Brothers in the Shadows

[RedneckLoves]

Brothers in the Shadows

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Night had fallen upon the dunes of Korriban. It was still hot, but for one who had known only the blistering heat of the desert planet for many years now, it seemed chilly. Baldr Morrigan pulled the folds of his robes tighter around him, though the garment was becoming too small for the boy growing so quickly. One noticing his passing would likely see his ankles below the hem of the dark cloth.

Baldr was intent upon his destination - the great temple of the Priesthood - but not so intent that he wouldn't notice anyone lurking about. Since the reformation of the Sith Brotherhood into the Sith Empire, infighting had become more commonly frowned upon, but of course one never could be too careful. Baldr wasn't a social Acolyte, but it was well known among his peers that he was quite advanced in his studies for his young age.

He slipped in quietly through the door and paused just within. The Dark Side was strong here, emanating powerfully through the air. He could feel it surging within himself as well. It was a feeling that made him feel stronger and also content, at peace. He'd come here not knowing for what he searched, only that he was devout to the Dark Side and not the Sith and apparently this church was full of members that felt the same. The atmosphere alone was enough to set him at ease.

His mother, a former Supreme Leader of the Brotherhood, had taught him that. To be loyal to the Dark Side and not just the faction that used it. The Force itself was what permeated all life and would forever be everlasting. The Sith - be it Brotherhood, Empire, or otherwise - wasn't always present, though it never truly disappeared either. The Dark Side was what the power was made of, regardless. The Force was what ultimately mattered.

The small boy was quite uncharacteristically unaware of the presence of another in the temple's main chamber, so wrapped up in his thoughts and the feeling of the power welling inside him as he was. He'd walked forward and sat quietly on a bench without a single thought of it.

@Taz

 

[Taz]

The coming night was a pleasant surprise to the young Virion. Months spent on Hoth during his recruitment had left him more accustom to cooler temperatures. Also a Templar of the priesthood he was not often home here on Korriban but rather out spreading the influence and word of the dark side. Often by the point of his saber or the cold invisible hand of his force grip. Because of that, he spend most of his days planet side sleeping away the blazing heat within the climate controlled security of his Aggressor Patrol Ship.

As the night hung over the planet, Virion made his way to the temple. It was a focus point for the dark side, so strong was in within the walls of the Korriban temple that a Sith could almost taste it. It was a welcome feeling to the loner Sith. He was raised and trained to embrace the dark side, to use it as an extension of himself. Like many withing the Priesthood, faith was in the Darkness, not in the Empire. He was loyal to the Emperor and the Empire, but was subservient only to the dark side.

When he entered he took notice that he was proceeded by a youngling. The boy did his best to go un-noticed but seemed to be stumbling through about, distracted perhaps. At first it made little difference to him, just another young man come to pay tribute to the dark side. But as Virion sat and started to meditate and focus his zeal there was a strange yet familiar feel within the force. It was emitnating from the boy.

Curiosity got the better of him and Virion decided to greet him. Stepping carefully to him the Sith would speak softly.

"Hello there, may I sit with you ?"

 

[RedneckLoves]

Softly spoken words did not jar young Baldr from his Dark Side stupor - instead his eyes opened slowly and it felt as if he were emerging from beneath the waves of an ocean, the sound of waves crashing on rocky shores distant and melodious still in his mind. He looked up at the gruff looking Templar and an instant feeling of familiarity washed over him - quite unusual since the boy was sure he'd never seen this man before.

Baldr gave a short nod of acceptance and looked away as the Templar sat next to him. Silence ensued for a few moments. The young Apprentice was quite comfortable with it - he enjoyed quiet moments to study company, particularly strangers. This man had long hair and a scraggly shadow of a beard. This would make him appear unkempt except for his eyes and the way he held himself. His eyes were very dark, quite a contrast to Baldr's shining blue orbs. And the man carried himself with a warrior's fluidity - the boy was sure this one would be formidable in battle.

