Private On the Brink

[Mia Monroe]

"I wasn't ready to be Mand'alor either." she replied softly "That doubt you carry, the reluctance you bear is what makes you perfect for it. Ambitious leaders will always drive us into ruin, those that are forced into it will heed the council of those he leads and will question every juncture to make sure it is the right move."

She withdrew her hand as he refused to meet her gaze, unwilling to show her the emotion that was toiling beneath the surface. "When the time comes, Malum, you will be ready."

Mia turned away from him, heading back to her seat and her tea. "Kaine is being held here by something. Once I find out what that something is and destroy it, he will die. And if i can't find it?" she tugged a blade from her boot, a soul stone set in its hilt. "Well, I will have to bind his soul to this instead. Its not a permanent solution, it the stone shatters he will be free and I've no doubt his spawn will hunt for it for an eternity, but that I can handle."

She returned the blade to her boot. "As for your Darth Empyrean , I've yet to meet him. But I will find a way Malum. I promised you that I would, and I am a woman of my word."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

They always painted the great figures of history as... well that, great. It had been a thought that he had many a time, especially after meeting with Mia Monroe for the first time. Past the haze of anger and rage, was well... how remarkably... human... she was. It was something forgotten when reading of people, the fact they were... well, people.

Did anyone imagine that the infamous Mia Monroe had been reluctant to take up the mantle of Mand'alor?

Or had they only focused on what she had accomplished, both for good and for ill?

He still refused to gaze at her, even as he missed her warmth against his cheek.

"Do you truly believe that? Or is it because I am the only Sith you can stand?" Malum responded, just the hint of levity underneath his words, as the despair was giving away to the need for relief.

The rest of her words, were enough to catch his attention, gaze finding her, looking to the soul stone embedded within the dagger.

"...The Phylacteries..." Malum whispered, the knowledge that he had gained after absorbing memories that had not been his.

Memories tapped into, enough to stir her back awake, always watching, but seemingly now, wanting to let him know of her presence.

It was at least the way of immortality for one of those immortal tyrants.

For the other... he could not yet say, apart from that it involved the Worm Emperor in some way.

...Which meant...

He gazed at his hands...

He knew his Mistresses' plan, but beyond those initial, horrid, days, he had not given them much thought.

Mia thought he would be ready to take on one sacrifice...

...But could he take on this one?

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia gave him a warm smile at his question. "I wouldn't be placing my faith in you if I did not believe you were capable Malum." she inclined her head for a moment. "And I'm sure if every sith I met stopped trying to kill me I might be able to find it in me to tolerate others." her tone had a light edge to it, seeking to wipe away the tension that had risen between them.

The last thing she needed today was for another person to walk away from her. She blinked in surprise at her own thought, dropping her gaze to the fire. Of all the people she chose to cling to...

She took a breath, his whispered word making her look back up, a frown creasing her forehead. "What do you know, Malum?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He quirked a smile at that answer, "I imagine more Sith would be willing if you did not kill them on sight," He offered a light verbal jab at her, surprising even himself, that... he was making japes of that incident, that had once driven them to a battle, in which he had almost killed her... and she certainly held the capability to kill him.

It brought the vaguest flutter to his stomach, to his heart, that a figure he had read about...

...Believed that he could lead.

He supposed such was always implicit in their partnership, she who would lead the Mo- Mandalorians.

It would require one who could lead the Sith.

He had idly dreamed it, considered it.

But when in an empire of giants.

No matter how high, how quickly one rose.

How could he ever compare to those who were veritable gods?

It was nice to hear, that one of those gods, believed he could be worthy.

He raised an eyebrow at her question, considering how much he could say... how much he even knew.

Wondering if he said it...

Would she emerge?

There was only one way to find out.

Malum breathed out, an eye closed, as he felt a pressure mounting upon his mind, opening it, and unbeknownst to him, though... he was not so foolish to not know, one of his eyes had taken on a citrine tint, "Kaine is anchored to the material world, by at least two phylacteries, it is impossible to kill him, without the destruction of both." Malum pressed forward to say more.

