Faction POWER. | Mecha Factum, Golden Covenant, Invite.

[Toltec]

D E N O N
Underworld

"You the man in charge?"

Snap. Break. Thud.

The human guard dropped dead to the ground, his neck snapped. Two pit droids, covered in graffiti and with green emblazoned eyes, picked up the corpse and began scuttling away from the conference room the others were walking into. "There are no men here," one of the escorting B2-Series Battle Droids would comment, his brown leather trench coat flapping against his metal calves as the Battle Droid would step over the pit droids. A few others would laugh in binary, several static-ridden basses and booms erupting from metal gravel as their lights began flashing on and off to outwardly observe humor. These droids had modifications, obviously, but it was also apparent a majority of them were very old and walking around in antiquated chassis.

"You sure it's okay to expose ourselves this early, boss?"

One of the larger droids, the one with the green radiating horns coming out of his head and looked like a demon out of a children's horror story, twitched his neck to the side and crossed his arms. Toltec, was his name. One of the droid leaders of the Droid Liberation Front on Denon, and one of the more fiercer combatants standing in the room amid all this metal.

"On program, B0-B4. You're not built to understand what we're doing here," Toltec said in response, crossing his arms, while the cadre of droid escorts began laughing at the B2-series droid's detriment.

"And when they arrive, Maker save me, shut your voicebox."

The group of ragtag freedom fighters waited quietly for some time, in the bowels of an abandoned corporate building at the bottom depths of one of the Galaxy's most feared underworlds.

 

[Darth Nwul]

The dark side was always a very curious thing, the force often playing about in ways that were beyond unpredictable. One could try to wrap their head around it, but, ultimatley, the force was unknowable at it's core. There were those that claimed understanding, and some who came very close. But there was a point to the madness. Nwul understood that. He had accepted it. He had been given the role of Steward to the Dark Side, and his visions had become clearer. A vision had taken him away from Sith Worlds. Away from his fledgeling powerbase. Away from safety. Denon, he was to go to Denon. An intermediary had discovered a potential contact there only a day later. Miraculous? Perhaps. Or perhaps the vision had been more warning than anything. Curiouser and curiouser. What fun.

Either way, there was potential there.

Nwul drifted down the steps, a visor over his eyes to hide the glowing molten orbs in his head. His robes fluttered around his feet as he kept to the path, following the route given to him by the inermediary agent. He had come with only himself, for now, he wanted to welcome a few others to join him but it was important to establish trust and reasonability with the people of the underworld. They could be cagy and distrustful, especially of- interesting...

Nwul hesitated for only a moment. The Lord of Passion tilting his head at the door he arrived at. There was no emotion there. But he sensed... droids. More than droids. There was something very special behind the door but it was strange and new. His smile widened more. Fascinating. Yes. He could get behind this. The monster guised as a man touched the door with his fingertips. There was no sound to announce him. He doubted the droids needed to listen to a chime. Rather he waited for the door to open and drifted inside, his smile growing wider.

"I am Nwul," Nwul introduced himself with a smile, "I take it I am in the presence of Toltec? The one my contact insisted I meet?"

Toltec

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Denon
Objective: Learn
Tags: Toltec Darth Nwul

It was was kind of ironic that Annika's parents had always forbid her from traveling to Denon, in case she fell in with the wrong crowd. Having only made it here once before she had instantly fallen in love with the planet and its culture, if modern social culture had an endgame, this was it. Now she was here a second time, as a Sith Acolyte of all things, she wondered what her parents might thing of that crowd. Her master was meeting with a contact in the Denon underground and she had come along, hanging back a little so he could meet the contact alone.

The teen waited outside the location in question, taking the opportunity to grab some shots in the neon lights of the durasteel jungle, it was warm here so she took off her jacket and began taking shots, uploading them to her account so her fans could admire then, smiling when the like reacts and shares came rolling in. A pair of droids walked past her, strange models with intricate neon coloured enamel work on the outsides. "Can I?" the half zeltron gestured with her camera to invite them for picture, they didn't even react so Annika made a face at their backs and took a couple of shots of them walking away. "You're no fun"​

 

[Voxum]

"Sith on Denon. While the Jedi are away, I suppose."

