A Human Reaper

[Sianna]

Silver orbs pored over the host of information on Corbos, as the vessel sat now under the shadow of a large outcropping on the rather bleak world of nearly lifeless terrain. It seemed that most of the worlds once visited by the original Sith were like this, though not all. Snowy white hair fell down over her loose fitting, black tunic complimenting her rather baggy pants and knee-high, leather boots. Kneeling on the rough ground, the Sith archaeologist and historian finished reading the last of the entries made by Sorzus Syn, the original Sith Alchemist who not only survived the last battle against the Jedi here during the Hundred Year Darkness, but survived long enough to help lay the foundation of the very empire she was a part of. Though less grand than it had been at various points in history, she knew their resurgence would one day reclaim much of this galaxy that needed a good purging.

Turning off the datapad, the Echani sighed as she looked out across the undulating terrain of rocky protrusions mixed up by sandy dunes rising to the rugged face of a long canyon wall high above. The mines near here were the site of that final battle as well as the grave of many of Sorzus Syn's leviathans killed millennia later.

Placing the datapad into the backpack laying at her side, she closed the flap and raised it, shouldering the olive green container and standing, knowing she had a lot of area to explore. The ship locked up, she knew most people avoided this world for it's rumors of being a deathtrap for miners and settlers for many centuries as the leviathans fed on those that wished to build here. If there were any still hibernating here, she had no intentions of waking them.

Double-bladed lightsaber hanging from her belt, she exited the shadow of the freighter and moved, climbing at various points toward a cluster of rusted out mining equipment and vehicles whose metal bodies were peeled to the point of looking like blossoming flowers. Bleached bones lay amid half buried equipment and weapons strewn about by the attacking serpent-like creatures. It was even said they could outrun a person which meant anyone disturbing the protectors of this world had breathed their last.

Warm, the air was dry and the bluish-purple sky occasionally became dark with heavy thunderclouds. Black Rain seasons were another reason that this world had never been a tourist trap, though the priestess of the Sith'aria had no intentions on sipping flowery Hapan liquors while lounging by a pool. Knowledge was her passion for it eventually led to power to those that knew how to adapt it.

[Sianna]

Agile, the well honed master of the Force nearly jogged up and around large, dark grey-brown rocks and rounded protrusions in the packed sand and occasionally noticed small spots of grass or moss trying to eek out a living on this harsh world. Avians with leathery wings glided high above, seeking out small prey far below, some noticing the crimson robed interloper as Sianna continued making her way up toward the mines. Leaving her alone, she ignored them though now wondered if they had also been one of Sorzus Syn's experiments. Perhaps spies that she could mentally tap in to and discover the Jedi that were hunting them. Grinning at the thought, she continued cataloguing the various things she was going to create in her own lab once her research was completed. Not only weapons of varying designs, but also guardians and other things that would be filled with the purer side of the Force.

Nearing a large mining vehicle, it's back end covered in a rusted shell, the cab however told a totally different story. Peeled away, the seats and console were destroyed, scattered on the ground and felt under her boots within the sand as she moved around it, imagining the last moments of those idiotic miners that ignored the warnings and weren't equipped to handle the situation. Knowing that the leviathans gathered the spirits of the dead, the weak did indeed serve their purpose after all.

Continuing on passed the wreck, Sianna soon noticed a dark hole within the base of the canyon wall as well as several more smaller vehicles smashed and tossed around before it. Pushing on, she chanced one look around now being higher elevation and noted the canyon's gentle bend around toward the west, cutting through the grey-brown rock toward the line of mountains on the horizon. Sunlight continued to bake it all, piercing the sparse clouds gently drifting overhead. Turning her attention back to the cave, she picked her way around the wreckage and soon neared the entrance. Removing a glowrod from her belt, she flicked it on and ventured inside. Sunlight's influence soon waned to the point where her glowrod was the only light she had, illuminating a large workstation complete with a small generator, desk and a cage-like lift beyond. Tunnels split off into nearly every direction, one of them containing several linked cars dusty and dirty, their yellow paint long faded or scratched off.