His contemplation of the Templar's outward appearance complete, the young boy spoke with soft confidence. "I'm Baldr Morrigan. What's your name?"

 

[Taz]

Virion studied the young man a moment as he watched him emerge from his thoughts. It was like watching a ship emerge from a swift moving fog line over calm seas, careful but methodical in purpose. He could feel and see the dark side recede from the boy. It was a rare site to see among one young. The power within this young man possessed was palpable.

The two seemed to study one another for a moment. Not uncommon among their breed. Though infighting was now frowned apawn it still occurred from time to time. He took the appearance of the young man. Cold blue eyes, charming if one did not feel the darkness behind them. Hair not unlike his own when he was about this kid's guessed age or ten or eleven. Caucus but confident in himself and his abilities, he was not only assessing Virion but sizing him up if words ended and powered and blades were drawn. That was a point of interest to the Templar.

Finally the he spoke, Morrigan ? Virion thought a moment but couldn't place where he heard the name before. Not at the very moment anyway. It was however at the front of his mind as he replied, "Virion Condorro, it's nice to meet you Baldr"

 

[RedneckLoves]

The gruff Templar spoke and the name sent an electric shock through the small boy's body. His eyes grew wide and he stumbled to his feet, gaze never leaving that of the man next to him. The surreal calm that had been present just a moment before was gone entirely, replaced by a chaotic swirl of jumbled thoughts and emotions.

"Condorro. Did you say Condorro?"

Vague images of a man never known, but stories told of often as a child drifted through his mind's eye. His mother's voice telling him of her husband - Baldr's father - and their exploits as fellow Sith. Eir Morrigan had never kept the truth of his father from her son, nor the reason he was not with them. Clarity rang through the young Acolyte as he pushed the confusing thoughts to the back of his mind - focusing instead on the man before him now.

"Condorro was my father's name. Vash Condorro. Are you of the same family?"

Bright blue eyes locked intently with Virion's gaze. The child couldn't hold back a surging feeling of hope welling inside of him. Perhaps he wasn't alone in this galaxy after all. Perhaps there was a chance that this man was related to him - a family member of some sort.

 

[Taz]

It was as if Virion zapped the kid with a static spark from his fingers when he said his name. The stumbled to his feet with such confusion and surprise that at first the Sith assumed it was for the worst. Instinctively Virion's hand would move to the hilt of his weapon. His own eyes would take a look of surprise as he was not expecting his name alone to put the kid on edge. Quickly take would take focus and then a look of confusion as the boy asked him to repeat or rather confirm himself to the youngling.

But Baldr's sudden revelation as to his own lineage would cause a very similar reaction in Virion. The fog in his mind had suddenly lifted and the boy's name rang in his eye like a shotgun. Morrigan. He was the bastard son of an executed Supreme Leader, Eir Morrigan. His father's one true love, a bitter fact that even his own mother had admitted to herself and the twins long ago. She was devoted to Vash but his devotion was to another, and it got him killed. Now before him clear proof of that devotion, in flesh and blood. They, HE, had a brother.

"It appears the dark side has seen fit to bring us together, little brother" Virion finally replied. Confirming the young man's greatest wish.

 

[RedneckLoves]

The last word brought him up short. Brother? Could they really be brothers? It seemed such an inconceivable thought - that he might have not only a relative but an actual brother! He wondered what his mother would think of that - a brother for him to share with her! Only then did it strike him that perhaps his mother had lied to him. Had she known about this brother? How could she not have known? Mother knew everything - especially everything important to him. Why would she keep a brother from him?

"Vash was your father too." Baldr stated, more than asked. Then with curiosity guiding his words, "Who is your mother then?"

The young Acolyte was acting quite out of character - excited, open with his questions of this brother who was still a stranger to him despite their lineage. Later he might reflect on his odd behavior in this situation to be attributed to his deep desire to truly connect with another person - something he'd only ever had with his Mother who was now lost to him forever. At the moment, he was scarcely thinking at all however. Questions and thoughts and hopes were all bubbling to the surface in a way an 11 year old child couldn't hope to control.

