Private Hymn to the Void

[Fiolette Yvarro]

The Warspite scarcely hosted the living. "Not that I doubt your abilities," Fiolette began, "but I want to be sure the spell works before I let you aboard." Those who dared stay aboard the ship worked against the clock. "I am sure the travel time between here and Amaltanna is much longer than twelve hours." Concern was etched in her voice as she took a step back, letting Taeli get a peek inside the ship.

Gone were the old, drab, Imperial interiors of gunmetal grey. In their place was elegance, opulence, a reminder of home. Polished mahogany, rich velvet drapes, and gilded accents decorated the Warspite, turning it into a floating palace. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting a warm glow over the plush, intricately patterned carpets. It spoke to the comforts that Fiolette enjoyed and to the loneliness the ship and its duties entailed.

"Dansen will get you anything you might need. Don't mind the droids; I'm not the only one carrying out a penance," she further explained. "And you've... already sent a message to her, right?"

"Sorry, I just..." Fiolette took a deep breath and exhaled. "This is new."

That much was something Taeli would have felt. "Revna, that's the girl's name. Doesn't look any older than our children." Fiolette sidestepped to allow Taeli aboard the Warspite. "I should go put in the coordinates, but I can assure you most won't notice us. We'll be a blip, a malfunction at best." She cleared her throat and added, "Don't mind the wardens. They're just here to make sure people who shouldn't be here, aren't."

Fiolette faded from view, disappearing up to the command center to give the coordinates to Amaltanna. A moment later, she reappeared, this time in a more period-fitting suit. "I thought this might work out better." She took the opportunity to offer up a tour. "While we wait, I'm happy to give you a tour."

The Warspite was a ship like no other, and that was evident from the moment one stepped aboard. Aside from the lack of the living, soul repositories were carefully hidden throughout the ship, each one a small, intricately designed box that seemed to hum with a faint, eerie light. The ship creaked as if it had been built from centuries ago with wooden floorboards, although there were none, adding to the ghostly atmosphere.

As they walked, Fiolette pointed out various features. "This is the grand ballroom," she said, gesturing to a vast, open space with a domed ceiling painted to resemble the night sky. "It used to host dances and events, now it's mostly quiet."

They continued through corridors lined with art and relics, each piece telling a story of a life once lived. The dining hall was a spectacle of its own, with a long table set for a feast that would never come, the fine china and silverware glistening under the soft light.

"This ship ferries souls from realspace to the netherworld," Fiolette explained. "The living don't usually stay aboard for long, but I've tried to make it... livable, for the brief moments they are here." Although, if they stayed past the twelve hour mark, they were doomed to live aboard the ship for eternity with their souls bound to droids.


Fiolette smiled, a touch of sadness in her eyes. "It's been my sanctuary, and my prison."

They reached the command center, where the view of the stars was breathtaking. "We'll be departing soon," Fiolette said. "Seeing as the spell should hold, and we'll be on our way to see Revna."

Taeli Raaf | Revna Marr​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

A small smile would grace her lips as she replied, "There's a reason I anchored it the way I did. It should last the trip to Amaltanna and I don't have to keep my focus on it to make sure it does."

She had been forewarned what could occur if the living lingered for too long on the Warspite, bound as it was to the Netherworld. She had been thinking on a partial solution to that particular issue as she doubted Revna would appreciate becoming a droid bound to serve on the starship as other souls may become. She certainly would not like it, but she wasn't one of the foremost experts in sorcery and the esoteric of the Force for no reason. Part of it, she had guessed, had something to do with the ship itself slowly tying the living's spirit to itself, as though it were a 'living' thing in the loosest sense. The spell had been an adaption on a Sith concealment spell, anchored to a piece of Lignan to fuel it, that essentially concealed her and their young guest from the ship and the Nether spirits that had forged it.

In seeing the beauty that had gone into the vessel, replacing the more practical spaces of a fully functioning warship, she could understand why Fiolette had designed it that way. It gave her a reminder of what she had once had, a bit of remembrance of the Galidraani traditions. But to her, seeing the empty ballroom, seeing the long table prepared for a feast it never could host...

It just felt forlorn to her.

"It might be terrible to say, but I feel like... you need some crew here," she said as they started to walk to the command center. "It's too... quiet."

She had fought in several wars, led engagements from Star Destroyers and similarly sized vessels. There had always been a constant hum of activity, always officers and enlistees running around about their business or at their stations. To be on a warship, even one that had been converted into the form the Warspite was, just felt off to her.

Which she supposed was part of the Nether spirits' idea of torturing her wife.

"The girl, from the little we've interacted and what I've seen, has a good head on her shoulders. Although I fear her education might be lacking and her master might be introducing her to beliefs that could endanger that potential all too rapidly. Can't let that go to waste."

Revna Marr Fiolette Yvarro

 

[Revna Marr]

---

Revna was wary, her attention focused on that which was around her with cautious and searching amber-hued eyes.

Not long after the dinner with the Sith Emperor had concluded - days, at most - she had received a message from a Sith that she had crossed paths with in the not too distant past, and more recently while out shadowing her own Master: Lady Taeli Raaf, otherwise known as Darth Arcanix. How the Sith Lady had come across her information and was able to get a message to her without Darth Strosius learning of it, she didn’t quite know. But Revna was, unlike her Master, far more agreeable and keen on meeting with the Sith Lady, and so she had agreed to meet with the woman.

