Private The search for answers [Zeptepi Zambrano]

[Darth Ahriman]

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Location: "The Kainate Resurgent" Star-Destroyer.
Destination: Arcadia-N-30.
Objective: Investigate rumours of Cultist reemergence on Arcadia.
Master: Zeptepi Zambrano .​

---

The Sith Apprentice stood upon the observation deck with his fingers laced in front of him, his eyes closed, shrouded by the black robes that dropped down over his form. The power of the Dark Side of the Force swirled around him, the Acolyte of violence having fully accepted his role within the brotherhood of the Sith and forgone any former notions of compassion that the Jedi had tried to instil within him. Anticipating their arrival on Arcadia-N-30, situated within Silver Space, Valen had spent the last hour committing himself to meditation and enveloping himself in the power of the Force, that which both fueled and fed off of his darker passions; feelings of hate, anger and every intention of ridding the Galaxy of those who had kept him from the truth about his family for what felt like so long now.

The Sith Starship shot through hyperspace en route for Silver Space, those loyal to the Sith Empire and The Kainate now faithfully serving their superiors as the vessel crossed the border into hostile territory. At the height of command, Valen's Master Zeptepi Zambrano, one of Darth Carnifex's daughters and an heiress to a bloodline stepped within the very history of the Sith Order of today. They had numerous enemies, and few were as loyal as the skeletal crew that served aboard The Kainate Resurgent. Compared to Capital Class Destroyers, this was a smaller single vessel with minimal manpower, tasked with the assignment of getting Valen and his Master two Arcadia, thereafter falling back until the need for exfiltration and the completion of their objective.

Valen's mind however remained solely upon the target objective, the Disciples of Typhojem who were responsible for his former enslavement and the last known organization connecting the acolyte to his past, and what he believed would lead him to answers about his familial line, heritage and self-identity. Valen had wanted this for quite some time now. It was this very objective that had driven the young man to seek out the Sith Empire to begin with, voluntarily joining with the Sith Order as the Cult following had been previously connected to the Empire and Darth Prazutis. Upon Dromund Kaas, Valen had discovered the identity of the cultist leader, one Darth Veneer. A Sith Lord and former associate of Prazutis' until he had turned his back on the Empire and branded them pretenders to the true calling of Typhojem.

Valen's mission was simple. Determine the truth of the rumours that the Cult had reemerged on Arcadia, and seek out the location of Darth Veneer. Discover any information relating to his identity and family, and kill all who get in his way. What made this fight so much better than all the others, however, his Master Zeptepi Zambrano would be by his side for the entirety of the mission.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Valen

The feels coming off her Apprentice led Zeptepi to conclude the objective which lay within his grasp now to be the pinnacle of his existence. Forcing him to wait for so long, to train has truly aided his focus and advancement in understanding how to truly connect with the Darkside. She feels certain he is experienced enough now to not go running off half cocked and get them both killed. In his future, his success in the near days ahead shall further drive his emotions, only then shall he have a true taste of personal victory which cannot compare to his merely playing a part in the goals of the greater Empire. In his future, he shall understand how his personal goals in turn prosper the Empire as a whole. The Darkside already produces a far greater drive within him, than he could have ever fathomed after having been originally inducted into the stankin' jedi.

Zeza watched him fight to prosper over time. He possessed a drive for revenge which she could not emulate, for thus far she has cultivated no personal enemies, nor lusted for the death of any beyond her reach. Being younger than Valen herself, Zeza could only use her intuition while training him, guiding him where she felt his need for her. He is her very first Apprentice. In the eyes of the Empire he has become quite notorious through his own merits. In how he honored her family name, she could not be more pleased. Both of them began this journey together, immature in their years and naive in understanding; these past few years they have evolved into the mould set before them by her forefathers, Lords of the Sith. Somewhere along the way, even though he was born of no consequential birthright, he taught the daughter of a Nightsister to grant him the respect which he rightfully and rather avidly earned through not only his actions, but for his comprehension and physical command of the Darkside just the same. He mastered quite sinister skills, beyond what she imagined he could handle; she felt he must have some history of greatness in his ancestral genes. While her sisters gushed over him for his fame, Zeza teased at times, but typically caused him to trip up on purpose in order to reel him in again.

Yet recently, she began to understand the longing for personal vengeance. Her family name became the object of rumors throughout the galaxy among the Sith, while in fact, the Dark Lord Dyad plotted a sinister plan, aligning to the Kainate, Sith who would not dissent from their loyalty to the notorious ancestral name of Zambrano.

The doors to the observation deck parted with a hiss and Zeza entered. "Alright, Uhcikkor (Nerd). Your moment has finally come. We have arrived." She said in a low voice so only he could hear. She wondered if he has any inkling that this mission is a test towards his official advancement in rank among the Sith.

