Two Empires: The Dark Lord, The Infernal Child (Darth Carnifex)

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: The Defiant Mantis (and Armada), Bastion Orbit

Mand’alor the Infernal stood armed in her beskar’kandar beskar’gam upon the command deck of her most recent gift, an unparalleled Alor-Class Dreadnought refitted for her official (and unofficial) use, by [member="Kaine Australis"].

Ayia and Tamar, the Panathan wet nurses provided by [member="Darth Carnifex"] for Adara’s care stood behind and to the side of the Infernal, Tamar cuddling the infant child to her chest. Yasha Mantis’ infant needed much more intricate care than a healthy baby ought, a situation given to her by the Silver Jedi’s failure to intervene effectively at Barataria.

The horror of the battle for Mand’alor and her child soured Yasha to the Mandalorian Empire’s closest Southern neighbours, and once again brought the Infernal to orbit Bastion. While the act was also in agreed hopes of visiting [member="Fiolette Yvarro"], Adara’s Godmother, there was business yet for the Mand’alor, to repair connections and once more open Mandalore to further business from those economic powerhouses surrounding them.

“Comms, signal Emperor Zambrano and let him know we’ve arrived… he’ll already know, but it’s a courtesy.” The Beskar’gam upon the Infernal’s form was not the gold and black armour of the girl Darth Carnifex knew, but an elevated and mighty armour of a grown Epicanthix woman.

Within the armour, Yasha’s wolf-helm had her standing at 8’1” the wolf’s eyes animated, as the rest of the standard atop her helm. It was illusion and soul-creature. It was protection and guide.

For now, the young woman stood in quiet repose for the word of the Dark Lord of the Sith, listening to the chorus of her nannies shush the stuttering cries of her miraculously living infant child.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

The Sith-Imperial capital was just as impressive as the last time Mand'alor had laid her eyes upon it.

Thousands of ships surrounded the capital, encircling the planet like an iron halo of projected might and authority. There were many star destroyers among the flotilla, several larger battlecruisers, orbital emplacements, and other stations dedicated to the overall defense of the world. The largest among them was the Emperor's flagship, the Behemoth, which sat above the ring of starships like the crowning jewel, fitting for what was considered the most prosperous world in the Sith Empire.

While Bastion did not seem all that different from orbit, as Yasha neared the capital city of Ravelin it was abundantly clear that the Sith had not remained idle in their conquests. The city itself had enlarged almost five times its previous size, gobbling up the natural land around it and transforming pastures, hills, and mountains into a permacrete jungle of skyscrapers, administrative centers, residential neighborhoods, and military facilities crowned by turbolaser emplacements and anti-air defenses. Even larger turbolaser batteries rose above the city sprawl, capable of going toe-to-toe with capital ships in orbit. A perpetual swarm of transport, civilian craft, and military patrol cruisers filled the air above the capital, an ever-present drone of chaotic activity against an ordered backdrop.

Yet, despite all of the expansion and improvements that have gone into Ravelin the Imperial Palace still dominated everything around it. Towering over nearby structures at a staggering three kilometers, the Emperor's personal abode was the nucleus of the Empire and was home to a large percentage of the Empire's ruling bureaucracy and autocratic Sith Lords. Considered the most heavily defended location in the Empire, it was an intimidating edifice to Imperial might and glory.

A pair of Sith-Imperial TIE Fighters flanked whatever transport the Mand'alor opted to take in her journey to the palace, guiding her towards the Emperor's personal hangar situated near the apex of the tower. Once the shuttle had landed they broke off to continue their patrol, leaving Yasha to meet with the Emperor himself on the hangar deck, flanked by two of his Crownguards. His face was smooth and stoic, neither a smile nor a scowl breaking the placidity of his expression. "Yasha Mantis, I am pleased that you have returned to Bastion after these many months, there are many things we need to discuss."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Ria Misrani]

Alvarex wasn't entirely sure why he was to be part of this meeting. A hand smoothened out his robe, "this will suit me fine, thank you." His words to the servant were muted in tone. Beard trimmed and hair clipped with precision. The Blackblade quietly left his room and began his trek to his father's personal hangar, his eyes remained forward as he walked the corridors of the palace. Ravelin had grown since the Sith Empire had established itself there he could scarcely see its landscape from beyond the wide array of skyscrapers and air speeders that now clogged the skies. Still his father's palace remained the anchor of the city towering over it all he stepped into a lift accompanied by two of his mother's personal talonguards. The lift would ascend to the apex where his father would be meeting with the Mand'alor. Hands at his front the Sith Knight carefully stepped out of the lift and set forward to where this meeting would be taking place.

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | Darth Carnifex

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Thank you, Emperor Zambrano. Your consistent growth is impressive to see, you must be effortlessly proud of your industrious people. While not as impressive as this, you would be pleased to see Manda’yaim. Our terraforming efforts have brought rationing to an end, and given a new economic line of growth, in terfaforming otherwise fallow worlds.” The Wolf-helm nodded, baffles unfurling in a fan. Completely encased, there was a settled nature to the young woman’s posture, she was much more becoming of herself.

“May I be so bold as to introduce you to my daughter, Adara Vigdis Nussyn, Aiya and Tamar were hoping to make use of your facilities here, if you would allow the honour?” The two wet nurses gave due deference to the Dark Lord, as was their custom. A glance to the babe in Tamar’s arms, Adara wriggled nuzzling with an infant-stutter.

