Here We Build Monsters

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Another day, another biological monstrosity to cook up. At least, that was the way Sylvanan told it to people. The mad scientist persona added a bit more flair to his personality, but it really wasn't true. He helped far more than he harmed, and the Vornskr on the table would not suffer. It would have been more effective to use a Voxyn, but they were morbid creatures.

Too ugly to be used publicly. Too dangerous in the wrong hands. Vornskr looked docile enough to be lovable, and monstrous enough to inspire fear in the hearts of the hunted. They were not as dangerous as their abominable cousins, but that was not a bad thing.

It meant more business.

The creature was currently asleep alongside three others. Sylvanan held three inhibitor chips, along with six others nearby. They would be surgically implanted into the brain. Here he awaited, alongside [member="Tmoxin Temi"] and [member="Hans Vaiden"], two that he wanted to observe the test.

The surgical machine began to make a gentle incision behind the Vornskr's ear. Sylvanan waited eagerly.

"You two." He asked quietly. "Why did you join the Empire? I want no patriotic garbage, your true reasons. You understand there is more than it, so I would like to know." He continued, out of the blue.

It was the sort of thing he often pondered. There were many things he wished to know, and the past's of those he worked with were certainly some of them.

 

[Hans Vaiden]

Vornskr were creatures of myth, almost. Yet there were half a dozen of them seated before him. Each of them was almost a meter long, full of nothing but ferociousness, aggression, tenacity, and the willpower to bring down an entire Star Destroyer on their own. Hans wasn't too fond of the idea of occupying a room with a whole pack of them, even if they were sleeping, and he kept his distance from the unconscious predators. The whole little experiment would pass with his hand ever close to his holster.

However, the black-suited man's voice cut through his tentative thoughts. He was asking something about why he joined the One Sith and their cause, but preferring to stick to the Imperial route and not associate with those inbred Yuuzhan Vong mongrels. Disgusting creatures they were - them and the rest of the galaxy. Only humans and their kin were fit to rule. Sovereignty ran in their blood more so than oxygen did.

"I joined to win," Hans replied simply. What he wanted to win, there was no telling. "Victory is worth everything."

He glanced over to Tmoxin, an inquiring look in his eyes. He was interested in hearing what she had to say too.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin had only seen a Vornskr up close once before during a wild and crazy Nal Hutta party when she served as the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Red Ravens, her assignment to guard employer Cryax Bane. The beast had been let loose by a bounty hunter so trying to halt its pursuit, she had shot the creature with chuba darts. But that didn't stop it. The Vornskr kept on running and chasing party goers, even though the poison would have induced a stroke in most other living beings. As she recalled there was a rancor also running loose at that very same party. How she did not miss working for a criminal organization.

The laboratory had the same clinical smell that her brother’s clinic did on Hapes. The canines lying there didn't cause her too much concern. Commander Temi didn't have nearly the firepower on her, but she had killed Subteroths before from that same distance. She smiled a little at the fact that Hans, trying carefully not to show it, was a bit spooked by the animals.

When Sylvanan asked about why they had joined the Empire, Tmoxin responded: "I don't know if I've mentioned this to either of you, but when I was a teenager on Hapes I was sent to a finishing school which was secretly run by the Ni'Korish, an anti-Jedi sect. Out of everything I learned in academic institutions, the Ni'Korish was the most influential to me and my own beliefs."

What she didn't tell them that she was also in line to inherit both the title and the holdings of Lady Dahma, incumbent leader of the Ni'Korish which included a lucrative rainbow gem mine on Gallinore. She hadn't made up her mind yet whether she wanted to follow in her Ladyship's delicate footsteps or not. It would certainly not be possible with her current military position and right now, Tmoxin was quite happy where she was.

"Imperial ideas greatly appeal to me, Mr. Tal'verda. In terms of government, order, control and rationalism should be primary. Not this Jedi voodoo," she continued, wrinkling her nose with distaste.
The Hapan strolled over to watch the ongoing surgical procedure from a closer vantage point, curious about the science behind what Sylvanan was doing. She recalled him telling her at one point but her head was so filled with other distractions, the attractive Captain Vaiden being one of them, that she couldn't remember the details.

"What comes next after the chips are implanted?" she asked.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"] [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

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Now that was news.


