A graveyard of the darkest Sith Lords…

[Darth Zilti]

The journey was uneventful, but the closer she got to Korriban, the greater she could feel the pull of the Dark-side power. It was a place that held so many Sith tombs, a veritable source of evil. Others it seemed, travelled here with their eyes on finding some relic, some piece of lost history. Maja was different in that regard. It was a place she felt she needed to visit, rather than wanted to visit. She couldn’t explain it and wouldn’t try. It was part of her pilgrimage in a sense.

Finally, her shuttle touched down a few kilometres from the Valley of the Dark Lords. She disembarked and looked around. She’d previously sensed the power of the world and expected that feeling to grow stronger with every step that drew her closer to the Valley. Yet she felt nothing. No noticeable change. In the distance she could see the shaded outlines of the nearest tombs carved from the stone walls. She knew that, like all the tombs, they had been dug out from the high stone cliffs that boxed in the valley on either side. The grand archway at the entrance had been built out from the cliff face, but the chambers that housed the remains of the Dark Lord interred within wound their way deep into the rock.

And she remembered the words of Darth Bane – someone she held in high regard. He believed spirits of powerful Sith Masters were said to linger in their tombs. But they would only appear to those who were worthy. He believed he could learn more from the ghosts in the Valley of the Dark Lords than the living Masters at the Academy at the time. Now artefacts left her cold – but this idea intrigued her more and more every moment that passed.

Maja's first thought was to consider which side of the valley to start with. As she stood at the mouth of the valley, she was aware it was much wider here. The stone walls were sheer and steep and opened out into a lower valley with rocky mountain ledges. She stared at the six towering monoliths and wondered where to go first. Some held no interest to her but Naga Sadow's work with illusions appealed, but it was Ludo Kressh's abilities with Force Rage that excited her the most.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The Valley of the Dark Lords was an architectural masterpiece. Even in the all the sand, the elements which beat upon the structures, the masonry stood tall. Jaron's pilgrimage had led here. After meeting a Sith in wild space, his curiosity was only further piqued. Even the brightest star eventually burned out and was consumed by darkness. Some collapsed into themselves and created devastating vacuums with a pull so strong that nothing could escape its grasp. There was power in darkness, yet even the darkness saw its own end. Jaron stood in the proof of this fact. The greatness that had once been Korriban was nothing more than a memorial to what once was. Still, the pull had hold of him. Jaron had started down a path of darkness that he would not escape from.

He trekked across the sandy terrain, boot sinking with each step as if the planet itself wished to claim him. His tattered robes were covered with additional wraps to cover his neck and face, protecting them from the sharp sand which had a tendency to cut when a storm came through. There was knowledge here, some answers to what he sought. Jaron was broken, searching for something, and he hoped to find it among the dark lords.

Jaron had heard a story of an ancestor of his battling a resurrected Sith on this planet. The dragon pendant Jaron had in his possession was proof of the story's truth. If the Sith of this place could rise again, then the Sith of this place could tell him what he was seeking. How could he not be broken anymore? How could he gain vengeance for the destruction of his world? Most importantly, what could he do with all the rage and anger inside him. The Jedi always taught him to shun those feelings, but found himself embracing them. It is what the Sith taught, he knew it, but if they were wrong, why did it feel so right?

Approaching a tomb, he didn't know which one as this was not his academic expertise... he had been Jedi after all. He still carried the blue crystal in his saber. Everything about Jaron seemed Jedi, with the exception of the darkness which resided inside him. Jaron Lesan was changing. Deep in the core of who he was, the light was diminishing. It was only a matter of time before the wrestling stopped and he fully embraced the truth. He was turning, and more with each step taken into the tomb he now faced. It was the tomb of Ludo Kressh, he would learn later, the best place to learn about the anger inside him.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

The Valley of the Dark Lords was a heap of crumbling old statues. That was Maja’s summary. History was for historians. If it was connected to Zannah, she was interested but otherwise, it only mattered if she could personally gain from it.

But there was always something she could gain from places like these, so she made her way to the upper valley and entered the cave she knew was the tomb she sought. That od Ludo Kressh. She fired up a glow rod. She’d been in enough tombs to know to bring her own lighting. And to keep an eye out for shyracks and hssiss too.

So she made her way along the tunnel until she reached the cavern. She knew this meant the crypt itself was close and she could see ahead the carved bridge that spanned a deep chasm that she had to cross.

