The Shadow's Hold

[Kazuya]

The barren planet ever welcomed Melhinerak to it’s ground as his fighter sped into the atmosphere that had become familiar, just like the few times it had welcomed him before. However, unlike the other times that he had been on Korriban to learn, this was a different occasion for Melhinerak to enter the academy to train. Something that made his lust for the dark side flare up inside him, anxious to increase his abilities. He had been sent a notice that a master had chosen him as an apprentice, and that he was expected to come to the training room.

The familiar hum of his fighter slowly stopped as it came to a halt on one of the hangars that the Academy had for those who wanted to use it’s halls to learn about the dark side. Flicking the controls of his fighter off with his nimble fingers, and hopped out of his cockpit, eager to meet the man who was going to teach him in the ways of the dark side. He had high expectations of the man, and he held the hope that he would be impressed with his new teacher. Who was he? The note had been rather... brief, and had left out that detail. Slightly he wondered if it was a trick, but he doubted it. Who would dare pull off something like that after all?

The Elomin pulled his hood over his head as he walked into the academy, but kept his eyes ever watchful of the other acolytes and masters that roamed the halls of the academy. You never knew if someone would want to start a fight in these halls. He had heard a few stories, but so far, he had not found the need to attack one of the others, not had one of the others shown any interest in attacking him outside of the training rooms. Today, if any one tried to stop them they would have to deal with an impatient and angry male who would kill the person blocking his purpose for being there without hesitation. However, lucky for them no one did.

Reaching the training room that he had been ordered too, the door slid opened and he walked in a few steps before kneeling and bowing his head to the sole person in the room, keeping his eyes trained on the man. This teacher, this master who would become either his most respected person aside from their Dark Lord, or his most hated person. "Master."

 

[Sreeya]

"Get up. You're not going to be intimidating in battle hugging the ground like that."

Thaed's voice boomed directly above the student. He had his hood up, hiding the upper hemisphere of his countenance. His Force aura had been suppressed, something that was second nature to the Zabrak. It had been a while since he had taken a student under his wing for one on one training. Battles had kept him rather preoccupied as of late. As usual, multiple saber hilts adorned his waist. He was clad in a hooded cloak that complemented regular training attire. He was always dressed for maximum mobility, as his strengths lay in agile movements and heightened finesse.

With a swift motion, the cloak was cast aside, revealing his visage. His trademark yellow eyes shined brightly, a testament to his devotion to the Dark side of the Force. Thaed's expression was difficult to discern, his gray features devoid of emotion. His eyes betrayed a hint of disgust at spotting the student on the ground. He patiently waited till he got to his feet, stepping back. Thaed slowly began to circle around the acolyte, as if sizing him up. He spoke as he walked.

"You're no child. I expect you've had some teachings in the past. Tell me what you know. Leave out the sob story of your origins, I couldn't care less about that. Specifically tell me what you know of the Force."

 

[Kazuya]

Melhinerak pulled the hood off of his head and stood when the man spoke with distaste. Surprise radiated through him and he gratefully stood at the order that he had been given. He had never been one for bowing, but his old master had ordered that he was supposed to bow to his master. It was foreign to him that such a person wouldn’t expect such a thing from their apprentice, but he would keep that in mind. Unless ordered, he would not bow to this man. If his master didn’t think bowing held any purpose, he would follow that as it matched his own thoughts.

With that glimmer of distaste in his master’s eyes and knew that he had a lot to prove now; he had made a bad first impression apparently. He folded his hands behind his back and watched as the man threw away his cloak revealing himself as he then looked over him. His dark eyes captured all that he could of his master, appearance wise he looked extremely powerful. It was a tense moment, student and mentor both appraising each other.

