Ensnaring Divinity

[Valik]

[SIZE=12pt]It was a harsh day on the wild world of Felucia, as always. The native beasts, flora, and fauna all seemed to conspire to eliminate on another, only teaming to fight outsiders. It was a world where the only law was "survival of the fittest."Though he had much work to do with 'governing' the planet, attending to his experiments and creations, along with his various duties and studies as a Sith, Valik made it a point to observe the nature of the world and it's schemes and strength play against one another for at least fifteen minutes a day. The sheer display of evolution was unforgiving, invigorating, and poetic, a true sight of what life really was, or should be. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But today Valik had no time to play spectator, for he had work to do, work that the men assigned to his service on this planet were simply unqualified for, and Valik would not any workers needlessly. He needed to capture one of the native Felucians, a primitive Force-Sensitive race who hadn't given Valik or the Sith any trouble after their first one-sided skirmish, so normally he wouldn't give them trouble either. However, Valik needed a Force-Sensitive test subject, and it seemed no Sith was willing to volunteer. He detested the cowards that were assigned to him, unable to take a little pain for the greater good of the Sith. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He would find ways to make them pay for their insolence of course, but right now Valik had no time to waste. The requisition order he had gotten this morning was due in a week. Create ranged weapon suitable for combat against Jedi opposition. it said. He didn't like this order personally, as while whatever he made would undoubtedly make the Jedi cringe in fear, it would also be effective on Sith as well. The Sith would be more clever in how the combated such a weapon, but if a revolt was made the less intelligent of Valik's peers could be lost, and that meant less resources. Still, it was quite the interesting challenge, and Valik was never one to shy from an intellectual puzzle.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]And it seemed the Felucians were not ones to shy from their curiosity. Two Felucians Warriors came to him, armed with a jagged blade wrought from bone. They uttered a guttural roar in their primitive dialect, but Valik merely stared at them, unspeaking and unflinching. He could sense their curiosity, their nature as rulers, the nature they were likely taught to shy away from. Valik extended his feeling in the Force and began projecting images to the pair of savage's minds. A sword through their friends torso. A decapitation. Pulling tendrils, breaking bones, ripping appendages, image after image he sent to the two of them killing the other. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]They both began panicking, grabbing their skulls to try and shut out his images but it had no effect. Finally, one of them rose his sword and charged at Valik, only moments before the other rose his sword and stabbed the Felucian in the back. The Felucian Murderer began to mutate only slightly, the tendrils in his face no longer standing up like some strange tentacle, but hanging down like some form of dreadlock. It seemed the Darkside had an immediate physical impact on the Felucians. How interesting. Valik would have to study it later, but he had no time. Valik motioned for the Felucian to follow him, and began walking away. He did not look back, only felt the creature's presence in the Force. He hesitated for a minute, then his presence came closer and closer to Valik. The Felucian had nowhere to go but with Valik, and Valik had his test subject. [/SIZE]

 

[Yuri Caedus]

Yuri having heard not only Valik the man as a mad scientist as some liked to call him which was probably inclusive of himself, but also of the experimentation that was going to happen. Though the chemical science did not appeal to Yuri as of yet, the outcome did. His ship landed upon the surface of Felucia near the apparent camp that Valik must have made to be able to do his experiments. As Yuri approached the camp he looked around to find Valik no-where. A small notion of dismay came upon Yuri's face but it was no matter, he would wait. Valik had to return at some time and when he did Yuri would greet him awaiting any tasks that needed to be handled by the man or simply to watch over the experimentation as it took place.

Yuri was not sent there by anyone, and was not told to watch over the man to make sure that he did things right. Valik was of course equipped adequately by the Empire to do the job that he needed to be done; however, Yuri realized that the fires of the Empire were being forged at this very moment, meaning that the glory of battles was soon to take place. And he would take part in all that he could not only to aid the Empire itself, but also himself in battle. Anything that Yuri could learn from this man.. Valik would do nothing but serve him in the future, if not the near future.

As Yuri began to snoop around the came for the moment, he picked up various tools and instruments that he presumed would be for some sort of operation or procedure. Valik intended to as the name stated, rise to divinity if nothing more help the Empire rise to that divinity. The exact mindset that Yuri loved to see in someone, and loved to see in the Empire. It was those ambitions that got people far in the world, not that Yuri had any room to speak but he still thought of it. His beaming yellow eyes scanned upon the instruments of Valik whilst his fur nestled the side of his face as he turned from side to side running his hands along the instruments. His armor lay tight on his body when he turned around to peer off into the jungles of Felucia. He had always thought that the jungles of Felucia were a bit over kill for the Galaxy, but it was a planet nonetheless. The presence of Valik with someone else unknown approached and Yuri stood waiting..