Opening herself to the Force, she concentrated and as the world around her faded into blackness, her mind soon found what it was searching for. A dull aura to the far right. Opening her eyes once more, she turned and began heading down the long tunnel toward her prize. Though she knew none of the leviathans had survived the orbital bombardment that hit Corbos recently, there was still a chance that their remains may still contain enough DNA to work with.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

"Have we explored that cave yet? Check the map."

"No sir. This area is unexplored."

"Very good. We will make camp there."

"Master Na'chtion, look at this. Footprints. Fresh."

"Naturally, Jorm. Any footprints on this desolate planet can only be fresh. Prepare yourselves."

The small party took stock of their weapons and advanced into the cave. The cloudy skies of Corbos were left behind as they pressed inward. With torches activated they began their search; the brilliant light illuminating all before them. At their head walked Vice-Chancellor Ezra Na'chtion of the Tanaab Academy. He wore no official uniform. None of them did. No ornamentation or symbolism marked them as anything other than scavengers. Practical, heavy leather coats, gloves, and boots protected them against the elements.

Across their faces they wore something otherworldly; a mask seemingly made of flesh that pulsed and breathed. A specialized organism created spliced from the essence of Ysalimir and living flesh it blocked them from force detection at the cost of their own dampening their own control of it. A proboscis ran down their throats and the mask acted secondly as a breathing apparatus that filtered the toxins and dust of this wasteland planet. It held on forcibly to their face. Applying it was painful and invasive, covering your entire face; but well worth the benefits. Sensory nodes along the surface sent visual information to you, and even gave you a different field of vision that took some time to get used to, but in all ways was superior to typical sentient eyesight. You could see more.

Protected against any sort of force user, or possible phantom guardian, they had come to the planet to search for more relics of the old Sith cultures. The archives at the Tanaab Academy had many treasures already in it's collection taken from the ruins of the Sith Order Temple on Korriban. Lady Frygt fancied them to be her birthright but Ezra never counted any of them to belong to her. He was the one who battled the monster that had taken up residence in the temple and retrieved the artifacts. He would play her game for now, for as long as it benefited him, but when he took his leave it would be with those artifacts in hand. They were priceless, both as pieces of history but also as potential weapons. Most were merely trinkets that could be sold if needed. Tomes and holocrons that contained alchemic knowledge were treasured above all else.

Pushing deeper into the cave it appeared to be potentially man made. A mining shaft perhaps. There were more disturbances in the dust. Someone was here. Perhaps not far ahead of them. His acolytes were ready, each carried a torch in one hand, and a lightsabre in the other. The blackened handles of the new Sith Order stood in contrast to the silver hilts of the Jedi, and were hard to make out in the darkness. Ezra carried no weapon in hand. His own lightsabre remained on his belt; a fitting place for a weapon that was useless in his hands. A status symbol and nothing more. His real weapon was the men at his back whom he and Frygt had personally trained as the first of many Sith to come.

He also had a small swarm of sithspawn left outside the cave. They could be summoned if needed, but for now he left them there. They would only get in the way of the exploration.

[Sianna]

Keeping aware of her surroundings, these old mines being subject to the ravages of time and any seismic activity, Sianna soon felt more auras in the Force, far behind her and nearing the central area. Turning, she clicked off the glowrod knowing that any true danger would be visible in the Force. Though walking down the long tunnel would be interesting, she mused. Listening to the shuffle of footfalls echoing through the tunnel, the Echani knew they would eventually find her if they were following the fresh footprints that she had made. Unafraid of any scavengers or treasure hunters, she grinned darkly and turned back toward the deeper part of the tunnel, keeping her glowrod low, flicking it back on. There would be no end to interruptions as she explored and gained knowledge as most of her past trips to various sites had all been with issues, whether it be with local constabulary or Jedi interruptions. She had dealt with them all and was still standing.

