Fallenreaper

Stargate - Alliances

Working on a Collab with Ciphra and heading to the Gate, hahaha!!!! There's now a reason Kayle's walking around like an idiot being armed. XD

The Library

Kestrel said
Oh right. Yeah Quartz would be able to push, though Nathair would have to follow pretty closely for it to be believable.

Well Nathair was holding Quarts, who's wrapped about his arm, and that was the part I was concerned on.

Stargate - Alliances

Hahahahaha! I got Kayle up, interacting with Phil and Dr. Kate...have fun with that Sep and QueenRaidne. I made an opening for both of you to start a conversation with her or at least learn about her role on the ship. ^-^

Stargate - Alliances

Kayle

Kayle Zaken, the second Lieutenant and current linguist and alien culture reference within the Catherine Langford’s crew that she knew of, eyes scanned over her data pad. The words were simple print and in English, a complex language despite the four years she had to grow accustomed to it, as she scanned the information over the Tok’ra. She knew the information by heart yet now it was to gleam any details she might’ve missed and most importantly, pleasure reading. Her eyes swept over the section dictated to the symbiote when she paused in her task to do a last time check over her things. Every once in a while her mind switched back to the pad in her hand as she had already done a full recall at least thrice during that day.

She started with her bag. It was a simple, large tote which held a few different things required for her stay onboard. The first that crossed her attention were the Stargate program’s Israel uniform, a light green with the Israel flag on the shoulder along with rank in the proper area, then came the strike team one which was a deep bluish black following the same pattern, and finally her plain grey tanks and camouflage cargo pants. Her hand shifted them in her counting to ensure they all were there and in proper order. Next was the hard case, black and bumpy on the surface, which contained equipment to clean her guns as well as maintain her standards knives. A separate, smaller knife for a similar purpose was stationed beside it. Unlike the other case, its contents were more suited to creation then maintenance because she liked to be prepared in the worst case scenario should she lose any of her knives. Likelihood was high it was going to happen on this mission a few times and better to have the assurance then ended up needing it.

Her mind shifted to enjoy the section about Tok’ra once again, for only a moment, while the rest of her check was done by touch. Towards the end, her hand shifted to the inside of the bag itself and seemed to stroke the interior until she felt something out of place in the norm. Her fingers rested on a small, almost invisible bump where a pocket had been added on to the original bag, within it was a very thin knife strapped in. It was crudely made and one of her first because only a bunch of wound cord made the handle in order to weight it down and provide a grip. On bottom of the bag was a similar pouch firm attached for easy reach with yet another knife. Her superiors, Mossad and the Star Gate program, knew she tended to carry a certain undisclosed knife number but the exact amount was never determined publicly. Everything she was asked among prying ears, she answered bluntly with one word. Enough which satisfied most people.

Now done with her equipment for the trip, Kay placed down her pad, the screen still viewable and bright, to give herself a rough pat down. The woman’s hands firstly went to her belt where her Mossad issued gun, a second cartilage of ammo, a knife and several other needed items were mandatorily fixed in their assigned positions. She double checked the straps and safety’s, including the holsters which held them securely. Then she checked the locations of her knives. Mainly the ones she had to be sure numbered three: one within her right boot and bound tightly to the inside, another placed against her foreleg hidden under her pants, and finally in her sleeve where it caused the least hindrance in her movements.

Once her fingers had skimmed the sleeve cuff then pulled out, she bent for the pad again. That’s when Kayle’s stomach growled in protest. She stalled in mid action. Her head dipped down to realize the last time she had eaten was dinner yesterday, her needs forgotten in her excitement and now clamored to be satisfied. Kay just made a soft, amusing chuckle at her luck. She set her bag across her bunk before she headed out the door and towards the cafeteria. Naturally she was still fixed to the pad, her fingers flipped the pages, as she ducked, dodged and navigated her way through the personnel in the hallways. Never once she pulled her eyes away when she arrived. Wasting little time, Kayle’s hands snatched up a cheap plastic tray, set down her pad near the end of it and then began to fill it up with her food. Even when her focus was split, she ensured she didn’t grab anything containing pork. Finishing up, her tray was rather full with a plate of rice and salad, topped heavily, a small bowl of matbucha dish (made from cooked tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic and onions), few cuts of pita bread, and lastly grilled chicken.

