Symphony of the Night

[Baska Tankreyd]

Much had happened in the past months and Baska knew that her journey was to take her to the Hapes Consortium in the near future. The recent beginning of a potential alliance with Salem Ave, or whatever his names were depending on the circle he found himself in at a given time had brought her to new encounters and new opportunities in the Cluster.

Yet she felt that she had something else to do before making her way to her newfound destination. She was curious about Hapes and felt the unmistakable pull of the Darkness stirring deep within her soul. She had prayed and meditated over what might be awaiting her there, but much remained in the shadows. She didn't like the unknown but she knew that the Darkness had always protected her, even in the most tragic hours of her life and she would focus on what she could control and gain for now.

Her blue eyes shot open the moment she heard the blaring alarm indicating the imminent return to normal space. She rolled to her side and sat at the edge of her bed, stretching her neck. Then, she got to her feet and headed to the cockpit.

[Alienor Vankar]

Cloud City, Bespin.

Darn it. Alienor was familiar with working with contacts and how not to have to delegate tasks to unqualified morons. That was why the news she had received from Vjun had troubled her. The young pirate was no fool and whatever had claimed her hired hands' lives on that acidic rain planet must have been bad.

She had no problem with money would it only be it as a famous musician and martial art trainer, but she hated defeat. Oh how she hated that. Tankreyds didn't get effin discouraged. No, that wasn't in their genes, ever. They were too hard-headed and stubborn and bloody dangerous for that.

Yet, Alienor knew that this might be beyond her skill sets, and given some of the stuff she had heard, her cousin would be more qualified. She had no idea what Baska was up to but they had never let each other down.

Grumbling and pouring more liquor into her glass, she planted herself on her couch and reached out to her comlink, hoping that Baska would answer,

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska was making her way towards the planetary outpost, one of those perfect hives of illegal dealings where she could get refuel, supplies, and sometimes useful trails to follow. The nagging feeling of something bound to happen was still in the back of her mind, but focusing on simple tasks for now would have to do.

Her comlink buzzed as she was flying her ship towards her destination. Given who was calling, she took the request in. She briefly glanced at the holographic display of her cousin popping to life.

"Hey Ali," it was easy for the Sith to tell that her younger cousin was upset. Alienor wasn't trying to hide much in her expression and they both knew each other very well, pretty much like sisters.

"What happened?" As much as she loved Ali, she didn't see the point to chitchat and she preferred getting to the heart of the matter right away.

[Alienor Vankar]

Alienor let out a sigh of relief when she saw Baska's face when her cousin took the call. She brought her knees beneath her and slumped a little more comfortably into the plush pillows, her drink still in hand. Despite the stress, she beamed. "Hey Big Bad B." She caught the deadly glare coming at her. "Oh come on! This is a private conversation! And you know you secretly love it." She winked to her cousin. After all she had called her like that since she was barely a grass hopper. And it had stuck even as they were both adults. Being able to call a Sith Master with such a pet name was also an amazing guilty pleasure to have. And they really only have each other as family for crying out loud.

Past her brief shenanigans, she answered her cousin's question right away. "I sent three people I knew to Vjun, to scout what was rumored to be a solid black market place. I was hoping to find a few good deals. Thing is, they got killed. Their pilot managed to contact me before vanishing into thin air. I have no idea what is up there."

She took a long gulp from her drink. "The last thing I heard from them was that there should be some archeological goods to sample if not siphon down there. These people were damn good at what they did. Hell, I personally trained one of them two years ago. I want to know what happens but I have no idea what's down there. That's why I am asking you if you could check it out. And I was anyway thinking of you when I heard about the possible artifacts."

[Baska Tankreyd]

Vjun was a name Baska had heard before. Her later master had visited that place, but it wasn't one where he had personally taken her during her years of training, nor one she had ventured to by her own accord so far. She looked outside of the view port, still flying her ship closer to the surface, for regardless of her next destination, she needed to resupply.

She felt a tremor in the Force as Ali told her what was going on. The whole situation clearly preoccupied her cousin, and the mention of artifacts caught her interest. She was of course willing to help the younger Tankreyd, but the fleeting impression that more was at play was still there. It was annoying but if she could at least gets a practical approach and delve into this matter directly, it would hopefully unveil the mystery.

