Private Imprisonment

[Levan Mansin]

On the moon of Feshin, orbiting the planet Axis, in the bowels of the Feshin Maximum Security Prison a new prisoner was being brought into the interrogation room of the large prison facility. On the lifeless, atmosphere-less moon there was no chance of escape from this prison. A humanoid exposed to the sun on the surface would be vaporized by the power of the sun or frozen into a block ice when it was on the dark side. That was only if the escapee had access to a way to get out of their cell, all of which were built into the walls of the circular pit drilled straight down into the crust of the lifeless rock with a single pillar of manmade durasteel chambers for prison staff and guards. There was only one other thing that was here, a honeycomb structure of thin life support tubes that kept the prisoners from suffocating, and there wasn't even any room to fit one's hand through these shafts, much less shimmying through them to escape to the life support station on the surface.

The prisoners here had no access to yard time, no social interaction, and no view except for the pit itself. There was one way in and way out of their cells, and it was always ray covered by a transparisteel wall with a hatch that an extending docking tube would attach to from the prison's actual working guts Every prisoner wore shackles and a collar, preventing many biological capabilities, including those of Force-sensitives and wore yellow jump suits with the only identifying marks being their prisoner numbers written on their backs. The odd thing about this prison was how silent it was on a day to day basis, in some cases this solitary confinement drove men mad. But those who were here deserved to suffer it, at least according to the courts of the Crossroads Republic.

One of them was Eskk Jannik who had just arrived, and now he was brought into the solid metal box of an interrogation room with four holocams watching what went on inside. On the wall was a sign that gave a very blunt message to the occupants: "ANY DISTURBANCE WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE VENTING OF ATMOSPHERE". The sign was written in a multitude of languages in blocky yellow letters so there was no doubt about the lengths that the Crossroads prison personnel would go to to maintain their record of no escapes. The two Shipboard Security Model "Sentinel" Security Droids dropped Eskk into one of the two seats and stepped back, their visual sensors watching him the whole time. In the control room two individuals wearing dark gray trench coats were monitoring him. They were Silver Guardians.

"His knees seem to have healed," Senior Guardian Levan Mansin observed quietly.

"So, this is the bad guy huh?" Wes Soto, his partner observed, "Doesn't look so tough."

"Not many people are very tough when they're in cuffs and don't have any weapons," Mansin nodded, holding the clear evidence jars he had in his hands, which had his lightsabers, and his kyber crystals in a small vials. Plus, they had the full case report on what they were dealing with, including the crime scene report on all the dead civilians he'd killed, especially the Delfino who'd had his brain consumed by this sinister being.

"So, how long we gonna let him stew boss?" Wes asked quickly, and looked over at his boss, who just glared back without saying a word, "Right, when you're ready."

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk had healed up between the time that he had been captured and the time he had been brought here. This place was horrible. Eskk was going to come back here one day and vaporize the place. He still assumed he woukd get out. Eskk's story couldnt end like this.

Holding onto that hope was about the only thing that kept him sane. Well, relatively sane. On some deep level underneath the anger, Eskk was very impressed with this place. It was the perfect hole to stick someone away in.

To pass the time and for enjoyment, Eskk imagined sticking Loreena Arenais in here. She'd probably crack like skull. The mere thought of cracking skulls made him happy.

Eskk looked around the room. There wasnt much in it except for the chair and the writing on the wall. He realized he was here to be questioned. Which ment this is when the torture would resume. What a quaint little room to be tortured in, Eskk thought to himself. Then he wondered how they got the blood out of the rock. Maybe they had a non invasive torture method? That would be interesting.

Eskk started whistling, he really hoped that didn't count as a disturbance. "I know you're out there," Eskk started to sing in his high pitched nasally voice. "You're keeping me waiting. Waiting for you. Well, you can make me wait all you want, because I'll still live longer than you." Eskk started laughing hysterically at his own song.

Levan Mansin

 

[Levan Mansin]

"Stay here," Levan ordered his junior partner and took the two lightsabers in their separate evidence containers alongside the two kyber crystals that went with them.

