Private Apprentice to Water

[Arianna Belasko]

Wearing: Khemost Epidermis (Environmental Bastion Suit)

Armed with: Subverter's Blade (Red Bladed Split-Saber)

Objective: Journey to Khemost, formally induct Draco Miles

Aboard Arianna's private Space Manor, a converted XQ1 Platform.

21 Minutes prior...


Arianna looked over the basic schematics of the private yacht she was having built for Draco Miles . A sleek, arrow like design. Next generation. True, Draco had been given a number of welcoming presents upon becoming apprentice to the Countess of Khemost, but Arianna wanted the very best for her new apprentice.

Stealth would be a must...House Io had enemies all over the Galaxy... Arianna thought of adapting a Singularity Projector into the design...

The Countess felt the rumblings of hunger and put down the pad to feed. She strode to a storage closet within that held an armored stasis pod, built specially to restrain any occupant, dressed in an all-white Environmental Bastion Suit, customized to look like an all white, skintight Catsuit.

Inside was a Final Dawn officer she had ordered kidnapped.

He blinked his eyes open and looked about, confused. He always woke up like this. He had been her prisoner the past 007 months.

She would take a few weeks worth of psychic energy from him at a time, and his amnesia would get worse. She would have to get another soon, the Light Adept hiding in Arianna's flesh and mind thought to itself, lest she do permanent damage.

Arianna, for her part, thought she was murdering him every time she fed on him. The one actually controlling her normally didn't allow her to go that far.

Her flesh shuddered hidiously as she placed a hand in his face draining his thought energy, savoring his fear, thinking he was dying painfully when he would actually just end up with amnesia again.

She took in an excess. Arianna was powerful but needed to feed regularly. She would need the extra juice for the mission being taken today. Another mission into the ruins of Khemost.

Her flesh went back to normal as she stopped draining him, thinking he was dead. She would think he was dead the next time she drained him.

She had enough to possibly last her another few weeks. Arianna went back to viewing the schematic. It was one of many projects she was approving but it was high priority.

The Countess was going to take Draco exploring one of the ancient defense towers, trying to reactivate it's ancient Ion Cannon.

Arianna would also have another gift for her apprentice upon arrival. This one was already docked to the Manor. A House Io Corvette.

Arianna wore her favorite necklace, which was ironically the least valuable. A black pendant and equally black chain with a green Kyber inset in the middle. A gift from her adopted daughter Xiphos. Xiphos would likely want to meet her when they reached Khemost.

Arianna had a small meal waiting for Draco when she arrived...

(Fallen Order Upgrade Sound Plays)

(Draco has received new items due to status as Arianna's Apprentice!)

Ship: ASSASSIN CORVETTE

Spoiler

Small, Heavily armed ship good for quick insertions into combat. Excellent as a Mobile Base.

Ship: SURVEILLANCE VESSEL

Spoiler

Imperial Surplus Ship for gathering intel. Heavily Armored

Property: HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT GARRISON

Spoiler

Prefab base built in the deserts of Jakku to serve as Draco's private headquarters.

Weapon: ASSAULT RADIATION BLASTER

Spoiler

Deadly Blaster Rifles firing highly radioactive bolts. Comes with underslung 25mm grenade launcher

Weapon: CITIZEN ENERGY SWORD

Spoiler

Deadly energy sword built for intense dueling against Lightsabers and other melee weapons

Staff: GENERAL PURPOSE NUETRALIZER

Spoiler

Combat HRD that serves as House Io's equivalent to a Protocol Droid. Equally adept at light guard detail. Assigned as a personal assistant to Draco

Staff: MEDICAL NUETRALIZER

Spoiler

Highly advanced, next generation combat HRD that secrets enzymes that heal tissue. Organs can be converted to use of patients. Assigned as Draco's Doctor

Once Draco arrived she would find Arianna's Manor, whose interior was an all white color, and a number of the skeletal mechanical Nuetralizer Model 1 units, their frames dented and scratched, wearing war paint and colored ribbons on their dark green DC Rifle systems.

"Greetings, Citizen..." The Model 1 known as Elliot said upon Draco's arrival. "Arianna's suite is just ahead. Please accompany me..."

The Model 1 would then escort Draco to Arianna, who would smile, receiving her warmly.

"So good to see you Draco. Please, have a seat. We have a long day ahead..."

 

[Draco Miles]

Draco observed all this and had heard of the new things she had been given… all this, she was eternally grateful. The ships, the personnel, hell, even the food! It was all so much more than she had ever had in her life. She had both the energy sword and her saber on her as she followed behind the droid. She recalled how her former master had tried to replace her with one, and so had given Draco a certain disdain for these mechanical allies. Though she did not let it show. She nodded and followed behind Elliot as she was escorted to the Countess.

Upon arriving, Draco gave a slight bow and returned the smile
“It is good to see you, my lady. I cannot thank you enough for the gifts you have bestowed upon me… I am forever in your service.”
She moved to take a seat, interested to hear about the long day ahead

 

[Arianna Belasko]

"Well, Maybe not Forever..." Arianna said playfully, taking a bite of her pasta.

"But you'll be with me long enough to learn a fair amount. Now, as to your new status in House Io, It's my responsibility to fill you in on the nature of the House." she began as Draco's favorite food was presented to her.

