Private Tentacles and High Tea

[Darth Strosius]

Despite himself, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the quick remark regarding the Empress lecturing her husband. It was some slight solace that he wasn't alone in such chiding at least. Nowhere near enough solace to brighten his mood of course but if nothing else he was ever so slightly more satisfied with his current predicament, one that would soon shift into his favor if he could bide his time and stay his hand for just a bit longer. Staying his quick tongue was another matter entirely however.

"I invoke only the Dark Side when I act, Empress, and that of the Sith Order itself. Both of which I know very well." It was no secret that Darth Strosius wasn't one to pay heed to...well anyone really. Given the nature of his mission and goals there was simply none above him but the Force itself, for all others had to be held under suspicion. At the end of the day no one person, nor even an entire sector's worth of people, was too high a price for the greater good of the galaxy. Some might call it cruel but he would prefer to simply call it realistic.

People would always fail at something or other, but the Force itself was infallible. "Luck has nothing to do with it. I know this concept is foreign to your kind but I have earned and worked for all that I have and have done." It was simply another reason why he refused that there were any who had authority over him, the only one that did had been felled by his hand and her forces had become his own. Not entirely his own of course but Malum was hardly a threat.

"I do not believe that Carnifex is solely responsible, but when one comes out of a crumbling empire with a station the size of a small moon and an entire fleet and army to accompany it, I'd say that they weren't exactly pulling their weight. Just as I have a duty to uphold the Sith Order now, so did he and many others then." He still remembered that day the Worm had summoned them to Odavessa, that day that his trust in his fellow Sith finally shriveled and died. The day that he knew not even his master could be spared his wrath, for she had intermingled with them all the same. "And as for Lady Raaf, any achievements she might have had are by now null and void, a relic from the past that just like Carnifex didn't finish the job properly and should be cast aside for such a grand failure." The Jedi did still hold the Core after all.

For the first time since their meeting he actually managed to find a bit of anger in the Empress, and at the subject of one of her in-laws no less. How peculiar. Perhaps their kin was not as well regarded by them as he thought? Possible, but he still drew breath so he doubted that she was too displeased with him. "He's not the only one." Herself, Empyrean, Carnifex and his Kainate, Raaf and all her kin, so many living on borrowed time that it seemed he had to collect. Not that he was complaining of course, so long as the job got done.

Thankfully the masked man was left to his own devices, and more importantly away from more senseless lecturing, after they had boarded the ship. Soon enough he could rid himself of such a nuisance and be one step closer to the greatest victory that the Sith had seen in centuries. So long as Malum did his job and aided him in the coming execution. Speaking of which, as quickly as his meditation and focusing had began it was interrupted by a familiar and very incensed presence.

"Falentra, good to see you well."

Darth Strosius raised his head as the apprentice approached, fuming and intent on demanding an explanation it seemed. As if it weren't obvious already. "Yes you did join me on Tion, just not at where I myself was located." His tone was stern but surprisingly free of his usual venom and malice as he took the aggression and simply let it roll over him without seeming too bothered. "Revna has been sent away from my side on missions before, just as you were. Multiple objectives need to be accomplished at the same time and, most importantly, Acolytes need to be able to operate independently from time to time."

He gestured towards the Empress that loomed behind Falentra, as if to show where her anger and ire should be directed instead. "If I had been made aware that an Eternalist-led assault was actually going to get results for once, I wouldn't have placed you in such a position. That you managed to survive captivity and torture is impressive however, your master will be proud I'm sure." There was actually a hint of consoling within his words for once, albeit one with little warmth to it.

Lady Falentra / Srina Talon

 

[Lady Falentra]

Falentra simmered at the Lord Inquisitors words, greeting herself as if she wasn't just taken prisoner by the Sith Empress. "And with all missions, communication is critical is it not? To avoid mishaps like this. " She argued. Although she suspected that the reality was in contrast to his words, that he had already known about the Eternalists at the facility. And that his absence was only to sabotage her own mission, that she might fail her own master... or perish at that. In a twisted antic that she might prove his ideals that a former Jedi would never become sith.

