Faction Rattle the Cage

[Ghruna]

Zaiya Ceti

Ghruna had come to several hours ago. In the time since, she had wrestled with the sense of shame.

She hadn't landed a single blow on her opponent. She had been trapped in a shield. Her sense of order was based on a strict hierarchy. Might was right. Her father was a king because he has taken the crown in battle. She was one of many children who had to prove themselves.

No one could win every battle, but to be captured without putting up a fight was a terrible fate for her. The guard had seemed perplexed when she had demanded a swift execution.

"Stupid little bird," she grumbled. This was a Republic or Jedi prison, but she could learn nothing else from the limited view she was afforded by her cell.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Colette Ghruna

"... and while she said she wanted to kill me, it seemed it was more that she wanted to prove her strength or worth, perhaps by fighting," Zaiya explained to Colette as they made their way towards the particular detention cell where Ghruna was.

The whole events on the ship and what exactly happened during the diplomatic mission was still being investigated, but this particular aspect could be overseen by a member of the Jedi Council, especially since it dealt with the detainment of what could potentially be a member of the Sith Covenant. The Lovalla Knight had requested that a member of the Jedi Council oversee the matter and meet with Ghruna, because the Lovalla believed that, despite the threats, the horned woman lashed out angrily at her, she didn't quite mean it.

"It reminded me of the Epicanthix or Eshani culture, where fighting was either communication or maybe it is a way to show their value?" The colorful Lovalla tipped her multicolored hair and looked up at Colette, then gave a bright sunny smile.

"It is nice seeing you again Colette.... I mean. Master Noble." she added, trying to be respectful to Colette's new Council position.

 

[Colette]

Ghruna Zaiya Ceti

"I see." Colette said rather grim as she continued making notes from what Zaiya was saying. A captured Sith acolyte from the Covenant. Admittedly not the Sith Order she had hoped for but a good catch nonetheless.

… I mean, Master Noble.

Colette's nose scrunched, she shook her head. "Please don't."

"Master titles make me uneasy." Her grimace eased up. "Quartermaster will do just fine, thanks."

"Anyway, I'll be following your lead in there, Knight Ceti." Colette fired back with a grin that quickly faded. "I trust your judgment on this."

She went over the notes one more time before they arrived at the cell. Colette gave the cell door a quick nod before they walked on in.

"Good evening." Her voice stern but not hostile. "I am Colette, you know Zaiya already."

 

[Ghruna]

"The yappy one," Ghruna grunted.

"If you have come to claim your prize then I will gladly give you my head quickly if it saves listening to you talk."

Ghruna turned her head to face the human at her side.

"Unless it is to be torture then," he continued. Her tail gave a subtle flick. Despite what she said, she did not want to die a sudden death or be tortured.

"I do not know many secrets that you could get out of me, but it would still be better than boredom."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Ghruna Colette

Zaiya's mottled spots gave a shimmer under Colette's praise at being a knight, but also that the young woman whom the Lovalla Knight looked up to trusted her judgment.

That felt good. Nice. All tingly and joyful in a fluttery sort of happy way that made her spine straighten and yes, that blindingly happy smile curve into a wider grin.

Not even Ghrua's quip that Zaiya was the 'Yappy' one could even deter the warmth radiating from Zaiya's smile. One that was only amused if a but confused at the whole fixation on torture and mangling the horned woman seemed to be prone to thinking.

"We do not believe in torturing anyone for information," Zaiya assured Ghruna, shaking her colorful head as if that was the most silliest thing.

Who would torture someone for information? The potential of getting wrong or coarse information was high, and it wasn't very dependable.

"And no, you can keep your head. You can't talk without it and I do enjoy chatting. That's what we will do now, have a little chat!"

Or at least, that's what Zaiya thought, as those opal-blue eyes turned to Colette to see how to go about this. It was as much a learning opportunity as an understanding of what to do next.

Oh wait, names! They had introduced themselves but they still did not know Ghruna's name.

"So what is your name?"

 

[Colette]

Ghruna Zaiya Ceti

It was always good to see Zaiya happy, even if it was just for the beautiful display of colors. She could understand why Aris had a thing for her and she had never made a secret that she wished them both the best.

