Ask Beyond Oblivion

[Darth Caelestis]

Even though they carried honoured and powerful names the corrupted creatures that charged towards the pair held none of the assumed power they should carry. Malou dealt with the pair of pretend Sith Lords with little effort, removing body parts with ease. The wannabe Sidious stood up from the Throne, Artorigas could see anger and fury in his eyes, foam dripped down his mouth from his chin. It began to cry out again but Artorigas had enough of the creature by this point.

Raising his hand The Force congealed around the throat of the creature upon the throne, raising him up high above the ground before Artorigas flicked his wrist and sent the beast flying across the room to there right. It disappeared into the darkness out of sight of both Artorigas and the creatures ahead of them. The disappearance and apparent death of there 'Leader' caused chaos in the gathering before them, some began to flee in terror, others stood unknowing what to do next and a select few charged.

One lead the way, the only beast he had seen so far in armour, though its bulging body was seeping through the cracks of the broken duraplast. "Looks like only a few more, Malou then we are done."

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

Malou watched as Artorgias flung the creature on the throne like a ragdoll. Its body fell into the darkness, slumping over when it hit the ground. So much for a supposed Sith lord... Her attention turned back to the creatures which decided to charge toward them, and her brows furrowed together. Only a few more... She was tired, but ready to get things over with.

The armored creature was not the first to reach them, despite originally leading the way. Two other of the creatures made their way over quicker than it did, one heading for herself and the other for her master. Malou's did not carry a blade, so dispatching of the creature was easy enough. The larger creature reached them shortly thereafter, and did carry a lightsaber. This one did not crackle and spit as some of the others did. The hilt was worn and old, but the lightsaber worked.

Hoping to avoid going toe-to-toe with something much stronger than her, Malou curled the Force around the singular shoe it wore and held it firmly in place. This caused the creature to trip out of it, and while it did not fall to the ground, it gave her opportunity enough to run forward and strike at it with her sabers. One slashed across its arm, nearly--but not quite--cutting through, while the other struck its chest. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nostrils, almost making her gag. That was lesson enough for her to make cleaner strikes. After dodging a retaliation strike by ducking down, she held both sabers together and cut clean through the creature's mid section. It's lightsaber dropped to the ground; as did the creature.

Two more creatures still came towards them, in addition to the one that went after Artorgias. Malou waited for them, hoping for a second to catch her breath before she had to engage them.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The charging beast snarled, drool dripping from its elongated incisors as it came at Artorigas, the Sith Noble shifted his right leg back brining his blade to the ready. The beast moved quickly but Artorigas was quicker, the aid of The Force allowing him to power through the creatures body with lightning speed removing the top half from the bottom. Blood flashed across the ground around him as the body crumpled, a second came towards him but Artorigas gripped the creature with The Force and sent his lightsaber flying towards the stationary creature piercing his heart.

There was one left for Malou, Artorigas had no doubt his apprentice could dispatch the final creature so without looking back he began to approach the giant throne. The remaining creatures/monsters had dispersed into the corridors on all sides of the giant room, leaving only the dead bodies of there comrades remaining.

With each step he could feel the presence of The Force push further and further down upon his body, this was a seat of great power not only in what it potentially meant but the Force Energy around it. At the top he turned to face his apprentice and the carnage which was within there wake before taking a seat upon the throne.

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

The remaining beast leapt for her in the awkward way that two-legged creatures leapt, which was easy enough for the acolyte to side step. She turned quickly on her heel so that her body faced the malformed creature and then held out her hand. She grabbed the Force around it, halting it completely and holding it mid air. Its eyes had the look of a fearful dog as she approached it, concentrating on keeping it suspended. With the thing unable to move, finishing it off was easy.

She did not waste time checking her surroundings, but the girl only saw cowering creatures in the far reaches of the room who were moving farther and farther away. Malou clipped both of her lightsabers to her belt as she searched for her master. He was not hard to find, seated upon the throne in the room.

