Star Wars OPEN Before the New Sith Trials: 138 ABY

IC: Hogrum Chalk
Bastion

The Imperial security chief sniffed. "Did I not say? We have had reports that the One Sith took your entire Nubian family, and company, and employees, into custody. They were taken to Coruscant for processing during our retreat from Taivas." Hogrum tried not to sound like he took satisfaction from this moment. "I didn't have time to mention it to Admiral Stazi with everything going on."

Hiding in the shadows unseen, Darth Kroan resisted the urge to chuckle.

Aryan was quite exposed here. If Emperor Fel triumphed the Battle of Coruscant and ordered the destruction of the Galactic Alliance, then Hogrum would delight in doing so. The only reason Aryan was still alive was because of the honour of the Empire, and Emperor Krayt had taken great pains to supply Roan Fel with the means of the galaxies destruction.

Which meant, even as the war consumed Coruscant fully, Aryan's family was all there.

"You could always check in on them, of course," Hogrum said idly.

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
IC: Darth Tigran
Battle, Coruscant

The Sith grabbed the edge with the Force and swung up, settling onto the ledge and eying Helinith.

Insipid lifted a hand but in his pain Tigran was quicker, and his Force push caught Insipid off-guard and he tumbled off the edge, but before he could repeat Tigran's feat of recovery he was hit by a lightning bolt from the Zabrak and fell into the Coruscanti depths.

That left the Sith Lord briefly exposed to the apprentice, but clearly he didn't rate her as much of a threat.

His mistake.

TAG: @darthhelinith
---
IC: Emperor Roan Fel III
Aboard the Jagged Fel, the Imperial flagship, Battle of Coruscant



Of course Darth Maladi could escape a simple Imperial ship.

She was a Sith Lord, part of Darth Krayt's most inner circle. It hadn't taken much to appear insane, and dishevelled. To manipulate Roan Fel to accept her genocide weapon. One trillion deaths in the Force.. it would be truly glorious, when the infection took them all. The greatest massacre in galactic history - and led by a descendant of the famous Skywalker heroes.

Emperor Fel would make Darth Vader and Darth Caedus into mere children, comparatively.

Even Darth Sidious would be challenged as the greatest butcher in Imperial history... let alone the ancient Sith Emperor, Vitiate.

It was succulent.

The dark side was deeper than it had ever been.

As the Fury headed into the galactic fray, the safest spot in all of the violence, of course, was surrounding the Imperial flagship. The Jagged Fel was protected by the Imperial forces, hurling long range fire at Sith Dragons and Coruscant itself, as the Galactic Alliance and Jedi craft were thrown into the most violent engagements.

Bernael would be forced into that pocket of relatively quiet space as his hyperdrive was slowly but surely repaired.

But as the darkness grew more and more deeper, it wasn't coming to a head at Coruscant, but aboard the Jagged Fel, a deeper penumbra than any shadow in-system, even the millions of Sith Troopers didn't hold a votive candle to the growing storm.

A small escape pod launched from the Pellaeon-class Star Destroyer, and it carried on it a darkness of it's own.

It seemed to latch onto his presence, as if it thought he was here for her.



TAG: @darthbernael

TAG: @greyjedi125 (combo continues)

TAG: @Lady Belligerent (combo continues)
—-
IC: Cade Skywalker
Coruscant depths

There were seven of them.

Seven of them, to save the galaxy.

Three Jedi - Sazen, Shado Vao, Rasi Tuum.

Three Imperial Knights - Ganner Krieg, Sigel Dare, Azlyn Rae.

And him.

Cade Skywalker.

There were interconnected.

Sazen was his old Master; Shado had been the apprentice of Kol, Cade's father, before Sazen had taken over his training; Shado and Cade and Sazen had escaped the Ossus Massacre, eight years, just about, with the Jedi children who now formed the core of the Jedi Knights.

Rasi had been Azlyn's Master, before the Massacre... and Cade had been her boyfriend. He'd wronged her, told everyone Azlyn wanted to live, and now she was trapped in a suit which circulated bacta around her body all day. Ganner now loved her, but Azlyn was focused on proving herself an Imperial Knight, and not a Jedi Padawan.

To be honest, Sigel didn't fit, but here she was, and Cade appreciated that.

There was an unspoken question from her, as they entered the Sith Temple from beneath.



Darth Talon, the Hand - the Twi'lek.

Darth Stryfe, the Fist - the big brute with the ornate lightsaber.

Other nameless One Sith that Cade didn't know and didn't care to know.

TAG: No One

 

OOC: Fun little combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Bernael
Onboard the repairing Fury

Bernael sat in the command chair of the Fury, talon tapping on the arm of it, as he waited for the astromechs to finish their repairs. He wanted nothing more than to depart and leave all these fools to their wars. He noticed, but didn’t care as he seemed to drink in the dark energy that was swirling around and across the system. The Balance was mostly quiet, recognizing his resolve and his grief.

He watched the battle through the viewscreen, almost absently, for the longest time. The Jagged Fel dominated a good portion of the screen as did the fighters attacking and defending it. And then an escape pod darted from it. His head tilted as he felt a familiar presence inside the pod. But, even as he observed it, it deviated in its trajectory, turning toward the Fury. He touched a stud, ”Prepare the hangar, allow it to land but ensure the hangar is secured until I arrive." he told the AI.

The AI did so, and the vessel was accepted, and the woman - a Devaronian Sith - stepped out, her pony-tail back in place and a lightsaber on her waist. In the short time, she'd put Darth Maladi back together, and abandoned the mad crazy scientist persona that Emperor Fel had taken advantage of - or rather, been played by.

When the hangar was locked down, she raised an eyebrow, but no alarm filtered into the Force.

The AI let Bernael know that he'd taken the precaution to jam her comms as well.

Bernael received the report from the AI, nodding. ”Ensure the hyperdrive is repaired and notify me as soon as it is. In the meantime keep us out of this fight, it is no longer our battle.”

He stood, made his way through the Fury, to the hangar. He pressed his hand to the entry mechanism, feeling it sense him, take a snippet of his gestalt, then finally open, shutting quickly behind him, locking again.

He felt Maladi’s presence as well saw her, a small smile touching the corner of his mouth. ”I take it the need to pretend to be insane has passed…” he commented as way of a greeting.

Her expression was intrigued. “Lord Bernael, is it? The ancient who joined our One Sith after we emerged from the shadows.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t die at the Battle of Taivas - you were down as a disposable asset.” The Director of Sith Intelligence smiled slightly. “I’ve heard how brutal the Sith Troopers are.”

He chuckled, ”I did not hide that I believed the ‘younger’ Sith to be lesser than those of the day I was last a major member of them. Tell me, do Intelligence and Knowledge converse often? You, of all, I was surprised did not understand why I did not protest when I was put in a suicidal position. After all, in your position, I would have thought you would know of the Shadow.”

Another small smile, ”Those troopers are powerful yes but still mortal.”

Maladi smiled. “The last Loremaster was a traitor - he attempted to kill our Emperor and died for it. But what wasn’t important to my master, it isn’t relevant.” She tilted her chin on her paired fingers. “Notwithstanding that you consider it so.”

“The legacy of the Skywalker family was my task, not the detritus of the failed Sith of the past.” Her tone was condescending, baiting Bernael. “But you appear to have lost something; from the wounds you rage about.”

