Sundered Echo

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath ---- Looking for Jedi

Hi, Co-GM here.

Its an interesting sheet. I understand you haven't finished updating it yet, but I would say that extra attention should be put in on the reason for arriving on the Hask now. In particular, two aspects of this.
One: Why was he transferred to the Hask now? Darth Nyiss isn't working with many others and I personally find it unlikely that he was captured on Coruscant and then transferred to the Hask later.
Two: If one is not so, then who onboard the Hask (assuming he's been there all along in this case) ordered him to undergo this torture? I suggest looking through the Sith side of the current cast and considering this, as all Sith characters of Apprentice rank and above are named and accounted for. Feel free to ask for more information on the characters and who might be likely to do such a thing.

One other note on this, is that you have in effect already used one of the most effective tortures (in his case) on him by saying this. Will you be playing him as half way to turning already?

Oh and the final thing I feel I must mention as it was not included in the OP here, is that character death is a very real possibility. We don't kill off people willy-nilly, but by the same token no-one is safe. Even Darth Nyiss can be killed should circumstance provide. At the very least, injury is guaranteed, especially as a Jedi.

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Our latest feature involves the infamous Guideslap as well as the rare instance of loss of limb....

Enjoy!

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Thallia Valcia stormed through the corridors towards the prison cells Her arm was held close to her side, unmoving, still largely untouched by the medical teams aboard the ship. She told them not to heal it so she could have the satisfaction of taking the energy needed to heal it from the Jedi who’d inflicted her injury in the first place. She’d made sure to rise from her rest as soon as she could, much to the protest of the medical staff, in order to get to Strago before anyone else did. She would have her revenge.

As she turned the corner to the cellblock section she was confronted by the sight of the Jedi staggering unnaturally back into his cell, followed closely by another Sith. One whom Thalia had never seen before. This was unacceptable. Strago was hers. It was her right to torture him first. She marched up to him just as he turned and the cell door shut. “Who do you think you are? That prisoner belongs to me!”

Guide looked at the female who was shouting at him. A human, he thought that his niece would have taught these beings their place by now, obviously not. However he had other things to attend to and he could not be bothered to deal with stroppy little girls who interfere with matters above them. He merely shrugged it off, and began walking down the corridor outside of the cell block.

Thallia stood slightly stunned as the other Sith passed by her before wheeling about and following the old man. “Don’t you ignore me!” She shouted at his back, quickening her pace to catch up to him. “I’m going to ask once more. What were you doing with that Jedi!”

He turned around. “My you’re a persistent little one aren’t you? What I was doing with that Jedi is my business and mine alone. If you want to know? Then you must become of use to me.” He turned back away and continued on his journey down the corridor.

He was walking away from Thallia once again. Unbelievable. She caught up once more and reached out with her uninjured arm. “Don’t you dare walk away from me-” She said as she grabbed the man's shoulder and tried to spin him to face her.

As soon as Thallia touched him he turned under his own strength, Guide didn’t even have to lift an arm. A sudden and incredibly powerful Force hit her in the cheek, throwing her up in the air and spinning her until she hit the wall and slid to the floor. “Do not forget your place, Jen’jidai. You are not but a pawn in a greater game than you know exists, than anyone aboard this ship exists other than the Jen’Ari and myself. You shall not rise above your station, do I make myself clear?”

Thallia’s world was spinning. Not literally. Not anymore at least. She’d hit the wall hard, and when she tried to focus on the man responsible, her vision started whirling. By some miracle of luck, she could still hear him clearly, though she could not reply. Another moment passed, and pain flooded her injured arm - she’d fallen on the Lightsaber wound. She felt blood seep down her arm then. The impact had ruined the small amount of healing done by the medics and opened the wound. Blast. She thought. Another robe ruined. For a few minutes, she remained sitting, slumped uncomfortably against the wall.’

Guide moved forward closer to her, bleeding out slightly. He focused on the wound, not healing it but sealing it to prevent it bleeding anymore than it currently was. “I asked you a question apprentice, do you understand that you are not meant to rise above your station?

Suddenly, Thallia’s vision was filled with a wizened red face. “Leave me alone.” She croaked.

“You still do not learn your place Apprentice.” He focused on the wound again, selecting the skin on either side of the wound he had just repaired and pulled, practically skinning her slightly. Tearing at her flesh, yet not allowing her to bleed. Of course he could of just simulated the pain however he had to keep some secrets from her. “Do you understand, that you will not rise above your station? That Jidai is not your prisoner, he belongs to no-one but Darth Nyiss, her word is law and as such I can experiment on whom I chose. Do you understand?”

Thallia clenched her teeth so as not to scream in pain. Whatever this old man was doing to her arm was excruciating. After only a moment she knew she had to submit. “Yes… Master.” She managed through the pain.

Guide leaned in slightly. “Call me Guide.” With that he turned and walked away, he did not bother mending her skin together, it wasn’t bleeding so he saw no need, it wouldn’t cause a mess and have people ask questions. However his job was done and that was the most important thing. However this young Sith may be useful, he turned his head back. “If you are the one I have heard of, who squanders potential and you ever wish to decide to utilize it. I may be willing to teach.” He turned back around with a swish of his cloak and walked away without another word.

Thallia watched the man go, and as soon as he was out of sight, she pushed her hair from her face and stood. She had business with Strago, and a wound that was much worse than before. She hoped the Jedi was still in good condition after Guides visit. She would need all his strength.

