#during war

After a moment of rest, her petite body turned, shock suddenly shot through her being,  as her body flinched from being startled, a face just as pale as her’s inches away from hers, half covered by a grin the size of the moon, teeth sharp enough to pierce through your bones in less than a minute. Pink began to surround her body as she was yanked into a hug, a squeak being squished out her chest, afraid she would’ve been stabbed by the thousands of teeth that covered her wings. She at least made them smaller, but it still made mild scratches and pricks against her skin. Well, at least she wasn’t fully penetrated..

The demon rubbed her head on top of the devil’s, Kcalb awkwardly squirming. “What do you need, Cranber..? You know I don’t like being bothered, much less touched..” Her tiny voice murmured, her hands gently pushing. The act of resistance only caused the demon to squeeze more, Kcalb growling in discomfort, though admitting it would be perfect if it wasn’t for the tiny needles piercing into her.

“I did a good today!” The pink demon chirped, bouncing a bit with the defenseless devil in her grasp. “I took out twenty-two angels today! That’s a new record for me! That’s a good thing, right? I need a reward for doing so good!” She twirled on her heel, keeping the devil so close that her body wouldn’t even dare try to move away from her with the momentum.

“That..” Kcalb paused, trying to find the right words to speak to her. “That is great.. Cranber.” She pulled her lips inwards, saying it was only great from a military standpoint. Knowing Cranber, she probably mutilated them beyond recognition, probably slowly and very painfully.. What a way to go. Nonetheless, Cranber was right, Kcalb leaning back, trying to think of an “appropriate” reward for her, otherwise she wouldn’t ever leave her alone for the rest of the day. She just give her more food, but the thing that Cranber hates the most is being bored. Giving her food everyday will let her get tired of it, especially if it isn’t living, and Kcalb doesn’t have anymore prisoners that are worthless to throw at her..

Kcalb gave another push to her chest. “Cranber, let go of me for a moment? It’s relating to your punishment.” Cranber blinked, before slowly letting go of the devil, curiously raising her hand to her face. Kcalb made a small gesture of her hand, implying for her to lean down. Cranber, even more curious now, leaned in an uncomfortable amount. Kcalb took a small step for personal space, before slowly raising a hand. Cranber’s eyes closely followed until they couldn’t anymore from the top of her head, before feeling a warm cup around the top of her scalp. Cranber’s smile faltered a bit in surprise, staring at Kcalb, feeling the warmth slowly massage into her head.

“You did good today. I’m proud of you. Continue to do such a good job, and you can get more of these.” Her fingernails barely scratched into the demon’s head, Cranber’s eyes lighting up with joy as her grin grew crazily wide, even wider than it was before. Her arms snapped again at the devil, forcing her hand upwards and above her head, the demon kissing all over the devil’s face and thanking her for such a lovely reward. Kcalb spent the rest of the evening with the demon clinging to her, annoying her all day.

“What you are asking me to do is political suicide. I cannot just simply disappear or release this information. The trade federation would have my head.”

“That is what I am trying to prevent. I understand that it is not easy, but it is necessary if we are to find who tried to poison you. That is why you requested my help isn’t it?” Teckla’s façade finally fell slightly, enough that Jaa could see the hesitation. Anytime the Jedi were mentioned she seemed scared.

“… Mother. I know you haven’t been truthful, and I need you, for once in your life, to be completely honest with me.” Teckla looked away at the mention of mother. Granted it was rarely used in regards of her person. She seemed to always have held a small guilt at the word. A guilt Jaa had started picking up on when she was first becoming force sensitive.

“The truth. The truth is we know who it was.” Teckla whispered it and Jaa could sense the give that finally came as the words left her mouth.

She knelt in front of the well dressed women taking her hands, looking into her eyes. She knew her mother was susceptible to her and only her when they were alone. Jaa had looked in her mind had seen the day Teckla recognized her father in the Jedi.

“Please. I need you to tell me who it was.” The senator’s hands griped her daughters, the smooth skin an apparent contrast to the Jedi’s.

“We… we believe it was someone in the Darth Succession. A Sith that we have not been able to--”

“A Sith?” Jaa was on her feet in moments. The council had been investigating a possibility of Sith’s having risen again, but now?

“Senator I need you to be certain that it was a Sith. Are you positive? What did they look like? Who was it? You need to tell me.” The situation had finally reached a boiling point, if Jaa did not act quickly the situation could become dire. She had already lost two members of her family to the Succession and now they were after the last.