Bernael chuckled, at first, ”Actually, I am glad that you believe so. Especially now, that no one knows is better than if I am known throughout.” His eyes flashed to complete black before the silver faded back into view at her trying to get under his skin. A smile crossed his face but did not reach his eyes, ”What I lost is between me and the galaxy.”

“But rejoice, it means that you and your Emperor no longer have me involved. The galaxy can solve its own problems and rise of fall, I care no more. The Force disagrees but I’m done putting out the fires you and the Jedi cause.” he replied, a resolute tone to his words.

Darth Maladi paused, curious. "You would pass up the opportunity to be apart of the Sith future? What guarantees can you give me that you will not intrigue against us?" Her lightsaber was in her hand now, and there was something... else.

Bernael’s eyes turned black once more, his head tilting to the side, ”Young Sith, I have walked this galaxy for eons. I had one mission and I fulfilled it, but you and yours have done what those thousands of years could not, gave me something to believe in and then took it. If I wanted I would level every force user in the galaxy and begin anew.”

He stepped forward, no weapons in his hands but power sang in his form. His voice took on a lower tone, ”Whatever you think you have planned here, on my ship, I’d recommend against it, I am not in the mood to place nice and am allowing you a moment to understand that what kept the galaxy moving is just going to leave and allow all you mayflies to drag it into oblivion.”

There was a clank, and the Fury shook.

"I would recommend that you allow me to depart, and rendezvous with the ship who was supposed to be picking me up, before I have her cut into your ship." She smiled slightly. "That Loremaster I mentioned? He had a daughter - one of the most powerful in our Order, the fourth of her name. Darth Wyyrlok IV - the Voice of the One Sith."

That was quite a position in the One Sith - Bernael would know the Voice was who led the One Sith when Krayt had slept in stasis for the last century. Wyyrlok III had in-fact killed Krayt for a time, only for him to return more powerful than ever - as any good Sith Emperor would.

"It is up to you, of course," she said with a smile.

Bernael’s dark smile matched hers, ”Wyyrlok, hmmm. Such poor manners you have, as it is. All I did was offer you a place, you did not have to come on board. But yes, you’re free to depart.” He gestured and the hangar exit opened just enough for her pod to depart.

Summoning with a Force pulse, Maladi spun on her heel, oozing amusement. "We shall meet again, I am sure." With a salute from her lightsaber hilt, she stepped into the ship which appeared at the edge of the hangar.

A blue-skinned Chagrian peered at Bernael, yellow eyes narrowed. She did indeed appear strong in the Force.

The ramp went up, and Maladi turned aside otherwise with a smirk. "He is unimportant, come, we must make the rendezvous."

Bernael watched them depart, a small smile upon his face. Taking a few moments to allow them to move off some, he strode to the bridge, ”Reengage stealth, use non hyper engines to move us away from those two, but keep us from the various conflicts.” he instructed the AI.

As he received acknowledgement and the Fury disappeared, expanded the distance between Maladi, Wyyrlok and his ship he chuckled and the darker essence of himself couldn’t help but send a thought to the Chagrian, quickly having the course alter as soon as he had, ’I doubt your grandfather would agree that I am unimportant, he was delicious. The fact he believed none of you were worth telling who caused his failure that day amuses me.’

And then he, as his ship had, disappeared from notice in the Force, disguising his presence as he waited for his chance to leave these fools behind.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @darthhelinith

 

IC: Darth Maladi
Aboard the Fury, Battle of Coruscant

The Chagrian woman sniffed. "I shall not rise to your inane words, traitor."

At that, she swept Maladi into her ship, and the Sith began to depart. The female Devaronian eyed Wyyrlok IV as the ramp rose.

"Are we to head to Darth Krayt?"

The Voice shook her head. "No, to the rendezvous point."

Maladi looked confused. "The Master has foreseen something?"

"Who could say," Wyyrlok IV said.

That left Bernael aboard his vessel. There was much going on here, and now. The One Sith and Jedi and Imperial Knights and Alliance and the Empire's, all ripping into each other. He was apart from it all, now his loves were dead, before they could even really embrace their new feelings for each other.

It was a tragedy of tragedies.

The daen nosi wove a connection, telling the Anzati much about the eddies and whorls of the conflict. In the depths, they were swirling together as if threatening to strangle the planet, and with it, the galaxy itself. But one particularly crimson skein of fate led all the way to the Jagged Fel, promising violence on a scale that eclipsed even this apocalypse.

It was a snare which threatened a trillion people...

But it was a tie directly to that whirlpool of fate centered on the Sith Temple.

The hyperdrive was finally fixed, though, the astromechs confirmed as much.

The Force clashed loudly, angrily.

Flashes of the fight filled the minds of everyone present, even locked in their own personal confrontations.









TAG: @darthbernael

TAG: @greyjedi125, @Lady Belligerent, @HanSolo29, @darthhelinith (flashes)

 

IC Bernael
Aboard the Fury, midst of the battle

The Sith left and Bernael was once more the only living being on his ship. He slowly made his way toward the medbay as the daen nosi began to weave around him. He ignored the sensations as long as he could. When he arrived in the medbay he stood there, looking down at the empty shells that had been San and Trask, deep sadness and equally deep anger cojoined.

He let the sensations finally wash over him as he attempted to calm himself and the whorls and eddies of the sense of lives upon lives in the system filled him. He knew, fully understood that this was a turning point in the life of the galaxy but he simply did not care anymore. And then one whorl strengthened, filled out, revealed that if allowed to continue growing it would overwhelm the galaxy itself.

Closing his eyes, he slipped into his mindscape, ’I know what you are doing!’ he shouted into the blankness. ’This has cost me everything and still I am led to have to keep the galaxy from destroying itself….No, I have done enough, let it die.’

A shape formed from the nothingness of the mindscape, a cloak, open and seemingly empty. However, the sense of a presence, beyond him, beyond the Gods, filled the flapping fabric. ’I grieve for you child, truly. But,’ the sense of the implacable surrounded him, ’if I must choose between your grief and the lives of every living thing there is no choice.’

The form drifted closer, ’When you were chosen, before you were even born, eons before, I told you, the True you, that you would have to maintain the Balance even when your world was burning down around you. Over the eons you have served me, in one form or another and have faced countless tragedies.’

One empty sleeve rose and the sensation of a ghostly hand was felt on his shoulder, even as his grief snarled it's fury in the dark, ’I cannot deny that you deserve some peace, especially after this tragedy. Do this, stop this, and I will let you have that peace, even if the Balance suffers for it in the time you are gone.’

Bernael’s black eyes looked into the empty cowl, in a harsh voice, ’They cost me everything, I will not be kind, will unleash all that I am until that threat is stopped.’

The form drifted back a pace, the cowl nodding, ’You have much anger, much pain to release, Child. Do what you must, but allow the galaxy to live in your absence.’ With those final words, it vanished once more.

Bernael opened his eyes, gazed down upon the two bodies. His hands reached out, touching their foreheads, the cold clammy skin reminding him of his loss. Lifting them, his black eyes burned with a fury that wouldn’t be quenched in the near future. Turning, he strode from the medbay, headed for the bridge.

Pointing out of the viewscreen at the Jagged Fel ”Take us there, link with an airlock in a quiet section. I will enter that way. Stealth on at all times.” he told the pilot AI.

