Duty Calls

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"]



Kay approached the door to [member="Veiere Arenais"] ' private residence on her speeder bike. She didn't ride it as often anymore. Two guards on their own bikes had come with her, but once she had arrived at his estate, she was sure to keep them back. She knew that Veiere was readjusting to private life, yet any excuse to be able to spend time with him was a good one. Normally this would be a job for her Minister of Trade, yet Darben didn't like to travel, and looking over her old messages, it confirmed to her that she tended to handle these little meetings herself. And besides, she couldn't stay couped up in her Palace forever. She needed to get out and stretch her legs.

Should she knock or just walk in? The two were going to be married at some point in the future, yet they were still very private when it came to their personal lives. Kay held him in high regard and didn't want to just barge in in case he was indisposed, so her decision was made. She knocked.

"Veiere? It's me. May I come in?"

Okay maybe she could have just sent him a message or holocall to ask instead of driving out here to ask in person. But as she was still coping with her post traumatic stress, her decisions weren't always the best ones.

 

[WolfMortum]

He hadn't been expecting [member="Lady Kay"] at all, though her bike along with the two guards behind her had sounded their approach long before they reached the peak of the mountain, the echoes of the swoop engines racketing across the high rolling mountain ranges, Veiere turning away from the Vessel that Cillian was working on, to cross the backyard and return in doors only to reach the front and answer Kay's calling. Today his appearance was very much the civilian's attire mixed with grease and the smell of engine oils and the musk of the bio-fuel cells of which he and Cillian had been replacing on the Vagabond. His hands were blankened, dirtied and as he stepped out to look to her and her accompanying men, his face was smeared where he had rubbed his cheek prior to her arrival.

He didn't initially greet her, his eyes wandering to the armed men who protected her when he was off duty. He still didn't entirely trust that the Sith no longer had eyes within her government and yet he trusted Darben and Darlyn, the two who formed one half of her council especially in matters of security. Nodding to the men, he stood aside and allowed Kay to pass him by, that she might enter while he scrutinized silently over her guard. "In you go then..." He said almost disgruntled over the fact though inviting they too in doors as well. Something about Veiere had changed since his time on Ession, he had become much less care free, more stern in his desire for things to move at a set pace and their presence on his grounds still reminded him so much of the day of Kay's return, memories that he wanted not to recall.

"What's going on, Kay?" He spoke casually though not as much so with her guard within such close proximity. Certainly none of them would call her on a first name basis and yet with their relationship being so intimate these days, Veiere himself found it too formal still. He knew not how comfortable she would be around her own people, it was one of the small matters, though there were many, that they were still adapting to. The line between professionalism and personal relations, what was justified and what was ill-advised in the presence of political parties both government and civilian. Wiping his hands upon an already dirtied rag he had removed from his pocket, he moved into the center of the living room that he might speak with her face to face, "Has there been trouble?"; she wasn't usually one to hesitate walking into his home, the anxiety around her suggested she had other matters on her mind when her sense of reason and knowing Veiere so well would usually have just compelled her to enter his estate freely. Especially given it was by her hand that he received it.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked [member="Veiere Arenais"] over as he answered the door straight away. A small smile made it's way on her face as she spotted the smear on his cheek. It was nice to see him more...well normal as opposed to being on duty. Yet still, he seemed a bit on edge. She stepped inside when he invited her and it wasn't until she saw the look that he gave to her guards that she came to realize why he wasn't quite his relaxed self. While she had grown to be able to ignore the presence of her bodyguards, Veiere had not.

She stepped into the living room, shaking her head a bit as Veiere asked her about trouble. Sure it tended to follow her, but lately she's been lucky enough to avoid it. So far anyways...

"No, there's no trouble. I'm just going to head out for a trade mission. I thought that maybe you'd like to come with me?" Of course now that she came to think of it, Veiere did seem to be in the middle of something. Perhaps calling ahead might of been a better idea. "You don't have to though. I can understand if you're busy." Kay wasn't trying to guilt him in any way. The decision was entirely up to him. Yet she needed to expand the economy more. One never knows what will happen. Contracts can be lost as quickly as they are made, so it was far better to have a surplus.

