Ask What You May Regret

[Sol Kenuk]

The shuttle is quiet as the Kel'dor pilots it into the atmosphere with a quiet hiss of it's engines. Sol had been careful to avoid gathering too much attention as they sliced through Free Worlds space with little regard for the fact that the presence of Sith was unwelcome. The Kel'dor had no desire to advertise their place here, regardless. He and his Acolyte had come for a reason, not to invade, nor to cause trouble with local governments, but rather, to investigate rumors of power in a place that seemed to radiate darkness.

The atmosphere they descend into greets them immediately with the hostility of acid rain, though the shuttle's shields faired well against the environmental hazard. Sol was draped in protective clothing, though with any luck, they could avoid the majority of the planet's wastelands. As his eyes scan the desolate deserts below, his vocals fill the tense air of the shuttle, "Welcome to Vjun. It is sparsely populated, a wasteland of acid and misty crags that one could easily fall into, lost forever. Nobody would find you." The Kel'dor's baritone was as dry as ever, but at the very least, there seemed to be an educational aspect to it. Despite the harsh environment, there was still some life to be found, even in the form of sentient locals. After a plague during The Clone Wars, though, much of the few who lived here had been all but wiped out. Those that remained dwindled in the mere thousands. "We should not be disturbed." Sol points out quietly as they draw nearer to their coordinates.

"We are here for Bast Castle. It is crumbling now, but nonetheless, it once served as a fortress of both Count Dooku, and Darth Vader. Though the castle is in ruins and has long since been abandoned, we should not expect a lack of danger. Scavengers might have picked through most of what remains, but I've no doubt that traps and other defenses still rest within it's heart, along with any other secrets the castle might be hiding from us." Sol can see that they're nearing the castle now, and the mountainous crags that rise above the choking mist pass across the shuttle's viewport as they slice through the rainy air.

"This will be an excellent opportunity for you to practice what you have learned." Indeed, the deeper Nox fell into the grip of the dark side, the better. The energies of this castle in particular were sure to be corrupting in nature. It would be good for the former Exile to face such sensations. "We'll be landing in the canyon nearby. The landing pads are likely unstable with age, and lack of maintenance. I'm afraid we will have to enter the hard way." But that was really no surprise, was it? "If you've got questions, ask them now." Sol adds with finality.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Obedience was the key to Nox's survival now. He did as he was told, and waited patiently for his master while he'd been off doing other things in the galaxy. Usually this meant training alone during his free time, but now it was finally time that Sol took him on a mission.

"None, Master." Nox's flat tone had become part of his new persona. The trepid shy boy he used to be was gone, buried under the hate he had for himself. There was no use or room for who he once was anymore. Now he was Sith, even if Sol was the only other one who knew about the unofficial Acolyte for now.

Charcoal eyes scanned across the horizon from behind Nox's new white cortosis mask. Along with that he now had a few other new pieces of equipment. A thin black shock collar that extended from the top of his neck down to the top of his chest was something he was forced to wear until he could finally prove his loyalty to Sol and the rest of the Empire.

A fine black silk shirt was under his form-fitting shadowsilk blast vest, with its molded plates further defining the toned muscles across his torso. Resting over that was his black ankle length armorweave tailcoat, with its broad hood hanging down against his upper back. Tucked under the ends of the blast vest on Nox's slim hips was a pair of simple vibrodaggers.

Aside from those and a pair of crimson shock gloves on his hands he carried no other weapons. Just about the only other thing he had other than some simple shadowsilk pants and leather boots was a new NalPhone, which was set in some kind of frustrating parental lock mode that Sol had someone put on the device to keep Nox from calling anyone other than his master.

He wasn't sure exactly what to expect here at Bast Castle. He wasn't even sure how he felt about who he was becoming or what he was doing anymore, but disobedience meant punishment or death. The lack of weapons and shock collar would make it extremely difficult to fight for his freedom now. If there was any hope still remaining to escape he'd have to bide his time and obey his master for now, but part of him was becoming comfortable with the new situation. At least he was intrigued by this castle and its previous occupants.

"I must admit though..." Nox paused, his eyes still scanning the horizon before turning to Sol for a moment. "I am curious to see what we'll find here, Master."