As she contemplated the walk, she sensed two things. One was a Force aura behind her. Not Light but not exactly Dark either. And head of her, a Dark-side dragon. The three-metre long lizard, also known as a hssiss, had a scaly hide and its venom was lethal. So, which did she tackle first?

Deciding whoever was behind her might help with what was in front (and the opposite could not be said to be true) she turned to wait for the arrival of the other visitor. So she stood there, hands on hips, her hooded black robe pulled back. Underneath she wore a tight-fitting one-piece black costume fashioned from Krayt Dragon hide – and around her waist she wore a simple black belt and her died black Sando Aqua Monster hide boots finished the outfit. Her saber was clipped to her belt but not visible behind the robe. In truth she looked more menacing than she actually was – especially with the facial tattoo – as she’d learned plenty but used her Abilities sparingly.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Structures like this typically contained cracked interior wall, and saw parts of the facade chipping away. Despite this the structural integrity of these tombs had withstood the test of time. It was always a marvel at how construction like this could last so long. Jaron was certainly impressed by the beauty of the architectural design, and that alone made the trip worth it. He was not here to admire the artwork the tombs proved to be. The Dark Jedi was after what he could find hidden within. If he could get one of these Sith Lords to reveal itself to him, then yet another step in his pilgrimage for answers would be complete.

Jaron stopped mid stride and stood still as his back foot came to meet his front. There was a presence in here Jaron had not expected to encounter. This was the second time Jaron had gone somewhere seeking answers and another was there as well. The farce signature was of someone living, dark. Naturally this would be the case as Jaron was in the tomb of a Sith. There was something else though, things Jaron had only read about. The temple was teaming with dark side dragons, Hssiss. There was one ahead as well.

His pace continued, though slower, more cautious, than it had been previously. He did not fear death, as in his mind he should have died with Corellia, in fact he knew part of him had. Approaching slowly, he came to the stalled individual. Her hooded cloak was open, and the form fitting suit she wore beneath certainly detailed her feminine physique. There would be no confusing her for a man. Her tattoo intrigued him. His first thought was whether it hurt or not, remembering the process he had endured for the one which took up almost the entirety of his back. Jaron stopped again, unlike his last meeting, his hand stayed. There was no reason to reach for the lightsaber which hung from his belt at the time. The danger was not the woman in front of him, but rather the Hssiss further ahead.

"The dragon guards the path we are both inclined to take it seems," he said stating the obvious as a way to break the ice. His next words would indicate the conflict which took place within him as she had already sensed in his aura. "They hunt in twos, always. One remains visible while another cloaks itself. Which one do you want. The one you can see, or the one you cannot?"

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja smiled and shrugged. He was cute. A little too clean-shaven perhaps, but cute none the less. And he spoke his mind, which she valued. “Now there’s the dilemma. The one that we can’t see is the one that’ll attack the person who goes after her mate.” Maja had already decided that the sneaky one was female – it stood to reason in her mind.

“So who trusts who more to cover their back?” Was she teasing him? Possibly? She rummaged in her bag and grabbed a candy bar and took a big bite before returning it. “You present the bigger target. You take on the one across the bridge and I’ll take on the other one.” Did she know something he didn’t? Did she want him to think she knew something he didn’t? Or was she just naturally awkward. Anyone who knew her would say the latter – but this man did not know of her at all.

“Monsters and bridges. My that takes me back.” Her face formed a scowl. “Best not dwell on that. So…come on then, are you going to fight it or not?”

She unclipped her saber – longer than the average hilt and therefore most likely containing two blades. She flashed him a smile and stepped forward to plant a kiss on his cheek. “It’s show-time.”

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Just like she decided the other was a female. Both could have been. Several groupings of animals denominate the female gender for hunting. They could have both been male, or she was actually right. Jaron didn't care. He didn't complain at her insinuation he was suitable bait. The shadow just nodded. Calling his lightsaber to his hand, the Jedi activated it, and crisp blue blade sprang to life.

"It seems I am to be the bait today."

He smirked as he started to crossed the bridge. This one was not only pretty but has quite the witty tongue it seemed. He liked that. His head turned back over his shoulder as he continued on.

"Don't get yourself bitten now. I'd hate to see what venom imbued with dark side does to a person before it seizes their life."

With that he picked up the pace and charged at the beast. The scales would prove interesting, but Jaron was more than confident his lightsaber would cut through them. This was not a fireworm afterall. Those needed something more powerful to reach the soft flesh the scales protected. As he charged, the beast charged. This is what he wanted. Jaron could either slide and slice the beast underneath, or leap on top it and stab it through the back of the head. Granted their would be easy provided the female wasmkept occupied by Jaron's ally in this endeavor.

