Private Heart to Heart

[Darth Strosius]

A simple hum served as his response to her apology, a subtle hint that he had moved beyond that discussion already. Musing on the past never quite worked out unless it was to fuel his power really. Too many strong emotions and memories that weren't worth remembering. Faces that he would never see again, the only ones left being those that he wished not to see. Such was the price of living a longer life he supposed, the price of surviving all that he had done. The price that the living had to pay to the dead.

Thankfully Revna was just as enraptured by his words of wisdom and experimentation as he was excited to spout them. "It is quite a spectacular ability yes. One that never fails to leave quite the shocked expression on those that are subjected to it." A little snort escaped the masked man at his own joke before he quickly cleared his throat and continued. "Yes, even the most potent and powerful of rituals and alchemical enhancements are no real substitute for individual training and practice. Discipline and willpower triumph over all in the end."

A grin spread across his hidden features as she accused him of purposely tempting her with knowledge of such rituals, a hand pressing against his chest as he feigned an offended expression. "I have no idea what you mean my Disciple, I was simply satisfying your curiosity." There were absolutely no doubts that Darth Strosius knew exactly what he had been doing. Revna would always be one to chase after more information and learning, and as a result more power, and he knew better than to let her run wild with it.

If she was allowed to let her curiosity and burning desire for learning to go without sating then she would inevitably find something or someone else to quench her thirst and that he could not allow. There were far too many enemies and ill-intentions lingering around in the Order for that. But with a few offhanded remarks and explanations she could be reined in and focused right at what he wanted her to, keeping her from exploring and potentially winding up in trouble due to it.

A simple trick but one that had proven fairly effective thus far. "However, I won't put you on the schedule for any significant rituals as of yet. Perhaps some minor ones but nothing too extravagant." He dropped the façade as quickly as he had adopted it, crossing his arms behind his back once more after gesturing towards her. "I've yet to see any need for you to have such things. Half the reason that I have Sith undergo it is because their potential is limited, their top strength and capability lacking without any real room to grow. These rituals and enhancements help them reach the level that they should be rather than leaving them as they are. You are an entirely different case however."

There weren't many Force Sensitives to be found in the Outer Rim to begin with, at least not among the common slave population that he often saved and recruited from, and the ones that were present were decidedly lacking in power. Most other Sith Lords wouldn't consider them worth the time of day but as usual Darth Strosius was different. Everyone had value, everyone could be useful, all could be Sith with proper dedication and work. He would never deny the opportunity even to those that could never reach his level of power and ability.

"Your potential thus far has exceeded all of my initial assumptions and expectations, unprecedented among the typical enslaved blessed ones that I find. I can only assume that your Marr heritage is to thank for that." Another factor that most Sith Lords never seemed to consider with weaker Force Sensitives, the longer term. For whatever reason Force Sensitivity did have a genetic factor and one that only seemed to compound and grow with the generations provided that it was cultivated properly.

Now he may have a cult full of weak Sith but within a few generations he might just have an army of Sith that none could match. A risky gambit admittedly but one that he was more than willing to make if it had the chance of succeeding. He did have time on his side after all, provided that he didn't get himself killed he would live more than long enough to see the fruits of such labor. "As such you have to work harder, no shortcuts and no half measures. As is befitting one of my Disciples. Instead, I would like to teach you how to perform such rituals and imbuements yourself."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna snorted and smirked in amusement herself with the man’s joke, and couldn’t help a small roll to her eyes - though truthfully she found the moment to be quite special. She didn’t get to see this side of her High Priest very often, and when she did it was very fleeting. As she knew he would, he cleared his throat and moved on, but she could still feel a sense of almost lightheartedness lingering in the space around them and between them.

It sure was better than how tense the atmosphere had been earlier on in their conversation.

The lightheartedness continued as her Master took mock offense to her accusations, eliciting a scoff and a raised eyebrow from Revna. They both knew what he was doing, however. Over time, he had learned her and no doubt he would continue to do so the longer they remained together as Master and apprentice. And perhaps even beyond.

“...yeah, sure. We’ll go with that.” She growled, still playful, before their discussion returned back to being more serious and focused on the topics at hand. Revna was mildly intrigued to hear him say that he didn’t think she needed such enhancements, explaining that the reason why he utilized them at all was to help bolster the Sith in his service that were rather lacking in the skills and power department, but she did not fall into that category. A dusting of pink touched her cheekbones as Strosius told her that she had thus far exceeded his expectations and assumptions about her, especially when she had first arrived and come under his instruction. And when he said that he suspected her Marr heritage to be behind this, Revna lowered her gaze to stare at her hands for a few moments before looking back into the darkened visor of his mask.

“My mother wasn’t Force sensitive, even though she was a Marr. She had the red eyes, but she had no power. And because of that…she was cast out of the family.” She said quietly to the man before her. “So I don’t think my sensitivity came from her side but from…”

Revna paused as there came a sudden and rather painful constriction around her heart that also seemed to squeeze off her throat as well. She collected herself after a moment, though she was suddenly far more vulnerable than she would have liked to be in the moment.

“I…I think that might have come from the one, from …whoever my father is.” she said in a far more quiet, subdued tone of voice. “But I’m not sure about that. Mother never spoke of him, and shut down all my attempts to ask her about him.”

Many times, young Revna had pondered on the existence of her father, the one who had helped bring her into existence. Every attempt she had made to talk about him with her mother had been met with a sharp rebuke. But it never helped to heal the wound left behind in not knowing who he was. Or even if he was still alive, somewhere, out in the galaxy. Did he even know of her existence?

This was the biggest reason why she had been so driven in finding young Veradun a family…she had wanted him to have something she never had herself, and to experience life and growing up under the guidance and care of a mother and a father.

As Revna regarded the Sith Lord before her, she felt another stab of pain to her heart. Briefly, memories of her capture and interrogation by the one known as Ordo resurfaced within her mind, the first time she had ever confessed aloud how she truly saw her Master. But she was too much of a coward to tell him to his face. She couldn’t bear the thought of exposing that most vulnerable part of her soul, only to have it spurned and denied or rejected completely. So she kept it to herself, saying that one day she might find the courage to tell him who he really was to her.

But now was not that time.

Revna was quiet as he continued, and nodded in understanding when she was told that, due to her own greater potential over the others, she would have to work harder. There would be no shortcuts for her, no half measures as a chosen Disciple. It only made sense; she had far more responsibility on her shoulders than many of the others, and had far more to prove. She had to measure up to the expectations of Darth Strosius, and she was determined to do so.

Her somberness drifted away as another eager and hungry glint reappeared in her sulfur hued eyes.

“You know I won’t say no to you teaching me and showing me the ways of the Dark side. Beats having to expend the extra energy to go find someone else who will, anyway.” She added with a provoking smirk.

“But I suppose that is something we can maybe touch further on after I get this fancy healing implant?”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

There was a subtle pause in his movements as Revna mentioned her mother, idly recalling a memory that he had gleaned from her mind some time ago regarding a red eyed woman that must have been her. While part of him was disgusted at the notion of a child being cast out of a family for such a simple reason, albeit given they were nobility it was to be expected, her own pause and assertion that her mother wasn't the source of her power was what caught his attention. Not that he made that known of course.

A simple hum served as his immediate reaction to the scant information regarding her father, something to note for later. It wasn't unusual for families to be separated in the slave trade after all. Or for new ones to be sired amidst said trade. Regardless it seemed that either her mother must have regretted the little tryst that led to Revna or that the father had met some grim fate that wasn't to be spoken of. Either was likely, perhaps even both, but there was no way to know for sure.