As the ship began to move, he sat back in the command chair, watching the behemoth drift closer. His talons flexed and a predatory smile crossed his face. Today they would truly learn why the agent of the Balance had earned the monikers of Shadow and Ghost. And he would leave a charnel house in his wake.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @darthhelinith

 

IC: Aryan Graul
Control Room, Bastion

Aryan clenched his jaw, panic rising within his chest as Chalk casually revealed that the One Sith had taken his family captive. He knew that if the allied forces failed to mount a successful campaign on Coruscant—if the enemy remained in power and processed his family into the system—all would be lost. His chances of securing their release would become practically nonexistent.

And he would blame himself for that. It was his fault that his wife and ten-year-old son were in danger. Despite his reluctance, he had rushed off to fight in the war, neglecting his responsibility to his family in the process. It was the same tired war that had nearly torn them apart several years ago. He had vowed then to never impose that kind of burden on them again, but now he had broken that promise.

And yet, something continued to nettle at the back of his mind, like an insatiable itch that he could not satisfy. It didn’t take him long to realize that Hogrum Chalk was the source. The man was an arrogant bastard—he could discern that much from his haughty attitude and sneering disposition—but there was something about the way he had delivered the news that rubbed Aryan the wrong way. His manner and tone were rather...nonchalant, perhaps even mocking.

It was as if this was a game, and Aryan was the pawn; he was trying to purposely unnerve him.

That rankled the young politician, and his gaze hardened. At the very least, it availed him the confidence he needed to confront the cyborg. Plus, it rekindled that small shred of hope that told him that his family was safe.

"You have contacts within the enemy’s camp? With the One Sith?" Aryan’s brow lifted curiously, his voice taunting. As he spoke, he discreetly reached into his jacket pocket and activated the transmitter on his private comm, hoping to reach Lyz and disprove Chalk’s claims. "How else would you be able to grant me permission to check on them?"

He stepped closer with a cruel smirk, almost challenging the man to reveal his secrets. "They better not be harmed," he growled in a deep baritone, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Darth Insipid
Coruscant depths

Strictly speaking, Insipid hadn’t been shoved by Darth Tirran, no, he had simply allowed himself to tumble because he had other objectives on Coruscant than ruining Darth Krayt’s day, and, well, his apprentice needed to stand on her own feet at some point.

May as well be now, in the middle of a battle.

He shrugged.

Making his way in the Jedi Temple levels deep beneath the current Sith Temple via his own personal knowledge of the ways, he actually passed beneath the ferocious battle above. He tasted the power involved, and could tell it was not remotely advisable to join the battle between Cade Skywalker, Darth Talon, Wolf Sazen, Darth Stryfe, Ganner Krieg, Azlyn Rae and more besides. Jedi, Sith, Imperial Knights… bad odds, as he was technically aligned with neither side.

There was a wave of deaths, but Insipid paid it no heed and traipsed into the Sith Temple, keeping his presence in the Force tightly concealed.

If Krayt or Skywalker or indeed Roan Fel noticed him, then he wouldn’t be able to hide, but he could pass at the periphery of their sight, and the risk was worth it.

It didn’t take much for him to find the correct room, and though he was surprised how relatively empty it was, he wasn’t going to complain.

He’d found the Holocrons.

TAG: @Mitth-Fisto
---
Higher levels

Tirran vanished, and Helinith had her independence from it all.

Her first fight against a One Sith, and it had been a tough one.

Their original objective had been rendered moot as TIE Predators had blew apart the turbolaser battery they had been attacking anyway, the building burning in the distance. But even then, most of the planet was burning, as Star Destroyers tumbled from orbit and fiery debris that had once been starfighters crashed.

It was a mess, but the fact of the matter was that the small Annihilator starfighters were ripping apart the allies, and there were just so damn many of them, each piloted by a Sith Trooper that had bene augmented in the Force and to ensure absolute loyalty to Darth Krayt.

Though her immediate area was safe, that wasn’t a given –

A concentrated plasma burst missed its target and slammed into the concourse holding up the platform she had claimed, and the entire construct shook, and began to tilt –

TAG: @darthhelinith
---
Approaching the Jagged Fel, the True Imperial flagship

The hyperdrive repairs were completed even as the Fury approached the Jagged Fel, but the almost random fire was being hurled around, hitting ships they weren’t even aimed at. As Bernael flew forward, his comms were alive with noise –

“Skull Leader, look out –

“Twin Suns Nine! Tobias -”

“This is Rogue Two, turn to –“

It was a mess, and a few bolts spanged off his hull as he drifted forward –

Then he would hear Gunner’s voice in it all - Skull Leader. “I’m in trouble here –“

Whether it would stop his vengeance was another thing.

The darkness deepened around the Jagged Fel.

It was a shadow deeper than any Bernael had ever encountered.

It was death.

A squadron of TIE Predators held in-front of the hangar, making sure no Sith ships took advantage of the natural blind spot -

TAG: @darthbernael
---
IC: Hogrum Chalk
Amused, Bastion

"You have contacts within the enemy’s camp? With the One Sith?"

"How else would you be able to grant me permission to check on them?"

"They better not be harmed,"

“By check in, I meant comm them, my friend, and by permission, I am the security chief here, all comlinks are jammed at my personal direction... Of course I do not have contacts in the One Sith. I am the Emperor’s family, and devoted to his daughter.” Hogrum was distinctly offended. “I trust the Galactic Alliance has not given you authority to cast aspersions upon the Imperial Family?”

Whatever glib comment that Aryan would have made was interrupted by Lyz responding. “ARYAN! We’re on Coruscant – trapped in the Armand Isard facility – it’s basically on fire – it’s all on fire. The allies – they’re attacking the planet!”

She cut off, and Hogrum was amused.

“You can go, as I say. A shuttle has been left for you.”

For his part, in the shadows, completely out of sight and sense, Darth Kroan smirked to himself.

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
IC: Cade Skywalker
Sith Temple





TAG: No One

TAG: @greyjedi125 (combo to finalize)

TAG: @Lady Belligerent (combo to finalize)

 

OOC: Quick combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Bernael
Approaching the Jagged Fel, the True Imperial flagship

Little glancing blows hit the Fury as it approached the Jagged Fel. Bernael ignored them all but what he couldn’t ignore were the TIE Predators. They blocked the easiest entrance to the Star Destroyer. But he had other means of entry. However, a growled erupted from his throat as he heard Gunner’s radio call. He reached out, mind to mind, ’Sending a bit of aid but get out of that, land in the Fury’s hangar.’ He also sent a code in the thought that would let her track in to land in the hangar of the Fury

He looked over to the display, his rage bubbling under the surface. Her fighter wasn’t far and he tapped on the datapad on his command chair. A pair of delayed launch missiles floated out of the tubes, inert and undetectable until they launched. The Fury accelerated, shifting course, to be out of what could be considered the flight path that could be traced to the missiles. A few moments later they lit off and honed in on the craft that were harassing her. He’d promised her father and even in his rage he couldn’t ignore that.

He refocused on the SD, felt the pulse in the Force and knew he had to get there quickly or what he’d just done wouldn’t matter in the slightest. He felt Death and knew that if he didn’t stop whatever was about to occur everyone here was at risk. Another growl came from his lips, this time at the Balance, that even as he was doing all he could to leave these beings to their fate, events conspired to make him do something.

’They never will stop will they, any of them? They are going to keep doing things that would make me have to intervene, yes?’ he thought/asked the Balance.

