Ask The First Shard

[Thel Xeros]

(Mustafar)

Having recovered the strange object on Atravis, Thel took the time to study it in order to determine what it was. He had become quite sure the object was one of the shards of Palpatine’s crown. It was too powerful to risk keeping in his possession. It seemed sensible to hand it over to Tempest, so she could deal with it. He didn’t want other interested parties trying to track him down.

Arriving on Mustafar, Thel wore his usual robes. It was his first time back on the planet since Fortress Vader had been reclaimed. Moving swiftly through the corridors of the fortress, he reached the throne room. The doors slid open to reveal Tempest sat on the throne. He stepped into the room and kneeled before her and also bowed his head. He placed a small metal box, which contained the shard, on the ground next to him. “Master, I have brought the shard. As you commanded."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Tempest could feel the artifact - long before Thel ever made his way into her vicinity. It was a siren song to anyone who dabbled in the Dark Side of the Force. It was an artifact of power that was rivaled by few others in the Galaxy, and it awoke a hunger within the Dark Lord to claim it for herself. Her request to have the shard hunted was a shot completely in the dark, but the fact that it had been fruitful was something that pleased her beyond measure.

By the time Thel entered the spacious chamber, Tempest was seated upon her throne - donned in the signature armor that the Galaxy had come to recognize. Her amber gaze was fixed onto the Sith Master as he knelt before her, presenting the box that contained her prize. Slowly but surely, the Dark Lord rose from her seat - descending the obsidian stairs where Thel waited.

As she approached, the mechanism within the box clicked open - the lid swinging open to reveal the velvet cushion where the First Shard rested. The Force coiled around it, lifting and levitating the artifact into her left hand, gripped tightly at once. Her gaze lingered on its every edge and detail. Feeling the metal that pierced into her fingers through the gloves she wore, the pulse of power that radiated like electricity through her body.

“You have served me well,” She began, turning her attention back to Thel. “Master Xeros.”

“Rise.” She gestured the Sith Master back to his feet - allowing him to rise to his full height before she spoke again. It wasn’t often that the Dark Lord was pleased with the results of her underlings, but Thel had defied expectation. It placed the man on her radar for better or worse, and earned her favor in that moment.

“Name your desire, and it is yours.”

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel kept his eyes on the ground, as Tempest approached. He could feel her desire for the object. Given her power, she would have no difficulty using it. Thel just wanted to be rid of the shard. He listened as Tempest removed the object from the box.

“Thank you, master.” Thel stood up and gave a bow of his head to the Sith Lord. He wondered if he might be given other tasks to perform. Instead, to his surprise, Tempest seemed to offer him a gift. He maintained his composed demeanour, taking a few seconds to think.

“The offer is very much appreciated, master. If I may say, I have been looking for a reliable pilot and some crew members.”

@Altaris