[Chapter One] Dream No More

[Lief]

Panatha​

​

Hunted quarry over his shoulder, the silent boy crept through the back halls of the Palace; it was a gargantuan structure, with numerous rooms that were no longer in use. Amidst these lay a small kitchen, no doubt cast aside in favour of a larger counterpart, and it was to this disused sanctuary that his feet led him. None stopped him, he was walking the servant's corridors after all and most within were far too busy to make note of their Emperor's Ward. Any who did merely inclined their head and hurried on.

Knocking open the door with the toe of his boot, and pressing further into the darkened room, Kobe set the corpse down upon a surface and, without turning his eyes in the direction of the power sockets, lifted but one finger to bring the room into illumination. The beast which lay before him on the butchers block was large, somewhat fatty, and moderately resembled a bantha... Only slightly smaller, and with a back of spines. The damn thing had been ferocious, and without his saber it had taken a while to take down. Thankfully Kaine had only destroyed one of his blasters, and while its hide was thick it had eventually succumbed to the shots.

He had been back under Kaine's watchful eye for but three days. In that time he had been returned to his old room, which remained as bland as ever, reunited with the Instructors, and ultimately given time to settle in. The first day he had spent nursing his wounds. The second he had meditated on Asha's holocron. The third... Well, today would be a day of intense heat. Truth be told he was already sweating from the excursion.

Pulling out a skinning knife from one of the knife blocks, he swiftly sharpened it before placing the blades edge to hide. Almost expertly he slid the knife through fur and skin, as though it was naught save butter, and skinned the unnamed beast in just a few moments. Life on Aurum had been testing, he had lived to survive... Such things came naturally to him now.

Soon everything was cleaned up; his hands, the hide which would make good, tough leather, and the meat itself. There were regions of pure fat which were carved from the beast, they could be fried and sent to Kaine's hounds, while the rest was portioned off. Some he set in salt, the rest were wrapped and placed into the freezer. Soon all that remained was one solid slab of steak. He pressed it gently with a clean thumb, and was surprised at its tenderness. Mayhaps he would be hunting this beast more often.

While he brought a pan to heat, he seasoned the steak with things he found around the kitchen and exhaled a long drawn out breath. This place was a sanctuary indeed. So far nobody had disrupted him, he hadn't heard footsteps outside in the hall, he was left to his own devices. To his own mind. He had meat a plenty, a room which could be made into a paradise with a little work, fur and hide to utilize, and time to think. What more could a boy ask for?

[member='Darth Carnifex']

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Panatha

It was a slow day.

The Arch-King had just returned from his recent battle at Skor II, his body still aching with soreness from his heated battle with [member="Gabriel Sionoma"]. A good portion of his body had been bandaged, but they were hidden by silk tunics and a flowing robe of maroon armorweave. He had used this lull in war to return to his home and mingle with his family, specifically his beloved sister Saeth and her young child Ebiah. The boy had taken a fancy to playing with his own children in Vain Hollow, especially the youngest of his coupling with the Duchess Invicta Zambrano; bookworm Savara and perceptive Tolhesten. The others were far too old for the boy, far too immersed in the darkness that permeated the castle to play trivial games with the lad.

Kaine often wondered when Ebiah would make that transition, most of his children often did so at a young age with some of them being younger than Ebiah before their childlike qualities melted away to reveal the dark demeanor of a Zambrano.

Beside the King walked his many Queens, chiefly among them his primary consorts Invicta and Antanasia, and behind them was a host of various servants and other castle officials. Ahead of them were the children, rushing past their elders in the revelry of play and joyousness. Antanasia caught the gaze he exhibited towards the children, and her expression tightened in curiosity and concern. "What troubles you, my love?" The others now turned their gaze towards the towering behemoth, now catching onto the look that had caused the Dathomiri's inquiry. "They cannot remain children forever" was his only reply, prompting the Queens to look beyond to the children ignorant of their collective gaze. They all knew what the King had meant by those words, childhood was a fleeting fantasy for all within his household but these particular three have doggedly clung to their childlike ways far longer than others.

