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04 Network, Video;

[The video clicks on to a... Slightly older looking Altair, in clothes much finer than he wore before. He looks perhaps a bit more tired than ever, though not confused- so it's safe to assume he remembers his time on Agra 10.]

Back again, then. And... [He looks around, unfamiliar surroundings, but his memories are true- another trip off planet thanks to the Agrii then?] In the middle of some sort of event, it seems? A little hotter here than I would have preferred, but beggars can't be choosers.

[At least this time around, he'd been taken from a somewhat calmer situation. He'd been standing contemplating the Eternal Throne, and then he was here. He really can't complain. Given that he couldn't remember Agra 10 during his absence from it, he's sure the GEMINI Captains won't go rogue without him.] How long has it been since I was here?

It feels like forever, but...

[He's going to need to seek out some people regardless, he supposes.]

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[Altair offers a slight smile. He's not tired enough to not be polite to someone who is, yes, at least remotely familiar.]

Emperor Kallig, now.

[What a difference a little over seven years can make.] Good to see you, Jon. Despite the dreadfulness of the time.

Emperor Kallig, then. Very well.

[ Why, yes. That's the hint of a smirk. But not in a mean way. ]

So you were promoted in your absence. Congratulations.

I suppose you could call it a promotion, yes. I'd give much to only be a Lord, but sometimes a man must do as life requires of him, rather than follow his own wishes.

[Altair definitely wouldn't call it fate, even if many had, when he was fighting to seize the throne, but... It definitely felt like something he needed to do, rather than something he wanted to do.

Stability after such a long war was, after all, necessary.] I take it you don't agree with being sent away on vacation?

[Probably better to focus on that.]

[ Don't tell him about responsibilities and how they might outrank personal desires, Jon is very much familiar with it.

So he will simply sigh, and shake his head. ]

I don't agree with being kidnapped. And I don't agree with being kidnapped and cast from one alien place to the next.

[ There's a pause and he glances to something off-screen. ]

...though at least this one has books. And paper. And a database. It's an improvement.

I don't think any of us do. The being cast from alien place to alien place though, that you might need to get used to. The Agrii like sending us out on field trips.

[He doesn't like it either.

But there's not much any of them can do about it.] I suggest you stock up on things Agra 10 lacks while this vacation lasts. Though should the things you acquire here not come back with you, I have a spare notebook you can have to write in, should you want or need it.

Field trips.

[ Pause. ]

Alright.

...alright.

[ No, it's not alright. But... What can he do. ]

You are right, I should do that. Stocking up... Especially on tapes. I found a machine that can replicate the one I brought. [ Priorities! ] And thanks for the offer.

Field trips, yes. Not too long ago, we were sent off to a snow planet. Some of us got turned into children. It was a mess.

[Salty?

He's not salty. Not at all.

Still, that seems so far away now. He remembers it, but... Well, it's strange, really.He decides it's best to talk about something else.] Will you be stocking up on tea, too?

[ Oh, Jon would have had questions regarding the very idea of people being turned into children, but the tea comment catches him off-guard and he does end up giving a brief, yet amused chuckle. ]

Oh, yes. Obviously I will. Even at the risk of seeming like a stereotype.

[ He may not really eat anything, but tea... Well. Call it a habit. Or maybe an attempt to not get homesick. ]

Before you keep calling me out like that, you can tell me what you might try to find yourself. I might be able to tell you where to look?

How would stocking up on tea make you seem like a stereotype?

[He's genuinely curious.] Honestly, I'll probably see about finding more embroidery supplies, yarn for my crocheting projects... Maybe some knitting needles, too.

[There are some hobbies that never really left him, even with the passage of time. Not quite typical Sith hobbies, but as an alien, he's never been a typical Sith.] The Agrii have gotten decent at knowing what I mean when I request something, but I'd much rather stock up myself while we're here anyway.

You know, it's just a rather British thing to do? I mean-

[ Give him a second. ]

Ah... Right. You may not... I'm sorry. It's... Where I'm from? There's a place called Great Britain. And... We're fairly known for our tea consumption.

[ It's a little awkward to explain. So he just moves right on. ]

And I can indeed point you to an art supply store. Rather decently stocked and I see myself seeking it out once more myself.

[ For paper, pens and maybe notebooks. ]

I see.

[He doesn't really, but he can tell Jon thinks it's sort of awkward to explain, so he doesn't ask more about it.]

You have my thanks, then. Strange as it may sound, embroidery especially is just one of those things that can make me feel at peace.

[He knows he doesn't really seem the type.

