Dancing a fine line (Sianna)

[Analyn Brins]

Analyn stood at the railing and looked down at the mass below her. The gallery was full of friends and family and more people that were total strangers to her. She stood on the upper deck in her black gown and sighed. They were all here for her coming out. She had been in private school for so long, that even those she knew growing up, friends of her parents, were strangers to her now. She could probably tick off the total number of people she knew here on one hand and not feel she was leaving anyone out.

Once more her hand rose to her reddish hair and tucked an errant strand into the intricate upsweep some maid had done for her. She didn't even know any of her father's house staff anymore either. Those who had raised her had been given leave to find employment elsewhere once she left at the age of ten. No need to keep nannies and keepers around for a child that was no longer there.

A man walking below caught her eye. It was Jacin. Her father wanted them married. The joining of the families would ensure a huge monopoly on some product they both produced and end the pricing wars and bid wars that kept her father and his friend from truly relaxing. Trouble was, Jacin was a bully, like his father, and Ana wanted nothing to do with him, much less marry him.

She watched as he mounted the steps, his eyes staring at her like a nexu stalking his prey. His gaze hovered up and down her body as if by sheer will alone he could take her right then and there. “Why are you up here? You should be down there. They are here because of you.”

She hated everyone gathered around simply to welcome her home. She hated the rituals of parading young women around like prize jewels to show to any who would come to see. Her father had spared no expense at the location. The huge upperfloor of this lavish galleria was split into two halves. One half was designated as space where public and private activities could be held. The other half had recently opened a rather large art gallery and their grand opening gala happened to be the same night. Since her father was such a patron of the arts, he hadn't rescheduled, but rather, invited his guests to see the art as well and to consider purchasing something as a way to show their own support.

The guests from the art gallery, of course, were not invited to the party he held for his only daughter, Analyn. While most called her Ana, or even Lyn, only her father was allowed to keep the teasing childhood nickname of Naly once she had grown up.

Jacin looked at her as he approached. His hand went to her own as it rested on the railing. “You should come downstairs. Your father and I have something to speak to you about.” His smile made her know, automatically, she wasn't going to like whatever it was.

She nodded and allowed him to escort her downstairs. There was no point in making a scene when she didn't even know what it was about, yet. They stopped by several people on the way. His arm was soon protectively, or possessively, holding her close as he seemed to be making sure everyone saw them together. It took every amount of self control she had to not call him to task on the ridiculous posturing.

[Sianna]

Strolling through the large museum, Sianna's silver orbs took in the mundane pieces that the gallery sported. Though she had been led to believe that something of note in the Force had been discovered, she had yet to make her way to that display. Though she had doubts that archaeologists had found any Rakatan obelisks, she was definitely curious. Plus, the Force had rarely let her down as the tool that she had used to locate things of interest. Quietly musing on an ornately carved stelae reputedly from Tython, the Sith Master slowed her pace as she studied the stone. Leaning in, goblet of wine in her right hand, the Echani gazed through the transparisteel shroud to note a knick within one of the etched glyphs and noted a white speck which told her immediately that the piece had been forged and painted by someone that hadn't kept their hand steady enough when they tried to mimic the styles used by the original artist.


Sighing, she straightened as a well dressed human male in dark blues and black approached. "Splendid isn't it," he smiled. "Found this during a dig on Tython a few weeks ago. Trudged through the ancient ruins near the ancient Jedi temple. Endured not a few dangers and animals along the way to the site."


"Really," Sianna grinned wryly, trying her best not to laugh, having just left Tython herself not a few weeks ago. And the Jedi temple where she had met Kera, no less. "Where in the Jedi temple did you find this piece?" Taking a sip of the tea colored alcohol, she was doing everything she could not to betray her knowledge of the place.


"Near the northeastern landing pad, all covered in rubble and overgrown with grass now."


Nodding as if she was actually interested, "Outside the temple then?"


"Yeah," he nodded, grinning back as if he had sold his story, then took a sip of his own champagne.


"Huh." Turning back to the stelae, she stepped left and motioned to the inscription on the face. "I'm sure you can tell me what this says then."


Moving around to her right, he glanced at it for a moment. "This tells about the dangers that the local Twi'lek village had been enduring as they fought off Flesh Raiders, and then were rescued by several Jedi from the temple."


Reading it herself as he translated the carving, she found several mistakes in the language. Letting him finish, she pointed to the word where she had found the mistake in stone, the white line along the fourth letter. "What's that word?"


"Conquered, taken from the Twi'lek word," he stated confidently, turning to her.


Nodding, she glanced to him. "Tell your forger that he should paint over the carved letters better," she began, noting his surprise. "Also let him know when you're looking to sell something from a local shop here on Coruscant, he needs to be more accurate with the type of stone from there as well."


His mouth fell open as he backpedaled. "I assure you...."


"Don't," she shook her head. "I just left Tython a few weeks ago, so give it up."

[Analyn Brins]

Analyn let Jacin lead her around the floor twice before seeing her father. Putting her best smile on, for she did truly love the man despite some of his reasoning, she tugged her companion's arm slightly to steer them that direction. Letting go finally of her anchor, she hugged her father. “Thank you for this,Father. You did so well with this. I think even the museum will be thanking you after tonight. I saw Ms Danison coming back in glowing over some painting she had purchased.” She smiled and stepped back.

Jacin was immediately at her back and she stiffened as he set one hand on her shoulder. Had she been more aware of more than the fact he was so close, she would have also noticed how tight his fingers were, how determined to keep her right there where she stood.

Her father smiled and nodded. “They have already thanked me. Offered to cover half my costs from this evening because of it. I figure by the end of the night I may actually turn a profit.” His laugh made her smile despite sighing in her head. Leave it to her father to turn a party for her into another bottom line of credits.

