Carida

[Kayla Mhin]

"Why does she run? Why does she defy his majesty Emperor Yahn?"

 

Several choice words flitted through Kayla's mind, but she thought better of provoking the already enraged Emperor. Before she could respond, she was thrown roughly to the ground where she was electocuted several times. She instinctively clamped her mouth shut against the cries of pain, silent but defiant.

 

"Do you yield?"

 

What a stupid question. Why would a Jedi willingly choose to yield to such a slimy, worm-ridden piece of...

 

She mentally pushed away the waves of pain and pushed herself up away from the ground, raising her eyes to meet his defiantly, but silently. If she was to die, so be it. But could she really 'yield' and give in to this...this monster? But, if she didn't... She would probably die, just like Zane and her master already had.

 

"Trust your instincts, Kayla..."

 

The calm voice echoed through her mind again and Kayla welcomed the peace and reasurance it brought. Her fingers clenched the lightsaber in her hand and she stood, maintaining eye contact with the evil man standing and waiting for her reply.

 

Her jaw twitched and then... Her eyes slid shut and she tossed the lightsaber in her hand to the Sith's feet. He had won. For now.

 

"This isn't over."

[Cineon Yahn]

He smiled, "A wise decision."

 

He used the Force to bring her lightsaber to his hand. "I have collected three lightsabers. Yours, your friend's, and your master's. You are a much wiser Jedi then your master. A wiser being as well. You are smart enough to recognize that you cannot win and have is necessary. A Jedi Knight might have rather chosen to die, but your death would have meant nothing. You have hate... you have anger, but you do not use them. In time you will learn to indulge in your desires of hate and anger. You want to channel your emotions to become something greater in the Force. You will not be judged if you take this new path. Sith use their compassion for their strength. Anger is an essential tool, but you will find that we are not without compassion."

 

He summoned an imperial officer, "Captain, make a room for Ms. Mhin. Furnish it with everything she requests that is within reason. Supply her with a better wardrobe and two stormtroopers to have at her disposal. The troopers will be seperate from the main chain of command and will be dealt with by me if they commit treason. They will defend her if anyone brings harm to her."

 

He turned his attention back to Kayla, "I will be having a small banquet in honor of the academy here on my planet with the lead instructer, Renin, as the guest of honor. You will be expected, and without your Jedi garb."

[Kayla Mhin]

"I will not turn to the dark side," Kayla said softly but seriosly, "All my life I have lived following my emotions, and, seeking revenge. But it has gotten me nothing but a life of pain." She met his gaze evenly as she spoke and without fear, "The Sith may well be able to feel love, and even compassion.

 

"But so can the Jedi. Our very code, as you probably know, is based upon peace and compassion. Because, without it--love, compassion--we are nothing, we might as well not exist.

 

"Now, you can try all you want to turn me into what you want me to be, but I won't waver from what I believe." Her chin lifted in calm defiance, "Now, if you will excuse me, apparently I have to get ready for a banquet."

[Renin Santur]

Renin smirked as she walked off. He turned to Cineon and smiled with and then spoke with a cocky voice.

 

" Well I didnt expect that from you. "

[Cineon Yahn]

"She is strong spirited and devoted to her cause for the life of a Jedi." He looked over to Caedes, the entire time blocking his thoughts so that Kayla might not know what he was saying through the Force, "But that will not save her in the end. I have taken this course of action so that she will be absorbed into our way of life. All of her possessions that remind her of her Jedi life will be dealt away with. In time, she will forget about the Jedi and be ripe for the picking."

[Renin Santur]

Renin nodded and gave the Emperor a bow. He looked at Kayla and absorbed her beauty, but now wasnt the time for that. He would be dealing with love later. Now was the time to perpare for the dinner, but Renin had some questions.

 

"My lord, what of the academy?"

[Cineon Yahn]

"It has become my understanding that you were designated as the headmaster by Lord Ryu. I had the new temple constructed and I sense Piro's presence now on Cardia. You may deal with it as you wish, as long as you follow your mandate set forth by the Dark Lord."

 

He could sense the lustful feelings coming from him. He smiled, "Use your feelings toward her if necessary. Do what must be done, Lord Caedes."

[Renin Santur]

Renin bowed.

 

" Yes my Lord."

 

He spun on his heel, his cape flapping through the air, and he marched off. He went into his room and placed on his normal clothing and was perpared for the readiness of the temple and the baquet.

[Darth Revenga]

"Come with me" Skor said to the lady Jedi.

 

They walked for five minutes through the base without a word. Skor heard an explosion so he stopped. He looked back, and then continued forward.

 

"You Jedi...So wise yet so many choose to come to their own demise. Can you not see the future through this 'force' everyone is speaking of? Such a powerful energy...I have felt affects of what sound similiar to it, but my knowledge about it is lacking, nor have I given a force user enough time to analyze me."

