Ask Don't Ask Me Why

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn could now say that Rattatak was a planet he had been to. And it was quite a planet... mountains and deserts stretched as far as the eye could see. He was pretty sure people would maul and kill him for a slice of bread, but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to. The underlevels of Coruscant weren't friendly either.

He'd made his way through the city to the house he'd come here for. He was, at this point, well experienced at breaking into places that he wasn't supposed to be and today was no exception. He'd gained access to the Senator's house and slipped inside. It hadn't been particularly heavily guarded, but if she was a former-Sith that made sense for a few reasons: first, she could probably handle herself and second she may well not trust others. Paranoia was practically bred into the Sith.

He wasn't even sure he could clearly outline why he was here. In recent days, Varyn found himself searching for something. Answers to questions he couldn't even really voice or questions that were so "deep" that even asking them aloud seemed foolish. Maybe he was here hoping to find the answers to those questions or maybe he was here to gauge if her conversion to the FWA was real or a farce. Maybe he was here to kill her if he didn't like those answers.

But this was where the Force had drawn him. He wore his covert armor with a blaster strapped to his hip. His saber was tucked away in concealment and as he made his way into the building, he found - as he had expected after his recon - that no one was home.

He didn't disturb a thing as he moved over and sat down in one of the seats, waiting for the senator to arrive.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

' Take it easy. Rest as much as you can. Avoid any possible drama and commotion' .

Her doctors' advice echoed through her head while she was walking back towards her estate, an assemble of guards and servants in tow. She had just gotten back from the factories after having checked on the production of the new ship prototypes and the day had indeed been relatively relaxed.

The blonde senator was still feeling exhausted and the trauma ran deep. She had to avoid any possible further injuries and excitement after the escalating events of Ruusan for the sake of her unborn child. She had stayed in the hospital for days and luckily the doctors had given their 'okay' running different tests and she couldn't have been any more relieved back then.

When she had learned that both of them were alright, a massive wave of relief had swept over her, yet she knew that she had to be even more careful now. She couldn't risk anything like that again...

No one could have predicted the events of the supposedly peaceful summit, yet it had almost costed yet another innocent life, so she was definitely much more alerted and even more on her guard than usual. So far, there was still just a handful of people who knew about her early pregnancy in thr first place and this was just another important matter she had to control.

As she approach the property of her estate she send her escort off as all she wanted to do tonight was relaxe. Her personal and most trusted guard, Everett, was not on duty today, even if they had discussed that for ages. He had insisted on staying with her, yet she had persuaded him to take at least one night off and so she was finally all alone after being surrounded by countless people all day.

The moment she stepped through the door she could tell that something was wrong. She couldn't quite tell what, but something, or rather someone was here. She was not expecting any visitors and so her hand immediately shot towards her lightsaber that was clipped to her belt. The intruder was alone and the aura radiating from him was nothing she had ever sensed before.

There was no way she could decipher that presence or even the pure direction, but ironically enough she was more curious than alarmed. The presence wasn't hostile per se and...definitely humanoid, but otherwise just fuzzy and strange. As confident as she was, she cautiously approached it, silently removing the lightsaber from the belt and sending it into her hand.

' No excitement. No drama' she reminded herself, forcing herself to stay calm even though she want exactly pleased to sense someone inside her own quarters. While her right hand was tightened around the hilt, her left hand moved towards a small device that would immediately alarm all of her guards in the immediate surrounding, but like always, Celeste was a firm believer that violence wouldn't be needed. Whoever that was, she was curious to find out what he wanted and as always, she was open for some talks.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn didn't move as he heard the door open and his target came inside. Target? Was she a target? It felt like a mission and therefore she felt like a target, but the reality of the situation was far more murky. These days it seemed that everything was. Nothing was black and white anymore, and that was part of why he was here. The Jedi treated everything as a dichotomy but almost nothing else in the galaxy was that simple, why would the Force be?

It didn't take her long to find him, and he would have been almost disappointed if it did. She had been Sith after all. He saw the lightsaber in her hand, but it wasn't on, which was a good sign. Though his helmet betrayed nothing, his eyes dropped to her weapon and he resisted the ingrained urge to reach for his own. That wasn't - probably - why he was here.

Is that how it's going to be? he asked, his voice coming out modulated through the scrambler within his helmet. It would be quite obvious to her that he didn't want anyone know who precisely he was, and yet he made no moves of aggression - apart from entering her house - toward her.

If I were here to duel you don't you think I'd at least have concealed that I was here? he asked, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. I'm here to have a talk, and I'm not exactly the kind of person you put on your calendar, he said.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Even though Celeste was usually someone who always tried to find the good intentions in people, it was different when it came to such unannounced invasions. The rather recent past had taught her to be wary and always be on her guard and even if she clearly had peaceful intentions herself, her muscles were tensed and her mind on edge as she entered the living room.

The figure she encountered was definitely the one radiating this fuzzy presence within the Force, yet she couldn't help but to smirk as her gaze fell upon the helmet. Only cowards concealed their identity behind a helmet...or people who had to hide interesting details that always piqued her curiosity.