The beast lunged forward, and with a swipe, Jaron was forced to adjust his approach. Stepping to the side the limb which attacked was removed with a single slash of his lightsaber. Recoiling in pain, the invisible female appeared. It was time for Maja to make her move. Jaron filled his role as bait, and the attention of both beasts was in him. It would make Maja's kill easy if she opted for it.

[/i]"Your turn,"[/i] he pressed into her mind before leaped behind the male, putting it in the way of himself and the angry female.

Cutting at the tail, Jaron got the male to turn and as it did, the Dark Jedi relieved the beast of its head.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

”A man that knows his place. I like that,” she said and smiled as he headed over the bridge. She didn’t want him to die and if he were worthy he’d survive the encounter. Then she could take him seriously.

And his parting shot was slightly disconcerting. She hadn’t planned on being bitten but typically when she fought beasts she’d pick up a scrape or two. This time around she would have to be more careful.

So she lifted her saber and activated – it gave off an unusual buzzing hum upon ignition, and the blades were shorter than usual – allowing a shorter reach but affording her greater speed and dexterity.

She saw the Sith? Dark Jedi? She reserved judgement for now – she had more pressing matters to deal with. Anyway, her partner attacked the first and was doing a good job when the female appeared. Slightly shorter than the male – a little over two metres – she was closing in on the combat.

Holding the saber in her preferred hand, she lifted her right and blue light coalesced around it before Force Lightning arced from her had and hit the female on the back. If nothing else, it got her attention as she wheeled around, allowing the Sith (she’d decided in a split second that this is what he was – or soon would be if she had any say in the matter) free reign with the creature he’d now managed to remove the head from.

As the female launched herself at Maja, the red-head spun the hilt with her hands – the blade now a whirl of crimson and the hssiss went head-first into the spinning blades. The smell of cauterised lizard filled the air and she deactivated her saber with a similarly uncharacteristic thrum.

”Do you think they’d make decent boots,” she mused, turning the female over with her toe. ”Died black of course. Oh, and you did well. Thanks.”

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The battle was over before it began, Jaron liked this, and it was clear for not knowing each other, the two made a decent team. Her comment about the boots made him smirk. His head canted to the right slightly as dark caramel eyes looked to the beast, then took in the pattern of her outfit even more. Naturally this afforded him a second look at her shape.

"I think the pattern is all wrong. Perhaps if we find enough of these, you can make another outfit for your wardrobe... then again, what do I know about female fashion."

He smirked to indicate his attempt at being humorous. Clearly her command of the dark side made this one a Sith, but he was not surprised to run into Sith here. Jaron was expecting it, though not a live Sith, as he was seeking an audience with occupant of the tomb. While the physical body was likely dust in the large sarcophagus Sith were known to glorify their dead in, the spirit was said to have remained to guard the temple itself. It was why the hssiss littered the valley and the tombs. The lizards were drawn to large deposits of dark side energy. Jaron expected more of them as he pressed further into the tomb.

"You also did well. I'm Jaron if my name is of any consequence to you."

His saber was put to rest as he indicated her face.

"Does the pretty face come with a name?"

Jaron was certainly curious. She was much closer to his own age than the last Sith he met, but commanded more power than Jaron could boast from his training as a Jedi. Likely she had been training longer than he had. The last five years since the destruction of Corellia, Jaron's training had completely stopped. His skill was limited for most his age, but where he lacked in force skill, he made up with the lightsaber.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

She listened to his reply about fashion. “That was a joke, right?” Her face was deadpan and she cocked her head to one side quizzically. Then she laughed. “Don’t worry, whatever you’ve got, I was yanking it.”

She looked back at the giant lizards. “But maybe a bag. You can never have too many bags. Or candy bars.” At the mention of this, she fished out the bar she’d taken a bit from and then found another. “I always carry spares.” She offered him the candy and took a bite of her own. “I practically live on these.” On this occasion she was not joking.

“And good day to you Jaron.” She did a theatrical curtsy. “And you can call the pretty face Maja.” Explaining about her real name would take too long and besides, she didn’t know him. Yet.

“So, and I apologise if I’m going to steal your line here but…what’ a boy like you doing in a place like this?” It was good-humoured but was also delivered because in truth she did want to know why he was here.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron took the offered candy, opened the wrapper and took a healthy bite as he leaned against the pillar which was at the edge of the bridge. So the pretty lady liked to kid. Humor was always a good thing, especially after one just came to the other side of a situation where death could have occurred. He had been joking also, but maybe his non verbals hadn't communicated that. Jaron was a man on a mission after all.

