Black Vultures

[Baska Tankreyd]

Iego and its moons had been at the core of many tales and legends for centuries. It made for the perfect refuge for one who wished not to be found. Years before Baska had lost everything and begun her renewing journey into the mysteries of the Dark Side, adventures had brought her to Iego and she had fallen for the mysterious planet, eventually claiming an old house for herself, which she had renovated over the years and the credits, as well as mind-bending weak individuals to work for her, before discarding them as to keep her secret. A few looters and pirates had attempted to get on her lands, and had met their death as well. Baska had no time or interest to discuss with trespassers. It was her territory and it would be as such until her dying day.

The house dominated a small hill, and a lake, which made for the perfect situation. Baska had vaults underneath the main floor, and it had become her sanctuary over the years. While she traveled a lot for multiple reasons and was now in greater contact with the Hapes Consortium, she appreciated her privacy, and often returned to Iego. It was also in her vaults that she safely kept all the Sith artifacts she had gathered, first in company of her mentor, then by herself. After killing her mentor, she had retrieved all his belongings and brought them here. He was no more a thorn in her side, despite how his last words had confused her.

She shrugged the thought off, and walked outside of the main living area, onto the deck looking over the lake. The wind was blowing more than usual and the Sith Master lifted her face to meet the elements, closing her eyes as she walked forward, surrendering to the Force.

When the Darkness tugged her thoughts back to her recent journey to Vjun (https://theholo.net/forum/showthread.php?57341-Symphony-of-the-Night) she halted her steps, a slight frown passing on her face. It was not the first time, nor likely the last, that it would happen. Her mind commonly returned to her encounter with the other Sith woman. She needed not focus hard to remember the whole ordeal. It was imprinted on her soul, although she could not explain why. She did not even know the woman’s name or face, but she remembered the potent and yet sophisticated power that rolled off of her aura, as well as her voice. The exchange had not last that long, nor had Baska taken long to turn back after she had got her answers, which she had more or less pieced together after finding out about the other Sith.

Without realizing it, she had resumed walking, down from the deck, to the rocky beach that led closer to the lake. To the East, she was now standing, opening her eye at last, she bit her lips at the sight of the two gravestones staring at her. She remembered the scream, the pain, and she let the floodgates of memory tear her apart, feeling the power coursing through her veins. She was stronger now, it wouldn’t happen again.

That last thought felt even heavier on her heart, because it reminded her that she would never be able to carry any offspring again. The Darkness had made her more powerful than anything she could have dreamed of, but she still bore that never-healing scar.

The searing rage blinded her all over again, and her scream lashed out against the strong wind, against the emptiness surrounding her.

Nobody, nothing would ever take her down again.

***

With vocal chords burning and her chest heaving, she eventually made her way back to the house. She didn’t stop to rest though; the Dark side would not let her do so. It demanded she went into the vaults. Not one to go against the guidance that had made her who she was, she heeded the call.

The vaults were many and ran far enough. Far from them all were full, but she had made sure to have extra space for the years to come. As she walked across the corridors, her hand brushing against the thick walls, a predatory smile curved her lips. Her focus got sharpened by the earlier pain, and it was invigorating.

The heist that had earned her such high-tech security systems was one of her favorite upgrades. She checked on a few places but nothing stood out. It did not discourage Baska at all though, because she knew she would figure out soon enough. While her patience could run thin at times, she learned even before becoming a Sith about the values of patience when on the hunt.

After about an hour, she stopped in front of an old holocron. Tilting her head to the side, she mused on it. It was a surprising item among what she had, but it was evident it was what she came for. She carefully held the device in her strong hands, still looking at it.

Then, she knew.

[Dalethria]

In the distance, clouds swirled in violent storm, lightning streaking across the like fingers trying to reach for more to pull into the vortex. Panic ridden, Dalethria ran down the hill, the winds trying to thwart her attempt at escaping the incoming storm with the strength of an army. She was pushed and pulled on the whim of the wind, her strength depleted from running so far to get here. Her legs were numb from effort but she pushed through, trying to reach the house she had seen in the distance. With a startled gasp, she lost her footing as part of the wood deck had been pried free from the storm was coming right at her. She managed to duck but the rocky surface caused her to wobble and fall.

