Cassian didn't show mercy to rebellious degenerates like Irol, and this time would be no exception. He took the Chiss recruit to the chamber that the Sith Lord kept for the occasions when he needed to resort to methods many in the Alliance would find disturbing, if not outright heinous. He rarely reveled in the torture and pain of others, but oftentimes this was the simplest and the most direct way to break their spirits and get them to talk. Just like his brethren, Irol seemed dedicated to the cause. It won't be easy to make him confess, but still worth a try.
"Now, let's get to the point, shall we?" Cassian announced as he looked down at the chained, one-handed Chiss. Even after his capture, he still maintained dignity and remained silent, no matter how intimidating some Alliance members seemed, but Cassian always found a way with people. Jac decided to follow him, much to Sith's annoyance, as he always wanted to make sure Cassian didn't cross the line. He was the only person in the entire Alliance that would not unquestionably obey Cassian's orders; he was a powerful fighter, yet also very clear with his intentions of keeping the Sith from committing some rash decisions.
"You aren't getting anything from me…Don't waste your time." Irol chuckled and spoke with disgust.
"To make it clear, the pain you felt when I cut off your hand is nothing compared to what I can and will do to you if you refuse to cooperate. I will make you beg, cough with your own blood, feel as every bone in your body slowly breaks…You will desperately cling for air and still get none."
"That is only the last resort," Jac said sternly and looked at Irol. "Cassian is ready to do whatever it takes, don't doubt his words. However, please understand that our primary goal here is not to hurt you; we only need you to talk. Who do you work for, if anyone?"
"I will not talk," Irol responded in a confident, almost mechanical voice.
"Off to a good start, I see," Cassian said sarcastically. "Perhaps I should start with a simpler question? What exactly did the three of you try to accomplish with this explosion? Did you plan to assassinate me?"
"No, we aren't morons who think we stand any chance against a Sith Lord." Irol clenched his teeth. "We were not supposed to blow our cover, but there was no choice but to improvise…"
"Blow your cover? I suppose that confirms that you were never loyal to me or the Alliance. Not that I am surprised, just slightly disappointed." Cassian sighed. "Let me guess, then, this hastily-planned attempt to sow chaos was because Lana and Jacques discovered this mysterious chemical on Zakuul?" Cassian looked Irol's eyes began to wander as panic overtook him, confirming it for Cassian that he was on the right track.
"We…Needed to take it back."
"And this was your attempt? Distracting us with an explosion and hoping it would neutralize us? Are you sure you aren't morons?"
"But it worked, didn't it? Not perfectly, but…You can't study the chemical now that the specimen is no more."
"We have something just as valuable in return, a prisoner who knows the answer. So, who created this chemical, why did they do it, and what is its intended effect?"
"I will not talk."
"Wrong answer."
Cassian raised his arm, unleashing the dark side of the force at the prisoner. He choked Irol, making his lungs and throat burn and lose all their air as if someone pierced them and they were unfitting to hold any air. He shook as much as his chains allowed him. All like Cassian expected, clinging to his throat and trying to breathe as he coughed, getting all the more violent with every instance. In a few more seconds, he would begin spitting blood, a couple dozen more, and his lungs will never recover. A minute, and he will die.
"I…I…"
"Finally, you're feeling it. Don't tell me I didn't warn you."
"Cassian, enough," Jac said.
"Since when are you giving me orders?"
"We both want him to talk, don't we? He has no connection to the force; he is weaker than us. I have seen instances of…Let's say, accidental 'breaking' point during interrogations." At least he didn't spout his nonsense about those methods being too inhumane and cruel, even though that was one of his favorite topics to whine about before. He knew how to sway his Sith partner, and that earned him respect.
"Fair enough. Let's see if he changed his mind." Cassian nodded and let go of his grip.
"I…Will not talk…I will…Not talk…" Irol breathed heavily with tears of pain coming from his eyes. "I will not…Talk…" He repeated the same phrase again and again, like a malfunctioning droid.
"How incredibly boring." Cassian sighed. "At least unlike you, I know when to employ variety." The Sith said before unleashing force lightning that scorched Irol's body, causing the Chiss to scream even louder. This time, he didn't persist for too long, just enough to make him feel pain and remind him that it was his choice to end it. "You know of the chemical's purpose, and so did the renegade knights. All of you were very eager to prevent it from falling into Alliance's hands…Why?"