He'd expected an unsatisfying answer from Hans. He had that vibe about him: the stalwart officer whom no one could ever truly know. Sylvanan mused that might be considered charming to some. To someone whose career and very way of life relied in the flow of information, such as himself, it was only frustrating. He withheld any words on that subject matter, as he found himself in a rather delicate part of the procedure.

The incision had been cut to perfection. A deep red crevice three inches long and two wide was marked on the back of the Voxyn's head. Carefully, Sylvanan approached the table. He scooped up the inhibitor chip in a tiny pair of tongs, just large enough to hold the bio-organic object, and lingered over the slumbering beast.

"You've an interesting childhood my dear." He replied, curiosity heavy in his voice. "I'm aware of the advantages an Imperial society brings with it. I'm also aware of the disadvantages. We will find a happy medium that suits everyone's needs." That was not entirely attainable, but Sylvanan would make it work. He did what he did for good reasons. Ruling the galaxy did not appeal to him like it did some. Keeping it safe and secure did.

The chip began to slowly lower into the incision. A quarter of an inch in, Sylvanan inserted a small needle that looked more akin to a stylus. He hovered over the Vornskr, angling the chip into the position cut out by the droid.

A part of the creature's brain had been removed. In place, the inhibitor chip would keep it alive. It would run the beast's motor functions, and thus keep it under full control of its owner.

"I would normally use droids for this, or insert a tiny chip through a syringe." He mumbled. "But the Vornskr is too savage to retain independence. They will have their own personalities, of course, but at the touch of a button, they'll do whatever is needed of them." He added quietly, not daring to look over his shoulder.

He was quite aware of what was going on between Hans and Tmoxin. The Arkanian was not blind, and he often saw things others did not. Especially when those were the things that he yearned for, but could never have. He did not disapprove.

"Afterword, we'll see if the Voxyn responds. If it does, I think it'll make a lovely companion for you, Hans." He snickered. "No anti-Jedi academies for you, Captain?"



[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

[Hans Vaiden]

Hans gave cryptic answers for one reason, and one reason only: trust. This very man had been bred since birth to distrust, become aggressive, and maintain his humanocentric ideals for his entire life. Aliens couldn't be trusted, superiors couldn't be trusted, and the man below you was always conspiring to get his hands on your own position. While that was all true and well, Hans found it rather difficult to place these two beings with him. The first was some black-suit of a man, more cyborg than whatever Arkanian mutt he was. The second was his dashing, fiery Stormtrooper commander.

They weren't above him and they weren't below him. Rather, they happened to be equals.

Captain Vaiden listened quietly to Tmoxin, as she gave a rather brief summary of her early life and her reasons for joining the Empire. He'd already heard part of her beginning story and he felt a little bad about not really detailing his own life. The Captain sighed, still keeping his distance from the beasts under the care of his comrade, the cyborg super scientist.

Despite his crude remarks about those inbred beasts conjured by the spawn of hell, Hans kept his tone polite and calm. "No thank you. It's always rude to return a gift to its sender - especially if it's dead." He gave his own snicker, lips curling into a faint smile. "And no anti-Jedi academies for me. I simply attended the Imperial Academy at Anaxes, Carida, and another at a location I can't disclose."

Another spark flickered in his mind. "If you were wanting something interesting about me, I've mastered Teras Kasi, Echani, and a few other martial arts." He ran a few fingers through his hair, "And I once entertained the idea of starting a Dojo or whatever you call it."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

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A dojo? This guy? Sylvanan fought the urge to laugh, as such a sudden movement would likely kill the Vornskr. The inhibitor chip have an audible click as it slipped perfectly into the cavity provided. Sylvanan lowered over the sleeping beast, so close that his helmet brushed its hide. The stylus began to connect the relevant bits of brain matter to the chip, which would enable the creature's motor functions to continue unhindered.

"I certainly did not expect that." He mumbled contently. He found himself smiling , even as he dug deep into the brains of this savage creature. "When we win, you need to wear a robe to the ceremony. Nothing underneath. Dojo-like. I'm positive Tmoxin would enjoy it." He shot in a rare show of humor.

Sylvanan was generally a pleasant man. Rarely did he insult, and slow to rise was his temper. Yet, the essence of sociabilities beyond the political niceties was often lost to him. It came from his upbringing.

