Proof of Citizenship (Xanatos)

[Y'roth Helghast]

Agent Babelyn and six soldiers ushered the prisoner out of the APC slowly in one of the many hangar bays of the Cathedral. They had been directed to deposit the prisoner on a level that Babelyn, a 2nd class Agent wasn't even authorized to know the name of. They were instructed to pass the prisoner on to the next handlers and then immediately return to the quarantined sectors to assist in the proceedings there. To say the least, Babelyn was a bit confounded with it having never dealt with this exact process before and then also never even knowing that such a modernized hangar was within the Cathedral. There were no other agents or Inquisitoriate solders present in the rather spacious hangar. Merely five large black ships that sat like silent monuments of something darker there.

It hung in the air like a mental humidity. The unknown factor... Babelyn's fear and lack of understanding weighed heavily upon him. The Inquisitoriate insignia, blood red, hanging from the ceiling in long flags the length of three men's height gave a dread awe to look upon. No one was in sight until the doors across the way opened and three men stepped out into the hangar bay, encircled by eight Inquisitoriate troopers.

The man in the middle was of an average height, with unusually long hair for an Agent of the Inquisitoriate. What actually caught Babelyn's attention was that there was no rank whatsoever upon his uniform. Merely the Inquisitoriate insignia on his left breast, and his right shoulder. It was only whispered that such individuals existed, simply referred to as Agents, who surpassed even the Agent Cl IVs and were in some form of limbo in the rank structures beneath the Inquisitor levels. They acted upon special assignments directed by Inquisitors personally and were wraith like in existence. Babelyn almost wished he would be able to speak of this later but confidentiality and OPSEC couldn't be compromised at these levels. People died or disappeared all too often for Babelyn to consider such a risk.

The other two were 4th class Agents and that alone gave Babelyn shivers. He did recognize Agent Cl IV Pyoei, the chief dispatcher for the current sectors under quarantine. The other was unknown and Babelyn resigned that whether he found out who he was or not wouldn't matter much anyways.

The man in the middle smiled as they met halfway with the quiet prisoner. That smile was a bit odd but the dampened environment seemed to be lifted by it, as if this man was going to solve all of Babelyn's problems.

"I am Agent Crestmere. Agent Cl IV Skwinneth will be assuming responsibility for your prisoner, Agent Cl II Babelyn. Agent Cl IV Pyoei will be accompanying back to the quarantined zones. Have a nice day."

That last part didn't go with the order at all, it was like the ending phrase to some kind of sickening customer service recording. But Babelyn still seemed put at ease with this man's demeanor, as if it were having a direct effect on anyone within his proximity. Agent Crestmere? A name he'd never heard before, and doubt he ever would again.

[Xanatos Etanial]

The trip to this dreadful place had been made in silence. He was very much a prisoner here - cuffed, led, put where they wanted him to go and told what to do. Even as much as a question would likely have led to his execution - and Xanatos felt gripped with fear. He had feared before, feared being stuck on his homeworld forever, that fear had driven him to two brutal acts of murder.

Fear of being caught drove him to cover the crimes up, lie about it - and even now the authorities of Mithos believe him innocent of such a terrible crime. Fear of being discovered led him to leave his homeworld, taking the first rare flight from Mithos into the greater expanse universe he, and few other Mithosians had ever seen. Fear of remembering, of accepting his crime led him to attempt to drink himself to death.

Xanatos knew fear - or at least thought he had, until this moment. As he was led from the transport into the expansive and nearly empty hangar the fear of the one who had been so sure of himself, so brave about it all, that agent fed into his own. This was fear, real fear that gripped him now. He barely breathed, terrified that each shallow one would be his last. He risked a glance away from the floor, if only momentarily to see the men who would take possession of him.

The one who identified himself as Crestmere seemed almost jovial about the whole ordeal. It was odd, even in such a pure state of fear it was calming - the power of a friendly face perhaps. Holding back a sigh, he let his gaze return to the floor, making no movements or attempts to do anything but comply with the will of those around him. He had been freed from one enslavement, when he had finally taken his memory back after all that Laurent had done to him, only to find himself pulled into another.

