Embracing the Darkness Within

[Kenrath]

Location: Hyperspace headed to Dagobah

[member="Vaulkhar"] [member="Kylath Amadis"] [member="Sera Inkari"]

Vengeance sat in the cargo hold of a medium sized freighter. He was on his knees in a slightly meditative state surround by a platoon of Troopers. It would be his second trip to Dagobah only this time it was for a different reason. He was not after crystals he was here for something else entirely. He was after peace of mind. It seemed strange that a place of death and decay would give anyone peace of mind. Then again a lot of the things Vengeance did would seem strange to most.

With him was his first Apprentice and now fellow Knight Vaulkhar along with two Acolytes. One who fancied himself a warrior and the other a scholarly Sorcerer and Seer. Meeting them was almost like seeing two versions of himself in the mirror. Perhaps that is part of why he chose Dagobah. It was the first place he had been forced to look inward and learn about himself. These days he felt lost and in need of finding himself once again. While he was doing that it would not hurt for the others to feel a little touch of the dark side in a place few people venture and even less did so on purpose.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar stood against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he looked through the reinforced glass that separated the Dark Jedi from the cold embrace of death. Space was dark, full of mystery, and more deadly than any lightsaber or warrior. You could escape death at the hands of a foe, but within the dark grasp of space, there was only a cold, lonely death.

Shaking his head, Vaulkhar tore his attention away from the rather negative thoughts swirling through his mind. As much as he enjoyed the contemplation of life and death, in this case, standing aboard the rather familiar frigate that he had been dragged back to on more than one occasion, he'd much rather have happy thoughts. He was with family, friends, and allies. Though he was not entirely sure why he agreed to go with Vengeance to Dagobah, the concept of mastering Jedi tactics and learning to defeat them certainly did help, but they weren't necessary tactics to learn. Maybe it had to do with the new apprentices of Vengeance. Getting to see them both in action would of been an enjoyable experience, seeing the training of his former master through the eyes of an observer, instead of the learner. Could likely use such an experience to better train his own padawan.

"Where is that little Jawa anyway?"

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Kylath Amadis"] | [member="Sera Inkari"]

 

[Darth Centax]

Kylath or Connar as he was also known, was still dressed in standard white Sith trooper armor, straight from Balmorra, the burn marks from incendiary grenades and shotgun casings they’d faced had left visible scaring to the outer shell of it, it was still intact but he’d refused a replacement. They’d lost too many of 769th at the battle, friends, family, graduating members of his class, the bloodying at Coruscant was still fresh on their minds too, and he’d kept the armor as a reminder to keep him focused.

All in all, there was a darker brooding quality to the young man, he’d said little on the trip so far, save to be respectful of his superiors. Even though Vengeance hated titles and Kylath had avoided them as instructed, he was trained in the army and academy, though a tribal at heart that training was still part of his nature.

Walking a bit older it seemed since the battle of the canyon and the devastating loss to the clones, the Sith Acolyte approached the cargo bay and stood tall, taking a shoulder width stance, “Vengeance.” Simple and to the point, his expression macabre, a strong nod given to the other Knight with them. He knew little of Dagobah, having traveled only to military emplacements or camps with a few trips to the temples when supplies where needed, but other places strong in the force were a mystery to him.

[member="Vaulkhar"] | [member="Vengeance"]​

 

[Sera Inkari]

Traditional garb lay wrapped around Kintan’s priestess, deep in meditations till her appointed time. Her steps gracefully edging through her robes as dark red sandals parted them in each step, soft, light and the only part of her body to be seen. She was tradition, like Kylath’s training taken instead from a fanatical base understanding of their force, Kintan’s seer’s senses stretching out toward their room and ship, hum of power cable and soft rattling of metal a background reminder of their purpose.

Her force training had been spotty, drifting along force currents from one Master to another, as was her nature, had she found someone of strength and ability enough to ground her wayward understanding? Sera thought so.

Around the corner to their cargo bay, her head drew upward from its usually downward tilt, to rest her deep blue eyes at a level, before dipping downward in greeting, the hand holding the hem of her garb to break contact with the floor was released, and she stood awaiting his command. Passing glance to Vaulkhar, she offered a small smile, but Vengeance had her blue orb’s encompassing attentions as she spoke.

“Master. I feel our course is somewhere of significance in our force?” Somewhere that shaped events, and something she sort to understand.