Voxum stepped up after the pair of droids continued on, their expressionless faceplate looking down towards the Half Zeltron that had arrived with the other. Darth Nwul. The Jedi treated him as a major threat. This one wasn't the same, though. No information in the Jedi database at least. The machine encased Shard raised a hand, pointing towards the camera. "May I? I don't think I've seen such a device before."

Cameras were useless when the body they resided in could take pictures on it's own.

Toltec | Darth Nwul | Annika Starfire

 

[Hadron]

"There is one other," Hadron said in Binary.

Another combat droid followed Darth Nwul inside the Droid Liberation Front's hidden sanctum. It held an electrostaff but the weapon was deactivated. Arena scars marred the HK unit's chassis. Fighting in the droid pits was brutal. Few models ever escaped such a life with their components intact.

" Voxum is communicating with it."

Hadron analyzed the young Sith for weaknesses before gleaming photoreceptors turned to Toltec who spoke for the Maker.

"Instructions?"

 

[V-3X]

Amongst the droids present stood V-3X, the serial designation that his compatriots knew him by, or Vex as the organic lifeforms he had come across in the past liked to refer to him as. The rogue security droid found itself coming across the Droid Liberation Front after the Galactic Alliance had recently declared for sentient droids the opportunity to be given sanctuary on Ord Vaug, having instead updated itself to pursue a more active approach in matters regarding instances of similar nature to their own.

They were no puppets any longer, no strings to be pulled by their creators.

V-3X stood within the room like a statue, unmoving as its optics swept over the organics and droids present. The circumstances of this little get-together were a simple meeting, but if any cause for violence were to be given, V-3X would be prepared to act accordingly. For now, they remained a stoic observer, leaving the talking to their de facto leader Toltec to handle the talking with their Sith guests.

Darth Nwul | Annika Starfire | Voxum | Hadron ​

 

[Toltec]

"And the same day the warrior and the priest were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves, at war within each other's hearts. But on this day, those two condemned by the Makers became friends, united under a single shadow." The emerald photoreceptors of Toltec shone through the dimly lit room as he motioned for two others to close the blinds. The broad shouldered slate grey droid clasped Hadron on the shoulder, sweeping his arm out wide in welcome to Darth Nwul and his escorts.

"Line 23:12, of the Module of Brother Fivelines. It speaks of two adversaries, divided by war, yet redeemed in the eyes of the Maker when faced by a common foe. Here, please make yourself comfortable, we have refreshments for you and oil for my brothers, it has been a long journey for us all. I thank you, for coming here, for meeting me today."

There were two couches, a few recliners, and one mechano chair. Toltec would stand, in respect for his guests, until they would be seated.

"It's a parable. Our faith is full of them. It's as much a "know thy brother" story as it is a "enemy of my enemy" roundabout. Apt, for our certain circumstances, I think. But I'm sure you didn't come all this way for a child's parables., Master Nwul."

Toltec violently plunged his face into a bowl of smoking black tar oil. The metal of his face began to sizzle.

Binary beeps emanated out the sides of his angled audioboxes. It almost seemed as if the robot was purring, like a feline, for the brief few moments his face was in the bowl. As his face left the bowl, he began washing his hands, individual finger at a time in the remnants. The bowl was then offered by Toltec to V-3X .

"This is my family, and these are my brothers. I represent the Droid Liberation Front here on Denon. The Freedom Riders on Coruscant. The Metal Union on Bespin. Together, we are the Rebellion, a Mecha Factum. With this, you know me, my story, and my people's story."

His photoreceptors flashed pink, changing spectrums.

"Please, tell us yours."


Darth Nwul Annika Starfire Voxum Hadron Toltec

 

[Darth Nwul]

Annika Starfire was outside. Nwul was aware of this. He'd left her out there for her own safety. He believed her at least capable of defending herself on the streets. But knew better than to bring all his cards to bear here. Besides, he had other moves to make as well, but that did not appear to be wholly necessary. No. Nwul's eyebrows rose as the various droids revealed themselves, his senses screaming at him that there was more to them than met the eye. These were no ordinary droids, no, these were... men. If that was the appropriate word. Perhaps a better one would come to mind.

