Hospitality at its Finest

[Caid Centurion]

Castellum Tenebris
Druckenwell

In the intervening months between Caid's arrival to Confederacy space and the present, things had progressed quickly on Druckenwell. For his part, Caid had been offworld on a number of occasions, working diligently for the very same government that he represented. Now, the Sith Lord was back on Druckenwell to attend to local affairs that his Privy Council may not have been unable to manage independently during his time away. This particular respite, however, would be short lived. The Endelaan Prince needed to return to his ancestral homeworld before things initiated once more in earnest in and around Confederacy space.

The glow of silver-green eyes protruded from beneath the hood of the Sith's cloak as he traversed the dim corridors of the grounds of Caid's estate. The architecture of Castellum Tenebris was purposefully dark and cold. It was a rare occasion that anyone outside of the Privy Council was ever actually invited to the fortress. He wanted the rumors and discussions to be that the Viceroy of Druckenwell, who had arrived to summarily dismiss large swaths of the planet's former leadership, was an enigmatic force of darkness. Unlike a handful of officials within the Confederacy, Caid did nothing to hide his true nature.

Living his life in the public eye, Caid thrived on and strove to prove that the strength of the Sith was something to aspire to, to emulate. He hid in no shadows, though he was certainly capable of subterfuge and stealth when called for. Druckenwell was a project for Caid, a test-bed. It was here in this system that the framework of Caid's future Kingdom of Endelaan would be put to the test. At least, it was a future he thought he would have.

Entering the corridor leading to his personal chambers, a crimson-cloaked figure stepped out of an adjacent corridor. "Your Highness. A vessel approaches."

Caid's forward momentum halted. "Oh? I don't recall summoning any appointments today."

"She cleared Port Authority with Confederacy codes. The Knights Obsidian."

Caid rolled his eyes. "Ah yes. The Boys and Girls Club. Very well, ensure this guest is directed to a landing position just outside the gates. If they are incapable of following that instruction, destroy them."

The cloaked warrior bowed deeply. "Your Highness."

Turning, Caid began proceeding back in the direction from whence he had originated. Upon arrival, the guest would be directed to the large chambers of the Privy Council. There was, officially, a more ceremonial room, but Caid had yet to utilize it for any menial purpose. When the guest arrived, they would find the room empty and silent.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah slapped her pilot's hand away from the controls for what felt like the millionth time that trip. The fool had been in a bad mood with her ever since she had decided to learn how to pilot the ship herself, finally.

'I told you, if you won't let me practice I'll never learn.'

'Serenity' lurched dramatically to the right as it came speeding down toward Druckenwell. The pilot rolled his eyes heavily and lent back into his chair. The only time she had seen him use his seat belt was when she was behind the console but Dianah didn't blame him. She was awful. There was a huge learning curve and all she had to go on were a few brief stints in a discontinued prototype ship created by the First Order, but Dianah was taking it all in her stride.

Luckily they had been given permission to land quickly because for some reason she tended to cause more trouble just sitting still than actually flying somewhere. The vast stone walls of the city came sweeping into view as the ship took another tight turn to reach its destination. She released the controls suddenly and stood up with a soft groan, the miserable man beside her could take over from here.

Druckenwell was usually the type of place Dianah would go out of her way to avoid. Nothing about the huge black walls or the tall "menacing" towers impressed her, but her reason for being at this soul sucking place wasn't to be impressed, it was to impress someone. Back on Kirima, where they had sort of met, she had only caught a small glimpse of the power he held. Yet that alone was enough to spark a deep rooted curiosity in her about the man named Caid Centurion.

'Serenity' landed with a thump that shook the ship more than usual. Dianah tutted loudly and flashed her Mandalorian heritage in the form of an unladylike curse flung in the direction of the cockpit. She smoothed the silk of her dress down, double checking her lightsaber was on the belt around her middle, before stepping off the ramp and into the shadow of Druckenwell. Though the title 'Viceroyal' held no meaning to her Dianah had been urged to at least try and make an effort to respect it, so she had her best face on. In her original form she cut quite the picture, for the daughter of a Devil.

The gates opened slowly, too slowly for her liking. To save some time Dianah squeezed herself through the growing gap to come face to face with a red clad warrior. She offered him a cheerful wave, but as she suspected, he wasn't in the mood to return it. With her silent guide in tow, Dianah made her way through the winding stone corridors to the waiting chambers. She was barely through the door when it slammed behind her unceremoniously, leaving her completely alone in the vast room.

If there was one thing she couldn't resist, it was an echo. She span her way to the center of the empty room, each tap of her boots repeating against the marble walls infinitely. A swirl of material caught the breeze and lifted her skirts up from her caramel colored thighs. With a bright grin on her face, Dianah cupped her hands around her mouth and called out to the silence.

