More Tea, My Lady?

[Darth Veles]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Avreet disliked Dark Jedi. He hated them with passion. Being a Sith, this gave him much strength, though this would not be used to increase his power, only to strengthen his resolve to find a solution to the Dark Jedi problem. Several options were presented to him, none of them good, one worse than the other. The former Sith Lord could join the Jedi. Unfortunately, this option went out of the window almost as soon as it appeared on his mind. Despite what happened, he was still a Sith. He followed the Sith Code, used the Dark Side of the Force, and despised the Jedi and their Republic. They appeared to be the lesser evil in the conflict, but the majority of them did not even believe in their own Code, making them weak and easy prey to the Dark Side. This very much mingled with his hesitation to rejoin the One Sith; they accepted Jedi too weak to follow their own Code and tried to make them Sith. Such task was impossible though; weak mind could not be turned into strength. This resulted in the Dark Jedi replacing the true Sith in the One Sith Empire, which clearly showed in their barbaric actions on Zeltros and Manaan. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]And of course, dozens of other groups with various beliefs, yet even more faulty ways of achieving their dreams. It certainly did not help his best friend got impregnated by some pseudo-Jedi. Avreet was not happy. When he looked at people he wanted to exterminate on the Republic side and the ones who deserved to scream in the Void fighting for the Sith, he clearly saw the One Sith contained a significantly lesser number of people he wanted to kill. Naturally, he could purify his own little group, the Order of the Phoenix, make them perfect, but grimly realized that would effectively left him with two members. Himself and his beloved teacher, of course. Though did it really matter? The Order of the Phoenix was dead, the ideals it followed violated by the ever-present Dark Jedi. The Mon Cal did not even care how they called themselves; all codeless fools hiding behind noble words while destroying the very thing they fought for. But he had followed his mantra before, he would do it again. Perhaps the One Sith could still be changed… given enough assassinations, everything could be changed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]The master assassin and infiltrator in one person made his way to Coruscant. Not the lower levels, of course; the Mon Calamari Sith Lord visited the shiny and clean upper levels, going into an adorable little teahouse where one did not have to fear of being attacked or eaten alive by the poor rabble plaguing the lower leves of Coruscant. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Seating himself and looking at the tea set silently sitting on the table in front of him, the Mon Cal faced a dilemma which kind of tea to make. Perhaps another one would decide? Indeed; Avreet awaited the arrival of a Sith Lady. He enjoyed meeting new people, sane Sith in particular, and this one promised to be as normal as a Sith can be. If there was someone capable of persuading him to return, this woman would definitely be that person. He felt uncertain whether to betray the others or not, but he definitely would not give away Lady Kotass and Lady Zarrah, two Sith Ladies that followed him when he left the large Sith faction. He valued both women too much to betray them, one his best friend and the other his… Master? Mother? Lover? Mentor? It was complicated.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]When the Sith Lady in question arrived, the Dark Side radiating from her form could be sensed through the Force, the Mon Cal’s large amber eyes swivelled towards the woman as he offered her a warm, kind smile not many received these days. Immediately standing up, he strode towards the Sith, gently taking her hand. “Lady Arcanix,” he moved his lips above her hand and kissed it in a symbolic gesture, not actually touching her hand with his mouth. “It is such a pleasure to meet you,” the Sith continued in his thick Imperial accented voice, observing the woman and immediately noting the lack of Dark Side corruption in her face, her skin looking quite healthy, the dark hair also retaining its pigmentation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“You look beautiful, my lady,” he admitted, “Your skin tone, your eye color, your hair; it is not often I meet a Sith with such a perfect visage as yours.” His hand motioned towards the seat. “Please.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Darth Arcanix"][/SIZE]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

Taeli had been curious about an invitation she had received to meet someone within a local tea shop that she frequented when she needed a fix to the habit she formed while in university. The invitation had mentioned discussing an issue related to the Sith and the Dark Jedi, which had piqued her curiosity even more. Whoever it was that wanted her attention, she would humor the meeting, as it seemed they were interested in at least talking to her, even though she was new to her rank as a Sith Lord, or Lady as she constantly told people.

Entering the tea shop, she immediately noticed a Mon Calamari, dressed smartly that she had never seen inside before. He was trying to make himself inconspicuous, but he had a tea set in front of him at a table of two. She figured this was her mysterious contact, and she thought he looked familiar from files she had seen of her colleagues. It paid to know who current Sith and former ones were, as she liked to keep track of her colleagues when she could. She might despise their wanton cruelty and such barbarism, but it was good to watch and listen. Never knew when someone might let slip some information.

