An Explorer's First Steps

[Vaylin]

Vaylin wasn't not exactly creative in comparison to Sumiko. "I was just thinking of pain, pure physical pain until they breathe their last breath."

Turning her attention to her own predicament, Vaylin flexed her left arm a bit, wincing and hissing as pain tore through her body. She could barely move the arm without the embedded spike shifting too. The Zabrak reached with her right hand, grasped what she could of the metal and tried to pull it out. However it was too deep, and her attempts were fruitless and resulted in further pain.

Vaylin bit her tongue and tried to focus, taking a deep breath. She'd have to leave it for now, but the burning pain would simply be added fuel when the time came.

Sumiko's final words meant nothing to Vaylin, at least in terms of whatever secrets were hidden in this place. She had come here to simply explore and learn, and even up to now she had certainly found the latter in the form of the Atrisian's instruction.

Eventually, their trek onwards brought them to a large room, the immediate increase in temperature was evident the moment they stepped through the threshold. Before them was a puzzle. stretching from left to right was a series of sizable stone plates, each big enough to fit a small group to stand on it. It blocked the way across, to the next doorway. Vaylin walked forwards, and noticed that several of the plates were missing, and peering down she saw the source of the heat.

Well, there's the pit of lava.

With a closer inspection, the stone plates had various murals etched into them. There seemed to be a total of seven variations.

A man carrying a boulder.

A banner planted atop a pile of bodies.

A figure using Force Lightning.

A white flag stained with blood.

A shattered length of chain.

Two figures embracing intimately.

A figure ascending to a higher plane.

There was no order to how they are laid out, at least at first glance. Somewhere there is a pattern to follow, the right path to reach the other side. The fact that several are missing indicates that many have passed through before, and either failed and fallen or managed to solve the puzzle.

It was a test of the mind, to see if the tomb's latest 'visitors' could see through the pain they would likely been dealt before this room.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


"I was wondering when that would pop up," Sumiko muttered when they came across the lava pit. They faced a puzzle. Ancient Sith Lords were fond of sadistic puzzles. Should the Atrisian ever become powerful enough to merit her own tomb, she would have to remember that.


She limped forward. Her body ached and she was clearly favouring one leg over the other, but she forced herself to carry on. She was Sith - her body would obey her and heed her domination. Nothing else could be allowed.


Bending down, she examined the stone plates and the murals on them. "There has to be some sort of pattern...two figures embracing? What is this? A lovey-dovey party? Kindly Sith? No, that's not right," she mumbled to herself.


"A shattered chain...a figure ascending to a higher plane. A banner planted atop corpses...of course, this is Sith imagery. The path to transcendence and glory. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me."


She looked up at Vaylin. "A white flag stained with blood - peace is a lie. Two figures embracing intimately - Passion. A man carrying a boulder - Strength. The figure using Force Lightning - Power. A banner planted atop a pile of bodies - Victory . A shattered length of chain. That's self-explanatory. The figure ascends to a to a higher plane - the Force frees us. That's the order we need. I'm sure of it." Of course, she might be wrong! "Cross the stone plates in this sequence."

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin wasn't entire familiar with the Sith Code. She knew of it, having been instructed to study the Dark Side and the history of the Sith. But she was not one of them at this point, nor was she a student in an academy that recitied the code day in and day out.

But she knew enough that she gradually pieced it together as Sumiko examined the murals and began voicing the solution. Vaylin looked down at her and gave her nod, before she took the lead, given the fact that out of the two of them her legs were uninjured.

Vaylin took a moment to look at the plates, her eyes flickering about to find the route before she took a step. There were a couple reachable ones with the stained flag, but most were dead ends. So with only one option left, Vaylin strode over to the right slightly and placed a foot forwards onto the plate. She felt it shift slightly, then took the leap of faith as it were and walked stepped to the middle of it. The plate suddenly shifted downwards by a few centimetres then clicked into place. It wasn't surprising that the Zabrak immediately let out a sigh of relief.

