The Training of Darex Callat

[Vilado]

Darex had spent that day pondering. He knew he was right. That oaf that fumbled into the training room had practically shouted the Sith Code at him and his two co-conspirators. Of course he knew the code, who didn't. The way the idiot had said it had been intriguing to say the least."Through victory and victory alone can your chains be broken, and the Emperor's way is the way that leads to power."

He was following the Emperor's way! Had the Emperor not slain his last master to gain control over the Galaxy? That was what he and his fellow acolytes had been planning, an alliance to make their way though the ranks. A way to have even a chance for the title of Emperor! He still didn't know if they would have gone for it,but just the very thought of having his own two personal assassins excited him!

He walked from the training room into his quarters where his deactivated protocol droid sat. He had programmed it with knowledge of the Sith Code and it was programmed to honor it. No matter the cost. He flipped the droid on as he entered his small, dimly lite room. His bed was archaic, but he would not spend that much time in it. Other then that it contained a small chest and nothing else.

"TC-35 recite the Sith code."

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me."

"Good, how do you feel today?"

"Oh just great master! Sitting in your ancient bedroom for hours at a time is like a dream come true!" He snickered at the droid's remarks, he had successfully reprogrammed it! He walked over to his bed when he happened to see a note. He snatched it and it ripped it open. Meet in the library. This is most likely a trap he though to himself, next move? Spring the trap.

He was in the library, he had borrowed a vibroblade from the training room and he was sneaking up and down the corridors searching for the tell tale signs of an ambush. Nothing so far. He walked over to a nearby table and sat with a book of Sith History. If this person wanted to meet him they would come, otherwise he would head back to his room.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren commanded attention at the Sith Academy on Korriban. She was a female Lethan Twi'lek with Sith tattoos covering her body. Her clothing was...skimpy to say the least. She wore a black, armor-like covering over her chest, black gauntlets that went past her elbows, a skimpy black skirt attached to a similar color belt, and black boots that reached past her knees. She had been head of the Korriban Academy for as long as the Sith had been in power.

It was she that had sent the not to the young Acolyte, and she alone would teach him the ways of the Sith. She strode into the library, her lightsaber swaying on her waist with each step, until she was at the table where the young acolyte sat.

"I am Darth Vuren, and I assume that you are Darex. If you are here, that means you wish to become a real Sith. Right now, you are no such thing. You are weak. An acolyte. But I can make you stronger. Is that what you desire, young Darex?" Vuren asked in a icy tone.

 

[Vilado]

Darex stood. The woman was...beautiful to say the least. Power emanated from her! He could not yet sense Force presences, but hers would undoubtedly be full of rage, strength and darkness. He tried hard not to let his eyes wander, he just couldn't resist. She was a perfect Twi'lek specimen, is she was to be his master then he was very lucky!

"More then anything, my Lord." He remembered the fool of an oaf who had ripped apart his chances at an alliance. "I want to destroy my enemies, I want to command power and respect!" He mad a fist and stared off into the distance imagining crushing his foe's insides with the Force.

Although his ego took a major blow, he knelt. "I swear to you, Darth Vuren. I will do everything in my power to advance through the Sith hierachrcy. Anything." He looked up and grinned his trademark grin as he placed emphasis on anything.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren grinned, "Anything, huh? We'll see about that. Follow me." she barked.

The Twi'lek Sith Lord led Darex down the hall to a nearby room. The room was lined with holding cells, some empty, some with live prisoners, others with not so living prisoners. Using the Force, the Twi'lek pried open one of the cells.

"Come out!" she commanded, angrily.

Slowly, a woman in her mid-twenties, wearing nothing but a rags over her body for clothing, came limping out of the cage. She was clearly afraid. Her body shook violently with fear.

"The first thing you must learn about the Sith is that, unlike the Jedi, the Sith are willing to make sacrifices. Sometimes, even the innocent must be sacrificed for society to move on. A Sith who knows no sacrifice isn't a Sith at all." she explained.

With the Force, she ripped the lightsaber off one of the nearby guard's belt; calling it directly into her palm. She then tossed the weapon to Darex.

"We Sith don't believe in training with 'training lightsabers' like the Jedi. We grow through conflict and the ever present reality of death. That weapon is the real deal. If you intend to become a true Sith, you must learn sacrifice. Kill this woman with all of your emotion. If you do this, I will accept you as my apprentice."

The woman in rags screamed in terror, "No, no! Please, my Lord! I beg of you to show me mercy!" she pleaded.

"Mercy is for the weak!" Lord Vuren spat back. "Make your choice, Darex."