 

[Taz]

Virion watched as his words worked through the young boy like a fast moving poison. The truth of the galaxy can often be just that. A fact that he himself knew all to well. Virion was fine, even a little intrigued by the matter. Unlike Baldr it was not lost on him that their father was a bit of a player. There was much history that the young man did not know past the passing of his mother. But those were perhaps stories for another time, maybe when he was older. Meanwhile the youngling was firing questions at him like a blaster pistol.

"Yes, he was my father. Though he was killed before I was..." he could hardly finish the words before Baldr fired off another question. "Clar.." He stopped as the frustration would build anger. He was not that kind of Sith to simply lash out, or at least he tried not to be. Virion suddenly reached out and grabbed the young man by the shoulders. Forcing Baldr to look into his dark brown eyes.

"Calm down kid, this is just as much news to me as it is to you. I realize that everything you thought you knew is now space dust but really it's not. You're still you, you're mom is still your mom and the dark side is within all of us. NOW, calm the KRIFF down. Yes Virion Condorro was my father, but he died before I was born. Clara Condorro is my mother, his apprentice before they married. Or she just took his name was never real clear on that part. No I don't know how or why and I didn't care to ask. I know that the reason our father died was because your mother. Because of her execution. He went to hunt down those he felt were responsible and it got him killed.

So you see we all lost him before we could know him. I didn't know him any better then you did. Sooo...next question" He finally released the boy's shoulders and stood back up straight. Virion didn't realize it but he had hinted at more. He had said "we all" rather then "we both". Without realizing it he had thought a moment about his sister, his fraternal twin. The only other family he thought was left living in the galaxy. But he pushed it back as he tried to focus once again on this new sibling.

 

[RedneckLoves]

Young Baldr did calm somewhat as the man grabbed him by the shoulders and reassured him that nothing had really changed. Apparently Virion hadn't known their father any better than the small boy had, which the child had mixed emotions about. If Virion had known Vash, Baldr could have asked him questions about the man - maybe been able to learn more about the one who had sired him.

The young Acolyte was still pondering this thought until the Templar, still having hold of him, spoke of his mother. Anger washed over the child like hot lava bursting forth from the maw of a volcano. He struggled in the man's grasp until finally he let go, not even hearing Virion's last statement about their father. Crazy, murderous thoughts flew through small Baldr's mind as he turned on his half brother and jabbed a finger his way.

"Don't you dare blame Vash's death on my mother! If that was the reason he died it was his own foolishness that led him there and nothing to do with her! My mother died a hero, laying way for the Brotherhood to become a great Empire once more and NO ONE will sully her name - brother or not!!!"

 

[Taz]

Virion looked at Baldr with confusion for a moment before quickly shifting to anger and irritation. The boy had a soft spot for his mother, and Virion could understand that. Even sympathize if not for his own history. But the finger poking, brother or not, the boy was an acolyte and he was being led by his emotions like a lost puppy. The dark side may have been strong with him but he had much to learn of how he should control it, and himself. Virion decided it was time for a lesson.

He snatched the young man's finger, turned his hand and wrenched backward. Without using any force power, yet. Then he looked down on him much like any of his instructors at the temple would have if he stepped out of line.

"First, point that hand at me again and you will lose it. Second, free yourself of the burden of you're mother's death before it gets you killed as it did our Father. I don't blame her nor did he. He demanded revenge and in doing so, dug his own grave. But do not fool yourself boy, neither of them died heroes."

He would then release his little half brother with a shove before continuing, " You mother died with honor, but she was betrayed by those she trusted. The infighting and power plays that slowed the brotherhood were the same reasons she was left to die at the hands of the Republic. So that a Warlord could become a king. Our father died in battle, a warriors death but no more hero then her. They didn't pave a way for anything. The war machine does not care for them... But the Dark Side does."