Crossroads

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Something was up, and Kaalia could feel it. She had been called to meet with the Master of Ren Samka Derith before, but this time the message felt off. Even the Force told her so somehow, after this encounter with the purple-haired Ren things would be very much different. That was all the woman could make of it however and the fact there still was some level of mystery shrouding the intent of all this was something that did not feel right at all.

Walking through the hallways of the Bastion of Ren the redhead was tempted to delay the meeting, but there was no excuse. The last time she had been to Decitus Ren's quarters it involved her closest friend [member="Ara Ren"] but she doubted it was about anyone else but herself this time around. She passed by a disciple she mentored and he stopped her for a moment, bowing his head for a moment. "Master, I wish to speak to you. Would you perhaps have time?" He spoke with concern, but Kaalia simply had no time at the moment. "Not today, I am afraid. I will call for you tomorrow, we can speak then." With mutual nods they parted ways again, allowing her to continue her path.

When the young Knight arrived in front of Samka's living space, she took a deep breath before announcing her presence at the door. She waited until she was called to enter to do so, then calmly walked towards the throne the Master of Ren was sitting on. "I was summoned."

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

The throne of iron cast an intimidating shadow down upon the red haired Knight of Ren. The girl sitting in it may have been a short, petite figure but the power radiating off of her, the forceful aura, made it clear that this was where she belonged. Her cloak was cast away for the moment leaving her dressed in her form fitting, dark uniform. Samka drummed her fingers against the armrest, contemplating her approach.

"Kaalia," she flashed a smile that was a little too cheery, "I certainly did."

Sam's eyes flickered to the doorway which slammed shut with an unseen force. They couldn't be opened again unless she willed it leaving the two Ren seemingly alone in her dimly lit room. The artefacts around the room pulsated with Force energy, colours shifting and swirling as if they were alive with anticipation.

"Would you like a drink?" She asked with a gentle tone, her head resting in her left palm. "We must rejoice after all! Another of our number we feared the worst for has turned up alive. It seems [member="Connor Harrison"] has evaded Alliance custody." The Ren Master leaned forwards, her expression darkening, "but you already knew that, didn't you?"

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

When Samka spoke with a bit too much cheer in her voice it was almost a complete confirmation that something indeed was very, very wrong. It could have been so many things, but in the flurry of thoughts none of them stuck. Slight feelings of tension were pushed away as much as possible but that didn't last very long, and the reason for that was what the Master of Ren said next.

The woman did know of Connor's escape from the clutches of the Alliance. They had met and talked before parting ways, which had led to, in her eyes, not much. A loose alliance, perhaps, but nothing more. As far as she assessed the situation Connor meant little to nothing to the Ren anymore and explaining what happened didn't seem very important to her, but apparently she was wrong. It was only at that moment when she remembered the things he had done and that he was wanted for those actions, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

Kaalia closed her eyes for a moment as nodded slightly, as a way of confessing the truth. "I am not thirsty, but thank you." Answering the first question, one that was likely of a rhetorical nature, allowed her to ease into the the less-than-pleasant discussion. "I did know that, yes. And I made a mistake in not relaying this information." Lies were not going to get her anywhere. In fact, the redhead was certain it would only make things worse, if that was even still possible. "It seemed to be of little relevance to me, but realized too late he was supposed to pay for his crimes." Her eyes went upwards to look at the purple-haired woman, her expression not the most pleasant thing to see. "He was in Avalonia, but I am sure that is old news by now. I even told him the Order wasn't going to be friendly with him anymore, how did I not connect the dots..."

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"Of little relevance," Samka repeated softly. "You deemed the knowledge that not only a missing Ren was alive and free but has, in fact, gone rogue was... of little relevance to us?" Her words became a low hiss. "And you simply... forgot that there was a public broadcast calling for his return and trial? You met with him in the capital of our empire and you thought nothing of it." She paused for a moment to let the gravity of the situation sink in. "I don't know if you're truly so unbelievably stupid or a liar trying to cover for one you consider a friend," the last word spat out in disgust. "And I don't know which of those options is worse."