Strago barely moved in his cell, doing his best to continue to meditate, his mind drifting off onto other thoughts, and feelings much more than it normally did. Through the Force, he felt much more than during the other times he had on the ship. He could tell that another Jedi had died, and it got to him more than he expected. His mind went to many different things, wondering if death was the best thing for the Jedi on this ship, or if they still had some chance of making it out alive.

He had a feeling of worry much more so than he normally did, not able to just tell himself to be strong, and deal with it for the moment. After all, if he was going to worry about it on the ship, he knew it was better to do so alone than in the presence of a Sith.

Deciding it was likely the best course of action, he put much more focus into healing the scars that Guide had left from his own forms of healing. He knew he had to be strong if he was going to be able to do anything for any of the other prisoners, and he had the intention of finding a way to help them if he could, despite his lack of knowledge, and experience in certain things that would be of obvious use.

Thallia felt a disturbing amount of lightside energy coming from the cell as she stormed down the hallway. She wasted no time, slamming the button that opened the door and marching in. The Forcefields activated as she did so, which was a good thing right since THalia didn’t plan to take Strago out of his cell for this. The Other Jedi in the cell would have to watch, hearing the muffled sounds of torment through the Forcefield.

The walls of energy deactivated before her and reactivated behind her as she crossed the cellblock to reach Strago, the Jedi meditating and channeling the Light side of the Force. The moment she was within his cell her voice was raised to a near hysterical shout. “Look what you did to me you impure freak!” As she yelled she pointed at her injured arm with her free hand. “You’re going to pay for that!” She yanked the sleeve up from her arm to reveal the gruesome wound for all to see.

Strago opened his eyes slowly as he heard the doors to the cell block open, quickly followed by footsteps. He continued with his meditation as much as he could for a moment, but watched as Thallia came toward him, and quickly began yelling at him. He remained quite calm, but looked down slightly as she showed him her injured arm before looking right into her eyes, “It was not my intention to harm you.” He said quite flatly, but genuinely meaning it. His mind had gone back to what had happened the last time he was with her, and it reminded him to make sure he was mentally prepared, knowing that she was one of the Sith who made noticeable use of mind influencing abilities, unsure of what exactly her intention was here.

Thallia’s rage only grew at hearing the Jedi’s stereotypical attempt to placate her. She didn’t bother answering. The Jedi was set in his ways and the pain was clouding her mind. She prepared to make use of a technique she only knew from reading, a technique whereby a Sith could transfer the life-force of another being into themselves for healing purposes - Dark Heal. She reached out with her uninjured arm and placed her hand flat on Stragos chest. She focused on her pain and the desire for it to go away. Moments passed where nothing happened, but then she began to feel a slow buzz of energy. The pain in her arm did not decrease however, instead it became even more intense as her body resisted the attempt to repair it unnaturally.

Strago watched as Thallia’s arm moved toward him, not sure what she was going to do, deciding to just stay still as it did despite having a bad feeling about it. Once it made contact he could feel her starting to drain the energy from him. He waited for a moment, expecting something more, but then realised that there wasn’t anything more, and quickly grabbed her arm, pulling it off his chest toward the side, but toward him as well, not intending to just let her take his energy, though still not making any effort to actually harm her.

Thalia had expected him to try something. He was a meddling kind of Jedi. This time though, he didn’t have a Lightsaber to defeat her with. She pulled her arm free quickly as he grasped it. Through gritted teeth she said softly “Not this time Jedi.” Then she took a step back and raised her hand to point at him. Dark Heal might be difficult for her, but Force Lightning was easy and she had a lot of anger to back it up. The energy shot from her fingertips at the Jedi in a several second burst. She couldn’t do too much damage or there would be no energy left to take, but if she had to set him back in line, she would.

Strago watched as she pulled away, then saw her raise her hand, knowing what was coming before it even did, instinctively raising his arms to block it, grunting very loudly as he felt it against him, doing his best to force it back, but not being very successful, especially without more preparation. He then immediately looked into her eyes once again, his face much more stern now, ignoring the pain from the lightning as he stood tall, obviously having no intention of giving in easily.

Thallia was exasperated by this Jedi’s continued defiance. Why couldn’t he just acknowledge her superiority? She changed the shape of her hand and grasped the Jedi’s throat with the Force, raising him up off the bed on which he was sitting quickly, before he could employ any of his damned resistance. “You’re doing this to yourself you stupid Jedi!” She half expected a response, but it was unlikely he’d be able to speak much with his throat crushed almost to breaking point.

Strago was once again able to tell what was coming before it happened, but had too little time to react to do much about it. Instinctively, he moved his hands toward his throat as the choke began, but he knew very quickly that it wouldn’t help him. His eyes continued to focus onto hers, the pain very obvious on his face, but a more aggressive look showing as well. It didn’t take him very long before he let out the strongest Force push he could muster in about half a second, directed right toward her shins, hoping it would knock her down, or at least throw her off balance.

The moment the Force push struck Thalia’s legs she dropped the Jedi out of the hold she had on him as she staggered. He was troublesome indeed. Her lightsaber whipped into her hand as she rapidly regained her balance. Then, rage overcoming pain, she reached out with her injured arm and willed the transfer of energy to occur once again, contact or no contact. There was nothing to indicate it to the eye, but she felt the transfer begin again, stronger this time. The flesh in her arm hurt intensely, but the bone suddenly repaired itself and the flesh next to it snapped together layer by layer. She held the Lightsaber between herself and the obstinate Jedi, purple blade active and ready to strike him down should he try anything.