[member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"]

 

[WolfMortum]

It had been a while since he had arrived back on Commenor with the intent of staying, it had been even longer since he'd been out on a mission of any sense with [member="Lady Kay"]. He doubted she remembered their last mission off world together, spent seeking out the lair of slavers and being forced to witness the torture of a civilian in order to keep their cover and eventually blow the whole ring wide open to the public. Back then, they'd been working for the Republic and yet Veiere was certain that it was somewhere nearby to Commenor that they had actually visited. Old memories from before Kay had been introduced to the Dark Side of the Force.

"I would prefer to accompany you...".

He made his mind up on the spot, almost instantly. Engineering was by no means a hobby of choice for the former Jedi though it had offered some benefit in spending some time with Cillian for a change, the younger male apparently having been discouraged by their consistent jumping from one place to another and still without a job to keep him occupied, Veiere had given him more room to work with around the Estates grounds. Beyond all of that, Veiere still remained Kay's bodyguard, perhaps a little unofficially though who would he be than to not want to protect the woman that he loved.

"Allow me to gather my things and I'll be right down".

He smiled faintly to her before turning and moving up the stairwell to which he'd find his room on the upper floor, it had a nice tidy little balcony that offered a spectacular view of Chasin City from there, yet as much as he liked to admire it, now was not the time. Changing, he swapped out his dirtied civilian attire for his Jedi tunic, his boots and his robe. So too ensuring that he had his belt and all manner of devices on his person, ranging from his lightsabers to the standard rebreather, tools to fit most occasions.

Returning downstairs after a matter of minutes, he nodded to Kay briefly in confirmation before stepping out the back and making his way through the yard to find Cillian still working on the ship, a hail of sparks flying about the black mask that he wore, the omni-cutter set to work on one of the landing struts, he noticed Veiere's approached and stopped what he was doing to lift the face of the mask and look Veiere up and down. "Change of plans then?" He asked expectantly. Veiere nodding in return, "The grounds are yours. I doubt you'll have visitors though just in case, if you see Bradshaw, keep an eye on the boy...-He's taken a liking to the Vagabond...", the look on Cillians face was almost priceless. No doubt the young man would be paranoid over the vessel being stolen and part of him probably suspected that Veiere was putting it out there simply to tease his love of the vessel himself. Still, it would keep him pre-occupied enough not to burn everything to the ground until Veiere had returned. "Stay safe..." He added before turning away and moving back for the estate to which he would find Kay awaiting him.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded as [member="Veiere Arenais"] went upstairs to get ready. Inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. If anything, having Veiere travel with her gave them more time to spend together, which wasn't often enough. The diplomatic venture to Valc VII probably wouldn't be long. Most trade missions were short. Usually she was on the planet for less than a standard day. It all depended on how simple the negotiations were.

Veiere soon joined her. As they walked to the speederbikes, she half smiled, pondering on whether she should drive, or to let him do it. How awkward would he feel in the back? It wasn't as though she brought an extra. But he did have his own. Still, having him drive would be far more ideal as she'd be able to wrap her arms around him.

With her decision made, she tossed him the extra helmet that she brought. "The Free Lady awaits us. I'll let you drive." Kay put on her own helmet and sat on the back of the bike, wrapping her arms around his waist as soon as he sat down.

The trio of speederbikes left the mountain estate moments later, winding their way through the trails towards the Palace's landing pad where the Free Lady was preparing to disembark.

*****************************

Spoiler

((Time skipping so that [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] can jump in quicker. Hope no one minds))

The Free Lady exited the jump from hyperspace just outside of orbit of Valc VII. The planet was dark. Far darker than she had expected. Yet the darkness came not only from the absence of bright lights of a vast civilization, but from the overall feel of the planet itself. Kay wondered if Veiere could feel it too.

Terrac was retired and she wasn't quite ready to let [member="Bradshaw Ku"] fly her ship just yet. Although he had plenty of experience, he still seemed too green for her. Perhaps she was just trying to protect him. So instead she had Tobee man the controls. The middle aged pilot signalled the security forces of Valc VII, sending the Free Lady's credentials. "Just waiting for confirmation and co-ordinates, M'Lady."

