|In Assessing Your Malice (Ms. E. Zambrano)

[Darth Ophidia]

Zambrano; the name brought a shiver of terror to most who had paid more than half a mind to the Sith this last decade. Their head,Darth Carnifex, had carved his name into the galaxy and paved his ascension into infamy with broken bodies and desecrated temples. His untouchable mind and penchant for cruelty had left its mark on his descendants. [member="Evaelyn Zambrano"] was one with a particularly interesting pedigree; untouchable like Carnifex, with a latent connection to the dark side from the children of Vahl. Stumbling upon her penchant for cruelty, Ophidia had made it a mission to take young Evaelyn for herself.

"Young Evaelyn."

The Rattataki Sith Lord's voice cut through a heavy silence that blanketed the darkened chamber. Her cloaked form was cast in shadow by the dim light. Her burning eyes, embers on ash, peered down at the blue-haired woman in front of her. What could she be feeling? Suspense? irritation?

"Tell me, what is the nature of the dark side?"

Darth Ophidia's hands unclasped from behind her back, and for a moment a glint of gold could be seen between her fingers before flickering away between the black fingers of her left hand. Her right hand turned, palm up, as though presenting a gift or demanding something in return. The fingers curled like talons as the question lingered in the air. Her form turned to the side, but her eyes lingered with Evaelyn.

The room was made of stone, simple in decoration except for the image on the back wall, where a serpentine figure with flashing eyes reared over them. A scent of smouldering incense lingered in the air, rising in pale smoke from the eyes and nose of an old, humanoid skull, fitted on a brass bowl.

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

Young Evaelyn

The snake-like whisper sent a shiver she would never admit had existed down her spine. Intertwined with that sensation was her frustration. I'm not that young. And you're not that old. Evaelyn was an angry girl. There was a lot of pent up aggression within her. It desperately sought release. Sometimes she would indulge, preferably with something as savage and primitive as an axe. It left a pretty painting, or carving depending on how one viewed it. Actually, it usually left one of each. That's art for you.

What is the nature of the Dark Side? Elyn hadn't the foggiest. She shrugged and rolled her eyes, though a small part of her she was trying to suppress instantly regretted the eye-roll. Evaelyn's gaze moved towards the skull in the corner, fighting a building sense of dread. There was always the risk that the pale lady would grow tired of her shenanigans and have her eyes peeled out. With a smooth and shiny spoon. Smooth and shiny because this cat was as efficient as she was classy. "I don't know. It rages. It burns. Anyone who's not afraid or brainwashed seeks it, but only the strong can contain it." it had mostly started as a careless ramble, but as she spoke Evaelyn was forced to consider the question more deeply. After a pause she added "It's murder without justice." She wasn't sure if it was right. She wasn't even 100% what she meant by that. Most of all she was curious as to what the all-knowing, hairless asp would make of it. Anything to distract her from eye-gouging.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Evaelyn's mind may well be impenetrable, but her emotions escaped her like a perfume. Darth Ophidia could feel the dark jedi's anger, her simmering frustrations. She was such an unstable creature, lacking in discipline, but not power. Evaelyn was a challenge, certainly, but one the Sith Lord was sure she could shape into a perfect image of the dark side.

The ashen woman nodded with her words. She took two steps to the side, but halted on the third. Even her halt had something fluent to it, controlled, almost eerie in its stillness.

"Without justice?"

A smile spread over her purple painted lips, revealing the white teeth inside. The eyelids narrowed around her burning eyes, and the bald area that would on the average human contain eyebrows, contracted. For one who had been near Ophidia, it was a lot of expression. Her face was usually plain, stoic even. Now, she purposefully communicated an emotion of inquisitiveness.

"Do explain."

Her stride continued as she stepped down from the little dais and halted next to the young Zambrano, facing the opposite way. Ophidia's fingers intertwined as her hands came to rest on her abdomen.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

Uh oh. What she had said had caught the attention of the pale master, yet instead of satisfied it had left her hungering for more. Could she live up to the expectations the eyes of the Darth had for her? Evaelyn wasn't really one for deep reflection, or hesitation for that matter.

She thought on it for a moment, then shrugged and added "Death does not require justice. Hate needs no reason. The Dark Side doesn't ask why" how Ophidia felt about this she did not know, but she was sure she would comment on it to alter her perception. Hopefully she was at least somewhat on track.

It was strange to think about. Evaelyn had never really considered the Dark Side or the Force before meeting Ophidia. Of course she had, but not on this level. She had worked to become stronger, to beat those who stood in her way. She had learned that there was power in her anger, but her perception of the Force had always been one-dimensional. Ophidia seemed to seek to expand her view. Perhaps by understanding the Force she could manipulate it? Perhaps in this case, as boring and cliche it sounded, knowledge was power.

