Red Sands of Moraband

[Bubák]

“Aaah!” Alaki yelped when the small shuttle touched the ground less-than-gently thanks to the pilot’s inexperience, her inexperience. If she had not been strapped in the seat, no doubt she would have been tossed into the window and suffered a nasty injury as a result. For a very brief moment, the teenager’s glowing eyes glared through the cockpit window, observing the endless desert before a large cloud of red dust enveloped the small ship, almost making the metal look rusty once it settled. The young Chiss unstrapped the belt that attached her to the pilot’s seat, but did not get up yet, blankly staring in front of herself as if her mind went somewhere else shortly after the landing.

The Dark Side was almost like the crimson dust and sand of the planet; it completely surrounded her, she could not escape it. The sheer amount of the Dark Side that resided on the planet surprised the Padawan, and she was glad for her time with the Sith, otherwise the Dark Side of the Force might as well have driven her insane as it relentlessly attacked her senses and pushed itself through the girl’s mind, finding its way into her thoughts. Alaki offered no resistance, letting it in and enjoying the sensation only the Dark Side offered, its intoxicating effect feeling so sweet and strong. Why would anyone want to resist this anyway? Would it even be possible for her, just a Padawan, to push it away? Pondering about it for a while, the Chiss eventually came to a conclusion that completely and utterly ignoring the Dark Side on this planet was impossible. Good thing she came not to fight it, but to bask in it, allowing her body to get in tune with the great darkness.

“Ugh,” she let out something between a sigh and a moan after several more minutes have passed and she finally rose from the seat, slowly pacing out of the cockpit and straight to the exit. When the door leading outside opened, the hot air immediately reminded her this trip was not going to be a lovely stroll through an ancient Sith homeworld, but a fight for survival. The girl’s right hand reached down, past the tattered tunic that often showed her blue skin through many holes, and grasped the datapad attached to the girl's belt. Her thumb tapped the display a few times, enough for it to turn on, and the red eyes of the Chiss looked at the map showing her position and her destination alike, informing her the place she wished to visit lied several kilometres to the north. Placing the device back, she checked if her canteen was full before stepping out of the ship, hissing in pain as her filthy bare feet touched the burning sand, and immediately stepping back on the cold metal.

As much as she wished to fly to the ancient Sith tombs and temples in the stolen shuttle, the girl did not dare to even attempt doing so, believing the Jedi and Republic forces to be guarding such an important place to the Sith, possibly with anti-air weapons and orders to destroy anything not wearing a Republic uniform. While travelling on foot meant fighting against heat, wild animals and avoiding enemy patrols, she still had a good chance of getting off the planet the same way she arrived, in the small shuttle.

The Dark Jedi stepped out of the ship again, this time ignoring the pain, and walked in the direction of the Sith architecture, her pace steady. Both of her hands remained close to the belt, fingers gently stroking the two lightsaber hilts. The cool metal of the cylinders gave Alaki hope of ever reaching the destination. With any luck, she would not even have to ignite the blades, knowing that wasting her energy on fighting animals was a foolish thing to do in the middle of nowhere.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Liskarr Drek]

The Dathomiri was occupying the seat next to the Chiss who was piloting the shuttle. He eyes where closed and her chin was placed on the palm of her hand, sustaining her head. One could easily tell she was not asleep, she almost never sleep and even when she did so her rest didn't last longer than two or three hours. She was remembering her first encounter with the blue-skinned female. It was during a training in which they where asked to spar, she had won the duel but the Chiss had given demonstrated she was capable of fighting and that the Dark-side did live within her and therefore won the Dathomiri's favor. Furthermore, there was something in the ex-Jedi Padawan that had made the silver and blonde haired Acolyte see her as an ally.

She did not open her eyes when the shuttle landed with in an abrupt manner rather than gently and silently. Her eyelids did separate a bit, however, when the Chiss yelped. Her almost feline yellow eyes turned until she was looking at the pilot through the narrow space in between her eyelids. She wasn't looking at her in a bad way because she if she where the one landing the shuttle it would most probably have turned to pieces when it hit the ground. She stood as soon as the shuttle stopped moving and walked to the exit, stopping for she had sensed the movement of the sand. Once the gust stopped and left the spacecraft full of red sand she opened the door, which closed again behind her. The heat she was familiarized with, Iridonia also had a hot atmosphere. She took some steps away from the shuttle, her yellow eyes which possessed a sharp view analyzing her surroundings as she waited for the blue-skinned Acolyte in order to join her.

Those minutes she was alone she stayed immobile, the darkness held inside her raged with fury to be let out in order to meet the one this world had. It was such a pleasant and strong feeling, to be completely consumed by the darkness...Liskarr adored every feeling it provoked, the anger, the hatred...the fear. They where much more stronger than the ones those despiteful Jedi favored, or at least that was what she believed. Her one and only desire was serving the darkest of intentions, to be a weapon completely controlled by darkness and anger, to be a pure representation of this incorporeal strength that pumped through her whole being with such power.

