A Learning Process

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran stood outside the temple on Tund, he had only been here a handful of times in the five years since he joined the Sith. Every visit was critical to his development, every visit completed a new training for him, but every visit was his choice. Not this time, Soran had been called here initially it was just a feeling in the back of his mind but the closer he got to the system the greater the pull. It was almost like gravity, but even gravity did not have this power, this was the pull of the Dark Side.

Soran knew there were many developments for the Priests that resided here, he knew that there was a new Darth was that the calling he felt? There was only one way to find out, he took the first of many steps to enter the temple.

@Valen Pelora

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Though he had been here before, every time he walked into this massive hall it felt like the first time. Every step echoed as he continued further into the temple, the noise was unwelcome but the pull of the Dark Side on this trip soothed him. Soran stopped walking, he was in the direct center of the hall, the pull had stopped he was where the force wanted him to be. "Well I suppose I will wait here.", Soran dropped to the floor sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed enjoying the feeling of the Dark Side around him. As he sat thinking he contemplated the last few years of his life in service of the Sith Empire, how much he had learned how much more power he wanted. He knew this temple was the key, Soran would soon have to give himself fully to the Dark Side not just as a philosophy but as a faith. Was he ready for that? Maybe that is why he was drawn here.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Darth Adava stared out at the surface of Tund. She watched a storm brewing in the distance, drawing ever closer. She breathed deeply of the Darkside. The sheer power of the Dark washed over her as she meditated. Her chambers were high in the Temple of the Imperial Inquisition. She lorded over her new domain from the heights of Tund. She could feel her charges milling about beneath, there was work to be done. The Inquisition had grown in power as the Empire had expanded. It was a critical arm of the Imperial machine. She was charged with protecting the Faith, ensuring the Darkness was obeyed. Heretics, nonbelievers, and the unfaithful, would be hunted and destroyed. The Inquisition rooted out dissent in the Empire and burned the Jedi. She had work to do. Adava stood and strode from her chambers. Her office was joined to the meditation room. The office of the Grand Inquisitor was appointed with all of the trapping of her office, two sizeable Templars stood ready at the entrance. They bowed as she walked into the room.

“My Lady, there are new arrivals from the Core. Citizens found to be unworthy. The Inquisitors await your instructions.” She smiled. A twisted, wicked, smile. “Excellent. Shall we boys?” She strode past her guards and into the heart of the Temple. The Templars flanked her as she walked. Her heels clicked on the stone floor, her robes billowing behind her. Darth Adava was all deadly beautiful grace. Sith bowed as she walked by. She tried to keep the smile from her face. She made her way to the Great Hall and stopped. A strange sight caught her eyes. A single man sitting alone in the center of the Great Hall. She cocked an eyebrow and approached the odd interloper.

“Do you make it a habit of sitting in the worst possible place?” She did not recognize the random Sith. Could he not see the Temple was bustling with activity and he was sitting in the center of it all?
@DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

"Do you make it a habit of sitting the worst possible place?", Soran's eyes snapped open and focused quickly on the woman in front of him. It took less than a second to realize who she was and that she was talking to him. He bowed to her, "Lady Adava, I apologize. I was caught up in how the Dark felt in this spot.", while still young he was no fool and would not intervene in the business of the Grand Inquisitor. "I have been pulled here for many weeks, right here is where the flow has taken me.", he smiled to her as he paused in his statement, "How can I be of service to the Dark Side?" This was no front, during his meditation he had decided that the way to true power was through his knowledge and his faith...strange how the force pulled him to the right place.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Adava looked down at the odd Sith meditating in the center of the hall. At least he had the good sense to bow and realize his mistake. That was a mark in his favor. She eyed the Sith as he spoke, sizing up the measure of the man. He was not a member of the Inquisition but his faith was strong. She did not discriminate against the Sith who roved outside of the faith. As long as they served the Darkness she would look favorably upon them. It was the faithless, the pretenders, who had cause to fear the Grand Inquisitor. It was strange to find such true devotion in one outside the Imperial Inquisition. Adava was intrigued. She may have thought the man a fool but he certainly knew how to draw her attention.

“You were wise to follow the call of the Darkside.” She smiled her sweet seductive smile. “Not all Sith would have heeded the call.” She was not impressed but pleasantly surprised. It was heartening to find faithfulness in the Order. She searched the Darkside, calling for answers. The Dark did pulse strangely around them. The man was being truthful. The Darkness was calling them here, perhaps they were meant to meet. “The Darkside may have brought us together. For what purpose, I cannot know.” She locked eyes with the man. “We will find out.”

