Coruscant of the Past

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

Once upon a time, when the One Sith was at it's apex, Romeo had struck the Sith at it's heart. It's capital Coruscant suffered minor damage, nothing worth reporting on a galactic scale, but there was some major battling in space that was quickly put down. What the news wont tell someone was that the real battle was planetside. Romeo had touched down with inside jobs ready to support his solo attack. On that day, Darth Geddon, his father, died by a garbage truck. Yes, a garbage truck, while Romeo Sin fought off many Sith Lords to achieve this goal. An old ally, [member="Darth Vitium"], was there after many duels between the two. Another was [member="Taeli Raaf"], the women now a Jedi Master and who had dealt the final blow to the Dark Jedi.

But what many probably didn't know was that during the chase of Sin, a man named Darth Ferus had joined in. Ferus had been one of the reasons Romeo had to keep running away in a game of cat and mouse. Now, with a resurrected Romeo, now Darth Seraphic, it was time to settle some old scores if not for the sake of amusement. Messages had been sent out to each person that had been present during the fight, but this time, Romeo would come at each them one at a time instead of fighting them all together. Yes, had they come at him one after another, Romeo may have lasted longer. He may have done more damage, but that was the past, and this was the future.

Today, Ferus would find himself with a rematch on a small space station that had been abandon for sometime now. There was nothing special about this space station, and much like the battle on Coruscant, no one would know what would happen here except those present.


The message to Ferus had read something along the lines of this:

Greetings, old friend. It has been sometime now hasn't it? Yes, that is correct, it is I, Romeo Sin, but I am no longer the man you once knew. I hope all is well, I have fared well since my return, and have noticed a many different changes in my...absence. A shame, really, that I could not be there to see the fall of the One Sith, though, we all knew it was coming. Anyways, I have decided that we are not finished with what we started, and though I am sure you have more important things to do, I just want you to know...you suck. These are my coordinates. Hope to see you soon!

 

[Darth Ferus]

It was a pretty random message.

Ferox found himself on a ship to the space station none the less. The message had interested him, and slightly insulted him. So he came armed, and dressed for a fight. If this man was truly who he claimed to be, it would be insulting to be any less. Romeo Sin, once Emperor, once conqueror. Once dead. In the ship he sat he let loose a chuckle at the thought. Romeo was overwhelmed by Sith Lords and ultimately slain by a Lord who later became a traitor to the order. So many betrayals.

But that was the past. Ferox stood as the ship landed within the empty space station. Casually he walked out, with his sword in hand of course, and casually he spoke.

"Yo, Sin. You around? Or am I gonna have to go through some traps and guards before I find you?"

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

The presence of the assassin lord was quite clear, and was highly intoxicating to the Vahla. Romeo took a breath in, then a breath out as if the scent of Ferox could be smelt all the way in the middle of the station. His voice sent chills up and down Sin's skin, making it raise up in prickles like a chicken plucked of it's feathers. There were no traps, or guards, that was not a way to greet an old friend.

"My, my, my....Ferox you have become...lethargic. Do you not want to play again? There are no guards, no traps, simply me in the middle of this station."

The voice of Romeo came out through intercoms with a soft echo.

"Ferox do you hate? Do you have a reason to act against me? Do you have any reason at all to be my enemy? I believe we are not so different, you and I. Ferox, we could have been amazing allies, no one could have stood in our way...maybe that can still become a reality?"

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I wouldn't say lethargic so much as no longer pressed for time. I have no reason to hurry, or be slow for that matter." There was a casual shrug offered by the Sith, who assumed [member="Darth Seraphic"] had video feed of him. With a quick glance around the Zabrak made sure to take note of the room he was in. Sure as can be, there was no sign of guards or traps. At least not yet.

"You are correct though. Other than you saying I suck I have no reason to fight you, and that can be remedied by saying you stink, or something similar. .. Eh, I dunno." Both hands of the red man slipped behind his head, if only to add to his lax appearance. "Why don't you come on out so we can talk more? The proposition of an alliance is intriguing at the least, and with the Galactic Alliance on it's warpath to kill all Sith, we might need each other."