“Jacin said you had something to tell me?” She didn't want to drag this out any longer. A knot had started to form in her stomach as she had descended the steps that now was the size of her fist and was starting to choke off her air as panic began to rise in her mind and throat.

“Oh yes...” He smiled, lightly brushed a strand of hair from her face and grinned over her shoulderto where she was sure the young man was leering back in understanding to some inside joke she was unaware of.

Reaching for her hand, her father smiled. “I want you to marry Jacin. It's best. And I will not accept no. We are announcing it tonight. I was going to do it as a surprise, but Jacin thought it best we tell you first.” He looked once more past her. Whether Jace had been the instigator of her knowledge before surprise, she wasn't sure. But leave it to him to want to gloat before placing her in front of the public where she would be forced to put on a smile.

The young woman who normally did everything her Daddy wished, suddenly felt her final string had been plucked. She pulled away from Jacin's hand so suddenly she actually managed to slip his grip. “No.” She said and moved to her right so the men were now on either side of her and within her view.

“What?” Her father's astonishment left him suddenly at a loss for words. “Now listen, Naly.” She knew the argument about family obligations was about to come from his lips.

“No! No 'listen Naly' this time dad. I won't do it.” She shook her head as his hand reached for her. Her back was to the crowd as they stood under the arch of the staircase. There was a small fountain behind her and facing her, behind the men, was a set of double doors that lead to serving areas. She shook her head and backed up till her legs backed into the fountain. “I won't marry him, Dad, even for you.”

Jacin growled low, his fists balled at his side as he shook his head. “I've got this, Mr. Brins.” He stepped between her and her father and glared at her as he closed the small gap. She would have run if there had been room. His voice was low and menacing and she could almost feel his anger rolling off him like tangible heat. It made her dizzy as if rage, itself, were caressing her skin. (untrained dark Force user)

“Jacin, don't!” Her hands rose to stop him. She hadn't wanted to touch him, but he stared at her and defiantly took the final step that placed her hands firmly against his chest. A small whimper escaped her lips. Something was wrong... this wasn't the Jacin she knew from four years ago when she had come home on holiday. This was, someone completely different. And she didn't like it at all. “Jace, please.”

“No! No more 'Jace, please'.” He mocked her as his wrists whipped up and grabbed hers, tilting them back at a sharp enough angle she cried out once more. “You are mine! Our fathers agreed and so did I. This is no longer up for discussion.”

Analyn jerked back, but his grip kept her in place. “Jacin, you are hurting me.”

His eyes shifted and something seemed to pass behind them. “I know.” He whispered and suddenly jerked her closer. As his head came down to claim her lips, she tilted her head away from him.

“Noooo....” She whispered with all her pleading and desire to be away from him and the situation flooding out in that single word.


That's when everything happened at once.


Jace raised a hand and slapped her hard enough to send her to her knees. With one hand still gripping her right wrist, she was off balance and went down at an odd angle. Analyn cried out at the stab of pain that rocked her vision.

Her father, realizing something wrong was happening, put his hand on Jace's shoulder. “Now wait a minute, young man...” but that was all he got out as a pulse left Jacin as he turned. The pulse set Analyn's father on his backside and in response, fear filled her at the idea of the guests and others behind her suffering the same.

“JACE!” She cried out as the wave slammed into her. A defiance filled her body and she felt a wall slam up across the entrance behind her to block off the small alcove. It wasn't any taller than her, and barely as wide as the fountain. But it was enough to stop Jace's rage and bounce it back into the three of them.

Analyn, already on her knees, though starting to rise, was pitched forward into Jacin, who cried out in rage and surprise and fell back on her father's unconscious body.


And between one heart beat and thenext, it was over.


Analyn's father, caught in the untrained Force Rage of Jacin, had been knocked unconscious. Analyn's own protective nature had raised her panic with just enough Force to bounce the rage back, away from where it was pulsing outwards towards everyone around them. The back blast left the three on the floor. Analyn stunned, Jacin and Mr. Brins unconscious.

[Sianna]

"I picked this stelae out of the rubble myself," the archaeologist continued defending, sweat now visible on his brow. "Your information on Tython's wrong." Others within earshot now taking notice of the argument and his reputation was no doubt on the line all of a sudden.

"There is no landing pad outside the temple," Sianna pressed. "It's in the center of the building, idiot. Should do more research on your worlds."

His brow furrowed, he sighed with frustration as he glared at the Echani. Fortunately for him, he turned and walked away and it should have been there that the Force faded from Sianna's body, but instead a pulse of energy from somewhere more distant caught her attention. Moving toward the main corridor of the museum, she handed off her half empty glass and picked up her pace. Someone was using the Force, though untrained and she had to find out who. As she moved across the polished, dark marble floor, past wealthy entrepreneurs and their dates, she noticed the double doors that apparently led to another part of the large building. Guarded by two large humans in black suits, their hands together before them, she soaked in the Force and mentally touched them.

~She needs access.~

As Sianna, dressed in close fitting black tunic and baggy, black pants, her crimson cape flowing behind her, approached the doors, the guard on the left stepped aside and opened the door for her, letting her enter the large party. Silver eyes guided the Sith to the large, main chamber as she walked through the crossing hallway which led to the restrooms and lobby. The murmur of voices, concerned and surprised, filled the air as Sianna soon found the clusters of people gathered around three on the floor of the immense ballroom. One calling paramedics, Sianna's direction soon faltered as she focused again on those down. Two were Force sensitive while the third was much less so. Turning, she neared the closest which as she approached, found a young human woman being looked at by two couples. Possibly family or close friends by their tone.

"Ana, you alright," one of the males asked concernedly.

[Analyn Brins]

The darkness danced behind her eyes threatening to claim her. Anna managed to prop herself up slightly. Frowning at the headache she felt building, she waved everyone off. "Go away...please...we're fine..." It was obviously a lie but she felt disoriented and confused.