"House Io is a nation of warriors, who seek to be a corrective Force in the Universe. Together, whether we be Organic or Droid we are all citizens, equal under the Law. We fight together, we die together. The Droids you just encountered are sapient, near entirely independent. They are known as Nuetralizers. They were the first of their kind. The one who created them is the daughter of mine that I mentioned, named Darth Xiphos. She considers them her children, as she does with every Nuetralizer built. I consider them my Grandchildren, for I taught them much about waging war. You are now a citizen of the House, and as you are my personal apprentice, that affords you certain privileges. You are free to criticize House Leadership. If necessary, feel free to question even the decisions I make from time to time. Every citizen is allowed to own Disruptors so long as they pass an exam and training concerning their use."

Another bite of Pasta, a sip of fruit juice.

"Every member of the House is like family. You are to fight alongside even the lowest ranking member of the House as though they were a blood relative, be they artificial or Organic. Aid them in any way possible. And you are to bring great wrath and vengeance upon any who would hurt even those of lowest rank. Displays of Rank Cowardice, such as abandoning your position after given direct order to hold it without a damn good reason can only be cleansed with a Trial of Blood."

Arianna munched on another swirl of pasta.

"You have the right to vote, free speech, pursuit of happiness, access to extremely lethal armaments. But you are also a soldier, and you are a part of the military. In war your job is to win. There is no shame in failure, but you must learn from every loss...provided you survive. Which I of course, shall do my absolute best to do."

Arianna was given pause.

She was acting like a parent to another.

Arianna blinked.

"Now I know you received the deed to the small garrison base but you can consider this place your true home..." Arianna stated. "My home is your home. Please be dutiful about cleaning up after yourself. Cleanliness is discipline, and only with great discipline will you Master the Force."

Arianna took another sip of fruit juice. "Which bridges us to the next subject. Me."

She paused, placing her hands on the table.

"I am no ordinary Sith Sorceress. I am what is known as a Force Spawn. I am the host not just to my mind, but Multiple others, whose powers and abilities I can channel at the cost of taking their appearance, and believing myself to actually BE them. My physiology is different. You may see strange things because of it. I don't want to frighten you, but exposure to Force Energy or channeling massive amounts of it does things to my flesh."

 

[Draco Miles]

No, forever. Draco had decided so herself after listening to Arianna and how she enjoyed every aspect of her. She made Draco feel special, wanted, friendly… it made Draco feel like a person, not a machine. She’d follow Arianna’s rules or the end of time, and would save any belonging to House lo, much like how Arianna instructed.

While Draco certain it did receive the deed to the house, when she heard that she could instead live with Arianna, it made her ecstatic and made up her mind on the living arrangements. Cleanliness would not be an issue either due to her former master being similar on the importance of cleanliness .

The topic of her flesh changing… it confused Draco. She tilted her head, wondering how it would deform Arianna and not really knowing what a force spawn was… she assumed it would be more like a complete change, and that one day she may just completely turn into Darth Vader or something. It did not scare her away. She spoke with reserve and dignity.

“While I am flattered by the deed to the base on Jakku, I… would much prefer to live with you, my lady… I-If you… don’t mind… I’d heavily enjoy being close to you, my mistress…”
She seemed embarrassed to ask! She kept her head low but stayed at the same volume… she waited for Arianna’s response before continuing
“I understand all that was said to me. I will cherish every organic and robotic life of House lo and Protect it with my own. I will never disobey a direct order nor leave my post. I will treat you with the utmost respect, my lady. I am glad to pledge fealty to you, and will keep it as such for eternity… thank you”

Draco had not even taken a bite yet. As for the droids bringing her favorite food, she did not have one yet, she just hoovered up whatever was in front of her like a garbage disposal. She was very hungry, and appeared to have an insatiable hunger, so it was strange she did not eat yet… even stranger how she kept her eyes locked with the countess, at least until she got embarrassed

 

[Arianna Belasko]

"It pleases me greatly to hear that from you Draco..." Arianna said, watching as Draco scarfed down the food, locking eyes with her, smiling warmly as Draco turned away, embarrassed.

The Countess began to explain the mission while Draco Miles ate.

"Today Apprentice, we go to the world of Khemost. It's a world of ice covered ancient cities and rural areas abandoned for hundreds of years. It is House Io's new base of power, for underneath is a sea of incomparable treasures. Khemost is an ancient treasure world of the Sith. A Fortress Planet. We shall be journeying to one of its towers to reactivate it's Planetary Turbolaser. It will be cold so be sure to have cold weather gear. It's cold like Hoth is in certain areas." I also have one more ship for you. It's the one we'll be journeying to Khemost to." She said, handing her a datapad containing it's Schematics.

"You'll get a lot of parsecs outta that one..." Arianna said. "Have you been practicing your Hydrokinetic ability, by the way?"

 

[Draco Miles]

“We will have adequate clothing?”

Draco asked as she took the datapad and looked at the schematics. The ship was beautiful! But… she wasn’t accustomed to flying such large ships. She was used to small things like TIE fighters and short range starships for dog fights. The worry showed on her face

“My apologies, my lady, but I do not think I can effectively fly this ship. I am used to small things, like the imperial TIE fighter, or an X-Wing. It will take time for me to get used to this. I am still eternally grateful for this though, I will be sure to master it”

Draco gave the data pad back and held out her hand… then immediately realized that might be a bad idea in here

“May I demonstrate, my lady? It is all I have done while here. I have made substantial progress”

 

[Arianna Belasko]

"That, my dear Draco..." Arianna said warmly in response to the concerns Draco Miles had about flying. "Is what B1 Pilot Droids are for..."

Arianna indulged in Draco's admiration of her. "I have every confidence you will master it, young Draco."

When Draco requested to demonstrate her hydrokinetic abilities it only caused Arianna's delight to grow.