@Nevermourn

 

[Sol Kenuk]

The boy that was once a Jedi had changed, Kyo was gone, in spirit and in voice, just as Sol had been wiped away all those years ago. The shard of the Kel'dor's past was akin to a ghost, and perhaps that was why he had tried so hard to corrupt it. If any remnant remained that was of the light, then it would inevitably sap at the Sith's own soul. There could be no room for weak links. In a way, Sol Kenuk had a simple nature. He did what he believed he had to do, and despite all the horror and all the pain, he could look away, he could tell himself that it was for a reason, for a goal that mattered more than those of any other.

But perhaps that wasn't Sol's nature. Perhaps it was simply the nature of mortals in general. After all, what mattered more, in the end, than achieving your own desires? And if that meant crushing any symbol of hope, drowning any light in the darkness, then that was just how it had to be.

Where Kyo had once been a beacon, now he sat as a ghoul. Nox was an echo of a man that once was, just like Sol.

The air is quiet as the Kel'dor pilots the shuttle through the heavy rain. No questions are asked, and the two are left in shadow, with the rumble of the storm shaking their craft. In the distance, the jagged rise of Castle Bast is finally within view, an imposing structure despite it's crumbling age. Nox speaks again, admits his curiousity. Sol hums quietly in agreement as he pilots the vessel into the dark canyon below. The landing gear is deployed, and with a quiet hiss, the ship comes to a halt, hovers in the rain before descending to the dirt. The Kel'dor had chosen a place of high ground, even within the canyon. It wouldn't do for their shuttle to end up swamped in the rain, after all.

Outside, thunder rumbles through the dark clouds.

Sol sits back in his chair, stares at the drenched earth beyond the view-port of the vessel. There is an uneasy peace in simply listening to the rain strike the glass. Then, silently, the Kel'dor pulls his armorweave hood over his head, and rises from his chair. Fiery eyes hidden behind his mask shift toward Nox with silent contemplation, and the weight that presses through the air seems heavier than before, akin to a frigid burden. Sol stares with an owlish vision, his figure rigid and still as his focus lingers upon the newly made Acolyte, an unreadable expression shadowed by the overhanging hood.

Whatever Sol might be thinking though, he doesn't say it. He blinks, turns away, and heads toward the shuttle exit. The ramp hisses toward the wet ground where the acid rain seemed to be falling lighter than before. Sol steps out of the vessel, his boots striking damp earth as an acrid scent fills the air. As for where they were going, Sol could not say. He knew the direction of the castle, but whether or not there would be a means to enter it from the canyon floor was yet to be discovered.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Just what was going through his master's mind, Nox wondered. Was he already beginning to speak out of place or too much again?

The urge to say something and check with Sol suddenly passed when the Kel'dor got up and began to walk away.

Nox let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He pushed away Kyo's desire to communicate, burying the boy further. Nobody needed him anymore.

The apprentice took in a sharp breath and squeezed his heart. He could feel the strife beginning to stir again, especially as he denied his former persona once again. There had been hardly anything left of that shell and now he was finally beginning to become somebody again. Sol was right, Nox had to kill that which made him weak. Even if that was the ghosts of himself.

Without a word Nox turned his blackish blues to the looming castle, checking out the distant structure and any paths that led to it from the canyon, though really he just needed to focus himself back on the mission again. He didn't stay for long before getting up and joining Sol, not wanting to keep his master waiting. The apprentice reached back, pinched his hood, and pulled it over his raven hair. Then he closed his armorweave tailcoat and pushed his hands into its pockets to keep the rest of him as covered as possible from the acid rain.

He could swear he heard a hiss come from his boots upon one of his steps outside. The near-Human paused briefly and looked down at his boot, turning it from side to side to make sure it was alright, which it seemed to be for now. He knew they and his coat wouldn't resist the wear and tear of the rain indefinitely though. Nox didn't raise a fuss. He knew Sol was going to make him trek through this nonetheless. And so he carried on, obediently following alongside his master without any protest.

As they walked, Nox glanced at Sol from the corner of his mask, still wondering what he'd been up to lately, and what was on his mind now.

@Nevermourn