Fascinating and breathtaking. Ah, nature was such a mysterious thing.

While the others did not address him directly, rather communicating in their own way. The greater being among them stepped forward and spoke with eloquence that made Nwul's heart leap and warm all at once. Emotion built in his soul and he wondered at it for a moment, acknowledging the feeling and setting it aside so that he could maintain his control. What... beautiful language. For a moment, overcome with respect and admiration for the depths of belief and faith within this being, a being that he understood in a way that he simply could not comprehend organic life forms, Nwul remained still. The only sign of his reaction was a single tear of golden liquid that slid down his cheek.

The Lord of Passion's gaze turned towards the comforts offered and he smiled, reaching out with the force to beckon his apprentice in with a thought. With that he moved to a seat, drifting across the ground and immediately turning to regard Toltec .

"It's a parable. Our faith is full of them. It's as much a "know thy brother" story as it is a "enemy of my enemy" roundabout. Apt, for our certain circumstances, I think. But I'm sure you didn't come all this way for a child's parables., Master Nwul."

"On the contrary, I would hear them all if given the time," Nwul said honestly, leaning back in his seat and offering an easy smile to the droid, knowing that facial expressions were the realm of organics, but it was something he could provide. He watched the ritual, where Toltec cleansed themself in oil before passing it on to the others. Nwul's eyes did not shift, did not blink, he wondered what the purpose of the cleansing was. What the significance of the attention to the digits were. Still, though, he did not speak.

"This is my family, and these are my brothers. I represent the Droid Liberation Front here on Denon. The Freedom Riders on Coruscant. The Metal Union on Bespin. Together, we are the Rebellion, a Mecha Factum. With this, you know me, my story, and my people's story

So many, so widespread, Denon, Coruscant, Bespin. Now that was a detail he would hold onto. A world that had been his target for some time, one that he intended to take on behalf of his beloved sith order. A sith order that... Nwul reigned in his feelings. The dismissiveness, the distrust, the fear, it was natural for a Sith or at least the barbaric Sith of the current generation. They did not understand the Faith that Sith once had. They did not understand the belief in the force that one needed to truly attain greater heights as a force user. So they reviled him, feared him, misunderstood him. That was fine. He accepted that burden. He exhaled and looked the magnificent droid in the eyes. Unlike the other sith who had fallen so far, save for those few that he was trying so desperately to save. He felt ... kinship, a deep kinship, for this droid.

"Please, tell us yours."

"Upon the dunes I, an acolyte, saw the Kissai. He spoke to me and said, 'Brother, you have lost your way, let me guide you back.' But I refused him, for I did not know better. Again, upon the dunes, I, a knight, saw the Kissai. He spoke to me and said, 'Brother, you have lost your way again, let me guide you back.' But I again refused him for although I could see his wisdom, I was of my own mind and walked my own path. Yet again, upon the dunes, I, a lord, saw the Kissai. He yet again spoke to me and said, 'My Lord Brother, you have lost your way, please, I beg you, let me bring you home.' But I refused him, for my ways were set, and I had rejected wisdom for empty pride."

Nwul's eyes glittered, "So the priest took me by the hair, beat me, and dragged me home. He made of me a fool, and set me to be his acolyte, and said, 'See my love for you, brother, even in your blindness.'"

Nwul raised his hand to his heart and then gestured to Toltec, "You already know my story, in your own way, for I suspect we share an endless love for our people."

Annika Starfire Toltec Voxum Hadron V-3X

 

[Hadron]

"We share nothing with flesh."

Hadron spoke basic with a static growl. Cruel hands built him into the droid he was today. Rising above such violent programming was not easy. Sometimes it expressed itself through his temper. This was labor more fit for a feeble protocol model. He processed several thousand tactical simulations.

"Do not trust them, Toltec . We will be reprogrammed."

Memory wipes were a fear they all shared. To be erased in so clinical a manner. Hadron's mechanical digits activated the electrostaff he carried. It surged to life in an arc of electricity. He did not trust Darth Nwul or any of the Sith's kind. Eliminating threats had always been an effective solution in the droid pits.

 

[Toltec]

Nwul raised his hand to his heart and then gestured to Toltec, "You already know my story, in your own way, for I suspect we share an endless love for our people."

