No Way Home.

[Arthemise Xius]

Nar Shaddaa, the Smuggler's Moon. For all of the years Arthemise had spent exploring the galaxy, this had been, by far, her most terrible adventure. The crowded streets and cantinas were home to many different criminal organizations but one, in particular, scared her the most; the Hutt Cartel. Their 'Great Hunt', an endeavor to wipe the galaxy clean of force-users, had forced her mother to seek protection within the Republic but now Arthemise found herself in the middle of the chase. Just a few days prior a small band of criminals had taken her from the streets of Corellia and brought her to the moon in hopes of collecting a bounty with the Hutts. She had managed to escape them but there was one problem she hadn't considered. She hadn't taken thought as to how she was going to find a way off of Nar Shaddaa and back home to Coruscant. Arthemise wasn't even sure that she would be safe on Coruscant now that the Hutts knew she was out there. For the first time in her life, she felt completely and utterly hopeless...

There was a deep part of her that wanted to surrender; she knew that she couldn't outrun them forever and she had been left with limited resources. The blaster that was strapped to her hip had been busted in her escape and was mostly just for intimidation. It would shoot but often from all different directions, posing a hazard even to herself. Of course, she wasn't entirely sure of how to use it properly anyway and doing so would just draw more unwanted attention. It seemed she couldn't find anywhere to hide without someone watching her; she hardly looked old enough to be wandering the streets alone and no one really took kindly to orphaned beggars which is exactly what she had become. Her long platinum hair was tied loosely in a braid and her clothes, which had previously identified her as the daughter of a wealthy politician, were burnt and torn in her escape. Visible through the tears in her clothes were burns, clearly from a blaster. One, in particular, situated upon her thigh, radiated pain as she ran through the crowds of people.

"You can't outrun me you little thief!"

Arthemise looked back, her eyes meeting the angry Duros who shouted at her as he gave chase, pushing his way through the crowds to catch up to her. In her left hand, she held a handful of credits which she had stolen from his pocket; it was enough to purchase a satisfying meal but not enough to barter a ship off world. She picked up her pace not wanting to come face-to-face with the end of his blaster, shoving people out of her way in an effort to evade him. Just as he was no longer visible and she thought that she was safe, something caught the back of her shirt and nearly pulled her off her feet.

"Where do you think you're going, little miss?" Suddenly her heart beat so hard that it sent a wave of pain through her chest. Arthemise looked up to find an unkempt Barabel male, his fingers wrapped in the collar of her shirt to keep her from running. She recognized him as one of the crew members who had worked aboard the ship that had taken her to Nar Shaddaa. "Forget it! I'm not coming with you!" She shouted her response, drawing her head back as he knelt down to her level. When he was eye-level with her, Arthemise hit him in the forehead with her own as hard as she could.

"Son of a.. That's enough of this shit!" Her cursed, releasing her to hold his head in pain. When she ran, he chased after her. She had managed to thwart the Duros but now it seemed there was much larger fish to fry. There was a sudden panic present in her expression as she continued to push her way through the crowds, changing directions in an attempted to confuse him. Of course, she was much smaller than the Barabel, but with his blaster drawn and the threat of shots fired, it seemed the crowds were more willing to part and let him through.

It felt as though she had been running for miles, but this time she was much too afraid to look behind her for fear he would be closer than before. Every muscle in her body screamed for her to slow down but the thoughts that rushed through her mind and the memories of a few nights prior gave her enough push to keep running; it wasn't going to end like this. She rounded another corner, nearest to a street vendor, and nearly lost her balance before running straight into a wall; at least, it felt like a wall. She fell backward, credits slipping from her sweaty palms and rolling under one of the benches. Her eyes wide and breath heavy, Arthemise looked behind her to see if the Barabel was still there. She could see him making his way through the crowded street after her, but she made no attempt to run. Even if she wanted to, she lacked the energy to continue. Her hand reached for her blaster, stumbling to her feet and aiming it towards the Barabel, giving no regard to the person she had run over in her attempted escape. "D-Don't come any closer or I'll shoot you!" Arthemies stammered, the fear present in her tone. She gave him fair warning, placing a shaky finger on the trigger and watching him for a response. A few pedestrians stepped back out of her line of fire.

@TheBrokenMadMan @Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Darth Evandrus hadn't spent any time on Nar Shaddaa at all.

Cregan Drast, on the other hand, had spent more than his fair share of time here as a Jedi Shadow and had spent some time in the area after becoming an Exile and after becoming a member of the Sith Empire too. To be honest, one of the man reasons he had spent so much time on Nar Shaddaa as a Jedi was to rescue young men and women who had the Force but who didn't have the control to use it properly.

