[center]~|Day 3, 01:20-1:45 GST|~
~| Xid & Nyiss, Nyiss’ Quarters|~[/center]

Xid walked between four troopers, his boots stomping along the metal floors and struggling to keep pace. The troopers about him seemed unconcerned by this. Their bodies rigid and each stomp marched in orderly fashion, timed ideally. If he didn’t know better, and boy did he, he would’ve thought they were droids programed to endlessly march forever. Their faces merely stared forward in blank expressions while they escorted the Knight from his current changing room. However, he knew he didn’t look like a prisoner at the moment. His lithe body covered by apprentice tunic and breeches, complete with boots and a belt. None of the soldiers were stupid enough to give him a lightsaber to holster on it however. 

Not that it mattered since Xid wasn’t in the best of condition to fight after all. 

Breathing slowly, he picked at the black tunic nervously while his blue eyes roamed the hallways idly. His blond curls were plastered against his head and dripped slowly upon the black tunic making the area around his neck wetter. He still cradled his side as the time in the Kolto tank hadn’t been enough to fully heal his wounds, the side still slightly puffy and swollen through the redness had died. The feverish heat on the skin had also ceased much to his relief, but breathing was still close to inhaling pins each breath. 

They walked him into a new turbolift, one he had never been in, and then pressed the controls. Immediately the machine rumbled to life before Xid’s legs felt it jerk, his balance lost in the surprise. Promptly his hand came out to catch himself and bumped his uninjured side into the hard metal, his lip bitten by his teeth not to gasp in pain. He wouldn’t let them see weakness when he was suppose to be strong.  A dark, familiar energy coiled through him the moment the turbo lift edged toward the ship’s lower levels. His fingers gripped his support tightly as his stomach curled into his chest, twisting into endless knots. 

It took him a moment to realize where he had felt this energy before. In the day of the attack, back at the temple. The very day Sela had… 

Xid forcefully swallowed some bile that had crept into his throat and tried not to hurl, his throat burning at the acidic taste rushing back down. The only question in his mind was simple and very, very important. Why was he here of all places? 

His question was put aside when the troopers motioned for him to move, their blasters pointed from him to the exit. Again swallowing, Xid complied because he knew there was no other choice. Pushing himself upright, he cautiously stepped out into the red carpet room where they would likely meet the one person Xid had hoped never to encounter: the very Darth of this ship.   

Darth Nyiss was waiting, almost in the center of the room, but slightly to one side. She was arrayed in robes somewhat reminiscent of her battlegear, her own lightsaber hung neatly at her side, next to it, Sela’s lightsaber. On the other side of her belt, Xid’s Lightsaber was clipped. The intent of the garb was clear - unnerve the boy, and let him know in no uncertain terms what had happened, and what could still happen. Her hands were clasped in front of her, but in such a way that her sleeves would not hide the Lightsaber collection at her waist.

“Welcome, Xid. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She stated, her voice genuine.

Xid felt a shiver go down his spine at the sight. The nameless, mystery and dark energy now had a face in his mind as he studied it a moment, unsure what to say back when she greeted him. He was seriously wondering why every Sith he had met on the ship seemed to enjoy meeting him when the feeling wasn’t mutual. His heart leapt into his throat and seemed to choke his words when he finally managed to speak. 

Deciding to go with Tolun’s advice and not upset the Sith, the Knight’s words edging him into caution as he chose them carefully. “I’m afraid I can’t return the pleasantries,  Miss…?” 

It was expected that his voice wasn’t completely steady, through he was amazed he hadn’t stumbled and stuttered from the anxiety rippling in his system. For a moment he closed his eyes, trying to clear what cocktail of emotions were stirring inside. Worry, fear, and a hint of anger were all groping for control over his attention but he wouldn’t have it.  His ears were perked for any reply to his words, his eyes ready to snap open and center on the source the moment it started. Through considering there was only the Darth here, he knew at least exactly where to look.  

“Darth Nyiss” She stated. “Though for you ‘My Lord’ will suffice. Please. Sit.” She motioned with one hand to one of the chairs at the side of the room, then herself moved to sit opposite. Though phrased as a question, her tone made it clear that it was a command.