’Yes, Child, they always will. This is why you have never had a moment’s peace.’ the thought came in response.

His eyes dripped darkness and his thought voice was a low growl, ’I will resolve this and then they can destroy it all their own. I finish this and I am done.’

Studying the ship a predatory smile came to his face, the TIEs could guard all they wanted, he was going to enter another way. He could sense the heart of the darkness deep in the center of the SD and he studied the schematics quickly. Finding the nearest airlock he took a roundabout route that let him steer through the dogfights that were all over the system, drawing closer and closer to the Jagged Fel with each passing moment. Part of the reason he did so was to give Gunner time to get aboard if she was going to do so.

The Jagged Fel’s hull was peppered; two dozen Sith clawcraft making an attack run that saw laser fire chew at the shields and then through, even hammering the Fury.

Gunner tried to speak back, in her head, but she couldn’t do it and concentrate on it dying; she opened a channel. “Bernael, if you're out there, could you step up? Or San? I’d take Trask at this point.”

She rocketed by the Fury, firing at the Sith clawcraft with three more Predators, two GA Crossfires and a Jedi TwinTail in a half-plus-one squadron with her, pursued by two Sith Annihilators -

A massive plasma burst fired out, incinerating a Predator and shooting through to hit two clawcraft -

Gunner hissed over the open channel. She could have been gone, just then -

A deep, rumbling, growl was the next thought to reach her mind. ’I must stop what is happening on the Jagged Fel’ came to her and then a wave of rage, not directed at her but still felt, ’They took Trask, took San from me. I couldn’t even save their souls in my mind before they died.’ the deep, abiding anger radiating in the thought.

He spun the Fury through the hail of fire as it approached the large vessel. ’I promised your father to keep you alive. Come aboard or I cannot guarantee that. Nor can I guarantee your survival if I do not stop events on the Jagged Fel.’

The Jagged Fel accelerated to escape the pincer of the enemy, and the Fury was briefly detached.

“Bernael, you can’t do both.” Her teeth were grit. “I’m sorry about Trask, I’m sorry about San, too.” She dodged a shot -

“But you can choose to embrace whatever cosmic destiny you think matters, or you can do what you promised my father you would.”

The Balance leaned on him.

“Are you Bernael, or are you going to become a full blown messiah complex?” Gunner said drily.

He growled again as the Jagged Fel accelerated. ”Match speeds and hold us to the SD, so that I can get aboard.” he told the pilot AI of his ship. And then he turned his focus on what Gunner had said.

’Gunner, whatever is aboard that ship will kill every living thing on Coruscant at a minimum, if not all living things in the system, if it is not stopped. I lost San and Trask, so you had better keep yourself alive. I would be quite disappointed if your skills are not up to doing so.’ he sent her, the thought tinged with sadness that he had to make such a choice.

’Live, you hardheaded, brilliant woman or I’ll bring you back to life myself.’ he sent as the Fury held against the side of the huge ship and the console chirped that it had hacked the security system and latched them fully to the ship, opened the airlock so he could board.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @darthhelinith

 

IC: Aryan Graul
Control Room, Bastion

Chalk’s taunting further aggravated Aryan’s mood, though not in the way he had expected. While he still despised the man, he found that it was his boasting about the Imperial Family that truly angered him. The thought of the security chief sidling up to Princess Fel and sharing in her personal secrets rattled him more than he cared to admit. It stemmed from a deep stirring in the pit of his stomach, an innate feeling that compelled him to protect her…

That was simply absurd in his mind, and yet he flexed his right hand into a fist all the same. He might’ve hauled off and cracked the man across the jaw—if not for the distress call from his wife.

Everything changed after that.

The desperation and fear in Lyz’s voice cut through his heart like a sharpened vibroblade. He audibly gasped and glared at Chalk with a loathing that he couldn’t quite comprehend. The man had been right about his family’s precarious situation, but despite his innocent stance, Aryan couldn’t help but feel as if the cyborg was still complicit in their abduction.

Why else would he gloat and take joy in his anguish?

Why else would he insist that he leave and pursue them?

It was almost certainly a trap…

Nevertheless, what other choice did he have? He couldn’t stay here and allow them to suffer. It was his responsibility to uphold his vow and ensure their safety. He had to go to them, even if it meant sacrificing himself at the hands of the One Sith.

Inclining his chin, Aryan held Chalk’s gaze for as long as possible, his contempt for the man reflecting in his blue-gray eyes. He clearly blamed him for this crisis, and those sentiments would undoubtedly carry forward to any future encounters between them.

Without another word, the young politician turned on his heel and jogged down the corridor toward the awaiting shuttle.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Darth Krayt
Coruscant, Jedi Temple depths



Darth Insipid, for his part, paid the drama as little heed as possible as he searched the Holocron room.

There were less than he remembered, impossibly so. In the central most pedestal he recognised the Holocron of Darth Krayt, and he snorted. There was little interest he had in such a thing. He briefly regarded Coruscant - aflame, enflamed - and looked forward to the cleansing thereafter.

And yet, he wanted it to be worse.

Damage, displaced people, that was one thing...

... but a criminal horde? That would really wash apart the citizenry.

He thought this as he eyed the Armand Isard institute in the distance, and then he nodded.

Time to pillage, and then go.

He regarded what was left. Nihilus he cared not for, but the beautiful crystal Holocron - the so-called 'Telos Holocron' - he was taking that.

But gnawing upon it was another Holocron, and Insipid wondered what the sin was going on. He narrowed his eyes, but the Temple shook, and he just took the two with him. He'd work it out later.

And so he pocketed the Holocron of Palpatine and that of Soliloquy without thinking anything of it, and with a last minute thought, drew that of Tulak Hord to himself as well.

He might as well; he sensed that he would one day meet a Sith who rather wanted that, oddly.

Before he submerged anew with the depths, he commed Darth Helinith.

"We'll meet at the Armand Isard institute. We'll release some criminal scum, maybe pick up whatever Force users they've kept there, if any."

It was a short message, but necessary.

He vanished into the Force not a moment before a quartet of Sith burst into the room, lightsabers drawn.

He slipped past them, feeding on their doubts as a shield, and vanished.

He wasn't the only one about to meet at the Armand Isard institute; the ship of Aryan Graul arrived in orbit, rushing from Bastion, and was confronted by the sheer immensity of the cataclysm around the planet.

As far as the eye could see, there were Pellaeon-class Star Destroyers and Ardent-class frigates in One Sith, Sith-Imperial and True Imperial colours savaging each other, Galactic Alliance Scythe-class cruisers and Sabertooth frigates firing at One Sith Dragon capital ships while led by a oversized Star Destroyer sporting the GA crest, all the while surrounded by a swirling tide of TIE Predators, Sith Clawcraft, Jedi TwinTails, GA Crossfires and then the entire furball was overwhelmed by Annihilators, the ships of choice of the cyborg Sith Troopers.

Compared to the Battle of Taivas that Aryan had escaped with the allies, this was an actual apocalypse.

But his sensors told him - just about - that the Armand Isard institute still stood, securing the prisoners of the One Sith - including his family.



It also included all manner of criminal element that was using their smuggled comlinks to raise the Queen of Coruscant - the Chiss woman that would one day be known as Bellorum. They were demanding she come and break them out before a Star Destroyer crashed on the Armand Isard prison.

Indeed, one would expect that the conflict between Manticore and the Sith Betrayers would need to come to an end before that fate befell him.