"The blessings of the Force are not so simply spread like hair and eye color, Disciple." Darth Strosius noted to fill the silence. "It can often skip entire generations. Had my parents or grandparents displayed any inklings of Force Sensitivity then I doubt that they would have wound up as simple miners on Kessel for example, yet there I was born and lived until my own power came to me. So it could still be sourced from your Marr side, just having been recessive for whatever reason." A phenomenon that he was still looking into in all honesty, to determine how to better raise generations of Sith.

Indeed none in his family, of which he admittedly only knew his parents, had any sort of sensitivity that he was aware of. Whether he was the first of the Haxim bloodline to bear the blessings of the Force or an inheritor from some ancient ancestor was unknown but hardly mattered, it wasn't like he could continue his family line after all. "Perhaps if you ever have children we can put that theory to the test hm? See if they possess any sensitivity to the Force." A remark said with more warmth than intended, to the point that he paused and seemed to question himself for a moment.

He had no doubt that Revna and even Malum would be ecstatic to see more additions to their family, but why did he find that prospect so enticing? Seeing families crop up beneath his purview was a source of pride for him but this notion was different somehow. More personal almost. Perhaps because she was so integral to his plans? Definitely something to ponder on later.

The masked man scoffed at the idea that she would find alternative instruction and shook his head with a small chuckle. "I doubt that anyone else's teaching style would suit you." He countered with a slight smirk before perking up at the mention of the implant. "Ah yes of course, no point in delaying it too much longer I suppose. Lay down and relax if you would." With a finger he beckoned the medical droid back to the operating table, standing across from it as it readied its implements.

"First you'll be administered general anesthesia to 'put you under' for the operation, then the incision and implantation will commence, then after a simple test to ensure it was properly implanted it will heal the incision and you'll be woken up." It was a quick and simple explanation for what was a relatively minimally invasive process, but one that he felt needed to be said. No one else had received such an explanation until after the implantation was complete and they were being trained to make use of it. He doubted Revna even needed it, but he chose to give it anyway.

"After you're back to your senses and fully aware we'll conduct a short training exercise so that you can make use of the implant properly, then you'll be free to return to your previous affairs. As simple and as quick as we could make it." His hand rested on the side of the table for a moment before, after a moment of twitching and hesitating, reaching out to lightly pat her arm. As usual his visor was unreadable in its expression but it was fixed on her for a long few moments before he withdrew his arm and stepped back. "Just close your eyes as the droid begins the anesthesia, I'll see you on the other side."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna’s expression turned thoughtful and introspective as the Sith Lord explained that the inheritance of the Force was a complicated matter, that it could skip entire generations and crop up in even the most unlikely of individuals. She bemused that the Force truly was a ‘blessing’, if what he said was correct.

But surely there were ‘lines’ that were more potent with the Force, and more likely to pass it on from one generation to the next. Revna knew so little about her own family background that she really didn’t know if her own family ‘line’ carried such potency. Yes, the Marr line was potent, and many were born sensitive to the Force, but many more were born with no sensitivity at all.

Like her Mother.

And what about her father? Had he been Force sensitive?

The more the little Sith apprentice thought about him, the more she felt a certain agitation - a gap in something that had no knowledge, and it bothered her. She wanted answers about who he was, this mystery man who had helped bring her into existence. If he was alive or dead…

So many questions, and no real way of finding answers.

That agitation that crawled under skin was burned away in the next moment, however, when her Master said something she had never truly considered for herself, speaking his words in a tone of voice she was not used to hearing from him.

Revna blinked at the masked Sith for a few moments, her thoughts settling on that singular thought. She couldn’t help the sudden collision of swirling emotions that flooded through her, as an almost pained, wistful expression came over her pale face.

Revna knew how children came to be.

And she knew for a fact that she would never be able to experience having or holding her own child in her arms. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to - it was simply that she couldn’t. She didn’t know why, truthfully. All she knew was that the notion was impossible.

“As much as I would like to test that theory one day…I am afraid I can’t.” She replied quietly, more grimly. “Maybe…it is the price I had to pay for my ‘blessings’ from the Force. It gave me my power, but it took away the chance for me to have my own family one day.”

If only she knew that such a choice had been made not by the Force, but by her former slave master.

“It’s probably for the best anyway. I don’t think you’d want your best Disciple waylaid from her service and duties by a bunch of bratty kids anyway. I imagine they’d be just as adventurous and prone to getting into trouble as I am.” the young woman said with a more light tone of voice, her eyes glinting with mischievousness as she found a way to bring humor into the situation. “Besides, I’d just leave them with you or the other Priests and Priestesses when I got tired of dealing with them…”

Eventually, she brought their conversation back to her original purpose in coming into the operation room: to receive her healing implant - though if she was honest with herself, she almost loathed to return back to the more formal position as his Disciple; she rather enjoyed the more open, real and honest conversations with her Master. Idly, she wondered if this entire interaction would be the closest she would get to experiencing what it was like to have a Father figure in her life.

Revna did as she was instructed; she laid back and tried to relax as best she could on the seat where the operation would take place. Now that she realized the procedure was imminent, a certain tension returned back to her and it would be hard to miss the sudden look of anxiousness that filled her face and eyes. As the medical droid prepared and introduced an IV drip line into one of her veins, a flash of a past memory returned to her and for a moment the lines between the past and the present blurred…causing her small hands to clench into tight fists that made her knuckles turn white. For a moment, all she could recall was the last time she had been put under for a procedure ordered by her last master, Voss. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision of the flashes of images as a short but fierce battle raged within her own mind, her own consciousness. Despite her past trauma and experiences, however, a small victory was won over the memories of her past - a past that was dead and gone now.

Revna focused more intently upon what Darth Strosius was telling her, the reassurances he was giving to her about the simple procedure, nodding in understanding as nodes to monitor her vitals throughout the operation were placed on certain areas of her skin. Strangely, she found hearing his voice to be a comfort to help ease the remaining tension that coiled within her. He certainly wasn’t Voss, and she knew in her heart that he meant her no harm. Quite the opposite, in fact. He was giving her the ability to heal herself, to keep her alive and around for much longer. She was rather thankful for that, because she knew that no other Sith Lord would be bothered to do such a thing for someone they might consider to be ‘expendable’.

And as if to silently drive that point home, he reached out and gently patted her arm - a gesture that brought an almost alien, but welcome, warmth to spread through her as the general anesthesia was injected into her IV line.

"See you soon..." she said with a small smile before she slipped under the waves of unconsciousness.

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

An unseen eyebrow raised beneath his mask as she quietly rejected the idea of her one day starting a family, his head cocking to the side in confusion for a moment before her tone clued him in. The exact details on why such a notion seemed impossible to Revna weren't spoken and despite his curiosity, and concern, he didn't ask for clarification either. He had a feeling that he'd rather not know for his own sake, and for the sake of whoever might be responsible for any incidents in her past.

Darth Strosius managed a small chuckle as she shifted to a more lighter topic of her potential children being somewhat of an issue for the both of them. Just like their mother could be at times. "I suppose having you distracted from your duties wouldn't be ideal yes. Nor would having to chase after even more rambunctious young Sith. However, it would be rather amusing to see the tables turned on you for once..." And very fitting given her tendency to run off every now and then. Something that he hoped would be inherited, if only to see his Disciple scrambling after young ones instead of him.

"Myself and the priesthood are more than capable of handling even the most rowdy of children young Revna, it would be of little issue." The youth of the Outer Rim were far from the most well mannered and saintly bunch after all. Especially those that had been left to their own devices for the most part, be that in orphanages or slave dens. An entire subset of the priesthood was dedicated purely to the children, both those born within the cult and those brought from the wider galaxy, for such reasons. The future had to be cultivated and tended to properly.

