Reforging The Tool

[The Confessor]

[fancybox2]

THE GALLOWS: ORBITING ILUM
1000 Hours

@EmilyHuene ; @KinkyPrawn [/fancybox2]

The hangar of the contemptuous-class dungeon ship named The Gallows would open up and receive the arch priest of the Sacellum down on Ilum. It had been one month exactly since his conquest on Ryloth where he and another Sith captured a rebellious Jedi traitor. The Twi'lek was brought to The Confessor aboard this very vessel, but the blind Sith wished to try out her experiments before simply handing her off to the Empire for conversion. That was the whole reason The Confessor had joined the prison system, and why she worked so hard to get a dungeon vessel for herself. It all led up to this moment.

While Mid Samekh departed from his ship, he'd be met by someone strange. The aura felt the same, but he'd never seen her in such an outfit. Standing in wait for the arch priest was a woman clothed in purple armor. Like most Sith, the armor consisted of durasteel plates around the vital organs while providing protection to the forearms and shins with Phrik steel layered into the leather. Underneath the armor the woman was wearing a full bodysuit of hide leather for supporting the body in colder climates as well as difficult terrain and weather. Perfect for such a climate as Ilum. The most flashy part of the uniform though was that down the center of the outfit would run a long sash with Holy symbols of the Sith church that draped down to her ankles; it also tied into a cloak that spreads out past her hips from behind.

Her head was covered by a matching helmet in color and design, but appeared to have a blast shield over the face which would make it impossible to see through. And if that right there wasn't a dead giveaway, the two curved lightsabers hanging from the utility belt would be a dead giveaway. Only one woman had identical blades as fancy and as iconic as those. The woman was currently standing with her arms crossed behind her back, but as Mid came closer she would reach up and remove her helmet with a hiss from the locking mechanism. While Mid might have known this woman once as Lady Eriana Fox, the white skinned and bald woman he was seeing now was nothing of the sort. He'd been by her side as she coped through her transformation in the Darkness, but it would still come as a surprise seeing her face compared to the beauty she once was.

"Father Samekh, welcome back." The Confessor would greet him. Turning to the main lift at the end of the hangar the two would start to walk while being followed by a flank of The Confessor's personal Fox troopers. "Prisoner G-109 is coming along nicely," the blind Sith would say in mention of the Jedi they'd captured. "I am sure you will have no trouble controlling her. My time with her has made her quite docile. Though I do caution from taking her from the ship. She isn't ready to be released back into the world yet."

The lift would take the two Sith and the four Fox troopers down several floors to the very bottom. There, Mid would see a large room with ten different cells available for use. Yet, only one was currently in use. The inmates down on the lower floor were given three rooms that they'd only ever see. The first was where they'd spend the majority of their times. Enclosed on all eight sides the white octagon room was where the transformation really took place. The walls were painted white, so white it almost strained the eyes looking at it. On the floor painted in red was the Sith Empire insignia, to remind the inmate who they were serving. There were seemingly no doors, for one would open up in the wall when the guards needed to interact with the prisoner. Likewise, there were no windows. So the only source of light came from above with yet even more blinding light which was enough to give anyone a headache.

And if the lights weren't bad enough, there was the pitch. Randomly, with no warning, a loud screeching tone would blare through speakers into the room. The alarm was never the same amount of time, nor were the breaks in between them. This helped disorient the new arrival and allow for the mind to unravel. A thing after all, must be broken before it can be fixed. This is what form of torment the Jedi was subjected to that allowed her to forget who she was so that she could be remade. And she was kept in there for days at a time with no food or water. That she was given in a separate room on carefully monitored days so that the subject would always be kept as minimally alive as possible. Risks were taken, but the Jedi were relentless.

The Confessor would exit the lift and walk up to the only active room. The Fox troopers who accompanied them would then take the lift back up, for there were four men in Sacellum gear who did the majority of the guard work done on this floor. Turning to one of them, the blind Sith would instruct them to extract the prisoner. He bowed his head but said nothing; they never did. The guard turned the power off the in cell and then the four of them would move in to drug the captive so that she could not fight back. But after a month of the sort of torture The Confessor put her through...there wasn't much fighting these days.

A minute would pass and the four would return back to the main room, the one she'd spoken to would nod again. Inside the white cell would remain their subject and Mid's new mission. She was currently drugged and bound with a jacket that kept her arms secured across her torso like she was giving herself a hug. Even if she wasn't secured, she knew there was no escape for her. That was how broken The Confessor had made her. The blind Sith would then turned on her heel and reached into her belt pouch and came out with the Jedi Knight's weapon. She held it out in offering to Mid, expecting him to know what to do. As they'd discussed, he was to break it in front of the Jedi to symbolize her days as a Jedi were over. She would be monitoring what went on in the room, but she would have no part in what was to come next. The rest of the Jedi's trial began now.

"Good luck, Father Samekh. Do not disappoint me."

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid was, above all else, a priest. His whole life he served either the old gods of his people or the Dark Side of the force itself. Sure he knew how to shoot a gun and swing a sword, but his main mission in life was to spread the word of the Dark Side and either show the lost and confused the error of their ways...or bring about eternal damnation to blasphemers, heretics and those who deny the Dark Side's embrace.

Today was such a mission. He hated doing it like this. He would much rather break out his ceremonial robes and proceed with a passionate sermon than torture a person into submission. But he knew how tricky Jedi can be. He had encountered them on 5 different occasions and every time they were as stubbourn as a mule. He stepped off the 'Sanctus' fully armoured up and his helmet covering his face behind a cold duraplast plate. He was rather taken back by the figure in front of him but he knew who it was. He wanted to speak but when her helmet come off he fell silent in shock. It had been a while since they saw each other but all this time he thought he was able to stop her from falling down that hole. It seemed he was sadly mistaken.

One thing that didn't change was her voice. Despite the new look he knew it was still Eriana. He would just have to get used to her new look. "Good to be back, my lady." he spoke kinly and gave a small bow. His voice somewhat processed through the helmet. She motioned to follow and he fell in next to her, his hands behind his back as he strode next to her. Hew was rather confused by her sit-rep. It took him a second to realize who she was talking about. "Don't worry, my lady. She won't be going anywhere until you're satisfied. But even in her weakened state I'm confident in saying that she won't be easy to convert. Jedi are persistent and stubbourn." he spoke calmly as the lift took them down.

He had seen the levels before. It scared him a little. He wasn't exactly used to torture, though he knew perfectly well how to injure someone. Medical practice tended to teach things like that to people. Eriana instructed her guards to prep the prisoner and drug her. As that was going on Eriana handed him the Jedi's lightsaber. He knew what to do and he knew how strong the connection was between a Jedi and their crystals. He looked at the wooden hilt in his hands and clipped it onto his belt next to one of his own lightsabers. It felt as if he had a heating element resting against his leg, warming up the armour in an attempt to repel the Pureblood's darkness. "I wouldn't dream of it, lady Confessor. Just keep that siren and lights down, please? Otherwise I'll kill the guard working those controls." he called out to her as she walked away.

He looked at the Jedi on the floor in the room. He took a deep breath and entered. The wall behind him closed up and thankfully the light wasn't nearly as intense. All the white was still unnerving nonetheless. He stood in front of the Jedi, his cold faceplate staring down at her for several seconds. "My, oh my. What have we here?" he spoke calmly. He reached up and took his helmet off, cracking his neck a little before dropping it in a corner and looking at the Jedi once again. "You seemed to have found yourself in quite the predicament, little Jedi." he muttered and started pacing around a bit in the small room.

He stopped and walked back to the Jedi. He knelt down and helped her sit upright against the wall behind her and remained in that position, looking into her eyes with his own glowing golden eyes. "Do you know why you are here, little Jedi?" he asked with a tilt of his head. He unclipped her lightsaber and held it in front of her. "It's because you have been deceived, lied to and ultimately led down a path of damnation. I'm here to save you from that damnation." his voice was kind and gentle, not at all what she would be used to. It was part of his tactic, to give her false hope and build her up...only to break it all down over and over until she was clay in his hands.

He sat down in front of her, crossing his armoured legs as if he was about to tell a story. He was about a meter away from her with a small smile on his face. He looked her weapon over. "I must admit, as an enthusiast that loves to build and tinker with lightsabers I can't help but admire your design. Brylark wood is rare, exotic. And I'm a firm believer in that a lightsaber is a representation of its owner. A reflection of who they are." he looked up from her weapon into her eyes. "Wouldn't you agree?"