"I am not a simple acolyte. I am an apprentice to Darth Malum, my training and what I do is determined by him alone. While your methods with training your apprentices might differ from his methods, my Master has trusted you to lead me on this mission. And you have proved incapable of doing that - or even to retrieve me from the eternalists."

"He might be relieved that I am unharmed, but I doubt that sentiment will extend to you, Lord Strosius. I am sure you can answer him yourself when we get back to Alvaria." There was a hint of disgust to her words. It had been a long day. She longed to return back to the safety of home and hopefully could give an explanation to Koto Demascón of House Marr on her disappearance.

Then she turned back to the Sith empress, her eyebrows furrowed at the ashen woman's statement. This was what she was concerned about? "I am alright like this, thank you." She said. But then her head turned back to the Lord Inquisitor, she sighed in disappointment, there was no use in the apprentice wasting any more of her breath on a lecture that would only fly over his head. "Actually... I will. What are my options?" Perhaps talking fashion with the Sith Empress might be more worthwhile.

Darth Strosius Srina Talon

 

[Srina Talon]

Tag: Lady Falentra | Darth Strosius | Darth Malum of House Marr
Location: Alvaria
______________________________________________________

Rather than keep running through the motions of a circuitous argument time and time again the pale woman wisely continued to the transport that had been readied at her behest. If her inexplicably ornery guest required the last word to fuel a feeling of victory—It was no skin from her nose. His attitude and words had been quite illuminating, though, perhaps not in the way Darth Strosius had intended. Once the trio settled into the Ferocity and the lights of hyperspace passed through transparisteel portals the deal was…Done.

It was too late to jump ship now.

Falentra was…Interesting.

Hellbent on addressing her issues regardless whom her aggressions lashed out against. It didn't matter that Strosius had the temperament of a wild boar nor that she stood on the deck of a ship belonging to a woman that was known for leaving her enemies broken—She stood her ground. It was the first thing the aquatic youngling had done that Srina quietly approved of. The expression of a spine, of sharpness, was something every apprentice needed to success in a galaxy that would very greedily swallow them whole.

"Torture?"

A pale laugh pulled filled the cabin with something that could only be called pressure. Her presence flowed as naturally as rain fell from the sky. There was a paradoxical richness to it that could only be likened to the taste of warm cream and bitter steel. Confusing. Impossible. She was hard on the senses for non-force sensitives, let alone, those that were more attuned. The only reason she wouldn't be felt, like the setting sun, would be if she deigned it so. There where times when concealing her foot print in the force was necessary. Useful. Now, wasn't one of them.

It took energy and effort that she didn't need to expend on her own ship.

"We must have very different views on varying levels of pain…Though I suppose I could have gentled the experience by adding down pillows. Was the softness of the bedding pure agony, child?"


Srina paused while her flaxen head leaned back against the headrest and her eyes fell shut. It was going to be a very long flight if misgivings kept dragging the conversation sideways. The cerulean and violet themed apprentice had been detained, this, was true. The Sith Empress had spirited her away from a military installation that had been moments from imploding inward without knowing whether the whelp was friend or foe. In that regard she supposed that the experience might have been frightening…But torture?

Flashes of what could have been made her jaw tighten. She could and likely should have turned the girl over to the Sepulcher to let them have their way with a treasonous element. But that would have only ended one way. The apprentice, dead. Any names that were spilled during the acquisition of the truth would have also been made to suffer. It was a delicate dance she wove to keep governing bodies from interfering, her husband, from truly knowing…But she was often the wall between a dictatorship and pure insanity.

This was no different.

"The trajectory of the Emperor was known to all parties participating in the incursion. I do not know the reason for your ignorance—But it serves no part of the Order to keep the location of the head of state secret in a warzone. Our operation was not silent nor was it clandestine...Unlike some."

There had been several major objectives that had been detailed during the last War Council which had formed the groundwork for the assault of Tion. She remained steadfast in her understanding of what took place, especially, once the name of Falentra's true master came to light. It behooved the supposed Master of Secrets to try and steal…Secrets.

Only—If he didn't get caught.

The question from the youngling drew her focus from the issue at hand, though, she did not move from what appeared to be a rather relaxed position. The inquiry of options pulled a simple response. "Several."

