From That whence You Came

[WolfMortum]

Furious Class Corvette​

En-Route to Rendezvous with The FIVTerror - Imperial X Star Destroyer​

Destination: Virgillia, Bastion of Ren​

​

They had succeeded in their task to return the one known to them as [member="Ara Ren"] back into the hands of the Order of Ren and Imperial Service to the Supreme Leader. Her leave from Bespin had been uncertain in it's happenstance, her presumed captor an ally of the Galactic Alliance yet too responsible for keeping the Knight of Ren alive and miraculously having avoided arrest nor judgement for any part in the battle for which their heathen cause had swooped down on the good citizens of First Order space and struck out with fire and malice.

Decitus Ren, the title which [member="Samka Derith"] now went by remained ahead within the cockpit of the Corvette, overseeing that of Delengtha's piloting skills and wanting most to find an excuse to no doubt persecute Brennan Cabrol for another failed duty. Their pilot, one of three Disciples for which had been proclaimed Omega Support, were put into practice following the loss of Bespin, trained not to completion but fast tracked for the sake of Brennan's crippled state, the boy who had entered into the war having come away from it more machine than man. Not only had he failed to kill the three Jedi that had stood between him and supporting those left alive within the command center of the Hilikan Facility, but he had too failed to provide Ara Ren the backup that he had assured her he was capable of. As ridiculous as the notion was, the pathetic truth in her being brought down in the fight between the pair of them and the supposed Jedi traitor, a Master of the Dark Side and only a spokesman of the light to those that might be her enemy, it was Brennan's own blade that struck not the intended target, the woman Jedi, but his superior and she who had volunteered to come with him.

Stepping out of the head of the craft, Caehl Ren took to the corridor of the smaller vessel in stride. He fully armored and vastly changed since the last time he and Ara had stood side by side together, held something of a glare in the empty space ahead of himself, his mask doing marvelously for concealing his frustration. Their highest ranking Master within the Order of Ren, Decitus whom served Lord Sieger himself and had presumably the only connection between their great leader and the Order itself had found amusement in testing the Disciples resilience to her rubbing salt in his wounds. For punishment following Bespin, the implants and restructuring of his body with cybernetics had all been grafted and ingrained into his remaining skeletal form all without the aid of pain killers, the only real medicines his body had received were the likes of blood thinners and disinfectants to ensure that the young Ren did not die during his suffering.

Wrapping his right fist against the door to Ara's temporary quarters about the Corvette, Caehl Ren entered without awaiting her call. Carrying a tray of rations taken from the vessels stock, he had been instructed to see to the Knights needs by, you guessed it, Samka Derith. Personal opinion claimed that this was her way of toying with Caehl and ensuring he knew his place with the recent outings he had taken, moving to assassinate key figures in the latest movement of treason against the Order of Ren defecting to the Sith Empire. They hadn't been sanctioned hits yet every one of them had been successful with the exception of Kaalia Voldaren, thus far. No doubt Caehl's professionalism was the one thing keeping him from harsher penalties.

Placing the tray down upon the counter within her quarters, he turned to look to Ara, eyes squinting as he recalled the way they had stared back at him as his blade had been driven through her abdomen. The moment was brief but it was strong enough to give him pause, his tone soon escaping him rather colder than he had intended, soon finding himself questioning petty sentiments that ought not be over-thought.

"We are en-route to Virgillia. Eat, you will need your strength".

 

[Samka Derith]

A cold presence stood in the cockpit, gazing upon the vast form of an Imperial Star Destroyer. The apparently innocent face of a teenage girl atop a dark cloaked form seemed mismatched but the power of the dark aura emitting from her was unmistakable. She was overlooking the docking procedure and evaluating this 'Delengtha' serving under [member="Caehl Ren"]. Her opinion thus far was muted, besides, the girl was distracted.

There was much consider when it came to [member="Ara Ren"]. It seemed the girl was loyal to their cause. Somehow, through her eccentricities and troubled past, she remained faithful to her adopted Empire in the face of a tantalising escape. Sam was torn between rewarding the woman or punishing her for the incompetence of allowing to be stabbed and captured. After all, she'd been in more combat zones than either Ara or Caehl and somehow ended up avoiding the grievous injuries the others had taken, incompetence was the only explanation. However, until such a decision could be made, Decitus Ren would make use of the gratitude her rescue had earned from the Knight.

"This is Terror, you are cleared to dock," a crackle from an Imperial Naval Officer across the coms signalled their journey would be smooth from here on.

"I trust you can handle a simple docking with a Star Destroyer?" Sam turned on her heels without so much as a glance at Delengtha, "Excellent, I have other business to attend to."

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Smooth amber liquid poured into a tumbler in a steady stream, the familiar and long missed smell of a good brandy bringing a soft smile to the Knight’s lips as she recanted the bottle and returned it to the small cabinet. Bringing the glass to her lips, she sipped, the fiery liquid burning a trail down the soft flesh of her throat until it settled, a sigh of contentment escaping her.

For the first time in weeks, she was back in First Order space, surrounded by allies as opposed to once-enemies. Her time in the Outer Rim had proven fruitful, an accord struck with the man who had saved her life resulting in plethora of new skills and powers for the Knight, her connection with the Darkside returning once again. In time, she would be even more powerful than she had before the battle of Skor had altered her path. Knowledge and balance had been her reward for a promise of information returned to the families of those lost on the FIV Kingfisher, a trade she far made out the winner on.

