NationStates Jolt Archive

All was darkness. It's not like floating in space, where you could still percieve the faraway stars. It was more like...nothing. Yeah, nothing. No sight, no smell, no feeling, no sound. But still, there was a sensation. A spark. And that spark knew one thing: Travis Masaki existed, somehow...

Uchiha Itachi, Moff of the Tenetian Sector and consort to Darth Nightshade, was furious. Not hot, I-slay-everyone-in-my-way furious, but cold, efficient furious. Although the primary objective of the Second Battle of Konoha was successful, it was a phyyric victory as the flagship Obliterator was taken in exchange. The project director and his family were immediately arrested and now stand before the throne room.

"You have failed." Itachi stated. A statement as if he was talking about the weather. Colder than yelling, for sure.

"I-itachi-sama..." The man stammered. "Have mercy! Please! Give me another chance! I won't fail you next time, I promise!"

Itachi lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "Perhaps I'm feeling merciful today. One more chance."

The director sighed. "T-thank you, Itachi-sama."

"But there will be a price for my mercy." Itachi intoned. Not even a second had passed when the wife of the director suddenly screamed and collapsed, a kunai embedded in her chest.

"Mommy! Mommy!" The three small children wailed.

"My Lord!" The director rushed to his wife's side, crying. "I...what will I do without her?"

"You'll do without your wife. Your children, however, will ensure your compliance as slaves on the planet of Tantis." And hostages. "Your project is to produce a new flagship for the Tenetian fleet. More powerful and more durable than the last. If you fail, you will watch them die before you join them. Is that understood?"

The director bowed his head. "Yes, my Lord."

Itachi snapped his fingers and black-clothed guards snatched the children away. The director was then lead down another path to conduct his next project.

"Now, what's next on the agenda..." Itachi mused. "Nightshade will be awaking soon. She won't be happy about the Obliterator's loss for sure. Until then, it's time to meet my nephew and his young friend..."

=====

Travis stirred, feeling very stiff and sore in every part of his body. He even felt sore in places where he didn't normally feel sore. "Ugh. What happened?"

He sat up on the cot he laid on, looking around the rather small room. There's a sink, a toilet, and the walls look an ugly grey color. And that's not all, for the door had electrified vertical horizontal bars. "Wh-where am I?"

He stepped out of the cot, looking down at himself. In place of his normal clothes was a thin gray shirt and grey pants that barely reached his ankles. There were no shoes. Everything that he owned, from his lightsaber to his utility belt was gone. Travis groaned as he figured out what happened. "Oh man! I've been captured by the Empire!"

"Smart boy." A voice appeared from hallway. Travis looked outside and his eyes widened.

"You! You're--"

"I see your enemy ID skills haven't slacked off." Itachi smiled coldly. "Indeed, I am Uchiha Itachi, your uncle by marriage to Fiona Nightshade. You may consider me Lord Itachi from now on."

"Uncle Itachi." Travis scoffed. "I'll never call you anything more than dobe."

Itachi narrowed his eyes dangerously. "You'll soon learn the respect that Daniel didn't teach you, boy. For you are a slave to the Empire, and there will be no escape."

Travis knew that Itachi had Sharingan powers that could completely screw up his mind, but he glared into the eyes of Itachi anyway in defiance. "Don't bet on it. I swear that I will escape, and there's nothing that will stop me."

A smile that sent shivers down the teenager's spine spoke volumes. "I look forward to your attempts, Travis. I only hope you would prove more challenging than Sasuke was..."

Itachi walked back through the dungeon cells full of people. Some demanded freedom. Some attempted bribery. And some looked at him with either death glares or pity. One of them (two cells down) contained a still-unconsious furry blue elf. Itachi idly noted that the boy's name was also Daniel and considered that for a microsecond before he shrugged and walked away.

Travis noticed something odd about his neck. He stroked his hand around it, feeling something metallic on the side. That's when he figured he's going to have a tough life here. "Inhibitor. Why did it have to be inhibitors!"

Daniel had the same thing on him to prevent him using his powers as well. But the funny thing was, little did Travis (and everyone else) know that the inhibitor only partially worked on the young Masaki. His sheer presence in the Force meant that passive abilities would still work in the presence of inhibitors, but active ones won't.

But that's another story and shall be told another time. (OOC: Cookie for reference!)

=====

"Gaah. How the hell did that lightsaber have that kind of power?" Janus growled, nursing his blackened hand. He and Jesse had stripped Travis of his weapons and when Janus reached for the lightsaber, it zapped him as if struck by lightning. Not to mention that it gave a curse that prevented him from healing the hand with Force or chakra means. Jesse was capable of handling the blade, but only barely.

"It seems that it was specifically tailor-made for him." Jesse said. "Enough so that anyone else would not be allowed to touch it."

"It's unusual alright. Better destroyed than used against us." Janus decided.

"And how do you propose to do that? You can't handle it and I bet it can resist lightsabers like phrik can." Jesse shook his head. "We'll just leave it in this armory with all the other tools we procured from the brats. They'll never get in without their powers anyway."

"I hope you eat your words someday, brother." Janus sneered.

"Fat chance." Jesse waved it away as the two walked out of the armory and locked it, and Force-locked it again.

OOC: Ok, people. This is my Travis Masaki is a Slave RP/story arc. If you wish to RP with me, please TG or MSN me and let me know what you will do. Otherwise, read and enjoy.

Oh yeah, this RP won't be for the faint-of-heart. There will be torture, bloody deaths, and many other Dark Side elements. Just warning you in advance if you have a weak stomach to have a baggy handy.

Daniel rolled onto his back and slowly opened his eyes. He could feel the cold hard floor against his back and as his vision returned he could see the cold grey ceiling. At first he couldn’t recall what had happened, he could remember Konoha being attacked during the Chuunin Exam and being sent to safety with the Kazekahe but after that he couldn’t remember.

There was a cot beside him. Obviously he had somehow managed to roll off of it at some point whilst he was unconscious, unless of course he had been purposely left on floor. He noted the cold grey walls and the electrified vertical horizontal bars. He’d been captured but by who?

“Masato,” he spat.

He remembered, he remembered Masato telling the Kazekage that he was needed elsewhere and then he remembered him stabbing his father Quatre. After that was blackness, all he could remember was a blackness, until he had woken up in this cell. He had been captured and Masato had been a spy working for someone within Sand, but who?

Daniel groaned as he sat up, Lady Nocturne right? He couldn’t think of anyone else, Sand had it’s enemies and likely they would see him as the ideal prise to get at the hidden village. Shakily he got to his feet and peered out though the electrified bars, he knew shouting wasn’t going to help him so he stayed quiet.

It was quite some time after the Konoha battle. While the Huntarian Empire had lost what would appear to be two flag ships, they were only minor ones. If it had been one of their larger flag ships, such as the Tyrant or Terminator, then the Huntarians would have a problem. Shamman was still nocked out in the medical beds on the Pillar, due to the wounds he's sustained from Sasuke and due to his intense use of the dark side power known as "Rage." The Kirtir Shamans predicted that the young Warrior will be out for a good month or two.

"So... Do you even know if he will come out of this thing?" Aelikes turned his head to the nearby Kirtir Shaman who quickly gave him an answer.

"Unsure. His wounds are extensive, it's amazing he's still even breathing. If he does come out, he'll have to force to live the rest of his life in intense pain due to that power the Jedi used on him. It completely shattered his bones, heart and lungs and the force somehow managed to re-arange them back together. When he wakes up we better not be in this room."

I hope he never does get out of this "Coma." My instincts tell me that there's something... Unnatural about it. Very dark. Just as much darkness as I feel in the Emperor sometimes, Deshoonde thought to himself. "Any idea where he is?"

The Shaman turned to Deshoonde with a puzzled look on his face, "huh?"

"Where's his spirit? His subconcious? You should know these things."

The Shaman shrugs, "I don't my lord."

Aelikes shot his eyes at the Shaman, "Then get out before I kill you. If you cannot get him out of this... Coma... I'll terminate your license... And you."

"Oh give me a break. I'm not a Coruscant or Huntaria Shaman.... *Gack!*"

Aelikes had his hands out in a clutching form, using the force to choke this particularly insubordinate Shaman, "that doesn't give you the excuse to be stupid. You've stretched my patience." At that, the Shaman fell to the floor clutching his throat gasping his last breath. Then, the door opened and an ensign walked in.

"My lord, we're approaching Tantis."

"What are you waiting for?" Aelikes barked, "where's our shuttle?"

"It's ready, my lord!"

Aelikes finnaly relaxed a bit and marched out of the medical bay leaving the ensign stairing at Shamman's body. He then turned his head to the floor and noticed that the Kirtir Shaman was on the ground, by now stone dead. The ensign shuttered and walked off.

-----------------------------------
Where am I...? It's so hot in here... I'm burning. What the fuck... Shamman found himself in a world of burning fire, and people reaching out to him in deranged forms and burnt skin. He then saw a figure which looked similar to Lord Vorman. However, instead of black and brown robes and no obvious body it was definatly solid. It's body was surrounded by flames, and black smoke. It's eyes were of an intense fire, and what would be robes is molten magma.

Welcome to the realm of the Kirtir Souls and their victims of slaughter. I am Skorm, the God of Darkness. You will be here for quite some time my young apprentice.

Warrior Shamman immediatly neeled to Skorm, who dismissed Shamman's gester. Please, you are here on my invitation. You chose to use the power of Rage because I wanted you to. I can control your actions if I wanted to meet someone worthy of my teachings.

And... I... Was chosen just like my Emeror was? But why now? I'm only 500. You chose Trilkan at about the age of 2000. Besides, the enemy got away from the battle I was in.

[i]He came to me untrained, without knowledge of the Force. Even the basic methods. He couldn't even feel it, wasn't in tune with it. I gave him that ability. You however... Have had training already by his apprentice. You show promice to become a Kirtir Dark Lord," Skorm extended his burnt hand out to Shamman, "Do you wish to embark on this journey of darkness my son?"

Shamman thought about this for a few moments and went back to a lesson he was taught by Aelikes, "once you accept something from Skorm, there's no turning back. Ever." Shamman nodded to himself inwardly and extended his hand to Skorm. Shamman then began his journey of darkness, one which will echo through the ages of Huntarians, Malkir and Kirtir alike.

Inside the bacta tank of the best medical facility on Tenetia, Lady Nightshade healed her wounds incurred during the duel with her brother Daniel on Konoha. But her mind was a turmoil of fury and darkness, a storm still rumbling even though it is ending. "Daniel..."

Kabuto looked up from the various medical screens. "Is she ready yet? Mmm. Not yet. Another day, perhaps. For now, the Empress needs her rest."

The dark medic-nin left Nightshade to heal, going over the plans for the next few weeks. His glasses seemed to flash in the dim light. "I'm going to enjoy this immensely...Travis."

=====

Travis sneezed. "Geez. I hate that."

He laid down on the cot and tried to rest. With nothing to do, it was either sleep a lot or work on his harmonica skills. For some reason, he had one in his pocket. He sighed and pulled it out, trying out a tune. "Well, nothing to do but practice."

The harmonica was a little hard to work with, but soon, he got the hang of it when...

"Please! No more! I'll do anything you want!" A man yelled as two stormtroopers dragged him kicking and screaming towards the end of the dungeon hall.

Travis looked up at the man. His face was gaunt and it looked like he had several old bruises on his arms. The boy shuddered, not wanting to think about what torture the man had to undergo. The man began sobbing as the door slammed behind him and all was quiet again. Travis sighed and continued learning how to play the instrument.

An hour later, two more stormtroopers came to his cell and turned off the energy bars. "You're coming with us, kid!"

"What? Already? Jeez..." Travis grumbled and then yelped as electric prods jabbed into him. "Allright, all right..."

The young Masaki heir was then frog-marched into the torture chambers of doom, complete with ominous drums that sent shivers down his spine...

Tenetia, not Tantis

"Ugh!" A foot slammed into Travis' gut, knocking the wind out of him. The stormtrooper grinned, following up the assault with a punch that knocked the boy to the ground. His lips bled, but as his hands were tied behind his back, Travis could do little to defend himself, especially as two other stormtroopers, underlings to this bully, stood watch at the door.

"C'mon, brat! Get up and fight!" The trooper laughed. "Oh, wait, you can't!"

A flash of anger crossed Travis' eyes and as the Stormtrooper launched another blow, Travis hooked his left foot against the trooper's leg and kicked with his right, using the leverage to trip up the trooper and land him on his back.

"Damn you!" The trooper yelled as Travis struggled to get up with just his feet. The trooper roughly grabbed the boy by the hair and slammed him against the wall. Then the trooper pummeled him over and over again earning the yells and grunts of the boy. "I'll beat you raw, Jedi brat! I'll show you to respect Stormtroopers!"

"Ugh. Ung!" Travis' face and body was getting bruised and another kick to the ribs earned him a sharp pain, like something broke.

Then someone arrived. "Now, now. Sergeant. Let's not kill young Travis yet, unless you want to raise the ire of the Empress."

The sergeant snapped to attention, letting the boy drop moaning to the ground. "Of course, Kabuto-sama."

Kabuto smiled, going down to Travis' level on the balls of his feet. "You know I could make this easy on you, my young friend. All you have to do is give in. Surrender. I hold your life in the palms of your hands."

Travis glared up at Kabuto and spat. "Baka. I'll never give in. I'll never surrender to the Sith! I'll die first!"

The dark Shinobi's glasses somehow flashed but Kabuto just grinned. "Ah, defiance. How strong it is, and how fragile. Well, I wish you would have listened to me. It pains me to have to break your spirit. But," He sighed theaterically. "It must be done."

He stood up and walked to the door. Then he stopped, and only his eyes turned towards the Sergeant. "Heal his wounds and take him to the Isolation Chambers. He will be dealt with in short time."

"Of course, my Lord." The sergeant saluted. Then he landed a blow on the boy's neck to knock him out like a light and picked up the bruised body. Then the boy was taken away to be treated for his injuries and then taken away to an antigravity chamber meant to break the mental prowess of a prisoner by depriving the prisoner of all the senses. It is not likely that Travis would be broken in that manner -he's encountered a complete loss of senses before- but it will ensure that he doesn't get any ideas of freedom before the Empress awakens...and the Huntaerians arrive.

=====

"Itachi-sama." A soldier reported. "A ship approaches. Huntaerian."

"They are expected. Please have the occupants escorted to the Citadel." Itachi said. "Is the Empress healed yet?"

"Not yet. Lord Kabuto has said that she will be out of the tank in another twelve hours. Then he will complete the healing process with his medical jutsus. She will awaken tomorrow for sure."

And then, the real process of turning young Travis shall begin. The Tenetian Moff and husband to Lady Nightshade thought with a nod. "Very well. Resume your duties as soon as the Huntaerians have arrived."

"Of course, my Lord. Of course." The soldier bowed deeply and scampered to get away from of the piercing gaze of Itachi.

"And now, it begins." Itachi mused, heading towards the Reception Hall where the guests will be recieved...

Tenetia, not Tantis


OOC: GOD DAMN IT!! Now why the hell did I put that?


=====

"Itachi-sama." A soldier reported. "A ship approaches. Huntaerian."

"They are expected. Please have the occupants escorted to the Citadel." Itachi said. "Is the Empress healed yet?"

"Not yet. Lord Kabuto has said that she will be out of the tank in another twelve hours. Then he will complete the healing process with his medical jutsus. She will awaken tomorrow for sure."

And then, the real process of turning young Travis shall begin. The Tenetian Moff and husband to Lady Nightshade thought with a nod. "Very well. Resume your duties as soon as the Huntaerians have arrived."

"Of course, my Lord. Of course." The soldier bowed deeply and scampered to get away from of the piercing gaze of Itachi.

"And now, it begins." Itachi mused, heading towards the Reception Hall where the guests will be recieved...

The Pillar slowed down to half impulse power, moving at a slow pace around the planet of Tenetia (now I know I got it right this time). Aelikes sat in the command chair with the Captain of the Pillar in the First Officer's chair and Deshoone sat in the Councilor's chair. Aelikes stared at the view screen as Tenetia came into full view. They knew that Itachi had spoted them coming into their system from long range scans. They were expected after all. "Report."

"My Lord, we've approached Tenetia, home of Nightshade herself."

"Good, move us into position for transport. We have limited shuttle capabilities on this ship after that... War," Aelikes clenched his teath when he finnished that sentence. He didn't like the outcome of this war, and for all he knew the enemy was gloating about it this moment. The Empire had made one of their bigest mistakes within the last few hundred years. They had underestimated their enemies tactical capabilities and suffered dearly for it. While the loss of their fleet wasn't exactly huge, they had almost handed themselves to their enemeis on a silver and gold platter. Not only that... But they seemed to be prepaired for the fleet which was cloaked in the first place. It was almost as though someone very close to the Empire, perhapse even inside itt, had told the enemy about what was going to happen. No one was that prepaired for a fleet invasion without having prior information. Deshoonde smiled to himself at this thought, he knew the Empire didn't suspect him as of yet for he knew of their huge arrogance. Deshoonde would ensure that it would be their downfall.

"Aye my Lord. Transporter room two is ready."

"Captain, the ship is yours again... For the time being," at that, Aelikes stormed into the bridge's elevator closely followed by Deshoonde. Moments later, the found themselves walking into the Transporter room where they were confronted by a temporairly unwanted companion.

"Concern: Master, I wish to know wny we are still dealing with these Tenetian Meatbags. Isn't it clear that they left us in the dust to die?"

Aelikes growled at the droid, :: Didn't you have that program deleted?::

Deshoonde shrugged, ::I did, and so did Shamman. However, it would appear that it is one of those programs which can't be deleted. It finds it's own way back.

Aelikes sighed, "we were suppose to be used as the diversion '59. We were the guys the enemy was suppose to shoot at. We can afford to replace the Megaladon. It's much harder for our Tenetian allies to replace their former flag ship, Obliterator which was thoroughly obliterated, than it is for us to replace the Megaladon."

"Concerned Reply: Very well master. However I still insist on taking me with you. Promis: I swear to you, master, that I will be on my best behavior. Try to understand that in our last meeting with Nightshade was when I had my legs severed from my tourso!"

Aelikes scoffed, "hmph. Fine. Step onto the platform then," Aelikes then shot a glare at the transporter chief.

"Coordinates have been uploaded my Lord. I am transporting you directly into the area where you are suppose to meet. Ready when you are Darth Aelikes."

"Energize."

As the transporter chief put his hands on the control pannel, he realised he forgot to include the fact that there could very well be other people in the area. For all he knew, he transported them ontop of the trooper they were suppose to meet... *sigh* I know I'm going to be killed for this one...

"Ow. Please get me the number of that speeder. Ugh." The HK model had landed on the trooper waiting for the Dark Lords while the others landed nicely on the droid in return.

Another trooper stood at attention. Luckily his mask and training eliminated all signs of humor, although that would change during his downtime. "Welcome to Tenetia, my Lords. Please come with me."

After the Dark Lords untangled themselves from the mess, the trooper lead them to a speeder limo where they would be taken to the Imperial Citadel where Itachi and Nightshade and their family live. It's also home to a dungeon filled with the wretched and the oppressed and two very upset young Jedi, but that's another story and shall be told another time.

Hearing Travis’ voice offered young Daniel some comfort, it meant he wasn’t here alone. Still he wasn’t in a good position, he didn’t dare get close enough to the electrified bars as it made his fur stand on end and so he couldn’t see them take Travis away. He didn’t know what was in store for him but did know that it wouldn’t be good, his only hope would be the kingdom launching a rescue but that rested on them finding out where he was being held and even the prince didn’t know his location. He did however know that the Norns had a hand in his capture, this was the fate that they had given him.

“Hello… cousin,” came a voice, a voice that the young prince recognised and now despised.

His pale yellow eyes looked up through the bars and met familiar red eyes.

“Masato,” Daniel spat.

“No, you should now call me Mordred,” came the reply. “Mordred Wagner.”

Daniel took a step back from the bars, he knew all about his aunt Lady Nocturne and that she had a son a little older then him. To think he had been Masato, posing as an orphan to get though Sand’s Ninja Academy just to get him. It sent a shiver down his spine thinking how long his cousin had been there spying on him and his family for Lady Nocturne and who knows who else?

“Think of it as a family reunion,” Mordred grinned.

“Fuck you,” Daniel spat.

There were two explosions of purple smoke and Daniel found Mordred in his cell with him.

“Can’t do that anymore can you?” his cousin taunted him. “How sad.”

Noticing Daniel about to leap at him, Mordred held up a zat’ni’katel and shot him with a single round that rendered the young prince unconscious. Mordred didn’t like the cell he preferred to have this talk elsewhere.

"Ow. Please get me the number of that speeder. Ugh." The HK model had landed on the trooper waiting for the Dark Lords while the others landed nicely on the droid in return.

Another trooper stood at attention. Luckily his mask and training eliminated all signs of humor, although that would change during his downtime. "Welcome to Tenetia, my Lords. Please come with me."

After the Dark Lords untangled themselves from the mess, the trooper lead them to a speeder limo where they would be taken to the Imperial Citadel where Itachi and Nightshade and their family live. It's also home to a dungeon filled with the wretched and the oppressed and two very upset young Jedi, but that's another story and shall be told another time.

"Hey, Aelikes, didn't you say you fought that Masaki once?"

"Yes, a while back. During the Empire's first encounter with the Coredians."

"Observation: It has come to my attention that humanoids have all of those soft and slushy things in their bodies which just make me want to gag. I don't know how you survive with them. Wouldn't it be better if you made yourself more of a cyborg?" Deshoonde sighed and reached over to the droids activation switch, "Master what ever----Power failiure." The droid's red eyes faded to the palish grey.

"Tell me, why did we bring it?"

"Supposidly for our protection."

"Indeed." Aelikes turned his head to look at the trooper who was escorting him, "How is the dark empress doing? Has she revived yet?"

I hope she gets in a coma and stays there Deshoonde thought to himself, "Yeah, she did take some fairly good blows from that Masaki. Shamman almost didn't make it out alive."

"Lord Itachi will know more about her than I, milords." The trooper said monotonously. "But she is coming along well last I heard of her. Ah, here we are."

Itachi's red-black eyes stared out at the Huntaerian delegates as they entered the throne room. "Welcome to Tenetia, my friends. Lady Nightshade will be out of the tanks by tomorrow. How was your trip?"

Daniel winced as he regained consciousness. He could feel a throbbing pain in every inch of his body.

“Oh look he’s awake,” came a familiar voice.

Daniel’s vision was rather blurred but still he could make out a blurry blue shape with red eyes and black hair. He remembered where he was and who had taken him there. Masato, now known as…

“Mordred,” he said in a strained voice.

Mordred laughed. “So weak, couldn’t handle one shot,” he said standing in front of his cousin.

The young elf found himself chained up, as much as he struggled he couldn’t slip his hands free. Nor could he teleport, the inhibitor made it so he couldn’t use any of his powers.

“Struggle all you want, you’re a prisoner now,” Mordred taunted him. “Oh how I am going to enjoy this.”

Daniel’s vision was much clearer now, he could see that he was in a dungeon of some kind. He was held in the centre of the room, his arms chained above him.

“You and your little friends always used to say I liked pain,” Mordred smirked. “I do, I love inflicting it on people and I am going to have so much fun inflicting pain on you.”

The black-haired elf took out a stick and pointed it at Daniel.

“The Goa’uld, masters of torture left us some very good devices didn’t they.”

Without a second though, Mordred jabbed the Goa’uld pain stick into his cousins stomach. The pain flowed right through his body and as Daniel yelled out in pain, light came from his mouth and eyes. The excruciating pain took over his body. Too much and he would die, Mordred didn’t want that at least not yet anyway and pulled the pain stick away. Daniel was breathing heavily as the pain slowly subsided.

“Having fun now aren’t we?” Mordred grinned.

"Lord Itachi will know more about her than I, milords." The trooper said monotonously. "But she is coming along well last I heard of her. Ah, here we are."

