No longer dressed in white, Psylocke walked down the hall on the fifth level of Port Lansing station. She looked more like herself now. Herself.new problem. Yes, that was the problem muddling her mind tonight. She approached the door to Lady Darana's room, pressed the call button and waited. "Enter." Psylocke entered. "Good evening, Lady Darana." Darana turns, "Psylocke!" She exclaimed, slightly surprised. "What can I do for you at this late hour?" "My apologies for disturbing you so late, but I needed to speak with you." She wrung her hands slightly, then forcibly stopped. Darana exhaled slowly and straightened her uniform tunic. "What troubles you?" She moved over to a couch and motioned Psylocke to join her. "Please sit." Psylocke walked over to the couch and sat. She paused for a moment and let out a nervous breath. Then she looked Darana in the eye and said, "I'm here to request your permission to resign from the Red Guard." Darana cocked her head. "Denied...now tell me why you are trying to resign." "I don't feel right guarding the Emperor anymore. It's not that I don't have faith or loyalty for the Empire, but I'm starting to doubt my personal faith in him." Darana raised an eyebrow. "What you speak could be considered treason." Psylocke paled slightly, then nodded. "I know. Believe me I know. That's why I want to retire from the Imperial military. Lead a civilian life. I want the Empire to thrive and unite the galaxy, but I just don't feel right being a part of the government right now." She stopped a moment to take in Darana's reaction. "It's not like I want to join the Alliance or anything," she quickly added. "Your personal feelings have nothing to do with His Majesty's plans for you." She started to grow apprehensive. "Really now? You don't want to join the Alliance." She then added very slowly, "Why bring up such a concern to my attention?" "You mentioned treason." Psylocke replied matter of factly. "I didn't want you to get the wrong idea." Darana nodded. "One does not have to join the Alliance to be accused of treason." Psylocke grimaced. "I see. Do you really think my wanting to retire from the military is an act of treason?" "No, I do not believe that I believe that your...apprehensions could be construed that way...but tell me...what has brought this sudden change of your mindset about?" Psylocke sighed, her hands growing cold with nervousness. She was really hoping that she wouldn't have to mention it, but deep down she knew she had to. "I don't remember if you were there last year during my...embarrassing scene in the throne room. I realized that His Majesty couldn't give me what I truly wanted." She blushes slightly. "I was ready to walk out on it all then." She paused for a moment, considering her words. "Tonight...and I hope you don't get mad, though I'm sure you will...the Jedi were able to give me what I wanted. Something His Majesty could never give me." She looked away. Darana sat still there briefly, considering Psylocke's words. "What is it that they gave you that you want?" Psylocke chuckled slightly. "Unconditional love." She chuckled more at the ridiculous nature of her words. "I know, it sounds crazy coming from a Sith apprentice, doesn't it? Especially me. I was so driven on the thought that a Sith couldn't love to be truly in touch with the dark side. For me, this was true. As soon as I pushed Lon out of my life, I could feel the darkness stream through me. Yet...I still felt regret for what I did to him. I could never bring myself to hate him. And the other Jedi, they refused to call me their enemy. I tried to kill them all and they still offered me friendship." She could feel her stomach churning by then. "Psylocke..." Darana's voice held a neutral edge, "did you swear loyalty and absolute obedience to the Emperor?" she asked studying Psylocke's actions very closely. "I did...that's the problem." She blurted out. "I don't want to disobey the Empire or His Majesty, but I can't help what I feel. I don't think I can trust myself right now, and the last thing I want is to bring harm to him." Darana nodded again. "It is not my place to accept or decline your resignation, it is up to OUR Master to do that." She paused. "You have done the right thing." And Darana heard herself teaching in the reeducation camps, thought is as bad as action. "However, you will have to face His Majesty. Until then I am placing you in protective custody....should these Jedi have any notions about where your loyalties 'should' lay.....know this Psylocke, if you do ever betray the Emperor, I will hunt you down personally." She stopped. "However, you are holding true to your word so I doubt you will ever do such a thing." She smiled at Psylocke. Psylocke was more taken aback by Darana's smile than her threat. She nodded in return. "I understand. I want what's best for the Empire. I'm just not in a state to deliver that right now." "It is better to find these things now and learn to deal with them." Darana stood and called for several Red Guards to escort Psylocke to her quarters. The guards arrived quickly and Psylocke stood to meet them. "I'll speak with His Majesty shortly. Thank you for listening." Darana nodded for the last time, knowing well enough that Psylocke was in for a rough lesson from the Emperor's hands. "The Force be with you, Psylocke Lammashta." Psylocke pulled her eyes away from Darana and followed the Red Guards out.
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