The impact hurt terribly. She groaned and saw stars from the irregular stones that cracked against her head. Now she was fully at the mercy of the gale that slammed against her. Dalethria tried to find her footing but the wind was far too strong for her, batting her down every time she managed to get both feet on the ground. She cried out, beaten up again by the natural forces against her, and was soon slammed against the rocks once more and saw a topsy turvy view of the land as she rolled across the beach. She was spinning out of control as the storm was finally upon her. Rain savagely pelted against the ground and kicked up the lake waters that were splashing further and further inland as Dalethria begged the Force to help her. Her arms flailed around to grab onto anything to stop, even calling upon the Force, but felt nothing. She was powerless ...

Thud

The gusts hurled her straight into two large boulders from what she could tell by the pain that quickly advanced through her body. Her chest and legs burned from the impact, her cries drowned out by the howls of the storm. She planted a foot on one stone and a hand on the other to push off, trying to gain her bearings, but she ended up gasping in horror at the sight of two gravestones staring back at her...



Dalethria bolted up in bed, gasping for air and pale skin holding a thin, shiny, sheen of perspiration from the vision. Blue eyes cast about the bedroom to welcome familiarity as she latched onto the fear that had come. She focused on the stone walls that she had personally carved and the lingering acrid smell that always hung onto the air living so close to the acid waters that permeated Vjun. Dalethria was home.

She slipped out of bed and immediately went to white fur rug on the floor to meditate, her legs cold where the black nightgown did not cover. This was the fourth time this vision occurred and it was the same thing each time, except the storm was growing stronger and Dalethria was losing more control. This time she couldn't even call upon the Dark Side to assist! Only fear was present... her focused rage and survival instincts that had allowed her to live for centuries were gone.

As she sat there, Dalethria wondered why now? Her existence was still a well guarded secret. Only her cousin knew who she really was and the Tagge woman was under their thrall. Even the other Sith woman that had come here didn't know who she was or where her sanctuary was in the catacombs here. Dalethria solely held the knowledge to safely navigate them to find this location and to use the secret passages from the Tagge Chateau and Bast castle. She was safe.

She kept telling herself that but the intensity of this repeated vision, especially of the grave, was trying to tell her something different. Perhaps she wasn't as untouchable as she believed. Which meant there was a chink in her armor. She had to find it and repair it quickly so her plans would not be disturbed. Dalethria was playing a long game against the Empire and Vjun held so many resources at her disposal!

There was one truth that she could discern from these visions. The timing was irrefutable. Blue eyes snapped open with conviction before she rose, needing to prepare.

This all started after that Sith woman left Vjun and she was coming back soon...

[Baska Tankreyd]

After retrieving the old holocron, Baska had refreshed and packed for Vjun. The journey would take her a while, but she felt the need to leave at once, for she would be able to get some rest once aboard her ship. She of course knew what the holocron contained, though she hadn't mapped it extensively yet, but she was quite curious to see what the other Sith would make of it. She did not even know whether the other woman would reveal herself visually or any more than the last time. The athletic blonde didn't even know whether she would interact with her at all. She hoped she would, but whenever she tried to push within the darkness, no answer came to her.

The darkness wished her to exhibit the patience of a hunter and so it would be.

***

The following days aboard her ship brought no further insight to Baska but she had stopped trying to gain any. The days consisted of reviewing some information from multiple contacts for possible archeological ventures. In between she attended to her daily meditations and training for she hadn't gained as much power as she had without intense and consistent training.

While she tolerated space travels, she had always preferred being on actual ground, rather than up in the skies. She appreciated being anchored into the world, whether the depths of the Force or her direct surroundings. Space never felt the exact same to her.

[Dalethria]

Sleep came little now as the intensity of the recurring dream grew stronger each night. Dalethria had taken to meditation as substitute for true rest, but even then her mind drifted to the images to find reason behind them and how they connected to the Sith woman that had been here. Was it her home? Where she had been trained in the ways of the Dark Side? Had she killed there? The graves indicated some sort of death, but was it from the past or her future?

