A Family Matter

[Aliyah Phoenix]

A Family Matter
-Music-

Aliyah had come home to Tython just in time to receive some surprising, and not altogether unwelcome news. Kathreveris was not only captured, but safely hidden away inside the Temple somewhere. That would have been great, even amazing news, with one small, teensy little detail. She seemed to be missing her legs. Now, normally Aliyah wouldn't have cared about some Sith losing a limb or two, she wouldn't approve of it but it's bound to happen. This, however... this was different circumstance.

...kriffing kidding me.

As a Jedi Knight, knowing how the girl worked, she could tell that taking her legs wasn't necessary. Aliyah had won every single battle she'd fought save one, and in those battles she didn't take a single limb. Funny thing, that. Venatus had always taught her that taking lives, or in this case affecting them drastically, could have far worse consequences than anyone could really see. And in this case she was the unintended consequence. Call it whatever you like, every time she saw Kathry she couldn't get Arhena's face out of her mind. They looked so alike.

A young girl like that... the body issues she's going to have...

Adopted sibling or not, honorary Vahla or not, she was ticked. Not angry, but concerned enough that she went to find the Knight responsible. Lucian Fly, or something like that. Aliyah could guess well enough where she'd find him, probably skulking the medical halls looking for Master Halan. So, that's where she went, eyes alert and ready, gently humming to herself. Her walk gave away the urgency, though, the girl was almost barreling down the halls as fast as her walk could carry her.

ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER TRAUMA. Had to literally cut my work out for me, eh?

So where is this smarmy little kark?

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian had been looking for Jinlo - not because of anything untoward - simply because it was lunch time and since meeting the Jedi Master he realised that she had a habit of skipping meals to focus on her work. That wasn't too bad but considering he hadn't seen her in the cantina areas for about two days now, meant that he was a little bit worried so he had had the cooks prepared a rice box for her and was now currently looking around the medical areas looking for her.

Or for a fridge to put the food in at the very least.

But he wasn't finding hide nor hair of the Jedi Master and he was kind of running late for another fly by of one of the nearby moons, to check for primitive life.

As he was looking around, he spotted a Twi'lek Jedi coming the other way down the corridor. He wasn't too proud to ask for directions so he waved a hand a little bit to get her attention before stopping in front of her,

"Sorry to stop you but - you wouldn't happen to have seen Master Halan around would you?" he sighed a little bit, showing the rice box, "The woman needs to remember to eat more and I can't find a fridge to leave it in."

He paused before adding,

"Sorry if that's a bit of a weird request."

@Autumn's Firefly

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

Who, me?

Aliyah blinked once. And then, a second time as a Knight waved her down. She stopped for a second and turned on her heels, pointing at herself with a questioning expression. A man with long blonde hair skirted to a stop in front of her, with a box of something that smelled delicious in his hands. He seemed either confused or lost, and the question he asked was pretty straightforward. Wasn't unusual for someone in the medical halls to be asking for Master Halan. She stroked her chin for a second and looked around the relatively empty corridor, as though trying to spot her through the walls. Aliyah couldn't get a fix on her aura, though, she wasn't nearby.

"No, it's perfectly alright. I don't think Master Halan is in the healing wing right now, I can't sense her nearby..."

Slowly, her facial expression started to change from pleasant and open to sudden understanding. Her face looked absolutely incredulous. She hadn't expected it to be that easy. She'd never seen this Lucian guy before, but she'd heard a rumor or fifteen that he was trying to woo Jinlo. Well, she hadn't expected to be right either. But this Knight was also looking for Master Halan, and for a reason that sounded really generous on the outside. But was that something a fighter pilot would do to try and impress or endear himself to a girl? She couldn't tell, but her eyebrows started to raise anyways, her mouth frowning for a second.

"She's usually pretty good about taking care of herself. But yea, she does need to eat."

Tapping her foot on the ground once, she did a once over on the situation. If this was the flyguy, then the Force had an incredible sense of humor. But if this wasn't and Aliyah just started blasting some random Jedi with a rice box, that would probably be terribly awkward. What to do. Suddenly, she would turn back to him, her features brightening ever so slightly.

"I've heard stranger. But maybe we can help each other. I'm looking for someone named Lucian Fly, apparently he's a fancy pilot, might have started flirting with you at some point. He's probably with Master Halan, so, we find one and I'll probably find the other."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian had to admit that he had never seen this Jedi before but she seemed somewhat familiar - like he should know of her - but she hadn't given him her name so he wasn't sure about what she actually was. He had something of an idea but he honestly didn't know if he was just confusing her with another significant Twi'lek Jedi and he didn't want to say anything for fear of being wrong. After all, it would be a real kark move to call her someone else's name just because he knew that person was also a Twi'lek Jedi.