A young man, looking similar to the older of the two on the floor managed to push his way in. "Ok, everyone...she's fine. So are Jasin and Marcus. Please...give us some privacy. Andrew, Peter, please see the guests out." The man swiftly took charge and ordered a couple more men nearly identical to the door guards to his bidding.

Ana had sat up and turned to lean her back on the fountain. The stranger went to the unconscious men. Checking to be sure they weren't dead, he finally remembered the girl. But instead of asking if she was ok, he snapped in rage. "What did you do, Ana? We thought you were beyond this temper of yours!"

Ana shook her head then stopped when it hurt. "It wasn't a temper, Uncle Nigel. Jasin...did...something. He was mad I wouldn't marry him. He hurt dad. I couldn't let him hurt the others!" Tears welled up in her eyes.

Nigel had moved to stand over her, oblivious to the audience he might still have. "Somehow I doubt that. You did something. Jasin told me you always had temper tantrums. Made things happen..."

"No!" she protested. "He did. He has the temper. He blamed me even as kids." she shook her head again, crying now.

Nigel raised his hand, bending slightly to get within reach. His voice dropped low and deep. "Liar! I'll teach you to lie about my boy." His hand drew back about to slap the crying girl's face square and hard.

[Sianna]

As she watched, one of the newly arrived guards did his best to usher people from the scene, though as one of them approached Sianna, his hand up toward her, she glared at him. Silver orbs flashed as she touched his mind. ~Be a big mistake to make me leave~ Hesitating, his eyes grew wide and he continued on past the wraith in black and red, moving out of her sight and allowed the Sith Master to then continue closer to the woman as she pleaded her case. Brow furrowed as the priestess listened to the girl's pleas fall on deaf ears.

Reaching out mentally to Analyn, Sianna mustered the Force to touch on the frustration that the girl was feeling for being treated this way, feeding it to her target. ~He has no right to call you a liar. Show him who you truly are.~

Movement in the room and those leaving in a hurry all seemed to slow to a crawl as time became nearly irrelevant. Sianna knew that if this girl was to understand and fully embrace her potential, then it needed to start right here and now. Her own father lying on the steps nearby unconscious, the supposed groom-to-be now rising once more and the look in his eyes told them all that this wasn't over yet. It was the moment of truth.

[Analyn Brins]

Once more, the girl felt herself cornered and once more, protection came at her call. As panic filled her, she lifted her arms to ward off the blow. But as a small voice echoed in her head, she shook it lightly. *No more...* her mind answered the voice of strength in her thoughts. No more pain, no more being ordered around. No more hiding like a frail woman. Had she been asked, she would guess the prompting voice in her mind was herself, mad and tired of being hurt.

Instead of her wrists crossing to ward off the blow, she shoved her hands outwards toward Jacin's father and started to rock forward. She was intending to shove him hard, topple him over backwards on his psychotic son. But the desire to make him pay, to make him hurt, welled up and the untrained Force once more came on the riding call of her emotions. The soft shove sent the man back a few feet to land hard on his back. Ana looked at her hands then at the man who lay there, stunned, hardly able to move. Panic filled the girl's eyes as she realized her strength in a moment of panic had shoved him further than she intended.

Grasping behind her for the fountain, she used one hand for shaky support as the other grasped at her dress to bunch around her so she could stand up. The guards were still ushering people out. They figured their boss had the slip of a girl in hand. So no one had seen what she had done.

Eyes of panic and fear glanced around. They didn't see the pale woman in the corner with a smile. Slowly, she tried to reason out where an exit was she could use and not be seen. Knowing that going back up the stairs wasn't a possibility, she looked at the service entrance. One of the guards had gone that way to see to the staff remaining out of the way as well. Analyn gripped her skirt and tried to run. But her energy was sapped. She managed to walk, and not fall in her heels, towards the door on the other side of the, now three, fallen men. She was tired of men. Tired of their hate, manipulation and possessiveness. She was almost to the door when one of the guards across the room hollered for her to stop. She gripped the doorframe and shook her head. She'd never be able to outrun him. So she closed her eyes and rested a moment while wondering just how bad the punishment for this 'temper tantrum' was going to be.

[Sianna]

Feeling another pulse in the Force rush through her, Sianna eagerly wanted more and was disappointed as Analyn pushed herself up and tried to run. White brow furrowed as the priestess didn't feel that her work here was done yet, then the guard yelled at the girl to stop. Silver orbs noticed the waning, weak aura now in the doorway to the kitchen and the Sith Master realized she was going to have to get involved here and stalked toward the redhead, keeping her eyes on the suited guard who soon noticed her and slowed his pace. Growing pale at the sight, he stammered.

"W..what are you doing in here?"

"I've come for my new student," her almost ghostly voice informed. Touching his mind, she ensured that he wasn't going to keep them from leaving. ~ You need to tend to the men on the floor and forget about her and I. ~

Straightening, he began moving toward the victims of Analyn's exertions. "...forget."

Moving to Analyn, she wrapped her right arm under the girl's left and across her back. "Come on, we have a lot to talk about."

[Analyn Brins]

She startled at the touch, but realizing the voice was female, she no longer cared. "Just want out of here..." She managed to say. There was something cold and dark in the arm that snaked around her. And it startled her to realize it was a comfort. Like a cool cloth on a fevered head. Whatever the woman was about, it made Anna calm enough and she took a deep breath and managed to help the woman lead her out. She pointed to a couple doors on the way and without a few turns, they were at the lift that would take them to any of the top tier levels of the building. The lower one got, the harder it was to find lifts willing to go lower. The building, like many in the city was part of the upper tier of Coruscant. You couldn't see the planet surface from the balconies up here. Too much traffic, fog and other buildings in the way.

As they headed towards the lift, there was also a choice for stairs and more corridors to other sections of the building. Anna managed to gather her wits enough about her to finally glance sideways at her pale heroine. "Who are you?" She asked. It wasn't timid, nor was it the haughty voice of a spoiled debutant. This was the prelude to a thank you and she knew the woman had saved her, whether the pale, cool stranger at her side knew it or not.

