691. One Foot in the Door - Trychon

The politician took a deep breath as he stared at the screen that showed the press room next door.  It was packed.  His own fate in danger in the upcoming election, the people still cared about him and still believed him when he said he had a very important announcement.

Representative Maflay knew he was risking his life by continuing with this conference.  He had to trust that increased security could protect him, and beyond that, hope that after the news was out, the Sith who had visited him in the middle of the night and caused him to soil himself would have nothing to gain from killing him.  If anything, it would only implicate Helwae further.

He hoped that was what would happen.

More realistically, he was going to die... but the people deserved to know what he did.

His assistant approached from the hallway.  "Sir, it's time.  Are you positive this is what you want to do?"

Maflay stood and straightened out his suit.  He stared into the mirror on the wall and at his own visage staring back.  Without a word, he walked slowly but with a purpose towards the hallway.

No. He admitted to himself.

------------------------------

Trychon plopped down on their new comfortable Siskriskin couch, and waved a motion in the air to turn on the flatscreen display and holoemiter combo he had just finished installing.  He hadn't had a chance to meet with the investment broker Mon Muhnn, who had agreed to manage their new assets for them for all the time they are off planet... but the previous owner of the Farrian Arms Hotel had a pretty decent allowance set up for himself in the monthly budget.  Without instructions otherwise, the accounting department had kept things the same and just shifted where the allowance went.

Raezyr had made a heck of an investment in getting their hands on this business, not that Trychon wanted or needed to tell him that.

Knowing that the press conference was about to start, his brother joined him on the couch with a couple of ales and some bar snacks from the hotel lounge, and they found the local news channel that was covering it.

They had a good laugh about the idiocy of carrying on with the press conference, right up to the time Representative Maflay walked up to the podium.

The hologram miniature of the man looked extremely tired, and the two Sith knew why.  The rest of the world was about to find out too.  He waved to the assembled journalist crowd for quiet so he could begin.  He seemed more likely to lose his breakfast.

He nervously cleared his throat.  "Ladies and Gentlemen..."  then he paused to clear his throat again.  "I have come here today to share a warning of a grave danger with you all."

Raezyr looked at his brother to see him restraining a chuckle so they didn't have to turn up the volume.

The representative continued, his voice cracking slightly.  "I originally set this conference so I could clear the air with honesty about my opponent, local businessman Zhan Helwae.  Instead, I have even more troubling news that I am risking my life to bring to you all, and to my constituents whom I have humbly served these many years."

There was quite a bit of noise in the background now as the crowd began to talk amongst themselves.  Maflay waited for the ruckus to die down a bit before continuing.  His eyes were darting around the room with paranoia.

"Please listen, everyone.  I confronted Mr. Helwae and pleaded with him to drop out of the race because he would not be honest about his past, and he would not.  I had evidence that I warned him I would have to share."

The buzz grew quickly again.  Rather than wait for it to die down this time, Maflay began speaking louder, and sounding more frantic as he continued.  "Please!  Listen!  I need you to understand, and I'm going to need protection, just for bringing this public!  Helwae has hired a Sith to scare me out of the race!  I was visited just last night by a man at least two and a half meters tall going by the name 'Sith Lord Vulcanus Tiberius'."

The crowd as well as the two brothers enjoying in the privacy of their own suite was now laughing, rather than talking.

"This is not a joke!  He nearly killed me, and likely will now!  My only hope is that Helwae is brought to justice even if something happens to me!  My building security promises me that they are working on securing evidence of all of this, but are simply delayed by red tape and requirements for procuring security footage."

Trychon barked out a single laugh at that comment.  "Well, that's a clever excuse for why they can't give him anything.  They're probably hoping this will all go away because the guy seems nuts.  In reality, they simply can't find one tiny drop of corroborating evidence."

Raezyr smiled.  He knew that if there was video evidence of their visit with the politician, it would be interesting, because while the costume Trychon forced him to wear did change his appearance, the Force also helped him project the inhuman size.

Voice now cracking entirely, likely out of a mixture of fear and because of the response he was getting, the representative went on.  "Lord Vulcanis Tiberius made me delete the evidence of Helwae's past!  That's proof enough of his collaboration for me, and for any court on our wonderful planet!"

Raezyr rolled his eyes.  "Only if you have proof that happened, dimwit."