She confidently stepped inside, radiating profesional calmness instead of fear. The gripped the hilt firmly, yet didn't activate the blade. So far the intruder didn't give her any reason to engage -despite the fact that he had invaded her home, of course.

As the man began to speak she stopped where she was, her head curiously tilted to the side while her light blue eyes attentively studied the stranger with the scrambled voice. There was a certain calmness accompanying his tone, but even if he didn't seem hostile, she was obviously mistrusting. She was excellent at hiding her wary fassade behind a friendly face though. "You must forgive me. I would have already politely offered you a drink, yet I have quite a history of being ambushed, so I apologize for my initial safety precautions" she replied, a warm, if not even innocent smile on her lips while her tone was half feisty, half friendly. The stranger would hopefully not interpret her response as a threat, yet she was trying to slightly warn him that he was entering dangerous terrain if he would try anything funny.

"Oh I wasn't thinking you were here to duel" she then added, her voice growing softer, "I'm always someone who enjoys talks and diplomacy. I don't quite see why it was necessary for you to invade my quarters and surpise me in the middle of the night though" she went on while she starting to move again, clipping the lightsaber's hilt back to her belt while what she said was completely honest.

She casually approached the concealed figure before she sat down in the seat across him, legs elegantly crossed and her gaze not leaving the mysterious stranger. "I can see that whatever is your on your mind, it's probably something you would like to discuss in private, but I believe you're well aware of the fact that most people would have already attacked you" she paused for a second, forcing the tension out of her muscles, "Lucky for you, I'm not like most people, so feel free to begin". She sat up, back straightened, hiding every trace of mistrust while she attentively studied him. It did cost her a lot to remain so calm, but Celeste was excellent at keeping up appearances.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

She was smooth in her movements, demeanor, and speech. In other words, she was good at hiding who she really was, and that was information to Varyn. Sith were, historically, quite the deceivers.

Naturally, he agreed with a hint of humor in his tone as she mentioned her caution and history of ambush. Still, he didn't move. His goal wasn't to spook her into a fight, after all, and he didn't actually know her. He didn't know how jumpy she was.

As I said: I'm not the type of person to put their name on an appointment book. Plus I don't like the cameras, he said. He probably should have apologized for invading her home. Should.

As she mentioned most other people would have already attacked him, he shrugged. He seemed almost nonchalant about the idea of being attacked, and he was unconcerned with the outcome. There was an undeniable and quiet confidence in him, but he didn't comment further on it.

You're right, what I want to talk about isn't exactly the type of thing I want to talk about in front of a myriad of people, he confirmed.

That revelation about you being a Sith has gone over surprisingly smoothly, he commented. Whether that was because she'd used the Force to flatten things out or something else, he wasn't sure. Maybe people just really didn't care or, more likely, they were too busy dealing with invasion of the body-snatchers to address it yet.

I wanted to talk about why you left, he said, opting for a more direct approach to the issue. After all, he had broken into her house, there was no reason to waste her time as well.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She couldn't help but to tilt her head to the side, perhaps even in a playful manner. It seemed like he was almost enjoying this little game. Apparently the young man loved to remain mysterious, which bugged her vehemently, as she was always quite curious herself.

Her eyes intensely lingered on him, studying his every move while tried to collect as many information as possible. She hated voice scramblers, but concealed faces even more, as she had always been excellent at reading people, yet this concealed figure made it almost impossible to do that.

As he went on, however, she couldn't help but to chuckle almost amusedly, even though it was rather sarcasm. "You invade my home and now you want to talk with me about why I left the Sith" she repeated in disbelief, slightly shaking her head.

He didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that only very few people would have tolerated his approach, yet she wasn't surpised by the fact that he seemed to have known quite a bit about her. "Trust me when I say that I'm definitely the most open person you can probably find. I will surely explain my reasons and intentions, yet I have no idea with whom the hell I'm even taking to. I tell each and every person the same story. Nothing but the truth even, but as you know we are completely on our own and I would truly appreciate it if you would at least give me your name out of pure politeness". She was aware of the fact that he could simply lie, but perhaps the mysterious stranger was at least willing to share any details.

It still bugged her that she couldn't even tell much about his presence within the Force. She was still trying to make a sense out of it, yet everything she senses was somehow blurry and convoluted. She wondered whether he did the same. If he was skilled with the Force he would have probably noticed that her presence was everything but dark...

She hadn't averted her gaze, but it had become much easier to remain calm. There was still nothing hostile about him, yet she was truly wondering why he seemed so damn interested in her story. He could have possibly been sent from the Empire, but there were countless other options. He was probably no spy, otherwise he wouldn't have confronted her like this. She also wondered whether he wanted to collect information for someone or whether he himself was just curious...

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

I invaded your home because I wanted to talk about why you left the Sith, he corrected. You didn't just leave the Sith, you defected to the entire opposite side of the war. You left behind not just the government and Order you served, but all the Orders, he said, referencing the fact that she had not gone over to the Jedi.