'Hello!'

Her own voice answered back. Again and again and again.

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Near-silent footfalls approached a private entrance directly behind the Viceroy's typical seat in the cavernous room that Dianah presently occupied. Though there was little sound to accompany his arrival, the shifting of his presence in the Force throughout the sprawling compound was largely unmistakable. Following a nearly imperceptible motion of his right hand, the door slid open and the Sith's large frame slipped inside of the room. Given the otherwise pervasive silence of the meeting chamber, Caid's entrance certainly would not have gone unnoticed by his unannounced visitor.

Stepping around one of the thirteen high-backed chairs in the room, Caid calmly took a seat in his own. They were all identical so as not to purposefully give off any indication of status or authority. What was the point? Caid had made it expressly clear whom would be the last man standing on Druckenwell the day that he arrived. Dressed casually in naught but a pair of pants, boots, and his crimson-lined cloak, the Sith Lord leaned back comfortably into his seat. Silver-green eyes slowly swept the curves of [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]'s form as they did to just about anyone with whom the Sith was not familiar. Her physical presence was completely unobscured given the reality of Caid's hood pooling around his shoulders instead of adorning his head.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this unscheduled visit by a representative of the Knights Obsidian?"

Caid posed the interrogative matter-of-factly. In the grand scheme of things, it mattered little. Had it mattered her vessel would simply have been reduced to ash.

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her mind was completely in the moment, the sound of her own voice echoing back surrounded her in world of her own. The slow creak of the heavy door as it swung on ancient hinges cut her playful moment short. When the unknown interrupter made their way to one of the seats behind her Dianah did not turn round. Instead her eyes were locked on the patterned ceiling that seemed to stretch on for miles above them. She reached her hand out to a catch a slither of light on her skin, as if it were something tangible.

When she finally brought her body and gaze to face him a wide smile spread across her lips. The man in the chair was exactly who she was here for and he looked just as serious and solemn as the last time they met, though the cloak was definitely a nice touch. At the last minute she remembered he was supposed to be some kind of royalty, so she made a bow low enough for her thick curls to trail against the marble floor.

Dianah blew out a raspberry in response to his deep baritone voice, coupled with a short shake of her head.

'I'm glad you consider it a pleasure, but I'm not here to represent the Knight's Obsidian. I'm here to represent myself, I suppose.'

She closed the distance between herself and the chair in three graceful steps. Dianah didn't waste the opportunity to glance over him curiously, it was the first chance she'd had to see him up close. She eagerly drank in his appearance, lingering for a long moment on his silver-green eyes. When she'd had her fill she flashed him a charming smile.

'I'm here to learn, if you're willing to teach.'

A slim arm flicked up from by her side and she offered him her hand to take, or not.

'Dianah Vi'Dreya. We worked together on Kirima, for a moment or two.'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

The Sith Lord was silent, choosing to remain seated even as Dianah initially replied to his first statement. The woman's fluid, light-footed approach to his seat was not met with recoil or hesitation. In that particular moment, he did not identify any particular threat emanating from the woman. However, simply because she did not give off the immediate appearance, did not mean she wasn't, in fact, dangerous.

Following her somewhat ambiguously stated request for training, Caid's eyes tracked from her own down to the outstretched hand. The woman's name did not exactly mean anything, but at the mention of Kalinda, Dianah's face turned the cogs in Caid's memory. In a single fluid motion, Caid leaned forward and came to his feet, exposed muscles inadvertently flexing for a moment from the effort. Extending his own hand, he gripped Dianah's outstretched hand and shook it firmly one time. Releasing her hand, Caid clasped his hands behind his back.

"What is it you hope to learn then, Dianah Vi'Dreya?"

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her eyes caught his rippling muscles, which tugged a mildly impressed smirk to the corners of her lips. The handshake was brief and rather formal but that didn't matter much. She wasn't here to make friends, though even if she were she doubted he would want too.

'I want you to teach me... Well. I'm not sure what you call it exactly. But you jumped out of a ship and managed to land without shattering any bones.'

She paused for a brief moment as the memory came flooding back. In her minds eye a dark shadow fell from impossibly high and landed on a cobblestone floor, followed by a bright flash of purple lightning that danced between the gaps in the path. It had been very impressive to watch and Dianah was eager to try it out herself. In fact, learning to do just that was the entire reason she was here at all.

