The Darkness Within (Training of Caed Ultor)

[Aussie Legend]

Darkness. It was this ones place of refuge, an escape from everything, a place of solitude. Darkness implies free will, the ability to do anything one wishes without the fumbling eyes of others caring for your decisions or actions, a ensurance of security, so long as you are the hunter, the monster.

The howling wind loudly flowed through the large trees, whipping the bark as if to settle a long-going dispute under the cold moonlight beaming down from above, casting shadows in every direction, concealing the forest in absolute darkness.

Security in shadows.

Zeak Seleon knelt beneath the dark blanket covering the forest, meditation seemed so much simpler in the shadows. It was only now Zeak realized how long it had been since his submission into meditation, for several hours he had been waiting for the one whom he would process through training, whether or not Zeak was ready for a pupil was to be decided in the coming hours, yet he believed it was time.

Zeak continued meditating silently in the cold night, awaiting the arrival of the second being.

 

[Rev]

Caed's pace was slow, in many ways he resembled his father, the elder Ultor being a high ranking Master in the Jedi, part of the Council even. It had been decided that Caed nor his mother would travel down that path, and here he was, making his first steps down a dark road, a journey he was unsure of, but wanted more than anything else, if only to seperate his own name from his parents. His eyes peirced through the darkness until they focused on one lone object, the mental image that was portrayed in his mind was unlike anything he had ever seen, and the power radiating from this beings form was unlike anything he had ever felt; these feelings caused his mind to race with curiosity.

Black hair that stretched down the boys almost picturesque face to almost his shoulders was unlike most of his time would sport. These dark folicals would be a hint for what was to come as the boy would soon be in complete darkness and at the whim of the Bogan. Coming to his newest Master, one that was far different than the Jedi he had been trained by years and years prior he gave him a bow, not out of habit, but of respect.

"Master."

His voice was already cold, filled with anger and hate it would seem. How one of the most anticipated young Jedi had turned so quickly even he could not answer, perhaps it was the lies that the Bogan pushed into his head to get him to where he was. Whatever the reasons were his fists were clenched, his mind was prepared, and his trained awaited. For once in his life he felt his arrogance was not a bad thing, he only hoped that this man could keep up with himself, he was far different than most when it came to training..

 

[Aussie Legend]

There was suddenly a flicker in the force, the deffinate presence of another. Zeak could feel the approaching beings power, it was strong, his teachings would more then deffinately increase this others grasp of the Dark Side.

Zeak rose from his meditation position as the other drew closer, a single word ringing out among the absolute silence around them, giving Zeak the obvious assumtion that the man standing before him was to become his pupil.

"Welcome, Acolyte."

Zeak looked over his new pupil quickly, his pale skin and long black hair were the most notable features, the darkness around them and the shadow cast upon his face by the long, dark robes he was dressed in left nothing else to be seen.

"What is thy name?"

 

[Rev]

Staring into his new master's eyes they were like nothing he had ever seen before. It was as if he were staring directly into darkness, directly into the Darkside. This thought sent a chill up his young spine before being pushed aside, this man was his new mentor, not an enemy. Though through instruction he would soon learn following this path, there were no friends and only enemies. Swallowing the lump in his throat he pushed any fear he had aside, it was time for him to be his own person, time for him to show all the Jedi that told him the darkside was a path he would not want to follow wrong. Looking at his Master he did not seem as the Jedi had put the darkside, Zeak was no more pale than Caed himself was, nor did he come off as evil. It was simply one opposing faction against another, and the Jedi were the ones who seemed to make up the lies here.

"I am Caed Ultor, Master. I am at your will."

Bowing his head, he was more than ready to give himself to the Bogan teachings.

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak accepted his pupils words and sign of respect, before turning slightly, looking into the blackness around them.

"Tell me, my apprentice, why is it you are here?"

The answer was obvious, Zeak had felt it in the Acolyte's emotion as he approached, hatred, revenge. Whatever the reason, Zeak would fuel the burning flame within to bring out his pupils true power, then the teaching would commence.

 

[Rev]

Caed didn't have to think about his answer, but he did anyways, he wanted his true reasons. The Jedi had in a sense turned their backs on him, at least his family did, a family of Jedi. Balling his fists at the thought of his mother leaving to protect him from harm, the lie that was fabricated to hide her lack of love. Then his father hiding this reason from him, pushing him away slowly. It just caused his anger to boil deep within, an emotion he could never really control.

"To be different... to prove those who told me the darkside was the wrong path wrong. I was a Jedi for so long... a crusader for the light, and they did nothing for me. I want to show them what they failed with and make them pay for it..."