And then you gained control of a planet, he pointed out. There was no doubt skepticism that she had simply left the Sith to build a greater powerbase for herself. It was possible, but Varyn sensed that wasn't the story.

He could tell she was getting annoyed, though to her credit she handled it quite well. Still, he also knew he couldn't expect her to be open with him if he didn't at least give something in return.

He paused for a long moment, considering what to tell her.

You can call me Vi, for Visitor, he said. I know it's not a real name, but I won't insult you by giving you a fake one and I can't give you a real one lest it put my life or the lives of others in danger, he said. It was as honest as he could be, and if she didn't like it... well, they'd have to cross that bridge when they came to it.

But what really is in a name? I know your name, but that doesn't mean I really know you, he said. Even knowing someone's creed doesn't always tell you about them, he said, thinking of how different so many of the Sith he had met were.

I'm sure you've already been able to surmise that I'm a Force-user as well and that I'm tied up one way or another in this war between Jedi and Sith, he said. What he didn't tell her was why he wanted to know about defection. Whether for himself, someone else, or something else entirely. She would likely be able to sense from the gravity of his tone that he wasn't asking merely for theoretical reasons.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

His slightly snappy correction let her blink a few times. Again, it cost her quite some self control not to start losing her temper with the enigmatic stranger. She inhaled deeply and let it out sharply while simultaneously preventing her muscles from tensing up again.

No matter how polite and composed she usually was, she couldn't fully be as relaxed as she wanted to. The atmosphere was still slightly tense and she still had no idea what to make out of him. The curiosity she had was still mixed with mistrust, but surprisingly there was also something vaguely familiar upon him, yet that was also something she couldn't quite grasp.

The smile hadn't left her lips, but she was slightly annoyed. In the end her own curiosity outweighed those negative feelings though. Perhaps this would just be quite a pleasant conversation between two interesting characters."For starters, I wouldn't use the term 'defect'. I simply quitted doing diplomatic missions under the Empire's banner and I've been Rattatak's senator for quite some time, however I have recently decided to join the FWA because it made sense for the planet" she began, her voice now completely calm.

To be honest, she still had no particular reason to trust him, yet she didn't mind sharing her story and opinions. "I'm well aware of the fact that there are still existing tensions between the Empire and the FWA and it is my goal to peacefully resolve them. I'm not trying to piss anyone off...the truth is, the Empire had always been good to me, but it has been fatal for countless innocent lives and this is exactly why I couldn't support them any longer" she explained, not even sure whether he was interested in her visions or whether he just wanted some reasons. She still questioned his intentions strongly in general.

The interesting part was yet to come though. "If you assume that I think the Jedi are saints, you're also wrong. I've also witnessed them committing terrible atrocities and this is exactly why I would never talk about a dichotomy" she then added, getting back at his initial statement.


"If you think I've taken over control of that planet by sheer force you're also mistaken. I've never been a regular Sith. I always followed my own part. Diplomacy has always been the highest principle and I'm a firm believer in peace". How much more details did he want? She was being completely honest with him, but she felt like she had been explaining her thoughts for ages by now.

When he finally gave her a name, she pondered on that for a moment. 'Vi'...what an interesting choice. She truly appreciated the honesty that followed, yet of course that name wasn't exactly helping. A sudden thought occurred to her, but she wouldn't speak it out aloud just yet. What if this guys was just another Shadow? He was no obvious lightsider, but also no definite darksider., so what if he was indeed some sort of spy who wants to profit from her insights while cleverly cloaking his presence within the Force?

"Alright then, Vi. If you want to remain so mysterious, fine. I'd prefer it if you would be honest about your intentions too though..." she remarked politely, yet there was a subtle hint of disappointment in her voice. Maybe she had to earn his trust, especially if her assumptions was right or perhaps partly true. Celeste was used to mingling with people from all factions, so whoever he was loyal too, she was convinced they would come to some sort of agreement about whatsoever he was looking for.

The last parts of his reply were even more interesting because they told a whole deal about his views on the existing tensions. "I totally agree. Knowing a creed doesn't help at all. My experience has taught me that on a regular base. I don't judge people for their backstory...or the banner they are wearing. I always show genuine interest on the individual behind all that" she went on, doubting that he was agreeing with her on this. Whoever this was, his opinions seemed someone stronger and perhaps he was one of the sort who was always overgeneralizing facts, which would, however, be a pity.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn was completely silent as she spoke, listening to every word and drinking it in. It was all a puzzle, everything in his life had been a puzzle for two years now, and he couldn't ever stop putting together the pieces. This was just another puzzle.

She denied it was a defection, but the Sith were at active war with the FWA. It was hard to call it anything else, but he wasn't going to argue the point. He was already using up most of the goodwill that existed. If you could even really call it "goodwill."

No, not through force, he agreed. But neither had Dooku with the Separatists or Palpatine with the Republic. Truth be told, though, he didn't think she was like them. Of course, he could have been wrong. She could have been as smooth a talker as they had been, but that's not what his feelings told him.

He nodded when she said that he should be honest about his intentions, though he paused for a moment as he once again chose his words carefully.