And kark moves were not something he wanted to indulge in.

"Yeah I suppose she isn't - I've looked around pretty thoroughly." he admitted before shrugging a little bit and instead holding out the rice box to her, with a small smile, "Don't suppose you're hungry are you? Seems a shame to waste it."

He shrugged a little bit,

"I haven't seen her in the cantina areas for lunch in several days." he admitted before adding, "I suppose she could just be eating elsewhere but I thought it might be nice to bring her something anyway."

Wandering along with the Twi'lek, he raises an eyebrow as she asked about someone called Lucian Fly who seems to have a crush on Jinlo and was a pilot.

... was she trying to insult his intelligence?

"Alright, I'm not going to play games." he commented with a small sigh, "It's Lucian Volante. Pleasure to meet you - and you are?"

@Autumn's Firefly

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

Her expression softened slightly as he admitted that he had looked for her. And then when he offered her food, her expression changed slightly. Not that Aliyah didn't eat, but she'd lost her appetite for the past... couple of weeks, right about. The Force provided her with whatever she needed to live. Her stomach was still in knots and she was still dealing with the deaths of her family. She carried on, and was actually doing a pretty good job addressing those issues. Better not to tell him that she doesn't really eat either, though, or else this could turn into a very different conversation.

"Uhm... hah. I don't really feel well. Thank you though."

Rubbing the very back of her neck awkwardly with her left hand, she shook her head gently as he said he hadn't seen her in the cantina for days either. So, he'd been looking for her in the cantina over the last few days, and searched pretty hard when he couldn't find her? Yeah, that smile carried more that she saw. And she was beginning to get a sinking feeling that this guy was the person she was looking for. But even if this was not that Lucian fellow, her instincts got the better of her as she started to ramble on about advice.

"Tip? It's a sweet thought, but chasing after her will just scare her away. Let her figure out whatever you're trying to do first, and if that's a thing she enjoys, she'll come to you."

It was probably not a good idea to give another Jedi relationship advice, considering relationships weren't a thing in the Order. But she knew of Master Halan enough to realize that there may be other motives playing here. And either way, her advice stood. She knew from personal experience that the guys who chased her down didn't get anywhere, but the ones who had enough respect to let her decide for herself usually didn't get rejected as harshly as the others. When he sighed and answered that he wouldn't be playing games, introducing himself as Lucian, her soft expression disappeared. Her stance, voice and expression hardened, and her voice sounded like broken glass.

"Aliyah Phoenix. But I'm Aliyah Van Alasdaire by adoption."

She paused, looking him down hard, waiting to see if the name rang a bell. Whether it did or didn't, she continued.

"...I've recently become aware that you had a fight with a Sith woman recently. On Dxun? The reports are a little murky. Could you possibly tell me how that went?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

She seemed to quail under his gaze and his offer of food - which set off some alarms in his mind. The Force was telling him that she was experiencing great emotional upheaval. He didn't want to push her though. He didn't know her well enough to be comfortable pushing her, all things considered. In the end he just smiled faintly and nodded, tucking the rice box under his arm instead,

"I'm sorry to hear that." he admitted before adding, "But I'm sure someone will eat it - it won't go to waste at the very least, right?"

Lucian paused for a moment and listened as she rambled on.

At first he was confused and then...? Then he realise what she was getting at and he was rather amused. Instead of cutting her off however, he let her ramble to the end before chuckling a little bit and shaking his head,

"I appreciate the advice - but I really don't have any designs on Master Halan of that nature. I've just noticed that she has a rather unhealthy relationship with her work. Have you noticed?" he grew a little bit more serious, "She doesn't sleep much or meditate either. Always drinking caff to try and compensate and eating only snacks most of the time. Honestly, she might be an amazing healer but she's going to burn herself out the way she's going. So I appreciate the help - but I really am just a concerned friend who doesn't want her to burn out."

Honestly - Master Halan was a beautiful woman. He was a straight man who appreciated beautiful women and he would jump at the chance, should it be offered. But he wasn't going to chase her. Chasing a woman meant a form of obsession, which meant attachment - which meant it was against the Jedi Code.

But the time for niceties was through it seemed.

He raised an eyebrow when she introduced herself by two names - he had vaguely heard of Aliyah Phoenix... but he had not idea what the significance of her other name was.

"I'm sorry but the second name doesn't mean anything to me." he admitted honestly, "I've heard of you, as Aliyah Phoenix, by reputation alone. But no idea what the significance of your adopted name is."

The Dxun capture?

