Falling Star

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine was at the back of the transport shuttle, his gaze directed downwards as he had his fingers interlocked and his hands resting between his knees. His signature was hidden, the Jedi extensively masking it and disguising it so that he couldn't be discovered. Right now, he was in the beating heart of the Old Empire and the caution he used was necessary. Pushing his gaze out of the window, he saw the fast approaching planet and the orange hue it gave off, the Dark Side pulsating and flowing from the planet uncontrollably. Korriban, the capital planet of the Old Empire and where Arda, the captured padawan was being held. Val was about to enter the hornet's nest but fear didn't fill him at the thought of it, he just saw it as an obstacle that he would have to find a way around, whatever the difficulty would be.

But in order to get to Arda, he'd have to actually get on the planet first. Lifting his gaze, he stared at the first obstacle in his way. There was a massive space station that made it's home right in front of the planet, an imposing and technical monument, lanes of ships flowing through it as they directed traffic and decided who to be let on the planet. While Val would have skipped this part and just took his own ship to fly down to the surface but that's when a formation of fighters flew past the shuttle, their familiar shriek of engines passing him. There were multiple wings of fighters that surrounded the station, scanning ships for illegal contraband or to prevent any small craft from just dipping from the traffic and into the planet.

Not only was there the fighters but a small fleet stood on stand by, massive ships flanking the space station as even from his shuttle he could see the turbo lasers littering their hull. Who knew how many fighters were in there hangers and how many were in reserve in the actual station. It was clear that any attempt to just blitzkrieg through would have been the death of him. That left only one option and that was just to go through the station itself as a normal civilian. Val didn't really have a plan for how he would get this, his plan to just look for windows of opportunity and hopefully with the help of the force to guide him. Val wasn't one to put all of his eggs into the force but he felt like he could use it's assistance now.

With him back in the shuttle, the Jedi also had his hood drawn to disguise most of his features. He wore normal attire to blend in but right now, he was most likely the famous man in the entire galaxy at the moment. His face was plastered everywhere, the first Jedi the people have seen in hundreds of years. Even on his way to the shuttle, multiple holo-screens showed his face, asking for any information on him if they had seen him recently. It would make his job that much harder but he pushed it from his mind, seeing a duo of soldiers walk down the aisle between the seats, glancing at each passenger as they passed by. Val just subtly turned his head away from them to stare down at the planet, attempting to pass as a normal onlooker. The Jedi couldn't wait to get out of this ship and onto the planet, wanting his feet on the ground instead of on a slow-moving shuttle and surrounded by Imperials.

@Malon

 

[Elijah Dane]

There was a particular Imperial that was walking down the aisle of the shuttle. He was fully adorned in armor, carrying a standard issue rifle. The shuttle was full of aliens of all shapes and sizes, but there were few fully armored soldiers that were patrolling back and forth. This one in particular walked back and forth a few times before coming to pause near the hooded man. The journey was uneventful the rest of the time, the ship descending towards the spaceport below.

Korriban was as vast as arid as ever, the sand dunes all around stretching for miles. The shuttle pulled into the landing bay with a jerk, the metals protesting and groaning to betray the true age of it. It was a wonder this piece of work even managed to function nowadays. The Imperial stood next to the hooded man the entire time, casually poised and staring ahead.

After the passengers were allowed to disembark, the Imperial gruffly ordered everyone off, waving them by. He stood behind as the hooded man rose and began to leave as well, walking behind him. Val would step off and barely make it a few steps before the distorted voice of the Imperial spoke up, “Halt,” He said gruffly, waiting for Val to stop, “You need to come with me.”

The Imperial held the gun menacingly to show he wouldn’t hesitate to use it if needed. Assuming that Val complied, the Imperial then led him deeper into the spaceport and towards an office that looked suspiciously like an interrogation room. The Imperial opened the door, grabbed Val by the shoulder and shoved him inside. Once he was in, the man looked behind him before lifting the visor of his helmet.

At once, Val would recognize Tin. He looked as weary as ever, his beard long and the scar on his face prominent. He gave Val a hard look, “I knew you’d be obvious as shit,” He said gruffly before walking past him and opening a side closet. Inside it, there was a man completely out cold. Tin grinned, “Finally Hops got done what I needed him to for once,” He muttered as he picked up the uniform set neatly beside the man that was completely out cold. It was clearly an Imperial officer that had been decked.

Tin turned to offer Val the gear, complete with a helmet, “Hurry up and get dressed,” He didn’t offer much in terms of explanation, constantly looking back to ensure no one was coming in, “There’s no time to kriff around.”

