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[Rrodossk]

The Trandoshans stared down at the Lieutenants hologram, the snarling fangs of the flaring slightly. He did not belong. Not to long ago his government was welcoming these very Sith with open arms. Their leader even still was one. But that did not matter much in the long run, so he shortly recollected himself and vent back to staring down at the Jedi ahead of him.

"You do not belong here Lieutenant,"
his voice was harsh in the begining, but after the short pause it softened somewhat, "but the wordss you sspeak are ssound and true. The Dosh may have a hisstory of brutality, but we atleasst have a goal beyond sheer brutality and terror. I also believe that she should face trial in each and every region of sspace she hass touched with her evil." It was ironic, he knew, that the Trandoshan would be talking about justice while his people in many points quite litterally bathed in the blood of their enemies. They were not a peaceful species by any stretch of the meaning. In fact, they most likely were one of if not the most warlike in the galaxy. Yet he had to play the part today so he used the lessons he has learned from politics to feign care about these topics. He atleast hoped that the Ewok was properly harvested and prepared, it is a rather expensive delicacy throughout the galaxy.

That was a few moments before Yossk began to visibly change his expression in tandem with the reactions of the other Force users in the room. His teeth gritted and his eyes squinted as the image flashed into his mind. Soon after he turned to speak to his father in Dosh, the soft hisses and growl of the complex language passing between the two showing a quick transfer of information followed by a nod of the younger Trandoshan's head.

"Do what you musst Jedi," with that he nodded his head towards them, "and ass long ass she is physsically and mentally unsscathed afterwardss the Trandoshan government shall back you. She musst be fully there once you are there sso she can fully take in each and every trial. Sso she can fully feel the weight of her actionss and feel the punishment of thosse she harmed." The Trandoshan leaned back in his seat and thought for a moment, making it clear he was not finished yet wished to leave his words hang in the air.

"We do make one requesst though. We wish to be the wardenss of Celesste while her trialss are ingoing. Our hisstory hass made it clear we can take on any upponent. We... I wass the one who made the misstake of introducing her to the rest of the Alliance. I vouged for her, I wass the one who put my name on the line for her to join uss. Let me and my clan make up for our initial misstake by keeping watch over her while there iss no verdict given by any government. Once they have made their decissionss then we shall releasse her to her fate the galaxy decidess for her. I apologize Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl, but this must be one of the few times i disagree with you. If judgements are to be handed out, are not all parties meant to have their voices heard in it?"

@LadyRen @Eccles @Valen Pelora @SlagathorTheUnknown @Black Noise @Xorism

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Well…Celeste was fucked. Charlotte had expected the usual Jedi shit show. Some promises that wouldn’t be kept, a plea or two for the Wookiee. Nothing that she couldn’t handle. She was barely even annoyed by the ever useless Rrodossk. The oh so scary Trandosian was exceptional at failing to read the room. Did he really think he could frighten the Grandmaster and the Councilor? She was ready for all of that. What she did not expect was the stunning competency of Hera. Calling the Empire and offering actual evidence was a master stroke. Charlotte’s eyes lingered on the Grandmaster. That woman had the political acumen of a wet sponge.

Hera might actually be dangerous. The case the Imperial agent laid out was ironclad. He clearly read from a length report. The other Free World Senators might not know the truth but the Queen Mother did. Celeste was guilty of all those things. If the Empire had hard proof, it was over. Slowly, she realized what she had to do. Sighing and shrugging, she drummed her hands on her throne. Her friends never seemed to last.

The Force of course had other plans. She did not share the strength of the connection of the Jedi, but that dreadful feeling of foreboding washed over her all the same. The moment the Grandmaster spoke, Charlotte knew it to be true. Raze was alive. The pulse in the Darkness was his return. She licked her lips and smiled. Chaos could save them all…but how to contact her only dancing partner (@Sreeya). The last gamble, the most dangerous life line of her past life. If she could find him, perhaps she could find purpose…but first…Celeste.


“It is painfully clear we have all been betrayed…if what the Grandmaster says is true…we are in grave danger.”

She leaned forward. “We can waste no further time. A trial would only delay the inevitable. Her crimes are those of a monster and a war criminal. Death is the only suitable sentence to be carried out…on this bridge.” She did feel badly. Such a beautiful body to waste, but she was left with no choice. Her secret must be safe. If Celeste escaped…what was the harm?

@Black Noise @Eccles @Olwin @LadyRen @SlagathorTheUnknown @Xorism

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera would remain still throughout the entirety of the conversations. Each senator piped up to let everyone else know exactly what they thought, and with each opinion, Hera formulated her judgments of each one of them. The Wookiee, wise, direct, with a desire to see the good in people. She could hear the pain in his voice as he demanded her trial and subsequent judgment immediately.