The self-same Battle of Coruscant was drawing in hundreds of opportunists.

Sith reinforcements were jumping in as regularly as they could, and the people across the galaxy were intervening too, summoning strength equivalent to any Galactic Rebellion the longer the conflagration spread. There were rumours that Hapan and Chiss warships were on the way, but to ally which side was unknown - the allies - the True Imperials, the Jedi, the Sith-Imperials and the Galactic Alliance - or the forces of Darth Krayt, which included quite literally millions of Annihilator starfighters, armed to the teeth with plasma weapons that could take out capital ships.

It was a true disaster - and a true opportunity.

Which is undoubtedly what brought the crew of Dagger Squad to the embattled capital of the galaxy.

How much all these galactic consequences meant to Bernael, the rogue Sith, wasn't clear - his target was the Jagged Fel in the middle of this chaotic melee. He latched upon the great flagship, but he was confronted by a shadow that was barely visible.

"Back off."

His name was Darkness.





Behind Darkness, a great battle raged in the Force.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto, @greyjedi125 (continue combo), @Lady Belligerent, @HanSolo29, @Narancia, @darthhelinith, @darthbernael

 

OOC: A fun, emotional combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Bernael
Onboard the Jagged Fel

Bernael made his way deeper into the ship, guided by his senses. He remained hidden from the crew as he employed his camouflage and silently moved. The overwhelming sense of Death grew and grew as he approached his destination. Exiting the last shaft and corridor, he saw the last hatch ahead of him. Just before he reached it a being appeared, calling out to him.

He let the camouflage fade as he recognized who, or rather what, faced him. Shaking his head his black on black eyes met those of Darkness. ”You think I wanted to be brought into this place, into this fight right now? You, above all, know how I feel right now. This is, after all the nine million, four hundred, and thirty, hmmm, third time we have encountered each other in the last thirty-seven millennia, in one form or another. I’d rather be leaving and leaving them to their fate, but if I let every being in the system die I would be no better than you.”

His eyes shifted, ”Darkness, my old frenemy, this is not the time for the End of Time, you and I both know that.” Bernael shook his head, muttering, ”Stay out of it.”

We have met many times; we have betrayed you many times. But it is written, and we find ourselves forced to intervene time and time again because we do not want another Change.

Darkness seethed.

Changing things, you are. Leave this host, drain his memories away of what he should not know. His feet are not one of the Living Force, and one of the Unifying Force. He is entirely in the Living. He is too attached.

There was a vibrant rattling of the bulkheads as Darkness's energies roiled.

We are tired of asking. We will court a Change and strike down this Anzati, mince him to dust so violently that a new world line will be created without him.

It loomed.

We will do it.

Bernael stood, appearing almost bored, as Darkness ranted. He knew this could be his last but that if he went he had his own surprise that could alter things even more. ”Are you done?” he asked dryly. ”You and I have fought, time and again. If you’re willing to face the end now then so be it.” The fatalism was evident in his voice. He didn’t care anymore about the galaxy and if he took out Darkness then that would be one last duty he could do, whether it killed him or not.

His form filled with energy, his eyes swirling with grey. In a way he swelled as well, but at the same time was the same size he’d been. ”This isn’t the End of Time, I told you. And if you try to end this vessel it will cause a change, yes, one you truly will not like.” the calm, stern voice said. Bernael himself growled and prepared to fight the creature before him. ”Come, let’s dance.” he reiterated.

The Darkness glowered.

It wanted to.

It truly did.

What do you think will happen if you intervene in the fight of Skywalkers? You know they all have the potential to be Ones.. they were so Chosen, and have not been watered down by the millennia like the Sunriders and the Shans, nor killed like Adas, Bane or Ruin.

It lamented having to do this.

Accept the galaxy is not yours, Balance, before we force it. Things must happen as written; this host acts out of grief, not out of your great design.

Bernael’s body sighed, then stiffened again under his control, his eyes still swirling. ”This host is not like the others, he is impertinent, willful, often following his own course. And such great emotion flows through him now. I know you too have had trouble with hosts when they get in such a state. He all but ignores me right now. Even now he thinks that if he could kill you and perish himself that would be worth the effort, but that would make a Change none of us could come back from.”

A growl once again escaped Bernael’s lips, ”I am here too, you two.”

Well listen then, youngling.

Darkness moved closer.

When this reality ends, there will be no need for Changes or plans or schemes. It will be OVER.

Isn't that soothing a thought?

Bernael shook his head, ”There is the key phrase, ‘this reality’. You think I have not spent the last couple millennia in the service of Balance to not know this battle is taking place over every reality? There is more satisfaction in denying your plan here, even if it does nothing to satisfy my need to punish them all, than letting you end reality. Besides, punishment and letting them fight it out without destroying everyone is much more satisfying a revenge than a complete end to everything, that is letting them off too easily.”

Darkness hesitated.

No, there are no other realities. Just this one. What do you speak of?

A dry chuckle, dark and sinister came from Bernael’s lips. ”I have fought you these long and many years and yet you believe that. If that is truly what you believe then you are much less than I believed you were.”

He shook his head, a wild trace of humor as he chuckled now, ”It came up often how much of him, the Balance, you were but now I know that you truly are just a piece of him.”

He relaxed slightly in his combat stance, ”Do you truly not know that this is only one of many realities? That you are a tiny fragment of the greater Darkness? That, while this particular battle may not be occurring in every reality, others between us and between others that serve the balance and other sparks of Darkness are always ongoing. You may win this battle, may bring the End here, which I doubt, but you will not end it all. Not even close.”

Suddenly, Bernael was no longer before Darkness, no longer aboard the Jagged Fel.

He was standing in a white room with his perception of Balance.

The only defining feature was the crack running through the floor.

They would both know that this room symbolized the flow of the Force.

And that Bernael was damaging it.

”Your point is?” came growling from Bernael’s mouth.

He could sense the Balance all around him, permeating him. But his pain, his loss also ran through him. ”You know I chose to finish this under duress. That all I desired was to be allowed to have my time with my grief. But no matter what I choose, something makes it impossible to do so. So I fight through it all.”

His voice rose, ”The galaxy took what I desire, what I loved away, and deserves it’s punishment, and Darkness stands in the way.”

The Balance would regard him.

Did he need a new host?

Had Bernael finally broke under the pressure?

He’d lasted a lot longer than Zas’tel.

But Balance could ill-afford another Zas’tel, and Bernael was considerably more adept. Did he need to...

... rewind...

...or sever their connection?

... or both?

The chasm in the Force was beginning to yaw.

Choose.

It was a soft woman’s voice.

Bernael sighed, the sense of the depths of his anger, of his despair and pain faded, withdrawn into his mind, locked away. His voice still grated as he spoke though. ”There is no choice. I have served you, served to keep the galaxy going for eons, I cannot betray that, even for myself.”

His head shook for a moment and he gathered himself, ”I cannot allow Darkness to win, to end it now though.” he said flatly.

Placing one foot on the chasm, he willed the split to heal itself, to draw back together. ”So now I must fiddle with the mind of the Dark itself so that it forgets all that I told it. Enjoyable…” the sarcasm heavy in his tone.

But Darkness was a hive mind.

What one knew, others knew.

What they knew could not be forgotten.

Bernael would have to lie, have to bluff, have to trick Darkness into believing he had lied about other realities.

Or all would be lost.

