Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

A Celebration

Baston of Ren - Rooftop
Shortly after the battle at the First Order's blockade
Sunset over the jungle of Virgillia. It was an oddly tranquil, warm evening. The jungle's humidity had faded thanks to the season's cooler weather. The cries of local wildlife were soothing, there was no hint of the monsters that lurked beneath the canopy, only the tame and calm calling of birds and beasts. Stood on a stone balcony overlooking the vast jungle was the figure of a small girl, no older than her late teens, gazing into the distance. The scene would look to an outward observer to be harmless. They would have no hint of the dangers which lurked beneath the jungle's trees. They would have no hint of the dangers which lurked beneath the girl's skin.

The girl, Samka Derith, shifted her position on the call of a woman behind her, one of the Disciples of Ren. A relatively small wooden table had been brought up with three chairs. On the table rested a large plate of roasted meat next to a smaller plate of vegetables, a bowl of sauce and bottles of wine and juice. It was all freshly prepared, entirely harvested from the jungles by Disciples over the last week or so. It was nice, Samka reflected, to be self-sufficient.

"I have prepared it exactly as you asked, Ma'am," the other Ren bowed as Samka inspected the feast.

"Well done." Samka smiled at her underling, "I'll be sure to save you some of the healthier parts for your trouble." Samka knew first hand the diets trainees were kept to could be harsh but there were a few parts of the dish which could be given as a reward. "Thank you again, you may return to your other duties," Samka nodded respectfully to the Disciple who returned the gesture and left.

Samka reclined back against the balcony wall, now she had to wait here for the pair she'd invited to make their entrance. It was frustrating, she was hungry and the feast called to her but it shouldn't be too long.

[member="Ara Zambrano"] had narrowly escaped death during the blockade. While she shielded herself from serious injury, Samka remained somewhat concerned for her health. It could be good to treat her, to give the woman a surprise. The other invitee was [member="Brennan Cabrol"]. Samka had noted placing them together was more successful in creating a bond than she'd hoped, the pair were loyal to one another, perhaps even friendly. Having the boy there may relax the situation somewhat.

So she waited, trying not to stare at the meat too much.
 
Every step she took brought with it a wave of agony, an icy shard of pain lancing up through her knee and into her hip with each impact of boot against stone. Bone, muscle, and cartilage grated against each other as the Master of Ren ascended to the rooftop of the hidden fortress, the exquisite features of her Hapan heritage set into a neutral, yet pleasant smile despite the white-hot lightning radiating from her joint with every stride. Paired with the pervasive ache of a shoulder recently reset into its socket, Ara found her time since the First Order blockade of the Hydian Trade Route dominated by the simple act of managing her pain threshold, as well as ensuring she did nothing to exacerbate the healing process. Aggravating was the word that continuously came to mind, each labored step bringing the woman closer to the impromptu gathering and the pulsating Darkness that awaited her arrival.

Wind whistled through the stone corridor, a slight chill carried on the night air, the scent of fresh rain and growing earth breaking through the normal odor of damp granite. Pausing in her stride, the Arch-Queen inhaled deeply once, ignoring the twinge of pain from her shoulder with even so simple a movement. The soft sounds of jungle wildlife filtered in, her sensitive hearing picking up that which others would struggle to identify. A second set of foot-steps approached from behind, the distance between them rapidly shrinking as he moved with a swift and purposeful stride, in drastic contrast to her hobbled gait.

Gritting her teeth behind the mask of a smile, Ara once again pushed herself away from the wall, resuming her course with a posture born of practice, all signs of internal struggle well hidden behind a straight back and easy expression.

The scent of a freshly prepared feast wafted across the terrace as the Arch-Queen emerged with little flourish, the figure of [member="Brennan Cabrol"] not far behind. The hem of her cloak whipped about in the light breeze, the dark fabric contrasting nicely with her pale skin and crimson irises. A dark tunic, pants, and simple boots completed her outfit, threads of gold and silver woven into the wrists and sides the only adornment, clothing that was made for comfort and movement rather than protection the current order of the day. The thin fabric of a sling could be made out beneath her outer layers as the wind whipped itself into a powerful, but short-lived gust, her right arm held immobile for as long as she could stand. A belt held the smooth metal of her two prized weapons just above her hips, one, the lightwhip on her right, a gift from the young Overlord standing across the balcony from her.

