Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

[Sreeya]

Andraste was casually lounging on a seat, one leg over the other as she swung her foot from side to side. She was sampling candied Bofa fruit, enjoying the sweet taste. She also had cakes and other desserts around herself. She was having a private celebration following the victory at Tanaab. Andraste grabbed a fork and dipped into the chocolatey goodness of her cake, taking a bite. Soft jazz played in the background, her favorite style of music. She was strangely calm, enjoying delicious foods and relaxing. After a moment, Andraste sighed.

"You know, you haven't been very amusing. All this quietness is making me think you don't like me."

She grinned at the words, eating another bite of cake. Andraste tilted her head to look over at whom she was speaking to. It was a Jedi, confined within a cage. He had been injected with toxins that would make him incapable of focusing enough to apply the Force. Either way, Andraste was not too concerned. She was a Force beast and could easily subdue him, and it helped that they were in Sith space. For now, none of that mattered.

"Where'd all the flair go?"

She tossed him a candybar, the small object colliding with the bars of his cage and landing a few inches outside of it.

 

[Matt]

Christian grabbed for the chocolate bar and devoured it with frankly ghastly manners but he was horribly hungry. Hunger was not really something Christian had to deal with in his life. Hunger for food was never there. Hunger for power was just so very unseemly but good lord he was hungry now.en more hungry,

He really had to stop the word hungry going through his head as it made him feel even more hungry

After he licked his fingers clean he looked at the incredibly hungry lady infront of him...What she was hungry for was anyone's guess but she was a predator for sure.

Oh for gods sake...think about something else he abashed himself before he spoke in a slightly shaky voice...He felt terrible.

''Well I am merely trying to recover form my preconceived notions of sith being blasted into oblivion. I always thought you were supposed to be ghastly beasts who had red eyes, veins popping out declaring you were going destroy the universe and so on and so forth. You seem so very calm and steady...This makes me wonder if perhaps you are merely waiting to eat my eye balls and cook my genitalia!''

Christian laughed to himself and quickly regretted it as his lungs felt like a rancor had just sat on him....A very fat rancor indeed.

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste had to chuckle softly, watching him devour the candybar as if it were his last meal in the galaxy. She finished up her cake, licking off the fork.

"I wouldn't throw those notions out yet. A lot of us actually do look like that.."

She grinned at the rest of his comments.

"I like to think I'm the more deadly type. You know, the rawr rawr evil Sith that can actually think? And your eyeballs or genitalia don't sound particularly tasty, so I'll pass on that.."

Andraste rolled over to stand on her feet, walking closer to the cage. She dropped a box of candied fruit into his cage and walked back towards the window in the room, looking out.

"You know, I wish I didn't have to keep you here like a pet. I mean..you don't even have one of those hamster running wheels. But I have to take precaution in case you get the urge to bash my face in while I'm not looking.."

She walked back over to his cage and sat down in front of it, hugging her knees. She looked fascinated, as if staring at an animal at a zoo.

"I bet you're regretting signing up for getting those holocrons, huh?"

 

[Matt]

Christian smiled sweetly as the Sith women spoke with such a sweet voice but it dripped with poison for she came across as a coiled cobra which was ready to strike. Christian was so very good at metaphors.

''Now we have a small fundamental difference between ourselves I have noticed right away my dear friend, you see yourself as the type of person who determines there own fate am I right?''

Christian didn't want to provoke the women into doing anything rash like blowing his head up or other such ghastly action but he felt honesty was the best action in his current situation so he kept on.

''See, I see myself as a leaf in the wind of the galaxy. I believe everything I do is part of a grand plan that the galaxy has already set in motion for myself. For instance this moment you could ignite your lightsaber and pierce my heart yet I would believe that is my fate. You see I find it liberating to know that in life I am merely on a highway to that distant place where my light is snuffed out. However I am being so very rude, tell me about yourself as you are the host for the evening! Where you born a Sith? Were you perhaps a Jedi in the past? Do tell as I am shamelessly nosy''

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste smiled as he spoke. The smile grew wider, until she was laughing. She threw her head back and heartily laughed as he finished telling her his views on Fate.

"And that doesn't bother you? You'd simply let your doctrines and some higher power guide you when you are a creature of the Force itself? You are born attuned to the Force. Born with a higher calling. Yet you'd rather submit yourself to the same fate as mindless drones that aren't even aware of the Force's existence?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Jedi.. you have a lot to learn. You're on that highway to that distance place, but...wouldn't you rather be the driver instead of a passenger? We're all on that path to a distant place, there is no denying that. But you can take control of it and be a master of your own destiny or simply fade into dust without leaving anything behind."

