Ancient Truths

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"I hardly think you'll be spending the night with me." Vrak told her simply. "It takes a bit more to get into my bed."

Again that same smile.

Before she could answer he cut her off. "You do not need to know anything about me."

They entered the room she would be staying in, Vrak turning around to wave her inside. She would find everything to her liking, probably. There was a large bed, a refresher, as well as several other amenities that made the room appear almost...regal.

"I am just a Sith." He told her. "That's all that matter."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"A challenge, then," she laughed quietly. Of course, she had NO intentions of sleeping with him. Which he probably knew. And she doubted he even wanted any type of bed company. It was all just part of their little game.

"And a man of mystery," she cooed lightly as she stepped inside what was to be her quarters. "I take it my servant will be housed with yours then?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"There are servant quarters." He told her plainly.

They were located towards the back of the ship, though she would likely be surprised by just how spacious they were. Sure bunkbeds lined the wall, but there was a common area, personal refreshers, even some other amenities.

Vrak treated his servants well. "Unless you want her to sleep with you."

The Pureblood smiled.

That suggestion alone would have been a grave insult back on Athiss, though he wasn't quite sure how Athena would take it.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"You're so cute when you try to goad me," she smiled before her lips turned into something a little more coy. "If she stayed and warmed my bed I doubt it would be such a bad thing. As I'm sure you have servants that do the same. Or perhaps, you sleep alone every night?"

A finger trailed along the air, just above his chest before she quickly drew her palm away.

There was strategy in everything. Her servant would be with the others for a very specific reason beyond her usual servant-like duties. She would be a spy for her mistress. She bet Vrak knew that or had his suspicions. But it didn't matter. Such was the game.

"Tell me something, though. How do I know you haven't destroyed our little holocron already?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"Simple." He ignored everything else she said.

This was really the game of Sith, how they played and bandied about with one another. Threats, veiled insults, flaunting of their natural skills. It was always how it worked, no matter the teacher, no matter the student, no matter the sect. Sith were Sith. It was something that Vrak had learned on his first journey away from Athiss, when he'd met that cult in the Outer Rim. All Stih tended towards the same notions, all of them had egos, and all of them were in some way utterly broken.

"I would have killed you already." He paused. "Or more precisely I would have had my Massassi do it for me."

Even she couldn't fool a small army.

"I haven't, have I? He gave her a small smile.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

If she was disturbed by his words or hidden threat, it didn't show, "no, you haven't." She withdrew and kicked her shoes off onto the floor, perching lightly on the edge of the bed. "And I haven't killed you, yet," she spoke cheerily.

"If that's all," she looked at him expectantly, clear that she was dismissing him from her quarters.

"Although, do you happen to have a library or study on this ship?" It was an odd request. And a sincere one. There were no games or moves with power. It was her natural, thirst for knowledge self. And perhaps, the first real glimpse of her nature to Vrak.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"No." Not exactly anyway.

"There is a databank." he pointed to one of the terminals. "Thought it is limited."

For obvious reasons. "You cannot access the holo-net either, it disturbs the stealth systems."

An unfortunate fact really.

"You will have to find another form of entertainment I fear." Vrak said with a shrug, turning away from her and heading towards the door.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

"Humph," was the only response he got as he left. With a snap of her fingers, she used the force to seal the door closed to her quarters. Giving her servant orders, she sent the woman to go settle in and spy. Without further adieu, she stripped off her jungle-worn clothes and stepped into refresher.

Sometime later, she stepped free from her quarters, smelling clean like a fresh summer breeze. Hands clasped behind her neck as she began to wander. She wanted to find a training room of sorts.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

The closest thing that Athena would find to a training room was the cargo hold.

The Hssiss wasn't exactly built for fighting, nor was it built for ferrying about warriors. The vessel was more of a diplomatic ship, if Sith even had those. The interior was lavish and modern, the rooms were stately, and nearly everything about it built for luxury and convenience rather than anything else.

If she kept looking past the Cargo Hold, poking her nose through the ship, she would eventually stumble upon Vrak.

The Pureblood had situated himself in a small medication chamber on the aft side of the ship.

He sat cross legged within the small room, eyes closed, power focusing around him.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She took note of the cargo hold. A part of her ached to climb those crates. She liked being in high places, for obvious reasons. Feathers ruffled within her hair and along her brows.

Long-graceful strides took her onward and pretty soon she could sense her fellow Sith. Quiet footsteps took her to the doorway. Tall form leaned against the frame as she quietly watched him. Reminded her of Cameron Centurion. Just the part with meditation. Always seems more of a Jedi-like trait to her.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Vrak was keenly aware she was there.

