Crown of Darkness

[Khendon Sevon]

A shadow nimbly fell and ducked through the barren field of asteroids. Its lonely presence sucked in the dim starlight and spat out darkness. The demonic shape slowed and predatory muscles flexed and forcing a halt. 375 meters of carbon fiber and neutron armor stood in the cold expanses of space in solitude. Death was the only guide of the lost craft—it was but a ghost on the sea, not breathing, not alive, just empty.

Khendon sat in a stiff chair. His gaze steadily held its place on the single, large viewport in his private quarters. The Imperator held a bottle in his left hand and a grayed, battered blaster in his other. “Daughters of time,” he said, “hypocritic days, muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes…” his voice trailed on, “the day turned and departed silent… Too late, under her solemn fillet, I saw the scorn.” The broken man took a deep drink and fumbled with the safety on his Sevon Rifle, Co. blaster.

“Damn thing, damn the night. Damn the Sovereignty, damn the Federacy, damn Piett, damn Viscera, damn the galaxy. To hell with the galaxy! Blasphemers! Cowards! Fools! Damn existence…” Khendon closed his eyes, placed the cool barrel to his head, and pulled the trigger. “Damn the safety.”

The Imperator threw the bottle at the viewport. The glass container exploded in a shower of fragments and fine liquor mist. “Fine. Have it your foul way.” Khendon slammed his hand down on his datapad—he was too inebriated to use his neural implant—and called up a directory. “Silvin, no. Not her. Silus? Who’s Silus?” he continued smashing the screen until a series of records appeared. “Oh, that Silus.”

“Captain,” he said in a slurred fashion through his comm., “send an invitation to… Silus, yes, Silus to come to Federacy space—“

“Where in Federacy territory, Sir?”

An emotion flowed from Khendon’s subconscious. His eyes narrowed and voice became heavy and slick with anger, “HERE!” he shouted into the device, “Tell him it’s ‘a matter of life or death.’ Maybe he can help me with my problem. He showed promiss… didn’t he?”

“Sir?”

“Send the message! I don’t care how you get it to him! Just do it!” Khendon deactivated the cylinder and threw it across the room.

You’re not strong enough, Khendon. You’ll never be able to save her. Look at you, you’re pathetic! Not even enough will power to keep your senses, you SICKEN me. And you call yourself a ‘dark jedi.’ You know not the meaning of darkness. Go ahead, try to kill yourself again, you worm. You can’t even do that, can you?

“Not if I want to save her! I can’t, I just can’t!” The broken man wept in his palms, forming small salt lakes from the fire that fell from his eyes. Khendon needed something, someone… and fast.

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus couldn't help feeling a bit wary as the Dragon dropped out of hyperspace on the outskirts of the Federacy border. Khendon was the last person Silus expected to have a life or death situation, unless of course it involved someone elses life. Long story short, he didn't exactly trust the man. However, it was one of those things where he really couldn't keep himself from going. Lilaena had agreed to join with him, and the trip there had provided them a bit of private time, which they didn't get very much of these days. If nothing else, the trip wasnt wasted thus far, so Silus couldnt complain. At this point, he was more curious as to what exactly it was that Khendon wanted from him. His first thought leaned toward dealings with the Balmorran Empire, but obviously, Khendon had to know that Silus wasnt a part of that organization anymore. Honestly, it could have been anything at this point...

As the ship neared Federacy borders, Silus slowed to a nice, non threatening pace and awaited clearance from the Federacy border patrol.

[Khendon Sevon]

A lightning sequence of events occurred. With the speed of a hyperspace sprinter information was relayed from outer-territory sensors to a command station and finally routed to in-field combat assets. It boiled down to a near instant shift of Federacy border forces.

Lieutenant Kalydine thought along with the Crimson Rite’s computers and smiled as a mental timer clicked to zero. “Emergence,” he muttered in a half daze. A black shape tore from hyperspace with all the fury of an electrical storm.

The demonic looking Federacy Gunship began “contact” initiation. The skin of the vessel appeared to fleck away and slide into the armor of the craft—like a molting Omerose lizard consuming its dead flesh through its pores. Polished weapons quickly sprouted from every meter of the warship.

