Under Masks Are Truths

[Dmitri]

What is truth? Is it a fact or is it a belief? A truth is at the mercy of the eye of the beholder. A lie can be taken as truth, just as the opposite can occur. It is how propaganda flourishes: skewing lies as truth to the ignorant masses. It is difficult for a person to deny a lie that is taken for truth when there is no truth know for the contrary.

It was why the mask of a lie was working at a space station called Father's Dreams. The masquerade was perpetrated by Sith illusionist Geist Weiss, who concocted a false persona of Senator Brendan Rhea. After all, it wasn't like the staff of Father's Dreams could disclaim Rhea as the Senator of Askaj as they did not know who the Senator was, with some of them never having heard of that planet in the first place.

Having ended a mission earlier in which he had visited a Sith cache on Hoth and to prepare for an upcoming mission, he was ready to go home. Father's Dreams was the site of his refueling spot, but a problem had arisen. A mechanic had noticed a broken valve, so it was being fixed. In the meantime, 'Senator Brendan Rhea' awaited for his ship to be fixed. He decided to use this chance to visit the space station's commander and bug the room, so that blackmail could be used later on. After a refreshing tea session with Commander Barrel, Rhea left. He took a detour through the guest area. It had such marvelous architecture that it impressed the illusionist. Rarely was such masterpieces in such space stations. It came with a cost, as he wasn't paying attention, not noticing a person in his path.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della was in a hurry today. She had no idea where exactly she was, but it didn't matter. She had enough credits to hop onto a vessel to carry her to her next port-of-call, her naturally swift feet trotted against the ground. This brisk pace meant that she couldn't pay too much attention to where she was going.

She was in high spirits. She finally completed the last leg of her journey and now she simply needed to board the vessel to return to where she belonged. She lost track of time since she took off from the Order to run from the complications of a romantic entanglement between her and two men she loved very deeply. She left without a warning or a trace and made herself hard to identify with the disguise she donned. If was hard to search for a girl if she
was dressed like a boy.

That was in the past as well. She realized her folly and vowed to returned after completing one last task. That task was finished and Della looked forward to returning to the ones she left behind. She would finish her training and finally return home. The time for the return to Sacul was drawing close as well.

Her instincts trigged a warning of some sort. It didn't surprise her. The Force often warned her in busy ports like this. If Della kept her head down and was swift on her feet, she avoided attracting attention. She often passed under the radar of others. Still, she picked up her pace. She should have spared more thought into where she was going.

A figure seemed to appear out of nowhere and Della walked into him face on like a clumsy child. An ice cold liquid spilled over her and Della gave a yelp of surprise.

" So sorry! Oh my gosh are you okay?"

 

[Dmitri]

The boy ran into Brendan Rhea, spilling a cold drink on both of them. Rhea stumbled back a little.

"It's fine," said Rhea. "It's partially my fault for not looking where I was going." He noticed Della was drenched. "You're soaking wet. You better dry up or else you'll get a cold. I have a room nearby with some extra cloths for you to put on. The rooms come with a dryer, so we can get them cleaned." The man motioned for Della to follow him. "I'm Senator Brendan Rhea, by the way."

He offered so that he could learn who this was. The boy seemed familiar. He was Force sensitive, though trying to hide it. While their clothes dried, they would have a chance to talk.

 

[TweedPawn]

"Geof-f-f-fery S-s-sunst-t-t-ealer." Della chattered as she already started shivering. She was a bit leery of following strangers. This was a politician though. Politicians were very trustworthy people. She nodded quickly to the offer as she followed the Senator to his room. The air conditioning in the hallways and rooms made everything even colder to her.

Still, it couldn't hurt to be a little bit alert. She kept her bag close to her and ran through a few experiences she had of dodging thieves and assailants. She was naturally quick, and she had enough wit to her to dodge most attacks. Her eyes kept track of where she was going this time. She couldn't afford to get lost.

"I can't dilly-dally too long. I'll dry up and then I must be going. THis is very generous o you." Her rabbit-like brown eyes were friendly, but they seemed to be constantly analyzing her surroundings.

