Twenty Questions and More (LV)

[Sasha Kovalev]

(ooc: Im playing Sasha pretty much the way he has been all along. The only thing a bit unclear would be the location of the Sith Order 13 years before now – and how he sought them out or was found by them – but we can work that out. So this rp takes place after his return to TSO – on Korriban - but while he is still on probation)

It had been some time now since the Sith knight had returned to the order. He had suffered his probation time – was still currently enduring it – but had not uttered one complaint beyond his initial display of annoyance. He had been nothing but the model apprentice, really. Perfecting his craft, meditating, and volunteering at every opportunity to fulfill the mission of the order and destroy every last living jedi.

He had returned a slightly different man than he was before – not in his anger, not in his demeanor, but rather in his acquired skills and his maturity. He had left some five years ago to fulfill a calling – to spend some time under the tutelage of a Dark Jedi (his father, though he still never knew this) and to get to know a blood relative that he had never before known still existed. It was during this time that he had found an opportunity to better himself, to learn more about himself, and eventually to return to the place that he truly felt at home. It was perhaps not a family of blood relations, but in Sasha’s mind, in his heart, in his relationship with the force, the Sith Order was his family. The Sith Order was his home.

Since his return he had taken time to settle back in, had worked hard to prove to the one he still called Master, Lady Vader, that he had every intention of fulfilling a promise he had made long ago, the night he had severed his own hand from his wrist to prove an allegiance and pay for a foolish mistake. A promise that he would never again betray the Sith Order, that he would honor them and prove his worth. Returned so that he could fulfill a destiny his master had once forseen – that he would be a powerful Sith master one day.

His return, after the initial acceptance of his escort, had been rather seamless, with one exception – he had not spent much time with the one he had returned to see – his master, Lady Vader. For while his allegiance was to the Sith Order, it was undyingly so to her.

And there were so many questions that had, in all of the years he had known her, remained unanswered. Tonight he sought those answers. For some time they had walked in silence, or perhaps shared small talk, but as they moved further into the gardens, the knight, forever an apprentice turned to his master.

“I couldn’t understand when I returned why it was you refused to trust me…” He stated, his violet eyes gazing toward Lady Vader as they walked.

“But the other night in the library I felt it.”

What he had felt was a feeling he had felt long ago – a ferocity, an intense devotion to the protection of family. For having returned and immersed himself once again, the memories, the meaning of what it meant to be a member of the order had resurfaced and with far more intensity than before. For having been away and returned, he had the perspective now to value what it meant.

[Lady Vader]

LV let a small smile carress her lips. "You'll find, Sasha, that some things need time in order for them to be seen clearly. And this isn't just limited to the young. It also affects the old and wise."

She could feel Rakahb a few paces behind them, sticking to his duties as Sasha escort, but remaining unseen and unheard.

She looked at Sasha. "With the Emperor now dead, your talents will be put to great use, Sasha. No doubt whatever Jedi survived the purge will begin to emerge from under whatever rock they;ve been hiding under. But because of this, they will be weak and not strong in numbers. We will need to strike decisively."

[Sasha Kovalev]

At her suggestion that some things took time to see he had nodded, displaying the fact that he understood what it was she had to say. And then he responded, an impish expression overtaking the serious one that had been there only moments ago.

“And does that mean my escort can stop following me around?” He inquired, half joking, though, a larger half was certainly serious. Wasn’t it about time she let him just….be. Couldn’t she see, couldn’t she feel that he wasn’t an outsider anymore? He was one of them. Only….it was hard to be one of them when you were being followed around as if you weren’t.

Her answer had been to ignore his question and move on, explaining the strategy. He was almost pleased that the emperor had fallen. While he sided with the Empire and its politics, he had not enjoyed living a life of hiding. Hiding because he was a Sith and one of his own kind would seek to destroy him without a second thought. He could understand why – the Order could certainly seem threatening with the Sith that had been amassed. And with the general nature of them, he could understand why the Emperor would not have trusted others to rise to power. There would always be the risk that one of them would turn on him and try to take his place, so out for power and personal gain, the Sith were.