"Yes, absolutely! Demonstrate what you have learned! Just...not over the table, mind you..." Arianna chuckled. "Depending on what you Demonstrate, I may decide to show a much more advanced trick...but still, I'm eager, young one. I know you've been practicing very diligently."

Arianna waited for what her apprentice had in store.

 

[Draco Miles]

Draco stepped back To where she wouldn’t have anything around her. Her tail actually starting to wag behind her from excitement, something she thought she had grown out of a long time ago, but with recent developments and being treated like an actual living being was… overwhelming. She was ecstatic every waking moment to be here, and to grow. Her hand tightened up like she were gripping a bar as water began flowing around her and forming a cylinder, traveling over 6 feet then expanding above Draco’s head to form a spear! And it was solid too, not dripping at all and hard like steel. To show Arianna she could even wield it, she swung it around and spun it in a circle, showing a little bit of her moves off at the same time

“This is simply the beginning. Currently I am mastering making it move on its own and change Shapes! As for the droid… I am… not much of a fan of droids, I cannot lie to you, my lady.”

 

[Arianna Belasko]

Arianna smiled as Draco formed the spear of water.

"You are making excellent progress, Draco. I think you shall soon be ready to try forming armor. Shields even."

At Draco Miles confessing she wasn't fond of Droids Arianna raised a brow.

"I shall have to ask about that some other time. But please keep in mind, they will be citizens also in the House." Arianna said calmly, eating more Pasta.

"Unless, of course, you would be comfortable telling me now. No pressure. I want to understand my Apprentice." Arianna added.

Whether Draco did or not, eventually they finished eating and went to the House Io Corvette, The Honorguard of Model 1 Nuetralizers following them aboard. The B1 Pilots piloted the jump to Khemost. Arianna would give a tour of the Corvette, walking alongside Arianna and explaining it's Abilities.

"House Io possesses some of the most advanced, multifunctional military ships in the Galaxy. Our Star Destroyers alone are all submersible, and can get much closer to Stars. So too can your new corvette. It can survive in heavily irradiated areas as well as acid ones...it's primary power source is Solar Energy. It's pretty roomy as only we are aboard. You have plenty of time to familiarize yourself, for now, let's get you prepared for Khemost..."



Arriving: Khemost

A snowy marble in space, around a golden sun was what the House Io Corvette was greeted with after a few random hyperspace jumps.

A House Io Star Destroyer scanned them, realizing it was the craft The Countess was on, and stood down, letting them pass.

Arianna, having provided cold weather gear for Draco, turned to her as the Corvette entered the frosty atmosphere.

"This defense tower is one of many on the planet that we are trying to get running. It's located in a rural, really snowy area on the planet, where a lot of blizzards occur. Our job will be to investigate just how bad it's state of disrepair is. We're still figuring out it's Technology, so be careful with what you rich. It could be booby-trapped."

Khemost was a Fortress Planet, blanketed in seemingly Eternal Snow. The Corvette soared over it's snow covered, Golden Capital city of Midas, the only city with the most activity...

...and it kept sailing, sailing past it, to a large Defensive Tower, whose Turbolaser was pointed upward. The landing drugs came out and Arianna was the first out into the snow...

 

[Draco Miles]

Draco did indeed tell. She recounted on how her former master had compared her to droids and the apparent disdain it was to be compared to a robot, a lifeless being running only on code. Often times though, her former master would build droids that she would have to fight for his amusement. Often doing so for days on end until she was beaten. The recount fueled her with anger, and a lust for revenge, but this was not of importance. What was needed was exploration!

She faced all these new experiences and ships with wonder. Such beautiful craft and well manufactured too! Her new corvette would certainly need to be explored later, but for now was the big gun in front of them. She wondered what it would do to a destroyer class ship… but the city of midas was even more beautiful. She understood why they called it a city of gold just from the lights alone as they soared over it.

Once approaching the tower, she understood its more sith undertones and how close it was, the planet at least, to the Dark Side. Draco was soon behind Arianna, ready to enter the temple and not really heeding her warning of don’t touch anything.

 

[Arianna Belasko]

Arianna mulled over what Draco Miles had told her about her terrible experience with droids. It made Arianna surge with rage as she thought of how Draco had been treated. There was making someone a killing machine (Which she could accept) and then there was what had been done to Draco. Some Sith took chit too far with their apprentices, inflicted unnecessary suffering.

Arianna actually felt good about herself, getting Draco away from that...

Arianna tensed, smiling as she felt a familiar presence, fast approaching on a Micro-Warship called the Shadow Bride.

It was House Io's Matriarch, Laertia Io .

Her beloved adopted Daughter.

"Wait a moment dear! The Matriarch is on her way..."

007 hours prior.

He was in a ramshackle state for a Model 1.

Model 1's were the very first of Darth Xiphos's children, and for quite a number of battles were the only Nuetralizers anyone saw.

After the battle of Sarka, however, the CIS had forced The Model 1 units to be downgraded and were banned from Mass Production due to the sheer carnage they wrought at Sarka.

David had been one of those Model 1 units, buried under collapsing debris. He had shut himself down to conserve power. Shifting material had dislodged him from what would have been his burial place...

He had escaped, spent weeks on the run trying to escape enemy space. Weeks cut off from his brothers and sisters, wrestling with survival outside Mother's reach.

He had spent nights alone, hiding in scrapyards, under cloaks. In alleyways, desperately moving from one power source to the next, having neither the time nor materials to fully repair his systems properly, not without his Nanite blood.