Strago fell to the ground, able to react fast enough to make sure he landed standing. He watched Thallia as she took out her lightsaber, not making Strago much more scared from it, knowing that if she wanted him to die, it wouldn’t matter at all. He stood still as he watched her move her arm out, not moving for several seconds, but quickly able to tell that she was taking energy from him, noticing that he was already feeling weaker, sending another Force blast toward her legs while simultaneously using the Force to try to pull the lightsaber from her hands. He knew it was more a test of how much she was paying attention over an actual challenge of ability, but if he was going to lose his energy anyway, he intended for it to be on his own terms.

Thalia stumbled slightly with the attack on her legs, less than before. She was by no means an excellent duelist, but using the same attack twice in a row was something even she knew to be foolish, and so she had prepared. When she felt her Lightsaber begin to slip from her hand, she clenched down on it with both the Force and her hand. Strago had proven he could challenge Lord Sish with a Lightsaber. She didn’t want to go through that again. If he didn’t kill her, one of the other Sith probably would. Regardless, it was enough to disrupt the healing. blood veins that had moments ago been temporarily shut sprung open and her arm became quickly drenched in crimson as the now clean wound bled. She mustered her mind quickly and began again, only half focusing on the heal. The Rest of her mind was ready to resist whatever the Jedi felt he could attack her with next.

Strago began moving closer to her despite his plan not working. He walked toward her at a fast pace, knowing he needed to act urgently if he wasn’t going to be too weak to do something, but not wanting to go so fast that she would slice him with the lightsaber, “You’re the one who’s doing this to yourself, Sith.” He said, her words from not long ago still on his mind, “I could easily have helped heal you if only you had asked.” He added, partially to prove a point, but also to distract her, this time trying to pull her entire body toward him, prepared to grab at the lightsaber if the pull worked, but also ready to jump toward her if it didn’t, knowing that resisting the pull would be its own distraction that he could also capitalise on.

The Jedi was up then, talking and walking towards her. Offering help. “So could the medics with their Kolto. I wanted to do this- She was cut off by a Force pull. His talking had been just a distraction, but enough of one to pull her ahead. This time at least, no blood vessels were exposed and she didn’t bleed, but she did stagger towards the now much closer Jedi. In the process, she swung the Lightsaber wildly, grazing his chest with the tip of the blade. With her other hand she unleashed a wild burst of Force Lightning, desperate to avoid Stragos clutches again.

Strago grunted very loudly as the lightsaber went across his chest, this time yelling as he felt the lightning hit him, making no attempt at some kind of defence this time. Instead he began using the Force once more, just trying to move the lightsaber out of her grasp with it, not able to focus enough to try to get it to come in his direction because of the pain.

Regaining her Balance, Thallia felt another attack on her Lightsaber hand. The weapon remained in her grasp but the blade was flicked into the nearby Forcefield, the energy feedback from it causing the blade to flicker off. It did give Thallia an idea though. Not letting up with her Lightning, though controlling it a little more, she through the hardest Force push she could into the Jedi’s side, in an attempt to throw him into the Forcefield. Such a thing would cause great pain, and if she could she would hold him there with the Force until he blacked out.

Strago looked at the lightsaber, and just yelled even louder as the lightning continued. A moment later he felt a Force push bringing him toward the forcefield. He re-directed it as much as he could, grabbing toward Thallia, hoping to take her into it with him, or make her stop because of the chance of it.

Thallia was once again in the grasp of Strago, and now they both slammed into the ForceField. Pain coursed through her side at the touch, and she briefly felt her own Sith Lightning once again. As they both tumbled to the floor, she tried to activate her Lightsaber again. The first tap of the button did nothing. This was it, she was not getting out of it this time. The second tap - Nothing! She was going to die. Once more, this time, the purple blade flickered to life. She pulled her legs up towards herself, kneeing the Jedi in the groin as she went, and swiped the Lightsaber low. There was a distinct thump of something dropping to the ground as she rolled the two of them over and pushed away from Strago, standing and stepping back quickly. Next time, she’d get the Kolto for her injuries.

Strago made a very brief attempt to grab the lightsaber as they slammed into the forcefield, but was quickly overwhelmed by the pain. He kept his hands on her as much as he could, letting out a sound between a yell, and a grunt as she kneed him in the groin, letting go with his left hand, and instinctively moving it toward there, but gripping her clothing with his right quite tightly despite not having enough strength to actually take advantage of it in any way. After a moment, he yelled loudly, the pain of the lightsaber going through his shin, and calf not entirely registering for about a second. His grip was weak enough now to let her go as she backed away, quickly feeling himself fall to the ground. He was conscious enough to stop any attempt at further damage, but he felt far too weak to continue fighting for any other reason, feeling his consciousness slowly fading.

Thalia stood looking at what she’d done to the Jedi. All she could think of was the announcement that no Sith was allowed to remove anything that would not grow back from a Jedi. She was in shock. This could mean her death! She’d seen what happened to the last Sith who’d overstepped her bounds. Thallia didn’t wait to see what would happen. Instead, she ran. Straight out of the Prison cell and into the hallway. She took a moment to calm her breathing. She stopped by the Med-bay, grabbed a Kolto spray to finish healing her arm and said quickly to the medical staff “One of the Jedi’s been attacked! Someone cut his foot off with a Lightsaber. Quickly, go fix it while you can.” No sooner had the staff begun to move than she was herself out of the Medical bay and headed towards the security room. She had camera records to edit….

