Meeting the New Staff

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"...you were at work earlier today. You know how I've been." He raised an eyebrow, curious as to where exactly she was going with this. "What's the reason you've called me out here? Attempted blackmail? Going to try and wave something from the laboratories in front of my face like some sort of mocking owner of a cat waving a feather? Tell me. What was so important that we had to come out here?"

By now, he was quite cross - after all, he felt his time had been wasted.

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Nox sighed, and rubbed her neck.
"No, it's not any of that. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't important."
No time like the present, she supposed.
"Vitor, I called you here to tell you I'm pregnant, and you're the father."
She sat back, her eyes on the table in front of her, her hands clasped in her lap. She didn't know how he would react, and was hesitant to look into his eyes at the moment, after delivering news as surely shocking as that.
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

He said nothing. The new had still deeply impacted him. While he was usually happy to be a father - here he was, responsible for creating an illegitimate child. His business career would be ruined - but so would his family life if Lilith found out. His kids would disown him - she would disown him. "So now I have no choice but to do what you say, or else you're going to spill this. Is that how you intend to manipulate me, you vindictive witch?" Angrily, he stood up. "If you want to talk further, I suggest you do so in my office. I have nothing more to say to you here - only that I'm disgusted with you."

With that, he turned away, intending to leave. Unless she attempted to stop him.

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Her hand clapped onto his shoulder.
"Wait, please!"
Her face softened for a moment as she took a deep breath.
"You are an honorable man. You are better than I could ever be, and I wanted you to know. The Sith won't take me in like this, I won't be useful to them. I. . . I don't have anywhere else to go, but back to the Hands of Shadow. If I must, then I will. And the child will be raised as one of them."
Would the Sith take her? Probably. But he didn't need to know that, did he?
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"No." He responded. "Your child was a mistake made by me. And I don't intend to leave you flat-footed with nowhere else to go." He became a bit fidgety before responding. "Plus my kid isn't going to become a monster. Not again. Not ever. I have a home on Zahat'n'ira. I'd be willing to build you a cabin to stay in. Simple enough place, away from the eyes of the rest of the galaxy. The Sith won't find you there - and if you want, I'll get a new secretary to replace you - to decrease the leakage chances of scandal. As is... you're going to need to carry your weight around as well on this. The One Sith won't appreciate you letting some sort of love for a child get in the way of whatever the hell they sent you out here for. It's just you and me. Your choice."

Perhaps he could convince her to come to the Light Side. Or perhaps not. Either way, it had to be better than what she was experiencing now.

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Relief spilled across her face, her arm relaxing.
"Thank you. I must admit, I did not expect you to take me in."
Yes she did.
"You are a good man, Vitor. You will not regret this."
Yes he would.
She had the full intention of using the child as a control mechanism, just as he had suspected. She had known he was sharp, but she hadn't expected him to catch on that quickly. Luckily, her acting skills seemed to have put him off her trail.
For now.
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"In that case... Perhaps we should go." He smiled, wrapping an arm over Nox's shoulder. Perhaps he could grow on her in some way, shape, or form. Perhaps he could prove to be a good effect on her - and then again, another indulgence could always be a good thing, if all went according to plan. "But don't think I'm going to simply be ignorant. If you attempt to try and use me as some kind of pawn, I swear, by all that exists in the Force, you will not get away with. You understand?"

A sigh crossed his lips as he moved to walk away.

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Nox stared after him, open-mouthed.
How had he. . . Hmm. Perhaps she had underestimated him once more. She couldn't do that again. If she was going to succeed, she needed to be on her toes at all times, especially with child.
By the Shadow, she was really having a kid, wasn't she? She supposed it was inevitable, but it still surprised her a bit. What had happened to the mysterious killer that stalked the snowy mountains of Hoithea? Life, she supposed.
Shaking her head of such thoughts, she hurried after the father of her child.
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

The trip to Zahat'n'ira took a period of several days. When they touched down near Vitor's cabin - well, Lilith wasn't here. The kids were likely at their houses, living their own lives miles away. For now, Vitor could afford to keep her at his home. "Well, welcome to my humble abode. I can only hope that you enjoy it well enough, because it's where you'll pretty much be staying for now." He motioned for her to come inside. "I have a spare bed for guests. That'll be yours. I have a terminal as well if you want to browse the holonet, but don't try to do anything funny. We'll... be spending a lot of time together."

That could be taken as a hint of affection - or of a lack of caring.

[member="Nox"]

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

It was a nice home.
Nox did not know where Vitor's wife and other children were, and honestly, she didn't care. It was his issue to keep them out of their hair, not hers. She knew that she had inconvenienced him, but didn't especially care much. There were certain things she had to take care of.
"I'm afraid I must make a request: is there an extra room I may utilize for worship?"
The Way demanded that she have a space set aside for worshiping the Shadow, as well as a place to baptize her child when the time came.
And Nox would never contradict the Way.
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"I can respect your religious beliefs. I have a portico on the back porch where you can worship how you wish. It's the least I can do. But know this - I'm watching you. Any attempt to manipulate me will be dealt with. And not in a manner you'd like." He crossed his arms, eyes still glaring daggers at her. "I hope that one day you'll actually begin to care about how much your actions have affected others. But now - I guess my words'll fall on deaf ears."

