[hider=Post 54, Ellri & Dervish | Lea Rahn & Tolun Fi]Timestamp: 09:30, day 1 BTC (Before Treaty of Coruscant)
The ray shield flashed back into light moments after Tolun Fi found himself back in his cell. He found himself thinking more on what Darth Nyiss had tried to show him more so than poor Allanar. The young man would live, the damage inflicted would be inconsequential compared to others, he was sure. The Kaminoan simply hoped the boy was strong enough to hold out. Their stay with the Sith would be a long, unpleasant one. Tolun did not doubt that many of his colleagues would find themselves tempted by turning to the Dark Side, perhaps to make the pain stop or from a seductive word that lingered in their ears. He found his spot in the center of the room and sat, contemplative, as he studied the energy wall that separated him from the rest of the ship. Despite his considerable aptitude for tapping into the Force and wielding its power, what lay before him was not something he was going to be able to force his way through with brute force. Unfortunate; he rather wished to get to Nyiss’ lab again, only this time without anyone to interfere with his curiousity.

The Sith seemed rather eager to take him into captivity, and the Kaminoan suspected he may have been the few, if not the only, Jedi who were personally requested by Darth Nyiss, who had taken a rather acute interest in his work. It evidently was enough for the Sith to overlook the fact that he was an impure alien in their eyes, rather disdainful and misguided thinking. After all, they measured their worth by the percentage of their blood was Pure Sith, regardless of race. It was as if the humans and other humanoids were ashamed of their own genetic lineage that didn’t share the namesake of the wretched Empire they were beholden to. In that regard, Tolun Fi was far more pure than any of the Sith. He wondered if any of them would have the stomach to do with the Kaminoan people had been doing for millennia, the systematic culling of undesirables and harsh enforcement of genetic purity. Most likely, seeing as morality was a foreign concept to the Sith they brushed off as ‘weakness’. They didn’t see that despite their martial prowess, the Sith Empire was doomed to fail. They valued power and strength, and it was a social custom to murder your superior to gain his or her position, which hardly did well for the talent pool. It was probably why many of the Sith these days were little more than wild, feral creatures that were addicted to blood lust and hatred. The attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was tragic, to be sure, and quite the setback for the Jedi Order. However, it was not all of the Jedi by any means. They were spread across the galaxy, and the Sith could be sure that the response would be swift and final. That was, of course, assuming the Jedi were willing to do the hard thing and organized aggressive counter-attacks. It was infuriating at times, the only reason the Sith were still a threat was because the Jedi were so afraid of taking decisive action against their enemies because of the temptation of the Dark Side. It was rather hard to bring balance to the Force if you weren’t willing to do what was necessary to accomplish that task.

And Tolun Fi decidedly was.

What had Nyiss been trying to show him, he wondered. She spoke like a scientist, only free to do things that many would consider unethical and pointlessly cruel. Whereas Tolun Fi had to keep his more questionable practices concealed from the other Jedi, which slowed research and made following his theses rather difficult, Darth Nyiss had it all in the open, daring anyone to question her. She was compelling, despite being wholly abhorrent. He still did not fully understand what it was that the Sith had done to Allanar, other than map his anatomy, which had been done countless times before. Her methods were pointlessly cruel, as were most Sith experiments. She claimed that her research was decades ahead of his own research, that she had found markers that she could manipulate. The Jedi Consular was skeptical, of course. He’d seen the atrocities that resulted from Sith alchemy, including several nameless horrors that used to be people. Tolun thought about what she had said at the end of her summoning,

[i]“I do hope you’ll put some thought into research on changing a beings relationship with the Force. For the sake of this poor man if nothing else.”[/i]

She had no idea. If he could get to her lab to continue his work, in a few years, if not months, Tolun had hoped to placate the Sith on board by eliminating their connection with the genetic markers that made them evil despots and killers. All he had to do was reach Nyiss’ lab and see what data she had obtained. It was all measured and taken in disgusting, abhorrent ways, but it was still useful data. How many lives were sacrificed for her reckless charge of [i]“progress”[/i]? Tolun would make their sacrifices worth it, he was certain. Nyiss used his data against the Jedi, it was only proper to return the favour. Darth Nyiss would be the undoing of the Sith, once and for all.

Suddenly, an idea came to the Kaminoan. It would depend on a lone simpleton guard to do his rounds, which was a common enough occurrence. Now that Tolun Fi knew where Darth Nyiss’ laboratory was, he was confident he could find his way back without an escort. After all, he wouldn’t want to trouble his gracious hosts, would he?

