The last few weeks had been long and tiring, and that was one fething understatement.
The failed attempt of Operation Shadowdance and the subsequent counter-attacks by the New Imperial Order and their allies had left the Acolyte spent from the constant fighting. Even after the battles were over and they were forced to pull back, the long nights hadn't ended. Refugees were pouring from the borders to try and find safety closer to the center of the Empire, seeking a desperate escape from rampaging Jedi and ruthless traitors alike.
And not to mention...the Maw.
That mere thought nearly made him snap the datapad in his hands. The false-Sith had seemed like nothing, and then the next thing anyone knew Csilla was gone and the Maw were nipping at the doors of the Empire and Sith Eternal. Were it not such a grim situation, Alisteri would have almost found it comedic. False-Sith fighting heretical Sith, how far the galaxy has fallen... And their presence had caused an even larger influx of refugees.
Scared citizens, families and plenty of orphaned children were now seeking new homes and desiring the promised safety of the Empire. As much as he hated to admit it, an Empire besieged on all sides can only protect so much. As a result, he and his cult had eagerly sought to relieve the burden of the refugees as much as they possibly could. Of course they had no real legal authority in the matter, Acolytes were hardly put in charge of such things, but they had spent nearly every credit that they had earned from their many charities on helping to house and care for the many homeless families now adrift in the Empire's space.
It had been a rough undertaking, but the cult had held true to their faith and their values and thus had not faltered in jumping at the opportunity to help even once.
Unfortunately, that meant many a sleepless night for the organizers of the cult. Alisteri had taken most of the duties onto himself, he had nothing better to do between the many battles of the war anyway, to spare his prelates and priests. They did have jobs outside of their cult obligations after all. Thankfully, or regretfully depending on the mood, he wasn't alone in his late-night work today. "You speak so much of vengeance and justice, and yet here you sit. Doing...paperwork." The holocron on the desk glowed slightly as it whispered to him, a slightly aggravated tone laced into every word it spoke.
"A single Sith can't fight off half the galaxy." Was the only response that the unmasked Acolyte gave as he tapped on the datapad to update some numbers. Logistics and rationing were hardly his favorite tasks to undertake, but it was better that he spent time doing it rather than pushing the job on one of his cultists. He was the High Priest, he would bare the brunt of any work or hardship, that was his duty.
A small tsk came from the holocron, but it was content to sit in silence as its owner continued his work.
For a few minutes at least.
"The reports of the missing weigh on you, do they not?" That actually made the Acolyte pause, his gaze shifting over to the Sith artifact for the first time in nearly ten hours. "I can sense it. You have not learned to guard your mind yet, your curiosity and concern is obvious...and revolting." His gaze hardened into a glare for a moment as he gently set the datapad down on the desk. "Of course I'm concerned. People are going missing and the blackout at Florrum has only gotten worse-" "But that's not all it is, is it?" The holocron seemed to glow brighter, bathing the room in its red glow.
"Even you with your lack of skill in the Force can sense it. Change is on the wind, something has awoken throughout the galaxy. It spells disaster...for weak ones like you." A small growl escaped the Sith, causing the holocron to be silent for a few moments. "I would hesitate to call anyone weak from your current position. Your fate will be the same as mine, and you would do well to remember that." This seemed to be enough to keep the device quiet as he swiftly returned to his work. The damage was already done though, his thoughts could no longer focus on the lines of data before his eyes.
And then there is Florrum...and that is not the only instance of this...disturbance.
The holocron was right, something was out there now. Something that scared him. Something that could threaten the Empire, at the very least. Had he voiced these thoughts aloud, he had little doubt of what the holocron would respond with. "And why not investigate them?" Of course it wouldn't stay silent forever. Another glare was sent at the artifact, but he couldn't deny it. He had to know what was going on, had to prepare himself and all that relied on him for it. For the good of the Empire, for the good of his cult and all the refugees still without new homes. He would have to.
However, he would wait just a bit longer. He did have to ensure that the logistics were properly done after all.
