Author's Notes
Marry Christmas everyone, hope you enjoy my gift
"Say nothing and nothing will happen to you." Elysali gulped at the cool threat that her new Sith captor had given her as they arrived at their destination. They had traveled to the upper area of the mid spires, a cocktail jazz lounge she had heard of but never ventured to herself. It wasn't her scene.
This certainly hadn't been what she thought her day would be. She was supposed to go to the opera and mingle with her friends all while ruining the life of that tramp that said her best new dress was out of season. How dare she say something so true but so untimely. It was called having your own style and not following the trends. But those meetings with those rather burly xenos and that sickly hacker pissant that thought he had shot with her would be put on indefinite hold.
Instead she had made the choice to go to her doting mother to squeeze a little more out of her and got a kidnapping out of it. And this wasn't like her previous three kidnappings, this one felt real. More real than anything she had ever felt. Ever since she was young she had been raised to be the heir to her house, and early on she learned to use this to control her mother. By threatening all manner of ways to ruin her mother's plans ranging from killing herself in her younger more emotional years to now a days hinting she might run off with some spacer trash and leave behind her duties. Elysali got what she wanted when she wanted.
But now that was painfully not the case. The man that had kidnapped her didn't bend or cower at her rank, value, or force of personality. He simply… crushed her. The glow of the red lightsaber, seeing it in real life was nothing like the stories that as a child her mother told her of the old days. There was a… snap to the air and a smell that was unlike anything else. It was power. Pure. Power. And those eyes, the ones he had when he was done with her attempts at controlling the situation from under him. The controlled fury that was behind them sent shivers of… all sorts of emotions through her body. And now this is honest to Force Sith was leading her to his base.
As they entered the lounge she saw several people getting into their cars, shooting glares at her and the man that had taken her hostage. To her they were the glares of people whose night had just been ruined and were none too pleased about it. The reason for this was apparent as they entered, the entire place was empty save for a Chiss and red Twi'lek. Almost immediately upon seeing him, the Twi'lek ran to the Sith, embracing him in an almost tearful way.
"You idiot! You're the last person I should have to worry about being kidnapped!" She pulled away and slapped him on the chest several times before returning to her deep hug. Elysali could hear whispers between them but couldn't make out the words. But she paid extra attention to the entire exchange.
She needed all the information she could get in order to turn this around. She had to, she was Elysali Alizua and her pride demanded that even as a hostage she should be the center of attention. However, the fear and awe of being in the presence of a real Sith was putting a wet blanket on her pride. Despite the Republic's best efforts, every member of Kaasen nobility grew up on stories of the Sith. How they were portrayed depended on what family you belonged to, but you did hear about them. Devils and Angels in equal measure, near mythical figures from Kaasen history and she was standing in the same room as one.
"Lord Nagash, my apologizes for what happened. My agents were caught completely unaware, would they not be dead already I would be having them spaced as we speak." The Chiss spoke in this detached calm but remorseful way that sent chills down Elysali's spine. They weren't seen regularly in the galaxy or even known to exist in most of the Republic but here on Dromund Kaas one or two could be seen in a lifetime. Descendants from the age of the Sith.
"Their lead kidnapper was a Null, and their opening move was to inject me with some sort of nerve agent. Those two in combination got me." He explained as he and the Twi'lek separated. She was… attractive but in the heiress' mind not enough to be so friendly with a Sith. A man of that power, of that destiny deserved someone of their breeding and status. Someone… like her.
"Nevertheless, I should have caught on to the plot before it was ever given the green light. It is my job to know secrets after all." The final nod he gave caused the Twi'lek to glare at him, some sort of spat or feud was there. And it was recent too, Elysali could pick out a comeback barb when she heard one. It was then that the Chiss looked at her and… she had never felt more naked before a stranger than that moment. It wasn't just the Sith, she was entering into a circle of people that felt like legends she was unaware of. "Now if I may my lord, could I ask why you have the daughter of the Lady of House Alizua?"
"We'll get to her." It was insufferable, being ignored like this. Having to be regulated to secondary news. "Urmas is dead, and I doubt that the coming regency council that will replace him while his son grows up will be as easy to convince."
"Lord Iligesh is in the hospital, yes but my agents have told me that he is recovering." The Chiss explained with a narrowed look on his face, this was a man that didn't like not knowing all the facts. Elysali had met men like that before but never had they ever… simply proven themselves but speaking so few words.
"Check again, Lady Alizua was very convinced that she had taken care of the old man." The Sith said, trusting her mother's threat. That was the smart move as when her mother made a threat like that it was never hollow. Elysali had been told since she was young that bluffing was done by people that lacked the will and ability to make their own case.
"You boys have your fun, I'm going to tell my crew that things are back on." The Twi'lek tenderly kissed the Sith's check before leaving. As the xeno walked past, she didn't even look at her! This was not how she should be treated, even as a hostage she was still one of the most important people on the planet and should be treated as such.
"Let us say that what you say is true. That would mean we have lost our means to bring the Resurgents into our plans." The Chiss explained not being concerned that she was here. Did that mean she was already set to die or they just didn't think she was smart enough to be a threat so they spoke openly. "And I fail to see how kidnapping the daughter of the current leader of said faction would help us in these matters. Though I guess given their relationship it might amount to nothing."
"Oh Cipher, it seems your data is severely out of date." The Sith chuckled before Elysali felt her body float up and levitate between the two. "Tell him your public, private, and then real relationship with your mother."
"I won't be ordered around like an AYHH!" She screamed as arcs of lightning extended out from his fingers and hit her body. She fell to the ground and spasmed uncontrollably as pain wrecked her mind and body. Then she gasped as it finally ended, her once pristine and designer dress she had intended to wear to impress her peers at the opera was now scorched and ruined.