She looked back at Sumiko and Acina and gave them the green light, before moving on to the next plate; depicting an intimate embrace. Again it clicked into place signifying it was the correct one. This continued on with the next few, with Vaylin a step ahead of the others. Though it became apparent that the woes of time had taken a toll on the contraption. Evident by the fact that some of the correct plates began to crumble at the edges whenever they were stepped on - especially when Akuma's weight was atop it.

Eventually Vaylin was stood before the final plate, and as she looked at it she felt a cold chill touch her back. It put her on edge, which provided an asset, because as she stepped onto the last one it immediately cracked in the middle and gave way to the lava below. But Vaylin had reacted on an instant, hurling herself forwards to the other side and to safety. She let out a pained grunt as she inadvertently slammed her left arm against the ground. Pushing the sudden pain into movement, the Zabrak pushed herself up onto her feet and looked over at Sumiko and Akuma.

"You'll need to use Akuma to get across," she said. Noting that the Atrisian, even with the Force might have trouble trying to jump the gap that now seperated them.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


Fortunately, Sumiko's calculations were correct and her prospective new minion did not fall and get consumed by lava. That was good, for the Atrisian was interested in keeping her around for a bit longer. Alas, the final plate had fallen into the pit, presumably joining a bunch of other plates and plenty of dead people, who had preceded our ladies and would have by now been completely devoured to the bone.


Sumiko looked at the gap, frowning. She'd read all about Anakin Skywalker. Being immolated had not agreed with him. She did not relish the idea of risking a similar fate. "Step back," she ordered Vaylin, then climbed aboard her tiger. "Janpu. Anata wa atode chiryōwoukerudeshou," she ordered her pet, slipping into her native tongue, and the beast charged.


Beneath his powerful stride, the plates shook. Here and there, they crumbled around the edges, then collapsed entirely, descending into the fiery stream below. With a mighty leap, the large feline crossed the distance and hurled himself to the other side, landing a bit unsteadily but safely.


"Yoi otokonoko. Good boy," Sumiko purred, ruffling his fur as she climbed off, wincing as pain shot through her hip. Damn spikes. "Well, that was fun. Hopefully there will be another exit and we won't have to take the same route back," she opined.

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin did as instructed and moved aside. Tension willed her body as she watched Akuma bound across the remaining plates. Each time he had landed on one, it crumbled and promptly collapsed down into the lava below. The Zabrak was ready to use the Force, as much as she could to pull them over if needed. But Akuma made it across easily enough, finishing with one last leap over onto the other side.

"Indeed, the only other option I can think of is Akuma using the remaining plates to get back across. But that seems risky, so I suppose we'll have to wait and see what awaits us."

With that, the group ventured on, leaving the lava room and heading down the final stretch of the tomb.

The room before them was pitch dark, though that wasn't much of a change compared to the rooms that had come before. So the trio pushed on, but after a couple feet into the room, everything suddenly lit up.

Braziers on both sides of the room suddenly roared to life, a bright healthy flame igniting in each one. Steadily the trailed down the apparently large room, revealing a large door at the very end. Unlike the others, this one seemed to be sealed shut, and guarded.

Seated before it was a colossal mass of hardened flesh and bone. The rumbles and calm exhale from the mass indicated the beast was asleep currently. And even from this distance it was clear it was a Terentatek.

That ever familiar cold chill settled down Vaylin's back again, something about the creature before them was instilling a sense of fear in the Zabrak, and she didn't even know what it was.

"W-what is that?"

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


Oh, joy, another one, the thought shot through Sumiko's mind when she beheld the menacing form of a terentatek. What's the matter, mistress? Are you afraid the beast might tear you limb from limb, oh wise one? Surely it is no match for you, the sinister, mocking voice of Soudrinker reached out to her.


