Fall In, Soldier (Y'roth)

[Lamar Starworth]

Fall In, Soldier

The quarters were boring.

All the walls were of durasteel, and claimed nothing of significance. Not even the subtle propaganda choice itself to such dull grounds, and there was nothing of importance in the chamber to fix. Life barley found a host within the void, but the symbiotic relation was too strong to ignore. A galaxy vast and wide embodied what the figure held, and not even a feared gundark could command such strength. Time had collapsed upon the beings shoulders, broad and formed for a soldier. War had exhausted him, and sleep was left useless.

The muse of his powerful voice could be heard throughout by few. A clamor screeched at him, but he soothed it with his Bourne entanglement. Birth had provided a curse for him in such an age, yet he used it unlike few others in such horrid times. Talent detested the struggles, and worries became a subject of the past.

He was in meditation.

A seat stood below his bottom, still and cool to accompany him on a journey to wide for the little room to carry. The shuttle of imagination tamper with the transfixed world, casting him off to paradise. Below rested a soil, beside him sat a face, and nothing was wrong. Every transgression that he had faced and did were forgotten to oblivion, allowing his eyes to carry worth without a damper. Anguish manifested a new, genuine smile and his eyes could only twitch in response. All the newness was refreshing, and obscure. Even a blur claimed the companies face.

BANG!!

Reality called him, and he responded quickly. The soldier shifted from his seat, and his hand reached for his waist as he glanced at the door. Lamar wasn't fond of visitors, even fellow Imperials. In such unstable times there was few that he could trust, and it was unlikely that Miranda was going to take a trip this soon to his room. He was certain there was....someone else there.

"I'm here," his voice in nothing much louder than a whisper.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Colonel Lamar Winfield! Present yourself before the Inquisitoriate!"

Four Inquisitoriate soldiers stood outside the door, rifles leveled at the door, their black stormtrooper armor branded with the blood red symbol of the Inquisitoriate on their shoulders. Sergeant Xorashio banged on the door again and quickly stepped back. All four soldiers knew what force users were capable of and they weren't going to take any chances. Especially when it was a colonel of the Imperial forces in question. Inquisitor Helghast wasn't present, he was currently waiting for them to escort the adept to the holding facility where the initiating process would be held. Xorashio prayed that nothing would go wrong, that Helghast hadn't come along as a sign of confidence, that only the customary escort was required and nothing beyond that. One of the others sighed in anxiety as the few moments stretched into a nervous eternity.

[Lamar Starworth]

The roar of the troop leader echoed through the barren chambers. Despite the rough course of his voice, there came an ease down the backside of the youthful soldier. An eye shot over to his hand, noticing the calm that drizzled from his spine. All had come to a stop in his hand, only to recede as if he was still in meditation. There was no need to escape to a forgotten land--instead he was on Spira now.

Albeit the Empire could always be seen as the enemy, they were aligned with a believer of him. Trust had been bestowed so readily before, and it would be foolish to subside on a second occasion. Lamar hand's dangled for a moment, lifting as his body rose in a sigh.

Moments couldn't pass any sooner for him as he leaked from the center of the room to the door. There had been much doubt in his thoughts before his meeting with Miranda Tarkin, the Moff, his confidant, but all had changed as he resided in the depths of his quarters. All the thinking had diverted to anew subject, and he contemplated on the vast possibilities.

There was a large chance that he would be okay...

"Colonel Winfield here, what is the problem," he asked warmly, the door wide and his stance casual.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"You are hereby to be taken into custody per review of the Inquisitoriate. Any display of resistance or hesitation to cooperate will result as proof of treasonous intent. Do not exercise your force adept abilities unless ordered to or it will result as proof of treasonous intent. Will you comply, Colonel Winfield?"

SGT Xorashio put up the best front he could, they had repetitive training where this kind of matter was concerned, sounding the part, when in their gut, they most definitely didn't feel like it. All of their rifles were leveled at the seemingly casual adept, regardless of his easy going demeanor. They weren't his friend and they were anything but trusting at the moment.

[Lamar Starworth]

A chuckle subsided the intentions. Battles had destroyed all the fear of a blaster pointed at his face, no matter who targeted him. Friends had died in the act of treacherous arms, turning on the battlefield in hopes of gaining another life. All of it was a whirlwind of peril, and Lamar had survived. Just as he would this...he always survived.

For some reason, he felt that was what he was in the galaxy for...to simply survive.

"Ok."