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

Hearing the doors open was always such a blissful sound. The lights would dim, the tone would cease, and she was usually given food. Her stomach had killed her the first week, but after....Heavens she didn't even know. But her body was getting used to the lack of food and doing what it naturally did to survive harsh treatments. The lack of water though was taking a toll on the blue skinned Twi'lek. There was only so much a body could do without water. Dehydration caused a number of health issues, one such thing was mental fatigue. And Kae'Leigh Tameris was certainly fatigued.

Her eyes looked up at the entranceway while the guards came in as they always did, followed up by sedating her. She knew they would do just that and she'd given up trying to fight and protest. She took the pinch of the needle in the neck and let the drugs give her a soft hit of relaxation. At least this way she couldn't feel all the pain she was in, and the weakness which normally took an achy feeling to it. They would then leave then, giving the Jedi the assumption that Lady Confessor was coming in to visit with her again. Though, she only ever came by when Kae'Leigh was in the blue room, as she called it. She was in the white room, and the red room was where she was fed (even though it was surrounded by torture utensils; thankfully none of which had touched her flesh).

But, instead of Lady Confessor or another guard, a man covered in armor would approach. Kae'Leigh felt the fear hit her in the chest. Not only was drugged, but also restrained, and this man coming towards her looked ready for war. She instinctively felt that her time was up, and that this man was her executioner. Whimpering she tried to find her voice but her lip was quivering too much to steady herself. The door shut behind him closing him in with her. He'd be able to feel her fear for all the defenses in the room had been switched off. Likewise, this also meant the Jedi could. Not that she was going anywhere.

His cruel voice echoed through his helmet making her all the more scared of him. But as he took the helmet off, her eyes played a trick on her. She...recognized this man. Or did she. She tried to focus. The Force worked through her as it normally did, giving her a clue as to why he looked so familiar. Then it played in her head back in the forest. Though, the image in her head was severely distorted due to her memory. There weren't exactly blue trees growing on Ryloth. Mid would then start to pace around the room but she couldn't focus on where he was with all the drugs in her system, nor could she pick herself up to see him better.

"You....you did this to me....you...you killed all those people.....I still hear...I still hear all their screams." Kae'Leigh closed her eyes and shook her head. "No. Stop. Stop blaming me! I tried to help you. I'm sorry." Was she, speaking to him? Or someone in her head that she was imagining?

The armored man would now come closer and lift her up to a seated position. Her head slumped back against the wall out of sheer exhaustion. Her eyes were full of dark circles indicating all the failure she'd had trying to rest and sleep. Mid asked her why she was here, and although she believed she did, his idea was probably different. He answered for her, saying that she'd been deceived and lied to. Led down the wrong path. And he, was her savior.

"No," she'd argue. Shaking her head she kept repeating it. "No. No no no. You did this. This is...your fault. All the people. In my head. They died....they died because of you. You killed them. No. No no."

His attention the turned to her lightsaber on her hips making her shy her head to the side of the corner and look down at his hips. He'd take the weapon out, talking about the design. "That's....that's my saber...why do you...why do you have my...saber?" Kae'Leigh closed her eyes and groaned struggling to keep them open. "You have to give...it back. Please...it's my saber....It's mine...."

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid smiled and booped her nose as if she were a child. "Indeed you are right, G-109! This is your lightsaber. And I shall give it back to you in due time...but not like this." his gentle voice still prominent. He pressed the emitter against her chin and forced her to look at him. "This will be your first step towards redemption, G-109. Your lightsaber will be the catalyst towards your salvation and eventually the forgiveness of what you did to those 4349 souls on Ryloth." he spoke softly, barely above a whisper.

He let her head droop as he pulled the hilt away from under her chin. "But in order for it to be such a powerful tool to bring about your saviour, we have to remove any temptations of sin from it." he used the force to strip it and suspend the pieces in the air around him until only the bright blue crystal was floating between them. He took the crystal in his hand and reassembled the weapon, placing it on the ground next to him. He pinched the crystal between his right index finger and thumb. "Together we shall make sure that this will never fill your head with delusions, lies and sinful thoughts." his voice took a turn, sounding more serious and harsh.

Even in her weakened state she probably had an idea of what he wanted to do. Before she could even think of doing anything his left hand wrapped around her face and the crystal dropped into his right hand. He focused the force, drilling into her head and targeting all of her fears, misery, grief and...deep down, like a faint candle burning in the void of space...anger. It meant opening to her as well, but she would see that in his mind he believed in what he said. He believed that the slaughter was her fault, that she was indeed lost...and even the regret of doing this to her. It was all powerful, dark emotions and that was what Mid was after. Channeling both of their emotions and power he focused on the crystal. It started hovering above his hand and his eyes closed, seeing the hope, purity and light within the crystal. It was fighting him, pushing him out but he would have his way with it.

He sat like that, holding onto G-109 and focusing on the crystal. After what felt like hours the crystal would shine brightly, shake and a sound almost like a pained scream echoed in both their minds. The bright light disappeared and deep red swirled inside of it, like ink being injected into water. The red would fill the crystal and the scream would become louder in their heads. When it was done the crystal dropped into his palm, the screaming disappeared and their connection broke. He released her and looked the crystal over.

He looked back at her with a smile and happy eyes. "Spectacular! We're making progress, G-109!" he praised her. His left hand gently cupped her cheek as he looked deep into her eyes. "You did exceptionally well, child." his gentle voice returned. His hand pulled back and scrounged around behind his back under his black cloak. "Of course, now we have to make sure that progress stays there." the calm in his voice faded into a more sadistic tone. A shackle emerged from behind his back, meant to lock around a prisoner's neck. Only this wasn't meant to restrain. In the center was a small space and locks designed to hold a gem. He dropped the bled crystal in the space, locked it in, then slammed the shackle shut around her neck. The lack of padding would most likely irritate her skin to hell and back and the crystal housed inside it would bombard her day in and day out with its pain, anger and misery.

"Much better." he growled sadistically and wrapped his hand around her neck. Focusing the force he would agitate the crystal, causing it to bombard her even more with dark powers. He released her and stood up, tossing the useless hilt at her feet to antagonize her all the more. His helmet flew into his hand and he slid it back on. The doors opened and he disappeared for a good part of the day.

*****​

Several hours would pass. Several hours of blinding light, piercing sirens and the constant attack of her crystal crying out in pain to her. Her usual dinner time never came this time and she was left without food or drink even longer than normal. Eventually the doors would open and in came Mid with a tray in his hands. On the tray were two bowls of a very strange red soup, pieces of bread and two tall glasses of water. "G-109, my apologies for the late meal. I thought that we could have something special today to celebrate your progress but it seemed to have taken longer than I would have hoped." he spoke casually. He placed the tray down in front of her, helped her up and sat down in front of her like last time. He placed his helmet down next to the two of them and took a deep breath in of the supposedly delicious soup.

While he loved the smell, he doubted she would. It was powerful and smelled off, like blood that's been boiling for hours...not too far off from what it was. "Allow me to share with you a traditional meal of my people. Very nutritious and high on protein. I think you'll like it." he spoke kindly and picked up a bowl, holding it in front of her to see and smell. "It's called 'Blood soup'."

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

As if being bound was humiliating enough, her red skinned nemesis would poke her on the nose and speak in such a condescending tone to her. He even went so far as to call her by her number. She hadn't heard her name out loud in so long now. She was starting to forget it. How could one forget their own name? Apparently being subjected to The Confessor's experiments would do the trick. Mid would then bring the saber up against her chin and push her head up with the end of it. She gasped and held her head up high while closing her eyes. She expected to die right then. All it would take was one push of his thumb and her own saber would end her life. What a horrible way to go.

Instead, Mid would explain that he would -in time- give the blade back to her, once it went through its own little transformation. He explained the saber would be her catalyst to helping her be saved, as well as forgiven. Kae'Leigh wasn't sure what he meant by that, until he brought up the souls on Ryloth who died because of him...no. Because of her. Four thousand, three hundred, forty nine. All dead. Because of her.

Mid would then pull the saber away and let her head fall back down. Her mind was swimming. Four thousand, three hundred, forty nine. Four thousand, three hundred, forty nine. Four thousand, three hundred, forty nine. All her fault. All her fault. As she thought about that horrible statistic she would feel the Force working around her causing her to shrug her head to the side, leaning back against the corner, and look up at Mid as he expertly dissembled her blade with the use of the Force. He did the task so easily, proving his skill and abilities as a Dark side user. Either that, or he'd practiced before coming into this room. He barely even looked at the blade while he broke it apart.