“This is the Federacy Gunship Crimson Rite.” Advanced microprocessors and neural interfaces relayed target acquisitions, estimated material densities, and various other military trivialities. “Welcome to Federal space,” the Lieutenant’s tone was metallic and mechanical, “we’re transmitting your next destination coordinates now. Your escorts will be arriving…” a second elapsed, “now.”

Wicked banshees ripped through the barrier between hyperspace and realspace. Shimmering dust fell from the mad crafts’ hulls like fire from a phoenix’s back. Three TIE Shriekers nimbly formed into a tight wedge and slowed as they gently approached the “non-internal traveling” craft identified as the Dragon.

“The Imperator will meet you at your new coordinates. You’ll be boarding the Death Advocate, an Insuperable-class Star Destroyer. We’ll be waiting for your hyperspace spike. Crimson Rite Out.” The Lieutenant cut his transmission and shook his cold face. Foreigners… maybe the next dispatch will be pirates, at least I can deal with them!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Well, they certainly seem friendly." De'Ville eyed their escorts, and nodded towards the gunship ahead of them. "I cannot say that I have ever heard of an Insuperable class Destroyer, however."

The navicomp beeped, indicating that it had recieved the coordinates from the Crimson Rite.

[Silus Xilarian]

"It's a fancy way of saying 'bigger than our last one'", Silus commented, as he slowly sped his ship up.

"I'm just curious to see whats gonna happen when he makes a bigger ship, and can't think of anything better than Insuperable."

It wasn't a long trip until they were in the heart of Federacy space. As they approached the Death Advocate, Silus killed his sublights and waited for the tractor beam to pull them into docking position.

[Khendon Sevon]

The silver beast that was the Death Advocate stood in the blanket of empty space like a sentry to an invisible gateway. The ship stretched across the expanse of stars a thin, armored dragon in flight. From stem to stern she was a grand 1,500 meters—smaller than many star destroyers but of enough size to remain menacing.

Nimble, sensitive actuators controlled the alignment of the craft’s tractor beams as they gently brought the Dragon to rest within the belly of the beast. Bright light flooded the large hollow of a hanger. Everything shone like a mirror. Rank after rank, file after file of black-armor-clad, wicked looking marines stood at attention. Federal Stormguardsmen watched from large doors at the end of the cavernous room, their thin armor nearly blending in with the colors of the bay.

The great doors at the far end of the hangar gently swung open. Two Stormguard officers walked out first, red optical sensors scanning the scene. The smooth transitions between steps made them appear as if they were walking on air. Their rifles weren’t present but a sense of danger still surrounded the special operations forces.

Khendon strode in next, black coat flowing menacingly. His gray eyes were hard and set, jaw tight and compact. The Imperator wore a crisp, black Federacy uniform under his jacket. His stride spoke of his control. Khendon’s eyes flashed lightning and a sparkle shone, Time to meet that old ‘friend’.

The Imperator abruptly stopped in front of the vessel, a cylindrical weapon bounced once against his thigh then halted. So, this was my bright plan? What now, oh Great Leader? Call the Delteon Circus with its beasts to come and save the Federacy?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She walked down the ramp on the arm of Xilarian, a dark blue cloak fastened to her shoulders, the hood laying against her back. Short dark hair curled a bit around her ears as she looked around, taking in the huge array of storm... troopers? This imperial faction had a distinct look from the others she'd had contact with.

De'Ville saw the tendency towards unrelieved black was a little overdone, but effective. Everything appeared to be cut from the Lord Darth Vader's own uniform. Silus stopped just after stepping onto the deck of the Death Advocate's hangar, allowing the approaching group to come all the way in to meet them.

She couldn't read his mind, but his emotions hinted at turmoil. Not Silus' - the man who could only be Imperator Sevon. She'd never met him, but who else would greet them with an honor guard of officers, and a hangar of armoured troopers? She stood easily, bare feet on the cold, shiny black deck. Her dress brushed the tops of her feet, a long skirted version of Jedi robes, made in bright red with dark blue embroidered trim.

