany her. Shae was used to it and it didn’t phase her anymore. A polite smile and gesture was enough to wave off most pursuers. She thanked a patron for his tips and walked over to another, smile still on her face. Her smile instantly began to fade as she came across this individual, her mind going wild trying to remember where she had seen him, “Y-You…”

A Sith. Right here in front of her. Right in this public area. She glanced all around her, her fingers flirting with the saber hilt on her waist. Shae looked at him for a few moments, deciding ultimately to play along, “Hello. I’ve been… well. And yourself?” She grabbed a glass and began to polish it, “Last I heard you had a little chat with my husband,” Of course, Corvo had never mentioned he also happened to be the Dark Lord of the Sith.

@Vinny

 

[Vinny]

Well! That was as good a hello as he could have been expecting. She was a pretty thing, which belied her true nature as a deadly adversary. His eyes slipped down her figure one more time, though he moved his eyes slow enough that she would have seen them move. His gaze brushed over her lightsaber before he glanced back up into her eyes. He gestured to the counter. A simple wave of his hand as if asking why the counter was empty in front of him.

"Corellian. Neat. Two fingers. If you wouldn't mind, Miss Vis." Cain said, shooting her a dazzling smile and glancing over the counter to the other side. A rather pretty little human looked up at him and they locked gazes, he gave her a hungry look before turning his attention back to Shae. "Oh he told you did he?" Cain asked, running his fingers along the counter. "I never hear from him anymore. It's a real shame." Cain said quietly, his fingers stopped moving.

"We talked about all sorts of things, friends, family, work. I thought we had something special." Cain pretended to pout. "How is he by the way?"

 

[Sreeya]

Shae’s jaw tightened as she watched him eye her, his gaze roaming down her body and eliciting the hint of a grimace from her. She was used to leering, but from him it seemed exceptionally uncomfortable. She said nothing as he ordered his drink, putting down the glass and pouring him the whiskey. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts, her heart pounding against her chest. Were there more Sith? Was he alone? Why was he on Dantooine?

As he began to speak about Corvo, she met his gaze. Truth be told, though Corvo had mentioned he had talked to Wake, she had a feeling he was hiding something. He avoided talking about the discussion and completely skirted around explaining to her the purpose. Corvo clearly knew more about Wake than he let on, and apparently the feeling was mutual. Shae tried hard not to let any of this reflect in her face. Teetering on the dark side had a way of calling forth rage unexpectedly, and she had to work actively to hold it at bay.

“He is doing well," She attempted to keep the discomfort out of her voice, “As you and the rest of the galaxy now know, we are going through some unpleasant times,” Her whole family was in danger ever since Malon’s address to Corvo. Shae slid forth Wake’s drink, leaning forth to speak in a more hushed voice, “It’s on the house if you will kindly leave,” She sighed, “I don’t want any trouble. You were reasonable back on Ossus. Please understand.”

 

[Vinny]

The Dark Lord gave a tremendous smile, seemingly thrilled to hear that Corvo was well. As she continued on, he nodded quietly, a placating frown on his face and mock sincerity in his eyes. He could taste it on her, the building rage that seemed to swirl inside her stomach, that toehold in the realm of the dark. She slid a glass to him and he took it, sipping it once and winking at her over the glass. Oh he loved the taste of home, that was certain. It was a pity what he planned to do- ah. She didn't want any trouble. He let out a low sigh and set down his glass, the sound seemed to be louder than natural despite how gently he put it down. There was a stillness in the air and the chill of the dark side finally began to make itself known.

"Shae. I know it's been very difficult for you and not-vena..." He cleared his throat. "I mean Corvo. Apologies, old habits." He said, waving his hands dismissively. He leaned in the stool like chair and rested his elbow on the back. Around them it became evident that every single person in the cantina had fallen deathly still, their eyes glazed over, tears running down their faces. A cold wind blew past Shae, even inside the building. "I am being more than reasonable, after all, they haven't killed themselves yet." The Lord of the Mind said smoothly, taking another sip of his drink and swallowed, letting out a breath. He raised his eyebrows and set down his glass before clearing his throat.