The young Colonel lifted his hands and slowly walked out between the rifles. Despite the dire nature of the events, his eyes were closed and his face calm. There was no need to fear in such situations, it would only give them more fuel for their burning fires. Apparently all had gone according to schedule for someone, no need to worry on his part.

Lamar prepared himself for anything that would happened, because he was certain...something was going down.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Colonel Winfield was ushered aboard a shuttle and transported to the Victus in orbit above Doldur. The atmosphere was similar to the average Imperial environment in that it was very pristine and very clean but it was much darker, and seemed less alive.

The four Inquisitoriate soldiers were joined by four more waiting for them when they stepped out of the shuttle, accompanied by an Inquisitoriate Agent. The Agent, wearing a black Imperial officer's uniform with Inquisitoriate rank, insignia, and status and a red undertone, began to walk beside the Colonel. He never once bothered looking into the man's eyes. Agent Fenfyre didn't feel that he needed to know whether or not the man was lying, because if he was, they'd find out as soon as they hit the scanners.

"At this time, Colonel, it would be good to mention if you have anything that might be suspect upon your person or release any information that might raise immediate alarm upon being scanned."

[Lamar Starworth]

Lamar was the Empire.

They didn't scare him. He had walked through battlefields with faces shroud in darkness. Fields overrun with death, demise and distraught painted his past time, and despite his personal views they were his experience. No one could bargain such chips from his mind for their own, they were his no matter what he wished. The matters of the past remained unaffected, while his present lay within his manipulation. There was no fret in his heart, as should be expected, as the warning ran across him like the spoken scanner.

Despite the humor of it all, the smile remained faint. Hidden behind the chill of his stone, full lips he unleash his brethern. Life surged from his bounds, latching at his waist and yanking the lightsaber hilt from the container. The invicible command carried it to Lamar's hand, only to hand it over.

"That is all."

There would be more to deal with, but that was one procedure. Soon, the trouble would begin. Lamar could feel it.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Agent Fenfyre held the disgusting cylinder in his palm with a look of disgust as he held it over to the inventory agent, who then placed it in a black bag, marked for decontamination, investigation, and as a high profile item. He looked back to the force adept with another look of disgust. Why did adepts flaunt their conveniences? To prove a point? Mere laziness? Or just a sheer sign of disrespect to the other less priviledged of the universe?

"Move."

A simple command, they were about to pass into the scanners and after that, to the Inquisitor in which reality would change for this smug adept, so confident in his existence. All of those Fenfyre had seen so far had been confident, in some fashion or another, and then he'd seen them again, broken, their mental capacities and fortitude snapped in half by the Inquisitoriate. For some reason, he wanted to see this one in that state of mind more than any other he'd met before. Maybe it was because this one had hid his secret from the Empire, like a sniveling rat, and made it all the way to the rank of Colonel in the Imperial Military structure. How many men might've died pointlessly at the hands of this man's corrupted motives? If this man had simply been loyal and honest to the Empire, his uses could've been applied elsewhere when a force adept was more needed instead of selfishly and deceptively hiding his true nature and pretending to be average.

They stepped into the scanners together, leaving the entourage of soldiers behind as they were no longer needed. The Inquisitor was most likely watching through the security cameras as they entered; Inquisitor Helghast would be less than three meters away in the room just beyond the doors in front of them. Agent Fenfyre could almost feel the entity that was Helghast beyond those doors.

Fenfyre had worked under other Inquisitors before. None of them had been like Helghast. Working for the Inquisitor was like working for a droid, as if organic limits did not hold the man. And there was no humor, no personality, no life behind the man, he was simply a device of the Empire, as if an extension of mere doctrine, made flesh. To say the least, Fenfyre was held in awe of the Inquisitor, fear and praising respect, fairly sure that there was more fear in that Helghast was something he simply couldn't comprehend at times.

Red light flashed in the room, strands of red lasers, like hair pinpointing areas on the adept as the scanners ran a full function examination. Two mounted turrets were positioned on either side of the room and held a constant target on the adept, prepared to unleash a fury of laser fire at the slightest notion of any irregularity.

[Lamar Starworth]

The rays found him, but he seeme to be oblivious to the fact. All of the events spread along in a smear, and despite the direness of other's mood he seemed distinct in his behavior. Every motion of the Empire normally manuever with precision, and fluidity that was fluent in all languages. Danger struck in the depth, striking like a lightning bolt throughout the galaxy and Lamar had stood witness. Silence ran his course as he walked to the man's accord.

He was prepared for the situation as he had been. There settled in his brain the possibility of death, but demise could easily be considered a gift by some. He would regret such a thought of suicide or "giving up", yet he was still settled.

