Tilting The Balance

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was practically ecstatic. She had captured what she presumed to be a Jedi, and it had gotten her a hall pass to appear before the Emperor himself. This was the man that truly proved his might by not only accepting a challenge from the Republica Empress, but he prevailed despite her using cheap tactics. Tasha wore traditional Sith garbs, forgoing her usual attire that revealed a bit too much cleavage. She always had a sultry air about her, but she knew when to shift gears into being more diplomatic.

She had the young girl with her, and curiously she didn’t bind her in any way. Tasha let the girl walk ahead of her, always on the lookout for any sudden movements. She was newly trained and hadn’t gotten her Force control down just yet. Tasha had taken her saber and blaster, leaving her weaponless. She saw no need to do anything extra to cause her harm for now, and she could feel the anxiety bubbling in her. The girl had woken up not too long ago and now found herself facing the large double doors leading into the temple.

Tasha paused as the doors opened, revealing two guards at the front. She smiled sweetly at them, “I’m here to meet with Emperor Vrael,” She lightly nudged the girl forward, “I have a gift for him,” The guards looked them over, taking their weapons before they were permitted to keep moving. Tasha walked in silence for a moment with the girl, her haunting yellow eyes glowing seemingly of their own accord.

“What is your name?” She asked softly. In truth, she didn’t expect a real answer, or simply something defiant judging from her behavior on Nar Shaddaa. Tasha was not one to be roused easily, and that was apparent in the way she carried herself. There was a strange sort of elegance in her movements considering how the Jedi or people of the galaxy saw Sith.

@GABA @Narsi

 

[Arda Breaux]

It was probably the worst sleep she had ever had and this walk, was probably the worst walk she ever had, but this world she was on was curious to the girl. There certainly was a chill, but unlike the cold of winter, this was heavy as though someone soaked a silk sheet in oil and draped her in its fabric. The red sands and the arching stone architecture told her exactly where she was and possibly where no jedi should ever be: Korriban. The Light felt distant as she breathed through every step she took, the muscles naturally pulled along her wounds which caused an unnecessary amount of pain and discomfort, slowing her pace, which felt odd with the Sith Woman behind her, she wasn't entirely sure how fast to walk, and even more odd was she was not cuffed.

Even when Imperials didn't think she was Force sensitive the times she was arrested lead her to being cuffed to a table or lead at blaster point for their safety, but then again, she was where? Where would so go? She was lightyears away from the nearest Rebel, she was alone and after Aurora's display, her faith was quickly shattering. Arda pursed her lips in thought and instinctively she felt herself blaster, it was gone, she shouldn't have been surprised, but she felt naked without her weapon. She had a lightsaber, but as it was given to her by Aurora, she could care less who had it now. She had never gotten a chance to make her own saber and soon her thoughts begun to spiral as ruminated on the reasons why this had happened to her.

They stopped in front of the double doors, Arda glanced at each guard, feeling her stomach tighten until Tasha mentioned who they were visiting and Arda's tightened stomach felt as though someone just punched it. Her heart raced for a few quick beats as the girl regained her breath while they continued inside, the Sith Woman's voice sounded almost miles away as Arda struggled to focus, but quirked an eyebrow in response, glancing at the blue woman,"I don't know, what did my ID say this time?" she hummed.

Her attention turned back to the insides of the Sith Temple, some of the patterns, symbols and colors around the area were some she had seen with the Imperials back on Corellia, but here, it felt old...ancient, she wondered if other Jedi had ever set foot here.

@Narsi @Sreeya

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael looked up from the datapad he was perusing with a heavy frown, glaring around his throne room. Something was amiss all of a sudden, a strange taint spoiling the sweet Korriban air. It was getting closer too, the sensation of blatant wrongness getting stronger with each moment. As if cued, a guard entered to tell him that an acolyte had come, bringing someone else apparently. Granting permission with a wave of his hand, Vrael stood and stepped forward, raising an eyebrow as the guard offered him a lightsaber after relaying the ok. It wasn't often HE was given the visitors weapons to safeguard, almost never actually. Yet the guard insisted, a strange look on his face, and after a moment Vrael relented. He knew something was wrong the moment he touched the hilt, the metal grip feeling decidedly off in his hand. Vrael thumbed the ignition and flinched in disgust as a blue blade leapt into being. He deactivated it a moment later, already realizing what it meant. A kyber crystal that hadn't been bled, a Jedi's weapon. Vrael literally snarled and swung his gaze back to the doors, glare stronger than ever now as they opened.