A curious void consumed the babe, who, while physically quiet, cried out to tap into that great Dark, which Ravelin housed, as if thirsty for her first meal. Eyes the colour of midnight blinked open, searching… hungry and starved for those energies which Mandalore held fallow.

Another man of equal height and bearing came to [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s side. Draped in her wolf-armour, Yasha’s blinking eyes were hidden, and better yet. Hidden, Yasha pressed her lips together, fighting a sudden clamming of her throat. Thankfully, it only lasted a single moment.

“Yes… many things… are we to be honoured by the presence of one of your own?” She’d never seen a man like [member="Alvarex Zambrano"] in the planets of the Mando’ade. He must have been one of Carnifex’s sons. One of pure Epicanthix blood, most like, if the height was any indication. “Shall we, Kaine? And…”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor approached, a gargantuan of a man dressed in dark silk and extravagant jewelry that not only hung from his muscular neck and sat on his calloused fingers but also was interwoven with his braided hair. Practical yet praising aesthetic was the cultural duality of the Epicanthix, and even though he was so far away from his world of birth the Emperor continued to practice his people's traditions and had worked to sew the seeds of Epicanthix custom throughout the Empire.

Hopefully, the Mand'alor, who was Epicanthix herself, could appreciate that.

"Adara Vigdis Nussyn," the Emperor repeated, "How very fortuitous that she was named after the Goddess of love and beauty." He reached out with his left hand to gently touch the baby's head, his own superior senses detecting the darkness that surrounded her being. There was more as well, the specter of death lingered over the baby as well as the invisible stench of magic.

Adara reached out to grasp one of the Emperor's fingers, which dwarfed her by a considerable margin. "I sense she will be a true daughter of Panatha as she grows, you should be proud of your daughter."

Speaking of children, the Emperor's son Alvarex moved to join them. The younger man was almost as tall as his father and had been trained as a warrior since he was an infant, thrown into the most grueling of challenges and emerging victorious no matter how unbearable the crucible. 'Rex' was one of the children that the Emperor considered part of his inner pride alongside Joycelyn, who towered above both of them and had recently taken the Emperor's old name of Vornskr for herself.

"This is my son, Alvarex, the fourth child born of my first wife Salara. His mother requested that he attend this meeting."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Emperor Zambrano was the picture of many paragon virtues in the ways of their mutual genetic kin. For a moment, Yasha wished she too could doff the armour and wear clothing more suitable to the weather and culture of Bastion… yet to be outside of armour was to be vulnerable.

Especially after Adara’s birth. No jewel or gold piece, however tempting, could remove her from the gilded Beskar’gam, forged in love, by goran’e from across her Capital planet, using beskar from the fallen and the proud, Noble dead. To be in armour was to be a monument and symbol. It was to be the warrior who could never be caught off guard and weakened again.

But oh how the jewels upon his clothing and hair made Yasha’s eyes widen in a beautiful reverence. Oh, if only.

The fidgeting infantile grip on [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s hand strengthened as hard as a tiny infant could. Adara cooed, eyelids craning open to look up at the source of the first true drink the infant ever had. Eyes which by rights should have been white with blue irises peered up, black. Void encircling red. Adara’s fidgets and anemic cries ended for the relaxation of a full belly. Settled in Tamar’s arms, the babe nuzzled in what, to those gifted with the Force, felt like true, rehabilitative rest. Her first meal.

The Dark Side of the Force would be strong in Mand’alor the Infernal’s daughter. Yasha’s Wolf-helm craned down to gaze at the child, the baffles on ether side twitching. “I am proud. She has my mother’s eyes. Black and red... she’s not gaining weight like she should, Tamar said the rest of your staff might know more about feeding challenges for Epicanthix/Human hybrids. My little warrior. She fought for every breath. She earned her life even as... she earned her life.”

Could beskar be tender upon a child’s brow? Yasha watched, mask of wolffish apathy upon her head, as Adara’s other hand reached to join its’ twin and cling to Kaine Zambrano’s finger. Curious...

Yet not as curious as the rather large and impressive specimen of a man brought by Salara to join them this day. The Wolf helm tilted in a nod of respect to [member="Alvarex Zambrano"], yet physically Yasha kept her distance. Stance widening ever slightly as this new predator filled the space around them.

Alvarex.

Salara’s hallowed son.

“Well met, God-Prince. I hope the discussion which follows is neither tedious or trying on your patience.”

 

[Ria Misrani]

Alvarex half wondered if his mother was trying to save him from further embarrassment. Of all his trials, and of all the skills he had built upon the years he had yet to truly best his younger sister Joycelyn, much to his chagrin. A meeting between his father, the Mand'alor and her infant daughter or perhaps mother was trying to instill some sense of humility within the Epicanthix. Resisting the urge to let his glibness slip. His attention turned briefly to the infant in the woman's arms. "Blessed is the child of the Eternal Kings, long may she live." Somewhere he swore his aunt could be heard rifling some sort of religious psalm into his head.

His voice was neutral, and polite when needed.