A breath, before her eyes opened and her head tilted toward Falentra. If she had held her ire but a few moments Srina would have been able to show her before this pointless argument with Strosius drew frustration to all present. He wanted his version of events to be correct. He wanted her to be unconscionable. Wanted—Eternalists to torture their young. It appeared that the Sith Lord had never learned the value of being careful of what one wished for.

If he wanted a wicked queen?

So be it.

"I knew not what you might prefer. The sizing will be accurate, but, the colors and styles are appropriate for an apprentice of a King…As is your station. Check the closet, dressers, and refresher in your quarters. All are intended for your use."

Her eyes closed again and her head turned back to face the front of the ship. It would appear that she intended to rest, though, it would be very interesting if anyone thought to try their luck and actually assumed that she was sleeping. Very interesting, indeed.

"I believe you know the way back…Call should you become lost."

__ Skip to Landing on Alvaria__​

The rest of the trip was rather uneventful, considering, the volatile forces that were pressed together in a tin car. The Ferocity was a ship that had been altered to be just as fast as it was invisible and deadly—Tailor made to cut through the vastness of space like a knife. Alvaria was not a world that would be expecting a visit from Jutrand and there would no doubt be a sense of unease when the vessel and her escorts made planet-fall.

It was one thing for ships of trade and industry to find their moorings here, but, completely different for an entourage of the Empress to head directly for the spaceport closest to the palace. They would be greeted by security, as Srina, under the guise of Gerwald Lechner 's fates had been greeted before. Only…It was different this time.

As a hooded handmaiden, unknown, and possibly powerless…No one had taken a second glance at her. Not when the Emperor's Executioner was a golden giant of a man. His footfalls shook the floor whereas Srina, then and now, was akin to fresh-fallen snow.

There and gone.

"The King may not be expecting us…Though I did send word. Fear not. He will receive us."

Her words were punctuated with the politeness of a mechanized robot. She overserved every protocol, every letter of decorum, but there was something "off" in her beautiful features that tended to make the soldiers step back. Their loyalty to their prophesied Boy-King was almost fanatic…But the Dread Queen did not call that into question. Her presence moved beyond that and toyed with thoughts, fears, they didn't know they held. It caused confusion. They didn't know whether to hold their ground, stare, bow, or flee in the other direction.

In her hands she held a mysterious package wrapped in deep orange silk. One of the welcoming entourage moved to take it but her glacier stare rebuked it. To touch her without invitation was to invoke a wrath that none would recover from. They would let her pass—Or break for her.

Their choice.

"We just need you to relinquish any wea—"

Her stare remained empty, silent, as the grave.

"Ah…I mean…Please follow me, Lady—."

"Miss—"

"Dread—"

"Empr—"

They looked tongue-tied…Horrified with themselves and the current situation. Their backs straightened as training dictated. "Please, this way."

"Lady Talon will suffice for the duration of my stay.", Srina murmured after a long moment, but moved fluidity to follow the assigned delegate. She hadn't made any official requests ahead of time despite the "heads up" that had been provided. She didn't expect any sort of fuss…Merely the presence of one Darth Malum of House Marr before his staff and soldiers started losing their composure.

The line between fight and flight was exceptionally thin.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It had been a surprising missive.

"I have something for you."

Surprising that it had come for him, yes, surprising to when it had come, he had not expected any such message, which... perhaps was more his fault than anything else, for after all, when one built their enterprise off knowing, the unexpected was as often more surprising than it would be for the normal individual.

But of course, it was surprising in another sense as well. The identity of the one who sent the message, the fact that such vague words heralded the identity of their sender was odd in itself, yet, beyond that, the fact that the woman, the Empress, herself had decided, seemingly out of the blue, that she was to come to Alvaria was...

Unexpected.

Yet, as he had found himself at the spaceport, newly constructed at the periphery of Gil Lodihr, with his escort, he could not help but hide the grin which fluttered easily enough on his face. As surprising as it had initially been, the more that he thought of it, he could not help but realise... how utterly not surprising it was.

The vagueness of the message? Entirely within character.

The lack of fanfare or warning? Entirely to be expected.