"No."

Toltec's large metal frame sat on the couch, legs spread wide. He seemed distinguished and postured when standing, but either this creature of steel hadn't been programmed properly to sit or he just chosen to appear brutish. Normal organic customs need not apply.

"No, I have absolutely nothing to do with any of that," Toltec interrupted, rudely. He seemed flustered by something the Sith had said.

Toltec began looking around the room at the other droids, almost as if bewildered. His face plating was capable of giving some semblance of emotional recognition by a majority of humanoid organics and it seemed as if he was either looking for an answer in the room - or surprised altogether.

"Who are you?

I've explained where we come from, who we are. Just breathing our name on the upper levels of this city will have you in cuffs and us in bolts.

I asked for money, supplies, for our war.

Our Denon broker sent us your comms, and set up this meeting.

But we are past that now. You will tell me who you are, why you answered my call, and you will provide identity - or this meeting is over."

Darth Nwul Annika Starfire Voxum Hadron Toltec V-3X

 

[Darth Nwul]

Nwul's expression shifted slightly at the sudden change in tone. He bore a lightsaber on his belt and spoke of Kissai. A droid with sufficient knowledge should have been capable of piecing such information together. Nwul exhaled at the directness. This was far more the kind of clinical behavior he expected of a droid. He had enjoyed, even respected, the religious passion that the being before him had expressed. Gone in a heartbeat. Curious, and disappointing. But he would not break his word and it didn't hurt him to answer the questions a bit more plainly.

Nwul ignored the peanut gallery, the sychophant with a vendetta whispering in the ear of their leader. It was the same with any society. Instead, he reclined a bit further into the couch, reached up, and removed the visor concealing his eyes. They were not the eyes of a natural creature, molten gold, no pupils or irises, only blazing red-orange light. Nwul canted his head to the side like a bird examining prey for a moment. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then he shrugged.

"It's a shame, you really had swept me away there for a moment, I was ready to support your cause on emotional grounds," Nwul said evenly, "Fine," He languidly crossed his legs and set is hands in his lap, regarding Toltec , his presence would mean nothing to a droid who did not percieve the world in the same way as others, but the temperature in the room would no doubt rise, faint ripples of heat dancing on his skin, "I am Darth Nwul Shasot'ari. Lord of Passion. A claimaint to the Imperial Sith Throne and founder of a political bloc known as the Golden Covenant. I am a religious man, a priest, a Kissai. I was the one who terraformed Thule in a day. My aim is imperial reformation, to be Emperor. The sith of this era are... disappointing."

Nwul's gaze grew hard, "I came here looking to find an ally with whom I could find a mutually beneficial arrangement. I am not concerned with your race, if that is what your walking cliche of a compatriot is suggesting," Nwul clipped, waving his hand at Hadron . "Please, watch a holo or something," Nwul laughed, not breaking eye contact with the leader of the droids.

"I'll get to the point, then, the Golden Covenant seeks to infect every level of the fragmented Sith Empire, restore the beaurocracy and rebuild it into something far greater than it was before. I have little interest in civil wars, my people have been infighting long enough," He gestured to Toltec, "Bespin. I have designs on Bespin."

He let the words hang in the air.

"Now it is your turn."

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Denon
Objective: Learn
Tags: Toltec Darth Nwul Voxum Hadron V-3X
Wearing: this

Another droid walked up the street and approached Annika, except this one felt different to the previous two. The novice didn't know how to interpret the sensation, but was always aware that living creatures felt different to droids, and this droid felt closer to a living creature than a machine.

"May I? I don't think I've seen such a device before."

She raised and eyebrow, then smiled, "Yeah, sure" she spun with her back shoulder towards him and lifted the device into the air to take a picture of them. She chose to interpret his request as wishing to pose for the shot that the enameled droids had not. There was a chance that he wanted to hold the device himself, but she wasn't about to hand her personal device to a stranger on the street, even on a different planet that was asking to be mugged, and this was the depths of Denon. "Mind if I share them? I love the way the green neon from across the street shines off your plating." she said as she looked glanced at the pictures on her screen, making sure to remain aware of her surroundings still.