The small cabin she’d claimed as her own for the time being offered a small bed inset into the durasteel side of the cruiser, the small but comfortable bunk for those traveling for longer periods of time than the current occupants intended. A small pile of cast off clothes lay atop its sheets, traded for blacks and reds, clothing that was also borrowed from another, although far more fitting to the Ren than those the Outer Rim had provided. A simple vest, shirt, pants, and boot combo with a deep maroon cloak settled on her shoulders. Her saber hung from her belt as always, a comforting weight and presence within the Force, its own pulsating aura rolling with anger and power, reacting to the few threads of anxiety running through Ara as they hurtled through the depths of space.

There was a time such a trip would have left the Knight in a deep meditative state to hold back the waves of fear and anxiety that rose to the surface. Much to her own surprise, the crippling fear hovered on the back of her mind, reminding her of her own mortality and the tragedies that could occur if such a craft were to crash, but never quite consuming. Having seen the results of such disasters first hand, namely with her former master and trusted friend [member="Kriel Firin"] , she would forgo the experience of a crash landing for as long as possible. Raising her glass in a private salute, she allowed herself a long pull of the liquid, a small celebration of the successes that death brought with it.

Settling into one of the small chairs settled next to a table of similar design, the Ren relaxed, letting the anxiety mix with the deeper emotions within, bubbling away at her gut. In the absence of others, she let the mask she always held close to fall, eyes that normally shined with mirth fading, a deep fire burning within instead, thoughtful and determined. The soft, full lips that always held a hidden grin or smirk settled into a neutral frown, the stoic undertones of a warrior and analyst replacing the flirtatious outer shell. This time, there was no one to analyze except herself.

Gratitude.

The one emotion burned above all others, one she’d really never had need to feel, except here, with the secretive order that called themselves the Ren. First, with her former Master as he selflessly taught her the ways of the Force and the saber, his training exhaustive and unyielding, but fair and rewarding all the same. And now, with the likes of [member="Samka Derith"] and [member="Caehl Ren"] . It had come full circle for the Knight, from accompanying the pair on Bespin, to here, with her return to the fold.

They had come for her.

They had come for her-

Another pull from the glass nearly drained it, knuckles white as her grip tightened around the cool, clear glass, mind lost in a swirl of introspection. A few sharp knocks shook her from her reverie, the hiss of the door opening before she could even call out sending her features into a stormy frown, the full force of her anger turned against Brennan Cabrol as he moved into the room.

Her mouth opened to immediately rebuke his actions, her force aura rippling and bubbling with anger as it instantly rose to the forefront and the Knight latched onto the emotion and wrapped it around herself. The move was one of camouflage, her control over such volatile emotions much greater than it had once been. Death truly had changed her.

Ara’s mouth snapped shut as her gaze flashed to the tray he carried, one corner of her mouth quirking up into an amused grin, an eyebrow raised in question. Emerald eyes rimmed in crimson and sulfur tracked his passage to the small counter near her seating arrangement, the snacks within easy reach, as was the Disciple. If he was of higher rank, or their situations reversed, she might have risen from her seat out of respect. Instead, she rested one elbow on the armrest, her chin settled in the palm, the epitome of a cat watching as something interesting appeared and it considered how best to kill it. Feeling his gaze coming to rest on her through the visor of the helmet, she was unsurprised as the mechanical voice emanated from it, the bridge of her nose crinkling as amusement faded slightly at the cool undertone.

Orders to eat? Were they from the disciple or those of Decitus Ren herself? Canting her head to the side, hair falling in soft waves over one shoulder, she let the easy, inviting smile melt back into place, eyelids slightly lowered as her voice dropped into a familiar honeyed purr.

”Returning home at last, the escort is much appreciated.”

A hint of humor dipped into her own undertone.

”Does Master Derith think I was malnourished after they went through the trouble of bringing me back from the dead?”

Her eyes moved minutely, locking on his behind the visor, months of training with Talon Ren making her eerily accurate.

”Or is my loyalty still in question?”

 

[WolfMortum]

"Your disappearance from Bespin leaves much to still be accounted for" the Disciple answered her antagonism with nothing short of the truth, as blunt and forthcoming as he would present it, "Decitus Ren will require a full report of what you experienced within captivity of the enemy; the Security Bureau has already been informed and subsequently confirmed the nature of your injuries and abduction following the attack yet you are not free of suspicion yet" the process would not be new nor unexpected in the slightest for one as experienced as she was, [member="Ara Ren"] a Knight of Ren and his superior in the chain of command and yet for the time being, though he doubted her guilt, Brennan Cabrol would not afford himself any further flaws; nor could he afford to disappoint [member="Samka Derith"] beyond the measure of frustrations she had already expressed towards the Disciple.

"Much has changed in the time you have been absent" Caehl elaborated, something that he wasn't obligated to do yet as out of character it was for him to offer explanation where it was not required, recognition and amendment for what had come to pass between them within the Hilikan Plant dictated some form of consideration for the resurgent Knight of Ren. "The Order was compromised by heretics. Turncoats to the Sith Empire. Among them were some we were affiliated and worked closely with. Your proposed guilt and loyalty is no longer in question any less than that of my own. The Supreme Leader's will has been opposed by cowardice and must be rooted out with zero tolerance for personal attachments..." His gaze from her own did not falter, his words spoke a number of truths that showed not an ounce of doubt in his duty.