Making her way over to the Mon Cal, her suspicions were confirmed when he greeted her, extremely politely. His compliment towards her appearance certainly made a girl's ego swell a little, but she tempered that quickly.

"Why thank you sir, but I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," she said, smiling pleasantly. "I don't even know your name, yet you know mine."

Well, he knew her Sith name, but not her real one. Only a select few amongst the Sith knew that.

"Would you care to tell me or shall a lady play twenty questions to guess?" she asked, her smile polite and full of humor.

 

[Darth Veles]

The Sith Lord smiled as he paced back to his seat. This woman certainly was not an ordinary, modern “Sith”. Not only she had manners, the Sith Lady did not even try to kill him for talking to her! Then again, she must have felt him through the Force, his neutral signature revealing little about his allegiance. Avreet made no effort to hide it, the actual chance of some Acolytes or Knights bothering another Force user was close to zero, as the new generation did not want to bother their superiors to avoid punishment. Still, the fact they talked like civilized beings instead of ripping each other into pieces right off the start… Avreet was pleased, yet guessed this one to be a drop in the sea. He had never encountered this Darth during his time with the One Sith, leaving him to wonder about the identity of her Master.

“I wouldn’t dare to make a lady such as yourself guess my name,” the Mon Cal smiled back, sitting down, his eyes still focused on the young woman. “I am Avreet Zatarus, Lady Arcanix, a former messenger of the One Sith,” the assassin introduced himself with a slight nod of his large head, turning his attention to the three different kinds of tea presented on the table in small tins. “I suppose that does not tell you much. Maybe I am better known under my title.” Shifting his attention back towards the woman, he offered a roguish smile. “This one you will have to guess though, unless you know it already, of course.” Maybe she recognized him by the name or race when he revealed to be a former member of the One Sith, at least a Knight by stating he had a title. Being the only Mon Calamari Sith in the galaxy certainly made him quite a rarity and an easily recognizable individual. Avreet/Veles knew he played a dangerous game, meeting a Sith Lady of the group he had left a while ago, but he was hardly worried; the One Sith had little reason to kill for what he did, plus he carried some information they might find useful.

“Before we do that though, please pick a tea for us to enjoy. Black, white, or green.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"Yes, a messenger," she said, smiling slightly as her mind went through the list of Sith that had been Mon Calamari. He had left the Sith soon after she had joined, but she had still heard the mutterings about him all the same.

"Black tea," she answered with a small guilty smile. "When I was on Lorrd, it became a small addiction for me, but then a university student needs her vice, and I despised alcohol even then."

As they waited for their tea to arrive, she let her curiosity wander to why Veles would seek out a meeting with her. He was a traitor, and by all rights, she should be trying to take his head off right now. But, she wondered if he had a good reason for leaving the One Sith. Perhaps she would learn that in the course of their conversation.

"So, tell me Avreet, why did you ask for this meeting?" she asked.

 

[Darth Veles]

The Sith Lady’s mysterious smile indicated she recognized his identity, which was a good thing. They could solve this faster, although a part of him regretted revealing his past so soon. Hopefully talking to a deserter was not too distasteful for the woman, and Avreet honestly found her tolerance quite surprising, given they have never met before. The Sith Lord nodded when the woman picked and ordered the black tea. Being quite fond of it, Avreet appreciated her choice, listening to her reasoning. This highly piqued his interest; hearing the woman was a university student told him he faced an educated and intelligent being. Was this the reason of her tolerance, the reason she had yet to attack him in an attempt to slay a traitor? He also took a mental note of her distaste for alcohol; now that he thought about it, he and this woman were quite similar in all those aspects.

“Lady Arcanix,” he started, burying his piercing gaze into her head, “The reason for this meeting is that I want you hear some of your opinions.” His smile grew wider. “You see, the galaxy is full of prejudice and hatred against Sith. Whether they are actual members of the One Sith or independent, everyone automatically assumes every single one of us to be a bloodthirsty monster. Of course, there are many Sith that are little more than primitive beasts unable to control their violent urges. They are not even true Sith, really. More like Dark Jedi.” The Mon Cal stated.

“They are the reason I have left the One Sith. You are not like them though. A charming young woman with a perfect control over herself. A fine Sith! You will undoubtedly make it far,” he nodded, “Maybe you’ll even persuade me to re-join the One Sith? You seem like an excellent talker.” A waiter arrived with their ordered tea, placing it on the table in front of the two Sith. Avreet poured a cup for his female companion first before filling his own.