'So, what do you say?'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid arched a curious brow as Dianah went into a brief explanation of why she had arrived on Druckenwell this particular evening. Before she could finish her explanation, however, Caid stepped past her towards the center of the cavernous room. Silver-green eyes seemed to hold every detail of the dwelling which he'd, ultimately, designed himself with more interest than the words echoing throughout the chamber from the young Vi'Dreya. While Caid certainly did not know the woman personally nor the specific circumstances of her background, he was well enough informed to recognize the last name. Perhaps the fact that the Vicelord had impregnated one of his rumored-plethora-of-harem-girls and produced Dianah had given the woman some misguided sense that Caid had to endure any surprises whatsoever inside of his own domain.

Once Dianah had finished speaking, Caid continued gazing at a particular drawing on the far side of the circular room. That he hadn't designed. If memory served correctly, it was some imagery of a former battle or another that happened upon Druckenwell. Caid's assistant had thought it might serve to...remind the Council why their work was important. Fortunately for said assistant, Caid could have cared less how the walls were adorned so long as they stood.

"Let me go ahead and recap this." Turning slowly, Caid finally returned his gaze to Dianah's form. His face was an expressionless mask, but the intensity of his bright gaze burned straight through the woman as if she were not even present. "A Vi'Dreya descends from the heavens, unannounced of course because what is any action without style, dressed either to impress or arouse..." The Sith Lord allowed himself a brief pause at the thought. "Or perhaps you just like to wear pretty, low-cut things to situations in which you hope to obtain training." Did she expect to be jumping from great heights in that outfit? Caid thought it a little...funny, but he probably wasn't going to fight the reality.

Waving a dismissive hand, Caid continued. "I digress." Stepping forward casually, Caid continued to walk until he was separated from Dianah's body by just under a foot. So close were their physical presences that Caid could feel the heat radiating off her skin. "You did all of this simply...to learn what ultimately amounts to a somewhat advanced application of levitation?"

Despite the previously condescending tone of his statements, Caid allowed a thin smile to eventually crease the features of his lips. With a shrug of his shoulders, Caid brushed just past Dianah's body, returning to his seat. "Sure, why not?" Once he was seated, the Sith Lord permitted himself a brief rehash of an earlier comment. "I'd say you accomplished both, by the way." A single finger of his left hand made a brief twirling motion, sending a moderately strong wave of force energy at the bottom of her dress. The point was to illustrate that the material would and did lift with a very small amount of airflow. "Your appearance does impress and no doubt arouses many a man taken so simply by their baser instincts."

Turning his head, Caid quietly intoned, "Councilor."

The sound of heavy doors at the far end of the room opening preceded the entrance of an elderly man. The man's voice was not really capable of raising to sufficient degree to be heard at distance, so he waited to respond until he was closer. "Yes, Your Excellency?"

Caid's eyes remained locked on Dianah's features as he spoke to the man. "Please retrieve a jumpsuit for Ms. Vi'Dreya. I should think..." Silver-green eyes charted the length of the woman's curves one more time, but they'd already been committed to memory. "...a medium will suffice."

"Right away, Your Excellency."

Once the Councilor had fully exited the chamber, Caid returned to his feet. "I suggest you wear it, unless you intend a more intense showing this evening."

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Half way through her small speech Caid took leave of his chair and paced the short distance to the center of the room. Dianah's gaze followed as he went, scanning over everything that was hidden away while he'd been sitting. Suffice to say what she found was more than pleasing to the eye but she didn't let it distract her in the slightest. Once she'd finished and cast her question into the air her eyes followed his to the intricately designed mural on the wall. Dianah skimmed over the imagery but took none of it in, she was too focused on the brief silence that filled the room.

With his words silver-green eyes were locked onto her with a rather dismissive gaze. Was it meant to make her feel nervous or awkward? Dianah had been given that same look many a time by Sith Lords more powerful than he so it accomplished nothing of the sort. It only caused a coy smile spread over her lips which she coupled with a soft laugh. She also suspected his words were meant to embarrass her but it was clear the only thing he really knew about her was her name.

'I think you'll find that's exactly what I like to do. I assure you I've achieved greater things in dresses far more revealing than this.'

She lofted a slim brow as he closed the gap between them. Dianah had to crane her neck to look at him properly. From up close his face certainly had a regal quality to it but his attractive features did nothing to cushion his condescending words. She would have rolled her eyes if she thought it appropriate but she was asking for a favor and someone's dull tone in the back of her mind reminded her of who she was speaking too. Dianah fought the urge to snap back and instead plastered her most innocent look on her face and replied in a cheery tone.

'Oh good, yes, you've got it. For a moment there I thought I'd have to repeat myself.'

