Fully Alive (Xiarr)

[Sage Bane]

Location: Sith Temple on Coruscant

Throughout his life, Sage Bane had been known as many things. Slave, drug lord, Jedi Padawan, Sith Acolyte. He never guessed that he would someday be called Master. Yet here he was, standing in the middle of the training room in the Sith Temple on Coruscant, waiting for his new apprentice Xiarr Raeth to arrive. Xiarr, a young Rattataki man, only a few years younger than Sage himself, was rumored to be quite a talented student, and Sage anticipated his arrival with a rare touch of trepidation.

Xiarr wasn’t his first apprentice. Sage had been given an apprentice before Xiarr, a yellow Twi’lek named Manji who was barely out of his teens and obsessively devoted to Sith Code. Unfortunately Manji was killed during Sage’s first attempt at teaching Force lightning. Oops. Sage was given a warning by the Lords and Masters of the temple, and then the incident, like so many of its ilk was swept under the rug. After all, accidents happened, especially at the hand of such an impassioned Sith Knight. Sage was not a man who said no to much of anything. Some might say that the Chiss hybrid’s hedonistic pursuits almost embodied the Sith Code itself. To Sage, anything that got the blood racing was worth doing, restraint was reserved for cowards, and a lack of passion might as well have been fatal.

Out of all of Xiarr's lessons, it was passion most of all that Sage hoped to teach his student. That, and how to survive his apparently dangerous training sessions.

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

This was hardly Xiarr's first training session. Since his arrival among the Sith he'd been undergoing a number of meetings similar, though they only covered the basics, and not much more. The rest would be reserved for his first formal teacher, and he'd had one, for awhile. But for whatever reason that hadn't exactly worked out the way it had been intended to. Certainly he had completed the retinue of what basic Force abilities that are to be learned, which wasn't something to be taken lightly, but nothing more had been expanded upon, other than the Sith Code itself, which was almost a given. Hopefully this would be the first step in remedying that.

Just as his last training had begun, the two would meet for the first time in the Sith Temple on Coruscant, in one of the numerous training rooms that lined the halls. Nothing unusual, and in fact it encompassed all that could be considered average for those that called this mantle their own. But, as he stepped into the previously specified room, there was a certain facet of the man's Force aura that caught his attention. There was an edge of unpredictability there, something that warranted his immediate notice. Whether it harbored something ultimately good or bad for future time spent together, only time would tell. But it did provoke thought.

His first mentor had made it clear within the first few moments of their making the other's acquaintance that he wouldn't be showing any subservience to his senior other than referring to him as Master. Any displays of submission would be reserved for the Dark Lord himself, and no one else. But something told him that tenet would be modified with this next instructor. He remained silent, not lowering his gaze, or making any other move to recognize himself as a lesser. With his inaction he was testing the man, gauging his personality through nothing more than quiet observation.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage’s tall, pale protege finally arrived in the training hall. So, this must be Xiarr. The young man strode into the room, and without a word, stood before him, staring like an unblinking statue. With his marble white skin and icy blue eyes, the beautiful young man looked Rattataki or perhaps Umbaran, but Sage wasn’t entirely sure.

Surprisingly, Xiarr did not speak, nor did he make a gesture of deference. Was he mute? Acolyte Manji, the Maker rest his soul, had been the subservient type who had called him “Master” in spite of the fact that Sage urged him not to. Admittedly Sage had grown fond of the obsequious fawning which continued up until Manji’s death. The Sith Knight’s eyebrow arched at the lack of submission shown by his new apprentice. Perhaps he felt too arrogant to bow or even greet his new teacher? This could prove to be a fun habit to try and break.

Sage himself wore a black cloak over lightly armored clothing, with a lightsaber clipped to his belt. His cloak hung strangely over one side of his body, dropping straight down instead of draping over the curves of his arm. It was fairly obvious that the young Knight was missing an arm, even before he swept his cloak to the side to dramatically reveal the missing limb.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Sage took a few strides forward.

“Acolyte Xiarr, I presume,” he said. “My name is Sage Bane. My superiors tell me that you have quite the potential, and apparently I have been tapped as the man to help bring it out. Tell me, are you ready to give yourself over to the unrelenting power of the dark side of the Force. Soul and body?”

As he made his last statement, Sage gestured to his ruined torso for emphasis.

“Do you have a voice, Acolyte Raeth? Because I haven't heard you speak a word yet."

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

It was tempting to retort with a sarcastic comment, or in fact not reply at all and simply remain voiceless, both to test the boundaries that would no doubt swiftly be set in place and determine just what personality the man before him had. The two were almost always key before forming any sort of relationship with another being. Knowing your friend just as well as your enemy often proved to be a useful strategy, especially within an organization such as the Sith, where the former was likely to turn to the latter if the situation so suited or otherwise benefited them. Xiarr knew perfectly well that he himself was no exception to that rule, if prodded, nor was this man. All the better reason to gain some insight into his behavior first.