At her suggestion that they would need to strike decisively he had nodded once again.

“I’ll do whatever it is you ask.” He replied, sincere in this promise. He was tired of being considered on probation and wanted to prove his worth, but more it was his dedication to his master, despite her lack of faith in him, that caused him to make this promise. He would serve her faithfully, loyally, in all of her demands.

As if in reflex to this, his left hand flexed its mechanical digits. This hand was now more a part of him than the one he had been born with. This hand perhaps meant more to him than the natural one he had burned in a fireplace ever had – because it was an outward sign of his loyalty to his master.

“I know you disapprove of the dark jedi, and the fact that I spent some time learning from one” He stated a moment later, finally breaking the ice for the conversation he felt was long overdue, “But do you honestly feel I shouldn’t have gone? That I didn’t come back stronger having had the opportunities that experience provided?”

He didn’t expect she would like talking about it, but he hated that it put this distrustful distance between them. She was his master, he was dedicated to her and to following her commands. It killed him each day to feel as if she thought him a black sheep of some sort – particularly when he thought so highly of her.

[Lady Vader]

She was silent for a while before responding. And it was probably the last statement he expected from her. "I don't know."

"But," She continued on before he could respond, "I do know that you have grown in experience and wisdom. Whether it's due to that time in your life or not... well, frankly, it doesn't matter to me. I like to focus on the here and now, and what the future will bring."

Perhaps it was time to release him from his escort.

"Rakahb. Step forward."

[Rakahb]

The compact diminuative figure of the Noghri came into view at the request of his Mistress. His hands were visible and at his sides, as he bowed his head towards her.

"What is it you wish of me, Mistress?"

He waited patiently for her answer.

[Lady Vader]

"I release you from your duties as escort to Sasha Kovalev."

It was short, sweet, and simple, and very much to the point. Much the way Noghri liked it.

[Rakahb]

"As you wish, Mistress." Without having raised his head, he backed up into the shadows and disappeared. He would go back to his patroling duties of the Citadel.

[Lady Vader]

LV turned to Sasha. "I do this because I want to show faith that I have trust in you. Don't disappoint me."

[Sasha Kovalev]

It felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Not that his escort had been at all visible or much of a hindrance, for he hadnt. But it was the constant reminder, the feeling of his presence nearby that had served to drive Sasha insane. It had been a feeling of oppression to some degree and now it was gone.

He had actually given a respectful nod towards the one who had so dutifully followed him around. Sasha respected the diligence, the effort, and the dedication to his mistress and to the Order. He harbored no personal grudge, for Rakahb had only been doing what he had been ordered to do. Had only been following a command.

And as he slipped away, Sasha had turned his attention back to his master.

“I will not disappoint you, master.

It was rare that he actually called her this, for since she had taken the name of Lady Vader that was how he had addressed her. But in this case it had been used for a particular purpose – to reiterate the fact that he was loyal to her. That he considered her his master, and would seek only to do her bidding – to impress her.

He wasn’t going to apologize for his absence and disappointing her when he had left to follow the dark jedi, for he truly had felt it necessary. But he wasn’t going to push the subject either. She had surprised him only a moment ago with her honesty and he appreciated it. To some degree it made him feel a bit more accepted by her – for her to actually allow this, rather than keeping up a wall around her.

“Have the Elders met to create a strategy?” He inquired, eager now that they could come out from hiding to begin the journey for the Sith Order’s rise to power in the galaxy.

[Lady Vader]

She nodded. "We have. And in the process, we are thinking of possibly electing another Elder."

She said nothing more. It was not yet time for Sasha to know the details of this move. But he would soon know.

[Sasha Kovalev]

It was not often that Elders were added to the council, so truly this was an important event. Sasha raised an eyebrow, not in suspicion or in question, but out of surprise. He wondered who the new Elder might be, but having been gone for a bit of time he knew that there were likely members he would not know and his pondering did not last long. The Elders would make the right decision. He trusted that they would.

“I do not doubt that they will make whatever decision is right for the Order.” He responded. He glanced up toward the sky, seeking out one of the seven moons for a moment and then turning his gaze back to his master.