Andraste opened up another pack of small candies, tilting the box to pour some into her mouth.

"I was born believing I had my destiny carved out for me. But as I grew, I discovered that I am the Force. I'm its vessel, its physical form. The Dark side has formed a symbiotic relationship with my being."

She grinned at him.

"I'm a slave to it and its master all at once. But I'm aware of it. Are you aware? You don't even know your role or purpose within the Order you have served, let alone your place in the galaxy. The moment you surrender your fate to something else is the moment you surrender yourself."

 

[Matt]

Now this was interesting. Jedi and Sith never seemed to stay in a room long enough for them to have a interesting debate on the different beliefs they had about the force. Christian couldn't go into to much detail because he always spent his time blowing stuff up or swinging his blue stick at horrible ruffians to spend time reading books about the force but he must take this opportunity.

''Oh but it is so much more exciting that way! Life is all about the journey and having as much fun getting there as possible, if you do all that wonderful sithness you talk about you know what's going to happen and how your going to do it. There is something so wonderful about never quite knowing what is going to happen. I bet you can admit to me here and now that it is far more exciting not knowing the twists and turns life will take! All about excitement my friend!''

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste simply stared at him for a moment. He appeared so carefree, unchained. She felt a pang of envy, but quelled it quickly.

"If you were that free, my..friend.. you wouldn't adhere to the rules and guidelines of an Order, would you? You would be a wanderer and go wherever life takes you. Instead you are a Jedi and are conditioned to think and believe things a certain way...and you teach naggy padawans those same stupid rules and help continue the cycle."

Andraste thought over his words, laughing suddenly.

"Ah, I understand now why you decided to jump towards my Sith friends on Tanaab when you were clearly outmatched. Ultimately your fate is for me to decide. Does that not bother you?"

 

[Matt]

Christian laughed at her words then but swiftly regretted it then...Damn my jolliness to hell.

''Now you have me there for sure, I am somewhat of a hypocrite but I have this horrible need where I want to help people! It seems I can do that best as a Jedi because they generally try and do the right thing but I will agree with you on the stupid rules. Do you realise how much explaining a Jedi has to do if one thing goes wrong on a mission? So I must thank you for taking me prisoner as I would never get out of the council chambers after the mess I made of Tanaab!''

Christian paused for a moment to take in her words and they were interesting points. Why did he always charge in like a lunatic to situations without giving them much thought? Looking back on it now he really could of handled the battle situation better but....Hmm how odd.

''Good question that my Masters always asked me! Apparently it is unseemly for a Jedi to jump into situations without much thought. I suppose your opinion has an element of truth but I can't say you being incharge of my life worries me to much. You have already made it clear my eyeballs and genitalia are not attractive to your tasting pallet so atleast they are safe from being eaten. Do you plan to kill me my Sith Friend?''

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste was surprised to find him laughing, an odd thing to come from someone that was in a cage.

"Jedi council chambers... I don't think you'll be setting foot there again."

Though the comment itself was ominous, her demeanor was still light natured. She toyed with the wrappers of candy, making them float around her with ease. She shrugged at his question.

"That is entirely up to you, my Jedi Friend. If you think attempting an escape is a terrific idea, you might find yourself skewered. If you attempt to contact your friends over in Alliance or Jedi, same end. I think my brother is itching to kill you anyway. He wasn't too thrilled to find that I wanted to keep you. But you seem like the crazy type so I'm expecting you to get yourself killed. Ironically it may be the first time you're in charge of your own fate..eerie, huh?"

Andraste wondered over why she hadn't killed him. It was a question she didn't have the answer to.

"You can help others without being tied down to an Order. The Jedi ask you to abandon integral parts of humanity. In my eyes, that's a crime against nature itself. I bet you never saw it like that, eh? Maybe Jedi are the evil sons of bitches. We're bad, but at least we own up to it. Hell, we even have neon signs like our trademark red eyes and creepy faces. No one can tell that a Jedi is secretly nothing but a hollow shell that's a slave to its Order."

 

[Matt]

''Despite being a little bit of a idiot I know when I am in trouble and I am most certainly in trouble but I can say I don't think death is quite ready to swoop down with wings and dread and hit me over the head so I shall be the very model of a good prisoner.''