Itachi's red-black eyes stared out at the Huntaerian delegates as they entered the throne room. "Welcome to Tenetia, my friends. Lady Nightshade will be out of the tanks by tomorrow. How was your trip?"

"We appreciate your hospitality my lord. We're pleased to hear your wife is healing. However... There's something I've been wanting to try out my self for healing."

Oh skorm... Deshoonde gritted his teath behind his mask. It was a good thing he was good at blocking mind readers like Itachi. The mask helps out at times too.

"See, we have yet to figure out a punishment for our incompitent Grand Admiral without executing him. We just don't like to wast perfectly good resorses such as commanding officers. See, what this power does is it transfer's the victim's strength and health to oneself. However, I've found out recently that it can be transfered to another person. The user acts as a form of a conduit it appears. It speeds up normal healing that's done in the Kolto tanks and the normal healing powers that are known and will provide sufficient punishment for our questionable Grand Admiral."

"Draining his life force to heal another. An interesting technique..." A youngish man with grey hair tied back appeared from a door. "Ah, sorry, my Lords if I'm interrupting anything. Anyway, the technique has useful applications, but a lot of the Dark Lady's wounds are Force-based so it's only best if she heals normally. Anything else would be dangerous."

"Hmm. Kabuto..." Itachi mused. "...is our resident physician and one of the most powerful Medic-nin in Tenetia, quite possibly a match for the Hokage. I believe you know him well."

"Ah, please, Lord Itachi." Kabuto rubbed the back of his head modestly at the praise. Despite his lightness, there's a great underlying darkness that underlies the skin.

"Now...to business." Itachi's eyes grew little comma-like things called tomoe and spun slowly. "What to do with my nephew to turn him to our side..."

Godulan Tag for Great Justice and Possible Future Participation and whatnot.

Mordred scowled and gave Daniel one last jab of the Goa’uld pain stick. The young prince yelled in pain, light emanating from his eyes and mouth. The pain was excruciating, Daniel was forced to endure it over and over.

Mordred stepped back and admired his handiwork. Daniel was slumped forward, his head hanging down as his body was weakened by the torture.

“Oh there will be a lot more of this to come,” Mordred smirked.

Mordred cocked his head to one side, the look upon his face seemingly changed as he began to look angry.

“Draconian culture disgusts me,” he snarled. “My mother should be ruler and I should be the heir to the throne, not you.”

His cousin grinned through the pain. “The Norns felt differently,” Daniel remarked. “Saw my father as the better ruler.”

He felt a great pain in his head before everything went black. Mordred had hit him hard enough to knock the blue elf out.

"Draining his life force to heal another. An interesting technique..." A youngish man with grey hair tied back appeared from a door. "Ah, sorry, my Lords if I'm interrupting anything. Anyway, the technique has useful applications, but a lot of the Dark Lady's wounds are Force-based so it's only best if she heals normally. Anything else would be dangerous."

"Ah... So quick to make assumptions to a power which hasn't even been introduced to the public. 'Tis a brand of my own bit of force powers," Aelikes turned his head and narrowed his eyes a Kabuto.


"Hmm. Kabuto..." Itachi mused. "...is our resident physician and one of the most powerful Medic-nin in Tenetia, quite possibly a match for the Hokage. I believe you know him well."

"Ah. Well, I suppose there are always prisonsers and slaves we can practice this technique on. I'd appreciate the good physician's help."


"Now...to business." Itachi's eyes grew little comma-like things called tomoe and spun slowly. "What to do with my nephew to turn him to our side..."

"Suggestion: Why not attempt to manipulate him to see our ways?" Came the mechanical reply of the Redish armored droid. "Subliminal messaging seems to have a strong effect. It was outlawed in ancient earth as it was considered to be a form of brainwashing."

"The droid must not get out very often. Manipulation only works after the subject is broken." Kabuto pointed out. "Especially when he's not only the son of the most powerful Jedi Master alive, but in the enemy camp where manipulation is as expected as torture. He'll last quite a while. And yes, I'd like to help on the technique."

"He'll eventually be broken. I'll will be sure of that." Itachi said in a way that made Kabuto shiver. The medic knew how powerful the technique Itachi was thinking about was, it can break even Jedi Masters.

Meanwhile, the sound of steel-heeled boots clopped into the sensory deprivation chamber holding the Jedi prisoner. The caped figure drew the boy out of the chamber, blinking and disoriented from the sudden input of his senses. Travis could just see a face, familiar and yet not. For a moment, he thought Grandfather Alex was here. "Grandfather Alex?"

An amused voice replied. "The resemblence is uncanny, is it not? No, I am Count Dooku of Serenno, also known as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Tyranus. And I promise you boy, I will show you pain. I will show you madness. And then, I will show you the abyss."

Travis' spine went cold at the dark promises of the Clone Wars leader, but his bravado came to the fore. "Bring it on, Sith! Whatever you can dish out, I can take it!"

"Brave of you." The Count replied, his amusement growing. "But foolish."

Pain suddenly ripped through Travis, so sudden and so quick that he screamed. The Sith Lightning sapped his strength and lit up every one of his nerves. His legs failed him and he convulsed on the ground, twitching and smelling burnt flesh. Then it stopped, allowing Travis to draw shallow, panting breaths.

"This is just the beginning." Dooku grinned madly as he snapped his fingers and an Iridonian Sith enforcer with black and red Sith tattoos on his bald, horned head dragged Travis to a room with numerous torture devices laying around and proceeded to beat him raw, punching, kicking, and using ancient Sith techniques to inflict the maximum level of pain upon young Travis while leaving him conscious to experience the horrors of it all. His screams became just one of hundreds of other horrible screams in the Tenetian dungeons, and there was nothing anyone could do about it...

"It's not the same without having someone watch," Mordred mumbled to himself.

He looked at the unconscious form of his cousin.

"Even worse when the victim is out cold."

Using the Goa'uld pain stick he pushed up Daniels head up. It flopped forward again as he pulled away again. Mordred stood up and leaned against the wall and waited for his cousin to regain conciousness.

But alas, someone *was* watching. Janus.

"So I see you're having some fun." The dark-haired and pale boy smiled.

Mordred looked up. "I was," he said. "But then he couldn't handle a blow to the head."

He looked back at his cousin, waiting for him to stir.

"Shows how weak he really is."

A moan came from Daniel.

"And he returns," Mordred smirked. "Now we can have some more fun."

Groggily Daniel looked up. He tried to say something but was unable to.

"So what are you doing to him?" Janus asked.

"Well I've been softening him up with a Goa'uld pain stick," Mordred grinned holding it.

Daniel groaned.

"I know something that can deliver even more pain, want to see?"

"The droid must not get out very often. Manipulation only works after the subject is broken." Kabuto pointed out. "Especially when he's not only the son of the most powerful Jedi Master alive, but in the enemy camp where manipulation is as expected as torture. He'll last quite a while. And yes, I'd like to help on the technique."

"Reply: Hmph."

"My thanks good doctor. I have a... 'Troubled' Admiral to deal with now," Aelikes clenched his fists at the thought.


"He'll eventually be broken. I'll will be sure of that." Itachi said in a way that made Kabuto shiver. The medic knew how powerful the technique Itachi was thinking about was, it can break even Jedi Masters.

"When is it our session to deal with your nephew? Kabuto, this is where I'll need your hand. I'd like to get started."

Deshoonde glanced his eyes from his mask which would be unoticable, and saw Kabuto shiver. Obviously this guy ain't kidding if he makes that "doctor" nervous. I need to work fast if I'm able to help Travis get out of here. "Yes indeed. Lets get these sessions over with. Talk bores me. Actions speak louder than words after all."

"Well I've been softening him up with a Goa'uld pain stick," Mordred grinned holding it.

Daniel groaned.

"I know something that can deliver even more pain, want to see?"
"Of course." Janus grinned sadistically.

"Reply: Hmph."

"My thanks good doctor. I have a... 'Troubled' Admiral to deal with now," Aelikes clenched his fists at the thought.
"I aim to serve." Kabuto smirked.


"When is it our session to deal with your nephew? Kabuto, this is where I'll need your hand. I'd like to get started."

Deshoonde glanced his eyes from his mask which would be unoticable, and saw Kabuto shiver. Obviously this guy ain't kidding if he makes that "doctor" nervous. I need to work fast if I'm able to help Travis get out of here. "Yes indeed. Lets get these sessions over with. Talk bores me. Actions speak louder than words after all."
"Right now, I believe it's our dear friend Tyranus who is softening up the boy for us." Kabuto said cruelly. "Give him another hour, then we shall begin."

"Of course." Janus grinned sadistically.

Mordred licked his lips and walked behind Daniel.

"Something that some Cyredathem's, Jedi and Sith have in common," he mentioned.

Placing his hands either side of Daniels head, leaving a nice big gap between his palms and Daniels ears, lightning emerged from his hands and went through Daniel. The young els yelled in pain as Mordred laughed.

"I do enjoy pain," he grinned and stopped. "Short bursts only, wouldn't want to kill him so easily."

"Old." Janus looked bored. "Cliche, even. Anyone could torture someone with lightning. But it takes skill to know how to do this..."

He focused on one of Daniel's arms. He envisioned the bones in the arm, how interesting their design was and opened his hand like a flower. And then...

*snap*

the upper arm bone snapped as he squeezed his hand into a fist.

"May be old, but even the old stuff is effective," Mordred remarked.

He watched Janus take over. As the bone snapped, Daniel yelled in pain his eyes briefly flashing green.

"You see that?" Mordred remarked. "Ddauchlorsson is still active inside him."

"Indeed. It feels like that fool Naruto and the fox." Janus said, moving to the other limb to snap it as well.

======

Meanwhile, Tyranus ceased the attacks, leaving a broken young Masaki on the floor. "You see, young apprentice? The more you resist, the more you break."

"I will never break..." Travis defied the Sith Lord. "You'll have to kill me first."

"Oh, I don't intend to kill you, my boy, but I can certainly make you wish you were dead. But alas, my time here is nearly over. I look forward to our next meeting...Travis." Darth Tyranus laughed as his enforcer Maul sneered.

The two Sith left Travis to rot, bleeding and feeling pain from every inch of his body, pain enough that he just lay there, trying not to move...

The meeting with Itachi soon ended quickly. However, Aelikes's time on Tenetia wasn't over. His job with Travis was about to begin, as Tyranus's session ended. Aelikes paced in the Palace's chambers as he waited for the incompetant Admiral who ordered for a retreat which ended in a massacure for the Empire. While the loss of life isn't of a concern for the Empire, the loss of ships is, and the technology on them. Ezekiel ignored the basic command orders, retreated from battle (which is considered to be a crime in itself in the Empire, except for strategic reasons), pulled the Kirtir Lords away from battle (a no-no in the military rule book, unless ordered by the Lords themselves), and then failure to command the fleet efficiently. Going over this list of faliures made Aelikes's mind race with madness. He knew what was going to be done with the Admiral. This kind of embarassment can't be allowed within the Empire, and the punnishment will be severe.

Soon, there was the familiar sound of a loud ringing whir, and then blue lights followed after it forming together to create a bright colum of light. Aelikes stared at it for quite some time, with his arms crossed across his chest. His eyes narrowed as he saw the figure of a humiliated Grand Admiral, being clapsed in irons and held by two Space Marines. "What shall we do with this traitor milord? Throw him in the dungeon with the rest of the lot?"

"No Sergeant. No... I have something more sinister in mind for this incompitent fool," Aelikes hissed the last words with hatred towards Ezekiel, "follow me."

The two Space Marines followed Aelikes where they came across the Chief Physician Kabuto who, upon Aelikes's request, followed them to the chamber where Travis was being kept. Ezekiel whimpered a bit as he saw the lit torture chamber and the young boy lying on the floor. "Kabuto, will you help me set up and place the boy on the other table?" He then gestered towards one of the two Space Marines to help Kabuto lift up Travis, in case he causes trouble.

Kabuto grinned. "Of Course, milord."

Normally, a medic would be careful with a body as broken as Travis', but Kabuto was an adept in the Dark Side and had no such qualms. Kabuto picked up the boy, ignoring the screams of pain and laid him on the table. "On you go, my friend."

Kabuto strapped the boy in, just in case. Then he smiled cruelly. "What we are about to do, young Travis, is a little experiment. Please bear with us as we learn the extent of this test..."

Travis tried to protest, but his pain proved too much and he layed there, exhausted. "One day, Kabuto....one day..."

Kabuto simply laughed. "Ready when you are, Lord Aelikes."

"Indeed. It feels like that fool Naruto and the fox." Janus said, moving to the other limb to snap it as well.



"Ddauchlorsson, the Prince of Dragons," Moredred scowled. "The real power behind the Kingdom is Ddauchlor King of Dragons, not my uncle. My uncle is nothing more than his puppet." He eyed Daniel closely. "Ddauchlor won't ever accept a female ruler, that's why my mother did what she did and killed our grandparents."

Daniel silently looked up at him, the extreme pain in his body causing him to be unable to speak.

"The Norns had other ideas."

With the anger inside him rising, a tickle of blood appeared from the corner of his eye. He ignored the pain that that had appeared in the eye and calmly wiped away the blood.

Aelikes threw the Grand Admiral violently onto the table after Kabuto gave the signal he was ready. With the help from the other Space Marine, he had no trouble with straping Ezekiel onto the table for Ezekiel had no force powers to aid him. And if there were any screams... The marine would only thrust a pistol into the Grand Admiral's mouth and told him to shut the fuck up. Ezekiel was strapped onto the table, and Aelikes took a datapad from his pocket and read:

"To the accused, that's you dear Admiral by the way," Aelikes chuckled wickedly at that and Ezekiel moaned in agony, "As of this moment, Grand Admiral Ezekiel has acted with treason against the Galactic Empire of Huntaer and it's allies and as a result, disiplinary action shall be taken into account as well as removal of rank, and from the Huntarian Navy all together. This military council has seen it fit that the person who shal preform Ezekiel's disiplinary action will be his most immediate superior officer, thats me by the way," Aelikes added with a sneer, "and will choose any form of method he/she sees fit. Darth Trilkan" Aelikes's grin grew wider and Ezekiel's face grew paler with it. If Aelikes upheld his legendary insanity as it was told amungst the commanding officers of the Huntarian Military, he knew that he was in for a long night. And indeed, Aelikes began to hum a version of "this land is my land" as he walked beside Ezekiel's table. "Dear doctor, please stand next to me. This power requires two to preform..." And he held out his hand just as he got up to the part in the song "from california, to the new york islands..."

"Of course." Kabuto stood by his ally and prepared to be instructed in this new technique. Travis had a sudden feeling of foreboding...

=====

Meanwhile, Janus soaked up Mordred's explanation. "So, do you have any other techniques to impart on him?"

"Old stuff as you would put it, I know a mix of ninja and force tricks," Mordred replied. "Plus a few secret techniques I may be willing to show."

Daniel looked up as the pain in Mordreds eye worsened. Closing it he grimaced and placed his hand over it.

"Botched genetical enhancement my mother forced upon me," he said. "I disappointed her because I didn't have the dragon sharingan like Lady Dedlocks son's did."

Knowing who Daniel's sensei was, Mordred used the pain stick on him once again. And once again the pain tore through the young heirs body, as he yelled light appeared from his mouth and eyes.

Janus seemed to revel in the screams. "Ah. Kabuto-sensei might be able to help with the pain."

Mordred pulled the pain stick away from Daniel.

"That's enough for today," he said. "Any more and it might kill him, it's much too early to do anything like that and my mother will not be pleased if I do kill him before she gets the chance to see him."

He wiped away the blood from his own face and looked toward Janus.

"I'll go for it if it can help."

"All right." Janus said, and moved out of the door. "By the way, my cousin's around. I hear he's undergoing even more...interesting techniques. Want to see?"

Mordred nodded. "Should be interesting," he replied before following, leaving Daniel chained up. "Might get a few ideas to use on the runt."

"Of course." Kabuto stood by his ally and prepared to be instructed in this new technique. Travis had a sudden feeling of foreboding...

Aelikes began to chant in Kirtirianese, an anceint dark language which his people spoke in during their formation over a hundred thousand years ago. The room grew dark, and cold. Aelikes's breath can be seen as he speaks in the dark language, summmoning up a portal connecting the boddies of Himself, Kabuto, Travis, and Ezekiel. Aelikes closed his eyes, and ended the chant with a mutter of "and may Skorm forgive your treacherous soul..." Then a bright blue-orange bolt of electricity erupted from the Grand Admiral's body, and he shreaked with agony. The electricity then bounced through Aelikes, and then Kabuto finally connecting to the young Masaki who's boddy was surrounded with the electricity...

:: Doctor, try and adjust to my level of flow. Your end is growing rather weak for the young boy.::

bump for Huntaer

TENETIA:

Martin Kincaid stepped into the bar, seeking his first evening of blissful inebriation to kick off his well-earned vacation. Being the warden of a Concentration Camp like the one on... no... some Jedi might be keeping an eye on him, better to keep the planet secret even when thinking about it. Too many Jedi in that camp to think there wouldn't be folks trying to hunt someone like him down. Being the warden of a camp like that was damned stressful, and more than a little depressing. The facility was designed to sap the hope out of the inmates, but Kincaid knew that the atmosphere could and more often than not did carry over to the guards.

*thkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthkthk*

Confusion came first, largely due to the fact that such a sound was as uncommon as it was unexpected in a bar. The Warden knew the sound by instinct, as his guards would occasionally cause such a thing during lunch breaks. It was the sound of a knife impacting a table, point first, though in this situation the sound was repeating at a rate that made the warden pause.

Nobody can hit a table that hard so quickly, what's going on here?

A small crowd of cheering onlookers surrounded a table, several layers worth, the backmost spectators standing on tiptoes and watching between shoulders and heads in order to view whatever it was that held their interest. The strength of each impact struck Kincaid as sufficient that a storm trooper, or even a Jedi, would have to wind up for each strike, yet this sounded like a rapid-fire rat-a-tat-tat one would associate more with a casual flick of the wrist. Shoving his way through the thinnest section of the crowd, he saw what was causing the ruckus.

A single man, in a curious pinstripe business suit, danced a razor-sharp knife between each of the fingers of his other hand, which he kept splayed out on the table before him... over the hands of another man, who at this point in time wore an expression of abject horror while he let forth a torrent of cursing and terrified pleading.

"--lyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitdamndamndamndamndamndudeslowdownpleaseslowdownI'mbeggingyouslowdown--"

"Stop talking," came an almost unnaturally strong voice as the thkthkthk'ing continued and developed into a strange kind of percussion beat that quickly had the surrounding crowd stomping a rhythm to accompany the spectacle. "You are hindering my concentration."

The other bargoer clamped his mouth shut and watched in horror as the table before him rattled under the strain of so many harsh impacts at such a high speed, while a knife danced between his outstretched fingers in a blur of razor sharp glints.

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the rapid-fire impacts slowed down to nothing, and the knife-wielder took his knife away from the table, flipping the dagger through his fingers before jamming it into his holster as though the maneuver had been practiced for many a year. The crowd erupted into applause around Kincaid, and the other fellow simply executed a curt bow before walking to another table, the crowd parting before him as though afraid to be in his way while still cheering the performance. Several people joined the gasping man at the table, clapping him on the back and saying things like "See, it wasn't so bad," and "Dude that took guts."

As the crowd dispersed, Kincaid followed the other man to his table and indicated the seat opposite him. The knife-wielder walked with uncanny grace, and bore himself quite proudly. Pale skin and jet-black hair, prominent even in the somewhat dim lighting of the bar, marked him as an exotic fellow who most definitely did not hail from anywhere the warden knew of... the pinstripe suit reminded him of something he had seen on holovids... but where?

"May I sit here?" he asked the knife-wielder.

The knife-bearer bore into Kincaid with eyes of deep green and an intensity that sent a chill down the warden's spine. Then, the expression changed to something amicable, and a smile crossed the man's lips. "I was hoping one of the ladies in that corner would be the first to join me," he commented, nodding towards a cluster of attractive women in the far corner, who occasionally tossed him a curious glance whilst chattering amongst themselves about the display still fresh in their minds, "but the night is young. And I do not mind trying new things, in fact I welcome the opportunity... you are a tad older than I would prefer, though."

A momentary pause ensued as Kincaid tried to comprehend the other's response, followed by emphatic headshaking and ew-ew-ew-ing. "Nothing like THAT, sir. I don't swing that way, and I'm married."

"Ah, but are you happily married?" came the response, then the other smiled broadly and let forth a slight chuckle at the warden's horrified expression. "I kid, I kid. Please have a seat. I welcome the chance to converse, especially with those of a martial background. Must be wearying riding herd on those under your command."

"How can you tell that I'm a commander?"

"Your haircut and posture, first and foremost, and wrinkles around your eyes suggest constant bouts of eye strain, likely from reading documentation. You're typically rather fit, but you have let yourself go on a slight downhill slide lately," the man nodded toward Kincaid's gut, which in all honesty HAD been getting a bit larger than he would have liked, "indicates something of a paper pushing job, but an important one, as it still requires at least a significant amount of walking. I also note that you sized me up as soon as you got a clear look at me, which indicates an attention to detail that has become something of second nature to you, likely towards spotting trouble. I daresay you are in corrections?"

Wow... how did he notice me watching him? He didn't look at me once!

"You guessed correct sir. I am Martin Kincaid, I am a prison warden, mostly PoWs and political dissidents. I have to keep an eye on them constantly, and this is the first time in a long while I have not had to be accompanied by guards when going 'Out on the town'. You've read me like a book, but I have no idea who you are or where you come from."

"Well, Martin Kincaid..." the man turned slightly at a barmaid wandering by and placed an order the warden seldom heard: "Crimson Dawn, be so kind."

"Whiskey," Kincaid added, while the Barmaid's attention was drawn. She nodded at both orders and hustled off, and the knife wielder returned his attention to the warden, who headed him off at the pass with a quick comment. "A Godulan drink? I'm surprised they even carry spirits from those bastards."

"My name," came the response, as though slightly annoyed at the comment, "is Kal'Shazzar. Godulan expatriate. You are speaking to an Avatar of the Swarm who has been... gainfully unemployed of late."

Kincaid's attention was grabbed instantly. "Impossible... for all their talk of freedom they're as cookie-cutter as can be! Expatriate! Hilarious!"

"Oh we are not as cookie-cutter as you would believe. Freedom, yes. Common purpose, yes. Cookie cutter, most assuredly not. It takes quite a feat to be considered a renegade amongst my people, and I have the distinction of knowing at least one method of doing exactly that."

A renegade. A Godulan. A renegade Godulan. Already Kincaid's vacation would be unforgettable. It also explained the pinstripes. All the pictures of Baron Skye showed him in pinstripes, and nobody else in the galaxy wore something that... archaic.

"When did you leave?"

"Two years, six months, four days, thirteen hours, and twenty two minutes ago. And I would not so much call it 'leaving' as I would call it... 'fleeing'."

"They ran you out?"

"Not quite, but it was obvious that my work was in jeopardy and that all of my progress would be lost if I did not take my business elsewhere."

"So you're a fugitive?"

This was getting better and better, and their drinks hadn't even come yet.

"Again, not quite. Though to look back on what has happened since then, I have the feeling they would consider me a hardened criminal. It is surprising how emphatic their opposition to my work was. My experiments had the same purpose as they seek, and yet they considered my project an abomination. My work! ABOMINATION!"

Kal'Shazzar slammed his fist down on the table, his eyes glowing with internal energy and his body visibly shaking with rage. The Barmaid stepped back for a moment then hastily placed their drinks on the table, but before she could move off, the Godulan gave her several large coins, apparently sufficient to leave any concern about a disruptive guest completely forgotten, as she trotted to the back of the bar, almost bouncing with joy. The Godulan looked appreciatively in the girl's wake, nodding momentarily as if making some inner resolution, before turning his attention to his drink.

"Good tipper?"

