Knight of the Shackle

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada cast a suspicious eye at every Chiss around her, and there were quite a few in the primary mess hall of the Legacy. In the weeks she had spent as a captive here on this ship, this was the first time she had been permitted to take a meal outside of her quarters. They were certainly well appointed, but remained a gilded cage. This whole ship was.

The Twi'lek had not attempted any double-crosses or tricks. She hadn't the means. She had nowhere to go, and no ally to contact. Everyone topping the command structure in the Imperial Knights that she knew had been killed in the Battle of Seoul V over month ago. And furthermore, High Magister Caris had done so much to protect her. She was still uncertain as to what he actually expected of her.

There were a few soldiers in the mess hall that had their own speculations.

Kiada did her best to ignore their stares and whispers, grabbing a tray and jumping into the line-up for food. Several Chiss ahead of her dropped out, and a few that had been preparing to line-up circled back and reconsidered their options. It was clear that that irked her, but she kept a cool, composed outlook. She knew Caris was keeping an eye on her, that he was monitoring her actions. But as a pair of young soldiers walked past, she couldn't help but overhear snatches of their conversation.

"...That's her. I'm telling ya..."

"...for a Twi'lek. You know how he's all about alien women..."

"...not a bad spoil. Betcha she's one hell of a prize in the sack. You know what they say..."

Kiada didn't particularly care about what "they" say. She had heard enough. She whipped around, burning with fury, and the momentum was carried into the metal lunch tray and absorbed as it made impact with one of the trooper's faces, producing a ringing bong through the mess before clattering to the ground. She followed up with a solid left-hook, causing her knuckles to pop as a fiery sting burst through her hand. The second one attempted to grab her arms as his friend recovered from the reeling blow. The Twi'lek kneed him hard enough in the ribs to make him let go, but she turned about just in time to take a vengeful punch in the face that busted her lower lip and sent her stumbling back a few paces. Spitting furiously, she lunged back at him, preparing an attempt to break the trooper's nose.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris growled and decked the two men. They fell to the ground hard, their bodies bouncing on the floor. He then turns to Kiada, he brings his hand down at her face hard, trying to knock her to the ground as well. “How dare you Kiada! You just assaulted two of my men…they should know better than the attack, even if attacked. But YOU…you should not ever attack my troops…you’re my prisoner, not a member of my crew. You dare to insult ME and my word like that? You have brought SHAME upon me! Do you understand?” Letting his voice carry, he allowed everyone to hear these words.

“I trusted you…and you attack them…I don’t care WHY you did it, you should have come to me! Instead, you do this…” Growling he looks down at her, his body language showed he was clearly hurt by this betrayal. “All I have done for you…why would you do this?” Looking down he sighs. “What did they do, to cause you to act like that?”

Pulling up the two men he growls at them too. “You dare hit her, rather than just restrain her as is our way? You will be punished for this as is required. And for you, answer up!”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada took the blow to the cheek hard, staggering back and falling into one of the tables, scattering trays and food everywhere. She was dazed for a few moments as Caris chastised her and his troops in turn. The whole hall was silent as the High Magister's voice carried to every ear. The Twi'lek was still half surprised that Caris had struck her. Even in interrogation, he had never been harsh, had never raised his voice with her... She wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand, looking at it briefly before staring up at the Chiss defiantly.

Kiada stood up without saying a word in reply to Caris' questions, but winced slightly. She was going to have a few bruises from this. She straightened herself out, drawing herself up to her full height and meeting Caris's gaze. Dark purple bruising and swelling has already beginning to show in her left cheek. She broke eye contact only to offer her captor the right cheek, daring him to strike her again.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris was furious, but he had hit all three. Not just her. “Kaida, what caused this? Why did you attack MY SOLDIERS? Hmmm? If you had a problem with them, you should have come to me! You know I don’t raise my hand lightly! But you, went and abused the trust I put in you! The faith in your word!” He was hurt badly by this. He had to make the punishment then and there. “You two, how dare you attack rather than restrain…you shame me. You’re put in the detention block for two days for that. But you Kaida…Its on my honor you’re here. Its MY honor and name you just attacked, not those two men! If you were any other prisoner, I would be forced to execute you here and now!”

