Mercy or the Sword

[Asha Mataya]

Interrogation room
Undisclosed location
Bastion

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Someone was here to speak with her, Asha was told. More than that she couldn't get out of the guards who had brought her from her cell into another room, where she was sat down and cuffed to a table by two guards. As they left her alone to contemplate on how she had gotten here, she looked around the room, but was met by yet more dull grey walls, a tiled grey floor, and a cold durasteel table with a chair on each side. Lights hung from the ceiling to keep the room from being enveloped in complete darkness, though they weren't particularly bright.

Asha had lost track of how long it had been now since she got taken in. A one-day stop at Ord Thoden to restock had gone very, very wrong. It had been some time since her last feeding and that hunger overcame her as her eyes met the figure of a woman sleeping in an alleyway. Facing the aftermath was just as difficult as all the other times and everytime she regretted distancing herself from the life she had before. There was no need to kill, blood was there whenever the woman wished for it. Now she was forced to become a hunter, and the people she had killed haunted her concience.

This time, things had gotten even worse. Asha was caught by the Sith-Imperial forces that had landed on Ord Thoden that day and taken in. Some kind of test was done on her before being transferred from one facility to another, and now she was here. She wondered how long it had been since she was brought into this room. It felt like hours by now.

One day earlier

Valishkannaeval received a holotransmission from [member='Kaalia Pavanos']. A woman who identified herself as Asha Mataya had been arrested on the planet of Ord Thoden after being caught almost literally red-handed. The woman had been spotted by a murdered homeless woman in an alleyway. According to witnesses she had bitten down into her neck and it looked like she was drinking her blood. After testing it was concluded the woman was part of a species known as the sanguinius vampirika and more importantly, that she was Force sensitive. The woman seemed to be fully unaware of her Force sensitivity.

As a part of the Valkyries, you have been tasked with visiting Asha and determining if she is worthy of being given a place within the Sith Brotherhood.

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​

 

[Valishkannaeval]

The wait continued to drag on for quite some time, the odd silence of the facility making it harder and harder to tell how much longer it would have been. Though after a questionable period, the door to the room opened.

Stepping into the greyed monotone space was a human woman no older than twenty-five. Her short grey hair cut off at the neck and was partially braided, around her neck rested an odd looking blue weasel like creature. Choice of dress was interesting for who Asha might have expected as well, a white dress tied up as a shirt with tan pants ending right below the knee. Looking Asha in the eyes for a brief second the interesting woman motioned the door closed behind herself and a small burst of force energy pushed it it and the locking mechanism could be heard.

"What a way to fall into the hands of Authorities, I mean it is truly amazing to see how starvation drives people. Sanguinius Vampirika, such an interesting thing." The woman pulled up one of the chairs and sat in front of Asha. Her pale green eyes locking on the likely distressed face of her guest. "And I was also informed you are force sensitive and had no idea. This must have been a wild few days for you no?"

[member="Asha Mataya"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

As the door opened Asha perked up in surprise. The sudden break in the all-enveloping silence she had been in the middle of took her off-guard, though even more unexpected was the woman who had now made her way into the room. Where she had expected some kind of brute looking to whatever it was the Sith wanted out of her, reality ended up being very different. Stranger yet was the fact her visitor had brought some kind of animal along, though Asha was unable to identify it.

When the visitor began to speak, her already melancholic visage turned yet a bit more gloomy. "Those moments haunt me. I stop being myself, I..." Asha ran out of words to say and fell silent. As long as she kept moving she was able to bury those moments in the far back of her memories, but the seemingly endless solitude she had experienced from prison cell, to prison cell, to this very room unearthed everything. Blank eyes looked down at the table. She felt like she was going mad.

The sound of the chair in front of her being pulled back and seeing the woman sit down in the corner of her eye didn't cause Asha to look up, but the sensation of being looked at was enough of a reason to tilt her head upwards again. What she was told next clearly caused some confusion within her. "Me? You've got to be mistaken." The thought of being Force sensitive sounded ridiculous. She wasn't able to life anything with her mind or whatever else they were capable of. A scoff escaped her lips as she adjusted herself on her chair to sit up straight again. "Was that what they wanted to test when they took my blood?"