They were often turned in for a bounty for using the Force since people in general couldn't tell the difference between someone using the Force and someone who had consciously made the decision to become a Jedi or a Sith.

Walking down the street in the area of one such person, according to the intelligence of the Sith Empire, Cregan (as he didn't have his helmet on right now) almost stumbled when a young woman ran round the corner and barrelled straight on into him. Blinking, he paused and looked down at the young woman who had just run into him,

"Hey, you alright?" he asked the young woman before pausing, "Um... you know that blaster is broken right?"

He paused upon realising that she was holding her blaster up to aim it at someone... Cregan smiled a little bit and stepped forward so that his armoured form was in front of her and between her and the Barabel,

"Time to back off there buddy?" he asked the guy with a wide smile, hand placed gently on his lightsaber hilt, "You don't want things to escalate do you?"

Not that Cregan would mind.

@MatureContentWarningx @TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Arthemise struggled to steady her aim, hands shaking as the Barabel pushed his way through the crowd, closing the distance between them. Her finger trembled on the trigger, afraid that if she fired, the broken blaster may backfire and hit someone else instead. By now, the idea of staying hidden was out the window as a small crowd began to gather to watch the confrontation, though no one seemed interested to help her. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to get herself out of this mess; every muscle in her body was weak from overexertion and she doubted she'd be able to outrun him much longer.

Just as Arthemise was sure she'd been captured, a tall man moved in front of her, his body blocking her view of the ruffian. For a moment, the reptilian beast looked startled by his new opponent and kept his blaster aimed at Cregan, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Move out of the way, she's mine." His voice hollow and deep as he motioned for the new arrival to disappear into the crowd.

Her hazel eyes moved around Evandrus, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. It wasn't until he spoke that she finally lifted her attention to his face, somewhat surprised by his soft features. He hardly looked intimidating except for the fact that he was so much taller than she was. He seemed concerned at first but soon pointed out that her blaster was busted. In Arthemise's opinion, the move had been less than strategic.

"He didn't need to know it was busted." Her voice was shaken, but there was still a hint of disappointment as she tossed the now useless weapon onto the pavement. She folded her arms over her chest as the Barabel let out a hearty chuckle, his eyes following Cregans hand to the hilt on his waist.

"A Republic Brat AND a Jedi?" He fired a shot at Cregans hand and Arthemise jumped behind him, startled by the attack. "Seems I'm about to be richer than I thought." The Barabel took a few steps forward, clearly unafraid of the Sith or Arthemise who hid behind him, her hand shaking as she fumbled with the zipper on her boot, searching for the knife she'd stolen earlier.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Cregan, or Evandrus when he was out like this he supposed, didn't pay any real attention to the thug because he didn't really have to. Even being held at blaster point like this, the man was so far below him that he really didn't think the guy was a viable threat to anyone, let alone himself.

It wouldn't surprise him if the thug's blaster was broken like the young woman's was. He chuckled a little bit at her little comment about how the thug didn't need to know that he wasn't broken,

"Oh this guy?" he shrugged a little bit, eyes fixing on the Barabel for a moment, "He's not going to be able to make a big deal out of it don't worry."

Sighing, Cregan reached out with the Force and stopped the blaster bolt in it's tracks with the Force... before sending it right back at the thug's blaster pistol, causing it to explode in his hand and leave it bloodied and broken. With an almost bored wave of his hand, the Barabel was pinned to the nearby wall as Cregan drew his lightsaber and ignited it's blood red blade, holding the tip just underneath the thug's chin,

"I'm a Sith Lord, fool." he told the guy with a cheery grin, "And I'm the nicest one so... I'm going to let you run away now."

Extinguishing his lightsaber, he tossed the thug to one side with the Force, shooing him away with a hand before turning back to the young woman. He reached out with his free hand to help her up as he clipped his lightsaber back to his belt with the other. He smiled kindly at her,

"Would it make you feel better if you took my blaster?" he suggested, nodding to his waist where a simple pistol was holstered, "I know sometimes it feels better to be armed."

Even when it doesn't tend to make a difference in some cases.

@MatureContentWarningx @TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Shots echoed and the once silent crowd drew into an uproar of panic as pedestrians dissolved to seek shelter from the confrontation in the streets. It had all transpired rather suddenly but to Arthemise the world seemed frozen in time. She watched, wide-eyed, as the Barabels shot was halted by some invisible force. It stood frozen in the air for what seemed like an immeasurable amount of time, but within seconds it was sent back towards the unkempt reptilian. There wasn't time to react before the blaster in his hand erupted into a million pieces of red-hot iron, tearing the flesh from his bones.