"They are just late bloomers, love. The darkness will embrace them soon as it has for all the others" piped Invicta, her movements somewhat slow as her belly was distended and full with child. Kaine grunted a response, his mind already moving beyond what he and the others had said to another matter entirely. Up ahead was his destination, and he was to venture towards it alone. He waved them away, all bowing with respect and reverence before moving down the corridor that ran perpendicular to the one he now traveled. Hardly anyone traveled these lonely halls anymore, they were reserved for the lowest of his staff and they were usually too busy with their duties to perpetually occupy the wing.

But his ward had taken a fancy to the emptiness, the isolation. Now the master had come to snoop on his apprentice's whereabouts, his entrance eerily silent with none of the fanfare he often employed when greetings others. If Kobe wasn't watching the kitchen's threshold to witness his arrival it might have seemed that he had materialized out of thin air when his gravely voice permeated the air, "I never took you for a cook."

[member="Raseri Sarosh"]​

 

[Lief]

A dash of oil, some final seasonings, before he set the slab of meat to heat. He watched it carefully, dutifully, as though he owed it his entire being in that moment, to ensure he did not spoil what had taken him all day to hunt. It would not take long, far from it. The pan hissed, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity the boy smiled. Already the scents which rose into the air were tantalizing.

He cautioned a momentary glance to the slate plate which lay on the worktop, already steaming with some fresh green vegetables he had procured from the main kitchen earlier in the day. It wasn't missing anything.

Reaching out once again he quickly tested the meat with a gentle press, before turning it to sear the other side. A few moments and it would be done.

When the time came to plate up, the boy did so carefully. For whatever reason he had decided that this meal, this first meal he himself created on Panatha, would be... special. Aurum had created a cook in him out of necessity, he was determined to let it blossom into something more here. Away from prying eyes.

Or so he had thought.

No sooner had he cleaned down the very edge of the plate, where a few wayward drips of the steaks juices had fallen, than a voice boomed through the room.

Immediately the boy turned. He knew that tone, and became immediately aware of the presence which had practically manifested itself inside the room. Surprisingly, the boy inclined his head and did something he hadn't done in a very long time.

"Master."

Acknowledging Kaine with words was a huge step forward. Inside his mouth his heavy tongue moved, trying to form further words. His cheeks flushed even further than they already had been, due to the heat of the stove and his own frustrations. Sometimes the lack of speech annoyed even Kobe.

Instead of getting a rise out of his frustrations, the boy gestured with one hand and the flat piece of slate which acted as a plate lifted to set on the surface just before Kaine. A peace offering of sorts. A delicious, juicy, steaming peace offering...

Kobe's hungry stomach could wait.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord's eyes fell upon the offering, and he nodded in understanding.

He reached down and gripped the meat with his right hand, raising it up for a closer inspection before he opened his mouth and took a hearty bite out of the succulent meat. He chewed, loudly, gnashing the meet with his sharp teeth as a dribble of juice ran down his chin and into his beard. He swallowed and proceeding to drop the meat back where he had picked it up, the sign that he was done with the food and that it was acceptable that Kobe continue to eat if he so desired.

"It was passable, but it is a start." Survival was a key aspect of the Sith philosophy, and the ability to prepare your own meals from the things you've killed is crucial. He acknowledged the steps that Kobe was taking to improve his chances of survivability in the wilds of the galaxy, but the boy still had far to go. He walked over to what remained of the beast's carcass, his hand falling upon the bloodied bone and other organs. "Quite an impressive acquisition, perhaps I'll assign you to one of the hunting parties in due time. See what you're truly made of."

[member="Raseri Sarosh"]​

 

[Lief]

The boy watched as his meal was tasted. He did not say a word, he did not move a muscle, he simply observed, and when all was said and done and his Master dropped the meat back to the table he likewise made no move to seize the steak for himself. He was not an animal, he would not disrespect his Master, and he would not be seen eating in front of him.