Actually, I was just wondering what to do with all that leather. Maybe make some boots. The dark lords of old would roll in their graves if they knew their would-be successors could think of nothing beyond shiny clothes to stroke their vanity when in the presence of such a magnificient beast. Perhaps you will sacrifice one of your pets?


Perhaps, though I hate wasting good materiel. "It is a terentatek," Sumiko said quietly. "A Sithspawn. Almost immune to the Force. Its hide can shrug off a lightsabre. It hungers for our kind." A foul smell hung in the air. Her hazel eyes took in the dead bodies and skeletons on the floor. They had not been the first to get here.


Hopefully they would not end like those who'd come before. But it gave her an idea. I love recycling bodies. The terentatek stirred, darkness swirling around it, having been roused from its slumber by the potent Force presences. An ear-piercing roar sounded from its throat.


"Its neck is vulnerable. Buy me some time," she ordered coldly. She could almost hear the dark essences trapped inside the ring sneering at her, chanting at her. Her dark mark itched as oily, corrupted tendrils gathered inside the palm of her hand. They were not directed at the monstrosity, which now stood taller than any man, but at the corpses.

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin's expression turned increasingly more sour as Sumiko spoke, the information she provided certainly wasn't good news to the Zabrak.

"Oh...how lovely." The sarcasm was practically palpable as the words left Vaylin's lips.

She gave the Atrisian a curious look, wondering what she was planning to do, but didn't linger on it and did as she ordered.

Vaylin looked over at Akuma, and the tiger did the same. There seemed to be a clear understanding between the two, before the Zabrak pulled her lightsaber to hand, ignited it and ran forwards.

The Terentatek was now standing to its full height, a staggering ten feet tall at the very least. The fact it looked capable of easily moving about the room, made it just apparent how large and open the space was.

Both started low, Vaylin swinging her blade while Akuma swiped and tried to bite at the Terentatek's legs. As Sumiko had informed her, the beast's hide made the lightsaber attacks pointless, beyond maybe irritating it. Which was Vaylin's point right now. Then, as the tiger remained attacking from below, the Zabrak jumped up onto the beast's back, moving amongst its large, spiked crown and began attacking from above.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


Like pesky flies, Vaylin and Akuma swirled about like swarming ants, raining down cuts and bites while trying to avoid being crushed and cut open. The abomination roared in anger when Akuma drove his teeth into its leg. Thrown into a rage, it swatted the tiger aside. Akuma flew a few metres before landing on his back. Growling, he leapt into the fray once more, once more attacking from below. This had given Vaylin time to climb up.


A blood-curdling shriek erupted from the terentatek and tore through the air when the Zabrak struck it from above. Where her blade struck, black, viscous liquid dripped onto the stone floor. The great beast reached back and tried to pluck Vaylin with its massive, clawed hand, intending to hurl her to the ground.


Then the dead began to rise. All this time, Sumiko had been standing in the background, seemingly letting her minions do all the work while she watched the show. Her hands moved in intricate patterns while she chanted in ancient Sith. Calling on the darkness that permeated the chamber, she willed corrupted, necromantic energies to envelope the corpses and skeletons.


The dead began to stir. Bones snapped back into place, bodies rose. Carcasses lifted themselves from the ground with all the hiss and slither of dead-dry skin. Even skeletons, stripped to the bone of flesh, rose, awaiting her command. "Attack," Sumiko snarled. Her dark mark glowed so brightly it itched. Souldrinker cackled with glee and the dark ring pulsed with malevolent power. The living dead charged the terentatek.

 

[Vaylin]

Initially Vaylin managed to dodge the Terentatek's attempts to grab her. But as Akuma returned to his attacks, the beast grew more agitated and was able to swipe the Zabrak up into one of its large hands.

Thankfully it didn't intend to just ragdoll her around, instead it hurled her over into the large door. Though Vaylin quickly wrapped the Force around her body, softening the blow was she struck the stone door then the floor shortly after.