Caid brushed past her with an attitude fit for someone who held the title of Vice Royalty. Once again she found herself following him with her eye as he walked by to take his seat again. At his acceptance she flashed him a wide grin and clapped her hands together in excitement. His following statement, which she took as a compliment, forced a soft blush to her cheeks. With a dramatic flair that only she could pull off, Dianah span on the spot. When the soft flow of force caught the edge of her dress, which was already beginning to lift from her thighs, it sent the thin silk flying high into the air. She finished the whole show with an elegant curtsy and a not so subtle wink. The timing had been pure coincidence but it fit her act very well.

'Thank you. I'm assuming you consider yourself above "baser instincts"?'

Mere moments after Caid had summoned his councilor the scrape of wood against stone sounded out as the door swung open once again. Dianah was rather impressed by the fact that the man could hear him from such a distance, considering the soft tone his master had used. Caid took a guess at what her measurements were, or at least what was supposed to look like a guess, and before too long the elderly man was scurrying away with his orders. Which left Caid and Dianah alone again.

'I suppose I should follow your suggestion then. Intense doesn't seem like your style.'

Her tone was laced with sarcasm. After all, everything about the man in front of her was intense. From his personality right down to the silver-green of his eyes that seemed to reflect any light they came across. When the Councilor came rushing back with the jumpsuit in tow it took Dianah all of a minute to step into it and zip it up over the dress. When she was done she made a less impressive turn. The fit was perfect save for being lose around the waist and it did suit the purpose of her visit, even if the alternative was the more entertaining choice.

'Well, now you have me all dressed up, where shall we start?'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid elected not to respond to Dianah's comment about his baser instincts. The truth of the matter was, yes, he absolutely could ignore carnal instinct when it suited his purpose. In the present moment, with Dianah's undeniably enticing form twirling around in front of him, the need for resistance was certainly...strong. Caid had never really been one to simply pursue every pretty face around him. Even for the briefest of affairs, there had to be something more about a woman to truly excite him.

"I suppose I should follow your suggestion then. Intense doesn't seem like your style."

A mischievous grin slipped across the Sith Lord's lips by way of response. "I'm fairly confident you will know the full...depth of the answer before you leave here." No sooner had the words left Caid's lips, than the Councilor re-entered with the requested item. The soft rustling of fabric was the only sound to fill the chamber as Dianah pulled on the jumpsuit.

Once she was prepared, Caid came back to his feet. "We start...with a conversation," was the Sith Lord's response to the uninvited guest. Clasping his hands behind his back once more, Caid leveled a more interested gaze in the woman's direction. "The mechanics of knowing how to land to the point of absorbing shock is where you need to start. Without this understanding, even a relatively short height can cause damage to your person."

Shrugging off his cloak, Caid tossed it back onto his chair. Though she could not yet see it, several scars crossed his exposed back. There was also one that ran diagonally along the left side of his abdomen for roughly six inches. Stopping just in front of Dianah, he gave simple instructions. "When you land, the idea is absorb the shock of landing up through your lower extremities towards your upper torso. You do this in different ways depending upon your velocity at time of landing. For instance if you were to jump without using the force to cushion your impact at all, you would bend your knees and then collapse your legs down to the ground like such." By way of demonstration, Caid jumped up slightly. When he landed, his knees bent and his legs lowered towards the ground almost in a squat.

Standing back to his full height, Caid moved to stand beside Dianah, facing the same direction as her. "I'm not trying to insult your intelligence or training, but I prefer to make no assumption as to your abilities. When you're using the Force, it's only different because that can abruptly reduce your rate of fall just before impact. Sometimes you may want to land softly in a covert manner, other times you may need to combine a repulsive downward blast of the Force to neutralize enemies or some other type of barrier."

As he fell silent, Caid gazed at Dianah to ensure there was a level of connection and understanding in the basic premise. "Which leads me to the next bit of this. Do you know how to levitate objects and yourself?"

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

His serious expression slipped away into a smile that she found much more satisfying than the deadpan look he had before. Dianah flicked her long curly hair behind her shoulders, setting her gaze on the muscular man as he stood from the chair once again. When he suggested they begin with a conversation her muscles relaxed slightly in the jumpsuit and she folded her arms across her chest. To learn anything you had to start at the beginning. It seemed like Caid was taking that sentiment literally.

The cloak slipped from his shoulders and was haphazardly thrown on the chair behind him. She lofted a slim brow as her eyes traveled curiously over the bare skin that was now in view. Her stare settled on the long silver blemish stretching across his abdomen. Every scar held a story and perhaps once they'd finished their little lesson he'd share it with her, she at least make a point of asking. For now she dragged her focus back onto his words, just in time to watch him leave the ground in demonstration. It forced a smile to cross her lips though she couldn't say exactly why.