"Send me the information you have, I'll go there."

Her expression softened just a little as she glanced at the image of her cousin. "Big Bad B me again though, and I'll turn you into future archeological remains.

[Alienor Vankar]

Alienor raised her now mostly empty glass to the image of her cousin. There were very few people she trusted with her life. One was Molly and the other was her cousin. She was blessed to have two epic women like that in her close circle.

"Do you prefer O Might Deadly One?" She winked to her cousin. Then her expression turned serious again. "Thank you a lot. I'll send what I have right away. You take care."

She ended the communication and downed the rest of her drink. Whatever was down there, it was likely out of her league.

[Dalethria]

Vjun - The River Weeping

The acidic waters gently lapped against the withering ground of slow decay. The area along the main river and bay was eroding ever so slowly, turning into sand before dissolving completely by the deadly waters. The process took an exceptionally long time but its by products were the beautiful labyrinth of caverns and coastal cliffs etched into the almost lifeless planet.

A crack of lightning sewn through the cloud cover overhead, threatening rain on this late night, which illuminated the crouching cloaked figure at the water's edge. They were dangerously close to the gentle waves sliding up the sands but boots were mere inches out of reach. It was clear with the change in weather, how the winds howled in the distance, that they would need to soon retreat to higher ground or risk being battered by the acidic rains or have the tides wash them away.

Slender, pale, fingers caressed the air as her arm swept over towards the river. Three bodies quickly floated off the ground and made their way towards the river. They were scavengers seeking fortune with the past of Vjun. Unfortunately the fools were poking around in the lands that the Sith Master Dalethria had claimed as home. She had felt their presence immediately upon landing several kilometers from her niche under Château Malreaux that had disturbed her meditations. She tracked their life essence and executed them but the last one had sent off a communication. No details were given but it meant that more may come.

That potentiality weighed heavily on Dalethria's mind as each body splashed into the river - fabric and flesh sizzling and smoking as the river destroyed any trace of their existence. All that remained was the husk of the transport ship that they came in on, destroyed by mining explosives onboard. If anymore were sent to claim the riches of Vjun, she created one hell of a deterrent. They would be smart and leave - or face her wrath.

Rising slowing, Dalethria quickly turned before the next wave started to crash against shore where she was just stood. A moment longer and she would have suffered the stinging kiss of the river. There was still time before the tide came sweeping in to flood the catacombs, but Dalethria would be safe in her quarters long before then...

[Baska Tankreyd]

In the couple of days it took Baska to reach Vjun, she had studied the bits and pieces of information Alienor had provided her with. The Sith Master had also meditated at length and prayed the Darkness would lift the veil to get a glimpse of what was awaiting her there. So far, she had only met stubborn silence. It was becoming a pattern and she hated that. Yet it could become a weapon to hone her perceptions and sharpen her mind, so she understood the beauty of trials.

Alienor had told her the last known location of her deceased hired guns wasn't afar from a river. She had no idea what she might be up against, but she studied maps and information about Vjun during her last sleepless night. It seemed that the geography comprised caves in the area. That would allow her to land not too close from the tragic theater of events and explore, while still having easy cover from the acidic rains that so often corroded the planet.

She packed light but fully prepared in case her trek would require her to stay away from the ship for a bit. Having lived most of her existent as a lone wolf, exploring the galaxy as a bounty hunter and then Sith, the prospect of new places was always thrilling to her, even besides the possibility of artifacts of interest.

Baska (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BdFrPtslzDw/maxresdefault.jpg) waited for the latest rains to stop and then headed out promptly, having no reason to waste time. She followed her instincts and headed towards the lower section of a nearby rock formation, as to check on the caves she was expecting to find.

Then she suddenly felt it, interwoven deep in the web of the Force. The fleeting stir was no ethereal echo from times that were or to come, but another Dark Sider.

A powerful one.

[Dalethria]

Blue eyes snapped opened, the Dark Side awakening her (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/underworld/images/1/19/Sonja_outfit.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120114161706) from slumber. A presence had touched down on Vjun so powerful that it made her shiver, enjoying its power. She had not felt a presence this powerful in a long time. Though it may not have the same intensity as being in the presence of Palpatine, it provoked a level of respect and caution. But more importantly, why?

