Welcome to the House of Pain

[Zach]

Ruthric reached out with the Force and gripped the last droid, pulling it towards himself as he slashed from side to side with his lightsaber. Again, his lightsaber clashed against the metallic surface of the droid's legs, but left no distinguished marks from impact. Strange, as it was, the intricacy of the droid's programming, as both legs seemed to be motionless as it clattered to the floor, acting as if the strike had cut through both limbs as opposed to bouncing off the surface of the first. It was indeed an impressive training droid, likely of proving useful for nearly any situation.

Stepping over to the droid and gently placing a foot on its neck, he lowered the lightsaber to the droid's hand with the training saber. With a quick reaction of flicking its weapon a the Marauder, he swished his sword across the metallic wrist, also leaving it unmarked and motionless. Pushing down with his heel, applying pressure through the Force, closing his eyes to satisfy himself with a gentle feeling of realistic crushing. "The droids have been eliminated, Master Sanayana. I feel as though Ataru has come naturally to me, as I've grown accustomed to constant movement with the Force as a Sith Assassin, constantly keeping my own presence masked," he elaborated, more so thinking out loud to himself than explaining his thoughts to the Sith Master. "One wonders, however," he continued, raising an eyebrow in her direction. "Have we neared the planet? I am anxious to begin hunting our targets," he asked, already contemplating his strategy to combat and capture the creature which relied on vibrations alone.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Sanayana raised an eyebrow at the eager Marauder; it seemed he had a rather exaggerated idea of how fast ships could travel, even one as fast as hers. "The journey will take us three days, so you have plenty of tie to train. Perhaps you might train against a different style, such as Juyo or it's variant, Vaapad. Or against opponents who use solid metal weapons - parrying them has a very different feel to parrying a lightsaber. Or set them to employ blasters. Expand your horizons."

She turned on her heel and strode back to Anima. "If you wish to see an example of Alchemy at work, we can experiment on the corpse brought aboard earlier."

 

[Insanity]

Rather than follow Ruthric or the others, he'd stayed in the room, cycling through the different projections of the subjects to be captured and the planet in question. Notes were added to his datapad as he noted small abnormalities, things that drew his eye. There weren't many, just enough to raise questions. He finished up as Master Sanayana returned from where Ruthric had gone. She addressed him and he nodded. "A demonstration would be welcome, Master Sanayana." He rose from the chair he'd occupied, ready to follow.

 

[Zach]

Ruthric took himself from the training room and followed the Sith Master with the acolyte she intended on teaching Sith Alchemy to. In honestly, he'd been rather interested with Sith Alchemy, but hadn't ever sought out the techniques to practice on his own. Perhaps it would be a useful skill to have in situations where he was cornered by enemies with no other means of defending himself.

As his mind raced through the possibilities of how such a technique could work to his favor, Ruthric approached the pair walking through the ship and quickly replied, "Although I'm confident in my skills with a lightsaber, I must admit that I'm rather intrigued by the aspect of Sith Alchemy. With your permission, Master Sanayana, I would very much like to accompany you." Ruthric had hoped that she would allow his presence and quickly move on to the test subject.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The Sith Master merely nodded as she strode to the freezer where the corpse of the slain Acolyte had been stored after tissue sampling by the Collector. The misshapen droid sat silent in one corner, waiting for something to activate its programming. With a gesture and a simple tug of Force power, Sanayana pulled open the door of the freezer and lifted the frozen body out, dropping it onto the surgical operating table in the centre of the room. Then she paused, and turned to the others who had followed her.

"Sith Alchemy has several branches, you may be familiar with some of them. The most significant applications are : metallurgy, crystallography, chemistry, transmutations, physical enhancements, and poison. Of these, we shall study chemistry today. This object," she gestured to the defrosting corpse on the table, "is no longer alive. However, it has not yet begun to decompose, so the tissues are still usable. This, then, is my first lesson; the use of alchemy to revive the dead as an undead servant."

