Newly Kindled Fires

[Amilthi]

Rhasru strolled through the corridors of the Sith temple beneath the surface of Ziost at a leisurely pace. He didn't particularly like the place, but there was something that has attracted his curiosity, and since he was here anyway, he could at least distract himself indulging it. He had heard that there was a new Forge Master. This, in itself, wasn't what excited him. He didn't like to have his mobility impaired by armor, and he had of course built his own lightsaber, so he had never had much to do with those who occupied this position. But this one had, so it had been said, found its way from the Jedi Order into the ranks of the Sith only recently, and had been immediately awarded the position. That was at least mildly interesting.

The Sith had reached the door of the workshop. He didn't knock and quietly opened it, to be greeted by a breeze of hot air that flew into his face. As he the doorknob go, he found his hand blackened by soot that had crept through and settled on the outside. He grimaced slightly and made a casual wiping gesture with his other hand, using the Force to send the dirt off into the are. He stepped into the doorway and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Careful not to touch the door frame lest he dirty his robes, he looked around, his presence still unannounced.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna, who was on the second level above the entry, watched curiously as Rhasru entered. Still working hopelessly on her new armour, this time the topic was producing and fitting the mounts for the power cells to operate the shoulder mounted weapon. Silently setting down her tools and components, she moved towards the railing that lined the mezzanine level. Half-naked, her upper part of the armour, still in production, Carna leant over the edge, and looked down to the red-skinned man who entered her domain.

Watching as he seemed to make an assessment of the area, Carna finally spoke aloud. "It's rude to enter unannounced, then also fail to introduce yourself when entering the chambers of another..."

Carna planted a hand on the railing, and vaulted over the bannister, landing squarely in front of him. Standing nearly 10 centimetres taller than him, Carna eyed him off, careful to ensure she did not actually look down her nose at him. She had no intention of challenging him to a duel this early in the day, and from experience, offending any Sith was not the wisest move, regardless of your own rank and standing within the Sith Order. With this in mind, she held her ground, and spoke softly, "Sith Crusader Carna, Master of the Forge," still... it never hurt to be proud of what you were doing, "What are you doing here?"

 

[Amilthi]

Rhasru looked up at the source of the voice. As he looked at the woman, his expression changed from be- to amused. There was this curious tendency among the Sith for women to go about in scarce garments, which he had never quite understood, and didn't approve of from an aesthetic perspective. The nonchalance with which this woman was simply completely naked on her upper body, however, was quite a different thing, and somehow appealing.

"Whether I have in fact entered may be the subject of some debate", Rhasru replied with a smile, still standing in the doorway. "Rhasru Denal." Rhasru wasn't in the habit of introducing himself with his rank in the order, although many other Sith did so. It wasn't surprising that this new one followed them in this, it was only natural that she would strive to assert her new identity. "Besides, it is also rude not to be welcoming to guests", he added, smirking. "Nothing against the occasional discourtesy, though."

As she stood before him, his eyes darted around her figure and eventually settled firmly on her face. "I am... was enjoying the view, I suppose. You seem to have settled in very well."

 

[Cassanova]

Carna nodded, and realised that this particular Sith, noting his lack of mention of rank, would have been at least of equal if not greater rank, and quickly asserted herself to show at least some respect. "Then I imagine we are forced to assume that neither of us are rude, perhaps just showing a moment of occasional discourtesy," she smiled at the slightly shorter man, giving him an invitation to come further into The Workshop.

The Workshop, as always was afire with furnaces purifying ores, mixing alloys, welding material, cutting pieces. As Carna led Rhasru further into the entry level of the workspace, nearing the furnace and major workstations, she responded to his remark with a wry grin, "I'm sorry that your viewing pleasure had ceased. If you wish to continue, let me know."

"The Warmaster and High Assassin have both seen to it that I am settled into my role," she nodded, "It is, however, lonely work. No one, not even I, can stand only the company of droids and machines for so long," shrugging the thought away, she continued, "So what brings you to the Workshop, Rhasru?" She'd used his first name, not in offense, but in casual respect. His lack of mention of his rank suggested that he wasn't looking to flaunt it, and Carna was no stranger to the desire for a normal conversation.