"Do you think they would have allowed me to put on that show earlier if I had not made it worth their while? I bring in new patrons!" Kal'Shazzar replied as he sipped from the large glass before him. He inspected the glass slightly and smirked. "You know, I cannot even get drunk anymore. I can taste the drink, but alcohol... it has no effect. Nothing affects me anymore. I miss it sometimes... well, some of me does, at least."

"Miss what?" Kincaid asked, somewhat confused that Kal'Shazzar was referring to himself in parts.

"Getting drunk. Schnockered. Boozed up. Two of my minds do not know what it was like to be drunk, but the rest of us remember the buzz we could get after half a glass of this stuff," He tapped his glass once. "It helped the taste, too. The Cherry flavor got stronger as you drank more. Of course, the best kinds had some mulch to throw in as well, and experienced drinkers use the same glass over and over, so the stuff collects at the bottom and strengthens the taste with each passing round. 'Twas an art form for us... not much in Godulan society escaped that."

"So everything is held to an art form for Godulans?" Kincaid asked, sipping from his own drink and cringing slightly as the whiskey burned its way down his throat. So this guy was several separate minds in one body? How does that work...?

"Indeed. You would not know it to look at us, but everything we do is with a precision that would make even Admiral Thrawn take notice and also show more than a little dread. From farming to shipbuilding to tactical planning, its all done with amazing precision and artistic flair. Even our Kythonic rampages have an aesthetic quality and precision to them."

Kincaid could only nod in response. All the imperial news reports had the Godulans pegged as barbaric savages dedicated to nothing else than the complete annihilation of all civilization in the galaxy. Pictures of Kython drones eating human babies dominated the holo-feeds whenever the Godulans were mentioned.

"Speaking of rampages, why do the Godulans hate us?"

"Hate 'us'? Who is 'us'?"

"Us, the inhabitants of this galaxy. The Galactic Empire."

"Oh ho, the twenty dollar question, hmm?" Kal'Shazzar lowered his voice somewhat before continuing. "The Godulans do not hate you, as in the common inhabitant of this galaxy. They go out of their way to avoid causing harm to you. But I should also point out that calling every inhabitant of this galaxy a citizen of the Galactic Empire is a fallacy of epic proportions. There are a great many folks around here who thumb their nose at your precious emperor. Why do we hate The Galactic Empire? Now that is the critical consideration. We hate it because it stands against everything that we stand for. We hate it because it represses its own citizens, blinding them to the truth in manners conducive to achieving its own ends. We hate it because it draws fools to its banner and consumes them as a lion would consume sheep. We hate it because it ruins lives. I might be a renegade, and I might indeed be sitting in a bar on the capitol world of one of the galactic empire's primary constituents, but I feel the same way as I always did.

"But hey, I am a renegade, and in the pursuit of funds to continue my experiments, I am forced into a life of odd jobs and showmanship. I care not what I must do. I simply wish to see my work carried to the end. I tried a couple times elsewhere, and both times I found myself inexplicably asked to leave... as if my experiments were causing a disruption. Fools. I could have killed them, if I wanted... but a low profile must be kept. I might not be a 'fugitive' per se, but if my location were discovered..."

"They'd be all over you, huh?"

"Indeed."

"What are these experiments, and why are the Godulans so keen to stop you?"

"Are you certain you wish to hear the entire thing?"

"This is the first day of a nice long vacation. I have time."

"So be it," Kal'Shazzar said with a calculated sigh. "The Godulans have been studying various aspects of the universe for quite some time now, working to understand the universe and the possible methods to control it. My work, though something of a departure in subject matter, is no less noble. While others might seek enlightenment on the subject of quantum relativity or even interdimensional probability analysis, I have dedicated myself to the definition of a single concept: 'Beauty'. And in order to study the concept, I have developed a most interesting chemical that has both given my experiments the majority of their standing... and also the majority of my woes... a simple tale, for you, who has shown such a willingness to listen, of my development of Mordayne Extract, or the Dreamwaker..."

Aelikes began to chant in Kirtirianese, an anceint dark language which his people spoke in during their formation over a hundred thousand years ago. The room grew dark, and cold. Aelikes's breath can be seen as he speaks in the dark language, summmoning up a portal connecting the boddies of Himself, Kabuto, Travis, and Ezekiel. Aelikes closed his eyes, and ended the chant with a mutter of "and may Skorm forgive your treacherous soul..." Then a bright blue-orange bolt of electricity erupted from the Grand Admiral's body, and he shreaked with agony. The electricity then bounced through Aelikes, and then Kabuto finally connecting to the young Masaki who's boddy was surrounded with the electricity...

:: Doctor, try and adjust to my level of flow. Your end is growing rather weak for the young boy.::
Right. Kabuto, using his own experience with darkness, increased the energy flow into Travis, who fought the pain with what willpower he had left. I got it. Ready when you are.

Right. Kabuto, using his own experience with darkness, increased the energy flow into Travis, who fought the pain with what willpower he had left. I got it. Ready when you are.

Aelikes nodded and gripped his hands over Ezekiel's chest. The Grand Admiral shreaked in pain as the life was drained from him, and entered Travis (which would be equally painful). "I'm almost done here. Kabuto, please end the transfer of Ezekiel's life energy and we can call this session an end."

Travis screamed as the life force from Ezekiel streamed into him. His nerves were on fire, and yet his body began to heal at the same time.

Kabuto cut off the connection with a pained smile. "I'd say it needs...refinement. However, it appears to be working."

Travis screamed as the life force from Ezekiel streamed into him. His nerves were on fire, and yet his body began to heal at the same time.

Kabuto cut off the connection with a pained smile. "I'd say it needs...refinement. However, it appears to be working."

Aelikes nodded in agreement, "I agree with you doctor. For now... Session is over. Guards... Carry the Admiral to his chambers," the two space marine guards unlocked Ezekiel's clamps and dragged the weakened admiral up the torture chamber's steps making loud "thump, thump"s as the admiral was dragged along behind. Aelikes then sneered at Travis, "Kabuto, feel free to do what you want with the brat. He should be fully healed by now."

"Of course, my Lord." Kabuto bowed as Aelikes left. He turned to Travis, who had hatred in his eyes. "Now, now, Travis. Don't look at me like that. You and I are going to have so much fun tonight!"

Travis shuddered at the words. Kabuto would show him the depths of his 'fun'.

Meanwhile, in a private medical bay, a woman began to stir...

"Of course, my Lord." Kabuto bowed as Aelikes left. He turned to Travis, who had hatred in his eyes. "Now, now, Travis. Don't look at me like that. You and I are going to have so much fun tonight!"

Travis shuddered at the words. Kabuto would show him the depths of his 'fun'.

Meanwhile, in a private medical bay, a woman began to stir...

Aelikes cackled as he marched up the stares, but then he felt the disturbance in the force. Nightshade was awakening.

She still needed to heal her wounds, but now that she has awakened, the Dark Lady Nightshade could heal herself. She was removed from the tanks and dried up before the slaves brought her Sith clothes and weapons to her. Then, with the Dark Side swirling around her like bats, she exited the medical chamber and headed down to the Throne Room. She easily sensed the presence of Darth Aelikes and decided it would be prudent to be updated on the latest since she and her brother fought...

Exiting Hyperspace near Tenetia.

“My Lady we have arrived.”

With swift movement, Lady Nocturne crossed the bridge to the viewscreen. “Good, now I can see that filthy nephew of mine,” she said. “Get a shuttle ready, now.”

“Yes my Lady.”

With Lady Nocturne settled comfortably in the shuttle the pilot took off from the docking bay. With her were several guards, each carrying a staff weapon.

“Open a channel, announce my arrival they shall be expecting me,” she ordered.

“Yes my Lady,” the pilot replied and opened a channel. “This is The Deathship requesting permission to land for the arrival of Lady Nocturne.”

"Permission is granted, my Lady." The Imperial Traffic Control officer replied.

She still needed to heal her wounds, but now that she has awakened, the Dark Lady Nightshade could heal herself. She was removed from the tanks and dried up before the slaves brought her Sith clothes and weapons to her. Then, with the Dark Side swirling around her like bats, she exited the medical chamber and headed down to the Throne Room. She easily sensed the presence of Darth Aelikes and decided it would be prudent to be updated on the latest since she and her brother fought...

Aelikes felt the Dark Lady's presence grow stronger, he could easily tell that she was out of the tanks, and that she was curious about recent events. He knew where to find her, and proceded to the Throne Room with Deshoonde behind him. Aelikes knew she'd be interested in the recent happenings with her young Nephew.

Aelikes felt the Dark Lady's presence grow stronger, he could easily tell that she was out of the tanks, and that she was curious about recent events. He knew where to find her, and proceded to the Throne Room with Deshoonde behind him. Aelikes knew she'd be interested in the recent happenings with her young Nephew.
"Hello, Itachi." Lady Nightshade said quietly as she appeared before him in the Throne Room.

Glancing up from a sycophant praising the Empress' returned health, Itachi smiled. "I see you have recovered. Much has come to pass since you and your brother fought."

"I see. Will you tell me?" Nightshade sat on her comfortable throne, drinking in the praises and shouts of glory.

"Actually, I'll have Aelikes explain." Itachi replied as the Kirtir Lord walked into the Throne Room. He then had the guards shoo away the loyal patrons, allowing Aelikes to move in.

"Permission is granted, my Lady." The Imperial Traffic Control officer replied.

Lady Nocturne managed a cruel smile as the shuttle made its descent. Before long the shuttle had landed and her guards led her out.

"My mother has arrived," Mordred told Janus.

"Hello, Itachi." Lady Nightshade said quietly as she appeared before him in the Throne Room.

Glancing up from a sycophant praising the Empress' returned health, Itachi smiled. "I see you have recovered. Much has come to pass since you and your brother fought."

"I see. Will you tell me?" Nightshade sat on her comfortable throne, drinking in the praises and shouts of glory.

"Actually, I'll have Aelikes explain." Itachi replied as the Kirtir Lord walked into the Throne Room. He then had the guards shoo away the loyal patrons, allowing Aelikes to move in.

The Dark Lord slowly marched on through the croud of patrons with Deshoonde at his rear. He shook his head as they marched through the crowd as they looked at the two Kirtir Lords, ::weak minded fools::

::Indeed,:: Deshoonde replied.

Aelikes finally made it to the Throne which Nightshade sat upon. He and Deshoonde politely bowed, "my Lady, I'm glade to see that you have recovered."

"I'm glad to see myself recovered as well. So tell me, what happened since I was out?" Nightshade asked.

"I'm glad to see myself recovered as well. So tell me, what happened since I was out?" Nightshade asked.

"A lot has happened since you were out," Aelikes soon began to grumble after that sentence, "as you may have read, the Empire suffered two other losses next to the destruction of your flag ship, we lost the Megaladon as well as our Fleet Carrier. Deshoonde and I just barely made out of Konoha before the rest of our fleet was destroyed or captured. My apprentice, was nocked out just as you were but it seems that he still hasn't recovered. Now," Aelikes paused for a moment to catch some breaths, "About your sweet young nephew... The first to go at him was Darth Tyranus. Just before you woke up, Kabuto and I preformed a torturous healing technique which I developed upon him and a certaint incompitent Grand Admiral. The preformance went along quite well."

Nightshade's eyes narrowed in anger at hearing the loss of not only the Obliterator but several Huntaerian ships as well. Everyone in the room will know for sure that someone's going to die. But her mood brightened when she heard her nephew's torture is well under way. "I see. And thank you, Darth Aelikes, for your assistance in the battle. Without you, we surely would have lost more than a few ships."

"Now, young Travis. I know for a fact that it would take some time to break him. Darth Tyranus and Kabuto are charged with overseeing his torture. But he will definitely be broken. After all, there are techniques that can make even the strongest bow to the Sith..." With that, Itachi and Nightshade glanced at each other and smiled evilly.

Nightshade's eyes narrowed in anger at hearing the loss of not only the Obliterator but several Huntaerian ships as well. Everyone in the room will know for sure that someone's going to die. But her mood brightened when she heard her nephew's torture is well under way. "I see. And thank you, Darth Aelikes, for your assistance in the battle. Without you, we surely would have lost more than a few ships."

"Now, young Travis. I know for a fact that it would take some time to break him. Darth Tyranus and Kabuto are charged with overseeing his torture. But he will definitely be broken. After all, there are techniques that can make even the strongest bow to the Sith..." With that, Itachi and Nightshade glanced at each other and smiled evilly.

Aelikes nodded in agreement, and Deshoonde quietly gulped. He knew that they were right. Hell he's experienced the said techniques from his former master, Darth Trilkan, almost 4 millenia ago. Though he has faith in the boy, he knew that Travis will have a difficult time ahead...

Shamman looked around through out the firey planes of his new master's realm. He could barely see through the world about him. His eyes squinted as he peered through the smoke growing out from the ground beneath him. His master approached him...

::Shamman, you are doing well.::

"Well, it feels like eternity since I came here."

::You've been unconscious for only two days in your realm of reality. We're not done yet...::

Shamman gulped a little not due to being scared or worried, but because of the extensive heat which was around him. Sometimes, he wonders why he ever agreed with making a deal with a devil.

Lady Nocturne managed a cruel smile as the shuttle made its descent. Before long the shuttle had landed and her guards led her out.

"My mother has arrived," Mordred told Janus.
"I know. I believe she will be escorted to the Throne Room by now." Janus said, as indeed a slave escorted her to the room.

Meanwhile, Lady Nightshade and Aelikes talked about techniques to use on the boys, each one seemingly more horrible than the last.

Mordred just nodded, he looked forward to seeing his mother. It would be the first time he would have done so in quite some time.

Lady Nocturne was silent as she and her guards were escorted to the Throne Room. She didn't make any attempt to contact Mordred.

"Welcome, Lady Nocturne. I trust your trip went well?" Lady Nightshade asked.

"Yes it did," Lady Nocturne replied. "I hope that my son has been behaving himself."

"Most certainly, he has." Itachi smiled cruelly. "I hear he's playing well with his cousin."

Lady Nocturne chuckled. "With his favourite toy no doubt," she said. "I have always been surprised he could take a Goa'uld pain stick into that damned hidden village."

"Yes. The boy has been trained well." Lady Nightshade mused. The shinobi at the hidden village might not have known about the pain stick either, but now they probably would. "Would you perhaps like to see your nephew now or wait until you're rested?"

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I never need rest," she replied. "Besides I would like to see the results of my sons torture methods."

"Very well." Lady Nightshade stepped down lightly from her throne. She too wanted to check up on Travis' torture. "If you'll follow me. The torture rooms are this way."

The Dark Lady led her counterpart into a side room and down the dark halls into the dungeons. Along the way, the screams of the damned and doomed can be heard getting louder and louder. But they didn't faze the Sith Lady. In fact, the aura of darkness fed her, granting her strengt. Though she doesn't need it at the moment, it felt rejuveniling...

Lady Nocturne nodded and turned to her guards, telling them, "Stay here," before following Lady Nightshade.

The screams of the damned put a cruel smirk on her face, she did often enjoy the sounds of torture but for now her mind was on meeting her nephew for the first time.

Daniel was still where Mordred and had him chained up but he had since passed out from fatigue brought on by his torture.

"Here we are." Lady Nightshade smiled as she walked into the particular room where Daniel now hung like a limp rag doll.

"Hmph," Lady Nocturne smirked. She looked over the unconscious form of Daniel. "Looks like Mordred went all out on him with the painstick. Nothing better then to torture someone slowly and painfully to the point of death, leave them to die and resurrect them to repeat the process over and over again until their mind his destroyed."

Nightshade caught that remark. "Resurrection? You know how to resurrect someone?"

It was a Sith's dream and it appears it has come true!

Lady Nocturne looked over at her and nodded. "Yes by way of a Sarcophagus," she explained.

Her eyes turned back to the limp form of her nephew.

"A Sarcophagus?" Plans began to form in Nightshade's mind. Plans to horrify Travis and bring the boy to her fold. "Please, tell me more, if you will."

Lady Nocturne nodded. "It is a device created by the Goa'uld," she began. "In order for them to rapidly heal their injuries and expand their lifespans, for the recently deceased however it can resurrect them."

She returned her gaze to Daniel and smirked.

"But for some people there is a side effect, they can become addicted to it and eventually develop a more malevolent personality. It can turn even the most hardened pacifist twisted and bloodthirsty."

Nightshade grinned. "Indeed? I wonder...I was meaning to put my nephew through a series of tortures to bring him to the Dark Side. Of course, normally it wouldn't do to push him so far as to kill him, but now that I have learned of the sarcophagus...would it be possible to bring one here?"

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I can have one built for you but I must warn you that it takes time to build one as the materials used must be exact," she replied. "I do have one built into the bridge of my ship however."

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I can have one built for you but I must warn you that it takes time to build one as the materials used must be exact," she replied. "I do have one built into the bridge of my ship however."
"I have all the time I need. Travis won't be going anywhere soon." Nightshade replied. Then she smiled. "A prime location would be aboard the Black Star. It's the space station you saw above the planet."

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I will get them to bring the materials and workers as soon as possible," she replied. "For now perhaps a demonstration might interest you."

"I would be interested in the demonstration." Nightshade smiled.

"First demonstration shall be the healing ability of the Sarcophagus," Lady Nocturne replied, looking at her nephew and smirking. "Is there a place we can bring my ship into the atmosphere to use the transport rings?"

"There is the courtyard. It should be large enough for your ship's needs." Lady Nightshade answered.

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I'll have the ship hover over," she replied and began to tap into a small control panel on her wrist. "Now we need to get that little shit over there unchained and taken out to the courtyard."

"Of course." A guard was motioned over and started unchaining the boy.

Meanwhile, Travis was thrown back into his cell, his back red after Kabuto lashed him with a barbed whip. The white shirt he wore was stained with blood, as he lay on the floor silently, his eyes unfocused. If anyone else but a Sith saw him, he would sneer at the boy's lack of willpower, so easily broken. But even as he sought what little solace he could find in the cell, Travis managed to clench a fist and renew his goal. I will die before I break, Nightshade! You can count on that!

OOC: Your cue, Huntaer!

The unconscious Daniel seemed to groan as he was unchained, his tail twitched for the briefest moment. Something that Lady Nocturne noticed.

"Looks like Ddauchlorsson is unable to take over his body while unconscious, that collar is working well," she said and looked towards Lady Nightshade. "Now let's head out to the courtyard so I can transport us to my ship."

The unconscious Daniel seemed to groan as he was unchained, his tail twitched for the briefest moment. Something that Lady Nocturne noticed.

"Looks like Ddauchlorsson is unable to take over his body while unconscious, that collar is working well," she said and looked towards Lady Nightshade. "Now let's head out to the courtyard so I can transport us to my ship."
"The inhibitor collar was created by the Akatsuki organization my husband runs, and to date, no one has ever broken it. I daresay even my Master would be unable to break it." Nightshade said proudly as the guard picked up the unconscious Daniel and followed the Dark Ladies as they headed to the courtyard.

Once out in the courtyard they could see The Deathship hovering overhead. Lady Nocturne told them to stand close by and once they had done so she ordered the rings to be activated. They came down from the ship and before they knew it they were safely aboard the ship, standing inside a ring on the bridge.

"I welcome you aboard The Deathship," Lady Nocturne said.

"Very good." Nightshade nodded, easily shaking off the effects of transporting.

The bridge looked exactly like the bridge of any other Goa'uld mothership, save for the fact that Lady Nocturnes seat was on a higher platform. She pressed a button on the control panel she wore and the wall of the platform rolled out revealing the Sarcophagus. Pressing another button and the lid of the Sarcophagus opened.

"Place him inside," she said.

The guard placed Daniel inside the sarcophagus.

With Daniel placed inside the Sarcophagus, Lady Nocturne closed the lid and placed it back under the platform.

"It will take a minimum of ten minutes to heal him," Lady Nocturne explained. "If he had been dead it would take two to three hours."

"All right." Nightshade nodded. If it was the latter, perhaps some other amusement could be done in the meanwhile.

"Of course." A guard was motioned over and started unchaining the boy.

Meanwhile, Travis was thrown back into his cell, his back red after Kabuto lashed him with a barbed whip. The white shirt he wore was stained with blood, as he lay on the floor silently, his eyes unfocused. If anyone else but a Sith saw him, he would sneer at the boy's lack of willpower, so easily broken. But even as he sought what little solace he could find in the cell, Travis managed to clench a fist and renew his goal. I will die before I break, Nightshade! You can count on that!

OOC: Your cue, Huntaer!

It was Deshoonde's turn. He didn't like the idea of him torturing the poor kid, but he didn't have a choice in this matter. He figured he'll give Travis a lesson on how to use his anger without going down the dark path... Totally. While he wouldn't become a true Jedi should he take the lesson to heart, he'll become more of a Malkir. The other warriors of light, but they do not fear using the Dark Side to their aid.

"Bring him with me," Deshoonde had his light-whips at his side, ready to be used. They're set to appear to give lots of pain... However little do the others know that it doesn't leave it's mark...

"All right." Nightshade nodded. If it was the latter, perhaps some other amusement could be done in the meanwhile.

"Of course you do not need to place it in the bridge like this, I have two more back in Svartalfheim," Lady Nocturne replied. "One I use as my place of personal rest, the other I use strictly as a torture device. I can have more than one built for you."

It was Deshoonde's turn. He didn't like the idea of him torturing the poor kid, but he didn't have a choice in this matter. He figured he'll give Travis a lesson on how to use his anger without going down the dark path... Totally. While he wouldn't become a true Jedi should he take the lesson to heart, he'll become more of a Malkir. The other warriors of light, but they do not fear using the Dark Side to their aid.

"Bring him with me," Deshoonde had his light-whips at his side, ready to be used. They're set to appear to give lots of pain... However little do the others know that it doesn't leave it's mark...
The stormtrooper guards picked the boy up by the arms and dragged him out of his cell, following Deshoonde.

Deshoonde turned to the storm troopers, waiving his hand preforming a Jedi Mind Trick, "You can leave him with me. Wait outside."

"We can leave him with you. We'll wait outside." The stormtroopers said monotonously and left the boy to his likely doom.

"Of course you do not need to place it in the bridge like this, I have two more back in Svartalfheim," Lady Nocturne replied. "One I use as my place of personal rest, the other I use strictly as a torture device. I can have more than one built for you."
"Perhaps." Nightshade mused.

Before the ten minutes was up, yelling came from within the Sarcophagus.

"I underestimated him, sounds as if he's fully healed already," Lady Nocturne smirked.

"We can leave him with you. We'll wait outside." The stormtroopers said monotonously and left the boy to his likely doom.

Deshoonde closed the door behind the troopers and preformed an illusionary spell, one which will give anyone approaching the room a feeling of dread and "I shouldn't go in there." Plus, they'll hear a bunch of screaming and yowling if they decided to put their ear against the door. If they peer inside... They'll see what appears to be a poor young Travis being cut and bruised cruelly by the former Kirtir Dark Lord. Deshoonde looked at Travis for a few moments, to get a sense for the young boy's force signature. If he can create a replica of the boy, as he's merely an apprentice... Disguising his force signature shouldn't be too big of a deal. Deshoonde got the idea, and then created a force double and transfered Travis's force signature to the cloned force body of the boy and Deshoonde hid the real Travis's signature.

"Ok, we're safe for now..." Deshoonde activated his light whips and began to slash at the fake force Travis.

Before the ten minutes was up, yelling came from within the Sarcophagus.

"I underestimated him, sounds as if he's fully healed already," Lady Nocturne smirked.
"Indeed. That one's strong as well." Nightshade smirked.

Deshoonde closed the door behind the troopers and preformed an illusionary spell, one which will give anyone approaching the room a feeling of dread and "I shouldn't go in there." Plus, they'll hear a bunch of screaming and yowling if they decided to put their ear against the door. If they peer inside... They'll see what appears to be a poor young Travis being cut and bruised cruelly by the former Kirtir Dark Lord. Deshoonde looked at Travis for a few moments, to get a sense for the young boy's force signature. If he can create a replica of the boy, as he's merely an apprentice... Disguising his force signature shouldn't be too big of a deal. Deshoonde got the idea, and then created a force double and transfered Travis's force signature to the cloned force body of the boy and Deshoonde hid the real Travis's signature.