 

[Vilado]

Darex grinned at the woman. This one wasn't flirtasious though. It was full of malice. He thumbed the activation switch on the saber and the red blade that erupted from it sent shivers down his spine.

"No problem at all." He walked towards the woman she was on her knees now, begging for her life. How disgusting. She does not deserve to live. He raised his blade and the woman began to shake even more than she had before. He brought the blade down cutting a diagonal across her chest. She screamed just before the blade hit and the sound excited Darex! Her body fell to the floor, the wound cauterized from the heat of the blade.

"She is no more, master." He turned to her, his saber still ignited.The constant hum was comforting, although this saber was built for someone far larger. The color amazed him, he held it up and stared into the deep blood red blade. "I want one." He said quietly, almost to himself.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren nodded approvingly as the woman was killed in cold blood. Then her apprentice said something about wanting his own lightsaber. She chuckled. Using the Force, Vuren ripped the saber from his hand, deactivating it in the process and handing it back to its owner.

"You'll have to earn that weapon. Now, come with me." she demanded.

This time, she led him to the roof of the academy itself. Once in her place, she tossed him a more generic lightsaber that was kept on a rack of similar lightsabers nearby their training area.

"Keep that with you. It is a lightsaber, but not your lightsaber. When I deem you worthy, you will craft your own. Until then, that is to be the lightsaber you use in training. Now then, tell me what you know of the Force and what you can do with it." she said.

 

[Vilado]

Darex felt a pang of anger as the hilt was forcefully ripped from his hand. He almost acted on the emotion ,when he realized who had taken it from him. He looked at the floor his furty raging.

"You'll have to earn that weapon. Now, come with me."

Darex nodded and followed the Twi'lek up to the roof. The night sky made the planet seem even darker then he knew it was. Korriban had housed generations of Sith Lords. He had discovered in his quest for knowledge that it had been the original birthplace of the Sith Order. The planet was practically red, just like the ancient race who had once inhabited it. They had been named Sith and the name was passed onto their Force wielding masters.

Darex cast a glance around the roof to see a rack of lightsabers. He wanted one, he would have one. He was a determined man, what he wanted he got. Even if it took him years, he would have a lightsaber to call his own.Other then the entrance they had come in through and the rack he saw nothing. This might have been because of the darkness of the night obscuring his vision.

"Keep that with you. It is a lightsaber, but not your lightsaber. When I deem you worthy, you will craft your own. Until then, that is to be the lightsaber you use in training. Now then, tell me what you know of the Force and what you can do with it."

Darex caught the saber and this time it was smaller, not the perfect fit he yearned for though. It was still better than the first and he could imagine himself even becoming used to it. Her statment about one day obtaining his own lightsaber made him grip the hilt even harder. He began to ponder her question, the Force.

"I know only what the Galaxy knows, my Lord. It is a mystical energy field created by living beings. The Jedi use it's power to protect while we Sith use it to destroy.It has a light side, which the foolish Jedi drawn on, and a dark side, which we Sith enslave to our will. It can do marvelous and great things, such as suck the life force from an enemy. Or crush an opponent's throat." He was finally able to use the knowledge he had acquired throughout his years of study! He was brimming with pride that he knew so much ,she was probably amazed at the extent of his research!

"My own personal experience with the Force is minimal. I have always felt it, but have been unable to tap it's power. I have shifted things with concentration and been able to predict an opponent's actions but otherwise I do not believe I have used it much. Although maybe I do use it more than I know. I am a trained gymnast and throughout my life I have felt I have advanced far past my peers. When they were learning somersaults I was doing back flips. When they ran a five mile run I ran a ten mile run. Is that the Force,master? Have I been secretly drawing on it the entire time without noticing?"

He was voicing his own thoughts, that was a mistake he would not make again. He did not want her to be at his level of deduction. He usually figured something out himself then relayed the information once it was of no use to him. That way he had the power, knowledge was a great and terrible power in the right hands. He did not want to share power.

The thoughts were true though, he had never been able to explain his advantages over his competitors. Why he was able to flip higher and faster then any he knew. Why he could run faster, and longer then any of his fellow trainees. Maybe his master could provide insight in the matter.

 

[Malon]

Vuren listened to her apprentice's explanations before speaking, "It certainly does not make you a master of the Force. A master of the Force can make it do whatever it is he or she wants with just their will. However, I can give you access to its power. I will teach you to tap into it." she resolved.