It was then, as Vaylin slowly stood up that she saw what Sumiko had been doing. The Zabrak could feel the palpable power flooding through the room, its influence literally raising the dead that littered the ground. The Terentatek's attention seemed to shift away from the still attacking Akuma, as the overwhelming use of the Force demanded its attention. The beast roared as it moved towards Sumiko, but within seconds the Atrisian ordered the attack.

The mass of undead charged, some picking up whatever weapons they could find; mainly a mix of archaic blades and hammers. As the rolling tide slammed into the Terentatek, Vaylin took the opportunity to move back on the attack. She leaped up onto the beast's back, making her way back up towards its head, lashing out with her lightsaber along the way.

On the ground it was nothing but chaos, the Terentatek was lashing out at the undead, sending some into the walls, others crushed in its grip or beneath its feet. All the while the raised dead continued their assault.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


The dead rose, the dead charged. Sumiko drew power from the aura of darkness, drinking deeply from the dark well. Her eyes were wells of nothigness, the purest obsidian, as she commanded the reanimated dead to go forth, fight and perish once more. Here a zombie was gripped by a giant's clawed hand and hurled into the wall with enough force to break its rotting body, splattering blood everywhere. There one was stomped beneath the terentatek's massive foot or sliced apart by its claws.


But that was fine. Those zombies that remained swirled about like swarming ants, launching a flurry of strikes against the giant. Their blades, daggers and hammers were primitive, but combined they had an effect. Foul, black ichor dripped out of countless wounds inside the beast's thick hide, coating the stone floor. Sweat dripped down Sumiko's face and back. Strain was written across her features. She was connected to the undead, and so it felt like the stab of a knife when one was destroyed. She fed upon the pain, using it to strengthen herself.


Removing a shatterpistol from her holster, she took aim and fired. Two hypervelocity projectiles streamed out, one for each eye of the beast. As the shots connected and zombies rained down blows upon the monster, the beast roared. Loud enough to make Sumiko wish for eardrums and for one of the remaining undead to get blown back. It crushed more, then staggered when Vaylin's lightsabre carved a line across its back towards its head.

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin felt the ache in her arms as she gradually carved her lightsaber up the Terentatek's back, along his more softer back amongst hardened plating and towards its long spiked crown. It was still far too tough to slice through with one hand, forcing the Zabrak to use her left, injured one. She could feel the sharp pain of the spike still imbedded under her shoulder, but she turned that pain into anger and strength.

The Zabrak pushed on, occasionally removing one hand to brace herself when the Terentatek tried shaking her off, or ducking away from its wide attempts to grab her. Then Sumiko's pistols shots rang out and struck true against the beast's eyes. It roared in pain and anger, the strength behind it enough to blast the undead hoard back, and shake the very walls around them. Vaylin in particular winced, quickly covering her ears and nearly slipping off the Terentatek's back in the process. But she quickly regained her hold and pushed on.

She sliced her lightsaber the rest of the way until she finally reached its vulnerable neck. There she let out a roar of her own and plunged the blade deep into it. The Terentatek let out a strangled roar, much lesser than the last until it crumbled to its knees and finally collapsed dead to the ground. Vaylin pulled her lightsaber free and simply slipped from the beast's back, tumbling off it in a roll and just landing her back to the ground. She took several deep breaths, simply staring up at the ceiling.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


The ring's cold exultation flowed through Sumiko's body when the monstrosity was finally slain. The Dark Side gave her power and control, but she could achieve so much more...with the right minions at her disposal. The ring whispered to her of dominance, showing her flashes of what the future might be. It could be dark and glorious. Before her lay the carcass of the terentatek, having finally been defeated after Vaylin landed the killing blow.


"It feels good, does it not? Power is its own reward. You can command more than mere beasts...if you use your potential. It is high time you ascended beyond being a scavenger and became a true Sith Master. This feral girl may be a good step, but remain mindful. She may bow to other masters," the sword whispered. The ring did not speak directly, but evidently approved of this, faintly pulsing with dark power.


