revivalproject | 02 Network; Voice

[Very much unlike what just about anyone else would get, Hux actually gets video in return, rather than just voice.

Altair smiles, slightly, looking quite worn out, but he's happy to... Well, he can't see him, but he can hear him. And he knows Hux can see him, thus the video.] I would like that. Thank you, Hux.

[Have rare smile from Hux and Millicent pushing her way into view as well.]

I've had my fair share of days where I can't sleep. More then likely you will probably find me working. I tend to sleep only for a few hours when I do sleep.

I'm sure Milli will be quite happy to see you as well.

It does seem a common issue.

[He thinks his species might need less sleep than a human does, but it's not something he's willing to say over the network, just in case that's a Chiss trait rather than a Pantoran one.]

Only a few hours though. Do I need to get on your case about not taking care of yourself?

[There's a tone of humor to his voice and he can't help but smile a little. That was a joke.] I'll bring something for her to eat.

[...] And something for you, as well.

Says the person who is having trouble with sleep. It's always easier to look after others then yourself.

[Hux paused to pet Millicent and looked back up at Altair.]

Please, don't trouble yourself over my needs. I'm happy to just to have you around.

Happy to have a Sith around? [There's a slight hint of laughter to his voice,] Been banging our head against a nearby tree today, have we?

[He looks and sounds quite amused- he's not poking fun at him, so much as it being a friendly bit of humor. He knows trust is difficult for Hux, trust in a Force-sensitive even more so. So really, he's happy that he welcomes his company.] Thank you. I will bring you something to eat, though.

Considering who I deal with back home? I respect your logical approach in how you handle and view things and the intelligence behind it. Where I can not get a decent conversation with him. Or get him to fully understand the full picture of things.

[He can't help but give a slight eye roll as he briefly explains Kylo Ren. That Knight would forever get under his skin.]

[He offers a slight smile, though it looks somewhat tired. Like he knows.]

There are Sith like that in my time, too. People whose reason has burned away to be replaced with rage, entitlement, insanity. You find yourself wishing that they'd forget how to breathe.

[How many like that were in his domain, he wonders. He'd dealt with Veijel, told the old Sith to purge his Sphere of insanity. But Veijel was only one out of many. Altair sighs deeply, hangs his head and shakes it slightly. He wishes he was with his people. They need him. And on some level, he probably needs them too. Protecting the Empire is his reason for living, after all.]

Still, I wish it was something you didn't have to deal with. I wish I didn't and I'm in a position where I can put anyone except the others on the Council and the Wrath in their place.

[His tone suggests that it's not for lack of trying.]

Well, I'm enjoying my peace and quite now. I don't have to deal with him constantly ruining my ship. Let alone causing havoc here.

Although, I'll admit that... I don't know much about how the Force works or what it's capable of doing. Outside of being force choked or being tossed around like a rag doll.

...Forgive me, I'm rambling. Did you wish for me stop by and see you?

[Altair smiles, lets him ramble. It seems like it's something he needed to get out- and honestly, he's glad that Hux is willing to share this with him. Without fear.

He likes that.]

It's difficult to explain, really. The Force flows through all things, and if you're able to use it, it's... Like breathing, really. You don't really think about whether or not it's there. It just is. Of course, to anyone else, the mystical ways of the Jedi and Sith might sound completely insane.

[A pause, then a huff of laughter.] Actually, it's sort of insane to me too.

[A story for another day. Or at least later.] I'd like to come by and see you, actually. If that's alright.

[Hux gave a nod, appreciating the small attempt to explain it. Usually if he asked he was meant with silence or told it had nothing to do with him. He smiled when Altair asked to stop by instead.]

Certainly. My door is always open to you.

[He probably should be trying to sleep, but. It is a lost cause.

So, bringing some food and something to drink, lightsaber slung over his back and his notebook, pens, and embroidery kit shoved into a makeshift bag, he heads out to the power plant, following the feeling in the Force that is uniquely Hux, even if he can sense very little thoughts or emotions. He doesn't need to, to know who it is.

