Open Log

[kallig]

WHO: Altair Kallig & You
WHERE: Greenhouse, Exploring
WHAT: First thing's first when coming to new situations- ensuring survival.
WHEN: First day (green house), and second day after arrival (exploration)
WARNINGS: Some introspection about the death of a planet, but nothing beyond that.


[Greenhouse]

Survival depended on many things. Water. Food. A willingness to continue on despite it all.

Not too long ago, the Sith had watched the death of an entire world. He'd watched a world and its inhabitants be devoured, helplessly, from orbit. He'd felt a great shudder through the Force, deep and chilling, heartbreaking. Here, that didn't matter. Imperial deaths, his own feelings on the matter, they would have to wait. For he was on another destroyed world now- there to return it to how it had been.

For now, that didn't matter much.

For now, his own survival sat prettily at the top of his list of priorities.

His trek had seen him arriving at a glass building- a greenhouse of some sort? Seemed like.

Another Data Point waited inside, and with no hesitance, reached out and touched it.

A brief flicker of fear flashed through him at the second's immobility as information was jammed in there with all his other knowledge, before it settled once he realized he could move. And as expected, the Data Point had come with information. A little different, but no more frightening or shocking than a Sith relic or some screaming ghost. Nothing ventured, nothing gained-- not a motto he often followed, but when he did, it tended to serve well enough. As it had, now.

With this new information, he moved farther into the greenhouse. Navigating well despite the veil that covered his eyes, only peeking up here and there to ensure he wouldn't trip.

A plant with leaves of a glossy black caught his attention, comically large. Buds along the stem were unripe vegetables, his brain told him, but that wasn't his focus as of just now- the leaves were sturdy, tough- almost leather-like, and large enough to be of use- grabbing his dualsaber off his back, he cleanly sliced through where a leaf connected to the thick stem- doing this several more times, until he had more than a few.

He sat, and began folding- a makeshift bag to carry food in, making it easy to transport.

His own first, then several more to leave behind. Surely he wouldn't be the only one wishing to haul food off somewhere else- and while he was there, he might as well do the strangers around him a kindness.

Secretly. Privately.

A Sith Lord gets a reputation for being good, he loses all respect, after all.



[Exploration]

Even as a member of the Dark Council, even as a Sith, crowds of any kind were uncomfortable things. It reminded him of being surrounded when he was a slave, of being surrounded when he was an acolyte on Korriban, and it was honestly claustrophobic.

So, makeshift bag full of edible fruits and vegetables in hand, dualsaber on his back, Altair wandered.

Past what seemed to be a hospital- no thank you, he had thought. Abandoned hospitals seemed like the sort of place you could catch some long dead disease. Like the Dark Temple on Dromund Kaas, except less fun. Past other buildings.

To the power plant- drawing his attention- power was necessary for life. Still. Someone else's headache today- perhaps his, tomorrow.

Eventually he found himself a good, open area. Safe enough it seemed, and deserted for the moment.

He put his bag full of food down, and focused. Drawing on the Force, he put his focus to merely levitate anything around him. Rocks, fallen branches, various debris.

It wasn't difficult. Such small things. Still, it felt... Different.

Weaker.

Something was wrong with part of his connection to the Force, he could tell. It would require further testing...

Comments

Exploration

[wearingthestars]

Coming back from his own exploration of the Power Plant, Billy happens upon the unfamiliar figure, eyeing the levitating debris with quiet surprise, but not the shock of someone unfamiliar with such things.

"...hey," he greets softly to announce himself, smiling and offering a small wave. He kind of looks like a Kree. But Billy didn't know the Kree practiced magic. "Your powers on the fritz too?"

[kallig]

He sensed him coming- that remained the same, at least. His ability to sense his surroundings. Not much use should he find himself with the need to defend himself, but at the very least, he was alerted of any approaching beings.

The debris he'd been levitating dropped to the ground, Altair's head tilting toward where the other person was. His eyes were covered, he hadn't uncovered them much at all since arriving. Still, the tilt of his head followed the other male as though he was watching.

"Seems like," He said, "Weaker, somehow."

Though, it seemed, at least it wasn't just him.

[wearingthestars]

It's not a style of dress Billy's familiar with, and there's definitely a curiosity in his gaze, but it feels rude to question. "Yeah," he agrees with the other's assessment. Weaker. Like being cut off from the full strength of what he's capable of.