His body shook with silent rage and shame. “I cannot believe you just did that.” Caris’ voice quiets and all the Chiss take a step back. “You are to be confined to your quarters immediately. You are no longer free to roam my ship, even with me at your side. If you do it again…I will have no choice but to kill you. Please…don’t make me do that. Even my own soldiers would be given no more than two chances before being cast out in shame and your not a soldier of the Chiss.”

Lowering his hands he shakes his head, his eyes losing some of their light as he looks at her. “Don’t you understand? You promised me you would behave…..Can I even trust your word if you do this?”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada shook with her own fury. "Attacked your honour and name, have I?" she said in a soft, dangerous voice. Caris was quite plainly making it so all could hear, but she didn't want to make a spectacle. Well, no more than she had already. "I was attempting to defend both. These two were slandering your good name, with mine."

She shifted her weight uncomfortably for a moment. She was known for her strong resolve, but she was beginning to shrivel up under Caris' gaze. Each emotion felt like a knife planting into her skin. The anger should could handle. It was the disappointment and hurt from his sense of betrayal that bothered her. But the stubborn Twi'lek resolved to keep her head high, when all she really wanted to do was hang it in shame and walk away (not that she had that privilege either). "I'm sorry this happened Caris," she finally sighed in a soft voice. "But I stand by my actions. I know I should have come to you, but I could not listen to other men discussing my value as a concubine. Maybe someday you'll forgive me for this." She took a tentative step towards him, half-afraid of being struck again for daring to come near him. "I'll return to my quarters immediately and without resistance, as you've ordered. But if we could speak sometime soon..." She sighed and trailed off. She really didn't know what to say. Her fire had diminished quite quickly face to face with Caris, and she was beginning to feel properly contrite for her offense against him. Still, she really didn't want to let it show until she was locked back up, away from the eyes of all these Chiss. She did not want to look weak, and she did not want to do anything that would make those vicious rumours about the two of them circulate with renewed vigour.


Back in her quarters, Kiada lay flat on her back on her bunk. Her hands were folded behind her head as she lay there. The bruises on her knuckles were beginning to show, and there was definitely some swelling in her face from where she had been struck. She reflected on the events in the mess hall. Why had she done it? She knew Caris could never let something like that slide, and she did it anyway. She had royally screwed herself, any special treatment she might have received was gone for good now. But perhaps there could be advantages to being transferred back into the cell block, since it seemed likely that that would happen, at least in her mind. She liked the privacy of these quarters, and that they were more spacious and furnished a bit better (although this was no luxury cruiser). But perhaps everything would just be simpler if she were an ordinary prisoner. Things right now were complicated, to say the least.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris was hurt, but not just because of her betrayal. In his eyes, she could see he had hated hitting her. “We will discuss this later. If those men were saying such things, you should have come to me, and they would have been put into the brig for a week, with half rations. No one, I mean no one, speaks bad about me, or my prisoners, or anyone else, in such a manner on my ship.” His hands were by his eyes now. “Let’s go Kiada.”

Later that day, Caris knocked on the door. “Kiada, I am coming in.” He waited and then unlocked the door, closing it behind him. “I am….sorry I hit you. But I had too. If I hadn’t, then my men would talk all the more, they would begin to question my judgment.” Sighing, he sits in a chair. “I heard what they said, and was about to confront them on it…then you hit them. In truth, I wanted to do the same. But, it was NOT your place to do it. You will have to earn your trust back, if you want it. But I will give you that chance. As captain, I stop fights, and punish those who do it often enough.”

Looking up at the ceiling. “I came here, to ask for your forgiveness though, about striking you. At the time, it was the only way to get my message across to everyone. You are not to be treated differently than they are. You have no special treatment above them. I will punish you as I do them. If you ever, strike another person like that again though….The rules are very clear. I am to escort you off the ship. And since we are in deep space, that means pushing you out the airlock. I beg you, don’t make me have to do that!”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada didn't answer when Caris knocked. She was deep in her own thoughts, appearing listless on her bed when he unlocked the door and entered her room. She lifted her head just enough to see who her visitor was (not that anyone else was even permitted to bother with her, let alone interested). Seeing Caris take a seat near the foot of the bed, she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. "You don't need to apologize for hitting me, Caris," she said, paying little heed to the discomfort of her bruised face. "I understand what you did, and why you did it. Hell, I think I've demonstrated myself to be the type of person who would do the same thing, were I standing in your shoes."