The corners of her lips turned up a bit more, a bit of warmth peeking out from behind eyes that otherwise shone with suspicion, a small half-bow directed to the violet-haired teen leaning against the edge of the rooftop. An assessing gaze cast over the assembled platters, eyebrows winging up in a bit of surprise and question at the small feast laid before them. To say that such a spread was not what the young Zambrano had been expecting when she’d accepted the invitation to join [member="Samka Derith"] for the evening would have been an understatement.

”To what do I owe this honor?”

A honeyed purr, dripping with laughter and skepticism crossed her lips, eyes catching Sam’s with a slight raise of her brows. Despite the easy-going tone, a thread of apprehension curled within her gut, a spark of iron shinning behind amber flecked irises.
 
The days since the recent blockade across the Hydian Trade Route had been less than ideal; aside from the training of his two apprentice's [member="Elensa Jari"] and [member="Xiomar Ren"], his time had been spent watching over the injured Queen of Panatha least she fall prey to the terrorist filth they had sought to strike the first of many a blow against their so called Alliance. [member="Ara Zambrano"] had become an ally within the Order itself for which Caehl Ren had come to trust beyond the expectations of their associations among their peers, nor the will of [member="Sieger Ren"] himself. Caehl, a man of crippling emotional torment and the determination to offer himself to the indoctrination of the Knights of Ren with the utmost conviction, quite frankly struggled a great deal with the sudden influx of personal ambition and dare he say it, attachments to another since the coming into his second life by way of his Essence Transfer.

No longer the combination of cybernetics, sundered flesh and muscle tissue but the revitalization of his natural older self, his appearance now had been re-imagined through the DNA taken from the corpse of his former husk; the phrik of his cybernetics pried from his aesthetic replacements used to create his lest expression of Darkness, The Lightsaber of Caehl Ren. This change and removal of technologies hindering his presence in the Force had empowered his presence within the Darkside, like the blood running through his veins, the power of the force flowed through his renewed form with intimidating vigor, the Knight of Ren making a statement loud and clear to those whom crossed him in sight, his aura dense and provocative, disregarding personal space with the reminder that his every move commandeered the influence of his internal hatred, the turmoil of his battle being waged within himself, individualism and fantasist desire to surrender himself to the will of the Supreme Leader; his readiness to cut down those that would stand in the way of the dominance of the First Order across the Galaxy. Only in war times had he truly felt alive, up until most recently thanks to Sarathiel Ren and her connection to [member="Darth Carnifex"], he of the Sith and ironically those whom Caehl Ren had hunted and been hunted by in the past.

"Decitus..." Caehl Ren stopped alongside Sarathiel to greet [member="Samka Derith"] with a bow of his head in acknowledgement and respect of her place of authority above the two of them; while Ara herself was a Master of the Order of Ren, Decitus Ren was second only to the Supreme Leader himself. Brennan's attire was not that of his Armor nor even the Helm that would otherwise have hidden his true face from others, instead, before Samka Derith and Ara, they whom knew him better than any within the Order needed no such insult to their grasp over his influence and upbringing since his entrance into the Ren. Looking ever the appearance of an Officer of the First Order's military strength, his hair slicked back and his face fresh and cleanly shaven; his gaze fell upon the younger Overlord of their grandiose Order. He too found himself indeed curious over this invitation she had brought upon them both, Dinner having been a farcry from the consequences of his involuntary and unsanctioned use of Sith Magics to alter his very livelihood; rarely did such acts escape the notice of the First Order Security Bureau, let alone Samka's access to the recordings of the Knights former Ocular Neural Interface.
 
The pair had arrived in short order, apparently together as expected. Samka smiled in acknowledgement on their approach and gestured for the two to take a seat opposite her.

"A gathering of sorts," she answered [member="Ara Zambrano"] as she sat down. "I was slightly concerned about your injuries and... your mental health. You have been thrown into quite the position on Panatha with such little preparation. I was wondering how you were coping, with everything, right now." Samka poured herself a glass of juice as she spoke. "Not to be overly sentimental but you are valued and I'd hate to have you wasted."

