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Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Lifting the small ceramic cup up off the plate with the light clink, the blonde female brought the steaming beverage contained within up to her lips, holding it there for a moment before taking a few sips of the bitter black liquid, before pursing her lips in thought as she adjusted her posture slightly into the leather backed seat before raising the sheets of parchment she had been pouring her attention over into a better position in her eye line. The blonde haired Sith set down her cup onto the saucer, before proceeding to drum her fingers against the wooden desk in thought. Picking up her pen, the blonde set the sheets of parchment back down on to the desk and swiftly scribbled her signature along the bottom of the pages, then leaning down and blowing gently onto the parchment before her, attempting to speed up the drying out of the ink.

The heavy paper ruffled and drifted, carried by the currents of air being propelled by her breath, with a light sigh, the young female set the parchment down on to the side of the desk, before reaching for the cup once again and nestled back into her chair. The aged wood creaking and groaning as she leant back against the frame. Her eyes moving away from the set aside parchment, and panning around the confines of her study bathed in a flickering amber light, a slight smile crossing her features as her gaze set upon the bronzed metallic shell of a dormant Tomb Guardian that had been recovered from the Zeffo temple on Ontotho, a sense of irony washing over her thoughts as she looked over the metallic figure that stood in the corner of the room like a suit of armour - given the fact that the Guardian served as a reminder of the first instance she had crossed paths with a particular Jedi, a Zeltron Knight who would ultimately become a Jedi Master. A Jedi Master that had been captured and of all places now found herself in one of the spare rooms within the property.

However in a stark contrast to the Jedi Master's previous accommodation on Ellora, the Zelton when she woke from her drug induced comatose state, would not find herself chained to a cold stone pillar in a dark and damp dungeon cell. Rather she would find herself within a modest room, bathed and covered in fresh simple linen robes - laying atop a simple bed, nothing too extravagant, but would likely be much more inviting than her previous lodgings. As the blonde Sith continued to nurse her cup of caff, her eyes narrowed as she took sight of the wall mounted chronometer that had been ticking away, seeing that it was creeping past the late morning and was soon approaching noon, the effect of the sedatives would soon be waning off for the Jedi Master, and it would be a matter of time until the sound of her stirring could be heard within the neighbouring room. The Sith's mind contemplating the varying degrees of reaction that the Jedi Master would exhibit once she came to, would she attempt to best the Sith as most Jedi would do on their instinct - even though she was stripped of her weapons, and Alyse had taken the precaution to ensure that her own Lightsaber was secured elsewhere, she was not ignorant to the Fact that this Jedi was potent in her connection to the Force. Whether she attempted to fight her way for freedom or not, there was still contingencies in place - after all the Governor of Bakura, would not be safe within her own home unless the estate was under the protection of the Bakuran Security Forces.

Dismissing the attempt to foresee what would come as a reaction of the Jedi's awakening, the blonde elected to instead remain within the study, like she had done for the best parts of her limited free time, nestled away in the room surrounded in the company of her collected books, tomes and scriptures and the ever present amber flickering of the kerosene lamps dotted around the desk and main thoroughfare out of the study. She glanced once again upto the chronometer for a moment, before turning her attention to her desk, focusing in on an aged leather bound book, one she had near enough finished reading in her free time, having been on and off progressing through the many countless pages of the book titled 'Lectures on the Nature of the Force'. A book that if her recollection had served her well, she had started reading on Naboo shortly before she had met @Oren Zapan who was discussed as a Nubian Mercenary Guard, a brief thought running through her head, wondering whether he was ever going to reach out to her following their lakeside walk, her lips pursing as she flicked through the pages back to where she had left of, figuring that until the Jedi emerged she may as well continue reading
 
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Nykoria Tallis

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Numbness. It overshadowed all, even the aching feeling in her body. Other than that, there was only a scent of... lavender shampoo? The eyelids moved up slowly, as if held by their own weight. Blank ceiling. Silence. Nobody in the vicinity. The Zeltron groaned, turning in her bed on the side—rather sluggishly for a physically-adept Jedi Master. The Netherworld of the Force sure felt mundane. Just like waking up back at home, on Coruscant... After an intense hangover.

Purple feet landed softly on the surprisingly warm floor—a stark contrast to Kori's previous predicament. The brown eyes shifted their gaze downwards to examine dark indigo robe. Not Kori's own, but cosy enough. It all reminded a wake-up after a party... Except that Nykoria had somehow managed to take a shower and brush herself up. The thought evoked a smirk. Especially after...