Yet found his lips shut.

...Such was likely a good thing.

What would Mia Monroe do, if she knew that he knew where one of those phylacteries were?

That he had seen it around Her Imperial Majesty, Srina Talon 's neck?

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia watched him carefully, still hovering by the door of the hut. Keeping his distance perhaps? But why? her eyes narrowed at his response. Was this information he had known for some time? She doubted it, he would have shared it sooner if he had. This was something he had discovered, or Ophidia had chosen to share with him. The interference of that shard might prove useful to her yet.

But he was holding something back, she could sense his hesitation.

"That's a start." she replied quietly, her eyes boring in to him. "What else?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Fuck.

They said mothers could see through any lies. Considering his knowledge of his own mother, he knew that very much was the truth, but Bogan was it the most annoying power for the other to hold, especially in moments like this.

The citrine faded from his eye, as he took a step forward back into the tent, a silence forming between them, as he considered what exactly to say.

He knew it would be a hurdle to cross eventually, but he had always thought it would be a hurdle that he would be the one to cross.

How exactly was he to jump a hurdle, the size of a mountain?

He had not yet figured that out.

But, to use the assistance of Mia Monroe ?

Oh, he would be utterly foolish to not have considered the idea to some degree.

But he had thrown it out just as quickly for good reason, it was obvious Srina Talon held a dislike... perhaps a hate... for the Mo- Mandalorians, considering what had happened to Eshan, it was no mystery why exactly that was.

To let the former Mand'alor the Liberator know she held at least half the puzzle on how to kill Kaine...

...Well if that was not betrayal, he did not know what was.

Yet, had he not betrayed so many already? Actively betrayed Sith, all in an effort for this dream?

Why not once more?

...

Oh Bogan, had he truly grown fond of the woman that so effortlessly confused him?

He took a seat, the tea by now was cool, yet he needed the distraction, taking a swig, and allowing the cool, sweet liquid, to make its way down his throat.

He was out of time.

And with no good answer to give, as the cup was laid back on the table.

"...I know where one of the Phylacteries are... but I cannot tell you the location." He finally confessed.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia watched him wrestling with something internally, waiting patiently for him to finish whatever battle he was fighting, her eyes never leaving him. tracking him as he moved to settle back into his seat, the confession finally escaping him.

Mia blinked, and looked away, trying to ignore the pang of hurt that ran through her. That he didn't trust her fully, even now. But then what was she to expect? They were after all supposed to be mortal enemies. She took a beat, pushing down the natural urge to become angry and sipping at her tea before looking back at him.

"Can you obtain it and destroy it without my help?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He parsed his lips as she looked away, for one who had been staring at him this entire time, almost unblinkingly, it was not hard to ascertain why exactly it bothered her. He reached out both his hands, grasping hers, his eyes raised, begging her to look to him.

As he struggled still on what to say.

"...I do not hide this information because I wish to, but because I am not meant to know, and they do not know I know, for whatever reason... they aided me, they trust me... I cannot simply break that." This was where he chose to draw the line?

How noble.

Yet, that was his decision, and despite the hypocrisy he was allowed to make it.

Her question took him aback.

How could he answer?

"...No... I do not know how the phylacteries work, if destroying one will alert the other, will alert Kaine... even if I could obtain and destroy it, matters little, if we cannot also obtain and destroy the other simultaneously... along with potentially all others... while also killing Kaine around the same time." Laying it all out like that.

Highlighted what a struggle they were embarking upon.

And that was only for one of their foes.

Mia Monroe

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia pulled her hand from his, anger flashing across her face. "You would sacrifice all of it, for the sake of keeping the trust you hold with this one person?" She shook her head.

