How To Be Eaten by A Woman... (Closed)

[Dutch]

Jessoin sat in the hold of the shuttle as it lazily glided through the airs of Korriban. He was bent forward with his elbows rested on his knees, and his long fingers intertwined. Those so vivid green eyes of his looked into the deep midnight blue of Mephesa, who sat across from him. Despite her slightly gaunt features, the Umbaran woman truly was a site to behold. Long flowing locks of pure white hair, fair skin, and a nearly perfect hourglass figure. How many nights over the years had he been lost in her elegance, her perfume, her embrace. Not merely a teacher, as she was barely older than he was, but mainly as a partner, one he embraced fully. She gave him a look he so desired constantly. One of want, one of excitement, one that promised him humid evenings and torrid nights. It really was remarkable how under this woman's spell Jess had become.

For weeks the two had jumped freighter to freighter, sometimes buying a charter, sometimes stowing away, and even hijacking one. Anything to get to this location, anything for them to reach the apex of their learning. Anything to reach the Sith. It was Mephesa's desire to reach them, and Jessoin's to help complete whatever it was she wanted. As he was lost in thought one of her soft, pale hands folded itself into both of his, her touch cool and soothing to the fires of anxiety that coursed through Jess' veins. His eyes went to hers, and she grinned knowingly at him.

"Hush, my sweet J, you don't have to worry. We made it. We're home..."

He smiled sheepishly at the woman. She knew him so well. Better than Jessoin even knew. Umbaran's were already renowned telepaths, and for one to be in tune with the Force only made them more potent. Jess chalked her words up to her knowing him well. He was wrong. Like his Jedi Master before her, Mephesa saw right through Jessoin's fragile psyche into his past, and instantly realized what a useful tool the Zelosian would make. In more than one way...

"I know M, I'm sorry. This is just a big step. You know I was raised among Jedi. This planet was taboo for us... and to be so close to stepping onto its arid soil..."

Jess let his words trail off as a ping sounded in the hold. They were about to land. He straightened himself out and picked a few fuzzes off his clothing. Normally, Jess wore smart-street casual clothing around Nar Shadaa, but Mephesa wanted them to make a good first impression, so after killing two more Sith hopefuls that were on the same charter as them, they had acquired a matching set of black Jedi-style robes. Mephesa said he had been so handsome in them, that she just couldn't resist him. They had made love on the ship mere minutes later. Little did either know, but that would be their last night together...

Before he knew it, the shuttle disengaged its thrusters, and landed with a soft thud. It was odd, instead of the shuttle joining the others that landed in the main bays of Korriban, this one had been instructed to follow a different course. To someone's personal landing pad. Anxiety had pinged into Jess at the first word of this, but Mephesa told him it was because they were VIP's to the Sith. They were to be elevated differently...

With a hiss the side panel to the shuttle opened, and the hot, dry airs of Korriban flooded into the shuttle. Mephesa almost seemed to cringe at the brightness, and unfurled a sun-umbrella. The very same that held her lightsaber hidden in its handle. Most learned people in the Galaxy realized that Umbaran's naturally lived in twilight, and too much sun exposure was damaging to their skin and eyes, thus, it wasn't uncommon for female to carry these shade givers. Jessoin on the other hand, relished as the hot sun hit his skin. The heat itself was mildly unpleasant, but the nourishing rays... simply divine.

The two began to stride away from the shuttle, which instantly shut its hatch door and lifted off. Apparently they had no desire to stay. Jessoin had a feeling they were being watched, and by Mephesa's body language, she felt the same. Like beasts studying fresh meat, or a lover assessing a potential partner... they were being judged. But which was Mephesa and Jessoin? A next meal, or a new relationship?

Only one woman knew...

[Meira]

Though running the temple was often tedious work, it did have its perks. Among them, were the vast stores of information Renata was slowly compiling on all those who'd flocked to the Sith's banners. Any fool worth his salt knew that knowledge was power. And Renata had so much of it at her fingertips now, thanks to her growing network of eyes and ears.

The Jedi had their watchmen, and Renata had her own version. But these little bees worked more covertly than the Jedi, and brought her back more than just the recruits. Through them, she accepted pleas to join and gathered information on those requesting. Because of them, she knew many details about recruits before they ever set foot on Korriban's surface. It was just so with the two nearing the planet today.

To say that she was intrigued by the pair would be something of an understatement. The male's history with the Jedi, and the manner in which he left had caused an amused smile to cross Renata's features. Lust was useful, after all. The female had known this, and taken advantage of it. And while Renata knew the temptation of wanting to control another so completely, she also knew what it was to be controlled. Her deepest interest here, was the mettle of this Jession. Would he be worth trying to set free? Or was he simply destined to be the tool and plaything of another his entire life?

She stood, looking through a window in the building next to the landing pad. This pad was used for more private arrivals and departures from the temple. Depending on what Renata would discover today, a bit of privacy would be important. As the ship made its descent to the pad, Renata let her senses coil out from her like wisps of smoke. Soon, she could feel them both through the force. She did not try to pry, there would be time for that yet, but she could tell that these two were indeed a good find for the Order.

The door opened and Renata moved along the pathway, followed by two armed and armored guards, to where the ship was settling onto its landing struts. Her dress, a deep plumb colored frock of silk, caught in the wind, along with her hair. The sun, who's rays had brought more freckles to the woman's shoulders, was just above her head behind her as she approached and saw the two descend the ramp of the ship. A few moments later, Renata was before them on the platform.

"I am pleased to see that you have found us, Mephesa." Renata said, stepping closer. The two would not know Renata of course, at least not by name. She had ensured her general anonymity toward the galaxy at large. With their increased exposure in the war, her face was becoming more widely known, but Renata kept as much to herself as possible. Stepping around the woman, Renata approached Jession. He was a good deal taller than her, but as Renata looked up and into his eyes, she could sense immediately how easily this man could bend to the will of another.

Feeling Methesa's eyes on her, Renata circled around Jession, keeping her form close to his. "And you must be Jession. Tell me, why have you come here?" Renata could feel Mephesa begin to speak, but as the woman opened her mouth, Renata's ice blue eyes turned to her with a sharp look. The tiniest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her thin lips as the woman reluctantly held her tongue. Renata then turned her gaze back to Jession. "Well?"

[Dutch]

Divinity.

The only word that Jessoin could think of as the trio approached himself and Mephesa, was divinity. The sun of Korriban made her skin and hair seem to glow... but it wasn't just that. Her presence in the Force made his skin prickle. His eyes moved up and down her body quickly. In good shape, and carried herself with a confidence that Jessoin had never before seen. Not to this level. Sure, Netta and Mephesa both moved with cat-like grace... but this woman, this small woman, moved with more than grace. She moved as if she owned the planet, owned its people... and owned him.

His eyes moved to the two armed guards, but realized by the way they stood, that they were for show. This greeter didn't need bodyguards. He could tell just by the weight in the Force around her, that she could easily slay both guards with but a thought. He felt a cold sensation in his stomach and chest. He wanted that. More than anything. To own a person with just a look. Yes, Jessoin was a talented fighter, as well as quite skilled in manipulating the Force. But this woman he could tell didn't manipulate it, she controlled it.