"I'm incredulous," Sam's head shook and she reclined backwards into her throne. "This level of incompetence I wouldn't expect from the lowliest Disciple, I wouldn't even expect it from a Stormtrooper, and yet here you are. You. A Knight of Ren. We are elites, everything we do is to further the power and glory of our empire! Every action you take should be with this in mind!" Anger was building in her now, not of the violent type but a fury nonetheless. The artefacts across the room shuddered and morphed further with one pyramid briefly crackling with lightning, banners hanging from the ceiling began to gently drift in a breeze which wasn't there.

"Bow," the Master of Ren ordered softly through gritted teeth. "Bow on your knees and tell me just what our Order means to you."

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

There was a degree of discomfort as Kaalia was spoken to, but it simply wasn't shown. She knew she had made a mistake and now the backlash would come. It simply was something she would have to deal with. As the scolding took place she stood perfectly still and simply listened, showing none of the emotions that were present. It wasn't so much pride as it was acceptance, whatever happened next couldn't be avoided. It didn't mean she would accept death just yet, but if it came to her death being demanded she would cross that bridge when she got there. No matter what however, things would come to a head.

Power filled the room and the woman could feel it. Samka's anger was the source of it, and it was not something she wished to test any further. That didn't mean her hand could be forced in that, however, and the Ren Master's order had the potential to do so. When Kaalia was ordered to bow, an inner conflicted between pride and wisdom immediately flared up. What in reality took mere seconds felt like lifetimes as one part told her to defy it, calling the mere concept of lowering herself in that way absolutely laughable, and the other telling her to do so, simply because it was the wise thing to do. Testing the purple-haired woman any further was likely going to wield even more disasterous results, and in the end wisdom won the war as she reluctantly complied, getting down to her knees. "The Order gave me a home when I had nothing. I was lost, and as I was seeking the Ren found me. They provided me with everything I was looking for, and so for them I have risked my life in many battles in the past and will continue to do so in the future."

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

If [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] believed a delayed act of obedience would sate the Ren Master's anger, she was wrong. The pause before the bow, no matter how brief, was noted. That in itself was an act of defiance within an organisation which valued authority and knowing one's place in it.

She was even less impressed with the explanation that followed. A small, humourless chuckle left her lips once the red head was done talking. "It all comes back to you. Our Order means something because we helped you and... nothing else," Samka shook her head once more and her voice began to rise dangerously. "You think this is a favour for a favour? We serve to better the galaxy, to provide peace, security and glory to our nation all under the wisdom of our esteemed Supreme Leader. The poison of corruption, of selfishness, threatens to rot all societies, even ours. It manifests in crime, treason and dissent and the perpetrators who dare try and destabilise that deserve to wiped out with ruthless efficiency no matter who they once were..." Samka's voice trailed off for a moment, the memory of her most recent victim still fresh in the girl's mind. "That should be your motivation for being here not because we helped you."

Samka rose to her feet, physically the petite girl remained unimposing, yet the aura of Darkness accompanying her, the way she held herself so rigid and proud to contrast with her apparent age, the way crimson eyes pierced through the bleak room, it painted a sinister picture.

"We've tolerated so much from you because you've been a useful asset but if you're so incompetent as to meet with a wanted man than what further use are you?"

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

The words didn't cause embarrassment. They didn't cause shame. It was like they were meaningless to Kaalia. She knew what this was coming to, and she would rather have this get to the point. In that moment, in her mind, she shed herself of the title of Ren. The likely outcome of this was Samka ordering her death, but that would not be something she would accept if that were to happen. What she would do next was an act out of instinct and no matter the consequence of it, it did not matter to her. She rose her feet once more, looking directly at the Master of Ren. It was time to move on to the action that would be taken.

"I am not going to endlessly defend myself. The situation is clear." There was no emotion in the woman's voice, her eyes fixated on Samka's. "If you decide I am of no further use to the Ren," as difficult as it was her tone remained respectful even though she wished to put as much venom in the word 'use' as possible, "Then I will not fight that decision. That is of no use either." Once more Kaalia counted her blessings. After multiple 'tests' by [member='Krest'] she had decided to keep her lightsabers on her at all times out of precaution, and if what she expected to happen here would come true she would have needed them. The redhead stopped herself from speaking any more. Instead she awaited the purple-haired Ren's response, ready to defend herself if an attack were indeed to come.

[member="Samka Derith"]