"Now that we can speak freely, I wanted to thank you, for Ossus. You and your husband did me a great service that day and I do owe you both for that." He paused and ran a finger over his cup, seeming to mull over his words while the entire cantina remained utterly at his mercy. "So when I sensed your... tribulations... I came as soon as I could." He stopped and looked her dead in the eyes. "The rage. It burns. Doesn't it?" The Dark Lord of the Sith asked with a cruel smile.

 

[Sreeya]

Shae could sense something was coming. She couldn’t fathom what, but something made her uneasy the instant the request for him to leave left her lips. For a moment, she couldn’t identify what it was, but then she saw the horror that followed. All around her were contorted faces, tortured looks and people in tremendous amounts of pain. No one cried out, a sick silence growing.

Shae felt the chill in the room, glancing all around frantically and then focusing on the man before her. Terror was in her eyes, her mouth falling open in shock at the utter display of horror. She felt helpless, she felt lost, and she felt responsible. Perhaps Wake had come all this way just to seek her out, and now others were paying the price. His words dug at her, little slices here and there to her being. The terror began to churn and transform into something else, something darker. There was anger brewing, and she looked at the people that he held at his mercy, her blood boiling.

He dealt an even more massive blow when he mentioned Ossus. Whatever she and Corvo had let go had become this….monster. She now understood why Corvo avoided speaking about it. Did he realize this then too? Before she could stop herself, Shae lunged forward, grasping him by the front of his clothing and yanking him towards herself, venom dripping from her voice, “Stop this, you disgusting pile of filth!”

There he was, inches away from her face, when he uttered those words….the rage. It did burn. And it did come out. Her eyes flashed gold, the wild desire to destroy him beckoning her. It was obvious how little control she truly had. Everything Corvo had feared for, had worked hard to protect her from, all of it was teetering on edge. Her eyes grew wide then, and she released him, shoving him backwards towards his seat. She withdrew her hand and backed up against the wall behind her, her chest rapidly rising and falling.

She and Corvo had created this. Corvo had created Kira. Were they truly responsible for these monsters? Were they behind every atrocity that struck the galaxy in some shape or form? Shae slowly met Wake’s gaze again, her voice weaker now and barely above a whisper, “What….happened to you?” This was not the playful young man on Ossus. He had been reasonable, almost like a curious child. This….whoever or whatever this was struck terror. This was a plague in the Force, and she could sense it.

@Vinny

 

[Vinny]

She grabbed him by the shirt and he let her pull him to his feet. He stared back at her, wide eyed, smiling. The flecks of yellow that commonly marked dark side corruption were nowhere to be seen in his gaze. Only orbs of blood red stared back at her. His head tilted as she spat her vitrol at him, his expression not one of arrogance, not even amusement. Genuine concern played across his features as she pushed him back into the chair. He rose to his feet, his eyebrows raised and pressed together, a sad frown playing on his lips. He placed a hand on the table.

"Shae. I told you I was here to help you. I haven't done anything." He paused for half a heartbeat. "Yet." She pulled away and he could taste her terror. It was nauseating. Fear. Grief. Rage. They were such primitive constructs of simplistic minds. There was so much more power and freedom in allowing yourself to feel love. He felt it. He loved every being in this galaxy in so much as each of them served as a part of the Dark Side's greater purpose. There was nothing greater to revel in. Her words broke his brief inner prayer, and he looked at her with surprise, raising a hand to his chest. "Me?" He shook his head again. "Shae. I think you know what happened to me."

"After Ossus I had a vision, the Dark Side spoke to me Shae." He said, sliding his hand on the counter before turning to regard one of his stasis entrapped victims. One thought and each and every one of them would take their own lives. He licked his lips. "Then I met Kira. Darth Solum. She taught me so much, she guided me even as I hungered for her. Not her body mind you. Her mind." He looked down at his hand and clenched his fist. "Since the moment I consumed the mind of Jedi Master Ibini Abaas when I was an initiate in your order, I have had this... need." Sparks danced on his fingertips as he turned to look at her with dull eyes.