 

[Valik]

As Valik walked with the newly enlightened Felucian, he imprinted images and sounds into the man's mind, associating picture and word in an admittedly slow attempt to teach him to understand Galactic Basic. So far the process had been working, with Valik testing the man every few minutes verbally. He learned that the creature was unable to produce the sounds necessary to speak basic, but he demonstrated his understanding through his body language and actions. Valik told him of his intentions to use him to test a weapon, and that it was painful, but that for his service he would be allowed a place in the Sith. The Felucian, though first reluctant, was easily swayed as Valik convinced him of the sheer power and variability the Sith had to offer.

Someone The creature sent a message to Valik's mind. Though Valik's expression and walk did not change, he did admit it was a little startling that the creature had learned to communicate telepathically just by listening to his messages. Still, it showed remarkable potential in the man. Valik had felt the presence of another Sith about 50 meters ago, but his sensory abilities were rather good for an untaught primitive such as he. Valik sent him to be prepared, but that he would take care of it. The signature was that of an apprentices, determined but raw, untrained. Valik would be able to take care of him with little trouble. In his earlier days he would have killed the man for showing up on his doorstep unannounced, but after his training he had realized that even fools could be useful, and the man may have not even been a fool, just ignorant. As he arrived at his base-camp he saw a lean boy @[member="Yuri Caedus"], probably in his late teens with his hair cut short and wearing an outfit of fur. He was definitely young, but he could see the yearning in the man's eyes, for knowledge and power. He could prove very useful, or very dangerous, depending on his ambitions.

"I want your name, rank, and assignment, now." Valik said in an commanding and unflinching tone. He didn't threaten, but it was clear from his expression that he had no qualms killing the man if he didn't prove useful.

 

[Valik]

[SIZE=11pt]As he waited for the man to speak, Valik sent a signal to men working on his planet to come to his location. After he continued to wait for the man to answer, but got no answer, he commanded his men to arrest the man and take him away. They did so, and after waiting until he was a fair distance away he left the camp and went to his hidden laboratory. The Felucian's emotions were a mixture of confusion, wonder, and fear as he looked around and saw the various tools, chemicals, and creatures Valik had stored there and experimented with. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Why here?[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] The felucian finally asked as Valik began synthesizing compounds for testing, searching to replicate a material he heard of in ancient texts and datapads.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"The Force is that which gives you and I power." Valik said to the Felucian. He had explained the concept of the Force to the alien, but seeing as his race naturally had Force Sensitivity it was more difficult to explain to him that some people didn't have it. "I told you most people don't have the Force except for Felucians and Sith." To him the Force was as natural as a muscle, and the thought of trillions of sentients in the galaxy not having that muscle was a foreign concept to him. "But there are another group with the Force called 'Jedi'. I seek to build a weapon against them, but I need to know if it works on people with the Force." Valik continued, hoping the alien would understand his continued use of basic and not images. Valik didn't have to time to imprint the images in the creature's mind, as he was busy comparing the combinations of elements and compounds, running simulations to discover what effects such combinations would have. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Why no try Sith?[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] The Felucian asked of Valik, continuing sending messages to Valik's mind in his primitive and curious tone.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"Because the Sith here are cowards, and the one's who are not cowards are off fighting the Jedi I spoke of. I need someone strong and brave enough to put up with pain." Valik said as he took a vial and put it in a chemical dispenser, then began fashioning a nozzle into the chemical dispenser.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]I no coward. I help for teaching.[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] The primitive creature sent his thoughts to Valik's mind, willing to take pain for a price. It made Valik smile. True power could only be obtained through sacrifice, and this man was willing to make that sacrifice. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"Then we begin now." Valik said and then shot the chemicals out of the dispenser at the alien, then began taking notes on it's effects.[/SIZE]

 

[Valik]

Over the week Valik conducted tests of various fluid chemicals, noting which ones seemed to shock, how many volts or amps where put out, how fast the fluid could travel, how the fluid bonded with each other, how resistant it was to blast bolts and lightsabers. Sadly, he could not conduct the testing any quicker, as he needed to wait for his Felucian test subject to recover physically for the treatment. Valik did admit, he did have fun teaching and corrupting the primitive alien. The alien began with thoughts of conquering his people, and converting them to the ways of the Sith, but soon grew in his aspirations, wanting to move into the stars and subjugate planets, ravage worlds, consume their power. The poor brute had ambition, but no idea of the miniscule amount of his power in comparison to the Empress, Valik's master, or even Valik himself. He would have to learn a great deal to entertain his plans. As Valik taught and spoke to the man, he could see the Felucian's intelligence, and pondering of his words.

