No more Hide and Seek [Moridin]

[Nisha Decrilla]

Trying to find Moridin was like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. It was impossible to track him and had fast become a source of great frustration to Anaya. She had questions that required answers, answers she couldn't get from anyone besides him, yet he had vanished. Left the Empire and all his haunting grounds. There was however another way that present itself to Anaya on her trip to Byss to find him.

Sith swords were wrought with the dark side and they left the faintest of trails for those who familiar with them. Anaya had trained against this blade and fought along side it, she knew its signature and she knew its owner wouldn't dare leave it behind. A simple mistake that had led her away from Byss to this apartment building deep in the heart of the Republic. Dangerous territory for someone who was known as a Sith, by face and by signature.

The latter was dealt with easily, using the magic she had learnt from Sirella she shrunk her signature, and disappeared from the force entirely. Any Jedi looking to find her in the force would simply find a blank spot where she should be. The first however was no easy, she was not an alchemist not yet anyway, it was on her list of skills to obtain but for now, she relied on the simplicity of a cloak, its hood drawn up to hide her face in shadow. While Anaya preferred to be at the forefront of things she could slip into the background if necessary.

She could sense Moridin's sword in there, extension of her sense helped her pinpoint the apartment, it was just a case of getting in without drawing too much attention. She watched the building for sometime, her eyes drawn to a die entrance from which security officers left through from time to time. Better than walking through the front door, she mused before making her decision and crossing the street, slipping down to the side entrance.

A camera caught her eye and she stopped in its blind spot and sighed, as she reached out with the force and loosen the cabling within it. A spark emitted from it and it died. Working quickly she approached the door and wrenched open the control panel, her fingers dancing across its lightly as she sliced. A hiss next to her told her she was in and she closed the panel once more slipping through the open door. Camera's of course were always a problem and she kept her face hidden from them as she moved through the corridor finding the first point of her plan.

The security office was manned by two men who each stared at the screens in front of them. Anaya opened the door and slipped in pulling her hood down as she did. "My apologies, I did not mean to startle you." she said softly as the spun round weapons trained on her. She rose her hands showing her she was unarmed, making them relax and lower their weapons.

Fools

Her hand s twisted as she seized both of their throat in the force, choking them their blaster clattered to the floor as they scrambled for their necks. When they finally fell unconscious, Anaya moved them carefully back into their seats, ensuring that any passer by's looking in would see them as perfectly fine. Reaching to her utility belt she pulled free a small container, opening it revealed and array of toxins in various forms. Selecting two sleeping pills she slipped them into the guards mouths leaving them to dissolve slowly on their tongues she pulled up her hood and left them room and made her way to the turbolift.

Minutes later she found herself outside an apartment, placing a hand on the door she could feel the sword within and a coy smile spread onto her lips. this was the apartment of the Senator of Byss. The one whom had caused such an upset with Ashin and Spencer. "Oh Moridin, you clever man." she muttered. Extending her sense to the locks on the doors she gently pushed and twisted them and with a sigh they gave it and the door slid open with a hiss. Stepping inside she resealed it behind her and moved through the lavish apartment cautiously. Her old Master had a habit of hiding, but after a moment she concluded she was definitely alone. Smirking she made her way to the glass case in which the sword lay.

Carefully opening it she ran her fingers across the blade, knowing full well Moridin would feel a force users touch on his blade. If that wasn't enough to get his attention nothing would be. Removing her cloak she settled herself into and armchair to wait for him to come to her.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Moridin walked through the door of his apartment, he was no longer Sammael. Yes he still wore the disguise, the Senator's clothes, his mask, his face. It was all still present, but his personality had entirely and completely switched. He was no longer a man of the people, no longer a man committed to taking down the Jedi and Sith, he was a Sith Lord again, a living, evil, rage monster that was now seriously pissed off. Something had come into his home, someone who knew who he truly was.

The Dreadlord was angered, either it was a Sith who was toying with him or it was someone from his past that had somehow found him. Neither option really pleased him, this was supposed to be a secret, and someone getting in the way of his plans did not sit well with him.

As he stepped into the main room of the Apartment Moridin immediately lay eyes upon a red Twi'lek dotted with black tattoo's. Moridins frown immediately turned into a scowl as he recognized the woman, Anaya. She should have known better than to come here. She had been his apprentice, one of the few to actually make it alive out of his training. She was intelligent, and powerful. Coming here was foolish for more than one reason, though above all. It angered Moridin, and that was not a good thing.

