boxofmisfits | So a Sith and a Chiss Walk Into the Same Warlord's Ship--

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So a Sith and a Chiss Walk Into the Same Warlord's Ship--

The Force was a capricious thing, if not straight up malicious.

War had broken out once more between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic and Altair had been on the front lines, working to ensure safety and stability for his people. Onderon, Mek-Sha, their assault on Corellia and the Meridian Complex, and at the end of it all, he had chosen to make his Alliance an official member of the Empire, and reclaimed his Sith title.

He had welcomed the Imperial presence on Odessen, had flown the flag of his nation where the flag of the Eternal Alliance once hung, and he had been happy. He had been home.

Then that artifact- he had been working on a tip Lana had gotten through her contacts, that there was an artifact that would serve Altair and the Sith Empire well.

It hadn't been a trap. Only the Force working in mysterious ways.

For a while after he'd been dragged to the future, he'd seethed. He'd lost his home, his title once more, and worse than that, he would never get to see his loved ones ever again. Not the people of the Alliance, nor Lana, nor Theron. He had been truly alone, for the first time in a long time.

But he couldn't stay angry forever, couldn't refuse to function.

He had made himself a new life on a new planet. He worked making his art, and he made friends. Occasionally, he traveled, too.

A year into his new life, tragedy struck, and his anger found a purpose once more.

That anger was why he was on this ship- the Warlord and his people had taken his friends from him. Altair would now take everything from them.

Blood splattered across the floor as he sliced a man in half, another one falling to the floor and convulsing as he threw a bolt of lightning. He finished him off my snapping his neck, and then lunged forward to dispatch a third.

He turned his head to look back at the dimly lit hallway, the blood of his enemies painting the scenery red.

No time to hesitate.

Altair continued moving, masking his presence, making himself damn near invisible. Coming upon more panicked guards trying to get a handle on the situation while also moving to get their leader out, he stopped in the shadows and listened. Escape pods. So that was their plans.

He turned and slipped through the darkness, popping out here and there to dispatch of anyone who seemed like they could be trouble, and by the time he made it to the escape pods, the Warlord was rushing his people to get ready- voice catching in his throat as the Sith stepped out.

With a few simple flicks of the wrist, Altair deflected blaster bolts back at the ones who thought that shooting at him would be a good idea, and two men who tried to flee were yanked back and slammed into the metal floors hard enough to break their heads open, a bit of blood splattering over the Sith's dark boots.

His head turned to the Warlord himself- the man who had ordered the attack on the place Altair had called home. Killed his neighbors, his friends, people who were innocent and deserved better.

"And then," He spoke, reaching out with the Force and warping the metal around the escape pods so they couldn't launch, "There was only us..."

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"... Really?"

Maybe the Force had mercy after all- maybe the murder of Force sensitive Chiss had resulted in the Chiss not getting any more Force sensitives. If so, that was something he was thankful for. That no more Chiss had to go through what he went through.

"How strange," He said, shrugging a shoulder- though besides his words, there was no indication that this was some mystery to him, why he might be the only Force sensitive Chiss that currently existed.

"You do not sound surprised," Thrawn peered at Nox, as if he was attempting to see right into his mind and soul with those glowing red eyes. Something was coming into place in his mind.

"You didn't want me to find out you are a Force sensitive Chiss. You couldn't hide your powers from me, so you hid your species instead. Had I found out you are Chiss first, you would have hidden your Force powers from me instead."

He didn't like being looked at like that, but besides tensing up a little, gave no indication that he would like for Thrawn to stop looking at him like that. He'd seen that look before, the puzzle pieces falling into place, but he was determined to not give Thrawn all the pieces to this puzzle- to leave it incomplete.

"Who knows. Do you truly think we would have met had I lived my life as a Chiss rather than a Sith?"

It was a fair question. After all, as a Chiss he would have kept his head down, he would have lived his life quietly, and faded into obscurity. He wouldn't have been on that ship where they met.

"And if we had- would I have been more than merely another member of your species? More than a brief curiosity?"

Maybe he missed being around his own kind. But Altair doubted he would have been offered what he had been, had they met when he was without his armor, without any indication that he might be more than a scrawny, vertically challenged Chiss.

