Closing In

[Dmitri]

Nero grinned. The former Grandmaster sure was ignorant of what had happened only less than a week ago.

"A few days ago, the Sage Halls on Empress Teta were attacked," informed Nero. "Though the Jedi managed to capture two Sith Lords and repel the Jedi invasion, the first so far this war, the Sith broadcasted an announcement throughout the Galactic Alliance. It was bashing the Jedi and the Galactic Alliance. The speaker identified himself as Darth Vitium." He paushed, looking away. His composure regenerated quickly, and he looked at Beric once again. "It was Jhon Cordatus. Darth Vitium is Jhon Cordatus."

 

[Kit]

Augustus didn't break his gaze from Beric for a single moment, even as Nero spoke. Though the news of the attack on the Sage Halls was new to him, he wasn't surprised. He had heard of what they Sith had done to The Will of The Force, and at this point, after all he had seen of them, he doubted the Sith could ever surprise or shock him again.

"This isn't about vengeance. This is about justice. This is about trying to stem the tide of darkness that threatens to drown us all."

He paused. Choosing his next words carefully.

"He served with us. He sat beside us, for years. He watched you be thrown from your position, and supported the move with his silence and inaction. Now, he leads the enemy he betrayed you to try and stymie. He is a hypocrite, his sins far graver than yours or mine. He will die, because he must."

Another pause.

"You will help me kill him. Or you will prove to have fallen further than even he. I can understand and forgive not wanting to do any more damage. I cannot forgive allowing more to happen out of self-pity."

He finally lowered his eyes.

"If you won't help me go after him, you'll be throwing away your last, best chance at redemption."

And they returned to meet Beric's own gaze.

"And I will kill you here."

 

[Will]

He looked to the apprentice as he spoke. The words shocked him. He knew that the Jedi had been on a descent when they ejected him... but for Cordatus to turn... to attack his own kind without provocation?

''He turned? He attacked his own halls?''

Pale green eyes flicked back to Augustus, ice cold fury pouring from them.

''I said I would seek no more petty vengeance. I would not needlessly kill another Jedi. The elimination of Cordatus is neither of these things.''

''You dare accuse me of falling lower than a wretch like that? You dare accuse me of self-pity?! I have been trying to fix what I have done.''

He drew his weapon, lightbringer, igniting the blade.

''We shall kill Cordatus. Then, perhaps, our sins will be cleansed. The fire of battle burns away all.''

 

[Kit]

Augustus crossed his arms as his friend spoke, and had to fight back a derisive snort. He knew Beric had fallen far, both from grace and power, but he had not realised the effect it had had on the man until this moment. Though, he had to admit, at least he had retained the fire in his spirit, where Augustus' had been almost wholly drowned in grief, guilt and self-pity.

This appeared to be a turning point.

Even so, he shook his head as he spoke.

"It does not. There is nothing that can truly burn away the taint of what we did, save death."

He turned, and began to walk away. He had ruined Beric's ship, and needed to return to Nero's to continue his mission. He expected both men to follow.

"But this is a good start."

 

[Dmitri]

Nero followed the two elders. Wisdom and ignorance, feelings of redemption and eternal taintedness. He looked forward to see how the chaos would lead them. He got into the ship first, prepping it for flight.

"So where to?" inquired Nero.

 

[Kit]

((OOC: Very short post, soz. Also, I reckon we're just about done here. New thread?))

"That depends," Augustus began, "on which Sith planet is closest."

He had a plan, and though it carried incredible risk, it was likely the best and only way to get close to Jhon.