Securing Secrets

[Darth Kravos]

Darth Kravos had spent hours with his holocron. It had been not only for the recording of its content and the interactive nature of what it carried, but also for what particular things he had done to it. He was deep within his own mind now. Similar to how he had once turned his mind into a labyrinth to destroy his enemies, he now obtained a deep understanding and layout of his own psyche. He formed walls around one of its sections, sealing it off with an abruptness and pulling it from his mind.

He imparted the piece to the holocron itself. A piece of his mind was now bound to the device that could be used to control the defenses he would one day create for his own tomb. It was unique among even holocrons, and he'd never before heard of one that had a similar quirk. It was intentional.

The Dark Lord's eyes snapped open once again and he his body fell back to the floor from where it had been levitating just off the ground. He felt both like slightly less of a man and all the more powerful for what he had done. His mind was no longer just inside his body, but attached to the device he now held in his hand. It floated just above his palm, its upper crystal glowing slightly.

He emerged from the dark cave that he would one day use as his own tomb. No doubt his own spirit would haunt these walls after he died as well. The darkness of the cave was all the stronger, and the Dark Lord looked for Dennys outside.

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

Dennys was indeed waiting for Kal outside the cave, not having wanted to enter in case it could have interrupted whatever he was doing in there. Could have been the same process that he had gone through to inscribe himself onto his holocron, though it could have been different. He wasn't an expert on such things, he'd just read up on just enough of what to do on his end. He'd even left a gift to anyone of his bloodline that came and found the thing, as it was entirely possible he had a kid somewhere out there during his more intense adventures. Or his family on Coruscant could have kept breeding. In any case, it wasn't something he had on his mind at the moment, the spookiness of the cave cutting through his rambling thoughts. If this worked for Kal then that was cool, though if Dennys had a choice he'd probably prefer to die deep in some kind of ancient undiscovered fortress somewhere like a treasure hunter. THAT would be badass.

The Sith held up a beer to the man, having figured that his friend would need a cold one if his recording had been anything like Dennys'. "You look like you've been through the wringer. Here, a cold one can't hurt much." Whether Kal took the drink or not, Dennys moved on regardless. "That was a hell of a trip, huh? I wasn't thinking it would be that intense. I still think it was a good idea, though. Oh, did you give Andraste her holocron, yet? If it hits her like it did us, She might need you guys around. I know I got a bit emotional there during some of it, I'm man enough to admit it. Anything you want to get off your chest? Might help you feel better."

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos emerged and slipped the holocron into a pouch as he made his way toward Dennys who offered him a beer. He gave a nod and slipped his helmet off as he held the beer in his hand. He felt surprisingly tired, but he didn't mention it. What he'd just done was no small feat.

He took a seat on a boulder, merely holding the beer in his hand and letting its cool temperature fight against the heat of the desert world. Hopefully these things will help guide the next generation of Sith, he said, thinking once more about what would happen after they all died. He wondered who would take up the mantel of Dark Lord after he was gone. I fear that someday the Empire will rip itself apart without someone like Andraste to guide it, he said.

I hope that perhaps what I've said about being Dark Lord will help whoever takes my place. Abilities that can help someone obtain and maintain incredible power, he said. It had spoken all of the roles that the Dark Lord held, and it came with a definition of powers that were beyond the scope of most.

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

Dennys nodded, pointing at a stray rock and lifting it with the Force. He brought it over to himself, having it float in a circle in front of him as he twirled his finger in a circle. "You got a point, there, multiple points. Andraste is unique, a galvanizing force and personality. I don't think any of us could have done what she did. As much as I have hope in the future with the kids, ultimately we can't control what they'll do two or three generations down the line and further. These holocrons will help for sure, yet it's not a sure bet. Still, I don't think there's any other way and I wouldn't have it that way either. Those kids are gonna be raised right, I know it. I think they'll end up ruling an Empire that will last centuries. Who knows, maybe even my kids will be around to see it happen. WAHAHAHA!!!" Dennys laughed at the thought, taking a drink of his own beer as he kept the rock circling in the air.

"As for your other point, the Force is perhaps even more mysterious now than it was when I didn't really care about it. The mere fact that I can do this simple trick should be enough to scare the layman. If I wanted, I could freeze and explode it or turn it into a flaming ball straight for someone's face. You can send someone crashing against a wall, electrocute them to dust, crush the life out of them, hell, I heard you can even steal the life force of others to replenish your own. That damned Rhea could have been a right scary bitch if you an Al hadn't taken her out way back when. Kudos on the foresight, by the way. But yes, in this regard, the less secrets, the better. But only for those that can handle that power. Knowledge in the wrong hands, those unable to control it, could be just as deadly as a fumbler in the dark. If they want this information, they have to prove they deserve it by taking it, just like we did. I wonder what kinds of techniques the future Sith will find. The ones we know now are already pretty badass, don't you agree?"