"You can yank whatever you want," he smirked and chuckled. "And candy isn't a bad thing to have in the diet. Trust me, it's better than living off of ration bars which is all I manage to get lately, so," he lifted the candy, "thanks!"

Maja, a name that easily rolled off the tongue. He'd remeber it, and offered a slight bow to her curtsey. For whatever reason her personality made him comfortable to not be as serious as he had been when he ran into Darth Ayra in Wild Space. It was refreshing, because if the dark side was all work and no play, Jaron would get bored very easily. Boredom did not suit the Dark Jedi well.

Her question of why he was there came at no surprise. Jaron carried a blue bladed lightsaber afterall. Jedi usually were not found in the tomb of a Sith Lord. His quest was no secret though, and since he valued honesty, he would not lie. Not only did Jaron expect people to be honest with him, but he expects himself to offer the same courtesy. One thing Jaron was not was a hypocrite.

"I'm here looking for answers, a way to bring my home back. The Jedi can't give me what I seek. A Sith I recently came into contact with suggested the power to do what I wish lay with dark side. I am here hoping one of these Sith Lords will appear to me and grant me the answer I seek."

He looked to the Sith. He knew he just admitted he was on the verge of turning, but he did not care.

"Meeting a pretty face, well that's just a bonus."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja looked around. “It’s a big ask - but if a Sith spirit was to appear, here is as likely a place as any. Except…this may be also the biggest challenge. The particular Sith Lord I suspect will look to test us if they’re going to offer any answers.”

“And yes, I said us as I came seeking knowledge too. I’m not sure I want answers, just secrets. Maybe they’re doing some sort of two for one sale?” She smiled again.

“I was discovered by a Grey Jedi and they told me of both sides of the Force. Initially I was unsure which side was right for me but once I met my sister, I knew it had to be the Dark-side. But I guess we’re all different.”

“And I’m just pretty eh?” She put on a pretend pout and than laughed. “Come on, let’s hurry up before some Hutt adopts you because you look just like their offspring.”

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"Well whatever they throw at us, we'll have to handle it like we did with the hssiss just now. You have to admit for strangers, that was pretty good team work."

Maybe Jaron was being a little overconfident in the moment, but that was the Corellian in him, just then. They had made a good team, and Jaron was certain they could handle whatever was thrown there way. So they were exchanging brief "how I got to the dark side" stories. That was fine. Always good to know what brought people to the same path. Every story was different, and Jaron had time for stories. Though they were here seeking the Sith, and if they were going to be tested they needed to keep their wits about them. Something Maja seemed to not be lacking.

"Oh harsh!" He feigned hurt as he took his clenched fist and pretended to have just been stabbed through the heart. Jaron gave it a little twist to add to the effect. "Pretty, gorgeous, attractive, whatever word suits your taste. Though I'm certain we don't need to worry about any Hutts adopting me... I've been told I'm far below even their standard of what it attractive in a male."

He stuck his tongue out slightly as he followed on. They were heading to the burial chamber. Naturally if a Sith was going to appear, it would happen there. Getting there was going to prove interesting though, because Jaron was certain he could hear something within the walls moving. Was the tomb rigged to be a shifting maze, or was there something even more dangerous than hssiss lurking about?

"Something's not right," he said after a while. "Something doesn't feel right... might be a better choice of words."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja nodded at his mention of team-work. For someone that had roamed the galaxy for the past six years virtually by herself, she was actually rather good as a member of a team. And she rather enjoyed it. Rather than being cut off from people until she’d gained the approval of her sister, she should do this more often. This was a detour en-route to Coruscant after all. She was about to join the One Sith on her terms, and nobody else’s.

She smiled at his humour. He didn’t take himself too seriously and she liked that – especially with her desire to be sarcastic at every opportunity. But she allowed him to speak and chose not to interrupt.

“I feel it too,” she said in response to his warning. “The Force feels kinda wonky.” It was the best description she could muster that did the feeling justice. “Apparently the Sith Lord in question likes to test you. Typically it’s something personal to you as opposed to-.” The words stopped as an image coalesced in front of them. Despite it being an obvious piece of sorcery, it felt so right, so real that Maja instantly believed what she saw.

