Private Great Minds and an Invitation

[Maestus]

Aura Vexx

Alkonost. The shining jewel in Maestus crown on Crakull. Surrounded by high walls, streets patrolled by well armed marauders garbed in black armor with red accents. Those colors alone enough to distinguish them as the soldiers of Maestus, the Warlord who rules the planet.

The streets thrum with activity. A police state yet one that was bustling. In any area were vendors hawking their wares. It's difficult to tell what buildings are being built and which are being destroyed. Piles of rubble sit surrounded by slaves working to separate the debris into what is garbage and what can be recycled for use in the Maw machine.

Also, and perhaps unexpected, are people with datapads. Thoroughly engrossed in their reading and calculations, small groups huddle together. Passersby can hear them debating facets of genetics research. Or the latest technological advances being made in the labs here.

Sitting above the city yet still within its walls sits the fortress of Maestus. Tall and foreboding, it looms. Casting a shadow over the city. As one approaches the fortress, they are stopped by two guards. Once more in black armor with red accents, these two wear red pauldrons on their right shoulders and carry Beskar pikes. They question all who attempt entry, only allowing those within who have received their mistress approval.

Aura Vexx would be granted entrance, and one of the guards would precede him into the fortress. Within, the fortress is surprisingly well lit. While there are Sith runes, statues and artifacts, one may be most surprised to see the halls and walls rather sparce. Clearly, the mistress had yet to finish decorating.

Aura would be led into the throne room. Though the throne was rather plain and understated. Obsidian stone rough hewn into a large chair. Atop the chair was Maestus. She wore simple black robes trimmed in red. One Lekku curled over her shoulder, the other behind her back. She gazed down at Aura with black eyes rimmed with red flames.

Welcome to Crakull, Aura Vexx.

 

[Aura Vexx]

The invitation had been unexpected. He had been returning from an expedition into the Sith Empires territory when the encrypted signal had come through the freighters channels. It had taken him an entire day to decode it thanks to the dated ships tech, but eventually he had been able to piece together the invitation, as well as coordinates. With curiosity driving him, he set course for the world of Crakull, unsure as to what to expect and what he would need to be ready for.

The invitation directed him towards the fortress at the heart of what he assumed to be the capital city of the world, his eyes constantly tracking in all directions to take in his surroundings. As seemed to be common among the Sith, black and red colors dominated almost everything he could see. Clothing, buildings, vehicles, all of them were decked out in the colors that the galaxy as a whole had come to assign to the Sith. His silver armor by contrast seemed almost muted among the sea of dark colors, and he reached his hand up occasionally to adjust the color of the armor, conscious of the eyes always following him.

The fortress itself was not much different from the rest of the world, and Aura resigned himself to accept the state of things. He would always have the future to try and liven up the galaxy. The guards at the entrance to the fortress were much the same, but their coloring and equipment was much more functional. He nodded his head as they inspected his identity then escorted him inside. Almost the moment he stepped across the threshold he had to shut his eyes, turning his head away. The fortress was one of the few places he had seen so far that was well lit on this planet, and the Echani-Vexx inability to adapt to sudden changes in ambient light caught up with him. Reaching into his armor, he retrieved a small visor that he placed across his eyes. After several seconds, the technology had adjusted to the light and allowed Aura's eye to recover on their own. With that done, he set off to continue to his meeting.

Upon entering the throne room, Aura's eyes immediately locked on to the figure sitting upon the throne. His senses, so recently developed and still not fully understood, told him the woman before him was someone of power. Her casual stance and calm demeanor in this realm of darkness gave hints to that as well. Not the mention the flames, those were rather noteworthy. He inclined his head as she spoke his name, giving her a polite bow. This was her home after all, it would not hurt to be polite.

"I thank you for the invitation, though it would seem you have the upper hand on information in this encounter. Might I be informed of who you are?"

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

Maestus smiled. Pearly white teeth made even brighter being reflected off her red skin. She rose and descended the few steps down to the floor. She strode slowly and casually to him. Then gave him a thorough and intense look over.

I am Maestus, that is all that need said for the time being. You are the last of your species, yes? The Echani-Vexx.