"If you want to you can. It doesn't ask for permission. You're either strong enough or you're not."

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Cliche aside, there was a truth to the old saying; knowledge could expand the applications of the Force to the infinite. Darth Ophidia knew of two sides one could wield the dark side of the Force. One was the simple and intuitive way: Wild, irrational anger. It could summon up great power, sure, but it had no focus; it lacked a long-term plan. One who wielded the dark side in such a way would inevitably be its slave, never its master. The other way was the metaphorical high road: Difficult, elusive, infinite some would say; it was the path to controlling the darkness and wielding its fury like a blade. The latter was the path of the Sith.

"Strength, that is key."

Evaelyn had made a good case. Though she was far from the brightest student Ophidia had trained, she was not the dullest either. Perhaps, in time, there could come something from her other than the power of a bicep and the rage of her angst-filled heart.

"But is that not justice?"

Her hands gestured forward as she begun stepping around Evaelyn, watching her, but not putting her eyes on the blue-haired girl directly.

"Strength is a pathway to power - Through power, justice is enforced."

A pause followed, long enough to allow her to consider the point, but not so long she would find time to speak.

"The powerful decide what is right and what is wrong; who deserves punishment and who administrates it. In husbandry, it is not the nerf, but its herder who decides where to graze and whom is slaughtered for the feast. Down to our very molecules it is only the fittest who deserves to succeed"

Another pause.

"Success or death - Is that not justice beyond the law of any life-form?"

She did not intend to hold a lecture, but now stood again in front of Evaelyn, quizzical and bemused in her expression.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]
"Oh" she said, thoughtfully. Ophidia made her think, about the Force, about the Dark Side and the Sith, more than anyone else. It wasn't enough to know of them, she forced her to reflect. It was surprisingly more intriguing than it sounded. Strength is the key. Strength is... Justice? If you're strong enough to do something, then you have the right to do so. In the eyes of the Force that was justice enough.

Through power, justice is enforced. Evaelyn was drawn in to the dark one's words, as if every syllable carried with it an ounce of her power that could be grasped, if only she listened. "I think I understand" That Ophidia was alluding to the Sith Code was lost on her, but perhaps that was just as well. Perhaps in time that would only mean she would come to agree with it before it was presented as a thing of the Sith. It could become her own and thus easier to assimilate into her own way of thinking. To her the Sith had always been a peculiar cult who did things for reasons she could not understand. Mysterious and elusive. More than that, it was the cult of her father. That part alone made it a mental hornet's nest of its own.

"Success or death" Evaelyn repeated, with her eyes to the ground. It was not really an act of submission or an attempt to avert her gaze from Ophidia, she was actually deeply considering what was presented to her. She then gave a chuckle as she looked up. "Suppose I've been living like that already. We never really asked if we could do something or not. We just sort of jumped into it. We always came out on top in the end" she smirked, as fond memories of tandem slaughter flashed before her inner eye. Savage plays.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"It is the natural life of one who is strong."

Once more, the Rattataki extended her palms in front of her. In a way, she alluded to Evaelyn as equal to strong. In some ways, Evaelyn was much stronger than Ophidia had been when she was at the same stage. Yet, she had her doubts about how far this project could reach. There was potential, but it was buried under thoughts - Of father, of sister, of the Sith, and of the self.

"Some fear their strength and resign themselves to weakness. These people will never understand the true nature of the Force, but are chained by it."

A disgust became apparent on her face as she looked past Evaelyn's shoulder, but fit aded just as quickly. A wicked smile crept over her lips instead. Each emotion displayed was carefully planned and masterfully crafted. Lies, deceit, manipulation; these things were second nature to the Rattataki.

"Evaelyn, to be free, you must be strong - Stronger than any tether." Through victory, my chains are broken.

Ophidia looked dead into Evaelyn's eyes. All pretence fell away, cold leaked from her presence and the air itself seemed to grow thin.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

The natural life of one who is strong. The way of life she felt she was destined for. It was the kind of life that she perhaps did not truly possess, as the likes of Ophidia could easily crush her, but one day could achieve. But was strength for strength's sake enough? When she became strong enough what would she do with it? She heard of those Dark Jedi who lived life to the fullest, enjoying everything that was to be enjoyed, living in wealth and splendour because they could, letting no one stop them. Perhaps that was the dream for many people, but not for her. She craved more. She craved battle. She was born out of conflict, and she found it a state hard to escape. Truth be told she had never tried. She relished it.