"I stopped on Dxun to do some spot repairs to my ship before going to Onderon to refuel for the full trip back to Tython when I felt a Dark Side user letting loose." he didn't bother to sugarcoat it because, as far as he knew, this Knight had no reason to be upset about the random Sith woman, "She cut down an elderly woman... and then trapped a man's family inside a burning hut. She wanted information from him, I believe, and was willing to burn his family alive to force him to speak. I couldn't stand by and let such a woman terrorise those people, kill them so cruelly... so we engaged in combat. She was unprepared - bringing a polearm and no lightsabers - so I grounded her in close quarters and severed both of her legs at the thighs to facilitate her capture."

A rather dry account but factual in all regards and she would be able to tell, using the Force, that he was telling the truth.

@Autumn's Firefly

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

Hearing the way his voice seemed to change and get more serious when he started to talk about Master Halan's 'problems' made her shake her head slightly. Whether he wanted to admit it to herself or not, he really was on about her for some reason. That's just how girls were, she guessed, she was pretty much the same way. Work and the Order definitely came before her own comfort, and the only real difference she heard between her and Jinlo was that Jin drank coffee. Aliyah didn't drink coffee because it made her heart beat too fast, and she started to shake. But he was right. She was going to burn herself out, they both were, but trying to stop it was pretty pointless.

Yea... unhealthy obsessions...

He raised his eyebrow as she introduced herself. He had no idea what the other name meant, and she wasn't all that surprised. Aliyah hadn't expected Lucian to interview Kathry while he was fighting her, but who knows. It really wouldn't have been the weirdest thing that happened recently. Her face didn't change expressions, even as he told his little tale. Every bit of what Lucian said sounded exactly like her sister, down to the burning people alive and polearms. Taking after her mother again. The part she didn't understand was the bit about no lightsabers - she knew Kathry owned at least one. When they fought, she'd been using the green one, so why didn't she bring her weapon on this mission? Why was she on Dxun in the first place?

"So, did you release the family after you defeated her? Did they live, did they escape, and where are they now? And, without her lightsaber, you say she was pretty much unarmed. And you still thought it was necessary to cut her legs off? Do you know why she was there?"

She hadn't spoken to Kathry yet. But she planned to, and if she had her way she'd be dragging Mr. Volate over here with her. A lesson about empathy was something she felt all three of them could use. Kathry needed to learn she wasn't a monster, she wasn't alone, and Aliyah now had to deal with even more hate towards the Jedi for this. Convincing her to stop being so angry all the time was never going to be easy, but now it was going to be that much harder. Lucian? Well, the way he talked sounded like he couldn't care less about her. In a way, she understood, but still it was important that any Jedi learnt that the Sith could actually be redeemed.

Aliyah had her issues with a lot of Sith, but she would never take anyone's legs unless there was absolutely no other option. Again, maybe that was just her. But she had to try. Sith Lords? They were long gone, by that point they'd pretty much made up their minds. But people like Kathry were victims of circumstance, sometimes their own faults, and sometimes it was things beyond their control. She had to believe it was the second one. Aliyah waited until Lucian answered, before explaining her adoptive name.

"Van Alasdaire is a Vahlan name. It was from my adoptive father's side of the family. Normally, that wouldn't matter, if it wasn't for the fact that the Sith you captured is named Kathreveris Van Alasdaire..."

Aliyah sighed, shaking her head slightly. She had no idea how Lucian would react to this, and part of her was concerned it would cause a scene. But she wasn't angry, she just wanted him to understand.

"...She's my sister. I've been trying very, very hard to convince her to give our Order a shot. And I can guarantee this didn't help."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

She seemed rather determined to view his actions as those of the party at fault in the situation. It seemed strange to him considering all she knew of the situation was what he had told her - she killed an old lady, locked a family in a burning hut and lost a battle. There was nothing else to know about the situation really. Anything else would require knowing the mind of the person who had done such acts and Lucian was really not in the mood for such a thing.

"A member of the family was still outside - he managed to break through the door to free those inside as we were finishing the fight. They ran away before the end of the fight and I prioritised her safety and capture above chasing after them for whatever reason." he admitted with a small frown, "I said she was unprepared. Not unarmed. She had a polearm, a short sword and a blaster pistol. She was armed and, until she passed out, she was a threat to my safety and the safety of others. As for why she was there? I'm afraid I didn't converse with her - I engaged."

He looked at the other knight for a moment before speaking.

"I must say Knight Phoenix... it feels like you're determined to find fault in my actions and I'm not sure why." he admitted quietly, "I encouraged a Sith killing and tormenting innocent people, I engaged, used non-lethal force despite the uncertainty of such being offered to me had our positions been reversed and captured her, bringing her here for medical attention. Forgive me, Knight Phoenix, but I engaged the enemy in accordance with the Jedi Code and brought her here for trial for her crimes and a chance at redemption... so why do I get the impression you are looking for fault in me?"

