The Witch and the Demon

[Dmitri]

Bellatrix La Rouge had met Matsu Ike only once, and the rest that she knew of him was through her reputation. She was active, and was known for her vast amount of apprentices. Recently, the wisties buzzed about how one of Matsu's apprentices had been exiled, resulting in Matsu leaving the order. Rouge was even more surprised when Matsu came to Rouge, asking to join the Imperial Knights. After an inquiry, Matsu was allowed, along with her entourage. However, Rouge was surprised further by two members of Matsu's entourage: two Sith Purebloods named Mara Sadow and Lamia Kressh, the latter having been the Padawan that had been exiled by Lecchaememnon.

Rouge decided she wanted to meet with this Lamia Kressh for many reasons. The first was that she had never met a Sith Pureblood before; they were a rare species, with not many left. Second, Rouge wanted to hear what actually happened that caused Lamia to be exiled. The last was to learn more about Matsu. Third parties could always summarize profiles, and the people themselves tended to not always give everything away, but people close tended to have a better picture; besides, Rouge was curious how loyal these people were to Matsu.

Rouge had invited Lamia to meet with her in the captain's dining room aboard Predator-class Star Destroyer Excalibur. Captain Barrel had offered to fetch Lamia and bring her for the small dinner meeting, which he would then make sure no one disturbed them.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia had received an invitation via datapad to talk with the Imperial Knights' Commander. Bellatrix La Rouge... Getting into her standard comfortable black 2-piece outfit, she clipped her two lightsabers to her belt, her sword slid through a rung on her waist's left side. She stepped down the hallway and entered the dining room. Seeing Rouge, she bowed.

Knight-Commander Rouge...

 

[Dmitri]

"Greetings, Lamia Kressh," greeted Rouge as Lamia arrived.

Captain Barrel was by Lamia's side. He raised a hand as if expecting something.

"Please forfeit your lightsabers," requested Barrel. "You'll be given them back after you leave."

Rouge sat down at the dining table. "My apologies, Lamia Kressh, but you must understand that we Imperial Knights must be cautious, especially around such a wild card. You're a Sith Pureblood, something we've never encountered before, and caution is most fit for such a situation. Please do not see this as an insult towards you, but I wouldn't make a very good Knight-Commander if I didn't exercise caution, not just for myself, but the entire crew of this ship. Matsu Ike speaks highly of you and your knowledge of the Force, but precautions must be done." Rouge had not harshness in her voice, but one of calamity, of explanation. Rouge believed that this Sith Pureblood probably had good intentions and wouldn't betray them, but just like she said, they'd never encountered a Sith Pureblood before, and as such wanted to use caution until Rouge could make a definitive impression of the girl.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia complied with the Captain's wishes and passed him her three lightsabers. Seeing a rack on the wall, she carefully levitated her family sword over until it carefully fit in there.

I can understand the need for caution. At least you're more accepting then the leader of where I came from.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge offered Lamia a seat.

"The Jedi, for all their talk of righteousness and equality, are actually very prejudice," admitted Rouge. "Anyone who doesn't execute their ideals perfectly are looked down upon. Some are even considered 'heretics'. Not all of these 'heretics' are Dark Siders either. 'Grey Jedi', to them, are abomination. It's why the Jedi generally don't look upon the Imperial Knights with much favor.

"Lecchaememnon is old school, and has these prejudices, but at the same time he realizes he needs allies. It's why he sought alliance with us upon his ascension to Grandmaster. However, it seems that the prejudice against the Sith Pureblood still remains in him, and as such he most likely judged you biasedly. Had you been of another race, there's a good chance he wouldn't have exiled you."

 

[Fusion]

I know that...

Lamia's blood began to boil as she bent over in anger. Why did a Jedi like that have to be such a hypocrite... He went against everything the Jedi had stood for: Equality, kindness, Acceptance...

Why? Why are there such hypocrites as Jedi?