While the pieces floated around him, Kae'Leigh's eyes were focused on the bright blue crystal she'd gotten on Jedha. While the crystal was still new to her, she still had a powerful connection to it. She'd received the gem after helping a new friend push through his own Dark side nature. It was the first time she really felt like she was doing someone worthy of her time for if she could save someone from Darkness, she could do anything. But that feeling of strength was lost to her, especially after seeing someone else holding it in their hands. The Light was failing her. She was losing everything.

Showing off even more precision, the red skinned Sith would then bring the pieces of her blade back together with no effort at all. Kae'Leigh could do such a thing in her sleep, but she'd done it with her hilt so many times it was second nature. She doubted she would ever have the skill or the finesse to do it to someone else's blade. Mid then spoke with a harsh tone, reminding her that this crystal would never lead her astray again, for it was responsible for filling her head with lies and other sinful ideas.

Kae'Leigh was far too weak to do anything about his threat, and even if she wanted do, he was on her before she could react. His hand gripped her face and pushed the Dark side into her mind. Kae'Leigh screamed and tried to pull away, but her head was trapped with nowhere to go and his iron grip fierce and powerful. All those miserable feelings she'd been subjected to over the past weeks were coming up again. But now, they seemed so much more amplified. Was that the crystal's doing? Or the work of the Sith himself? Her mind started to work against her, turning her thoughts into twisted realities of things that never happened. Everything was so much crueler in the eyes of the Dark, and it would feed her transformation.

Her mind was on Ryloth. Standing before the two Sith. Her blade red in her hand. Guilt riding her emotions and making the earth shake as fire burned around them. Twi'lek ghosts were screaming around her, falling to their knees as fire engulfed them. Some crawled toward her, begging to be saved. Others rolled around in misery from the overwhelming pain. All Kae'Leigh's fault. All her fault. Four thousand, three hundred, forty nine. All her fault.​

She was on Borgo Prime. The smugglers and thieves making room for her as she and another Sith walked hand in hand down the path. Dressed in black she was more powerful than ever. Her Sith lightsaber hilt made from the fires of Korriban stood as a symbol of death and greed. She killed for power. She killed for fun. Turning to the fiery redhead next to her she brought her into a passionate kiss, one she was too afraid to take earlier. Her code had told her to suppress her emotions. And while she dared to only hold the girl's hand, now, she took the next step and let all of her wants and desires come out.

The caves of Jedha. A Jedi was fighting her. He tried to hold onto the Light but her red saber and crystal too influential to pull away from. He tried to defend against her; she sliced his arms off at the shoulders and brought him to his knees. Lightning exploded from her hand and made the man writhe in pain. She could feel the lightning burning him, as she remembered it burning her. Fear. Confusion. All things she felt were no more. Turned into anger they gave her the power to stand up for herself and fight back.​

She was on Coruscant. Surrounded by other side. A blue skinned Twi'lek came up to her and hugged her. Whispering something in Ryl that didn't make sense to her. But she was comforted by it. She was surrounded by her friends and family. She didn't have to worry about anyone attacking her, or trying to sell her into slavery. Here, she was powerful. Here, she was a god.

Bothawui. Her and her apprentice were threatening the council, holding them at saber's end while clutching the necks of one of the elder council members. His old decrepit body barely able to stand as she sucked the life out of him.​

Sullist. The Sullstans foolish thought they could resist her negotiations and tried to fight back. Her red blade cutting them down left and right while she danced with Twi'lek grace over their corpses. Anger was such a wonderful tool. Sitting in that seat trying to beg them to do the right thing? What a joke! Submission was the only way to make a deal.

The mining guild of Ruusan. Pirates surrounded her in loyal ranks as they entered into the caves and forced the miners to surrender. She barked orders to them to bring in the droids and other slaves so that this land would be claimed for the Empire. These men needed a leader. They needed someone watching over their pathetic lives otherwise they had no meaning. The Jedi had saved them once, now she came back to correct her mistake.​

Once she had been a slicer. She found herself next on Rodia, hacking her way into the main database and securing all sorts of goodies for the Empire to blackmail their clients. It felt good to get away with crime and do as she wished without fear of retribution from the law.

Music gently played in her ears as she found herself next on Ord Mantell. She was dancing in a club surrounded by other Twi'leks, but she was not one of them. She was here to have fun and the blonde girl she was dancing with was the prettiest thing in the room. Kae'Leigh didn't let her fear guide her. She laid all her cards on the table and pushed the girl into a comfy seat where she straddled her and began to passionately kiss her. Kae'Leigh would take what she wanted.​

Ilum. The frozen caves. Kae'Leigh was standing in a large open room holding a red crystal in her hand. She'd just freed it from the ice and the world changed in her mind though she knew she was still on Ilum. The cold white floor became hot and dry. Sand was all around them. She was on Korriban (though she herself had never been). Standing beside her was the most beautiful child she'd ever seen. Her skin as red as the crystal in her hands-

"NO!" Kae'Leigh screamed at the top of her lungs.

The illusion fell away and she was back in the holding cell with Mid crouching over her. She weakly opened her eyes and saw her blue gem fading to red. It had happened. Just like in the vision. It was corroded with evil now. Just like she was. Mid stood up, examining his work. Kae'Leigh just felt weaker and weaker so she closed her eyes for a second. Her mind was trying to fight these illusions in her head. Though now, for some reason, she couldn't remember how they used to be. What was the truth? What really happened? Did her future daughter really have red skin...?

Mid's hand would cup her cheek and force her to look up at him again. She could barely keep her eyes open. He complimented her, saying how well she'd done. She didn't feel like she'd done anything. What was so great again? Her eyes flitted closed as he released her and focused on his next sinister task. It wasn't until she felt the cold steel around her neck that she would open her eyes again and look up at him with horror. A collar? No. No he couldn't! Fear overtook her again. She'd spent her life trying to avoid becoming someone else's slave and now here she was getting her old iron necklace around her pretty little neck.

Only, this hurt way more than it should. The Darkness kept pushing into her. Kae'Leigh groaned and arched her back with the new sensation pushing its way into her mind. She cried out in a long whine and then fell over onto her shoulder. She kicked her legs slowly, the only thing she could really move in her circumstance, to protest this new bondage. His hand would grip her neck and hold her still while he focused the Force to aggravate the crystal and thus pulse more painfully into her aura. Her saber would drop beside her once the Sith let her go and stood up; she wasn't even aware of it. Her body was burning and she felt her memories being attacked by her own desires to change everything about her.

The door would shut and the lights would get brighter now showering her with their horrid blinding light. The tone turned on causing the Twi'lek to scream again and start rolling around in pain. Finding the only solace she could she tucked one ear into the floor by the corner and brought her left leg up to try and push her head into her lap. She couldn't focus. The pitch groaning on and on with the lights burning her eyes and the crystal now seeping Dark thoughts into her brain...it was all too much.

Cold air ran past her on the beach of Savareen. The Galactic Alliance was leaving their only secure base but her mind was not focused on that. She was surrounded by Jedi. Her old Master. Her once closest friend. And two new Padawan. Kae'Leigh was jealous. The woman with black hair standing beside her had once been her peer. They started training at the same time. Yet, why was she so much stronger? Why did she now have Padawan of her own? She looked over to the pink skinned Twi'lek with hate. This was his fault.

​

Nar Shaddaa was burning. Her home was on fire. The Hutts were burning in their own filth while the Empire rained down from the skies. Kae'Leigh stood with the host of a thousand troops behind her; her red saber burning brilliantly in her hand. She would raze this ugly planet to the ground and build it back up. So much misery had happened here. No longer.

Her Mandalorian friends were all around her. She looked at their faces one by one, though now she had a hard time remembering what they looked like. Even their colors of the Beskar'gam were faded and muted. She turned to see her master and her rival sitting in one of the chairs explaining to the Mandalorian allies that they were Jedi, and that they'd been lying to the armored friends this whole time. Guilt was coursing through her Twi'lek blood. She never wanted to lie to them. Vu'thari made her. It was his fault.​

She was on Kessel now. This was the first time she met the blonde beauty. They were sneaking into the base hoping to download codes to use for the Alliance. They should have walked in like they owned the place. Her memory of the occurrence changed to her in the black Sith outfit, walking side by side with the blonde girl who was also dressed in a lovely garb of dark and seduction. She kissed her, then ordered the men to fill their ship with the supplies. Kae'Leigh had everything she ever wanted.