He knew full well what might happened, and he couldn't whipe away his grin.

"What next?"

[Y'roth Helghast]

The doors slid to either side and the adept was permitted entrance. Inside the industrial room, a light illuminated the center of the room, directly above a table. On the side closest to the entrance waited an empty chair and on the other side stood a tall figure, silhouetted in the darkness. Helghast was something over six feet tall and the blood red isignia of the Inquisitoriate was still visible in the dim atmosphere. His right eye was a bright red as the implant there went to work, scanning and relaying all the information that Helghast immediately desired. At his shoulder hovered a small black sphere, several red receptors protruded from it and it seemed to betray an acute sense of awareness regardless of its slow drift beside the Inquisitor.

Fenfyre led the adept to the chair, saluted the statue across the table and departed in haste.

"Have a seat, Colonel."

[Lamar Starworth]

Silence gulp Lamar as he dumped himself into the seat. An eye shot about the room, but it wasn't of worth. All seemed of folly as the dormant violence rested behind every letter. There was little point in sparking conversation, despite the sly sarcasm that had been built over time. Instead of dive head first into stupidity, he sat reserved.

Certainly the whole situation would unravel soon, and any words would heed the revelation. Yet, he wonder what was next. It was enough to contemplate on, and as he sat he thought of death. It was there, right there in front of him. Little time had separated his conversation from Tarkin, but enough room was set for a planned execution. Anything was possible, and he wouldn't strain from his destiny.

His fate truly wasn't up to him.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Your lack of faith in the Empire is disturbing, Colonel. You valiantly prove yourself time and time again in the field of battle in the name of the Empire, you are awarded great honors for your efforts, and yet you have kept a secret from everything and everyone you have sworn to protect. A secret that proves to be a seed of corruption and doubt that if grows threatens everything you and so many others have fought for.

Explain, Colonel, and make sense of why the Inquisitoriate should not believe that this secret has not already taken root as corruption. Do not waste what time you have. This is a chance granted by the Moff and by her authority alone. Know that, at the moment, you are guilty of High Treason until proven otherwise, Colonel."

Helghast didn't move beyond speaking. Nothing was given from his tone or body language. He simply waited, a man-machine designed very much like a complex trap.

[Lamar Starworth]

Lamar had become less attentive. Preference in such stale situation had indicating to shy from absolute confrontation. Superiors held a ground that demanded some focus, some attention, but not enough to fall in the plight they weaved with their presence.

Despite the years that had passed, he was still simply a soldier of mind and body. Time hadn't left him helpless, to be brainwashed and without spirit. He refuted the agreement of his insolence in his mind repeatedly, leaving Y'roth stance meaningless.

At least for now...

Lamar was anything, but scared. Fear had left his body with the ease of a blink, opening his mind to true thought. He had committed himself to hope, and truly saw it in Miranda. She was his deliverance, and not even some feared organization could cripple such faith. The Empire was no longer an issue, it was the Imperials, and no man could stand before him and demand true glory as this woman could.

But it was a matter of...infatuation.

It would probably pass...

"I haven't planted any bad seed, sir.

I only hid the fact, because I knew I would not be able to help the glorious Empire as I have with such a status next to my name."

In Lamar's voice there was a perfected cadence; the Empire had taught him more than just how to shoot bolts through abo's hearts.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"And your status deems you know effectively nothing, Colonel. What position are you in to think you actually know something the Inquisitoriate doesn't where the security and purity of the Empire are concerned? The Emperor, the Empire, and its people established the Inquisitoriate to know corruption at a glance, to know the consequences of treason, sedition, and deception, and to know how to handle these destructive traits when they arise.

You are also not in any position to deem where you would like to believe you were of the greatest assistance to the Empire. When did you surpass your superiors in that facility, Colonel?"

[Lamar Starworth]

"Now what, sir?"

Lamar had already divulged all his facts, been examined and had no fear of death. Demise was a sister to the battlefield, and he become familiar enough to live with her. Yet, of course there was a thing he hadn't dealt much with. Torture rarely called itself to battle as blaster bolts raped life from a fighter's hands without the luxury of extended pain.

Lamar knew all this, and he wasn't for any more deliberation.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Helghast moved slowly to one side of the room, unimpressed himself with the arrogance, and ignorance therein that the Colonel was conveying. Adepts thought themselves beyond the norm, as if reality didn't apply to them simply because they could bend a few of the rules. Y'roth had studied adepts who claimed power over both sides of the Force and the Inquisitor had determined that their arrogance was a trait that came without fail on either side.