Malou did not know what her master wanted from the throne. Did it give him power in its seat, tucked so far off into the unknown reasons of the galaxy? Was it the sheer history of the throne, the seat of countless Sith lords which motivated him to find it? What did he plan to do with it? He couldn't move it to Serenno. Did he plan to refurbish this place? Regardless, the acolyte simply turned to face him as she began to make her way toward the throne. She stopped about four meters out before asking, "What now?"

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The sounds of Malou's voice reverberated around the empty hall, though in that moment Artorigas could not hear them. Deep inside him something was rising an energy, a darkness he had not expected to feel again so soon. The conduit of Force Energy that now lay under his feet had poured into his body and awoken something deep inside. "Now, my chance." Artorigas screamed out in plan as his body began to convulse upon the hard stone throne. It thrashed back and forward as the Dark Lord which had been inside him for the last five months began to reveal himself again.

The essence of Lord Andros poured through his body into the outside world once again, the energy of the nexus below him allowing him to transfer his soul and energy into another.

Artorigas' body came to rest, every muscle, bone and fibre of his being felt as if it had been snapped, torn and broken and then put back together with nothing more than glue and tape. He slowly pulled himself to his feet as he felt the presence of Lord Andros in the darkness, a shuffle, then a step as the previously self proclaimed Sidious moved out from the shadows. "Hello again Artorigas." The mutilated voice of the creature had gone, replaced with the smooth honey like voice of the Dark Lord. With a raise of his hand a number of the beasts started to return from the darkness.

Gritting his teeth through the pain Artorigas began to step down the steps towards the advancing Dark Lord. "I beat you once, I will beat you again. Malou make sure we are not interrupted." With that he ignited his blade and advanced towards Lord Andros.

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

Oh bother. Malou unclipped the lightsabers she had just put away and prepared for yet another round of beasts. She had just watched her master convulse and call out in pain. It had happened quick enough that she could not even react properly; she'd been in a bit of shock at the sudden seizure. But he had brought himself to his feet and the beast who had called himself Darth Sidious had returned. Malou hadn't the slightest idea of what was going on, but what she could discern was the change in aura around the beast. It was stronger, darker, and much older.

How many more of them are there? They had dealt with seven already, and there had originally been thirty-some. Twenty-three. Malou furrowed her brow as she pinpointed each remaining beast. Ten had scattered to one side, and the rest had gone to the other, but they were all closing in on the throne now. She needed to get their attention switched from Artorgias to herself.

None of them were quite paying attention to her yet, so Malou outstretched both hands and concentrated on the Force in the room. It was not possible for her to just yank them on over to her (nor would that be a good idea), but she could at least grab their attention. Each one of the beasts would feel a subtle pulling, not enough to actually pull them, but enough to turn their attention to her. Once she had it, she readied herself.

The first few beasts that came charging at her were the clumsy ones. They lunged for her, but she was easily able to move out of the way and dispatch of them with a few clean cuts. Twenty-one. The others came in slower, some shifting to the right and to the left to start to try and surround her. Malou quickly noticed, so she began to back up. Her attention momentarily shifted to Artorgias and the beast, watching the fight that was surely happening by now. She didn't watch long though, as a pair of beasts leapt at her.

Malou fell into a crouch, bending low to the ground as to avoid the first attacker. It allowed her to severe the beast in half from below, but she had to be quick to jump out of the other's way. She could feel herself growing tired, but she gritted her teeth and continued. Another duck and another slash dispatched of the second. Nineteen. She could see others preparing to attack, so with a grunt and a forceful push of the Force she sent them sprawling to the ground. I can do this. Her gaze shifted back to Artorgias. Just...a little longer.

(tag: @Braden Drake )

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Pain shot through him with every movement of his body, but he kept moving forward. It hurt even to think but he needed to remove this creature, this thing, this ancient Sith Lord from his way. For if he was struck down here everything he had done all the hardships he had gone through to get here would be for naught.

