Ask Choices

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc was waging a war on the Sith and the galaxy knew it. He didn’t lift a finger, he didn’t put his old armor on, he just made a few calls. And the Sith Empire was being brought down to its knees. The half Sephi was a man that played the long game. He was patient, and his contacts and networks from over two decades ago were coming in handy. Not only did he grow in power and influence, but he ensured that his allies did the same. Those initial investments were now bearing fruit and the Sith were feeling the brunt of it.

Though handling a war was stressful, Emryc was surprisingly concerned about his son. He had called the boy virtually every night to check on him, though always under the pretense of some reason other than the fact that he was attached. It was a strange sensation, but he wouldn’t let it distract him from the war.

He wanted to tie up any loose ends, and this was one he hadn’t addressed yet. Emryc was adorned in a simple button down and jeans, sporting stubble that was slightly a bit more unkempt than his norm. He was in an office in one of the luxury corporate buildings on Christophsis. He didn’t come here frequently, and this floor was largely empty to allow him plenty of privacy. Tiamat would be able to arrive right to the office without much issue.

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

It was one of those things that she knew it would come, but when it would come, she never had the answer until now. She had often told herself she would address it later and each time as later came it was pushed aside. With the war as it is, there was no more pushing it aside when her former master made it clear. It had become habit since the Corellia attack that she wore her armor, but chose not to include her helmet as she arrived to Christophsis. Though she did carry a small box of cookies and other tarts under her arm. She had thought and repeated situations in her head on how this conversation was going to go. Things that would be said, or not said because, well- Emryc, the decisions that she would have to make in the end.

She fumbled over her own decisions she could make and tried to see all the outcomes and consequences; she often thought about Emryc, Jai and the kids, what would happen to them, and even Renfry and Arla, if anything were to happen to herself and the Empire learned of her connection to any of them. A part of her felt weak as she walked into the office where Emryc was waiting for herself, as though she had failed in some way as she contemplated how even talking to Emryc about this would not make her any stronger. Though she was not able to pinpoint what it was that necessarily made her feel this way.

Tia paused as she looked at Emryc, noting even in the timespan she had not seen him, she thought he looked a little age, possibly from the war, or maybe that is what children did to someone. Regardless, she closed the door behind her and walked over and took a seat quietly, setting the box down for Emryc. "Jayna (@Altaris) asked if I would bring some more of the chocolate cloudberry tarts because Jaikus ate the rest of them." she said.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc’s gaze briefly flicked down to the box and then back at her. He was not a sentimental man, but even he couldn’t deny he and Tiamat went way back. They had met as teens, back when he had long hair and was a short, skinny boy. She had been a nobody with silly girlish aspirations. Their paths were the same for many years until Emryc diverged away in ways even he couldn’t predict. It was all coming to a head now.

“You hold some cards,” He stated curtly, “You need to decide how you want to play them,” Emryc said, his icy silver gaze fixing on hers, “The Sith will not win this war,” He stated. He had been Dark Lord, he knew how to play the game, and he knew he had dealt critical blows to the Sith. He also knew outside of maybe one or two people, the vast majority of Sith were directionless. There was no one within leadership he considered capable of effectively leading the charge against him.

“It’s time you stopped sitting on the sidelines, Tiamat,” He said as he looked at her, “What will you choose?”

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

The woman's eyes remained on his own as he spoke, jumping right to the point of their meeting. Internally she wanted to grin, she had known him long enough to not expect anything else, and unlike when they first met where she would squirm under his gaze, she remained still now. He was right, the war was not looking in the favor of the Empire, he knew their weaknesses, he had kept his promise to strike with deadly efficiency that left the Empire reeling from the impact.

She knew she couldn't remain on the sidelines as he stated, she had been hesitant to further pursue higher rank, a seat on the council, to serve an Empress who she did not trust, and now even despised. She would be limited to the decisions of another, chained to follow a specific path, scowled by others for her not having the strength to conquer worlds and bring populations to their knees. She had carved her own path in the stars, found power in another form, but she questioned if it would be enough to protect herself from the branding she would receive from those she once called allies, even friends: Altair, Vahliri, Nakoa and others. They mattered to her, but it was her family she would protect - Emryc, Jai, the twins, and Renfry and her daughter.

She knew Emryc and Jaikus understood what it meant when they separated from the Empire, but their circumstances were different from her own. These were the unknowns of course, but if she stayed with the Empire, would it be worth it? What would she gain? Or would she be defeated by her own blindness and ego to an opportunity that laid within reach.

The silence broke as Tiamat returned her gaze to Emryc, "The Empire is weakness and I will not remained chained to it, Emryc." she stated, "I want to see it fall."

@Sreeya