 

[Dmitri]

They walked towards Rhea's room. "No problem at all. How could I call myself a representative if I don't help those I represent?" As Geist said this, he found himself amused. Many politicians, whether Senators in the Galactic Alliance or the New Sith Imperium, cared little for their constituents, past voting statistics. Sure, they voted on matters to help their people, but only to secure their seat in the government. Most only cared about themselves. Thus the irony in a fake Senator helping out a real Alliance denizen.

They reached the door. Rhea unlocked it and led Della inside. He motioned to the bathroom after taking out a set of cloths. "That should fit, I think," said Rhea. "Don't worry. My staff buys me new clothes whenever I go on a trip so that I don't have to worry about laundry." The outfit was plaid with different shades of purples. "I don't care for that color, so you're free to keep it. You can change in the bathroom; I won't peak." Rhea only had his shirt stained, so he was able to just take off his shirt and put on a new one, this one a baggy white shirt.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della gave a sigh of relief. She took the purple clothes and rushed to the restroom to get cleaned up. She took a brief moment to wash her face and arms before trying on the new clothes. They were a bit baggy, and obnoxious to look at. However, Della wasn't the type to complain when she was given a free gift.

run...

That wasn't good. Her instincts shouldn't be kicking in like this. This could only mean that she was either being followed or lead to a trap. She froze for a moment, allowing her ears to try to pick up any odd sounds. Nothing yet. She quickly gathered her belongings. Her heart was starting to pound. She needed to dash out.

She peeked her head out first and then slipped out of the bathroom to try to exit out of the residence through the door without being noticed.

 

[Dmitri]

Pulling the shirt down, Rhea noticed Della. "Where you headed?" he said. "Your clothes."

The door was locked, so it would take a moment to unlock the door, but that was all the time Geist would need to subdue the boy.

 

[TweedPawn]

"Oh, those are pretty gross. Full of holes and grit. They needed to be tossed." said Della as she began to attempt to unlock the door. Divines, why did the door have to be locked?

"I don't want to be late. A traveling performer like myself needs to stay ahead of schedule."

 

[Dmitri]

Rhea sighed. The boy must have sensed something. He was attempting to escape. However, Geist was positive he knew the boy from somewhere and he was determined to find out. He knew it wasn't a Sith, as the boy was tainted by Ashla.

Geist used the Force to keep the door locked. "I'm afraid I cannot let you leave so soon. There's so much to discuss." Geist felt the boy through the Force to be ready if the boy attacked. However, what he found made shocked him. "You're a girl?!" The surprise was not normal for Geist, he could usually keep his surprise in check, but he was sleep deprived. His illusion flickered for a moment, revealing his normal illusion: that of a faceless metallic skin.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della's heart felt that it was going to pound out of her chest. This was very bad. She felt herself being searched. She hated that feeling. It had been used on her by Tuwan and then by a bogan she ran into. It felt like someone grabbing her and forcing their hand into her mouth. It made her feel sick.

She heard the tone of shock from the Senator and she pressed her back against the door as she saw a flicker of metallic skin. Della's own face became pale as she realized just how much trouble she was in. This could only end badly.

"I am whatever I want to be. You don't appear to be how the world sees you either. We have our secrets, yes? Just let me go. I am nothing to you." Della replied. She hoped that an appeal to reason who allow her to be on her way.

 

[Dmitri]

It was the person's protest did revelation befall Geist Weiss. The Sith illusionist shed his Brendan Rhea disguise, revealing his true disguise. He sat down calmly into one of the silk seats.

"It has been some time, Della Frey," said Geist, restoring his voice from the Brendan Rhea accent to his normal voice. "Remember me?"

 

[TweedPawn]

Della really did want to vomit now. The memories rushed to her like a nightmare. A new nightmare was now forming. She could only freeze perfectly still in that peculiar way her people managed to do briefly when there was danger nearby.

She remember this man quite well now. He was on the ship right after she was kidnapped. She first saw him when the Sith were taking measurements like she was an animal to be sold. They spoke to each other in the language that Della did not understand at the time. This man was always there, writing.

He was watching the children when they were forced to compete for food. Della remembered an exercise in speed that she naturally did the best in with little effort. He wrote during that. She took her food reward but shared it with the weakest of her brethren. This man was the only one who didn't discipline her when he caught her. He just wrote down the event.