Kayle reached the end of the line where she looked up from her pad, a first since she entered it. She soon realized there weren’t many places to sit. On the normal occasion she would’ve sat alone and continued to read while she ate but it seemed there were little places meeting her need. Not to mention those close had groups and to join one, namely one that was enjoying themselves, unasked seemed rather rude when she was on her own free time. The aromas played near her nose, farther irritated her stomach to stop stalling in her search for a seat.

Sighing, Kay moved towards the closest table in defeat. It was currently the least occupied with only two people sitting at it. The first to catch her attention was a pale, thin woman. She looked like she had been born, bred, and lived inside buildings all her life. A man, her companion, was animatedly chatting away during his meal, his lemon chicken untouched mostly, and seemed to be only a little younger than Kay’s own father. His hair all white and face filled with some dignified wrinkles. Absorbing his image, Kay found herself drifted a bit over fonder memories which made her don a friendly smile. The two weren’t military so likely they might not like the idea of a stranger joining them, even if it was only long enough to eat her meal.

“Ahem, excuse me?” Kay began in her Israel accent, her voice pleasant and cheerful. She managed to balanced her tray in her hands, wary about her pad, as her head motioned to the empty seat beside the man. “Mind if I sit here? If not, I can find another spot. Though can I ask you a favor before you answer, could you skim your finger across the pad screen for me? I’ve got my hands full right now sadly or I would do it myself.”

Depending on the two’s answer, she would either be sitting in the middle of their conservation, reading, or seeking another spot. Either way, she would still lower her tray for the man to shift the page because she was rather eager to read the next part, even if she had read it before several times.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Frettzo said
The effect in Coco might not be the same, though. Who knows how she'd react to that? xD

Coco jacked up on menthol.... :p

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Freeshooter92 said
I would like to point out that Alaira found that whole debacle fucking hilarious.

She can find that funny as hell but she should be likely she didn't get involved. Or the Armor would've made her look like a fool rather then Mar and Athalus.

Though until it's revealed it's because a fever she acted that, Mar is currently at risk of being kicked from the school when/if the staff or teachers find out since her behavior will only ring alarm bells with Tyrael. Never once during the Fallen Orc's stay with her people has Naga showed such outward aggression that then has escalated into physical action, namely cause since behavior is frowned on and highly discouraged through punishment. Unless there's a reason outside their control or in a life and death matter.

When you all see Mar again, after her little one night stand, she'll white, sweating cold chills, and continuingly shaking while her body fights off the bacteria. Good thing Lucilia is going to be there.

Leon5431 said
Mar, Athalis...handle your shit XP

I think I speak for he entirety of the student body when I say I like high as fuck Mar better then angry sooner to slice your head off then let you help Mar. XP

She will mellow when Lyn is inside her and after she's born, though not to that degree. And yes, high Mar was fun but don't expect her to let it happen again.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

EliteCommander said
Hmm, I'm curious as to what the teachers or staff would say to Ssarak about this. I'm not sure who witnessed it, other than Alaira.

Worse things have happened....like an Advance Demonomancer student releasing an succubus on school grounds. >_> That was a mess.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

And now, Althalus and Mar are....unavailable for a while. :p Also, it should be around afternoon now IC.

This Sunday we might want to consider getting the collab with Lucilia, Althalus, and Mar done which reveals Mar is preggers. The wound will be needed some tending as by this time, Sam's herbs won't do much good. Some Alchemy might cooped with Lidda's salves would be best and I'm sure one of the mushrooms in Mar's room would be able to alert Lucilia to something's wrong which will likely get her attention quicker then the other teachers or staff. Once she notes the wound that will help in keeping Mar from being booted from the college.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Althalus, Ssarak, and Mar: Rtron, Elitecommander, and Fallenreaper

Mar didn't' waste time when Tyrael untied her kill, her weapon placed into her coils as she took it across her shoulders. The beast was still heavy even if it was dead which made it more awkward then she was suited to. During the trip, she had noted her wound was reddened and puffed out a bit, a trait that concerned her. While Tyrael was around she ignored the sensation of hotness which had spread a bit from it and seemed to fill her being. It wasn't ideal for her show the weakness because she was sure it would pass later.

Slowly she started to make her way across the courtyard after the Gates had closed.