"Thank you, Tobee." The ball was in their host's court now.

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

Creak.

Creak.

Creaaaaaaaaak!

The rusty hinges of a decayed gate screamed open. The Mad Doctor's eyes opened from underneath his mask. He was meditating in what was the former training yard of the castle, back when it was a Sith Academy. Now the ancient structure was Desdamoni, sanctum sanctorum to Dr. Tyrne Desdamonus, ruler of Valc VII (by default) and soon to be savior of mankind.

Desdamonus stood up, his green cloak shrouding over his armored body, mask hiding his horrible appearance. He turned to the source of the intrusion. It was his servant, a deformed, hunchbacked Human man by the name of Vlikder. The man grovelled and bowed before the doctor's feet, hissing out what he had to say with a lisp that made understanding what he was saying difficult.

"Masterrrrrrrrr....the visitors, they have arrived!"

Desdamonus simply stood there, arms crossed over his chest.

"Masterrrr...forgive me for breaking your meditations..."

The Mad Doctor spoke, his voice a calm, rational tone.

"Good. Transmit coordinates to Desdamoni. Have them land in a clear courtyard and bring them to me."

"Yessssss Master..."

The hunchback crawled off to do his Master's bidding, stumbling over a skeleton or two left from Desdamonus' takeover of the Academy. But before the creature could leave, Tyrne called him back.

"One more thing, slave."

Vlikder turned around expectingly, perhaps for a reward of some sort. He received something a lot more different. The creature's windpipe began to close as he was slowly lifted up in the air. Dr. Desdamonus didn't even have to raise his hand. It was a power well acquainted to the man. Instead, he simply continued to stand in the training yard, arms still crossed, his voice now a calculated, cold hiss.

"Do not interrupt me while I study again."

"...y....yessssssss, maaaaster!"

And with that, the creature was released. Vlikder scampered off, not eager to earn anymore of his Master's wrath. Dr. Desdamonus followed suit, heading to the entrance of the castle, a decayed, desolate ballroom, where he would await for Vlikder to bring his guests.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere stood behind the pair, looking across the dash of the Free Lady's cockpit, his gaze on the giant world ahead. Like many of the planets within the Outer Rim, Valc VII seemed to be one that had escaped Veiere's personal experience until now, located within the Perinn Sector, it drifted behind six others all orbiting the moon, possibly giving reason to the cold demeanor that seemed to run Veiere's spine and raise a few hairs on his back. It wasn't often that a world would inhibit such a response, though it was arguable that he was feeding off of Kay's own uncertainties, her emotions hidden none from him, he soon turned to glance to her speaking up in question, as if to need reminding of their purpose there. "Who did you say we were meeting again?"

The Dark Side of the Force had never strayed out of reach from Kay's presence, it clung to her like a symbiotic creature, refusing to let her forget it's influence. Veiere had come to tolerate it only for her sake though ever on the back of his mind was the question of just how much it influenced her decisions. Standing there aboard the vessel with the world looming ahead, his concentration was torn between the two in a hint of suspicion that didn't at all sit right with him.

Eventually they would recieve word from the ground, this new pilot 'Tobee' would guide the vessel into the worlds atmosphere and begin their approach. He was another change in Kay's personnel that Veiere wasn't certain about, Terrac had been a good man and a gifted pilot, loyal and honest, he and Veiere had hit it off from day one. With all these changes coming into play and Veiere in all the time that he had now to complain to himself about them, he had started to become something of a skeptic, a pessimist of sorts. His ambitions these days were no longer guided by those of hope but rather apprehension and a case of the 'what if's'. What if the Sith were to return. What if something were to happen on Commenor while they were out here. [member="Bradshaw Ku"] was now a part of Veiere's life, [member="Lady Kay"]'s son, he had the boy to be conscious about now as well; what if he were to go missing like his Mother had, taken and tortured. His eyes narrowed, his mind denying the thoughts from progressing any further. Trained to hold restraint over his passions, he knew where these thoughts were trying to lead him and nothing good would come of pursuing them.