She just wasn’t sure as to the reasons why she was being summoned to a meeting place she’d never been to before, and thus the reason why she searched her surroundings with a wary gaze.

It was becoming slightly harder for her to slip away from her Lord’s notice these days; her occasional and rather secretive adventures away from his presence had caught his attention somewhat, especially after she had to be pulled out of a particularly dangerous situation she had found herself in with another Sith Lord. But she was resourceful and crafty, and she managed to find a way out to the designated meeting place.

The young woman was in her usual attire: black boots, form fitting black pants that allowed her freedom of movement should she have need of it, a V neck black shirt with elegant dark red lace patterns across the front, and of course her cloak - connected at the shoulders with lapels that were in the shape of the insignia of House Marr - the only symbol of her connection to the noble house that she would wear. She left her dark and silver-streaked hair loose to drape down over her shoulders, and of course, on one hip was the hilt to one of her lightsabers. She never went anywhere without some form of weapon on her.

Revna inhaled and released the breath slowly, attempting to settle her nerves a bit before the other Sith Lady arrived. She didn’t think the woman was out to harm her…but she was a Sith, and one could never be too certain about the motives of such individuals.

It was a calculated risk - but the opportunities that presented themselves to Revna from this were far too valuable for her to let slip away.

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro​

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette scoffed lightly and tilted her head slightly, "and that is the idea." She pursed her lips and then exhaled softly, "in the stillness, I am left with my thoughts." She gave Taeli a soft smile, but the guilt and the tears that had begun to pool betrayed her. They didn't need their bond for Taeli to discern the guilt that chained Fiolette to her prison.

Clearing her throat, Fiolette walked side by side with Taeli, her hands clasped at her back as they paced through the ornate ship. The decor evoked the elegance and opulence of a bygone age. Intricately carved wooden panels lined the walls, complemented by rich tapestries and plush, deep-hued carpets that muffled their footsteps. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting a warm, golden glow over the polished mahogany and brass accents.

"She did seem rather level-headed. I am not so acquainted with her Master," Fiolette remarked as they entered an ornate lift, its brass gates sliding smoothly shut. "I feel as though I should know them, would it be anyone I remember from when the Tenth Sith Empire?"

The lift ascended smoothly, and Fiolette turned her thoughts to the present. "Oh, and what can you tell me of this Malum fellow? Please, do catch me up on the politics. I had been approached by a Darth Aion, and had met briefly with Malum and Strosius." She refocused her thoughts, the elegant surroundings of the Warspite helping to ground her. "Forgive me, Amaltanna, had you possession of it prior to our parting?"

As they stepped out of the lift, the grandeur of the ship continued to unfold. They walked past empty rooms filled with luxurious furniture, velvet-upholstered chairs, and delicate porcelain vases. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood and the faintest hint of lavender, a touch that spoke to Fiolette's love for the comforts of home, despite the ship's somber duties.

It was best to dwell on the present and the questions at hand. The past had haunted her enough for the moment. Revna was who they were going to secure an audience with. It was to be a simple discussion, a meet and greet more or less, but in the world they navigated, even the simplest meetings carried the weight of potential consequence. As they moved through the ship, Fiolette's mind lingered on the anticipation of the meeting with Revna. This was an opportunity to bridge gaps, to understand new alliances and threats.

Taeli Raaf | Revna Marr ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

A snort would escape her as Fiolette inquired about the younger woman's master and whether he would be someone she should have taken note of in the previous Sith Empire as the turbolife rose.

"He was an Acolyte who began his journey among the Sith just after Coruscant and the first Alliance fell," she replied. "Apprenticed to Ophidia in that in-between time before fighting during the Third Imperial Civil War. I forget which battlefields he was directly on, but he was a friend to my apprentice Alina so I had hoped that he would share the same potential."

She shook her head with a sigh.

"But the fall of the Empire, it seems, affected him more than suspected. He turned to zealotry once he became a Sith Knight, formed a cult on Formos. Alina asked me to provide him some ships and resources to get him off the ground with his own power base. He supported Ophidia in the split that occurred in the Sith a few years ago and now commands an Inquisition. However, he has grown obstinate and arrogant. Paranoid even, as he views all Sith not as devout as himself as heretics. A shame really."

Such potential, but perhaps he could still learn the error of his ways.

"Malum, on the other hand, is a rising star within the Sith. The heir to House Marr only became a Sith in the time since the last Empire fell so the resentment is not as strong, although he was also a student of Ophidia and is close to Strosius. Malum is more articulate and calculating, certainly someone who wants to the play game. Ambitious certainly and very guarded with his thoughts from what I observed when we met, but there are chinks in the mask he both wears and presents."

Her smile would return as she asked about Amaltanna.

"I didn't want all my experiments taking place on Lorrd, but I wanted a world closer to Sith space than Valrar. Amaltanna was a deserted planet, devoid of anything special about it in records so I authorized a colonization of the system after Operation Eclipse and Kaine named me a Triumvir. It's now one of the largest strongholds for my power base. You'll see when we get there."

And so would Revna, she thought. The girl could see what a proper power base could look like, especially one geared to the acquisition of knowledge and experimenting with the material and ethereal.