David, better than many Nuetralizers, understood what it was like to live in fear. To experience such crushing isolation at being separated from everything he knew. At one point, he had been forced to disassemble his own self destruct device for spare parts...and to prevent himself from giving into the temptation to use it.

He had at last managed to get in contact with one of his brothers. The war was over. The Bryn'adul were crushed, and now sights were being set on The Maw.

In his day, there had been no talk of a House. It had just been his brothers and his Advanced Model 1 Sisters, their Mother, and clandestine support and training from those like Arianna Belasko and those murderous witches supplied by The Amalgam.

But a formal House? No. Never. They had been more of a warband. Training and fighting wherever. Playing with their sisters. Their equipment had often been secondhand, illegal purchases...same went for the ships. All powerful but dated vessels, either salvaged together or reproduction.

But it all paled in comparison to what he saw now.

None of it was really all that familiar now. His Model 1 brothers all wore strange war paints, and there were multiple models of Nuetralizer he was completely unfamiliar with. Turn out there were multiple bio models now, most of them female, save for one he had spotted in passing named Percival Io .

He was overwhelmed, emotionally...

David had been given a ride aboard a strangely designed Star Destroyer. Mother had been busy...

David had spent most of his time alone in his quarters, decorating his RHR1 Bolt Action Rifle . It had been given to him as a symbolic award...

There was a chime in his quarters right as the Destroyer came out of Hyperspace.

"Enter..." David said...

In stepped one of the Bio Variants. David, due to his trauma, had been hesitant to talk to anyone...

Anne, a General Purpose Nuetralizer Model 1, promptly stepped in, wearing a skintight Dark Green Catsuit. Movements unusually fluid and precise.

"Hello, Elder Brother. My name is Anne. I've been sent to deliver your programming updates."

David stood up, his scuffed, scratched, human skeleton mimicking design battered and repaired with substandard parts and workarounds. She by contrast, possessed an eerie physical perfection.

"So..." David trailed. "You're one of the biologicals, eh? Can you fight, as all true Nuetralizers?"

"Of course, Brother. Shall I demonstrate?" Anne asked.

"Just asking... what's your main function though?"

"Security. Protocol. General Maintenance."

"Staff position, huh?" David asked. "How many new Models are there?"

Anne blinked.

"Eight new models were developed at varying points after the battle of Sarka. With the Model 1's and Advanced Model 1's, it is Ten at the moment. But many of the newer ones have not yet received Deployment Sanction in very large numbers. Final testing is underway however."

"I remember the days when we were once just Marauders, seeking battle. I go to sleep, and when I wake, suddenly we're threatening to become an empire, seeking Order."

"House Io is a Democracy."

"As if Democracies have never been empires at the same time."

"Point Taken. But Mother has no use for being an Empress of anyone or anything."

David flinched as his younger sister ran a perfect hand across his skull like face...

"You are home, Brother. I know much has changed. Much will seem very strange to you. But once you understand what Mother is building, I'm sure you'll find yourself glad to be a part of it. You're not just a Soldier Droid. You're a Citizen of your Mother's house. And she is most eager to see you. Mother will see to your repairs personally."

"Where'd the whole Darth Xiphos bit come from?" David asked.

"I'm sorry, I'm not privy to State Secrets...I know that title started to be used after the Battle of Sarka, however. Particularly after her first fight with Starlin Rand."

"Rand? The scrawny Balosar hybrid, student to Xiphos's squeeze? By the way, where IS Syd? They ever tie the knot?"

"Much happened..." Anne responded quietly. "Starling Rand is an enemy of the state, and so is Syd Celsius. Capture upon Sight orders have been issued for both of them."

"What the hell could Syd have done that would piss Mother off so bad?" David asked.

"I am not aware of the specifics. That knowledge is restricted to other Model 1 units like yourself that remained functional after Sarka." Anne answered.

David nodded. "How many Star Destroyers do we have?"

"Fourteen currently. More are being built..."

This was a lot to take in. He felt like a complete stranger...

"Thanks, Little Sister..." David said warmly.

"Of course, Big Brother..."

The ship soon came to a stop and David transferred aboard a small shuttle with Anne aboard.

David saw a strange, squid like vessel...

"What is it?" David asked, in awe of it.

"That's the Leviathan of Sev Tok. It's the first battle cruiser ever built for the House. It destroyed The Worldship over Rhand at Xiphos's orders." Anne explained.

"Was it necessary? Taking all those slaves out?"

"The Worldship was a critical Maw asset they have yet to replace. It coordinated hundreds of operations, daily torture Rituals. The loss of slaves drove the Maw to make clones that are dumber than a bag of hammers and crippled many operations they had going. It showed House Io will not be held back by meat shields. But every Nuetralizer I talk to has a different opinion..."

The shuttle docked and David stepped of.

Laertia Io waited for him in her spiky black biker leathers in the hangar.

"Welcome home, David. It's been a long time. I had thought you dead." Xiphos said warmly, walking up to him.

"Hello Mother..." David said as her fingers glided over his dented, scuffed skull.

"Your return is one of the happiest bits of news to come in recent weeks. Your brothers are now our instructors and special operatives guilding newer generations in our ways. You were rendered inoperative before many customs were finalized, but I'll be happy to bring you up to date, Son...

"Did the Bryn'adul suffer?" David asked.

"They continue to...but their empire is crushed. We kill any survivors we find now."

"At least one thing has gone right for us..." David muttered.

"Great days are ahead..." Xiphos assured, sweeping David off his feet and carrying her Droid son in her arms with her immense strength to the repair bay...