"Is one vial worth all the trouble?" Jacques wondered.
"Perhaps…When I came into contact with it, I felt my connection to the force itself grow weaker; for a moment, I couldn't even use it to choke our guest over here." Cassian explained before turning to Irol. "So I ask once again…What are the origins of this chemical? Who would need such a thing?"
"I…Will not…Talk…"
"And I will not hesitate to hurt you again.
Before he could unleash another lightning, Cassian heard the door behind him open; someone else entered the chamber.
"So, I heard you wanted some assistance." Lana's amused voice echoed from behind, making Jac and Cassian turn around. "Unfortunately, Lord Scourge is busy in the field along with Kira and Jaesa, but I think you will appreciate the other candidate just as much." Lana gazed at the tall and furious Talz standing beside her; his claws were bared. Cassian's unlikely ally turned friend and enforcer from Hoth, he was well-versed in the art of inflicting pain.
"Ah, Broonmark!" The Sith welcomed the Talz. "You're just the man I need for the job."
"Our claws are always ready to do the bidding of the Sith." Broonmark's speech echoed with distinct eagerness and respectfulness.
"Is he the one Hylo complained about?" Jac wondered.
"Yes, and also one of my most loyal followers from before Arcann's invasion. Surely you remember him from the day we first met."
"I do. Quite the company you keep…"
Broonmark and Lana joined their allies, and the Talz eyed their prisoner.
"Is this the one?"
"Yes, our guest is very reluctant to talk. I gave him chances, but he wouldn't budge. It's time to show him what true pain feels like."
"Are you sure that's wise? He might not survive at all." Jac shook his head.
"Don't fear, Broonmark knows when to stop…Don't you?"
"The Sith can count on us."
"I never had any doubt. Don't keep Irol waiting."
After those words, Broonmark walked towards the Chiss, a prisoner who, by this point, seemed pained and terrified. Blood descended from his mouth, and his body still shook. He was far too close to being broken, and yet he still remained silent. Was this the true dedication of an agent? Time to test it yet again.
"AARGH!" Irol screeched as Broonmark's claws pierced the weak flesh on his hand, squeezing it tight and forcing even more blood to flow. "NO, NO, NOOOO!" The prisoner begged in agony, but the Talz had no mercy to show. He tore his claws away from him, allowing the blood to clot.
"Gruesome business, isn't it?" Lana looked at Jac. She didn't sound too happy about this, but she knew when torture was necessary.
"I wish Cassian cared more about finding other ways…But what would a second-in-command know?"
"Talk to me while you still can!" The Sith demanded as he looked at Irol. "Do you need any more convincing?"
"Orange, Number, Oasis…" The Chiss spoke with a fainting voice, only serving to further puzzle the Sith. "Mother, ancestor…"
"Are you completely deranged or just pretending? Broonmark, give him a little more."
"With pleasure." Broonmark plunged his claws again, this time into the Chiss's rib. Irol screamed even louder before clenching his teeth and continuing the mysterious chanting.
"Thorn, oak…Pain…" He spoke in a tone of pleading, yet his words were nonsense. "Hate…Order…Brother…"
"I say once again…Who. Made. The chemical?"
"Isolation…A…" The chiss let out a pained breath before falling silent. He closed his eyes and stopped making any movements,
"Broonmark, enough," Cassian commanded, and the Talz pulled his claws from the prisoner.
"Is he dead?" Lana wondered.
"No, I can still feel some life in him…"
"I will get our medics to help him, or else he'll just die from the blood loss!" Jac said with clear disdain in his voice before charging to the door. Cassian decided not to stop him; they would still need this prisoner alive for later.
"I see the questioning doesn't go as well as we wanted it to." Lana sighed with disappointment. "And with all due respect, I don't think he would last much longer if the torture gets too excessive."
"I know that." Cassian nodded. "But I am not going to hold back, either…He needs to understand that the only way to end the pain is to reveal everything he knows. But we can leave that for later." Cassian said, thinking about his next step. "I am not going to wait here and rely on this fool as our only source of intel."
"What do you propose, then?
