The Greatest Challenge

[Vrak Nashar]

Stygian Caldera - Unknown World
[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Vrak Nashar had killed Sith Lords, he had conquered worlds, he had built an entire Empire, and yet he had never felt quite as challenged as he did now.

It had been several months now since he and Seraphina had fled from the Fall of the Empire and most of that time had been spent in abject misery. It wasn't the fall of the Empire that had gotten to Vrak, it wasn't even the confinement in their hidden little palace, it had been Sera herself. Throughout her pregnancy the womans mood had swung from high to low on an almost hourly basis. She would switch from her usual sass to deep carving insults, and from there to bouts of what Vrak would almost call affection.

It had been a trial unlike any other Vrak had ever endured, and throughout it all he had stayed his hand and leveled his voice.

The idea of that would have been mind-blowing to him even a year ago. Before the Rise of the Resurgent Empire he had nearly murdered a woman simply for touching him, yet somehow he had managed to raise his voice only a few times during one of Seraphina's...bouts. It was impressive really, though of course such a thing would never be acknowledged, even by himself.

Eventually all that restraint, all that work, had come to a head, and in what seemed like a brief beat of the heart Seraphina had given birth to their child. The night itself had been a terrifying one, both due to the storm that had been raging outside the palace and the one that had been raging within.

Vrak rarely felt any sort of fear at all, but the Twi'leks wrath during her labor had been equal to what he imagined Naga Sadow had been capable of.

The Pureblood frowned for a moment as he stood upon the balcony, watching the waves on the distance beach as he reminisced about all that had happened. He mused for a few more moments, then slowly turned to head back into the halls of the Estate. The day was pleasant, a warm breeze floating through the open windows and patio doors. Sunlight cast small shadows within the halls and in the distance Vrak could hear a tiny giggle echo.

Despite himself the Sith Lord smiled, but only for a second.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Exhaustion had well settled in. Simple tasks such as adjusting or turning was now more than just difficult. Green eyes looked down at the tiny little person in her arms. Even the smile that lingered on her face was a strain to maintain, drawing on what little remained of the energy reserves she had left. It had been an incredibly long few months coming, with added complications of the collapse to Vrak's empire. He had been less than ideal company, seeing himself forced into hiding once more. Often times he had been nearly unbearable. His ignorance to her plight only compounded her frustration. Nothing was more difficult than the evening that had only just passed.

Unimaginative pain. That was the only way to describe it.

But it was over. And there in her arms lay a new life, full of innocence and potential. Her hand brushed against the tiny cheek, even despite her exhaustion she strained and forced herself to remain awake, if for nothing but to look over at the little hands and feet wiggling about, occasionally stalling for a brief moment of respite. Seraphina shifted her gaze towards the window where Vrak stood, gathering a breath for which to speak.

"She needs a name."

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Vrak glanced down towards Seraphina for a few moments, lingering where he stood until finally he approached the bed.

In an odd sort of way he was surprised at the appearance of his child. He had known from the start of course that she would not be full Pureblood, but he had expected...more of a resemblance. She did not hold the face tendrils of his kind nor any of the bone protrusions, in fact the one resemblance that his daughter held to him was her stark crimson skin, and the slight tint of her eye. Part of him found those facts reassuring, though in truth he was not sure why.

"Does she?" Vrak didn't know that much about Seraphina's people or their customs, to him Twi'leks were mostly just another species that had always been inferior to his own kin, but he had said he would indulge her.

He meant to keep his word, for now, and thus he slowly bent over, gently grazing his daughter's cheek with his finger.

"Perhaps something simple." He mused quietly, his voice far more gentle than it usually was. "But fitting of her position."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek sat quietly, contemplating what exactly her position meant.

Of course she had no real idea as to what Vrak could mean by that. He had no empire. She wasn't a queen, or a princess, or a warrior, or anything like that. She was just....She.

"What do you mean? Like what?" Deep emerald eyes looked up from beneath Vrak, curious to know what he was getting at. What did he see her position as? What did he see Sera's position as for that matter. Perhaps this would answer both in some way. Now that the empire was gone, settled into ash and dust, and Vrak had seemingly nothing to his name save for his child, she wondered just what exactly his plan would be now. It hadn't been a subject they spoke much of as of late, due to the more pressing matter at hand, and what to do about that.

The small thing stirred in her arms, though quickly resigned itself to sleep once more. "Hold her." She said, lifting her upwards. Sera wanted to see for herself how he might react to the reality of the situation.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He frowned for just a split second, but then slowly complied. He reached out, his hands dwarfing the tiny being that he and Sera had created. His fingers slipped around her and slowly he lifted her into his arms. The baby wiggled for just a second, let out half a cry, and then quietly cooed as she looked towards her father.

"The Empire is gone, my people are fading once more." The Pureblood stared down into his daughter's yellow eyes, a half smile tugging unconsciously at his lips.

His voice was soft.

Vrak had never been a gentle person, not with Sera, not with anyone, but this was different. His daughter was the piece of himself that he could care for. She was his Legacy, she was everything that remained of his entire life's work. There was no arguing that fact for him, there was no changing that. He would raise her, train her, and she would take on his mantle. The Sith Lord cradled his daughter, watching her for a moment more before finally he looked back down to Sera.