She spoke, and his posture stiffened. His eyes moved to Mephesa's which leered at him. This was a new look. It wasn't the same soft want, or prideful gaze, this was... almost predatory.

"I am pleased to have arrived as well..."

Mephesa said as her dark blue eyes moved back and forth between Jess and the greeter. To his surprise, this other woman moved right around Mephesa and moved right up to him. Her eyes locked with his bright, near glowing green ones, and despite himself, his knees trembled slightly. Much shorter than him, her eyes gazed into his... but so much more than that. Jessoin felt that she already knew everything about him. There was a brief glimpse in her eyes. Was it curiosity? Desire? Pity? Something made his pulse quicken at her expression, and his eyes moved to Mephesa in near panic as the woman began to circle him.

The woman spoke to him, and he was about to answer when Mephesa shot him a look that instantly silenced him. He lowered his gaze to not meet his lover's.

"He is merely-"

Mephesa started but stopped. Jess looked back up to see the woman flush ever so slightly. Never before had he seen the Umbaran flush, let alone be silenced by a mere look. His eyes met the greeter's as she looked into him. Not merely with her eyes, he could feel soft whispers in the back of his mind. The Force, but not just the Force... even though the woman wasn't projecting her will or anything into him... it was if her mere presence was affecting him.

He shook his head slightly to try and dislodge the effect, but it didn't work. His mind buzzed and he tried to look to Mephesa for guidance. He received none. What did he want? The reason for their arriving to Korriban was to be inducted into the Sith, to be somewhere they could flourish... but something told him that there was something more to all of this. The Zelosian man never took his eyes off the greeter.

Why had he come here?

His mind went to his past. Sweaty nights with Netta and the blossoming of his learning about the Force. Her betrayal.... her leaving him for some mortal thug... his time with Mephesa, further learning and growing... to her entertainment of his slaying of Netta... her entertainment... not pleasure at him sealing a long open wound... but pleasure at the emotions that rocked Jessoin. His love for Netta, his hate for Netta, the feeling of the Force as he channeled it to snuff his first lover into dust.

Why had he come to Korriban?

Jessoin looked around at the ancient structures, the hot sun beaming down on them, and felt the energies of the Force as it seeped from every single pore on Korriban... a soft, velvety whisper that promised so much... but like anything in life, nothing was gained without losing something. And he wanted to gain. He wanted more. More power. More strength. More knowledge. More people to adore him. More. More. More. He couldn't help but laugh slightly in discomfort. Never before had anyone ever asked him why he did something, not like this.

Why?

He finally turned his gaze to the greeter. This woman held something he wanted. Something he needed. Something he would get. A shadow of an expression flashed over his face. Sheer, unadulterated greed. Pure want. Despite himself, his lips parted into a rather unpleasant grin. His teeth shown in the sun as he lowered his head slightly and looked the greeter right in the eyes. He uttered a single phrase.

"More... I came here, to become more..."

[Meira]

The man was quite literally an open book. As his mistress flushed, he didn't seem to know what to do. Then came the memories as he thought over her question. Renata didn't even have to try, they came flooding out of the man as if a pressure valve had been released. They began with his Jedi master. She could see the Zeltron woman, as if through Jession's eyes. She could feel the lust even after so many years, and so much pain. His thoughts of her betrayal and her death were exquisitly painful. Renata could understand why Mephesa had enjoyed dipping into those.

Then there were his years under the Umbaran. It was almost laughable how the man thought he'd grown, that he'd learned. He'd been trained, nothing more. Was his understanding of the force still so childlike? Even as his mind raced through his years of experience, there Was the confusion, the uncertainty. This is what Renata disdained. It was one thing to use a being as a tool when it was obvious that was all they could ever become. A dog could never rival the intelligence of a man. They were meant for simple tasks and simple lives. But to chain one such as Jession, it almost made Renata sick. Like many, he had the potential to be so much...

"More..." he said. Renata's lips curled into a smile to match his. Yes. She thought. More. but there was a problem with this.

Renata turned then to Mephesa, as if Jession suddenly never existed. She ducked her head under the Umbaran's parasail and brought her lips within millimeters of the woman's ear. "My, my, Mephesa." she said in a whisper loud enough for Jession to hear. "Did you hear that? Your beast wants more."

Renata ducked back out from under the parasail and stood between the two, still facing the woman. Her smile, brought on by Jession's flood of emotional confusion and riled further by Mephesa's obvious ire spread almost impossibly wide against the sharp features of her face. "I'm puzzled to find that you have failed him. I wonder what it is in you that he finds so... Lacking." she turned back to Jession and seemed to study him deeply. As she did, she pushed into his mind with the force. It really was to easy.

"I don't think he is disappointed with your physical assets, so don't worry yourself overly much on that, dear." she said, almost absentmindedly, as she all but browsed through their nights spent entwined together. "And I do think the admires your leadership qualities." she chuckled. "No, he is not disappointed in what you've given him."

Renata pulled away from his mind then and walked back around Mephesa. She stood now, her thin frame against the woman's back and her head over her right shoulder. Again, she spoke with her lips brushing against Mephesa's ear.

"Look at him." she instructed. "None can deny that the training you've given him is superb. But what I'm more interested in, is what you've decided to withhold." she stressed the last word for Jession's benefit. "Tell him why." These words were spoken for Mephesa, but Renata's eyes were locked on Jession's. She wanted to see his face when he learned the truth about his "lover".

[Dutch]

Jessoin blinked in surprise as the greeter suddenly turned from him after returning his expression with a like one. His smile faded and he took a single step forward, almost unconsciously. Those ever vivid green eyes of his blinked a couple times again as the greeter moved close to Mephesa and spoke. Normally, this would have had a much different reaction for Jessoin. Normally, his lightsaber or blaster would be at hand the moment someone moved that close to his mistress. This was different though. The greeter's actions weren't combative, and her words seeped into Jessoin like poison. Beast?

The word echoed into his mind as his eyes narrowed. What was going on? What did the greeter mean? He was just about to say something to the pair of women when the greeter turned. Anything that had been sent by Mephesa to Jess was instantly roared down as his eyes flew open. His mouth slightly slackened as he felt his mind flayed open like a ripe piece of fruit. The greeter simply moved through his memories, he could see and feel every single image, sensation, smell that she plucked from his mind. He had never felt anything like this in his entire life. To be lain completely bare in front of one person. It was one thing for two people to know their bodies intimately, but this woman did more than that. She raped his mind for anything she wanted, and he was all but helpless to stop it.

Her words to Mephesa were drowned out by the roaring torrent of the Force that encompassed his very being within it. His knees shook and Jessoin actually fell to one knee and gasped as the greeter removed herself from his mind. Jess panted and held one hand to the side of his head as it now felt strangely empty, strangely used up... and almost in some sadistic way, wanting more. He couldn't quite grasp it, and the whispers from the Force once more began to pick up, like rodents that were scared off by some apex predator, they slowly returned as the greeter left his mind.