Kiada stood up and walked over to the little window she had in her room, a small glimpse out to the stars and a reminder that she was trapped, unable to fly among them as she pleased. She rubbed the back of her neck, wincing with discomfort as she tried to massage away the tightness in her muscles. "I want to be your friend," she said. "You've been nothing but wonderful to me. But the fact of the matter is that we're at war. What's worse, I didn't even have a chance to fight anyone at Seoul V, I just gave up. Everyone I know is dead or gone, and I'm caged here, with nothing but my frustration and anger and grief to keep me company at night. And the absolute worst thing is I have no one to hate here! I can't vent any of it anyone, and there's nowhere to vent it. You're the only person I have Caris, and you're too damn wonderful for me to find any reason to hate you!" She pounded her wall with her fist, which was a mistake. She winced from the pain that shot through her hand.

The Twi'lek caught her breath and turned to face the Chiss. "I don't want to be your enemy," she said sincerely. "And I'm sorry for what I did today. I've just been used to being in a position for power for so long, I'm not accustomed to resolving issues by walking away from them and talking to someone about it. But dammit, if I'm ever going to leave this room again, I'm going to need some outlet for my emotions that doesn't involve me attacking the lunch lady."

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Sighing softly, Caris smiles at her and pulls out something from his pocket. It was a medical cream. “Here, put this on the bruising and swelling, it will go down pretty quickly. And thanks, I want to be your friend as well Kiada. But I am in a tough spot here. Many of my own troops think I am foolish to trust you. They talk behind my back. Soldiers gossip. But I have been thinking of how for you to get our your frustrations. I WAS going to give you gym privileges, and access to some of the low level combat/flight simulators. I will talk to the two soldiers and see what they think. Chiss are…unusually level headed and honest about situations like this.”

Stretching a little he looks at her, slightly embarrassed as she talks about how wonderful he was. “Well…There is a way to vent it. There is a soldier, a bit older than the others, he sees what I am trying to do. Foul mouthed, disrespectful, and can be cruel as anything. But a damn good soldier, and a friend. He offered to spar with you. Trust me, you won’t find any reason to hold back on him. He respects the Imperial Knights for fighting for what they believe in. One of the reasons I was able to transfer those soldiers to the prison world in the first place.”

Chuckling, Caris watches Kiada a little. “I know its hard, I cannot say I would do any better if the roles were reversed. I would want to fight something, anything. It was against you then, Dorann made an all for one policy. Had anyone fought, it would have been a death sentence to countless thousands of people. While everyone sees you as an enemy, I see you as a fellow soldier. True, you lost, but you went out honorably and I will not sit back and let that honor be disrespected either. Maybe I should have told you, but I have taken serious action against anyone who tries to even suggest you’re my concubine or whatever. And the females on this ship are helping me with it for the most part. True, they are logical about things, so have their reason for sticking up for you, but people are defending your honor.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada came away from the wall and sat on the foot of her bunk, across from Caris. "I think I'll need some help getting that open and applied," she said, nodding at the container of cream. She held out her hands to show the bruises along the backs. "Not exactly used to fighting with my bare hands," she confessed. "I was trained to, and I was damn good at it. And you know I've not had much to do to pass time except do push-ups. But I got delicate behind the controls of a fighter." She chuckled grimly."If Mistral were here, I'm sure he'd be patting me on the back. And your troops would be dead for their insult." She shook her head, trying to keep face as she drew a heavy, shuddering breath. "I miss him."

Looking back up at Caris, she gave him a weak smile. "He was a captain, before we left the Sith Empire. Army. Never much liked ships. Can't say I alleviated any of his fears, the way I fly. Hell of a swordsman though." She gave another halfhearted chuckle. "I think he would have liked you. You're a good man." She was quiet, rather sullen, as she reflected for a moment.

"You said you were think about giving me gym privileges, and a sparring partner? Where do I stand in order to earn those?" she asked. She had been honest with the Chiss. She needed somewhere to channel her energy, and her frustration. Hell, she still felt like she wanted to hurt something. She felt she had to prove to these Chiss that she wasn't soft, that even though she had surrendered, she was a worthy opponent with courage and guts. But perhaps it wasn't just the Chiss she was trying to convince.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Coughing a little, Caris smiles. “Well thanks. I try to live my life in honor, and be a good man. I don’t want regrets when I am old, if I live that long. And if I die in battle, I want to be remembered as a good man. And to be honest….I um, kind of broke one of their jaws, and well, fractured another of their ribs when I hit them….” He let those words sink in for her. “I don’t take it either. Had you been a member of my crew….they would have had much worse. Much worse. But they are being punished in the brig as well. I don’t tolerate that kind of talk on my ship, I don’t care WHO its about.”