And then the revelation occurred.

And suddenly it all made sense.

"Ah... I see."

She was looking for hope that her sister wasn't beyond saving and the narrative that he had 'over-reacted' made that easier to believe than what had actually transpired. Many Jedi, even amongst the council, wouldn't have batted an eye had he killed the Sith. He had just cause and he would have made the death quick and painless - it would have been in full accordance with the Jedi way. But Knight Phoenix wanted to save her sister and to do that she needed to believe that there was a chance of that happening. He smiled a little bit but it was a sad expression.

"A noble goal and I wish you well on the path to convincing her." he assured her but he did make sure to add, "But I stand by my actions. She yet lives to have that chance and is now within the warm embrace of the Order so she can feel the Light first hand... it is more of a chance than many get."

@Autumn's Firefly

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

She stayed absolutely quiet as he answered. Aliyah didn't reply, at all, until he was done talking. It wasn't about finding fault. And this wasn't as hopeless as everybody treated it to be. ...maybe she really was grasping at straws. But, she'd do this for anybody. Not just Kathry, but Lucian too, anyone who lost their way. She had a dream, a secret little wish, that hoped the Order could come to terms with the mistake they made, and realize casting people out only made those emotions stronger.

That maybe the Galaxy could go back to the way it was, and they didn't have to kill each other anymore, or maybe even get better for the lessons this war was teaching. But in the end, that's all it was.

A dream.

A dream she could start making real. Even in her twisted, delusional state... there was still good in her, she could feel it. The Sith, whatever they wanted to do with that girl, she just couldn't allow it. Her father and Lucian thought the same way, and engaged the same way. And considering what she'd just been talked out of, it felt really hypocritical to let him think she was blaming him for this.

"I'm sorry, that's not how I meant that. I know how the Sith are, she wouldn't have stopped. Just because I wouldn't have done that, doesn't mean you were wrong."

He gave her a sad smile, and she almost looked away. She really didn't like when people treated her like that. Treated this idea like that. And Aliyah didn't need any more reminders, and the last thing she wanted was pity. Aliyah obviously knew not everyone was as forgiving as she could be. Even Kravos, after all he'd done to her family... if he decided that his days as a Sith where over, she'd help him if he asked. Was that crazy? Of course that was crazy, even admitting that to herself felt crazy. But the answer to their problems didn't always have to end with killing, or maiming, there were other ways. Better ways, and she had to figure those ways out. If somebody could be turned to the Dark Side, there had to be a way to help them come back.

"I can see that. It's good that you have faith in yourself. Now, maybe it's time you see what those actions mean, for all of us. You can stay, but I'm going to see her, and I think you being there would help. Just... don't do that thing where you pretend you don't care."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

Hmm.

Well it seemed that either he was off the mark with his assumption that she was trying to find fault or she had been trying to find fault and his gentle rebuking of her for it had been enough to convince her that she should stop. Honestly, it didn't very much matter to Lucian considering the end result was the same.

A Jedi who wasn't going to try and make him feel bad for defeating a Sith in single combat in the defence of innocent lives.

"I understand and thank you." he declared, bowing his head slightly, "I am used to having to defend my actions from my earlier life as a military officer - I apologise if I seemed defensive."

Through the Force, and through not being ignorant and blind, Lucian could see that she didn't much appreciate being viewed with any form of pity or sadness for her goal of bringing her sister to the Light. He stopped smiling, turning away slightly.

He knew of many people, many famour Jedi and Sith, who were said to be able to put people at ease with a smile and a kind word... but Lucian was not one of said people. He was a lot more reserved in nature he knew.

At the suggestion that they go and see the prisoner, Lucian's eyebrows raised as he considered it. As the capturing officer, he would not have been considered suitable as a visitor when he was in the military... but this wasn't the military. This was the Jedi Order and, he supposed, that meant it was best that everyone possible be involved in the changing process.

Pausing, Lucian nodded after a moment of thought before adding,

"When she was passing out she said she wanted to know what happened to her father. I didn't know if she was lying as a distraction or not so I ignored it but I did... I did pick up the holoprojector she was after." he declared, taking it from the back of his belt for a moment before putting it back, "I think we should ask her about that."

@Autumn's Firefly

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

"It's alright. Dad was a soldier before he was a Jedi too. Where do you think I learned to act like that?"