“Please my Lady, answer my questions sincerely. What is your opinion on all the Jedi the Sith capture and turn?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"As I'm no stranger to that concept, I guess it's as good a place as ever to start," she said, smiling at the Mon Cal. "My first apprentice was actually a Jedi Padawan I encountered while I was on Ossus secretly to gain information. When she discovered me combing through the ruins of one of the Jedi's facilities, we fought and I defeated her. But what ultimately turned her to my side, was a simple sit down and talk. A debate if you will, which I won her over with. Since then, I've turned a few others to darkness, but I suppose what you are asking is about the vast majority of Jedi that turn to the Sith, not just a few."

Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she continued saying, "I am not one to say that turning Jedi into Sith, or as you would prefer Dark Jedi, is something to be avoided. Numbers do win a war after all, but I suppose the hidden question within yours is whether or not I think they are worthy of being called Sith. I would say it would depend on a case by case scenario, since every Jedi is different and the nature of their fall is different. If they give into their base emotions and sadistic instinct, then no I don't believe they deserve to be called Sith. They would be little more than blunt instruments, even if they achieve the rank of Lord of Lady. The ones that would though, are the ones who turn to gain more knowledge, who are more cunning and ambitious than their former colleagues. Patience, cunning, knowledge are what a make true Sith in my opinion, not sadistic-ness or cruelty. I suppose I prefer Sith like Darths Bane or Zannah, Sith who learned that the shadows and the dark side need not be revealed until the time is right."

Her smile widened a bit as she spoke, it was true that she had turned Jedi to be agents of her will or to at least help her, but those that became wrapped up in the cruelty, the arrogance, they didn't serve her true purposes.

"I suppose an off-shoot of this would be beings who began as Sith and allow their sadistic natures to rule them, such as Darth Vornskr. I personally abhor the atrocities some Sith are capable of, such as him. I view it as waste of valuable resources and credibility. Wouldn't you agree, Avreet?"

 

[Darth Veles]

Listening carefully, the Mon Cal took a sip of tea as his fellow Sith told him of her opinion on the Dark Jedi, revealing her apprentice to be of Jedi origin. Was this one a Dark Jedi or a Sith? Avreet did not know, deciding to find out later. The Sith Lady appeared to understand what it means to be a Sith really well, maybe she found it possible to pass her values onto the student? The Mon Calamari found most fallen Jedi to be beyond help, their weak minds succumbing to the corruption of the Dark Side that completely changed their personality and turned them into feral beasts that had to be put down.

“I have to agree with you on this, my lady,” the Sith Lord nodded, “It is true many Sith succumb to the Dark Side and let it enslave them. You have to ask though, are those real Sith? Would a true Sith ever waste potential resources in a careless manner? Would a true Sith ever commit an atrocity if it served no purpose other than their own amusement? Would a true Sith ever kill an innocent for fun? I don’t think so!” Avreet stated, slightly leaning closer to the woman.

“I have to admit, my lady, I do not consider such people to be Sith more like Dark Jedi. They appear to share the same taste for blood that drives them, their unexplainable desire to commit pointless cruelty that paints every single one of us as a savage. I am a proud Sith, but I don’t want to be associated with psychopathic murderers and their crimes, nor I want them to spread their twisted ideals that have nothing to do with our ways.” Pausing for a second to let his words sink in, Avreet observed the Sith Lady with his large bulbous eyes, realizing another thing they had in common; their bodies were not affected by the corrupting effects of the Dark Side very much.

“While I fully realize Sith used to be cruel warriors in the past, that time is long gone, ever since Lord Sidious almost achieved the Sith dream and brought peace to the galaxy. We are modern, cultured people now. We understand there are many other ways of expanding our influence than fear and violence. Why to force others into following you when you can make them love you and follow you willingly? We should be pragmatic above all else. Commit good if it advances our goals, do evil for the same. Instead of allowing emotions to rule our actions, we should keep them in our hearts. We are sentient beings, after all. We think. Even the weakest of animals act on their instinct and urges. We should not do the same. We are above it.” The smile disappeared, leaving an emotionless Mon Calamari face staring at the woman. “And for having such an opinion that clearly corresponds with the ways of the Sith, some fools in the Order even branded me a Jedi!” A soft chuckle escaped his mouth and he shook his head, the smile finding its way across his lips again.

“I do not believe many Jedi have what it takes to become a Sith. Those who join us usually have weak will; instead of commanding the Dark Side, it will enslave them. They are not ready. They lack discipline. Strength to resist the urge to succumb to the Dark Side. This makes them very similar to the Sith who also suffer from insanity; or idiocy, it matters little. Only the strong ones rise above their desires and grasp the power the Dark Side offers. As such, it is possible for Jedi to become like you and me, but we have to face the facts; the majority of those we capture and turn are weaklings and should be killed at the first sign of insanity. If they cannot control themselves, they cannot hope to control others. By allowing Dark Jedi to live and grow within our Order, Sith are slowly replaced by those who care nothing for our teachings! Don’t you agree?” Stopping, the Mon Calamari took another sip of tea, the bitter taste reminding him of home.