"The strength and unity of the Ren has been fractured, it no longer resembles the Order that our Master trained us to serve for. Decitus Ren and [member="Castor Ren"] have henceforth been given the Supreme Leaders instructions. Treason will be met with death..." His words faded a moment, his brows furrowed as he focused on the women that stood before him, "Kaalia Voldaren is among those who turned their back on his vision, do not share in her mistake...", it would be difficult to tell whether or not this was coming as a warning from the Disciple or a threat. Among the Knights of Ren, before [member="Kriel Firin"] and Samka Derith themselves, Ara Ren was arguably the closest resemblance to an ally that Caehl considered friendly within their Order, yet that did not fight against the fact that if she were truly a traitor to Sieger Ren, then he would be forced to strike true and leave no room for error.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

The request for a report was not unexpected, nor was the confirmation that she was not wholly free of suspicion. A soft, amused smile peaked out as she stood, moving to the cabinet to pour herself another cup of amber fire. Turning to the Disciple, she held up the decanter and raised an eyebrow in silent question, allowing him to continue speaking even as a sharp shake of his head dismissed the offer. A quiet clucking of her tongue and a soft chuckle accompanied the bottle’s return to its shelf, her glass once again full of the rich liquid.

”A pity, it really is a good vintage.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, the Knight returning to her seat and sipping the drink while she considered his words about heretics and turncoats. Meeting his gaze as he spoke of personal attachments, she tilted her head to the side, regarding him thoughtfully, hair cascading over one shoulder, cup cradled in long, thin fingers. Did he believe she was one such Ren, to choose the thin threads of alliance over the orders of the Order and the Supreme Leader himself?

”I am aware of Connor Harrison’s betrayal. Although his allegiance with the Sith provides a true surprise.”

Last she’s spoken to the ex-Jedi, he had denounced the Sith. A smug grin crossed her faces as she considered how times had changed.

She tipped the glass to one side, watching as the opaque liquid flowed dangerously close to the edge of the tumbler, a single drop leaking over to roll down her finger. Turning her hand, she leaned forward, catching the small bead as it lit on her knuckle, tongue darting out to stop its path with a playful smile. Watching for any reaction from [member="Caehl Ren"] , she returned to her lounging position.

While she digested his words, the plurality of his proclamation brought a frown to cross her face. There had been quite a few faces absent from the Bastion and the battlefield as of late, were they all counted among this band of defectors? The Knight had always assumed they’d been sent on personal missions in the name of Sieger Ren, perhaps she should have made greater note of such absences. She would not make the same mistake again.

A moment of silence hung between them as he uttered the name of the only person to hold a personal attachment to the Knight save her former Master, [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] .

Crimson rolled over her eyes as rage rose to the surface, the glass in her hands straining beneath the grip of tight fingers and the pressure of the Force growing within.

Standing sharply, she slammed the glass onto the table, the slight shaking of her hand hidden in the movement, eyes flashing up to catch his gaze with her own, malice and a twinge of interest swirling in their depths. Taking a step closer towards the disciple, she let her voice dip into the lower, darker tones of their register, a deeper purr than before.

”I remind you of your place, Disciple. You succeeded in scoring a hit against me once, but I am no longer disconnected from that which gives us both power, and you will not find me such an easy target a second time. Although you are welcome to try.”

Letting her control on the budding power slip for a moment, a soft, predatory smile curled up the corners of her lips as she wrapped a tendril of dark power around the soft flesh of his throat. Applying pressure with a simple flexing of her fingers, she stepped closer once again, the hunter within coming out to play, the move just short of cutting off his airflow. A reminder, and a warning of her own.

”I am not them.”

With the simple statement, she pulled the power back, releasing his muscles, pushing the flood of emotions his words brought to the surface. Now was not the time to dwell on the ice-cold flush of pain his statement had sent through her, nor the time to attack those who had rescued her from exile.

Turning away from him sharply, she took a few large steps, hands clenched under the folds of her robes, out of sight. The anger from seconds before was replaced with neutral pride, the interest still shining behind emerald irises. He intrigued her, this disciple so devoted to the Supreme Leader and their cause that he gave up life and limb.

”You did well on Bespin. I did not have the chance to tell you so before.”

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"I remind you of your place, Disciple".​

​

He needed not the reminder, he knew his place yet there were times where rank demanded less than the interests of the Supreme Leader, where the vision of Sieger Ren demanded more of Brennan Cabrol than simply following blindly like cattle. The last to remind him of his place had been none other than Kaalia Voldaren as he had lay crippled, still recovering from his injuries following the battle that took place across Bespin. There he had been at her mercy, pathetic and unable to stand for himself for all the pain such a transformation had wrought him. The former Ren now turned traitor had turned upon the Disciple the deadly sight of the Sith way and he had then warned her as he did now with Ara that there would be consequences to those that failed to adhere to the will of their all powerful and righteous Lord over the First Order.

