Moment of Clarity (Darth Interitus)

[TriCaster66]

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Umbara had one reputation throughout it's existence: dark. Dark days. Dark nights. Dark people with dark attitudes. Everything about it made it seem like it was a planet the powers of Force forgot to turn a light on for. That never stopped people from visiting however. And for some it was more than a matter of taking in the sights; not that there were many to begin with. Some, like the poor soul being dragged to a nearby makeshift gang stronghold, had come to look for treasure and old, lost things from Umbara's past. Sometimes they found it. Most times they found something worse.

The Umbaran gang members had the man at gun point, one keeping a blaster aimed right at the back of his neck while pushing him along. His friends, four others, stood close by and had their pistols ready in case he tried anything. So far he went without a fight but they knew sometimes a stupid fool would try to play hero before getting a bolt between the eyes. No need to take any chances with this one, especially when he gave off a bad vibe.

The stronghold they lead him to was an old bunker used during the wars (which one you may ask? They didn't know or care) The place was tagged with a picture of a jagged snowflake, matching the one on the gang-member's clothes. Their sigil to indicate they were part of the Frost Bitters; made for the harsh winters Umbara tended to have. Broken down tanks and transports littered the place while being used as makeshift homes, furniture and so on. Crates of old weapons that were either empty or being used as tables or stacked in corners. The deeper they went in the more gang members appeared, seeing the new prisoner their friends had returned with. There were at least 50 to be seen and maybe more hiding deeper in the bunker.

Eventually the group stopped with their prisoner at the very end of the bunker where a large number of crates were stacked, creating a makeshift throne and stairway. At the top was a female Umbaran, sitting atop the stack as the leader of this rag-tag group of thugs and killers. She was sideways with one leg up on a chair arm and the other dangling off the side. A botle of some unreadable alcohol in her hand as she gulped down some before looking down at what was brought before her.

"Were'd you guys drag this sorry piece of meat from?" she asked, fixing herself to have a better look.

"Few miles west, boss." one answered. "He was sniffing around the old ruins. Probably one of those treasure hunters."

She leaned back and asked "Find anything on him?"

"Just his bag." Another member said, holding it up to show her before tossing it to the ground. "Didn't look through it yet. Hardly feels like there's anything inside anyways."

After that she looked at the prisoner and asked "You got a death wish or something? Or do you think you have the brass privates to come wandering into Frost Bitter territory and think you can walk out alive?"

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

Darth Interitus had taken some time away from running the Sith Occupation on Commenor to hunt for ancient Sith artifacts, some he thought he would find on Umbara that dated back to the Old Republic. Yet he was unprepared to deal with the gang members that had dared to attack him. His Lightsaber had been hidden of course, and it had been unlikely that they would find it. He had heard of this group known as the Frost Biters, to which he suspected were some lowly gang of course. Taken far deep into a bunker, deep within the shadowlands. He acted as if he was a feeble young man, hiding his true power in the dark side.

Curious, as to what might be here of course. Interitus had only been in the company of brutes, carrying weapons and caring nothing more than about money, about fortune, but he was curious to see who their boss might be. For, he had contemplated on killing every single one of them for wasting his time. Yet he followed binders around his hand. Not wanting to reveal who he truly was, until he had met the leader. Then he would kill them all be it slowly and painfully, of course, starting with the leader.

Approaching, before the leader, with whom he could see was an Umbaran woman. He still kept the act of a Feeble young man. As if he was no threat to them. Looking to her and speaking, his tone made to sound cowardly. "My apologies... Please I mean you no harm, I am just a humble scholar looking to study the ruins... Please, I have nothing of value, Please put away your weapons. I really do not mean you any harm" He said unknown to them he was a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.


[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

Most of the gang laughed at the pleading man. At least people worth hearing out would usually put up more of a fight than that. This guy looked like you could knock him down with a sneeze and he'd be on his back, crying for his mother and the Force itself to save him. At the leader's gesture she had her men knock him to the ground before she began to descend from her makeshift pile of a throne. She hopped down onto one create, stepped over onto another, before eventually dropping down right in front of him.

"I hear scholars are supposed to be smart. Guess that makes you a liar then because you have to be this stupid to think you can cry your way out of this one." She cracked her knuckles before taking another slurp of her drink, throwing the empty bottle away but close enough to let the shatter startle her captive. "Tell me what's in the bag? Anything I should watch out for? Explosives, maybe. Some fancy trick you got to get yourself out." The way she spoke made it clear the drink was addling her mind a little. She poked "C'mon, smart guy. Tell me."