Althalus quickly left the Dining Hall, not wanting to stay near the noble any longer than necessary. They had a nasty habit of being far more curious than they needed to be. Something about being surrounded by guards that prevent curiosity from killing them, he supposed. As he left, he stopped outside in the courtyard and glanced idly around. Just looking for something of interest. And then, to his minor surprise, he spotted Mar slithering slowly through the grounds. She had her breakfast slung over her shoulder. Having nothing better to do, Althalus wandered over, eyeing the beast. It certainly looked unfriendly in every way possible. "And that is why I appreciate growing up in a city. Even a lovely city like Port Slaughter." He muttered, softly. He some how suspected Mar wouldn't appreciate his two cents about his childhood.

Walking to her side he commented, "You've caught breakfast, I see. Want help carrying to to the room?" That's when he noticed her wound. The fact that she had been wounded didn't concern him. He saw wounds all the time growing up, and even more when he took up his career as an assassin. Most caused by himself. What did concern him was the reddened state. It may have even been puffed a little bit. Now, he was no medic, and it could have just been him making something much worse than it actually was. But, he had seen a few poisons turn a small scratch into something like that..

"You want to get that cut checked out? It looks..odd."

Mar glared at him then snorted in distaste as he offered aid to lighten her load. She let out a low hiss against it while she tried to straighten upright, her torse still struggled under the weight, the arms readjusted to a better position. The animal's body had started to slip down and parts were the wounds were had oozed over her skin, dirtying it farther. She didn't mind because what concerned her more was the fact her vision had started to hazy a bit.

"I can get it myself as for my wound, it's none of your concern. It will heal." She snapped and tried to brush him off. Her body started to move around Althalus but her body tilted, the beast started to slip easily from her grip only to force herself to tighten her grasp and barely keep it from toppling to the ground.

Ssarak looked up for a moment when he saw the the main gate open. Two people entered, one of whom was the Demonmancy instructor, Tyrael, and the other a Naga he did not know. Ssarak knew little of the Naga, save for the name of their race and roughly what they looked like. They were both carrying large beasts the likes of which he had never seen before. He was curious as to what types of creatures they were, but otherwise, it did not seem to be something he would need to worry about. He noticed a human male approach the Naga, but quickly lost interest as he turned his attention back to Alaira.

Althalus held up both hands in a placating manner as Mar hissed at him. She seemed to do that a lot. Even if they'd only known each other for less than two days. If she didn't want help, fine. But his concern only grew when he noted her struggling to carry it. He didn't know much about Naga's. They were fast, they were fairly strong(especially in their tail), they could scent , the only safe way to kill them was to destroy the brain. The things an assassin would need to know to kill a Naga target. A smart, long living assassin at any rate. Mar should have been able to carry the carcass easily enough.

As she nearly lost her grip on it trying to pass him, he stepped in front of her, concern clear on his face. "I really think you should get the cut checked out." He continued hurriedly before she could snap at him. "But if you won't do that, at least let me help you carry it. You're obviously having trouble and frankly, I doubt you'll last another five steps...slithers."

Her head seemed to feel like it was fire yet she pushed it back, her eyes narrowed on the human now in front of her. Mar felt her tail twitch at the male's arrogance as he shifted from his passive and meek to more assertive. If it wasn't for the fact she was trying to get away, she might've felt a slight attraction at this new side. However that wasn't the case. He was currently in her way and she felt angry about that which she then snapped out a warning.

"Move or I will move you!" Her voice showed her sour mood, once again her body tried to shift around his and move pass.

It was not long after Ssarak looked away from the Naga that he heard a shout that directed his attention straight back to her. He looked back to them and saw that the human was blocking her way, and they seemed to be arguing over something, though he did not know what. Whatever it was, the Naga seemed to be especially angry as a result, and by the way she was gripping her weapon, he did not like where the situation had the potential of going.

"Excuse me for a moment." Ssarak said to Alaira, moving past her and keeping his eyes on the pair. He walked behind them, not too close, but close enough to observe.

Althlalus sidestepped to cut her off again, hands falling surreptitiously to where he hid a pair of daggers. She was obviously in a bad mood, and had trouble not trying to hit him when she was in what passed as a good move. "No. Either you get the cut checked, or let me help you carry that carcass." He kept his voice soft, calm. But also unyielding. He then waited for her to try and hit him now. That's what she was going to do. There was no way she would just agree to what he was demanding. He gave a small sigh. Maybe she won't be the type to kill me in my sleep...assuming I survive this. He thought, a fleeting smile crossing his face. An assassin with a conscience. Shouldn't that have been the first thing that died when he 'chose' this profession?

"MOVE!" She snapped loudly, her tail swung out at his waist as he jerked backwards.

