Private Inquisition

[Vazz]

The twin heir's of the Snake.

Vazz had already spoken with Malum, but his interest in them both could not be understated. Darth Ophidia was one of the most powerful Assassins in this age of the Galaxy, and her two apprentices would have quite the shoes to fill. The Defel wandered onto Bailiff station, his red eyes shifting around to watch the Inquisition forces go about their daily routines. It was fascinating to see. Yet another organization that chose to live in the light where the Pale had once chosen to work only in the shadow.

Times certainly had changed.

He didn't arrive subtly, though. As much as he preferred it, this wasn't a place that if he chose to sneak in there wouldn't be some trouble. The last thing he wanted to do was end up in a fight with the young heir. So he waited, standing in the Spaceport without hiding who he was for an agent of Strosius to escort him to the Sith Lord.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

"Do we just allow people to wander right into the station these days?" Three 'guests' had arrived at Bailiff Station within the span of one week and only one of them was invited. First Empyrean's wolf Lechner, then the Heir of Marr Malum, and now some other Sith had reportedly landed in one of the station's hangar bays without issue. Darth Strosius would seriously have to have a chat with his station's security staff and update some protocols for the future so that these occurrences weren't as common.

What was the point of having a fortified station guarding the hyperspace lane if it didn't ward off any unwelcome guests?

After debating with his staff for a few minutes about whether or not to have the surprise visitor apprehended, or simply shot down by the station's turrets and guards, he reluctantly had one of the troopers dispatched to escort the visitor to his office. The Lord Inquisitor would be found waiting for the Defel Sith in his office, sitting behind his desk comprised of pitch black stone with its smooth glossy surface reflecting the dim lights that illuminated the room.

The looming world of Faldos perfectly silhouetted the masked man and his rather sparsely decorated office as his visor trained on the door when it opened. "Welcome to Faldos. For what purpose have you visited the home of the Inquisition?" As usual his tone was measured and nearly monotonous were it not for the slight edge to his question. He wasn't fond of surprises, especially not when they were in the form of strangers at his doorstep.

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"To speak with you, naturally."

Vazz glanced down at the masked figure as they approached. Strosius himself. He hadn't expected to meet him immediately, but it was a welcome surprise none the less. It saved time, at least.

"The other heir to the snake. I'm a very curious person when it comes to those who've succeeded the Assassins of old."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

An eyebrow quirked up underneath his mask at the response, his hands folding together and resting on his desk as he sat up slightly. It seemed as though he was a popular conversationalist these days. He still had mixed feelings about this recent development, being considered part of the background was far more advantageous than being sought out. "Is that so?"

Darth Strosius wasn't too surprised at the implication that this Sith had visited Malum before, said other heir was by far more sociable and available than he was. If only he kept all of the attention to himself. "Inheriting such a rich and storied legacy of the Sith has been both an honor and a duty, neither of which I have taken for granted if that's what you mean." He didn't know what authority the Sith before him thought he had to question and inspect either of the heirs of Ophidia but it mattered little. Not even the great powers of the Sith could judge him now.

"Now what exactly is it that you wish of me? If you wanted a simple display of my forces then all you had to do was wait for some Lordling to step out of line."

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"Has it truly not, I wonder."

It wasn't a question at this point. Vazz offered a fake smile and a chuckle. "Indeed, that's what I would have waited for if I cared to see what sort of power you held. You've put yourself in the limelight. Both of you heirs have, just as your Master had decided to do." He folded his hands behind his back, stood a little straighter as his red eyes focused down on the mask.

"What does it to be Sith to you, I wonder?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius felt his gaze narrow at the Defel's remark and chuckle, idly debating on whether or not to rise from his seat and wipe the smile off of the other Sith's face. It would almost be worth the trouble, but just barely. "The limelight is hard to ignore when one is dragged to stand trial before much of the Sith Order's leadership." He managed a nonchalant shrug despite the venom that seeped into his words for a moment.

His unreadable hidden gaze stared right back into the red eyes of the visitor, the question left hanging in the air as though he expected it to be some sort of joke or sarcastic remark rather than anything genuine. Finally though he clicked his tongue and his head inclined slightly as he spoke up again. "To be a Sith is to be an inheritor." A simple statement but one that was spoken with such confidence and certainty.

"To be the next in a long legacy, both honored and burdened with the task of carrying on the legacy and fulfilling the ancient missions of the Sith. To be respectful of the past and traditions yet focused on the present and future in order to ensure both continuation and victory." Victory over the Jedi, over the galaxy, and especially over the Sith themselves. "We are the warriors, sorcerers, and blades of the Dark Side. We empower it through our ways and emotions and it in turns empowers us with the abilities of the Force."

