Xid was unnerved. His twitching fingers were held behind his back and his feet were restless, endlessly pacing a single path in his determination not to reveal anymore to the hidden cameras. The young knight kept his eyes bent down to examine the clear transparent floor underneath. The red tinted glass like floor inwardly created a mixture of emotions within him, one of awe thanks to the engineer within him. The other was of sickness due to the vertigo when he realized how high he was and his throat back felt the familiar burning sour taste collected there. It seemed like the unsettled stomach might win out over his awe when he abruptly jerked his head upward, prying his eyes away, and closed them. His feet came to a sudden halt at the same time, slowly dimming the effects of the sight on his mind. With a few deep breaths, Xid’s peakish coloring faded back to his normal shade.

Frustrated, mostly at the situation and Andri’s offer, he tried to ignore the growing guilt threatening to make him properly refuse the older Knight’s earlier offer. Why did everything have to depend so heavily on him? The question was one he knew the answer to but hated to accept it, Tolun’s words running circles within his head. In his absentminded, Xid plopped down near the lift entrance where he mumbled quietly to himself. “I’m not worth this trouble protecting.”

“Hey, there you are. May I speak with you a moment Xid?” Shiri asked as she walked up to the Knight. She had been trying to meditate, but she couldn’t focus very well with the oppressing presence of the dark side all around them. She was calmer for trying at least, but thinking about what she should say to Xid had her becoming flustered. She sat on the ground next to him and looked around the room as she waited for him to say something.

Xid’s head jerked up to see the young Twi’lek, Shiri, walking toward him. Her presence drew a smile from his teenage face as he moved over a little, pushing himself against the wall some, to allow her a spot beside him. Deep inside, some sixth sense would warn him of that door opening and another of the prisoners vanishing once again into the Sith’s influences. He briefly recalled his last secession among the Sith and shuddered slightly, reburying the moment away. He noticed she wasn’t looking at him when Shiri’s eyes panned the room as if looking for something causing his eyes to narrow in curiosity. “Sure, is something wrong? Did something happen?”

Once Shiri was sure they wouldn’t be overheard she turned to look Xid in the eye and held his gaze a moment before answering. “Yes, something happened, and I just want to say this so that you know, and can hold me to it. I’m not going to lie to you, ever. I feel that the best way for me to talk to you right now is honestly.” She was stalling a bit, she still didn’t know how to explain anything to him, but she did think being honest would help. “Should I start at the beginning?”

Xid looked confused for a moment, both at Shiri’s words and her actions. The latter looking more suspicious by the moment. Raising an eyebrow, his smiling had ceased as a concerned looked graced his expression while he looked her over. “I never considered you would Shiri. We’re friends after all and would never lie to each other so why would you think that?”

His tone, until he had said, sounded slightly hurt to his own ears. He nodded and leaned back into the wall while he wanted for her to continue. Xid’s face calm and relaxing, through his eyes were filled with worry and unnerved emotions at fearing his friend was in serious trouble.

Shiri sighed lightly and sat back against the wall. “No, it’s not that I think that really, I just wanted to remind you of exactly that before I told you this. Don’t look so worried, there’s something good I want to tell you as well. Two good things really.” She smiled and made a vague motion to the Turbolift beside them, lowering her voice as she spoke again. “Remember your idea about trying to escape? I was able to slice the lift in the medical room and get out for a little while. Of course that’s when things went really bad. I ran into a Sith, or rather, she just walked up behind me without me noticing.”

When Shiri mentioned she had escaped, Xid went deathly pale. His eyes widened in shock and a bit of surprise, his head struggling not to absorb the fact they could get past the elevator. The bad part, due to her running into a Sith meant the exit route could be compromised as well as Shiri being closely observed. This wasn’t good. However, Xid bit back his lip and kept his mouth shut while the Twi’lek continued. It wouldn’t matter to tell her how much of a risk she took or how she now placed a target on her back with this Sith’s attention, his ear perked for the rest of the information. It wasn’t fair to judge on only part of the facts and half statistics after all.

She raised her voice back to a normal level now, the only part she had really wanted to keep secret anyway was that she sliced a Turbolift. “So I went with her to what must've been their monitoring room, and she started…” Shiri looked back around the room once to buy herself some more time to come up with the right word. “Teasing, I believe she was teasing me, with you. She put up a still image from a camera of you blushing at Lea, and started saying a bunch of stuff to try and get me angry. I’m ashamed to say she succeeded.”

The Knight’s expression was once more twisted into confusion. He wasn’t sure why the image of him and Lea were shown by the Sith, but it wasn’t a surprise, at least in his mind, why he blushed. Sela even found it amusing that girls around his own age made him strangely aware of the oddest details like smell, looks and more. Things that shouldn’t matter to a Knight… but seemed to matter a lot to a teenage boy. His inner monologue was interrupted by Shiri’s next words.

“I wasn’t going to tell you this until we were safe again, away from the Sith and able to actually talk without worrying about being overheard.” Shiri smiled at Xid and pulled her lekku over her shoulder, unconsciously trailing her hands over them, the only sign that she was nervous. “Xid, I care about you, more than I care about anyone else, even more than myself. The thought of loosing you to someone or something makes me feel like I’m lost. I know, we only met some months ago, but I can’t deny the truth of how I feel.” She had to stop talking, to know his reaction, and she hoped with every fibre in her being that she hadn’t scared him with her confession.

Xid smiled a bit, believing he understood her confession. His hand reached out and gently took hers, pulling it close as he intertwined his fingers with hers. Blue, determines eyes looked at her with a kindness that was so characteristic of him. “You won’t lose me. The Sith won’t win, and we’re getting off the ship in one piece. I swear by the force nothing is going to happen to us as we’re Jedi after all. We’ll survive this. Through why did seeing Lea and me together make you anger? She was just helping me gather up the medical supplies I dropped into during my clumsy moment. I’m not the most graceful after all, don’t you know.”

Shiri felt her heart speed up as he took her hand, but as she realized he had nothing more to say she ended up taking her hand back from him for a moment and rolling her eyes. I’m in love with the most innocent guy ever. “Well, maybe you just need a stronger hint then.” She said quietly as she leaned towards him, cupping one hand around the back of his neck and holding his hand again with the other, closing her eyes before finally kissing him lightly and sweetly on the lips.

Xid literally frozen in shock when she planted a light, tender kiss on his lips. They tingled and seemed to come alive for a moment during the contact as her hand prevented him from jerking, in fear, away. For several seconds his mind was numb at what to do. Did he kiss back or resist it? This wasn’t the Jedi code but that didn’t keep it from feeling right while he relaxed, enjoying the moment. He found himself starting to kiss back when a noise caught his attention, causing him to break the kiss and snap to the source.

Sish woke up early and alert, as he always did. His nostrils flared, taking in the scents of the room to make sure nothing had been happened during his sleep. He didn't want to take the chance that someone had sneaked into his room while he was asleep. Finding no scents that were out of the normal, and nothing seeming to have been moved in his utilitarian room, Sish stood. It was early, he knew. Far too early for him to get anything to eat, even though the cooking staff was likely up and getting ready to make breakfast for all the soldiers on the ship. Technically, as a Sith (and a Lord at that), he could go and demand food from them and force them to stop in their preparations too cater to him. But he wasn't about to do that. He had gone days, while hunting Wookies, without food. he could go a few hours.

While he was waiting however, he could train. The war was officially declared over, but that meant it was truly just beginning. There would be no blatant decrees of war and victory, just deniable actions that would decide the fate of the galaxy. Killers like Sish wouldn't be needed for front line wars anymore. They'd be pieces on a holochess board, moved about as the Emperor needed. But to be an effective piece on the board, he needed to be an effective killer. To be an effective killer, he needed to train. The Trandoshan, back in his customary armor, made his way to the Sith private training room. He noted with a slight amusement that Jakali's corpse was gone, as were all of his teeth. The cleanup crew here works quickly. Once he was in the training room, he began to go through the motions of Djem So. It wasn't a particularly fast training. That would come later, as he began to train Jayda again. He just needed to keep himself sharp, and hopefully remind the other Sith that he was a warrior. He had no interest in their games, nor would he play them. He would be respected, and they would keep him from their machinations or they would meet the same fate as the apprentice.

After a few hours, he swung by the Commons to grab a large chunk of meat (raw) for breakfast. Devouring that quickly, he had the cooks send food to Jayda. Blood loss was never good and she needed to eat. With that settled, he began taking long strides towards the prisoner cells. Eagerness could be told in every part of him. From his body language, to the the brightness in his eye, to the grin he had on, it was clear he was looking forward to another day of torturing Jedi. Within a few minutes he was at the lift and riding down. His lightsaber was prominent on his hip, and it didn't take a genius to see that he was just looking for an excuse to use it. As the lift opened, he was greeted to a rather touching sight.

Two Jedi, kissing. The boy, the one he and the now dead Jakali had captured, broke it immediately and stared at the Sith Lord. Sish chuckled maliciously, nostrils taking in the various scents. "Pardon me, but isn't it against all Jedi teachings to be doing that? I seem to remember several Jedi laws against romantic involvement. I'm happy for you two, truly. However, we are on separate sides of a war. And we do need to act like it. Who knows. It might even strengthen your bond." He grinned, robot eye flashing. "I'll bring her back in one piece, boy. I hope you're good at patching wounds though. Who knows, she might even reward you for it." Sish held up a clawed hand, attempting to use the Force to yank Shiri's throat into his grasp.

Xid’s eyes looked at Sish in pure horror. His mouth dry, fingers tightening about Shiri’s upper arms and his mind struggling to realize the deep trouble they were in. He knew the Trandoshan from his first encounter as his face went pale, upset at the knowledge what this killing machine was able to do. Despite everything going through his mind, Tolun’s words stuck against his greatest desire to help and bitter truth that romance was purely frowned upon in the Order. Not against it.

A sick, twisted sensation curled into his middle at seeing the lizard’s menacing smile. Xid’s heart fluttered faster than it had with the Twi’lek’s kiss, worry poured unwilling into his skull while he tried to filter it out. That’s when the Sith raised his claws and during his applying pressure Xid whispered in Shiri’s ear. “Run… just please, run Shiri.”

His hand flickered and one of the disposable items came to his hand, before he tossed it back out, assisted with by a force push. It aimed low and at the Trandoshan’s waist just missing Shiri’s figure. Not bothering to see if it hit, Xid’s body leaned to the right and his hand pushed off the ground, figure jerked to his feet in a sloppy movement. His other hand reached out to pull item from the table. He hoped it was something that could possibly be a bit more useful. When his fingers clasped a smooth and cylinder shaped object, his eyes narrowed at his hand where sat a vial. It wasn’t machinery but it looked more useful than the tool he tossed earlier. Immediately his hand fling it at Sish’s face. The moment Sish tried to deflect it, the glass shattered and splattered across the Trandoshan’s face temporarily blinding him.