“What is your opinion on the Light Side, lady Arcanix?” he asked after a bit.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

Taking a sip of her tea, Taeli listened to the Mon Cal's words, nodding where appropriate as she thought about them. While processing them, she could understand and accept his point of view quite clearly, as it corresponded quite well with her own in regards to some of her Sith colleagues and those that generally fell.

"I would agree, my friend, that insanity should be stamped out where it does surface," she said slowly, carefully constructing her next few words. "Sith that give into their primal desires, who allow madness to consume them, are not really Sith as you and I would define our Order. When Darth Praelior brought me into the Sith, it was around the same time she brought the Miraluka Carliah to Widek and took her as another apprentice. After a lovely stay with Lord Vornskr, Carliah went mad and her insanity has continued but changed. Eventually, I came to a realization. I was the order to the madness, a way to check the spread within the Sith ranks once I was high enough within the hierarchy to begin slowly showing that madness and drunkenness on easy power were . . . not necessarily the route of a true Sith."

Taking another sip of her tea, she smiled at Mon Cal and continued. "I eventually realized I needed to form my own power base, to create within the Sith a more stable cadre of forces, apprentices, followers, allies, etc. Even if some of those are former Jedi I turned, I have done my best to impart my viewpoint upon them and they have largely accepted the view as I have."

Brining up the subject of the light side, Taeli's academic nature stirred a bit.

"While I suspect this will be weird to hear from a Sith, I do not reject the light side outright," she said, taking a small sip of her tea and pouring herself some more. "I reject the hypocrisy and idology of the Jedi certainly, but the light not as much. I can appreciate what it preaches, even view it as the route to other skills and knowledge I could not normally gain. Knowledge is power in my opinion, and I would certainly not limit myself to one set of skills if need be. For instance. . ."

Slowly, she shifted her dress to reveal the top of the scar on her chest.

"I'm an academic and researcher at heart, and I became curious about how to control Yuuzhan Vong bio-tech. Figuring this would be a way to gain the ability to sense and control Vong bio-tech, I implanted myself with a coral seed as Jacen Solo was subjected to at the hands of the Fosh Vergere so many centuries ago. I do what I must to study and understand what I come across, the light side is no different. If I gain the chance to study it, I will, and even use it against and surprise those that would not expect it of a Sith."

Pausing a moment, she asked, "I now ask you the same question and another on top of it, that being what is your opinion on my personal choices and goal of attaining knowledge?"

 

[Darth Veles]

The Sith Assassin found himself shocked by the woman’s words, in a very good way. The more they talked, the more he realized they were alike. He had not met many Sith like him, but he positively knew this beautiful young lady was one of them. Closing his eyes briefly, he remembered his time in the One Sith, comparing it to what the Lady Arcanix said. His memories and her past matched fairly well, almost as if she followed in his footsteps. Truly, the resemblance to his own journey was astonishing. The Sith Lord, too, considered himself to be the order to the madness, his Master had named him her Hand of Order, after all. Just as her, he realized the need to surround himself with allies and Sith like him. Known as Darth Veles, the Mon Cal had also tried to pass his values onto his students. Unfortunately, Avreet’d met little success there, only a small portion of his students becoming true Sith.

The matter concerning the Light Side delivered another shock to the Mon Cal. Again, the woman reminded him of himself. Giving her an approving nod, he continued to listen, eagerly taking her words in. For a very long time, Avreet assumed to be one of the very few Sith to have this view, if not the only one. And yet, here she sat, right across of him… They have never met before, but the Mon Calamari felt as if they have known each other for their entire lives. Not only she was a fellow Sith; the amphibious assassin saw her as a fellow soul.

Eyeing her bare skin as she revealed the scar on her chest, the Mon Calamari could not help but compare it to his choice of getting cybernetically augmented. True, his reasons were far from academic, but he did it to somewhat improve, become better. Offering her an understanding smile, he nodded again before speaking up. At first he found no words, his mind too occupied with too many thoughts swirling through it for the words to make sense.

“My lady,” he started, those two words coming out in a softer way than he intended, “I do not know if you’ll believe me, but my opinion on the Light Side is very similar to your own. I, too, reject the hypocritical ways of the Jedi, but I see no reason to do the same with their knowledge and the power they use. As a Sith, I believe I should control both aspects of the Force, not just one. Instead of dividing the vast power and knowledge into two separate categories and shying away from all concerning the Light Side, I embrace it all. Not only I gain an edge over my enemies by doing so; it is also an excellent protection against being enslaved by the Dark Side. While my heart burns with passion, my mind is at peace.”

