Youve seen these hallways before (open)

[Sasha Kovalev]

It was a quiet return to the hallways of the Sith Order. Followed by the one Lady Vader had assigned to escort him, it felt both comforting and disconcerting. The hallways were familiar – nothing about them had changed so much in his time away that it would feel foreign. In fact, it felt more familiar than the halls in his Uncle’s home on Balmorra. At least he’d been able to leave the guard at the door there.

He released a quiet sigh, understanding Lady Vader’s need for him to be guarded, but resenting it all the same. He did not like being guarded. And not because he had any plans to do anything underhanded – no, he disliked it simply because it reminded him of all he had sought to be free from when he had decided to leave Balmorra and his training beneath Maester Wargrave. It reminded him of a lack of trust.

His left hand settled on his saber as he stopped and moved to one of the windows to look out at the gardens below. He had yet to return to the gardens to see Shenraun. But in time….in time he would.

He made no effort to engage his escort in idle conversation. Instead, his reaction was to ignore it. To try to pretend it did not exist.

And to go about his business – about his life, as he wished to do.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

The soft sound of footsteps told Sasha that he and his guard were no longer alone.

“Well, well… I’d wondered where you’d gotten to, little Millard,” a somewhat familiar voice said, as a dark smirk pressed pale lips.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Little Millard.

The words in themselves sounded mocking, for they treated him as a child - a way in which he despised being treated, and as Sasha turned to face the smirk of Vega Van-Derveld, the heat settled into his cheeks. It had to be mocking, coming from Vega.

Sasha chose at first not to answer him, turning back to look out the window, though never, ever unaware that a rather sinister man stood behind him.

A moment later, he turned back to look at Vega, a man with whom he now obviously continued to have similar obligations. At least in terms of loyalty to the Order.

How....interesting.

"Funny, I hadnt wondered where you had gone at all." He replied, his violet eyes settling on the man. He was, in years, older. Just as Vega was. He was more mature, more practiced, more able to control his temper.

But something about Vega had always had him on edge, and this was no exception. His words were not altogether rude, nor were they meant to instigate. But they were defininitely intended to test the waters.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

“A pity,” Vega spoke almost as if he was sulking. “I do so value your respect and regard.” His arms folding behind his back, he took a few paces forward, peering over Sasha’s shoulder into the garden below. Clearly uninterested, his eyes moved back to the Sith Knight’s quickly, the smirk never having left his lips. “You’re a member of the Sith Order now, then? What made you decide to come here?”

[Sasha Kovalev]

He couldn’t help it. The slightest smirk of amusement upturned the corners of his lips. It was an impish sort of expression. It was a guarded smile – a look of amusement not quite allowed to express itself. And this was perhaps due to his experiences with Millard and Wargrave. But it had appeared because, well because even if Vega was trying to insult him, his sulking tone had been too amusing. A grown man reduced to child like behavior.

Man, did this guy have an ego, Sasha thought to himself.

The question was a fair one, he supposed. And one he expected to hear over and over and over. Sasha couldn’t suppress the amusement that now settled on his features at this fact – that his escort, the noghri, would have to hear his answer over and over and over.

Not that he had any right to be upset with the escort. The noghri hadnt asked to follow him around and report his every move to Lady Vader. No, if anything, it should have been Lady Vader he was upset with. He understood her concerns regarding the protection of the order…but seriously….did she lack so much faith and trust in him that he needed this ridiculous escort? That he was….on probation? His annoyance with this fact was projected onto his escort, rather than the actual source.

“Because I belong here.” He answered, his tone entirely serious and to some degree challenging. Daring Vega, maybe, to dispute that point. His chin lifted slightly in defiance. A look he had perfected in dealing with Millard and Wargrave, who were always all over him for everything.

The moment the words slipped out, though, he realized how ridiculous his posturing maybe was.

“Yes, I am a member here…again.” His tone had dropped the challenge to it, and it maybe carried with it instead the sincerity and maturity he was capable of. He was maybe a little guarded, though, not yet ready to give Vega every detail of his decision process. Afterall, how did you explain that you had made the decision to leave behind the only blood relations you had ever known?

“Why are you here?” He asked in return, still unsure of just what to make of Vega.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

“Again?” Vega quirked a brow, temporarily foregoing answering Sasha’s question to pose another of his own. “You were here before the formation of the Hand- and Lady Vader welcomed you back?”

[Sasha Kovalev]

Welcomed. That word was up for interpretation. And Sasha was willing to say as much.

"Yes, again." He replied, a wry expression slowly finding its way to his facial features.

"I was here before the Hand, and Lady Vader was my master."

His left hand flexed only slightly - an artificial limb to replace the one he had severed upon her command for a mistake he had once made. To prove to Lady Vader his loyalty to the Order above all else.

And now, his loyalty was once again being tested - his escort a very real reminder. Though the noghri was indeed good at remaining out of the way, Sasha was aware of his presence, if only at times because he refused to let go of the fact that his former master was insisting upon this routine.

"And welcoming me back is open to debate. I'm....on probation." The last two words were like grit between his teeth. A mouthful of Tatooine sand.

He released a sigh that perhaps expressed annoyance, maybe sadness. Maybe...nothing at all.

"And why has she welcomed you?" He asked, directly, but not insolently or rudely.