Sometimes Blood Does Matter

[Progflaw99]

Virgilia Sector \\ Virgilia VII \\ Bastion of Ren​

FIV Iniquitous \\ Upsilon-class Shuttle​

Local Time \\ Evening​

​

The clouds threatened to suffocate the small world, darkness long since eclipsing the landscape as the Bastion began its descent into night. Wet leaves on the trees and brush glinted menacingly near the Bastion's entrance, torchlight casting strange shadows and creating an almost eerie fluttering with the wind and as Moff Calgar's footsteps ascended the final curve along the Path of Jagged Stones a large raindrop slapped the man across his face. An annoyed swipe brushed the drop from his features, though did little to due away with the overall dampness of the man's flesh.

The jungle was unforgiving, the humidity relentless - and with a storm on the horizon the air was thick, almost as if breathing in a thick smog. Other men might not have made the journey, it was in fact designed to test those who wished to become Knights of Ren but Dante wasn't just any other man. The Moff was unlike any other, his history largely classified if it existed at all. His official record made mention of the FOSB but beyond that the majority was blatantly absent. Whatever it was he'd done to get this far, it explained why he was able to make the trek. Breathing heavily, his feet continued upon the path, left foot in front of right until he reached the top of the staircase. What greeted his gaze took his breath away.

The Bastion of Ren was no small structure, in fact it had been carved into one of the largest mountains, corridors, chambers, and the unknown buried deep within the rock but what had taken his breath away was the sheer size of it. Large columns rose to meet the side of the mountain, the large engraved doors leading within closed save for a small panel mounted beside them. He had arrived. Moff Calgar took a moment to catch his breath, the sweat now beginning to bead along his brow - and then another drop of rain. A thunderous boom shook the mountain, the trees swaying as a large gust of wind ripped between them. Then the torrent of rain. Lightning lit up the sky followed by another tremor. Dante was quick to step towards the panel along the wall, his hand rising to meet the hand print scanner at the controls.

With a brief flash of green light, the panel activated and a large grating sounded above the din of the storm. Water came down hard, threatening to soak the man's clothing as large droplets were blown by the gusting wind. The grating noise intensified until the large doors began to part, darkness beyond drawing the man in as an abyss. With a deep breath he strode towards the heart of the Bastion.

--- --- ---​

​

Dante had been greeted by a pair of Disciples, their muted tones and dark attire marking them as members of Sieger Ren's mysterious order. Quickly upon his arrival they had led him to an empty chamber, seated him there and departed once more. Their only instruction "Wait."

And wait he would. As he sat, water beginning to soak through the exterior layer of clothing he'd worn, the disciples had moved swiftly towards the Knight's Quarters. On any given day, the Bastion was filled with close to one hundred Knights and Disciples though which ones was always in question. Today however, there was no question. The girl was here, and it was from the Bastion they would depart for Panatha - it was as Sieger willed. A quiet knock would be heard at the chambers of Ara Ren, the pair of disciples taking a step backwards from the chamber door, awaiting a response.

[member="Ara Ren"]​

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Home.

The Bastion was an imposing labyrinth of stone and a nexus of darkness, the air heavy with the weight of the Force running through the corridors, amplified by those who occupied its halls. The storm brewing outside only added to the ominous feeling that seeping from rock and stone, the rumbling of thunder and the distant drumming of rain on rock echoing through silent passages. The Knights of Ren who called this monolithic fortress home were as mysterious as the mountain itself, secluded from the rest of the First Order until needed, coming and going at the will of the Supreme Leader, Sieger Ren. Yet, always returning to reconnect with their Master, the Force, and their brothers in arms.

As different as anywhere could be from her home world of Coruscant, the one known as Ara Ren found herself curled up in her small suite, afforded to her upon her status of Knight, sipping from a tumbler of rich Corellian Brandy. Too long she had spent away from her home, fighting in wars for the glory of the First Order, going so far as to give up her life for Sieger Ren.