Carefully, he reached across the table with his webbed hand and gently placed it upon the petite hand of the Sith Lady and giving her a friendly smile that clearly showed what he felt. Happiness at finding someone like her, a true Sith. “Lady Arcanix, upon inviting you, I had no idea of meeting a Sith so similar to myself. Your dedication to your research is truly admirable, and I wholeheartedly support your goal of attaining knowledge. If the One Sith was made out of Sith like you… like us… this war would have been already won.”

With a gentle parting stroke, his webbed hand slid off the woman’s hand, resting it on the table. It was hardly appropriate, but he could not help it. The other hand, a cybernetic one, took the cup and lifted it towards his lips as he sipped more tea, its taste suddenly so sweet.

“My lady. Whether I join the One Sith or not, I wish for us to remain in contact. Sith like us have to support each other, and I want you to know that if you ever need anything, my lady, just call and I will come.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"That choice is entirely up to you, Avreet, whether you rejoin the One Sith or not," Taeli said, smiling. It was always nice to encounter a kindred soul, one who could be a very powerful and useful ally to achieving her goals. "The dark side frees us from those chains that inhibit our choices, something I've shown my students. Whenever I first encounter them, the first thing I always offer them is a choice, to either learn or walk away. I suppose in a way that throws them off balance a bit, to hear a Sith say they will let them go if they say no and not just kill them outright."

"But, I do appreciate the offer to answer my call if I ever require assistance, and I extend to you the same courtesy," she said. Her mind was dancing with ideas, and it would take some time before she sorted them all out. One thing was clear to her though as she took another long sip of tea, and that was this Mon Calamari was an interesting fellow and they were very similar. If she could get him to rejoin the One Sith, even secretly, well she wouldn't mind that at all and she would actually have a good conversationalist. Perhaps even someone to come with her once she began to make her moves in politics and gaining a new reputation for the One Sith.

She knew from her meetings in the Imperial Remnant he and Banshee had spoken with Flavian and perhaps even the Empress, and they understood that supporting and gaining the alliance of the Remnant was crucial to either side of this galactic conflict.

"Do you have any further questions for me, Avreet?" she asked, curious if he did.

 

[Darth Veles]

“Questions? No, not right now, but you got me thinking.” Leaning back in his seat and making himself comfortable, the Mon Cal continued to gaze into the eyes of the Sith Lady and he drank tea, his mind filled with plans and ideas. “My dear lady Arcanix,” he said, smiling, as he set the empty cup down on the table, resting it on the wood, “You certainly got me thinking. Maybe the One Sith can be changed. Given enough time, I believe it would be possible to push the Dark Jedi infesting our beloved Order out. The One Sith Empire would once again be shaped by true Sith. The entire galaxy would see the true face of our Order instead of the face of the beast that merely pretends to be a Sith! And after that… we’d have a chance of finally achieving our dream without the burden that are Dark Jedi.”

The Mon Cal let out a gentle laugh and waved his hand, scraping the words that left his mouth. “But I am getting way ahead of myself, my lady!” Winking at Arcanix with those large amber eyes of his, he refilled her cup, then his own, pouring fresh tea in as this meeting had a solid potential of going on for some time. He enjoyed conversing with this woman, it was always a pleasure to talk to a proper Sith.

“As you may know, when I left the One Sith after the atrocities committed on Zeltros, several other members follow me. Two Sith Lords, one Acolyte. The Acolyte is currently my apprentice and I hope to imprint my way into her mind, but the two Sith Lords, or should I say, Ladies, to be exact, are very much like you and me. One of them is my old Master; a wise woman and a powerful sorceress. If the four of us joined our forces, we could plant a seed of our ideals within the One Sith. Train apprentices in our ways. Make them proper Sith.” Pausing, he poured more tea into his stomach, letting out a sigh of joy.

“The others might not like the three of us returning though. Taking back three who are thought traitors might do us more harm than good; discredit our ideals in the eyes of the rest. Luckily, I and my Master have founded a new group, called the Phoenix Order. It follows what we believe to be proper Sith ways, although we have disguised the fact and acted as if we wanted to have nothing to do with the Sith again. Unfortunately, our little group does not have as many members as we would have liked; everyone joins those terrible Dark Jedi cults. In fact, the Order of the Phoenix has been absorbed into a group consisting of several such unsavoury cults.” A roguish smirk spread across his face.