"Nor am I willing to stand silent while slaves to a false prophecy disrespect the glory of his Empire" Caehl responded, his gaze unmoving, focused purely on the woman for all that she brought about her in darkness. Her power was palpable and enticing, it represented the training that many a Knight of Ren sought to attain in the service of the Supreme Leader and yet too many of them had turned away, lured by false prophets and the succession of selfish gains. Raising both hands to the helm that kept his identity estranged from most, he neglected all else and detached it from the neck of his armor, a mechanical hiss escaping from the cracks before a vacuum of air was finally broken and his breathing turned human once more, the respiratory delivery system fed through his Cybernetic exo-skeleton no longer in play, his tone of voice carried a frayed edge to it as he lowered the helm under his right arm, staring back at the women through a studious gaze, his iris alight in red and amber flare, pouring with the raw power of the Darkside of the Force and yet there carried an obvious presence of control and restraint, the complete ownership of oneself, the zealot having given all for the Supreme Leader and in doing so obtained a state of mind that had forsaken all personal ambitions, overcome mortal devastation and survived damnation in order to appease a truer cause, an eternal battle in his own that no longer remained, his glory was the glory of Sieger Ren and his place as a Disciple for however she sought to speak down to him, embodied nothing less than his reign over the galaxy. "Your right to command has not yet been redeemed. Our superiors will see to that, when you are cleared for active duty" she who was still under investigation would need to conclude her time with the upper-echelon before her authority would be made clear once more, "You may choose to retaliate for what happened on Bespin once you have regained your credence within the Order; such will be your right". If [member="Ara Ren"] wished vengeance be struck upon him for the blow that had been delivered unto her during the fight against the Jedi Taeli Raaf, then he would willingly accept it and all that her chosen retaliation demanded, whether that be his life or less; however it would not be allowed before her purity to the Order of Ren was confirmed, and until otherwise she was still a factor unknown since having returned after such a time spent in the company of the Galactic Alliance's territories.

Her final words however caught the Disciple off guard, the dried blackened skin across the left side of his face shifted around his eyes as his gaze narrowed in a brief squint, acknowledging her regards for his former actions taken against the Alliance yet not knowing how to proceed from the compliment, none had bid him acknowledgement in such open regard since long before he had entered the Ren. He had still been a boy, before the three year incarceration that had twisted and churned him up thanks to the Sith Empire, weak and blinded by the ways of the Jedi Order that he had been stolen and forced to live as though there weren't alternatives to the shackles of their regime. "I acted as was expected of me" He responded flatly, choosing best not to accept the kindness as such a gift was better given up in faith and loyalty to Sieger, "Our cause has no room for weakness".

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka had first retreated to her own compartment, latching onto the nearby Star Destroyer's longer ranged communications network to send word back to some of the other members of the Ren's most inner circle for a short debrief. Two blue holograms of figures hooded and masked, one male the other female, flickered in and out of existence on the personal holocommunicator held in her hand.

"You have the boy doing what, Decitus?"

A smug grin crossed Decitus Ren's youthful face, "Our friend, Brandon, shall be tending to the Knights personal needs during this sensitive time. Medicine, food, that sort of thing," she waved her hand and shrugged and gesture of her nonchalant attitude.

"It sounds..." the male figure replied slowly, "as though you've turned him into a nurse."

"Or a Butler," the female Master chimed in. "Perhaps even a pet." There was a an ounce of exasperation within the woman's voice as she continued, "I had hoped that we had past the point of pettiness, Derith," the icy use of her birth name cut through the young Ren like a knife causing a visible shiver in her posture. It had been a while since she was berated. "Your childish temperament still lingers beneath the surface, I see."

"I-I assure you that I am acting with reason," at first the tone of her voice was pleading but the more she spoke, the more Samka remembered that she was now the equal of these people by order of the Supreme Leader himself, the stronger her voice became. "He stabbed her. Were it not for the actions of an enemy, [member="Ara Ren"] would be dead. I recruited the woman myself, I've fought alongside her since, I know what an asset she is. To loose her would be to loose a fine agent. This isn't revenge," Samka returned to that infamous grin, "this is bonding. Letting the two repair any damaged relationship that may linger so that they may fight effectively as a group once more."

After a moment's delay the male figure nodded while the female remained silent, both apparently satisfied enough not to complain further. "So she's safe?" The male asked after another pause.

"She seems stronger than she was when she left, her connection to the Force has been reestablished more powerful than I've ever felt it while her loyalty is unwavering and reinforced by my actions."

"Excellent," the woman visibly pleased even behind the mask and cloak, "and you know of her bloodline?"

"Of course," the youngest Ren replied smoothly.

"If the girl is truly loyal to you, the ousting of Darth Carnifex presents us with a unique opportunity," the woman continued.

"You're suggesting..." the gears in Samka's head turning. "The Dark Side of the Force is strong there, it's been the seat of the most notorious Sith Lords in the galaxy for decades. We could take that for ourselves," the young Master seemed to purr in anticipation and pleasure at the idea. There was a certain thrill to converting the Dark Lord of the Sith's stronghold into a power base for the Knights of Ren, one she could playfully hold over the Lord Carnifex later. "Let the governors and the bureaucrats set taxes and regulate social policy and whatever else occupies their feeble minds. The reality shall be an entire star system for us to shape."