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

Interitus, was tiring of the ruse he was showing, the glass shattering didn't startle him in the slightest. But it was clear that the leader of the "Frost Biters" As they like to call themselves, acted as if she was a drunken bafoon. He found it funny almost, as he was knocked to the ground. He continued the pitiful act as the men acted as if her being drunk was nothing new. He narrowed his eyes, as she demanded to know what was inside his bag. He could clearly smell the alcohol from her, and soon decided that his ruse was getting rather old in the face of lesser beings which whom he could squash very quickly of course. Yet he found her amusing in a sense, as if she was a toy or a small child in a way.

Lying there on the floor, he quickly snapped from being this feeble young man to this cold and calculating personality that was Darth Interitus. "Perhaps I should show you then." His said his tone quickly changing to one cold as ice. As reaching out with the Force, he attempted to imagine a hand wrapped around her neck, squeezing applying pressure. His eyes soon turning into a burning yellow. "I suggest you release me, or else I will take this miserable life from you." He said as he looked to her men, gently applying more pressure slowly to the intoxicated woman.

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

Something suddenly gripped around her neck. She choked and held her throat before feeling more pressure applied. She felt and grabbed but there was nothing there. Just some invisible hand with its fingers tightening around her larynx. She gasped and coughed while her men looked shocked and confused.

She began to realize what it was. It was him! The prisoner's eyes were a different color now. She heard about this. She heard about Force wielders who were power enough to pull this trick. He was like her. Her was playing her and her men the fool the whole time.

"S-Stop" she choked to her men. "St-Stand....down!" When they did she tried to fight back now, her hand coming out and saying "Let....me...go!"

She wasn't sure if it would work but Xen tried to imagine a push, like the sort she had done before, going out and knocking him away from her. She wanted him to stop and she figured she could make him break his focus if she tried. Maybe then her men could keep him at gunpoint again. Now she wanted him alive. She wanted him to talk.

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

Interitus now revealing his true nature, kept the hold he had on the woman, his grip growing tighter as he stood up, releasing his hold. He then was pushed back a little, it startled him for a moment, but feeling through the Force. He could sense that she did possess the Force, powerful, but untrained. Unfocused. Which made him think of an idea. He had a need for an Apprentice. If the men thought of trying anything, they would have been sorely disappointed as he pulled out the hilt of his Lightsaber. Igniting the red blade, with a hiss it hummed and ignited the room as he kept it lowered not meaning to attack yet, the men looked shocked and indecisive and unsure of what to do with the man now.

Interitus looked to the woman, focusing his icy stare on her while he remained unmoving. The men not sure of whether to make their move or not on the Sith who had revealed himself so easily. "Do you want to live?" He said as his stare became more focused, waiting to see if anyone of them would try anything. To which he begged for, these fools already made the mistake of capturing him, and taking them to the leader. What could possibly stop him now?

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

Xen finally had a chance to stand, seeing him stare through her and give that cold question to her. She knew that any attempt against him would be the end of her and her men. Seeing those eyes and that red lightsaber, the weapon of the Force users, she knew he could carve through all of them like chopping down wheat in a field. She knew there was only one option but she had her own ideas for him.

"Go." she said to her men. "Get out. Hear me? Leave us!"

Carefully they each began to exit one after the other. They started single but soon went further and further up until they were leaving by the droves. They all scrambled out of the bunker and left Xen and this Force user, whom she assumed was a Sith given his dark complexion, alone.

Now alone Xen answered "There. They're all gone now. Just you and me. So now what? Going to kill me and take my turf? Turn my men into slaves or call them back just to chop them down?"

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

Interitus couldn't help but smirk, the men she was with had now fled leaving the two alone. Feeling her strong connection to the Force. He had a few options, he could kill her right now. Walk away from this place with the artifacts in hand. Or he could approach her with an offer, a life something greater than that of a gang leader, and a drunken idiot that he sees right now. No she seemed to be destined for something far greater of course. He deactivated his blade, as if to show that he was not going to harm her, and now that they were both alone. He was free to make his proposition to her. If she accepted he would be delighted of course.

He then began speaking, his core world accent showing, as he sounded more elegant, more civilized just as the way as he looked dressed in his robes. "What if I showed you the path to power. To show you how to wield the power that I hold, to crush enemies, to take whatever you wanted. I do not wish to kill you. In fact, I wish to continue the Rule of Two. Unlikely you know what that is, but to put it simple for your intoxicated mind. I am seeking an apprentice. Now I offer you a choice. Rule over these band of fools, or join me and aid me in ruling a world. A number of worlds, and learn a power far greater than the one you possess now." He said crossing his arms, waiting to see what her answer would curious as to know what she would decide.