"Send a message to Aristocra Saganu and tell that I would like to meet him in person on Copero. If those saboteurs are not doing it at his will, no doubt the Ascendancy would be eager to uncover this mystery and clear their own name."
Cassian didn't expect to return home so soon. In fact, he hoped that he would never have to do it again. However, sometimes looking at his past was inevitable.
…
Of course, she should've expected it.
When Vaylin saw this shadowy figure, she immediately assumed a bounty hunter. Nar Shaddaa was full of them, rascals who desperately searched for a new target every time it appeared. They cared for credits, trying to make it so their every action went towards earning more. Vaylin couldn't deny they found their purpose in this way; at least their lives did not feel as empty…Or so she believed. Nevertheless, if any of them dared to attack her, Vaylin would crush them without mercy. Perhaps one or two of them could even give her a fight, though Vaylin doubted that. They would be her playthings for a few moments, and then she would discard and toss their corpses somewhere in the ditch without hesitation.
Vaylin didn't see anyone accompanying this woman. Was she alone? That would be exceptionally stupid and would make for an exciting lesson to teach her. Despite the danger she must have felt, the bounty hunter descended from her ledge and slowly approached Vaylin.
"Thank you for choosing the least visited paths around here." The woman spoke confidently. "Otherwise, it would've been problematic to find a place where we can speak in private on Nar Shaddaa of all places."
"Haven't you been taught that attacking a Jedi is a fool's errand?" Vaylin ignited her saber.
"I see no Jedi here." The bounty hunter responded without a shade of fear. This was the moment when Vaylin became suspicious. Did she know something? No, no, it was impossible…
"I might be just a Padawan, but if you think that stops me from…"
"This body might have been a Padawan." The woman interrupted her, making Vaylin's heart sink. "But I have reason to believe the spirit within belongs to another being. Have no fear. I am not your…"
"Die!"
This reaction was immediate and almost primal in nature. Vaylin was so convinced that her true nature was a secret and that if anyone could figure it out, it would be the wisest and most powerful Jedi and Sith. But now she saw a woman with no connection to the force, no more than a mercenary of some kind, speak so plainly, as if she knew…She couldn't be suffered to live.
She unleashed an array of force lightning, but the mercenary was quick to evade it. Mere seconds later, she took out her rifle and made a shot, hitting Vaylin in the shoulder. It wasn't very painful. The Padawan felt as if something very slim and sharp got under her skin; it didn't feel like a usual blaster shot…Vaylin turned and noticed a small vial stuck in her shoulder, made in the form of a metal dart. The liquid inside her got pushed into her body far too quickly, but she could notice that it was colored in a dark violet hue.
Vaylin tried to get back at the mercenary, but the moment she tried to strike again, the woman felt a peculiar pain overtaking her body which caused her to shiver. Instead of lightning, all that emerged from her fingers were pathetic sparks that took no longer than a few seconds to dissipate. Vaylin moaned and fell to her knees as the pain grew even worse. She couldn't control her force no matter how hard she tried, as if something was squandering her potential and chaining her might. Just like…The dreaded place which left a permanent mark on her life. But how could this be? Nathema came back to life after Valkorion fell; it made no sense. Vaylin tried to resist the pain, yet the memories made the sting even worse.
"What did you just do?!" She shouted at the mercenary.
"Don't worry; this was the minimal dosage. The effects will wear off after no longer than fifteen minutes. I had to get you to listen somehow; it's rude to attack someone who comes with a proposition…Though I suppose at least that confirms that you are no ordinary Jedi."
"A proposition? You come here in a mask, try to shoot me, and then expect to listen? I thought the common folk get taught about manners as well, but maybe I was wrong…"
"I suppose you deserve an explanation, I understand that it might feel worrying to you, but as I was about to say, I am not here to hurt you." She spoke calmly and collectedly. "I am Ninth Siren."
"And I am Tenth Nexu, 'a pleasure' to meet you."
"That is my codename, but I wonder if you will recognize me without the mask." She said before taking off the cover from her face. Immediately, Vaylin saw a familiar face, though she wasn't quite sure who it reminded her of. It was a Chiss female with darker, almost purple-tinted skin, a rare sight among the Chiss.