The two holograms made gestures of agreement. A great game was taking shape in Samka Derith's mind and both Ara Ren and [member="Caehl Ren"] would have their parts to play.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Pausing in her pacing as he spoke, she returned to the small seating arrangement, leaning on hip against the back of the chair she’d once lounged upon. Raising an eyebrow as he began to remove his helmet, a small smile graced her face. Talon Ren had also deigned to remove his mask in her presence, twice, the pocket marks of a ravaged face seared into her memory, raised and blistered with the heat of Mustafar. She’d tended to his wounds out of respect and the slightest sensee of guilt. Her master had aggravated the old wounds by standing in the implacable heat and acrid air of the molten planet while she’d forged her blade, a testament to his strength of will and devotion to his student.

Watching, impassive, as the clicks and hisses of the helmet being removed revealed the ravaged planes of [member="Caehl Ren"] ‘s face, amber and red eyes meeting her own. Her expression changed subtly as she studied the damage wrought on Bespin, his own sacrifice to the good of the Order and the will of the Supreme Leader. Blackened skin, evidence of the damage fire could inflict, covered one half of his face, her eyes inspecting the damage for signs of the young boy she once knew underneath. The bone structure was the same, the eyes, filled with the corruption of the darkness within. The mechanical voice melted into the ragged sounds of vocal chords that had seen better days, his now natural voice filling the room around them.

One corner of her lips tugged up into a smug grin as he argued against her authority at this point in their juncture, an inclination of the head indicating that she acknowledged his comments, although her eyes burned with defiance.

”I assure you, I would be in restraints if Master Derith had any reason to doubt my loyalty.”

His discomfort was obvious, both by the emotions she could feel coming off the Disicple, but also from the minute changes in expression and his flat tone. The smile turned predatory as she came around the side of the chair and dropped into it casually, one hand motioning for him to do the same with the other.

For a moment, she sat and assessed the younger Ren, wheels in her head churning as she considered the reasons behind his easy brush of off a compliment as well as the fanatical comments made throughout their acquaintance.

”Yes, you did, and for that you should be commended.”

Steepling her fingers, she met his gaze, a curious yet flat expression gracing her face, tone cool and level. Her next statement could be taken as a compliment, statement, or snide insult, her tone and expression giving little away.

”Most would abandon the cause, seeking instead to rush to the aid of a fallen ally. And yet, you pushed onward.“


[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"Had I not, we both would have fallen"

Brennan Cabrol answered her with little apprehension, his response offered naturally in genuine belief that the Jedi would have stabbed him in the back were he to tend to her wounds, those of the Galactic Alliance held little virtue among themselves, least of all accountability for their actions. Even during the fight against Kaalia Voldaren, Brennan had allowed the Sith Lady to regain her footing and ready herself for their fight; she a traitor whom deserved no such generosities and yet the Knights of Ren were to be held in higher stature to the filth that coveted the galaxy in corruption.

"Your weapon assisted me in fending off against two others whom joined the Jedi we faced. We had an agent isolated within the control center who was crucial to the defense of the Facility and eventually resulted in the success of the over-all mission".

He would answer for his crime against [member="Ara Ren"] yet he would too defend his decision to push onward. Her fall had given him pause at the time, it was both unexpected and regrettable, yet his priorities at the end of the day had to be weighed in the First Order's favor and in his decision to abandon her, he had made certain that the trio of Jedi would not reach the center of the facility to further reinforce the Alliance's position nor eliminate their FOSB contact within.

"You are welcome to doubt my ability yet if it's my loyalty you question, know that it was my intention to give my life for the vision that Sieger Ren has for this Galaxy. It was only through the bidding of [member="Samka Derith"] that salvaged and reconstructed me as I am now. Make your demands as you will them, once you have returned to your duties as my superior. I will answer them not by hierarchical law but to atone for my transgressions..." Brennan paused a moment, turning to glance down to consider his following words carefully, "However...-I would do so again to secure victory for the First Order had I the opportunity".

A bold thing to admit to a Knight of Ren, that were things to repeat themselves he would again focus on the objective at hand rather than coming to her aid. His loyalty to the Supreme Leader demanded such an iron will, a heart of stone where sentimentality was put beside that of his goals. The Knight before him was a prominent figure, not just within the Order of Ren but so too in his experience with them. She was one of few that he had bled beside, alike that of Decitus and [member="Castor Ren"]. The three of them called upon a higher respect than most others not for their rank but for Brennan's having experienced who they were and what measures they went to for the First Order. To say that he was without heart would be nothing short of a lie, yet to claim he understood the complexities of human emotion and sentimentality would also be a grandiose error.

"Does that disappoint you".

 

[Ara Zambrano]

”Should it?”

Raising a singular eyebrow, her lips curled up into a wolfish grin as she met his gaze, amused by his attempts to rationalize and justify his actions to one who needed neither from the disciple. Again, she motioned for him to sit, untwining her fingers and tapping one fingernail lightly on the smooth surface of the table before her.

”You did as I would have.”

A simple statement, both approving and cold in tone, as she studied the disciple before her, a little more warmth leaking into her gaze than she’d allowed before.

”I doubt neither your loyalty nor devotion, as your wounds and actions prove both to be above reproach. Most would have paused, as I said, but you continued to push forward and secured Hilikarn for the Order. I would demand retribution if you had not done so.”

