Digging up the past

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

Kaas city was well on its way to being restored to its former glory. The Silver Jedi had been thoroughly defeated. After being sent into retreat so many times by Sith recently their reputation as a Force of the Light had been utterly discredited. It seemed only the Alliance had Jedi with the ability to truly fight back. For now they were far from Sith space, but perhaps that wouldn't last forever.

Neesa had recuperated since her battle with the Grandmaster of the Silver Jedi. Now she was keen to unearth what Kaas had to offer. The mandalorians had made the world uninhabitable for years, but so much had survived the collision with an asteroid.

But the chaos brought others who would pillage what rightfully belonged to the sith. A stealthy ship had been picked up landing near some old caverns that had once belonged to Darth Nyriss. If it was a raider then Neesa would subject them to such punishment that others would baulk at the thought of raiding this world.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

With the recent events that had transpired Kaas City had quickly become easier for followers of the Dark Side to travel to. It was a place of great significance in Sith history, which had intrigued Kaalia greatly. She was a born traveller and explorer and never needed an eleborate reason to travel off to an unknown world, and even though there was a risk involved in coming to Dromund Kaas in particular. Not all Sith were friendly with one another, not in the slightest, and even if that was the case the woman wasn't too keen on outing herself as a Sith herself. As much as the Ren were a secret, it only took a single slip of the tongue against the wrong person and her ties with the Sith were exposed to them. That in turn would destroy everything she had built, something she was not willing to risk. Still, the allure of the planet was too strong to resist, her curiosity convincing her to venture out once again.

The Sonic Phantom had once again touched solid ground, the stealth systems helping with not getting shot down immediately. As the redhead disembarked she looked around the old caverns she had landed at, seeing nobody in the direct vicinity. Her craft was mostly concealed by the environment in an attempt to hide any evidence of her being here, although she was not sure if she had been noticed already. Another quick look around later she started moving towards one of the caverns, taking careful steps. "No need for unnecessary danger..." was said under her breath as she approached.

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

By the time Neesa caught sight of the ship Kaalia had already moved from sight. She stayed hidden from view as she appraised the scene. There wasn't much vegetation on Kaas since the mandalorians had bombarded it with an asteroid. Neesa wore robes of mottled browns and greys to break up her silhouette. Part of her focus was kept on a simple spell to make her signature difficult to discern through the Force.

The ship was long and sleek. It must have been advanced given that their detection systems barely spotted it hitting the atmosphere. After a few moments she decided there were no signs of life. Carefully she started to pick a path down towards it.

Near the landing ramps she came to a halt. The wind blew a few strands of inky black hair free from her cowl. They danced in the breeze for a few moments before she tucked them away with her hand. Her pallid, white skin was a stark contrast to her hair.

She turned her gave towards the cavern and strode towards it. Despite never breaking from a walk she moved with purpose, her eyes now fixed firmly on her target. Neesa needed to find out how many had arrived before deciding what action to take.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

The cavern, as expected, was not well-lit. As Kaalia made careful steps further in the light of the entrance became dimmer and dimmer, her eyes adjusting to the darkness only doing so much. A small surge through the Force could be felt as a flame came to life in the woman's right hand to bring more light into the place. She looked around to see nothing of interest, but looks were often deceiving. Pillars were symmetrically spread throughout the chamber, which created a contrast to the more natural look of the entrance. The first room had nothing of interest to find it seemed however and so she decided to push on, looking for some kind of door or stairway that would lead to another room. The greatest prizes were often found in the deepest parts, so the Kro Varian's goal was reaching that point. The further one would go the more dangerous it became however and as such a sharp mind was needed to survive. If anything, places of Sith importance were great tests of skill with worthwhile rewards ready to be claimed by the worthy, which was something very fitting. The thought brought a slight smirk to her face.

Her search was halted as an odd feeling overcame the redhead. The Force tried to tell her something but somehow was restrained in doing so, leaving her wary. Whatever it was, it likely wasn't anything good. With a thought the mote of fire in her palm dissipated, leaving the cavern in darkness once again. Shifting her focus in the Force she shrunk her presence in the Force as much as possible, but with the lack of living beings around to scramble the signal one could still know something was there much like Kaalia was feeling herself. She calmly stood in absolute silence, not even taking a step to avoid making any kind of sound. In the meantime she closed her eyes and focussed on the sounds around her, trying to discern if anything was following her. The young Knight knew that the chance of whatever it was being friendly was close to zero, and so carefulness was once again of importance.