He went around the corner and was greeted by another pair of Sentinel droids at this double-thick blast door. He took a breath, making sure he had complete and utter control of his thoughts, his emotions, and his very essence. Among the many skills of the Silver Guardians was their ability to lock down their Force-sensitivity from other Force-sensitives, providing an element of surprise should they need to remove them from the equation. A Force-sensitive was remarkably-easy to lure into a false sense of security, especially one whose leanings were more towards the Dark Side. Which is what Levan was anticipating here, in fact he knew it to be true, mostly through his gut, and his connection to the Force. He'd passively read this individual, and after some very simple investigating he was quite certain he had all he needed to make this individual into what he wanted. Opening the door he went inside, and slapped the paper copy of the crime scene reports of the deaths of the civilians this individual had caused, and then he placed the lightsabers in their sealed jars in front of his own seat as he slid it out and sat down, glaring at the alien before him.

"The governor of Pianta wants you publicly executed for terrorism," was the first thing he said to Eskk, "But..." he said as he pulled out and slid over a form, signed by the Crossroads Republic's Prime Minister, an execution order, and then tossed it aside and lowered his voice, "I have some questions first. How about we start with a simple one, who do you work for? First Order, Confederacy, Galactic Alliance? Or...how about the Eternal Empire?" he then flipped over to an image of Eskk, provided by Bursol II authorities and slid it in front of him, "Seems like a winner to me. You've been after that group of...freedom fighters...for some time now I see."

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk watched the man enter the room with his lightsabers. Eskk was happy to see them. He had wondered where they had gone off to. The man sat down and informed Eskk that he was fated for a public execution.

"Terrorism," Eskk exclaimed in mock surprise, "why I would never engage in such acts. Quite frankly, the insinuation is appalling. I should like to meet this governor, convince him to um... rethink his stance." Of course, Eskk ment that he'd like to feed on the governor.

"It's very kind of you to return those," Eskk said referring to his lightsabers. "I was wondering where they got off to. I just have such a terrible habit of misplacing things. Its like my brain leaks the information out of my nose." It was another reference to feeding. Eskk had been starving since he'd gotten here.

"Since I'm fated to die," Eskk finally responded to the man's question. "I dont really see why I should tell you anything. Not that I would if I did see a reason. Thats a big no-no where I'm from.

Now it was time to try and turn the tables on this interrogator. "How many civillians did I manage to kill before you vaporised my ships? I hope I at least set a record. Those were brand new ships, you know."

 

[Levan Mansin]

"You..." Levan looked at the scene, and started flipping over picture after picture, dozens of them, "killed a hundred and six people, all for the Eternal Empire we're quite certain. And the fact that you did that, and then failed, and got caught...says that you're a dead man anyway. An embarrassment to yourself and your liege, and a traitor, oh yes, we've already put out word that you confessed the Eternal Empire's complicity in the attack in return for not starving and a stay of execution."

To make his point he took a datapad and showed him a screen capture from a news headline which read, "Eternal Empire Behind Attack on Piantan Spaceport", and chuckled to himself at the headline and what it would mean.

"I'm sure your masters can think of some very, very painful ways to make you pay for that. Am I right?"

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk looked at the pictures as the man laid them out. He made a show of leaning forward in his chair to do so. "Low hundreds," he replied. "Honestly I was hoping I did better than that. Let's not forget about the property damage, though. If you ask me, that's the real crime."

Eskk shifted in his chair when he was shown the headline. He didn't care about causing a war between the two factions, but he was disturbed about the blatant attack on his reputation.

"I confessed no such thing," Eskk snarled. "It hardly matters though," Eskk said as he regained control of his temper. "I heard since the murder of Darth Tacitus, the Eternal Empire is weak. Especially under the new Empress, Ingrid or something. I forget her name. I do know its not nearly as compelling as Darth Tacitus though."

"As far as the reason I was on Bursoll Two," Eskk continued. "Like I said, the Eternal Empire is weak. I go there to feed. Easy to evade the locals and the cuisine is okay. They're searching for a serial killer there, look into it."

"I have to admit," Eskk said trying to turn the tables again. "The food on Bursoll Two is not like whatever that thing I ate before getting captured. Now that was an exotic meal. I think I'll have to try it again when I get out of here. I mean it didn't even put up a fight. If they're all that docile, its the perfect risk to reward ratio."

Levan Mansin

 

[Levan Mansin]

Levan had enough, in a lightning quick move he stood and whipping his lightsaber into his right hand he made a point of being extra precise. His left hand reached out with a violent pull from the Force he ripped one of Eskk's tentacles into his hand, and with one ignition of his saber he severed it right in front of his nose and then flung the Anzat violently into the back wall and kept him pinned there as he clenched his hand, so that Eskk's windpipe was constricted, ever so slowly.