The hatred in his voice could not only be sensed but felt and he knew it. His emotions and past thoughts were at a broil ready to snap if he was pushed the wrong way it would seem. The haunting thoughts in his mind seemed to be agitated by the thought of his family.

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak twitched slightly at the sense of the boiling anger, it seemed this would be simple, he just needed to push deeper.

"Tell me of your parents."

Zeak had noticed the mans clenched fist at the thought of his past, what that thought was, Zeak could not read. His parents seemed like the most obvious pressure point, perhaps his instincts would favor him.

 

[Rev]

Caed stared across at this stranger, this man that would be guiding him to greatness, or so he hoped. Taking in a deep breath he spoke to this stranger.

"My Father is on the Jedi Council... a man who follows the Lightside of the Force and trusts in its guidance, though I have seen his emotions take the best of him, his beliefs in the Light fail. He lied to protect me from the truths I am told, the truths of my mother. She left, for what reason I am unsure, I was told to protect me from the Darkside, to stop my fall to where I am now. Though I think she is the reason I am here, I'm told she left because she fell out of love with her own child.. I hate her for it, I hate her for bringing me down this Path, a path of power I sense, but a path without family. Should I ever meet her again I fear for her life in that she abandoned me and left me to live my life alone."

His nails were diggin into his own palm, at this he took in a breath and released his grip, his wounds stung, but they would heal with time.

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak took his pupils words and twisted them in his mind, thinking of a way to bring out this man pure anger.

"Your mother left out of spite, jelousy. She realized your potential, your grasp of the force, she realized your power."

Zeak paused, looking into his pupil's eyes.

"And with my help, my apprentice, your power will be great."

 

[Rev]

The thoughts that were now being bored into the young mans head nearly pushed him over the edge with rage. Clenching his hands into fists once more he snarled with anger as he thought about the last moment he had seen his mother. She had given him a hug and faded into the galaxy. Looking at Zeak the former Jedi smiled and gave his master a nod.

"She must know my power Master, the entire Jedi Order must know my power, and they will see what power they betrayed..."

His breathing was heavy and short, he was nearly hyperventilating with anger and hate at this moment. He found it remarkable how angry he could get himself with years of training in control of emotion. Closing his eyes he ignored his prior training and bowed his head to his new Master.

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak nodded, it had worked. His apprentice was now ready.

"Before we commence your training, Acolyte, there is something we must discuss." He said, before pausing.

"Your mother is a Dark Jedi."

Zeak had once met his apprentice's mother, she was a well known Crusader among the Dark Jedi of the Bogan, a very skilled and powerfull Dark Jedi.

 

[Rev]

Caed looked at his Master as if disgusted, that is what she had left him for? Only to become a Dark Jedi, no notifications, nothing, perhaps what the Bogan had told him was true, maybe she did fall out of love. A look of anger consumed the boys face and he stood at Zeak as if he were the one who told him the 'truths.'

"She stopped being my mother when she left a year ago..."

His voice held a certain cold to it, a resolve that seemed to be unbreakable. He didn't quite believe it and only hoped he would not run into the woman that had given birth to him.

"...there is nothing to discuss."

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak nodded, this was good. It was obvious he had no intention to know his mother, and the fact he knew of her whereabouts would only eat away at him inside, feeding his rage, rage which Zeak would use to train him.

"Very well."

Zeak returned to his position on his knees, the darkness consuming him as he moved, motioning for the Acolyte to do the same.

"Tell me, what do you know of the Dark Jedi of the Bogan?"

 

[Rev]

Hearing the man's voice at the request to join him only brought Caed to his knees, his eyes closing as he thought about his mother leaving and her being here, it angered him more than he would have ever imagined it to. Keeping his arms at his sides the question his new Master poised at him took him back, he really wasn't sure of them.

"I know they are the true power in the Galaxy... at least from what was said to me. They... we have the ability to become greats within the Galaxy, such power is only a short reach away that we must open ourselves to the darkness and it will provide us with a life of power unlike any other one in the galaxy can even imagine. Aside from that my Master, I do not know much of the Bogan."

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak nodded, they did indeed have the power to dominate this Galaxy, and in its due course, domination would be achieved.

"The Dark Jedi of the Bogan have not always been as we are now," Zeak began, taking a deep breath of the cold air around them within the frozen forest.

"Twenty years ago the Bogan were known as the 'Ospion Guardians', created by a shism within the Jedi Order, the Ospion Guardians walked a fine line between the dark and light sides of the force, hoping to become the true Order affiliated with the Galactic Republic. However, at the end of the Republic-Alsakan war, the Ospion realized the Galaxy was ready to come after them, and so, they left to the Outer Rim of the Galaxy, seeking a new home in solitude. After searching the Outer Rim, a suitable planet was found, one drenched in dark side aurora, Conscio. As time passed, a tablet written by the first Dark Jedi was found, and the teachings of the Bogan were shown to us."