"Bet you miss those spankings now huh?" Elysali gritted her teeth not to say something back at him, knowing full well what awaited her should she say something out of line. The feeling of Sith Lightning made her situation even more real in her mind. This was indeed not some Dark Jedi playing a Sith but the genuine article. "Now collect yourself. Then stand and tell us the situation as I stated."
"Yes… my lord." She pulled the words out from her lungs knowing what he wanted to hear. After a moment to once again feel the tips of her fingers she pulled herself off the floor and stood as well as she could. "Publicly I play the dutiful heiress. I listen to what my mother asks and do as told. I go to every function needed by a lady of my status and maintain the correct lifestyle."
"Yes-yes, we know all this." The Chiss the Sith had called Cipher waved off her words in the manner any spymaster would when being told what they already knew.
"Privately however, we are cold to each other. To many of our close family friends and allies we are feuding constantly." She explained and this wasn't even far from the truth, it's just the dynamic of it all was wrong. The Chiss gave the Sith a look to which he just got a small smile in return. The Sith then looked to her to go on. "But, in reality I have my mother under my thumb. She's so obsessed with securing her legacy that she'll do anything to make sure that I'm happy and ready to take her place someday. I think it's because I'm my father's only child, the only man she ever sacrificed power for, that she hasn't gone out to replace me. My mother will do anything for me and won't stop to have me back." She added that little threat but neither of the men seemed worried.
"She's an entitled brat with an enabling mother. If we play this right we can ensure that House Alizua will support our plans, House Domiot's head is currently getting pegged by her mother so they'll be on board, and I'm sure with a bit more work we can get the important people in Iligesh on our side." He said all of this as he jovially walked toward the nearby bar and grabbed himself a drink from it. Elysali didn't know how to process seeing someone so powerful act so casually.
"How should we proceed?" The Chiss asked as he glared at the Sith's pilfering of the booze.
"For now, reshuffle your informants, get what you can out of her, and readjust to the new situation. Wait a bit before contacting Berthia on her daughter, let her stew in the fear for a bit." As they continued to speak, Elysali listened carefully for their plans for her. If she was going to be a hostage to an ancient mythical figure from her people's past, she was damn sure going to make it so that she would come out the better and most importantly alive.
"Watch your flanks, be aware of your vulnerabilities when using a larger blade." Rathari instructed as he spared with two of the new Neophytes. Karne and Cayle were not one of the stars that Darth Nagash had his eyes on, but given their current numbers they could afford to ignore any of them.
Karne was using a large broadsword as fitting for his larger body. He swung heavy but always maximizing the reach of his weapon, using the Force on himself to push and pull around Rathari to avoid any counter attack. Meanwhile Cayle ducked and jumped around in a passable proto version of a Form Four, Darth Nagash would need to be the one to teach him proper form as neither Rathari nor Fay were experts in the style. His weapon was a thin slightly curved Cavalry sword, perfect for charging into a battle line lopping off heads or slipping past heavy plate. Both of them were perfectly in sync with one another.
"Yes, my lord." Karne responded as his feet skid across the grass that they were training in. Narrowly missing a swing from Rathari's training blade. Shâsot was dug into the ground nearby and was not suitable for training purposes.
"You have an interesting use of the Force, but always remember…" Rathari reached out with his free hand and lifted Karne up by his neck. "… to always maintain your barrier to prevent exactly this." Only the Neophytes were being taught the very basic skill of using the Force to protect oneself from manipulation by other Force Users in combat. It was the reason why not all fights between Force Users end with one holding the other in midair or Jedi and Sith turning off each other's lightsabers.
"Behind you my lord!" Cayle shouted foolishly as he leapt into the air and attempted a decapitating blow. Rathari had sensed the young man even without him announcing his attack. The older Sith simply ducked his upper body and with a kick off the ground just as Cayle flew over him, Rathari back kicked the green Neophyte right into his friend.
"You two have excellent coordination with each other, and have already begun developing your styles of combat. Karne, continue to work on your concentration and defense. Cayle, next time that Lord Nagash is here, ask him for help on your form, as he is a master of the style you are trying to emulate." With that Rathari walked back to his Force Blade and pulled it out of the ground, ignoring the small rumblings of irritation the being inside had. It had been roughly two hours of training out in the grasslands that surrounded Harrenhal and Rathari was ready to return.
One of his pet projects, a large theater in the more wealthy area of the Imperial District, was coming together and wanted to be on site for the finishing touches. One thing he deeply missed from his life as a ruler of Valyria is visiting the Opera, taking in the stories and music that less advanced peoples could give birth to. Originality slowly died as a people advanced technologically, previous works influenced the newer generations and this effect compounded with time. Thus everything eventually just became a newer version of the same tale. Primitive societies however were free from this and tended to come up with the most amazing of cultural works.
"Lord Rathari, do you have a moment?" The older Sith lord turned back to see the two Neophytes looking up to him in a way he had never gotten used to, that of a student looking to a teacher for wisdom. "Exactly when will be ready to get a title?"
"Everyone is a little in the dark about it, you've always been a lot easier to understand than Lord Nagash." Karne grunted and the Sith lord did have to agree with him there. Darth Nagash had a tendency to speak in both riddles and jokes only he understood. Rarely was it the vagueness of the Jedi or the jealous secrecy of the old generation of Sith.
"The issue is not that Lord Nagash did not explain it well enough, it is the lack of precedence that is the issue." Rathari explained as he sheathed Shâsot. It was a difficult thing to describe just what they were looking for, experience. They could not hand out these ranks just to fill out their numbers, that would spell disaster down the road. "But I guess I should tell you the minimum requirements. For one, none of you will be getting a title until you are at least twenty five years old."
"What?" They both questioned with disappointment in their voices.
"Mental and emotional maturity is something that will be needed, and it is simple human logic that youth, while it has many advantages, also lacks in these things." Rathari could still recall many follies of his youth, chief among them was his duel against Lord Nagash so very long ago. But now he had age and wisdom of that to guide him. "Another requirement would be mastery over your chosen fighting style. You must prove to us that you have developed your form of combat to an acceptable level."
