Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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The Pilot

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Location: Geonosis~ Golbah City~ The Citadel
Objective: Meet with a pilot
Time: Early Morning
Tag: [member="Alden Akaran"]

From his window in his office Adron could gaze out and look over Golbah City. It always seemed like Geonosis was the most active in the few minutes after the sun rose over the horizon. The Exarch of the Confederacy peered out over the city for a few minutes more before he heard a soft knock at his door. He didn't speak, instead with a subtle gesture of his hand the door's terminal beeped and the metallic barrier flew open.

There was a younger woman standing behind the door, her vibrant azure skin and crimson eyes identified her as a Chiss from Csilla. She could not have been any older than her early twenties, yet as she moved into the room her rigid military demeanor made her seem ages older than her youthful face did. "Sir, I have your schedule for the next week."

Adron turned back to his desk, exhaling at the moment lost. It was time to return to his duties. His hand brushed over a datapad that sat on the edge of his desk. "Here I thought being the Exarch, I could make my own schedule. Give it here, girl." He held a hand out to the woman, taking one of the papers into his hands.

The blue skinned woman had a thick Imperial accent, as if born and bred in the heart of the Empire. It was because she had been, Monara, whose full name Adron did not know nor cared to know, had been a defected from the former Galactic Empire. Her skills as an assistant were admirable but she had also been a member of the Imperial Intelligence Agency as a counter-agent. In short she was a skilled assassin. The Exarch's crystal blue eyes scanned over the paper for only a moment before he held it back out to the woman. "Who is Alden Akaran? I have a meeting with him this morning." The Chiss woman paused to take the paper before locking her arms behind her back.

"Yes, sir. He's the pilot you requested." Almost immediately Adron knew who she spoke of. A man that the Exarch had taken a certain interest in due to more than his impeccable flight record.

"He should be here soon. Once he arrives have him sent in."

Bowing her head respectfully, Monara spoke in that same snappy, cut and dry tone. "Of course sir, right away." Adron turned back to his chair, settling himself down into it while looking over the datapad that was laid in front of him.
 
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[SIZE=12pt]Location: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]The Citadel, Golbah City, Geonosis[/SIZE]​
[SIZE=12pt]Objective: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Meet with the Exarch[/SIZE]​
[SIZE=12pt]Attire: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Service Dress Uniform[/SIZE]​
[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member="Adron Malvern"]​
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[SIZE=12pt]Golbah City seemed to be full of life in the early hours of the morning as Geonosis’ sun, Ea, caressed its arid landscape. The homeworld of the insectoid species of Geonosians was not exactly unfamiliar to Alden, however, he certainly wasn’t a place he would willingly say he knew. It was dry and without much color. Water was very few and far between and the gravity was noticeably different, a full ten percent less than the standard he was accustomed to. Off to the west, you could see the tell-tell signs of a vicious sandstorm brewing. Because of the harsh nature of this planet, it was no surprise to see most cultures had been driven deep underground where that temperatures were cooler and they would be able to evade the dim realities of a – for lack of a better term – dying planet. A planet which, on occasion, committed to a cycle of mass extinction. Time would tell when that grave news would be delivered should that time come in any of their lifetimes.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]What had brought Alden here today though, was something of which he wasn’t exactly comfortable with. After all, the last time he’d been here, he’d been drugged and sent through a series of tests. Circumstances he was still not sure about to this day. A terrific kriffing welcome to the Confederacy that nightmare had been. However, today’s summons had come by the hand of one of the Exarchs that assisted in governing and guiding the CIS. An invitation sent through the extended hand of a man he had never met, and a man he’d no reasonable explanation as to how he could have drawn the attention. Alden was simply a pilot in the Confederacy’s Navy, and not even one holding a significant rank and the Exarch was…well…exactly as the title declared. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Because of the uncertainty of everything, Alden could not help but to allow the thoughts and anxious feelings begin to fill him. Had they any issues with his past that s they wanted to address? Was it something else? He shook his head, and breathed deeply, trying everything in his power to steady his nerves and overcome the increasing anxiety. He patted down the dark blue fabrics of his uniform, pulling the jacket tight and crisp to exaggerate the crispness of the pressed creases. Needless to say, whatever the reasoning was behind this summons, Alden couldn’t afford to look off; his life in the navy, both before and after coming to the CIS, shaped his mentality in that.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The hissing of various pistons and servos filled the small chamber of the elevator as Alden rose toward the pinnacle of the citadel within the city here. It only took mere seconds before an all too familiar chime indicated that the lift had arrived at its destination and was followed seamlessly by the snap of the doors sliding away to reveal the room before him. It seemed to be solely occupied by the azure form of a Chiss woman, not far out of her teenage years. The crimson, inset orbs that served as her eyes seemed to radiated with both a confidence and a purpose.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]As he stepped forth from the elevator, he scanned the chamber, casting his gaze to his left before surveying in an arc as he continued to take it all in shifting the focus to his left. After he refocused himself to the young, Chiss woman. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden dipped his head to the woman to initiate a greeting. “Good morning, ma’am. I’m supposed to have a meeting with Exarch Malvern briefly, I believe. Am I in the right place?”[/SIZE]
 
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Monara had been sitting silently at her desk outside of the Exarch's office. She'd already finished her early morning assignments and was moving into her morning work. The Chiss was very methodical in how she set about handling the Exarch's affairs. She was careful to make sure every task complemented the next in whatever way it could and very seldom did she suffer distractions. The turbolift into the main lobby gave a soft beep that indicated someone had arrived. Her crimson eyes remained firmly locked on the terminal before her, though she did see the pilot out of the corner of her eyes. When the pilot approached her desk, inquiring about if he was in the correct place the young woman raised a single halting finger. She continued to type away for a shallow moment before clearing her throat, locking her crimson eyes on the man before her. Those eyes seemed to gaze, no inspect, his attire for anything that could be conceived as subpar for his dress uniform. The moment quickly passed and she clasped her hands together on the desk. "Yes, the Exarch is expecting you." Standing at her full height, which was still a head shorter than Alden, Monara made her way over to the Exarch's door. She would glance at a datapad in her hands before knocking softly.