[member="Vaulkhar"] | [member="Vengeance"]​

 

[Vaulkhar]

Looking between the two apprentices, Vaulkhar could not help but smile. The two seemed enveloped in some manner of consciousness that brought a hint of curiosity to the young knight. It was clear the two looked to Vengeance for guidance, which was a key point in apprenticeship, but it seemed almost fanatic in nature. He straightened from the wall and strode towards the deck, moving past the two apprentices and Vengeance before stopping beside the pilot and commander on board. The two shared a few words, which ended in the two men laughing whilst looking back at the master and his students.

"I remember those days. I think my foolishness is what got you this job, Captain." Vaulkhar nudged the commander on deck and laughed once more.

"That you did, and I thank you for it everyday, my lord." The Captain smiled and turned back towards the bridge. "We should be arriving soon, I will return to my duties. Thank you for the kind words, my lord."

Vaulkhar nodded and turned away, moving towards the meditating form of Vengeance, before eventually moving right past him and the two students. He moved to simply sit down against the wall to begin his meditation.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Sera Inkari"] | [member="Kylath Amadis"]

 

[Kenrath]

[member="Vaulkhar"] [member="Sera Inkari"] [member="Kylath Amadis"]

Vengeance smiled. Not opening his eyes his spoke.

"Take this time to ready yourself." "Dagobah is a dangerous place." "The Troopers are not here for show.............they are here to help ensure we survive the trip."

He smirked listening to Vaulkhar and the crew converse. As he passed by Vengeance made a little quip.

"Try not to kill any careers Vaulkhar." "I am running out of good pilots."

It was a playful jab at his old friend. He slipped back into a meditative state the decisions he had made weighing heavily on him. He knew it was the right thing but it did not make it any easier on him.

"Sir we will be landing in twenty minutes."

Vengeance did not speak but only nodded as the Troopers made their final preparations before disembarking.

 

[Darth Centax]

Kylath was over eager, perhaps as much or more than any acolyte might be, with building reason given the recent losses to those he cared about, determined to prove his worth. The laugh from Vaulkhar didn’t phase him, he was that set on his path to prove himself, and followed his Master’s instructions to the letter. If he could have let go, he might well have laughed with them, because it could have only helped to release some of that anger.

Meditation, something that would calm him, if he’d ever tried it. Unlike the red witch beside him, who spent long hours locked away in solitude, he’d never even tried it. Kylath tried to follow example of the other two men, kneel to sit, but the rage he felt made sitting still difficult, made the act of finding a sense of balance in himself or the force around him troublesome.

He wanted to be out there, he wanted to be trained, he wanted to get even, want, want, want. The raw emotion pouring of the acolyte, bit down hard, causing his body to tense. Then it bit inwardly at him, but the meditation helped regardless, because it allowed a moments respite from merely being angry and the dead faces he saw, to actually focus it, the beginning of a Sith's control or at least balance for now. None of this weakness was admitted out loud, but it was equally hard to hide it for those paying attention, or more trained than he.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Sera Inkari]

Graceful smiles joining in their humour, even perhaps a well-placed blush, warm and betraying a desire to find favour, always, her appearance was perhaps not unwelcoming with her deep blue eyes, but always… distance behind them, she even took a moment to dip her head to their captain demurely. Locks of fiery hair were parted to reveal her face, and she flicked her hood back, freeing her fiery full bodied tones.

Sitting comfortably and crossing her legs, her back extended, spine straight. By sharp contrast Sera had been meditating till this very point of their meeting, and Kintan's seer found such things overly easy, as if she meditated too much, walking within her waking dreams an all too common occurrence, her grip on reality sometimes became fragile at times, vulnerable to being pulled along by others who were more grounded in their real world actions.

Almost instantly she drifted into deeper states of meditative trances, she had done this all her life, shreds of possibilities extending before, noise or laughter didn’t break her concentration, merely adding to her tapestries and realities before her eyes. Deep she went, trailing along little known paths none would likely see, connections in the force stretching out, they were grey or often harder to see than she wanted, for she was an acolyte, but her talent was possibly undeniable to any who could feel subtler energies shift in their shared room.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Kenrath]

As the ship touched down 20 minutes later Vengeance took a deep breath. He was in the last place he had ever known peace. He quietly stood making his way towards the ramp as it lowered. He glanced back only for a split second before his boots touched soft earth. He smiled.