A small detail of soldiers were outfitted for the mission donning local civilian clothing and filed in line within the corridor beyond, standing at attention awaiting the order to disembark. They are specialists. Zeza too dressed as a commoner here, which she found quite distasteful compared to her typical gothic ensemble. Her long hair had been braided and wrapped around the crown of her head to emulate the preference of the young women of this culture.

Zeza let her pack slip off her shoulder and buckled it around her waist. She tapped her data display on her wrist to reveal the location where they reserved accommodations and would set up base. The innkeeper is a man who owes her father for his life, and who often secretly aids the Sith behind closed doors.​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

"Alright, Uhcikkor. Your moment has finally come. We have arrived.".

Valen turned as he felt the presence of his Master before she'd reached the entrance to the observation deck, the mechanical hiss of the doors sliding open to reveal her arrival answering his anticipation, his hands moving to his back as he stood a little more upright before her, though lowering his head in an informal bow of acknowledgement to her. Not out of obligation, but respect.

"I am as you have guided me to be" he replied to her remark, the nickname she had called him, spoken out of the blossoming of a personal relationship between them. Something more akin to friendship perhaps, as opposed to the strict professional relations between that of a Master and Apprentice. Over the time they'd spent together, they'd gradually learned to come together, cementing the truly intimidating presence of the team they were meant to exhibit. Master and Apprentice, both bound in the darkness of the Galaxy and empowered by the power of the Force at their own command.

Though Valen still had his challenges in determining his personal identity, he was slowly learning to let his guard down around her. The slightest smirk was offered following his answer, evidence of equal humour and light antagonization. The Acolyte wasn't exactly going to act like the frivolous teenagers you might usually expect to find in typical society, but Zeptepi would see clear signs that he had been making progress since the start of their training together.

Turning to look back out through the observation port, Valen stared at Arcadia-N-30, his expression growing cold once more as he seemed to refocus upon the objective that lay ahead of them. "The last time I stood upon this world, I was a slave to my own weakness. I was beaten and abused in ways I would not care to recount to you..." Valen spoke, his voice sounding off dark and dry. For a brief moment, he paused to consider the past and how things had changed, soon to speak with greater confidence; "Today there will be nothing to stand in my way. With your training, I have become something far greater than that weak boy could have dreamed of, back then. Today, the past will die alongside the Cult".

Zeptepi Zambrano

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Valen Arenais

Zeza smiled back at Valen when he told her she made him who he is in response to her calling him a nerd.

She stared over the planet's surface with him, and listened to him as he spoke about his distant past as a victim of his circumstance, desperate to rise above the abuse. For the first time in her life she imagined the emotional effects of oppression with an alien sense of genuine compassion. Valen had changed his circumstances and dug his life out from under. "They shall not define you today." She without turning her head to face him she gripped hold of his hand firmly as she said, "You have risen out of the ashes and your chains are broken." She felt no pity for him, for she knew it would insult him and all his honorable accomplishments. Zeza stood proudly by his side in support. "They will pay the price for striking a Sith with every last drop of their blood," she hissed with a sneer. For a brief moment her expression went quite primal with her eyes momentarily glistening bright yellow.

The tails of her shirt flared as she spun upon her heels, releasing her grasp upon his hand. "To the safe house where we shall bleed the local authorities for information."

In the corridor assembled the team, carting along with them equipment secured within impenetrable alloy locking cases. These are an inquisitor's most easily assembled necessities, binding straps and torture devices. The security team totes with them motion sensors, surveillance equipment and more militant armaments.

For a moment the group walked the corridor alongside Zeza. They are the pinnacle pride of the Kainate. Only the best for Valen. Step by step, a sight to behold. She stopped and gazed at them. They are stoic perfection, Valen appears in league with then. "Halt." The lot froze in step. "You are gentlemen now," she said. "Practice…your casual gait. Mosey."

A non-allegiance transport shuttle sits in the hangar bay prepared for them to board.
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

Zeptepi Zambrano

"They shall not define you today. You have risen out of the ashes and your chains are broken.
They will pay the price for striking a Sith with every last drop of their blood".
​

The words spoken by his Master held great meaning to Valen and in his silence that followed, he allowed the moment a pause to revel in his achievements thus far. To have risen above his disgraceful beginnings and made something of himself.

To have gained the power and the pride to no longer be held back by those who might stand in his way, and to eradicate any quarrels with doing what he must to continue to ascend. Yes, his chains were broken and he had found the strength through the Sith Brotherhood and the Kainate to stand there beside Zeza as a free and powerful Sith Acolyte. "Yes, they certainly will," Valen replied softly, a crimson flare igniting the iris of his cold stare looking out towards the world that awaited their arrival.

