Private A Bounty Fulfilled

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Rapture was a planet.

A simple enough statement that conveyed enough of the truth, but somehow seemed to still be an understatement of the... well, ironically enough, alien world. Gazing upon the red planet from the atmosphere, he knew, he was certainly far from Sith space, certainly far from any civilised space at all. Guided here with directions from a woman who had only just invaded his planet and had recently defeated his senior. Why exactly did he trust her? He could not quite say.

Well, actually he could.

Yet saying out loud that he was a lovesick fool, did not fill him with much confidence.

As the Ragathor, a Shikkar-class Assault Corvette, a gift from Darth Strosius , fell into the planet's orbit, from within his newly furnished command centre, he and his crew, sitting cloaked could only look on with astonishment at the strange, and exotic world. Numerous red forests littered, the landscape, everything about them was red, from the leaves upon the trees, to the grass covered by the trees, to the trees themselves. They looked as lively as they were deathly.

Blood, blood, was what they reminded him of.

Still, even if he could appreciate the colour, the radiance of different shades of crimson, an entire planet of the colour might have gotten boring very quickly. Thankfully, that was not the case, coming by forests of pure white, one almost forgot the dangers of the world below, one might have even been tempted to land, breathe in the air, and explore further, after all, all signs pointed to life being able to survive down upon the planet.

But Malum was no fool, who knew what the former Sangnir homeworld might hold? Already, the darkness called to him, a siren call that would seek to drown him, if, he gave it the chance.

The planet was not only nature, at the very least, even as from this distance he would spot the rare creature, on the prowl, and more discordantly, the movement of water, as if something was beneath its embrace. Gazing upon the high towers, the high ruined towers, and buildings which he could not know the purpose of, for they had been abandoned for... perhaps millennia now, withering away with nothing to fill their halls. He could only think of the irony of it all, how both he and Adeline had settled upon ruins, planets which they held connection to, far before their arrival, planets which they sought to forge into their own after the world's faded glories.

Perhaps it was fate, a sign.

Perhaps it was nothing at all.

He supposed he might get an answer to that question this night.

Malum's stomach still twisted in knots over that specific route of inquiry.

"End the cloak," Malum spoke to one of the crew, the order being sent along the line, until within a few seconds, the Ragathor flickered into view.

He turned away from the scenery, his cloak fluttering in the air, marching off to the hanger. Adeline had only told him to come here, he would have to leave the rest to her.

Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr

Despite earlier hostilities between their two groups, the truth was that the woman simply could not care. So long as she herself profited, along with none messing with her research into this cursed planet was all the occultist cared about. Upon that very day she clashed with her fellow Sangnir Alisteri, her singular goal was that nexus. The dark hunger was practically screaming to be fed, twisting and turning... A constant reminder of the cost of this power she nurtured within.

If things were different she would have let the man walk, claiming they "Ran off before I arrived" so that no time was wasted, yet fate had seen that they both needed that nexus for something.

As Malum would step off the lightly crack obsidian ship dock, the pure scope of this city would come to life. The gothic spires and streets that once held a race of conquerors was now desolate, those same streets and spires littered with bones and spirits of the damned.

Shockingly the buildings themselves were still in a decent condition, needing only minor work that any labour force could do if they were still around... Buildings made to last as long as the beings who once owned them.

Two troopers from Adeline's expedition would walk over and signal the man, holding weapons yet not pointing their rifles at him.

"Malum of house Marr, correct? Lady Keres said we should be expecting you today, she's over there.. At the main camp sir."

He gestures over to said camp, the more fancy of the tents must house who he was looking for, but with no rush it would seem that he could explore the camp as he so desired. Several tents held deployable labs, crates, med bays, and sleeping spots for the troopers who were here. The parameter of the place had walls put up, solid durasteel with armed patrols on rotation, what was interesting is that most of their attention was not on Malum at all... More so their watch was kept on the other side of the wall.

Once Adeline, or Darth Keres if prefered was found. The avid occultist seemed to be caught within a study of... Fruits? Was it a plant? Did it come from a plant? It looked more like a sack of blood held with a thin layer of ghostly flesh more than anything. She held the strange thing within her palm, studying it as a machine was running next to her.