Lightsaber training had always been her worst course. Vu'thair was a gentle teacher. But he had a horrible student. Kae'Leigh fell again and again as his wooden blade knocked her legs out from under her. She was covered in bruises from each hit. She'd not once landed a strike against her master. This was his fault. His fault.​

Ryloth was supposed to be her home. So why had Vu'thari only now taken her? She was standing in the rain, letting it drench her to the bone. Vu'thari walked around her, telling her how inspiring she could be as a Jedi. If she could learn to control her emotions she would be able to fight for those out there who needed help. If only she were stronger, she could fight for the Twi'leks like her that lost their parents and were homeless. This is where Kae'Leigh first decided she wanted to be a Jedi. This is where Vu'thari lied to her. This was all his fault.

The scene shifted and she was on Kashyyyk. Vu'thari was standing with her before her ship begging for her to let him train her. She was crying. She didn't want to become a Jedi. ​

She didn't want to become a Jedi. Everything made sense. She was standing before the Life Tree with her hand about to touch the bark. This is where she was given a vision of the future, telling her for the first time she was Force sensitive. Here she would be put on a path she never wanted to be a part of. Here, she saw herself in her master's tutelage and a life protecting others. Kae'Leigh had only ever looked out for herself. It had worked until now. It would work for the rest of her life.

Turning away from the tree she would say, "I'm sorry, V. But, I don't chose this life..."

And she walked away.

The doors would open some several hours later. Kae'Leigh was exhausted. More so than ever before. But, she found a purpose in her thoughts now. Something had changed. She wasn't sure what, but deep down she'd snuffed out the Light and let the Darkness win. She remembered that she never wanted to become a Jedi. Having that vision on Kashyyyk scared her so bad she actually ran from the tree in tears. If not for Vu'thari chasing her, threatening her (that the Sith would find her), she never would have gone to Ryloth to train. She never would have been tricked by his lies to make her into some sort of...super hero. She was no hero. She was a slicer. She was a criminal for kriff sake. He never should have put those ideas into her head.

Prison guards would enter as they always did and pumped her full of muscle relaxers again. Kae'Leigh was grateful for the drugs. She didn't want to feel anything anymore. They would leave followed by Mid who came back with something that smelled awful. He apologized to her to which she wouldn't respond. She didn't even open her eyes. He would help her into a seated position and she continued to just play dead. Her head slumped to the side too weak to even pick it up.

He would then hold the bowl out to her, hoping she would share in his people's meal. He promised her it was full of protein, but she didn't even want to think about food. There was something else more pressing on her mind. And for whatever reason she felt the need to share it with Mid. It was something she'd buried away for a long time now, and all that guilt brought it right back up. If she'd never met Vu'thari, she never would have become a Jedi. She never would have killed those people on Ryloth. And she wouldn't be here now, strapped in a restraining jacket, being tortured for hours on end. This was all his vault.

"I don't want to be a Jedi..."

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid's eyebrows raised at her words. "What did you say?" he said somewhat shocked. He put the bowl in his hands down and lifted her head to look at him. "Kae'leigh...do you truly mean that?" he asked her softly. Saying her name wasn't an accident. Being called a number for so long would have burrowed into her thoughts. He saw it as a reward for her progress, letting her hear her name this once. "Because if you do, there's certainly cause for celebration." his tone was proud and happy. There might just be hope for her after all.

"But before we can get to that you need your strength. Now come on, eat up. I'm sure you're starving!" he took the bowl and a piece of bread. He dipped the bread into the blood soup and held it in front of her mouth. If she took it willingly he would feed her affectionately, bite for bite and sip for sip. If she didn't take it willingly he would force the soup down her throat. No matter what, she would be fed. Not out of kindness, but because missing a meal would be dangerous and could lead to rather dire circumstances and he did not want to risk that. He had plans for her.

With their meals done he would give her a smile. "I think I know what you need. Come on." he said warmly and proceeded to pick her up and carry her out of the room. She smelled like a dead body and he knew that would beat her down as well. Providing relief, saying her name, giving affection, it would all build her up until he decided to break her once again...

He carried her through a cold, dimly lit hallway, holding her close against him like a father carrying a child to bed. Eventually they reached a room of cold, hard duracrete. the walls were lined with shower heads and dividers that reached from thigh to neck. It was a communal shower room meant for the crew, but it was only the two of them in there. On a bench close by was a neatly folded up set of the same straitjacket and baggy prison pants she was wearing now. Only those were clean and fresh. He put her down on her own feet and helped her stay upright as he proceeded to relieve her of her filthy pants and straitjacket. The collar was left on though, that was going nowhere.

He removed his upper body armour, weapons, cloak and tied the upper part of his one-piece body glove around his waist to show off his well toned upper body. He led her to one of the showers and opened the water, making sure she didn't try anything as the water reached a perfect temperature. He led her in under the warm water and gently assisted in helping her wash her back, lekku's and other tricky areas. Despite all this his hands never wandered and besides looking her over for any open injuries he didn't do anything to make her feel uncomfortable. His kindness would most likely be extremely odd for her at this point...

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

It was no surprise that her words confused the Sith. She had basically admitted what he was hoping to push this whole time. It was surprising that it had happened so fast, that she broke so easily. But in her defense, she really hadn't been a Jedi that long. She'd only just become a Force sensitive in her adult years. It wasn't like she grew up knowing she was a Jedi and spent her life hoping to protect people. She was a criminal before this ever happened and it was just luck that a Jedi found her before a Sith did. Things could have turned out so differently if it was Mid who found her and not Vu'thari.

He would ask her what she said, but she was too tired to try again. He then lifted her head and said her name to her. Kae'Leigh. She loved the way her name sounded. She wished she knew what it meant. She wished she could hear her mother calling her that again. However, all she had now was the red skinned giant speaking to her like she'd done something miraculous again. It felt good that he was proud of her; she just wasn't sure why. But she liked it. And she wanted to feel more of that.

A small smile came to her face, but that was about the extent of her cheerfulness. She was still so weak from being dehydrated. He must have realized this because he would offer her a helping of the bread dipped in the soup. With as much effort as she could she opened her mouth and allowed him to feed her. She didn't care how it tasted, right then, it was the best thing ever. She slowly chewed it up and swallowed and then graciously took another bite as he fed her. Being fed wasn't as humiliating as it had been strapped into that chair in the red room. This felt...almost soothing. Loving maybe? Caring for sure. Did Mid care for her?

The more she ate, the better she felt. And when he offered her the water she nearly guzzled it down. She couldn't get enough and that bothered her. She would whimper a little when he took the glass away. But it was then met with another piece of bread and that was fine too. Once they were finished with it all she had a little more energy and was able to open her eyes some more to at least look at him. He then set everything aside and moved to pick her up. Her body rolled into his chest while her head would lie into his shoulder. It felt strange being carried so gently; it made her feel little.

"What's your....name?" she would ask him as they walked.

Before she knew it they were in the showers and he would set her down carefully on her feet. She leaned forward into the siding of the wall while he worked to free her from her jacket which let out a powerful odor of sweat and other foul smells. She'd gotten used to it up until now and hadn't realized she hadn't bathed since coming to this d*amned ship. When her arms were free she let them hang at her sides. She wanted to rub them, get some life back into her system, but they were just as weak as she felt. It took too much effort to just stand there.

It killed her that the collar was staying on. She would have liked to remove it. She hated the feeling of being owned. It was every bit as horrible as she imagined it to be. With one shaky hand, she'd reach up to touch the metal, but flinched when her hand touched the gem instead. It gave her a shock that woke her up a little more. It didn't want to come off. She whimpered a little and slouched more into the wall while Mid behind her took off his armor and shirt. She didn't bother looking at him. Kae'Leigh would just enjoy being free for as long as she could. This was the first time in over a month she could move as she pleased, yet, all she wanted to do was stand there.

With his body half naked, he would come to her and help move her into the path of the water once it was warmed up. She moaned when it ran down her body, meeting it halfway to let it just soak her head, running down her face to her chest. While she soaked in the blissful heat, Mid would start soaping her down and rubbing the stain off her back from all the sweat she'd collected. The massage was a wonderful addition to her treatment, and helped build that bond between them even further. When she first met Mid, she hated him with everything that she had. Now, she wasn't sure how she felt. He was being so nice to her...