As the more casual conversation died down and shifted back to the matter at hand, part of Darth Strosius was still having second thoughts about the entire operation. It was as minimally invasive as it could be but it would still necessitate a bit of surgery and no matter how skilled the droid might have been he was still unsure about his Disciple being placed under the knife. The thought made his stomach churn, something that rarely ever happened these days. Between war and his own work there were few sights that could disgust him anymore.

The masked man felt his shoulders sag as Revna's eyes drifted closed and her vitals stabilized, putting her into the slumber that was necessary for the operation. He had been watching this procedure done dozens of times over the past few days and yet somehow a part of him still felt concern. Doubt and hesitation wracked his mind as he stared at the unconscious face of his Disciple, his fingers digging small dents into the operating table as he silently debated himself.

The droid beeped as though to catch his attention and remind him that it couldn't very well begin the operation whilst he was still hovering over the patient. He blinked and reluctantly stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back as the droid looked to him for confirmation just as it had done dozens of times before. "Proceed." For some reason the word came out through clenched teeth, not that the droid seemed to mind. It quickly set to work just as it had done all day, albeit this time with the pacing and looming presence of the Sith Lord looking over it's shoulder at every opportunity.

Just as expected the procedure was quick and without issue, an incision and implantation followed by a quick test before the wound was stitched up. Yet despite the quick affair he nonetheless felt as though every second dragged on for an eternity. Bringing her out of anesthesia was probably the most time consuming part of the entire operation in truth, something overseen by a pair of medics rather than the droid. A pair which, when Revna's eyes would open again, were working carefully yet somewhat frantically as they checked the stitching and injected her with some small doses of medicine to get her back to full consciousness faster.

The pair shifted to the side as soon as their work was done, allowing Revna to see the rather stark medical hallway from the cot that she was laid upon. The lights had been dimmed to allow the patients an easier time adjusting their eyes but at the moment she seemed to be the only one coming out of anesthesia. Only the medics, who stood to the side and waited to ensure that she was alright, and Darth Strosius occupied the room aside from her. "Well, how do you feel? Soreness is natural and expected but it should wear off within a few hours."

Revna

 

[Revna]

As unconsciousness began to flood over her mind and her eyes drifted closed, Revna found herself smiling further at the thought of her High Priest trying to corral those of her own flesh and blood - even laughing as the tables were indeed turned and she was the one having to rescue them out of bad situations. It was a rather strange and pleasant thought to fall asleep to.

Soon, the darkness of deep sleep draped over her like a blanket however, and she rested undisturbed for a short time. She was unaware of the incision made through her skin and the implantation of the healing device designed by her own Master. As expected, the implant worked as designed, and her wound was sealed over. Her unconscious form was gently picked up and carried to a recuperation cot in the dimly lit hallway, where the medical droid was soon replaced by a couple of trained medical staff who busied themselves over her as the Sith Lord looked on nearby.

Waking up from anesthesia was always the hardest part, and the most dangerous, for any patient. Most made it through without any issues, but a rare few had mild to moderate complications. Revna’s vitals were monitored closely as her oxygen levels dipped below the normal and safe range, and a slight blue tinge cast itself over her lips and skin. Her heart rate was sluggish and slow, and medications to help balance and alleviate some of the side effects from the anesthesia were administered. There was a brief moment of respiratory distress on her part, struggling to breathe with the lack of oxygen - but that was quickly remedied as well.

Eventually however, the Disciple’s vital signs showed that she was returning to the waking world, but there was some agitation and restlessness from her as she struggled to the surface, her eyes finally opening. Her expression was somewhat confused and hazy as her eyes shifted around almost frantically, looking for a familiar sight.

“...Master?” came her weakened and sluggish voice, laced with anxiety when she didn’t immediately see the familiar sight of the Sith Lord, and a spike of fear could be felt through the Force as her usual emotional barriers were not in place. Her heart rate spiked on the vitals monitor as she searched further - until she saw the medics, and the familiar robed form of Darth Strosius.

The tension eased as he came further into focus, and though her mind was slow to register his spoken words, they nonetheless eased the anxiety that had made itself known. She laid back on the cot and blinked for a few moments, still hazy though it was quickly fading away, before nodding slightly in response.

“I…just feel…tired. From the meds I think. And glad that I d-didn’t wake up alone. Like the last time…” she murmured as she laid her head back on the cot and heaved a heavy sigh. “I assume the…operation…went okay? I still seem to be…a-alive. And in one…one piece.” She paused for a moment as clarity returned to her more and more.

“So now what? You teach me how to use this new fancy implant? How are we going to do that?”

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

There were some minor mishaps to be corrected and accounted for in order to bring Revna back into the waking world, nothing that he hadn't seen before of course but nonetheless they filled him with unease. The poor medical team working on her bore the full brunt of his concern as he watched them work, more than a few times catching them giving him way glances as though they expected some sort of harsh reprimanding. It was somewhat unusual for him to loom over them like this but they weren't going to question it directly of course.

When her eyes opened there was a subtle exhale and slight sag in his shoulders as tension left them, but sensing her distress put him right back on edge within a moment. The very second that the pair of medics parted as she awakened, he was at the side of her cot so that she could see him. Thankfully it seemed to ease her anxiety fairly quickly and as she started to speak he subtly glanced back at the medics and nodded for them to leave.

"Yes it went perfectly fine, I'm glad that you aren't feeling any lingering pain." Whether that was due to the operation's skillful execution or the medicine administered afterwards was unclear but it hardly mattered. Some fatigue was to be expected and should wear off with time so thankfully it seemed as though the operation was a great success indeed. He could count the amount of complications that they had endured from the ones already completed thus far on one hand but it never hurt to be careful just in case.

"Ah yes, some training is in order I suppose." For a moment it seemed like he had almost forgotten about that part, distracted by ensuring that her recovery was seamless it seemed, but he quickly recovered with a nod. "The first step is identifying where your implant is so that you can activate it in the future, they're all in similar spots of course but if you don't know what you're looking for then you'll be lost." Darth Strosius gestured at his side, roughly near the middle of where the ribcage would be beneath all the layers atop it. "It's in this area so that your major organs and heart are the first ones effected by the bacta injection it unleashes. Try and sense it, it should feel out of place and unnatural compared to everything else. You should be able to find it easily, especially without any other implants to distract you."

Sensing within oneself rather than around was an odd and unusual exercise for most but it was a necessary step to activate the implant and one that they would have to learn and become familiar with to use it properly. It also just so happened to be a fairly similar exercise for those learning how to heal themselves with the Force alone, a commonality that was most definitely intentional. With war on the horizon and more Sith beneath his banner than ever it only made sense to try and instill some basic knowledge of how to heal themselves just in case. "Find it and try to...'flip a switch' if that makes any sense. Your incision was stitched up loosely so it should heal up quick and just push the thread out as it does so."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Her heavy lidded eyes watched the medic staff depart, leaving just her and Darth Strosius alone in the hall. Seeing him there brought her far more relief than she truly cared to admit, and it was only this that allowed her to relax more as the fog of drugged sleep faded from her system with each passing minute.

“No…no lingering pain that I can feel right now.” Revna responded with a small smile, before further inquiring about how to use her new healing implant and after a moment of what seemed like he was distracted by something, her Master pulled his thoughts together and pressed forward. It did her some good to focus on something else other than the dizzying fog that still permeated her mind, and the more she focused on what he was telling her, the faster she recovered.

Revna sat up on the cot, taking care to make sure her dark gown stayed modest, as she watched where he indicated on himself where her implant could be located. Of course, she would need to use the Force to sense exactly where it was, and get a feel for the implant’s signature in the Force as well. Nodding along in understanding, Revna closed her eyes to help herself further concentrate and, like she had numerous times before in her meditative sessions, used the Force to peer into herself.