Bernael sighed, always was Balance reminding him of things that either meant sticking his neck into situations that could end in his apparent death or ones that he had to think faster than beings who outclassed him by a magnitude of order. ”Ahhh well, I'll figure out a way to deal with Darkness, once you take me back.” he said.

As he waited for the Balance to return him he began to consider his options and what would work. There were few things that the Darkness would accept or distract it from what he’d told it and if he didn’t remedy the situation he could cause an entirely new Change to occur and warp all realities.

Darkness was closer to him now.

You dare to daydream while in our presence?

Bernael looked into Darkness and chuckled. ”Well, the conversation was boring me, fiction often does. Watching you fall for it was the only humorous bit.” he responded.

He stepped to the side, leaning now against the wall of the corridor, ”I mean, it’s not often that you can pull one over on such a being so it was worth it to see the look on your face. I’ll treasure that for eons. Of course you know I’m going to tease you about this forever.” He laughed in Darkness’s face.

He seemed relaxed but he knew that he was tempting fate once more and his muscles were tense as he ‘relaxed’ there.

Darkness demurred.

We do not have a face.

It swept even closer, the equivalent of eye-to-eye.

Bernael laughed, at the proximity. ”Two thousand years and you have yet to intimidate me. Do you think having you this close, again, will do it this time?” he asked calmly.

His eyes sparkled, pinpricks of grey in the black of them, ”So, stab me or kiss me but make up your mind. Those are the only two reasons to be this close as you do not scare me.” he continued.

”You do forget that a delay to either of us being in that room works for both sides, it does not mean that you automatically win.” he chuckled again.

We always win.

It has already been written.

You already know we cannot die.

”You read too much, and of books specifically written to make you see your own victory. Such a shame.” he replied. He hadn’t changed his position at all. ”You should know by now that I know I don’t have to kill you, simply keep you from completing your current objective. Eventually the end will come but not on my watch.”

Our objective here is to let Roan Fel die. One less Skywalker to face at the End of Time.

It allowed a grin to ripple into the Force.

He couldn’t stop himself, the statement just was too funny. ”Is that...is that what you think I’m here to stop?” he said, his voice breaking every so often with laughter.

”Your book told you he needed to die to assist you at the End of Time? Ohhhh boy it lied to you. I’m here to make sure he dies too, but for a completely different set of reasons. But if your book doesn’t tell you why, I won’t fill in the reason.”

We saw it when it was being recorded…

The Darkness paused, as if engrossed by a memory.

Then if we are in accord…

The Darkness vanished.

... then you may pass.

’And Darkness thinks it being present didn’t affect the story being written? Hypocrisy.’ he thought. And with that he advanced toward the hatch that Darkness had guarded.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @darthhelinith, @greyjedi125, @Lady Belligerent, @Mitth_Fisto, @Narancia

 

IC: Aryan Graul
Shuttle, Arriving on Coruscant

The shuttle decanted from hyperspace in the midst of a cataclysmic nightmare. Combatants from both sides clashed in a fierce battle that would decide the outcome of the war, and ultimately, the fate of so many throughout the galaxy. And yet, there was no rhyme or reason to the mayhem. As lasers and other munitions lanced across the horizon and blossomed into brilliant explosions, ships—both starfighters and capital ships alike—continued to weave through the chaos with deadly precision. It was impossible to follow its progress, and that’s what made it so dangerous.

It was complete anarchy.

That thought needled Aryan’s mind as a torpedo detonated a little too close to his position, activating his blast-tinting to account for the sudden radiance outside the viewport. He instinctively brought his hand up to shield his eyes, though it was purely a precautionary measure. Nevertheless, it only reinforced what he already suspected—he was probably crazy for willfully placing himself in such a precarious situation.

But maybe that was the point. Didn’t it take a more eccentric mind to accomplish fantastical things? Or in his case, to rush ahead and save his family when they were in danger? Some may view it as impractical, but he couldn’t ignore that intrinsic connection; it was pulling him down this path.

Clenching his jaw in determination, Aryan gripped the control yoke and pushed it beyond its limits as he angled the shuttle toward the ecumenopolis below. Navigating this melee would be like threading the eye of a needle, but he felt confident in his abilities to successfully punch through to the other side.

Of course, it also helped that he had commandeered a simple passenger shuttle. No one would perceive him as an imminent threat, which should allow him to slip past their defenses undetected.

And sure enough, with his shields angled double-front, he was able to pull it off without a hitch.

However, he wasn’t completely out of harm’s way—far from it.

Much to his dismay, he discovered that Hogrum Chalk hadn’t been bluffing when he revealed that Coruscant was on fire. The cityscape had transformed into a hellish inferno right before his eyes. Thick smoke obscured his visibility while flames licked hungrily at the planet’s surface, consuming everything in their path as they coiled into the air at towering heights.

It was a hopeless endeavor, and Aryan briefly considered retreating to a safe distance to regroup, but then he spotted the object of his desire looming on the horizon, seemingly untouched by the devastating blaze. The Armand Isard Correctional Facility stood like a silent sentinel, its black synthstone tower adopting an orange hue in the garish light. It almost resembled a beacon shining in the darkness, guiding him toward his goal.

He did not stop to ponder the irony of that statement. Instead, he turned the shuttle to starboard and approached the prison at reduced speed to ensure that he did not attract any unwanted attention.

Once he had set down on a nearby landing platform, Aryan ambled down the entry ramp with a simple blaster pistol in hand. It was relatively light in terms of firepower, but he wasn’t really expecting much resistance. He hoped that the ongoing battle provided enough of a distraction to keep the guards preoccupied; they wouldn’t notice a lone saboteur among their ranks. He could sneak in, retrieve Lyz, Arek, and the rest of his employees, and waltz back out without tripping any alarms…

At least, that was the plan.

Pressing his lips into a thin line, the young politician exhaled deeply and started toward the building.

TAG: @Sinrebirth; @darthhelinith; @Narancia; @darthbernael; @Mitth_Fisto; @greyjedi125; @Lady Belligerent

 

IC: Darth Krayt
Sith Temple





Across the planet of Coruscant, matters were coming to a head.

He watched.

His hands tucked behind his back.

His worries palpable in the Force, but completely invisible in the middle of all of the chaos and carnage and death.

A Black-Coat upon him.

TAG: No-One
---
IC: Darth Insipid
Armand Isard Correctional Facility

There was a confluence of Force users and presences, and Insipid suddenly began to wonder if he was safer skulking within the Sith Temple.

He tilted the Holocron, which was still being gnawed upon. He didn't have time to activate them and work it out, not with time pressing upon them.

There was a cacophony of fear in the prison, and Insipid began to wonder what political favours he was about to curry by liberating the place.

He swept in, a whisper in the Force.

Technically speaking, Aryan Graul arrived first, and he would have landed and been greeted by a pair of Stormtroopers. They pointed their blasters at the shuttle, bearing obvious GA markings. "Halt! Who goes there!"

Then Tobbi did his thing as Helinith caught up, and there was a breach, and a small team of elite smugglers, anarchists and mercenaries in the correctional facility. The two Stormtroopers by Aryan vanished in a piece of flying masonry, but the attack had brought down a whole wall of the facility. There were scrabbling prisoners and overwhelmed officers, vanishing in a tsunami of rebelling individuals of all gender, species and persuasion.

The One Sith Empire did not discriminate on those bases; no, it oppressed everyone equally.