Stargate - H.M.S Tempest

Wolf dropped? Damn.... The ground team seems to have disturbingly high casualties.

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

'The torment of Viera'

Now showing on the IC.

Brought to you by Echo & Rtron productions.

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

As Zanna walked down the halls of the ship, idly checking to make sure she didn't have any blood on her clothes from those stupid, insignificant, insects that had dared to challenge her. Her mind flitted between the various threats, plans, and experiences that she had had recently, that demanded her attention. The Sith woman, Thallia who tried to have her killed. Sish, the brutish Trandoshan(how he became a Sith Lord she'll never know). Nyiss and the...pleasurable experience attributed to the Darth. Lea with her innocence and naivety. Jewel, though Zanna hadn't had the...delight of meeting the woman, she had heard of Jewel and she knew the human was on the ship. Doubtful the woman would just allow Zanna to take Nyiss's apprenticeship, even though it was hers by right of blood and superiority. She would have to be dealt with, sooner or later.

As she drew ever closer to the prisoners, she idly skimmed the minds of the crew, searching to see if she missed anything truly important. The first few were the usual. Mundane worries, base desires, and other things Zanna had absolutely no interest in. What one of the medical staff(as the man all but ran towards his next goal) was thinking about, however, drew the Pureblood up short(mentally, of course). Apparently, there had been an explosion...an escape attempt by a Jedi...the Jedi was back in prison, but the Trandoshan had been injured, along with his apprentice. The former had recovered nicely, while the latter was still recovering.

Leaving the man's mind, Zanna muttered a small curse. Sish had survived, which was disappointing and slightly irritating. If the lizard had just had the courtesy to die she would have had more time to deal with other, more important, nuisances. Still...he was injured. So that made things easier for her. As for his apprentice...Zanna struggled to remember what she knew about the Sith Lord's apprentice. Nothing much. Just a name, and a race.

As she approached a Sith Trooper, she made a mental note to learn more about the Zabrack. One could never be too careful after all. "You there, soldier. I want you to gather five non-jedi prisoners. A mother, a criminal, a republic soldier, a young man, and a young woman. The mother with her children alive and on this ship, preferably, the young woman with loved ones on this ship and alive as well. Send me all we know of these prisoners as well." After telling the trooper where to meet her with the prisoners, and how to send the information to her datapad, she gathered two more Sith troopers and went to Viera's cell, opening it. "You can either make this easy on yourself, or make this hard on yourself, I, nor they I suspect, don't care." She smiled at the Epicthanix, in an almost friendly manner.

Viera looked up sullenly at the Sith. There was no question that whatever the twisted woman had planned would be horrible. Her nervousness welled and she replied "I don't think I have a choice. Its not like you to provide realistic choices. Your hearts are blacker than your skin is red. Why don't you just kill us? It would be faster." Nonetheless, she stood and followed the Sith. If for no other reason than to ensure the other Jedi wouldn't have to watch whatever this Sith was going to do to her.

Zanna's smile never wavered. "You always have a choice. It's a matter of how intelligent you belive that choice would be. As for my black heart," She shrugged. "It seems to me that we appear to winning, black hearts and all. Coruscant razed to the ground, most of it's adult male population dead. The children are all slaves, the women, those that aren't whores or dead, along with them. You don't win a war through purity Jedi. And killing you would serve no purpose." With the Jedi following, closely watched by the two Sith Troopers, she lead them to a preselected torture chamber. Ushering Viera in, she turned on the two troopers, keeping an eye on the Jedi. "You, give me your sword." The Trooper, in a slightly surly manner, did as requested. "Now, both of you wait outside. Let the one coming with more in, with the amount I request at the time, and don't let the rest escape." With that, she stepped into the chamber, door closing behind her, giving a brief disgusted glance at the torture tools. Barbaric.

"It'll take a little bit for what I've requested to arrive. Might as well make yourself comfortable. Oh, and you'll want this." She slid the sword across the floor to the Jedi. A few moments passed before Zanna let curiosity get the better of her. "Viera, is it? How did you come to be captured on the Hask?"

Viera just looked at the sword as it was slid across the room to her. "Why would I tell you anything? Why do I need a sword? You aren't going to let me out. And don't you already know how I was captured? I'm sure you have reports. You know you don't have to do this. You could be the one to make a difference in the Sith order. You could let us all go." Viera was babbling, and it would probably annoy the Sith. But at least she was trying to save the poor woman.

Zanna raised an eyebrow as the girl began to babble. Then, deciding that it would be best to answer the questions first, one at a time, she began. "You don't have to tell me anything. Seeing as there will be no harm in the information I ask for, you don't need to be tight lipped either." She smirked slightly. "A problem you obviously don't have. You'll need the sword later, trust me. And no, I don't know how you were captured. I haven't read your report yet." That was a lie. She had read most if not all of the Jedi's files and repots from front to back almost as soon as they
became available. But, Viera didn't need to know that.

She gave a soft laugh at Viera's last words. "I don't have to do this. As I said before, there's always choices. I could let you all go, escape with you. I could make those choices. But, you see, the thing is, I've already made my choice. I want to do this. Morality, ethics, conscience, those are all meaningless and signs of weakness. Weakness that can be exploited. But let's imagine that I do want to betray the side I was born too, the side I'm utterly loyal to, the side I'd die for." Not really, but sounds nice doesn't it? Death wasn't appealing. Life on the other hand, was. "Assuming you've somehow convinced me to do with this, and I free you all, arm you, and then try to help you escape, what do you think will happen Jedi?"

