Prologue X, Uneasy Conversation
[X] Plan Hastur
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"You wish to break us down and reform us as you see fit, but what will that accomplish, Lord Jadus?" You start with your mount a bit dry, nodding to Kory. "You see me as broken and her as weak, and you are probably right, but do you truly believe we shall survive your reforms and remain of use to you?"
A gimmick of emotion — of curiosity — finds its way through the Force, almost unnoticeable. Alright, keep it like that...
«We might be powerful, my Lord, but power without a will to guide it is like a lightsaber without a hilt — useless. Are you that determined to take our will away, to make us into the useless minions? And if you are, is that what you really want to have beside you? Adepts of the Dark Side are fueled by passion, by emotions, but it is a freedom to pursue them that separates pebbles from the Sith, and it is the strength of their wills that leades them to this freedom. To be restrained from pursuing the emotions and desires is to be an invalid — a worthless cripple, unable to reach true power of the Force. Only by following our passions, binding them and putting them at our service, by controlling hate to purge our weaknesses and by tempering our rage into a sword that will slay our foes, only by that can we become true Sith.
But the way I see it — of course, my Lord, I might be deluded, but the way I see it, you wish to deny us that path. You seek to smother everything that makes us us, but doing this will destroy any our future potential. We can become something more than your mindless sentries, we would aid you to the best of their abilities, show consideration to options beneficial, though unacceptable for common servants and warn you about any possible flaws in the planning so that your success would be absolute — if you allow us to reach our full strengths, we shall be loyal only to Dark Side and you».
Jadus tilts his head a bit.
«So many promises, acolyte. Such sweet tongue would do good to a Republic senator, but an aspiring Sith?» — Jadus shakes his head. — «Had you proven your worth to me, I would consider it, but... Hm. Tell me, have you been approached by Lord Zash?»
«Yes, my lord».
«And what did you talk about?»
«She ordered me to breach the tomb of Naga Sadow and find, well, map of sorts. She didn't specify what kind of map».
«How did she find out where this map is?»
«Other acolyte discovered it... Oh». Kory. Zash must have sent her on the task while you were out.
For some reason you feel that Jadus is satisfied with your answer.
«You wanted me to allow your growth, acolytes — this is your chance to prove you have somewhere to grow. Lord Zash has high ambitions and grand plans, and you are meant to be a part of that. But instead you will serve me, by finding out what are her plans and what she strives to achieve».
«We shall be glad to prove our worth».
«Very well. Take this first», — Jadus picks a military-grade comlink from the table. — «You will use it to contact me. Do not allow any delays — I must know everything you will discover».
«Thank you, my Lord», — you take the comlink from his hands. — «What are we supposed to do?»
«Do what Zash ordered you. Go to that tomb, get her the map and proceed to the next task. Then I will give you further instuctions. Now you can leave — both of you».
«Yes, my Lord... But what will happen if something goes wrong?»
«Why ask questions you can answer on your own?»
Well, that leaves that.
Taking a gap around Jadus, you pick Kory by the shoulder and pull her towards the elevator, followed by his gaze. As you get further and further away from him down the corridor, it becomes easier to breath and to exist.
«Thank you... Thank you...», — whispers Kory, leaning towards a wall. — «Oh damn, it was so horrible».
Elevator doors open, revealing a tall Chiss in military gear. He looks at you with no emotion on his face — honestly, that's starting to irritate you.
«Is Darth Jadus in a good mood?»
«Probably».
«Splendid», — Chiss takes a chocolate tablet out of his pocket and hands it to Kory. — «Here, have a bar».
Kory nods and starts eating. Chiss nods back, walks past you both and leaves for the Jadus' chambers. Strange, he doesn't seem to be Force-sensitive, but then again, he might be from "Imperial Intelligence" Jadus is a head of.
Speaking of which, you are now a spy! So, now you merely have to survive in between the plans of two Sith demanding your loyalty without becoming their slave and dying on the way.
[] ...Isn't it too late to find the Jedi? He might have had the transport to get you out of here.
[] So, the earlier you start, the easier it will be. Where was this map, again?
[] But you don't have to keep them both in the dark. Tell Zash about that, let you all be concerned about this together.
