Keep the Streets Empty

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Aria Vale"]​

The Trandoshan dropped to his knees. It was not a willing submission, but rather the result of exhaustion and one cut too many. There weren’t many Trandoshan Sith around. Gam-la was the only one he could remember, in fact. It was a shame, but there was really no way around it. The man had become a thorn in Pyrrhus’ side. When first brushed aside he had upped the ante and sought to undermine the Togruta Lord at every turn. And so at Rhelg, it all came to an end. The lava-red blade sunk down into Gam-la’s neck, following a path that shattered his spine.

With what had effectively been a Kaggath, Darth Pyrrhus was in an uncharacteristically mellow mood. He felt… Approachable. This whole ordeal had come to a satisfactory end. “Kagan” Pyrrhus spoke into the watching crowd while his curved, bone-coated blade shut down and found its place back at his belt. “Yes lord” the large, broad-shouldered man said as he stepped out from the crowd. All geared up in full armour, no one could tell he was a Falleen. “You know what to do. Get them in line” the order to Saros Kagan was fairly simple and straightforward. It had been discussed in advance of course. It was by mere coincidence that it was Kagan the order fell to. Pyrrhus had simply requisitioned whatever available KSC ships were near the system for this operation. Kagan had stood out to him to the man to leave as second in command during this move, although they were all normally independent agents and captains here.

Once more the Falleen grunted “Yes lord” before he got started on his task, barking order to his men. The other captains knew what was happening and did not wait on the order. It could shake up the uneasy alliance between the slaver crews, many who were rivals for spoils and riches. As was custom, now defeated by Pyrrhus, everything that had once belonged to Gam-la now belonged to the Lord of Ruin. His assets would be taken over, and his household, servants and guards taken into slavery. In retrospect it would’ve been more amusing to have kept the Trandoshan alive to run things in Pyrrhus’ name. But it complicated things and all but invited rebellion.

Those closest by, in shock by the defeat of the Sith that had commanded them quickly surrendered to the KSC slavers with their weapons pointed at them. From there they would move into the nearby settlement where he anticipated many would seek to flee or even fight back. It was all good, and to be expected. After all, who willingly submitted themselves to the chain? Pyrrhus was not too passionate about it. His point had been made, and Gam-la had been taken out of commision. The Karazak Slavers Cooperative would set up shop on Rhelg now, further establishing themselves in the Caldera. Those who managed to escape, well done them. They weren’t after everyone in the settlement regardless. Just the small percentage that were known collaborators and associates of Gam-la.

“My Lord” a slightly more respectful Nautolan walked up to the Togruta side. He had been used to seeing this particular man in uniform, first of the One Sith, then of the Remnant Legion. Since then, however, he had been stationed with the KSC, inserted into the slavers group to all but guarantee that Pyrrhus had a long-serving and loyal element within. The man blended in well with his gritty, iron and leather armour, although he looked very uncomfortable in it. “What is it Kharjo?” the Sith Lord now turned his attention to the man. He held something in-between white papers. “Provisions, my Lord” he handed it over, bowed, and took his leave. Provisions, he says. One bite and Pyrrhus was in space-heaven. “By the Force, these waffles are delicious.”

 

[NightSister]

Aria Vale paced merrily down the paths, eyes wandering the landscape. She was getting to know this part of Rhelg fairly well lately, and it only brightened her mood to acknowledge why.

Her visits to Rhelg to see [member="Darth Imperia"] - or Imperia's trips to Maena, depending on which proved most convenient - weren't half as frequent as Aria would've liked them to be, but given everything, they were as often as they could be.

Aria was still caught up in becoming Sith, for one. Imperia was her biggest supporter in that endeavor, but her lessons with [member="Matsu Xiangu"] took up a fair portion of her time (and her energy) and time that wasn't spent training was spent teaching herself, most often through travelling the galaxy to research, soak up history and culture and the force itself. Her allegiance to the Primeval consumed just as much of her time - even in spite of her wary approach to the faith, Aria found herself more and more intrigued by their affairs. Of course, Imperia had taken up arms with the cult herself as of late, and though it thrilled Aria that they sometimes saw each other that way it wasn't quite the same.

But equally, as she'd recently learned, Imperia's main income was from slavery.

It wasn't all too surprising, once one got to know the Knight at all well. Aria had known the Sith to be a businesswoman, but it had taken some time to learn about the details of that business. As it had turned out, Imperia's company specialised in relocation (it was the word she'd used when she'd explained the business; Aria had looked at her with eyebrows raised until the Coruscanti would call it trafficking) and security service.

Aria's stance on slavery, as Imperia had found out when the subject had come up, was extremely passive. No, it wasn't right; then again, what difference did it make to her? She wasn't the one in chains, and until she was she preferred to file it away as not her problem. That had been the agreement, in the end - Imperia wouldn't talk in depth about the slavery part of her day, and everything remained comfortable.