Two women came walking in escorted by his guards. One of them was a Sith, a Pantoran by the name of Blackwell if he was remembering correctly. The other was a human female, and the sole receiver of Vrael's focus from the moment she passed the threshold. He didn't even bother with a greeting for the Sith, so swept up in looking at the other arrival. Yes, she was the current source of irritation without a doubt, an utter aberration in her current environment. Vrael reached out to the force on instinct just looking at her, drawing on its comforting darkness. The other Sith in the room no doubt sensed it too, his guards visibly fidgeting as they tried to sneak glances at the human. Vrael didn't blame them, what stood in front of him should've been an impossibility.

Or so he'd thought. In truth, what Vrael was sensing seemed a bit anticlimactic. Of course he'd always known that the Jedi would have been weak, an obvious fact. Still, he'd expected a bit more, such as bindings of some kind maybe. He frowned and finally switched his gaze to the blue acolyte, raising a eyebrow inquisitively. "Acolyte Blackwell, just who and what is this with you. And assuming she is what I think she is...why is she relatively free to move?"

@Sreeya

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

The Emperor cut an imposing figure, and she expected as much. He exuded strength in both the way he carried himself and the Force that pooled around him. She saw him visibly cringe at the presence of a Jedi. It was fascinating how the girl very well had a stench to her that permeated through the plane of the Force. Tasha found it inexplicably interesting, and the girl was more an enigma to her than anything. She could tell Vrael was immediately displeased not to see her in shackles.

“This, my lord, is a Jedi,” He knew that, but it felt all the more surreal to say the words aloud. Tasha found herself in disbelief as she said them, as if uttering them finally made it true. Tasha paused for a moment, glancing over at her, “She is unbound because we are not savages and she is not cattle,” She knew the Emperor could be irked by her words, but her yellow gaze was on the girl, “She was betrayed by her own,” Tasha turned to look back at Vrael, “She is not the only one. There was another - a powerful one that was more trained in the ways of the Force...in the ways of their means of using the Force,” It was a way she couldn’t understand, nor ever hope to master.

“The other Jedi fled the scene and left this one for dead,” Tasha crossed her arms over her chest, smiling at the Emperor, “But she is my gift to you, so you may do whatever you wish from here on out. As she isn’t the only one, I can only assume she may possess some knowledge that can prove to be rather beneficial,” She looked at the girl again. It was difficult to tell how far Vrael would have to go to break her, and Tasha privately hoped to be able to have a front row seat to witness it all.

@GABA @Narsi

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda had paused for a moment in her step as they entered through the doors into the throne room and there he was, his yellow eyes burned deeply as he watched her and Blackwell approach. He certainly looked older than she had recalled seeing on the holo, but it still didn't stop the fact that his presence demanded her attention, the dark side was growing louder in her deaf ear, its whispers stronger than anything she had ever felt in her life. Arda's eyes swept around the throne room quickly before falling on the Emperor and the lightsaber he held. The silver hilt was the one she had on Nar Shaddaa, though Aurora had given her the weapon, she could feel it in the Force, she could easily reach for it, pull it to her and -

Her thoughts were distracted when the blue woman spoke the word Jedi and Arda glanced at the women who now looked at her with her own yellow gaze, her eyes narrowed in silent defiance as she slowly looked back to the Emperor. She felt entirely too close and wished to take a step back, but in her own surprise, she was still with fear, but she couldn't understand what she feared exactly, it felt like many things at once. The uncertainty of what was to come made it the worse though as she stood in front of the Emperor, there definitely was not any training of this so far.

Arda glanced at Tasha again when she informed she was a gift for him. "So much for not being cattle..." she mumbled.

She breathed in slowly as heard Tasha suggest to the knowledge she might hold and the girl's fingers slowly curled into fists as she prepared herself, the Force was there, she could feel it as she could just barely touch it through the imbalance of the dark side.

