Mustafar is a planet steeped in a dark history, acting as a point of interest as far back as the Clone Wars themselves. At one point, the Black Sun constructed their headquarters upon its surface and later on even Darth Vader took up residence within his dark castle. The traces of this history are still found in the form of the remains left behind. Mining facilities are scattered across the lava-surface of the scorching planet, help up with gravity supports that keep them safe from the superheated material below.

Perhaps its most notable history came via a single uttered phrase: Mustafar is where Jedi go to die. The hidden interrogation facility built into the scorched stone is steeped in the dark side, providing a clue to its wicked purpose in a time not so long past. A large, single landing pad acts as the focal point of the structure from the outside. It is connected by a causeway that leads to a security door that has fallen into disuse. The facility itself is still functional, drawing power from the thermal energy of the planet itself.

Once within, one is confronted by the labyrinthine maze of corridors and offices that were clearly designed for a singular purpose. The holding cells are as spartan as any other Imperial construct, providing only a slab protruding from the wall as a bed and nothing more. Barracks can be found near the main control rooms with its shelving in various states of disarray. It is clear with only a glance that scavengers have already picked the inanimate corpse clean of its contents.

However, it is deeper still where the miasma of the dark side truly reaches its zenith. There one will find the interrogation chambers. Wickedly cruel in their singular purpose, stains can still be found caked into the durasteel panels themselves alongside various tools and instruments of the trade plied within.

To walk within Mustafar's Interrogation Facility is to tread through the ghosts of the planet's darkest past. It is a symphony for the wicked and a requiem for the pious.

Tahiri felt a sense of awe mixed with disgust, as she walked through the interrogation chambers deep within the facility. She could feel, with every fiber of her being, the place was steeped in Darkside energy, its roots extending outward and upward. Even from the very moment the Sith Battlemaster had entered the facility, she could feel the power that the darkside held over the place.

She had only been to Mustafar once before, however, and that had been to visit Lord Vader’s castle. It had been one of her trials before knighthood, that felt such a long time ago. Though unlike Lord Vader’s castle, the darkside in this facility felt slightly different. Dare she say more evil than any other place she had encountered this amount of darkside energy.

Why was this such a high priority mission? The Sith had been sent to do reconnaissance on target and report back, nothing else. Unfortunately, she wasn’t even told who she was suppose to be watching for, just to go and do.

I actually have a bad feeling about this place, she thought as a shiver ran unconsciously down her spine. Tahiri’s whole body felt on edge, the slightest sounds sent her nerves and fingers twitching. Her Montrals actually hurt a little from her straining to hear any threat. The clicking noises of her metal tipped boots the only true comfort she had against the creaking, groaning noises of the metal contracting and expanding, and the constant whooshing of the lava.

Hearing the sudden clang of metal falling in one of the rooms ahead and to the left of Tahiri, she stopped in her tracks, automatically pulling one of the throwing daggers. Gathering the Force, the Togruta wove it around herself, concealing her figure. Stepping carefully, so as to not make more noise than necessary, Tahiri slowly made her way to the room from which the noise reverberated from.

Peeking around the doorway, at first Tahiri didn’t see anything. The squeak of a cabinet hinge brought her attention to the left corner of the room. Watching as a tall, well toned Chiss man rummage through some bottles within the cabinet, sighing aloud with exasperation upon not finding what he wanted.

Keeping her concentration on her Force cloak, she slipped into the room, keeping close to the wall. Her boot scuffed the durasteel floor a smudge, making her stiffen, eyes darting to the Chiss to see if he even noticed anything.

Kark it! Not good.

The man turned quickly around, his crimson gaze scanning the room for a moment, gauging where the sound had originated from. His gaze seemed to stop right on Tahiri, as if he knew right where she was. As if her Force cloak wasn’t there at all.

“I may not be able to see you, but I can hear your breathing,” the Chiss said aloud, straightening to his full height, and slowly upholstered his Synergy WLD-5 Peacekeeper pistol. “Why don’t you come out of the shadows there, and we can talk?”