"Right… I think we can do that." Cayle said with Karne nodding, this was a more achievable goal set for them.
"Those are the only two true minimum requirements, anything else would be up to you. Prove to us that you are worthy of a title. It does not need to be some grand gesture, excellence and personal development in of itself would be enough." Rathari said knowing that while they needed to keep the bar high, they also could not have impossible standards. They were seeking the very basic rank in a Sect, they did not need to perform some world altering feat. But they could not sit idle, time would pass on and the Sith would need to prove themselves to many in the coming years.
"We're almost there, should not even be a day's walk." Thoren said as he sat down with two bowls of soup, across from him was Jadith. They had been walking back to Harrenhal since the night at Acorn Hill and had stopped at this small inn last night. At first they stayed off the roads and on foot because Thoren was worried about being caught after what he had done, but at some point they just stuck to walking just because.
"Thanks." Jadith's voice was small and not the normal bright bubbly ray of sunshine that he was used to. They had not spoken about what happened, they had barely spoke at all. None of her teasing, it disturbed Thoren how much he missed it. But he knew the reason, he killed her mother right in front of her. Everything that happened that night had become a blur after he arrived at Jadith's family home but he knew what he did. That was the danger of the Dark Side, of emotions ruling you.
The two of them sat without a word between them. The inn's tavern was somewhat lively even early in the morning, merchants and other people traveling to and from Harrenhal. Thoren knew he had to address what happened, but he just didn't know how to approach it. It usually was Jadith that started conversations, he just either went along or brushed them off. He stared down into the soup that was in front of him, he couldn't just let this stay like this. Something had to happen, he apologize or whatever it took to set things right. So he looked back up and opened his mouth to say something but then a group of men, the leader of just was wearing a set of scale mail, circled their small table.
"Can we help you?" Thoren asked, his tone indicating they were not welcome and it would be best if they left quickly. But the glare that he was getting from the men didn't make him think the warning would be heard. And laying eyes on the seven pointed star that was stitched onto their clothes confirmed that.
"You're Seekers, don't try to deny it. Probably out looking for innocent children to take back to the Sith to be turned into witches and heretics." The leader, likely a hedge knight of some sort, spat at Thoren and Jadith as his followers all placed their hands on the sheathed swords.
"You are mistaken Ser, and it would be best if you move along." Thoren warned again this time more directly. He didn't want to fight right now, and he certainly didn't want to kill in front of Jadith again.
"No, I'm not mistaken." The man said as he pulled up Thoren by the cuff and out of his seat. "I know what you are and I'm not going to let you defile any more kids."
"You really don't want to do this right now." Now Thoren was getting pissed. These fools came to them when they had done nothing just because they were wearing the colors of the Seekers. It made Thoren think, how many other people had this band of bastards harassed or even killed just because they thought they were doing the Gods work. Thoren's hand hovered over his own sword, a blade that outclassed every single one in the inn. The entire room was focused on the impending fight, unsure of what they should do. Then the sound of the doors to the room drew everyone's attention. There standing in the door was a group of genuine Seekers of the Sith.
"Seems we're interrupting something." The lead seeker cleared his throat before speaking as he and his comrades entered the tavern completely. The group of men that had been accosting Thoren and Jadith stepped back, no longer having numbers on their side. Along with that, they were painfully aware that Seekers were equipped and trained well. The Hedge Knight on the other hand, stood his ground as he shoved Thoren back onto his seat and stood up toward the newcomers.
"You are not, on the contrary you presence is most welcome. You can join your heathen kin on the noose." The Hedge Knight unsheathed his sword and all the patrons of the tavern quickly scattered out. The Seeker meanwhile just looked relieved and pleased by this.
"Oh finally, we've been looking for you all over the place." The lead Seeker then pulled out a scroll from his cloak as his friends spread out across one side of the tavern. He then unfurled the scroll in front of the Hedge Knight, and again cleared his throat. "Ser Barbertain, you have been charged with the murder of eight men and the rape and murder of three women. By the King's Law and enforced by Darth Nagash, vassal of Lord Paramount Tully of Riverrun, you are to be brought to Harrenhal to be executed by either public stoning or by the gibbet. Your choice. Those found in your company are assumed guilty by either participation or consent, their sentence is either to take the Black or hang by the noose until dead." With that the lead Seeker rolled the scroll back up and tossed it over to the knight's feet. "It's all official, you can check."
"Your madness is so deep that you think you can judge me? You who have shunned the Seven and submit to the chosen of the Seven Hells." The Hedge Knight stomped on the decree with a self-righteous sneer, which immediately was smacked off by a heavy weight hitting him in the helmet. The sound of chains clinking filled the room as one of the Seekers pulled back their weight and chain. The Hedge Knight however was now on his back, his ears ringing and his head throbbing and before he was able to really come to his senses, he felt himself being flipped over and his arms being pulled behind his back. "Faithful! Come to my aid!"
"Nah buddy, they fucked off the moment they heard that being caught with you got them either dead or the Wall." The Seeker on top of him gleefully gloated as he slapped a set of shackles on the disgraced Ser's arms. Meanwhile Thoren and Jadith both were wide eyed at how effortlessly the Seekers had handled that entire situation. They were still in shock as the lead Seeker came over to them.
"I'm sorry for that, this has been happening more and more but as far as I know this is the first guy to have taken this far." The Seeker apologized but once he got a better look at the two his face changed into one of deep thought, and then into recognition. "Thoren Smallwood and Jadith, is that you. By the Seven you two have grown."
"I'm sorry?" Thoren gave a puzzled look to the Seeker.
"I guess I should be thankful that you don't remember the man that ripped you from your family." He joked and now Thoren remembered.
