All I Found Underneath

[Kuzo]

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YEyuRlSieg[/media]

The back and forth between Dosuun, Panatha and Maena was starting to wear on the doctor, not that she would admit it. Her time on Maena was the only time she allowed herself to focus on Gideon itself, and it was functional, time to work and study. No wallowing or fear, simply forward action. Dosuun was split between the hospital and [member="Boo Chiyo"]. And Panatha? The work was fascinating. In was good. Useful. A perfectly maladaptive strategy in the fight against the nightmares. After all, if she almost never slept, when would they be able to find her?

Settling down on a stool in the gleaming lab, Irajah gazed around for a moment. It had been built for her use, but beyond even her expectations. Pristine, state of the art- everything she needed for her research and more.

She frowned suddenly, sifting through her notes.

Despite that, she was making little progress. Though she wouldn't admit it, in part it was because she was just so tired. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept for more than a couple hours at a time. But in part, it was also because she simply wasn't here enough. The frown deepened slightly as she pulled up the notes from the last session on the console. She hit the play button as she stood, walking over to the caf machine to pour herself a cup as she listened to her own voice on the recording.

"The trouble is two fold. One, unique to the patient, so far as I know, which has made studying it difficult. I have no other samples to use, nothing to compare it to. Is that how such a thing would normally act? There's no way to know.

The second, however, is easier, and for now, I will focus on that. The issue of Force Corruption is not unique to the patient. I've requested other samples that I have been assured will be ready for me on my next trip. I still believe it to be very much akin to a necrotic infection secondary to an injury- the infection, or in this case, the corruption, is only able to affect the tissue once damage has been done. I am hoping that there will be a way to prevent that decay. I suspect that, much like secondary infections, once the damage is done there will be little that can be done. Hopefully I am wrong. But if that's the case, perhaps there is care that can be done to stave off the corruption- prevent it, if it cannot be healed."

The recording ended there, and Irajah grimaced. It seemed like so little progress. Theories only.

She sat down, perched on a wheeled stool and pressed a button on the comm.

"Are those samples ready for me?"

"Yes Doctor Ven. Several of them are in the cooler, and others will be sent up momentarily."

"Thank you. I'll be in the lab."

Of course she would. That was the only place she ever went on Panatha (so long as the caf held out). Reaching down, she popped open the samples case in the wall. Slender fingers perused the numbered items- she had no idea who the samples had come from- other sith suffering the corruption, she supposed. Too bad she couldn't get other samples like his. She still had no idea how the corruption interacted with the unique situation in his blood. Well, it couldn't be helped for now.

She pulled one of the samples out, eyeing the bit of blackened tissue for a moment. Skin sample, dark and cracked. Pushing off with her feet, she went rolling across the lab, reaching out to snag the corner of one of the tables before wheeling too far.

Painstakingly, with every attention to detail, Irajah began to prepare the slides.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Vain Hollow, Panatha
​Laboratory of [member="Irajah Ven"]...

​Frustration.

​There were many words that could be used in how Braxus Zambrano, the Arch-Prince of the Pacanth Reach felt when it came to this particular project. But frustration fit presently. Perhaps it was the stark importance of this plot over his many others purely from how delicate it was. The time sensitivity of the project while a minor concern ultimately was still ticking down to the inevitable corruptions victory over his body. But it was the inherent lack of progress that truly dug under his skin.

​In part it wasn't all Doctor Ven's fault.

​While she had been provided everything she could possibly need from a state of the art lab, access to his nigh unlimited resources, every chance was taken to ensure Irajah had everything she could've asked for. When she asked for caff he supplied a machine right in the office with every brew she asked for, and when she needed more blood samples he used his vast reach and obtained them. But still among the other concerns she wasn't simply here enough. Irajah dedicated her time to many different concerns in her life and vastly limited the amount of time she was able to spend week to week on Panatha. Even with all of her skill and determination she was still only one person. Attempts made to convince her to stay were so often rebuffed, she was stubborn.

That'd change.

In the time since their first meeting Braxus carefully watched and observed Doctor Ven in their conversations, and her in the lab. Despite the doctor's armor she wore that embodied a professional, yet friendly persona there were chinks in her defense, cracks. Soon he came to notice there was one particular weakness in this impenetrable armor she wore. A weakness he could carefully wield against the doctor and a weakness that he would use to warp her to his way of thinking, his method. The Destroyer was an player of the long game and with Irajah Ven it was exactly what he was doing. She had potential in the force, she had skill, she only needed the right push to send her on her way, and solve his problem both.