Her paranoia rose with those thoughts, wondering if that woman's arrival was going to start a chain reaction that led to her demise. It didn't feel right - that progression of thought. She had mused over that when the Sith woman was here and there was no connection of her death by this woman's hands or a ripple through the Force that seized her soul to indicate danger. So why must she repeatedly suffer through the repeated vision nightmare every night?!

With a sigh, she looked up at the Vjun sky and frowned. A real storm was coming and she would have to put her plans on hold and visit the Tagge woman later today. She tightly pulled the cloak around her as the temperature dropped and started the walk back to the catacombs. Halfway there, she stopped, gasped, and looked up with a mixture of disbelief and irritation.

The Sith woman was back. She had immediately felt her presence when she entered the system, the familiarity sending a chill down her spine. In her next breath, she was a blur on ground, racing for home ...

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska couldn't tell where she was but the gardens were lush and welcoming, perhaps too welcoming. She only heard nature sounds as she progressed through the neat alleys. It was one of the most beautiful "civilized" places she had ever seen. Yet there was an eerie feeling tugging at her, and the knot in her stomach tightened as she kept walking. She frowned but felt no danger lurking around. The Sith Master knew better than to drop her guard though.

She heard a child laugh, the innocent giggle a painful reminder of her past. She wanted to turn back, but she kept going. Her steps hastened without her realizing it.

Reaching a small fountain area, she pushed heavy branches as to look at a little girl. She could only see the blond locks, as the child was plucking flowers. Baska did not move as not to alert her.

The little girl eventually got up and turned around. She looked surprised at Baska, but stepped forward with great resolution, this child-like confidence that the world would be alright. Holding a lovely bouquet, she stepped forward and handed three flowers to the Sith.

"Hello, m'lady! I'm Heyrina."

***

Baska's eyes shot open and she had to grip her knees hard, trying to return her breath to normal, rooting herself in the Force and in the present moment at the back of her cockpit. Why did she have that dream? It could not be a vision, she had buried her daughter years ago, along with her former partner. What treacherous trick was the darkness playing on her? Why now?

Something beeped from the console, and she pried herself from the floor, since it was time to exit hyperspace and enter Vjun system. W

Whe she dropped back into regular space, she felt faint ripples of the other woman's signature. Then it felt as if it was hiding in the shadows again. She had likely felt her presence too. It was not a good omen, but an understandable one. It didn't deter Baska from her goal.

She tried to think about the holocron and why she was coming to Vjun until she landed, but every so often, the image of the child, who her daughter could have been, kept showing before her mind's eye.

She found a safe spot to land her ship, safer even than the first time she had been there. She didn't expect to be there very long, but she didn't want her ship to suffer from the acidic rains. She waited for the weather to be clear, before going outside, the holocron safely stored in her bag.

She had decided to go back to where she had first encountered the other woman. It was the most reasonable course of action, and she would take things from there. She hurried with little to no difficulty, and eventually reached the caves. She did not hide her presence, but still kept her thoughts to herself, as she wondered what welcome or lack of thereof she may find.

[Dalethria]

She made it past the cave entrance and pressed her back against the rough surface, heart pounding and breath ragged from cowardly running away. Dalethria knew better than fleeing from visions! Not all came true but there were always inherent truths that would be revealed over time. Like the recurring vision dreams she had since the Sith woman had left. Every night the intensity increased and it was an omen that she was returning. Dalethria had failed to understand that and now fear momentarily overtook her.

"Damnable fool."

Eyes closed, she opened herself to the power of the Force. It's presence allowing her fear to be comforted so that she could refocus on survival. This woman would not have returned without good reason and if she were to anticipate her move, Dalethria would have to return to the cavern where they first met if she wanted to confront her. It was the only logical choice that the other woman had to find her.

The run here had given Dalethria a head start and she decided to walk the rest of the way. Deft footwork avoided acidic puddles and the drippings from the ceiling until the area opened up to the cavern. She hid behind a large stalagmite that had yet to touch it's sibling above and waited, feeling herpresence drawing nearer. Then came the boot falls just down the cave. Dalethria let out a controlled breath, unsure how long she had held it. She attempted to read the Sith but found the woman's thoughts blank at this time. She was guarded and prepared this time.

She ruminated on their last encounter and internally sighed, deciding to take the lead. They were going to speak to one another. The Force demanded it.