The few living dead who'd avoided being destroyed lined up before Sumiko, seemingly completely obedient. However, one of them had smelt blood on Vaylin and started to lurch towards her, baring its teeth. Abruptly, Sumiko forced her malevolent will upon the creature. It hissed when she forced it back and pierced its mind with mental shards. "She is mine. You shall devour or otherwise lay a hand upon her," she snarled,


Chastised, the creature yielded to her will, and the Atrisian stepped towards the Zabrak. She walked with a slight limp, clearly favouring her good leg over the injured one. She spared the dead terentatek a glance. "Good work, my dear. Very good."

 

[Vaylin]

As Vaylin laid there she felt some ebbing around her, similiar to that thrill; and exhaustion, of finishing a satisfying kill. Only this was far different than any hunt on Dxun, no she felt tired yet empowered at the same time. While Sumiko was occupied with the whispers of sword, Vaylin was confronted with her own.

Revealed only to her eyes, looming above her was a figure, shrouded in darkness that belied any sign of their identity. All the Zabrak could see was a wide, grinning smile within the hood as the person looked down at her prone form.

"Nicely done, slayer of my little pet. But I wonder if you will see the light of Athiss again, fail this next part, or perhaps your...companion here will stab you in the back." There was a wicked twist to his grin, his cold whispers falling to only Vaylin's ears. And in the time it took her to blink the phantom was no longer there.

Then the lone undead went to move at her, but Sumiko's commanding tone forced it to heel. Slowly Vaylin pushed herself up, shifting her body around until she was kneeling. That was when Sumiko walked up to her, Vaylin looked up to her and nodded.

"Thank you," she said before standing up fully. Vaylin looked between Sumiko and the now dead Terentatek. "So, what do we do no-" The Zabrak's sentence was cut off by the loud groan of moving stone. Eyes fell towards the large doors in question, ones that had been sealed were now slowly opening before them. Beyond the door was another unnaturally darkened chamber, impossible to see anything past the threshold. This time however there was a certain air to it, this was the final room.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


Sumiko neither saw nor heard the phantom. This might be a testatement to its power, if it was able to only reveal itself to those it chose to. Moreover, she had been a bit distracted. However, she felt a cold chill run down her spine. Something dark, vile and powerful lurked in this tomb. The shade was close...and they would have to face it.


"Surely you will chop off its ectoplasmic head, my dear - and let me consume the shade. Then celebrate your victory with the feral? I've seen how you've been looking at her. Perhaps you'll make your petty elf pets jealous. Take care no one stabs a knife in your rib while you're in the throes of passion," Souldrinker whispered.


Sumiko gave no response. Stone moved and groaned, an invisible hand - the will of the shade, no doubt - opened the door to the final chamber. It was unnaturally dark, preventing even the Sith Lady from seeing what lay beyond. But there was a sense of finality. This was it. She sure hoped that there'd be valuable loot. It would be the case of ultimate trolling if it turned out that the tomb had nothing to offer in terms of plunder.


"I see we face our final challenge," the Atrisian commented dryly. "No doubt the shade that has been the cause of our troubles awaits us. I will drain and bind it. You will back me up, and if it has slaves, keep them off my back. Draw upon the darkness, upon all your anger and fury. Come on."

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin gave a nod, the anger and fury already burning in her, swirling into an inferno ready to be unleashed.

With the Terentatek slain the two woman proceeded on, with Akuma by their side and the shambling remains of Sumiko's undead dragging themselves behind.

The moment they stepped beyond through the doorway, the darkened shroud suddenly peeled back a bit. Each step it continued to move, as if it were rolling out the red carpet, leaving both sides of the room still concealed within the shadows. Eventually though as they walked further in, the obscuring shroud suddenly shot back several feet at once revealing something.

Only a few feet away was a pedestal, resting at its top was a holocron. It simply sat there deactivated, waiting for someone to claim it.