I've seen this war from every angle: hate pervading the Jedi forces despite them claiming to reject it. Jedi willing to risk and lay down their lives to protect others. Sith who murdered younglings and burned planets. Sith who cared deeply for others and would do anything for them, he said. Good and bad on both sides, though there was no question that there was more blood on Sith hands than Jedi... he didn't say that aloud. Whether he was a spy for one side or the other, looking to defect, or simply some Force-sensitive mercenary caught up in it all wasn't clear, and he made no attempt to clarify. What was clear was that he had seen his share of the war.

You're one of only a few people I know who has changed sides in this war, he said. Talak Rand was dead, Severus was dead or missing, and Celeste. There were surely others, but few that he had an opportunity to talk to.

You have a unique perspective, and for the sake of argument, let's say I agree with your statements about dichotomy, he said. It was a stretch for him to actually say that, but the more of this war he saw, the more he realized it wasn't nearly as simple as he'd been taught. That was what wounded him so much: the galaxy was not what the Jedi had taught him. Not really.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She was almost a little surpised that he was agreeing with her on the issue concerning Rattatak. So after all, he didn't think she was a monster. That was at least one good thing. Whenever she shared the story of her past, the people had always been surpsied that despite working under the Imperial's banner and being a trained Champion, she had not carried out terrible actions of meaningless bloodshed. She had also never blindly followed orders, but chosen her own path instead.

Still, his reply confused her. It didn't help at all. There was still nothing she could truly grasp in regard to his own persona, and it got even more complicated as the cloaked man went on. She attentively listened to him, pondering on his seemingly cleverly places words for a moment, before she replied.

He was undeniably good at what he was doing, there was no doubt in that. He left his words vague enough so that there was no chance she could easily tel something about his real intentions, yet he shared enough to enable an open, reflective dialogue. Even though he was admitting that there was good and bad on both sides, she could not determine whether this meant that he had gathered first hand experiences on both sides as well. After all, he could just be someone very reflective who has witnessed important incidents...

"I'm not trying to embellish history. I know exactly what had happened on Kashyyyk and I had no part in that because I was being held captive and cut of from all outer influences. I wish I had been there, but trust me when I say that I wouldn't have stepped him to help with the bombardments. I would have wished to stop them. Those were exactly the things I could no longer support and I also couldn't just stand in the background and watch. I joined the FWA not only to protect my planet, but mainly because I was hoping to finally change things for the better." There was a certain gravity in her voice, as what she said was not an empty promise. She fully meant what she explained, but she was not sure whether he would understand her. After all, she was pretty sure she was neither talking to a politician, nor a diplomat.

"I know that my views are quite unique, especially for someone who grew up in prosperity thanks to the Empire, but all I've ever wanted was peace and I could not support invasions. I'm happy that you are agreeing with my on the dichotomy at least...The Jedi have also forcefully taken planets, even if they took then back, but I've got to admit that I condemn all actions that involve taking things by Force instead of opening a dialogue" she explained, fully calm now. It seemed like she had been right about him to some extent. The man behind that cover semed truly interested in a talk instead of a fight.

However now that she had begun to thoroughly outline her views, her own curiosity was still growing steadily. She knew that he could have been here to sell her out, but her words had still been nothing but the truth. She was not assuming he was acting out of ill intentions and it even seemed as though he was genuinely interested in what spoke against the Empire, yet she would have loved to know why.

She definitely knew that he was a Force user, yet she was tempted to use her own powers against him. After all those years and the intensive training, she was almost certain that if she wanted to, she could have retrieved the information she wanted from his mind. Yet, of course, she didn't. She would never do such a terrible thing. So far he had not given her a reason to become hostile, but there were a thousand questions in her head that needed an answer, answers he was not willing to give her.

"I've seen enough to know that there are indeed monsters and both sides and what I try to do is to protect the innocent by stopping those monsters. I'm not talking about assassinations or anything brutal, but I really strive to open diplomatic negotiations. What has the Killik invasion taught us? There are much bigger threats in the galaxy and we can all profit if we work together. Why did we all need such a shared goal and a common enemy to see that the tensions between the factions are meaningless?" she asked him, even though it was more rhetorical. " What is your part in this bigger story?" she added, hoping that he would maybe change his mind. She had given him open, unrestricted honesty, without even knowing what he would do with her opinion. Was he considering her his enemy?

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He listened to what she said about being held captive, and that part caught him a bit by surprise. It was curious to him that she had gone from prisoner of war to Senator. He was sure that was quite a story of its own, but that would likely be for another day. She condemned the Sith attacks, but he couldn't help but wonder about it. It was war, and how far was too far in war? Not that he could justify the things the Sith had done - he'd suffered at their hands as well - but he'd never even been taught to ask the questions.

Still, her comparisons of the Jedi and Sith taking worlds seemed a bit idealistic or even naive to him. There was undoubtedly a limited attempt to actually make peace between the two parties, and that lay at everyone's feet... probably including his. But to simply roll over and allow invasions seemed... impractical. Yes, he understood that the two thoughts he'd just had were somewhat contradictory, but that was the nature of his struggle.