The knock on the door caused Adron to glance up from the paperwork on his desk. Had the time passed that quickly? He set the papers down before his hand rose, giving a subtle wave that commanded the door to open once again. The metallic door opened to reveal Monara, leading in [member="Alden Akaran"]. Adron's azure eyes gazed at the man silently for a moment as Monara made the introduction.

"Sir, this is the pilot you requested. Alden Akaran." Adron pushed back from his desk, standing up and adjusting his blazer as he did. "That will be all." He said, his tone chilling as always as he dismissed the woman. Adron had a methodical way of speaking that spoke of his own Imperial training. It had been years, but his own accent still thrived. Monara respectfully bowed her head before making her way out of the room, making sure to close the door on her way out. Adron rounded the desk, his hands rising to the small of his back while he eyed the pilot carefully. Clean uniform, sharp appearence, they would do much for his initial impression of the man. "I'm sure you are wondering just why you are here." The Exarch seemed to have some amusement in the fact that Alden was compeltely ignorant as to why he had been summoned here.

As he spoke, Adron pushed out with the Force. Reaching through the ethereal power he could feel Alden for what he was. The Force had touched him, to the point where he stood out in the sea of those who remained untouched. Yes, it was there and the man seemed not to know about it. Adron was keen to it, those who were so subtly empowered by The Force. It could have been his time as the Lord-Commander of the Imperial Guard, years spent identifying and training those guards in his ranks that were powerful with the force. Of course that was another time and this was a different matter entirely. "Please, sit." He said, though it was more command then invitation as he held a hand out to the seat across from his desk. Adron would continue to eye the man before he finally crossed his arms over his chest, arching a brow in interest. "Why did you join the Confederate military?" The question was simple, and held some weight to it at the same time. Adron would wait for the man's response, yet regardless of what was said the Exarch would continue the same.

"A strong pilot like yourself could probably make more money working as an escort pilot for a security team or you could travel the galaxy as a tradesman, why war?" He demanded.
 
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Tags: [member="Adron Malvern"]​

[SIZE=12pt]The gesture of the alien woman may have come across rude to him, had he not had at least a fragment of knowledge of their culture. At least in the brief experience he had with the species, Alden had come to see that the Chiss was a very task oriented and driven race. Focused on logical and strategic dispositions more so than they were political or emotional attachments. Really, though, thinking more on it, Alden had only the handfuls of encounters with but a single member of the species and to form his opinion in such away was unfair to the woman as a whole. But then again, he was only human and humans have a certain habit of seeking out behaviors which confirm their own preformulated opinions. Confirmation bias was the term they had cast for such things. But alas, this was irrelevant for he didn’t have longer to dwell on the likely misplaced opinion. Without even so much as sharing her name, much like he hadn’t before, she looked back to him from her data pad and ushered her own reply. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]It was strange to him however that she was able to confirm his appointment, without him having presented her with some form of identification. Perhaps she knew his face from a file a physically recognized to be who he was, or perhaps she simply trusted it. Maybe Alden was the only meeting on the Exarch’s, no doubt, extremely busy schedule. Whatever the case was, there was literally reason to try and dissect it in his mind; there was plenty more that he had to think about here. Namely, just why he was here, which was still unknown to him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]As the door opened into the Exarch’s office, Alden stood rigid, his arms straight, and hands pinned to the seam of his trousers. His legs where straight, though he had not locked his knees and his heels were snuggly together, forming a forty-five-degree angle between his feet. It was the proper form of ‘attention,’ at least the one he’d been taught and had utilized for years now, and it displayed a sign of respect and discipline toward a superior. And that is exactly what an Exarch was, a superior. Although the inclination was there, he did not salute yet, for that moment would come one his actually reported in formally. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]As the Exarch dismissed the woman, Alden felt a chill run its course along his spine. Something about the man’s voice just put him off, whether such an effect as intentional or not. He remained rigid and focused, however, not once losing his bearing. Not even as the Exarch rounded his desk undoubtedly to get a better eye of him. Perhaps sizing him up and simply wishing to gauge the man he’d summoned here today. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden’s right hand flashed quickly in front of his chest before coming to a halt, the tip of his index finger resting upon his brow, as he presented a salute. Whether or the not the salute would be returned, did not matter. What mattered, was that he still presented that proper customs and courtesies to the man that stood far beyond his station. A man, he made a mental not up now, that appeared to be quite young to hold a seat of such authority. That, however, was none of his business. The man had obviously been placed in the position of Exarch for a reason and would likely serve in the capacity until he either stepped down or was removed from the position in some form or fashion. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]As the Exarch began to speak, speak to him, Alden lowered his salute, yet did not leave his rigid posture. He listened intently as the man spoke, and sought to pushing the chill inducing tones to the back of his mind to allow himself to remain mindful and in the present.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The Exarch’s opening remark gave Alden that glimmer of hope that the anxiety inducing suspense as to the exact reasoning behind his being here would be revealed quickly, but that shifted quickly as the pause set in, followed swiftly by the offer to be seated. Even though he didn’t wish to, he knew to accept the offer from the man, as it would be rude in this case to refuse and even though the phasing may have been polite and generous in delivery, the words more likely than not were an order more than a suggestion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden gave a slight bow of his head before he uttered three simple words in response. “Thank you, sir,” he said and moved the few steps toward the seat the Exarch had just motioned toward. He came to a halt in front of the chair and centered himself, his calves a mere two inches from the edge of the seat. He’d reformed his position of ‘attention’ before crouching down until he cam to a rest upon the soft, cushioned fabric. His ran along the back of either pantleg before finally coming to a rest, hands open and flat, palms resting upon his thighs. His heels remained together and his postured was straight and forward. His back found not resting place on the vertical back of the exquisite furniture. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Then the Exarch’s first question barreled in on him. Why had he joined the Confederate military? It was a question he, himself, wasn’t even fully certain the answer to, so he had no immediate answer to give. However, after the brief moment of moment of awkward silence, the Exarch elaborated, steering the conversation in a direction he desired it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden breathed in deep, exaggerated a single blink and refocused himself once more on the Exarch. “With all due respect, sir, I do not have a perfect answer for you. I’ve always felt drawn to serve others – those that cannot fend for themselves – and give back in a sense for something that has done so much and given so much to me. It is not about the money for me, nor the fame. It’s about giving back to others for me, sir.” His gaze cast down toward his feet for a very brief second before they returned to his. The blue similar to the ones the man he spoke to bore. He hoped his words were have been well received as no part of them had been even the faintest of a lie. But, then again, there was the nervousness in this situation that had the tendency to fester into self-doubt if not properly managed. That doubt and uncertainty was not something he needed at the moment as his feelings and suspicions still made him believe that perhaps this visit was not a simple nor pleasant one. That perhaps, the truth of his past was coming back to haunt him as he tried to dig into his new life within the Confederacy.[/SIZE]
 
