Chapter Eighty-One: Monster

"Hey, how is she doing?" I heard Kix's voice from somewhere behind me. He wasn't really whispering, but he probably assumed I couldn't hear over the thumping of the music. Of course, I'd spent years of my life building this club from the ground, and I was more than used to deciphering speech between the performances.

I didn't react though, keeping my back to them as I collected drinks from Merl. Rex's voice was quieter, though I could still make it out. "She's strong," he assured, but was silent for a moment before adding, "I'm worried about her."

The last of the drinks made it to the tray on the counter before me, but I only stared at the shining liquid, my finger scratching the edge of the tray. Merl cleared his throat, getting me to look up. The Weequay knew me well, giving me a small, slightly sad nod. He lifted the tray and held to me expectantly. I finally took it. His wrinkled finger reached across the bar, his knuckle lifting my chin, only to tap my nose gently.

He gave me a real smile now, and I couldn't help but return it.

The clones were acting the same as I'd left them when I returned, arms filled with drinks. I passed them out easily, the smile fading to a fake one as their gazes cast at each other meaningfully. They were silently agreeing about their worry for me. Simultaneously understanding that they'd continue the discussion later when I was gone again. My full drink was down my gullet before I could even think.

I cleared my throat. "Excuse me, but I need another drink, and I've clearly interrupted something." They didn't get the chance to respond, their tongues still dazed by my abruptness while I walked back to my bar.

Merl's brow rose as I approached again, his shoulders slumping over the bar. "Finished your drink a bit quicker than usual, miss."

"Share some Merenzane Gold with me," I countered, kicking a barstool under my hip.

Nothing happened for a second, but I kept Merl's gaze steadily, my head tilting with a pompous smirk. Finally, the bartender turned and drew two glasses, handing one to me. Our drinks clinked nicely, the ice cubes dancing off the sides like a melody.

"What are we drinking to?"

I shrugged, peering over the rim of my glass. "The act of drinking?"

"Drink to the act of drinking?" Merl asked with an amused snort. A few of the bar patrons overheard, cheering in agreement. I flashed them a practiced smile before raising my brows at Merl in waiting.

He frowned but lifted his drink, tilting it. "To drinking, then."

I grunted in return, already taking a nice swig. I hadn't eaten much that day, or in that past week since getting back. Or in the days traveling before that. The alcohol was already causing a warm buzz under my skin, warming away the chill of my thoughts.

A haze was….better right now.

I still sustained myself, of course, but it was hard to manage. While aboard the Triumphant on our return to Coruscant, Rex and Ahsoka had taken turns going to my room with meals and joining me for them to make sure I ate.

They never admitted to planning that, but I knew they did.

A hand touched my waist, and had I not sensed his approach and recognized him, the man would have been punched. It was Rex, of course, comfortable in the unspoken rule in my club of keeping your secrets to yourself. I gave him a small glance over my shoulder, forcing a smile in greeting.

His fingers squeezed gently at my waist before letting go, taking the seat next to me. He rather boldly stole it from the patron who was sitting in it. Said patron, a male Roonan, raised his fist to drag Rex away from the stool.

I shot the Roonan a hard look, Merl clearing his throat. "Leave it, kid," he said for me as I looked back to Rex, brow raised. The customer obeyed, walking away with his friends and mumbling something about my cover charge.

"That was interesting," I allowed, questioning his behavior.

"What was that about?" Rex asked, accepting the drink Merl slid to him silently with a thankful nod, having downed his first.

I glanced innocently at my drunken customers. "What? Drinking?"

The captain, dressed in commoner's clothing like his brothers to blend in better, gave me a hard stare. He grabbed my arm, his fingers firm around my bicep as he pulled me closer. My free arm came to block myself from moving any closer to him, my palm splayed on his sternum. I hated that it happened, but my mind overloaded with panic. I knew I was safe with Rex, but all I could feel around my arm was the warden's clawed fist.

Rex released immediately, shifting his stool back an inch. He must have seen it on my face. I did my best to relax my rigid muscles. Rex was staring at me, his expression a plethora of unreadable emotions, even with my connection to his mind.

"Kida," he whispered gently. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I frowned at him, turning back to face the bar and toy with my glass on the bartop. "Rex, I just have to think it all through. I'll be fine. And I don't tell you because you tell them everything in a briefing."