It was partially true. She'd also been channeling a lot of what she'd seen in the Council chambers recently, but quickly realized that treating another Knight like that wasn't having the effect she wanted. Better to just stick with her way of doing things instead of their way, or Venatus' way. If this had been Dad talking instead of her, she had no doubt it would be a very loud and messy situation right now.

...what happened to her father...

She looked down at the object, her skin turning a little paler than usual. What happened to their father. She'd heard enough about the fight on Manaan to know it wasn't a pretty one, but she'd never actually seen anything about it. If that's what Kathry was after, it meant Aliyah was right. She was going to try something stupid and get herself killed because of it. Of course they'd ask her, but part of Aliyah calmed down when he put the thing away instead of turning it on. She wasn't sure if that was a recording, or maybe some sort of camera or data feed... but she wasn't sure she wanted to see that.

It was hard enough dealing with the loss. The last thing she needed was something that would make her want to do something stupid.

"I'd believe that. But she's can be a pretty good liar... good idea."

She turned around and started walking down the corridor and out of the healing wing, talking as she walked. It wasn't very far to reach the cell Kathry was being kept in. Usually, prisons were placed underground or some place really unpleasant, but Jedi holding rooms weren't like that. They were actually higher up, for a bunch or reasons. One, so the prisoners could have a view, get sunlight and breath fresh air, and two because they would fall if they tried anything to break out. A Sith Lord might be able to survive the drop, but anybody short of that would die way before they hit the ground, and it was obvious. The stairs were annoying, and she actually thought about asking for a turbolift to be built on the way up. They were here, right across from a door that would let them see the Vahla. Aliyah hung her lightsabers up on the wall, put her blaster on the small waiting table, and turned to Lucian.

"Might want to leave your weapons here."

@Nefieslab @TheMorrigan

 

[Lucian Volante]

Hmm.

Seemed that the Jedi Order wasn't quite as peaceful as they claimed if they were more than willing to have so many soldiers and officer amongst their ranks. He supposed that was a little bit unfair, in hindsight. The Jedi Order took in those who had the Force and had no training - those who would otherwise be a danger to themselves and to others when they turned to the Dark Side without the enlightened instruction of the Jedi.

Yes, he supposed the woman could have been a pretty good liar... if he was honest, Lucian had been in full 'pilot' mode and had actively ignored 90% of what the woman, Kathry, had said to him in the end. As far as he was concerned, she was the enemy no matter what she said at the time.

That was probably something he should work on.

"Well lies are to be expected from the Sith unfortunately..."

The times they lived in were not kind.

Following Aliyah to the cells, Lucian hesitated at the part where he was supposed to leave his blaster and lightsaber. He grimaced a little bit but handed over his blaster, only hesitating at the handing over his lightsaber. Sighing a little bit, he left his lightsaber at the door and nodded to Aliyah.

"Right." he opened the door, "Let's visit the sister."

@Autumn's Firefly @TheMorrigan

 

[Kathry Van Alasdaire]

-Theme-​

The enlightened instruction of the Jedi Order. What a preposterous idea.

So thought Kathreveris, at a minimum, her back arched and facing away from the blinding sunlight that flooded the small room she'd been so fortunate as to call home for the last night or so. She could not move around normally, not since her thighs had been removed from her legs, and so she simply used the Force to lift herself up and traverse the small cubicle, when necessary. An incredibly tiring use of telekinesis, but her alternatives where much bleaker. Kathry recognized that adapting to her current circumstances may be one of the few ways she could escape this place with her life if all Jedi acted like the one who had captured her. Her sensitive ears picked up movement just beyond the entrance to her abode, but it was the Force that revealed her visitor's identity to her. The Vahla had faced both of them in combat within recent times, their force aura was as obvious now as it had been then, a pale light that caused her to scoff in derision. Expecting her captor was not out of the question, but the second presence was somewhat of a surprise to the Sorceress.

"Sister? What an interesting concept. Do you think it applies to us then, little Coven?"

Her voice was melancholy and filled with venom. The girl was a spitting image of everything she hated about the man her father had become. Before the Jedi aberration had taken his place, Eiric Van Alasdaire had been a loyal Ember to the Goddess Vahl. For reasons yet unknown to the young woman, the Light had crept into his heart of hearts and swayed him from the only path any Vahla should follow. Even before his death, he succeeded in annihilating almost every Ember that stood in his way, in an unending quest to snuff out the spark of his own people. What goodness had come of that? Jedi mercy was every bit as hypocritical and self-righteous as her Master had described, and this facsimile of kindness in the place of impending interrogation was no different. Nonetheless, she appeared composed and elegant, as always. From her perched location in the bed, she could use her Magicks to create a glamor over her appearance, disguising her true state, and that of the room around her. In truth, the place was disheveled. The table she had been provided had been cracked to nothingness, any sustenance littered the area and she herself looked nothing short of death. She too had felt her brother's passing through the Force, and true to her nature the anger within lashed out and destroyed all in her wake.