The Sidious/Andros combination drew its own lightsaber, the bright red blade was the only real working saber amongst the rabble of creatures they had yet faced. Artorigas own purple/red cracked blade stood at his side as he advanced, a second before he reached him Andros raised the puppeteer hand and let out an explosion of lightning which forced Artorigas back. He blocked most of it with his saber, but offshoots of the electricity folded round to hit his own body. His armour protected him from much of the pain and damage. The cape caught aflame, though the armour weave burned low and slowly, more like embers than open flame.

As the lightning disappeared Artorigas struck out, a heavy two handed strike looking to finish the bout in one hit. But it was to good to be true, the corrupted creature now had the power and knowledge of Lord Andros within him. Though the old Sith was not known for his prowess or Strength, considering what Artorigas' body had just gone through. It was enough to keep him at bay for the moment. Artorigas and the Sidious/Andros hybrid moved into an ebb and flow of strikes, counters and Force manoeuvres. Andros sent Lightning and Artorigas sent back rocks and debris.

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

While lightning and debris flew through the air as Artorgias and Darth Andros fought, Malou fought the remaining beasts. She had drawn on the ample source of Force around her, siphoning it into her body to give her the endurance to finish off the remaining beasts. Eighteen, seventeen. Her blades decapitated two beasts as she advanced. Sixteen, fifteen. Two lunged at her, one missing only by bit. Once again her blades sliced through them, severing torso from legs with the added strength of the Force. Fourteen. She outreached her hand and grabbed one, jerked her arm to the left, and sent the creature flying into the wall. Thirteen, twelve. Two more descended on her; two more fell to the floor.

Malou would continue to slowly dispatch of the remaining beasts, growing more and more frustrated as she grew more tired. She couldn't tell if her master was struggling or not, as she was too focused on surviving the onslaught of beasts.

(tag: @Braden Drake )

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas was oblivious to the scores of monstrous beasts which fell at the hand of his apprentice as his sole attention was upon the foe before him. One slip up of mind or body would cost him his life and that of Malou behind him. Artorigas flung another heavy rock in the direction of the Sith/Cultist hybrid, it was taking more and more effort the mental strain matching the physical one ripping at his body. Though it appeared as if the body of the self appointed Sidious was also failing, the lightning was coming less often and its move were becoming sluggish.

It just battered away the last bolder sent his way giving Artorigas time to think of something else. The Sith Noble pushed forward locking into a saber stance with his opponent. As the armour weave slowly burned Artorigas reached down, pulling the embers and heat from his slowly burning cloak into his hand. A small flame collocating in his palm, before shoving the burning fire up into the chest of his foe. The creature screamed out in pain taking a few steps back as it tied to pat down its burning body.

The creature wore a thin robe, one which easily caught aflame burning him from head to toe, the smell of burning flesh was luckily filtered out by his mask, though he was sure his apprentice would have to put up with the unpleasant smell. He watched the creature squirm and writhe in pain, not for the pleasure of it but for the break it gave him, allowing to collect the last reserves of his strength before charging forward again.

Andros/Sidious was to distracted to notice his advance, with a quick slice Artorigas' blade cut clean through the stomach of the creature serving the torso from its lower half. As the smoldering corpse fell to the floor Artorigas could see the pain of Sidious and the Anger of Andros within its eyes. "You have been defeated again Lord Andros, and this time you will never return." The creature tried to answer but only blood trickled from its lips before the light disappeared from its eyes.

No ghost or apparition appeared from the body, the utter defeat of the Lord seemed to banish its soul to oblivion. In that moment Artorigas dropped his blade, the purple/red beam disappearing before it clattered into the ground, as Artorigas fell to one knee. His body exhausted, his mind and soul spent.

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

When the beast possessed by the man named Lord Andros fell in two to the ground by the throne, the remaining beasts dispersed. They fled back to the corners of the room, slipping between cracks and pushing between doorways to return to wherever they had come from before. Malou too dropped to her knees, hands holding her off the ground as she let her body return to its normal state of being. Without the Force brought in to extend her capabilities, she too felt the effects of exhaustion weigh her down.