Lea knew more torture would be coming. It was, like so much else, inevitable. This was barely into the third day since the new prisoners had arrived, but already she found it irritating. If only she could have been in contact with her master. With that, everything would have been better, that much she was sure of. But that she knew was not to be. Not so long as she remained a prisoner.

It did not help things that ever since her exposure to that strange Sith Alchemical potion, her head had been aching, probably a result of the modification to her eyes. Her brain simply had not been prepared to include the ultraviolet spectrum in under visible light. Everything was so much brighter now, and that actually hurt. A stubborn, grim look appeared on her face. Whispering softly to herself she said [i]“I’ll make sure that Sith pays for my headaches once i get out…”[/i]

Brushing her hair back, Lea thought about what she could do. That last Sith that had tried to torture her had failed miserably. It was doubtful she would try again anytime soon. The others she knew nothing about. Nothing useful at least. She certainly did not care overmuch about her [i]“fellow”[/i] prisoners. They had not arrived when she did. They had not gone through what she had gone through. Looking about casually, she saw that none of the prisoners in the cells with view into her own was watching, thankful that she had received at least a little privacy through not having a cell directly opposite her own. She lay down on the narrow cot as if to go to sleep, even as she pulled out the concealed object stashed between the cot and the wall.

She activated it and started studying its contents. A lot of it still did not make much sense, but some of it was starting to do so. It was frustrating how some of the knowledge was just out of reach. She was particularly thankful it had no verbal interface. The energy barriers walling off each cell might be many things, but soundproof they were not. She thought that someone creative and skilled with computers/slicing might figure such out, but she was not such one. After a couple of hours of studying the object’s contents, Lea carefully stashed it away again, then fell asleep properly.

When she woke back up, she saw that the forcefield barriers must have been released, for at least one other prisoner was walking around in the central area. She did not know his (or her) name, but it was one of the non-human ones. A tall, thin creature with a strangely long neck. She tried to think back as to what species that was, but no answer came to her. She also noticed that the headache had mostly faded, though everything was still too bright, indicating that her view of the ultraviolet spectrum was still there.

Groaning a little as she got to her feet, she stumbled over to the cell sink, splashing some water on her face to purge vestiges of sleep from herself. As expected, it was cold, which helped greatly. She then walked over to the energy barrier control, deactivating it and stepping out into the cellblock common area.

Tolun Fi had been in the common area, making observations of the security and cell arrangements, as well to see how his fellow Jedi were holding up physically. He did not approach them yet, as was his custom when confronting situations that required no small amount of thought process, whether it was trying to ascertain which amino acid was likely to cause adverse health effects in other species during procedures or determining how exactly he could leave the cell block without being hindered by guards… or killed outright. That was rather not the goal, as death tended to put a cold, hard stop to progress. It was rather hard to get work done when you no longer had a tangible body. Although, he had heard of some Jedi managing to-

Soft footsteps. The Kaminoan turned to face the other Jedi.

She was younger, a human with pale complexion and auburn hair, a colour Tolun found quite aesthetically pleasing, certainly in contrast to the sickly green durasteel walls that served as their current accommodations.

[i]“Greetings, padawan.”[/i] The Consular said with a respectful nod, something he noted several other species did as a sign of acknowledgement and respect. [i]“I am relieved to see you appear to be physically unharmed, although…”[/i] upon closer examination of the girl, she appeared to be largely squinting, as if the lighting was unbearable. Truth be told, it was perhaps a bit better lit than many areas of the Jedi Temple, but not in a particularly notable way. Tolun Fi know she had been taken by the Sith for interrogation, and the prospect of them not attempting some form of torture was like assuming a Sarlacc would gently release you if you asked politely; painfully ignorant. However, his first and only time out of the cell block to speak with the leader of the Sith aboard this ship had not harmed the Kaminoan in the slightest, so perhaps reassessing his world view was in order, and the next time he found himself on a world with a Sarlacc Pit, he would try his winning negotiation abilities on the mindless, ravenous creature. He would be certain that when the tentacle reached up to snatch him, it was a form of greeting he was unaccustomed to.

No, the Sith would certainly do something to him. It was a matter of what. He didn’t believe for a moment that he was exempt from rather crude treatment on account of what he knew. If anything, that would encourage them more. All the more reason to set to work sooner. [i]“I notice you seem uncomfortable with the light. What happened during your interrogation?”[/i] he asked.

