judge not if you're not ready for judgement Who: Gemini & Kylo Ren. What: Kylo investigates the shapeshifter he’s been told about. When: Early morning. Where: Abandoned industrial complex. Rating: G.
The instruction to come to Naboo had been as peremptory as the First Order got, the instruction coming from an individual called ‘Kylo Ren’, a name that had Gemini immediately thinking of Glasya and Issan. Their boss perhaps? If so that was good, word of her talents was moving up the food chain which meant that she was a step closer to getting what she wanted. This Kylo was obviously keen to see what she could do, although after being used so comprehensively by the female Captain Gemini was less keen to walk into a trap this time, so she made a point of arriving first.
The co-ordinates had proved to be an old factory, once the Naboo VitaPac Company, but now a sleepy private space dock that was let out occasionally by the shell company that was all that remained of VitaPac. Gemini actually rather appreciated the place and made a mental note to find out about acquiring it in future as she settled down to wait.
The only sign of life was a dirty old GNK power droid that still hummed faintly with power, and to one side were a number of old crates stacked up awaiting a collection that would probably never come.
Gemini wasn't left waiting for long; a light freighter approached the docking port, landing with minimal sound. Once it had fastened itself to the ground securely, a gangway descended, belching smoke from cooling vents. The man known as Kylo Ren descended first, flanked by two stormtroopers in flawlessly white armor. Ren paused at the end of the platform, obviously searching for something. There was no sign of whether or not he was displeased at the fact that he was unable to find it. Slowly, he walked toward the old warehouse, his visor roaming over the walls of the building.
Hidden eyes watched the ship land, unsurprised by its everyday appearance considering that the owners undoubtedly wanted to blend in. But that owner was clearly revealed by the armoured figures that descended the ramp, Gemini recognised them from various newscasts she’d seen. But the other figure was a mystery, tall, in flowing dark robes and wearing a mask that obscured his face. Was it to protect his identity or to intimidate she wondered. Perhaps she’d find out when she introduced herself.
The old droid began moving forward automatically once the ship had landed, its steps carrying it slowly towards the freighter with the mechanical creaks and groans that a machine that hadn’t been serviced for some time would make. It passed behind a pile of crates and there was an inaudible rubbery slither and Gemini stepped out a moment later, arms folded, expression neutral, wearing her black and white costume, the revealing outfit hopefully enticing him a little.
“Looking for me?”
The visor swung in Gemini's direction, hands clenched into fists at his sides. Ren considered the woman -- person, creature? -- before him for a moment, as his body turned in her direction and relaxed into a formal military pose.
"Impressive. Is that all you can change into?" The modulated voice was dry, calm, and gave away nothing. The voice wasn’t what she’d expected and it was already hard getting a read on the figure but the formal military pose suggested soldier training and Gemini filed that away to think about later. She let herself preen at the compliment for a moment before she answered his question with a casual shrug. “I’m whatever I want to be,” she answered with a coy smile, telling him something and nothing at the same time. “And you? You must be someone pretty special for people like Glasya and Issan to want to follow.”
"I was told about your familiarity with my knights," he replied. "The confirmation is appreciated.
"Let's see a display of these so-called abilities. Transforming into one old droid is no claim on any real talent."
Gemini’s eyebrow shot up and she folded her arms, meeting the visor with an unblinking stare. “A display? Both of your knights have seen my abilities as have you, yet you won’t even tell me what you can do.” She flicked some imaginary dust from a gloved hand and took a step forward, her expression challenging as she pouted at him playfully. “That hurts my feelings.”
"And this is clearly a waste of my time," he replied. He turned to the stormtroopers who had assumed positions at either end of the docking area. "Make ready to leave."
Gemini’s smile vanished almost immediately, and she watched Kylo turn to go with a horrible feeling, her mother’s voice ringing in her mind about being professional at all times. She couldn’t call after him like a desperate girl craving attention, but what could she do? Seizing him would probably not go down well. Think Gemini think! A demonstration, he’d wanted a demonstration, so she’d give him one
Her form swelled, her arms shrinking and her head expanding until a second later she towered over Kylo and was almost the same size as the freighter. Taking a few footsteps that made the ground shake, she loomed over the hooded figure, a behemoth of reptilian greeny-white skin standing on two massive legs with a tail, her huge mouth opening to reveal a maw of razor sharp rotten teeth covered in scraps of god-knew what meat. She’d patterned the form after a T-Rex but made it bigger, and even more monstrous, it couldn’t surely fail to impress. “Does this get your attention?”
The shadow that fell over him certainly did; he turned back around, his mask canted back to take in the whole of her newly-formed figure. He said nothing, though whether it was from fear, awe or some other unnamed emotion was unclear.
"Living creatures as well as inanimate objects. That's a wide set of skills. Can you hold these forms indefinitely?"
“As I said, whatever I want. She told him “large, small, solid, liquid I’m it for as long as I want to be.” The effect was cosmetic only but she wasn’t about to talk about her flaws and there were some things it was best to keep to herself in case she needed an ace up her sleeve at some point. Her body shrank, a black robe extruding seamlessly as her frame compacted into the figure of an old man, yellow eyes gleaming hatefully out of a ruined face.