Fiolette Yvarro Revna Marr

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

"Perhaps, do not show the young woman everything; she is another's apprentice," warned Fiolette. "As you are aware, apprentices often act on behalf of their masters. Few know to act beyond their master's will. Let us keep this visit to Amaltanna brief." It wasn't that Fiolette didn't trust Revna, but the fact that she was another's apprentice made her wary. While Taeli was bold enough to share knowledge, Fiolette was cautious about opening doors to someone who might not be ready. In time, if Revna proved herself worthy of her wife's attention and knowledge, they could show her more of Amaltanna.

The Warspite continued its journey through space, moving without so much as a glance from any other vessel. It lumbered through the void in eerie silence, its luxurious Edwardian-era decor providing a stark contrast to the cold expanse outside. The ship's opulent interiors, with their rich mahogany panels, ornate brass fittings, and plush furnishings, gave a sense of grandiose comfort amidst the desolation of space.
Time passed as they moved toward their destination. The ship's crew of faceless, spirit-bound drones worked tirelessly, manning their stations with mechanical precision.

"Taeli," Fiolette called as the pair moved up to the Command Center. The droids, countless in number, continued their silent work around them. "What became of your legions? The Elidibus?" she asked with sincerity. Much of what she had known about the Sith had changed, and yet much of it remained the same.

After a moment, Fiolette glanced at the ship's chronometer. "We should head down to greet Revna," she suggested. "It's time to bring her aboard before we continue on to Amaltanna."

With that, they made their way toward the docking bay, ready to welcome Revna and proceed with their plans.

Revna Marr | Taeli Raaf​

 

[Revna Marr]

Something that Revna had been forced to learn over the years was patience, especially when one was waiting upon another for something. And this was something that became even more apparent when she decided to become a Sith. Many things that required her focus, her attention - demanded patience, especially her studies and practices.

As she continued to await the arrival of Lady Raaf, Revna pondered on more recent events that had occurred in her life, analyzing them within her mind to pick them apart and see if there was anything she could learn from such memories. The recent discussions with the Sith Emperor and the words he had imparted to those who had been brave enough to sit at his table and sup with him, were chief amongst the memories that she mulled over. Even if her own Master desired that she not listen to anyone else but him, she knew the wisdom in learning from others.

Especially those who had lived, and thrived, and risen to attain such prominence in an otherwise brutal and cutthroat Order.

Her internal musings were cut short when a craft made its appearance nearby, and Revna watched it carefully as it docked. Her instinct told her that the one whom she had been waiting so patiently on, had finally arrived. She rose to her feet and took a deep breath to settle herself. There was a hint of tension within her, as was to be expected when Sith were to meet each other. She still didn’t know what to expect from the other Sith Lady, and this was enough to keep her cautious and aware.

It was no secret that the woman she had snuck away to meet with was not on good terms with her own Master. But, as far as she was concerned - their problems were not her own, and she should be free to make her own judgments of others. Make her own alliances - if possible.

The small Sith woman approached the vessel with silent steps, her golden eyes looking over everything, before she came to a stop and pulled her hands behind her back to stand in the position that had been drilled into her head by the Battlelord who had trained her.

And thus she waited for the permission to board the vessel, and see just why Lady Raaf had summoned her.

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro
​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"It would take years to see everything on Amaltanna," she reassured Fiolette. "And it's not like she's going to be getting a tour of the good stuff."

The purpose of traveling to Amaltanna, rather than somewhere like Valrar, was that it would also be an educating experience for Fiolette as her wife had never really shown interest in what she worked on. She had never visited Valrar or Horizon Station or any of the other numerous laboratories Taeli had around the galaxy that were working on one project or another. Oh, certainly there had been some casual questions over a dinner, a holocall here or there, but she had never actually seen with her own eyes what Taeli could really create.

Well besides the three beings she helped bring into the galaxy in the first place... and the one that never did.

As they reached the command center, and the alerts were going off a vessel was nearby and was awaiting permission to board the Warspite, her smile would turn ever so slightly sly as Fiolette asked her about her military assets.

"You know, it's the oddest thing," she said, following along with Fiolette to the docking bay to meet their guest for this trip. "But when an Empire is collapsing from internal pressures and external forces, some things just... disappear. Paperwork gets awfully messy and unorganized, records vanish or get misplaced. Enough that an entire legion of troopers and the majority of a fleet might just... disappear into the ether."

The Iron Talons and the Seventh Fleet, officially, had last seen action during the Alliance invasion of Ziost and subsequent counterattack, the last successful military operations of the Sith Empire before its ultimate collapse. After that, the forces that had consisted of it had vanished into the galaxy or had been assumed destroyed when the New Imperials and their allies with the Alliance and Ashlan Crusade swept through the region. In reality, much of her forces had relocated to her various holdings and had been quietly growing in size. A lot could happen over the course of a few decades after all.

The Iron Talons were no longer just one legion but several, and the Seventh Fleet... well Fiolette would see part of it when they arrived at Amaltanna. The Elidibus though, as a vessel that required more resources than most standard armadas, had been retrofitted into a space station in deep space for more... nuanced research. They could talk about that another time.

"Needless to say, we aren't unarmed," she continued as she looked at the ship docking. She reached into her pocket for the second piece of enchanted Lignan for the girl once she exited her ship. "If anything, you have more to work with than before. Just needs to be properly reorganized."

