A pair of massive, ancient doors loom at the entrance to the throne room. Upon opening, they give way to a large chamber with a high ceiling carved smoothly into stone. The chamber itself is the size of a professional holo-ball court but the hard-tile flooring has been sand-blasted to perfection and patterned symmetrically throughout. Tall, rounded pillars frame a center dais that forms an elevator platform. Perfectly centered on the low platform is the heart of Clan Arcona's power--the Serpentine Throne. The ornate throne stands several feet above the head of even the tallest Shadow Lords. The dais is back lit by an ever glowing wall of flame that attunes itself to the order-color of the current Consul. A sable carpet trimmed with white lays down over the shallow steps and continues all the way towards the entrance doors.
The Throne Room is completely sound-proofed, and almost feels like entering a vacuum. Voices carry easily, but never leave the chamber. A combination of alchemy and engineering allow the room to be shut off from the rest of the Citadel while maintaining proper ventilation for the unique curtain of flame. It maintains a steady room temperature, ignorant to the climate outside and throughout the Citadel's ancient walls.

Riverche's footsteps echoed through the brightly lit passageways of the Citadel as she mindlessly roamed lost in thought. The recent events played over and over in her mind. Those, who she had called allies and friends, were now fighting each other over perceived mistakes of the past. She, on the other hand, didn't care who was right or wrong. She wanted to resolve the fighting and to review the issue in order to not repeat it in the future.

The storm of thoughts cleared away at the sense of the doors to the Citadel's Throne Room left ajar. Late at night and no one was scheduled to be in there. The doors were, usually, kept shut and sealed when not in use. When in use, they were closed also. Intrigued by the sudden break in protocol, Riverche slowly pushed the door open far enough to slip into the giant empty room. The door slid out of her hand and slammed into position. She instinctively scanned the room for any life before allowing a single “Hello!” echo through the room.

From behind a pillar, a single blast flew past her hitting the massive door. “Traitor!” Andrelious loudly replied.

“We can discuss this. No need to resort to violence.” Riverche slowly walked towards the nearest pillar not in use.

He partially rounded his pillar revealing his position. “You're a traitor. Nothing to discuss.” He answered pointing his blaster in her direction.

A smirk crossed River's face as she continued to slowly make her way to a pillar of her own, and started to inform him “No need for weapons. As you -”

“Stop! I know that trick and it will not work.” The Warlord yelled at her. “And I know you're not unarmed.”

“Correct!” She answered by revealing a previously hidden blaster of her own. Ducking behind the pillar, she fired a series of shoots aimed in his general direction.

She patiently waited as the giant pillar received a volley of bolts before rolling a single metal ball at his feet. The flash of light blanketed the room as she ran to another hiding spot.

Keeping track of his position, Riverche willed the Force to aid her. She could hear him strategically searching the room. “Come out and fight!” escaped his lips more then once.

Inahj continued the search for his fellow Soulfire member. The pair had served on a number of missions together and had begun to develop a friendship, with Riverche even attending the Warlord’s wedding, but now they were in opposition. Andrelious had been particularly hurt by the fact that the Priestess had chosen to throw her lot in with Cethgus and Valtiere, but he was still beginning to regret outright describing her as a ‘traitor’. The ex-Imperial had generally been offering clemency to those he had come up against since the dispute heated up, but still had the blood of many former comrades on his hands.

Riverche kept tabs on Andrelious, flitting between pillars, keeping moving and making sure she was always well ahead of the Rollmaster. She gripped her SSK-7, occasionally taking a pot-shot in the direction of her opponent. Inahj reflected the well-aimed shots away with the blade of his lightsaber, happy to keep the fight going on as long as was necessary.

Focusing on the female’s present location, Andrelious increased the pace of his approaches a little. The Priestess fired a few more shots in the direction of the ex-Imperial, but again found them parried away by the Sith’s expertly steered blade.

Get moving! the Miraluka thought, shooting at Inahj one final time before turning to move away. Andrelious, after dissipating the blaster bolt, extended his left arm out. Riverche felt the Force tugging at the hand that clutched her weapon. As the pulling intensified, the Krath found it a little difficult to continue her movement away from the Rollmaster. Releasing her grip on her blaster, the pulling sensation disappeared, but so did her blaster. The SSK-7 zipped through the air, its flight eventually stopped by the Warlord’s outstretched hand. Catching the weapon, Andrelious took a quick look at it, before tossing it to the ground. A quick slash with his lightsaber later and the blaster was rendered useless.

“You should really stick to comlinks and earpieces.” Inahj hissed as he regained his tracking on his opponent.

Soulfire’s comms specialist ducked behind the Serpentine Throne itself, hoping that any residual aura of Marick and the previous Shadow Lords would keep her hidden.

Andrelious smiled to himself as he moved into position as if he were addressing the Consul. He made sure to approach in such a way to cut off Riverche’s potential escape routes, whilst ensuring he was ready for any counter-attack.