"Well met Mand'alor the Infernal, welcome to Bastion, and I trust that this meeting will neither be tedious nor try on my patience." And even if it was he'd smile and nod his way through it or face the wrath of his mother. Of the two, he could stick out the meeting so that his father could report well of him. Alvarex had seen enough of what his mother could do - his brother was evident enough of such dealings. Alvarex's mind did rest on the infant a moment a raised brow, the man looked at his father and then back at the infant. He wondered if Adara was like that of what he knew to be typical for Zambrano children. They feasted off the dark side's energies, this was easily accomplished within their family and holdings throughout Panatha and now Bastion.

"Pardon my intrusion, perhaps, perhaps the young Adara is like us." He looked at his father directly, "no child of yours went through infancy without needing a constant flow of dark side energies. Although I know nothing of actual feeding and care, just... observations from experience, here at least." He cleared his throat and let his mind wander to his mothers Salara and Invicta.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor stared down at the babe, gently waggling his large calloused fingers with her minuscule hands as she giggled and snorted like all infants do in life. He had been surrounded by small children his entire life, for his children did not sprout from his wives fully grown, they had to be cared for and nurtured until they were strong and intelligent enough to take care of themselves. Carnifex was harsh on them, he didn't tolerate weakness and inferiority among his offspring and challenged them to be the best they could aspire to be so that when they came into their own they could make a name for themselves out of his shadow, though many didn't escape it.

"My son is right, Yasha. This child was born of the Dark Side, and without nourishment, it will wither and die." Carnifex withdrew his fingers and removed the gloves covering both of his hands, stuffing them in one of his waist pockets as then drew the sharpened nails of his left hand across his right palm. The flesh parted easily, black blood welling up to ooze and congeal in the basin of his hand. "My blood is enriched with the Dark Side of the Force, Yasha Mantis, watch now as it sustains your child."

He held his right hand above Adara, hand clenched in a fist, and let the droplets of black blood cascade down to kiss her flesh. Instead of pooling on the child, the blood was absorbed into the skin and small slivers of the Emperor's dark power was transferred into the child, momentarily slaking her hunger for darkness.

"Your Empire has turned its back on the Force, which is detrimental to your child who needs it to survive."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“My gratitude, God-Prince. It is my hope, as well… no meeting with your father has ever been tedious, I assure you.”

Tenderness around an infant was a trait not generally donated to the outsider’s concept of ‘Sith’. To see [member="Alvarex Zambrano"] and [member="Darth Carnifex"] both fuss about her daughter caused the baffles on either side of Yasha’s wolf-helm to twitch. Her voice gasped out of the audio processors of her helmet.

“P..pardon?” Adara, like the Zambranos? An infant of the Dark Side? Her mind trailed to the confession of [member="Kaine Australis"], the desperation in his eyes that day she visited him in his cell and handed him the Cure. He admitted to making a deal with Darth Vizull, with giving his corporeal body over to the deceased Sith Lord, for her daughter.

“She… she was dying. The Silvers, they… prevented my forces from reaching us before I got thrown through a building and bore her a month premature… she was dying on Mandalore and then… she was alive.” For Yasha’s faltering little girl… the Silver Jedi… they fought without restraint to prevent Yasha and Adara from reaching proper care. They did this to her… they and Yasha’s tenure in a place only she and Kaine Zambrano knew the limits of.

Tamar kept Adara close to Kaine Zambrano, and in that moment Yasha realized how much of a hands on father the Dark Lord was. His comfort with Adara superseded even Yasha’s, for he had experience, where she had only a first-time mother’s instinct.

[member="Gray Raxis"] remained angry and tense around Kaine Australis to this day, he fussed over his granddaughter, keeping his force imbued swords around her at all possible times. [member="Beth Australis-Mantis"] was initially afraid of the child, her Light Sided sensibilities stricken by an ephemeral fear.

[member="Shia Kryze"] remained terrified and hesitant to enter the same space as Adara, the psychopomp inordinately quiet and reserved around Yasha since Adara’s miraculous recovery. As Carnifex removed his gloves, a shrill of anticipatory fear broke across Yasha’s hidden face.

“Wait… wait, what are you doing!?” Yasha reached for her baby, as Carnifex cut his hand, the black blood dripping down upon her. The Mand’alor steadied herself by placing her crush gaunt clad hand on Alvarex’s shoulder as by the stroke of an infernal magic, the blood seeped into Adara’s skin.

“By the gods… how…” Adara settled, a rich and healthy olive hue to her skin to replace the pale veil. The infant cooed, smiling bright and joyous up at her abyssal saviour. In the moment of panic and wonder, Yasha hit the control on her helm to send the wolf-helm standard against her back and retract the face plate to her shoulders like a feathered series of pauldrons. A beauty of full Epicanthix heritage, Yasha’s supple black painted lips pouted as wide amber eyes flickered between Kaine and Alvarex.

“… needs the Force to survive… but… she spends time on Concordia with Gray and she still… it’s the Dark… Kaine, I hadn’t a single clue. If I’d known, I would have… I would have come to you sooner, I…”

In her time, Yasha was educated and continued to prepare for all manner of diplomatic incidents, battles and aggressive strategies. The Dark Lord of the Sith, and Emperor of the Sith Empire demonstrating her infant child’s reliance on what was portrayed to her as a religious sect’s application of force was never part of her education. The Mandalorian Empire was built upon a cultural reliance on non-force using techniques and the nature of the blissfully ignorant to the Force’s way. As Mand’alor the Infernal, Yasha Mantis upheld the law.