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

Romeo tapped on screen that showed him Ferox as he became frustrated with the lack of hostility that he could remember was the pure intent back on Coruscant when Ferox attempted to kill him. The Vahla was probably on the top ten of most wanted by the One Sith at the time, mainly thanks to Silara, but Ferox and Romeo had never had much to do with one another. What was Ferox getting at?

"I do stink, I am covered in blood as I already killed the small group of criminals using this place as a means of a hideout. If you go the next room, you will see my artwork. It's amazing what a real blade can do that a lightsaber can not. Do your step though, they left a lot of red everywhere, the color should suite you."

Again he tapped on the screen in frustration, Romeo did not think Ferox would want a alliance, they were, in fact, not so different, and that meant their goals were probably very similar. The room after this would have bodies all strung up and without their skins, blood would be everywhere in a ritualistic way, a way to pay homage to the Saint Vahl, and his father, Crucix.

"Hmm, let us meet in the middle then, we can still continue talking as we traverse to our destination, this station is handy like that. Ferox, as long as you and I breathe, the Sith will live. Let the Alliance do what it wishes, let them slaughter what they think is Sith, and let us grow in their wake of death. As long as the Galactic Alliance is distracted with the First Order, and the remnants of the One Sith, I will continue to build the Sith Covenant. You know as well as I do, Isolda set the One Sith up to perish from the very beginning when they allowed her to blind them with the concept of the emperor being chosen by Vahl...a false goddess. But...tell me...why do you exist now? Why do you live? If you are not pressed for time, then surely you have something...up your sleeve?"

Romeo began to make his way out of the center control room, and in the direction of the Red Assasin, what could happen when they met was entirely hidden.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Very well. Halfway it is." Similarly, Ferox began to walk towards the halfway point. As he stepped through the room filled with the bodies, part of the red man wondered how exactly [member="Darth Seraphic"] had ripped their flesh from their bone so cleanly. The primal part of the Iridonian respected it. But he didn't slow his pace, instead moving onto the next room as his fellow Sith spoke.

And Ferox answered.

"You know I have something up my sleeve. I wouldn't be called the Red Assassin if I didn't. But.. If you meant my plans, simply to grow. The Sith are nothing if not persistent in this galaxy's history. As you say, let the Galactic Alliance focus elsewhere. While they do, the Sith who understand the meaning of being discrete will form a new plan to rule again. Only to be overthrown by Jedi, and the cycle will continue for eons. This is a cycle I accept, and I will do what I can to earn the right for the Sith to rule once more."

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

As Romeo continued to move towards Ferox, he listened intently to the voice of the assassin. Something about it was too convincing to which Romeo now began to believe it was all an act. The self-righteousness of the Red Assassin seemed almost too genuine to be real.

"Why do you not just bring the Sith back, why do you not just lead them back to the Golden Age? Why, Ferox, do you not step up your ambition, and rule the galaxy? Are you content with being a follower? Why must the Sith rule all? Could we not be content with ruling what we can, and existing longer than before? The less of a threat we seem, the more we could grow. Why, must we control the galaxy? Why follow a cycle we know...we can break?"

It wouldn't be too long before the two would be face to face. It would not be long before the two could converse without talking to the walls of the space station.

"Ferox...I tire of war, the Netherworld showed me things, and made me embrace my heritage...would you no longer call me Romeo and accept me as Darth Seraphic? Could you look past my hatred for the Sith so long ago, and accept as Sith, as brother?"

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Come now, Seraphic." Ferox made sure to call [member="Darth Seraphic"] by the name he requested, yet at the same time omitted the Darth. "You suggest a peaceful life. Any Sith can tell you peace is a lie. I do agree, the cycle should be broken. But we must never let ourselves grow stagnant. If we grow in shadow, we must be prepared to fight for it. Whether we attack the Jedi or not, they will attack us. When they do, I will be prepared. Will you?"

Face to face the Iridonian kept his expression devoid. He meant what he said, though perhaps his meaning was getting lost in the fancy exchange of words. This is why he normally went with the blunt truth route than the lengthy explanations. Something was off though, as he could feel doubt in the air. Would this remain a calm conversation, or would their next actions turn to drawing blood?