@Narsi @Sreeya

 

[Darth Vrael]

He almost cringed again at the confirmation of his deepest fears, though it was only a mere formality at this point. The lightsaber held tightly in his hand had been proof enough. He didn't appreciate the acolytes somewhat flippant response either, this was a Jedi, deserving of the thickest chains he could by. She had a point though, and Vrael bit back the numerous sharp replies that welled in his throat. Yes, that was right, there was an opportunity here wasn't there. If this was only an apprentice then it was hardly a great catch, merely a potential gateway to a greater haul. For the moment at least, he needed to keep all options open.

Vrael stepped forward a bit more so, taking a closer look at the human female as he evaluated possibilities. "Well, I do appreciate the sentiment Blackwell, truly a monumental present. I'll ensure this goes on your record, perhaps counting towards a promotion." He offered the blue female a brief nod, not taking his eyes from the Jedi. "Though next time I would caution some restraint in your efforts. Potential or not, a simple set of shock cuffs would not have been amiss or overly cruel." He wasn't feeling optimistic about getting the girl to talk so far, not quickly at least. Her fists were clenched, an air of defiance hovered about her despite the scent of fear.

In addition, Vrael had never been good at inspiring treachery, much less from a Jedi. The dark was all he'd ever known, he couldn't imagine anything else or the girls state of mind even. It was worth a shot however, and well worth the effort if he succeeded. He looked to the girl finally, half expecting a violent assault on his person as he spoke. His voice lost its strictness, becoming almost grandfatherly and he even forced a smile. He hadn't missed her remark about cattle either, something to capitalize on maybe. "Abandoned by your master hmm? I'm sorry that had to happen to you, its not something I condone here in the Sith. And no, you aren't cattle to us, as the Acolyte has already iterated. It would help if we knew your name though."

@Sreeya

 

[Arda Breaux]

The padawan breathed in slowly and gently shifted her weight to her other leg as her thigh begun to the throb under her weight from the blaster wound. Her eyes slowly moved between the two Sith as they conversed, she could feel her nails dig into her palm and the realization forced her to relax, her fingers relaxed, unclenching her fists while the Emperor turned is attention to her. Arda was not enjoying the admiration as though she were some ancient artifact; undoubtedly for some would find it flattering, but Arda was cautious of the Sith, as far back as she could remember, she was taught not to trust them, nor have they given her a reason to trust. She saw them as they were: devourers, taking anything and everything they wanted and Arda knew if she had something they wanted, they were going to do whatever it took. The girl was ready, however, the voice tone of the Emperor changed, softening as he addressed her once more.

Her eyes narrowed, but her features relaxed as he asked for her name, but she felt too close for any comfort and thought perhaps several hundred thousand lightyears would suffice. However, the padawan spoke, "Arda, my name is Arda Breaux." she gave her real name deciding she would save the energy for further defiance when the opportunity came, "And no, no one, Sith or not, would ever condone what she did." her tone a bit firmer in speaking of the Jedi Master. She looked the Emperor in the eye but quickly glanced away as the images of her Master turning her back was still fresh in her memory. She hated this feeling that stirred inside, she wanted answers on what to do or say, if she should remain quiet or if she should tell him where he can stick all his of Empire.

The girl's eyes fell on her own toes as she breathed in, reaching for the Force through the whispers of the darkness that surrounded her, if anything has kept her safe for this long, it had been the Force, and she prayed it would not betray her as her Master did to her.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael was pleasantly surprised when she gave up her name so willingly, so easily. It was a benign question for sure and ultimately harmless. But the quick answer spoke bounds about the situation and the girl. For starters, it meant she was actually willing to speak to him, and it also revealed her unhappiness with what had happened. He couldn't miss the look in her eyes, the one that spoke of pain and betrayal over the memories she was no doubt experiencing. Yes, he could work with this, or try to at least. Really, now that he was getting used to the whole Jedi tidbit and looking beyond it, he could see what he was really dealing with. A conflicted young woman, one that he could hopefully get talking with a bit more pushing.

Vrael backed away a bit to give her some mental breathing room, to make her feel more comfortable. He kept his smile, though it became somewhat more businesslike, and he maintained his gentler tone. "Well, its...honestly not a pleasure to meet you Arda Breaux." He shrugged as he spoke, the unfamiliar motion feeling quite awkward to him. "Speaking truthfully, I was never fond of lying, you are a Jedi and I am a Sith. Discovering your existence is quite a displeasure really." Vrael made a show of looking her over then, even putting on an incredulous air. "But, we aren't animals here and I'm more than capable of looking past the superficial. You aren't exactly what I'd call a hardened war criminal deserving of intense malice."