He thought maybe that if he ignored her she would go away, but he was almost certain that wasn't going to be the case. The woman was a persistent one, annoyingly. He frowned for a few moments and then shifted slightly.

"Yes?" He finally asked.

Annoyance floated in his voice.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She eyed him up and down, staying quiet for a moment longer. Curve of her hips finally pushed free from the doorway. Hands clasped lightly behind her back.

"I am in need of a sparring partner. I noticed some space in the cargo hold available. Would you care to join me for some physical activity or would you rather stay seated on your toosh?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"Seated." He told her simply.

Vrak's particular style of fighting require a little bit more space than was available in the cargo hold. His saber-staff alone would slice through a dozen or so crates before they got half-way through a fight, and while ordinarily he didn't care about collateral damage...this was his ship.

He didn't want to break it.

"Perhaps you should join me." Vrak told her. "You seem so nervous."

The Pureblood opened his eyes and looked at her. "Meditation will help."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

Eyes rolled as he gave a predictable answer and refused to rise to her bait. She really did want to spar, though. Keep her muscles warm. She'd been picturing hand-to-hand combat. A pity he didn't want to partake.

Hand came up as she looked at her nails in mock-boredom. "I suppose. Preparedness and restlessness are different than nerves, Vrak."

Stepping lightly into the chamber, she lowered herself on the floor, across from him. Wearing a dress, she folded her long legs beneath her as she sat. Hands rested on the exposed, powder-blue skin of her knees. Dark hair mixed with feathers cascaded down her shoulders and back.

"Not many darksiders do this. Seems to be more a light sided activity." Dark eyes studied him. They were fairly close, now.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"The Darksiders that don't are fools." He told her simply.

Meditation was not a Jedi activity, it was something born of the force. Whether you drew upon the light or the dark it didn't really matter. Meditation was a way of advancing oneself, of pushing yourself to new heights and new glories that could not otherwise be attained.

"Power." He told her. "Does not come simply because you wish for it."

There was pure disdain in his voice. "Meditation, like training, allows you to control and use the force on a level not otherwise possible."

Sith Battle Coordination for instance required the same techniques as meditation. Clearing ones mind, gathering power, the same aspects applied.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

She didn't disagree. For once. She used a form of meditation. Kind of. When she played her mental games. She had to be in deep concentration with her illusions.

"Very well," she replied softly, like a leaf on a breeze. Coal-like eyes closed. An act of trust, perhaps? Or, confidence that if he tried anything she'd be faster.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

He closed his eyes.

Meditaiton was the cornerstone of most of his abilities. He was powerful when it came to the use of a lightsaber, but it was in Battle Coordination that he truly reigned dominant. It was a power that no one among those on Athiss had used in centuries, not properly at least. A few could dominate a mind or two, but Vrak? Vrak had the potential to dominate thousands.

He just needed time. Time to get stronger, to build himself up.

His thoughts began to twist and move towards the future, his mind beginning to stretch out to the possibilities that lay on the horizon.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

The rest of the voyage went relatively quietly. It was a quick trip. The two couldn't get into too much trouble and each seemed to tolerate the other just enough. Cordial would be a good word.

Somehow Athena had convinced Vrak to wear a cloak. His appearance was a bit too...obvious. She cloaked her own signature in the meantime. They approached a small building on the outskirts of town. It was ticked between a store of scrolls and a market.

How quaint.

This was the outpost. And it just so happened someone was locking up. Looked like a teenage boy. Human. And she could sense a touch of lightside about him. He certainly was not a Jedi master.

Perfect.

She whispered to Vrak.

"You did bring the cube, as promised?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Athena Heron"]

"I did." Vrak said quietly.

The Holocron was still tucked away into his robes, just as he had promised her. Though honesty was the strong point of no Sith, Vrak found that it helped sometimes. The more honest he was with a person, the less they would suspect him of lying.

This of course meant that when he finally did lie, it would be less noticeable.

"Now." He asked her. "How will you take the boy."

Vrak looked at her. "Promise him the night of his life?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]


"Very funny,"she smiled. "Sadly, most Jedi are too goody-goody for that. It's a shame."

The store was in a business district. Most shops were closed in the surrounding area. Even the market. An idea was forming in her head. She could weave an elaborate illusion. But it was always better to use the current environment for the...victim.

A hand held out to Vrak. "Give me the homocron and I'll show you. I promise I will not run off with it."

There was no deceit on her face.