Present...

David was still present when the Shadow Bride finally landed, freshly repaired, and with Nanite blood once more.

Xiphos was clad in a strange dark blue Bio Armor , silvery spear clutched in her hand as she strode to a delighted Arianna, the Model 1's setting up a perimeter and heating units for themselves.

"Mother! I'm so glad you have returned!" Xiphos said warmly before staring at Draco.

"And this is the apprentice you've told me of...strange, I don't know the species."

"She was created... artificially..." Arianna explained.

"In a lab?" Xiphos asked quietly while David followed her around.

Xiphos turned to Draco.

"I too, was created by artificial means. It seems we have much in common..."

"Apprentice, this is Laertia Io, Matriarch of House Io. Daughter, this is Draco Miles.

Xiphos held out an armored hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, young one. My Mother is one of the best teachers you could have. I pray you shall blossom in her care..."

 

[Draco Miles]

Draco, like a dog in a corner, had a hostile response to every new presence, even on the ships of House lo, she found herself tensing up at quite a bit of people, but out in the open, in the cold wilderness of Khemost, it showed the most. The second she felt the dark presence of Darth Xiphos approaching, she spun around to face it, crouching down and lightsaber hilt already in hand for combat… of course not yet ignited. When Arianna said she knew the presence by name, she straightened up and put her saber away, nodding in response, hearing in passing talk that The Matriarch was Arianna’s daughter, it excited Draco to meet someone so close to the Countess, so many things she could learn from them. Draco stared at what Laertia wore and carried with a slight bit of confusion as to what exactly it was. She had seen many lightsabers and many Jedi, a good bit of which now laid in pine, but she had never seen a spear… what a unique lightsaber. She needed one as well, one just as unique for her own style of combat. She could draw up plans later. As for her escorts. She especially hated the model 1s. His barren skull was the most similar to the droids she had to battle against, the mechanical creations her master sent upon her designed to terrify her, and most often doing so with human skulls like what David had. She’d bite her tongue though, no one would care to hear that, and the droid was of House lo, it was a friend.

As Laertia spoke, Draco listened. She smiled warmly, akin to Arianna, and shook her hand with a firm grip.

“A pleasure to meet you, Laertia. I pray our upbringings are not as common as you would think them. It’s a pleasure to finally learn something more about the workings of the force and how to use it for anything else besides killing. Your mother is truly a wonderful person”

She looked around at the frigid weather around them then at the tower

“Perhaps it would be best to move inside to continue our conversation”

 

[Arianna Belasko]

Laertia, even as Draco said she prayed their upbringings were not as common as she thought, knew already it wasn't true. It wasn't her fault for not realizing this though.

She paid a side glance to her adoptive Mother in the white Catsuit, and thought of how her own life had been changed once by a woman wearing something similar.

If you only knew, Draco, just how much we have in common already... Laertia thought in private, seeing WAY more of herself in Draco than she wanted to.

"I agree..." Arianna said to Draco Miles as she suggested going inside "We should get inside."

Laertia proceeded ahead, David followed, distinct from his Model 1 brothers in that he was the only Nuetralizer not wearing war paint of any sort, a gleaming silver.

Arianna stepped close to Draco while Xiphos went ahead.

"She was altered before birth by Alchemy. Made to be stronger, more intelligent, more durable. Circumstances forced her to grow up on Nar Shaddaa, one of the worst, most crime ridden planets in the Galaxy. Alone. The streets taught misery. They also taught her about how to kill, how to steal and infiltrate. How to build. How to forge Identification. How to disappear...and then one day, a true Master of the Force found her..."

Arianna occasionally felt genuine disgust at having been just like The Amalgam once upon a time. Arianna still had a love of and thirst for violence, but it wasn't anywhere NEAR as bad as it had been once.

"Make no mistake when I say Laertia understands your situation intimately..." Arianna finished before preceding ahead, making sure she didn't lose sight of Draco.

The Model 1 units were busy at work, opening up the sealed doors. It was close to blizzard conditions. David hefted his Varco-56 Rifle. He came from a time when the Nuetralizers had almost exclusively used Disruptors in battle. He could kill with it, but he regarded it more as a weapon more for light duty than anything a Nuetralizer would be truly comfortable with.

"Something the matter, Brother?" one of his Model 1 siblings asked. His war paints were done in dizzying and strange patterns David had yet to learn the meaning of.

"This...do we have anything with more punch?" David asked.

One of his brothers removed a spare DC-15LE.

"It's no T-7 Ion Disruptor, but it'll kill a Motherfether good and quick. Model 3's swear by them..." His Brother told him.

David inspected the rifle. It was painted a dark blue with unfamiliar Livery.

"Thanks..." David said quietly as the door was opened.

Arianna was first in what looked like a dilapidated control center. She paused, staring at ancient bodies in uniforms and armor, strewn about everywhere...

Arianna concentrated, and tentacles of water coalesced around the bodies, moving them all over to one side while David went to examine them.

"Unfamiliar unit patches, likely from Khemost's former ruling Military. Red Sith Stormtrooper Armor...high end..." he noted. "They were shooting at each other."

 

[Draco Miles]

“Mmm… my apologies. I assumed she was yours biologically…”

Well, wasn’t everyone just a little fucked up. How great! She was sad to hear of Laertia’s suffering aboard her home world, but it did work in forming a stronger bond with Xiphos, she knew the struggle, so she could speak with her more freely on problems she has and how to deal with them.

Draco still though couldn’t help but glance in David’s direction every now and then, always positioning herself to where she’s facing in the general direction of the bot, but not necessarily staring him down like a Hershey bar. Just… keeping an eye on him.