Zeak paused, recalling what he had been tought from the Dark Jedi among the Bogan ranks.

"However, not all the Ospion agreed that the Bogans teachings should be put to fuition, and those who had any say against the progression of our Order were killed. We then moved to our current location in the Mid-Rim, and have been here, waiting for the time to strike, training in the ways of the Bogan as we dwell in the cold darkness of this planet."

 

[Rev]

Caed simply listened to his new Master. His voice carried out with such passion and energy for the Bogan there was no way the boy could believe anything else otherwise. His mind had been corrupted over the past few months, and this man would break any connection Caed Ultor once had with the Jedi, and possibly his family. Nodding at the story of how the Bogan were born Caed crossed his arms and smirked.

"Sorry to be so Naive Master, but the past of the Bogan does not interest me. It is now.. it is getting to that power that will allow me to reign over the Galaxy, help those I deem sufficient for aide, and kill those that get in the way. The weak will suffer as they are meant to, and the powerful shall rise and become allies of not only myself but the Bogan. Hearing tales of the Ospions and Alsakans were before my time. My foolish Father fought against them it is the Bogan he and the Jedi will fight, not the Ospions or Alsakans. I trust in your ability to know that, and not dwell on the past as it is a weakness..."

It was as if the boy had struck out at the man before him. He respected this high level trainer in the Order of the Bogan, though it was as if he were simply trying to educate him. Something Caed never took a liking to, he would learn on his own, and learn from his own experiences. It was not a dying generation he wanted to hear from, telling tales of when they were in their prime...

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak nodded, that was fair enough, however, he should show some more interest in the Bogans history. Carefully studying their history could give a lot of insight into their values and beliefs, possibly more.

"And what do you know of the force?"

A simple, yet neccesary question, a beings grip on the force is what gives it its strength, power and in time, dominance, as the Bogan would soon achieve.

 

[Rev]

Caed looked at his new Master, the man seemed much more of a fool than the Jedi for asking such basic questions, but if this man was his path to power, then he would answer the question, if only for himself.

"The Force is an energy in this universe that binds us all together, the most powerful thing this universe has to offer. It is easily manipulated by one trained in the Force, much like you or myself. One cannot deny the power and abilities it brings, even if they are against it. Some call it luck, but most would call it a strong connection with the Force."

Caed wanted to get on with the darker aspects of the Force, learn the trainings of the Bogan then learn of their past. Though if his Master intended it a different way, than he would follow that path.

 

[Aussie Legend]

Zeak felt the thoughts crossing the Acolyes mind, he did not care what this man thought of his training techniques, yet, then again, this man seemed to know the basics of the force.

"The dark side of the force is a crude and violent weapon, if harnessed correctly, it will provide powers you can't possibly imagine."

Zeak clicked his fingers, causing sparks conjured by the force to appear, momentarily lighting the snow-covered clearing around them.

"In order to use these powers, you must absorb yourself in the dark side, feel the anger of your past flow through you and allow it to erupt from your mind and fingertips." Zeak moved his feet apart and stood calmly, staring at his Acolyte before speaking once again.

"Conjure lightening from your fingertips and strike it down upon me, use your anger and hatred to descend into darkness, loose yourself in the power."

 

[Rev]

Caed had been one of the fastest learners at the Jedi academy, students seemed to envy him at times during training; but this, this seemed almost impossible. He hadn't ever heard of lightning being conjured through the Force, but this man had just done it as if it were as simple as a Force push. Taking in a breath he looked at his Master, at the man who educated and spoke to him now. He had never actually struck at someone with intent to kill, he was still young, not even a Knight in the eyes of the Jedi.

"You?"

Taking in a breath, his anger and hate seemed to have been pushed away if only momentarily. It was now that Caed seen how this man spoke to him, as if he wanted him to be evil, to be the darkness the Jedi spoke of.

"Use my anger?"

Taking in a breath the man's voice was aiding in the pushing into the darkness, but the teen still had doubts. Thinking of how his mother up and left and his father stood by idly only for him to end up where he is now. His hand clenched into fists, hardened over the years through combat the Jedi would consider him a Sentinel. Pushing his right fist out at Zeak a ball of lightning, a mini storm would shoot out at the man. It lacked power, but maintained the fundamentals of a lightning strike. Dropping to a knee this little showcase had worn him out far more than he could have predicted.

"H-how? How did I do that?"

The anger had consumed him and he was back to his almost innocent self, knelt before Zeak and breathing heavily. Taking in a deep breath he tried to get to his feet only to fall back to that knee, looking up at the man he called Master.