The Trandoshan, typical Trandoshan. But at least he could see the danger of the Sith. Though clearly he underestimated it, a trial in every region of space Celeste wronged? She'd be dead of old age before finally seeing every trial through. Victoria, she did not know well, but was disappointed in her nonetheless. Clearly, her personal opinions clouded her judgment, Hera believed. Then, the Senator of Hapan, she smiled. Hera caught it, of course the Joyful would catch it, and Hera smiled in return before Charlotte leaned forward to speak.

Hera listened to her words, but she felt there was more motive behind them. Knew there had to be more motive behind them. But this was not the time to squeeze information out of a Free World Senator, now was the time for action. Hera felt it too. The chill ran up her spine and caused an involuntary grin to spread across her face. The darkness, something terribly evil had awakened, and Alex named it for Hera. Raze. Hera was no fool, she had read the chronicles, Hera knew exactly who Raze was. And the Imperial had said he trained Celeste.

This charade, having barely begun, had gone on long enough. Hera stepped up as Charlotte finished speaking. Having taken in all the information of the room, Justicar Councilor Albion was ready to speak. "I appreciate all of your words, especially the esteemed Senator from Kashyyyk. You have been a friend of the Jedi through thick and thin, and I hold your opinion in high regard. As for the rest of you-" Hera stopped, reigning in herself from the anger she felt rise.

Calming her tone, she continued. "Raze has returned. Celeste, the mass murderer, was trained by one of the evilest fucking bastards the galaxy has ever seen. The Empire's evidence against her is concrete and without dispute. Let this be understood properly, Senators and Imperial, we Jedi have asked for your opinions as a courtesy. You do not hold weight above us on the matter of how we deal with a Sith in our custody.

"Celeste will be interrogated by us for information on Raze, then, all will be allowed to present evidence of her deeds, good and bad. Whether or not she will be released after that is subject to the Jedi's judgment of your evidence." Then, a message to Alex, 'Either way, we should strip her of the Force.'

@Valen Pelora @Olwin @LadyRen @SlagathorTheUnknown @Xorism @Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

Not visible by the others, Levik's office door suddenly slid open to reveal a fear-stricken member of the Imperial Knights. For some reason he had chosen to ignore protocol and procedure and barge into the interim-commander's office while knowing that the latter was in an important holo-meeting. At the same time one of the datapads in front of him showed a red alert, flagged 'ultra urgent' and an addition to one of the peacekeeper's top priority files on Force users.

Directory - Known Dark Lord of the Sith
Sub-directory - Not confirmed deceased
File dossier - Darth Raze

Fear was Levik's first reaction. He served the Empire when Darth Raze rose through the ranks. He knew the horrors this abomination had inflicted on the galaxy and even the troops under his own command. A top priority to find and kill, but also one that non Force-sensitives like himself had no chance of surviving against. Not even legendary gunslingers of otherwise unsurpassed skill like Preef Callo 'had a shot' against someone like Raze. He would deciminate the entire Imperial Knights Corps.. and yet the Empire would send them after him anyway. That explained the fear in the knight's eyes as he stepped into Levik's office.

His focus was forced back to the meeting when the Consul of Gannaria mentioned the warmaster's history as a Sith and that struck a nerve with the Imperial that he forced himself not to show. It was true that Lieutenant-general Din should have been 'Citizen Din' according to the decree issued by the Imperial Security Bureau and the warmaster's own statement. By all accounts the warmaster -who enjoyed the backing of the armed forces- had merely performed a coup on the other high-ranking Sith and allowed his friends and followers to take important positions among the Imperial Knights. His own little Order of Force-users.

This complicated the meeting for the lieutenant. He could not argue the accusations made against Altaïr Din as it would only worsen the Empire's relation with the other intergalactic factions. Luckily for him, it seemed that the Imperial knights weren't the only ones aware of Darth Raze's return and this provided him with an excuse to focus on the former Dark Lord of the Sith.

"We have a common enemy in the great evil that is the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Raze. I will make sure the Imperial Security Bureau pools all resources needed to investigate, find and combat this Sith-made abomination. Furthermore-" Levik didn't want to continue discussion as it seemed a majority of the senators was in favor of executing Celeste, which was the safest option from his point-of-view, and unavoidable since he told them she trained under Raze. "-we will supply the Jedi Order with the proof of her countless evil deeds, for their just consideration." Levik hoped that once they saw that Celeste was more evil than the First Blade of the Empire had been, they would offer her the same summary execution as they had given him.

