Myriad Reckonings

There was a sharp crack from the fire as a little pocket of steam in the damp wood vaporized. The log in question snapped, crumbling to bits as it was fully consumed by the flames. The fire shot up for a moment, quickly consuming all that was left of the piece of firewood. The shadows grew longer and wilder as the flames leaped up, causing Vader to appear even more menacing. If that was possible.

"No." Vader said, with a touch of bitterness. If anything he despised him. He had been too weak to save the one he loved. Perhaps if Vader had killed him earlier, she would still be here.

Tarkin took a stick and stirred the fire gently, giving some air to the wood underneath the other logs. "I didn't think so." He wondered again what exactly had happened to push Anakin so far over the edge that he was willing to kill the Jedi. He'd gotten the impression that though he'd had some disagreements with them, they were generally on good terms. There had clearly been much more going on there.

Vader was silent for some time. He debated elaborating further. He sensed Tarkin's questions and replied as if the man had spoken them aloud.

"The Jedi were the ones responsible for the war." He finally said. "Their vision is why the galaxy is divided. They kept power to themselves that could have saved many." He took a few long breaths and shifted his weight, the log beneath him creaking.

"The war has always been bigger than the Separatists, Republic or the Empire, Governor Tarkin. It is a war within the Force itself. It will always be so, until there is balance restored." He looked up slightly, catching a stray glimpse of starlight through the thick canopy above. Balance. It was the same thing the Jedi had spoken of, the same story they'd used to bend Skywalker to their will so long ago. The same story he'd perhaps once believed. The lie that had kept him in chains. He clenched his right hand into a fist.

Tarkin pursed his lips. "Balance is the thing that leads to chaos. Living in tandem means one side will always make a grab for power--it's the law of things. The way I see it, Emperor Palpatine saw the weakness of the Republic and took advantage of that to create a stronger, more assured government. I'm sure there's much to be said about the Force and its role in the Clone Wars, but as far as I'm concerned it's the show of strength that matters. It's the reason we've been successful."

"You are not wrong. The Jedi's idea of balance was far different than what we consider ideal." He couldn't expect Tarkin to understand the war of the unseen. He was a cunning leader, but he was no Sith.

There would always be rebellion. Vader knew that even once the galaxy was theirs, there would always be a few fools attempting to usurp authority. Such was the way of things. Those few gave an excellent opportunity to make examples to those who might be considering joining them. In a way, he did not mind the idea of an uprising once in a while...it would give them something to do. The peace the Jedi claimed to pursue was simply a breeding ground for chaos, as Tarkin said. Only with iron authority could true peace be achieved.

"Indeed." There did seem to be a certain measure of trust between the Jedi, though. Even Tarkin had to admit the suspicion and competitiveness he, Vader, and Palpatine fostered between the lower ranking officers made it difficult to form a cohesive group. That was most clear with him and Krennic, but Palpatine was adamant that information be divided so no one knew too much.

There was silence again. Vader simply watched the flames and listened. He seemed slightly more alert now, paying closer attention to the sounds of the night around them as the time passed.

Finally the primate was cooked to Tarkin's satisfaction--it was rare enough that blood dripped out when he lifted it off the sticks and laid the spit on the log beside him. He cut off one of the legs and dug in with gusto, stripping the meat from the bone in little time at all. The animal's muscles made for a lean meal alone, but its liver and brains packed a lot of protein into a few small bites. He'd save those for last and savor them properly.

Vader stood up and began to walk the perimeter. He did not pass the line that the fire cast against the trees, but he caught glimpses of the flickering eyes watching them from the deep woods. They would scatter if he stood and watched them long enough. They had not yet decided if he was worth challenging

His heavy footfalls silenced some of the nighttime noises for a time. He knew they were watching, but he felt that he had frightened them off for a time. Their constant noises had him restless. Tonight may be a sleepless one. He'd been through worse, but it was irritating to say the least.

Tarkin watched Vader pace as he ate, a small smile creeping across his face. The Sith was antsy, whether from anxiety or from boredom he wasn't sure. The boundaries were keeping the animals at bay well enough, it seemed, and they were moving on in the morning. He planned to show Vader the Carrion Spike itself.

Something moved in the forest, something bigger and more lithe than many of the creatures surveying Vader now. Its mind was sharp and clear, with a sapient intellect. It kept its distance from the fire, staying well back in the darkness, but it observed them closely.

Vader felt the presence and turned his attention towards it. He stopped pacing for a moment and listened. It was far from the frightened small things that scurried away at their presence. It was something more cunning, something that was wise enough to recognize his presence there.

He made his presence known in the force. It seemed as if a chill covered the clearing and the light of the campfire crept close to the firepit, shrinking away from the darkness of the forest. Vader resumed his steady walk. With the smaller creatures frightened into silence for a time, anything that hadn't been worried away was much more clearly sensed now. There was something watching them and he felt it.

Spoiler

It's a person back there

The thing in the forest had not left. In fact, it seemed to have its attention fully on him.

Tarkin had his fill of the rest of the meal, watching Vader curiously. The Sith was alert; something had caught his attention.
"Something wrong?" he asked.

Spoiler

oops, was suspecting a veermok or something lol. edited to reflect.

"Not yet." He said, circling back to his place by the log but not sitting down. He felt as if he'd sensed...thoughts perhaps? The creeping feeling that a sentient being was out there watching them crossed his mind. It did not sit well with him. Vader was not entirely convinced it wasn't a highly intelligent animal. Many creatures who hunted others had borderline human intelligence. Tarkin had not told him of anyone else who would be out here.

"We are being watched."

"Are we?" Tarkin said boredly. "Imagine being watched in a jungle full of hungry animals." He glanced at Vader. "You mean by something more substantial than a beast, though." He peered out into the woods. "Do you have an inkling if what it might be?"

"Something more intelligent. It feels to me like a sentient being." He looked directly towards where he felt the eyes watching. Nothing could be seen, but it was there still.