"Death and Decay." "It warms the heart."

He took a few steps forward turning to the ship as the Troopers and others disembarked.

"Captain please set up a perimeter.....we will be holding here for a quick briefing."

He turned back to [member="Sera Inkari"] [member="Kylath Amadis"] and [member="Vaulkhar"] speaking once their feet also touched soft earth.

"Welcome to the most unforgiving place in the Galaxy." "The rules are simple." "Step where I step and don't wander." "The Troopers are here for your protection and extra fire power." "Trust me when I say if we meet any of the natives you will glad they are here to help keep us alive."

He paused for a moment.

"Any questions?"

 

[Darth Centax]

Pushing his hair back out of his darkening expression, immediate rage abated, pushed to the back of his mind as the past stirred, the Acolyte rose to follow his Master, heeding his words. The most unforgiving place in the galaxy, he’d find a challenge worthy of taking, claiming as his own.

Death and Decay, the Zeltrix felt the darkside in this place, in the trees, the ground. The force was unmistakable even to one as young as him in the force, swampy, murky earth squashing under their steps like that uncertain connection that was slowly establishing itself inside him. He pushed a branch out of the way as they began, finding his footing and dropping off the ramp to the side off the group.

Any Questions? Kylath shook his head clearly, readying himself, clicking his fingers together inside the black gloves. “Whatever comes I’m ready Vengeance,” stating intent, taking some of his Masters initial advice to heart, and looking at this own hands as they tensed and relaxed.

The half blood was about to become a full bloodied sith, the next person, thing, man or beast he came across looking for a fight was going down. Did he have a deathwish? No, just that rage bubbling beneath the surface, always. That is, if this was a physical challenge….

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Sera Inkari]

Sera’s steps as always contrasted, soft, carefully placed and almost at a glide. Her robes today just slightly above her ankles now, their choice of destination meant she would need firmer boots than usual, leather clasped and released with each movement of her toes, soon to become dirtied by swampy earth and muddy destinations.

Hands folded inward under her encompassing robes, little of Sera was expressed outwardly because of how covered she was, only that her head was slightly dipped, watching the ground for signs of movement or tracks of what might lay ahead, currents of their force expressed in the footprints of others, she was checking if they were following anyone or making their own way.

Barely passing glance to anyone but Vaulkhar and Vengeance, following behind her Master she had many questions but picked them carefully. “What is it you hope to find,” her voice echoed her inner most thoughts, and her eyes opened wide to their environment, drinking all that saw inward to better understand where they were. She considered her Master and his companion may have ulterior motive for their visit, but did not betray much beyond that easily in her simple questioning.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smirked at the comment [member="Kylath Amadis"] made before turning to answer the question posed by [member="Sera Inkari"] with a smile.

"This place is darkness itself............it is the dark side of the Force pure and unmolested." "It knows your deepest secrets." "It knows you better than you know yourself."

He paused.

"I came here as an Acolyte to assist another in her quest for a Crystal native to this world." "Under the watchful eye of her Master." "If it were up to me every Apprentice would be required to come here before even being considered for Knighthood." "The thing is the needs of the One Sith and our Dark Lord prevented me from being able to bring [member="Vaulkhar"] here when he was my Apprentice." "That is why he is here know."

He turned giving his former Apprentice a nod before turning back to the other two.

"Our destination is this cave." "However what we find there is up to the Force." "The first time I came here it showed me the thing I feared most." "It should me my own personal nightmares." "It showed me what I was truly made of." "I would imagine it will test each of you the same....however my fears are not your fears so I would imagine it's test will be exclusive to you."

Vengeance walked over to the Captain of their Trooper escort handing the man a data pad.

"Remember your orders Captain."

The man nodded as Vengeance turned and headed off away from the shuttle deeper into the swamp.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Battle of ideological wills internally, poetic almost in its execution, for the 3rd priestess of Kintan had faced such tests on her travels, daily faith for the unready was tested till you found root to hold values true to yourself. Receptive to such an experience, perhaps arrogance for those who didn't know her reasoning or past. Ways ahead were revealed to strengthen her understanding of the force, and the flickering individualism he had lit inside of her.

Listening carefully and fully, “gateways to open understanding.” Sera remarked, with just enough respect in her tone to perhaps appear cordial, carefully laying her words next. To both men her attentions would shift before ending up on her Master.