Her pale brow scrunched up a bit as she further sharpened her senses, and even with her decent grasp of using the Force during her meditations, it still took her a few moments to find something out of place within her body. But her frown deepened to that of confusion, and her head tilted unconsciousness, and she sensed something else too.

She was torn briefly on if she should tell her High Priest this, but chose not to say anything in the moment and focus instead on learning about her new implant. She could figure out what the other implant in her abdomen was later.

“...I sense it.” she finally murmured, her voice soft with her concentration, and once she had confirmed that she had found it, Darth Strosius further instructed her on activating and using the device. She did indeed feel a sort of “switch” on the tiny implant, and since she had actually seen the implant beforehand some time prior, she had somewhat of a visual aid to help guide her. But once she found what she had been looking for, using the Force to activate the healing substance within proved to be of little issue.

There was a sensation within her body, spreading out from the source and when it reached her surgical wound, she could almost feel it mend in real time. It wasn’t a painful experience, thought she did feel some tingling that slowly spread throughout her body before dissipating.

Revna opened up her eyes and smiled at her Master. “Done!” she said with a touch of pride to her voice, before it disappeared and her frown returned to her.

“I didn’t say anything earlier but…I sensed another…item or implant, in my abdomen.” Her gaze flickered to look down at her folded hands in her lap briefly. “I wonder…if that has something to do with my memories of my last surgery. But I don’t know what it is or what its purpose could be. I just know that Voss ordered the surgery…”

She was lost, for a moment, in memories from the past - before she pulled herself back to the present. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now. I’ll look more into it later on I guess, when I have some free time and I’m not busy helping out you or the Order.” she paused, but only for a moment. “Okay…well, now that I know how to work that, what is your will for me next, High Priest?” she inquired as she looked at his hidden visage, ever eager to serve - even if freshly out of surgery.

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

It took a few moments for Revna to focus within herself and locate the implant, accompanied with a look of effort and concentration that made him silently chuckle to himself, but this was of no surprise. Such an exercise was simply one not often done in their training. A gap in experience that he intended to slowly but surely bridge over time as he himself grew to understand the benefits of the technique himself. Healing with the Dark Side was a complex affair, but not at all impossible. And if he had his way then soon all of his Sith would be proficient in it.

When she had found it and said as much the masked man nodded in satisfaction, idly noting that she had found it a few seconds quicker than the average Sith had thus far. "Good. Now search for the trigger and activate it, be gentle but purposeful. It will not take much to get a response from it." The implant was meant to be something that could be triggered in haste after all. It would hardly be effective if it could only work with full focus attributed to it, a mid-battle healing could prove the difference between life or death.

"Focus on that healing sensation as the implant does its work, trace how it flows through your veins and into your body. Spreading like a river let loose from a dam." Another odd and unfamiliar exercise that would nonetheless be crucial for later training. "Feel how the incision nits back together and weaves a new tapestry of flesh. A process that would normally take days to fully finish, done in moments by the implant's concoction." He sounded very proud of his creation indeed.

Darth Strosius nodded again as the process was completed, a smile cropping up on his hidden visage as he crossed his arms behind his back. One that faded quickly when she mentioned another foreign implant in her body. "Perhaps a tracking chip or even a chaincode implant of some kind." They weren't common among the populace of Wonosa as they were typically only used for high value slaves or by those with a more personal role than simple laborers but they weren't entirely unheard of.

If installed by an amateur slaver on a normal slave then they weren't too much of a hassle to remove, although the recovery times from such a surgery could be fairly long based on how long the implant had been there. If installed by a more cruel and experienced slaver however, the removal of such a device would more often than not be a fatal affair for the patient. Another reason to slay the slavers as well as free their captives, to make such an implant useless even if it couldn't be removed or deactivated.

Regardless the masked man was noticeably tense even as he reasoned to himself that it more than likely was nothing too major and as she herself dismissed its urgency to inspect. "If you insist. Although having it inspected to at least determine what it might be should be a priority, your personal health could be at stake you know." Darth Strosius attempted to sound akin to his usual formal self but the hints of worry were more than just mere inflections here or there.

Reluctantly he did move on from the topic even if it still occupied the forefront of his mind. "My will for you next? How very formal of you, clearly you've spent too much time in my shadow." Amusement replaced the concern as he stepped back from Revna and idly offered a hand to help her off the stretcher despite it being unnecessary. "There is another matter I wish to discuss with you. These implants are just the first steps in the greater development of our Sith you see, but far from the only ones in motion already."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Her Master was proud of his work, she could tell by the tone of his voice as he guided her through using the new implant for the first time. She followed his words and guidance until the process was completed and her wound had been completely healed.

The pride shifted to something else when she told him about the existence of the other implant within her body, and he said that it might be a chaincode or perhaps a tracking chip. Revna noticed a tension come over him and the tone of concern that infiltrated the words he spoke to her. He didn’t seem too thrilled that she was dismissive of it, but did not try to push the topic any further than to offer her some caution and advise her to get it inspected sooner rather than later, citing that her health could be at stake.

“I…don’t think it is a tracking chip. I had a tracking device in my collar - the one you broke off of me when we first met. So I’m not sure what it is. But…your advice is sound; I didn’t really think to look at it that way. I will make a note to look into it and make sure it’s nothing too dangerous as soon as possible. Will that help ease your concerns?” Revna responded, watching him for a moment to get a read on how he took her words, before moving on and inquiring what his will was for her next.

He found her statement to be a bit formal and mused on such as he stepped back from the recovery bed she was on and offered him her hand, stating that she’d been in his shadow for too long. Revna huffed with her own amusement as she took his hand and slid off the bed, making sure her robes were back into their usual place.

“Pfft. I haven’t spent enough time in your shadow, High Priest. Every day I spend learning with you is another day I discover that I have a lot yet to learn.” she chuckled before stretching out her stiff muscles as he mentioned that he had another matter that he wanted to discuss with her, giving a small hint as to what the topic might be.

“Oh? And what are these other developments or steps you wish to share or discuss with me, my Lord?” she asked, giving Darth Strosius her full attention.

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

There was a subtle, almost silent, click of his tongue at Revna's assurance that she'd try and figure out what the other device in her might have been later on. He had half a mind to urge her to return to the surgical droid and have a quick inspection, and subsequent removal, done at once but seeing her go under the knife once already was enough for him for now. Not to mention going back under anesthesia so quickly after just being awoken from it was far from advisable. "Indeed it would."

Darth Strosius crossed his arms behind his back as she set her feet back on the ground, idly watching her for a moment to ensure that she was steady before taking a very small step back. "It is good to know that you do not share the brashness and pride of those your age then." A smirk was evident in his voice as he nodded, starting to slowly stroll down the hallway with a gesture for Revna to follow him.

"At first glance not much has shifted in our operations, simply more of the same as we reach out and attempt to establish outposts across ancient Sith sites across the galaxy." Efforts which were admittedly only bearing little fruit given that most of the more prominent worlds of Sith history were claimed or otherwise influence by other powers both Sith and beyond. What outposts and temples could be established were mostly within the Outer Rim, a mere extension of their already existing campaign against criminal and slaver activity there.

"However, I have dispatched our Lorekeepers with some more...purposeful missions in mind. The worlds that we do have established bases upon are but the scraps of what was once mighty empires of old, now rotten and forgotten by time and more synonymous with criminals than with Sith." This fact was nothing new, and something that he often spoke of at length in his sermons in order to rile up his followers for more missions across the Outer Rim. "But amidst our scouring of these old worlds, we have begun to find some patterns of note. Ancient logs and manifests that seem to hint at...greater bounties somewhere beyond our current areas of note."