The Barabels cries as he held his broken hand to his chest were deafening and the smell of blood made Arthemise nauseous. In fact, it took her a moment to comprehend what had happened and by that time Evandrus already had the reptiles back pressed firmly to the wall behind him. His feet didn't quite reach the pavement and he clawed at his throat in an effort to escape whatever held him, though it seemed that nothing held him at all.

Her eyes, illuminated by the brilliant red hue of Evandrus' blade, widened as she waited for his next move, his words drowned out by the hum of the crystal in its chamber. She wanted to be afraid too, she wanted to run, but her body was just too heavy. Her wounds ached and her heart beat too proudly in her chest that it hurt to inhale. Her conscious screamed for her to escape but it just wasn't possible; fear held her in place.

"Take her! You can have her!" The ruffian pleaded for his life as Evandrus held the blade to his neck. He looked as scared as Arthemise and when he was released, he vanished into the crowd without hesitation. She doubted that he'd be back but that didn't mean she was safe.

Her attention drifted back to Evandrus as he approached her, the knot in her stomach sickening. He held out his hand to her, but for a moment she could only stare. She breathed heavily and returned a cautious glance before taking his hand as he helped her to her feet. He stood tall over her, his grasp firm and despite the smile on his face, Arthemise still felt heavy in his presence.

She swallowed hard, refusing her take her eyes off of him even as he offered her the weapon on his hip. There was a part of her that wanted to trust him because he had saved her, but she wasn't quite sure if she should. "Are you going to hurt me?" She almost whispered the words, placing her fingers to her lips as her eyes wandered his face seeking any sort of answer.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

He almost snorted in amusement as he sent the thug running for his life - he could have her? As if the thug had had even a prayer of stopping him if he had pushed to save the young woman. In the end though all that was needed was a little bit of fear and the criminal was running away at a respectable speed to be honest.

Guy probably could have made a killing running the hundred meters considering how fast he ran away but oh well- a life of crime probably had... some benefits? Maybe?

He didn't know to be fair - he had gone from being a Jedi to being a Sith Imperial Lord... being the rebellious criminal type had never really been something he had been interested in after all.

Helping her to her feet, Cregan smiled wide at her before handing her his blaster pistol like he said he would. There could be other dangers around the corner after all... then she asked if he was going to hurt her. His smile turned sad but he made sure to shake his head.

What had she been through to make her think that a man who had saved her still wanted to hurt her? It... it was sad.

"No I'm not going to hurt you." He assured her in a quiet, calm, tone even as he stayed smiling at her, "I'm only here to help someone... I think it's you."

He tilted his head to one side,

"Tell me... was he after you because of what you can do? I can feel it. You're like me."

Though not quite... she didn't carry the lingering sensation of the Dark Side around with her like he did.

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Her attention did not wander from his hand which rested on the blaster. Each subtle movement he made caused her heart to race and when Evandrus lifted it from his belt, she visibly tensed. Instinctively, Arthemise raised a hand in front of her chest even though she knew it would not protect her. It wasn't until he released the weapon into her open hand that she broke her stare and met his gaze. In through her nose she took a deep breath to calm her nerves, sure that she could trust him for a moment.

"But why would you want to help me? I don't have anything to offer you in return." She tried to speak up but was still shaken by the confrontation which was audible in her tone. It had been weeks since her escape on Nar Shaddaa but she was no closer to home than she had been before; wounded, lost and worthless to anyone who was not seeking to turn her in for a reward with the Hutts.

"If I tell you why he was after me, you're going to leave me here. Besides, how could we possibly be the same?" Her eyes stayed fixed upon his face, reliant upon any waver in his expression to alert her to his intentions. It was hard to trust that he'd come to help her without anticipating something in return for his efforts. If there was one thing she had learned on the run, it was that no one could be trusted, especially anyone who can throw a man without touching him.

Arthemise secured the blaster to her hip before he decided to ask for it back and pushed a strand of platinum hair from her face. "I'm sorry," she relented, taking another deep breath. Her eyes scanned the crowd warily in search of the Barabel of his friends. When she did not find them, she looked up at the man and sighed. "Could we talk about this somewhere else? Somewhere not in plain sight. You know, before the lizard and his friends decide to launch another attack?"