She pressed a button on the wall and a huge screen descended. "The first step in the process is to create the alchemical substances that will allow the power of the Dark side to flow through the newly-arisen undead beast ... "

--------------

The screen was covered with chemical symbols and magical equations. "This is the basic creature - a Korriban zombie, a recreation of that creature from scratch, yet possessing the same abilities - it's resistance to damage, its infectious bite, its semi-intelligent mental state, so that it can use weapons. One can enhance these slaves with metallurgical implants, cybernetics, and so on, but I have not bothered to do so with this." She turned to the body on the table.

"Now, all that remains is to animate it." She stretched out a hand, dark power flowed from her fingertips into the corpse lying still on the metal table, and the body jerked and twitched, spasmed and rolled from side to side. Bleary, filmy eyes opened and the corpse sat up. Controlled by her power, the zombie shuffled into a waiting tube which slid down over it, sealing it away. Sanayana turned to the others.

"We will be stopping at the Clak'Dor system for a few hours to resupply, and perhaps help ourselves to some Bith and Y'Biths for study, or as food for our other specimens, Whilst there, I think I shall release this somewhere habited, just to see how many it can kill before its destruction. Since it can infect anyone it bites, that may be higher than it first appears ..."

 

[Zach]

Ruthric watched Master Sanayana intently, somewhat disturbed, yet intrigued by the alchemical reanimation before him. The Korriban zombie has taken shape and form, quickly followed by the synthetic life that had been bestowed upon it. Ruthric quickly felt as though this was a power through the Force in which he had no desire to use, but it would undoubtedly be useful to know. As uncomfortable as he was with the scenario and situation, he bore through the grotesqueness, listening to the Sith's speculative views of its effectiveness. Indeed, it was a great feat to be able to infect others to become like itself, but as he watched an listened, he remained silent, taking in the information as Anima studied and practiced with their superior.

 

[Xysis]

With the melee finished, Shadzrill followed his master into the lab where she demonstrated and explained Sith Alchemy. During this lesson, Shadzrill did not just focus on her words, her demonstration, but he reached out and used the force. Attempting to feel the way she manipulated the force. Shadzrill smiled in amusement as he learned what he could of his Master's trade.

As the zombie made its way into the tube, Shadzrill's excitement grew. Could he create life. As fun of an idea as releasing a creature like this into the general populace and the benefits of the knowledge to create it could be a useful tool against his enemies, Shadzrill preferred it to be more personal. He would rather see his enemies cower in terror in his presence and by his direct doing, rather through an agent created and/or sent by him.

He continued to focus on the lessons being taught. Next they would be pulling in new specimens for his master. Shadzrill hoped to begin the trade of creating pets of his very own.

 

[Insanity]

Anima recorded the alchemical equations the Master's words, and watched as she brought the corpse to un-life. His attention stayed on it until it was sealed up. From what he could tell, Sanayana had simply filled the body with Force energy, fueled by the Dark Side. He made a small notation concerning that and what applications could be used for it beyond simple reanimation. Indeed, Alchemy seemed to be far more than what he had once assumed. His attention going back to the Master, he nodded. She was planning for extra specimens, either as food or further experiments, and to release her creation on the populace somewhere. That would be an even more intriguing demonstration, he felt, because if they were able to watch for a time, it might give further insight into how such creations worked.

Yet, he found his eyes looking at the clone, considering the work it must have required to create. Well, such a creation would be something to attempt once he'd learned more from Sanayana and others who might follow Sith Alchemy.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The journey had been short, and the teaching thorough. All of the others, but especially Shadzrill, had learnt some of the basics of Sith alchemy, though in two days she could only show some of the simplest principles. Still, it was a start, and they'd seen not just how to create new life, but how to modify it using both other creatures and metallic or cybernetic implants; how, in essence, to create your own custom cyborg.