"To the safe house where we shall bleed the local authorities for information."
​

Bringing his attention back to their objective, Zeptepi Zambrano spoke of their next move. Valen despised the idea of wearing a disguise, hating that they might have to hide their identification and place within the Sith Order, yet also knowing the benefit of deceiving the enemy and gaining the upper hand through subterfuge.

Turning alongside his Master, the pair of them would walk past the assembly of special forces to take the front of the pack leading them towards the designated transport. The Non-Allegiance Transport Shuttle would be perfect for their entrance onto Arcadia-N-30, situated deep within the territory of the Silver Concordat, home of the Order of the Silver Jedi and those who would surely retaliate to the discovery of Sith so far within their borders.

Behind him, the men did their best to walk without evidence of military training, Zeza having instructed them to practice their temporary falsehood for the sake of the mission.

For Valen however, walking as though he were of no importance came as easily as drawing breath. He was born into a life of a nobody, and instead, he had to learn how to adapt, survive and conquer all that challenged his right to power. To walk among the weak was but a memory, and one he would assume once again until they were upon their prey.

"By your word, Master" Valen spoke to Zeptepi as they boarded the ship, suggesting that she be the one to give the command to embark on their journey to the surface; "I will enjoy ridding this world of their filth, by your side" he added proudly.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Valen Arenais

Zeza remembered how inept Valen had been when he first came to her. She presented him with a responsibility to himself, do or die. He not only prevailed against the enemy, but he made a name for himself across the galaxy. People don't just fear Valen, he commands they fear him. Zeza felt a twinge of regret grip her mood suddenly before she buried it deep into her core. She imagines Valen will leave her to study under someone else after he earns his promotion. She had gotten used to his being around her. She had ordered him to do so many chores while she lounged back and relaxed. Will he try and get revenge against her treatment of him? What will be his duty within the Kainate now?

She glanced over at him as the squad walked towards the shuttle. She wouldn't dare let any new found emotion unsettle him now. She bit her tongue as she always does whenever she started feeling something profound. Pretty soon, she won't be free to mock him, or berate him to push him over the edge. He will be her equal in rank. "Valen," she said, "henceforth I shall be no Master to you." Gazing away from him now, she concentrated on sensing his reaction to her words. Did he foresee this?

She watched as a case of potions was securely tucked away onto the shuttle. She gave Valen little experience handling them before. Now however, he will learn why the Nightsisters are formidable allies to the Sith. Zeza studied under every Lord her Father presented her, and thoroughly under the meticulous craft of her Mother and the Wanica Coven.

Zeza settled in the cabin of the shuttle alongside her team. She placed dark tinted mirrored shades over her eyes to conceal her face from any who might be hunting her for a bounty. Soon the distant world magnified as the land closed in under the landing gear. In a moments time they slipped through the authorities under the guise of sales personnel for numerous galactic store fronts.

The team was immediately met by an agent for the inn keeper…
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

"Valen, henceforth I shall be no Master to you."​

Turning, the young man looked back upon Zeptepi Zambrano with no small hint of surprise, his brows furrowing as he tried to contemplate what angle she was speaking from, what game was she playing in telling him such words.

For a moment, he withheld his response. The Sith were known for turning upon one another at the apex of power, the opportunity to ascend...-Yet here there was no plausible advantage to gain here. Surely then the reason could not have been because he had thus far failed to live up to her expectations; Valen had faced down every opposition that had presented itself before him and continued to gain momentum while the enemy had fallen around him. Despite their descent unto Arcadia-N-30, the mission before them suddenly seemed distant by comparison. Answers to his past awaited him, and yet now his future within the Sith Brotherhood had taken an unexpected turn. One in which he knew not the direction.

Speaking shallowly as they walked together ahead of the squadron of elite troopers, Valen answered his Master's statement with a sense of caution, his mental defences suddenly raised as he prepared himself for what might follow; "If not you, then who is to take your mantle?" the Acolyte asked, his gaze steadfast ahead of them, though his senses heightened and concentrating now upon all of those who surrounded him.

Would that she choose to betray his trust, did he have it in him to draw upon his lightsaber in time? The troopers would certainly fall, but could he summon the power of will and darkness in order to strike his very Master down. She portrayed more than a mere title of one of his superiors. They two had lived alongside one another and Valen had been at her every whim, followed every order, living and breathing her ideologies. He was the embodiment of wrath because she had enabled him so.