@Orbit @Malon

 

[The Gatekeeper]

At the same time, another shuttle was arriving on Korriban. This shuttle was in-bound from Taris and was carrying the Sith Lord Darth Aetrus. Aetrus had recently encountered a scenario on Taris that he suspected the Jedi were behind—now that they were revealed to the galaxy, it was far easier to anticipate the signs. Part of his business on Korriban was reporting that activity to the Emperor; but his audience with the Dark Lord was to come later in the day. First on Aetrus's list was to see this so-called Jedi that had been captured. He was curious to see and get the measure of her.

The girl was being held in the Sith academy at the moment, and so an academy overseer was out on the landing pad when Darth Aetrus stepped off the docking ramp of his shuttle. Immediately, he saw the Overseer intake air. It was a typical reaction. Aetrus was said to look impossibly similar to the Emperor, Darth Vrael, though his strikingly blue eyes and paler hair distinguished him enough. Still, lower Sith and Imperials often mistook him for the Dark Lord at first glance. The resemblance was often advantageous in many situations and, so, Aetrus had done very little to discourage the misconception.

"Lord Aetrus," the Overseer said with an obligatory bow. "It has been some time since you graced us with your presence here on Korriban."

"Just so," Aetrus's response was clipped and harsh. "And I do not wish to squander it by making small talk with you on this landing pad." The aged Sith Lord folded his arms behind his back and clasped his hands together there contemplatively. "I have a purpose here. Two, actually, but you will only be assisting me with the first, Overseer." Aetrus turned his sharp icy gaze down on the Overseer. Unbeknownst to him, he was having this conversation within earshot of Valentine and his companion. He continued, "The girl. I wish to see this Jedi creature before the Emperor disposes of her."

"Yes, my lord," the Overseer replied dutifully. "We are keeping her inside, per the Emperor's instructions. I can take you to her now, if it please you."

Aetrus's only response was a sharp nod. A retinue of guards, four of them draped in all-black and carrying force-pikes, stepped off of the Sith Lord's shuttle and moved to accompany him. Then, per his new instructions, the Overseer led the Sith Lord and his party down and away from the shuttle where a waiting air-taxi would take them a short distance to the academy. @Orbit @Sreeya

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine calmy sat in his seat, stroking his chin as he stared out the window. He didn't fail to notice the soldier continually walking back and forth before the man just stood by his seats. The soldier didn't look at Val once but his nerves were on edge, always having been suspicious through his years as a Rebel. Sighing softly, he wondered if he was making this a bigger deal then this was or not, crossing his arms as they approached closer and closer to the planet. The shuttle eventually landed, it's occupants filing out from the vehicle as Val was one of the last to leave it. Before he could fully disembark, the soldier who he presumed was the one standing next to him, told him to halt before ordering for the Jedi to follow.

Valentine cursed under his breath, his gaze scanning around him. There were too many soldiers standing around and just way to open in general. Turning his head slightly, he saw the blaster the soldier had and that it was aimed right for his spine. There wasn't much he could do and he let the soldier lead him out from the ship and wherever he needed to be taken. After being led away from the ship, Val noticed that the man was leading him into some office, or interrogation room now that he was having a better look at it. This actually worked for him, the soldier closing the door and shutting out any eyes on them. Val could knock him out quick and steal his uniform while they were in here. When he turned around, he was ready to use the force to just slam the man's head into the wall and knock him out. But when the soldier lifted the visor, the air in Val's lungs completely left him. It was Tin, the man that called him out on Tatooine for his cowardice for what happened on Dantooine. Why was he here? How did he know that Val was coming here? He had so many questions and they continued to just pile on as he stared at Tin more and more.

Without thinking, Val shot his hand forward and shoved Tin back into the wall, "What the hell are you doing here? I was supposed to do this alone." He didn't want anyone else to die because of his actions and yet here was his best friend. "How did you know I was coming here?" Tin just walked past him before opening the side closet, revealing a knocked out officer and telling him Hops was responsible. "Hops is here too?! He quietly shouted at him so they wouldn't get caught, barely able to believe it. Did that mean Axel and Bilbo were here as well and helping them? Val's mind raced at the sudden influx of information before quickly shaking his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. Even though it had been years since they had worked together, it was like a second skin to him and Val immediately listened to Tin without question, putting on the uniform and helmet quickly after. They had worked together for so long that he didn't even question Tin when it came to operations like this.