"You kept your word. Your cousin's men no longer come here to plunder. Why have you returned?"

[Baska Tankreyd]

Finding her way back to the cavern was easy but it still didn't provide any insight of how she may or may not interact with her fellow Sith. They had sensed each other's presence. Baska was guarded not just out of habit, or because she wished to be prepared. She would be lying if she said she was fully able to push away the dream she had had about her daughter only hours before. It was confusing and painful, so she kept it concealed from external prying and instead drew on the pain to sharpen her focus.

When she sensed the other woman nearby, although out of sight, she stopped on her tracks. She wasn't sure she would physically be there. She was all the more surprised when the other Sith, her powerful presence drawing her all the more again, spoke.

Of course, she had kept her word, though the other woman had had no way to be sure of it. "I did."

As for the question that came next, she slowly reached out for her bag and retrieved the holocron, although she kept holding it in her hands.

"The Force demanded that I brought this holocron to you. I heeded the call. It belonged to Darth Plagueis." She didn't know what the other woman would make of it, but she was not one to turn away from the commands of the Darkness.

[Dalethria]

This woman brought her knowledge of Palpatine's former master! She stifled a gasp of shock and sensed no lies from the woman. Desire pulsated through her veins as the knowledge contained within the holocron could amplify her powers and unlock the secrets of manipulating life, or finding true immortality!

She appeared in a blur on the other side of the cavern, finally revealing herself to the other Sith. Her skin was pale white with unkempt long brown hair that draped over the silver pauldrons of her armor that was a mixture of steel and chain. The dull silver lightsaber hanging at her hip was sleek with little flare to it - a simple weapon.

Dalethria raised her arm and held out her hand, not wanting to rip the treasure from the woman's as it was the Dark Side at work here, and lightly beckoned the other Sith to release the holocron so she could retrieve it. "How did this come into your possession?"

She was compelled to ask, naturally curious and further cementing that their first meeting was no accident. Dalethria was meant to meet this woman. The Force was clearly at work since the first dream the night after the other Sith left. Now all she had to do was make sure that this transaction contained no unspoken favors...

[Baska Tankreyd]

The moment Baska sensed and saw movement as the other woman revealed herself for the first time, she knew even more that the Force was at play there. She had already began to put pieces together when she was called to bring the holocron to Vjun, but it got even more real at this point.

There was an air of the past about the brunette. Years of habit to assess people and situations right away had the tall blonde note everything she could about the other powerful woman before her. She noted the practicality of the lightsaber handle besides the protective armor. She didn't know what to expect of the other Sith's appearance, so the only surprise she had was that the woman showed herself.

When the brunette extended her arm, Baska moved quietly but confidently and placed the holocron in the open hand. She didn't step back afterwards as she answered the question.

"I am a Sith archeologist, among other things."

[Dalethria]

She detested the woman remained close to her and fought the urge to take several steps back. Dalethria refocused on the double sided pyramid in hand, feeling the immense power emanating from it. It could take months, perhaps even years, to unlock all of its knowledge. She wanted to flee and begin to study it. Yet she was motionless as there was a question weighing on her mind.

"Many have scoured the galaxy for this and failed to find it."

She would not openly admit that list included her. It was heavily implied.

"Many would pay you handsomely for this. Others would kill you outright. Yet you give it willingly. To me. Following the call of the Force."

She tore her gaze away from the long sought artifact to search the eyes of the other Sith.

"Why? You did not have to listen."

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska couldn't help feeling proud at the other Sith's comment about how many failed to find this holocron. While she hadn't worked to unlock it so far, she knew enough about Darth Plagueis to understand the richness of knowledge recorded in the device.

"My late master failed to find it. I found it a few years ago." It had been what some might consider sheer luck but she knew better. She had followed specific trails for certain artifacts, while other discoveries had occurred in mysterious ways and timings.

The tall blonde had grown up as a bounty hunter. She was not a very charitable person, and self interest had served her well many times. Yet today was not such a moment.

"The Darkness keeps many mysteries, but when She speaks with clarity, I would be a fool not to listen."

She had been a fool a few times in her life, and that had cost her too much already.