When he arrives, he looks perhaps even more tired than he did over video, though it really is kind of hard to tell with the veil on.] My apologies that it took a while to get here. I couldn't come by without bringing you something to eat.

[He does, of course, also have treats for Millicent with him.]

[Millicent meowed in greeting and went to rub her face against Altair. She remembered him from before and also sensed that Altair was important to Hux.

Hux placed the droid pieces down and placed them away in a box. He gave a nod in greeting.]

Don't go troubling yourself over me. You're the one who should be resting.

There is no trouble I would not go through for a friend, Hux. And this is certainly no trouble at all.

[He kneels down by Millicent long enough to give her a treat, before moving over to Hux. He thinks he heard movement of possibly metal pieces being put away? Or at least something being put away. So he's curious.]

What were you working on?

It's an attempt to make a droid for Dameron. I offered to do so as a way to forge some kind of temporary truce with the pilot. He's on the opposing side of things back at home. When learning he had arrived here it didn't go well.

[Sensing the other's interest in his work, he handed, Altair the box that he placed the parts in.]

You can take a look if you wish. It's proving to be a challenging project with having very little proper equipment to work with.

I see.

[He'd met him.

He'd been hurt then. A fight. Hux had been hurt too. What can be seen of the Sith's expression changes to something worried.] You're alright though? It was some time ago now, but... Any injuries have healed?

[He makes a mental note of this, but says nothing of the sort.

A slight amount of surprise then shows.] You're building a droid? Out of this?

I received minor bruising....he was the one that had the most injuries. But then...he was the one to say I wasn't intimidating and proceeded to walk into my domains not believing I would fight him.

[He gave a nod in answer to Altair's question on the droid.]

Yes. I like to build things and to try to make equipment that will be useful. I used to do this with the Fleet. It's how I made the mouse droid that surveys the Power Plant for me. I hate not being useful...

He brought getting beaten up on himself, in other words.

[It's still worth keeping in mind, though.]

We're similar there. I hate not being useful, too. I've been working in the greenhouse, to ensure that we have enough food to survive, but... It's not really the same.

[With how many people work in the greenhouse, he's probably not really needed there. Had he not feared being without food, he probably wouldn't be. But it's an old fear that's come to overtake him now, when he's here. When the situation is uncertain.]

I know it's true for all of us, but I want to go home. To my people.

[...] Something happened, before I arrived here. Something awful.

[Setting the box aside, he finds himself a spot to sit. He's not sure if he wants to say more, but...]

It's not the same. I'm used to being in charge and running a military. There's so much going back home that needs to be dealt with and a new leader to contend with.

I imagine something terrible? If that's what's been keeping you up at night?

[Hux quietly asked. He stopped discussing his own problems when he realized Altair was attempting to share his.]

[He manages a weary smile. Hux is a leader, like he is. Of course this isn't the same, for either of them. It's not what they're cut out to do.

Not what they're meant to do.

But that's true for everyone, not just them. Everyone here has been pulled from pressing business, from their lives. Still, it's been a while since adjusting to something unexpected was this difficult. Perhaps because of how long its been. Life was random before. But even then he'd been jumping from one adventure to the next, never stopping and always moving forward.] It's difficult to put into words. Maybe I just don't want to.

[Maybe he doesn't want to be a burden, either.]

I think having so much time to think is bad for me.

I know the feeling. It's why I distract myself with projects upon projects. But maybe forming what's bothering you into words might help. You don't have to do it now. Only when you feel you're ready to. I get that in this case, avoiding it seemed to be causing you more pain instead of confronting it.

[He moved to place a comforting hand on Altair's shoulder. It's as close as he gets to offering a hug.]

[There's a slight flinch when Hux's hand came to lay on his shoulder- he hadn't expected it. But... It's comforting. He reaches up to place his own hand over Hux's, giving it a light squeeze.]

