Secrets In Red

[Vrak Nashar]

Korriz
[member="Aria Vale"]

The Sith Caldera had for some centuries been an anomaly of it's own.

The small sector of space that was mostly marked by it's association with the Sith Empire had long since been called a mystery. Almost every world within the Caldera contained some Remnant of his people. A ruined Temple, a torn fortress, a razed relic of some sort that marked the borders of a once great Empire. It never seemed to matter where one wandered in this place, there was always something. Korriz was no different of course, another world touched by his people.

Another world permanently scarred.

When the Jedi had eradicated his people at the end of the Great Hyperspace War they had been thorough. They had slaughtered millions, razed cities, laid waste to entire planet just to ensure another Empire would rise again. Korriz was another small bit of evidence of the genocide that had befallen his people. Once it had been a piece of the Empire, a throne world like Athiss and Korriban, yet now?

Now it was little more than a ruin.

Broken and ruined cities still dotted the surface of the world, long forgotten remnants that had simply been left alone.

Korriz, like Athiss had been forgotten by those of modern history. It was not on anyone's mind, it was not on anyone's map. The world was little more than a shadow of what it had once been, and that was exactly why Vrak had come here. This place had remained untouched, unmolested by centuries of grave robbers and historians. This world was a piece of history, a piece that had been largely left alone.

He had been drawn to it, like he had been drawn to Nathema. He frowned slightly as he wandered down the broken ruins of what had once been Korriz City, his steps taking him to one of the few standing structures within the city. It was a fortress, or what was left of it. A tumbling ruin that barely seemed to contain it's own weight. Vrak glanced at the cracked stone as he wandered inside, listening to the howl of wind rush through the remains of what had once been the home of his kin.

 

[NightSister]

It had been nice to begin training to be Sith.

A recent development, but a very nice one indeed. From one perspective, anyway. It was eternally difficult, eternally a strain, but it would be worth it, and that was nice.

Fortunately, there were ways to train as a Sith without the stresses of a training session, and one of them happened to be the sort that Aria even quite liked; exploring. After all, Sith history was scattered across the galaxy, and the most important part of her training was to understand the Sith. To be able to keep from getting herself killed helped too, of course, but that came with the training. Or something.

So she'd come to Korriz, so as to quietly immerse herself in the ways of the Sith. Aria wasn't entirely sure what she hoped to find by poking about through abandoned Sith cities - perhaps it was more the feeling of the entire planet. That was she was after; what it felt like to be Sith. It was a surprisingly good feeling.

She found a fortress after a while - at least, she assumed it had been a fortress. It looked wonderfully isolated and creepy from the outside, so in a perfectly logical train of thought, she found an entrance and in she went. Odd as it sounded, Aria was happy just to wander through the ruins, stare into space every now and then, take note of this or that, and so that was what she did.

The wind made a particularly dramatic whistling noise, and she whirled round, startled, as a red-skinned...Sith, she was guessing?...walked into the area.

"Oh! Sorry." She made a gesture towards the wind as if to indicate it as the source of her jumpiness.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

Vrak generally didn't take too kindly to surprises.

Most Purebloods lived day in and day out in a constant state of paranoia and fear, he was no different. It was their upbringing that caused them to be this way. They were constantly trained and conditioned to trust no one, brought into a world of eternal competition and pettiness. This was the mark of the Sith. No one could ever relax, no one could ever let their guard down. On Athiss he had learned this lesson well, half a dozen betrayals by his closest friends had brought him to deaths door more than once.

It was that training, that conditioning that forced him to react the way he did.

Others had experienced it as well. Joon back on Dromund Fel, Jamie on Prakith, Taheera on Ruusan, Seraphina on Coruscant. All of them had fallen victim to Vrak's extreme sense of paranoia and outright brashness. There was no real excuse for it save that it was simply within his nature. He did what he had to do because he needed to defend himself. Though Aria might not have meant him any harm, she could very well have been an assassin out to kill him.

Better to be safe than sorry. Better to briefly bind someone then allow them to strike.

Those were the wise words Vrak lived by and the instant he spotted the girl they kicked into full effect.

His back stiffened almost immediately, his eyes narrowed, and the force flooded into him like a Tidal Wave. His fingers quickly wrapped around the lightsaber hanging from his waist, pulling the hilt free but not yet igniting the blade. His free-hand shot up, fingers immediately scrunching.

With a single gesture he let free a howling rasp of the force, invisible chains that sought to bind Aria and snatch her off her feet before she could even react.

Perhaps an overreaction, but one couldn't be too safe with the unknown.

 

[NightSister]

She would admit, it caught her by surprise.