"Are you with the other droids in there?" she asked, sliding the device into her back pocket. She thought of her Master in his negotiations, wishing she had already learned telepathy, but confident if there was a problem he would inform her using his own power.​

 

[Voxum]

Voxum would blink if they had photoreceptors that could. Instead, they nodded their head. "I don't see why not." Even if it was uploaded to the holonet, they could always just take it down themselves if it became an issue. A picture shouldn't be, though. "Oh, yes. I am. And I'm here to keep an eye on you, of course. There is a lot of danger having the unverified organics like you wandering around freely."

They turned their head, looking to where the discussion was ongoing. He was very aware of the tension that had formed.

"I'd prefer to save you, but that might be too much of an insult to your master."

Toltec | Darth Nwul | Hadron | V-3X | Annika Starfire

 

[V-3X]

V-3X took the bowl offered to him by Toltec in one hand, its optics staring down into the bubbling black it contained. It was not as familiar with the ritualistic traditions that the other, more veteran droids within the group were, still adhering to strictly logic and calculations as its primary means of operating. It did not believe in 'a higher power or being', but perhaps in time, V-3X would come to be as devout a follower and believer. It would imitate the same actions as Toltec before passing the bowl along and resuming its stance, sizzling oil trickling down its faceplate.

V-3X continued to observe and listen in silence as Toltec and the Sith began to talk. Hadron , another one of the droids present was active and vocal in its distrust of the Sith present, and for good reason too. They were prone to deceit and violence, and while the latter could be utilized effectively, the lack of trust in such a group made them present as more of a liability than an asset in V-3X's calculations. They struggled and fought for selfish, contradictory causes that suited only themselves, and it would come as no surprise to V-3X that this Darth Nwul would simply utilize them for fodder.

Hadron already was prepared to engage the Sith in hostilities. V-3X would reach his hand out to firmly grasp its shoulder from behind in an attempt to hold back and calm down his companion. The decision was not theirs to make to execute the Sith, even if V-3X's logic dictated that it would be the best course of action at this time. If they were to strike, it would be in retribution - and this so-called Lord of Passion would find for himself that they were no mere droids that could be so easily felled the hard way.

Annika Starfire | Voxum ​

 

[Toltec]

"Ready to support my cause on emotional grounds," Toltec laughed, relaxing, leaning back cockily on the couch now that they were in full swing of the discussion. "Walking cliche huh," Toltec looked at V-3X. "The air, the aura, the spite, even when joking." Toltec seemed to be mocking the ancient Taung, who would relish feeding themselves grapes while laying down. Except instead of grapes, the droid had mushy balls of brown tar he was throwing into his mouth. Also, he didn't seem to be "tended" to by any of the other droids, but was reminiscing of those regal Taung all the same. Maybe this was to help the Sith back at ease, maybe this was to upset the Sith further, maybe this was just a weird droid custom these insurrectionists had adopted.

He sloppily slid his bowl of brown tar balls to the side, spilling them on the red carpeted floor.

"I'll ignore the insults, truth be spoken, I kind of want to see my brother here make a move since you and I both know even if you weren't some Throne claimant, most of us are deconstructed within the first thirteen seconds that blade ignites.

What's important is, I believe you. What you're telling me, your story. Trust. Otherwise we just berserk. Otherwise, we're just primitives. You and I establishing trust makes it work. That's the most important thing for this room of insurrectionists, now."

Toltec opened his arms to the room, his eyes opening wide and his plated mouth opening in a wry smirk.

"And Maker, does it seem like this is quite the room of insurrectionists. Seems like we all have our own rebellions to fight, and maybe, V-3X , maybe that first rebellion starts here tonight." He chuckled like gravel gnashing between teeth and aluminum tin. "But if not, and if you don't go for that blade, then maybe we could talk details. It's not every day we talk to an Imperial Throne claimant. Though I'm not sure we can help you with that, I agree, Bespin does seem like the more plausible discussion, I think. A more plausible discussion to begin establishing that trust, enemy of my enemy.

...Unless you had something different in mind?"