"My reasons are my own- and I'm more useful to you wearing that armor and wielding a lightsaber, than I am as another Chiss following you around. Or am I going to start hearing a knock at my door so we can chat as two Chiss from now on?"

His room was the one and only place he didn't wear his armor, after all- outside that room, he was only a Sith. Or rather, that was what things had been like up until today.

"Yet, there is indeed a reason you did not want me to find out that you are Chiss, and I suspect it has more to do with you being Force sensitive than anything else. You feared what would happen once I found out."

Altair's body language said as much. He looked like Thrawn was about to murder him once he woke up. Perhaps his master had fed him some wild story about what Chiss did to Force sensitives within their own kind.

"Has anyone ever told you that it's not nice to continue trying to figure out of a puzzle that doesn't want to be figured out?" Altair asked, the remnants of fear very much visible, but lessened now. Normally he liked watching Thrawn's mind at work- had admired it for a while now- but having it turned on him was- not exactly new, but. Before now he'd had his armor to hide behind.

"Do you truly need to know my reasons?"

He fell quiet for a moment, and looked away, "It's useful, anyway. The fear, I mean. Or... Does it bother you that I'm afraid of you?"

"The only people who need to fear me are my enemies. Whatever your reason for fearing me, I assure you that I do not intend to hurt you." He studied Nox for a few moments more. "Very well, you may have your secrets."

Thrawn would find out some day, even if it took years of getting the Sith to trust him.

"May I at least know your real name?"

"For now, I assume."

It was said with a small smile, despite his fear. Altair was sure he'd won the battle, but that he'd not won the war yet. Still, he'd bought himself some time, at least. That was something.

He sighed then, at the question, "I don't have one. Not the sort of name you're thinking of, at least."

No full Chiss name, nor a core name.

"If you absolutely must know, my name is Altair Kallig... But you may only refer to me by my real name when we're alone."

Not that he thought that anyone but Thrawn would dare call him by either his first or last name. But he wanted to remain Darth Nox to everyone else.

"Very well, Altair." If there was any confusion on the name, Thrawn didn't show it. It fueled Thrawn's theory that Altair was kidnapped as a child and raised by an alien Sith, who no doubt gave him his alien name.

It was times like this that he regretted that he didn't have access to Ascendancy news or records, to give him some idea of where Altair may have come from or who his birth family was. For now, he would just have to try and get a look at Altair's artwork, and see what that said about him. From what little Thrawn had seen, it didn't give any impression that the man was Chiss.

"When you have recovered, I wish to see you in my quarters. There is something I wish to show you."

"Very well. For now, I'd like to be left to my rest."

A pause, and then- "And you can tell whoever removed my armor that they don't need to sleep with one eye open or fear that I'll be jumping out of any shadows. I've no intention of harming them for doing their jobs."

He assumed that Thrawn wasn't the one who'd removed it, after all.
---

It would be a few days until Altair felt well enough to come to Thrawn's quarters. He didn't know what the other Chiss intended to show him, but he was curious enough to actually seek him out- though of course he wore his armor, hid behind his mask, and kept his lightsaber at his side.

It was only common sense.

"You had something to show me?" He asked, the second he was let in- making no move to remove his mask, even if it was just the two of them.

"I did, yes," Thrawn sat at his desk. He pressed a key to dim the lights, and another to bring up some holograms of artwork. The artwork was of paintings of various subjects, but they all centered around a certain theme. That theme was unity and coming together, but through force and coercion. The paintings depicted kings and Emperors, or conquests.

"What do you make of these, Nox?"

"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be seeing. But I see unity. A Sith's idea of it. Unity through subjugation and deceit, the strong and the cunning above the weak. Something that will one day crumble to dust."

Maybe that was obvious- but he didn't have Thrawn's ability to read art, to see an image, and know a society from the details of it. He saw what he saw, and if Thrawn was disappointed, that was on him.

"It reminds me of art I've seen before."

In his own day, but also in dusty old tombs and temples in general.

"You didn't ask me to come here just to look at art."

It wasn't a question.

"Indeed. Many of these were collected by a Sith who has long since passed. It is useful to us because there are warlords and tyrants out there who follow a similar philosophy."

Thrawn tapped some keys and the artwork vanished. In its place appeared a map of the Unknown Region.