There was still much more to cover, of course; Sith metallurgy, poisons, using Force crystals in creating your living being, and more, but there wasn't enough time to do more than whet the appetite of the others. Now they were approaching Clak'Dor, where they would get more supplies, possibly bring on board some Bith and Y'Bith, and then unleash the zombie and see what it did before being destroyed - all in the name of science.

She piloted the ship down towards the planet's surface. "We are approaching Clak'Dor now to take on supplies, both for ourselves and for any specimens we recover," she announced over the ship's intercom.



((Okay, jumped us forward a bit to the next action.))

 

[Zach]

Ruthric got up from his cot and left the small room, turning his head to look for Sanayana as he directed himself to their usual meeting place. He approached where he'd normally sat, waiting for the others and their superior. He'd hoped to encounter an Aganof as quickly as possible so he could bring it back to study it. He'd hoped that Sanayana would permit him a copy of the notes to study, but assumed he would need to do something in return. Nevertheless, he prepared himself for their next move.

 

[Insanity]

Anima lay in his cot, eyes open yet dulled. He was motionless, his senses spread through the ship with his body anchoring him to the living. Mostly, his senses were examining the 'zombie' and Shadzrill, Sanayana's experiment. In comparison, the latter was too complex to figure out with only rudimentary knowledge, which was an error he would rectify through more independent study. Shuddering as he withdrew his senses back to himself, he blinked twice before sitting up. He heard the comm-system announce their proximity to the testing grounds. A full demonstration would be at hand, soon.

He left the room, moving down the short corridor to the briefing room where Ruthric already waited. He gave a half-bow to the marauder before settling into another chair, hands folded together.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Sanayana pointed the nose of the ship down towards the spaceport which had acknowledged her transmission as the rest of the crew stirred themselves into action. They were not going to stay long on the planet, just long enough to take on supplies and carry out the main task there - to abduct some Bith and Y'Bith for later study and as live supplies for the larger, more dangerous specimens they were to take on board later on in the journey.

Oh, and release a Korriban zombie on the planet and see how long it took for the authorities to track it down and destroy it, and how many it would kill in the meantime. That would be both educational and amusing. The whole visit should only last a few hours, after which they'd be on their way to the prime destination, Kuras III.

The ship glided down and made a smooth landing. Sanayana made her way to the main hub of the ship. "I think about a dozen Bith and Y'Bith should suffice - obtain them however you like, but remember, they can communicate at wavelengths above our own, and some of them can even listen to artificial messages, such as comlinks. Do not tip them off! I will collect the mundane supplies."

 

[Zach]

Master Sanayana had addressed the gathered Sith members, instructing their objective and warning them about alerting others. Perhaps this would be advise for others, but Ruthric had always dealt in infiltration and remaining hidden. This would hardly be an issue, but he kept a solid mind of keeping the mission as his priority.

Ruthric nodded to the Sith Master, making his way to the loading ramp with his equipment hidden beneath his black cloak. He doubted that he'd need the use of his lightsaber, but it was secured tightly to his waist next to a plethora of grenades. As the ship calmly docked on one of the landing pads, he hit the button to release the ramp, continuing his stride into the blast of air that rushed in. It wasn't anything particularly odd, but every atmosphere was unique in its own way. The assassin stepped onto the flat surface, making his way to the edge of the landing pad. He turned to await the others, as he thought it be best to coordinate their comb through the streets.

 

[Xysis]

Shadzrill begun to contemplate the best ways to bring in his query with minimal fuss. Shadzrill concocted a plan. He begun his data search on the best dosage of sedative to best take down his query. As the orders were to be as discreet as possible, Shadzrill wanted even less of a struggle.

His eyes lit up when data produced across the screen. He smiled his eerie smile. "This shall do nicely." He remembered the chemicals, and brought as he prepared them in the lab. Now, Shadzrill needed a delivery device for the correct dosage.