Ah yes, the dungeon. And two masked Sith. That was the last thing the Zeltron could remember. At the same time, a vague, but familiar scent hit her nostrils. Caf. The two situations she had found herself in after waking up just didn't add up. Leaning on both her arms, Kori made herself stand up. The robe turned out to be rather small for her, ending a little above the knees. Not to mention that it was clearly tailored for someone with a more slender build. All Kori could do was close the robe and tie the belt before limping towards the door.

Kori's perception of environment was also getting clearer, along with her other senses. Even if the Zeltron's physical condition was far from peak, the Force was still with her... Now more than before. So, with the strange mixture of anxiety and curiosity, the Jedi Master walked onward....
 
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Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Licking the tip of her finger the blonde, moved her wettened fingertip towards the current page she was just about coming to the end of, hovering for a moment before proceeding to turn the page. Chestnut hued eyes panning over the countless lines of text, as the Sith lord continued to digest and absorb the information contained within the pages, the current chapter going into great length on explaining the differences and nuances between the Living Force and the Cosmic Force, briefly touching upon some of the lesser view points that regarded there being several more spectrums of the Force that were somewhat discredited over the past few centuries.

Alyse's gaze raised up from her book as she heard the faint sound of shuffling within the nearby guest room, a slight smile curling at the edge of her lips, knowing that her 'guest' had now finally awoken from her drug induced state. Though even though the Jedi had now awoken, the Sith was in no way inclined to rush to great her - least she spook the Zeltron into reacting defensively, opting to leave the Jedi to approach on her own volition, Alyse returned her attention back to her book knowing that the Jedi's approach would soon be given away.

Reaching down for her cup of caff, the blonde held the book with one hand, continuing to read the text in front of her whilst bringing the hot beverage to her lips and taking a sip and setting the cup back down onto its saucer. Her ear twitching as the sound of shuffling continued, her head cocking to the side slightly as she mentally tracked the movements - determining that she was now out of her bed and moving towards the room's door. Shrugging slightly she kept her gaze and focus set upon her book, continuing to read, right up until the tell tale sound of the creaky floor board just outside of the door to her study gave way under the Jedi master's foot.

Closing the book, and setting it down onto the desk, the Sith lord looked up towards the open door of her study, in time to see the Zelton step into view. "Good Morning Master Jedi" Alyse spoke out with a soft and respectful tone, as she rose up from her seat and offered a polite bow. "I do hope you have recovered well enough?" She enquired as her gaze took in the sight of the Jedi Master, who looked rather constricted in the fresh clothing she had been dressed in before setting her book aside safely at the side of her desk, seemingly purposefully busying herself for a moment to detract away from having a lingering eye over the overly figure hugging attire, before sitting back down on her seat. "My apologies for the ill fitting nature of your robes, unfortunately I had little time to prepare for your arrival. But I have requested one of my aides to source some attire that would be a better fit for you" the blonde continued, before she reached over for the metallic decanter sat upon a hot plate to pour herself a top up of caff, before looking up to the Jedi, "would you care for a cup?"
 
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Nykoria Tallis

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The Zeltron nodded in reply to the question. Only a slightly raised eyebrow gave away the fact that she was surprised. This wake-up was dramatically different from the last one; and Kori couldn't for the life of her figure out how she ended up where she was... And more importantly, why she was there. But before she could ask the question, the woman got briefly distracted. Another opportunity might not present itself, so the Zeltron decided to act there and then.

In a few steps—swift for her current state, but normal otherwise—the Zeltron bridged the gap between herself and another empty seat by the table. As she soon found out, it was a good precaution—the already-short robe became even shorter when Kori sat down. So while the blonde kept the eyes off her, Nykoria could adjust the robe slightly and half-turn in her seat. When the blonde sat down, and with the table between them, the awkward situation was successfully avoided.

"Don't mention it," she replied with a tilted head, a corner of her lips curling up. "We are taught to make do with what we have." Her vis-a-vis has also presented a perfect opportunity to break the ice with one of Nykoria's trademark puns accompanied with a smirk: "So yes, I'd gladly have a cup. Caf makes making do easier, right?"

While waiting for the response of the blonde—who seemed remotely familiar from somewhere—Nykoria had a perfect opportunity to scope out the room. Among the shelves, one particular thing caught her attention: the metallic humanoid figure at least twice as tall as her. She had seen that figure years before, on the planet of Ontotho. An ancient machine in a derelict temple had been responsible for the deaths of more than a few local villagers.

