Ask Grasping a Blade

[Malerion]

Malerion had traded the more non-descript shuttle he had used to travel between planets for a military craft. The Malleus Gunship had been found within the hangar of the droid manufactory and was much better suited to the vast emptiness of the void between the known galaxy and Exegol. What had once been a secret location only known to a few individuals had slowly slipped further and further into common knowledge, Malerion still had no idea how its secret slipped into the hands of the ISC although he suspected it was one of the Imperial Scumbags who then quickly turned on the Order once their stronghold was destroyed.

It was weirdly peaceful out here, whenever they had to stop to make adjustments to their jump to move around one of the thousands of obstacles, Malerion would stare out of the viewports staring back at the galaxy that was his and everyone's home. It seemed so little, able to reach out and grasp most of it with just one hand.

Along with a crew of Sith, Malerion had brought around a fifty of the RDR-8 Battle Droids he was able to produce prior to his departure from Hypori, it would be their first task to go back and collect the rest and the facility itself once todays deed was done.

Less a member of the crew and more of a colleague, Ambrosia who had helped back on Namadii had travelled with him to the outer reaches of the Galaxy. Stepping back from the cockpit, he moved into the small communal space in the middle of the ship. “Last jump.” He said, dropping down a pair of steps to the small kitchenette area grabbing himself a drink of water. Malerion had donned his armour just before the last jump, not knowing how far they had left. It was meant to be uncomfortable, irritating and painful to wear, allowing the Sith to more easily tap into the Dark Side due to his frustration and anger at wearing the metal plates. But at the moment it just made opening the bottle more of a problem that it needed to be. “You know there is a chance we get blown into oblivion long before we get close?”

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

'Last jump.'

Ambrosia looked toward his voice, her eyes flicking up just in time to watch the armor-clad Malerion drop down the stairs to join her in the kitchenette. The Arkanian offshoot had spent most of her time here during the trip, the Dark Side a quiet hum around her as she passed the time in a half-meditative state, scribbling notes in furious but perfectly straight lines across a notebook. But now her attention was on Malerion, and the hum had faded. If he looked, he would not see words, but rather, literal musical notes.

He asked his question, and she didn't answer right away. Her pale violet eyes were intensely studying his body, rising up from the sharp boots on his feet, up past the armorweave skirt, to the intricately-designed chestplate, and finally, to his eyes. His armor was ostentatious, extravagant, and... well, it looked uncomfortable. But it made him unmistakable; he stood out, and such armor gave him command of the room. Ambrosia certainly couldn't keep her eyes off him.

"I would risk oblivion for this," she answered simply, finally turning her eyes away from Malerion to look through the ship and out the viewport several meters away in the cockpit. Exegol. What would await her on the dark planet? What would it feel like to have the chill of the Dark Side come from the very earth itself?

"Why do you wear that armor?" she finally asked, turning back to look at him. She stood up and got a glass of water herself, her eyes turning back to meet his eyes after a moment. Though she'd known him for a bit now, she'd never bothered to ask about the armor.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

There was a small hum of the Dark Side radiating off of Ambrosia as she meditated throughout their little trip. There was some comfort in feeling the Dark Side all around him, slowly penetrating every fibre of his being without the need for him to tap into it himself. But as he entered the hum faded and the comfort left, the room oddly feeling cold without it. His eyes glanced at the book, not understanding at all what the woman was writing, perhaps a language native to her homeworld he thought. Not understanding that it was notes not letters.

“One must be seen to be heard.” He began, finalling opening the bottle and taking a long swig of the cold fresh liquid. “When I enter the room, all eyes will turn to me, some might be scornful or disapproving thinking it's pretentious and flamboyant, others that I am just another fool. But they will still be looking, from there I can plant my hooks, with subtle words and deeds.” Malerion finished the bottle of water stepping around the woman to give them both some space in the cramped quarters.

“It is also good at deflecting blaster bolts.” He finished with a smile.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

Malerion's answer was about what she expected, and his additional comment about it deflecting blaster bolts got a chuckle out of her. "Useful," she commented, taking a sip of her water afterward to clear her throat.

Another thing the armor did was emphasize, though not intentionally, the stark difference in appearance between her and Malerion. He was tall, broad, and imposing. She was anything but the three of those things with her thin frame, porcelain skin, and doll-like features. The contrast between the two of them amused Ambrosia, but also made her wonder: what would it be like to be a presence in the room no one could ignore? It was unlikely she would ever achieve that on appearance alone.