Letting her gaze linger on the ruined mass of muscle and skin to punctuate her point, her irises raised to his, seeking a reaction to the scrutiny. Did he carry the outward signs of his sacrifice with dignity, pride, or disgust? The varied scars that graced her own figure came with a mixture of those same emotions, most having become badges of pride, symbols of those who had tried to bring the Knight down and failed.

His devotion was evident in both his words and his actions, a slight frown pulling the skin between her brows together as she considered the near fanatical behavior he displayed. Her last statement was laced with amusement, his misinterpretation of her words and purpose amusing her.

”Rest assured that if roles were reversed, I would not hesitate to do the same.”

A bit of the mask she constantly wore slipped, the darkness within surging to the surface of her eyes, a void of emotion and conscience. For a simple moment, she let the disciple see with absolute surety the lack of concern she had with the potential fall of a comrade in battle. The knight would do everything within her power to avoid such a situation, but should it arise, she would push onward, as he did, the fate of her ally regrettable, yet unavoidable.

”Curious though, that you would so willingly throw away your life for the sake of protecting information.”

A gentle prod as the mask returned, curiousity and interest replacing the void within.

[member="Caehl Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"Two Masters and an Apprentice"

Caehl Ren responded flatly, short and to the point. His gaze fell upon her own and finding her staring back at him studiously, he squinted, brows furrowing as his eyes narrowed almost out of self defense and the desire to put up a wall of intimidation before admitting he had been too weak to best them. At the time, he was far less in strength and speed than he was now even despite the weight of his cybernetic enhancements, his neural interface accelerated his cognitive process and aided him to think, feel and react faster than the typical sentient male was able.

"My goal was absolute, there is no alternative to an Order handed down through the Ren; Those who do not comply are heathens and traitors to the cause" as he spoke he watched her now, gauging her reactions while an octave in his tone rose somewhat higher, making it difficult to tell whether he was defending himself or reminding her now. If he was seeking to goad her into a reaction it was not by personal invention, yet her study of him now echoed his failure twice over since Bespin. There were no regrets buried within him for the action and decisions that he had taken, yet as she had worked with him before and now only seeing who he was within the eyes of the Ren for the first time, he questioned her acceptance and approval.

"What of your time with the Enemy" he soon turned the course of the conversation away from them both, looking instead to what information might be gained from her experience within the southern expanse below that of Alliance space. "You were given freedom. They treated your wounds...-Does this not encourage sympathy for their cause?" His head lifted, tilted back now as he was rather curious just how off putting this ordeal might have made her feel. Was she conflicted as he would be, shamed even. [member="Ara Ren"] had been saved by those they were meant to kill. Caehl Ren would rather have given his life then be taken into their arms and felt the disgrace of their mercy...

"I would not have allowed the Jedi to use me..." He concluded, in a sense answering her early curiosity regarding his choice to surrender his life to the will of the Supreme Leaders vision, "Better we die loyal..." He added before his tone faded and he found himself reconsidering; "Though you have regained your strength since. You were crippled when we fought. What mercies did they offer you...".

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"And what of the boy? Your own desires to lord over him asides, Decitus," the female figure continued to seemingly berate Samka. It was growing irritating for the young Ren, she had earned her position through toil and blood but she pushed forwards.

"In spite of his mistake, he has since done all he can to make up for it," she acknowledged. "He knows his place but still shows signs of being an effective leader, I'm glad I allowed him to keep his little squad." She paused for a moment to consider something which had been troubling her.

"Decitus?" The male Ren queried.

"Brennan's conditioning," she said slowly, "It seems stronger than most. It's difficult to believe he's been with us for a shorter time than the likes of Volderen and other traitors while subject to the same treatment. I dare say even my own devotion is less... fanatical."

"You speak as though this is a bad a thing. The boy honours us," The other Master responded firmly.

"Indeed," Samka replied. "We just have to hope that he can think for himself. In light of his devotion and recent actions, I am promoting him beyond his current role as a Disciple, I believe that will be his best opportunity to grow further."

Gestures of agreement followed from both holographic figures as the woman spoke once more, "Then we shall expect a full summary and debriefing once you return. Glory to the Supreme Leader."

"Glory to the Supreme Leader," Samka repeated as the Masters faded from view.

Alone once more, the girl returned the holo to the inside of her cloak pocket. It was time to pay the pair a visit. She'd scarcely spoken with [member="Ara Ren"] and [member="Caehl Ren"] since leaving enemy space. It was time to rectify that and see just how well the two were getting along.

----

Whistling a jovial tone some might recognise as a theme from a popular children's movie, Samka skipped through the corvette's corridor and towards the room where she felt the other Ren, ever the false picture of childish naivety and innocence.

Reaching the door, she knocked three times and waited patiently for a response, it would be rude to enter unannounced.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Listening, her gaze never wavering from the face of [member="Caehl Ren"] , she watched the disciple with cool eyes. Insurmountable odds, if his information on those he faced upon Bespin was accurate. One eyebrow raised, her expression changed to one of admiration for his ability to survive such an encounter, although the scars proved that such a task was not without cost.

His fanaticism was absolute in both his words and tone. Tilting her head, she returned his scrutiny with her own, wondering to what extent he classified traitors to their cause. Out of curiosity, she chose to pry into his thoughts deeper, hunting for the depths and limits to his servitude.