"Now, quiet yourself. Close your eyes and let darkness consume you. Open your mind to the darkness. You should hear it. See it. A small light is where none should be. This is not the light side. No, this light is the Force yet to be tapped on by you. With your mind, reach out to that light and let it consume you. Let it fill you with your emotions. Anger, fear, hatred, disdain, pain, all of them. Let them fill you up. Now you should hear it. A melody you never heard before.

"This is the Force, my young apprentice. Embrace it. Allow it to fill you up. Feel its currents and know that they are your's to command. This is your first taste of the dark side. When you have done so, tell me." Vuren preached.

 

[Vilado]

"It certainly does not make you a master of the Force. A master of the Force can make it do whatever it is he or she wants with just their will. However, I can give you access to its power. I will teach you to tap into it."

Darex imagined himself ripping a repulbic cruiser from space. A master of the Force can make it do whatever it is he or she wants with just their will. He imagined himself ripping his parent's mining colony to shreds with gestures.

"Now, quiet yourself. Close your eyes and let darkness consume you. Open your mind to the darkness. You should hear it. See it."

Darex did as she commanded he closed his eyes and let the darkness that surrounded him to penetrate his soul. He opened his mind up to it, letting the darkness of Koribann fill him. He could hear it and finally he could see it.

"A small light is where none should be. This is not the light side. No, this light is the Force yet to be tapped on by you. With your mind, reach out to that light and let it consume you. Let it fill you with your emotions."

He did see the light in the void. It was distant, when he tried to reach for it he encountered a...wall? It was as if the power of untold legends lied just behind it. He could see light swell and twirl behind the glass. He attempted to break through, only succeeding in making a crack.He bashed against it again and again. Each time he got closer and closer....Then. CRACK! The light sweleld forth washing his mind in it's power. It was too much, he couldn't handle it! He began to panic but his body would not respond.

"Anger."

I will not die here! I will survive!

"Fear."

What if it overpowers me? What if I fail to control this great.. Force!

"Hatred."

No! I will control this power, I will control it and use it to destroy all who challenge me! ARGHH!!

"Disdain."

Those whelps in the training room had no idea of my power! They mocked me, they rejected me! I will become stronger then any of them! They are insignifigant flies to my vast power!"

"Pain."

So beautiful. She was so beautiful, the only woman to ever reject me. The only woman to ever wound me. Andraste."

"All of them. Let them fill you up."

He let all of these feelings run wild within him, filling him with their destructive influences. He began to rise above the sea of power, the Force. He saw the emotions running rampant and he commanded them to stop. He was in control of his mind. No other. They obeyed and the grey storm of emotion became a black ocean of darkness as they receded beneath the waves. It became still and the power stood and awaited for him to command it.



" Now you should hear it. A melody you never heard before."

He heard it, the ocean and emotions calling his name. Begging to be freed from their chains. He sighed in ecstasy at the feeling. He wanted nothing but to oblige, to let them become that great storm and to direct the storm at whatever he willed.

"This is the Force, my young apprentice. Embrace it. Allow it to fill you up. Feel its currents and know that they are your's to command. This is your first taste of the dark side."

He submerged himself into the vast ocean where underneath the great fury of his emotions still gave him power! He felt this power, he felt the currents of the Force shift and change in the furious whirlpool that was his mind. He felt it all. He wanted nothing more than to sit and bask in the glory and fury of the dark side!

"When you have done so, tell me."

Still submerged in the power, he allowed the dark side to leak into his voice. "I feel it, master." His voice was deeper, darker. He was changed, no longer was he the Darex the boy. Playful and calculating. He was now Darex the man. Sinister and destructive. He stood from his position and noticed his legs hurt, in fact his whole body hurt. He took in the pain like never before, he felt the great sea of his power respond and grow with his pain.

He opened his now yellow eyes, taking in his master's body in a new light. "I am yours to command. Master." He growled, almost unable to control the lust that rose within him. He stared her down like a ravenous beast, his emotions were now amplified beyond reasoning and it took all of his willpower to resit throwing himself upon her. He had no doubt she would rip him to shreds, this was the only thing that kept him in check. Fear.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren was, at first, pleased. She felt the dark side of the Force awaken in the boy as he followed her instructions. Once it had, though, he looked up her with lust. Ravenous lust. It was something she would not forgive. With a shout of the Force, she called her own lightsaber to her hand, igniting the blood shine blade and rushing forward with fury.

"Defend yourself!" she barked as she attacked, "Prove to me you can use the Force, and that weapon I gave you. If you cannot, you will die here and now!"

With that, she struck, lashing out at him and swinging her saber in a motion that would allow her to bifurcate him.