She would turn her attention to the ship and as the young Sith apprentice appeared.

Revna Marr Fiolette Yvarro

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette quietly walked beside Taeli, listening and watching as her wife spoke. Internally, Fiolette silently wondered why she had never come out to see her wife's work in the past. What sort of barriers had prevented her from doing so? A pang of embarrassment and a glimmer of doubt crept into her mind.

Here she was, a woman who could design starships for any purpose she desired, feeling dwarfed by her wife's intelligence. It terrified her. She never really understood all the sciences Taeli spoke of when they discussed her work. Swallowing the regret in her throat, Fiolette offered a warm smile as Taeli mentioned that it would take years to see everything on Amaltanna. Fiolette's teeth ground against each other, and before she realized it, all those emotions fed into their bond, albeit briefly.

Clearing her throat, Fiolette tugged at the collar around her neck. Even though it was loose, it somehow felt rather tight, and she felt warm with shame. How had she not done more all those years ago to truly appreciate Taeli's intelligence? After all, it had been Taeli's work that helped bring their children into the galaxy.

The slight cheekiness in Taeli's tone drew the redhead's attention. "Ah, I see, how rather unfortunate then," she said with a smile. Fio had missed so much and had done a lot. The Galidraani wondered if her own penance was appropriate. Perhaps she would have been better off staying in the Netherworld than attempting to reconcile. Oh, she was a selfish woman, a cruel manipulator—her niece was right about that. Fio forced herself to look over at her wife as she continued to speak.

"I should think not, even if those assets were not available," she added, offering another warm, if somewhat sad, smile to her wife. Fiolette knew that once the pendant was in Taeli's hand, her time in the galaxy would be up. It was why she had been delaying it. The tears that had begun to pool were banished. "Right, of course, I'll certainly see to it." She acknowledged the 'work' she was to do with regards to the military assets her wife had acquired. Hands behind her back, she braced herself as the airlock opened for the young Sith to board the vessel.

Fio was the first to offer a warm smile. "Revna, isn't it? Welcome to the Warspite. Allow me to introduce myself more formally. I am Fiolette Raaf." She said without hesitation, exchanging a small look with Taeli. "And of course, this is my wife, Lady Taeli Raaf, Darth Arcanix." The Galidraani gestured and did her best to step back to allow Revna aboard.

As Revna stepped aboard, Fiolette's thoughts remained a tumult of melancholy, regret, guilt, and sorrow. She hoped that in this moment, she could convey to Taeli just how much she had changed, was willing to change, and how deeply she cared.

Revna Marr | Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Revna Marr]

The little woman in her dark attire made her approach to the ship that had arrived, the airlock releasing to reveal two women standing on the other side, both of which Revna recognized - though one she was more familiar with than the other. The little Sith apprentice regarded both with a measure of inquisitiveness and caution, though she did return the smile offered to her by the rather beautiful woman with the fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes, who introduced herself as Fiolette Raaf and went on to further introduce the second woman to Revna, who she had already met previously on a couple occasions.

She had never heard the first name of Lady Raaf before, and neither had she heard her Sith name, Darth Arcanix, before. Learn something new every day, the little woman mused quietly to herself as she stepped aboard their ship and bowed her head respectfully to both women. She may have been wary, and unsure of the intentions of these two at the moment - but she would show some respect, at least. Her own cantankerous Master may not show respect to others - but she was an apprentice, and thus had to tread more carefully in that regard.

“Yes, I am Revna Marr.” she replied back to Fiolette, before speaking to both of them. “A pleasure to meet you both again once more, and thank you for welcoming me aboard.”

Revna then let her golden eyes slide to the amethyst gaze of Taeli Raaf as she regarded the Sith Lady for a moment. “I must say, your summons to have me meet with you - and your wife - has me most curious, Lady Raaf.”

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

She felt the regret, the guilt, the shame, pass through their bond. Taeli wouldn't verbally respond to it, as their young guest was about to emerge from her ship, but she would send back reassurance. It was okay that Fiolette had never seen her work, never really understood it. They could start today and she wanted her to really understand why... what also caused thoughts to be flying through her mind. Even in quiet moments, she knew she could never turn her brain off.

It was something she would need to get better at.

As Revna emerged and her wife introduced them, she would also give the girl a warm smile while examining her with those amethyst eyes. She could see the caution in how she held herself, how she met their greetings with her own measured response.

"You've impressed us, Revna," she would reply, reaching into her pocket for the enchanted crystal and holding out to the girl. "For you. My wife's ship unfortunately carries a curse on it where if you spend too much time on it, you turn into a droid slaved to it. The crystal will hide you from the ship's 'sight' so to speak until we reach our destination."

It was a rather blunt statement and an odd way to begin their conversations, but it was a pressing matter.

"Please," she would gesture for them to start walking out of the hangar. "As I said, you impressed us at the Emperor's dinner and myself in particular on how you handled the... incident on Tund. You showed wisdom beyond your years, and we wanted to get to know the apprentice who did so. I think you'll find this little trip... enlightening."