[Sianna]

Through the main kitchen they trekked, into a service hallway and past offices and a dressing room, Sianna followed the girl's directions until they reached the lift and pushed the button, avoiding the gaze of several attendants as they headed away. The query that soon came wasn't unexpected and the Echani grinned as they waited for the lift. "Sianna, priestess of the Sith'aria. I'm here to help you realize your true potential," she informed. "There's a gift within you and never let anyone tell you differently."

As the doors slid aside, Sianna guided the girl within and then pushed the button for the rooftop garage and access. Closing once more, the doors allowed them privacy for a few moments. "They don't understand you've been chosen to be powerful. Rule instead of being ruled. Touch forgotten knowledge and power that few have even read about. Come with me and I'll teach you the purer side of the Force and no one will ever hurt you again." Feeling the adrenaline pumping through her body as it did every time she talked about the spiritual side of the Force and the universe, Sianna's silver orbs flashed with excitement.

[Analyn Brins]

Anna leaned on the wall of the lift asthe woman spoke. “Priestess of the Sith'aria?” She wasn'tfamiliar with the word, but knew what the Sith were. Her eyesnarrowed slightly as her body stiffened. The next words out of hermouth were nearly a whisper. “You are a Sith Priestess?”


As the woman told her she had potentialto rule and not be ruled, a sly grin touched her lips. “I wouldlove to show Jacin a thing or two.” She bit her lip as the idea oflearning to stand up to those who had ordered and organized everymoment of her life till now. “Just go with you? Now?” She turnedsideways a moment, her gaze looking out over the city. It only took aheartbeat for her to realize this wasn't the life she wanted anymore.


As the doors opened, she looked to thewoman who felt cold and warm all at once. There was power in herAnnalyn could feel, though she wasn't sure how she knew. Thecloseness had helped clear her head and now only a slight headacheremained. She was tired, but not about to pass out. Whatever thiswoman was, she wanted to be her.


“I want to know what you do.” Thedefinitiveness in her voice surprised her. She was also certainwhatever slight grin was on her face, or shine in her eyes, shewouldn't have recognized it, much less those in a heap on the floorbelow them. “I don't want to be told what to do anymore. I want tobe in charge of my life.” She hoisted up her skirt and smiled asshe stood up from the wall. She was pretty sure she had no clue what she was getting herself into. And had the woman asked her in the morning, it may have been a different answer in the light of day. But right now, in the night, a bruise on her cheek ripening from the slap, she was sure she wanted to be anywhere but here. And a place that could make her stronger seemed just the perfect choice for a direction.

[Sianna]

Sianna's black, full lips coursed up in a smile as Analyn agreed to come with her. "You've chosen the right path, trust me." As the doors opened once more, the lithe Echani in black and red led her new student out into the long, ornately decorated hallway which then guided the pair to an entry of transparisteel doors. Through those and Sianna moved to the speeder that she had used to arrive here earlier and motioned to the passenger side. Opening the driver's side door, she slid into the leather seat and reached to start the engines. Eager to get this girl's training started, she also knew they had to be careful of their Force aura's being picked up by any Imperial knights or Jedi that may be onworld.

"First, we'll get you in shape as I train you in the basics of the Force," she began as the doors closed. Guiding the speeder from the parking slot, she turned left and they headed from the shadow of the garage's ceiling and out into the night brightly lit by a host of advertisements, headlights from other vehicles and immense buildings. "This won't be an easy road, but I assure you the power you'll discover within yourself is going to make you wonder why you ever cowed under them before." Confident, the Sith priestess felt the continued rush of adrenaline through her pale body as the thought of robbing another from the clutches of either the Imperial Knights or Jedi was almost too good to pass up. "What do you know of the Force so far?"

[Analyn Brins]

Anna drew her dress around her and stepped into the speeder as directed. As they moved off she nodded. "I'll learn whatever I can." She let her mind wander to those who would pay dearly in time. Once more, guilt struck up and she glanced over her shoulder as they moved into the night. A moment of hesitation niggled her mind, but then Sianna asked her a question and she turned back, "Huh?" Realizing she hadn't been paying attention, she shifted back to settle in her seat.

Lithe fingers pressed over her gown, hopelessly wrinkled, though part of her didn't care. "The Force? Honestly nothing, Priestess." She wasn't exactly sure what to call the woman, but the title would work for now. "I know that Jedi and Sith use it as a way to use their powers. But I don't know what it is or how it works." She turned slightly and looked at the pale warrioress. "Is that what I used? I mean, all this time. When I managed to reach something that was really out of reach, or shove someone harder than I meant to?" She glanced out the front viewscreen. "Father used to call them temper tantrums. Said when I got mad, my anger flared and I got an extra burst of strength. But other things happened, things that had nothing to do with strength." She fell silent. There were so many other things, other times, that had nothing to do with her temper or strength. But she wasn't ready to confess them, yet. She had been judged harshly in those moments and had no wish to draw the anger of the woman at the speeder's controls.

[Sianna]

As they glided through the airlanes of Coruscant, Sianna recounted all that she had learned over the many years of reading and research, as well as her tutelage under various masters to become a Sith. All the fights with Jedi and other Force users as well as nature on some worlds. All of it culminating into the master she had become. "The Force is an energy that is within all things, but we've been chosen to have a gift which gives us more of a touch to it. It's more than just a physical touch, it's spiritual. When I meditate or do anything with that tool, it's a strength and power that comes from deep within. When you pushed that man away from you, it was more than just a desire, it was adrenaline coupled with power from the universe that all worked together to help you perform what you desired."

Letting her think on those things for a long moment, Sianna soon noticed the landmark that she was looking for and steered toward the large, squat highrise.