Or perhaps that's just how he seems to himself, considering he's Sith. It's difficult to know.]

There's nothing strange about having a hobby you can relax at.

[ And quite honestly, Jon may be the last to judge anyone for how they decide to spend their time. ]

I suppose not. Considering how most Sith relax, I'd say mine is entirely more civilized, at least.

[This is definitely one of those "you don't want to know" situations.]

I can't claim to know much about what Sith usually do in their free time.

[ And yet Jon certainly wants to know. Yet he.... Is trying not to press for it. It's difficult. ]

Though I... Guess I will have to accept your judgement.

Do I seem like the type of man who would refuse to answer a simple question about what Sith do in their free time?

[Does he seem that stubborn and closed off?]

Oh, I just thought that maybe it is something you are uncomfortable talking about, considering you have already made it clear you deem those pastimes uncivilized.

[ But you know, he sure can ask. ]

So what is it they do?

I deem them uncivilized, yes. But I still consider myself Sith, and I consider the Sith as being part of my people. That means I cannot turn a blind eye to what they do, even if I might disapprove of most of it.

[In his Eternal Alliance, things are different. But he is still Sith- or at least, still considers himself to be Sith, and the Sith Empire is his Alliance's closest ally. That's not something he wants to get into right now, but Sith hobbies?

That he doesn't mind talking about.] It does, of course, depend on the Sith in question... But the Sith Empire is a meritocracy. So even Sith hobbies tend to be hobbies that will add to a Sith's power- Fighting. Research into ancient secrets. Perfecting how they manipulate others, perfecting their lies.

Murder and mayhem is generally the name of the game.

Basically, if it doesn't add to their image of being powerful, a Sith won't find something worthwhile.

Huh. I see...

[ He falls silent for a short while, contemplating that information. The parallels he can see to the Cult of the Lightless Flame make him ponder, but he doesn't think there is any actual relation. ]

The culture of your people sounds... Brutal. To be quite honest I find it hard to imagine a society without any interest in actual lasting peace.

A Sith is the ultimate individual, and I am proud to be Sith... But if the strong cannot create stability and lasting peace and provide for those who are not, then we do not have much use at all. Of course, I am not as connected to the Sith Empire now as I was, and they seem to have changed at least a little.

[Less backstabbing, he supposes.] I do not agree with the Sith on matters of warfare, just so that's clear.

A society that cannot provide for its weakest, and that cannot uplift and encourage those with the potential to be great, is a failure.

...ultimate individual...

[ Yes, he's muttering this to himself. ]

You know, where... Where I'm from. Earth. We don't share such beliefs. We acknowledge our weaknesses. Our fears. We accept that no one is perfect. And we... We don't elect our... Call them leaders based on their physical strength, but on their ability to best represent our interests in a peaceful manner. It's a democracy. And at least in theory every person has the same rights.

[ He won't claim corruption doesn't exist. ]

It hasn't always been that way. By far not. And I won't bore you with the political history of my world, but Empires... Are not something we have come to associate with peace and stability and equal rights.

So you may understand my apprehension.

Physical strength means nothing for us either or I would have died long ago.

Being strong in the Force, being intelligent, cunning... There is much one must be to climb to the top in the Sith Empire. Strength in one area alone is not enough.

[Thinking that it is has been the end of many a Sith.]

What you're familiar with sounds a lot like the Republic. Of course, I am not entirely familiar with how they do things, given that I was a slave and then a Sith.

[The Republic 101 is not exactly taught in the Academy, beyond that the Republic and the Jedi are the enemy. Still, when he was still a Councilor, Altair had wanted peace, for them to be able to settle their differences. But time has made a fool of him.]

I would not find the political history of your world boring- I quite like politics, actually. But I don't need the details, either, to be able to understand your apprehension.

The Force? Is this the same Force Cal has been speaking of?

[ Just making sure. Cal spoke of it as something the Jedi use, though. Now it's these Sith as well? Unless these are two different things sharing nothing but a name. ]

Oh, you've met Cal? He's a good kid.

[Altair thinks so, anyway.] And yes, it's the same Force. The Jedi and the Sith just use it in very different ways.

I met him, yes.

[ And his droid. ]

He tried to explain it to me. A little. How are there different ways to use it?

It is difficult to explain, really. When you can use it, doing so is... Almost like breathing. You don't really think about it, it just is.

[At least that is his relationship with the Force, at any rate.] But in general, the Jedi use the light side of the Force, while the Sith use the dark side.

[...] Though the Force is certainly more than light or dark. If the years at home have taught me anything, it's that.

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