Soon, a shifting of earth to the far right, farther down the tunnel, silver orbs gravitated to the movement as Sianna opened herself to the Force once more. Feeling the strengthening aura of the small creature, the priestess sought out it's surface thoughts, noting a very simple, primal personality. It needed to feed and luckily for Sianna, there was a buffet on it's way. Smirking to herself, she touched the creature's mind, influencing it to ignore her and smell the large group far behind her, speeding it to be her first distraction as she sought to find out who they were and how well equipped.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

A noise ahead caused the party to halt. They stood still for many minutes in silence, their torches shining all around as they searched for the source of the noise. It almost seemed like they had misheard something, maybe the groan of the rock itself, but then suddenly something emerged from the dark passage ahead. There was not time to identify what it was. It was a hostile creature barreling toward them in a frenzy of fangs and claws. Ezra tried to admire it, to find something of worth that he might bring back to his laboratory to extract. His sithspawn were not a final product and he was always looking for new genes to splice. New adaptations to evolve.

However, before he could even search it for worth, his acolytes stepped forward, and as four they ignited their lightsabres together. Crimson spears of light that created new shadows along the tunnel walls. The creature didn't hesitate, and was cut down it passed between them. The first sidestepped and cut a leg, the next winged an arm, and the last two decapitated and ran it through simultaneously. The eviscerated corpse was pushed aside, torches leveled to reveal the remains. Ezra nudged it with a boot, clicked his tongue disappointingly, and turned away. It was without worth.

Standing together, the hum of their lightsabres filling the tunnel, Ezra looked ahead. This was not what they had been following. A bipedal wearing footwear was their target. However, they may be more of these creatures, so they advanced slower, with caution now, instead of blinding rushing the tunnel as before. They kept their blades out. Two at his front, and two at his back. They would not risk a surprise attack from either the bipedal or these creatures. Ezra kept his own eyes peeled for artifacts.

[Sianna]

Hearing the distinct sound of lightsabers and feeling the life of the large creature ebb in the Force, Sianna had all the information she needed now. Their auras were unique as almost voids in the Force which meant they had found a way to mute it somehow. Being users of the saber, only Force users knew how to construct one, unless they had stolen them from some other ruin. That point was still confusing to the priestess though she wasn't going to leave her empty handed either. Rising, she pushed on faster, keeping her mind honed on the muted signature that she had noticed earlier, but her ears now focused behind. Soon, the tunnel opened considerably and became an enormous chamber and she couldn't see any other openings or the far walls yet. However, laying in the middle of the chamber she found something interesting. Moving to the sharp, rounded protrusion of rock, she crouched near it and studied it. Being taller than she was, it's top edge jagged as if broken, she placed the glowrod into her mouth while opening her pack, now extracting a knife and vial, then began extracting a large sample. Capping it, Sianna placed the small vial into her backpack and rose once more, now hearing the approach of the group. Flicking off her glowrod, she moved quietly around a large boulder nearby and continued up, feeling her way to a another ridge-like area. Feeling the boulder's rounded edge fall away behind, she slid into the shallow void and settled in.

Watching now as the group entered, their glowrods giving away their positions, she watched and waited.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

The tunnel ended in a larger chamber. There were no other exits, and as such Ezra immediately placed two of his acolytes to watch the door. Along with the two remaining, Ezra stepped forward into the room. Whomever they were following had to be in here. Somewhere. They was not many places to hide, even with numerous crags and crevices. It was merely a matter of eliminating all the possible locations. However, with just the three of them searching together as one it would take some to eliminate all the possibilities.

He simply did not have the time for that.