In his mind he thought. “Especially if its about a friend.” Shaking his head. “Well, I will be making special arrangements for you to use the gym. You will be guarded either by me, or my most trusted soldier. I will introduce you to him later on, and see what you think. He has saved my life more times than I can count, and I have done the same for him. The only member of my original squad that is still at my side. He refused taking a training position. As well as the Old Man, he will be guarding you as well, but as a training partner. I am going to be giving you basic access to the holonet, and library access as well. You can look at news from the outside, and read some books. That sort of thing. It will be very limited for now though.”

Smiling softly Caris leans back, taking the jar and opening it. He moves slowly, deliberately as he takes some cream on his fingers and helps spread it across her face. “There you go. And, my troops don’t hate you for this. Many respect you, and believe you act with honor and dignity. Of course there are the jack-asses that you hit today and many others, but its not the majority. Most Chiss consider themselves to mature for that type of behavior. They believed those two had it coming. Heck, even THOSE TWO themselves admit they had it coming!”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

"You're sure it was you who did that? What about me?" the Twi'lek asked, feigning indignation. "I hit one of them with a tray! Punched them both. And, after all, I am the hardened prisoner here. Don't want to screw around with me." Kiada flexed her arms as she posed theatrically. She laughed at her own terrible joke as she hunched back over, not necessarily expecting him to laugh with her.

She listened as he rattled off the list of privileges he was still intending to allow her. The holonet would be nice. She hadn't seen any real news since going to ground in HOMEFRONT. And a library... they had such things on a battleship? She supposed that the Chiss were the types to have something present to allow troops the opportunity to do something cerebral in their downtime. Perhaps they had something on military tactics, although, she probably would not be allowed access to it. Perhaps something that would allow her to learn a bit more about the Chiss themselves? Caris was nice enough, but they were still an enigmatic lot. Anything that would help her understand their ways would be most useful.

Caris was surprisingly gentle as he applied the cream to her bruised face. Well, it wasn't all that surprising. He had always handled her carefully, but there had never been any real physical contact between the two. She had to respect a man as powerful and strong as he, yet reserved and gentle until such strength was needed. Once he had done his part, she also applied a liberal amount of the cream to the backs of her hands, rubbing it in gingerly. "Thanks Caris," she said with a soft smile. "For everything. You almost make this imprisonment bearable. I count myself lucky to have come into your possession." She paused, looking down at the floor as she sighed heavily. "By all rights, I should be dead. But this war will claim me yet. Of that I'm almost certain." She looked back up at him, suddenly appearing quite weary as her shoulders sagged. "I'm still haunted by it you know. I've not had a restful night's sleep the entire time I've been here. There dreams are just..." She sighed again, this time with a self-directed scoff. "Sorry, I shouldn't be troubling you with every petty issue. I'm just a prisoner. You've got a crew and a war to worry about. You should probably get back to them."

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Laughing softly, Caris gave her a mischievous grin. “Yes I am sure. You just broke one’s nose and caused a minor concussion on the other. Luckily we use a lightweight plastic tray, otherwise it could have really hurt. Nothing a little bit of bacta won’t fix though. They won’t be insulting anyone, any time soon, I can tell you that much. I am sure they will watch their words very carefully.” Putting the lid back on the ointment, he sets it next to her bed.

“I see, bad dreams still? It’s okay. Tell me. I have an entire crew, but they have their comrades to watch out for their mental health. You only have me. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t take that seriously. This war may be the death of all of us. It’s war after all. I have lost many close friends and relatives to this war already. Sadly, several from suicide, because they couldn’t handle the pressure. Damned if I am going to let that happen to anyone else so long as I have the power to stop it. So, tell me about these dreams.”

Smiling softly at her, Caris gave Kiada his full attention. At this moment, nothing else mattered but her.

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

"Can't say the thought of suicide hasn't crossed my mind," Kiada said, ashamed by the admission. She couldn't even meet his eyes as she confessed that. "Like I said, you're all that's made this tolerable. You've been helping me keep sane." Kiada hung her head, silent as she collected her thoughts. "It's pretty well the same thing each night. I see Mistral. He's not much more than charred bones threatening to crumble to dust, but I know its him. I can tell because he's still wearing the medallion his daughters gave him before they died."