When she was comfortable, she spoke again. “Your master sacrificed a great deal for you Xid. At the time, I thought it a foolish, wasteful sacrifice. Typically wasteful Jedi martyrdom. I see now, that I was wrong. You are quite the special individual, a legacy well worth ensuring. I’m sure you know why.”

Xid’s heart curdled again as he pivoted on his heel, then started to walk  to where the Darth indicated. His eyes warily watching her while her words held a hint of authority, his mind debating on whether to defy her by remaining standing upright or take her offer. The pain in his side made his choice for him causing him to edge toward the chair. His arm reached out and hand pressed into the fabric, easing up on his side and allowed him to shift into the cushion. He sank a bit while he tried to keep himself small as possible on the ‘chair’s end farthest from Nyiss,  through it seemed more like a miniature couch. One almost big enough for him to lay across comfortably.  

The fabric was a lush red and matched the decor of the room, including the red and black carpet under his feet. The moment the words left Nyiss’ mouth, his complexion paled more than it had been earlier and any healthy coloring faded instantly. It seemed his carelessness was coming back to nip him in the ass now and in the worse way. Why didn’t he listen to Tolun better? 

It was too late now, his mind trying to search for a way to lie without being obvious. His eyes narrowed on Sela’s lightsaber, his heart sinking a bit at her memory, realizing her death wasn’t his imagination after all. He he inhaled a breath before speaking. “So what I felt wasn’t my imagination.You were the dark force we both felt heading toward Tolun Fi’s lab. The one she wanted me to avoid.” 

He paused to absorb the information he had just given. Pain, sorrow and loss filled his core, quickly replacing his harsher emotions quicker than he expected. Xid adjusted, his arm protecting his side removed itself and placed his elbow on his legs to support his head. He ignored the throbbing pain in his side, not caring if his slouching made the injury he suffered worse, while his fingers dug a little into his forehead. The Knight’s voice was quieter when he spoke again. “As for a special individual, I’m sorry but I strongly disagree. I’m merely a Jedi Knight, nothing more. ” 

The teenager didn’t mention ‘or less’ because in fact, he knew he was barely worthy of being the very thing he was claiming to be. Too many emotions he didn’t want want to face were swirling around him that he knew he wasn’t acting in the idealistic way his Order taught him to be. Shame edged into the pile, setting a small fire to them, and fueling what he felt helpless to stop. The only thing he knew was possible was to conceal, hide and deny it. With any luck, Darth Nyiss wouldn’t notice but some instinct within him cried differently.  

His face rose up to look fully in the Darth’s face. He found himself noting what some might see as elegance and beauty, something he didn’t deny himself, but also something else. The ice cold monster he suspected lurking under the surface to emerge. Would this woman be the same as the others or worse? Xid couldn’t help but wonder.  

Nyiss drank in the many feelings rolling off the boy as he spoke. It was delightful to see a Jedi who felt so readily.

“Don’t try to deny what you are. One of your own has already informed me of the whole truth. Your rank within the Order means nothing to me… I only care about your particular talent. It is a gift that should not be squandered.”

She looked him over with a critical eye while she considered her next words, noting the way he was sitting, the posture that was a clear indication he was in pain. The med-techs had told her he needed more time in the Kolto to recover, but she did not have time for that.

“And one that should not be risked by keeping you injured and vulnerable.”

Xid looked hard at Nyiss, disbelief edged into his eyes at the words as it faded to suspicion. His mind not wanting to believe what the Darth was saying being the truth as his fingers fisted at his side and his body felt like it curled in on itself. The way she spoke of his talent was creating a dark spot of worry growing inside of him. Her eyes studying him and no doubt noting his posture, her next words indicated she knew when a machine was in need of repair. His eyes looked down upon the floor for a moment then spoke with a surprisingly cold tone in his voice when it came to his potential, his downward position hiding the unnatural ice in his eyes and the mixed feelings swirling around them. Anger, bitterness, and pain were the strongest scars he had from Belsavis while he inhaled to clear his mind, only pushing aside the emotions. “Some gifts are best never brought to their full potential. As for my wounds, they will heal in time and I much rather go back to my cell.”  