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Kravos]

There was a name Kravos hadn’t thought of or heard about in a long time. Rhea. He wondered how the galaxy would be different if she were still around. If she’d been there to whisper in Andraste’s ear. He was fairly sure that he wouldn’t be alive today if that had been the case. The rise of the Empire was slick with blood.

They’ll have to make their own path for sure, but there will be powerful children who come after us. Hopefully what we leave behind will guide their hands, he said, nodding his agreement. There was no question that they would have to seize the power for themselves, but Kravos hoped they Empire would last for generations after their passing. Perhaps not forever, but with the Jedi gone, something told him it would stand for hundreds or thousands of years.

They’ll face threats both outside and in. But they’ll be ready. And they’ll build on what we have done and created, he said as his mind wandered to where the Empire would go after they were gone. And what he would do with himself. But there would always be enemies to fight. I’ll put my holocron out of reach of normal people. Hidden behind traps and guards so that no one unworthy can find it, he said, commenting on how to keep such power out of the hands of the undeserving.

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

Dennys looked at the rock he was floating around, thinking again of where he was going to hide his own. Wherever it was, it would have to be before the campaign picked back up again. That reminded him. "You know me, I've always been a bit of a wanderer, doing what I can but not settling down in one place. Well, I think that's time to change. This war needs to end, with us as the victors, and I'm willing to give up my traveling days to do that." He let the rock fall to the ground in a clatter, turning to face Kal before giving him a crisp salute as if he'd always been in the military. The look in his eye had changed from the wandering vagabond to the hardened soldier. The same man that had gone with Andraste to secure their first shipyards on Mon Cala.

"Dennys Waszylla, reporting for duty. I don't think I've ever had a rank in the Sith, so I'll settle for whatever you think is right. Doesn't matter where it is or what the orders are, I'll focus on being the soldier you and Andraste need to come through for you in the clutch. I haven't had a single failed mission while working for you guys. I've almost died quite a few times too, but I always bounce back. We need to win this war, so I'm gonna bring back the old uniform." He then smiled at Kal, still saluting. "I do think that a beer from time to time will still be in the cards, though. Can't run an army on an empty or thirsty stomach, after all. Morale's an important thing, far be it from me to dampen it by going full sober."

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos had been with Andraste on this path longer than anyone else. To the point that the two of them had destroyed many of the things that had once been significant to them, but they were still here together. Over that time, he had seen many people come and go (and by "go" he mostly meant "die"), and Dennys's comments took him back.

He didn't remember precisely when Dennys had come to them, but it was a long time ago. The fact that he couldn't remember precisely when was testimony enough of how long he'd been there. He'd fought at Ilum to kill Syresh, and he'd stood with them in many other battles and missions.

He gave a nod and the slightest of smirks. Well, you're a Sith Master, which is approximately equal to a Commander, but Sith don't hold official military rank. It comes with its own perks, though, because it doesn't carry the regulations, he said, pausing for a moment before motioning to the beer. Regulations like when you can and can't drink, he said, though it didn't need to be said that being drunk on the job wouldn't be looked kindly on, but Kravos had had a glass of wine on the way to destroy more than a few worlds.

It's all coming to a head, he said a moment later. The war was going to end soon. He could sense it, and then everything would change after that. Soon the upheaval will be over. The hundred years of war will come to a close and you'll be able to go back to your wandering. But until then, I'm glad to have you.

And when it closed, they would need to be prepared for the next generation. Kravos has retrieved a holocron for Andraste as well, and hopefully together, they could all be prepared for what came next, and prepare the next generation as well. @Insalius

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

"Don't worry, I promise not to go into a battle completely krunked. Neither will the crew. I'll make you and Andraste proud. Hell, maybe when this is all over, we can all take a trip somewhere. There's this place on Jakku that I think you guys would LOVE, plus it's nice and secluded so a bunch of Paparazzi won't be getting up in our ass every time we turn around. Dennys patted Kal's back and gave him a smile as he broke his salute, going with his friend from this place to return to the Imperial Palace. He knew that Kal had to give Andraste her holocron and figured he could help her if needed. As for him, he needed to properly hide his own holocron before he fully committed to the military. He had an idea on where, another place on Jakku that he had found that no one else knew of. It was where he'd left the Jedi, the grave of his fallen brothers and sisters. Suitably dark and edgey, plus the decrepit ruins could be fixed easily into a death trap. Well, more of a death trap. He had some work to do. He wouldn't know that just after finishing securing his Holocron the battle for Coruscant would begin, almost as if it were fated. It was time to kick some ass.

/Endthread