[member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

So [member="Veiere Arenais"] did feel what she felt, or at least some aspects of it. Right now it was a little hard to tell. "We are meeting a [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] . He rules this world. And by the looks of it, they could use a lot of what we can provide."

Tobee got the co-ordinates and within moments they were entering the atmosphere. The Free Lady seemed to shudder, as though Valc VII gave it the same chill as it gave the rest of them. Kay's eyes were trained on the clouds that they passed through, waiting for the break in them.

Finally the castle appeared below them. It was much taller than her own Palace and much, much darker. The structure almost appeared to be alive on it's own. Did it even breathe? Tobee guided the Free Lady down to the landing pad. It was an easy landing, but the pilot seemed tense. "I'll stay behind, keep her running in case you need to make a hastey exit."

Kay nodded in agreement, glancing to Veiere before heading to the ramp that had already began lowering. "We won't be long...And if the terms are too outrageous...well, it's no big loss." She was trying to be optimistic. Yet this place seemed to be the type to suck hope out of every individual that visited. In a way it reminded her of where she was held captive for months, although she never saw the outside or knew where it was that she was taken.

After letting out a deep breath and shrinking down her Force signature to that of a small tree nut, she left the Free Lady and headed towards the short, odd looking man that seemed to be there to greet them. "Greetings. I am Queen Kay of Commenor. Are you to take us to Dr. Desdamonus?"

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

"It speaks the Master's name!"

The creature stared at the woman and the man in front of him, agape. Although he had always known his name, he had not been allowed to speak it, unless Vlikder wanted to spend some 'alone time', as he called it, locked in the castle's ancient dungeon without food or water until the Mad Doctor decided to release him. So to here these woman speak his name without any reprisal was shocking, to say the least.

She is brave, yes...perhaps she can free me from here?

The hunchback bowed as deeply as he could before the two Humans, then looked up with a lopsided smile. While Vlikner was ugly, he wasn't repulsive, almost in a way a child could be ugly and still be regarded as cute.

"Yessssss, Your Majesty. I will bring you before my master. Quickly! Quickly, come. The Master does not like waiting..."

Vlikner jumped up and began to scamper from the abandoned courtyard that was used as a makeshift landing pad towards the main door of Desdamoni. Many dead plants cast their gloomy shadows over the cobblestone path, and far away, a raven cried, her voice a haunting echo that would bring chills to even the most willed person.

"Watch out for the skeletons, Your Majesty. There are plenty and they like to snag feets!"

The castle was not too far. It was physically imposing up close, almost oppressive, like someone looming over you. The sharp angles and pitch-black shadows only made the castle more unappealing to the eyes, almost offensive to the human senses. It would be a couple of more minutes before the main door was reached, and if the duo wanted to have a last minute discussion or ask Vlikner questions, that would be the time to do so.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

She is brave, yes...perhaps she can free me from here?

It was on these words that Veiere suspected they'd be in for trouble regardless of the nature of their host, anyone held against their will typically got to [member="Lady Kay"] more than she was likely willing to let on. Glancing to her as the smaller rather unusual male seemed to scurry off, Veiere placed a hand upon her shoulder and gave her a look of reassurance. His words passing through to her mind without the need to speak them upon the air, 'Don't go starting any trouble now...', with the words came the expression of concern yet too a sense of mild amusement in the nature of the comment transferred to her in telepathic communication.

With that said, he turned and began to move ahead of her, only by a pace or two that he might follow their guide and anticipate any unexpected trouble should it come their way, to reach him before anything could get in Kay's path. Here there relationship though still intimate, took on a more professional side, out in the public light or what was at the least considered to be light on this world, there wasn't much of it but their path illuminated enough to see where they were walking, his eyes glanced across the ground before them more curious than anything to see whether or not there really were skeletons about or whether or not the small man was a little too crazy for his boots, so to speak.

