Standing Among The Ashes

[Adron Malvern]

Tears welled in Adron's eyes as he looked over what remained of his estate. The Stone statues that had stood for generations had been toppled. The mansion itself was mostly in tact but it had been horridly sacked. It was not the damaged Architecture, nor the hundreds of thousands of credits in damage that forced the man to tears. It was not even the destruction of his families most treasured landmark, it was the dead bodies.

The guardsmen who had sworn to protect Adron's life riddled the battlefield, their dead corpses beginning to rot in the frozen mountains.

Adron smoothed his hair back over his head before clenching his hands into tight fists. He knew he could not give these men a proper burial, or even burn their bodies to be sent off with the Force. Adron had smuggled himself to Serenno, just to see the state of his planet and the ruin the Sith had wrought.

His black cloak flew in the wind as he stared at what remained of his house. Both Captain Nuana and Anya had joined the man on the planet, rather they couldn't be told otherwise. But even their presence did nothing to soothe the pain that Adron felt.

He felt as if he was losing it all, all over again.

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

The scent of death, it hung like a wall over the place...it brought anya to be deadly quiet. To the point she didn't care that the cold was striking at her face...hitting her left side

She felt a swath of things, anger...pain...sadness... She finally moved looking around the place, then slowly started forward, each step slow and trance like. Finally she stopped a few pace and fell to her knees...her home...their home...all these people who she got to see and some even knew...gone...she let a cry out and doubled over, a hand on a statue

Today felt like the end all over again

 

[Adron Malvern]

There was a chilling silence in the frozen north, the only sound being the soft whistle of the wind as it flowed around what remained of Adron's estate. The Count could hear the subtle sound of boots crunching into the snow as his security Captain approached him. "My lord, we cannot remain here any longer. If the Sith find you-."

Adron silenced him with an open palm, held towards the Rodian. He did not speak but he did give the man a soft nod before walking over to Anya. The man pulled his cowl over his head before placing a hand on Anya's shoulder. "It's time to go." He said, finding the words bitter to the mouth.

His eyes never left the bodies that riddled the ground, as he stared at them there was a slow but steady change in the color of his chrystal blue eyes. The blue was forced to a muddled appearance as his eyes showed the faintest hint of the corrupting orange tint of the dark side. He could feel his rage centralizing itself within him, feeding off the dark side of the force to produce a type of focus he had never felt before.

Adron took Anya's hand in his, turning away from the manor. The man glanced back at what remained of his estate and made a silent vow to return, and never again allow his people to be faced with such a tragedy. Least of all, his family.

Nuana led the duo back to a small shuttle, his blaster held in hand as he kept a sharp eye on the surrounding terrain. After the three of them loaded into the shuttle Adron led Anya to the passenger bay. He sat silently, with his hands intertwined, resting his chin on the top of his hands. He was thinking of the estate, thinking of his people, and allowing the anger to wash over him like a cool wave.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

Anya balled even as she stood, covering her face as she was told it was time to go. She felt anger greater then anything she could imagine,

She boarded with then and sat down as she sniffles setting there staring down, was it her fault? No...no...it wasn't hers nor adrons. Her blood boiled enough it could be felt

The dominion...they didn't defend the gate...they let the enemy through, they let them come and ruin their home! She took a minute inhale then exhaling steam frpm.her mouth as she sat back

the dominion...has failed us

She said bluntly

 

[Adron Malvern]

"Enough." Adron said, not turning to Anya as he stood from his place in the shuttle.

"Just....stop it." He stared at the side of the shuttle's wall before bracing his back against the surface. The man felt utterly defeated and he did not know where to place his anger. He tried his hardest not to direct it to Anya, she was truly all he had left. He walked over to her and placed a soft hand on her cheek, looking at the scar over her eye from the Cathar assassin. It was still fresh from the conflict and a fresh reminder that Adron had been unable to protect her as well.

Adron moved to a knee, kissing the side of her cheek tenderly as he exhaled. "I AM the Dominion. As the Archlord this was my fault. I spent so much time working on the reformation I left us vulnerable to an attack....and now, I don't know what to do." He admitted.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

Enough tensed hearing him command her to stop, she panted a bit as she shook her head. She wanted to place the blame somewhere find a place it could go somewhere so she could find reason something to help her understand

She gave a glance up at him as she felt his kiss, that scarred eye having no color like it should it's red partner. Her righr side having three claw marks down it as she looked away feeling little guilty

it's not your fault...you had no clue anyone would come and attack home...no warning....noway of knowing

She placed a hand on his and have a soft smile

I am so glad you made it out alive...thats all I can say...i can...understand if you wish

She stopped, she wasn't able to say her next words without choking up

if you wishbto move on past me..