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid let her enjoy the water as he gently washed her. He also massaged her arms as he washed her, gently working out any cramps and discomforts to try and get some life back into her. She asked him his name and up until now he didn't say a word. Finally he broke the silence. "Midwan Samekh. Or Mid for short. In the Sith language it means 'strength'. Though not by a long shot is it as nice to say as yours..." his hands rested on her hips as he leaned in next to her ear. "...Kae'leigh" he muttered once more. He stood up once more and his hands resumed to scrub her clean.

"I'm sure you enjoy hearing your name after not hearing it so long. I must say it's a beautiful name." he held his kind tone as he spoke. A soft chuckle escaped him. "You know, the first being I ever met that wasn't a Pureblood was a twi'lek. I was just 20 at the time. She was a slave gifted to my family for their service to the old gods. She had beautiful light green skin and a smile brighter than the sun shining over Korriban." he reminisced about an old memory. To think that happened 30 years ago already...

He turned Kae'leigh around slowly and washed her front, placing one of her arms over her chest to maintain her privacy. "...and I must confess she was also my first love. Between you and me I can admit that I have somewhat of a soft spot for twi'leks." he muttered with a small smile. After a few minutes he looked deep into her brown eyes. "So you can understand that I take no pleasure in treating you like this. Nor did I take pleasure in the order of that bombardment." his voice took on a more sincere tone as he spoke. His right hand rested on her shoulder and his left rested against her neck. "So I will make a deal with you. If you repent for your sins, embrace the dark side of the force and pledge your service to me...I will make sure that you are not only free from this prison, but you will never be a number again." With the promise of freedom he was sure that she wouldn't refuse...but it was still too early for her and he was far from confident that her conversion was complete. This was only the first step after all...

His right hand slid over to just underneath her neck and he pressed her against the wall behind her. His left hand's thumb moved to grip her neck and he used the force to poke at the crystal again. "Repent, child. Repent." he spoke sternly and coldly. He moved right up against her as he looked down into her eyes with his bright golden gaze.

*****​

A door slid open and a light came on, but it wasn't a torture chamber. No, this was a far cry from a torture chamber. It was a simple isolated prison cell complete with a bed and bathroom. Mid walked through the door with Kae'leigh in his arms. She was dressed in the white prison trousers but instead of a straitjacket she wore a normal white prison jacket. It was part of her reward for progress as well as a means to threaten her. He laid her down on the bed and leaned over her. "The more you repent for your misguided ways, the more you will get rewarded. If you try to go against the progress we made, or try any tricks...these rewards will be stripped along with your name and a white room with white noise will be the only room you'll ever know." he warned her. He gave the collar around her neck a tug to make sure it was secured. Despite the freedom the room provided she was still blocked off from the force and the crystal would continue to gnaw at her. Tempt her.

Mid gave her a final smile and walked out of the door without a word. What he had done and was doing was dangerous and could backfire on him down the line. But he was certain that without outside contact any resistance would be an uphill battle that she would inevitably lose. He didn't like ruining her in this manner but as long as she played by his rules things would be easier for the both of them. This bond between them was a dangerous one, but he had a feeling that it would prove to be an interesting one.

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

Eventually she got tired of having the water run down her face so she adjusted herself to lean her head more against the wall so that the water hit her neck instead. And she stayed like this while Mid scrubbed at her back and worked on her arms. Every new spot he hit she would moan. Her body needed this. It had been so sore from being restrained and the small amount of time she spent with Lady Confessor did not help to that endeavor. It felt so nice to just have them being lifted up and worked on with his strong hands.

As her captor worked on kneading the tired muscles he would finally give into the silence and offer her his name. Having that friendly title to call him by would help her see him as less of a monster, though she still wasn't convinced that he wasn't. Shivers would run down her spine when he leaned into her and whispered her name like it was something of a prize to him. It felt wrong coming out of his mouth, and she didn't like the way that felt. With his hands on her hips and the collar around her neck, she felt even more like property now. And the fact that she was in the nude in the shower with him was not helping. Thanks the gods he still had his pants on.

Trying to sound less like a creep, he would assure her that he loved the sound of her name. He even went so far as to share a memory with her. His first love. A Twi'lek like her, only with green skin. He seemed to brighten up at the memory, and in its core perhaps it was a kind memory. But his words said otherwise. All Kae'Leigh heard was 'slave' and 'soft spot for Twi'leks'. He would turn her around and move her arm to cover herself. She didn't fight that motion at all and would even bring her other arm up to do the same. She backed into the wall, afraid of where he was going with this conversation. To her eyes, he was chasing her for her race, and nothing else. There was no emotion or kindness in her eyes. He simply wanted her for her species. And that made her feel sick to her stomach.

Her head would turn away for she couldn't bare to look at him anymore. She wanted to fight back and do something. Could she call for help? Who would save her? She knew that even though she was free to move about, she was still just as restrained as she had been in that jacket. Kae'Leigh was helpless to whatever moves Mid would make. And that scared her. His hand would finish washing her front now (her moaning and enjoyment over what was happening was long gone now) and he placed it on her shoulder. She refused to look at him even now. It wasn't until his other hand came up to her neck that he moved her head to look up into his golden eyes with her own brown ones.

Mid would say in a soft tone that he took no pleasure in what was happening to her. Sure. She doubted that very much. He also admitted to not enjoying calling the hit on the villagers she killed because of her actions. How could she believe that though? He was a Sith. An evil warrior who only looked out for himself. How could he feel remorse? He'd then offer to strike a deal with the Twi'lek, laying down the instructions that she was to repent for what she'd done. In doing so, she would accept the Darkness and pledge herself to him. If she did so, he would assure her that she would be free, and never treated like this again.

"I'm no slave," she would say with some small amount of spite. She'd gotten a little bit of her courage back now that her femininity was at stake.

Apparently that was the very wrong thing to say. Both hands were now gripping her neck and he pressed her head further into the wall. The crystal would start to react and send painful vibes into her mind again. Kae'Leigh screamed as her body arched. Her mind was bombarded with the thoughts of the Dark side. That fear she was feeling now doubled and burned within her. She wanted to fight back. Her hands moved away from her chest and pushed into his own, but she failed to even come up with the slightest bit of strength. Instead, her hands just coiled up against his hard muscles and gave up.

Repenting was not as easy as she would have liked. Her emotions were all tied up in knots and Mid felt like he was using brute strength to tear them all down. The crystal seemed to free her from all of her inhibitions and soon she was lost in a dreamlike state; her mind playing tricks on her like she was surrounded by the two most wonderful girls she'd ever been together with. Her desires and lust for them now playing out in her head as the Dark side tried to replace all those fissures of Light still hiding in the cracks of her mind.

It felt like hours before she was out of the shower and being lied down onto an actual bed (albeit a small and single mattress). She couldn't even remember how she got here. But she was dry, she was clothed, and her muscles were exhausted for all different reasons. The collar was still around her neck and the red crystal holding her down like a rock around her throat. Mid would set her down and then speak softly to her. He explained that the more she repented for her sins, the more she would get rewarded. Was what just happened a reward? It was far better than the other treatment she received prior to this. So that was a win in her book at least.

He would leave shortly after that warning and shut the door behind him, closing her off from the world again. Only this cell was far more habitable. She could close her eyes and have a somewhat illusion of darkness. In the other room closing her eyes only shielded the light slightly. Plus, it was quiet, save for the gentle humming of the air conditioning unit -another welcomed bonus. Kae'Leigh turned and adjusted herself on the bed and from there fell into the greatest most welcomed sleep of her life.

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid would disappear for a couple of days, but she would still receiver her small ration of food and water in her new room. After a week of leaving her to enjoy her new chambers, get comfortable and let her regain her old hopes and dreams, the door would open and the guards she was so familiar with would come marching in and sedate her before she had a chance to react.

They carried her down to the white room once more and once there they strapped her into the straitjacket again. They dumped her on the ground and from there the original routine would start again. White lights, white noise, bare minimum of food and water. For two weeks she would be put through this nightmare once again. After the second week the door would open and the guards in white would take her back to the showers, clean her up not nearly as kindly as Mid did, then dress her up in normal clothes again. She was dragged along her feet with two guards holding her by her arms as if she was to be executed. They reached her 'luxury chambers' and the door opened. They hurled her into the room and the door closed behind her.