So the man hatched a devious plan.

Braxus once more snuck into the doctors lab with careful foot falls the force his guide him closer and closer to the doctor who was intensely focused on the slides presented before her. Braxus carefully slid his hands onto her shoulders, his words whispered into her ears like a honeyed wine, a sweet nectar which he knew all too well the reaction it would elicit. "Doctor Ven welcome back to Panatha. I trust you have found the samples satisfactory?"

 

[Kuzo]

It was not the first time slides went flying in this lab.

"Holymotherofahuttdon'tDOthat!"

She scowled over her shoulder at [member="Darth Prazutis"], but her heart was hammering in her chest. And only partly because he had startled her. Standing up, she started to reach around the lab table- each of the slides and the various, carefully cut sample pieces were floating in midair, left exactly where he'd caught them with the Force. The first time this had happened, he'd put the slides and samples back on the table.... and contaminated the whole lot by crossing samples. So, he still showed off (could she call royalty a showboating something or other? Probably not), but let her pluck the materials from the air and returning each piece to its proper place.

It was a lengthy process.

Annoyance was the easiest emotion to keep on the surface. After all, she was supremely annoyed. And it was a convenient mask for the confusing roil that always went on just beneath the surface when he spoke.

"Can't you... I don't know... knock or scuff your feet? Wear a bell? Or.... something?" She huffed slightly, straining to reach for a slide just past her fingertips.

If she didn't know better, she'd think he was doing it on purpose. But that would be ridiculous. What would the point be?

"And yes," she said, a little grudgingly. "The samples are perfect, thank you."

 

[Darth Prazutis]

It was almost comical to see the Dark Titan standing behind [member="Irajah Ven"] in the lab. The doctor barely stood five feet tall and weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet he imagined. Braxus however stood close to seven feet tall and weighed in over three hundred and fifty pounds of muscle. However for all of his brutish warrior appearance there was a malevolent intellect surrounding the being who radiated an undulating darkness from his form. Unlike his nephew Braxus was uniquely gifted with people and in particular putting up a number of different faces at a moments notice when it suited him. In this situation a warm smile peeked from the fringes of his face, the mask of friendliness being worn and reflected back as she looked over her shoulder with a scowl.

It wasn't the first time anything had gone flying in the labs.

Events like this were a common occurrence when he came to visit Doctor Irajah Ven in the labs ever since the very first day when she knocked something off the counter. However during the first few times working with the doctor he proved he was indeed a fast learner, especially after the first incident. Samples went flying and he made the unfortunate mistake of setting them back down, eliciting a frustrated yell from the good doctor. As much as he could've just smacked the disrespect from her mouth he needed the good doctor, and for the plan he was hatching a dash of cruelty in the mix simply wouldn't work. One of the many gifts he held was reading people, analyzing them to see what they didn't want to show those around them, and Irajah spoke volumes. A devious plan was hatched to unravel the tightly wound barriers of defense she erected around herself that stalled her progress in a number of ways, ways he needed to speed up.

It was working.

While Irajah reached for each piece in the air his hands moved around her shoulders slowly, and down her arms, its movements distracting enough that it made the pieces floating in front of her much harder to grab from the air despite their close proximity. "But where would be the fun in that, doctor Ven. Perhaps you need to learn to be more attentive.." He said, letting the words roll off his tongue and into her ear. Braxus said pulling back and watching as she worked to compose everything back to where it was.

"Progress on the project isn't meeting the expected quotas Doctor Ven I'm disappointed we've provided you with the means, the resources yet the project stalls...but I think I know the answer.." ​Braxus said leaning in once more as close as he could to whisper right back into her ear. "Time. You aren't dedicating enough time to the project doctor..."

 

[Kuzo]

She managed, just barely, to bite back the immediate reply of 'Well maybe you need to learn to be less distracting.'

It wasn't that she was particularly afraid to say it. She felt no fear when it came to [member="Darth Prazutis"], he'd never done anything that would indicate a need for it. Despite his difficulty with the concept of personal space, he had been welcoming, gracious, generous (astoundingly so). So she didn't tamp down on the comment due to the sass. But because she had no interest whatsoever in admitting, out loud, how very, very distracting he was. No, she wasn't afraid.