The girl's eyes flickered over to [member="Brennan Cabrol"] as she continued, "You're here as a trusted partner. I gather the two of you have become rather close since you were paired, entirely your own business of course, so long as it does not intervene with any objectives." She took a quiet sip of her drink letting the others ponder on the meaning of her words, if there were any, before adding: "Oh and please, help yourselves."

"You see, Ara, I recall when I found you that you enjoyed the company of the other members of the order in a casual social environment," Samka performed a sweeping gesture with one arm, "this would be it. We can say now that your choice of company at the time was... flawed," a teasing smile crossed the teen's face for a brief moment, "but here we are. I'd like you to be at ease."

Perhaps she was over thinking it but to Samka, she herself seemed awkward. She wasn't used to having to entertain socially as herself. It certainly didn't feel natural. Next time, maybe she should arrange a mutually agreeable date and time rather than having her guests summoned by their Overlord. This was all practice and already she was learning lessons.

"So Brennan," she turned to the male Ren in their company, aware she'd spoken to Ara more. "How are you finding your time on Panatha? It's an interesting world, is it not?"
 
[member="Samka Derith"]'s favoring that of [member="Ara Zambrano"] in the way of conversation hadn't surprised nor phased him in the slightest, frankly he was accustomed to such etiquette through social gatherings as he both struggled with his own freedoms of individuality and so too simply owned that background for which he often stood, given his being their undistinguished in rank. A Knight of Ren stood before that of an Overlord of the Order of Ren and Ara herself, she of whom stood as Queen of Panatha as well as holding the position and title of Master of Ren, his typical demeanor within their presence was that of silent interest and observation; or at-least it would have been had Decitus Ren not turned the discussion towards him in question as to how he was getting on with his station on Panatha alongside their companion in royalty.

"It has been enlightening, Decitus, I will say that much" Brennan responded; "I am glad to remind the Sith for which believe themselves connected to the Pacanth Expanse that the reach of the First Order is vast and our authority is not theirs to dispute...", that great distaste he had for the likes of the Sith Empire and all who considered themselves a party to such shone within the corrupted hue of his eyes, his Formal Attire doing nothing to mask the expression of dissent from his peers when mentioning such unrefined rabble. Friends of their Government or not, they had their place and in Brennan's mind it was better fit beneath the heel of his boot only to apply further pressure should they seek to give him any further incentive. Ironic however, that the Dark Lord of the Sith was the one responsible for his recent Essence Transfer, Ara of whom carried the name Zambrano most frustratingly to his mind, had done well to keep this fact from him, yet he wasn't so dim witted to believe that such dark workings could have come from many other avenues outside of the First Order's control. Some things were quite honestly better left unspoken.

"Is that why you've called us here, now?" He lifted his head slightly, his gaze crossing to Ara momentarily before focusing back on their Superior, most intrigued; "It has been some time since you have asked for my company, after all. I expected that you might have need for me in...Other pursuits, those of priority to the Supreme Leader". Be it a mission or some form of importance requiring his position within the Order of Ren, an assassination or the elimination of opposition to their grandiose power within the Galaxy, anything but a tea party for social practices...Like Samka Derith, this wasn't particularly his strong suit either.
 
”An oversight you have been more than willing to correct, Decitus.”

The easy chuckle answered the question as to her ascension to the throne, a knowing look shared between the two women, the reference to the multitude of private lessons on etiquette, politics, and diplomacy not passing unnoticed as Ara accepted a seat at the small table with an inclination of her head. A small glimpse of something, an emotion atypical for the Zambrano, flashed in the back of her irises as [member="Samka Derith"] so casually referenced her worth, the gears in Ara’s mind whirling, a small thread of some unfamiliar emotion twisting its way into her gut. Despite this, the neutral smile never wavered, save for a slight wince as she settled into the chair, her recently shattered knee protesting the movement as new wounds were often want to do.

Anger rose to the forefront at the mention of her former companions, the quick flash of rage and disappointment chasing away the small tendrils of pride and warmth the Master’s gracious welcome had pulled forth. Flawed was perhaps the kindest description of the man she’d briefly shared a bed with and the woman who had chosen to betray those once considered family. A rebuttal rose to her lips before dying as the teasing smile was caught, a soft shake of the head and a chuckle her only response as the Arch-Queen poured herself a glass of wine, the young Overlord’s attention having moved on for the moment.