To top it off, the temple had also been plagued by the Sith... The Sith who had captured and tortured Nykoria before she somehow wound up... Where again exactly? Bakura? The Zeltron turned her face back towards the white-haired stranger, a shade of recognition on her face now. But for the moment, Kori only had one question: "Why am I here?"
 

Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Slowly sliding the freshly poured cup over towards the Jedi, the blonde relaxed back into the support of her chair, wriggling a little as she adjusted herself so that she found the sweet spot where through her years of use the leather cushioning had moulded to her frame over time. A curious eyebrow arching as the Jedi questioned why she was here of all places, slight roll of her shoulders was offered initially by the Sith as she brought her refilled cup back up to her lips. It seemed innocuous enough of a question to ask, given how one conscious minute the Jedi Master was bound and chained in a dark stone cell in the darkest reaches of the Unknown regions, only to wake in a more reserved and comfortable setting in comparison.

Taking a sip from the caff, the blonde mulled over the question for a moment, before taking another mouthful of the bitter beverage and then setting the cup back down on its saucer. Just for what reason had the masked Sith Lord see fit to have sent the captive Jedi to fall into the custody of this blonde Sith? A slight satisfied sigh escaped the Sith lips as she looked around her office. "Well I was instructed to take care of your containment" Alyse offered with a slight dryness to her words, before a faint smile curled at the edge of her lips. "The specifics as to how I was to do so... was left vauge, so rather than to have you held in one of the prison complexes, I elected to have you transported to my residence. To at least allow you to retain some dignity" the blonde continued, offering perhaps enough of an explanation to why the Jedi had found herself in a residence rather than another cell.

Her gaze moved away from the Zeltron and to the surrounding bookshelf ladened walls of her study, for a moment. "It might be a bit old and creaky, but I trust you would find it comfortable?" Alyse resumed as she pulled her attention away from the surrounding drab and tired decor back to the Jedi Master sat opposite her.
 

Nykoria Tallis

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Only when the cup was slid to her did Kori realize how long it had been since she had caf. The strong aroma tinged her nostrils invitingly, but the cup remained untouched. The Zeltron peered at her vis-a-vis while she took a sip of caf and some some extra time to come up with a reply. That was more than concern for Kori's own fate—if the Sith wanted to torture or kill her, they had plenty of chances. If anything, it was curiosity. Why would they even bother that much with a supposed enemy?

The answer was... surprising and not surprising at the same time. Finally, Nykoria reached for the cup and took a sip. "Guess they did take my comments about previous accommodations to heart," the Zeltron remarked with just a slight hint of a joking tone in her voice. The answer didn't dispel of the Jedi's concerns, but that was as much as she was going to find out that day. Asking if it would be easier to just kill her or leave her a cripple unable to leave would be tempting fate a bit too much. "Praise be vague instructions," this time her tone grew a little bit more jovial.

"I can't complain," she replied with more seriousness and sincerity. "The rooms at the Jedi Temple aren't new and sleek either. Definitely not better than what you have to offer. And comparing to the last place I stayed at..." the Zeltron shrugged without finishing a sentence. Instead, she chose to take another sip of caf before continuing: "So, what now?"

A lot of unasked questions had built up in the Jedi's mind by then: "I haven't seen any guards around. What's stopping me from taking a quiet leave? You know you're taking a huge risk, aren't you?" And most importantly: "Why did you 'elect to transport me to your residence', of all the options?" The Jedi Master's mental defenses might not have concealed the doubts that still were clouding her mind, along with the haze from the meds.
 

Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Cocking her head to the side questioningly as the Jedi master commented her current accommodation, when compared to previous location that she was being held in - a tentative expression wrapping over the Blondes features as she mused on the comment for a moment, despite knowing all to well what the conditions were like for the Jedi master the Sith knew better of course to make that known. "I can only imagine the level of hospitality you were previously shown" Alyse offered, before reaching for her cup once again. "If the level of cruelty I had experienced shown by Cultist leaders towards their followers is anything to go by, I suspect that must pale in comparison to what you must have endured." She added before raising the cup up from it's saucer and bringing it to her lips.

After a few moments of thought, the blonde set the cup back down onto its plate, before returning her attention to the Jedi Master, her eyes making contact with the Zeltron's own gaze. Reading from the Jedi's expression that there were more underlaying questions rattling within that purple hued head of hers, other than so what now - had she not known better, a part of the blonde Sith would question as to why this Jedi was playing so coy regarding the situation that she was presently in.