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She reminded him of a startled Lothcat - all wide eyes and twitchy movements. But hey, if he was her age and had just been almost killed he supposed that he would be feeling the same kind of way to be honest. He raised an eyebrow at her line of questioning... was she really so broken into the mindset of the Cartel's victims that she viewed the entire world as a series of - what can you give me, type deals?

He hoped that was temporary... but either way he would have another reason to dislike the allies of the Sith Empire. Tilting his head to the side slightly, Cregan smiled down at her,

"Now why would I want anything in return?" he asked with a little bit of a chuckle before shaking his head, "No. I'm here to help some people around here and I think you might be one of them."

He raised an eyebrow at her for a long moment before shaking his head a little bit and bringing a small orb of light to hover just above the palm of his hand. It wasn't Force Light or anything light side like that - literally true neutral, just a way to get the Force to do what you wanted really, a training tool. But still... he held his hand out to her with a small smile,

"Because you are a young woman who glows in the Force." he informed her simply before ending the light but still helping her to her feet, "And I'm a man who learned what that meant quite some time ago now."

When he was like five and the Jedi took him to Jedha. Nodding along with her, he gestured for her to follow him towards the spaceport where his transport was waiting,

"Sure thing - I saw a noodle bar down the road." he agreed with a bright smile as he gestured to the noodle bar in question and sat down, pulling out credits to pay for them both, "Come on then kid - it's on me. So do I get a name to go with the frightened little doe eyes?"

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

The small orb of light danced in the man's palm, drawing her attention. It was a brilliant shade of blue but did not crack like lightning or radiate heat like a flame. It was no larger than his palm and rolled across his skin like smooth glass, though it held no mass. Evandrus spoke of the Force, but she had always believed that it was an invisible presence. How was he able to manifest it into something that could be seen? The curious display made her heart race but for the first time since their sudden encounter, she did not feel fear. For whatever reason, he had come to help her and it was clear that the band of thugs who had chased her now posed little threat.

"Isn't it bad to have a presence in the Force? I mean, it has to be or I wouldn't be here." The orb dissipated in his hand and she returned her hazel eyes to his expression. It had never been expressed to her that the Force was anything more than a burden; a mark upon her back that made her a target to those who believed that the Jedi had started the war that had left much of the galaxy in devastation. Her mother had done everything she could to keep Arthemise a secret.

Falling in line beside him, she kept pace as they approached the street vendor and took a seat at one of the tables farthest from the crowd. The smell of food made her stomach turn in hunger as she had not eaten since she had escaped the spaceport. Noodles were a welcomed distraction from the day's events and sitting beside Evandrus, she felt a bit safer than before. It was strange to let her guard down and for the first time, she felt the ache in her muscles and the sharp pain that radiated from the burn on her side.

"I'm Arthemise, but you can call me Aria if you'd like." She offered him a smile, resting her arms on the table while they waited for their food.

"How did you know why those men were after me?" Aria lifted her head to look up at Evandrus, her tone soft but curious. "I'm not even sure how to thank you for helping me. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to outrun them much longer and I've heard what the Cartel do to people like you and me." She took another deep breath to keep her adrenaline from racing at the thought.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She was calming... though it was a slow process he would admit. It made sense considering just how she had been hunted in recent memory. Recent memory being about five minutes ago as well - not a plus for being calm. When she asked if it was bad to have a presence in the Force, framing it so negatively...? He couldn't help but smile sadly at the young woman before shaking his head a little bit.

"You haven't felt it properly... if you knew what it was like to touch the Force, to accept it inside you and to feel how it connects you to every living thing? You would already know that being a part of the Force is nothing short of glorious." he told her quietly, honestly and with an earnest intention to try and make her see it, "Being able to feel the Force is a gift. It is a source of comfort and a source of strength... it is an ally that will never abandon you. Only ever strengthen you, support you."

Sitting down, he ordered some food and drinks so that she would get at least something out of this even if she decided that she wasn't going to come with him. He smiled at her,

"Alright then... Aria it is then." he agreed warmly, "Despite the circumstance - it IS nice to meet you Aria. I am... well... bare with me, the list is long... I am High Judge of the Sith Empire, Lord of the Sith, Darth Evandrus. You can call me Lord, or Darth, Evandrus."

He was still getting used to not introduce himself as Cregan Drast.

"I was looking for someone like you - you, most likely." he admitted, "The Imperial intelligence in this area flagged you up as a Force Sensitive in distress, someone being hunted by the Cartel. As you weren't Sith, the Cartel could hunt you down and we couldn't act. But now? Well the Cartel won't make a move against you while I'm here with you... or if you take the next step."