[member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"], even the name rang off with a strange tone giving Veiere the impression that this venture of theirs wasn't to be alike the others at all, carrying something of an odd nature about the castle or...Lair or whatever such a looming structure could be called, it all seemed rather 'gloom and doom' for his tastes. Each to their own, he supposed as he turned to glance back to find Kay in tow behind him, smiling some and slowing in pace to allow her to reach his side as they'd neared the entrance to the black fortress.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Vlikner was a curious one. And of course she heard all that he had said. She knew the type that he was or at least how he portrayed himself. When given the chance for freedom, those like Vlikner would always hesitate, some choosing to stay rather than face an uncertain future.

The voice of [member="Veiere Arenais"] came into her mind then. She looked up at him with a mock look of shock in reaction to his words. ~Me? Start trouble? I don't know what you're talking about....~ Kay gave him a small smile and nod, letting him know that she understood what he meant. Veiere knew her well. Even after her captivity, slavery was something that she still despised. Sure she made her prisoners work, but they weren't slaves. They worked to pay off their debts and regain their freedom. In the past she was kniwn for her slave rescue missions, but a lack of financing and now ruling a planet had put such missions on the back burner.

She followed along behind Veiere, taking in the sights of their gloomy surroundings. Just how many lived on this world? It didn't seem like many. The castle doors lay in front of them now. Veiere waited a bit for her, so that they could be side by side. She looked to him with a 'here goes nothing' expression on her face and stepped inside the entrance.

It was time to see just who or what [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] was.

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

"Welcome."

A voice rang out from what seemed to be the very walls of the castle itself. The main doors of the ancient structure closed behind the duo and the Mad Doctor's slave, ominously slamming shut. While little more than decayed wood, the doors gave off a powerful message: you will not leave this place until our business is concluded.

The party was gathered in what was the main ballroom of the castle, now used as a reception area for the rare guest. However, it represented a ballroom in the loosest sense. Chairs were smashed, tables were flipped and broken, and the main chandelier now decorated the floor with it's crystal shards. Skeletons and deteriorated gear also littered the stained tiles. Upstairs, there was a balcony, inaccessible from the ballroom, it seemed. Upon the railing Dr. Desdamonus stood, his green cloak concealing most of his body. With a flourish, the Mad Doctor jumped from the balcony, but instead of falling, he gently floated down about 10 feet from the two visitors. More of his features were revealed, the cold mask, the hard eyes, the full body of armor that surrounded him, and the lightsabre strapped to his right hip. A sense of darkness came with his presence, and a careful observer would note that, indeed, the room had grown dimmer when he entered.

"Masterrrrrr, I have brought your guestssss, master!"

"Be gone, creature."

With a sharp bow to all in the room, Vlikner scampered away, off to do what he pleased in the amount of time Dr. Desdamonus was occupied. The Doctor studied his guests. He sensed their connections to the Force and to each other. Interesting.

"I am Doctor Tyrne Desdamonus. You have entered my home, and you will behave as a guest in my sanctum santorum. Do not wander off or steal anything, or that mistake shall be your last. Now. Let us take care of business. I am a very busy man and there is much I must do, so let us conduct this...deal...with the utmost haste."

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere glanced off in the direction the smaller male scurried, it reacted out of fear for the one who commanded it and to this, the Force flowed sporadically as it left their sight without so much as an argument towards its mistreatment. Lifting his gaze some, he paused to ascertain their surroundings and the way the Force flowed around them all, whom he could pick up in it's extension of his senses, and the air around what they might be feeling, whispers of their reflected emotions alone, without going so far as to intrude on their privacy himself.

He would soon turn to glance to [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] as the man seemed to try to command them as he did the smaller creature, to this Veiere's brows furrowed to the bridge of his nose, his gaze turning to look to Kay of whom would be better qualified to lead in such talks than he, he was only really there to ensure her continued safety and in him, she listened more than she did to her people back home on Commenor. Once upon a time he might have bowed out of respect for their host but in the way that he spoke, Veiere decided to neglect his typical manners and favored the silent approach.