As Shiri had thought, the kiss was what finally got her confession through to Xid, her heart fluttering once he started to kiss her back, only to skip a beat as she heard the Turbolift doors open and he broke the kiss to stare at the Sith who had appeared. Shoot! I still haven't warned him about the other Sith! She felt Xid grab her arms, first feeling confusion and then fear at the look on his face as he told her to run. She was about to try until she felt the Sith start to pull her towards him with the force, instead placing her hands over Xid's to keep her still for a moment longer.

"I still need to talk to you, to warn you." Shiri whispered quickly to Xid. "I've told you the most important truth. Please, please use it to sort through all the lies the Sith may tell you." As soon as she finished, Xid let go of her to throw something at the Trandoshan, and while he was reaching for the next object to throw she couldn't keep herself still anymore, having lost her anchor.

Thinking quickly, she decided to use the Sith's pull to slip behind him, making a plan from there. Once the vial Xid threw hit the Trandoshan she made her move, getting behind the Sith and attempting to take his lightsaber as she did. If she managed to get it, she made sure that Xid knew she had it before hiding it in a small niche in the wall, out of the camera's view. This way if he realizes it's missing, I don't have it, so he can't take it back.

The whole plan of hers only took seconds to execute, and by the time the Sith would have noticed she was behind him and turned around, she would already be in the Turbolift, waiting for him. The only reason the Trandoshan should have for concern was the fact that she was apparently willingly going with him, which Xid would know was really just her trying to get the Sith away from him.

Shiri allowed her emotion to show on her face for a moment as she addressed the Sith. "Well," She sighed, "I haven't fought going with a Sith yet, it spares the trouble of losing a battle that couldn't be won in the first place. I wish you could have shown up even a half a minute later however..." As she trailed off her eyes met Xid's and she gave him the slightest of smiles. She was miffed at the interruption the Sith had caused, and hoped that by showing that she could perhaps keep up a ruse of naiveté during this encounter. After all if the Sith thought she was no more than a romantic, he wouldn't think her capable of plotting much more than how she would woo her crush.

Alat resumed his position on the bed, it was easy to blend in when you just kept your mouth shut. People just wandered right by you, it was comical really. As he sat meditating he opened his senses to the world around him and went over the people in the room slowly taking stalk of the other Jedi.

Xid was here which was good, at some point Alat needed to talk to him. As he was considering how best to approach the other Knight about it he caught motion. Shiri. Alat tilted his head slightly as he tracked the Padawan’s progress. Right towards Xid. Alat withheld his expletive. Deciding it was best to watch.

Alat opened his Forcesight and watched the two of them carefully while straining his ears to catch what they were saying. Oh this isn’t going to end well. Alat could tell where the conversation was going before Xid had a clue. Alat’s brow ridges tensed in surprise and irritation as Shiri kissed him. You’re exposing a weakness girl, the sith.. The thought was cut off by the appearance of Sish. Damn.

Xid’s assault didn’t come as a surprise, Alat rolled onto his feat calmly; keeping his force sense open he made a rush towards the medbay keeping his senses open to guide him. Alat entered the room in Sish’s blind spot. Picking up his right foot and skipping forward slightly on his left foot his thrust his right foot down at an angle to the floor. It sent a shock wave of force skittering across the floor at knee level. It should buckle Sish’s knees which would mean Xid’s next projectile would hit the predator in the head instead of the chest; assuming the kid didn’t aim higher.

Alat prepared his own force slam should Xid’s projectile miss or make contact either way Alat planned on slamming the Trandoshan into the wall if he so much as turned towards Alat.

Well done Xid, hopefully this doesn’t screw me with Ven’ren Alat chuckled Well I Am eliminating the competition for you

No one came into the bathroom after Xid left, leaving Andri to shower in peace. The tall woman was unsure whether she had Xid to thank for letting the others know she was showering at the moment, or whether it was pure serendipity, but she was grateful nonetheless. Andri didn’t think she took very long, but then the tall woman did have very long hair that took a bit of effort to scrub even without soap. She stepped out and dried herself off as quickly as possible, redressing in the same clothing she’d been wearing since she was captured and scrubbed at her hair for a good few minutes to dry it as much as possible.

Thankfully her hair wasn’t the type to knot very much, being fairly straight naturally, and the Knight finger combed the mass of black hair as she stepped out of the bathroom, doing her best to ignore the twinkling lenses of the hidden cameras. Now that she knew they were there Andri could see them easily, and the amount unnerved her a bit.

The Epicanthix emerged into a scene straight from a nightmare, if she was honest. A young twi-lek was desperately trying to get away from a Trandoshan Sith, with Xid and another young man leaping to her rescue. Her eyes flicked around the room, taking in as much as she could whilst the Sith was distracted, before thrusting her hand out with Force Stun at the lizard-being.

“Are you so weak as to only take children?” She taunted as she tried to stun him, hopefully drawing his attention away from what looked like the youngest person in the room. Andri tsked, slipping into an unarmed Soresu stance. It wasn’t her strongest form, but Shii-Cho could wait for when the beastly man actually decided to attack her. She continued goading the Trandoshan as she put more power into Force Stun, hoping to disable him without even getting close. She had no desire to tangle in unarmed combat with a lightsaber. “Perhaps that is why you fell to the dark side; you were too weak to make it anywhere else.”

Sish, dismissing Xid as a true threat immediately, whirled around with Force Enhanced speed to keep Shiri in front of him. He wasn't about to let a Jedi he knew nothing about get behind him, young child or not. As her hand went for his lightsaber, and something bounced off of his armor, Sish took a step back and drew it activating the blade with a grin. Before he could say anything, two things happened. A Force wave hit his knee, buckling it and making the Sith Lord drop to a knee for a brief instant, and a glass bottle shattered on the back of his head. Sish snarled, more in surprise than actual pain or anger, getting to his feet immediately and turning so that he could face this new attacker. Slight stinging pain told him that some glass has pierced his scales, but that was negligent when Alat's Force Push was coming at him.

He blocked the push, grinning at the Kel Dor. He was stronger than any one Knight. Lordship didn't come through his being weak, after all. His lightsaber was ready, and he spoke carefully, giving the Jedi one warning. "Give me an excuse. Please. Give me an excuse. I'm going to take the girl. How much fun I have before I take her is up to you." He wasn't angry, in fact he would have been rather disappointed if the Jedi hadn't made an attempt like this at some point. Excitement seemed to roil off of the Trandoshan, and he carefully kept Shiri and Alat in his eyesight.

That, of course, was when the Force Stun hit him. Sish stumbled, slightly, the disorientation hitting him like a wave, before his Force defenses kicked in. The Stun itself was pushed off, but the damage had been done. For the second time in less than 24 hours, the Trandoshan was disorientated. Fortunately, this time it wasn't a screeching attack on his ears and his opponents didn't have lightsabers that he had to worry about. Still. Four against one was not good odds, no matter how powerful he was compared to each of them individually. Sish lashed out with a Force Push towards where he had last known Xid to be, then lashed out again back towards where the Force Stun had come from. He raised his lightsaber, waiting for the Kel Dor or Twi'lek to attack.



Zanna left the cafeteria,and began to head back to Jayda's rooms. Surely the Zabrak was up by now, and if her stubbornness was anything to go off of, she would likely insist upon training. Zanna gave a wry smile, walking through the halls of the ship. Stubborn to the point of self-harm. I could have killed her seven times over by now. Fortunately for her, I need her. As she walked through the main Sith common, she saw something curious. A lightsaber, left laying on the ground. Zanna frowned, walking into the room the lightsaber was laying on the ground. As she walked in, the heavy scent of sulfur hit her and she instinctively wrinkled in disgust. As she walked closer to the lightsaber on the ground, she noticed the scorch marks on the ground. There has been a struggle here. She thought, hand instinctively going to and tightening around her lightsaber.

Looking around to the room, suddenly nervous, Zanna found no answer for the smell and scorch marks. She leaned down to scoop up the lightsaber, and noticed something under the bed. "Melted Bolts?" The Red Sith muttered in confusion, staring at the open vent. She didn't like this situation at all. There were too many unknown things, to much she didn't understand. Death clung to the room, and it unsettled her, she knew that much. Quickly, the new lightsaber attached to her belt, Zanna fled the room. She didn't want to be anywhere near it.

Within a few short moments, she was knocking gently on Jayda's door.

It was clear he should’ve known better, seeing in the back of his head Tolun’s deep frown fill his head, black eyes filled by disappointment and silently shaking his head in disapproval. Inwardly Xid cringed at the sight. He knew Tolun wanted him to keep a low profile which he tried, but how could the Knight expect him to turn a blind eye toward the pain and suffering? It wasn’t something a Jedi was suppose to do and accept. So why did Tolun expect him to?

His fingers tighten into a fist and his eyes glaring at the Sith when Sish twisted, ignoring the pain settle through his head and pushing the thoughts aware. Eyes watched the Trandoshan managing to keep Shiri within his sight, his sight studying the movements like he would a droid. The first tool had bounced easily and harmlessly off his armor, the Sith unfazed by it when his claws reached for his lightsaber. Preventing the Twi’lek’s attempt to snatch by igniting the red blade, buzzing and humming to life. It wa raised up in an aggressive stance, his muzzle open to speak when both Xid’s own vial crashed into his face followed up by Alat’s force shock. Shocked at the expected helped, Xid’s head turned to spot the Kel Dor in hunter mode. It wasn’t hard to determine as the signs were all there from the stillness in the Knight’s form, his eyes taking on that familiar shine he had seen in other blood lusty Jedi, and body tighten for action despite the clear calm standance. He couldn’t help the slight awe flood him at seeing someone, droid or otherwise, doing what they were built for.

Sish naturally recovered himself. He eyed the two greatest threats in the room: Shiri and Alat. It only took Xid a moment to realize Sish had dismissed him as combatant which was a fault on the Trandoshan’s part. He might’ve not been the most obviously threat in the room but he wasn’t one to be ignored. Grinning at Alat, Sish spoke in cold yet excited tone. "Give me an excuse. Please. Give me an excuse. I'm going to take the girl. How much fun I have before I take her is up to you."

A slight flare of anger filled Xid’s core at the sound of the enjoyment in the damn alien’s voice. Everyone could easily feel his excitement, it rolled off his figure like a twisted stink that soiled the air within the prison and made Xid sick to his center. He had been about to react when the other Knight, the latest arrival, Andri, joined in the fray.She emitted a Force Stun which caught the Trandoshan right in his exposed side bring him to stumble forward slightly while Andri taunted.

“Are you only as to take only children?” She fell into the traditional Soresu stance and readied for his assumed counter, her legs widened and hands raised to catch any incoming assault. “Perhaps that is why you fell to the darkside; you were too weak to make it anywhere else.”