"As for what now? Well it does solely depend on you" Alyse spoke out with a light sigh, as she slid her cup laden saucer safely over to the side, before resting her arms and hands on the wooden surface of her desk. "I suppose you can make a bid to escape, after all this house is by no means a prison" She offered with a light shrug before her gaze fell to the side slightly as her features darkened. "But in doing so, Bakura would suffer the wrath of the Sith Lord who had sent you here. If word got out that you had escaped, the planet would be reduced to a burning husk" She elaborated on the consequences of what would happen if Kori had elected to flee, her eyes looking heavy with the weight of the ramifications that rested upon her.

Turning her gaze away from the Jedi with a sigh, the blonde Sith brought her hand up to her face, thumb and fore finger rubbing over her eyelids and working towards the bridge of her nose. Before her lips pursed in thought, as she seemed to stare at the carpeting at her feet. "I would naturally of course invite you not to consider doing so" Alyse spoke after a brief silence, before slowly turning her gaze back up from the floor and to meet the Jedi's own once again. "Bakura is by no means a shining jewel of the Galaxy, but it has potential, and it is changing for the better" She added, her darkened and reluctant tone lightening a little as she started to speak fondly of her home world.

"Perhaps, if you are willing to assist with seeing to this world reaching its potential, then I could try and convince the Sith Lords to show you leniency?" the blonde spoke, with a lighter tone, that displayed perhaps a little bit more naiveite than she had intended.
 

Nykoria Tallis

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The Zeltron just shrugged when the blonde expressed some token compassion. If she was a Sith—and Kori was now pretty certain she was dealing with the same blonde from Ontotho—then she must've been on the receiving end of Force Lightning more than once. Truth to be told, Nykoria wasn't even looking for compassion; rather to keep the conversation flowing easily.

So when the blonde explained the predicament, Kori listened. The pieces were finally falling together... Or so she thought. Bakura, huh? Truth to be told, the Zeltron didn't know much about the world, or where exactly it even was. Somewhere close to Batuu, Jakku, and the other outskirts of the Galaxy. One of the millions of planets eclipsed in the galactic landscape and history by the likes of Coruscant, Nar Shaddaa, Ryloth, or Naboo.

When the Sith finished her speech—with a rather naive conclusion—Kori just shook her head with a smirk. "Leniency is a synonym to mercy. Something that Sith may see as a weakness. And judging by what I've heard, me escaping Bakura is not a problem." Kori's brown eyes met Alyse's as the Zeltron made a brief pause, just to see how she'd react to that statement. Only then would she elaborate: "The problem is that Bakura's fate hinges on a whim of a Jedi who can flee it and a Sith who can raze it."

That was quite a stalemate. The blonde Sith in front of her could be using the threat of a Sith Lord razing the planet as a ruse. Deceit and trickery were not below them. But nor was mass murder, as evidenced by Coruscant, Nar Shaddaa, Ryloth, and Ajan Kloss. Was Kori really willing to bet someone else's life on it? Especially given her current position. And the Sith must've known where to push. After all, she had only been captured because she gave herself up when innocents were targeted. They must've known that.

Having processed that, the Zeltron chuckled, as a realization crept into her mind: "Come to think of it, me and this planet seem to have too much in common right now." She tilted her head, wondering if the stranger caught her drift: "Half-naked and without a weapon to defend herself. Probably the friends are out of reach too, huh?"

Kori's comment wasn't a "Yes". Yet it wasn't a "No" either. If anything, it was testing the waters: to see who she was dealing with, and what the extent of her own freedom was. If anything, she owed the stranger for being let out of the restraints.
 

Alyse Ti'Varnus

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A slight twitch of the blonde's eyebrow, elicited by the Jedi Master waxing lyrical over her understanding of the Sith - citing that Leniency or more precisely Mercy was something that the Sith regarded as a weakness. A light curl at the side of her lip exposing a small flash of her teeth for a moment, before her lips pursed in thought, exhaling at the statement. Alyse's expression was a pensive but thoughtful one as she weighed on the gravity the Jedi's presumption that the fate of Bakura rested solely on the actions of the Zeltron Jedi.

"Some Sith may" Alyse responded simply as she returned her gaze to meet the Jedi's, cocking her head to the side slightly. "Though its often only when it suits them" The blonde continued before reaching for the decanter and topping up her cup once again, before retreating back into the contours of her seat holding the cup and saucer over her lap, a light chortle escaping the blondes lips as her gaze met with the Zeltron "When they only focused on their own self preservation and concealing their own weaknesses" the governor elaborated before taking a sip from her cup, flashing the briefest glimpse of a smile curling on her lips.

