Synapse

[Farah]

​

BASTION
SITH EMPIRE LABORATORY

For her purposes, it was far easier to procure an individual who could not harness the Force rather than one who could. Hell, there had been one or two subjects in her trails who needed no method of brainwashing, no luring of any sort. They wanted to take the risk on a highly experimental drug. Coruscant, as Farah had discovered, was a place that had all types of people.

Still, every good drug had a solid set of trials behind it. The good doctor had only been able to test the effects of Midi-Synth on herself which made for an uncomfortably small sample size. Not satisfied with what her own personal means could get her, she’d turned to the Sith Empire for help, putting in a request for Force sensitive subjects to test her experimental drug on. Maybe a captured Jedi or two; someone who had some semblance of Force training.

In the end, her request had been pushed through. Farah received notification that a delegate from the First Order would be escorting captive Jedi to the laboratory on Bastion. It was something of a small gift between the two galactic powers to show good faith in their alliance. Farah cared little for political relationships but had to appreciate the fact that she’d at least get something beneficial out of it.

“They’d better send someone of decent strength.” She’d just finished ensuring that a handful of vials were still enzymatically active after being transported from Coruscant. Midi-Synth had to be stored in certain condition in order to have full potency and batches were laborious to produce. Even if this project did end up being a success, its ultimate use was hindered in many directions. Production. Storage. Substantial chance of death. Intense side effects. Secondary infection.

One of the lab aides gave her a questioning look as he keyed in information onto a computer with an obnoxiously large screen.

“Heightened aggression,” She informed him. “May occur during the Transformative phase. And those guards are useless as retainers.”

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel had never been to Bastion before, seeing it within the view of the Upsilon Class Shuttle he knew very little of the world, despite what he had read, of course, it was a former Imperial Fortress world, used by the Imperial Remnant and then later the Fel Empire. Now it had only seemed fitting for the world to now be the throne world of the Sith Empire. The Sith, of course, requested his clearance codes, he transmitted his First Imperial codes and was accepted through, but not without being escorted by TIE Fighters of a different design than that of his TIE SIlencer or the Special Forces TIEs. He had been requested to bring Captured Jedi he had interrogated and kept in Vader's Castle for months throughout the First Imperial Alliance War.

They had gone mad of course, locked in absolute darkness for weeks, the dark side of the Force corrupted their minds, made them go insane after intense sessions of isolation, torture, starvation, and interrogation. Now they were wearing ragged and dirtied robes, shackles linked to each other remaining silent. He had been told that a Scientist was most interested in them. The escort broke away as he landed on the hanger he was assigned to. A being stepped forth with an escort of what looked to be different Stormtroopers... no Sith troopers. The Lab aide had given the armored Ren a stoic look but a nod of respect as he spoke. "The Doctor wishes to express her most sincere welcome to the Capital of the Sith... Who may I address you as?" Kyrel stared at the man briefly before speaking through the metallic tone of his mask, masking the sophisticated Core World tone that was very Imperial in origin and was very common in First Order space. "You may address me as Lord Kyrel. Now I do not wish to keep the good Doctor waiting."

The aide nodded leading him inside, with Kyrel leading five shackled Jedi in tow. The architecture already was a little different than that of the First Order, but here and there he could see similarities between the two. Narrowing through the winding hallways the aide and the trooper escort finally stopped at a door. The door opened and he was greeted with a small space, surrounded by all kinds of machinery, from a couple of subjects in tanks of some kind. To computer's reading all sorts of Data in aurebesh. Kyrel stepped forward to see a Zeltron. Reaching out to sense her in the Force, he could feel that she was indeed more powerful than she looked. After looking at her for a moment he then spoke. "I am Kyrel Ren representative of the First Order... I have brought you your experiments.." He said dragging the prisoners forward for her to see.

@Farah

 

[Farah]

The doors to the laboratory slid open with a mechanical hiss, the Sith Empire’s guest ushering a row of shackled prisoners through the threshold. Farah’s head lifted from the computer, clinical gaze lingering over the new test subjects first before moving over to their escort. Ever the scientist, her first concern was always the validity of the experiment. Though her face was stern out of habit, she did not seem displeased.

“Welcome, Kyrel Ren of the First Order, to Bastion.” Her back straightened as she rose, taking the time to eye him up as she did so. Relatively tall with a head of dark curls cascading down to his chin. She didn’t even have to try to sense his presence in the Force given how it naturally seemed to exude from him. So this was what a Ren looked like—she’d heard of the First Order’s Force user legion but didn’t know much about them. “I’m the scientist heading this project, Dr. Zambrano.”

She paced forward, focused on the Jedi prisoners for a moment with a tilt of her head.

