Prisons and Punishments

[Cale]

OOC: This is a semi-flashback to the imprisonment of the Jedi captured on Tokmia. This is open to all the folks involved in those threads, Jedi and Rebels

Being a light cruiser, there was not a huge amount of space for anyone. Especially the brig. Not to say it was cramped. But it wasn't especially roomy. The cells were somewhat smaller than the regular berths, though they still had enough room for a prisoner to exercise and move around. It was obviously a prison, but it wasn't designed to break one's spirit. It was more a holding cell for use on long voyages or transferring prisoners.

The Jedi were fed three times a day, their meals modified to take in any dietary requirements they may have had, at least as best as the ship could manage. If they wanted freshly killed meat once a day, or something like that, they were going to find themselves out of luck, but they could at least take comfort in knowing that the rest of the crew were also having to suffer through what amounted to military cuisine. Whilst they weren't taken out of their cells for anything less than a medical emergency, they were allowed visitors. Commander Xhosa was one of those, coming by with relative frequency during their stay to talk with Ze'kyre about military theory, or to try and reassure Della that he wasn't an evil monster. What follows is a record of the conversations held between the Jedi and the Rebels.

 

[TweedPawn]

For quite some time, Della had been alone in both her thoughts and her environment. Even the presence in her mind that often snarked in with its intrusive comments was silent. It was around, but it was observing. It studied every detail. It was thinking. Della, however, was not doing much thinking.

She was moping on the floor like a sad animal locked in a cage. Her large brown eyes sadly gazing at the ceiling. She had to be in the hands of the sith, there was little doubt about it. They only kept her alive and fed so when they found out she was involved with Geist Weiss, or the Xaden family, they would have her healthy enough to survive the prolonged torments they would certainly going to make her suffer through. Every time Commander Xosha would try to talk to her, he would be greeted with a sad look of despair.

It was pitiful.

How long had it been since they had been traveling, though? And Della had to admit that it was odd that she wasn't drugged up, or shackled to a wall. Xosha seemed nice enough. It was also reassuring to sense Ze'kyre nearby, and that he was also well-fed and unharmed. It was different from the previous encounters with Sith confinement.

They could have been bounty hunters though. Della gave a long deep sigh. How did she agree to go on that mission? She had two little ones. They were heavy in her thoughts. They would be missing her by now. Her spouses, Fyston and Lain would be worried sick. Della wanted to feel their embrace.

She could hear Xosha walking to her cell. She sighed again. How long would the Sith keep up the charade of kindness? When would they finally expose themselves? THey were waiting for her to crack, to have her guard down. Della wouldn't give in though.

"you're back." she said, her voice full of melancholy. Her sad, woeful eyes stared like laser beams right at Xhosa. It was like seeing a caged puppy.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Ze'kyre himself enjoyed the alone time. Although Della was not far, his inability to see her naturally reduced their interaction. He did what he could to reassure her that they would be alright, but in truth he only felt apologetic. He had come to this system with all the knowledge in the galaxy that he could protect his partner from anything. No matter what traps the Sith lay, Ze'kyre's heart had held no fear, and his sword hand only sought the challenge. But what was to happen now? He had not sensed much in the way of darkness from the small team of ex-Alliance personnel, but perhaps the elder Knight's sense for danger was keener than his own. He did not know much about the snamregs, but he had to trust that his comrade may be on to something.

But there was nothing he could do for now, so he kept such thoughts from his mind by occupying himself two of the few ways he truly knew how; meditation and exercise. The first time Xhosa had entered, Ze'kyre had thought not to bother himself to lift from the centre of his cell, sitting upon the floor in the seat of the lotus, one foreleg casually folded over the other in a simple display of flexibility. He had been pretty deep, but still could not help but hear the way the old General tried to condole his fellow Jedi Knight, and decided that he would at least play along. It had been rewarding, Xhosa had provided for him vegetarian trays. Unfortunately he would be slightly short on protein here, but he had heard of ways of converting nutrients from the Force, not even necessarily by Force Sensitives, so he focused even more hours than usual into his meditation, studying the heart of the Force and its Light.

