Hastening the End

[Darth Kravos]

Darth Kravos stood aboard the bridge of the Unparalleled, a Broadside-class frigate, as he waited for his partner to join him. His helmet was still in place as he peered out at the stars beyond. He was still angry. Angry about everything that had happened and everything that had brought him to this point. It wasn't supposed to happen or end like this, but it seemed it would. It - like so many things - was out of his control.

He could be the second most powerful person in the galaxy, but there was still the reminder that things were outside his control. He shook his head slightly to push the thoughts from it as he released his grip on the edge of the window he'd been leaning against. There were other issues to be dealt with now.

As he walked across the walkway to return to his office, he could sense the tension in the air. It was the deep breath before the plunge, but before that happened, he would have a drink with a man he respected and hadn't seen in a very long time... or at least was led to believe he hadn't seen.

Direct him to my office when he arrives. No one is to disturb us, he said to the guard who'd been picked to stand outside his door and ensure that people didn't bother him when he didn't want to see them. Fringe benefits of command at least. Inside, the door slapped closed behind him and he took a seat in his chair, removing his helmet and setting it on the table. His hair was slightly disheveled from the helmet, but otherwise unchanged from his normal. He reached out and a pair of glasses and a bottle of wine floated across the room to rest on his desk as he waited for his arrival. @Orbit

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris had heard of the news about Cregan's death, he felt it through the force when Alais lost control of her emotions. Soon the news of it spread everywhere afterward and his wife's call to action against the Jedi. Kravos had started up the fleet and contacted the Sith Lord for this where he happily obliged. Boarding the Unparalleled, the first thing he took notice of was Kravos' anger that was palpable through the ship. It was known that he and Cregan were close friends and it wasn't surprising he was still affected by the loss of him. The guards led Siris to the Dark Lord's office even though he didn't really need it, able to follow the obvious rage around him that led to Kravos. Reaching the door the guards dispersed and left him outside which Siris took to stand there for a few moments, exhaling softly before finally stepping through the door and entering.

He was donned in his own armor as well, still helmeted but when their two gazes finally met Siris took his helmet off, Siris' eyes still their pure silver as he made sure to hide the crimson that was forming in them. "It's good to see you again Kravos." Giving him a nod while stepping forward to the desk, he placed his helmet besides Kravos before sitting in the chair across from the Dark Lord. "It's been a while hasn't it?" Siris didn't bring up the fact of Cregan's death, it didn't affect him and Kravos probably didn't need to be reminded of his friends passing when he could already feel the man's contained anger.


Siris leaned forward to pick up the wine before pouring it for both classes and gently placing it back down. Retrieving his glass, he brought it to his lips before taking a healthy sip. The air was certainly tense and it was easy to be felt, Siris taking note of it as he glanced around the Dark Lord's offices around him. "I haven't asked yet but are you enjoying your new position? Certainly comes with its benefits." He gestured out the window to the imposing fleet just outside that the Empire controlled.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos could sense Siris approaching. Even if he didn't know him by what he felt like, he had a much more imposing presence than anyone else aboard the fleet... and more than almost any in the galaxy. He nodded as Siris entered, standing and extending a hand. The two had always had a strange and tense relationship, but there was a mutual respect there nonetheless.

You too, Siris, he said, motioning to offer a chair as he sat back in his own. He took the glass of wine and sipped it. A sweet red that cost a hefty sum of money. The Dark Lord sipped lightly, savoring the flavor and swirling the glass in his hand. He nodded as Siris commented about the fleet. He couldn't deny that he was proud of the fleet. It had grown to be the largest standing fleet in the galaxy.

It does have its benefits, he said. He considered his new position for a moment as he sipped. It had been a long road, and it carried a great deal of responsibility with it, but yes, he did enjoy it. It had a power and prestige that wasn't surpassed by anyone but the Empress herself. And more than that, he was born for this job. Yes, I'm enjoying it, he added after a moment more.

He stood and made his way over to the window, watching the ships firing their engines as lights flashed on and off. Systems were being checked and run, and everyone was preparing for the jump to hyperspace and the long travel. And how have you been? It's been too long... Muunilinst, I think it was, he said. What's kept your time busy? he asked.