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge felt Lamia fill with anger. It was understandable. The Jedi had given her a purpose, and then dragged the carpet from under her just because of who she was. However, anger shouldn't be indulged all the time...

"Ease, Lamia Kressh," said Rouge. "They're not even worthy to be the portrait of your anger. The Jedi are... misguided. They do what they think is right, but work so hard to do the right thing, and build themselves too righteous that they end up pushing people away. In their attempt to become the defenders of freedom and equality, they lost themselves. Adjustment is hard for them, as the past holds their convictions, their cornerstone to look at in order to feel that they're doing the right thing. It's ironic, the Sith fall to the Dark Side, but they feel to realize that they fall to. To fall is such a subtle thing. Unnoticeable at first, and when reality strikes you, you try to hide from its truth, and delve into the past. But not all Jedi fall into the darkness. For one can also fall into the despairity of the light, a tool to unchanging beliefs. They are as broken as the Sith, and because neither is willing to try to accept the other, the Jedi and Sith continue to wage war at a galactic-level, causing so much death in their quake."

 

[Fusion]

You seem surprisingly knowledgable on the Jedi. Perhaps you were a member of their order once as well? And yes, some Jedi become so stringent in the light that they refuse to even consider anything not related to it.

Strange... I can blame the Jedi for all my species' troubles and near-extinction. If they had only accepted the Exiles instead of declaring them heretics, they never would've met my people, enslaved them, destroyed and watered down their bloodlines.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge hesitated answering. It was true, she had once been a Jedi, a long time ago. Claudius had recruited her after her parents died, and she tried with the Jedi of old, but after she had executed the Mandalorians who killed her parents, she had been exiled. From there, she had met Hamal of the Imperial Knights and the rest was history...

"The Jedi do have a tendency to make things worse, generally," agreed Rouge. "However, sometimes such actions are necessary. The problem is the rationale behind such actions."

 

[Fusion]

Yes...

Lamia then paused. She didn't want to dwell on solely this.

Now tell me what you need. I know you didn't simply call me here to have dinner...

 

[Dmitri]

Lamia finally decided to stop cutting around the bush. Rouge respected that, and got to the point.

"To be honest, you're an enigma, as is Mara Sadow. Enigmas are unpredictable, and while I am not arrogant as Jedi or Sith to assume I can know everything but knowing what's predictable, I still prefer to limit the amount of enigmas. To be blunt, I am curious how your species will do in the Imperial Knights. I am not saying you cannot join, but rather that if Jedi-written claims about your species is true, you're most apt in the Dark Side, which could be a problem. Matsu Ike attests for your loyalty, and I'll trust it, but to a degree, as I do not know much about Matsu Ike either." Rouge sipped some of her wine. "What is it that you seek?" the Knight-Commander asked as she placed the glass down.

 

[Fusion]

I seek redemption, ma'am. As does Mara. Redemption for our species whose name has been twisted and besmirched by these imposter Sith running the Empire that you once clung dearly to. As Master Ike can attest, I am loyal, honorable, and not as dark as you might think one of my species would be.

Lamia sipped from her glass as well. The wine was... sharp, to say the least.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge listened to Lamia.

"So Matsu Ike has told me," said Rouge. "The Imperial Knights attest the Sith followers, not the Sith species, as the Sith Purebloods were almost extinct by the time we were established. I agree with your sentiment that the galaxy needs to realize that there's a difference between the Sith Order and the Sith species. It's this discriminative behavior that allows the Sith Order to prior on and empower themselves."

 

[Fusion]

Not all Sith are as malicious as you'd expect. While traveling to Malachor V to pay my respects to the victims of the battle, I was trapped on my shuttle by the mass shadows. A Sith shuttle entered the system and was trapped by the shadows as well. Waiting for our ships to drift out of them, we had a philosophical discussion on the Sith, the Jedi, and the Force before we went our seperate ways. He was quite knowledgeable, and he did not seem malicious like many of the others. I think he's the only Sith I currently respect even a tidbit.