Lea turned to look straight at the strange Jedi already out in the common area when he spoke to her. She thought on his question for a moment, then decided on a plausible lie. [i]“Nothing unusual. Same torture as always. You would think some of those Sith would try something new for a change, but nope.”[/i] She carefully opened her eyes more, trying to get better used to the increased light. It wasn’t easy, but it was manageable. [i]“I just woke up. Are not your kind uncomfortable in illuminated rooms just after waking up?”[/i]

[i]“No, on Kamino, the architecture appears to be a sterile white to outsiders. That is, anyone who lacks our biological make-up. Perhaps you know that my race can see things on the ultraviolet spectrum of light, a rather unique adaptation amongst the galaxy. Where most see a plain surface, I can see a vibrant explosion of colours I could not begin to describe to someone who simply is biologically incapable of seeing what I do.”[/i] he paused. [i]“Was there a particular reason for that line of thought?

Lea did not know what to make of him at first. At least he had given his home planet, so she could at last figure out his species. Most sentient species from worlds without other sentient species took their name after their home planet. She could vaguely recall that there was a species called [i]“kamino”[/i] now that she had a point of reference. [i]“No, not really. I don’t know your species well, that is all.”[/i] She did not feel ready to get into a discussion about ultraviolet sight. Something told her she should not reveal that she too could see that spectrum.

[i]“You got any plans for getting out of here?”[/i] she asked him, curious if he had any thoughts on that matter.

It wasn’t all that surprising that the Padawan wasn’t familiar with Kaminoans; Tolun Fi’s people were infamously isolationist in mentality and policy. It was a miracle that the Jedi Order had even discovered Tolun, let alone heard about the young Kaminoan with a great degree of Force sensitivity. [i]“Few do, my people are not typically found off-world, and contact with outsiders is almost strictly business only.”[/i] he explained, before offering a curt nod when she asked if he’d been plotting to escape. [i]“I have ideas, nothing firm or solid yet until I put it in practice, but I may attempt to escape the cell block before long. It will not be an escape attempt, per say, but rather something I hope will prove beneficial for all of us. The Darth aboard this ship has a laboratory and some form of research planned, although I am uncertain of what. I aim to find out.”[/i] he said.

[i]“You know, it isn’t all that hard to escape these cellblocks.”[/i] Lea said, not really caring overmuch about this supposed lab. [i]“Its getting off this ship that is difficult.”[/i]

Tolun agreed. [i]“No, but it is not something one should rush. After all, we do not know the lay out, and being discovered outside of our cells would likely involve torture. Or death, if they are feeling merciful.”[/i] the Kaminoan said. [i]“It will take some time, I assure you, but I will try to amass information on how to escape. If possible, we should consider finding ways to free the others as well.”[/i] he said, pausing. [i]“Assuming there is an accessible escape shuttle and we are not deep in Sith space, of course.”[/i]

[i]“Right now we’re in hyperspace. No telling where.”[/i] Lea smiled at him. [i]“They need us. Thus they won’t kill us. I’ve gotten out of her before. Its really rather simple.”[/i] She said this with a innocent smile on her face. [i]“These bulkhead doors look imposing, but they’re really rather simple.”[/i] Lea sat down, facing the door with her legs crossed. She reached out with the Force, locating the trigger hidden within the walls and pushing gently but firmly against it. Half a second later, there was a rumble from the door and it hissed open. [i]“See? No problem at all. I’ve done it many times.”[/i]

The Kaminoan watched, somewhat impressed at her intuition. Something didn’t seem right, however. It was almost too easy, too inviting. Still, the fact she had escaped many times intrigued him. Perhaps he was being too deliberate and inattentive, but he had expected to make his own move at this point. [i]“Perhaps you would like to give me the guided tour, without meeting the locals.”[/i] he suggested.

[i]“Sure. Why not?”[/i] she grinned. She led the way out of the cellblock, ignoring the other cellblocks for now. Opening them would not be of any benefit. For all she knew, one of them might even serve the Sith in secret. She did not need the alarm raised this time. Once out of the area with the cellblocks, they turned right, walking till they got to the wall there. They passed a number of bulkhead doors, each leading into some chamber or other. Still following the wall to their right, she led them forwards in the ship till they got to the third intersection of corridors. Though she wouldn’t admit it out loud, she was a bit lost by now. The corridors were all identical, the doorways unmarked. And of course there were no maps. [i]“Left or right?”[/i] she asked him.