"Well, you employ me to pay attention to the research," was what came out instead. She gritted her teeth, but a slight shiver moved through her as his hands strode down her arms. "So if I was paying attention, looking for when you would appear in the lab, I'd never get anything done. If you wanted a supplicant, you called the wrong person. Besides, they probably come cheaper than I do. You'd be over paying."

Plucking the last piece out of the air, she placed it carefully down, working to keep as much attention as possible on what she was doing. She was painfully aware of how close he was standing- impossible to turn around to face him without it being incredibly awkward. She couldn't move away in the opposite direction, back up to gain more breathing room, she was between him and the table.

Oh, that was a dangerous place to be.

She turned slightly, pivoting as she did and ducking under his arm. She could feel his face against her hair as she moved, just a heartbeat before finding open air again. She spoke again as she hurried over to one of the scanners. She shook her hand out when she realized it was shaking slightly, starting to input the commands she needed to run the first batch of samples.

"I'm working as hard as I can," she murmured, eyes on the scanner. "I'm sorry that the results have not been to your tastes. But these things take time your Majesty- and this is research I have not been able to find any previous work on to start as a base. You have my every waking moment when I am here, I assure you."

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Braxus found it legitimately amusing how she reacted to his close presence, and how like a snake she managed to slither away from it.

​He put her between himself and the table yet she managed to squirm under him and off she was to one of the labs scanners, quickly his words and actions of an almost first assault deflecting off the radiant plates of her defense. Irajah was good, really good a finding ways around these encounters. The Sith Lord didn't mind the casual and friendly side he constantly showed the doctor, letting the stiff formalities fall away to the casual "your majesty" in these settings. Perhaps she was one of the only people in all of Vain Hollow, all of Panatha who had such luxury. Aside from her, his nephew, and his son there weren't many he was so casual and often informal with.

​When in the presence of the Arch-Prince typically there was a strict, structured doctrine that needed to be followed and most often it was. But there were the rare cases that either he or the Arch-King waived the formalities, and the long plan he worked to unravel the good doctor involved its utter absence.

Braxus looked to where she stood by the scanners and grinned briefly, before walking over to her again as she assured him of having her focus and a hundred percent of her attention, again with the futile excuses of why she wasn't getting anything done. But this time when he swept up and into her personal space she'd feel the minute bump as they collided, his hands back on her shoulders again. "Doctor please hold on..you know as well as I those are but excuses.." ​Braxus said leaning in close again to whisper, his words rolling off his silver tongue like some sort of beautiful song "You have everything you need, you have all of the tools necessary you're just not here enough, Doctor Ven it's quite simple." ​Braxus said.

​He let an awkward silence fill the room immediately motioning to silence her if she spoke, he'd ensure she remained there before he leaned in to whisper again. "You need dedicate more time here on your work."

​[member="Irajah Ven"]

 

[Kuzo]

Irajah froze, utterly still when he closed the distance again. It took a moment to remember to breath. And when she finally did, it was shakier than she would have liked.

She was a doctor, working on incredibly important research. Usually, that persona was easy to maintain. It moved with her from place to place- confident, self assured, in control no matter how out of control the situation seemed.... but it wasn't built to withstand a concerted effort against it. Irajah didn't even realize that's what it was- a concerted, deliberate effort to set her off balance. She had no experience with anything like it.

All she knew was that she wanted to ask him to stop talking because she needed to work. But also that she never wanted him to stop talking. She hadn't dug too far into that, deliberately setting her mind to other things when his voice, smoked honey, snuck into her thoughts. It was a lot harder to do when he was actually speaking however.

She'd started to answer, but stopped again when he held up his hand. Every time she breathed, she could feel the weight of his gaze on the back of her head, of his hands on her shoulders. The silence dragged on long enough to be painful before he put his mouth back to her ear.

Staying as still as she possibly could, the tension in her muscles almost painful, she answered quietly, her words slow, but deliberate and carefully chosen.

"Please do not think that I do not appreciate the accommodations, both in the form of the lab, and of my time, that have been made for me," she said slowly. "But when I accepted this position, I made it very clear that I had other, very pressing, obligations. My work. My family."

​Just as slowly as she spoke, she reached out, continuing to set the commands on the machine in front of her. She focused on that, deliberately not looking at him as she went through the motions. All the while mentally cursing her shaking hand.

"I have allocated all of my spare time and energy to this project, but I am needed elsewhere as well. I have a job that pays my bills, a child to look after, and.... other research."