The Sith Battlemaster could sense the slight uneasiness the man carried, even though he was hiding it well. It was something about the place that put both of them at unease.

Tahiri silently barated herself, but she didn’t drop her Force cloak. She just wanted to watch him, to see what he was here for.

“I won’t ask again,” the Chiss sighed, a slight grim smile spread across his face as he leveling his pistol towards the wall that Tahiri stood against. After several more moments of nothing happening, he pulled the trigger.

There was no flash or sound as the energy bolt hit the wall just above where Tahiri had been standing. Her senses warned her to duck, and she dove down, making more noise than she wanted to. As she dove though, the Togruta lost her concentration and the Force cloak dissolved, revealing her crouched figure in the corner.

“Ah there you are... Miss?” The Chiss stood, aiming the barrel at her head, a calm but inquisitive look on his face.

“Tahiri, my name is Tahiri.” She replied, annoyance clear in her voice. “And your’s?”

The Chiss’s eyes remained trained on the Togruta, as did his blaster. He scoured his memory for any traces of the name Tahiri, but he found himself coming up short. He remembered only mentions of the Plaguein Force user from his days as Taldryan’s Consul. With little information to go off of, the Quaestor came to the conclusion that escaping the Mustafar system was a top priority, no matter the cost. His research into the Dark Side heavy facility would have to be put on an indefinite hold. Force users just couldn’t be trusted.

Though, a Togruta could be an interesting specimen indeed. the Chiss thought to himself. Only if the opportunity presents itself. My safety is of far more importance.

Scanning the room the Arconan noticed several reflective panels along the durasteel walls. While not plentiful, they would suit his needs perfectly. His slender blue finger lightly caressed the trigger of his blaster as he bore his crimson gaze into the sulfuric yellow eyes of his unwanted guest.

“You may call me Rhylance,” he eloquently spoke as his finger pulled against the trigger in rapid succession. Several bolts shot out of his silenced blaster, all of them narrowly missing the Togruta.

Tahiri quickly activated her crimson lightsaber in response to the unwarranted attack before her body took control. The blaster bolts had reflected off of the walls and their new calculated trajectory put them on a collision course with her. Years of specialized training in the ways of the lightsaber allowed the Plaguein Sith to reflect each shot away from her with ease, before watching them harmlessly become engulfed by the stone around the interrogation room.

The distraction had worked in the Chiss’s favor. Rylance took the momentary break in Tahiri’s attention to run past her and out of the room. He was unsure if she’d follow him or not, but if she did he had his own tricks ready for her. Years of jealousy directed towards Force users had helped the Arconan build up his own unique skill sets and he was only happy to share his vast knowledge.

Running down the dark corridor, heading back up to the upper levels of the Mustafar facility, Rhylance pulled out a small vial filled with a metallic blue-green liquid and held it lightly in his hand. An unforgettable humming sound could be heard behind him, letting the medical science officer know that Tahiri wasn’t far behind. He had no chance of a successful skirmish on her terms, but on his own his odds her somewhat higher. Breaking through the doorway at the end of the tunnel, Rhylance rushed into a wide open entryway. The exit was near.

Tahiri wasn’t far behind as she emerged from the tunnel as well. Armed with her red glowing lightsaber, and a scowl, she fixed her yellow eyes on the blue-skinned humanoid. She was ready and set to take the Chiss in. His unwelcomed attack warranted whatever punishment would come his way, and she would happily make sure it came to pass.

“Well, Rhylance, if you wanted to play all you had to do was ask.”

Tahiri’s yellow eyes glowed in the dark room as an intense grin broke across her face. Her prey was weaker than her, and that weakness welcomed death.

As the Togruta ran after Rhylance, she pulled two throwing knives from her belt with her left hand. Rhylance had already proven himself to be quick and smart, so Tahiri had to take care of him in a relatively quick, and mostly unharmed, fashion.

“You should not have followed me, Tahiri.” Rhylance had stopped running and now stood in the middle of the room, rising to his full height and facing her.

Well, I guess I’ll have more than a report to bring back Tahiri thought grimly to herself, as she studied the Chiss. He still held the silenced blaster, though at his side, and his left hand was lightly clutching something.