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

It took Neesa time to catch up on the Ren. Every step was cautious. Her toes would touch the ground, then roll the rest of her foot down from ball to heel. Only then would she transition her weight towards the leading foot. Neesa could be quiet and quick, but now she was silent.

The air in here was still. Nothing else moved, nothing else made a sound. She couldn't afford to just be quiet. She took a path around the pillars. Just the hint of light from deeper down in the caves was enough to pick out a path. Then, abruptly, the line cut out. The presence she had been following slowly receded.

It seemed whoever she was following was capable enough to sense they were being followed yet didn't have the experience to keep that fact a secret to set a trap for their pursuer.

Neesa took two steps to place herself out of view behind a pillar. Turning aside and bringing up a cupped palm to throw her voice she shouted out: "Come out now and we might not kill you for this transgression."

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Kaalia's suspicions were confirmed when somewhere on the other side of the chamber she heard a voice. Standing behind a pillar she listened, but she wasn't going to have the voice, which sounded female, get her way. Nothing in life was easy, so the redhead wasn't going to make it easy for others either. The voice mentioned the word 'we' but until there was evidence pointing towards more people being present she wasn't going to believe it. The possibility was still there and she would keep it in mind, but it didn't require her to be any more careful than she already was. "Last I checked there weren't any signs saying I wasn't allowed to come here. Who even says you're the one in charge?" The woman was often one to be verbally be as much of a pain as possible to people who opposed her, even though she didn't do it intentionally. She let a small moment of silence fall to check whether anyone was on the move and took hold of Mirari, unclipping it from her belt. "I'm afraid I can't let you have the satisfaction of me just doing what you say. But really, did you think I'm that stupid?"

The redhead twirled around the hilt of the lightsaber in her hand, mulling over her options. It was clear there was a hostile air to the situation, which meant coming to blows was a very real possibility. Stalling out a standoff was risky. She was on her own and there was a chance her opposition had backup. Going in head-first wasn't her forté. There was the potential to create an element of surprise and wasting that was a terrible idea. For any kind of offensive to work however she would have to figure out her location. And for that Kaalia unfortunately had to stall out the situation. "I'm just an explorer looking to broaden my horizon. Is that so bad?"

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

Neesa remained deathly still and silent for a few seconds. She had expected the first comment. Stalling for time whilst the intruder formulated a plan. She hadn't expected the second comment. Her hand brushed against Thirst. True to his name it tugged at her mind.

Draw me, draw blood. End this quickly.

"If you want to discuss who is in charge you merely need visit Kaas Citadel. I'm sure they would entertain you if you wished to disagree on ownership."

Her fingers twitched, hand reflexively curling as if grasping the hilt of her swords. She tried to keep that mental tug at bay.

"Explorers could be welcome. Those that come in stealth ships are more typically thieves." The last word dripped with venom. So much of their heritage had been plundered in recent years. It was time to reverse their fortunes.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Despite knowing the danger of the situation, Kaalia smirked. "I never said I disagreed with anything. I'm just not sure you specifically have jurisdiction over this." Where first she came here to learn and explore, her top priority had become getting out of here unscathed. If that meant having to plunge a lightsaber into the stranger's chest, then she would not hesitate to do so. "Although I'm pretty sure you don't really care whether you do or not." Tensions were rising and Kaalia already prepared herself for a fight.

When the voice spoke about explorers and thieves she nodded. It was understandable that one would protect their pieces of history and unfortunately the redhead came to the conclusion that there was a very good reason to suspect she was here to take things away. "The word 'could' is the exact reason I didn't come through the front door. You must understand it was a bit too risky." The woman tapped her fingers on the hilt of her lightsaber. There was no water-tight plan to be made, she didn't have homefield advantage. Instead that was in the hands of the presumed opposition, but it could be overcome.

"Believe me or not," she finally exclaimed from behind the pillar, "I really was only looking for knowledge. You know, the thing you don't have to take away to benefit from."

