Governor Pro Tempore, Dantooine
Ova took Diarch Rellik aside from the rest of the political delegates at the first moment that he could. He needed to talk about what had just happened: that he had just spat at Marlen Sularen, in front of the entire delegation. Marlen had a reputation as a warlord, and he had genuinely participated in the bombardment and annihilation of non-combatants, but the provocation would cause ripples along the Braxant Run, and even as far as the Mid-Rim.
The reaction in the room was divided: on one hand, the orthodox Sith applauded the move to wipe out the Dark Empire, whom they perceived as pretenders and separatists within the grand scheme of the Sith Empire, Sith Order, whatever they were establishing this time.
On the other hand were the traditionalists Jedi; the aristocratic types; the Banking Cartel folks and the Trade Federation, and even the Confederacy of Systems! They saw this move as unsportsmanlike or unfair, like turning a lightsaber on and off.
It was all the same to him. Corruption. Unbelievable corruption. And he DID spit at corruption.
Unsurprisingly, the force corrupt individuals, the autocrats, and the Confederacy goons from across the galaxy would be coming for Ova's life soon. He'd have to take security measures immediately...and upgrade his battleship to something more conducive to light assaults.
Ova was satisfied with himself, but he felt guilty at the same time. The two sides, the capitulation versus the aggression, battled with each other inside of him, making Ova feel inhuman. He had spent his entire career as a mineral baron and public administrator - hiding his emotions - but he could do so no more. The feelings pulsed inside of him, and that moment of temporary aggression had made Ova feel...powerful. He enjoyed that feeling, more than anything in the world. But he would never tell anyone about that.
"Diarch Rellik, I don't know what came over me. Sularen's a foul man, but...", Ova said to Rellik quietly, trailing off as his friend responded. There had been a lull in the diplomatic conference, and most of the delegates had gone for a break, a drink, or a deathstick. ...But not Ova. Ova couldn't bear to be around other people right now. "I fear I've made a fool of myself and lost myself the election. What do you think of my chances?" The sickly mineral baron stared into the window, seeing himself inside of it.
When they were done with the pre-amble, Ova went right into it. His eyes pled the Diarch desperately to listen. Rellik would be able to tell that Ova has been aggressively shielding these feelings from other people - and now that he was standing with a man he trusted, a man who had saved his life, the feelings simply must come forth. And they did, like a great waterfall. The power of the force wasn't pulsing within Ova: it was practically crashing.
"I wanted to talk to you about the nature of my feelings, Diarch. It's about the "accident". It's caused some changes in me". Ova took a deep breath, and then continued.
"When I'm alone, I can feel...feel...voices. They are talking to me. They are saying things which I cannot quite understand." Rellik began to speak, but Ova held up his hand gently to stop Rellik from talking. Even at that moment, Ova pulsed with the force, and Rellik would definitely feel it.
"Wait. Before you speak...I-I don't mean that I am hearing voices. I am feeling...feeling...voices! Hah!" Ova chuckled, crossing his arms and shaking his head. Ova didn't have the best vocabulary at the moment. The phenomenon was unusual indeed.
"You're a Master Diarch, of course, so you must know more of this than me. What...what do you think it means?"
He looked at Rellik pleadingly. Ova knew how ridiculous he sounded. But he needed Rellik's help. Someone had to know how he was feeling - before something terrible happened.
Ova stared at himself in the window, seeing a grizzled reflection as he lit up a deathstick. Things had changed since Dantooine. Who am I?
Darkness, It Lies Within Us
Image Credits: Hotpot.AI: "futuristic; man; 40s; grey hair; looking in mirror at self; leather jacket"
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