Instead he inclined his head to Kaine's words. Half compliment, half criticism. That was fine, better than he had been expecting truth be told.

Settling his hands to his back, he inhaled slowly. The God-King of Panatha seemed intrigued by what remained of the beast, bones and innards mostly which looked as though they had been pecked clean. Kobe gestured to the offal, a part of the beast he was not yet comfortable making into a dish.

"For... The Hounds."

His voice sounded utterly strained, but he was trying. Truly he was. He found his near-mute state just as frustrating as any who had to deal with it did. It would wear off eventually, until then progress no matter how small was welcome.

When talk turned to hunting, however, his eyes seemed to light up.

"If it... Please My Lord..." He had enjoyed hunting the beasts of Aurum, and the days acquisition had been more than a workout. It kept him mentally attuned too, left him focused.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Hrm."

The Sith Lord picked up a piece of offal left behind after Kobe's butchering of the carcass. He seemed to examine it for a moment before sitting it back down alongside the rest of the refuse, "Yes, this will work well for the beasts." The Dark Lord had a considerable menagerie of creatures locked away within the depths of his citadel, all manners of beasts and abominations both natural and unnatural. Some of his favorite creatures were the Vornskrs, mighty beasts who tracked their quarry through the Force. He had collected quite a many over the years, and had further enhanced them with alchemy to turn them into fearsome chrysalis beasts.

"I am pleased that you have found yourself a new profession, it suits you. It will suit me in time as well." He turned away from the table, making his way towards the door he had originally entered through. If allowed he would leave Kobe to his own devices once again.

[member="Raseri Sarosh"]​

 

[Lief]

Now that he had the permission to do so, he made a mental note to have someone fetch the remains for the beasts and nodded once to his Master. Truth be told Kobe did not know that Kaine had more than the vornskr, he had never had need to witness them before. Had he known, no doubt his curiosity would be piqued. Creatures intrigued him, how different they all were, how oddly they moved, they hunted. He had no doubt that any in Kaine's menagerie had to be hunters, after all.

Straightening up, he made another loose gesture and the meal which had been made floated toward the coolers for later. While he longed to taste what he had made, while the meat was still fresh, he knew better than to shirk his duties.

So it was that when the man made to leave, Kobe followed after him several steps behind to mark his status.

"I had... Wondered, My Lord..." came the slow, somewhat calculated words of the boy, who no longer strained his tongue to speak, "If I might... acquire a work space..."

There were more things that Kobe wished to dabble in than simply cooking, after all. He enjoyed the past time because it was an extension of the hunt in his mind... And while there were plenty of creatures in the Galaxy, he could not quite sate the desire to bring more into the fold. Who knew what could be forged through the perversion of the Force... But a kitchen was no place for experimenting, nor were his mostly empty quarters.

"I will... Work to earn it..."

After all, he was at Kaine's disposal now. He had tried a life away from his captor, it did not suit him. No... He had chosen to return, and he would be happy with his lot.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The hall was empty outside of the kitchen, his entourage and his wives had already moved on to their destination sometime after Kaine had intruded upon Kobe's sanctum. Now there was only the occasional guard or mouse droid stalking the quiet halls.

"That is entirely possible" was his response to Kobe's request, "Talents need to be nurtured and expanded, and the facilities you have commandeered are woefully inadequate. Luckily for you there is an old arborium in one of the upper courtyards that has seen considerable disuse since its previous occupant expired." Expired of what? The Dark Lord didn't bother to elaborate to the younger man, although from the way it was said one could easily infer the cause. Working in Kaine's employ was often a lethal occupation, but to those who survived the crucible it was worthwhile for the dark powers they would inevitably inherit in the Dark Lord's proximity.

"I will dispatch some servants to tidy it up, and you can make do with it as you please."

[member="Raseri Sarosh"]​