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl very much wanted to dispute the ISB's evidence, if only to argue with the man whose Empire had given the Sith they now claimed to hunt a head start instead of pulling an Order 66 while surprise was on their side.

The Wookiee wasn't surprised by Victoria's defense of Celeste- the two's planets were in close proximity, and there was a time where Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had considered them both to be among the FWA's rising senators- but their journeys had taken very different paths since then. He shared Victoria's reservations concerning the Empire's apparent about-face following the expulsion of the Sith from their borders, but the Empire wasn't on trial here today.

"Consul, she has already been given a chance at redemption when she defected to the FWA" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl said, the words feeling ashen in his mouth. Had he not vouched for Celeste in front of the entire galaxy? "We are fortunate that her actions did not lead to war with the ISC." Celeste's long disappearance had all but ended her association with the FWA, whose Senators had an unfortunate track record of doing things a Senator shouldn't... Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl included.

Speaking of killing; "The Free World's Alliance has no law to put a person to death with" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl said, fixing Charlotte with a stare; as much as the Queen Mother liked to pretend, she did not speak for the whole of the FWA. "If she is given into FWA custody-" a big if, given Hera's sharp words and the mountain of evidence allegedly stacked against Celeste- "her fate would be subject to the laws of the planet where she is held." Hera had pretty much shut down any question of moving Celeste to a different location, but perhaps the Order could be persuaded at a later date. "For now, I agree that it is best that the Jedi maintain custody." Who else was equipped to handle the security threat that was imprisoning a known Sith? Many Sith had escaped in the past, and if Celeste somehow possessed knowledge that a returned Raze wanted to keep quiet...

"Thank you for the courtesy of this information, Councilor" he finished, his tone pleasant but the equivalent of a Wookiee frown on his face after being told that this meeting could've been a Holomail; all the same, he would give the Jedi the benefit of the doubt here. "Is there anything else you wish to share with us today?" And in a private message to the Grandmaster (@Valen Pelora). Can arrangements be made for me to speak with Celeste?

Could he even bring himself to talk with her, face to face?

@LadyRen @Xorism @Black Noise @Olwin @Valen Pelora @Eccles

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Under different circumstances she may have found herself agreeing with Victoria. The Empire was filled with Sith who had simply changed lightsaber color. She was not blind to that fact. But the harsh reality was those concerns were for another time. The majority of the Free Worlds were decided and so was Celeste’s fate. “She will remain with our Order. When the time comes, we will share what we have learned of her deeds and her association with Raze.” There was really nothing else to say. Alex was not about to honor the blood thirsty request of the Queen Mother. “Lieutenant…we should speak soon…thank you all for coming.” Victoria would not get a chance to respond. Alex regretted the brusque ending. She shared the woman’s concerns. Kriff, Alex was on her side…but this was Raze. She could not lose this chance with Celeste.

The Grandmaster motioned for Hera to lead the way. She fired off a message to Aezz as they walked. “Of course, you deserve that chance above all others.” (@SlagathorTheUnknown) Her betrayal of the Wookie Senator ran deepest of all. The walk to Celeste’s ‘chambers’ was short. Alex sinking deeper and deeper into the Force with each step. The Light humming in her chest. Balance. Finally, they stood outside. She raised a single finger.

“Don’t speak. Listen.” Her voice was soft but unwavering. “You have two choices, Celeste. One you allow me into your mind willingly and I will seek only those memories of you and Raze.” She slowly raised a second finger. “Two, you refuse and I remove the barriers in our way protecting those memories.” The tone in her voice never changed. Never wavered. “I will make your choice easier. You may think you know me, from the holos, Aezz or Rusaan…you do not.” She took a very small step forward. “I take no joy in this…no pleasure…but your choices have put you here and I need answers.” She tapped the side of her head. Alex turned to look at Hera before shifting back to Celeste.

“Arrogance is a slimy trait. One I have always found distasteful...however, you have the same odds of resisting me as the pebble the tsunami. This is not the path I would have chosen, but one I will talk…now what choice will you take Celeste.” The words never changed. She never threatened. She spoke calmly. Alex was the Light and she would have answers.

@Black Noise @Olwin @Eccles @LadyRen

 

[Victoria]

The imagery of the meeting had left a sour taste in Victoria's mouth, her words had clearly found their mark on several attendees, and perhaps with more time she might have been able to bring them around but alas it was not to be. As quickly as it had begun, the Jedi Grandmaster closed the meeting leaving a giant question mark lingering over its conclusion.