”Do you not think that Sieger has more use for your life than to throw it away for the safety of purported documentation at an Incineration Plant? Were there not other operatives present who could have prevented the information from falling into enemy hands without you risking the loss of one of Sieger’s elite?”

The cool tone gave away little as to her personal opinion on the matter, despite the fact that Ara herself had died in much the same way.

”We are few, Brennan. Those worthy of the title Ren are even less, to rid his services of your skills would be a tragedy. Perhaps, there is a time to value your life and what you can offer above the orders you are given.”

Pausing on his name for a moment, she continued, letting the thought fall before answering his questions without so much as a chance for him to answer her own musings. Caring little for his decision either way, it was merely a thought she hoped to instill in the Disciple, that there might come a time when the warrior was more important than the artifact, location, or knowledge they sought to protect or secure. The time and effort spent training each of the Ren was not to go unvalued, especially in those who offered loyalty and skill.

Allowing him to change the subject, the Knight shifted slightly, a soft smile curling up the corners of her mouth as she considered the hospitality she was offered.

”Would it anger you to know that they offered me silks, jewels…even fine food and drink?”

Dangling the slightest details of her awakening, she watched from the corners of her vision, searching for the signs of his displeasure she had no doubt would follow her words. A familiar aura moved onto the edge of her awareness, the approaching Master of Ren ending their conversation rather abruptly, although the Knight supposed [member="Samka Derith"] would have similar questions once she joined the pair.

”We came to an accord, Mr. Bantam and I. One in which he assisted in the restoration of that to which he robbed me and I have agreed to assist him with his own…humanitarian mission.”

It still amused her that the agreement had required so little from her end, in return for new abilities and the strengthening of ones she’d had before they’d inadvertently met on Skor II.

”The sympathy I hold for them is none. Out of respect for their assistance, I allowed them to live despite the arms he once took up against me. To that, our debts against each other have been paid.”

Three sharp knocks halted their conversation before it could continue, the darkness of the young girl’s aura slipping into the room and mixing with their own, a sheen of red rolling over Ara’s irises in response. Closing her eyes for the briefest of seconds, she allowed herself a moment to revel in the power that surrounded, blood thrumming.

Opening crimson eyes, she titled her head, fingers entwined, calling out a welcome.

”Master Derith, you honor us.”

 

[WolfMortum]

"I do not think Seiger Ren concerns himself with the likes of his servants. The Wolf does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep, his gaze looks not to us but to the Galaxy beyond for which his reach will extend and end the infidelity of this putrid society that feeds itself on the arrogance and blindness of self desire and self righteousness. Those of us that would serve to help him fulfill his vision are forfeit before the greater conquest and where we fall others will rise to follow him".

Caehl Ren turned to almost glare back in the direction of [member="Ara Ren"], though she was his superior, the disconnected faith that poured out through his words was unquestionable and in the devotion of the Disciple harbored a great darkness that would sweep out and consume those that would meet him in the field of battle for all the power and might that their great Lord of the First Order demanded of them. The priority of ones self was the road to complacency and weakness, segregation from what was their true purpose within the Order of Ren. Caehl had witnessed such a downfall within the Jedi Order of Svivren where they had been too weak to combat the Sith Empire that had come against them. He had then seen it in the Arrogance of the Sith that held him captive, their belief that they were all powerful, untouchable inevitably led to their being blindsided by that of the Galactic Alliance and cast aside, allowing for Caehl's escape back when he still held the name of Brennan Cabrol, a life he had since forfeit.

"It is as you say however, the title of Ren is not given freely. Nor should you nor any of those above us seek to offer such a place to any fool who is not ready to give up their lives for Sieger Ren..." There was some degree of prejudice within his words now, his mind turning back to look upon the memories he held of the Academy at Skye, the Bastion of Ren too upon Virgillia. The Bastion itself had been far more organized and there loyalty was steadfast, their path laid out before them to obey and adhere to for the glory of the First Order envisioned by that of their all-father; a deity among mere men. The Initiates Academy however, he sought to visit soon enough for there seemed now more than ever a time to call upon their brethren for the decline that was the stagnant decay within their own.

"These turncoats to the Sith have made it impossibly clear that weakness and corruption exists even within some of our own; those that must be singled out and eliminated before we are are too boldly compromised. Sieger's silence is not a chance happening to my mind, his distaste for how incompetent we have become is an affront to his very name...".

His words were culled as the knock came against the entrance behind him, Caehl Ren silencing himself and moving to turn his back upon Ara Ren for the moment that he might answer and pull the metal frame aside, his eyes crossing that of [member="Samka Derith"], head lowering in an honoring bow whilst stepping aside and allowing her entry into the returning Knight's quarters. Mistress of the Order of Ren, Decitus Ren was not only responsible for the direction and hierarchy of their Order but so too the painful, torturous transition to that of his new life. His Body strengthened in cybernetics, his mind honed and reflexes sharper and more astute than ever had been before, all shadowed by the burning recollections of his new body being burned, drilles and otherwise cut through into his decayed and defeated former self without the aid of medicinal care save for that which had kept him alive and alert to the entire ordeal.