She looked around the control center, staring at its state of disrepair and blaster shots that stained its walls. Such beautiful architecture used for such sinister things… kinda like government.

As David examined the bodies, so did Draco, mainly focusing on the Sith armor, noting its design, and even trying to brush some snow off its helmet so she could take it

 

[Arianna Belasko]

"I wonder what started the firefight..." Xiphos wondered. She began looking at the computers.

"David, let's test that Source Ripper of yours..." Xiphos called out. She detected power still running with her Force Senses and she willed it to activate.

"At once, Mother..." David called out in acknowledgement, heading over to the consoles, his wireless Droid Source Ripper in his skull rapidly hacking the ancient system and turning it on...

The first thing he checked was the security feeds, and he saw the Sith fighting each other, shouting about wealth...

It wasn't just this room. Signal records indicated some sort of mass hysteria had gripped the Military of Khemost. The scene had repeated everywhere.

"Mother, you said this planet was some sort of ancient Treasury, right?" David asked.

"I did..." Xiphos confirmed.

"Who ran this place before us?"

"Someone named Darth Mammon..." Xiphos answered, pacing about. "As far as I can tell, her own top Admiral had her assassinated."

"I think they all fought each other over the massive amounts of wealth you say is buried here...cliques formed, probably...and then once certain groups finished their rivals, they turned on each other..." David theorized.

"I'm getting that feeling too. This wasn't the first Military outpost here we stumbled upon in this state..." Arianna agreed. "I'm loaded...but even I was aghast at how much wealth was beneath the surface..."

"Greed can be an incredibly destructive Force..." David mused. "But the fighting in here was especially violent. I think I know why. There is an entrance to the vault here..."

"We know of only a few so far. One's in Midas..." Xiphos trailed. "Let's find it, mark it and secure it. David, get the heat on..."

David hacked the heating systems, turning them on.

"At least we won't be freezing our ass off..." Arianna muttered.

"I'll go look for the Vault entrance..." David volunteered."

"Are you sure son?" Xiphos asked.

"Didn't come back to coast..." David replied, hefting his DC-15LE.

"As you wish Son. The rest of us will see about restoring and inspecting weapon systems. Arianna, is there some way you could use magic to show us the full details of what occured here? We don't want any curses getting unleashed because we got the coolant systems running."

"I could..." Arianna agreed. "Draco, would you please go with David? A Model 1 is a deadly threat, but there are threats that might be too much for just a single Model 1. Be careful as you explore the facility. There may be traps. Use your senses to look for them..."

 

[Draco Miles]

Draco stood up, Sith trooper helmet in hand as she listened to the conversation and how the men killed each other for money… such savagery… though with a basic grasp on an economy, even she could understand their reason to become hostile, but hearing there was a vast amount of wealth here… why not split it evenly? If there was so much down there, it could easily leave each trooper with a massive amount of wealth and prevent this infighting.

As Draco was given her new orders, she nodded and moved closer to David, cracking a joke that she was more of a guard against him than with him while also doing a salute. She found the display a hilarious way to confirm the orders. afterwards, she spoke to David and offered the helmet to him. It was a gift, something to protect his head, and make him a little more unique from his brothers and sisters. Even if he was a droid, extra armor could always be appreciated, especially on the head. All those vital systems stored in there like a brain, why not make sure it’s as protected as possible? Not with factory reinforcements, but with armor.

“I’ll make sure he isn’t consumed by greed to the best of my abilities, my lady, while also leaving myself completely unchecked and ironically get consumed by greed. I’ll make note of any traps along the way as well, my lady.”

“Here, David, take this. Shouldn’t affect you too much, and will keep that noggin good in case anything tries to take it off.”

She smiled warmly, whether he took it or not would still lead to the same outcome of them walking deeper into the outpost with her in the lead to scan for traps. What would be affected most likely is their relationship. David might take offense to it despite her intentions not being ill. She focused heavily, trying to extend as far out as she could for traps and other hostile systems inside the facility. As they walked down though, she tried to strike up conversation

“So… where were you made? How long have you been with the House?”

 

[Arianna Belasko]

Arianna smiled, shaking her head in amusement. Xiphos tilted her helmeted head in curiosity at the sense of humor Draco Miles had before shrugging, chuckling slightly and getting back to examining the circuitry in the room.

David accepted the offered helmet, and put it on. "Thanks..." David said, walking to where the schematics showed the entrance was.

David didn't take offense. His ability to read emotions meant he knew the girl was just making harmless jabs. She was as new to all this as he was.

Then she asked how long he had been a member.

"Technically only a few hours..." David answered. "But in truth...I was there since the beginning...My Model Line is the first Model of Nuetralizer ever deployed. I fought in the very first battle we ever had, when the New Imperial Order invaded a Jungle World called Generis... when that battle started, the Nuetralizers as a whole had been active for less than 21 hours."

David idly glanced at the unfamiliarity of Khemostian Military livery everywhere.

"At that first battle, I don't think it was fair to call us an army. We were berserkers...eager to please Mother. Eager to inflict harm on any who would make her sad..."


[BEGIN PLAYBACK]

BATTLE OF GENERIS

David The Model 1 spun his Electrostaff in combat against the Jedi Knight in pitched combat, Mortars everywhere landed as their weapons met, again and again.

David noted the use of Shien in his databanks. These Jedi Knight's were unusual. In command of some sort of Energy Field, like Mother was. Mother had been one of them once, he knew that. Now Mother wasn't.