He thought for a moment. He thought it best to use hand help needle dosage system. Shadzrill like the ability to do his work more personally. Shadzrill prepared his quick hypodermic system with six refills. He had only hours before they touched down. Shadzrill used the rest of the time to mediate and gain the necessary rest a body requires.

Shadzrill was already feeling the fatigue from the training and his studies. The whole trip he figured he only had four hours of rest. But to tax the body, to make it stronger, that is the way to rise above and become elite.

Shadzrill focused reached out with force, but his body and mind fell into a trance. The landing approach alarms went off. Shadzrill's eyes popped open as he smiled once more. He rose to his feet from his sitting meditative stance and grabbed his robes. His two light sabers dangled from his hip. He slipped his hydermic gun and vials into pockets in the interior of his robe.

He pulled his hood over his head and made his way to the ramp. "This planet will be in quite the shock after we are through." He thought as he exited the ramp.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Sanayana turned and strode back to her own room, retrieving a blank mask which she set on her face before leaving the ship. The two heavy wardroids were set to prevent anyone other than the crew from boarding the vessel and began marching up and down alongside the ship, weapons primed and ready. A small detachment of customs officials tried to intercept the Sith Master, but a touch of the Force and they went on their way, wondering what it was they'd been about to do.

She had credits with her - unfortunately for whoever she bought products from, they were forged and programmed to inform the authorities of the trail of previous owners back to, though obviously not including, Sanayana herself after a set passage of time. Just to spread a little misery behind her ...

 

[Zach]

Ruthric decided not to wait for the others and progress on his own. He figured he would capture enough of the Bith and Y'Bith for their purposes. As he crept into the streets, the billowing black cloak behind him began to take to his shape. The cloth wrapped around him in a way that more or less made him less outstanding in his surroundings. Almost immediately, he spotted a trio of Bith, standing alone in the street with one another. As he passed by, he briefly connected with the closest one's mind, silently suggesting that he step away from the group to use the bathroom. The Bith did so, repeating the words that had been put in his head, "Be right back. Bathroom." The language was simple to mimic with his finesse in recognizing languages with the Force, and gaining familiarity in the Bith's native tongue from seeing his mind.

As they separated, Ruthric reached across the street with the Force and grabbed each of the Bith, slamming them each headfirst into the wall. The enlarged cranium of the species was a strength, but also a weakness. It was a much bigger target to land a significant, or at least disorienting, blow. The two were unconscious instantly, drifting through the air in his direction. There was a nearby dumpster that had recently been emptied, so he dropped them inside. It was right by the landing pad, so he would store them here and ensure they were all still unconscious as he gathered them. When the third returned, he glanced around with a puzzled look before noticing the blood marks on the wall. No later, he too was slammed headfirst into unconsciousness.

The assassin returned to the clearing and looked for Sanayana, wondering if she wanted him to gather the rest of the specimens or allow the others to finish the task. As he approached, he noticed a mask covering her face. It hid her identity, but there were not many among their group who could pass off her height and slender figure. "Master Sanayana," he said, inclining his head. "Do you wish for me to obtain the rest of the targets, or allow the others to finish up?" he asked, anxious to get to their primary objective.

 

[Xysis]

Shazrill looked around the ramp. It appeared as the rest had already scampered off. Shadzrill decided to make his way to the nearest Cantina. With the presence of drinks, this should make this easier and less observable. Shadzrill waited out side the back entrance in the alley. His first catch, a drug dealing Bith was finishing a sale to a customer. The customer noticed the cloaked figure and scampered off.

Shadzrill's cloaked figure approached the dealer. "What do you have to offer today?" Shadzrill spoke. The Bith looked hesitant at Shadzrill. Shadzrill did not hesitate to show 200 credits with his left hand. The Bith's posture changed more trusting. As the Bith took out his merchandise, Shadzrill moved quickly and pushed the dealer into the shadows with his left forearm. Shadzrill quickly jabbed the hypodermic needle grasped in his right hand hidden by the cloaks sleeves into the Bith, injecting him with the tranquilizer. The Bith struggled for a moment before his body began to go limp.

