"It has been a while Lord Scourge."
"Indeed it has my Lord."
"...Punctual as always." Xanthe adds sarcastically, dusting her robes. Scourge looked almost apologetic and fidgets slightly as he explains, "I was detained by the Head of the Sphere of Military Offense who was questioning my orders to cease fire," he pauses and briefly looks at the dead Sith on the floor "...and who also happened to be the master of the promising young Sith you just executed."
"Oops." Xanthe says with a shrug. "Ah, what a coincidence. Like master, like apprentice it seems. Perhaps it is time this Sith Lord gets… "reassigned". I would very much like to meet this individual."
"You should not underestimate him Darth Imperius. He loves the battlefield. He thrives on destruction." Scourge warns. Xanthe turns to him "And he should learn his place, when dealing with another Dark Councillor. Especially one who is responsible for the survival of our Empire." she snaps back.
"That I do agree with. He has become quite arrogant I admit. But many Sith have been like that over the centuries. Even your master, Darth Zash and ...my replacement Wrath's master- Darth Baras were much like this one. Not all were honorable like yourself and Darth Marr." Scourge reminds her. "You… are correct. I apologise. It has been a long time." Xanthe admits.
He looks around remembering why she came in the first place. " I have arranged your quarters. Follow me." He then turns to the surviving young Sith "You will accompany us also."
"Of course Lord Scourge." he replies, bowing.
"Let's go HK."
"Statement: With pleasure Master."
As they were walking through the corridors, Xanthe observed everything. She noticed the ship layout was similar to those of her Empire… the Empire under Emperor Vitiate. The Imperial troops and officers, their uniforms were almost the same, slightly modified and advanced. She pauses as she sees the Imperial banner and smiles. The insignia had not changed at all, providing her some small comfort in reminding her that this is still the continuation of the Empire she once served and not a remade Empire like Darth Sidious' Republic turned-Galactic Empire.
"Here we are Darth Imperius. I will notify the other Lords and Darths of your arrival. I will return shortly. Until then please make yourself comfortable." Scourge finishes with a slight bow. Imperius responds with a slight inclination of her head, signalling Scourge to leave. She turns to the young Sith, who seems like he would rather be anywhere but there. "Perhaps you should follow him." She suggests. He immediately sees his way out and eagerly agrees hurrying to catch up with the former Emperor's Wrath.
She shakes her head in amusement and enters her assigned quarters. She so badly wants to take off that mask, she's always hated wearing anything on her face but she still has a role to play, plus there is no need to reveal her appearance just yet. After all, the room may be bugged even if she does trust Scourge. She takes a look around, the room is fairly simple, a couch, table, bed and a couple of chairs. Imperial banners decorate the room, and to her surprise, an insignia representing the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge was also put up. "HK. I am going to meditate. Do not disturb me unless necessary. Until then, monitor everything and sweep the room for bugs."
"Statement: Yes master."
A call on the holocommunicator pulled her from her meditation. 'Since teaching Rey how to meditate, it seems to have become easier for me to meditate as well.' Xanthe muses before answering the call. She looks at the figure in surprise "Scourge? What are you doing on the communicator?"
"I apologise my Lord. It seems the master of the apprentice you killed is out for blood. He doesn't seem to care or understand who you are. He is on his way now. Be warned, the other Lords and Darths are following, more out of curiosity to see who you are and what will happen between you two, rather than to deal with this ridiculous show."
"Are you telling me that no one on this Dark Council has any sense to stop him?"
"There was one who did voice her opinion on the matter and recommended they deal with the theatrics later and for now focus on what your presence means for the Empire."
"Good. Someone with reason. Who is this individual?"
"Her name is… Darth Marr."
Kallig blinks. "Darth…. Marr?"
"Yes." Scourge replies. "She is apparently a descendant of the former Darth Marr. Marr seems to be her family name as well, so to honour him, she decided to use his title. She even wears his mask. Alternatively, she did go by Marrvisas, but, most are accustomed to calling her Marr."
"I see." Kallig says nodding slowly. "Well being connected to Marr, I'm not surprised she is the only one with some intelligence. As for the fool coming to declare vengeance on me, what is his name?"
"His name is Darth Nathema."
"Nathema? As in the planet Vitiate destroyed- Nathema?"
"Yes. As head of the Sphere of Military Offense, he considers himself to be...the Destroyer of Worlds."
Kallig just scoffs and shakes her head in disbelief. "These Sith are getting more and more stupid. This is what was responsible for the downfall of our glorious Empire in the past. At least Darth Thanaton was trying to use tradition to justify killing me. This one is delusional. You better hurry over Lord Scourge. I wouldn't want you to miss his early…. Retirement."
"I am on my way my Lord, but remember- He thrives on death and destruction and bloodlust. He is more like Darth Vengean, but with less restraint."
Kallig smirks under her mask. "I performed the Force Walk. I hand bound three ghosts to me. I harboured and fought the Emperor in my mind. I have survived attempts on my life by Arcann, Vaylin, SCORPIO, Thanaton and Zash- twice. I know techniques that other Sith could only dream of. You should have more faith in my Scourge."
Scourge smirks. "Very well my Lord. You have been inactive for so long, I hope you know what you are doing. I would hate to have to replace the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge again."
"Low blow, Scourge, low blow. But I will overlook that this time. It is time to meet the fool "Nathema"." Kallig states, switching off the communicator. "Get ready HK, you may get to eliminate a few Sith today also."
"Excitement: My circuits are tingling with anticipation Master."
They exit their quarters only to see who she assumes to be Darth Nathema, with at least eleven other Sith following behind, who she assumed were the remaining Dark Councillors, as well as a small crowd of other Sith and troops trailing behind.