"I have tasted the minds of hundreds. Shae. I restarted the brain of Kyuss himself, just for a taste. Sith. Jedi. Even mere mortals. I have supped of them all. Taken in their knowledge, their experiences, their memories." He laughed and shook his head. "Never got to have Solum, though, funny." He sighed and looked at the counter, running his hands over the surface, taking a steadying breath. He looked up at Shae again, concern once again filling his expression-his deep, reverberating forbearance, his platonic love, radiated through the force.

"Your husband opened my eyes to something that day on Ossus. He gave me the first piece to a puzzle I have since solved through all my ill gotten knowledge. All of the changes that have happened to me. All the corruption. But you! You are still free of the taint." He clenched his fists. "I can help you with it. I can free you of your rage! Let me help you!"

 

[Sreeya]

Shae saw the concern on his face, and to her it spat mockery. She felt anger churning, coiling like a snake writhing in her chest and poised to strike. She couldn’t control her features, her yellow, animalistic eyes gazing at him. Shae’s fingers twitched, dancing around the hilt of her saber. Countless scenarios played out in her mind, and each of them ended in Wake’s death. Each sentence he uttered fueled the caged beast, fed into the guilt and self doubt.

The mention of Kira caused her to look away. All her fears were true. All of them. She and Corvo were responsible for this. They were responsible for Kira, and they had let her slip through their fingers many times before….how ironic that it was a Sith Emperor that ultimately erased Kira from the face of the galaxy when she and Corvo, the Jedi touted as heroes, did nothing. How embarrassing that they wiped out the Sith upper echelon, and yet abominations like these managed to slip through the cracks.

The weight of failure pressed on her, and her mind was thrown into chaos. Seeing the concern displayed on his features only made her angrier, “The dark side does not speak to anyone, you fool. It only commands. It only taunts. It only destroys. You are so lost. You speak of helping, but you can’t help yourself. You are exerting control you think you have when it is you that is influenced, when it is you that is poisoned. Kyuss….Kira…. the only things you have gleaned from these minds were the thoughts of slaves, the weakness that…”

Shae closed her eyes, “That even I can’t overcome,” She opened her eyes again, looking at him directly, “Wake, I do not know what your intentions are….whether you wish to help, you are mocking me or this is all a big ploy. Know this. The galaxy fears my husband. The galaxy fears Corvo Vis,” She managed a sad smile then, “When he and I both know that I am the true monster among us. I can’t be helped. Not by you, not by anyone.”

 

[Vinny]

And there it was. That unrepentant rage, that pride, that hate for anyone who dared even try to stand against her. Yet where her pride and resoluteness ended, fear began. Fear and guilt. He could taste it in the air around her even as her eyes tinted yellow with the first stages of corruption. She was like a tukata caged, pacing back and forth, the building fury in her heart just looking for an excuse-any excuse. So he took that from her too, just like he would take her pride, her hope, her dreams, her soul. He frowned at her, indignation in his eyes.

"Tell me then Shae Vis. What can taunt without a will? What can command without intent?" He laughed at her this time, his love and concern still pouring into the force. Tough love. "I crowned Emperor Kyuss. My priesthood gave him power. I taught Malon to fight a force wielder, my knowledge gave him station. I brought the sorcerers of Tund to their knees. I restored Darth Solum and created Darth Vanus. I touched the Dark and became it's avatar. I am it's Steward-Shae Vis. Yes, the Galaxy fears Darth Malon..." Cain's lips curled into a snarl.

"But he and I both know who the true monster is." He reflected the statement right back at her. "I have seen, time and time again, those just like you struggle with their hate, wallow in their rage, and destroy themselves and those they love. You spurn your love, twist it, turn it into something despicable." The Dark Lord chastised. "You are the fool! I come to you offering aid! I come to you giving you a chance, despite my position, to resist the darkness inside you and protect your husband! Yet you insist on standing on pride! You harp about how terrifying you are! You speak of your strength and power! You threaten me with your posture! So tell me Shae Vis." He turned his gaze from her in disgust.