Reaching for his face, Ezra grabbed at the sides of the flesh mask. Massaging the appropriate node caused it to loosen just enough to for it to be pulled free. Painfully free. The proboscis was pulled free of his throat, and left him choking and gagging a moment as he adapted to breathing on his own. The air was dusty and dry. It reminded him of his homeworld; Tatooine. Like Tatooine this planet was a terrible wasteland devoid of any intelligent life.

Wiping the few drops of blood from his youthful face he turned and looked back down the tunnel they came from. Stretching out a hand he reached out in the force and located the dozen lifeforms back at the entrance. They felt his influence and followed his commands. Two split from the pack, heading into the caves at full speed. The creatures' (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j162/Digital_Demon/Zergling-Edit_zpspvp3lmty.jpg) compact bodies and strong legs allowed them to cover ground quickly. In no time at all they were in the cavern with them. A gesture was all it took to send the ferocious sithspawn charging across the cavern looking for anything to eat.

[Sianna]

A long quiet moment lingered as three broke off from the group and as she watched from the far side of the cavern and above, Sianna noticed that the two with sabers appeared to be escorting the third. Keeping attuned to the Force, she still couldn't make them out beyond being living sentients, another point that bothered the Echani. Keeping still, silver orbs then narrowed as the third began tearing at his face, then pulled it free, though the light from the other two's sabers illuminated him enough to let her see that it was a human male, though as he began choking and coughing, his aura in the Force suddenly became brighter. He was a dark side user as well, she mused. His touch to the Force muted by the mask that he wore, she then noticed his aura brighten as he faced back up through the main access tunnel.

She was about to have more company.

Feeling the creatures barrel down toward the cavern, Sianna then slid her double-bladed saber from her belt and waited. Growls and hurried claws tore at the rock and sand as both, large, serpent-like creatures made her think of several different animals and other things that she had read about over the years. Within moments of their grand entrance, the two began rushing to the large, tall protrusion of rock that she had stopped at, then followed her scent right up toward her. Time to act, she mused and stood, taking in the energies freely flowing through the rock around her and in the air as she raised both hands. Invisible, the mental hands that now grappled the pair of long, four legged beasts now rose into the air, their protesting growls and surprise was almost palpable. Turning them, she then Pushed the two flailing animals through the air and toward their master and his two guards.

"Think these belong to you," her voice echoed from her high perch, still partially behind the large boulder which she had taken refuge.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

The sithspawn had barely disappeared from sight before they came flying back. Ezra ducked underneath the salvo just in time. His apprentices did not. The sithspawn wiped them off their feet and sent them sprawling to the floor. Beyond, at the edges of the cavern, partially hidden behind a rock outcropping, Ezra could just make out the shape of a person. Four lightsabres ignited as those at the door became alerted to the conflict, and the two behind him got back up on their feet. The sithspawn had also risen in turn and were now snarling at Ezra's feet.

A shush and a hand wave caused the beasts to quiet. The acolytes reluctantly responded in kind. Their blades deactivated and their stances softened. They were still on alert, watching for trouble, but they made themselves as nonthreatening as possible. Ezra made no move for his own weapon. It bounced harmlessly against his thigh. His mask still in one hand he peered at the shape. A woman, if the voice was any measure. And a force user, at that. It was not too uncommon to come across his own kind here in the ruins of the Sith. Many came looking for treasure, objects of power, or simply for the history of a long dead culture. Followers of the old ways of the Sith would have attacked relentlessly until the interloper was dead. Ezra did not agree with the old ways completely. Within every enemy existed a potential ally.

Or, in the very least, someone to exploit.

"Reveal yourself Adept. There is nothing to be gained from spilled blood. Not here where we are all but lost children before the ancients.

[Sianna]

A bemused grin arced upon her pale face as she listened to the apparent leader of this band, though as they lowered their sabers now extinguished and giving her even more confidence to emerge from behind the large stone. Stepping out, the black clad priestess kept her silvery gaze fixed to all of them, descending the rocky, natural stone until reaching more of a mix of rock and sand. Keeping the hilt of her double-bladed saber in her right hand, she strolled toward the central raised stone where the sithspawn had first caught her scent. His last comment was amusing as the Sith master now got a closer look at these escorting the younger looking blonde male.