 

[Vilado]

"Defend yourself! Prove to me you can use the Force, and that weapon I gave you. If you cannot, you will die here and now!"

Darex was surprised by her outburst, but his surprise was quickly replaced by anger. He was unaccustomed to fighting with the Force. It whispered in his ear, where she would strike. Now it told him that she was going to lash out, but it did not tell him how. So he just did the best thing he could. He jumped backwards, he was still drawing on the Force so the leap was greater then he had anticipated. He flew halfway across the roof and landed shakily. He stared down at his hands, excited with the power he knew he now had.

He grabbed his saber from his belt and ignited the maroon blade. He was already forming a battle strategy. She is stronger with the blade and the Force. But is she as fast as me? Time to find out. He ran towards his master, again drawing on the Force for power. It augmented his already formidable speed to a blur of motion. He ran past her, just out of reach of her blade. Fast strikes, I can never stay too close or she will end it.

He sped by again this time lashing out with his blade, he missed horribly but before she could react he was already gone. He ran by again trying the same maneuver, but just as he came within reach he jumped. This time he used the Force only slightly to increase the distance he flipped. As he vaulted over her he struck out with his blade at her head.

 

[Malon]

All too easy. Vuren's apprentice was getting cocky. She could feel that in the currents of the Force. She watched him fail horribly at his first attack, only to speed away and attempt another towards her head. With the fury still burning in her stomach, she spun around, catching his blade on hers.

"Don't get arrogant!" she barked. "You control the dark side, not the other way around. Use your feelings to amplify that power and guide the Force, or you will be destroyed!"

She backpedaled a short distance, held out her free, left hand and unleashed a torrent of Force lightning on her apprentice.

 

[Vilado]

"Don't get arrogant!"

Darex was shocked that she could be mentoring him in the middle of a battle. Am I truly that insignificant? She had blocked his attack and he had landed his flip gracefully with his back facing her.

"You control the dark side, not the other way around. Use your feelings to amplify that power and guide the Force, or you will be destroyed!"

Suddenly within the great ocean of the Force he felt the currents shifting. Behind him she was drawing on the Force in a great amount. He took off running, dodging a blast of Force lighting by a hair. The blast hit the ground where he had been moments before. He looked back to examine the scorch marks and tripped over his own feet. He tumbled forward out of control. He managed to stop himself at the edge of the battlefield. He stood and saw the plunge he had almost taken, and turned to face his master.

"I will survive, master." He stated boldly, he had banished all traces of arrogance from his mind. This was not a gloat, it was a fact.You control the dark side, not the other way around. He closed his eyes and saw that during the battle his emotions had began to run rampant again. It had been controlling him, forcing him to make stupid mistakes.

Use your feelings to amplify that power and guide the Force. He calmed his mind and focused on one emotion. Hate. Or you will be destroyed.He let the emotion run though him, he no longer saw his master as a beautiful mistress that would one day be his. He saw her now as a enemy. She would always be out for him, it was the Sith way after all. She was no friend, only a mentor.

Darex started a sprint towards his master, now a focused monster. His emotions gave him strength but he would not let them rule him. He would control what he felt and when he felt it. Right now he wanted to feel hatred, hatred for the woman in front of him. He reached his master, he used his momentum and threw a two handed overhead strike. Just as the strike was about to clash with her saber he twisted around, bringing the blade around his body towards her side.

 

[Malon]

The Twi'lek Sith Lord was a blur. As a master of the dark side, her speed was twice that of an acolyte using the same technique. Through the Force, she sensed his feign and whipped her lightsaber to her side, blocking the full force of the blow.

"Good. I think you have finally learned something." she said as they locked blades. "Now that you've grasped a key concept of Sith philosophy, its time to move on to the next."

With that, she pushed his blade off of her's and switched hers off, placing it on her belt.

"The Sith code isn't just words to be recited or some religious mantra that is to be followed. If interpreted properly, it can act as the key to unlock your power fully. I will not teach it to you, however. As a Sith, it is your job to gain your own knowledge and your own power. Go. Search the academy. When you have found the proper code, I will be waiting here to hear them." she explained.

 

[Vilado]

"The Sith code isn't just words to be recited or some religious mantra that is to be followed. If interpreted properly, it can act as the key to unlock your power fully. I will not teach it to you, however. As a Sith, it is your job to gain your own knowledge and your own power. Go. Search the academy. When you have found the proper code, I will be waiting here to hear them."

"The Sith code? I know it by heart master. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory.Through victory, my chains are broken.The Force shall free me."

