The Lords of Malicious

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Do'Rak's eyes snapped open and he let out a gasp as he looked around the room. He was slightly confused for a mere second before remembering he was an acolyte on Korriban. As the acolyte sat up from his bed and looked around at his spartan room, he tried to savor the thoughts of his past still fresh on his mind. He was having the same reoccurring nightmare for a week. It was of the friend Do'Rak was forced to kill before he became a Sith. The memory made him angry and fueled his hatred. He tried his hardest to feel it again so much that he could taste it. Getting out of bed he yawned a snarl before moving to his grey boots. It had been thirteen years since he had joined the Sith, and he felt far stronger than he had ever been. Do'Rak was still not truly Sith quite yet, just an acolyte, but his time would come and he knew it. Still, the wait was definitely getting to him, and he had recently just quelled a fiasco with his imperial record a little while ago.

Do'Rak stepped outside of his room to the rest of the academy. The appearance left a sense of dread and doom as Sith often liked to inspire. Outside there were others, like him but different, speaking with each other, plotting and conspiring. Do'Rak was slightly sickened as he looked around at his peers, none of them could make it on their own. However, Do'Rak was certain that he of all of them could, but then remembered that was exactly what each and everyone of his colleagues thought. With that brief moment of reflection, Do'Rak moved to find something to eat. Meanwhile, the three acolytes in the corner stared him down from afar.

"To be honest, he doesn't look like much, why don't we kill him here," the thick and brown haired Astor asked quietly to others.

"He hasn't been told of the set up yet, and killing him now might anger our teacher," the slightly smaller Malic immediately retorted.

"Plus, he has been here five years longer than any of us. He was a kid when he came," Ares fearfully spoke to her two male companions.

Astor, Malic, and Ares were a frightful group of Acolytes. Interestingly, they had all arrived around the same time as each other and formed a unique bond. Astor was the muscle of the group, and he was strong enough to lead, but too unintelligent to actually pull through. Malic was the most skilled of the group, showing aptitude in areas where both of his companions failed. Ares, being clearly the smartest and wisest, was the brains of the group and a beautiful Zabrak woman a that, and only alien versus her human friends. However, Ares was too fearful and cautious to do anything but plan. Together they made a fearsome team known as the Lords of Malicious. The three had only crossed paths with Do'Rak once before in which the more experienced acolyte insulted all three of them and their chosen team moniker. Ever since then, the lords hated Do'Rak and steadily tried to find ways to kill him. In the meanwhile they slowly managed to kill their most experienced peers one by one through their own teamwork. Today was the day they finally had their chance to kill their dreadlocked enemy, Do'Rak.

"So how long we gotta wait, Malic," Astor questioned his leader with his eagerness for blood.

"Astor, that wiry-haired Korun will be dead soon enough," explained Ares in Malic's place, "He's managed to anger one of the Sith Masters, and they are giving us the chance to prove ourselves by killing him."

"And then we will become... Sith," Malic chimed in and grinned maliciously, "The three of us will eventually be known as the Sith Lords of Malicious. Come on, let's get ready before we head to the tomb Ajunta Pall."

Do'Rak sat down and ate his processed food. It tasted absolutely awful, but the Korun was too preoccupied to notice. His thoughts turned to his murdered friend Dally, whom he killed with his own hands. It filled him with emotion and sadness to think about. And though his hatred at the imperials festered as he relived the feel, his thankfulness for Dally grew as well. If it was not for Dally's death, Do'Rak would never have come even close to becoming a Sith. At that moment he was approached by someone, a Sith Master.

"Acolyte," the Sith called before Do'Rak hesitantly looked up, "You are needed."

Do'Rak raised his eyebrow in response, "Doesn't that seem to be the joke of the day."

"I believe you are familiar with the Lords of Malicious correct," the Sith Master asked Do'Rak with a certain tone of disgust in his voice.

"That band of stupid acolytes thinking they can become Sith together? Yes."

"You are going to kill them."

"Well, it had crossed my mind once or twice, but I didn't have anything planned."

"I have misled them into believe that you are to retrieve a relic, and they are to try and stop you."

"Oh I see where this is going..."

"There is no relic. They think they are meant to kill you in the tomb of Ajunta Pall to become Sith, but truly, you are meant to kill them."

"Not that I don't appreciate the carefully thought out humiliation and betrayal, but why do you intend for me to kill them."

"Recently, the three of them have been teaming up and killing the more experienced acolytes by outnumbering them. They think that if they do so, they will all become Sith. They fancy themselves lords as well. Their insults are more than any of us can stand. You are to murder each of them in the tomb."