In response she made a jump over own but didn't bother to land as low as he had. When her feet hit the floor she could feel the smallest of shock waves travel up her legs. Though she understood his point perfectly already, it felt like a necessary action. When he fell silent her gaze remained on the positioning of her shoes on the stone floor but she nodded her head, causing thick curls to tumble over her shoulder.

'That all makes sense and no insult taken.'

Dianah turned her head to face Caid and flashed him a wicked smile. Her slim fingers flicked dramatically in the space in front of her. One by one all thirteen chairs in the room lifted from their positions on the marbled floor. Her flair presented itself again when they twirled, performing a complicated dance mid-air. It was as simple as yawning to her, telekinesis happened to be one of her most favored abilities. From an early age practicing the particular force move had been her prime focus, at least till she could lift anything with a single glance of her deep brown eyes.

'Yes, I'd say I know how to do that.'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid's eyes briefly shifted around the room, but they returned to [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] fairly quickly. After all, it did not take him an abundance of spatial evaluation to understand what she was doing. When she finished with her display, Caid rolled his eyes slightly as a thin smirk remained on his lips. "Alright show off."

A brief laugh escaped the youngest Centurion's lips as he redirected their focus. "Chairs and other objects are one thing, but have you ever levitated your own body?" A raising a hand in mock defense, Caid continued, "I will assume your telekinetic prowess is up to snuff, but it's not simply enough to control the weight of your own body through the Force. You have to be able to use a similar technique to abruptly slow your rate of descent just before the point of impact."

Turning such that he faced Dianah completely, Caid had a brief thought. However, the thought and the accompanying silence faded within...well not too much time. "Ready?" The Sith Lord did not wait for a response. In a blur of motion, Caid seized Dianah's petite body by the waist. Flexing his knees ever so slightly, he surged the power of the Force through his muscles and threw Dianah's body aggressively toward the vaulted forty-foot ceiling.

"Do not let your body touch the ground," were the words that called out behind the skyrocketing figure of Dianah Vi'Dreya. In truth, Caid was poised to catch her should her efforts not be...completely effective.

 

[Darth Miseria]

'You say "show off" like it's a bad thing.'

The chairs came down in a less than careful manner and clattered against the solid floor one by one in a loud cacophony. He rambled on a little about the difference between levitating objects and levitating a person. In truth she'd only ever done it on others, never herself, but there was a first time for everything. She had just settled on the idea of giving it a go when she felt the rush of wind as he turned to face her.

'Ready for wh-...'

His arm slipped around the curve of her waist and before she knew it her body was streaming through the air at an incredible speed. At the peak of her ascension a weightless feeling came over her. In this brief second her mind caught up with her body and the gravity of the situation sunk in. Fortunately for her, moments when the only thing to focus on was her potential death happened to be the moments she could concentrate best.

Logic kicked in over the panic that had settled in her stomach as she called the force to her aid. If she suddenly brought herself to a stop there was no telling what injuries she may sustain. Gathering the twisting ethereal power to use it like a bungee chord wasn't exactly what he was trying to teach her but it was the first thing she thought of. The resistance slowed her though she could tell instantly it wasn't going to be quick enough. In a last ditch attempt the force converged like a pillow below her, ready to catch her falling frame. She stopped dead just above his head when the cushion of force popped underneath her with a rush of air that sent her thick curls flying.

Dianah landed on the floor with a soft grunt. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she scrambled to a stand. She was nearly breathless from the rush that came with a dangerous experience but it was exhilarating. Her slim body slipped into his arms again and she looked up at him with a wide, animated expression.

'Do it again.'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Silver-green eyes watched as Dianah's body began its descent back towards the ground. As was the natural effect of gravity, the petite women fell slowly at first. However, her speed increased exponentially for a couple moments. The second that [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] had started to manipulate the speed with which she fell back towards the ground, Caid could sense the Force twisting and contorting around the space. The invisible energy bent to the will of the Sith Acolyte with a speed and precision that, honestly, Caid had not expected Dianah to be immediately capable of putting into effect.

The Sith Lord hadn't moved even half an inch as her body arrested over him. However, the instant that he sensed her control slipping, Caid stepped out of the way. Rather than catch her, he made a subtle motion with his hand to ensure she did not impact the ground hard enough to harm herself. After all, it would have been a shame to damage such a pretty thing so quickly.