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"That is true. That trial was quite entertaining to watch, if I'm being honest." It wasn't just a chuckle, but an actual laugh of amusement. No matter how sour Alisteri was, the Defel had no issue smiling and laughing all the same. He was comfortable. How could he not be? Even here he was shrouded in his illusion to keep safe. Trust was a luxury no true Sith could afford.

His laughter did die down as he listened though. Nodded. It was an interesting take. "Do you know what it was the Assassins were tasked with doing? Before your master took so many and created the Tsis'Kar in her failed bid for power."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Now that question had to be sarcastic. "Is it not obvious? They're assassins." Darth Strosius shook his head with a sigh as though the answer to the Defel's question was sitting right in from of him. Considering that he was one of the heirs of the Pale Assassin, from a certain point of view the answer was indeed sitting right behind the desk.

"They strike against the enemies of the Sith, bringing death to individuals and small groups to destabilize and eliminate larger foes without having to wage war. They ensure the Sith's survival through their blades alone." Something that he himself held great respect for, despite his belief that his master clung too much to the shadows for her own good. Assassins were meant to be used, not kept in reserve.

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

".. Is that all she taught you?"

The disappointment was clear in the Defel's voice. "I don't mean what an assassin is. The Assassins, the ones that your Master had earned the title of the Pale from. Do you even know what the Pale was? Did she really not explain any of it to you? .. No, I shouldn't be too surprised. Malum only knew because of the shard in him. It's still disappointing, though."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius quirked up an eyebrow at the casual mention of their master's presence lingering in Malum. Had he managed to let such information slip so easily? He frowned and made a note to have another chat with the Heir of Marr later, for such a secret becoming widespread knowledge would not be well for either of them. At least the masked man had managed to keep her shadow that dwelled within him under wraps thus far.

"And who exactly are you to know such history? Or lecture me on it?" He cocked his head to the side and idly rested his cheek on his fist. "The Pale Assassin held almost complete control over the Assassins throughout my entire lifetime, her reign only interrupted by the death that was partially caused by my hand. Whatever came before did not have the strength to survive, so I see little point in revisiting the past. That was my master's issue, she didn't pay enough attention to the present." Not enough to notice what he had been doing in her very own powerbase until it was too late at least.

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"You're quite certain it didn't survive, despite openly admitting your master did not have complete control. Only most." The Defel's smile widened as he leaned, in turn, in his own palm to mirror the masked figure before him. "Can you truly say the Assassins she once rules are all dead?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"I cannot say that in good faith no." The Tsis'Kaar might have crawled out of the Ouroboros Crisis battered and leaderless, but they were still alive indeed. The Assassins as a unified force with Ophidia at their head was gone though, their remnants now scattered with new loyalties. Most had flocked to either his or Malum's banner but many chose different masters or even to serve themselves. Perhaps this Sith was one such remnant coming to test the Serpent's heirs? "Perhaps there are still elements unfamiliar to myself working in the shadows, but their allegiances are not to me and as I am no threat to the Sith they do not concern me either."

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"Are you not a threat to the Sith, though?"

For the first time, Vazz stopped smiling. Instead, he watched the masked figure. It was hard to read expressions when they were behind a mask, but body language spoke on it's own. Well, perhaps they wouldn't. The Heir to the snake wouldn't be such without a real cause behind it.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius quirked up an eyebrow at the question but shook his head with an unimpressed shrug. "I am no threat to the Sith. But to those masquerading and using the Sith for their own vile means and selfish desires?" He allowed a smirk to cross his face and slip into his voice, a tone of pure satisfaction laden into his words. "Oh for those, I am their greatest threat indeed."

Vazz

 

[Vazz]

"The ones your master failed to overthrow? Who you sided with to kill her and fail the coup?"

A brow quirked, then he laughed. Barked out quite the laugh at that. "You're playing quite the long game, aren't you, Darth Strosius. I like you."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man scoffed and made a dismissive wave with one of his hands. "Oh please do not give them the credit. I sided with the Sith, they just so happened to be against my master as well at the time." Had everything gone completely according to his plan then Ophidia would not have been the only one of the former Sith Triumvirate who would have perished in the Crisis, but alas such was not the case.

"The 'long game' is the only one that can be played, and indeed the only one worth winning." That was one lesson his master had instilled in him at least. Darth Strosius idly crossed one leg over the other as he gestured to the Sith across from him. "And what of yourself? What 'game' do you prefer to play within the Sith Order?"

Vazz