Her expression was blank and her head turned when she heard the door open again and the Chiss came out. She also took some seconds to take in the new surroundings as she had done and then placed one bare foot on the sand, retrieving it back again when the burning sensation hit her. She walked to her one she descended, ignoring the pain coming from her feet. Liskarr walked with the other Acolyte for it was her that new where the ancient Sith temple was.

[member="Alaki"] [member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion once more sat on his favourite spot on the planet, before the ruins of the ancient Sith Academy on the large stone steps overlooking the valley below.

A couple of large starships could be seen passing the orbit of the planet, an awesome sight but not uncommon for passing transports containg who knew what going to destinations unknown.

Since Korriban was rich in Sith history and darkness running through the very core of the planet, here was where he found solace away from the Empire of the Hand he was serving. Here, he could study and meditate as best he could without distraction or annoyance.

His Sith starship rested on the sandy ground below, and he sat with his legs apart and his arms on his knees, eyes closed and reflecting over the events of recent months. His training, meetings with One Sith and the Empire, his physical and mental exercises brought about to break him and build him back up.

Asterion had learnt a lot about himself, and if he could find that one path to grant him greatness, he would be unstoppable with the right team around him.

The thunderous sound of the speeder low over the ground brought Asterion's attention up from his datapad and out across to his right over the scorching view of small mountains and sandy terrain. Squinting against the low sunlight, he knew now that another being would soon be here. He just had to be careful as to who they were.

One of the greatest challenges placed on Asterion was his temper. Ever so quick to seek the fight and lash out before answers could be given, he had learnt the hard way the repercussions of this a year or so ago on Korriban at the hands of a Dark Sorceress, and also in training with Kara, and where had that got him?

So he stood, and made his way down the stone steps back to the surface of the valley, with the tombs of the Dark Lords all around him and the ancient Sith academy up ahead. Moving to his Sith craft, Asterion kept an eye out towards the sound of the engines, watching for a sign it was approaching. He would not be hostile until he knew who was coming.

Rounding the corner into the valley, came two figures. Asterion watched them approach with interest. He couldn't pick up their intention, but both were Force users, and surrounded by the Dark Side. They were either friend or foes, but those walking Sith soil tended to be more tuned into his wavelength, but not without great delusion.

Aggression does not pay to be dished out first. This was something he had learnt of recent. Instead he turned his head softly to one side as they approached - a Chiss with two hilts, and one with piercing amber eyes. Both young; both impressionable.

"Speak your intentions ladies, before we get ahead of ourselves."

Asterion kept his calm and projecting his aura outwards fuelled by darkness and an appreciation for the Valley they were both standing over. He was protective of his planet and his own life.



[member="Liskarr Drek"] [member=Alaki]

 

[Bubák]

The blue skinned Chiss briefly glanced at the younger Acolyte, watching the girl for a moment to see if the Dathomirian followed. While it was uncommon for two students of the Sith to work together, this has proven to be a beneficial alliance for both. The two could work together to overcome various obstacles in their path to becoming Sith, be it Sith enemies or other Acolytes. Even [member="Liskarr Drek"]'s signature became familiar to the young Chiss Padawan, granting her the ability to recognize her presence among other Dark Sided beings. This would be fairly useful if the two encountered wild, Force sensitive animals that also basked in the Dark Side. Luckily, Alaki had no doubt about her and her ally's fighting capabilities, having dueled Liskarr some time ago. This knowledge of the Dathomirian's strengths and weaknessed meant combat advantage, the possibility of synchronizing her moves with that of Liskarr, using this to overcome stronger and faster opponents. For a moment, the Chiss even considered looking for enemies on their way to the Temple, but ultimately dismissed the idea as a needless risk. The desert alone would prove to be a formidable foe.

The girl closed her glowing red eyes and focused on the Force, ripping through the mass of energy and attempting to feel any danger ahead, only to discover no danger in their immediate vicinity. With that, the Chiss continued at a steady pace, the only enemy at the moment being the unforgiving sun. As the Sith duo made their way through the treacherous world, the Chiss' gaze continued to scan their surroundings. Still nothing, no signs of the Tuk'ata and other beasts like that. Several beads of sweat ran down Alaki's cheeks and she resisted the urge to sigh, already finding the way towards the destination to be quite tiresome. Korriban certainly was a deadly world, be it in Sith control or not.

Without saying a word, the journey through the red sands continued. The Chiss found herself to be a bit surprised by the lack of enemies; she had expected the two would need to sneak, but so far they have spotted nothing to force them into such action. That was a good thing though, allowing the two to walk straight to their the ruins of the Sith civilization that had resided there before being destroyed by the Jedi and the Republic. It was strange; when Korriban fell to the overwhelming Jedi forces, Alaki was a Jedi herself, celebrating the Sith defeat despite not participating in the battle. Now, as a fallen Jedi, she had to sneak to the planet in search of the knowledge belonging to those who used to be her enemies.