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The Dark Lord peered at this man with a keen eye. He appreciate the rigid demeanor and impeccable bearing that this man showed. There was always respect to be given to a man who knew how to fall to command. As the man's salute rose and fell and he took his seat Adron listened for his answer. He was thoughtful and careful not to offend. He thought before speaking, a very necessary trait for Adron's vision. Though the answer that came from the man's lips was less concern of Adron than the thoughts that danced loudly at the top of the man's mind. Reading a person was a lot like reading a book. The words they spoke were the cover and their mind held everything that lied beneath. The Sith Lord's eyes were a pure, crystal azure. However if Alden looked up to the man in the right moment he would see them flash a vibrant shade of Amethyst. It was so fast Alden would likely dismiss it, or perhaps obsess over it.

Alden's words were met with silence. Adron's lips turned into a small smile, barely noticable. The Exarch could sense the discomfort that radiated from the man. So much worry and anxiety that his past was coming back to haunt him. Eventually Adron let out the slightest chuckle, holding a calming hand out to the man. "At ease." He ordered, knwoing that speaking the pilot's language would do better to calm him down. Yet it stood that there was still the man's words to answer to.

"So you are selfless?" Adron challenged, arching a brow in a flicker of amusement. "Before you answer that, I have a better question."

"What are you ready to do to keep people safe?" These words were intent and came with a matching gaze. As Adron peered into the man's soul it was clear a lie would only end badly for the pilot. "Are you prepared to fight for what you believe in? Are you prepared to die for these people?" He demanded, leaning forward for a brief moment before standing and making his way around to the other side of his desk. "Your past is of no concern to me." Adron spoke, acting on the thoughts that stayed at the surface of the man's mind. "The Galactic Alliance is dead. So is your history with them, now it's time for you to start a new chapter." Resting into his chair, Adron clasped his hands together in front of him before looking to the side for a moment. "What if I told you I can help you protect people? Show you a way to save thousands, instead of hundreds. Teach you how to finish wars, not just fight them."

Adron looked to the man closely, searching for something he truly believed to be there.

[member="Alden Akaran"]
 
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[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member="Adron Malvern"]​
[SIZE=12pt]The tense feelings that enveloped him were almost palpable, and though he tried to keep eye contact with the man that addressed him, Alden did not deny the stray glance in a direction not centered upon the Exarch. For him, it allowed for certain discomforts to fade away briefly, but in the same instance, extended sessions of eye contact, bred a sense of awkwardness. This situation for him was already discomforting enough, without the extra layer of tension that an awkward circumstance might contribute. Because of this, Alden’s gaze had shifted for but a moment as Adron’s eyes flickered from their azure brilliance to a vibrant amethyst and then back again. By the time his gaze had once again focused toward the Exarch, the man’s eyes had already returned to their original state.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]At ease. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]The words were a comfort for the man, although a distant one. They were words he both been told and said to others in his time in the service, no matter what form of the military he had chosen to serve. With them, his posture relaxed a slight bit, but he still held the position, only with muscles less tense. He let out a brief, control sigh as he further acted to calm the rising nerves. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Selfess? Now that was a trait that many would willingly lie about possessing in an attempt to impress. But Alden didn’t have much time to think of it as Adron circled back around to continue to ask something more. Adron had elaborated more, steering the conversation further in the direction he wished for it to go once again. The Exarch to this point had show he was great at leading and manipulating the direction and intent that a subject drove itself toward. It was a good trait to be possessed by a leader, and even better by one who found themselves raised to such an esteemed level so young. It was beginning to become clearer to Alden as to just why Adron fill the post he did. He exaggerated a blink, closing his eyes slightly longer than he normally would have. When they opened once more, their sapphire hue would move to seek out the azure glow of Adron’s own. “I would not call myself selfless by any stretch of the imagination, Sir. Much like I would challenge the validity in any man that made the claim that they were truly…” He paused a moment, taking in a breath. “…Selfless. For is a man truly selfless when he gains personal satisfaction from an act another might consider to be selfless at a cursory glance?” His eyes flashed away for a moment, as he organized the next words in his mouth to further answer the Exarch’s questions. “Whereas I will fight for what I believe, and die for it if I must, there is nothing I would petition to be selfless among the actions I take. More so, I would think of my actions to be quite the opposite I have chosen my path for the satisfaction I gain from helping those less fortunate than myself. Protecting those who can not do so on their own.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden had spoken far more than he had initially intended to, but for some reason he had the impression as though he could speak more freely and honestly with this man, than he could with many others. Perhaps it was the calming nature captured within the brilliance of Adron’s azure irises. Perhaps, for him, it was simply and misplace notion of self-preservation, something the Exarch’s next words assured him of. The body of government he had once served was gone now; there was no denying that fact. He had turned the page the moment he’d come to Confederate space, but to this point, he had still feared the consequences his past might present him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]For Alden, after the collapse of the Galactic Alliance, he had drifted for a time before finally making his way here. And even those the ideologies of the CIS may have conflicted with that of the faction he’d once served, the CIS were still a force for what he saw as fair and just in the galaxy, as strange as that may have sounded. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Then came Adron’s next words. It was an offer, perhaps a metaphorical one, that seemed to stir at something more. As if he was something more and could be something more than what he already was. Perhaps the words were just intended to stir a thought within his own mind. Perhaps something different entirely. Nevertheless, Alden took a moment to think of the statement. To teach him to finish wars before they even began. Show him a way to save thousands instead of simple hundreds. But for the first part, had the CIS not already been achieving that? Was that what the CDF offered him? The chance to help protect others. “The Confederacy already does help in the protection of others, sir. It has offered me so much on that regard already. How could it possibly offer me any more than it already has?”[/SIZE]
 