"That's my duty," Rex frowned back at me.

I sighed gently. "I know. So understand why I don't tell you," I pleaded. He still frowned, but seemed to give in. My mind was very much alive with alcohol now. So I couldn't resist the angry streak in me and added, "Besides, you tell your brothers everything."

The clone went rigid beside me, but I only looked up to gaze over the variety of liquors offered at my bar. I could see his reflection in some of the glass. His jaw was tight, his fingers curling over his cup.

"They're my brothers," he argued.

My brow lifted. "And Boba's mine. You don't see me visiting his cell to talk about my problems. Not to mention yours."

"Your problems are my problems, Kida. Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum." My chest warmed immediately, in a way that the alcohol couldn't accomplish. It made me feel lighter. I shook it off, remembering I was mad at him.

"That doesn't mean it's your brother's problems."

"Kida, you weren't telling me anything. We were barely talking between all the briefings and meetings this past week. You haven't been by the compound at all. And tonight, you're barely talking and they haven't seen you since Kiros. Fives even longer." He lifted his hand, gesturing vaguely towards his brothers. "You're their sister, Kida. They love you."

I stared down at my drink, wanting to be angry, but it was quickly melting to guilt. His hand touched my shoulder again and I did my best not to flinch. He noticed, but waited patiently before giving me a gentle squeeze.

"I didn't tell them about Arguss," he whispered, his lips close to my ear. His closeness was calming. I felt his presence, and with it came nothing but trust and love. And truthfulness. "I only told them what I'd experienced and when you were there. Nothing about our dream together or leaving you behind with the warden."

"My past?" I asked softly.

"Enough to understand." I trusted him enough to know where to draw that line. I nodded mutely, still not meeting his eye. His knuckle touched my cheek and I didn't flinch away from his touch. "Cyar'ika," he whispered, trying to coax a response from me.

I shrugged. "I don't want their pity," I admitted. "I don't want people worrying about me."

"That's what you get when you get people who care about you," Rex chuckled, wanting to make light of it.

My mind flashed to how I used to approach the clones. With a detachment and a determination to not grow fond of any of them.

How that had failed.

Rex noticed how my face didn't shift from brooding to amused like he'd hoped. "Kida," he said firmly, turning my cheek gently to get me to meet his golden gaze. "Having people to worry about you is a gift. They are your family, and they love you. Not many are blessed with a family with such a strong bond." The man let his eyes slide over his soldiers, all dressed in clubbing gear and half-drowned in liquor and hookah smoke. He was filled with pride-I could see it in the glow on his features. "And with the fiercest loyalty you'll ever see."

I finally smiled grimly at the captain. "I understand and am grateful. But I still don't want my business being everyone's." My thumb brushed delicately over the bacta wrap that obscured my healing brand. Bacta had sped the process, but it still burned inside, like the wound was refusing to heal to spite me. "There are things I don't want to share with people."

"Share with me," he insisted.

My brow quirked. "You're people."

Maybe it was the drink. Maybe it was my own darkness that was slowly bleeding into him through our mental link. Or maybe it was just his anger that he usually tucked down finally bursting forward.

But Rex's whole demeanor changed. His presence in the Force pulled away from me, his mind shutting me out. He pulled away, the space between his brows forming deep lines as he frowned at me.

I returned the expression easily. "What?"

The clone looked around the club, the multicolored lights dancing over his tan skin. "We need to go somewhere quieter."

"I can hear you fine." I was annoyed at him drawing away, my own darkness creeping back in to fill the hole he'd left. It was…..blinding.

Rex downed his drink, slamming the glass down firmly on the bartop. I scowled at him, but he didn't flinch when he met my eye. Damned commander training. "Jii, gedet'ye." His tone was firm, but more earnest than when he commanded his troops. It was more desperate.

He didn't wait for me to answer, taking off towards the employee entrance. I watched him go, expecting him to look back at me, but he never did. He expected me to follow.

If I didn't, I wondered if he'd come back or not.

I glanced at Merl, who gave me a frown and a nod to go follow the captain. With a sigh, I downed my drink and hopped from my stool. I could feel the stares of the 501st men as they watched me walk away to follow their commanding officer. I didn't look back at them, ducking into the employee exit. Their curiosity at Rex's anger wouldn't be satiated by my. I was just as baffled. The drink was making my brain fuzzy. And the darkness that still remained in my mind made it even harder to think straight.