When the ruins finally came to their sight, Alaki froze, stopping her steady pace as she immediately saw another being. Her mind briefly considered the possibilities, from a lone Jedi to another Sith seeking to uncover the ancient secrets. The signature she felt a second later gave away the man was a Dark Side user, but then again, some "unorthodox" Jedi were as well. She had to be careful and with that in mind, she looked into Liskarr's eyes and moved her hands closer to the two hilts hanging on her belt, ready to retrieve them if the need arose. The Chiss' feet started moving again and carried the girl closer to the man. At the same time, the teenager made sure to keep some space between herself and the other Sith Acolyte, so the man would not be able to fight against them so easily.

"We are here to admire the ancient homeworld of the Sith," answered the Chiss [member="Asterion"]'s question, "And to dive deeper into the Dark Side, like the Sith of old used to." Alaki spoke calmly, managing to remain free of fears and worries. Her gaze shifted from the man towards the buildings behind him, the tombs and other structures that eternally reminded everyone of the true rulers of the planet. "It is beautiful." Despite the years of neglect as no Sith officially trained on the planet,nobody to maintain the Academy, everything looked to be in a good state, as if the Dark Side itself preserved the Sith architecture.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion glanced at the girl standing a good few feet away, her lithe body seemed ready to erupt into battle if it required, amber eyes staring dead ahead. He looked back at the Chiss girl, brimming with confidence and hiding nothing via her Force signature. Her piercing red eyes, a fascinating trait of the Chiss race were highlighted by her blue skin – such an attractive, alien race.

Looking back at the Academy beyond the Valley, surrounded by the dominating tombs of fallen Sith Lords, he nodded. This was a planet he called home, born in darkness and abandoned in it. A planet with so much danger was populated by a great deal of knowledge and gateways to the Sith history, but often it was overlooked – much like the planet.

Turning to the Chiss, he took a minute to read her again and it was satisfying to sense someone who was aligned to the Dark Side but who had no evident air of ego, like he had at one point, and thus no risk of immediate hostility.

”It certainly is. Thousands of years of history right before us, showing us what the Force could be used for if controlled correctly, if understood and appreciated. Untouched by others, this is a magnificent place.”

Stepping down from the small incline where his ship was, he came closer to the Chiss. He couldn’t be sure, but there was something about her that spoke of great conflict and great experience, but she couldn’t be that old…could she?

”I am Asterion, Knight of the Sith Order. Although I follow no Master as such anymore. This planet acts more of a Master than others I’ve encountered. Always teaching and always listening.”

He inclined his head slightly, eyes never leaving hers.

”What do I call you and your friend.”



[member="Alaki"] [member="Liskarr Drek"]

 

[Liskarr Drek]

Her calm and surprisingly civilized expression was something that would shock the ones who had the bad luck of witnessing her instinctive nature, the wild and blood-thirsty tendencies that took control of her being when released from the bounds that restrained it deep inside the corrupted soul of the teenager, released when her mind let her instincts become dominant, feeding her darkness with terrible emotions she had so carefully cultivated since her childhood. It was also strange to see her in company of another Acolyte but the Chiss had gotten to her. It is not worth saying that the first reason why she had agreed to an alliance with the blue-skinned alien was not only because she was a skilled fighter but also because she could synchronize with her, as Liskarr could also couple with the her ways of combat. Furthermore there was something of the other Acolyte that made Liskarr not dislike her, which was an almost miraculous event considering that Dathomiri held a distaste for almost everyone.

She walked next to the Chiss, as silent as she was. The obstacles of the desert were deathly, the only choices you had if you were caught in it without the necessary resources to stay alive your only choices were dying swiftly but ruthlessly and serve as an aliment to the creatures that inhabited the planet or to die a slow, painful death to the lack of water, food and burning light. The rays of the sun penetrated the pale skin of the young Acolyte which despite being almost white-colored seemed reluctant to adopt darker shades. Her footsteps where light but left their marks on the soft, burning sand beneath them as she advanced through the desert in company of the blue-skinned alien.