When they exited from the interrogation room, Val sensed a dark presence in the force. It was powerful and he was thankful that he had already wrapped his signature protectively, visibly seeing the Dark Lord as he spoke to the Overseer. The Jedi listened carefully, hearing the comment of a girl, a Jedi "creature." Val's gaze immediately snapped to Tin, nudging him subtly before following after the lord and his retinue of guards. Seeing the air-taxi for the Lord about ready to take him wherever Arda was, Val looked around quickly for their own ride so they wouldn't lose him. It only took him a few moments before he found what looked like a personal shuttle with a guard standing by its door. The Jedi made his way over, the uniform of an officer and a personal guard following him helping his image greatly. The guard by the shuttle looked at them before holding up his hand, "Halt sir."

The two didn't have time for this, seeing the Dark Lord enter onto the Taxi. Val subtly used the force, tugging at the man's mind while he spoke, "We need this shuttle. You are needed by the loading docks." It wasn't the best lie, but with the uniform and the addition of the force, the soldier would just nod at the both of them before walking off. With that done he entered the shuttle, staring out the cockpit and letting Tin fly it as he pointed to the Taxi, "Whatever you do, don't lose that Taxi." The Dark Lord didn't care about hiding his signiture and Val used that to track him, watching as the Taxi dipped between the clouds.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

"You... need this shuttle," the guard replied dreamily. "I'm needed at the loading docks. Carry on." The guard scurried off, unaware that he had been the victim of the infamous Jedi mind trick. But the trick had not gone unnoticed.

In his airspeeder, Darth Aetrus sensed an ever-so-subtle shift in the Force. Korriban was bathed in dark side energy, so it was easy to detect when something was off. Still, the shift was so small that it was barely noticeable. Perhaps a fluke. Even so, the academy overseer noticed the way the older Sith Lord turned his nose up as if he had caught the scent of something potentially noxious. "Is everything alright, my lord?" the overseer asked.

"Quite." Aetrus's gaze lingered out the side of his airspeeder a moment longer and then he paid the subtle shift no heed.

The ride to the Sith Academy was a short one. The compound was crawling with Sith students embarking on their trials, guards, and slaves. The Sith Lord disembarked at the airspeeder pad and, together with the overseer and his retinue of guards, marched along the side of the Sith Academy until they arrived at its main entrance more towards the front. Red-robed guards blocked the entrance to the academy; but one recognized the Sith Lord right away.

"Greetings, Lord Aetrus. We have been anticipating your arrival," the guard said. The two then parted to grant him entrance. "Please, go on ahead."

Aetrus nodded and, along with his assembly, did just that. The guards then returned to their post. It was their duty to ensure that only authorized personnel, with the proper credentials, entered the academy. Both carried lightsaber pikes that were presently de-activated, and both were Force-sensitive, having been highly trained in the art of detecting deception.

Once passed them, Aetrus turned slightly to the overseer as they continued to walk inside. "Where is the Jedi girl? I do not wish to delay any further."

The overseer's reply was dutiful, "She's on the third level, my lord, in the prisons."

"Excellent," said Darth Aetrus. "I wish to inspect this specimen alone. Return to your duties, Overseer. I will summon you if I have need of you." The overseer bowed with a yes, m'lord and departed. Then Aetrus turned to his guards. "Two of you will guard the turbolift and ensure no one disturbs me. The rest of you are with me."

The guards obeyed. Two stationed themselves on either side of the turbolift, while Aetrus and his remaining guard proceeded inside. The door swished shut and they were off. @Orbit @Sreeya

 

[Elijah Dane]

Tin didn’t answer a single one of Val’s questions, repeatedly looking over to ensure no one was coming this way. Thankfully, Val was also getting dressed while babbling and didn’t delay further. Tin simply spun on his heels and opened the door, leading the way out for them both. They had no time to discuss the who’s and the what’s, not when time was of the essence. He knew a girl needed to be rescued, and the gist of the circumstances surrounding it. He knew evacuations were happening on the rebel bases, and he knew the other men in their old crew were back there to help.

With a pang he wondered if they would be fighting against Sith, but Tin brushed the thought aside quick. He walked alongside Val as they exited the spaceport, and he quietly observed him use his ‘powers’ to make the guard go into a daze and walk away from the shuttle. The sight brought a grimace to Tin, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He hopped into the driver’s seat right away, glancing up as Val pointed to a target, “What? How do you know?” Tin asked gruffly, but he knew better than to ponder too long. Perhaps it was a Jedi sense or vibe that was guiding him? It wasn’t his business, and he slammed on controls to tail behind the taxi.

Tin was good about keeping a respectable distance to ensure it wasn’t obvious he was following. After the vehicle up ahead parked in front of the Sith academy, Tin began to feel uneasy. Once he caught a glimpse of who exited, his eyes widened, “The Emperor? Kriff, you’re going directly after him?” He hissed, turning to look at Val. It was very much like him, unfortunately, and Tin wasn’t going to be able to talk him out of it. With a grimace, he parked the shuttle a short distance away, scooting out of it and waiting for Val to join.