She walked past the Sith and motioned for him to follow. “A batch of faithless has been brought to be tested. Come with me and we shall see the strength of your convictions.” She enjoyed performing the questioning herself, or with Ashlyn. On this occasion, she would see what this Sith had to offer. Testing the faith of another was often a tool to revel the testers truest faith. She nearly laughed. She had never asked the Sith’s name. “Better tell me your name while we are at it.” She walked deeper into the Temple headed towards the darkest parts of Tund. @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran had been at a loss for words exactly three times in his life, now he should make it four. He could feel Adava probing him to test his resolve. Quickly back to his feet Soran followed, "My name?", oh...he had forgotten to properly introduce himself, "My name is Soran Rosche, Historian of Shadows, Eater of Time." Soran spoke plainly but still very politely, he wondered to himself about the test that was to come.

She was correct the Dark Side had brought them together, maybe it was for this test maybe it was for something even more prolific...Wait why was he wondering to himself about the test, "My Lady, what sort of test will be performed?" He could not help himself, the pursuit of knowledge was a large part of why he joined the Empire, knowledge would take him to power. That was his strength, his mind, a mind driven for a passion to learn. He would use that strength to pass this test, he would use that strength to one day be set free.

He followed deeper into the temple, Soran had never been here before. It was amazing, it took only a moment for his eyes to adjust to the area and he smiled to himself as he walked. It was time, he needed to show his faith not just to Lord Adava but to himself, walking down the dark path into the temple seemed like a perfect metaphor for this moment.
@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Darth Adava kept her eyes ahead, if the Sith was smart he would be following closely. She waited a painfully long time for her tag along to utter his name. Perhaps, he had simply forgotten. It would have been better if he had. She rolled her eyes as she heard Soran Rosche, Historian of Shadows, Eater of Time. She hadn’t known shadows had a history or time could be eaten. No wonder he was so thin. Time wasn’t very filling. Sith had a terrible habit of collecting tacky titles. Unless the Emperor was bestowing mysteriously vague purpose on unknown Sith, Soran had dubbed himself the historian of nothing, and always hungry.

“Oh, I had no idea I was in the presence of such greatness.” Adava’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Here I am little ol’ Lady Adava, Grand Inquisitor of the Imperial Inquisition, pointer of things, walker of hallways, commander of self-important Sith.” She laughed. Her cackle echoed in the hallways. “Titles are earned and they should only be uttered for a purpose.” If he had thought to impress her, he was sorely mistaken. They descended another flight of stairs before she answered his second question. “The test does not matter. Only the results. Be patient, you will see.”

They were at the heart of the Temple now, deep under the surface of Tund. She stood before a heavy stone door. Black robbed Inquisitors stood on either side, they opened the door of their Lady. Darth Adava walked through. The room was well lit, beautifully carved marble surrounded the Sith. In the center of the room were a dozen heretics chained to heavy wooden chairs. They were all shapes, sizes, and species. She took a sharp breath in anticipation. “Tell me, Eater of Time, what do you see.” Her body tingled with anticipation. The faith awaited justice. @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran smiled at her statements, true his titles were not given but they were earned. But he was a fool to spout off such things at a Sith Lady, a mistake he would not make again.

He calmly looked around the room, "I see the unworthy, praying for freedom and mercy, Deserving neither." His calm demeanor changed to one of malice, Soran was no member of the Inquisition, but any being that did not have the Sith code in their hearts and faith in the Darkness was unworthy. "I see less than nothing, I see those offered a chance to be part of the power of the Dark Side. These are not beings waiting for judgement, they are waiting for an executioner.", Soran's nostrils flared as he spoke. He knew punishment was next but could wait to see what the Dark Lady had in mind.
@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Darth Adava watched Soran carefully. He was not a member of the Inquisition but he appeared to understand what she wanted to hear. The truth of his convictions would not be so easily discovered. Words were one thing, peering into the soul was completely different. She wanted to see his soul. She wanted to know if he believed what he said. Adava wanted to see his faith. This would be the first step.