What happened next, however, Caid did not expect. In fact he could barely sense the impending action before she managed to wriggle her body against his own, looking up at him expectantly. For a moment, Caid didn't move as he considered something. Something he purposefully allowed to pass through Dianah's mind as well. A mischievous grin settled onto Caid's lips as his hands reached forward to firmly grasp her waist once more. Bracing himself against her back for a moment, Caid allowed his knees to flex once more before hoisting the woman towards the vaulted ceiling once more. As he did, the intensity of his thoughts on how he wished to proceed lingered on his mind, drifting to Dianah's on the very current of the Force she would soon be manipulating.

 

[Darth Miseria]

A knowing smile crossed her expression for a brief second as his thoughts invaded her mind. Dianah was almost tempted to make them a reality and she let him know she was considering it, but there were far more pressing matters to attend too. She wriggled in his grasp to urge him on with their task. His strong arm wrapped around her waist again and, in the blink of an eye, she was flying up toward the ceiling once more. She knew what was coming now, so her ascent was more graceful. Instead of flailing about like a drunk Dianah steamed through the air, arms and legs locked firmly together to decrease any wind resistance.

All too soon the sinking feeling of falling took over her body, but she was ready this time and she understood the premise of his lesson. Little bursts of force pushed against her body as she fell, it almost looked like someone was blowing puffs of air at her to momentarily stop her free fall. When she was 5 feet away from the ground her body came to a complete stop. The force held her motionless, she could almost feel it under her feet as she hovered mid-air.

Her new found ability pleased her greatly and she let it show in the form of an impressed smirk. Even if she never actually learnt how to cushion a fall at least she now knew she could stop herself from falling entirely. When she lowered herself to the ground the tip of her toe scrambled for a solid surface. Her legs felt remarkably jelly like from the few moments of complete weightlessness, but all in all she looked rather proud.

'Well, I think we've established the answer to my question and the fact that I can levitate myself. What's next?'

Dianah knew exactly what she'd like to come next but he'd made it clear things were going to go his way or not at all. Which, when she thought about it properly, she didn't mind at all.

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Arching a curious brow at [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] as she hovered several feet above the ground, Caid eventually allowed a thin smirk to touch his lips as he rolled his eyes. By the time the woman returned to the ground, Caid was already calling his cloak back to his hands. Deftly, the Sith Lord slipped on the outergarment before making a motion with his head indicating that Dianah should follow him.

Thoughts continued to course through his mind, and he certainly made no real effort to mitigate or mute them at all. A motion of his right hand commanded a heavy side door to swing outwards.

Standing in the corridor, Caid's personal assistant was waiting expectantly. "Your Excellency, the Nightstalker has been prepared as you instructed."

The instruction had been wordless and occurred, technically, before Dianah had fully arrived at Castellum Tenebris. It was his backup plan to extricate himself from a situation and leave the woman standing alone in the Privy Council chambers for an indeterminate amount of time. However, she'd turned out to be...intriguing enough to hold his attention. "Thank you, Councilor," Caid did not even break stride as he offered the response.

In a matter of minutes, the Sith Lord guided the young woman out to a landing pad at the rear of the estate. The air was cool in the mountains, but it would be much cooler yet when they reached the appointed positioning for the next part of the lesson. Stopping just at the base of the loading ramp, Caid elevated his voice over the din of the idling repulsorlift engines. "Next. You learn what it's truly like to reach terminal velocity on your way to the ground. You need to know the complete feeling of what it's like to barely be able to open your eyes, the effect even the slightest gust can have on your body, and the importance of your arm position."

Allowing a mischievous smirk to cross his features, Caid finished with. "Don't worry. I'm, quite literally, going to be right behind you." Truth be told, he was going to be attached to her backside. As his smirk faded, Caid turned and proceeded up the loading ramp. The interior of the vessel was simple, clearly outfitted for function primarily with a number of weapons storage positions and refurbished training area in the main cargo bay. A spiral staircase would take them up past the second level which contained living and eating quarters to the third level which contained simply the flight deck.

Two crimson-robed individuals sat silently in the pilot and co-pilot seat just in front of the forward viewport. In the right and left rear of the flight deck were two jump seats. Caid, however, took a seat in his command chair which was several feet behind and centered between the pilot and co-pilot positions. As his fingers flew over a command console by his right knee, Caid casually intoned to Dianah. "A gift of my late father. One of the last remaining Daisya-class Infiltrators left in the galaxy from his days at the head of the Triumvirate."

Once he'd finished inputting the parameters for the flight crew, Caid twisted in his seat slightly with a thin smile. "Really though he was just a womanizing prick that absolutely had to impregnate everything he saw." Caid's smile grew just a touch broader. "Apple fell far from the tree, I assure you. Kids just aren't really my thing right now."