“Do you think this council is strong enough to survive a rise to power?” He inquired. Not that he sought to express doubt. Rather it was that when you looked at the history of the Sith, well, they hadn’t exactly existed in perfect harmony with themselves.

And he did not mean did the Elders have abilities, for surely that was not at all a reasonable question to ask, for of course they did – he rather meant to inquire if she believed them unified enough to not let personal greed and a desire for power overwhelm them to the point of betrayal. He had a good belief that they were strong enough, for Lady Vader had begun all of this and he did not doubt that she would have chosen wisely, or that those she had chosen would then in turn choose wisely.

It was not a stupid question to ask, but rather one that was somewhat forward looking. It displayed a concern for the Order and its future.

[Lady Vader]

"We will prevail." She nodded. "With the death of the Emperor, it falls upon us to make sure the Sith continue it's ruling of this galaxy. For if we fail, everything Darth Sidious worked for will have been in vain."

[Sasha Kovalev]

“We wont fail.” He stated, echoing what she had just told him, perhaps promising to her that he would seek to further her wishes. They would prevail. They would. He believed in their cause and he would do everything within and beyond his power to support the rise of the Sith Order to restore order in the galaxy. To continue the Empire.

He considered the Order for a moment longer. For all that they had accomplished while they had been in hiding. They were visible now, though in his mind there was still the lingering feeling of wariness. He did not doubt there were other forces out there that would seek to rise to power as well. There were perhaps more enemies than the jedi and the rebellion.

“I have taken on an apprentice.” He stated, changing the topic the slightest bit. It was moving away from the Elders, for he realized that their discussions were not anything he was to be privy to until they intended such a thing. And he did not consider himself one who should seek to know. When the time was right, he was sure they would tell him what he needed to be told.

Rather he moved the conversation to a topic that worked in conjunction with the goals of the Sith Order. He was going to train another Sith. Teach another their ways. Further the efforts of the Order to amass their own power. Enough power to rule the galaxy.

“I assumed this would be acceptable, though in hindsight I realize I should have verified that I would be allowed this while under probation.”

His violet eyes gazed toward his master, one raised maybe the slightest bit in question.

“Do I have your approval?” He asked.

[Lady Vader]

LV nodded her head once. "You are a Knight, Sasha. You are entitled to take on an Apprentice and teach him what I have taught you... what you have learned from the libraries vast database and the teachings of the old Masters."

She turned to look at him, stopping her stride. "Your Apprentice will learn much from you and your expereince, this I have no doubt."

[Sasha Kovalev]

He stopped his strides as she did and turned to look at her as she spoke to him. He would normally have smiled at her praise – the suggestion that his apprentice would learn much from him.

“I am confident that he will learn. He is motivated and intelligent and has enough ambition that he is willing to humble himself if necessary to survive.”

He paused for a brief moment and perhaps the wryest of smiles might have journeyed to his lips.

“You have never mentioned to me the rule of two.” He brought this up because there were the teachings in the books of the Rule of Two – always the idea that a Sith apprentice became a Master through a fight to the death. That there were always only two – the master and the apprentice. The Sith Order clearly did not practice such a philosophy, as there were many master-apprentice relationships.

“I have always assumed that you didnt believe in this rule, what with the existence of the Order and its practices.” He added in explanation, “But…I am interested to hear your thoughts on it.”

He had no intention of attempting to betray his master. Had no intention of seeking to destroy her -ever. And not now, certainly, for while he was indeed growing stronger, he was not foolish enough to fancy himself capable of overpowering Lady Vader. Rather he was interested in this because he now had an apprentice of his own.

Before he had left the Order for his hiatus he had had an apprentice or two. But they had never been strong enough for him to entertain the idea that one might one day be capable of turning on him. With Baralai….well, there was the potential. And it would be Sasha’s responsibility to train his apprentice and instill in him the beliefs of the Order – in proper alignment with their philosophies. And he knew that he would one day have to answer the question to the Rule of Two. There would possibly be the temptation to give in – to seek to rule – and to rule as master and apprentice. And he could not help but wonder if when the Sith rose to power once again, there would be a battle for power.