"But you are right, for the time being you are the present personification of this world" Aylse spoke as she set her cup back down onto her saucer, before placing the plate back onto her desk. "We are alone in the farthest reaches of known space, any viable support through our trade relations are a several day jump from here. Our neighbouring allies however are presently incumbent on Bakura's support...." she added before trailing off, briefly expanding on the situation that the planet held, and quite possibly so was the predicament that the Jedi master had.

The fingers of her hands interlocking and briefly drumming over the backs of their opposing palms, her upper lip moving into her her mouth for a moment, before biting on it in thought. "What there is of Bakura's fledgling defence fleet is currently stationed around Rattatak, aiding in the stabilisation of the world as it transitions to a public governance, after it had been ruled by a Warlord until he ran afoul of an uknown rouge force user" she resumed after a brief silence, musing for a moment on just how much she really ought to divulge. "One that openly bludgeoned the seated Warlord close enough to death before instigating a widespread riot and then fleeing with her accomplices" she explained, before shaking her head and tutting to herself. "Blessings in disguise I suppose, a murder attempt by an erratic Force user, destabilises an entire world, but also gives the citizens the opportunity to make and build their own futures" she summarised before once again picking up her caff and resuming its consumption.
 
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Nykoria Tallis

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Thanks to caf and dual livers, the Zeltron's head was getting clearer by the minute. So as the Sith reacted to her comparison and explained the situation further, Nykoria's expression grew more serious. At some point, it became the epitome of "Jedi tranquility"; only eye movements could give the indication what was on the Zeltron's mind.

Finally, Kori was awake again, just as her vis-a-vis finished reciting the recent developments on Rattatak. There was a lot to take in, process, and weigh up. But whatever opinion the Jedi had on the matter, it would remain her own for the time being. All that mattered there and then was how she'd react to the offer.

"Alright, I'll play it your way for now, and will hear what you have in mind," the Zeltron straightened up in her seat. Her serious demeanor coupled with an undersized indigo robe made the scene even more awkward. "But a Jedi is a Jedi, even when confined to Bakura. You said you've got clothes covered. What about weapons for self-defense? Did I come with a lightsaber, or...?"

Some hope flickered through her otherwise professional tone. The last thing Nykoria remembered was dropping her weapon back at the yacht where she had been captured. Surely the raiders didn't miss on a chance to loot a rare and expensive item. And if not... "You do know that the Jedi will be searching for me, right?" The implications were plenty, and the blonde would have to tread carefully: any reaction and response could unwittingly provide a crucial bit of information.
 

Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Furrowing her brow as the Jedi questioned whether she arrived complete with a Lightaber or not, though presumably it was more oriented to whether the Sith Lord would be furnishing her with weapons as she was with clothing. "Unfortunately all you arrived with was the soild garb you had on you" Alyse offered after a moment of thought, "It would perhaps be safe to assume that your Lightaber has been claimed as a trophy at some point" she continued, offering a slight shrug of resignation. "As for your safety, whilst you are in my company you need not worry about weapons for your own defence, you will find that the Security detail that is posted for my protection will be more than capable" she offered, with a slight smile, in hope of reassuring the Jedi Master, if even a little - not that she had for one moment would assume that the Jedi Master would trust her word, but then again as the Sith saw it trust would have to be established both ways, after all what was to prevent the Jedi from making a forceful move to escape the moment Alyse handed her some weapons.

Then there if course was the question about whether she was aware that the Jedi would be searching for the errant Jedi Master, the query of course eliciting a thoughtful expression on the Sith Lords features. "Perhaps they will be searching for you, and perhaps in time they will eventually find you" the Governor spoke after a brief silence, her gaze raising up to lock with the Jedi's for a moment. "Though I would suspect their eyes and attention would be drawn elsewhere. When you start getting up to speed. With the Galactic events, you'll find that the More aggressive of the Sith Lords have been forcefully expanding their domains" the blonde explained with a light sigh, before her lips and features scrunched up thoughtfully for a moment. "But as a matter of Caution, I would not be so open about being a Jedi when out in Public" Alyse added, before getting to her feet and walking over towards one of the bookshelves, her finger running along a series of spines before coming to a rest on one book, before drawing it out.