"Who is the solitary Sith here? You or I?"

 

[Sreeya]

Shae felt unbridled rage as he spoke. This was not the boy from Ossus, no. This was some sick, twisted monster. But was he? Did she want him to be a monster? Was it because he was uttering truths? As he spoke more about what he had done, reality began to make her sick. She began to understand who this was. This was the Dark Lord of the Sith. He was allowed to exist because she and Corvo allowed him to exist. They were responsible for yet another blight upon the galaxy.

She was already angry, but nothing prepared her for the rage as he implied that she was a Sith. Shae had heard the words as Kyuss was dying, and he was so sure of it. He muttered that she would have been a good Sith, and there was confidence in his voice. He died truly believing that. Those words haunted her for months, and they made it so she grew weak, stopped eating, stopped sleeping. It had put a strain on her and Corvo, and now Wake….no, he wasn’t Wake anymore….the Dark Lord was telling her the same thing.

She was unable to bear it, the Force churning and whirling within her. Shae was visibly shaking, her eyes glowing yellow as she faced him. Before she could control herself, the Force exploded outward in a devastating display. It was as if it had been held back and suddenly released, a blast of concussive energy flaring out from her. All the glasses and bottles shattered behind her, and all the patrons nearby were flung back unceremoniously to the ground.

Shae gripped the bar tightly, despair clear in her features, tears beginning to trail down her cheeks. Her knuckles were white, and she was caught bellowing a silent scream, face contorted in pain. There was agony that coursed through her body, pain that stabbed like knives in her mind, and she could control none of it. Thoughts of love, family, everything became poisoned and blackened. She suddenly felt alone and detached from everything she knew, and she felt like a plague upon all the things she loved.

Several seconds passed before she came back to reality, and by then she didn’t care about what she had done. Pain weighed heavily on her heart and soul, and she felt horribly weak. Shae slid down to the ground, hugging her knees and shuddering. There was a horrible truth to those words no matter how much she denied it. No matter how much she tried to escape it.

Perhaps she was more Sith than Jedi.


@Vinny

 

[Vinny]

The Dark Lord wrapped himself in a cocoon of force might, angling it to allow the concussive force of Shae's eruption to wash over him. He begrudgingly gave a step to the tremendous blast before steadying himself. Such... power. Such extraordinary power! She was truly, truly gifted with the force. Yet this was only her rage. It was not refined, it was not focused, or honed. This was raw and untooled. She was like a molten ingot-inflamed and ready to be subject to the hammer of wisdom. He felt her thoughts through the force. Her mind opening in her moment of weakness. He supped upon her guilt, her shattered self esteem, her rage, her self loathing.

The unconscious bodies of those present in the cantina lay strewn about. None of them were dead but all of them were bereft of thought at this point. The stasis would fade soon and the misery with it. They would wake without any memory of what had transpired-all was as Cain had orchestrated it. All was as Cain had forseen it. He crossed his arms behind his back and watched her fall to her knees. Her mind was reeling from the corruption that she was not prepared to endure. Her body was wracked with the pain of wielding powers that were not yet hers to command. She was in a dangerous place indeed. He cursed, if she progressed further like this she would be a danger to Corvo and as the Dark Side had willed it-it was not yet Corvo's time to die.

Cain summoned his strength and walked around the bar. Slow strides echoing in the now deathly silent room. He stopped in front of Shae and looked down at her. All of the Sith before him that had tried and failed to destroy this one Jedi with force, and he had crushed her will with words. His lip curled at the irony. Though the greater irony lay in what he had to do. The Dark Lord of the Sith lowered himself to a knee and reached out to her. He placed one hand on her head.