Holding the other woman's gaze, she couldn't help grinning very subtly. "It's not a favor, just a no-strings-attached delivery from the powers that be." Of course the fountain of knowledge was immense, but Baska knew she had done as she was supposed to do. She didn't expect anything from the other Sith. Was she curious about her? Yes, but she knew better than be nosy.

[Dalethria]

Late master made Dalethia chuckle inwardly because she was certain the Sith had something to do with that. She surpassed her master in finding this treasure. Leather bound fingers curled around the holocron as she canted her head in agreement.

"Ignoring the Force is wrought with consequences."

She offered a nod, accepting that this was a freely given gift.

"Have you tried to unlock it?"

As generous as this gift was, Dalethria needed to understand if this Sith were competition for its power.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska shook her head at the question. A hint of sadness passed through her bright eyes. "I hadn't touched it since I brought it home, until a few days ago."

Regardless of Plagueis's immense power, it wouldn't bring back her daughter. So, the holocron was not on the high list of priorities.

"I have other research to pursue."

[Dalethria]

She could not feel what had caused the Sith to grow sad, but it was plain as a bright sun that something plagued her.

"Other research to pursue?"

Dalethria balked at the answer.

"What is more important then the legacy of power contained in this holocron? The secrets of life?"

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska didn't flinch at the other woman's stark remark. It was understandable, but still, she cared little for that, except from an intellectual point of view.

"There is much history that has been lost, other techniques our kind has lost over the centuries."

The tall blonde had no intention of sharing her own history with this stranger, regardless of how the Force was bringing them together once again.

"Life as it is, even the secrets in this holocron, will not bring me what I desire." She left it at that. Whatever the other Sith made of it would be her choice.

[Dalethria]

It was a respectable answer. Rarely does a Sith's desires align with another and if they did, it was usually for a time as master and student. After that it was kill or be killed. What drove this woman was the thirst for all sorts of knowledge to collect. Not necessarily use all of them. She did sense that the Sith was looking for something in particular, but her ability to cloak her thoughts left Dalethria mystified as to what - though the wording indicated a death of some sort.

Blue eyes narrowed, remembering the vision she had of the two graves. She knew it was connected to this woman and now Dalethria had gleaned a link.

"Who were they?" she asked suddenly. "The two you lost that you cannot bring back?"

Normally she wouldn't care but as the woman said, the Force was at work here - bringing her back to Vjun and haunting Dalethria's visions.

[Baska Tankreyd]

The other woman's next words stung Baska. She couldn't help closing herself off through the Force even more. Even her stance stiffened. She took a couple of steps back, not out of fear, but out of anger.

"How do you know?"

Baska only wanted to bring one of them back at this point of her life, but she was shocked that the other Sith could know about something that had happened so long ago.

[Dalethria]

The guarded woman was not strong enough to deny the Force a glimpse into her life by way of the visions Dalethria were having. Her reaction confirmed what she already surmised, that the visions were connected to the woman before her.

"A vision," she explained, not at all concerned about how the blonde felt. "One that I've had since you left."

[Baska Tankreyd]

A vision... It made sense, since Baska had a vision of her daughter, had she lived to become a little girl, on her way to Vjun. She had seen the Force at play, orchestrating the most uncanny events and connections, in her life, but what was unfolding since she had first met the other Sith went beyond such past experiences.

She wanted to ask the other woman if she had seen a little girl in her vision, desperately wanting to understand if there was something beyond torture, to glean from that.

Instead, she somberly answered the woman's question at last.

"I was pregnant with my daughter when an explosion claimed her life and my partner's."

She often felt that the only reason she survived was to become Sith.

"Nothing can bring my daughter back."

[Dalethria]

That explained the two graves in the vision and noted that the woman was more concerned with her dead daughter then the partner. She supposed it was the mother child bond between them but Dalethria didn't have the empathy to understand, nor care, about it.

"No. Nothing can," she agreed.

Only a Force User with immense power and training could find a way to survive death itself. Decades of understanding the flow of life entangled with the Force and being so fully tuned into the processes of your living body were needed and a child had none of that. There was of course cloning but that was just the body, not the mind of the child.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska was grateful for the other woman's response. She didn't know what to expect but closing the subject so to speak was for the best. The blonde had no interest in arguing over what was the greatest tragedy of her life.