Flipping through the pages, the slight framed females eyes intently scanned over the pages, until it came to a few chapters of Bakura's history. "There is a long standing resentment towards the Jedi here, resulting from one that was dubbed the Scarlet Menace" Alyse explained, as she carried the antique book back to the desk and offering for the Jedi to read the passages surrounding attacks that had been carried out on the planets capitol. The latter passages focusing in on the death of the Red haired Jedi following the wholesale slaughter of a residential household and the the subsequent security forces that came to intervene. "Whilst much of the events described in those passages, do incline to either a Jedi outcast or perhaps one of the Original Sith that carried out the attacks. The Jedi were seen to have been responsible for the acts of genocide carried out by this Scarlet menace" Alyse explained as she returned back to her seat and sat back down, picking up her caff from the saucer.

Before she could take a sip from the beverage, the sound of the door opening caught the Siths Attention, looking up to the rear of the Study Alyse watched her aide came in carrying a packaged bundle. "Just down there would be fine, if you would be so kind" Alyse instructed, gesturing to an empty seat at the side of the study. The Aide nodding before proceeding as instructed and then looking back the the blonde "Would there be anything else Governor?" he inquired, illiciting a polite smile as Alyse shook her head, "That should be fine for the time being thank you, I'll catch up with you when the Senate resumes ofter the weekend recess" She responded before lightly waving her hand in parting as the aide nodded and left. Returning her attention to the Jedi, the blonde pursed her lips in thought for a moment. "As for what have in mind perhaps, we should adjourn from here and go take a walk? I suspect its been a fair while since you've been out door's, and perhaps I can better acquaint you with Bakura"
 

Nykoria Tallis

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There were as many veiled questions and answers exchanged as direct ones. It was like a game of sorts, except that the stakes could get higher at any moment. Kori still had questions, and perhaps she could've demanded her answers bluntly. But something told the Zeltron it wasn't the way to go about it. Perhaps it was a hunch that the blonde Sith enjoyed the game of implications, half-truths, and guesswork. Nykoria could work with that. No weapons allowed though? Uncomfortable, but not unexpected. At least the boundaries were made pretty clear. Whether or not both sides would abide by them was another story.

The state of the galaxy was something that got the Zeltron's attention, even if she did her best to hide it. How long had she been out cold? What happened to... Patience, Nykoria. Don't show your weaknesses. You'll learn everything in due time. If the Jedi were still out there, they'd find her. Or not. If anything, history taught her that the Force wouldn't allow one side to ultimately prevail. Posing as a non-Jedi also wasn't an issue, given Bakura's prejudice on that matter. Since Kori didn't have the saber, it wouldn't be that much of an issue.

Then the aide come in, leaving a package that supposedly contained the promised clothes. Governor, huh? The kark is a Sith doing in charge of a planet? Bakura definitely wasn't... Nykoria simply closed her eyes and shook her head briefly, as if trying to wave off the rest of her slumber. "Very well," the woman stood up, straightening the robe that was on her. "I'll just need a few minutes to get changed," with that, the package slowly floated towards the Zeltron, ending up under her arms. She reacted to it as if that was meant to happen, seemingly without putting any effort into it. Should she be left to herself, she'd disappear behind the door she had come through.

...

The clothes was a mixed bag. At first, the dark-grey hooded robe didn't look like much. By the looks alone, Kori would've preferred her woolen indigo Jedi robe and grey pants. But when she put the offered garments on, and... Let's just say Bakura's fabrics were miles ahead than whatever the Jedi Order could afford. It felt nice and loose on the skin, even though the Zeltron found the skirt-like appendage somewhat restrictive to her movements.

On the bright side, the boots were a good fit, and the hood also had a mask that allowed the Zeltron cover her scarred face, should she choose so. Out of curiosity, she did just that. Only then did she tie the belt—Is that kriffing rancor leather?!—around her waist and return to the room where the Governor waited. Only the woman's figure, a thin strip of purple skin and brown eyes gave away who she was. After a pause, she'd address the blonde: "Well, lead the way, Governor..." She left the phrase unfinished, leaving the woman a chance to introduce herself before they went on.
 

Alyse Ti'Varnus

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A simple nod was granted, as the Jedi commented that she would need a few minutes to change, the Sith lord's eyes watching as the Jedi straightened up her current ill fitting attire, before tentatively moving towards where the aide had set down the bundle of clothing before picking it with the Force and taking her leave. Pursing her lips for a moment the blonde waited a moment before getting to her feet and stepping over to the corner of the study, picking up a dark long hemmed over coat that hung down around her knees, threading one arm through a sleeve, before throwing the rest of the jacket around her back before threading her other arm into the second sleeve.