The young man's right hand rose to instruct their agent to remain silent, instead of turning to look to his Master with a hardened stare, focus poised upon her next words, or be it her actions that would follow his need for clarification. He did not speak further. Zeptepi knew him well enough by now to sense exactly what he was preparing himself for. In most cases, cutting everyone down and leaving no witnesses in his path would have been a small feat in the shadow of the Sith Emperor, yet where she was concerned, Valen could not be certain of anything. Especially his ability to ignore what his feelings were speaking within himself at that moment.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Respect. Good.​

Valen

Zeza sensed Valen's sudden surge of tension and inwardly she laughed at his gaul. She is half Epicanthix. All his time training, Valen was moulded to build up his body mass to match her natural talents with the Lightsaber. She did not hold back from him when she trained him up. He learned to hold his own ground during his beat down. Her amusement intentionally stifled as she held her gaze straight ahead, on nothing of importance. Not a brow quirked behind her dark mirrored shades to enliven him.

'Well, well. So he plans to earn his promotion that way then,' she thought. She shall tack his own personal preference to how he levels up, onto the end of this grand ordeal she helped lay out before him. 'I see.'

What Masters of the greatest Sith could she utter to impress upon Valen to hope he would develop faith in himself enough to believe that he too shall follow in the footsteps of the most notorious of Sith? Her mind swam in contemplation how she might answer his inquiry. 'Shall I even try?' She didn't answer him though, not even telepathically. But if she felt like it, she would have said to him this, Who is to be your teacher henceforth? Life! Do not even small children teach their parents something about themselves? Maybe my teachers won't kill you out of respect for my lineage under them. Maybe my Father will finally cast his face upon you. Maybe Prazutus. Likewise any of the lowliest you toil to control yourself, just as taking you on taught me. Answering him would be going too easy on him. She wouldn't appease his insecurities. This whole mission that she denied him for years, and only now permitted him to undertake, should give him a clue that he is ready to transcend! Maybe he should have been forced to come alone?

'But are time proven trustworthy Sith not stronger together? Valen might hurt himself, if I give him such insight...'

Zeza held her emotions and she nonchalantly swung her arm out towards him, to intertwine her fingers with his own. As she did so the innkeeper hopped over the threshhold of his villa and he greeted them. “Mister and Misses Kendo, how wonderful it is to have you stay with us." he said. Suddenly Zeza's face blossomed into a smile, in return for such a warm, however fake, greeting.

'…or maybe Valen's head might implode.'
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

Zeza held her emotions and she nonchalantly swung her arm out towards him, to intertwine her fingers with his own. As she did so the innkeeper hopped over the threshhold of his villa and he greeted them. "Mister and Misses Kendo, how wonderful it is to have you stay with us." he said. Suddenly Zeza's face blossomed into a smile, in return for such a warm, however fake, greeting.

The lack of response from Zeptepi Zambrano , followed by her reaching out and lacing fingers in his, would have invoked a vivid response of surprise and confusion were it not for the interruption of the innkeeper stepping forward to greet them by their alias' that his Master had put in place. Instead, the Sith Acolyte was forced to bury his emotions under the persona of civility and expectation, turning to face the Innkeep and nodding with a forced smile.

"We are pleased to be here, thank you very much" Valen answered the man, offering words that would have typically been very out of character for him were it not for the power of influence he pooled into the Darkside of the Force in order to weave the man's every whim around Valen's domination of the mind; "Our friends here would like to take our belongings to our quarters if you don't mind showing them in. The wife and I have been sitting for far too long on the flight here, however, so we'll be hoping to see the sights around the city and get properly acquainted with Arcadia".

Valen was clearly hungry for results, and the notion of moving to an even more confined set of quarters sounded like the last thing he desired at the time. Instead, he needed information. They were in enemy territory, the Silver Jedi Order laying claim to the system and many outlying systems wherein Arcadia resided. Furthermore, there was the Cult of Typhojem to consider, their priority objective and a people whose ties to the capital city were not yet known to the pair of Sith.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Valen Arenais

Smitten doe eyes cast upon those of her beloved imposter husband. 'Idiot,' she thought. 'Who would believe a newly married couple wouldn't want to get right on consummating their union?' Zeza leaned against Valen and grazed her lips across his cheek before she kissed him. She turned her head away from Valen and towards the innkeeper and chided, "Tootles." Whatever reaction Valen gave her little display, Zeza anticipated she coaxed it out of him to be the correct spontaneous response expected of any newly married man. She turned away from the inn, fingers still interlocked with his, and she tugged him lightly to follow, waiting for him to step close to her. She would walk with him, side by side, as near to him as she could, her steps landing very closely to his upon the ground.

She smiled to herself, thinking how much she set upon Valen to handle emotionally all at once. Whatever was she thinking before? The idea of hold off exciting him and attempting to throw him off focus! Surely he must learn to handle himself. Sith women have been fawning all over him wherever he goes. Zeza trapped him alone for once! Oh yes, did she ever smile so very mischievously!