“My dear lady, would you like to be a hero of the One Sith and destroy a group of traitors?” he asked, his smile growing wider, “I may have left the One Sith, but I stayed loyal to the Sith as a whole. Those people are different. They must have been planning this for a long time. Say, you purge them from the face of the galaxy, their entire faction falls apart and the Order of the Phoenix gets more lost Force users looking for someone to guide them. Those new members will become true Sith like you and me, albeit following a different Code.” The amphibian's expression changed to one more apologetic than anything.

“Eh, we had to rewrite the Sith Code. It still says the same thing, really, just in different words that have a good potential of luring in Jedi if those lose the war and get disbanded. Uh, sorry for jumping to another topic, but I am not against working with strong-willed Jedi, those who follow their Code. If approached with no sign of aggression, they are forbidden from drawing their weapon or attacking you. I have met a few of such Jedi recently. They might prove to be very valuable contacts and I will try to show them the light the Dark Side offers without breaking their minds.”

“I do not want to exterminate the Jedi. I want to absorb the strong ones, as I believe we can co-exist if we play it right. Anyway, I need you to get the One Sith kill those traitors so I can take over their group. They are called the Vitae Alliance, led by Vulpesen Torrenaso and a woman named Tricia. They are working with Alexandra… whatever her other name is right now. She is also a traitor to the Sith, an Echani leading the Order of the Grey alongside Krest. The Temple of these Tenevi Dark Jedi is based on Veradune.” Sighing softly, the Mon Calamari leaned closer, his intent gaze burning holes into the woman’s soul.

“Those people need to die. They are amassing forces in hopes of striking at the One Sith. Once they are no more, there is a solid chance all of those groups will join in one… with myself and my fellow Sith Ladies as their leaders.” Closing his eyes, imagining the situation, he smiled and nodded. “There will be another Sith faction within the galaxy.”

The orbs of the Mon Cal opened, his smile vanished. “All of that is just an idea, my dear lady. If you have an idea, please, tell me. Maybe it would be better if the three of us re-joined the One Sith, received a pardon for our desertion and focused on training Acolytes to our image?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

Taeli stayed silent for his entire spewing of ideas, thinking very hard and very fast. Everything he said, the ideas he was pouting were extremely intriguing, but she wouldn't want to move against Vitae just yet. It would take a very long time and maneuvering to launch a successful strike against this order, and even then nothing might succeed. Careful, very careful and meticulous planning would be needed for something like that, not a spur of the moment idea.

"Might I suggest a different idea, one that involves much more cunning and a longer term game?" she said finally. "You and your . . . companions rejoin the One Sith, but secretly, possibly even as pretend captives I bring in. I'm sure I could convince Darth Praelior to have you all pardoned for desertion, but regardless, that is not my full idea. Why betray the Vitae now, when a longer game could be played here and more information gathered, their operations sabotaged? This way we get the best of both worlds, you are able to begin teaching acolytes a more . . . patient and cunning path of the Sith and we are able to keep tabs on the Vitae and wait to strike against them."

She wasn't going to mention one thing though that crossed her mind. t was a small thought and nothing to bother bringing up currently.

"A long game is much better, Lord Veles, rather than acting rashly. Wouldn't you agree?" she asked.

 

[Darth Veles]

“That really depends on numerous factors, Lady Arcanix,” the Sith Lord stated stroking the barbels on his chin, “Waiting longer does give us a chance of inflicting much greater damage to our enemies, but if we wait for too long, the problem might become too great to be solved. Please, you must understand that as a messenger, I prefer to destroy the seeds of a problem before it becomes a problem.” Small insurgencies were easier to deal with while suffering minimal casualties. While larger causes housed many traitors and made it easier for the Sith to root them out, they also tended to be very difficult to fully extinguish, having enough manpower and resources to potentially rival even the most powerful of empires. Being an assassin, the Mon Cal understood the importance of picking the right time to strike though, so he decided slightly adjust with the Sith Lady’s plan…

“The problem is many of those I have named belonged among the ranks of the One Sith before my sudden departure,” the amphibious Sith pointed out, “While we can pretend you have captured me, I have no doubt the traitors will know of it and assume I have betrayed them, quickly changing their plans. That, plus I sincerely doubt Lady Praelior would ever grant me a pardon. The woman greatly disliked my opinions on the Light Side, seeing it as a weakness. Not only that; there are many Sith - or shall we call them Dark Jedi? – who want to kill me for my beliefs. Perhaps me and my fellow Sith should remain within the Vitae Alliance for now, feeding you with information.” Pausing, the Mon Cal’s eyes narrowed a little bit, carefully observing the Sith Lady.