“I’m afraid we must disagree entirely.” Nyiss stated, her tone almost one of debate, though switching to one of confidant determination. “I will know your full potential. Now lay down, I must heal you.” She took on a knowing tone as she continued. “A damaged machine will not function at peak capacity...” She had observed carefully the interactions on record, and identified his manner of speech. To turn it back to him would likely give her a distinct advantage in interaction that other Sith had not thus far had. Inwardly she smiled. She had forgotten how much fun it could be to deconstruct a prisoner like this. Sometimes she spoke with the prisoners while they were on her operating table of course, but it was simply not the same.

“And if I refuse?” Xid asked, his head snapped upright and discomfort spreading through his eyes. His  body jerked away instinctive, his figure rising to his feet abruptly as his side flared in pain causing him to slate to the side. His arm jerked  out to catch himself while his breathing was slightly labored, his arm trembling and fear surfacing. Stop it, he screamed in his head. Stop it… He wasn’t a child afraid of the darkness anymore yet here he was purely terrified of this woman. “Please,  I rather just heal on my own. Please…” 

“Attempting to refuse would be to assume I was willing to allow my kindness to be turned down. I am not.” Nyiss Stated coldly. She made a slight motion with her hand, gripping the boy’s now standing form with the Force, firmly yet gently, swiftly picking him up off the ground, rolling him onto his side and placing him down on the couch. She continued to hold him in place with the Force, just in case he decided to attempt escape.

“If I may make an observation?” She spoke as if asking, but did not wait for a response before continuing. “Your tendency to test the patience of your Sith captors is precisely what has caused all this damage to you. It would seem that your self preservation programing is… faulty.”

As she spoke, Nyiss moved forward, raising off her chair only to kneel beside Xid on the couch. Her left hand moved over his wounds, a few centimeters from his clothing as she focused healing energies into his wounds. She tried to make it as painless as possible, though there would likely still be a sting. Healing of others was not her speciality, and the Dark side of the Force tended to make inducing pain far easier than removing it.

Xid couldn’t move.  His mind raced with no way to escape as his body was pinned by the invisible force the Darth used, his ears listened while she spoke. Each word seemed to stab at him, unsure if she was mocking or trying to understand him, his eyes shifted to the side when she came into view. He flinched when she hovered her hand over his wound and the small pain started, hot and burning while his bones knitted back together and the bruising diminished. Gradually realizing he was helpless, his body started to unwilling relax and accept the healing. 

“I already suspected such results. I was flawed from the very start after all.”  Xid admitted, his voice blank of emotions. “Why bother repairing me when you know the other Sith will merely undo what you’ve accomplished? Why waste the resources, the energy or the time for a machine that doesn’t care about completing its function?”  

“Any machine can be improved. Made to fulfill far more than its original function.” Nyiss began. “With your talent, you should know that any machine can be repaired and improved. Even one claiming to be flawed from the start.” She continued to heal the damage in his body as considered her next words. “Do you really intend to continue to provoke my Sith? What if one of them is overzealous and you are killed? What do you think your master would say if she knew that you are knowingly gambling with your life even after she made the ultimate sacrifice for you? Did her life mean nothing to you?” Nyiss’ voice took on more emotion as she went. She would never sacrifice her life for an apprentice, no matter how promising… [i]But if she did[/i] that apprentice had better make the most of it. The idea that Xid would squander such an opportunity disgusted her more than she was expecting.

“Some machines are too dangerous for that. Their potential doing more harm than good,  the only purpose a machine of that function can do is kill or destroy the balance when explored. Something that is unacceptable as a Jedi. In the end, it’s better to dismantle it and scrap the parts for something different.” Xid stated plainly, subtly hinting he had explored his own potential but seemed to give no further details over the incident. For now.  

His fingers tightened against the cushion when Nyiss talked about Sela, his eyes returned to stare at the sofa back in grief. “Please...just don’t talk about her like you knew her or me. “

He wanted to curl into a ball, even with the Sith there and sink into his own thoughts. His mind darting through memories and thoughts about his old teacher, recalling both the pain and enjoyment they had had. Sela might’ve not understood him and even forced him to change but this, the self sacrificing attitude,  she thought it was rather kind of him. Even if she suspected it was more due to his own degrading value about himself. “As for me provoking your Sith,  it doesn’t take much effort so… most likely, yes. There is no Death, only the Force.” 

