revivalproject | Closed: There's a flood that's coming up to my bed

As soon as he was finally free from the ship, Eli's immediate thought was to look for Thrawn, followed by finding Altair. He didn't know many people outside the people he came to know in the ship. He figured that was the whole purpose of being locked up. Regardless he didn't enjoy it too much. He valued his freedom and making his own choices.

Eventually, Eli managed to find his admiral hard at work trying to fix the problem that everyone had struggled with.

"Any luck with the puzzle?" Eli greeted announcing that he was there. He knew that Thrawn would see this as a puzzle to solve and wouldn't rest till he did.

Usually, Thrawn wouldn't stop what he was doing regardless of who was speaking to him. In the case of Imperial navy brass, it made the ego smart. In this case, he did stop what he had been typing to politely give Eli his attention.

"Not yet. All readings show as functional, so there appears to be something wrong with every scan in every separate system, or there is a variable I've yet to find."

Rather than frustrating him, Thrawn's curiosity was piqued by a puzzle he had not solved right away. But he was willing to come back to this particular puzzle and he was being impolite besides.

"But greetings Vanto."

Thrawn didn't have to stop what he was doing, but Eli appreciated the effort. He smiled back.

"I wonder if the Agri are making it so we can't simply operate the ships yet. If they forced us to be locked up in one....they probably control whether or not the ships can be operated. They seem to like leaving us tests.

However....that can be another discussion at a different time. There's another fun project I want us to check on and it involves meeting my other friend."

Thrawn was standing with his hands clasped behind his back thinking on Agri interference when Eli spoke again. He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"'Other friend'?"

"Well....more of an ally at this point," Eli corrected himself. "He's from our universe. I think he's a Pantoran and a Sith? I met him when I was scavenging for edible plants."

Thrawn wouldn't dispute whether or not Altair was from the same galaxy they were but the Sith's rule of two made the prospect interesting. Another puzzle, let us say.

"I believe I have encountered this person already. Which then begs the question of what this 'fun projest' is/"

"It involves going to the green house to see if it's ready. We'll see Altair there. I'm not going to tell you what it is because it'll ruin the fun behind it." Eli replied with a cheeky grin.

"Now let's get going before we find ourselves locked up on this ship."

The time spent in lockup had been hell on Altair's nerves. As a Dark Lord of the Council, he was used to people wanting to get a hold of him at pretty much every hour and pretty much every day. What he wasn't used to, and what he didn't want to be used to, was actually being available at all hours. Which was what being locked in a ship with strangers had felt like. So far as exercise to make them all play nice together went, it had failed.

The second those ships had unlocked, he'd grabbed his things and gone- needing his peace and quiet and to stretch his legs.

Going to check on project 'Don't Act Like a Proper Imperial Because That's Boring' had been the obvious choice.

He was pleased to find that the time left alone had not ruined it. Having tested just a little of it, he was pleased to find that it even tasted halfway decent. Not quite as pleasant as Corellian Whiskey or Tarul wine, but at least as good at anything brewed in the slave settlement on Ziost, he'd bet. It was certainly better than what he'd found on Korriban, being brewed by acolytes in unseen places, hidden from the Overseers.

Finding the spot as good a place as any to get his peace and quiet as well, he sat, and meditated- until he felt a familiar presence approaching through the Force. Cheer and energy and excitement-- followed by a great big blank.

Ah. Of course.

Hopping up from his seated position, he grabbed his dualsaber to sling it over his shoulder, before adjusting his veil to ensure that his eyes were hidden from view. Then he crossed his arms, and waited. He could deal with the presence of another Chiss, he supposed. He figured Eli would not bring him, if he thought they wouldn't get along.

Eli had never been by the Green House so he did want to take time to look at everything there. He had been more focused on getting used to the layout of the land and finding food that others didn't know about. He didn't want the current supplies to run out too quick. It had been logical to scavenge.

But now, he was here to meet his friend and to see if their project had been a success. Eli gave a small wave upon seeing Altair waiting for them.

"I trust you are doing alright despite the fun test the Agri left us?" Eli greeted.

Thrawn stayed quiet through the short walk to the Greenhouse. He still didn't say anything upon seeing Altair, though he did raise an eyebrow. He had already met Altair while both were at the Greenhouse once. Thrawn had his own theories on what that red lightsaber blade signified but right now they were premature. And anyway, Thrawn much preferred solid information.

"I suppose I've gone through worse ordeals than being locked in a ship with a bunch of strangers," The Sith replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. It was the truth, but his tone of voice definitely suggested that he hadn't exactly been pleased about it.

But then, he very much doubted that anyone else had been, either.