=======================
"You wish to break us down and reform us as you see fit, but what will that accomplish, Lord Jadus?" You start with your mount a bit dry, nodding to Kory. "You see me as broken and her as weak, and you are probably right, but do you truly believe we shall survive your reforms and remain of use to you?"
A gimmick of emotion — of curiosity — finds its way through the Force, almost unnoticeable. Alright, keep it like that...
«We might be powerful, my Lord, but power without a will to guide it is like a lightsaber without a hilt — useless. Are you that determined to take our will away, to make us into the useless minions? And if you are, is that what you really want to have beside you? Adepts of the Dark Side are fueled by passion, by emotions, but it is a freedom to pursue them that separates pebbles from the Sith, and it is the strength of their wills that leades them to this freedom. To be restrained from pursuing the emotions and desires is to be an invalid — a worthless cripple, unable to reach true power of the Force. Only by following our passions, binding them and putting them at our service, by controlling hate to purge our weaknesses and by tempering our rage into a sword that will slay our foes, only by that can we become true Sith.
But the way I see it — of course, my Lord, I might be deluded, but the way I see it, you wish to deny us that path. You seek to smother everything that makes us us, but doing this will destroy any our future potential. We can become something more than your mindless sentries, we would aid you to the best of their abilities, show consideration to options beneficial, though unacceptable for common servants and warn you about any possible flaws in the planning so that your success would be absolute — if you allow us to reach our full strengths, we shall be loyal only to Dark Side and you».
Jadus tilts his head a bit.
«So many promises, acolyte. Such sweet tongue would do good to a Republic senator, but an aspiring Sith?» — Jadus shakes his head. — «Had you proven your worth to me, I would consider it, but... Hm. Tell me, have you been approached by Lord Zash?»
«Yes, my lord».
«And what did you talk about?»
«She ordered me to breach the tomb of Naga Sadow and find, well, map of sorts. She didn't specify what kind of map».
«How did she find out where this map is?»
«Other acolyte discovered it... Oh». Kory. Zash must have sent her on the task while you were out.
For some reason you feel that Jadus is satisfied with your answer.
«You wanted me to allow your growth, acolytes — this is your chance to prove you have somewhere to grow. Lord Zash has high ambitions and grand plans, and you are meant to be a part of that. But instead you will serve me, by finding out what are her plans and what she strives to achieve».
«We shall be glad to prove our worth».
«Very well. Take this first», — Jadus picks a military-grade comlink from the table. — «You will use it to contact me. Do not allow any delays — I must know everything you will discover».
«Thank you, my Lord», — you take the comlink from his hands. — «What are we supposed to do?»
«Do what Zash ordered you. Go to that tomb, get her the map and proceed to the next task. Then I will give you further instuctions. Now you can leave — both of you».
«Yes, my Lord... But what will happen if something goes wrong?»
«Why ask questions you can answer on your own?»
Well, that leaves that.
Taking a gap around Jadus, you pick Kory by the shoulder and pull her towards the elevator, followed by his gaze. As you get further and further away from him down the corridor, it becomes easier to breath and to exist.
«Thank you... Thank you...», — whispers Kory, leaning towards a wall. — «Oh damn, it was so horrible».
Elevator doors open, revealing a tall Chiss in military gear. He looks at you with no emotion on his face — honestly, that's starting to irritate you.
«Is Darth Jadus in a good mood?»
«Probably».
«Splendid», — Chiss takes a chocolate tablet out of his pocket and hands it to Kory. — «Here, have a bar».
Kory nods and starts eating. Chiss nods back, walks past you both and leaves for the Jadus' chambers. Strange, he doesn't seem to be Force-sensitive, but then again, he might be from "Imperial Intelligence" Jadus is a head of.
Speaking of which, you are now a spy! So, now you merely have to survive in between the plans of two Sith demanding your loyalty without becoming their slave and dying on the way.
[] ...Isn't it too late to find the Jedi? He might have had the transport to get you out of here.
[] So, the earlier you start, the easier it will be. Where was this map, again?
[] But you don't have to keep them both in the dark. Tell Zash about that, let you all be concerned about this together.