[i]“I was always partial to the left.”[/i] Tolun replied, taking in and memorizing as much of the layout as he could. He would, after all, need to find his way out and back again. The lack of personnel, or signs of them, was somewhat discerning. Were they being watched by some surveillance equipment? It was most probable, but why was nobody dispatched to apprehend them? A
after all, a pair of Jedi let loose on a Sith ship was a recipe for disaster. It was difficult to keep oriented, as the layout was strikingly similar, like a fractal repeating itself. He began to recognize some of where they were as they proceeded, until he finally caught onto his location, or so he believed. [i]“We are nearing the laboratory, I think.”[/i] he said, looking around cautiously. [i]“I remember being taken there earlier and this layout seems somewhat different than the others. The cell blocks are a bit more to the right, I believe.”[/i]

[i]“Then left it is.”[/i] Just when they got to the next intersection, Lea heard some shouting in the distance, somewhere to the left. [i]“Spread out! Find them! Now!”[/i] Lea listened for a moment more, but no more words were shouted. Still no alarm had been sounded, but it was obvious their escape had been discovered. [i]“They’ve discovered we’ve left the cells! Lets find someplace to hide!”[/i]

Finding some place to hide in a series of near-identical corridors was an easier task said than done. [i]“It could be this is their way of testing us. I notice there is a lack of alarm.”[/i] he said, concentrating to listen with the Force. [i]“They are still some distance away from us, we need to keep moving in this direction, or we run the risk of running into them. Perhaps we try one of the rooms along the way?”[/i] he asked. [i]“Or do you think they have sensors?”[/i]

Hurrying away from where the voices came from, Lea answered quickly. [i]“Of course there are sensors. But there aren’t soldiers in the rooms, and sensors can be disabled.”[/i] They passed several small rooms, but Lea decided on a whim to open one of them, leading the way in through the vicious-looking bulkhead doors. Looking at the teeth-like projections on one half of it, she decided she did not want to get caught in such a door.

Once the Kaminoan had followed her in, she quickly pressed the button to close, and then lock, the door. Only then did the room light up, revealing its contents. It was seeded with shelves and stands seemingly haphazardly placed, holding dozens of red-colored tetrahedrons, some of which glowed faintly, all of which were framed in various metals and inscribed with strange, almost harsh symbols. Faintly---through the sealed door---she could hear several booted feet marching past quickly. [i]“I think it might be wise to stay here for a bit. They won’t give up the search so easily.”[/i]
Tolun looked at the room around them, the shelves lined with several rather uninviting looking devices. [i]“Cozy.”[/i] he said, turning back to look at the door to listen to the hammering of several pairs of heavy boots through the door. They had narrowly avoided detection, and that was largely thanks to Lea. Tolun ignored the fact that her method of escaping the cell block was hardly what one would consider foolproof, as was evidenced by the search parties. The Padawan had no small amount of defiance against her captors left in her; the Kaminoan admired that. [i]“Well, if we are to remain put for the time being, shall we investigate the decorum in our replacement cell?”[/i] he asked, approaching one of the tetrahedrons. He did not wish to touch them quite yet, as something as benign as a misplaced pair of shoes could potentially be a murderous trap in Sith culture. Given the torture that was occurring on this ship, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if these geometric shapes were somehow tools to aid in such an endeavor. Charming people. There was, however, a familiarity about them. Thinking on it for a few moments, it occurred to him, the answer painfully obvious. The room was filled with Sith Holocrons. He partially blamed is initial confoundment on his insistence to work in his lab and continue his research for much of his life, but it was not as if he hadn’t encountered with while doing his duties as a Consular. Although, it had been a few years, at least, since the last time he had seen one. The question was, were they completed? One way to find out. The Kaminoan reached out, plucking one gingerly from the shelf, fumbling to find the means of activating it.

Lea did not really think anything odd about the kaminoan playing with a holocron, be it Sith or Jedi. Knowledge was knowledge in her mind. If nothing else, she had heard that one should know one’s enemy. Thus she too picked up a holocron and started playing with it. Eventually, after a minute or so of fumbling, she managed to activate it, for suddenly it started glowing brightly and making all sorts of noises. [i]“I think it activates when you use the Force on it.”[/i]

Seconds later, the tip of the tetrahedron, which looked crystalline, lit up and a hologram of a person dressed in robes not unlike those of a jedi. From the presence of twin Lekku, it was clear she was a Twi’lek. The Hologram turned to face towards them. When it spoke, its voice was utterly without emotion, almost mechanic. [i]“I am the Holographic representation of Lord Ido’lani Nak’Dremine, a student of the history of the Empire and the Sith. My creator is by now dead, so feared was her knowledge. Secured within this Holocron and others like it is the history and secrets of the house of Kressh, once the pride of the Empire, now all but forgotten. Listen close, and you will know what few others know, for I have not been activated more than once before after my creation.”[/i] Lea did not know what to make of it, so she looked to her companion, the strange alien. 