Xid flashed an appreciative smile at both the Jedi Knights who leap to Shiri’s and his defense, though he had an unsettling feeling Alat was only concern with him. After all, the Kel Dor didn’t know Shiri and likely wouldn’t be as concern with her. It didn’t help he started this and now had dragged everyone else into danger. Distracted by his guilt and studying Sish, Xid hadn’t much time to clear himself of Sish’s attack. Immediately he felt the force push shove him back where Andri was. His body instantly slammed into the older knight, his mind unsure if it was either when she went to shield him from impact or inability to get clear, when they both crumbled into a heap. The younger Knight reflexively let out a startled yell when his ribs rattled and pain shot through his system. His hand clutched his side where the hurt originated while struggling to breath through the air escaping his lungs. He managed to choke what was on his mind loud enough for Andri to heard, through understanding him might’ve been another matter.

“Points to target are…the cybernetic implant...because eliminating… the optic system there creates… uncover-able blind spot and best for attack with lower counter measures…” His breath slowly coming back while he continued, not realizing he was falling into his machinist mood due to stress. “In addition aim for joints and tendons to limit mobility, if he can’t complete…. his function then it might cause his mental program to stall or become flawed in his counter measures. Right hand seems to have lost some grip-ability do to some unknown conclusion, but a flaw to capitalize on as direct assault has high odds in successfully weakening his overall pressure on his lightsaber or rending his clawing.”

Already Xid was moving to get back while still holding his side, his legs wobbling in his determination.

After everything she had fought for and how far she had come, was this supposed to be the next chapter in her life? Talija had found herself in the thralls of her enemy— The Sith. As a member of the Jedi Order who had only just obtained her Knighthood for about a galactic standard year she could not believe that this is where she was going to be now. Who was to know how long it would last on this damned Sith starship? The teenaged Sephi narrowed her brows; this would just be another test like it had been on Cyrillia and she would endure whatever accursed plans that her captors had in mind for her. All she knew now is that she was exchanging hands from one sith to another, and despite all of her resilience or resolve she felt nervous as a pit began to be felt in her stomach. She remembered this feeling on Cyrillia when her master struggled against the Sith who came down upon her and she felt it again when that master became one with the force when the flurry of crimson collided with her chest. This was the Dark Side Talija felt. She didn’t know if she was ready to face it so soon, she wasn’t sure if she had ever really grasped how to stay completely stalwart in the shadow of that darkness.

“There is no emotion, there is peace.” She muttered under her breath to which one of the Sith who had brung her here shoved her with a strong push.

She stumbled to the floor, falling to her knees. A punishment for her defiance?

“There is no emotion, there is peace.” She repeated.

Talija cringed as their foot connected with her back. Normally she was more conditioned than this, but the interception of The Enteliis by Sith Empire soldiers and warriors was a battle she had been overwhelmed by, especially physically. She could feel the pressure of the foot on her back as something else became apparent. The sound of footsteps? I suppose it was here where the trade would take place. She had caught the name of the ship she was being taken to from conversation between the Sith troopers but she knew nothing more than that, what was it again? The Kalgath? The Kongeth? Wait no— The Kaggath.

“We’re ready for the exchange.” One of her captors spoke clearly and respectively. But to who? Talija looked up, her sienna-colored eyes narrowing to focus.

Vivithe had gotten word of the new prisoner arrival and had began her walk to intercept it, she had managed to secure passage for the prisoner onto the Kaggath and she herself would greet the prisoner, then bring her to the cells with the others. It was a simple enough task, she could do it in her sleep, but that wasn’t why she chose to do it. It gave her a valuable way to read the new Jedi, maybe even make a first impression with her.

“I’ll take her from here, boys.” Vivithe said right as she entered through the hangar room doors to find the prisoner in cuffs, surrounded by several lesser Sith. A smile was on her beautiful face as she spoke, she had made sure she looked irresistible to anyone who would be interested in her, some makeup here and there to go along with her usual robe. It wasn’t a bad idea, never knew with some of the Jedi. It didn’t take much to make herself look any more striking than she already was.

“As you wish, Lady Lansha.” One of Talijia’s captors replied, then pushed the Jedi forward where Vivithe placed a hand on her shoulder after she nodded at the Sith who had handed the prisoner over. Two of the soldiers already onboard the Kaggath had followed the Sith Lord to the exchange, they were silent and were commanded to remain so unless Vivithe spoke to them.

“What is your name, girl?” Vivithe asked as she turned and lead the Jedi out of the hangar and into a hallway, the two grunts following behind them. She had already been briefed on who the prisoner was, but she wanted to know how easily she would give her name.

Talija took a light breath as the Sith asked her for her name. “Why do you care?”

“Because it is much easier to interact with someone if I know their name, it’s only formal.” Vivithe said as they started to walk, her alongside the Jedi, the two soldiers behind.

The young Jedi Knight repeated the Jedi Code in her head, she was in the belly of her enemy and needed to remind herself of that. “I am on a starship made to imprison, torture, and convert Jedi. This is hardly a formal scenario.”

“Well, I’m not torturing or trying to convert you, but if you don’t feel you need to give your name then that is fine. It is only a name, girl.” Vivithe replied as she walked, her hands folded behind her, her eyes on the Jedi next to her.

“It’s only a matter of time, Lady Lansha, it’s what you Sith do..” Talija replied, expression calm as she followed albeit defiantly.

“Is that so?” Vivithe asked, one eyebrow raised at the Jedi.

The sephi nodded, “Indeed.”

“How did they capture you, exactly?” She asked the Jedi, though she was certain the girl wouldn’t give her a real answer, the old quiet captive way. They always ended up speaking at one point.

“Superior numbers and unfair tactics.” She answered. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t stay silent but something about the situation made her want to continue with the conversation at least to see where it was going and what the Sith’s intentions and curiosities were about it.

“That’s war for you, girl. Fair tactics are used by the losers. A victor isn’t afraid to fight dirty if it means victory.” She said, the advice coming from her own experience as a tactician before she joined the Sith on the Kaggath.

“I never said they weren’t strategically sound. Though I’m not sure what you Sith wanted a civilian transport vessel for. But as you said, dirty tactics.” Talija stated without blinking-- she had dealt with Sith before though in this instance she would not let fear or discomfort affect her. She was stronger now than she was then. She would not tremble in their presence… she would refuse to be afraid.

“I’m sure there was a greater reason for taking the transport than you would believe there is. Every move such as that has a reason behind it. The Sith are organized and careful like that.” Vivithe said with a smile.

Talija shrugged, “Possibly. But you Sith are also notably vicious and overzealous; your need for war is why your religion’s organization never lasts for long. Peace can never exist between Jedi and Sith as long as the Sith are at war with themselves.”

“Peace, that is a funny word for the situation. I do recall the Jedi helped to annihilate the Sith Empire before the current one. If we came and asked for a peaceful way to start our order backup then the Jedi would still damn us based on our own beliefs which are too different from their own.” Vivithe replied, still calm with her words as ever.

“It is hard to argue the fact of our faith and their histories are chequered with violence, hate, fear, distrust, and misunderstandings. But how many times was it Sith who destroyed the Sith as well? I know the histories; of Malak and Revan, others like them.”

“And how many times has it been when the Jedi have stood ideally by while the galaxy breaks around them? I do recall Malak and Revan put an end to the Mandalorian Wars while the Jedi Council sat on their hands, content with the Mandolorian’s raiding and pillaging of innocents as they pleased. How many millions more would have died if Revan and Malak hadn’t took action?”

“Too many. I do not pretend to agree with the old council or pretend to know of your current Sith council. But I’ve heard what needless violence happened on Coruscant, Alderaan, and other planets. I’ve seen the fury of the Sith with my own eyes and I think the viciousness has not faded... and that this violence is pointless. How many lives will die in this war if either our religions refuses to break? Do you think that is a good conclusion?” Talija retorted, trying to combat the Sith’s logic with her own.

“All violence is needless to an idealistic Jedi, but life is not like that. Your side has been given every opportunity to concede, but they have chosen not to and as a result millions have perished. The violence is not needless, it has all been for survival of the Empire. The Jedi preach peace yet refuse to give it a chance when the Sith are the other side.” Vivithe said, her headed turned as she locked eyes with the girl.

“You must know that is more because of the council’s support for the survival of democracy and not the destruction of imperialism.” Her eyes narrowed. “We had peace. But then you attacked Coruscant and removed all doubt that you Sith just want destruction and domination; that you refuse to coexist far more than we.”

“The Republic’s idea of democracy is a sad lie, a terrible joke. Corruption exists everywhere within the senate, it is ignored, slavery still exists within the galaxy. That too is ignored by a senate that constantly speaks out against that practice, their politics are bought by sex and credits.”

Talija met the Sith’s eyes defiantly as she continued their debate of sorts. “Corruption can never truly be removed from politics or the universe at large. Much like where there is light there will be darkness. They cannot exist without the other. I would prefer an attempt at democracy rather than the dominion of imperialism. But do you even value freedom or believe the Jedi Order has it?”

“Freedom is the Sith way. Freedom to love, freedom to express true emotions, freedom to take the proper actions. My chains are broken Jedi, can you say the same about yourself?” Vivithe asked as they moved towards a door on the side of the hallway, the surveillance room.

“I don’t know, you are the one holding them.”

Vivithe let out a laugh at the comment, she did not expect a joke to come out of the girl's mouth. It caught the Sith offguard as the door to their side came open, the Sith stopping Talija and herself in front of it, her eyes moved towards the two guards behind them, and within a moment both of them had taken position on each side of the door outside of it.

“Come, we can continue our conversation in privacy.” Vivithe said as she entered the room, the monitors at the end of it displaying a sudden incident taking place in another part of the ship.

“Not like I have much of a choice.” Talija commented as they stepped forward into another room, the Jedi’s eyes widening for a second as she caught sight of the monitors and the incident being relayed by them. The scene most certainly made her uncomfortable, but she refused to show her surprise or discomfort… or at least to the best extent that she could. The scene was jarring and it made her feel helpless as a Jedi and a guardian of others. But worst of all was that she recognized someone. There was not enough expletives in a smuggler or fringer’s vocabulary to describe how she felt right now.

Vivithe had caught the Jedi’s reaction, resisting the urge to put a devilish smile on her face as she watched the young girl’s eyes widen. She looked back to the monitors at what was transpiring, then put on her best attempt at acting like she too was surprised.

“Well, I did not expect that. A powerful Sith lord and some of the captives in a brawl, I feel bad for those Jedi. That Sith in particular is incredibly brutal and powerful, they won’t last long.” She said, as she raised a hand to her face to cover her mouth, her eyes acting in false surprise.

“I think even a man under the influence of a lot of Whyren's Reserve could tell you that.” She stated, recalling an expression her father used to say about something being ‘obvious’. It pained her to see this and… to see someone she knew in such dire straits. But what could she do from where she was? What if this was all a test to trick her into showing bonds to manipulate her further?