In front of her, on the bed, was Mid. In his hands was her lightsaber and he was simply fiddling with it. He looked down at her with a blank face. "That was so you remember what will happen if you go against your word." he said coldly. He reached down and unlocked the kyber crystal on her neck. In one simple motion her lightsaber would dismantle, the crystal placed in its original place and the weapon would reassemble. He motioned for her to stand up and stood right in front of her. He pressed his lightsaber over his heart and took her hand, wrapping it around her hilt. "There's your chance. Kill me, fall back to your heretical ways and you go free. Spare me, stay true to your word and you will receive your next reward." he explained to her casually. Clearly another of his tests...but was it legitimate or not?

If she decided to press the button and kill him, she wouldn't be met with a sharp hiss of a lightsaber igniting. Nor would she be met with the sound of the weapon shorting out. All that would be heard was the soft click of the ignition button and Mid holding the battery up in front of her.

If she spared him, he would give her a kind smile and move her hand to place it and the weapon over her heart.

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

Her new room was heaven compared to the treatment she was welcomed into. She finally got a long sleep, letting her body take all the time it needed. When she woke up, she only got up to use the toilet before lying back down on the mattress and closing her eyes again. She ended up napping for another half hour, but after that she felt a headache coming along and didn't want to stay asleep. She passed the time by moving around her room, sitting down in different positions. She thought about meditating like she used to do, but it felt wrong now. Why suppress her emotions? No. She couldn't do that.

For the rest day then she fiddled with the collar and the crystal inside it. It didn't shock her as it had before, as now she was becoming used to its Dark embrace. Her anger continued to grow from within from all the mistakes she made in her life. Secretly she swore to make up for them, while also making the Jedi pay for what they did to her. While she didn't know where Vu'thari was, she could still take out her aggression on other Jedi. Fools. Heretics. The Sith creed was becoming more and more clear to her.

Her isolation was tough to combat out of sheer boredom. But she would take that over being in the white room where the pitch deafened her and made her scream endlessly. She half expected that same noise to come on and torment her here, but it never did. She tried not to think about it, for imagining it coming on gave her anxiety. With so little to do instead, she tried tinkering in her head. Her mind focused on all the mechanical things she owned: her ship, her collapsible staff, even her saber. Though, that she tried to avoid thinking about. In her head she pieced them together and took them apart, mentally conditioning herself to stay focused and pass the time.

By the second day she was already hungry and that boredom was making it worse. She wanted food, but they still weren't giving it to her on a daily basis. Why were they trying to starve her? She found it increasingly hard to stay focused on since the hunger in her stomach kept groaning and grumbling. She ended up surrendering herself to her bed and trying to combat it with sleep. But she hadn't done anything exhausting so sleep never came. She was miserable, tossing and turning, begging the voiceless gods to bring her some food.

And the torture continued until the next day when she was finally given food. Kae'Leigh scarfed it down and regretted doing so. When her hands were bound they spoon fed her and it took much more time to process. Now since she had access to her hands, she couldn't seem to stop herself from taking bite after bite. The food did nothing to fill her up and a half hour later it was crying out for more again. Kae'Leigh groaned and screamed, fighting with the gods and anyone listening to her for some peace. Letting out the anger felt good, but she had nothing to take it out on, save for her mattress. And she wasn't about to ruin that.

Instead, she tore her clothes. She ripped the sleeves off her jacket and pieces of the fabric from her pants so they would be shorts now. It felt good ripping them into shreds, tearing the broken pieces into smaller and smaller ones. The material was so thick so it took a lot of strength, time, and concentration to cut them. It helped pass the time though so that was another win for the angry Twi'lek. To her dismay, no one came to scold her though. She would have liked some interaction. Or something, anything to sate her boredom. Nothing. A few more days passed of this insanity until she was fed again and this time she tried so hard not to eat it all at once. It lasted her a full ten minutes; not exactly the victory she was looking for.

When the doors next opened she figured it was time to be fed yet again only the skull guards in gray came instead. Kae'Leigh screamed and backed herself up against the wall. Feeling the Force now since the door was open, she shoved them with a powerful concussive blast. The two closest to her were thrown backwards into the wall, but the other two came in and zapped her with their pole arms. Kae'Leigh screamed again as the lightning tore into her body and made her seize up and collapse. The first two would get up and finish what they started to do: drugging her.

In her drugged and pained state they carried her down to the lower floors and tossed her into the white room she knew so well. She mumbled in protest, drooling over herself as she did. They peeled off her ruined clothes and gave her a restraining jacket once more, this time tightening the straps as much as they could to prove a point. The joke was on them, she couldn't feel it anyway. But the pitch she heard just fine. The moment the doors locked her in the Force negating barrier would come on, the lights would turn up in brightness, and the screeching tone would blare into the room. Kae'Leigh cried out for she couldn't do anything to stop it. Her muscles were far too weightless to even roll onto her side.

It was hell all over again. When the drugs finally wore off she managed to curl into a tight ball in the corner. But it didn't help things. She'd been tainted and spoiled by Mid's kindness and now she felt betrayed by him. This was his doing. He had in fact taken advantage of her and then thrown her back to the wolves. Her hatred grew even more, fueled by the bled crystal. She hated Mid. She hated how foolish she'd been. She hated herself for everything. She hated herself completely.

Two weeks passed of no sleep. Each time she tried it was met with the pitch starting over again. There was never enough time to let herself fall into the darkness. And even when she managed to sneak that slumber in, the tone would wake her right back up. She groaned, cried, screamed, all things she could do. She cursed Mid and Lady Confessor for putting her in here. She cursed Vu'thari for all the lies he put in her head. But mostly, she cursed the gods. They were the ones allowing this to happen. In the end, it was all according to plan was it not?

The guards with the ghost faces would come around like usual and bring her to the red room to clean her up. Her hands hung from shackles above her head and they cleaned her off with a hose, and cold water to add. Her screams were awful. She'd never felt so cold and frozen before. Why did everything have to be torture? When she was finished, and shaking miserably, they dressed her not in the same jacket, but a fresh pair of white prison scrubs. She was then carried by her arms up to the higher floors and dropped into the cell she'd stayed in with the bed.

Kae'Leigh curled herself into a ball to help warm herself. When she looked up, she saw Mid sitting there on her bed playing with her saber. He warned her that if she ever went back on her word that her treatment just then would continue. Kae'Leigh gasped. She couldn't believe it. This was all some test? That didn't seem like the right word. Threat maybe. She didn't reply though, for her mind was still processing what he'd said and her body was still too cold to move. Mid moved down by her and unlocked her necklace to take the crystal out.

Kae'Leigh would sit up some, as Mid instructed her to stand. Her anger was burning like a fire inside her; if only it warmed her up. The Dark side though, reacted to the cold. She was bathed in it -literally. She could feel it begging her to use it. She would stand as Mid then pressed the saber against his chest while taking her hand to grab the hilt. Mid explained what was going on, that she could kill him now, if she chose. If she killed him, she'd be ever the Jedi she was before. But if she spared him, he'd reward her again. In her mind though, killing him was not the Jedi thing to do. It was the Sith.

Her thumb pressed to the ignition switch she was so familiar with. But she didn't add the weight to ignite the beam. She wanted to kill him! He tortured her, slept with her, and then betrayed her. Why wouldn't she kill him? Her breathing picked up as she prepared herself to do it. All she had to do was push the button. Her eyes looked down to her hand as if willing herself to make the choice. But in her hands she realized she was holding her saber. Her Jedi saber.

Shaking her head she took one small step back and then tossed the saber away from her. She collapsed to her knees and dropped her head into his lap. Tears began to fall down her face. "I hate you so much!" she screamed. "I hate you! I hate you! Why do I feel like this? Why!" Kae'Leigh's hands reached up to grab his legs and grip tightly to the fabric of his pants. "I hate you. I hate myself. Please....just kill me."

 

[Mid Samekh]

Just as he had hoped. She not only couldn't press the button, but she even threw the weapon aside and collapsed on the floor, burying her head in his lap. He was inside her head. She was his.

She cried into his lap, expressing perfectly how much she hated him and begging him to kill her. His hands gently caressed her head and lekku as he softly shushed her. "Kill you?" he asked softly. His hands cupped her cheeks and his thumbs wiped away her tears. "Kae'leigh, why would I kill you if you're supposed to receive your next reward?"

