Ask Sullust Breaking Point

[Kor'ez]

Sullust - Sith Temple​

Head down. Avoid eye contact. Don’t move. Wait for it to end.

These were the rules by which a slave had lived.

Kor’ez was that slave no longer and yet the rules still lived within him. They twisted and bound his heart like thorny vines. They shackled his soul and dragged him down. They injected fear into his mind.

Around him stood three Humans, “True Sith”, they called themselves. Born into the old Legion of Lettow somewhere in the Unknown Region apparently. The trio took great pleasure in abusing the former slave. Whether verbal mockery or ganging up to beat him in unofficial “matches”. The instructors turned their gazes away whether because the trio had important parents or simply because they saw Kor’ez’s acceptance of the bullying as weakness. Their families being the closest thing to nobility the Sith had meant they got away with murder and had inherited strong Force connections.

Allerius was the leader of the three, athletically lean and tall, and considered attractive by many of his female peers. Despite his upper-class appearance he was far from soft. Few Acolytes had the capacity for cruelty that Allerius possessed. He was considered one of the strongest in the Force of Kor’ez’s peers and was said to be given private lessons by the senior instructors.

Next to him was Alara . Potentially second in strength only to Allerius, at least according to the tutors, and a deadly lightsaber combat. She was considered beautiful as well. As such it was unsurprising that rumours about Allerius and Alara were lovers.

Third was Karver. Tall, bald, ugly and physically strong. He was also one of the few Acolytes in Kor’ez’s group that used a double-bladed lightsaber. He often bragged how skilled he was with a blade but in the Twi’lek’s opinion he only used the saberstaff was to make up for his lack of talent. Where Allerius and Alara were nearly equals there was no other word for Karver than crony.

Usually the trio would push Kor’ez around then move on to whatever other victim they had in mind. Incredibly Humanocentric they picked on the few aliens amongst their number.

And yet they hadn’t finished. The trio had already beaten Kor’ez with the training blades, leaving small wounds all over his body and had already verbally berated him. Yet they hadn’t moved on as usual. Perhaps today they were feeling particularly vindictive.

Kor’ez gritted his teeth, today was a bad day. He had already been injured the day before and today’s wounds on top of those were beyond irritating. Secondly, earlier today, he had been kicked out of his Force training class due to a failure to summon up even the slightest spark of the lightning. Days of demoralising beatings and mockery had broken his spirit enough that his grasp of the Dark Side had slipped from his grasp repeatedly.

Glancing over at the Head Lightsaber instructor, the only one of the teachers who had treated Kor’ez well since he joined, usually broke these moments up if they went on too long. Yet when he looked over he saw the instructor was gone. That was… unusual.

“Stinking alien filth.” spat Karver as he drove a boot into the back of Kor’ez’s knee knocking the tall alien down to one knee. “Remember your place before your betters.”

Allerius’s sick smile twisted in amusement. “Why don’t you just leave tail-head? You’ll never amount to anything amongst us.”

Alara laughed cruelly in response. The mockery continued and Karver’s foot dug deeper into Kor’ez’s leg, painfully so.

He tried to keep his calm. Tried to keep his head down. But it was too much. The heat began to build up within him, the chains cracked and breaking as the power beyond them began to burst forth.

“Enough.” hissed the Twi’lek.

Rising smoothly to his feet he lashed out violently and angrily with the Force. Allerius and Allara both had barriers raised swiftly enough to block the force but Karver was too slow and was hurtled through the air to slam headfirst into a wall where he dropped unmoving.

Red blade ignited in the hands of the Twi’lek and the two Humans who were still standing.

Snarling angrily Kor’ez leapt forward, his lightsaber clashing with Allerius’s as he forced the man backwards before spinning around to deflect the woman’s attack.

The three Acolytes danced around the room as Kor’ez parried and ducked the experty thrown attacks of the other Sith. Driving a boot into Alara’s stomach he sent the far smaller woman stumbling away before turning his attention on Allerius.

In the few moments of one-on-one Kor’ez saw something in Allerius’s eyes that he’d never seen before. Fear. The Twi’lek fed upon it, soaked it in, as he drove the Human back.

Somewhere in the back of his mind Kor’ez heard the voice of logic. Killing any of these three could bring rebuttals against him that he would not survive alone if their families were as powerful as he had heard. Yet that voice was lost in the growing furnace of his rage.

His smile broadened showing sharp teeth as he continued his advance.