"I see... what's in it for me."

"We will see about your reward when you return. Now go... if you fail, you will be forgotten."

"Yes, I know the drill," Do'Rak stood up from the table where his processed food sat, and bid the Sith Master a nod of appreciation.

Sith Master grinned in satisfaction as the young Acolyte walked away. Do'Rak already had everything he needed to begin with. He had little in the way of possessions. He hardly remembered the Lords as he only encountered them once or twice before. All he remembered was telling them their ways would not make them Sith; it would only make them weak. As Do'Rak thought of their trespasses, he grew angrier and tried to feed off of that on the way to Ajunta Pall.

The sands of Korriban and the hot barren terrain were dull. Many of the Sith claimed this planet to be a testament to the greatness of the Sith. However, Do'Rak only saw them as tombs of the dead, useless. The only thing left in them were a few artifacts, some dead people, and nothing more. Fitting that the tombs of the ancient Sith Lords would be the end of the Lords of Malicious. Do'Rak looked at the entrance of Ajunta Pall upon his arrival for a moment before walking in.

Dusty and dank, thought Do'Rak as he walked through the tomb.

There were ruined structures, broken and dust walls, and dried out tu'kata droppings everywhere. Do'Rak paused as he looked at a fresh tu'kata dropping nearby, larger than he typically sees them. The dark skinned acolyte lowered his brow steadily. He could sense a presence more animal than anything nearby with the stench of the dark side. Do'Rak drew his vibroblade as a precaution and slowed his steps down. As the young acolyte walked he could just hear the growls and barking of the tu'kata and Do'Rak's brow began to sweat. Up ahead however were the three acolyte lords waiting in ambush. They clearly felt ready to take on their more experienced peer as group as they had before. However, they were starting to have their doubts about the plan.

"So wait do we just leave the relic here," questioned Ares to Malic.

"We were told to kill Do'Rak," states Malic in a slightly annoyed tone, "The relic should be secondary."

"What about that big tu'kata in here," the large Astor noted, "We gotta go through them to get it!"

"I managed to get the tu'kata going towards the exit with a bait. Maybe they will kill Do'Rak," Ares turned from Astor to Malic as she told her plan.

"Good job, Ares," Malic complimented much to Ares' delight.

Do'Rak drew his vibroblade as he felt the presence he sensed early come towards him. Slowly into the light came a large mutant tu'kata. Perhaps this dog was a pack leader or an experiment gone wrong. Either way, Do'Rak had a fight on his hands with a vicious monster. The tu'kata was easily twice as large as Do'Rak, who was by no means small. Its black, matted hair was twisted and gnarly, like a beastly reflection of Do'Rak in a way. The beast snarled at the acolyte as it got closer and the only thing standing between him was a vibroblade. The tu'kata leaped at Do'Rak with a might lunge forcing him to scramble to the left. The jumping beast managed to leap too far past its target and gave its foe a clear view of its back. Do'Rak cut into it with as much force as he could causing the beast to howl. Suddenly, it turned and swiped at his ribs. Barely dodging, the claw glazed Do'Rak and even drew blood. The Korun stumble back a bit before regaining his footing as he stared down the tu'kata.

Both were drawing upon the dark side in this fight as the intensity of their eyes upon each other could tell. Both reaching the tipping point of their anger, they rushed at each other. Slicing and cutting, they fought. When the tu'kata swiped, Do'Rak moved. When Do'Rak sliced, the tu'kata parried. Eventually the large hairy creature jumped on top of the acolyte attempting to finish him. Unfortunately, Do'Rak dropped his blade as well. The Dark Jedi push it's snout back with all of his upper body as he angrily held it back from it nearly killing him. Drawing upon all of his strength, Do'Rak gave the tu'kata big shove and then a strong right hook as the beast stumbled off of him. Do'Rak leaped to its feet as he managed to stumble the monster for a moment. This time, the Korun was the one lunging onto the beast. With a foot pressing down on the beast's tongue and two hands pulling up on its snout, Do'Rak put all of his anger and rage into his arms. The beast was defenseless as Do'Rak tore its mouth as wide as he could until he heard a large snap, and the tu'kata fell dead.

Do'Rak fell off his large opponent, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. He raggedly laughed as he realized he killed it with his bare hands. There were a huge amount of scrapes and bruises he managed to get from that fight, and Do'Rak was feeling rather proud of himself. He stood up after a good minute of resting and breathing. Walking to his sword, he turned to look at the tu'kata with a wicked grin. With his blade, Do'Rak carved the larges canine he could from its gaping mouth as a reminder. The sharp incisor had to be as long as Do'Rak's index finger. With a war prize in his pocket, Do'Rak continued on his path, hoping the acolytes would not be anywhere near as tough.