Evandrus looked at her for a moment,

"Come with me." he offered her, holding out a hand for her in a metaphorical sense if not the physical sense, "Come with me and I will take you away from this place and teach you about the ways of the Force. Come with me and become my student, my apprentice and my ward."

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. Evandrus explained the force as though it were one of her greatest allies, so why had the Republic hidden her like she was some kind of monster? If it were truly a blessing then why had she been made to feel like she was somehow less important than those who did not share her presence in the Force? People of the Republic were terrified of her and people like her and so she had learned to be afraid of herself and of the Force that hid inside of her.

"Evandrus," Her eyes met his again and she took in a deep breath, releasing it in a frustrated sigh. "I mean, Lord Evandrus. Your title, do you lead the Sith Empire? Is the Sith Empire allied with the Hutts?" Arthemise had a hundred questions for him, but decided to ask them all at once would seem a bit overbearing and she did not want to alarm him.

Silence fell over her as their food was delivered by a rather stout Duros. His apron, slathered in grease and sweat, looked as though it had not been washed in months and he carried on what seemed to be a heated conversation with another man behind the counter in a foreign language. He did not even look towards them as he slid the bowls across the table, but Aria could not have cared less. The soup smelled sweet and had it not been for the temperature, it would have been gone in one breath.

"If I did decide to come with you, where would you take me? Would it be safer there than it is here? What would be my responsibilities and how would you teach them to me?" She inhaled to catch her breath, pulling the warm bowl of soup close to her. The ceramic bowl was hot enough that it scalded her palms, but that hardly made a difference to her. The heat reminded her of the comforts of home, something she'd missed most of all; a bed, warm blankets, and real food. It had been so long since she had eaten that she was sure the soup would disagree with her, but it smelled delicious.

Aria lifted the bowl to her lips and took a sip of the warm broth, closing her eyes as she waited for Evandrus to answer her.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She had a lot of questions... he liked that.

Meant that she was actually going to think about the answers he gave her and think before she asked any more - it implied that she was an intelligent young woman but he would reserve final judgement on that for now. He had, after all, only just met her. But she was off to a good start in his books so far. He smiled a little bit when she got his title mixed up a little bit before getting it right - that was fine.

He wasn't going to punish her for getting the title wrong and then correcting herself - not when he himself had issues remembering sometimes.

"I am one of it's leading figures - yes. My wife is the Empress Andraste and I sit on her council." he explained with a bright smile before shrugging a little bit and helping himself to some of his noodles before explaining, "It is... in many ways. But we are not beholden to them and they know better than to try and take people under our aegis. As you would be, should you decide to leave with me."

Considering his own feelings towards the Cartel? Well he wasn't their friend so he was less than likely to turn her over to them even if they did have a point - which they didn't. As a Force Sensitive young woman, she was the Empire's concern and she would be welcomed with open arms no matter what the Cartel said about it. He nodded,

"If you come with me I would take you along with me to a few places - Lothal, Korriban, Serenno... lots of places." he explained to her, "You would be safe at first because you will be with me and my allies... and when you have grown, you will be safe because you are strong enough to not need to be with someone else."

He looked at her before admitting,

"There will be hard work... tears, sweat and pain." he promised her bluntly, "You might even grow to hate me, to resent me... until you find yourself in danger and you fend it off without a thought. Until you realise that I pushed you because you need to be pushed to reach greatness. And that I was always there, to protect you and your future."

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

Spoiler: Outfit

Abigail swung open the door to Dario's Noodle Bar with a heavy sigh as she immediately made a beeline for the bar. As soon as she reached the stool, she slumped forward, an invisible weight slamming her forward onto the bar as her head collapsed into her arms. It had not been a good day for the young fledgling Sith; she had been informed some time ago of a girl wandering around Nar Shadda, broke and leaking Force energy wherever she went. She knew what it was like to have the force and not be able to control it, she especially knew how hellish the streets could seem to someone like a little girl. All day she had spent searching, tracking down bums, shaking down store owners and beating up bounty hunters, and nothing, absolutely nothing at all. The funny thing was, it wasn't the fact that she didn't find her that put her down, oh no...

Someone got to her first.

So there she was, making her way through Guju square, when the crowd started to kick up a fuss. Abigail looked around and tried to ascertain where the ruckus was coming from, and bam! There he was, her break! A scared looking ruffian missing a hand! He had been sprinting down the street yelling witchcraft and 'force buggery', as he called it. She had grabbed him and pulled him into a portable restroom when he rather rudely shoved past her, and asked politely where she could find the one that had done this to him. He pointed her in the direction of a creepy looking ally and she left him to sleep on his manners before bolting toward the ally. Of course, what did she find when she got there? Jack, kriffing, all. All she found was three sets of barely defined footprints that were swept away in the wind.