[i]“At least our stay will be an entertaining one.”[/i] Tolun said dryly, although he felt rather excited at the prospect of talking to the Gatekeeper. These Sith Holocrons would be a treasure trove of information that could prove valuable to his research. His yellow-black eyes studied the holographic projection, trying to get an idea of who the woman Twi’lek was. The fact she was not a human or a Pureblood Sith was interesting; usually anyone who made a Holocron was wise and powerful enough to do so. What secrets did the Holocron have to share, and what was Lord Nak’Dremine so eager to leave behind as a legacy?

Following the lead of the older Jedi, Lea asked the gatekeeper to instruct them in her secrets. Both she and Tolun were oblivious about just how subtle the dark side could be, for certain types of knowledge about the dark side is in itself corrupting. Not as corrupting as actually using knowledge to skills taught by dark side holocrons, though. In fact, Lea did not even consider such. Whomever she may have been based upon, the gatekeeper version of Lord Nak’Dremine was a masterful teacher, keeping her audience caught up in her lessons. Thoughts about the soldiers eager to recapture them did not even enter Lea’s thoughts.

Suddenly, projections of a time long passed flashed before Tolun and Lea as the Holocron’s gatekeeper showed them what appeared to be Korriban, filled with members of the Sith race of House Kressh, a realization that startled Tolun Fi. The Holocron must have been feeding information to his subconscious. The red-skinned people with curious face tendrils weren’t any more pleasant than the ones he had already met from the Empire that had taken their name as their own. A rigid caste system dominated the Sith society, one for slaves, sorcerers, warriors, and what amounted to nobility. It didn’t take someone with a great amount of intelligence to determine which of the castes Lord Nak’Dremine belonged to. Passing memories of ambition, power, and ultimately attempted betrayal against the Emperor flashed by. The Kaminoan didn’t dare presume it was out out any philanthropic intent, but rather an attempt at usurping power from the ruler of the Sith. What followed was the subsequent extermination of anyone connected to the Kressh family name, a rather characteristically Sith-like thing to do. It was hardly anything revolutionary in terms of discovery, but there was a certain allure to seeing things from another person’s eyes, even if everything they stood for was rehensible. There was a sense that nothing was held back, nothing was restricted, that one could not find on a Jedi Holocron. As tempting as it would be to desire to plunge deeper into the well of knowledge he found himself in, Tolun Fi reminded himself that it was temptation of knowledge that was one of the paths to the Dark side. Indeed, many Jedi over the eras had found themselves irrevocably corrupted by the knowledge they sought, even if their intentions were initially benign. Some ended up becoming great Sith Lords after their fall, a rather unsettling prospect that only further drove Tolun to try and discover something in a person’s genetic code that drove them to the Dark Side and shut it off. All other avenues of approach had failed, be it diplomacy, war, isolation… nothing worked. And as demonstrated by the attack on Coruscant, things were only getting worse. It was a question of how the Jedi would respond to that aggression that mattered. He turned to Lea beside him. [i]“Have you discovered anything that might be of use?”[/i] he asked.

Lea looked up at him with an unsettled look in her eyes. She had been so caught up in the knowledge within the holocron that she had forgotten all about him. [i]“Huh? Of use? for what?”[/i] She asked him, clearly confused. [i]“There is so much information in here. So much information…”[/i] She looked at him with a quizzical look. [i]“Did you know that the Sith value freedom above all? I had always thought they were simply cruel and suppressive. From what these histories state, Sith are free to choose for themselves what to work on? They have no councils that control their every move, that seek to deny that which is not mainstream? It seems so . . . Chaotic…”[/i]