Kallig stands patiently with her hands behind her back in a relaxed stance. As Darth Nathema comes closer, she observes his appearance- Sith pureblood, his appearance corrupted by the dark side, scars and implants decorating his face and heavily armoured. 'Not very practical for dodging' she observes. Addressing all Sith present, Kallig states "Ah, so you are my fellow Councillors, running our beloved Empire in my absence. Surely you all know who I am now, yes?"
Darth Nathema stops and snorts in disgust. "I do not care who you are. Personally I do not believe you are who Scourge says you are. All I know is that you killed my apprentice and I demand blood. How dare you kill the apprentice of a Dark Councillor! Who do you think you are?"
Imperius just stares at him. " I am Sith." She deadpans. "This is the way of the Sith. He did not show the proper respect for a Darth. More specifically, that of a Dark Councillor and was not strong enough to withstand my power. As far as I am concerned, he was not worthy of being Sith."
The last comment got the reaction she was hoping for. She felt the rage before seeing it and had her lightsaber ready before he cried out in rage, sending Force Lightning her way. She easily caught it with her lightsaber, redirecting it elsewhere. Getting the target angry, would make them a more dangerous enemy, but anger, if not channelled properly, can also cloud one's judgement and make them more likely to make mistakes. Nathema pulls out his single bladed lightsaber, which hummed a brilliant crimson and charged at her. Physically he was stronger than her, if the blows he was trying to inflict was any indication. 'Pity. He would've made a good Sith Commander.' Imperius thought to herself while trying to dodge his attacks. She fires lightning at him at close range, surprising him and sends him flying into the wall with a Force push. "Are we done with the sparring now? Perhaps now we can deal with more pressing matters."
That caused Nathema to get up in record time, screaming out in rage " You will die Imperius! You don't know what Sith is. I will make you see and experience pain like none other. You will be begging for death!" and with that he charges at her, lightsaber held high and roaring a battlecry. Imperius isn't even going to bother trying to block that attack, so she does what she's best at. She vanishes.
Nathema sees only a door and all but smashes into it. In confusion he turns around as do the other Sith, trying to find the former Sith Assassin. Immediately, Nathema clutches his chest, falling to the ground. He turns to see Imperius with her hand raised outward. "You haven't experienced true pain young one." Imperius says in a low voice. "Let me show you." And summoning the Dark Side in a way that she hasn't done in a long time, it almost felt… refreshing, or perhaps even re energising?
She allowed her pain and hatred to flow through, remembering her hardships, her losses, her pain at the hands of Zash, the ghosts, Valkorion, Arcann, Vaylin, the loss of her crew, Theron and Lana. Her eyes immediately glowed a bright purple and lightning of pure dark energy poured out. She could sense him trying to repel it through the Force, but the intensity and aftershocks still enveloped him in pain. He was screaming in a way no one thought possible, even if he wasn't actually burning yet. Imperius eventually stops her assault and states, "Now Darth Nathema, I know what it is to meet death alone. Our former Emperor saw to that. I shall soon show you. "Destroyer of Worlds?" Heh. I was known as the "The Forcewalker- Binder of Ghosts." Prepare to be reunited with your apprentice."
Imperius doesn't move. No lightning emerges from her fingertips, but Nathema's eyes widen as he slowly rises and he starts to convulse and scream, eventually he becomes limp and silent and drops to the floor, his face fixed in a tortured expression. To the horror of most other Sith, save Imperius, Scourge and a few more experienced Dark Councillors, they realised his mind was destroyed, internal bleeding if the blood from his nose, ears and eyes were any indication and his heart was finally and literally crushed. All signs of the violent and rarely used dark ability- Force Crush.
Imperius takes a few moments to calm down and let the the effects and influence of the dark side subside- she has a pretty face to protect after all- and also to give the other Sith a few moments to come to terms with what just happened. HK breaks the silence "Statement: Was he the only threat Master, or am I expecting more resistance?"
Looking at the other Sith, she replies "I believe that was it HK. I think my fellow Sith understand now. So..." Now noticing Scourge, she clasps her hands behind her back "Let's get this meeting started shall we?"
Scourge looks at her amused, and doesn't even bother to hide his smirk. Darth Marr steps out, clearly looking like the leading councillor, 'Just like Marr' Imperius thinks to herself. "Yes, now that this matter has been...resolved, I think it would be best to get this meeting underway. Please follow us to the Council Chambers... Darth Imperius."
"With pleasure."
As she follows Marr and the other Lords to the council chambers, Scourge starts to speak. "It has been so long since I have see power like that. It reminds me of our glorious past before Vitiate abandoned us. I am...glad you have not done away with your identity and past. If anything… you seem less conflicted than the last time we properly spoke." he comments, regarding her curiously. "Yes...I guess I had an epiphany. Certain truths were revealed to me before I left Ahch-To." Imperius responds, not once looking at Scourge. He realises she will not elaborate on this and decides to drop the topic. "Nonetheless I am pleased you did not disappoint. Your mastery of the dark side is as what was rumoured centuries ago. I now understand why you caught Vitiate's attention. I have not seen that technique used in some time… and the Force Rage… I did not expect you to still have that level of mastery over it after so long. I admit, I am impressed."
"Compliments? From you? It seems I am not the only one getting soft Lord Scourge." Imperius replies.
Before Scourge could reply, Darth Marr turns and addresses them. "We are here. Only the member of the Dark Council, Lord Scourge and our guest, Darth Imperius are allowed to enter." She then turns to the crowd that followed them. "The rest of you spineless Sith and Imperials may leave." Turning to Imperius, she ushers them inside. " I apologise for this embarrassing and foolish display. This is most unbecoming of Sith." Sighing, she adds "I believe we have much to discuss."
"Yes, I believe we do and unfortunately I fear we are running out of time."