She realized, too late to take it back, that she had repeated herself, just in more detail than necessary. Annoyed with herself and not fully understanding why, she dipped, ducking and pivoted again, this time in the opposite direction as the last. Normally, she didn't have to do this dance for long- he'd let her get back to work in a minute. After all, it was in his best interest to let her get on with it.

Or so she thought.

What was she doing now? Yes. The samples. Get the samples.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​The game.

​Once more he approached and this time she froze like a doe in the sights of a vicious predatory monster, frozen in place.

​For a few moments he wasn't sure if she was even breathing from his approach, as was common on the second approach or so. Often when this game was played once or twice was enough before she slid away demanding to be left back to work, but this time was different. He felt the unbearable tension in the muscles of her shoulders as they seized up, and the delayed words spilling from her mouth slow but deliberate. They were carefully chosen, planned by the mind that struggled with what she wanted. But there was other forces at work, forces [member="Irajah Ven"] had no idea existed.

​Manipulation.

​Braxus ever the puppet master ,ever the player of music calmly played Irajah like strings on a harp, his subtle words and guided touch, his friendly demeanor each served a purpose to the overall goal of unraveling the doctors persona. Irajah had potential, she had intelligence and she had the skill to truly become a valuable asset and powerful in the force, if she only wasn't so stubborn. One of her strongest qualities was being incredibly stubborn. Once more she slid from the tough position moving back to grab the samples more excuses spilling from her mouth.

This time he wouldn't leave.

The Sith Lord swept up behind her again but this time with just a tad more force. He closed the distance between them and the gentle bump forcing her into the table with zero distance in between them. "Now Now Doctor Ven enough with the excuses. You know as well as I the scales of what were working with here...you need to spend more time here...at least three more days per visit if more." ​Braxus said. This was normally when he'd feel her slide out again...only this time she had no room. But still his hands moved on her shoulders working to slowly turn Irajah around against him so that she was facing him completely. Already he saw the doctor move to speak her hands reaching to slid out. First a hand moved to silence her words and then he grabbed both of her arms, pulling them back to the center and holding them there.

Tremble.

​Apparently there was a struggle even he couldn't see within, because he could feel her trembling now more then ever, the tension of struggle gone as she could do nothing but look at him. Braxus leaned in close to stare into her eyes before moving to her ear again, more words spilling out "A cultured woman with such beauty, such intelligence should know that this project requires more of her attention. Worry not about your job or your bills it's all being taken care of.." The Sith Lord said. But just as she went to speak again he wouldn't let the doctor. "You will be provided with everything you need."

 

[Kuzo]

Based on history, Irajah figured she was in the clear. She thought she could return to her work. He'd linger, sometimes watch or comment, but mostly now, he'd give her the space she needed to do what had to be done. No matter what he said, what he did, he really didn't want to distract her too much from her work. With only two days a week spent on Panatha, it was counter productive, especially if he wanted better results. And she thought they both knew it.

It wasn't so much that she let her guard down as that she thought she could truly try to refocus her attention.

She felt the weight of his presence a fraction of a heartbeat before he actually made contact. Not enough time to mentally brace or sidestep, especially when it wasn't part of the usual pattern. She actually squeaked in surprise. Both of her hands hit the edge of the table, bracing slightly, then collapsing with the firm movement. A momentary panic filled her, and without even waiting for whatever he was going to say, she tried to slip out from where she was trapped.

And then, for the first time, he blocked her from leaving.

She opened her mouth, closing it again as he turned her around. The frozen from earlier would have been a vast improvement over the trembling her body had started (without her permission). Her breath caught in her throat.

Afraid?

No.

"I can't-"

"Doctor Ven."

"No, you don't-"

"Doctor."

"I need to-"

"Doctor Ven."

"Your majesty please-"

There was real pleading in her voice now.

"I can't talk to you like this."

She stood there, shaking, his mouth against her ear, hands holding her firmly in place. With the table at her back, there was no where to go, no place to retreat. His actions had always bordered on intimate- but she knew better than to take them personally. But this- this was too much.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Success.

​Elaborate planning guided the Sith Lord to this moment of success, this very moment with [member="Irajah Ven"]. The radiant plates of armor she wore as defense dulled, cracked and shattered. Like ribbons the defense fell apart in strands to the sight of a trembling doctor before him, unbeknownst to Irajah it was all rapidly falling to pieces. The ploy of a hidden predator trapping its prey just before the kill. Time spent before was designed to constantly get within the woman's mind, constantly unsettle the rock hard foundation of the defense.

