Eye Witness Accounts

[Damien Nightblade]

The council chambers. They had always instilled a sense of mystery and awe within him. Since he had been united with the Jedi as a small child he had dreamed of one day having his own chair among the wisest of the New Jedi Order.
The fact that his dream had become a reality was still setting in.
He sat within his chair, dark brown eyes shielded behind closed lids. His mind open and empty, submerged within the force as if the reality around him ceased to exist.

He had always been gifted a peculiar trait. The force as he submitted himself to it, in turn gave him a glance into what he could only perceive as events to come. Though such visions were subject to change, as any event was, he rarely allowed himself to give them too much credence, however he could not deny the cloud of mystery and turmoil that had repeatedly made itself the subject of his visions.

He had been requested by a Padawan to discuss events surrounding the recent Holonet transmission made by Grandmaster Vainikainen. It was not a common circumstance that his presences was requested specifically. So he regarded this meeting with the utmost importance and urgency, agreeing to meet with the Padawan as requested as quickly as possible.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della Frey was soundless when she entered the council chambers. Her strange, deer-like way of entering a new space was a trait she kept from her upbringing. She was the cautious sort, even after her training as a Padawan. She wasn't afraid of her upcoming meeting, but unsure of how important her role could be. For all she knew, her words could be considered idle gossip not worth the council member's time.

"Um, Hello." she said as she entered the room to see the Battlemaster. That was quite a serious sounding name. Perhaps she should try to sound a little more brave.

"I am Della Frey, Padawan to Sebastian Solborne." Her feet shuffled. She was quite a contrast to her more stone-like master as well as to many of the stoic members of the Order. She never saw herself obtaining any sort of position of power, and she was quite content in humble chores and a title-less future. Her upbringing encouraged victory as a group, instead of the individual. Survival against calamities and death was reinforced as top priority. Maybe, that was how she was able to survive her adventures in the Galaxy so far.

"So, I- ahem." Della coughed, trying to eliminate a sudden squeak in her voice. No need to be nervous. Just try not to sound like a fool.

"I heard the message about Geist Weiss and I needed to talk to someone. I heard that you would be the person to talk to, uh, sir. I have had two direct run-ins with him. I am not entirely sure if the information would be important. But, my people plan for all sort of possibilities. Sir." Della felt herself become a little more confident.

"The most important and recent piece of information I have is that I ran into him on a space station called Father's Dreams. I didn't recognize him at the time, because he was disguised as a Senator named Brenden Rhea. I ran into him, literally and caused him to spill a drink. I was also disguised, but as a boy. It seemed to work very well because he didn't recognize me at the time. He took me to a hotel room to get cleaned up and when I sensed that something was wrong, I tried to escape." She gave a shudder, as if she was suddenly cold.

"He locked the door and did that probing thing with the Force. He was able to not only see that I was really a girl, but that I was also a former captive of his. He gave me his name and revealed that shiny skin of his. It was him, I can't mistake a face like that. Not after how he took me from my homeworld sometime ago. Um, I wanted to talk about that too. If you think it's important."

 

[Damien Nightblade]

The information the young woman provided him would prove most usefull indeed. Though rather time sensative. He pondered the information as she spoke, revealing to him the details of his alternate persona as well as her abduction from her home world.

"Regarding the Father's Dreams.. You mention that he was disguised as a Senator? Brenden Rhea. This is unsettling to say the least, a Sith Lord infiltrating the Galactic Senate. I'm curious of his intentions as the supposed senator, as well as where the vessell was headed."

His level of concern elevated slightly, though he masked it unnoticably as she mentioned the man invading her mind, infiltrating her thoughts with the force.

"What was he searching for within your thoughts? You can understand that if he had access to your mind, anything you may have knowledge of regarding the Jedi or yourself is now at a potential risk.."

 

[TweedPawn]

"Well, I don't know why he was on Father's Dreams. I never really pressed him for that. I mostly spent the time making sure I was able to talk my way out of the room he locked me in." Della did not recall the memory fondly.