 

[Samka Derith]

A jovial whistle accompanied the girl as she stepped in to join [member="Caehl Ren"] and [member="Ara Zambrano"]. Whatever the pair had been discussing paused on her entry. Her eyes flickered from one to the other, a twinge of curiosity apparent for all.

"Master Derith, you honor us."

"I do," Samka responded to Ara's greeting simply and factually. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" She offered the pair an apologetic smile.

It didn't matter how much information they divulged on their previous conversation, she certainly wouldn't press for it. The ship, like almost everything else within the Order of Ren, was bugged. Judging from the atmosphere of the room, it was something worth reviewing later on to build on the psych profile of the pair.

"How are you though, dear?" Seemingly blowing past Brennan, the youngest yet more powerful of the Ren, took a few steps towards Ara's seated figure, wearing a seemingly genuine friendly smile. Between steps, she removed her leather gloves and the black cloak from her shoulders, shedding the persona of darkness and into something who appeared open and amiable.

"I'd hate to have heard you were harmed. We can still bury those who kept you from us if that's what you want."

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Eyeing the disciple with a mixture of interest and curiosity as the Master entered, eyelids slightly lowered as she considered. There was much he said that she disagreed with on principle, somewhere along the way, he’d been stripped of everything that made him….him. If [member="Samka Derith"] had not joined them, perhaps she would have pursued that line of thought, probing his pure dedication and complete conviction that his life was better served in sacrifice to Sieger’s cause rather than valued by itself for the skills he possessed.

Instead, she turned her attention to the young girl who entered. The matter of fact response to her greeting earned a small smile combined with a raised eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and derision flashing across her face quickly. One hand gestured for the violet-haired teen to join them, easily dismissing the notion of interrupting, after all, the Ren had orchestrated their time alone.

Ara’s second eyebrow joined the first as Samka inquired about her health and well-being, the mask of jovial and friendly confidant replacing the Master of Darkness persona she knew lurked behind large eyes and easy smiles. Shaking her head slightly from side to side, the Knight chuckled at the implication.

”I was no more harmed there than when I left Bespin.”

Flashing a teasing smile and wink in [member="Caehl Ren"] ’s direction, she straightened, turning in her chair so that she could easily observe both of her visitors.

”If I wanted to bury them, I would have done so myself, but the offer does not go unappreciated. Surprisingly, they treated me better than could be expected. Especially for one who could have been used to their advantage.”

Nodding once to emphasize her point, she glanced at the bar off to the side and the plate of food Brennan had brought with his person, picking up her own empty glass from the table in front of her.

”Can I offer you a beverage or perhaps something to eat? The thoughtfulness also does not go unappreciated.”

 

[WolfMortum]

"This want for mercy you extend the enemy is most generous..." Caehl spoke up on the subject of the Galactic Alliance and those responsible for her being pulled away from Bespin, "Fortunate that they received such kindness from you, Ara; it would not have been my response". In his eyes, the ones who had dragged her away from the battleground had only hindered and left further time between her inevitable return to the Order of Ren. Caehl himself had been pulled from the flames of the Hilikan Facility, left in a worse state than [member="Ara Zambrano"] had been, it was only logical that she would have recovered and returned to active duty sooner than he had, were she to be recovered that same day. Instead, the First Order had spent unnecessary resources seeking to find and reunite her with her rightful place beneath the hand of Sieger Ren.

[member="Samka Derith"] continued to play her facade, the good little outer image of a female better suited for the homestead that she had shown them on Bespin than the true figure of power that she bore on the inside; before the pair of them Caehl understood not why she chose to chase that dream, there was nothing shameful or detestable in her achievements within the Order of Ren and her ascension through the ranks was most admirable, bestowed upon her not out of charity but recognition of the feats she had accomplished.

Hers was a sick and twisted little game made to make fools out of lesser men and in this, Caehl smirked. His helm rest beneath his right arm and that smirk would show, pulling at the cracked dry and scarred skin of his left side rising up from his jawline to his temple; baring the result of war like a medal of honor for what he had sought to give up for their cause. As she passed him however, the notion of his being nothing was not missed, the position of a Disciple before his superiors was a symbol of servitude and lately he had gone beyond what was deemed worthy of one in his rank and structure of the Orders hierarchy.

His smirk faded gradually as he considered Decitus Ren's simple act and negligence of his presence as one of greater meaning, derogatory and reminding of his place, his head lifted and he remained further silent and listen and observe as he typically would.

 

[Samka Derith]

"I'm sure you could," Samka sent [member="Ara Zambrano"] a smirk.

She didn't doubt the woman's power, had she wanted, Sam was sure Ara would have inflicted serious damage on her captors. But nor was she invincible. They had many enemies more powerful than Ara, especially given the Knight's diminished power during recent events. Were Samka in her position, she'd likely have played nice with the enemy until reinforcements arrived, hence her reaction.

"I was the one who sent you the food so I've already eaten, thank you," Sam bowed her head briefly as a mark of gratitude for the thought. "Have you offered our friend anything?" She tilted her head towards [member="Caehl Ren"]. "The boy deserves a little reward, what do you say, Caehl? You fought hard to correct your mistakes. I am pleased."

Returning her gaze to the beautiful figure besides her, Sam turned her head coyly then spoke in little more than a whisper, an oddly seductive manner enticing the absolute truth from Ara's tongue. "Tell me everything."