"What the Sith Lord didn't know... was that I have video of my meeting with Helwae.  I know that it is illegal to secretly record as such, and I am more than willing to make a plea in return for security.  However, I beg you to watch this."

With a nod to his campaign manager, a giant vidscreen popped up behind the podium.

Then a video played.  The room got silent for the first several moments as the crowd deciphered what they were looking at.  Maflay looked dumbfounded and had ran over to the control panel to gesture and argue with his manager.

Then the video's lighting began to improve, and it became slowly clearer that they were looking at the inside of a bedroom.  Maflay was horrified as he stared at what he surely recognized as his home.  There was a lump under the covers that was moving restlessly and soon the representative heard his own voice mumbling through his sleep.  The voice was panic stricken and went from mumbling to shrieking.

Words like 'No!', 'Sith!', 'Stop' were easily audible, but the rest was just fearful crying.  He never seemed to break out of his slumber, though.

The two Sith were hysterically laughing at the impromptu end to the press conference, as the representative began yelling at the crowd and screaming that he needed protection and wasn't crazy.  His own security had to restrain him and pull him away.

After Trychon managed to catch his breath, he managed to speak in between chuckles.  "It's smart to have backups of information that you're using to blackmail someone, and even better to have videos of meetings, like he thought he had... but it was retarded of him to think the files were safe while he had them on his datapad, which was plugged into his main network."

Raezyr just shook his head and laughed again.

690. Like Womprats in a Cage - Raezyr

Anya was furious. The whole time she had been sure Tyr would try something, especially after that comment of his back on board the Unity about how they were daring him to make an escape attempt. She had been ready for it, and ready to back whatever play he made for their freedom.

Right up until the door to her cell slid shut, she had thought Tyr had a plan. Instead, the son of a nerfherder just marched along complacently. Clearly he was the brainless slug she always figured he was.

She'd get out of here on her own, no matter what she had to do. Anya vowed to herself that she'd never give in to these slime sucking Jedi. She'd show them. They'd rue the day they turned their backs on her and abandoned her to a life of slavery in that whore house. No amount of pandering and pleasant talk of peace and harmony would bring about forgiveness for that.

She looked around the meager room for anything she could use as a weapon, but the bed was molded from duraplast and sealed to the floor somehow. The chair and desk, also duraplast, were just sturdy enough to accommodate her sitting on them. They were too big and bulky to swing with her hands. If only she had learned to lift things with the Force better, she could send them sailing at whomever came through the door.

It was the only shortcoming that she would admit to herself, but even that wasn't a big deal. She had heard it was common for Force users to excel at some things while having difficulty in others. Moving objects just happened to be hers. What she truly excelled at was illusions. Somehow, she had to make that work for her.

In the mean time, there was little else in the room. The dresser was firmly attached to the wall and the drawers didn't come out. Nothing in the small lavatory was removable either. For the moment, she'd have to wait. But she'd never give in, and never give up fighting. Every attempt at escape that arose, she'd take.

Upon a bit closer inspection, she found a change of clothes. She spat on them and threw them in the corner. "Shu ma nyaow Jedi garb," she thought aloud. She stripped off her clothes and washed them in the sink, then laid them out to dry. After a long sani-steam, she flopped onto the bed to wait for her clothes to dry.

It seemed like forever since she'd been able to stretch out on a real bed. The soft blanket felt good against her bare skin. She closed her eyes, and in an instant, slept the sleep of the dead.

----------

The Jedi Knights known informally as Val and Nal  stood in the Enclave Council Chamber. Masters Eliatra Sabre-Rivalen and Orion Rivalen had recently been the presiding Jedi Masters here at the Enclave, but they had been caught in an unfortunate training accident on the plains of Gwahoon on the other side of Khoonda. They had been trampled in a gizka stampede. The whole episode was now infamously known among the Jedi Order as the Galloping Gizka Incident of 3937. Shortly afterwards they had succumbed to the injuries sustained, hence the reason they were not present now.

Two other Masters bore that responsibility now: Master Taisun and an older human man, Master Tanner Solumi. They were the ones tasked by the Jedi Council on Coruscant to oversee the pursuit of the villains of the recent massacre on the Jedi homeworld and it was under their authority that permission was given to use the secret detention facilities on Dantooine as long as they also oversaw the training of the younglings located there.