[Y'roth Helghast]

The Agent Cl II was ignored by Miles Skwinneth as he stepped forward, the soldiers parting and taking their respective distance. Skwinneth was stick skinny, and rather tall for a human and had an implant that took up the back of his neck and the left back side of his head into his grayed out hair. Few knew what it was for but it mattered little as few operated with Skwinneth to begin with. He was something of an administrative prison warden and very rarely was seen out of the lower levels of the Cathedral. He had been called up by Agent Crestmere to facilitate the initial phase of the adept's processing as Skwinneth had been known for his effectiveness during the more lively days of the Jedi Purge. Skwinneth checked the binders and nodded to Crestmere.

"Well alrighty then, circle up men, you know the routine."

The voice still held that tone like this was all some kind of commercial, as if Xanatos was not in the heart of the Empire's most feared organization.

Skwinneth stood to one side as Agent Crestmere led the small entourage. It was visible even in Crestmere's fluid gait that he seemed to be enjoying himself and that everyone else should be as well. Likened to a bright sunny day where no one had anything to fear.

They reached a turbo lift, entered, and it shuddered before moving, everyone inside forced to listen to Crestmere as he hummed, with remarkable accuracy, the tune to a song that seemed to be the rave of the youth these days in Coruscant.

[Xanatos Etanial]

Maybe it was fear that finally drove the question out of him. Perhaps it was Crestmere's pleasant attitude that relaxed him enough to ask it, whatever the case was - with little more than a whisper it did come.

"Wh...what's going to happen to me?" the voice trembled with fear, and Xanatos dare not raise his gaze up as he asked. If he had spoken out of line, and it would be the last question he ever asked - he did not wish to see the shot coming.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Skwinneth's hand came down on Etanial's shoulder but Crestmere turned on his heel, his eyes shot a glance at the taller man who's hand relaxed slightly in that instant. Crestmere's glance turned to the man who seemed so small surrounded by the Inquisitoriate soldiers.

Crestmere was a personal kind of person. His empathy with others was uncanny. His ability to practically read the minds of others came from no force ability but from merely 'assuming' their perspective. His chameleon like abilities in the matters of disguise allowed him to intuitively think like others just by picking up on the multitudes of degrees of a person's body language, speech and intonations, and appearance. There hadn't been enough time for a full analysis of this man but Crestmere could tell with ease that this man really was like an innocent lamb. Innocent, and about to be sacrificed for it.

"Well, Mr. Etanial, you are going to be processed by the Inquisitoriate. By being cooperative in all areas required, this could go by very quickly and with little more inconvenience to you other than consuming some of your time. This is the Inquisitoriate of the Empire though, Mr. Etanial, and we do not abide by any sort of excessive beauracracy in any situation. If you choose not to cooperate and prevail upon us the opinion that you are indeed a security risk, you will die. And it will take a very long time for that to happen too because we also understand that it can take some time for a person to properly divulge all information in a clear and cohesive manner for us if they at first denied us that which we request.

My name is Agent Crestmere, I am a liason of sorts and your best friend here in the Inquisitoriate. I'm here to help you and the Inquisitoriate achieve both of our goals. I'm sure you more than anything would like to just be on your way and done with this, living a safe and good life as a citizen of the Galactic Empire. And we, the Inquisitoriate, would like more than anything else to maintain that safety and peace you are provided in our wonderful society. Therefore, Mr. Etanial, I'd like to say we can start this out as friends, will you be my friend, Xanatos, may I call you that?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

He blinked a few times, confusion appearant on his face. He was a prisoner; bound, threatened, moved at their will. Crestmere wanted to be his... 'friend'? What sick game was this, he'd been stung by 'friendly' words before - Laurent had played this same game, and he remembered how that had ended up. Then again, he wasn't in nearly the position to refuse, and Crestmere was promising a smooth release from his situation if he cooperated.

"Therefore, Mr. Etanial, I'd like to say we can start this out as friends, will you be my friend, Xanatos, may I call you that?"

