Enemy of My Enemy

[Dmitri]

The Knight-Commander's Quarters laid in the captain's suite in the Sith's Folly. It was composed of three rooms: the entry, the study, and the bedroom. The entry room had been recently prepared for a guest. The room contained nine red silk chairs, easily able to sit the entire current Imperial Knights echelon. However, at present, only two chairs were needed. One was occupied by Bellatrix La Rouge, Knight-Commander of the Imperial Knights. The other was empty, as its occupant had yet to arrive.

Rouge sent a message through the wistie left with the guest and waited for him to arrive. The guards had been tasked to allow the guest access to the command deck but only to be allowed inside her quarters, no where else.

 

[Denzein]

Lecchamemnon entered Bellatrix's chambers without drama, his cloak flowing silently behind him as he moved. The doors hissed shut behind him, and all of a sudden he was alone, the guards having left him at the door.

Alone with what, though? His demons? Certainly. Anything else?

Perhaps.

He was in a room. The room wasn't as extravagant as some of the chambers of the Temple of Tython, but then again he wasn't on a planet any more. For a ship this was the best of the best, and he knew it. In the centre of the room was a table, a regular oval in shape. On either side were two chairs, and in one was sitting Bellatrix La Rouge, the Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights that had invited him to her quarters for a private audience. A lesser man might have smirked at the thought.

The Lore Master had no time for such desires, however. Many questioned if he even felt them any more, although only the man himself knew the answer to that question. It would remain a secret, until such time that revealing the answer proved advantageous.

Just like everything else about him. A game. A ruthless game.

He walked over to his chair, boots rapping off the floor of the chamber with each step. The chair moved silently for him as he approached, allowing him to sit seemingly of its own accord. He fixed Bellatrix with a stare. To business.

"I'm not here on behalf of the Jedi as an organisation, they wouldn't understand my motives. I'm here for myself, because I think I have to be. The force wills it."

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge waited patiently as Lecchememnom entered the the room without incident. The wistie who had relayed her message whizzed past the Jedi and over to Rouge's shoulder. It nestled itself near her red hair.

The elderly man went to business.

"The Force has its laughs," said Rouge. "I wonder how it hopes to amuse itself with me. So tell me, if it is not due to the Jedi, what purpose have you come here for other than to pay your respects to Iona Peller during the funeral earlier today?"

 

[Denzein]

Lecchamemnon did not hesitate. He'd known what he was here for from the outset... He had gone to the funeral out of the genuine wish to see Peller off into whatever waits beyond, but he'd always intended for attending the funeral to lead to this. What an architect he was.

"I'm here offering friendship between myself and the Imperial Knights - a friendship that I hope will one day mature into closeness between the two of our Orders."

He paused, considering his next words. He didn't want to sound too... Jedi.

"We share a mutual enemy in the Sith. There's an old saying that says 'United we stand, divided we fall'. I believe that it is apt. I foresee dark times ahead."

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge's eyes sparked with curious interest.

"How contradictory," she said. "You claim you're not here on behalf of the Jedi Order yet you wish for friendship between our two orders."

Lecchmemnon seemed to consider his next words wisely, finally talking about unity.

"A very apt quote for our situation," said Rouge. "It's been shown that only people working together do they usually have a shot at defeating the Sith. The latter is even more correct, as the Sith tend to self-destruct through a lack of unity." Her eyes narrowed. "However, I too see dark times ahead. These Sith are more determined, more vicious than Sith before. They carry the traits of many different Sith Orders ranging from Malak's to the Sith Triumvirate to Palpatine's to Krayt's. You are correct that unity will be our benefit. Iona Peller sought to defeat the Sith by herself, believing that eliminating the Dark Lord would solve our problems. She was wrong, and it cost her her life. However." Rouge's eyes narrowed. "Such friendship is hard to come by between orders when you come here without permission from your order, nor have their backing. But do not worry. I generally don't try to look into the future, but I saw one interesting thing. I'll leave it a surprise for now, but soon you'll be in a position to do more for our... friendship."

 

[Denzein]

"I come now alone, yet my aim is not a contradiction. Through me the Jedi can learn the value of the Imperial Knights, and therefore come to the friendship I desire."

Then she spoke of mandate, that without the council's backing his mission here could bear little fruit. Evidently the Imperial Knights had not learned much of him through their spies... Which was admittedly his own fault.

"I require no say so from a superior to make this audience useful. Their backing is unnecessary, now I know an allegiance is on the cards I can make it happen, My brethren of the Council will understand my secrecy - if I had told them beforehand they would have vetoed my decision almost immediately. If anything... My secrecy was instrumental."

Her words were full of intrigue, but Lecchamemnon's curiosity was not sparked. He had no time for cryptic half truths, he had come to create something tangible. Whatever happened happened, for it was the will of the force that initiated all things. The interesting thing Bellatrix had seen would come to pass, and only then would the Lore Master know what it was. It was likely it was veiled from his vision anyway, things pertaining to the seer themselves often were.

"I do not, however, feel rebellious enough to formalise the details here and now. Beric would kill me..."

His eyes glinted again. It truly was a sad thing to see a man so twisted he'd forgotten how to smile.

 

[Dmitri]

Rouge considered his words. "You speak truth. The best option to come here without being repremended beforehand is through secrecy. Still, I must applause your determination to reach out a hand of friendship. Indeed, you are correct that this meeting cannot serve to strengthen our bond, but rather start the vital step for it: initiation of such friendship."

Rouge reclined back a little. "Know this, Lecchaememnon, you have my interest. Speak with your Council, but know that your invitation has been responded to with interest. How the party forms is up to how events carry out."

 

[Denzein]

The deed was done.

The twin threads of probability and chance twisted and turned, and the future was changed forever. The Lore Master wondered whether he had just invited ruin or saved the Galaxy, only time would tell. It was likely he had done neither, however, for there were many strands of fate and his was but one connected to few others, or so he thought at least.

He stood, his chair sliding noiselessly back for him to rise. He nodded briefly, eyes glinting slightly in what must have been just the light.

"We'll be in touch soon... May the force be with you."

Then he turned and left, cloak billowing behind him as he walked briskly through the still opening doors. The guards jumped slightly, unsure whether or not to follow him. Before they could decide however he had already reached the turbo-lift, hit a button and shut the doors.

He came out on the hangar level, and wasted no time in finding Sable in hangar eight. The ramp lowered as he approached and he strode aboard, still maintaining his stony silence.

Minutes later the engines powered up, the ship left the hangar and shot into hyperspace.

Thus began the next stage.