He glanced back at her, the lightning of the hallway reflecting in his dark visor as he spoke. "Hidden worlds and caches of Sith origin, laying just outside of known space. Along the edges of the Outer Rim and the Tingel Arm, made both by empires themselves and paranoid individuals within them in order to maintain power and have a foothold to rebuild from should they ever fall in their wars against the Jedi. Worlds and caches that have been forgotten until very recently, their coordinates buried in coded phrases and double meanings."

A find that not only could bolster their existing collection of Sith knowledge and artifacts but also provide enclaves that they themselves could make use of in the event that Formos and Faldos fell to their enemies. "These implants are but the first of a series of new potential methods we have come across in our discovery of these places that could enhance our Sith and make them more equal to those fielded by the rest of the Order. If we are able to make these rituals and future implants work then we can finally begin making real moves against the powers that be and save the Order from itself before it is beyond recovery."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna huffed softly, hearing the smirk in his tone - though she couldn’t actually see the look on her Master’s face. “Huh…people nearly in their third decade still act brash and prideful? You’d think they would have started maturing by then…no wonder the Sith Order is going down in flames, considering most of the Sith Lords prancing around the Order are my age or younger than me. And certainly younger than you, since you talk and act like you’re an old man. ‘Back in my day’ ” She teased lightly, using a mock version of his own voice, her own devious smirk dancing over her face as she stepped in to follow alongside him as they walked down the hall.

She slipped into her Disciple persona as soon as the Sith Lord began to share the details he wanted to with her, folding her hands behind her back - much like he would - and pacing along with her chin slightly dipped. Revna listened closely as Strosius explained that their operations hadn’t shifted much - except that he had recently dispatched some of their Lorekeepers with more ambitious missions to take part in. He mentioned their bases on old worlds, many of which she was familiar with, that carried ties to ancient Sith empires, and she nodded along to indicate that she was keeping track thus far.

But then he mentioned something that he undoubtedly knew would catch her interest, and of course her attention turned to his masked face, her gaze curious and eager to hear more. But the more she heard, the more curious she became.

She looked back ahead of her as they continued down the hall, as her Master explained further about the implants, and hinted at other rituals and methods that could further enhance their Sith, and strengthen them all to move against the powers that be - to save the Order.

For a moment, Revna was quiet as she digested this information. “That…is a very ambitious and frankly dangerous move. I know it has been something that has weighed on you for a long time.” She glanced at him, a slight frown creasing her brow. “Something like this would take…a lot of preparation, and done in secret. Underneath the noses of those ‘powers that be’; if they caught onto what was going on and deemed it a serious enough threat, then we’re done for. Another thing I am reminded of…you said these implants and rituals could enhance our Sith. But you also told me not all that long ago that there is nothing better than raw power and talent. You can only enhance a ‘weaker’ Sith so much, before they can’t handle anymore. If this fails…then I imagine that those enhanced Sith would suffer, and possibly be destroyed. That would be a devastating blow to you, to us. To our Order.”

She paused again, her eyes searching over his mask, reading his body language as best she could. “But…if this does work…then the possibilities before us are…immense. Almost inconceivable to imagine, if I can be honest. One could say…revolutionary. So…what can I do to help you in all of this? Will you be involving your Disciples in these rituals and enhancements too?”

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You would think so yes, but the line between maturity and youth is far blurrier and more indescribable than one might think." Revna might be older than most Acolytes by comparison but that hardly meant that she was any more knowledgeable given her upbringing. He himself had quite the hurdles to overcome in catching up with his peers when he first began his life as a Sith so he could sympathize. "Back in my day I was more mature than you at your age because I had dozens of people reliant upon my ability to lead them, as well as the burden of having survived a war that tore down an empire of our kind."

A subtle pause before he glanced back at Revna with a slight chuckle. "Well that, and I was just more adept of course." That was the tragedy of lives of suffering such as theirs or many others in the cult, one was often forced to grow up quick for their own sake. A shame but one that did ultimately wind up beneficial in the long term given how hardy and capable his cultists came to be.

"Oh I have managed to hide far greater secrets from prying eyes than these, by the time any of our foes can realize the true extent of our capabilities it will be far too late to intervene." Such was the intent at least. So long as he didn't give them any reason to suspect his plots then it shouldn't be an issue, soon they'd have far greater concerns to trouble themselves with than the machinations of one Sith Lord. Of that he was certain. "That is true yes, there is certainly an inevitable ceiling to the power that most can access. However, the Dark Side is a path to many blessings that can...raise that ceiling ever so slightly."

His own self experimentation had produced surprising results in that regard but such trial and error was not only dangerous to make use of on a larger scale, it was also guaranteed to be fatal. And yet it nevertheless produced results. "These methods are risky but risk is inherent in everything, the potential benefits far outweigh most complications. Think of it Disciple, think of how many of our blessed brothers and sisters can barely produce a few bolts of lightning or lift their blades from their scabbards without raising their hands. They could finally be given the power they deserve, the blessing that they were always meant to have." Thankfully it seemed that she indeed caught on to the potential of this scheme.

"Exactly! If we can manage any measurable success then it will be a great boon in our struggle for freedom and liberation, both for ourselves and our siblings still in chains." At the question of how the Disciples could participate, Darth Strosius hummed for a moment as his gaze drifted forward. "I will yes. Although moreso in the processes of how to perform them rather than undergoing them yourselves, for the most part at least. Only for...essential procedures will I have you three undertake them as well." He wouldn't admit it but he doubted that he could stand to see Revna put under the knife ever again. Not that she needed to know that of course.

"As for you in particular, coordinating efforts with our sects and cells across the Outer Rim will still be your primary focus. However, given that these breakthroughs involve our faithful, you will also be at the forefront of putting these enhancements to use. Making our Sith make the most of such gifts and improvements in the field against our common foes before they are forced to use them in more dire circumstances. I want to see how far we can push the ceiling of our people's power and I believe that you can aid me the best in this matter."

Revna

 

[Revna]

​

Revna dipped her head in understanding and the mild correction she received. “I suppose that is true; it makes sense…there are Sith in the Order, like my own cousin for example, who are Lords now because they’ve been involved in all of this for longer than I have. You too…clearly. It just seems…weird to me that someone younger than me would be a Sith Lord.”

Their conversation carried forward into the more serious topics that needed to be discussed, and she listened when Darth Strosius responded to her observations and comments. He seemed confident, perhaps…too confident…that he was keeping his secrets away from prying eyes, and that by the time their enemies “knew” any better it would be too late.

Revna wasn’t so sure about that, but she kept such comments to herself for the time being. She was the fresh apprentice and he was the Sith Master - therefore, by default, he knew best. There was only one way to tell for certain if what he claimed was true…and that was to put it all to the test.

He did agree with her that there was a limit to the power in which their Sith could achieve, but he reminded her that the Dark Side was a pathway to many blessings that he said could “raise that ceiling” even higher for them all. She didn’t doubt that; even in her inexperience, she knew that there were far more mysterious things to unravel with what could be done with the Force, and with the Dark Side. Part of her driving hunger was to push those limits and discover some of those secrets for herself. He also further agreed that, should they indeed be successful, then the possibilities and boons that lay before them could be far greater than the negatives that shadowed such risky plans as well.

Revna kept her attention on her Master after she inquired how she could assist him, and if the other Disciples were to be involved in any of the enhancements and rituals. He did admit that she, along with her Disciple brothers, would be involved but more to learn how said processes would be performed rather than to receive them. They would only undergo such rituals and processes when absolutely necessary, if indeed at all.