He allowed himself to swallow back a bit roughly and slowly nodded, eyes never leaving Crestmere's face as he looked for any sign of ill-will, any sign of deception or malice. That pleasant expression and sunny disposition gave nothing away. He frowned slightly, letting out a rather long sigh and slowly nodded. "Friends, do call me Xanatos, Agent Crestmere. And I could use a friend." He slowly smiled as much as his dire situation could allow, to try and assure Agent Crestmere of his sincerity in the matter.

[Y'roth Helghast]

At least the boy was realistic. Crestmere could see the resignation, he could feel the hopelessness, and he was just glad the young man had mind enough to play along.

"Couldn't we all..."

It seemed as if Crestmere might've had more to say but the lift console beeped and the doors promptly opened to a floor that could've appeared no less friendly in perspective. It was not well lit, for an Imperial complex, and any light that was emitted was in a red glow that gave a sinister feeling with it reflecting from obsidian mirror like walls.

"Oh, we're here. Don't let this bother you, its only a short trip through here."

They proceeded forward and it could soon be seen through the darkness that all there was before them was a wall; the lights had been fashioned to trick the eye, the reflections of lights above the lift doors made it seem as if there were a corridor right before anyone entering the floor. But there was merely a mirrored wall.

"I'm afraid I have to leave you only for a moment while they initially process you, Xanatos. I'll meet you on the other side, mk?"

He patted the man on the shoulder and then seemingly disappeared into the darkness of the room. Skwinneth stepped forward before the mirrored wall and a scanner in the wall came to life. Skwinneth was basked in another red light that moved from his head to his feet and then back up. Obviously satisfied, the mirrored wall shiverred and then slid into nothingness.

The room on the other side was so bright it stung the eyes. The room was pristine white, like some kind of sick dream. The walls here were mirrored as well but it was clear there was a door on the other side. The soldiers prodded Xanatos into the white room and the door they had just come through closed behind them. In each corner of the room was a turret in the ceiling, and four red beads hovered over Xanatos' body casually.

"Strip, citizen Etanial. Place your clothing in there..."

One wall to Etanial's right shiverred and a small compartment opened.

"Remove all objects from your clothing and place them in the adjacent compartment. Do not hesitate and if you have any weapons on your person, declare them now."

[Xanatos Etanial]

The stark whiteness of the room, in contrast to where he had just been added rather well to the unnerving effect the whole place was obviously meant to have. Swallowing he glanced at the turrets that were insuring his obediance.

"Strip, citizen Etanial. Place your clothing in there. Remove all objects from your clother and place them in them in the adjacent compartment. Do not hestitate and if you have any weapons on your person, declare them now."

Weapons? He did have his blade. The blade his father had gave him as a youth, it had been in the family for ages - or so went the stories his father would tell him when he was just a boy. He frowned and reaching slowly into his long coat, fished it free from the sheath he had, had sewn into the lining.

"One blade, to... uh declare." He held it up so that whoever was watching could see, and slid it into the compartment, it slid all the way through and seemed to vanish. He watched it go nervously, and spoke again - it was probably completely out of line, but he had to. "And... please - if it's possible - be careful with it. It's a family heirloom."

He proceeded to remove everything else he had adorned himself with, the family ring - his pendant. All placed carefully into the smaller compartment before he began to disrobe. He didn't like the idea of being nude and helpless in such a manner, but he wasn't given much of a choice. Then again, when it came to him being nude and helpless, he never had been given much of a choice. He finished folding his jacket and sliding it into the compartment, before standing quietly, eyes bowed in the center of the room, hands pressed in front of his lap as if that could somehow keep him safe from all that was happening.

[Y'roth Helghast]

The compartments silently closed themselves and the door leading the next room opened in response. The direction of movement was fairly clear and Skwinneth didn't even need to give a command for Xanatos to know where to go next. The naked adept entered the next room; six turrets occupied the ceiling instead of four. This was because neither Skwinneth or any of the other guards followed the adept in. The moment Xanatos entered the room, the door behind him closed. A circle in the middle of the room appeared and illuminated itself for the adept's visual convenience as Skwinneth's voice came from seemingly everywhere at once.

"Step in the circle and stand still."