That it seemed for this month they would be taking tea at his abode, rather than hers? Actually, rather intriguing, touching even, Jutrand, the Imperial Palace... well, to say the least, he was not always comfortable at the home of the man who so utterly despised him.

Still, even as curiosity was tempered by bemusement, it could not entirely be so, despite the affection that the Empress seemed to hold for him, he was hardly certain if having an Imperial escort upon his world, his world where he hid so much, was entirely something he was comfortable with. That he had to coach his greeters was enough of an indication of that.

There had to be meticulous preparations done to conceal what might otherwise be considered treason... and so little time.

As the vessels landed, and she unveiled herself, it was hard enough, cloaked and hidden that he was, for Malum to not feel the intimidation which his subjects felt. For all that they looked to him, that they knew he was chained to greater powers was often forgotten, for even as Alvaria remained a loyal and firm Sith world, the actual amount of Sith influence upon the world outside of his own, was remarkably lax. One of the allowances, retained for the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar, he assumed.

Yet, it seemed that it was time.

Out of the darkness emerged the sound of marching feet, all in unison, armoured hulks reminiscent of the wear of the oldest of Sith Empires, clattered along the tunqstoid steel floors as if the horned hooves of monsters, helmed each of them with their hands beholden the arms of the Guard. The Guard, who served the visage of their head, who walked in the same, discipline and rhythm as the boots behind him, his form was covered in reddened black steel sculpting a form as lean as he was muscular, a cloak billowing in his wake at every step he took, while trailing upwards, a face hidden by the replica of a far more famous mask was framed by raven locks that reached down his hidden face.

All apart from their march, it was silence, no voices emerged out of helm or mask, until they stood opposite the Empress, and without missing a beat, the Guard fell to their knees, all the while, the spectre of Darth Marr bowed his head in his own submission.

"...Your Imperial Majesty... we are honoured by your arrival, how might your most loyal subjects serve?"

All this Malum witnessed, as through the air... he felt familiar presences.

Impossible presences.

Srina Talon Darth Strosius Lady Falentra

 

[Lady Falentra]

"Thank you." She uttered, affording a small smile. It was not just the subject on the piece of apparel that she was appreciative about. In fact, it would occur to the young apprentice that the Empress had been merciful indeed. Even if she hated the circumstance, there were far worse outcomes.

Falentra made her way back to the quarters, to get ready for their arrival and to find some peace for herself. There were many options within the wardrobe, from shoes, dresses to even a few pieces of jewellery. It was hard to choose. Before her life walking the path of darkness, when she was still a padawan, she had little to call her own, only the necessities. There were rarely choices with clothing, almost all of them the plain Jedi garb.

But now living within a castle in a life of luxury, the young woman was still finding her style. She spent the next few hours on the ship trying on the different outfits till she finally settled for one. A long blue dress with red patterns at the waist.

Through her window, was the familiar view of Alvaria.... of home. The ship made its descent. Then when they landed, Falentra would follow behind the Empress. At the mention of her Master, the King of Alvaria, Falentra let out a shaky breath. She had in a way, both succeeded and failed her mission to retrieve the data. When he had found out about the device she had installed in her head, he had been far from pleased. The mission was to prove to him that the implant was not a crutch, but yet she had ended up in the Empress' possession.

The Lady Talon was formidable, Falentra witnessed in awe and admiration of how the Guards of the castle seemed to cower just by her gaze alone. There was even a feeling of envy. The guards let them through without resistance.

In the hall, the King of Alvaria appeared, a companied by accompanied by a small platoon of guards. There was a feeling of relief seeing her Master - to finally see a person she trusted. Falentra emerged from behind the Empress' figure, hastily approaching Darth Malum, forgoing all pleasantries and propriety. The apprentice extended her arms that wraped her master in a hug.

The past few hours - days since Tion had been entirely stressful for the young apprentice. Even if this was not an appropriate time with the company, she needed this.

But just before she pulled away, Falentra whispered into his ear, "The Imperial Data is within the Thranta Mothership." It would be Malum who would decide what to do with that information.