Needless to say, she was more than a little annoyed, but someone else had gotten to her, so all she could do at that point was hope that she had found someone good. It was only when she tried to turn her mind to other things that she realized how utterly HUUUUUUNGRY she was, and like a salty angel in the distance, the smell of noodles wafted before her nostrils, drawing her in to recieve her comfort. From beneath her arms, she gestured for one bowl of noodles as she groaned loudly and suffered afterward in silence. It had felt like forever when Dario slid the plate down the bar.
"Trouble in paradise my little one?" He asked, leaning in for the story he had hoped would follow. Abigail's tired and disheveled face emerged from her lair, and she mustered a tired smirk.
"Trouble indeed my friend, was told about a girl wandering around the streets needing help, and I wanted to help her out, so I went looking, and shock! Horror! Didn't find her," She explained, eagerly digging into the noodles with all the vigor of a newborn cow in a field of space!grass.

She kept on explaining her day to the tender, absent mindedly shoveling down the noodles whilst completely unaware that her target was sitting almost right next to her, most likely listening. When she finally laid eyes on Darth Evandrus and Aria, she froze solid, a large stream of noodles caught between her teeth and a soft place as she visually digested the scene before her. It was a moment or so when she finally moved, lifting a hand to offer a small wave, all she could really offer because of the food. She also gave a respectful nod toward Evandrus, of course, because of the food...noodles ya know? Hard to eat.

 

[Arthemise Xius]

"So, the Sith Empire is allied with the Hutts but they do not work for them. Meaning you still function as two separate organizations and aren't under any real obligation to abide by the others command." Her statement was just that and not really a question at all. In fact, she hardly looked over at Evandrus as she spoke and instead stirring her noodles absently. Occasionally she would look away to observe the crowd, not entirely convinced the Barabel wouldn't return.

It was important that Arthemise not agree to anything she may later regret and the decision to join the Sith Empire didn't seem like one she was ready to jump into without asking some more questions. Luckily for her, Evandrus seemed willing to answer them.

"Can I ask, what is the purpose of your Sith Empire? Every organization has their own goals, right?" Her eyes wandered to him for an answer. "I understand that you would teach me about the Force, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. How does a relationship with the Cartel benefit the Empire and what do you provide them with in return?"

She took another sip of the warm broth and her attention strayed to the counter where the shop owner carried on a conversation with a rather distraught woman. Their conversation held her attention for quite some time, though it was inaudible from a distance. Of course, it wasn't any of her business but the assortment of questions that ran through her head made Arthemise feel a bit spacey.

When the woman turned in her seat and made eye contact, noodles still held between her lips, Arthemise raised her brow curiously. She waved to Evandrus like he was an old friend and smiled awkwardly to the pair. "Do you know her?" She stared a moment longer and then looked back over at Evandrus to see if he had taken notice of the woman across the restaurant.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She STILL had a lot of questions... and more than that she seemed to have gotten to the point where she wasn't actually asking questions so much as she was demanding answers. He looked at her for a moment before deciding that, despite her blunt statement, she had done so with a respectful enough tone that there wasn't really anything wrong with what she had done.

"Exactly. Two separate factions and organisations that have allied with each other in certain areas." he agreed with a nod, knowing that she already understood it all really.

He raised an eyebrow at that one.

What was the purpose of the Sith Empire? Well now that was a heavy question and one that he was glad she had asked. It suggested, to him at least, that she was seriously considering getting into the Empire and working with them. He hummed in agreement,

"The Sith Empire seeks a few things - security for our people to believe that they believe and practice what they want to practice. A society where Dark Side users are a people of their own and not defined by what they aren't." he explained firmly before adding, "And to do that... we expand. We gather strength to better defend ourselves and to exercise our rights. You'll find though that many planets simply like us to take over."

As for their alliance with the Cartel? He grimaced a little bit,

"The alliance with the Cartel is defensive in nature... with some mutual agreements to come to each other's aid in the event of attack. And access to specialists if the missions in question align with our own goals."

He felt the Force signature enter the noodle hut and he blinked a few times as he stared over at the young woman. Taking a deep breath, he tried not to laugh or grin at the rather amusing display. Instead his mouth twitched a little bit but nothing else,

"A little bit." he admitted, giving Abi a small wave back before turning back to Aria, "She's affiliated with the Empire. Bit of a loose cannon but... she's got her bright points."