"Speak for yourself," she finally began, her smooth voice now more audible with proximity. "Only those that haven't learned from history are lost, especially those who haven't studied what the founders of our empire laid down. I'm Sianna, Priestess of the Sith'aria," the confident Echani introduced, still watching the guards and pair of animals who seemed eager to get revenge for the surprise earlier.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

"Sith'aria?" He didn't even bother introducing himself before diving straight into the most pertinent question in his mind. Correcting what seemed to be either a pronunciation error or misguided mysticism. "I know the legend of the Sith'ari. Adas, Bane, and thousands who fell short of the title. So what, may I ask, is the Sith'aria? Did Sorzus Syn make another incredible prophesy?"

Pointless Sith mysticism the lot of it. Ezra put no faith in any of it. He was a man of science, of measurable qualities. The Force was indeed beyond the realm of the physical, and recording, but it had real world affects that could be measured, recorded, and explored. Still, he had little reason to believe in such a prophesy. Delusions meant to inspire but instead distract. Real, measurable results could be seen beside him in the Sithspawn he had created. There was no reason to hold out for some limitless being to lead them into a new age of the Sith.

[Sianna]

Her brow furrowed lightly as he spoke the names and she understood now a bit better the leader of these adepts before her. "King Adas of the Sith was the first Sith'ari and that which the later Sith strove to emulate. Once they had Sorzus Syn's code and a fuller understanding of the Force could we strive for perfection. Bane understood a lot about the purer side of the Force, that you and I follow, but he fell short in many other areas. I agree there." Sianna had studied the Sith and many of their splinter groups for many years and loved the subject.

Glancing between them, the priestess now had another query. "Where do you call home?"

[Ezra Na'chtion]

Ah, yes. So this woman, this Sianna, had more than a passing understanding of the Sith'ari. While he found the mysticism frivolous, it was refreshing to discover another educated person. His own students were, unfortunately, just mirrors upon himself. Their understanding was the same one that he put in their heads in the first place. Some had original thoughts or challenged the ideals put before them, but most fell in line and accepted the Sith Code into their hearts without a second thought. That was part of the vetting process. To ensnare the weak minded, the violent, and those with an intelligent interest in the old arcane practices of the Sith. That last one was very rare, so the ranks were filled mostly with meatheads and psychos.

Ah, the sacrifices one must make in order to gain traction in this galaxy.

"I have called many places home. Tatooine, Korriban, Corellia. I go where I will profit the most. I am Ezra Na'chtion, Vice-Chancellor of the Tanaab Academy of the Force." Revealing his identity was a great risk; a gamble he was willing to try if it meant gaining a knowledgeable, and competent, ally. There were already swirling rumors about the true identity of the Academy, and the Empire and Alliance had already sent out dignitaries to investigate them. They found nothing. Of course. He had taken incredible pains to hide the Sith Order in the catacombs and work with Frygt on her public representation. Still, further rumors could unveil them eventually, and they would be horribly ill equipped to handle a squad of Imperial Knights.

Or an orbital bombardment.

[Sianna]

She listened to his introduction and then where he apparently called home when the time suited him and though she had heard of Tanaab, she had never been there. "Academy of the Force," Sianna mused aloud, silver eyes narrowing a bit as she scanned the faces of those accompanying this Vice-Chancellor, which sounded more like a flowery title for such a place that she hadn't heard of yet. Though being buried in tomes or datadiscs in a host of archives around the galaxy, that wasn't too much of a surprise.

"Who and what do you teach there seeing as the Sith are pretty much extinct as far as the larger empires and governments are concerned?" Having traveled largely alone, she had escaped many of the regular scrutiny from the Empire and their so-called knights. "I feel the dark side flowing within you and given those pets, you're slant isn't one that's given to supporting the Jedi, unless those grotesque masks you wear somehow mute your convictions as well."