All I knew was that I was angry.

I didn't make it far into the back halls, fingers wrapping around my arm to push me against the wall. My instincts took over, darkness falling over my eyes. My hand clenched, the Force wrapping around the man's chest and throwing him against the opposite wall. His hand released from me in shock as he rocketed backwards, letting out a groan when he thumped against the metal.

Some of the girls gasped, but Rouva was there immediately to shoo them away. They all knew to keep their lips sealed and I trusted them to do so. They were loyal girls. Alema was among them, trying out being a waitress.

I'd offered her a position when we'd returned from Zygerria, while she got her bearings. I'd offered her waitress, of course, refusing to let the poor girl be a dancer and make her feel any further objectification. Harassment of any sort wasn't tolerated at my establishment, so she was well protected, too.

The golden Twi'lek gave me a small smile, a silken wrap replacing the heavy golden headdresses she used to be forced to wear. She wasn't shocked by my abilities, but I sensed her concern about Rex. She followed the other workers quietly, leaving us alone in the hallway. I dropped the captain immediately, leaning against the wall behind me as he slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.

"This is what I mean, Kida," he said earnestly, still angry. I could tell he was being affected by my darkness now. I could practically see it feeding into him. "You're out of control and I don't want-" He stopped himself.

I blinked. "You don't want what?"

His golden gaze met mine, filled with fire and fear and sorrow all at once. "I don't want to receive the order to put you down."

"If you got that call," I started, shifting off the wall to saunter towards him slowly, the dark clouding everything. "Would you do it?"

"Let's make sure that never happens," he dodged, slowly finding his feet. I could feel his wariness at my use of the Force. He feared it.

Good.

I blinked at that thought, shaking my head in an attempt to make it fall from my head. I looked back to Rex, repeating myself. "Would you do it?" The captain glanced away. "If you got the call, would you point your pistol at my head and pull the trigger?" When he still didn't respond, I could have sworn the lights grew dimmer in the hall, my darkness was so overbearing. "Or would you command your men to do it, and make them bear your cowardice?" I spit.

He took a strong step forward, getting in my face. "I would follow my orders, and do what I must if-"

He didn't finish, his voice cutting off as my darkness deepened, creating a pressure in the room. He felt the shift, his expression shifting briefly to fear.

My darkness lessened immediately, my head turning sideways to break our stare. I shook my head, biting my lip to keep myself from crying. I was losing control and this wasn't helping. And how could I be with someone I can't trust?

"Captain," I said softly, my darkness slowly fading to a dull lul. It was still drowning, but heavier and less hot. It was sad. "How can I love someone who would shoot me in the back if he was told to?"

He swallowed, his own head turning away from me. "I didn't…." he sighed. "I'm sorry. I've been so….angry since Umbara. And it's only gotten worse."

I sighed slowly, taking a few steps back to slide against the wall and sit on the floor. "My darkness has been feeding into you," I admitted, shaking my head. "I felt it happening, but I didn't know how to stop it."

"Not everything is your fault, Kida," Rex responded, his arms crossing over his chest. He was angry, but my influence had withdrawn from his head, the dark cloud clustering over me instead. I frowned at him, unsure. He sighed, his arms dropping as he knelt in front of me. "We all have our own darkness," he said gently. "There are things I've done….and things I didn't do that haunt me. Don't think you're the only one who's been angry."

"But-" I started, but Rex cut me off with a low chuckle.

"Though, I will admit I felt it tonight." He didn't seem angry anymore. Well, he was angry, just like I was, but not at me. I was glad of that.

I blushed, the adrenaline of the situation having melted away my buzz. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I've been….out of control." Admitting it out loud to someone was almost….relieving. I hadn't really expected that.

Rex breathed slowly through his nose. "I'm not 'people,' Kida," he said, gentle but firm.

"I beg your pardon?" I responded, my brow lifted in confusion.

"At the bar." His head tilted in the direction of the employee door. "You said I was 'people,' like everyone else. I'm not like everyone else. You are my cyare, and I hoped I was the same to you."

I blinked. "You did just say you'd shoot me, Rex."

"I was angry," he whispered in an attempt at a quiet yell, throwing up his hands and standing to pace. "I didn't mean-" he let out an angry grunt. "I wouldn't shoot you. We would figure something out to get you out of there. Pretend you died or something."