The same couldn't be said for the despondent guest in the cell they entered. They seemed almost eager to get tortured. Colette's gaze remained fixed on them as they spoke. From the looks of it they were perhaps a few years younger than Colette herself and somewhere around Zaiya's age. Built like a warrior, demeanor of a defiant teenager.

Interesting.

Zaiya asked for a name. Colette didn't feel the need to step in just yet. She was doing fine as-is.

 

[Ghruna]

"And no, you can keep your head. You can't talk without it and I do enjoy chatting. That's what we will do now, have a little chat!"

Ghruna punched the floor. She lifted her hand, one knuckle already split.

"You said you did not torture..." she growled.

Ghruna smiled. She didn't have any power here, but she felt quite proud of herself for the joke. She was exposed, her meagre reputation already in tatters. She took whatever opportunities to strike she could find.

If she gave her name, one message to the Sith and her father would know. He wasn't paternal enough to track her movements and likely did not know that she had been captured.

Then again, she hadn't met any other sith who fit her description if they jedi were looking to trade prisoners.

"Ghruna."

She looked at the floor in shame.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Colette Ghruna

Zaiya gave a small, startled "eep!" as Ghruna's fist struck the floor, her mottled spots flashing in a light yellow in concern along with a ripple of grey in confusion. As an empath, even with her mental shields up, the empath caught the swirl of emotions spilling off the horned woman in tangled threads of anger, pride, and.. wait... was that a threat? A joke? Both?

Although all those thoughts scattered as the Lovalla Knight's expression softened almost immediately as Ghruna finally gave her name.

"Ghruna," Zaiya repeated, smiling wide with a beaming grin, her spots warming into teal happiness with gentle gold highlights at the edges. "That's a very pretty name."

And she meant it in that simple, bright sincerity of hers. Of course, that was when the Lovalla's attention fell down to Ghruna's split knuckle. A brief flutter of bronze in empathy etched with citrine tones of concern radiated off her rosy golden skin as Zaiya stepped clsoer to the shield.

"Oh," she said quietly, leaning slightly forward to get a better look. "That looks like it hurts."

Her bracelets gave a soft chime as she reached into her satchel, pulling out a small med-kit with the casual familiarity of someone who had used it many times before.

"There won't be any torture," she added gently, glancing up at Ghruna with a small, reassuring smile. "But I can help you patch that up while we talk...." A glance over at Colette's direction asked if it was okay.

 

[Colette]

Ghruna Zaiya Ceti

Ghruna. Colette put it to memory and watched as Zaiya continued.

Aggressive. Tried to make light of things or unnerve the captors. Colette crossed her arms and watched the petulant teenager amuse themself. The display wasn't so much fun as it was sad. Anger as a means of protection.

"We have enough resources to patch up any injury you may do to yourself." Colette backed Zaiya up. "Could even pad the cell if you don't stop."

 

[Ghruna]

"The talking is the torture!" Ghruna spat.

It was even worse that she had to explain the joke. She tilted her head back and looked at the plain white ceiling tiles.

For just a moment, she looked like what she really was: a teenager who didn't know her place in the galaxy.

Which could - essentially - be boiled down to just being any teenager.

"You have defeated me in battle," Ghruna grunted. "You may do as you please."

It was a bit of a stretch, but she stuck to thing that made sense in her way of doing things.

"And you are..." she asked, waving at them both.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Ghruna Colette

Zaiya gave a slight gasp of bewilderment, her colors giving a slight flurry of mild incredulous shock at the implication that talking was torture!

"How is it torture!?" She exclaimed with a titter. Really, it was amusing how the Lovalla was honestly perturbed by that.

"Talking is fun! It is how one gets to learn about one another and learn even more things!" she added, the Jedi Knight moving to deactivate the solid light screen so she could go in and tend to Ghruna's wound.

That she did this without even consideration or worry about being harmed or attacked was telling.

"Zaiya." The colorful Lovalla repeated, gesturing to herself before pointing towards the Quartermaster. "And Quartermaster Noble."

Without further ado, Zaiya began taking items out of her medkit while Colette watched.

"So Ghruna, welcome to Naboo. I would tell you where the best places to eat are, but that will have to wait for now. The Quatermaster has some questions for you."

 

[Colette]

Ghruna Zaiya Ceti

Zaiya was worse at humor than Colette was when she had joined galactic society. Not at telling the joke but rather at understanding it. Where the Lovalla fell back on being perturbed, Colette kept from rolling her eyes at their prisoner.