Weakness. Was there anything Evaelyn hated more? She didn't know. In herself, in others, weakness always filled her with disgust. No, she would not resign herself to weakness. Though she didn't speak, and let Ophidia finished, the revulsion on her face as the dark one spoke of such things was answer enough. Interestingly enough they both seemed to share this disgust, though perhaps for different reasons.

"Alright" she said calmly, looking over Ophidia, as if trying to study every detail of her from the way she dressed, the way she stood, and the way her eyes seemed to have developed the ability to pierce through skin, souls, the very fabric of time and space. Sometimes she had woken up, cold and sweating, with nothing but the image of those burning, pale eyes digging into her skin. Ophidia had never revealed her true power to Evaelyn. Even so she knew without a shred of doubt that it was there, and that it would be terrifying.

Now as pretence fell away she felt it again, that thing of nightmares stood right before her, examining, evaluating. The snake debated within herself. Was she a toy? Adopted child? Food? "Then make me strong." the cub said to the lioness. "Make me free. I will let nothing stand in my way. "

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Then make me strong. Make me free. I will let nothing stand in my way.

The words were like music in her tainted ears. Shadows appeared to play on the walls and the great serpentine mural on the back seemed to rear even higher in a sinister celebration. Evaelyn had stepped into the chamber a curiosity, now she was a prospect. Ophidia herself raised her chin, seemingly growing a few centimetres taller in the process. Her slender physique held itself with a remarkable strength and quiet dominance. She needed not speak a syllable to demand submission, her eyes spoke a thousand words already.

"Oh, I do not doubt it."

A thrill played over her eyes, mischievous and sinister in nature. Though she could not penetrate the Vahlacanthix' mind, Ophidia could still feel the whiff of emotions that escaped her. Within it, she could sense the anger and the resolve.

"But to make you powerful, I need you to focus."

She dragged out the last syllable as she took a few more steps to the side and plucked a shiny, metal pitcher from its tray and poured clear water into a similar metal cup.

"The dark side of the Force will give you power, but without focus you will never harness it to your fullest potential. You must sharpen your mind."

She drank from the cup and looked at Evaelyn again. Discipline was like a sails she used to harness the gale winds of the dark side. Her willpower was the boat that kept her afloat though the salty waves lashed her sanity. Without them, she would drown in base desires.

Suddenly, she flung the metal cup at Evaelyn, then tensed her fingers in a choking position. The throw was a ruse, the choke was the true attack. But, would Evaelyn see that? The choke was more demonstrative than powerful. It proved a point more than it actually posed a threat to her life.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

Focus. Evaelyn could do that. Right? Yeah. Yeah, she could. She had to. Sharpen your mind. No problem. Ironically perhaps her greatest challenge.

Her eyes fixed on Ophidia pouring water into it cup. Was it really water? She doubted she intended to refresh her, or even herself. Was it poison? Was it a test? She couldn't explain why, she just had this ominous feeling that something was about to go down. Something not in her favour, at least not in the short term. Something which felt far worse as Evaelyn had not yet learned to watch for the big picture.

“I will” she said, as if mere words would make it so. Her eyes watched the Rattataki with care, observing her. Was a fight about to break out? Was that? Whatever it was, she would be ready. She was ready. She was Epicanthix. She was Vahla. She was destruction.

Ophidia drank. Not poison then. Perhaps she had gotten worked up for nothing… Just in the moment when her shoulders had started to sink Ophidia threw the cup. Evaelyn crouched immediately, her left hand dropping to the hilt of her lightsaber at her with her right thrown up in a guard to protect against the incoming projectile.

Then she felt the air grow thin and an invisible hand grip at her throat. Not good. Evaelyn made a gasp for air, as if it would be her last. The hand that had been up in a guard ran to aid her throat. As much as it clutched towards its base it could not pull itself free. Even her hand at the hilt of her saber had started to move up to aid. It never really got far. In the next moment, as Evaelyn stood there struggling against the choke there came a loud ‘clank’ as the piece of metal impacted with her skull. “Ow!” Evaelyn uttered, more in reaction to the sudden collision rather than from pain. Well that hadn’t worked out too good for her.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"What a spectacular display of utter failure."

The Sith Lord flicked her hand as she released the telekinetic choke-hold and infused the release with a little bit of a push, simply to underline her disgust with Evaelyn's failure to uphold her standard. She turned her back on the Vahlacanthix and clasped her hands behind her back, giving Evaelyn what appeared to be a golden opportunity. In truth, the Rattataki was testing her yet again. Even with her back turned and her eyes closed, Darth Ophidia could see Evaelyn clearly.