For her, however, he reinforced that she would continue her work in the Outer Rim, going where he could not, and performing the work that he was unable to do. She would continue to help coordinate the efforts of the various sects and outposts spread across the other worlds, all to achieve their goal of freeing the enslaved. However, she would be at the forefront of putting the enhancements of their Sith to use - ensuring that their other Sith could use their gifts to the best of their abilities, before they were really tested and tried. That brought an eager light to her eyes.

“Understood, my Lord. Does…does that mean I might get to actually teach some of them how to better grasp and utilize these gifts and enhancements?” she asked him, unable to hide the eager edge to her voice. The idea of it thrilled her, but she didn’t want to get too excited about it just yet…not until it was either confirmed or not.

Darth Strosius ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Naturally it would be part of your expected duties yes." It went without saying that her own experience and skillset would need to be expanded upon in order to better suit her to such a task of course, there wouldn't be much point in assigning her to guide others if she had no knowledge to draw upon herself. Perhaps that realization was why she looked so eager at the moment. "Your natural aptitude with your blessings is exactly what our enhanced Sith will have been lacking, to be able to make use of such power without extensive training and effort will be foreign to them."

That was his greatest fear and hesitation with enhancing his followers in truth. Learning the ways of the Force took time and with the Dark Side especially it was easy to lose oneself amidst the endless well of opportunity and power. When it came to the Sith of Wonosa this well was rarely ever all that deep, but with greater access to the Force so too came greater access to their potential downfall. And more importantly the downfalls of all those around them.

Revna knew better though, she was wise and competent and she had only grown more so under his tutelage. There was a very good reason that it was she who had been designated for this task and not either of her fellow Disciples. Krinear would almost certainly become too comfortable in his position of authority over others and Raxus was.... Well Raxus was himself, and that was all that was asked of him. The Disciple of Faith by contrast always went out of her way to aid her brothers and sisters and as such she was the natural choice to help keep his enhanced followers balanced and safe.

"You'll need some additional lessons to give your existing knowledge a bit more variety and utility for the task ahead but I'm sure that you won't mind." Darth Strosius knew for a fact that she wouldn't, she never did. "Thankfully the vast majority of abilities that we can bring to our flock so far are basic in premise and scope, but there is one in particular that we have managed to reproduce successfully that you will need to familiarize yourself with." Finally they stopped before an airlock which opened before them, revealing the bridge of a ship beyond.

The bridge crew, six crisply uniformed naval officers, saluted or offered small bows as the High Priest stepped through the airlock and glanced back at Revna. "Come, this crew is having their first flight outside of basic training. They assured me that they wouldn't mind some oversight on a short practice scenario." With a nod the crew dispersed to their stations and began the process of readying the ship for its journey, the subtle sound of engines humming to life filling an otherwise anxious silence.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna nodded in understanding of the expectation; truthfully, she had already been teaching others from time to time to better hone their skills and abilities, but there had always been a nagging uncertainty in the back of her mind if she was allowed to do such things - since she was still an apprentice and still learning herself, and she had never exactly asked permission to do such things. But now that it was clarified for certain that she was expected to teach and guide those underneath her, she would step into that role with eagerness.

“I…suppose it also helps that I actually enjoy teaching others the things I know. So doing that more often won’t be an issue for me.” she replied. “I’m also able to sense or see where others have their strengths and weaknesses with their blessings. Some are stronger than others in certain aptitudes and abilities. I…have given guidance or education to others before out in the field, when needed. I sometimes even teach some of the youth in the settlement when their blessings reveal themselves.” She confessed with a small and sheepish smile.

As they continued forward down the low-lit hall, Strosius pointed out that she would need some additional lessons to boost her current knowledge and allow her more variety and utility for the tasks that he would ask of her in the coming future. As was usual, her curiosity flared to life and an ever eager gleam shined in her golden eyes. She smirked as he said that he was sure she wouldn’t mind the extra lessons - he knew her so well, she mused to herself.

He continued, saying that there was one particular ability that he and his forces had managed to reproduce within the other Sith of the flock and it was one that she would need to become familiar with. It would have been hard to miss the eager energy that flooded her aura, though there was a hint of caution mixed in with all of it too.

Together, Master and apprentice stopped before an airlock which opened to reveal the bridge to a ship. Her alert gaze immediately noticed and briefly studied the six uniformed officers beyond, all of whom showed respect to the High Priest as he stepped forward and ahead of her. She remained where she was, her curiosity growing deeper as she wondered just what he wanted to teach her that involved being on the bridge of a spacecraft. As if sensing her hesitancy, the Sith Lord glanced back at her and beckoned her forward, and she stepped in to catch up to him without hesitation as he explained further that the crew was having their first flight outside of their basic training, and both Sith would be observing them on a practice scenario.

Revna dipped her head slightly with her understanding, casting her gaze about her once more before returning her eyes to the ever masked face of the High Priest.

“Well, now you really have my curiosity. What will I be learning today, Master?”

Darth Strosius ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

A subtle tilt of his head to the side would be his only visible reaction to Revna's sheepish confession, a simple look of mild surprise at the admission and nothing else. In truth he shouldn't have been too surprised, Darth Strosius knew well enough how enthusiastic and intent the Disciple could be even in her spare time. That she had already been performing her duties was more of a confirmation of existing suspicions in this instance really. Although it did still somewhat catch him off guard that she would admit to it.

While it was a topic that warranted some further questions and praise he chose to file it away for later given the task at hand. He'd have to hear the details of her lessons with her fellow faithful another time when there wasn't a pressing lesson for herself to undertake. At least that mindset would aid in her in the task to come he supposed.

"Today we are simply accompanying this crew on their flight." The masked man shifted his gaze from the viewport to Revna at his side as they departed from the station, a slight glint reflecting in his visor. "Getting to know your brothers and sisters in arms is quite essential my dear apprentice." As his gaze slowly returned to the viewport however, a subtle poke at her mind would make itself known while he idly rolled his shoulders and crossed his arms behind his back.

'This crew has been less than exceptional unfortunately. It is to be expected given our mediocre training facilities but nonetheless undesirable.' His unspoken words would reach her mind without any danger of the unfortunate crew hearing him, completely unaware as they focused on steering away from the station and around other vessels. 'I know your own education in these matters is lacking, but this opportunity was too convenient to let slip by. This first flight of theirs should go just the same as all their training flights have. Acceptable but exceedingly underwhelming. Today however, you are going to ensure that they get top marks.'

A smirk was evident even in such hidden words, a glance being cast back at Revna as he continued. 'Our Battlelords have been granted a rather effective ability in their enhancements that have allowed them to more than make up for any lacking experience or strategic aptitude. Battle Meditation is an ancient art that exists specifically for occasions such as this. To improve the capabilities of your peers.' Darth Strosius was no stranger to the concept, given that he'd taught it to each and every one of the Battlelords himself.

It had made the difference between life and death for his soldiers more times than he could care to admit. 'Center yourself and let your focus spread to the souls around you. Feel their nerves, their apprehension and anxiety, their worry. Feel it but do not let it consume you, instead try and calm them. Provide them with...comfort and assurance. If you've been instructing the youth then this should be of no issue.'

Revna

 

[Revna]

​

The shift of Strosius’s head as he glanced down at her pulled her gaze from the viewport to look back at him as he explained that they would be simply accompanying the crew on their flight, and that it was important for her to get to know her brothers and sisters in arms - something she wholeheartedly agreed with. But as he returned his attention back to the viewport, Revna felt a prodding against the barrier of her mind - its presence instantly familiar to her as she had felt it before many times, when her Master had helped her strengthen her mental shields to help ward off intrusions.

