Prelude: Where no light shines

[Nazo]

THE OBSCURITY​

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An Undisclosed Location​

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The Empire was over. The large cloud of influence in the Galaxy that had threatened so many worlds and torn countless systems apart with fear had fallen. It was not the first time that the Sith had grown too large for their own ego. It would certainly not be the last. Yet, like every incarnation of its existence - there was always a remnant. The devoted practitioners of the darker side of the Force were always best when they were rumors. When they were the stuff of nightmares, tucked into the shadows and whispered about in legend and myth. That is when their power could be shown, their methods could be practiced, and their strength could be built. The Empire may have dissolved, but the Sith remained.

Floating in the desolate blackness of space, in a sector far from the prying eyes and ears of the Republic, and the various factions that would seek to eradicate any semblance of their order, the Obscurity inched across the chasm of ebony and stars. Within the walls of the star destroyer an exchange of knowledge and power was taking place, and had been for many months. The entirety of the exchange had began when a unique hitchhiker had made it's way through the cosmos to land in the sight of a Dark Lord. Ever since the Empire fell, there was a new branding for this powerful mentor. Despite alliances and disguises, a continual training had been tucked away out of sight and out of mind aboard this floating fortress.

The rumble of durasteel and other alloys clamored around one of the inner areas of the star destroyer. Loud rattling and banging sounds echoed in the nearby corridors. Inside this training facility large hunks of metal launched like missiles at a curiously clothed figure. Dark purple, grey and red garments covered its height of over seven feet. A hauntingly emotionless mask shifted this way and that as a durasteel exoskeleton was bounced around the room. Slamming brutally into unforgiving walls thick enough to withstand maximum impact. There was raw power at work here on both ends of the spectrum. Nazo attempted to shift in the graceful movements to avoid the collisions of these bulky metal projectiles. Several times being clipped of fully bull rushed by them as they flew at him with ferocious speed.

There was a degree of control he already had for most ferrous metallic objects. Like his own exoskeleton that was completely subservient to the slug's will. These objects though with their speed and size were not so easily challenged by his native abilities. They barely budged when he applied his extension of magnetic resonance to their path and trajectory. His form could bend in ways most couldn't, being just hinged metal. It saved Nazo on occasion from having to piece back his external body in order to continue. This challenge was for the Force, and the lesson was being dealt by that of Vilox who had put Nazo in this precarious situation. First the slug needed to be broken of the habit of relying on his native powers -- then he could learn to channel the Force through his body, through the metallic extensions and affect the world around him.

Two large crate sized items flew at him from opposite ends. Turning on one metallic heel he shifted his body to let them collide in mid air. They didn't stopping only inches from each other and then making a hard right turn to pressure him into a corner at an alarming rate. Sharp talon like digits from his metallic hand struck out and the speed decreased, but his form pushed back with an unseen force, using what he was learning to keep a barrier between himself and the objects. Only the barrier was moving now as the slug channeled his anger and frustration from his normal habits forward. Slowly his form stopped moving as the barrier shrunk and shrunk in size, leveling the two crates closer and closer. His metallic arm shook with the force he exerted before the other came from behind and leveled itself with the former and pushed forward, barely knocking the two crates to the side before he dove and rolled into a somersault to stand.

The masked figure stood tall, making little to no sound in his form and shifted the emotionless mask towards that of his Master for a moment. Silence always reigned with Nazo as no speech was ever uttered. He was without the ability to make a sound, yet one of the traits of the Force that he had learned to Master early on allowed him direct communication with his instructor.

"It is disconcerting for nourishment to be ones enemy, Master." Nazo stated telepathically, as all metallic objects (as well as other materials) were all potential food sources for a slug with one entire brain devoted to the act of feeding. He'd been given plenty of nourishment by Vilox, and strictly warned on penalty of death that the Obscurity itself was off limits as far as a buffet was concerned. Still the act of having to guard against projectiles that were normally sources of food was troublesome to the space slug.