Her face took on frustration and her body shifted, struggled not to fall down while she discarded her kill. It landed with a soft thump then her scythe was tightened in her hands before she sliced it at his head followed by her tail at the feet.

His daggers were out as soon as he saw her hands tightening on the scythe blade. To his credit, he avoided earning a new scar. Or having his life suddenly and abruptly ended in a rather violent manner. The bone blade scraped against the two steel blades, stopping it from hitting him. However, he failed to react in time to the tail, and crashed to the ground. He immediately rolled away from her and to his feet, avoiding her attempt to drag him into a coil grip, daggers held out defensively. "Okay, how about we calm down, hmm? You don't try to crush every bone in my body, I don't get an early physical fitness test where failure means death. That sounds good, right?"

Ssarak was not surprised when the fight broke out, but he wished it hadn't. At first, he expected to see a golem intervene to hold back the Naga, but as he frantically looked around, he saw that there were none in sight, for whatever reason. Both of them had drawn their weapons, though the human was obviously only on the defensive. He knew not what was causing the Naga to be so violently aggressive, but he could not just stand by and let it happen. She was intending to kill the human, and no matter what it was the human had done to anger her, he could not believe that murder would be justified.

Ssarak looked down at the axe he was gripping in his hands. His years as a warrior had taught him how he was supposed to deal with life-or-death situations, with...appropriate force. And yet...he could not do it. If his experiences had taught him anything, it was that could follow death was yet more death, more destruction. He closed his eyes, gripping the axe's handle even tighter for a few moments before tossing it to the ground beside him. No one was going to die here today.

Mar reared, her height increased to intimidate him as he avoided her strikes and slipped from her grasp. Her eyes seemed to only see red, the fever worsened it and showed visibly through hot skin. She hadn't notice her fangs extended completely out to. Quickly her torso lashed forward with mouth open, intended to sink her teeth into his throat. She watched him jerk backwards again but this time, her body rreacted to counter it. The tail lashed at his feet then gripped it, his body swung about within the coils that looped around and around.

Her tail constricted then slowly brought the man's face closer to her own. Eyes, more wild and dulled in sickness, stared back at Althalus. She pulled back slightly with fangs and readied to sink into his neck and rip out his throat.

He should have done more than just jerk. He should have been prepared for the tail trick again. Then again, it wasn't everyday someone stared into the eyes of a maddened Naga with fangs full out, towering above them. As it was, he could only let loose a curse and let go of his daggers so she didn't stab herself when she coiled about him. That was an unpleasant experience. His arms restrained, and then pressed against his ribs with bone creaking force. Air suddenly becoming a much harder commodity to find. As she brought her eyes close to his, Althalus let out a strained little chuckle, feeling his ribs creaking. Along with every other bone in his body. "You know..if you weren't trying to kill me..I might be tempted to kiss you."

What a lovely saying to have as his last words.

Just before the Naga was able to finish off the human, Ssarak closed enough distance to act. As he had practiced many times before, he concentrated on manipulating his blood into the most powerful form of magic he was currently capable of: his psychomantic breath. It was a uniquely Esyire trait, to be able to focus the essence of their blood into a breath attack. Usually, it directly harmed a foe in some way, but for psychomancy, the effect was a bit different. His breath attack in particular caused a certain calming sensation to come over the victim...among other effects, and when the cloud of gas enveloped the pair, they would immediatley begin to feel every single one of them

"Enough!" Ssarak shouted, the anger evident in his voice. Even if his expereince at the college so far had not been perfect, he had taken the idea of what the college was supposed to be to heart. It was meant to be a place where students could learn to wield their gifts in safety, and that was an idea he thought worthy of protecting. "Calm yourselves. I know not what qualms you have with one another, but this is no place for violence. To kill over what likely amounts to a petty squabble is the choice of a beast, not a civilized being." He said, letting out a low growl. His words were more directed toward the Naga, as she was the aggressor. He would have spared the human from his psychomantic attack, but they were close enough that it was unavoidable.

Mar's body relaxed the moment she inhaled the strange breath. Her mind felt light and unable to connect with the heat in her head, the Naga's eyes laxed in their appearance from her earlier aggression. Her body shivered abit now feeling the sweat cold against her surface and started to try to cool her down. What was she doing? Mar had only enough sense to ask that one question before slight smirk crossed her lips. Whatever the Esyire, who now seemed irked at...something, had been shouting seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Her torso had lowered to the ground and now laid there, letting the dust kicked up by their earlier battle take her attention. Her fingers tried to catch them by batting at the air, her attention clearly on the other student at all. Her tail just flicked lazily until she noted the pretty red color on her arm. Mar gingerly touched it which caused her to hiss a bit, the pain dulled by the high buzzing in her brain, before something else caught her attention: a rather cute human who was gasping for breath. Slowly she dragged herself over towards him and flashed a small smile when he looked up at her.