As soon as the missing limb was revealed completely, and even beforehand, he studied where the arm would have been, trying to put any pieces together. The odds of the loss being an accident were slim to none, given where they were standing, so it was likely lost on combat. Unsurprising. The only question brought to bear was how and whom had been responsible. It was interesting that he hadn't even chosen to get a cybernetic replacement yet, but there was most probably a reason for it remaining untouched. He'd only read of the capabilities of Sith Magic, so perhaps it was that path that would ultimately solve the unbalance. But it wasn't his concern.

When he did elect to speak, his voice was only as loud as it needed to be in order to be audible; no more, no less. "I'm capable of speaking." That would be his only response to the final inquiry posed. It didn't require any elaboration, nothing more than those four words. It wasn't the sarcastic remark he'd contemplated at first, but nor did it speak of total respect. That virtue would be awarded when he felt it was deserved, and seeing as this was their first real meeting, well, he didn't have much of a reason to extend past what most considered common courtesy, at least for Sith. Still, he would refer to the man as 'Master', if only because it was what he'd been taught previously.

"I'm prepared, Master. Mentally and physically." There would be no other action of subservience other than that simple title. It was unnecessary, both in his mind and that of the mentor he'd had previously. Whether or not Sage expected something similar remained to be seen, but he wouldn't deliver unless asked to. There wasn't much point in wasting time with ceremony when there was more to be accomplished than simple semantics.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Although Xiarr's answers were short and sweet, they still had an inkling of arrogance to them. The handsome Rattataki's stoic demeanor wouldn't do at all. The dark side thrived on the strongest emotions. Pushing Xiarr could prove useful to the young man in his training, even if he wasn't aware of its benefits yet. Darth Sidious had once said that the most important thing to remember was that the apprentice's purpose was to serve the master. Yet so many Sith Acolytes seemed to have missed that Sidious' memo.

Sage's lips spread into a smug grin. He would remind the man that Force training should be filled with pain, anger, triumph, and defeat, and all of those should be felt deeply or not at all. His mind flashed back to Matsu Xingu's flesh melting off of her face as he tightened his hands around her throat, painfully choking her to near death, and the sigh of pleasure she derived from it. Matsu had taught him well, just how to milk the suffering out of one's ego.

"Xiarr, I've been told that you had a previous Master. Didn't he or she teach you anything about respect?"

Sage nodded his head, gesturing to the temple floor, his eyes flashing red for a second.

"Now, kneel."

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

"Now, kneel." If only it were that simple. One thing his former Master had taught him was that deference wasn't something to be handed out to just anyone. It was a privilege, not a right, and something to be given to only those that deserved it. And the only one that did, in that man's eyes, had been the very Dark Lord they all served. Anyone else would only be referred to with the moniker of 'Master' or 'Lord' if they were an elder, and otherwise treated cordially with the respect that was due. Anything extra wasn't necessary. It was better to get straight to the point rather than dance around just how one wanted to be treated or referred to. That was secondary.

The corners of his mouth tightened ever so slightly, his expression returning to its former neutrality mere seconds later. It was easy to rationalize his actions, but Xiarr knew that none of his former teachings would mean much of anything in Sage's eyes. Still, it was worth explaining regardless. "My former Master made it clear that the only one to show submission to would be the Dark Lord." Nothing else to clarify, just that one explanation. Nor did he make a move to otherwise abide by what had been demanded of him, standing just as he had been before, just as calm and collected, though inwardly he was calculating what likely violent response this would provoke.

The fact that the man's eyes flashed crimson for the briefest of moments didn't escape his notice, giving him yet another thing to consider. That spoke of alien heritage, which left him to only guess what species. There was a limited number with selectively red eyes that were also capable of breeding with what he assumed to be humans. The first one to come to mind was the Chiss, and he merely mentally shrugged. Perhaps he'd have to look into it later, but at this point in time he didn't exactly care all that much. It wouldn't change how he was taught, or what the man's reaction would be to what he would probably assume to be a statement made above his station.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Xiarr seemed incredibly put out by the suggestion that he should bow and scrape. However, despite the Rattataki's feelings on the matter, it wasn’t a suggestion, nor was it his call to make. An order from a superior was not to be taken lightly. Sage appreciated the boy’s courage, as well as his dedication to his former Master however misguided the man was in feeding the young beast’s ego.

A thin hand lightly began to weave a spell as Sage whispered a Sith incantation, his lips barely moving, the sound like a distant breeze. It was unlikely that Xiarr would notice these movements or the casting, as what was happening to Sage’s missing limb would be much more distracting.