The Zabrak felt the urge to go for it, took a step forwards even but refrained from going any further. Nothing about this felt right, her eyes lingered to either side of the pedestal. Both walls were still obscured in the darkness.

Instead she remained where she stood, and glanced at Sumiko to see what the Atrisian thought and she would do.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


The fog of darkness dissipated, slipping away into the nothingness until the mystical treasure was revealed. A few feet away from them stood a pedestal made out of obsidian stone. On the top, lay a holocron with a pyramidal shape. It radiated tremendous dark power. This was the prize. Sumiko was drawn to the artefact like a moth to a flame. It seemed to call to her. It was the call of a siren. Something was not right about the whole setup. The walls were still obfuscated by the black fog. "This is too easy. Keep your guard up,"


"Oh, sure, mistress, after all the traps and posturing, the shade would obviously just let you walk up to the artefact and take it," Souldrinker commented snarkily. Naturally the sentient sword had to add its two cents.


"Shut up," Sumiko's tone was icy, like a storm on Hoth. Reaching out with the Force, she attempted to pierce the darkness. Oily tendrils emanated from her hand as she tried to drain it and thus bring light to the dark.


Suddenly, sinister laughter filled the chamber. It was impossible to trace the location of the source...or maybe there was none. With each moment that passed, the maniacal, smug cackling grew louder. Akuma growled in response, looking very much like a caged tiger. Even the zombies looked restless and the Atrisian had to press her will upon them to keep them pacified. Then all hell broke loose.


Out of nowhere, a massive wave of dark side energy surged towards her and Vaylin. Sumiko tried to manifest a shield, but it was simply swept aside and she was blown across the room, landing in a corner. Such was the force of the blast that she could feel a rib break upon impact. Pain and anguish shot through her when she hit the stone ground hard. As she got to her feet with a pained groan and drew Souldrinker, she beheld a wall of arcanic purple flame surge across the chamber, splitting it in twain.

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin felt her entire body grow cold the moment the laughter began, she tried to move but felt as though her feet were stuck to the ground. When the wave of dark side energy struck, it felt more as though it had picked her up specifically, throwing her to the other side of the room. Much like how Sumiko had been swept up by it and discarded to the opposite side.

The blast decimated the zombies, to a point were their bodies were obliterated nothing but a mess of gore that was thrown across the room. Akuma also got the blunt of it, being scooped up and slammed into the nearby wall. The impact struck particularly hard against the tiger's noggin, knocking him unconscious as he slumped to the floor..
"Akuma!" Vaylin stumbled back onto her feet. He had landed on the Zabrak's side, so she quickly ran over to check him, and let out a sigh of relief when she noticed he was simply out cold.

Then the room was suddenly filled with the sound of clapping, an eerie pitch to it as a result of the source.

"Well done. It's been so long since someone has managed to reach this point."

Vaylin turned around to look beyond the wall of purple fire, to see the shade, a spectre that held no identifying trait, he was simply a solid black color with the outline of a male figure. He was at the top of a large flight of stairs, the side where Sumiko had been thrown to. They led up to a sarcophagus were the shade was currently sitting on, like a throne.

"I've been bored a long time now, so imagine my surprise when you two ladies decided to not just show up, but pass all my tests." The shade floated from his 'throne' and landed on the ground, just before the first step. "But alas, this is where it ends for you both. Well, maybe just one of you." He chuckled darkly, and Vaylin shivered as felt the spirits gaze falling on her.

The Zabrak moved to act, but the moment she did the shade raised his hand and Vaylin crumpled to her knees, screaming in pain as she clutched her head.