-----------------
@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Her steps brought her through the ground filled with acolyte's and their instructors. Her visits to Sullust were few and far between. She very rarely found time to return, though this visit was unusual because it was for something she didn't necessarily need. Her cultists served her well, but, despite being Cadre she was still exploring what it was to consider herself Sith too. And most Sith took on apprentices to serve them. It was time to follow, or, at least, explore that tradition.

Her Cadre-armor stuck out now, having made a name for herself within the Order. Her hood was down this time, her cascading white hair pulled back into it's usual position.

Many of the acolytes eyes watched as she passed. It wasn't just her armour, but her power was beyond most lords, and the air around her dropped steeply in temperature. It was possibly that, and a mixture of her hunger. It never left her, it still lingered and peered at the dark beings on the ground. It still wanted to feed, but she pushed it aside much more easily when it came to assets.

She stopped only when she noticed a fight break out, and it was obviously not a practice one. A single acolyte lashed out, taking out two others before he began to dominate another. It was obviously a scene that'd get attention, especially because she sensed his desire to kill, something frowned on within the grounds of a Sith temple.

The Darth allowed the fight to go on for a short time before raising her hand and flicking her wrist. A wave of her Force struck the boy the lethan twi’lek was fighting. The boy was sent flying far off into the distance before hitting the ground and rolling to a stop. She walked up to the twi'lek after, approaching from behind. There was a stark difference between the two Sith's sizes. She was much, much smaller than the acolyte though she'd simply look up because of it. "I require assistance. If you're looking for something to do, follow me," she said simply, turning and walking back to the temple.

Once she got to the temple, she'd continue through the halls all the way to a docking bay and then onto her ship the Void. They were going to leave the temple right away.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Parrying a blow the Twi’lek snarled as he was forced back a step, he could feel his rage growing, it was as if the fusion reactor that lay at the core of his power was overloading. The infinite power of the Dark Side roared through his muscled form and in that instant he knew he could kill the Human. He would reach out with the Force, grab him by the throat an-

The thought was left unfinished.

A shadow fell upon the arena, not a physical absence of light but a spiritual one. The Dark Side emanated across them and power flew through the air unseen. Allerius was sent hurtling away before either Acolyte understood what had happened. Turning to see the source of the power the young student was surprised to see the woman before him. Although he only knew of the Dark Lord he knew what she was well enough. The source of the darkness flowing through the Force was now obvious.

Despite the difference in physical stature of the two there was no doubt who was the greater of the pair. Indeed Kor’ez instinctively slumped as if trying to make himself smaller than the Sith Lord. Taurus had always hated how much taller the Twi’lek was than him.

Dismissing the other Acolytes Kor’ez now only had attention for the Sith Master before him. Although her words sounded like a mere suggestion he didn’t take it for anything less than an Order.

“Yes Mistress.” was the simple response.

Disengaging his weapon and following the Darth he pondered what assistance he could provide such a mighty being. Walking in silence it soon became obvious they were heading to a vessel, some sort of military transport.

The words escaped his lips before he could stop himself. “Where are we going?” he asked before immediately flinching as if in anticipation for a violent response.

------------------------------------------------
@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Two of her cultists were waiting outside her ship, and their eyes bore into the man following their goddess. Malicia walked past by them, paying no attention to their discomfort of another passenger. They were always overprotective. By the time the twi'lek asked his question, Malicia was sitting down.

"To a fortress," she answered, noting the twi'lek's fear but ignoring it too. She looked over to her cultists and motioned to the cockpit. They both understood and went to the controls, starting up the ship. The Void hummed to life and began to hover as its landing gear started to retract.

For a moment in time she remained quiet, considering a few things before speaking, "What's your name?" Yellow eyes now firmly placed on him. They were watching his movements, his reaction and now she was also paying attention to what emotions emanated off him. "What ambitions do you have?" she added. She assumed that he had some. Typically Sith did, though she'd found that many surprised her with indifferent or unusual attitudes.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

The two awaiting cultists made Kor’ez uncomfortable as he passed by them. He’d felt out of his depth on Sullust amongst so many Acolytes who’d been born and raised into a heritage of Dark Side tutelage. Now that he was being pulled into the unknown by the Darth he couldn’t help but suspect he was finally going to drown. The hostility in the eyes of the Cultists certainly wasn’t helping matters. What sort of fortress where they heading to?

Boarding the vessel Kor’ez silently took a seat, so unsure of what was happening, and lost in his dark thoughts he practically leapt out of his skin when the Sith Lord spoke with him. It took him a moment to organise his thoughts enough for a coherent response.