"I think he was trying to figure out who I was. I was disguised as a boy, you see. I had been rushing through a terminal when I wasn't paying attention and ran right into him as he was carrying a beverage. It spilled on me and he offered to let me use his room to clean myself up. My instincts didn't kick in until after I put on the suit he gave me and I tried to bolt out of the door. He was able to keep the door locked." Della took a calming breath, her confidence coming to her.

"He just wanted to see who I was, I think. Nothing more. He was quite shocked that I was really a girl. But after that he searched for nothing else." Della said.

"but, he did recall my full name and asked me if I remember him from when he studied me as one of his projects. I could never forget him. Not after what I went through before I came here to Tython." Della recalled her gift of survival. It had brought her out of captivity, it had helped her survive encounters with various dark siders of the Galaxy,and she had been able to survive staring down the barrel of a Mandalorian gun. In the past, Della would have attributed it to Divine Luck; her people prided themselves on such a thing. But, as Della studied with the Jedi, she began to debate if the Divine Luck was really the Force's way of balancing the lives of a people with odds worked against them.

"We spent most of the conversation talking about eachother. That was how I finally got his name."

 

[Damien Nightblade]

He was not entirely surprised to learn little of the Siths true intentions. However he felt as though the force may have provided a different gift to him. He now had an audience with one who had managed to acheive a small amount of closenes with the Sith known as Geist Weiss. He had recently become the most wanted man in the galaxy. He couldn't help but ask.

"Della, perhaps you could arrange a meeting with this Geist Weiss? I would very much like an audience with him. Though the rest of the council should be made aware of this valuable information."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della's face went stark white.

"a meeting?" she squeaked. Was he serious? Della never understood Galactic humor known as sarcasm. It was a joke often said with a straight face. She suddenly froze perfectly still in that way that her people were becoming known for doing. It lasted for only a second, but she was still clearly shaken.

"You think he would have anything to do with me that didn't involve throwing me back in a cell?" this was said more out of fear than any sort of reasoning. She was still just a padawan.

 

[Damien Nightblade]

He sensed the worry and concern within her, and quickly made mention to correct his intent. He had no intentions of placing her in any kind of danger, especially given her past experiences with the man. However he understood the potential value she held in being a person of interest to the Sith, and wished merely to use that as a means to face the illusionist himself.

"Fear not, young Padawan. I have intentions only of obtaining an audience with the man myself. Never would I suggest you place yourself in any kind of danger. I'm merely looking to obtain a means to an end."

He allowed himself pause before continuing, hoping that his words allowed her a sense of comfort as opposed to the worry and anxiety that they caused earlier.
He continued after the brief moment, allowing himself to question further the extent of her information regarding the illusionist, Geist Weiss.

"I very much thank you for your time and appreciate you coming here and meeting with me Della. Is there anything else at all that you feel may be helpful? Anyone else you would recommend me speaking to regarding these interests? I'm sure you have much ahead of you still this evening and don't wish to keep you from your studies."

 

[TweedPawn]

"I don't really have any way of contacting him, I'm afraid. He got really upset and told me to get out. And then said that we probably shouldn't run into each other again." She felt calm from the Battlemaster's words. She regained color in her skin and stopped her strange moments of suddenly freezing still. She recalled her lessons on meditation to calm herself and used the basics to bring peace to herself.

"I don't have anything that is current. I'll try to help out...but." She paused. She thought for a moment, unsure of if she should say what she wanted to say.

"When...I was cornered in the room with him. I felt the Force tell me something. It told me to help him. Not as a servant...but I think to save him." She said. "I think there may be humanity in him. He let me live, after all. He seems...unsure of where he belongs. I don't think he sees himself as a Sith...he sees himself as an artist. When I asked him if the Sith really shared his love of Art, that was when he got angry. He mentioned something about Alchemy being important to him. He said that only the Sith would allow him to use it for his art. What is Alchemy?" She paused as she tried to recall more of the conversation. Bits of it felt scattered and she wasn't sure what was important and what wasn't.
She began to speak in fragments, as if trying to recall data for an important test.