"The ISC came here," she commented, referring to Exegol. "What do you think we'll find remaining?" She wasn't sure if the shipping yards that had been destroyed by the ISC would be related to whatever they were after. Hopefully, the answer was no.

Regardless, the Dark Side would surely permeate the planet regardless, so she felt there would be no loss to herself regardless.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

Malerion scrunched the bottle tight within his hand at the mention of the ISC’s blasphemous attack on their old world. If not for that attack the Order would have a perfect redoubt to once again feed out into the wider Galaxy. “Nothing.” He said flatley, the reports he had back from the first flight were of a dying world, magma and brimstone nothing worth taking or retrieving apart from hunks of shattered steel.

As if on cue the hum of the hyperdrive raised for a moment before becoming silent as they dropped back into normal space. If Ambrosia looked through any of the viewports she would see no planet, no sun, just empty space surrounded by a nebula. “Now we wait and hope not to be blown apart.” He said, more to himself than anyone else.

______

Somewhere within a nearby gas cloud, a ping appeared on a ship's sensor array. It was the first time since they arrived six years ago and the noise caught everyone on the bridge by surprise.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

Right, she sort of forgot that 'Excalibur' was not a weapon but a ship. She still wanted to go down to visit the old planet. Even if there was nowhere to go, nothing to find... the temptation ran hot in her veins. Until they arrived, Ambrosia decided to return to meditating on the Dark Side. The buzz of it began to return to the room, but just as she began to sink into it, they dropped from hyperspace.

"Are their comms not open?" she asked, a hint of grumpiness in the woman's voice as she stood back up. She glanced at Malerion then started up out of the kitchenette room, heading for the viewport where she could get a better view of the nebula and empty space in front of them. Pale violets searched the beige-splattered darkness, though they would find nothing.

"Make sure our comms are open," she commanded softly of a nearby crew member, eyes remaining trained on the gas cloud before them. She'd let Malerion make the decision on whether or not to reach out though.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

Malerion’s eyes flicked up towards one of the crew when Ambrosia mentioned the Comm line. If for any reason they were not, the murderous look in the Sith’s eyes changed that quickly. The small craft was transmitting a Sith transponder, one from Avillion and the Old Empire itself, hoping this would give them less of chance of utter annihilation.

They stood in silence for what felt like eternity although it was perhaps only thirty minutes. “Sir, there is something on the sensors.” One of the crew called out. Malerion quickly jumped up the double step into the cockpit as the pilot swivelled around to face the incoming target.

There it was, the grandest ship in the Imperial arsenal, an Excalibur-Class Super Star Destroyer, the Excalibur itself. A thick smile appeared on his face as he took in the heft of the craft. “Imperial Craft, this is Commander Gawain of the Excalibur, state your business.” A voice came over the comm, pressing the button on the comm panel Malerion replied. “Commander Gawain, this is Malerion of Avillion and the Sith. I come with news and orders, Excalibur is to be drawn on our enemies.”

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

"Is that so?" The commander's voice came through, stern and not sounding entirely convinced. "Tell me, Malerion of Avillion and the Sith, how come a mere errand boy was sent to call us out from hiding?"

Ambrosia looked sideways at Malerion, curious how he would answer such a question. She had no idea what the crew on 'Excalibur' knew about the schism. Did they even know that their master, the late Darth Caelestis, had fallen?

Just in case they would need to make a quick escape, Ambrosia turned to one of their crew members. "Can we jump to hyperspace from here, if need be?"

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

“Yes Mamm.” The co-pilot replied to Ambrosia. Malerion bristled at the errand boy comment, gritting his teeth sneering at the holo-terminal in front of him. Ambrosia would be able to sense a wave of Dark Side energy flow around the Sith as he tried to control his emotions. Any stupid outbursts were likely to get them blown to dust. The ship was approaching them at breakneck speed, in only a few short minutes they would be within full range of its weapons.

“As Heir to Darth Caelestis, King of Avillion.” He said fiercely. “You may have heard that my father died at the hands of Darth Andruil and since then both Avillion and the Sith Empire have fallen to ruin. I arrive here to take back what is my birthright.” It was all a lie, he wasn’t Arotrigas’ son or heir, but a lot had happened in the time since Excalibur had left and Malerion was young enough to be an heir to the Wessex line.