"I'm Billy. I don't think I've seen you around yet."

[kallig]

"Kallig," He said, choosing to introduce himself by his last name, rather than his first. Altair was who he was. Kallig was who he was to anyone who was not a friend. A normal Sith might introduce themselves by their title. Lord, Darth. Altair was more careful in this unfamiliar environment, choosing the neutrality of his ancestor's name.

"And that's not too strange. There seems to be more than a few of us here, and it's a large place. Can't expect to have seen everyone as of yet."

Never mind that his anonymity was rather by design than by chance. He was naturally curious about everyone else, but cautious, too. Who was a friend and who was a foe was not an easy puzzle to solve, and his preference was to do it from relative safety.

He also just generally didn't like crowds- especially when he was all on his own.

[wearingthestars]

"Kallig," Billy repeats, committing it to memory. It doesn't sound like any of the Kree names he knows, making him think he must be from some place he doesn't know of. "Nice to meet you. I mean- maybe not given the circumstances of being kidnapped or whatever, but...you know..."

He flushes. Good start.

[kallig]

"Yes, well. We must do our best with the cards we've been dealt."

He was not particularly happy, finding himself here. After all, before his arrival, he had watched and felt the death of an entire world. So far as inconveniences went, being plucked from his own world to play savior here was a major one.

After all, he was on the Council- all those Imperial deaths... He should be there to help his Empire recover, and to chase down the crazed bastard who had caused it all.

Alas, he was here. Making the best of it.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

[wearingthestars]

"Are you staying in the hotel, too?" Billy asks, "Maybe I'll see you around sometime? Or if you see someone around who looks like me but doesn't seem to know you, that's my twin."

Exploration

[pileofspirits]

Phalanx probably hadn't been following him all the way out here, but they certainly don't seem surprised to happen upon this clearing full of levitating objects. They linger at the edge of the space and just watch for a long minute. And even when they do speak up, it's more mumbled to themself than intended to reach the other man at a comfortable conversation's volume.

"Feels like ghosts."

[kallig]

"I think that's my line," He said, having had to strain to hear them. His own words were at much more of a conversational volume, with usual Sith confidence to boot. He'd only ever had four, himself. And now, there was only one- Horak-Mul, and the old Sith had been giving him the silent treatment. Not that Altair minded so much. He had never liked the chattiness, after all, having been driven very nearly insane.

But how many are in there he couldn't even begin to guess So many in such a small space. It had to be... Well, busy.

He released his focus on the various objects around himself, letting them all clatter to the ground. Eventually, he would have to experiment with just how much weaker he'd gotten, but for now, it wasn't a priority.

"Are you exploring too?"

[pileofspirits]

Busy is a bit of an understatement. It shows when Phalanx answers, the words coming out crowded and aimless as too many thoughts elbow for space in there.

"Exploring and--walking. Looking, talking. Being."

They wander over to where the nearest previously-hovering rocks have now settled on the ground. Crouching down, they pick one of them up, looking it over as if it might somehow be different from the ones that hadn't just been floating in the air.

"Who moved these?"

[kallig]

It's a strange thing to sense. Had this been how he'd felt, with four in addition to himself? No one had complained- complaining to a Sith Lord tended to be a bad idea, anyway- but he couldn't help but feel concern now. It felt off, sort of... Out of focus. Altair's ability to sense his surroundings had always been one of his stronger points- and eyes covered as they were, the Force was how he connected with the world around him.

This though... It was unusual, to say the least.

"That does seem to be everyone's favorite pastime as of right now, I suppose."

He included himself in that, of course. He would rather spend his time exploring than anything else. A well-informed Sith was one likely to survive, after all. Knowledge was power, so knowledge was what Altair desired the most.

He tilted his head at the question then, "I did, of course."

Though he supposed, in a strange land, in a new place, with unfamiliar people- it probably wasn't immediately obvious to everyone.

[pileofspirits]

A whole conglomeration of mangled souls bundled together. They're walking around as one being now, but who knows if there's even a central core in there at all. It makes physical space a difficult thing to navigate, but they're trying hard.

"Did you?" 'Skeptical' would be too pointed of a tone for them to manage, but the sound almost leans that way. They pick up another rock to look at, this one being one that hadn't moved. Maybe comparing them.

"Did you mean to?"