[Analyn Brins]

A power source she could draw on. "So you mean I don't have to feel scared or cornered to do what I did? And there is more I am capable of?" The wonder and eagerness in her voice to know more was evident in her voice.

As they moved to the highrise, Anna had an odd thought. "I'll need to get a change of clothes at some point." She smiled at the woman's own outfit. "I think I am a little overdressed for learning how to hurt people without compromising myself in the process." She laughed softly then tilted her head with a maniacal grin on her face. "Unless it helps to make bait of myself for the sake of the lessons." She was half teasing, but half not. Sometimes she felt herself strongest when she was cornered. Looking back at the times she had had her small 'tantrums' her father called them, she realized she had been angry, felt ignored or belittled and more often than not, like she was being treated like a fragile doll no one would take seriously. If that is what she had to do again, and would learn from it this time, it was worth it for her.

A part of her mind was laughing. How was it that all her life she had cowered before the men in her life, but in one swoop, a woman tells her she can be strong and she accepts it without question? She slammed the wall down on the doubt. "It's not like life can get worse." She murmured to her doubting mind, unaware it came out loud enough to be heard.

[Sianna]

This being a good starting point as they cruised through the airlanes, Sianna chanted: "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me."

Glancing over to Analyn, Sianna's silver eyes studied her new student and touched on her surface thoughts, then released her mental touch and turned back to the approaching building, guiding downward toward one of the many upper garages. "Each of those steps takes time, but you've already touched on the first one. Passion, or emotion, helped you achieve your goal along with the Force and saved you from harm. Keep that in mind as you train. Use everything in your arsenal to your advantage." Soon after, they entered the shadow of the garage, luma lamps brightened empty slots and the Sith priestess soon drove onto one and shut off the engine.

[Analyn Brins]

"Through passion I gain strength..." The young woman murmured the line and glanced out the window thinking on the rest of the rose. There was something inside Anna that seemed to snap into place. "Why does that sound familiar? It's like something half remembered as a child." She whispered the poem in perfect mimic of Sianna and looked at her. "This is something to do with the Sith and how they live. Isn't it?"

The top of her head was a whirl with ideas now. "My chains are broken, the Force will free me..." For some reason, that line resonated in her the most. A smile of freedom came over her face.

When the speeder slid into its spot, she looked around. "I'll be this close to home?" There was a soft rise of panic in her voice. She had hoped to be halfway around the planet, or at least a lot further away than she was now. Her bravado faltered a moment at the thought of possibly running into people she knew. It was one thing to be confident in the dark, with adrenalin pumping, and self preservation in mind. Could she maintain that if someone came and confronted her about her true reasons for running out on her father and fiancé?

[Sianna]

Listening to Analyn as she mused on the lines of the Sith code, Sianna sat for a moment and opened the door, preparing to step out. "No, actually we're catching a ship to Cloud City where I live. There, you'll be able to study freely and have plenty of rogues to test your new abilities on," Sianna revealed and then stepped out of the speeder. Closing the door behind her, the Echani continued toward the back of the vehicle and glanced to Analyn again. "I've established myself there and have a couple other students as well. In the past, our order believed in the Rule of Two, but to rebuild an empire you need more than two. You need an army, much like the one that the Empress has." Though she had yet to run into any Imperial Knights, their reputation was galaxy-wide and one that painted them in a heroic and invincible light. Propaganda was amazing that way.

Turning right, she guided the debutante toward the lift. Being the only two in the garage at the moment, Sianna didn't fear talking openly about her beliefs. "In answer to your previous question, yes, I am Sith. We believe in the purer side of the Force, unlike the Jedi who want to try and avoid their emotions, or won't allow them to help in a fight. We were born with all these tools to achieve our life's goals, so use them to their fullest potential." Touching the button to an upper floor, Sianna turned to Analyn as they waited. "When you come back here, you're going to be unrecognizable to these people that only wished for you to fit into a narrow slice of their lives. You'll command your own future which will make all of them irrelevant."

[Analyn Brins]

Analyn stepped from the vehicle and smiled. "I have never been to Cloud City." She murmured wondering if being excited about seeing a new place was a good thing or not. "So I won't be the only one? At least I'll have others to practice with, then, I guess. Huh?" She got out and swiftly followed the woman to the lifts. She agreed that if you were trying to build a formidable force, two people wasn't going to do it. An odd thought crossed her mind. "I wonder if the Rule of Two wasn't really just two Sith. But perhaps pairs that ruled different areas. I mean, if there are only two people see in the quadrant all the time, it's easy to delude themselves they are a small group. And if you are all that powerful enough to hold that quadrant, then no one bothers you. Right?" She wasn't really realizing her mind was running her mouth. "I would be willing to bet there was probably a huge force of them at some point, but because of being spread so thin, and keeping that distance to maintain the illusion, someone got wise and picked them off, or they simply ran afoul of something before managing to get help or replacements."

When they reached the lifts, she shrugged. "Sorry... I tend to think too much..." But when the woman then mentioned her coming back here and making those others, back there, envy her because of her freedom, power and choices, her only answer was also right on the tip of her tongue. "I have no desire to come back here to them. There is nothing from them I ever want again." There was an edge, and anger and a hatred that colored her words, deepened her voice and cause a small wave of power to fall off her like a warm wind. It wasn't strong or even realized by her. But the small flex of her aura and subsequent roll of unused Force power would be enough to let the Lady at her side know that there was no doubt which of her emotions was stronger.

[Sianna]

Listening to the girl talk about her theories on why the Sith had gone from an army to the lone pair wasn't too far off, but Sianna knew all that would become clear once she began reading through the collection of books and tomes that Sianna had in her study. The apartment was going to be busy, but keeping them on the city in the clouds of Bespin meant that Sianna could keep their presence a secret for a bit longer than most. Half of the underbelly were criminals that thrived on survival and she was building her own small gang of supporters who could help her keep an eye on trouble. Plus, these students would learn how to use their abilities to also learn the streets and keep them all safe.

