Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Ilar was putting the final touches on his costume for the evening's party when a rumble in his belly sent him to the kitchen to grab a quart of blue milk and some cookies.

He always had a fondness for sweet snacks and after retrieving something to quell his appetite, he sat back down to try and make his Zabrak headpiece presentable.

At the same time, Raela finally arrived home from her research, sighing and stretching as she left her shoes and coat behind, padding into the kitchen barefoot. She smiled when she saw Ilar. "I'm glad to see you."

Ilar looks up from his work and smiles. "Me too, after what happened to the Steel Valkyrie today, I was hoping to catch up, but didn't want to give the wrong impression to all the people who'd be watching."

He dunked a cookie in the milk and paused for a moment. "This quest for a council seat definitely isn't taking any prisoners, is it?"

Raela nodded, frowning. "It is not. I'm finding myself less motivated for it, anyway. I have plenty of time to gain power."

She walked over to cooler, shedding more constraining clothes until she was left in a simple short dress.

Ilar spins in his swivel chair to face Raela and grins.

"Of course you do young'un. You've far more seasons in your future than I. This may not be your Destiny, but you are still one for the galaxy to take notice of."

"I've far more seasons than almost anyone now," she noted with a smirk. "I'm fine if the Galaxy doesn't take too much notice."

"Has your patron got you drinking the kool-aid again?" Ilar asked jokingly, not knowing the truth behind Raela's words.

"Zash dangling her secrets before you like the eternal carrot?"

"On the contrary," she replied with a smile. "Things finally came to fruition... for more than just her. It's only once in several millennia event... Unless I can find a similar nexus of power."

That got an immediate reaction from Ilar. He knew Raela had been serving Zash for as long as he could remember, and had she finally come through with something of value?

"What things?" He asks softly, with curiosity in his voice and concern in his eyes.

"Youth," she replied, smiling a little. "Forever... as long as one plays their cards right."

"Forever? She finally found it?" The shock in Ilar's voice was obvious.

"And...for you as well?" He had heard rumors of Zash's quest, but never thought she'd actually find it let alone share the discovery.

She raised her eyebrow ridges knowingly and nodded with a smile. "A side effect more than anything, I think, but still."

"Accident or not, it is a tremendous boon." Ilar agreed, his own project temporarily abandoned.

"I imagine it is far too new of a development to ask if you've considered what you'll do with your new found eternity?"

"Honestly? I'm planning to be patient for power for now," she replied with a small smile. "I have all the time in the universe to gain it, after all. And I'm less worried about securing the Citadel. If Khalan tries hard to claim it... Well, she'll die eventually, and I won't. I've found it's giving me a longer view."

"When time isn't an issue, I imagine it makes it easier to play the long game. I'm sure we can cook up any number of surprises and plans to hold the Citadel against most forces."

"Indeed," she replied with a smile. "It will be a good place to hold against the unrest in the Empire.

A smile settled on his face as Ilar turned slightly to resume work on his costume.

"Did you end up resolving the plague issue you were working on? I could hardly make heads nor tails of your notes."

She sighed. "The cure itself has been progressing, but slowly... It's very annoying," she replied, shaking her head.

"What have you been up to recently. I've been trusting you to your own devices a bit lately."

"I'm sure the Zygerrian system is very happy for whatever assistance you can lend them." Ilar answered as he hot glued another horn onto his Zabrak headpiece.

"I've been spending a little time by myself, I'm not sure if it's Ziost itself, but I've been feeling a little stronger in the Force lately, like it responds a little more eagerly to my call."

She smiled at that. "That's excellent to hear. You're one step closer to fulfilling your destiny."