That, in short, was what kept Imperia busy. Between both their obligations, it had proved fortunate that they could spend the weekend together in Rhelg.

The sound of paper crinkling snapped Aria out of her reverie, and her head turned to see a Togrutan holding waffles. Eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene - she could see soldiers, and she was sure that she could see them after slaves.

Well, then.

Cautiously, she approached.
"What's this?"

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]​

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Aria Vale"]

The men and women under Pyrrhus' command went to work. They knew what they had to do. Secure the assets of the defeated Sith Lord and put the chain on his people. More than simple profits and subjugation, Pyrrhus intended to prolong his stay. Not personally, or rather, not physically, but his presence would linger this side of the planet if he had his way. The positions left vacant from his defeated enemy would be occupied. In time he would see it transformed into a slave outpost for KSC. Work started today. Meanwhile...

So good. MMmpfh. These Rhelgians sure knew how to make waffles.

These weren't the professionals of the Remnant Legion. Aria moved pretty much uncontested. There was a guy who looked at her, then at Pyrrhus, but the Togruta had just waved him away dismissively. She was not part of this, or so he thought. And if she were, well, he would welcome a challenge. He did not need these mercenaries to protect him. They merely sped up the process of his work.

"Weah ahin oov-" mm, too much waffle, this wasn't working out. Swallow. "We are taking over." Or rather, I am. "The services of the one previously in charge was found wanting." he stated simply, standing not far from the corpse of the cut down Sith. "Friend of yours?" Pyrrhus asked. She was new to him, and knew little of how well entrenched on this planet she was.

While probably not the one in control, she did carry herself as someone who thought they deserved to be kept in the loop. Either a figure of authority on Rhelg, or someone who felt entitled to the information on what went on. Or just a curious bystander whose favourite pastime was making idle conversation with Sith Lords. Not a bad hobby, no day would be the same. Pyrrhus obliged.

 

[NightSister]

"Hardly," she replied, wry and without a moment's pause. Aria had ties to exactly one who took up residence on Rhelg, and the others meant nothing to her mind, nothing at all. The importance of those outside her circle began and ended with two things - how much they could offer her and how much they interested her.

Sith Lords taking over, enslaving dozens?
Such a thing was surely and immediately the latter.

"But," she went on, glancing briefly to the body on the ground with aloof intrigue, "I'm on Rhelg enough to get curious when I see someone- taking over."

So often, it was just as simple as that. Aria Vale sought knowledge, enlightenment, devoting her life to sating her hunger to know. Days at a time were spent doing nothing but exploring planets, hunting down artifacts, holocrons, nexuses. The galaxy was finite, but its wealth of knowledge wasn't in the slightest - forever a slave to her curiosity, Aria had learned that long ago.

Of course, she didn't doubt that there could be perks to knowing the situation beyond satisfying curiosity. But if there were any, they were for a little later.

"Would I have heard of you?" she inquired mildly, eyes back on the Sith.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]​

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Good. Not that it mattered much, but he would rather enjoy his waffle and not have to throw it away only to go beat on someone else. The Togruta listened to the shorter woman go on. Why was she on Rhelg? What was here for her? Perhaps he had actually bumped into another landowner here. It could explain the behaviour, as she seemed to walk like someone who owned the place.

He swallowed before replying. A mouth full of food hadn't enabled him to leave the most eloquent replies. But in the time it had taken her to post to him he had finished his waffle.

"Oh just this part of town. I'm not here to swallow the planet whole." He clarified. At least that wasn't something high on the agenda. He had other ambitions than crowns and planetary titles. As far as he could tell, Rhelg offered nothing that Bosthirda did not.

With a war cry, male and female tones combined into one, a duo of humans charged out into the scene. They had been laying low behind what remained of a broken stand. It had been a causality of the duel. He was tall, broad-shouldered and muscly, with a clean shaved head and a full beard, orange of colour. She was more petite, yet athletic and sturdy for her size, with long, red hair. Beautiful. They held simple vibroswords in their hands, but wore no armour. The woman, it seemed, had gotten her hands on a personal shield which activated in a faded blue barrier around her person.

There couldn't be much mistaking who they were coming for and what their plan was. Everyone had scampered off to do their duties, the slavers moving into the town. Darth Pyrrhus and his mysterious companion were the only ones left, standing at the centre of an open space which likely had been site of a marketplace or something of that sort. They must've taken this to be their most opportune moment, a final strike born out of desperation. And Aria was standing closer to where they were coming from than Pyrrhus was. They would be upon them in a moment.