Nal and Val were currently being debriefed on their mission so far. All the proper reports had been filed as dictated by regulations, but often Knights were required to give the particulars in person to whomever had sent them on their particular mission. Sometimes they were not, but this wasn't one of those times.

Nal Talla started off the debriefing, relating the events which had taken place initially while Caecillius Kostek had still been on the mission. The Miraluka Jedi had been a childhood friend to both Nal and Nylan and had agreed to help Nal track down the Sith who had carried out the attack on Nylan and the Galactic Senate Building on Coruscant. During the investigation, he had been called away on a more secret errand and Val had taken his place.

From there, Val and Nal both took turns telling the story and filling in the blanks when the other forgot a detail, and after the course of an hour, their report was finally finished. Taisun and Solumi had sat quietly, letting the two Knights tell their tale. Now it was their turn to ask questions.

"It is quite disturbing, young Talla, that you came so close to falling to the Dark Side," Solumi said. "Val, you have been working closely with her. In your opinion, is there a risk of her falling if she continues on this mission?"

"I do not believe so, Master," Val replied. "Between the meditation techniques I have been teaching her, and the counseling sessions she and I have had, I think we are making great strides in preventing a recurrence."

"Good," Solumi said. "I have known you since you were first sent to us, and I trust your judgement in this matter very much."

Nal wished she felt as much confidence as the other two Jedi seemed to feel. The whole time, Taisun had just stared at her with his feline eyes and they seemed to see right through her. She shoved her personal concerns deeper down inside, and concentrated on the present.

Taisun spoke up, and for a moment, Nal was worried he was going to call her out, but instead he said, "To get back to the other matter, has anyone questioned the prisoners yet? They might be willing to give up the location of their comrades without much hassle. Sometimes a few days in detention is all that's necessary to get a prisoner to talk."

"We have not yet spoken to them, Mastah Taisun," Nal replied, fielding this question. "We thought it best to leave the questioning to you. I would add however, dat I do not tink dese Sith are going to give up dere cohorts so easily as dat... at least not dat girl."

"I am in agreement with my partner's assesment," Val said. "We can talk to her, but I think the man is your best bet for information. Personally, I think your special circumstances might be our best bet, Master Solumi."

"Indeed it might be," Tanner said. "At the same time, it might only serve to push him farther from the Light once he's told."

The four Jedi stood in silence for a few moments, thinking. Finally the big Cathar Master spoke. He informed Nal and Val they were to question the Tachi woman, but to keep Nal in the viewing room to watch, just to be safe.

"Master Solumi and I will question Tyr. We'll wait however, to reveal anything to him." Taisun said. He looked over at Tanner to make sure the approval was there.

Tanner nodded solemnly.

689. Like Womprats in a Cage - Raezyr

 It took some doing to get the two Sith off-loaded from the Unity. Getting them aboard initially had been easy. They had been given drugs to keep them unconscious so the ship's medic droids could apply the temporary prostheses to the prisoners, and it was a simple matter of transporting them. Now they were awake. Sure, they had energy binders clasped around their wrists and Nal and Val weren't the only Jedi around as four more had flown up from the surface of Dantooine for the sole purpose of this prisoner transfer, but that wouldn't preclude a Sith from trying something dangerous.

As Tyr and Anya were escorted  to the awaiting Jedi transport ship, he was happy to see that his own ship, the Nefarion Wraith was being warmed up, as was the Wasted Rancor. Apparently they were going to take the ships to the surface rather than confiscate them in the 'name of the Republic' or whatever excuse they might come up with.

He was also quite impressed. Despite their poor showing against that Chiss, and despite the fact he was present here, the Jedi felt it necessary to bring a contingincy of Jedi aboard. Six full Jedi for only he and Anya. Val, or whatever the blue Jedi's name was, had warned them not to try anything, that the four other Jedi were specialists. Apparently they were specifically trained to guard Sith prisoners. Of course he wasn't going to let the Jedi know he was flattered. "Only six of you? Might as well let us go now. You're practically daring me to escape," he taunted.

Val was the only one to reply. "Of course I personally would hate to see you make such a decision as it will result in unnecessary violence, but in the end, it really is your choice to make."

The indifference in his voice infuriated Tyr, but he said nothing further. He knew it was foolish to try anything right now. They were prepared for this. Much better to wait until a time when they let their guard down. He just prayed Anya wasn't dumb enough to actually try something and get them both killed in the process.