As her opponent moved closer, the Krath, realising her options were rapidly reducing in number, grabbed the second of her flash grenades. Throwing it in the direction of the Warlord, she walked towards Andrelious, timing her movement carefully.

Inahj noticed the tactical device at the last moment, closing his eyes tightly shut. Opening them moments later, he was presented with the sight of Riverche, armed with her lightsaber, ready to pounce.

Clever girl. Andrelious mused, moving his own crimson bladed weapon to block the initial attack. With a shower of sparks, the two lightsabers collided in mid-air. The duel was on.

Sparks burned small scars into the pristine carpet, and the sound of the clashes echoed through the room as the two, who had once been friends, dueled on the steps in front of the Throne. Andrelious proceeded to guide his opponent down the steps while he continued to block her escape routes. On the last step, she could hear the crackling of electricity in the room.

She raised her lightsaber to block his saber as a sea of light arced over her. Raising a knee swiftly, and sharply, she connected with his upper inner thigh breaking his concentration. His lightsaber deactivated upon hitting the floor. With the base of her saber, Riverche bloodied his nose.

With one hand, he wiped the stream of blood from his nose. The other hand retrieved his other saber from his belt. It came to life as Riverche's blade feebly sliced through the air in an attempt to harm the Warlord. The two blades collided in mid swing. Andrelious jumped back as River made another attempt to kick him. A fury of sparks lit the steps of the Throne as Andrelious fought the Miraluka in front of them.

Riverche continued to engage him as she slowly moved backwards toward the entrance of the room. The feel of stone on her back gave her the courage to strike one last time. Opening the door, she let go of her saber with her left hand. Stretching the free hand forward, a stream of lightning filled the space between the Warlord and the Miraluka.

Slipping through the opened door, Riverche left the blinded Warlord alone in the room. In the hallway outside of the Throne room, Riverche sealed the doors before she fried the circuits controlling the locks with her lightsaber.

To the untrained eye, what was happening would have appeared as if it were a training exercise. Indeed, often had Andrelious offered to spar with the Miraluka in an attempt to help her increase her skill with a lightsaber. The Priestess had never once taken the Sith up on his suggestion, but as he tested her defences with blows of increasingly complexity, she began to wish she had spent more time practicing with her weapon. Inahj, on the other hand, continued to demonstrate why practice was important. His crimson blade twisted and turned in the air, forcing more and more desperate defensive moves from the floundering Miraluka.

The intense strain of combat was beginning to take its toll on Riverche. She was not a particularly fit individual, and this began to show. Andrelious, as her Soulfire colleague, was fully aware of his opponent’s weakness, and continued to press on with his relentless attacks. The Krath’s breathing became faster and faster, as the sweat from trying so hard began to pour down her forehead. As she tried to swing her lightsaber to counter-attack, Riverche felt as if she had slammed into a durasteel wall. Her legs threatened to give way as her body’s energy reserves ran dry.

Sensing his opponent flagging, Inahj forced a saber lock. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he forced his way closer and closer, the two lightsabers crackling as they approached the Miraluka’s chest. As the Priestess’ own blade came close to wounding her, Andrelious suddenly pulled out of the lock, as if he had changed his mind. Snarling, the Warlord aimed a kick at his enemy’s chest. The exhausted Riverche was completely caught out by the move and stumbled backwards. A cold feeling along her back told her that she was now pinned against one of the pillars.

Desperation began to creep into the Miraluka’s mind. With the last tiny spark of fight left inside her, Riverche balled her left hand into a fist, punching in the direction of the ex-Imperial. Andrelious was moving in, smiling smugly, and only spotted the effort at the last possible moment. Ducking as best he could, the Warlord was struck on the side of his head, dazing him for a few moments.

“Feisty. Now I see why Kooki likes you so much,” the Arconan Rollmaster stated, impressed rather than annoyed at what his opponent had done. Riverche tried to catch her breath a little as Andrelious regained his barings, managing to pull herself up to her feet. Arcing his lightsaber around in the air, Inahj was able to swiftly re-focus on his opponent, determined to defeat her and raise his prestige in the eyes of the Arconae faction.

Forcing a second lightsaber lock, Andrelious unwrapped one hand from his silver hilt, and grabbed at his Soulfire colleague’s wrist. Squeezing hard, the Warlord drew a cry of agony from Riverche as he crushed the bone.

The female, overcome with pain and tiredness, released the grip on her lightsaber. Sensing that Andrelious was still stood next to her, with his own weapon still very much in his hands, Riverche feared the worst.

“I think we’re done, River. I’m no longer in the business of killing friends. I’ve fought beside you so many times. That’s why I’m prepared to show lenience. Surrender, right now, and I’ll guarantee you a fair trial. I’ll even vouch for you.” Inahj declared, keeping his lightsaber ready. His stance again cut any possible escapes off, whilst also stopping Riverche from retrieving her own lightsaber.

The defeated Krath nodded, choosing to say nothing. Her chance to speak would come when the Arconae began their inquisition.