Not likely the wisest to sprout a piece of the Jedi Code at a Darth who could easily kill him as he continued in a bitter tone. “The Sith, from what I know, value strength above all. It’s their primary motivation to obtain it through any means necessary even by killing their own. It’s an endless cycle and if someone isn’t strong enough to survive it, then they are  most  likely better off decommissioned.  A fact a few of your Sith seem to agree with and take great pleasure in showing how fragile Jedi are.”  

He knew if Sela saw him now, her heart would most likely be breaking. She never liked how he spoke in this manner as it made him more like the cold machines he worked on, less human in her eyes. Often she would frown in disapproval causing him to alter his word choice just to make her smile, a gesture he was glad to do even if he struggled with it. At some point, it became second nature to him. Breaking from his thoughts, Xid’s eyes turned to look at the Darth. He was expecting the gears of their conversation to continue to grind, his own shaky and jerking while hers was precise and well timed movements, and waited for her answer on what he had said. 

“Do you know why they say that? That there is no death, only the Force?” Nyiss asked rhetorically. She was quite disappointed with Xid’s outlook on the world. With so little motivation to survive, she was amazed he had even made it to Knight. He had to have [i]some[/i] motivation though. She just had to find out what it was. “They say that because it is possible, through extreme devotion to the living Force, it is possible to transcend physical form and live on as a Force Spirit… But only the most devoted and the most enlightened achieve this. What the Jedi do not tell you, is that the vast majority of beings simply… cease… when they die. That will be your fate should you die here. And a terrible waste it would be.”

She stood then, the majority of the healing complete. Looking down at him, she stated “No machine is inherently too dangerous. Every machine has a task, and even when that task is to hurt others, the machine itself is not dangerous. It is the will controlling the machine that makes it dangerous. I have a great many artifacts a few rooms over from here, all of them you might claim to be dangerous. To the weak of will, they may well be. But they are not dangerous to me, or when used by me. I understand them all. That allows me to choose whether they are dangerous or not.”

She sat back in her original spot before continuing, calming her voice somewhat. “You claim that you are too dangerous. You can only be so if you lack the ability to control yourself. Are you telling me that you lack the will needed to control yourself?”

“You see it as a waste, I see myself being more useful. I aid and help those who draw on the force in the same way I was taught. My energy would still exist even if it’s not what I am now.” Xid remarked simply, his head turned back to the sofa back and let the pinching sensation die away. His side had stopped hurting several minutes ago while he thought about the Darth’s mention of her holocrons, his body shivered at the thought of what the Jedi had taught him about them. Dangerous and best left alone, only select Jedi were ever allowed to retrieve them from known locations which was enough to dampen his curiosity over them for years. 

Gingerly, he pulled himself upright and slide his legs off the chair’s edge and placed his feet onto the floor. His side was no longer hurting to the degree he knew it had been and even now, he could easily breathe. At the Darth’s last question, Xid didn’t speak as his arms curled around himself in silence. He hoped she would draw her own conclusions and be done with it. Control wasn’t the issue, but the result often hurt someone since he became so focused on the task that  he didn’t stop to realise who might’ve gotten hurt in the process. It was that pain he couldn’t bare. 

“Your energy is a tiny drop in the galactic ocean that is the Force. Your death would be a waste of all that you are, and all that you might be.” Nyiss stated, her making it clear that he should not argue without a stronger point than that.

“Now tell me. Are you so incapable of controlling yourself that you are a danger to all around you whether you wish it or not?” His lack of answer the first time had been quite conspicuous. She could tell that it must be something important to him, and so she would press the point until she discovered everything she could.

Xid tensed visibly, his lips tightened as he was thinking over his words carefully. He didn’t want to answer the question the Darth seemed interested in, knowing in inside it would be the worst mistake he ever made. His arms wrapped tighter about himself to push away the seeping dread growing inside of him before he tried to press the earlier point. “Yes, I would be one drop. Not unique from any other but even one drop helps fill an ocean. How many ‘drops’ do you think made it in the first place? As for what I might become… it’s best left unknown in my opinion.” 