[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

| [member="Nazo"] |

"Depravity of ones necessities allows one to understand that all that they need will not subsequently remain. For one to understand their weaknesses, one must then confront them head on. The Dark side of the Force allows one to come to an understanding of themselves and their environment that a Jedi or any other Force-user could comprehend. Weakness gives way to passion, unlocking those deepest, darkest emotions that, through comprehension and understanding of oneself, can be converted into strength, power and victory. These are the concepts of being Sith."

The hooded Sith Lord was situated at a balcony, overlooking the enigma that was Nazo the Wanderer. It had been equally as mysterious to the presence of such a being within the confines of the silent storm that was Darth Vazela. The training that had followed had subsequently allowed Nazo to fulfill the vacant position of Sith Apprentice. It remained yet to be seen, in the eyes of Vazela, of how this being could fit into his schemes. But any tool could be useful, when properly molded and consequentially executed.

The training was to improve the beings fluidity. The ability to flow in ones movements would allow them to grasp the aerobatics and dynamics of the Lightsaber technique, Ataru, of which Vazela was proficient in. Construction of the slugs Lightsaber had yet to be done, but that could wait. Ataru was a long, arduous process of which requires years of preparation, study and practice. Basics were first to be grasped, adeptness would come later; and mastery would come at the end of Nazo's journey, which had only just begun.

"At these speeds, I doubt your exoskeleton could survive the impact. Allow the Force to guide your movements. Surrender to the Dark side and allow yourself to become it's property, subsequently becoming it's guide at the same time. Grasp the concept of power. The ability to alter and manipulate one's environment. For as long as you could remember, these constructs that you've considered your nutrition and source of energy have now turned on you. Subjugate them to your will. Learn of the elongated metaphor I am passing here."

 

[Nazo]

Most species in the Galaxy heralded the same emotional palette that surrounded their society, conforming them into stringent and sometimes perplexing fits of mood and method. Nazo was far removed from that canvas of states, as his brush and paints were far more eccentric and abstract. While the uniformity of decisive shapes and primary colors speckled the landscape of the emotional spectrum, the space slug crafted with a neo-impressionist state of affairs. The passion and emotion that Vazela spoke of was foreign to his experiential knowledge. While he'd observed many emotions, and felt their raw tenacity through the Force, he rarely was upset, heartbroken, or expressed giddy delight. There were a few overlapping terms though; curiosity, obsession, and one could consider gluttony among that short list. Drawing on his passions was far different than mortal bi-peds, and thus he had to reflect on these admonishing statements for a longer period of time.

There was however an aspect of his Master's teachings that struck a chord with the dark hearted wanderer. The idea of power, of control. It was like a drug - and although drugs and toxins were all but moot in his biology, the desire and addiction were there. He tapped into the depths of that whenever his curiosity was satiated while experimenting on a local. From the subtle to the hands on display of violence and maiming of live victims. A sadistic and satisfied state of emotions washed over Nazo as he turned mimicing a move he'd seen a dozen or so times from various sentient life forms. Metallic digits curled around the robe he wore, pushing the sleeves back to reveal more of his exoskeletal framework. Then, with arms raised like a conductor on a platform, he drew his hands up focusing on one of the crates that laid dormant. It began to rattle and tap on the floor, shaking at his silent command.

All at once the craft lifted from the floor and began to turn on it's invisible axis, spinning in slow motion. Deft metallic digits circled back and forth willing the crate to obey. Nazo was a quick study, and once he understood a concept, and calculated a practical application, he leapt forward in his execution to near graceful levels. The object continued to spin faster and faster until it was simply a blur of grey metallic paint. Turning on his heel, he whipped the object around into a full orbit of his body before he launched the sharply angled durasteel crate at another. The business end of a corner pierced the other and merged the two together with a resounding crash. The use of the Force drawn on the emotions that he did understand circumvented his knee-jerk reaction in using his own magnetic powers. Again his gaze shifted as he stood to look towards the dark robed Sith on the balcony.

"I've sampled the appetizer. Let us enjoy the main course." He issued a thinly veiled challenge to that of his instructor. While Nazo didn't know pride in the classic sense, he had confidence of his abilities and his understanding of them to be able to so bold. Fear was not part of the equation - as he'd not known it.

[member="Vilox Pazela"]