“I am called Kor’ez dark Mistress.” he replied with his head slightly bowed. Even when not making eye contact with the other Sith he could feel her gaze upon him, practically burning into him, the power behind those eyes was frightful to say the least.

When she asked what his ambitions were, the Twi’lek blinked in surprise. No one had ever really asked him that before. He’d never really dwelt upon what he wanted beyond trying to survive the day to day dangers of studying to become a Sith. Survival. Was that an answer? It didn’t seem quite enough. Power? That was a means but not an end goal. So what did he want? “Freedom.” the words came half-unbidden as he raised his yellow eyes to hers. “I want to become powerful enough to never be enslaved again.”

------------------------------------------------
@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

She listened to his answer... he spoke something eerily familiar. Malicia had never been a typical slave. She was Cadre, but they had both suffered in positions they hadn't belonged in as Force users. Still, he wouldn't see a change in her expression or movement of any kind from her at first. She remained stoic for a handful of seconds.

"Never bow your head to me again," she said flatly after, a hint of a threat behind her words. A confusing request from a Sith to be certain, yet she couldn't care less if it confused him or not. "I do not care for that tradition."

She didn't say anything about his ambition right away, instead remaining quiet until the ship touched back down not long after. The fortress and temple weren't far apart, and even before she left the ship she could feel echo's of the battle that took place not long ago. A victory for the Sith, one she wasn't at as she was sacking the Jedi's temple on Ajan Kloss.

Malicia stood from her seat, walking to the ships door as it opened and the ramp extended. Her two most loyal cultists followed after her. There was still endless amounts of debris from the battle, and she could feel a small inkling of light somewhere. A Jedi's lightsaber remained on the field. "Power is not just what you wield at your hands, but the way you present yourself," she said, looking back at the twi'lek, he'd know what she meant.

The Darth turned to the large battle field in front of them. The debris from the multiple crashed ships, from the fortress itself, the large cliffs ripped in half, the drops into lava pools. Parts of the field had chunks of obsidian, cooled lava that had been thrown around during the battle. Burnt bodies still laid around, though they looked more like statues as the flesh had twisted from the heat around. "Find me the source of light that remains here," she said to the twi'lek.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Flinching the Twi’lek almost bowed again in acknowledgement but managed to turn the movement into a shallow nod instead. Not bowing would be more… difficult than it sounded for someone with his background but he had to learn.

“As you command.” he assured her.

Even as the ship began to touch down the novice Force Adept could feel it. It was distant and dull to his unhoned senses but there were scars here, echoes of a great battle from recent days. As the transport began to come in for a landing Kor’ez guessed that they were arriving at the location of the battle that had taken place not too long ago. He didn’t know the details but he’d heard about it second hand from some of the Instructors. Some sort of skirmish in which the Sith had defeated the Jedi intruders. There Eternal himself had apparently shown the true power of the Dark Side to some so-called “Masters” of the Light.

But why were they here?

Pushing himself to his feet, Kor'ez followed the Darth to the ramp. Glancing out into the area he saw his suspicions were correct. Debris everywhere. He was almost wistful that he hadn’t been here himself but, in time, he would have his chance. It took many battles to build an Empire and likely even more to take down the infestation of Jedi who sought to corrupt the Force with it’s all encompassing Light.

When the woman looked back at him and spoke, Twi’lek frowned. Then he realised that he was practically bent over in an attempt to hide his height. Becoming extremely self-conscious Kor’ez straightened up to his full height, over two meters, and rolled his broad muscular shoulders. He felt a little odd doing it after so many years of trying to make himself look smaller and of hating his size.

Stepping down and off the ramp he looked around. It was a beautiful sight really. Pools of lava, patches of obsidian, and shattered landscape. He took a deep breath he momentarily bathed in the battlefield.

Refocusing the Twi’lek turned to glance at the Darth he waited for her command and when it came her expression became one of confusion.

“Uh… yes Mistress.”

What the hell was a source of Light? He half wanted to be a smartass and point at the sun but the smarter part of his brain assured him that death wasn’t worth a quip. Besides so far the Dark Lord had treated him a far sight better than the lesser Sith tutors had.

Walking around with as much purpose as he could feign he approached one of the corpses. The thing was no longer recognisable beyond being humanoid. Putting a metallic boot into one of them he stepped back as the cooked flesh simply crumbled and collapsed.