She paused for a moment to take a deep breath before pressing on. "There are others, too. All lost souls from Seoul V. Most of them are my squad mates. Krath, I flew with those men for four years, some of them longer. They followed me, followed my lead when I defected from the Sith Empire. Not a kriffing one of them survived, as far as I know. They don't look much better than Mistral does." Kiada's fingers gripped the sheets on either side of her. She didn't even really notice the ache of her bruised hands as she did so. "I didn't do a damn thing to save them. They all followed me, and my lead, to desert the Empire. They trusted me and my kriffing word, and thought that if they just followed me, we'd drive the Sith back out of our Empire. I failed them, Caris. I was in charge of the military force out at HOMEFRONT, and I failed every single person that died that day. So then they start trying to drag me into the earth to join them. What right do I have to keep living when they all died for my mistakes?"

The Twi'lek's hands trembled, and her shoulders quivered. Her eyes were shining brightly, but she defiantly blinked back her tears. She wasn't going to be that weak. Caris had seen her cry too much already. She wasn't going to let it happen again today. She already looked like a frigging weakling. Whatever strength she had left, she had to hold on to it.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

His bright red eyes showing concern and worry, Caris actually shows compassion. He puts an arm around her shoulders and shakes his head. “If they truly followed you, and respected you…and if that man truly loved you…your people would understand what happened. Outnumbered ten to one, out gunned, out classed. You were betrayed by others, and we moved in. It was planned perfectly. Had you not surrendered, countless lives would have been slaughtered….and because you did, nearly a thousand people are safe, able to live their lives in relative peace. No one wants you dead, not even the dead. They rejoice in the fact your still alive.”

Fishing in his pocket he takes out a small slip of paper. He hands it to Kiada. “It took me a long time to find them…but I believe the two names on that paper belong to people under your command. They are safe for now. Its hard, finding people, with the massive wave of people being transferred around right now. I know its hard to think of anything but the tragedy, but try. No one wants you to give up. You still have a purpose, even if its just helping me understand the Imperial Knights as individuals rather than as a terrorist group. War is hard, especially this one. Both sides believe they are right, and in a way both sides ARE right. We soldiers just do the best we can.”

Hugging the woman gently, Caris smiles. “But, thanks to you, people have hope right now. And I am slowly understanding that my enemy is the organization, not the people.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

"Dammit Caris, you still don't understand!" Kiada growled in frustration. "The Chiss and the Imperial Knights are not meant to be enemies. The Sith staged a coup and killed our Emperor, then set up one of their own in his place. Since then, at least two Sith Emperors have been deposed by their apprentice and replaced. The Sith are murderers and usurpers with no rightful claim to govern the Empire! I just want to free my people from injustice. Why is it that you cannot see your people are on the wrong side of the war?" She took the slip from him without looking at it, but where her eyes were only moments ago watering and sorrowful, now they burned brightly. "I would end the conflict between your people and mine," she said firmly. "I would have you as my ally, and I want you as my friend. The Sith will betray you. That is certain. Are you really foolish enough that you don't see this? You insist that your people could stand against them, so why do you help them grow in power and influence until you feel them slip a knife in your ribs?"

Kiada could not find any comfort in his prior words or in his touch right now. She pulled away, standing up and pacing agitatedly as she looked at him. "You have demonstrated yourself as a compassionate and honourable person Caris," she persisted. "And you insist that much of your species is similar. So why do you choose to take cutthroats and villains as your allies, hmm? You know the injustices they spread." She stopped and stared right into his bright red eyes. "Why did you save me and a thousand others from them? You fight for them, and yet you yourself defy them. You know what they are. Why did you help me? Why are you still helping me? What exactly is it that you want from me?"

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Shaking his head Caris looks at her. “Because I have no choice. I protect the Chiss people, nothing more. I may be a high ranking officer…but I am still a soldier. The Empire as it is now…Bothers me little. If they turn against us, then the Chiss people will fight them. But I fight FOR the Chiss people. They want to be allied with the Empire, as does the leadership. Who am I then, to disagree? You fought them because they killed your rightful emperor as you see it. In my case, my people, my leaders, past and present, want this. All I can do is help strengthen our soldiers, ships, and resources, so that the Empire thinks twice about what happens if they betray us. I cannot even say they will. Its not my place to.”

