Ask [Tibrin] After the Fall Comes the Rise

[Celeste Stythani]

Her first impulse was to argue back and so she opened her mouth again, but reconsidering what he pointed out, all she did was exhale, closing her lips again. She pondered on what he had just said for a few more moments until she realized that he wasn't even wrong. This stoic, emotionless state was calm...while she had expected him to reprimand her in any way, he had just stayed calm. Even so calm that it had driven her a little crazy, but actually, he had a point. Was it a satisfying answer? Still not fully...I bugged her that he was even right about that and that her little outburst hadn't been fully justified. She had let herself be governed by her emotions and this was something that was happening more and more often right now. He had strongly developed in this regard and had actually gotten much further, as she remembered well how they had shouted at each other at several occasions where both had gotten a little too heated.

She let out a sigh, tilting her head backwards for a moment while she just frustratedly stared in the sky for a few seconds. She then turned her attention back to Altair, her gaze meeting his once again while he expressed that he was fine. He sounded absolutely genuine and it seemed like he actually believed what he was saying, but judging from her expressions, she wasn't fully convinced yet. Something might have lain dormant deep inside him, perhaps even in the subconscious, but she had gotten much more clarity about how this all had affected him and so she was partly satisfied. "Good. If that's all it is, fine. I'm still, glad I tagged along on this mission" she finally replied, a soft smile following, even if it was still rather hesitant, but they began to head back.

They passed by the towers and the bird was just where she had placed it, fortunately untouched by that feline creature. Together they headed back and not expecting any troubles at camp, she used the Force to levitate the bird back, not wanting to drag that huge thing through her path of destruction after all. Back at the camp, the mood seemed much more lightened, which was an actual relief and suddenly Altair switched back to well...being Altair. Now that was the sweet, caring Tiefling who was usually so passionate about cooking that he wouldn't even let an opportunity in the midst of the outskirts on a tropical, desolate island slide. "Don't thank me before we've tasted it" she threw in amusedly, watching him for a moment before something came to her mind. She headed back into the thicket, not having to go far though as just a few meters away from camp she had spotted a bush with some slight familiar looking fruits. She had seen them when she had started her little trip and also when they had gotten back, but now she had her hands free to take out the datapad and scan them.

A few minutes later the champion with a whole bunch of those black fruits, carefully dropping them near the place where the food was being preapred. "I found some barabel fruits. It's apparently not their season yet, so they're not fully ripe, but their sweet, now potentially slightly sour juice offers some refreshment and could spice up our water a little" she told Altair, but the ones responsible for cooking eyed the little haul with pleasure as well. She then headed back to the tent that had been assigned to her, quickly changing out of the damp clothes and hanging them to dry before switching into new clothes. Only then would she return to the fire, excitedly waiting for what magic Altair had done to the food. For now, the mission had gotten some more vacational vibes and she was glad that the divers' mission had gone smoothly.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair finished removing all the feathers, cutting out all the parts that could be discarded. His soldiers watched in awe, their Commander effortlessly handling a bird as if he had spent a lifetime eating in the wild. Within moments, the bird was on a stick roasting over a fire.

He looked up when Celeste arrived with the assortment of fruit, “Perfect,” He said, “I’ll make some of this into a gravy reduction,” Altair said as he began to mash up the fruits. He put a bowl under the bird to collect drippings, turning to one of his men, “Keep turning the bird so it cooks evenly,” He said, showing how often and keeping the man on watch.

Altair moved from the fire and walked back to his own tent, also changing out of his wet clothes and into a different uniform. He didn’t bring any casual clothes on this trip, a new habit of his.

It would take time for the bird to cook thoroughly, so for now he walked over and sat down on the edge of the cliff that overlooked the ocean. Most of the soldiers were milling about, many with their helmets off. Altair stared up at the moon over the seas and the stars that stretched out for miles, his legs hanging over the edge of the cliff.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

At the time Celeste returned, she found the massive already readied and on a stick, seemingly seasoned and perfectly plucked already. The soldiers were casually chatting amongst themselves, some watching Altair with truly impressed expressions on their faces.

Obviously, he had an idea what to make out of the fruits and so she took a seat by the fire, watching him work his magic and admiring his dedication. There he was again. The Altair she remembered, as passionate about cooking as ever, approachable and warm. He let the bird sizzle over the fire while he left and Celeste assumed ha was changing as well.

She remained at the fire, engaging in surprisingly lighthearted conversations with the Imperial soldiers that raised her own mood further while a pleasant smell filled the air. As the bird started turning slightly crispier, she tended to some of the fruits herself and effortlessly squeezed out their juice for everyone to grab.

After a while, she realized that the Commander had still not returned, but a look over her shoulder told her that he was sitting alone, yet not far off, brooddingly staring into the distance at the edge of the cliff they were camping on. For a moment, she considered simply leaving him to himself as he seemed like he wanted some time all for himself, but joining him was tempting indeed and he was still without something to drink.