Huh. Well that was a new one.

Looking back at the Sith Lord he gritted his teeth in frustration. Wasn’t this what he’d been waiting for? A chance to prove himself? There was only so much he could learn from the general instructors.

Feeling his annoyance at himself and the situation rising, the Sith tried to center himself. Closing his eyes he tried to reach out with his senses, to find through the Force what he was searching for. After several impatience seconds he gave up. It was pointless. Pacing irritably he almost gave up when he felt it.

A spike of burning light.

It was like that Padawan he’d met on Onderon although not as sharp. It was still definitely unpleasant.

Frowning he began to walk deeper into the battlefield seeing out the source of his discomfort.

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia watched the twi'lek as he wandered aimlessly. His emotions switching from hunger to frustration. Did he desire battle? Many Sith did, but many also rushed fool hearty into it without truly understanding what they were facing or doing. She allowed him to experience the feelings, waiting until he was able to pick up something and begin to wander somewhat aimlessly once more.

The Darth began to move forward, looking around the field. Echos of the battle appeared in her mind. Though she was not able to glace the battle itself, she understood when she passed concentrated spots.

After some time, she pierced Kor'ez's mind telepathically, "Here there are echos in your way, out in the world there will be people. Use your anger, your frustration and confusion to fuel your desire to find the source. Want it, hone into your target and take it, or suffer the humiliation that you'll bring down on yourself for such a simple, pathetic failure."

Malicia stopped after, part of her attention moving from the twi'lek to gaze down on a spot near her. A giant burn mark from a lightning strike, no doubt the Dark Lord's work. An echo of pain lingered in the spot. She wondered which Jedi tasted the Dark Lords power here.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Pausing mid step as the voice penetrating his mind the Twi’lek glanced around in shock for a moment. He had never experienced such a thing before but after a moment he managed to calm himself having realised what had happened. Absently he couldn’t help but wonder how such a power was gained, the instructor’s he’d had certainly never demonstrated such ability.

Dismissing his thoughts on the subject Kor’ez instead turned his attention inwards focusing on the advice of the Dark Lord. He focused his frustration, his irritation and annoyance into pathways along his wishes. He pulled upon the Dark Side to assist him.

In a single moment the realisation came. He stopped trying to find what he was seeking for and instead he simply decided he would. In that instant it was really that easy. For the briefest moment the Dark Side flooded through him, giving him everything he sought and he simply knew.

The bright light shone across the field like a beacon with the blinding intensity of a Star. It was harsh and cruel. It was the Light Side.

Turning off to one side Kor’ez strode through the scarred landscape and drove his boot through the ash-like remains of what he somehow knew had once been a Jedi. Scrapping at the ash with his foot he uncovered what lay beneath and flexed his fingers summoning the lightsaber hilt to his hand.

Then it was gone. The Dark Side left him and for a moment the Twi’lek felt disoriented and confused. He wasn’t quite sure how he’d found it. A certain strange weariness pulled at the Acolyte's mind.

Frowning he stared at the Jedi weapon with a sensation of disgust. He could sense the gleam of the crystal within even through the alloy casing of the hilt.

With an unsure expression, not certain if this was what he was really searching for, the Sith returned to the Darth. Upon reaching the Dark Lady Kor’ez almost bowed before remembering her earlier warning. Instead he simply presented her with the Jedi weapon.

“Is this what you sought Mistress?”

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Her yellow eyes flicked down to the lightsaber in Kor'ez's hand. Weakness radiated off of it. The light was weak and so was its former owner. "Yes. You can keep it, for now," she replied after a few seconds. "You'll need the kyber crystal and parts, if you stay with me."

The Darth did not wait for Kor'ez to answer, her eyes simply returning to that one spot. Had the one that tasted pain here been the same one she fought on Tatoonie? If he was dead she'd be disappointed. He was a key in her story, one that pushed her to unlock her true potential. She wanted him to see the darkness that he'd help create. Face it and accept it.

Pushing aside the thoughts for now, she turned and began to walk towards her ship again. Her cultists moved to the sides to let her pass, following behind her again after. "Truthfully, I came back to Sullust to find an apprentice, but if you become mine it will be purely by your choice."

Because she'd only strode a few feet away from her ship, she was already on the ramp by the time she finished her first sentence. Instead of going up the ramp however she turned on her heels and faced the twi'lek. "It will not be out of desperation for a master, or pressure because of my rank. If you come to me with either in your mind, I will kill you. Only come if you desire to learn and serve under me. Understand that, if its glory of battle after battle that you seek, you will not find it under my command. I do take part in battles and in grander ventures within the Sith, but most of my work is not so overt. I gather information and manipulate from the shadows."