​The look on her face as she stared up at him while her form trembled like a leaf in the wind told him everything he needed to know. Irajah certainly wasn't afraid it wasn't fear that shook her form, it was something else entirely.

​He would exploit it.

​Each turn as she spoke his voice would carry over her to swiftly cut Irajah off, every turn of struggle, every plead was silenced by cunning words and a silver tongue. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide and she only had one thing left available to her: pleading.

"I can't talk to you like this."

​Braxus moved a hand up to her lips this time in a motion for her to both quiet down and listen he'd whisper into her ear again. "Don't talk. Just listen." ​The Sith Lords hands moved from her shoulders to up and down her sides, he spoke to her "You can't leave so soon each visit Doctor Ven...your needed for a much longer, more extended visit per week here. Don't worry the hospital can wait...we'll take care of that...your needed for an extended visit here...I need you to stay longer Doctor..." ​He leaned in to her ear again and whispered in once more "I want you to stay, Doctor Ven."​

​Each passing moment the protective cloak she wore fell away and each touch, each word would rapidly assault the vulnerable person beneath the concentrated assault now focusing on what was exposed.

 

[Kuzo]

I need you to stay.

I want you to stay.

Of course he did- he'd been saying that all along, just not with those words. This wasn't news. But it was the way he said it that changed, layered in something more than research. There was a certain alchemy happening, something fed by the sound of his voice since the first moment she'd heard it.

She didn't understand why.

Everything about all of this was so far out of her scope of experience. She was used to feeling in charge of a situation, of being able to keep her cool, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable something was. When she talked, people listened, they trusted her and respected her knowledge and expertise. And so did [member="Darth Prazutis"].....after all, if he didn't, he wouldn't want her here, right? But this was different.

It was hard to concentrate, and her mind went skittering for something to hang on to-

[member="Connor Harrison"]. His grey eyes. His kindness and generosity. But she couldn't use that as a reason to not stay- there was no obligation there, no reasonable argument to be made. And some part of her simply did not want to invoke him here. The connection between them was nebulous, confusing, but it was nice. This, what was happening here was something completely different. But thinking of him helped recenter herself.

[member="Jacob Crawford"], then, and the help he needed. He was her patient too. Yes. Compromise.

"One more day," she said, trying very hard to sound firm. "I can commit to another day a week, but you must understand, it's not just the hospital. I have other obligations, other patients who I cannot simply abandon-"

 

[Darth Prazutis]

"One more day,"

"I can commit to another day a week, but you must understand, it's not just the hospital. I have other obligations, other patients who I cannot simply abandon-"

[member="Irajah Ven"] desperately pleaded in that soft voice. There was no other alternative for her. A woman used to being in control and having the ability to handle or go around these situations slowly had everything stripped away from her, he guided and manipulated her like the master of a symphony orchestra playing the tune of Doctor Ven.

It was a last ditch effort.

​A last attempt to reach a compromise with the predator standing over her, but she didn't understand. Irajah was trying to play a game she didn't even understand, she couldn't even comprehend what was truly going on it was entirely out of your element.

​"They'll be taken care of Doctor Ven. In the spare time you have outside of your days here you can use to help them, and you can use your resources here to help them, but this takes priority. Five days per week."

​The widening of her eyes and the expression flashing across her face continued to show panic setting in when her first attempt quickly failed. But the Doctor acted quickly on her feet and again she pleaded.

​"Five days a week? You must understand I cannot I have other research that I can't put off."

​Once more he shook his head and defiantly struck down her plead "Yes Doctor Ven five days per week. You can use your laboratory here and the other complex I have yet to show you in order to conduct the research without interruption, when it does no conflict with our time here you'll have everything you need."

​Panic set in again, another failure swiftly struck down with confidence. But still she was stubborn and still she pleaded.

​"I c-can't commit five days I'll lose my job at the hospital being unavailable for so many days. I need to ke-"

​This time a hand came up cutting her words off as she spoke them, and he made a swift shushing sound before speaking once more "Your job and your supervisor has already been taken care of. You're job is completely secure and you have been granted an unlimited amount of paid time off to conduct your work here without interruption. Doctor..I've taken care of everything." ​ Braxus said as his hands moved down the fold of her back further and further.

