Two
The Citadel, Dromund Kaas
13 ATC
"I'm ever so pleased that you agreed to meet with me, Wrath," Darth Nox said cheerfully.
The newest member of the Dark Council was a fair-skinned human woman with long, midnight black hair and pale gray eyes. Her face, while not conventionally beautiful, was nonetheless quite attractive, with a tapered jaw, prominent cheekbones, and a long, narrow nose. She had chosen to forego traditional Sith robes in favor of a high-collared white dress with embroidered gold accents.
A'tro had been present during Nox's climactic duel with Darth Thanaton in the Council chamber. Her conduct then made A'tro inclined to like her, but she definitely didn't trust her. Nox was dangerous.
That danger, however, was why A'tro had agreed to meet with her in the first place. "The pleasure is mine," she said smoothly. "I was eager to once again offer my congratulations on your victory over Thanaton."
The corners of Nox's scarlet mouth turned upwards. "Thank you."
They were meeting in one of the public seating areas of the Citadel, an array of chairs and couches arranged in front of a large window giving a grand view of the city. Such places were good locations for Sith to hold meetings, as one could carry on a private conversation if one was quiet, but it was public enough that only the boldest would try for a violent power grab.
Nox moved over to a chair by the window, floating across the floor like a ghost in her white dress. A'tro took a seat across from her, folding her hands in her lap, but taking care not to intertwine her fingers too tightly in case her lightsabers were needed. This was a public space, but this was also Darth Nox.
"I must admit," Nox said, "I'm curious as to what you intend to do with your new position."
A'tro studied the metal plate on the back of her right gauntlet for a long moment, contemplating her answer. "I defeated Darth Baras in single combat," she said finally. "By rights, his seat on the Dark Council belongs to me."
"Ambitious," Nox said admiringly. "To be the Emperor's Wrath and a member of the Dark Council... I doubt the others will like it."
"I'm not giving them a choice."
Nox chuckled. "I like you, Wrath."
"I'm flattered. Might I ask what you intend to do with your own position, Nox?"
"Oh...this and that." Her enigmatic smile returned in full force. "The Sphere of Ancient Knowledge will keep me satisfied for the time being."
"I must admit, I look forward to seeing where you go."
Nox's smile widened. "You may be the only one. I get the sense that certain members of our illustrious Council are not overly fond of me."
"Such things are to be expected."
"Still, it's dreadfully inconvenient when one is trying to get things done. Especially inconvenient for the assassins, since they're all dead now, but…I'm sure you understand."
"As it happens, I haven't had many difficulties in that area," A'tro admitted.
Nox raised a thin black arch of an eyebrow. "You haven't? No, of course you haven't. You're the Emperor's Wrath; trying to assassinate you would be tantamount to a declaration against the Emperor himself. Sheer foolhardiness."
"Indeed."
"No wonder you've been so productive of late. You do impressive work, Wrath. Our colleagues had best be on their guard. I assume now that you've returned to proper civilization, you will be attending our meetings?"
"Yes. It's time I became involved."
"Good, good. I daresay you won't have any difficulty finding somewhere to sit. There have been so many chairs open of late. It's a little troubling."
"The loss of Council members is a blow, to be sure, but they will be replaced soon enough."
Nox pursed her lips and frowned. "Will they, though? I can't help but notice that the Sphere of Imperial Intelligence has remained leaderless for some time."
"Imperial Intelligence is dissolved, now. I imagine that complicates things."
Nox's frown deepened. "I am well aware. Whose foolhardy idea was that, anyway?"
A'tro shrugged.
Nox shook her head. "It doesn't matter now. The point is, there is an empty seat and no one has taken it."
"I'm not sure that the rest of the Council considers it empty. Darth Jadus is not dead, as far as we know."
"'As far as we know is' decidedly limited. No one has seen or heard from Jadus in a year, now."
"Considering what happened the last time he faked his demise, I understand the Council being reluctant to remove him from the picture."
"Hmm." Nox frowned at the window for several moments. Then the expression wiped itself clear from her face, replaced by her usual half-smile. "You know, you weren't at all what I was expecting."
A'tro stared at her blankly for a moment. "I wasn't?"
"Not at all. When I heard that there was a new Emperor's Wrath, and that they would likely be present when I faced Thanaton, I imagined some colossus of muscle looming over the proceedings."
A'tro snorted. "Disappointed?"
"Not at all. No one bothered telling me you were a woman, either. Which, I have to say, is quite refreshing. The Empire could use a few more Sith ladies in visible positions of power."
"On that, we can agree."
"Not that I think our male colleagues are incompetent. Except for Ravage. Still, I find myself the recipient of a great deal of attention."
A'tro looked from Nox's face to her tight-fitting dress and back again several times. "I can't imagine why."
"Six months in power and they're already clambering for my favor in droves." Nox sighed dramatically. "Ah, the benefits of power. But what about you, my dear? A Pureblood such as yourself is at the top of the aesthetic food chain to most Sith."
"I have no interest in such things."
"No? More for me, then." Nox settled back in her chair, her half-smile arranging itself into a full, confident smirk. "You can go a great distance on looks alone. I learned that a long time ago."
"My strength can carry me all the distance I need to go."
"Funny you should say that," Nox said lightly. "Because unless I'm getting the Sith Code completely wrong, we gain our strength through passion."
A'tro snorted quietly. She had witnessed Nox's battle with Darth Thanaton, and the woman was as cold and calculating a fighter as she had ever seen. "I think the Code is referring to a different kind of passion."
"Is it, though? An awful lot of Jedi can be convinced to switch sides with the promise of a little…fraternization."
"I'll give you that one," A'tro said, thinking of some of the first questions Jaesa had asked her. "But I do not believe that 'fraternization,' as you put it, is as necessary as you make it sound. To indulge one's appetites too far is weakness, plain and simple."
"You prefer your hedonism in controlled doses, then?"
"I prefer not to waste my time."
"Ah, one of those types." Nox nodded sagely. "Perhaps I've been reading this all wrong. A military man—or woman—would be much more to your fancy than a Sith." Her smile widened. "I do love our troops. So disciplined. So eager to please."
Several extremely vivid memories flashed through A'tro's mind. "I am finished with this line of conversation."
"Of course, of course. Now that we've established your lack of interest, I can conquer as I see fit. Excellent."
A'tro blinked. "You…you are strange, Nox."
"I know. But I would be very boring otherwise."