"Why have you come to this place? To gloat, to mock, to declare your victory over me? If so, I would advise you spare me such idiocy."

It had been she who captured him, under the circumstance he lived. The Judge, Zazai, had convinced her the only way to assure her own safety and that of the boys was to do as he bid and bring them before the Empress. As they had been her prisoners, the expectation that they were to be left in her custody was in place. However, in actuality, they were sent before Dark Lord, and like her father, before him, Percival was slain by the oathbreaker's vile hand. The Pantoran, Kathry could not have cared less for, but Percival had been Vahla in part. His death had sparked yet another fit of rage and drew her deeper into the well of hatred that was reserved specifically for those who had butchered her family. There would come a day when all would pay for their trespasses against her people, and the list of the soon-to-be-dead had grown exponentially, even in captivity. To her own surprise, however, she found the Sith to be numerous, whereas the Jedi had yet to openly wrong her. Until now, such as the blonde haired sprite would no doubt feel. The sorceress bled resentment that emanated from within her furnace heart, causing her eyes to spark and crackle as he approached.

@Autumn's Firefly @Nefieslab

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

"Wish us luck. We're going to need it."

She walked into the small room and sighed. It didn't take a genius to realize that the room was covered in some form of sorcery, and it took her all of twenty seconds to wave her hand and completely break the glamor. The sight she was wasn't a pretty one. The room was destroyed, Kathry looked like she'd been run over by a tram. Didn't the guards notice the noise that meant the entire cell was being obliterated? And, better yet, why did Kathry decide to break the furniture? That stuff is expensive.

Placing her hand across her chest, her lekku started to bend inwards, meaning Aliyah was annoyed already. Kathry had this tone about her that made Aliyah feel like she thought she was better than everyone else. And that really put a twist in her robes. But... she could tell that Kathry was grieving too, if the look on her face was any indication. These comments were an attempt to show strength and defiance, and that didn't sit well with her. "Yes, by law we're sisters. My name isn't Coven anymore, so I'd very much like if you'd not call me that, thank you."

Moving towards the destroyed table, she picked up the chairs, which were still in okay condition, and set them upright. Taking a seat, she turned towards Kathry, looking her directly in the eyes as she went on about sparing her idiocy. The only idiocy she wanted to avoid today was the grandstanding this girl was trying right now. She couldn't stay angry at her for very long, every time she looked at the girl all she could see was her father, but she wasn't going to take lip. Reaching out with the Force, she would examine every single word her adoptive sister said to make sure they were true. She wouldn't attack if they weren't, that wasn't the Jedi way, but she would know. And she would continue to ask until she got an answer, whether it took just one day or months at a time.

"The last time we met, you tried to kill me. I spared your life because I held out hope that somewhere in there was the little girl Venatus always told me about. That hope still exists. I'm not here to gloat, I'm here to talk. Your best hope of leaving this room is shutting up and answering, honestly. Why where you on Dxun, Kathry? What were you doing on that moon?"

@Nefieslab @TheMorrigan

 

[Lucian Volante]

Ah family reunions...

It was times like this that made Lucian glad that his own family were happy, proud, that he had become a Jedi and were not involved in his life as a measure of respect for his decision to be a Jedi. He was very happy that he wasn't going to end up in the same kind of position as Aliyah was... having to sit opposite the table to her sister, her family, and know that her sister might very well be beyond help.

To the point that she was willing to kill her if the opportunity presented itself.

Helping Aliyah, Lucian set it up so that there were three chairs sat at the table, setting the rice box down in the middle of the table as he turned to Kathry. Looking at what she was like now, at what he had done to her... he moved her chair out from the table slightly and lent some of his own telekinetic power in helping her along so that she could take the seat. If she resisted he wouldn't force her however.

He was just helping her along if she wanted to join them at the table.

"Kathry - I have the holoprojector."

He paused for a moment before continuing,

"Speak to your sister... tell us. Help us understand." he asked her quietly, "And we might be able to watch the holoprojector together."

@Autumn's Firefly @TheMorrigan

 

[Kathry Van Alasdaire]

"Perhaps you forget that you were the one to kill my former Master. That was why I attacked you. If I intended to kill you, you would be dead."