He paused a moment, then remain quiet for a moment before he answered. “I rather allow you to draw your own conclusion, honestly.”  

Nyiss’ voice took on a scolding tone as she replied. “One drop can make a difference. But only if it reaches for the opportunities given to it to grow into something greater, and seizes them without a backwards glance. Something you are clearly not doing.” She then stared for a moment at the obstinate boy, calculating her options. After a moment she decided on one - carefully phrasing what she said next.

“My purpose is to gather information quickly. I have several means of achieving that purpose. I have polite, non damaging methods, methods which I use whenever I can. However, I am also possessed of less pleasant, more damaging methods of fulfilling my purpose. My purpose must be fulfilled. It is your choice to respond or not to any given method, but if you do not respond to one method, another will be selected.” She did not speak as quickly while using this turn of phrase. As capable as she was of matching Xid’s speech pattern, it did not come naturally to her.

Xid’s eyes studied Nyiss, raised from the floor where they had been staring at for a while now. He was already trying to think of a way out of it, but nothing came to him and though he might’ve discovered one sooner or later, it was likely the Darth would grow impatient during the wait. “A machine will always do as its programing requires and some machines  are more fragile than they might seem.” 

His voice was surprisingly calm, though he was an emotional wreck on the inside. He then added, in an afterthought, something he hoped might satisfy her. “If by control you mean I can access, maintain and use my gifts to accomplish my directive then yes. I can do this at will, but I chose to use it sparingly.” 

[i]Finally[/i] Nyiss thought. He had realised he should not fight her. But would the trend continue? She hoped so.

“Why?”

A single word, but all she needed. She would know by the end of this day, one way or another.

But it seemed that he had not really decided not to fight. The boy remained silent. The fool.

“Very well.”

Nyiss sighed, then began to gather her energy, focusing her mind. She was unsure of the extent of his mental defences, but she doubted he would be able to stand against her in this situation. Not while she could bring the full force of her mind to bear on him and him alone.

“Why.”

This time, she unleashed the word as a mind trick. The customary wave of the hand followed, but it was hardly a giveaway. By the time he saw it, he would already feel the mental onslaught.

Xid’s body tensed, his mind bracing for pain and expecting the cruelty most Sith could produce. His fingers dug into his arms through the black sleeves as he watched Nyiss, her words cold and firm in his mind. His mind was the first to relax, like being eased into an easier emotional state and coaxed into trust. It seemed to come from nowhere but it was the calm he was drawn to. It was the calm he needed as he gave into it gradually. His figure slacked slightly, his arms loosen and relaxed visibly. 

Nyiss’ question rattled in his head, sounding gentle and a need to answer washed over him. His pupils glazed over slightly while his lips spoke before he knew what was happening, his eyes spotted the handwave too late. “I hurt someone with the results last time and they nearly died...” 

A chill washed over Xid when he heard his own words, a shiver danced along his spine causing his face to pale. It took him a moment to feel the dread clawing at his throat when he revealed his greatest weakness. 

“Thank you.” Nyiss said genuinely. “Now I understand.” Everything was falling into place now. She doubted she would be able to mind trick him so easily again, but she did not need to either. She had discovered what made him tick. He cared about others, and the pain they suffered, far more than himself. Threatening him was pointless, but threatening his friends and making sure he knew it would be his fault that they got hurt… That would prove very effective. Now she knew how to motivate him, she could far more accurately test his abilities.

“No. You mind tricked me.” Xid stated the obvious, his fear and anger seeping under his skin. “Why don’t you understand when I said some things are too dangerous? I won’t hurt people just to let you see what I can do. I refuse to allow that.” 

His hands had fisted while he glared at Nyiss, trying to think of how to undo what was done. However, it was impossible and deep down he knew it. There was only way. He knew his friends were depending on him but he just put their lives at risk and now they would suffer. Part of him wanted to lash at her, attack and wipe whatever evidence there was that he had betrayed them away. That thought was quickly pulled away when he realised if he did attack, he was unable to turn back. 

Dark, smooth words echoed again in his head causing him to feel sick inside. [i]You and I are more alike than you will ever admit.[/i] 

Xid’s head pushed down into his hands as his fingers gripped into his scalp, deep enough to attempt to draw blood, as he tried to clear away the mess in his head. 