​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Reaching the hanger, he balefully passed by salutes from the crew, both technical and operational, alongside the rarer pilots. The Ragathor held in its hull a mixed squadron, half Exodus-class Strategic Bombers and the other half, Caedus-class Superiority Fighters, the perfect flexible marriage of offensive and defensive action, for a Cruiser which already could pack a punch.

Of course, he needed none of these craft for what he had planned. Signalling a silent order for the hanger bay doors to open, the crew went for cover, others making certain the craft was firmly held in place, while for Malum, his darkened cloak flapped even more erratically, with greater urgency and speed, as the wind suddenly broke fast against his figure.

He put those thoughts aside for now, taking in a fresh breath of air, and closing his eyes, as the wind whipped against his face. He had trained for this, yet no amount of training could ever simply get all your nerves to settle.

He exhaled and then opened his eyes, his leg stepped forward, and he found himself no longer on stable ground.

No longer on any ground.

With the force of gravity acting upon him, in complete freefall, as his cloak bellowed upwards in the direction of the wind. He was like a falling star, a missile without exhaust, falling towards the earth with the grace of one entirely too willing to die.

Of course, he had no intention to. Gazing up at the ruins of this once great civilisation, its structures still standing so tall after its fall.

Let their corpse, their legacy, be witness to his glory.

Breathing in, he felt the Force around his form, as a precious hand, protecting its young, it swirled with more power than the wind could even imagine to hold. Within its embrace, how could cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes, or typhoons even hope to compare?

Metres from the ground, his speed dropped, unnatural in its motion, yet the Force was perhaps the most natural force there was. His cloak finished its flapping, as his feet landed without ceremony on the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two troopers approach, no doubt members of Adeline's garrison, neither friend nor foe then. A workable enough arrangement.

"Darth Malum, of House Marr." Malum corrected, without much care, as his gaze focused far more upon where the soldiers pointed, the largest tent, the most ornate and grand, no doubt it would hold Adeline... or Darth Keres, as she now went by.

It was a strange sight to behold, as Malum's feet moved forward, with the speed that he had learned was essential, from Quintessa. Looking, if no one looked better, as if the guards to his flank and rear, were his bodyguard, rather than his guide. Though he marched with a singular purpose towards the tent in question, with every step, the nerves in his stomach grew more and more tumultuous, it was not as if he ignored the fortified compound he had entered.

Numerous tents, labs, crates, med bays, and sleeping quarters, all enclosed, by a wall, with more soldiers scurrying about upon them and within the compound themselves. All in all, a fortified compound, though he held the slightest suspicion that it was a temporary one. Or at the very least a simple one. Both made sense, Rapture... was rather far from Sith Space to put it lightly. Either resources would need to be brought from the Old Sith worlds, or harvested from Rapture itself, and he already had the slightest of inklings that the world beyond these walls, was from safe.

So what exactly was Adeline planning all the way out here?

He supposed he might find his answer.

Parting the tent flaps open, he was greeted by the woman who seemed to take his breath away every time he saw her. Beautiful, was an apt word to use, but apt was not necessarily accurate, nor did it provide the true majesty that had his tongue dry, his throat parched, and his mouth speechless. Long, platinum, locks framed a face as pale as her hair, with ruby eyes which seemed to glow in both the light and the dark. Leading down to a petite frame which although he knew to only be a trap, a camouflage to the true power which was held within her, he still could not help but admire.

He gulped, even caught flat-footed as he was, just by his very presence, he was not blinded, this was not the man who had barely been able to speak at Kal'Shebbol, the one teased to oblivion upon the Jewel of Panatha. He had grown, both physically, and mentally. He could do this. He noted the... fruit, which she had held in her arms, alongside the gears of the machine beside her, more questions to ask then.