[i]“Be mindful of your thoughts.”[/i] Tolun Fi warned the padawan. he pressed. [i]“What they think of freedom is simply an anarchy of sorts, an illusion. What you see in these holocrons are exactly what the crafter intended for the user to see. There is a reason for the Jedi doctrine and the order it presents, and we willingly subscribe to that doctrine because it has helped craft and shape peace and stability across the galaxy for thousands of years. The Sith, as you said, represent chaos, disorder, and no shortage of discord to match. They purge their ranks so often from trying to advance themselves that they cripple any progress they make, leaving only the dogmatic views of the strongest behind. Try imagining having to kill your own master, who taught you everything you know as a Jedi, to take their spot. What would you possibly gain from such an exchange?”[/i] Tolun pressed. [i]“And the Sith have their own laws and order, like us, as twisted as they may be. While they may have more choice in what they pursue, never forget that if they stray from what they consider proper norms or their masters’ wishes, they risk death unless they are strong enough to defend their convictions. Even then, few are.”[/i] he paused for a moment, looking at the human girl. [i]“Look at where you are, on a Sith ship where they are torturing and perhaps killing our fellow Jedi. For what end? That is not a culture to admire, it’s the antithesis of civilization.”[/i]

Lea listen to his speech. It seemed almost like a recitation to her. [i]“Even if I had wanted to, something I do not, I could not have killed my master. She is dead. I know it in my heart. You say they spread disorder, yet why are these records clear on comparison of crime in the Empire and in the Republic so different?”[/i] Lea had the gatekeeper bring up a file about just that. [i]“Here it shows that there’s far more crime in the republic. More crime does not, from what I understand, mean stability or peace. Does it?”[/i] Something in his words had sparked an argumentative part of her mind. [i]“I know they’re far from perfect, but they have from what little of their history listed here achieved far more in a few centuries than the republic has in thousands of years. You know as well as I that the Jedi masters aren’t flawless either. The war has changed them. There are things being done now that would never have been condoned before the war.”[/i] Lea did not know whether to believe the stories of so-called republic atrocities in the holocron. Some were unbelievable, but others rang with disconcerting truth. They matched well with stories she had heard before, stories she knew to be true, though she had heard different perspectives then.