“I have his seal and sword to prove it.” He finished, his head turned back to Ambrosia who knew the seal was taken, not given. This deception and his grander plan would rely on her holding her tongue at least until he can get his hooks into the crew and fully sway them to his side.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

A ghost of a smile graced Ambrosia's lips as the Sith beside her fumed. She felt the wave of anger roll over her and relished in the behind-teeth way he answered the command. The woman almost wished there would be no consequences to him giving into his anger because that was exactly what she wanted to see him do.

There was silence over the line for several seconds after Malerion answered. The tension in the air was thick enough to be cut, and even Ambrosia felt nerves creeping across her porcelain skin. She was pretty sure Malerion was not related to Darth Caelestis unless it was just some minor detail he'd never bothered to mention to her. Either way, when their eyes met, he would know one thing for certain: she certainly didn't plan on saying anything about it.

"That is new information." Ambrosia raised her eyebrows at Malerion as if to say, 'this is an opportunity'. Malerion now had something the commander wanted - information. "You have permission to approach and board Excalibur. I will speak with you there."

Once Malerion made his closing remark, if he chose to do so, Ambrosia would signal for the crew to close out of communications.

"Well, we haven't been blown apart yet," she mused aloud, her lips finally curling up into a smile. The tension was still there, but it seemed that they were safe from oblivion for now. She turned to the crew and said, "Approach the nebula slowly and wait for further instructions." She was sure they would be receiving more accurate coordinates for the ship soon enough.

"What do you plan to do once we reach the ship?" she asked straight of Malerion, watching him with unwavering violets.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

He waited, teeth gritted tight together an ache appearing in his jaw as nothing but silence came through the Comm panel. Then finally Gawain’s voice sounded over the comm, they were to come aboard. A sickly sweet smile appeared on his lips, he was one foot in the door, that is all he needed to twist his way into their minds. He would have Excalibur before the day was out.

“I expect both you and the command team in the hangar on my arrival.” Malerion replied, his voice thick with a pompous attitude and swagger. A second later before Gawain could reply the comm was cut, Malerion had the pilot begin the approach, whilst the sensor officer kept an eye on their weapons. A hyperspace jump was still queued up just encase.

Stepping back down from the cockpit into the area he stretched his arms out, adrenaline coursing through his body, he was on a high. Staring death in the face and coming out ahead was such a thrill. A jubilant smile on his face. “I take my birthright.” He replied, even to the crew on the ship it was a lie, only Ambrosia knew the difference and the thought of running a blade through her spine to silence her was ever present in his mind. “We speak to the command team, have them swear loyalty, then the crew. Then we head for Korriban.”

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

"Fair enough." The Arkanian offshoot was perfectly happy keeping the man's secret behind closed - now smiling - lips. She could spread the lie, weaving it even tighter into the minds of those they knew. She could use it against him, betraying him for her own interests when the time was right. Perhaps she would never speak of it again. He could only trust her to keep it to herself.

What fun power there was in a secret. And how tempting did Malerion appear, standing there, the ghost of a threat in his eyes and the Dark Side playing off his passion? She was eager to see what he would do next.

-​

Their little vessel would slowly but surely approach Excalibur. Ambrosia, until then, had retreated to her quarters, returning only when the crew began the docking process. She joined them before the viewport, pale violet eyes staring at the massive ship with an intensity that almost looked alien on her downturned, doe eyes.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

He watched her go into the small quarters the woman had been given, thoughts of venting atmosphere or injecting poison into the room pushed to the side after a time.

The distant sun’s rays were blocked the massive bulk of Excalibur as they approached, Malerion gazed at every inch of the ship he could from the viewport next to the pilot. It appeared despite its age, brand new, no scratches from interstellar debris, or scorch marks from turbolaser fire. It was perfect, Malerion smiled. He wondered what it had been like for those stationed here, locked off from the galaxy for years without any contact from outside, not knowing when they would be contacted and called out of hiding. Their food stores must be getting low, what would happen then? Would they have abandoned their charge or starved to death, that was a question for later he thought.

Ambrosia appeared at his shoulder as they approached the rayshield that kept the main docking area pressurised. Malerion could see through the haze that a large group had been assembled on the deck, at least two hundred strong. As they passed through the rayshield everything became clearer, pretty much all of them were dressed in black Imperial uniforms however about a dozen wore crimson red armour and stood directly in front of the landing area assigned to the ship.

As the landing gear extended Malerion walked out of the cockpit heading for the exit ramp. “Everyone out apart from the flight team.” He called, the dozen or so crew lined up behind him as he waited to depart. Hydraulics hissed as the landing gear took the full weight of the ship, the noise followed a moment later as the door unsealed and revealed the falling ramp.