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

Romeo was not stupid, he caught the hint of what could be passive aggressive in the way the word Seraphic escaped the man's lips. The scarlet eyes stared deep into Ferox's searching for anything as the Zabrak continued to speak about how peace was a lie. What the Vahla was talking about was not peace, but removing greedy tastes from the Sith lips that had plagued them for so long. This was something most would criticize the Lord of Fire over, the fact his greed only went so far, and it did not cover a concept of galactic control.

"No, no, no...my words have become twisted, and mistaken. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Passion, is not greed. The Sith lack passion, the One Sith has changed the code into an abomination...using weapons and beings that can never know what the force, never feel the power that is the darkside...would you have me join an order that we both know is in the shadows now? A order full of zealots, and madmen looking to place their bodies on a throne and be called emperor of all? Would you have me bow to that man, and admit him stronger than I? Stronger than you? Or would you rather share the power? See each other as equal, and united together rather than united under? That is a life of servitude, and the Sith serve no one, no one man can claim that from me, no one man can take my freedom, and call me his, only the darkside may own me, and it does. That, Ferox, is the flaw of the One Sith, and the flaw the SIth Order will continue to have. There is no coexisting with that, there is only bowing, I want coexistence...tell me....Darth Ferox, is that against the Sith Code? Is my passion for coexistence a lie I am telling myself? Would you show me the truth if it is? Or better yet, would you test my passion, and see that what I speak is true?"

Never had the Vahla spoke so much in a single moment, no one had ever gotten this much out of him at any given moment. Romeo wasnt one for talking more than needed, but at this moment, he felt his integrity and even his existence was being questioned, something he did not like, but believed he could answer without the need for violence, yet. That was what the last question was for, did violence need to be here? Was what Romeo thought was could be the Sith way the wrong way? Was total dominance the path he had to follow? Romeo felt he knew the Sith Code and understood it in a intimate way...was he wrong?

 

[Darth Ferus]

A deep sigh escaped the lips of the red Sith as he listened to [member="Darth Seraphic"] . Parts he said were right, and others just seemed.. Wrong. Coexist? Share? It was possible, yes, but was it right? Truly the code said little about constantly fighting with one another, but that was what drew Ferox in. Constantly fighting, to evolve. To surpass each day and never become stagnant.

Right?

Ferox made sure Seraphic could see him as he reached down for the hilt of his blade, nodding once. "My ideal is to always fight for the right to live. For the right to power. Stagnation is death. To coexist is to do so peacefully. To share knowledge to those unworthy is not an existence I can allow. If we are understanding on this, you know what will happen next. It must, for the sake of our future after all." It was not meant to be a threat, but a promise of action. Sith could not live a peaceful life after all.

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

There was no doubt who the better duelist was here, and Romeo knew this, he knew this in his heart that Ferox would more than likely beat him if he were to draw his own lightsaber. Blackheart had not seen much action since the fall of the two biggest governments...it was then Romeo realized what Ferox had meant by no in need of time, things had...become to peaceful. But, it did not remove the concept that Sith should not be killing Sith, that heretics and zealots should feel the need to branch away from their brothers and sisters. Fear was not always the way, and it was the only way the One Sith had known. Blood was the only color they could see.

"Ferox....show me what Sith is, and I will show you what coexistence is..."

Gently, Romeo brushed his hand over his own hilt, Blackheart was special in the way that it was indeed one of a kind, and there was no other weapon just like it. Blackness engulfed Romeo in a void darker than space if the stars never shined. This activation came with another sensory overload, feeling. Seraphic's presence expanded the room as he drew in on the darkside and the crystal in his weapon began to call to it's master. This was all he needed.

"Now...what will you do?"

 

[Darth Ferus]

Blue eyes watched as darkness began to engulf the room. This was.. New. Almost unsettling. He created darkness? The Assassins could use that. Quickly the sword on his hip was pulled from it's sheath, and the green saber edge would come to life. It was then that the Sith let his eyes close. If shadow was where [member="Darth Seraphic"] wanted to hide, let it be his undoing. Right into the darkness the Iridonian charged, no longer letting his words speak for him. Time was for action. Blindly he would strike out with his green blade, aiming to where Seraphic's presence seemed to originate from.

Let the duel begin!