Out of his sleeve an arm snaked, but it was not made of flesh. Sage sprouted rubbery black tendrils, almost like the Amphistaffs of the Yuzhaan Vong, but instead of poisonous heads, the ends of the tentacles curved into points and covered with tiny, razor sharp barbs. The tentacles grew impossibly long and undulated towards Xiarr, wrapping themselves tightly around his throat, cutting off his air flow. Sage’s new arm was an illusion of course, but it was a vision so real, that Xiarr would have trouble telling the difference. If the young Acolyte believed the illusion, it could hurt him or even kill him.

As Xiarr choked and bled, Sage’s voice cut through the oppressive air of his waking dream.

“Whatever else your Master taught you might have been valuable, but he was wrong about one thing. You, Xiarr, are to use your own judgement in all situations, and act accordingly. Arrogance will get you killed. Do you want to die from asphyxiation because some vainglorious Sith Lord deems you an insolent whelp? That could happen in the ranks of the Sith. Use your head around these powerful beings Acolyte Raeth, and don’t let your ego sully your judgement.”

Sage's mouth showed sharp, white canines as he looked upon his victim and smiled.

"Now kneel."

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Slowly Xiarr knelt, the process made difficult by the tendrils still wrapped tightly around his throat, making it impossible to breathe, let alone think coherently. Something in his subconscious prodded that the chances of this transcending into reality were slim, that it was only an illusion and that it couldn't really hurt him. At the same time he knew that he couldn't concern himself with that right then, mere apparition or not, it was still capable of injuring him in some semblance of the word, and it wouldn't do well to allow it to continue. That was the train of thought he followed, and at that time it seemed perfectly logical. His jaw clenched against the pain, but he didn't make a sound, knowing that whether this stopped or not depended entirely on the man he now knelt in front of.

Perhaps they hadn't made the best of acquaintance, but now Sage had earned his respect, however grudgingly it would come. This was obviously not one to be pushed past his limits, at least until he himself was better prepared to counter whatever attack might be coming his way from any insult, whether perceived or actual in its utterance. Of course, he wouldn't admit any of these revelations out loud, at least not willingly. Their relationship had already been formed on rocky ground, and it wouldn't do any good to increase the enmity that was already blossoming between the two. They would have to cooperate, one way or another, regardless of whether it was feigned on both sides.

As a slow darkness began to creep its way into his vision he dug gloved fingernails into his palm, that minute pain helping to keep him grounded against the larger oppression that was threatening to choke the life from him. Silently he worked at his breathing and the Force both, attempting to eradicate the tendrils around his throat with a push both physical and mental. Drawing on what basic skills his former Master had taught him he, strangely enough, let the pain he was currently feeling envelope him for a moment, taking over every nerve ending, causing a momentary spell of dizziness and disorientation. It was this same sensation he attempted to project onto Sage himself, hoping to shake his concentration just enough to bring an end to this.

Potential he did have, as was exemplified by those two spur of the moment tactics. But it was raw, unrefined and largely undirected, simply remaining there as something for him to access when he felt it was necessary, hardly a talent that he was actively able to control beyond what most considered to be the minimum. This instinct had kept him alive for this long, both in his life previously and now his new one among the Sith. And he wasn't about to falter just yet, especially so easily. That would only shift his progress backwards. And if there was thing he'd proven thus far, it was his willingness and drive to push on against whatever may stand in his way.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage was pleased that the young man wasn’t an idiot who let his arrogance blind him. His very survival in the Sith depended on some of the choices he would make as he dealt with the other Masters and Lords. Tyrants such as the late Darth Vornskr, would have very different expectations for behavior of Acolytes than more non-traditional lords such as Matsu Xiangu. As Xiarr took to his knees, Sage looked down at him with a self-satisfied grin. He could feel a disturbance in his concentration as his Acolyte attempted to mirror back his own discomfort back to his Master. While he appreciated Xiarr taking the initiative, Sage's illusionary skills had been expertly honed, and he would only free the boy from the vision when he himself had decided the time was right.

The ebony tentacles unwound themselves from the Acolyte’s neck and dissipated, leaving a thin miasma of black smoke. The fangs were gone, and Sage looked much like he had before he’d unleashed the monster inside him.

He reached out his hand and put it on the top of the Rattaki’s head, shoving it roughly down so that his icy blue eyes were cast to the floor.

“Good boy,” said Sage, chuckling darkly as he addressed him like a pet. “Just be glad I didn't make you do worse.”

“I should let you know you don’t need to kneel for me as a general practice. That little show...” He paused and waved his hand around mimicking the illusionary tentacles. “...was a test. And good news, Acolyte Raeth, you passed. Of course, if you grow fond of kneeling for me, you may choose to. I certainly wouldn't complain." A knowing smile played lightly across Sage's face.