Staying seated, the man sighs softly. “There are always two sides. I happened to be born on this one. I am loyal, very, very loyal to my people. If the time came that the Empire tried to swallow us up, or betray us, I would fight them, but until that day, I fight at their side, because its what my people have chosen. Think about it logically for a moment.”

Looking into her eyes in return he speaks. “Your emperor sided with the Sith too. Yes they betrayed him…but in the end the majority of people took the side of the Sith…the people wanted it in the end. But before that happened, you fought on their side too, because you were loyal to your leader! That is the same as me. Only I am not foolish enough to think it couldn’t happen. We have taken steps to ensure continuation of government even if all the heads of our government were killed off. I do not lower my guard in their presence, and I do not worship them. However, what can I do? Betray all my people? I think not. If I did that, I could not consider myself honorable. But I am NOT a Sith, nor will I ever be. I am a Chiss! I defy them, because they are not my lords and masters, I do as I want, because I have that power, that right. We are equals to them, and any Sith wants to dispute that, the Chiss will prove them wrong. But for now, they treat us as equals, we have our sovereignty, we are not under them. So long as those things remain true, I will not attack them. What do I want with you? I was upfront about it. I wanted knowledge about the Imperial Knights, I wanted to repay a debt, and I wanted to make sure some people were treated fairly.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

"The people side with them because they are afraid! As I was!" Kiada shouted angrily in return. "I was part of the force that purged Muunilinst. You think I'm proud for waiting that long? I helped butcher Imperial citizens, Caris! The Sith care nothing for the Empire or her people. It is only a plaything that gives them a sense of empowerment. You say you are loyal to your people. It is one of many things that makes us alike." Kiada sighed, weary. She flopped backwards onto her bunk, landing on her back. These arguments never got either of them anywhere. "I hope you can at least appreciate why I fight and resist you where I can," she said, propping her head up to at least glance at him. "I still place the cause I fight for above all else, as you do. I wish things could be different between us, Caris. I really do. But you said it yourself: there are always two sides. And each of us thinks the one on the side opposed to us is the bad guy, and that's where both of us are wrong."

Kiada lazily rolled onto her side and rested her head on her elbow. It had been a long day, and what with the nightmares... she didn't want to sleep, but she needed it. "You must have someone, or something closer to your heart than the entirety of your people that you fight for," she prodded, attempting to change the subject while she fought to stay awake. "So what is it that drives you? Family? Honour? Certainly not bloodlust. Do you have a bonny lass back home anxiously awaiting your return?"

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Laughing a little, Caris relaxes some. The fighting between them was comforting in its own way. “Well…It never seems to do us good. Of course I understand where you’re coming from. If I was in the same position, I am certain it would be the same thing. In truth, I cannot name even one citizen who is afraid of the Sith. They are not the ones in control here. Some are a part of our fleet, true, but the truth of the matter is, they are not our rulers. They haven’t killed our leaders, they have almost no military presence in our space. But…if they had attacked us, killed our leaders, tried to take over….I can say with total honesty…I would have struck them so hard, never relenting, until each one of them was destroyed and laid dying at my feet.”

Nodding seriously, Caris continued. “And never once would I hesitate. If they did so here, tried to take control of my people, I would lead the fleets against them myself. The Chiss are free to rule themselves. Any ruler that tried to give the Chiss to the Sith would, in that action, show themselves unfit to be our ruler. There are no exceptions. We are not puppets, nor playthings. If it ever happened, you would have a massive army and fleet fighting to rid themselves of the Sith once and for all…I truly hope that day never comes though.”
fought
“Unless that happens….I remain their ally, so long as my people are. And well….No, I have no one. I because my family is small, insignificant, and poor. A few people are in research, a few more in the military, or the bureaucracy…but nothing important. I am the first. I fight, because I have nothing else. My parents were despised, just because of the family they belonged to. I fight to prove everyone wrong. That the Matra family can be great.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada smiled halfheartedly. Sadly, she already knew what he could scarcely believe. "When the day comes that the Sith do to the Chiss what they always have done... I hope I am still alive to welcome you as an ally of the Imperial Knight."