Christian stretched out his legs slightly as he was sat in an incredibly uncomfortable position and listened intently to the Sith's words, she was very good and came up with very solid counter argument that were not just sprouted propaganda from the sith...She said intriguing things.

''Do you think perhaps both our orders are at fault? On the one hand we have the robots of the Jedi whereas on the other side are the madmen of the sith! Perhaps something in the middle would be for the best to appease both our sides. Why we could be Jeth! Or Sidi?''

 

[Sreeya]

"I prefer the term Jeth. 'Look out for those Sidi!' simply doesn't sound very threatening.."

Andraste watched him shift uncomfortably, grinning. His butt would be sore the next day, there was no doubt about that. Andraste emptied her box of candy, a little toy falling out of it. She examined the toy, smiling.

"I feel as if your perceptions of Sith are a bit warped. Have you ever truly been around us?"

She moved a bit closer to the cage, lifting her hand so it hovered near his face, through the cage. Andraste closed her eyes, accumulating the Force to the palm of her hand. The Force obeyed her immediately, wrapping around her fingers like tendrils of energy. She let the Force flow outward, extending out to his visage. He would feel a warming sensation over his face, the injuries he had sustained there rapidly healing. Curiously, it was a technique taught and used by Jedi. Andraste withdrew her hand once his face was fully healed. She smiled and lifted her index finger to her lips to signal for him to keep that a secret.

"It's sad to see those with potential go to waste adhering to strict Jedi rules. Survival of the fittest is a law mandated by nature, so who are we to deviate from it? Ultimately it makes you more powerful. I'm not denying my love for power, but you can't look at light and dark as a strict dichotomy."

Andraste looked down at her hand, the same one that had shot lighting and healing as well.

"But being a Sith means being the chaos, being the aggressor, keeping the galaxy moving. Being a Jedi means to wait for something to happen. Without us, you all would have to find day jobs."

She couldn't help but chuckle at the prospect.

 

[Matt]

Christian felt the cooling nature of the force moving through his body, having someone use force heal on you was one of the strangest sensations ever. It was like needing to wait to urinate for several hours then having that sensation run through your body.....Christian doubted that was the official line in the Jedi textbook.

''Thank you my lady''

Christian smiled as the pain reduced before speaking in a slightly more clearer voice, his throat no longer felt like death.

'Survival of the fittest is something for animals isn't it? You don't look much like a rancor for me! You do raise a very good point in that my knowledge of the Sith is very limited, short of waving my stick at them you are probably the only Sith I have had a conversation with and what a conversation! You are something of a Brain of the galaxy! I feel like I have turned up to a lightsaber duel with a cuddly toy my mind is so mush like!''

Christian touched the cage with his finger and was rewarded with no pain but it made no difference, if the Sith's head somehow exploded he wouldn't of been able to get out of here and it made no difference. He had made a pledge to not escape and he would honour it.

''So tell me, you believe in survival of the fittest but you sith have an unfortunate habit of wiping each other out with a little help from the Jedi along the way, what are your thoughts on that?''

 

[Sreeya]

"And why are we so superior to animals? We eat, sleep and shit like them, don't we? Just because we can think we get to completely pervert the objective way of life?"

Andraste laughed at his question, nodding.

"You can't tell me you don't have blithering idiots in your Order. Whereas you put up with them, give them a slap on the wrist or send them on missions where death is guaranteed, you let them continue within the Order like a festering wound. We simply get rid of the problem before it gets worse. You saw us battle in Tanaab.."

She watched for his reaction.

"You saw how well coordinated we were, didn't you? You saw how every motion was precise, how the Sith worked perfectly together and timed their attacks. You saw how beautifully executed every plan was, how well we communicated. Do you know where else you see that? In packs of predators. Packs of animals that work together. If being like animals means being able to harmonize like that, then I don't mind the concept so much. Better that than.."

Andraste's face scrunched up in confusion.

"....to be honest, I have no idea what the hell you lot were doing back there. You all were scattered, no one helped one another and.. it was the most pathetic display of teamwork I'd ever seen."

 

[Matt]

''Now that depends on your term of an idiot doesn't it? You could very well call me an idiot but I am fairly proficient in the art of twirling a lightsaber around like a lunatic I suppose it all depends on what ones definition of a word is to give it substance!''

Christian's permanent smile was dislodged when she mentioned the mission on Tanaab as there was no way of discribing that other then a complete and utter disarstar.

