The Korriban's Blood was unusually quiet. It was almost frightening how still everything was without the marines on board. The ship had suffered a lot damage in the space battle, and was forced to land outside of the Imperial camp. Sanguine'ar never knew how popular a practice slavery was in the Confederacy, or how many slaves the commanders and acolytes took with them where ever they went. Kre had forgone tradition and typical immigration policy, and welcomed the former slaves as Imperial citizens, with open arms.
The surviving marines were growing increasingly wary of the increasing free alien population within the Empire, but they seemed to understand that relying on humans alone would mean that the Empire wouldn't have a sustainable population. That, or they were too afraid of the alien Sith to say anything. Either way, the dynamic of the Empire had changed, and they'd have a hard time trying to change it back.
Besides, no one could argue with the results of the freed slaves labor. A lot of the hull damage had already been repaired, the freed slaves proved to have a great deal of ingenuity in adapting the scrap from the ruined Separatist ships to work with the Blood in consistency, and aesthetic. Those that weren't busy fixing the ships, were put to work on the continued archeological excavations.
They'd stumbled upon part of a wall that Kre said was part of the entrance to Kaas City when they were surveying the damages after the battle. The discovery seemed to gave Kre a renewed vigor. The medical droids and doctors had to deal with treating Kre's injuries while the Emperor was still moving and running around. Frankly, she couldn't understand why. The city would likely be nothing but broken down buildings and ruined streets.
Whatever it was, it was important to him.
Sanguine'ar made her way into the her quarters on the ship, and into the spacious bathroom. Sliding off her robes, she stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over her body, rinsing away the stress and grime of the battle. She'd picked up some new scars in the battle, some would heal over, others she'd carry with her forever. The most glaring, the most disfiguring, of them she was torn on.
Her left eye, and the surrounding flesh, had been burned and ruined by a blaster shot from the Super Battle Droids. The doctors had offered to replace it, but she turned them down. As she dried herself off, she looked herself over in the mirror. Some small shrapnel scars dotted her sides, a slash traveled across her thigh, and a spot on her shoulder that had been smashed by a rock would probably scar too.
"Scars do make excellent reminders." She heard a voice say behind her.
"Master!" She yelped. Sanguine'ar quickly grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around her. "What are you doing? Can't you see I'm taking a shower?" Kre looked around the large bathroom, shrugging.
"By the look of things, you're already done. Besides, you're the one who left both doors open. The common courtesy of knocking stops there. Though, in a way, I've already seen you naked."
"No, you saw Ana naked." She countered.
"True, but I was there when the medics started undressing you after the battle. Discretion wasn't something they were concerned about."
"Is there something you wanted?" She asked, starting to get annoyed. Again, he shrugged.
"The Empire to miraculously become a galactic super-power, again. The answer to why the people I care about either end up trying to kill me, or die. The knowledge that I'm not the last of my kind. Some tangible hope for the future. A double nerf-burger with cheese, ketchup, and pickle only. Simple things."
"You know, you're not like any Sith I've ever heard of. Have I told you that?"
"Probably." He sighed. "I keep thinking about how much different things would be, if only the Sith had seen the truth of things. If, maybe, the Dark Council had been more aware."
"Let me ask you something, Master; would things really be better? You were accused of treason after disappearing. What makes you think that warrant wouldn't have survived the massive gap in time? Besides, the Purebloods were never going to stand the test of time. Syn's* tampering of the Sith genetics made certain of that."
"Do I owe you money, or something?" He asked, with a scowl.
"What do you mean?"
"You seem to be on a hope-killing roll, today. I must have done something."
"No, not really. I may not know you that well, master, and I may not be the most studious apprentice, but she does. If I didn't work to keep you grounded, you'd spin out of control, and crash. Remember the skirmish of Ziost, after the Battle of Onderon? You were so full of yourself, you got six squadrons shot out of the sky. Besides, you just told me; 'scars make excellent reminders.'"
"Oh, so you're just trying to piss me off." He said, with a twinge of aggravation.
"There it is, that fire. Now stop being some sulking, angsty, teenager, and start being a Sith Lord. Like you're supposed to be."