Althalus slumped to the ground, free of the coils, and too busy concentrating on getting air to his oxygen deprived lungs to keep himself upright. As he was only breathing very shallowly when Ssarak's breath hit him, it took him a few more moments to receive the full effects. Not that he did anything more than regain the knowledge of breathing fully. When the effects did hit him, he did nothing more than stare up at the sky and note how..blue it was. His skygazing was interrupted by a rather pretty, and slightly familiar, Naga face. He smiled up at her and was rewarded with a small smile in return.

There was also an Esyire there, but he was yelling and Althalus ignored him.

"And who might you be, beautiful?" He asked, before his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Wait...you were going somewhere...and I was helping you...go to your room! That's it!"

Ssarak probably should have expected the pair to become unresponsive while under the effects of his breath. At the very least, the Naga was no longer aggressive, and neither of them were in any real position to fight. It probably would have been wise for him to attempt to separate them, as he still had no idea what they were arguing about, but in truth, he was in no position to act either. To create a breath attack of that strength, he had to put quite a bit of effort and concentration into it, which in turn drained his blood considerably. He was already beginning to feel lightheaded and overall exhausted. As a result, his ability to concentrate on what to do next was significantly impaired.

"Just..be civil." Ssarak said before turning around and taking his leave of the pair. He lazily walked back over to his axe and picked it up, letting it drag behind him as he continued in the direction of Alaira. "I need to sit down." He muttered, rubbing his head.

Mar was too occupied with the human to hear the other student's comment. The man looked confused but to her, it only seemed to make the situation that much funnier. She giggled lightly and softly, she lowered her chin to rest on the ground for a moment. Mar merely tilted her head when the mention came up about her room, her eyes just blinked once as if the meaning by passed her. Instead her hand merely took a finger to brush away the blond locks then seemed to swell with excitement, the thought now registered within her head.

"I think you're cute... very cute." She returned the comment then continued. "Yes, let's go!"

Without waiting for Althalus's answer and her head all bubbly, she rose upright. Her hand bent down to help him up, the pair rather wobbly as they started for her room and vainly attempted to use each other to balance. Something that wasn't very well accomplished while they vanished into the distance.

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Xid~I~Zanna: Fallenreaper and Rtron

Once Xid had gotten the strength to rise and head to his cell. Inside, his mind felt it was time again to take stock of himself. He wished he had the focus to stop it or the sense, but he was still adjusting to the world around him. Every single one of his senses screamed at him like being tossed into the chamber was his brilliant idea and now he needed to fix it. The only bad thing was there wasn’t anything to fix. There wasn’t any damage, just lack of use and now his eyes, ears, and more were once more growing accustomed to something other than utter darkness. Something much more than silence again. A fact his pain made very, very clear. It stung to keep his eyes open while he stumbled through blurry vision and ache, bones slightly popped against stiff tendons and muscles.

Finally at his cell, the Padawan collapsed into a ball. His head held and shielded by his arms, his eyes blocked from the lights overhead. Even his own stench was enough to make him want to hurl, reminding him of how long it’s been since he washed up. Time passed but he didn’t care until it seemed the senses had started to meld themselves at long last. He squinted at his surroundings, finally realizing with a slight dread where he was, then began to stir to life.

Xid rose unsteadily to his feet. His body had the agility a newborn, feeble and weak, while he made his way towards the sink where he ended up finally washing up. The water made his skin shiver under the chill, but he bared through it and used his sleeve to wipe the grime away. By the time he was done, his flesh was slightly redden, not able to feel he was rubbing too hard until he saw the result. Once he had cleaned up the best he could, Xid started back to his cot where he jerked the thin sheet up and eased himself into a corner for whatever would come next.