“You are gracious to bring us Vengeance,” smallest of breaking smiles genuinely appreciative of the experience, but also seeking favor, led to her gaze that shot outward for the slightest sound or ripple ahead, offering the barest movements of her head as she studied what she felt.

Shadow... although she might look as if she could cut to the heart of what experience called her ahead, by merely blinking it into understanding, such things would take real effort and testing of her ritual beliefs. Sera felt ill at ease, sensitive to such things as doubt, a lack of connection, or lacking that assuredness that came from having answers before they happened.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Darth Centax]

Kylath on the other hand, couldn't monologue sweetly at all. His hands curled back to fists, and then moved by his side, still the training in him even now for how to stand ready. He was fighting spirits, then he thought about it, he was going to be fighting spirits, because what did he have to fear? Ghosts? Family leaving him, bah. Nothing, there was nothing he couldn't beat in a fight, nobody.

Unfortunately for him, while that might be true one day, it wasn't today. There were many fears inside of him that drew him to rage all too easily, but try telling Connar or someone that in general, till they've experienced it first hand up in their face a few times.

Few nods of the head given to Vengeance, he clapped his hands together, and in a very amadis way, loosened his neck up. “No problem.” Was all the young acolyte said, staring off into the swamp proper, glaring and looking for trouble. He wasn't as cocky as his half brother Kelon, but ghosts, no problem at all.

If he hadn't expressly been told not to wander off, he would have already been moving ahead to look for the cave, he had to physically pull himself back a step as it was. So much pent up energy and rage, just looking for a target, it was causing him to quicken his step, while the red witch trailed behind them contemplatively.

[member="Vengeance"] | [member="Vaulkhar"]​

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smirked closing his eyes for a few moments using the force to see.

"If you consider it gracious to lead you to your death then you and I need to have a very serious talk."

They moved forward for about four hours before Vengeance stopped. He didn't say anything or move he just stood there almost like stone for a few moments.

"Captain."

It was all he said but he did point a few yards ahead and to the left of their position as a Dragonsnake came up out of the swamp snatching one of the scouts the Captain had pushed out to a loose perimeter. The poor fool had gotten to close to the water and as a result became it's next meal.

Vengeance didn't move or react more curious to see how [member="Kylath Connar Amadis"] and [member="Sera Inkari"] would react to what had just happened.

 

[Darth Centax]

Happening in mere seconds. The loss of the trooper caused Kylath to react before Sera even moved, and his force ability gave him reflex on the rest of the captain's men. “Get back!” the young sith acolyte called to the others, reaching out to grip the next nearest man to the incident and quite literally yank him backward in the force.

Dropping to his knee, bracing, his training took over, the soldier in him had his rifle out before thought came into it, scope lined up on the dragon, either in the water or out of it. Kylath’s modular assault rifle fired off semi-automatic 10mm rounds to send swamp water and hopefully chunks of beast flying outward in all directions.

Although not in direct contact with the water, Kylath didn’t stop there either, finding the most solid chunk of stone or ground he could, he re-positioned as best he could to avoid any surprise jumping up at him from the depths, and to give him height. Then he continued to fire, single, accurate shots along any wake in the swamp water to see if it stirred or moved. His eyes didn’t leave the sight of the scope, not until he was certain.

Interesting though that the first reaction had been to use the rifle, but not if you understood that’s where most of his training still lay, the reliance on the scoped sight was troublesome perhaps, but even more interesting to Sera at least was his anger or impetuous nature had been channeled into the move, and for those few seconds he was calm. "Why the frak did you put them that close to the water," he shouted angrily at the captain, before realising his outburst and silencing himself. Obviously Kylath cared for the soldiers around him, Vengeance didn't even have to work on that in him, but he eyed the captain with no shortage of disdain.

[member="Vengeance"]​

 

[Sera Inkari]

“I would relish our discussion Master,” she smiled sweetly, too sweetly, her gaze drifted outward as it ever did. Sera’s initial reaction lay toward the subtle, she shifted her senses, and then looked to her Master, considering this a test. Her reaction was more to go with events, subtle manipulations, rather than shape them directly.

Noting her Master preferred her to value all life, and always seeking favour, she sort her vision and sense forward to seek any sign of a heartbeat from the one who was snatched, to sense location or direction that he may be taken. If successful she reported his condition, and that of the beasts as to if it was a spirit, vision, or a physical manifestation, seeking further clues or dangers within her encompassing attentions. However that went….