Jessoin looked up from his crouched position as the greeter peered into his eyes from over Mephesa's shoulder. The Umbaran was now deeply flushed, and her eyes, those dark blues that had been apart of Jess' life for so long now, still looked at him with that predatory gaze. The greeter's words were clear, and Jessoin slowly rose to his full height and looked at the pair with uncertainty. Like two harpies appraising a potential meal, they gazed at him, and for the first time since he met Mephesa, he doubted her intentions. Until she responded to the greeter's comments.

The Umbaran moved her head to grace the greeter's lips a bit more, and a smile spread coyly to her lips. Her eyes never left his though, and Jessoin could only look from woman to woman as they both looked at him. Mephesa laughed softly, knowingly, and twirled her parasol slowly.

"I've not taught him a great many things, he is a good pet, my J. So willing to help a lady in distress. So willing to be the protector... he does anything I say... and he is my gift, to her grace, Lady Renata. A perfectly trained man, ready to do anything asked. Isn't that right, sweet J?

Mephesa said calmly, as if she had been just waiting to reveal her intentions with bringing him to Korriban. Not as a partner. Not as a friend. Not as a lover... but an item to be given or bartered. A shiny bauble for a Darth they had yet to even meet. Jessoin blinked twice as cold numbness gripped his heart and mind. Used? Once more, after all this time, he was merely someone's end-game tool? Ready to be discarded, ready to be replaced...

Jess shook his head and took a step backwards before turning his back on the two women, his breath short and raspy. His fists balled and his body trembled as the emotions of everything warped and washed through him. He could feel the Force begin to cyclone around him, its presence darkened, like heady clouds pulled from the very skies of Korriban. What did this mean for him now? What should he do? All he could think about, all he wanted was to snuff the life of something, anything, to feel the power of having total control over someone's existence... like Netta had to him. Like Mephesa did now.

Jessoin looked over his shoulder at the two women, his visage scrunched into the face of something not quite normal, his once vivid green eyes a deep amber color now, rimmed in red as tears began to fall onto his cheeks. Not tears of sadness though, tears of something else...

[Meira]

Had Renata not spent years using the minds of weaker beings as her playthings, she might not have had the self control to keep from diving back into the turmoil that was Jession's mind. The pain was dizzying, hypnotic. But she had a higher purpose in bringing it out than mere entertainment. Even higher than using it for her own personal gains. Well, maybe a bit for personal gain. In any case, Renata put her now well practiced self control to good use as she watched Jession react to Mephesa's words.

All was as expected. This Mephesa was typical of many women Renata had met recently. She had power, talent, but she lacked a critical quality that could make her great. Control. Oh she thought she had it, and certainly was sure she had it over Jession. But she was mistaken. Mephesa had only the illusion of control, and Renata show her just how fragile her hold truly was. Already, as Jession turned away from them, his loyalty was waning. Surely Mephesa could feel him slipping from her grasp. Renata could sense it clear as day. Just another nudge and he'd be free of her. Then, well, it would be entertaining to see what the two would do with each other then.

Renata stepped away from Mephesa again, circling around Jession so that she could look him in the eye once again. His displayed the tell-tale signs of rage, pain, and betrayal... Of the dark side. It seeped from him like waves of heat and Renata bit her lip at the feel of it.

"Yes." she practically sighed. "Let it consume you. You see the truth laid bare now. Here is your fate. What will you do now? Is this what you want, Jession? To be used like some dog? Is this what you define as more?"

She watched him, waiting for what he would do. This was his fate, she wasn't lying about that. But it was his fate now in his own hands. Would he recognize this? Would he take it for his own? Or would he buckle and tuck his tail between his legs? She had no use for such creatures, couldn't stand the sight of them. If that is all he would amount to, then he'd be worthless to her and to the Sith. Mephesa might stillbe salvageable, but she had many years of bad habits that would need breaking. She'd done Renata a service in bringing her one such as Jession. And if the man proved capable, Renata would have only one more use for the woman.

[Dutch]

Darkness fell.

In his mind, in his body, in his very being. For several moments, the Zelosian gave no reaction to anything around him. He turned his gaze away from the two women and clenched his fists tighter, as well as his jaw. Jess' eyes closed tightly and he brought his arms up slowly with elbows bent. A nearby storage crate suddenly crumpled into itself, obliterating whatever it held. His eyes opened slowly as he felt the greeter move towards him again, not just physically, but in the Force as well. As their eyes met, he exhaled slowly and audibly, his voice hoarse and the Force billowed off his form like great sheets of midnight silk.

His now amber eyes burrowed into the greeters. The fiery orbs dipped down to look at the curve of her lips as she bit them as his presence roiled into and around everything. His own lips moved on their own into a hateful sneer. Her voice was decadent, almost slack with intoxication at the sheer amount of the Force that howled through Jessoin, like some sort of malignant hurricane.

With a burst in the Force Jessoin stepped forward rapidly to stand directly in front of the greeter. His eyes tunneled deeply into hers and a low growl seemed to sound in the Force as Jessoin raised a hand to the side of the greeter's head, his lanky fingers locked in a claw like position. In his mind's eye he saw what his instincts desired. It was crystallized in his mind, and unable to hold back the image of those same fingers weaving into the greeter's hair and tugging her closer to him. In this image, his other hand would snap to her face and begin to claw at it, letting his fingers dig deep of her flesh and strip away her beauty.

The image lasted only a brief moment, just in time for a small moment of alacrity to ring into Jessoin. The Force. Destiny's vermin whispered harsher into his mind now and that ugly look of predatory desire slipped from Jess' face to one of cunning. His eyes narrowed and a sideways grin would play at his lips. Static electricity could be felt as it began to build up in the air around him. Purple lightning began to dance across his fingertips, arcing from one finger to another to dancing up and down that same raised arm.

"Silence. Quim."

Jessoin then whirled and screamed as he thrust the charged arm forward, the lightning crackled as it launched outwards. Mephesa was ready though, her blue lightsaber snapped on as she tossed aside the parasol to absorb the lightning. Jessoin laughed as his eyes widened and he pushed more of himself into the attack, the lightning arcing wildly now. It caught one of the guards and fried him within his armor, the acrid scent of charred flesh now mingled with the dusty air of Korriban. As did the cackling laughter of Jessoin.

[Meira]

She could feel his every fiber practically quake as he gave into his anger. This one was powerful indeed, but he still needed refining. How much of his power could he actually control himself? How much did he rely on others to do the controlling for him? These were lessons Renata was more than willing to teach. After all, they were close to her heart. She had to learn them the hard way. What better way to show one's benevolent rule than to help those who were struggling as she once struggled, as she still struggled.

Renata's words must have struck a chord with the man. He burst forward in a respectable display of his strength within the force. All that was missing was some apish chest pounding and he'd prove himself to be a right big man indeed. He came close to grabbing at her. It was to his benefit that he stopped. Still, he was an open book, and Renata could just see what he wished to do to her. This was his loyalty to Mephesa coming out in his rage. Renata could see the woman's smirk as she stood behind her pet. Her pride was sickly sweet in the force. Renata did not like the taste of it.

You think you have such a hold? Renata mused. Let's test that, shall we? It was no challenge at all. She would really have to do something about helping this man build up his defensive. He was no good to her if the first person with any hint of telepathic talent could drop him at the blink of an eye. It was such a simple thing to take the rage billowing off the man and put Mephesa's face to its cause within his mind. He took to it so easily, his previous thoughts of mutilation falling away.

