The Darkness built within Charlotte. Her eyes burning coals into Lerta’s chest. “Death and deception, Queen Mother, and the twisting of your loyal Royal Guard.” That was when the surprise hit. The Indominable shook with surprising violence. Charlotte was nearly thrown off her feet. Only the Force roaring through her body kept her footing. The world seemed to slow in that moment. The Darkness speaking in her mind. Now is the time. This is the path. Slowly, she watched Ashla move…the young Acolyte spreading gore in her wake. Charlotte barely moved. She was paralyzed by the moment. The Darkness screaming in her mind. TAKE YOUR PLACE.
Visions swept past her thoughts. Stolas murdering cultists…Andruil pattering through the blood. The Empress then just a Sith Lord. Their binding contract signed in blood. Ah…there he was. The face of her father…stunned as she took the life from him. His heart fighting as she squeezed. Andruil killing her mother elsewhere in the manor. She’d killed him. Why? Why…murder the only man who ever loved her? For this. For the power to set herself free. A childhood of slavery, an apprenticeship of abuse, a mother who sold her for part. Never would she suffer again. Tears rolled town her cheeks as she screamed.
A scream to rend flesh from bones. A scream to turn souls inside out. Her torture found a home in what Royal Guards remained. Those that did not fall to Ashla died as Charlotte ripped their minds and bodies to pieces. Her pain became, their pain. Her suffering, their suffering. Every once of her being was let lose in that room. It was a mess when the cries stopped. Lerta looked at her in horror. “Fuck you, Queen Mother.” Charlotte threw her vibroblade into the old crone’s chest. Her was empty. The pains of the life of Charlotte Le’Anna were gone. Replaced only by the warmth glow of the Darkside. She was free.
The red warning lights of the shipped meant nothing good. The coms screamed of a something ripping the Battle Dragon apart. Well done, Cairo. She straightened her hair and whipped the blood from her face. A deep breath. “One moment, Ashla.” Charlotte pushed the dead body of the Queen Mother on the ground. She sat at the desk and pulled out her holorecorder. She quickly connected to the Consortium net. “The Queen Mother is dead…waylaid by her aging heart…long live the Queen Mother. With her last breath, she named me…Charlotte Fora Le’Anna of the noble House Le’Anna her successor. May our beloved Chume find peace in death and may the Consortium prosper.” She clicked the message off. In perfect Hapan fashion it was done. Already messages poured in from the noble houses of long live the Queen, long may she reign.
Any evidence of their excursion died with this ship. Her mind sought Cairo. “Escape pods.” She flicked her eyes towards Ashla. “Ah…one of these doors is a the Queen's personal get the fuck out of here pod.” It was then Charlotte noticed the blaster burn in her shoulder. Ass. One of the guards had gotten a shot off. Not good. She slumped against the wall. “We should leave before the ship explodes. Cairo will find a pod, he’s a good kid.” Oh...she was delerious. Charlotte slank her way towards one of her escape pods. It was over. The Indominable would implode and the Sith would rendezvous at the Palace. Then she had an Empress to see.
@Wit @Fine Dining Set