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Post by Ghev Dralin on Apr 7, 2009 5:58:05 GMT -5
The hangar of the Sith Temple saw little activity as 'Nightstalker' set down, an Etti-class light freighter identifiable by it's red Krath markings. A pair of droids bustled around her engine ports, connecting fuel lines, but other than that it seemed quiet.
The ramp hissed open, and three figures emerged; two elite Krath soldiers, being led by an armoured figure - Cyrus Kaulitz. A fourth figure stood at the top of the ramp, slender and armoured, robes hanging from her shoulders like sleeping wings.
She descended, and closed a gauntleted hand around the shoulder of the bounty hunter. Her gauntlet seemed to react to her movements; her armour seemed to almost contain intelligence of it's own, though purely artificial and mechanical.
"You have your mission" she said to the hunter. "I'd appreciate it if you'd contact me personally throughout the course of this job. You have my private frequency" she murmered.
"As always" Cyrus replied, his voice raspy through the annunciator of his helmet.
Nefari waited until Cyrus had departed for his ship, then smiled softly; the motion made her look demonic. As a Nagi, her skin was already pale by nature, but the dim red glow of the docking lights, coupled with the black streaks of tattoo's across her face, made her smile look anything but friendly.
Without turning, she spoke to the shadows; someone else was here. No, not someone - more than one. One read like a near-human, the others not so much. Her black eyes became half-lidded, as she focused.
"You can choose to make yourself known, or you can choose death. If I am not satisfied with the reason for your presence here, you will choose both" she said. Then, she waited, making no move at all.
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 7, 2009 9:58:40 GMT -5
Leah smiled as she watched the ship dock. Listening to this woman's little speech made her lust for pain even deeper. Not just any pain, she wanted to see this woman squirm. But she knew a sith when she saw one and was not foolish enough to attack her outright. Though this particular sith seemed rather pompous and hasty in her actions. Leah shook her head before stepping forward, the red light only accenting her crimson hands and arms as well as darkening the shade of her face.
"I am Leah Tasidor. I recieved an anonymous invite to join a brotherhood that was located here. I can only assume that you know something of it, not that it matters much who invited me. Does that satisfy you?" Leah tried to probe the woman using her innate abilities as a Zeltron. She was only mildly surprised when there was no immediately identifiable emotion. It wasn't that this woman didn't feel emotion, simply that she was more calm then anything else. Leah waited patiently for a response making no threatening movements.
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 7, 2009 15:40:25 GMT -5
Drake Paladin's shuttle landed loudly behind Nefari's freighter, the docking ramp lowering before the engines even powered down.
Tal Murneck stepped out first, leading the way. Behind him came Raeph Sunder, and finally, Drake Paladin.
The latter was deep in thought, reflecting on what he had discovered during his Meditations. He was getting close to discovering something big. He knew he was close to finding the answers to his questions. He would find the key to immortality.
He wondered what he would find. The Force sometimes gave clues that stood out like a bantha on a Coruscant catwalk, but usually it would give very subtle hints. It would show him a planet, leaving him to discern what the planet was, where it was located, and what on it he needed to find.
He hoped it wouldn't end up being a fruitless search.
Raeph Sunder stopped when he noticed the newcomer, and eyed her carefully, before saying, "Greetings. Welcome to our Temple. I am Raeph Sunder, one of the...higher-ups."
He was careful not to add "Sith Lords", purely because this newcomer may not be who she claimed she was. However, The Force suggested differently.
Tal Murneck stood closely behind Raeph, looking intimidated.
Drake however, strode past the small congregation, ignoring the stand-off, and made for his quarters.
He needed some time to Meditate before meeting Lord Carnifex. He was so close. He just needed some more time.