"They will make contact with the owner," Zeza said in a low voice, speaking of the rest of their team. She continued to lean on him while they made their way along the path from the Inn towards the streets. "They will provide you with a more clear direction soon enough. Where do you want to go right now?" she asked, curious for details on his direction. To this point in time she let him direct his team in their investigate on his own merit. She did not lend him any assistance, save the use of her father's influential name to gain them secret privileges and any forged documents required of free citizens.
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

Zeptepi Zambrano sent their would-be host off with a dismissive wave, against his own suggestion that they see the sights of Arcadia-N-30's Capital City. In response, the Acolyte turned to look down to the woman on his side, locking eyes momentarily before feigning ignorance and looking back to the civilian man with a feeble shrug of one shoulder, offering a wary half-smile as though to say 'What can you do?'.

"Another time then".

It would take some time for Valen to adjust to the new hierarchy between them, no longer beholden to the chain of command, although as a Sith Knight she still held authority over him; It was clear that she had chosen to give him some leeway to move and act of his own prerogative.

Pulling on his hand, their fingers still laced in one another, Valen found himself suddenly compelled to follow. It was almost an obedient sub-conscious response, yet it wasn't duty that drove him but rather personal desire. He knew that the charade of their appearance as a couple was no longer required in order to keep up the farce of their being present on Arcadia, and yet Zeza hadn't yet broken the intimacy between them. In all of his inexperience with the opposite sex and personal relations, Valen found the experience most peculiar...Yet not undesirable.

"They will make contact with the owner.
They will provide you with a more clear direction soon enough.
Where do you want to go right now?"
​

Reaching their personal quarters, the hired domain where they would be able to find sanctuary for the duration of their stay on Arcadia, Valen paused to consider the apartments furnishings and potential risks to their mission. His eyes scanned the walls closely, looking to the corners of the room before meeting the gaze of Zeptepi once more; "Are we clear?" he asked, soon to motion to their surroundings. He was being subtle, yet she would likely guess that he was confirming their location's security. The team had swept it over for possible bugs and surveillance technology upon their arrival.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

Respect. Good.​

@Valen

Valen led everyone inside regardless of his voiced desire to see the sights. Zeza felt a security check to be swift thinking on his part, and would assure that the rooms were clean before leaving the team to set up their equipment alone in the suite. Who knows if they might require an assassin to defend them. Zeza looked at Valen and assured him, "I agree to test everyone's allegiance singlehandedly throughout our involvement with them, but this one is in my Father's back pocket. Don't fret over the loyalty of the owner. He has his own followers at our beck and call. Anyone with so much as a hair out of place did not make his team. They even had to come from a long lineage of supporters, which is not something even you can claim. I won't lead you astray."

Zeza observed their surroundings through the window while the team began to set up base. She watched them assemble a discrete arsenal of devices which they could ignite from anywhere inside the suite, should someone uninvited require immediate immobilization.

She humorously cocked her head to the side as she smiled towards Valen with raised brows. "See!" she said. "Your dreams are coming true. Enjoy it."

Gazing again through the window, she saw the front desk manager lead someone to stand next to him along the pathway. She deduced that this man might be designated to give them the tour Valen had requested. An average speeder with no discernible markings soon appeared in front of them. The driver looks like a regular guy, she observed no uniform, just a cap. Both men turned to face the Inn and waited. "Think that's for us."

By the time she walked across the room to the main entry door, someone was already ringing for them. Zeza slipped into the separate entryway and stepped out into the hall.

​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

Valen watched the special ops team as they began to bring their gear inside, getting situated for what would be their base of operations on Arcadia-N-30 for the time being. At the present time, none of them knew how long the team would be staying on the Silver Jedi world, and so secrecy coupled with the best of Sith technology was of vital aid in keeping their presence under the proverbial radar, and away from suspicion of the enemy.

"They will do" Valen agreed, turning his gaze back upon Zeptepi Zambrano and having to remind himself that he needn't think of her as his Master any longer. It was an uncomfortable transition and not one that he had anticipated in their venturing to Arcadia. He had achieved a significant deal in the many battles against the enemies of the Sith Empire, yet he still did not feel as though he had accomplished anything of his own individual path as a prospective Sith Lord one day.

As their taxi arrived outside of the building, Valen moved to follow Zeza out through the main lobby and into the street, opening the rear passenger door for her to enter the vehicle first, a sign of respect to the opposite gender and one typically done between those within an intimate relationship; they needed to appear legitimately civilian.

"Take us to one of your cities popular bars. Mrs Kendo and I would like to get a taste of the nightlife here" Valen instructed their driver as he entered on in after Zeptepi had, offering her a knowing glance as the speeder soon took off away from the Inn. Intoxicated people were all too happy to share information with others they believed to be equally inebriated. Any gossip, even rumour that could be remotely true to the presence of the cult on Arcadia, would serve them well as a stepping stone to their endgame.

