"Take me with you?! HAH!" Rhonin frowned, before taking a step towards the woman and clenched his fist, before punching her straight in her stomach "Look at yourself, woman. You cant even take your own life, let alone mine. And I suppose you've forgotten our fight already. Why are you so confident?" he frowned, before turning to the captain. Her confidence disturbed him greatly, more so for the reason that she did not fear him as he had hoped. She feared his power, of that there was no doubt. He could sense it in her. She feared the darkness and his power over the Force. But she did not fear Rhonin.
The captain did not flinch when Rhonin turned his question aimed at Q'Anila on him. "It is quiet simple m'lord. The fact that you defeated this one so easily will spread fear through any and all Force users in the galaxy." He smiled and stepped forward, placing two fingers on Q'Anila's chin, lifting her head to face his. "This one is of better use alive as it will incite people to know that although we have been merciful, it will not be permitted again if she is to attempt another feable attack. Besides, a creature such as this deserves to live. Her life has survived in excess of 4000 years, her demise would be a great loss. After we Force (The Force, not forced) her to feel and listen to the exquisite deaths of the thousands in the cargo hold." Derin glanced at Rhonin. "She'll know what FEAR is." He turned and walked away from Q'Anila. "At least one of the Emperors wishes may not be fullfilled, but that is perhaps for the betterment of the Galaxy." He then stood back for Rhonin to continue punishing this strange woman.
***
"In position."
"Standby to move in."
***
Somewhere deep in the Engineering section of the Obsidian Fury's engine reactors, an engineer working of the intake valve for the fusion reactor coolent put down the plasma cutter, and seemed to stare off into nothing. "I have a bad feeling about this."
His partner looked up from the computer terminal. "What?" He had a startled look on his face. "Whats wrong with the valve?"
The engineer smiled as he refocussed his attention on his welding work with admiration. "I dunno, I just always wanted to say that." He glanced at the other engineer who shrugged.
"Okay then. Well if the welds done, I'll reactivate the coolent flow."
The engineer lifted his protective goggles, smearing even more grease onto his face than what had already been there. "Sure." He stepped back as the hum of the pump flowed highly cooled duethrolium-jelly and other volitile chemicals down through the valve. "Well I guess, we'd better start on sealing that power couplink as soon as we get the chance."
"Hmm, yeah I... guess."
Q'Anilia coughed as she took the punch to her stomach, but took simply a deep breath to recover from the pain. She felt then the fingers on her cheek and a faint smile came across her mouth "I watched my whole planet, my own race slaughtered by Darth Nihilus hand. Do your worst. I've seen worse. A million screams before sudden silence. I've seen such a massacre not once, but twice" While she said what she did, her thoughts were different, even though she smiled. The death of ... No, the slaughter of her people was beyond what she at the time could bare. Then there was Alderaan. Terrible, terrible fate, and worse it was for her who sensed it all as if it was herself, each and every soul lost.
These prisoners, minimal in numbers as they may have been, were still living. Living and defenseless. Of course, nothing she said could keep Rhonin and this cold captain from taking their lives. All she could do now was hope to frustrate enough and hide what slowly growing fear she had "For every life you take, I'll have you pay. That I vow"
"Darth Nihilus?" Rhonin spoke, not quite intended as a question. He sighed at the very idea of Darth aplenty running around. If he interpreted her properly, this Nihilus killed her whole planet on his own. A feat worth investigating into, but he was more than certain this woman would not help him. Not on that front "Confident as you may appear, all of you lesser beings break at one point or the other. Your false cold heart does not fool me. No matter how many you've seen die, no matter how terrible an experience you've been through, you care for every one life as much as you would a hundred. One by one, the people in this cargo hold will perish. Some for my satisfaction, and others due to your stubborness and cocky attitude"
Rhonin lifted his hand, and a prisoner was launched in his direction through the Force. He towered the woman who appeared to terrified to even scream as his tentacles came out of his mask, entering her head through the nose. The Miraluka would not bend. Not yet. But Rhonin was entertained adequately to make it a habit feasting before the Miraluka.
"Be proud, Sith. You're the first life I'll enjoy taking" Q'Anilia frowned, her head hanging in disgust of how this fiend killed his victims. "Not even at the end of the Ruusan war was I this vengeful. You and those you alike are all the same, caring for no one but yourself. You would sacrifice this ship, captain and all if it served in your best interest. Immoral. Kill me now, while you still can"
Q'Anilia turned her head towards the captain, away from Rhonin. How could someone serve him so blindly? Did he not understand how the likes of Rhonin worked? It did not matter. She hoped to bring clarity to all soon enough. For now, she waited. For what, she did not yet know. Whatever intruders there was on this ship, they had come with hostile intent towards Rhonin or they would not have had this approach.
"Did you know, Rhonin, that many Sith Lords are killed by their own? A rule in darkness will always be a temporary rule. You will soon enough expose yourself, and those close to you will cease the opportunity. As it has been, it will always be"
"Such tenacity!" Rhonin snarled as he dropped the lifeless woman, frowning as he turned towards Q'Anilia. He approached her with heavy steps and gripped her head with his fist, it being fairly the same size which allowed him to virtually cover her whole head in his palm "I could ... should crush you, worm. Squeeze my hand, apply adequate pressure. You are not worth half of what you think, but the satisfaction of proving you wrong is too vast for me to ignore. You will remain living, woman. I suggest not tempting me to change my mind"
He loosened the grip of her head, but before removing his hand, he sent a shock of lightning through her body, and as he removed his hand, he slapped her with the outside of his other hands palm across the face, turning away. He approached the lifeless body that he had drained just now and kicked it away into the room "You have lived for four thousand years. You've witnessed rules rise and fall. Lords and masters come and go. Your mind is a database unlike any other" he turned then towards her "When all these worms are deceased, your mind might very well be next in line. Such a tasty mind" he said and walked over to her once more, his hand he stroke gently across her cheek. "The great Q'Anilia cuffed before us. A time to be savored"
"Indeed. Savor this time while it lasts" Q'Anilia said, ignoring the pain that made her body shake. Each pulse of electricity she took from Rhonin weakened her, although not significantly. She could still escape this imprisonment if she only wanted to. She wouldnt get far though, not knowing the ship as well as knowing the power of Rhonin. So while she could escape, now was not the time. He would strike her down before she could reach the door. Especially with her recent obtained injuries.