When Renata felt the crackling of electric energy and saw the smirk appear on the man's face, she knew it'd worked... and so did Mephesa. Renata had only a moment to lock eyes with the woman before Jession turned, but when their eyes did meet, Mephesa's had lost that smugness. The look was replaced by indignant rage. The corners of Renata's thin lips turned up ever so slightly.

"You're playing with the big girls now, Mephesa." Renata said, just as Jession unleashed his force lightning attack.

Renata took a step back to watch the show. She was sure it'd be entertaining. If Jession could do this, he'd prove his worth and Renata would take him in, after teaching him some manners first, of course. If Mephesa won... well, Renata would deal with her if that time came.

When one of her guards fell, the other moved to attack Jession, but Renata stopped him with a raised hand. "No." she said, her voice soft but firm. "Take that one away. I can handle this." The guard obeyed and dragged the other off as Renata crossed her arms across her chest and turned her attention back to the warring lovers.

[Dutch]

His senses were dulled by the sheer amount of the Force Jessoin was calling upon. He was aware that he laughed, an unbridled howl of primeval joy as the lines of lightning emboldened and brightened. Jess hadn't even realized that Renata had turned his will away from her self. He had been moments away from attacking her, when his mind reeled back to the revelation by Mephesa mere seconds ago. That had been the catalyst that pushed Jess to turn on his Mephesa. A few seconds more of the lightning would arc from Jessoin before he lowered his arm and relented. She had long known how to repel his favorite opening attack.

Her lightsaber was held angled towards Jessoin, the blue from her blade washed her pale flesh in the glow. He pulled his lips back to sneer like a predator appraising his prey. His right hand would unclip his gilded and curved handled weapon. It snapped out with the iconic snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting and washed his exposed skin in its red glow. His boots clacked on the landing pad as he began to pace back and forth, his eyes burrowing into Mephesa's.

"W-what are you doing J? Don't let her control you!"

She hissed, her voice a poorly hidden attempt at concern. He had heard what she said, he had felt her in the Force, terrified and uncertain. Mephesa now knew she didn't control Jessoin anymore. With a mere look, the Zelosian had been redirected right back at Mephesa. Nothing worse than when the pet bites the hand that feeds it. Jess snarled at her words and snapped his pace to storm towards Mephesa.

"Be silent!"

Spat Jess as he suddenly leaped into the air as he lunged forward with his lightsaber, an acrobatic dodge and attack combo that she had taught him. The Umbaran woman cursed and dodged to avoid Jessoin's crimson blade. Her blue and his red would whir and dance around each other, both Makashi users using more dodges and parries than blocking. Only occasionally would the weapons spit and hiss in protest, the blades locking for a brief second. Jess didn't let up on the assault though, he would bob and weave and jab and thrust anywhere he saw an opening in Mephesa's defense. But she was an equal par duelist as him, if not a little better. Jessoin's only real edge at this moment, was his complete inability at that moment to control the Force that screamed through his form.

Like many lightsaber battles, they felt like they were longer to the actual combatants, to the observer, the blades would be sharp and harsh staccato of light and sound, with the dark robed forms of Mephesa and Jessoin dancing and whirling around each other. The Umbaran woman was obviously much more flexible, and more mobile when blending Ataru into her attacks, while Jessoin had much more reached, his own application of Ataru mainly used to dodge than offset an attack.

However, Mephesa did have one other advantage over Jessoin. Her best and most applicable one. Those midnight blue eyes of hers would leer at Jess as she sent a wave of telepathic energy into his mind, snapping it as her presence his his senses. In Jessoin's mind a bright flash deafened him and blinded him. He gasped hoarsely at the mental assault then screamed as Mephesa's lightsaber sliced across his chest. His robe seared open and he felt a cold line shoot across his chest. A Force push from Mephesa snapped his head back and forced Jess backwards and into the ground.

Jessoin rolled across the landing platform until he lay there, a green smear trail left from where he had landed. Zelosian's bled green, and the fall had split the skin on his forehead. Not a deadly wound, but one that would bleed quite a fair amount. Mephesa shot the greeter a look of leering confidence. Jessoin's assault had been just swatted aside with a quick application of the Force. Her bare feet ghosted across the platform towards Jessoin, her eyes never leaving the greeters. Jessoin had managed to crawl to his knees and sat back on his heels as he breathed shakily from the telepathic/telekinetic combo blast.

His hand reached up to touched the cleaved front of his robes. A long, green-tinted blackened line arced from his abdomen up and past his right shoulder. If he had been a mere inch closer, he would have been dead. Jessoin's shoulders rolled to let the tattered top of his robe fall, revealing his pale, green tinted skin. His once flawless skin was now marred by that single strike Mephesa had lain down upon him. Jessoin's eyes flickered back and forth between the greeter and the approaching Mephesa, both their expressions ones he was none to happy to see.

It was then he realized his lightsaber had been knocked away from the blast. It lay gleaming in the Korriban sun some thirty feet from him. He was about to pull it to him with the Force when another telepathic blast rocked his mind. Jessoin cradled his screaming skull within his hands, his amber eyes bulging out of his sockets. It was a sensation that he was familiar with, one the Mephesa had used to invoke the emotions necessary for his powers. A slow crawl of pure malice began to simmer into his mind, as images and sensations crawled through his brain. Emotions and smells clouded his reality, and he knew what the next step would be.

Torture by Chagrin...

[Meira]

The sun beat down on the landing pad, it's fiery kiss gentle at first, but stinging with time. Renata pulled a hood over her head. It was made of a light, almost sheer material. It would protect against the sun, while still allowing what comfort Korriban's dry winds would provide through. Shaded from the rays, Renata's crystal blue eyes, flecked with gold, watched the standoff.

The tension between the two was as electric as the force lightning Jessoin had thrown as his lightsaber sprang to life. They circled and the woman spoke, but Jessoin cut her short and attacked. Between the two, it had already been obvious who had the advantage where strength was concerned. But in a lighstaber duel, strength could mean very little against a skilled opponent. It soon became obvious that Mephesa was just that.

The two funneled their rage into their deadly dance. Each step had to be precise, or the dance would be over. They displayed quite a bit of skill in the Makashi form. Renata herself cared little for any form other than her own preferred Niman, but she would not deny the beauty of the duelist's form. There was a certain poetry to the movements, and as they incorporated aspects of ataru, they also added drama.

Mephesa's mental attack ended their duel faster than Renata would have liked, but it was bound to happen sooner of later. As Jessoin was sent flying across the platform, Mephesa turned her gaze toward Renata, who met it with one that conveyed a sense of near boredom. The woman hadn't done anything particularly impressive. But what was to come would be of interest.

Jessoin's lover was now going to play the game to her own advantage, and to his weakness. If the man couldn't find a way to defend himself, or fight through her attacks, he'd be done for. Renata turned her eyes away from the woman and to Jessoin who now sat on his knees.