[Ezra Na'chtion]

"The Academy is a neutral school of the force located on a neutral planet in neutral space. As you can no doubt understand, a public institution of the force can not take sides. It would disagree with one side or the other. We offer a curriculum without prejudice or indoctrination. It has become a bastion for free will and learning. Incredible expensive, but we can hardly run on gratitude. Beneath the surface I am running a sith cult. We are but a beginning, but our school generates an endless supply of potential acolytes."

He gestured at the acolytes at his back. "Students are hand picked. Only the best are allowed to learn of the new Sith Order. We are not Jedi, I assure you. Jedi would never allow the practice of Sith Alchemy to take place. I would be ever so bored if deprived of creating life." And now he gestured to the sithspawn at his ankles.

[Sianna]

She could almost hear Sorzus Syn and the other founders of the Sith Empire rolling in the Force at hearing this news at how their distant progeny had to live now. It was almost sickening to the priestess, though she understood the necessity for some as well as intrigued by the opportunity to find acolytes worthy of the Sith name. "Leading a double life has to be exhausting," she stated, her silvery gaze taking in the faces of the four acolytes dutifully remaining around their master. "Though I can definitely see the benefits of being able to not only have potential Force users come to us as well as visiting worlds that have that one that could further the cause."

Relaxing a bit more, Sianna stepped closer to the group, noticing the tension in the air remaining. "Tell me more about your little cult." She had already been down that road once and had no intentions of repeating past mistakes.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

She was displaying interest. This was good. Ezra had worried more manipulation would be required to sway this Sith to his side. An ally, regardless of what capacity, was a commodity he was desperately in need of if his Order was ever to grow.

"Incredibly, but it is a necessary burden. It is difficult to oversee the school, teach class, and still find the time to grow the Order. We manage, as we must, until we have the power to do otherwise."

Feeling at ease with what appeared to be an equal, Ezra dismissed his acolytes with a wave of his hand. They dispersed, moving to entrance of the cavern and standing guards. His pets remained at his side, but their eyes had become unfocused, their breathing slowing, as they laid down on the cold stone floor.

"The origin of my cult is a long story. For many years a cult of Sith existed on the planet Korriban; hidden away within a hollow tomb. A mighty gathering of practitioners of the Sith way. We called ourselves The Sith Order. Eventually the power of the Sith Order began to wane. Long standing members fell away or died, leaving us vulnerable. We were attacked by a woman, who's identity I have never discovered. She was a powerful darksider, and she brought an army of strange creatures. I can not be sure what they were, but I can form a theory. Their strange biology and short lifespans would suggest genetically modified clones. They used incredibly dense, heavy blades capable of withstanding a lightsabre blade. They attacked at night, gaining entrance to our hidden hangar through methods unknown, and routed us. A fierce battle was had, and in the end only a few escaped aboard a transport. We traveled to Corellia, a planet we once controlled. The survivors well apart, scattering slowly over time. My master and I went our own way. When I returned no Order remained.

Our new chapter was started by Frygt, the daughter of the Sith Order's own Lord of the Sith, Jorshal Vuntana. She found me and together, along with her own apprentices, started this new Order under the guise of a School for the Gifted. It took much string pulling and the planting of puppets within the government, but in the end we secured the permission to open the school and push Tanaab to become a neutral planet that stood apart from both the Empire and Alliance whom would rather see our school torn down that risk the potential for it becoming a temple for the Jedi or Sith. Respectively. Now we train legitimate students while hand picking those who will best serve the Sith. We continue to reach out to the old members of our Order, but they have been reclusive or uninterested in returning. Also for unknown practitioners of the old ways, such as yourself.

If you are still curious, you should visit the Academy. I can arrange a tour."