The simple task distracted the Hapan for a moment, a growl withheld in her throat as she struggled with the weight of the glass decanter balanced precariously in her non-dominant hand. Should either of her companions notice the difficulty with which she completed the task, a stony gaze would meet their own, silently daring them to comment as she settled for a half-filled goblet and a few splashes of the maroon liquid against the stone table-top.

"It has been enlightening, Decitus, I will say that much.”

A curl of ruby lips revealed her amusement to the understatement in the Knight’s words, a sip of the wine preventing any comment to pass her lips and interrupt his own response to the young woman’s inquiries, the smooth burn of alcohol coating her throat. Suspicion returned as Brennan voiced the question that was burning in her mind, the true purpose as to their meeting here, Ara having spent enough time with the violet-haired youth to know that all too often, there was a deeper meaning behind the Master’s actions. The meal they shared now might, in fact, be a moment to check up on the Queen and her partner, but skepticism ran deep, her gaze rising to meet the matching gaze of the teen, eyebrows raised in silent repetition of [member="Brennan Cabrol"] ’s inquiry.
 
Playful mirth twinkled in the girl's eyes as she saw how [member="Ara Zambrano"] rose so easy to the bait. There was no maliciousness to it but she did so enjoy toying with the hot blooded woman.

So when she caught a glimpse of Ara struggling with her wine glass, she couldn't resist the challenge of the stony glare, by returning with her playful smirk. "Shall I call a servant to aid you, your majesty? Clearly you've fallen out of practice at feeding yourself."

"Remind me," she said as her attention returned to [member="Brennan Cabrol"], "we'll have to speak more of the Sith at a later date, you ought not to be so utterly dismissive of them. Those who stand in our way shall, quite rightly, be crushed but the majority don't. Many times our goals are aligned, we share many common foes, and do remember that it was a pair of Sith Lords, the Lords Sidious and Vader, who reformed the Galactic Republic into the original Galactic Empire - the nation from which we are directly descended." She passed Brennan a glass, realising he was yet to partake in this feast, perhaps the boy was nervous about dining with superiors? "Just some thoughts to consider, Caehl."

"Is that why you've called us here, now?" The Knight had asked.

At first Samka frowned, "You're here to enjoy the wonder and merriment of my company, are you displeased?" The frown, however, quickly gave way to the familiar smirk she wore when in good humour betraying the remark as a jest.

Yet that too disappeared with a long, deep exhale of breath from the young Ren. Her voice turned neutral and authoritative, any warmth or lightly teasing tones gone.

"Status report of any and all changes since the beginning of your assignment together. Now, if you'd please."
 
The legends for which the names Vader and Sidious had been passed upon were widely recognized by all that knew of the Sith themselves, such a reputation that had shaken the Galaxy at large while they were in power and yet they too had eventually been beaten; not by any Jedi Order as a collective body but one Jedi Master backed by a criminal cell rebelling against the Imperial regime for which was meant to emphasis true might and dominance across their new era of peace and security. Such stories were but a matter of opinion, the past of which had come before them and held no regard for the future of their individual lives nor the success of the First Order for the battles that were certain to follow them. In response to the young Decitus Ren's challenging his theories, Brennan simply offered her a brief and arrogant smirk, skepticism more than evident across the gaze that he held upon his superior, her supposed favor of these myths doing nothing for them today.

"Panatha remains secure, I have seen to the training of a dozen loyal servants for which will assure [member="Ara Zambrano"]'s safety should I be required to serve the Supreme Leader in other matters of priority. These men and women have been trained with a multitude of weapons and abilities within the Force and have since been released from my command directly into Ara's own" Caehl Ren, no matter how much lower in the chain of hierarchy within the Order of Ren he was, was good at his job. Bespin had shown him the humility of failure, a point of rock bottom for which he had demanded compromise and improvement over. He would never fail in his set tasks to such a miserable degree as he had that day and every day since was a testament to this. "Our good Queen has also been provided with a new attire for which has been empowered through the Sith arts of Alchemy. Favor them as you do, you might be interested in knowing that this is such a skill that I have taken on myself...-Despite my dislike for their kind, such techniques are best utilized to serve the Ren rather than to work against us...".