After what felt like hours of walking, the sensation of endlessness provided by the hardships of the desert, the Sith ruins came into view. It was something so worthy of admiration that she would have stopped her pace to look upon the place if her gaze hadn't met with the figure of a man. Liskarr was known to be naturally suspicious and weary of people and so her eyes as brilliant and strong as the sun gleamed with a cruel, apocalyptic light as the obscure natures of her being started to stir within her, in case she would require to unleash them. She did not, however, draw her sabers and let her companion do the talking. Liskarr loved to fight, she loved it so much that she disliked that other people liked it, it was a jealous love but still she would not engage in battle out of mere desire for she had learnt it had its consequences the hard way. She only muttered a comment, revealing her silky voice that was still filled with that youthful tone, "Magnificent indeed" She agreed with the words of the man, now that the possibility of a fight was probably out of chances, still she was alert to anything he might try. He then asked for their names after offering his and mentioning his status in the ranks of the Sith. Liskarr lowered her head and bent her back forwards, without arching, her legs remaining completely straight displaying her flexibility. Liskarr did this because it as the due respect she ad to show and actually held for Sith knights and Masters, but bowing in this manners was something she hated although she hid this feeling perfectly fine. She decided to give him the answer "Her name is Alaki and I am called Liskarr." She said, a little bit louder this time but still not even nearing the noise that a loud person would make.

[member="Asterion"], [member="Alaki"]

 

[Bubák]

The blue skinned Chiss simply nodded to express her approval of what the man said about the Force. Truly, this shattered the Jedi belief one should not abuse the Force, for they believed it to be alive. The very existence of the Sith and everything built by them on Korriban spoke against the Jedi, proving one could control the Force, bend it to their will and create true wonders the Jedi never could. The Sith were so much stronger than the Jedi, fighting against the whole galaxy, yet surviving by adapting to the new rules. If nothing else, the sight of those magnificent buildings and the irresistable calling of the Dark Side all over the planet clearly showed Alaki had chosen the right path, the Sith way of life. And there was absolutely nothing to persuade her to let go of the power she wielded, the power of the Dark Side. Smiling, as she had fulfilled her goal by visiting this planet and tasted the Dark Side that resided within its very core, now and forever, the teenage Chiss turned her gaze towards [member="Asterion"] as the man introduced himself, revealing both his name and his standing in the Sith pyramid.

Alaki almost immediately proceeded to drop to her knees and bow deeply, letting [member="Liskarr Drek"] introduce them while the former Padawan quickly showed her submission and respect to the true Sith. The hot sand burned her hands, yet the blue skinned teenager did not make a sound to express her discomfort. "I am a Dark Jedi," explained the Chiss silently to make it clear why she behaved in this non-Sith manner. Not being a Sith and living among them carried many hardships, and as such the former members of the Jedi Order had to respect their place; several feet under the Sith hierarchy pyramid, buried under Acolytes and those of higher rank, staying out until they too became Sith and finally gained the chance to climb up the ladder. "She is a Sith Acolyte." The girl added gently, just to ensure Asterion would not associate Liskarr with the lowly Dark Jedi.

Remaining in the position for a moment more before she got up, the fallen Padawan decided to give this Asterion the same courtesy he had offered to them. "Neither of us has a Master yet," said the Chiss to give the man greater insight into the matter of travelling to Korriban. The first stop was Tantorus, where Alaki had travelled alone to explore the world of the Sith Purebloods and familiarized herself with their ways of life.

"Therefore we travel to planets that have a history with the Sith. Be it the red skinned species or the Order, they often leave their mark, a legacy. In fact, similarly to what you have mentioned, Knight Asterion, the planets and specific places teach us of our history and guide us on our path towards becoming Sith."

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Rubbing his wrists slightly, easing the tension in his muscle after a long morning of exercise and study, Asterion nodded gently as the Acolyte, Liskarr, spoke up her appreciation for the Valley before them. The Dark Jedi, Alaki, then fell to her knees. Asterion couldn’t help roll his eyes a little as the Chiss reduced herself to a bow on the hot sand. He wasn’t worthy of a bow – he had no claim over these two and even as a Sith, wouldn’t expect one to bow before him. He wasn’t a Lord, nor even a Master, and certainly not in a position where bowing before him would act as something of a submission to his power.

But he was amused.

He shook it off and waved his hands for her to stand as she continued.

Quite a pair these two, a Dark Jedi and Sith Acolyte. They were at both ends of the Force spectrum but both united by the Dark Side. In fact, it seemed they were hungry to learn, to understand and to develop. An admirable trait, one that signalled to Asterion they had willing and brains between them, rather than an all-out blind lust for power and dominance.

Asterion patted his arm gently as he moved forward, walking a perimeter around the two. When but an Acolyte himself, Lady Kyros had used the same method of a simple but effective walk around him to size him up in a few seconds.

”Alaki. A Dark Jedi you may be, but that makes you nothing less in my eyes. You are here to show willing, and I can see that you are true of word, and that speaks volumes over what you may label yourself.

He moved to Liskarr.

”And you, Liskarr. Sith Acolyte. Were you male, you’d remind me very much of how I was at your age. Eager for the fight, dismissive of hierarchy and a drive to BE somebody. Just be sure to stay in control of your emotion, and your tongue, when required. Believe me, it’s less painful for you that way.”