Piggybacking off of others, to use what was already in motion, she noticed Kylath’s outburst and instead took a moment to whisper in their captain’s ear, the man’s face may well go white, or even have the color drop from his cheeks, for her honeyed words carried terrifying visages of possible futures that just had enough truth in them to cut, or wound, or perhaps motivate. From her meditations she had pictured this moment, sharing a particularly dark secret of the captain's with the man.

While Kylath may have more control over events, she did of people, usually, hoping to have put the proverbial fear of further failure into the man, by using that which was already in motion around her, till inevitably their current brought her back to her Master's side.

[member="Vengeance"]​

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance did not move one direction or the other watching everything unfold. He did shake his head as [member="Kylath Connar Amadis"] shot forward shouting orders and jumping straight into combat. He was a reckless one to be sure.

The other Troopers moved as one tightening the circle around the three of them setting up a virtually impenetrable defensive perimeter. The unusual absence of the Captain's voice did cause Vengeance to turn and look towards the man as [member="Sera Inkari"] apparently leaned in to the man's ear the man suddenly turning white. Vengeance shook his head letting out a growl.

"Hold the perimeter.......suppressing fire." "Conserve your ammo only fire when it surfaces." "CONNAR GET BACK IN THE PERIMETER NOW."

Vengeance took a deep breath watching the creature slink away under the water giving it a few minutes to make sure it was gone before he spoke again.

"Check ammo.......we hold here for a moment."

Vengeance walked over picking up the Captain by his shoulders to his feet.

"Take a deep breath slowly in and out." "That's it just slow in and out..........it will pass."

He turned looking to another Trooper.

"Lt. see to the Captain...........get him back in fighting shape."

Vengeance turned looking at both Acolytes his eye's burning a deep red taking a few steps backwards and away from the bulk of the Troopers.

"Both of you over here now."

 

[Darth Centax]

Not having gone far, just enough to get angle or position, Kylath kicked off and dropped back to the ground. Whereas both apprentices had seemingly upset their Master, both approached him very differently on their return. Kylath silently checked his ammo, he still had a couple of spare clips, this one was stuck at about half dry so he left it for now, flicking on the safety and pulling the strap to his shoulder.

Then the young man walked right up to face Vengeance, standing a couple of arm lengths away, and nodded. “Yes Vengeance.” As if what he'd just done was the most natural thing in the world.

Realising he'd crossed the line with Vengeance shouting at the officer, he braced himself, feeling strong raw emotion to see the captain himself punished for his stupidity however, it came off him in waves, threatening to break into another pointed stare or much worse. Not taking into account the galaxy as a whole didn't have access to his own sharper senses or reflex. Connar stood feet shoulder width apart, assuming a familiar posture, only with his hands resting on his belt.

Having a way to go from youthful action, or response, to hardened Sith training, but saving the lives of the men, that had been instinct, and odd for a sith perhaps. Whatever the lesson his Master was about to give him, the words or act would be taken to heart. What was noticable as he looked back at his Master, was that however angry Vengeance was, Connar didn't flinch, feeling that same anger most waking moments of his young life

[member="Vengeance"]​

 

[Sera Inkari]

Sera was having increasing trouble meeting her Masters expectations of her, and it obviously showed across her face, she'd been hasty to back the wrong course here, instead of reaching down with her ability to predict which way her Master would have gone, and then acting. Attempting to demonstrate technique other than farseeing, three times now had met with failure. Another Master might have simply cut her down, and so rather than walk to face vengeance eagerly, she was much less keen to face his wrath.

Close to her Master already, the acolyte had much more sense of her own mortality. Side stepping to put herself out of his direct firing line, but very much in earshot still so not to evoke further wrath, her head dipped and she awaited his judgement. Inside doubt crept up again, shattering her usual calm resolve, like ice picks stabbing at an iron surface till eventually they made a dent. She was too easily pulled along by others, Sera had to take more time to see what course events would take before acting decisively, so not to have her own acts influenced by others.

Unlike Connar she could see her Master wanted caution, even just by his simple reaction. She'd even tried to exercise it here, and if not for the words to cripple their captain's ability to lead, compromising her Master's plan, might have come off more favorably. Intended to focus their captain for fear of his own mortality, she now found herself face to face with her own!

[member="Vengeance"]​