He wanted to believe that the council would be strong enough and he wanted to believe that the brotherhood between the members of the Order would be strong enough to survive.

[Lady Vader]

LV matched the smile.

"The Rule of Two served it's purpose when the legions of Sith began to fight amongts themselves. Darth Bane was wise in creating this rule to avoid the Sith from being wiped to extinction." She raised a finger. "However, before the the civil wars within the Sith legions, the ith were numerous and worked as groups."

She lowered the finger and looked somewhere past Sasha. "In every aspect of life, there is the bell curve. At this point in the galaxies time, the curve is going up, and the Sith are rising again to power as they once had." She shrugged. "No doubt the Sith will inevitably meet the same fate they once did in civil wars, but that time is not now. And that time will come long after our bones have turned to dust."

[Sasha Kovalev]

Yes, he knew very well the history. He could place exactly in the timeline where all of the events she had mentioned had occurred. The lore of the Sith he could have dictated to anyone, for he had and continued to spend much of his time studying. Always a student no matter how his skills improved.

He released a quiet breath, nodding slowly as he considered her answer to his question and her suggestion that the fall would not be in their life time. He accepted without question the things she suggested, for she had always been strong in her abilities to see the future. This was a definite area of weakness for Sasha. He trusted his instincts, his feelings entirely. But those allowed him to act in the moment – not for the future. It was frustrating to him to be lacking in this skill and he spent many hours meditating in an effort to improve. He was fortunate perhaps to be talented in other areas, though he was so hard on himself that he was unable to see this.

It was perhaps the simple fact that he thought as a Sith would think – allowing his emotions, his obsession with this weakness to consume him at times.

“I am still lacking in that area.” He admitted, referring to the fact that his master was able to divine the future and he was not. The heat rose to his cheeks with this admission, for he not only felt it humiliating, but it was such a sore spot with him that it brought about feelings of anger and obsession.

His connection with the dark side was strong in this aspect, for he was one of great passion. And as it always did, it called out to him, the addictive nature of the dark side. He opened himself to this, welcomed it, for it was the outlet, the channel for his emotions.

[Lady Vader]

"Perhaps." She studied his face. "But what you lack in that area, you make up for in others. It may very well be that you may never succeeed fully in seeing the future. But that does not mean you should give up learning to the fullest extent the other abilites you exceed in."

She turned and continued her walking. They walked for a long while in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, before Lv spoke again. "The Elder's and have been discussing your future, Sasha."

[Sasha Kovalev]

"The Elders and I have been discussing your future, Sasha."

Until this moment he had been looking ahead of him, or perhaps down at the path on which they walked. It had been a comfortable silence for Sasha, for little by little he could feel his master’s faith being restored in him. But this….caught him a bit by surprise.

His gaze rose from a random pebble on Korriban’s floor to look at her.

This could have so many different implications. So many different meanings. So many different outcomes. He did not sense through the force that there were any intentions of harm. While he was dedicated to his master, he was not so much a fool to think she could not turn on him in an instant if she so chose. He had, afterall, taken some time away.

The removal of his escort could have been done because there were plans to remove Sasha altogether.

Some might have thought this paranoia to think in such a way. Sasha considered it wise.

And then his gaze shifted back towards the path on which they walked and he nodded slowly.

“I hope that I have one…” He commented, a bit of dry humor entering his voice. He had, afterall, just admitted to not being able to divine the future. But this was not at all making light of the situation. It was maybe his way of dealing with a situation that had great significance and importance to him.

He released a quiet breath and then looked back to his master.

“And….?” He inquired, the questions there in the violet eyes that peered at Mistress Vader.

[Lady Vader]

"And..." LV let the moment hang for a bit, letting sasha's mind wonder at what possibilities his future had with the Order, before she continued. "And, the Elders have agreed that it is time for you to move on up in the ranks of the Sith Order."

She swiveled her eyes to watch his reaction as he continued to stare at the floor as they walked.