He saw the Emperor walk with his group of guards and towards the main entrance. It was the only way in and out that Tin could see, and he grimaced, “No way in hell we’re making it in there,” He grumbled under his breath. After the Emperor walked inside with his soldiers and just the two Force users were left to guard, Tin had an idea. He walked towards a group of guards near the entrance and began to shout and wave his arms frantically, “EMPEROR VRAEL! EMPEROR VRAEL!”

Tin was making a huge scene, several guards coming over to stop him from trying to barge directly inside, “HEY! It’s my first day on the job and I wanna meet the Emperor! Lay off!” He drew his fist back and decked one of the guards directly in the face. Within moments, he was causing quite the commotion - something the academy was certainly not accustomed to. He hoped Val would pick up the cue and play the role of 'maintaining the peace' by dragging him into the academy for disciplining.

@Orbit @Malon

 

[The Eternal (?)]

When Tin asked Valentine how he knew, he turned his head towards him with an arched eyebrow, "How about I'll start answering questions when you answer mine partner." Sitting in the chair next to him, he took off his helmet before putting it next to the base of his seat. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, and he didn't know how Imperials wore them so easy but Val put it near the base of the chair before his eyes locked on the taxi. He didn't know exactly where Arda was but this Sith certainly knew and he wouldn't let this chance slip from his fingers. Tin kept up the taxi, far back enough that they wouldn't be spotted before landing some distance away. Val stared at the taxi, wanting a better picture of who they were following before an old man stepped out from the vehicle, a full head of white hair and reeking of the Dark Side.

Tin was the first one to say something about it, Val's eyes just widened at the sight of what did appear to be the Emperor. He wasn't expecting this, not at all. Sure they had captured a Jedi for the first time in a long time, security was going to be tight but Val didn't expect the Emperor himself to be visiting the girl why he was trying to save her. He looked over to Tin before rocking his head side to side, "No, not really. But it would be one hell of a bonus taking out the Emperor and saving the student." The possibility of taking out the Emperor here and now? That could possibly end the war here and now, at least set the Sith in a confusing whirl that could help the Alliance. He had received messages that the evacuations were well on their way and this would certainly help if it could be done.

Either way, saving Arda was the purpose of their mission and they couldn't stray from that no matter what. Val slipped his helmet back on, exiting from the vehicle with Tin as they made their way towards the main entrance. The deck was covered in slaves, dark acolytes, and regular soldiers. All of it made Val's skin crawl, thankful for the helmet and full outfit as he was disgusted by the Dark Side that was putrid in the air. This was his first time in a nexus of the Dark Side and it almost felt draining to Val, like he was wading through muck the entire time and as he took each step. The Jedi pushed it all from his head despite how distracting it was, he needed to focus on the task at hand. As they approached closer to the entrance, he subtly glanced around the structure, wondering if there was another simple way in without disturbing the guards and taking the chance. That's when Tin suddenly had a bright idea and shouted the Emperor's name at the top of his lungs toward some nearby guards. Val snapped his head toward him, "What the kriff are you doing?" He put extra emphasis on the word kriff but Tin was doing his own thing before decking one of the guards in the face.

Val understood what he wanted to happen a second later and rushed over as other guards did, trying to restrain them. He would get right behind Tin before spinning the man around, letting him see that it was Val even with the helmet on before throwing a sucker punch right into his stomach. It would be enough to knock the wind out of him and make him bend over in reaction. Val needed to make this look real and an Imperial striking out at another like this out in public didn't seem the norm. The Jedi gripped onto Tin's shoulders and lifted him up slightly before launching a knee into his stomach again, making him bend over once more and put him into another coughing spurt. Val then grabbed the back of his neck before lifting him, "Disgraceful. There will be reprimands for this soldier." Because he wore the outfit of an officer, the other's around them believed his status and didn't question it openly at least for the time being.

Before giving anybody enough time to process the situation, Val pushed him toward the entrance and away from the crowd. "This soldier needs to be taught a lesson in manners and humility." He pushed Tin forward to the door, the guards having seen the whole spectacle of what happened. Val's hand was now on Tin's shoulder instead, gripping into his flesh hard, not planning to stop until they were inside.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

The guards at the academy's entrance were admittedly a bit stupid and short on attention span. The spectacle served its purpose in distracting them long enough for the two miscreants to sneak inside the academy without either guard remembering to ask them for credentials. In fact, the guards were more focused on the amusing fact that, once again, someone had mistaken Darth Aetrus for the Emperor. They laughed about it and went back to their duty; but for the Jedi Master and his companion, the challenge was about to become tougher and far more dangerous.