Fiolette Yvarro Revna Marr

 

[Revna Marr]

To hear that she had…impressed…the other two women, did bring a slight touch of pink to Revna’s alabaster cheeks, as her eyes lowered to the crystal that Taeli extended to her. She didn’t take it immediately - until she heard the reasoning, which made her promptly pluck the crystal from the woman’s hand and slip it into a pocket on her pants. She’d lived enough of her life under the shackles of enslavement; to be stuck aboard a craft, chained to a droid - was most certainly not to her liking.

“Thank you…I appreciate that. I would not be too thrilled at becoming a slave of any sorts again, that’s for sure.”

Revna followed along with the two women, her steps in line with Taeli as they began to make their way back aboard the Warspite. Though her new surroundings pulled at her focus, Revna forced herself to be attentive to Taeli as she explained a little further on why and how the little apprentice had impressed them.

A small, knowing, and somewhat grim smile touched Revna’s face when Lady Raaf mentioned the unfortunate events that had happened on Tund. Her master was still upset about how that all went down…and though she didn’t tell anyone this, she felt partially responsible for how things had ended.

She had managed to talk Darth Strosius out of fighting the Sith Lady, afterall. And had strongly encouraged him to do as the other Sith had suggested. Her reasonings behind her actions, her wisdom, had been selfish however. Had a threat not been leveled against everything that she had come to hold dear, perhaps she would have kept her silence and let the Sith Lords fight it out.

She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Ah yes…the infamous Tund situation. Lord Strosius is still not happy about that; if it comes up in conversation his whole demeanor shifts. I do not fear my master, but I have learned over time to just avoid certain topics when he is around.” Revna paused and glanced at Taeli.

“I may have been a fresh acolyte at the time - just out of my basic training and in my first military campaign - but I recognized a genuine threat in you, and in what you told him you would do if he didn’t bow to your demands. Avoiding an unnecessary bloodbath seemed far more prudent than satisfying some sort of personal vendetta.”

She was careful with what she said to the Sith Lady in regards to the Tund topic. Emotional attachment played a large part behind why Revna had practically pleaded with Darth Strosius to heed Lady Raaf’s threats. But she was not comfortable revealing that truth to the same woman who had made such threats in the first place. Revna’s wisdom was borne out of her need to protect what she considered hers.

“I was hopeful that he would…take you up on your rather generous offer of meeting with you. At least to have a discussion, whether it proved fruitful or not. But that man is very stubborn and willful. And I learned that if I am to rise beyond him, and further into the Sith Order, then I was going to have to do things my own way. Thus the reason why I am far more receptive to meeting with you and talking with you both, than he would have been.” She smiled then, a somewhat sly smirk that also reflected in her amber gaze as she regarded women with her.

“I think you will find that while I may be the apprentice of Darth Strosius…I am certainly not him. He has great value to me yes, but then of course…so do others.”

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro​

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette stood in the luxurious confines of the Warspite, her hands clasped behind her back as she surveyed Revna with a mixture of cool detachment and cautious scrutiny. The ship's ornate interior, reminiscent of a bygone era with its opulent decor and intricate woodwork, enveloped them in an air of solemn grandeur. The elegance of the Warspite stood in stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.

Unaware of the full extent of what had transpired at Tund, Fiolette pressed her wife telepathically for information, seeking a memory to anchor her in the conversation. Fio, offered a precious memory, a moment when the galaxy seemed to stand still as Taeli cradled their newborn daughter, Nerralyn. Fiolette felt a surge of warmth through their bond, a solace in the memory of Taeli's maternal instincts taking precedence over her analytical mind. Taeli was and had been quite capable of quieting her mind.

Clearing her throat, Fiolette addressed Revna with a somber tone, "The droids you see here have souls bound to them. They are in servitude to the Warspite, indefinitely. They do not belong in the Netherworld; they are souls who became lost, their memories no longer held by those who knew them in life. They know not who they once were and thus have become husks."

Her voice was both a stern warning and a revelation of the ship's haunting truth. "Do not engage with them," she instructed, her tone brooking no argument. "While I'm sure you thought you would be aboard a rather dull star destroyer, I can assure you that the Warspite is anything but."

Fiolette took a deep breath, exhaling as she continued, "In a past life, she and I served with honor on behalf of the First Order. After my death, I felt that perhaps we had more to do, and her interior is modeled after a rather antiquated age on my homeworld of Galidraan."

Gesturing for the pair to follow, she added, "Follow me, will you? Both of you."

The trio moved away from the airlock into the grand surroundings of the Warspite. "I'll show you to your quarters, Miss Marr, is it?" Fiolette's Galidraani accent, posh and precise, came through clearly. "Should you have need of either myself or my wife, our quarters will not be far from yours."

As they walked, Fiolette's tone grew colder, more direct. "Tell me, Miss Marr, as you have indicated that your master is of great value, what do you find of value here? You understand that while my wife adores your intelligence, I am reluctant to entertain such adoration."

She paused, considering her words carefully. "I do agree that you showed yourself to be quite level-headed. So, perhaps, I shall rephrase my question: what is it that you seek from my wife? You would not have accepted our invitation otherwise."

Fiolette's gaze was piercing, her distrust palpable. She harbored a deep suspicion of Sith acolytes, knowing all too well how often they betrayed their masters. Her thoughts flickered to Taeli and then to the name Marr, a connection forming in her mind.

Marr... wasn't that the name of the young lad who is or was tethered to this Lord Strosius?