Coming back before them, Asterion gave a small smile. Young, beautiful and eager to learn. Potential had never been offered to him on a plate, but here, at once, were two helpings.

”Please, explore the Valley. I will be happy to accompany if you wish, but as well I am happy for you to be alone – the exploration of Sith history is a personal journey, and one you must do at complete peace with yourself.”

Lowering his head in a small nod, he extended his hand out, indicating to the Valley over to his left.

”Welcome to your destiny, ladies.”


[member="Alaki"] [member="Liskarr Drek"]

 

[Bubák]

Her eyes followed [member="Asterion"] as he walked around them, much like a predator circling around his prey and waiting for the right moment to attack, patient and deadly. Alaki did not think the man was about to attack though; more likely just observing the two, learning from what he could see on the outside of the two Sith students, their appearance revealing much. For example, the Chiss' ragged apparel kind of gave away her Jedi origins, branding her as someone who was even less tha Sith Acolytes and thus, unlike them, did not have the right to always receive a new set of clothes. Given her training as a warrior, the blue skinned teen often found herself in need of a new set of tunic and trousers after dueling other apprentices. This simple method of treating her like dirt was meant to teach the former Jedi how to hate by purposedly discriminating her, also explaining her bowing to the Sith Knight where there was no need to do it. The other thing Asterion might notice was the Chiss' fairly muscular build that, despite her short frame common among people of her age, clearly showed she took the idea of shaping her body into a weapon seriously.

The former Padawan decided to do the same thing; try to figure out as much as possible about the man by studying him. Not having much experience in this, Alaki did not discover anything from the way he moved or talked. The well-built stature told her much more, indicating the man was most likely a warrior as herself or an assassin; another path of the Sith only very few wished to walk. [member="Liskarr Drek"] was one such person.

"Thank you," the Chiss softly spoke after the older Sith revealed her Jedi past did not matter all that much to him. Many Sith could not care less about her origins, but some placed much weight on it, automatically treating the Dark Jedi as potential traitors that were weak and expendable. In a way, Alaki perfectly understood that behavior. Jedi betraying something they have fought for, either as a result of cowardice or weak will spoke negatively of those who chose to abandon the Light Side and pursue the darker path to power. Truth to be told, the Chiss treated other Dark Jedi in the same fashion, often attempting to kill them to show her Sith superiors how much contempt she held for any fallen Jedi, an attempt to distinguish herself from the weak willed masses of Dark Jedi who wished to become true Sith, often failing miserably.

Once Asterion stood before them, the Chiss quickly spoke, taking advantage of the man's presence on the planet and his offer. As interesting as exploring the ancient tombs and temples alone would be, having a Sith Knight with them would be both educational and safer. "Can you give us a tour, please?" Alaki asked with a warm smile, "We are a generation that does not know the planet as much as we should," she pointed out, "Many students have never witnessed Korriban's crimson beauty... Maybe we could even train like the Sith of old?" The blue skinned teen winked at Liskarr as an idea formed in her mind.

"Knight Asterion, would you mind becoming our teacher for the duration of our stay here? Give us tasks to complete, share your wisdom with us, train us in the arts of lightsaber combat." Alaki wanted to experience the feeling of a fresh student training at the Korriban Sith Academy, retrieving artifacts from the tombs and enjoy the thrill of fighting for her life against the dangerous beasts. Thinking about it, the Chiss realized she had not seen a single Republic trooper yet. That was somewhat weird, considering the Republic's presence was expected on such an important planet. Or maybe the Jedi rulers have failed to recognize the value of the red gem and left most of it untouched.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion inclined his head at the Chiss.

”Very well, Alaki.”

He did the same at the Acolyte, fascinated by her silence and how the Chiss seemed to speak for both of them. There was a unison here he couldn’t quite identify, but that may come in time.

Turning his back, he removed his cowl and lay it over the engine of his personal Starfighter. While weaponry was deactivated, it served him enough to get from one place to another in good time. Now he simply stood in his black jumpsuit, laced with strong plates of armour over his chest, arms and legs. It was enough to protect him in battle but free to enable movement and dexterity. Keeping his gloves on, he checked his lightsaber was secure on his left hip and nodded his head over towards the Valley.

”Come.”

Asterion started the walk up through the Valley; on both sides to the trio stood multiple towering statues of unknown prophets from the Dark Side, standing atop a tomb of a Sith Lord and housing secrets and remains many had ventured in to discover. The Sith Academy was far in the distance beyond the tombs themselves.

”The Valley of the Dark Lords has seen plenty of action, and been rebuilt and enhanced many, many times. As you can imagine this has been the site of great conflict and even criminal activity. Republic space this may be, but the planet is left pretty much isolated out of a respect for what it stands for in the history of the galaxy, but also because there is a great deal of danger and mystery surrounding a planet that is so rich in both mythology and dark Force activity.”