It was the truth. When she was awakened from her slumber, it became clear the galaxy Kathry had left behind was no more. In its place, a new and volatile existence greeted her, one bereft of her family and her people. Alekto, though incredibly cruel, had taught the young sorceress all she knew and more beyond even that, to the point the Vahla had once looked up to the Chosen. It was only a matter of time before Kathry attempted to enact vengeance for the slaying of her Master, the act that abandoned her in a crypt for a yet unknown amount of time. Shaking her head, sending her raven hair in all directions, Kathry willed the Force to raise her body and joined the Jedi.

"You don't need to treat me like a child. I'm very aware of my situation. I was on Dxun to do what you would not. To find the truth behind who killed father."

Kathry's eyes turned coldly to the blonde one as he began to speak. She still held an immense amount of distaste towards the human, such was plain to see and feel. The High Arcanist was an enormous thorn in Kathry's side, but even Leviticus had shown a far superior sense of control than this Jedi. Not that she was one for such judgement, in combat the Vahla relied on instinct. More often than not this instinctual combat style led to increasingly brutal tactics, to the point blacking out in a fit of rage was entirely possible. More than possible, the very idea of losing control unsettled the sorceress immensely, she knew full well what she could unleash in her blinding wrath. Useful under certain circumstances, detrimental in most others.

"Kind offer. You will find nothing but anger and despair in what that recording provides. If I'm correct."

@Autumn's Firefly @Nefieslab

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

"Uhm. Last time we met I kicked your ass."

Wasn't a word of a lie either. Aliyah saw some Vahla on Jedha who looked injured, went to help her out. Kathry apparently couldn't talk, or something like that, so she decided to heal her as best as she could. Of course, the instant she was finished there was a sword going for her throat and then the fighting started. It was only about halfway through that the started to talk about family, and Aliyah figured out that Kathry thought she was some sort of replacement.

Aliyah's eyebrow raised as Kathry said she killed her master though. She didn't remember killing any Vahla other than Alekto, and that was on Nar Shaddaa years ago. Not like they were given any choice about it either, the woman was spinning around like a maniac with two swords and a grudge. Fire was being blasted everywhere, there was some explosions and she remembered saving another Twi'lek at one point. It was actually a really fun day, except for the part where she had to throw her lightsaber through the thing and Callix escaped. Cocking her head sideways gently, she replied. "Do you have any idea what I wouldn't do? You act like you know me. You don't."

Turning back towards Lucian as he sat down, she paused. His offer was a nice one, and it seemed Kathry wanted to watch that thing. But she wasn't sure it was such a good idea for her. Not that she felt she'd go right off the deep end and start killing everyone, but... hearing about someone's death was very different than watching it happen. She might never forgive herself if she saw how it actually happened. She offered him a smile. "...thanks. We're really not that bad, and we're not here to hurt you. I'm sorry about your legs, but you can't tell me you didn't put yourself in that situation." Kathry's comment about what she wouldn't do spurred her on, though, and she was determined to watch now. This way, at least she could find out who actually killed Venatus, so she wouldn't be blaming every single Sith she saw. That was a dangerous first step, but at least now she could single out the important ones.

@Nefieslab @TheMorrigan

 

[Lucian Volante]

Honestly, Lucian was beginning to feel like he was an interloper in some kind of family feud, like a boyfriend who got brought into an argument between sisters without knowing any of the context. He was just hopelessly lost and expected to back Aliyah by default just because she was the Jedi in this situation.

Seriously - he didn't even get the benefits that being a boyfriend supporting one sister would get! This was a strange situation and Lucian was almost regretting showing up at all.

Nothing for it now that he was here now though right?

He returned Aliyah's smile with a faint smile of his own. He could feel Kathry's judgement and he didn't need the Force to do so but... what high ground did she have to judge him from? She was torturing and killing people for information. The idea that she had any kind of moral superiority or better control over herself was laughable. But maybe he was overreacting? Could be that she was judging him for how he chose to style his hair for all he knew or cared.

"If we find that within? Then we shall find it together and face it together as well." he assured Kathry with a small, soft, smile, "Anger and despair are naturally occurring. It's what we do with them that defines who we are and what we can become."

Ah yes, the elephant in the room. The legs that weren't in the room. Lucian retrieved the holoprojector and held it in his hands for a moment.

"Kathry." he looked at the Sith for a moment, "I'm sorry about how our battle ended. I don't regret fighting you but I regret exactly how it ended."

Setting the holoprojector down in the middle of the table, he made sure it was going to start at the beginning before hitting the play button.