Malicia raised her hand, suddenly sending a wave of Force from it towards Kor'ze. Just like the boy he was fighting earlier, if it impacted him it'd send him flying back several meters violently. "I'll be in the Sullust temple for a few more days," she added, before turning around and walking up the ramp. The ships doors hissed closed right after, preventing the twi'lek from entering after her. He'd have to find his own way back to the temple and to her, if he wanted apprenticeship.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Glancing at the loathsome Jedi weapon he nodded at the Darth’s command and clipped the weapon to his belt. “Stay with you?” he asked with a tone that mixed hope and concern. This might be the opportunity he sought but, also, sometimes drawing too much attention from a Sith of her level could be… dangerous.

The Darth pushed on and the Sith Lady spoke of the true reason she’d come to this world. The Twi’lek felt hope blossom within him but kept his expression as neutral as possible.

Kor’ez began to follow the one he hoped would be his new master when she stopped causing him to pause mid-step. She gave him a warning, conditions of a kind, before an invisible force struck the Twi’lek causing him to fly backwards to crash into the cracked ground of Sullust.

The Darth soon vanished into her shuttle which roared as it took off leaving him behind.

The young Acolyte stared at the retreated vessel with a mix of annoyance and confusion. Instead of running off immediately the Twi’lek dropped into a lotus position and closed his eyes. Clearing his mind of other concerns he instead focused only on what his prospective Master’s words.

Whilst his ambitions had turned to becoming a great lightsaber duellist, a Blademaster of the Sith, that didn’t necessarily mean he wished to constantly stride upon the battlefield without thought. Indeed being a slave had taught him a very important lesson. Sometimes it was best to act without being seen. Learning how to work in the Shadows would be infinitely valuable for himself.

‘Indeed it might even serve her to have a warrior at her command to deal with issues more directly if the need arises.’ he thought to himself. Surely that would make for a beneficial relationship for both of them.

Sending his mind further towards the Dark Side of the Force he sought answers. What was the best course of action?

Kor’ez’s consciousness plunged deeply into the accepting and welcoming Darkness. It whispered to him. Promises of power trying to draw him this way and that but the Twi’lek ignored it. He sunk deeper searching for the single answer he wanted. Then, eventually, he found it. One had to take risks. Cowardice would not serve the Dark Side.

Opening his eyes Kor’ez stood up slowly. He knew the answer he’d give upon his return.

Unclipping the new hilt from his belt he ignited it watching the violet blade burst into life. Staring at the weapon he frowned. How did they make the crystals red anyway? He’d heard Sith kyber crystals where corrupted Jedi ones but he had no idea how that process actually occurred. Turning off the weapon Kor’ez sighed and began walking in the general direction of the temple.

After 15 minutes of walking he realised he’d never actually ventured far from the Temple on Sullust before.

“Hopefully I can find my bloody way.” he muttered to himself.

Relying on his instincts he kept walking. He’d get there eventually… right?

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

When her ship touched down at the temple, her mind was already elsewhere. She had too much to do to dwell on a single subject for too long. Malicia walked to the office being provided to her for this trip, one she hoped to secure indefinitely with a seat on the council.

The Darth's strides brought her behind the desk and into its chair, facing the datpads left on it. She needed to catch up, though thankfully, with her cultists, a lot of wings took care of their minor daily runnings. Her role was to command the commanders.

Malicia picked up the datapad closet to her and drifted off into her business, sinking a good amount of time into it. If Kor'ez showed up, she wouldn't look up at him at first. She'd finish reading a sentence, put down her datapad and then look up at him. He'd get her proper attention. Her gaze, senses and focus on his movements and expressions. If he was to become her apprentice, she was not going to give anything but her all to him. To do otherwise was a waste of time. She did not invest into anything lightly.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

It took longer than Kor’ez would have thought to return to the Temple having underestimated just how far the shuttle had carried him. As it was Kor’ez, even being as fit as he was, had been forced to draw upon the Dark Side to reinvigorate himself so that he could keep moving across the rocky landscape without slowing down.