On one hand, Aria fought often enough to be able to consider herself good at it. On the other hand, if her head was in the clouds enough that she could walk straight into someone, it was easy enough to guess that her reflexes weren't quite up to standards today. The Force caught her in its grip in the same moment that she caught sight of a red beam igniting, and then she worked out that it might be a good idea to react.

By then she was just a little off the mark.

Instinctually, her right hand went up as she called on the Force to form a shield; at the same time, the attack coming her way sent her stumbling, and she half-toppled backwards into a crumbling wall. Well, that's not good, is it? Something hurt, but Aria couldn't feel anything that would be cause for concern - yet, at least. It would be a very good idea to get herself out of this before she had to start worrying. She focused hurriedly, trying to expand the force-bubble protecting her to give herself a few seconds to get to her feet - by now, thankfully, her brain was more switched on. The other hand fished for the saberstaff at her belt, but she didn't ignite it yet. The same obviously wasn't true for the Sith opposite, but Aria preferred to ask questions first and shoot later.

More balanced now in how she stood, she regarded the Sith warily.

"Well, that was a bit unnecessary," she said, her voice as dry as she could muster. "Who are you?"

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

His face remained all but blank.

There were few people in the galaxy that Vrak respected, even fewer that he did not outright disdain. Most when they met him ended up at the tip of a lightsaber or a shock of the force. Even those most loyal to him, Seraphina, Neesa, Joon, all of them at one point had been moments away from death at his hands. Oh a few had been able to drag him to that very edge themselves, but that hardly mattered in the mind of the Pureblood. His lips thinned, his back stiffened.

"I am Vrak Nashar." There was no concern in his voice, only a piercing bite that told of disdain. "Pureblood of Korriban."

He began to walk closer to her, the crimson light of his saber reflecting off of his skin. Bright yellow eyes flared at her, a threatening glance staring down at the girl. He had no idea who she was, nor did he know of her intentions here, but in his mind that didn't matter.

She was an intruder here. "You are trespassing."

The allegation was of course ludicrous. This planet was as dead as could be. No one lived here, no one had an active outpost, no one even gave this world a second thought. Yet to Vrak this world was still very much a part of his domain, that which had once belonged to his people. For him that was all that mattered, and this little girl was a fly buzzing around his house.

 

[NightSister]

Trespassing?

It was easy to get the impression that Aria was something of a pushover. More accurate, however, would be to say that she chose her battles. Sure, confrontation usually wasn't much fun for her, but when she needed to, when she wanted to, sometimes, even, it was perfectly easy to put her awkwardness aside for the moment.

By now, she'd been subject to an impromptu attack and accused of trespassing.

She certainly wanted to stand her ground today.

He stepped closer, and the thumb hovering over the button at her saber's hilt pressed down. One of the two blades her beloved weapon held shot out, bloodred and ominous. Still no need to attempt to use it, but Aria wouldn't take chances.

"No, I'm not." Her tone was almost casual. She had every reason to be, after all. Aria wasn't nearly foolish enough to waltz onto a Sith planet without first making sure she wouldn't be offending anyone - Sith, she'd learned, could be quite territorial when it came down to it - and she was very certain that the planet was void of any such authority she could possibly upset with her presence.

Hiding her wariness, she made as if to continue past him. "Glad that's clarified. Now, if there's nothing else..."

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

His saber-staff immediately flicked to the right, the bright crimson blade jumping to life with a loud snap-hiss.

She was of course, technically correct. Vrak had no stake here on Korriz and this fortress certainly did not belong to him. This place was a broken husk of its former self, really only fit for the dead. Yet the idea that someone wandered through these ancient passages, taking what they pleased whenever they pleased still bothered him. His family was a line of Historians, the past was sacred to them, more so than the life of one upstart little girl.

"I'm afraid you are." He told her, his blade hissing just a bit closer to her.

His voice became more stern as he spoke. "Who are you?"

The question was made with no small amount of hostility in his voice. His gaze flickered back into the dark depths of the hallway just beyond him, eyes gaze tracing along something unseen. He frowned for a minute and then looked back towards Aria.

"Why have you come here?" His interrogation continued.

 

[NightSister]

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -​

Aria had learned by now that it was a good idea to be cautious of strangers - especially Sith strangers. This particular Sith stranger held a saber and had declared her a trespasser within a minute of meeting her; she was in no hurry to give him her name. Names, as she full well knew, had power.

That said, if it got him to shut up and let her wander...

"My name is Aria Vale," she answered warily, eyes flickering as they measured the distance. "I'm here for research."

Sure, she could've lied - and it might've been a much smarter idea, in honesty - but really, what was the worst that could happen? Her name was all but insignificant to the rest of the galaxy, her home remote and well-guarded, and her enemies few and far between. It wasn't ideal, certainly, but she doubted very much there'd be any consequences she couldn't deal with.

Besides, she wouldn't have been able to think of an alias fast enough.