As she waited for the Jedi to respond, she glanced down at her datapad, information about the coming prisoners. The young woman didn't have any siblings, sadly, and the mother didn't have any live children. The criminal was only a small time thief, and the soldier was a coward who had broken within the first day. Not exactly the cream of the crop for what she had planned, but nothing a few lies couldn't fix.
Despite the Sith womans assurances that she would need it, Viera left the sword where it was on the ground. She had a bad feeling that co-operating with the Sith would mean the deaths of innocents. "I think, if you did leave the Sith, you would eventually see the truth of the Light side of the Force and become Jedi. No-one is beyond redemption."

Zanna's eyebrows slowly rose as Viera spoke, staying high on her forehead for a few moments. "I think you're skipping a step. First we have to escape the ship with enough defenses to make it a ship version of Korriban. Then we have to escape any pursuit the very angry people will send after us. But we won't get to that step because I will have died a horrible death by then, and you would be back in the prison." She fell silent, tilting her head. "Redemption...I don't want or need redemption."

Viera maintained little hope of converting this Sith. Here in the midst of darkness, it was unlikely anyone would see the light. She kept trying at least. "If we were caught and killed, it would at least be better than the both of us being prisoners. I to the other Sith here, and you to the darkness that gave you no choice but to serve."

Zanna snorted. "You would live Jedi. Trust me. I, however, would die. Slowly. Painfully. As for slavery...I don't think I'm a slave to anything. I use the darkness. To rise in this universe I have to."And to survive in the world of the Sith. Before she could continue the, interesting, conversation, the Trooper she had sent to find the prisoners entered. "I've brought what you requested, my lord." Zanna peeked her head out, and gestured at the young man. "Bring him, leave the others." The young man shaking in sheer terror, but at least managing to retain his dignity, the Trooper did so. Zanna smiled at him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Then she ruthlessly took control of his mind. It wasn't that hard, and she was even able to prevent the scream that naturally leapt to his lips. The shaking stopped, and Zanna's smile and poster never changed. The blast doors were still opened, and Zanna forced the man to lie down between them(in a distinctly puppet like manner), head towards the Jedi. Still keeping a firm control over the man, Zanna turned to Viera. "What's going to happen is going to be very simple. I'm going to close the blast doors. I want you to stop it with the force. I won't try and stop you, nor will any of the troopers. This young man's life is in your hands." She could feel his panic and terror growing, raging inside of him, unable to do anything a she forced him to remain perfectly still.

"If you fail, he'll be cut in half in a very painful fashion."

Viera looked on as the poor man the Sith had brought in was Force Dominated. It was a horrible thing to see, his body moving awkwardly, placing himself between the toothed edges of the bulkhead doors. Her stomach turned at the knowledge of what those doors could do to him, and that the Sith would allow it. "H- How can you do this?" She stammered. "You can still stop this Sith... come back to the light..."
"I can't stop this. The choice is already in your hands. Let this young man, who used his sister as a shield after leaving his father to die, live, or let him die. I know what I would choose. But that's me. I'm far more interested in what you will choose." She smiled at Viera, sadly, before shaking her head. "You don't seem to get it. I don't want to go to the light. It is weak, and foul, and infested with hypocrasy. I'm not suggesting the dark is perfect, as perfection is an unobtainable goal at best, but it's better and more honest than the light.
"As for how I can do this....very easily. I'll give you to the count of three. Then I'm pressing the button. 3...2..." Zanna smiled again at Viera, only this one was far more predatory. "1."

Viera was aparalyzed by indecision. on one hand, the Sith said this man was a monster, but she was probably lying. No-one deserved to die, by the tennets of the Jedi code, even the most horrifying of Sith Lords did not deserve death. But what could Viera do? Attacking the Sith would be giving in to her anger. She wasn't strong enough to stop the doors. And time was ticking far too quickly. Turning to the man on the ground she spoke "I'm sorry..." was all she managed in the short time remaining.

Zanna pushed the button, allowing the man one scream of terror before the doors closed on him. It was bloody. The snapping and crunching of the pelvis and hip bones could be heard, and blood splattered the blast doors. The man's scream turned from terror to unimaginable pain. He was still alive, if bleeding an obscene amount of blood from where his waist used to be, and having his entrails exposed and hanging. He was scrabbling and clawing at the floor, screaming and gibbering and calling for his mother.

Zanna opened the blast doors again, allowing the man to crawl away in his insanity, his face twisted with pain, entrails dragging behind him, leaving a trail of blood,and closed them again. Her eyes had never left Viera once. "Interesting. I would have thought that you would have made even the most paltry of efforts, rather than letting him die. Perhaps you're not as close to your light as you'd have me believe. Regardless, I did give you a sword for a reason. Put him out of his misery, if you want to. Or, let him suffer an agonizing death. Once again, your choice."

Viera fought back tears at the sight. Never in her life had she witnessed such brutality, and to think that it could be committed by a sentient being... It was more than she could witness. She squeezed shut her eyes and started to speak the Jedi code. "There is no emotion, there is peace." She began, softly. "There is no ignorance, there is knowledge." Louder now. "There is no passion, there is serenity." She focused on the peaceful feeling of being amongst the shelves of the archives. "There is no Chaos, there is harmony." Her anger and horror began to wash away. She opened her eyes and looked at the Sith then. "There is no death... There is the Force."