"I emphasize with you for instance, " he admitted, already planning on how he was going to save his image when the girl left his presence. The guards for instance would need a stern talking to, and probably a few notable threats to show he still had a gift for invoking fear. "A friend once abandoned me to die on the battlefield, someone I'd trusted and known for quite some time. Oh, he had his reasons, and it wasn't my master, but it still hurt to be betrayed like that, discarded like you didn't matter. I can very well imagine how you feel right now and its not something someone should have to experience." He frowned, pretending to be contemplating some bad memories.

Vrael tensed inside as he pretended to regain his focus, looking over the girl for a reaction. Had that been too much too soon? He was too eager to establish a rapport, and too inexperienced at this kind of thing. "Tell me Ms. Breaux, how was it that someone like you became a rebel?"
@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda scowled at him when he mentioned it had been displeasure in learning the Jedi were existent, to be fair, most Imperials had the same reaction around her regardless if they knew her Force sensitivity. He had clearly not visited Corellia lately, or knew about the Republica's vendetta there with her history; she remembered clearly the fate that awaited her if Castor would have turned her over to his superiors. They thought she was certainly a war criminal, however, Arda was fine with whatever and whoever wanted to believe about herself. She was now a known Jedi to the Emperor, there was some solace in that thought regardless of what has transpired in the past twenty-four hours.

The padawan continued to listen to the Emperor as he tried to relate to her situation by sharing his own story and her brow furrowed in what he was trying to get at until he shifted topics, asking her how she became a rebel. She wondered why he cared, the last she was asked that by an Imperial was because of motive, but this didn't feel the same as she reached out with her senses to find some malign intention curious to know if he wanted the truth or to give him the answer he was looking for. Arda's jaw relaxed as she opened her mouth to give a response, but paused, a small coy grin broke before quickly disappearing.

"The Empire made me a rebel." she stated, "It destroyed my home, killed my family, sent me to live in the slums where I was forced to forgo all my beliefs and values in order to survive." It would be clear to the Emperor this topic was just as loaded as her recent betrayal, "I was tired of it and spread the message of dissent because who you are and what you stand for as Sith, I don't need to be a Jedi to know it is the root of what is wrong with the galaxy currently. I am a rebel because you made it so." Arda spoke firmly, her fists clenched, waiting for the Emperor's reaction.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Oh good, she was still talking, even sharing bits of her life story. It was another hard topic evidently, but that was more than ok. It was another opening for him to exploit, particularly as he spotted a few flaws in her arguments. One of which was the idea that he had something to do with her situation, as if he was universally responsible for the entire galaxy. Vrael feigned a sad sigh, as if he were sorry to hear her story. "That sounds hard," he said, sympathy dripping from his voice. "Certainly not an easy life to live and experience to grow up with." Inwardly he was feeling anything but sympathetic. So what if she'd had a hard life, many people did, and it wasn't limited to the Sith reign. Real people used hardship to get stronger, not justify utter foolishness like a child throwing a tantrum.

"However," he followed up, his smile disappearing in favor of a look of stern disapproval. "If that's really your motivation, then are you really going about it the right way? Think about it and look at me, look at who I am and the position I hold. Who here has the power to bring about true change in the galaxy? I am an Emperor, with a word I could open an investigation into your families end and have the perpetrators brought to justice." Vrael gestured towards the blue woman standing quietly off to the side with his a gauntleted hand. "Even a mere acolyte has considerable influence and could do just as I've described. My dear, if you really wanted to make a change then you joined the wrong side."

He let that sink in before continuing, with the real kicker of the situation here. "And are you so sure the rebellion has the right of it? Remember Kuat? Remember the countless civilians murdered by the Mandalorian terrorists, the same terrorists your rebel leaders would ally with?" Vrael shook his head sadly, almost genuinely this time as he finished up. "How many lives have you and your kind destroyed in your efforts to spread dissent?"
@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda looked at him, but she couldn’t argue if what she was doing was the right way. His smile was gone, the conversation now dug at the values she had adopted, the ideas she believed were going to further hope but even the padawan was giving into doubt. He reminded her who was in power and even offered to open an investigation, but Arda shook her head, her eyes fell away from the Emperor and suddenly she felt more vulnerable than she ever had been.