[Sianna]

Her mind focused on his words, images of weakness in those that cowered or ran once the fighting was done. A stronger foundation was needed and if she was to eventually command the minds of more like minded individuals, reinstitute the Sith as they once were, this could be a good place to begin. The offer of touring the academy would give her more insights into what she was getting herself into. Silver orbs drifted in thought, toward the erect, slender piece of stone that she had sampled before being interrupted. Nodding, Sianna returned her cold gaze to the blonde human. "Okay. My ship isn't far from this cave's entrance, so give me the coordinates and I'll meet you there."

Already having her sample, she did wish to spend just a little more time here before leaving.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

The coordinates were rattled off. Ezra prided himself on his wonderful mind, and by extension his memory. His comm channel was given as well, so she could call ahead when she arrived. The proper transportation would be required to shuttle her to and from the Academy. He didn't want any spies to get the right impression.

"Now that is settled, I am curious what attracted you to this site in the first place? I would hate to intrude on your dig."

[Sianna]

Brow furrowed lightly at his request as she typed in the coordinates to the academy's nearby starport, glancing up to Ezra once more. "Searching out any remains of the leviathans that Sorzus Syn left behind. They were said to inhabit many of the old mines or create their own burrows." He apparently hadn't come here seeking the same thing, she mused. "Why, what brought you here?"

Returning the datapad to her pant's pocket, she hitched the double-bladed saber hilt to her belt as she listened to his reply.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

"Nothing particular. I have been scouring this world for relics of power and holocrons. I haven't found anything of worth, but it is a good experience for my acolytes. Think of it as a field trip; a chance to see the shadows of the great Sith that came before and learn from their success and defeat. History litters this world like the dust that covers it."

The leviathans, she said. Curious. He had to admit he once had a passing interest in them. Great sithspawn weapons of war. Huge, incredible things beyond description and, in most cases, a victim of hyperbole and legend. It was impossible to know for sure what was real and what was imagination. He once thought about attempting to revive the species, but he felt that such a massive creature was cumbersome in this day and age. You could not just fly a massive space dragon through the abyss to conquer every world in you path. Oh no. He much preferred his smaller Sithspawn. They were much easier to grow and house in the warrens below Tanaab's surface.

"I would recommend you not dig too greedily and too deep. If any Leviathans still slumber within this planet, it would be quite the calamity to unleash them."

[Sianna]

Grinning wryly, Sianna sighed. "Not going to unless one of them was awakened by a slight use of the Force. Rumors had it that tremors caused by mining equipment was what brought on their demise and I don't have anything like that." Though, if she thought about it, there was a particular move that might. "Aerial bombardments took care of most of what was left here. All I've found so far is empty mines and bones of the dead."

And that one sample, she mused.

Moving toward the cavern entrance which led to the main shaft that led here, Sianna had other last minute things to tend to, but also didn't want to give away what she had found either. Sith may be working together, but that didn't mean that they shared everything. Taking in the acolytes that he had brought with him, she couldn't see herself all of a sudden planning garden parties for diplomats, dinner reservations for families wishing to send their kids to the academy. Someone else was going to take care of that.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

She was hiding something, or at least not being perfectly honest. Ezra couldn't push the subject, not with their new professional relationship so newly minted. Pushing would stress the cracks and potentially destroy this new thing before it even began. He backed off.

"Then I wish you success in your search. This cavern has nothing I desire. We will move on. When I return to Tanaab I will prepare for your arrival. Until then, Lady Sianna." With that he bowed just his head, bending at the neck, and then turned around and headed back toward his acolytes. His mask was reapplied to his face; the proboscis instinctively rammed down his throat, gagging him momentarily before allowing him to breath through it once more. The talons grabbed his face, and all he knew was pain and a shared consciousness with the symbiotic creature. It fueled him, tapping into the darkside. The world around him disappeared as his perception of the force weakened.

There were more places to search on this dead planet, but he knew his heart wouldn't be in it. His mind was already racing, making mental preparation for Sianna's visit.