"Adeline... or I suppose, it is Darth Keres now." He smiled a soft smile, one which did not quite reach his eyes, it was an interesting name, it held connotations of death if he was correct in his knowledge... goddesses of death, in particular. Very apt, "I was glad to not see you on the Kainite side in the civil war when I saw you on board the Malsheem I had wondered... instead it seems you serve our Emperor, Alisteri speaks highly of you, despite his loss," The fact that Alisteri had lost to her, did put him on guard, Alisteri and he had not seriously duelled ever, yet he knew that Alisteri was strong... so what was it then, a testament to Adeline's strength, or a testament to Alisteri's weakness? And where did it place him on those rankings? "Perhaps I should be glad we did not meet on Alvaria," After all, the last time they duelled had been long ago on Kal'Shebbol, "Still, attempting to steal my nexus was far from polite." His smile took upon a dangerous edge, his eyes, blazing as hot embers.

It had been a dangerous attempt, and when he had learned of it, he was stoked with rage.

It was only the nexus itself that had cooled his anger. Speaking to him without words, yet clearer than any words could have been.

How could one command a force born of the death of billions in an instant? Billions who felt nothing but shock, fear, and anger, as all they had known, was wiped out by weapons of mass destruction. Billions afterwards, after millennia, of living in the world that remained, surviving, fighting, only to die, decrepit, pained, angry, fueling the nexus ever again.

Yet she had tried, and the fact she had tried at all spoke of things even greater, especially as she had seemingly bypassed the pact, and gained power from the nexus without sacrifice.

That left the question lingering.

How strong exactly was Darth Keres?

How strong was Adeline Noctua?

Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr

The question that was stuck in his head, wondering how strong she was... There was something to be said about showing your strength for all to see, and there was another to be said about hiding it so that your foe never fully knows what they are about to face. Adeline prefered the unknown, consuming any fear or anger that was directed her way, it was only right that she employed tactics that made the woman seem so eldritch to others.

She puts down the fruit, tapping a claw against the metal table as her back was still facing him.

"Civil wars don't interest me at this time, both sides have plenty enough power as it is.. Let them play with it as the see fit."

Her instinct had told her that she wanted to comment on how she works for herself, yet after her last confrontation with the emperor it was decided she did not want his gaze to strike again.

"A general does as commanded, no ill will against yourself or Alisteri... I simply had a task to do."

The truth is that she was only there to eat that nexus, Alisteri just happened to be in her way at the time.

"A new nexus could always be formed, I... Grew hungry, the power had call out and so I had drank from that divine spring."

Much like others in the past who ate the force itself, Adeline was constantly pained with hunger that demanded more. Working to control it like she is now took a lot of restraint.

She now turns and faces him, seeming to have no negative emotion upon her face.. It was neutral you could say, indifferent.

"Down to business then, you had mentioned a desire to collect payment from the bounty correct?"




​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"Among other things, yes." Malum spoke, with all the detached magnificence that was expected from a young lord, one could say, a step above indifference, though within himself there was a pang in his heart. Simply business, then... he had wanted more, some sign, some motion that... well something was possible.

Yet that would have made things too easy, wouldn't it?

How could he blame her, they had not seen each other in a long while. Had not spoken for longer than that. Fought on opposing sides.

Would this simply be another person that the wars between Sith had driven away from him?

He could not allow that, would not allow that, for all the power he had, it could not be.

Though it was then that he mentally floundered, or perhaps more accurately, internally deflated. The bounty, for which he as a youth had gone out to collect... murdering Lorena, or at least... leading her to her death, all in an effort to impress a crush.

Bogan it was... so dark when put like that.

There had been a reason he had delayed so long in collecting that bounty, besides the fact that he beyond morbid curiosity, had little inclination into becoming a Sangnir. He had always been so unlike the other Sith in their perception of guilt and morality, they could so easily commit atrocity and only feel the joy, the pleasure, the power. Where, though he would do the same as expected... he could only feel a tear in his heart. It was his bleeding heart that had granted him an apprentice after all. Damn it all.

So why was he here at all? An excuse to speak to Adeline? Perhaps... it really was as simple as that.

Bogan it was... so pathetic when put like that.