Even as Colonel Winfield presented an interesting counter, that he had assumed the role of a normal soldier where he saw that he best fit, it was still what the Colonel thought best, like all adepts, and not what those above him, with much more experience and wisdom might've deemed. Helghast did not claim to be the adept's superior. The Inquisitor was merely that, an instrument to discern the truth and root out corruption within, throughout, and outside of the Empire aggressively in order that it never taint the people or threaten the security of the Empire. Why couldn't Lamar Winfield accept that in swearing to serve the Empire, one became only an instrument and in that submitted themselves completely to the Empire in all aspects. If one was willing to kill and die for the people, then why not give everything else?

"Explain this, Colonel."

Helghast reached out as the orb floated towards him, carrying a small bag in a silver appendage. The bag dropped into the outstretched hand and Helghast opened it and drew out a long metal handle.

Lamar's lightsaber. Helghast ran his gloved fingers over the groove of the weapon as he examined it and then looked back to the adept. Lightsabers were efficient weapons and in the hands of adepts, extremely deadly. But they had been around for thousands and thousands of years and technology had reached and surpassed their effectiveness already. It was all just about utilization now. For example, the lightsaber had no power source because it had been removed once it had been confiscated. There was no way it could be activated now and it was only a metal cylinder with one or more precious gems used to focus the light into a weapon. The Nightmare's power suits were no different in that aspect.

"Explain the origin of this weapon, and how you came to be trained in its use."

[Lamar Starworth]

Corruption was definately the word.

The images returned to him in a slow puzzle. Silence gave him a moment to realize; a chance to understand himself. The years had gone by so fast, and in the scheme he had dived in a world that swallowed him whole. All of it wasn't too long ago, but it felt like a different life. The Empire was renown in it's formatting, rearrangement and prowess of change. Only a little more than two decades previous there stood a stronghold of the Old Republic, and now it had been more than forgotten.

Change was the Empire's specialty.

Lamar had been altered into a perfected soldier, and the life of feelings had been buried into his depths. At times he wondered of emotions, contemplated the odds and evens of such traits. Time had disallowed his eyes to give tears, life killing everything he knew as a civilizan. Lamar "Starworth" Winfield was anything but normal, yet before an Inquisitor he still was...meaningless. All seemed definite that death was upon him, but a different magnitude captured him as he saw himself working a Holocron in a dark ship.

He had come far in his trek, and he wasn't done.

"A Holocron...it was a holocron that taught me this. Do you know what a Holocron is?"

Lamar gave only a sigh as he glanced over at Y'roth. He had suddenly saw everything in a very...negative light.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Yes, Colonel, I am aware of what a Holocron is."

Helghast was educated in many facets of the Jedi in order that he might understand them better, to know the enemy of the Empire that he might be able to eliminate them in a more efficient manner. The matter of a Holocron though...

"Tell me everything about this Holocron then, Colonel."

And tell Helghast he would or they, the Empire, would know Lamar Winfield for the traitor that he really was.

[Lamar Starworth]

"Tell me everything..."

The beat of fear roar through me like a tyrant. I couldn't hold at bay the oppressive wave of emotions; my eyes bed on constrain tears at the strain. The struggle didn't rest in my well-being, oh no. Instead, it was something less tangible, yet all the more important: the truth. All the years I had run from the truth had left with me so little to confide in.

Even as the past had yank me to the present, there was still no man, no woman, no beast that I could call a friend. Faces had been swiped away in the tirade of the Civil War, or some synonymous sin. War was the last place I envision, and I spited the fact that numerous had died by my hand - but it had to be. In a world where actions spin it all, thoughts are nearly meaningless when man can only see appearance. Everyday I get lost in my actions, lost in the thoughtless void mistaken for life.

Oh, it had been a long time since I lived.

"I will tell you, sir."

The practiced sir pushed my lips out, curved, profound and defined with the traits of my mother before me. For a moment, my thoughts rested on my family. Over the time I had forgotten I even had a family to return to, I never used the source. The reason rested in the truth, it rested in the reason why I wanted to cry so much.

"The Holocron was introduced to me...as the "Great Holocron." I got it from a will of some sort, from my aunt I believe, sir.

She was a Jedi - as they call it. Apparently she had picked it up during the end of their existence. From there I could ask many questions, and the...keeper, answered accordingly. But...accordingly is different--it sort of grasp your understanding, your ability...whateva it is and responds so that your mind doesn't explode from the concepts.

It's a very awkward device.

Yet, I picked up much of the teachings fast. It was lost in an explosion before I even started my field work, though. Don't think it survived."

I didn't cry.