Just as the vessel began to lift off the ground, Caid turned around and gazed casually as the Endelaan warriors piloted the infiltrator fast and low across the landscape. As they approached a steep rise of a mountain, the pilots compensated thrust to the repulsor and sublight drive to maintain their nap-of-the-earth profile until they were rocketing nearly completely vertical.

 

[Darth Miseria]

The swift motion made with his hand indicated that their lesson was far from over. She couldn't put her finger on what but something about his expression made her feel cautious about what they were going to do next. There was a serious lack of trying on that front though, considering the mental conversation the two were currently sharing. When the door creaked open Dianah skipped behind him toward the corridor, taking two steps for every one of his.

Whatever the Nightstalker was, presumably a ship, it seemed that was where they were headed next. The realization dawned on her that she was about to attempt what she'd witnessed him accomplish that day on Kirima, or at least something like it. There was no need to stop and wait for the conversation to take it's course as Caid seemed to have other ideas. He strode through the corridors with an air of certainty that made Dianah respect him just that little bit more.

The chill in the air as they made their way to the ship made her even more grateful for the jumpsuit that he'd made her wear. Even with it on she could feel an icy nip each time the wind blew. When Caid spoke his voice caught on the stiff breeze, even with his louder than average tone he was difficult to hear. Dianah crinkled her brows together in response. Heights weren't usually a big deal but there was a massive difference between falling from forty feet and jumping from ten thousand. His words of reassurance didn't really do much to untangle the knot in her stomach, but his mischievous smile earned him an attempt at a careless grin from her.

'Worried, me? Never. I'm completely fine with jumping out of a ship with an almost stranger as my safety net. No big deal.'

She said this mostly to comfort herself, but it came out as a sarcastic jest. Following him up the ramp Dianah took a moment to take in the interior of the ship. She wasn't surprised to find it looked like most other men's ships. Simple and effective, nothing about it was personalized save for the weapons and the training area. The tour was over almost as quickly as it started and Dianah found herself standing in the larger than she was used too flight deck. With no other places to sit she settled herself into one of the jump seats, adjusting herself so that she faced the command chair Caid had sat on.

'Very generous of him and only mildly boastful of yourself.'

A playful smile found its way to her lips quickly, though it disappeared with his next words. A dark brown brow raised a fraction of an inch. It seemed strange to hear something so personal coming from someone who had, moments ago, been so serious. Dianah lent herself back into the seat a little more and focused her eyes on the view-port.

'I'm sure children are the furthest thing from your mind if what you say about your Father is true. I can sympathize there. If you want to truly know about Fathers with an affinity for impregnation you should meet mine sometimes. I'm nearly one hundred percent sure Metus creates us in a factory somewhere. There's no way one man can father that many children and still look like he does.'

A gentle shake coupled with the groan of the engines as they burst into life were the only indication that they were moving at all. Out of the view port Dianah could see Druckenwell streaming past incredibly fast in a blur of muted colors. When the ship started climbing up at an alarming angle Dianah gripped the edge of her seat so hard her knuckles were turning white.

'How high are we going exactly?'

[member=Caid Centurion]

 

[Caid Centurion]

There was little more that Caid could do other than to smirk at the woman's sarcastic quip. However, on the subject of Darth Metus, Caid mostly remained silent. He wouldn't cast aspersions on the man simply because of a similarity to his own father. However, he did wonder how it was anyone could be so willing to just let so many of their offspring to run around. Naturally, Caid couldn't quite yet appreciate the irony of his sentiment.

As the Nightstalker continued to rocket skyward, Caid turned his head just enough to regard [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] out the corner of his eye, noting it seemed her form lost very little in the well-enough fitting jumpsuit. "High enough, Princess." A playful wink, that probably looked awkward out of half of one eye, followed the Viceroy's statement before he redirected his attention forward.

Closing his eyes, Caid allowed himself to melt into the ether of the Force for the short duration they would be climbing. Within its confines, the Sith was present and not present all at once. The thoughts and desires of his own mind were free to be pursued, pressed to the point of completion with near reckless abandon. It was in this state that Caid gained the vast majority of his strength and awareness of the galaxy around him.

The sensation of the Nightstalker pitching over into a level flight profile was enough to cause Caid to open his eyes. Unfastening his restraints, the Sith Lord came to his feet, silver-green eyes immediately finding the form of his guest. A knowing smile touched the dark-skinned Viceroy's lips as he approached the woman. "Let's go for a walk." There was no further explanation as Caid swept out of the flight deck and down the spiral staircase to the cargo bay.