"If you do not want to obtain that phylactery then we can never learn about the others, we can never kill Kaine and all of this is a waste of time. Everything you have done so far, everything we have planned you will throw aside." she chastised him. "You gave me your word, that you would be willing to sacrifice what was needed, and yet at the first true opportunity we have to gain advantage over Kaine you falter."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance and rose from her seat, tossing the dregs of her tea into the fire which hissed in protest as she moved towards the small kitchenette, simply for the need to move, less her anger get the better of her.

"You have a choice to make, Malum. I suggest you take some time to think about it."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He ground his teeth. Rationally she was quite correct, emotionally with her so angered, he felt there was no other option but to raise his walls, "It is not so simple, you ask me to trust you, why cannot you trust me? It is not simply who this individual is, but too their position, they are impossible to fight, I would have better luck simply attempting to steal the damned thing, though I do not doubt they have protections against that too."

Impossible...

Their goal seemed more and more impossible.

Yet did not everything when he had been a lowly acolyte?

His ambition, his dream.

All the good the galaxy would face.

All seemed impossible, yet... when had it ever stopped him?

He stood to follow after Mia Monroe , understanding her frustration, as his mounted as well.

"We make a move on this phylactery, then I guarantee we will never have an opportunity for any others. Please, I simply ask that you trust me on that." He so wished to say, so wished to trust. Perhaps Mia would have some solution he had not considered, but in reality he knew what it was.

Her proposal may have worked, because of how direct it was.

But it either would force the Sith Order to crumble as infighting began between the Kainites and Eternalists.

Or it would unite them greater than ever before, as she struck the one woman that both cared deeply for.

He did not know, which was more terrifying.

"I... do not forget my promise, I will attain the phylactery one way or the other, but I am telling you, if we make a move for it now, we will never achieve victory, we need to find where the second is, and any others."

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia closed her eyes and took a breath calming herself. he wasn't entirely wrong, a swift and bold move could force Kaine to move the others, wherever they may be. She exhaled in a heavy sigh. "I trust you." she replied finally turning back around to face him. "Even if you will not trust me with a name. you have resources at your disposal. If you cannot obtain it personally without repercussions then use the resources you have to do it for you."

She stepped forward, placing her hands upon his shoulders.

"But the longer we take, Malum, the more mandalorians die. He needs to be eradicated, sooner rather than later. We will keep pushing, and work on reducing his forces, but none of it will matter if we cannot kill him. And we cannot kill him without those phylacteries."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He let out the breath that he had not realised he had been holding.

Some part of him had been so desperate to hear those words, felt a levity and weightlessness that they had never experienced. There it was, an admission, that the woman that he had come to care for... the woman that in all likelihood would be the closest approximation to a mother-in-law he would have... trusted him.

Still, there was something of a minefield to still navigate.

How he so wished to provide a name.

However, in much the same way he felt regarding Mia Monroe .

Strangely enough, he felt rather similarly about Srina Talon .

That was something likely to be investigated further, alas all these emotional pointed were left better buried than investigated for how confusing... how odd they all were.

He breathed in deeply as she turned to face him, placing hands upon his shoulders.

It was true, all of it, but it was also false in many other ways.

"Then our course should be finding the second phylactery, and for you, avoiding a direct confrontation with the Sith, if we are able to secure the second phylactery, confirm that there are no others, I will give you the name of who holds the first, or otherwise will make an attempt at seizing it myself, but with both phylacteries seized and destroyed, we can make the move to kill Kaine." He laid it out as he saw it, eyes glimmering with untold promise.

"It will be the battles that take the most lives, if battle can be avoided... if all our focus is given to the phylacteries..." His musings trailed off.

 

[Mia Monroe]

"Well," Mia began giving his shoulders a squueze before returning to her seat by the fire. "You have at least a month without any attacks from us. An alor'ultaii was held. The clan alors have chosen that we hold a festival, where those who wish to stake claim to the title of mand'alor will compete for it."

Once upon a time, she would have been thrilled at the thought of a month long party, but now the idea made her feel exhausted, let along the event itself. "Thirty long days and thirty long nights of mandalorians from all walks of life, drinking, fucking and fighting." she leaned back in her chair and let out a sigh "I'd take another lifetime in the nether over enduring that hell."