Inside, a short, narrow corridor from the entrance would open up into a large antechamber. The center of the room contained a massive Sith obelisk that rose two stories in height. Flanking it on either side were massive obsidian staircases that led to the second level of the academy. On the other side of the obelisk, flanked on either side by Sith statues, was the turbolift Darth Aetrus had taken to the academy's third level. The two members of his personal guard the Sith Lord had left there were still standing dutifully in place. These were more disciplined men who wouldn't be as easily fooled as the academy's entrance guards.

To make matters worse, Sith acolytes, Crusaders, and academy instructors were wandering about the antechamber on their way to and from their business. One such instructor, a male Sith pureblood with ruby-red skin, vibrant blood-orange-colored eyes, and long, sleek black hair noticed the pair entering. Neither one was dressed as a Sith student. Rather, they both looked like common soldiers, not all unlike the guards that patrolled the outside of the Valley. Snarling, the Sith pureblood, named Vowrawn, approached the two men just as they crossed the threshold into the antechamber.

"You two," the Sith's voice was both sharp and deep, like an obsidian knife. "This is the academy of the Sith. Only students of the academy are permitted to walk these halls. It is not a tavern for wayward soldiers." His gaze was as sharp as his voice and he gave them both scrutinizing looks. How did they get passed the entrance guards? Vowrawn snarled again. He would punish the guards later for their insolence. "Go! Return to your posts or you'll be the next specimens for torture by the academy's students."

---​

Meanwhile, upstairs, on the third level, Darth Aetrus emerged from the turbolift and, escorted by his two guards, proceeded down the hall to the prisons. The Jedi specimen was being held in a solitary cell at the back of the prison chamber. Once he reached the door to her room, he once again turned to his remaining two guards. "Remain here and keep watch," the Sith Lord commanded. "Short of an emergency, I do not wish to be disturbed."

The Sith Lord stepped up to the door, which swished open, and then closed behind him once he was inside. The girl's cell was a small, grey room, with no windows. The Jedi Padawan herself was trapped within a force cage. The older Sith Lord's lips curled up into a nasty smile when he looked down upon a Jedi for the first time in his life. He had expected something a bit... more from a Jedi than a helpless child, but a Jedi child meant that there were Jedi adults—Knights and Masters to train them—elsewhere in the galaxy. The prospect of meeting one of them excited him.

Lips still curled up in that horrible smile, Aetrus took a step closer to the cage and said, "Shall we begin?"

OOC - @Sreeya @Orbit @GABA (? - not sure if I need to tag her here or not? But am just in case)

 

[Elijah Dane]

“Glad you picked up the cue without me having to spell it out for you,” Tin muttered gruffly under his breath, “Thought I was going to have to start interpretive dancing next,” He played his role, walking into the academy. By now, Val had released him so the two appeared as soldiers walking side by side. Tin had to rapidly change up the role he was playing, fully aware that the people inside weren’t entirely aware of what happened outside. His gaze was on the Emperor, not entirely sure why going directly after him would help them. Then again, he was used to Val calling the shots, so if he thought that was the way to go, so be it.

They barely made it a few steps before some Sith pureblood came up to stop them. Man that thing was ugly. Tin kept silent as the Sith spoke and rattled off some threats. Tin was surprisingly good at keeping up acts, as it had been a survival technique he had picked up from his days as a rebel. He stood tall and proud, scowling at the Sith beneath his helmet, “As a matter of fact we’re here as an added security detail for Prisoner 5331. Due to no official protocols existing for such prisoners, extra personnel are being called to support the 24/7 monitoring efforts,” The lie flowed out like water. 5331 was just the word Jedi in numbers, and Tin knew by now there were rumors and whispers about a Jedi being captured. The Emperor wouldn’t make that knowledge public just yet, but the Sith would be eagerly curious about it. It was the single trump card the two men in disguise had.

Tin looked to the left, looked to the right, and then leaned in a little closer to the Sith, “If you escort us to the turbolift without interruption, I’ll let you catch a peek at the prisoner later tonight when it’s our shift and it’s only the skeleton crew,” He believed into his own lies and kept a calm resolve, nothing disbalanced in him to tip off the Sith that he was lying through his teeth.

