And the tale continues. Thanks for reading.
Darth Marr strolled to his prison, a smile on his face. Fortunately, his mask prevented anyone from seeing the Sith's delight. He hadn't visited his little Jedi once she had been collected off Balmorra, since he needed her to be left in wonder. He'd allowed her to feel his presence slightly while on his flagship, but that was all.
He had Vala moved from the holding cell to the interrogation room, much like he'd had his overseer do many times while she had been in captivity the first time. This time, however, he'd removed the slave collar she'd worn during her first visit. The soldiers on Balmorra had put one on her at her surrender, but he'd had Captain Bolvar remove the collar before she was moved to his stronghold. With any luck, she would never wear a slave collar again.
Marr entered the interrogation room to find Vala seated quietly on the floor, her back against the wall. She was very calm, except for a slight excitement.
"Welcome back, my little Jedi." Marr greeted her.
"You're not surprised I returned." Vala said. It wasn't a question. "Every interaction we had while I was your captive was to push me. How did you know telling the Republic I was released, rather than escaped, would bring me back to you?"
Marr paced before her. "This war between the Empire and the Republic has been fought far longer than either of us have been alive. The Republic is predictable. I suppose parts of the Empire are also, but at the end of the day, you are more than what the Jedi trained you to be. You should be more than just fodder for the Republic. I think, deep down, you sense this."
"Fodder for the Empire is better?" Vala asked.
Marr chuckled. "One big difference between the relationships of the Republic and the Jedi, versus the Empire and the Sith, is that the Sith are not the Empire's lapdogs. The Empire exists to serve us, not the other way around. Sith are allowed to grow to their fullest potential, where Jedi are held back. Yes, sometimes the path to that potential is dangerous, sometimes deadly, but those who are smart enough or strong enough are free to do as they please. We can help a cause or ignore it. We are free to choose."
Marr stood close to the cell.
"We are free to experience anything. Do anything. We can live up to our potential, in whichever direction we choose to follow. We can kill people or save them. Take a lover or two. Get married and have children. Being a Jedi limits your life. Being a Sith means having choices."
Vala stood, walking up to the forcefield. "I don't want to be a Sith, but I don't want to be a slave to the Lightside, either. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but all I know for sure is I can't stay with the Jedi anymore. You've opened my eyes, even if our interactions were meant as manipulations."
"Then join me. Learn from me. As a Sith, you can mold yourself into whatever kind of being you wish to be." Marr offered. Now was the moment of truth.
"Join you? Like be your apprentice? What, so you can send me off to slaughter people in the name of the Empire?" Vala replied, though her voice sounded defeated, rather than accusing.
"You would not be a standard apprentice to me, no. You are special. You already have considerable power through the Force and starting over as Sith would be pointless. We shall add to your knowledge. I wish for you to learn from me, whatever it is you wish to learn. You will stay by my side and I will guide you in whatever direction you wish to go, though you will need to learn what it is to be a Sith. For your own survival amongst us, you must become Sith. I will not always be able to protect you and a young Jedi alone will not survive long here."
Vala was silent and Marr stood quietly, allowing her to think and decide.
Become Sith.
In the back of Vala's mind, she knew going back to Darth Marr was the equivalent of turning her back on the Jedi and becoming Sith, but basically being faced with the decision directly terrified her. She didn't want to be evil, but she did want freedom. The freedom to live her life. The freedom to love. The freedom to not feel ashamed for doing something for herself and not be held back by those who think they know better.
She lowered her head and sighed. She'd miss her family, but this was what she had to do.
"Then I wish to become a Sith, if you'll show me how."
To Be Continued...