Ludo Kressh stood in front of them. He was a Sith hybrid and his face belied his heritage. He was dressed ornately – but in truth this was not what she was looking at. Kneeling in front of him, faces towards the ground, were two women. One she recognised immediately as her sister. The other was a more elderly woman – someone she would later understand was Ka'ra Lesan, her companion’s mother.

“I shall keep this brief…you have a choice. Go back whence you came and both shall live.” He indicated the women in front of him. “If you seek knowledge, then I am more than agreeable. Just decide which one I shall kill in return.”

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"Some test," Jaron said under his breath.

His recent fall to darkness was one which kept him skeptical in certain matters. The scene before him was so real, yet his mind told him it was not possible for a force ghost to summon two women to the tomb. One was his mother, the other must have a connection to Maja. He would learn the truth later, but his mind was pretty set on the matter. This ghost could not leave the tomb, and this ghost could not kill his mother, not truly, but Jaron could separate himself from his family. He already had.

Dark eyes looked to his companion, knowing it felt good to be in the company of another, master and subordinate relationships withstanding. Here Maja and Jaron were equals, and the Dark Jedi enjoyed being on the same plane as the other. His mind was made up, perhaps it was still a bit of the Jedi in him to offer his mother's image to the ghost unselfishly, or selfishly, but his choice was not going to see his companion suffer. He stepped toward the image.

"The older red haired one, Ka'ra, my mother. I left my family behind long ago, before this journey began, and if this path means I have to rid myself of those ties completely, so be it."

The Sith code, Jaron knew it, was well versed in it. Looking to the ghost, Jaron simply stated the line he knew was appropriate in this instance.

"Through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall set me free."

Jaron looked again to the image of his mother.

"Break my chains."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja was shocked. Would she have given up her sister so readily? In truth she had no way of telling what the relationship was between Jaron and his mother. Sure, Maja would have sacrificed her real parents given their abandonment of her. But her sister? For some knowledge she could no doubt get somewhere else?

That was a question she thankfully didn’t have to answer herself.

The Sith Lord smiled. It was no cheery grin but one laced with malice. “So be it,” he said. With a wave of his hand, both images disappeared. “These were not real of course, but the death of you mother. You’ll learn of it soon enough. Others will no doubt see it as a natural occurrence. Only you two will know the real truth.”

“So…” the image of the Sith Lord moved closer now. “Tell me what you seek?”

Given his sacrifice, Maja kept quiet. If they only got one shot at this, she knew Jaron had to be the one to be answered.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"He cannot leave the tomb, he cannot truly kill either of the women he showed. Do not fear I acted hastily. If the spirits could leave, they would have millennia ago."

Why Jaron thought to speak to her mind, he didn't know. Perhaps he didnt want to be seen as some monster that could so quickly give up his mother to death. Jaron would know the truth. Whatever death his mother experienced would not be the result of some Sith, but rather the natual occurance of the Galaxy. His question though, what did they seek. It was more than just knowledge, but knowledge applied, which became power.

Looking from Maja to the Sith Ghost, he got the feeling Maja was waiting for him to answer. This tomb was unfamiliar to him, butif had seemed the one to enter to find the answer to his question. It had really been the same reason Maja entered the tomb. Finding his voice again, Jaron answered.

"Recent events in the Galaxy have awakened an anger and rage within me that I cannot quell. I came seeking skill needed to turn it into a weapon," the force prompted his next words, "You were quite the master of making rage your weapon through the force. We wish to know this secret of yours."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

As Maja heard the words in her head, her immediate response was going to be, ‘You wanna bet?’ He may not have to leave the tomb to exact his threat and she for one was not going to bet either way.

So she kept her own counsel on this one and watched to see what would happen instead.

So she waited until he asked a question. Was it what she was expecting? Perhaps?

“Recent events in the Galaxy have awakened an anger and rage within me that I cannot quell. I came seeking skill needed to turn it into a weapon. You were quite the master of making rage your weapon through the force. We wish to know this secret of yours.”

The Sith Lord laughed although it sounded more like dry leaves blowing in the breeze. “This Ability you seek is not for mere Acolytes. Yes, you can learn it but you cannot hope to master it for some time to come. And mark my words, it will consume you the more you use it. Once you start, it will take you down a path to the Dark-side that can never be retraced. You will live…and die forever a servant of the Dark-side.”

“Given these facts, do you still desire to proceed?” A smile played on his semi-transparent lips. He was clearly enjoying this.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"SOOOO I might be only 95% sure, but I believe what I believe huh? Besides aren't these guys tied to some artifact that limits them influence here. We'd have to free him first, and that would mean one of us would have to be the vessel, and I for one won't be trading my free will for that, no matter what he promises."