Their driver would lead the pair into the central hub of the capital city, there while the sun had begun to set, the local populace were beginning to turn over to the nightly activities in full swing. Late-night restaurants, nightclubs and cantina's all open for business, providing plenty of potential sources of information for the two of them to enjoy.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

<.<​

Valen Arenais

Zeza felt Valen very well adjusted and focused enough considering he waited so long for his revenge. He had to be excited and realize he is far more powerful now than ever, and now he is absolutely capable of slaughtering every last man who would be his enemy. 'It just figures the Jedi would protect the likes of the slavers who tormented Valen. Anyone who harms a Sith must die!' Zeza seethed at this truth, under her smile, and hid a torrent of emotions and her intentions from their guide.

As Valen directed the driver where to go, Zeza leaned into Valen and rested her head upon his shoulder. She looked up at him and giggled before reaching up and drawing him near to kiss him. "I am so going to love this trip," she said after breaking away with a teasing smile. Valen might go home a whole man…who knows?

She figured it would be alright to ruffle his feathers just a little; it's not like anything is happening right this moment anyway. Not everyone at the Inn is privy to their identity, and Zeza will give them a good show to fit their assigned aliases. She slipped her arms around Valen and physically counted his abdominal muscles from under his shirt.

She whispered, "I wouldn't miss this event for the world," and she is definitely going to see he makes full Crusader during this mission. In the blink of an eye, Zeptepi Zambrano lightly raked her nails over his flesh and allowed an abundance of Darkside energy to pour from herself and into him. She knew he would appreciate that! Stealing his focus is just her way of teasing. She wouldn't really want to throw him off his game.

"Can't you do two things at once?" she asked him.

The driver sped to town, and slowed when he reached the main streets. He continued on, turning down the streets, until Zeza saw more and more people walking outside. As the speeder stopped, she let out a little yell of excitement and immediately sat on the edge of the seat. She waited for Valen to exit first and then reached for his hand. "You'll wait here for us?" she asked the driver, "Or should we call for you when we are ready to return to the Inn?"
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

'This is not what I expected when you told me you would be joining me for this mission'.

Valen's words would enter into Zeptepi Zambrano 's mind through telepathic means as she lay against him in the rear passengers' seat with her head upon his shoulder. When she moved to place a kiss upon him, Valen's statement was only proven further necessary. They had never shared such actions before their arrival upon Arcadia, though she had made the odd amorous remark from time to time.

The Sith Acolyte had never experienced such affections before now, though he wasn't so naive as to not know what they implied. The touch of her lips caused Valen's gaze to shift marginally, losing concentration on where they were headed and placing more thought upon what it was that his now-former-master was really after.

Their arrival within the Capital's city business district greeted them with a commotion of local traffic, people coming and going from various parlours, restaurants and nightclubs as the sun descended beyond the mountains and night came into fruition. "You can continue your rounds, we will find our way home from here" Valen informed their driver as he turned to offer Zeza a hand, being the gentleman that the facade of their alias was supposed to be. They didn't need there to be a time limit on what was otherwise to be the pairs' chance for intel-gathering among the local peasants and pissants.

Standing among them all, Valen nearly released a scowl as he mentally noted how helpless they all were. None of these people realized there were two powerful Sith standing within their presence, and even less so the Silver Jedi who had up to this point failed completely in guarding one of their worlds from their supposed enemy.

"I think a cold drink is in order" Valen muttered under his breath as the land-speeder took off down the road, leaving the pair of them out in the open among the crowded local populace; "And perhaps you can explain this behaviour of yours a little more..." Valen flashed Zeza a sparing glance as they began to make their way in towards one of the local cantinas.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

'Oh! He better NOT have an attitude with me!'​

Valen Arenais

Zeza brushed a hand across Valen’s cheek, seeing his lips about to turn to a scowl. She would not risk using any more Force powers in the crowd, not even for Telepathic guidance. Jedi are known for hiding their full presence in addition to raising lofty illusions. “Smile, daring. Its our honeymoon afterall,” she said through her teeth gritted in a smile while she again brushed her lips against his ear. "Don’t think our host hasn’t boasted about the arrival of the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Kendo to the credit greedy elitists.” She smiled at those closest who were directly crossing her path and wrapped her Force presence tightly around her core, pounding it down to match the individual vacant heads of the crowd. She hummed as she did so, letting Valen feel her slip away. “You won’t lose me? Will you dear?” Zeza’s face blossomed to one of genuine amusement. She felt how he probably might prefer to lose her for a while.

