New chapter up. This will be the first interactions between Marr and our Jedi. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
After two weeks alone in the main cell, Marr instructed Overseer Gorit to move the prisoner into the interrogation room, leaving her in the small cell in the room, rather than strap her to the table used to restrain and torment a prisoner. With any luck, the table would prove to be unnecessary, beyond being a reminder of what could happen.
Marr causally entered the room, allowing the Jedi a chance to see her true captor, not just the man being ordered to tend to her. As expected, the Jedi watched Marr. He could sense only very slight fear in her and still no anger. The fear was no doubt a result of his appearance. A person didn't wear spiked armor and a full face mask for comfort. If you wished to intimidate, you had to dress the part.
Being in the same room as the Jedi helped confirm his suspicions about her identity. Though Shan was a common enough name in the Republic, he was almost certain she was blood related to the Jedi Grand Master. Probably a granddaughter or grandniece. The child was too young to be the Grand Master's daughter. A mistake like getting pregnant would have been a part of Satele Shan's youth. Agent Shan, on the other hand, was about the right age to have a teenage daughter. Marr also noted a bit of a resemblance with the Agent.
"Welcome, Vala Shan. Granddaughter of Grand Master Satele Shan."
A spike in the prisoner's mind confirmed Marr had been correct in his reasoning.
"What do you want with me?"
Marr did not respond, only stood silently watching the young Jedi. Her fear increased with the pause, but only slightly. He wanted her afraid, but not too afraid. He could swing a little fear to his advantage, but too much fear would make his job harder. It was a delicate balance.
"I only wish to speak with you for the moment. My apprentice told me of your display of power back on Balmorra. Impressive for a child in their late teenage years, who's only been a full Jedi for a few weeks. I'm surprised the Jedi council would allow someone so young to travel to such a contested planet."
Vala remained quiet, watching.
"You are my prisoner. There is no chance of escape, and even if you managed to get free, there would be nowhere for you to go. For the time being, I only plan to talk with you. We will conduct these conversations with you in that cell. You will remain unharmed as long as your actions do not force my hand."
Marr could see the girl's eye shift ever so slightly, so they were focusing on the interrogation table directly behind him. He could feel a sharp spike of fear in her. She'd probably never been strapped to one of those tables before, but she obviously knew what it was and what it was used for. In this instance, and with any luck, the table would remain simply a prop to keep his young prisoner in a correct mindset.
"I have no plans to strap you to the table, unless you become difficult. Let us hope it does not come to that."
"I'm not going to be tortured for information or turned to the Darkside?"
Marr laughed. "You sound disappointed."
"It's just...what I've heard about the tactics of the Sith…"
"My dear child, you are too young to torture for information. You've only just become a full Jedi. What could you possibly tell me that I don't already know? And as for turning you to the Darkside through pain and suffering, I certainly could do that, you'd succumb like any other Jedi, but I think our time together would be better spent in a different way."
Marr paced before her and she watched his every move.
"You see, I do make a hobby of turning your kind to the Darkside. This is widely known, even in your Republic, but a lesser known fact is that I've spent a great deal of time learning about Jedi. The Jedi code, for example. You are young and the code is still firmly embossed in your mind. Time and experience hasn't molded your personal beliefs yet."
"The code isn't open to interpretation. It just is." Vala said quickly, soundly slightly offended and full of conviction.
"Exactly. You're too young to have started to make interpretations to the code. All Jedi adapt the code to their own experiences. With you, I'll get a chance to hear about the code without any personal modifications, so to speak. It's still pure to you."
Marr felt the slightest bit of anger from Vala. The Jedi code was gospel to her, but she was also smart and came from a very powerful family. If he were careful, he'd be able to sway her thinking. It would take time and a great deal of patience.
"I feel your conviction even now. I look forward to the days ahead." Marr turned to leave. "The overseer will be in shortly to move you to your cell. I remind you, behave yourself or our next conversation will not be as pleasant."
Marr strolled out, satisfied with their first interaction. Yes, it would need to be done slowly, methodically, but he'd be able to bend this young Jedi to his will. More accurately, if handled properly, she'd bend herself.
To Be Continued...