"Do you possess any knowledge or skills I couldn't find on any of half a dozen other acolytes from Korriban?"

"I, have already begun training beyond that and could beat any of the acolytes fresh from Korriban -" An idea blossoms in his mind. "Let me prove it. You want the strongest apprentice, right? So - let me fight the redhead, and when I win you'll have a stronger apprentice."

"I possess strength in abundance already. What I require in an apprentice is intelligence."

And she is not impressed by what he has displayed thus far. Occlus twists her hand and snaps the boy's neck.

He dies without incident.

Pyron's men are rather relieved to have him out of the holding cell; just because a holding cell's built to hold a sith, doesn't mean it'll do it reliably. This is much tidier. A sith can't escape if they're dead, after all.

Where is her own apprentice?

Getting a crash course in basic tactics from Pyron, actually. He's preparing his forces for battle against the Republic, and explaining patiently as he goes. Nariveth's listening raptly, asking occasional questions about mechanics and the logic of the battlefield.

That's why she kept this one.

Occlus waits for an appropriate pause in the conversation, then says, "Apprentice, might I have a moment of your time?"

She glances up from the tactical holo, and nods.

"Of course, my lord. Thank you, Moff," she says, and she inclines her head to him in respect. Then she goes to follow Occlus.

Occlus goes over to the side of the room.

"In the unlikely event that I lose tomorrow, Thanaton will not let you live. It is traditional for the loser of the Kaggath to be erased from history, and any followers or apprentices killed. I will make arrangements for Khem Val's bond to be passed to you upon my death. He will see you safely to my ship, and the others will escape with you. Afterwards, you may continue with them or not as you choose, but you would be wise to disappear."

Nariveth swallows, and nods.

"Do you have an estimation on how hard he'd look for me?"

"You have not been with me very long, so he will probably not exert undue effort. If you change your name and avoid Sith, that should be enough. The pirate has experience that will be helpful."

Great, wonderful, if Occlus dies she'll actually be set up to be far far away from all of this sith business. In a complicated way, it's basically exactly what she wants, except it very distinctly isn't because that would mean Occlus would be dead and why is this thought affecting her so much, what?

"I," she begins, emotion suddenly in her voice, and she looks down and clears her throat. "Believe you will be fine, my lord."

"As do I. But these are easy precations to take, and you should be aware of them. Now, unless you have something else you wish to ask me, that will be all."

Nariveth spends a few seconds wondering if it's appropriate to hug a sith lord or not.

"Um, no. Thank you."

Occlus goes off and closets herself with Khem Val for a while, to make the bond-transfer arrangements. When she emerges, she obtains a meal and eats it, then utilizes the meditation chamber, recovering and gathering her strength for the next day's duel. This trance also satisfies her need for sleep, so she stays there until the morning.

No one disturbs her while she meditates.

Pyron has transport ready for her, though. When she needs it.

And Nariveth brings her breakfast.

How thoughful of her apprentice. Occlus will eat on the way to Government Plaza.

The Government Plaza is filled with a surprising number of people, for a place that's in the middle of a warzone. Sith, and their escorts, here to watch the apparent show.

They part for Occlus, and there stands Thanaton. He's calmer, now, with a grim determination winning out over frothing rage, but the rage is definitely present.

"Occlus. So kind of you to join us, I almost thought you weren't coming."

You'd think a Darth would have his emotions locked down better. Occlus herself presents icy confidence to all observers. Beneath that, anticipation.

"Darth Thanaton. You know I prefer to make an entrance. If you are so concerned about your schedule, you should have specified a time in your challenge."

"A proper sith leaves his enemy with no time to prepare," lectures Thanaton. "I would have taught you this, if you'd followed proper procedure after your master's 'tragic' end."

"Then you should have come to me, shouldn't you? Or did you need the night to grieve your losses?"

"I," he clarifies, haughtily, "was busy winning a battle for the Empire."

"Too busy to protect your apprentices and your base? Half measures count for nothing in the Kaggath."

Snarl. "We'll see how halved my measures are when I rip you in half."

Oh look, a big red 'this pisses me off' button. That's nice for Occlus to know about.