Private Of Kings & Spies

[Allyson Locke]

Darth Malum of House Marr​

She had seen the name in her reports more often than naught. He was prolific, having been the apprentice of Darth Ophidia. Allyson had run-ins with the dark lady several times over her lifetime, although mostly in her youth. It came by surprise that the woman was no longer among the living. Furthermore, the rumors of the death were quite intriguing. Either way, she would cast her own investigation into that matter. Ophidia was the mistress of secrets for the Empire. Things that she knew and studied were too valuable to leave untouched.

Allyson needed to know more. The Tsis Kaar was the one organization she could never infiltrate. It was more hidden than anything she could even fathom. While working through the Inquisition during the second (or third, who knows) Great Hyperspace War, she had seen wisps of the organization. Still, Jorryn had known nothing despite her position as Grand Inquisitor. Allyson sighed at the thought of the woman. Despite her position, Jorryn knew little and was only a welcomed distraction.

Her journey took her to a planet she had only recently heard of. It was quiet and seemed to have heavy influence from the Sith—particularly from the one who governed it. It still prospered and didn't burn like the others. Maybe this Malum of House Marr wasn't like the other Sith. The thought made her laugh as she moved past the guards under the guise of a meeting. She had information that would be particularly interesting to the head of the Tsis Kaar.

Allyson had set up this meeting. She was curious if Malum knew that she was close to his fellow councilor. If she knew Sith, Malum knew, and he was only entertaining the Shadow because of that connection. Though Malum might be too full of his own ego, like other Sith, and can't see past the facades of the others, maybe that's what made her feel at home within the Empire. Everyone had lies and secrets; she was at home.

Heading into the palace, she allowed the guards to take her to the young Sith King's residence. She looked around, observing the planet's history and its ties to the man.

The 'short' walk ended, and she was ushered inside an office or chamber. "Nice place. I'm Allyson Locke," she remarked, and as she finished her sentence, her sense of familiarity vibrated through the Force. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

There was something to be said about gardens, and how it was his duty to tend to them. The garden was safe, from out of it was born the next generation, from out of it greenery, and plenty was brought out from hard toil and labour, from out of it was... home.

Hearth and home needed to be protected.

Already far too much endangered his garden, parasites from within, wolves from without, monsters in the darkness, and creatures of the light. There were enemies of all types and flavours within the garden, along with the realisation that for all which his duty compelled, for all which his loyalty was true.

It was not his garden.

It might not ever be.

Still, there was something beyond the garden metaphor, something beyond which was taught to him by an Echani Empress, that he repeated a mantra in his mind, as a form of understanding, a form of solace, for truly all which she undertook, to not only wade through the weeds, but to find, and nurture the growing flowers, while making those with thorns were kept far enough away from each other. Despite it all, it was difficult work, dirty work.

Which was why Malum was entirely too loath to allow a snake into this garden.

Ironic perhaps for all that he was, for all that most Sith were, but he felt this was a special case enough. He knew this woman, not well, but crossing blades twice, was enough to sear a memory deep into a brain that it would not soon forget, his own research had made it certain that he would not, and another set of memories entirely, gave insight of all which was beyond what mere words on a page could provide.

Allyson Locke.

It was perhaps not a name that would drive fear into the heart of the Sith, but it was a name that would warrant murmurs of interest, deep interest for those who did know the name, those in the know. And if there was something to fear, her weapon provided enough of that for one lifetime, while a prodigious talent for infiltration into places far beyond the purview of allowance...

...A position high enough to bring down empires, if she so wanted.

All the while she already held powerful allies, allies, all in their own ways, stood in opposition to him. So, in one moment, a shadow of the Jedi, working to bring about the end of the Sith, in the next aligned with the worst of those very same Sith, for... well, what her aims here were a mystery.

Her allegiance even more.

Indeed, very much so.

Allyson Locke could not be allowed entry into his garden.

Her presence was felt, a whisper in the wind, as soon as she had arrived at his palatial gates, he had but few minutes to prepare before the rapping along his door heralded her arrival, those silent members of his Guard, secretly, invisibly trailed by those of the elusive Tsis'Kaar had not yet had harm befall them.

But Malum for all which he took far too much at risk, was hardly one to let it be decided by chance.

The masked Sith Lord, armoured in the modified wear of his Mistress, stared ahead, leaning back against the table, as the doors swung open, and an older woman, not greatly so, entered his office, she was shorter than him, than not short in general, an attractive face was framed by brunette locks, while her eyes... held a quantity that reminded him of a... friend.

He considered her opening words.

"Thank you, please, I hope you shall enjoy my hospitality... as for the latter..." He was unsure what exactly she meant... still, he mused the possibility, "...We have met before, once or twice, though it matters little now," He turned away from her, even revealing his back, a tempting target, before taking his seat upon the chair behind the table, offering one of two in front of him, "...You spoke of information?" Part of him had wished to reject her missive, after all, accepting had revealed that he knew she was in some way important.

After all, it was hardly practical for the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar to personally take such requests... yet, if she could do anything with that information was a different matter.

Allyson Locke
Mentioned: Srina Talon Darth Empyrean Darth Carnifex Taeli Raaf Quinn Varanin