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus stood calmy at the bottom of the ramp. He was really beginning to wonder, through all this ceremony, if Khendon hadn't become terribly bored, and ached to show off.
To his embarassment, Silus caught himself trying to remember whether they were supposed to walk to Khendon, or if Khendon was supposed to them. Deciding to go with the safe of the two, Silus began a leisurely stroll forward, figuring if he were wrong, Khendon would at least be able to meet them half way.

[Khendon Sevon]

The hangar was silent. A gentle, artificial breeze stirred the air and recycled the atmosphere. Khendon’s silvery eyes fell on the two individuals before him. Who is this?! he thought. Have I seen her before? Could she be from the Sovereignty? Is—

Poise! Snap to, Sevon! Take control, NOW. The imperial’s eyes sharpened and came to life, his brow tightened. Every soldier stood motionless in the room, as if time itself had paused. Maybe some sort of advanced Federacy experiment had frozen the moment in the now?

“Welcome to Federacy space, and welcome to the Death Advocate,” said Khendon in a somewhat friendly manner, a lopsided grin mildly graced his face. “Silus, it’s been a long time.”

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Silus was walking forward, and De'Ville did not want to appear a petulant child, holding back in his wake. She matched him step for step, her feet making no noise on the spotless deck. Sevon's eyes gave away nothing, although in their very deadness one could read something. This was a man who had given up.

And yet...

De'Ville watched silently as the Imperator greeted Xilarian, his eyes brightening even as his smile fought with the previous scowl. His emotions remained mixed, and difficult to separate. Her green eyes appeared to miss nothing, never leaving Sevon's face as she kept a tight watch on his emotions, waiting for any sign of betrayal.

[Silus Xilarian]

"That it has. You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself."

A bit of small talk. Not that Khendon was a show off or anything, but Silus thought it would be nice to go ahead and throw him a segway to talk about his operations. Not that Silus was impatient, but it would help to speed things right along.

One thing that Silus did note however, was how the Imperator seemed to almost become lost at moments, as if something very shiny had caught his eye. Something was turning in the man's head, Silus just couldnt be sure of what.

[Khendon Sevon]

A hunger began to build at the back of Khendon’s stomach, a thirst screamed in his throat. It had been weeks since the Imperator had talked to anyone human, had stopped to think about anything beyond self-pity or revenge. The Imperial found himself wanting to converse, desperate for human interaction.

Strength gently flowed into the Imperator’s face as he reassured himself internally. “The Federacy is doing well,” he believed himself, “though, I give a great deal of credit to Grand Admiral Piett. He has been diligently shouldering the large burden of running the government for the past few months.

Khendon mildly grimaced, “But I have other matters to discuss, ones that are of the utmost urgency. Please, this way,” the Imperial motioned towards the two large, open doors.

With a gentle electrical signal from his neural interface Khendon ordered the Storm Guardsmen to join their squad. The group of elite soldiers turned on their heels and walked briskly to identical units waiting nearby.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She recognized the feeling coming off him suddenly, and it surprised her that she hadn't known it right away. The Imperator craved revenge, but on whom, and for what, she couldn't know. De'Ville lived with that feeling every single day, and had for years. It was as familiar to her as the angles of Silus' body.

Sevon was talking with Silus: idle, small talk that meant next to nothing in the grand scheme of things. She didn't expect the guards to ever leave his side, and so was more than mildly interested when they did. Her eyes followed the two guardsmen as they joined their identical friends, but her feet followed Silus as he walked with Imperator Sevon through the welcoming doors.

Matters of the utmost importance? Perhaps he intended to cut to the chase more quickly than she'd thought.

[Silus Xilarian]

"Well, you've certainly gathered my attention."

Silus casually followed Khendon through the two big doors. Lilaena was being quiet, behaving herself, although Silus could tell that she was studying the place like a hawk. She never did trust Imperials, and well, very few things defined Imperial as well as this place. Of course, she almost seemed to have her own little agenda going on, which was kinda scary.