Slumping into her chair as the screen faded to black, the consul was at a loss for words. The shocking revelations had been presented such a matter of factly, atrocities committed in the name of an empire Victoria truly despised. Why then was it so hard to accept it herself? She had felt compelled to defend her friend in public where no one else dared, but secluded in private, the doubts started to thrive.

It seemed to be a continual theme in her career. The then-senator had nearly found herself thrown out of office for supporting the Jedi, to now potentially causing a diplomatic incident with them in order to save someone who once was so very dear to her. But now? Was Celeste even the same person that they all had known and loved? Her heart sank at the realization that no matter what happened next, she would have to grieve the friend she knew for a second time.

Grabbing her phone she scrolled until she found the contact she was looking for. It was getting so very hard to justify herself these days, all this time she had stood defiantly against her doubters but what if in this instance they had been right all along?

"Korre, I don't know who else to turn to. Can we talk?" @lizziie

@Black Noise @Valen Pelora @LadyRen @Olwin @Eccles @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste was alone for a whole while what ultimately gave her the chance to calm down after that Dark pulse withing the Force. Knowing they'd come for her, she frantically tried to think, but ever since she had felt that ripple, she was simply too distracted pondering on all the mistakes she had made. She wasn't given the chance to come at a conclusion on what to do next as the doors were suddenly opened, but that was way past she had already sensed that light, all the balance that was suddenly approaching while there was nothing but chaos inside her.

There was no point in hiding anymore. She'd know. All of it, perhaps, at least allegedly. It was too late to hide or for further games. Reckoning was upon her and judgement awaited but in the light of what had just happened, she knew they would attempt to draw information from her first.

She watched them enter, getting up from where she was seated and glaring at the Grandmaster rather absent-mindedly. All she had built up was shattered due to a series of unfortunate events and in the end, it had been both, Vahliri and her foolish attempt to throw Celeste under the bus out of whatever reason and the Empire who had sent her to Manaan in the first place.

Celeste listened to what the Grandmaster explained, knowing that unfortunately, she had a point. Regardless of what she would do, she'd break her defenses. She wasn't even alone. That red headed Concilor had followed in as well, meaning that even if she would come up with something clever in the very last second, there was another powerful force-wielder in this very moment, making it impossible for Celeste to make it out of here unscathed.

Fuck.

After all those years, after all the lies, the false appearances, the constant games, she was not only in Jedi custody, but they were about to find out that Celeste had indeed changed sides. That she had indeed been trained by the former powerful Dark Lord and the only real Sith she had ever encountered. She held him in unbreakably high regards. She didn't just respect him out of fear alone, but despite him being a literal, unstoppable monster, she admired him still. His chains were truly broken. Why had she worked for the Empire so long, when she should have chosen a completely different way all along? It was too late though. She didn't need that guilt as well. She had been chained by the Empire and she was now about to pay for not having been able to free herself alone.

Who else knew about this mess? Victoria had informed the FWA for sure by now and if the Empire would ever get wind of this, they'd want her dead as well. Celeste was seemingly back where she had been quite a while ago. She felt as alone as ever with no one at her side anymore. Not that she'd need either of them, she was fine on her own, but still this lack of perspective was simply infuriating. She didn't allow any of those negative emotions rule her though. Just like she had been taught, she kept her mind all blank and free, not needing to feel any of this.

Sighting, she then slightly shook her head. "You won't be able to face him...you cannot destroy him. He will kill you" she stated coldly. "What's inside my mind won't help you either, but I know you'll try to take it anyway. If he doesn't want to be found, you will not find him" she clarified, however knowing it wouldn't make a difference. They'd still be foolish enough to try using it somehow.

They had no idea what they were facing. Whatever had happened to him, he was stronger than ever. He'd burn them all to the ground and their heroic attempts would all be in vain. Obviously, the Jedi would still try. They wanted whatever she was hiding, desperate for learning something that would help them understand, but Celeste simply had different plans.

There was no way out. She had gotten lost in all the nets her stories had spun over the years and if they weren't planning on executing her like they had with Draugr, they'd probably take her Force away as she was too dangerous to be kept alive with it. She was beyond the point of saving, no humanity left inside, this was also something they'd figure out if they dove in, but before the Grandmaster would begin, she'd raise a finger, gesturing for them to wait one more moment. "I've made mistakes. Plenty of them even, but this will happen any more. I couldn't become what I've wanted and I will not aid you with fighting for a desperate and lost cause. You've come to the wrong person. I just hope Vahliri Kahtal is safely locked away". Or they'd just have another one to worry about. It didn't matter though. This was over. She would not die a traitor to her own kind and give up information and she would not be punished by getting stripped of the Force. She'd be nothing more than an empty shell after having wanted to achieve much bigger things, to strive for perfection in mastering the Dark Side. Whether it was the pulse she had sensed that finalized her decision or whether she would simply refuse to give up the information willingly, even herself didn't know.

