Thirty minutes prior to the meeting of [member="Krest"] and [member="Veiere Arenais"]...
Vaulkhar grumbled to himself from his perch across from the palace of Commenor. He stood several dozen floors above the planet's surface, nestled on a balcony overlooking the sprawling streets below. Beside him, the astromech known as "Mrs. Nesbitt" beeped and whirred furiously up at the half breed. For the most part he ignored the little bucket of bolts, focused instead on the task at hand. It was dangerous, arduous, but most of all stupid. The sort of mission he unfortunately excelled at. Not many would willingly take on the task of blatantly standing against his father, then break into a heavily guarded palace currently held by the Sith, to deliver the means of unapproved communication between the King and Queen of Commenor. However, Vaulkhar was not a part of the large number of individuals who'd turn down such a mission. With his decision to follow Krest, he had been given a choice. Something he'd never been offered before. A chance to turn down such a task and leave it to another. And that reason alone was enough to risk his life for the betterment of others.
The former Sith tightened his armor about him, fastening the leather strips that kept his gear in place before tugging the hood over his head. The armor, formerly designed for the One Sith's order of Assassins had remained in the hands of Vaulkhar Zambrano even after his departure from the One Sith and current Sith Empire. It protected his mind from mental intrusion, something that worked rather well with his Epicanthix genetics. Though that was not the most useful of it's perks, especially during this infiltration task. He donned the armor for it's ability to cloak him from view. Unlike many, he kept his armor a simple and plain gray color.
Vaulkhar peered back down at Mrs. Nesbitt and cleared his throat.
"You've got thrusters right?" He awaited an answer, arms crossed over his chest. The droid beeped back in response quickly, the response causing his eyes to widen. "What do you mean you don't? You can't fly across the rooftops?" A quick and sassy response escaped Mrs. Nesbitt, causing Vaulkhar to scoff. "This job just keeps getting better and better.... Fine, fine. No, stop your complai- Cease and desist! We'll just go through the streets."
At that, Vaulkhar tugged the force around him, coating himself in it like a blanket while simultaneously strengthening himself to the point where he could lift the astromech. Over the past several weeks his training had become grueling, having taken on the personal responsibility of kicking Krest's Royal Guard into shape, ensuring they could take on whatever the Sith threw at them. Truth be told, it's entirely unlikely they could take on the likes of the Blackguard, though it did not matter to the half breed. The training itself was crucial to Krest's plans, it also benefited Vaulkhar to the point where the formerly lithe warrior had put on a fair bit of bulk to strengthen himself considerably. So with the aid of the force, lifting the droid was child's play.
He stepped off the balcony and plummeted the dozens of feet with little concern, the force cushioned and silenced his fall as he made contact with the pavement. He set Mrs. Nesbitt down and moved towards the end of the alleyway. It was evening on Commenor, the sun setting hours before this moment. As such the streets were mostly empty, aside from the generic passerby on a late night stroll. The former Sith, garbed in traditional Sith attire had little trouble moving up towards the palace. However, as he approached it from the front he turned down one of the varying streets and moved around the palace itself, Mrs. Nesbitt in toe. As the little droid began to vocalize disagreement with his actions his hand rose and he silenced the droid.
Vaulkhar needed to focus.
His senses spread outward in a growing bubble. Under his will, the force began to envelop a still growing circle about him to give him a near-bird's eye view of his surroundings through the force itself. His mastery of the force sense technique had long transcended it's traditional use thanks to years spent with the ability, along with his genetic prowess as a half Miralukan. He paused rather suddenly and dipped into a nearby alley, the droid following his actions without question. Vaulkhar pressed himself up against the alley wall just as a contingent of imperial troopers marched by in silence. He waited a minute before turning from within the alley back onto the street to continue his movements around the entirety of the palace.
Minutes passed by before he found the perfect point of entry...
Twenty minutes prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
Vaulkhar's lightsaber ignited, a molten orange color springing to life about him. He pressed it through a durasteel plated wall and began to turn it slowly, cutting out a large enough entry point for the duo to pass, but small enough it was possible to miss. After a moment he finished his work and motioned inwards. The droid rolled through as he clipped his lightsaber back in place on his belt. He slipped in after Mrs. Nesbitt and paused beside the hole.
"Alright droid, I believe the terminal should be across the yard. Get to it, jack in, and loop the cameras. We have an eighteen minute countdown until the Crimson Guard are relieved from their position watching over Lady Kay and a minute window to get you in to Kay," the Droid beeped it's agreement before rolling across the lawn. Vaulkhar focused on the portion of steel that had been cut away before lifting it via telekinesis and returning it to it's former home within the wall. At night it would likely pass, which is all the half breed needed. He hurried across the yard and pressed himself against the palace wall as Mrs. Nesbitt jacked into the terminal. Several long seconds passed before the droid finished it's work and confirmed the task was done. Vaulkhar simply nodded and motioned for the Droid to follow him.