Vjun's history enticed dark siders, but they were few now. Only recent activity were the raiders - a constant nuisance, she thought while slipping out of bed. Bare feet hit the cold floor as she paced within her bedroom, looking into the darkness for guidance. A small echo of connection felt right, bridging this presence with the raiders, but why? The questions plagued her as to the reason a dark sider this powerful would need thugs to do their dirty work.

Unless ...

"No ..." she hissed, paranoia taking hold.

With haste she slipped on her boots and grabbed her lightsaber, wondering if she had sprung a trap. Had the raiders been a lure to draw her out and now one of Palpatine's lackey's had found her to finish his orders? She knew he could bury an order so deep into one's psyche that even in death, his minions would carry it out until completion or their own death.

She would not die. Over 500 years she has escaped death, manipulated the Force to extend her life, and Dalethria would not have it ended by some assassin.

Fingers slide over the stone wall on the far side of the room, caressing a particular smoothed surface before her index finger pressed in the barely noticeable edge. Metal gears clinked one after the other to shift stone against stone, revealing a secret tunnel into the intricate network of catacombs. She sniffed the air, pleased that it was devoid of acrid aroma. The time of day, coupled with that information, meant the passages that headed closer to Bast would be the safest to travel.

The Force around her flickered out of life, concealing her presence. It was time to hunt.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska had encountered several potent auras over the years and wouldn't have come this far as a Sith, if she hadn't faced enough trials to shape her to be a full-blown servant of the Darkness. Yet there was something different about this specific presence. She felt drawn to it in a way she couldn't fully comprehend. It took much for a living being to intrigue the blonde but the mystery whose signature she briefly brushed against piqued her interest.

Past the moment of surprise, she felt the aura vanish into the shadows, which didn't surprise her. She promptly did the same, masking her wandering as she made it farther into the cave she was heading into.

She had got a general idea of where the presence she had felt was and while she could have decided to just carry on with her own plans, she thought such a choice would be futile. Not only the other Dark Sider might have ties to what had happened to Alienor's hired guns, but they were bound to meet at one point or the other, so Baska would rather get to the bottom of the situation sooner than later.

She hadn't thought she would be hunting a fellow Sith, but it was promising. Finding worthy Force wielders in the galaxy was a rarity.

[Dalethria]

Seconds went by when Dalethria had felt the other presence cloak themselves but she was able to glean a few insightful tells. The most important one was curiosity.

That confused the elder Sith. If she was truly being hunted, then her presence here should not be a surprise. Was her initial reaction to this force user incorrect? There were few instances that Dalethria erred, but it was possible. Unnatural longevity gained wisdom and foresight, but the future was always in motion. Anticipating her demise had lead her to working for Sidious, believing in his insight for order and stability. She had erroneously believed that the Dark Side had led her to him but had ignored its warning instead. She would not make that mistake again.

Dalethria moved through the caverns, weaving between stalagmites, hearing the gentle drips of water from the ceiling above. It was the dangerous part of this network, where water, acidic and not, would intermingle. One could never really be sure of the few natural springs within had fully rid the area of the dangerous substance. Every drop had to be avoided or risk injury. She decided she would remain here and wait, having an advantageous position.

Dalethria gazed up at the ceiling, stalactites grouped together like exquisite chandeliers, watching the water dripping slowly. Moisture was little here, meaning that this cavern had not been flooded in some time. With careful footing, she avoided the puddles and slipped into the shadows behind a connecting stalagmite and stalactite that was two feet in diameter, wary of any flowstones, it surfaces smooth from being constantly touched by water. Here Dalethria would bide her time - either by this masked force user making their way here, or eventually they would let their guard drop and sense them. She was patient.

[Baska Tankreyd]

It would have been easy to get caught into the trap of frustration. Baska knew better than that. Her brief brush against the other Sith's aura had wet her appetite and stirred awake her hunter nature. While she was still seeking to uncover whatever mystery had led her cousin to reach out to her, the blonde's mind was mostly set on that other dark sider hidden in the depth of Vjun. She felt as if she would soon be able to do more than helplessly tug at the veil of shadows that had been cloaking her senses.