“Do you think they’re bold enough to launch at a lightsaber wielding lizard?” Vivithe asked as her eyes focused on the ignited red weapon in Sish’s hand.

“Bold enough? No. Desperate enough? Perhaps.” The Sephi frowned, not only did she feel defenseless but this was the kind of thing that most Jedi would feel uncomfortable about even disregarding familiarity of the individual. Her eyes looked within her sight radius: was there anything in the room she could use to her advantage and perhaps help? If she could, would it even matter on an entire ship full of Sith?

“That boy got hit hard,” Vivithe commented as Xid was flung into Andri on the video. The girl behind her had reacted tellingly to the video, it was likely she knew one or more of the Jedi in it. She just had to figure out which one and abuse that knowledge enough. “He’s barely standing, looks like he’ll fall right over at even the smallest push.” She added.

“He’s lost his footing and he’s fatigued. I don’t know if the group has a chance with their current tactics.” Talija could feel the disappointment her masters would have right now, analyzing the situation like she was and not thinking harder to find a solution to aid her allies. She shouldn’t be standing here watching it like it was some pit sport.

“This is why you wanted to come to this room.” Talija stated blankly before she added to it. “To convince me that it is pointless to resist and to submit to you now.”

“Clever girl, tell me, honestly, do you know any of these Jedi? I’m certain you do, no point in lying now, I can see through them.” Vivithe asked as she turned to face Talija.

“I may have met some of them in passing. They do seem familiar, but I wasn’t prone to engaging in copiousness amounts of conversation at the temple.”

“Hmm, I see. Do you want to help them? Do you think you can, against that beast?”

“I would want to, yes. But I am uncertain that it would benefit any of them. I would prefer to defeat you in this room, but that would leave me surrounded by Sith. I am sure you also are aware that my injuries have fatigued me more than it I make it seem. It’s one of the first things you noticed.”

She looked slightly to the left directly at the Sith with an expression one she had given before: defiance.. “I am certain I would be able to fight that ‘beast’ as well as you had I not been injured or my lightsaber taken.”

“You’re not strong enough. Even with injuries someone skilled with the Force would be able to find a way to defeat an enemy, especially one surrounded by its own enemies. You’re too weak to help them.” Vivithe said, her voice ringing with honesty.

“Your words mean nothing to me, Sith.”

“They do to your friends’ lives.”

Talija took a step back with her frown blatant and her eyes dulling. “You will find it difficult to break me.”

“That is what they all say, then they do ‘break’. Your Jedi ways and thoughts have made you weak, if you were strong then you wouldn’t have let yourself be captured.”

“As you believe. But I do not share that belief. You are welcome to bathe in your ignorance, passion, and hate but it will be your undoing eventually. You can attempt to break me or twist me or manipulate me but you will fail as I do not fear you or your dark religion. I know that there is no death but only the force and I will gladly become one with it. I am unafraid.”

“Eventually? Why not now?” Vivithe asked, then rose a hand as she undid the Jedi’s cuffs through the Force, tossing them to the side with a clang.

“I see.” Talija cursed in her thoughts, she had no lightsaber and had a lot to learn in a straight fight with the force. She had no knowledge of echani martial arts or any other unarmed combat offense. She wasn’t afraid but between her fatigue from her injuries and the psychological twisting this Sith woman attempted she knew she couldn’t do much at this point in time. But she reminded herself that others before her had done more.

“It’s not too late for you, you know. You could stop all of this incessant torture and death. You could reject this darkness.”

“And become weak like you? Shred all that makes me who I am? I have power, Jedi. Respect is given to me everywhere I walk.”

“You’re wrong. You don’t have respect; you have fear. And you most definitely don’t have power.” Talija smiled, breaking her frown. “The force does.”

“Is that so?” Vivithe asked, then rose a hand to her face, her lips moving slightly, then the door came open behind Talija as one of the guards from before entered the room and unceremoniously swung the butt of his rifle into the back of the Jedi’s legs.

“I believe that involves respect for me to follow such an order, striking a dangerous Jedi with all her limbs unbound.”

Talija fell to the floor, her reflexes were still weak after the battle on the Enteliis. Had she had her lightsaber and time to recover… maybe she could’ve reacted in time. Her eyes kept on the Sith. “Is that a lie you tell yourself so often you’ve come to believe it? Heh.”

The guard moved closer behind the girl, then placed the barrel of his rifle against the back of her head. Vivithe with a smile looked at the situation.

“There is no death, there is the force.”

“The Force shall free me,” Vivithe replied as the guard loudly loaded his blaster and pressed it closer to Talija’s head as Vivithe walked towards her and placed a manicured hand on the Jedi’s chin. “I’m afraid death will be the last thing you shall receive onboard this ship. What will happen instead will be much, much worse. It’s a shame, you're such a pretty girl, have so much potential Though you might not be so pretty once you’re done here.” She added.

Talija offered no reply as she remained in silence.

“You really are weak, you could have used the Force to pull the weapon out of the guard’s hand, tried to make a move for my own weapon, thrown something from in the room at me. Endless possibilities. Do they teach you to just kneel down before your enemies and put up no resistance?”

“I will recover, I will endure, and believe me when I tell you this. I have resistance and you will see it when you are defeated.”

“Kind of difficult to defeat someone when you’re on your knees before them.” She said back, a smile on her face as she stood straight up.

“In time, Lady Lansha. In time.”

A sound could be heard of flesh hitting flesh as Lady Lansha slapped the girl with an open palm. Hard enough to hurt, maybe even leave a mark.

The defiant Sephi only cringed through the pain, unflinching as the Sith resorted to violence.

“You’re weak, you’ll be one of the first to break, I can almost guarantee it.” Vivithe said, then glanced at the soldier behind the Jedi who smacked the girl in the temple with the butt of his blaster, almost certainly knocking her out.

Lea found the food much the same as it had been during her sole captivity: Much better than should be expected from a prison. It was obvious that it had been cooked by droids, but that did not make it bad. As always, she checked for obvious signs of tampering, sniffing for the few poisons she could recognize by smell, then took a small bite, moving it carefully over her tongue to identify any toxins she knew the flavor of. Neither of the two methods gave her any hints of any present toxins, just as she had expected. The Sith did not want them dead, after all. But even knowing that, she would not give up checking. Her time with Darth Nyiss had taught her a certain paranoia.

The powerful Sith had not outright tried to kill her, but neither had she held back. Lea could remember having to telekinetically lift ravenous Sithspawn on more than one occasion. After eating to satisfaction, she realized she had to clear her head a bit. She did not want to let them dwell on the Darth. She could vaguely sense that something was going on at the other end of the prison, but she really did not feel like getting involved at that time. Something about it felt wrong. She had too many things to think about.

Lea did not hesitate, walking over to the turbolift. With a single, curt gesture, she pushed the doors apart, then jumped through. She took a somersault, rotating mid-air and landing on her feet at the bottom of the shaft, facing the door once more. She wished she had some less conspicuous clothes, but wishes did not grant themselves. The doors at the bottom of the shaft were open, probably because the lift was there. She knew it would not be possible to hide completely. If there was a Sith present in the prison above, there was a small chance he or she could see her sneaking out, but that did not matter to Lea. She desired simply to have some time to think, which she clearly wouldn’t have up there.

Looking up, she saw what appeared to be a fight brewing, but did not take the time to see who were involved. The less time she spent where she could be seen, the better. Stepping over to the edge of the arena, she spotted the weapon racks below. She didn’t for one moment think the Sith would keep proper lightsabers there, but even a practice lightsaber would be useful. Someone like Xid could probably turn it into a proper lightsaber. With that in mind, she reached out with the Force, pulling one up from the racks and into her hand. She then tucked it into her waistline, where it would be hidden.

Afterwards, she ran out of the arena sector, intent upon getting a rough overview of the rest of the deck. She didn’t plan to run into any Sith, but plans had a way of being changed when you least wanted them changed. Thus, after taking a quick look down the corridors, she entered the second room on what she presumed was the starboard side of the ship. There she sat down in the corner, trying to look inconspicuous.

Ven'ren stuck his head into the part of the sith quarters designated for Jewel and himself. Still seemingly in high spirits.
“Master? Are you here? I was to report to you.” He was grinning, though it could not be seen.

Jewel was, at this time, slowing pacing back and forth in front of a small pyramid of dark crystal on a plinth. Though it might look strange or exhausting to many, it was in fact, Jewels way of meditating. Her mind was set on reliving the countless encounters that made her angry, brought about hate or inspired fury. Any approaching her would be able to sense the power radiating off her, the air around her filled with dread. It was also one of the rare occasions when she was in simple robes and not armor, though her lightsaber remained ever at her side.

A moment passed when Ven’ren spoke as she gathered her thoughts before she turned around to face him. Her eyes still had a yellow hue to them, though it was already fading. “Yes. What have you learned?” She demanded more than asked.

As his master turned to him, Ven'ren fell down to one knee and rose again, instead of a bow. A surprisingly easy movement considering his gear. He grinned, still unseen, but one who knew him could easily read excitement from his body language.

“The jedi fought back, master. Challenged me! They would, in a way, cornered as they are, but he spoke too. He wants to fight. Already wants conflict. Doing our work for us.” He paused, and his voice turned calmer, toning down the strange hoarseness in his tone as well. “I get ahead of myself. The Jedi I introduced myself to was Alat. Only Kel Dor, can't be mistaken.”

Jewel stared for a moment, trying to make sense of Ven’ren. For all his uses, he was still one of her most frustrating apprentices. understanding him when he had some information to relay wasn’t always the easiest task. Thus far, he had avoided frustrating her to the point of endangering himself, but the skeptical side of her was always waiting for that time to come. After a moment she had decoded what he had said somewhat. “The Kel Dor is closer to the dark side than the rest then? I trust you were able to hold your own against him in battle.” The second part of what she said was more statement than question. She expected excellence from her apprentices.

“Of course master. And not... darkside as we are. He is too calm. Too cold. And I do not know the rest of them to compare. But I believe he could be worked on. Could be reasoned with. Made to understand that our way is better for him. He wants to kill. We can use that.”

“Everyone has their breaking point” Jewel replied conversationally. “I could always use another killer to direct at my enemies. Perhaps I will meet this Kel Dor. What did you learn of the others?” Jewel asked expectantly, taking a seat while Ven’ren replied.

Ven'ren falls back into himself a little. Uh oh. “I.. only picked out one, master. And took him to one of the interrogation rooms. The others... they barely reacted to my presence, as it were. I followed soon after Darth Nyiss. They might have exhausted their reaction from that previous encounter.”

Jewel resisted the urge to punish him with the Force - he had, after all, accomplished half of his task, and the spirit of the command had been obeyed. Still, though the quality of the information he brought her was good, its usability was questionable, for if this Jedi was as close to the darkness as Ven’ren made him out to be, others would quickly find out as well. “Take off your mask.” Jewel coldly ordered.