There was a cry - Lyz and Arek would be visible to Aryan among the push of bodies -

Helinith would spy Force users among those attacking the prison, including red, blue and purple blades. They were as colourful in the Force too, but threats all -

They were all over each other, and Insipid was curious. He nudged Helinith to investigate the group in her typical deadly fashion -

That would see her cross through the huddle of prisoners trying to escape, and of course Aryan's line of sight -

Insipid watched from a shadow, noticing the politician, or, at very least, how he held himself. Upright, certain, even though he was not even a Force users. How curious, he decided, sliding around to get a better look from the admittedly fractured cover. He glared at the nibbling Holocron, which was distracting his focus.

Stop it! He ordered.

It was more than enough chaos, let's be fair.

But it wasn't done.









As Lord Manticore watched, the entire battle collapsed into utter anarchy as the largest present here - the millions of Annihilator fighters - turned on everyone.

They dove towards the surface, and the GA, True Imperials and Sith-Imperials hurled fire at the ships as they attacked everyone -

The battle had broken down, and the One Sith ships - the Dragons - were moving off on their own.



Dragons

This wasn't an engagement anymore, no, it was just chaos.

Even Bernael would be buffeted by it, and indeed, it hurt, hurt, hurt, HURT the Balance, especially with him being in so close proximity to the death of a Skywalker.

Indeed, Manticore would be as cajoled by the Force as he was by the elements of the battle -

But how did that relate to the prison?

Well -

The Sith Troopers were indeed on the surface, and many were ejecting from crippled, broken ships.

They attacked the tallest towers first, which of course included the Armand Isard institute.

No matter the particulars of the meeting of Helinith, Aryan, his wife Lyz, son Arek, and Tobbi and the Blazing Chains, it all fell apart because six Sith Troopers began to rush the building, trying to cut down anyone in their path, enraged by -

"DARTH KRAYT IS DEAD! ALL MUST DIE AT OUR HANDS!"

They kept repeating this.



These were fully blown Force users, and they killed Stormtroopers, civilians and combatants alike, and half a dozen was enough to kill almost anything in their path -

Darth Insipid emerged from the wall and pointed at the advancing enemy. "LOOK OUT!" He bellowed, basically standing besides Aryan Graul, but warning his apprentice, Helinith, more than anyone -

And then the six Sith Troopers became twelve -

"Sithspawn!"

He unleashed a bolt of lightning at one, which powered through the attack -

"BRACE!"

He was taking command of the defense of the Armand Isard Institute, and what he was ordering them to prepare against became apparent when the nearest Sith Troopers released a wave in the Force, intending to buffet everyone -

TAG: @Narancia, @Mitth_Fisto, @HanSolo29, @darthbernael, @greyjedi125, @darthhelinith (aside from @Lady Belligerent)

 

OOC: Combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Bernael
Onboard the Jagged Fel

Bernael’s hand touched the durasteel of the hatch that separated him from his objective when one massive wave of energy swept through space. The death of Krayt rocked him but in his slowly compartmentalizing grief and pain he registered it only remotely. It was the second wave that almost took him off of his feet when it burst forth, the death of Roan Fel a Skywalker erupting in the Force.

The hatch had barely cracked open when that wave hit and he barely noticed as the ship began to rock with the crazed fire of the Sith Troopers in their Annihilators. In his mind the Balance writhed, pained beyond measure, in that moment recognizing again what the individual level of pain could be. His eyes darkened into black pits and his talons emerged, feet and hands alike. The stagger he made due to the mental battle wedged the door open and he, almost unseeing, nearly fell into the chamber.

He vaguely made out four forms, Maraisah Fel, Treis Sinde, and kneeling over the crumpled fom of Roan Fel was Antares Draco. As his mind fluctuated back and forth across the divide of Light and Dark, the Balance fighting itself, trying to work through the pain of Fel’s death he stepped forward, his power around him, ”Who...who was about to...kill every being...in the system?” he ground out as his eyes tracked back and forth over all three of the still living beings in the room.

Antares held his lightsaber ready as Treis stirred and Marasiah grieved over her father. “Sith,” Antares said.

“I know not what you speak of.”

“No,” Marasiah said. “We will need help -“

“Covering this up.” Treis finished, sitting up. “The Emperor fell to the dark side - nobody can know.” His eyes took in Bernael. “We’ll have to tell them a Sith assassin snuck aboard.”

The black of Bernael’s eyes began to shift, not becoming the bright silver they were when he was calm but slowly becoming a muddle of greys. The Balance was coming to the fore, whether it was prepared for such or not. He began to straighten and he nodded once to Antares, the man should remember their conversation and the attempt the man had made on his life prior.

He turned and nodded to Maraisah as well, his mind working to overcome the pain it felt, the grief, the loss, and the wound in the Force that her father’s death had caused. And then he turned toward Sinde, ”Ask Antares how I feel about being considered a Sith.” he said softly, his hands away from his weapons, talons sheathing and unsheathing.

He turned back to Maraisah, ”I cannot begin to speak on the feeling of loss you must feel but trust me when I say I do understand, more than I have in millennia, how deeply that loss can carve your soul.”

Marasiah’s expression became stone. “It is a tragedy, what has befallen my father.” Antares and Treis stood besides her, the former with his lightsaber active, the other with it merely drawn.

“This tragedy cannot be allowed to girdle the galaxy. You felt it - Krayt is dead. I must ascend to Empress of the three Empires - the Sith, the Sith-Imperial, and the True - and end the Second Imperial Civil War.”

She regarded her fathers body, which had faded away. “I cannot do that if the galaxy thinks the Empire is one of monsters. I beseech you to consider what Draco says.”

“Please.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “My father broke under the pressure to save the galaxy. Can you understand that?”

A low, dark chuckle came from Bernael’s throat. ”And what do you believe I’ve been doing for the last couple eons?” he countered.

His eyes took in the two men, ”Your little war gave me then took away one thing I never believed would exist, I will be no one’s patsy. As a matter of fact the only reason I am here was to stop all that death, but, as usual I must put away anything I feel because the galaxy doesn’t know how to keep from killing itself.” he said firmly.

”Besides, you will find,” he glanced down at his wristpad confirming something, ”your plan to do so wouldn’t work anyway, my digital presence is already being erased, even the recording of my presence here is fading already. I don’t exist, I’ve never existed, the galaxy functions better if that is believed.”

“Then what do you want?” Draco said sharply. “To rub salt into Sia’s wound?”

Now Treis ignited his blade. Marasiah stepped forward to show she wasn’t concerned. “Tell me what you need to heal your wounds, Bernael.”

Bernael took in the stances and lit blades of the two men then looked up at Draco. ”I am not the one whose first thought when seeing me appear was to accuse me of being Sith or that I’d be useful as a patsy to blame for her father’s death. Admittedly it was not you, Draco but still it stands.” his voice low, flat.

His gaze was softer when he turned to Maraisah, ”I am sorry that this came to be. As to what I need.” his head shook, eyes turning a swirl of grey, ”Peace, create that peace you spoke of, Empress. Do that, create a time for the pain to fade and the Ghost will heal.”

He shook his head again, muttering under his breath and when he looked at her once more his eyes were the shining silver they were normally. ”I am all but eternal, Maraisah. I will heal but, from this, much as I suspect it will be for you, distance from the pain, in time, is all that will allow it to heal. I would ask that you not allow these two their violent thoughts to turn to action as I would be loath to leave you alone in a chamber of blood before I leave. You will need them both in the future.”