It didn't help that a Rockrender had attacked him on his way. Kor’ez had been led to believe that the creatures didn’t assault the living being drawn only to minerals to feed upon but this one had been somewhat injured. It had attacked either in anger due to its wounds or he’d come too close to an unseen nest. Either way the diversion had given Kor’ez an opportunity to try out a few moves from the Ataru forms with both lightsabers he now carried. Despite it’s inconvenience the small bit of action had brightened up the journey.

The positive aspect of the long walk had been to give Kor’ez more time to think on the Darth’s offer. The prospect of having a powerful Master to study under was nearly enough but she had mentioned other aspects. Working in the shadows, manipulation rather than direct combat. The more he pondered the more he was certain of his earlier decision. This was too good an opportunity to cast aside out of fear.

Eventually Kor’ez reached the Temple. He could feel the Darkness coming of it and couldn’t help but wonder what a gathering of Sith, or other Dark Side adepts, did to the environment they inhabited over time.

‘Concerns for another time.’

Entering the Temple Kor’ez grabbed an assistant instructor surprising the Human as the Twi’leks usual timidness was gone, too distracted and eager to find the woman, and he asked where the Dark Lady was staying. Not only did he find the location of her office but he was also furnished with her name. Darth Malicia. He had recognised her appearance but had been unable to recall her name, one small issue dealt with then.

As he approached the Offices he’d been told about he saw a cultist, dressed similar to the two that had accompanied them on the shuttle maybe even one of them, it was hard to tell with their faces covered, leaving the room.

Reaching the Office door he pressed a button that sounded an alert for the occupants before pressing the open button and stepping inside. Glancing around he realised the room lacked identity, from his experience people liked to shape their professional spaces to fit them but this one was oddly blank. Either Malicia preferred things that way or this was a temporary place of work.

‘She did mention only coming back in search of an apprentice. Perhaps she has another world she operates from.’ he thought to himself. It was becoming rather clear to Kor’ez that he had very little idea of what the scope of their Order was. He heard so little being a lowly acolyte, nevermind an alien, within these halls.

Stepping in front of her desk he caught himself before he automatically bowed, remembering her warning, instead he stood at his full height and only averted his gaze for a moment before glancing back at her.

“Darth Malicia. I have come as offered. I wish to learn not only how to harness the Dark Side but also when to use these powers. I wish to find the best way to serve the Order.”

The last was something of a surprise to Kor’ez as he said it. He did want to help the Sith Order grow powerful beyond challenging. He had read about the old ways, when only two Sith existed and hid their power. He didn’t want the Order reduced to that. He wished to see the Sith rule the galaxy and would do his part to assist in such a destiny.

 

[Darth Malicia]

At first, Malicia simply stared, gauging the twi'lek. It took a few seconds but her reply came after with a nod, "Very well, my apprentice." He'd come on his own and heeded her warnings. Maybe he wouldn't survive long out in the world. Maybe his ambitions weren't enough to drive him forward. But, Malicia had a feeling that greatness awaited him. All he needed to do was seize it.

The Darth picked up one of her datapads after, though only held it. "If you have any pressing questions, ask them now. Tomorrow we will deal with your lightsaber and then head off planet. Our attention will turn to old Sith space and the worlds around them. Not simply invasions of those worlds, however. I'll brief you more on our way," she said, vaguely laying out what he should expect.

Most of her cultists were busy with other matters so the best use of her apprentice now was turning his focus on influence and expansion in old Sith space. Because of their history, it'd be easier to establish bases on the core worlds there and then spread outward. It wouldn't take long for her to build a fleet to match the one around Sullust either. Only those who lacked both skill and foresight wouldn't agree. Best of all, if her research proved true, there was a way to connect old and new Sith space.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Kor’ez felt a smile tug at his lips when she called him her apprentice. At last a true teacher in the Dark Side. A mentor who could help him reach his true potential. It was hard to imagine that someday Kor’ez could emanate the same power that the woman before him did. But perhaps with her help...

Focusing on the present the Acolyte gave a slight nod of his head. “No Master. I am sure I will come to understand my place and purpose in time.” he told her with quiet confidence.

His hand brushed the Jedi weapon at his waste and he nodded. “I look forward to your guidance.” he assured her.

Turning his mind to what she had mentioned he frowned slightly. Old Sith Space? He dug at old memories and considered the places of power that lay within the old territories of the past Sith Galactic Powers. “The ancient Empire’s territories such as Korriban, Moraband, Dromund Kaas and Ziost?” he asked dredging the words out of old texts he’d read.