"Finally...-I have set into work a new production line of armor for the Order" he concluded, his left hand lifting to decline the offer of the drink from [member="Samka Derith"], choosing to forgo the refreshments and foods offered in place of his focus and priority on the real reason for which they'd been called upon, business finally at hand it seemed. "Most other matters you are no doubt aware of. The Galactic Alliance's futile attempt to stop us at the Hydian Way's recent blockade...-Or Queens former savior was there, [member="Bryce Bantam"]. He seems eager to meddle in her affairs though he will be lucky should he show himself again and survive the encounter", Brennan turned to offer Ara a sparing glance knowing well she would be frustrated by his reporting the rogue criminal; it was a personal affair to her though to Brennan he remained an enemy that needed to be dealt with soon before he grew into a much larger problem for the First Order itself.
 
”You could always do it yourself…”

The purring, suggestive response belied the embarrassment and frustration swirling within, the knuckles wrapping around the thin stem of the glass turning white as fingers clenched tighter, the only visible sign of her anger while the entirety of her expression stayed playful. Her right arm rested against her side, restrained as it was by the sling, a dead weight that itched to be used despite the advice against it. An attempt the young Zambrano might have made had the thought not crossed her mind that outright dropping the glass when her shoulder decided to give out would be a greater failure than a slightly shakily grip. Instead, she playfully saluted the young Overlord with her glass before taking another sip, the warmth of the liquid complementing the warmth of her emotions knotted in her gut.

A slight tilt of the head accompanied her silence while [member="Brennan Cabrol"] went about answering the request for a status report, a small, amused smile quirking up the corner of her mouth as she noted the pieces of story his was so obviously lacking. Idly, Ara wondered if he was playing coy intentionally, avoiding the sensitive topics that might bring the ire of [member="Samka Derith"] upon them, even if those changes were visibly evident. More than likely, knowing the Knight as she did, he did not think the matter of his essence transfer to be of consequence at the point in time.

Her amusement grew as he turned his attention to the man who had stood against them aboard the FIV Exectutioner, the curl of her lips turning more menacing, the color of her eyes darkening as her own gaze dropped absently to her still healing wounds, the battle still fresh in her mind.

”A gross mistake on his part, which he will soon be made aware of.”

Cooler in tone than anything said before, her gaze rose to meet with that of Brennan’s, laced with determination, anticipation, and unyielding resolve. Another sip of the crimson liquid, deliberate and slow, while she let the silence hang between them before settling the glass back upon the table, nearly empty now, her eyes finding Samka once again.

”Brennan has risen to his position well, as you have no doubt taken note of. In reparation for his service and loyalty, I have given him a new life, one no longer hindered upon the cybernetics that kept him alive but robbed us of the powerful warrior he could become.”

A simple statement, her eyes never leaving Sam’s own, enough that she knew the violet-haired teen would read between the lines for the information she withheld. While the Arch-Queen may have orchestrated the Essence Transfer, it was an ancient Sith ritual she would have access to only through her familial ties. Even then, very few Sith would be able to accomplish such a task, the Dark Lord, former regent of Panatha, one of the few.
 
Samka playfully rolled her eyes at the flirtations of [member="Ara Zambrano"] before focusing her attention back on the Knight.

Was there defiance there? Arrogance? He didn't seem to be taking her words seriously... How disappointing. Perhaps it was in more than just body that [member="Brennan Cabrol"] had changed and not in a positive way. Her gaze grew colder as a result.

She continued to stare at the young man as he listed their accomplishments while ignoring the obvious, was he being deliberately obtuse? The evening had started so nicely and yet she was already growing irritated.

"Bantam," she repeated the name herself beneath her breath, looking from Brennan to Ara in turn. "If he continues to be a pest... you'll have no quims with killing him, no?" The question aimed at primarily at Ara but also open to the Knight.

"Brennan has risen to his position well, as you have no doubt taken note of. In reparation for his service and loyalty, I have given him a new life, one no longer hindered upon the cybernetics that kept him alive but robbed us of the powerful warrior he could become."

At Ara's next words, a dark smile crept onto Samka's face. "There it is~" her voice in a sinister sing-song and an icy aura descended upon the group.

"I worked sooo hard to fix you up after Bespin, Brennan," she pouted childishly in an exaggerated expression. "But it seems my efforts were wasted." The girl's voice hardened, losing the childish mockery. "Sometimes, things happen for a reason. What may seem like a tragedy can be changed into opportunity. When an agent was crippled," Samka's scarlet eyes traced over Brennan's mortal, organic body, "I made a weapon. One with different strengths and weaknesses to balance what we already had. I see it has been stripped of me without so much as a notification."

