Open to 1 The Circle of Life

[Vanya]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled. Preferably open to a Jedi​

Vanya felt bad for Ithor. The planet had been the site of many Sith attacks down through history. It was probably a testament to how much of a beacon of peace and life it was that they felt an impulsive and neurotic need to destroy it. But it always managed to come back. Its trees grew back stronger and its people pushed on. It was actually somewhat encouraging when she started to think about it. There was something empowering about the idea that the good pressed on even after being waylaid by the evil.

Vanya reached up to rub her face as the shuttle she was riding on set down near the hospital. Apparently, her prisoner was dead. Now that alone wasn't going to cause her much distress: she probably would have recommended executing him anyway, but what was concerning about it was the nature of the death.

The man had been found a shriveled husk of himself and days after the initial battle. They'd had no chance to interrogate him or gain anything useful, which put Vanya back to square one. A square she wasn't hopeful she would get past.

She probably should have had the whole hospital locked down, but the truth was, she was sure whoever had done this was long gone. And that brought out another concern: someone powerful had done this. The list of people who could even pull off such an infiltration and maneuver were probably short. Granted, maybe the list was broadened by the fact that the target had been weakened and broken during the fighting, but still... he'd been no weakling.

Vanya arrived to the scene with several others already looking around. Some Jedi, security officers, and a couple of curious hospital workers although most of the latter seemed to have gone back to their business. She wasn't hopeful that anyone was going to be able to tell her what had happened.

 

[T'vani]

___Although the schism between the Traditionalist and Crusader sub-factions of Jedi existed, it didn't always stop one from helping out the other. For T'vani, it was a simple matter. Although she disagreed with how the Crusaders operated, they were all Jedi when everything was said and done. When the news of Ithor and what transpired reached the temple, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she desired to help them. What happened to Ithor was a tragedy, and her grievances with the Crusaders came second to helping her fellow Jedi and those in need.

___Consequently, T'vani boarded the first shuttle being dispatched to assist in the efforts on Ithor. The transit was long and uneventful, but her sleep was restless despite the calm and quiet. How long had it been since the last time she experienced a reprieve from the paranoia and nightmares? T'vani dared not count, and she wasn't sure she could even if she tried. The bled crystal thrumming inside the lightsaber she had scavenged was constantly in her ears, the dark side of the Force perpetually wearing down her faculties.

___When Vanya arrived, T'vani's fluffy white ears twitched and stood to a wilted, droopy point. A paltry smile creased her lips as she pulled her cloak around her body, turning to face the Jedi Warden as she approached. The hilt of her training sabre was visible, while the former Sith's lightsabre hid underneath.

___"Master Van—" No, that wasn't right. "Warden Vanya, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," T'vani corrected herself. In the back of her mind, a thought fluttered. Had she seen Vanya before? Maybe onboard the Starlight, some time ago when she was still an Initiate. "I'm Padawan T'vani, here to assist you."

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

The turbolift doors slid open and Vanya walked out to nearly walk right into the Padawan on the other side. The only reason Vanya knew she was a Padawan was the lightsaber hanging from her belt. She shouldn't have been surprised - it was a Jedi-aligned world, after all - but there was still a moment of dear-in-headlights look from Vanya as she nearly bumped into the girl.

Oh, uh... hello. Nice to meet you, T'vani, she said. It appeared T'vani already knew who Vanya was, so it was probably redundant to introduce herself.

Well, I'm trying to figure out who killed our prisoner, she said. It was a bit direct of a response, and honestly, she wasn't sure it was suited for a Padawan, but Vanya had seen worse at her age. She'd turned out fine.

We caught him alive and someone came through and... sucked him dry, she said. She had no idea what else to call it. His body had reportedly withered in such a way that nothing other than a Force-wielder could have done it.

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___T'vani smiled as Vanya addressed her, her hands folding together before resting on her legs. Her ears flitted as she listened intently to the woman's words. The Padawan's brow wrinkled as Vanya informed her of the specifics, her gaze lowering simultaneously.