Teckla opened her mouth to reply, her daughter's frantic eyes finally hitting home the seriousness of the situation. Before she could get a word out a loud bang shook the ship. Lights flickering as Jaa braced her charge, looking around, all her senses on alert.

“We’ve been boarded.” She started from the door as an attendant opened it

“Ma’am! We’ve--“

“Get her to the escape pods and report to the Council what is happening.”

“W-we have lost all communications, Master Renden.” Jaa sighed

“We always lose communications.” She started for the bridge. Her mother’s calls ignored as the attendants escorted her away. Jaa’s heart was pounding as a strange dark empty feeling made itself known. It seemed as if the enemy was finding their way to her.

Upon her arrival to the bridge she was met with a very discouraging sight. A dark figure stood, their hand fisted in the hair of the Captain, forcing him to his knees. A saber hovered mere inches from his need.

“I was told there was a Jedi on board, and I’m so excited it was exactly who we’ve been looking for,” the smooth tones were spoken with unnatural ease as the vibration of her saber grew closer to her captured captain’s neck.

“I’m sorry. I don’t believe we’ve met before” Jaa watched with careful attention as she gripped her own sheathed saber. The Sith looked on as Jaa slowly moved around to the front of the bridge to see her opponent’s face.

“No, I’ve kept myself anonymous until now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know you. I’m not new to this game you play, I know who I need to in order to move ahead.” The cold eyes glinted in the dark lighting as the figure stood unrelenting over the subdued captain.

“Then surely you know I will ask you to release him.” Jaa felt the uneasiness enter her body once again. It was strange and oddly, warm. It was not emanating from the dark lord in front of her, but the shadows around them. Finally the Sith dropped their hood and revealed nothing but a harsh bitter cold being. Their skin pale and littered with scars, eyes rimmed red, a sickening picture of a corrupt Jedi. The grotesque smile that grew gave little warning as the red of her saber removed the captain’s head.

“Oops.” She watched it roll down the stairs before the blue glow erupted from her saber. As she prepared to make a move on the lord, another rushed her from the shadows. She had just a second to block as a dark purple blade collided with hers. Jaa felt fear grip her, but if her training taught her anything it was to push that aside. She spun out of the others way taking a defensive stance only to have the masked lord come from behind her. With a split second block she narrowly avoided the swipe. Then the first Lord flanked her, and with a speed that she was so very thankful for, Jaa was able to detach her saber and block the other. It was crystal clear now that she would not be able to get out of this easily. Both were highly skilled to a point she was certain that the first surpassed her in every way, the other was only slightly behind, but still very much a threat.

“I’m impressed. They said you were good but this is beyond expectation. Usually your foolish council members die within the first attempt.” The obvious leader huffed.

“Who the hell are you?” Jaa gritted out, but the other jumped back as did their leader, only to come back with another direct attack; only this time it was just the masked sith. The swings and attacks were quick and direct and Jaa’s feet were moving as fast as they could. The attack was unrelenting and Jaa had to do everything in her power to keep from letting the attacks hit their mark. An opening came and she took it using what she had learned to quickly use her feet, distract and kick the saber from her hand. She held the blade to the sith’s throat, using the force to hold them still. She glanced to the leader, as she moved quietly to the captain’s chair.

“I’m going to ask again. Who the hell are you?” The leader just looked on as if pondering the answer.

“I can give names but I’m afraid that’s all.” Jaa’s eyes became silted as she gained her breath back using everything in her to keep the masked sith against the wall. The force was what she was good at, and if it failed her now she was done for.

“You can call me Darth Nils, and that is my apprentice Darth Qamar.” Alright if she does survive this, there’s something to report.

“And there's a place for you too, Master Renden-- we could use a good house pet.” Jaa scoffed about to retort only to be thrown back to hit the window. Her breath left her for a moment as both her and Qamar fell to the ground. Unfortunately she wasn’t fast enough to recover because the next moment had her windpipe cut off. Qamar’s mask had been knocked off, and now she could see their eyes darkening with hatred.

“You see in my readings of you I’ve come to find you would make a great ally. Political standing, fantastic diplomatic skill, and you clearly still have your emotions intact. You would make a very powerful Sith lord.” The vision around Jaa’s eyes began to blacken as she listened to Nils’ words.