Home.

They had dragged her back. The Ren had found her, lost in the worlds of the Outer Rim, miraculously returned from the cold embrace of death.

The burn of astringent alcohol coated her throat and gut as she took another sip of the amber liquid, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. The liquid did more to warm her bones than the cloak wrapped around her shoulders, a replacement for the one lost after the battle at Hilikan. The glass found its way to the small table beside her as the Knight stood, intent on ending a strenuous day of practice and meditation with a soak in the luxurious baths that were scattered through the living quarters of the Bastion. A sharp knock sounded throughout the girl’s chamber, two dark clothed Disciples waiting as Ara levelled them with a questioning gaze.

“You’re summoned. If you would…”

One hand held out indicating the dim hallway beyond, a silent request to follow the pair hanging in the air. The corners of her mouth pulled down into a slight frown, confusion and curiosity rising to the surface before being replaced with the simple acceptance that came with loyalty. A sharp nod indicated her willingness to accompany the Ren deeper into the depths of the Bastion.

--- --- ---​

The gentleman waiting for her was not among the short list of those she’d expected to have summoned the Knight at such an hour. Rain soaked into the outer layer of his clothing, rivulets of water running from the soaked fabric down through the gaps in the stone flooring. One eyebrow winged up as she took in his appearance, the uniform beneath the soaked garmented not going unnoticed.

”Fetch our guest a dry cloak.”

Without a word, one of the Disciples held a hand out for the soaked garment, the second retreating silently, assumedly to do as requested. Green eyes rimmed in crimson and amber roved over the Moff in assessment, taking in minute details of his appearance, fitting his face to a name from the ledgers and roster of government officials she’d been tasked with learning long before.

”Greetings, Moff Calgar. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

A slight bend from the waist, not quite a bow, but a sign of respect for his station, accompanied the honeyed purr.

[member="Dante Calgar"]

 

[Progflaw99]

He could feel the chill to his bone, though no one would have guessed. Now within the confines of the dimly lit chamber steam had begun to rise from beneath his outer cloak, uniform damp. It was only several minutes before the quiet hum of the door servos filled the room, a hydraulic hiss to follow. Dante narrowed his eyes, a flutter of movement visible on the opposite side of the door before the woman's features were revealed. He stood tall, appraising the Knight of Ren as her voice broke the silence. With little more than a nod of acceptance one of the disciples moved to collect his outer garment. Shrugging free of the wet material and handing it to one of the others, a grateful nod in the direction of the Knight. The gesture was appreciated, even if it was more of a formality than ought else.

As he took the offered cloak the Moff performed a half bow, his eyes never leaving the Ren's.

"The cloak is appreciated, quite the place here - The Bastion of Ren as I'm told it's called?"​

​

Half a question, half a statement he paused momentarily. Taking a short step towards the woman he raised an eyebrow before continuing.

"Unfortunately for you, this endeavor is very much business. You are familiar with Panatha and its ruler.." He coughed. "..Former ruler, Kaine Zambrano - or should I say familial?"​

​

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. There hadn't been advance notice, no clue as to why he'd arrived and requested an audience with the Knight known as Ara Ren but in that moment a mere corner of his cards were shown. Dante knew well what his angle was, and what the machinations behind the curtain had planned for the Knight - it would be a rude adjustment for the Knight warrior. At least that was the impression the Minister of Security got while paging through the woman's file. Records of the Ren and their activities were almost non-existent however through a collection of external reports, from agents and soldiers in the field, a picture had begun to be painted and behavioral analysts had picked apart the information before piping it into a profile for each of the encountered. Collecting and compiling wasn't strictly coloring within the lines, but as of yet the Supreme Leader had either remained oblivious or deemed such trivialities of little consequence. In any case, Dante knew he was already treading the line. That was the price of ambition, wasn't it though?