Not only being stuffed together on a ship, unable to leave, but the amount of power their brainless overlords had over them... It was troubling, to say the least. Troubling, and reminding him all too much of a certain someone else.

"But you and your friend did not come here to listen to my woes," He said, with a slight dismissive gesture, "It gets a passing grade, by the way."

He gestured to the project in making drinkable alcohol, "Shall I leave you two to it?"

He wanted to stay, and speak, with Eli. But the presence of another Chiss made him uneasy, as it always tended to. His body language was somewhere between closed off and open, as though he wasn't quite sure what he wanted himself. What could be seen of his expression, remained neutral.

"I wanted to make sure everything was alright, you answered. No need to apologize for that. I had wanted to introduce you to my Grand Admiral that I had mentioned a while back. I had thought that it would be alright to have everyone meet under more friendlier terms. Since it seems you two have met prior..." Eli responded.

He picked up on Altair's reluctance. Having learned to read Thrawn's lack of emotions, he had prided himself on picking up on things people wouldn't notice they were doing even if it was very subtle.

While he was certainly friendly toward Eli, it was Thrawn he seemed to be standoffish toward. He wasn't sure what it was about. Thrawn didn't explain how things had went between them, he was just familiar with him. This seemed to happen quite often when it involved Thrawn and for the most part Eli dealt with it.

"It wouldn't be fair to enjoy the project with out you when you were the one to put it together."

"Your new friend has an aversion to a species trait of mine. My lack of register in the Force makes me frightening to him."

Thrawn had become used to others feeling uncomfortable around him. And Altair had been quite anxious about where he was, thus it was logical that he would find Thrawn's presence frightening. At least, that was Thrawn's logic.

His curiosity was piqued when Eli mentioned the 'taste' of this project, though. So it was consumable? Interesting.

"If he wishes to leave neither of us would hinder him."

The last is spoken more for Altair's benefit than Eli's. It was a way to let Altair know neither Thrawn nor Eli would pursue.

"A Sith fears no one."

Of course, the quick, practiced response that seemed more on autopilot suggested the exact opposite. He did, in fact, fear the other Chiss, it was just that the reason behind it was completely different from what one might have thought.

As a Sith, he did in fact fear many things, and he used that fear to drive him in battle. But then, that didn't really apply here. This Chiss was Eli's friend, and Grand Admiral, and from what he'd gathered, he was not a bad man nor a bad leader. Altair would not lash out, both because he had already come to view Eli as a friend and would hate to upset him, and because Thrawn had not actually done anything to him.

He was calm and reasonable-- much like many other Chiss Altair had met but feared on principle. But he was scarier than them, too- after all, it would not have ended well for any Chiss he had met, should they try to lash out at a Lord of the Sith, even if they came to realize he was the same species as they were. Here there was no such guarantee of good behavior.

"You do feel rather like a...," He paused, crossed his arms, thinking about how to put it, "Sealed Intelligence report, I suppose. I know you're there, I just can't know anything else."

Good enough.

"I will stay, though. I can't sense your emotions, but I can sense his," He said, tilting his head toward Eli, "And that is enough."

Eli visibly relaxed once he saw that Altair agreed to stay with them and that the two were able to converse civil. He would never understand the ways of the Force. He was still learning a lot about the Chiss's sky walkers. He gathered to a degree they were similar in ways. Why did it matter if he couldn't sense Thrawn's presence when he was right there? Perhaps, he would ask more about it later.

"I apologize for adding the extra stress. I had felt that with how everything happened that this would be something fun and rewarding." Eli stated and then turned to Thrawn.

"Have you figured out what the project is yet?" He knew it had to be bothering the Chiss since he first hinted it. He loved tormenting him with it. It wasn't often he knew something that Thrawn didn't know.

"Really? I have never had it explained in a way I could understand before."

Thrawn had only a marginally interested expression. Between Darth Vader and the Emporer, he had seen more than enough 'magic powers' to know that not only was the Force real it could make Sith very dangerous. Thrawn felt confident he understood Altar well enough that the danger was in just how fearful Altair was. At Eli's question, Thrawn couldn't help a smirk.

"I have concluded it is something consumable. Since there it has not been long enough for a growing cycle it is not a plant. As I have seen little game, and you do not have drying sheds already built it is not meat. That would leave some form of liquid."

Thrawn looked at Eli and considered. Should he say anything about fermentation? Ordinarily, that would not even be a question for him. But Eli was acting thoroughly entertained and Thrawn did not want to spoil that, so he shrugged his shoulders fractionally.

"And that is as far as I will go."