"Alright, so how am I trespassing?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

Vrak didn't particularly care if it was a lie or not, nor did he recognize the name.

That wasn't too surprising though, one couldn't know everyone all the time. It was a big galaxy and people tended to get one another mixed up. Even the famed Sith that roamed the Caldera couldn't always be identified, some wearing armor, some donning the simple guise of a robe. There was no telling who was who in this age, and even though Aria was truthful her name actually meant very little in a funny sort of way. The Pureblood stared at her, his back stiffening ever so slightly.

"This place was constructed thousands of years ago." He gestured towards the structure all around them.

"Lord Garu created it as a sanctuary." He stated simple."A sanctuary that you now violate."

Simple as that for Vrak, though of course the affront wasn't real, he simply didn't know or want her here.

The Sith glanced at her. "You are neither Pureblood nor Sith."

 

[NightSister]

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -​

​

An eyebrow raised.

"Right." She looked almost entertained at the thought. "Thousands of years ago."

If that was his reasoning, he was either insane or bent on keeping her out for his own reasons. Possibly both. Quite likely both, in fact. Regardless, he was one man, and he had no grounds to insist she was trespassing - she couldn't give much weight to anything he said.

"That's very interesting, but it's the slightest bit outdated." Her voice was thick with sarcasm, although she regarded him gingerly. He'd overreacted enough to attack once, after all; she simply didn't want to get caught off-guard again. Not that she couldn't take him, obviously. Vrak was right that she wasn't Sith - though not for lack of trying - but she knew how to wield a blade as well as he did.

"Place seems a bit empty now," she mused. "I don't see the problem here."

Playing with fire? Maybe, but she didn't care.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

"No?" He mused to her for a moment, though in truth he couldn't help but agree with her just a little bit. The dead were dead, they were not about to protect what they couldn't even touch anymore. Sure a few spirits still lingered, but by and large none of it mattered anymore.

The truth of his motivations was of course far more simple. It was about the power that still lingered here. Garu had not been a Pureblood, but he'd been powerful in his own right. The tomb robbers had combed through this place more than once, but Vrak knew that there was something still hidden within these walls, something of value. That was why he didn't want her here, she was competition pure and simple, something that Vrak held an extreme distaste for.

The hand not upon the hilt of his lightsaber slowly unfurled.

"So you would parade through these hallowed halls." He exaggerated on both counts, this place was hardly sacred and she wasn't exactly screaming of her presence either. "And do what?"

The Pureblood mused. "Steal?"

 

[NightSister]

"Alright, calm down." Again, probably not her best choice of words, but that was irrelevant.

"I'm not stealing anything, no need to worry about your precious abandoned fortress." Why he was even so worried about a completely abandoned fortress on an equally dead planet was beyond her, of course - not that it mattered. The more he insisted that she was trespassing, the more eager she was that he'd run out of arguments and have no choice but to let her past.

That or she'd have to fight him, of course. She was perfectly happy with either.

"Anything else, then? Are you worried I'll mess up the decorations, or are we good now?"

Her tone seemed to insist that they were, as she put it, good now, but she was already half certain he'd persist. That was fine. She was in no hurry to leave - she'd have plenty of time after he conceded to find what she'd been looking for.

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

Nothing left behind by Sith was worthless of course.

Even in this ancient structure, the far reaches of it's bloody and broken ruins, there was something. The same could be said for a hundred different worlds, Yavin, Kaas, even Korriban still had riches that could be found. The Sith of old had left more than simply trinkets to be sold. They had left secrets, ancient writings and rituals that could make one more powerful than a simple pendant ever could. Vrak knew this, he had reaped rewards from his long dead people more than once before.

That didn't mean he would let this woman do the same however. "Who are you researching for?"

She had told him who she was, supposedly anyway, but that wasn't much to go on. There were many who were interested in the Sith, even some Jedi.

Vrak remembered his meeting with Jamie, his imprisonment. She had often questioned him of the traces of his people, their intent, their wants and intentions. The little Jedi girl had found his answers lacking, but would Aria? The Pureblood had no idea, but he wanted to find out.

Especially if it was something to be exploited.

 

[NightSister]

Okay, that was better than accusations of trespassing.

She regarded him warily, trying to decide where he was likely going with this. Not surprisingly, she came up blank - Sith could be so confusing sometimes.

"For myself," she replied after a beat, her pause more out of surprise than the question at anything else. What did he think - that she was some sort of spy for the Jedi?
Well, that had once been true, in fairness. How times changed.

Eyes narrowed in sudden curiosity. Aria was here to skulk around and find knowledge; what about Vrak? He was a pureblood, he'd said - at this point Aria didn't consider it unlikely that he'd come to Korriz just to patrol for whoever he deemed to be a trespasser. She didn't even have the best idea of Pureblood Sith history.