"I should have known you'd give up so easily." She said to him, her words a whisper in the force at the back of his mind. "After all, it is how she trained you. Look at you, weak. She swatted you aside as if you were nothing more than a fly. Is that what you are? If so, then you might as well present your throat and let her end your miserable life. She doesn't want you anymore, and if this is all you can offer, I don't want you either. You are worthless. Nothing."

[Dutch]

Oh Jess... you've gotten so good...

Netta crooned as her back relaxed from arching gracefully. Her body still quivered and shook gently as her muscles loosened from being tensed. The Zeltron's hands moved slowly down her toned abdomen to pull playfully at a lock of black hair. Jess peered up at her with his vivid green eyes and smiled sheepishly. He was still young, only sixteen at that time...

Jessoin gasped and fell onto his hands and screamed as the very shame of the memory began to cascade into his nervous system, causing every nerve to ignite at once, making his skin crawl and burn as if literal flames had just encased his form. Though the bright Korriban sun did beat down on him, every slight breeze was a momentary relief from the pain that only escalated more and more within his mind and body.

He could actually feel Mephesa's mind as it plowed through his memories, finding the exact ones she knew to look for, the ones that would cause the most agony. Her presence reeked of confidence, pride, and unbridled joy at his pain as it sung out into the Force, completely unhindered as it bellowed his struggle to the planet. It wasn't just a wail in the Force, the man himself howled something that didn't sound like anything any sentient being could make. His amber eyes bulged out of his skull as he twitched violently again, another memory coming to the surface.

Jessoin stood looking at himself in a mirror. His form completely nude and bare, except for a few blood sprays that had either hit him where his skin was uncovered, or from soaking through his clothes. He had just wiped out their entire compound, just Mephesa and himself had pulled the coup mere minutes ago, with the last member dying in a very unpleasant way. From behind him he saw the ghost of Mephesa peering from around the doorway that led to the bathroom from the bedroom they were in. Jess' eyes met hers in the mirror. She smiled at him and moved from around the corner, her form completely nude and shining from the shower she had just taken. Her body pressed against his as she hugged him from behind, her voice purring compliments and words of pride as she ran her hands across his abs and pectorals. His eyes looked away from hers in the mirror. It was still difficult for him to fathom that she would be turned on so much from what just happened, her hands though, had other ideas for him as he watched them drift lower in the mirror...

His body now lay writhing on the ground, his muscles twitched and clenched as his emotions wreaked havoc on his body, Jess' own shameful memories played with his nerves like the keys of a finely tuned instrument. Mephesa loomed over him, her eyes stared down at him with savage glee as her mind churned into his, occasionally her dark blues would turn to look at the now hooded greeter, as if seeking approval from the nameless spectator. But each time they turned back to Jessoin, the pain would increase exponentially the longer she bore into him.

Jessoin... you want me, don't you?

Jess looked up at his Master in surprise at her words. The Zeltron woman looked down at the thirteen year old Zelosian, now nearly her height since he hit a growth spurt. His bright green eyes stared in stunned shock as he felt his skin flush, giving him that odd off-green tint to his flesh. Netta smiled playfully at him, and while he didn't know it, she had begun to subtlety use her racial abilities to cloud his judgement. He blinked and looked away as she moved closer. They were in a room in a hotel on Corellia, having taken the room as a place to stake out a crime lord they had been assigned to watch.

He felt himself flush further as she untied her tunic, and let her robes begin to fall from her frame, revealing more and more red-tinted skin until they barely graced her body. Jessoin gasped in surprise as she moved right up to him, and grabbed one hand to rest upon her skin. She leaned in close, and whispered for him to finish undressing her right against his ear, her lips faintly brushing his skin...

That last one made Jessoin choke on his own screams and just laid there, mouth agape and eyes bulging as his whole body arched and held an awkward position. Mephesa giggled, in a morbidly girly way at his agony. One hand covered her mouth as she laughed while the other moved to rest onto Jessoin's forehead. She knelt down to look at him closer, her grip on him most powerful. Her eyes moved back to the greeter as Mephesa petted Jessoin, she tilted her head back to let her silken white hair cascade down her back.

"You see? A little push, and my J becomes so obedient..."

What Mephesa hadn't realized, was that the entire assault, the greeter had been speaking to him... her words scratched at the back of his mind, like some sort of archaic holo-player. It itched, if that made any sense, and he felt her stoking his inner desires. These women all thought they had a hold on him... they all thought he was a mere pawn... he'd show them. He'd already shown Netta. He was about to show Mephesa.

And then he would show the greeter. Slowly.

Jessoin's body suddenly lashed out right as Mephesa was starting to turn back to him. He used the Force to speed his movement as his hand flew out, backhanding Mephesa so rapidly and powerfully that the clap! it made echoed around the stone structures. Mephesa screamed and rolled away with the momentum of the blow as Jessoin began to rise to his feet. His body shook as he breathed heavily, his eyes locked onto Mephesa's dark blues as they stared at him fearfully. A trickle of dark blue blood ran down from her lips, where he had split both with the single slap.

He stared her down, the amber of his eyes now rimmed in deep, deep red, the dark side channeling deeper and deeper into his form. Jessoin raised his right hand and sent tendrils of the Force at her like a hundred serpents. The coils found Mephesa's arms and throat, and with a balled fist, he raised his arm to lift Mephesa clear off the ground. He inhaled then exhaled slowly, his eyes never leaving Mephesa's as they began to tear up.

"You underestimate my power..."

Jess hissed at the Umbaran as he began to stagger closer to her, his fist only tightened more and all Mephesa could do was wheeze and kick as she was held in place, the lack of oxygen disrupting her telepathic attacks. Jessoin then suddenly slammed his clenched fist downwards, to slam Mephesa face and chest first into the ground. The again. And again. And again. When he was done his left hand formed a claw as lightning began to dance from fingertip to fingertip. He pulled the charged energy more and more into his palm, until a faint glow would show within his fingers. Jessoin pulled his right first towards him to yank Mephesa into the air in his direction just as his left lanced outwards and a single, mighty bolt of lightning collided into Mephesa's chest, and she was tossed like a ragdoll to the other side of the platform from where the greeter stood.

The Zelosian then turned his crimson rimmed eyes to the greeter. He began to focus on her, once more pulling the Force into his body as lightning began to dance all around his form, arcs of it jumped from across his arms and into the ground. He began to cackle maniacally before he raised his arms to the heavens. Jessoin didn't realize what he was doing fully thought. As he turned his arms at the greeter, he unfurled his attack and sent two mighty bolts of lightning in her direction. His aim was thrown off though as he sensed Mephesa begin to get to her feet. He called his lightsaber to his now free hand, and stormed towards her as the blade ignited, ready to finish her off...

[Meira]

As Mephesa continued her mental assault, Renata watched on, peering her own mind into the scenes the other woman pulled painfully from Jessoin's past. His Jedi beginnings interested her, as did the manner in which he was led astray. Renata herself had spent some time on Zeltros before... before she'd found control. Much of her preferred ways of manipulating minds were inspired by the Zeltrons. It was far more fun to slowly draw one to fall in line than it was to force them, after all. This was one lesson Mephesa hadn't learned. And if Jessoin could find the will to resist her, it would be her downfall. One could beat a dog into submission, but sooner or later, that dog would bite back.