"Facing your fears is one way to ensure that you've mastered yourself. Jacin is going to haunt your dreams until you take care of him," she stated knowing already how that statement would be received. "My chains are broken only through mastering every aspect of my life which includes our past." The lift's doors opened and she stepped inside, waiting for Analyn to join her before they ascended to the rooftop hangar and their eventual departure from Coruscant.

[Analyn Brins]

Ana listened as Sianna confirmed her worst fear at the moment, that she would have to face Jacin again some day or never be done with him. As they stepped into the lift, she murmured back, "My chains are broken through Mastery..." The idea seemed easy enough. But the idea she would ever master her fears and weakness, much less her entire life, seemed a bit daunting. "You make it sound easy..." She managed to shiver at the idea of facing Jacin and her father again.

Deciding perhaps that a change of topic would be easier, she let her dress fall to give her fingers a rest and looked at the woman at her side. "How long will we be in Cloud City? Is that going to be home, or just another stopping point?"

[Sianna]

Sianna grinned wryly at the initial statement knowing nothing about this life was easy, but it was going to be learned firsthand once Analyn started her training in earnest. Which would be very soon. "Cloud City is home for now," she informed as the lift rose to the rooftop hangar. "I have an extra room there, so you'll have your own space." Watching the numbers tick by, their journey soon ended as the lift stopped once more and the doors opened again. Stepping out, Sianna led her new student toward a nearby blast door and entered a code on a small panel, which allowed them entry. Lights illuminated a simple freighter which now awaited it's owner as the Echani walked toward the lowering ramp.

"There are some basic items to change into onboard. Good enough for now. We'll be spending a couple days enroute, so we can get your training started once we're in hyper." Entering the ship, the priestess turned right and continued on down a long, narrow hallway as she motioned across the galley. "Berthing's there, so make yourself comfortable unless you want to join me in the cockpit." Closing the entry ramp with a mental tap on the button, she soon entered the cozy cockpit and claimed the pilot's seat, then began the startup procedure.

Within moments, they were away and climbing through the clouds and leaving the megalopolis behind, passing ships and cloud cars alike.

[Analyn Brins]

The idea of the floating city being her home for a while made her head spin. Seemed like a dream to live in such a place as she had read and seen in holos. She was glad there was something on the ship she could change to. The dress reminded her of the previous hours and she wanted nothing more than to send it to a fiery death, despite the hopes she had had for it and how much she loved it. Right now she wanted it out the airlock into space somewhere she'd never see it again. "Thank you." She murmured at the offering of something to change into.

But as they boarded and the woman nodded to the berthing area, she suddenly wasn't quite ready to go there. She followed into the cockpit, wrapped the dress around her to keep its material from catching on something vital and then bit her lip and laughed as she caught it anyway and it began to tear. She found the urge to laugh maniacally as she continued to tear till the beautiful gown that went to her ankles was nothing more than a tattered thigh high short dress. The strings and fringed edge giving it a less appealing look to her, once more making her wicked with glee. She balled the material and shoved it into the small locker behind the seats and sat down strapping in as she glanced over at Sianna. "I hope you don't mind. I'll change when we hit hyper. I just... not yet." She wasn't sure why. But she wanted to see the planet well and truly behind her before she turned her back on it.

Long legs slid easily into the space before her and she sat with the practice of someone bred for such things as parade watching and talk giving. The tightness in her was automatic without her realizing it. Poise had been drilled into her since birth. She had the feeling her mother was forcing her to sit up straight before she could even hold her head. Glancing at Sianna, Ana took a deep breath, looked back out the window and murmured, "Good riddance... at least for now."

[Sianna]

As the ship climbed into the stratosphere, approaching several distant skyhooks and parked container ships loaded down with cargo, Sianna began plotting the astrogation and soon waited for the navicomputer to clear them to leave. Partially ignoring Analyn's tantrum with the dress, the Echani knew much of this was a liberation of sorts and she could definitely understand that sentiment. As they waited, the priestess calmed as they passed into the darkness of space. "Leaving Aargau some years ago was liberating for me too. Leaving the darkness of the underbelly of that cesspit and exploring the galaxy for Sith history was definitely an eye opener. I've only been back once since then and it's one of those places that seems like it'll never change." Silver orbs turned to Analyn. "Nothing changes in our life unless we change it. Take those steps to reach for perfection within ourselves and use this gift to rise above the masses."

A beep from the navicomputer notified them of the launch coordinates, which Sianna then guided the freighter to, then pulled the trio of levers to catapult the ship into hyperspace. A new beginning, begun. Switching the vessel over to autopilot, she unbuckled herself and turned her chair to face her newest student. "Any questions before we get started?"

[Analyn Brins]

She was pleased to know her desire to leave her home wasn't a startling revelation to her new Master. "I'm sure I'll go back, someday, like you said. But I'm not going to hold my breath." She laughed softly and let a huge sigh hiss from her lips as they entered hyperspace.

When Sianna turned to her, she shook her head. "I can't think of anything. I know there are things I can already do when I'm upset. I guess the big question I have is just how much more can I actually do? And how much can you do?" A small smile touched her lips. She knew the woman was far above wherever she was going to start at. But the idea of knowing the things she could do were soon gonna be possible for Ana made her jump inside herself with glee.

[Sianna]

A wry grin arced upon Sianna's pale, smooth features and she rose from her seat, then motioned with her head and headed from the cockpit. "I can show you better than I can tell you, but there are still abilities out there that have been lost to time. Things I've read about, but haven't been able to get anything solid on yet are still on the list to find one day." Passing through the modest galley and other doors to various parts of the ship, Sianna entered the cargo bay which was half empty at the moment. Being the largest area with the most area to work, the Echani moved to the far side of the room and turned.