Malerion strode down the ramp, the pilot had turned the ship so the side ramp was directly pointed at the dozen crimson guards and a group of three individuals who stood separately from the others gathered. The uniformed staff were all in neat lines, heads up staring directly ahead. He walked forwards past the crimson guards who snapped to attention as he walked, reaching the smaller group, a gruff older gentleman with grey hair and beard stood at the head. “Commander Gawain I presume?” Malerion asked, but before he could answer the Sith continued. “Kneel.” Malerion remembered how Tempest had acted to him and others when she met them for the first time, dominating them with will and The Force if they did not yield to her presence. He would follow suit.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

"Prove to me that you are the heir you claim to be."

The Commander did not slouch, and he did not shy away. He had served many years under Darth Caelestis, a man he had watched rise from the ranks of the Sith and establish the Kingdom of Avillion. His commitment to that Kingdom had earned him the honor of commanding 'Excalibur.' He would do that man no disrespect by kneeling before any but him or his descendants.

"Show me the seal which you claim to possess."

While the two spoke, Ambrosia stood to Malerion's side, but back a stride. She had spent her whole life playing the servant - the doll - and the one a step behind, so it came naturally to the woman to stand back and appear less important the man in front of her. But still, she stood taller and straight than she ever had as a pet, her violent eyes piercing through her Sith companion and right toward the Commander and the ranks of men around him.

How would this play out, she wondered?

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

Malerion gritted his teeth at the defiance of the Commander, anger once again rolled off the Sith for the insult. But it was a play, he suspected the man had his doubts and would have been more disappointed had the man knelt without any resistance at all. So the gritted teeth slowly turned into a smile, Malerion continued to stare into the man’s eyes, his sickly yellow orbs staring deep into his soul as Malerion pulled out the seal he and Ambrosia had recovered from Namadii from a small pouch at his back.

Without looking down he flipped it around so the embossed end was visible to the Commander. “As I said, I am the one true heir to Darth Caelestis.” He called out loudly, his eyes finally shifting from Commander Gawain to look over the assembled masses. “The Galaxy has changed, the Sith have fallen and with their fall the remnants of Avillion will rise like a phoenix to burn down the galaxy.” Malerion placed the seal back in the pouch at his back just below his seax. “It is time for us all to return to the Galaxy we call home and reap our revenge against all those who slighted us and our fathers.”

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

Ambrosia stood quietly still while the conversation between Malerion and the Commander unfolded in front of her.

The Commander, upon seeing the embossed end, would not change his expression. His eyes traveled from it, to Malerion's eyes, to Ambrosia and those who stood behind the 'heir.' He was quiet too, while Malerion spoke, absorbing that which the Sith revealed about the current state of the galaxy. The old man, after Malerion finished his call to action, straightened his back, rolled his shoulders into place, and stared Malerion directly in the eye.

"Heir of Caelestis, we are at your command." And with that, the man dropped onto one knee. The masses behind him followed, causing a chorus of soft thuds as hundreds of knees hit the ground in close succession.

Ambrosia wondered how important such a small seal could be as to bring two hundred men to their knees.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

After his little rallying call, Malerion’s eyes shifted back towards the Commander. The sickly yellow orbs bore into the Commander’s own tainted eyes, dark energy flowed around the Sith as he stood there waiting for the answer, if the man failed to bend the knee then they would all be killed. Malerion knew that but if he was to die he would take as many of them with him as he could.

Then the Commander broke, or gave in, or accepted the bold faced lie. For he called him the heir of Caelestis and bent the knee. A broad smile swept across Malerion’s face as he watched all those in the hanger bend the knee. After a few moments to both soak it in and establish his command, he commanded them all to rise. “Commander Gawain take us to the bridge. I would like to see what my father left me.” He said confidently.

The man agreed and soon the small party was walking through the corridors of the colossal craft. “We were only given a skeleton crew Mi’Lord, your father informed us that he would be returning within a few months with the remaining crew. Since then however a few have died and some even stole away on craft we had docked in the hangars. I have dealt with at least half a dozen inserections personally.” Gawain informed Malerion as they walked. Behind next to Ambrosia another woman walked. “How did you come to know Lord Malerion?” She asked the woman.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

Step by step, Ambrosia followed Malerion and the small escort leading him to 'his father's' assets. She did not speak at all until she was later spoken to, her hands folded neatly behind her back as she quietly observed the halls in which they strode down. The ship was truly massive. Even a 'skeleton crew' would have to number in the many thousands, though it was possible the numbers were much less after years of disease, mutiny, and other fatal factors.