She put the Cure in Kaine Australis’ hand, after he violated it and brought Adara back to life. She did it proudly, without restraint and without pity.

Had she really been so very wrong all this time?

Adara cooed, burbling as if the babe discovered laughter and joy for the first time in her life. Realizing she still held her hand on Alvarex’s arm, Yasha removed it and stepped in, took Adara from Tamar, and rocked her baby girl. She kissed Adara’s brow, holding her lips on her daughter’s skin.

In her mother’s arms, Adara stuttered a whinny. Her little hands reached for Alvarez, wide black and red eyes pleading. Hoping. Yasha glanced up at Alvarez’s face, a mask of dawning cognizance growing on her pretty face. The Infernal held her child up for Alvarex to take, for he was closest to her.

“I cannot change the entire culture and law of an Empire for one infant child… but I can alleviate the problem to protect her from starvation… but… how? How can this be done? How does one feed from the Dark? Is it dangerous?”

 

[Ria Misrani]

Alvarex had to admit he enjoyed the idea of being right, only, he just wished he wasn't right about this. He knew the surface of what went on in the Mandalorian Empire the young man watched his father's movements out of curiosity. His soft grey-blue eyes watched the blood drip from his father's hand and give way to nourishment. He kept his tongue when his father mentioned that the Mandalorains had turned away from the Force. Puzzled his eyes fell to Yasha, and even as she reacted, even as she reached out to his shoulder he gave no visual response. "It matters not how, what matters now is that your child be sustained."

"And."

He paused.

Yasha was handing him the infant.

His bearings about him as he shifted his position to hold the infant. In his life time he could recount how many infants he had held, most if not all had been his own siblings who were at least twice if not thrice the size of this child. Adara was so small, his features softened a moment, "and that means making the necessary arrangements, work within the law of your people if such a thing can be done."

"I can sense the darkside within her easily, there is no child among my family who is not gifted with such an affinity."

The Prince's thoughts went to his mothers once more, "perhaps a formula can be arranged. After all my mother was a court alchemist."

Although surely this was not the topic of their meeting he was soft and gentle with the small child. As an older brother to many younger siblings he had seen his share of them being nurtured and raised within the halls of their home on Panatha. "And she, my mother, is with child as we speak so that formula might be easier to come by in such good timing, yes, such good timing Adara." His 'big brother' voice scored its way through his words.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Nor should you. There are those within your Empire that applaud the Edicts of the Undying, and they would rise up against you in treason should you begin to reverse his policies. For now, the laws must remain, but the child can still be tended to as is proper." The Emperor had imparted the seeds of true contempt for the Force within the mind of the Undying as he floated comatose in a healing vat on Khar Delba, nurturing him with the thoughts that would eventually metamorphose into the harsh doctrine that came to epitomize the beginning of his dictatorial rule. However, Ra Vizsla's actions, in the end, were of his own design, Carnifex had only given him the tools with which to work with, and Vizsla had taken them and built the Mandalorian Empire without interference.

And then he had been taken out of the picture, as was intended.

"My son speaks wisely, the Empress Salara can make a tincture that would soothe the child's dark hunger for a time. But it is not a true substitute for what she needs, Yasha. There will come a time where potions will not avail her, and she will need something purer, something stronger for nourishment. When that time comes, you will bring her to Dromund Kaas." The former throne world of the Sith Empire had seen much recovery in these past few years, but the scars of the Mandalorian's crimes still marred the surface even as jungle slowly reclaimed the land.

In traversing the remains of the impact crater beneath New Kaas City, the Emperor had discovered a manifestation of all the death and destruction that had been wrought by Mandalorian hands. This vergence of death had torn open a wound in the Force which had manifested as a pool of impossibly dark water concealed at the bottom of a vast cavern, marked only by glow rods and several primitive shrines erected by the semi-sentient ghouls that survived the cataclysm by living underground, the former residents of the ruined city beneath New Kaas. Carnifex's very presence had driven them away, but he doubted that they were scared off for good.

"There we can baptize her."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

The law of the Undying was mutilated by his successor, a girl none expected to rule at all… or not yet. [member="Darth Carnifex"] saw many things which would come to pass, yet no principality nor power could sense two serendipitous happenstances.

Ember Rekali and Gray Raxis both took time with the girl. Helped form her continually morphing opinions, and independent state of conscious decision.

“My People decided to keep the law as it stands after I lessened it. I am servant of them, and shall take their decision in this case, as wrote. Any further lessening of the Force Laws will be dictated as the Vode see fit… but you are right, [member="Alvarex Zambrano"], what matters is the sustenance of the infant in your arms… funny. She settled so quickly, it… it has been a struggle since her first day to settle her in someone’s arms.”

Yasha put the back of her gauntlet-clad hand on her daughter’s cheek, strange beauty softening as she watched her daughter take what felt like her first rest. Adara rested like any child, warm and well fed in the arms of a safe haven. Yet this safe haven was the God-Prince, son of the Dark Lord of the Sith. All who knew her spoke caution’s tale when dealing with the Zambranos. They were dangerous and wicked, the epitome of terror and destruction and fear.

Kaine Zambrano’s son carried Adara with the tenderness of a career caretaker, the older brother to dozens, eventual father of many. His voice bathed Adara in delight. He had no design but coddling the child, for this one moment in time Adara knew peace.

