Ancient Truths

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"You would kill me the moment we left this world." He countered her own paranoia.

He wasn't actually sure if that was true or not, but Vrak didn't trust her any more than she trusted him. It was a mutual distrust that always held in place when Sith dealt with one another. That was their curse really, trust was as rare as Aurodium.

Maybe more so.

"Give me insurance." He said. "Something that will ensure my survival."

He needed something.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

Nose crinkled in mild disgust. She had absolutely no interest in killing him. It wouldn't be worth the effort. And for now, the knowledge he contained in that red noggin was more valuable.

"Insurance?" Dark-brows lofted in curiosity. Lightsaber clipped to her belt. "Like what?" Hip cocked to the side as her arms crossed. She watched him, as always, like a hawk. Of course, all of this would be over if he just gave up the holocron and let her go on her merry, little way

But nooooo.

Had to be difficult.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

He thought for a moment. "Something you hold of value."

That much was obvious.

The trouble was that Sith found different things valuable. What might have been a trinket to her was absolutely and completely worthless to him. It was a trouble.

"I'm sure you have something." He smiled. "Or someone."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

Caid was her someone. But he was gone. The First Order probably had him on some mission somewhere. They kept him like a dog on a leash even though he alluded to the fact that it was all pomp and show.

And then of course her scrolls. Her wonderful items of knowledge. It would be too dangerous to give Vrak access to those. Then they'd be back where they started from. Not that he would be able to understand all or any of them. There were many different language, interpretations, and meanings. He'd have to study as long as she had and have that type of research upbringing.

"I have nothing to give you," a truth and a lie. Sure, she could give him the scrolls but she had data copies. She couldn't offer Caid. Nor would she. Nor would he allow it if he were here.

"Why don't you take me in your ship instead?" It was a HUGE risk for her. He'd have home-court advantage. "And bring your goons." She'd be at his mercy in a way. But it was an olive branch, even if there were some thorns mixed in.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

His 'goons' were Massassi warriors capable of filleting most Jedi in an instant, so the compromise was one that he was willing to make. "Very well."

He told her simple.

The Holocron however did not move from his hand. Instead he slowly tucked it into a small pocket within his robe, looking at Athena as he did so. Then for a second he simply waited, considering half a heartbeat more before slowly shutting off his lightsaber. Instantly the loud thrum of the weapon ceased, and only the light of the torch was left within the small cavern. Perhaps it was a sign that he would show her a small bit of leeway, though not much.

"Let's leave this tomb." He took a breath.

It was stuffy in here.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She couldn't help how her eyes followed exactly where that holocron went. Very well. He was stubborn. "For once, we agree." Spinning daintily on her booted-heels, she waltzed back out of small room.

"I know the way," she called over her blue shoulder, flicking those dark, long strands of hair clear. She didn't explain how. He'd have a good guess though. Lingering thoughts of a sith spirit. There were some advantages of being possessed.

Except for when the spirit had wanted her to kiss him for leverage.

Yuck.

There was a small ledge that hugged the far wall. She stepped carefully and lightly along the treacherous path that hugged the abyss. Heights never bothered her. She used to fly, after all. There was a door up ahead with cracks of daylight showing through.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Vrak quickly followed after Athena, lightsaber returned to the small place on his belt. The weapon would still be at the ready, mostly because he didn't trust her in the least, not until she was surrounded by a dozen Massassi.

Even if she managed to kill him, they would flay her alive. That thought gave him a small bit of comfort as the two of them moved towards the door, daylight casting into the cavern as they quickly headed towards the exit. He frowned slightly as they moved, the air becoming a bit thicker and hotter once more. Dromund Fel was a jungle world of course, and the further one got to the surface the denser the air became. It caused plenty of storms, most of which were used to feed the encampment he'd set up.

"Where do you suppose we'll find this Jedi?" Vrak asked quietly as they passed back out into the world.

Their escape found them in the middle of the jungle a mile or two south of the camp.

He recognized the area from Irid's training.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"Well," looking down, she ripped the flapping, damaged strap of her dress off, so her ripped clothes became a one-strap dress. Very stylish. Taking the fabric, she pulled those long strands of midnight hair mixed with feathers back into a simple ponytail.

Too hot and humid to have that mess down.

Her neck and back instantly felt cooler. "Chandrila would be a good place to start." Lithe-form continued to step gracefully over and around roots and vines and the thick trees of the jungle. Vrak was at her back. She forced herself not to continually look back. If he tried anything, she had something swift and painful in mind. So, she wasn't worried.

Her dress began to stick more tightly to her form as they went along. Humidity equaled sweat.

"There's an outpost to search for force sensitives among the children there. I can pick a potential up. Or one of the screeners." Voice was cold.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

If Vrak was bothered by the idea of kidnapping children he didn't show it.

The jungle was thick here, though it was clear the the Massassi had spent at least some of their time at least clearing out large portions of the surrounding area. There were several felled trees laying about, more than a few fresh stumps studding the earth now and again. "Very well."

Chandrilla was not far from where they were.

"My ship will get us there undetected." Athiss almost exclusively produced stealth ships.

It was a way of keeping their world a secret. No one could read their drive engines if none were there to actually read over. This kept his people from being discovered or traced back to Athiss itself. The program had been in effect for centuries, though only recently had Vrak taken over and modernized it.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"I certainly hope so," she offered him a brief smile over her shoulder. She saw the landing area up ahead. They'd walked rather quickly. "I'll get a change of clothes and one of my servants to accompany us."