This prodding felt different, however - more of like an awareness, a knock upon a doorway, one that she was familiar with as she had learned the art of telepathy from none other than Srina Talon, the Empress herself. Of course, Revna would never reveal such a thing to her Master. He made his hatred known, and she knew that if he discovered the truth, she would receive yet another fiery lecture, and possibly even more stern consequences.

After a moment of purposeful hesitation, Revna opened the pathways of communication between his mind and hers, and when the link was created, his internal voice slipped into her mind to share more… telling information about the crew that the two Sith accompanied. Revna subconsciously pulled her hands behind her back, mirroring the stance of her Master unknowingly, as she continued to watch out the viewport and hear what the Sith Lord had to say. Occasionally, her golden eyes would shift from looking out ahead of her, to the various crew members curiously. More than once she caught one or two casting glances at her and Darth Strosius, and though she made no outward facial expression to such things, she made note of them regardless.

In her limited experience, nervous or anxious people tended to keep an eye on someone they saw as a possible threat.

Strosius explained further that the crew, though underperforming, was providing a perfect opportunity for him to teach Revna the lesson he wanted to impart to her, hinting with a smirk in his mental voice that she would be the one to help the crew earn top marks for their first true flight. A brief quizzical look passed over her face as she glanced at him, wondering just how she was going to manage to do that.

As if sensing her questioning thought, Darth Strosius revealed that their Battlelords had been granted an ability through their enhancements that allowed them to make up for any missing or lacking aptitude or experience within the troops, and he shared that the ancient technique known as Battle Meditation existed for such instances; it helped improve the capabilities of others.

Revna arched an eyebrow at him, as she let that information settle over her. She did not miss the fact that her Master had said that their Battlelords had received such a skill, through their enhancements. And she had not undergone anything of the sort. She also knew from previous studies that Battle Meditation, used by both the Jedi and the Sith, was an advanced skill to learn, sometimes requiring extensive practice that could take weeks, months, or even years to master and skillfully use. One needed to have a solid understanding of the Force and how it moved and operated in and around themselves and others, and have the skill to shift and manipulate it.

Clearly, her High Priest thought she was ready enough to attempt such an advanced Force skill, and that understanding alone was what gave her the faith needed to give it her best effort. This crew was relying on her; who knew what would happen, if they failed to earn those high marks?

Darth Strosius settled into his teaching role, passing instruction to her which she followed obediently. Revna let her eyes drift shut, and she grew still as a statue as she attuned to herself, her breathing pattern becoming slow and quiet, hardly perceptible from the outside. When she had brought her focus in towards herself and locked out any and all distractions around her, she shifted her focus to the currents of the Force, allowing it to spread her awareness out from her center and towards all those that shared the bridge with her.

There was a void nearest to her, and she recognized that as her Master. Beyond him, she could sense the others, the spark of life within them, so vibrant within the energy field of the Force that surrounded them all. She spread her awareness out further, deeper, seeking out the emotions that each crew member felt - looking for common threads between them.

It wasn’t difficult to find. There was an undeniable thread of tension, of nervousness. In some she felt anxiousness, in others she felt disappointment and discouragement. This crew knew they were not doing good, and it was wearing heavily upon their collective morale. They seemed down trodden, beaten…

They appeared as defeated foes within the Force.

This was not something that was acceptable in the forces of Wonosa.

Revna felt herself be almost drawn into the emotions she saw, but the mental whisper of her Master reminded her not to let such emotions consume her; she was simply to feel them, understand what they were. He told her to try and calm them, to offer them solace… confidence. He further added, his way of subtly challenging her, that if she was indeed teaching the youth within the cult then this should be no issue.

The faintest of frowns creased the Disciple of Faith’s brow; did her Master recognize what he was asking her to do? This fell in line more with what the Jedi did with their troops. Doing such a thing truthfully didn’t bother Revna - she was always happy to help her brothers and sisters, to support them in any way she could. She just found it odd that her own Sith Master, who hated the Jedi with a deep and fiery passion, would encourage her to use a technique that seemed more aligned with something that their wayward Light sided cousins would use.

She pushed these musings to the back of her mind for later reflection, and she returned her focus back to the current task and lesson at hand. Supporting such individuals in this manner needed to be done… strategically. Through her heightened senses, she found the senior flight member amongst the others - the one with the greatest amount of weight and command with his companions. The weight of responsibility weighed down on him heavily, and he had internalized the failures of his crew as his failure to properly lead them. Still, there was a spark of determination within him. He wanted them to succeed, and he hadn’t given up yet. Revna latched onto that and as gently and subtly as she could, she poured a bit more into that determination, and planted the seed to have faith - in himself, in his crew, and in the Dark side that would guide him to victory.

His faith would be rewarded - and the Sith he looked up to would recognize his efforts, and that there was no greater honor.

Next she moved on to a female crew member, seated at her station as she focused so intently on the various controls in front of her. Revna allowed herself a peek into the woman’s mind, and saw a jumbled mass of charts and images of buttons and instructions…it was chaos, and within that chaos there was confusion and stress. Revna recognized that this woman did not do well under pressure, and her mind would freeze up and she constantly second guessed herself.

This woman was one of the main reasons why they were not performing very well, and though her crew was supportive to her, Revna picked up the telltale signs of distrust that had been placed upon this woman. The others were not confident in her, and had begun to express as much.

Once again, the Disciple tried to slip gentle encouragement to the woman, that if she took a breath and settled her mind, she would recall what she needed to do and when she needed to do it. Revna further passed inspiration to the woman to follow her gut instinct, and trust that she would be guided.

On and on it went as Revna did her best to gently influence the crew through the energies of the Force, providing moments of comfort, ease, confidence, and faith. She was unaware of the environment around her on the outside, unaware if her efforts were having any effect, so deep was she into her meditation. But she kept the link from her mind to her Master’s open, so that he could see and know what she was doing, and communicate with her as needed.

Darth Strosius​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius kept his presence reserved and contained, as much as he could given his clothing practically radiated it themselves at least, as he felt Revna follow his instructions and spread out her senses to the crew before them. They were nervous, twitching and fidgeting. More than once he had caught a spare glance from one of the crew and the slightest tilt of his head in their direction sent them right back to staring at their monitor or station with an even more tense and hunched posture.

He knew exactly what effect his presence had on his followers and that was what would make the Disciple's task all the more difficult to perform. Purposefully done of course. Battle Meditation wasn't exactly a simple skill, it was a very skillful combination of several disciplines of the Force and even personal aptitude to some extent. Mindset was half the issue when it came to proper usage, one either had to be selfless or totally selfish. Both of which would result in vastly different expressions of the same power.

The more traditional Sith version of Battle Meditation was more along the lines of mental domination, sometimes more overt and controlling than others. It was an art that he knew how to perform from his extensive holocron readings but one that he all but refused to teach to his Sith. It was technically easier than the alternative method of Battle Meditation in terms of implementation but he personally despised it. He would not have his Sith learn how to enslave their brothers and sisters just for some additional effectiveness in combat.

The more subtle version, one that was unfortunately favored by the Jedi, was far more palatable and difficult but learning it was a two fold lesson. It was reserved primarily for Battlelords and Sith such as Revna precisely because they were leaders of his flock, both in battle and beyond. Some of the priests blessed with the Force even knew the basics of the power, if only so that they could more effectively administer advice to their congregations. A bit unorthodox perhaps but it was the method by which Darth Strosius would teach such a power and he would accept no other.

Revna's expression and stray thoughts reflected that she was aware that the task asked of her would not be a simple feat and he couldn't resist the widening of his grin at the sight. This would indeed be a daunting lesson to learn, most especially given that it was without prior explanation or training, but he knew that she would rise to the occasion. She wouldn't fail her siblings-in-arms in their time of need nor would she able to resist the ability to learn such an advanced technique. Even if it would be an exhausting affair by the time it was done.