“Asim, prep them for the procedure.” A hand waved in their direction and the man who’d been busy entering lines of data at the terminal rose with a grunt.

“Follow me.” He didn’t seem enthused at the prospect of preparing five new test subjects but did as he was told. A pair of troopers escorted him and the Jedi—who looked to be a mix of frightened and broken—out into a secondary room.

Farah turned back to Kyrel as they departed. “I had expected one or two, but five? Five is generous. Mm…” She raised a hand to her chin, arching the knuckle of her pointer finger against her lip in thought. “I’m sure we can find a use for the leftovers. If there are any.”

A lab tech who was preparing sample vials in a fume hood winced. The doctor was known for violent ambition and her experiments tended to produce a relatively high body count.

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel had only stood his expression emotionless as he looked around the place. Seeing much of the scientific work of the Sith all throughout the room. Then the woman had eyed him, to which he had done the same giving a nod of respect as she bid him welcome. He knew that most Sith have never seen the Ren and so wondered what she thought of the Dark Side sect if she had heard much. His eyebrow raised when he had heard the name of Zambrano. Strange how this woman was a Zeltron and she was a Zambrano. It had him think of the Zambrano that had been part of the Council of Masters within the Ren. It had seemed almost ironic how this family seemed to breed like cockroaches.

He had replied in return, his Core World accent making itself more known, but had remained a cold tone. "I hope these prisoners will be for your liking. I would not have wanted to come all this way to disappoint." He said staring the scientist in the eye as he walked around slowly, examining the room, and the feeling he got all had but reminded him of when he had emerged from his accident. He saw similar machines and the feeling was similar. It had brought back memories that he would rather forget.

He saw a lab tech prepare vials of something he did not know, nor did he ask as he looked to the Zambrano impatiently. Wondering if he was just an errand boy or was he brought in for something else. "Is that all you required me for Doctor?" He said folding his arms and raising his eyebrow matching the impatient tone.

[member="Farah"]

 

[Farah]

“I would hope.” Was all she said on the matter of the prisoners. They looked sufficiently beaten down, and right now that would be translated into numbers as Asim took their vitals.

Farah made to turn on her heel but something made her pause. Normally she carried out these experiments alone with her handpicked team, wary of letting anyone on the outside in on whatever trial she was conducting. Paranoia? Perhaps. Scientists could be vicious, often stealing eachother’s data for their own personal gain. Right now, she seemed to be considering something.

Turning fully towards the Ren, she looked him over once more. “Maybe.” She murmured before her pensive gaze turned into something more inquiring.

“How well versed are you in use of the Force—specifically the Dark Side—Kyrel Ren?”

So far the only Force sensitive target she had tested the drug on was herself. A sole Zeltron was not a good sample size, and even then she was too ill to test herself against other Force users. That, and she was wary of those within the Sith Empire and even her own alleged family.

Maybe, if she could pit her test subjects up against someone of definitive strength, her research would begin to yield some pleasing results.

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel was not the patient type to merely be standing. The experiments didn't bring back pleasant memories for him, as he had remembered the brutal agony he had endured under the First Order Science Division. A group of scientists had recovered his body Three years ago, and transformed him into a new Vader, being obsessed with the work of Imperial Scientist Doctor Cylo. Looking at the contraptions, and even the victims themselves didn't bring back a feeling that he would describe as good.

When she looked him over, he couldn't help but feel unsettled by her inquisitive gaze. In fact, it felt like she was studying every part of him as if he was a new lifeform to be examined. Which had also made him both uncomfortable and nervous at the same time?

She then proceeded to ask how strong he was in the Force. He cautiously replied. "Very strong although I have only taught myself. I never had a master to properly train me. What I could learn was through trial and error, and from Sith records." He spoke truthfully as though he still had much to learn himself. His upbringing within the Knights of Ren was that of a brute warrior, who had earned his place with such skills to conquer his enemies despite further training in the Force. He didn't ask why she wanted to know and decided to only wait for what she had to say next.

[member="Farah"]

 

[Farah]

A look of mild surprise settled onto the Zeltron’s face. “You’re self-taught? Impressive.” While it was not uncommon, she assumed that most Force sensitives within an order of sorts had a designated master. Her creator, Kaine Zambrano, had seen to it that she’d been instructed in the basics of the Force. Lessons in a particular discipline were not difficult for her to come by, but perhaps that was the Zambrano name at work.

“We’re ready to go, Doctor.” One of the assistants affirmed from his place in front of a machine connected to a large output screen.

Farah grunted in confirmation. “Bring me the first dose.” Accordingly, one of the technicians retrieved a vial filled with clear liquid. It was small and unassuming, identical to the sort a regular physician would use when administering a shot.