The Elomin couldn’t sense much of the force from the man, but the man, now revealed as a Zabrak almost demanded power, even without seeing how others reacted around him he did feel respect for him. But of course, if he was powerful enough of course he would be hiding the normal aura. Melhinerak’s thoughts went back man’s appearance started him thinking about who he could possibly be. Though he had made sure to know the titles of those in the highest ranks, he did not know what each of them looked like… but something about this Zabrak…

“I have.” Melhinerak’s replied and his lips twitched when he was told to leave out the sob story of his origins. It wasn’t like he had been intending to. But, sob story? That amused him. Vaguely he wondered how many sith actually had sob stories, and intended to tell another of it; probably pathetic whelps. At that thought, his eyes darkened a little, perturbed that the man might actually think he was that sort of person. He willingly gave the answer to his question, “I was trained in the basics, force push, pull, speed and so on and I also have dabbled in alchemy, mechu-deru specifically.”

 

[Sreeya]

"Very well."

Thaed circled fully around the Elomin, coming to a pause once again directly across from him. For a moment he wondered if this would be another student he would ultimately have to kill for his failures, and silently hoped such wasn't the case. He was tough on his students, and all with good reason. Within the Sith, only those that fought for their place remained. There was no room for average, only excellent warriors. The competition was stiff, and that was precisely why the Sith as a faction were succeeding so well in their campaign against the Galactic Alliance and Jedi.

"I want you to tell me the Sith code and what it means to you."

It was a basic question asked of every acolyte when they first trained with a master. Quite frankly, Thaed was bored of hearing it. As he waited for the acolyte to begin speaking, he began to walk again, putting distance between them. A saber hilt twirled elegantly between his fingers. It occurred to him that the young man did not know exactly who he was, and Thaed was content to leave it that way. For now.

 

[Kazuya]

Melhinerak knew the Sith code like the back of his hand, and it slightly agitated him that he was being asked that. It was such a boring topic, the code. Never the less, he didn’t show his displeasure on his face and merely clinched one hand into a fist behind his back, he would do what his master had asked him to do. The code was what he had lived by from the time that he had left the Jedi. Of course, he hadn’t known it at the time, but once he had heard it became something that he immediately based his dark soul on… it was a part of his very being that he never really thought of any more. It was his nature, rather than something he had had to learn and he recited it perfectly:

”There is no Peace; Therein lies only passion
Through my Passion is borne my Strength
Through Strength, I unleash my Power
Through Power, Victory is mine
Through Victory, my Shackles are Broken
The Dark Side shall set me Free.​

Taking in consideration that probably, the man was as bored of this topic if not more so, but he would do his best to give an answer that would possibly not be the same generic answer that he heard every day. After all, he had lived under the Jedi code for a few years, so he had a comparison. He paused for only a few seconds, and launched into his explanation of what the code meant to him. “The code of the Sith is a way of life that should be followed without having much thought. It should be second nature.”

Hopefully that would prove him to his master who was now twirling a lightsaber in his fingers which earned him a hard stare from his new student, but went on with his explanation, adding more of an explaination. “The Jedi are bound by a code that convinces them to think in absolutes, that what you do is either good or evil. This then also convinces them to require that their emotions do not lead them in their goal of what they call peace, though that is fruitless.”

A sneer arrived on Melhinerak’s face at that point, distaste for that way of life evident. “However, what we understand as Sith is that passion is the only true form of strength, and power. Gaining that is the only way we can avoid their beliefs, their ‘peace’ which in reality is non-existant. The dark side is more powerful, craving power is how we have survived and triumphed against those who wish to trounce passion.”

 

[Sreeya]

Thaed grinned and closed his eyes at the end of his student's speech. He stopped twirling the saber, finally turning to his student.

"Do you know what happens with this constant thirst for power? The endless upward climb? Do you know what's at the top?"

As he spoke, he coiled the Force around the student. It wasn't painful, but it was more than uncomfortable. Thaed levitated him slowly up into the air, casually playing with the saber in his hand. He kept his eyes locked with that of the acolyte's.

"The upward climb towards power. You keep going..and going.. and going.."

As he spoke, he raised Melhinerak higher and higher.

"Do you know what happens then? The mistake many of our brethren have made? They let the power consume them. Take over them. Squeeze their thoughts...control their minds."

As he spoke now, he made the Force compress into Melhinerak's body. It would feel like a choking hold, and it also seeped into his mind, as if a firm pressure applied. Thaed did not yield, levitating him until Melhinerak's head gently bumped against the ceiling above.