In the aftermath of the Padawan’s ‘meeting’ with Sish and his then confinement to the Sensory Deprivement Chamber, Zanna thought she saw the perfect opportunity to work on Xid. That, and the Jedi was the only one who could tell any Sith who harmed Strago. And that would get Thallia killed, which couldn’t happen. Not that Zanna cared for the human, but she didn’t want to lose her pawn so soon after gaining it. There had to be some way to ensure a Jedi’s silence. If her session with Viera was anything to go by, however, she’d have to take a more subtle approach. Like the one she was taking with Lea. Thus, setting aside and locking up her research for the moment, the Sith Pureblood walked through the ship into the Jedi Cell area. Opening the door to Xid’s Cell block, she paused for a moment, looking for him. When she spotted him, she quickly strode over, trying to control her impatience. While she wanted to get back to her research as soon as possible, she couldn’t just begin ignoring the Jedi completely. That was a quick way to give the Moff an easy reason to have her killed.

Standing above him, she said, “You need to come with me. We’re going to have a chat.” Waiting, she shoved her impatience down. He was still understandably weak from the Chamber.

Xid’s head lifted upright, his eyes hurted to focus yet he forced past the sting just to see the voice’s owner. A female Sith, pureblood by the looks of it, was standing within his cellblock. Personally he thought about refusing and instead resisting. However, he had feeling he knew how that would’ve ended as likely the Sith would’ve ordered troopers to push him, a hassle that didn’t make his weakness any better. His shoulders slacked in the moment’s defeat then he started to stir upright. His foot edged gingerly off the bedside and planted itself upon the floor, his hand braced against the wall to aid him against tipping over.

He wasn’t sure how managed it but he stayed upright, albeit a little wobbly. In the back of his head, he didn’t have any better option other than hope it was quick. “Very well...lead the way then Sith.”

Zanna restrained herself from tapping her foot or otherwise displaying her impatience while she waited for the Padawan to stand up. Effective as the chamber might have been, it certainly didn’t help for the sessions with the Jedi afterwards. At this rate, a year might pass before they get to the torture chamber. Still, she didn’t rush him, walking forwards and checking back frequently to make sure he was still following and hadn’t collapsed or slowly slipped away. Weakened or not, she wasn’t simply going to give him the opportunity to try and escape. Even if he was caught quickly, if Nyiss found out about that, she would be punished. The best way to avoid that was to not let it happen. So, after an unknown(certainly long) amount of time, Zanna finally opened the door to the torture chamber and ushered Xid inside.

Rather than restraining him, however, she said, “Take a seat. Get as comfortable as you can in this place. We might be here for a while.”

Xid’s eyebrow raised in question, his sight still fought past the pain and see the Sith clearly. His stomach seemed filled with butterflies when she hadn’t restrained him and seemed overly calm throughout the trip. Even when he mainly focused on not stumbling along the way as he had caught glimpse of her looking back, each time his mind tried to brace himself for what might come. Personally he was expecting pain but instead she merely told him to take a seat. After Lord Namore’s and Sish’s, he had come to realize each Sith had their own twisted way to hurt Jedi, to him his had to be a trick or some ploy to confuse him.

“I think I rather stay standing.” Xid said, calmly. He swallowed to clear his dry throat while he faced the Sith and forced himself to remain upright.

Zanna shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you don’t look like you’ll remain standing for long.” She studied him for a moment, before speaking. “I know you’ve had the...pleasure of meeting Lord Sish at least once. You have my sympathies. Brutish, is the kindest way I can describe him. I also know that you’ve met Lord Jewel, and that experience didn’t go well.” Zanna had learned all sorts of things now that she had the one who controlled the cameras under her thumb. Thallia was a rather useful pawn, even if she was an impure bitch. “I imagine that your general thoughts of the Sith are unflattering, both by propaganda of the Republic and your fellow Jedi, and from your experiences with those two. You should, however, know that not all of us are like them.” Which was true. There had been a few Sith who weren’t as ambitious as Jewel or vicious as Sish. Who were actually nice people. Zanna refrained from mentioning that those Sith had died within weeks of her meeting them.

“Some of us want to help the Galaxy, rather than destroy it. We want to convince you to join us, rather than forcing you to.” Zanna gave a sigh. Completely fake of course, but she thought it was rather convincing. “Sadly, we’re in the minority of what you’re told, and who we send to represent us on the battlefield.” A small shrug. “After all, you don’t send the household pet to battle and leave the war beast home. For what it’s worth, I apologize for the acts of those two and any others in the future.”

To be honest, this wasn’t what Xid had expected. Not in the least. His legs started to tingle from the exertion he forced on them, the muscles twitched and seemed to feel like something invisible was dancing on them. He sadly couldn’t put his hands into his sleeves anymore as they were currently ripped off after tending to Allanar so his age old habit was nulled. For once, Xid wished he could reach into Zanna’s mind then decide the truth for himself. Mainly if she was sincere or not, but after the last encounter with a Sith his hopeful feelings had faultured.