“Qamar. Qamar. Iah!” the apprentice looked at their master. “Release her.” the cold tone of her voice was alarming as Jaa sputtered and coughed holding her neck as she tried to regain air.

“So what do you say?” Jaa slowly looked up at the Sith. The falsity and cold direct tone chilled her, but she was never one to bow to fear. With what energy she had left she spit in Qamar’s direction.

“Fuck you.” She hoped to be quick enough as she grabbed her spare saber only to get as far as standing and turning it on before every limb in her body was frozen. Nils hand only inches from her face now. Twitching and scowling, Jaa did everything to move as the ginger flinched.

“Seems I was wrong about you.”

“My lord we have captured the senator.” Jaa’s heart dropped into her stomach.

“Very well bring her in, Qamar. Make sure she doesn’t run away” Nils gestured to the frozen Jedi. The apprentice moved to where Jaa was, removing the saber as she was released and quickly delivered some blows directly to Jaa’s abdomen knocking her to the ground, causing her head to collide with the floor violently. The Jedi’s orientation was fucked as everything began to spin, it was clear now why her master had been so hesitant to clear her for this mission. She suddenly felt herself being moved and cuffed to one of the control panels. Her head pounded and her blood was in a quick rush through her body. Suddenly the Sith knelt in front of her. Examining Jaa as if she was some intriguing new toy.

“Don’t do this” Jaa muttered, her heart telling her that this was the only thing to say. The Sith looked taken back at her words.

“Don’t. You can change this,” she whispered, but then Jaa heard a scream come from where Nils had gone. Her mother’s gaudy dress came into view, but her features seemed calm as she was walked through the door.

“Sorry my Lord, one of the attendees tried to run.” Nils just stared at the women before her.

“Senator.” The diplomatic tone rang in Jaa’s ears. “It’s a pleasure, but I’m afraid that no longer means much. It seems you are aware of the situation.” The women straightened a bit.

“I understand that your business is with me. Not my daughter.” Qamar stood immediately at that.

“Oh no you see it does actually, just not the daughter you loved.” The tone was cold and biting. There was an emptiness that was laced in those words. As if she didn’t really care for what she said, but it still commanded a respect.

“’nother… daughter…” Jaa muttered confused for a brief moment ‘that can’t be right, my sister is dead’ the strike to her head continued to take its toll, something had been damaged. The Sith next to her came forward as their master made a motion for them to come. Teckla kept her composure for the time being as Qamar approached her.

“I was small, but I remember,” it was the first time hearing them speak. It was controlled, yet there was a fury beneath the calm.

“Sil.” She addressed the girl with a tone that betrayed nothing to the outside eye, Jaa in her damaged state could see the cracks however. That could couldn’t be Sil. Sil wouldn’t….

“I am sorry.”

“It’s far too late for that.”

“Mom. Mom don’t. Mom ru-!” her head was thrown back against the console and darkness started to bleed in.

In a surreal sense she watched as the violet blade tear through the ornamented dress. That should have been the end as pain shot through Jaa’s heart. Something was breaking deep within the other.

A second of hesitation before the blade took a vicious route and cut through the torso effectively killing the women before her.

“No!” Jaa called out weakly as her mother fell before the enemy. Her struggling started to make the darkness spread watching as Qam- Sil’s, breaths became ragged, the glow of their blade hovering over the fallen women. Their master moving closer to touch their shoulder before whispering into their ear. The words calmed the other for a mere moment before attention was turned back to the fading Jedi.

“Crash the ship into the nearby planet.” Nils called out to her troopers as Sil approached their sister who quickly pressed herself against the consul.

“You can’t… you can’t be,” everything began to slow. Solid lines blurring as they knelt in front of the Jedi.

“Sto…stop… “ She whispered as purple eyes watched her, a quiet rage burning in them.

Black faded in as the eyes became almost sad.

Why sad, that shouldn’t be there?

“I am sorry,” was the first thing that managed to break past Iah’s lips, through their gritted teeth, from under their heavy tongue. The words dripped with fear and regret. To Iah’s surprise, Shyama flinched at the admission, as if the words were a physical blow.

“Never,” Shyama hissed, the words cold and distant. “Never dare say that in my presence again.”