“Anaya.” Moridins voice rang out in the room, though somehow he seemed to move faster from it. In what could have been a flash of lightning The Dreadlord had moved across the room. He grabbed Anaya by the throat and wrenched her out of the chair. He tore across the room and pinned the young woman against the wall, his right hand tightly wrapped around her throat.

A scowl wrapped itself around his face as he looked her in the eyes. “What are you doing here?”

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya had no time to react as her name reached her ears. Moridin was upon her is a flash pinning her to the wall. A low chuckle escaped her at his rage and she raised a hand to rest lightly on his "Oh I'm sorry, Moridin. Did I find you?" She cackled despite the grip on her throat. Her other hand reached up to yank the mask from his face with the force.

"You were prettier last time I saw you." she teased "Should have left your sword on Byss. Such a silly mistake for such a smart man." she clicked her tongue at him knowing full well she was only aggravating the situation more, but it was in her nature to aggravate things. "I could ask you the very same question. What is the great Dreadlord, doing in the Republic?" her eyes flashed with mischief and sher held her amused expression for a moment more before concluding she was likely to become damaged if she continued down her current path.

"I came to wish you well on whatever path your going down, but also to talk. Or is it not allowed for a Knight to maintain a relationship with her former Master?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Moridin tightened his grip on Anayas throat, he considered snapping her neck and killing her for a few seconds. It would be such a great waste. He had trained her for some time and she was powerful, the Sith needed her to continue on her path. He scowled, but then lessened his grip on her neck. She would have to live, despite what her coming here did to his plans. The Dreadlord dropped Anaya, releasing his grip entirely on the woman and letting her fall to the floor. Almost immediately he turned about and walked back towards the armchair where she had just been sitting.

“Not when she should know better.” Moridin said as he took a seat within the chair, he motioned for the girl to sit. He had never been one to punish his apprentices with Violence, he thought it pointless and arbitrary. He of course put them up against nearly impossible challenges and so they often died, but he himself rarely laid a hand on them. The Dreadlord had always thought of torturing ones apprentice as counter-intuitive, most learned better through other methods. “The Blade came with me because it is part of a plan, I hardly expected you to hunt me down.”

He did not further comment on what that plan might be. “Now, what are you really doing here. I'm sure if you just wanted to talk you could have wait until I reappeared in the galaxy at large.”

Moridin seemed strangely calm now, as if all of his previous anger was entirely gone. The Dreadlord had always been one to appear...bi-polar. On the inside Moridin was of course still raging, but he controlled his anger well and quite honestly curiosity had gotten the better of him.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya rubbed her throat as Moridin released her and walked away the light smile never leaving her lips as she followed. "You're just annoyed that I found you." she retorted as she sat in the chair and air of self pride in her voice "How was I to know you were knee deep fiendish plan to cause a stir in the Republic. You even have Ashin fooled." She took a moment to admire her old Master's cunning before shrugging at his question.

"I was curious to know what you were up to." Tucking one leg up underneath her she sighed "I was convinced helping her rise was such a good idea. She's done well, but her weaknesses are beginning to show." she was of course talking about Ashin "I am...conflicted." She shook her head pushing her personal issues aside she looked up and met Moridin's eyes.

"You gave it up. No fight, no question of her abilities you just gave her the throne. Why? Was it your plan all along when you asked her to train the apprentices?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Moridin smirked, so that was at least part of the reason why she was here. She was still curious as to why he left without a fight, as were many of his former Sith underlings. The thought made him smirk, he had never actually meant to cause so much confusion, but it turned out quite hilariously that he did. He looked at her for a few minutes, and then finally he gave his answers, first he addressed his hiding within the Republic, he trusted enough Anaya to tell her a little.

“Of course I did. Ashin see's what she wants to see, as we all do. Besides, I had some aid in hiding what I am.” Moridin stuck out his right arm, and then grabbed a piece of his skin. He tore off a piece of his flesh, it seemed to squirm and move around and beneath it it revealed another section of flesh, Moridins actual skin. The Dreadlord looked down at it and then back towards Anaya. He was still trying to teach her something, even now. “Never be afraid to ask for help.”