Darth Strosius Darth Malum of House Marr Srina Talon

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You were captured by the enemy, I'd hardly call that a mere 'mishap' Falentra." Surprisingly it wasn't a remark spoken with any sort of bite, but rather concession. Not anything resembling regret but with some admission of guilt on his part. Perhaps it had been somewhat ignorant of him to simply assume that the Eternalist assault would fail, or at least that it would take too long to be worth worrying about but it was a risk that he had been willing to take. That Falentra would be captured instead of escaping was unforeseen as well, but it hardly mattered by this point.

Darth Strosius couldn't help scoff as she leveled that she was in Malum's care and tutelage. "The Heir of Marr can be as displeased with me as he'd like. I care little for his prattling." He had convinced his own apprentice that she was a Marr for goodness sake, a little bit of kidnapping in turn was just fair play at that point. And if he had it his way then said kidnapping would have never happened at all.

"And the trajectory of the 'emperor' thus far has hardly been reliable now hasn't it?" He snapped back, all the venom that had been so lacking even as Falentra all but spat at him suddenly returned as his gaze flickered back to the Empress. "He has all the achievements and ability of a puppet governor with none of the charm. That he even bothered to set foot in a battle at all is surprising, your success was not only unexpected but by all accounts just serves to prove not only your strength but the weakness of our foes. You never should have been there at all."

A sentiment that could be said about the Eternalists in general if he was honest, not one unique to one battle. Thankfully he wasn't bothered much further by either the Apprentice or the Empress throughout the rest of the short trip, giving him plenty of time to focus his thoughts and plan his next moves. Taking down the Empress would be far easier away from Jutrand, with or without Malum's help, but arranging her as bait and keeping her contained long enough would be another matter entirely. He'd need his forces to arrive at Alvaria post-haste if this was to work, he couldn't trust Malum to keep hold of her until everything else was in position.

When they landed the masked man let the pair lead the way, striding out behind them and idly assessing the little welcoming committee that greeted them. His assessment was very quickly decided when they cowered away from the Empress, disgust crossing his hidden visage as he strode past them. "Straighten up and have some damn pride for yourselves, this display is pathetic." If the Heir of Marr thought these guards any use at all then he was sorely mistaken. He'd have to drop by sometime and personally weed out the weak if the other Sith was to have any hope of defending this world.

A grimace adorned his face from thereon out as more servants and guards bowed or cowered away, resisting the urge to bark at them to stand at attention. Were these his own forces then he'd be ashamed. At this point he wondered if Malum even felt such an emotion, or had any pride in his followers at all. Simply another matter of discussion and correction to be addressed later.

When their 'host' was finally before them alongside his bowing guard the masked man crossed his arms behind his back and idly pulled his lightsaber into his grasp. "You really must tighten up your training for your soldiers Malum," He strode forward and stopped next to the Empress, his visor glinting as he glared at her from behind it. "If they cower in the presence of an Eternalist then I'd hate to see them face off against actual Sith."

Lady Falentra / Srina Talon / Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Srina Talon]

Tag: Lady Falentra Darth Strosius Darth Malum of House Marr
Location: Alvaria
______________________________________________________

Her head inclined wordlessly in response to the gratitude the aquatic apprentice offered, though, it seemed that Darth Strosius was still confused about the state of affairs. For however hard he railed against her and tried to throw his weight around…He would find her unyielding. Only one comment found her head tilting toward him while aureate orbs watched him for a long moment. If she was so incredibly weak, if her beloved, was the worm beneath his feet…Lower than the Jedi, lower, than a slave…Lower than microscopic pond scum…

Why yet did this Darth yield?

"You are incorrect on two matters, I'm afraid. The first…I am not your enemy."

She breathed in gently before settling deeper into the chair when her eyes closed again.

"The second…My husband is quite charming."

It would do no good to bandy words and insults with a candle that had been burning for decades. Srina was not in the habit of lying to herself or wasting her breath on a creature that was willfully deaf. The only thing possible of aiding his warped perspective was an act that none were capable of—Divinity. Srina was many things, but not that.

The willowy Echani did not comment when Falentra ran ahead to embrace her Master—Nor did she deign to acknowledge Strosius actively chastising the soldiers that had been brought to bear. Srina did not blame them for their reaction, nor, did she think them weaker for it. She was well aware that she was hard on the senses unless she actively pressed down her presence and clouded her Force Signature. Everything about her seemed to be designed to draw others in. Symmetrical features, soft, glass-like skin. Slight of frame, with endlessly long white hair.

