Mustafar, Fortress Vader
2341 local time
For many, the unwelcoming environment of Mustafar and the stifling presence of the dark side made the planet a dreadful place to be on, every step laborious and anxiety-inducing. For Veles, it felt like breathing fresh mountain air, the heavy darkness invigorating him and instilling more confidence in him than in most other places. He knew Andruil would likely feel the same way, and although this planet was certainly not the most attractive or have many facilities, there was one thing she would most certainly appreciate: Fortress Vader.
The structure had withstood the test of time despite all the unwelcome visitors it had endured since its evacuation after the Empire's fall at the hands of the Rebellion. It had come close to destruction once, too, a foil by two Mustafarian boys seeking to blow it up as a symbol of Vader's defeat. Though the bomb had gone off, it had merely torn a chunk into the Eastern Wing, which Veles had ensured was refurbished into a condition even better than before. The entire Fortress had been restored from the tip of its spires to the depths of the lava dam, its interiors polished and maintained that way ever since the Empire had moved in once more. Caelestis had aided him in reclaiming it ironically enough, though he supposed the Empress would not enjoy that little tidbit and he knew there would be a few sensitive matters that they might discuss that would require exceptional navigating through the conversation.
He was, truth be told, a bit giddy about her arrival, the culmination of several years of work for Veles. Though the Fortress had opened about 3 years ago, it had been an ongoing project to get everything operational after over a century of stagnation, and he was proud that it was now fully operational. Another meeting with Andruil was certainly overdue as well, so he would be killing two birds with one stone by bringing her here--both to show her a physical, tangible example of the work he'd done, and also to actually get to see her and discuss what needed to be discussed. He was a Sith Lord now, and it was important that he did not stray too far from her plans or misuse the resources he'd been granted; today he would ensure they were on the same page.
Veles strode through the halls that he now saw as his home away from home, the memory of Dagobah idly flashing through his mind. He pushed the visions back because today was not the day to be vulnerable and it was certainly not the time for introspection. It seemed no amount of meditating and ruminating was enough for him to process the visions and illusions he'd had in the swamp, but there had to be some way to vanquish that catastrophe from his brain.
The doors hissed open in front of him and he was hit with a blast of hot air as he stepped out onto the platform her shuttle would be landing to, his hair beating weakly in the wind caused by the crashing of lava on stone hundreds of meters below. He had never considered that lava could cause wind and had always assumed it was much too slow to be so viscous, but Mustafar had taught him otherwise.
"Lord Veles, the Empress approaches," buzzed the comm in his ear, and he turned his gaze to the skies, seeing the small dot as it approached and feeling her presence within the Force. He could tell she was not in the best of moods, but he couldn't blame her. He could only hope she did not turn his anger onto him, and he had no intention of giving her reason to.
The shuttle touched down smoothly, the door slowly lowering as the cabin decompressed with a loud hiss. Veles strode forward until he was a few meters in front of the ship's entrance, and then bowed. He idly considered that this was the first time a Sith Emperor or Empress visits the base since the days of Sidious. History does indeed repeat itself.
"My Empress," he proclaimed, lifting his head, and then motioning behind him. "Welcome to Fortress Vader."
@Phoenix