He spoke slowly. "Our daughter will have a choice to make, but no matter what she chooses, she still carries my blood within her."

She wasn't a Pureblood, but better than many of those who ruled the newly founded 'Sith Empire'. "The histories of my family, my species."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

For several breaths she quietly observed, studying the way he held her and looked towards the child. Her teeth unknowingly lowered into her lip throughout her gaze, pressing down until a sharp pain withdrew her from the temporary daze. She blinked, eyes turning from the crimson skinned infant in Vrak's arms to himself.

"And what choice do you propose she has?"

He was being cryptic as he tended to do. Speaking in tongues was something he took to naturally, while it served only to frustrate her. Sera was one of simple, blunt words. Nothing sugar coated or riddling about it.

History, bloodline, accomplishments, legacy. Those were all things that were important to Vrak, so much so that it blinded him largely to other things. Sera had no real bloodline, at least nothing of noteworthy significance. She had no history or legacy to look back on. Her people were slavers of their own kind, or slaves themselves. Many were nothing more than simple farmers or dancers. They lived scattered across the cosmos. Those fortunate enough to be touched by the Force were often in the company of Sith pretenders, or made their way as she had, as assassins.

There wasn't much in the way of galactic notoriety for her. But she did care about those close to her, she cared about the well-being of this newborn, and about its future.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He could see the worried lines in the creases of Seraphina's face.

Vrak knew that her chief concern was this newborn, their daughter. He knew that she wanted the best for her, that she wanted her daughter to survive, thrive, and make her own choices. In many ways Vrak wanted the same, though of course above all he wanted his daughter to be powerful.

He wanted her to rise above him, he wanted her to sunder her foes and avenge the Empire that had fallen upon itself. Vrak wanted his daughter to slay those pretenders who would call themselves Sith, to do what he had failed to do. It was a natural thing, to pass ones ambition to their children, but he knew he could not force it. One hand gently extend, tickling against his daughter's chin before he slowly drew his gaze back towards Seraphina. "She will need to decide whether she wants to follow my path."

A prospect that he supposed Serpahina would dread.

"Yours." He continued on. "Or one of her own making."

The Sith Lord frowned for just a moment, then looked back down to his daughter. "I want her to be powerful. Strong. Better than me."

The admission was quiet, and surprisingly sincere.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

For all she disliked about Vrak's customs, his people, and his outlook for the galaxy, Sera knew her own path was one of convoluted disarray that she would not wish upon their child. What she wanted was nothing more than a simple, ordinary life. No wars to fight, no empires to build, no legacies to mold. All Seraphina wanted was for their daughter to be allowed to live as she desired. The less her life reflected that of her parents the happier she would be, or so the Twi'lek believed.

"I pray she is nothing like us."

That was really hoping for the best.

In her mind the woman cared nothing for how powerful the child would be, so long as she was strong of will. Vrak wouldn't hear of it, and she knew if she said as much it would likely infuriate him to no end, but that was her opinion. If the child was dead to the Force it would make no difference to her.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

The answer was not a surprising one.

Seraphina, like most non-Sith mothers hoped the best for her child. Vrak couldn't blame her, but of course he wanted something entirely different. He wanted his daughter to rise up, to conquer and take control. He wanted her to grow to be the most powerful Sith that had ever walked within this galaxy, and he was confident she could do it.

His fingers brushed against her cheek. Already he could feel her powerful. "I fear you will be disappointed."

He had promised he would not harm their child, and he would keep that promise, but he would also ensure she took the proper path. Vrak was confident he did not need to manipulate or coerce, that he would not need to influence his daughter. He would tell her the truth of what she was, what she could be. In time his daughter would know what she was capable of it, that at the very least the Pureblood would make sure of. If nothing else he would have his legacy.

"But." He said as he looked at Seraphina. "I suppose we'll see."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The words he spoke were similar to the thoughts that echoed in her mind. Though she would not be disappointed, she would be frightened. Frightened for the girls' safety. Frightened for what she might be capable of. Frightened that if she held that same type of temper and idea that the ends justify any and all means. It wasn't something Seraphina wanted, to worry constantly that someone, somewhere was plotting her death. Her mere existence was dangerous enough, a key to both Vrak and Sera, but to be a target herself made the Twi'lek most frightened.

"I suppose we will."

She nearly choked herself on the words, hoping for the best.

"I suppose we will." The words echoed once more, before taking the child back into her arms.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He watched her for a few moments, wondering if she despised him.

They had discussed this more than once, whether she loved him, hated him or cared for him in one way. It was an odd sort of thing, considering his own species. Love did not exist among the Purebloods, and it never would. He cared for Seraphina in his own odd little way, but it was as he did for everything.

She was a way for him to gain his legacy. He mused for a moment, then turned away. There would be time to think of this later.

9 Months Later

Vrak stood quietly on the edge of the balcony, his arms wrapped around his daughter.

It startled him how much she had already grown.

He'd never thought he'd have a child, much less one that was not fully Pureblood, but here he was. He watched her for a moment, a small smile forming on her lips as she looked up at her father. Vrak studied her, his finger very gently pressing against her nose. "Soon."

He told her quietly, smiling.

"It will all be yours." Vrak whispered.

The words were not said with affection, they were not said with the love of a father, but instead with the assurance of an adviser to a conqueror.