Shadows of Bankor

Qareme had slept rough for a number of years now; Bankor slums did not have the greatest in terms of bedding options. However, even that was an improvement compared to the cold hard floor and painful bindings that kept her trapped right now.

After another failed attempt to sleep passes, and Qareme sits up. She knew what the idea was; keep her trapped until she gives up hope. It was a simple and obvious plan, and even a Jedi would eventually succumb - especially if after all of this someone like Darth Vader was at the end of it.

Moving herself to a meditative position, Qareme closed her eyes and calmed her breathing. It was quiet enough that she could hear any footsteps - she was never the best at reaching out with the force, so using her own natural talents. However she focused herself on a question.

Am I strong enough?

Her master had often called her stubborn as a compliment; that she had a strong will meant she was more ideal for a situation like this. It was why she was glad it was her caught, and not Verse. She believed in Verse, but knew she wasn't ready yet for this kind of situation. But a lingering doubt still remained.

Am I ready?

While waiting she hears soldiers dragging someone to the cell next to hers and then by the sounds the person makes it sounds like a woman. Then they leave.

Another person?

Qareme waited for the sounds to die down from the soldiers before she spoke.

"Welcome. I had not expected a neighbor, what have they brought you in for?"

A shaky older woman’s voice said, “Hello?”

“I don’t know… how long I have been here time starts to lose meaning down in the hole.”

"I only arrived today. At least I believe it is still 'today', with no windows it is difficult to tell for sure. I am going by my level of exhaustion."

Qareme turned in the direction of the voice, more out of politeness. She hadn't really inspected the prisons to know if she'd be able to see anyone.

"What is your name?"

"Yanye," she said with exhaustion, "what did they bring you in for, speaking out against the government?"

"I would like to say because I fought them when they attacked Aznuri Enclave. However it is not for that reason."

There was a pause, before she spoke again.

"I am Qareme, of the Jedi Order. That is why they have brought me in."

"I apologize, Master Jedi," she said with surprise.

"I wasn't aware there were any of you left!"

"There is no reason to apologize, that was the intention of the Empire. Paint the Jedi as villains all slain by the Empire, while capturing any that have escaped the original purge and deal with them" Qareme shook her head "this is the current situation. I could not say how many remain though. You have been moved to this cell? I expected this to be where they want to keep potentially dangerous criminals."

"I am... was a politician a Senator and I suppose they considered me a dangerous person," she mused and then coughed.

"I have not eaten in days."

"My apology, senator Yanye. I do not believe they have brought food to me either or I would bring food to you somehow."

Qareme used the wall to rise, moving to look out of the prison door.

The voice as coming fro next door so she could only hear the woman. She responded, "I will be fine, they don't let us starve for too long."

"That is not the point. Doing this because you are a Senator is..." Qareme stopped herself. She felt herself getting annoyed at the situation, moreso because there was someone else suffering than herself.

"I will find a way to help you Senator. What they have done to you is disrespectful."

"I am not the only one, Master Jedi," she said thoughtfully.

"How many others are here?" Qareme said, surprised.

How had I not known there was a prison camp here?

Qareme Torth wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:18 pm

"How many others are here?" Qareme said, surprised.

How had I not known there was a prison camp here?

She had to think on that and said, “I thought there were seven of us in solitary but there was a man in your cell before now so I guess he was… well there are still probably seven of us. Plus I think thirty to fifty more prisoners. I don’t know.”

“You’re the first Jedi we have had in here, that I know of.”

"Seven in here, and another thirty to fifty more" Qareme repeated, stunned. It was so quiet in here, and yet there were five more people?

"I have heard so few other voices beyond yours, it surprises me that others are here. Have they been here longer?"

"They don't talk... if they hear us they... well it's bad," she said with fear. "Plus I hear there is an Inquisitor overseeing this place?"

"Is she the masked one? She seems to really enjoy this job."

"Do not be afraid Senator. The Inquisitor feeds off your fears, uses them to control you. I understand it is difficult not to be afraid, but you must push past your fears."

There was a pause.

"What happens if they hear us? Do stormtroopers come to...silence us?"

"Usually they beat us... sometimes they just do it to keep us on our toes," she said honestly.

"For a week they blared cantina music at an obscene volume with no break."

Qareme nodded to herself. A plan had come to mind.

"Keep quiet and move away from the door of your cell Senator, and keep very quiet. I have had an idea, although it is perhaps risky."

"If you are certain, Master Jedi," she said and complied.

Qareme waited a few moments the Senator to hide and be quiet. Then, she moved towards the door of her cell and brought her foot up, kicking at it with the bottom of her foot. Hard enough to make a loud sound, before stepping back and waiting.

After a moment three storm troopers arrive and one said, "Prisoner 97, stand back now."

Three of them is a little more than I'd like but I can work with it. Maybe.

She took a step back, looking at the stormtroopers to gauge how armed they were.