 

[Amilthi]

Rhasru acknowledged Carna's welcome with a smile and a slight bow of his head as he gave up his posture stepped further into the room. He strolled a few meters, looking around at the machinery rather disinterestedly. Then he turned back to face Carna.

"Ah, yes. That strikes me as a very good idea on their part", he said, looking at her with his emerald-like eyes, before he continued in a casual tone: "I imagine the Jedi were less... encouraging in such matters. Taking pleasure in devising and creating instruments of death beyond immediate necessity is hardly becoming of a keeper of the peace, is it?"

He folded his hands behind his back as he waited for an answer, intentionally ignoring her question as to his reason for being here, and looking up at the woman without being in the slightest intimidated by the fact that he was shorter than her.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna chuckled, "No, no it isn't."

"But then again, that would explain why, for the most part, Jedi tend to fall beneath the blades of the Sith, would it not?" Carna paused, considering for a moment, "Having been among the Jedi myself, I was fully aware of the need for more weapons, and use of them. However, the Order was... less inclined to continue with my line of thought. I ended up having to pursue the knowledge independently."

She motioned to the Workshop, "I doubt they had this in mind, but then again - that is what they get for being liars and Masters of little but inaction."

Turning to face Rhasru, Carna simply began to twiddle a small tool between her fingers, making idle assessments and notes of his physique, muscular structure, joint movements, and everything else she'd need to know were she making him armour, a weapon, or facing him in combat. Carna didn't wish the latter at this stage, in fact, she liked Rhasru's presence. There was something comforting, levelling about him. His blasé dismissal of her query about his being in the Workshop, was enough for her not to repeat the question, she was, however, still curious to the point and kept her eyes fixed on him.

 

[Amilthi]

"Does it?" Rhasru gave a gentle laugh. "Do you think your constructions could save them from this fate?" he asked teasingly. And then he suddenly assumed a serious expression. "So... You are doing all this because you think it's needed?" he asked, with perhaps a hint of - what was it - disbelief? - in his voice, as he spread his arms. The movement made his gray robes slide back a little and unintentionally reveal the dark golden lightsaber on his belt. He looked at Carna and slightly tilted his head. "What for?"

 

[Cassanova]

Carna smiled with an impish grin, "No. I'm doing this because I choose to," she made a motion to her armour that was scattered across a table, amongst it were the lightsaber gauntlets that go with the set, "I do this because the Jedi got in my way. Because I'm going to prove a point to them."

"As a Jedi, I warned them that the evils in the galaxy were wielding exotic weapons," she smiled as she scooped up a gauntlet, sliding it over her right arm, locking it in place using an ingenious trigger lock. As her eyes glanced over the gauntlet, Carna dipped into the force, and found the ignition sequence, and activated the red blade, "I hardly wish to be made a liar."

Sighing, Carna disengaged the blade and removed the gauntlet turning her attention back to Rhasru. "Is it needed? No. Is it a bad idea to have the best weapons at our disposal? No. I do this because I know, that one day, every one of these weapons will sear Jedi flesh, and the idea of that makes me proud that it was my handiwork that made it possible."

 

[Amilthi]

Rhasru eyes the curious device that Carna was exhibiting to him with a raised eyebrow. It didn't strike him as a particularly fruitful variation on the theme of the classic lightsaber: the way it was rigidly attached to the arm made it much more difficult to adjust the blade's angle, demanding larger movements for the same purpose and making the wielder generally clumsly. It seemed to be more of a hindrance than anything else. "I don't see what's wrong with a traditional lightsaber", he said with a shrug, thus putting aside the topic for the time being. He was rather more interested in something else at this moment.

"Anyway... You must rather resent the Jedi, of course, for stifling your passion. I should hope, though, that you are not more eager to prove whatever point you think you have to prove than you are to stay alive. It would be a great pity and, I daresay, folly if you weren't careful about that", he said musingly, looking at the ground for a moment and only raising his eyes back at his vis-à-vis towards the end.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna smiled, "Concern, Rhasru?"

