Defence will not slay my enemy…

[Darth Zilti]

Maja’s determination knew no bounds. She’d eschewed the traditional Master-Apprentice relationship for something entirely different. She’d quite literally travelled the galaxy searching for individuals to teach her what she needed to know. Withches, Sith, Grey Jedi. They’d all added to her knowledge. She cared little for rank – and for the moment was not inclined to fight. Like Zannah before her, she was willing to bide her time, grow and develop and once day show herself to the Sith for what she was. But for now she was simply someone in need of Soresu training.

She had been taught to use her somewhat unique double-bladed saber and had learned the sixth Form – but needed to master Soresu and had hunted down a Sith that she knew could teach her all she needed to know.

So she stood waiting at the appointed place and time, her saber hilt clipped to her belt and closed her eyes, exercising the patience she knew she’d need if she were to be a success in the third Form.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

The tempestuous oily blackness of his presence emanated from him like waves of palpable malevolence as he drew close to clearing in the wayland jungle. He was a living wound in the force, passively feeding on the livea around him. His large black eyes saw the young woman as he stepped out of the trees. His thick green head tresses snaked along his shoulders "tasting" the air and her emotions.

With a silent step he drew closer to inspect the creature that had dared to meet him alone where no one would save her from his whims. She was either very brave, or very foolish, very Sith in either case. The mute Sith reached for her mind with his and began to speak to her mind to mind as he had done with others before her.

<<Do you fear me girl?>> he asked in the same way he had asked his other students upon their first meeting.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja sensed his arrival. Her eyes closed she felt the darkness emanating from him but she kept them closed until he neared her. She was unsure how much of his personae was for effect. Probably none, but to feed it was foolish. So she remained calm and collected until he was close.

Her amber eyes indicated she was not currently connected to the Force. Passively perhaps, but not overtly. His reputation was matched by his appearance – intimidating. But then appearances can always be deceptive.

Maja cocked her head to one side. It was an unexpected question but not without merit. “I do not fear you, no. If I am worthy, you will teach me and I shall move on to my next teacher. If I am not worthy then you shall kill me and seek another to train. That is…that should be the way of the Sith. So there is no fear in the sense you probably expect. I am eager to learn and expect nothing but your best effort – for I assure you, you will have mine.” There was no defiance in her voice, or bravado – just someone stating plain facts as she saw them.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

He began to circle her as his black eyes scanned her form. The hunger from which he suffered said to kill her, drain her of force and life then walk away, but the part of him that like creating monsters said to teach her. He stopped back infront of her and unclasped the small toggle that held on his Nautolan skin cloak and let it fall to the ground.

His black armor adorned with malraas bones among others rattled gently at the motion and he held out his large green hand. Lines and scars read like a map across his hand and up his arm as he stood and a tendril of a black inky tattoo seemed to mmove across his wrist as he waited hand open.

<<Weapon.>> she would again hear in her mind as he seemed to stare through her.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja unclipped the saber and held it in her preferred left hand. She activated it and two crimson blades snap-hissed into existence. Each blade was half the standard length - which she knew resulted in reduced reach and leverage but granted a considerable increase in quickness and dexterity

She held it as per Zannah's defensive salute with the lightsaber extended with the blades held horizontal to the ground and put her second hand on the hilt and then nodded to the Sith Lord.

As she stood there, her amber eyes slowly morphed into a deep shade of yellow and the edges were flecked with red. She was ready...

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

Eyes like pitch met hers and watched as they changed. The "scent" of the darkside like a putrid mist clung to the air between them like a dense fog clinging to a valley floor. The force slowly swelled in him and he reached for her with the diminishing force tendril until he had "tasted" of her essence before he pulled it away.

<<Much like your sister...Take the ready stance. >> he commanded his own twin bladed saber rising from his belt and into his hand. The crimson blades came alive in his grasp and he turned back to face the girl. <<Defend yourself.>>

He took a wide stance and holding the saber in both hands jabbed the right side blade forward at her stomach. This would be a learn by survival relationship it seemed.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja had learned the sixth Form when she’d constructed her saber but knew it was not what she needed. It was generalised and could keep her alive against a moderate opponent but not a strong one. Certainly not against the Sith Lord in front of her.

But she drew on what she knew of the Form to start with. And then his comment about her sister threw her slightly. Was it simply a passing comment or was it designed to unnerve her? How was she like her sister?

Even if the statement was not intended to unsettle her, it had the effect regardless. She’d been sloppy before she’d even started and was focussed not on the matter in hand.

At the last moment she was aware that his blade was heading towards her stomach. If anything the angle of attack helped her slightly. All she could do was parry – and that was what Soresu was actually about from her limited understanding. So she twirled the blade in her hands and pushed the oncoming blade just wide of her ribs. She made no effort to counter-attack. She was content to defend and learn what Darth Odium was all about before considering any offensive moves.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

<<Good.>> he said to her mind, <<your saber is your shield.>>

He left the momentum of the parry guide his blade as he brought the left back blade around to the girl's right side.