"Wait a moment…" Vaylin paused as she tried to wrap her head around this. Memories came flooding into her mind. "You're the one that served the Outlander and the Alliance! Their best spy, as they called you…I remember Arcann whining for days about the attack on the spire you took part in."
"Correct." The woman nodded. "I am Atiel, and yes, I was once a servant of the Alliance."
"You 'were'? After all, you've done to the Eternal Empire, why do you expect me to give you any consideration?" Vaylin took a deep breath and stood up, clinging to her lightsaber. "Even if you weakened my force, I don't need to wait fifteen minutes to cut you down!"
"I no longer serve the Alliance. I left shortly before you claimed your throne, Vaylin…You're Vaylin, correct? That's the logical answer I can come up with."
"I am the one asking questions here!"
"You definitely sound like Vaylin…"
"Why did you leave the Alliance, then?"
"To put it simply, my duty called," Atiel said. "Cassian was always a respectable man and a powerful ally, but no more than that. Temporary, much like most Sith Lords. Now, I serve only one master…A master who took an interest in you and believes that we can help each other."
"What master?"
"The First Archon."
"Another codename?"
"I don't have the authority to reveal his name freely. He'll do it himself if you agree to the meeting…"
"Why should I waste my time?" Vaylin scoffed.
"Well, what are your plans now that you're miraculously back to life? My master and I had some thoughts on this matter, and we think our purposes may correlate. We wouldn't contact you if we thought there was no benefit for all sides, nor do we expect Vitiate's daughter to simply serve us."
"Hm…" It wounded her pride ever so slightly, but Vaylin had to accept that all this talk had her rather interested. "First, tell me what's your purpose. Yours and that of the 'First Archon.'"
"We seek an end to the era. To change the galaxy and all of its people and steer our history on another course. A course where everyone will know the true meaning of terror and hate, a world where one has to adapt to survive, a world where no one can rely on…Call it a Great Reset. The capitals of Empires will become the epicenters. Coruscant, Dromund Kaas…And Zakuul." Vaylin realized the point she was getting to. "You have your own agenda against Zakuul, am I right? Your own people betrayed you…" Another painful memory of the day of the party, of how she was made a mockery before the entire galaxy. "One of you loyal followers joined the Alliance and helped them humiliate you and make you look weak in front of every living being, sparking a full-blown revolution on Zakuul…"
"Enough of it! I remember that day well enough without your descriptions…" Vaylin clenched her teeth. "But it's irrelevant. I could not break this galaxy, my brother couldn't, my father couldn't…What chance could you stand?"
"Don't underestimate our capabilities or the legacy your father left," Atiel said sternly. "But we are always doing our best to gain new allies to stand by our side…The Emperor's daughter would be the strongest one yet."
It sounded like an interesting proposition that much Vaylin could not deny. She could've pretended to be on their side to get some allies…
"Perhaps you would like an opportunity to reclaim the eternal throne?" Atiel proposed. "Your restored reign can play a part yet."
"No…I don't care for any thrones. They are worthless." Vaylin said with disdain. She was almost ready to abandon her old ambitions, but the memories that Atiel awakened were too much…Those thoughts of people laughing and cheering, celebrating their triumph and victory. Even Arcann's public execution didn't take attention away from her. Zakuul rebelled, and she entered a state of pure desperation which she maintained up until her death in Odessen. "But I do care about people of Zakuul…I would gladly make them suffer and scream. And especially that traitor Indo Zal, if I still could...That freak was lucky to die on Nathema"
"There are many more who conspired with him and are still alive."
"Yes, I see your point…" Vaylin took a deep breath and looked at Atiel with a smile. Despite her confidence, the agent made it clear that whatever organization she serves needed Vaylin on their side, and with good reason. Who wouldn't want a being that none could rival in force powers? It's not like she had any better ideas for what to do with her, even though Atiel was probably far from trustworthy. "Very well, I will meet this Archon of yours. But I have a condition."
"Which is?"
"You clearly have something that can weaken the force connection…" Vaylin said as she pulled the empty vial from her shoulder and tossed it to the ground. "If I see that thing pointing at me for as much as a second, I am not giving you any more chances."
"You attacked me first, and I had to retaliate. If you don't do this again, you have my word."
"Good…" Vaylin smiled. Finally, she had reasons to be intrigued. "Show me the way, then."