"Something fun and rewarding after a stressful situation... Reminds me of the death parties at the Academy, so I get your point," Altair mused, the same way one might muse about the weather or something equally mundane.

He left it at that though, apparently not inclined to explain what these death parties entailed, instead shifting his focus to the interaction between the two other men, head tilting ever so slightly to the side.

"... You two have obviously known each other for a very long time."

He'd come to understand as much just from his interactions with Eli, but hearing the two interact with each other, really drove the point home. And left him missing his own companions more than he already did.

Eli did a double take at the mention of death parties. He wasn't terrified or upset, but it certainly caught him off guard. It sounded so natural for the Sith to have such a party. And perhaps it was for them. Eli could only imagine what such a party was like. "Perhaps those are parties you can talk about about later on....? I'm curious now. We would probably share some of our own."

He gave a wide grin in Thrawn's direction. "You're pretty close. I'm surprised you didn't mention the fact we're in a green house. Yes, Thrawn and I've known each other for quite a long time--since the start of my career with the Imperial Navy."

Thrawn's expression remained neutral as he looked at Altair. 'Death parties' were very interesting. And if Altair's Sith were like the two Sith Thrawn had already encountered, it was very likely there was some sort of celebration that was held at the death of a rival or enemy. He did not look back at Eli and was in his usual default stance with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Water would still be needed for a plant to remain healthy. With the period of enforced idleness, a plant would not be given water at all."

Thrawn was still staring by the way. He found that people were often unnerved by it.

"Tell me, Altair, what form of government prevails in the galaxy you are from?"

He could feel him staring, even if he couldn't see it, the veil that covered his eyes made from fabric thick enough to completely obscure his vision- and cover the subtle glow of the red eyes hidden beneath it. Even so, even with the lack of sensing any motivation, he'd learned to recognize the feeling that came with being stared at.

He tilted his head toward Eli, and shrugged, "They weren't anything special. We all just got together to have a drink for our fellow acolytes who could not become Sith, and thanked the stars that we lived to draw breath another day."

Every day, acolytes had fallen- victims to each other, to the hostile wildlife infesting Korriban's tombs, or having crossed an Overseer. And every day, glasses had been raised not so much in honor to the fallen, as in thanks for becoming victims in their stead.

Turning his attention back to Thrawn, he responded; "The Dark Council is the true political power of the Sith Empire. Twelve seats, for twelve Sith, each overseeing their own branch of government. There used to be an Emperor but..."

He trailed off, shoulders raising slightly, his stance becoming that of someone deeply unsettled, "Well, he's not around any more and most of us don't mind if his throne sits empty."

There was a story there, one he obviously didn't want to share.

"As for how to achieve a seat on the Council, let's say 'voting' or 'being chosen by the people', is not part of it, or I would never have risen to sit on the Council myself."

There was a lot of dry snark behind that statement, perhaps a little weariness, as his shoulders lowered again. It was the truth though.

"I do know that things are done differently in the Republic, though their current Chancellor seems like she'd love it if her term was indefinite."

It was probably a good thing that they were gathered to drink. Altair suddenly felt the need for at least ten.

So it was those type of celebrations...Eli got it, but it was something he wouldn't want to participate in. He knew of cultures like that and was glad his wasn't anything near it. Still he couldn't help but make a face and then give a wary sigh at Thrawn bringing in politics.

He was already feeling the need for a drink and this was adding more so to it. "So where should we go enjoy our project? We can either go back to my room at the hotel or somewhere else where you two might feel more comfortable. But I don't fancy sitting around here for it."

Eli quickly intervened. He didn't want everyone's moods to turn sour before they could enjoy their drink.

Thrawn's question had less to do with politics and more to do with a timeline. To him, the Sith Empire was ancient history. Obviously it had been before the rule of two was enforced and just as obviously this emperor was not someone Altair wanted to talk about.

The idea of an apparently high ranking Sith was enough to pique Thrawn's curiosity. Of course, that curiosity came with a healthy sense of caution. And Thrawn expected Altair to be wary of him. But just sometimes that sense of wariness seemed to intensify into outright anxiety. Thrawn wanted to know why that was happening too.

But Eli pushed himself into the conversation just then, so Thrawn had to table all of those questions.

"...I know nothing about this the settlement or this project so I would not be the person to ask."

He was still staring at Altair as he spoke, but if Altair did look he would not see contempt or disdain in Thrswn's expression. Instead, there was only genuine curiosity.

The Sith Empire, his role within it, even Sith history, were all things Altair would have loved to discuss. After all, despite being born a slave, he had come to view the Empire as his home, its citizens as his people, and having been brought into the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge upon becoming an apprentice, he'd come to have a deep love for the history of the Sith- a love that had grown deeper, when he ascended to his seat on the Dark Council.