 

[Kuzo]

With each new attempt to explain, to compromise, came an immediate reply. She barely finished a thought before his rebuttals murmured in her ear, heavy and inviting.

The worst part? She did want to stay. In part because the research was fascinating.

In part because of the way his voice reached down inside of her and tugged, subtle but insistent, on things she wasn't even willing to put a name to.

But she did have obligations, things that she simply could not walk away from! They were more important than an unfounded, unsupported sensation she tried so hard to ignore. She was a Doctor for crying out loud, not a fifteen year old girl with her first crush! This was ridiculous! And why was she angry?

Something that he said clicked suddenly, connections made between the strangeness that had been happening at the hospital and his words here. He had an answer for everything, everything literally already taken care of.....

"You're the reason for the new office," she said, blinking up at him, something in those hazel eyes clearing slightly. "The new caf machine....." She stopped suddenly, words actually catching in her throat.

"You had my boss removed from the hospital," she breathed.

It had been just after a delay in her arrival here, only able to spend one day because of hospital obligations. It wasn't the first time it had happened- her boss had always been grudging of her time on Panatha, but who was going to say no? He'd gotten oddly nice, unnaturally so, to her after her first visit here, but it had all come tumbling down that day.

How had she not seen it then?

The new administrator was young, not simply nice to Irajah but almost effacing in his mannerisms. As if he'd been ordered to....

Her arms were pinned between them, but the welling anger brought her back to herself enough to wrench them free. She reached down and behind her, grabbing his hands firmly where they were moving down to stop him. It didn't occur to her how utterly ridiculous that gesture was, considering the differences in their size and strength. But once again, Irajah wasn't accustomed to being treated like this- to not having her wishes complied with. She pulled her head back, spine arching slightly so she could look at him, getting his mouth away from her ear.

"Why are you doing all of this?" She demanded.

It was excessive. It was confusing.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Now this was amusing.

​As if the situation couldn't actually get any worse for [member="Irajah Ven"] it had. If she was only partially ensnared in his trap before the woman completely trapped herself now. As her small hands moved in a futile attempt to stop his much larger ones her back arched. As he moved to close the small distance she had with her hands wedged in Irajah was made effectively helpless now, there was no more room left, nothing else to exploit.

​Naïve.

​The naïve doe finally was realizing moves made in the game the wolf was playing. Irajah never saw at the end of her day when she went home to Boo the group of finely dressed giants sweep into the hospital. The gleam of murder in their eyes and a scowl that could silence an entire hospital floor sweep through her floor and politely escort her boss out of his meeting and into the elevator. She never heard the stories of crazed patients who could've sworn they saw someone thrown from the roof of the hospital that day. All she would notice were the physical changes made to accommodate her. The Sith Lord took careful note as her progress dropped whether it be from being too tired, or small inconveniences at work that caused the drained demeanor she often exhibited at Panatha.

​So he had it all changed.

​She was given the best office on the floor, a caff machine constantly staffed with brews brought in that weren't from the horrid cafeteria below. Small conveniences made to ensure her time there was easier and so long as she showed up each week, there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Until she missed a day.

​Even from so far away and high up in the great citadel of Vain Hollow, the Arch-Prince held vast reach across the galaxy. The Sith Lords networks of agents and spies reached across the galaxy, and the former Director of Sith Intelligence had more than enough sway to grab the pitiful hospital in his iron gauntlet. So when her hateful boss refused to get with the program he was violently ripped from his position, and when the hiring process came the upper echelons who were far more complaint were more than willing to pass any candidate he tossed at them, so long as it came with the Panathan demand of approval. A new agent of his own was placed in charge of her hospital wing, a man he knew could be trusted to comply with everything he asked.

"Why are you doing all of this?"

​Braxus simply shushed her again while his hands broke from her grasp and easily found the mark they were after. The Sith Lord then closed the distance again between them whispering into her ear once more "I need you to stay and conduct your research. I want you to stay."

 

[Kuzo]

I need you to stay.

I want you to stay.

There were those words again. But that wasn't an answer. Not even close to an answer. It didn't make any sense. The lengths he had gone through to assure her presence here. If she was just realizing some of the extent now- how much had she missed?

Going through the last few months, week by week, combing through for all of the strings he might have pulled would prove far more attention and concentration needed than she had to spare. Her eyes widened when his hands finally stilled. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest it almost hurt. There were no mistaking his intentions now. And no where else for her to go.