She opened them to give him a pleading look. "Any lead you can get, please send my way so I can escape."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He appreciated the squeeze of his shoulders, just as much as he strangely missed the warmth as her hand withdrew, along with her entire form back to ironically the warmth of the fire. Still, he had little time to consider why, though even he had to admit that excuse was beginning to wear thin, considering how many times he had used it to address the confusion.

Yet, he was the one in command of his mind, and so such was the path he had chosen, and he could content himself in distracting himself with the words which spilt out of Mia Monroe 's lips.

Alor'ultaii, hmm?

Despite having picked up some Mando'a from Elise Ahana-Gwyneira , to consider himself a master in the subject was laughably false.

Even if you included his research to achieve a basic, rough, fluency.

Still, he recognised one word.

Alor.

Leader of a Clan.

What did 'ultaii' mean then?

From the context, he could figure at the very least meant some gathering of the Alors... which was no small thing, and seemingly... one to find a new Mand'alor. Intriguing.

He would have to do his utmost to ensure such news did not reach the Mors Mon or Malsheem.

Not only could it be considered suspicious, but so was it an opportunity far too enticing to ignore.

Malum took his own seat opposite Mia, smirking as he heard of the festival, "If only I was not so happily in love, I might don the helmet myself and attend... sounds like an... enjoyable time, are you certain you will not participate?" He waggled his eyebrows, joking, doing his utmost to ignore the strange tightening in his chest.

"Do you intend to stand for Mand'alor?" He queried, wishing to have that uncomfortable feeling leave him, "I know... you are a controversial woman among your people... but there is no one better suited for the role... and indeed, for our plans." Her as Mand'alor, him as Emperor... such seemed strange to imagine.

But was it not the only way?

And for her to achieve the title, was far more likely than for him to achieve his.

He offered a pitying gaze at the end of her words, "My thanks for the warning, I will conceal it as much as I can... however, unfortunatetly, I have no idea where the second phylactery is, if it follows the pattern of the first, it may be with one Kaine trusts... and that could either be a very long list... or a very narrow one... if he was truly intelligent he would bury it somewhere deep and dark where no one could find... but Bogan, it could even be upon the Malsheem." If taking the phylactery from the Sith Empress would be difficult.

Finding the second would be perhaps even more so.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia shot him a withering look at his suggestion of participation, serving as more than enough of an answer to his jest. In truth, she would probably drink, and there was a high possibility that someone would want to throw a punch her way. There may have been a bigger threat to their survival than she was, but mandalorians did not forget her crimes. She shook her head, more to herself, than in answer to his next question.

"No." she answered, meeting his gaze "My time to claim that title has long passed, it belongs to those of this lifetime. Whoever wins I will seek to advise." she truly hope her brother did not secure the title, for all the love she had for him, his only course of action would be to go to war, and she would have no way to stop him.

She nodded slowly at his assessment of their ability to find the second phylactery, the possibilities were endless when it came to Kaine. He was unpredictable in many ways, that was part of what made him so dangerous. "If we knew more about the power that made the phylacteries, or how they worked, its possible I could find a witch to help us locate them."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

If it was possible, his smirk widened at her reaction. There was some sort of joy in being able to draw a reaction out of her... reaction that did not involve him being pummelled by one of the truly most terrifying women in the galaxy anyway.

Her answer was enough to gain a respectful nod out of him, indeed it may have been the easiest path for them.

But it would have certainly gone against his principles.

"If only the others who have achieved such a long-lasting life as you were willing to accept such a subordinate position for themselves," Malum intoned, being careful in tone, making clear he had no intention to offend, "If those immortal tyrants continue to rule, we are left lethargic, left stagnant, those of generations present and future are disallowed their... turn, as it were, grow resentful, the whole social order collapses, a war of old versus new." He could only hope that whichever candidate won among the Mo- Mandalorians, that they would actually be receptive to Mia Monroe 's advice.