"Now rise, and tell me what other skills your former Master left you lacking. Then we can get started.”

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

The muscles of his jaw ticced slightly, the only outward sign of his frustration with it all. This wasn't about anything but semantics, and Xiarr didn't see the larger point. It took a moment for him to gather both his wits and his breath, his throat still raw and sore despite the fact that at this point he was perfectly aware that assault had been illusionary. A more careful inspection of whatever injuries he'd received would be done later, when he wouldn't be at risk of showing weakness to a man that wouldn't hesitate to exploit it. Pushing past that pain and channeling it into his training for that day would have to do as well as anything. At least until the day was done.

A snarky remark was on his lips as he stood, but he kept his mouth shut for the moment, instead concerning himself with what had been asked of him. "What we went over extended only as far as any basic Force abilities are concerned. Nothing more than that was talked about." His tone was a touch more respectful, but there was still a hint of enmity there that wasn't entirely unexpected given what had just transpired between them mere moments before. But he didn't expect Sage to be able to tell the difference, or care enough to do so. It wouldn't do good to provoke another attack before any time had passed since the last one. At the very least he needed time to calculate just what boundaries he could and couldn't cross.

Taking a breath he met Sage's dark eyes with no hesitation, no hints of fear in his nearly colorless blue eyes. "We never had a chance to cover lightsaber combat, or at least not extensively. If it means anything, the style he favored was Makashi." This time he didn't interject the title of 'Master' into any of what he said, a minor slight compared to what he could have done, but still a subtle insult nonetheless. Perhaps it wouldn't be blatant enough to earn any repercussions, perhaps it would. That wasn't exactly his concern, how much he irritated the other man. There wasn't much mutual respect between them, and he wasn't going to go out of his way to instigate any. It wasn't his best trait, his general lack of fear when it came to situations like this, but it wasn't his worst either.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

"Seems like your former Master did alot of talking, huh?" scoffed Sage. The Sith Knight pulled a training saber off of his belt clip and palmed the hilt carefully in his good hand. Then he casually tossed it to Xiarr. "Don't activate it yet," he instructed.

"While I do rather like the sound of my own voice sometimes, our lessons won't involve quite so much pedagogy, you'll find."

Sage pulled a small electronic device from his pocket and thumbed the switch. A Marksman-H remote droid came buzzing through the air and floated obediently in the air in front of the two young men. Then a black scarf emerged from his pocket, one that was made of a thick opaque fabric.

"You're going to put this over your eyes," he announced, slowly walking behind his apprentice. Sage held the scarf up next to the Rattataki's chalk-white cheek, then stopped, as tying the scarf wasn't a task he was able to do with one hand.

"I might need a bit of help with this."

[member="Xiarr Raeth"]

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Bladework had been something that had captured Xiarr's interests from the very beginning. It was the reason one of the styles he had focused on for a time had been a dual-wielding variation of Makashi. While he hadn't had ample time to improve on those skills, he was confident enough in his talents - perhaps overly so - to catch the weapon just as easily as it was thrown, the hilt rolling between his fingers as if it belonged there. Far from being a superior bladesman, he still had much to learn, the basics being the only thing well within his grasp. That left him with confidence enough when it came to the droid, a part of him harboring a healthy wariness when it came to the unknown enemy, however insignificant it seemed.

One position he had learned early on to dislike was that of another sentient behind him. However harmless it seemed, showing one's back was a dangerous thing, and he'd never quite grown out of the habit of allowing others to exit before he himself did. That same instinct nearly came into play here, but he managed to stop himself, remaining still as Sage stepped behind him in a semi-circle. It was something he would have to adjust to in time, he supposed, if only with certain individuals. Otherwise he had a feeling that his training would make itself far more difficult than it already seemed to be. But it wasn't as if he was overly concerned about even that.

Surprisingly enough he remained silent at Sage's final statement, merely reaching up to assist him with tying the scarf over his own eyes, effectively rendering him sightless. Instinctively he drew on his Force senses to compensate for such, though his skills left something to be desired. The training blade remained unignited as well, an order he likely would have disobeyed under different circumstances. But he'd seen enough to know that it would be in his best interests to obey silently for the time being. That didn't mean he wouldn't question an order that he felt was out of place, but he would abide by those put in place for the moment.

It only took him a split second to put two and two together and determine that this would be an exercise to test both his reflexes and ethereal talents. Absently he wondered just what setting the hovering droid was set on, but his thoughts didn't remain in that realm for an excessive amount of time. Either he would come out of his uninjured or suffer the consequences, but worrying would only hinder him from accessing his own capabilities. Silence remained between them as he waited for a move to be made either from the man behind him or the droid currently in front.

[member="Sage Bane"]