"No, I don't plan on giving my life in the pursuit of proving the Jedi wrong," she shrugged, "I'd be happy for the Jedi to give theirs, however."

Nodding towards a rack of half-completed lightsaber pikes and crucifixes, Carna added, "There's nothing wrong with a traditional blade, I agree. However, the Jedi are woefully under equipped and undertrained to deal with weapons like a whip, double bladed lightsaber, pike, or gauntlets. Their training simply doesn't cover it."

"There's too much to live for beyond petty revenge," she nodded, "There's a galaxy at stake here..."

 

[Amilthi]

"A galaxy at stake?" said Rhasru. "Ah, yes, the war, of course... Personally, I don't care much whether the Jedi live or die, unless one of them happens to be in my way. Though I imagine they would want me dead for somewhat more... principled reasons." His hands still behind his back, and a thin smile on his lips, Rhasru wandered about as he spoke. Then he suddenly turned around back towards Carna, standing a couple of feet from her.

"So... You think of yourself as evil?" he asked, looking her over with an inquiring look.

 

[Cassanova]

"Evil?" she chuckled, "Evil is a matter of perspective - a word used to describe the more baser and uninhibited actions of a person. Do I consider myself evil? No."

Carna leaned against a table and continued, "No. I like to think of myself as individual. With the exception of the instructions issued to me from the Council on behalf of the Empire, I do as I please. No matter how primal, no matter how 'unbecoming'," she shrugged, "I don't see the point in modifying my behaviour to the whims of others. There are those whom I would consider worthy of respect, and with those people I would show restraint - but of my choice. Not some dogmatic expectation."

Truthfully, Carna was both yes, of the Sith Order, but also she was embracing her humanity and primal instinct. It was time for Carna to be herself, not what some stodgy old Jedi Masters deemed she should be. She embraced the chaos within her, fuelled by her anger, passion and the chaos of the universe at large. This wasn't evil - if anything, this was enlightened.

 

[Amilthi]

Rhasru crossed his arms again. "But you think that there is such a thing as evil?" he said, tilting his head slightly. "Because there isn't, actually", he continued after a pause just short enough not to allow her to interrupt, a curious smile on his face that was somehow as if it were not quite on the surface, his eyes glinting.

"'Good' and 'evil' are silly words that were invented by pathetic people to justify their weakness. It doesn't make sense to call nature evil, and it is the natural way of the universe that the strong prevail and force their will upon the weak", he said, before adding playfully: "Of course, it is also the natural way of the universe that it rewards dumb luck, a policy with which I can't say I agree."

He paused again for a moment. "Now, what is it that you please to do? Is it primal and unbecoming? What are those things that are there to live for?"

 

[Cassanova]

Carna raised a sarcastic eyebrow and motioned to her state of undress, "Such things aren't seen commonly. However, I do it because I enjoy the feel of the furnace's heat upon my skin. I do it because I enjoy the looks I get given by those passing by," she chuckled.

"Things to live for?" she nodded, "There is injustice in the galaxy. Those who lack the means to stand up - I'm not referring to those too lazy to do it, those who lack the means. Those people, are to be defended - at any cost. The Empire has been kind enough to open my eyes, and offer me a home. I will defend it with my life, if I need to."

The frustration in her voice was growing. Twenty questions was never a game she particularly enjoyed. Carna and Juno both, were women of action. Doing things, getting results - this was how they operated. Carna of course didn't stop to ask for permission or accost herself for a dark thought. She simply did.

 

[Amilthi]

"Ah, yes, of course", Rhasru said with an amused expression as Carna drew his attention to her state, which was inimical to some circles' sense of decency. He kept his arms crossed and watched her with an increasingly thoughtful expression as she went on. To tell the truth, he was quite intrigued by what he had found here. Someone else's unfinished work! Now he knew what had been used to lure her to the Dark Side, but by the standards of the Sith, she was very much an uncut jewel.

At the end of her passionate declaration, he looked at her almost almost with pity. But his voice, as he spoke, was unexpectedly hardened. "You may not be aware of the danger you're putting yourself in. I'll have you know that the Imperium, like any other political body, has an essentially non-existent record of empowering and defending those without means."