Always watching. He had unnerved her more than the other three Sith that were on the ship. She recalled the first time she tried to escape. The sith who caught her and electrocuted nearly killed her. He stopped when this man entered the room silently. He was there when Della electrocuted her tormentor back with a desperate attempt to survive. He wrote that down.

During her isolation afterwards, the Sith actually asked for her name in their barbaric language. It was the first time she had been treated as something more important than an animal. It wasn' quite on the scale of human, though. She started to receive meals on a regular basis after she sparked, but the isolation brought an incredible amount of loneliness.

There were times that this man would enter the room and give Della some sort of puzzle to solve. He said nothing. He simply observed as Della reluctantly solved the puzzles one by one. He said something that was in the tone of praise. Della only returned his praise with looks of anger. She had wanted him to die. It was during these moments that the man would once again make notes.

Now here was here. In front of her. He had her snared and isolated just like when Della was held prisoner all alone. She said nothing at first, her brown eyes staring right at Him. She readied herself for some attempt to escape, just like before. Her mouth felt dry and Della could feel her legs prepare for action.

"Just let me go..." she said, almost hoarsely. It was between a whisper and her normal tone.

 

[Dmitri]

Della Frey had been one of the subjects taken from the unknown planet, the one a subject had referred to as 'Sacul'. The other children had said the word 'Della' mostly when talking to this girl, so it was assumed that her name was Della. She had been one of the most successful of the batch. A girl who marveled in electrokinesis. It was why Geist Weiss had assigned her to be transferred to Project Saligia, a secret project he worked on involving enhancing children's abilities. Past Saligia children had been gifted with Force Horror or pyrokinesis (the latter burning himself to death), etc. He had never had one touched by electricity. However, that was when things had gone down hill. The team that had gone to Sacul were killed during delivery of Della and the girl vanished. He had given up on her, and was intrigued that he encountered her here, discounting the strangeness of her cross-dressing.

Della speaking Basic was a treat.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," said Geist calmly. "There is little chance of escape, so relax. I mean you no harm." He could only image the horror she envisioned in her mind. "Once, you were a subject with marvelous potential, Della, but that is in the past. However, I am intrigued on how you've survived and come to this situation. But I am a civilized man, a lord of Empress Teta. If you are willing to indulge my curiosity, I will satisfy yours. From there, we can decide what shall be done with you. I no longer need you for my project, so I would be willing to release you."

 

[TweedPawn]

She remained with her back to the door. She gave a snort in protest. She didn't trust him. Certainly now that he had found her again. He never inflicted pain, but that didn't mean he gave his gifts freely. This would only serve to benefit him. The best Della could hope for would be to survive in one piece.

He was studying her. He wanted to pick her apart. Della took a deep breath. This was a mental game. One she could not afford to lose. This man had the experience of the Galaxy, Della had the legacy of her people natural cunning. If the great hero, Gaunerei, could cheat death then Della would be able to survive this.

"What more could you possibly want from me? I survived with luck, cunning, and my speed. The stories I grew up with aided my ability to avoid being snared by your kind again. It worked well enough that I would have walked right past you if I was just a little more cautious."

 

[Dmitri]

Geist grinned, though impossible to tell with his illusionary face. She tried to escape the question. A novice attempt, but valiant all the same. "You had a natural affinity to use the Force, mainly through electrokinesis. However, that would not explain your Force presence. It radiates more than it once was. Your power has increased. Towards the Light Side." He laughed, "Ah, so the Jedi took you in, raised you. The irony, kidnapped and experimented on by the Sith only to become a Jedi. I wonder how many of your friends know of your... darker history. Would they let you stay? Just because they let that blue-haired boy who was once in a Sith experiment join the Jedi doesn't mean they'll let you stay necessarily."

He hoped to aggravate her. Her emotions tied in with her ability to use the Force, at least in the past. Her emotions made her powers stronger, but harder to wield. If battle came, which he hoped to avoid, he would be ready with Force Suppression.

 

[TweedPawn]

Her thoughts went to her Master Sebastian. Her memories brought back images and techniques for staying calm. What would he do? He would become a wall. He would remain still. Della just had to emulate that feeling of stillness. She thought of her friends and how much they worked to help her understand. The entire Order did so much for her. Especially her Master and friends.