Because of that, she grabbed two cups, filling in some of the distilled, chilled water they had brought and a s swig of the barabel juice in each container before walking up to him. "I gotta take it back" she said as she strolled closer, gaze directed towards the starry horizon ahead, beautifully stretching over the seemingly endless, dark and calm ocean."I was judging to quickly. My temper was heated and it led me to hasty judgements. I'm sorry. Yes, you're changed, but you're still yourself at heart". She stopped right next to him, offering him one of the drinks while looking down at him, a soft smile crossing her lips. "I hope you'll find it enjoyable. I'll leave you to it then". If he wouldn't stop her, she'd turn to leave as soon as he took the cup. If he'd wanted to talk, he would, otherwise she'd have her peace with his still changed self and join the others by the fire again. It wouldn't take much longer and the bird would be ready for them to feast on.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was distracted from his thoughts when Celeste arrived with the drinks. He took a cup, taking a sip. He had tried fruity drinks before, but this was particularly flavorful and refreshing. The tiefling quietly considered her words, not responding immediately. He kept his gaze trained ahead as she began to walk away.

“I know I’ve changed,” He said quietly, his body language suggesting he didn’t mind if she stayed, “The old me, quite frankly, hasn’t gotten me anywhere,” Altair shrugged as he took another sip of the drink, “But thank you for being a friend through it all.”

If she chose to sit with him, he would hang out. Otherwise, he remained seated on the edge of the cliff with the drink.

The smell of the roasting bird permeated through the air and the camp was getting hungry. After enough time passed, Altair finally rose up and made his way back to the camp. Of course, there were no proper kitchen tools, but he improvised with hunting knives to carve the bird. He sliced up the succulent pieces into bowls, pouring some of the sauce he made over it. The bowls were distributed to everyone.

The meat was perfectly juicy and flavorful, the sauce adding a spicy and sweet kick to it. The Imperials were raving about it, and Altair was internally proud though he said nothing aloud. Only Aval had his cooking before, but the others had only heard about the tiefling’s skills in the kitchen.

Some of the soldiers started being jovial and singing after they finished their meals. Altair didn’t partake in any of that, stepping away to speak to his generals. The report was that the toxins were doing their thing, and by next morning there would be all sorts of distress among the Ishi Tib. That would be Celeste’s que to offer Sith assistance as a solution.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

With the setting sun, the air changed. Nightfall hung in it with the temperatures slowly dropping, but the humidity stayed. She studied him for a little while, beginning to turn, however then picked up his hints and interpreted them in a way that he didn't mind her staying at all. He still seemed rather brooding and contemplative, so she made her way back to him, took a sip of the sweetened, fruity, refreshing water and sat down quietly. "Of course" she then softly replied, her knees tugged to her body, arms resting on top and the head placed above them, actually enjoying the tranquil moment shared underneath the stars. He had a point with him not having come further by sticking to some of his old traits and she couldn't deny that she had made similar experiences after all...

When the bird announced its readiness through the juicy, spicy flavor that lingered in the air, she walked back with him, actually curious about how her rage kill would taste. She was absolutely convinced that he had worked his magic on it, however they still couldn't be certain about whether or not the meat would be all soft ans juicy. As they started distributing the portions, she dug in slowly, first trying just a little bite before realizing that it wasn't just the meat that was just on point. "Impressive, Lieutenant General Din...the seasoning and the sauce is absolutely delicious" she praised Altair while the mass of Imperials joined in with satisfied, impressed grunts. Everyone seemed happy and absolutely positively suprised by such an excellent meal in the middle of nowhere and Celeste was amused by the circumstances of this heavenly meal, not having expected such a feast here on Tibrin.

Altair immediately started throwing himself back into work and while she remained seated with a bunch of soldiers, still engaged in interesting conversations, but she still made her wake back to him before she planned to call it a night. "Is there anything you still need me to do tonight?" she asked him warmly, her mood having improved vehemently. She was still here to receive and follow his orders, so she checked in before she would vanish into her tent, preparing for the day to come. It seemed like he was done with his Generals so it was only the two of them.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

The old Altair would have busted out a guitar and sang songs with everyone. Celeste would have had to nag him about the mission. However, instead he was the only one still working while everyone else lazed about or enjoyed themselves. By the time the others left, Altair was checking in with the scouts and the toxicity levels in the sea. He glanced up at Celeste when she spoke.

“Just be prepared to meet with the diplomats tomorrow,” Altair said as he closed off the datapad. There was a moment of silence and he wasn’t sure what else to say. His tail lazily swished back and forth, though it lacked the usual animated and happy sway it had.