Often he'd been out digging in the tombs right alongside the good people of the Imperial Reclamation Service, unearthing artifacts and artwork, ancient writings, and more. He often forewent sleep in favor of translating just another line of text, even.

But there would be a time for it in the future, he supposed, assuming he ever got over his instinctual fear of Thrawn. The question had already gone a long way though, his pose slightly more relaxed than it had been.

Eli changing the subject had him shrugging, making a dismissive gesture, "I wouldn't mind staying here, personally. It's peaceful. If we return to the hotel though, someone is going to have to carry me up the stairs."

That was very obviously a joke. Still, those stairs were made for someone a lot taller than he was, with much longer legs, too.

"... And I would very much prefer it if you stopped staring, thanks. If there is a reason for it, if there's some question you're just dying to ask, then don't let it get stuck in your throat and speak."

He had noticed that Thrawn was staring at him, even if he couldn't see him.

"Alright, then let's make ourselves comfortable." Eli stated as he moved to find some kind of rock to sit on in the green house. "Did you do anything else to help speed up the process? We only had about a week to really work with it."

He didn't know a whole lot about making alcohol, but he knew that it would take time. Some tasted better over time.

If they wanted to talk about their different time points they can, but after they had a drink. He just didn't want things going into politics and other areas that were often sore points of conversations.

He then took out three small glasses from his bag. He had it tucked away at his waist and had last minuted decided to bring it along with the glasses inside. He had planned to visit Altair and wasn't sure where it could lead. He was glad he had brought the glasses as an oversight. The glasses would probably be the final clue to reveal what the project was.

It was not a burning question nor is it a political one. Altair is only the third Sith that Thrawn has met. It seemed to be safer to observe him without risking the wrath of Vader or the manipulation of Palpatine. Or to simply not be killed by either man. Thrawn was completely unrepentant in this but he politely looked away to investigate what Eli was doing.

He had already guessed there must be some element of fermentation but he hadn't mentioned that. The beer glasses just confirmed it. As an aide, Eli was aware of Thrawn's little hobby of trying different ales from different systems. There was something simultaneously sentimental and silly about it. This really seemed like an odd thing to indulge in right now...but it did strange things to his chest to have Eli remember such a small detail.

"I believe that you are correct, Vanto, about the three of us being from a similar galaxy. However, Altair hails from a time long before ours. Long enough that I believe it must predate us by hundreds, if not a thousand or more years."

"I've done what I can, made infinitely easier by the fact that some fruits around here are already alcoholic in nature and don't need as much done to them. I've even found some that are fizzy all on their own. This world's plant life is... Strange, to say the least."

Fruits that tasted like vegetables, vegetables that tasted like fruits, and that wasn't even all of it. Some had strange effects beyond their taste, too. Sith and Imperials from the logistical sphere, and the sphere of biotic science would probably love this world and all its plants. After all, everything in the greenhouse had managed to survive and grow even on a planet like this.

"Like I said, it's passable. Would be better with more time, but it wouldn't get you stabbed on less civilized planets, at least."

He turned his head toward Thrawn when he brought up the fact that they hailed from similar galaxies, and nodded his head in agreement, "That is similar to my own conclusion. I can't say for sure, but at least a thousand-- perhaps even several thousand-- years seems the most likely. I have been told that in your time the Jedi were all more or less killed off, and that there is only one prominent Sith...? And where I am from, there are thousands of us. Not only Sith, but many Jedi, too."

How many, he couldn't say. Probably more Jedi than Sith, if he was being realistic about it, considering the Sith tendency of culling the weak from their order.

More importantly though, he turned his head toward Eli, back to Thrawn, then back to Eli again, the same way as one would look from one person to another, even if his eyes were covered, "... This is something the two of you have discussed though?"

He had to wonder what else had been said.

"It was mentioned briefly. I had explained that you were from our world but from a different time and were a Sith. Thrawn had a little more knowledge and has dealt with the Sith on a regular bases. Where I haven't.

Although, I am shocked to learn how much of a time difference there is between us. I still find it quite interesting how these people can mess with time and various worlds to bring them together like this." Eli simply responded.

"I would like to learn more about the project to help and also possibly add ideas as well. The fruits and vegetables here are extremely different from what I'm used to dealing with back home, but there are similarities its just finding those. It would be nice to have an actual hobby outside of work. Some of the stuff from home was pretty rough."

He grinned at the idea. Had he been back home it probably would have been a side hobby. Lysatra had it's own brand of alcohol.