I pursed my lips at his anger, feeling it storm against mine, threatening to reawaken it. I stuffed it down. "Okay," I reassured, fluttering my hands at him to try and get him to sit down again. "I understand. Yes, Rex. Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum. I'm sorry I didn't share with you….it's been hard for me to learn to open up."

I shrugged, trying to brush it off, but Rex frowned at me. "I need you to try, Kida. You always have a window into my mind, but I never know what's happening in yours."

I returned the scowl. "You've gotten very good at shutting me out."

Rex only smirked at me. "Sucks not knowing what your partner is thinking, doesn't it?"

He'd never officially called us a couple before. I mean, he'd called me his beloved and said he loved me, but we'd never discussed….labels. Labels seemed like something normal people did. But we were a secret, so what was the point of labeling it. Labeling it meant it existed.

And that was illegal.

"Fair enough," I admitted finally, earning another smirk from the captain. My not fighting against the label was enough of an answer for him.

He glanced towards the door, seeing dancers sneaking in and out to change costumes. "We should head up to your office. I want to hear everything, and here isn't without ears."

"Tonight?" I asked, frowning slightly.

Rex's gaze was steady and piercing. "Tonight," he responded firmly. I cleared my throat, but didn't respond as he stood and offered his hand. I took it without a word, letting him help me to my feet and lead me down the halls to my private elevator.

He didn't let go of my hand in the lift, my eyes lifting to look at his profile over his broad shoulder. His brow was furrowed in thought and worry, his mind a cluster of possibilities and concerns.

I swallowed as the door hissed open to reveal my office, the lights turning on slowly when we entered. Rex let go finally, walking to the stand near my desk to pour two glasses of spiced rum. He handed one to me, shrugging.

"My buzz has worn off, and alcohol makes sharing easier," he explained, taking a long sip. My eyebrow lifted in confusion before the gates around his mind dissolved. His thoughts dwelled on his own darkness, and I watched it in rapid flickers.

Rex commanding Kix to leave injured and dead men behind. Wanting to pull the trigger on Krell, but being unable to. He wasn't sure why he hadn't. Duty? Programming? Neither were answers he accepted. A rookie being taken out by a Rishi Moon eel and the captain not batting an eye at his death. He was trained to be a hard killer. Trained to watch his brothers die. What did that make him out to be?

His fears at his own monstrosity filtered through the memories. And then a whole new monster.

A wish that he hated himself for having. Both for the impossibility of it, and his inability to do it. A wish of leaving it all behind and living as Cut Laqwaune did. Starting a farm, away from the war. Leaving his duties and men behind. His brothers. Betray his oath and run away. With me.

He feared what kind of monster that made him, for wanting something better.

I pushed this idea at him through our link, reassuring him that wanting something better wasn't bad. Especially since a clone had an incredibly low bar for 'better.' He didn't seem to buy it. My gaze softened, the glass coming to my lips as I took a long drink.

"You've seen so many worlds," I chuckled, "but you've never seen them out of wartime. Not everyone believes love is not allowed. Mostly, just the Jedi. Why should it be denied to you?"

My clip at the Jedi was ignored by the ever loyal captain, his head turning to the side sadly. He was fully aware of how he'd opened his thoughts to me. He'd practically shoved them, really.

I pursed my lips, frustrated. Another long gulp of the rum. "Wanting more or feeling anger doesn't make you a monster." I shrugged. "It makes you brilliant, within the Force. Luminous. It makes you who you are. But that is not a monster."

"Kida," he sighed, but I cut him off, gesturing silently for him to take another drink. He obeyed and I immediately refilled our glasses.

The decanter clacked loudly against my desk when I put it down, my hand a bit heavy. The liquor was kicking in quicker than expected. I supposed I had downed a whole glass of spiced rum.

"You have no idea what a monster is, Rex," I said lowly. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, the emotion, or the darkness looming around my shoulders that made my voice deeper. I glanced sideways at him, seeing a stunned expression on his face.

I breathed deeply, trying to settle myself. I sat on the desk instead, my fingers leaving warm dots on the chilled glass as I fiddled with it. "It's time I told you everything about my years on Zygerria," I started, my voice trembling without my permission. What happened to the deep voice? I preferred it.