Nyiss drank in the torrent of feelings washing off of Xid. Anger and fear. Emotions no Jedi was supposed to have… and in significant intensity as well. She wondered if he realised just how close he was to the dark side. All he needed was a little push. She couldn’t resist the opportunity. He clearly hated her, and she had just made it personal by forcing his weakness from him.

She stood, looking down at Xid. Then she strode out to the center of the room and turned, such that Xid’s lightsaber was clearly visible on her belt. She used the Force to activate the comms panel on the wall. “Guards. I have what I need. Carry out order C7. Kill every one of the designated expendables. And do let the Lizard have one or two, I’m sure he’ll enjoy himself. Oh and keep Lea for me.” She pulled her Lightsaber from her belt, looked at it, then discarded it on a nearby couch. She threw the two Jedi Lightsabers next to it and turned as if to leave, hatred and satisfaction rolling off of her.

Before stepping, she turned to Xid again. “Thank you again. You are just what I was looking for, the rest of the unsalvageable machines will be taken apart. I’m sure those tiny drops in the Ocean will amount to something. Most likely more power for me.” She smiled, a  cruel and hateful smile, and turned back towards the door.

Xid’s mind tighten and emotions swirled, clamping over his heart at her words. He had bottled them up, pretended they  weren't there for a long time and no one seemed to have noticed. Not single one of his friends had ever thought to explore it or gotten the chance. Now it had festered but he wouldn't let it define him. He knew [i]what[/i] he could become as he had seen it in a prisoner and it frightened him. It always had. 

Slowly his fingers relaxed and his head pulled upright, noting the lightsabers she left  before him and seemingly tempting him. His hand was held out and a lightsaber, Nyiss’, floated to his hand. The weight strange and almost alluring enough got him to consider using it  in a way he could end his misery. The Jedi’s grip held it firmly, gears ticking over his options while his breath stilled in his chest. 

That's when the memory of Shiri’s kiss surfaced. He couldn't take his life without hurting her and his breathe exhaled, his thoughts focusing on her. 

He would not be manipulated this way. 

Xid’s hand toyed with Nyiss’ lightsaber in his hands, getting a sense of what it was able to do and how it worked. Ingenious weapon really as he noted the button was for show while the insides were different compared to his own, his mind calmed when he examined  the machine in his hand and memory of his friends. 

Now Shiri and the others were about to be killed for his own stupidity. Their lives and suffering soon to be over, because of him. 

His head turned to Nyiss, but he didn't get to his feet.  “You’ve already analyzed my weaknesses but it seems you over looked the most probable outcome. Then again it might've never cross your mind. However [i]I[/i] try to consider all my options and the possibilities. As you said yourself, my self preservation program is… faulty.”

Using her own phrase, he continued, his head now studying the lightsaber in his grip carefully as his  tone held fast to a calm one. “You dismantle a single one of them, what purpose is there to keep me functioning? Every machine has the potential for self destruction, especially when their own programming can execute it freely.” 

Not waiting for an answer, his eyes turned to the lightsaber he been examining then made a commented. “Force activated, a saber staff with a well balanced hilt. Suitable I assume from what I can sense because it also makes it impossible to determine when it's activated. “ 

He waited for her reply with the saber’s end pointed dangerously close to his chest, obviously hinting in his intentions. Without those he cared about, it would be easy to end it and still deny the Sith what she seemed to want. With her order currently likely on way to being executed  and her death less likely to stop it, he knew he could at least protect the billions of lives he was connected to still. Unlike the Darth, he wasn’t afraid of death as it could easily be seen in his eyes. Now he could try to rectify what he had done or die trying.     

Nyiss stood, struggling to control her disappointment as he completely failed to seize any sort of advantage, real or imagined. He stared at her Lightsaber, and she imagined he had probably already figured out the simple trick she had used in the activation mechanism. When he spoke, a grim realization began to come over her. She had miscalculated. The boy seemed to be suicidal that not only did he want a Sith to end him… He was [i]actually considering doing it himself[/i]. Such a thing had never even occurred to her. The idea was completely alien.