As soon as she could pass, she'd make sure to fix that.

But first, she was curious. "Why are you here?"

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

A small twerk of his lips turned up at the question. He had known it would come eventually. Purebloods weren't exactly common within this galaxy. Most of them had been killed millenia ago in the genocide of the Jedi, those few that had survived had always been weary of showing their face. Fear ran through his people, though none of them would ever admit it. Those upon his homeworld of Athiss coward from the galaxy, hiding away until the time was right to show themselves again.

Vrak didn't hold this fear, though he did have a certain weariness. "I live here."

He lied.

"Upon the crags of Korriz." His bright yellow eyes slowly folded over her, drawing over her lithe form before they snapped back to her face. "Within the southern reaches of the planet."

It was a lie, but he doubted she knew enough of this world to know any truth he was hiding. Korriz had once been inhabited by his people as with many worlds in the Caldera. Though he knew the colony had died out around the time of Vitiates Empire he doubted that Aria knew the same. Purebloods generally only told of their own greatness, the wonderful accomplishments they had in life and the power they wrought. Rarely did they record their failures.

Korriz was definitely one of their failures.

 

[NightSister]

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -​

​

Her nose wrinkled, her eyebrows raised.

"Can't be a nice place to live."

She neither knew nor cared enough about Vrak's reason to be there to piece together the lie. The occasional paranoia might do her some good, but all too frequently Aria strayed towards being carefree, even careless, and there had been too little consequence insofar to convince the Dark Jedi to change her ways.

As it was, while she was perfectly wary of the pureblood - the nature of their introduction could hardly have done anything else - her attentiveness towards only went as far as keeping amber eyes in a careful gaze on him.

"So," she went on, "you just go about the planet to - what, research? Patrol for strangers to annoy?"

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

"Kill." He corrected her. "Strangers to kill."

Again he lied, but she didn't know that. Vrak didn't often move from world to world like this. The only reason he came to Korriz in the first place is because he ahd found something within his archives that had lead him here. He wouldn't have wasted time if he didn't know that.

As always there was a method to his madness. "One must protect what they hold precious."

The Pureblood frowned for a moment, then slowly began to step to the right. Almost like a predatory cat he began to move around her. His bright yellow eyes slowly curved the traces of her body, watching the contour of her hips and floating to her hands. He frowned for a moment, as if though he were calculating the best way of pouncing on her and snapping her neck. Eventually he came to a stop, his lips thinning for just a moment more before he spoke again.

"It is why so many fall to the darkside." His words held an allure to them, the force breathing life.

 

[NightSister]

She looked at him curiously at the word kill.

It sounded like a threat - they'd already established, after all, that Aria fell under strangers - but she was having a hard time being at all afraid. Partly her own tendency for recklessness, partly her lack of success in finding a pattern in his behavior; she was certain he was dangerous, because it was safest to assume that of any Sith who held a saber, but that was as far as she'd gotten.

But talk of killing did have a tendency to spark a reaction in her mentally, regardless of who it referred to. For all her thrill-seeking ways, Aria held her life invaluable - it was one of the few things that could make her paranoid.
It didn't seem to be on his agenda yet, though.
She'd just have to be watchful.

Shoulders shifted as she followed his footsteps - it wasn't the subtlest it could've been, but Aria preferred to remain angled towards him. She wasn't entirely convinced yet that she could let her guard down.

"Sure, maybe." Protection was very low down on the list of reasons Aria had left behind the light, but it was irrelevant at the moment. "Point being?"

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -​

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Aria Vale"]

"Is that why you've come here?" It was a leading question of course. She had already admitted slightly to researching artifacts of the Sith, and that was a dangerous area for most Jedi. She was no Jedi however.

He could sense that much.

The Pureblood frowned for a second as he simply watched her. She was human, he could tell that much, but what type. He'd found that the mongrels often interbred, some having more...advantages than others. Epicanthix for instance. He scowled as he thought of that travesty of a race. "To fall?"

Vrak finally finished his thought, allowing the words to linger in the air.

Perhaps he could make something of this...of her.

 

[NightSister]

- [member="Vrak Nashar"] -​

​

"Perhaps."

It was open to interpretation, of course. Aria had long since left behind the Jedi and ceased to tap into the Light Side; she doubted he was oblivious to that fact.

The dark side itself?

She'd pursued it, its secrets, its ways, for a long time now. The extent of her ability to use the dark was more varying, but she no longer had any qualms about calling herself a darksider. But stopping there would've been too easy. That was why she'd sought out the Sith - and it was exactly what she was doing on Korriz. Curiosity drove Aria a great deal, but other things took greater priority - her efforts to become Sith were doubtless one of those greater priorities in this instance.

"Does it make a difference?"