“It won’t bring them back,” she said softly, it was a hard reality to accept, “It won’t bring anything back or fix anything.” Arda shook her head and folded her arms, holding herself tightly until she felt her blaster wound protest in her back. The pain spread rapidly but Arda welcomed it, finding it the one thing she could feel.

The Emperor continued, informing that she was possibly joined the wrong side. Her eyes stung with tears, she seemed to always be on the wrong side of things. The wrong side of the galaxy, the wrong side of Corellia and now with her Masters betrayal, the wrong side of just everything. Tears escaped her eyes, but couldn’t look back at the Emperor. He spoke about the attacks by the Mandalorians next and her heart sunk remembering Corellia. She knew what was going to come for the people there, already under horrendous conditions it would get worse and it would be the fault of the Jedi, the Mandos and the Empire.

She wondered if anyone really understood, to understand what it meant for the average civilian to try to survive day by day while the galaxy fought for power. “I am not meant for this.” Arda spoke, her voice quivered as she tried to hang on to any piece of control she still had.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

That last bit had obviously hit her deeply, right down to the core. She was now struggling with herself, searching for an answer and finding nothing. She didn't even bother to refute his statements, instead opening herself up to the ugly truth. Vrael remained silent for the moment, allowing the conflict to run its course. This had just become a very delicate situation, and he needed to prod the girl just right for the desired response. Too much and she'd go into a rage, too little and she'd want to spend the next few days crying in some dark corner. He just had to step into the void, provide the direction and validation she needed.

He took the chance to summon one of the guards, carefully directing him to fetch food and drink with a whisper. When he had judged enough time had passed, Vrael cleared his throat to speak again. The firm tone and frown was gone again, the gentle grandfatherly voice flowing out once more. "Perhaps you aren't, " he admitted, shaking his head in seeming reluctant agreement. "But that's not your fault, just as it not your fault your in this situation." He finally stepped a bit closer, careful to move slowly and avoid any acts of aggression. "And I don't blame you."

"Its also not too late," he said, smiling encouragingly. Or at least, what he thought an encouraging look should look like. The last time he'd gotten one of those had been....a long time ago. "At the moment, your crimes are forgivable, easily so. You can still choose again, you can still help all those like yourself and make a difference the right way. Think about your master who abandoned you, who even now might be recruiting someone else to take advantage of. YOU can stop that from happening."

Right on time the guard arrived, carrying a small tray in his arms. Vrael motioned for him to offer it to the girl and stepped back. "Here, you must be hungry after your journey. Try it, its pastry delicacy called Raxus Delight, very popular I'm told."
@GABA

​

 

[Arda Breaux]

He may have not blamed her, but Arda certainly blamed herself. He stepped toward her, and the padawan tensed, she wanted to be miles away from him and anyone else, just to be alone and forget that this has ever happened to her. The period of silence allowed the girl to ruminate on the situation, never minding the guard who approached and left. The padawan wiped her tears away with the back of her sleeve, she didn't understand why he was wasting his time with her, she didn't feel like a Jedi he should have been meeting, she probably would be the worse Jedi to come face to face with in the last five hundred years. He told her it wasn't too late and the girl's eyes narrowed, trying to guess what he was implying before he continued.

Arda certainly thought about her former Master, it was hard not to, and he was most likely correct, she would recruit others, she would most likely go back to the council and report about the tragedy at Nar Shaddaa. She was a Jedi Master, why wouldn't they believe her story regardless of the details she would share. They most likely would report her dead, it would be too risky to revisit where the Sith were rampant, they were probably be waiting for a search party and she was a padawan, she was nothing as her former Master demonstrated. No time would be wasted to recover a body, no time would be wasted for someone the Jedi would not even turn around to help.

The guard returned with a tray and she looked at it curiously, hesitant to take a piece of the pastry that he called Raxus Delight; she was not as hungry as she believed herself to be, but took a piece, looking at it carefully and then took a small bite, finding it oddly satisfying and comforting in all the pain she was feeling. She didn't even finish chewing before she quickly popped the rest of it into her mouth. "I am no one, I cannot help." she stated quietly.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

She took the offered pastry after a moments hesitation, quickly finishing it as Vrael looked on. Huh, apparently it WAS good judging by her reaction. Vrael himself had never eaten one, mostly because he despised sweets and candies with a passion. When she didn't take another, the guard pulled back to offer one to Vrael. The tray was quickly waved away, Vrael only barely managing to prevent a hateful glare from showing and keep his composure. He was close, so very close now, he wasn't going to let some overconsiderate guard screw it all up.