"Hush now, I'll be with you shortly. For now, I have your lil Master here to deal with." His attention turned to Sumiko finally, somehow managing to show a sinister smile despite his lack of mouth. "Shall we dance then, Atrisian?" The shade held his right hand out, and a line of blackened flame stretched across the spanse of his arm, settling into his hand and forming into a blade.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


It was silly, petty and childish, but Sumiko felt somewhat annoyed when he called her little. See, the Atrisian had a bit of a complex about her unimpressive height. It was one of the reasons she often wore high heels outside of combat. No matter how much her feet hated her for it.


"Another manling with delusions of grandeur who cannot stop running his mouth. Lovely," she declared in a voice dripping with haughtiness and disdain. In the light of the fact that she loved to hear herself talk, she was being more than a little hypocritical.


Besides, if you were a spirit and had been trapped for thousands of years, you'd monologue as well. Anyhow, she planted her feet firmly on to the ground and held Souldrinker in her dominant hand, leaving the other ready to channel the Force through.


"Such arrogance and pride. Young Tanaka - yes, I know who you are - you are a novice playing at being a master of the dark side. Trying to run away from years of slavery," he smiled broadly, somehow managing to do this despite, lacking a mouth, and the ground beneath them trembled when a blast of dark side energy rippled from him towards her.


Using her agility, Sumiko rolled as the blast surged towards her, to avoid taking the brunt of it, and summoned a shield of energy, drawing upon Souldrinker. There was loud noise, like the sound of thunder, when the two forces collided. The ground between the two combatants seemed bathed in light. The shield was shattered and dissipated, but Sumiko still stood, though looking strained.


"Has being imprisoned for aeons left you a bit rusty?" she asked mockingly. After many years of writing stoic characters who never talk during combat, this one has finally found one who does.


That got her something close to a glare. "Your pettiness does you no favours," he sounded a bit like a chiding teacher.


"My pettiness amuses me immensely." Tendrils of consuming energy, Force Drain, leapt from her fingertips. The logic was simple: This shade, bound to the tomb, was a construct of the Force. Sapped of it, it would be unable to maintain its purchase in this reality. "Yes, he is mine," Souldrinker roared. Tendrils enveloped the black coloured shade. Indeed, he hissed in pain and his spectral presence flickered as Sumiko literally tried to tear the Force out of him, siphoning his energies while her sentient sword drank.


A battle of wills developed, for the shade rammed the power of his mind against hers. Red-hot needles pierced her mind as she sought to maintain focus, agony shot through her. Finally, her onslaught weakened and the tendrils dissipated. She gasped for air, and the shade charged. He seemed to grow in stature as the unbridled fury of the Dark Side swirled about like a maelstrom.


A rain of blows, accompanied by the occasional stab or lower thrust, cascaded down upon her, and she was forced on the defensive, drawing even more upon the Force to keep up with the shade's speed and strength, whilst having a bad leg. "Come on, silly girl, destroy him," Souldrinker urged her. He got a hit in, spreading searing pain across her right shoulder, but she kept going, blocking a powerful cut meant for her head. Their blades clashed loudly. The Dark Side permeated the air as both unleashed its power, whilst trading cuts that savaged their bodies.

 

[Vaylin]

While Sumiko was occupied with fighting the shade, Vaylin was about to fall into a different type of battle, one of mental will. And if one were to see her, they'd find the Zabrak kneeling on the floor, hunched forwards with her hands wrapped around the top of her head. Fingers interlaced with strands of hair, and horn. Her mouth a gape, frozen in a perpetual scream.

To Vaylin everything had simply disappeared from her. Sumiko, Akuma, the Shade, even the whole tomb was just gone. All that surrounded the Zabrak was an endless void, pitch black darkness in every possibly direction. That and she felt as though she was floating, the sensation of being held midair was obvious to her. And it scared her, hell the entire situation was having that effect.

Then, with the flash of a bright light, Vaylin was thrown from the void into something familiar.

Dxun.