 

[Siris Drast]

Sirirs gave a half-hearted smirk as he gave a quick glance to the wine and then back to the ships outside, "I can see that." As Kravos stood to make his way to the window, his eyes didn't follow him, instead returning it to the glass. He swirled it around, watching the crimson liquid form a slight whirlpool while his finger tapped against the side of it. It reminded him of the mask, how it was just something that led to an unwanted and deprived outcome. His eyes showed streaks of the crimson like the mask and Siris soon wondered what else would change in the future for him. He still managed to keep the subtle changes of it hidden away from Kravos.

When Kravos mentioned Muunilisnt Siris couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “That was quite an adventure wasn’t it? That’s when I found out we were deadly together.” It was something that made him quite fond of Kravos, unlike others. They knew what each other had to do without speaking a word and they worked in tandem effortlessly. Siris wished they could have worked together more in the past but the mask took more time to cope with then he thought. They could have accomplished a lot together but their paths led them to here now. “I do regret that it took our reunion this long to happen,” Siris admitted truthfully.

Regarding to what kept him busy this entire time, Siris took another healthy and long sip of his glass before setting it back down on the table. "What Sith Lords of our caliber do, lead, kill, destroy, rebuild, whatever is required out of me for the moment." He shrugged his shoulders, " Now I'm just answering the call Alais has given us." Siris maintained his gaze with Kravos as he spoke and taking a couple of seconds before asking his own question, "What happened on Ruusan?" He had felt it through the force but he didn't how it actually happened.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Mm, he externally agreed, less than convinced at the response. Siris wasn't nearly that passive of a person, but if he opted not to tell Kravos what he had been doing, the Dark Lord wouldn't push. If he didn't trust Kravos yet, he likely wasn't going to.

Kravos's jaw clenched slightly at the mention of Ruusan. He had a poker face when needed, but there was no point in hiding the fact that he was bothered by Cregan's death. Anyone with half a brain would know that, and there was nothing to be gained by hiding it. He took another, longer drink of his wine before answering. We missed something, he said. The three of them could fight almost as one, but that day, something had slipped by all three of them. He'd thought the Drasts were almost untouchable, and the reality that they'd lost one of their own shook Kravos.

Four powerful Jedi. Masters... Councilors.... We came across them while searching the temple. A brawl ensued. Andraste and I were the only two to walk out, he said. Kravos knew that the loss of one Sith Lord for a Councilor and multiple members of Jedi leadership was a win, but it didn't feel like a win. Kravos would have traded the "win" to have his friend back.

He glanced back out to see the first ships slipped into hyperspace followed a moment later by the stars in his own viewport to turn to streaks. He drained the remainder of his wine, setting the glass down with a tink as he opted not to pour himself another. He'd want his faculties about him for the coming assault as he slipped into his chair. It's been hard on her, he said.

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris sat there patiently as Kravos recounted the assault. He kept it brief and the Sith Lord didn't mind it, it most likely too painful for Kravos to go into further detail about it. "Well, at least the four were killed." Siris didn't need to ask if they had survived, knowing full well Alais would have killed them right there in her rage. To Siris, it was still a victory to them whether Kravos felt otherwise, despite losing Cregan they still managed to kill four of their Jedi and that would help in the coming battles for them.

Their ship started to rumble slightly, signaling that the engines were starting up and that they would soon be launched into hyperspace. Ships near them launched ahead, their turn so happening to take off. "I know, I could feel her pain through the force." Siris sighed softly before taking a swig of his drink, "I figured immediately what happened because of that." He paused for a moment, thinking to himself before casting his gaze back to Kravos, "We'll have to keep an eye on her for the time being. I don't know how deep her pain runs yet." The pain of a loved one made people do desperate things and he recognized the allure when it came to the death of his sister. Siris was worried for his wife and he trusted Kravos could also keep a protective watch over her when she needed it.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos turned from the window back toward his partner. It was expected that Siris wouldn't feel the same about the battle as he did. Were their places switched, Kravos likely would have agreed, but they weren't. Tactically, it was quite a victory, but that didn't mean he was happy about it.

Yes, but she won't do anything rash, he said. She had two children to look after still, and Kravos was the one who could handle the rash and violent retaliation. And that was precisely what he would do: hunt down the Jedi bases that remained and remove them from the galaxy. That would start with Ellora. It was their next stop as the ships slipped into hyperspace.

The Dark Lord could feel the jolt of the engines kicking in as he sat in his chair and then that feeling of his insides being left behind as they were accelerated to hyperspace. And it begins now, he said, setting down his glass and reaching for his helmet. The face of the galaxy was changing. It would change all the more quickly now.

//Thread