"Ah, Seeker Markas. Fate does have its way of bringing back old faces." Thoren wasn't nearly as happy to see the Seeker as he was to see Thoren. Not because of any personal ill-will toward the man, but because of the recent revelations Thoren had about his father. Revelations that made him question if life would have been better if the Seekers never found him.
"I think you might be making fun of my age there but I'll let it slide." He gave a tired laugh as he glanced back to his friends as they dragged away their catch of the day. "These days we Seekers are having to work both as those that find the next Acolytes and as the land's law. Damn King made it so Darth Nagash can't have his own men-at-arms. But it was nice seeing the two of you again, especially after you both graduated to Sith. Gives me some bragging rights to the other Seekers." With one last weary but genuine smile, Seeker Markas left the two Sith as he followed his comrades out the Tavern. Now totally alone, they returned to their now cold soup.
"He is late." Oberyn heard the unpleasant man that whispers told him was the lead man in charge of this little outfit. The Prince of Dorne stood at the far side of a large warehouse where everyone involved with the venture to Dromund Kaas' surface was gathered, all but Naraiz.
"Ulysses is on his way, be patient." The red skinned beauty Vette snapped at the unpleasant man, Nagash truly did have exquisite taste in women. Oberyn glanced over to the twin Dothraki girls who were nervously fidgeting among themselves, he knew that as the sight of women missing the man they loved. Vette was in a similar boat but did a better job in hiding it.
"This is ridiculous, Lady Droa has not go to all the trouble to have this business venture turned upside down by some-"
"Hey kids wanna see a dead body!" Everyone screamed as the vision of a full armored Ulysses started to phase out of a nearby wall. Then they all turned to see the real Ulysses laughing in the archway of a nearby doorframe.
"Oh my fuck, that was too easy." He laughed as he turned off the holographic projection he had used to scare the entire room. Oberyn gathered his breath as he was unashamed that he too was caught by this trick. But at least he had the naivety of his homeworld's upbringing as an excuse.
"That was wholly unprofessional, I will report this to Lady Droa at once!" The unpleasant sputtered and squealed with a face so red that Oberyn could liken it to a tomato. The prince of Dorne watched as his friend simply walked up to the horrid man, with a walk that was equal parts scary and alluring, and then towered over his prey. "Don't you dare you… you…"
"Replaceable. That's what you are. You could be a hundred different people and it would not matter because the result would all be the same." Naraiz completely and utterly deflated the man with those words before he leaned forward, still having a good foot in height on the lesser man, and smiled widely. "I… am not. So tell Lady Droa that with a simple trick of a hologram I was able to turn all her men into crying babies. If that's all it takes, then the terror below will only need to breathe in your direction to kill all of you."
With that out of the way, Oberyn watched as Naraiz waved off the rest of the assembled men and women that had been brought to this deal. From what he understood, this expedition was comprised of three groups; Naraiz's team was the smallest and technically in charge of the whole thing, with them taking the lead and doing much of the discovery. Then there was a hired security company called Ekarn Combine, a group of mercenaries that would provide protection for the third group. Said last group was the direct employees of the woman organizing this entire thing and would act as the logistical and recovery team.
In the warehouse there were roughly ninety people, most being human but a few aliens here and there. The majority of them being part of the labor team, the mercs only numbering only two dozen. They all now felt a bit jumpy and shadowed by Naraiz's entrance, but the Dornish man trusted that his friend knew what he was doing pulling a stunt like that. Speaking of whom, Oberyn looked back with a smirk at Naraiz addressing his people, the two Dothraki twins clinging to his side and pressing their bodies to him as close as they could. An enviable position for any man.
"Did you really have to do that, now they'll be pissy with us." Vette complained but Oberyn could see where her eyes lingered. He smiled knowing that she wished for the twins to leave Naraiz so that she could have their place. What he also saw was the other ravishing alien female that was a part of that group was staring daggers to Naraiz.
"Better to have them on their toes, might mean they'll survive." Naraiz shrugged as he continued to bask in the lovely attention of the ladies.
"Big talk as always, but this time it's not even remotely believable." The other female alien that had been silent up until now spoke up. Oberyn had tried to strike up a conversion with her only to get a scowl and get blown off. The man that introduced himself as Katz tried to explain that she just hated men. Oberyn meanwhile saw this a challenge, she would not be the first scorned lady he would convince of the value of male company. But if fate had decided that this one was too set in her misguided ways then who was he to judge a person with a grudge. "And now you're taking all of us to one the most dangerous and illegal places in the galaxy. All in your crusade to get Vette and the rest of us killed for your silly dreams."
"Hey, he was hired for this job. And this isn't the first time someone's gone down there and we got a bunch of mercs backing us up." The large aged four armed alien named Kanos tried to defuse the situation but it was too late. Oberyn could see that this was a hot issue for the two women and even worse it was boiling over.
"It doesn't matter, it's his job. He didn't need to call us but he did. We don't-"
"Dabai! If you want to leave then go, we don't need people that are stirring things up." Vette shouted back, surprising Oberyn and by the looks of it Naraiz by the outburst. It certainly wasn't the time or place for a public spat and in the little time he had been introduced to Vette he had taken her as a competent woman that knew when and where to display her true emotions. There was a tenseness in the air between the two women and everyone in the warehouse could feel the tension in the air. "What, you gonna do something?"
"I should." With that Dabai stepped away and left the building.
"Is that it? Is she finally gone?" Katz asked as everyone began whispering, likely on the possible chance of failure shooting up now. If their leader's people were so dysfunctional, how did that play for their odds of coming back alive.
"Doubt it, but after this job I'm giving her the last talk about her attitude." Vette huff and Oberyn felt it was here that it was best to move along the subject to something more inviting, himself.
"The squabbles aside my friend, you certainly know how to show me a good exotic vacation." Oberyn said as he walked back over to Naraiz and his people. The twins gauged him carefully as they had been since learning he was Dornish. To everyone else here that meant nothing but them it meant a great deal. Katz, and the two simple brothers, regarded him with amused indifference. They didn't know him but so far he was charming and friendly. The large and elder four armed alien certainly had an observant eye about him, and stood both open and ready. Lastly the three eyed alien just continued to ignore the Prince of Dorne as he did most people.