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[member="Alden Akaran"]
It was not seldolm that Adron found his own beliefs aligning with another, however it was refreshing none the less to hear the man's words. He seemed to be a realist which caused Adron to have a bit more faith in. The Exarch nodded silently at the man before tapping a single finger on the desk. "Selfless is an impossibility. Because even if it is your desire to do good for other's it is still, as you said, a desire to meet your own satisfaction. Their satisfaction just happens to be the result." Adron agreed, before nodding once more. The response that the pilot gave the Exarch seemed to cause him some amount of agitation as the man's eyes darkened and fell on the pilot. "The question is how can you help yourself? I'm not your father, pilot. I'm your Commander. I can teach you how to help others and I can show you the best way to do it, but I cannot assure that you are strong enough. That depends on you."

"You are a pilot within the Confederate Defense Force. A damn good one many of your superiors say. You follow orders, achieve your goals, and they mark you as a loyal airman." Adron said, tapping the datapad that was on his desk, indicating that it was a file on Alden, perhaps containing more information than the pilot would imagine. "That means nothing to me." He said, finally. Adron stood from his desk, his azure eyes falling on the man intently before he turned back to the window that displayed Golbah city. The mad rush of the morning was still alive and well, perhaps even a bit more so than when Adron first took notice of it.

"What do you know about The Force?" The Exarch asked, glanicng over his shoulder and looking to the man. Depending on where Alden had grown up the Force could be a very abstract concept. A mystery that could never truly be answered. Perhaps he would know it's powers. The Galactic Alliance had hosted an enclave of Jedi for some time, it was entirely possible he had fought alongside them. The Sith Lord clasped his hands behind his back, returning his gaze to the window before him while speaking once again. "I can sense the Force and I can see how it moves through each and every person. Although you may not know it, it's particularly strong with you." Turning back to Alden, Adron made a gesture for him to stand, his hand falling into the pocket of his trousers while he did. "Get up."

The Exarch would hold out a small clear crystal, setting it on the desk in front of them. "Take it." He demanded. If the pilot would take it into his hand this crystal would shine a deep shade of azure, activated by the raw talent that thrived within the pilot. Depending on the pilot's reaction it could brighten to show his wonder, if his realization was strong enough it may even reach into him, giving him a feeling of the Force within him.
 
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[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member="Adron Malvern"]​
[SIZE=12pt]Well at least the two of them agreed on something. True selflessness was an impossibility. But still, the true question that tugged at Alden in his mind had still yet to be answered. Exactly why was he here? If not to question him of his past, why would an Exarch summon him? Surely there were more decorated and distinguished servicemen out there to fill whatever need it was that the man had. Why him? There had to be an explanation as a simple meet and greet seemed highly illogical a reason. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But alas, where he’d made one positive stride, he followed it with a slightly less positive one. He’d either misspoken or his words had not been interpreted correctly. Whatever it was, the agitation it seemed to rile within Adron as evidenced by the darkening of the man’s eyes and the furrowed look his gave Alden now. Alden had not intended to stir up anything, but in hindsight, perhaps his word choice was misplaced. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]His jaw clenched slightly, a sign of his own frustration at his word choice. A disappointment causing his stomach to knot over his own misgivings in the situation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]However, it seemed the Exarch’s frustration with him was short lived, as he once more took charge of the conversation and steered it in the direction he desired. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden listened closely as Adron began to speak of him, tapping a file on his desk. It seemed that in his short tenure with the Confederacy, he’d already managed to build himself somewhat of a reputation. His abilities within the cockpit were getting noticed, even if he had not heard the words directly from the mouths of his immediate superiors. What the Exarch listed off from what Alden could only assume was a personnel report, was something Alden took pride in. He much preferred for his actions to be his voice instead of using his own words. But apparently that meant nothing at all to the Exarch as Adron voiced it to him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But then again, Adron had moved toward his next topic and question. What did he know of the Force? And then he elaborated. Adron could see the Force in living things and that in itself meant that Adron was Force sensitive. A revelation for Alden for sure, but nothing he was put off balance by. It seemed most in positions of power and leadership throughout the galaxy had some sort of affinity to the mysterious power. But as far as he was concern, Alden had no connection to it. Alden had never mysteriously made things float. He’d never shot lightning from his fingertips no jumped to unimaginable heights. What proof was there that he, himself was a Force sensitive. But, apparently Adron saw a ‘particularly strong’ embodiment of the Force within him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden swallowed, and shot his gaze once again to the Exarch before speaking. “As far as I know, Sir…” he began, taking the time to truly think over his next choice of words, “…the Force is a kind of mysterious power, or rather a gateway, for one to accomplish feats he may have thought previously impossible. Do I know exactly how? No, but I can imagine that with time, one could learn provided enough study.” In truth, that really was all Alden knew of the Force. It was something that allowed men and woman to accomplish more or less supernatural things. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden rose when commanded, resuming his rigid stance at the position of attention. He didn’t know exactly why he’d been commanded to do so, but he wouldn’t disobey his superior. He watched as Adron extended a hand with a small crystal he had just pulled from his pocket. Then he demanded that Alden take the crystal. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]What was this? Some kind of test? These confederate types certainly did like their tests, didn’t they? He extended his hand and leaned forward, however cautious in his approach. Adron had ordered him to take the crystal and that is now exactly what he intended to do. As his fingers began to wrap around the small, polished gem, it immediately began to radiate in a spectacle of blue. It was an intense light and it was bewildering to him. He hadn’t the faintest inclination as to why the crystal behaved the way it did, but it was certainly something to marvel over. The brilliant radiance of the thing seemed to increase with his escalating emotions. Excitement. Fear. Awe. It was all there and the melding pot of mixed feelings all seemed to be immolated in the way the gem shown bright with its light. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He turned his hand over, palm open and facing upward. His gaze was fixed on the stone. “I don’t understand. What is this?”[/SIZE]
 