He turned his head and pointed to one of the towering statues, standing mightily against the low sun in the red sky.

”The tomb of Marka Ragnos.”

Then, to another.

”Darth Bane.”

Turning to the left, he indicated to another.

”Darth Vader.”

The Knight then faced the two girls.

”The Sith do not crave blind domination, nor do they crave martyrs. They grave a great understanding of the Force and the ability to use it to eradicate those who abuse it, like the Jedi have done for centuries, trying to harness it for their own good rather than let it enhance them naturally. The Sith don’t deny what the Force can do for them, and if you can control it to the point where it becomes more than just a power – if you can make it an extension of your body and your emotion – you one day may have immortality here amongst the Lords.”

He took a step forward to the Chiss.

”The tomb of Alaki, Sith Lord. Defender of the Dark Side.”

Then to Liskarr.

”Likarr Drek, Lord of the Sith. Destroyer of the Silver Jedi.”

Raising his eyebrows at his little display, he smiled.

”You get the idea. Now, I don’t preach the ways of the Sith because I myself act with a Master, so I rather act as I believe the Sith should do, and not to the ways of another. If that isn’t what you seek, you may carry on alone. But, you want training? We will see how you feel about that after we have finished here and maybe we can come to an arrangement, for both of you, or individually, it’s up to you.”

Turning back to the Valley, Asterion inhaled slowly.

”The tomb for Darth Vader does not contain the remains of the Sith Lord. Enter the tomb, explore the ancient burial ground and find what lies within. If you make it out alive, I will be here to hear what you find. If you speak the truth, we will proceed. If you try to lie, you will have the chance to leave before I take you down.”

With a side-ways glance, he caught the Chiss near his side.

”Do you accept your little adventure into the unknown?”


[member="Alaki"] [member="Liskarr Drek"]

 

[Bubák]

Without saying a word, falling silent just as her companion has been for some time, the blue skinned teenager followed this Asterion, placing her trust into the man, as much as someone intending to become a Sith could. It did not take long to reach the famed Valley of the Dark Lords, the place so many Sith have ventured to and died while others found secrets of immortality and infinite power. Alaki stood there in silent amazement, her glowing red eyes staring at each statue that motionlessly stood as an eternal guardian of this place. Every one of them cast a shadow on the ground, the crimson sand in such places felt very cold, contrasting the one exposed to the sun that burned like the crimson blade of a lightsaber. Positioning herself into one of the shadows, the girl observed what was essentially the history of the Sith, showing their beginnings as the red-skinned warriors such as Marka Ragnos to such influential and powerful figures who still lived in memories, presented by such giants as Darth Vader, the man who had nearly exterminated the Jedi. It was him who interested the young Chiss the most, seeing the massive cyborg as someone to look up to. Much like her, he had betrayed the Jedi, only to become a living instrument of destruction aimed at his former allies. While his reasons of joining the Sith were less selfish that that of Alaki's, the teen still saw him as someone to set an example for her.

Having expected nothing but ruins and raided tombs, it came as a surprise to see the statues damaged only by time and an occasional act of vandalism. Once the eyes of the Chiss had seen enough of Lord Vader, they turned back towards the armored man. Truly, the red sands had tasted so much blood, yet it would never be enough for the desert to quench its infinite thirst for more. Korriban will undoubtedly drink more of the precious crimson liquid and swallow plenty of lives, its legend of making even the most powerful of beings disappear without a trace turning away many greedy looters and pirates seeking its riches. The history and facts were not enough to turn away Force users though, proved by the trio. Maybe because their mission was not to plunder whatever remained of the artifacts hidden in the tombs, but to understand the Sith better. That was Alaki's reason to be on the planet, at least. [member="Asterion"]'s words resonated deep within her, she realized how much she wanted to come ever closer to the Dark Side and learn how to control its vast power. Unlike the Light Side of the Force, the Dark Side offered so much freedom to its user who could do with it as they pleased.

Smile spread across her face when the largest of the group fueled her imagination of what could she become in the future. Defender of the Dark Side... a former Jedi becoming one to protect the Sith ways of life. As impossible as it sounded, Lord Vader had proven it can be done.

The offer of training sounded intriguing and if nothing else, provided a great opportunity of testing her skills. Why not to do what the Sith Knight wanted when it ultimately made her stronger? The fact she'd be visiting and exploring Vader's tomb made this task all the more interesting. Since it obviously did not have the man's body, it had to have something else, something important to the Dark Lord, something iconic to him. Lightsabers, maybe? Alaki did not know, but eagerly nodded, wanting to start immediately to discover the secret. "I accept!" smiled the Chiss and turned towards the glooming entrance to the tomb that gazed at her from the large block of red stones surrounding it. The Darkness felt inviting, or was it the fact it was not that hot inside? It embraced the body of the Chiss as she entered, disappearing in the tomb of the Dark Lord.

