Private Rendezvous at Varykino (Danger)

[Darth Carnifex]

He appreciated her reaction, though many might claim otherwise the Dark Lord held a deep fondness for His people and their culture. He would have not gone to such lengths to preserve it as He had done, even when some of His own kind bristled at being so tightly bound under His authority. They had been opportunists and cowards, feigning fidelity while wringing their hands in secret; loathing the power that He and His family had over them. He found them to be repugnant, not even considered Epicanthix, and He would mete upon them the most cruelest fate when their time came at last.

"For now, I have sojourned my people on both the Malsheem and on Dromund Kaas. They have acclimated well to Dromund Kaas, for it's temperance is much like our homeworld's. My kind takes to new environments quickly, Danger, we adapt with ease. Already my people thrive, though we all know in our hearts that it is not to be permanent. I have been working on a new home for our people, one fashioned for them as a paradise. When the time comes, I will lead them to this promised land. Until then, they must do what they must to carry on our legacy."

Carnifex continued to eat for a few moments, allowing the moment to grow between them. "I should extend an invitation to Dromund Kaas as well, so you may see the fruits of our labor. I have gone to great lengths to restore the Sith Holy Worlds to functional order, although our enemies would see us uprooted at any cost. Already, I have had to fend off their marauders and saboteurs. It is work I am well suited for, for I harbor no hesitation or mercy in my heart for those who raise a hand against me. My fleets roam the Stygian Caldera, monitoring for signs of treachery. It should be safer now for Arceneau Trade to move through the nebula."

His countenance darkened for a brief moment, "I sense that we will require such cherished trade in the future, the enemies of the Sith are constantly moving; plotting and planning. We must always stay one step ahead or find a blade in our hearts, but we will prevail."

Danger Arceneau ​

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Darth Carnifex

If Kaine said that his methods have ensured fending off marauders and the like, Danger believed him. He was the sort of man who ensured his domain was held firmly in control and that any issue or sign of trouble would be swiftly dealt with.

The only issue, being, that the last time Danger had been at Drumond Kaas was in the wave of the Black Hive Virus almost twenty years ago. That had been the day that Alric and she had found and saved Myra, completely changing their pathway in life with her subsequent adoption. Had they'd not stopped there to assist with the refugee crisis during the midst of the zombie outbreak... well, not only would Danger not have a daughter, but Makai would certainly not have his bride.

The mere thought alone brought an icy chill down her spine. So much that she had to bring her glass up to take a sip. The warmth of the fine liquor helped matters. Upon Kaine's look of concern, Danger elaborated, "Forgive me, Kaine, it is not that I have an issue with visiting Drumond Kaas. I genuinely want to see the changes you have made to the world for the betterment of your people."

Her wrist would gently rock the amber liquid, as her emerald fire gaze would settle on the small whirlpool the motion created.

"It is just that the last time I visited the world, it had been in the aftermath of that nuclear winter... and the dead had managed to rip through the remaining refugee settlements there. Alric and I rescued my daughter, Myra, from there. Pulled her out from under the dead bodies of her parents. They gave their lives in the hopes she would live and I am forever grateful... but the images of how we barely made it out of there still come to time to time. I would be happy to replace them with new ones with your offer."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord nodded solemnly.

"Those were dark days, I remember them vividly. The detachment I had left to defend the throne world had proved insufficient to hold against the surprise Mandalorian assault, and they ravaged Dromund Kaas until it was nearly unrecognizable. They had violated a treaty I had signed with them in order to launch such a surprise attack, catching Dromund Kaas off-guard. The Mandalorian people cannot be trusted, given the chance they will always resort to barbarism."

Carnifex's words were harsh and biting, laying bare His feelings. He'd never forgotten that day, and harbored thoughts of vengeance in His heart for decades to come. He'd lulled the Mandalorians into believing that the Sith were their allies, and had even raised Ra Vizsla from the dead to continue leading them astray. When the opportunity arose to launch an assault upon Mandalore, He did not hesitate. He laid Sundari low and strip-mined one half of Mandalore for it's resources.

He rooted out Mandalorian culture wherever it could be found and destroyed it, a rare deviation from His deeply ingrained Epicanthix psyche. He destroyed Mandalorian Clans in their entirety, stripping the dead of their beskar and stockpiling it. He made every concerted effort to destroy any and all symbols of significance to the Mandalorian people, reducing their overall galactic population by near eighty percent. They hadn't even fully recovered today, forty years after His attack.

And if He yet possessed strength, He would ensure they never would again.

"Dromund Kaas has flourished since we have reclaimed it, the scars of the old wars have been swept aside. The rest of the Stygian Caldera has likewise been improved under my direction. I would see the cradle of my faith restored in full." There was still much to be done, but it was proceeding at an acceptable pace. Whatever setbacks they incurred were inconsequential, the Dark Lord's resources were too numerous and His forces too encompassing. There was little the regional powers could do without committing to a full-scale invasion, which left them vulnerable to other attacks.

The dinner continued as the night grew darker, the stars twinkling across the shimmering lake surface. Carnifex's eyes never strayed from Danger, always watching her. Part of it was caution, an inescapable reflex from His years of intelligence work and Sith politics. The other part was genuine admiration, the Dark Lord respected Danger Arceneau higher than most others in the galaxy. When the appropriate time came, the Dark Lord petitioned Danger.

"If you'd like, you may spend the night in this villa, Danger. There are ample rooms and accommodations. I have little else to do, so I plan to rest here as well for the night."

Danger Arceneau ​

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Then it would be good to be able to see it fully restored so that the ill memories of how I viewed it last no longer linger," Danger replied to Kaine, a faint smile on her face. The talk of restoration of a world made her think of the several presently in place for MaraTibx and Pharmatech to restore. Either by way of detoxification, terraforming, or seeding of cloned flora and fauna to bring it to a sense of what it had been before. The work in the Centrality with Taeli Raaf was one example, as was the reconstruction of Mandalore itself. There were also some projects in the Alliance, with Makai and Myra assisting with others.

A deep breath and Danger's smile broadened at the offer to stay the night. "Thank you for the offer, Kaine, but unfortunately, I do need to return to the girls. They can handle only so much freedom and oversight with their Governess, and I have some more work to look into within the Centrality."

She may be able to set aside some time for a proper vacation soon. Myra was doing better with the reins. Some practice to see how the heiress could oversee the entire conglomerate for a week or so would be on the cards. At least, if things didn't go too sideways, one could only hope that war wouldn't make things too chaotic and that a potential vacation would no longer be in the cards. A glimmer of hope for a peaceful break flickered in Danger's mind.

"I have enjoyed my time here and am grateful for having at least one day of relaxation and stress-free conversation. One doesn't realize how few and far between that comes." Oddly, talking with Kaine didn't stress her when discussing business or personal matters. Perhaps it was just due to their decades of friendship and business dealings. They understood where each landed and respected each other. There was stability in that.

Darth Carnifex