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​

 

[Valishkannaeval]

"Well, to test for why you were drinking the blood of a homeless woman and that yes." Vaulen sat up a bit more and got a little farther from Asha's face to alleviate some of the pressure the woman likely felt.

Fixing her greying dress Vaulen scratched the head of the creature around her neck idly, trying to piece together the right words to approach this situation lightly without causing a panic. "I don't believe the tests were mistaken, the only question is what you'd like to do with the results. Would you like to keep hiding or would you like to fight for some freedom and maybe find a way around this disease of yours." Standing up she moved the chair back to the table beside her.

"I can't promise we could definitely help, but at the very least you wouldn't have to hide in the shadows any longer. We can aide you in finding a way to deal with this matter if you wanted, or you can learn to suppress the urges and use your sensitivity to grow from it." She motioned her hand to the side slightly, a small reach of energy unclipping the restraints of the cold steel chair. Not that she expected the woman to, but if she decided to rampage and attack, there wasn't any challenge in Vaulen smacking her down.

"Believe it or not I was in your position too not too long ago. I had no idea of my abilities, no idea what to do with my life. Though I was given the same option. I have been sent here to see if you have the aptitude to use these abilities for the greater good."

[member="Asha Mataya"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

Once more the moment was brought up and once more Asha was given no choice but to be reminded of what she had done. The feeling of going mad returned, but now she was just a little more numb to it, somehow. That scared her. It was right to feel disgusted and horrified, yet it had become harder to do so. The event was pushed out of her concious as she concluded that she didn't have the energy to convince herself of what was right and wrong. She wasn't quite starving yet, but it had been some time since she was able to feed.

Asha's mind returned to the present, where unbelief still reigned. The woman that sat across from her seemed to be sure of what the test pointed out though, and so she would play along until she saw some manifestation of her own Force sensitivity herself. There was another point Asha needed to adress first, however. "I have no 'disease' to speak of. Had I not become who I am now, I would have been dead years ago." Direct eye contact was finally made as her voice carried a much more serious tone. Where her sire was now she did not know, but she was thankful nonetheless. Her posture became a bit more relaxed again, before she continued. "But, yes. I'll be honest, I feel lost. I have been feeling lost for a long time now," Asha admitted. There was no real point in keeping that from the woman, mentally she had already hit rock bottom.

Something invisible then tugged at her cuffs and as though it were child's play, they came off. Slowly Asha pulled her arms back and began to massage her wrists as a confused look was cast towards her visitor. "Did you-" She interrupted herself as she realized it was the only possible explanation. She let the woman finish talking before saying anything more.

"I would be glad to cooperate if it meant getting out of this mess."

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​

 

[Valishkannaeval]

"Then that is how you feel, there is nothing wrong with that. We are here give people the freedom to do what they want, though we'll need to find a way around the killing innocent people thing." Vaulen said in response to the anger filled reply, her own gaze meeting the woman with a similar seriousness as she had no fear of the one before her.

She sighed, stepping up a bit closer before she offered out a hand to take hers if she let her. An odd thing though she seemed gentle nonetheless. "Listen, either way, I do see a little potential in you. You may feel lost, and I can offer you a way out of that." If her hand was taken, Asha would feel a gentle burn around her wrist as the bruises would fade from the restraints and the soreness would disappear, her hands seemingly healed at an accelerated rate.

"I can teach you a little, maybe help you find what your talents are. Then we can find someone to teach you how to expand on that. This isn't easy, but I promise the life is better than constantly running." A sympathetic look hung onto the corner of Vaulens lips as she looked Asha in the eyes once more. The shifting greens and flecks of greys moved about her irises as she looked over the woman hoping for an answer. Letting go of her hand, if she even was given it to begin with, she stepped away and started walking to the door.

"If you need, I can give you a little time to think. I can even send in some food and, refreshments-" She paused, putting a bit of unwelcome to herself emphasis on the word. "To help you relax and recover your right track of mind before you decide."

[member="Asha Mataya"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

Find a way around the killing innocent people 'thing'. There was something about the way it was said that Asha couldn't quite grasp and that made it a little uneasy for her. The point itself was hard to argue against and yet it still felt off. Perhaps it was merely her imagination, and so she kept the feeling to herself. The white-haired woman had a feeling this wouldn't be her last encounter with this woman, so if there truly was anything to be wary of she would find out eventually. That, or it would be too late, though she cut off the thought as she identified the short slip into paranoia.