Without igniting her lightsaber, as her eyes could see well in the dark thanks to her species, the girl slowly moved through what appeared to be a hallway. The stone ground felt cold against her feet as she paced deeper, the overall difference between the air temperature in the tomb and outside made her shiver. It was not entirely unpleasant though, more like relaxing. Soon, not even her sight let her see, yet she continued without igniting her weapon to cast blue light onto the shadows, feeling no danger in the Force. The darkness appeared so peaceful, with nothing living around except for herself... and yet the girl realized there was something wrong when a strong smell hit her nose. Misfortunate enough to know what rotting flesh smelled like, Alaki recognized the stench. It was unreasonable to assume that whatever died there died of natural causes.

Just as she took another step, ready to turn on her weapon, she stepped on something large that made her instinctively jump back, resulting in a stumble. Once she fell, the girl immediately knew what she had stepped on, hearing the rettling of bones. Glowing blue blade sprang to life with a snap-hiss and illuminated her surroundings, revealing the girl to be in a larger chamber full of columns preventing the tomb from collapsing. That, and piles of bones on the ground. Animals and people alike. Frowning, the girl reached out through the Force and searched as far as she could, feeling nothing living in the place. What killed all those people then? Getting back on her feet, she examined the nearest set of bones, which were covered by whatever remained from a traditional Sith tunic. With sparks in her eyes, Alaki tore the tunic off and searched for a cylinder-shaped object. Unfortunately, all she found was one of the training blades Sith occasionally used. This disappointed the Dark Jedi Padawan, yet something else caught her gaze. Something else that lied on the ground, among the corpse's ribs. A dart.

Lifting the blade up to illuminate the walls, Alaki spotted many small tubes aimed into the chamber, ready to shower it in whatshe assumed to be poisonous darts. The thought that she had paced through it bare foot certainly did not make her feel better, but it certainly made her realize she had to watch her step carefully least she wanted to become another victim. What activated the trap though? Were there more traps? She did not dare to go forward, yet she did not want to go back. Pushing the skeletal corpse away revealed nothing unusual about the floor; there was no difference between the smooth stones that formed the floor. Beads of cold sweat dropped from her forehead as she stood there, frozen. Still just an apprentice, a former Padawan, she did not have any chance of using the Force to tell her which stones acted as switches that set the trap in motion.

With this incredible risk, she decided to retreat and do this the slow way, which consisted of telekinetically pushing the tiles on the floor and seeing what happened. This method of trial and error seemed much safer than trying to logically deduce the pattern. Soon, the chamber got showered in poison darts whizzing through the air, hitting bones and walls, forcing Alaki to seek refuge in the tunnel that led her in there. From there, she was safe to try to figure out the exact way of walking through the chamber of death, and she would have eventually figured it out if not for the trap running out of ammunition first. When the tubes stopped releasing poisoned darts, the girl carefully moved the ones littering the floor out of her way and simply walked through, moving into another room. Not the most effective of traps, but then again, the tomb never housed the Sith Lord or his artifacts, explaining the lack of more defensive mechanisms.

This one appeared to be even large that the last room, a pyramid shaped chamber with a sarcophagus in the center and a bust of Darth Vader placed on it it. Gigantic statues of robed men stood in every corner, each holding a red crystal that illuminated the surroundings. It was quite beautiful, actually, with the Dark Side radiating drowning the entire room in its presence. Placing her hands on the solid stone coffin, she fell to her kneel, her gaze fixed at bust, looking into the eyeless gaze that still sparked despair in Jedi hearts, as for Jedi, the man was an embodiment of fear and death, one that made Palpatine's Sith dream come true. The girl's hand moved towards the black stone that's been sculpted into the mask of the most famous of Sith Lords, lovingly stroking it and feeling the sharp edges of the mask beneath her fingers. The stone felt surprisingly warm, as if exposed to sun a moment ago. Not the helmet though; when the Chiss moved her hands to the oversized protective cover, it felt cold. It took her a second to realize it's been made from a different material than the rest of the bust; pulling it up, the metal helmet easily came off the rest. Was it the real thing? Alaki's heart stopped for a moment as she held it in her arms, hugging it.

Logically, she knew the armor's been destroyed. She also knew the Sith Lord must have possessed many replacements. The probability of this helmet being one of them was very low, yet she decided to take it with her. As a trophy, or a way of showing her respect to the Sith Lord by using this piece of armor, possibly to prevent it from being destroyed by one of the many who hated Vader, she did not know for sure, but the Chiss definitely was not going to just leave it there! After searching the inside of the helmet for any nasty surprises and finding none, she put it on her head. Designed for someone else, it did not fit her all that much, but it presented her first and only piece of armor. Satisfied, the Chiss offered the tomb a bow and rotated herself on the balls of her feet, leaving the place, returning the same way she came in. The light at the end of the tunnel blinded her at first as her eyes slowly adjusted to the sun.