"Ok, we're safe for now..." Deshoonde activated his light whips and began to slash at the fake force Travis.
"Huh? What's going on? Aren't you a Sith?" The Real Travis asked as the Fake One cried out in pain from a lash.

"I suspected he would be strong but not enough to heal this fast," Lady Nocturne admitted.

She pressed the control panel and the Sarcophagus came out once again. The lid opened and Daniel sat up fast, breathing heavily his fur damp from sweat. There was fear evident in his eyes as he saw them.

"There you have the healing ability of the Sarcophagus," she smirked.

"I suspected he would be strong but not enough to heal this fast," Lady Nocturne admitted.

She pressed the control panel and the Sarcophagus came out once again. The lid opened and Daniel sat up fast, breathing heavily his fur damp from sweat. There was fear evident in his eyes as he saw them.

"There you have the healing ability of the Sarcophagus," she smirked.
"Potent." Nightshade nodded. "I'm quite interested in the ressurrection ability of the Sarcophagus as well."

Lady Nocturne smirked. "I thought as much," she replied. "I will have a slave brought it is almost time for the dark elf blood sacrifice anyway and unfortunately they don't accept male blood."

She scowled at her understandably frightened nephew, she thought of how much better his blood would be for it then some slave. But the dark elf elders were strict with tradition and their traditions she could not do away with. She walked over to her throne and took a large goblet from it.

"You should find this interesting."

Nightshade grinned. "I'm sure I will."

A slave girl, a dark elf in fact, was soon brought to the bridge by two guards. She had a rather stoned look upon her face and didn't put up a fight even when she was thrown to her knees. Nor did she flinch as one guard held her head back as Lady Nocturne walked over and knelt on one knee. She held the goblet below the elf's chin and drew a dagger which she promptly slashed across the exposed neck. When then goblet was full she stood up and the dark elf slave slumped to the floor. The spilled blood would be cleaned up later.

"Gaeic kouss vhid evenstar amarth nocturne," she then said, raising the goblet.

When it started to glow red she knew it was time. She brought the goblet to her lips and drank the blood. Her eyes glowed red before she closed them and her head rolled back. Some bright white light left her mouth and disappeared through the ceiling.

"That is why powerful dark elves never seem to die."

"A blood ritual. Most intruging." Nightshade mused with a dark smile.

"Huh? What's going on? Aren't you a Sith?" The Real Travis asked as the Fake One cried out in pain from a lash.

"Indeed, I was a Kirtir Dark Lord once upon a time just like my cousin is right now... One of the darkest too... But no, I'm not a dark warrior any more. My name is Councilor Magriel," the ex-Kirtir Dark Lord slowly took off his hood, and then removed his infamous white and red mask, revealing the face of what would appear to be Asian. "Remember me now? I warned Naruto about your capture and the Empire's assault in advanced before we even struck."

"Indeed, I was a Kirtir Dark Lord once upon a time just like my cousin is right now... One of the darkest too... But no, I'm not a dark warrior any more. My name is Councilor Magriel," the ex-Kirtir Dark Lord slowly took off his hood, and then removed his infamous white and red mask, revealing the face of what would appear to be Asian. "Remember me now? I warned Naruto about your capture and the Empire's assault in advanced before we even struck."
"You?!" Travis was shocked. Then his face fell. "Even if you did, it still didn't change anything. I'm here, suffering the worst my aunt can inflict and then some. Please get me outta here!"

Lady Nocturne nodded. "One of a number of blood rituals that the dark elves perform," she explained.

She raised her hand, lifting Daniel out of the Sarcophagus and dropped him to the ground. He moaned as he hit the floor and lay on his back.

"He'll be disoriented for a little while longer."

She then did the same to place the body of the slave inside the Sarcophagus. The lid shut and it went back inside the platform.

"Of course this will take two hours."

"You?!" Travis was shocked. Then his face fell. "Even if you did, it still didn't change anything. I'm here, suffering the worst my aunt can inflict and then some. Please get me outta here!"

Deshoonde/Magriel sighed, and put his hands on his face, "I'm trying as best I can without blowing my cover. The Huntarian Alliance's very war efforts rely on me being here," the spy sighed again and then recalled to his many plans of escape, "I've got many ideas on how to get you out of here... Though all are very difficult without me becoming suspicious of the other Dark Lords... I don't think that guy... What's his face... The mad doctor who's always around Aelikes and Nightshade... Trusts me too much. The best one I got for you right now is to somehow sneak you and the others Molecular Phase Interverters. This will allow you to walk through the walls even with that inhibitor on. It'll be good help... But for now... You and I need to hold out at least until we get to this place called Tantis... A joint world owned by your aunt and my cousin."

Deshoonde/Magriel sighed, and put his hands on his face, "I'm trying as best I can without blowing my cover. The Huntarian Alliance's very war efforts rely on me being here," the spy sighed again and then recalled to his many plans of escape, "I've got many ideas on how to get you out of here... Though all are very difficult without me becoming suspicious of the other Dark Lords... I don't think that guy... What's his face... The mad doctor who's always around Aelikes and Nightshade... Trusts me too much. The best one I got for you right now is to somehow sneak you and the others Molecular Phase Interverters. This will allow you to walk through the walls even with that inhibitor on. It'll be good help... But for now... You and I need to hold out at least until we get to this place called Tantis... A joint world owned by your aunt and my cousin."
Travis sighed, running his fingers through his dirty blue hair. No one relishes having to suffer what he has to go through, but he resigned himself to facing down the worst. At least there's a chance he'll escape after all this. He smiled darkly at Deshoonde's comment about Aelikes being his cousin. "We all seem to have our family problems, don't we? So what happens now?"

"Family problems indeed... All of my relatives, including my sister, have turned dark it seems... And as to what happens now... I'm not sure. This is a dark time even for myself without the guidance from my master... However... There is a lesson that you must learn if you are to survive even farther than your father has so far..." Deshoonde/Magriel (whichever you want to call him), drew his whip from the fake Travis and turned it onto the real boy, and lashed at him multiple times.

"Ah! Stop it!" Travis yelled as it struck him across the chest. Another slash. "Dammit!"

The third slash, Travis angrily blocked it with his wrist and used his other hand to throw a punch in retaliation.

Deshoonde used the force to stop Travis in his tracks, and used a small bit to calm the poor kid down, "which of the Jedi Code did you just break my young apprentice?"

"Your young apprentice?" Travis asked ruefully, then Deshoonde's words reached through his memory of the Code. "It would appear to be the No Emotion, there is peace stanza. Sir."

That came out as the sneer of a rebellious teenager.

"Correct. However, during my study in the force as both a Malkir and Kirtir, this is correct in some ways. However... My ancestor created an old Malkir saying, 'A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.' As the Jedi would tell you, giving into your emotions will lead to the dark side in all roads. We've found that this is true for only specific paths. Your reaction to me whipping you is one such path to the dark side."

"Correct. However, during my study in the force as both a Malkir and Kirtir, this is correct in some ways. However... My ancestor created an old Malkir saying, 'A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.' As the Jedi would tell you, giving into your emotions will lead to the dark side in all roads. We've found that this is true for only specific paths. Your reaction to me whipping you is one such path."
"Huh? I thought Jedi were supposed to keep their emotions in check." Travis said, recalling his lessons.

Lady Nocturne nodded. "One of a number of blood rituals that the dark elves perform," she explained.

She raised her hand, lifting Daniel out of the Sarcophagus and dropped him to the ground. He moaned as he hit the floor and lay on his back.

"He'll be disoriented for a little while longer."

She then did the same to place the body of the slave inside the Sarcophagus. The lid shut and it went back inside the platform.

"Of course this will take two hours."
"In the meantime, how about playing with Daniel here a little?" Nightshade smirked.

"Too true. But there are times which emotions such as anger come in use for the greater good. Even a padawan such as yourself could probably detect the amount of stored anger in me and the other Malkir. There comes a time when we need to use our anger to help our people to survive. If we haven't we would've been wiped out long ago by the Kirtir and their Sith allies. You'd still be captured, but without someone to even guide you along the way. The Mandalorian Wars were lead by Jedi who gave into certain emotions to help the republic, a greater good, fight the Mandalorians from conquering the Republic while the Jedi Council at that time sat back idly. It's said that Darth Revan gave into the Dark Side out of love for the Republic so that they could be prepared for an even greater evil which lurked out in the Unknown Regions. He wasn't truly evil (though his apprentice truly was). Revan gave into the dark side to protect something he cared about. Something he wished to keep alive and well for the rough times ahead."

Deshoonde breathed for a few moments to catch his breath, "thus said, the Malkir have adapted that code long before Revan was around but we feel that it proved our point once again. We use the Dark Side not for our own selfish purposes like our darker brethen do, but for a greater good. We use it to fight for justice. One cannot rely on only one part of the force."

Deshoonde thought to himself for a moment, "I quote our current mutual nemesis, 'in order for one to truly understand the power of the force, one must understand... A larger view of the force.' Palpatine is correct in a sense, though he clearly used this 'larger view' for his own personal agenda of corruption and control."

"Anakin Skywalker fell because of love...or was it lust? Could never remember." Travis smiled thinly. "On the other hand...you know the Jedi Order will officially deny it, but lately, I've been having the feeling that most of the Jedi -my family and the Shinobi sect included- believe in that philosophy. My great-grandfather said it best. 'A Masaki never goes through life without acknowledging the darkness within him.' He speaks from experience. He WAS a Dark Lord once..."

"In the meantime, how about playing with Daniel here a little?" Nightshade smirked.

Lady Nocturne nodded and turned to Daniel with a cruel smirk upon her face. Daniel knew there and then that he was in even bigger trouble. Masato, or rather Mordred by his real name probably wasn't be as terrible as these two were going to be towards him. The fear of what he was about to face strengthened as his aunt came towards him.

She picked him up by the neck and stared deep into his soul, sending a shiver up his spine.

"Now what shall we do with you for fun," she said. "Any idea's?"

Lady Nocturne nodded and turned to Daniel with a cruel smirk upon her face. Daniel knew there and then that he was in even bigger trouble. Masato, or rather Mordred by his real name probably wasn't be as terrible as these two were going to be towards him. The fear of what he was about to face strengthened as his aunt came towards him.

She picked him up by the neck and stared deep into his soul, sending a shiver up his spine.

"Now what shall we do with you for fun," she said. "Any idea's?"
"Let's start with this." Nightshade said and a breeze seemed to blow inside the area. But this breeze was a dangerous one and would give Daniel paper cuts.

Daniel bit his lower lip as the wind cut into him. Nothing bad, no more different then he had suffered in training sessions against Katana. Now however there would be no one to stop them from doing this to him, no Eamonn there to bring the session to a halt if things got out of hand. The only thing he could do was look for a way of escape, but even that was limited with the inhibitor around his neck.

"Interesting," Lady Nocturne said. "Look at him, you can read it on him that he is thinking of escape."

Nightshade laughed evilly. "He can try, but the fact that we are on a ship would make him think twice, unless he enjoys breathing vacuum. And should he somehow avoid the thousands of fanatical soldiers of the Empire, his collar will detonate if he leaves the system."

Lady Nocturne laughed as she looked at her nephew. "Nowhere to go even on this ship," she said. "I will know where you are where ever you go."

She raised her arm, showing off her wrist control panel.

"This will track you down too easily, I do enjoy hunts however."

"Anakin Skywalker fell because of love...or was it lust? Could never remember." Travis smiled thinly. "On the other hand...you know the Jedi Order will officially deny it, but lately, I've been having the feeling that most of the Jedi -my family and the Shinobi sect included- believe in that philosophy. My great-grandfather said it best. 'A Masaki never goes through life without acknowledging the darkness within him.' He speaks from experience. He WAS a Dark Lord once..."

"Anikan fell because of love first. Lust came afterwards... Though 'lust' is a very vague term in this case. I think that's your lesson for today. Bear it in mind, you'll be needing it for this dark journey we're about to embark upon. In the meantime, I'll be able to buy you an half hour of rest before the guards are forced to come back and take you away."

"Anikan fell because of love first. Lust came afterwards... Though 'lust' is a very vague term in this case. I think that's your lesson for today. Bear it in mind, you'll be needing it for this dark journey we're about to embark upon. In the meantime, I'll be able to buy you an half hour of rest before the guards are forced to come back and take you away."
"Well, uh, thanks, I guess." Travis said.

Lady Nocturne laughed as she looked at her nephew. "Nowhere to go even on this ship," she said. "I will know where you are where ever you go."

She raised her arm, showing off her wrist control panel.

"This will track you down too easily, I do enjoy hunts however."
"So do I." Nightshade grinned.

"I should take you hunting on Svartalfheim sometime then," Lady Nocturne suggested. "Would be more fun then going after this little runt around the ship."

"Indeed. Aside from my little duel with my brother," That came out as a sneer. "I haven't had the chance to do some fun.

OOC: Let's have them begin some horrifying torture and then see the elf girl awaken. I wanna put the spotlight on the Good Guys in the next few posts, then do a timeskip. Yeah, that includes Kurt.

Lady Nocturne put on a modified hand device, owing to have three digits on each hand instead of five, and walked over to Daniel. Placing her hand in front of his face a light appeared and he yelled in pain.

"Oh I do love the sound of torture, nothing beats the screams of the tortured," she smirked cruelly.

For two hours they torture the young elf. Filling his mind with pain and suffer until it was time to bring the Sarcophagus out once again. By then Daniel had collapsed, his mind and body could no longer take the punishment.

Lady Nocturne walked up to the Sarcophagus as it came out and the lid opened up. The guard from before came and retrieved the elven slave. Sure enough as promised she was alive once again.

"There you have it," Lady Nocturne smirked. "The resurrecting ability of the Sarcophagus."

"Very impressive. I can't wait to try it on the other brat..." Nightshade grinned.

Lady Nocturne chuckled as the slave was led away. "Best thing to use to turn someone to the dark side is the prolonged use of the Sarcophagus," she said. "Many fools will refuse to use it for such reasons but extended life is their loss."

"Ah. That could prove to be the secret to Travis' fall to darkness." Lady Nightshade chuckled.

=====

Meanwhile, on Konoha...

A day after the Woodian ceremony, Katrina and I decided to call in a conference with Kurt (and possibly Quatre and Gaara), Tsunade, Naruto and the military brass. One that I feel is most important. On the agenda today, the top priority is Travis and Daniel and what to do about that...

I entered the room to the salutes of the military brass and got down to business. "About four days ago, the Empire invaded Konoha. With information given from a reliable source, we knew that their target was Travis..." I looked at Kurt. "and Daniel. Despite everything we could do, Travis and Daniel were still captured by the sons of Empress Nightshade, Janus and Jesse and an ally known as Mordred. Now, it is time to decide what to do about that."

"Obviously, we know they're in Imperial space, but the problem is figuring out where." Naruto said. "Could be on Tenetia, could be Kessel, or Kami forbid, on Coruscant itself."

Katrina shuddered at the thought of Palpatine torturing her son.

I nodded. "So first order of business would be to gather intelligence on their whereabouts. Anyone care to elaborate?"

"Mm-hmm," Lady Nocturne nodded. "He'll become addicted to it, craving it's power of healing. He will eventually do anything to have the privalige of using it, even torture and killing"

***

Kurt bit his lower lip and rested his head on Quatre's shoulder. He should never have allowed their son to undertake ninja training.

With Gaara needed urgently back in Suna it was left to Temari to handle everything in Konoha.

"We're still trying to find out who Mordred really is," she said. "Somehow they managed to plant him as the Matsuo clans son." She looked toward Kurt. "We believe it could be Lady Nocturne's son, he would be the right age and given that he was after Daniel it's very likely.

"I highly doubt they will take him back to Svartalfheim. Most likely both will have been taken to a world under Lady Nightshade's control."

"Mm-hmm," Lady Nocturne nodded. "He'll become addicted to it, craving it's power of healing. He will eventually do anything to have the privalige of using it, even torture and killing"
"Ah. Worthy of a Sith. Perhaps young Travis will even grow to like it." Nightshade smirked. "But alas, I have plans for him that are more important than petty murders and tortures. Plans truly worthy of the Dark."

***

Kurt bit his lower lip and rested his head on Quatre's shoulder. He should never have allowed their son to undertake ninja training.

With Gaara needed urgently back in Suna it was left to Temari to handle everything in Konoha.

"We're still trying to find out who Mordred really is," she said. "Somehow they managed to plant him as the Matsuo clans son." She looked toward Kurt. "We believe it could be Lady Nocturne's son, he would be the right age and given that he was after Daniel it's very likely.

"I highly doubt they will take him back to Svartalfheim. Most likely both will have been taken to a world under Lady Nightshade's control."
I scowled. So, it is not only Nightshade who's teaching her children the pathway to darkness. Our family problems aren't that different.

"Well, a third of worlds that rebelled against us came under Nightshade's grasp, so that's a significant number to search." Admiral Pellaeon said. "However, we could narrow the worlds down to a few important ones."

Tsunade nodded. "I'll have our spies take a closer look at the important worlds. In the meantime, assuming that we do manage to find where they are, what do you propose to do about it? A raid?"

"If possible, but a significant fleet presence will be needed. Not only that, but there's the Empire to consider." I said.

"In that case, we'd need to be in a position where we can grab Travis fast enough that we can get out before the Empire can bring it's navy to bear." Naruto said, in one of his smarter moods.

Tsunade smirked. "At least your brain is useful for something other than ramen."

"Yeah--hey!" Naruto almost preened with pride until he caught the underlying insult from the old woman.

"Alright, don't start." Katrina muttered. "Like Naruto said, we'd need to have a force in position to do the raid when the time comes."

"I wonder..." I mused. Of all the captains and admirals that I knew, I know of only one that would have the balls to fight his way through the gates of Hell itself if need be. "What about the Battlestar Coredia?"

The military brass winced. Holland's reputation as a hardass was well known.

Admiral Pellaeon's mouth twitched into a smile at the expense of his head of the navy. "Holland, eh? He might just have a chance, being unconventional. And the fleet that's attached with it has the latest technology."

There was another reason why I thought of Holland. He was the kind of man who would be able to, if need be, teach Travis a thing or two about command. For those who don't know him, the file on Captain Holland Novak is on the conference table. Though the man is gruff, prone to losing his temper and a drinker, I really couldn't think of another man to have Travis learn the trade of the Navy from. Well, Gilad could do it, but the Captain is younger and probably more in tune with kids, not that he ever met many.

"Perhaps we could have a few teams onboard to assist with that assault." Naruto said with a wry grin. "How about the original Team Seven and their own teams?"

Tsunade and I raised eyebrows at that suggestion. Katrina looked at him, then at me. "I'll say. That is an interesting idea. Brings back memories, doesn't it, Daniel?"

"Mmm." I nodded. The original Team Seven, hasn't been on a major mission together in quite a while. Besides, Naruto is Travis' Master, after all. There's no way he wouldn't go and fight the the entire Empire, alone if need be, to bring back his apprentice.

Lady Nocturne chuckled. "It all depends on who you get him to kill."

***

"We could narrow it down further if we find one of Lady Nocturnes ships near one of the worlds," Temari then mentioned. "No doubt she'll arrive to gloat over her nephews capture, find her ship we'll probably find her but only in a small time frame she won't stay for too long."

She rested her arm on the top of her fan, she briefly looked over at Kurt. He still looked rather shattered by recent events.

Lady Nocturne chuckled. "It all depends on who you get him to kill."
"Make no mistake, my brothers are top priority, and if at all possible, Uzumaki." Nightshade said. "They pose the greatest threat to our Empires. Uzumaki himself can defeat Palpatine alone. I have no doubt about that."

***

"We could narrow it down further if we find one of Lady Nocturnes ships near one of the worlds," Temari then mentioned. "No doubt she'll arrive to gloat over her nephews capture, find her ship we'll probably find her but only in a small time frame she won't stay for too long."

She rested her arm on the top of her fan, she briefly looked over at Kurt. He still looked rather shattered by recent events.
"That would help." I nodded. "In the meantime, we should have the Coredia wander the galaxies, so to speak and build up experience. If we're gonna do this right, the Coredia fleet will need to be top-notch. Elite, if you will."

"Let's not discount other fleets, as well. Across the board stepped-up training will be necessary." Admiral Pellaeon pointed out. "Especially since you just signed that buildup program."

I nodded in agreement and made a note to add an executive order to that effect. "In any case, does anyone have anything else to add?"

"It's possible if you plan it right and things go your way," Lady Nocturne replied. "There are many who would stand to protect my brother, Suna, Shin Makoku and even Dark Valley if they felt threatened by me."

***

Temari nodded.

"We'll try to get spies into Lady Nocturne's patch, find what ship she probably took," Kurt then said, lifting his head. "That will narrow it down and in the meantime I'll get the Kukai Foundation to pass on intelligence of what ships she has to you."

"It's possible if you plan it right and things go your way," Lady Nocturne replied. "There are many who would stand to protect my brother, Suna, Shin Makoku and even Dark Valley if they felt threatened by me."
Lady Nightshade nodded. "That is why we must extend every effort to isolate them. Divide and conquer. Only then, shall we have...peace."

***

Temari nodded.

"We'll try to get spies into Lady Nocturne's patch, find what ship she probably took," Kurt then said, lifting his head. "That will narrow it down and in the meantime I'll get the Kukai Foundation to pass on intelligence of what ships she has to you."
"That would be a good idea." I nodded. Then I had a thought. "You know, just a short time ago, the Huntaerian Empire came to call again, this time, turning Chimera into little more than scrap metal. What's worse, they used a form of cloak that is impervious to our ordinary weapons and I even heard rumors that they could pass through ordinary matter. Needless to say, this has my forces' morale at an all-time low and certainly, we will need to do something about that. Now that you mentioned it, I propose a joint venture with our Vector Industries and the Kukai Foundation to make it a priority to find some way to defeat this cloak. To that end, I think we'll want to speak with the Huntaerian Alliance to see if they know more than we on this subject."

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I am drawing up plans on turning them against each other," she replied with a smirk.

***

Kurt nodded. "I will let Gaignun Kukai know as soon as possible," he then said.

Lady Nocturne nodded. "I am drawing up plans on turning them against each other," she replied with a smirk.
"Very good. Do you care to share or do you want to keep your pazzak cards close?"

***

Kurt nodded. "I will let Gaignun Kukai know as soon as possible," he then said.
"Great. Rina will be pleased." I replied.

"I would rather keep them underwraps until finalized," Lady Nocturne said. "But I will mention that my nephews current predicament is the catalyst."

***

Kurt nodded, he didn't have anything more to say.

Aelikes marched up to Travis's cage, who was in the middle of a long much needed slumber. Unfortunately for the kid, his small rest was about to be broken, <get up Masaki scum.>

Aelikes marched up to Travis's cage, who was in the middle of a long much needed slumber. Unfortunately for the kid, his small rest was about to be broken, <get up Masaki scum.>
Travis stirred. "Huh? Oh, crap..."

Time passed. Days and weeks passed.

Travis was driven closer and closer to the abyss with each moment of pain, of suffering, of torture and horror. Every bone in his body was broken and remade. Every inch of skin was struck with the darkest of curses and rehealed. Even death was no escape, for the sarcophagus was there to resurrect him.

The Dark Lords took their turns with him. Aelikes tested new techniques on him. Dooku and Nightshade used psychological warfare upon him. Darth Maul simply beat him until he couldn't stand. It became such a common occurrence to feel mental and physical pain every day that he completely lost track of time, and it didn't help that his tiny cell was devoid of the sun.

But even with everything inflicted upon him, Travis was not without defenses, even devoid of the Force and chakra he so cherished as a kid. He fought back when he could, in small ways and larger. Though he was always beaten raw in the end, there were times when Maul had a workout with the boy, enjoying the struggle of the prey before ending it with a single blow. And then there were the lessons of Deshoonde. Lessons of the Malkir, the Warriors who wield both the Light and the Dark to defend the weak. Immortal Grey Jedi, pretty much. Those lessons kept him sane and more importantly, alive. Nightshade saw progress in the fall of her nephew, but in truth, Travis learned how to mask light with shadow and hide his true loyalties, at least until the time was ripe.