“This is a drug that grants Force sensitivity to those who do not have it, and enhances the ability of those who are already sensitive to the Force. Essentially, it’s a midichlorian infusion.” You couldn’t just inject straight midichlorians or Force sensitive blood into a subject. Well, you could and she did, but it didn’t work like that. Only after much tweaking and secondary agents did she start to get the drug right.

With a wave of her hand, she gestured for Kyrel to follow her into the adjoining room. It was smaller than the first, well lit with less machinery and more furniture. The first prisoner was brought in, a young man with fear and exhaustion written on his face. He’d been dressed in a white med-suit, similar to the one you’d see typical hospital patients wearing. Asim escorted him along with another assistant and together they began the work of securing the Jedi onto the table, tightening the straps at his wrists and ankles.

“After the drug is injected, it normally takes up to two or three weeks to see results along with a full recovery. The process can be very painful and many side effects are possible.” She continued her explanation while watching the two men attach all manner of sensors to the Jedi’s skin. “Sometime it doesn’t work, and sometimes they die.” The Jedi’s eyes flickered towards her, brown eyes wide with terror.

Farah’s head tilted to the side and she smiled at the boy—he was a teenager, maybe?—in an almost gentle way. “My, that’s the most alive you’ve looked since you’ve gotten here.”

Her focus shifted back towards Kyrel as she addressed him. “To make a long story short, this drug is highly experimental. This particular version has been engineered to bypass the long transformative phase and take effect in a matter of hours, not weeks.” Half turning so that she could look at him, she continued. “I’m no Master of anything. But with your ability in the Force, you might be able to accurately judge their ability better than I. It’ll involve testing their mental fortitude as well as their physical ability. What do you say, Kyrel Ren?”

[member="Kyrel Ren"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel grew more unsettled everytime he stayed in the room. Memories of the times he woke up on the surgical table flooded his mind, once during the transformation from Thomas Kyrel TIE fighter Pilot, to Kyrel Ren mechanical monstrosity. He had wished to be out of the room as soon as possible. Despite the Doctor's ramblings regarding of his upbringing. He mostly stayed silent and watched as she looked to a Jedi test subject. He watched a screen of one of the assistants addressing Farah, to which he continued to stay silent. And didn't say anything only desiring to get out of the room as quick as possible.

He then looked to see her beckoning him to go into the other room. The room felt more like a study than a laboratory to which comforted Kyrel to some degree. He listened closely as to what was the drug was about, and found it to be both curious and unsettling. The Midi Chloreans were the living cells that had allowed all beings to wield the Force, whether they were awakened or were dormant from the Force all beings had the potential to wield it. To enhance that process unless through skills such as midi chlorean manipulation unheard of. To hear that the process could be extremely painful made him want to cringe. To think that science could interfere in matters of the Force was blasphemous.

He then finally spoke curiously at what the drug could do for him, or if he even wanted it for that matter. "I was experimented on before Doctor. The results of that did not prove favorable for me. In fact, it left me inside a living hell for a long time. How am I certain this pill just won't kill me. I can't say I trust the works of Science mixing in with the Force." Despite testing the drug on a Jedi that he had seen earlier, his skepticism for such matters such as Science and the Force was high, and he couldn't say that he trusted the drug due to his past experiences with doctors and their creations.



@Farah

 

[Farah]

Farah watched Kyrel as he spoke, attention fixed on him fully as he explained his discomfort with scientific experiments. It made sense, of course. She’d conducted some highly questionable experiments and had seen how difficult it could be for some subjects to handle change. Firsthand, she’d used the drug on herself in order to understand the process and effects in more detail. But that was something she’d done willingly. It didn’t take the place of an unwilling subject.

“I apologize. I don’t think I explained myself clearly.”

Catching Kyrel’s gaze, she dipped her head slightly in admission for a moment. “I’m not offering you the drug. You are certainly welcome to a dose if you’d like, but I’m not sure that it would do much for someone who’s mastered the Force.” She cleared her throat, getting back on track.

“I need the help of someone strong to test them.” Farah lifted her chin to gesture towards the bound Jedi. “I’m asking you to help test their mental defenses and their ability in combat after the drug is administered.”

An assistant drew the drug from a vial into a needle and moved over towards the Jedi, pausing when Farah raised a hand to him.

“The drug will take ahold quickly and violently. This young man will likely be in immense pain, and if you do not wish to watch then you may wait outside.”

There wasn’t much tenderness to Farah, but she wasn’t unnecessarily cruel. This was her way of being kind.

On the table, the Jedi was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.

[member="Kyrel Ren"]