Fiolette's expression hardened as she awaited Revna's response, the weight of her inquiry hanging heavily in the air.

Taeli Raaf | Revna Marr ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The request for the memories would be met immediately, and although she didn't change her expression as Revna spoke and she received the memory of holding Nerralyn, Fiolette would feel a softness through their bond. Flashes of an Aurora flotilla answering a distress call from the aforementioned world, the conversation with Alisteri over comms, and Taeli emerging from the hologram to dictate the ultimatum in person.

"Yes, I'm sure that anger will linger for some time to come," she replied as Revna mentioned her Master was still incensed at the mere mention of the world. It was no surprise really, as it had stolen his proverbial thunder, but it was supposed to have been a lesson for the Lord Inquisitor. She had been a relatively friendly force. Any other responders to the distress call from the world likely would have just immediately attacked. She had hoped to play off the incident and begin a more constructive arrangement with the Lord Inquisitor. Sadly, it had not played out that way, but the apprentice had seen value in the offer.

"I had hoped he would learn from what I said that day as well," she continued. "He wouldn't have been able to hold Tund, from a purely tactical and strategic level. Too isolated and too near an enemy nation. Ah well, his loss appears to be your gain, Revna."

Her smile would widen a little as the girl mentioned why she had accepted the invitation. Good, she was ambitious and recognized that her Master should not be the only source of knowledge she should learn from. Taeli herself had learned that lesson when she was an Acolyte of the One Sith, recognizing that Balaya was too wrapped up in her pet projects to guide her apprentices properly.

She would lapse into a comfortable silence as Fiolette guided them to the quarters, explaining her ship and why it looked the way it did and about the droids. Her question to the young apprentice was pointed, perhaps a little blunt, but the military career of her wife had made it a useful way to gauge those she interacted with.

'They are allies, yes,' came the mental reply to the query, 'apprentices to Darth Ophidia and bonds forged in battle and conspiracy. A strong connection, although Malum Marr and his family are more... amendable to the game.'

She was also curious what Revna hoped to gain from her, besides just general knowledge and a chance to see a world that the Lady of Secrets had forged by her own hand. There was much she could offer to the young Sith.

Revna Marr Fiolette Yvarro

 

[Revna Marr]

The apprentice did not comment on Lady Raaf’s reasonings behind why Strosius wouldn’t have been able to hold Tund. Of course, Revna had been privy to what plans and designs he had for the planet, something that perhaps Taeli herself wasn’t aware of when she had confronted him. But she couldn’t discredit the woman’s information either; it was possible that he wouldn’t have been able to hold Tund …but it was a moot point now, as he had never been given the chance to try and discover that fact for himself in the first place. It did…aggravate the little woman, but she kept that to herself. There was much she could take away from the whole experience and incorporate into her own strategies moving forward.

“My gain indeed.” Revna replied softly with a small smile.

Revna was quiet as Fiolette explained the nature of the droids to her, and for a moment, the young woman’s mind drifted into a dark place as she imagined what it would be like to be imprisoned, enslaved, to such objects indefinitely. The fact of losing one’s self, one’s soul, and becoming nothing more than a husk was a fate far worse than death in her opinion. In that moment she felt extremely grateful that Taeli had given her the crystal in her pocket, to prevent such a thing from happening to her.

She dipped her head in assent to Fiolette’s stern order of not engaging with the droids, the tone not phasing the young apprentice. She was used to such things from her own militant instructors who had a hand in training her. “I will do as you say.”

The little woman followed the red-head, occasionally letting her gaze flicker between the two women and her surroundings, still alert and a little tense.

“Yes, Revna of House Marr, is the formal title, but I still prefer to go by Revna. It is an adjustment I am still getting used to. And thank you for gracing me with quarters; truly, I am just fine sleeping on the floor, but I won’t turn away more comfortable settings when offered.” she replied honestly. Truthfully, her cousin Malum was not shy about sharing her induction into his noble House, but she was still wary of announcing such things. She’d gone from being a slave in a past life, serving nobles as a child and young adult and learning to hate them …to finding out she was of noble blood herself.

As they continued onward, Fiolette’s questions to the young apprentice became more pointed and icy. Revna glanced at the woman as she listened, before turning her gaze back ahead of her, absorbing the older woman’s distrustful words. Her bluntness did not offend Revna, if anything she appreciated the directness she was receiving. There was no sugar coating, no friendly fluff. The little Sith met the woman’s blue eyes, not surprised to see the suspicion and distrust there.

“What do I seek from Lady Raaf? A chance to learn more from someone of greater experience than I. To have more…womanly influence in my life, inspiration to help guide me on my own journey. If you fear that I am here as a spy on behalf of my Master, then fret not. He does not know I am here, and no doubt if he does learn of the truth - he will be very displeased with me.”

A small, devious smile tugged on her lips and glinted in her amber eyes. She adored her Master, but he was rather lax with her. She was able to get away with a lot, and when her sins were discovered…the repercussions were not too severe. A stern talking to, a scolding perhaps. But nothing more than that.

For now…anyway.

After a moment, Revna turned her face to Taeli briefly. “And if I may be so bold…I hope that by the end of our time together here, I will have allies in the two of you. And I will answer whatever questions either of you present to me to help achieve that desire of mine. Some have told me that I step beyond my means, or reach for power beyond what I should as a mere acolyte or apprentice, but I think it would be smart to start building connections now. Not for Strosius…but for myself.”