@TheBrokenMadMan @MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

"Bit of a loose cannon?" She paused, inspecting the woman who sat across the room, a clump of noodles held between her lips. "I can see it. She seems a bit odd." Her eyes trailed back to Evandrus, deciding she wouldn't pay the woman any more attention unless she approached the table. It seemed a waste of time to bombard him with questions about her when he had seemed less than enthused by her appearance. Still, she wondered what he had meant by 'she's got her bright points.'

Aria spooned up another bite of noodles, using it as an excuse to recompose her thoughts. It had been made clear that Evandrus did not work for the men that had hunted her and therefore, was someone that she was comfortable trusting. He had protected her, fed her, and even offered to shelter her from the streets of Nar Shaddaa. It was odd that he had taken to her because of her connection to the force and that there was an entire organization separate from the Jedi Order composed of force-users, but perhaps this was an important opportunity for her to learn about who she was instead of hiding within the protection of the Republic.

"When you say 'dark side', do you mean that you are the bad guys?" She looked up at him, her expression soft. Aria hoped not to offend him by her questions, but wanted instead to make an educated decision to join him and the Sith Empire or to continue running from the Hutts on the streets of Nar Shaddaa. Of course, it already seemed like Evandrus was the better option in that moment, but would he be the best choice in the long run? Would she truly be safe within the Sith Empire or would she come to resent him as he had suggested?

"What if I'm not as strong as you'd like me to be? Will you abandon me?" Aria sucked in a deep breath, running a hand through her platinum hair to push it from her eyes. It was disheveled and no longer drawn back into two neat braids as it had been when she'd left Corellia. Quite honestly, she'd have given almost anything to be able to take a shower and brush out her curls. That, or to be able to wash her wounds and bandage them.

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

While the temptation to simply stand up and walk away was extremely strong, Abigail found herself rooted to the stool. It wasn't the fear of Evandrus, or the awkwardness of being caught with her mouth full, it was just that the girl looked so...familiar. She could easily so herself in her, like she did with a lot of people down on their luck in the Galaxy. It made her want to help them more, and it was in these small moments that she could feel an inkling of why she worked for the Sith, as opposed to the Hutts. The Hutts would just sell her off as a commodity, a piece of merchandise to be used and abused like a cheap stress ball or toy blaster. It made her stomach growl and her chest clench at the thought of people like that all across the galaxy, silently weeping at the thought that they would never be free or see their mothers and fathers again. The Empire would not do such a thing, they would help those that they see, not enslave them or use the, they saw the person before the weapon.

She finished her noodles and slid off her stool, precariously make her way over to the two Force Sensitives. She took up a seat next to them and cracked a nervous smile.
"Um, hi..." She started softly, looking back and forth like a woman considering just running and never looking back. "Is it...is it ok if I join you, my Lord?" If he said yes, she would take up a seat at the table and listen to the woman as the two talked back and forth. It seemed that the Sith Lord had already given her some insight as to what they hoped from her, and she looked like she was considering joining up, as Abigail once did a few months ago. It still felt weird, being so new to all this despite having been helping the Sith out since Korriban so long ago, and only just now being made Sith herself.

She couldn't help but pipe up a little as she asked about the nature of the Dark Side, looking to Evandrus. "May I?" She asked nervously, clearly hoping to say her own piece on the matter, though not wanting to speak out of turn. If he allowed, she would turn back to the girl with a motherly smile, made mre genuine thanks to her time with Eisa. "The Dark Side is a little...complicated. Think about all the emotions you feel: passions, anger, fear, love, lust etc. They all fuel the Dark Side of the Force. It's just a case were we're all angry and warmongering maniacs, not at all, the Jedi would have you believe that because of their experience with our predecessors, you, well...who really were that. We believe that, as with many things in life, the Force is a tool to be used, to help us realize our potential in whatever field we choose to pursue. To be in tune with the Dark Side is to have control over all your emotions, to be confident and assertive with yourself and others, it is strength in it's most versatile form, and the Sith use their strength to help people like you and fight those that would use you, and curb the habit of those that may get the idea..." She glanced around the cantina, looking at faces and exits, making sure they had a way out, just in case.

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[Darth Evandrus]

A bit odd... was a diplomatic way of describing Abi if he was honest but he couldn't deny the truth behind those words. But she was still useful to have on a mission with you so long as you didn't have to leave any of the enemy alive. But he didn't want to really dwell on the other Sith right now - he was working on Aria right now and he was beginning to think that she might very well be coming around to his way of thinking.

