The One Man who Never Asked Of Me (Dissero)

[Dissero]

Eshan shrank beneath the private ship so many lightyears from Rudrig. Guided by the skilled hands of the ageless Noghri called Mahet, it sailed through Eshan's security clearance and out into open space. As he readied to input the coordinates for Rudrig he paused upon a hailing of the HUD. Recognizing the call signal of Velok's ship, Mahet quickly read the note.

Darvannis? The Noghri narrowed his eyes. The Master must be playing coy. Darvannis was nigh non-existent on starcharts and there were no coordinates to input for its location. One did not simply go to Darvannis unless they had already been there.

A second incoming message marked a rendez-vous point, making the Noghri sigh. He placed it in and set the ship for its hyperjump.


A short while later the Noghri made his way back to the cabin where the Queen was currently seated. He bowed stiffly, "Highness," and entered the quarters without further ado. "There has been a change in plans. We will meet Lord Dissero at pre-arranged coordinates just outside of Darvannis." The Noghri gave no further word to Spencer to placate any alarm this might cause. After all, many other royals might think it a trap, but Mahet felt assured she was not the type to panic but rather the type think and consider.

"If you wish I can attempt to hail them on Comm."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dissero barely had enough time to consider the proposal before him aside from a certain enthusiasm he always felt when posed with a new project. Especially one that involved such a prestigious Sith Master. Just as the Archivist placed a hand to the stubble of his chin the sound of the Droid's mechanical voice echoed through the cockpit. The Knight sat in silence, brow furrowing over blue eyes, as he turned his attention from the ships orbiting them through the viewport to the uncanny wink of the whiphid.

He set his jaw and leaned back fully into his seat, feeling a strange desire to buckle up and was suddenly very glad for that last letter written to Verie. Feth.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer raised an eyebrow at the change of plans. Of course her first instinct was to assume a trap. So many signs could be twisted into making one believe that is so. Though Spencer was confident with her abilities and didn't worry much about the signs of a trap. Nodding her head she closed her eyes and did her best to keep her mind open to all senarios.

"I understand. Was there any other note attached to these change of plans. Thank you for the update."

Pausing, she brought her finger to her lip. The appendage curled and rested gently as she pondered her situation. It wasn't the best and she knew if she got into trouble there wasn't much someone could do for her. Though the quest for knowledge and the need for the holocron outweighed her safety at the moment. Smiling, her hands fell into her lap and she looked back up.

"How much longer?"

 

[Dissero]

"No, Highness," the Noghri's voice hissed in reply as he watched her, clawed digits folded neatly at his front, "a few hours."

Something seemed to pull at his interest. Noghri were not known for being kind or gentle creatures outside of their own kin, but this particular Assassin had grown under the regime of a very special woman. It was in great thanks to her that he was here to continue to serve her and her family to this day, centuries later.

"The Lord Dissero has spoken to me about you, some time ago," he began, taking a stride towards her in an attempt to seem more personable. To anyone not familiar with Noghri, however, it was likely to be taken as threatening. Their facial structure simply wasn't capable of forming warmth or kindness in a manner recognizable by humans.

"He told me you studied under the Late Empress ... that you are an Empath."

 

[Darth Osano]

There was a pause on the other end of the line. TB-18 turned and gave a nod to a crewman, who scurried off to do something important, probably to get all of the tractor-beams deactivated before the Sith Master did something rash. The Whiphid could not possibly be being truthful, could he? He was supposed to be a scholarly sort or something. He'd willingly blow himself and another up just to spite the Empire? Then again, they apparently had contingency plans for that sort of thing. Not unlike TB-18 backing himself up, so the tactical droid could relate in that matter. They were also Sith and such beings were generally insane.

"You can't be serious. Where are you going?"

TB-18 considered asking Velok what he want, but he suspected the Sith master already had it.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Somewhere that..."

The Dark Lord shrugged.

"Somewhere," sang Velok, basso profundo, right into the comm, "beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me, my lover stands on golden sands and watches the ships that go saaaailin'."