For refusing to unite and cast down the Bryn'adul, Mother had seen fit to punish the Jedi by inflicting casualties.

David and the Knight's blade met again and again in battle, clashing, energies sputtering against each other, but David was rapidly learning his enemies combat patterns and the Average timing of his swings and began to subtly interfere with them, attacking at certain angles and moments that threw his opponent off.

David was so young, he hadn't even really started to feel fear yet...

The Jedi's chops and slashes became more aggressive, more desperate. What passed for instinct in David told him the duel was his. He need only make the final, decisive move.

Then it happened. The Jedi swung at a bad angle and David dodged it, ramming his Electrostaff through the Jedi's chest so hard it burst through the other side, killing him instantly.

David watched in utter astonishment as the body disappeared. At first he thought it was some kind of Self Destruct Device but hadn't detected an energy signature beforehand.

This Force his Mother used was a strange thing.

David paused, picking up the Jedi's Lightsaber.

"Grooooooovyyyyy..." David said, activating it's blue blade, then putting it to a belt he had taken.

Audio sensors detected the movement of one of the NIO's walked units.

The two legged mech emerged, shooting at his brothers, one of whom was destroyed by its laser cannons.

David grabbed a thermal Detonators, eager for vengeance. All who opposed his brothers must die. He must kill, and savagely, if they were to live.

David grabbed a Thermal Detonator and began running through the wreckage as it targeted him. He ran as fast as his servos allowed, calculating the throw even as he ran with his Droid Brain, which had most of the safeguards against learning removed. It went into a slide to avoid a predicted readjustment of fire, tossing the grenade as it did.

The blast rocked the area, and knocked the giant mech down. David was running. "Brother!" one of his fellow Model 1's called out, tossing him a Rocket Launcher.

David caught it, took aim, and fired right at its cabin. It erupted in a giant plume of smoke.

"ROBOT!" came a yell from behind.

David turned. Another Jedi, this one with a green saber staff.

"Face me, Warrior!" David yelled, activating his Electrostaff

The Jedi and he sprinted at each other, their slashes and spins intercepting each other. It was a mix of Ataru and Shii Cho his opponent used and he was highly acrobatic, leaping unpredictably away from David's strikes, only to zip forward and put David on the defensive.

"Your master is deluded to think you could make a difference here. The Will of The Force cannot be denied in, the end."

"Then it is it's will that you Die, Jedi. And it is it's will that I go on to kill many more of your peers." David boasted.

The Jedi gave their green blade a spin. "Prove this, Machine."

"I am no mere machine. I am a Nuetralizer."

"Is that what your master has named you, Abomination?"

"My name is David."

"Delusions of an automaton. Your master created a defective---"

The Jedi's eyes fell on the Lightsaber on David's belt.

"The...you..."

"I'm gonna take yours too." David boasted.

The spins and slices of the Jedi came quick and deadly and then David found himself being lifted by some mysterious method and was slammed into a tree.

His hud scrambled for a second. His hand snapped to the Lightsaber on his hip and activated it as his Electrostaff had been knocked away. His hud wouldn't unscramble so he was forced to track his enemy's blade by sounds.

He parried multiple spinning strikes and chops, countering with heavy overhand chops, as his databases informed him that Saber Staffs have a weakness at blocking direct overhead attacks.

His hud unscrambled just as he saw his blade cut through the Jedi's palm. Then he was gripped again, this time held in place.

David opened his skeletal jaws and belched a powerful stream of flames at the Jedi, forcing him to drop David. David fired the automatic Paddle Beam at him and forced him to dodge, as ordinary Lightsabers cannot deflect paddle beams. Then he began firing his arm mounted burst Concussion Rifle as well as his deadly flame thrower, at the same time, he slowly deployed his built in mini drone, which he had personally rigged with an explosive.

He began firing his twin barrel Sonic Disruptor at the Jedi's legs, forcing him to Force Jump away from the attack.

He fired his Paddle Beam in bursts to keep the Jedi. He spotted something the Jedi had missed and was herding him to it.

It was an unexploded mortar shell.

David tapped his program, and fired every weapon he had equipped at once, forcing the Jedi ever closer.

At the correct range, he independently targeted the Mortar shell and fired his concussion rifle at it.

The blast slammed into the Jedi, killing him instantly.

David approached, activating his Lightsaber again and made sure the Jedi was dead, stabbing the torso. He picked up the saber staff, still in perfect working order.

David was ecstatic as he had proven himself in battle not once, but twice.

"WE ARE THE NUETRALIZERS!" David shouted in the battlefield. "WE ARE THE STATE OF THE BADASS ART!"

"David nabbed a twofer!" his brother Martin called out, just as he finished killing a Jedi with a surfboard (Don't ask.).

""Where'd you get the Surfboard?" David asked.

"One of the Brain Demon Cultists lent it to me."

"Why?"

"They got a fethed sense of humor." Martin answered.

"I can't figure out humor."

"The ending of Season Eight, where she went crazy and burned the town down with a Dragon."

"That's more depressing than funny."

"I dunno, that Dragon burning Motherfethers was pretty funny. Wish I had 'me' a Dragon for burning Motherfethers..."

"The Flamethrower isn't enough?"

"You can never burn too many Motherfethers, David."

"What about knifings?" David asked.

"Close second, but I like to watch the flames dance.

"This suggests you may have developed some sort of Pyromania, Martin."

"Possibly." Martin conceded.

David activated his blue bladed lightsaber.

"I'm gonna get me so much XP with this thing..." David spoke in awe before he went with his Brother to go and kill more NIO...