Opening herself to the Force now racing past them, filling the ship and themselves, Sianna focused that energy now flowing through her around one of the crates. Raising it from the rest of the stack, she rotated it in midair. "Control is the first thing you have to learn how to do," she began, her voice almost distant and ghostly as the crate continued it's random courses then rose in the air and fell. Mentally catching it before it hit two crates below, she held it aloft for a moment, then settled it atop them. Letting go of the crate, her normally silver orbs now a deep grey, she turned her attention to Analyn. "You're able to tap into the Force when emotional, I need you to tap into those feelings now."

Though the trick with the crate was merely a show, Sianna's true potential and learned skills excelled far beyond that, but time to show off would be later on.

[Analyn Brins]

Ana followed Sianna to the cargo bay. Once there, she watched in awe as her Master manipulated the large cargo container as if it were a sheet of plas screen on the wind. Watching each motion of both object and Master, she unlaced the slight heels she was wearing and discarded them, now standing barefoot in her short town dress.

"So this is all something I can learn?" She was about to gasp as the container started to fall, but it stopped before she could even raise her hand in warning. Then, once it settled, the look in her eyes was pure delight. To wield objects that way... it seemed like it was probably one of those lessons she wouldn't know till years from now.

Her gaze shot to Sianna's face as the woman mentioned she was to tap into her own emotions right now. "I only make things happen when I'm scared or mad." She started to remember some of those times and felt her fists ball at her side and a warmth start to fill her like a comfortable quilt. "But are their other emotions we can use?" The feeling of the balling of rage in the pit of her stomach was almost a comfort it came on hard and fast. For the first time, no one was going to strike her if something toppled, or grab and shake her when her anger filled the room with a harsh wind.

The feeling, instead of sitting still, seemed to gather then spread through her. Her hands unfisted, palms open at her side as she looked to Sianna. "I ... It feels like fire covering me. But I know it won't burn. As if I can manipulate it if I try." The confusion was evident, the power wavering at the untrained control slipping with the doubt in her mind if she was doing it right.

[Sianna]

Focusing on the dim aura before her within the morass of color, now that the priestess was mentally and spiritually in the Force, Sianna listened to the girl's thoughts. "Through passion I gain strength. Keep in mind that the Force is as much a part of you as your own body. A tool that's yours to command. It's going to take time, but you can't rely on only being mad or upset to use that energy naturally flowing through you to do things at your whim. They've made you think that it's a demon trying to control you instead, but I'm here to let you know, it's the exact opposite. As I've said before, we've been gifted with a touch to the universe that they wish they had," her voice growing deeper with an edge to it as she spoke.

"Until you learn to command yourself you'll constantly be afraid of what you're capable of." Sighing with impatience, the Echani knew this was a common problem among Force users at the beginning. Something she knew personally. "You're not a beast, you're a god." Wisps of dark energy began flowing from the lithe, ghostly female as if her black clothing were exuding their color to create a falling cloud of energy, drifting to the floor and seeping along the floor plating. "Command that fire within you, control it."

[Analyn Brins]

Ana listened but it wasn't clicking. Not at first. The fact that 'passion was power' seemed off to her. But then as Sianna's voice dropped, the darkness manifested in wisps, and she was snapped at to gain control, it began to make sense. Passion didn't mean love, it meant all consuming. Any feeling or drive could be passionate. Love, hate, determination... survival... all of the emotions and reasons for doing something.

As she watched the tendrils, and heard the words urging her to be a god, something clicked into place.

A deep breath escaped as desire for control, and power, swelled in her. Straightening her shoulders, Ana felt her body fill with the Force and this time didn't fight it. She glanced at the cargo container the Echani had just moved around the room like a balloon and lifted her hands towards it. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and whispered, "I can feel it... it's not fire, it's something more, isn't it?" She twisted her hands till she was motioning as if lifting the cargo box. She narrowed her vision and imagined her own aura, like Sianna's tendrils, reaching towards the box... wrapping around it... and lifting it.

[Sianna]

"Much more," Sianna's ethereal voice replied as she watched the aura in the cargo bay across from her go from untamed to focused finally and soon, that energy exuded from the girl's outstretched hands to lift the cargo container slightly. It was a start. "See the container as a small, empty thing that your powerful, mental hand can manipulate any way you wish. Command it. Control it." The eagerness to see her student succeed fed the adrenaline rush constantly feeding the energy within herself. That touch to the universe that no one could deny her or take away and soon, Analyn would know that power.

[Analyn Brins]

Ana listened as Sianna instructed her to think of the container as weightless. She could actually feel the weight of the box as if an extension of her arms were holding it aloft. "So weight is not an issue?" It was half murmured as if convincing herself. She tilted her head slightly and let her arms relax a bit as if, in her mind, the container were made of nothing more than paper and plastic. Suddenly it shot up and smacked hard into the ceiling. The shock made her cry out in surprise and she barely managed to stop it to keep it from crashing into the ground, halting it mere inches before it dropped harmlessly on the steel grates.

The look of surprise was evident on her face as she glanced to her teacher. "I'm sorry... I didn't think it would rise that fast." There was a small hint of a giggle in her voice as she realized that untrained, she could do this small thing. What else settled into her mind was, with training... what else would she be capable of. "So weight really has no bearing?" She was sure things like star ships and buildings would be a limit, but then again, hadn't she just been told there really were no limits? Perhaps there weren't. The question was, how far had others gone, and could she go further?

[Sianna]

Her lower half encapsulated in the thin black cloud, Sianna grinned. "Your touch to that gift is like a muscle, the more you practise with it, the more confident you become with your touch to the universe, the more amazing things you'll be able to do. Small ships, speeders, things that anyone else would imagine impossible to lift, or need a crane to move, you'll be able to do so with this tool. In a few years with dedication to your training, you'll be able to move a fighter with just a thought." Knowing Analyn was now hooked with just that little display, Sianna had a student.