She wasn't even trying to really stay together now. She reached around and grabbed the pillow from the head of her bunk, holding it in the crook of her arm as she nestled into it. "So you're a humble soldier of humble origins," Kiada said with an almost knowing smile as she curled up. "Fighting for family honour then. Makes sense." Her breathing evened out, and the creases in her face smoothed away as she ceased to fret. "My father and mother were both civilians. Mum was a pediatrician. Always found it hard to see kids sick, but she cared for each patient as if they were her own. Dad was a mechanic. I think he was hoping for a son, but he never complained about me. Light of his life, mum and I were. He taught me how to fix swoop bikes. Taught me to fly. Used to take me for ice cream near the Navy shipyard at the end of the week if I was good and got all my chores done." Kiada chuckled softly. "I always got my chores done."

 

[Zach]

Kel Magna swiftly made his way through the halls of the Chiss prison, quietly boding to himself as he served the duties required of him. He was the perfect dark apprentice, in a way. Loyal, subjugated, and committed to completing his task - trained as a soldier, and taken on by the Sith Order to enhance his Force sensitivity. Kel was never a man of the Dark Side of the Force, but he'd always believed in fighting for his people. The New Sith Imperium, a galactic monument of militaristic might and utopia. The people of the Imperium were well off in the economy, and actively cooperative with the government in terms of protocol and processing to the structure of the system. Despite how solid Kel's beloved empire was, it was not a matter of pride or loyalty to the hardened Nautolan.

Kel understood he needed to follow orders. It was his purpose to bring success in his commands, aimed as a spear in the hand of the Force. He was an instrument, in which his masters worked through, yet it was no different than any rank of the military. Only his objectives and tasks differed, from time to time. Although, sometimes the orders he needed to follow seemed... disputable. He'd seen such... viciousness from the Sith, watching as his fellow acolytes laid waste and destruction in their path. Kel knew that there was a necessity for some means, but... not like this. Likewise, as now, Kel Magna follows his newest orders; to undergo a session in the Chiss Internship Program aboard the Ascendancy's fleet and forces. Kel's master, Darth Asmodeus, had since disappeared from his duties. It didn't surprise the Nautolan acolyte, but he was thus left masterless. He had served other Sith Masters and Crusaders in tasks before, but he did not have a mentor. There was no instructor of the Force to provide him with the knowledge he sought. Oonoo, the Celegian Navy-mastermind and Master of the Sith Order, had taken him on as an additional apprentice. The Celegian's primary student was Arcturus D. Wolfgang, an acolyte Kel was told much about. He'd stirred a ruckus among the Sith as an accomplished an experienced warrior and skilled with the Force, yet remained as the personal apprentice. Perhaps Kel would serve the same fate - else learn all Oono had to offer.

However, his eager plans were cut short as his first orders were to serve with the Chiss. It wasn't out of question, but it mostly took the Nautolan by complete surprise. Perhaps, it was possible that Oonoo had sensed his doubt of the Sith's morals, sent him away for a period of time to clear his clouded thoughts.

Kel suddenly snapped his attention forward at that thought, realizing he must have sounded like a Jedi for a moment. Kel's path however, had led him straight to Matra'caris'nurodo and a prisoner he was speaking with. Kel wasn't entirely familiar with the prison yet, but he knew that most of the captives were Imperial Knights from the battle over Seoul V. Kel's upper lip snarled for a moment, remembering the name he'd seen on the deceased list of soldiers. Barrel - a good, honorable man that had served his nation proudly, disintegrated in a nuclear blast as if he were nothing more than dust in the wreckage remains of Homefront. Kel had been good friends with the man before signing on with the Sith. He'd fought alongside the man at Saleucami's capital under commander Ichabod Jayce, later to become Darth Asmodeus after leading a pair of Imperial Knights into a trap. He wondered how the captive would feel if she knew how the Nautolan was tied to the Knights, however indirectly - if she was indeed one of the traitors to the Imperium.

"High Magister Caris," Kel greeted formally, inclining his head respectfully. "I received your orders sir. I am here to deal with the guards who've failed their purpose," the Nautolan uttered humbly. There was a dark aura around him, almost as though it were a suppressed presence of his emotions and Force signature, but felt foreign in nature. Kel didn't know how to explain it, but he felt only like an obedient, dark apprentice once more. Before halting for the Chiss's reply, he allowed himself a single glance at the prisoner, gauging her appearance out of curiosity more than desire. She was attractive - especially for a Twi'lek. Although her and Kel's species' shared the attractive tendril-based physiology in the cranium, Kel had since abstained from giving in to the perversions that most found with Twi'lek women. He found it more fitting to see past the lustrous display they offered, in attempts to trick their enemies. Since birth, Kel had always been told to be wary around a Twi'lek.