"With or without my hand of justice, you will never last, Rhonin. A leader that crave power influence minions to crave it as well. You may be too strong for any one person to take you on directly, but you are not unkillable. Like Sith before you, you will be slain in your sleep. Those most loyal to you will turn, for your crave for power will have become theirs as well"
"Such a foolish notion. esecially from one such as you." Derin smiled slightly, but it was bittersweet. "I do not serve him, our goals are merely one and same, yet Rhonin is the strongest bidder. So I treat him as I would a senior commander. Rhonin, continue your mind extracts." He nodded. "Now, Q'Anila... if you be-"
The stun bolt took Derin in the shoulder and spun his body around. The catain groaned as his previously broken arm hit the deck.
"You are surrounded Force user. Come quietly and we will see your quick return to this ship." The Commander took her helmet off, revealing her long black hair tied in a pony tail. "You will find that you lack use of the Force."
***
night
"Whaat?!" Rhonin spoke in surprise, turning around to behold the one that had just stunned his captain. He turned to see the well-being of his officer, but lacked the concerne to investigate further. The captain was still breathing, so he turned again to the intruders. His initial idea was to throw some lightning on them, but he neverminded the idea soon enough. He needed not to do so. "You freaks of technology have somehow developed a way to avoid the Force? I'm impressed," he declared as he observed this woman with his own eyes, unable to do so with the force. For sure, many moves of the Force would prove futile. Somehow, they had succeeded at blocking midi-chlorians at their presence. "But you're gravely misstaking if you think I need the force to take out some humans with weapons. Your weapons are useless against me, even without my Force" he paused then, turning to the Miraluka. Had she knew of this? It would explain a lot of her behaviour, but how could she possibly have done so? Blind as she appeared, they were invisible to one such as herself.
"But I'll give you a chance to explain yourselves. Who are you, what are you doing here and what possible reason would you have that could persuade me in following you? What do you want?" he was intrigued by these humans. Their confidence in their technology he found disturbing, though, as they clearly underestimated the Force. While the midi-chlorians had no place around them, there were other means of defeat. No amount of technology could prevent a racing object, or a falling roof. That to bring up only two of many examples.
Uh... I don't remember posting that, can we forget it))
The captain nodded to Rhonin. "I'll leave you too it, there was an intruder alert that needs my attention."
Derin turned and headed away. "Stormtrooper. Begin executing prisoners who have no connection with the Hutt or this Alliance faction."
"Civilians... yes, sir!"
(Alright 😉 Let's just ignore my post as well and I'll make a new one)
"The alarm is a malfunction, captain. There are no intruders, I would know" Rhonin said, but did not put any effort into trying to convince the man. Rhonin had sensed nothing, so there was nothing. He turned to Q'Anilia then "You really think your words has any effect on me, woman? I am no common lord like those you've had before. They died for they were weak. I, I am immovable" talking to the woman was a waste of time. Her annoying confidence would fade in time, as the people in this room decreased in numbers. Rhonin grasped his hand and begun with his mind absorbtion of all that was of interest.
Q'Anilia lowered her head in sorrow. She hated herself for letting this brutal execution take place, given she had the power to break out of this simple prison anytime she wanted. It would do her no good doing so though, so she decided against it, hard as it was. All she could do was watch innocent being slaughtered in cold blood, pretend as if she could not break the chains and do something, however small. She wanted to apologize to the people, but that too would give too much of her away. She was not going to show any weakness now. It could be the end of her.
Atris awoke just in time, or in relation to her freighter exiting hyperspace. She exited the sleeping quarters and with a subtle yawn wandered through the ship towards the navigation room. She brought helmet and suit and equipped it as she walked, and then reached the communicationboard. She leaned forth, and to no surprise was already detected by Imperial forces and her location locked onto by orbiting ships. She had a seat by the board and sent out a transmission.
"This is Dynamic-class Freighter 'Weasle' requesting an audience with the man in charge of the Hoth system. My name is Atris Ashley, freelancing Bounty Hunter. I have papers to confirm non-hostile intents and willing to go through excessive security proceedures to asure it. Requesting coordinates and permission to land on Hoth"
She slowed her ship down to a temporary halt while awaiting response. She knew very well that the Imperial Alliance had to be approached with utmost respect and caution, for the captain of either one of those orbiting ships would not hesitate to blast the Weasle into pieces if he was given a reason. One of many reasons why Atris would come to enjoy working with the Imperial Alliance, if given permission to do so of course.
She had her helmet in her lap and straightened her long hair while she waited. The same hair that she constantly struggled with keeping out of her eyes. After an as-good-as-it-gets result with her hair, she put the helmet on and enjoyed the fact that her hair had been successfully tamed and did not get in her way as the helmet slid on.
"Weasle; This is the Star Destroyer Avarice, what is your business on Hoth."
Already the Avarice had moved out from the orbital dock, and was turning towards the Dynamic-class freighter. Her threat board had already had been pinging with the target locks of over eighty turbo-lasers, and other weapons.
"Weasle, please transmit your planet of origin."