Her words gave a clear opening to exploit, it was simple. He knew exactly what she needed to hear, what he needed to say. "Nonsense, " he stated whilst shaking his head, very firmly and clearly. A clear contradiction to Arda's last statement for everyone's ears. "You are Arda Breaux, not a nameless animal, just like you told me a few minutes ago. And you are capable of more than you know, because I believe in you." Vrael would then subtly pull out his datapad, readying himself for the coming moment so as to not miss a word. If she chose to answer that is, but he was feeling confident about it now. She was almost literally eating out of his hand.

"Together we can put the galaxy to peace, and you can save all those imperiled by this war. You can stop your master from hurting any other children, you can bring her to justice for her betrayal even. All you need to do is tell where they are, on what planets they are hiding. Show her and the galaxy that you ARE someone, a real hero who can stop all this madness before anyone gets hurt." Though unnoticeable, Vrael was literally holding his breath as he finished his plea. He had just rolled the dice, either she would talk and these disgusting past few minutes would see fruit. Or she wouldn't and it would be time to go the hard way, the way that involved pain and suffering.
@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

A part of Arda wanted to see Aurora pay for her betrayal, easily on the streets it would have been an instant mark, and justice would be brought to them swiftly. They would be remembered for what they did, an example to others who dared to think of betraying others in their gang. However, Arda never thought these rules applied to the realm of the Sith, it sounded odd to hear him talk of justice, however, what was the Jedi Master telling the others? Would they believe, her Arda, was so incompetent that she fell in battle? The padawan felt disdain in her heart, but she didn't want to see what happened to her, happen to others, Aurora was a criminal as far as Arda understood.

"Al'doleem." the girl spoke softly, "She took me to Al'doleem to train, it's gorgeous there," the corner of her lip flinched, a smile trying to make its way through, albeit unsuccessful, "She probably trained others there too."

Arda felt numb, her eyes looked beyond the walls of the throne room as she felt her thoughts still as she pushed everything out. The girl remained silent for a moment and then blinked, "What is to become of me?" she asked him; she had not heard herself ask that question in years, not since she had to start fending for herself in the slums of Coronet City. It was familiar and Arda welcomed the familiarity as she turned to back to what she knew. "Are you going to send me to a labour camp?" she asked her brow furrowed, recalling the threats from Imperials she used to receive and felt herself wringing her wrist from a long-ago habit. However, the bracelet that used to be there was gone, Castor had it now and her heart broke. She wondered if he would have left her also, but the girl forcefully pushed the thought away waiting for the Emperor's reply.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael had the name entered and sent down the line before she'd even finished speaking. He wanted all the data they had on the world on his desk before he was done here. As it was, the name only rung a small distant bell in the depths of his mind, his memory simply failing in regards to any specifics. He could only faintly recall some glimmer that the planet was considered a beautiful word. Well it didn't matter, that was why archives and databases existed after all. For now he was free to revel in his success, in the possibilities that now awaited him.

He didn't allow such thoughts to distract him however. As nice as they were, visions of burning Jedi were but visions. It was his job to make it a reality, and not just on one world. Thus he didn't drop his grandfatherly façade for an instant, rushing to divert the girl's fears after she spoke. "Labor camp? No, there's no need for that." He assured, an actual smile gracing his face this time. "As I said, your still young, and your crimes aren't that serious. At the worst you'll have a locked room within the temple, for the moment at least. Your talents would be wasted on mere labor anyways."

Vrael would pause for an instant, studying the girl with narrowed eyes. She was likely holding back still, she had to be. Even if she had been mostly trained on one planet, the rebellion itself could not persist on only one world. He would have to press her just a bit more, for as much as he could in this session. There was no guarantee there would be another, or that she would feel the same. "However Arda, this isn't quite enough yet for me to grant a pardon. Its a good start, it really is, but I need just a bit more." Please." Vrael nodded encouragingly as he spoke, his fictitious personality flowing smoothly now. "Think carefully for any place or thing you can tell me, it'll help me convince my subjects of your innocence and avoid any possibilities of being sent to one of those camps."
@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

She was confused why she didn't feel any relief in knowing she wouldn't be sent to a labour camp, the thought of being locked in one of the temple rooms here seemed just as damning. All she wanted was not to be here, to wake up in her bed back on her homeworld having dreamt this entire life she had been living. Though, the padawan knew it wasn't the case, her home was gone, she was never really going home ever, it was a fool's dream much as she lived a fool's life, believing she could bring about greater change and now she was reaping the consequences. Her mother and father had made sense after all: keep quiet and they will not bother you.