"Now, try that again and control it."

[Analyn Brins]

While many students may have considered the idea of lifting a fighter to be impossible, thereby hobbling their abilities, Analyn took it as rote and knew she wanted that power. Even pushing the men earlier that night, she had felt their weight. What if she had known, mere hours ago, that she could have flung them easily across the room?

It was that image and those emotions that wrapped her arms like silken scarves and have lift, once more, to the cargo box before her. This time she acted like she was lifting a fragile egg. It still had weight, which gave her reference for balance, but wasn't heavy the normal sense the word.

With her bottom lip firmly trapped between her teeth, Ana stretched her hands and used the tips of her fingers lost the box, guide to the stack beside it, and gently placed it there with only the barest of tremors. The final settling was but off a thump, judging the last few inches a bit shy, but it was done.

The smile and breathy gasp off accomplishment hissed between her teeth she turned to Sianna. She was panting slightly from the strain and had no reserve energy left around her, too untrained to have not used it all at once, but her elation was evident. "I've never felt anything so amazing!" She breathed feeling her head swim slightly. Lack of food and sleep and then the excitement and sudden exit from her life had finally caught with her. Smiling she looked set her mentor. "I think need more practice." she said, mistaking the toll on her add being all from the lift. "I feel out of breath already." But she laughed despite that vast eagerness filled the woman's eyes.

[Sianna]

Nodding, Sianna was a bit disappointed at the end to the session, but knew that this untrained one would need time to realize her true potential. Releasing her hold on the Force, the priestess eased again, allowing the wisps of darkness to dissipate once more. "Grab something to eat and get some rest. In the morning, we're going to begin with exercising. A strong body and mind are going to help you in various ways in the future. Our enemy rarely offers us the chance to get ready for a fight, so we're one day going to take it to them instead." Moving toward the cargo bay's entrance, she mused on the various groups out there in the galaxy that would love to get their hands on a Sith whom they thought had died out with Palpatine and Vader.

Entering the galley, the Echani motioned with her eyes to the autochef and other facilities. "Help yourself."

[Analyn Brins]

Rather than praise her, there was a lack of emotion from Sianna. Ana took it as a sign to work harder and nodded when the woman said as much. The idea of working out didn't frighten her, though she supposed it should have since she didn't know what that entailed with her new Master. "Catch them off guard... I like that idea." She smiled thinking of doing 'just that' to several folks back home... in time, of course.

As she followed Sianna to the galley, her stomach responded with a bit more volume and she bit her lip wrapping an arm around her middle. "Sorry...Can I make you something as well? I don't mind, honest. Gives me a chance to thank you." She knew this wasn't a flowers and card kind of relationship, but the fact the Echani woman was giving her a chance, was good enough for her. "And I'll be ready in the morning. I want to do better and learn more." She wondered if her own physical abilities enhanced her Force skills? Would a bigger, stronger person wield more power and therefor be able to do more? It would be interesting to find out, either way.

Moving barefoot on the steel decking, she half smiled at how far she had come in a single day. From being forced into a marriage she didn't want, to finding out she can not only choose her own life path, but mold and manipulate it along the way. She moved to the autochef and tapped in her dinner while waiting Sianna's choice. As she did, she glanced down at her right arm and tried to let the Force crawl back over her from her core like letting scarves fall down around her body. It was shaky, but by the time her own food was done, she was once more covered in a light sheen of aura like a second skin. She wondered if it was her mind, or if the warmth she felt was from the feel of the power and emotions she had essentially draped herself in? It wasn't perfect, if Sianna truly could see it around her. There were holes, specifically down the left side of her back, and the back of her left leg as if she had forgotten to drape it there. But for having completely drained it so thoroughly a moment ago, it wasn't half bad.

[Sianna]

Shaking her head at the offer, "I'm not hungry," the Echani began as she turned to face the girl squarely, the small booth and table to her right. "You'll thank me by one day achieving perfection near to where I am now. Keep in mind, everything you do reflects upon me and I won't tolerate weakness or failure. I've been seeking students that can at the very least keep up, so don't disappoint me." Easing again, she knew Analyn had it within her to become so much better. Motivations from her supposed boyfriend and family had already planted that seed that may one day lead to their own demise.

Turning, she moved toward the berthing area, "I'll see you in the morning." She also needed to teach Analyn how to meditate as well as training in the Force, so they had a lot to do the next 'day'. As she stepped into the darker room, three sets of bunks commanding the back, right and left walls, the priestess moved toward her bed on the lower right. As she prepared for a quick shower, the tingling in the Force told her that her new understudy was at least practising a bit more which was promising.

[Analyn Brins]

Ana was a bit off kilter as the tongue lashing was received in the guise of a promise to learn and behave. She nodded in response and when the words were done, her only answer was, "Yes, Master... I won't fail you." She then watched the woman depart, a murmured 'good night' following in the woman's wake.

She finished eating and waited till Sianna was settled before moving to the locker the woman had mentioned and gathered a set of clothes and cleaned up. She set the shredded dress aside. She wasn't ready to destroy it yet. She wanted to use it to keep the fire and remind her, in case she ever doubted or faltered, just why she was here. She doubted she would need it, but right now, there was so much swimming in her head, she wasn't confident about anything other than her goal.

Not long after the other woman had retired, Ana followed suit choosing the far back lower bunk to give Sianna her privacy and not wake with someone potentially staring at her from the bunk across from her. Sleep took her swiftly and she dreamt of flinging all her enemy off the top of the building she had been almost clad in irons in with the vows of matrimony. Her father was at her feet begging for forgiveness when she glanced down, turned and merely walked away. He would live, her mind decided, knowing the amazing creature he had helped create. Not monster, for Ana would never allow herself to be thought of as that, but definitely a creature of power. The nightmares ran over and over always ending in her walking away, bruised but victorious.