[Xanatos Etanial]

The hum of the 6 turrets all honing in on him was the only immediate sound after the man they called 'Skwinneth' told him to stand in the circle. Without hesitation he did as he had been instructed and stepped into the iluminated circle of light, remaining as still as he could. Hopefully they'd give him at least some pants soon enough, he didn't enjoy being exposed for all to see.

[Y'roth Helghast]

The floor beneath him seemed to twist, the room rotated slowly in Etanial's vision as the floor shifted beneath his feet. A cylinder of glass slid up from the ground with a startling speed and an apparatus snaked down from the ceiling. A mouth piece supported by something resembling an inverted spinal cord stopped at mouth level with Xanatos and then forced itself against his lips. The cylinder instantly began to fill with a blue liquid that would feel like something close to heated acid against his flesh.

Xanatos was being decontaminated. And while painful, the process was the most effective. The adept was submerged long enough that he would've required the mouth piece to continue breathing; the cleansing solution needed time to sink into the skin. A device lowered from the ceiling, circling the outside of the cylinder as a red laser ran over the length of Etanial's body. Once it reached the floor, it quickly rose back to the ceiling, and a loud slurping noise came from the floor as the liquid began to drain.

[Xanatos Etanial]

The sudden emersion had been a shock, to say the least - as well as the painful chemical he was emersed in. As it finally began to drain, he snaped his face away from the oxygen mask and gasped loudly partially out of need to breath away from the mask, and partially out of the pain that was still seering his flesh. He managed to hold himself up as the cylinder began to slide back into the ground.

If this was just his initial processing, he shuddered to think what was still to come.

[Y'roth Helghast]

A compart against the wall, much like the others that he had placed his things in, opened.

"Remove the clothing provided in the compartment and don it now. There will be a bracer inside, secure it around your left forearm."

The clothes provided were white with a black stripe streamlining the sides vertically. A long sleeve shirt and pants that were of a general size to Xanatos' body type. The bracer was simple in design, a small interface was on top, nearest the wrist but it was blank at the moment, and the inside was a padded lining for comfort.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He felt as if he were in fact more than just being 'processed' the whole ordeal reminded him of what he had heard of prison sentences. Your clothing and possessions taken, scrubbed down in preparation, and finally dressed in the attire provided to all inmates. What choice did he have however, it had been made clear from point one if he refused or fought back he was as good as dead.

Death was something Xanatos no longer wished for. He had met that man, Kyle Krogen and heard his words, to fight - to try and make things better... the words had been what he had wished to hear for so long. He had to survive this ordeal, no matter what it took, so that he could make things right. He would redeem himself... he would.

He slipped into the provided clothing, and while horrendous, it was good to at least be covered again. He placed the bracer on his left forearm and finished, waiting for his next instructions. Hopefully he would be free of here soon, and back on his way.

[Y'roth Helghast]

The next door opened into a much different room. It was still industrial, but not a painfully bright, pristine white room. There was a chair, a table, and then another chair across the table in which sat Victor Crestmere, who looked rather comfortable despite the chair he was sitting being more than plain and lacking anything that might make it comfortable.

"Oh, well, that didn't take too long, did it? Come on, sit down. Take a load off, make yourself comfortable, Xanatos. I know, its ok, the processing experience can make one a little uncomfortable but I can relate, trust me. After we return from any kind of outbound operation, we have to go through almost the exact same routine."

As if Xanatos wasn't about to be interrogated, he was warmly invited into the room by Crestmere, who honestly, though not even one of his multiple personalities would be able to pick apart, was in all actuality rather miffed that he was the one stuck with a completely innocent adept while the rest of Project Nightmare was currently handling the other rogue adept.

[Xanatos Etanial]

And finally he was through with 'processing' and found himself with Agent Crestmere again, the man who said he wanted to be his friend. We'd see just how friendly he really was. Xanatos hoped he was serious, maybe the Empire wasn't as bad as Krogen had made it out to be, Crestmere seemed not to be, at any rate. He sat down across from the pleasant man and adjusted his seat - he was used to luxury, though he had also been at the very bottom of things - the chair was simple, but would do just fine.