“But I imagine it’s who I could be not what that interests you.” She stated, the voice of Emperor Palpatine rasping out as it had from the Holo-recording she’d seen, his gnarled black cane tapping along the ground as she moved closer for Kylo to inspect her artistry if he wished.
The visor remained emotionless, but Kylo could not entirely hide the small sigh that escaped his lips. He circled the shapeshifter's new form, probing.
"I understand you have no connection to the Force."
The sigh was the closest she had gotten to a reaction so far although Gemini wasn’t quite sure how to interpret it, annoyance? Sadness? It was hard to say. She let herself revert to her own form, her expression neutral although some of her impatience at the questioning showed through. Was Kylo Ren this boring with everyone? Oh well she need only endure this for a little longer before he accepted her.
“Not that I know of,” she answered, “not exactly a necessity with my abilities, but it’s a pity to miss out on all that power.” Just a little covetousness leaked into her voice although she didn’t realise, her eyes still locked on Kylo wondering what he was looking for.
He raised a hand and Gemini's body locked into place. Slowly, he began to pace around her, his form invading her personal space as his mind explored what was and was not there. Once he came back around to her front again, a black-gloved hand extended over her face, fingers sprawled in a claw-like fashion.
"Interesting," he commented, once more back in control of himself. "Absolutely nothing. Ah, wait. No, there is something..." He pushed deeper, hunting the thin thread of biology that he had detected amid what she seemed to lack.
Gemini knew mental intrusion, one of the Brotherhood’s key opponents was led by a telepath who she’d had the misfortune to cross paths with, but that experience did not prepare her for this. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak and when she focussed to change her form suddenly there was another presence in her mind, unwelcome and cold.
Her thought patterns twisted around like snakes, the vaguely human feel of the surface thoughts melding into a mind that wasn’t based upon a physical brain, a consciousness that was amorphous, fluid, and utterly inhuman, controlling hundreds, thousands of cells that were only held together and kept solid by sheer willpower. The sensations were too alien for a normal mind to process, too different to remain exposed to without the intruder suffering serious pain.
Kylo skimmed the surface of what was available to him, and then snatched himself back as a sensation akin to electrocution coursed through his form. This presented itself in the actual physical movement of him stepping back, snatching his hand from the air to his side. He hissed, but quickly reviewed what he had seen -- faces of refugees, Naboo, a place so hot the humidity weighed her down like bricks, the feeling of a bomb shattering her insides, the slick transformation from one creation into another.
Despite the pain he'd felt, Kylo raised his hand again and passed it over Gemini's form, willing her into unconsciousness. If it worked, he would send her back to the Finalizer for more tests -- if she could not be controlled, perhaps her abilities could be duplicated. But in truth, this was another test, to see how far his abilities could match -- and possibly outweigh -- her own.
Gemini dropped like a stone, the mental suggestion enough to catapult her into catatonia. But she retained just enough of a grip on consciousness to keep herself in her human form, otherwise she would immediately have devolved into little more than a puddle while her mind went to work righting what had gone wrong. It was much like a computer rebooting, switching itself back on after it had been turned off. Eyes opening, she directed a venomous glare at Kylo, slithering back to her feet in a far-too fluid move, her face livid.
“That was rude,” she growled, the fingers of one hand elongating into something wickedly sharp and she clicked them together menacingly. “Were you anyone else I would have killed you by now,” she swung a fist, arcing it through the air on a stretching limb, her arm elongating so fast that the target wouldn’t have time to react, and indeed they didn’t. Her punch lifted the Stormtroopers standing a good fifteen metres away off their feet and smashed them like toys into a nearby wall. Gemini couldn’t care less if they were dead or not but at least it let her express the anger she couldn’t let out on their boss.
Kylo didn't spare a glance for the downed troopers. There were many more where they came from, and besides, Hux was the one who would have to piece them back together. His mask gave her no sign of how he felt regarding her statement.
"I imagine you've found many curious about your particular skillset. Sometimes experience is the only way to cut to the truth." His voice was level, calm, unafraid. The troopers behind him were picking up the shattered pieces of their uniforms where possible, collecting their firearms.
"I've seen enough," Kylo continued, causing the troopers to hurry their movements. They scrambled back to the base of the ship. "I believe you'll be contacted by either Hux or Phasma, following this." And with that, he turned and began walking toward the ship he'd come in on, his stride confident and unerring.
The explanation was one Gemini could appreciate, although she was still a little aggravated by being repeatedly tested he did have a point. His lack of fear was good, if she’d so much as smelt it she would have thought him weak, along with his powers it helped her consider him an equal rather than a worthless human, something vital for her to accept if her arrangement with the First Order were ever to work. “Alright then,” she answered, accepted him as he had her.
“Actually, there is something,” her body elongated, stretching around mid-air in front of Kylo to stop him going any further. “I want a ship, small, fast, top of the line weapons, equipped with all the best stealth technology. Think of it as a down-payment for all the things I’ll do for you.” She slipped out of his way, retracting to herself standing to one side, “I’m no soldier to follow orders like a machine, but I am the best operative you’re likely to see. Best not to antagonise me by treating me like one of your little plastic soldiers.” Smirking, she raised her hands over her head, by the time they touched they were wings and she was a crow, one which quickly flew off into the lightening morning sky.