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

End this, it whispered. Kill her and be done with it.

Neesa's cautious nature overruled the mental tug of the blade. It was never satiated, no matter how much blood was spilled. She could stride in and kill the intruder. Or even call on others to come if she felt it was too great a threat. But then they would either have the take the intruder alive for interrogation or sort through the computers on her ship. Neither would be quick or easy tasks.

Vrak had spoken of another sith order. Perhaps this was a chance to find out more. She tucked her hands in against her sides below the ribs, almost consciously keeping them from her blades.

"Haven't had many come through here without invitation other than thieves and spies. So if you're neither, then what are you?"

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

It seemed the unknown party was of the curious kind in Kaalia's mind. She was a bit surprised by it, expecting her to only want to kill her. Although she wasn't much in the mood for revealing everything about her for no reason, perhaps she was able to use the question to her advantage. The woman had already laid out what she came for, and it was the truth whether it was believed or not, and she doubted that what she wanted was completely unacceptable. "Since you seem so interested, I could tell you my entire life's story. Who I am, what I do, all the good stuff." There was a small pause, but not long enough to answer immediately. "But, I cannot give you information without getting some in return. As I said before, all I want is to learn from this place. I frankly don't have the time to seek out what pretty artefacts I want to steal. I tell you what you want to know, and in return I get to read up on this place's history. Perhaps even a trick or two."

In all honesty Kaalia had only two likely scenarios in mind. One was a straight-up refusal, another the feigning of acceptance in an attempt to get make it easier to get to her and take her out. Despite that it was an offer worth presenting, that way she at least tried to end this without bloodshed. Everything past that was simply a necessity, done without hesitation or remorse. "I can give you a moment to think about it, if you need it. I'm patient." And so the redhead waited, keeping her senses sharp in case the other tried to make her move. If only she wasn't in the way of the exit... she thought to herself as the game continued.

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

Slit her throat. Be done with it. Send her ship back as a message to...

The sword did not speak to her, it had not voice of its own. Yet it seemed to be able to tug at her own thoughts, to speak through a part of herself that could be swayed by its primal need for blood. Even the reasonable part of herself tended to agree. It would send a clear message that coming here without permission would be punished. She thought of Lord Sitas' lessons. All he spoke of knowledge and power and the right to wield it. It was one thing to show power and what would be done to those who slighted their order. Perhaps there could be a message that would draw others to their cause, instead of sending them fleeing from their expansion. That they were the keepers of ancient sith knowledge now. The way forwards became clear.

"I don't need a life story. Just tell me one simple thing: why do you deserve the knowledge this place holds?"

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

The answer, which was also turned into a question, was better than what Kaalia had expected. It promised nothing, but at least it wasn't an outright 'no'. Although nobody was around to see it she smiled, immediately having an answer ready. "The ones who are intelligent enough, powerful enough, they are the only ones who can get to what they seek in places like this. The ones who deserve to gain the knowledge found in this place are the ones who are able to get to it in the first place. The unworthy and undeserving... They die." Those who possess power live, the others die. It was the Sith way as it had always been. "I am certain that it's a notion you are very familiar with. You should be."

Perhaps the question was a test, perhaps it was merely a rhetorical question. Perhaps the redhead's answer would be what the stranger was looking for, perhaps it was not and she would look to end Kaalia's life right here. All she could do was wait for the response as she twirled Mirari's hilt around, ready to snap it to life at a moment's notice. "Did I pass, or was there no right answer to begin with?" The stalemate couldn't last forever, and she knew that the longer it took the more dangerous it become for her. The young Knight had to either convince the other to drop her hositility, which if her answer to the question did not do so she doubted would happen, or she would have to kill her before anyone else showed up. She looked at the situation in cold calculations while she simply stood, waiting for any and all openings to either get out or gain the ability to travel further into the cavern.

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

There was very rarely right and wrong to Neesa. Just events and how she chose to react to them. As a child she had lived hand to mouth on the streets of Levien Magnus. That kind of life had an influence on your perception of long term planning. She had always been cautious and had learned to understand the value of patience. It had been a long and slow lesson, much to Lord Sitas' chagrin. Teaching Neesa patience had tested his own.