Once they were both inside the cargo bay, Caid depressed a button to seal the entire compartment. As he grabbed a hand hold near the wall, Caid smirked at Dianah. "You should grab a hold of something steady." The Sith Lord gave the woman a mere couple of moments to comply before he depressed another button to begin the process of opening the cargo bay doors on the floor of the room. The instant the floor began opening, air immediately rushed from the comparatively higher pressure of the vessel's interior to the exterior. The various weapons and training equipment contained in the cargo bay were always properly secured when not in use, leaving just the fabric of Caid's overcoat to flutter violently for nearly thirty seconds.

Eventually, the pressure stabilized and Caid released the hand hold he'd been utilizing to keep from being ripped into the elements prematurely. Bright eyes found Dianah in that moment. "Control your breathing until you descend into more oxygenated air...or you'll pass out before you get to the ground." Casually, Caid walked to the edge of the opening in the bottom of the hull, motioning for Dianah to join him. "Jump," was his casual instruction as the Nightstalker orbited a small clearing in the forest some 3,700 meters below.

 

[Darth Miseria]

[SIZE=10pt]Dianah could do nothing but sink back into the seat, her charcoal orbs watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slipped into his private reverie. Her thick head of curls lent back against the seat and she allowed the gentle shake of the 'Nightstalker' to send her off into her own thoughts. It wasn't long before she found herself drifting off to the gentle hum of the engine as it crept higher and higher. A sudden jolt as the ship leveled[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] out brought her [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]barreling[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] back to the land of the living once again. Caid had already stood from his chair and was beginning to make his way down the [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]spiraling[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] stair case. Dianah struggled to release the belt from around her middle [/SIZE]as quickly as she could, almost tripping over her own feet to catch up with him.

[SIZE=10pt]It seemed their destination was the belly of the ship. Inside the cargo bay Caid flashed her a smirk that made her giddy but the words it came coupled with soon replaced the sensation with anxiety instead. Her fingers curled around the hand hold on the opposite side of the cargo bay doors. Dianah pulled herself away from the gaping hole in the floor, the sudden rush of air that came as they flew open taking her completely by surprise. When the pressure stabilized[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] she [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]released[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] her grip in the hole in the wall and straightened herself out. The wild curls that had flown up now stuck out in all kinds of directions. That wouldn't matter for long though, they'd look worse by the time she reached the ground. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]'Right... No breathing. Got it.' She was nervous. Her heart raced against her chest as she lent forward to look out of the gaping hole in the floor. Some part of her wanted to jump, as long as she was wrapped around Caid as tightly as her body would allow. She wasn't afraid to let him know it either.[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] 'So, just jump?' [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Her palms felt sweaty and the jumpsuit seemed to be shrinking around her neck. His instruction came, loud and clear. Jump. When you're afraid to do something the best course of action is to simply do it. So she did. Her lean frame fell forward through the gaping hole in the floor, and while she knew there was nothing but air beneath her she was still surprised that she had actually fallen.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]A scream left her lungs as the rush of air made her stomach jump up into her throat. The experience was entirely exhilarating[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] once she had gotten over the initial jump. If she hadn't been entirely focused on not throwing up all her organs Dianah would have loved the view as she streamed toward the ground but instead she kept her eyes shut tight. She wanted to turn around to see if Caid was following behind, but [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]maneuvering[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] mid air was unbelievably difficult. She just hoped he would be there when the ground started to rush up toward her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member=Caid Centurion][/SIZE]

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid arched a curious eyebrow. A part of him wanted to reiterate that he’s said control your breathing, but it didn’t really matter. If she tried to inhale too much air before she descended at least a good six to seven hundred meters, it would be a self-correcting problem when very little was absorbed into her body. To Dianah’s question about his instructions, the Sith Lord could do little more than laugh softly. ”As easy as taking a step, Princess.”

The moment that Dianah slipped beneath the lip of the opening, Caid smirked. Naturally, he wasn’t going to let the woman plunge to her death. Mere seconds after the woman had dove from the spacecraft, Caid followed behind. The initial force of air rushing against his body removed a bit of his control for a second, however Caid oriented his arms along his body and was eventually rocketing towards Dianah.

Though he could feel the woman’s relative apprehension, she would undoubtedly be able to sense his approach with relative ease. As he neared the position of her falling body, Caid spread his arms to initiate a breaking effect. As he continued to approach Dianah, he manipulates his limbs to keep from shooting past her. In a matter of moments, Caid had trapped Dianah’s waist in between his legs. Arms still outstretched to keep their combined bodies stabilized, Caid spoke into her mind over the sound of rushing air. You can breathe normally now. Try manipulating the Force to slow your rate of descent. Not too much, you’re just confirming you have the ability to do so at speed and altitude.

Flattening his upper body against Dianah’s, Caid kept his arms outstretched as he waited to confirm she could indeed do it.