"How long have you been a Sith?" Colette figured it was best to start easy. "You look pretty young."

 

[Ghruna]

Ghruna remained seated on the cold floor of the cell, blue eyes narrowing at the two women. The smaller colourful one had deactivated the shield and now offered medical help like Ghruna was some wounded animal. It only deepened the hot shame burning in her chest. Captured without landing a single blow. Jhyrack’s daughter, reduced to this.

She flexed her injured hand, the split knuckle still oozing a little. The pain was nothing compared to the sting of defeat.

"How long have I been a Sith?" she echoed. Ghruna could deal with the direct questions. Perhaps that one was the guardian in case ghruna tries to escape.

A short, bitter snort escaped her.

"I have still learning to become one."

Her crimson braids shifted as she tilted her head, horns catching the light. At eighteen she still felt too large and awkward in her growing frame, yet she refused to shrink under their gazes.

Strength was the only measure that mattered on Malthyl. Here she had none, and the thought made her fists clench again.

"I am Ghruna, daughter of Jhyrack. That is all you need to know. You will have to earn any more answers."

 

[Colette]

Ghruna

Still learning to become one. Colette's lips pursed and she gave Zaiya a nod. Her attention shifted back to Ghruna with a sympathetic gaze. She was free to take it as pity or any other feeling she wanted to. Colette made no effort to hide that she felt bad for them.

"Sorry, Jhyrack is not a name I am familiar with." She shuffled on her feet. "Sounds like a horrible parent."

"Is this someone you look up to?"

 

[Ghruna]

The hand that Zaiya wasn't working on closed into a fist.

"Do not look down at me like that," she spat.

"We are not protected and made soft like humans. We must learn to fight and survive."

She would usually have dismissed such judgement rather than snapping back. In truth she missed her home world, as dangerous as it was. She had been sent out here to learn and prove herself but she was living in another world when she would normally be working out her place with her peers.

She missed home.

"Is this what you are here for?"

Colette

 

[Colette]

Ghruna Zaiya Ceti

"No." Colette crossed her arms. "The soft humans that built this cell you're in just want to know more about you."

"I get what it means to be used to the struggle to live. To always be mindful of how you spend yourself and the resources you have." She shifted her weight to the side. "I bet we could let you out deep in the forest and you'd find a way to survive just fine."

"But surviving is not thriving. I survived the desert, I am thriving in the Order. And with time, so too could you."

 

[Ghruna]

Colette

Ghruna couldn't tell if the comment about surviving in the woods was a compliment or an insult.

Then it was drawn out into an analogy.

"I see. Rather than be a wild animal you would like me as a pet?"

 

[Colette]

"I see. Rather than be a wild animal you would like me as a pet?"

"No, you're already someone else's attack dog. I want you to have a chance to break free of that and find peace. You are acting tough but you know that we can see through it, and you know that no matter what you try to do you're outnumbered a hundred to one beyond that door." Colette shook her head. "If anyone is looking, it'll be days, weeks, maybe months before they find you."

"We can't drag you towards the light, and it wouldn't be right of us to do so either. All we ask is that you give us a chance to show another way of thinking before you shoot it down. Help you understand your enemy, so to speak."

 

[Ghruna]

"What kind of person offers to show their enemy how they work?" Ghruna asked rhetorically.

Zaiya was finished binding her hand. Ghruna lifted it and checked the bandage around the wound. Her species was hardy and it was just some split skin.

"I am no ones dog," she said. There was a hint of warning in her voice. She had been compared to an animal a few times and she did not like it. Just because human women were small, tailess, had no horns and had less hair.

"I do not want peace," she said finally.

"But does this offer get me out of this cell?"

 

[Colette]

Ghruna

What kind of person offers to show their enemy how they work?

The kind of enemy that didn't see itself as an enemy as much as a misunderstood counterpart. The animal aspect of Colette's prodding was a clear sensitive spot. Her eyes squinted just a little before she nodded.

"Eventually. If we get to know enough about you to build that kind of trust." Colette glanced at the door and then to Ghruna. "But right now, we've only just begun the process."

And Ghruna was at least showing some measure of co-operation. Not outright, but enough to have something they'd be able to work on.

"What are your dietary needs?" She asked and pulled out a notepad and pen. "For the food."