"Piss off." He said, waving her off.
"That's it, more of that; 'Grr. Fire. Grr. Passion.'" She could tell from the look on his face that this had stopped being amusing. He grimaced, and rolled his eyes. Then something happened, a look from him, that made her uneasy.
"You want fire, huh?" He asked menacingly, his arms outstretched like a predator's claws. "How about a flood, instead?"
"No, master, what are you doing?" She cried. He lunged, pinning her to the wall. Desperately, she struggled to get free. With his other hand, he twisted the shower hose, and pulled it closer. Without so much as a twitch, the shower turned on full blast, ice cold. "Ah! No! Stop!" She yelled, between spitting out mouthfuls of water. Kre was laughing so hard, he couldn't breathe. He did, eventually, turn off the shower head, leaving a large puddle of water, and a completely drenched Sanguine'ar on the floor. "Will you just get the hell out?" She groaned.
"Alright. I think I've tormented you enough for one day." Kre turned and walked out, still laughing.
"You are unbelievable!" Setress yelled. "Are you so petty that you can't even be glad that we won this battle? Even if Kre was the one who caught Grievous? It's not like you didn't have ample chances to be the big hero. Hell, you were perfectly happy to let them die."
"Don't snap at me, Ahsoka!" Anakin countered. "He shouldn't even be here. For all we know, he concocted some deal with Grievous, to make us think Kre really captured him."
"What? You've lost it, Master. Do you even know how paranoid that sounds?"
"He's a Sith, Ahsoka! That's what they do. They plot, and they scheme. They'll do whatever it takes to get what they want."
"You- I can't- you're actually giving me a headache. You are being so stupid, it is physically hurting me. I didn't think that was actually possible. I have never known anyone so arrogant, or as ignorant, or as blind, as you. Do you have any idea what he's lost fighting the Separatists?"
"Lost? He's a Sith, Ahsoka, he hasn't lost anything but-"
"Will you shut up?" She screamed. This argument was getting far too heated for anyone's good. She was afraid they'd attract unwanted attention.
"What is going on in here?" She head Obi-wan say. The older master slowly, calmly, walked up to them.
Ah, hell. She thought to herself.
"We're having an argument about the Emperor's motivations." She answered.
"I see."
"Master," Skywalker said, pleading to his older Jedi. "You've experienced the Sith's machinations first hand, when Dooku tried to recruit you. Tell me you can see there's more going on with this situation. Tell her that it's more than likely that Kre's manipulating this whole thing for his own gain."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Obi-wan said. Skywalker looked like he'd just been struck. Ahsoka crossed her arms smuggly. "I don't think that this whole situation is as clear cut as it seems, either. But, it wouldn't make sense that he made any kind of deal with Grievous. He has nothing to gain. Besides, he's already lost a great deal to the Separatists. What I'm still trying to figure out is why he spared Grievous. It's just not something Sith do."
"That's what I'm talking about. Why not just kill Grievous, and eliminate the possibility of escape?"
"It would have been a political scandal. Standing orders are for all captured combatants to be taken prisoner. Not executed on the spot."
"Like he cares about that." Skywalker said. The two of them started going back and forth on the subject, citing different battles, thing's Kre had done, and Sith history.
Please, master, just end this. I'm starting to go cross-eyed.
Ah, but I'm enjoying this. It's nice seeing someone else stand up for me, for a change.
Please? She asked again.
Oh, alright. Kre jumped down from his hiding spot, startling the two.
"Gentlemen," he began. "As much as I'm enjoying the theoretical back-and-forth, the truth is very simple; I, personally, hold the Separatists responsible for the death of someone closer to me than either of you can imagine. As such, I take a certain delight in dismantling their efforts. In this case, taking down Grievous. He is a creature of pride and anger, the best way to attack pride is through humiliation. Dragging him through the pomp and crowds will strike at his most vulnerable parts. Keeping him alive will allow that wound to fester."
"That's- devious." Master Kenobi said.
"Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse us." Kre walked over to her, and quickly ushered them away. It wasn't long before they were back at the Blood. Her hand accidently brushed against his stomach as they walked through the metal halls, causing her eyes to shoot open.
"Are you- flexing?" She asked.
"Who flexes their abs?"
"So, you're not flexing?" She bit her thumb, staring at his lower torso, realizing what she was doing, she started blushing.
"I think you need to get some rest, Setress." He said with a short laugh, and a coy smile.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea." He guided her to the empty room, and beckoned her inside. "Thank, master." She said, with a bow. She turned, and trudged to the bed. She had no idea she could be so exhausted from a single argument.
"Oh, and Setress," he called to her.
"Yes?" She asked, turning.
"I know about the vision you had on Korriban."
"Which vision?" She tried to sound naive, but she had a gut feeling she knew which one he was talking about. His smile widened, showing some of his white teeth.
"Let's just say I've never seen a child like that, let alone two." Setress turned from him in embarrassment, diving under her sheets.
"Oh, this is turning out to be a good day." Kre said to himself.
"You're twenty-five." He heard Sanguine'ar call out. His apprentice stood in the doorway to her own quarters, staring at him. "She's going on seven-teen."
"And? What's you're point?" He asked.
"You don't see the problem with this? You're nine years older than her."
"Again, your point?"
"You can't really tell me you're thinking about sleeping with her."
"You should know that I don't hop into bed on the first opportunity, Sanguine'ar. That said, she's old enough to make her own decisions about who to sleep with, or who not to."
"She's a child."
"A child? Hardly. She's a killer. A soldier. A Sith." He said, emphasizing the last part. "The Republic and Jedi have sent her on several missions that could have killed her, and I've done the same. That scar across her face is because of me. Because of my decisions."
"I'm not debating that, Kre." Sanguine'ar continued. Now he understood what was happening. He wasn't talking to Sanguine'ar, he was talking to Ana. "I'm just saying; you know how people are that age, you need to be mindful of that. Pursue a relationship, for love or procreation, or even just sex, if you want. Just remember, she's still got a lot of growing up to do."
"Ana," he said, "don't worry." He walked up to her, running his hand down her cheek.
"I just don't want to see you hurt anymore." She rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes. "It's been like torture, watching all of this happening. I've been fighting with her to take control, so I can help. After what I've done-" She buried her face into his chest, breathing deep. For a while, neither of them said a word. She pulled back from him, staring into his eyes. "I still can't understand why you did that to yourself. You had such beautiful, orange, eyes." She ran a finger over his lips, feeling the small ridges on them.
Kre's breathing started to get heavier. He could almost feel his blood pumping through his veins. He started to get hot, anticipation building in him.
"I still love you." Ana said. She pushed herself up on her toes to kiss him.
"Wait," he said, stopping her millimeters from his face. "That body isn't yours, Ana. I can't let you do that. Besides, you lost the rights to my heart when you tried to bury me in that tomb."
"I-I see." She dropped down, and stared at the floor. For a moment, Kre thought she might start crying. "You've grown up a lot from that day, so long ago. Y-Y-you ah!" She shook her head, knotting her brows. "She's fighting back. I guess- I guess our time together is over, for now." She looked up at him, her eyes glassy. The shine started to fade as Sanguine'ar took control of her body again.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I don't know. That was...unpleasant. I don't even know what happened."
"Nothing you need to worry about, apprentice. Get some sleep, we have a great deal of work to do tomorrow."
"Yes, master." She said with a bow. Kre turned from her, and walked down the hallway. Night had finally settled on Dromund Kaas, and things were finally winding down for the Emperor. He would finally be able to get some R & R of his own. If he could get the images of orange and blue bodies, of a time of comparable innocence and ideals, out of his mind.
*Author's note: Sorzus Syn was one of the Dark Jedi that followed Ajunta Pall, after the 100 Year Darkness, and was a master of Sith Alchemy. It was her work that allowed the Dark Jedi to breed with the native Sith, and created the distinctive sub-species of the Kassai, Massassi, Engineers, and Slaves. Whether that manipulation of the Sith DNA was responsible for the gradual decline of Sith traits, or not, is unknown.