She tilted her head to one side, regarding him curiously. Something about him intrigued her. Perhaps it was his species. Or that he was one of the few remaining.

A low grumble came from a side entryway. A large, near 3 meter tall monster stormed through, and was making a beeline for Aura Vexx . The behemoth was a brute. Clad similarly to Maestus other soldiers, he wore black armor from the waist down, and a black cloak round his shoulders. His eyes, while having a blank cast to them, were alive and focused on Aura.

Maestus looked at the Sithspawn momentarily, then looked to Aura curiously.

This is my personal guard. He has no name, but is completely devoted to me. What do you think?

 

[Aura Vexx]

Aura narrowed his eyes slightly as his host spoke, glancing around the room as he considered what to say. The Echani-Vexx had not necessarily been a secluded species, but they held little contact with the rest of the galaxy. Their disappearance should not have been that important a note for an invitation, and yet here he was. Shrugging his shoulders slightly, Aura looked back up at the woman before him. "I am not the last of my species. Not yet, anyway." The words were cold as Aura spoke them, but he could not linger on them long as a hulking figure emerged from the darkness.

His hand reached for the lightsaber at his side, prepared to activate the blade and leap into action, but then the creature came up short. He watched it carefully as he stepped away from both the monster and its master, still advancing on him, his eyes never leaving the two threats. "He is truly a powerful specimen. Pure violence contained into a single form, and the lack of a name may indicate you are willing to toss it aside at a moments notice..."

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

The hulking brute made no motion of slowing down or stopping. Until Maestus turned and looked at him. The beast paused, regarding its mistress. It was clear there was some form of unspoken communication happening. After a few seconds, the beast grunted and retreated back near the throne. Though he had moved away, he still kept his gaze on Aura.

Maestus turned her gaze back to Aura.

He has no name because he can not comprehend the concept of one. He has been created for one purpose. To serve me. He needs no name to call his attention as it is always on me. He is bonded mentally. And completely.As for his disposability...I'm fond of him. Outside of my Chosen, he is the only one with absolute loyalty. A trait so few display. Loyalty is often bought and traded over a game of Sabacc.

She turned away, clasping her hands behind her lower back. A soft, faint sigh escaped her lips.

As for learning of the plight of your species...I am well informed on the happenings through out the galaxy. And when a species is nearly annihilated, that is cause for attention. It took some doing, but my agents were able to track you down so I could send you an invitation to meet.

She slowly turned around to face him once more. Her gaze was intense now. Heavy and weighted as if Judgement Day had arisen. Perhaps, for Aura, it had.

You said you are not the last of your species YET. One can draw the conclusion you intend to finish your work?

She beckoned to him to follow as she moved silently towards an entryway to the left of the throne. Through it was a study. A fire, larger than one should safely have indoors, roared in the center of the room. The heat generated created a sweltering temperature. If it made Maestus uncomfortable, it wasn't obvious. She walked up to the fire, staring into the flames as they licked and crackled towards her in return.


Aura Vexx

 

[Aura Vexx]

Aura never took his gaze away from the brute until it found its new spot beside the throne. He then turned his gaze back to the woman before him, his eyes narrowed as he slowly relaxed his posture. He was still prepared for a potential trap, but for the time being he would not remain combat ready. He needed to relax his muscles either way, it would be a poor showing to suddenly start getting cramps while having a discussion with the ruler of an entire planet. What would his parents have thought.

If he had not killed them anyway.

He followed her through the entryway to the study, his eyes glancing around the room before settling on the fire across the room. He felt his armor warming around his body, chasing away the cold he had not realized had taken grip over him. He let himself enjoy the brief respite before he spoke again, his mind carefully considering his responses. "If you know about my people, then you know what we were. Warriors, striving to be the best in the galaxy. In ages past, we would cull the weak from our kind, ensuring only the strongest were allowed to breed. Only the best of our species would continue the Echani-Vexx legacy. In ages past, we succeeded..."