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro ​

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette grew silent as the memories her wife sent played for her. In response, she projected a small image for Taeli's mind to see: the symbol of Omega. Her wife knew what it meant. Taeli should have ended Strosius when she had the chance, but Taeli's grace and mercy were not traits Fiolette shared. Fiolette was brutal, cutthroat, and ruthless when she had to be—a trait her wife undoubtedly knew all too well, having experienced it herself.

"You would do well to heed my words at all times, Ms. Marr," Fiolette addressed Revna, the young girl's surname almost burning on her tongue, though she did not know why. Perhaps it was a foreshadowing of events to come. She said nothing to the girl's comments about sleeping on the floor. Fiolette knew what it was to have nothing, but she would not indulge the girl's words of honesty. Instead, she stopped in her tracks, hands clasped behind her back. The red-haired admiral's azure gaze was as cold as ice on the young apprentice as the girl answered her.

A thought to Taeli's mind: I do not trust her. She is an agent of her master, knowingly or not. We give her little and send her back to her master with nothing. Sith acolytes all vie for power, as she has clearly shown, and they will stop at nothing to obtain it. I would much rather entertain a no-name acolyte from the academy. Understanding the actions of Tund and how willingly the girl backed up her master, Fiolette wanted to space her out of the airlock but knew Taeli had other plans.

Fiolette said nothing else except, "when you are no longer tied to your master, perhaps an alliance can be arranged." Until then, Revna was a danger to Taeli and Fiolette. Little did the Galidraani Admiral realize just how dire circumstances would become in the near future.

Taeli Raaf | Revna Marr ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

She understood that her wife, as the image of Omega passed through her mind, would have dealt with the situation with Strosius differently. Fiolette had not earned the... unease of the first Galactic Alliance admirals for no reason or obtained her standing as a military officer within the Sith military forces by being compassionate. Taeli was being patient with Alisteri, trying to remain reasonable as she didn't believe he was fully a lost cause yet, but she did have her limits. She would reveal none of this on her face though as Revna replied to Fiolette's remark about quarters.

"We would be exceedingly poor hosts if we made you sleep on the floor, Revna," she replied as the girl admitted both a harsh upbringing and an uncomfortableness that came from trying to grasp a drastic change in one's position. Taeli could relate on some level, considering how she had joined the Sith and what changes she had throughout her life.

She did sense the acidity in Fiolette's voice as she replied to Revna's hopes of what might come from today, could feel the tension in her thoughts through their bond even before she sent those thoughts to her mind. The coldness in her eyes as they paused on their way and the heavy dose of caution in her response to the hopes of an alliance.

'You're right that acolytes vie for power, and that she currently serves another... but let me do my work. Trust me.' would be the words that floated across their bond, but out loud, she would say, "Dear, perhaps you should check to see if we are on course for Amaltanna and ready for the jump? I'll show Revna the rest of the way."

She would lean in, not even thinking and just acting on instinct from years ago, to give her wife a kiss. In that moment, when she wasn't whisked away to the Netherworld or Fiolette and the ship didn't dissolve around them, she would deepen it immediately as she realized her spell was keeping everything concealed and she was exceedingly thankful for the enchanted crystal in her pocket. She would have taken Fiolette right then and there, it had been so long, but she reluctantly would break away on account of their guest. Her feelings, concealed from the younger acolyte, would be very obvious for her wife.

"Perhaps a lesson too, Revna, and then we can all dine together before we... turn in for the rest of the trip?"

Fiolette Yvarro Revna Marr

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette was determined to continue hardening her heart. Her own struggles, upbringing, and experiences had often left her colder than Hoth. Yet, it was the warm grace that Taeli exuded and extended to their young guest that brought Fio back around. She had been the one to agree, even offered the Warspite to host this trip. They both agreed that Revna showed promise, and so, when Taeli's thoughts came through, there was a discernible shift in Fiolette's posture.

She relaxed her shoulders, only tensing when Taeli delicately placed her hand on her chest. There was a fear, a trepidation that sunk in, and she prayed to the Force that nothing would happen. Fio had lived in fear of her fate, of her curse, for decades. Taeli was close, closer than Fio had anticipated her to be. At first, their kiss was soft, just a simple touch—a peck to most outsiders—but when nothing happened.

No being whisked away to the nether, no turning into a droid or any of the promised consequences. Taeli deepened the kiss, and Fio simply melted into it, her hands cupping Taeli's face. She felt Taeli's hand curl into her jacket. When, however reluctantly, her wife pulled away from their kiss, Fio's once ice-cold gaze had softened considerably. Then she suddenly remembered where they were.

Who they were in front of, but with a smile on her lips, Fio acknowledged, "Of course." Then she turned toward Revna. "My apologies," she cleared her throat and looked over at Taeli, whose own amethyst eyes held a look that hadn't been there in decades. The Galidraani shifted her attention back to the young woman. "I should not let the past determine the present. Yes, you are most welcome, and know that whenever you are with us, you need not worry about where you will sleep."