A strange look returned his way as they walked towards the bar. He expects her to discuss how thoroughly she intends to play her part? She answered him, “You must have missed a memo…I’m sure you missed a memo. Now I fear, in that case, perhaps you might have missed a few more. I’m sure that soon you will catch up.”

Inside the bartender set a bunch of drinks on the bar and waved everyone in the masses forward to take them up. Someone had purchased a round right before they arrived. Zeza reached around the person set at the barstool for two drinks. She studied Valen intently as she handed him a glass. She knew it is hard to not be all about the business, considering Valen a man of perhaps zero practiced patience, a trait which saved his life countless times upon the battlefield; but this strategy is far different. For years, she purposefully withheld the necessary means for him to take this venture on his own, because she he would have run off half cocked and have gotten himself killed. She thought he might pop and just start slaughtering everyone if he couldn’t step back for a moment and pace himself. Zeza locked her wrist around his, the first of a few signals meant specifically for the underground agent to identify them amidst the crowd. She toasted, "To you." She has ever been proud of his accomplishments. He never let her down. Something told her, tonight might be his first for that.

The snow white skinned and raven haired bombshell slung her arm around Valen’s neck as the jukebox played across the room. “A table will open up shortly. Come on, darling. Don’t blow it now,” she said. “This is the biggest moment of our lives; is it not?” She didn’t just mean about their marriage cover, but she spoke about his personal restitution being just days away. She knew nothing could compensate for the lifetime of hardship he faced, and she wanted to secure him a brighter future. Zeza had no concerns about the absolute safety of their lifestyle aboard Malsheem. She wondered if after his revenge is satisfied, such a secure life would appease Valen, or if he might leave her on a personal quest to snuff out the Light across the galaxy, without it first threatening Malsheem. Something inside of her hoped for a revelation regarding the direction of her own future, based upon his actions here and now. “Tomorrow they dance to our beat,” she promised. Zeza leaned against him and swayed to the music.

Underground slave runners were always seeking out well to do visitors. The locals have never been offered to hire servants of their own, on kingpin's orders to assure the longevity of the business. This planet is a great hub for such. ​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

"You must have missed a memo…I'm sure you missed a memo.
Now I fear, in that case, perhaps you might have missed a few more. I'm sure that soon you will catch up."
​

Zeptepi Zambrano had a way about her when she was dissatisfied with him, and while her wounds sounded nice out in the public air of Arcadia-N-30, the sarcasm within her tone told Valen that she'd prefer he play his part, just as she seemed to apparently be enjoying her role in the charade.

When the Bartender called to the crowd to take a drink free of charge, Valen turned to watch Zeza acquire them both. He had experienced the pleasures of alcohol before and the prospect of that cold burn to the back of his throat sounded more appealing than it had in the past, given the set of circumstances that were before him.

"Cheers," he said, smiling through his teeth before throwing the shot glass back, taking in the lot.

Personal relationships and social etiquette were a boundary that Valen had never learned to ascend. Only through Zeptepi herself had Valen experience any true form of bond and that in itself was through his apprenticeship under her, a level of confidence learned through coldness and strict discipline, the regular demonstration of her power over his own.

"A table will open up shortly. Come on, darling. Don't blow it now,
This is the biggest moment of our lives; is it not?"
​

Valen stared back at Zeza in slight disbelief, did she really expect him to dance? The agony of being forced to keep his resentment buried beneath the cloak of darkness and ensuring their anonymity from the Jedi there was a level of torture he'd not experienced before. The flash of crimson flare buried within his iris would speak volumes more than he could voice verbally.

"You only live once" he replied under his breath in response, a common saying that held several possible meanings for the situation they found themselves in. His hands found her waist and his fingers laced behind the small of her back while she brought her arms up around his neck. There were few places to look but to be forced to meet her own gaze. It was an uncomfortable position to find himself in, and an uncertain one which only provoked his annoyance further. While Zeptepi was likely acting purely out of the need for the mission's secrecy, Valen could not help but feel there was more to be read between the lines.

As she leaned against him and he felt the warmth of her body against his, the music beating and stifling the voices of those around them, Valen realized that a few quiet words would be hard of hearing for those who shared the dance floor with them both. "This is excruciating and you know I am not used to this kind of thing...." He whispered to her, head down facing her own as if in the throes of a romantic dance.

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

​

Valen Arenais

Zeza held onto Valen and closed the gap between them, resting her head down upon his shoulder. She wanted so much to just let him loose and experience in his roiling emotion, but it is most imperative for the time being he bury it deep within his core just a little longer.