[Khendon Sevon]

A large hallway stretched beyond the great door. Here the Imperial theme was resounded just as strongly. Massive turbolift doors lined either side of the cavernous corridor. “Right here,” Khendon remotely accessed one of the smaller, plainer doors and it slid open silently.

The lift was typical except for the lack of physical controls. A gentle hum signaled the activation of the device and it ascended. Khendon stood tall, arms clasped at the small of his back. His cool, silver eyes stared intently at the dark, metallic floor. The Imperator looked up, “I’m sorry,” a tinge of sadness seeped into his voice and visage for a second, “I’m not being a very good host, am I… Have either of you eaten?”

A click reverberated through the small liftcar as it locked into place. The door slid open to reveal another hallway. However, this hallway was significantly different. It ended abruptly only a few paces out with only two doors, one on either side. The lighting was dim and air still.

Khendon let his question hang and stood motionless, eyes questioning beyond what he'd asked.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Lilaena didn't want to break her silence, but looked at Silus as Khendon asked the question. The Imperator was not walking out of the 'lift, and so they did not either. Silus looked back, not being able to resist a roguish lift of an eyebrow.

The Dark Jedi master turned back to the Imperator, "We have not eaten recently. Thank you for your hospitality." Her voice was neither low nor high pitched, although there was a velvet quality to it that nearly purred. She smiled pleasantly, still waiting for Sevon to take the first steps out of the 'lift.

And in the food... if he was choosing to kill them, poison was a good of a way as any, and it would quickly clear up the reason they were brought here. She doubted it very much, however. There was something this man wanted desperately, besides revenge.

[Silus Xilarian]

Khendon seemed to be getting a bit more tense by the moment, and Silus wondered if maybe Khendon was avoiding the reason he brought them there. He couldnt be certain of too much, but he knew Khendon was at the very least uncomfortable.

"Yes, we were too busy to eat on the way."

[Khendon Sevon]

Khendon wondered at his own anxieties. He looked to the ground for a moment then took a resolute breath. “This way,” Khendon’s dark heels clicked as he strode towards the left door.

The Imperial looked at the metallic portal for a moment and it slid to the side silently. Lights slowly took hold over the room as Khendon stepped into the chamber. “We’ll order something up.”

Khendon’s personal office was spacious by any stretch of the imagination. The room looked out of place on a battleship. The walls appeared to be a dark, textured wood. Large pillars sprang from the ground and thrust upwards to clasp the high ceiling. Swords and weapons of all shapes watched mutely as Khendon entered.

Deactivated prototype battle droids, statues of progress, stood in dark corners. Khendon’s desk was placed at the far wall, if you could call it that. The far side of the room was constructed entirely of a see-through material, a cousin of transparasteel, that held a breath taking view of the starfield around the vessel.

Training mats, small alcoves for meditation, a large holographic display, and many other devices and areas hugged the walls of the immense office. “Sorry for the mess,” Khendon smiled. A table in the center of the room had bits and pieces of machinery strewn across it. Extremely detailed holograms floated above the dark surface of the table, stealthily projected by a cube suspended a few meters from the ground.

“So? To it?” Khendon gestured towards several chairs near his desk.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

As they entered the expansive office, if it could be called that, De'Ville took her time looking around. The Imperator ushered them towards some chairs, and while Silus followed him, she simply took in her surroundings. The walls were paneled in an expensive wood, and pillars which were better suited to a Nabooian throne room seemed to hold the ceiling from the deck.

She walked slowly after Sevon and Xilarian, lingering in the corners of the room and traveling by the wall, occasionally putting out a hand as though to touch some of the many weapons displayed.

[Silus Xilarian]

"Of course"

Silus took a seat across the table from Khendon. The room they were in was a complete contrast to the rest of the ship, but in a good way. The chairs were much more comfortable here than normal imperial seats. It seemed this room was more for personal use than business.

Lileana had taken to walking around the place, looking over the many weapons draped around the room, which was a bit of a scary thought. Ignoring her however, he kept his attention on Khendon, intent on finding out why there were here.