Post Count: 3.
Location: Inbound to Jar'Kai.
Alliances: Darth Mephirium, First Captain Decius (501st).
Foes: The Galactic Alliance + Allies.
"Veiere," he spoke, hoping his words might find their way through the Great Ocean to Veiere's mind. "Know that everything I have done has been in service to the people." He echoed words spoken previously to the Commenori Knight. "Know that my fellow lords gave their lives to defend this world. Know that might students and friends still live, and may require asylum on Commenor should I die here. Know that the full might of the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi Order, their Mandalorian puppets and every other damned power in the galaxy was required to wound me, and know that I am not dead yet. I will destroy everyone and everything that tries to hurt my people, and if it means giving my life, then so be it."
Alive yet running out of time, [member="Darth Mephirium"] called out to Veiere once more through the far spanning telepathic connection they had built up in the time they'd known and fought beside one another. His words did nothing to reassure the Jedi Knight, even as it may have encouraged the pace in his approaching the Capital City, he could feel Cyril's anger yet also the whispers of the light side that his brother had once followed and served, now drowned out by the ferocity of the storm and the loss of so many good men.
The Jedi Knight yelled against the wind that whipped up around his face and drove against his body, his cloak being caught in the torrents of the still very far off storm and leaving little choice but to remove it and leave it to fly with the current while Veiere continued, adjourned in the old traditional tan tunic, dirtied, worn but not unfamiliar to those that knew of the Jedi Order. On his right, his lightsaber hung like a weight, clipped to his leather belt, it felt heavier as if the weapon itself anticipated those that Veiere would have to cross in order to reach his friend and pull him from the Chaos. Here the simplistic ideals of good and evil were no longer black and white; Veiere, a Jedi and servant of the lightside of the Force found himself walking into the darkness only in support of a Sith Lord, a former Jedi and close personal friend yet a practitioner of the Dark Side, the irony didn't escape him and only confirmed the age old truth now that the former conclave decided for themselves, it seemed Veiere was destined not to travel the righteous path but traverse the controversial, dangerously corrupting and chaotic way of the Gray.
Overhead something flew by, shouts reaching out even against this monstrous and disastrous weather. Turning to look back skyward as it arced and came back his way, Veiere recognized the vessel to be of the 501st infantry. The very same type of personnel carrier that they rode into the last battle, Veiere remembered the times of war most unfortunately clear.
Here, he knew not friend from foe and as the small craft descended to the ground and soldiers poured out of it, all armed and raising their blaster rifles toward him, Veiere's thumb pressed into the clip that held his hilt, his weapon coming free and ready to be lit the moment he sensed his impending death, the Jedi would be prepared and do all that he had to in order to reach the courtyard where Cyril stood.
"
Hold your fire!" the commanding voice came from within the shuttle, another trooper stepping out though this one baring the shoulder brace signifying his rank above all the others. Veiere paused a moment, suspiciously aware of the troopers destinctive voice and presense, as if they had met some place before. "
Master Arenais..We did not expect to find you out here" The trooper stepped ahead of the others, all who lowered their rifles and stood at the ready, the 501st Captain removing his helm to reveal himself. "
Captain Decius?" The Jedi responded in honest surprise, a brief smile crossing him before his eyes took a hold of the background beyond the troop transport, the sky filled with smoke, flames and lightning; "
I need to reach Master Grayson, immediately" Veiere's tone changed, his voice flattening and becoming somewhat more demanding as he approached and the Captain turned with him, not arguing though somewhat thrown off by the calling of the Sith Lords name of birth. "
I will take you to him Sir though I must advise you; the Jedi Order have proven themselves the Enemy of the Dominion here. I will require your lightsaber before we board...".
It was a fact that Veiere had not been ready to acknowledge; yet he supposed after hearing it, that it was only going to be inevitable. He slowed almost to a complete halt, his eyes turning to look back to the Captain in disbelief and frustration; "
I fought alongside you at the battle of Gyndine, I kept you from meeting your death that day. Now is not the time to question my character, Captain. My lightsaber I can assure you will do your Master far more good than any of your rifles and unless you wish to provoke further death here today then I suggest you do as I ask. If any repercussions befall you for my insistence, it will be forgotten the moment we enter the battle to keep your Lord from being overrun. Now get moving, least you want to contribute to his end". He did not have the patience to abide by the rules of the 501st, they would take him there or they would no doubt come to bare the anger of their leader; something that Veiere could still sense even now as he looked defiantly back at the Captain. "
...-As you wish, Veiere" Decius responded rather skeptically, the Jedi having more or less burned all former civility between the two in that one moment, yet unable to deny the order, the Trooper signalled the others to follow and soon enough, holding on to the railing at the height of the side of the ship, Veiere ascended with the rest, looking out across what had been a beautiful planet.
The comm-chatter from the head of the personnel carrier was alive and ever frantic, the Jedi Knight able to hear as the pilots requested a special drop, likely informing the Dominion that Veiere was on his way to rendezvous with the Sith Leader, an ally, not a captive. Here there would be no justifiable reason to walk away from the war on Atrisia, Veiere knew the likelihood of meeting other Jedi on the opposite side of the fight was extremely high and yet the Galactic Alliance had brought the fuel that had lit the flame to ignite all storms, sully all innocence that now cowered in fear for their lives. The Storm scarred as far as his eyes could see, a ripple across the planet that stood against the very nature of the Force, a desperate act taken out of the defense and protection of the world. Veiere had seen it through Cyril's own eyes and though the truth would be twisted and torn to fit all later claims of governments in power among the galaxy, Veiere felt determined that he was doing the right thing, despite going against his own people. Already, the conflict clouded his mind, hanging like a weight of regret and reluctance, wishing for an easy way out yet not expecting one, he feared for how this battle would change him.