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

Xen had half expected the man to cut her down then and there. Instead he was offering her a choice: leave Umbara and grow stronger with her gifts or stay and just keeping doing what she was doing until old age, a lot of boozes, or some lucky bastard finally ended her. It was needless to say she hardly had to think it over before having an answer. But she had her own questions for him.

"You have me convinced. Ruling a planet sounds a lot nicer than just barley a quarter of it. But before I go I only have three questions." She held her fingers up as she asked each one after the other. "Who are you? Is this your first time to Umabara. And...does the name Sele mean anything to you?"

Her reasons were her own for wanting to know. She wouldn't be as forward if he asked why to all of them but it seemed a fair trade for having her come with him.

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

Interitus raised an eyebrow as he found himself pleased that she had considered his offer. But to ask him questions in return, it was only fair of course. She could ask him all the questions she liked, and he would answer of course. But he would soon take her away from this planet. He knew that much. To take her on a better path, train her all he knew, and one day she would kill him and take on an apprentice of her own of course. But for now, he would simply enjoy answering what she had to ask of him, and then to take her away from her world. He uncrossed his arms for a moment, and stood in silence.

"I am Darth Interitus, Lord of the Sith. Overseer of Commenor, a world that was once a powerful faction in the Galaxy. Before the Great Galactic War brought an end to it. Before that I was a Senator in one of its worlds. Belasco. I used to be a Jedi Knight for a time before discovering a greater path. As for Umbara, I have heard of its history dating back to the Clone Wars and even to the Old Republic. Yes this is my first time on this world, whereas the Force wills I found you. Of all people, and for that name I do not know of it, I have never heard of the person you speak of."

He said as he could divulge into much of his past, but of course, that would be a story for another time. Another tale to tell her, but he was content for right now with answering her question, and what she had to ask. He had plenty of time, and at least she wasn't directing her intoxication in an aggressive manner.

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

With all those answered Xen seemed both relieved and yet disappointed. However saying them to someone after having kept them as a list in her head for years had reminded her that the answers weren't going to be found on Umbara. At this point she knew there was no argument to stay; not even for her men's sake.

"Alright. Just had to be sure." she said before tuning towards the door. "I'm Xen, by the way. Since we're all being so nice to each other now." She gestured for [member="Darth Interitus"] to follow while saying "Need to talk to my men. Since I won't be here I need to make sure they don't burn the place down."

After that she took him outside where the Frost Biters were waiting. She gave them a little speech, telling she'd be back once she found what she needed while leaving her second-in-command in charge; one of the members who had brought the Sith to her in the first place. She handed over one pistol and traded it for a bottle of booze one of her men held before gulping the last drops down and tossing it away.

Looking to her captive turned somewhat-liberator she breathed "Let's go. Tired of looking at this place already.

 

[Darth Interitus]

Interitus laughed, she seemed to mistake his offer for kindness. He only displayed his generosity because he had a mutual benefit. An Apprentice, for a place of power. Something that she would get quite accustomed to in due time of course. He waited as she had to say goodbye to her men, or figure out what they would do considering she would be answering a higher calling. He grinned as she finished up, he started to walk towards the exit. "As you wish Apprentice. When you leave this planet, there is no going back, you will become something else. You will embrace a path that will change you forever."

He led her through the Shadowlands, and towards the small enclosure where he kept the shuttle he had stored. Business awaited him back on Commenor, the Rebel threat growing, and soon with the Sith General arriving shortly. He had time to devote in focusing on the political aspects of the occupation. As well as devote time to training his new apprentice. To take on the role of his arm, of his fist to destroy his enemies. While he spent his time with the greater mysteries of the Force.

With the shuttle, lifting off, and making it's way into orbit, before making the jump into Hyperspace. He remained silent as his new apprentice sat beside him. Waiting as it would be a few hours before returning home.


[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

At hearing the word "Apprentice" Xen then commented "Guess that's what you're calling me now the, huh? Fine. Whatever you say....boss."

She was trying to be clear that's as far as she would go in calling him anything close to master. She may have been his student but she wasn't going to get down on her knees that easily and start calling him her master. Years she had to be the leader of her own men and now to suddenly bend a knee to a stranger from the sky was out of the question.

When they lifted off Xen looked outside the shuttle window. She'd never seen Umbara from this high before. Hell she never saw any planet like this before. It was beautiful, yes, but also liberating. She finally went farther than her mother ever did and now was getting far away from what was left of her and that Bantha load of a childhood she had.