[member="Ara Ren"]​

 

[Ara Zambrano]

A question that was not a question escaped his lips, their eyes locked, the answer an amused smile and inclined head rather than words. He needed no confirmation as to the name of the fortress. He knew it, and to her best assumptions, much more than just that about the mysterious Ren he’d come in seek of.

As he stepped forward, Ara stood her ground, wondering if he would circle her as a hawk would its prey or if he was content with what he could see from his current vantage point. Both eyebrows rose in surprise as the reason for his visit was divulged, curiosity at what business the Minister of Security could have with a Knight of Ren who was cleared to return to the fold by the Master of Ren herself. Unlike others, Calgar did not make her wait or pry for the answers to the questions his own triggered, instead continuing without pause.

Panatha? Her eyes narrowed, forehead and bridge of her nose crinkling in displeasure as he corrected himself, more confusion swirling within.

A wolfish grin flashed to the surface along with a deep, purring laugh at the emphasis put into the last word, confusion and surprise melting into acceptance. It had only been a matter of time before someone came to speak with the girl about her lineage and connection with the Sith Lords who made their home in First Order Space. She was a little surprised it had been prolonged to this extent, although she supposed war brought other concerns to the forefront of the government.

Turning to lock eyes with the remaining disciple, she barked out another simple order, ”Drinks, if you would.” before the pair were left alone in the chamber.

Gesturing with one hand to the seating available in the receiving chamber, she invited him to sit, making themselves both comfortable for the conversation to come.

”Familiar, only barely. Familial…” One corner of her mouth quirked up as her eyes gleamed with threads of entertainment at his choice of words, ”Apparently. I have met Kaine Zambrano only once, a short time ago.”

Keeping the specifics of their relationship to herself for the moment, she settled onto a cool stone bench, crossing one leg over the other and resting her back against the wall before turning to catch his eyes with her own once again.

”You say former, has he been killed? Or forcefully removed?”

Although she’d hardly had time to form much of an opinion of the man whose DNA made up part of hers, she knew one thing with complete confidence, he would not have stepped down from the throne of Panatha of his own accord.

[member="Dante Calgar"]​

 

[Progflaw99]

Perhaps the woman's known ties to the God-king of Panatha were less solid than he'd understood - an assumption made in error. It was a gentle reminder that assumptions were often the undoing of men, of empires. As the seat was offered, he looked almost longingly at the chair. The journey to the Bastion had not been an easy one, and while he was willing to admit he was tired he would not grant the Knight of Ren before him the satisfaction of revealing it. Dante stepped towards the chair but remained standing.

"Unfortunately for you and I, we won't be here long enough to sit." He let the statement hang for a moment before elaborating. "You're to accompany me immediately. We go to Panatha."​

​

Dante knew exactly the purpose of their trip, however now was not the time. The throne of Panatha awaited, forcibly vacated by the senior Zambrano - to leave the throne empty for even this long had been tempting the fates. It was pertinent that they resolve that with haste, without a leader and without a distinct assertion of power over the Reach, there would surely be chaos. Ara Zambrano was their gamble. It was one that had been put forward by another of the Ren in fact, one of the upper echelon - Decitus Ren, if Moff Calgar recalled correctly. It had been a plan that he had seen merit in, and who was he to question the will of Sieger? A quiet smirk tugged at his lips at the thought.

"Your presence is required - and not only that, but it would appear that you've been selected for a most important task. I, as Moff of the Reach, am responsible for setting you atop the throne in Panatha. The Reach has long known slavery, and while the end goal is to eliminate it, a powerful figure is needed on the throne. As Kaine Zambrano's daughter, his blood runs through your veins - it would be the most likely outcome for the people of the reach to accept you over anyone the government might appoint. Chaos in the reach is not something we can afford."​

​

He gestured towards the door - clutching the dry cloak about his shoulders.​

​

"We are to leave immediately."​

​

[member="Ara Ren"]​

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Raised eyebrows met the proclamation, amusement tugging at her lips at his subtle admonition. To Panatha? Even more curiosity swirled within as she stood gracefully.