"Yes, sorry about leaving you high and dry Oberyn. I had some unexpected business that I couldn't ignore." Oberyn took that to mean a kidnapping, how exciting. "But now I'm back and ready to get this job underway."
"Good, my master will be most pleased to hear that." Again, everyone stopped what they were doing at the artificial deep voice of the large droid that was walking into the room. His stride was directly on the path toward Naraiz and the secret Sith was already moving into an inconspicuous ready stance at the sight of the metal man. "I am IG-99, I will be representing the IBC's investment into this venture. I am here to ensure profitable results."
"Good, knowing how fucking hard it is to kill you… you'll be a great asset under my command." Naraiz spoke diplomatically but Oberyn caught a slight growl to his words. Clearly these two knew each other, more accurately this two had tried to kill each other before.
"Negative, I operate under the preview of the bylaws of the Intergalactic Banking Clan alone. I am here as your equal, just as Lady Droa is your employer, the other party bankrolling this entire operation is mine." The droid stated as it towered over Naraiz, just as he did when he walked in. But this time neither side cowered or dominated the other. Both were in lock as they faced off against another. "My only orders where to make you aware I was a requirement to this operation. Republic Officials will arrive to escort us to the Surface Lift in thirty four hours, if there is no other need for my presence than I shall leave."
With that the droid turned and left, its sudden and quick entrance and exit throwing many for yet another whiplash. Oberyn watched as Naraiz seemingly melted away after this and left Vette and the horrid man to conduct the meeting on their own. He however sunk into the back of the warehouse and watched it all passively. Oh he listened to the plans and warnings of many dangers but the atmosphere of the place was already spent, now it was all about the coming decent into the underworld.
"Welcome back Neophytes, I assume that your trip was productive?" Thoren brushed past the keep's Maester after he and Jadith hopped off the wagon they caught upon entering the city. The educated man did not deserve to be dismissed so readily but Thorne was in no mood to speak. He had failed to fix things between him and Jadith and now only wanted advice from his friends. "If you are wishing to see Neophyte Caswell or Neophyte Westerling they are not here."
"Where are they?" Thoren asked as he turned back around and walked back over to the Maester. He flinched slightly as Jadith brushed past him and headed toward the Tower of Morgoth. Qyburn seemed to take note but said nothing of it for which Thoren was grateful.
"Neophyte Caswell left two days ago to visit his family, then I believe he intended to travel to Dorne to observe their sand striders." That sounded like something Cayle would do, his family were realm renowned horse masters and then to Dorne to see the famed breed of horses they had. All to achieve his goal of dismounting a Dothraki Khal. "As for Neophyte Westerling… I do not know where he had intended to go. But he was headed east, perhaps the Vale. My guess is that he wished to test his metal against the Hill Tribes there. Is there anything else you might need?"
"No Maester Qyburn, thank you." Thoren said swiftly before leaving the man. He needed advice, someone to trust in. With his two friends gone and the only other person he trusted being the topic of his issues he found himself frustrated. And so he just mindlessly wandered the grounds of the keep until he woke up at the sounds of wood hitting wood and found himself at one of the sparing yards. There he found one of the instructors overseeing a group of Acolytes in their basic sword trainings.
Thoren slunk back into the shadows to avoid being seen as he just watched his juniors work at their stances and strikes. They looked to be a class of those that had just turned ten. It was different being on this side and not one of them. Here now he was watching and seeing where each of them could improve, instead of seeing them all as peers. Though, when he was Acolyte Council President he also had to be a role model just as he had to be now. But right now, he was anything but. Now he was a sulking mess of a man that was conflicted and scared of the future. Nothing what these kids should aspire to be.
"Scouting out an apprentice already?" Thoren looked to his side and saw Lady Melisandre. He and many of the other Neophytes even to this day didn't know what to make of her. She did Lord Nagash's work, even if he clearly didn't favor her. And she also basically created a new faith that worshiped the Sith, even if they put a mask of non-worship to appease the Faith of the Seven. "By the time they take their Crucibles, you might have gained a Title of your own. It will then be your job to take on one or two of them and guide them further."
"Oh joy." Thoren certainly wasn't looking forward to that but knew it was inevitable. Right now however he wasn't concerned with that. That was years away if what she said was true. "Why are you here Red Woman, I'm sure you could find better things to do than to discuss the future with me."
"I only do as the Force has dictated. To be the Sin Eater of the Sith." The Neophyte gave a glance to the woman who continued to stare ahead to the training Acolytes. "I have done horrible things, unforgivable things. I will never judge any of you as who is a monster like me to judge."
"And what makes you think I need a confessor?" He did, he needed someone to speak to about what he had done and what he needed to do. But it was… personal. And Melisandre was a familiar figure to him but not a partially close one. The Acolytes saw her around the keep and sometimes she would speak with one or two but nothing more than that.
"You are normally so Tranquil in the Force, it comes from your certainty and strong will, but also at the disgust at the idea of needing help from the Dark Side to become strong." That she was right on. The very notion that he needed the easy path to power of emotion to fuel his power in the Force was abhorrent to his values. Despite everything he had just learned about his father, Thoren would still only ever achieve greatness by his blood and his blood alone. He would accept no help from anywhere that didn't meet his standards. "But now, I feel the Dark Side has found its way into your heart."
"I… I might have lost control in a moment of weakness." Thoren muttered bitterly as he looked away from her with a begrudging frown on his face. If the Red Woman was genuine in her effort to do as she said then that was the most that he was comfortable telling her.