The drop to the planet's surface below didn't take long. The Jedi piloting the shuttle rocketed as fast as he could toward the ground at insanely fast speeds. It was obvious they wanted to get down as quickly as possible to minimize any window of opportunity the Sith might think they had.

Finally they set down in a medium sized hangar with a thump. The door opened and the loading ramp extended as the two Sith were escorted from the transport. At the bottom they were met by a huge male Cathar dressed in Jedi robes was standing there waiting to greet them.

"Greetings, Tyr and Anya Tachi," he said. His accent gave everything he said a slight growling sound. "Welcome to the Jedi Enclave at Dantooine. I am Jedi Master Taisun."

Turning to the Chiss and Nautolan Jedi he continued. "It is good to see you in the flesh again." His lips turned up what looked like a snarl. Anya assumed that must be what passed for a smile.

"Hey Nal," Anya called, speaking up for the first time since having left the brig area on the Unity. "You really should keep your kitty cat on a leash. I mean, don't cats like to eat fish?" She chuckled to herself at her own cleverness. Tyr rolled his eyes.

The Jedi ignored her and continued. "It is good to see you too, Mastah Taisun," Nal said, giving the Cathar a bow as was due his station.

Taisun turned to Val. "You look none the worse for the wear my friend."

"The journey was long, but required merely patience," he replied. "Unfortunately, it's not over yet." He shot a glance at the two Sith from the corner of his eye. "But we shall discuss that in our debriefing report."

"Indeed," Taisun said. "For now, please show our guests to their quarters. Once that is done, report to me in the Masters' Chamber."

After a further exchange of bows, Taisun moved off and began speaking with another Jedi. Val indicated for the Sith to follow him and Nal. Their cooperation was prompted by a nudging from the Jedi guard standing behind them.

After passing through several sets of very secure doors, and checking in with the guards posted at each, they arrived in a small corridor with several doors. Nal opened the first one. "Anya, dis will be your room for now, the Nautolan said after she had entered and one of the guards had removed her binders. "Please, don't try anyting stupid. Dis room is nothing but a nicely furnished Universal Energy Cage." Nal stepped out and, after punching in a security code, the door clanged shut.

Val opened the next door and let Tyr in. "What's with the posh jail cell, Blue?"

"We need to make sure you don't escape, and to be sure, you can't, but," he said, "you aren't here to be punished, so there's no need to treat you like you are... unless of course you show us that we need to treat you that way. We do have some more... sparse... cells, if you'd prefer."

"Whatever," Tyr said and watched as the Chiss stepped out and the doors closed behind him.

Damn Jedi, he thought. They want something, but whatever it is, they won't get it from me.

688. One Foot in the Door - Trychon and Raezyr

Representative Maflay laid restlessly in his bed, staring at his ceiling.  His LoDo loft was one of the nicest you could afford without being among the real elite of the economy.  In fact, it was a bit nicer than most could afford on his sort of income.  He had managed to get quite a reasonable rate for his home.  Being in the political arena had treated him well for the past 15 years though.  Well enough in fact, that he made a point of it to try and take as few 'incentives' as possible.

He wasn't perfect... but he was more perfect than most, and he was proud of that.  He looked around his bedroom and smiled.  His loft was perfect for him.  There was a number of interesting artifacts from visiting dignitaries laying about on his authentic Mon Calimari drenchwood cabinets.  On the walls were pictures a number of famous people from this planet and others, including the great Art Vandelay, personally signed for him.

Still, he was a bit anxious.  In the morning, he had a press conference.  A local upstart businessman was about as close to defeating him as anyone had come in his career.  He'd sold off all of his businesses, though he was limited as to how much he could contribute to his own campaign.  Somehow, he'd secured a large donation very recently that was helping push him towards the lead.  He'd had it investigated, but was unable to prove any foul play.

At least, not with the contribution.  His investigators were able to unearth information that was ten times as damaging as any campaign contribution could ever be.  He didn't like playing dirty, but he'd offered this Helwae a way out, and he hadn't heard back.  Rather than leak the information subtly, he was going to address his constituents and be honest about his findings.  It was the right thing to do, regardless of the benefit for himself.

He turned over in his bed and tried to get to sleep.  Nearly an hour later, he could feel himself drifting off, but he suddenly became overwhelmed with an uneasy feeling.  He did his best not to open his eyes, but he found himself tossing and turning in his bed.