[kallig]

"Yes," He said, tilting his head. Any other Sith would probably punish the imagined slight of disrespect- they'd take did you and twist it into an insult to their abilities. Altair is not any other Sith, not raised to be the same arrogant creature as the people who had surrounded him in the Empire. Instead, he merely shrugged it off.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Force, it would be normal to question it.

Questioning was in his nature too- even disbelief.

"Shall I do it again to prove it to you?"

Greenhouse

[art_of_war]

Thrawn was doing some exploring himself. It was mostly for scouting the layout of the structures but he was making a closer study of certain buildings. This one appeared to be a greenhouse of some kind.

He was dressed in ceremonial white mixed with a makeshift bow strapped across his back, an equally makeshift canteen hanging from one shoulder, and a wicked-looking though also makeshift spear. All of that is juxtaposed with blue skin and glowing red eyes.

He still stopped dead at the red shine of a lightsaber. Granted he had only seen a red lightsaber in person once but he was very aware of the significance of the color. It wasn't until the blade was shut down that he started to move again. Taking care to let leaves rustle to announce his presence, Thrawn ducked further into the greenhouse.

"I would ask you to add a long shoulder strap to one since I am quite sure you would do a much better job than my clumsy attempts."

[kallig]

Sensing a Chiss through the Force was always such a strange thing, distinctive in just how little it gave. There was nothing but the sense of something orderly, something that couldn't be breached, try as he might. He'd sensed it on Ziost, on Dromund Kaas, on Hoth, and elsewhere.

There he had had certain advantages. A slave as a child, them not knowing him, gazing at him only with pity. A Sith ever since, untouchable, above their pay-grade, so to speak.

Here, he was only himself.

By the time the other man spoke, Altair was tense, internally thanking the stars for his veil, keeping his eyes hidden from view. He'd passed himself off as Pantoran before and would do so again, to protect himself.

A few seconds passed, as a million thoughts ran through his mind, before he realized he'd frozen up, half turned to the other man.

He cleared his throat, awkwardly, "That can be arranged. I do suppose these would be easier to carry that way..."

The leaves wouldn't do though- the stems weren't long enough, and slicing them to ribbons with his lightsaber would require him to actually look at what he was doing and he really would rather not. A Chiss on equal grounds was a dangerous Chiss.

That was what his life's experiences had told him, anyway.

"I think there were some vines nearby that might work. Would you mind fetching some for me?"

[art_of_war]

Thrawn watched the other's reaction carefully. He was well aware that Dark side Force-users could be unpredictable. The tension was interesting but could denote many things. What was more interesting was the delayed reply and hoarse tone.

This man was nervous. Just Thrawn's presence alone made Altair freeze. Was that reaction from fear or shock, though?

"A moment, please."

Leaving the same way he came in, Thrawn disappeared for a little bit. When he came back it was with several different lengths of the vine. They were both being highly polite, though Thrawn was watching the reactions of the other as he did.

"...I must wonder what sort of trade a Dark Jedi will expect in return."

[kallig]

He did consider getting up and leaving. But no. The other Chiss seemed to not have noticed he was speaking to one of his own people. And Altair would rather keep it that way. He also would rather not be perceived as some sort of coward. Sith lived with fear constantly, and his fear had never stopped him before.

Being called a Dark Jedi though. There was a quick flare of anger that outshone his fear, as he turned his head toward him, "I am no Jedi, dark or otherwise. I am Sith."

He knew he didn't look the part- small, thin, and clad in white and gold, not a speck of heavy Sith armor on him anywhere- but still. He would not have anyone at all going around thinking he was a Jedi of any sort. He had his pride, and he was proud of the fact that he was Sith.

"I suggest you commit that to memory. And I expect nothing in return. I was already making these."

[art_of_war]

"I see. My mistake then."

Only it did not sound as if it was a mistake at all. Thrawn sounded like that remark was intentional. It was actually meant as something of a test, a way to learn about this stranger. And Thrawn had learned something interesting. As far as he was aware there were only two Sith at any given time. It was rumored that the Emperor was one and Darth Vader made two. There was no talk of a third, yet this stranger had plainly shown a flare of temper at the suggestion of being a Jedi. How interesting...

"Should I then assume you were likewise brought to the fountain without knowing why as well?"

[kallig]

"Your mistake, and yet no apology. Should I take that as an insult?"