The young Ren clicked her tongue in irritation then asked the pair. "Why, may I ask, was I not consulted, not even informed, of these events?"
 
"I would gladly end his life were it the desire of the Inner Circle".

Brennan was of course speaking of the Overlords and [member="Samka Derith"] herself, this time his gaze remaining solely upon their superior not only as a means to avoid the glare he might have incurred from [member="Ara Zambrano"] but so too emphasizing his personal distaste of the individual they spoke of. Like it or not however, in the corner of his mind he knew that his superior seated to his side and soon to come under fire alongside him held her own intentions and presumed uses for this Bantam character. A Rogue and criminal as far as Brennan was concerned.

What came next was the very subject Brennan knew would be behind their summons by the young Master of Ren, invited for an engagement of food and drinks as though they were so oblivious to her demeanor as those outside of the Order...

"You kept me alive and renewed my body with the strength to continue to serve the Supreme Leader, Decitus...-This is something that I have been forever reminded of each time we move to counter this filth Alliance of wealthy Rogues and self-justified and righteous criminals seeking their vindication..." Brennan's tone had grown somewhat colder than the previous way in which his voice had been respectful, soft and inviting of their conversation; now he spoke as if to remind Decitus of his independent will and well of power that he maintained, not for his own sake but for his loyalty to the First Order and the Order of Ren. "My failure and your generosity is something will not be forgotten, my service to Sieger Ren forever seeking to prove my worth to the Order and to come back from this disgrace..." His eyes held fast upon the young Decitus for whom he did not require another to echo in his short-comings.

"The remains of my former self were used in the creation of new weapons for which to strike down our enemy..." His right hand lowered slowly to his side in which he placed a hand upon the hilt of his Lightsaber, his fingers not taking to curl around it but remaining flat against his side. "Perhaps you might be able to answer some questions of my own...-You whom were aware and watching everything that I saw, recorded and as easily killed with a flick of a switch as if my loyalty was nothing to the First Order..." the male slowly moved to lean forward, his elbows being pressed against his legs that he might come to look upon Samka, not with the presence of an individual but with that same old cold hard glare that was Caehl Ren's.

"I have and will continue to give everything to the will of our great Leader and the government for which no other people can bring about a greater hope for peace and security across the Galaxy...-Yet with my utmost respect for all that you've taken it upon yourself to do, if I am to complete my training, to come to the height of my power for the will of Sieger Ren, then I will do as I must. What has come before now, is no means nor evidence of disloyalty nor insubordination, but my determination to rise beyond my brothers despite your obvious lack of faith, I can and will do more for this Order than simply jump when you tell me to jump like some servant dog" within his eyes the corrupted glow of his crimson iris', the window to his dark and damaged pride of self staring straight back at her. This was not defiance that Samka was being offered but the cold hard of both his ambition for the future but more importantly his belief and faith in his own ability today; where as formerly he had held none.
 

'He was so... good', Samka Derith thought to herself as she regarded [member="Brennan Cabrol"] with a pitying expression. A perfect obedient little cog with no ambition beyond servitude, it was exactly what was needed to make up the rank and file of the Knights of Ren. Yet now he sat there in defiance of her. To question her with no apology, only excuses and arguments was an intolerable state of affairs.

Scarlet eyes flickered to [member="Ara Zambrano"] for a moment, 'Just what did you do?' Samka asked herself.

She reclined backwards, exhaling deeply, now resigned to how this gathering was going to go. This wasn't about loyalty or power, she didn't doubt the pair in either of those matters, this was about control and their apparent whims to cut hers down. Intentionally or not, it simply couldn't stand.

"Now."

On her word, a dart fired by an unknown assailant struck Brennan in the back of his shoulder. At first it would give nothing more than prickle but shortly after pain would spread from the wound, temporarily paralysing a part of the man's body with a poison now coursing through his veins.