He was about to doze off again when a strange rattling startled him.  He opened his eyes and screamed.  Only his throat was shut and he couldn't breath, let alone make any noise.  He clawed at his throat, trying to find release, only to scratch his own neck severely.

At the foot of his bed, stood a three meter tall monster, unlike anything he'd ever seen.  The beast's face was obscured by a demonic looking mask, which let out the deep rattling noise which had awoken him.  The only thing protruding from the apparatus was two very large and sharp looking horns.

As the dark figure's black cloak billowed around his imposing form, Maflay tried to scramble out from under his covers to smash something, do anything to make enough noise to bring help.  He found that it was just as futile, and he was completely rooted in his spot.

Suddenly a wave of sheer and utter horror swept over him and all rational thoughts left his mind. Run! Flee! Escape! Were the only things left. Finally, the beast spoke in a guttural, feral-like voice which brought more terror with each word. "Puny human! I am Sith Lord Vulcanus Tiberius, and you have made an egregious error."

The monster held up a cylindrical tube which suddenly emitted a blood-red beam with a snap-hiss barely audible above the rattling breathing and demonic growls. "Do exactly as I say and I might not devour your soul."

Maflay found the invisible grip on his throat loosened just enough to let out a whisper. "Yes, my Lord," he squeaked as one of his body functions suddenly had a mind of it's own.

687. Like Womprats in a Cage - Raezyr

Nal sat in the room which had been reserved for the Jedi to work out. Her legs were crossed and her large black eyes were closed. The everyday sounds of the ship didn't really reach inside the well insulated room, but the omnipresent thrum of the ship's hyperdrives seemed to keep her from the level of concentration she wanted to reach.

Even before Val had suggested this meditation regimen, she knew it was what she had to do. Too close had she come to falling to the Dark Side. Too close had her emotions come to taking control, emotions that should have been suppressed long ago. She was supposed to be a Jedi Knight, above feelings and emotions... or at least strong ones.

She was also supposed to be above attachments, but Nylan had been her best friend. They had arrived at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant at about the same time and about the same age. As Younglings, they had been in all the same classes together, and had spent all their free time running about the Temple, trying out their fledgling powers to sneak into places that Younglings weren't allowed. Of course, they were caught more often than not and sent back to their rooms, even put on cleaning duties a few times as punishment. As Padawan's they had been on several missions together, their Masters being close as well.

A sense of calm and peacefulness swept over Nal, and she instantly knew that the Chiss Jedi Knight was close by. It was the same sense that always seemed to surround her partner and she envied him for it. She looked up as he entered the door. "How are da prisoners doing?" she asked.

"They're as well as can be expected," he replied, sitting down on the floor across from the Nautolan. "But you shouldn't be concerned with them right now," Val said, changing the subject. "How is your meditation therepy coming along?"

She looked down at the her hands still clasped in front of her and resting in her lap. "Not as well as I'd hoped," she replied. "I keep getting distracted by thoughts and remembrances of the past."

"Which, as you've said, is what got you in trouble in the first place," Val said, finishing her thought.

Nal was silent for a minute. It was comfortable. Peaceful. It was always peaceful when Val was around and she soaked it in. She thought back to just a few days ago and to the rage she felt. She had been reckless and out of control, and powerless to contain it. Nal hated herself for that weakness. Only when Val had showed up had she been able to clamp the flow of anger. She shuddered to think what might have happened had Val not shown up in time.

"How do you do it, Val?" the female Jedi asked. "How do you stay so calm always? How do you make the emotions go away?"

"The Force is a funny thing," he replied. "It surrounds us, and binds us. The Jedi draw their strength from the peace and serenity that it brings. Yet at the same time, a Sith draws it's draws powers from the very same well of energy." Val went on for a while, explaining how each Force user was like a well, themselves and how you had to struggle to guard your well. One single drop of poison in a water well can spoil it for a very long time, and sometimes things that can seem so harmless at first can end up destroying it. He knew these were basic teachings that most padawans knew, but he thought it was probably a good idea to go over them again.

He proceeded to teach her some techniques he liked to use to enhance calm and peacefulness, and in the end he reminded her, "to guard her well diligently."

"Only you know what is dangerous to you, and can pull you down," Val told her. "Sure, I can guess at things. The Jedi Masters can speculate and we may even be right. But in the end, only you know."