[member="Darth Interitus"]

 

[Darth Interitus]

He couldn't help but frown as she called him "Boss." She had seemed to be ignorant of what the Sith were. She would have to be taught many things, and if he ever planned to get her accustomed to the day to day dealings of Commenor, and it's occupation. He had to bring her out of the mindset of being a simple thug of course. Something that would happen in due time of course. He set the ship for lightspeed to Commenor, roughly within the blue wormhole it would only take a rough span of a few hours to make it back to where he wanted to be, and besides he dreaded being away from Commenor for too long. He had to keep a close watch on things till the General arrived, and then he would have an easier time managing things.

After the few hours were over, Interitus found himself exiting hyperspace to be greeted by the blockade. Before him a hologram of a chubby Admiral wearing a mustache appeared. "Overseer is that you approaching the blockade?" He said raising an eyebrow as the ship started to slowly enter the Iron Halo's proximity. Interitus nodded "Yes I have Prefect Datehart. sending in my clearance codes now." He said sending the codes to his ship to be allowed to pass. For a moment Dathart looked at a terminal and nodded at Interitus. "Good seeing you sir. You didn't miss much while you were gone." Interitus nodded. "Very good Admiral." He said as the hologram came to an end, and Interitus directed the shuttle through to the planet's surface.

There were TIE Fighters flying overhead, patrolling the skies, while Sith Legionnaires patroled Commenor's streets. Things were peaceful, but felt that a slightly heightened security wouldn't hurt. Bringing the shuttle closer to the Sith Headquarters known as the Spire. Center of all Sith business for the occupation and the home for Interitus. He brought the shuttle in slowly, activating the landing cycle and setting it down on the platform not far from a turbolift that would lead to his chambers. "Come, apprentice."

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

After the jump through hyperspace and finally coming to the Sith's planet Xen was more than taken aback by the sight. A whole new planet that was apparently owned by one guy. The more she thought of how silly that sounded the more she wanted it to be true for herself. Running a whole planet was a reputation only ever dreamed about by some; usually the ones at the lowest ends of the social ladder.

She looked out as they came closer to the planet itself before the hologram of the Overseer, as [member="Darth Interitus"] called him, appeared. He was the sort of official type she suspected the Sith would have as a lackey. At first glance she had a feeling a good knock to the nose would have the guy on his back and crying, not the sort of help she'd be having once she was running her own world. Then they came closer and she could see the fleets and fighters and troops all around. Xen curled in her seat a little. Usually on Umbara when this sort of sight was shown it meant their was an invasion; or someone was about to be taken down by the army for being too much trouble.

At his word she followed Interitus out and onto the Spire, looking around more while trying to stay close; not wanting to be confused for a criminal and picked off by one of his men too soon. "Nice place you got here." she commented to keep a cool head. "This set up have a bar?"

 

[Darth Interitus]

TIE Fighters flew overhead, as Interitus walked inside the Spire. Taking the Turbolift to the top of the spire, Interitus had kept a close watch on Commenor since arriving, and he had done so since arriving to the Spire. He had plans in store for what would come of the people, and so far his reach had extended far and wide, and when reaching the top of the spire. Already waiting for them was the hologram of the world. Staring into as he led his new apprentice into the room, the room wasn't much to look at but a desk, a tall chair with a window behind it that overlooked the outside. But outside led to a small home of sorts, a training room, bar and dining area, and a small library to which he kept many records of the world.

Sitting within the chair, to catch up slowly on reports and to watch the activities of Commenor's former Queen. As he looked to his Apprentice, she had power, strong in the Force. But was unbalanced, lacking in focus in order to ignite the spark. He planned to focus it, to harness her potential into a weapon to use upon his enemies, but she had a lot to learn. And he suspected that he had a lot to learn himself.

He raised an eyebrow, asking to indulge in her own desires already. He sighed as he had much to teach her, but if she must indulge herself today he could put off her real training till the next morning. His generosity, however, could be extended for today. "That would be the next room over, help yourself."

[member="Xen Chiana"]

 

[TriCaster66]

Having followed her new master into the Spire Xen wanted to be careful where she stepped and what she touched. Everything was more expensive than anything she ever owned or stole on Umbrara. She had that fear of touching the wrong thing and breaking it easily off some alarm and winding up surrounded by battle droids before she could blink. When they arrived at his office she practically stood in the doorway while waiting to hear his answer.

After [member="Darth Interitus"] indicated where to go she poked her head down the hall to be sure there weren't any tricks waiting for her. She looked back and nodded to the Sith before heading down into the next room. Sure enough she found the bar and she was stunned by how well stocked it was. Wines, whiskeys, bourbons, and some from all across the galaxy from planets she never heard of.

Taking one bottle marked from Corellia she uncorked it, sniffed, and then smiled "Think I'm going to like it here."