So I began. I told him of my being picked off the streets. Of my bond with the Twi'lek siblings. Of their horrible deaths. Keeper Arguss and the guards' cruelty. As I combed through it all, I feared how it would end. He would want to know what happened to the warden.

What I did to him.

I didn't want to tell that story.

"Go. Get Obi-wan out of here. I'll be right behind you."

"Are you sure?"

Rex had trusted me. After all the horrible darkness on Umbara. He willingly left me alone with one of my chief torturers…trusting that I wouldn't lose control.

"Rex," I added, making him turn back to me. "There were children."

"I'll find them." I trusted him to do it. And he did. He upheld the trust I had in him. I only continued to break his…

The alarms blared around us as I stood alone over Keeper Arguss. "Well?" he snarked, "Go on then. Do it. Kill me."

My lightsaber hissed as I disengaged it, clipping it to my belt. The room was practically darkening with the powerful Force within me, spilling out into the room. I knelt before the warden with a mocking smirk. "I will," I drawled lazily, beginning to let my mind branch out, the tendrils tapping against the edges of his. My hand followed to mimic what the eye could not perceive, fingers outstretched towards the warden's forehead. "But first, something worse."

Both my hand and my mind shoved forward, pushing against the wall of his mind. The Zygerrian seemed panicked, groaning in pain as he tried to fend me off. He scurried around on the floor like a coward.

I followed, pushing my hand at him again, shoving the Force over him. Arguss sprawled sideways in his feeble crawl, being pinned down by my will. With it, I slithered into his mind. His groans of pain grew more panicked as he recognized me in his mind, the both of us focusing inward.

As I shoved into his mind, I became aware of his mental plane. We were on Zygerria, in the markets. It surprised me. I'd expected his mental maze to be his beloved facility. The people swarmed around me and my hackles raised. I didn't like how close they all were-a surprise attack would be easy here.

I ducked backwards off the main streets, finding the hidden alleys cloaked in shadow. Memories echoed here. I heard a child screaming. The warden's terrible laughter. But also whispers of conspiracy. Murder. Betrayal.

I ignored them, not pursuing the secrets of his mind. I wanted to destroy it. I considered igniting my lightsaber and starting in the alley, since it was his mind after all, but it wouldn't be worth the effort. Damaging the mind would alert any of the mind's defenses immediately. And what real damage will I do so far from it's center?

I had to find Keeper Arguss' consciousness first.

So I crept along carefully, jogging through the back alleys and ignoring the calls of dark secrets. Ignoring them meant I didn't draw attention to myself...so I snuck through the markets, searching for a sign of him.

There were guards everywhere-more now that I was further into the market. I finally looked up at the palace looming over the city. I should have known. Arguss was always a cruel man, and he certainly lusted for power.

Of course the center stronghold of his mind would be the palace.

I set my jaw, eyeing the guards between me and the warden. I wouldn't be stopped. Scaling the side of a building in the shadow of the alley, I leapt the gap easily, as if I were wearing a jetpack. None of this was real outside of our minds...thus, our limit was our own minds.

And my understanding of how to manipulate another's mind, of course.

My landing was soft, placing me closer to the palace. I made my way in this manner and as I drew closer, there were more guards atop the buildings. Arguss knew I was coming, so walking in as if I owned the place wasn't an option.

Unfortunate, really. It was one of my favorites.

Though this would be pleasing as well, I was sure. I was kneeling in cover behind an outcropping, gazing over at my soon-to-be victims. My lightsaber was in my hand when I leapt the distance to the next row of rooftops. The guard nearest me jumped back in fright, raising his wip. I didn't give him the chance. My fist clenched, dragging him into my ignited white blade.

The warden's mind reacted immediately, guards flooding the area below, the rooftop patrols converging on me. It didn't matter. I was ready for them. The guards hurdled the roof, one firing his blaster. I deflected it back at him, striking him in the face. He fell backwards off the roof, bringing one of his friends with him.

The next two attacked with whips, earning a shock against my wrist here and there. It wasn't enough to break my hold, and both were downed in moments, their bodies sizzling. Electrostaffs, in the hands of a professional, could be as deadly as a lightsaber.

But Arguss had never lifted a finger in a real scuffle. Successfully, at least. He didn't know how to fight, so his subconscious didn't know a whole lot either.