"I find your lack of focus disturbing, Ms. Zambrano."

Drawing on her father's name was another conscious choice. Having seen the Zambrano children who actively embrace their dark patriarch and then comparing it to Elyn's preferred living-situation, she could estimate that a considerable amount of the seething anger that bled from the blue-haired girl's form stemmed from a hatred towards her father. Calling on his surname in addressing her, Ophidia hoped to call upon that hatred for focus.

"Surely you can do better."

A smile crept over Ophidia's hands as she gathered the Force into her body. She waited for Evaelyn to make a move, all the while holding on to a pulse of Force energy to be released upon threat.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

Well that didn’t work out at all. Evaelyn knew it. Ophidia knew it. And Ophidia rubbed it in. Oooh how Evaelyn hated it when people rubbed it in. Even the way she said the word failure ticked her off. She was already quite frustrated from the fact that a cup had just slapped her face. Not cool.

Then she got tossed aside, dismissed like she was no threat at all. Of course she wasn’t, she kind of knew that already. But to be treated like it so openly… It made her mind burn. She stumbled backwards, almost falling down but she managed to stay on her feet. There was no filter on her eyes covering up the hatred boiling within. Don’t push me, lady. Evaelyn thought underneath glaring eyes. I’m more dangerous than you think.

Ophidia turned. Insult to injury. Ms. Zambrano. She was not some Ms Zambrano. She was Evaelyn. She was her own! She was not a last name, esepcially one within which she blended in with a wide and varied assortment of Force users.

The focus Ophidia had called for moments before quickly drowned within the depths of hate and anger, a strong desire to make Ophidia hurt. That was what was important, and she was gonna do it the only way she knew how.

With a rash and quick motion of her hand the cup flung up from the floor and flied quickly towards Ophidia. It was even dented from that invisible touch, as if contact with Evaelyn’s rage had it slightly implode. Not even waiting to see if it hit Evaelyn lept towards Ophidia, roaring with fury as the purple lightsaber ignited within her grip.

Better? I’ll show you better, old woman. I’ll show you.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

She had rubbed it in like salt on a piece of meat, would it work? Ophidia was pretty sure it worked. Evaelyn's mind was perhaps out of Ophidia's reach in the Force, but it was well within reach of her words. Her simple mind was terribly easy to manipulate once she had found the proper buttons to press. Oh and how she enjoyed pressing every single one.

I can feel her hatred.

As Evaelyn seethed with anger, Ophidia drew in the intoxicating fume of emotions and she fed upon it. It sent a shiver down her spine and urged her face into a momentary smile. Then came the reaction.

The first she heard was the sound of metal shifting as the cup warped and then flew from the ground. Through the Force, she could see where it was going to hit should she choose not to move. As a reaction, she chose the more infuriating one. Her left heel shifted and the Rattataki's slender upper body and head swayed out of the cup's trajectory and then back. She heard the snap-hiss too and was not wholly unprepared. This was what the gathered pulse of force-energy was for.

And so, with a sudden motion of her arms, she released the pent up energy she had built inside her. A repulse was a terribly telegraphed motion, but not more so than a leaping attack. As her arms whipped up to her own shoulder-level, the energy burst out in every direction. Cups, pitchers, incense, and dust was all scattered and the candles mostly extinguished.

The darkness fit Ophidia just fine, but how would it fare for Evaelyn?

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

Even if her mind could've been easily read there was not a whole lot going on at the moment. Kill, maim, burn. Huh, she was her father's daughter after all. Carried by her anger and hatred she flung herself towards the pale lady, weapon raised. Unsurprisingly she never connected. Nor did her opponent even need to raise her blade in defence. The next moment a pulse of the Force shot out, violently gripping Evaelyn in her place and flinging her across the room with force. The blue-haired girl let out a sharp gasp as she got the air knocked out of her. There was barely enough to make the grunt as she connected with the wall, half-way up to the roof. There wasn't much left to do after that than fall. Face, meet floor. Ow.

Regardless of how battered and bruised she was, her eyes immediately looked up at Ophidia with the same fire burning in them. Things such as pain or resistance did not quell her rage. As long as she was still alive she would still fight. Give up was not in her repertoire. In the next moment she would leap up to her feet if permitted. Evaelyn was mere instances from making another charge, even taking half a step forwards before she stopped. That hadn't worked. It was raw, savage. No finesse. No focus. Instead of charging ahead she simply stood there, observing Ophidia. For once in her time she told her fury to wait and Evaelyn took her time.