Marasiah Fel nodded. “By all my power as Empress, I shall erase your existence from the records of the Empire in all its incarnations. You shall become a true shadow, and you shall be released from your ties to the known.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “May the Force be with you, Bernael - no longer Darth, no longer Sith.”

At that, Draco and Treis deactivated their blades and looked to each other. Marasiah had just shown just what kind of Empress she would be.

Bernael nodded his head in respect to Maraisah. ”Thank you, Empress.” He reached to his belt, pulling free a small device, tossing it to Draco, ”Shadow I am, shadow I will be, but that device is a miniature transmitter, one encrypted frequency locked in. Should you ever desire my assistance in the future, you need only press the call button and I will respond. There are no others in circulation right now and I trust that this will remain only between you three.” He nodded again to her, ”With your leave I will depart.”

Marasiah nodded, eying Antares, whose expression was unresolved. He caught his Empress’s gaze and nodded. “Thank you, Bernael.”

He held out a hand to shake. “Good luck. I hope you find your peace.”

Treis nodded respectfully.

“You’ll need to go before things calm down,” Antares said. “With Krayt dead, it’ll be over soon.” The ship still rumbled with turbolaser fire, but the urgency around the Force was breaking. Indeed, the great Darkness around them was dispersing.

Bernael nodded to Treis then shook Draco’s hand briefly, ”I do wish you luck in piecing the galaxy together. I will keep an eye on events but, for now, that is all.”

He nodded in respect to Maraisah once more before turning, gathering himself and disappearing as he stepped toward the hatch. The three here he trusted to keep their word about not harassing him as he left but others on the ship would not know of that or understand and he was not in the mood to have to deal with such.

The trip to the hangar, in this state was uneventful, he was alone with his thoughts and pain, well...aside from the Balance also working through the searing pain that the death of a Skywalker had caused. They were both in need of time away from these ‘mortals’ to regroup and be what they were to the galaxy. He barely noticed as his body moved on autopilot, steering around others that happened to be in the corridors, and then onto his Fury. He only noticed when he found himself in the command couch.

He looked up at the droid that housed the pilot AI, ”Stealth field up, get us out of this slowly resolving chaos.” Closing his eyes once more he felt the ship power up and begin to make it’s way free of the Jagged Fel.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Mitth_Fisto, @greyjedi125, @Lady Belligerent, @HanSolo29, @Narancia, @darthhelinith

 

IC: Aryan Graul
Armand Isard Correctional Facility, Coruscant

A confluence of events quickly turned Aryan’s simple rescue mission into a chaotic nightmare. He suspected that he had made a mistake as soon as he emerged from the shuttle and immediately encountered an armed sentry. It was a pretty good indication that his approach hadn’t been as stealthy as he had hoped, but that quickly became irrelevant. Both troopers vanished in a flurry of flying debris as a large explosion rocked the facility.

Staggering back, Aryan crouched down and brought up both hands to shield himself from the detonation. It was only after the initial shockwave passed and the dust settled that he noticed the full extent of the damage. The southern wall of the building had completely collapsed, allowing an avalanche of prisoners to flood out onto the landing platform in their desperation to escape.

Aryan was able to elude the push of bodies for the most part—which included shoving random beings aside when they crossed his path—though he wasn’t exactly monitoring his progress. He was too preoccupied with his family, his actions almost automatic as he frantically searched the hordes for his wife and son.

He knew they were here...

And then he heard a fearful cry that wafted above the confused din of the crowd.

Craning his neck to follow the source, Aryan soon discovered his family huddled among the masses. Lyz had lowered herself to one knee, both hands wrapped tightly around Arek to protect their ten-year-old boy from the frantic stampede.

"LYZ!" he shouted, even as the herd jostled him to the side and temporarily knocked him off-balance.

By this point, several others had also joined the fray, but it was difficult to discern whether they had done so of their own volition or if they had merely been swept up in the mayhem—much like himself. The fact that many of them wielded lightsabers did not bode well for the latter option.

Regardless of their status as Jedi or Sith, Aryan afforded them very little attention; his wife and son took precedence.

He was able to recover relatively quickly from his stumble, and without a second thought, he rushed forward through the crowd to meet them. "Lyz! Arek!" he called again, breathless, as he fell to his knees and encompassed them both in a strong embrace. It was hard to say how long they remained together in each others’ arms before Aryan finally pulled back and began to openly inspect them for any visible injuries.

"Are you alright?" Once more, he leaned forward and cupped Lyz’s face with his hands, brushing back her tangled hair in his distress. "What happened?"

Of course, at that moment, the only thing that mattered was getting them to safety.

But before Lyz could respond to his inquiries, a large shadow loomed over them, stretching down from above to engulf the entire platform in an unnatural light. It was quite palpable even for Aryan, who did not possess the ability to touch the Force. This eerie sensation prickled at the base of his spine and set the hair on his arms on edge, prompting him to glance up slowly.

That’s when the monotonous chants began.

"DARTH KRAYT IS DEAD! ALL MUST DIE AT OUR HANDS!"



"Ah, Kriff…"

The words slipped from his lips without regard for his son’s sensitive ears. Then again, he figured that a crazed legion of superhuman Sith Troopers warranted such a response. He recognized them as the same twisted abominations that he had observed on the operating table back on Bastion. While he hadn’t seen them in action at the time, he had witnessed enough of their indoctrination protocols to understand how deadly they truly were. They were nothing more than mindless drones hellbent on destruction.

"Come on, we have to go," Aryan ushered quickly as he rose to his feet, the slight exertion showing on his features when he hoisted Arek into his arms to expedite the process. He then took Lyz’s hand and began to retrace his steps back toward the shuttle.

"LOOK OUT!"

A booming voice suddenly echoed across the open expanse, halting the politician in his tracks. He turned to see an odd man with a flowing cape and blue hair standing beside him, gesticulating wildly about the imminent threat. Aryan was naturally suspicious, and he narrowed his eyes at the strange occurrence—until he realized that the man was motioning to someone else beyond their position.

Shifting Arek’s load on his arm, he instinctively glanced over his shoulder to notice a young woman skirting along the edge of the fleeing prisoners. However, the distraction cost him precious time as the situation swiftly escalated.

Two more lightsaber-wielding figures dropped to the tarmac before the blue-haired man unleashed a torrent of electricity from his fingertips. Aryan gaped, but it wasn't because he was in awe of the man’s very public display of power. He finally discovered that the Sith horde had doubled in size!

"BRACE!" the blue-haired man yelled to those still present on the landing platform.

Aryan Graul reacted on pure instinct.

Pulling Arek close to his chest to shield him from the impending blast, the politician used his shoulder to nudge Lyz to a safe distance. He then pivoted on his heel and proceeded to sprint off to the side.

However, an invisible force slammed into him from behind before he could clear the area. A groan issued from his throat as he tumbled forward, naturally curling his body into a ball to protect his son from any trauma.

Unfortunately, his back collided with a solid mass at some point—he assumed it was a lingering portion of the wall—which forced the air from his lungs in a rush. He heard himself gasp, but then everything became vague and unfocused when he realized that he had also sustained an impact to the head.

Dazed, Aryan instantly crumpled to the ground and allowed the darkness to seep into the edges of his awareness.

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