The Dark Academy on Korriban

They were finally back at the academy, so it was time to get some answers as she sought out the administration building. That was, after all, where they were likely to keep the ensign. Some directions later, and Layne found herself in the area they kept people behind bars at.

"I'm here to see Ensign Veers. In private. No recording devices, so shut those off for me."

Her tone made it clear she wasn't asking.

Coercion/Willpower: 2eA+1eP+2eD 1 success, 1 Triumph

There were energy bars up to keep her locked in but she had a plate of food and looked quite well. The guards do as told and she looks up and smiles, “These accommodations are rather minimal but serviceable for now.”

“I didn’t expect guests.”

She made sure the guards did indeed do as they were told before taking a stool and sitting down right outside the bars.

"So," she said, ignoring the small talk. "Who are you really? Or are you really going to keep pretending you're just an ensign?"

“That seems an interesting question,” she says calmly.

“You suspect I am not Ensign Veers? Why?”

Tsk

She'd have preferred it if Veers just came right out and stopped beating around the bush.

"Because, as these bars demonstrate, common soldiers aren't supposed to have force powers. And you wouldn't have been able to hide them if you were stupid enough to show them to me in public. And finally, because you obviously know where I got my lightsaber."

Veers laughs and says, “How can I forget the lightsaber of Lord Oshin, I was there when he built it from a crystal my sister and I found. In hindsight I should have killed her but I suppose those are the mistakes of misspent youth.”

“And then you die and much of that should not matter but… old habits die hard. So you must have found his tomb, claimed the lightsaber which says to me you either incredibly lucky or Lord Oshin has a vested interest in this matter.”

“I manipulated a few fools and here I am in the lesser vessel but it suits my needs,” her voice is the sme but the accent shifts.

“I won’t be in here long. If anything I suspect we are long lost kin. Welcome home Layne, we missed you.”

That was quite a lot to take in.

"You're the one that was inside Torsin," she said after a few moments of confused silence. "Your sister..."

Could it be?

"...Hania? No, you said you were first among the slave-wives... unless you weren't his."

“Yes I was trapped inside that lady-man,” she says with a sneer.

“Are the pieces coming together?”

"Why don't you lay them out for me, just in case."

“Why would I do that, what incentive do I have to make this easy for you?” she says in her superior tone.

"Because I'm your kin," she said. "And because you're stuck in there with nothing better to do."

She leaned back as best as the stool allowed.

"And because maybe you'd like to get some revenge against the people who put you in there."

“I see you have the heart of a tuk’ata under all that soft pink pale skin. Truth be told this is all part of my plan I would not have put myself in here if I had not already charmed the right people. These people do far too much for five minutes of pleasure,” she says with a shrug.

“Soft and weak.”

“Fine, what do you want to know?” she asks leaning back against the wall.

"Let's go with the basics first. Who exactly are you, and whats your relation to Lord Oshin."

“Magara-sha, I was a slave-wife and before that a tribal Queen… and I was Queen again when Ajunta Pall was defeated. My sister took another path and we shared Lord Oshin’s bed for a time but life happens and he died. I shed no tears for the star people that came and tried to make slaves of my people. In fact I made many of them bleed and look with shock as I split their skulls. They considered us savages but we made them bleed for every inch of Korriban they tried to seize,” she says warmly.

“Not sure who these Sith claim to be, but they are not my Sith.”

"This is the way I understand it. Lord Oshin and Ajunta Pall were Jedi. Followers of the light side of the Force. But they came to understand its weakness and broke with the Jedi. Then they and others who followed them, came here and conquered your world. They made an empire across the stars. Over time, Sith just came to refer to any user of the Dark side of the Force who works for the empire."

“Well I see nothing of value in this Empire but slavish devotion to this Sith religion and a distant Emperor. Is this what you wish to be? Like them?” she asks pointedly.

"I don't care about their religion or their emperor. They mean nothing to me except as a path to power and my own freedom. I could run, but they'd hunt me down. No matter how strong I may be or may become, I'd get caught and killed eventually; the empire is simply too far reaching. My only alternative would be to join the Jedi. But somehow I don't think they'd be very accepting of someone like me."

She leaned in a little.

"That good enough for you?"

“I can accept that,” she says with a nod.

“So why are you here, why do you care if I am or am not this Ensign Veers? Looking for answers? Understanding? A shoulder to cry on?”

"Well, at first I thought you were a spy, or something like that. I wanted to make sure you weren't a threat. But now, now I'm thinking you could help me settle a few scores."

“Your scores don’t interest me,” she says calmly.

"They should," she returned. "They're your scores as well. Besides, you're already dead. You've been dead for a very long time. Being in the world again like you are now is only temporary, you must realize this. Why not enjoy yourself with a little mayhem while you're here, and help out your kin in the process? We both win."

“Only until this body starts to decay and degrade… you might be surprised how long I can live,” she laughs wickedly.

“Fine say I am somewhat intrigued, where do we begin?”

"First, let's get the issue of the lady-man out of the way. Did you find out anything while you were in there? Something I could potentially use against him?"

“I learned quite a bit, why is he of interest of to you?” she says.

"Because he is a possible threat to me and my ticket out of here. And because he's an asshole I'd very much like to show his place. What did you learn?"