When she finally arrived at her question for him, he snickered slightly.

That is the million crown question, he said, the use of ISC currency in his answer only further muddying his connections. The deception was all but second nature to him by this point.

Maybe it's the question that I'm here to answer. Maybe you're a piece of that puzzle. Maybe I'll leave here with no further answers than I arrived with, he said. Some Jedi Masters he'd known ahd spoken to him of shatterpoints. He had never been able to see them, but a piece of him said that one day he would find one for himself. That the dozen paths laid out before him would coalesce into a single point and define his destiny. He didn't know when or how, but when it arrived, he wanted to be as prepared as he could be. He was drowning in an ocean of war, and there was no shore in sight.

Do you think reform in the Empire is possible? he asked. It was the question at the heart of his struggle. You left, he said, which would certainly seem to imply the answer. But if there was no changing the Empire, then there was no choice but its destruction.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The more they talked, the more she realized that they seemed to be even more similar than she had first expected. He too, seemed conflicted and not quite sure what to believe or even think. This whole war was complicated and so were her choices. She didn't necessarily expect him to understand, yet she appreciated his curiosity and openness.

She now knew that it had been the right choice not to attack him or immediately call for reinforcements, even though he had invaded her home so rudely without any warning. If he would have simply asked for a meeting, she would have never sent him away, yet she had already realized that this particular man seemed to enjoy the drama.

Her mind was calm now and her muscles relaxed. There was now imminent threat at hand at despite the complicated nature of their discussion, the conversational atmosphere was rather pleasant. Still, his snickering suprised her, because he was literally admitting that he had no clue either.

It seemed like they now held a slightly philosophical discussion about questions they could not even answer. He was right about this puzzle metaphor and it was also a beautiful way for her to put it like this, because in the end they were both just pieces in a greater story. "I'm almost certain that the two of us will be left with even more questions, yet I intend to clarify as much as I can" she replied softly, yet solemn, adapting to the gravity behind his words. She was indeed hoping to resolve certain issues, yet she knew that this wouldn't be easy. It had never been easy.

Once he directed another question back at her she let out a slight sigh, her gaze briefly wandering across the dark room before it found its way back to him."Definitely. I'm not trying too sound idealistic, but I just know that it is. I've been in their ranks long enough to have formed plenty of connections. I don't want to speak about a new generation, because this would sound quite definite, but I have seen that the ambitions are changing. It was not fully possible for me to trigger change from the inside, but I intend to change that from the outside. We need to open dialogues and start to openly communicate. The threat of the Killiks had basically proven that fighting one another doesn't even make sense and that expanding one's own power isn't helpful...".

She was praying that he would open up just like she did. She somehow couldn't shake this feeling that it would help with their conversation. He couldn't have known that Celeste was no stranger to keeping secrets as she had literally spoken to so many people that had laid open their open criticism within the Empire, and that even Jedi Shadows had entrusted her with the knowledge of their rank. She had met Sith that had actually defected and she had never shared that knowledge with anyone. She had first hand experience with how many followers were actually struggling with their loyalty and she had worked with Imperials long enough to know that that deep rooted resentment against the Jedi was also changing...slowly but steadily.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

You may be right, he agreed, but even if they were left with more questions, they needed to pursue the answers. There were perhaps few things in the galaxy that mattered more than the questions they were trying to find answers to. It was also why things were so difficult.

Hmm, he said and then was silent for a moment after what she said. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was room for change in the Empire. The old breed... they were the ones that had done the things Varyn hated so much. They had enabled the slaughters that had happened. The war itself was at least in part the fault of both sides, but the genocide-level events. That was the former-Empress and the Dark Lord. Maybe killing Raze needed to be his new objective.

I don't know that the people at the top will ever be open to real peace talks, he admitted. He could be wrong, but he wasn't convinced the Sith would ever be anything but deceivers. At least at the top. He thought of those he had met among the rank-and-file, though. They were... true believers, and true believers who were willing to go to horrible lengths to expand the Empire. But didn't he do the same for the Jedi? He'd already walked down the path of assassination.

Good luck convincing people not to look out for themselves, he said somewhat sarcastically. If there was one thing Varyn's life had taught him it was that the only person that people looked out for was themselves. Sometimes he wondered if he should watch out for himself more.

He let out a sigh and sunk back into the chair a little more. He'd almost forgotten she was a Sith and that he'd invaded her home. It was the closest thing he'd had to an "open," honest conversation with someone in... a very long time.

The bugs at least eased up tensions for a little bit. Maybe you're right and a common threat is what people need to put aside their other differences, he said. He wasn't holding his breath. The nature of the Jedi and Sith was to war with each other, and maybe that was a sign that both needed to go away.

And what would you do if the Sith invaded Rattatak? he asked. It was the hard question, presumably, but he didn't shy away from asking it.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The more she reflected on how unique the current situation was, the weirder it got. Had he really come here to start a deep, philosophical conversation? If so, why hadn't he just approached her like a normal person? There were too many questions in her head, questions that would probably never be answered.