The moment of unabated happiness left him with those sobering thoughts. His smile faded.

"This one should awaken once I finish. Don't yell."


[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

There was still a slight tension between Sylvanan and Hans, one that Tmoxin couldn’t quite put her finger on, but as both of them spoke more freely, she felt their relationship was much less strained than it had been when they all first met on The Scourge. She listened very intently to the Captain detailing his childhood, although she pretended to look distracted with the experiment. “Anaxes, Carida, and another at a location I can't disclose…" Wonder what that last location was? What was the Captain hiding and why? She was apprehensive over the fact that Hans had secrets but she could have lots of fun trying to get those secrets out of him. Or just leave it be. You don't have to know everything, she thought. After all, a little mystery would keep their relationship interesting.

Tmoxin smiled as well when Hans mentioned the Dojo. Apparently he did have some zen-like qualities after all. Although she did not doubt he was proficient in martial arts – his physique alone was proof of that. And as Sylvanan teased Captain Vaiden, she covered her mouth and stifled a laugh. To distract her Captain from any embarrassment she asked:

“What about you Sylvanan? We know so little about you. What was your childhood like?” Tmoxin asked. To her Tal’verda was a complete mystery and despite his illness she knew very little about the Arkanian.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"] [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

[Hans Vaiden]

He'd already told them enough, and Sylvanan's remark about not wearing any underclothes tinged his cheeks just a light shade of pink before quickly vanishing. The thought of his woman nearby and that oh-so tempting breeze...

Back to business. They still had about half a dozen monsters to create and this first one surely wasn't going to be perfect. Hans assumed it would be more prone to launch and him and wrap its gaping maw around his throat in a single moment. Well, he didn't particularly entertain the idea of that happening and his unease was still a bit noticeable despite the small talk going on amongst the trio.

Though when Tmoxin inquired about their ex-Mandalorian compatriot, he too perked up.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

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Sylvanan supposed he should have expected the question, given all that he himself had asked. The Arkanian was prying, as was his nature. He asked the questions, he did not answer them. He came to a halt as his bloodied hands left the scalp of the Vornskr. The beast's breathing heightened, but it did not wake. The Arkanian stepped aside to let the droids sew the incision back together.

"Me?" He asked quietly, watching the automaton go about its business. "Tumultuous." He said in answer.

A dark silence fell over the room, as if Tmoxin had asked him how he believed the universe came to be, or something else that was entirely too personal. It was unexplainable, and Sylvanan came to realize this.

"I am an Arkanian offshoot, a half-breed. My mother was a Pureblood. My father was a human of the Tal'verda Clan. A Dreadguard, you might have heard of them. They were particularly famous twenty years ago - and I hear an offshoot has been stirring up controversy in the Republic lately." His lips pressed into a thin line as the droid finished its procedure. "It raised issues. The dual parentage, that is."

[member="Hans Vaiden"], [member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"How so, Sylvanan?" asked Tmoxin. Even though the Arkanian was a touch on the arrogant side, she was sympathetic to his difficult upbringing. Being Hapan she also knew about heated family drama, coming from a large political family with lots of female siblings. Rivalries between her sisters made up about 90% of her childhood. Still Commander Temi wouldn't be able to empathize in a completely one-to-one fashion. She was raised among wealth and protection with access to the best schools, with every door open to opportunities and whimsical pursuits.

And she wasn't sure if Tal'verda was finished, but as Tmoxin listened she looked for signs that the Vornskrs were waking up.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"] [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

[Hans Vaiden]

To be completely honest, Hans was typically terrified of anything that had more than two legs and lacked sentience. Be they massive droid walkers or the genetic abominations that Sylvanan had claimed to produce, Hans was afraid of them. While he would absolutely never ever voice that fear aloud, he chose to push it deep down into his core until it boiled down and melted over into furious hatred and anger.

That was how he was raised. To love and cherish the perfection and purity of the human species. They were the most numerous, the most adaptable, the most intelligent, and the most powerful species of beings in the entire galaxy. You could find them literally anywhere and every single one of them was unique - be it in the Force or physically.