His hands moved down and around her neck, typed the code into the numpad on the back of the collar and it sprung open. He took the collar and hurled it against the door behind her then gently massaged her neck. "Your anger, your emotions, your passions, give you strength. Don't suppress them. Embrace them..." his gentle tone remained constant. He picked her head up to look her in the eye. "...but don't let your emotions control you. Don't let them cloud your judgement." he finished with a final wipe of his thumb over her cheek.

He gave her a smile. Now as I promised, you will be rewarded for your loyalty. I need an assistant to help me with ancient texts that need translating and filing. I also need help with fixing up my ship. I can imagine that sitting here all day is killing you from boredom. Would you like to help me out?" he asked her kindly.

He pulled her lightsaber into his hand and clipped it to his belt. "In time, once you've truly submitted to the darkness, to me, I will train you. I will also give your weapon back...or let you build a new one. That's all up to you." he laid a hand on her shoulder as he spoke to her.

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

Kae'Leigh continued to weep against his pants while he stroked her head comfortingly. He then brought both hands down to cup her cheeks as his thumbs wiped away her tears. She looked up at him with those blurry brown eyes as they continued to fall while making the most pitiful of faces. Her mind was so broken. Kae'Leigh was so full of hatred for herself and everything around her she didn't know how to function. It scared her. So she cried. She just wanted it all to go away.

He would chuckle a little, saying her name again and then ask hypothetically about her reward. She sniffled and swallowed as his hands moved down to her neck and freed her from the collar. It snapped open into his hands to which he'd then take it off her and toss it aside. Kae'Leigh turned her head to see where it landed; her left hand came up to rub at her neck. The sudden change in weight was both strange, yet greatly appreciated. But she'd move her hand out of the way as his own then returned to her neck and started to gently massage her muscles. Closing her eyes she gasped softly from the calming feel of his fingers on her skin.

As he massaged the tissue, he would try and teach her more of his ways, that she should not suppress her emotions as the Jedi taught her. Instead, she should use them to give her strength. They were her power and she needed to embrace that. So long as she didn't let them control you. His thumb then wiped away another set of tears that continued to fall from her puffy eyes. She sniffled while looking into his gold eyes. He seemed so strong and Kae'Leigh envied that right now. She felt like a blubbering mess.

Continuing, Mid would explain what he promised her for her loyalty to him. He needed an assistant, while also someone to fix his ship. While the first part sounded boring and secretarial, being his personal mechanic was right up her alley. Mid figured her boredom was driving her insane, but she figured he was merely trying to work his way into her head by offering her something she enjoyed. She'd fall right into the routine and fall for him even faster. Well...it was working.

Her words hadn't quite come back to her yet, so she just nodded her head. She really wanted to help him, but mostly because she couldn't stand to be kept in this room. Or even worse, go back to the white room. The very thought sent a panic through her head and she gripped his pant leg tighter. He would use the Force to bring her saber back into his grip before then putting it on his belt and explaining to the Twi'lek that one day he would train her. But first, she needed to submit to the darkness. One hundred percent. With no going back. Only then could she have her weapon back

"I don't want it back," she found herself saying. Kae'Leigh sniffled again and reached up to wipe away her tears with the sleeve on her left arm. "And I don't want to go back. Please. Please don't ever send me back down there. I'll do whatever you want. I promise. I swear. I swear my loyalty to you." Dropping her head again into his lap she let out a shuddering breath. The memory of the sounds and screaming continued to play in her head. "Please don't make me go back there. I'll be whatever you want me to be. If that means being a slave, I will. I'll be your slave. Just...please don't send me back."

She sniffled again and sobbed for a few more minutes trying to find the courage to stop herself from crying. She found herself opening her eyes at one point and seeing the wooden hilt on his belt and she reached for it slowly. But as her fingers got closer she found she couldn't make contact with it. Her hand flinched away and Kae'Leigh brought it back to her chest, curling her fingers under her chin. "Do you think...I could have my crystal back?" Even though the red gem had been a curse on her the last month, she couldn't bare the thought of losing it even now. It was attached to her. As it went Dark, so too did she. She couldn't part with it.

 

[Mid Samekh]

She finally broke. He was inside her head, just as he had hoped. She agreed to help him with his personal duties and he was rather relieved he didn't have to force her. She also begged him to not give her weapon back or to take her back to that hellish room. He was glad that he never had to set foot in there. The fact that Kae'leigh held out so long was astonishing to him.

He felt her misery and fear. When she gripped his pants tighter he felt her anxiety spike. He wasn't sure what kind of connection he had developed with her but he would definitely be reading up on it. And if he could feel all her misery, she could probably feel his emotions as well.

She pledged her allegiance to him, begged him, anything to make sure she never had to go back to that room. He didn't say anything at first, he simple consoled her further and stroked her head and back. She was in a pitiful state and that was what he was looking for. She was finally his to form as he wished. She was his...

What she did next took him completely off guard. She tried to take her lightsaber back, but she didn't lay a finger on it. On top of it she asked for her crystal back. He did not see that coming at all and it showed with his raised eyebrows. "Your crystal?" he asked her. He thought it over for a second or two, then gave a smile and a nod. "I don't see why not." he said and unclipped her lightsaber. The weapon opened up and the crystal fell into his palm, then the weapon closed up and dropped onto the bed. He took her hand in his then placed the crystal in her palm before closing her hand. He proceeded to pick her up and placed her down on his lap.

His left hand stroked her back and neck and his right gently rested on her right shin. "And don't worry. You submitted to me. That means you are mine. Not the Confessor's. Not the Church's. Mine. As long as you stay true to your word I promise you won't go back to that...evil room." he spoke gently as he looked into her eyes, his face inches away from hers. "Though I'm sure I don't need to remind you of what happens if you go against your word." he said more coldly. His left hand squeezed the back of her neck and his right pressed down on her leg. It was only for a second and not even that hard, but it was enough to convey his seriousness. After a second his grip relaxed and he resumed to massage her shaking body.

He gave her a warm smile once more. "Now, is there anything else your heart desires? You've come far, Kae'leigh. I think one last reward for the day is in order, don't you think?" he told her softly. His left hand moved down and wrapped around her side to move her a bit closer to him. She would be able to feel his sincerity. There were no sneaky motives or anything of the sort behind the offer. She was now essentially his slave in all but name...no, not his slave. His pet. The least he could do is spoil his little twi'lek every now and then.

And yet, despite viewing her as his own little twi'lek, his pet...there's something else. Deep down, there is something warm and passionate coming from his cold heart...

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

For awhile it was quiet between them, except for her tears and sniffling gasps as she cried. His hand would rub at her head and back in an effort to calm her down and reassure her that everything would be alright. The last few months had been a literal hell so the smallest bit of comfort meant the world to her. It gave Kae'Leigh something to look forward to and cling to all the more aggressively. When he then gave her the crystal back, he would place it in her palm and close her fingers around it. The gem was cold now, colder than it ever had. It almost seemed dead. But she could feel life coming from it all the same. Kae'Leigh clutched it tightly and brought it as close to her chest as she could.

Mid would then return the empty hilt back to his belt and would move to help her sit up into his lap. She had to adjust herself some, for she was still a full sized adult and not like a small child who would normally fit on someone's leg much easier. Still, she crossed her legs at the ankle while leaning her torso into him and allowing his large arm to cradle her into his body; her head snuggled itself into the slight curve of his neck and shoulder while her lekku brushed against the side of his face.

His kind voice would remind her that she belonged to him due to her submission. It was an odd thing to say, but he added in for clarification she only belonged to him and no one else. So long as she held true to her promise to obey him, she would not find herself being tortured by Eriana, the church, or the Sith ever again. While it might have been a stretch for him to make such a promise to her, Kae'Leigh took it to heard all the same. She hummed a little in appreciation and hugged herself tightly against him for a second to show just how much his words meant to her.

But he would continue just for a moment to remind her of the consequences of disobeying him, going so far as to grab the back of her neck making her gasp and look up at him. It lasted only for that brief moment and then he went back to rubbing her back. She would swallow and then offer him a soft, "I promise," to show she understood and would not break her vow. Hearing her submit further would make him smile and then ask if there was anything else she could want. Her name left his lips again making her hum once more. She loved the way her name sounded when it came from him.

Kae'Leigh didn't even need to think about it, she replied quickly with, "I'm really hungry." Even if that meant more rations, or that awful red soup he gave her, she wanted something in her belly. But if she really had her way, he'd allow her to walk to the cafeteria (they were sure to have one) and eat there.