"Do you think you have power here?!" Levan snarled, "Let me tell you something, we have dealt with far worse than you and your so-called weak empire. Maybe that's something your ambassador, who I assume is a friend to your empress would like to hear if I hand you over to them."

Eskk Jannik

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk felt a sting as the probosci was ripped out his face. He was unhappy about it, but it would just grow back. All it ment was feeding would be slower for awhile. Besides, Eskk was getting what he wanted now. The interrogator was angry and angry people made mistakes.

Eskk let out a short laugh before he was flung against the wall. With no way to brace himself, Eskk took the full force of the collision and the subsequent crash to the floor. It hurt a lot. "Now, were getting acquainted aren't we." He said through a choked voice.

"Feels good," Eskk said, "doesnt it? Beating up on people who have no chance to defend themselves. Imagine how I felt when I ordered those bombs dropped on the hundred and six poor souls in your spaceport." Eskk tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough.

His throat was almost too tight to allow speach. Eskk figured he could get out another sentence or two. "Be real, not going to turn me in. Prize of the century for you."

Levan Mansin

 

[Levan Mansin]

Levan just smirked, and lowered his blade and pointed it to Eskk's left kneecap.

"Tell me, how much faster would you starve if you had to regrow a new leg?" the man said, and then moved the blade to the other one, "Or two new legs? I'm curious..." he said as his blade moved close enough to discolor the prison coverall material from the heat of the white lightsaber blade, "I'm sure our medical research personnel would love to figure out what makes you tick, at least while in our custody."

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk had a witty response, but he decided to keep it to himself. He didnt really want to lose a leg. That would take quite some time to regrow.

Eskk thought about life with one leg. Then with no legs. Even if it was a short life, it would be horrible and embarrassing. Eskk didn't want to go out like that.

After a brief period of silence, Eskk finally spoke. "You already claim to know who I work for. You know I wont confirm or deny it. So, what do you want from me and why should I give it to you?"

"If you're just here to torture or kill me, get on with it," Eskk told the man. "I'm already starving which is the worst possible thing you can do to me. If it's my time to return to the Silent Voices, then so be it."

"You have a lot to learn about interrogation," Eskk finished. "It's not always about what you can take. Sometimes it's about what you have to give."

 

[Levan Mansin]

"You looking for something in return? Try freedom," Levan offered, knowing that would get his attention, "Although...you'll probably have to find some place to start over, seeing as the Eternal Empire's probably going to hunt you down the moment we tell them where we'll drop you off."

He then further pushed his point when he pulled the being's other proboscis and held it in his hand and then let held the lightsaber so his saber's radiating heat began to visibly cause steam to rise from the flesh.

"And if that doesn't appeal, you can begin your new career as a living medical sample donor," Levan reminded him of the other potential fate he had in store, "So, ready to talk?"

Eskk Jannik

 

[Eskk Jannik]

Eskk felt the sting of his other probosci rip from his face. "If I talk," Eskk offered, "I get my lightsabers back, my freedom, and instead of you dropping me off somewhere, I get a ship with no tracking devices or surveillance mechanisms of any kind. Lawfully registered to me. No surprises."

"Thats my price," Eskk told the man. "I also want a written agreement for the previously stated conditions and to drop the charges from your Prime Minister."

 

[Levan Mansin]

"That depends on what you can give me in return, the better the intel, the better the deal," Levan stated, "And I'll know you're lying, and when you do, it'll cost you an appendage, starting with this one," he held the probosci now so close the flesh began to sizzle before letting it go and dropped him from his grasp and stepped back.

 

[Eskk Jannik]

"I was a Major with the Eternal Empire," Eskk said. "The Empress really is weak. She hosts bargaining sessions with the rebels. I think she secretly has a thing for Loreena Arenais."

"I can give you more than just Intel though," Eskk said. "If you agree to a few other conditions, I'll kill the Empress for you while making it look like it was my idea all along."

 

[Levan Mansin]

“We don’t go for regime change through assassination, especially when it’s likely you’re just looking for someone besides your own intelligence services, who I guess are the ones who think like you, to do the dirty work, and when you kill her your new master blames us, just to legitimize your position,” Levan explained, “As much as we don’t mind slaughtering your fleet and armies we have better things to do.”