What she did know though was that he was no threat. He was someone like-minded, some torn and someone stumped for answers as well. That realization was...somewhat soothing, because it meant that neither wanted to harm the other, yet she would have loved to solve some issues instead of bringing up more and more controversial issues.

Still, there questions were incredibly important and facing the core problems that existed within the galaxy. He seemed to agree, even if he wasn't fully convinced or at least still too lost in thoughts. "I know it might be unsatisfying for now, but I've met so many Sith that are different. Much more open and tolerant and sometimes even torn. I'm not saying they are disloyal, but they know that what they did on Kashyyyk was wrong". The problem that remained, however, where higher ranked members who were still too ruthless in their pursuits.

"Even if the people on top aren't, they are outnumbered by the base. That's exactly why I do believe in change. The new generation is...different". It was hard to believe, yet she was extremely hopeful. The galaxy might have been busy with the Killiks for now, but maybe afterwards even the Empire would realize that there are different ways.

His sarcasm made her sneer, and she slightly shook her head. "I can tell that you have been deceived as well...that you have been confronted with terrible things. Trust me when I say so have I. I've made my terrible experiences, but after facing all those hardships I have seen that there are still people out there that look out for others. I've been on Ruusan as you might know and everyone could put there differences aside while fighting our common enemy. It was quite beautiful to watch even...that's exactly what I envision for the future". Her voice was soft and genuinely hopeful, while there was also a hint of sadness in her voice as she was worried about his pessimism. If he himself wanted to be part of that change, he would have to change his mindset after all.

She finally nodded when he agreed with the effects of the Killik invasion, a smile crossing her lips again. But it soon faded as he mentioned an important, yet unbelievably difficult thought. She swallowed, pondering on his words for a moment. He had posed that question quite directly, nit embellishing any details. "Honestly, that would wrack me and everything I believe in. I know that my allies from the Free World Alliance would try to help me, yet I wouldn't want to risk any lives. I would stand my ground and try to negotiate peacefully and diplomatically. I would not be the one to raise my lightsaber and also not the one to give the order to shoot. I want to preserve life, not threaten it. I wouldn't risk any losses...neither on my side nor on theirs. I'm hoping this would never happen though. I mean, after all the planet isn't even attractive, neither strategically nor economically" she sighed deeply. The thought was indeed hurtful, yet she had considered that before. Her weapons were words, not lightsabers. She would save her people, through surrender if it would be necessary, yet she didn't even believe in the fact that the Sith would continue meaningless invasions. Change was on its way...she someone had this feeling.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

To say that Varyn was both skeptical and a natural pessimist would have been an understatement. He wondered if the "different" generation of Sith would be just the same when they reached the top: all paranoia and brutality. They may have recognized what happened at Kashyyyk was wrong, but they still did it anyway. But hadn't he taken part in fighting on behalf of the Empire? Even if his situation was different, he was here in part to figure out if he could fight for it for real and reform it from the inside. It was probably just wishful thinking and he knew it deep down.

He didn't argue with her, though. He doubted it would have gotten him anywhere to point out just how selfish the galaxy was. The way people would murder each other for money, strangle their own children for a chance at a better life, or burn an entire world to its foundations just for power and influence. Were there some people who would look out for others? Certainly, but they would always be overshadowed by those who didn't.

He could feel the pain and discomfort radiating off of her as she thought about his question, and his gut dropped a little when he heard her answer. Because at the end of the day, it wasn't an answer he thought he could live with. To be honest, when he heard it, he almost just got up and walked out. His jaw tensed under his helmet for a moment before he calmed himself.

I also think it's unlikely you'll be invaded, but that's not the case for dozens of worlds. If all the Empire has to do is show up and say "this is ours now" then the war is already over, he said bluntly.

Your pacifism is great in a galaxy where there are no aggressors. This is the real galaxy, though, he said. One thing that hadn't changed about Varyn was that he hated a bully. His family had been bullied by gangs until his mother was killed. His father was killed by the same years later. Other younglings on Ajan Kloss had been slaughtered by Sith. The galaxy was full of bullies, and hoping they wouldn't step on you just because you asked nicely would just end up killing you.

Hiding your head in the sand and hoping no one comes knocking isn't a viable strategy for survival. Believe me, I know, he said. And though she wouldn't know what he was talking about exactly, she would sense a weight in the Force behind his words that told a story all its own.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The moment the words had left her mouth, she was already questioning them. Would she really just stand down and accept her fate? It would be her first priority not to risk the lives of her people and she just knew that not answering an invasion with a violent counterattack, yet she also knew that too much pacifism was not what she had wanted.

It was true that she wanted to preserve life. All life. If negotiations wouldn't be fertile though, would she just let her planet be taken like that? She was sure that Kat would never agree with that anyway, yet she would also advise her to stand down. What if her trusted allies from the FWA would show up and open fire? That would be pure madness.

"You're right. I completely agree" she replied all composed even though she was slightly lost in thoughts that went through possible scenarios. "That's definitely not what I want. We can't let them continue like this, this is something I know as well. Yet I don't think we should answer violence with violence and fire with fire...". It was obvious that his opinions were different, more open to aggressive reactions. The galaxy couldn't just overlook the terrible war crimes any longer and generally, this war had to stop.