”Granddaughter.”

The knight corrected quite forcefully, noting the repeated emphasis the urgency of their mission. Surprise flashed across her features as she schooled them once again into neutrality, interest offered but naught else. His words set off a domino effect in her mind, thoughts, connections, and possibilities tumbling into place as she regarded him with a small smile. Hesitant to accept his words at face value, she scrutinized the man before her with a slight tilt of the head, rolling each phrase across her mind, searching for the hidden meanings she had no doubt lurked beneath their surface.

This was a political matter, something she was hardly versed in, except to know that politicians lied through their teeth and twisted the truth until it suited their purposes. His misinformation about the relationship between herself and Kaine Zambrano exposed a gap in his knowledge she’d be happy to rectify, if he asked the correct questions.

She supposed he was not wrong in some ways, with her father having willingly absolved his claim to the throne of the Pacanth Reach of his own accord, she was close enough to his bloodline to be considered a direct descendant, although it was her understanding he had many. The use of the phrase “the government might appoint” did not go unnoticed, it’s significance in the proceedings clearing a few of the more common questions that first sprung to the forefront of thought.

Moving past him, towards the door he so politely indicated, she fell into step beside the Moff as they moved towards the hangar built into the depths of the Bastion, far below. Seeing no reason to prolong their departure, she chose to walk and voice her questions as they travelled.

”I would ask why I was selected, but you made that most clear, blood. I would also question who made such a decision, but your transparency in that matter is also appreciated. I am curious, were you a part of this decision or merely the one tasked with divulging it? I do not think I have to express to you how…unconventional this appears.”

Watching out of the corner of her eyes, she allowed her tone stay light and cordial, prodding for details he might be willing to let slip. Doubts and questions bubbled within her mind, held in check only by habit, listening instead of speaking having served her well in the past, a honed skill she was loathe to break, even now.

[member="Dante Calgar"]

 

[Progflaw99]

*Amusing.* Thought the Moff, his eyes dancing with the dim firelight of the chamber. The girl was fairly adamant about her distant relationship to the Dark Lord. It had been an oversight of his own, the relationship between the two less of import than he'd hoped or recalled. It wasn't particularly relevant however, blood was blood and in his minor oversight he'd identified a particular piece of intelligence that could become useful at a later date. Exactly how it could be used yet remained an obscurity, but there was something in the forceful way in which she'd corrected him. He had little time to think about it before the woman was already moving towards the door. *Good, not one to tarry.*

"Granddaughter then."
​

Dante cracked a smile as he took steps towards the door and joined her in the hall. As their footsteps echoed in the empty corridors, Dante concealed a shiver. Atop the damp clothing he couldn't shake the feeling someone else was watching him, as if a silent and invisible presence were standing beside him. Narrowing his eyes he cast a wayward glance over his shoulder before returning to the conversation at hand. No doubt she had questions, it wasn't every day you'd be summoned to assume the throne of not only a kingdom, but a whole world - more than that. Given the woman's words, it was nearly as startling to her as it had been to him, though in fairness it was he who held dominion over the sector at large. It hadn't been his choice, however he had seen the merit in it. Oh how he wished it was solely he who made decisions, but no - there was an entire system of bureaucracy. Most notably the Grand Moff, Natasi Fortan. The Supreme Leader went without saying, though he tended to be the driving force behind the government itself, so who knew what was self produced and what was inspired by their leader.

"I can't claim credit for the decision I'm afraid. As to if I agree with it..." He trailed off. "A shame you don't have much of a choice in the matter. I'm sure you can recognize that this position they've deigned you fit for is more of a titled role? I'm sure you and I will be able to work together to maintain the status quo in the Reach, perhaps even make some progress - your predecessor seemed particularly stuck in his ways."​

​

@Ara Ren​