"It is done," she said, "There was a trap and beyond that, a burial chamber for Darth Vader. The helmet on my head is a proof."

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion stood and inhaled gently as the two ventured away. He had nowhere to be and so would wait as long as it took before one returned. Alaki showed eagerness, want and desire. That was admirable. Likarr was quiet, brooding and focussed. That too was admirable. However it would come down to who proved worthy enough to take on the dangers that lay ahead.

- - - - - - - - - - ​

Time passed by quickly, but the Knight stood his ground as he said he would until the first figure returned. It was the Chiss – Alaki, and she even had the gall to wear the stone décor of the tomb. A small smile broke over his heavily stubbled face and he walked slowly towards her as she approached.

”I knew you would be the one.”

He reached and took the helmet from her head, looking at the carving and tossing it around his hands, before handing it back to her. Asterion glanced up to the tomb, but saw no-other. Had Likarr succumbed to the fate of the tomb? Had Alaki taken her out of the equation?

”You did good, kid.”

Reaching forward, his gloved hands brushed a lock of black hair away from her brow and down her cheek.

”Do you want to continue down the path you’ve started on, because there’s a whole galaxy out there waiting for someone like you to bow down before and shape others to follow.”


[member=Alaki]

 

[Bubák]

The change of temperature hit her once again, the hot air outside being in stark contrast with the cold intestines of the tomb. As the rays of sun washed over her body, the familiar presence of the Sith Knight approached and Alaki could not help but wonder what happened to her young companion. Logically, she knew Likarr was a very capable warrior, having fought her before in a sparring match. The Dathomirian’s absence came as a slight surprise, but then again, this was the tomb of Lord Vader. The Chiss teen did not believe in destiny, yet the fact she emerged from her idol’s tomb as the first one of the two clearly showed she walked the right path to become a true Sith, such as the ancient Darth whose helmet rightfully adorned her head. Although he lied dead for a long time, he still served as an icon. Everyone knew his name, his story, his power. Just by looking at a mere image of his emotionless mask, every Sith and Jedi, no, every sentient being in the galaxy could positively identify him. Who of non-Force sensitives remembered Darth Krayt? Marka Ragnos? Thousands more of faceless Sith? Vader’s message would live on forever. He’d never be forgotten. The man who started as a Dark Jedi and became a Sith, an apostle of death nearly exterminating the Jedi, was immortal.

As such, when the Sith Knight’s shadow grew close enough to shield her from the sun and reached for her helmet, Alaki’s heart stopped for a second. Was she in trouble for taking the ‘artefact’? The girl gulped and prepared for the worst, which more often than not meant Force lighting coursing through her body for several seconds. No such thing happened though; [member="Asterion"] took the helmet, observed it for a bit and ultimately gave it back to the surprised Chiss. Not only that, the man praised her. Unable to believe this, she gave him a confused look as his hands brushed away her hair. The unspoken question lingering in her eyes vanished though when she realized she did not have to fear being subjected to the pure manifestation of the Dark Side. Alaki remained silent. Her mind thought of the Sith Knight’s question, pondering about it.

A while ago, the fallen Padawan was scared of being subjected to his punishment. The teenager no longer cared. All she did was to hold the shiny helmet in her hands, feeling the coolness of it in her fingers as her gaze watched her own reflection on the black, round metal. What Alaki saw was a distorted version of herself.

“Many Sith cling to the old ways and constantly repeat the same mistakes of their predecessors,” she spoke, seemingly ignoring the question, “The One Sith knows the ancient recipes for success lead to failure, yet they expect the outcome to be different. They are the same as the Sith of old, true Sith from birth to death. They will never shape the galaxy. In a few years, all of them will be dead, forgotten for all eternity. Maybe it is time to look for a better example all of us could follow.” The Chiss paused, watching her own crimson orbs in the reflection as she turned the helmet around in her hands, still watching it as if hoping to witness the events yet to come.

“Anakin Skywalker’s love for his son killed Darth Vader. That was all that separated Darth Sidious and his apprentice from achieving the Sith dream, crushing the rebellion once and for all and ruling the galaxy forever. Despite their death, their truth lives on. The Imperial ideology survived the death of the Galactic Empire. The actions of both Vader and Sidious are still remembered. Without a doubt, the two are the most successful Sith to have ever lived. And yet, most Sith cling to the traditions of dating back to the Sith Empire ruled by Sith purebloods.”

The Chiss shut her eyes and slowly raised the helmet up, gently placing it upon her head. She was not like the other Sith. She'd never be. “I will not follow the same path as the One Sith. I will follow the example of a man who was not a pure Sith, yet became vastly more powerful than any of the true Sith could ever dream of.” The glowing red eyes opened, staring right into those of Asterion.

“The galaxy needs another Darth Vader.”