"We trained together as Sith," Ambrosia answered, intentionally vague as she turned her pale violets toward the woman walking beside her. Her gaze softened and her lips curved up into the beginning of a smile like the Arkanian offshoot was glad to see another woman among the men. "How long have you served Commander Gawain?" she asked back, curious to see what she might learn about the man from her.

While Ambrosia and the woman slowly fell behind to the back of the group, Malerion and the Commander would finally reach the entrance to the Darth's old quarters within the ship. The door was embossed with the symbol of the Wessex Great House and the one of Avillion in plated gold. It was unlikely that the quarters had ben inhabited for more than brief periods of time, but Malerion would know that Caelestis had.

The Commander reached into his pocket and procured a key - a solid key with its own unique shape - and presented it to Malerion. "Lord Caelestis' key," he stated, rotating it so that Malerion would see an emblem similar to that of the wax item's.

"Has he been a worthy commander of this ship?" Further back, still making their way toward the chambers, Ambrosia continued to make small talk with the woman.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

The woman smiled, she was older than both Ambrosia and Malerion but younger than Gawain, in her mid thirties, dirty blonde hair and a face full of freckles. Unlike her Commander her eyes were of a chocolate brown. “I have served with Commander Gawain since Excalibur was sent into the Nebula, before that I served on Darth Celestis’ Star Destroyer as an officer. Captain Eafled.” She said holding her hand out to the young Sith.

Malerion eyed the symbols on the door with a mixture of awe and concern, everything he currently held was based on a lie. Once Excalibur was firmly under his command he would need to deal with any loose ends which could destroy his fragile base. It took him a moment to snap out of his thoughts and take the key from Gawain’s hand. “Thank you Commander. I shall take time later to look through my father’s things.” He replied placing the key in the small pouch at the base of his spine just below his seax. Malerion would rather enter the room without an audience who might expect him to act a certain way to objects hidden within, so he would push on turning and forcing Gawain to lead them further on towards the bridge.

“Commander Gawain is devoutly loyal to Darth Caelestis and the Avillion Kingdom. He has killed a number of close friends in defence of this ship, although I know he mourned them for a long time after. He isn’t a good Captain, that is what I am for, but in terms of dealing with the crew there isn’t any better.” Captain Eafled replied, her voice lowering as they caught up with the front pair.

@lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

"Ambrosia," she responded as she accepted the woman's hand, taking the time to deliberately shake it firmly.

Gawain's 'devout' loyalty to Darth Caelestis and the Avillion Kingdom was very interesting to learn about. Immediately, this meant two things to her: one, it meant Malerion would have to be very careful not to trip over his pile of lies, and two, his willingness to kill even his friends marked him as staunchly loyal. However, it seemed that loyalty had slipped among his crew. His manner of 'dealing with it' may have potentially made him more enemies than friends.

"And you, Captain Eafled, what duties have you undertaken?" After the woman answered, Ambrosia would take a moment to process, then ask another. "Excalibur was stationed here with as skeleton crew, no?" She didn't know much about ships and crews and all that, but she could infer enough to ask questions. "It's been years. I overheard the commander say you lost a 'few' men to death and deserting. 'Dozens' to insurrections." Ambrosia paused, slowing down her pace to deliberately put more distance between them and the group in front of them, including both the Commander and Malerion. "How many men have you actually lost?"

Her question was a challenge for the Captain to be honest. After years, she fully expected the death toll to be more than the 'few' Commander Gawain said it had been. "With Excalibur's current supply, is your ship truly waiting, or are you stuck?"

This would make the difference between the Sith being truly needed or not.

Meanwhile, ahead, Gawain paused to look at Malerion when he declared he would explore his father's chambers at a later time. He followed regardless, though it might be clear he had expected Malerion to want to immediately check out the chambers.

"Ah, of course," he stammered out after a moment, quickly regaining his professional composure. "Right this way."

"All of our systems are fully operational," he began on the way over, folding his hands together behind his back. "Though many have been temporarily subsided to preserve fuel and energy... of which we are running low on supply of."

They approached a group of crew members leaning up against a wall, eating, chatting, and laughing. Upon seeing the Commander and the Sith walking by his side they immediately sobered up, standing rigidly at attention until the entire group had fully passed by.

@Braden