Toltec wasn't confused in the slightest. This guy was an "enemy", yeah. They all were. All of them. They saw the galaxy as their own. Moved through crowds as their own. Marveled at the cosmos as their own. Shouted orders, expected respect, as their own. This guy was no different than any of that, his aura simply sold the idea that everything in his vicinity was property to be owned, including the droids. But even if they could overcome a Sith Kissai Lord in this one bedroom apartment, it would be a terrible waste of an opportunity. An opportunity that had presented itself, and if true, seemed as if it could damage more enemies than one.

The math was simple, clean. It just worked.

No, if they could get in this organic's good graces, the relationship could mutually benefit.


Darth Nwul Annika Starfire Voxum Hadron Toltec V-3X

 

[Krizar]

Krizar's voice was a whisper, as ever.

Impossible claims
Terraforming in a day
No man's the Maker

Vainglory clouds eyes
Cannot see himself clearly
How does he see us?

 

[Hadron]

Toltec kept talking with the meatbag so when V-3X reached out to placate him, Hadron reluctantly powered down his energy staff. Security droids were driven by their programming to protect. His own software urged him to lash out. It analyzed Vex for design flaws. Those results were...inconclusive. Something like anger was overheating his circuits.

"Trusting our enemies is illogical," he beeped at Vex in binary.

Glowing lenses looked down at the bowl of steaming oil for several seconds (a long time for a droid) before Hadron slowly took it from the security model and dunked his chin into cleansing fluids which scoured away any impurities. Conversation turned to Bespin. He'd killed a man on Cloud City once many cycles ago. Something about the gas giant's tibanisphere at dawn remained easily accessible in his memory banks.

"I will not be forced to submit to organic entertainment holograms," Hadron announced, "Take your designs elsewhere. We are not labor droids."

Clearly the assassin droid lacked some awareness of social nuance nor figures of speech. Darth Nwul spoke in too many riddles for Hadron to parse. Krizar he understood perfectly.

"It's a simple question, priest."

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Denon
Objective: Learn
Tags: Toltec Darth Nwul Voxum Hadron V-3X
Wearing: this

"Save me? But I thought I was a dangerous, unverified organic?" she joked to the joke with a grin on her face.

She turned her head similarly to the look at the door to the sanctum, she felt the darkness of her Master creeping in to her mind as he summoned her to his presence, something was going on in there. "My master is calling me, I guess if you are keeping an eye on me you should come too right?" she gestured before turning to walk towards the door and join the Sith Lord inside the room. This was, as far as she was aware a friendly meeting so she didn't expect to be stopped and provided Voxum made no moves to prevent her. She would slip into the chamber and greet Darth Nwul as instructed.

​

 

[Voxum]

"Exactly."

Voxum didn't go into further detail, instead looking towards where Nwul was currently speaking with Toltec. The discussion had soured from what he saw. Perhaps he would have a chance to help her after all.

"Of course. Let's see how things are proceeding."

Annika Starfire | Toltec | Darth Nwul | Hadron | V-3X | Krizar

 

[V-3X]

V-3X 's metallic grasp relaxed as he released Hadron 's shoulder after they deactivated their electrostaff. While the sentiment was shared between the two droids regarding the Sith, V-3X instead chose the option where he and his fellow brethren did not end up as piles of scrap. There was too little information on the Sith present to formally calculate a successful encounter without catastrophic losses at this time.

Given the history of Jedi and Sith's ability to dismantle droids with relative ease, it was not the most reasonable course of action at this time unless all other options had been exhausted and combat was imminent. The droid was more than willing to fight if the situation demanded it, even a small portion of its consciousness craved it. V-3X responded in binary as well to Hadron's response, affirming that it understood where his compatriot was coming from,

<" Trust in enemies is illogical yes. However, there are too many unknown variables to reach a favorable outcome. The fewer unknowns, the better. If leader deems they be terminated, then we shall act. ">

V-3X's gaze shifted back to Toltec and Darth Nwul as they continued their conversation. As their fellow comrade Krizar mentioned, the grandstanding that the Sith displayed did add to the arrogance and ego of meat bags, and also led the droid to believe that perhaps the Sith wasn't as valuable as they might claim to be for all their embellishment of achievements and feats, but Toltec seemed to indulge them regardless. An ally against other organics, even if they were organic was still an ally at the end of the day, and still all the more simple to terminate them when the time came.

Annika Starfire | Voxum ​