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 8, 2009 10:25:31 GMT -5
Leah was surprised when the second ship came in. It seemed this place was more active then it had originally appeared. She listened to Raeph's introduction of himself and smiled. At least he had enough sense to not demean or threaten a possible ally. It was then that her eye caught Tal and his apparent unease. She smiled maliciously running her tongue along her lips and using her empathy to feed of the boy's startled fear. Her eyes became half-lidded in brief ecstasy as she let out a sigh of pleasure. Finally something more nourishing then staring contests. She let her attention return to Raeph who was looking at her curiously.
"My apologies. Does higher up imply status among the sith or is it lower then such. I was under the impression that you all weren't a bunch of fearful children, though I could have been mistaken. Let us speak plainly and not hold secrets or brandish threats," she added a meaningful look at the woman who had first spoken to her. "I didn't not come here to fight."
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 8, 2009 21:07:49 GMT -5
Raeph nodded at her and motioned for her to follow him, to show her the way to the inner chambers of the massive underground Sith Temple.
He didn't hesitate to throw a smirk towards Nefari as he passed.
I'm sure Carnifex will love to hear that his top adviser nearly killed a new potential Sith Lord... He thought smugly.
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 9, 2009 8:47:15 GMT -5
Leah decided she rather liked Raeph. Maybe a little stiff but certainly more personable then whomever that woman was. Leah hated people who had a god complex. They were simply unbearable. She followed after Raeph her defel servants following behind her. She felt an odd sense of excitement as she walked deeper into the maze of stone.
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 9, 2009 14:11:56 GMT -5
Raeph showed her around the main areas of the Temple. He was a bit annoyed by the servants following her around. In his opinion, the use of aides and helpers implied a laziness and helplessness that he refused to allow himself.
He hoped this newcomer was stronger than she allowed herself to seem. The Sith Lords would most likely not permit such petty servants. Too much of a security breach.
Then again, servants also showed power. But Sith Lords did not need to show their power.
A Sith Lord's mere presence should command control, no need to show it. Power through fear of force rather than show of force itself.
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Post by Ghev Dralin on Apr 9, 2009 15:27:44 GMT -5
Nefari headed for her quarters, a personal space she'd had condemned to all but herself (and those she chose to allow) when she decided to visit the temple. Not quite washing her hands of the situation in the hangar, she made a mental note to find out who had invited the woman, and why her presence here wasn't questioned.
The Brotherhood isn't a country club, she thought to herself. Last I heard, Sith were inducted, not invited.
She let her presence fade into nothingness, more out of habit than anything else. Occasionally, an apprentice would cross her path in the halls, or another Master would bow their heads solemnly as she passed. She returned each bow with a sharp nod, and the Masters knew it was no slight or sign of disrespect; those who knew Nefari knew her mannerisms.
Arriving at her personal quarters, she opened the door, and held out a palm, stopping the poison-tipped dart on her gauntlet. Such traps kept out trespassers, and there were many more in her quarters. Not a paranoid person by nature, she'd learned that the key to survival was to be prepared. She'd learned that the easiest way to unmask her hidden enemies was to brashly flaunt her power and her ego. And she'd learned that her actions could quickly stir up emotions in others. Anger, aggression, ignorance... all of which could become a weapon.
The woman in the hangar was a prime example. Immediately she'd become defensive and haughty, and in doing so, had exposed her weaknesses to Nefari. She had expectations, and naturally, believed herself better than those who are equal in the Brotherhood.
Let Raeph babysit her.
She set about disabling the traps in her quarters, while opening an audio-only transmission to Lord Carnifex, her only superior in the Brotherhood. Such a contradiction... all equal, but some more than others.
"My Lord, Masters Sunder, Paladin and myself have business to discuss with you. It concerns recent events near Belkadan. Also... I'm taking the liberty of having Leah Tasidor investigated, unless you object" she said, then waited for a reply.
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 9, 2009 17:11:14 GMT -5
Leah watched and listened as Raeph showed her around. She was able to collect all the information she was given as well as empathically discern Raeph's feelings. He seemed at first slightly annoyed and then..introspective? She placed her uninjured hand on his shoulder. "You seem ill at ease Raeph Sunder. Is something the matter?"