"People still say I'm childish sometimes," Samka said with an airy tone, the girl was seemingly unconcerned at the events unfolding and moved the conversation on. "Let's humour that line of thought for a moment. I never did learn to share growing up, being an only child, isolated from my peers, it was never something which came naturally to me. People touching my toys, getting their grubby little hands all over them, it made me uncomfortable. It still does. Even the people who tried to help, who tried to improve things, I hated because they were my toys and only I knew how they were supposed to work." Her gaze settled once again on Ara with a poignant glare. "Sometimes fixing things that were never broken can cause far greater problems. Sometimes something which seems broken to you is working as intended by its creator."

She paused for a moment, taking another deep breath as she turned to Brennan. "You knew I made you my eyes, you knew I held power over your life and you took them both from me without so much as a message, I'm taking back one of those things," she told the man softly. At first her tone was light, even sympathetic towards his current pain but it grew colder as she continued. "I could cripple you again, I could inflict far worse injuries than the scratches sustained at Bespin but I won't, let it never be said I'm not generous. When I planned this scene in my head beforehand, I considered explaining exactly what is happening to you, Brennan, but I won't. That might encourage you to embark on a futile search for a cure so I'll simply tell you that the toxin in your veins is incurable. The current pain and paralysis shall pass in a few minutes and then it'll be like nothing happened - nothing at all. Not for two weeks anyway, then you'll start to seize up. Another day and you'll be completely paralysed. Another day after that, you'll be in a coma and after that: death. There is no cure but there is treatment and only I can provide it. You'll report back to me every two weeks, if I don't approve the treatment, you'll die."

Samka brushed a lock of hair from her fringe and added a final remark, returning to a softer, sympathetic tone once again. "I don't do this to keep you loyal, Brennan. I believe you already are. I do this as a very simple statement. Once I have power, nobody will take it from me."
 
Independence.

It was an aspect of his life that he had never truly held before...-[member="Veiere Arenais"] and the Jedi Order that Brennan Cabrol grew up around had forever created a wall around him, restricting his movements, his actions and values to fit the dogmatic course that was the Jedi way. His entrance into the company of Sith was by no means merciful nor kind, yet it gave him the priority of focus for which he could put upon himself in his self loathing and slow descent into darkness surrounded by new Masters all carrying a great disdain for him and a liking for beating and humiliating the boy in his captivity.

The Alliance's attack on the Sith Installation had freed Brennan, and he had walked directly into the path of the First Order seeking fulfillment where he had otherwise lost sight of himself, who he was as an individual and what life remained for him; soon to enter into service to the Supreme Leader, [member="Sieger Ren"] and the Order for which he had forever served with the utmost loyalty and dedication, personal favor for his new life above all others.

The dart that stuck him in the back of his neck impacted into his flesh with a physical pop, ending every ounce of progression and pride that he had slowly come to rediscover within himself, his eyes widening at the realization that [member="Samka Derith"] had played him, her words fading over the sound of his thoughts as he sought to reason and rationalize such a display of deceit against what had been nothing but faithful service to their people, to Sieger Ren.

Once I have power, nobody will take it from me.
Staring back into the eyes of Decitus Ren, He was no longer looking upon an ally within the Order of Ren but another one of those who had robbed him of his choice's in life. There were few figures that he held in mind that inspired so much resentment within him, yet she had ascended to that place, that level of relentless irritation, the slow and ever grinding descent of his pride that would follow over the years from today were Caehl inclined to accept such a fate.

Pain arrived, it was slow by it made itself present and slowly over the moments that followed the Knight of Ren found himself unable to call upon the movements of his own body; he sought at first to stand yet no answer came by response to his will and his gaze lowered ever so slightly as he realized she had paralyzed him. He was unable to offer the young Master and Overseer of the Order of Ren the appropriate response in kind.

She had recovered his body on Bespin following an attack where Brennan had willingly given his life for the First Order and Sieger's will for the Galaxy. It had not been a request, he had not pleaded for his life like some worthless dog, it had been voluntary, free of will for the fight they had all given so much of themselves for. He would not be reduced to weakened pathetic slave now. His eyes were ablaze, his hues a burned crimson beyond the black pupils that had dilated with all that his anger had been fueled towards that of Decitus. He could not look to [member="Ara Zambrano"] yet there would be no subtlety to the aura of the Dark Side that churned throughout his body making known to his peers just how furious he was.

She would not see him beg for his life, one that he had already given for the Supreme Leader.

One that he would give up once more before he were to become enslaved to another.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top Bottom