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[member="Alden Akaran"]
The crystal in Alden's hand would begin to rock and shift violently before it shot out of the man's hand, directly into Adron's raised palm. The bright luminescent light would fade to darkness in the moment before Adron closed his hand around the stone. Now his gaze somber, stoic as if he himself had realized something he did not intend to. The man, though he may not know it, had a deep connection to the Force, one that far surpassed the Exarch's original thoughts. "It was a crystal." Adron said, tucking the small stone back into his pocket, offering no more to the man then what he had asked. "The better question is what are you?" He posed the question without expecting an answer and in the next moment cleared his throat. "It's actually pretty common for good starfighter pilots to be Force Senstive. The Force connects and binds you to all things, making it appear as if you have hightened reflexes or some minor precognition. In reality the same way you could feel someone jump on the same floor you stood on, you can feel the push and pull of events in the Force."

"Untrained it is a lucky little thing to have. You rely on your instincts a lot and you are rewarded for it. However, it's passive. You cannot effect the push and pull of the Force just feel for it and every so often anticipate it." The Exarch raised his hand, his eyes falling on his own desk. There were a number of pins at the edge of the metallic surface and slowly, one by one, they would begin to lift themselves into the air. "You're right, well you are close to being right. Except the Force is not the gateway, you are." The pens would rise above their heads, slowly spinning above them while Adron showed the briefest smile, then his eyes landed on the man. "Here, let me..." He raised a hand as his voice trailed off, pressing it to the pilot's brow.

In the next moment, Alden would feel as if he had been pushed from his body. The world around him flew away, or was ripped away as Adron toyed with the man's mind, giving him some insight to the Force's power. "The Force is power..." Adron's voice echoed in Alden's mind, loud and thunderous.

In rapid order the world around them would repaint itself into a new creation, a familiar once. Barren ground would lie under their feet and Adron stood several meters away from the man, the massive distance between them not effecting Alden's ability to hear him.

"The Force is the world." A loud crack would echo out, damningly loud as from below the barren dirt and dust would crak and make way for massive structures. These structures melded and formed skyscraper like buildings, shiny and new they appeared unscathed and may have been familiar to Alden. In only a moment coruscant stood around him, a vibrant buzzing world with clear blue skies and a pleasent feel to it. Alden stood in the center of a balcony, overlooking the flowing world and all the life that had once been. "Maybe Coruscant?" Adron said, taking a step and appearing beside the man, seemingly out of nowhere. The Exarch held his hand out as if to display the world surrounding him. "Beautiful....I only ever visited once, in my youth, but even then I loved it."

"Of course. All good things come to an end, right?" Adron gave a brief flourish of his hand, that simple wave caused a deep shadow to fall over them, over the world. When next Alden looked at the city below he would hear the rampant screams of terror, echoing from one citizen to another as hellish volleys of blaster fire rained from the heavens. In a single sweep so many lives were ended. From the clouds a number of Imperial ships would be assaulting the world, their engines roaring louder than a thousand rancor and the smell of death was thick around them. Alden may have looked for Adron but he would be gone, unseen to the man. Alden would stand in the center of this hell for a moment before finally his own building would be assaulted. Turbolaser fire slammed into the building the man stood on and in time it too would falter. As the building collapsed and Alden fell he would feel as if he fell for hours, maybe even days. The Force rushed through him in powerful, overwhelming waves until finally his eyes would snap open and he would be back in the office with Adron. Golbah city would appear as it had only the moments ago from when Adron started the illusion.

The smile that was on Adron's face was a mixture of amusement and pride. It was interesting to see a man open his eyes for the first time, how would Alden react to his awakening. "Welcome back."
 