She said and bowed her head

 

[Adron Malvern]

Anya's words only caused Adron to exhale and place a hand on her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You are ALL I have left." He said, feeling no reason to mince words. "If not for you there would be nothing stopping me from planting my lightsaber in my chest, save my want to avenge my people."

The Count stood up crossing his arms over his chest silently for a moment. He glanced down to Anya before sighing once more. "I preferred to wait to do this....I was going to take you back to Naboo but we don't have time for that. I'm sorry."

The man placed a hand in the pocket of his robe before kneeling before Anya. He held his hand up to her, allowing her to see a small ring, the gem placed on it obviously one made of pure kyber. "Anya. I love you and only you, will you be the Lady of my House?" He asked, though his voice was sincere there was still the dread of the events weighing on it.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

She was forced to look up, his words causing her to look in shock. She blinked as she let a breath out diverting her eyes for a moment then back to his

Then suddenly he was talking about waiting for something, her mind raced for a moment thinki.g of what he meant...at this moment it could be hundreds of things

She watched him reach into his pocket then kneel, anya gasped as she saw the ring...and felt the other crystal within it. She was stunned for a moment then collected herself holding her ring finger out and spoke proudly as she could

I will, I'll be lady Malvern. I will help rebuild this house beside you...i will bring honor to us and the name malvern...adron...your the best thing...to ever come into my life

She forced a smile and waited for the ring to be put on

 

[Adron Malvern]

A small, yet genuine smile came to his face when she accepted his proposal. He started to put the ring on but paused before looking up at her. "I'll have to do things...bad things...a lot of people are going to die and I'm going to destroy a lot of freedoms...but I will get Serenno back, whatever the cost." He explained, sliding the ring over her finger.

After it was set in place he stood and took her hands into his raising her to her feet before wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you." He said, before leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

She watched it start to go on, then glanced up at him as he explained what he'd have to do, she simply looked with understanding and nodded speaking

whatever must be done I am by your side to see it done...no matter what it is...no matter how bad...ill see it done to get serenno back

She stood as she gave a soft smile she place she hands on his side's and let a breath out kissing him back and letting it go on for a few seconds before breaking it and smiling

I love you to, adron

 

[Adron Malvern]

After finally releasing Anya, Adron took his seat once more, he guided her to her seat next to him before pinching the bridge of his nose. "How did this happen?" He said, exhaustively, his mind returning to the events on Serenno. The saving grace was Serenno was not a planet one could merely subjugate, the Counts of the world maintained a control that years of occupation could not destroy. However, those who did not conform would suffer or worse under the Sith.

In the back of his mind Adron hoped that the Resurgent Empire would not be able to maintain hold of his world, all it would take is a few days and Adron could easily have his planet back into his control. Yet that would require the Resurgent to evacuate their control of the planet.

"I'm going to kill them all." He said simply. The Dark side continued to flood through him, his eyes nearly taking a red tint as the corruption continued.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

She says by him as she sighed and laid her head back against the wall and shook her head, she honestly didn't know at all. She wish she could help him get all the answers to this problem to fix it all...but she couldn't she didn't have the power to help him this time

She glanced over to him taking his hand as she looked forward and spoke

who are we gonna kill, two people agaisnt a empire...

She chuckled and glanced

 

[Adron Malvern]

When Anya said it was two people against an Empire Adron looked to his hands and chuckled with her. "I suppose so, hmm? Maybe, maybe not." He said.

Adron had a good list of allies, but he did not know what any of them could do to help him at this point in time. It wasn't long before their shuttle was in hyperspace and Adron looked to Anya. "I feel like this isn't the ending." He began, though his expression grew dark. "But I feel like it's the beginning of something bad."

Adron put his arm around Anya, pulling her to him as he closed his eyes, immediately he began to drift into the realm of sleep.

[member="Anya Loma"]

 

[Anya Malvern]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

hmmm...maybe not maybe not

She gave nod listening to him as she was pulled closer and closer her eyes as she sighed and spoke

no thing is good...eveey army is always claiming good...evwry individual claiming glory...

She drifted off and fell asleep, head on his shoulder