“Oh? And why is that?” Tahiri replied with a sly grin.

Before the Chiss could answer, Tahiri expertly flicked her left wrist in a quick twisting succession, sending both throwing knives straight at Rhylance at slightly different angles. Each blade aimed at a different part of his person.

However, almost simultaneously Rhylance flicked forward his left hand, sending the contents flying towards Tahiri’s feet. The Togrute only had a small glimpse of the tiny vial before the glass shattered near her right foot. As the contents of the vial made contact with the air, it sparked and sent a small cloud of vapor up, dissipating in the air around Tahiri.

Sithspit! What the...?!

Rhylance barely managed to dodge one of the throwing daggers that was aimed for his torso, though it did make a small cut in his jackets left side. The second, however, was aimed lower and further to his right, buried itself halfway into his upper right thigh.

Tahiri tried to get out of the vapor cloud, trying not to inhale any of it. However in her initial shock, the Togruta sucked in some of vapor. She could smell and taste a mixture of some sort of floral sweetness mixed with the pungency of chemicals.

“What the kark was that, Rhylance?” Tahiri asked with a snarl. “Some sort of perfume? What, you think I smell bad or something?”

The Sith Togruta heard Rhylance grunted as he pulled the throwing dagger from his thigh. The Chiss tossed the dagger away and leveled his pistol once more towards Tahiri.

“No, miss Tahiri, you don’t smell bad,” Rhylance replied calmly, shifting his weight slightly off of his right leg.

“That my dear, was my own personal blend of a hallucinogenic poison. It effects vary from person to person, so I’m not sure how my Fear gas will affect you.”

“Fear gas? What sort of trick is that?” Tahiri’s eyes widened.

“You have your tricks, and I have mine,” the Chiss said smugly.

Tahiri’s vision began to darken slightly. Shaking her head, trying rid herself of growing haze, the Sith tried to keep her eyes on Rhylance. It was getting hard to concentrate on the Chiss though, as out of her peripheral vision, Tahiri saw dark figures come at her.

He has friends? What is going on? There is no one else here, how is this possible?

Swinging her crimson saber to keep the others away, Tahiri unsheathed her blacked-out vibrosword, ready for any other advances from the dark figures and Rhylance.

“Well no matter, your little tricks and friends won’t be enough to save you.” Tahiri was about to launch herself towards Rhylance, but was stopped as a dark figure with a sword advanced towards her. Tahiri twisted around, bring her vibrosword up to block the blow. However, the strike never came, she turned her head to see where the figure went, finding nothing.

Tahiri’s senses screamed at her that another attack was coming up behind her. Acting instinctively, the Togruta ducked, rolling to the side and coming up again with swords crossed, slashing at thin air.

A slight chuckle shifted the Togruta’s attention back to Rhylance. Realizing he had holstered his pistol, she looked at him for a moment, confused as to the implications of the gesture. Tahiri didn’t have much time to contemplate as another larger figure ran towards her from the right.

“Well, I see that you are quite busy with my friends. As interesting as this is, I must go,” Rhylance tugged at the bottom of his jacket, straightening it a bit.

Tahiri looked at him with wide eyes from a corner of the large room. The dark figures kept coming and seemed to be getting bigger as more of them appeared.

“I hope that we meet again, just on different terms next time.” Rhylance turned on his heel, and walked toward the exit, listening to the grunting of the Sith Togruta as she fought imaginary foes. He would have to observe her another time, right now he just wanted to get out before sustaining any more injuries to his person.

Rhylance waited and watched with bated breath as the Togruta approached him. Her yellow eyes glowed ferociously against the dark backdrop of the Mustafar facility. The way she approached him was akin to a predator closing in on their prey before lunging in to make the killing blow. Tension filled his body, he only hoped his plan turned out fruitful.

“I apologize, Tahiri, but playtime seems to be the last thing on my mind. If you would not care, I need to be going now.” the Chiss spoke only to buy himself a few more seconds. His timing needed to be perfect.