In the end he revealed a detail about himself, however she was fairly aware of the fact that he could have just made that up in order to plant a false trail about his persona. "Tell me, Vi. What is your solution to all that? I want this war to stop. Yet since all factions are somehow interwoven, it makes it truly difficult to answer any questions regarding that complex issue". She was genuinely interested in his views, especially because it seemed like he had definite ideas himself.

"I have let Rattatak join the FWA and the FWA is at war with the Empire because the Jedi are defending our worlds. I don't think that I need to go into detail about the tensions between the Sith and the Jedi" she mentioned that, because she was convinced that he had been involved with either of them some time, "but they are still the veey foundation of those neverending conflicts. Their...religious differences had existed forever...so yes, maybe it is naive to think that this would change, yet I'm still optimistic because it seems like there is some real change on the horizon...". He had no reason to agree with her, especially if he was usually so pessimistic. They had both made their experiences and apparently they had let to different believes, yet she still wanted to understand him as well and that was why she was hoping he would elaborate and share his thoughts.

" I've promised it on Ruusan and I stick to my words: I actively want to change the existing state. We could put our differences aside once the Killiks first started to attack, why shouldn't we open more dialogues? I don't picture the Grandmaster casually chatting with the Empress, but we can focus on one step at a time". She felt like they had been arguing for ages, yet there were no solutions in sight. "I just wonder how you fit in all of this" her voice was soft and quieter, perhaps be would even sense the slightest hint of desperation in it. Was he in the possession of knowledge that could be helpful in all of that? Or was he possibly well connected throughout the factions as well? Maybe...maybe they could help even one another. After all it seemed like they were pursuing a common goal.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He listened to her and didn't need the Force to sense her uncertainty. She said one thing, but believed another. His first instinct was that it was because she was a politician, but he realized that was too harsh. He was hardly a single mind of solidarity himself and often changed his mind. Holding her to a different standard wasn't fair.

He thought about her question, and he thought about how to answer it. He didn't know what the solution was, and it didn't sound like she did either. Probably no one did. But one thing stood out in his mind. One fact that was simply... truth.

Someone needs to win this war. Sith, Jedi, I'm not sure how much it matters anymore, he said bluntly. He thought back to what Vahliri had said to him on Raxus, and he thought about how much time he'd spent meditating on it and thinking about it over the last few days. The more he'd thought about it, the more convinced he became that the Empire was not going anywhere. Win or lose, it was here to stay, and if that was true, then maybe the best thing he could do was change things from the inside. He wondered what he would have to do to himself in order to make that reality. If he did, he wondered if he would be able to even keep his sights on this original goal.

I'm just one small cog in the machine, he said, wondering how to pick the right next set of words without sounding... too arrogant? Or foolish? Or any number of other things.

But swap where some cogs are and suddenly a machine does or doesn't work as well. Just trying to put all the pieces together in the way that best fits the galaxy, he said. Well that was vague and philosophical, wasn't it? Really, he was trying to figure out where to place his efforts. Maybe he would come to nothing, but maybe he would make huge changes. To quote a famous Jedi: "impossible to see, the future is."

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She thoughtfully pondered on his words for a moment, carefully weighing them before letting out another sigh. Had she come to the same realization herself? No, actually not at all. This was not about winning. It never was. It was about finally resolving those stupid conflict.

Celeste had always condemned dichotomous thinking. We were so many people always talking about set sides? There was the light and the dark, yes, but even if Celeste had succesfully left the academy on Korriban, she had never considered herself a darksider.

Yes, she had used darker aligned powers in the past, but that in been a long time ago. Yes, she was well aware of the fact that she would probably never be able to acquire a skill like Force healing because deep inside her there were some well hidden, corrupted parts that would prevent her from fully dedicating herself to the light, yet she had always managed to remained rather neutral.

Why would there need to be a winner anyway? Why couldn't both sides just accept the other, especially because they defined each other. "Whenever someone talks about winning a war, it's not just the other side that loses. There are so many loses, each and every day. I don't think it's impossible for the factions to get along. That's why I keep seeing this spark of hope that came along with the Killik invasion and the aftermath". The truth was, only time would tell, yet Celeste www convinced that now was the perfect time to react and try to infere. If he didn't believe in change, fine. So be it. She wouldn't change this pessimistic stranger's opinions within a day.

His use of this cog metaphor let her raise an eyebrow again. Was he indeed revealing something tangible about himself? Was he also one of the cogs that had shifted its place of operation? "I agree. I would call myself such a cog, and perhaps you are one as well. It's like I said: I had to leave the Empire, but not necessarily on bad terms. I felt slightly entrenched, but now I'm free to follow my high ambitions of making this galaxy a place that is much more peaceful" she stood up for the first time again, quickly stretching before nonchalantly passing him.