As for himself, the Captain only referred to himself as a simple man doing a simple job: exterminating Force sensitives around the galaxy. Oh, he didn't hate just any Forcer, merely those aligned with either the Jedi Order or the Sith Imperium. But for now, alas, he would dutifully serve the Sith in their meaningless wars.

Even Sylvanan's admission to be a half-breed didn't come as a shock to Hans. He knew from the moment he removed his mask that the former Mandalorian wasn't pure. Even Tmoxin wasn't pure as he was. But they were his equals nonetheless, and having just two arms and two legs only strengthened his ties to them.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

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"I have no immune system. As a child, I lived in our village medcenter until I was six . My father had designed a bio-suit for me by then. After that, the other children born to my parents were either stillborn or died shortly after birth. Things were strained." He mumbled casually, as if he were talking about the current weather.

The incision in the Vornskr's head was steadily sealed. It was a quick stitching, but enough to keep the creature's cranium from exposure. Its breathing began to slow as the inhibitor chip synced with the brain. Sylvanan cracked a slight smile, and turned about.

"There was a Jedi in the village. A man by the name of Sharn. His presence attracted Sith, and further complicated things. I've had a difficult view of the force ever since - not to mention my disconnection from it. I am force dead, as my father was." He explained, just as the great beast woke.

Its eyes slowly drifted open to stare at the trio. Any restraints that held the beast back were lifted on Sylvanan's command.

The hunter lifted is head up to take in its surrounding. Intelligent yellow eyes gazed down on the Arkanian.

"Sit."

The beast fell onto its haunches.

"Speak."

A low bark came from the creature.

Sylvanan turned toward the others.

"I believe the chip may be a success."

[member="Hans Vaiden"], [member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Oh that would have been a wretched childhood indeed, thought Tmoxin. And very tragic to also have no siblings. Commander Temi thought back to her own youth and at the time she probably would have wished for less siblings. Even to this day she didn’t keep in touch with them like she should.

But her musings were cut short by the movement of the Vornskr on the table. Tmoxin was apprehensive now – it was one thing when the creature was anesthesized but another now that it was wide awake. The fight or flight response kicked in upon seeing the canine awake and she had to resist the urge to flee out of the room.

But the beast sat on command like a lap dog. Tmoxin was slightly afraid that the sound of her own voice would cause it to jump off the examination table and attack her but curious she asked, “Does it follow anyone’s commands or only yours?”

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"] [member="Hans Vaiden"]

 

[Hans Vaiden]

Watching the beast warily, Hans kept his hand firmly upon the grip of his Verpine shatter gun. At this range, it would only take one shot to put this seemingly feral beast out of its pitiful existence. He could imagine it now: the Vornskr breaking free from the technological marvel within its mind and lunging straight for his throat, something Hans doubted he would be able to dodge unless the creature attacked someone else first.

Tmoxin's tentative voice came out before his, stealing his words instantly. "Are you sure you have total control over it?"

If it wasn't, Hans wasn't afraid to end its life right this instant.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

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"That depends. This one is coded to myself. Others will be coded to buyers. Some will respond to certain key words, command codes, that business." Sylvanan explained, strolling up to the beast. He scratched it behind its right ear, and the Vornskr tilted its head forward in reply.

A low, pleasured growl escaped the beast. Sylvanan tapped it on the crown of its head - something these beasts particularly hated. It just looked up at him, puzzled. "Entirely. If the chip is destroyed, it wouldn't be able to move. It might not even be able to breathe at that point."

He pointed out.

"So...I would say the beast listens well."

[member="Hans Vaiden"], [member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Hans Vaiden]

That feral monstrosity literally scared the heebie-jeebies out of Hans. The way its cold, golden eyes bore into your own as if twin suns were burning straight through you. The thing looked completely and utterly devoid of anything that gave it life, a personality, everything. Hans compared it to those cybernetic implants that were famous on Bespin, head attachments that connected you to a central computer. It sure made you a whole lot smarter, but you lost what made you.. you.

"What is it thinking? Is it even like it used to be, or is it like a droid?" The Captain asked, hand on his shatter gun. "I can't really foresee being able to use these things if they don't have personalities. That's why droid armies never work, that's why organics consistently mark higher than automatons. This... thing is essentially one of them."

The whole idea of it nearly made the man shiver, and he'd seen worlds razed by entire Imperial fleets.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]