Realizing how close she was to Alvarex, Yasha’s eyes scanned up his body to his rugged, yet handsome face. Sliding her arms under, Yasha attempted to take her daughter into her embrace, kissing her newly whimpering head. As she removed from Alvarex’s touch, Adara fidgeted. Whimpered. Yasha removed her hands and stepped back.

“You spoke of the Empress Salara’s pregnancy the last we talked, a sibling and child… Baiko sent me with tea she created specifically following Panathan rites… as a token for the Empress. It helps… Baiko and her tea.” Yasha’s little Hell Child.

“This cannot be the only way. Tinctures, dark blood, pure forces… but Dromund Kaas, why the former seat of Sith Power?” Kaine promised the salvation of her daughter, a baptism into some form of likely dark force. Gray continued to despise Kaine Australis, Shia continued to fear Adara, Bethy clung to her adopted sister tight, as if love alone could cleanse her.

“Baptism. What does that mean?” Yet, deeper still Yasha Mantis knew what the Dark Lord meant. Her daughter became useful to him, another cog in the perpetual machine of conflict and Dark. And there, the Hell Child grown into the Infernal woman bore her. The Force Dead gave life to a being of the uttermost Dark.

“Why are you so willing to aide my child? What would you ask for in return?”

 

[Ria Misrani]

Alvarex held the babe close and looked between his father, and Yasha. Ritual baptisms, the dark side it was just part of their life at least for the Zambranos. "Perhaps it's the Zambrano charm." He offered Yasha a bit of smirk, the young man was always just a tad cocky. Even so, he looked down at the infant and back over at his father. "I can speak with mother once our meeting has concluded." To his knowledge Dromund Kaas had been a world of power and mystery it also held roots to the dark side if the tombs of the lords there were anything to speak of. Although why in particular New Kaas City, he and his siblings were largely raised on Panatha and that in and of itself held its own dark side history.

He hadn't quite noticed how close he was to the Mand'alor but it didn't seem to bother him. The young man worked carefully to slide the infant back to her mother. He saw no ill reason to not assist Yasha and her daughter. Although in time this would be seen as investment he gathered, an opinion he kept to himself. Alvarex trusted that his father had some goal in mind, he always did. There was nothing that Kaine Zambrano did that was not part of some long term plan or goal, being able to see the larger picture and mold it to his liking had always been key to his father's work. Alvarex recalled as a boy how his father would promise that the galaxy would bow before them and it seemed that the plan was coming into fruition.

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He chuckled, a fatherly laugh.

"Your child is a daughter of Panatha, of the greatest people of the greatest culture ever to grace the face of the galaxy. It is my duty as King and God of all Epicanthix to see that our future is secured, and that means ensuring that your child is allowed to flourish despite the obstacles arrayed against its very existence." There were those within Yasha's own Empire that would rather see her child's head dashed against a stone wall than see her grow and mature into a full-fledged woman, just because she was of the Dark Side of the Force.

The ignorance of fools would be the end of the galaxy, the Emperor internally mused.

"There is a pool of energy located beneath Kaas City, its waters hum with latent energy. If your daughter is to survive beyond infancy, then she must be exposed to the power of the wellspring. There is no other hope for her." And as for what he asked in return? Well, he had noticed how receptive Yasha was to his son Alvarex, and how easily the babe in his arms had taken a liking to him. His previous attempts to connect his house to that of Mantis failed when Ancius was gunned down in Sundari, a crime that not many had yet forgiven the Mand'alor for.

But now he saw another opportunity.

"And all I ask is that in lieu of the deceased Ancius, you give Alvarex a chance at courtship."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

The man was rugged beneath the elegant robe. Danger’s Boy, Knight of Swollen, Bleeding Knuckles. His father's violent refinement and tone was not lost on the Mand'alor, who stood in the maw of the dragon without fear.

“Thank you, Alvarex. Charm, indeed. Such charm must have the Imperial ladies falling over you at all hours.” Yasha found it in her to smirk and share a silken laugh as her daughter settled in her arms, well fed and sleeping peacefully.

“Does Dar’ika want to take a swim? Hmm, mhe ad'ika? My little Nussyn.” The galaxy began to spin as it should. Yasha understood now the desperation of a mother at rest, a mother whose child ended its’ colic and drifted into a healing balm. Utter relief coated the woman, her beautiful face looking contentedly down at her daughter until Kaine gave his terms.

“You would trust me with your beloved Empress Salara’s son?”

