Two Sides Of A Coin

[Aellin Tedronai]

Byss
[member="Greta Kohler"]

Pain lanced through his shoulder, blood dripping from his shoulder and his face contorted in a mixture of pain and focus. The blade in his hand dug into his flesh, stabbing and poking around to dig free the loose slug that had been fired at him. He grimaced slightly, eyes closing as suddenly the small metal pellet popped free from his shoulder. He breathed a sight of relief, the agony that had been floating through him suddenly dissipating.

Aellin breathed a sight of relief.

Bodies lay strewn about, three of them marred by lightsaber cuts and two of them laying with singed flesh. They all bore the same mark upon their shoulder, a deep black Tattoo that was shaped in a symbol very similar to what one might find on a banner in ancient Korriban. Aellin shifted slightly, standing up and slowly wrapping the bandage around his naked shoulder, he rolled his shoulder slightly, working the damaged muscles for a full range of movement.

He hadn't expected the assassins to find him here, hadn't expected them to come to the Inn where he had been staying. Byss was deep into One Sith territory, a former throneworld of the Dreadlord Moridin and a fortress that stood as a bastion against invasion. He hadn't thought that they would come for him here, and the fact that they did meant that they were becoming more bold. He frowned slightly, standing from the bed and stretching slightly.

Aellin slipped his lightsaber to the holster on the small of his back, shifting slightly and throwing on his cloak over the wound in his shoulder.

The acolyte knew that eventually there would be more of them, that they would keep coming, but for now he had to play the part of the traveling man. No one should have heard the commotion in his room, the assassins having dispatched rather quietly. He would have to be careful how he left, pass through the common room and perhaps have a meal or two.

If he was discovered by the authorities...well he would have to be careful.

 

[Komo]

Greta found herself in a relatively quiet cantina in Byss,while she finally got to enjoy a hot meal. She'd picked this one as it wasn't too crowded and lively like the others, but it still the benefits of a hot meal and a roof over her head. It had been a long day, and she was relieved to be able to finally be able to tuck into a meal. The reason she was in Byss was an uninteresting one. She had been called to Byss to oversee the opening ceremony of new military base followed by the subsequent opening of an adjacent barracks.

The ceremony and process was long and tedious and all the invited Sith Lords had elected not to come, and so she had been thus arrowed to take their place instead. And so the Sith knight had come in their stead, officiating the mind-numbing ceremony until it ended almost at the end of the day. It was then that she was glad to be rid of those lot and had some time to herself and get a warm meal in her belly. A steaming hot bowl of stew with tasty looking medallions of meat swimming in it sent her stomach growling.

Greta was about to tuck into her meal, when she felt a disturbance in the force. The sudden ebb and flow of the dark side appeared in a mass in a sudden location before it promptly dissipated. She was familiar with what that meant. That usually meant the use of the dark side was nefarious deeds. Well, as long as it didn't affect her, she approved with a slight cock of her head. It wouldn't be long later that the figure who had caused the source of the disturbance would see her seated at table near the stairs leading to the rooms up ahead.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

He left his mask within his bag, deciding that it was best to not wear it within the common area. He had not done so upon entering the inn, knowing that a masked man was more often than not taken for a Sith Lord. That impression was not one that he wanted to leave, at least no here on Byss. He had no intention to make a name for himself here, had no intention of drawing himself into a conflict that he had no part in. Aellin was here to pass through, that was it, he would not be caught in some war that his family had fought for a decade to avoid.

So he went without his mask, his plain brown hair and shaggy face showing as he moved into the common area, a backpack slung over his shoulder.

He wore simple clothes, black robes of a traveler that were not too uncommon for someone moving through the galaxy, robes provided comfort without weight after all, a good way to dress for many world within the core and the outer rim as well. The one thing he could not hide was his eyes. They were tinged with the deep corrupted yellow of the darkside, tendrils of black sweeping through them and digging into his iris'. He tried to keep his gaze low, averting eye contact when he could.

Shifting slightly Aellin wandered through the common area, stepping by the beautiful woman at the corner table by the stairs and instead taking his own seat just three down from her.

He did not notice her aura in the force, nor did he attempt to seek it out. His eyes cast down, his gaze falling only on the innkeeper as he ordered a meal, stating that he would take the bill for his room as well. The old maid nodded, and then trotted off to go and fulfill Aellins request. The Acolyte only waited, his hands flexing beneath the table.

 

[Komo]

Greta began taking several spoonfuls of deliciously mouth-watering stew, being sure to include several small portions in each scoop that entered her mouth. She closed her eyes as the tingling sensation of warm food entered her belly. She was just about halfway done with her meal when she glanced upon the sight of a shaggy looking man entered into the vicinity of her surroundings. Although the pair of them were both dressed in simple black robes, their appearance differed greatly.