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[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member="Adron Malvern"]​
[SIZE=12pt]It was all a blur t this point; Alden’s mind entrenched in the odd behaviors of the crystal. What did it mean? Why react to his touch but not in the hand of the Exarch? If anything, the unfolding situation raised more questions than it provided answers for. Whether or not than had been the intention behind this presentation had yet to be seen. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]It took but a moment for Alden to snap back to reality as the radiant crystal leaped from hand and back into its master’s open palm. The light was snuffed out almost immediately as the gem left his grasp, returning to its natural, translucent state. He blinked, yet kept his attention, for the moment, on his open palm. A few seconds passed before his attention shifted back to Exarch; his hand returned to his side. His postured was slightly more relaxed now, yet still held bearing. A moment more passed and his hands more to clutch one another behind him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]As Adron spoke, Alden continued to listen to his words. He spoke somewhat in riddles, answering questions with yet more questions. Perhaps he was simply trying to make Alden think, or perhaps that’s simply how one conversed as they reached the higher echelons of power. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it were a combination of the two, with persons another element thrown in that was unknown to Alden. But the question, which Alden assumed was of the redundant nature, was simply…what are you.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]For Alden, he only thought of himself an average person, who excelled at a flying. It had been what he felt he was called to in life and something that came natural to him. He didn’t think of himself as anything special. He didn’t see himself as possessing any form of supernatural gifts nor abilities. No, he was just a man and one who labored extensively to perfect his trade. That, to him, is why he had become the damn good pilot he had. It was nothing more than that. Just hard work and a drive to better himself toward his craft. That was all he saw in himself. But perhaps there was more, and as Adron revealed more, it forced Alden to think of the possibility that perhaps he was more than what he believed himself to be. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Nervousness took its hold once more as Adron made an offer and stepped toward him, extending his hand. Let him do what exactly? But that question wouldn’t linger in his mind for long as some kind of force he could not explain seemed to separate his spirit from the present world and his body. It was now as if he was on the outside looking in and a shallow form of panic began to set in. The words Adron spoke to him after were muffled as a torrent of mixed emotions ravaged his mind, dancing violently to a beat he could not hear himself. The world around him spun and shook, threatened to collapse. It was a tempest of unimaginable things that all struck him at once. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden closed his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth in the process. A moment later they opened and he found himself on a familiar world. A world from his past. Megastructures and monoliths dominated the scene as towering skyscrapers thrusts their way upward into the sky above. Thousands upon thousands of repulsor craft streaked through predesignated hyperlanes, leaving blurred lines of red and white lights in their wake. It was Coruscant. It was a planet he knew well, but not one he truly cared a great deal for. Whereas people buzzed around this ecumenopolis in great abundance, there truly wasn’t what Alden would call life here. There was no green. No blue. There was nothing of the natural beauty of the world, as there was nothing of nature that remained. Even oxygen had to be brought in to the planet simply to ensure its stability and means to maintain the lives on those that chose to inhabit the planet. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden managed to hear Adron’s next statement about Coruscant being a world he’d only been to a single time, years ago in his youth. He’d loved his visit here, but he and Alden were different people. They had different philosophies and different interests. And as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There was certainly proof of that in this very moment. What was strange, though, was that Adron seemed to both appear and then vanish again as if born from thin air only to be blown away by the swift breeze that whirled around the higher levels of the upper city. Winds that would no doubt be whipping about upon the balcony Alden had found himself on. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But then, in an instant, the previously vibrant, blue skies grew dark and grim. It was black at night out now, reminiscent to the void of space where only the flicker of distant stars managed to cast the dimmest of lights without the strength to provide anything more than various dots upon a blank canvas. That all would be shattered in the blink of an eye. Roars of massive destroyers set in, causing buildings to tremble and shake beneath the tremors their concussive nature induced on the area around them. Then came the unwelcomed sorrow and anguish as a vibrant display began to paint the colorless canvas with streaks of red and green. Flames of ravenous fires showed in their rueful and chaotic way, leaving their countless plumes of billowing smoke as an autograph to a distinguishable work of art. The canvas had been painted with death and destruction, a cruel revelation to Adron’s decree that all good things must come to an end. It was straight horror and Alden could not help but to fall to his knees, screaming out in pain and anger. An ire burned deep within and his hands balled tightly into fists as tears flooded from his eyes. Even if he didn’t care for the planet, none deserved this fate. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]It took only a little longer for the tide of calamity to reach his perch. The building shook and groaned, crying out as it pleaded for a mercy it would not be given. Snaps, cracks and explosion belted for from the high rise as it finally faltered in its struggle to remain standing. Its structural integrity ceased and it fell, leaving Alden to fall with it. Time seemed to slow and his eyes closed. Memories of his life raced through his mind. His mother. His father. His brother. A lost love. His friends. All of it filled him as the fall continued and continued. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]It seemed as though a lifetime had passed before his eyes would snap back open and reveal him to be back in the present. The charade was over, but the charade felt so real. He could see it. He could feel it. Hear it. Smell it. Taste it in the air, but he’d never actually left. But how? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“What,” Alden began, gasping for breath, “what was that? It felt so real?”[/SIZE]
 
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[member="Alden Akaran"]
There was no mistaking the obvious pleasure that came over Adron's face. He held a smile that was both wicked and warm at the same time. The man was silent, staring at the pilot for a few moments before finally he spoke. "You are the gateway. The Force flows through you and with the proper training you can harnass that flow and create paths with you at the center. What was that? A parlor trick, compared to the things I could do." Adron held his hand out, they were soft and properly attended, befitting a man of his station. Of course, they were not without scarring and wear, but it was obvious he took great care in his grooming. "The Vicelord taught me how to use this hand to level an entire city block." He held out his other hand, closing it into a tight fist. "With this one I can create an entire world." Adron continued his speech, moving about his office with his hands clasped behind his back. The air in the room would grow thick as the Sith Lord no longer contained the power that was within him. Alden could feel the darkness the power, he could feel the weight that came with all Adron was. "I brought you here because I can show you how to control your abilities."

The Exarch took careful notice of this man, watching his moves and drawing deeper into his inner thoughts. His emotions were still in an explosion from the illusion that Adron had forced upon his mind. It had been a simple exertion for the Exarch but he was not lost on the shock that Alden must have felt. "I am a Sith." He said simply, scratching at his chin before clearing his throat. "Not unlike the ones who destroyed your Galactic Alliance...but at the same time I am something entirely different."

Alden may have been mistrusting of the Dark Side of the Force or the Sith but that would be his decision to make. Adron grew tired of scheming and the slow process of turning an unknowing mind to the Dark Side. In the end he sought to teach someone how to slowly sacrifice one thing after another until the Darkness was what remained, that was the true art of crafting a legacy in the Sith. "There is a code, there is strict training, and there is pain. There is quite a lot of pain actually." He said, rather nonchalantly.

Adron rounded the room until he came to stand in front of the man. "I'm looking for an Apprentice. Dark times are coming and it is past time I pass my knowledge onto someone, someone who is ready to do what it takes to protect our people." Leaning back on his desk, Adron cleared his throat, leveling his eyes against the man. "So you can return to your fighter. Keep fighting the wars your way. Eventually you will die and your effect on the galaxy will end..." Adron glanced to the side for a moment before his words darkened. "....or commit yourself to my teachings, commit yourself to this power. Then maybe one day you will have the ability to pass on what I will show you, then when it is your time to join the Force they will continue to act on your wills and teachings."

Turning back from the pilot Adron moved to rest himself into his chair. "Choose. This offer exists only once, this chance exists only once."
 