Then, one day, everything would change.

Clad in little more than a dirty grey tunic and pants, loose as a sheet and tied at the waist with a simple rope, Travis was taken to the Throne Room in chains, ignoring the jeering and curses of the other inmates.

"Leave me." She ordered the guards. They hesitated for a moment, then walked away, acknowledging at least that an apprentice could never take on the Dark Lady of the Sith.

Travis noticed Itachi sitting on the other throne and the Twins standing on either end. Janus smiling darkly at seeing his cousin laid low and Jesse...well, who knew what Jesse thinks? The kid is so stoic he might as well be a statue. Travis resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at them, knowing it'll only bring him pain. There was also Kabuto looking on like a retainer, and perhaps the other Dark Lords, but he couldn't tell in the shadows.

Nightshade looked at her sorry excuse for a nephew with a sniff of amusement. The boy was thinner than when he was captured, and haven't grown much due to poor diet. His dirty hair was more grey than blue and his cheekbones were gaunt. She recalled that Daniel was much the same after escaping Palpatine and smiled. Like father, like son. The circle always completes itself with Masakis. How interesting.

The stench rolling around Travis was odorous, but manageable, no worse than any other prisoner. Still, Itachi seemed to sniff in disgust.

"You have been brought here, young Masaki, for a reason." Nightshade spoke as if she was talking to him over tea.

"Just get on with it, Sith." Travis spat back, almost bored. He recieved a Force-slap in return.

"I see you still need to be shown respect to your betters." Nightshade hissed quietly. "Kneel, boy."

"What?" Travis snorted in disbelief. "You expect me to pay respects to you? Fuck off!" He flipped the bird.

Itachi chuckled. "It seems his stay here has given him quite the colorful language."

Nightshade was not amused. "Shut it, Uchiha. You're next after I deal with the brat."

Itachi shook his head after Nightshade began to gather the winds to her.

Travis knew what was coming to him and braced himself for it, the wind whipping his hair and clothes around. Then, a sledgehammer blow slammed into his stomach and he gasped for air, coughing. He staggered backwards, then looked up to see a black mass curling around Nightshade's hands. Oh, shit...

A mighty force pushed him to his knees before the Dark Lords, crushing him under the weight of a hundred atmospheres. Nightshade curled her lips in a nasty sneer. "Today, my little brat, is the day. Itachi, if you please?"

"My pleasure." Itachi closed his eyes and then opened them, revealing a blackness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Itachi_Mangekyou_Sharingan_ep134.jpg) in his eyes. All thoughts of rebellion fled the boy as he knew what Itachi was about to do, as Sasuke-sensei can do the same.

Tsukuyomi, a technique of the Mangekyou Sharingan that even Masters of the Force cannot escape. Foolishly, Travis fought to shut his eyes, but the sheer power of Itachi's will forced it open.

=====

The next thing Travis knew, black was white and white was black and the sky was red with blood. A huge moon stood in the sky, menacing with it's power. He noticed that he was on Konoha once more. 'Is this an illusion?'

"Hey kid. Glad you're back." Travis whirled around to see his Dad and Mom once more. Shocked beyond belief, Travis ran towards his parents. But suddenly, lightsabers pierced their chests from their backs, and Travis actually felt the pain.

"Aaaah!" Travis yelled, gasping in pain and clutching at his own chest, although nothing was there.

More and more people came to him. His Sensei, his friends, his family. They all were slaughtered by a vast invasion of the Empire. He felt the pain of each and every death like a hammer blow.

Then the Death Star came into view.

"No..." Travis whispered as he was forced to watch Konoha get targeted by the Death Star. Then a mighty blast of energy blew it up. He felt the unfathomable pain of hundreds of millions dying in an instant. "NOOOOOOO!!!"

"The Empire triumphs." A terrible voice split the sky. "Seventy-one hours, fifty nine minutes, fifty nine seconds."

Every second, every minute, every hour, Travis was forced to watch his entire family and nation reduced to rubble in various horrible ways by the Empire, always ending with the Death Star destroying everything. And he could feel the pain of every single death, every single time.

His mind could take no longer and he screamed. And screamed. And screamed.

=====

Three seconds later, he collapsed, his voice hoarse, twitching, drool spilling from his mouth. It was as if he turned into a vegetable by the sheer power of Itachi's mindfuckery. It wasn't a bad guess, either. Three days of the worst possible horrors took place in his mind, while only three seconds passed.

Itachi himself looked slightly winded as if the reality-bending technique took a lot out of him, which it did. But he recovered quickly, satisfied that the boy would never again dare rebel against the Empire.

The comatose body was taken away back into the cell and the Dark Lords of the Sith turned to other duties. Nightshade smirked. "Soon, the little one will be shown the power of the Sharingan. Soon."

Itachi smiled back. "Of course. Just wait a little longer."

But one young man in the court of the Empress was shaken. Jesse kept his thoughts well hidden. So that is what Mother plans for Kiyoshi...The potential of that kid...there would be nothing to stop the Sith if Kiyoshi undergoes Tsukiyomi...

Jesse slinked away as soon as his stepfather and mother attentions were occupied and went to a place of solitude only he knows about. There, he weeped silently for the loss of light on Tenetia. The Empire triumphs. The Dark Side reigns supreme...

The time passed, and wondered on. Shamman remained "unconscious" as he continued his mental training with the Kirtir God Skorm. The doctors monitored his Shamman's progress within the medical chambers on board the Pillar.

"Observation: It has been quite a while since the young Warrior went into this semi-permanent state of being. I doubt that my master would wish to remain for the rest of his life as a Vegetable. Would it not be best to just terminate his life as it is?"

"No droid, it would not. His vital signs are normal, in fact they're now starting to read as though someone were awake, not in a deep sleep mode."

"Reply: Ah.
Statement: In that case, I shall leave you to your bidding dear doctor. Keep me posted as my Master's condition progresses."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shamman wiped off the sweat on his forehead as he looked across the flaming river which blocked his way towards the other side.

:: Do what you have to, Shamman. Do it.::

Shamman sighed, and straightened himself up, and lifted his foot for a few seconds above a flame which erupted from the lava. He retreated his foot quickly fearing the pain, and heat of the hot liquid which laid before his foot.

:: Don't hesitate apprentice... Use your pain. Your fear. Even a Malkir would be able to walk across. Don't be tempted by flesh.::

Shamman gritted his teeth at that comment, that's it. Fuck it. He then placed his foot onto the fire and shouted in a terrifying howl of pain.
-----------------------------------------------------------

The doctors and nurses scrambled around Shamman's bed as his subconscious reached into his conscious being. The scream he made in the other world echoed in this one, and his foot suddenly caught on fire.

"Nurse! Put it out! Put it out!"

"It won't die down!"

"Doctor! His body temperature just broke 110 degrease! And it's still climbing!"

"Damn it!!"
------------------------------------------------------------

Before Shamman knew it, he was across the other side of the fiery river. His legs were burnt, and his rage fueled him. He was almost on fire.

::Well done apprentice. You've done well...::
-------------------------------------------------------------

Shamman screamed and the doctor's raced once again, "Doctor! His body temperature is starting to go back to normal!" Shamman's eye flickered, "I think he's regaining consciousness."

::You're damn right nurse,:: at that, both of Shamman's eyes popped open at an instant. Each had fire where the pupils would be, and his mouth exhaled smoke and the smell of sulfur. The doctors and nurses in the area scattered away from the Kirtir Warrior. He glanced around the room at the frightened Doctors and Nurses, pathetic...

Finally, one of the doctors slowly walked forward, quivering with fear, "Shamman... What... Happened..."

"To me? Quite simple, dear..." he snickered, "doctor. I've simply grown more powerful, and gained more knowledge than you could possibly realize." He then cackled. Flames erupted from his mouth, catching a poor nurse nearby on fire. He glanced around the room, and then something happened which would be forever recorded as one of the most horrific images in the history of the Kirtir. The Kirtir Warrior erupted in flames and jumped off of the bed which he has been laying upon for quite some time. He then threw several hundred fireballs around the room, targeting various poor souls and different computer counsuls. The doctors and nurses who franticly rushed around to keep an eye on his well being were surrounded by flames, as the Kirtir Warrior laughed in sick glee. He then slowly walked out of the flaming room with the personel's bodies laying upon the ground and the smell of burnt flesh rose up in the air. Shamman breathed in the fumes, and sighed. It felt good to be back.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, on Tenetia...


Aelikes and Deshoonde had their times with Travis. Aelikes continued to perfect his new form of torture as well as many others, and Deshoonde continued to try and give Travis the strength to survive. He knew what was coming up for the poor boy. There wasn't much Travis could do to block the images he was receiving from his uncle. Deshoonde doubted that even he could block them from his mind. Then he noticed a small change in a certain resident Tenetian. A change which could quite possibly be used for the benefit of Travis. Deshoonde sensed Jesse's troubled mind, his doubts, regrets. Deshoonde followed the boy to his place of solitude, stepping within the shadows to mask his approach. He waited until the time was right to approach the confused mind. "What seems to be troubling you dear child?"

Aelikes and Deshoonde had their times with Travis. Aelikes continued to perfect his new form of torture as well as many others, and Deshoonde continued to try and give Travis the strength to survive. He knew what was coming up for the poor boy. There wasn't much Travis could do to block the images he was receiving from his uncle. Deshoonde doubted that even he could block them from his mind. Then he noticed a small change in a certain resident Tenetian. A change which could quite possibly be used for the benefit of Travis. Deshoonde sensed Jesse's troubled mind, his doubts, regrets. Deshoonde followed the boy to his place of solitude, stepping within the shadows to mask his approach. He waited until the time was right to approach the confused mind. "What seems to be troubling you dear child?"
A sudden movement occurred and two metal balls suddenly whirled out at the Kirtir Lord.

"How did you get here?" Came the cold yet surprised voice of Jesse.

Deshoonde simply lifted his hands to slow down the metallic balls which headed at his direction, and used the force to cause them to go into separate directions, "I have my ways young one. I used to be in Aelikes's place before I disappeared. I can follow you and remain hidden if I wish it. You still have much to learn," Deshoonde looked at Jesse for a few moments, "don't deny that something is troubling you. I could tell that your heart is troubled, and from your stance. You could tell me. Surely you could sense that for even someone at your level that there's something different about me from the other ones I travel with."

Jesse scowled and the metal balls went back into his hands. He could sense that Deshoonde was different, but even so, he preferred to keep up the facade of a young Sith Apprentice in the presence of others. "Perhaps so, but I don't think you and I have anything to talk to at this time."

"Oh but I think that we do, son of Nightshade." Deshoonde walked closer to the younger boy. "You'll be surprised to know how I know the path you're currently walking all too well. You're confused. You don't know if you want to continue to aid your mother and her dark reign. Your loyalties with the Tenetian Empire flicker, as does what your heart tells you about the Dark Side."

Mordred returned to the cells to see that Daniel had awoken and was sat against the wall staring back at him. His eyes didn’t seem at all focused on him, instead it was like Daniel was looking past him. Staring at some unseen object behind him.

Mordred smirked. “You’re lost,” he gloated. “They’re not coming back to rescue you because they don’t know where you are, or they don’t have the power to get past Tenetia’s defences. You’ve lost your father is losing his kingdom and soon enough it will be rightly in my mothers hands.”

Daniel was unmoving, his soul seemingly broken by the weeks of torture. He was thin, though he was naturally thin to start with. His fur matted and faded with the stress his mind had been placed under, he was now a shadow of his former self.

“Hmph, you’re no fun anymore,” Mordred remarked. “Who’d have thought you’d have given in so easily.”

"Oh but I think that we do, son of Nightshade." Deshoonde walked closer to the younger boy. "You'll be surprised to know how I know the path you're currently walking all too well. You're confused. You don't know if you want to continue to aid your mother and her dark reign. Your loyalties with the Tenetian Empire flicker, as does what your heart tells you about the Dark Side."
Jesse's aura flared in anger, sending killing intent towards Deshoonde. Of course, it's not likely to faze one as powerful and immortal as he. "You know nothing of what my loyalties are! I walk the path of the Dark and there's no other for me!"

Even as he said it, he knew his words rang hollow, a lie. His heart kicked him in disappointment.

Deshoonde quickly put forward his hands and a powerful force bubble erupted around him. The force at which he blocked Jesse's attack was powerful enough to send a shock wave towards the kid and knocked him off the ground. "Your words are hollow, as was your attack. There is good still within you young one. Your mother hasn't turned you fully. Recognize your falter, and that there is another path which you'll find satisfying to your heart. One which follows the moral of the Jedi, yet contains the power of the Dark Lords," Deshoonde bent down and extended his hand, offering to help Jesse up.

Deshoonde quickly put forward his hands and a powerful force bubble erupted around him. The force at which he blocked Jesse's attack was powerful enough to send a shock wave towards the kid and knocked him off the ground. "Your words are hollow, as was your attack. There is good still within you young one. Your mother hasn't turned you fully. Recognize your falter, and that there is another path which you'll find satisfying to your heart. One which follows the moral of the Jedi, yet contains the power of the Dark Lords," Deshoonde bent down and extended his hand, offering to help Jesse up.
The kid landed on his ass, and had no choice but to listen to Deshoonde's words. Loyalty to his family was torn with wanting to learn of this new path, a path that could finally have him escape this wretched place.

When the image of a three-year-old child and a twelve-and-a-half-year-old comatose cousin flew through his head, Jesse understood the path that he must take, and took the hand of Deshoonde in acceptance.

"You know what you must do young one," Deshoonde pulled Jesse up from the ground with a firm grip. "Should you start walking your path, you'll find it easier to forgive yourself for your actions in the past which you regret. You'll find that your other Masaki brethren, even Travis in due time, will find room to forgive your sins, for even Travis has already started the same path you're faltering onto now. I'm offering you the chance to redeem yourself with your true family. Ones who will love you and care for you for who you are. You've done the right thing in accepting your falter. Now you make the next move and answer what your heart truly desires. Do you wish to continue down the path of self destruction, greed, and corruption, or will you learn from those who were like you are now. Learn from me. From your Uncle, Daniel."

"You know what you must do young one," Deshoonde pulled Jesse up from the ground with a firm grip. "Should you start walking your path, you'll find it easier to forgive yourself for your actions in the past which you regret. You'll find that your other Masaki brethren, even Travis in due time, will find room to forgive your sins, for even Travis has already started the same path you're faltering onto now. I'm offering you the chance to redeem yourself with your true family. Ones who will love you and care for you for who you are. You've done the right thing in accepting your falter. Now you make the next move and answer what your heart truly desires. Do you wish to continue down the path of self destruction, greed, and corruption, or will you learn from those who were like you are now. Learn from me. From your Uncle, Daniel."
Jesse sighed, mulling over the question, running his fingers through his white hair. "It's not like I have much of a choice, I guess. I want to *do* something about all this and not stay under my mother's shadow forever..."

Deshoonde motioned to Jesse to follow him and they walked back to where they came from. At the same time, the Tenetian Traffic Control just let a certain Hornet Lambda Shuttle land in a designated area, carrying the recently awoken Warrior Shamman. Aelikes sensed his apprentice's arrival and waited for him in the landing bay area. When the shuttle landed, Aelikes was surprised and slightly angry at Shamman's arrival.

<Shamman, just how did you manage to leave the Pillar without me being notified?>

"I had an... Rather odd awakening master. What's happened while I've been out?"

<Lots. I think it might be best if you went with me to Nightshade's Throne Room,> at that the two marched towards Nightshade's Throne Room, Shamman leaving trails of burnt foot patterns behind him. When they entered, along side with Deshoonde (who was surprised to see Shamman here) and Jesse, the aurora of burnt flesh permeated throughout the room. Shamman glanced at several "loyal" subjects which cowered away from his presence. Probably due to the smell, and the occasional flame which erupted from his robes. He happened to catch an foolishly open mind which easily allowed him to read it. He then stared at that person for several moments, before deciding to throw a fire ball at the subject in question. The group continued to walk down the room until they reached Nightshade's Throne.

Deshoonde was the first one to speak up after he and the others knelt, "my dear Lady Nightshade. I've just had an interesting conversation with your son and I think we both came to the same conclusion. I wish to take him on as my apprentice."

Aelikes and Shamman looked up from their knelt position in shock at Deshoonde's rather odd request. Not many would request to train the son of the Dark Queen of Tenetia.

Deshoonde motioned to Jesse to follow him and they walked back to where they came from. At the same time, the Tenetian Traffic Control just let a certain Hornet Lambda Shuttle land in a designated area, carrying the recently awoken Warrior Shamman. Aelikes sensed his apprentice's arrival and waited for him in the landing bay area. When the shuttle landed, Aelikes was surprised and slightly angry at Shamman's arrival.

<Shamman, just how did you manage to leave the Pillar without me being notified?>

"I had an... Rather odd awakening master. What's happened while I've been out?"

<Lots. I think it might be best if you went with me to Nightshade's Throne Room,> at that the two marched towards Nightshade's Throne Room, Shamman leaving trails of burnt foot patterns behind him. When they entered, along side with Deshoonde (who was surprised to see Shamman here) and Jesse, the aurora of burnt flesh permeated throughout the room. Shamman glanced at several "loyal" subjects which cowered away from his presence. Probably due to the smell, and the occasional flame which erupted from his robes. He happened to catch an foolishly open mind which easily allowed him to read it. He then stared at that person for several moments, before deciding to throw a fire ball at the subject in question. The group continued to walk down the room until they reached Nightshade's Throne.
Itachi raised an eyebrow at Shamman's newfound powers. "Interesting. So what possessed you to kill one of our subjects with fire and *sniff* brimestone?"

Deshoonde was the first one to speak up after he and the others knelt, "my dear Lady Nightshade. I've just had an interesting conversation with your son and I think we both came to the same conclusion. I wish to take him on as my apprentice."

Aelikes and Shamman looked up from their knelt position in shock at Deshoonde's rather odd request. Not many would request to train the son of the Dark Queen of Tenetia.
Nightshade was also intruged at the question. She also took notice that Janus seethed with jealousy that his worthless brother should be picked first. "Why should he be picked before me?"

"Silence, Janus." Nightshade snapped. She turned to Deshoonde/Magriel. "An interesting proposal, Lord Deshoonde. May I inquire as to why?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow at Shamman's newfound powers. "Interesting. So what possessed you to kill one of our subjects with fire and *sniff* brimestone?"

"Quite simple my Lord. You couldn't sense that he was going to betray you sooner or later?"

Aelikes nodded, "I got that hint from several of your subjects in this room..."

Nightshade was also intruged at the question. She also took notice that Janus seethed with jealousy that his worthless brother should be picked first. "Why should he be picked before me?"

"Silence, Janus." Nightshade snapped. She turned to Deshoonde/Magriel. "An interesting proposal, Lord Deshoonde. May I inquire as to why?"

Deshoonde noted Janus's reaction, "you could always take up training with the Kirtir Lord of Death, Vorman. I'm sure his ghostly image would suit you well. It rival's the Aurora of fear Darth Vader emits into his subjects... Most people avoid the Lord of Death's. Even us Kirtir Lords stay far away from him as possible... Unless you're up to the challenge," Deshoonde snapped back. Aelikes quietly gulped at the mention of the Lord of Death. Deshoonde then turned his attention to Nightshade, "I knew you'd find this odd. See, your older son already has enough raw power within him to be fine on his own without any immediate training from an experienced master... Unless he wishes to take up Lord Vorman's challenge... I feel that I have the experience as being the Emperor's former second in command and conqueror of the Huntarian Republic that I have to do what it takes to see that your younger son has the ability to tap into his anger."

"Quite simple my Lord. You couldn't sense that he was going to betray you sooner or later?"

Aelikes nodded, "I got that hint from several of your subjects in this room..."
"Interesting." Itachi looked over the frightened patrons. Indeed, there were a couple that didn't feel right. The Royal Guards were called in to take them away.


Deshoonde noted Janus's reaction, "you could always take up training with the Kirtir Lord of Death, Vorman. I'm sure his ghostly image would suit you well. It rival's the Aurora of fear Darth Vader emits into his subjects... Most people avoid the Lord of Death's. Even us Kirtir Lords stay far away from him as possible... Unless you're up to the challenge," Deshoonde snapped back. Aelikes quietly gulped at the mention of the Lord of Death. Deshoonde then turned his attention to Nightshade, "I knew you'd find this odd. See, your older son already has enough raw power within him to be fine on his own without any immediate training from an experienced master... Unless he wishes to take up Lord Vorman's challenge... I feel that I have the experience as being the Emperor's former second in command and conqueror of the Huntarian Republic that I have to do what it takes to see that your younger son has the ability to tap into his anger."
Nightshade nodded. "Certainly, Jesse needs additional training. I hold my sons in high regard and expect the best from them both. Very well. I will allow him to be trained under you. You'll do well to listen to him, my boy."

Jesse nodded. "Yes, Mother."

"Good." Nightshade sat back, satisfied.

The boy lay on the cold, dirty floor, unmoving, silent. His eyes, once a bright brown color, was dull and lifeless. There was a kunai on the floor, inches from his face. For hours, the boy laid there, his mind a whirl of horrors Itachi inflicted upon him. At his state, he would be easy prey for a dementor. Luckily, the soulless beings were elsewhere in the dungeons.

Dead...they're all dead. Travis surprised himself with the thought. What is life worth now that all I know and love is dead?

He suddenly shot up and grabbed the kunai. A crazed look appeared on his face and he turned the kunai inwards, towards his stomach, as if preparing to commit seppuku. "What's the point? I'm the last of my family, the last of the Jedi. I should go to join them. Death is better than this pitiful excuse for a life!"

But his hands didn't move. "If...if I'm the last of the Jedi...then...I shouldn't...I shouldn't do this..."

Live.

"Live or die. That's the only choice here." Travis spoke firmly. He lowered his kunai, but held it tight in his hands.

Live.

"I choose...to live!" Travis spoke, louder. "If I am the last, then I swear to avenge them and restore the Jedi Order!"

A whooshing sound occurred in the cell and then suddenly, the air tore open, creating a powerful vacuum that started sucking up the boy like dust. Travis struggled against the Force Storm, digging his kunai into the cracks within the floor, but to no avail. The boy fell into the maw, screaming as it closed around him and he tumbled heads over heels to who knows where.

He was dumped unceremoniously somewhere...and darkness overtook him as his head bumped on a rock...

OOC: Same will occur with Daniel. Godular, your cue!

Daniel could feel something strange. Contrary to what Mordred had thought, Daniel could still feel, it was just thanks to a little help from Dauchlorsson that he could look as though he felt nothing. It was all Dauchlorsson could do with the little power he could seep out into Daniel. He wouldn’t give Mordred the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

Still this feeling was strange, he was still in the cell but Mordred was nowhere to be seen. Somewhere else thankfully and at least he hadn’t seen Lady Nocturne in a while. Evidently she had returned to Svartalfheim but unfortunately for him, hadn’t taken his cousin with her.

A breeze seemed to be in the cell, it began to blow his hair around. Strange as he had never really felt a draft in the cell before. Then he heard a whooshing sound and he looked up to see what he soon realised was a force storm. Previously he’d only heard of what Master Blexe had told him about force storms. He knew it wasn’t just any type of force storm it was more or less how Master Blexe had described the wormhole variety.

“I’m screwed,” Daniel gulped.

He felt himself lifted up from where he was sat. The force storm was going to take him somewhere and he new it would not be good. He yelled out as he was sucked right into the wormhole and violently thrashed around for what seemed to be an eternity before it dropped him somewhere.

“Shit,” he swore, he ached from where he landed on his back quite hard and began to look around to see where he was.