Ven'ren almost reeled back, as if the request to uncover his face was something shocking. Then he just nodded and removed his mask, without a sign of his previous, obvious discomfort. He still held it in both hands, head slightly tilted and regarded his master. He could easily feel her anger, but appeared not to react to it at all. He understood from this that he was going to have to apologize and save himself from angering her further, but presently took no more action that he was instructed.

“Your service is noted.” Jewel began, standing as she did so. “But I desired more than you have given.” With that, her anger rose in a short, sharp burst. Her right hand whipped up and delivered a swift open handed strike towards the side of Ven’ren’s face. The back of her knuckles would strike him, though fortunately for him Jewel’s hand was bare. The swift violence would satisfy her desire to mete out punishment.

Ven'ren does not defend himself from the blow, and falls to one knee right after she struck him, eyes on the floor.
“Master, forgive me.“

Jewel looked down at her apprentice, kneeling before her, bare face towards the ground, begging for her forgiveness. Few things conveyed a sense of superiority and power like this did. A tiny part of her wanted to berate him for kneeling before anyone, but that part was quickly squashed as she drank in her own superiority. “You are forgiven…” She said slowly, savoring the moment. “You may put your mask back on… Then you should meditate and prepare for the next day.”

The apprentice looked up again at the statement of forgiveness. Remaining in kneeling position but with his back straight. He wasted no second in putting his mask back on, feeling very much relieved. “I will, thank you master.” He said finally, getting back on his feet and leaving for his own room. He was going to have to speak to the Darth tomorrow. He did not look forward to it.

Alat caught Xid’s comment about areas to target and took in the new arrival to the fight. Andri. Excellent. More targets and more opportunities for openings due to the split focus. Alat took a few steps calmly watching Sish from the corner of his eye. The motion was arrogant and deliberately leaving himself open even though Alat was coiled like a spring and ready for any sort of attack. The Kel Dor placed himself between Shiri and Sish calmly before settling into a fighting stance.

“Hmm you know even through this mask I can smell your fear sith.”

Alat took a short step and flicked his left then right hands out as though he were throwing short jabs at the air although he kept his hand parallel to each other with the thumbs up letting them fall forward to generate force. Not the strong structured punches he used to deal real damage. Two quick force thrusts radiated from the punches. One flashed towards Sish’s eye the other he directed right above the Trandoshan’s groin aiming for the center of balance that rested between and just above the pelvis. The third thrust was delayed. Alat knew now that the sith was a potent force user. No need to apply unnecessary effort if he didn’t need to. The half second delay should have been enough to slip by a counter telekinetic wave if Sish attempted it. The third and final shot was a straight on thrust to the top of the knee cap at a downward angle. Alat hoped it had enough force to dislocate the joint.

“Your kind are all the same. Cowards. Fearful. Struggling for the illusion of power and trying to leverage your emotions to do it.”

Alat laughed through his mask. It was a hollow sound that would have made the hairs stand up on anyone’s neck. “The girl is such an interesting choice, fear sith. That is what that choice tells me. You’re afraid of the strong which is why you pray on the weak. I’ve seen wookie cubs with more courage than you.”

Alat’s words were meant to stir the emotions beneath the surface. Never mind the lightsaber, if the Trandoshan moved he’d open himself up to attack. Alat was waiting for something else entirely. Shiri was not someone he could allow the Trandoshan to get his claws on anymore. Not after the open display she’d made. Stupid girl. Regardless. Alat needed more information and the Trandoshan was going to give it to him regardless of its opinion on the matter. After all. Alat had been waiting for this opportunity since he’d woken up on the ship. no mistakes.

“Pity really. If you had more of a taste for preying on the strong I’d say we might have gotten along. But since you’re a coward and a sith you don’t even really rate attention other than to be put down like an animal. Unless you felt like giving up your emotions and relinquishing the dark side. Stranger things have happened. If you did that I’d have no reason to continue with this. That or you put that toy away before you hurt yourself and you leave without the girl and we all pretend this never happened.”

Alat settled and let the tension in his body drain away leaving nothing but a frighteningly cold serenity to radiate from him.

Andri didn’t have time to react beyond dropping into a looser stance before Xid came crashing into her, and she took the young Knight with her as the Epicanthix rolled with the impact, lessening the damage being hit by roughly one hundred and twenty pounds could do as the pair tumbled into the main room of the prison. The young man was muttering to himself as he pushed himself upright, and it took the tall woman a moment to realise he was comparing the Trandoshan Sith to a machine and using machine analogies to relay information. The black haired woman pushed herself to her feet behind Xid as he staggered, obviously intending to jump back into the fray, and used her extra height to wrap an arm around the blond's shoulders.

Xid flinched as he felt the fellow knight wrap her arms about him. The warmth and strength caused his mental state to shift as he realize his words sounded less than Jedi. His head jerked back over his shoulder and spotted the woman, Andri if he recalled right, leaning close to his ear.

“Stop, you’ll only get yourself killed if you go back in there in your present condition. And then what of what you told me in the showers? If you fall, we all lose.” Andri muttered in his ear. She knew it was slightly cruel to throw his words back in his face when obviously the young Twi’lek was a friend of his, judging by the expression on his face, but if it would stop him from throwing his life away in a failed attempt to save the girl from the lizard-like Sith, then she would use it. The Epicanthix had no doubt that as he was now, the young Knight wouldn’t survive a fight against a Sith with a bit of training. There was no doubt in her mind that the one occupying the medical room was Knight level, if not a Lord.

Xid’s body tensed then finally, it released in acceptance. His eyes immediately found the floor out of habit as he heard his own words tossed back into his face. He bit his tongue against emotionally lashing out at Andri for her words while Tolun Fi’s cold logic swirled in his head. Without him, no one was getting out of this alive and as much as he hated it, it was true. That’s when he felt the knight stir again.

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Andri’s attention, and she glanced at the Sluissi Sith that had interrupted Lea and her own conversation last night. She stifled the urge to groan, instead plastering a pleasant smile on her face as she mildly addressed the woman, “Greetings again. If you’re willing to wait a moment, we’re a trifle busy in the medical room. I’ll be happy to go with you once this situation is cleared up. Thank you."

Xid blinked and looked at Andri like she had a sithspawn rodent crawling out of her mouth, his eyes wide in surprise at her words toward the Sith. It was the last thing he expected to hear, really, coming from a knight as he considered his options. Thankfully, much to Xid’s relief, it seemed Alat was deep in his function which meant the Sith was in deep trouble. At least, the teenager hoped while his eyes couldn’t remove themselves from the fight.

The black haired woman didn’t wait for the woman to answer, nor did she let her grip about Xid’s shoulders loosen as she knew the blond man would take the opportunity to run headfirst back into the room. Instead she focused and the Trandoshan Sith once more, watching the interaction between the Kel Dor and the Sith intently. When an opportunity arose, and the Sith was somewhat distracted by the Kel Dor’s actions, Andri thrust out her again and pulled on one of the weak points Xid had muttered about; the lizard’s cybernetic eye. Even if she didn’t get it from him, it would hopefully at least make him stumble and give the Kel Dor an opportunity to overpower the enemy.

Vivithe let out a sigh right after the guards left the room, the Jedi in tow as they hauled the unconscious girl back to the cells where she would be left. If things had gone more the Sith lady's way then she would not have even needed to strike the girl or have her knocked out. She disliked the hands on approach, her beautiful fingers touching unworthy Jedi, especially a stubborn one so willing to die, refusing to take action when her life may have been on the line. The girl's idiocy only made Lady Lansha want to break the girl more painfully than she had originally planned. She was never one to take pleasure in someone else's pain, but when one hit a nerve of her's that changed.

Her eyes lingered on the monitors in the room, then she felt something through the Force, it was one of the Jedi, closer to her position. Perhaps one had sneaked out of the cells in the chaos in the other part of the ship. The Sith approached one of the monitors, a smaller one, then rose her hand to click buttons on the keyboard, the view on the monitor flickered through several rooms, then she found what she had sensed, a Jedi girl in a room, alone, sitting in a corner. An odd sight, Vivithe did not sense another Force user in the girl's proximity, so it couldn't have been an encounter with another Sith, or even a laid trap.

Curiosity took over Vivithe as she went through the recent recordings on the camera, carefully piecing together the girl's movements through the recordings. This was a sneaky Jedi, she had quietly took a training saber from the Arena before she exited the area as quietly as she entered, then she went to the room not far from Vivithe. In another moment Lady Lansha exited the room, sealing the doors of the room behind her as she moved through the hallways, cool and composed in her walk as she always was, her hood up, silent, after a short walk she found the room the Jedi was in, then stepped inside, her hands folded in front of her as she spoke out loud. Her voice filled with more curiosity than any emotion.

"What are you doing in here, girl?"

Lea jumped a little when the Sith addressed her, despite having been prepared for discovery. “Waiting for you. Or someone like you. It took you long enough to find me. Are everyone blindly watching the fight up in the prison or something like that?”

“I would assume so, several of your fellow captives have gotten themselves involved, but it’s not going like they want it to.” Vivithe replied, almost smirking at the notion of the girl waiting for someone to find her. Like a child playing hide and seek with a parent.

“That’s what they get for antagonizing a Trandoshan, I suppose. They might’ve been better off if they were armed, but at the same time, the trandoshan would probably show less restraint if they were.” Lea smiled up at the Sith, not recognizing her and wondering what the Sith would do next. Considering how long she’d been able to hide, she had her doubts that the Sith had spotted her picking up that practice saber.

“Such as using a stolen weapon? There are many on the ship, some are careless with such things. Training sabers, pikes, the such. I doubt it would help much against Lord Sish, especially when he is so determined. A weapon would only anger him, his anger would only empower him.” Vivithe replied, copying the smile.

“So he is a Sith lord… That explains a few things…” Lea was uncertain for a moment when the Sith spoke of stolen weaponry, but made sure not to give any hint about her filched weapon. If the Sith knew about it, she would either take it, or she wouldn’t. No point in giving her any reason to do it. “I think I’ll stay out of his way if I can. I rather like my limbs where they are.”

“That is a smart move. Unlike some of the other Jedi on the ship though, they carelessly throw themselves right into dangerous situations. No thought beforehand about self preservation. I wouldn’t put it past that Sith Lord to take off limbs, he’d probably laugh while doing it.” Vivithe replied, she did briefly laugh at the girl’s answer, it wasn’t something she expected to hear.

“Though he might take off more than one if he saw someone coming at him with a stolen training saber.” She added on, acknowledging that she did know of what Lea had on her.

“Yes. He would at that, I suppose. But you would of course prevent anyone from getting away with one, wouldn’t you? I certainly would have, and even if I had one, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to go against a Sith Lord with one.” Lea smiled innocently at the Sith, wondering if more would be made of it. She didn’t reveal that she had one, but neither did she truly deny it.