It would be subtle when her efforts first began to bear fruit, the commanding officer being the first subject of her power as his head raised slightly and his shoulders set back. Not necessarily at ease but more so in resolve to see this errand through to the end. With the hope that he could indeed turn this unskilled crew into a more than presentable one in the presence of their High Priest. Darth Strosius would offer no real praise nor instruction himself, staying silent as he sensed her work and watched the results in real time.

Gradually the crew would look more comfortable, less like they were on the route to their execution and more like what one would expect when a superior was overseeing their work. Tensed but willing, anxious yet determined. It was a careful act to perform but thus far Revna had done her part admirably. Now it was time to see how she, and her crew, worked under some real pressure.

"Captain." More than one of the crew, including the commanding officer, would jump at the sudden voice of the masked man breaking through the tense silence that had reigned aboard the bridge since their departure from the station. "I believe the combat simulation should be ready, no?" His head cock to the side slightly as he regarded the officer who noticeably gulped at the question. "Yes, my lord, we should be within range of the target buoys in but a few moments. Our weapons calibrations are almost done."

At that the visor of Darth Strosius snapped to the most unsure and nervous of the crew, seeming to wilt the moment that she felt the Sith's gaze upon her. Acting under pressure was not her strong suit, as Revna would no doubt be aware by now, and while she could manage her workload at the moment while the ship was merely cruising along this same stability had rarely if ever extended to combat simulations in the past. "Very good. You may fire when ready then. Maintain evasive maneuvers."

The brief scramble to fulfill his orders did undo a bit of the progress that the Disciple had made but her careful foundations made it less of a frantic rush and more a short flurry of activity and interchanged orders. His gaze drifted back to the woman at his side with a subtle nod as the blinking buoys in the distance grew ever closer. Firing while on the move was essential in naval combat, especially for any vessels below cruiser size, but that area had been one of difficulty for the crew for a variety of reasons.

Reasons ranging from the commanding officer having to focus on managing too many clashing questions and reports at once, to the navigators sending the ship right into a simulated line of fire, to the calibrations being done messily or even left incomplete and therefore scatter laser fire everywhere but at the target buoys. Even if this crew would wind up on a simple cargo transport after training the inability to evade and return fire effectively was still essential. 'Good luck, my apprentice.'

Revna

 

[Revna]

The task set before her was challenging - but one she felt she could manage well enough, even without prior experience in using Battle Meditation. It was a delicate balance between suggestion and force of will; she didn’t want to mentally dominate her brothers and sisters, but neither did she want to be too gentle with them. But, gradually, her efforts in passing along encouragement, soothing suggestion, courage, and fortified will seemed to pay off. Revna then withdrew slightly to observe them all in a wider setting within the Force, and sensed an overall aura of…teamwork. They were still a bit rocky, but they were working more cohesively.

But then she felt a shift in the energy around her, a collective buzz of discomfort that reminded her of a disturbed bee’s hive. Revna’s head tilted slightly to one side and a frown creased her pale brow. She didn’t hear the orders her Master had said to the crew, but she instantly felt the reactions towards it. Some of the work she had done in soothing and easing the minds and spirits of the crew had fallen away and so to understand what had happened, she listened in on the surface thoughts of a few members, and that was where she learned that the Sith Lord beside her had ordered them to initiate a combat simulation. A dark expression flashed across her features momentarily when she realized that he had been the one to disturb the crew she had worked hard to settle down, but she was up for the challenge he seemed to be presenting to her.

It made sense that he would order them into a simulation like this; Battle Meditation worked best in chaotic situations and environments, and she would need to learn how to adjust to such things in the moment. She just needed to have faith in herself, and her abilities, and in the guidance of the Force itself.

Revna sank deeper into her meditative mind set, completely shutting out everything that wasn’t necessary and only focusing on the crew around her.

The one woman that had been the most nervous was having the hardest time keeping herself together, and Revna recognized that she would be the key to keeping the rest from falling apart. Already a sense of panic and swirled thoughts was beginning to spin through the mind of the near-human, and Revna did her best to interject a calming balm over the mind…a suggestion through the Force to slow and breathe, to focus on the most important of her tasks first. It was difficult, as Revna’s suggestion seemed to become lost within the flurry of anxious thoughts…but the more power she poured into the suggestion, the more the woman’s mind began to slow and ease.

As if a light switch turned on, the near-human woman began to settle into a patterned rhythm, carrying out her task with a more focused mind; it wasn’t perfect, but it was a start - enough that Revna felt she could turn her attention elsewhere.

Confusion was rippling around her, and it drew her in like a moth to a flame. Reports, several of them, were being rapidly fired upon the commanding officer, and he was already beginning to lose track of the reports and even getting them mixed up within his own mind. She still felt a sensation of courage from him - he was trying so hard to do his duty to keep his crew together, to be the best officer they needed, but he was beginning to crumble under the pressure.

Revna turned her attention to the barrage of incoming reports - from weapon systems coming online (or not), to the navigators not knowing if they should be maintaining evasive maneuvers or positioning the ship into a more offensive position, to what shields needed to come online or not, and other reports of varying degrees of importance. Understanding what he was hearing would allow her to better help him, and a moment later she was channeling renewed focus towards him, the encouragement to remember the orders that had been given to him, and the proper procedures to follow through with such orders, starting with what was most imperative and important, and leaving the least for last. A mental checklist to properly coordinate the reports flowing in; shields and deflectors were to be online, power converted to the most important tasks they needed to get out of the situation alive and in one piece. He’d been chosen to be their commanding officer for a reason, and now was the time for him to take command - calmly and orderly; his crew would feed from his collected mindset, and they would take courage from him.

Revna could see he had the spirit to carry out his duty, he was just afraid to assert his will and make the orders he needed to, and thus she counteracted those things with more positive influences.

A sense of urgency was beginning to rise amongst the members of the crew - battle was imminent. The weapons were nearly calibrated - but there still seemed to be an issue. Uncertainty and hesitation reigned within the mind of those in control of the weapons systems; once again Revna recognized the issue of one crew member second guessing himself - and if it wasn’t corrected now, it would cost them dearly.

She was tempted to overpower his will, his mind, and take control and do it herself. She could see the issue and its solution - but to do so, she would be disobeying the orders her Master had given her. Instead, she slipped her presence around the Weequay as he struggled to time the calibration just right…and the moment she sensed his hesitation, she sent a stronger suggestion to complete the calibration…now! - timed just right to coincide with his gut instinct, and to his credit, the Weequay finished the calibration and the weapons systems locked on to their targets with enough accuracy to fire upon the buoys instead of somewhere else.

A moment later, the simulation initiated, and a hum of tension and focus filled the space around her. The nerves of the crew were heightened, but all were focused on their respective tasks - at least for the moment. For now, Revna withdrew back to herself and let a sense of purpose and determination fill the space around them all. Each person had their strengths, had been chosen for a reason, and now was the time to let their strength shine in support of their brothers and sisters.

For her part, she let a sensation of pride spill over to them - recognition for their efforts, their will to succeed where they had previously failed, and she breathed courage into their hearts and minds. They were Sith, they were strong - and through the power of the Dark side they could only prevail.

Victory was theirs, they just had to believe it for themselves.

Revna hoped her efforts were paying off; from her perspective, they seemed to be - but she knew her Master would be the judge of that. The task he’d set before her was perhaps one of the greater challenges he’d given to her, and all she wanted to do was rise to the occasion and prove she was capable of doing this. And thus she poured everything she could into her task, and utilized the strength and depth of her connection with the Force to aid those around her. It may not have been perfect…but if she succeeded here, then she would have a foundation to build from in the future.

Tag: Darth Strosius ​