 

Skor stopped in the hallway and looked rogueishly at the girl.

"The force is a powerful tool and you chose not to die for it as your friends did, why is that?"

[Kayla Mhin]

It was an interesting question, one that Kayla would have to think about for a moment before responding. Well, she could tell him she chose to 'yield' because she was afraid of dieing, but that wasn't true. She wasn't afraid of dieing. But perhaps she could still do the Jedi some good here.

 

"You ask why I chose not to die, and I ask why you choose to live a life of death." And, seeing that she'd arrived at the room the Emperor had had prepared for her, she entered and left the Sith standing outside to think over her question.

 

Inside, Kayla stopped, suddenly really realizing that she was on a hostile planet, surrounded by the enemies of everything she believed in. And, she was alone.

[Renin Santur]

Renin wore his Sith clothing. A black leather garb and his black robe. He stepped out side and walked through the halls until he came upon Skor. The Sith Lord scowled at him from a distance, but continued to walk towards the Apprentice. Renin gave a turn with his head, signaling Revenga to move from the door he stood by, and he did. Renin could feel Kayla in the room and he could feel her fear. Caedes knocked softly on the door and spoke loud enough for her to hear.

 

" Can I come in? "

[Cineon Yahn]

Lord Barabbas had changed his own outfit. He was wearing a red tunic, with a midnight blue cape with a chain. He rested the lightsabers of Zane and Scorp to add to his already growing collection of lightsaber that he had stolen from Vauler. This was ironic. Vauler had stolen the ship known as Deviant IV, and robbe dead warriors of their weapons, only to have all of these things stolen from him as well. The part of Vauler's collection did not have a lightsaber from Sadism, however. This was disapointing to him. He also had the arms of Scorp and the now dead Morsus hanging from the top of the lightsaber display. He closed it so Kayla did not see the display and put it under guard of Royal Guards.

 

He had arranged for the banquet to begin. At the head was his seat. Then at the opposite end was the seat for Lord Caedes. There was also a seat for Raiden and the other special team commanders, and a seat for Kayla, of course, set near Caedes.

 

"I want elegant foods, nothing offensive or disgusting. I want our new female guest to feel comfortable and know she is respected for her decision to remain loyal to the Jedi."

[Kayla Mhin]

Kayla sighed as she heard the voice from outside her door. She recognized who it was, but really didn't want to talk to anyone--especially not him--right now. But, she opened the door for him anyway.

 

((Sorry it's short. ))

[Renin Santur]

The door pressed to side, showing Renin at the doorway. He took a step forward and gave a small bow to the women.

 

" Is every thing here suit you ok?"

 

He said with a concern voice.

[Kayla Mhin]

Kayla sighed, "They're fine." Maybe she shouldn't sound so rude, afterall, he sounded genuinely concerned, but he was still a Sith; her enemy. Of course, he somehow had a way of making her forget that. He also had a way of seeming not so evil...

 

For a moment, she looked up, her eyes meeting his. And for that moment, she found herself forgetting again. But as soon as she realized it, she quickly looked away, reminding herself of who he was. Of who she was.

[Renin Santur]

Renin tilted his head to the side to look back into her eyes and catch them. He smiled at her kindly and spoke softly.

 

" Why do you always look away? Is it because I am a Sith?"

 

His eyes glimmered as he tried to get her to look back up.

[Darth Revenga]

'Why do you choose a life of death?'

 

Skor was forced into thinking. Renin signaled him over, so he followed to the door as he talked. He looked elsewhere, arms crossed, and lost in thought.

 

'Life of death? Hah, fool. Death comes to those who need it. My search for power will raise challenges, and I will cripple all who stand in my way....All of them' Skor thought.

 

He turned towards the two of them.

 

"Why do I choose a life of death? I choose it because death itself is what stands in my way. I will command its power, life and death themselves will be my to control."

 

He turned back away from the two, brushing some hair from his face.

[Cineon Yahn]

Barabbas typed a memo. The banquet was to be in a few hours. In the meantime of the preperations, he would be going to Chandrilla for a quick visit. It had been too long since he had been there and he had to report in with his Master.

 

He boared Shadow Lightning and departed Cardia...

[Kayla Mhin]

"Why do you always look away? Is it because I am a Sith?"

 

Kayla bit her lip and then lifted her eyes to meet his, "I..." Her voice trailed off, he really looked like he honestly cared. In his eyes, in the way he looked at her...

 

Then the other Sith spoke from behind Renin, breaking the moment. She listened to what he had to say, and then responded sharply, "Then you are the fool. You seek power, when you should know, power will get you nowhere. You will seek power all your life, and then, when you think you finally have it... Along will come someone with more power than you and snuff you out. You will be finished, left to regenerate in a cloning tube on some planet. That...is your destiny."