<<Control your thoughts.>> he told her as he attacked, <<Soreau is more than guarding the body.>>

(Sorry for the short post.)

 

[Darth Zilti]

OK, so he'd given her two things to think about. She'd not had any formal training in protecting her mind, and against a telepath, she was always going to struggle, so instead she decided to increase her draw on the Force and looked to almost empty her mind, relying on the Force to guide her. She had read of Center of Being and trusted it would aid her in defending from even flowing random attacks and feints.

As she did, she naturally moved her right foot back and again parried rather than block the oncoming blade up and over her shoulder, before returning her hands back to the defensive salute position. But rather than remain passive, she started to spin the blade, faster and faster, creating an almost hypnotic pattern.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

<<Hold.>> he said turning off his blades. His black eyes became flecked with crimson as he drew on the force and focused on her presence. His green skin, cracked and dry for a Nautolan, seemed to have black lines beneath it as if darkness was in his very veins.

<<You have good instinct and your knowledge was enough to parry my attacks. You came to me without fear and show you are willing to earn your lessons.>>

He pushed a button on his saber hilt and several remotes moved out of the trees of the small clearing. He stepped back and reignited his blade and held it vertically before himself.

<<Protect yourself from the remotes. Trust your feelings, listen to the darkside and let it guide you but control your emotions. Soresu is not a fools form.>>

With that a remote began to open fire as soon as her blade was held at the ready followed by another as the circled and fired at random.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja deactivated her blade when instructed and ‘listened.’ She saw the remotes and turned slightly to face them. As soon as it was clear she was expected to start, she activated the blades, holding the saber horizontally with both hands, now her default opening stance it seems.

With more than one remote to contest with she scanned them all and even her quick brain was struggling to compute the various possibilities. Her instinct was trying to pull her one way but she did not trust it. When the first blast came she deflected it and quickly moved to connect with the second but the third hit her thigh and she deactivated the saber.

But before the Sith Lord could step in, she held up a hand and took her opening stance once more. The remotes reacted to this and started buzzing around, firing off shots in quick succession. This time she chose to let go, to allow the Dark-side and her instincts to take over. She blocked the first two before subconsciously spinning the saber faster and faster. Her balance, quickness and dexterity were natural. She held the saber with a light but none the less firm grasp and used her wrists predominantly to effect the twirling manoeuvre that effectively constituted a wall of defense. A second blast got through but she moved her hips to allow it to pass. And the faster the blade moved, the greater its momentum, so that blasts were eventually sent back towards the droids. She did not aim for any specifically – her focus was entirely on defence – but by chance one was winged and it dropped to the ground.

And for as long as the Sith Lord demanded, she continued. She found the style far less taxing than the fourth Form she already knew and instinctively recognised it was the appropriate one for the saber and her needs. She paid the Nautolan no mind and simply continued, allowing the Force to guide her and keeping her emotions in check.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

He watched with a calculating eye as she began with his left hand tucked into the crook of his elbow while his right rested thoughtfully over his mouth. He watched as she faltered and determinedly went on.

'Good' he thought. Her nature was not as weak as he considered most sith to be, she was much like Quinn in that way it seemed.

Her form was natural and still raw but improved with amazing speed as she continued the exercise. He moved his hand away from his lips and opened his palm stopping the remotes and waited a moment for her to register the lack of attacking bolts.

<<You have amazing instinct girl, but you have much more to learn.>> he watched her eyes with that piercing black gaze, <<How do you feel about the exercise?>>

 

[Darth Zilti]

She was in the moment, her focus on the remotes – or rather allowing the Force to guide her in blocking the remotes. And suddenly they stopped. A second later she turned her attention back to the Sith Lord.

His words were flattering and she had an ego, but she also was realistic. “Droids are one thing, but a real-life opponent would have so many more tools at their disposal. A saber, the Force, the environment. It is good practice but it is not simulation. But at least it showed up my weaknesses. I demand no weaknesses. I do not yet have the Abilities to overcome my lack of strength, so speed and agility is all I have. I must make my defence impenetrable. Allow me to use my mind to counter my foes.”

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

There were many terrible things he could do to help her in the pursuit of her goals but it was senseless at present. He had no desire to advance Sith ideals and his own goals were better accomplished by making this girl strong.

<<I have a test. Further practice, >> The sith lord began, <<There are few beings more dangerous or resourceful than those that hunt others. I want you to hunt a being that I want returned to me. [member="Mornhun"] is the creature's name. It will test your body, mind, and skill.>>

He crossed his arms and waited for her reaction.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja was surprised at the request and it no doubt showed on her face. Remotes were one thing, sparring another, but hunting someone? That was truly a deadly form of practice. But then she'd always believed the life of a Sith was about proving her worth, and if she failed, she was simply not worthy. So she didn't think twice about accepting the request.

"I guess I did ask for a more practical application. I have two questions really. Where is this Mornhun and what it is?" As she asked, she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a candy bar and took a big bite.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

The Sith Lord stood expressionless as he began calculating just what he would do if she should fail. Morhun was his first creation and likely his last of it's kind but he had lost it before the process was complete. He looked at the Sith girl and offered a cold smile.