11.5 Months Prior
Sundari Palace, Mandalore

“Ancius! Ancius Zambrano! Did you see him?!”
“Chomp the lad in two bits.” Ambrose groaned, leaning against the wall of the small room in which Yasha lived. Baiko busied about ceaselessly straightening up as she billowed.
“Ancius Zambrano is no pure blood Epicanthix, I assure you!”
“Baik-“
“He comes with an offer of marriage for the future Mand’alor and brings a boy slick behind his sodding ears!”
“Baiko, I’m already married!” Yasha snapped. Baiko poured tihaar into tea cups and passed them around then drank hers in one gulp.
“It was a riduurok, my dear, it’s only a kind of marriage.”
Ambrose growled, “Riduurok may not involve your hedonistic pomp, but it is no less sacred, witch!”
“To you, brutish dog! This is the Lady Yasha Ghada Nussyn Fitz-Kierke Mantis, nobility on Atrisia, citizen-born of a Panathan House. She may wear your armour, but I will damn myself to the Nether before I let her mother’s last wishes decay with Aditya’s desiccated body!”
“Words! Useless syllables, they make Yasha nothing! She makes herself! All Mandalorians make themselves!” Ambrose roared. Yasha stood grim and closed, eyes flickering between her two consciences.
“I have not spent her entire life preparing her to rule for you to thrust her on that bloody tyrant’s throne! The stains of the Undying will never wash out!”
“Manda owns Haran Rekr! Not you!”
“Yasha deserves a son of the First Empress! She deserves a full blooded Epicanthix!”
“How desperate are you to die, slave?” Ambrose snapped his jaws, looming toward Baiko.
“Look at her! She would break Ancius in twain! Just as she holds back for Kaden, she would hold back all her life! No! Leave the marriage negotiations to me.”
“I married Kaden.”
“Not well enough. Not nearly.” Baiko grimaced.
“Enough. Ambrose, double patrols. The Mando’ad who threw things at [member="Darth Carnifex"]... find out who he was and get him away from Sundari before someone gets hurt.” Yasha pointed and [member="Ambrose Mantis"] vacated, to leave a young woman standing in front of her former nanny, and deceased mother’s indentured servant, [member="Baiko no Kaho"].

Memory. It ran through Yasha like a river evaporating on her skin. The night before Ancius’ death echoed, an inconstant dance partner waltzing without rhythm. ​

​

The wrong Zambrano. ​

​

Yasha gazed into the eyes of a god and saw her daughter’s eyes. Dark, foreboding eyes. ​

​

Kinder than the visors which hid eye and expression, from Manda’yaim’s ad’ike. ​

“I will not bind myself to a man I do not love, Kaine. If Alvarex is to win me, he will do so on his own merit, as his own man.” Striking amber eyes turned from the god she could learn to call father to the man who held Adara tenderly.

“And you, Alvarex? What do you make of your father’s petition? Would you, on your own, seek me out? Would you court the Hell Wolf without your father’s plea, or is this to be the duty of a faithful son?”

The self-ascended god of Panatha had comforting eyes. Her mother’s eyes. Infernal, wicked eyes. ​

​

Her daughter’s eyes. ​

He was evil, yet fair. He was unyielding in battle, yet sensible. He was proof Yasha could with time, correct all wrongs. Upon her altar, God-King Kaine Zambrano sacrificed a favoured son. Even the wicked loved their children. Even the wicked…

“Yasha, you are beyond all sense, set upon an expedited path to rule. You are far too young, your advisors prepare for battle or fade like your father, to obscurity and silence. Munin, however he irks, was right. Peace and security for your beloved Mando’ade is your only goal now. I expect from you what I raised. Be a Queen, my love. To wear the Mantle is to aspire to be blameless while ever being blamed. It is a cruel and short lived fate. Look upon Emperor Zambrano’s son as a woman and a ruler. We must perpetually act for the greater good, regardless of personal expectations. Ancius, I feel in my soul, is not the right son. There are others…”

[member="Alvarex Zambrano"] [member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Ria Misrani]

Alvarex's face could be read in the moment the words came out of his father's mouth. Then there was a slow blink as he tried to process just what exactly was happening, and then Yasha asked him what he thought and if he was his own man. Suddenly, he felt so awkward the young man slowly raised his hand and placed a single finger in the air. This was his way of saying stop, slowly the hood fell from his head. Alvarex looked at Yasha then his father, then back at Yasha and then back at his father. His mouth fell open and he wanted words to come forth but they did not. No instead he closed his mouth and exhaled, again attempting to process what was happening. He realized, he was quite the handsome man, he knew he was pretty that much he knew and was confident in.

"First."

He looked at Yasha, "while yes there are women who do want to be with me, I do not want them."

"Second."

His attention turned to his father.

He folded his hands together as if to make a prayer fingers steepled together. Hands to his lips and he looked over at Yasha who wanted Alvarex to speak his mind and in fact he wondered if she was testing him. She probably was, if the words of his numerous mothers and sisters meant anything. "I appreciate your... faith even now." He drew in a breath and let his hands rest at his side and turned to Yasha.

"And if it is my father's petition for you and I to court then I am willing to at least attempt it."

He took in a deep breath and exhaled, "that being said, on my own? Would I have sought you out? Maybe."

"I cannot say for certain for no one knows the future, as much as my father boasts about such matters." Alvarex looked at Yasha stared at her helmet, bore his eyes to look straight through what he assumed there to be a HUD. "For if I asked you the same question, would you assume it fair? You barely knew of me prior to this day, perhaps whatever it was my father spoke of. My father has many sons, I mourn my brother but I am not a replacement." He turned back to his father that time.

"As for the courtship? That remains to be seen, if you wish to pursue this, know that I would do my utmost to see to the happiness and well-being of both you and your daughter. And I would take your daughter as my own, if you allow it." He took another moment to breathe, and exhale.

"It is up to you Yasha Mantis of Mandalore, seek me out in private if you wish."

"For now, I must ... bid you both a good day. Mother Invicta has recently given birth to my sister Yasmina and requires my assistance."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor watched as his son disappeared into the palace, his face impassive and revealing nothing.