"That's not all." She responded, making Thoren look back at her in controlled surprise. "What happened might have brought in the Dark Side but that event did not open the door and now gives it roots in your heart." She said still in the same serene assurance that she always spoke with. Thoren and the other Neophytes knew that she was some sort of Force User but now he was thinking he was the kind that could see the future. A Seer, a talent that so far hadn't manifested among their ranks. "It is not attachment that condemns those to the Dark Side Thoren Smallwood, it is the fear of losing them. And now you fear losing the person you invited into your heart after the last person that resided there died and left you."
"My father didn't die." Thoren responded back as the woman turned and began walking away.
"He still breathes, but the man you knew as a father is no longer walking among the men of this world." With that she turned a corner and was gone. Thoren clenched his fists at how piercing her words were, he felt weak and like a coward. And at the tugging feeling of the Dark Side at his mind he felt even more disgust. It was still there, at the mention of his father he could feel the alluring whispers of the Dark Side promising his father's head rolling on the ground in front of him.
"-The elevation of all those others would see as trash or unsightly is a powerful tool to any worthy master of secrets. As those that trade in shadows and lies, individuals that the powerful wish to look away from for any reason are valuable in the extreme.-" The Holographic projection of Darth Jadus from the Sith Holocron sitting before Mysa. She had been given this gift by Lord Nagash when she expressed interest in learning to become a spy master.
Ever since the day that she nearly died at the hands of the Faceless Men she had been uncomfortable walking around in the open. Mysa began avoiding being seen directly if she could and began tracking the routines of the staff and acolytes. At first this was just because she was paranoid of another attack but then once the rumors that Darth Nagash had destroyed the Faceless Men she kept doing it out of habit. Now as a Neophyte she was determined to use these skills and channel the scars of what happened to her into something productive, to become the greatest spymaster in Westeros. She wanted to know every secret and plot so that she could make sure to never be caught off guard again.
Lord Nagash had expressed that Darth Jadus was one of the greatest spy masters of the Sith Empire so he was the best to learn from. The biggest example of his skill was that he had nearly toppled the Empire in a coup, but had been convinced not to do so at the last minute by one of his own agents. Darth Jadus then went on to become a friendly rival to Lord Nagash until the War with the Eternal Empire during which they joined forces to create the True Followers. The stories that he had told her further inspired Mysa and she had been studying under the Holocron Jadus since.
The intelligence in the artifact was semi-sentient, containing a great deal of knowledge of the man himself; however it was limited in its own ways. It could react to her questions but it couldn't really process too much new information. For example it couldn't offer advice on the politics of Westeros accurately as much of its knowledge required the galaxy as the setting. It simply couldn't come up with ideas outside the parameters of Darth Jadus' time and place. Instead it offered her fundamental and basic truths that were fairly universal to all spy work.
What really interested Mysa was his philosophy of utilizing unorthodox resources and people that would be often looked over. Everything from finding the hidden gems to carefully crafting a network of informants among those that are looked down upon. As a bastard this really spoke to her. However, another great lesson was that of keeping a distance from one's assets and allies. To never get too close and allow people to understand what you are thinking and planning beyond a general idea. A key part of this was to make one of your core beliefs publicly known and have people focus on that, making yourself more simple than you actually are. This lesson didn't sit as well with Mysa as the previous one did as the Holocron Jadus was very clear that for this to work pretty much everyone had to be fooled. That meant eliminating or deceiving even your closest friends, family, and/or lovers.
"Lying to Miana… just to keep her safe." Thankfully something came to distract her from this dilemma in the form of a knock at her door. Mysa quickly sealed the Holocron and hid it away in the hidden compartment in her quarters. After throwing on something a bit more presentable than her training clothes, she opened the door to find Jadith patiently waiting. "Uh… come on in?" Mysa wasn't sure why the girl was here but didn't feel like being rude to her and just shooing away.
"Thank you." Jadith spoke with an uncharacteristically meek voice as entered. The Sand eyed her fellow Neophyte oddly as normally she was a bubbly fountain of spunk but now she was anything but. Immediately a theory came to Mysa's mind and it pissed her off.
"Did that stuck up prick cheat on you?" Mysa growled as she slammed the door closed.
"No-no-no, he didn't do anything like that." Jadith spun back around in a panic but Mysa picked apart her words and determined that he did do something. With a look the older girl demanded a better explanation. "He… we went back to Acorn Hill. His uncle was nice and threw us a feast. I didn't see Thoren's father anywhere but he never told me why. We didn't really talk on the way back after…"
"After what?" Mysa pushed after Jadith trailed off, losing her nerve to get to the crux of the issue.
"He found me with my family. They were upset that I had stayed with the Sith and wasn't coming home to help them. I guess they thought that I would be their ticket to a better life." That was a general assumption the Neophytes had made about the low born Sith that left the Order. Some of them would return to their families and with their education and powers bring in money and respect, or at least Mysa was sure that many low born parents thought that was the plan. It was equally as likely that if the Hedge Sith returned at all, then they would kill their family for abandoning them for a sack of Stags. At that thought, Mysa connected the dots but Jadith continued. "My brothers, they took my necklace and my sword. Started saying they could sell them and when I tried to take them back my mother started yelling at me that I owed her and how disappointing I was for not coming back."
"And so you killed them." Mysa could easily picture it, the Dark Side was a nagging feeling at the edge of her mind even now. If she was confronted with her own father she was sure that the Dark Side would very loud in her ears. But Jadith shook her head, surprising the Sand.
"Thoren broke the door down. He was… he didn't feel like he usually does. I never felt scared of him before that moment. And he… he began choking mother with Force." As she spoke, Mysa led her to one of the seats that she had in her quarters. This was not what she had been expecting but was more than willing to hear the girl out on what happened. "He killed her, as I cowered in the corner."
"Sounds like he heard what was happening and got pissed. If someone was screaming at Miana I'd get angry too." It was one of those stupid things people did for love, jump in when they find out someone is hurting the one they love. If anything, Mysa understood and respected Thoren, though he could have had a bit more tact. But she didn't hold it against him too much, Dark Side and a normal person pissed off probably prevented that sort of thing. "He came into save you, that's not a bad thing."