@Orbit @Malon

 

[Arda Breaux]

She wasn't too sure of the time of day or how many days have passed since Nar Shaddaa; she did certainly know how this all happened and the image of her Jedi Master turning her back on her to run to her own safety played frequently through her mind. Sometimes the story was accurate, like a holofilm, other times Arda had pretend things went differently, trying to alter time in order to save herself and prove to Aurora she was strong enough to be her padawan. Regardless of the story that played inside her head, every time she opened her eyes, she was still in the cell; it wasn't as quiet as some thought it would be, there was the hum of the barrier that kept her stationary, but there were also ghostly whispers that visited. Some spoke a language she could not understand, others picked at her fears and doubts, while others just simply reminded her they were present. The padawan was unable to tell if they were inside or outside her head, but she believed them to be real regardless of where she heard them.

When there weren't the whispers of ghosts, there were others present in the room with her; some stood silently and observed her like a lab animal, others tried more physical means of manipulation and would decide when she had enough by the obnoxiousness of her screaming. She begged for it to stop every time, but that would only be on the orders of the Emperor and Arda knew it would only be a matter of time before he became bored of his new toy.

Arda heard the distinct swish of the prison door open and once more when it shut, boots tapping against the floor alerting her to a presence. Habit told her to reach out with her senses, but she was teaching herself to stop, she didn't want to feel but sometimes instinct bled through and a chill was strong enough to pull her head up from her knees to see the man standing in front of her. Ard's eyes widened from fear and her stomach turned upon seeing his face; she was trapped like the rat she was, she could not hide nor run.

Her voice hoarse, the padawan could only whimper, "Please, no more."

OoC: Orbit said to post...

@Malon @Orbit

 

[The Gatekeeper]

Vowrawn was unimpressed and fast growing suspicious. There was nothing about the man, this soldier, that exuded that he was lying in the Force. But the Sith pureblood wasn't so reliant on the Force that he couldn't detect a lie through more mundane means. All the instructors in the Sith Academy knew that there was a Jedi in their midst, locked in the prison cells of the third level, but they also knew that only an express order from the Emperor himself could change the existing security arrangement around the Jedi, and Vowrawn had received no such order from his superiors.

"I have received no such order." The Sith's eyes flicked over towards the turbolift. He instantly recognized Darth Aetrus's guards and knew what their presence indicated. "Fortunately, Darth Aetrus seems to be upstairs with the prisoner as we speak. I will call ahead and verify this... change in arrangements with him." The Sith instructor kept his eyes on the pair as he drew out his comlink and paged ahead. There would only be a moment's opportunity to interrupt him before the comm-call went through.

---​

Meanwhile, on the third level, Darth Aetrus chuckled slightly at the Jedi girl's plea. His voice was strong, deep, but oddly soothing when he chose to speak with her. "Comply and answer my questions, girl, and I promise that no further harm shall come to you," he said. A lie. A Jedi was never safe in the midst of the Sith. And he imagined the Emperor had more pain in store for her in the days to come. His eyes glinted hungrily; there was information she had that he wanted. "Tell me, are there others like you out there? Older and stronger Jedi? Masters, perhaps?"

Do you think they will attempt to save you? He didn't say it, but part of him wished it would be so. The thought of facing a Jedi intrigued him more than the politics of the Empire ever did. He wondered if the stories of their skills were just that—stories—or if they truly were the formidable foe the histories of the Empire indicated that they were. This girl had all those answers for him...

...but, unfortunately, the session was promptly interupted by the chirping of his comlink... @Orbit @Sreeya @GABA

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine could only smirk underneath his helmet at Tin's comment of having to do an interpretive dance. At least the Jedi could spare everyone of that even if the Imperials did deserve to witness the man's moves. Letting go of his arm now so they walked shoulder to shoulder, the stench of the Dark Side grew even thicker in the academy and Val could feel the anguish and pain that flowed through the walls of this place. It was wretched and he wondered how many of these students could live in this. It was a depressing sight for Val, seeing so many others have fallen off the right path and into a cesspool of the Dark Side that had no care for the lives that were donated to it. He was usually a talker, especially when he was with one of his old friends but Tin could easily tell how uncomfortable Val was, even with the helmet and full outfit he was adorned in.

Before they could step too far into the building, one of the Sith approached the two of them, a Pureblood and the first one that Val had ever seen. He was thankful for the helmet, able to mask his features and make this a lot easier for him. The Sith clearly wasn't happy about their presence and before Val could open his mouth, Tin already did, a lie easily flowing out of him as he said they were an extra security detail for the prisoner. It seemed to work for a second until the Sith told him that he had received no such order. That's when he slid out his comm piece and their window of opportunity closing right in front of their eyes, "M'lord, we are simple soldiers following the orders that we were given to us. We don't question them but if you insist then we can wait here while you contact Darth Aetrus and we see what he thinks on you wasting his time with two people ran across downstairs." The Jedi's tone was deep as the Sith's but still held a respectful tone towards him, knowing his place in the pecking order of this. If the Sith really wanted to risk interrupting the Darth and suffering his wrath then so be it.