“I might turn a blind eye towards the thief, if one was taken. Dependent on what they did with it. Though I would punish those that did not Jedi-proof where the items were stored.”

“Nothing here is Jedi-proofed. The security system is laughable. Surveillance, if I’ve understood it correctly, is spotty.” Lea saw no reason to conceal those truths. If the Sith hadn’t spotted those flaws herself, then she was blind.

“Perhaps they were left that way as another test on the ship? It is true that you cannot really Jedi-proof something, but you can put more effort into guarding or concealing it. I am curious why a Jedi would take a training saber, unless there was a further purpose with it. There is that other boy on the ship who is quite capable with machinery, but he is not in great shape from his encounter with the Trandoshan.” Vivithe replied, she had figured out who the girl was, and remembered how Xid looked at her, how she looked at him.

She smiled up at the Sith. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

If the Sith did not know what a fully trained knight could do with a training saber, then she didn’t deserve to know it. She wondered a bit when some sort of recognition passed over the Sith’s face, but did not catch the import of it. “I’ll probably have to patch him up. Again. He really should be more careful, but I can’t watch over him all the time. Nor should I need to.”

“You may need to. He did start that encounter with Lord Sish, the Sith encountered the boy with another one of the Jedi, the Twi’Lek girl, he caught them in the middle of a romantic moment. A kiss, but that ended quickly once Sish arrived. The boy tried to save her, like a warrior saving his princess. The look on his face as he assaulted a much stronger, larger man because he put his claws on the girl.” Vivithe said, no real emotion on her face as she spoke the full truth for once.

There was a moment of anger on Lea’s face at the mention of the kiss, but that faded quickly, both as she got herself back under control and as the mention of Lord Sish stopping it. She had no way of knowing if the Sith spoke the truth, but neither was there any reason to believe she did not at this time. She simply didn’t know enough about social interaction to be sure. Lying politicians were so much easier to deal with than people who spoke truths and half-truths, and even they were hard to get.

“Good.” she answered. Making it clear she approved of the kiss being stopped. “I should really talk to him about not starting fights he can’t win…”

“That would be a smart course of action. A smart man knows to pick and choose their fights when captive on the enemy’s vessel,” Vivithe replied. “Though it is quite beautiful that love can blossom even in such a terrible situation, even between two in an Order that tries their damnedest to shove away feelings of romance. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes. I do. There’s no logic behind that rule. I’m not some sort of beast and my parents were both Jedi, and their parents before them going back generations.” Lea had clear opinions on those particular regulations. She saw no benefit to them and many problems. Her master would probably agree. But that she had no way of knowing for sure, seeing how her master was not around.

“I agree with you, Jedi. If anything your family has made you stronger, each generation as Force sensitive as the last, it could only be a positive thing,” Vivithe said with a nod. “Though I do believe that you should head back to the Cells, I’m not sure what would happen if another Sith found you wandering.”

“Banning marriage or romance only leads to one thing: fewer force-sensitives. It’s a rule without sense. It was nice talking to you, but I should probably head back up. I’d rather not lose any limbs to angered trandoshans or other Sith.” Lea had at least gotten to do something other than waiting and watching the others, and if the Sith didn’t intend to take away the practice saber, she wouldn’t want to give her any extra opportunity to change her decision.

Vivithe smirked at the Jedi’s answer, then spoke once more before she parted ways with the Jedi.

“Do be careful with whom you inform of the stolen practice saber. Even your fellow Jedi. You never know what seeps out during torture, information like that may put you into a compromising situation where a Sith could come for you and take limbs.” She added, then left the room, making her way back to the surveillance chamber. She liked that Jedi, the girl was different from the others, smarter.

After the Sith left, Lea did not wait long before going back up to the prison complex. She didn’t skulk as she did, but neither did she move too obviously. She moved more as if she belonged there. It was too bad she never had learned how to fool surveillance systems with illusions. She could only begin to imagine what one could get away with if masquerading as a Sith or an imperial trooper.

Miasa could not help but smile when one of the Jedi answered her question from outside the room. She had of course noticed that Lord Sish was playing with some of the prisoners, but she had not seen fit to interfere. If he couldn’t handle a few unarmed prisoners, then he did not deserve to live.

“That is fine. I shall observe and wait.” Miasa then slithered out of the bunk room and over to the doorway to the prison medical bay. Watching Lord Sish squabble with the prisoners would be suitable entertainment. She had no doubts he would come out of it victorious, but she would not step in either way. There was no need to rush. If he did not blunder, he was not weak enough to take out yet. If he blundered once, he would do so again. If he died, one or more of the Jedi would no doubt regret it later. She might have to punish them for it, but she had serious doubts that would be necessary, seeing how Sish was no weakling. He might not be likeable, but he had both strength and power. Creatures like him did not rise to the rank of Sith Lord without both of those.

Even if the result was fairly predictable, it would be a useful primer into how skilled the various Jedi were at fighting. “I see you have taken to public play, Lord Sish? I do hope you do not intend to drag it out too long, for I have use for one of these Jedi.”

While waiting, Miasa coiled her lower body up beneath herself, forming a nice place to rest her upper body. She did not need it, but neither did she find it inconvenient. If she did have to move suddenly, being coiled up made it all the more easy.

Unfortunately for Shiri, the Sith kept her in his sight, not allowing her to take his Lightsaber from him. He activated the saber not a second after her attempt and she felt herself go pale as he grinned at her. Before he could do anything however, he was hit by two attacks, one from Xid and the other from someone she could not see, trapped between the Sith and the Turbolift as she was. The Sith turned to face them and spoke menacingly, although she noticed he was still keeping her where he could see her.

"You want to be excused? Alright, you can go now, but I'm not going with you!" She saw him stumble as she finished speaking, and smiled in gratitude at the next person to jump into the fight, the Epicanthix that had arrived unconscious the night before. She taunted the Sith, to which he decided to respond by throwing Xid at her, knocking them both to the ground.

Shiri jumped at Xid's yell, hoping that he hadn't been hurt too badly. Before she could think of her next move, Alat -the Kel Dor she had met the day before- came to stand between her and the Sith, slipping easily into a fighting stance as he began to taunt the Sith. As Alat kept the Sith's attention, Shiri went into the turbolift and opened the panel to access all the circuitry within.

From there she worked quickly, disabling everything except for the mechanism that would close the doors, and making it so that if the button on the outside was pressed it would seal them shut permanently. They could trap the Sith there now, by either forcing him into the lift during their fight or trapping him whenever he tried to leave, hopefully not getting trapped with him as they did.

As she replaced the panel Shiri caught a new voice, addressing the Sith they were currently fighting. She could not see the speaker, but the voice alone was enough to send a shiver down her spine. 'Sish' she called him? It seemed the owner of the voice wasn't going to help Sish, but if she was going to hang around it meant that even if Shiri's half-baked plan to trap Sish in the Turbolift worked, they'd likely have to fight her next.

Shiri really didn't want to have to meet the owner of that voice.

"Hey, Sish! Nice name, it's so close to 'Sith' your parents probably thought they were geniuses. Let me guess, you probably ate them shortly after birth, didn't you? Birth, hatching, spawning, whatever is is you do." Shiri smirked as she began to taunt the Trandoshan, getting ready to jump out of the way if he charged her, which was exactly what she wanted him to do of course. She could only hope Alat could get out of the way in time as well, and help her force Sish into the lift if needed. "How about I just call you Fish-face, so there's less confusion? Well, assuming you're the only Sith on this ship that looks as ugly as you do."

Jayda’s ears easily caught the sound of knuckles rattling the door of her room. At the sound, her head cocked and the meat bone she had been gnawing on, quietly tapped the metal plate. She was done with her meal for now, though not by choice. Her eyes narrowed at the persistent source, her unwanted guest still insisting on getting her attention, while she mentally considered who was brazen enough to approach her. It took several moments and immediately, Jayda’s mind came up with the answer. Zanna. Inwardly the Zabrak groaned as she braced herself and slowly made it to her feet. Her hand gripped the bedpost tightly to keep her balance as she shuffled to the door, her body weak from Sish's punishment. In her right hand was her lightsaber, poised and ready to be ignited should Zanna become stupid. Despite what the Sith apprentice has said, Jayda didn’t fully trust her claims she needed help in improving in her lightsaber combat.

To the Zabrak, it made little sense how Zanna could’ve survived this long without some edge. That lingering fact and the addition of Zanna wanting her aid, put Jayda's paranoia on high alert. Cautiously, her hand released her grip on the post and opened the door. It came open with a abrupt hiss revealing the Red Sith to her sharp eyes.

When she stepped back to let the fellow apprentice in, her nose caught a whiff of sulfur. On impulse, her free hand jerked up and over her nose, shielding it from the harsh odor invading her senses. Instantly she hissed out the first thing that came to her mind and leaned in slightly to examine for scorch marks. “What is that hellish stink?! Were you in a lab when something exploded or caught on fire?”

Well. No training today it seems. Zanna thought, somewhat disappointedly. Still, what could be expected from barbaric ‘teaching’ lessons that Sish used? Just as she opened her mouth to ask if their training was going to begin the same time tomorrow, Jayda’s face scrunched and her hand covered her nose. Zanna blinked in surprise, taken from her slightly pitying study of Jayda’s injuries and state (the damn lizard’s cruelty), by the Zabrak’s sudden outburst. That surprise was quickly taken by irritation and indignation, all carefully smothered and kept from her face and body language. Impure whore needs to fix her tone. Zanna thought darkly, before addressing the situation at hand. The Red Sith’s eyebrow rose, question clear on her face. “I don’t even have access to a la-” She paused, looking down at the second lightsaber clipped to her belt. “Wait.” She unclipped it and held it toward Jayda. “Does it smell stronger on this?” If so...Zanna had the perfect thing to do rather than train.

Jayda had expected Zanna's body to match up with the questioning tone she gave, but it didn’t, just like before. It didn’t surprise the Zabrak in the least that the Sith continued this. While she wasn’t on the talent level an Echani would be, who likely could distinguish an individual’s mood on body movement alone as easy as breathing, she could easily tell when someone was deliberately hiding their natural reactions. It didn’t help her hormones had shifted slightly causing Jayda’s mind to become very alert to everything Zanna did. Something that only gave Jayda more reason to expect the worse of the apprentice as Zanna started to deny one possible explanation of the sulfuric scent, her sentence abruptly stopped in the middle. Something seemed to have dawned on Zanna because she looked down at the second lightsaber at settled upon the her waist, drawing it to Jayda's attention for the first time, and passed toward the Zabrak causing the older apprentice to study it for a moment. Jayda's hand was still over her nose to dampened the scent but it could not eliminated it completely. As it strengthening, her fingers clamped tighter, applying enough pressure to almost halt her breathing and struggled to focus past the odor invading her sensitive nose.

