The door gave a satisfactory hiss as it closed behind the Shadow Lady of Arcona. She was tired, weary of the long day ahead of her on the morrow and of the day that had just passed. Without too much thought, she carefully removed the decorative binding that hid her sightless gaze. She knew she was not alone; Atyiru could see the aura of the woman that hid within the shadows of her darkened Chambers.

"I can see you sister." Her voice was calm; she wasn't at all at peace. Too many conflicting opinions buzzed in her mind, and here was another soul to add to her burdens.

"... I know." The Iridonian's voice sounded as she felt, disconnected and drained. "I know you do not need it but could you turn the lights on please?" The Miraluka obliged, uncertain if this was a welcomed visit.

Nath's pitch eyes blinked rapidly as she adjusted to the illuminated room, she sat at Atyiru's desk but had not touched a thing upon it. In her hand she nursed a small but strong shot of caff; it had gone cold hours ago but she had yet to drink it. The scent masked the smell of Tihaar rather well.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Inquired the Miraluka as she sat on the opposite side of her desk, she fell heavily into the chair, her slight weight making the leather protest mutely.

"You sound how I feel." Remarked Nath quietly as she inspected her sister. Atyiru had already began appraising her sister's aura, the small speckle within her head had grown, it looked more akin to a sarcoma now, connecting and weaving its way into her aura. There was much pain there, Atty had never asked what had happened upon her Master's death but it had changed her, now all she could see from the Iridonian was constant pain. Even the slightest movement sent a ripple of it within her.

"I highly doubt that." Remarked the Consul dryly. "I haven't seen you in many months."

"No, I had never needed an appointment before now so I decided to skip the foreplay." So much anger buzzed in her head, it lashed out in her words without even trying.

"I know you were at the leadership meeting even if you hid yourself." The Miraluka wasn't angry for this but couldn't help but point out her sister's intrusion.

"I may as well have not bothered, everyone in the room knew I was watching." Atyiru gave a slight nod of agreement.

"And what do you think?“ Pressing Nath did not ever yield results and so Atyiru backed down to gentle enquiry.

"You seek my opinion?" Nath could barely believe her ears, but she took a moment to consider her words, as she did so she took a half empty bottle of Tihaar from next to her boots and served two glasses.

Atyiru waited patiently, taking the glass when offered. A deep inhalation was taken before she drank down the contents. The satisfying burning sensation of the strong concoction was welcomed.

"I do not know what to think yet, I will serve as is my duty, I will die for you if it is what you will." Nath spoke solemnly but did not give her sister chance to speak out before continuing. "I have my affairs in order do not trouble yourself, however, I would pick your allies carefully, do not trust in the Jedi to find salvation. Peace is a lie and I do not care how much you believe it not to be."

"I wish to give us purpose Nath." She placed the glass back upon the desk, Nath drained her own, the cup of caff lay close by forgotten for now.

"And purpose you have given us, you dance on a knife point to give something not all of us wish for."

"What do you mean?“ Atyiru asked looking carefully at her sister, she saw the same pose that the Iridonian always gave, defensive, arms crossed loosely.

"I am weary sister, the universe seems to get dimmer with each passing day and I do not know how to stop it." The confession burned in her throat, it hurt almost as much as existence did. "When this is over I wish to see him. I deserve more than one day of true happiness."

Neither woman had to speak his name, of course they had both been there, Atyiru knew to whom Nath had bound her body and soul with.

"You miss him."

"Every day." She confirmed unable to look her sister in the eye as was normally Nath's custom. "When this is over I will be taking a short leave."

"Of course." Atyiru was glad Nath would stay until the end, she couldn't deny her sister her wish.

"Whilst I remain on the Nighthawk I will be your eyes and ears. I suggest you invest in a few more around Arcona."

Atyiru pondered on the idea and eventually nodded her head in agreement, she knew very well that not everyone was content with the decision. As yet she had not heard Nath's thoughts and decided now was a good a time as any to inquire.

"What do you think of this alliance? Saying what you have is not an opinion." The Miraluka placed the glass back upon the desk and Nath dutifully refilled it as she did her own.