"There should be a servant entrance on the side of the palace, or at least the schematics say there is..." he went silent as he crept across the yard, the droid rolling behind him. As if on queue, the door opened and what looked to be a human man stepped out holding what was probably a container of waste. "Sorry, mate," Vaulkhar uttered the two words to catch the man's attention. He turned, eyes widened, and bam! The half breed's fist cracked against his temple before he gripped the man by his jaw to slam his head against the wall and knock him unconscious. He carefully led the man to the ground and dragged him into a nearby bush all while ignoring the protests of the droid. As he stepped within the door and the droid rolled after him he decided to speak. "It can't look like we're here for the betterment of Commenor, droid. If we leave the people of the palace unharmed and only beat the Sith down, something will seem amiss. Be silent, follow my orders. You aren't here as a companion, you're an objective."
The droid whirred weakly, likely hurt by the half breed's chastising though he simply didn't care... or at least he didn't seem to.
Ten minutes prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
Another body was quickly disposed of, shoved into a broom closet by the half breed. This one was likely an unsuspecting Sith Acolyte, chosen due to his ambition and willingness to serve the empire. Idiot. Without a second thought, Vaulkhar knelt down, gripped the Acolyte by his jaw and snapped his neck. He tugged the lightsaber free of the late man's belt and slipped it onto his own belt. Another Sith, another corpse.
Vaulkhar left a trail of bodies behind him as he moved through the palace. A healthy mix of dead palace staff and Sith alike, though he ensured a fair number of them lived as well. He killed with no remorse during his mission, an unfortunate side effect of his time within the Sith Assassins. Though he knew, when he broke away from his task and found his way home, to Jairdain... he wouldn't be able to look the woman in the eyes. He wouldn't be able to stand before her without feeling his world collapse around him. The perfect killer until he stood before the woman he loved. Then... well, he was nothing but a broken man.
His trip through the palace was quick, the schematics to the building itself programmed into a device hanging from his belt. Every so often he'd pause to look at it before continuing to navigate the large palace. By this point the droid had gone silent, likely grieving for the many dead within their wake...
Five minutes prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
The former assassin and Mrs. Nesbitt were in position. Within the next three minutes the Crimson Guard in place would be relieved and he'd have exactly thirty seconds to make his move on the room. The guards in place would be generic imperial soldiers, not prepared to face a warrior of his caliber. He did his best not to think of the coming slaughter or the children who's parents simply wouldn't be coming home this night...
Two minutes prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
Vaulkhar moved swiftly, with the fury of a typhoon as he burst from the shadows. A molten orange and crimson saber burst from their hilts as he leaped into the air. To the credit of the Imperials they reacted swiftly, their blasters raised and pointed at the descending assassin. Unfortunately, they did not react quick enough. With no mercy, Vaulkhar's blade lashed out at the three soldiers, cutting swathes through their flesh. Limbs fell away before their bodies thumped against the floor. Not a word, a scream, or a grunt of pain escaped them.
He was efficient to say the least.
One minute and thirty seconds prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
A burning X was sliced into the door of Lady Kay's personal chambers before the door itself was blasted off it's hinges and Vaulkhar moved within. The Knight closest to the door was surely caught off guard as the remnants of what was once a secured door slammed into her and set her off balance. Mrs. Nesbitt rolled in after him and hid within the nearest room as Vaulkhar descended upon the stumbling Knight with a wicked grin. His lightsabers launched a fury of blows towards the woman, some of which she even managed to avoid, though she was no match for the Assassin. Vaulkhar himself had long since passed the threshold of master, the only thing holding him back from taking the title was his lack of ambition. As such, lowly warriors such as these Knights could not hope to hold him back.
One minute and twenty five seconds prior to the meeting of Krest and Veiere Arenais...
As the head of the Knight hit the floor, a look of sheer terror plastered upon her face, Vaulkhar raced past and launched himself into combat with the second of Kay's captors. This one managed to draw her saber and defend herself amicably against the assassin's assault though she could not hope to hold on against such a furious and prolonged battle. The dark side leaked from Vaulkhar in waves, especially when the woman's head joined her former companions on the floor. With another dead, Vaulkhar turned his attention upon [member="Lady Kay"] herself, his face illuminated from the glow of his sabers. He silently motioned towards the room Mrs. Nesbitt hid within.
"The droid has the means of communicating with your husband. You have ten seconds before the Crimson Guard arrive. Take the stone, wait five minutes after they arrive before making contact with your husband. Tell the guard an Assassin arrived with the intent of killing your captors. If they ask, it was a member of the Jen'ari sent to weaken the Sith's hold on Commenor. Sound scared, if you would."
And with that, Vaulkhar turned and raced towards the balcony. As his lightsabers deactivated and were returned to their place on his belt, Vaulkhar leaped from the balcony into the night...