At the Sith's actions, Jayda's eyes immediately glared at Zanna with disdain at shoving the thing in her direction, her purple irises shimmered in annoyance before she grudgingly uncovered her nose to take the lightsaber. She choked back a sour taste at her throat and swallowed it down, stubbornly refusing to vomit in front of the fellow apprentice. One thing, angry as it made her, the Lizard and her shared was the agreement that weakness in this place was a good way to paint a target on her back.

Her fingers hooked about the weapon's end, the dangerous other end pointed at Zanna, and brought it a few inches toward her face. Her paranoia kept it at a far enough distance that should it had been tampered with, she had time to limit the damage it might caused her. The lightsaber obviously wasn't Zanna's as the Zabrak noted, a briefly glance to the other Sith's waist to reassure her suspicions, that the Red Sith's weapon of choice was still latched at her belt. Satisfying a confirming her first assumption, Jayda's eyes returned to the lightsaber. First thing she noticed was that there was no blacken signs. To her, it meant the weapon had never been in a fight recent or damaged in anyway. A lack of death and a sickly smell concluded not poison was used either.

Though it didn't prove that Zanna hadn't disposed of the own and placed the sulfur scent, it eliminated at least two options she could've gained her 'trophy': direct combat and poisoning. Most would've been confused by why her conclusion excluded the foul, underhanded tactic so easily and it was rather simple. Most poisons alter an individual's scent into a subtle, sickly that a keen nose could faintly detect and anything they touched also lingered with it. Jayda knew these methods to both be easy and acceptable ways to get rid of competition onboard the Kaggath. With Nyiss' blunt disregard of the primary rule set by the Sith's own dark council, the fear of death no longer applied to the more ambitious apprentices and lords. Likely that was the primary fact she was so edgy here.

After Jayda's nostrils flared a bit longer, biting through the nausea curdling in her core in her stubbornness, she passed the weapon back. "Yes, it’s strongest on that and likely, I assume, you can’t smell anything other than the sulfur?"

The Red Sith’s golden eyes met Jayda’s annoyed one calmly, waiting for the other apprentice to take the lightsaber. I’ve been a bit too bending with her. If she was right, Jayda could help her figure out what exactly happened to this lightsaber’s owner. Before whatever happened to them happened to her. Zanna watched Jayda carefully, ready to dodge out of the way should the Zabrak try anything stupid like activate the lightsaber into her chest.. A light smile crossed her face at the Zabrak’s discomfort, only for a brief moment. She didn’t want to piss off the apprentice and have her refuse to train her, or even worse try to kill her in a fit of rage. Sish had already proven he was capable of that, and Zanna didn’t want to see how much like her master Jayda was. Her eyes brightened with interest and anticipation as Jayda spoke. So there is a smell. And smell’s can be tracked. Especially if the sniffer is sentient.

“That’s all I can smell, yes. I found it abandoned in a room with black marks and a melted open vent. Seeing as you’re in no condition to train, perhaps you’d like to see this room? You might be able to smell or see something I missed.” As much as the words left a sour taste in her mouth, they were true. The Zabrak would be better able to see or smell in the room, and probably be able to find whoever was killing Sith. For no Sith would leave their lightsaber laying around, and themselves unarmed.

When Zanna took the lightsaber and freed up Jayda’s hand, the Zabrak’s eyes still forced on her unwanted guest. Her head cocked only slightly at the suggestion made by the other Sith and caused her eyebrow to lift, her eyes studied the outlandish suggestion provided. Even Jayda knew how foolish it was to go seeking the source with someone she barely knew. There was little proof that Zanna herself wasn’t the killer and she wasn’t trying to off the competition. So why, Jayda considered, would she provide an opportunity to do exactly that to Zanna? breathing in deeply, Jayda seemed to stand in complete stillness for a long time while she debated with herself over the proper means to approach this decision. She recalled the scent smelled like any other Sith but there was something… off with it. Something that screamed nothing positive about it and it made her instinct curl and darken with warning. That was something she didn’t like in the least because to ignore it meant she would suffer later over the consequences of her decision. Pressing her lips tightly together, she inhaled deeply then exhaled in anger over her hand being forced one way. “The vent might explain the smoke but not the sulfur or the… darkside scent. So where exactly did you find that and what was the state of the room?”

She wasn’t going to rush into this careless after all.

Zanna covered her face with an exasperated hand as Jayda made it clear her suspicion and paranoia. “May I remind you that I could have killed you at least three times over by now? Once when I was in your mind. Once while you were unconscious after Sish got through with you. A final time when you had passed out from blood loss. But no, I let go of your mind. I made sure you weren’t going to die from Sish’s lesson. I even used the last of my emergency Alchemical healing goo to make sure you survived passing out from blood loss. If I wanted you dead, you would already be dead.” She spoke in a soft, irritated, whisper. Jayda likely didn’t want the other Sith or the cameras over hearing how many times she had been at Zanna’s mercy, after all. When Jayda finally asked her question, Zanna giving another small smile at her obvious anger, the apprentice wasted little time answering her interest obviously perking as Jayda mentioned ‘Darkside scent’ . In a few brief words, the Red Sith described the room’s location and state for Jayda.

“Shall we go?”

Jayda hardened her stare, the irises filled with warning at Zanna’s words, as her grip on her lightsaber tightened briefly. It seemed, for a split second, the apprentice was considering testing how easily she could get away with the laxation of the no kill rule before her hand eased on the pressure for it seemed like another time while onboard. Instead, she lowered her weapon and pushed aside her robes, clipping her weapon to her belt. She listened to Zanna’s description about the scene. Jayda’s expression revealed little though her mind turned and twisted the possible explanations in her mind. Each option that cropped up as plausible, she cross examined which parts would fit the given elements but despite her efforts, nothing could explain everything. Most of all, how the struggle had happened and no one had seen someone exiting the room. Knowing something or someone stronger was lurking around the ship and itching to kill Sith was evidence someone was liberally exercising their boundaries, even worse was the disposing of their bodies effectively without anyone spotting the method. It was bad enough she was edgy as it was, but these discoveries caused her to become even worse. She didn’t even had a clue how this was possible without some sort of obvious sign.

At Zanna’s question, Jayda nodded and stepped past the Red Sith only to pause a second to become even with Zanna’s shoulder. Her words breaking the silence in a quiet, venomous tone. “Being Sish’s apprentice has one advantage… I learned there’s some things worse than death. Just because you’ve not killed me doesn’t mean you’re not patient or waiting to cause me something worse.”

With those words lingering, she stepped outside the room and threatened to leave Zanna behind if she didn’t follow. Later on, however, Jayda intended to check the surveillance camera and see if she could spot the Sith coming or going who was responsible for the crime. It would be hard to get the sulfur and smoke of his or her clothes after all.

Zanna glared back at Jayda, clearly ready to use the force if the Zabrak used her lightsaber. She was tired of Jayda blatantly assuming that she wanted to kill her. It was a good paranoia to have, but blatantly letting it display was annoying and exasperating. She relaxed a miniscule amount as Jayda clipped the lightsaber onto her belt. The Red Sith waited, slightly impatiently, as Jayda considered her options before finally stepping forward. Jayda stopped a little too close for Zanna’s comfort, but she didn’t let it show. Damned if she was going to let the Zabrak intimidate her. But this blatant paranoia had to stop. Not only was it annoying, it would hamper their training if Jayda thought every twitch was Zanna trying to kill her. “Such a shame you’re not worth that much effort then.” She hissed back. “You’re not subtle. You’re confrontational. While there is a certain intelligence to you, you decide to not use it in favor of the lizard’s teachings. You’re decidedly disinterested in gaining Nyiss’s favor, or gaining more power. The only thing you do want is to kill Sish. You’re not a threat, and you’re not something to ally with. The only thing I want from you is better lightsaber skills, and the only thing you’re getting from me is better Force skills. Remember that.”

She followed, waiting for Jayda to find the room and deliver her verdict. And, perhaps, lead them to whomever the mystery scent was.

Jayda weighed Zanna's reply in her head while she was waiting outside. Impulsively, her instincts stirred inside and increased her awareness of her surroundings. Closed in metal walls limited her mobility and gave her little comfort when it came to defense, instead they were more like a corner to trap her in. Her nose inhaled softly, silently cursing at her unnerved mind. It kept trying to coax her into running and hiding hiding while she clamped down her stubborn nature upon it. She didn’t come this far to merely run away. For a brief, risky moment she shut her eyes then forced her fear into the center of her hearts. The chilling sensation died gradually and gathered into a neat, swirling ball before finally fading for the time. It would be back, but not for a while at least.

Realizing she would need to mediate at some point within the day, Jayda’s mind became aware of Zanna’s eyes resting on her. All around the Zabrak apprentice, energies drenched in her darkside made chaotic patterns about her and seemed particularly thicker than last time she wandered these corridors. It was difficult to ignored since the change was so drastic. At first, Jayda had considered it was due to the number of Sith being in close proximity to each other but now.. she wasn’t so sure. Her hands lingered on her belt where her lightsaber laid, through it was obvious she wasn’t going use it, and shifted slightly in the hallway.

All the time, her eyes were closed to absorb the scent she had collected from the lightsaber earlier. Sulfuric, smoky, and unsettling fixed their scents into her mind and caused her to focus harder into locating them. The strongest source, naturally, was where Zanna had originally came from. Jayda was greatly suspicious and disappointed in not smelling it in a stronger concentration in a direction leading away from the room. Usually when the same scent overlaps, it happens when prey is exiting the room. This clue was both confused and disturbing to her at the same time. If she was scenting this correcting, her mind certain of it, then by all logical the killer never left.

Jayda's eyes snapped open to look at Zanna as her voice spoke softly. "Are you sure you checked everywhere in that room? There’s no scent exiting the room..."

Zanna watched Jayda carefully as the Zabrak closed her eyes and sniffed, presumably gathering the scent from the room. Zanna was nervous being even near the room, even with Jayda. Now that she actually had time to feel the dark side energies aside from a passing glance, Zanna could be worried. There was something wrong with it, something that radiated the dark side. The dark side itself wasn’t wrong. That was familiar, comfortable even. It was the sheer amount of darkside in the room. The Lords were...pathetic, compared to the raw power Zanna felt. Only Nyiss was stronger and only then, very slightly. The Red Sith shifted nervously, her weight going slightly from foot to foot. Her gaze was unfocused as she tried to focus on the energies to see if she could glean any information from it. She failed. The most she could gain was that, whoever their mystery person was, they were very attuned with the dark side.

The Red Sith’s gaze moved back to focus on Jayda as the Zabrak spoke. “Unless they can shrink themselves, or there is a hidden door I don’t know about, there shouldn’t be anyway they could have left from. However, I did not look everywhere in the room. I got the lightsaber, noticed the vent under the bed and the damage, then left.” Zanna pointed to the bed in question, which could be seen from the door.. “The vent is melted open.”