“Are you returning as a Sith or a diplomat?” Altair asked after a moment of silence, curious about her aspirations. She, like him, had changed, and he wondered if she intended to follow in the footsteps of people like Raze or Vahliri or back on the path she had been before.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The casual chatter in the background faintly continued, actually proving how light at pleasant the mood had gotten, but here, at the outskirts of the camp with less light than at the bright, warm fire, there were only the stars and the moon that illuminated the scene.

She wasn't sure whether it was tension that was building up or whether something else was in the air. Celeste nodded curtly nodded at his reply, however it seemed like he was about to say something else, however maybe not quite sure what. The silence was then broken by the question he raised now made her ponder on it for a moment.

Her life had recently undergone some heavy ups and downs, and while she had undeniably changed, the question wasn't easy to answer. As close as she was with Altair, she would give him nothing but a honest answer, however she herself wasn't even certain about it. Somehow, the question made her feel a little empty, even though she actually pursued clear aspirations.

"Well...it's not that easy" she began, a small smirk forming on her lips. "After everything that happened, I can't and never would deny the dark side ever again. Vahliri is training me well and helping where my old master had failed me back then". Her uncle had been a Sith, too, however he had gone too easy on her. She didn't blame him entirely, yet he, too, had added to her constantly being held back.

"I now see my powers from a different angle and I won't waste them any more, hence I won't just focus on diplomacy". She wouldn't lean back again and just focus on administrating business. She still had her diplomatic touches and she wouldn't put them aside entirely, but everything inside her was thriving for much more than negotiations. After all the time she had spent with Arla, she had constantly learned more about the Arcane and her interests had broadened and risen in various areas, so she would not do desk work and nothing else.

"So the answer is actually Sith. I'm looking to extend my powers and I'm still eager to learn much more" she explained, feeling the Force strongly flowing right through her in this very moment. Ever since she had opened herself to the Dark Side again, she could always feel it right inside her, striving for more. Feeling this raw power was thrilling, yet she she still knew of the importance of resources. Just like here on Tibrin, the best possible outcome could be achieved by convincing the leaders instead of just forcing them into submission, as tempting as it was...

She still didn't agree with everything some Sith did. She didn't fully share some of their views on the Empire, as she was viewing the Imperials as the Empire's backbone and was not one to treat them as background lore. "I'm serving the dark side, but I serve the Empire, too, not just myself and my own thriving for more". Maybe this was the politician that was still inside her, but while she now fully commited herself to the dark side, she was striving to continue her collaborations with the IAF and ISB without proclaiming untouched superiority. Through Max, Altair and even through Varyn her connection to them had been strengthened and she had experienced that approaches on eyelevel worked so much better. "I see you're still in the midst of your stellar, military ascend. I'm impressed and think I haven't even congratulate you on your recent achievements. So, congratulations, Lieutenant General". The smile that followed was faint, yet there was an undeniable hint of genuine warmth inside it. She had met him as a Sith Champion before he had fully dedicated himself to his military career and as everyone could see, he was doing great.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair wasn’t surprised by her answer, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. He knew his path would clash with hers with how he wanted Imperials to reign supreme. Embracing the Dark Side fully meant being led by emotion and making foolish mistakes. The tiefling said none of this aloud, knowing he was always alone as a Sith in these regards.

“Thanks,” He said as she congratulated him. So far Trelain had delivered on everything she had promised. He held many titles and he was also promoted and now representing the southern region as a Moff. Altair still didn’t see his family much these days, but he threw himself into his work and it took up all his time.

“Just don’t lose yourself entirely,” He said to her quietly, meeting her eyes. They were words she said to him, and the serious tone implied he feared her going down a certain path. Nevertheless, he didn’t linger on it further, bidding her goodnight before she could ask any further questions. He was still being elusive and distant, and it was difficult to get through to him.

—​

The sun was barely up the next morning and Altair was already out for a jog. He was still a strict follower of the Emryc Thorne routine, and that included plenty of cardio on top of weights. By the time the soldiers began to wake up, Altair finally ran back into camp, shirtless and wearing some athletic pants. His body was more built than ever, bearing many new scars from his battles.

Altair wiped the sweat off his brow, looking around for Celeste. She would have to make her way to the main island in a few hours. Panic had already begun to spread among the locals about the toxins and the Ishi Tib Celeste had killed washed up as the first casualty.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She could see how her answer might not have been the one he expected and maybe also not the one he had wanted. She didn't say anything for now and so they were back to the silence that lingered in the air, their gazes meeting mid-air until he chose to break the silence once again.

There were not many people who still had an actual impact on her life, but he still had this power. His serious tone saddened her a little as she could hear those hints of worry underlying his sudden seriousness. "I won't" she promised and meaning it just like that. She knew what she had signed up for when she had returned, yet despite wanting to extend her powers, she would try holding on to the parts that were left of who she was. They weren't consumed entirely yet and she would hold onto that, but there was a bitter sweet irony in how he said to her what she had said to him earlier that day.