"We have our own orders to follow M'lord and we do not want to disappoint the Darth, excuse me." Val started to walk away from the Sith and hopefully Tin would just walk away as well. He still was wearing the official uniform and he had to at least act like an officer would in the Imperial Army, at least Val had seen them act at least. He made his way up the long staircase, his gaze locked on the turbo-lift and the guards there. Just one more obstacle in his way if the Pureblood didn't further try to interrupt them. Val could still feel her signature and he knew she was close, speaking to himself in his head, Hang in there Arda. When he approached the guards, Val gave them both a nod, "There have been reports of a missing officer back at the docks. Silent alarms have been raised and all hands are required, we believe there is a security breach."

With the uniform and the suggestion of a security breach, Val hoped the men would listen and go to the docks. With a Jedi as a prisoner in the academy, any security breach could be a legit one with such precious cargo as one of their students. If the guards left then he would step onto the turbo-lift and be sent up to the third floor where Arda and the Darth was.

 

[Arda Breaux]

The padawan pulled her knees closer into her chest as the Darth spoke, her nails dug into her skin, hardening herself against the pain she currently felt and for any future pain that was about to come. He promised no more harm was going to come to her if she followed his instruction and the girl broke her eyes from him, turning her head slightly to move her gaze off to her side, it wouldn't be the first time she's heard that nor she believed it would be the last, however, as she thought about the peace of death that would await her while she was held captive, the whispers would come, reminding her of the realities of the dark side that wished for her surrender.

The Darth proceeded though, asking about others who recognize themselves as Jedi and Arda remained quiet, thinking about Aurora, "My Master," she started, speaking just above a whisper, her voice was somewhat muffled as she spoke into her arm. Her brow furrowed as Nar Shaddaa intrusively invaded her thoughts, "But she is no Jedi Master." Arda told him, but did not volunteer any additional information. Her eyes stung from the tears forming and she rubbed them on her forearm, still refusing to look at the Darth, at times, it made things easier, but she hated she could still feel his presence.

She turned her head to look in the other direction, something burned in the center of chest, like a flicker of a flame on a candle, but as soon as she felt it, it dimmed, the cold returning along with the pain, her body tensed in anticipation for what the Darth had further in store.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

Darth Aetrus's guards did nothing to move. "Then perhaps you should get to the docks and look for him, soldier," one said with clear contempt in his voice. "We are Darth Aetrus's personal security detail and we have our orders. Move along now and do your job."

Some distance away, Vowrawn was keeping an eye on the man that had just so abruptly walked away from him. Something was off. That was clear. Comlink in hand, he paused a moment to see what this soldier would do, then continued with his comm to the Sith Lord above.

---​

"What is it?" The Sith Lord Darth Aetrus was irritated. He had left explicit orders that he was not to be disturbed. This had better be important.

"Forgive the intrusion, my lord," came the voice of Vowrawn, one of the academy's instructors. "There is something... odd going on down here. Two soldiers have entered the academy. I attempted to have them removed, per tradition, but they insist their orders are to reinforce security around the prisoner you are presently visiting."

At first, the Sith Lord was outraged. He had given no such orders. But Darth Aetrus was of a shrewd mind. He was sharp and intelligent despite his advanced age, and he was not easily duped. Suspecting something suspicious, he at once closed his eyes and probed the currents of the Force. He sensed it at once and was angry at himself for not having sensed it before. It stood out like a sore thumb amidst all the darkness of Korriban. There was another Jedi on this world. The faint glimmer of light he felt confirmed it.

Good.

"And where are these soldiers now?" the Sith Lord asked.

"One is attempting to harass the guards at the turbolift as we speak, my lord. Should I detain him?"

"No. Let him through."

"My lord?"

"I shall not repeat myself, Vowrawn," Darth Aetrus snapped. "Do as you are bade." He cut the comm channel and then smiled maliciously down at the Jedi prisoner. "You lied to me. There are others. There is one in this academy at this very moment. And you will bear witness to his destruction."