"But I didn't do anything." Jadith muttered as she stared down at her closed hands. "Everyone knows I'm the weakest link in the Neophytes. Everyone else is so much better than me, we're supposed to be the first and the best. But I'm just… I'm just dead weight." Mysa didn't say anything as she leaned on the nearby table as Jadith told her what was plaguing her mind. And she wasn't wrong, Jadith wasn't horrible but she certainly wasn't at the same level as the rest of them. Royn was second to last in terms of standing when all factors were taken into account, but even he was doing much better than Jadith. It kinda made Mysa wish that one of Grayjoy's lackeys had made it, then at least Jadith would be able to say she was better than them. "Thoren came, stopped my mother and took back my necklace and sword from my brothers while I did nothing. I needed to be saved. And one day I'm going to get someone killed because I'll need sav- ow!" Jadith exclaimed as Mysa flicked her forehead.
"Sounds like you're just giving up. Just accepting that you're going to be at the bottom forever." Mysa taunted as she turned back around toward the small terrace that her suite was granted and opened up the curtains a bit. They were stories above the ground and she didn't sense anyone nearby so it was safe. "What did Thoren say about this?"
"We… we didn't talk much on way back. I think he was too disappointed in me, probably regretting a lot of things right now." Mysa snorted at the notion that would be Thoren's reaction. He went against his self-proclaimed blood superiority to be with Jadith, his ego wouldn't let him wholly give up on her like that. That would mean he made that big of a mistake. "I ran when we got back, I didn't want to give him the chance to break up with me."
"He's not going to do that." Mysa gave the most deadpan of tones for that. "Thoren's number one priority is himself, and proving to everyone how much better he is than they are. He's an annoying egotist that only gets away with it because he works so damn hard at making sure that it isn't empty words he's spouting."
"Yeah, that sounds like him." The Dornish bastard couldn't understand how Jadith could say that with the warm smile of a lover speaking of their partner. "But he also cares… in his own way. He just wants to be the best, and wants the same for everyone around him."
"Sure, we can go with that." Mysa appeared to wave off the comment but filed it away on her overall thoughts of Thoren. After all, who could possibly know him more than Jadith. "So we've established that Thoren only wants the best? Then why would he settle for anything but the best? Yet he chose to be with you, even with you being at the bottom."
"Thanks. I think?" Jadith was confused as Mysa walked over to a shelf with several bottles of what she assumed to be booze. And then after grabbing one sat next to her.
""Here's what you're going to do, you and me are going to drink this bottle and then find Thoren and you are going to remind him why you're his woman and he's your man." With that Mysa handed Jadith the opened bottle, practically shoving it into her hands. "And you're going to do it hard, make it so he's walking funny for a few days at least."
"Bha… I… that's not…"
"Drink!" Mysa lifted the bottle in the stuttering girl's hands up to her lips and forced her to take several swigs of the stuff. Jadith choked a bit on the hard liquor that had gone down her throat.
"Wh-what is that? That's… that's not w-wine." Jadith could already feel her head starting to get dizzy.
"It's not, the Blackcloaks have been making this stuff for awhile now. It's a recipe they got from Pierce, I bet it's a drink from the Empire that he was missing." Mysa smiled as she saw her plan begin to work. The booze was very strong, a lot more so than just wine. And it was surely going to loosen Jadith up enough to get her over herself and find Thoren to get them over this mess they created. "But I once heard them call it liquid courage so drink!"
"Mysa I don't think-" Once again Jadith was interrupted but Mysa pushing the bottle to her lips. This time Jadith handled it better but the drink still burned going down. This process continued on for awhile until Mysa had gotten Jadith riled up enough for the booze to do its job. "I'm gonna d-doo do it! I'm gonna show that… (hiccup) that jackass… that… wonderful… no! He's mine a-and I'm gonna show him that!" Jadith wobbled back and forth as she wandered toward Mysa's door. Fully intent on finding her boyfriend and doing all the things Mysa had told her to do. But as reached for the knob, she stopped. Then began trembling. Jadith then turned back around with tears in her eyes. "I can't do it!"
"(sigh) This is going to take work."
"I'm thinking about growing a beard."
"You do that and I'll shave it off in your sleep." Vette threatened and my shoulders slumped forward a bit. I miss my beard. I had one in my last life and I liked it. After that we continued to wait in the elevator as it descended down in silence. I wanted to ask… but that was rude. Eh, she's used to me by this point.
"So… why do you have a black eye?" I asked and she just sighed, exasperated by either me or whatever had happened last night. I was too busy working with Cipher to fix our plans and workings on Dromund Kaas to spend time with Vette and the twins.
"This will be Dabai's last job, I'm giving her my share of the reward and she'll be out of the crew." Vette replied and I wouldn't lie, I was doing a dance in my head. When I first met the woman I had hoped that she would warm up to my charms and be a good friend for Vette, but nope. She kept up her pinning for my girl and her bitter hatred of things with dongs.
"I see." I didn't voice my real opinions on the matter as that didn't feel right.
"She's going to die down there isn't she?" Vette said with this hard glare forward that made me smirk. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, melting her frown a bit at the gesture.
"Don't worry, it will be horrible." I joked, having gotten her permission to end Dabai's involvement in our story. She simply knew too much to be allowed to live outside our immediate circles. If I didn't then Cipher would without me even saying a word. "And just to rub it in…" I reached up to her eye and let the Light Side flow through me and watched as her black eye receded until it was completely gone.
"Thanks, and don't worry… that bitch got off worse." Of that I'm sure, but also likely was aching a broken heart. But if Dabai finally understood that it was never going to happen between her and Vette then it was about time.