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

Whatever it was Ferox just swung at Romeo, he didn't like the way it felt against his chest as he took a step back, and felt it slice his robes across his breast. It burned, a lot, like a cinching pain. The assassin was coming at him swinging like a mad man, least that was how Romeo felt it probably looked as he had to rely on the force to guide him away from each swing of the sword, or something like a sword. Luckily there was plenty of room to move, and only one Sith to worry about.

Leaping backwards, Romeo clapped his hands together, drawing on the darkside as he did. This caused a beam of fire to shoot from his clap and towards the direction Ferox's presence could be felt.

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was a twitch of a smile as the Sith felt his blade catch on something. No matter what it was, it was good to know he had at least hit [member="Darth Seraphic"] in his darkness. Surprise surprise Sin, an Assassin knows how to fight in the dark. Though, the smile faded as soon as the air around him began to heat up. Not a second too late did he leap back, for if it wasn't the Force screaming danger in his head Ferox would have been toast.

Literally.

Another smell of burnt flesh filled the room as the beam had caught the Sith on his left thigh. A new scar most likely, and more importantly a pain he hadn't felt since the time of Vulcanus. Anger began to leech it's way into Ferox's mind, turning once blue eyes blood red, and honing his focus to a new degree. Once more into the darkness the Lord went, but not before unleashing a kinetic blast of the Force for where he could feel Romeo. It was pretty weak, especially given the rank Ferox had, but that wasn't the focus of the attack. Once in the darkness the Zabrak brought his blade around again and again, letting his hate fuel his strength to crushing blows, even though it was only in one hand. Again and again he would strike, keeping as close to Sin as possible.

He too knew who had the advantage in close range.

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

The smell of cooking meat filled Romeo's nose as a smirk crept across his face. Yes, that was the way it should be, purging with fire to those who could not break from the cycle of repeat. Removing the stain that was the old Sith, and implanting a new Sith, one that would last as long as it coexisted with others within it. A tingling feeling arose in his spine as he felt the dangers of the Red Assassin move in to attack.

Curse you, you damn assassin!!

Irritated but not yet drawn to anger, the Vahla ducked down, and weaved back and forth away from the blows till he had to activate his own lightsaber, and pressed it hard against the edge of something that crackled along with his blade. The song of battle is probably what Romeo would have called the crackling of two energy blades locked.

"Ferox! You are not Sith! You follow the cycle! You're chains still bind you! You have no victory as long as you continue this path! You must break free for the Sith to rule once more at the apex of power! You have allowed this One Sith to stagnate your own growth! Remember the code, and know I am right!"

The Sith Lord's voice came out more of a plea out of pity, the way he saw Ferox, a puppet to keep recycling his life for nothing disgusted Romeo. Pity maybe the word, but it was not quite there yet as Sin also felt the Zabrak had allowed this to become a thing.

"The cycle you speak of is peace! The peace we both know can not become! If not coexistence Ferox, then what can we do to break from these chains that bind the Sith to rise and fall and achieve victory?!"

 

[Darth Ferus]

"You wish to give out our power to all those who are unworthy? To those who have not conquered their challenges and broke their chains? The Sith live to fight. Steel sharpens steel brother, and no two Sith can truly coexist. They will always lust to be the stronger. Only a figure who is strong enough to keep the others in line can keep Sith from killing one another. You may wish to do so without conflict, but unless you can crush your rivals you will be trampled." Ferox would speak, something he would normally never do in the middle of a fight, as the two blades were held together. But his saber was only held in his flesh hand, and as soon as he was done speaking the metallic hand would come around. Another sound of a lightsaber activating would fill the air as the hidden compartment in his wrist popped open, revealing the lightsaber emitter within. The short red blade would be thrust right for [member="Darth Seraphic"] 's chest without any sense of mercy.

"I will trample you."

 

[Darth Seraphic]

The words that came from Ferox's mouth continued to prove to Seraphic that he was nothing more but a puppet of the remnants of the One Sith. It didn't stop Ferox, however, from continuing his attack as he surprised him with a new weapon in his offhand, a shoto of sorts, coming for Seraphic's chest. It was always about violence, always about who had the most power, and who deserved it. It was always about control, yet here was a Sith Lord, someone Romeo viewed as equal, speaking of cycles. Repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

A promise of being trampled only pushed Romeo back into focus. If only he had worn his phrik robes, this would have hurt a lot less. If the assassin had aimed for a death dealing blow, he had failed. The sounds of of Romeo's screams erupted from his mouth as the lightsaber entered his chest, but was quickly halted as he gripped the man's hand with his own offhand.