Otherwise, it would certainly make things rather complicated.

"And there is nothing worse for a nation, than the bloodletting of their young."

He paused at the last of her words, would... she knew? She was silent for now, but that did not necessarily mean ignorance.

"I shall look into it subtly, I shall confer with... those... that know far better than I, we will find it, we must." The last word was a whisper.

How many thousands, how many millions, desired to kill Kaine?

Who was he to believe it would be him that would succeed?

 

[Mia Monroe]

Her refusal to stake a claim in the title of Mand'alor had less to do with a willingness to accept a subordinate position, and more to do with the fact that the spirits would make her life a living hell should she even consider it. The lingering link she held to the nether was her curse, one she had grown to understand since her return. Take a step in the wrong direction and they had the ability to cripple her, continue to move her people in the right direction and they aided her, granting her insights she would not otherwise have. She could only offer a small but sad smile in response to his own analysis.

"I have sources of my own I can tap into to see what we can find." It would require quiet...and a great deal of bargaining with the dead to utilise it.

"Have faith, Malum. We will find a way." she reassured him.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"He is a spectre that has existed as a blight upon this galaxy for well over a century, many have wished to kill him across the decades, indeed some have," How many times had he fallen in their history, he was not only called the Twice-Failed Emperor for his removal from the Imperial throne, "How many more millions, billions, in this galaxy wish to see him dead I wonder?" Malum offered a sad sort of smile, sombre, but brimming with a sense of...

...Realism?

...Resignedness?

How many times had he said it with full forth righteousness that it would be he that would finally bring down the reign of this immortal tyrant? The Butcher King, Kaine, Darth Carnifex ?

Yet how many others had said as such?

How many of them lay bones upon deserts and rocks?

How many more of them deserved such a victory over Kaine, more than... him?

It warranted little consideration, despite all the struggles they would face, they were best suited for this role.

"Do you truly imagine us different to those that have attempted to kill him? Those that have killed him?" Malum mused.

Mia Monroe

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia shook her head. "Probably not, but dwelling on the success and failures of those that came before us is, in this instance, not in our best interests. There is a long list of people out there in the galaxy with his name on their shit list, and an even longer list of people who have suffered because of him."

Her sapphire gaze bore into his. "For the sake of those people, failure is not an option. So we will do this, one way or another."

And then she could be at peace, then she could finally walk into the golden fields of Manda and be at peace. Her debt repayed.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was far from a reassuring answer, indeed it was about as realistic... as resigned, as his question had been. It was another moment when he realised how similar both he and Mia Monroe were. They would not succeed here because they were meant to succeed, indeed fate and destiny had likely already aligned themselves against them.

They would not succeed because they were chosen to succeed.

They would succeed...

If they succeeded...

It would be by their will.

And their will alone.

Was it not what he had always been fighting for?

Indeed the fact that the Force itself may have fought against them, that the Gods stood against them.

Would it not make their victory even sweeter?

He finally stood from his seat, the weight upon his shoulders never got easier to deal with, Bogan knew, for all that he did to hold onto the mask of composure, there were far too many times it cracked.

He was too young, but the galaxy would not wait for his age.

It was his duty, to craft his own way.

Even as the strain grew worse and worse.

Even as slowly, he found himself, more, and more alone.

"One way or the other..." He repeated in ascent to Mia, before he offered his hand to her in the same manner that their agreement had been made so many moons ago, yet as time slowed.

His body moved before his mind did.

Wrapping his arms around the M- Mandalorian, and heaving a great breath of air.

"Watch your border, I imagine despite what has been decided, the Emperor does not entirely trust me..." He whispered against her ear, the first time admitting out loud, even to himself, what he had long tried to ignore, "... Let's make history..." He finally finished, as the mask did indeed break.

A solitary tear trailed his face.

A tear produced for reasons he could not fathom.

Landing on her shoulder.

He was gone.