He pulled himself up to the table and looked over the sparce room a just a bit, he was deep inside now - and there would be no escape from where he was, if he even wanted to attempt such a move. He had finally started to relax to the whole situation, become a bit more comfortable - the immense fear replaced by his mind screaming at him to remain calm. He was still terrified, but it showed less. Which was probably for the best, he could give much better explanations of what had happened if he was not a quivering mess.

He looked at Crestmere directly and nodded slightly. "I imagine this is the part where you ask me questions."

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Yes. Actually it is."

Crestmere leaned forward cautiously, as if he was about to let Xanatos in on a secret and that Xanatos shouldn't let anyone know or else it'd break some moral rule of friendship.

"But I need you to understand, Xanatos. I really am your only friend here. And if you hesitate, or hold back, or just don't cooperate with even some of the simplest stuff I come up with, I have to leave, its their rules, not mine, mind ya', and then when I leave... well... I'm just gonna tell ya pal', its not pretty. Seriously."

Crestmere knew Helghast and the rest of the Nightmares were currently deployed, handling the other adept, which made Xanatos a very lucky boy. But a very unlucky one if he did end up making Crestmere leave. That was the tactic with these types, good cop bad cop kinda thing. Its too bad Crestmere could never be the bad cop with Helghast for a partner in the business. Yeah, just too bad. The multitude of voices in his head didn't mind though, the murderers and psychopathic adepts he'd delved into liked playing good for irony's sake and the all the good hearts and souls Crestmere had ever duplicated loved to just be themselves.

"You read me, right, man?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

Xanatos nodded, sitting quietly still in the chair. He'd do as best as he could, he didn't really have anything to hold back - right? He doubted they'd ask about his mother and sister's 'accident'. What else did he have to worry about them finding out?

"Yes." He let out another sigh, "I understand." at that he smiled, "I have nothing to hide."

[Y'roth Helghast]

"I'm glad to hear it. Really, I am."

Crestmere sighed as if relieved as he leaned back in the chair and rocked back ever so slightly with a pleasant smile on his face.

"Ok, well, I'm just gonna ask some ice breakers, just to get you talking a little bit and ease the flow ya know so it doesn't seem so... ya know..."

He made a humorous impression of a frightful monster with his hands like claws and baring his teeth to give Xanatos the gist of it.

"Soo... Tell me a bit about yourself. Age, home planet, occupation?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

Xanatos couldn't help but find himself laughing a bit at Agent Crestmere's actions, as comical as they were. He smiled and leaned back, ever so slightly.

"My age is 22 in standard years, mind you we measure that a bit differently on... I'm going off topic, sorry. Mithos is my home planet - it's a small outer rim world, though I'm sure you have that all on file."

He smiled, nodding a bit again, thinking about the next question - occupation? That was a bit more difficult, he didn't really have an occupation.

"Nobility?" He said chuckling a bit, "I don't really have an occupation, per se, I'm the heir of a sizable estate. The Etanials are a noble lineage, old money, I suppose you'd say."

[Y'roth Helghast]

Crestmere smiled in response.

"I used to be of a Nobility..."

He glanced to the side, his eyes staring at something that wasn't there.

"... on Alderaan..."

And then, as if he realized what he was doing, Crestmere blinked and smiled, and slightly shook his head. What a deceptive snake he was; someone, one of the voices back there, couldn't seem to stop laughing in the back of his mind.

"But that's neither here nor there. Sorry about that, kinda awkward I know... But anyways. Mithos, huh? So you are an adept for sure?"

A simple question, asked in a very casual manner, but the weight of it in the current environment could not just be dropped without making a few waves.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He winced at the question - it'd been that very fact that had gotten him brought here. The fact that he had the gift, or as it was said within the empire - he was an adept.

He had promised to hold nothing back in his answers.

"I... am." he gritted his teeth as he said it, unsure if perhaps it'd result in him being dragged off yet again. He rubbed the back of his neck and waited nervously for a moment, when he wasn't immediately pulled away he sighed in relief.

"I didn't know that it was a crime... things like that don't get discussed much on Mithos." he shook his head, "I meant to cause no problems - I was simply trying to help."