Zanna had to strain to hear over the screaming of the man who still wasn't dead. But she caught the words the Jedi was reciting, and chuckled again. Amusing. Interesting. Hypocrisy. She let Viera finish the Jedi code, and then walked over to her meeting the Epicthanix's eyes. "There is no emotion? That's a lie, jedi. There is always emotion. You killed this man. You caused his death, and you are the reason he is still suffering. You could have stopped me. An attack, a plea, the use of the force. But no. You stood there and watched, secure in your Jedi ideals. You watched, as I pressed a button you could have stopped. I gave you plenty of time to prepare. You could have even pulled him out of the way. But you didn't."

She pointed at the man, still screaming and howling and crawling. "This is your fault. I pressed the button, but you allowed it to happen."
Viera met the Siths eyes and stared defiantly as she spoke. What she said only proved her monstrous addiction to the dark side. Viera then replied, her voice cold. "Don't try to twist your actions on to me Sith. You said yourself that you do not have to do this. The only responsibility for this man is yours. You want me to show you the light, and I have tried to tell you it is within you already. But you don't want to hear me." She then knelt next to the screaming man and reached into his mind with the Force, using all her skill to calm his mind and block off the pain, letting him die in peace. "I'll not do anything you demand of me that brings injust death Sith." Even as she projected calm and strength towards the sith, her heart was slowly breaking to know such cruelty existed.

Zanna laughed, a cruel tone to it. "I'm twisting nothing Jedi. I don't have to do this. But I want to. And, the responsibility of mine ended when I gave you the opportunity to save him. I have no illusions about myself. I'm cruel, ambitious, ruthless. I'm what you would classify as evil. I killed this man. And I'll kill again. But, don't the Jedi preach to the masses that they are protectors. Heros. People who would do the best they could to prevent an innocent from dying an agonizing death?" She watched as the Jedi walked over to the man, calming him and blocking off his pain.

"Oh no Jedi. You're not getting off that easily." With that, she fought against the workings of the Jedi, turing the man's mind into a battle ground.
Viera felt the Siths influence spreading into the mans mind, reigniting the pain he felt and heightening it. She was a hypocrit. "Get away Sith! You asked me to save this man from his pain, and thats what I'm doing! You asked me to act, I'm acting! Is that not good enough for you?" The mans mind was fragile as it was, and with the battle of wills taking place there, it snapped with ease. His body began to shake, his mouth froth and his ears bleed. Seconds passed as Viera realised that this was probably the Siths goal all along. She cut off her attempt to calm him then immediately, and with the lgihtside energy stopping, his mind was destroyed instantly under the Sith's assault. His body stopped moving. He'd finally expired.

"See what you did Sith. You killed him. You don't want me to act as a Jedi. All you want is to witness the pain of innocent people."

Zanna snorted, ignoring the corpse. "I didn't say you could save him Jedi. I gave you two choices. Kill him, or let him die. What you did was only useless. It served no purpose than to make yourself feel better." She walked away to the blast doors, opening them to speak to the troopers. They seemed, for the most part, numb to the whole experience. Just another day in the service of the Sith. The prisoners, on the other hand, were terrified and in various stages of weeping. "Bring in her, and him." She ordered, pointing at the criminal and the young woman.
The two were thrust into the torture cell, and Zanna turned back to the Jedi. "Why don't you explain how you came to be upon this ship." She said to the criminal, force persuasion being used heavily of course. "I was looting an abandoned home, when the Sith attacked. I got scared, and ran for cover. One other joined me in the mad panic. A young kid, he couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen. The Sith troopers caught up with us and I threw the kid at them to buy me time to run. Obviously, they still caught me." The man fell silent, tear streaks still evident on his cheeks.

"And what about you?" Zanna asked the young woman. "I-I was with my husband. We were at one of the sites of the initial attack, and they caught us within moments. I tried to run when my husband screamed at me to..but there were so many people. So much panic.." Quite suddenly she did more than Zanna asked for. "Please, don't kill me! I don't want to di-" "Silence." Zanna spoke quite calmly, but the wave of force persuasion shut the woman's jaw faster than the blast doors.

"Now, Jedi, I have a simple question for you. Who shall live? One of them must die, and it'll be your choice. And, before you get any notions of refusing to choose either, let me give you a tidbit of information. For every four hours you don't choose one, I'll take three more innocents, who won't have to die if you choose one of these innocents to die, and kill them slowly and painfully in front of you. I have a very large group of prisoners to select from, and even if you last that long, I'll move on to your friends." Zanna's eyes were unwavering. "Choose. The criminal, or the wife."

Viera was confused. She just couldn't figure out what this Sith wanted of her. To choose a prisoner to kill, yes, but why? "Why would you do this Sith? Whats the purpose of it all? For all I know, you'll keep asking me to choose until there is no-one left on this ship. What will you do If I do choose?"

"Knowledge Jedi. I know how a fellow Sith would react to this, and I have an inkling of how a Grey Force sensitive would react. But I have no clue as to how a Jedi would react when faced with two evils. Or if the information presented to them would affect their decision at all. See, if I hadn't made them tell you anything about how they were captured, you would have randomly killed one. Simple enough. But now, you must decide who is more worthy of living. Who is more worthy of death. As for keep asking you to choose, no. That would be a waste." Zanna gestured at the two, silent but shaking, prisoners. "I'd suggest you hurry. My patience is wearing thin, and three more can be easily summoned."