Good luck keeping up with Thrawn's logic Altair. Eli has had a lot more practice with it at least.

Accepting one the glasses, he was somewhat tactful with turning away to take a cautious sniff of this homemade beer. It didn't smell bad particularly but that may not indicate anything. Carefully he took a small sip...

...and was pleasantly surprised at the truly unique flavor. It was sweet but It wasn't sweet enough to simply be labeled. It was smokey but not enough to be labeled. There were hints of oak and citrus but they were no easier to label. Thrawn took an actual drink after a moment, seeming to enjoy himself to the practiced eye and doing little of interest as others might see it.

"They do have some curious talents."

Altair knew of a Sith or ten who would do anything, to gain such a power. After all, if one could influence time itself, then there were no limits to the power one can gain.

"You're welcome to help, of course. I'd appreciate the company."

Though he was starting to become pretty certain Eli and Thrawn were something of a package deal. He'd need to learn to deal with it, he figured. For now, at least they were relaxed company, gathered to drink and take it easy. He took a glass for himself and sat down somewhere that looked comfortable enough, though his own sips were careful, small, as he'd rather keep his wits about it.

His head was tilted slightly towards Thrawn- there were things he wanted to ask, but... No. He couldn't. Perhaps he'd ask Eli, later. Tilting his head down as though looking down, he began searching his brain for a topic that would keep their conversation friendly.

Oddly enough it was a project Eli was hoping to have on his own downtime. There times where Thrawn wanted to do his own things and Eli was happy to use that time to deal with his own stuff. It was very seldom when it happened.

He glanced over at Thrawn to see his expression or what ever one he could find that managed to creep through. And it seemed that the Chiss was pleased with the mix. He poured himself his own glass and after studying the color and sniffed at it. He took a small sip and found that it was enjoyable. He believed over time it would be even more so. But for the short amount of time? He was content. He enjoyed the smokey flavor it had and the hint of a citrus to it.

Eli smiled and held his glass up toward the others. "Cheers to a new start."

Thrawn lifted his glass in a similar toast.

"Yes, there is one prominent Sith. But as there are only two of that order left in the Galaxy it was something of an inevitability that one would lead over the other."

It's said in an offhanded way. In Thrawn's opinion, Sith and Jedi were two sides of the same coin. They had all but wiped each other out in any event so as far as he was concerned neither was worth thinking on.

For once Thrawn seemed relaxed and to actually be enjoying himself a bit. The still was an interesting discovery, even more interesting was the flavor this prototype ale had.

Altair wasn't sure whether to call it a new start, so the raise of his glass was halfhearted at best. They weren't here of their own will, after all.

That there were only two Sith left was expected in one way. Disheartening, in another. The offhanded manner in which it was said grated on his nerves a little- after all, he was Sith, and he was proud to be Sith. But considering Eli and Thrawn were both from a time where his kind were near nonexistent any more, he didn't take it as an insult, at least.

So he remained quiet, sipping at his drink.

Found himself missing his crew, just a little. Had they been with them, things would hardly be so quiet.

Eli found his views of the Jedi and Sith a bit skewed as everything was based on the history that was taught. And usually the history books had painted them both in a negative light. However it was always noted there was at least a few Sith that supported the Empire in it's various times. The Emperor and Darth Vader spooked him out and he liked to be out of their sight as much as possible. Yet he had a feeling they were watching him closely since he was Thrawn's aide. Altair was the first Sith that had been approachable and he found himself respecting. He didn't trust what the books had to say.

There seemed to be no awkwardness and everyone appeared to be content. He took his time sipping his drink, in no real rush to finish it or get trashed right away.

"Does anyone have any drinking games that you do or have done in the past?" Eli finally said unable to take the quite solitude for long.

Thrawn raised an eyebrow once, curious but cautious. Thrawn then narrowed his eyes in suspicion but couldn't help a small smirk.

"And what is the game you have in mind?"

Thrawn's glass was still mostly full but it is very obvious that Eli already had something planned.

"Believe me when I say that you do not want to know what Sith drinking games are like," Altair said, though his tone suggested that this might be a joke. He did, after all, have more friends that weren't Sith, than friends that were.

"Had Andronikos been here, he'd be shouting out a million drinking games. Sadly, you got the stick-in-the-mud Darth, not the pirate."

Missing his crew indeed. At least he'd made some new friends here though.

Still, the question about drinking games, did make him wonder if Chiss had drinking games. Just thinking about the ones he'd met, including Thrawn, it was difficult to imagine them playing those kinds of games at all. He didn't ask though, however curious he was.

Closed: There's a flood that's coming up to my bed

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to make things easier handwave they've exchanged names

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