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Well, its not that its necessarily a crime, you see. Its just that our society was threatened some time ago to the point of near collapse by the Jedi and while we sought them out, some continue to elude us even to this day. That man, Krogen, back there, said things that the Jedi were known to say even before the Empire was established. They use that rhetoric to actually play with people's minds. Thats where things get complicated and the Inquisitoriate is called to intervene, like we did in this situation.

We're not accusing you of anything, I, personally don't think you're a bad person. But you were the one reported for using your adept abilities, and then just coincidentally happened to be standing next to a man who said some nasty things that a group of people actually became afraid of, and then... do you know what he did after that?

I'm sure you saw him abandon you like that. And while, after all that he said, you might understand why he did that, Kyle Krogen killed five hard working soldiers of the Inquisitoriate, when all they were attempting to do was detain him. The Inquisitoriate had and has no intention of killing either of you. By protocol, we bring you in for questioning and then what happens next is determined by higher level agents.

You, as I'd expect from any other good person, surrendered on the spot, but Krogen... Now my superiors have to write off five letters to five widows explaining that the another adept was responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. We both fight with such zeal, I understand, but..."

The look in Crestmere's eyes was heartbreakingly sorrowful.

"... at least we still have a respect for life, ya know?"

He tugged at the corners of his black gloves and adjusted his collar some as if vulnerable and then sniffed, rubbing his nose with his wrist. He looked back to Xanatos, still pleading with his eyes for cooperation.

"But just for the record, you had no connections with that man whatsoever did you?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

So he'd been right. Krogen was a Jedi - he'd always heard positive things about them, they were holy men, peacekeepers. The way Crestmere spoke of them however... someone wasn't telling him the truth. He had no way of knowing who was telling the truth, and who was lying however - especially not with Krogen unable to plead his case.

He sighed, Krogen had killed soldiers... on the other hand, they were soldier's trying to aprehend him. Xanatos had killed in his own defense before as well - he remembered a particular incident in Iziz City, before he met Laurent, that involved a fellow drunkard. He rubbed his tongue along his teeth in thought as he listened to Crestmere.

"None whatsoever. He showed up after I demonstrated my... ability - and began telling me what he found to be wrong with society today." Not that Xanatos particularly disagreed, at the same time he wasn't convinced though. He'd been treated roughly coming in, but this man, this Agent Crestmere had been continously nice to him - and only wanting his assistance. The truth would come out eventually.

"I'd never even seen him before."

[Y'roth Helghast]

"I believe you."

Crestmere stretched and laced his fingers together and bent them back, cracking them while he smiled. This was going rather well. It wasn't just a coincidence that they'd both been there. The unknowning adept had accidentally drawn the other out, and the other had... for some reason thought it safe, maybe just being reckless and not caring that his actions would draw definite unwanted attention. Sometimes... it just blew Crestmere's mind at how cocky some of these adepts got. Society tries to run them to the edge of extinction, they lax a little, a public weakness is put out on the holoscreens that the hardliner Emperor is dead, and bam, they just start popping up like its the Empire's day off. As if they just stopped working. Of course, this train of thought was all in the background and didn't show at all on the friendly face of Victor Crestmere.

"Don't get me wrong, everyone has the right to voice their opinion. But the report of an adept using their powers and then that kind of talk, it raises some scary suspicions and in the very heart of the capitol, too. We have to react to something like that for security's sake. And we're always on our guard, we've had people, traitors, men we've trusted with the lives of others just appear in our midst as adepts who sought to ultimately betray the very people they swore to protect. It actually bothers me, to think that people can be capable of such an immorality..."

Crestmere ran a hand through his hair before turned back to Xanatos.

"I'm sorry if I'm preaching... I just know you're kinda an out-of-towner and I'm just trying to help you with my perspective so you know where I am coming from. You can actually tell me to stop if I'm bothering you with it, and I'll just keep going with the questions."

He shrugged casually as if nothing was wrong with the world.