The academic tuition of the Temple was… lacking at best, almost everything Kor’ez knew had been from the late hours he spent reading texts and using student holocrons in the library. It had also been a place of escape for Kor’ez, few of the antagonistic Acolytes had the patience for such studies and as such he was able to find peace in those walls.

“I look forward to supporting our efforts there.”

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

"Yes," she answered his question about the worlds. Them, and all the worlds around them. She was glad that he appreciated the worlds, because something on that side of the galaxy was calling her. Something she didn't quite understand but knew that she needed to seize. "It will be our home."

"Then report to the north west chamber tomorrow, before dawn," she said, "Don't be late." Malicia was fully aware that she didn't give an exact time, but that was on purpose. When exactly he showed up was up to him, as long as it was before dawn.

------------------------- The Next Day -------------------------​

One of Malicia's cultists arrived twenty minutes before her, and with him a small work station on a trolly. He set the station up near the middle of the odd chamber. A few minutes passed as he worked his way through it. Once it was done, he nodded to himself and gave it another look over before scurrying off.

The Darth was nearly at the room when her cultist passed by her on his way out. Having responded to most of her messages, she was ready to give some time to her new apprentice again.

She'd managed to get some sleep, though it was a tricky thing. Sleep did not come easy to her. It did not come at all to the entity, the collective of hundreds of dead, that shared her body and mind.

As she walked, she wondered if her apprentice was simply waiting for her there, or if he was late, or what she'd see once she arrived there. She had to admit, training him might become interesting in some small way, though she wasn't interested in toying with him and wasting both their time.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Kor’ez nodded with a look of interest. He would have to look into any old records, and more modern survey reports, of the worlds that he could get his hands on. Best to be prepared in case the knowledge came in useful during the Order’s plans.

When Malicia gave him his marching orders the young Twi’lek nodded. “Of course my Lord.” he acknowledged respectfully before resisting the urge to bow and striding out of the office.

------------------------- The Next Day -------------------------​

Kor’ez was kneeling in quiet meditation when the Cultist arrived. He opened his eyes to glance at the man who was setting up some sort of table on a trolly but when the man didn’t acknowledge him the Twi’lek closed his eyes again and began to slowly dip back into the Force.

The Twi’lek had slept little the night before but he had found that sleep had become less essential as he studied more Sith Lore and began to wield even greater quantities of the Dark Side. It seemed the Force had begun to sustain him physically and mentally more and more as time went by. Frankly it was one of the aspects which he was most thankful for. The nightmare filled darkness that came to him when he slept had never been pleasant, even if he had killed Tarsus it seemed that his former Master still dwelt within his mind and the memories of what the Sith Cultist had done to him over the years had stayed with the Twi’lek. Those cruel memories granted him power while awake but he had little control over them as he slept.

He felt her through the Force before he saw her. It was like a storm in the Force, a beacon of power as she approached the room.

Kor’ez would only stand once she arrived, rising gracefully to his feet, with a respectful nod when on his feet.

“Good Morning Master.”

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia did not reply to her apprentices greeting, though she did note it. "Take the Jedi's lightsaber out and place it on the station," she said, gesturing towards it. "As you probably understand, it is the Kyber crystal that you bleed. I want you to deconstruct the Jedi's hilt and extract the crystal before bleeding it. Afterwards, you can pick from any of the parts here to construct a new hilt of your choosing."

The Darth moved towards the station herself, waving her hand over top of it. Three drawers opened, revealing a plethora of parts and several datapad with various lightsaber schematics on them.

Bringing her arm up to her side now, her lightsaber flew to her hand and she ignited it. "Bleeding a crystal helps you connect to it. It imprints part of you, because the whole point is to force your will on it. Make it submit to you. Make it submit to the Dark Side," she said, though her lightsaber also carried a small imprint of her brothers signature.

Her eyes momentarily drifted to his other blade on his hip, which she could tell was barely bonded to him. He clearly hadn't bled it himself, which was why they were doing this exercise in the first place. "It can happen over time, as well, by using the blade. Bleeding it this way simply expedites the connection."

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Kor'ez]

Frowning slightly but nodding his understanding the Acolyte unclipped the weapon from his belt. He placed the lightsaber upon the workstation as commanded.

Listening to the Sith he nodded slightly. “I am aware of this in practice, Master.” he responded, only in practice though. Kor’ez’s current lightsaber was the one he had taken from Tarsus after murdering the bastard. He had taken it apart once to try and understand how it worked but it’s dual-phase construction had been beyond the scraps of knowledge around weapon construction that the Temple had imparted upon him.