"My chains are finally broken, the Force shall set me free". Those last words were barely more than a whisper as her eyes suddenly turned bright yellow. Her lips were curling into a smirk as she suddenly gathered the Force right in her own mind and within a split second, Celeste was no more.




Disclaimer: The following parts contain detailed descriptions of suicide. Readers' discretion is advised.



The Jedi would briefly feel how all the darkness inside her was unleashed one final time. For a short moment, they'd see who she really was. An apprentice of the dark side and a Sith that had not managed to free herself from the shackles the galaxy had provided for her all along. She had played a twisted game for years, perhaps it had only been a matter of time, but she decided not to be part of it anymore. In her own mind, it was no cowardly move, but the only reasonable one. She'd die at her own hands, not killed because anyone wanted her dead. Having been trained in mental manipulation by Darth Raze himself, Celeste had learnt a lot and despite obviously never having tried it, it wasn't even hard.

With a snap she'd pop her own brain right from the inside, inflicting irreparable damange and making her drop dead within less than a second. Her mind would not be accessible to anyone anymore and no one would ever take control of her life and decisions ever again. She'd leave them all to their chaos, an enjoyable one perhaps, but it hadn't been for her to indulge anymore. No regrets. The only one in control was herself and she'd become with the Force and the Dark Side and nothing else anymore. She'd end herself, leaving behind all those that had lost faith in her, but they'd not let her go without grievance. She'd die in front of the eyes of the Jedi who'd become witness to something unbelievably cruel and twisted and a final decision with no hope for an escape. Raze could deal with them all. Vahliri could try to find her old apprentice and end her herself, but she'd find nothing. No one would gain the satisfaction she had felt in the very last moment.

The Force had set her free.

@Valen Pelora @Black Noise @Sreeya @Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @Eccles

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera followed Alex, listened as Alex laid out her instructions, then listened as Celeste gave her response. All the while, the Justicar-Councilor stood in complete, motionless silence. Then, the trigger had been pulled. Hera felt the rush of the Dark Side as Celeste took her own life, and if it were not for those dark energies it would almost look as if Celeste had only fainted. Unblemished, unmarked on the outside. But inside, she was gone.

After a few seconds, Hera started to laugh. A quick, bubbling, uncontrollable chuckle as if she had just seen something hilarious and been holding in her reaction. Coughing to regain control of herself, Hera waved off the reaction and remarked, "Sorry, sorry. It's just- she fell funny." Shaking her head, Hera turned to leave.

Then came the second wave, and Hera stopped still in her movements. One word came from her, "Ithor-" Then Hera rushed to the bridge. The ship needed to get back into hyperspace as soon as possible. Though, unfortunately, Hera worried she and Alex were already too late.

@Valen Pelora @LadyRen

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The words were different. The sentiment the same. She had heard it far too many times before. The misplaced defiance of the Sith. They’d all done much the same. From the lowest acolyte to the Councilor on Ossus, their devotion was unwavering. She would fail. They would life and the darkside would march on. Perhaps they were right, but Alex still stood. The Order still stood. Despite all the failures, all the setbacks, they endured. Just as she promised. Just as she knew. The Sith Order, the Empire, even the Republic splintered. The Jedi Order survived. Listening to the speech was exhausting and she did not relish what came next.

Alex folded her arms. Preparing to do what was necessary. She wore the mantle of Grandmaster so that she could bear the burden and spare the others. Her mind wandered while Celeste spoke. Only snapping back when the Darkside flared. In an instant, she locked onto Celeste. The Force roaring in her chest, her mind leaping out. She was not nearly fast enough. Death hummed in the Force, mingling with lingering hint of the Darkside. It almost did not feel real. Alex watched the body slump to the floor. Vaguely aware Hera laughing. Why. That was all she could think. What secrets were so great that this was the answer


Her arms dropped slowly to her side. Eyes unable to leave the body. This had never been what she wanted, but it was what they got. What had she told Celeste? Her choices had put her here. Well, she had made that one last choice. Alex’s eyes flicked to Hera. She sensed no trace of the Darkside within the Councilor…her behavior lately was strange. The Grandmaster realized she was holding her breath. She needed to speak with Hera.

“The war claims another soul.” Of that she had no doubt. The Darkside corrupted and that corrupted claimed Celeste in the end. She could only shake her head before the Force burst into her mind. Alex was running beside Hera in lockstep. No words needed to be spoken. They both knew it was too late. Anything else could wait.

@Black Noise @LadyRen