“Yes, they were not very pleasant but I didn’t expect them to be since I am a prisoner. Torture, pain, suffering are what most Sith are very good at. It’s easier as well as wrong. As for helping the Galaxy, selfish acts never helped anyone other than the one they originated from. I can’t see how hurting others or flat out killing would the Galaxy any good. “Xid made his point and in the back of his mind, expected the worse, as his hand reached out to press against the wall. His eyes never moved from the Sith before him.

“And how many Sith have you met, aside from the beasts we let out to wage war? Two of our worst? And all you have to judge those you haven’t met is what our enemies say about us? Truly, that is enough to judge an entire race. Well, philosophy, since the humans have been inducted.” Zanna countered, watching with concern(faked) on her face as Xid reached a hand out to lean against the wall. “Are you sure you don’t want to sit? That long in the chamber followed by this much movement can’t be good for you.” It was true. The human looked ready to fall over at any second.

“And we do want to help the Galaxy despite what you may think. Look at the Republic and all of it’s worlds. You’ll see crime festering, the poor starving, filth and despair while the politicians bicker and quibble for more power. Nothing gets done while the politicians play their games. In the Empire, we don’t have that problem. We have a ruling system, and what the higher up says must be done gets done. Crime is almost non-existent, poverty is low, and everything is like a well oiled machine. But of course, people fight change. Especially those who serve to benefit the least from it. They paint it as evil, cruel. There is always hurt and death when change must happen. It is a regrettable fact of life.”

She shrugged once more. “But we persevere. For the good of the Galaxy.”

Xid just remained standing there for a moment longer, his strength and endurance already strained, before he twisted about to prop his back against the wall. It helped a little. He knew it was only a short time before he lowered himself and would be in a sitting position, but he wanted to try to last as long as he could. His ears heard Zanna counter easily at his attempt to reason Sith’s actions did nothing more than harm, never once had he ever heard of a Sith’s greed or lust for power doing any good outside themselves.

“I’m alright.” Xid insisted, against his better judgement than added. “More lives are lost to Sith’s greed and ambition, even their own from what I’ve heard, than the Republic’s careless hands or do you deny this? Politics aren’t clean but it is not my duty to change that, even if I could. My only concern is to help others where I can. As for well oiled machines...life sadly can’t be that easy. I’ve seen some of the frontline to know that.”

Slowly he found himself lowered to a sitting position. His hand rubbed his leg, a faint hope to get feeling once again within it, his eyes taken off the Sith for a moment. His words however didn’t stop. “If you want to help the Galaxy why become a Sith?”

“That’s politics in general, not Sith alone. Your Republic’s careless hands are often guided by the same greed and ambition they condemn in us. The only difference, our greedy and ambitious are completely honest. Yours hide behind lies of how they are doing everything for the people. You can never fully get rid of the evils of Politics. But you can limit them. That’s what we’ve done, and it’s worked better than your Republic’s system. As for the frontlines...that is war. Nothing goes smoothly in war. Everything goes badly and bloodily.” Or so she imagined, from the fights and the gruesome ends she had been in and seen. She smiled slightly, seeing him slide to the ground. It was amusing, given all the protesting he had done. Her smile dropped when he asked his final question. For a moment, she pondered her response. She couldn’t give him an immediate lie. Not to a question like this. Tilting her head, she crouched down to his eye level.

“For the same reason you became a Jedi, I’d imagine. I was never given a choice. I was born in Empire space, and the only option for me was to become a Sith. We are never given a choice. It’s decided before us at birth. So, I work with what I’ve been given, in the confines that has been set for me. Same as you. Yet now you do have a choice. You can do actual good in the Galaxy. You can help thousands, if not millions. You can save them as only a Sith of the Empire can.”

Xid just remained on the ground. His legs had curled underneath each other while his eyes shifted to the ground, his mind absorbed the words the Sith spoken. In the back of his head, the Padawan was still waiting on the torture yet all this seemed to be was just conservation. She wasn’t gaining anything from it and so would she bother with it? He wondered, his leg finally started to feel something again. Her words sounded like another’s he knew all too well, a lack of choice and forced into a life unwanted. Xid wanted to ignore the empathy which had sprung into his heart and tried to swallow it down.