"And back to the crime bit, see, we've got a doctrine within the Empire, ran and enforced by the Inquisitoriate, that any adepts register under the Inquisitoriate for the safety of everyone. There are some other precautions taken but its only because we understand the potential of adepts and like anything that has a degree of potential, it needs to be cared for unless something decide to use that potential against the people who aren't... gifted in such a way.

You said they don't talk about it much on Mithos. How is the Force perceived on Mithos?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

Something like a warning flag had been triggered in Xanatos' mind, the talk of having adepts register, and 'precautions' worried him. He doubted that any of the elders on Mithos had registered with this 'Inquistoriate', especially if they were now asking Xanatos as to how the gift is perceived on his home world.

He smiled as if the question were nothing more than a friendly conversation piece and leaned back a bit, as if in thought. He didn't wish to lie to Agent Crestmere, but it didn't mean he had to tell him the whole truth, either.

"Those with the 'gift' are regarded as holy men, when we encounter them." He said simply, watching Crestmere's expression as he gave the answer.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Crestmere's expression didn't change as he responded fluidly. Xanatos wasn't any sort of actor by proffesion and wasn't trained to keeping the subtleties of personal under currents to himself. Because Crestmere saw the recognition, and the vagueness of Etanial's answer was just too... convenient. But then again, weren't they always?

"How often do you encounter them then?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

He pursed his lips slightly, and purposely made himself not furrow his brow - the line of questioning was worrisome to him - but he didn't want to lie, Agent Crestmere had been so kind to him to this point, and he'd been informed of what would happen if he didn't comply to everything they wanted. But if he said to much, who knew what would happen to Mithos...

"I don't know precisely, I've only seen a few myself." Not a lie, he had never been a very religious person, and barely made weekly services if that much. "I'd say there are maybe a few in each major city..." specifically the high priests of each city's temple.

"They've always been rather harmless. They seem to have a vow of non-violence, from my grantedly limited knowledge of them."

[Y'roth Helghast]

Grantedly limited knowledge indeed. This poor, young man was ever so slightly testing Crestmere. but Victor would bide his time. Xanatos had exposed himself, the wordage just not agreeing at all really in a manner that Crestmere knew to be a sign of deception. Now Xanatos would be led down an alteration of the path that had been set before him previously, the not nearly as nice one. However, Etanial would not know that until it was really just too late.

"That's very wise of them, you know. Some of the longest living civilizations throughout history have persisted because of men like that, men who made the wise choice, resisting the easy way out and using violence to prevent that vicious cycle of war and tragedy from befalling their own people."

Victor shifted in his seat with a genuine smile, speaking from the heart, openly, with Xanatos. Quite the different visage upon his face then the turmoil of personality and opinion beneath.

"So what about you, then?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

He fidgetted a bit, uncomfortable with that question for OH SO MANY reasons. He let out a long sigh, and relaxed again.

"What about myself, would you like to know, precisely?"

There was so much he could say, his history as a noble - that kept him out of the church service when he was revealed as having the gift as a child. His lashing out with it a few years prior, killing his mother and sister. There were the 'tricks' he picked up, moving things, pulling things. Even his time spent with Laurent where his forceful lover had used the force to help control him, and move his actions in the way he wished.

"I'm more than happy to answer every question you may have for me in that regards."

He wasn't really, but he'd fight through it. Just tell Crestmere what he wanted to know, and maybe he could go back to something resembling a life.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Just tell me a little about yourself, kinda like an autobiography. It allows me to know where you're comin' from so that I can help you more and make sure that everything, any kind of misunderstanding is all ironed out, ya know?"

Crestmere couldn't have been any nicer in that deliverance. He prayed the poor boy was at least bright enough to just spill the beans instead of making Victor verbally disect Xanatos for the next hour.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He just gave him a slow nod, still fidgeting slightly.

"I was born into a wealthy family, I wanted for nothing, I had anything I desired at my fingertips - as long as I knew my place. My father vanished some years ago, he was supposed to be going on a business trip off-planet and never returned. As the only male of the family, it was my responsibility to counter the house, with his disappearance.

I would most likely never leave Mithos, and rarely even the estate."

He froze, choosing his words carefully, he really didn't need to be indicted in 2 deaths as well as his other crimes he was being held on. He'd lied about this before, fooled most everyone, surely... he could do it again.