"There are stories of those, across cultures and histories, that would attempt to drink from an infinite well of power," He spoke sagely, taking a step closer to his query, she was by no means a short woman, yet sitting, and with his height, he was a tower to her house, "Of a god of thunder and lightning who drank greatly three great gulps from his horn, to only be able to lower the sea, not take it all. You may have drunk from the divine spring, but the divine ocean remains," He took another step, but this time towards the machine, examining it closely to try to understand what it was, facing away from the deeply dangerous woman before him, "So, tell me, what are you doing out here, eating nexuses, and aligning yourself with Darth Empyrean, I should congratulate you, a general disinterested in the war... is quite the accomplishment."

It was nonchalantly said, but he was deeply curious. An eater of nexuses was concerning enough... how many had she tried to eat, how many had she successfully eaten? What kind of strength coursed through her veins... and perhaps most importantly to him.

How was it affecting her? The Dark Side was a corrupting agent, he knew that they all knew that, using the Dark Side would corrupt your very soul, your essence, but to bring the Dark Side concentrated as it was in nexuses into your body...

It was enough for him to grip down on the machine, and grind his teeth.

Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr

She squints as he gripped onto her machine... A little too hard for her liking.

"Don't grip that machine like that... And I am out here in the middle of nowhere thanks to dreams I had years ago. This place was a hiveworld for my kind, still unsure how everyone died. In the streets you can hear ghosts around the place, whispering or screaming in agony."

Again she wanted to say her allegiance was to herself first and foremost, yet she could not at this time.

"I agree with many Eternalist views, it is quite an honor being given such a rank. I came from nothing, and I will rise to everything."

This line may be the first bit of vague info that Malum has ever got to learn about her past, claiming that she came from nothing.

"These are fruit."

She offers it to Malum, a focused expression on her face.

"From what I have both studied and also found, these fruit are safe for anyone to eat... Though they have a sharp taste, very bitter much like blood. This is due to the ground around us being super rich with minerals, every plant seems to thrive here. My troopers and I planted many plants from other places that tend to live in climates such as this. They grew fine, amazingly even. Very rich in many vital vitamins and minerals people need, thus they also had a bitter taste."

These fruit were rather handy, allowing Adeline to eat them to stem off any blood related hunger.

"This place has taken up my time, and I want to learn more."

Her desk was messy, it seems like she had been so absorbed in research that things like breaks or getting a full meal were absent.

"Right.. The bounty, what is it you wanted?"

She scratches at her head, unsure if he had even said what he wanted already.


​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He had taken his grip off the machine as soon she asked, pink dusting his cheeks in some embarrassment, he had let his emotions get ahold of him again. Unfortunately, around her, his emotions never enjoyed being quelled.

Instead to distract himself, distract her, he took the offered fruit. Gazing down upon it, he was at least confident that it was in fact a fruit. Yet, some primaeval parts of his mind screamed at him otherwise, that instead... this was an organ. He could understand the mistake, veins cut across the fruit, and its interior was coated in red like blood, and as he took his first bite of the organ, his mouth flowed freely with the coppery flavour of blood.

Yet his rational mind won, as it should always do.

This was simply a fruit, and as he chewed upon its skin, and as he did his best to swallow the liquid which his mind screamed to him was blood.

He contented himself.

It was a fruit.

It was... right?

He shifted that troubling question away, as he considered her words. Dreams, beliefs, knowledge, it was strange how much their experiences seemed to align. Yet, perhaps that was just the way of the Sith, and they were finding that out by walking along the path that their forefathers had walked thousands of years ago.

"Could it be nuclear armageddon? That was how Alvaria fell into its dark age." As he said it, he already knew it did not fit, Alvaria had survivors, few as they were, while for Rapture... no Sangnir seemed to be left. There was a nexus here, he could feel that in the air, though... it was not nearly as large as the one that covered the entirety of Alvaria, and even if he could feel it, he could not seem to... access it.

He noted her words about Eternalism, so an ideologue, he had not expected that from her, he had thought she just wanted the personal tutelage of the Emperor... it made sense that the Emperor would be able to manifest some of his views upon her, he supposed. It would be one way to maintain her loyalty to him. Of course, the other revelation may have committed her already, she came from nothing... did she mean that literally? Some lower class woman... or perhaps an impoverished noble? He could not say with certainty, and neither could he ask her. Yet religion had always been the means of the masses... and Eternalism was the most powerful religious force within the Empire.