Suddenly, another story popped to the front on the holocron. [i]“Supreme Chancellor Pultimo’s Slaughter”[/i] she read out loud, the title of the story. It told the tale of how, at the end of the Great Hyperspace War, when the republic had crushed the Sith Empire, they chose, with support from the Jedi, to go on to slaughter every Sith society they could find, fully intent upon eradication, despite their not being a threat. She looked up at the Kaminoan. [i]“Is this true? Did the Jedi attempt to eradicate an entire species, even when it was defeated?”[/i]
[i]“Because, my young Padawan, we are at war and people are more inclined to fight for a cause they believe in than one they are forced to. There’s a very real chance that the reason the Empire has less crime, according to the Holocron, is that the dissenters and trouble-makers have already been long-purged from the system. I do not believe I have to elaborate what that means.”[/i] The Kaminoan replied tersely. [i]“A peace brokered through oppression and subjugation isn’t peace at all, never forget that.”[/i] he moved to place the Holocron in his hands gingerly back on the shelf, as if jostling it would evoke its ire. The task completed, he continued. [i]“And of course our Masters aren’t perfect, anyone who claims otherwise is an idealistic fool. Our Order has grown tired and desperate in this war, forced to take methods that it never would have if the situation wasn’t so dire. You must understand, Lea, that the Sith’s aggression and ruthlessness has forced the Order to act out of character, but never losing sight of what our creed means. Even though there is strain, it is far from the utmost break of spirit the Sith want from us. They think the standards to which we hold ourselves makes us weak.”[/i] he shook his head.
[i]“Never believe it. What progress they have obtained was without moral or ethical consideration, it it means nothing to cut down hundreds, if not thousands to obtain what they want. I am a scientist, you know. Most of my life outside of my Jedi mandated duties are geared towards understanding what sets us and the Sith apart from one another on a genetic level. I could have made massive breakthroughs and huge strides of progress were I willing to abandon ethical conduct. Things must be measured, restrained. You must respect the subjects of your studies, as taking your research by force and with bloodshed is sloppy, needlessly cruel, and there’s much that the Sith miss along the way in their hurry. After all, it was I who discovered the Midi-chlorians in Force sensitive data. I did not have to hurt a single person along the way. A Sith who thought to pursue the same knowledge… let’s just say that the body count would be grossly unacceptable. I’ve already witnessed first-hand what the Sith are doing with the research I had obtained, and they are twisting it beyond recognition through the use of torture. This is not the way, it is not the path that we are sworn to follow.”[/i] He said, concerned about the words Lea was saying. Did she not realize she was being manipulated by that Gatekeeper, that the Sith were worming their ways into her mind? It did not help that everyone aboard the ship was under the constant presence of several very powerful Dark Side leaning individuals, as it did not take much for their suggestions and threats to seem convincing. He reached out gingerly to take the Holocron from Lea.
[i]“I am not like most Jedi Knights, where I value the pursuit of knowledge and am not very picky when it comes to origin, but please understand that much of my training has revolved around protecting my body and mind from the influence of the Dark Side. Please allow me to take this from you until we can discuss what it is what you saw, I promise not to lie, but I would greatly prefer if I could be your mentor as opposed to some long-dead Sith Lord who wishes to dominate minds, even in death. You are referring to the Great Hyperspace War, correct? That was a dark time, it was when the Sith had made their existence known through an attack on the republic, they attacked several of our worlds without provocation killing millions. Up until that point, the Jedi and Sith were unaware of the existence of one another, the schism of the past so long forgotten by both sides that the galaxy allowed both cultures to develop independently for quite some time. It speaks volumes for the Sith mentality that upon rediscovering another Force sensitive order, they attempted to destroy it. We prevailed in that war, but the threat was hardly over. The Chancellor did not order the extermination of the Sith, although the retaliation was devastating to the Sith. He ordered the destruction of their strongholds, the centers of their military power.
[i]“But before the republic forces could even reach the first of the strongholds, much of the remaining pure blooded Sith race lead a series of ritualistic suicide attacks against the republic fleets, nearly wiping themselves out in the process. To them, the thought of surrender and reconciliation was a far worse fate than destroying their entire culture out of spite. To survivors who may not have received, or willfully ignored such dedication, if you wish to call it that, it would be easy to mistake such a pitiful act as the ruthlessness of the republic, and many of the Sith Empire chose to view it as such, either through propaganda or through their own intentional ignorance. You see, Lea, these are the enemies that we fight, who would rather see the universe burn than to not have their way with it. It highlights exactly why the Jedi Order is necessary, because the Sith have handily demonstrated what a misuse of the Force can result in. While we sometimes struggle to maintain our way, we never lose sight of the most important thing of all; the sanctity of life and the freedom of all sentient beings. We use our affinity with the Force to serve the Republic; the Sith use it to dominate anyone who does not have it. Now, please hand me the Holocron. I will not keep their access from you, but you do need to understand that the Sith Lords who have crafted them were very powerful, and the untrained mind can be very susceptible to their influence. The reason the Jedi holocrons are restricted is because they are meant to be a tool to help aid the user, not to exert its will over them. You need to rest, and recall the creed.”[/i] The Consular said.

[i]“So you say the slaughter of women and children upon Korriban was the destruction of military strongholds? You know as well as I that that story was more than just the destruction of military strongholds. It was an attempt at xenocide. An almost successful attempt.”[/i] Lea tossed the holocron over to him. [i]“Have no fear. Resisting the influence of a dead Sith is no real challenge. My master taught me how to step around the hooks concealed in the stories crafter by the Sith and Jedi alike. Both of them like to attach such hooks to their stories. She must have been prescient, for she schooled me in such resistance, though I knew not why at the time. She schooled me for hours and days in resisting just such influence. She has, for longer than I have been alive, studied the history of the empire and the republic alike.”[/i]

Lea thought it funny how he wanted to ‘protect’ her. How could he possibly do so, with them both captives on a Sith ship? They might not be in cells right now, but they were still unarmed and surrounded by Sith. There was no way off the ship, not with it in hyperspace. Even getting off would be no help, for getting away was even harder. She had seen others try. She had felt those others die trying.

Tolun Fi caught the holocron with long, deft fingers, holding the device as if it were fragile. He studied its frame, the craftsmanship exquisite. [i]“I say the slaughter of women and children was the result of Sith arrogance and ego, nothing more. Regardless of what has come to pass, what matters is what we chose to do with ourselves that matters, not dwelling on events from ages past.”[/i] the Kaminoan said, placing the holocron back in its place. He strode over to Lea in long, graceful strides. [i]“You must never underestimate the power of the Dark Side. To think yourself above its influence is folly. You have been without a master for some time, I take. I suspect she never intended for you to stop your lessons. Perhaps she saw some form of temptation to suggestion, to deviate from what was instructed by the masters. Tell me; why did you become a Jedi? What does the Order mean to you?”[/i]