Nimble and practiced fingers made light work of fastening up the buttons on her coat, before they reached up to retrieve a vibrant red half cape, that would hang over the Sith Lord's right shoulder, fastened in place by a long silver metal chain that ran diagonally across her chest. Once her attire was straightened up, so that she was presentable to the degree that was fitting of a person of her rank and position within the planet's society - and to a lesser extent her standing as a Sith Lord.

Clasping her hands together and holding them over her lap, Alyse stepped over towards the centre of the room, seemingly in time for the Jedi to make her return into the study, wearing the new robes which were a better fit for her as opposed to the borrowed night gown that the Jedi had been previously dressed in. A light furrow of her brow came in reaction as she took note that the Jedi had elected to make use of the obscuring veil, to hide her scarred features, well that was what the Sith had presumed to be the case at least. "Alyse Ti'Varnus" Alyse offered, completing the unfinished sentence of the Jedi and providing her full name to the Jedi - figuring that what ever reasoning there could remotely be to try and mask her name, it was not exactly going to be difficult to find out that any other names he could have provided was false.

Taking the cue, the blonde lead the two out of the Study, moving through the short distance along the corridor and through to the front foyer of her family home and swiftly opening the front door and stepping out, holding the door open to allow for Kori to leave the premises - before closing the door and taking a few steps down the foot path, before pausing for a moment to subtly give a hand signal for the security detail to ease back, noting that they had reacted to the unknown figure that had emerged from the Governors household as well.

"Right Shall we?" Alyse questioned to the Zeltron Jedi with a light smile, before turning round to walk further down the path out of the family estate and into the surrounding grounds, the Jedi hopefully keeping close beside as the pair navigated towards the roads that would lead to the capital city that was in view on their right, and an expansive forest that lay on the left - a forest that resonated with a lingering darkness within the Force, but it was not just the Darkside, but it was more akin to a deep wound in the Force. Their movements being shadowed by the Governor's Protection detail, close enough to observe and react should any attempt be made, but enough out of earshot to ensure that discussions remained private.

"Try not and dwell on the sensation from the Forest" Alyse cautioned after a brief silence as her head turned to the side slightly to regard the Jedi beside her. "That is a wound that is as old as the Forest is. There's been a few archaeological trial digs carried out in the past to investigate what the source may be, but all that was found was ancient industrial machinery. Supposedly it is one of the site's of the Scarlet menace's acts of genocide" Alyse offered with a slight frown on her features, knowing that for a Sith the darkness created by a wound in the Force was like water off a ducks back, for a Jedi it must be an uncomfortable sensation for being in such close proximity to.

"Though, I suspect that you may not be wholly interested in a lesson of Bakura's Ancient History." The Governor commented as the road they were walking along had started to make a gradual turn to the right, leading them round so that the City sat directly ahead of them. "I would imagine that you have more pressing questions to ask?"
 
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Nykoria Tallis

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Catbert
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"Nykoria Tallis," the Zeltron replied in return, more out of courtesy than anything else. If the previous Sith knew her name, then so would this one... probably. And since all the precautions about her family had been taken care of, there was no harm in Sith knowing her name. As it turned out, the Dark Siders could very well coerce Jedi into acting a certain way without using specific people as leverage. "Just people" sufficed.

So, after a pause she added: "Friends... People usually call me Kori. It's shorter that way." That sounded like an awkward thing to say to a Sith; the entire situation was just that—awkward. That showed in a constricted manner of the way the Zeltron talked. Like talking in public without a plan and a rehearsed speech.

When the Governor offered to go, the Zeltron just nodded and followed suit. Kori sensed the shift as they walked outside the house—a brief surge of anxiety in a few people; close enough, yet not too close to warrant getting defensive. With that anxiety subsiding, even the pheromones weren't needed for the moment. So instead, the Zeltron chose to focus on taking in the view.

She nodded to the governor's thoughtful comment about the forest, but remained otherwise unperturbed. After all, she had been on Coruscant during the Sith attack; she had helped to avert the conquest of Ryloth; she had stood on the ashen plains of Sullust under the Eternal's gaze. The forest, as unpleasant as it was, was bearable.

However, its presence didn't help with relieving the tension that had already built up inside the Jedi Master; like a protective instinct that urged Kori to focus on the light inside and around her instead. So, when asked if she had any more questions, Kori returned to the topic that bothered her the most: "What's the deal with the Sith that left me here? Why take the risk of letting me walk around like that?" She paused for a moment, before adding another question, one that Alyse would probably be more eager to answer: "And what help does Bakura need from me?"
 