Thank you. [He releases his hand again.]

It is a harrowing tale, though. And my fault. Is it really a burden that can be shared, or do I deserve to suffer is the real question.

[Hux tensed a little at the light squeeze, but didn't remove his hand till he released it. It was rare for Hux to offer such signs of affection and hard for him to accept it in return.]

How was it your fault? [He titled his head in confusion.]

Altair, I helped make a weapon that could destroy an entire system. I even used it. I had it destroy an entire system that supported my enemy. I had been naive to think that demonstration would bring people to my feet and stop a war from starting. Only it started the war I was hoping to not have.

Not only did I kill many innocent lives....my own men had been killed in the process. My enemy destroyed the weapon and took the whole planet with it. I have nothing to show for the waste of lives caused by my command.

I see.

[It's a bit of a shock, or perhaps, not much of one at all.

After all, even in his own time, there had been an arms race, weapons had been built, people had died. It was something he'd been trying to put an end to- wanting strong rational leadership for the Empire, rather than waging endless war.] It's difficult to wrap my head around the scale of it, but I can't understand your circumstances, and thus I cannot judge you for them, either.

[He does appreciate that he's willing to share it with him though. That can't have been easy.]

In my time- I-

[Sigh.] Our Emperor. Vitiate. We thought him dead, but the truth was he was only dormant on Yavin 4. A man called Revan tried to bring his spirit back into a physical body to destroy him once and for all... It didn't work.

[Of course it didn't. It's a memory that is further away, but no less prominent in his mind.]

The Emperor's spirit fed off the battle on Yavin 4, and fled. He reappeared again on an Imperial planet. Ziost. The gateway to the Sith Empire, in my time. It was chaos. He was possessing anyone and everyone, slaughtering civilians in the streets.

[His voice falters.] We... I... It was a losing battle. How do you fight a parasite like that. How do you fight something that grows stronger with every life snuffed out?

[He falls quiet.] Those were my people he was slaughtering. Mine to lead, to protect. I was angry. Enraged. I pushed him, taunted him, to turn his focus on me. Seemed like a good idea at the time. We thought we could outsmart him. And his actions are my responsibility.

[...] He consumed Ziost. I was on the orbital station above it, when it happened. He consumed every living thing there, and I watched- felt- everything. The people, the planet. Dead.

[Another sigh. He feels almost sick.] Then I was here. On a dying world. To rebuild. When my own Empire needs me the most.

[Hux frowned, more so in confusion. He would never understand how the Force worked or be able to experience how it felt. And it seemed the Force could do so many things. He could understand to a degree how much death that Altair had experienced/felt. What it was like to watch all those people die, people that were his to command.

He closed his own eyes as he could feel the ground shake beneath him, feel the cold snow and wind blowing around him while the planet caved around around. His own heart beating as he tried to retrieve the Supreme Leader's Apprentice. While his own men were trying to escape or unsure if they were supposed to stay or not. It still haunted him night and day.

He opened his eyes once more when he was able to articulate what he wanted to say.]

It sounds as if you had been stuck in a situation that you were trying to fix. But it was something that was out of your hand instead. Yet you tried. The fact that you tried to stop this from happening says more. When you could have not jumped in and tried to fix it and ignore it.

Of course I tried. They were my people. And Vitiate was- is- a risk to all living beings. Not just the Empire. Not just the Republic.

[He needs to be dealt with.

Maybe if they ever get home. Definitely if they ever get home. Altair will kill him. He has to.] When I return home, I'm going to find him and tear his screaming spirit from whatever body it has fled to, and I'm going to watch it burn.

[There's such a dark, hateful tone to his voice as he speaks. Nothing like the generally polite and even-tempered person he normally is.] I'll laugh, too.

[He shakes his head then, calming down a little.] Thank you. You didn't have to share your own experiences, but you did. Allowing me to share mine.

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