"There was a robbery attempt, and both my mother and sister wound up dead. After grieving, and seeing to issues at home, I decided I needed a trip - I needed to clear my head for a while. I began a tour of the other systems, learning all the strange things that happen off-world."

Mostly a tour of bars.

"Eventually I took up with the wrong crowd, got involved with things I'm not proud of. I wished to make ammends for my transgressions, which is why I used my ... 'gift' as my people would say, to try and stop that crime in the event that led me here."

He leaned back a bit, unsure what more to tell him, and what more there was were events he didn't wish to share in all truth.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Your attempt to return to the proper path is inspiring, you know. I don't mean to down play your efforts either. All too often do you hear of the individual who took up with the wrong crowd, as you put it, and never looks back from there."

Victor could see some progress here. And he could push the envelope with this one if he wanted to or he could just hand Xanatos over to Helghast and be done with it. Inquisitor Helghast would make short work of Xanatos and then Xanatos, like a piece of food, would be digested by the Inquisitoriate and eventually dumped into the sewage.

However, Crestmere saw potential. Etanial would've liked to have considered himself fortunate had he known this. So, quite abruptly,

"Do you want to take a break?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

A break? Perhaps this was a trick, to test him - see if he would try to make his lot easier, or perhaps... perhaps Crestmere was merely a kind-hearted soul doing his job. It was confusing, and the more he spoke with Crestmere it seemed the more confusing it became. He still didn't know who was telling him the truth, Krogan with his declarations against the Empire, or this Agent.

He leaned back, ever so slightly and finally nodded. "If that's what you think would be best, I wouldn't mind one, but I don't require one." He was going to have to abdicate, play more submissive than he did in a social setting, at least. His mother would be screaming at a noble's proper place now, if she was still alive.

He leaned forward, crossing his fingers in front of his face, and smiling behind clasped hands. "Whatever you think is best, Agent Crestmere."

[Y'roth Helghast]

Crestmere shrugged nonchalantly and stood slowly, stretching.

"That's very kind of you to allow me to do what I think is best, Mr. Etanial. So, for now you'll be escorted to a rather comfortable containment cell and wait until we can talk again. There could be the ever so slightest chance that we might not get to talk again and you might be transported to a different part of the facility or under someone else's authority.

I only ask that you try not to worry about it all too much. I'll make sure you're taken care of, whether you're still under my authority or not. Just try to remain as cooperative as you've been and everything should go smoothly, ya know?"

Crestmere lifted one arm and then rotated it slowly until his shoulder popped. Those kinds of things tended to happen more often as Crestmere aged, surprisingly enough. But beyond that, Victor determined it about his time to leave. However he stopped at the door and turned, one hand in front of his face in thought.

"I just remembered something. I'd say its kinda important. A guy by the name of Helghast, Inquisitor Helghast actually. Don't play games with him. Ever."

The sudden image Victor portrayed in the room was very, painstakingly different from the one he had been presenting the entire time. It seemed to make the room darker in a way, as if Victor could actually do that by persona alone. But just as fast as he had changed, he smiled and was back again.

"Remember that, I'm sure I'll see you soon. Take it easy, Xanatos."

The door closed behind Crestmere who waving behind him as he left. A moment later two Inquisitoriate soldiers appeared from that same door, and informed Xanatos that they would be escorting him to his cell promptly.

[Xanatos Etanial]

The warning from Agent Crestmere was troublesome, such a drastic change in his personality when he spoke of this 'Helghast'. If Xanatos encounter this one, he would heed Crestmere's advice, he decided that immediately.

The idea that someone else would take over in his processing was worrisome on two fronts, Agent Crestmere was the only friend, as he had asked to become that he had made here, and the other was the concept of being lost in the machine that was the Empire. However, he would have faith. It was all he had now, his new friend Crestmere had assured him that he would be treated fairly, and taken care of - as long as he continued to cooperate. He had nothing else here, so he would have to put his faith in the words of the man called Crestmere.

He nodded to the soldiers, and gave them no resistence, going along with them peacefully.