"Yours is not the path of rage. Shae Vis." Cain drawled, allowing the force to fill him. His passion, his belief, his zeal, his love, his devotion. Pure and untainted by hate or rage, he allowed it to fill him and then carefully, he allowed it to fill her. He lashed out at her rage, grabbing it and crushing it beneath the boot of his iron will. He grasped at her self loathing and tore it to pieces. He tore into her heart and sought out all of the fear and despair. All of it. The Lord of the Mind poured his will into that of his enemy, with one goal, to save her. "Rage is the simplest, easiest path. The path of children who do not understand what the word duty means, what faith is." He said, cupping her chin and tilting her head up.

"Devote yourself to your love. Protect your husband with all of your strength. Do whatever it takes, destroy whomever stands in your path. The Dark Side is with you, but it is not your fury that will allow you to control it. Giving into your hate will only allow the Dark Side to consume you. It is both an ally and a weapon. You must give it orders, you must enforce your will upon it, and for you... only love will be able to focus the black fire in your heart." This would hold it in check, for now. She would have to come to him to learn more. He released his soothing hold on her mind and stepped away, feeling a moment of exhaustion waft over him.

 

[Sreeya]

Shae drew back as she heard him come around the bar. She was terrified, angry and everything in between. It was true that mere words were able to reduce her to nothing. However, it was also true that she was severely weak emotionally. These were times where it was important for her to confide in someone, to have help and support. Instead, she had been bottling it up and afraid to talk to even her husband about it. Today was a true display of the devastating impacts of suppressed grievances.

She felt weak and afraid, and she slowly reached for her saber. He was closing the distance between them, and she feared for her life at that moment. However, a part of her stayed her hand, and she only gripped the saber without igniting it. He would have seen this action, and yet he didn’t stop. She felt a hand on her head and almost drew away from his touch. It was an alien feeling, almost eerie. There was a chill that resonated from him, and it was a true testament to the monster he had become.

That was when she felt it. The Force pushed into her psyche, drew from the corners of her mind. She felt poison being siphoned out, a raging monster dragged kicking and screaming from its cage. It clawed at the walls as it was pulled back, and Shae clutched her head, squeezing her eyes shut in pain. It was torment, voices, almost a tangible feeling of being unraveled and peeled open.

She saw Corvo, saw his smile, she saw her daughter, heard her laughter. She saw her time with friends, small imprints and memories that flashed up in between the chaos and darkness that whirled within her mind. She felt the euphoria and sudden rush of emotions of the first time she kissed Corvo, the first time she laid eyes upon her newborn. These were all memories that had been pushed to the side as she fell further into darkness. They emerged with vengeance and they aided in shoving the darkness out.

After a long moment, Shae finally opened her eyes, feeling him lift her chin up. When she gazed at him then, her eyes were green, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She didn’t see him, her mind still lingering on what had just happened. Shae couldn’t muster words, watching as he stepped back from her. His words echoed within her mind, and she remained sitting on the floor, confused. There was a warmth now, something that wasn’t there before. His words were haunting, but not like those of Kyuss. After a long moment, Shae finally looked up to meet his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper, “Why are you doing this?”

 

[Vinny]

Cain could have ruminated on all of the things that had happened in the past few moments. He could have spent precious seconds considering what he had seen in her mind, what he had tasted of her thoughts. Instead, he took the opportunity to employ a different kind of strategy. He turned away, showing his back to Shae Vis, and began to walk toward the door. He crossed his arms behind his back shrugging his shoulders at her breathless words. There was no reason to remain any longer.

"Obviously you aren't a very good listener. Shae." He said coldly, glancing back in her direction. "I want to help you, nothing more, nothing less. It is up to you now to decide what you want to do with that bit of knowledge I've given you and whether you wish to take advantage of my good favor." He smiled, giving her a kind nod and strode for the door. He stopped at the edge of the doorway, his hand on the surface. He took a breath and ran his finger down to the handle. He didn't look back when he said;

"And so you know. My name is Cain, and you thought correctly. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith." He said and pushed through the door without another word, stepping out onto the street, collecting himself and making for the spaceport.