"Did you both feel that," Malic called to Astor and Ares, "That was an incredibly strong dark side presence just now."

"That... was powerful," Ares' face became sullen with fear.

"The three of us can fight it though, right," Astor judged with an optimistic view.

"Yes, Astor, we can do anything together," Ares' smiled.

"Including die," a familiar voice mysteriously called to all three acolytes.

All three lords drew blades as they turned towards the direction of the voice. In full view, Do'Rak stood battled damaged. The acolytes all looked on cautiously as they slowly moved closer together. Do'Rak grinned as he walked closer with his three foes looking upon him with the fear of three Twi'lek slaves in front of a giant Rancor.

"You all look like you've seen a ghost," Do'Rak smiled viciously, "It's me, dear friends."

"You die here, Korun," Astor announced.

"It's three against one and now you will fall," Ares called out as Malic looked on from the center of them.

"I take you have already gotten the weapon then," Do'Rak questioned curiously.

"Weapon? What weapon," Malic drew a confused brow.

"The one I was sent in here to get, you fool," Do'Rak spat at the leader, "You should have gotten it already if you were going to defeat me."

"That Sith didn't tell us it was a weapon," Ares whispered to Malic quickly.

"What was that," Do'Rak pretended not to know what they were talking about to amuse himself.

"Stay here and guard him. I'm going to get it," announced Malic, "If he moves, kill him."

Do'Rak lowered his brow in annoyance at the comment.

"Yeah, we got him. Just look at him, he's completely torn up," Astor barked.

"I'll make sure to watch him," Ares reassured Malic.

"I'll be back soon," Malic noted as he turned away and walked further into the tomb.

Do'Rak looked down the way watching for Malic's leave. Astor and Ares got closer, remain more than arms length however. They were going to make sure Do'Rak could not move a muscle. A deliciously evil plan came to mind as he thought it through in his mind. He was going to torture the three of them before he killed them. As he thought of his malicious mind game, a wicked grin came to his face. This smirk did not go unnoticed by his captors.

"What are you smiling about," angrily demanded Astor, "We've got you cornered."

Ares developed an uncomfortable and disturbed look on her face, "W-what are you smiling about?"

"Look at me," Do'Rak raised his arms like the invitation for a hug, "Do I look like I got in here without a fight?" Both Astor and Ares developed a weird look on their faces as their enemy continued on, "I was told that there were two beasts guarding this tomb and the relic I was sent to get. I killed one only by heavily drawing upon the dark side. You all just got past it, didn't you? Where do you think the other one is?" A look of horror dawned on each of the companion acolyte's faces. "That's right," Do'Rak happily barked, "If I had trouble, how do you think your little leader with five years less experience is going to do? I was almost killed."

"No, you're lying. The Sith Master that sent us to kill you never said anything about beasts guarding this place," Ares defiantly yelled back at Do'Rak.

"Is that so? I was sent to die," Do'Rak questioned, playing along as if he was ever in the dark.

"Yeah, and when Malic comes back we kill you," Astor stated as a smile grew on his face.

"Has it occurred to you that the Sith would not send all three of you in here to kill me and retrieve the relic if it was possible for just one of you," Do'Rak smirked at using their own logic against them. "He will die without help, and I will be one less of you worse for the wear."

"My word... he's right Astor," Ares had a horrified look on her face, "Forget Do'Rak, we gotta save Malic!"

"Are you sure about this, Ares," Astor asked her with a confused look on his face. Do'Rak just continued smiling as he waited for the proper outcome.

"Yes, come on, let him go. He's to hurt to do anything. We have to save Malic," Ares was already turning to run after her friend.

"All right, if that's wh- AUGH," Astor was cut off mid turn when a vibroblade penetrated his back straight to his heart.

Do'Rak's plan had worked exactly as he intended. "All brawn and no brains, you were never meant to be Sith," Do'Rak quickly withdrew his thrust as his enemy acolyte fell to the ground; the stab killed him instantly.

"What the-" Ares turned and barely caught a glimpse of her fallen comrade before feeling gripped by a Force.

Do'Rak slammed the acolyte up and down against the cave walls with the wave of his right, grip shaped hand, violently damaging her body, breaking bone. The Korun's Force grip was near absolute as he managed to catch his opponent before she could even react. Her yells and cries were muffled by the strength of the pulling throwing, keeping her lungs winded. After a few more slams of anger and frustration, Do'Rak pulled her back to his feet on her stomach, broken.