 

Her gaze shifted from the fool to Renin and she turned away, again reminded of just who he was...

[Renin Santur]

Still trying to get Kayla to look back at him, he noticed that the other Sith was making her irritated. Renin looked over his shoulder and nudged his head, now giving him the signal to leave. The apprentice had no other choice and was force out of the room by two storm troopers who were outside. The Sith Lord turned his head back the Jedi and smiled kindly.

 

" Kayla, I know how you feel about me. I feel the same way about you. You think of me as some one who is pure hate. Yes, we do come from different sides, but cant we put that difference away when we are with each other?"

 

He stepped closer and placed his right hand on the side of her right arm, and then lifted his left hand and softly touched the bottom of her chin, leading her eyes and face back to look at his. They stood silently for a moment as Renin was lost in her eyes. No words came from their mouths, just feelings of lust. He fell deeply into her beautiful eyes and leaned forward to kiss her softly on the lips.

[Darth Revenga]

Skor walked off with the two stormtroopers without protest.

 

'I'll let him have his fun' Skor thought.

 

He stopped to make one final remark, without turning around he said..

 

"If that is my fate, then so be it. Life is nothing without fighting in some form, even you Jedi know that."

 

Skor left the corridor leaving the two alone.

[Kayla Mhin]

He was going to kiss her. In a way, she wanted him to, but still, could she really do as he asked and just...forget that they came from two totally opposite sides? Forget that this went against everything... As his lips neared hers, everything else disapeared...

 

Kayla felt her arms slide around Renin's neck, felt him pull her close, his heart beating...and her own. Her breath caught. And abruptly, she pulled back, shaking her head. "Don't."

[Renin Santur]

Renin's eyes dropped as he stepped back after being pushed away by her. His heart stopped for a moment and a chilling feeling ran down the sides of his face. His emotions swirled in his stomache as the feelings of hurt and embarrisment ran up his body. He took another step back, not looking at her, and bowed in shamful way. He kept his eyes off the Jedi who he tried to kiss, and began to head for the door. He paused for one moment and spoke quietly.

 

" Forgive me. Please forgive me."

[Kayla Mhin]

Kayla watched Renin leave with a sad sigh and she almost stopped him. But, she didn't. She let him go. But as he left, she couldn't help feeling that he took a part of her with him. "What am I doing?" she muttered under her breath.

 

Now that she was alone again, she should probably get ready for the banquet she was 'invited' to.

[Guest]

Syphax's Naboo Starfighter entered the atmosphere of Cardia.

 

"This is Hasdrubal Syphax Masinissa requesting permission to land."

After a brief pause, a trooper replied "Permission granted, land in Hangar 18-Z."

 

Mael guided the fighter into the designated hangar, and instructed his astromech droid to rest. I doubt I'll have to hastily leave. Mael was 'greeted' by 4 stormtroopers, who escorted him to the academy's entrance. Despite being under guard, Mael was highly impressed by the security and professionalism exhibited. No slackers for sure. Perhaps the Sith could help him exact the revenge that fueld the hatred inside him, and he could oust the Naboo government in place of a stronger, more stable body. Perhaps the Empire...they are much more respectable than those idiot, haphazard Rebels.

 

The stormtroopers instructed him to halt in the foyer until further instructions, and left him in solitude, although he was sure there were cameras trained on him.

[Renin Santur]

In the halls of the base, Renin marched. His eyes kept on the floor and his feet in a rythmic pattern. All of the sudden he came to a sudden stop. He lifted his head and closed his eyes, as he felt out through the force. With out saying a word, he darted through the palace and into the hanger bay where his ship awaited him. He jumped the controls and took off into space for his destination.

[Cineon Yahn]

Cineon arrived on Cardia again, soon expecting the Serpents to be arriving. "Ready the final arrangments for the banquet, I will be in discussion with the Dark Lord of the Sith. I will inform you of when to begin."

[Kakuto Ryu]

Kakuto's darkened figure appeared on Cineon's comm

 

--COMM--

 

"Yes?"

[Cineon Yahn]

Cineon bowed, "My Lord, I have a report for you. I would like to inform you that my progress is doing extremely well. My fleet is now strong in number, with 5 capital ships and a super star destroyer. I will have two more arriving as we speak, totalling my fleet up to 8 ships, the fleet will soon be at capacity. Also, I have done away with my prisoner Zane Arclyte, killed a Jedi Knight by the name of Scorp, and have taken his padawan prisoner. The academy is up and running, and soon I will be overseeing the operations of Rocketblaze's Serpent sect. I hope this is satisfactory to you, my Lord."

[Lionchilde]

Unexpectedly, the Nameless exited hyperspace, and Silla gasped as Speck reported the presence of the Imperial Fleet

 

"I don't believe this," she muttered, reaching out to the Force to target the ships and fire. "Darsha, I really hate that friend of yours!"