What Lamia was saying was in fact the truth, though she forgot to mention the Sith in question was a Darth and possibly dead by now.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge reluctantly mentally agreed that not all Sith were all evil. Some were just... misguided. But misguidance didn't pardon their sins completely, only partially. She wondered who this Sith Lamia Kressh was, but doubted she knew the person's name.

"There's some truth to that," admitted Rouge. "But let me ask you this: When your life is on the line, and the lives of others, do you wonder to yourself 'Could this person not be as evil as I think?' when dueling or do you focus on the duel and try to survive? Yes, once you are victorious, if the option arises, possibly give mercy so the Sith opponent may be judged, though many Sith will use that moment to then execute one last desperate attack. However, it is unwise to worry about such things unless the opportunity arises in which conditions are suitable. Battle is where most Sith lie, and talks with them are slim, especially without plots of betrayal afterward."

 

[Fusion]

And yet the one I spoke with seemed to care little about battle. He seemed more like one who would be delving into every last holocron instead of slaughtering Jedi. It was... unusual to say the least. And yes, I would focus on a duel and show mercy instead of pondering other thoughts.

But now that I'm here, you clearly have questions about me and my species. Go ahead.

 

[Dmitri]

"I am not as biased as to claim that all Sith fit within the stereotypes told by the Jedi, the public, or even the Imperial Knights. A majority fit many of the traits of the stereotypes, but not all. It is why if the opportunity arises, I'd prefer to bring them to the light, but I am also not arrogant to believe I can do it without caution.

"You are correct. I do have questions, but like I said, not everyone falls into the category given to them, be it sex, race, species, affiliation, etc. Not all Sith Purebloods, also, are the same. So while I can ask questions about your culture, and your species' history, individuality is null in the face of culture, so I can understand culture, but not you, but at the same time culture gives a key to unlocking the hidden truth.

"I am curious how you came across the Jedi and joined them. I doubt many, pardon any unintended insults if you feel it comes across as such, would be pleased to allow a Sith Pureblood, a race sometimes perceived as the temptation that led the Jedi exiles to follow the path of the Dark Side, despite the Dark Jedi of the Bogan having predated them."

 

[Fusion]

I was on the planet Haashimut, meditating peacefully in the ruins of the old Jedi outpost, when Master Ike came across me. She was... Different then I expected a Jedi to be. After a brief conversation, I was on board a shuttle to Tython with her, where I was welcomed by the few Jedi who were not prejudiced against my species like the Grandmaster is. Shortly thereafter, Matsu pleaded my case before the Former Grandmaster, who has now fallen to the Dark Side, and he allowed me to become her Padawan. It all goes from there.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge laughed. "I see. It's ironic. When I first joined the Jedi, the person who had found me, Claudius, pleaded for me to be accepted. However, unlike you, my sin was of my own making. Yours, from what I've heard, was not, but gossip is not always reliable. I killed those who had murdered my parents through the traditional duel that invokes a Mandalorian's honor; I paid for such actions with exile. To be honest, my exile benefited me. It allowed me a chance to see the real world for what it was, not sides of a balancing scale that has not form other than what the prejudices of the Jedi Council claim. I met many people, and saw many aspects of the galaxy. Most importantly, I met someone who would train me into what I am today: the Witch of Endor." She sipped some wine.

"My apologies, I seem to be talking about myself too much here. However, my comment has made me curious. What caused the Jedi to justify exiling you? They are arrogant, but seek justification first. Thus, you must have done something that they used as an excuse to exile you. What was it?"

 

[Fusion]

I was dueling with Master Teline Deloi, when I utilized two Force Powers he mistook for Dark Side powers: Kinetite and Electric Judgement. My species' lightning is unique in that its color changes depending on how we feel. I was feeling fear, because he was acting as if I was using the Dark Side, thus my lightning color changed to blue, making it easily mistakable for Dark-Sided Force Lightning. That was their excuse for exiling me. That and the Grandmaster was simply bigoted.

Lamia would never get over his complete and blatant speciesism. At least not until he was dead.