His gaze slowly trailed back to fixate on Yasha, "Alvarex is a loyal and dutiful child, he will always do what is good for the family." There were many like him among the vast ranks of Kaine Zambrano's offspring, but Alvarex had proven himself reliable over the years, no doubt due to his mother's pervasive influence on all of her children. Except for the pariah Sarlow, but he was another story altogether. "And there comes a time in your life where concepts like love, compassion, and attachment have no place in matrimonial affairs. Bonds are forged and broken in accordance with what is best for the family, and I have always sought what was best for my family."

Had he married eight times over for love? Perhaps at first, but there was a cold hungering void that lurked within his soul that was slowly draining away what compassion he might have felt in those days of unrepentant youth.

To be replaced by seething anger and boiling hatred.

And the fear of having it all torn away.

"I have no doubt that you would do likewise for your own family, Yasha Mantis." He gestured towards the same door that Alvarex departed through for he sensed that she had more to discuss with him than her child and potential suitors. Undoubtedly it had something to do with his rather harsh blockade of the Commenor Systems Alliance due to the Queen's connections to the Mand'alor, which if the reports were accurate was something along the familial.

[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Alvarex Zambrano"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Oh? The impeccable noble flowers disinterest a Knight of the Realm? Perhaps their accoutrements aren’t enough to hide their less than fetching minds and frail wrists?” The jest in Yasha’s voice descended as the realization of [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s desires hit. He wanted a courtship?

This was far from the promise of marriage he gave with Ancius’ nervous eyes.

[member="Alvarex Zambrano"] was as astounded of the turn of events as Yasha was, acting as a man come upon by a sudden encounter.

“Maybe.” Yasha’s amber eyes tilted down, her chin descending toward her nubile, armoured chest. An upturn of her lips drew upon her cheeks at his honesty. He was not a shoulder-bowed son doing his father’s bidding, but a man who made his own decisions on his life. Alvarex was also not afraid of offending diplomatic entity in his responses. It was the best answer he could have given, and relieved a great deal of Yasha's initial stress from her shoulders.

“The future isn’t such a blind concept once one has been there a while… maybe I’ll tell you the story sometime. Futures are in perpetual flux. There’s always a way to change... your response is fair, Alvarex Zambrano. No man, god or spirit could replace Ancius. I wish I knew your brother better… I shall take the situation as you do and pray that the Empress Invicta and her child remain in good health.” Yasha watched Alvarex go with a tip of her head, handing Adara back to Tamar. For a scant few seconds Yasha couldn’t help being a twenty year old girl faced with the awkward situation of being paired up by a man’s Dad… when that man was absolutely gorgeous. Thankfully the safety of her wolf-helm kept the glistened eyes and bit lip away from Kaine Zambrano’s eyes.

“Oh my sweet aunt bippy, an attractive one, at that...” Yasha whistled under her breath. Clearing her throat, the girl instantly hoped Darth Carnifex hadn’t heard her physical appraisal of his son.

All for the family. All for the People.

Was that not what Yasha Mantis was? A peculiar commodity of the Mandalorians, ruler too young but forged in battle all the same. Baiko’s education rustled in her mind, preparing her in past vocabulation for such a moment as this.

If Alvarex would do always what was good for his family, was there any trust to be found on the outside of that familial group? He held Adara so tenderly, offered aide when he knew nothing of Yasha Mantis but the slim fact that his father and mother wished him to attend a single meeting with the Mand’alor.

“I’m twenty, Kaine. Almost twenty one. Do you remember what it was like being my age? When you threw passion to the task of winning your first bride?” Was there a moment the Dark Lord and the Mand’alor could look at each other and see a kinship in their desires? The Palace was more resplendent than any place Yasha’d ever been or ever would go, a monument to one man’s search for family and power.

“I am not ready to give up on love, or compassion. Kaden might still be found… there is still a chance he did not die on Barataria… yet, if he is not found, or confirmation of my riduur’s death is brought to me, I will give Alvarex his due and make an attempt at Courtship. Alvarex and I can decide from there, whether the potential is a fit for success.” A resplendence built upon extortion of the weak and oppressed. This was the Kingdom of the Dominator, the rightful place of those whose lives bore them into families worth more than stars. Was there not a natural order to the universe? Were there not stronger and lesser forces?

Was it not particularly Mandalorian to believe any, regardless of birth, could reach the greatest heights and lowest depths?

Once inside a more private setting, Yasha released the Wolf-helm from over her face, giving Carnifex that show of Mandalorian faith and trust to relax her armour in his presence.

“Of course I seek what is best for my family. Now that the truth of Adara is evident to me, your aid in her continued livelihood is even dearer to my heart. I seek what is best for all my Vode, that is my duty and I will fulfill my duty to my People with every breath and sigh within me.” Searching for a place to sit down, Yasha crossed her arms over her chest, one hand perched on her full, black painted lips.

“Just as I fulfill my duty to my Aunt, the [member="Lady Kay"]. Commenor is ruled by my family, Kaine. Your Empire’ blockade not only damages my personal family’s holdings, but in the galactic political realm, it is cutting back the supplies of my Empire’s strongest trading partner. Where did you think we developed the financial independence we enjoy on Mandalore today, if not by the open and free trade with the Commenori Systems? Your blockade is disrupting my Mando’ade’s economic flow, and I cannot allow that. Especially not when my strongest economic ally is in locked and heated conversation with my strongest diplomatic friend. What kind of ruler would I be if I allowed my Mando’ade’s imports and exports to be interrupted so fervently? And what kind of ally would I be if I did not attempt to ease the current situation into one of mutual benefit between our three Empires?” Keen amber eyes locked on Kaine’s usually passive face.