“You won't be going anywhere Rhylance. After he stunt you pulled down there, I'm taking you with me. We'll see what my masters will want to do with you.” her focus never seemed to wane. Her mind was singularly focused.

Rhylance palmed the vial in his left hand, his blaster remaining in his right, pointed to the ground. He raised the vial into view so the Togruta could fully see it.

“If that's the case, how about a threat? This vial contains a toxin of my own making,” he spoke with full authority on the subject of poison, his lies mixed in expertly with the truth. “it contains a highly toxic and effective neurotoxin that has begun weaponized into aerosol form. When the liquid meets the air in will send the toxin into the air and your body will begin to shut down after thirty seconds of contact. I have created the anti-toxin and only I have a copy of it, so I'll survive. But you, my dear, will die a most painful death. Your motor functions will shut down, and then you'll begin to aspirate. If your lucky your lungs will cease to work and you'll suffocate to death, otherwise you'll choke on your own vomit and suffocate anyways, only this time it will take longer and be far more painful.”

Tahiri studied the Chiss's face. She saw no indicator that he was lying. His voice remained steady and perfectly tempered as he spoke leading her to believe he may be telling the truth.

“So you will let me leave, otherwise this day shall be your last.” the Arconan finished with a promised absolution. Part of him hoped this would work so he'd be able to just walk away.

Tahiri felt conflict. She wanted to take her prey in, but the fear of looming death was held over her. She wasn't sure if there was a winning scenario here. Seeing her hesitation, Rhylance took a step back. Tahiri reacted out of instinct and she moved to take him down. Smirking the Arconan tossed the vial into the air.

Tahiri saw the vial go up and panic set in. Did she maim her target and risk the vial breaking, or did she safe the vial and risk him being away. In the end her life outweighed his own. The Sith reached her arm injury the air and pulled it with her mind. The glass container began to move towards her hand. It would have made it into he grasp, but a searing pain erupted into her leg.

Rhylance took the momentary distraction to raise his blaster. Close enough to her that his aim was unimpeded, he pulled the trigger and the bolt impacted her knee cap, knocking the Togruta off her feet. The vial landed next to her face against the ground and the glass shattered. Upon contact with the air the metallic liquid erupted, causing a flash of fire that scorched the side of her face she's caused glass to embed next to her eye. Gaseous smoke remained and the Sith breathed it in as she cried out in pain.

Rhylance watched her writhing on the ground. His intrigue raising with each passing moment. Her eyes filled with tears, first from pain, then from heartache. He had lied, the vial was no neurotoxin. It was his weaponized fear gas, and another victim fell subject to its hallucinogenic effects.

Tahiri could see the Mustafar facility melt away and she found herself at home with her tribe. Her brothers played nearby and her parents danced around a campfire. It was a day of celebration for the tribe and singing and music filled the air of the Togruta’s homeworld. Sure felt an initial happiness at seeing her family, but realization hit her hard.

“No...no… everyone you have to run!”

No matter how much she yelled, they just couldn't hear her. Her voice fell on deaf ears as the tragedy began. Tahiris body flooded with cortisol and adrenaline as the raiders broke into the clearing, blasters firing on her family and tribe. The massacre lasted for what felt like forever as she witnessed the scorch marks steal her kin away.

Rhylance enjoyed the scene before him. The hunter on the ground convulsed as she foamed at the mouth. Her mind couldn't handle the images forced upon her. Taking in the sight he wanted desperately to record the Togruta’s reaction. Unfortunately his rational mind won out, getting off this planet was far more important. The Chiss put his blaster away and pulled out a scalpel. With a twisted grin he cut Tahiri in multiple locations. Her body stilled, paralysis taking over as the paralytic coated scalpel did its job.

“I hope you enjoy being trapped in your own mind. You really should have let me leave, now you're going to break. I just wish I could stay to see it.”

As a final act of aggression towards Tahiri, Rhylance took out his second vial of fear toxin and threw it next to the unmarred side of her face. He walked away smiling at the newly pained grunts that echoed in the dark room. The hunter now felt true fear, and the hunted tasted sweet victory.