And part of her didn't want to go.

"Four days," she said, her voice small. "Please Braxus. Please understand- I have a child to look after. My son- I can't bring him here, I can't uproot him again-"

It was the first time she had ever called [member="Boo Chiyo"] her son. And the first time she'd ever called [member="Darth Prazutis"] by name. Out loud.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

"Four days," "Please Braxus. Please understand- I have a child to look after. My son- I can't bring him here, I can't uproot him again-" The trembling in her body, the wide eyes from a face struggling to stare up at the giant said it all.

Victory.

The prey had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no way to slither out of it. She had no method of dealing left, no excuse to stay his hand and no compromise he couldn't take care of. The prey was backed into the corner and helpless. [member="Irajah Ven"] was so incredibly focused, so driven, and so stubborn in keeping her defenses up that she never had the foresight to see the subtle manipulations from a cunning master. Ever since her name came up on his desk months ago he analyzed all Intel, he analyzed the doctor upon their first visit. The future was so often unpredictable like the vast seas and the voyage there could so easily be thrown off course, but there was one vision he constantly saw the more he looked, one constant in the turbulent future.

Greatness.

Irajah Vens intelligence, her devotion, her ability to adapt and quickly learn, and above all her sensitivity to the force would serve her well in the dark path of greatness he was leading her down towards. So much time went into the minuscule manipulations and the planning to unravel who she was, the defense that was protecting the malleable person beneath and it's vestiges had finally fallen away and in one last, final attempt Irajah pleaded her strong voice now as small as can be, it's soft words gently carrying through the air barely able to reach his sensitive ears, one last plea. In response the Sith Lord simple shook his head and shushed her one more time.

"Doctor Ven you will not need to uproot your son, everything will be taken care of. You will still see and raise him without fear of tearing his life apart. It's all being taken care of. Trust me."

 

[Kuzo]

Everything will be taken care of.

Almost without exception, the people Irajah Ven met were people that she took care of. She was the one responsible for their well being, both in the professional and the personal spheres of her influence. All of her patients, yes, but more than that- she was always the one who needed to plan, to make decisions, to push and pull until the pieces fell into place. People looked to her when they were in need- and she couldn't remember the last time it hadn't been that way. Part of choosing the path she had, becoming a Doctor had meant the inevitability of that dynamic, and she took it as a personal weight to bear. She was the one who took care of everything, always.

What if, for once.... she wasn't?

Did she even know how to do that?

Trust me.

Trust him.... to worry about the details, to take that weight. To not need to worry if she- if [member="Boo Chiyo"] were safe. To know that she had greater resources here than in a civilian hospital on Dosuun. It might let her find more information for [member="Jacob Crawford"]. To find a way to help [member="Connor Harrison"] regain his connection to the Force.

Trust him to do what had to be done.... to take care of these things.... so she could take care of the rest.....

So why did she hesitate?

Because he could bring any researcher in to work on this project. With the resources at his disposal, he could have a team of doctors working, in round the clock shifts, on this puzzle. So why?

Beyond the trembling that she simply couldn't seem to take control of, she was still now. Not fighting, not trying to get out of his hold. She looked up at him, confusion writ clear across her features. Her hazel eyes searched his, trying to find the answer to words she hadn't voiced yet.

"Why me?" She whispered.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​While his face wouldn't show it when [member="Irajah Ven"] finally ceased the struggle against him, he grinned on the inside.

​Acceptance.

​The last vestiges of the defense that protected her were swept away and she could no longer stand under his now bold manipulations. While her body still physically trembled beyond her control there was acceptance in her eyes. Once every avenue had been struck down, every avenue had been swept away by his cunning words. Everything that could hold her down and lock away Irajah's potential for the future had been utterly swept away in the long game of chess he had been playing unbeknownst to her. Braxus could feel it in how her tense muscles relaxed, he could see it in her eyes and the subtle, unspoken nod of acceptance just before the woman not just said, but whispered.

"Why me?"