Her eyes snapped open to the familiar sight of the Demon Moon's sky. She shifted slightly, feeling her arms were constricted to her side. Panic set in and the Zabrak began to thrash for a few seconds, until she realized that she was currently in a sleeping bag. That made Vaylin pause, and the memory suddenly rushed her. This was five years ago, back when she and her fellow Jedi had come to Dxun on a mission. A quick look around, finding the four other beds and the crackling fire in the middle. It was exactly how she had woken up all those years ago, to find the other bags empty of their occupants, even her Master who had been on watch that night was gone. That she was all alone.

Slowly, Vaylin unzipped the bag and slipped out of it. She could feel all the emotions from that night trying to barrel into her, but Vaylin was able to keep them at bay. For now.

"Hello Vaylin. It's been a while..."

She froze at the voice, so very familiar and yet one she hadn't heard in years. Vaylin turned around, and came face-to-face with a Nautolan, the last person she ever expected to see again.

Her old Master.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]​

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Vaylin"]


While Young Vaylin was confronted by a phantom from the past, the battle with the shade continued unabated. The malevolent shade gave Sumiko no pause, pushing her constantly. After all, as a ghost he did not tire in the conventional sense. Both hurled balls and blasts of hideous dark side power at one another, traded blows with their blades. Sith Lady of the present vs. spectre of an ancient Sith Lord. Sentient sword vs. spectral, flaming blade. The ground of the chamber seemed to tremble, as if hit by quakes.


Feeling herself tire more, Sumiko drew even deeper upon the Dark Side, more than she could recall in a long time. The voices of the souls trapped inside Souldrinker and the Ring called out to her like sirens, beckoning her to heed them. She knew that both artefacts were dangerous, but she was being cornered.


"When I saw you surmount all my challenges...I almost thought you were cut out to be a True Sith. But now I see you're just a pretender," the spectre spoke mockingly, hurling taunts at the Atrisian right after he raised a volley of rocks that, despite her Force Shield, moved at such speed that it cut her flesh in a dozen places. Sumiko had barely recovered when he drew upon his malice and slammed her into the ground.


"Clearly the quality of Sith has degraded since my day. It is time for a culling," he added, as he approached her. His spectral fleet never seemed to touch the ground. Rather it looked like he was hovering above it. With a pained groan, Sumiko got to her feet. Her breathing was ragged and uneven. Blood dripped down her cheek. Despite her body being a mass of pain, she forced herself to stand. Once again, the familiar hunger rose inside her stomach. She felt starved.


You're about to die. Do it. Wield us. Embrace our power, the voices thundered inside her mind, becoming more and more tempting. With defiance in her eyes, she gripped Souldrinker and entered a defensive stance. "You talk too much, incorporeal one. If you're so powerful, why are you trapped here? Because of failure."


"You do not yet comprehend your place in things, silly girl," the spirit retorted and the flaming sword glowed ever more brightly, until a massive black flame erupted from it, sweeping towards the Atrisian. Sumiko stood her ground, not wavering. It took


Embrace the darkness, the voices called, as the firestorm rolled closer. I am the darkness, she stretched out her free hand, the ring on her finger pulsed with dark power. As the flame washed over her, she seized it. White-hot pain surged through her body, her hand was badly scorched but she persevered, consuming the darkness. As the fires dissipated, she still stood her ground.


She licked her bruised, burn-marked lips and advanced, gesturing with her free hand. The power of her mind slammed into the spirit. Mentalist to mentalist. The mental spear exploded into a million hot shards, each tearing through his mind.


Suddenly, it was his mind being tortured. All those memories of being trapped, bound, irrelevant and forgotten were pushed to the forefront. She dug deeper and deeper, burying the spirit under layers upon layers as if she were once again forcing him into his grave. The black flame of his sword grew more faint, she pushed it aside and plunged her sword into his spectral abdomen.


The spectre flickered, Souldrinker laughed with glee as the shade was seemingly absorbed, Sumiko looked triumphant...then he just vanished. A moment later, she heard mocking laughter coming from behind her. The Atrisian spun around, and found herself staring into the shade's cold eyes.