"If you look in the right places and listen to the right winds." Pyrrhus replied casually to her question, with a shrug. "And you? Who are you and what have you done?" it was more testing than serious question, yet it was always interesting to see how they were interpreted and responded to.

| [member="Aria Vale"] |​

 

[NightSister]

Dark eyebrows lifted a fraction, indifferent acknowledgement of the Sith Lord's clarification. Aria was not about to assign an opinion to the Togruta's revolt - planetary or local - until she better knew him, although she supposed Imperia would be glad to know regardless.

Then she whirled around at the sound of two war cries piercing the air. Eyes flickered from the man to the woman to the Sith who was their target, waiting for the strikeback that would surely come any moment (or was he that unafraid?). When none came she left seconds to spare before she shrugged in her mind and extended a hand, calling on the Force to create a barrier between the two parties. She had no idea whether the pair knew how to command the Force but she doubted she didn't have a few moments where they'd be held in place and she could talk to the Lord, at least long enough to answer him. It was good manners, after all.

"I'm nobody you'll have heard of," she said breezily, "who's done nothing you'll take much interest in." Just about everything of interest about Aria on a scale of any particular size came from the people she knew. She had powerful friends, although she certainly had powerful enemies (not that she feared him enough to call him her enemy on account of anything other than hatred) - but the extent of Aria's notheworthiness was on a much more personal scale. For now, at least. But that was beyond the point.

"I am friendly with people who have done, but before that, I think this pair is very interested in what you've done."

With that, her arm dropped and the vice she'd conjured through the force evaporated. She gestured at the Sith Lord: you're up.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]​

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

He studied her as she studied him. A study of people, by the people, for the people. But no more waffles.

Unless they were expert at masking their talents and strategies, the pair were brushed off as relatively harmless. Though underestimate anyone far enough and they could become your undoing. Yet, the Sith Lord was curious to see how his companion would respond. Would she act with them? Against? Strike out in self defence and put them in the ground? Or...

What she had done had been none of the alternatives he had imagined in advance. She sought to neutralise them without doing them any harm. "Ah. A pacifist then?" he remarked with cold indifference, although perhaps a there was a minor portion deep within the tone of his voice that judged him. Intentional, naturally. She probably was not, but as usual, polarising questions were often revealing in how they were received and dealt with.

"Perhaps you come with a name?" Of course she did. But as elusive as they both appeared to be behaving, it was about time to knock this interaction up from unheard names of unspoken actions to something more. "I am Darth Pyrrhus." an even within there lay a subtle test, an underlying challenge, yet not one he expected to be taken up on. Tested, possibly, but not outright disputed.

"What I've done? I've enslaved them." And with those brief sentences they went from sentient beings to property. Funny that.

He had hoped she would dispose of them, at least one. But in doing nothing and leaving them for him, after a display of power that suggested she could do something about it if she wanted, she did give him information still. Yet he wasn't too keen on sharing more than he had to.

He leapt, figuratively, as his mind extended beyond the confides of his skull, splitting pathways to reach out to both of them. They were not Force sensitives, that much was clear. There was little on the surface but desperation, fear and the terrifying yet motivating thought that this was it, do or die. Alas, no defences. What thin walls there were he shattered, and flooded their minds. Sinister waves of the Dark Side flooded their senses, conjuring their deepest fears, forcing them to face them, naked, afraid, unarmed, and with no escape. It was the kind of terror one could not flee from, nor strike out against. After swallowed gasps and sobs, their twitching bodies eventually made their way to the ground, fetal position assumed, drool meeting sand.

Someone would come pick them up later.

[member="Aria Vale"]

 

[NightSister]

"Sure, something like that."

Truthfully, Aria was simply apathetic. She saved murder for those she hated and for those she needed out of her way; the Sith wasn't a bitter enough creature to hate these poor fools or fearful enough to think of them as obstacles. They were just inconveniences. Easy to kill if she needed to, easy to spare if she didn't.

Certainly several notches above pacifism - but no need to correct him. The element of surprise could be a useful thing indeed.

Darth Pyrrhus. She might've heard the name somewhere before, but not hardly enough to attach any meaning to his title. Aria had reason enough for her aversions to Sith politics but beyond keeping a weather eye out amidst the chaos of their affairs it left her less clued in than she'd have liked to be.

"Aria," she offered in return. She wasn't protective of her last name. She simply knew that she wasn't recognized enough for her identity, full or in part, to mean anything. Certainly she had allies, even friends, whose names held some meaning, but the Echani kept to herself when she could. Much simpler that way. Sith politics could get so messy.

She lofted a brow at his words, almost smirked as he turned his focus to the pair. Amused amber eyes watched as the figures broke down; she didn't know exactly what he was doing to their minds but it was easy enough to guess at the gist. A note filed itself into her brain - Darth Pyrrhus enjoyed killing, appreciated the art that went into murder. Interesting.

"Not a pacifist, then," she remarked as she watched them die.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]​