The elevator doors opened soon after and the two of us walked out onto the floor that held the massive industrial lift to below the grav-plates of Dromund Kaas' metal surface. Here the company of adventurers were gathering, the logistics team were centered around their caravan of transports and other large vehicles that would be needed for the operation while the mercs were hanging around an impressive sight, a TX-13OS hover tank. Ekarn Combine was a sector local outfit, likely backed by a noble house close to Calthina if they could afford to have such a heavy piece of hardware. And the Republic troops guarding the entrance to the lift didn't seem all too happy that mercs had a damn tank. Vette's crew was off in the corner, listening to Oberyn talk.
"And then, I jumped out of the window just as her brother was drawing his sword. And as I rolled to my landing, that very blade pierced the ground just before my nose." Oberyn finished one of his stories much to the enjoyment of the crew, minus Yensi who couldn't find enjoyment out of anything.
"Damn, that's some impressive skirt chasing." Katz laughed as he sat on a barrel and turned to me and Vette with a chuckling smirk. "Naz, you gotta let us visit this Feudal World that you got tucked away one of these days."
"Hearin' about from Emmi and Felli is not 'nough." Hicks agreed and his brother nodded along with him.
"You boys can have all the fun you want, primitives tend to not have such a good view on non-humans. No offence." Kanos shook his head as his arms were crossed across his chest. Oberyn just shrugged, finding no offence in the alien's concern.
"Sorry to say but the location of their homeworld is a strict secret." I waved off their request before turning my eyes to Dabai who was sulking off to the side, her arm was bandaged up and there was visible scratch marks on her face. She gave me one glare before looking away. And boy did I feel that hate, if she was a Force User than the Dark Side would be all jittery at how easy it would be to turn her into a crazy ball of fury. "Do you guys know your jobs here?"
"I'm in charge of making sure all the tech is working and to set up our own systems." Katz started as he patted the box of goodies he was sitting on. In it were various long range scanners and other tech that I wanted down on the surface.
"Keeping the mercs in line and keeping the camp safe." Kanos nodded at his on the surface easy job. But he knew that it wouldn't be such, that he was going to need to make sure that even if I wasn't in the camp my orders were still being followed as I wanted them. Plus, I trusted him a hell of a lot more than a mercenary company.
"Me and the luggers work with the logistics team and secretly pick out the most valuable things for ourselves." Yensi spoke up even if his face was buried in a holo-tablet. He still felt off to me, even after all these years. Just stayed the same amount of grumpy and off putting neither getting better or worse. The brothers on the hand were kinda the same but at least I understood their simple needs and minds. Dabai was about to speak up but I spoke before she could.
"Right, then me, Oberyn, the twins, Vette, and Dabai will be heading to our own little location off the itinerary." I said and Dabai looked at with shock and I could sense her fear. Clearly the notion that I was plotting her death was going through her head. "And at the end of all this, you'll get paid." I said reminding her that without this job she probably wouldn't have enough money to make it off world. Vette kept her crew on a tight leash but when it came to money they could as they pleased, and Vette was pleasantly aware that Dabai spent most of her earnings to the last credit and rarely saved anything. If she wanted off Dromund Kaas, a world that wasn't exactly super friendly to non-humans, then she needed this paycheck.
"Excuse me Mr. Ulysses?" I turned back to see one of the logistics crew members shuffle his way up to me, the sense of deep fear permeating his aura. Though it wasn't all entirely directed to me, more of a general panic. "By chance do you know where Mr. Bethom is?"
"Oh, Replaceable… no. Isn't he supposed to be here overseeing our descent?" The guy that was heading Calthina's men on this operation and the annoying little shit from yesterday would not be showing up. Cipher made sure to spike his dinner with an allergen that would send him to the hospital. And then someone at said hospital would just forget to make a note to contact his employer of his stay. Having the galaxy's greatest spy on your side made things so much easier.
"It's just that we're approaching our scheduled descent. It took years for Lady Dora to set this up…" The meaning behind that was that they were ordered to under no circumstances not go down. A quick scan of the floor and I finally caught that fucking droid waiting in the shadows, I was hoping that Cipher had been successful in distracting it as well. Whatever, I have a plan on how to finally kill that thing.
"We'll continue on without him, my logistics officer Yensi will take over for him." The man looked over to Yensi and I could feel a swell of disgust fill him. Yeah, there was a deep rooted xenophobia in the Kaasens that while it had softened over the centuries due to large amounts of commerce that came through the sector now… old habits die hard. "Will that be a problem?"
"No. No sir." Thankfully the fear he had been feeling earlier refocused almost entirely on me as I pressed a bit in the Force into his mind. He jittered back to his friends and I watched as he explained what was happening. They all looked to me then to the Gran and then back to me, which I returned with a stern glare that had them all looking anywhere but me.
"Things look to be going as you hoped." Vette said as she came back to my side.
"Not entirely, But hopefully we can get this done and return with a bunch of goodies from the old days."
Author's Notes
So next chapter we will see Naraiz descend into the surface of Dromund Kaas where he will find new assets for his empire and secrets better left uncovered.
Reviews
dolansosar - Oberyn will be a bit more prominent next chapter. 1- no/yes 2- Naraiz won't but someone might 3- yup 5- I do commissions but not suggestions
notYacob - The title of Primarch will be for the leader of each legion, but that's all it will be and won't always be filled.
Mazzax Manacry - Yes, but Naraiz would have simply taken it as he already did. Elysali will do what she needs to stay alive and achieve more power on Dromund Kaas.
Reads - That is the one Leto line I like.
Axccel - Not really, as she was strong willed and strong in mind so all trying to control her through the Force would do is turn her into a vegetable which would have turned her useless. Naraiz isn't a Dark Side crazed madman so he won't react like a lot of Sith would. he plans
Golden Grin - It is Marauder, he has two. One is Darth Barris and the other is the lightsaber of Arcann which he stole. He also uses Midwan and Saarai now but still has two Lightsabers that are kept in his prosthetic leg.