She was not planning on stopping this conversation, yet she had decided that she might as well show him some hospitality now that it seemee like he was not going anywhere so soon. "Do you want anything to drink?" she politely asked him, stopping not far from him and her intentions genuine. She was still not exactly pleased that he had 'ambushed' her like this, but after all she had heard now she was convinced that they had much more in common that he would love to admit. Perhaps later that night either of them would have won an important insight, but perhaps they would just continue to engage in such a philosophical debate.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He listened to what she said, and her return to the Killik assault. She saw a much more optimistic future than he did. Truth was, the Empire wasn't going anywhere, and that meant it was a matter of making a decision: continue to work for the Jedi in tearing down the Empire from the inside out and prolong this war. See little by way of tangible results or throw his lot in with the Empire for real. Work his way up through the ranks and try to change things from the inside out. He knew that the Jedi would have condemned the thought and told him it was the path to the Dark Side. Maybe they were right, but maybe it was what needed to be done to make a real difference.

You're too optimistic to have ever been a Sith, he said after a moment, a hint of humor in his tone again. People will unite to survive, he agreed, And maybe for a few years after. But most people have short memories.

The Empire needs reform, and the Jedi need... he shook his head slightly. I don't even know what the Jedi need. They need to stop seeing the galaxy so dichotomously. And stop being so... stop shooting themselves in the foot, he said. He truly believed that the Grandmaster's heart was in the right place, and she had made some good strides for the Order, but she'd also made some huge mistakes. And the Order as a whole had been too passive. Their chance of defeating the Sith had come and gone when the Sith were still only a new threat in the galaxy, and no one had done anything about it.

No, but thank you, he said, pushing to his feet to follow her to the other room. He thought she was genuine, but he still didn't know her well enough to let his guard down completely.

Well the Empire will need rational cogs, don't you think? You left, but you seem like the kind of level-headed person it needs to keep from more genocide, he said. Battles - terrible as they may be - were one thing. But the burning of entire worlds and mass killings that the Sith had executed - whether done by the "old guard" or not - were beyond being acceptable.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Her eyes had now lingered on the concealed man rather intensely as she was extremely curious about his answer to that, but once he finally replied, she couldn't help but to chuckle amusedly. "I've warned you. I'm quite unusual" she had softly replied with a grin on her lips, before she shook her head.

"I do think that the Killiks will unfortunately stay for a while. They are such a massive threat on a galactical, all-encompassing scale... I'm convinced that they will not be forgotten so quickly. The seeds we sow today will bear fertile fruits in the future..." her voice slightly trailed off as the metaphor she had chosen was also applicable to her situation after all. If he would just know that she was carrying the child of a Jedi Shadow...maybe this will would change his mind after all. Whatever he had experienced in his prior life, it must have been terrible. One was not simply born with such a deep rooted, determined pessimism. She had been were he was now a few years ago herself.

She pondered for a moment, not quite sure what to reply in terms of the Jedi, because the matter was mist complicated. "You are right. I couldn't be more precise about the Order either, but the negative PR was definitely not helping" she began with a slight sigh before she realized that he was following her. She didn't mind having him in the kitchen, but she had hoped that if she managed to force herself to swallow her mistrust, he would follow her lead.

"I still see many people view the Jedi as the saviors and this gives them hope, which makes me happy, but then again I see others that have strongly lost their faith because the Jedi have committed mistakes as well. This, again, brings us back to this seemingly neverending discussion of dichotomy. There is none. There has never been one. Regardless of the factions and the light and the dark, there are monsters amongst each ranks and there are wonderful souls on all sides as well. Why should we all focus on our differences instead of embracing our commonalities? The Jedi had sworn to protect the innocent, and even if I hate bringing it up, I sometimes feel like some more radical notions taught in their temples are the reason why there had always been quite a handful of fallen Jedi...You've talked about that aspect of 'defecting' or swapping sides, yet i feel like it's like you said. We don't have to many Sith leaving the Empire...I've been in close contact with quite a few Jedi and they have confirmed that their Code has gotten much more...liberal over the years, yet I still feel like there are not many that can fully stay faithful to the light. Is that a bad thing though? I'm a firm believer that extremes are never...helpful" she realized that her monolog had gotten quite long and extensive, so she paused for a moment, giving him the chance to share his views.

They had now reached the kitchen and she opened the fridge to grab herself a bottle of sparkling water mixed with a hint of fruit. "Are you sure you don't want anything? I promise you it's not poisonous...after all you gave me no time to prepare" she quipped sarcastically, hoping that he wouldn't take her humor the wrong way. She took two glasses out anyway, in case he would change his mind as she poured herself a drink. "You might be right with that, yet it was unfortunately like I said. I always felt like I was being watched and I couldn't enfold my full potential because even on diplomatic missions I was never alone. I could prevent bloodshed in various places and I have also realized that my rather pacifist, diplomatically focused words have touched many others, yet I could no longer wear that banner. Tragedies like Kashyyyk have proven to me that I could not support them like this...I'm now trying to fix things from the outside" she finally replied, leaning back against the counter as she took a sip. "I probably don't even have to try offering you a snack, right?". As she looked back on him there was a slightly playful smile on her lips, even though she was rather sure he wouldn't magically lower his guard down now.

@Phoenix