While the whereabouts of the other Sith were now inaccessible, it didn't trouble her. They both played that game at that point. As a Master who had spent most of her life hunting and exploring, even before being trained in the ways of the Force, she was comfortable hiding her presence while assessing her surroundings. Being cautious and yet naturally bold in her approach was how she chose to do things, given that the other Sith likely had stronger familiarity with the place.

As she ventured deeper into the caves, there was a feline grace about the athletic blonde. When coming upon a few spots showing signs of acidic drops and pools, she avoided them and kept moving forward. There was beauty in nature, even in such caves carved by erosion and elemental forces. If it wasn't for other purposes, Baska might have taken more time to observe her surroundings.

Focus sharpened as she reached a zone with impressive stalagmites and stalactites. The predator in her couldn't deny that this area looked like an awfully good spot for an ambush, if one was bound to happen. Yet, it didn't deter her from progressing. Whatever might await her, she would face it.

[Dalethria]

Eyes widened at the smallest shift of gravel heard. She turned her head to see a blonde carefully making her way through the treacherous pools of water and acid, gracefully avoiding the droplets raining from below. There was no doubt in her mind this was the one she had sensed earlier and the question of why resumed.

Why was this woman here? Why was a Sith consorting with raiders if her instincts were correct, and they weren't often wrong ... But to be fair, Palpatine had tricked her. Another Sith as powerful as Dalethria could easily muddle her connection to the Force.

She worked through her choices. The first was to remain hidden and let the woman pass. Dalethria could hide in this caves for hours until the blonde gave up and left. Just that curiosity that she had felt earlier was strong and she felt that this stranger wouldn't give up until she found the source of the presence felt before.

Which led her to confronting the woman by force and by rid of her or a more subtle approach to understand the motivations behind her visit to Vjun. Dalethria had no doubt she would be victorious, and to destroy the remains of this intruder was simple when the tide came through here, but what if another comes? What if whoever has interest here keeps sending envoys? Killing all of them may be fruitless in the end...

There was no easy solution but to find answers, Dalethria decided to hone in on a fellow Sith's curiosity.

"Why are you here?"

Her voiced echoed throughout the cavern, making it difficult to pinpoint Dalethria's precise location.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Danger was lurking in this place, and although she couldn't properly figure out where the other Dark Sider was, the presence of significant power was alluring and she liked a mystery. There were not that many dark siders across the galaxy, and certainly only a few Baska would consider worthy of her time. She couldn't shake off the uncanny certainty that the one in these caverns was one of a kind. What kind exactly, she ignored it at the moment, but she was set on finding out.

She kept walking carefully but assuredly among the stalactites and stalagmites, avoiding a few acidic puddles on the way. Having been through hell and back on multiple occasions, the Sith Master's tenacity and skills had been carved within her athletic body as much as in her sharp mind. She was on her guards, all senses open to the unknown, but that was what drove her as well.

When words were spoken, her brows subtly raised, as she hadn't been sure that the other woman would talk, or already do so. There were many ways to answer this question, for several reasons had brought her to Vjun. She chose to go to what had motivated her most to travel to the planet.

"Ancient relics and history of our kind fascinate me."

[Dalethria]

She felt curiosity. This woman was a moth to the flame, but was the Master Sith going to allow that curiosity to blossom or snuff it out in an instant.

Her response made the smile tight upon her face.

That so? I will assume you mean the planet. Not me personally.

After all, Dalethria was an ancient relic full of history in a manner of speaking.

[Baska Tankreyd]

The power emanating from the other Sith was drawing Baska in, but she remained careful and firmly rooted in her own darkness and her hunting instinct, as not to get distracted. She knew better than that. What the woman said was surprising and yet not. Was she such an ancient relic then? What she had glimpsed so far of her aura had been potent, but when they had reached deep prowess in the Force, it was natural.

"The planet indeed, unless you consider your self a relic as well." There was no ill in Baska's tone or what she allowed to be revealed of her presence.

As much as she appreciated her cousin, she didn't like Alienor toying around with what belonged to the Sith. The younger pirate knew that well, and in a weird way, Baska believed that her cousin had decided to let her know about Vjun in more detail as a way to make up for that. She must have known that Baska would be intrigued by whatever had killed Alienor's crew. It wasn't the first time such things happened, though the previous time the Sith Master had investigated anything, it had proven to be a mutated rancor that had eaten Alienor's infochants, not a fascinating fellow dark sider.