It was food for thought certainly.

Thought for investigation.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them again.

"Might I assist in your research in some way?" He said, bringing one knee to the ground, as the other held his arm, bringing their gaze to level, "As for the bounty..." He drifted off, he was not certain, what he wanted from her, he could not simply ask for as prize for a bounty fulfilled... could he?

"Three dinners... or lunches, they need not be now, after all, I understand you have commitments here, and I will have to soon depart for... matters within the Imperium, yet I have waited for my reward for years... I can wait longer." He gave a friendly smile, tinged with nerves, resisting the urge to part his hair, as he still stood kneeled before her.

Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr

He could see as she watched him, Adeline didn't expect him to take a bite... Just to inspect it. But it was a funny little interaction, seeing the bitter taste punch his senses.

"You didn't need to take a bite, I just figured you would want to inspect it."

It actually made the woman giggle a bit, thought she quickly stopped herself and covered her mouth with her metal clad hand.

"Assist? Well by all means, there are plenty of things here to assist with. Though I highly doubt you want to help me figure out what these scars do to a person when tossed in or strapped down near it, I do remember that you tracked down artifacts before. Having a Sith aid my troopers could allow them to delve further into the depths, who knows what all we can find!"

Genuine excitement could be heard in her tone, it was obvious that this planet was a big deal to her.

"The best part is-"

She pauses, taking a moment to process what Malum just said. She knew he had feelings for her, it was obvious... But he actually was taking a shot?

"That.. Was not expected."

Adeline reaches out a claw, placing it under his chin as she gently pushed his head further up.

"I can try it, where are you wanting us to go? Is it a surprise perhaps?"




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[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She...

She... hadn't rejected him.

He blinked once.

Then he blinked again.

His cheeks were dusted in pink, as her clawed hands gently guided his head upwards, his eyes, taking in every part of her, in the way he had always subtly done, so concerned with the thought of not spooking her. Of always appreciating her beauty from a distance, silently pinning, far too fearful to ever make a fateful decision, which promised so much... yet equally so promised to be his utter doom.

Yet this time was different. He had taken the plunge into the deluge, and he was still here.

He was still here, and his heart was beating faster than at any other normal time. His breath was growing heavy, he felt sweat developing by his brow, his own red eyes, met hers, and he felt his throat close. He felt his tongue dry.

She...

She had given him the chance he always wanted.

"I... uh..." He shut his mouth, an audible gulp filling the tent, his eyes moving frantically, panic taking full hold, oh Bogan, he had been given the chance, but it was up to him now to make sure he did not fuck it up. She had thankfully, given him an out, for it was quite quickly dawning upon him... though he had wanted nothing more than opportunity to spend private, intimitate time with the Sangnir, so caught up was he in simply asking the question, he had nothing, but a bare, romantic, imagination of what that might look like. He had no plans, no perfect event that was designed to make Adeline see the best of him, "Yes..." He let out a silent sigh, "a surprise, one that will show you what I'm worth." He spoke, a confident smile gracing his lips, that did not reach his eyes, even the smile was tinged in nerves.

He was growing dizzy, even on his knees, he dare not stand up, still, not being able to quite understand the very fact, that he had not been rejected.

It was to such a degree which he did not even register her giggles at his antics with the fruit, he only was able to focus on the curve of her lip, the delight that poured out of her, for even but a moment. It was a peak behind the veil, of the woman that he had thought of for so many years. In this moment, nothing could ruin it, not the fact they were still at least officially upon opposing sides, not the fact she still served the Emperor that he himself held doubts upon.

Instead, his free hand sought hers, gazing up at her, his eyes softened, throwing aside the mask which he was expected to wear.

"I would be more than willing to assist you, and your men in your endeavours for the next few days. I could even provide the support of the Guard, if you desire. We have excess supplies we might leave here too, I know not when you will be next reinforced and resupplied, but Rapture remains far from Sith Space..." He trailed off. His guard was lowered, anything seemed possible, and right now, he wanted to prove himself to her.

Adeline Noctua