[i]“Oh, I do not think myself above its influence. That would be beyond foolish. I just know how traps are laid in texts like those found in holocrons and such. Thus I know how to avoid them. The other temptations are probably still there. But why should I let myself listen to them?”[/i] Lea could in fact feel how the Dark Side permeated the air all around them. Only her well-trained ability to focus herself let her resist it at all. They were, quite simply, not tempting enough. [i]“Why I became a Jedi? It is quite simple. My entire family has been Jedi for generations, I know not how many. Like my ancestors, I was born Force-sensitive, thus it was the only relevant option. The Order is a means to an end. It provides structure where there is none otherwise.”[/i]

[i]“Sometimes, to ignore the allure of certain… promises proves to be much more taxing than one would expect.”[/i] The Consular replied, reflecting on times when his own conviction was sorely tested. Namely, the lure of knowledge and certain particulars that the Jedi Code strictly forbid. Tolun Fi never considered himself above the Order, but its strict rules about what was permitted was often chafing, especially for a man who simply needed to attempt unconventional things both in a laboratory setting and during mediation. Some cultures and ideas simply couldn’t be appeased or appealed to via the strict dogma of the Jedi. Refusing to deviate from strict parameters often risked lives and isolated one or more parties. The Kaminoan’s attention returned to the Padawan. [i]“And it is that structure that helps preserve balance and promotes peace. We are gifted, us Jedi. We are granted skills, talents, and knowledge that many beings in the galaxy would kill for, to gain power. Without the Jedi, the galaxy would be a far more dangerous, chaotic place and nothing would bring the Sith in check. I know that sometimes it is most difficult to consciously follow the Order, especially when you have ample reason to doubt its intent or apparent benevolence, but please consider that the alternative to the Jedi is much, much worse.”[/i] He gazed towards the door. [i]“Perhaps it would be prudent to return to our cell block. We cannot hide indefinitely.”[/i]

Lea smiled at him. [i]“Not quite true. The Sith keep each other in check. When Sith have no common enemy, they strive against each other. Petty feuds. Even with a common enemy, the republic and the Jedi, they squabble against each other. Only the fear of the emperor keep Sith from full-scale war with each other. Ironically, Jedi provide a target for Sith to focus on. Without one, the other falls apart.”[/i] She traced a finger along the complex engravings on one of the other holocrons. [i]“Still, it sounds like a good idea to return to the cellblock. That’ll make them look foolish.”[/i] Picking up a holocron, she pocketed it, then stuffed another into his pocket. [i]“Once back in the cells, I’ll show you some traps placed into these. They’re rather primitive, really. If the datacard here is correct, they’re titled ‘the genetics and creation of common Sithspawn’ & ‘fundamentals of Sith Alchemy’. Not really all that dark subjects, I think.”[/i]

[i]“One shudders to think of a galaxy where the only thing keeping the Sith in check is themselves.”[/i] Tolun Fi muttered before giving a curt nod. [i]“It is enough to know we are capable of having free reign of this area if need be, although I’d much rather not press our luck too hard. After all, our little excursion did not go unnoticed, and I am sure we will pay a toll for it. However, it will be worth it in the end, presuming they do not decide to execute us for our audacity. It would be a shame, really. I quite rather wanted to finish my research.”[/i] he glanced back at the Holocrons. [i]“Your Master taught you well for you to be so informed on the Holocrons. I am curious to discover what some of the more… sensitive ones contain. Being captive is turning into quite a riveting experience.”[/i] The Kaminoan Consular approached the door, placing his large hand against the durasteel and shut his eyes in focus. Using the Force, Tolun listened to the area around the room to see if the coast was clear. Satisfied, he manipulated the switch and the bulkhead door slid open effortlessly with a quiet whoosh. The two Jedi soon were out of the Holocron room, and navigating the halls once more to rediscover where the cell block 2 was located - easier said than done.

They wandered the corridors for a good while, getting lost more than a couple of times. An easy thing, considering the utter lack of signs or other distinguishing features to the rooms and walls. After maybe thirty-seven minutes more, they found the right wall and the opening to the cellblocks. After that, it was easy to return back to the cell. Lea found herself somewhat tired after the efforts of the day, so she went into her own cell, activated the force field, then lay down to sleep.

Timestamp: 23:14, day 1 ATC (After Treaty of Coruscant)
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{|- Note: Room for hiding is Dorn 3. (middle of the three side-by-side single-hex rooms) -|}
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