He left it at that, If Anaya knew anything about the galaxy at large she would recognize that this second skin was clearly an organic being. It slowly re-grew over the section that he had torn out and squirmed slightly as it did so. The creature was of course of Yuuzhan Vong origin, Moridin had had a link to them for centuries now.

“As for why I left. It's rather simple.” Moridin paused for a few seconds “I did not want to be Emperor. I never wanted to be Emperor and I never will. I simply required control of the Empire for a small...side project.”

“Once I was finished it was simple enough to drop into a face of apathy, and I knew eventually someone would challenge me. Ashin was simply the first one brave enough to go against me.” Moridin looked at Anaya. She was one of those Sith that genuinely cared about the Empire and other Sith, she might react violently to this bit of news that Moridin cared nothing for either.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya's eyes widened at Moridin's skin as he tore it away. She had so much still to learn from this man, part of her wished she had stayed with him. Yet she was never part of his grand plan, she was just another pawn, another apprentice that needed educating. Still, she might as well make use of him while she was here. She watched the skin regrow, remembering the way his arm had regrown when she had fought to gain his respect and ultimately her position as his apprentice. "You are full of surprises, Moridin." she said as she reached and took the piece of skin from his hand to examine it more closely "Is it an ooglith?" she asked softly, watching it squirm in the palm of her hand.

She sighed at Moridin's revelation that he simply didn't care for the Empire, there was no anger in her her. Just disappointment that she had served someone who used the Empire as a stepping stone for their own goals. "That...explains a lot." she said looking up at him "Like your stupid war with the Mandalorians." there was a touch of anger in those words but she let it go quickly enough "I almost tempted to ask what your side project is."

She fell silent for a moment, closing her hand around the piece of squirming flesh, her lekku twitching. "Ashin has weaknesses. Weaknesses that can be exploited but without another to take her place I'm am reluctant to act on them. I was not made to lead." She opened her hand and looked down at the skin in her hand once more "Tell me about this."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Moridin looked at his apprentice and simply gave her a nod when she asked if the creature was an Ooglith Masquer. If she remembered correctly she would know that Moridin had a close relationship with the Yuuzhan Vong, even after the four hundred year darkness. His entire left arm was a Yuuzhan Vong Biot, that had been what he had regrown during their fight

“You could ask, though I wouldn't answer.” Moridin said with a smirk to her offhanded comment.

“Perhaps you were not meant to lead, but hold that leadership in place until someone better comes along.” The Dreadlord spoke calmly as he looked at Anaya, hinting that her overthrowing Ashin would be quite beneficial. A smirk formed on his face, Ashin had many weaknesses, in fact Moridin had learned of one not so long ago and he suspected that Anaya knew of the same one. The other subject was more troubling of course. Anaya had never been one to lead, she was a follower and a strong one at that. Many Sith saw this as disgusting and terrible, Moridin did not.

His apprentice was one of the rare pieces of the puzzle that fit in the center. She was unique, and despite himself he actually quite liked her on a personal level...as strange as that was for a Sith. He looked at her, and then the piece of the Biot in her palm. “It is a biot, as you guessed. Though not an Ooglith Masquer exactly. A sub-species rather. It was designed to suppress my force signature so I would not...slip up in times of anger. As you can see it has the other effects as well, changing my face and skin at will.”

Moridin was not one to hide his failings. He had a temper, and he was more than willing to admit that it could get the better of him. The Masquer prevented him from slipping up, and cloaked his force signature at all times without any effort from him.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya chewed her lip in thought, only half listening to Moridin explain the ooglith. She was fixated on his last statement. Over throwing Ashin would not be easy and finding someone worthwhile to replace her was even harder. But then the Empire didn't need an Emperor or an Empress, so long as the Dark Council was full of the right heads, which it was. She smiled and looked at Moridin her eyes flashing with zeal.

"The right people could unseat her. Given the right persuasion, I'd have to deal with Spencer but...that's doable." If no one on the Dark Council would assist her then the Empire was doomed to fail. The fact that Ashin had come into the heart of the Senate to speak up for Spencer had enraged Anaya.

She shifted her attention to the biot. "If it suppresses your signature does that not raise concerns among the Jedi? Surely they want to know why their new senator has no force signature?" her eyes moved to the sword "And haven't they asked you about that yet?"