She bid him good night as well and then headed for her shelter, knowing she needed some time to rest and meditate and also that neither of them seemed to be interested in elaborating right now. She did only sleep a few hours, getting as much sleep as necessary before she focused on meditation and preparing herself for the grand arrival of the Imperial saviors.

As she stepped out, she was already clad in her now dried and clean uniform, immediately spotting the Tiefling in front of his tent and surprisingly shirtless again. Despite carrying more scars that were nothing but witnesses to and reminders of the battles he had recently fought, he looked good as always, perhaps even more defined than before.

"Good morning" she greeter him rather neutrally, her tone lacking the usual warmth as she was still a little consumed by the effects of her meditation. "Any news yet?" she asked him, curiosly raising a brow while snapping back to reality. "Did you plan on accompanying me or will you try to ensure that our little background story won't get blown up?". As the divers had done their job, they could potentially start packing again. The toxins seemed to have enfolded their potential already and so a second dive was probably unnecessary.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair wiped sweat off his brow and nodded, “You can go in now. You will be meeting with Governor Arshak. He’s already making calls to different governments. I have a team jamming some of the external comms so he’s unanswered for now. That’s where you come in having received distressing intel,” He explained, “I won’t be joining you because I need to execute on the promises you make.”

Altair looked as if he had more to say, but he left it at that. He pointed over to a shuttle that was waiting for her and anyone she wanted to accompany her. He was confident the mission would work out in their favor.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was good that she had gotten her uniform all cleaned up as it always made a better impression on other diplomats and planet representatives. She nodded at his instruction, appreciating that he placed his full trust in her, yet it was as if something else lingered in the air.

For a moment she waiting, still meeting his gaze before adding. "Very well. I'll stay in contact and as soon as we seal the deal, I'll report back". With that, she turned around and marched off, boarding the shuttle with a small entourage of Imperials and set course for the Govenor.

It was time for the Empire to save the day after their reefs were suddenly dying. She didn't know the governor, but from the sounds of it, the citizen were rather worried and perhaps a little panicked and it would serve their course just well. She wasn't completely sure how pleased they would be to see the Empire being the first to arrive, but she assumed they'd simply wanted to save the underworld first and that the governor would prioritize the surviving of his marine life.

@Sreeya

 

[The Storyteller]

Governor Arshak was a mess of nerves. The Ishi Tib was pacing back and forth in his chambers, his advisors all failing to offer an explanation. No one could pinpoint the cause of the reef deaths, and the third case of a civilian washing ashore dead was alarming. His job was at stake if he didn’t resolve this issue at once.

“And you’ve contacted the Alliance and New Republic both? What about the ISC?”

“Each and every single one, sir..no one is responding.”

He took a seat and began to think about his options when one of his advisors spoke up.

“Governor, we have someone contacting us!” He said excitedly.

The Governor rose to his feet, “Patch them through!”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The shuttle quickly made its way over to the main land and Celeste was ready to jump into action, even if she didn't even do diplomatic negotiations often. She knew how important this was for him though and so she centered herself before getting any closer, focusing in order not to let her emotions get in the way here.

She alighted gracefully, a rather professional business facade on and to her positive surprise, she was immediately greeted with rather open arms. The Ishi Tib seemed desperate, so damn desperate and clueless that it internally amused her while she didn't show any of it though.

She was patched through, hands neatly folded behind her back until she was directly guided towards the panicking governor."Governor Arshak, it's a pleasure to meet you. We've just received your call as we were in the sector, so we immediately set course for Tibrin" she informed him, offering a polite little bow. The reefs were dying, just like the first people and it wasn't hard to tell that he was in distress.

"From the distress signal I take it was a very urgent call? I've got a few very capable men and women with me, maybe we can offer our immediate help..." A polite, warm smile followed with her being a little surprised with how composed she was for now. She didn't officially know the nature of the call, yet she signaled the Empire's immediate will to help the poor panicking Ishi Tib in need.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

The conditions were as perfect as possible for Celeste to sweep in. The Governor was not exactly the most altruistic man. He valued his career and he wanted to ensure that this thorn in his side had a quick fix. He was all too eager to meet with Celeste, waving away his aides that constantly urged him to consider other solutions and meeting with multiple governments. In the end, he made a unilateral decision and happily accepted the help.

It was smooth sailing from there. As soon as Celeste gave the word, Altair had his teams ready to start deploying the antidote to the toxins over the next few days. The Governor was so greedy and he didn’t even pause to wonder why the Sith just happened to have a cure. For the others on his council, Altair provided Celeste with information that they had dealt with similar situations before, giving credibility to the Empire.

It took only a week further to convince the Governor to align with the Sith. All the prep and diplomacy worked in perfect tangent, and the mission was a success.

/End Thread