Nar Shaddaa

Zeno passed over the surface of the planet, scanning for a good location to collect samples of what Zash wanted, eyes on his sensors.

Sensors identify a viable region for the Sith to check out.

Zeno lands and begins unloading the rented geo equipment so that he can take his samples. The sooner he could get this done, the quicker he could start back to Nar Shaddaa, hopefully arriving before his father did so he could greet him.

Getting samples is a time consuming but rather simple affair. It is just before dark on Kintan and the terrain is rugged with jagged peaks in the distance and rolling wastes. There is very little plant growth and it is a lonely desolate place. Overhead some kind of raptor like avian circles screeching, the sounds echoing through the hills.

As Zeno finishes he hears... whistling... a faint sound on the wind.

The sith blooded lord looks to see if he can find the source of the whistling. He didn't know what kind of wildlife was on this planet so it could be anything.

There was a beast of burden perhaps two hundred meters down the hill sitting under a bare tree lapping at a shallow pool of water. A figure tends to the creature sitting and seems to be the source of the whistling.

The beats has six thick legs and stands at the height of about two meters at the shoulders. It is ruddy brown with a thick tail and mixes features of mammal and reptile. It grunts loudly as the figure tightens a saddle.

As the equipment does it's work, Zeno decides to greet what is likely a local. Boredom getting the best of him. He makes his way towards the stranger.

The figure turns and looks up at Zeno and says in Basic, "There is plenty of water for both of us, traveler."

He nods to the man. "I'm good. I've got water on my ship," he says. "But thank you all the same. It's a coincidence meeting someone all the way out here."

He looks to the beast of burden to see what's on the saddle, mostly checking for signs that he's a warrior of some type.

Supplies and travel goods. The figure wears a cloak and hood and says, "Ah so that was your ship I heard earlier." He turns a large bushy beard peaking out from the cowl of the hood. Male human, with piercing deep set eyes.

"Well you are welcome to the water all the same. This is a desolate place."

"It was my ship. I'm just doing some geo sampling for research purposes. Not many planets that survive a supernova," he says, maintaining a polite attitude.

"It has scarred the planet and the people, or I should say affected, as the nikto are a beautiful species," he says looking to the horizon.

"They've adapted and survived," he says with a nod. "They've shown strength and character. But they can't do much on this planet under the yoke of the Hutts. Perhaps one day they'll find the strength to free themselves of that control. Thriving rather than surviving. Their trials are still ongoing."

"The trials never ends," the man says kneeling and filling a canteen with water.

"I think the people of this world have come far and they struggle under the yoke of the Hutts because of ancient choices, choices made for their survival as a species."

"Their struggle will only serve to make them stronger in time. But the Hutts will keep them disparate so they cannot unify. That's their next test," he says with a nod. "Perhaps we'll live long enough to see it, perhaps they will continue to toil for many more generations, or perhaps they'll be wiped out before they get the chance. But whatever happens, it should be on them to act. Assisting them does them the disservice of letting them rise before they are ready. They can become much more beautiful creatures in the future if they find the will and strength."

"I tend to let nature take it's course, what will be will be," the man says standing.

"Not everything is a war to be won, but maybe I just enjoy a live and let live mentality. The people are already beautiful as they are."

"Everything may not be a war, but it is a conflict. Surviving, thriving, becoming greater than you were the day before. Challenging yourself and gaining strength. Everything worth having is worth earning. They may be beautiful and capable survivors now, but there is always potential to become something more. When we stop seeking the next evolution, that's when the beauty fades. Each scar, physical or mental, is a reminder that yesterday we had not faced the challenges that we had been meant to before we received it. The only destination in life is it's end."

"I suppose that is one way to see the universe, Lord Zeno," he says with a dry chuckle.

"It's a violent place," he replies. He wonders why the man recognizes him... but it's not as though the Lord doesn't have a public presence. "There are beasts that roam it. Sometimes those beasts wear the skin of sentients."

"Is that how you see yourself? You seemed quite proud of your actions... senseless as they were," he says with a calm shrug.

"I just have to wonder at the why, violence only begets more violence. It is an endless cycle of misery."

"Living begets violence," he says. "And they were not senseless actions. There was a purpose and it was a military target with a specific goal. Simply because I revel in the thrill of the fight does not mean there is no intent or sense."

"I suppose one should take pride in their work," he says calmly as he puts the canteen on his mount. "Violence will beget violence, but I suppose that is your goal."

"My goal is victory, and violence is my tool. Though I'm expanding my tool kit. And it's not as though I don't recognize the value of a life. They are given and taken for goals every day."

"I find it hard to believe you value life, Lord Zeno, at least when it does not serve your interests," he replies calmly. "I have been wrong before, though."

"My values don't require others to believe in them to be important to me. We all live in the same galaxy and both sides of the war have done very violent things to the other. And with each attack both sides become more guilty to the other. But forgiveness is a rare thing. Perhaps if the Jedi had shown it previously the Sith might not have come back so hard. Who knows..."