Upon first glance, this ones influence was nothing short of frustrating. Veiere wondered now whether Kay had been the one to initiate this little meeting and they were simply being tolerated or if otherwise, they truly had been invited and their host knew not how to welcome guests into his home. In any case, he didn't seem as concerned about carrying out this meeting as he was wrapping it up and being left once more to his own devices. It was as if their presence had come to be a nuisance that he'd decided in the last moments that he no longer required on his mind. Burying his hands into each sleeve of his grey cloak that draped from his shoulders and pooled around his feet, he studied their residence of their host, his attention going not to his words but their environment in which he sought to determine more about this Desdamonus; his taste in decor, the state of the building they'd entered, much could be said for a man who's walls were as tall and dark, arguably intimidating as this fortress was.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's eyes scanned the area as soon as the booming voice was heard. She felt like a character in a children's storybook, walking to face the big bad evil. Her gut instinct told her that it was exactly what they were doing. But her mind told her otherwise. She had a job to do.

A brow was raised as [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] floated down before them. That was certainly an entrance. One clearly made to show so.e of his power. Sith Lords were known for that. His look, his manners, his words told her that that was what they were dealing with.

Kay bowed her head. "I am Lady Kay, Queen of Commenor. As my message to you had stated, I would like to offer you a trade deal." Although from the look of things, it didn't seem like he had much to offer. "We bring in many supplies, food, construction materials, and all at a reasonable rate."

[member="Veiere Arenais"] was quiet, so ahe didn't introduce him. It was better to have him play the role of bodyguard for now. She didn't need to reveal any of her weaknesses right now.

"What goods come out of Valc VII that you could offer in trade?"

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

Desdamonus' eyes narrowed, although it was hard to see from the confines of his armor and mask. He sensed...apprehension? Most guests, or at least the few he tolerated for necessity, felt that. It was a rare day indeed when someone came into Desdamoni and wasn't at least put on edge by the surroundings, the darkness, and the visual 'decor' left behind by the uprising in the former Academy years ago. This was good. That was the intended effect of the castle, and while The Mad Doctor disliked theatrics, he had to admit that they were useful, especially in situations like this. But this Lady Kay, she was a strange one. Her male companion, whom was taking a more observant stance, seemed to be here for the sake of protection. For that, Tyrne didn't blame them. If he had heard even a fraction of the myth and stories surrounding this place from any of the sparse local populations, Desdamonus would've sent in a battalion of soldiers for safety. But it was just the two of them.

No matter. Business was business, and it had been too long since someone had come in to trade. While Vlikner normally handled the necessities, traveling Valc VII on a speeder to collect tribute from the closer settlements, there were other goods that the Doctor needed. More specific goods for his research. The last contact he had with traders ended on a poor note when they went sniffing about and discovered the true purpose of Desdamoni. This would not happen again.

Dr. Desdamoni heard the Lady's offer and inquiry and acknowledged it.

"I contain many relics here, once cherished by the Sith, but useless to me. Knowledge that dates back to millennia ago that I have already studied and analyzed. Holocrons, texts, weapons, crystals. They are nothing out of the norm, but I have no use for them now. But perhaps you do, Lady Kay, Queen of Commenor. Come. I will show you what I have to offer."

The Mad Doctor turned and began to walk, expecting the duo to follow. The doors in front of them swung open, and while they walked down the dark hallway leading to the storage room, Desdamonus spoke, giving them a brief history of the castle.

"Desdamoni is the name of my home. What you see about you is the ruins of what was once home to a noble, name long forgotten. When he vanished, the Sith sought this place as an Academy and a secret sanctuary, where they could practice their foolish religion in peace. The Sith's ways are self-destructive and counterproductive; therefore, I sought to eliminate them from this place. As you can see, I was successful."