"I am still surprised you had such a vision. I did think about you again after our first encounter, but the Force only manifested itself through the holocron that had to go to you."

She was still trying to figure out all that it meant. She expected nothing in return from the woman, but if all it was about was the holocron, then why bother show something about her to the brunette?

[Dalethria]

The slightest incline of Dalethria's head showed that she agreed with that sentiment. Why the visions of this woman's past and the call to bring this prize fist in hand? The Dark Side wanted something from this exchange, but what?

"I despise... puzzles. Though I assume you enjoy them, Artifact Hunter."

She loft a brow in the direction of the blonde.

"So tell me ..."

Lowering her arm, she held the other's Sith gaze with a hard look.

"... what riddle did the Dark Side give us to solve?"

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska smirked at the other woman's quip about her liking puzzles. "I happen to prefer hunting to puzzle-solving." She knew that such things were part of the path in life she had chosen, but it didn't mean they had to be her favorite part.

She subtly canted her her head to the side, still taking in the other Sith's gestures and presence.

The vision of her daughter as a little girl came back to her and she inhaled sharply, frowning for a mere moment.

"In your vision, did you see a young girl?" She didn't want to talk about it, but she was trying to make sense of this whole mess. "I had a vision of Heyrina if she had lived as a child. I never saw that until I was close to drop out of hyperspace on my way back to you."

[Dalethria]

Dalethria shook her head once and noted the child's name.

"No. I did not see a child in my vision. Only two graves. One was your daughter's?"

Now this woman had a vision triggered in returning here and that unsettled the Sith Master. She did not want to be connected to anything except by her own design.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska couldn't help hating that this woman had seen the graves in her hidden residence. "Yes, one is my daughter's. No one besides me had actually seen them." It made so little sense. She hadn't even ever invited her dear cousin Alienor to visit her on Iego, despite them being closer than the Sith had ever been with her actual brother.

"Do you commonly have such visions?" Some Sith leaned closer to seers than others. Baska didn't count herself as one of them. The Darkness bestowed specific visions and she had experienced them, but maybe this woman was deep into such things, as she often was an archeologist.

[Dalethria]

She clenched at her teeth in wonder and anger, feeling the same sense of emotion emanating from the other Sith. The Artifact Hunter was carefully guarding her thoughts but the rage that burned as bright as the high noon sun and permeated the darkness between them.

"Yes," she answered with a slight nod. "I do. Which is why I'm trying to understand ..."

She gestured between them with her free hand in annoyance.

"... this. We want nothing from each other. Hate this is happening, but the dark forces beg to differ."

[Baska Tankreyd]

While Baska didn't understand what the Darkness had planned for this encounter, giving the holocron to the other Sith hadn't brought any clarification to this mysterious and frustrating mess. She didn't regret having given this holocron. She knew it was what she had been called to do. Yet she was growing tired of having to discuss her dead daughter. What could it really change? The brunette and her had their own paths, they had crossed twice, but what else could come out of it?

"There is more than this holocron from Darth Plagueis. Another one was completely destroyed by the time I came across it. This is the only intact one I have found."

She didn't know whether this would help but they could use any piece they had for this weird situation.

[Dalethria]

Blue eyes narrowed sharply in thought.

"Then... perhaps you are meant to find the others and I'm to unlock them."

Dalethria's focus was singulair, narrow minded. This may be the darkness' way of coaxing her out of exile. She had longed for the power that was within hand and the raw energy emanating from it pulse magnificently through the Force. She wanted more.

[Baska Tankreyd]

"This makes sense."

Baska could accept that as some plan the Darkness came up with. Given what she knew of the other Sith, their combined strengths could lead to such unlocking of knowledge.

"There was no need to bring my daughter into this," she said somberly. She didn't deny that pain was a magnifier for greater focus, but she didn't see what it had to do in this mystery they were working on uncovering.

"Also, it might take years for me to find the others." She was speaking not ot ouf fear or pessimism, but such findings took time and having gained one was already a feat by itself, even for a Sith Master.

[Dalethria]

She didn't offer comfort or insight. The Dark Side did as it wished, imparting pain to make one stronger or be destroyed.