“I know you well enough, to connote some greater reason for this blockade. What has Commenor done to irk you? They are neutral to a fault, pacifistic to an exacting standard. I am certain you could procure a beneficial trading partner from them and their worlds, without the tedium of holding back their goods. Please, Kaine. Be honest with me. What is this blockade about?”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Ah, there it was.

Perhaps the true reason why she had come to meet him on Bastion, to seek answers for his bold and daring blockade of the Commenor Systems Alliance. With every rotation, the Empire absconded with more refugees and trade goods meant for the worlds of the Commenor Systems Alliance, delivering a serious blow to Commenor's economy and general demoralization as the Sith Empire acted with impunity and no repercussions. It only further incentivized the Empire to continually press the remaining Core systems for all that they were worth now that the Galactic Alliance had been utterly crushed beneath the callous heel of Imperialism.

Whatever paltry resistance each individual system put up against the Imperial Armadas have been brushed aside like one would a gnat.

"The Queen of Commenor is weak." The bluntness of his statement would've caused more seasoned diplomats to blush, his forthright nature had been considered quite abrasive to many. "There has existed a saying passed down through my family for over twenty generations, Yasha Mantis. The strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must. Do you know what those words mean, what significance they hold? Commenor is weak, a fleeting light in the hungering void that has only survived thus far because of their unwillingness to struggle against the First Order or the Sith Empire. Now those who shielded them have all been annihilated, and they will have to make a choice: To kneel and obey, or to be destroyed like all of the rest."

It was the destiny of the Sith to rule the galaxy as they saw fit, the Emperor was merely exercising his birthright.

And he would continue to do so.

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“She may appear weak, but there is beskar in that spine of hers. You would do well not to take her pacifism for lack of a strong jaw. I made that mistake myself.” Yasha took [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s lesson in his family’s history with a respectful silence. She chewed on the words of the man she’d known most of her life. "I always wonder of those, who handle themselves without shrinking before a threat. She's got the look of a survivor to her, my Aunt. Her confidence comes from somewhere."





The puppet master of the Undying, the defeater of Chaos, and the calculated murderer, Carnifex was neither righteous nor decrepit. He was the true Emperor of his domain. While Yasha was yet young in the ways of the Galaxy, she had a keen eye and tight control on remembering what he gave her.





Was that not how she survived the Netherworld? If she had been weak, Yasha realized many a time it would have been her end. Those who could not exercise their divine right to embrace their lives with absolute agency crumbled beneath higher powers.





Yet, Kaine Zambrano made an error in judgement. He saw [member="Lady Kay"]’s pacifism as a lack of strength. It was fortitude, which gave Yasha’s beloved aunt the ability to keep her wise smile upon that regal bearing.





“Why should they struggle against trading partners, when the First Order, Sith Empire and Mandalorian Empire have much more to gain by the coffers of Commenor flowing freely, than by the coin you seize now? You are a man of far and reaching sight. You work for the plenty of your people, as I do, you work for the continued welfare and success of your family, as I do. As Lady Kay does. Let her work the Nemoidians and the banking clans. Let her deal with the drudgery of the body politic, and in so doing, you gain a consistent financial flow.





Having a neutral military presence in the Core, who trades and stabilizes an entire region without the use of any Sith Empire resources, benefits all of us. My stance on Commenor is one of economic verisimilitude. Yes, you can squeeze now and get credits and slaves to a point. Release your grasp, allow Commenor to trade with you freely, and the financial benefits alone will double without the unnecessary overhead of constant blockade. You can use the profits of such to quell the Alliance in Exile, and the desperate villains of the Rebel Alliance. Would it not be a delicious irony if the very same rebels Kay pushed out of her systems ended up feeling the wroth of the Dark Lord, bankrolled by the neutral party they attempted to draw into their own ranks? A four percent tariff of Commenori goods placed upon the causeways bordering your worlds would benefit you financially in two months at a greater rate than the conquering of Commenor now. I maintain that Commenor is valuable in its' present state, even moreso in the state it was in before your blockades.”





Yasha slid a slim holoprojector onto the nearest table, and clicked it on. Before her and the Dark Lord’s eyes, financial tables, projected incomes, tariff rates and tangible futures fizzled to life.





The Infernal long learned when negotiating for her Empire or family’s benefit, emotions had to fall aside. This was not the time to make an impassioned plea of the quality of the Commenori backbone and penchant for delicious teas.





The numbers were hard facts and strategically guided by an aggressive and conquering hand. Yasha knew deep down that the hold on the Commenor Systems Alliance was tenuous at best. The Core itself seemed to both implode and explode in tandem. Churning like a singularity destroying an enemy fleet in scant pulsing seconds.





"Of course I recognize this also benefits my economy. I do have gifts for you. [member="Ambrose Mantis"] tells me you lost your shuttle on Dubrillion. I have engineers standing by to modify the two Sorosuub luxury Yachts I personally procured for you to any specification you desire. Consider it a gift from a grateful Mand'alor, for the nod to take Sullust before the Alliance was destroyed completely. Our raid of the Jetii training centre and Sorosuub HQ was a success."