The black robes he wore was simple and befitting of a common traveller, and he appeared shaggy with his brown hair looking unkempt, while she was clean and pristine, and her robes reflected her tidy appearance. Turning her head around, Greta saw that he had taken a seat three tables away from her. After his conversation with the innkeeper, she watched and waited. While she waited, the woman finished the remaining portions of her meal. With that done, she began to keep an eye out for the food he had ordered. The blonde clearly had something in mind.

When Greta saw the waitress coming over towards the man with a plate of food in hand, she snatched the dish from her, simply uttering that she would deliver the dish on her behalf. The waitress simply stood, stunned for a brief moment before she was called back to the kitchen to deliver yet another dish.

Walking over to the mysterious man three tables down, Greta set the dish down on his table, before taking a seat herself. "Your meal is here, enjoy." The reason she had approached the man was because he was the source of the dark presence she had felt earlier, and that had piqued her interest.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

There was something wrong.

Aellin could not place his finger on it, he could not have said what it was or why he felt off, but there was a feeling in the back of his neck, a crawl of energy down his spine. His hand tightened beneath the table, curling into a fist before slowly unfurling again. His knuckled grazed against the heavy food, his eyes casting up towards the woman as she brought him his food. She sat herself down beside him, setting his dish in front of him and taking up the spot beside him.

His eyes cast towards her.

This wasn't one of the waitresses.

Aellin cast his gaze towards the girl, his eyes setting on her, studying her. He didn't know her of course, but her lithe form, muscles body, and ample features were enough to draw the eye almost instantly. She was beautiful, though Aellin hardly noticed that quality. Instead he became transfixed, focused on her eyes. They were a deep, almost blood red, a stark reminder of the corpses that he had left in his room upstairs, pools of blood forming beneath them.

The hand beneath the table tensed, an in an instant he realized what was wrong. He could sense it, albeit barely, the touch of the force within the woman. It was a feeling of dread that entered his heart, one similar to his own. Not fear, not terror, but dread. It was as if his body knew something bad was about to happen, as if he knew that things were about to turn on their head. His lips thinned, his eyes settling away from her and onto his food before him.

"Thank you." He said, his voice a low growl as his fingers slowly snaked towards his lightsaber.

 

[Komo]

As she took up the seat beside him, Greta could feel a sensation she was well aware of emanating from the man. It was one that she was clearly familiar with. It wasn't the usual fear that she was normally accustomed with, but dread. Was she that bad? She definitely caught his attention as his eyes roamed around her figure before settling on her blood red eyes.

The twin crimson orbs were as bewitching as they were red and she saw the shaggy looking man spend a little more time than otherwise necessary before looking away and down, shifting his gaze to his food that she had placed right in front of him. She could feel the apprehension leaking out of him, his feelings uncertain.

Her sharp and keen eyes detected a slight shuffle of hands under the table, and Greta could roughly guess what the man was trying to do. Placing her hands under the table as well, she did a brief gesture with her fingers, and the man would find his hand unable to move any further, having being affected by the force stun ability. She would thereby release him after he showed intentions not to try something like that once more.

"Violence again? What's wrong with a little talking first? Such a hot-blooded male you are." The blonde ended with nary any further gestures, except for a wink and a wide cold smile that had been known to send quite a number of shivers up ones spine to those who had received such. Such a thing was anything but forgettable.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

His fingers twitched, itching.

One palm was completely stuck beneath the table, frozen by the power of the force. A scowl pulled at his lips, his assumption having been proven correct. This woman was not ordinary, nor was she his friend. She was Sith, the color of her eyes having marked her as something unique, her strength in the force having marked her as one of them. His lips turned, a slight sneer as she made talk of conversation. His head slightly turned, his fingers curling as her control over his palm slowly slipped away.

"Talk?" He had always been good at talking, always. "And what would you want to talk to me about? How you'll kill me in the end?"

His voice was hoarse, almost grinding, as though he had not spoken within weeks.

In truth he had expected her to lash out first, had expected her to attack him and kill him. From all indication that he knew the One Sith did not take kindly to outsiders, and Aellin, despite his meager skill, was still very much an outsider. He did not subscribe to the ways of their Dark Lord, nor did he ever plan on doing so. To him their little cult was...unpleasant, foolish even. Following such a singular vision to someone who was all but untested?

It did not sit well with him. "Unless you don't want to kill me at all."

He proposed to her, his eyes settling on her own.

 

[Komo]

For reasons unknown to her, the man was full of doubt and mistrust. Or perhaps the reasons were not unknown after all. Perhaps he was simply scared of her and feared death? Could it be? It certainly could.

He had threw a question back to her, uncertainty clearly present in his speech and words. The man was worried that talking would simply be a facade for another agenda. He was worried that his life would be taken even after they had their little chat for the reason of their conversation-to-be eluded him. Greta would enlightened him of that fact.