 

[Mid Samekh]

He smiled at her response. She was hungry. Of course she was, she's been fed the bare minimum a person should receive to survive. He pressed his head against hers for a second. "Very well. Let's go find you something to eat." he said gently and helped her to get off his lap and stand up.

He gestured for her to walk with him and the door opened. As he walked he kicked the collar out of her cell and leave it in a corner for the janitor to pick up. He walked slowly enough for her to walk next to him as he led her down the hallways. Finally they reached the cafeteria where a few crew members and guards were sitting with a plate in front of them. If the presence of the guards wasn't enough, perhaps the food was enough of a pointer for Kae'leigh. This wasn't the prisoners' cafeteria. Of course she was still a prisoner, but not by a long shot was she in the same category as the others on board. She was special.

A few of the guards looked somewhat put off by her presence, but a quick glare from the Pureblood was enough to let them know that it might be better to leave. They took their trays and left the room just for the two of them. Mid placed a hand on her back and led her to the table with all kinds of foods one might expect to be fed to high ranking officers and the like. Of course this ship wasn't operating under standard imperial rules. Mid handed her a tray and took one for himself. He knew she was just itching to dig in, thus he figured it was better to stand aside for her to go nuts.

He followed behind her, helping himself to the delicious food as well as keeping an eye on her. Not just because he still had his doubts, but because stuffing one's self after such a long time of little food was dangerous. Last thing she needed now was a burst gut. He took a seat and waited for her to have a seat with him before doing something quite odd. He held his hand out for her to take then proceeded to say a prayer over their food before finally digging in.

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

"Thank you," she would say in a whisper.

Getting to her feet, they would leave the cell hand in hand. He was thoughtful, keeping a slow pace for her. She hadn't realized how weak she felt until she started actually walking about. Her legs were already starting to hurt her. She tried to push past it though. Her thumb would rub against the smooth surface of her crystal and remind herself that she had strength. Pain was strength. They entered into the staff cafeteria which she assumed was significantly smaller than the ones the prisoners ate from. At most it could fit about fifty people in the room. It made her think just how many people were actually running this ship if the mess hall was this small.

Kae'Leigh didn't show any signs of fear at seeing the guards. She honestly barely registered they were there. Her nose could smell the food even before she entered and it began to make her mouth water. She felt like a mutt. How humiliating. Mid handed her a tray and she gave him a thankful smile and then started to help herself to the food prepared for them on the line. She didn't even make it three quarters of the way down before she'd smashed all of her food onto the plate. There'd be no wait she'd eat all that, even if she wasn't starved right then. So much of that would go to waste.

The two would take a seat and before he could reach in, Mid would hold his hand out to her. She eyed it with a funny look and then carefully set hers in his. He started praying to something, and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. She'd never prayed before. She knew her people had their own gods she was supposed to worship, but she had so little experience with Twi'leks it was like a foreign language to her (literally). Kae'Leigh would still close her eyes and sit silently as he did what he felt best and then let her hand go so she could eat. Staring down at the food, she wasn't sure what to touch first. It all looked do good, but now that it was here, she somehow didn't have her appetite anymore.

Deciding to test the waters, she took a deep breath and then would use his new title she felt she should use, "Master Midwan...Sir. What did that prayer mean?"

 

[Mid Samekh]

He looked up from his meal with a mouth full of food. He swallowed quickly before speaking. "Please, just Mid. I might be in charge of you but I'm not a lord or master. Not yet, anyway...as for the prayer, I probably shouldn't use Sith in the company of others." he spoke with a chuckle. It was a habit to pray in Sith. Even when speaking he would sometimes forget a word and either involuntarily switch back to Sith or stand and stumble over his words like an idiot. The downside to being multilingual.

"It's just a simple prayer, meant to thank the Force for the meal. While I don't serve the old gods anymore, the habits of being a priest for so long are still ever present. That's why I'm serving as Arch Priest under the Confessor." he spoke casually, giving her some insight into his actual job. "See, I view things differently than other Sith. Other Sith see the Force as a means for personal gain. As a priest personal gain or power means little to me. All that matters to me is bringing glory to the Force. Whether that means showing the way to misguided individuals or put stubborn heretics or blasphemers to the sword, all that matters to me is pleasing the Force." he continued, figuring some small talk and insight was necessary. She was now his after all. Better she knew now who he is than try and figure it out later.

He looked at her massive tray filled with food. Now he was indeed a food lover...but even he couldn't finish all that. "Umm...are you sure you'll be able to finish all that?" he said with a chuckle as he looked her in the eyes. The whole atmosphere was different. Anyone could feel it. She was no longer being treated as a slave or prisoner. It was as if they were having dinner at a restaurant. Almost normal...

@EmilyHuene

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

It was a surprise that he didn't want to be called master, or lord, or sir. She figured Sith loved that whole controlling thing. Even the Jedi used titles like that. Theirs were always out of respect. She felt weird when her Padawan called her master, but she moved past it. In private, he could call her whatever he wished. Around the presence of others, especially others in the Alliance, they kept up formalities as this showed the level of control and companionship they had for one another. To hear that Mid didn't want this? It was odd.

Mid apologized for speaking in Sith, a language she honestly didn't know was a thing. She had a strange feeling she'd be learning it at some point though now. Just one more boring repetitious task to do. Then again, being stuck in a cell for hours on end would be the perfect time to learn. Maybe she could ask Mid for a lesson guide to help teach her. Maybe he'd even toss in Ryl too for she was still learning her own people's language. She reminded herself that on Ryloth she hadn't know what the other Sith had said to her.

Continuing with his explanation, Mid would translate that his prayer was a simple thanks to the Force itself. It seemed weird praying to something supernatural like that. Sure the Force talked to them and guided them, but it wasn't like some conscious deity that heard their prayers. Then again, what did she really know? How could anyone truly know? Still, it was a concept she hadn't ever expected to hear. From her knowledge, the Sith had always been abusing the Force, using the Dark to kill as they pleased. She'd always known them to be evil and cruel. The fact that they were praying for/to things and actually being thankful? What was happening? How many lies had she been told?

Kae'Leigh looked down at her food, questioning everything she'd ever known. It all seemed like one big lie. How could she know the truth? She didn't know who to ask. Or what to say. Mid would pull her out of those thoughts as he asked her if she'd be able to finish all her food. She looked up at him quizzically and then chuckled. "No. Probably not. But I should get started I guess, 'for it gets cold."

Taking her fork in her hand, she started to scoop up the various contents and devour them. She tried not to eat too fast, as she'd learned that lesson. Part of her was worried though that he'd take it all from her as some cruel joke. Kae'Leigh had to fight through those thoughts because they wanted her to scarf them down faster, like an animal not knowing how long they'd be able to eat and if someone was creeping up behind her. That feeling made her stop and look over her shoulder. No one was with them. She felt a little silly thinking that.

Before taking another bite, she would set the end of her fork against the plate and speak again, "If you don't want me to call you master then I wont. But others will look at me strange if they think we're all chummy. Something to consider. But I refuse to shorten your name. It's your name. No one can take that from you. Just like I hope you never call me 'Kay'. My name is Kae'Leigh. As you, are Midwan. I hope you find that acceptable." It felt weird arguing with him, especially since she knew what he was capable of. But this was a matter she felt very strongly about. More so now after being referred to as a number for so long.

 

[Mid Samekh]

Kae'leigh seemed conflicted as to how she should eat. One second she's eating normally, the next she's scarfing down the heap of food. Mid watched her, making sure she kept a slow pace. When she looked behind her his eyes followed. Seeing there was no one there he figured out what her fear was. "It's only us. Don't worry. No one's going to hurt you as long as you're with me." he reassured her.

After a minute or so she spoke up. Mid raised an eyebrow at her, rather surprised by her comment. "Alright then. If you feel so strongly about it, you can waste your breath on saying my full name." he said with a chuckle. "As for titles...well." he leaned in closely, as if to tell a secret. "What say you if a superior comes knocking we simply put up an act. How's that?" he muttered with a mischievous smile.

In the moment everything disappeared. She wasn't his pet twi'lek and he wasn't her master. They were just two normal people having a casual chat over a meal, almost...like a date? The thought made Mid stiffen up slightly for a second. He couldn't have feelings for her. She's a heretic. Sure she's turning now but still...he's playing a dangerous game.

Mid shrugged it off, though. He was just overreacting. She's not his equal or his friend. She's his toy, his pet. His project. And yet...there was some strange temptation...

@EmilyHuene