"Stability is important to him. He doesn't view the Jedi as being able to bring stability to the Galaxy and he seems critical of the Sith's ability to do so as well. "

 

[Damien Nightblade]

He took a considerable amount of interest in her words. Though something about the entire situation involving The Sith Artist continued to spark his growing curiosity about the man.

"The use of Alchemy is a Sith trait, I find it odd that they would be opposed to his usage of it within their Order. However, if he really seeks to stabilise the galaxy. I have an entirely new set of questions for the artist. His methods of obataing such stability are rather..unorthadox."

 

[TweedPawn]

"Well...it's not that they oppose it...I think they do not share his opinion on it being a form of artistic expression." She sighed, closing her eyes and using the force to help her recall the meeting with the Sith more clearly. A minute went by as Della began to channel the Force into her mind and soon it felt as if she was witnessing the conversation all over again. Her nautral ability to imitate and recreate sounds was about to have a chilling effect in her next statement:

"It's an art that incorporates the Force. Uses it. I do not wish to be bound by such power. I wish to be able to weave it to create beauty, not pandemonium. Stability. That's what the galaxy needs. I will do whatever is necessary to bring it. The Jedi had their chance to bring stability but the only thing they breed is stability and weakness! Do you know how many wars occurred right after the Jedi regained control after Palpatine's purge? So many deaths. So much instability. The Sith, if they can unite and cease killing each other is the stability needed." she imitated his pitches. The way his voice seemed to bellow, even the way he had clenched his fist.

Della shook again. The sound of Geist's voice hitting her ears again unsettled her, especially with her own mouth imitating him.

 

[Damien Nightblade]

His interest continued to grow as he watched her channel the Sith Illusionist. The mans outlooks and passion for alchemy in the way that it was, proved to be rather thought provoking.
It was not too surprising to hear of the Siths desire for stability. However the traditional ways of their order did not seem to represent stability in a manner that seemed beneficial to the people of the galaxy. The Jedi felt that they needed freedom of action, peace of mind. Not stability gained through oppression and fear.

"This Geist Weiss is an interesting man indeed. A Sith who seeks galactic stability is an odd circumstance given their desire for ultimate power, and although on a certain level, I can understand how he views this to be achievable. Though I fear his methods may only lay the groundwork for more darkness within the galaxy.."

 

[TweedPawn]

"I think so too..." Della said, agreeing with Darix. Her petite frame returned to its demure appearance.

"And-" She paused. She seemed to have trouble finding the words to piece her thoughts together. She took a moment to collect herself.

"I showed him that he was mistaken. I showed him that stability could be found with the Jedi by telling him about how I healed from my past while training on Tython. When I was his captive, he knew me to be frightened and unstable. I sparked electricity and knew nothing about how to create art. I told him about how the Jedi brought stability to me and allowed me to express myself through my drawings. I never drew before I met the Jedi. Jedi saved me. I would be dead without the Order...just like the other eleven that were taken from my homeworld." Della sighed. She tried not to think about her friends that did not make it. It caused her eyes to sting as they started to water. They were just children.

"I questioned before him if the Sith really shared his beliefs about art. He grew angry and demanded that I leave right then. So I did. As fast as I could."

"Maybe he can be redeemed. Um, BattleMaster...If he can be reached...Will you try? Please? I forgive him for taking me from my home. I really do." She looked at her fingertips. The tiny scars from when she once sparked electricity were slowly fading, day by day. The thought that she could have ended up as a Sith still crept to her. It then occurred to her that she really didn't have any right to tell the BattleMaster how to do his job.

"Um, I'm sorry. I don't have much else to say. I shouldn't tell you how to do things. I'll go back to my studies, unless you have anything else to ask of me."

 

[Damien Nightblade]

He motioned to her dismissively. Responding quickly in order to tell her he took no offense to what she had said. Della was a good Jedi, even though he had only met her moments ago he could tell that much from this meeting alone, and was proud to have her within the Order.