She did her best to maintain her composure, but even her facade had limits, and it began to slip. “Are you mad?” She said. “What are you doing?” Her voice was raising in pitch. She had pushed him to this, but she wasn’t going to simply back down now, despite the risk it posed. To do so would be weak, and demonstrate a lack of conviction. Unlike him, she owned her actions…. And at the end of the day, if he died, it wouldn’t be a particularly great loss in the grand scheme.

“Your master would be disgusted.” She said, her tone returning to one of cold steel. She didn’t have the time or composure to try and use his method of speech on him, so she turned back to the more familiar approach - her voice gaining more and more undisguised disgust as she continued.. “Go on then. Kill yourself. I’ll make sure to show the recording to all the other prisoners over and over while they die.”

Xid’s mind already had process the reaction possibilities, this one being the most likely. Sith were monsters in the end and he wasn’t surprised to discover her mask slipping slowly at his actions. His lungs inhaled his most likely last breath if this went sideways while he flinched at her mention of his his master. Fear was spreading through his core at what he about to do but the sorrow was greater, knowing he had little left to lose by killing himself. The only thing that kept him going were his friends and allies, and with them gone, there didn’t seem to be a point. 

His voice took on a hint of anger in his words, a coldness toward the truth he was revealing. “I asked you never to assume you knew her or me, now let me explain why since you insist on using her. You said she sacrificed herself for me, but I know she didn’t and I knew her far better than you. Even if I hadn’t been there, she [i]still[/i] would’ve tried to stop you at the cost of her life. It was her function to stop Sith, like mine is to manipulate with and enhance machines. I had little influence in her choices save I would’ve gotten in the way, preventing her goal from being accomplished. That is why your argument is invalid when using her.”  

If she had taken the time to explore his reasons, she might’ve realized that and not used it again. However, he kept that information silent while he took another breath to continue. “The prisoners were your only leverage in this, the very thing you threw away when you ordered them to be killed. You were hoping I would do something more drastic, but I won’t let you win. Call off your orders and I will relinquish the lightsaber back into your hands. I’ll even...” He paused, feeling the sting of his next words edge into his throat and forced them out. “Do as you want, within reason. If you don’t, at least  my death will save more than the few I’ve already costed and will hurt with this. Sacrifice one to save the many.”  

Xid made sure his words were clear and firm, his fingers tightened while his force was ready to pull the trigger deep within. 

“And which many might that be?” Nyiss quickly regained her composure as she heard Xid’s final remark, a new plan forming in her mind. She prepared herself to nudge the lightsaber at the moment of activation, minimising the damage to particularly vital organs. She would be able to rush him to the alchemy lab the moment he collapsed and with the tools within, keep him alive. She would demonstrate to him, the foolishness of his attempt to kill himself, and the further cost of his actions. He would see that no matter what he did, people would suffer.

And then she would have what she assumed to be vital information wrung out of him, to discover what exactly he had meant by his last comment.

She attempted a swift but weak mind trick on him, she knew it would fail, but it would almost certainly scare him into action. “You will tell me.” She said, hand wave accompanying the words.

Xid realised his mistake far too late when Nyiss’ question reached his ears. 

At the attempted mind trick display, his hands jerked the weapons’ end back to his chest center and activated the blade quickly. It came on perfectly. However, Nyiss’ force nudged it to the side where the end skimmed the heart and instead, it took a chunk of the lung. He hadn’t realised it was off center when the pain flared in his body. The hot, burning sensation started at his chest then flowed to the other side where it exited out his back, the end seared through the thin barrier provided by his current clothes. Clothes and flesh alike sizzled on touch, the burning smell filling his nose causing his stomach to twist into knots. His fingers clenched tightly about the hilt on impulse while he struggled to retain the trigger within the weapon. 

Pain, so much of it filled his very core causing him to howl in reaction. Xid wished he had considered the full effects before he had stabbed himself as his mind faded rapidly, passing out thanks to his low tolerance. Immediately the light saber’s blade retracted and sucked back inside the hilt,  leaving behind a small hole within his chest’s side. It tumbled from his relaxing fingers while his body tumbled to the chair’s arm where his body prompted up against the side, motionless.