Closing his eyes Kor’ez reached out towards the Jedi weapon causing it to rise into the air. Following the construction with his mind he began to disassemble the weapon. He’d practiced this at least with his existing weapon both with and without the Force. The former required tools whilst the latter didn’t.

After a few minutes the pieces of alloy metal and carbon composite dropped gently to the station whilst the green crystal remained afloat.

Opening his eyes Kor’ez reached out and took the crystal in his hand. He could feel the light radiating off the gem as if it was threatening to burn his flesh. Strange how such a small thing could leave such a large imprint in the Force. He had to wonder what the destruction of a large volume of these crystals would do to the Force? Unfortunately such a question may never be answered since, as far as Kor’ez was aware, most of the large natural sites of Kyber Crystals had been despoiled by the Empire in the Emperor’s ill conceived plans for monstrously inefficient super weapons.

Focusing on the present he placed one hand upon the other with the gem trapped between two palms. Unsure of what to do he sent his mind towards the bright light in his grasp and, with the Dark Side in his control, he forced his mind towards it. At first the gem resisted him but as Kor’ez narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw he slammed his consciousness into the little ball of light commanding it to obey him.

For a moment he felt it begin to give way and then.... darkness.


Kor’ez saw himself upon Ryloth beside him was Quyne'afa and Elav'aluroon his closest friends. In front of them stood the traitor Kharnus, who now called himself Chom, wearing his Jedi robes with the blue blade in hand. The three Sith attacked their former compatriot but again and again he threw them back. Disarming them and throwing them aside with the Force. The former Sith was stronger than ever.

The Light had made him stronger than the Dark ever had.

Flashes of images, too quick to follow, and Kor’ez was upon a green world with a Temple behind him. A Jedi temple.

The four Twi’leks laughed with more joy than they ever had. They were on their way towards a better life. A life free of fear and hatred. A life worth living. The four jedi ignited their blades as he began another training session.

More images. Years of life. The Sith had been pushed back to the edge of the galaxy. One more task lay before Kor’ez.

The cultists lay dead around them. Unwilling to give up on their master. Darth Malicia stood before him with fury radiating off her.

“So this is what you’ve become my apprentice? Do you believe you stop me here?” she asked.

Kor’ez shook his head slightly. “I am no longer your apprentice. I am a Jedi Knight. Please surrender, there is so much more to life than mere power.”

Her answer was hatred. Lightning ripped across the air. Power made manifest. Power that Kor’ez had once thirsted for. Power that had once scared him.

No longer.

When the lightning came his blue and green blades caught it and deflected it back upon the Sith. Because, in the end, the Light was greater than any Darkness and it give way as the Night must give way to the Day.

He leapt forward. His blade came down on her neck even as she reeled from her own lightning being turned on her.

She was dead. Defeated. Just as soon the Sith would b-


NO.

Kor’ez opened his eyes, he was down on one knee, lightning was tearing through the air around him as the crystal tried to resist but now he was free from the illusion. From the lie it had shown him.

An echo cried through the Force, screaming as if in pain, and then the glow was gone as bright red light emitted from his clasped hands. The lightning vanished.

Breathing heavily Kor’ez pushed himself to his feet as he opened his hands to reveal the blood red crystal resting upon his palm.

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

She watched her student struggle, but did not interfere. If she coddled him at any point, it'd only do him a disservice. Only the strongest in the Sith survived. To knowingly raise one to simply die... there were merits, maybe it was even the "Sith" thing to do, but it was came off as a waste of time to her.

The Dark Side was never meant to be coddled. Never meant to be held back. It had its own agenda, just like the Light. The Dark spurred its vessels forward to destroy and devour life. Unlike its vessels, the Dark continued forward indefinitely, transcending death to continue the cycle.

Malicia was doing what she believed the Dark wanted. Continuing the cycle.

Red glimmered in her eyes and brought her back from her thoughts. The red was a reflection of her apprentices bled kyber crystal. She could tell that he'd went through something to make it happen. But, in the end, he'd been triumphant and that was all that mattered. "Very good," she said, gesturing towards the lightsaber parts after.

"Do you feel free?" she asked suddenly, probably jarringly considering their current subject. "You want to become so powerful no one can enslave you again, but the programming left from being under your masters rule can linger. Does it linger for you? What would make you feel truly free?" she asked, genuinely curious about his answer. Though, of course, she tried to eliminate any hint of that from her voice.

@Lazy Swordsman