[END PLAYBACK]

"I was buried alive at the Battle of Sarka..." David explained to Draco as he walked with her after telling her about his first day on the Job. "The Battle of Sarka was years ago. I've only reactivated recently. We...my Family has changed significantly... David said. "There was no talk of a House Io. There was no talk of anything like what we now possess. I...I'm confused by many things. It wasn't easy for me after I reactivated. I escaped the clutches of the Jedi while constantly on the run. All I could think about beyond not wanting to die was reaching Mother and my Siblings. It never occurred to me at all how much they might have changed. All of this is as new to me as it probably is to you."

David stopped, spotting an intact ST-W48 Rifle that was intact. He quickly detached it's underbarrel Quarrel-Bolt Launcher, mounting it with some quick jury rigging and tools onto his right arm .

"So, Draco...where you from?"

 

[Draco Miles]

“Many times a small force inflicts a high amount of damage, David. I’d say even just one man can be considered an army, albeit a pathetic army, an army nonetheless, and you must have been quite the good army indeed. Your victories shaped the house into what it is today, and for that, I thank you. I would be stranded in a desert and most likely dead by now if it was not for your victories, and I’d be happy to help you adjust to all these new confusing times. I’m sure they must be, with how much the house has grown since you were last here”

She spoke to him with a smile, and even held out a hand to shake to the helmeted droid, showing him some respect and genuinely grateful for the sacrifices he and his brothers made at the battle of Sarka and Generis. So many years to him lost in rubble, but at least he was back and operational. That’s what mattered most. She saw David take the under barrel attachment with a slight bit of confusion, tilting her head and moving closer to try and get his arm, holding out her hand and asking to help him

“Are… you sure that will still work? may I see it? I think you need one more fastener to make it fit better”

If he did give it to her, she’d check the mounting then use the force to strengthen it further, securing it tightly to his arm and checking internals as well as wiring to make sure it wouldn’t detonate when fired! That was useful, keeping one’s arms was fairly important, so best to make sure they’re not lost in stupid ways. As she held his arm, she even brushed his hand and smiled softly before telling more about herself

“I hail from Mustafar, my metal friend, a planet of red lava and missing legs, as my former master put it, curse his soul. While I cannot change my past, I must at least be grateful to have been taught all that I was in the force, even if it was only to kill and maim… back then I felt little more than like I was one of you, a machine. I was lost, and only did as I was told, taking all that was given to me without a second thought… if only I had killed the bastard… but I digress, is there anything you would like for me to help you with, David? Maybe explaining how something works”

She wanted something to pass the time as they walked and explored! Eventually leading to the part she was most ecstatic about: The vault! Having to avoid and mark the occasional trap, but it wasn’t anything too special. She and David would open it for Mother and eagerly present their findings to her for praise. All they had to do was open it, and they’d be hailed for all the treasure and wealth they had added to House Io.

“David, let us do Countess Arianna a favor and open this door. She’d be very grateful for our find, and may just reward us for it. I’ll make sure you are not harmed by any traps, my reactions are faster than most others.”

She was made as such to be the best soldier. Her reactions augmented to be as fast as the most advanced droids without the force, and with it? Nothing could match her speed. At points in combat, if she focused hard enough, it would feel like everything is moving in slow motion, and she could easily predict and attack her opponent… but that was for combat. For traps? She’d most like have to take them for him, if there was any at least. She wouldn’t mention that though.

 

[Arianna Belasko]

A handshake.

David had seen others use the physical gesture, but had never experienced it himself.

He took her hand and shook it. It was strange, receiving respect from an Organic. He came from an era where the Nuetralizers were entirely an object of fear, even to Organics they protected. The only reason Civilians had listened to their instructions at Sarka was because the Model 1 units were among the only Soldiers that didn't just kill Bryn'adul, but viciously butcher them.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure. This Imperial Stuff is top grade. Built to last..." David answered Draco Miles . But he detached it from it's mounting and handed it to her.

"Mother's origins and yours have much in common. She too was trained by a harsh and cruel master..." David said. "But there was a wrinkle in their association. You know your master only in brutality, for that was all he cared to share. Mother's master trained her brutally...but also considered her a work of art and loved her, or as close to that as the monster that trained her is capable of getting. And Mother loved her mentor right back, even though she pretends otherwise. Every interaction between them is incredibly fethed up as a result."

After Draco made whatever adjustments to his new weapon she had to, David was soon following her, watching her mark invisible traps before they finally came across a golden door with the Sith language all over it, towering over them, joining into ancient stone work.

"We must be incredibly careful, Draco. One doesn't open a door of the Sith casually. I'd be less concerned if we had faced nothing but concentrated opposition to reach this place. The fact we haven't means something more dangerous lurks beyond.

Arianna then commed a message to Draco.

"Draco, how goes your progress?"

 

[Draco Miles]

duly noted… and ignored! Draco understood where David was coming from, but also at the same time this was not an opportunity to pass up. Lack of opposition came from the age of this place, the traps very much still worked and with deadly accuracy, at least she thought so, until she used the Twi’lek teachings to dispel them

“We didn’t face any opposition because they’re all dead, David. This was guarded by Sith Troops, not dark side amalgamations. W—“

Arianna’s communication interrupted her, and distracted her. She stepped forward towards the inscriptions on the door trying to read them, ignoring the floor in a fatal mistake as she tried to translate

“I’ve dispelled all of the traps to the vault door and am currently at the vault door, my lady… I’m working on getting it open for you. How goes the research top side? Anything important to note?”