He paused for a moment, his eyes staring into the fire before he spoke again. When he did, what little emotion he had shown suddenly gone. "But we became weak, flawed, and cowardly. My people insulted their ancestors sacrifice by being what they were at the end, and after the final culling, I knew what I had to do. For the Echani-Vexx to return to the power of the past, they must be purged and reborn. I will not let my people continue to live on in their current weakness and flawed state. I will do that much for them, and allow them the peace of what comes next."

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

As Aura Vexx followed her into the study, the doors swung shut. He might have seen the slightest movement of her hand, were he watching her. At the fire, she held a hand out, palm facing the flames. One by one, slowly, flames reached out to kiss her flesh. Within seconds, her hand was engulfed in the flames. Maintaining her hand in the flames, she shifted her gaze from fire to Aura.

Very few can say they are able to touch the fire and not get burned. I was born from the fire and lava on Mustafar. I know well what you mean when you speak of purging weakness.

She finally withdrew her hand. There was no scorch marks, or even redness. Absolutely unharmed. Turning, she motioned to a pair of large overstuffed chairs, seating herself in one.

Tell me, Aura. How do you believe your species became weak. What led to their downfall? Were the ancestors displeased somehow? And most importantly, what will you do about the remaining Echani-Vexx?

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[Aura Vexx]

Aura's eyes widened for the briefest moment when Maestus stuck her hands into the flame. Even when she withdrew it, surrounded by flames, he could detect no physical reaction to the burning. While his mind worked on this quandary, she gestured to chairs across the room. Aura made his way to the one across from hers, his armor creaking as he lowered himself into the chair. He had only a moment to compose himself before she asked him a question he himself had asked so long ago of himself. Sighing, he turned his head to look across the room.

"Their downfall was their salvation. After the first culling when my people left Eshan, they needed to replenish their population. Outsiders were conquered and brought aboard the vast city ship my people lived in. It was a necessary and beneficial decision. The number of Pure Bloods left was not enough to sustain a diverse genetic population for long, which posed its own risks. Adding outsiders to the population increased that gene pool, and offered the chance for the Echani-Vexx to develop more beneficial traits through assimilation." He paused for a moment, one of his legs rising and folding across the knee of the other.

"The true failing was when we adopted their beliefs as our own. The outsiders were useful, and I myself am a Half Born, with alien ancestors at some point. But when we allowed their beliefs to mix with our own, the warrior ways of our people began to clash with the more peaceful and 'standard' notions of the galaxy. In time, these beliefs began to subsume the ancient ways of our people, and in time the culling's came to an end. We worked together to build a prosperous future on a new world, and strove to eliminate all hardships from our lives. They shunned the ways of our ancestors, turned their back on all that had made us strong." Pausing once more, Aura turned to stare at Maestus, his eyes unwavering and cold despite the warmth in the room.

"They were no longer Echani-Vexx. The Echani-Vexx are warriors, conquerors, not diplomats and merchants. As was the way of our ancestors, if you are not Echani-Vexx, you are the enemy. I waged war against them, as was the way of our ancestors. The pacifistic ways that took hold are a stain on my peoples legacy, and I will ensure that stain is erased. The Echani-Vexx will be strong again, even if I am the only survivor."

 

[Maestus]

AS Aura Vexx spoke of his species history, Maestus listened in silence. Her eyes remained on the Echanio-Vexx the entirety of the time he spoke. Black, nearly soulless orbs ringed with red flames rest heavily on him like a twenty ton block of durasteel.

Were there qualifications the outsiders needed to meet before being introduced into the population? It seems to me that individuals who displayed the most beneficial traits, such as strength, ferocity, cunning, would be introduced instead of the weak and pitiful.

She let her question hang in the air until he chose to answer it. Before her lips, her hands raised. Her fingertips touched her nose as she watched and considered the possibilities. The idea of genetic manipulation intrigued her greatly. She, herself, had done experimentation with midicholorians. The results were less than expected, but a solid baseline.

A dry chuckle slipped past her lips. She waved it off.

Forgive me. My mind wandered to a possibility and I find it interesting. A possibility where the benefits are too numerous to detail in one sitting. Let me ask you something Aura Vexx. How do you intend to bring your species back to their past glory? And would you be open to more...Outside the norm in terms of acceptance? ​

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