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[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member="Adron Malvern"]​

[SIZE=12pt]Alden had been given a lot to think over as the Exarch spoke. He’d spoken with an elegance and intentional word choice. Adron certainly knew what he was doing and exactly how he wanted to deliver his point. But at the same time that he’d given Alden a great to take and consider, he’d managed to stir yet another question within the pilot. If this meeting had been organized solely for the fact to bring about a revelation within the man as to just who he was and what it was that he possessed, how had the Exarch known having never met the man. At least not that Alden had any recollection of. But still, Adron had brought Alden here to assist him to harness abilities he didn’t even know that he possessed. It was all so much to take in at once.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden stumble back a step, still in disbelief at what had just occurred moments before. How the man, now identifying himself as a Sith, had been able to so easily influence his mind and concoct a nightmare for him to struggle through with but the touch of a finger. And even though the very thought of the Sith was a sour subject for him, he couldn’t allow his perceptions based upon the encounters of a few, force his interactions with another to take on any particular nature. Whereas the Sith may have acquired the mantra of evil, a title levied on them but those that did not necessarily see eye-to-eye with them, perhaps they were something else entirely. Afterall, history is written by the victor so who’s to say history was without bias. That very thought that history was unbiased was pure ignorance.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden swallowed and closed his eyes, making one final attempt to shake the horrors of the illusion from his mind so that he could think clearly over whether or not it was in his own best interests to accept the offer extended by Adron. On one hand he had the opportunity to deny the Exarch’s teachings. To go on and pretend like none of this ever happened. A frugal thought for sure, but he could hope after all, right? In the hand, he held the option to embrace the Exarch’s teachings, even if they did not fully align to his own principles. He could learn to harness that which was apparently within himself. Learn to use this Force. Realize the potential he held to be that gateway to abilities beyond the imagination. Perhaps in doing so, he could choose his own direction and would not have to fully embrace what it was to be Sith. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]His eyes opened, but his gaze was to the Exarch’s desk. His sapphire eyes flashed to the left, and then back center, though his head did not move. His hands remained clasped beneath the small of his back. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He breathed. A long inhale, followed both a controlled exhale of equal length. Once. Twice. Three times, he did this before his gaze shifted upward to the Exarch again, his posture return to its fully upright state. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I’ll accept. Learn to embrace these…” He paused briefly as he searched for the correct word choice. “…Gifts you’ve enlightened me of.” If only to learn to save the thousands. He finished, think inwardly in the last regard. Knowing now that Adron was a Sith, he felt a particular need to be guarded in his response. He didn’t fully agree with what he knew of Sith methods, but ‘we do what we must, for the greater good,’ right?[/SIZE]
 
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[member="Alden Akaran"]
The Exarch could sense the uncertainty coming from the man. Yet, as Alden considered Adron's offer, the man was sure that he knew his answer long before it had fallen from his lips. Once Alden had spoken the words, Adron clasped his hands together in a content gesture. Leaning back in his chair, Adron cleared his throat, holding his hand up to correct the man. "Remember. I promise you the path, no more. It is your path to walk, whichever direction you choose." With that the man exhaled, standing from his desk. The Sith Lord crossed his arms, gazing at the man for a moment as if measuring his worth. Finally, an amused smile came to his lips as he made his way around the desk. "Give me your arm." Once Alden extended his arm, Adron would take it into his hand, a firm grip on the pilot's forearm. Alden would see the Exarch's eyes, slowly they would bleed from their crystal blue to a vibrant shade of amethyst. "Remember. There is no turning back, but you can decide where forward will lead you."

Adron's grip tightened and perhaps for the first time in Alden's life he would feel the full weight of the Dark Side, It's presence was chilling, extending itself from Adron as if water running from his hand. Alden's arm would grow cold and then the rest of his body would slowly follow. As Adron's amethyst eyes bore into the man he would speak, barely above a whisper his words were of a language that Alden would not understand. "Amir kur' tali una hejdi ma, kalis kruel merik anas toa." His words would practically echo as they were heard twice, once from Adron's lips and again, deep in the back of Alden's mind.

The chilling frost that spread over Alden's arm would quickly turn. Where Adron's hand clasped Alden's arm a small light would flicker, like a spark in the night it would explode. From beneath Adron's hand an amethyst flame would burn into Alden's arm. The pilot may have attempted to pull from the Exarch but his grip was inescapable. "Do not ignore this pain, do not seek to hide from it....This is only the beginning." The flames would lash out and in the next moment, it would be as if they had never been there. Adron's hand would pull back from Alden's arm. Where once there had been the sleeve to his uniform, now it was burned away, leaving only a few charred fibers in it's place. It was below those fibers that would draw the eye. Alden's arm held a brand, where his skin had swollen and raised red with a heat as if it had just been parted from molten rock. The symbol was a simple rune, that seemed almost harmless in it's appearance, however Alden would be able to decipher it's true power. It radiated from his arm, like a warm light he would feel the Dark Side, the force in it's entirety.

In the next moment the brand would settle against his arm. Swollen skin would calm to it's normal state and where the skin had formed a rune, now it was pitch black. A tattoo like mark had replaced this brand, yet the power was still there for Alden to marvel at. "There. This mark is not given lightly." Adron's words were soft as his eyes reverted back to their natural state. It took so much effort for him to conjure the mark of Kruel, especially when it had been so altered from it's original form.
 