And bite back he did. Renata didn't bother to hide the pleasure she felt when Jessoin's hand connected against Mephesa's face and sent her flying. She watched intently as he used the force to choke and lift the woman, then slam her into the ground repeatedly. The woman was all but done for. Jessoin certainly seemed to think so.

She felt his rage shift, and her eyes were drawn away from the limp form of Mephesa to see Jessoin prepare to strike. Renata's hand moved to the longer of the two hilts hanging at her waist, but as the lightning arced toward her, she smiled and allowed her hand to fall loose at her side once again. The man had lost his focus, sensing that Mephesa was still alive. The lightning he cast danced around Renata, dangerously close, but not meeting the mark. She closed her eyes and smiled as the energy crackled and danced around her.

But she only allowed herself a moment to enjoy, for Mephesa's end was surely only a moment away. Killing one's master was a powerful thing. It could break chains and minds alike. The mettle of this man would be tested here. He'd struck down his Jedi master already, but his bond with this woman was different, and severing of it would reveal a truth of the man that Renata was quite interested in witnessing.

[sparrow]

It feels strange coming back here after being gone for so long.

Parking her speeder bike outside the Temple, she started up the steps leading to the main gate. So bloody dry here, she thought. It was a huge difference from the Mandalorian worlds where she had spent the last few months. While there, she had assisted Mandalore in battle, observed them in their camps, even met.... She pushed that last thought to the back to her mind. Renata had summoned her back to Korriban, which meant that there was important work to be done, and she would need to focus. No distractions. Not now.

"Where is Lady Renata? I need to see her," she asked the guards at the main gate, who pointed her towards the Temple's private landing pads. Curious. Someone unusual must have arrived for Renata to be there now. Zarene quickened her pace.

There was presence, a turbulence, an electricity in the air, emanating from the area that seemed to grow as she approached. She stepped through the door to the landing pad, wrinkled her nose as she stepped over the smoking corpse of one of the guards. Renata was standing at one end of the landing pad, lightning crackling around her, shot by a slender humanoid man dressed in green. Nearby on the ground lay an Umbaran female, a few thin tendrils of smoke rising from her chest, presumably from where the lightning at hit her. What in the bloody hell was going on here?

She kept her distance, standing near the second guard, who was pressed against a wall trying his best to staying out of range of the crackling bolts. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" she asked, just loud enough for Renata to hear. "I thought we didn't do the whole initiates killing each other thing anymore."

[Dutch]

J... where do you see us going?

Jessoin lay in bed. He wasn't alone either. His vibrant emerald eyes moved from the window curtain that moved gently from a breeze. He turned his head to look at Mephesa, who lay curled up into the blankets next to him, her dark blue eyes looked at him curiously. Jess shifted his body to look at her better, the silky sheets fell from his torso as he did. Bare, faintly green tainted skin gleamed in the soft light of their bedroom on Nar Shadaa, the penthouse a recent acquisition.

"I'm... afraid I don't understand..."

He replied with a tilt of his head. Black feathered strands of it fell onto his shoulder, and Jessoin blinked a couple times at Mephesa. She looked tired, and she should have been, they were at the end of a night long celebration. They had been contacted by the Sith finally. Their destiny. Mephesa smiled knowingly and scooted forward across the sheets towards him, her curvaceous form left little to the imagination the way the sheets stuck to her. She reached a milky white hand out to caress the side of Jessoin's face, and he leaned into her hand and kissed the palm of it gently.

"In life, for our future. Once we join the Sith, where do you see us being?"

His eyes would look over his lover's face for a moment. Where did he see them going? That was rather simple he thought for a moment. The whole plan all along was to work together to gain power through the Sith, have but one person to fully trust, and together, tear down the Sith from within. Become the top dogs. Become the most powerful. Become Darths...

Jess leaned forward and gently kissed Mephesa, her breath warm on his lips before their soft embrace encompassed his. They kissed for a few moments, hungrily and yet gently. The kiss shared by two lovers who knew what each other liked, and what ignited their passions. Jessoin parted from the kiss, and grinned as Mephesa leaned forward for more, but he wouldn't let her. He finally responded.

"It doesn't matter, so long as we are together, I don't care..."

***

Jessoin did not flinch from that memory as it bubbled upwards into his conscience. His eyes never left Mephesa as another arrived to the platform. He paid no mind to the woman, nor did he pay attention to the greeter. There was only the intent. The intent to murder the woman he loved. She began to stagger to her feet, a quick flick of her hand made her lightsaber fly to it. Her blue blade ignited and she took a Makashi stance. Jessoin did not take any stance, his knuckles green from how tight he gripped his weapon.

He shoved his free arm forward, and then again, and then again. The Force would roar out from his hand and sent three waves of it at Mephesa. She waved her free hand three times to send waves of her own, the attacks would collide with an audible Whump! all the times. Jessoin's face remained twisted into anger and anguish as he began to run at his lover, his long legs picking him up faster and faster as he bolted at Mephesa.

Once again the dance would start, this one less fluid from both parties being injured. Instead it would be more staccato, with violent quick clashes of sabers before a reprieve filled with gasps for air. Mephesa audibly pleaded for Jessoin to stop. Her begging relentless and her shrieks of terror common. By now the duel had lead closer and closer to the greeter. But neither duelist cared to see if she would get in the way or not.

This duel would last longer than before, but it was clear who was winning. Jessoin bared but the one mark across his bare chest from her assault, but Mephesa's opalescent skin would be marred with dark blue from many bruises and saber cuts. Her robes would be nearly in tatters, and her hair a tangled mess. It wouldn't be much longer...

Jessoin would bat aside a feeble attack attempt from Mephesa and suddenly lung forward, his long fingers wrapped around her thin neck before his saber would swing down violently. It hissed and screeched as flesh cooked and bone was severed. Mephesa's left arm fell limply to the ground, the lightsaber still clutched and ignited in her hand. Mephesa screamed in shock and Jess cried out as well as his hand would tighten down on her throat, which snuffed her scream. His boots would clomp loudly as he moved forward still, which drove Mephesa backwards, her feet stumbling to keep up with his unyielding pace. He would push her to a large stack of crates and slammed her weakening form against it.

Her eyes would pool with tears before they tumbled down her marred cheeks. His eyes would just glare into hers, where once there was green, instead shone a bright, blood red as the Darkness swelled and bellowed from all around Jessoin, his presence blackened and heavy as the Force roared through him. And so they stood, Mephesa wriggled and squirmed and clawed at his arm, desperate to be free, desperate for air. He did not move at all. The only motion would be the rise and fall of his bare torso as he breathed in Korriban's heat and darkness. It fed him. Powered him. Drove him to squeeze tighter and tighter as Mephesa's nails began to peel through his skin and green blood would ooze from the wounds. It began to fall around his arm and patter onto the ground as Mephesa struggled helpless in his grip...

[Jace]

I hate this bloody planet and its god-awful weather.