Kal'Shazzar stood over the young woman, motionless and attentive as various parts of her body twitched and spasmed. The synaptic overload was part and parcel of going under, but this woman was the only one who seemed to exhibit the ability to speak during a 'treatment'. This alone made her one of his premiere subjects, and had more than made the arrangement worth the moral qualms that had arisen.

"Mother... but you're... dead... how... sing me... a lullaby... mother..."

The woman stopped slightly, as if listening to some far off voice. Minutes passed, and slowly her eyes refocused on the room around her. She moved as if to say something, but only sighed in resignation.

"What was the lullaby?" He asked her. "What did she sing to you?"

"What... did who sing?"

"Your mother. You asked her to sing you a lullaby. What did she sing?"

"I... can't remember. I want to remember but I can't... why can't I remember? It was so beautiful, but I can't remember..."

She brought her knees to her chin and began to sob quietly. She might have been unable to remember, but she still felt the sense of loss at her vision cutting short so soon. Others screamed and crawled into a corner. Others required restraint, lest they injure themselves in a futile attempt to restore their 'state of mind'. Many simply closed up and cried. Every time he saw it, it broke his heart, but still he pressed on. His work was everything, no matter how much discomfort watching each crash caused him.

He watched her for a minute more, then silently left the cell, leaving her on her threadbare cot and gesturing for the guard to shut the door. He obediently complied, awestruck by his new 'Warden'.

"Sir, pardon my asking, but couldn't you just play her some samples and see if she picks it up?"

"It might work, but she might also have made the song up herself. Without more information there would be too many possibilities for a simple run-through to be useful, not in the timespan that the memory still has a chance of persisting."

The guard nodded. "Sorry, sir."

"No need to apologize. Just be wary about speaking up when others are about in the future. Some of the visitors roaming around seem to dislike folks 'talking out of turn'."

"Yes, sir."

A voice on the intercom caused them both to look up at the nearby speaker.

"Kincaid to Kal'Shazzar, report to Cell Block C. We have some new arrivals due... you might be interested."

"How odd. I am usually alerted to new tenants each morning," he said, then turned to the guard. "Mind your post. Inform me if anything happens to her."

Kal'Shazzar walked purposefully through the prison corridor, ignoring the pleas of the inmates as he strode by. They did not ask him for freedom. They did not ask him for mercy. Invariably, they asked him for more. Another dose. Another treatment. They could never remember what it was they saw, but they always understood that it was absolutely imperative to return to it... even to their own detriment. He ignored them because he had a schedule to keep... one that was presently being cut into because of some unexpected circumstance.

He found Kincaid, along with five other guards in full combat-gear, in Cell Block C, next to two empty cells. Cell Block C, the 'Problem Tenants' section, was typically the destination of folks who typically required escorts equipped with stun-batons on maximum charge, with several blasters at the ready to boot, just to go take a shower. They were the resisters. They were the ones that earned the guards their hazard pay. Cell Block C... Triple-Maximum Security.

Of late, the place had been surprisingly quiet. Something for which the guards thanked Kal'Shazzar for at least ten times a day.

"You spoke of new arrivals, Warden. Yet these cells are empty. Yet also you seem prepared to repel some form of assault. Be so kind as to inform me exactly of what the hell is going on?"

"Transfers straight from Tenetia. High Profile. Very high risk. Handle with care and all sorts of frills."

"How intriguing... should we not be on the prison landing pad?"

"Nope. These guys are coming here courtesy of the big lady herself. They're getting zapped straight to these two cells. She didn't want to risk them getting 'rescued' during a more standard transfer operation. No chance for escape."

"They must be quite the party animals."

"They must be. They should be coming right about..."

With a decidedly anticlimactic pop of whirling air and the subsequent pair of "Oof!"'s indicative of somebody falling on permacrete floor from a moderate height, the cells suddenly became occupied. One of the new arrivals flopped limply to the floor, unconscious, while the other cursed to himself and tried to look around.

Kal'Shazzar inspected both of the new inmates, then turned to Kincaid with a look of shock.

"I know both of them! Daniel Wagner of the Draconian royal house, and Travis Masaki... if the Godulans knew about this..."

"This isn't a problem, is it?" Kincaid asked, suddenly worried. He knew what Kal'Shazzar was capable of. The renegade didn't care for his own people, but the whole arrangement depended on his conscience not getting the best of him.

Kal quickly regained his composure, returning to his standard emotionally neutral expression and turning back to examine the new inmates. "No. The Legion would rip into me as well for this. I do not wish my work to be disrupted. Perhaps they will prove sufficiently strong to resist some of the more inconvenient effects of the treatment..."

At Kal'Shazzar's pause, Kincaid stepped forward. "Something wrong?"

"They are damaged."

"What?"

"Both of them have been subjected to repeated and protracted tortures," he pointed to Daniel, who had gotten up onto one elbow and was fixing him with a confused glare. "He has been terminated several times and brought back via the haphazard use of a Goa'ould Sarcophagus. His body shows massive trauma all throughout, and I read significant neurological instability indicative of the device." He then pointed to the unconscious form of Travis. "This one has been poked, stabbed, kicked, punched, teased, electrocuted, burned, whipped, clubbed, shanked, ganked, thrown, tossed, mangled, pulverized, and otherwise subjected to every single possible form of physical mutilation that can be named and several that have yet to be invented. He also seems to have suffered some form of psychotropic meltdown that leaves him with a synaptic signature that suggests he is on the verge of killing himself. I suggest we feed him only finger food when he regains consciousness. I will have to monitor him myself and undo whatever it was that caused this."

"By the gods..." Kincaid said in disbelief. "They lived through all that?"

"Daniel didn't. I said he'd been resurrected repeatedly via a rather sub-standard means. My assumption is they thought that they would be able to bend his will via the psychological damages that could be dealt from repeated exposure to the Sarcophagus, though whoever did seems to have forgotten that while it causes the mind to twist and corrupt, it also causes it to decay significantly. My guess, they wanted to corrupt our poor prince straight into brain-death. How counter-productive."

"And what about repairing Daniel's trauma?"

"As long as nobody sticks him in a sarcophagus again, he should be fine with some rest. With them in this present state though, they are most assuredly not effective subjects. I want them both in the infirmary. Mend their hurts. Fix their bones. Go all out. I want them both back on their feet as soon as possible. Inform me when Travis regains consciousness. Also make sure to inform me if somebody comes to the prison seeking to do them further harm. Such activities are NOT to be permitted under any circumstances, and if they have an issue with that you have my leave to send them right up to me, no matter how bitchy they might be."

Kal'Shazzar turned to Daniel and smiled slightly. "Gotta have you two fit and healthy. No more clunkings and bonkings for you! Anybody who thinks otherwise... I will make them understand."

And with that, Kal turned on his heel and walked off. "Fix everything! I don't even want to see signs of broken bones! And give them double rations until they're back to full health!"

Warden Kincaid looked at the other guards and shrugged. "You heard him. Get ready to escort 'em to the infirmary. Kincaid to Medical, get me two trauma teams down to Cell Block C ASAP, and ready the bacta tanks."

"On our way."

Another week passes.

"Ugh. Uhn." Travis woke from a dreamless sleep. All he saw at first was a ceiling, whitewashed like a hospital's. "Where am I?"

"Ah, so the kid's awake." A voice replied. A black cat launched itself from a chair to the bed. "Was touch and go for a while, but damn if you weren't fucked over like a bitch."

Travis frowned at this kitty. "You're the doc? And where am I?" He tried to sit up, but pain shot up his spine.

"Whoa, careful there, sunshine." The cat said. "The bacta healed the spine injuries, but I highly recommend you don't move. And yeah, you could say I'm a doc, of sorts. 'Course I can't operate on humans, but still...well, you're in the infirmary of a slave camp on the planet of Tantis."

"Tantis? Never heard of it."

The cat chuckled. "Not surprised. Few people know about this dump and the people that do are locked up in cages and being screwed over like the chumps they are."

"You're a right ray of sunshine." Travis muttered. "So now I'm a slave. Bummer."

The cat shrugged. "Could be worse. You could be dead."

Travis scowled at the cat. "Nice to know such things."

"Thank you." The cat replied sarcastically and lept over towards the door. "By the way, I'm Ellis, familiar to a chick known as Meji Hinadori. You'll probably see her around or something."

"Alright." Travis said, sitting back and contemplating his predicament.

Kal'Shazzar had taken to calling Ellis 'That Little Bastard', a designation that swiftly spread amongst those guards in the camp that had the misfortune of experiencing more than passing contact with the talking cat. It struck him that the novelty of a talking cat had worn thin in the same way that its attitude had worn thin.

Still, for reasons as yet unknown, Ellis displayed a remarkable knowledge of drugs. An odd quirk, considering his relationship to that girl from the Political Liabilities Wing. Of course, not so odd, considering the girl herself was a tad foul-mouthed.

Depressing though it was, Ellis happened to be the most medically proficient being in the entire facility, short of Kal'Shazzar's own proficiencies. Apparently Head Bitch up at the Tenetian Royal Palace felt that seeing to the medical well-being of the inmates was something of a secondary priority. Lucky that Kincaid had noticed the Godulan's potential. Productivity was soaring, if only because everybody was willing to do exactly as they were told so long as they got another fix of the Dreamweaver. With the infusion of Kal'Shazzar's own funding, the medical area had gotten a significant and much-needed upgrade.

The Slave Camp's infirmary was better than many of the hospitals available to even the wealthier citizens.

He was just walking into the Infirmary to check on his newest arrivals when Ellis left Travis' solitary ward.

"Report."

Kal'Shazzar had long since learned to keep conversation to a minimum with the cat. One word sentences left little in the way of an opening for the cat to launch into some flippant rant. Not that it stopped him. Much.

"The kid's awake. He's a little weak, but barring something else, he should be at full health within another day." Ellis replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be checking on the other kid, the furry blue one."

With that, Ellis the cat headed towards Daniel's ward.

Daniel watched the ceiling. Boring white, just as it had always been. No change, how long had it been now? He didn’t know and neither did Ddauchlorsson. Heck he didn’t even know where he was, other than it was a hospital of some kind. What he did know was that he hadn’t been rescued, there was still that collar on him that prevented him from using any kind of power and kept Ddauchlorsson locked up tight.

I am sorry Daniel, I still cannot escape this collar, came Ddauchlorssons voice.

Though only Daniel would be able to hear it.

I have failed you Daniel.

“No you haven’t,” he said out loud. “It’s this collar, neither of us can use our powers.”

Daniel sighed.

“Well at least Mordred isn’t here.”

Ellis opened the door to Daniel's ward. "Well, well. It seems you're alive. Glad to know you aren't pushing up daisies from six feet under."

The cat lept up onto a chair in the room. "How you're feeling? No pain in the ass, I hope?"

Daniel silently looked up at the cat. Just like Shadow, he thought, a talking cat.

"Something tells me I would be better off if that was the case," he remarked.

Careful, Ddauchlorsson warned.

"As well as I could be considering."

Kal'Shazzar watched the cat head into the other ward then entered Travis' ward. Bloody kid had been a lump for a full week, the cat's assessment was something of a blessing. The wait would soon be over. His work could truly begin.

Shutting the door behind him, he inspected the various medical apparatus arrayed around the boy. Bone fractures repaired, bruises and cuts healed up, swelling down, Ellis' assessment was accurate enough. Seeing the medical scans just after their arrival had been truly illuminating. A veritable study in the extents of human endurance. Kal had learned from the more in-depth scans that Travis had been killed and brought back to life in the same manner as the other one, though only once. Head Bitch must have been very angry.

"You should thank me," he told the boy on the infirmary bed as he brought out a small folder and flipped through it. "Had I not been here you would not have gotten anywhere near the care you needed, and you would have been doing the same amount of work that you will be tasked with. With all the things that we've had to rectify, you'd have been dead inside a week. A slow and painful descent into oblivion, whereupon they would likely have brought you back... again and again, until your mind turned into tapioca pudding and they pitch you into a ditch with the rest of the trash.

"Oh yes, you should thank me indeed. For I have no intention of letting Head Bitch and her Husband, or any of them for that matter, get their grubbing little hands on you again. I need you firm and fit. I need you undamaged. I need you as healthy as can be so that when you crash after my experiments you have as good a chance of living as possible."

Kal'Shazzar leaned in close, letting Travis get a good look at his glowing emerald eyes. The boy would know full well what he was. Let him understand. Let him realize that his new 'keeper' was a Godulan. Let him recognize that things were about to take a nasty turn.

"And after that first crash... you will do absolutely anything I tell you to, and you will like it."

Travis gulped. A Godulan? Here? How did the Empire get hold of one of them?

He tried bravado. "No matter what, you'll get nothing from me!"

=====

Daniel silently looked up at the cat. Just like Shadow, he thought, a talking cat.

"Something tells me I would be better off if that was the case," he remarked.

Careful, Ddauchlorsson warned.

"As well as I could be considering."
"Oh, ho. Well, you'll certainly bear some...changes around here, kiddo. Wouldn't put it past them to give you the worst jobs they could manage. Your status means a lot, after all." The cat laughed. "Well, I'm off. See you around!"

With that, the cat headed out of the ward, chuckling all the way.

"They all say that," Kal'Shazzar said as he stepped back and closed the folder in his hands. "They all... said that. Torture never took away their defiance. Torture never sent them into true despair. But they were not prepared. They were not ready. Their walls fell."

He turned to leave, but stopped just before opening the door.

"Are you prepared for paradise?"

Travis gave Kal'Shazzar a puzzling look. "Huh? The hell you're talking about?"

Kal'Shazzar turned and gave Travis a disconcerting smile. "That is something I have been trying to answer for many years. I am afraid that you will know before I do."

He turned back and opened the door. "Such a pity you will forget just as quickly."

The door closed behind him, but as it did, his voice could be heard as he walked away: "Or maybe not."

Travis was puzzled and weirded out at the same time. "Sheesh, even working with the enemy doesn't stop a Godulan from being engimatic. I don't like the sound of what he's about to do..."

"Oh, ho. Well, you'll certainly bear some...changes around here, kiddo. Wouldn't put it past them to give you the worst jobs they could manage. Your status means a lot, after all." The cat laughed. "Well, I'm off. See you around!"

With that, the cat headed out of the ward, chuckling all the way.

Daniel sighed, that didn't sound good. He lay his head back down and closed his eyes, willing himself away. If only he could still use teleportation ability.

"But how far would I get?" he muttered quietly to himself.

"I thought I'd find you here," Kincaid said as Kal'Shazzar left the medical ward, he moved into step with the Godulan as he walked down the corridor. "Are they just about ready?"

"They should be ready on the morrow," Kal replied.

"Word from... ahem... 'Head Bitch'. She wants to know if her nephew is dead yet. She wants to toss him into that Sarcophagus you mentioned again, or something."

"Tell her the truth."

Kincaid stopped, incredulous, then moved to catch up with the Godulan.

"Are you insane? She'll blow her lid!"

"It will get her attention as well, and that is what I would like to get sooner, rather than later."

"Ohhhh... maybe she'll cough up more subjects if she sees what you've done here, right?"

"Exactly. You came to that conclusion faster than I would have expected."

"Is that a compliment, or an insult?"

"Compliment, my friend. You seem to be picking up on how I work, or I would have had to walk you through the whole thing. I guess all that chess is having an effect."

"Wheels within wheels, you keep telling me."

"Indeed."

Lady Nightshade scowled when the report came to her that not only has her dear nephew is still alive, but restored to full health as well. The same has come with Daniel. She scowled even further. "Ready my shuttle. I will go to examine this slave camp for myself."

"Y-yes, milady!" A slave stammered and sped away.

This Kal'Shazzar better have a good explanation for this... She thought darkly as she readied to take a trip to the planet of Tantis.

Within minutes, the Imperial Shuttle rose into the sky and made the jump to hyperspace. Thirty minutes passed and the shuttle exited hyperspace, alerting the considerable Imperial Naval presence to her arrival...

A frenzy of activity fell over the slave camp like a veritable whirlwind of terror and anticipation. Guards hurtled about from section to section, inspecting cells, inspecting boarding huts, making certain that no contraband was in the camp whatsoever, even making certain that their uniforms and weapons were cleaned to the point where both gun and shirt glinted.

The inmates took all of this in stride. In fact, they did not seem to even notice the hustle and bustle as it was simply not pertinent to when their next dosage of the Dreamweaver would come along. They simply found no reason to care anymore. Short of those slaves currently performing their 'duties' with disconcerting precision and lack of comment, or those who happened to spy their Godulan 'benefactor' wandering along, they simply did not move any more than necessary to breathe.

Kal'Shazzar had taken to walking on the ceiling in order to avoid getting in anybody's way, or vice versa. The orientation made the pleas and outstretched hands of those prisoners and slaves that noticed him and begged for another fix seem like some sort of prayer to a higher power. Kal ignored them, but smiled inwardly at the situation in general.

Inside the infirmary, no sound penetrated from outside. Travis and Daniel would both be clueless about the impending 'visit' right up until she would barge in and go into some sort of screaming fit. Or maybe she would even attempt to strangle Travis in her fury. Maybe she would attempt to strangle Kal'Shazzar.

Kal smiled at that possibility. He wondered how Nightshade would react if she tried to do exactly that, with the wholly unexpected results she would recieve.

He moved towards Ellis, who was presently looking over some medical charts.

"No mouth from you, cat. Not today. Head Bitch will likely kill you if you antagonize her, and she will be antagonized enough this day because of me."

Getting a non-committal snort in return, Kal'Shazzar brought out a fluffy mousie covered in a smell that cats would find all to familiar. "No mouth from you, cat. Or I will have to burn this catnip mouse rather than give it to somebody who would better appreciate it."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kincaid and a specially selected 'honor guard' unit waited apprehensively at the primary entrance gate leading into the complex from the landing bay areas. So nervous was he, even with Kal'Shazzar's assurances, that he could not even bring himself to speak. He simply scanned the skies, waiting for the ship to come out from behind the clouds...

"All right, all right, I'll keep away!" Ellis complained. "Sheesh. Talk about blackmail..."

With that, he walked off to parts unknown after perusing the last of the medical papers. Safe to say that he won't come back until after Nightshade left.

-----

The Dark Lady's shuttle descended onto the landing pad with practiced ease, allowing the ramp to drop immediately and allow her and two red-clad Royal Guards to walk down.

Kincaid moved forward to fawn over her. "My dear Empress, it is an unexpected surprise to see you here. Perhaps--"

"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Colonel. Where is this Kal'Shazzar?" She asked.

"Uh, right this way." Kincaid replied, bowing and moving swiftly to escape her stone gaze. The Empress followed, eventually reaching Kal'Shazzar...

As they came down one of the primary corridors in their search for Kal'Shazzar, he came walking up to them from the far end. With no cells and pleading prisoners nearby, there was only the sound of his precise footsteps to accompany his approach, and the knowing smile with which he returned Nightshade's withering glare.

"My most sincere of apologies, your most royal majesty and any other randomized appelations you may or may not find appealing at this particular point in time. Were I not busy elsewhere, I would have been able to meet you at the landing pad with Mr. Kincaid. Alas and alack, I needed to complete some arrangements in the infirmary.

"I assume of course that is where you wish to stop first, or do you feel the overwhelming necessity to demand exactly why your dear nephew is resting comfortably in a bed rather than in a morgue?"

"You could say that." Nightshade replied airily. "I would presume that you have a good reason for this?"

"Oh yes," Kal'Shazzar replied. "Oh yes indeed. In order to elaborate though it is necessary to take a rather scenic route, if you do not mind a... tour."

OOC: wtf jolt places my response post before yers, then when I delete and try to set it right I get spamblocked. How odd...

"Oh yes," Kal'Shazzar replied. "Oh yes indeed. In order to elaborate though it is necessary to take a rather scenic route, if you do not mind a... tour."
"Certainly, if it would help." Nightshade was skeptical, but she remembered that this slave camp was also a mining camp and perhaps that was it. Healthy, productive slaves will make for better digging, after all. She reserved her judgement until the tour commenced.

Kal'Shazzar led the assemblage out of the corridor and into the deeper depths of the slave camp. He talked almost constantly as he walked, gesturing to certain prisoners when necessary. Most curious though was how the prisoners without fail reached out towards him, begging pitifully, or simply seemed to stare at the wall or sleep.

"All of the slaves that you see here, and in the other sections of the prison, are the harder cases we have to deal with. Spitters and shitters, the lot of them. Hunger strikes, riots, this place had to deal with a veritable smorgasboard of strife and violence before I came. Mister Kincaid was quite taxed by the amount of oversight these folks required.

"Note their activity now, or rather their distinct lack of activity. The most rebellious prisoners, the most difficult slaves, all brought to their current state by simple virtue of my experiments.

"The ones in this block are due to return to work tomorrow, regaining their strength after the latest wave of injections. Dreamweaver is quite physically taxing, and the crash after an injection is even more so. The chemical is something of a strong neurotoxin, and until it is fully removed from the body, they simply cannot be permitted to perform their work.

"Not that this causes any reduction in the overall capacity of the workforce, let me assure you. The productivity of this slave camp is three times what it was before I came here, and I can furnish the necessary paperwork as evidence. As long as the slaves know that I have their next fix, they do absolutely everything I wish of them in order to ensure that they get it. They do their work, they keep themselves in pristine condition, and they do not even think about raising a voice in complaint as they no longer have anything to complain about. It just does not matter to them anymore."

They stepped out into a wide open area filled with mining equipment and slaves working almost mechanically to transport more gear into the mine entrances, while other slaves came out with enormous hauls of minerals from within the mines. They moved like clockwork, and with about as much emotion. Guards milled about, but it was clear from their own behavior that they had not had a single incident that day, much less in the past week, or month. They looked over at the new arrivals and immediately jumped to attention, bellowing out:

"INSPEC-SHUN!"

With a great "Shunk SHUNK", every single slave within earshot came to a dead stop and stood at attention. Kal'Shazzar brought his hands up and bellowed in return:

"As you were!"

"Shunk SHUNK"

And things went back to normal. Kal'Shazzar turned to Nightshade with a proud smile.

"Three times what it was."

He turned to move back into the prison. Kincaid coughed for Nightshade's attention as they reentered the complex.

"Its all thanks to his experiments. The Dreamweaver, it shows them the most beautiful things, more beautiful than their minds can handle, and when it fades, they can't remember a thing, and reality itself seems as a livin hell to them. They become consumed with getting the vision back. They're like docile puppies now. Even the ones that fought and defied us, they are all like this now."

"My experiments revolve around determining the most primal concept of beauty. I keep trying to find some method to get them to remember the visions, and while I have met with limited success even here, I have met some success. It is hoped that the two boys you sent here will prove strong enough of mind to eventually recall what they see when under the effects of the drug."

And they finally came to the infirmary.

"Your nephew and his friend rest within, unaware of your presence here. Tomorrow they will be subjected to their first taste of the dreamweaver. Perhaps you might wish to witness? The first crash is always the hardest."

"Interesting. I would like to see the results of this drug for myself." Nightshade grinned. She was used to inflicting pain to get what she wanted. Inflicting pleasure was something new, and a Sith always likes news ways of keeping power.

"As you wish. We can conduct the experiment first thing tomorrow if you prefer. As soon as the Little Bastard clears them from the infirmary we should be golden for a demonstration."

Kincaid coughed slightly. "The 'Little Bastard' is the talking cat that sees to the well being of the inmates."

"I don't know how he got that way, but he is remarkably skilled, though he is also antagonistic in the extreme. It is likely for the best that you not get within a square kilometer of him."

Nightshade smirked. "Ah, yes. The cat. Damn near invincible if you ask me. Even a full-scale Force Storm (lightning version) will be cured after a time. And if you're wondering how I know, look up the cat's charge. The girl's ancestry means my father knew her grandfather. The cat was there, although a kitten at the time during the state receptions. Even as a kitten, he was, shall we say, crude."

Nightshade grinned, presumably remembering the myraid of ways she tried killing the cat but failed. "Enough about old times. I shall look forward to this demonstration."