“Or...they never left the room,” Jayda stated bluntly, her eyes opened and looked toward the room. She stared hard at it, her eyes looked for signs of forced entrance or other obvious signs something was wrong but all she got was the scent lingering in her nose. Nothing new. Jayda growled in irritation while listened to Zanna shift nervously, her own unsettledness growing by the moment, her head jerked to rest upon the Red Sith. “Settle down, center your thoughts and nervousness. It’s not helping me focus at all.”

Carefully, her feet started to walk toward it as she drew closer to the room. Her hand reached out to the doorway and her body stopped just short of entering, her nostrils flared with the foul scent that invaded her mind and nearly caused Jayda to gag. Again, she swallowed the taste down forcefully. The next several minutes were spent examining the room while Zanna stood there, her head scanning for unwanted attack attempts. It wasn’t a suitable situation for Jayda through the Zabrak saw no other way to complete her task without risk. In the end, she chose Zanna over the latter merely due to the fact the apprentice’s points were somewhat valid.

“Whatever it was, it’s no longer here. Somehow, it got out, likely with the body, and disposed of it.” Jayda stated when her pulled herself upright from the floor, her leg brought up to rest underneath her. She looked back at the Red Sith refusing to enter.

Zanna didn’t even glare at Jayda for her tone, but stopped her moving. She took a deep breath, smothering and shoving her nervousness and other emotions away to be used later. She followed the Zabrak, but stopped at the door way. The wave of darkside power had only gotten stronger, if that was possible. It was vaguely reminiscent of what she had done in Jayda’s room last night, only far more powerful.I’ve only felt that when… Zanna shivered. If someone else could do what she was thinking, on this ship, her chances of survival just plummeted.

Her gaze met Jayda’s and for once, she wasn’t hiding anything. Everything about her displayed worry, and she didn’t care if the Zabrak noticed. “Can’t you feel it?” She asked, softly, arms crossed tightly as she held herself. “The unnatural amount of darkside energies? Old darkside energies. Someone was playing with things they shouldn’t have been. Come on. Lets leave this place. There’s nothing more to be discovered.” She turned and began heading away from the room. As she put distance between herself and the room, a touch of her confidence began to return. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll find the trail of whatever it was that was in that room.”

“You seem to act like I should know the difference. The darkside has always been the same no matter who was emitting it, the only difference is the intensity. Namely it’s worse inside this ship.” Jayda mumbled softly under her breath. She was weak, her body notably showed it. Gingerly her arm raised upward to grip the post and pulled herself upward, her leg straightening with her rise to her feet. The movement caused her to grunt and pant softly, her muscles screamed against the effort to stand. Vertigo edged into her mind causing her balance to become unsteady as her grip on the post tightened, her vision corner catching the movement of Zanna’s departure.

Abruptly, Jayda’s head whipped about making her flinch in reaction to the effect. Her sight blurred for a moment and her body jerked, nearly crumbling on the spot. This wasn’t good she thought and gritted her teeth more to bare through the disorienting results of her sudden rush to her feet. The meat, rest and salve had only helped a slight bit to mend what blood loss had done to her system. It would take at least another day or two to fully recover. Days, Jayda thought bitterly, she wouldn’t have thanks to Sish. Afterall he wanted her to become stronger and sitting around in bed, recouping from his punishment, wasn’t suitable for his strong survive beliefs. See Zanna almost out the door, Jayda’s hand released its grip from the bunk and feet carefully turned to follow. It took all her will not fall face first into the hard metal ground when she tried to retain the pace suited to keep up with the rushing apprentice. It was clear in her movements, hasting pace and unwillingness to slow that she wanted to retreat as far away from the room. Her words, slightly for once, matched her nervous motions.

Jayda walked in silence, her eyes visual and alert to where their path took them, while the Red Sith lead the way. Through the day was drawing into the later hours of the morning, according to the Zabrak’s inner biological clock, she couldn’t help but notice they were the sole Sith stirring. Jayda would’ve expected to see other Lords or apprentices scurrying about, her sight only finding troopers of various ranks and heights roaming the halls at this hour. She found it strange to acknowledge her disappointment in realize there was a larger difference between her expectations and reality.

The Sith had just pulled into a hall nearest the arena when six troopers appeared. Between the men were two prisoners, both drastically different in their ages, being escorted toward the prison complex at a forced marched pace. The youngest was a padawan, an Echani , from his braid and his appearance. Through the gender was only distinct by slight scent he gave off , both male and female Echani were almost impossible to tell apart by sight alone, and enabled her to identify it as masculine. Thankfully, by now, any remains of the sulfuric and smoky scents in the other room had long faded. The other prisoner was a thicker built and older Knight, his braid missing, and looking much worse compared to the barely touched padawan. It was clear he had been interrogated by Empire crew thanks to the bruises, scars, and more spotted through his torn up clothes, but for what reason Jayda couldn’t come fully understand. Out of habit, she had been following behind Zanna at a reasonable distance through not far enough to lose her while they approached the prisoners.

Sish raised an eyebrow at the Kel Dor standing in front of him, his own force strength blocking the telekinetic attacks. For a brief moment, he felt a tug on his cybernetic eye, pulling it back into his skin. Then his own force defenses kicked in again, and pushed it back. Presumably, that was the other Jedi who had gotten involved. Seeing as the attack came from behind him, in the same direction of the snake like voice. Sish watched as the Twi'lek darted into the turbolift, taking the panel off. He wasn't going to move until he was sure of where his prey was, and what she was doing. Slowly, as more taunts and insults were slung at him, Sish moved till he could see all of the Jedi and the latest Sith to join, his back towards a medical bay wall. "Worry not," He called out to the snake like figure noticed only out of his peripheral vision. "I don't plan on crippling anyone aside from those who get in my way. Currently, that is the Kel Dor. Also, could you send a team down her to fix the turbolift? The Twi'lek seems to have tampered with it, and I doubt it works anymore."

Sish looked at the Kel Dor, the biggest threat and biggest disappointment. Sish had expected something more. An attack, an attempt at intimidating silence, pushing the Twi'lek out of his way, anything. But no, the jedi was falling back on what essentially amounted to childish taunting in an attempt to distract him, or goad him into making a mistake. "You disappoint me, Jedi. I expected more than a few paltry attacks and insults any child could make. Clever to try and go for my pride. Useless, much like your defense of the Twi'lek, but clever. However, I grow tired of your games. I'm going to take the girl. We're going to leave through the other turbolift. How many limbs you have by the end of that, and how much pain she goes through when I get her, is up to you." Sish reached out with the Force and choked Shiri, yanking the Twi'lek towards him with enough force to hopefully knock over the Kel Dor. His body was filled with Force Speed, ready to act should she try to dodge around him again. As soon as she was within range he'd grab her.

Denso had just arrived on the Kaggath, the Jedi Knight having already gotten himself acquainted with the guards that were escorting him to parts unknown him. Right after he was pulled off the transport that arrived on the ship he was smacked in the gut with the back of one of the guard's rifle. That was only because he grinned when one of them tried to intimidate him, even through the recent trauma he had gone through he still kept his sense of humor, probably the one thing keeping him sane.

But the Kaggath was all new to him, he had been kept on a Sith military base on an actual planet, a Sith ship was a change of scenery for him. He could only imagine what horrors were occurring inside of the vessel, if it were anything like his previous location. He did suspect it was the same procedure, Jedi in chains, dragged around from place to place to be tortured or interrogated. The Sith had a thing for that, it did not take long for him to figure that out.

He had kept his head down as the guards lead him on, not out of order from the guards, but rather disinterest. There was nothing worthwhile to look at, the guards would only drag him through blank hallways or scenes meant to distress him. They were ordered to, it would only make sense. But as he was lead along he did not see any scenes that were meant to distress him, only hallway after hallway.

He saw his first sign of life outside of faceless Sith guard in the form of another prisoner, an Echani male, no older than a teenager, most likely another Jedi which Denso confirmed once he sensed the boy's connection. The Knight lifted his head up to give the Echani a longer glance, his fellow captive in much better shape than Denso was as he felt the ache of one of the bruises on his face as he moved his jaw to speak before he noticed the guards glaring at him, so he stopped before a sound was made.

The other Jedi was escorted by Sith guards as well, the guards forming up and pushing their prisoner alongside Denso. He could hear a few words being said behind him, but could not make anything out. It did not matter, they were simple foot soldiers, nothing but cannon fodder to the ones they fought for. Denso's kept his eyes up and noticed two figures they were passing by, two women, a Red Sith, obviously on the Sith side, and a Zabrak, likely on the Sith side as well. Denso didn't say anything to them, or even give either much of a look.

"You know what they call five Sith piled on top of a lightsaber?" Denso suddenly asked the Echani, breaking their silence with a joke. "A Sith-Kabob." He added with a quick laugh before one of the guards rudely nudged him forward with the back-end of his blaster. A smile still on Denso's face as they kept walking.

~| Day 2, 08:34 GST |~
~| Aboard the Kaggath, Prison Complex |~

Ocean, I am the ocean. I am the Force. He didn't really know how long it had been, he was sure Xid had even tried to wake him at one point. Though he wasn't really sleeping. He was one with the Force, he was everywhere and he was nowhere. Rooted to this spot solely due to his physical body, if the anchor wasn't there he was sure he would have lost himself in the vastness of the Universe. Pain, anger, hatred. It was overwhelming aboard the Sith vessel, as he sensed the Sith themselves. Some angry at their failure to turn the Jedi so easily, fueled by their hatred for the Jedi order and the Republic and the pain they were causing both each other and his comrades.

His mind in this state ventured back to the last time he felt such pain, Manaan. The ocean, his calm began to cloud over. A storm brewing as the waves grew and grew. He was alone at this point, he knew that much at least in his room all by himself. The failure of it all, being his world to protect to just lose it. To lose it all, all of them but a handful. Cramped in a cold dark space for weeks before they were found by rescuers. It took the Republic weeks to discover it lost Manaan. Then what did they care about? The Kolto. For how could you win a war without Kolto?

The waves grew and grew, encompassing everything. The clouds darkened till they blocked out almost all light. Though then a break in the clouds, just for a moment. Something had happened and he could faintly see Xid and one of the other prisoners, a female Twi'lek. Then something came, something bigger. He opened his eyes. "Xid, no."

He could already hear the commotion. He stood up and ran out of the room he was in, seeing the Sith gathering near the medical bay he swore. If he interfered, and they won it was causing more trouble for everyone else in the long run. However how could he not interfere? Then he noticed Xid was badly injured. He sighed, letting his anger go with the air. He looked at the back of the Trandoshan, and gave him a slight nudge with the Force nothing equivalent to using a massive amount of Force but likely enough to garner his attention due to there being a new player on the field. "That's enough Sith. Didn't anyone ever to tell you not to play with your food? How about you let the kids go and you come and have round two? Or you afraid you'll lose another eye?"

It was a stab in the dark, but the best he could hope to do was that the remark would hurt the Trandoshans pride just enough to have him not kill all the other Jedi.