Iah swallowed again, but this time it burned, like their mouth was full of scorched sand. They stood firmly at attention, their hands clasped at their sides. They’d been disarmed in the fight, their saber clattering noiselessly into the deep abyss beneath the bridge. In their head, Iah imagined the soft whirred of the blade, a perfect fit in their hand. It had been such a bitch to find such a brilliant amethyst crystal. They rarely retained any other color of the light spectrum but blue and green, and Iah had wanted so horribly to be different.

And now, for that same sentimentality, they have paid dearly.

“I am to blame for this, but there was nothing I could do, I had been bested in the fight.” Iah claimed, tones of sadness decorating their words. It wasn’t a lie, not really. They had definitely lost, but beaten? Jaa was inexperienced at best; they could remember the way her hands trembled holding that stolen saber. It was a damning, unconscious gesture, that likely saved her life. If she had not shown fear in those bright, clear eyes; if she hadn’t shaken with each breath she took; Iah would have stricken her down without hesitation. But something in the way she projected her fear, her passion, her hope- that knocked the air out of Iah’s lungs. That, and maybe the swift kick to their ribs while they were distracted.

When Iah looked up again, they were aware of Shyama’s fierce, gold eyes burrowing into them. It made their heart stutter, chest constricting painfully.

“You,” she breathed, and it looked as if she were physically restraining her own anger. “You allowed the prisoner to escape when you were on watch duty. You were supposed to be seeing to it that she turn over in our hands. You promised me that, Iah.”

Iah caught their breath at that, hurriedly looking away from Shyama’s burning gaze. They trembled softly in her presence, her mind already retreating into a safer place. Iah looked down at their tattered outfit. They would need a new one- one that was more durable. Shyama had gone silence, watching Iah as if she expected them to spontaneously combust.

“Why did you let her go?” Shyama muttered, softly now. “That is all I want for now.”

Iah opened their mouth, but then closed it. They weren’t exactly sure what had possessed them to let the girl go. She was an important asset. Force-sensitive, intuitive, diplomatic; she surely would have been a great addition to their ship. They had numerous Jedi who had defected from the council, as well as huge numbers of military personnel. They had plans to overthrow the Dark Succession, take it as their own. They were far from that, though, only managing to collect the stragglers who had been left behind.  Force-sensitive diplomats were diamonds in the rough. Sure, Iah wished that every Jedi was another Shyama. Extremely talented, force-sensitive, diplomatic, and really damn powerful. That just wasn’t how it worked, though. So why did they let Jaa slip so easily through their fingers?

Maybe it was their blood relation that caused Iah to hesitate. But that wasn’t right, was it? If they met their mother, they would surely kill her; strike her down like the vermin she was. She didn’t deserve life, and that was even taking into account bloodlines. It must’ve been something else; something that struck a hole in the ice shield over their heart. In all their years since they’d defected from the council, Iah had only been disarmed three times; each from standing up against a clever and powerful enemy. Jaa was not powerful, or even relatively clever in any respect. Yet, Iah was rash, reckless, and had let down all their defenses in the short-lived battle with Jaa.

“I- I am not sure.” Iah said, finally, their voice sounding odd- scratchy maybe.

Iah would have liked to say that they weren’t afraid of Shyama, because they loved her. Love was a complicated thing, though. People who loved each other, hurt each other, every day. Sometimes they don’t even know it, but other times- it was easy to tell exactly whose hands are wrapped around your throat.

So when Iah felt a tightening on their windpipe, they tried not to struggle. They didn’t last long, before they were kicking at empty space, their hands clawing at the ghostly grip cutting off their air.

“Have you learned nothing?” Shyama growled out, her voice low and aggressive. “Are you not ashamed of your actions? You have failed not only this entire battleship, but you have failed me- betrayed me even. Your actions have disgraced you, but you do not see how this failure has affected me. It is not positive; I can assure you.”

When Shyama let’s go, Iah dropped heavily to the ground onto their hands and knees. They coughed, their lungs burning with the need for oxygen. Iah can feel the blood rushing to their wounds, the dark bruises forming on their skin where fingers never actually made any contact. They will look like handprints none-the-less, and Iah will likely attempt to cover the marks. Even as they recovered, Iah stayed on the ground, head nearly touching the ground beneath them. They breathed harshly when the sound of boots clicking approached them.

“If I see those covered, there will be consequences. The shame shall serve as punishment enough.” Shyama’s voice was somehow softer now. Despite the wounds Shyama inflicted, Iah felt a fondness for her warm their heart. “Next time I ask you a question, you will have a direct answer.”