He made a short pause, observing her expression. "There are things unbecoming for a Sith, too. Being played is one of them, and you are being played if you truly believe what you just said. Nothing is worth being defended with your life. Nothing against pursuing whatever entertainment you like, and if it is to give a sword or sound advice to some unfortunate fellow, so be it. In fact, I might even fancy to join you. But it's very hard to be entertained when you're dead." His tone softened again. "One hears there are plenty of... beings on Korriban who can tell the tale of this considerable complication."

 

[Cassanova]

Carna raised en eyebrow, "Clearly, you possess more experience and knowledge than I in this field."

"I'm not one to hold myself in a higher stand than others, nor am above learning from those who have more to give," she nodded respectfully towards Rhasru. "If you have the time, would you consider a trade, of sorts? You teach me something, and I give you something you seek in return?"

Her return payment was unspecified. Carna did not yet know exactly what drove Rhasru, and was at a distinct disadvantage in his presence. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy being at a loss in situations, she just never saw fit to stay that way.

 

[Amilthi]

Rhasru was somewhat surprised and, indeed, impressed by this reaction. That the woman didn't feel the need to protest and was ready to hear what he had to say was a sign that there was strength in her. Talking to her was a pleasant change from the cocky or fearful - mostly cocky - young Acolytes that he was accustomed to. "I have seen a number of people get killed by ideas such as yours. I'd be surprised if you, as a former Jedi, haven't", he remarked.

He didn't take up her proposal of an exchange at this point. In truth, he wouldn't have known what to say. There was no particular thing he wanted from this woman - talking to her had been its own reward so far. And Rhasru generally enjoyed teaching others, opening their eyes - it gave him a pleasant, but non-adversarial feeling of superiority.

Keeping his arms crossed, Rhasru began to wander around a bit, circling slightly around Carna. "Tell me... about the events that led to your being here. How you were introduced to the Dark Side", he said softly.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna merely offered a smile, "I once went by the title of Jedi Knight, and the name Juno Armstrong," she nodded, "Before my encounter with the Dark Side proper, you could say I tiptoed around the Order's rules. Never breaking them, but taking liberties in the right places - adapting them to my needs."

"Excepting the Jedi Battlemaster, I was the Jedi's foremost resource on lightsabers and their variants," she motioned to her own blade, which seethed a cold chill in all directions, "I was in the middle of constructing one of each type, with the Council's permission, although some of them gave it grudgingly - claiming it was excessive and unneeded... anyway, I was sent on a mission to Tatooine to aide in a situation involving a drug ring, or what not."

Carna sighed with what would seem a reverent longing, "Darth Silentius was in the same place as I. I'm not sure how it all happened, but I engaged him in a duel - and having not yet been shown the truth... was beaten... badly."

"He took me under his wing, and brought me to see the truth of things. Then he and the Emperor's champion put me into this role..." she nodded, closing the story, "And here we are - I could not imagine a better place to be."

 

[Amilthi]

A small gesture of his left hand, and the door of the workshop, which had been left slightly ajar up to this moment, clunked shut.

"Remember what it was like when you realized that you had lost, that your life was at his mercy, that he could extinguish you on a whim..."

Rhasru was now standing behind Carna, and his voice grew quieter. "What did you feel in that moment, what did you think?"

 

[Cassanova]

Carna raised en eyebrow at the actions that Rhasru took, and she made a note to be aware, "Honestly, I don't remember... I'd been concussed several times, I'm told."

"According to Darth Silentius, I kept my blade on him and never gave up..." she frowned, "Unfortunately Juno lacked the strength to do anything more than stand there beaten and bloody..."

Carna sighed, she knew that her past as a Jedi would haunt her for some time, however, she was hoping that it would not be so soon. Dismissing her own thoughts, she focused her attention back to Rhasru, keeping an eye upon him. Carna was unsure as to his intentions at this point, she was still half naked, and while she may have been about to win a duel against this man, she still had a great deal to learn about within the Force. Beyond that, if his intentions were not hostile, she still remained prepared as best she could.