"So easy to manipulate, and I believed you were the smartest of you three fools," Do'Rak disgustingly barked.

"As-Astor," Ares was only half conscious with many broken bones and a concussion as she called out for her friend.

"He's over there, dead and useless," Do'Rak pointed with his bloodied sword to the heap on the ground that was once Astor.

"Malic... Malic please help me," tears began to well up in Ares' eyes.

"Oh don't start crying. He's way too far to hear you anyway, and you knew this was to be the consequence for crossing me. Hmm," Do'Rak paused for a second as he felt a feel from the Force, "I sense... affection in your heart for Malic." Ares looked up at Do'Rak with shame and anguish at his words, "That is adorable. No wonder you leaped up to save him after told you some vicious monster story."

"S-story? What are you-" Ares look turned to disbelief.

"I lied... as I have from the very beginning," Do'Rak stated clearly, plainly, and especially coldly, "There was never any monster, I just fought some mutant tu'kata that by graces you three could avoid, probably due to your numbers, but that dog was not the only thing to underestimate the power of a true Sith."

"You're not Sith, and you'll never be Sith," Ares attempted to be strong, "Your days are numbered, that Sith Master sent you here to die, and you will even if it's not us that kills you."

"You still have not put it together," Do'Rak disbelievingly angry now, "You were sent here to die by my hand. I was actively searching these tombs for you, you simpering idiot. That Sith Master told me what she told you, and that I was meant to kill you. There was never any relic. Malic is searching fruitlessly for a lie. I am your executioner, and you are nothing."

Tears streamed down Ares' face, "Why? Why would he do this? He told us we could be Sith if we killed you! We have taken down all of our enemies together!"

"Exactly! Together... none of you had the strength alone to be Sith, and yet you insultingly murdered those more worthy individually than you three," Do'Rak let out a chuckle, "So arrogant did you think all three of you had the strength and cunning to defeat me. You were never meant to be Sith, you were meant to be nothing. Now die." Do'Rak raised his vibroblade above his head in a reverse grip to strike the finishing blow.

"Wait," Ares called with the last of her strength, "Please... let me live. You are Sith and I... am nothing. Just let me go and I will never cross paths with you again, I swear!"

"Show no mercy, and expect none. Die like a Sith," Do'Rak stated an impassioned tone.

"Malic... forgive me," Ares made her last words before Do'Rak's vibroblade stabbed true into the Zabrak girl's back and to her heart.

Do'Rak retracted his blade and took a kneel for a moment as he was beginning to feel a bit tired at the exertion, but the proving of his strength felt amazing, like a drug. Do'Rak stood and walked down the tomb's corridors after the last Acolyte, the Korun's Sword dragging across the ground. The Korun felt little guilt as his actions, if any at all, as he was fully sure of his own moral code: The strong succeed and the weak fail. There was nothing more simple in the entire universe than that theory, and that was what Do'Rak lived by. If he did not kill these three acolytes, they would only bring down the strong with their weakness.

"Where the hell is that relic," Malic called as he frantically tore apart the last room of the tomb of Ajunta Pall.

"Ajunta Pall's sword was looted by some Jedi several thousand years ago," Do'Rak stated tauntingly to Malic.

Malic's eyes widened as he whipped around and fearfully, "How did you-"

"They're dead," Do'Rak cut him off before he could continue, "What did you expect honestly? You three were weak and not ready to challenge me."

"D-dead," Malic's expression turned sorrowful at the prospect.

"Ah yes, so easy to manipulate. Astor was too stupid to do anything but follow Ares' weak lead," Do'Rak smirked viciously, "She held so much affection for you in her heart that she almost leaped at the chance to save you when I said there was a creature waiting to kill you."

"No... you... where is the relic," Malic demanded to know angrily, "What have you done!?"

"Ah! Right... about that," Do'Rak falsely tried to look modest before breaking into a smile, "There is no relic."

"No, there has to be you-"

"Honestly, I don't feel like going through the same explanation I went through when I killed your little puppy," Do'Rak pointed his sword at Malic as he made his point, "The Sith master sent you to die by me. You three were weak, insults to the Sith. There was never a relic."

"I-I left them there to die," Malic's expression of sadness became realization at the prospect.

"Yes, you did," Do'Rak said as a matter of fact, "I killed Astor instantly like the weak fool he was. Your other little pet died whimper for her love, broken and beaten on the ground before me. Yes, she begged, and then she died."