If he had all his goons, she wanted one of hers. It still wasn't fair but it was something.

"But tell me, my dear Vrak. Can you cloak your force signature?" They'd need to once they got close to the system. Didn't want all the little Jedi running after them.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"Well enough." He said in simple answer to her.

The ability was taught to all of them at a young age, mostly because of the need for secrecy on Athiss. They couldn't very well go around the galaxy radiating of the darkside. Of course as a Pureblood it was rather difficult, the Darkside being symbiotic with their very physiology.

"They won't sense me from far away." He told her. "But if they stand right next to me, I won't be able to help it."

A shrug rolled over his shoulders.

Most of the time when a Jedi was standing besides him it was already too late. Either the Jedi was dead, or about to be. Cloaking ones signature in the force was a cowardly acct anyway, and Vrak didn't like doing it. The technique was difficult for him to maintain even under the best of circumstances.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She broke through, into the clearing first. A hand swept across her blue-feathered brow. "That will have to do." She couldn't help her eyes drop to where he pocketed the holocron. Eyes narrowed for a moment. It was clear she didn't trust him.

For the sake of knowledge, she would at least try to work with him.

"Meet you at your ship in ten?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

He had the holocron, That was enough to give her a little leeway. "Southside of the camp."

The direction would be easy enough to follow, if she got confused any of the Massassi would be able to tell her where to go.

The vessel was large, almost a hundred meters long and outclassed with the latest stealth technology that money could buy. Most of the vessel had been constructed on Athiss itself, the world having turned into a small industrial giant ever since Vrak had claimed what he'd needed from the old man. With both the factories and Mines under control there was nothing stopping him from producing new ships, and thus he did. Slowly he wandered away from Athena.

"Don't keep me waiting." He had little patience remaining.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"Don't worry, I won't," she replied with mock-cheer and offered him a too-da-loo with a wave of her powdered-blue fingers over her shoulder as she waltzed across the clearing to her own shuttle.

"You better have a sanisteam on that thing, though." She smiled without turning back, narrow hips swaying. Comm came out to her lips and she told her servants to pack a small bag of her things. They would also take off once she departed and move to space. She certainly did NOT trust leaving her ship here.

The ten minutes went by quickly.

Vrak would find that she indeed, returned, and found his ship. A bit of admiration crossed her features as her eyes roved over the ship's exterior. And did he say it was stealth as well? It would be fun to have a sleek, little bird like that.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

He waited aboard the ramp of the ship. His pilot was already inside, sitting at the proper seat and ready to depart for Chandrila.

Vrak still had his doubts about this whole mission, but at the very least he would get some entertainment out of this. While she had been gone he'd stashed the Holocron in a secret chamber aboard his ship, mostly as a safety precaution in case she decided that cooperation was no longer in her best interest.

One could never be too safe.

"There you are." He said as she finally appeared again. "I feared the Jungle cats got you."

Unsurprisingly he would have been okay with that.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"You wished," she spoke softly and motioned her servant forward. It may have been unnerving to Vrak, as if she could read his mind. Eyes glinted with a knowing smile. "I must say, though," she had to stop herself from letting her blue fingers trail along his chest as she passed. Just barely. "You do travel in style. This is a lovely ship. I'm a little jealous."

The servant carried her mistress' bag up the ramp as Athena followed and paused at the top and inside the ship. Vrak would need to give her a tour and show her to her temporary quarters. And a sanisteam.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

The ship was nice, he couldn't deny that.

It had been designed to be the lap of luxury, a way to travel in stealth that would also provide comfort. There was no denying that it was nice, though the outer appearance was styled a bit too...modernly for Vrak's taste. That fact couldn't be helped however, mostly because of the ships stealth features. "My servant will show you your quarters."

Also known as the room she would very likely be confined to if he had anything to say about it.

"It should have everything you need." Refresher, closet space, everything. "Though the trip won't take long."

Chandrila was a relatively short distance from Dromund Fel, just a few million light years. They would be able to make it there within a day or so. Perhaps she would divulge more information about the exact details of her plan while they were on their way. "Come now, the faster you get on board the faster we leave."

He teased with a fake smile.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She winked at him, a mirrored fake-smile on her own, pink lips. Long, light strides followed after her servant, following after Vrak. "Can't blame a girl for admiring the sights."

A hand went to flick dark-hair over her shoulder. Feathers ruffled slightly. Narrow-hips swayed as she walked. The ramp began to seal shut behind them.

"And Vrak Nashar. Short or long trip doesn't matter. A lady must always look her best."

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

The rumble of the ships engines began as soon as the ramp sealed.

"Perhaps." He glanced towards the servant. "But shouldn't she also be a bit more prepared to travel lightly?

The answer was probably going to be an emphatic 'no', but that didn't stop him from asking the quesiton in the first place.

It was clear to him by now that Athena was a certain kind of Sith, one that reminded him very much of Siedra, his rival back home. He didn't find that fact at all comforting, nor did he really see any joy in the prospect of someone else exactly like Siedra running around the galaxy.

One was enough. "This way."

He told her as he moved towards her state room.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"This is light," she deadpanned. "But a lady is also very flexible. Adapting to the circumstances she is given." There was a small edge of warning in her tone. Adapting or making new circumstances. Both were the same in her mind.

"But what about you?" Arm brushed lightly against his as she fell in step with Vrak. "I barely know anything about you and here I am, spending a night with you."

She smirked.

"I know your favorite color is red..." voice trailed off.