I mowed them down easily, my mouth curling into a cruel smile as the Force obeyed me easily. With my rage...it had to obey. I stood amongst the remains of the guards, ignoring the ones yelling below unless they climbed their way up. One would cast an occasional shot, but they didn't have an angle on me.

And I had my wrist ascendor. I'd be gone long before they got a chance to attack me. My arm lifted, my beskar glistening in the sunlight. I hadn't been wearing it outside of our minds, but it felt right to wear it when I got my revenge for the hell of being a slave. The fibercord launched in near silence, connecting with the edge of one of the palace balconies. I was lifted into the air, my blade still ignited to deflect the odd shot from the guards.

I smirked, still rising, until I saw a Seperatist tank. "Osik!" I cursed, spinning on the fibercord wildly. I pressed the release, but nothing happened, the button jamming. I was losing my focus. The tank was unexpected.

Speaking of, it took aim, the mechanics loud and hissing. I heard it fire. My lightsaber sliced through the fibercord, letting me fall into open air. The shot connected with the wall I'd just been in front of, exploding it into pieces. The shockwave sent me hurting backwards in a spin.

My land wasn't graceful, my body slapping over three different merchant stands in the market streets. The streets were vacant now, save for the guards. They opened fire. I rolled away, my body complaining from the fall. I could hear the tank taking aim again.

I dove through a window, sprinting to the back of the house and leaping through another window into the back alley. I ducked low, the tank's blast exploding the building. I felt a tremble within the warden's mind. He was destroying himself in his anger and obsession with destroying me.

I smirked. How lovely to be blessed to deny him the pleasure.

My mind sharpened again with my lust for revenge, the Force rippling around me with power. Within a non-Force-wielder's mind, I was all-powerful. My hands pushed forward, the building in front of me exploding over the tank.

It exploded, the metal hissing and groaning beneath the weight. The environment shook with the warden's anger; it only fueled me. A guard raced up to me in a brave, but desperate attempt to save the mind I was out to destroy. I sliced through him with a nonchalant twirl of my wrist.

The Force presence around me only strengthened as I neared the palace, my anger growing with each step. Every turn in the market brought more misery. More distant screams that haunted his memories. And the faint sense of enjoyment he felt at their pain.

My darkness was beginning to overpower his, the buildings around me shuddering and crumbling as I passed them. I rounded the final corner to a chorus of horrific victims, all lodged gleefully in Arguss' memory. The gate to the palace was barred, a battalion between myself and the warden's consciousness.

I frowned. Normally, my style would be to sneak over the side and slip in undetected. A surprise attack was always better when you were one hunter against an army. Then again, I was drunk with power and anger, the warden's fear sweet and potent in the air. And I wasn't an ordinary hunter here.

As I strode forward casually towards the guards, I fed off the warden's terror. It rose my power even higher, my image rippling in his mind. I split, my figure duplicating until there were twenty of me.

I'd never done something like that, and I wasn't sure how I accomplished it. But I ran with it, urging my doppelgangers forward to attack the battalion. An angry clench of my wrist crushed the outside of one of the three tanks guarding the way. I wrenched it sideways through the air, throwing it into the next. They both exploded in a glorious blaze.

My doubles were plowing through the small army easily, giving me a clear route into the palace. I walked through easily, the third tank exploding as one of my duplicates ran her lightsaber along the side.

It was strange. I was all of them, yet only one of them.

They covered me as I waltzed up the palace steps and through the elegant halls. Finally, as I reached the throne room doors, I felt them fade away. I turned, seeing the halls behind me devoid of any life. No bodies of downed guards littered the polished floor. Instead, there was a dark shadow following me, cracking the pillars and splintering the walls.

I pushed open the doors easily to reveal the throne room, but not as I remembered it. Keeper Arguss clearly had his own vision for the palace, the elaborate room even more packed with riches. The Zygerrian was sitting alone on his lavish throne, his claws dragging over the back of a Loth-cat. I could feel the slaver's struggle to remain unphased. Deep down, he was terrified. It was clear by the tremors that rattled the palace.

"You think you've beaten me?" he chuckled darkly, his fingers tensing to dig at the Loth-cat's back. It let out an angry snarl before ripping itself from his lap. It trembled on the ground before him, my sensing lighting on fire. My blade reignited at my side. "You know nothing, Jedi," the warden spit before his little pet suddenly began to scream.