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Alyse Ti'Varnus

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Sith Order
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Champion

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Topher
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The Blonde's eyebrow arched up inquisitively as she cast a curious glance over towards the Jedi, as she questioned what the deal was with the Sith that had seemingly left her on Bakuran soil. Noting that there was a risk in letting the Jedi walk around, a faint smile curled at the edge of the Sith's lips for a moment before they pursed in thought. "You mean to ask why you still draw breath?" Alyse spoke out rather sharply, as she turned her gaze to the side to better view the Zeltron Jedi. A tense air lingered over the two for a silent moment before the Sith Lord's deadpan features softened as she chuckled a little. "If it were down to some of the hardline Sith Lords, that would certainly be the case. But Contrary to the common belief not every Sith subscribes to the kill on sight school of thought" the Governor explained, her tone of voice returning back to its soft neutral tone.

"Zealotry is a dangerous blight, regardless of the side of the coin" she continued, offering a brief sideways glance towards the Jedi. "It only breeds conflict for the sake of conflict. The only thing that would allow for the Galaxy to grow and develop is pragmatism and an open mind" she added casting a light smile towards the Jedi master beside her, before her features soured a little as her gaze narrowed. "Whilst we claim that Conflict fuels growth and change, there are a few that see that growth through conflict could be achieved without bloodshed" Alyse reasoned, with a slight tip of her head to the side, mimicking a light shrug.

The Sith Lord pursed her lips in thought for a moment, allowing for silence to fall between the two for a brief spell, as she mulled over the question as to what help that Bakura, a Sith controlled world needed from a Jedi Master of all things. "As to what Bakura needs from you." Alyse resumed after her mind set on the target of her ambition for the Jedi Master. "Is bloodless Conflict" She stated simply, as a slight grin curled at her lips. "I am a Sith, and I am the Governor of this world. I am currently overseeing the world's growth and developing stability" She continued, before pausing for a moment before the inevitable "But. Its growth can only be sustained for so long, the ranks of Governance are filled with sycophants and yes men. What Bakura needs is a countering view point, preferably some one with the backbone and spine to actually challenge the decisions that would lead this world forwards"

Before the Zeltron could comment, implying some parlance about a democratic process, the Sith came to a halt and turned round to face the Jedi directly. "Democratic processes, give way to deliberation, committees and time wasting. What I would ask of you, is not to engage me in the democratic process, but provide me with the proverbial devil's advocacy that only someone who has trained and honed their mind to act with urgency"
 

Nykoria Tallis

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Out of the blue, Alyse replied to the question rather bluntly, without the hint of the previous calm hospitality or diplomatic tone. For a moment, Kori heard just the Sith she had expected to. But before the Zeltron could react to the shift, Governor Ti'Varnus returned back to her friendlier self. Whether it was a good or a bad thing remained to be seen. At least the "kill on sight school of thought" stereotype was good enough to break the ice again.

The Zeltron was glad that she had opted for the veil. That way, whatever struggles Kori was going through remained unseen. All that the Governor would see was a thin strip of purple skin and two brown eyes peering up ahead. The Jedi simply listened to what the Sith had to say; an occasional turn of the head and a nod were the only indication that she paid attention. And the longer Kori listened, the more thoughtful she became.

Kori wanted to argue, to blow the Sith reasoning out of the water... But she had a hard time picking on Alyse's ideas. Zealotry being bad was a no-brainer. Pragmatism and an open mind were arguably good. The alleged selflessness of the Jedi didn't add up to that, but it was too selfish to even bring it up. Even conflict itself wasn't bad; after all, the conflict of opinions is what produced the truth, or at least a way towards it. Democracy was just a fancy word to describe one of the plethora of models used by the different worlds of the galaxy. Sometimes not even the most effective model. Ultimately, it came down to the people in charge how whatever model worked.

As for the Sith's offer, Nykoria had been in a similar position once already: another Sith had offered her to work together back on Corsin a few years before. But this time was different. For starters, the Bakuran governor didn't ask Kori to do anything she wouldn't have done herself. Except for staying on the planet, but that was something the Zeltron could work with. She also seemed to want Nykoria's unaffected and unbiased opinions—exactly what the Zeltron had offered that other Sith. Needless to say that both sides had rejected each other's offer back then.

Half a minute and one long gaze through the veil later, a dead serious answer followed: "If that's what you truly need, you've got it. When and how do we start?"
 
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