"No Ferox...you will not."

Convection was something that could hurt both the user and the victim, but for whatever reason, the user usually could not feel the pain of it. Ferox wouldn't either, he probably would have never realized that Romeo's hand began to increase in a temperature so hot that it would weaken metal to a limp or even melt it. Blisters began to arise on Romeo's hand, the side effect of such a power as he gritted his teeth to embrace the pain of a half stuck saber in his chest. Small flames licked out of the cloth that touched the Vahla's hand and arm, though controlling fire these days was not second but first nature for Romeo. He was, after all one the strongest pyromancers to live in this day and age.

"I will purge the blasphemers with fire, and rebuild upon the ashes of the One Sith. So swears Seraphic!"

Red eyes turned black as he tapped into the inner power that coursed thru his veins, that primordial strength his father once tried to beat out of him till he would unleash his full power in retaliation. Whatever had happened to Romeo after his death, he was no longer the same man as Ferox would have probably remembered him as, for this was what Romeo believed as becoming one with the darkside, to follow one's heart, and let nothing stand in your way.

 

[Darth Ferus]

It was the smell of burning metal that alerted Ferox to the condition of his arm. He had purposely negated the ability to feel in the limb to prevent any unnecessary distraction from it, but it made it difficult to tell when it was damaged. This was not one of the harder times to tell. With both of their arms currently keeping death away however the Sith found himself unable to simply pull back or press forward, not without opening himself to attack. So there was only one action left.

His right leg went forward, aiming to stomp on the foot of [member="Darth Seraphic"] with his mechanical might. Whether or not it worked, the thick skulled Sith did the most basic of combat tactics. With as much strength as Ferox could muster he slammed his head forward, aiming right for the nose/mouth area Seraphic had thankfully spoken from. With the darkness all around, how well could Romeo tell about he headbutt? More importantly, would he be able to keep his focus on melting that mechanical arm currently stuck in his chest?

 

[Darth Seraphic]

[member="Darth Ferox"]

Something smashed into his face, breaking his nose, and causing blood to rise up into his sinus, and tear ducts. In the darkness, nothing could be see, only heard, the loud cracking sound of bone and cartilage echoed out in the room. The blunt force sent Romeo bending backwards like his spine had just been broken, removing the saber from his chest, but letting the locked swords release and come down over his thigh in a nasty slice. Unsure which was to be more worried about, Romeo once more yelled out in pain as he dropped his weapon, the blade turned off, but the darkness did not.

Romeo scooted away as he held onto his face, blood trailed down his face, cloak and floor. A tinging pain shot up his body each time his right leg moved, the slash on his thigh causing him even more pain. It was true, anymore close quarter combat, and Romeo would be done for. He needed to practice with his weapon more, and balance the force out with it after this, he made a mental note to do so.

Very few things would get him back into a fighting shape, and luckily for him, he had one of those things under his sleeve. He was not quite sure if Ferox knew of it, it was something he did not do often, but found himself doing it more and more again these days.

Dark energy swirled around Romeo as the Force gave him vision, vision of Ferox's life threads, the thin pieces of robe the Zabrak clung to to keep breathing. With his free hand, red arcs of energy shot forth from his fingers, intense dark energy. It raced towards the Red Assassin. Soon, Romeo would drain the ma's life, if not heal his wounds by siphoning.

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was no crack of a grin this time as the Zabrak hit home. Instead, he ran forward with [member="Darth Seraphic"] as he scooted back. He wasn't just gonna stand there and let his opponent make space willingly after all! With his eyes shut and his sense in the Force running wild Ferox could see something was going on as Romeo pulled up his arm. Instead of letting what ever was going to happen happen, he slashed out with his sword, aiming to cut the hand off completely.

His mechanical arm was hung limply at his side however. The upper arm still worked of course, but where Seraphic had grabbed a hold and down simply wouldn't respond.