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[SIZE=12pt][member="Adron Malvern"][/SIZE]​
[SIZE=12pt]‘Give me your arm.’ [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]It was a command that Alden had not expected to hear from the Exarch and one that somewhat concerned the man. Adron had already toyed with his mind by merely placing a finger upon his brow, and now he wanted his arm? An uncertainty stirred within the man, but he extended his arm to the Exarch after a brief moment. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Adron’s grip was firm, a strength Alden hadn’t suspected from the man. And then the Exarch’s eyes flashed a pure amethyst as he increased the strength of his hold upon Alden’s arm. So much raw strength – was that what Alden could come to expect as the Exarch showed in the path toward realizing his true potential? Following with it was this weight, unseen but undeniably present. It was dark. Cold, yet warm. It was power in a form Alden had never actually witnessed before. It was the Dark side of the Force, the very nature that spurned from Bogan. He felt it coarse through him as the Exarch continued with whatever ritualistic tidings he’d committed himself to presently.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Then came the excruciating burn as it seemed the Exarch was branding his skin. Alden didn’t jerk away, though his muscles tightened and spasmed wildly with the unnatural act. He did not yell, nor turn his gaze away; he wouldn’t allow himself to. He simply willed himself to push through it. His only sign that carried his pain was the grimace that marred his face as his teeth ground together against one another. Even with his rudimentary knowledge of the Sith, he knew that anything that could be perceived as a sign of weakness was not welcomed. The weak would have no place in their ranks. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Perhaps this is why Alden’s own morals and beliefs did not align fully to that of his new Master and, by extension, the Sith. For Alden, everyone deserved a chance to live their life. Everyone had their own strengths, even if they did not lay within raw power and Force. Everyone had a role to play and a place where their own talents, however outlandish they may have been, to shine. At least until they acted in a slight against the galaxy. Those deserved nothing less than the destruction they had reigned down upon others. Those deserved to be disciplined and punished. And if their acts had been heinous enough, they deserved nothing less than death. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The process continued, and even though Alden’s eyes lay upon the alteration of his arm, his focus lay beyond that. He thought inwardly. Of his family and his friends. He forced himself to remember those times in his life that were good, steering well clear of those that might bring him back to the mutilation of his forearm. It wasn’t until the Exarch spoke again – his words seemingly bringing about the end of whatever he’d done to the arm. He’d left a small runic symbol imbued into the skin, reminiscent of a freshly done tattoo. It was black, a great contrast with his naturally fair complexion. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Although, Adron had said not ignore the pain after it had already set in, Alden had already drifted in his mind away from it. Those words had even fallen upon a body, without its spirit present in the moment. They’d fallen upon deaf ears in a sense, though he’d been careful in every manner to ensure that he appeared in every manner, physically there embracing it all.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden’s gaze lay focused on the archaic symbol that had now been branded upon his skin and he uttered but three simple words. “What is this?”[/SIZE]
 
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[member="Alden Akaran"]

The Sith Lord eyed Alden closely as he asked about the mark on his wrist. He could not help but flash a tight-lipped smile at the man's words. His hand pressed into the pilot's arm where the mark sat and in the next moment all pain that had been brought on by the dark rune would subside. "A gift." Adron said simply, leveling his eyes against the pilot before exhaling softly. "The Mark of Malphas. It binds you to me, helps me monitor you and your progress."

Rather than explain the mark using his words, Adron reached out with the Force, allowing his words to speak in the pilot's mind with a shallow whisper. 'Force bonds are rare and difficult to conjure. This mark binds you to me and makes it so you can always reach out to me even...' The words spoken in the mans mind would rise to his ears as Adron finished the statement. "...across the galaxy." He finished, It was true that the dark mark was merely an artificial force bond which was extended from Master to Apprentice. Alden had been the first apprentice to take the mark, successfully. The fact the pilot's arms had not yet exploded into an inferno of amethyst flames was a good sign.

"Now. Go away." He said, looking to the man with a completely uninterested expression. He gestured to the man's arm as he spoke. "Your training begins when you can get that mark to disappear from your arm." He explained, pointing a single finger at the mark. "The mark is an extension of my power, but it bends to your will. You can make it appear invisible to the eye, you just need to focus on it and impress your will over it. Bend it to your command. When that is done you'll have enough concentration to move on to real training." The Exarch would take a single paper in his hands, his eyes washing over it as his left hand flourished towards the door. The threshold open to provide an exit for the pilot.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion....Say it." Adron demanded before the man would be allowed to exit. Only once Alden had said the first line of the Sith Code would Adron's eyes turn back to his paperwork. "Take too long and I'll find a new apprentice." He promised.
 
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[SIZE=12pt][member="Adron Malvern"][/SIZE]​
[SIZE=12pt]‘Great. Now I’m being coddled,’ [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]is what slipped across the forefront of Alden’s mind as the Exarch spoke of monitoring him and his progress. He was a grown man, and to his knowledge, he needed no babysitting. It was preposterous to him and something that more or less irked him. He hated to be micromanaged and that exactly what he felt this Mark of Malphas was now. A way for someone else to try and control each and every aspect of his life and work and the actions he took to get there. It wouldn’t take long, however, for him to push that thought from his mind and redirect his attention toward Adron once more. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He bowed his head slightly in a sign of respect, tucking his chin down toward his chest, as the Exarch commanded his to go away. It wasn’t exactly the phrasing or word choice he would have expected from the man, but being in the position that Adron was, he could speak as he pleased. After all, the Exarch only answered to a single person, and that was the Vicelord. It was really something, wasn’t it? Just yesterday he had been but a simple pilot in the Confederacy’s Navy. Now…now, he was a hand-picked apprentice to the Exarch of the CIS. It was the classic story of the average, or less than average, person rising from nothing to achieve something. Sure, Alden had been brought up in a life of privilege, but that had been back in the days of a former life. And that privilege had not been his own, just what he had been born into. Here in the CIS, none of his past matter. His family’s wealth and power held no influence here. His childhood had been spent well outside of the Confederacy’s boundaries. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He turned on his heel before Adron’s next words fell upon his ears. He’d spoken of how his training would commence only after he was able to discover the means to cause the mark the Exarch had placed upon his arm to disappear. And then the man proceeded to further explain the meaning and power behind this ‘Mark of Malphas.’ [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Alden closed his eyes briefly, taking in a breath. In a sense, this whole thing had been a monumental turn of events. However, once his movement toward the door had begun, the next words from the Exarch fell upon his ears, halting him there in the entryway’s threshold. He gritted his teeth slightly at the man’s next command for the words he had been commanded to speak were far out of line of his own ideals and beliefs. Alden believed in peace and what could be achieved through it. For him, peace was not a lie, and neither passion. Perhaps one could even say that the two were one in the same, unable to be achieved without the existence of the other. Peace was not a lie, and neither was passion. Peace could be achieved through the convictions of one’s passion, but this was no a philosophical debate. This had not been spoken as a question tor open a forum of discussion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Peace is a lie; there is only passion,” he said after a passing second or two. He didn’t believe in the words he had spoken, but at present, he was not in a position to fight for them. He was in a difficult situation here, and every word he spoke had to be done in a manner of exert precision. Else he might find himself in am unappealing situation.[/SIZE]
 

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