It was simple, really. She simply wanted to know more about this individual for he had piqued her interest, and her curiosity desired to be satiated. "Kill you? Oh no! Wy would I do that? If I wanted to kill you, would I have come over to speak to you? Perhaps I would indeed, in other times but not in this case. You interest me. Would you mind telling me who you are and where you come from?" Greta did not care if the man in front of her was part of the One Sith or an independent. As long as he was no enemy to her, his allegiance was not of importance to her.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

Fear wasn't the right word for it, weary. He was weary of her.

Sith, no matter their allegiance, no matter their words or promises were always something to watch. Betrayal was the name of their game, looking someone in the eye and ending them. That was what Aellin had done, that was what he was being chased for. It was the way of the Sith, the way of them all. He would have been disappointed in her if she didn't know that, sorrowful to see that she had not thought about killing him. He frowned slightly, his fingers still twitching.

"I am the lost." He answered, his voice still that low growl. "I have no name to speak of, no home to boast for."

That had all been tossed aside the moment he had made his decision. "I have nothing."

Nothing save for the lightsabers upon his back, the mask within his bag, and the clothing upon his skin. That suited him well enough, he knew that in the future his diligence would be rewarded with everything he needed and more. This world so far had been kind to him, had so far brought him fortune enough that he still lived. Had he not been strengthened by the very air of this world the Assassins might have completed their task, but thankfully he had survived.

Now there was this woman and her interest. He would have to find out more.

 

[Komo]

The man answered her question, introducing himself not by a name, but by a title instead. He referred to himself as 'The Lost' and indicated that he had no name to speak of, and no home to boast for. Well, that piqued her interest even more. Seems like she was right after all. He was an independent. One who was independent, without any ties to a faction was refreshing to speak to, especially a Sith like this one.

He remarked that he had nothing, but that wasn't entirely true, as far as Greta could see it. For starters, the man still had his wits about him, and he had a connection to the force and the dark side, that much she could sense. When one still had connection to the force and to the dark side, there was always opportunity from growth.

But even those with nothing start from somewhere.

Greta could sense a potential within him, and her instincts weren't usually wrong. Despite the man's rudimentary skills, the Sith knight could detect a hidden capability for something greater within him. Gazing upon him with her ruby eyes, she posed him a question. "Do you desire power? The need to grow stronger within the dark side of the force? Help is here if so as require it." Every Sith desired power, and if this man did not desire so, he would eventually succumb to the need to.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

Help?

He knew what help meant. He knew what help would mean from a woman like her. There was no doubt in his mind that any help he offered would come with strings. Strings to the One Sith, strings to her, strings to whatever she pleased. Aellin couldn't have that. He had only just earned his freedom, he had slaughtered his family and broken away on his own so that he would have no attachments, nothing holding him back. It was true that he wanted strength, but he would not pay the price for it.

Not now, not ever.

"No." He said plainly in answer to her. "I know what it is you would want of me. I know what it is you would ask."

Aellin looked her in the eye. "I will be no ones acolyte. I will be no ones apprentice. I will be no one's servant."

Strong will. That was what his family was known for, that was what he would hold to. Aellin was part of a tradition, a tradition that he himself had nearly ended. He felt that he needed to cling to it, that pride. Of course he didn't know how she would react to that, how she would respond, but he found that he did not care. Aellin would keep himself, he would keep his strength to himself, even it meant learning a bit more slowly. It was what he needed to do, how he would survive.

Perhaps he would consider her as a partner, a servant, a slave, but never a Master.

No one was fit for that position.

 

[Komo]

Her intentions had been misunderstood and it was perfectly understandable. She had been taken aback but merely for a brief second. She could see the iron will and steely determination in his eyes, one she recognised well for she herself possessed similar qualities. The man had refused her offer, indicating with confidence that he knew of what she offered and asked, yet when he went on, that was not true as he had completely misunderstood her intentions.

Was it good? That remained to be subjective, but his understanding of her wanting him to be her apprentice or servant was most definitely misplaced. Greta had no intentions of taking on an apprentice nor another slave.

Flashing him a satisfied smile as the sight of his confidence and determination, she voice out her thoughts. "Oh no, I have no intentions of having you as an apprentice or a slave. It is understandable for your thoughts to align this way, and for that I do not blame you. What I'm looking for is a partner, a brother-in-arms, to fight alongside and grow in power together. No serving is need, oh no. What say you?" As she ended, the blonde extended a hand towards him, the underside of her ivory skin facing upwards towards him.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

Trust was not often something that found among Sith, hardly at all in fact. To his experience, more often then not, the ways of the Sith were betrayal and backstabbing. It had been that way with his family, it had been that way with the Tribe, and it was most certainly going to be that way with this woman, at least that's what Aellin expected. Trust was not something easily given for him, and in truth there was but one person in the galaxy that he truly trusted.