"They know. How could they not? As soon as I could hold a piece of chalk, I sought to tell my story. I sought to understand, to know what was happening to me. Even my Master knows as well as my friends." Della brought out a piece of chalk from her bag. It had been warn down to a tiny nub.

The emotions that bounded her to the darkness now guided her to Light, but she would never reveal that willingly. She had exceptional ability, but she kept it hidden as much as she could. There were odd things that the Force willed through her. Her skin glowed and shimmered at times. Light erupted from her and purified darkness of its own accord. She saw odd visions of the present and saw symbols hidden just under the skin of men.

She tried to focus her vision to see through that metal, but all she could see was a mesh made of darkness. If she wanted to see the true face of her previous tormentor, it would require more strength than she was willing to reveal at this moment.

"They showed me more compassion than you did. I was treated like a human being when I was with them, instead of an animal."

 

[Dmitri]

Geist sighed. "Indeed, such tests likely seemed barbaric to you. However, I'll tell you a little secret. They wanted to do so much more. A lot more. However, it was my compassion that prevented them from doing worse." He chuckled. "I doubt you'll even consider me compassionate, but if there's one thing I value, it's my work. My art."

Geist adjusted his legs. "Learning from you directly seems like it'll be a pain; it matters not. However, I am a man of my word, so I shall abide by my proposition. I am willing to answer your questions, to a limit. I will be truthful. Answer I do not wish to tell you I will simply tell you I will not say anything, rather than lie." He laughed. "I work so much in lies and webs of half-truths, it's relaxing to be able to be honest." Geist planned to answer truthfully, though he doubted she'd believe him fully.

 

[TweedPawn]

"That's all I was then? Just your latest work? You still viewed me as less than human. Perhaps you are still analyzing me right now, trying to pick me apart to see if you were successful in the long run. You speak of compassion, but what you really had was an investment" Della snorted again. Her back was still at the door and she watched Geist like a hawk.

What question could she possibly have? She had accepted the past. Answers could never change the hurt and suffering she went through. But, there was a chance to plan for the future.

"What is your name?"

She never understood it when she was suffering under him. Even in the puzzle sessions, he remained aloof and distant. If she knew this person's name and lived, she could dig up more information and possibly lead to his downfall. She didn't hate him anymore. But she wondered what brought him to this state of existence. How did he end up this way? Who were his mother and father? What was his childhood like?

 

[Dmitri]

Anger was filling Della, Geist could feel it, and it was in her attitude. However, it was that of frustration, rather than the nectar of the Dark Side. She was cautious, and for good reason. "Possibly," he hinted, but said nothing further on the subject. Still, he was intrigued the humility, the human-ness, from this Jedi. Geist could not recall Claudius César and the other Jedi from the Sage Halls on Empress Teta ever being so... alive.

The first question surprised Geist. He had expected questions about the project, but then again such a question was understandable. He probably haunted her nightmares, the Man in the Shadows. The Faceless Observer. Thirsting for the name of the person who had been there at her painful past was understandable.

"I am Lord Geist Weiss. Despite what many Jedi seem to think, I am not some Darth Weiss. Just because I have slain three Sith Lords does not mean I am myself. My title of Lord comes from Empress Teta, in which I am the heir to one of the major royal families. I am a Sith Master and alchemist of the New Sith Imperium."

 

[TweedPawn]

He spoke of a family. He was a child at one point. He was born with a vision of himself different than the one he was possibly living now. She had to dig at his humanity. Her questions now had to reveal his true self.

Help him...

Had she been led here by the Light? She wanted darkness removed from him. Yes, he caused her terrible pain. He was the reason she suffered. But, she forgave him. She forgave him long ago. She would rather that he found redemption than to suffer. Compassion began to fill her.

The Force suddenly rushed into her. The veneer of the room gave way to thin strands of silver and soon her entire vision became filled with webs that linked her and Geist to other living things nearby. She saw an orb of smoke floating in a ghostly image in front of Weiss's heart and the dark mesh that was in front of his face became even more evident.

He probably couldn't see what she was seeing. Della remained calm and still. She thought of another question.

"What motivated you to view your art in such a way? What brought you to involve human life?"