The second time Xhosa entered, Ze'kyre had still been in the centre of his cell. Instead of on his hind, he had been on his hands, performing some surprisingly flexible form of handstand with his back arched so his toes pointed in the same direction as his fingers. He had been counting on his captor to comment on the pose, and lead the conversation to a position where he could pick the General's brain in what was almost a friendly conversation on tactic. It had been a very rewarding experience, and not only for the fact that it had allowed him to visualize combat with the man. For his upbringing as an echani, such an experience allowed him deeper insight into Xhosa's mind. If the former General truly meant them harm, he was hiding it extraordinarily well.

Now was the third time he was to meet the man, not counting their frosty first encounter on the surface of Tokmia. He dropped from the rafters upon which he had been suspended, curling his upper body for most of a half hour now. As his ankles unwrapped from their leverage, he used such impressive core strength to land upon his feet. As if it were the mass of some great white cat, two hundred pounds of fluid, steel-like muscle landed upon the ground without a sound, and without any aid from the Force.

Lifting, turning, and now facing Xhosa, Ze'kyre took the tunic they had provided him with. As he pulled it on it became evident hat they were mismatched with the trousers. Oh well, at least he was warm, he thought to himself as he heard Della's voice from the cell beside him. "You're back."

"I for one was hoping you'd be coming back." The echani was not sure if he was actually enjoying the conversations, trying to learn more about Xhosa and predict what may be coming, or just entertain himself. Probably all of the above. But for now, it was all he was able to do. He knew to appreciate when he was no longer in control, now was one of those times. Beside that, he thought it honourable that the former General would take it upon himself to host his 'guests'.

 

[Cale]

The old man hated the sad-puppy look that Della gave him every time he came to visit. He felt like he'd kicked something small and fluffy every time, and that was not a particularly nice way to feel. And yet, he continued to come, and to sit and try and talk with her. The young pup, Ze'kyre was much more given to conversation, thankfully. If he'd had to deal with both of them giving him that look, he'd probably have spaced himself. It was just THAT sad and pitiable. Dirty pool. At least that was how he saw it. He pulled up the chair, as he sat in front of her cell, and gave her a half-hearted smile.

"I am, indeed, back. I keep doing that. How are you doing? Is there anything you need?"

The comment from Ze'kyre caused a wry grin and he turned his head towards the other cell. "Yes, I'm sure you were. But haven't we established already that you have terrible taste in conversation partners? I'm certain that's what we covered last time."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della felt a shift. She felt her own emotions start to be affected by something. It was coaxing her. Lulling her into an idea. It wanted her to sleep. Della was tempted. Her dreams had been fantastically pleasant. She saw visions of carefree childhoods, and happy futures. They had been lightweight and free. So much more different than the burdens Della carried.

Seems like a nice enough guy.

Della wasn't going to be fooled. That guy was totally a Sith.

Ask him a question. You have yet to even engage the guy. I'll even make a suggestion!

"I am fine thank you. So, where exactly are we going?" He had to fight to wedge himself into Della's body this time. Della had resisted, but he was too far anchored into her at this point. THough, He wondered if that moron sitting in the other cell would be able to detect that his fellow Jedi was off.

"I'll admit, you have been taking very good care of us. You certainly have some sort of plan for us." He wanted to chuckle. Oh, he had to fight it. However, he knew Della so well at this point. He had to force his face into the sad expression she favored. It was exceptionally deifficult. It was like trying to wear a wetsuit while imitating the grace of a gazelle.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

((OOC: Sorry about the wait! Life's been keeping me crazy busy.))

The echani monk chuckled at the former general's words. "Yeah, something like that," he replied before Della spoke. If Ze'kyre felt the shift in Della's demeanour, he did not show it. Perhaps he had just grown use to the more and more frequent appearance of this presence. In any case, the nature of her dilemma certainly eluded him.

Where we were going was a good question. Could they be sure they were even still about Tokmia? Ze'kyre could still sense no underlying agenda from the older man, but the neuroticism coming from the cell beside him, he was beginning to think that maybe it was clouding his own judgement. "You certainly have some sort of plan for us."

The sentiment was one Ze'kyre did not truthfully share, and he knew Xhosa's reply would just be another of failed reassurance to the older Jedi Knight. Perhaps this was the opportunity Ze'kyre needed to change the course of the conversation. "We can only waist time worrying about the details are host here hasn't already provided us with. But I'd be curious to know something." His mood grew serious then as he waited until he had the commander's complete attention.

"Were you there when it happened? ...Were you there for the sacking of Coruscant?"