"You're wrong Sith..." Viera started. She knew that what she was about to say could get her and these poor people into even more trouble. But She would not compromise the Jedi ways. Especially not for a Sith's cruel whims. "No-one deserves to die. Not the criminal. Not the Wife. Even you can be saved... I wont choose which to kill. If I must deliver Judgement, I say lock the criminal up for... um, a decade or two. But no one is to die. If you really have to kill someone Sith... let it be me."

"Your choice Jedi. I'll even do you a favor this time, and only bring in two." She opened the blast doors and called to the guards. "Bring them both in, if you please." The mother and the republic soldier were ushered in, and the troopers stepped out once more. Zanna opened the blast doors and turned to the mother, using Force Persuade on the broken woman's mind. "Lie down with your leg where the door will close." The mother complied, and Zanna turned to Viera. "I gave you the choice, and warned you of the consequences. You chose this."
Viera knew the Sith would do this. Unlike last time, she'd had enough time to make up her mind. She rushed into the gap between the doors, standing protectively over the woman whose legs were extended. If the doors shut now, it would be a swift and painful end for Viera. "I told you Sith." She said, her voice cold. "Not to hurt them."

Zanna sighed, and held up a hand palm towards Viera. "I had hoped that you would last longer than this, but there are more Jedi, after all." Taking a deep breath,as if preparing for something, she pressed the button. The doors sprang towards the Jedi, prepared to end the life of the Epicthanix and take the leg off of the woman. Focus...Focus... Zanna thought, using the force to slow the doors. Close, too close. The doors were still moving forward, and the there wasn't much room left for the Jedi before she became two halves of a Jedi.

Zanna lifted her other hand and used the Force to pull the Jedi out of the way. The damn fool of a girl was just standing there with her eyes tightly shut, waiting for the end. Well, that wasn't coming anytime soon. As the Jedi was yanked away, out of harms way, Zanna released her hold on the doors gasping slightly in relief. The doors slammed shut and the woman screamed and Zanna briefly crossed over and sliced off another slim section of the woman's leg with her lightsaber. Couldn't have her bleeding out.

Zanna turned back to Viera. "Choose. Or I slowly cut off her leg to the hip, then start on her other leg. Then her arms. Then her torso. Then I move to the soldier." She gestured towards the republic soldier, standing and shaking off to the side.

Viera shrieked as she was pulled from between the doors, though her own voice was drowned out by that of the innocent woman. Tears streamed down her face. This Sith was a monster. How could she stand in the light amidst such all encompassing darkness? But no. She would not choose. Could not choose. This had to end.

She gathered her will and with a sudden gesture she Force pushed at Zanna's Lightsaber with all her might, hoping to throw it against the wall
hard enough to damage it.

Zanna, already holding tightly onto her lightsaber, stumbled as the lightsaber was nearly torn from her grasp. While she managed to keep her grasp on the lightsaber, her knuckles took the blow meant for her lightsaber. She let out a small curse in her native language reflexively. It wasn't the pain, she had felt much worse in her years as an apprentice to her previous master, it was the surprise of the whole thing. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at the Epicthanix. Oh, how she wanted to make the bitch pay for that little stunt...but it was clear she was close to
becoming a wreck, and that wouldn't do at all.

She pushed the other prisoners out and told the guards, in a flat tone, "Take them back to containment. I'll deal with the jedi and the one legged woman. Send someone to clean up this mess though." Audible sighs of relief could be heard from the spared souls, while the woman Zanna had sliced a leg off of with blast doors continued moaning. The troopers and their prisoners soon left. Casually, Zanna force pulled the sword to her that she had intended for Viera to use and shoved it through the stomach of the woman Viera had tried to save, dragging it up and down a few times, as the woman screamed. It wouldn't be a quick death, and Zanna wanted the Jedi to know it.

"Let's get you back to your cell, Jedi. Can't have you staring at this woman who you doomed to die slowly for hours, can we?" Zanna gave a sweet, mocking, smile. "And no trying to ease her pain. Or I'll make it worse and I'll make sure you have to watch." She added sharply. Gesturing to the blast doors, "Lets go.."

Viera watched in horror as her attempt to disarm the Sith failed. When the Sith cursed, she felt the wash of rage emanate from the woman, and she expected the worst. She was, however, surprised to see that the Sith then chose to let them all go. Until, of course, the red-skinned monster pulled the jagged sword into her hand and plunged it into the injured womans stomach. Viera's eyes snapped shut as the woman screamed. It was all she could do to hold back tears. She was about to reach out to the woman, but then the Sith threatened to worsen the manner of ths poor inncoents death even more. Viera felt weak, she'd witnessed such horrific cruelty, and it was getting to be more than she ever imagined she could handle. She followed lamely as she was half dragged back to her cell, refusing to give the Sith the final satisfaction of her breaking down into tears.

The moment the cell doors slammed shut though, her body was wracked with sobbing and her face was wet with tears. How could such evil exist in the galaxy? How could such horrific acts occur?

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

FallenReaper/SunderedEcho - Khan/Xyden

As soon as Xyden saw that attention was no longer centered on Khan he slithered forward through the crowd to reach him. He had to find out exactly how welcome he was here. He reared to his full height when he reached Khan, to match the stature of the Esyire. When he spoke, his voice was wet and alien, and he spoke slowly, as if unused to speaking at all. “I bring greetings from the Depths… I am here on behalf of the Ocean Naga, seeking knowledge.” he looked expectantly at the Esyire for an answer, trying to avoid flicking his tongue out or quivering his fins in anticipation.