"Do you know what the most powerful weapon in the galaxy is, Nox?"

"Which one?"

He was curious. Maybe hoping that it was one he'd known, he supposed. Seeking some sign that the things he'd once known remained even today- even if they were fragments, even if they were things he didn't agree with. The past was so long ago, but not to him. To him, it felt like only yesterday.

Of course he said nothing of the sort- it was natural for a Sith to be curious about such things.

"The most powerful weapon in the galaxy is knowledge."

He didn't hesitate there- it was the correct answer if you asked him. Which Thrawn had. But it was true- knowledge was power- if it was knowledge you had, but your enemy did not, then that was even better.

"Why do you ask?"

"I believe his name was Darth Ravage. Very little information of that time has survived, and fewer still of the Sith who were alive back then, unfortunately."

Thrawn assumed that Altair had a curiosity about the Sith of the past because he wished to learn of his predecessors, including what to avoid. He certainly wasn't like most Sith Thrawn knew about, or had met in person, even if he'd only met two, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Jorus C'baoth had fallen to the dark side, but Thrawn wasn't counting him as a true Sith.

A small smile touched his lips at Altair's answer. He was liking this man more and more. "Indeed. Knowledge is power, and with knowledge, an enemy may be crushed far greater than with anything capable of destroying a planet or star." Thrawn's point had long since been proven with the destruction of the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin. The Emperor was already rebuilding it, unfortunately, and he hadn't heeded Thrawn's advice on its defenses on Endor.

"You have knowledge that I do not. Knowledge of the Sith that I might find most valuable." Thrawn tapped another key and a planet near the edge of the Unknown Region lit up. "This world has my fortress, where I store information. If you will allow, I can find anything you may like there, if you will add to it in return."

There was a hiss from behind his mask as he breathed out and his fingers twitched slightly. He hoped it wasn't the Ravage he knew, but chances were that it was. Ravage had been big on subjugation after all, despite being head of the Diplomatic Sphere.

Altair didn't know what had happened to him after the Eternal Empire had invaded- maybe he'd died, or gone into hiding. He hadn't been part of the new Dark Council, at any rate. Still, for record of his existence to remain was frustrating- Ravage was the sort of Sith who should stay in the past, stay forgotten.

He wondered if any record of the person he'd been remained out there. As Darth Nox or as the Commander of the Alliance.

"I see," He said, "I've read about him. I've visited some old tombs and temples in my time."

Altair wished that was the truth- that he'd only read of him.

"... A trade of information, huh... Very well. I will add some of my knowledge, but not all of it. I'm sure you understand why."

While Altair didn't foresee them becoming enemies, he'd rather keep some cards close to his chest.

"In return, I want knowledge about the Chiss."

He'd found out some things in his own time, but he hadn't been able to speak with another Chiss in this manner then. And he was curious, still.

Thrawn could tell that Altair wasn't being entirely truthful with him regarding the long dead Sith. It wasn't the reaction of one who had only just read about a power-hungry and evil man such as Darth Ravage. Sadly, information on Sith of that time was quite rare.

"I also managed to find a few works that were gifted to ones Darth Jadus and Marr. Sadly, that is all I have been able to find on Sith lords of the Old Republic prior to the Clone War. Much of that information has been lost to time."

A small smile crossed his thin lips. "That may be arranged. My fortress has much information on the Chiss." He'd figured that Nox wanted to know more about his race, most likely having not been raised among his own kind.

"I see. I have some knowledge of that time. And can get more, should we come across any Sith temple, or tomb."

He had more than a little information of that time- the Jedi who lived, the Sith, even information about places that Thrawn probably hadn't heard of. But he couldn't give him all of it without inviting a discussion of how he knew so much- couldn't tell him about how Darth Marr had died, or about Zakuul, or the Eternal Alliance and the war that had raged, or anything that came after that time.

He would have to be very careful about the information he added.

"And maybe you should look a bit less pleased about the fact that I wish to learn about the Chiss."

Edited 2020-09-28 01:20 (UTC)

"There may be some Sith ruins in this region of the galaxy, but we may find more within the Empire, the closer we are to the Core. The Jedi, Sith and Force are still very much unknown entities out here."

Thrawn steepled his fingers, regarding Nox, and leaned back in his seat. He then took a sip of wine that sat on his desk.