''Yes, the problem with that seemed that we had no real leader. No one was incharge of the mission there and we all just sat around spending an hour deciding on the colour of the toilet roll we would use! Not a intelligent use of time though that is no defence at all. You sith put us to shame and I doff my cap to you my lady. Well done on a superb use of teamwork''

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste stared at him in confusion, unable to hold back a laugh after he had finished speaking.

"Nothing gets you down, does it? Do you not have fears, doubts, remorse..?"

She looked down and sighed, thinking over her life thus far. Andraste quelled the thoughts, returning to the casual nature of their conversation.

"I'm not proficient with the saber.. at all. It's a miracle if I press the emitter and the blade isn't facing me. It's quite pathetic.."

Andraste abruptly stood up. She wandered over and undid the locks on his cage, stepping back so the door swung open. Unconcerned, Andraste walked over to grab another box of candy, picking out a chocolate and popping it in her mouth. She kept her eyes on him the entire time.

"I plan on taking you somewhere and I'd not to have you on a leash. Can you agree to behave?"

 

[Matt]

''Always look on the bright side of life is my motto!''

Christian laughed and his ribs didn't feel like a complete disaster which was nice, he would have to thank the young lady again. It struck Christian as rather odd as to why he called everyone young man or young lady...This women was probably the same age as Christian. Even Christian admitted he was a rather strange fellow sometimes.

''On my honour as a gentlemen and a Jedi Knight I shall not do anything that would be considered bad behavior! However may I make one request in that I would blow up a large star for a cup of tea?''

He made his way out of the cage and stretched his back and rose to his full 6 and a half foot height before leaning against the cage smiling.

 

[Sreeya]

---​

Andraste grimaced.

"How is this better than caf?"

She put another cube of sugar into the tea. Andraste took another sip and grimaced once again.

"This is impossible.."

They were aboard a transport headed towards Dantooine. There had been rumors she heard about the cities there, and she wanted to see the Jedi's reaction to it. Upon request, she let him have his tea, deciding to try it for herself as well. She wondered what strange part of the galaxy he was from to be a fan of tea, where everyone else drank caf. Andraste had put the ship on autopilot, the coordinates already punched in. She vigorously mixed the sugar in, hoping to salvage her drink.

"If only there were Force powers to make foods or drinks taste better.."

 

[Matt]

''An interesting question there. Perhaps it is something we could work on together as a joint exercise between the Jedi and Sith. Imagine yourself as a Sith cook earning millions of credits using the force to make a stew taste like heaven! Now that would be a for-filling way to end ones life''

Christian stretched his legs loving the feeling of not being in a cage and thinking on the properties needed to use force powers to make food better. God knows how but maybe he could write a report on it some time if he could be bothered.

'So, why have we come to Dantooine...Er....What is your actual name my lady? I cannot remember as what those friends of yours were calling you as they kept hitting me over the head''

 

[Sreeya]

Andraste laughed at his response, finding that she often did it around him. It was strange, and she had to keep reminding herself that he was, ultimately, branded as an enemy. For the time being, she nodded.

"There is one thing I'll admit, and that's the fact that the Jedi cafeteria food was heavenly compared to the gruel we're given at the Sith academy.."

She recalled her time with the Jedi, her smile fading slightly. She was glad when he moved on to a new topic, inquiring her name. Andraste hesitated for a moment, but then shrugged.

"Andraste. And my friends back there weren't calling me as I was a tad preoccupied applying some semi lesbian techniques to lure your friend into the Dark Side. Works wonders, by the way."

She winked and had to grin, looking back over to the navicomputer as the ship descended towards Dantooine's surface. Andraste leaned forward to control the ship's landing.

"We're going to Dantooine because there's a curious problem going on there. I want to see what you make of it. Also, what did you say your name was? I didn't catch it while your green friend was throwing a hissy fit about plants.."

 

[Matt]

Ah so she used to be a Jedi, that was interesting as it showed she wasn't just a megalomaniac sith after all but then he abashed himself. Perhaps he was merely being ignorant which was something as a Jedi shouldn't do apparently.

''My name is technically Christian Augustus Tiberius Noble the third but please call me Christian as it will probably save about half an hour and it is a pleasure to know your name Andraste!''

He had been to Dantooine fairly recently on a mission and he found it a bit of a hateful boring planet full of rather ignorant people but some seemed nice here. Just not nice to him.

''Well, I am always interested in interesting things even if it is a problem!''