He made no mention of the fact that he had once been a Sith, or a Jedi. The Doctor was not one to release information about himself that was unnecessary. There was a lull in the verbal 'tour' of the castle, and Desdamonus expected questions to be asked for him. After all, the human mind was a curious organ. It would surprise him if he didn't receive any questions or curious inquiries. Of course, the answer would depend on the nature of the questioning itself.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

His attention turned at the mention of Holocrons and other miscellaneous Force Artifacts, to this, perhaps they might both be interested in, certainly Veiere as his personal journey took a fond liking to exploration of the force, history of it's users and the many mysteries surrounding the veil. What lessons could be learned from these holocron for example, a means to better understand the Dark Side of the Force, something that the Jedi Order had chosen to push away rather than seek to know it and better defend themselves against it, as if complete omission would sustain their strength in the light. To Veiere's mind, he had come to learn that ignorance only deterred failure, yet never assured success.

[member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] continued to explain the background of his castle, the fact that the Sith Empire had once used this very place as an Academy came off as rather easily believed given the feel and look of it all, ominous and dark, it fit the part perfectly. According to his word, he had removed those who had called this place home, Veiere assuming this to mean he had killed them all, the Sith weren't the kind privy to letting outsiders take their homestead away from them without a good fight. As much as the Sith were a blight on the Galaxy, Veiere hoped that they'd been given the chance to leave peacefully. The chances of accepting these terms would've been impractical, the thought of it all now insignificant and yet he wished not to jump to conclusions and look upon their host as a Murderer. In the Galaxy they were all killers in some sense, yet it was the morals of this man that they might be working alongside in the future and that still meant something.

"I would be most interested in these Holocrons, you speak of..."

Veiere announced quietly where they had a moment of silence, he and [member="Lady Kay"] both moving in tow behind their host as he began to offer them both a tour of his lair. Back on Commenor, Veiere had hopes that he might not be the only Force Practitioner willing to stand for the people, that they might come together and work alongside Kay herself in order to better secure the world from future invaders should any have the gall. To this end, the acquisition of knowledge in these holocrons, or the potential learnings they could gain from.

"The Force is a frequent study of mine, and back on Commenor, I wonder if we couldn't use these artifacts to pass on knowledge to others...".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay kept her hands clasped in front of her while she followed [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] . She couldn't help but look around while he spoke. It made her draw nearer to [member="Veiere Arenais"] , not so much because of the skeletons and disrepair from old battles, but from what the place reminded her of. No matter how hard she tried to shut it from her mind, the overall aura of the place disturbed her.

Veiere spoke up, something that caught her by surprise. He was interested in Sith Holocrons? At first she figured that he'd want to destroy them, but instead, he expressed his desire to learn from them. It was strange. Kay had never encountered a Holocron herself, never even seen one to her knowledge. But that didn't mean that she never knew of them. Some were locked, only capable of being opened by certain individuals. Perhaps Veiere would make one one day, one specifically for her. She wasn't entirely certain, but she had a feeling that she would out live him. Yet that could just be a result of her past.

"I am sure that such artifacts would serve a purpose far better than collecting dust and taking up space. And yes, the Sith ways are quite self-destructive and counterproductive. I'll have to agree with you there."

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

The Doctor glanced briefly over his shoulder at the man behind him, who up until that point had been completely silent. Interesting. Both him and the Queen seemed interested in his holocrons, most stolen from the private collection of the old Headmaster, whom he himself slew. They contained knowledge on Sith arts, ranging from offensive powers to alchemy to historical records, all of which Dr. Desdamonus had already studied intently years ago. It would be no impact on him if they were traded for something that may actually prove useful in the Mad Doctor's research.

"The Holocrons are of no use to me anymore. I will allow the both of you to observe them when we arrive at my storage chamber. I am glad you seem to agree with me, Lady Kay of Commenor. However, do not be so quick to discard other viewpoints until you have studied and immersed yourself in them. Only then can you truly discover errors and faults while uncovering truth and knowledge. While I may have been quick to dismiss the Sith, I have spent a little more than half of my current lifecycle studying what they had to offer and disseminating what useful information they had to offer before I...parted ways. Ah, we have arrived."

With a wave of his hand, an unsuspecting door in front of the three humans opened. While likewise sharing in the dusty and desolate nature of the rest of the castle, the room held some newer looking containers and shelves, which were lined with what had been mentioned previously: artifacts, holocrons, weapons, and other interesting Sith remains. The Mad Doctor took in a short breath before turning to the two behind him, issuing a few commands.