Khan stood there, his eyes watched the creature with a slight curiosity in his expression but make sure not to appear aggressive. It seemed, like the Naga before, the reptile’s height wasn’t completely reached until he rose up to be on eye level. A slight relief not to have to stare down and strain his neck, the Esyire listened to the male’s deep voice declare his origins as well as his race in a simple statement. Khan’s body made no movement at first. He stood there, both mentally sized up the situation for a bit then seemed to relax. “It seems you’re not the only Naga that has arrived at the College this week but arrived with a teacher, Tyrael, earlier than you.”

He took a breath and then continued, his mind wandered over the same speech he gave the one called Mar before. That didn’t, at least at first, to have much effect yet there wasn’t any incidents so something clicked. “As you know, you’re welcomed as long you bear no ill intentions at any one protected by these walls. Harm and violent prejudice will not be tolerated by me or any Twilight College staff. You’re allowed to your opinions and view, however as long as they don’t exceed pass verbal. Is there any specific requirements you need for your stay, if you chose to remain in the College?”

Xyden could not suppress his surprise at hearing of another Naga, and it would be evident to Khan that the news had unsettled him somewhat. “No other Naga have come from the Depths…” He said, before deciding to leave the matter for now. It was possible the Matriarchs had sent another without telling him. He thought about the other things Khan said. He didn’t really intend to express any views at all unless someone really wanted to know. He didn’t understand the Surface Dwellers and they certainly wouldn’t understand him or the ways of his people. “I wish to learn… Hydromancy…” He said, still unsure of the unfamiliar word.

“Then you would be studying with our Joseph Windsor, the Hydromancy teacher, learning to manipulate water. Maybe one day learn also to manipulate Cryomancy, or ice, as well. Joseph’s a Snow Elf so you’ll likely have to look down to meet him at eye level. You won’t begin training until tomorrow as the teachers of each MageBlood use the Opening Feast to allow students a chance to what abilities are unique with each magic and some like to show off a bit. Either way, its going to be a wonderful show and I encourage your presence even if its just see what you could one day be capable of.” Khan had considered what else he should say, yet it seemed better to allow the Naga to lead this conversation. The creature seemed uncomfortable, noted namely from Xyden’s hesitation in saying his mageblood, to say the least.

Xyden was pleased to hear the Archmage accept his presence so easily. The stories that this place would take almost anyone had proved true. “I will try to be there…” He said by way of reply to the invitation to this grand feast. With the most pressing matter out of the way, what remained was more for his comfort than a vital necessity. “Where is the nearest body of Water? Have you any water filled areas large enough for me within these walls?” He had had enough of dryness. He was very much looking forward to being submerged again and he hoped with all his might the College would have some watery areas.

Khan blinked for a moment at the Naga’s request. The Esyire’s mind drew a blank for several seconds as to the reason until finally it registered, namely since the creature and Mar only share a vague few traits. He shook his mind back into thinking once more then took time to reply. “Depending on how much you require and how quickly. If you would like, I can have Uicle call a few of his water Golems that would aid in keeping you wet until Val, Justine, and Joseph can create a pool for you. It won’t be as deep as the sea but at least it would better then just sticking it out on land. There’s also another option to consider is having one of the intermediate or advance Rune students create a rune necklace for when you tread on land. Can’t promise how many times you can use it but it’s a notion and good idea when you might need to travel. The College is known for doing missions for other cities, towns and local areas which we use for practice and aid in strengthening our mages’ magic.”

He waited for the Naga’s reaction, good or negative, as his eyes shifted to one of the College’s guards. “ Go fetch Val, tell her to bring Joseph and Justine, for a task I have. Also, have Val bring one of her Rune she uses for water creatures along as well.”

Xyden hadn’t expected the college staff to go so much out of their way for him the moment he arrived. He was slightly taken aback by their generosity. Khan seemed to be offering a means by which he would never have to be dry again. “That… Would be much… appreciated.” Xyden managed. He was completely unused to anyone doing anything for him. Normally he was the one serving others. Such was the life of a Myrmidon. There was another task set or him by the Matriarchs yet to do - discover the state, and threat, of the rest of the world. But that could wait. “While I wait… Have you any… recommendations?”

Khan took a moment to think, mainly because he had to determine the best options and weigh them. After a pause, he let his muzzle crack into another smile. “My first suggestion is to determine what you need in your head then list it off to a Dwarf like woman, wearing sooty gloves, goggles and looks like she’s been out of a forge. If you happen to get that down first then it might a good idea to interact a bit. That is if its not going to make you uncomfortable. It would make things slightly smooth at the Feast and more pleasant all around, some of these student might end up being in a mission with you or class together.”

The Esyire said that in earnest and fully felt it would aid the Naga’s acceptance here, even a bit. He added, “Is there anything else you need of me?”

Xyden looked for a moment at Khan. He seemed to think it would be a good idea for him to interact with all these Land Striders. Get to know them. That wasn’t why he was here. “No…. You have already done much.” He nodded at the Esyire before slithering away towards the dwarf woman who had appeared from a nearby door. He had many requirements to recreate the environments of home - volcanic vents for heating and light, sheltering outcrops, and enough room to swim a little. He doubted he’d get that much, and certainly not straight away, but even a small pool to sleep and relax in would be worth it.

Star Wars: Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Well that's not good...

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

This OOC is insane...

Stargate - H.M.S Tempest

We're on planet folks.