Malic grew angrier as he looked down at himself, his uniform covered in dirt and dust from searching the tomb. His fist were clenching as deeply as the pain that ran through his heart. Malic removed his sword as he slowly turned his head back up to Do'Rak smirking in victory. "I failed them, and now I am alone... but I will kill you... for them," the younger acolyte began charging as he yelled out his last words, "I swear it!"

Do'Rak held his sword steadily as he knew he had already won the mind game. As Malic clashed with Do'Rak, their swords rang out with loud clashes each time. Even though the last of the Lords of Malicious knew he could not hope to win against someone with five years more experience than him, he was still fight as hard as he could. Perhaps the Korun's damaged and slightly worn state gave him confidence, but it did not matter, Do'Rak knew he was to be the victor. Then, something unexpected happen, Do'Rak missed a block and got cut across the stomach, almost deep enough be serious. He was almost taken down at that moment, and the wound was actually slowing him down as Malic continued his assault. Malic had fully given himself to the dark side as he unleashed his rage. Do'Rak backed against the wall to support himself more as he attempted to defend against the onslaught. However, the younger acolyte slipped when he gave his dark skinned opponent the opportunity to parry him. Do'Rak countered by slicing his stomach across, spinning around, and cutting his right left from behind. Malic let out a wicked loud yell as he fell to one knee, but still turned to swing. With one batter, the Korun knocked the sword from his peer's hand. Do'Rak looked down at Malic now actually beaten and defenseless.

"You almost had me for a second there," Do'Rak jokingly stated something serious, "But releasing yourself to the dark side is not enough to defeat the more experienced and true Sith."

"Then kill me," Malic said sourly, "That is what you were meant to do. You took everything from me, just finish it."

"Spoken like a true Sith," Do'Rak raised his sword as Malic looked up at him with a mixture of hatred and shame.

"You always be a slave," were the last words the beaten acolyte could managed before Do'Rak's sword cut him down in one quick slash.

As it was finally over, Do'Rak fell to one knee, supporting himself on his sword. He let the anger in his heart waver against his opponent's fury. That battle was harder than it needed to be, and Do'Rak should have let the dark side fill him more than he did. The battle was over however, and he could only breathe in content that he had won a victory that put him one step closer to his destiny.

Later on, after the limp back to the academy, Do'Rak was met by the by none other than the Sith Master that gave him his mission. Do'Rak stopped and looked up at him as he removed his hood to reveal that he was a she. The Sith Master was a beautiful woman with long brunette hair, yellowed eyes, and several red Sith tattoos on her face.

"Honestly, I didn't see that one coming," Do'Rak said with a slight sincerity in his voice.

"It is not often that I allow the acolytes to see my true face," states the Sith in a happy mood.

"Is it even rarer I'm guessing that you give them your name?"

"Yes, acolyte, it is. However, that is for another time, now is the matter of your reward."

Do'Rak raised both eyebrows in surprise, "That's interesting, I was expecting absolutely nothing for this... experience."

"I decided you deserved a little welcoming gift to the Sith. I know one day you will be the unstoppable Force your master sends into battle."

"Flirtation will get you no where, my lord," Do'Rak smiled coyly.

The Sith Master joined in on the smile, "Rest in your room, acolyte. I am sure you will like the surprise I left."

"I'm sure I will after I lick these... scrapes a few times," Do'Rak noted with his eyes the slash that almost seriously wounded his stomach.

"Perhaps this gift will keep you from getting so damaged next time," the Sith Lord said halfheartedly as she walked away while Do'Rak raised his eye brow at the comment.

Upon return to his room, Do'Rak's face turned to shock and joy as he looked at what was now placed in his room. There was an armor set fit for a Sith. It was a mostly black and heavy armor set. There were metal plates all across it with a holocommunicator on its left arm. The armor was glorious Do'Rak could barely contain the unbridled joy and pride in his heart until he moved to sit on his bed. On his pillow was the glorious metal hilt of a lightsaber. Throwing his sword down against the wall of his room, he held the lightsaber up and pointed it to the sky as he ignited a beautiful red blade. It was probably running off of a synthetic crystal as well. As he brought it close to his face to look at, he marveled at its beauty. It was a squared design and very heavy. The blade was also very wide and an effective length to match his style of choice. Do'Rak felt all the weight in the hilt, but it did not feel much different from his vibroblade as it was built to simulate this feel. Do'Rak smiled as he did a quick lightsaber katta to relish the moment.

Stopping after a few swings, Do'Rak pridefully and devilishly stated to himself, "Wait 'till they get a load of me."