I took an unsteady step backwards as it shifted and warped, growing to be thrice my size. Saliva dripped from its snarling jowls, its glowing eyes focusing on me. My lightsaber spun in my hand as I shifted into a ready position.

The deformed creature lunged forward, fueled by the warden's desperation to survive. Even he must have known this was futile….

I ducked its claws, my blade moving to connect with it. Instead of slicing through, it glanced off as if the creature was made of beskar. I snarled, diving below its next attack before slicing at its abdomen from below.

Still nothing.

The paw came down, swatting me sideways and into the elaborate lines of glassware and liquor that decorated the counters. It shattered beneath me, showering glass onto the floor around my body. I panted on the ground, frustrated. The creature lunged again and I reached out with the Force this time. Both of my palms opened towards it, launching it backwards and through the throne room wall.

Something told me it wasn't dead still.

And with that feeling…came something familiar. An idea tickled at the back of my brain, but I couldn't find it. Not yet.

Taking advantage of the creature's absence, I found my feet, stalking towards Arguss again. He leaned back nervously in his throne, but didn't move otherwise. The slaver had always been cocky, but he was a coward too. Why wasn't he running? Something felt wrong. It didn't feel like I'd found his center….

My breath was knocked from my chest as I was batted aside again, the creature having returned to defend its master. It was dusty from the rubble of the wall, but seemed unharmed otherwise. Really, it just looked more angry.

Its massive paw pinned me to the ground, its teeth reaching down towards my neck. My arm and saber were pinned, my free hand pulling desperately at the paw that held me down. The warden laughed from his throne, but something felt off. Being so close to the creature, I could feel Arguss stronger now. His center.

It dawned on me.

My free hand released from the meaty paw, reaching up to dig my fingers into the flesh of the creature's face. Its advance towards my neck stopped immediately as I felt Arguss within the creature. This mutated Loth-cat was his last-ditch attempt at saving himself.

Pitiful.

"There you are," I smirked devilishly, releasing some of my pain into his consciousness. The creature wailed, the image of the warden disappearing from the throne with a flash. I was released, sucking in selfish lungfuls of air while the creature writhed and warped again.

When it stopped shifting, Keeper Arguss laid trembling in its place on the floor. "What did you do to me?" he whimpered pathetically.

I scowled, my nose crinkling. "I gave you a taste of what you put me through," I explained, ice in each word. "But don't worry. You'll be feeling everything soon enough."

"This facility is going to explode," he tried, gasping as he clutched his head against the pain. "You'll die here with me."

I only smiled. "Time works differently here, I've noticed. And you'll be the only one dying today." My hand reached out, knowing that while time may be different, it wasn't nonexistent. While I hated to admit it, the warden was right and I needed to get a move on. I'd kick myself if I died with this hut'uun. Not to mention how pissed Rex would be.

Being directly in contact with the main hub of his mind made my torture easy. I poured my pain into his thoughts, coating each memory with the empathy of what he'd caused. I made him feel the pain he dealt out for all those years.

And it broke him.

I stood in the throne room and watched from the window as the elaborate marketplace fell to ruin. It crumbled atop the shoppers and merchandise alike, annihilating the guards and leaving behind hollow husks of frightened looking Zygerrians. The painted glass that made the windows shattered, the frames rattling away until the very palace began to fall around us.

The whole time, Arguss was screaming.

The sound followed as I drew from his crumbling mind to avoid the destruction, mixing with the blaring alarm of the reconditioning facility. I breathed deeply a few times, feeling the shaking of the entire building. My anger was falling away as I heard how pitiful his screams were. I hated him…

So why did it feel wrong?

"Please!" he wailed, quivering on the ground in agony. "Have mercy!"

My jaw tightened, turning my back to him as my mind raced. I wanted to cry. I didn't want to grant him anything. "Like you showed mercy to Seku? Or Tal?" I'd wanted my voice to sound stronger than it had.

The warden whimpered and cried for a moment. Finally, he screamed, "Please! You bitch! Let me-" My blade ignited, my arm swinging behind me to slice across his body. I took his head off clean, silencing his words immediately.

A part of me wanted to look back and ensure he was dead. But I knew he was. What would looking do?

And the last thing I wanted to do was look back.

MANDO'A

Hut'uun- coward