Nothing about her seemed outwardly dangerous.

It was something without words, without form, that made the men and women unused to such depth want to take a step back. It was the unspoken that drove them to avert their eyes. It was the sun and the moon in the same dark sky, an uncanny valley, something other than near-human while appearing exactly, entirely, like everyone else. Glacier eyes remained pinned to the form of Malum while they walked forward…But her every step felt slower—Though her pace hadn't changed at all. She could hear the click of her boot. The beat of his heart.

Her eyes trailed Falentra's arms as they wrapped around the Sith she was so loyal to. The Eternalist barbs that Darth Strosius offered held less weight than sunlight. So many times, he besmirched her name, that of her beloved, that a river of hate became a trickling stream. The outrage was old, outdone, and held about as much shock value as a youngling shouting "boo" when hiding behind a transparent pane of glass. He…Was not the current problem.

Even if Srina knew exactly what he was reaching for.

Echani eyes missed nothing, nor, had she mysteriously forgotten that she'd not requested that he surrender his weaponry. Thoughtfully, she assumed that it would make Strosius more comfortable to keep it on him. A security blanket in a cold and unfamiliar place. What drew her enigmatic silence was something a little more nuanced, something….

Changed.

The form of Darth Malum of House Marr was familiar to her eyes, more than that, his biorhythms were ingrained in her mind. He stood pristine enough in his usual quality of attire. His words were that usual level of subservience that she had warned him against time and time again…And yet? His presence was…A void. A void that felt slightly, off. The air began to thicken with an unnatural stillness as the Empress allowed the silence to carry on.

Her piercing eyes drilled into him. For a moment, the world around her shifted—colors dimmed, sounds muffled—And just as suddenly…it stopped. Clarity. Control. Srina turned and handed the carefully wrapped, orange package, to one of the attendants, offering a ghostly inclination of her head. "It has been too long…", she trailed off softly, closing the distance, to let her hand grace the metallic surface of the mask this man wore. "It is a pity…That I am not here for you."

Without warning, the pale woman moved with lethal precision. Silken white hair billowed behind her like the veil of a specter as she surged forward, her hand closing around his throat with unnatural speed. Her grip tightened and the Empress pulled him forward even if Falentra was still attached to him…as if he were weightless…As if he were nothing, until they were face to mask. He had no idea, his sin. He had no idea the implication that he put forward by trying her in lieu of the truth.

"Where…is…my...child."

They were issued with such delicate softness that it would seem as if she wasn't currently threatening to crush his larynx. It would have been barely audible, but nonetheless, would send tremors down the spine of those present. It wasn't her words that were terrifying—It was the way her voice fractured and seemed to carry reality away with it.

That same hand that had touched the mask reached for the seam at the top of his brow and her expression emptied of all emotion when she pulled at it. There was resistance. It mattered not. The technology that held it firmly in place whined and whirled in protest but it wouldn't take long for her to rip it off this man's face—Letting it fall to the floor. Her touch to a cheek that was truly made of fat and flesh caused her head to tilt as her eyes drank him down. "You may fool them…But you will not fool me."

The whole transaction had taken seconds and it wouldn't be more than a heartbeat before the Guard, Falentra, or Darth Strosius decided to react. The more intelligent of them would realize that his neck would snap no matter how fast or swift they thought they were. She had the innate speed of an Echani, the strength of a warrior, and a Sith that had no qualms about ending this creature's life if he had replaced Malum of House Marr by surreptitious means.

When she spoke again her once dulcet tones rang in the Force, resonating in a way that made the very air tremble. The sound was so achingly soft, and delicate, but it boomed with raw requirement. She didn't seem to be angry, rather, her actions seemed natural. In the same way, the sky seemed to darken of its own accord and the world had…Just a little less color. A little less light.

"I do not appreciate deception, nor, becoming the potential catalyst of a murderous afternoon. I have no desire to spill blood on Alvaria…But if you should lie to me…I promise I will."

She pulled him closer.

"I shall ask again…Where is my child?"

This was not Malum.