So that was happening, a debate on what he could and couldn't do. They had only just met and were they bickering like some couple already? Had to be the red hair. What was it with Lesans and red hair anyway? Regardless if this was just bickering, or a debate of substance the issue was in front of them. The key to force rage had a cost, and it was apparently something that would make him a slave to the dark side forever, even in death. What Jaron heard, essentially, was that in order to gain the secrets, he had to be willing to sell his soul. Was he willing?

"That's a steep cost. What is the point of using such a thing if it cost the user his freedom. I thought the dark side was supposed to break chains, not create them?"

It was a valid question. Jaron would not be bound by more chians if it meant learning Force Rage. He didn't even care if the woman thought him a coward for expressing his concern. He looked to the redhead, this comment was for her, though he had no reason to hide it from Ludo Kressh. He reached to her, placing a hand on her arm just below the shoulder.

"Thanks for the candy, but if he is suggesting the being a Sith, using rage, is to make me a slave, that is not what I came here to seek. I came here for power and freedom."

His hand dropped from her arm. He had to reconcile himself with the fact if he wanted this secret then he would have to become Sith. Jaron would pledge himself to the dark side and never look back. Darth Ayra had already told him the same thing, and now here was Ludo Kressh saying it again. Stepping forward, he looked to the Sith.

"If Sith is what I am to become, then so be it. The Jedi have not helped."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

There came the sound of dried leaves again. Clearly Jaron’s response humoured him.

“Sith Holocrons are notorious for telling you whatever you want to hear. To entrap you, endanger you. I am more…benevolent. I believe in the Sith as an Empire, not a collection of individuals. If you are not prepared for a life serving the Sith, then you do not deserve the learning. The Sith will allow you to be free of any mortal chains through the Dark-side. If you break that connection ..if you were able to break that connection, you would lose your freedom.”

“Who is truly free? We serve masters, be they morals, emotions, desires or those with authority. Don’t be blinded by the romanticism of words. Through the Dark-side you shall be as free as it is possible to be. But only a fool believes he is accountable to no-one. You are at the very least accountable to yourself.”

“Your…fondness for red-heads for example.” Clearly the former Sith Lord was enjoying choosing his words carefully. “Can you free yourself from that? Aren’t you a slave to your loins?”

He waved a transparent hand dismissively. “Do not make your pledge lightly. I can see into her heart. She once wanted to be a Sith for her sister’s benefit. She failed. Dismally. Only now does she realise her true path. As does her mentor. Yes I sense her presence too, albeit feint.”

He turned back to Jaron. “Become a Sith because it is your destiny. Your innermost desire, not as some petty revenge on the Jedi fools. Once you use this Ability the path to the Light-side is lost to you. Fight it and you’ll end up in some endless void of the Dark-side.”

“I do not care by the way. But I do bother about wasting my time – even if I do enjoy the company and the sound of my own voice.” And the leaves sounded again.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"Your games and words might be fun for you, but this galaxy goes to rot the more we play them. I'm not making this decision because of some sense of revenge against the Jedi. I have just come to see they have failed. They could not prevent the Galaxy from turning in itself. Those that call themselves Sith now, they fight the Republic constantly. The Jedi are no better. I want the power to do what all their warmongering cannot do. I want to set the Galaxy right again. I understand the sacrifice in what I want."

Jaron briefly glanced at Maja as he listened to the Sith speak about her. Her motives, her heart, it didn't matter to him. Everyone had their reasons for doing what they did. She tried impressing family, Jaron rejected his. Either way, their paths had crossed. The assertion he couldn't help but be a slave to his loins was preposterous, and Jaron simply chuckled.

"I'm not going to force anything, I am not so much a slave to my preferences that I simply can't help myself. Those acts are consensual, and should we both wish it... I can assure you, however, we did not come here to waste your time. If we were not genuinely interested then we would have turned back when the hssiss were discovered."

Jaron wasn't sure what Maja was making of this dialogue. It seemed as if she had been content to observe, but the Sith had now pulled her in and laid an accusation at her feet as well. The Dark Jedi was interested in how she answered it. He was certain Ludo Kressh would not be giving them what they sought until he was satisfied that both of them were here for the right reasons. His test was one of true commitment. This was the price for what they sought, the full embrace of the darkness which was buried within.

[member="Maja Vern"]