“If you’re trying to make me see the Empire in a better light, it’s not working. I don’t serve the Republic but more the Jedi as I’ve seen what good they can do. There’s no record or knowledge of a Sith ever benefitting the Galaxy though their corruption and suffering they leave behind.” His mind wandered back to Ithor, unwillingly causing a small hurt to emerge within him. “I don’t have as much as a choice as you think.”

His mind then turned to learn about the truth reason behind this little meeting. “You couldn’t just have led me here to talk so why bring me here?”

“It’s hard to see something in a better light when all you’ve been shown is it in an evil light. The Republic is tightly tied with the Jedi. Everything they do is to better the Republic, because they can’t help in the Empire. Like it or not, you serve the Republic. You are the peacekeepers of it. You are the ones the people go to when they can’t decide for themselves.” She chuckled. “You know, I haven’t found any record or knowledge of the Republic benefitting the Galaxy in my records either. You don’t think it’s because they’re enemies and you don’t paint your enemies in a good light to your people, do you?” She raised an eyebrow. “You can never truly know what your enemies have done for or against the Galaxy until you’ve seen what they’ve done through their eyes. After all, all the things I’ve heard of the Jedi and the Republic can’t be true, right? You don’t actually enslave your dumbest people, or leave those who are crippled to fend for themselves in filth and poverty, do you?” She pointedly raised both eyebrows in question.

“Oh, I doubt that. After the choices forced upon us at birth, we always have options. As for talking, actually, I have. I detest torture,” Physical, at least. When it served no scientific purpose. “and much prefer peaceably convincing you to join us.” She shrugged. “Not the type of Sith you’ve met or heard of, I know. Sorry to disappoint.”

“Right and wrong aren’t that hard to see. Suffering, even not seen outwardly, doesn’t mean it’s not there.” Xid answered bluntly, his eyes now raised to meet Zanna’s while he noted her sarcasm. That didn’t help him much in seeing her point of view or the fact she seemed to have a counter for most of what he said. He didn’t see how a Sith’s pain or suffering aided in doing any good, namely since it was done purely for selfness.

“Do you honestly think being a prisoner really offers that much options? I only have at least two, either turn or stay a prisoner. At least as a prisoner I won’t be forced into hurting innocent lives so you might as well as return me to the cell.”

“And yet, all you’ve had to see is the Republic and Jedi’s versions of right and wrong. They’re opinions. That’s all they are. A man stealing to feed his family has a different view of right and wrong than the guardsmen trying to arrest him for stealing. All you’ve seen is the Sith being firmly on the wrong side of things. I’m trying to show you that we’re not all animals that take pleasure from pain. I’m trying to show you that we can help. And you always have options. They just may not be what you want. I’m sorry I can’t change them for you, but I’m only an Apprentice. My power is limited.”

She stood, shrugging. “I’m not trying to force you to hurt innocents. But, I can see I’m running repeatedly into a wall. Returning back to your cell it is.” She offered a hand to help him to his feet.

He noticed her stand now, her body once more rise above him and then shrug off his resistance. Like with Namore, he half expected something to sudden shift and a monster to be revealed. However that didn’t happen much to his visual surprise when she held out her hand and seemed to offer him a hand up. Xid couldn’t help the slight smile which etched across his face for a moment then it vanished once he took the aid up. Once he was upright, his knees tried to give out after being in a sitting position but his hand jerked against the wall bracing himself against crumbling.

“Thank you…” He told her then added a question. “What is your name or merely I just keep calling you Sith?”

Zanna saw his brief smile, and smiled in response. Though for an entirely different reason. Headway. However small, however tiny, she was making headway. The subtle touch is the best. She thought, starting to go to his aid only to stop when he braced himself. “Your welcome. As for my name, Zanna. Pleasure to meet you, though I wish it could have been in...kinder circumstances.” She guided him back towards the cells, keeping careful pace with him. Both to make it look like she actually cared about his health, and to make sure he didn’t try to make his escape. Though, at this point, she seriously doubted he could run, much less escape the ship.

“Xid, and I wished so too.” He said, keeping in mind his manners and rather relieved this experience with a Sith didn’t end up being one of pain and misery. Xid wasn’t sure how much longer he would’ve lasted, namely with both Lord Namore and Sish to top off what other experiences he had witnessed. It was all too much to take in that times it felt like he would just wither away. She followed beside him as they moved towards the Cells, her eyes seemed to study him and his movements. Finally, after he had to stop a few times, they reached the Cell Block where they parted ways.