Sighing, he turned around. "What do you want for dinner?"

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

"Yes, yes, you'll hurt me if I do anything stereotypically Sith, or try to manipulate you, or try and steal your soul or anything else us Sith are known for doing."
She waved off his concerns uncaringly, her eyes roaming the house.
The back porch? That would work. She would need to go out and obtain some animals to help consecrate the new dwelling in the name of the Shadow.
"You are free to join me in worship, if you wish. It would be my pleasure to educate you about the Way of the Shadow. As for dinner, it does not matter to me. I prefer meat of some kind, but I have no qualms other than that."
She put a hand to her chin in thought.
"Tell me, what kind of wildlife is nearby?"
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"Mostly feral nerfs." He responded. "Supposedly there was a bull rancor that got loose from a wrecked ship, but I've never seen any evidence of its existence." He stepped over, glancing at her face to face. "You're going to need to explain to me just how you worship before I consider joining in." After all - if she was a Sith, who knew what sort of terrifying things she did to worship whatever evil entity she obeyed?

"Please explain more."

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

"The Way of the Shadow holds up a woman we call the Shadow as a perfect being, the embodiment of the Dark Side. Her philosophies, collectively written down in the Shadow Tome, demand we keep the galaxy in a state of chaos, among other things. The first ritual I must do to consecrate my new home in Her name is to use the blood of an animal to draw a ritual circle, then draw runes on the borders of the worship place. Then, I must say several words in the Dark Tongue to declare my loyalty and reverence to the Shadow, and invite her into my home and heart."

Nox looked around again.
"You mentioned a wife. Tell me about her."
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

"Well..." He pondered for a moment. "She was originally a Jedi Padawan. There was an incident, to say the least, and I ended up corrupting her to the Dark Side. She eventually found me once more, seduced me, and got pregnant. We had kids, she became a powerful Sith Lady who knew her sorcery, and ended up dying during the birth of my son Vindi."

He sighed for a bit before continuing. "I then married a woman named Mivala - a vampiric being if there ever was one. She almost tore my throat out once until I began to purchase blood packs for her so she could keep living." He sighed. "She died giving birth to my other son. The one that I don't talk about. He lives in the woods alone. A monster like his mother."

"Then Lilith, my first wife, came back and we became a family again." He smiled, then remembered how it could all fall apart. "As for this shadow - she sounds interesting. Though I'm surprised none of you believe that she herself may be reincarnated within one of her followers - perhaps even yourself. What other sorts of rituals do your religion perform? I want to know everything..."

[member="Nox"]

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

"One of the most meaningful is the Rite of Pain. The Hand performing the ritual must first bathe in rosewater, relaxing the skin. Then, they must take a blade, and carve runes from the Dark Tongue into their own skin, runes declaring their name, skills, and loyalty and service to the Shadow and the Grandmaster, the leader and direct line to the Shadow. The ritual is done many times throughout one's life, though most notably at the age of five."
Nox considered what he said.
"Reincarnation is. . . unlikely. One of the few things we know about the Shadow is the Mark, on her chest above her right breast. In order for something like that to happen, a child must naturally have that Mark at birth."
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"If she is as powerful as you claim her to be - it's certainly possible." He pondered over several instances he personally recollected. "There was a Sith named Circe Savan - she was a master of reincarnation techniques. On multiple occasions she brought individuals back from death - powerful Sith so that they could return to their duties. She even returned to life herself on numerous occasions, under numerous guises."

He stepped over, hand resting on her shoulder. "Are there any more enjoyable rituals? Maybe something I can help you with? All you've mentioned so far are... Solo."

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Nox smiled as she understood his meaning, leaning into his touch.
"Perhaps. The Shadow was a being of pleasure, as well as power. There are many rituals that require two to complete. . ."
She thought about perhaps mentioning that technically she wasn't supposed to have relations with siin, but she had already broken that rule with him.
He didn't need to know all the specifics.

"There are also rules surrounding the raising of our child, if you wish to hear them."
[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nox"]

"Perhaps you should introduce me to some of them - as you explain how our child is supposed to be raised according to your religion." Despite the wavering he initially had, he knew that one way or another, he would suffer the same punishment were the affair to be found out. Perhaps enjoying the experience was a better option. He leaned in, arms gently embracing Nox. "Acceptance is always important."

Indeed it would be.

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

[member="Vitor Imperieuse"]

Nox kissed at his neck while she explained.
"They must be raised as a warrior for the Shadow. From birth, I must instruct them in the ways of the Hand, and how to enforce her name to the siin. They must remain unnamed until the Rite of Pain, where we will give them a name according to their destiny, revealed in a ritual that must be performed soon after their birth. After this, they will be embraced as one of us."