Malou stayed like that for several minutes, taking the time to catch her breath. It seemed Artorgias was spent as well; he too rested himself upon one knee. She had only caught glimpses of his battle, as she had been focused on the beasts which assaulted her.

After she had time to catch her breath enough for her body's heart rate to return to normal, Malou rose slowly and made her way over to him. She moved carefully around the bodies of the beasts she'd slain, counting the number of corpses in the back of her mind. She had pushed herself to her limit; she wanted a number to beat should she ever end up in a situation like this again. When she reached a few meters of him, she stopped. What do I even say in a situation like this?

"What--who?--was that...thing?" Her voice was breathy and weak from exhaustion but her mind was still sharp. She had been able to notice that it was more than the frail creature he had tossed aside much earlier.

tag: @Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

As he knelt there eyes closed, he used the last of his energy to allow the tendrils of The Force to flow out around him, searching for any signs of attack. It was to much energy to much pain to lift his armoured head and use his eyes so instead he relied on the The Force to give him sight. Perhaps he was spending to much time around Malou he thought a thin smile reaching his lips.

Artorigas was breathing hard when Malou reached his side, she too seemed worse for wear upon her arrival. Pressing a button upon his wrist, a hiss erupted behind his head as the magnalocks of his helmet came undone. With a little push from his hand the helmet fell down to the floor allowing his soaked head and hair a moment to breath in the cold dark air of the amphitheatre.

Pushing himself up to his feet he turned to look at the young women. "His name was Lord Andros. He was an ancient Sith Lord, I had the pleasure of meeting on my first trip into the wilds of the Sith World." With effort he turned away from the body and went back towards the throne. Though he had little energy to climb the steps so instead to took a seat near the bottom. "After our encounter he tried to posses me but did not succeed, since then he has lived inside here." Artorigas continued tapping the side of his head.

"It appeared that the concentrated Force energy here had given him strength to leave my body and posses another." He hissed in pain as the adrenaline in his body began to fade. "Now though he has gone. I felt his presence disappear into the void." Looking around the amphitheatre he noticed the bodies of Malou's victims. "You did well Malou, I would not have survived without you." He replied with a smile. "The beasts seem to be retreating, I say we try and contact Cydric and get some of our droids over here to hold the Citadel whilst we decide what to do next. What do you think?"

@lizziie

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

An ancient Sith Lord has tried to posses him? That was far from what she had expected. She'd thought that perhaps the throne had triggered some sort of...something. Everything here was so foreign to her that it really could've been anything.

But...she did well. A small smile appeared at the praise. She was proud of herself for being able to push herself to her limits and survive. It was exhausting and difficult, but she had pulled through.

"I think that would be good," she would remark in response to his suggestion. The droids would be able to clear out, or at the very least round up, the rest of the beasts and begin reconstruction on the more damaged parts of the Citadel. One of them should probably stay behind to oversee things… out of the two of them, Malou guessed she would be the better option. Artorgias looked much more worse for wear.

"I can stay and oversee things here." She had much less responsibility than he did anyways; he had a whole House to run as well. "The droids and I should be able to do a conclusive sweep of the Citadel."

tag: @Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The girl had a good head on her, she was smart and already planning on what to do next. That was good, it meant he could leave her here and not have to worry about micromanaging her activities. One less weight upon Artorigas already frazzled mind. Though he doubted that even with the full compliment of eighty droids they could effectively wipe every beast from the citadel, it was to big. Just from the short amount of time he had spent here he knew that needed to be tripled to be half sure nothing else hid in the dark corners of the Citadel.

"It will be a start, but do not overstretch yourselves. Form a base of operations outside around a landing zone. Then look to secure a section of the Citadel, first to the room with the computer then to here." He replied pain still shooting through his body. "Collapse or block corridors if you have to. We can always reopen them."

Pushing himself up from the steps he reached out with The Force pulling his lightsaber into his grasp. "I leave Exegol in your care Apprentice."

___________
End Thread.