"Now. You may observe and inquire. Do not touch any of the objects seen before you. Some of them are dangerous when approached incorrectly. Other than that, you are free to look about."

Dr. Desdamonus moved to the side of the room, allowing the two to enter, all while keeping a wary eye on them.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere stepped on passed [member="Dr. Tyne Desdamonus"] as he pulled himself aside to allow them to enter the room, the back of his neck prickling in the sense that now with his back turned to their host, all eyes were upon them; and perhaps rightly so, not knowing much about where they had come from nor who they were, yet this place left Veiere feeling uneasy, everything so shrouded in darkness that [member="Lady Kay"] might have become used to by now, yet Veiere had been battling such coldness all of his life.

He had studied a good number of Jedi holocron in the past, though never been allowed access to those of the Sith Empire that had been recovered from a time where the Order remained the presence of peace within the center of the Galaxy, before Svivren and his exile. They were a different kind altogether, such objects so heavily condensed with the Force that triggering the activation of one such holocron could have ill effects on the one attempting to study the device. Those made out of personal taste for the benefit of those they deemed worthy to listen and admire their learnings and experience of life, there was little doubt in Veiere's mind that their host had discovered this of his own trial and dare he say it, error.

"What can you tell me about these Holocron..."

Veiere spoke aloud as he moved across the room, eyeing the dark artifacts lining the wall held upon pedastals or otherwise shelved amongst many other unusual items, those of which he did not recognize and yet felt the presence of the Dark Side of the Force just as strongly. His eyes narrowed as his mind drifted to the potential acts taken upon such a place by the Sith, what they were studying here and what could be gained through such devices in knowledge alone.

"What sort of content do they contain...-And what is their price?".

 

[Dr. Tyne Desdamonus]

Desdamonus stepped forward silently next to Veiere. The Mad Doctor towered over him by at least half a foot, but Tyrne could sense the man's eagerness to learn the ways of the Force from an open viewpoint. It reminded him of his younger self years and years ago, where Tyrne lived to devour knowledge, whether in the laboratory, the Jedi Temple, or the Sith Academy. While this man couldn't have been but a few years younger than himself, he had the desire to learn of a young man, and for that, Dr. Desdamonus was curious. He decided to indulge him with the knowledge that the holocrons offered.

The Mad Doctor laid a hand on one of the more prominent looking holocrons and began to chant in a series of hisses and clicks, the words of a language that was used by the Sith millennia ago and was now forgotten by all those except the scholars. When he finished, the Sith holocron sprung to life, sending out an image of a man chained to a pillar, tubes connected to every part of his body. His face was a frozen mask of horror, and the viewer could see that it was not any fluid that was being drawn out of his body, but his life force. The victim's face began rapidly aging in front of their very eyes, until he was little more than a husk, a dried out corpse that was completely devoid of life.

Dr. Desdamonus hissed lowly, and the holocron fell silent, again inactive. He then turned to the duo of humans and spoke, this time in Galactic Basic.

"What you just observed was an ancient Sith technique used to draw the very life force of a sentient being from their bodies. While there are other means of doing this, this particular technique was the most effective in my studies. The life force can then be used in various ways. One might use it to heal their own bodies, to prolong and grant an abnormal life span, even to bring life into what was once dead, although the effects of that last example are rather...grotesque, at least in my experience."

"The contents of the various holocrons before you are much the same subject: studies on the human body. In exchange for these, I would need various materials and supplies commonly found in laboratories but scarce on this isolated world." With that, Dr. Desdamonus began to list off various chemicals and equipment that he desired.

Tyrne wasn't sure of how the two would react to the contents of the Sith holocrons. Would they be disgusted or intrigued? The Mad Doctor would hypothesize that Lady Kay of Commenor would be repulsed, although he could sense the lingering darkness in her, and the man, whose name he still did not know, would be very interested in what the other holocrons had in store. The Doctor silently gauged their responses behind his metal mask, waiting to analyze their reactions...

[member="Veiere Arenais"] [member="Lady Kay"]