“It is surprising that Lady Praelior was your Master, yet you still breathe and believe what you believe. How long have you been a Sith, if I may ask, my lady?” Avreet questioned, curious to find out more about her. Arcanix fascinated him in a way, the resemblance to his own beliefs made him want to know more about her as a person, learn about her path of life that ultimately led her to being a powerful Sith Lady.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"A good suggestion indeed, although you might be surprised how my Master would take such a suggestion, but I digress. Gathering information on this . . . alliance would certainly be a way of gaining some good will amongst the Sith when you return," Taeli said. "You could always claim that was your goal from the start and why you left, to deal with something you had come across and wanted to investigate secretly. Food for thought I suppose."

Taking a sip of tea, she smiled over the rim as he asked her more about herself.

"I've been with the Sith since an . . . unfortunate incident on Lorrd," she said, pausing a moment to think. "I joined right before the battle of Zeltros, I was even present during it, but didn't participate much as I was still and acolyte with only a few lessons under my belt. My master doesn't know my full belief system, although she knows I'm much more . . . cautious with my words and actions, even when I'm on a mission with her. I suppose they stem from when I was a student on Lorrd and my father and mother taught me to be who I am."

Smiling more, a sudden divergent chain of thought hit her mind.

"Although, now that I come to think of it, Darth Banshee left at the same time you did if I recall. Tell me how is she and I believe your other comrade goes by Dux Zarrah now, but was a certain Togruta Sith that vanished shortly after Zeltros as well? And before you ask how I know, I've been to the Imperial Remnant myself and they happened to mention a meeting with your group. I was most curious what you were doing there though?"

 

[Darth Veles]

“Hmm,” the Sith Lord muttered as she explained her beginnings. If she had joined shortly before the battle on Zeltros, she had to be very powerful given her current rank. Such an extraordinary woman! No female in the galaxy was more powerful or wiser than Lady Zarrah though; Avreet’s old Master possessed the right combination of cunning and ruthlessness. She did not crave power, she simply wanted to do her part as a Sith by passing her legacy down onto her students. The Mon Calamari was by far the most successful one of her apprentices, so it came as no surprise the two eventually became close friends despite the Sith Lady’s opinion on friendships. Indeed, the old Togruta viewed friendship as a weakness until her student received a promotion and immediately visited the woman in her palace.

“Both Sith Ladies are doing quite well, I assure you.” The amphibious assassin nodded. “I am very interested in learning more about you, though; such a young and beautiful woman, yet you have already attained the rank of a Sith Lady! Impressive! Not many Sith are as capable as you, and I dare to say your success only proves our mutual beliefs are right. What is your motivation though? Why do you fight for the One Sith?” he asked, his large orbs not leaving her face for a second. “Is it for power? Knowledge? Where do you see yourself in ten years, my lady?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"Hmm, where to begin with these questions," she said, pouring more tea into her cup even though she hadn't finished her current cup. "My personal motivation, as I said previously, is to gain knowledge. Something my father instilled in me at a very young age and reinforced constantly, it eventually became a hunger. One so fierce, I read my way through most of the University of Lorrd's library by the time I graduated and still wasn't sated because I was becoming aware of my Force abilities and needed to learn more."

She took a sip of her tea before continuing, "Now, as for why I'm loyal to the One Sith . . . let me say that it stems from the unfortunate incident that Darth Praelior found me in, and it's not one I care to revisit often. Needless to say, I'm loyal to the One Sith because they offered me a new life, to not become a . . . victim again to certain depravities. I suppose in a way part of me died that day, but a new part was born."

Smiling at his last question, oh she could answer it in so many ways. She was ambitious, and she knew that was quite clear, but she liked to play a slower game.

"Where do I see myself in ten years? Hmm, how to answer that question," she closing her eyes for a moment as she marshalled the words. "I would be perfectly honest in saying I want to have more of a leadership role within the One Sith, but as of now, I'm quite content with my current position as a Lady of the Sith. I could not say where the future lies, but if I was asked to take a higher position within the hierarchy, I would not . . . decline if that answers your question adequately. Now I have a question for you, Avreet. Why are you having second thoughts about fulfilling your goals through the Phoenix Order, regardless that you haven't been able to recruit others as much as you would have liked? I suspect there is a deeper reason no?"

 

[Darth Veles]

Avreet frowned. “I am afraid you must have misunderstood me when I explained the purpose of the Phoenix Order. Many beings in the galaxy hold a grudge against the Sith for various reasons. They are determined to fight against all Sith, no matter their crimes or intentions. That is why the Phoenix Order exists. If they will not join the Sith directly, perhaps they will join the Order of the Phoenix and unknowingly become the very thing they seek to destroy. Take Jedi, for example,” the Sith Lord comfortably leaned back, “Even if you make them see reason, the chance of recruiting them is very low. As you already know, I am against taking in the weaklings that poison our ways. I want strong, devoted Jedi who believe in their cause. Those will definitely never join anything that has “Sith” in its name and its members butcher civilians on a whim. I promise my Jedi friends to teach them how to resist the temptation of the Dark Side and also offer them a chance to make this war shorter, save lives. As both of us can agree, this war is entirely pointless, as even if the One Sith wins, the Jedi and their Republic will rise again. What I offer those willing to listen is a more permanent solution.”