Another curious look was sent to the visitor as Asha carefully took her hand, before her attention was pulled towards her wrist. The slight burning sensation took her by surprise at first and her instincts told her to pull away, but it ended but being little more than a little tug before halting. Her wrist had healed even faster than it normally did- her vampiric nature meants minor wounds such as bruises healed within minutes, though now it happened in mere moments. It was yet another thing the Force could do, she assumed. Though having heard stories, Asha herself had never seen someone using the Force. It quietly fascinated her.

"I know next to nothing about the Force, much less how to use it." Asha was still sceptical about the claim she was Force sensitive in the first place, but that mattered little. Anything to turn the bad hand she had been dealt around. According to stories told at bars througout the galaxy criminals were frozen in carbonite, with some never making it out. It was a fate she didn't want to be hers.

The offer she was then made, Asha had to admit to herself, sounded like music to her ears. "I am a little peckish, I must say," she replied, "though 'normal' food and drink don't provide any nourishment to me." Her tone carried a tinge of ruefulness, if only barely noticable. "And, if I truly am what you say, then I absolutely want to learn about it. Though..."

"I'm doubtful this is all out of charity. What is expected of me in return?"

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​

 

[Valishkannaeval]

"Not many know how without being shown the way." The woman let go of Asha's hand, hopefully the pain and soreness now fully gone. As she did so Vaulen move'd to the door while Asha examined her arm, knocking twice, a guards voice rang through.

"Oi quiet down in there!" There was a moment of silence following as Vaulen coughed.

"Id watch your tongue, bring a proper meal for our friend Asha Mataya in here, along with some tea."

A while would pass before a similar knock rang out on the metal door, Vaulen ushering it open with a swipe of her hand as a servant stood by with tray in hand. A sheepish looking boy with clean clothing yet himself seemed horribly dirty. Stepping forward she took the tray from his hands and slipped something into his in return, with a smile the boy ran off and the door closed behind them. The tray was set at the table and she herself had a seat even if Asha wouldn't, and opened the lid to reveal two mugs. One filled with a greenish pale liquid, the other a dark crimson, solid in color and staining the edges of the large white mug.

"In return you are expected to serve the Empire. You will be given the freedom to do as you please, within reason, as long as it is somehow in their aide. In exchange you will be trained in your abilities forcewise and other, given proper equipment and be well taken care of. Should you choose to expand upon your training you will stay under the care of a lord or lady for a brief while, but what you learn you are expected to use in helping the empire. You are not required to kill, steal, or even hurt anyone else if that's something you are worried about, but just find some way if any to help."

Taking a sip of her tea the woman took another glance over at Asha, sighing for a moment before taking a deep breath in. "I know it is a lot to take in, though I promise it'd be better than the life you'd have if you declined."

Extending a hand once more in hopes of a hand shake, she looked into her eyes. "Considering I know your name, it's only fair you know mine, and what I do here. My name is Valishkannaeval, or Vaulen for those who don't like long names. I am a healer and beast master for the Sith Empire and I am more or less a member of the Valkyries. I do less of the killing however and more of the recruiting."

Finally the small beast around the womans shoulders would make a little sense to the fair haired one, its long body shifting in tones of blues and whites.

[member="Asha Mataya"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

In the time that it took for the refreshments to be brought to the two women, Asha sat in silent contemplation over what exactly she had gotten herself into. The reputation of the Sith spoke for itself, yet she had been all to eager to take the chance. Her visitor wasn't at all what the stories made someone like her out to be, but on the other hand she wondered if that was intentional. A tactic to draw her in, then somehow turn her into one of them. She had gotten lucky before when she was taken into house Syrush, but this wasn't the same thing.

Then again, what choice did she really have? The woman had little left to lose, either. It was a deal with the devil, but it certainly beat rotting away in a prison. She hoped she knew what she was getting herself into, but realistically she knew that wasn't the case. It was exactly how her life had been like ever since leaving Selvaris. Perhaps it was the kind of life she was meant to lead.