As night passed, Kal'Shazzar sat in his small office, scanning through the information the day had brought forward. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing at all. Thus far, the only thing that he had considered to be remotely useful in all of these experiments was the neurological analyses he performed during each prisoner's exposure to the Dreamweaver.

He long understood why the drug was such a potent neurotoxin. The synaptic patterns said it all. Whereas normal folks exhibited a standard pattern of synaptic firings here and there as per standard procedure, the Dreamweaver made everything go off at once. Whereas a small drop instilled the effect Kal'Shazzar utilized for his experiments, any more and the brain would very literally begin to electrocute itself into oblivion.

Though he had run baseline analyses in order to compare with the vision signatures, the sheer magnitude and volatility of the exposure results proved nearly impossible to properly extrapolate useful data. Still, considering how folks kept proving unable to recall their visions from one moment to the next, the synaptic patterns were all he had.

But a pattern was beginning to emerge.

The limited success had come from the sheer number of people he had to work with. Thousands of people, from many sentient races, from many different walks of life. From this had arisen a curious correlation.

The greatest spikes in the pattern were in the same spots... without fail. Everything else was impossible to find a function for, but eighteen separate spikes always came at the exact same points on the graph.

But what does it MEAN?

So many minds brought into drug-addled ruin. Why couldn't the answer just come already? Was it so hard for the universe to cough up the information he sought? The primal concept of beauty. The fundamental qualities of perfection. He only sought to understand, but thus far, the answers eluded him.

Perhaps these two boys will be my breakthrough...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daybreak.

Daniel and Travis found themselves rather unceremoniously ejected from the infirmary and frogmarched to their cells in a very much similar manner. They were shoved into their cells, their shackles were removed, and for the first time in a week the two boys were on their feet, staring out at Kal'Shazzar and Warden Kincaid.

"Took us a lot of work to fix what you two took," Kincaid began as the guards began to take positions at attention around the two cells and the rest of the corridor in general. The guards were entirely too spiffed up for normal operations. "They actually killed both of you, and brought you back, just so they could do it again! Now that's just mean. Well, we did it. Fixed you right up. Don't think this is easy street though. Don't think we're gonna coddle you. Nooooo, you're in for a whole new kind of hell."

Kal'Shazzar turned to Travis as Kincaid finished. "You never did thank me. No matter. You won't want to after today. Your aunt's here. She should be here in a few minutes. Perhaps you or your friend--" he glanced towards Daniel, then returned to Travis "--would like to take this time to utter, shout, or otherwise make clear your staunch defiance to whatever you think is about to happen? Please, get it out of the way. Truth be told I don't know what's going to happen to you either."

"Not much more to say than that I'm gonna kick your ass once I'm out of here." Travis replied with more bravado than he felt. Inwardly, he was scared stiff at what new horror his aunt has cooked up, and how she managed to get even a Godulan by her side. Even though he was healed to perfect health, he didn't think he could stand much more of Nightshade's torture before he broke. In fact, he was a micrometer from becoming an agent of the Sith.

=====

Meanwhile, Lady Nightshade traveled down from her retreat in the mountains towards the slave camp. Said retreat has a wealth of information and items that will prove useful for the Empire. But right now, the Empress of Tenetia will see whether this Dreamweaver of Kal'Shazzar's will benefit the Empire's cause for herself. And what better test subject would there be than her own nephew and his friend?

She grinned at the thought as her speeder stopped at the entrance to the slave camp and she was ushered into the slave camp to see what happens for herself.

Daniel folded his arms, he glared at Kal'Shazzar.

Be very careful what you say, Ddauchlorsson warned, his voice only heard by Daniel.

Oh he was going to choose his words very carefully...

"Fuck you," he said defiantly. "You'll never break me."

Of course that was easier said then done. Daniel was worried, he's been very close to breaking under previous torture, repeated deaths and resurrections would do that to you.

Kal'Shazzar offered no response to either retort, though Kincaid's slowly surfacing expression of apprehension would prove enough of a response. It was not directed at Kal, as if to fear that he might lose his temper, but at the boys... as if they had just uttered their last words.

Then, the sound of the security doors at the end of the cell block preceded the approach of Lady Nightshade. Kal'Shazzar did not take his attention from the two boys as his voice echoed throughout the area:

"Greetings and Salutations your Highness, we are so glad that you could make it. Perhaps you would do us the honor of inspecting them before deciding which of them should undergo exposure first?"

It didn't take long for Nightshade to decide after a quick inspection. "My nephew should have the honors first, then the blue-furred friend."

Kal'Shazzar smiled and bowed slightly. "Acknowledged. I shall administer the chemical myself."

Kincaid turned and signaled to the guards, they didn't move forward, but took a stance to ensure that any unauthorized people attempting to run would get kneecapped several dozen times.

"Open the cell door now, if you would be so kind," Kal'Shazzar said, removing a tiny packet of something from his coat pocket and palming it. The small packet sank into his hand, absorbed by the Godulan's own body. The door slowly opened, and the surrounding guards grips on their guns tensed.

He stepped in, and shook his hand slightly. "You are going to feel a little pric--"

Just before Travis landed a punch to his face. Kal'Shazzar pondered at that moment that the boy had moved quite swiftly, and would make a fine addition to the workforce of the camp. Still, the only reason the punch landed at all was due to the fact that Kal'Shazzar wanted to gauge the boy's strength. With a meaty thud, Travis' fist struck home, and was immediately withdrawn and cradled in his other hand. Kal'Shazzar's face developed a number of hairline cracks, leaking green light for a few seconds before sealing back up and leaving the Godulan's face unblemished.

"I hope you did not break it. 'Twould be such a shame if you were required in the infirmary again."

And with that, Kal's hand lashed out, slapping Travis in the neck. The boy didn't even flinch, but then the Godulan did not intend the strike to be overly powerful. A small dot of blood appeared on Travis' neck, and Kal'Shazzar turned an about-face and stepped out of the cell.

"Sweet dreams, my boy."

Travis fell asleep...and dreamed...


Then he woke up and looked around. "Huh. That drug didn't work too well."

The door to the infirmary was ajar and fearful of a trap, Travis looked out down the hall one way, then another. "What's going on?"

A trooper was slumped against the wall. He appeared to be snoring.

Foolishly, Travis waved his hand in the man's eyes and yelled, "Hello? Escaped Jedi here!"

The trooper remained asleep.

"Cool." Travis grinned, seizing the moment. Running down the hallway, he saw more and more troopers asleep on the job, wondering what happened to them all. Then he reached a room and in that room on a table was his lightsaber. He grabbed it and "equipped" it. The boy kept running until he ran into a bunch of Royal Guards.

"Oh crap!" He groaned, then one tripped and fell. With an amusing grin, Travis easily took care of the rest and ran towards the outside. A fighter with a hyperdrive laid on the grass and without another thought, Travis took the fighter and launched into space. Enemy fighters pursued, but they ran out of gas as soon as they took off and crashed. Tapping the coordinates, Travis escaped into hyperspace for home and as soon as he exited hyperspace for Jurai, he...

woke up. Then he screamed and screamed and screamed.

Lady Nightshade was amused. Those who amused her were commended. Do the math.

The other guards cringed and fidgeted nervously as the screaming went on and on and on. Kincaid exerted tremendous effort to keep still, fearing his eyes might well up if he moved a single muscle. Kal'Shazzar simply watched the entire thing, from injection to Travis' return from the vision, with an unyielding stare that took in far more information than one could imagine.

"You can always tell, when they come out. The look of horror on their faces is pretty much the same when they find themselves back in reality. And the screaming... it only happens like this the first time. The other times they scream less and less, until they just curl up and cry for about half an hour. Do not think that diminishing screaming means diminishing returns though, oh no. The less they scream, the harder it hit. If they come from a particularly vivid and wondrous vision, they simply lose the will to scream. And then they lose their will entirely."

He turned to Lady Nightshade. "That is how the Dreamweaver works. It does not harm their bodies, but their minds will be crushed eventually. It might take more or less time than others, but it will happen."

He turned again, towards Kincaid. "Open the other cell. The elf is next."

The guards moved to Daniel's cell, and took up a defensive position before the cell door opened nice and slowly.

Kal'Shazzar stepped in, and shook his hand. "As I told Travis before, you will feel a little prick..."

Daniels head raised and he looked toward Kal'Shazzar. He knew attempting to escape would be futile, he had his agility but not his powers.

"Fuck you," he replied. "I know I can feel a prick in this room, it's you so you can bite my furry blue arse."

Nervous laughter came from the guards outside the cell in response to Daniel's commentary, and even Kal'Shazzar's face turned into a bit of a smile.

"Har. I haven't heard that one a hundred and fourteen times before. But if attempting to denegrate me gives you solace, we shall permit you that small amount."

Kal's hand snaked out and poked Daniel's neck with lightning speed. A tiny bead of blood began to well up, and Kal'Shazzar turned smartly and left the cell. As the door closed, he looked over his shoulder.

"I hope you have the energy to utter 'fuck', after this. We might actually have some sound in this block yet."

And so Daniel lost consciousness… a sleep… dreaming…

There was a beautiful sunrise, it was just on the horizon as he was stood on patrol with Katana and Katsuo. Directly behind them was the entrance to Suna, it was their duty to stand watch for trouble. A job he would do well.

He wasn’t sure what time exactly it was, but it didn’t matter. All he needed to know was that it was early morning and the sun was stretching out over the horizon. It was somewhat mesmerising and he struggled to recall a time that he had ever seen a sunrise as beautiful as this one was. Both Katana and Katsuo seemed mesmerised by it as well, they were stood smiling. Smiling, what a difference it was to see the two cousins smile.

This isn’t real.

“Huh?”

Katana cast a glance at him.

This isn’t real Gabriel, it is a false feeling you are not in Suna.

“It’s beautiful, so real,” Daniel said.

It felt real too upon his face, he closed his eyes…

And then he was torn from it back into reality. Daniel screamed loudly, it was almost like a roar.

"Excellent." Lady Nightshade smiled darkly. "This Dreamweaver drug is most useful. I will allow you to continue your experiments and even send you subjects from time to time. I look forward to your reports in the future."

Kal'Shazzar bowed gracefully with a smile, then turned to look strangely at Daniel. "I can provide a report right now. There is something strange with this one. His synaptic patterns were jerky, as if something was attempting to tug him out of his vision. Is there something on him that we do not know about?"

"Perhaps." Nightshade inclined her head, recalling bits of information from her old past. "He is Jinchuuriki, a body with the spirit of an animal sharing space with his own. Few know of the existence of them and fewer still can recognize one. In this case, it is the spirit of a dragon. Will there be anything else?"

"It kept trying to break through the vision, which seems to mean that it managed to maintain its composure through the vision. Can these spirits speak through their hosts?"

"If the host allows it." Nightshade nodded.

"Can you get me more of them, then? This might just be the breakthrough I need. If there is a spirit in there that can properly recollect the visions they go through, then I will finally get the information I have been seeking all this time. I would like to see if this one will be properly responsive after repeated doses, but this could well be just what I need for my experiments."

"I will see what I can do, but as I mentioned, a Jinchuuriki is a very rare specimen. The number I know of can be counted on one hand." Nightshade replied. She would have to speak with her husband about this... "Now if there is nothing else, I would like to resume my other duties as the Empress of my people."

"As you wish, Empress," Kal'Shazzar said with a bow before turning back to stare at Daniel.

The Dark Lady exited the slave camp, leaving the boys to suffer the worst drug addiction to ever exist in the galaxy. She headed up to her lair in the mountains for some hours, then she headed offplanet to conduct other business.

Meanwhile, Travis and Daniel were still suffering the effects of the drug. It was the most horrible drug they've experienced, and they could be sure it would only get worse...

Deshoonde/Magriel meditated for a long time, deciding what to teach his young apprentice next. He knew Jesse would want to continue and run off with Travis after they have freed them, but there was another purpose the boy could serve. They would need a spy in the Empire, one which even Nightshade herself won't suspect. The Malkir spy decided, it seemed, that it was necessary to teach the young boy the arts of mind block and control.

Magriel reached out with the force, and searched for the troubled boy. It didn't take him long to find the kid, and found it quite troubling, especially if he were to send Jesse out on his new mission.

::Jesse, hear my call... You will do as I command...:: and he began to attempt to control the boy's mind.

Jesse felt the probe attack and felt himself start to strip to his shorts. He seems to want to go out into his mother's court in the buff in full view of his subjects. With great effort, he fought the mind control and yanked his mind out of the control of Deshoonde. Panting, he reached Deshoonde through the Force. What was that for?!

"To show how weak your mind is when it comes to others invading it. It's apparent to me now that if you wish to continue on as my apprentice and serve against your mother, you're going to need to learn the arts of Mind Blocking for it is essential for any spy. Your present efforts proved to be... Fatal. Should someone like your mother or father gain control and wish to penetrate your mind, you will be defenseless to their own gazing eyes. Besides," the Malkir Master grinned, "I thought a good ol' prank was long over due."

Jesse scowled as he put his tunic and pants back on. "Could you have picked something other than streaking in front of the subjects?"

Another blow to his mood was the fact that he was rather...transparent when it comes to wanting to working against his loyalty. According to Deshoonde, if he was to produce and execute any plan that would help him betray his betters, he would be found out all too easily and executed without so much as a whimper.

"I suppose this is the part where you teach me this Mind Blocking technique?"

The spy smiled again to Jesse's comment about the streaking, "of course I could've done something else... And far worse. Would you have preferred it if I made you mate with your mother? Besides..." Magriel's face grew stern,
"it proved to me what I needed to know. So... Now is the time which I teach you mind blocking techniques. Here's what I want you to do. Before I teach you how to block someone from reading your mind, you must block someone from making a suggestion... From as low as streaking in front of a lot of royal subjects, to as serious as the assassination of a leader without your knowledge. Mind control is a very serious tool, one which you shouldn't laugh at." The Master closed his eyes, "now, I am going to attempt and make you do a command, your goal is to resist me as I grow harder and angrier, " he then tapped into Jesse's subconsious thoughts. Where the mind was prone to suggestion.

::Jump... Jump, it will not hurt,:: said a tiny friendly voice in Jesse's mind.

After the boys' screaming died down sufficiently, Kal'Shazzar turned to Kincaid and the other guards. "You know the drill. Keep guards posted here for the next two days. If they have not begun to move by then, notify the infirmary. If you will excuse me I wish to compare my notes for a while. I will be in the laboratory if you have any questions."

With that, he spun on his heel and departed the cell block, ignoring the renewed pleading from the other prisoners as he left the prisoner complex entirely and into a second zone dedicated to support structures and the 'Political Liabilities' Wing. The pleading and screaming faded away to nothing behind him, and he stopped for a moment beside what appeared to be a crater in the concrete. With a ferocious snarl, he slammed his fist into the crater, the impact resounding through the hall and startling a pair of guards at the far end of the corridor.

He knew that it was wearing him down, watching the suffering, listening to the screaming, testing his resolve, but he knew that he could not abandon his experiments. He'd found that punching a hole in the wall had proven remarkably effective in relieving the stress. Even so, many guards still wondered about the weekly necessity to bring a punching bag into his lab, to replace the one that had just been torn to shreds.

The Lab itself was a spartan affair, less of a laboratory and more of a workshop. Previously a ventilation hub, Kal'Shazzar was quick to adapt it to his purposes in order to disrupt any form of surveillance that might be put into place. The downward wind generated by the massive fan several stories above him would render any listening devices completely useless, not that Kal needed to talk with anybody. The room was littered with several massive pieces of equipment and a specialized computer of his own design. There were no books, and the computer's information was nigh impossible to wade through. He needed it solely for its storage capacity, as storing more information within him required a link to the legion... and if they knew now, everything would be ruined. A slab of metal rested in the far corner, with little fingertip-sized divots imprinted upon it here and there. Few knew the truth, but this was the source of the Dreamweaver. Whenever Kal'Shazzar needed a new supply, he took an hour to absorb a small amount of metal and convert it into the drug that was so critical to his efforts.

He first interfaced with the computer and inputed the latest data amongst the legions of graphs and synaptic patterns contained within him. A new graph came up, showing him an aggregate display of all the graphs he had taken thus far.

Something was beginning to show itself, some kind of correlation. With his efforts finally getting something amounting to dedicated support, he was finally getting something he could classify as a result. The only problem was he couldn't for the life of him know what that result WAS. It was a synaptic correlation that spanned all the sentient species in the complex, something very specific, but as yet without any meaning at all...

He paced the room, lost in his thoughts and lost in the wind. What did it MEAN?

::Jump... Jump, it will not hurt,:: said a tiny friendly voice in Jesse's mind.
The feeling of friendliness permeated Jesse's mind, making him want to jump. Then another tiny voice spoke in Jesse's mind. Nah. Not right now.

Jump. It won't hurt. The other voice spoke, a little more insistent this time.

No. I don't want to. Jesse's voice said.

Then, pain took Jesse back to reality as he crashed head-first into the floor. The two voices had warred and come at an impasse, forcing Jesse to trip and fall. But something else had happened. Jesse resisted. And that was good for a first time.

=====

Finally, after an eternity, the Crash ended. Travis whimpered. The Force was not with him, and even drawing on chakra was almost impossible, so he was helpless in the face of this drug. It was more horrible than cocaine, more addictive than spice and the one thing he knew he wanted, was more. And he had no idea why...

One of the guards outside noted the boy's return to activity by the shakes and wheezing that took hold as withdrawal began to claw its way into sway. After experiencing perfection in every possible way, the air was too cold and too hot at the same time, smells were all wrong, the light from outside was too harsh, the distant sounds of the miners toiling away grated and buzzed around like hungry mosquitos.

Even his own heartbeat just felt... wrong. Blood pulsing through his veins made his insides itch. The food that he had eaten in the infirmary, though of far better quality than he ate at the other hellhole, now sat in his stomach like a pound of lead.

He felt... everything, and it was all... wrong.

"Cheer up, boy!" the guard said, rapping his stun-stick on a cell bar and eliciting a pained moan in response, both to the unexpected voice and the noise made by the hearty thump of metal on metal. "You'll get more soon as you piss out your current dose. Boss has to make sure you don't have any left in your system or else the stuff will REALLY turn your brain to mush.

"You can feel it, can't you? All these little things that just don't feel right? Boss said that's the brain trying to compensate for losing the visions. It wants them back, and that means you want them back. Can't beat your own brain.

"Get too much though, and its like he's turned a flamethrower on inside your head. You just don't live through that. I've seen it happen. Boss accidentally got the dose wrong on a sullustan early on. Poor guy probably didn't even know how loudly he was screaming and how much blood was coming out his ears until he simply... stopped. I guess there really is such thing as too much of a good thing."

"You said it," the other guard said. "There's torture, and then there's that stuff. I don't care what ANYBODY says, that shit is truly diabolical. Did you see look on her Highness? She had the same damn look the druggies get in the middle of a high!"

"Shit, really? Damn! I didn't see that, I was too busy watching to see if this boy would start banging his head on something."

"Would've sucked if he did. You know how he hates having to drag people from Political Liabilities to help the infirmary out in keeping tabs on bad cases."

"Yar. That one girl though, she's hot. The one who came with that damned cat?"

"Oh yeah... she's kinda bitchy herself though."

"Gee. I wonder where she got that."

"Damn cat."

Daniel shivered as he lay on the ground, rolling onto his side he curled up into a ball and continued to shiver. This was the comedown after the crash.

I will help you through it Gabriel, just keep listening to my voice. Just as soon as I can get rid of these restraints I can get you out of here.

ZZAAP! Suddenly, the two guards were on the ground, twitching from a strong jolt of electricity. A vision of loveliness appeared before Travis. Blond-white hair, slightly pointy ears, a face that men would die for and she's just about his own age, maybe a bit older. It was almost enough to burn through the withdrawl. Almost.

"If you two idiots think I'm bitchy, you've got another think coming!" The girl growled, her index finger crackling from her discharge. "Now stand up and wait at the door like you're supposed to!"

"Yes 'm'!" Still twitching, the guards left the room with their tails between their legs.

The girl looked up and down Travis. She especially noticed his blue hair and smirked as she crossed her arms. "Another Dreamweaver patient. Kal'Shazzar's always doing this but he never seems to get what he wants from you poor SOBs. Oh, by the way, my name's Meji. Meji Hinadori. I'm his assistant."

Travis simply stared at her. Then, he spoke, slurring. "T-Travis. Masaki."

She raised her eyebrow. "Finally caught one of you, eh? No wonder Nightshade was skipping like an initiate."

Travis shook his head in disbelief. Either Meji's crazy, or she has more balls than a platoon of Marines. The way she talks would never be allowed in the Empire, she'd be executed. But she was still so very cute.

Meji shook her head as she saw that Travis was heads-over-heels for her. Happened every time. "Right. I'm here to check up on you and your cohort. You'll be OK after a while. The first time's always the worst."

"What happens after?" He asked.

"Eh, most likely you'll be put to work in the mines after several more tests." Meji shrugged. "The drug will break you like it broke everyone else and you'll be just another Imperial prisoner worked to death."

A small flash of defiance hardened the boy's brown eyes. "I won't break."

Meji was intruged about Travis. Even after the first Dreamweaver, this kid's still defiant. "You've got spirit, but I hate to say that it has been this way ever since Kal'Shazzar came along. Anyway, time to check on the other newcomer. I guess I'll see you around."

Meji walked away, leaving Travis to suffer some more. But somehow, that suffering seems to have lessened. The girl headed to Daniel next, smirking as she entered. "A blue elf? That's new."

A blue elf? That's new.

A different voice not that of Ddauchlorssons. Daniel shivered and rolled over once again.

A dream perhaps. Another from the drug influencing his mind as he saw the girl.

"Uhh," he moaned, unable to speak properly. "Who... f-fuck..."

Daniel grimaced, wishing it would all go away.

Meji scowled. "Hmph. I'm Meji, Kal's assistant. I'm here to check on your furry little ass. You're worse than the other guy, I can tell."

Yep. Looks like he'll stay down for a while. Meji thought, checking the young elf's readings.

Daniel groaned and lay his head down closing his eyes. He wished that he could teleport himself and Travis far away from here and go back home.

Kal'Shazzar stalked the corridors, lost in himself as he considered the correlations forming in the multitude of graphs stored within his computers. Being a synaptic pattern, it eventually came to him that he would need to set aside a number of subjects to experiment on in a different way. Perhaps he could create the correlation without the dreamweaver.

But what would that give him?

He eventually meandered to the mine works, stepping amidst the many slaves and workers as they went about their duties, and ignoring the small number of people who fell to their knees in his wake and begged him for another dose. He ignored them as usual, and made his way to Kincaid, who stood just at the top of an elevator ramp waving and cursing orders with gusto.

"I need twenty individuals for a secondary project."

"Any old twenty?" Kincaid took it all in stride. So long as his needs did not hinder productivity, what Kal'Shazzar wanted, Kal'Shazzar got.

"A representative sample would be preferable. They will not be removed from their duties, but there might be some issues. Side-effects are impossible to predict when I am not certain what the primary effect of my experiment will be."

"Find something?"

"It has been slow in coming, but there seems to be a correlation forming in the synaptic patterns of those undergoing visions from the drug. There seem to be common parts of the brain being stimulated, and I wish to see what might happen if those common portions are stimulated artificially."

"Well, everybody's visions are different, aren't they?"

"Somewhat."

"Sounds like you'd be cutting out the visions and going straight into the happy feelings."

Kal'Shazzar quirked his head slightly. He had not thought of that. Having left his humanity behind so long ago, he had forgotten what 'feeling' felt like. "No vision, just the afterglow? Interesting... make it a representative sample of forty then."

All throughout the slave camp, forty slaves were randomly selected by the rough guards, including a small boy named Kieran. Each one was given over to Kal'Shazzar for his tests. Now it remains to be seen what he will do to them...

Kal'Shazzar was not used to his research entering the esoteric domain of brain surgery, so it became for but a moment the hardest thing for him to resist unsealing himself and asking for guidance. The techniques derived by the Godulans for mechanical forays into synaptic tinkering would have to suffice for the purposes of his present investigation. He could only dread the possibility of applying psionic precepts to what he was about to perform.