Her doubts reached into regrets and as Vrael pressed for more from her, tears trickled down her cheeks; she bowed her head as she tried to get them to stop, She didn't want to use her talents, she didn't want him to convince anyone of her innocence, she just wanted to be as far away as she possibly could from all of this.

There were more places of course, "Hoth..." she softly spoke, wiping away the tears that escaped, "We were there before we left for Nar Shaddaa." Arda remembered the excitement and the urgency before she left, her eagerness and persistent questioning granted her permission to go. Now she felt embarrassment for how she acted and the consequences that became of it.

"Kashyyyk," her voice quivered, she had put her life on the line to fight a wookiee warrior to prove the strength and honor of the rebellion, now she wasn't so sure the cracked rib from that event was ever worth it. The girl breathed, trying to calm her mind and thoughts, but even her breath stuttered. The girl shook her head, trying to shake away the failures and heartache that pierced her numb body like thorns. "Naboo..." she let the worlds fall from her tongue, she didn't think her own world could crumble further, but it was, shattering into dust and millions of little pieces that she felt hopeless to even try to grasp.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael nodded once more to himself in satisfaction as he sent on the relevant info. This had been a most productive session after all, all his lies and misdirection finally showing fruit. Four worlds to investigate, four worlds to burn, pillage, and ruin for their support of the Jedi. The natives would suffer as well for these transgressions. When she stopped he looked up again, carefully searching the girl for any signs of more to come. She seemed spent, mentally strained and at her limit. Chances were that she was done talking for the day, and that she had little valuable information left to give up anyway. In other words, there was no more need for this utter foolishness.

He was all to glad to drop the act, it had been going on for far too long already. The warmth faded from his eyes, a scowl replaced the smile as he straightened up to glare at the girl. There was no trace of the kind grandfatherly figure Arda had been talking to anymore. Now there was only the Emperor of the Sith, his disgust and hatred clearly visible to all. "I think that'll suffice for the day," he informed her, his tone now cold and stiff. "We should be able to get additional info from the bases themselves, after we kill and capture the inhabitants. So thank you rat, its much appreciated that you made this so easy. I'll be sure to inform them of my sources before I put them all to the torch." Vrael found himself oddly enjoying the act of crushing the girl's feelings, a unusual occurrence for him. Normally he didn't care for such acts, but today, with this Jedi, it just felt so right.

Vrael backed away then, motioning for the guards to step forward with a wave of his hand. "Take her and throw her into one of the cells. And make sure she gets plenty of chains as well!" The guards stepped forward to do just that, one of them even pulling out a pair of shock cuffs. Vrael just huffed and returned to his throne, already tapping through his datapad for the next item on his agenda. This whole debacle, while prosperous in the end, had still eaten up valuable time and it was time he got back on track.
@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

No, she wasn't going to become a slave at some labour camp in the Outer Rim, she was going to die here and the scowl that Darth Vrael returned to told her that much. She was going to die here and no one would ever know because indeed, she was a rat as he said, a street rat and now a dead one as the snake fed on her despair. Her heart begun to race as she tried to think of one last attempt to break free, but nothing came, and instead, her mind fell blank and all she could do was stare wide-eyed and frightened at the Emperor as he called for her to be taken to the cells.

The guards came forward and Arda turned to see them flanking her, one with a pair of shock cuffs and she tried to back away straight into the arms of a guard who held the struggling padawan still as she felt the cold steel snap around her wrists. Pain tore through her body as they activated and the guard released her, letting her fall to the ground; the girl closed her eyes the chill of the darkness ran through her body as the whispers reminded her of the fate that lied ahead.

You are no one and help doesn't come for no one...

The girl felt herself being picked up, she couldn't fight the whispers, they were right, help only came for someone.

/END THREAD

@Narsi