@Autumn's Firefly @TheMorrigan

 

[Kathry Van Alasdaire]

-Theme-​

Kathry had been raised since the young age of seven to be a soldier. The belief that she was destined to do naught but serve came well before that, she was Vahl's daughter, by nature expected to be the most subservient. Her entire life until this point had been revealed to her as nothing more than a machination. Training, if you would, to become the most ruthless creature in the Galaxy. And yet the Sorceress denied that fate ever since Kathry had the ability to choose for herself where her path would lead. This was not where it ended, and though the Jedi were kind beyond words it saddened Vahla to realize this was a life she could never have. Kathry was never born to live a life like this one, full of happy promises and close friends, that isn't what she knew. She was a soldier at heart, she'd become a killer to survive, yet in each of her actions there remained a conflict. Kathreveris hated that she was a monster, but the Vahla accepted that was her place in the Galaxy. Instead of struggling against it, resigning herself to living it was far more productive. Her eyes flickered as they rested on the replying man, growing less hostile but still quite annoyed at his presence.

"I know what I am, what I have been, and who I shall become. This pain is nothing compared to what I have already endured."

It was no secret the boy would feel out of place. With the immense history between the two women and the ever-growing conflict or bond that would soon begin to flourish, it was a wonder as to his presence. But Kathry could only presume that Aliyah's next answer and the ones following explained much of why she had invited him. This was meant to humanize them both, to show both the Jedi and the Vahla that they were not so different from one another. The sorceress appreciated that for a moment, there were only two others in the Galaxy who seemed to truly accept her for who she was. No matter how evil Kathry appeared to be, there was always a reason, always logic behind her actions. The Vahla on Dxun had escaped with their lives, they had the strength to save themselves and so they did. The woman that was blasted would not have died had it not been for her relative shooting at the Vahla. Simple facts. And yet, despite all the logic and reasoning, she truly did regret killing the woman at all. Directly by her cause or not, it was not a necessary death, but it furthered her goals.

"I know that you are as hopeful as I once was. The legs failed me, they will be replaced as all failed things are. It was something I made happen? Perhaps. Perhaps not. We will never know. Let us watch, then."

The Holoprojector would whir to life and sputter out a camera feed. Kathry had discovered a family friend had been playing Guardian Angel for Venatus and apparently saw fit to find this footage. It was possible Venatus had intended to have it sent to Aliyah, but she regardless intercepted. The camera was perched on the right side of a restaurant on the water planet of Manaan. A large crowd was in the process of dispersing as a long, dark haired Knight is impaled by a nearby Togruta Sith. Kathry was unconcerned with that one, as well as the redheaded woman who went up in flames, screaming in agony but moments later. Her eyes were transfixed on the holographic image of her father as he reached out for the combustion woman. The sorceress' eyes grew wider until she practically averted her gaze, as all four attacks struck Venatus at once. There was nothing left of his body as the ashes scattered to the winds.

"That's enough."

@Autumn's Firefly @Nefieslab

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

I see that the Embers taught you how to speak gibberish too.

Her dad had spoken in some weird form of limerick for weeks before Aliyah had finally convinced him to stop and talk normally. She really hoped Kathry was just trying to throw up smoke and mirrors to look in control. And Lucian was being... great? And really helpful as well, he was acting absolutely amazing towards Kathry. The conversation was going great and nobody was trying to kill anybody. Better start than she'd expected.

She leaned back slightly as Lucian continued talking. She was growing impressed with how open he was to this, and happy he wasn't being stubborn. This was the way to showing Kathry she could be normal, but to do so they had to go through what she'd already done. The conversation was turning back towards that holoprojector, and the confidence of the other two actually helped her own. Kathry was unsurprisingly willing to do whatever it took, and Lucian was being very inclusive. Aliyah was willing to watch too, but was still a little nervous about what she'd see. "Well, that'll be the last of your pain. Alright? You're damn right I'm hopeful, and I'm better off for it. Let's watch this thing and get it over with." Nodding slightly, she turned to Lucian and mentally prepared herself.

The recording started to play. The camera was flickering but the image was pretty clear. Her heart stopped slightly as a small image of Jace appeared on the screen, in his dark gear, lightsaber ready. A togruta Sith darted at him and stabbed him through the chest almost instantly. He didn't even have a chance to react, the bolt that hit his back came seconds later. Her heart dropped as he fell. Venatus was trying to rally them and get out of there, but he seemed to pause when Jace died. Eivor decided to throw everything in the area at the Sith in the crowd after she flashed, while dad was avoiding attacks left and right. But it did nothing, and Evee started chocking before inhaling a ball of fire. She was burned to a crisp, and Aliyah almost deflated. She wanted to look away, but she didn't. She watched dad center his lightsaber and try to run, but even he couldn't escape, almost every Sith in the recording struck him at once and left nothing. Aliyah felt empty. That wasn't the way they where meant to die, and if that was the will of the Force... then what cruelty was that? This was plain evil.

@Nefieslab @TheMorrigan