Gabriella Fisher, Sith Apprentice, had returned to Korriban after many months of absence. It had taken her all of a minute to wish she was anywhere but here. She now remembered why she had readily accepted the assignment that had been given to her. Any manner of extended stay on Korriban completely fouled her mood. It was a wonder that the Sith Order had not simply killed itself out of pure irritation. Of course for all she knew they may have done just that. The Echani had spent a short time in the Sith Temple but it was more than enough for her to decide that the Order was full of cowards and idiots. A bunch of sniveling vermin scurrying about in an attempt to curry favor with their masters. They were a pathetic lot and Gabriella was loathe to be associated with them.

Should've just stayed in the Core instead of returning here, grumbled the Echani silently.

She had returned though despite her better judgement. There was only one person that Gabriella had any sort of respect for in the Order and that was Mistress Renata. The Dark Lady also happened to be the Echani's master and did not take bad news very well. Gabriella often wondered if her master would hunt her down if the Echani simply decided to run away or if the other woman simply would not care. The apprentice had no taste for experiments and had decided it was better not to find out, at least for the time being. The Order had provided her with some manner of amusement and the moment it stopped doing so, Gabriella would leave. Hopefully her departure would entail wading through the blood of the many incompetent members who populated the Order.

"Where would my lady like to go?" inquired the taxi driver which turned Gabriella's attention away from the pleasant thought of cutting a bloody swath through the Order.

"The Temple you fool! Where else is there to go on this forsaken planet?" replied the Echani in an irritated tone. She would have simply killed the man but then there would be no one to drive the vehicle and it would be too much of a hassle to find another cab.

The driver muttered a hasty apology and kicked the vehicle into gear. Gabriella had landed only half an hour earlier and now had to make her way to the Temple. Unfortunately her mission had been rather secret and as such there was no welcoming part for her. In fact there would be no one who would have even known she was arriving, not even Renata herself. The Echani had been given a mission and was told not to return until it was completed. It had taken her months to complete but she had finally done it. Gabriella may have gotten a bit sidetracked here and there. A girl needed to have her fun after all. She hadn't been given a time-limit so it was all well and good.

Eventually she arrived at her destination and she could have swore the driver got her there exceptionally quick. It had been a long while since she had been in the presence of so many Force-users. The Temple seemed to almost pulse with dark energies. It was both a welcome embrace and also a unfortunate reminder that she was once again surrounded by idiots. Gabriella simply strolled up to the Temple entrance and paused for a moment in front of the guards. They eyed the white-haired girl somewhat warily and the Echani was sure one of them had opened their mouth to say something but closed it without a word. The last time a guard had question her at the entrance, Gabriella had taught him a painful lesson. There was a hostile look in her pretty silver eyes that marked her as a person to not be trifled with.

Twin lightsabers rustled at her side as she proceeded forward once more. Gabriella had paused to shift through the various Force presences until she had found the one she had been looking for. Her boots clicked on the stone floor as she made her way to the private landing pad of the Sith Temple. As she got closer to her destination, The Echani could sense the Force being drawn to the particular location. Her pace increased as Gabriella was somewhat curious as to what was going on. Moments later she found herself at the landing pad and looking upon a somewhat unusual scene.

Two presences stood out to her immediately. One was that of her master, Renata. The other was that of Zarene Yin who seemed to be watching the whole situation unfold. Gabriella was not exactly sure what was going on but clearly there were two people fighting. The man had a wild look in his eyes as he choked the life out the Umbaran which she seemed to go well with the overbearing smell of burnt flesh. The Echani's master simply seemed to be watching the whole ordeal with a vague sense of amusement which was so very like her. Gabriella had no intention of stopping the man and instead walked over to Zarene and slapped the taller woman in the back.

"It looks like you aren't the biggest freak here after all, Zarene" remarked the Echani with a nod in the direction of the man garbed in green and black. There was brevity in her tone yet there was a slight hint of malice in her words. She enjoyed teasing the other woman about her 'inadequacies', namely her mechanical right arm. Gabriella turned her attention back to the fight at hand though it looked like the fight was mostly over.

"Please tell me this isn't some lovers' quarrel because if it is, I might throw up."

[Meira]

Renata found herself pleasantly surprised at the Umbaran's sudden resurgence of strength. Her blade ignited and their dance began again, just as Renata heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned as the lovers' sabers clashed once again to see Zarene standing beside the guard. She smiled at her apprentice, and the comment she made. She was right, of course, recruits rarely dueled for the right to join the Order now, but this instance was somewhat different.

"Come here, Zarene." Renata said, turning her eyes back toward the fight. "See if you can figure out why this is necessary."

The lovers continued, slower than before, but this was to be expected. The Umbaran was like a dying beast. For all they knew, she could be at her most dangerous now. But as Renata watched, it became more and more apparent that the woman was spent. Jessoin was raging on, the dark side fueling his strength. The woman's pleas only stoked that fire further.

Soon, the dance stopped again, with Jessoin's hand clenched around the woman's throat, and her arm now severed and on the ground. "Do you see?" Renata asked, her eyes still fixed on the two.

Then Gabriella's voice sounded, almost tearing Renata's attention away. Her presence here could only mean that she'd completed her task. Renata almost giggled in delight. It was fortunate that her apprentices would return this day. "Quiet!" Renata said, her hand raising up to hush the two apprentices.

"Watch. Feel his anger, her defeat. Loyalty is a powerful thing, not easily broken. But when it does break... Zarene, you asked why this is happening. Try to look into this man's mind. He is blinded by control. He doesn't know how to exist outside of another's will. The woman's control over this man is dangerous to the Order. Together, they might serve us for a time, but in the end, they will take whatever opportunity they can to destroy what we have in order to build themselves up. I cannot allow that.

"So which one do we keep? The manipulative, conniving woman? Or the powerful pet? She is far too set in her ways, but he is ripe for shaping. He can learn and grow and become his own master with time. He is one to believe in a cause, can you feel that? If nothing else, he is strong. Strength is more useful to me."

Renata slowly moved forward until she stood only a foot or so behind Jessoin. her head tilted slightly to the side as she watched the Umbaran struggle. "Good..." she said through the force. "Now, finish her."

[sparrow]

She shot Gabriella a glare as the Echani made her comment, "Not now. We'll talk later," she mouthed silently, before turning her attention back to the duel that was talking place. Their sabers clashed again and again before the man removed the woman's arm with a savage strike.

"What did you say that caused him to turn on her like this?" she whispered. The man had now grabbed the woman by the neck, attempting to slowly choke the life out of her. "If his loyalty was so quickly broken, then how strong was it to start?"

Renata seemed to be fascinated by the man. But why? Zarene noticed the green blood dripping from his wounds. So he was a Zelosian then. That was unusual, but it couldn't be the answer. Was there something that Renata saw in him that she could not?

So which do we keep? That was the question. Maybe there was something that she wasn't seeing, or maybe not, but she would answer according to what she observed.

"Neither."

"If she's manipulative, then he's easily manipulated," she replied. "How long will it be before someone else whispers the magic words into his ear and he turns on you the same way he turned on her? Maybe he's strong, but how useful is that if his mind is weak? We already have plenty of those around the Temple. We don't need another."

[Dutch]

Good... Now, finish her.