"Years mean nothing to me. Only the end result."

Power to preserve her life, keep her kin safe and destroy Palpatine's legacy were all that she craved.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska nodded in agreement with the other woman's observation. "Good." She didn't care how long something took either. Life had taught her the value of patience even before she became a Sith.

"I am set to help you find the other holocrons in the years to come, but I will still continue to carry on with other ventures, unless the darkness calls me to solely focus on that."

So far, she hadn't felt anything pulling her into this specific direction, but she would heed the call, should it happen.

[Dalethria]

She pursed her lips and considered her options.

"Iwant to accompany you when you have a lead on the holocrons. Otherwise, what you do is the call of the Force."

Dalethria felt that the Force was pulling her off planet for this. She slowly brought her hand up to gaze at Plagueis' treasure within her grasp.

"Until then, I will work on unlocking this one."

Blue eyes darted at the Artifact Hunter, curious and rankled all rolled into one emotion about the woman before her.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska was already thinking about a few possible further research options for the still hidden holocrons. She was busy with tracking multiple artifacts, but extensive travels had been her way of life for many years. That was also why her home on Iego was so important to her.

"I will contact you when I have a lead," she said with a slight bow of her head. She appreciated that the other Sith was as practical as she was. She knew some had a tendency to get lost in disillusion of grandeur that eventually cost them everything because they either didn't listen to the Darkness, or were too busy with theories and words to bother with true actions.

She still didn't know how to feel about this whole situation, especially when she was used to take care of matters by herself, but at least they had come to an agreement about what would happen.

[Dalethria]

With much reluctance, she extended her free hand out, palm up.

"I need your comlink. To provide my information."

Only one other knew how to contact her by this method and that was Milivikal, her cousin. It took much faith in the Force to allow the Sith Master to feel confident enough that this woman should have it and not share it.

"This information can never be compromised," she explained with cold eyes. "Do you understand?"

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska had secretive tendencies, and valued her privacy. So she could understand the other woman's reaction. She reached out to get her comlink and placed it in the brunette's hand.

"I do," she replied firmly, holding the other woman's gaze.

She also realized that they had never really introduced themselves. There had been no reason to. Yet, it seemed appropriate to do so. She could just reveal her Sith name, but instead she chose her birth name.

"My name is Baska Tankreyd."

[Dalethria]

She immediately turned it over and began to input her contact information, satisfied by the Artifact Hunter's answer and how she felt no betrayal through the Force. Inwardly she sighed as she saved the information on the comlink, knowing that she had fully embraced this path and there was no going back.

Blue eyes looked upwards and the Sith looked momentarily surprised at the introduction, not expecting it at all. The years had eroded some of her manners and normal interactions with beings.

She handed the comlink back and nodded. "I am called Dalethria."

[Baska Tankreyd]

Regardless of how she had learned to do as the Darkness commanded, Baska was still quite bewildered and outright intrigued by this new path that she had just embraced. She failed to see exactly how her helping retrieving these holocrons would be life-altering for her, since it was the goal the other Sith had. Yet she knew that finding these rare artifacts was the right thing to do.

Retrieving the comlink when the brunette handed it back to her, she slipped it carefully in her pocket, understanding the sign of trust it was for the recluse.

She was glad, more than she had expected, when the other woman introduced herself. It was a beautiful and quite unique name. It suited her.

She offered a slight bow of her head. "Until next time then, Dalethria."

Without further ado, she turned on her heels and headed towards the entrance of the caverns.

[Dalethria]

She watched Baska carefully, any little flicker of betrayal seen on her face, sensed through the Force, any subtle variation of her body language to disprove any minimal trust created between them.

Dalethria found nothing but her stance remained rigid and vigilant, despite wanting to claw the comlink out of Baska's hand and crush it.

She did not verbally respond back, but Dalethria did lower her head in acknowledgement and watched the Sith leave. With the rarity of the prize she had in hand, she wondered when Baska would contact her.

If she were lucky, it might not be for years.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed away that thought as gleeful eyes gazed wickedly at the holocron. It was time to return home and begin the long hours of unlocking the mysteries of Darth Plagueis.