“They are heretics, found by the Inquisition to be wanting.” She walked a little closer. Her eyes flitting from prisoner to prisoner. “But they have not been judged by me. I am the Darkside’s greatest servant, it speaks through me.” She spun to look at Soran. “The worst of the lot get sent to Tund for my judgment. Soon enough, you will find out why.” She ran a hand through her long dark hair. “I am curious how you would deal with our prisoners.”

She pointed at a chained human at the far end of the room. Adava could feel the stench of his fear roiling in the Force. That fear would be gone soon enough. “Show me what to do with a nonbeliever.” She crossed her arms and waited. She would see how he responded and then she would show him why the heretics had been brought to her. The worst were seen by the Grand Inquisitor for a truly special review. @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran examined the human, he pulled its head up by the hair, "Tell me what you have done, do you deserve to be here?" The man shook in fear and slowly answered, "Sir...I...I have d...done nothing.", the man wept as he talked. "Did you know the Sith can sense when someone is lying?", his palm resting on the man's head, he smiled.

Soran reached deep into the mind of the heretic, his smile changed to a laugh as he pulled all the fear and paranoia from the man. The heretic opened his eyes wide all he could see was the room filling with water, higher and higher the level rose over his chest then his eyes. He was drowning, his vision blurred, and he lost consciousness.

Soran looked to Adava, "Fear is a great tool, he will wake up over and over, thinking he is dying. He feared drowning, eventually his mind and heart will break. This is an appropriate punishment for those that do not follow the Dark Side. Would you agree Lady Adava?" Soran watched the man, he believed he was dying, soon he would beg for his life to end.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Darth Adava watched as Soran worked. It was a clever brutal working of the Force. The heretic would live a continual loop of fear until his body was destroyed. A fitting end for those without true faith, but ultimately a waste. The Empire had needs as it grew. She hated and despised all the faithless. There was a greater use they could serve. A more permeant torture. The deepest seeded heretics hated Imperial rule and the Darkness. They were servants of the Light who had dedicated their lives to fighting the truth. The sweet truth of the Darkside. Death was too sweet a release for them. Fear was not enough. The Light’s faithful deserved something far worse, a life lived in service to the Darkside. The Empire had perfected shredding the minds of the chosen. She was their first step towards faithful service to the Darkside. She smiled and stepped forward.

“A fitting fate for one who defies our rule.” She moved towards a chained Bothan. “But ultimately a waste.” She could feel the fear roaring through the Force. It was music to her ears. Her smile grew wider, she truly enjoyed what would come next. “The Empire has better uses for those like these. Those who have fought and clawed against the faith. They will now serve it until they draw their last breath. Servants of the very thing they hate.” It was beautiful punishment. She breathed deeply of the Darkness and touched the mind of the Bothan. She felt his hopes, dreams, memories. His life. She ripped. She tore apart his mind, destroying all of who he was. Adava left no stone unturned. She removed each small piece that made the man who he was. She retreated into her own mind, the Bothan before her was glassy eyed and docile. She felt nothing from him. She turned to Soran. “This is the first step in a long conditioning process. When it is over he will serve.” She admired her work. @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran watched as she tore the heretic apart, "I believe I understand your meaning." He stepped to the next chained fool, many other Sith would have taken hours to begin to learn the lesson but he was a quick study. In front of him was an older twi'lek woman, Soran strolled through her memories, altering each one with just a small idea here and there. Every moment that she attributed to the Light he tainted it, soured it, turning her love of the Light of the Force to hate.

He watched as she pledged herself to her husband in service of the light, "One day he will be taken from you...", Soran whispered into the ear of her memory instantly transporting her to the moment he died helping the Jedi stop a simple pickpocket. He smiled as the woman's hate grew, in the blink of an eye she held her granddaughter in her arms, a newborn. "This one will forget you and serve the weak republic never to return...", again snapping to a different place, she read of a small fleet that had some success. It was her granddaughter, the report quoted her, "This is my proudest moment, I want to thank my commanders that made me who I am today. Without them I would be no-one on a backwater planet." She felt the small pride that once was there replaced with anger, how dare that girl forget who helped raise her on this backwater planet? Soran repeated the process time and time again digging deeper and deeper with each suggestion into her memories, finally he reached the memory of how she got here.