<<Mornhun was last seen on Lorrd in former Levantine Sanctum space.>> He told her calmly, his mental voice no less oily than his presence in the force, <<It was created by alchemy to find darkside artifacts and sites. You should begin with that but be alert it is a dangerous creature and has a limited ability to use the force in odd ways.>>

Odium took off his satchel a tool he usual kept for things he may need on a trip and removed a set of needles. They lifted from his hand with the force and slowly floated to the girl.

<<These will help in his capture but you'll have to figure out how to use them yourself.>>

He paused and waited for her to ask more or go on her mission.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja reflected on what he said.

He’d given her a name and a location. And he clearly wanted the creature alive – assuming it was a creature. He called it an ‘it’ and stated it was created, not born.

And she had the needles that she now pocketed. Her overriding question was about the use of them, but he’d already ruled that one out of bounds. So she’d have to improvise – which is the one thing she was good at. Her attempts at planning sucked – but her ability to wing it was legendary. Well, at least in her own mind it was.

She had few Abilities at her disposal given her limited training to date, but she had one innate gift that would prove invaluable. Being a true Vahla, she had the ability to use Farseeing. All she had to do was spend the time meditating and sleeping and she could find this thing and…well she’d have to work it out as she went along.

“One question. When I have this…Mornhun, where do I take it to?”

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Maja Vern"]

Odium watched the girl for a moment. If she survived, which he was not certain of, she would be a great asset. If she died or failed she would not be missed. He pursed his lips as if in thought and began to pace a small circle of which she was the center.

"Planet Zeta 0-9" He told her finally, "I will send you the coordinates to an installation there and you will bring the creature to me there."

He looked at the sky amd could imagine his Master's wild eyes smiling from Prakith. He had made the creature now he would make a monster and she would serve the goddess well.

 

[Darth Zilti]

She nodded and returned to her ship. Planning was something that at this stage of her career was beyond her. Instead she simply tended to act on impulse, make it up as she went along.

But she was a researcher, so returning to her ship, she found out as much as she could about the planet Zeta 0-9. It was located in the Wastes – in the Wild Space frontier. But this information was secondary.

She remembered what she had been told. Mornhun was last seen on Lorrd in former Levantine Sanctum space. She knew a little of the planet – in the Kanz sector. Back in the days she worked freighters, she’d visited Lorrd City.

But as to this Morhun? Her search of the ether produced nothing. But she had a little information to go on, so sat and meditated. It was in this state – or asleep – that her Vahla gift of Farseeing was most accessible.

She had a place, and alchemy and Dark-side artefacts to go on. Not a lot, but she’d worked with less.

Two days later she was growing impatient. Her ship had remained in space outside Lorrd for way too long, and she was growing restless. She’d spent most of her time meditating or asleep but to date had received no images to help her in her quest.

But the third night presented a breakthrough. It wasn’t Lorrd she saw, but Nar Shaddaa. She was sure of it, and there was a bar…and a holocron and…what appeared to be a Miraluka – but clearly wasn’t.

When she awoke, she jotted down all she remembered and grabbed a shower. Feeling refreshed, she brought the image of the creature back into her head and entered a meditative state.

Over the next seven days, images tumbled into her mind.

…Black boots gliding across the stones and ground of ruins as he darted for a woman. She saw Darth Odium too. She saw the pale flesh of the creature's face creased as his lips pealed back to show canine like fangs…

… Booted feet gliding down steps, closer, closer to something below. Flashes of distant lightning. The scent of blood on the air. The rhythmic dripping of water…

And then, finally she had him. Lorrd – she was sure of it. He…it…was walking along wrapped in a cloak as black as night. A blackened steel sword rested on his hip. Two guards fell before him, screaming from some unseen attack. And she saw an entrance.

She could not be sure, but she sensed he was still there – or at least near. So she focused on that building. In her dreams and meditative state sensed death and saw images of fighting, or slaves and a Jedi – a female that was dressed in Lorrdian fashion.

Once awake, she cross-referenced the information and only one site matched all the clues – the Crypt of Martyrs. So she set the coordinates into her system and prepared for the inevitable chase. In her hand she cradled the needles. Now if she could only work out what these were for.

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Mornhun of House Marr]

[member="Maja Vern"]

Alone and bathed in darkness he sat. Black armor lay by his side as he knelt in the murk of the Crypt. His twisted body, still humanoid, was scarred and pale as his oily black hair lay draped over his shoulders. How long had he hunted the wretch that had taken from him his hopes of quiet life. He had hunted them all the whole strange band and not once did his blade find purchase, not once did he taste success, but here among the dead he at least found solitude.

Thakan'dar lay in it's sheath in front of him as he focused trying to use his odd powers to locate his maker. He had learned to control his pheromones but the compass in his breast still only worked when it chose. His eyeless gaze scanned his mind for a clue, a hint, anything, but to no avail.

Finally after several moments he lay on his bed of atone and began to write on a datapad. His one vestige of his former life, writing, was all he had to keep his mind from being consumed by the nagging darkness that filled him. Little did he know something was coming.