Despite the brief flare of anger before, he did not sound like he actually desired an apology, nor like he expected one. Nor did he sound like he actually thought he should be taking it as an insult. The anger was gone again already, leaving only a slight tension, as he worked on adding a long shoulder strap to one of the bags.

"Yes. At rather an inconvenient time, too."

There was a brief moment when that tension intensified, before he shook his head as though quietly dismissing thoughts and feelings that served no purpose here. He was far from relaxed though, even as he worked. Every now and then he would turn his attention back to the other Chiss, a slight tilt of his head. Eyes covered as they were he wasn't looking. It was just somewhat of a habit, around other Chiss.

Or perhaps he was looking, at the very least at Thrawn's boots, if the angle he tilted his head at was any indicator.

It gave away the fact that he could see, under there. But he didn't care all that much.

Exploration

[thrawnsaide]

Eli had been exploring the area for some time forging for food not just for himself but for others. He was aware a green house existed, but he felt this would also give him a better idea of the layout of the place. He was pulling up something that looked to be a rooted vegetable when he spotted the other.

Even though he saw the person was heavily garbed in white and kept his face majorly hidden, he did catch a sight of blue skin. What caught his attention more was the fact he was lifting up various debris with out touching any of them. Was this the Force? He had never seen it used before, but also had been taught that it didn't mean good things either.

He was a bit hesitant to approach the other, yet he couldn't help but continue to watch his own curiosity getting the better of him.

[kallig]

"Are you just going to stand there and watch or did you want something?"

Altair could sense him there, could sense his curiosity. Not exactly an unusual thing for him to sense, in relation to himself. Plenty of people had been curious about him before, though here at least it could very well be his species or his use of the Force being the curiosity, rather than bitter humans and pureblooded Sith curious and also angry that he'd managed to climb in rank and get a seat on the Council.

So this too, was likely one or the other- species or the Force.

He released his focus on the various debris, letting it all drop back to the ground.

"You can come closer. It's not like I'm going to hurt you."

[thrawnsaide]

"Sorry to interrupt your training, Sir," Eli responded as he hesitantly approached the other. "I've never seen the Force being used used before."

There was some hesitation in Eli's voice when he mentioned the Force as he was unsure if that in fact was the Force being used. He had seen other people with different abilities and didn't just want to automatically rule it out.

[kallig]

"You know it, then," He said, looking ever so slightly more interested- though it really was somewhat difficult to tell, given that his eyes were covered. His interest could only be read in the way his head tilted ever so slightly to the side.

"I wasn't training though. Merely testing something out."

He could sense his hesitation- even hear it.

"I don't intend to hurt you unless you give me a reason. You needn't be so concerned."

Out of all the Dark Councilors, Altair was, perhaps, the most even-tempered. Especially to non-Sith, finding that allies were more easily won with a less intimidating disposition. Marr could menace his people into line, Ravage could rant and rave all he liked, and the others also had their methods. Altair liked to just be himself.

Of course, here he was only himself. However frightening a thought that was.

"I don't recognize your accent? Might I ask where you're from?"

If he hadn't seen the Force being used before, then he was certainly not from anywhere Altair was familiar with. A case of different time, different place, perhaps? His own accent was perfectly Imperial, despite the fact that he was an alien. It had become second-nature for him to speak that way, after becoming Sith. Not wanting to stand out too much.

[thrawnsaide]

"I'm from Wild Space, Sir. Are you from the Imperial Core Worlds?" Eli questioned noticing the other's accent as well. "People often try to give me a hard time because I didn't bother to try to adapt to the Imperial accent. I didn't see the point."

He shrugged to emphasis his indifference.

[kallig]

"I can imagine. In my experience, humans are very quick to dismiss even other humans, for the most trivial of reasons."

He couldn't exactly claim much unity among aliens, either, but he was uniquely experienced with humanity's discord, from watching his fellow Councilors bicker among themselves, dismiss each other for the strangest reasons, from wording to whose legacy had lasted longer, to the worlds they happened to have been born on. Anything they felt made them superior.

"Either way, you won't be getting any trouble over your accent from me. As for where I'm from... Sure, let's go with that."

Altair was fairly certain his accent had been quite different, when he was younger. But he had changed it, to try and fit in better with the Sith, back when he was young and scared and naive enough to think that adjusting his accent to something more palatable to others within the Empire would help at all. He supposed the accent had just ended up sticking after that.