Someone that he had broken utterly.

"What would you gain from this?" He knew she wanted a partner, but was it worth it for me. "As of now you are stronger than me, more knowledgeable. You already have allies in the One SIth, what do you gain from me? What will our partnership grant you?"

He thought he already knew, but it never hurt to question further.

Aellin was an outside factor. He belonged to no government, held no allegiance, as an ally he was a powerful force, one to exert pressure and influence wherever necessary. Perhaps that was what she wanted, someone that she could use to exert influence on the outside, someone who could strike at her so called allies in the One SIth. That much would make sense to him, and he would not mind such a roll, but he wanted to hear her say it, he wanted to hear her ask for it.

It was his way.

 

[Komo]

The man, this was still apprehensive of her. He had every right to and she fully understood his need to be. After all, she would be equally mistrusting of him if she were in his shoes. The Sith were known to be disloyal and backstabbing in the bid for more power. But Greta wasn't your typical Sith. She wouldn't betray or backstab one without a perfectly good reason or unless the individual has all but lost worth in her eyes. She lived by a set of morals and principles close to her, but she did not expect anyone else to live by those, it was simply a way of means for her. She did not expect him to trust her, or would she want it, any trust given so easily is usually not valued or simply fleeting.

She expected him to trust in something else, something much, much more believable to the likes of him. Power. Strength. Not simply physical strength, but overall aptitude. He tossed questions at her, asking what she would want with the likes of him. She would answer him. "What I would gain from this is similar to what you would gain from this. Power. As green as you may be, there is still power within you, is there not? Do you not possess the capability to learn? Learning is not only done through master and student, but through peers as well. Power is fragmenting in the One Sith, and right now, only one can depend on one's self." If he so desire power, she would assist. He need only ask.

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

He mused for a moment more. She seemed genuine in her intent, and her reasons were logical. He had not known of the fracture within the One Sith, he had not known that they were faltering, but it made sense. No one who utilized the darkside, no matter their strength or control, could ever be brought to heel. Aellin knew that, it was why he had slaughtered his family. It made sense to him that she would ask this of him, that she would want a partner for those reasons.

"Very well." Aellin finally relented.

If she wanted a partner, she would have one. One equal in strength, and one driving forward towards the power that he deserved. He would not deny her an ally, would not deny her a source of strength, most of all because she could lend strength to his own cause. There was a desire within him to show the galaxy that the Sith were more than a single Cult, that they had a power beyond what what lay in the core. Most of all however, most of all he wanted to show that the One Sith themselves were not the end of his people.

His fingers tightened once again, and then slowly he moved his hands on top of the table. It was a gesture, a sign of trust. He would not reach for his lightsabers any longer, would not prepare to kill her. His eyes wandered towards her, setting on blood red gems. "Then come with me. I don't wish to linger in this filth any longer."

They would find the bodies eventually, best they not be here when they did.

 

[Komo]

The edges of her lips spread into a wide smile as the man came to see reason. This man who had called himself the Lost had agreed to joining her as a partner in the road to greater power. Greta would not leave this place empty handed today and for that she would find herself contented with what she had achieved. She had got exactly what she wanted, nothing more and nothing less. The man the asked her to come along with him for he did not wish to linger in this filth of a place any longer. That was perfectly fine with her.

The blonde did not wish to linger here any longer as well. What reason was there left to remain for? There was one thing that irked her though, and that was the fact that the man did not have a name. Calling him the Lost over and over would soon prove to be tiring, and if he didn't have any name, she would most likely have to give him one, for convenience's sake.

"Sure, let's leave. Where are you heading to then? And are you really without name? Continuous calling of the Lost would soon prove to be rather tedious."

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Greta Kohler"]

He frowned slightly. Aellin was not the best when it came to emotion, or humor rather. He couldn't if she was joking with him or if she was asking a genuine question. The former of course was rather obvious, she wanted to know where it was that he intended to go. That was easily answered.

"Raxus." The Sith said. "There is a prize there that I wish to collect, something I require to take the next step forward."

The Bloodhaven. He had left it in orbit about the junkyard world in order to find what he had needed here on Byss. Of course this little quest had turned out a failure, well, almost a failure. His eyes cast towards the woman once again and then towards the door, the Acolyte standing from the table and beginning a slow march towards the exit. She followed him of course, stepping in line beside him as the two Sith simply left the Inn. he was almost sure that the corpses would soon be discovered, it was best they leave quickly.

"I have no name. None that I would call myself now." It was true.

Aellin Tedronai was what he had been called by his parents, Ael for short by his brother Baelid.

It was not a name that he would use anymore however, not something that he wanted. The moniker served as little but a reminder of what had been left behind, what he had put into that burning building, and what he had slaughtered upon the grounds of his family home.