"It was an answer. And it felt honest, for as little as that is worth," Neesa remarked as she stepped out from behind the pillar. She wasn't a scarlet-skinned sith. There was little initially intimidating about her appearance. But to the trained eye just a few steps revealed that she was a seasoned fighter. It was the care with which she placed her feet. The air of a predator, the poise of a swordsman.

"You may explore. Supervised. And you will let those know who asked to come to Kaas Citadel if they seek the knowledge helped by the sith people."

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

When the woman noted she felt Kaalia's answer to be genuine she was satisfied. it was indeed how she truly felt and saw no reason to hide it, and it seemed that was going to pay off in some way. When she heard footsteps she carefully moved herself slightly to see the one she was talking to revealing herself, which she decided to answer with slowly stepping out in the open herself. Nothing was ever as it seemed, and that was no exception with the slender woman in front of her. It was clear she was battle-hardened, someone to not take lightly.

Kaalia smiled when she was told she could indeed explore the tomb. She would get what she had been looking for, and required nothing more. In the end, she was the outsider and any kind of hospitality was a gift. Preventing unnecessary hostility was a welcome bonus. "I would actually appreciate the company," she noted as she clipped her saber hilt back to her belt. Her eyes remained peeled for any hostile move towards her person however, just in case. It was something the redhead constantly reminded herself of; one could never be too careful.

"The conditions are very fair," Kaalia then noted. "I must thank you for the generosity, and I apologize for the... suspicious, way of travel I had chosen for." She wasn't entirely sure if the raven-haired woman was too interested in exchanging pleasantries, more than likely not, but she tried to stay as polite as possible. "I suppose I ought to introduce myself. My name is Kaalia."

[member="Neesa"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

No negotiations. In fact she almost seemed to welcome the offer. That immediately made Neesa suspicious. She had been raised in a world of crime where everything was a bargain or an opportunity to strive for more. The Sith world she now inhabited was far more regimented. There was a strict hierarchy, but even there any member was a knife between the shoulder blades away from loosing everything.

It would be easier for Kaalia to read the suspicion on Neesa's face. It lingered there for a moment, just as her right hand did above the hilt of her blade. She suspected treachery; she always suspected treachery. A shuttle of massassi was on its way. That might dissuade the intruder if that was what she was planning.

"I am Neesa, Shadow Hand to Lord Sitas of the Council. Generosity has..." She paused, stopping herself from swearing. Sitas would have been displeased at her acting 'as the street rat' when representing him. "...little to do with the matter. Others should learn that the Jedi have been removed and that this world is back in the hands of its rightful owners.

"I have not explored these ruins yet or had a chance to see if they have been plundered by the Jedi. I will come with you and I apologise in advance if there is nothing left."

Neesa felt less comfortable out from behind the pillar. This was beginning to feel like some kind of formal introduction. The kind of event one of the sith councillors who loved nothing better than to talk should have handled. Neesa wasn't inclined to be particularly talkative. She moved her hands away from her belt, tucked her cloaked slightly tighter. With nothing else to do with them she crossed her arms over her chest.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

"So I heard. The Jedi don't belong here, so I must give my congratulations and respect for freeing the planet from their clutches. Their extremist views are a blight upon the galaxy." The Jedi were a threat to the Sith, and so to Kaalia directly. It was the reason she would fight to reduce their influence as much as possible, even though she knew destroying them completely was simply not possible. They would always return, but as long as she was alive she would make sure the slaves of the Light would not be spared any mercy from her if they decided to oppose her.

The redhead nodded when the woman who had introduced herself as Neesa explained that these ruins had not been explored after reclaiming the world. "If they have, there is no doubt they will have destroyed it all out of their fear of the Dark side. Let us hope that is not the case." The suspicion on the black-haired woman's face was apparent, and Kaalia did not blame her. All she could do was simply remain civil, after all she was not looking to take anything away. "The least I can do is help with taking inventory. If you let me, of course."

Turning her head sideways towards the next chamber Kaalia ignited a new flame in her hand, once again lighting up the place. "I suppose I could take the lead, if so desired." She awaited an answer before moving, her curiosity to see what was inside at a peak.

[member="Neesa"]