Not even the thrumming of the fans within could contain the sheer frenzy of construction and cursing put forth from Kal'Shazzar's laboratory. Terms colorful enough to send even the most foul-mouthed of the various guards scurrying for cover while screaming something about virgin ears radiated forth like heat from a lava flow. Crashes, bangs, thuds, and other auditory indicators of mechanical strain resounded throughout the entire political liabilities wing, ensuring that not one of the tenants got a good sleep that night.

Come daybreak, however, the noise had ceased, and Kal'Shazzar stood outside his laboratory with a large container of... something.

To the nearest guards, he barked out his first orders.

"Gather the forty prisoners selected by the warden and bring them to the infirmary. Get all infirmary personnel ready for minor operations. And prepare our newest guests for another shot."

Young Kieran was only ten years old, but he has been a slave of the Empire all his life. The only life he has known, it has both tarred and strengthened his spirit. That is, until the Dreamweaver came along. His small hands grew quite productive with the addiction to the drug and he hoped that this calling would grant him another dose of the drug. All he knew was that it was...beautiful and he wanted to return to the beautifulness, badly.

Meanwhile, the two newest prisoners were also being prepared for another dose of the drug.

The feeling of friendliness permeated Jesse's mind, making him want to jump. Then another tiny voice spoke in Jesse's mind. Nah. Not right now.

Jump. It won't hurt. The other voice spoke, a little more insistent this time.

No. I don't want to. Jesse's voice said.

Then, pain took Jesse back to reality as he crashed head-first into the floor. The two voices had warred and come at an impasse, forcing Jesse to trip and fall. But something else had happened. Jesse resisted. And that was good for a first time.


The Master nodded and made note to himself about Jesse's slight resistance. "Somewhat impressive for a first attempt. You'd have thwarted the initial attempt but it would appear that you'd harm yourself too in the process. You need to learn how to resist the temptation all together young one. With practice, and time you can master this technique fully and you can even reverse the effect on the one who attempts it upon you." Deshoonde folded his arms and narrowed his eyes, "now, attempt to get into my mind," then he smiled mishceviously.

Surprised by the request, Jesse nevertheless complied, calling upon the Force and attempted to enter Deshoonde's mind despite massive misgivings. Act like a bantha. Act like a bantha.

First things first...

Kal'Shazzar skipped past the infirmary, making note of the subjects being funneled in through the main door and taking momentary amusement in the angry screaming from a particular cursed feline. The sound of something crashing preceded an even greater round of screaming. Though Kal'Shazzar could hear it as clearly as if it were directly beside him, he chose to ignore it as usual.

His first priority was towards breaking in the newcomers. He would eventually reduce the frequency of each dose, but he had to first get the little buggers hooked.

And so it was that he once again stood in front of Travis Masaki.

"So. Did you enjoy it?"

"No." Even through the withdrawl, Travis still had that spark of defiance. Of course...saying no to a drug this powerful is like saying no to a black hole. It'll still suck you in.

"Of course not. Nobody can ever remember if they enjoyed it. Too bad."

Kal'Shazzar's free hand snaked out like a viper, planting a little pinprick on Travis' neck. With a curt bow, he stepped out of the cell and turned to Daniel.

"That one looks like it hit him harder than expected. I will give him another day to recuperate. Meiji," He turned to the girl, still keeping an eye on the two prisoners, "Give the blue-furred one a few hours, then see if he will eat. If he does not, notify the infirmary. Standard O.D. procedures."

He turned away, a silent dismissal, and simply stared at Travis as the drug began to work once again.

Once again, Travis slipped off into the world of the Dreamweaver. This time, he was chatting with his friends during a training session.

Nick blasted him with his dual Westar-50 blaster pistols, while Travis fought to deflect them all. Kagome watched on the sidelines, commenting along with Teams Eight and Nine.

"Think he'll win?" She asked them.

"Heh. Doubt it. He hasn't got the skills." Asuka smirked.

"Agreed. He still has quite a bit to go." Reika smiled.

"Yeah, but he has the ol' Masaki spirit." Keith countered. "That's gotta count for something."

"Bah. Just because he's the heir to the throne, you'd think he'd slide in easy." Asuka waved off Keith's objections. "You know I'm better than he is at dueling!"

"Ah, but he will likely surpass you one day." Shinji noted quietly. Haruka nodded sagely.

"What did you just say?!" Asuka flamed up, burning the boys with her hot words.

"Nothing!" The boys shrank back.

Music begins

"Hmph. None of you can ever match my skills, my powers, or even my hot body!" Asuka crowed, earning glares from the girls and a popping vein from Travis. If it's one thing he didn't like, it was a challenge to his pride.

"If you think you can beat me, Asuka, why don't you come out and show it!" Travis yelled, fists waving in the air.

"*Sniff* I'm so unwanted." Nick sobbed in a corner, the duel with Travis forgotten.

Asuka grinned as she stepped down, pulling out her violet lightsaber. "Little boy, you've got a long way to go before you'll beat me!"

Travis grinned as his golden lightsaber came to life. "That's what you think!"

*breaks into song as they duel*

Travis: I gonna be a mighty Knight, so enemies beware!

Asuka: Well, I've never seen a Jedi kid, with quite so little hair! *pulls out a strand and he yelps*

Travis:
I'm gonna be the main event
like no Knight was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my PSI!

*A Psybolt blasts Asuka, pinning her to a wall. Travis laughs and runs towards a lake*

Pissed Asuka: Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing!

Travis (dodging shuriken): Oh I just can't wait to be Knight!

Asuka: "You've got a long way to go, young Padawan, if you think--"

*Kagome decides to join in on the fun*

Travis: No one saying do this!
Asuka: Stay still you little--
Kagome: No one saying be there!
Asuka: Arrgh! Don't get in my--
Travis: No one saying stop that!
Asuka: Dammit! Stop--
Travis and Kagome: No one saying see here!
Asuka: Now SEE here!

Travis: Free to run around all day!
Asuka: Don't get too cocky now--
Travis: Free to do it all my way!

*They trade elemental and Force powers for a while*

Asuka: I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart to heart!
Travis: Knights don't need advice
From little Genin for a start!

Asuka: If this is where the Jedi Order is headed
Count me out!
Out of service, out of Coredia!
I wouldn't hang about! (gets blasted with lightning) Aargh!
This Jedi's is getting wildly out of swing!

Travis: Oh, I just can't wait to be Knight!

(Travis begins to overcome Asuka, washing her away with a Suiton)

Travis:
Everybody look left!
Everybody look right!
Everywhere you look I'm
Standing in the spotlight!

Asuka: (REALLY pissed off) Not yet!

(They duel on top of a mountain)

Chorus: Let every Jedi go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the ranks and on the wing
It's gonna be Knight Travis' finest fling!

Travis & Chorus: Oh I just can't wait to be Knight!
Oh I just can't wait to be Knight!
Oh I just can't waaaaaait ... to be Knight!

*Travis defeats Asuka*

Then...it ended.

When Travis awoke once more, he was in tears, but he didn't know why. All he knew was that it was beautiful and that he wanted to go back...at any cost.

Surprised by the request, Jesse nevertheless complied, calling upon the Force and attempted to enter Deshoonde's mind despite massive misgivings. Act like a bantha. Act like a bantha.

Deshoonde smiled in his mind at this particular request as he can't act like a bantha in the first place since he doesn't know what it is. In any case, he automatically put up a combination of Force Reflect and Block and redirected the command to the young boy's mind. A very simple maneuver to teach, even simpler to learn. It's only a slightly different application which the powers are used. Jesse should understand it...

::Act like a bantha. Act like a bantha,:: the old master continued to redirect Jesse's command.

Jesse wasn't surprised that the Master blocked and reflected his mental attack, but he was surprised when he started shuffling on all fours and had a great craving for grass. It was quite humiliating, but there was nothing that he couldn't do now that he knew how to recover from a mental suggestion. He recovered fairly quickly, but possibly not to his Master's liking.

Indeed, Jesse's suspicions were correct. Deshoonde shook his head in disapproval and sighed. We got a lot of work to do it seems... He unfolded his hands, "well, now that was an interesting experiment now wasn't it? Now... Here's what you will do. You already know of the force techniques Block and Reflect yes?"

"Yes, I know how to use them." Jesse nodded.

"Then this shall be simple for you. The Malkir have created a special way which applies those two moves. They combined them to become a mind-blocking AND controlling technique. Very powerful when applied in the right manner. THe idea is to not only block your enemies attempt at entering your mind, but to control theirs as well. For the true masters, there are some... Other principles applied but that's a lesson for another time." Deshoonde rubbed his chin in deep thought, thinking of how to proceed on getting Jesse to master this technique. "We shall spend the next few days on this matter, excursive after exercise until I feel that you've done adequately. However there is another matter we need to focus on as well..." Deshoonde reached into his pocket and placed a quarter on the ground. "Show me what you can do with your powers."

Immediately, the quarter rocketed outward towards the Master at high speeds. Deshoonde would sense, however, that he was using the Force.

Kal'Shazzar immediately knew when the boy's vision ended by the pitiful whimper and muscle spasms, to say nothing of the synaptic pattern shift. Turning away, he gave a casual glance to Meiji.

"Bring food for the boy as well. He seems to recover a slight bit more quickly, but one can never tell after only two doses. If he injures himself, inform the infirmary, I will be there for the next several hours."

Without waiting for a response, he marched off down the corridor, again ignoring the quiet pleading and outstretched arms of other dream weaver addicts. They wanted another dose, but they were on a schedule. It was a pity that the nature of the drug required such controlled exposure, but if too much was given at a time, the drug turned from high-strength hallucinogen to one of the most potent neurotoxins in the universe. As it stood, he was afraid that some major damage had been done to the elf boy. Each dose had to be tailored to the individual lest an overdose occur. Generally, an equation utilizing body mass and metabolic rate was simple enough, but the strange spirit-thing that rode the elf's mind like a backseat passenger had introduced an unknown element.

If the elf didn't eat, emergency actions would be necessary. The possibility of autonomic nerve damage would be a significant setback. Not uncommon, not irreparable, but DAMN that shit was hard to fix. Being the best brain-surgeon the Godulans ever had didn't matter... fiddling with the cerebellum was just a tedious and nerve-racking process...

Kal'Shazzar smiled momentarily at the inadvertent pun. Brain surgery. Nerve racking. Hardy-har-har.

Speaking of brain surgery though...

The infirmary was not crowded at this time of the day. Save for that damned cat.

"You set the room up for them?"

"Why in the FUCK did you turn one of my operating rooms into an auditorium?"

"I'll take that as a yes, and you'll see why if you come in and watch. Even your twisted mind might be unsettled though. Keyword: 'Might'."

"Screw you, bastard. I'm just gonna sit out here and call you names behind your back."

"You make that sound like you're doing something different."

If the flying cat could have flipped him off, Kal'Shazzar had no doubt that he would have. The Godulan entered the operating room and shut the door behind him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The forty subjects were placed before him in uncomfortable chairs, though they did not seem to mind the uncomfortable part as for all they knew they had simply been taken off of mining duty for a while. When Kal'Shazzar came in, their eyes and expressions grew hopeful. Would they get an early dose? Was their schedule about to be revised? What was in that case? They whispered enthusiastically amongst themselves. Amazing how animated they got when the one responsible for what they considered their survival entered the room.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have requested your presence here today as part of an experiment I wish to conduct."

The whispering grew more enthusiastic.

"It will have nothing to do with the dream weaver at all."

The whispering stopped. One of the subjects actually began to cry in despair. A bit of a let-down, apparently.

"This MIGHT be better. This MIGHT have the capacity to introduce the happy-happy feelings without actually eliminating your mobility. We shall see. Unfortunately, it requires me to conduct an operation on all of you first, and I cannot afford to sedate you, as the nerve connections must be properly tested in order to establish the correct synaptic signal. If that makes any sense to you, you might already understand what I'm going to say at the end."

He opened his briefcase and a large number of strange metallic spiders crawled out, all built like miniature plugs with strange prehensile wires for legs. They immediately made their way to the forty people.

"With forty of you, doing such an operation one at a time would be prohibitively time-consuming. So these little things are going to do it for me. They will implant themselves into the base of your skull and connect with your brain in four critical spots. Do not attempt to remove these implants afterwards as you will suffer severe brain damage by doing so. After a certain amount of time they will disengage automatically and return to the case.

"You have been provided with bits of leather. You will put them into your respective mouths now and bite down on them. I would inform you that these implantations might sting a little, but I will not. As with any un-anesthetized foray through the spinal column... there will be no words to describe the pain."

Yet another time I find myself not regretting one bit having left my humanity behind.

The spiders went to work.

Not even the sound-proofed walls could contain the screaming.

Somewhere, several kilometers distant, an Imperial Guard turned to another and spoke sagely. "Those are the sounds of men and women experiencing the ultimate pain... oh, and go fish."

Daniel rolled over, groaning quietly. He was hungry but couldn't bare the thought of food.

You need to eat, Gabriel, the voice told him.

He knew that, but looking over at the food, it wasn't so appetising. His strength was sapped and slowly he crawled over to the tray, taking the bread. It made him feel a little sick as he leaned against the wall and broke off a piece of bread.

Go on, Ddauchlorsson said. You need it to avoid them doing stuff, other stuff to you.


Daniel groaned and placed the piece of bread in his mouth. Nasty, yet tasteless. He didn't seem to be able to taste anything right now, maybe that was a blessing as he chewed before swallowing.

Kal'Shazzar immediately knew when the boy's vision ended by the pitiful whimper and muscle spasms, to say nothing of the synaptic pattern shift. Turning away, he gave a casual glance to Meiji.

"Bring food for the boy as well. He seems to recover a slight bit more quickly, but one can never tell after only two doses. If he injures himself, inform the infirmary, I will be there for the next several hours."
Meiji nodded and went to bring some food to Travis. She felt a small amount of pity for the Masaki Kōtaishi, the heir apparent, but pushed it down as she brought the food to him. She sighed. "I hope you still have those guts of yours, kid."

Travis simply whimpered and spasms covered his body.

Meiji took one last look at Travis and moved on to the next patient.

Without waiting for a response, he marched off down the corridor, again ignoring the quiet pleading and outstretched arms of other dream weaver addicts. They wanted another dose, but they were on a schedule. It was a pity that the nature of the drug required such controlled exposure, but if too much was given at a time, the drug turned from high-strength hallucinogen to one of the most potent neurotoxins in the universe. As it stood, he was afraid that some major damage had been done to the elf boy. Each dose had to be tailored to the individual lest an overdose occur. Generally, an equation utilizing body mass and metabolic rate was simple enough, but the strange spirit-thing that rode the elf's mind like a backseat passenger had introduced an unknown element.

If the elf didn't eat, emergency actions would be necessary. The possibility of autonomic nerve damage would be a significant setback. Not uncommon, not irreparable, but DAMN that shit was hard to fix. Being the best brain-surgeon the Godulans ever had didn't matter... fiddling with the cerebellum was just a tedious and nerve-racking process...

Kal'Shazzar smiled momentarily at the inadvertent pun. Brain surgery. Nerve racking. Hardy-har-har.

Speaking of brain surgery though...

The infirmary was not crowded at this time of the day. Save for that damned cat.

"You set the room up for them?"

"Why in the FUCK did you turn one of my operating rooms into an auditorium?"

"I'll take that as a yes, and you'll see why if you come in and watch. Even your twisted mind might be unsettled though. Keyword: 'Might'."

"Screw you, bastard. I'm just gonna sit out here and call you names behind your back."

"You make that sound like you're doing something different."

If the flying cat could have flipped him off, Kal'Shazzar had no doubt that he would have. The Godulan entered the operating room and shut the door behind him.
The cat did manage to use is tail to 'flip off' Kal'Shazzar as he muttered obscenities involving the Godulan researcher and his private areas as he sauntered off towards the auditorium to watch the proceedings. He took pride in having a special neural-linked repulsarlift belt strapped to his neck, allowing him to take flight and eat birds on the wing, so to speak.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The forty subjects were placed before him in uncomfortable chairs, though they did not seem to mind the uncomfortable part as for all they knew they had simply been taken off of mining duty for a while. When Kal'Shazzar came in, their eyes and expressions grew hopeful. Would they get an early dose? Was their schedule about to be revised? What was in that case? They whispered enthusiastically amongst themselves. Amazing how animated they got when the one responsible for what they considered their survival entered the room.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have requested your presence here today as part of an experiment I wish to conduct."

The whispering grew more enthusiastic.

"It will have nothing to do with the dream weaver at all."

The whispering stopped. One of the subjects actually began to cry in despair. A bit of a let-down, apparently.

"This MIGHT be better. This MIGHT have the capacity to introduce the happy-happy feelings without actually eliminating your mobility. We shall see. Unfortunately, it requires me to conduct an operation on all of you first, and I cannot afford to sedate you, as the nerve connections must be properly tested in order to establish the correct synaptic signal. If that makes any sense to you, you might already understand what I'm going to say at the end."

He opened his briefcase and a large number of strange metallic spiders crawled out, all built like miniature plugs with strange prehensile wires for legs. They immediately made their way to the forty people.

"With forty of you, doing such an operation one at a time would be prohibitively time-consuming. So these little things are going to do it for me. They will implant themselves into the base of your skull and connect with your brain in four critical spots. Do not attempt to remove these implants afterwards as you will suffer severe brain damage by doing so. After a certain amount of time they will disengage automatically and return to the case.

"You have been provided with bits of leather. You will put them into your respective mouths now and bite down on them. I would inform you that these implantations might sting a little, but I will not. As with any un-anesthetized foray through the spinal column... there will be no words to describe the pain."

Yet another time I find myself not regretting one bit having left my humanity behind.

The spiders went to work.

Not even the sound-proofed walls could contain the screaming.

Somewhere, several kilometers distant, an Imperial Guard turned to another and spoke sagely. "Those are the sounds of men and women experiencing the ultimate pain... oh, and go fish."
Young Kieran had never experienced the sheer excruciating pain that the spider induced into his spinal column. It seemed as if the mechanical horror took special pleasure in piercing his vertebrae and listening to his shriek of pain, although it may just be the vivid imagination of the ten-year-old boy. Even Ellis cringed at the howls of the pain, as jaded as he was to human causes. "Poor bastards. I get this kind of thing every day from Meji and yet...naaah. What am I saying? I'm enjoying this shit!"

A sadistic grin from a cat like Ellis was a scary sight indeed.

Immediately, the quarter rocketed outward towards the Master at high speeds. Deshoonde would sense, however, that he was using the Force.

Deshoonde lets out a heavy sigh and shakes his head with embarrassment. "That... Was... Quite... Pathetic." The Malkir's eyes narrowed, glaring at Jesse, "have you no pride in yourself? Your potential is so much greater than that... 'Attempt.' If you can even call it an attempt... And by judging from your current stance you don't seem to care for your particular gift. There are many, both Light Side and Dark Side users, who would give anything for this power. Your potential is unlimited, almost as vast as Anikan Skywalker's was... It would seem to me that there is only one method to prove your potential worth..."

::Shamman, I request your presence here.::

As soon as the Master sent his reply, a column of blood red and orange flames appeared. The Kirtir Knight of Fire appeared, smoke erupting from his nose, eyes blazing.

"What is it you request of me Deshoonde?"

"It would seem that my apprentice needs some discipline. Normally it would be my job to administer it, but... Since flame has the potential to melt metal, I thought your powers would prove to be more worthy."

Shamman's mouth widened with a wicked grin, and his burnt yellow teeth showed. "It would be my honor Lord." Shamman retrieved his two lightsabers, and twin blades erupted. However, what Deshoonde didn't realize was that each blade erupted flames as well as the usual blade. Apparently, the Knight has been studdying the ancient Kirtir Holocrons on Lightsaber Enchantments the Empire kept in their databases.

Deshoonde used the Force to get the quarter, and then placed it in front of Jesse. "Now, lets see how we do this time, hmm?" Maybe this is going to be harder than I expected... With Jesse's recent preformance, the Malkir feared that the young boy won't last long.

Jesse was annoyed by his Master's latest attempt at forcing his powers out, but he knew that he had no choice but to fight back or die. Still, old habits die hard. Being seen as weak has allowed him to maneuver through the corridors of the Empire with relative impunity. But now, with his mother having hooked him up with Deshoonde, it would be impossible to feign weakness much longer.

Especially now that Shamman appears to have grown stronger and acquired a taste for fire.

"If this is what you wish..." Jesse said softly, taking his lightsaber off his belt and concentrated. "Then I shall oblige."

Suddenly, the metal floor rumbled and transformed into spikes, all arcing for Shamman.

Shamman grinned, he knew that Jesse was fighting way beyond his level. Shamman thrust his arms into the air, lightsabers pointing upwards, and a sphere of fire erupted from the blades, producing a heat blast hot enough to melt most metals. Shamman then attempted to use the force to extend the flaming sphere, attempting to melt the arching spikes which were charging towards him. In Shamman's mind, he was dealing with a weak little boy who didn't wanna learn how to use his powers properly. Just the kinda thing he shouldn't be thinking...

A flick of Jesse's wrist and the molten metal pulled back and broke into tiny, white-hot pieces of molten slag that shot at Shamman at incredibly high speeds. This was followed by a large metallic panel came crashing down on on the Fire Warrior.

Though the screaming was particularly loud and anguished, Kal'Shazzar simply looked on stone-faced, ensuring that none of the subjects collapsed from the pain. He had turned off his sound-reception before the Spiders began their work, and even now imagined himself at the head of a great orchestra, playing through one of the most complicated and 'artistic' Godulan instrumentals. Always experimenting, a particularly enterprising Godulan had taken it upon himself to see if one could create musical pieces that left the listener with no doubt whatsoever as to what was being 'portrayed' without knowing the title beforehand. More than an hour long, it would provide sufficient distraction for the duration of the operation.

'Resolve' was the song he found himself turning to more and more, if only because it helped him in times such as this.

He didn't stop as the screaming died down and the Spiders finished their grisly work. He wanted to hear the entire song before he came 'back to reality', so to speak. When the thunderous conclusion passed into nothing, Kal'Shazzar finally snapped back into action, surveying the gasping and frightened people. He had no doubt that if they'd had but an ounce of energy, they would have been bawling like wounded children.

Turning to Ellis, he spoke: "The adrenaline and other chemicals going through their body will disrupt initial testing, so I will not begin immediately. See that they are fed. And wipe that stupid grin off of your face you sadistic fur-bat."

Kal'Shazzar left the room and made his way back to Daniel and Travis. He noticed that the elf had finally started to move, and that the bread was gone.

"Report," he said to Meiji.

"The elf appears to be recovering well. Apparently, he's not as strong as Masaki, but still stronger than the other prisoners. As for the Masaki boy, he appears to be of considerable willpower and inner strength." Meiji said, eyeing Travis, who in a fit of defiance, ate the prison food. "My estimation is that the blue elf will break before the Masaki boy will. Oh, and there's something about the elf that I notice while scanning him, almost as if there was something within him."

=====

Ellis grumbled as he played caterer to the the mass of flesh that were the prisoners, giving them nutrient supplements since they are currently unable to feed themselves. The next patient was a ten-year-old kid who tended to hang around the prison. Ellis didn't think much of the gasping kid as he poked him with the supplement and moved on.

A flick of Jesse's wrist and the molten metal pulled back and broke into tiny, white-hot pieces of molten slag that shot at Shamman at incredibly high speeds. This was followed by a large metallic panel came crashing down on on the Fire Warrior.

Shamman knew at this point that trying to block the molten slag was a bit pointless, since he definitely wasn't strong enough to provide the needed shield. Shamman erupted in flames, his body fully encased and he and created an illusion to appear that he was still there engulfed with flames when he really disappeared behind Jesse, and rose his lightsabers to strike at his back. If Jesse learned anything about mind reading from Deshoonde, he should realize that something was missing from the flaming figure which was facing him...