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Post by Ghev Dralin on Apr 12, 2009 9:54:45 GMT -5
Konnor clung to the shadows, biting his own lip, swallowing the blood he drew. He could feel her. Nefari, his secret Master, had returned to the Temple.
Even hiding her presence, he could still sense her. He'd always been able to. At first it had frustrated and infuriated the Nagi Sith, but over time she'd grown accustomed to it. Besides, it was a connection that worked both ways.
His black eyes flicked across the hall, taking in two figures; one he recognised, one he didn't.
The woman intrigued him. Though her red skin was unusual, he saw beyond it.
Are you Viewing her?
No. Not yet.
Xavier curled around his shoulders, in the form of a long, sleek black ferret. A Gurlanin, Xavier could take on any form he wished, and even blend into the shadows or disappear entirely at will. Native to Konnor's homeworld of Qiilura, the Gurlanin was mysterious in the fact that it could vanish from the Force entirely; and frequently did.
Though normally restricted to members of it's own race, the Gurlanin known as Xavier had somehow manifested a telepathic connection with Konner; and it had served Konnor well in the past.
Konnor watched the red-skinned woman and Master Sunder, and the strange lupine bodyguards - or servants - that followed them.
Are you even going to View her? Xavier asked.
Not yet, Konnor repeated, through their telepathic link.
Something else is on your mind.
Lady Nefari has returned.
The Gurlanin opened it's striking orange eyes, and snaked down Konnor's arm, then dropped to the floor silently. He melted into the shadows, disappearing from the Force, but Konnor wasn't alarmed; Xavier often departed unannounced.
He watched the woman again. She and Master Sunder were speaking, and she seemed curious to know what was on the Master's mind.
Konnor smirked, though his curiosity wasn't sated. He carefully tried to probe the woman, to see if he could View her. An ability he'd shared only with his Master, Nefari, Konnor could see into the Force on a level that no other seemed able, discerning details and events surrounding a person on such a minute scale that he could learn a persons entire history, given the time.
And that wasn't all. The Force worked in mysterious ways.
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 12, 2009 22:09:33 GMT -5
Raeph frowned at Leah for a second, considering whether or not he should respond truthfully. He ignored the thought of lying to her, she would sense it, and that would only cause more problems.
He decided to speak his mind,
"The Brotherhood has been bothering me. As much as its council preaches that we are One Sith, a group bound together to achieve a common goal, we still remain foolishly paranoid of one another. the self-preservation tactics will only lead to our downfall. It will be too easy for an infiltrator or someone hoping to destroy us to cause rife and problems when we are all afraid of our own shadows."
*****
It took Drake a while to realize he had walked straight past the very person he had invited to join the Brotherhood. This Leah, she would make a good Sith. Powerful. Deadly. Confident.
He reached his quarters rather quickly, despite the leisurely pace he always took through the large Temple. The Temple had been built centuries ago, by an ancient group of Sith Lords long since forgotten. The planet that housed it, Anoth, was actually three large fragments of a planet that had been ripped into three huge pieces a dozen centuries ago by the planet's own moon.
The three remaining planetoids were caught in the immense gravity of the planet's sun, which held them closely together. The three chunks of rock now orbited one another closely, occasionally slamming into one another's atmosphere's, creating huge electrical storms that would tear any above-ground structure apart.
The planet would eventually rip itself apart, in several centuries. The reason the Brotherhood of Darkness had chosen this planet was due to its lack of habitability.
It was rarely, if ever visited by anyone. The electrical storms created a permanent radar jammer, and made the Sith Temple all but inaccessible to anyone that didn't know about it.
Drake sat on the Meditation cushion in the middle of his chambers, and quickly entered a state of deep immersion in The Force. He was so close to learning great secrets of The Force. It would just take a bit more time to get there..