---​

Meanwhile, on the first level, the guards would receive their change of orders and stand aside, allowing Valentine up the turbolift. When he arrived on the third level, he would find that the halls had been darkened, allowing only a single blinking red light to cast away shadows and reveal the path ahead. There was a hall extended out to his left and his right, but no indication as to which one led to the prisons. But, regardless of which one he chose, the trap would be sprung. The Dark Lord would not be denied... @Orbit @Sreeya @GABA

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine grimaced under his helmet, not realizing they were this Darth's actual personal detail and they rejected him from the turbolift. He had the mind to use the force and knock them out here and rush into the lift but that Tin out in the open next to a Stih. It had been years since he had seen the man fight and he didn't know if he was ready to take on a Sith, much less an instructor of Acolytes. But a moment later the guards stepped aside, now letting him through if he wanted onto the lift and to the Darth. Val slowly turned his head, his gaze under the helmet meeting the Pureblood head-on before directing it back to the lift. They certainly knew he was here now and there was no turning back, Arda was there waiting for him. Without hesitating, Val stepped forward and onto the lift, the doors sliding closed behind him before it lifted from the ground and ascended to the third floor.

The lift eventually came to a stop with a jolt, the doors slowly opening and revealing a darkened hall that went to his left and right. Val slowly pulled off his helmet, crouching down as he did and putting it in the corner of the lift. He spoke through the force to Arda as he did this, Arda, my name is Valentine and I'm here to rescue you. Whatever happens, do not leave your cell unless you know it's me. This was the first time that the Jedi was facing a Sith of this caliber and he didn't know what to expect, having foughten only Acolytes so far. He felt the Dark Side deeper in the room and leaving that to only be this Darth Aetrus even through Val couldn't see him. Whatever the case, the Jedi knew what had to be done and his lightsabers flew from his belt and into each of his hands but remain deactivated.

Val stepped into the hallway, the blinking light bathing him in red for a second before switching back to darkness then red again. His footsteps were silent as he turned down the right hallway, having to choose one and both of them didn't have any outstanding difference. The Jedi's gaze slowly swept back and forth, his senses stretched out as he kept his back to the wall behind him. It at least limited the opportunities on how the Sith could attack and Val breathed calmly, waiting for the man to commit his first strike. After a few seconds, Val eventually called out to the Darth, knowing he was watching every step, "Should we start with warm introductions or straight to fighting?"

@Malon @GABA

 

[The Gatekeeper]

Darth Aetrus stepped forward out of the shadows to meet his foe. A blade of crimson fire burst from his right fist, flooding the dark corridor with light the color of blood. A gesture with his left hand sent a shout through the Force that triggered a blast door directly behind this Jedi, then one directly behind his own position, until they were both trapped in a fairly short corridor, alone with one another. The Sith Lord ignored the Jedi's attempts to break the ice.

"So, you are the Jedi I have sensed," Lord Aetrus mused. "You are certainly older than the other creature... and bolder, to have come to this place without an army at your back.." The Sith Lord cocked his head and appraised the Jedi a moment. "But I wonder... are you stronger than she is?"

As he spoke, he curled the fingers of his free left hand and wrapped the Force around this newcomer Jedi, intent on lifting him in the air. At the same time, because he was strong enough to do so, the Sith Lord constricted the Force around the Jedi's neck with the intent to choke the life out of him—a common Sith tactic, especially when combined with telekinesis. But these Jedi had not fought a true Sith, not in some five hundred years. And Aetrus wondered how a Jedi Knight would respond to a Sith's tactics so long out of practice. @Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

The Sith finally revealed himself, stepping out from the shadows in front of Valentine as the Sith's weapon activated and his crimson blade came to life. Immediately, Val activated his right saber, slowly twirling in in front of him before returning it to his side as the dark purple clashed against the red. He felt the Darth's movement in the force and the door slid shut behind him, Val assuming his side would do the same as a second later it shut behind him with a hiss. The Jedi didn't look behind him, his attention only locked on the Sith as he kept in mind their close quarters. While the Sith spoke, Val built the force around himself while his gaze was locked on the man.

Val was only in his late twenties and that showed the situation the Jedi were in, himself considered a Master while Atreus already showed age and years of experience that came with it. But at Darth's words, Val couldn't help but smirk as his grip on his saber tightened. "Unlike the Sith, however, we do not need an army to prove our strength." Val immediately felt the Sith wrap the Jedi in the force while also attempting to choke him during it as well. Thankfully while the man spoke, it had given the Jedi enough time to summon the force to himself and he expanded it from his body before exploding it outward the moment his feet left the ground. The Sith would find that Val was stronger then the one he captured, much stronger and possibly matching the Darth.

When he dropped to the ground, Val didn't wait for another move, instantly lunging forward as he activated his left saber and protecting his left flank. Because of the restricted space, Val couldn't really move side to side and that left them only fighting forward and backward. This would mainly be a battle of blades and their skill with them but Val always expected tricks when it came to the Sith. When he closed the short distance between them he slashed with his right blade, from Darth's left shoulder to his right hip. Val kept it simple for now, wanting to see what exactly he was dealing with as he prepared once more with the force again.