Braxus leaned in close as he had several times before but this time was different, he leaned in close to stare into her eyes and whisper directly to her. "Because Irajah, it could only ever be you." ​Before she could speak or digest the words he said he closed the distance and stole a kiss from her quivering lips. Once he pulled away to look to the woman, the doctor, the future apprentice who now gave in to his requests he watched with amusement as utter shock flashed across her face, before she herself took the initiative to close the distance between them and once more they kissed. In its aftermath he took hold of Irajah and led her out of the laboratory down the many halls of the massive complex and to an turbolift that carried the pair up to the black marble halls of the royal sector at the very apex of the great mountainous citadel of Vain Hollow. The halls were of an ornate black marble and filled with expensive art in the form of paintings, busts, sculptures, vases, artifacts, and pieces most of which depicted various infamous Sith Lords and iconic scenes from history, while expensive furniture and even chandeliers hung from the massive ceiling. He led Irajah deeper in to until they had finally arrived at the doors to the great chambers of the Atch-Prince, where he would whisper to her.

​"Now that it's settled I should stop talking now, shouldn't I Irajah?"

 

[Kuzo]

In the back of her mind, a lean figure stood, waiting. Grey eyes, slightly crooked smile. The feeling of his thumb, rubbing lightly, comfortingly, along the back of her hand.

Thank you for not hating me, he'd said.

There was no commitment. No promise between them beyond friendship, to help each other. They hadn't even found the opportunity to go out to that dinner she'd agreed to. But.... he mattered. She didn't know how yet, but he did.

"Because Irajah, it could only ever be you."

Hearing him say her name was like electricity.

There should have been no surprise when he kissed her. The only ambiguity in every single one of their interactions since they had met had only existed in her mind, not in the events themselves. She'd ignored it, because the initial draw was too strong- it was terrifying and unpredictable. It was dangerous, and she couldn't afford, for even a second, to think that he meant anything by any of it.

Even as those tawny eyes filled her vision, she didn't fully believe that's what he was doing until his lips were on hers. She froze, not breathing for the span of the two heartbeats it took before he pulled back, their eyes never closing, never leaving each other.

It wasn't love. There was no confusion about that. The thundering hum through her core had nothing to do with so lofty a feeling.

She didn't think about it. Just moved, surging up and pressing her lips against his in return. This time, her eyes closed.

Would he hate her?

*****

She turned to him, the doors opening- if she'd thought about it for half a moment, she'd suppose it was the Force. It didn't seem particularly important at that moment however.

Instead she reached out, taking his hand and pulling him slowly through the doors. She harbored no illusions.

"Don't you ever," she said, her voice heavy and serious, "ever stop talking."

As they stepped inside, she turned to kiss him. As the doors closed, he reached out to turn on the lights. Gently, her hand covered his, drawing it away again. The doors shut with a heavy thud, the last sliver of light falling on her face before darkness consumed them.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​What followed in the darkness could only be described as an explosion in the hours after the doors to the chamber shut cloaking them in darkness. An utter explosion of frenzied, animalistic passion that fueled their frenzy as they descended upon one another without restraint in the most carnal way. It was hours later in its aftermath after so much time and neither could continue that exhaustion forced them to sleep.

​Hours after...

​Braxus woke from his sleep the surprising feeing of warmth at his side bringing his wandering mind back to the known world, as his mind brought forth the many nights events to the surface. Darkness. The memory of her stopping his attempt to turn the lights on coming back, and still they were cloaked in its warm embrace. He sat up in the folds of the rich silk sheets briefly gesturing towards a switch turning the chambers lights on to a lower setting. The great chamber was a mess with the trail of clothes all hastily torn off so early on in their frenzied activities. But it was the sight next to him that was surprising. As he pulled the sheets and covers of the bed away to reveal the limp form of [member="Irajah Ven"] dead to the world, her entire body so utterly relaxes, it permeated through every muscle. But this was the first time he had seen her, felt her without her many layers of clothing concealing herself as she lay next to him. The question of why often came up in his mind and he often considered asking her, but no doubt before he'd have never gotten an answer....now he saw why.

Bruises.

Braxus ran a hand across her with impunity as he looked at the bruises covering her neck, arms and torso. Naturally he assumed after the wild hours of the night before there'd have been bruises, in fact he was sure there were. But this many? Impossible. Quickly his mind thought back to the night before and how the bruises if pressed apparently either didn't bother her, or she was too absorbed into the activities to care. Regardless it never slowed her a beat from what he could recall until they collapsed. Someone had clearly done a significant number working her over, no doubt a vicious assault. What else could it be? Anger swelled within the Destroyer then. It wasn't out of love for Irajah that anger swelled, what occurred wasn't at all love. But Irajah was an precious investment, a long term project and an apprentice that would someday stand at his side, and he defended such valuable investments. How did she conceal this? Why?

Anger.