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 14, 2009 16:49:10 GMT -5
Leah listened to all that Reaph had to say and found herself agreeing. Though she hadn't been able to put her finger on it before she had definitely felt the tension between the two sith. Were they all this way? Maybe she had signed up for more chaos then she could handle. Immediately she decided she didn't want to be making enemies. However, she also didn't want to remain aloof and neutral. She looked him directly in the eyes a show of the importance of what she was about to say. "Trust. The one weapon that no money can buy, but can be shattered by one act. That is the solution to this problem. You trusted that I was being truthful when you saw me in the hanger. I find that I similarly trust you." By habit Leah extended her right hand before remembering her own actions before arriving. Somewhat sheepishly she retracted it and extended her left hand instead. "Sorry. I didn't think you'd want to shake a bloodied hand. A deal? A trust between us?"
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 14, 2009 20:53:34 GMT -5
Raeph nodded, and shook her hand, somewhat tentatively. He wanted to trust her, but the other Sith made him paranoid. He inwardly felt a surge of anger towards the Sith in the Brotherhood. Their lack of trust for each other led to him being unable to trust easily, which would only create larger problems later on. This pattern would be the fall of the Brotherhood. He could feel it.
His comlink buzzed moments after he relinquished his hold of her. He glanced at it and muttered, "Drake..."
He looked up at Leah and said, "I need to go help Drake with something. It will be a few days...a week or two maximum. Uhm..." He looked around, as if searching for something to help her get settled at the Temple. He found nothing, and said, "You have personal quarters, there are training sessions atop the temple in the mornings, while the electrical storms are on the other side of the planet. All other times, its best to remain inside. And.." He sighed. He didn't really want to leave her here deserted, with hundreds of paranoid Sith everywhere. He was sure she could handle herself, but still, "I would offer for you to join us, but I'm not entirely sure that would be something Drake would be content with."
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Post by Ta'hok on Apr 15, 2009 16:16:19 GMT -5
Leah could feel that Raeph was a bit tentative both in his hand shake and with her innate ability. The sudden but brief spike of anger was odd but ended up being replaced by indecisiveness after the buzz of his comlink. He started explaining things about locations of everyday temple activity and extended a tentative invite to accompany him and Drake. Leah hadn't yet met this Drake and wasn't sure if she wanted to but she figured it would be better to stay as close to Raeph as she could without appearing needy or clingy, until she settled in. "It can't hurt to try him. Perhaps he shan't mind at all and I'd much rather come with then remain in this inhospitable place." Leah smiled referring to both the other occupants and the planet surface.
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Post by Trenton Vinh on Apr 15, 2009 19:41:51 GMT -5
Raeph nodded at her and offered a carefree smile- something he didn't do often.
He led the way to Drake's Shuttle, the heavily modified Lambda Shuttle, painted jet black with enhanced stealth and engine capabilities.
Raeph used the Force to levitate several crates of supplies aboard, attach the fuel lines, and lower the boarding ramp.
He led the way aboard and commed Tal Murneck to come meet them.
*****
Tal Murneck was halfway through a simple lightsaber training exercise when his comlink buzzed. He felt a spike of annoyance at being bothered, but when he saw it was Raeph Sunder, he smiled maliciously.
Messages from Raeph and Drake always led to missions, usually important ones. Tal liked helping the two Sith Lords, they scared and worried him, but he always learned something whenever he was with them.
He pulled his cloak over his shoulders and sprinted to the shuttle bay, arriving just as Drake Paladin did. The pair strode up the ramp wordlessly, and Tal cut past Drake and climbed into the pilot's seat.
"Where to?" He asked, as Raeph stepped outside to remove the fuel lines.
Drake uttered, "Kessel."
Tal nodded, and once Raeph had returned to the cockpit, he raised the landing ramp, and lifted off.
The ship took off quickly, breaching the atmosphere of Anoth in record time. Within minutes, the ship had entered Hyperspace.
((OOC: This thread will now be continued on the thread: Whatever It Takes. Thank you.))
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