He waxed loquacious now, as the blindingly fast Veratus skimmed out of the gravity well. "Somewhere, beyond the sea, she's there watching for me." The shuttle turned a barrel roll. "If I could fly like birds on high, then straight to her arms I'd go sailing. It's far beyond a star, it's near beyond the moon, I know beyond a doubt my heart will lead me there soon. We'll meet beyond the shore, we'll kiss just as before. Happy we'll be beyond the sea, and never again I'll go saaaaaaaii-in'!"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer's smile remained on her face. It was a good thing she was an Empath , the woman was able to remain calm as the creature moved towards her. A nod answered his questions about the Empress and her teachings. Spencer adjusted in her seat as she made sure she looked welcoming to the man.

"I did study under her. I was the First Apprentice to Desimus the First. I am also an Empath, but I tend to be more sensitive if you will. I'm able to not only sense others emotions...but they become my own. It was far worse when I was a child but with training I learned control."

Nodding towards an open seat she hoped he would take it.

"Why do you ask?"

 

[Dissero]

Mahet did not take a seat nor did he further approach her. His eyes settled on the Echani Queen, wondering just what she thought of the fact that his mind and his emotions were a complete and utter void to her. Something unseen protected him.

"A long time ago I was the Ambassador of Honoghr for a Sith Empire that reigned long before you were born. It was known as the Dark Sith Order and would later become The Dark Empire and then finally The Sith Council. I served under the regime of the greatest Mal'ary'ush Honoghr has ever known. She was a very powerful Sith and touted throughout the Empire as the most powerful Empath of all time."

Heady gaze studied the woman as she studied him, "Have you met many other Empaths?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dissero was right. Much like his mother had taught him, always follow your instinct. The Sith Knight calmly reached up and pulled the shoulder buckles down, effectively locking himself into his seat. In the background the profound voice of the whiphid rumbled through the ship, bringing a smirk upon his lips. He hummed along to the tune, imagining the orchestral tones in the background ringing throughout space surrounding Rudrig.

He had no idea the whiphid could sing.

 

[Darth Osano]

If TB-18 were capable of doing so, a photoreceptor would have twitched as Velok's serenade poured through the speakers of his ship. That did not answer his question. Why did he do that? Was this some kind of riddle? No, no, it was a song. Not one TB-18 was familiar with. As a droid, he had little time to listen to or appreciate such a trivial thing as music. He had more important things to do, like intercept stolen Sith artifacts or have small, magnetized electronics ejected into space. This was a tricky situation, and one TB-18 was not programmed to handle. The real question was whether his superior be more angered at the loss of the Sith artifacts or the destruction of them? On one hand, there was the small chance that they could be recovered... On the other, they would be lost forever and the deaths of those responsible disappointingly finite.

There was no greater spit in the face than being outwitted in this manner, nor was there a slight larger than being serenaded by a Whiphid over a secure communications line. TB-18 would have sighed if he cared enough to express such emotion. He would have to let this one go.

"...The tractor beams are down. Pass through at your discretion."

Perhaps not all was lost. It was standard protocol for TB-18 to have incoming transmissions recorded.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"My love to the Emperor."

The navicomputer finished its cogitations, and Velok slapped the activator. Stars blurred to starlines. Next stop: the Mandalorian border.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair.

"And done."

 

[Darth Osano]

"Did it latch?" TB-18 asked as the Veratus-shuttle passed through the zone formerly prepared to be filled with tractor beams. He was, of course, referring to any one of the small, magnetized electronics he had discretely ordered a crewman to eject into space towards the sauntering shuttle. Tracking devices. Useful things, to be sure. Now not only did TB-18 have a stellar recording of Velok's serenade, but a bead on where he was heading. At least, he hopefully did. There was a pause as the ensign examined the console, waiting for a return signal. Then there came an audible beep from the computer, and a smile crept across the ensign's face.

"We've got a signal."

"Excellent. Wait for them to arrive, then inform Emperor Ardik of their location."