The failed attempt of Operation Shadowdance and the subsequent counter-attacks by the New Imperial Order and their allies had left the Acolyte spent from the constant fighting. Even after the battles were over and they were forced to pull back, the long nights hadn't ended. Refugees were pouring from the borders to try and find safety closer to the center of the Empire, seeking a desperate escape from rampaging Jedi and ruthless traitors alike.
And not to mention...the Maw.
That mere thought nearly made him snap the datapad in his hands. The false-Sith had seemed like nothing, and then the next thing anyone knew Csilla was gone and the Maw were nipping at the doors of the Empire and Sith Eternal. Were it not such a grim situation, Alisteri would have almost found it comedic. False-Sith fighting heretical Sith, how far the galaxy has fallen... And their presence had caused an even larger influx of refugees.
Scared citizens, families and plenty of orphaned children were now seeking new homes and desiring the promised safety of the Empire. As much as he hated to admit it, an Empire besieged on all sides can only protect so much. As a result, he and his cult had eagerly sought to relieve the burden of the refugees as much as they possibly could. Of course they had no real legal authority in the matter, Acolytes were hardly put in charge of such things, but they had spent nearly every credit that they had earned from their many charities on helping to house and care for the many homeless families now adrift in the Empire's space.
It had been a rough undertaking, but the cult had held true to their faith and their values and thus had not faltered in jumping at the opportunity to help even once.
Unfortunately, that meant many a sleepless night for the organizers of the cult. Alisteri had taken most of the duties onto himself, he had nothing better to do between the many battles of the war anyway, to spare his prelates and priests. They did have jobs outside of their cult obligations after all. Thankfully, or regretfully depending on the mood, he wasn't alone in his late-night work today. "You speak so much of vengeance and justice, and yet here you sit. Doing...paperwork." The holocron on the desk glowed slightly as it whispered to him, a slightly aggravated tone laced into every word it spoke.
"A single Sith can't fight off half the galaxy." Was the only response that the unmasked Acolyte gave as he tapped on the datapad to update some numbers. Logistics and rationing were hardly his favorite tasks to undertake, but it was better that he spent time doing it rather than pushing the job on one of his cultists. He was the High Priest, he would bare the brunt of any work or hardship, that was his duty.
A small tsk came from the holocron, but it was content to sit in silence as its owner continued his work.
For a few minutes at least.
"The reports of the missing weigh on you, do they not?" That actually made the Acolyte pause, his gaze shifting over to the Sith artifact for the first time in nearly ten hours. "I can sense it. You have not learned to guard your mind yet, your curiosity and concern is obvious...and revolting." His gaze hardened into a glare for a moment as he gently set the datapad down on the desk. "Of course I'm concerned. People are going missing and the blackout at Florrum has only gotten worse-" "But that's not all it is, is it?" The holocron seemed to glow brighter, bathing the room in its red glow.
"Even you with your lack of skill in the Force can sense it. Change is on the wind, something has awoken throughout the galaxy. It spells disaster...for weak ones like you." A small growl escaped the Sith, causing the holocron to be silent for a few moments. "I would hesitate to call anyone weak from your current position. Your fate will be the same as mine, and you would do well to remember that." This seemed to be enough to keep the device quiet as he swiftly returned to his work. The damage was already done though, his thoughts could no longer focus on the lines of data before his eyes.
And then there is Florrum...and that is not the only instance of this...disturbance.
The holocron was right, something was out there now. Something that scared him. Something that could threaten the Empire, at the very least. Had he voiced these thoughts aloud, he had little doubt of what the holocron would respond with. "And why not investigate them?" Of course it wouldn't stay silent forever. Another glare was sent at the artifact, but he couldn't deny it. He had to know what was going on, had to prepare himself and all that relied on him for it. For the good of the Empire, for the good of his cult and all the refugees still without new homes. He would have to.
However, he would wait just a bit longer. He did have to ensure that the logistics were properly done after all.