"No no, your desire to redeem before condem is an honorable trait Della. I promise I will do everything I can to bring light into his life. If he is the artist you say he is, I have little doubt of this. Artists appreciate the beauty in all things, including themselves. I'm sure he'll be able to see that."

As she spoke he couldn't help but notice that she made reference to her homeworld yet again. He knew nothing of this, save for what he had learned in the meeting though he could sense that she was still very troubled by these thoughts, and felt it appropriate to offer a helping hand, or vigilant ear.

"Della, before you go..Tell me of your homeworld..your childhood. What happened? If you don't mind of course..It just seems to weigh heavily on you."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della gave a gentle smile at Darix's reassurance as a sign of her gratitude. She began to wonder why she had been so bashful around council members in the first place. He seemed nothing like a war-hardened cynic, or an aloof sage. He confirmed her beliefs that the Order was full of those with the desire to help their fellow sentient.

She finally took a sit in the chair across from Darix. She had not spoken about her past in quite some time, but she never sought to hide it. It was a feeling that was hard to explain. She didn't want to be always known as "the girl who sparked", but as Della Frey. The Battlemaster seemed better than that, though.

"When I was 16, before I came here, I was on a planet called Sacul. We were alone in this galaxy, or so we thought. We had no idea that there were spacecraft, floating cities, or life on other planets. We were very peaceful and content with our lot in life. "

"Then the Sith came and took me and eleven other children. We had been outside in the fields when they came across us and hunted us down like prey. I ran so quickly. I almost got away. I don't remember how I was brought into their vessel. The last thing I remember seeing on my planet were rings of blue light."

"When I woke up, I saw cold walls all around me and my brethren and I huddled together for the brief moment of comfort we could get. They removed us from that room, one by one, and measured us like we were animals to be sold. I remember crying out for some sort of explanation, but they couldn't understand my language. They separated us into smaller groups. Geist was there, watching us the entire time."

"They made us fight each other over food. We didn't want to. It felt contrary to our nature to ever bring suffering on our own kind. They had other ways to make us compete as well. When we tried to share food with the others, they would take it away or hit us. Except Geist. He just watched and wrote down what we were doing."

"I remember the first time I tried to escape. Two of my friends started bicker and they got into a fist fight. When one of the guards entered the cell, I tackled him and knocked him to the ground and darted out of the door. I remember running frantically, trying to make sense of where I was. It felt like I was finally understanding my surroundings when I was electrocute-" she stopped, taking a moment to catch her breath and keep herself calm and steady. She wiped her eyes. She remembered the sound of her own voice screaming in agony. That moment she thought that she was going to die. It had been a horrible feeling. Pain like she had never known, nor had she experienced it since.

"That was when I sparked. I thought I was going to die if I didn't do something. All I could feel was the horrible desperation to live at all costs. I remember thinking that I had to survive and that if I could get the Sith to leave me alone, then I would live. I I grabbed his knee and electrocuted him."

"Geist saw it. He prevented the Sith from killing me right then. They took me to a new room and isolated me from everyone. I am not sure how long that lasted. Geist would have me puzzles to solve from time to time. I would be rewarded with food."

"I was able to escape. I'm not sure why, but they had me moved to a new vessel. I was kept mostly alone. They were feeding me regularly with some sort of food. I think to help me regain weight and muscle mass. Well, that ship ended up being attacked while docked. I made my escape in the confusion. The ones who attacked the ship caught me. "

"They treated me well, I suppose. I couldn't speak Basic back then, so I couldn't understand their intention. But I remember thinking that they must have been just like the Sith, because they rode in spacecraft. So I kept trying to escape at first, but I had nowhere to go. Eventually, Master Shi-Gel-Hu, and Jedi Fyston, and Sam came to collect me."

"They brought me here. " She said. Her smile returned at the end of her story, even though her eyes seemed older and heavier. She had grown in such a short amount of time. She found a way to overcome her past and grow. She didn't have to be afraid of Darkness within her. It was gone.