When I be ready? The Felucian spoke to him telepathically one day. Valik knew the Felucian could feel his emotions from his speech and tendencies. He was impressed that the creature could determine his true meaning for his emotions, but Valik also reasoned that the man probably had little else to think of in his spare time.

"Perhaps never. There are men far greater in power than you, or I, or any of your tribe's man. The journey to power is a long one full of sacrifice, and I cannot tell you when you will be ready. The best tests will kill you if you fail, but the rewards are like none other." Valik stated coldly. He doubted the Felucian would ever be ready, but he wouldn't be dishonest to the alien. Many lost their lives in pursuit of the power of the darkside, but everyone had the right of pursuit. "We will continue the discussion later. Now I need you for testing." Valik cut the discussion, and the Felucian returned to his equipment. Valik ejected the fluid at the Felucian and watched as he was electrocuted. The sensors read that the shock had the strength to knock out herd animals, and the Force-using Felucian was knocked out as well. Valik smiled and began replicating the fluid he was testing. This was it.

 

[Valik]

The mysterious 'Stokhli' fluid Valik had discovered was replicated easily enough, though that was not to say the process wouldn't be costly. The fluid dispersed remarkably well, and had the electric shock to knock out most sentients, and at the very least stun a Jedi. The fluid could be slashed through by a lightsaber, but one would have to be unnaturally quick, even with the Force, and there was nothing to stop the user from simply dispersing more of the fluid. Defending from multiple disbursements of the fluid would be borderline impossible, even for a Jedi, or a Sith . . . . Valik marveled at how powerful a non-Force user could become with the right tools and knowledge. Not that anyone would ever likely use the weapon to it's full potential, but Valik could only arm men, not make them smarter.

Done? Valik heard, or felt rather, the telepathic presence of his new Felucian companion. The tone in his message was not fearful, or worried, merely curious, though Valik noted due to the deliberate nature of telepathic communication compared to speech he could make the tone however he wished. The Felucian had dutifully put up with all of Valik's tests, and had not so much as a complaint. He had been impressed with the creature's service, he would make a good Sith one day, he was merely ignorant on the inner, and outer, working of the galaxy. He would adapt or die, as all men did, but he expected the Felucian would learn ins and outs of the galaxy.

"I am done obtaining the fluid I need. I have not however, maximized it's method of storage or distribution." Valik said, and began thinking of ways to easily implement the technology. He couldn't put the fluid in a side-arm, as the recoil would be too great and not enough fluid would be stored in the first place. He could make a sort of shotgun, but seeing as the shotgun and the chemical were used in similar positions it would not maximize the element of surprise amongst the opposition. No, Valik needed something else. Something the Jedi would think was a normal blaster and instinctively block. Valik looked around the lab and his samples of standard Sith equipment an idea suddenly popped into his head.

"Why build a new weapon when I can reverse-engineer an old one?" Valik said to himself, and took equipment and began deconstructing it.

 

[Valik]

Valik had spent the next few days deconstructing the Sith army standard Chimera Assault Rifle and learning everything he could on the rifles dimensions. It was his intenion to make a Stokhli fluid dispenser that visually, was as similar to the eye as the normal Blaster Rifle. Thus far the process had not been too difficult, implementing an internal nozzle in the barrell, making a simple reload system for cartridges, streamlining the distribution process across a longer barrell and frame. Valik had even managed to add an aditional function aside from the normal spray, a sort of 'burst' setting to quickly fire small netting instead of continuously fire netting of increasing proportions. Satisfied with his latest creation, Valik slung the rifle on his back and returned to his latest apprentice, a promising Felucian.

I am ready The felucian began in his adopted telepathic method of speech. You are holding me back. I will kill you and take ownership of this planet, as is the way of the Sith. The alien continued, then ignited his lightsaber and lunged forward. Valik's smile turned into a frown, as he used the Force to push himself to the side of the attack, then pushed the Felucian to a wall. He then took out his rifle and began spraying the Felucian, who despite his efforts with the saber was effective captured, and then electrocuted.

"So disappointing." Valik mused as he looked at the specimen below and began preparing a Force cage. Normally he'd prepare a dissection table, but this one had teaching, understanding. Far better would it be to break this man and make him an assett then kill him and all his talent. Besides, Valik could always dissect him later if he proved too rebellious . . .