There were cups in the room. What else? Chairs? Plates? Anything that wasn't nailed to the floor Evaelyn considered as a potential weapon. The anger still fuelled her, though now she allowed it to extend from the tips of her fingers to reach across the room. It was a strangely calm and calculated move by her, and even Evaelyn felt out of place. She was burning up inside. It almost hurt. She wanted to punch things. She craved destruction. Something had. To. Break.

Instead, the four objects of her choice began shaking. Slowly they started levitating. Terribly telegraphed, of course, but if Ophidia would humour her the objects would shortly afterwards be flung towards Ophidia at speed. They came from varying heights and angles, all depending on where they had first stood in the room.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

That is more like it. See me.

Darth Ophidia allowed Elyn to stand, think, and to prepare. This was not a punishment, but a lesson in self-mastery. As such, she remained reactionary rather than preventive in relation to her student's attempt at hurting her. This was exactly the development she wanted. Evaelyn was beginning to think without losing the moment. Each attack she had made had held some element of tactical thought, but it lacked finesse and foresight. Perhaps moving on to using the Force would pull her out of old habits?

Her eyes closed, Ophidia felt the room and saw through the Force. She could sense every vibration every shift of air; she could smell every grain of dust and hear the heartbeat of the Vahlacanthix that wanted her blood. Discipline allowed her such control, such sense of the moment and the space around her. She stood still, like a pillar, her hands falling back down to their clasped position at her lower back.

There were quite a few little things around the room once one cared to look. A tray, the metal pitcher, three cups in addition to the crumpled one; the skull and bowl from which the burning incense rose; a few trinkets placed on discrete pedestals; at least one dark metal rack of candles. She inhaled deeply through her nose as the four chosen objects begun to shake and rise. Her weight shifted over to the balls of her feet, and a ripple of readiness surged through her flesh, taking with it a lacing of Force energy to empower her flesh.

Four objects from four angles and slightly different timings based on the distance it had to traverse; one target. She shifted her weight over on her right leg while swinging her left to the side. As she did, the first object swished over her shoulder. The arms shortly followed in the same trajectory, hands unclasping again, as she shifted her weight back over to the left foot, swung her right into a kick, and jumped. For a very brief moment, she sailed through the air in a butterfly kick. Two more objects sailed past, under and over her. The fourth and last connected with the sole of her boot and was kicked into a wild spin. As her feet hit the floor once more, the black fabrics twisted around her as she spun to face Evaelyn. In the motion, she reached up and snatched the fourth object from the air and threw it with a whipping motion of her arm. It was a plate and came flying like an edgeless lanvarok disk.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Evaelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

The whole sequence was over in a matter of seconds. Evaelyn had countered with some measure of patience and calculations, which was new but welcome additions into her own battle protocol. Every object flung at Ophidia was avoided with the very graceful finesse she had come to suspect the woman held, but had yet to witness for herself. It was great to behold, even for something such as this which she might consider to be only a simple feat. But to be able to react like that, to be able to twist and move in such ways that strengthened both offense and defense... That's what she wanted to learn. Amongst other things.

It was almost as if the sight of Ophidia's manoeuvres was enough to abate her rage, yet the anger was something she forever maintained. She felt she uncovered one more layer, and understood something more. Why she had been tested in the way she had. Or rather, it was only now she had taken the time to actually consider that this was all a test. She had failed, she imagined, but recovered decently.

Now Ophidia flung a plate back at Evaelyn. Initially Elyn brought her hands up, calling upon the Force and her prowess within telekinesis to halt its movement. It slowed considerably, although it became clear to her that it would not be enough to stop it from hitting her. She didn't want another object clank against her head. That stuff was embarrassing. Instead she did the second best thing, which didn't require much more effort on Evaelyn's part. Instead of slowing its path, she simply altered its trajectory with a nudge of the Force. The plate flew past her, crashing into the wall behind her and breaking into countless pieces. It made quite the ruckus, but not once did Elyn turn to look. Her eyes were on Ophidia.

Evaelyn did not let her guard down, yet she let go of the pressure. After all there was little she could do to make advancements against this opponent. She would be caught off guard. Instead she assumed a more reactionary stance, ready to fend off whatever would be thrown at her, literally. Perhaps Ophidia would give her more to work with than she planned, or leave something open so that she could create a counter. This time she wouldn't be caught off guard. Then again, perhaps Ophidia had deemed it fit to end this test and begin another. Either way, whether for further instructions or an attack, Evaelyn awaited to see what the pale one would do.