As Asha took in a slightly deeper breath than normal, she noticed an all too familiar scent. Blood, and it was fresh. Her thoughts became just a little hazier though she focussed on the here and now, there was no reason to lose her calm. Even so, her senses honed in on it with pinpoint accuracy. With her eyes closed, she spoke up.

"Somebody's at the door."

Not even seconds later Asha was proven right. A knock, and when the door opened there indeed stood a boy. It took restraint to not jump out of her chair and over the table to get to the tray, but luckily she wasn't that desperate yet. Instead her green eyes remained locked on the tray, following it as it was brought to the table. The little thud that could be heard as the tray was placed down was Asha's cue to reach out towards one of the mugs, wrapping both of her hands around it and pulling it towards her. The scent was nearly intoxicating now, she brought the mug to her lips and took a large sip, though reminded herself to remain calm. She allowed herself to savor the taste for a moment before swallowing it down and carefully setting the mug back down.

"So, a servant of the empire," the vampire then said in response while the other woman took a sip of her tea. There weren't many other placed left for her to go, and it had already been established she was tired of the drifter lifestyle she had lived up until this point. "I think I can do that." Before today, she had never expected herself to give that answer.

A hand was extended to her, and the visitor gave her name. As though the decision to accept the handshake was the most important one Asha ever had to make until now, she studied the hand, though it wasn't very long before accepting the gesture. "A pleasure to meet you, Vaulen."

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​

 

[Valishkannaeval]

The woman smiled ever so slightly, taking her hand back once the shake was completed. "A wise decision, for you and me."

Taking a moment to finish her tea, the woman stood and set the mug back on the tray, the green liquid now nothing more than a drop or two on the bottom of the large white porcelain container. Brushing dust of the edge of her shirt she glanced to the vampire finishing her own drink.

"Now, I am the first step in this process however do keep in mind. If you'd like to learn more about yourself and abilities, we'd have to find someone accepting apprentices at this time. I would say I could help though... you seem quite different from myself." Pulling a small tablet from her side, she opened a page and glanced through some notes written in a language the other likely didn't understand.

"There aren't many masters that don't have two or three already under their wing, though I'm sure with a bit of looking around we could find a newly appointed willing to take you, or one rushing an apprentice to independence. It's an interesting process usually getting chosen, though with enough determination you could perhaps chose a master if they'd allow it. It also would depend on the specializations you'd like to be trained in and a whole list of other things. Among such we have to get you registered as a citizen of the empire and clear up the mishap that occurred or shove it under the rug for the moment."

[member="Asha Mataya"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

Starting today, Asha's life would radically change. It wasn't the first time, though, stability wasn't something her life had known before. With every new life she entered things seemed to finally settle down, but it never did for more than a few years. Here too the woman hoped to finally find some sense of stability, but she tempered her optimism to prevent herself from being disappointed once more. Her decision, in the end, was very much a leap of faith. Where she would land, only time had the answer.

Asha looked down to the empty mug in front of her while Vaulen spoke, until the latter took out a tablet. "I suppose that's true. Animals don't seem to like me too much, for starters, not since I became what I am now," she said with a scoff as she looked away from the mug and at Vaulen's pet. "Though I'm not sure how your friend there feels about me. Hard to tell."

Asha's visitor continued to explain the next steps to be taken, though most of it seemed to be reserved for the future. "I used to avoid imperial worlds, funnily enough. Now look at me." She had always preferred planets with more 'loose' forms of government when travelling around, but she didn't have much of a choice now.

The thought of simply getting away with her actions felt off to Asha, though considering the punishments she could have been made subject to she found herself feeling relieved. Those mixed feelings pestered her in the back of her mind, but it was difficult for her to argue that not taking the deal would have made her feel any better. The woman pushed it out of her thoughts as much as she could.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable in her seat, she shifted a bit, sitting up straight again after realizing she had slumped in slightly. "I suppose I will simply have to see how things go first. Is the," Asha frowned as she looked for the right words, "I was told one that a Force sensitive could feel it, kind of like a sixth sense. What does it feel like?" She had always had some sort of gut feeling that was rarely, if ever, wrong. Until now, she had figured it was something everybody had, but perhaps that wasn't quite true.

[member="Valishkannaeval"]​