Taking the cap into his webbed hand, the Mon Cal drank some more tea before continuing, smiling at his female companion after he set the cup down on the table. “My promises are not hollow lies. Those who join will be taught how to resist the Dark Side – by enslaving it like a true Sith should, using its power instead of allowing it to use them. Their acceptance of my offer will also definitely make this war shorter and save lives – reducing the numbers of our enemies by converting their members to my ideals will effectively make the war shorter and save many lives, just as I claimed. And, of course, once enough Jedi place their faith into me, their Order will be absorbed into the Phoenix, those Jedi too zealous and fanatical to join me will continue their fight against the One Sith – and inevitably lose everything.”

“As you can see, lady Arcanix, the Phoenix Order has its purpose.” Now it was time for his question to be asked.

“So let’s say you get your desired position, my lady,” the amphibian said, immediately raising his hand with an open palm to stop the Sith Lady from answering, “No! You lead the One Sith. The Republic is no more, just as its Jedi dogs. What do you do? Where will you lead the One Sith? How will you lead it?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"Oh, I guess I hadn't really thought of all that," she sighed, slumping her head against her chest for a moment, appearing to be slightly discouraged by his questions. That was when a sly smile started to form across her lips, and she looked up with amusement in her eyes to match the slyness. "Or perhaps I have thought about it, and know exactly what I would do."

"Hypothetically of course, if the Republic and Jedi fell and I was in command of the One Sith, things would turn more towards how the Empire ran under Admiral Gilad Pellaeon. Except, of course, the true beings that could be considered Sith would be in command, but we not be constantly at war with any surviving neighbors. I would try and reach out to others, secure treaties and such that would make it clear we weren't interested in destroying them. Other things would have to change of course, but those are minute details that no one could possibly have thought of. Or could they have? I don't know."

She was being deliberately coy with what she was saying, she knew that, but she wasn't going to share everything with the Mon Cal in their first meeting. They were both powerful Sith, and she knew it paid to keep things close to the vest when it came to other Sith, even apprentices. Even now, her current apprentices didn't know the full extent of her abilities or powers yet.

 

[Darth Veles]

“That is quite an interesting concept, lady Arcanix,” Avreet commented on the Sith Lady’s answer, noting how her expression changed and offering a kind smile and a wink in return. “I am sure you would make an excellent leader, my lady. Now, I am not saying the current leaders of the One Sith do a bad job, though I believe it would not hurt if someone sane replaced a madman or two. Hypothetically, of course.” Another wink sent towards the Sith Lady, another message he would not say through words but through subtle actions. The Mon Cal liked the woman’s idea, more or less. He certainly would have picked a different action, but as long as the woman had no insane plans involving mass murder for no reason… and that was what ultimately mattered. In a galaxy he could find no good, Avreet had to support the lesser evil.

“Am I correct to assume you come from Lorrd, lady Arcanix? Do you have a family there?” was another Sith Lord’s question. Being curious more about the Sith Lady’s personal side and not her professional Sith side, he did not expect her to answer, or at least not truthfully. As such, he quickly decided to give her information about himself; it hardly mattered since the Republic destroyed the place he called home in their crusade against the Sith Empire. “I am from Raxus. It is a wonderful world. Similar to Alderaan in many aspects. Eh, the old Alderaan before the One Sith vongformed the planet, I mean. I personally dislike what they did to the planet. It is so... barbaric.” The Sith shrugged.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Dux Pontus"]

"I neither agree nor disagree with the decision to Vong-form Alderaan, as I was not a member of the Sith at the time," Taeli said with a shrug. "Do I condone what happened to citizens of the world? No. But, do I mind having a powerful world of our Vong allies? Not so much. It is a matter of perspective in that case."

She was thinking it over about whether to answer the Mon Cal's question about her family as he explained his home world. While it wouldn't hurt, she knew a Sith could have a long reach and that could have consequences for her parents. She still cared for them, even talked with them on holo, but they still didn't know she was a Sith and she hadn't visited in a long time. She still loved them though.

"You would be correct that I grew up on Lorrd," she answered finally, but she decided she would make him work for any further information. He would need to ask the right questions, or she wouldn't respond with an accurate answer.