___"I'd heard some of the specifics," she answered. "I know the Sith launched an attack, and I heard one fell and the other was captured. I don't recall being told he was killed afterward," T'vani continued, her eyes lifting to meet Vanya's gaze. "He was sucked dry? As in, the Force was drained from his body?" she inquired, her head canting to the side. Her lips pursed thoughtfully as her hand lifted to rub at her chin, and her ears folded back. She stared at Vanya.

___"It sounds like another Sith, but I feel it's... odd that a dark side user could move so freely around a place like this," T'vani murmured. "Yet, I don't know who else could do such a thing. Do we have any idea who the possible culprit may be?" she asked, her arm lowering to cross over her chest. "Was there potentially a third Sith in the invasion force that snuck out unseen, maybe?"

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya shrugged, probably out of place for a Jedi to be so nonchalant about killing. Yes, all life was sacred, but there were those who had chosen their paths in life. Vanya knew she'd receive no mercy from a Sith. Did that mean she shouldn't be merciful? No, and she reminded herself that she wasn't a Sith or even one of her Shadow-wielding Sisters.

Yeah, I haven't seen his body yet. That's what I'm coming here to do. They say he looks... shriveled, she said. If that was true, then it would beg all kinds of questions.

I don't know if it was to tie off loose ends or who did it. The Sith was not a weakling either, she commented. Although he had been severely wounded, so I guess he was significantly weakened, she said.

That's why we always have to be on guard. It's obvious when the Sith burn a world or knock a city out of the sky... she said, referring to things that Raze and Renfry had done during their reign and after. It wasn't easy to deal with but at least it was blatant. ...but the origin of the Shadow is just that: the shadows. Deception, infiltration, and murder are their way, she said.

It's certainly possible, she said, honestly not knowing. She hadn't seen one, but she had been a bit preoccupied and there had been a lot of soldiers.

Clearly someone made their way back around. Some assassin most likely, he said, heading down the hall and past those who were gathered.

I'm Detective Arzen, an Ithorian said as Vanya rounded the corner, extending a hand to both Jedi. The vocabulator he spoke through was slow, and Vanya realized it was probably pretty rude that she sat there kind of wishing it would talk... a little faster.

Nice to meet you, Detective. Jedi Vanya, she said, letting T'vani introduce herself as well.

As you can see, I've never seen anything like this before, he said, motioning back toward the body. The Sith she had fought was something like feet tall... he now looked shorter, his body shriveled up, and his skin a gray, pale rather than vibrant red. It was... like those who had been embalmed and entombed on Dathomir after death. Shriveled and zombified...

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___Shriveled? As ineloquent as the term might have been, T'vani couldn't imagine any others that might have sufficed. She listened to Vanya's words as she spoke, her eyebrows furrowing as her ears waggled. There was no shortage of possibilities to ponder, and the two of them had their work cut out for them if they wanted to come to a meaningful conclusion. T'vani inhaled deeply and sighed.

___"I'll stay diligent," T'vani reassured the woman. "Clearly, this place isn't entirely safe yet." Was any place truly entirely safe, though? The Sith had a penchant for sneaking into places unseen, and it was more than feasible that one could be anywhere at any time. Even Jedi worlds themselves weren't always the safe havens she believed they were, with the potential exception of the hidden temples scattered throughout the galaxy. Her silent contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the introduction of Detective Arzen, and as he did, T'vani nodded her greeting and exchanged the same pleasantries with him as Vanya.

___"T'vani," she stated curtly, opting for brevity instead of her typically flowery embellishments. As they were shown the body, T'vani raised her hand to rub at her chin. Her eyes squinted. "Was there any kind of autopsy?" she asked. An indecent question, maybe, but it would provide additional information. "There weren't any new injuries after the fight? No kind of internal damage?" They were likely redundant questions, but they needed all the information they could obtain.

@Phoenix