"...What does it matter? My opinion counts for nothing."

"It matters to me." The pause Nath took to reply was long, honestly she had no idea what to make of this situation.

"I believe that once our common enemy is gone we will have problems. Once the reason that binds us is gone there will be another war on our hands. In some respects I suppose it will be useful, we need a culling and a way to prove our newer recruits into our ranks. Why not war with the Jedi? Our philosophies differ so much there is no possible way to find harmony."

Atyiru gave a another acknowledging nod of her head, taking the now filled glass. The pair remains thus for the rest of the night until the bottle was empty and they had found more liquor to quench themselves with.

Manually added

Nath Voth
13425

Korriban did not change much in Nath’s opinion, this had been the second time she had the pleasure of visiting the desolate planet. This time she had to confess was far more enjoyable than the first, this time she could travel where she wished, she could explore and vanish into tombs for weeks at a time and nothing bad would come of it. The last time had not been so enjoyable or free with her whims.

She recalled the war.

The Iridonian would never say that she was pivotal within it, or contributed greatly to it’s success, her ego was far too small for such boasts. If she had to say anything she would describe herself as a force of chaos within a ball of organised chaos.

Slowly she walked her way through the sands, pulling up the balaklava higher, she could feel a storm brewing as the winds picked up on the normally mild desert planet. The last time she had been here she recalled the sands had been turned crimson with the fighting, now not even a body remained. Everything had been swept away, no doubt the bodies had made excellent snacks for the flora and fauna all of which had evolved a ruthless attitude to prey.

As quickly as she could manage she caught up with her counterpart for this little excursion. He stood several inches taller than her and in muscle mass was probably the equivalent of three of her under nourished selves.

“Storm’s coming in.” He turned and glanced skywards a small frown gracing his expression.

“How can you tell?” The sky still seemed calm enough to him, there was nothing unusual or even remotely hinting to stormy weather. Nath knew better, knew what would come and the results of not finding sufficient shelter.

“I lived on Iridonia, the environment was similar.” It was the only expatiation she could think to give the Mandalorian. He thought about it for a long while as they walked down towards the heart of the Valley of Kings.

“We could use that tomb we met in last time.” Nath gave a nod, knowing they had plenty of time to reach it and it would not be caved in like many of the tombs they would pass along the way.

She kept pace with Kalon without difficulty, she could have walked faster but there was no rush, no target to kill or artefact to capture now. No, that had all happened a few months prior and she had seen how it had effected them. How it had changed people to become monstrous creatures that easily turned on friend as quickly as foe.

Nath wondered if Muz was happy now he had the answer to his question, she hadn’t been there when he had breached the hidden tomb but she wasn’t heard pressed to imagine his expression as the large stone blocks turned to rubble. Or how his fingers grasped at the holocron as though it was as fragile as glass.

The pair walked in silence, no doubt Kalon was reliving memories of his own, she did not wish to pry, some things where better left in the memory. For herself she recalled bodies being piled along the narrow path between the rows of tombs, having to climb over fallen Sith to reach her next opponent uncaring if they were friend (not that Nath had many of them) or enemy.

As they continued she fell deeper into her musings, she could smell the metallic tang of the crimson viscous bodily fluids that had soaked so deeply into the sands that it had almost made a paste with the repeated churning of boots that had worked it’s way through it. She felt the itch of dead eyes glaring up at her silently asking her why she had not bothered to save them.

Nath was forced to clench her fists and was thankful her kind did not perspire as much as a Human. It was far more difficult to read that she was in truth recalling these memories far more vividly than the previous battles she had participated in. Slowly her hands came to rest upon the the hilts of her Durasteel daggers, The motion was one of comfort, knowing they were there was reassuring in a more primitive part of her mind.

Nausea bubbled in the pit of her stomach, she took a quiet deep breath to try and repress the acidic contents of her stomach. She wished to go home, wished she could forget it all and pretend this damned war had never happened.

Her hands trembled now too...

Nath Voth
13425