"Why should I not be pleased that you wish to know more about your heritage?"

"You'd be surprised how much can be found even far from the Core if you know what you're looking for. It is, after all, not the heart of every Empire through the ages."

He felt safe enough to say as much- after all, he had known the Sith Empire, and finding proof of that Empire's existence even out here wasn't impossible. Given enough time, he could find much that had been lost to time- not only because he knew approximately where to look, but because he knew how to look and what to look for.

"How are you so sure that my intentions in wishing to learn are pure?" He asked, though they were. He was just being stubborn about it.

He fell quiet a moment, then shook his head, "I'm curious, is all. I want to learn more because I can't run from what I am, no matter how much I might want to."

Another little pause then, before he added; "And you would be a lot less pleased had I asked to learn as a Sith and not as a Chiss. I imagine your tone would be quite different, had you not known my species."

"Perhaps not," Thrawn admitted. "But you are correct in that you cannot hide from what you are. You are Chiss, and you would not have agree to go with me were you not even the smallest amount curious about your own kind."

Thrawn was still determined to see Altair's artwork at some point. He couldn't hide it from Thrawn forever. But, Thrawn was patient, and he would either sneak a look at the art or earn Altair's loyalty enough that the Sith would show it to him willingly.

"You're not the first Chiss I've worked with, you know."

He didn't plan to elaborate on that. Still, Altair had had many chances to ask about their people. He could have asked the Chiss who had come to join the Eternal Alliance. He could have asked Aristocra Saganu.

But his fear had controlled him. Kept him from getting answers he wanted.

In a way, Thrawn was a last chance to get answers. To have some connection to his people. Altair wasn't sure what the Force had meant by putting such a man in front of him when it did. Or maybe it had nothing to do with the Force at all. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

"I knew a man named Saganu, once. Proud, like all Chiss seem to be. Manipulative, too. I suggest you don't follow his path, Thrawn."

Their relationship had changed. Altair's secret was out. And much as some part of him was screaming at him to run, he knew that Thrawn was an opportunity. An opportunity to create the stability he'd once dreamed of, once tried to work towards.

Still, to act as a Sith would was useful here.

He reached up, to remove his helmeted mask, and pushed the hood back, "You wouldn't like what you'd find there."

Altair had, of course, not harmed Aristocra Saganu back in the day. But he could lie, and he could do so convincingly.

"Noted." Thrawn was unfamiliar with this Saganu, but Thrawn didn't know of every Syndic and Aristocra, even before his exile. Things had likely changed and others had rising through politics since he left his home. He never did have much of a head for politics, really.

"It won't take us long to reach the fortress. Until then, do you have anything you'd like to ask me?"

"... No. Answers will come."

Anything he wondered, any question he had, the answers would come in time. Their alliance had felt fragile before, but it felt even more so now. Not because of Thrawn, but because of him. Because of his worries, his fears. Normally he liked having as much information as possible- but he couldn't ask the questions he wanted answers to without giving up things about himself he'd rather keep to himself.

So instead, he set his mask aside, and then reached into his armor to pull a mid-sized embroidery hoop out, a needle stuck to the fabric, a half-finished flower in shimmering blue and green.

From within the gloves of his armor, he pulled out embroidery floss, and threaded the needle with ease, moving to lean against a wall so he could work on his art.

If they'd be there soon, then he'd simply wait with Thrawn.

Thrawn watched Altair get out his supplies, the fact that he had those items on him already not lost on him. This was a man who didn't like to be bored, or just liked having something to do with his hands while he waited. He caught a glimpse of a flower.

Thrawn stood and walked over to Altair to watch him, "Is that any particular species of flower?"

Altair bristled ever so slightly at the approach, pulling his embroidery slightly closer to himself to hide it from view somewhat. Art was Thrawn's thing, of course, but Altair thought he knew that most artists didn't appreciate having someone watching them create their art.

"Just one I've seen in my travels. On Balmorra, I think."

He had seen quite a wide variety of flowers, of course, back when he'd traveled more. Of course, all he'd once known was likely changed now, after so much time had passed, and he hadn't really been anywhere nearer to the Core since ending up in this time.

"Of course it's been a long time since I used to travel on my own. I had thought the time had come to just settle down somewhere, but apparently not."

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