She even gave a courteous bow, one significant to Galidraani customs, and added, "Yes, of course, please speak with Dansen. He'll arrange for dinner tonight. Now, if you'll excuse me." Fio took a step back, then another, and then she pivoted on her heels and headed for the bridge. Yet as she parted, Fiolette sent a thought to her wife, Your spell works wonders, imzadi.

Taeli Raaf | Revna Marr ​

 

[Revna Marr]

Despite the invitation and the welcome aboard, Revna was beginning to sense tension build, as the red haired woman - Fiolette - seemed to grow more and more frigid towards the smaller apprentice. Even as Revna answered honestly, she could feel that something was…off. And it made her more guarded and wary, especially when the older woman paused in step to regard her with a chilling gaze.

Revna paused herself, though her internal hackles were raised as she met the woman’s frigid expression with one of distrustful caution. Her brows dipped slightly at Fiolette’s waspish reply to her hopes of an alliance.

Clearly, this woman did not like her, and though she had seemed rather welcoming when she had laid eyes upon Revna, something between then and now had suddenly flipped and it put Revna in a very awkward position. She wasn’t sure what she had said or done to have the red-head change her mind, and the only thing seemed to be mention of Tund and her master…but she wasn’t sure if the woman knew the full details of that situation. Was it possible that Taeli had informed her beforehand? If that was so, then the story would only be told from only one’s perspective and therefore only have a partial picture of what was truly going on. But it might have been enough to give her preconceived ideas or beliefs about Revna that perhaps were being projected onto her now.

Or...perhaps it wasn’t Revna exactly that had caused the problem…but her connection to Strosius? Maybe this woman had a hatred for the Sith Lord…but if that was the case, then why be so willing to invite his apprentice aboard her own ship? Surely, the invitation had been agreed upon by both of these women, and not just on Taeli’s part.

…what if she’d been invited here for them to cut her down and therefore strike at Strosius and wound him? It was a risk certainly…but not one she had entertained until this very moment.

No. They hadn’t brought her here just to kill her. She didn’t feel it would be Taeli’s…style. Something else was going on. Her gaze hardened and her posture turned more rigid as she regarded the red head for a few heartbeats, deciding between speaking her mind or simply leaving.

She decided it would be wiser for her to leave, and not make the situation worse by opening her mouth, despite her desire to do so. But just before she could turn on her heel and walk out without a word to either of them, Lady Raaf spoke up as she seemed to have picked up on the sudden rise in tensions, and the sudden change in her wife’s demeanor. Taeli excused the red-head from the situation politely, informing her that she would show Revna the rest of the way to her quarters.

The little woman stood frozen in place, guarded and on edge and suddenly very distrustful of the red-head as she observed Taeli lean in to give her wife a kiss, staring awkwardly as the two shared the intimate gesture. Unconsciously, she tilted her head slightly at the scene, a curious gesture that she was rather known for by those who knew her. She didn’t exactly understand…why people wanted to press their faces together in such a manner. She’d never before seen such gestures between people.

After a moment, the two pulled away…and whatever had transpired between them seemed to have softened Fiolette considerably, which only added to the small apprentice’s confusion. She curtly gave the red-head a dip of her head in response to her apology and her reassurance that Revna was welcome, and she didn’t need to worry about where she would lay her head that night. Despite these words however, she was still very much wary of the woman.

“Thank you.” was all Revna could say in response, still trying to be polite as she was their guest, but her voice was stiff and revealed her discomfort.

Taeli’s words about a lesson however, broke through the stiffness and her cold gaze would spark with hunger briefly before being concealed by burning curiosity. She noticed the bow from Fiolette when dinner was mentioned for later, and informed them that they should speak with a certain Dansen for the arrangements, before she excused herself from their presence.

Revna turned her gaze back to Lady Raaf, relaxing a little more though she was still noticeably on guard. “I…am open and willing to learn whatever lesson you wish to impart to me, Lady Raaf.”

Taeli Raaf // Fiolette Yvarro ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Taeli would watch her wife depart, her gaze following her every step for a few long moments. That kiss had awoken a hunger in her... but she would force it back down for the moment for the sake of their guest. She had felt the spike in discomfort and confusion from Revna, and there was no further need to make anything awkward for the day. But to Fio, in response, it would not be exactly words that would flow to her. There would be smugness that her spellwork had found a slight loophole in her wife's bindings, but also images of what exactly she hoped to do later.

"My apologies for my wife's brusqueness," she would finally say, once more turning to the young girl. "A lifetime of military service and her other... experiences have made her overly protective and cautious until one has earned her trust." Taeli may have also contributed to that complex during their venting session in Kaine's office, but Revna didn't need to know about that.

She had felt that spike of hunger at the mention of a lesson, and the curiosity burning in the younger woman. Between what the young woman was feeling, and what she had previously said at the dinner hosted by the Emperor, she was very convinced that Revna was kindred soul to her. In some ways, at least what had been presented so far, Revna reminded Taeli of herself as she had started her path among the Sith.

"To know what lessons and techniques to begin imparting to you, Revna, I must first discover what you already know," she would continue saying, resuming their walk down the corridor. She wondered if Fiolette still maintained that training room near her quarters or if they had been overhauled when she had made the Warspite fancier. Somehow, she was certain her wife still kept them. "Perhaps you can regale me more about yourself and what you have already learned."

Fiolette Yvarro Revna Marr