The woman was on a transport protected by Jedi, she watched as the Sith attacked. Three young Jedi retreated as the Sith advanced on the transport, "They never came back to help any of you, they only help themselves. We showed you mercy, the Sith gave you a second chance..." This memory continued, the Sith commanders rounded up the civilians from the transport and restrained them, they were prisoners but they were alive. Soran opened his eyes, he had not taken a memory walk that long in quite a while and it was...exhilarating. He looked down at the twi'lek, "Who do you serve? Who has given you a chance at rebirth?" The woman wept openly, not tears of fear but of joy and love, "I serve the Darkness Sir.", she turned to Adava, "My lady please let me show others of the right path, the Dark Side is the way. Please forgive me and let me serve!" Saran's smile again filled with malice and evil as he turned to the Grand Inquisitor, "Would this punishment serve you better my lady?" The Darkness that filled the room seemed to swirl around Soran like a vortex.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Adava kept a close eye on Soran as he attempted to mimic her movements in the Force. She could sense him pouring himself into the twi’lek’s mind. He was a quick study, almost impossibly so. She had taken a day at the hand of Lord Cain to learn this particular use of the Force. Ripping apart a mind was no easy task, it destroyed a person’s life, ate their soul. It was not so simple as breaking their will. No. It was taking away every single part that gave them life. Soran was close but still managed to misunderstand her teachings. The arrogance of the Sith.

“There is difference between compulsion and conditioning.” She trailed her fingers through the air, walking among the captives. “You can replace her memories, change her emotions, but such workings of the Force fade. A small misstep or miscalculation and it fails. The longer the slave serves, the more likely your spell will break.” She sighed. “What we do is different. We don’t replace memories. We don’t change feelings. We destroy it all. Memories, personality, lives are taken away. They are then sent to be reconditioned. You cannot suddenly remember what is no longer there. You can’t beat conditioning if you have no reason to. They become blank slates for us to mold and an important tool in our Empire.”

She moved closer to the wall. The Darkside was still swirling about the room. “Try again.” She would allow Soran one more chance. He had promise if he could set his growing ego aside. @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

"As you wish my lady.", he knew it would possibly be his last chance, he needed to succeed. He looked at the next one, he thought about what the Grand Inquisitor had said, he must take who they are. He had tried being delicate, maybe this needed a more harsh approach. Concentrating he dove into the mind of the person in front of him, he examined the life of this thing. Instead of being an outside influence on this mind, he would come the mind, see through the eyes of his victim.

He looked at a recent memory, this was a sad memory, the death of a father. Soran surrounded the memory with the Darkness, using his will he squeezed. The memory faded from existence until it was gone, unlike before he did not feel exhausted. In fact Soran felt stronger than he ever had before, he moved to memory after memory letting the darkness eat it. The process was long but every memory that vanished from existence made destroying the next one easier.

Finally he found the last bit of what made the heretic who he was, it was the earliest thought he had ever had. He looked around, it was four years into this pathetic life, a birthday party. Soran waited, two adults approached the child with a large box, the memory excited the heretic until the Darkness came. The scene faded, darker and darker until all that was left was the box...it began to shrink away Darkness moving in and finally overtaking it. Soran opened his eyes, and turned to Lady Adava, "My lady.", for the first time since he had arrived here he was unsure about the outcome of his work.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Adava patiently waited for Soran to complete his next attempt. He was at least attempting to control the ragging ego that gripped most Sith. He seemed to understand when to close his mouth and listen. An underrated talent among those outside the Inquisition. Even in the Inquisition there were more than a few mouths she wanted to sew shut. Soran’s second attempt was more akin to what she was looking for. It was a competent working of the Force, a proud using of the Darkside. Acceptable. Soran had proved himself to be more than silly titles and bluster. He would live. How long she didn’t know. The life of a Sith was a dangerous one, even in the new Empire. Lord Cain preached working together towards the same goal. She preached avoiding useless death but there were always a few who needed to be culled. She had tired of this game. She was bored.

“Well done. Effective but not perfect. In time, you will learn the full extent of such powers, but not from me. You may practice on the remaining heretics.” She turned to leave, breathing in the Darkness. “You have served the Darkside well. Perhaps, you will be of use to the Empire in the future.” With that Darth Adava swept from the dungeon. The Templars stalked behind her. She was tiring of this life. The Empire was rotting from the core. They had embraced worlds of heretics, they had lost the path. It was her duty to set the Empire right. Her duty to serve the Darkness. She did not know what she would do. She did not know who to serve. Emperor Malon was secluded, Darth Cain rarely ventured into the galaxy. The reasonability fell to her. @DudeTheManatee

OOC: End thread.