The words echoed into Jessoin's mind. He couldn't resist even if he tried, her influence was so heavy. They greeter's presence dripped into his own, it sizzled and slid into his thoughts, a delightful poison that whispered promises. He would look away from Mephesa at the words and slowly turn his head to glare back at the greeter and the two newcomers. Blood red iris' and green tinted whites would flare at them, his inner fire burned out Jess' presence in the Force, nearly more than his mind could handle. It clouded his vision, made the three harpies behind him ethereal to look at. They were all beautiful monsters, similar and yet completely different than Netta and Mephesa. But how were they different? Was it the cool control and confidence they exuded? Or was it the utter weight of their presence in the Force itself?

And then there was Mephesa. Jessoin turned his face back to her, his expression softened slightly. She looked so pitiful, so broken. Like a porcelain doll that has been scuffed and shattered. Her presence in the Force dwindled more and more as her life faltered. Jess exhaled raggedly and tears began to fall down his face. Mephesa began to cry more as well, she was mostly silent, but her tears fell in rivulets. She mouthed the word 'please' over and over. Jess watched her lips, now caked with blood from being split. He took a step closer to her. And then another until he stood just in front of her. His ears could now hear her whispered pleas. And then she said something different.

"I love you... please..."

Jess closed his eyes as more tears fell, his chest had never felt so tight, he just wanted to clutch his hands to his torso and collapse. He felt an icy cold hand on his face. Jessoin opened his eyes to see she no longer clawed at his arm, which still bled steadily from the gouging. His own blood would be smeared onto his left cheek as she cradled his face gently. He looked at her with confusion, the blood red no long invading all of his iris. Instead, they would remain amber. Jess tried to swallow, but his throat was too tight, dry, and raspy. Mephesa's hand quivered as she slid it to the back of Jessoin's head, and pulled him in meekly.

They kissed. Both their lips were dried and cracked, salty and sticky from all the blood, sweat and filth that covered them. It was strangely tender, Jessoin was compelled to make sure he wasn't too rough with her savaged lips. He began to feel a tickle in the back of his mind. Was not the greeter this time, it was much more familiar. It was Mephesa. With a sudden surge in the Force Mephesa tried to tear into Jessoin's mind. His eyes would fly open, the bright red iris' would return, and Jess snarled before he bit down and ripped his head to the right to tear off a chunk of her lip. Her mental assault ceased immediately as she shrieked.

His hand snuffed that scream as it ratcheted down onto her neck and he turned to toss her onto the ground. Mephesa landed roughly onto the ground and laid there limply. Jess turned and stared down at her, dark blue blood now ran down his chin and bare chest. He leaned down to grab a handful of Mephesa's sullied white hair, and pulled her up by it until she sat on her knees, displayed towards the greeter. His lips would brush her ear as he leaned in, and whispered a single phrase.

"I loved you. You used me. Just like Netta. Now you die like she did."

A flash of red would be seen as he stood back up and swung his right arm, lightsaber still ignited. Once more the smell of seared flesh would permeate the area. The second Mephesa's severed head hit the landing pad, Jessoin's eyes would bulge out of his skull and his free hand clutched at his pectoral above his heart. With a hiss his lightsaber would fall and deactivate. It clattered next to him with a metallic series of clangs and the now free hand moved to sit over the other one. Her presence in the Force had ended so suddenly. Just like Netta. It left a gaping chasm in his very identity, and Jessoin could do nothing to fight back the tears that poured forth anew. After a moment, he let his arms fall to relax at his side, his red eyes locked onto the unmoving corpse of his lover. The man may have stood stoic and still, but the Force around and within him would be torrid and jagged.

All he could see, was the first time he met Mephesa. Her smile. Her eyes. Those same eyes stared at him lifelessly right then. Jessoin had now killed his second lover, his second master.

[Jace]

Gabriella's temper flared at the abrupt order of silence from Renata which was further compounded by Zarene's dismissal. The Echani did not take kindly to either being ordered about or being ignored. She had been gone for months and the other two women had simply brushed her off. Gabriella couldn't understand what was so important about this fight or about that man. Sure, he had some ability with the Force but her master should not have been impressed by something like that. She wondered just how much her master had changed during the Echani's absences. No doubt she had been spending too much time surrounded by the fools that inhabited the Sith Temple.

Of course the Sith apprentice was proven wrong moments later as Renata addressed Zarene. The smile on her master's face as she spoke of manipulation and other things which Gabriella didn't care to follow. And people said Gabriella was scary...They had clearly not met Darth Renata, mistress of the Sith Order. The Echani still thought that more enjoyment could have come from personally hurting the pair but she supposed there was some appeal in watching the two trying to kill each other. The battle was more or less over at this point with the life of the Umbaran being choked out of her.

"So which one do we keep?"

"Neither."

"Why Zarene! You actually said something sensible for once," remarked the Echani with mock surprise. The question hadn't been directed at Gabriella but she would get her say in. She completely agreed with the other apprentice in this matter. The young Sith couldn't see the appeal in either of these two and was completely at a loss as to why her master was so interested in them.

She had more to say on the matter but turned her attention back to the pair. Gabriella did enjoy to see the final moments of a person's life but it was so much better when it was her doing the killing. The Echani watched with complete disgust as the two suddenly kissed. So it had been just a lover's spat. The whole scene made her sick to her stomach. She was about to walk in there and kill them both when suddenly things became much more violent. A few moments later and the Umbaran's head was rolling on the landing pad.

"Mistress Renata, what exactly do you see in this pervert? All he is going to do now is mope in some corner of the Temple, crying about how he killed his girlfriend. If you wanted to torture him, you could have just let me do it," commented Gabriella, her tone rife with irritation. Her temper was beginning to boil over and that usually resulted in a lot of blood and screaming.

[Meira]

Renata was slightly disappointed in the lack of foresight her apprentices seemed to possess. But she dismissed the thought, knowing that their skills were not the same as her own. They also were unaware of her plans for them. Had they known what Renata would soon be doing, perhaps they would take more of an interest in the man. No bother. They would know soon enough.

The Dark Lady could sense Zarene's indifference and Gabriella's annoyance at the torrent of emotion seeping from the couple as they shared their final kiss. Renata reveled in it. It was not visible wound that she savored, but the emotional one. This man was suffering exquisitely, but his recovery would be the true test.

"Just because something is easy for me, my dear Zarene, does not mean it would be easy for just anyone." As Jessoin threw Mephesa to the ground, Renata turned for a moment, giving her apprentices a self satisfied smile. "I am quite good at what I do, after all."

Renata fell silent as the lovers neared their final moment. Jessoin spoke to the woman, and then in an instant, it was over. The emptiness left by the schism was dark indeed. Renata hoped Jessoin would prove able to face it. If not, then Zarene and Gabriella would be right and it wouldn't be worth keeping him.

"You both only see what this man is. You fail to see what he can be. Right now, he is broken, and yes, easily manipulated. But I don't mean to use him as a toy like his lover did. I plan to mold this man, build up his strengths and bolster his weaknesses."

Renata turned away from Jessoin to face the two women. They'd served her well as apprentices, but there was little Renata could teach them. She was confident the two were ready for the next step. Their return from their respective missions was proof enough of that. She smiled at the two, proud to call them hers.

"It is important to know when a task is done," she glanced over her shoulder toward Jessoin, "and when to begin a new one."