He was staring at his master quizzically, surely she did not mean for him to go and search the academy. For that? Every Sith worth their salt had the Code memorized. Darex had learned it during his first year studying the Sith.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren looked upon him with a disgusted look, sending another shock wave of Force lightning at him as punishment for his failure.

"We do not use the Code of the ancient Sith. We have our own. Perhaps you should've searched our archives or some other part of the academy like I told you. Do not assume you know something because you know of the Sith. A real Sith makes sure he or she has the knowledge she needs before they go spouting their mouths off as if they know the subject matter. Now, go search the academy and find what I told you to find." she barked.

 

[Vilado]

Darex writhed in pain as the lightning coursed through his body. He fell to the ground as the lightning ceased. He could feel the pain, it coursed through his entire being, Force lightning was not just an attack on your person. It was an attack on your soul. After he had come to terms with his pain, he channeled it into the Force, letting his torment become strength. He stood, staring at his master with unbelievable hate.

"We do not use the Code of the ancient Sith. We have our own. Perhaps you should've searched our archives or some other part of the academy like I told you. Do not assume you know something because you know of the Sith. A real Sith makes sure he or she has the knowledge she needs before they go spouting their mouths off as if they know the subject matter. Now, go search the academy and find what I told you to find."

Darex turned and began to stride towards the entrance to the academy. It took his full Force power to keep from limping, he would not show weakness. As he entered the stairway he let go of the power keeping his straight and nearly fell down the flight of stairs. He began his long trek down the stairs, every step utter agony as his clothes moved against his burn marks.

Darex reached the library faster then he had thought possible, the Force truly was a wondrous tool. He noticed that at this late hour none stirred within the great keep of knowledge. He began to sort through books, passing over titles and noting ones that interested him. He would have to come back for those. For now he looked for something hinting to "Sith Code." It would have to be new, since the one he recited was out of date. He finally found something interesting, Lightsaber Forms.

He dragged the book back to the desk he had sat earlier , before he had even met his master. He flipped through he book amazed at how in depth lightsaber combat really was! He had assumed that it was just flashy flips and strikes but in reality it was a game of blocks, parries, and attacks. Each form had a unique set of moves and was characterized by certain looks. He found himself intrested in Ataru. Ataru was an aggressive combat form relying on a combination of power, strength, and speed. Through the Force he had strength and speed, throught that he had power. Perfect fit!

It had already been an hour when he realized his master must still be on the roof! She would be angry with him for the time it took for him to find this code.He stood up and found that over that hour the pain from his wounds had mostly gone away. He could walk freely now and he did more than that. He sprinted out of the library, just as he was bout to exit something caught his eye. It was a plaque, hidden from view but obviously well taken care of. He walked up to it's shining surface and read aloud.

"There is no peace, therein lies only passion.
Through my passion is born my strength.
Through strength, I unleash my power.
Through power, victory is mine.
Through victory, my shackles are broken.
The dark side shall set me free."


Similar to the ancient code, this must be it.He memorized it quickly and then with the Force he sped up the sitars as fast as he possibly could. He felt fear, fear of the pain his master would endure. He let the fear augment his Force power, causing him to run faster.

He reached the roof and it looked like the sun had began to dawn on the dead world of Korriban. The night sky was a lighter shade, but he still could not see much past the artificial light of the Academy.

"Master. I have returned, with the knowledge you requested of me." He knelt before his master and recited the code once again. He stuffed his fear away and his hate took it's place. Hate for the woman who had electrocuted him for a false answer. He did not fear being shocked again, he just feared being wrong. For lightning, as he had discovered in past research, was but one weapon in a Sith Lord's arsenal.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren was meditating when Darex returned. Upon feeling his presence in the Force, she awoke and stood up, drawing her full height.

"For as long as you kept me waiting, you'd better hope you found the right information.... for your sake." she snapped. "Now then, tell me. Tell me the code that you have learned. If you have gotten it right, we will move on to the next step."

 

[Vilado]

"There is no peace, therein lies only passion.
Through my passion is born my strength.
Through strength, I unleash my power.
Through power, victory is mine.
Through victory, my shackles are broken.
The dark side shall set me free."

His head was bowed in submission so he could not see his masters reaction. He was sure this was the right code! He put his faith in his knowledge and awaited his master's reply.

 

[Malon]

Darth Vuren allowed herself to nod at Darex with approval, but that is all she did.

"Good. You are correct. There may be hope for you after all. However, knowing the words and understanding them are two different things. Tell me what you think each line of the Code means." she instructed.