She spoke just audible enough for him to hear. "You know, it's your determination that led me to see your potential from the start. You carved your way through all manner of obstacles to prepare for this life. I have always wondered if there is anything more to you than this singular obsession. I must say…I am finding myself hoping that you broaden your horizon in the near future." A young woman, she has never had much need for words of endearment, but she always harbored a great deal of pride over Valen's accomplishments as a Sith. She lifted her head and looked at him as the music carried on, adding, "Such things are new to me as well." It wasn't like a Zambrano could go about the galaxy safely being openly herself. Some would hope to throw themselves at her feet to worship her in ways she is naive, while others would try and set a trap for her to ransom for her Father's riches. Valen is a rare one born outside her bloodline, whom she feels she can wholly trust, and yet there are tales plenty, warning one of growing so comfortable with another living being.

Her eyes trailed to patrons set within the chairs settled around the outer most rows of tables in the crowded room, as she twisted a kink out of her wrist before twirling her fingers in the locks of his hair rooted along the nape of his neck. She anticipated the time to be closing in, where their contact should step forward with a sales pitch to assist the new bride with the chores of running her household.
​

 

[Darth Ahriman]

"You know, it's your determination that led me to see your potential from the start. You carved your way through all manner of obstacles to prepare for this life. I have always wondered if there is anything more to you than this singular obsession. I must say…I am finding myself hoping that you broaden your horizon in the near future.".

Valen had never known the grace of someone's care, nor the warmth of their affections; His entrance into the world had been born of pain and humiliation in slavery, then once he had his goal in mind, he had clung to his hope for vengeance in order to keep up his strength to persevere through all else. That singular obsession had kept him alive when there had been little hope. It kept his mind from wandering towards weaker thoughts of giving it all up; ending things prematurely by his own hand.

"Perhaps there could be, but I know not how to discover it, this something more" Valen answered as they moved slowly upon the dance floor, their bodies against one another while the sounds of the thumping music masked their words from the ears of others. "I am a gifted killer. Would it not weaken me to explore emotions such as compassion for others?" he asked with a pensive gaze at Zeptepi Zambrano .

Valen had often watched others as they went about their daily lives, living and socializing among others as if it were such an easy and natural way of life. Talking, laughing, crying, smiling, all of it alongside their peers in the pursuit of trivial matters compared to the way of the Sith. "Would it not be an embarrassment?" he added, the notion of sharing in such things causing him to squint slightly as he glanced away to those around them, seeking to mask his own discomfort.

"Such things are new to me as well.".

It was easy to forget that Zeptepi had been sheltered from the life of the common people, poised on the polar opposite spectrum of social-economic standing compared to Valen. "Your father's goals have become your way of life" Valen suggested, seeking understanding in voicing what he had witnessed thus far; "You worship his reign as many Sith do, but you also live under his heel. Like me, you seem to lack your own motivations or objective in life save for embracing the Dark Side of the Force. We're not so different".

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

​

Valen Arenais

His words stung, and yet they were so very true. She poked her fingertip lightly up into the soft flesh under his chin and demanded he meet her eyes. "Do you think I do not recognize what I have made of you? I could not train you into anything better than as I am. I'm not asking anything of you that I myself am not equipped to give. You should know clear well by now that I am not a weak link. It's not my purpose in life to live for anyone to render me compassion." Reflecting on the women around them, she commented, "Have we not both already tried our damndest to kill one another and tied? Look at them. They would break even by one another's hand. I am not one to expect from you any consideration of tenderness." She was not necessarily letting him off the hook, but perhaps hoping to change his perspective away from love as the common animals do, to the art of the Sith. Zeza is no delicate flower, and bets Valen has some self-indulging desires hidden deep down.

She slow danced with him regardless of the tempo of the song played. By the time she cruelly forced him to embrace her through the fifth song, she refused to stop dancing once the music stopped and the other couples filtered off the dance floor. Instead her head remained buried in his chest. The local underground scouts had sifted undetected through the crowd and they approached the couples who exhibited the series of cues meant to draw their attention, from what they wore and how they behaved in the crowd. The process had been gathered by discrete intelligence operators. There would be no open communication from these underground agents. They would not risk drawing attention to the illegal dealings which have successfully run right under the nose of the Silver Jedi worlds.

A man walked by Zeza and Valen, unnecessarily close. "Newly wed?" he asked. Zeza raised her head and nodded. "I bet you want to lighten the little lady's load, running the household?" he asked. Zeza answered him in code which was always changing in order to sift out the authorities. He led them out of the dance club, and onto an awaiting bus which was loaded with other couples seeking to hire a private workforce to run their household.

From there they would make their way around town to pick up couples from the next nearest establishment. Zeza held tightly onto Valen's arm on the bench. She knew that he required all the coaxing to remain disguised that she could possibly indiscreetly render him. 'We are not there yet,' she thought, 'breathe.'​