Imperial Theatre
Kaas City, Dromund Kaas
3:02am
Katia hid beneath her hood as she struggled to find the key to the theatre in her bag. The rain poured down on her and began to soak through her cloak. Lightning danced across the sky long enough for her to find what she was looking for, and quickly, she unlocked the building.
The entrance was dimly lit by soft crimson glowing lights as she shut the door behind her. Her footsteps seemed to echo as she walked across the room, finding the main lighting panel.
She turned, lowering her hood. She was alone, but felt as if she were being watched. All she heard was the sound of water dripping from her clothing onto the floor. For a moment she almost thought she felt something...but there was nothing there that she could see.
With a sigh, she headed into the hallway. Lightning flashes outside, lighting her way before she turned on the next section of lights and proceeded inside theatre one.
She would have preferred the smaller stage upstairs to the larger auditorium, but it was still under construction. Besides, a stage was a stage and big or small, it would distract her mind. The theatre seemed to relax her. The sight of the empty seats, the orchestra pit, the stage, and especially being in the wings backstage.
This was home to her. This was where she could let reality disappear. The Empire could disappear and she could fall into a reverie of the past.
She turned on the main stage lights, went over to the music player and started some music before sitting down on the floor. She pulled out her ballet slippers and rubbed her feet, which were still sore from yesterday.
She listened to the music as it echoed through the theatre. Some acoustic work needed to be done, but that was just a small detail that was easily fixed. Well, at least Gizmo could fix it, but they were having trouble bringing him to Dromund Kaas since he was a Rodian.
...peace…The whisper seemed to come from all around her.
Katia paused, ignored it and put on her ballet slippers.
...is a lie…It taunted again, the voice right next to her ear. She was unnerved by it, but went to the barre and started a simple warm up routine.
Once again she felt she was being watched.
She pulled her focus back to her barre routine. She stood in second position, grand plié with port de bras, rise to demi pointe. Another deep plié in second. Hold and balance.
Her arms fluidly moving to fifth en haut, and for a moment she swore she saw someone. Yet she remained alone. She drew out a long breath and listened to the soft piano music.
...through power, I gain victory…She turned around to repeat her routine, but was tense.
Why now? Why were the whispers happening
now? Had someone sensed the Force in her? Was she being tainted? Toyed with? Summoned?
That last thought made her queasy and her muscles took over her routine as her mind drifted.
Caius had sensed it in her the entire time. The last to.e she was in Nar Shaddaa with him, he told her he had a strong sense for these things. But how did he compare to the Sith lords here on Dromund Kaas?
She hadn't a clue.
The Force was barely present in her. For all her life she paid little attention to it. It had never been an issue on Coruscant… but here in the Empire? How would Empress Acina rein? If she were discovered, would she be forced to become Sith?
...the Force shall free me…She would never survive being Sith. And Caius had agreed with her, and he was a battlemaster. He knew so much more than she.
Why wasn't her routine calming her?
She stopped and turned to face the barre, gripping it with both her hands. Her head hung as she tried to breathe.
...there is only passion…Katia lifted her head and stared at the wall. She spun around when she felt a hand touch her back…
No one was there.