Shadzrill brought the body into the shadows. This will be his new ruse. Shadzrill lifted the drugs from the dealer. He made his way to the spot. Offering the drugs, Shadzrill brought the Bith to their Tranquil capture. After three Bith made lay next to the dealer, A fourth Bith and a Y'bith came out. Shadrzill found another off chute species his mother requested. Good, a challenge.

Shadzrill stepped slightly from the shadows to offer the two a sample of his product. The two aliens approached warily. Shadzrill flinched as he saw something. "Quickly, the local enforcement approaches." Shadzrill motioned into the shadows. The two began to journey into the shadows to avoid what they thought would be capture. Shadzrill quickly put his hand around the Y'Bith drawing him closer to the alley wall with his left hand and injecting him with the the hypo in the right. The Y'Bith struggled and fell limp.

Shocked in horror, the Bith stepped back. Shadzrill revealed himself by pushing his hood back. He revealed in the Bith's terror. "Beware of strangers offering gifts." He eerily whispered as he closed the few steps with speed and precision. The Bith let out a yelp as the hypo quickly sank into its skin and seconds later went limp.

Now to commandeer a vehicle and deliver my gifts. Shadzrill noticed a Y'Bith in a cargo speeder waiting at a docking ramp Just on the outskirts of the alley. "The force is with me today." He said as he smiled. Shadzrill approached the Y'Bith. "Excuse me, can you tell me where the space port is?" The Y'Bith stepped out of cargo speeder and into a hypodermic needle. Shadzrill quickly pushed him back into the speeder's passenger seat. Shadzrill quickly got into the drivers seat and drove the speeder to pick up the rest of the cargo.

Shadzrill hurried back to the spaceport in the speeder. He cruised up to the docking bay where the ship was and backed the speeder up to the ramp, where he saw Ruthric.

"Would you mind helping load the my cargo into the vessel. Its terribly time sensitive. He gave an evil and eerie wink to Ruthric and a devious smile produced the visage of his sharp teeth.

((OCC-This is why buying and selling drugs to and from a creepy Sith clone is what we call a bad idea. ))

 

[Zach]

((lol))

Ruthric turned his head to watch the clone return, a speeder full of unconscious bodies loaded into the back and passenger seats. He called out to Ruthric with a charismatically sarcastic request and a wink, referencing to the collected specimens. With a friendly smile, the assassin looked back to the clone and nodded, moving his way over to the speeder with the Force. He gripped three of the bodies with the Force and hauled them over to the ship, assisting him in loading the targets. He would continue doing this until Anima or Sogar returned with their targets, or until he collected the rest.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The supplies were being loaded by her droids when the rest of the team returned with their captives. The docking bay workers had already been 'persuaded' that there was no need for them to be around, and the cameras that normally ensured security had, for some unexplained reason, ceased to record the comings and goings in the area.

She watched as the others began transferring their captives aboard the ship, and instructed one of the wardroids she'd brought with her to help speed up the process. The massive machine could pick up a dozen at a time if required, and the remaining captives were soon on the Dark Seeker, ready to be used as either food or experimental test subjects, as needed.

"You've done well," she complimented the Acolyte and Marauder. "I'm sure they will prove useful indeed."

 

[Zach]

Ruthric lowered himself to a bow as the Sith Master complimented their handiwork, making his way back to the ship. As the others came aboard, he turned to the alchemist and started, "When we arrive on the planet," with a slight hesitation before continuing. "Do you want us each to take a separate target, or work together as a team to bring them in?" he asked, ready to oblige by whatever orders he was given, but preferring the solo route. Perhaps Shadzrill would be easy to work with, as they both seemed to have a preference for the stealthy approach. His previous discomfort around the clone had faded since seeing his skills in abduction and subtlety.