"And once the Sith is entirely consumed by the endless hunger for power, do you know what happens? They are set free. Freedom in the sense they are.."

Thaed abruptly let go of Melhinerak. The action would send him crashing to the ground below. It was nowhere near enough to cause any serious harm. Thaed took a few steps forth, once again looming above him.

"...dead."

He paused for a moment before speaking again.

"You understand the code, acolyte, but remember to never be blinded by your passion. Never be consumed by power. It will cloud your judgment and will lead you to your death. Those that have command of their passion, that command power instead of power commanding them are the true masters of the Force. If you wish to become that, you must learn to harness your strengths and never, ever be blinded by a lust for power. Do you understand, acolyte?"

 

[Kazuya]

Melhi’s eyes widened as he felt the force grip him and begin to lift him. He wasn’t exactly frightened of the movement, he was indeed surprised to be lifted towards the ceiling as his master spoke. However, beeing unable to move, unable to react to the hold that the force had on him was something that did frighten the Elomin slightly. It frustrated him to be so helpless, it was so foreign to him.

When he was at the ceiling, his horns scraping gently against it, the pressure began while his master spoke about power consuming them. A gasp escaped his lips at the force that became pressure, something that even made it’s way into his head. It was so powerful. He grimaced, but didn’t dare to interrupt the man or show the fear he was feeling about hardly being able to breath. Was this man going to kill him before he had the chance to prove himself.

Thought it wasn’t a drop to kill or harm, the floor was still painful when he met it. Taking a few deep breaths and wincing he pulled himself back up into a standing position. From the way he had reacted when he had bowed Melhi knew that it wouldn’t be good to remain on the floor for very long. Once he was standing he stared directly into at the burning yellow eyes of the Zabrak. In his own dark eyes there was respect and a flicker of fear.

“I understand, Master…” Melhi replied staring up at the man. From that display, his respect for the man had increased tenfold. Just… who was he? It had been a while since he had felt fear for something, and it had certainly been humbling to feel that anxiousness again. For a moment he had been afraid that the man would kill him before he had the chance to do anything.

 

[Sreeya]

Thaed watched the young man get to his feet, his yellow eyes narrowed. The Sith Lord was not impressed, but he could gauge that the student would be receptive to teachings at least. He had students in the past that had thought arrogance and bullheadedness was the true Sith behavior. Their corpses had been tossed out into the desert and their lightsabers only added to Thaed's collection. He circled around Melhi again.

"I will be teaching you saber combat primarily, as that is my area of specialty. Your training will not take place here entirely, but to any world I choose to send you to. You are to only take minimal possessions and do as I say."

With that, the Sith Lord tossed Melhi a training saber. Thaed also ignited a training saber, deciding that killing an acolyte during a battle already wasn't going to help anyone. Thaed came to a stop in front of Melhi, his eyes surveying his stance and posture. He grimaced at the sight, but looked up at Melhi.

"Attack me, acolyte."

 

[Kazuya]

Training that would take him to other planets enticed him. It would be something that he would look forward to while being trained. However, at the minimal possessions thing he glanced down at the two lightsabers he possessed, and thought of his fighter and droids. Would that mean giving those up? He sure hoped not. He looked back up at his master, and nodded hesitantly. Melhi would do as asked. It was nothing knew when having a master to do as he was told, though perhaps in the future he might be a little more defiant than he was currently. He was too nervous to do anything against him now.

Catching the training saber Melhi igniting it as soon as his master also ignited his, Melhi took the hilt with both his hand in the most common defensive stance of form IV, known as Ataru. He knew that it was something that was more used by Jedi, but it had become the stance that he had become more familiar with. He quickly thought of how to go about attacking his master with the training saber.

“Yes, sir.” Melhi’s voice was cool, as he tried to keep the fact that he was nervous out of his voice. Attacking someone who he knew was judging him and could easily discard him was something that made him slightly hesitant. But he spun forward, feet making circles on the ground till he moved the blade to attack the legs of the Sith Lord.