[Sasha Kovalev]

His master maybe thought that the years he had spent away had been easy on him. She maybe thought that the fact that he had lived with his Uncle meant that he had been given special treatment. The truth was that he hadnt. In fact, if anything, it had almost been worse. His uncle was oppressive, believing very strongly in the Empire and the strict rules of conduct and decorum. And his master had been confusing, punishing, and stubborn. The combination of these things had made Sasha, or Alexander as he had been called over those years, feel like a fish out of water - suffocated.

He was not one who could tolerate or feel comfortable within the rigid confines of a naval environment. He was not one who flourished under a master who lacked confidence or trust in him (at least, that was his impression of what his master had thought of him).

Those years had been difficult and in truth had only served to drive him more and more towards the dark side of the force. They had increased his anger – for he had hated the feeling that his own uncle, or his master wouldn’t advance him. Wouldn’t think him skilled enough. Hated that they treated him like a child. And he had consistently fallen back on the things he had learned from Lady Vader – all of them originating from darkness.

It had been worthwhile, this exposure to the beliefs of a dark jedi. He had very much improved in his skills of illusion and mental tricks, for this was a tactic used often on him by Wargrave. But the exposure had also served to teach him that the ways of the dark jedi were not the ways that he, at his very core, felt best harnessed the power of the force – the power of the dark side.

And to return now to a place that truly was home and to finally receive the recognition he had felt he deserved….

There was nothing like it.

It gave him even more confidence and it gave him even more reason to believe in the Sith Order – because they believed in him.

His gaze met his master’s, a serious expression upon his face. It broke for a brief moment, perhaps appearing somewhat boyish with anticipation before it quickly returned to normal. It was rare that he would seek to hide his emotions from his master – there was little reason to feel a need to hide anything from her. He very much looked up to her, admired her, and wanted nothing more than for her to approve of him and think him one in her favor.

“And what does this decision mean?” He asked, inquiring of the details. He knew the ranking system, of course, but the Elders had the power to make all kinds of decisions that could deviate from the norm. He wanted to take nothing for granted.

[Lady Vader]

"You have served the Order well in your Knighthood, Sasha, despite the fact you left us for some years. But you came back, with more resolve than I have seen in most of our members." She paused before continuing. "I think the time away has made you stronger and appreciate your teachings here much more than when you first joined us."

She folded her arms under her cloak, straightening to her full height. "The Elders have decided to grant you the rank of Lord. No pompous ceramony, no parties. Just a recognition that you are to be counted among the higher ranked in our Order." The slightest hint of a smile began to form. "Through all your hard work, Sasha, you've earned it. You have found favor with the Order... and with me."

[Sasha Kovalev]

It was true that he had come back with much more resolution. He had admitted as much when he had left – the fact that something had been missing. What had been missing had benn a lack of perspective. Having led a relatively sheltered life until he had found his master, he had not had enough exposure to all that was out there to realize the value of the lessons the Sith Order had taught him. Having been away and gained that perspective he had been able to return knowing fully what it was he hoped to accomplish.

It was reward enough to hear his master finally approve of the decision he had made. But to hear her continue with the fact that he would be made Lord and the fact that he had won favor with her and with the Elders – well that was icing on the cake.

Lord Kovalev

That had a nice ring to it, he thought. And that was all he needed. He cared nothing for the pomp and circumstance of ceremonies. He would have been rather uncomfortable with such a thing, for while he did desire power and the prestige of title and the respect of his peers and Elders, he was a rather humble individual. Having come from humble beginnings, there were many things that did not change.

“I don’t need a ceremony or party.” He had added quickly as she had suggested there wouldn’t be one. He definitely did not need or want one and his tone of voice likely reflected the relief that no such thing would occur.

It was more important to him, however, to address the last thing she had told him.

“That means more than any title.” His words were said sincerely. He did not mean to diminish the title that had now been bestowed upon him, for he very much appreciated the gesture. But in truth, it was the fact that the Elders and his Master valued him and his abilities enough to place him in their favor that had the most meaning.

(ooc: I’ve started a new thread for these two – I figured we could finish this one up at some point cuz Ive got something new in mind….here is the link:

http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38920)