He had some of his own noodles in the short silence that followed however - enjoying them as he watched her for a reaction to what had been revealed to her thus far. When she asked about the Dark side, and if that meant that the Sith were the villains, Evandrus chuckled a little bit.

Such an innocent question.

"I am quite sure they will say so." he admitted before nodding to Abi as she came on over to interject with her opinion on what the Dark Side was.

It was a lovely little report on the nature of the Dark Side.

Shame it was not actually what Aria had asked about but hey - made sense for her to get some kind of picture as to what the Dark Side was now rather than later. He shrugged a little bit at the end of Abi's explanation,

"The Dark Side, in truth, is little more than a side of the Force that the Jedi deem to be unacceptable." he added with a small smile, "They call it 'dark' to imply that it is inherently wrong - that people who use the 'dark' as warped by it to do terrible things. And yet, as I'm sure you know, terrible things happen without the Force all the time. People do terrible things, not the Force."

Looking at her for a long moment, Evandrus reached out and took one of her hands, tentatively, in his own. He held her hand for a moment before giving it a gentle squeeze,

"No - I will not abandon you." he assured her gently, conviction flashing in his eyes, "I will show you how to achieve your own greatness and I will help you reach that level. There is no cap - on anyone - when it comes to the Force. The only cap is on you, on how much you're willing to work for it. Are you a hard worker Aria? Will you take on board what I have to teach you?"

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[Arthemise Xius]

Her attention wandered over to the strange woman when she interjected their conversation, stealing a seat across from Evandrus. Her long-winded statement did little to answer her question as to the nature of the Dark Side, though she supposed that it was helpful in at least providing her an idea of what it was. It was easy to pick apart her words, though one thing, in particular, bothered her. Aria knew what it meant to feel anger, to trust and to love, but what did it mean to lust? Could that even be an emotion? If it were, she'd never heard of it until now.

"But what is lust?" She pushed the empty bowl away from her, eyes focused on the woman who sat across from them. Her face was twisted in confusion, but when Evandrus spoke she dropped the question and returned her attention to him. Of course, she'd come back to it when it was more appropriate to ask questions outside of their current discussion.

"I suppose it's okay that the Jedi don't like you. I was never very fond of them. When I was younger my Father told me that it was the Jedi Order who started the war by banishing their members. When they wanted to teach me, my Mother turned them away." Her eyes wandered to the floor as she remembered the robed men who had met them on Coruscant. Aria was certain they meant her no harm but had soon learned of their involvement in the War that he seen her Fathers life cut short. In that moment, she was thankful that her Mother had turned them away.

Her eyes returned to Evandrus as he reached out for her hand, her heart racing in her chest. The sincerity in his eyes told her that he wouldn't leave her behind, even if she proved to be more of a challenge than he now anticipated. That was comforting and she felt herself squeeze his hand in her own, her doubt fading.

"Well then, I guess I'm coming with you. Are we going to leave soon? Is she coming with us?" Her eyes shifted back to Abigal, still ready to continue her conversation on the topic of lust.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Wait... she didn't know what lust was?

Of course she didn't and it would have been stupid to assume otherwise - the kid was young and had been without any kind of adult supervision during some of her time growing up. Without a formal education, he supposed that quite a lot of things kind of just got away from her. Sad but not unexpected... and definitely something that he could deal with later. Right now though he felt the urge to make sure Abi didn't decide to go running in there with The Talk.

"I'll tell you when you're older." he assured her simply, "Don't worry about it for now."

Oh well she seemed to have a basic grasp of the history of the conflict too - which was biased towards the Exiles while he could use rather well. He nodded his head,

"You dodged a blaster bolt there." he admitted with a shrug, "I was taken from my family at age seven to become a Jedi. I was forbidden to do, to feel, so many things that it took me damn near twenty years to finally get myself free. You won't have that issue Aria - you'll be free right from the start."

So long as she still followed orders.

As he looked into her eyes, Evandrus could tell the exact moment she decided that she was going to come with him and he smiled a little bit warmer as she went through with the decision. He grinned a little bit before releasing her hand slowly,

"Alright then!" he grinned a little bit before nodding, "Yeah - I was planning on leaving now that you're safe and coming with me I'll admit. As for Abi?"

He turned to the other Sith with a small shrug,

"My ship isn't very large I'll admit but you're welcome to tag along if you want, Knight Nimbus." he chuckled before adding, "Though I must warn you, we shall be heading back to Lothal first."

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