Survival is Essential (Dara Gola)

[Zion Mirtis]

The day had come. One final test that Darth Raven, or Sophie as her apprentice would often call her, had to give. This would be the hardest though. A test that only so few Sith every employed on their apprentices. Darth Raven herself had not endures this, her master instead going through smaller tasks that slowly built on her abilities and skills before allowing her to fully progress on her own to the rank of knight. But this was different. [member="Dara Gola"] , the twi'lek apprentice, would have to endure a great many tasks of Sophie was to turn her into the weapon she saw her to potentially be. That meant putting her through trial and tribulation to harden her and make her fully understand the means of survival. She was born to be an assassin as Sophie was to be the hand that guided her weapons to the target.

Darth Raven stood at a landing port of the Sith Temple on Courascant. Her figure was cloaked in a long dark robe with her hood pulled over her head. The wind whipped about as she awaited her apprentice to arrive. She'd sent the message, telling of how she wanted her to arrive as night approached. She was to bring only the clothes on her back and her lightsaber. They were all she would need. The private shuttle sat nearby, the landing plank still open while the droid pilot awaited Raven's say-so for when to leave. It was just a matter of awaiting the needed final passenger.

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara moved quickly through the temple, her mind wondering what it was that her master, [member="Darth Raven"], had summoned her for this time. She was instructed to bring only the clothes on her back and her lightsaber, she didn't even consider not following that order, so she had taken her pistol holster off of her belt and left her robes behind. She wore her usual black outfit consisting of skintight black pants with a small bandeau top and a tight black vest. The soft soled boots on her feet stopped at the tips of her calves and were held in place by a set of buckles down the front, they had been designed to make almost noise when she walked. The only other thing she wore were the black ribbons crisscrossed down her lekku and tied at the tips. She always wore the ribbons and didn't figure her master would mention it. As she got to the temple landing pad she saw that it was just getting dark out and she smiled faintly as she knew that she had arrived exactly as requested.

She saw Sophie waiting for her near a shuttle and she wondered where they were going to go this time. She stopped a few feet away and bowed deeply before she spoke, "I'm here master and ready for whatever task you give me." When things were official, she was blunt and to the point, there were times when she was allowed to be more free and open with their conversations, the look on her masters face let her know this wasn't one of those times.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Upon her arrival Sophie only said "Come." to [member="Dara Gola"] before turning towards the shuttle. She knew her apprentice would follow and already called for the droid to take off. Once both were on-board the plank lifted up and the shit was up and away. Once high enough the droid launched the ship into hyperspace, Sophie bringing her twi'lek apprentice to one of the smaller cabins on the shuttle itself. "Sit." she instructed, gesturing towards the seats awaiting both of them. Once both were seated Raven unveiled her face from her hood, finally asking "Tell me, Dara, have you ever been to Felucia?"

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara heard the single word and knew this was going to be business. she knew that [member="Darth Raven"] was sometimes two different people. Many times she was like this, a sith with considerable power and very focused on her tasks, while other times she was loving and gentle and was very playful. She was business today and that meant that either they were going to train or they were going to kill. Neither option bothered Dara, if Sophie gave her a task to do, she would do it.

she followed her master into the small room and sat in the seat she was told to, she heard the question and tilted her head, " I have not my master."

 

[Zion Mirtis]

"It's a highly vegetated planet." Darth Raven began. "And a very dangerous one. Some forms of plat-life can be carnivorous. Many of the species there are bred to kill. And if your lucky you may not become infected with any number of potential diseases from their. And that is where we're going." She sighed, looking down for a moment, before continuing with "This is my last test for you, Dara. After this there will be nothing more to teach you that will mean you are not ready. If you finish this test you will be officially granted the rank of knight. But I cannot lie and tell you this task will be the most dangerous. I may not have suffered through it but many in the Sith order had to endure it to become the strong warriors they are today. And I want you to be strong, Dara. I need you to be. Understood?"

[member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara listened silently as it was explained to her what was going to happen. She had never been to Felucia before but that didn't matter, [member="Darth Raven"] was taking her there for another test, and she knew that she wouldn't fail. Over the last few weeks of training she had seen both pride and disappointment in her master's eyes and she was embarrassed that she had ever had anything but success in her trials. " I understand master, I will complete any task you have laid out for me. I will not fail you." Her voice was soft yet strong, her eyes were focused and she felt the venom in her blood. She was the one with something to prove and she would succeed.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

[member="Dara Gola"] had often proved her devotion to Darth Raven in the time they knew each other. She offered the twi'elk passion and pleasure where her last master had given her only pain and suffering. A fair enough trade, especially when she could sympathize with her origins of formerly being a Jedi before seeing the only true path was that of the darkside. A part of Raven feared that devotion would lead to Dara's end, but tried not to as an indicator on the ship had notified that they had arrived. Raven only motioned for Dara to follow as the ship was starting to exit hyperspace and finally reach Felucia.

They made their way to the back of the ship towards the docking area as Sophie explained "This is a test of survival." The ship finally came into Felucia's orbit. "This is a test of cunning." They started dropping into the planet's atmosphere. "But most of all, this is a test of endurance. To prove that you can overcome anything thrown at you." Finally coming closer to the planet's surface, only a story or so, the ship's docking bay opened while both of them stood there. Raven turned and held her apprentice's shoulder as it did while saying "I have faith you will succeed. And I will see you in a week." Just as she said that she added "I forgot to mention, this test you must complete....alone."

And with that Raven gave Dara a final and literal push.

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara wondered what it was they would be doing on the planet, she had gone over the many possibilities for them being here. The more [member="Darth Raven"] spoke, the more she was convinced that this was going to be a dangerous test, one she would need to be fully focused on or she might not survive it. The door opened and she listened to her master talk, her eyes scanning the vibrand planet beneath them. She nodded along where needed and while she was listening to what was being said to her, she was mentally preparing herself for this test. She didn't even feel the hand on her bare shoulder, but she did catch the last few words said.

She looked up in surprise as she was pushed from the shuttle, the wind whipped at her face as she watched the ground rush up to meet her. She called upon the force to slow her fall enough that she was able to land soft enough to only hurt a little and not break bones. She looked up at the shuttle as it kept moving, and then ti was lost in the distance. She looked around, sensing with the force the for anything that might be near her. All of the foliage was brightly colored and dense, limiting her ability to see to only a few meters on all sides. She pulled her lightsaber from her belt and sighed, there was no right direction to take so she settled on going forward. her eyes never stopping their movements as she crept forward slowly.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

With [member="Dara Gola"] gone Raven turned as the door closed. A week. It seemed so much longer already. With a deep and regretting sigh she ordered the droid to return to Courascant. No reason to wait around and risk being seen by unfriendly eyes. This was Dara's test now. She had to complete it on her own. But that didn't mean Sophie didn't wish she was there with her right now.

The planet Felucia seemed alive to every fiber and degree. Everything buzzed or breathed or made some indication it was alive. The more Dara would be there the more she would realize this place was not friendly to any who'd not grown up on it. To endure the hardships this planet offered. There was a lot to be wary of. A lot to fear. A lot to take for granted. It was all up to her now as each day would mean one new test after another. Though curiosity of course asked what she would encounter first.

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara moved quietly through the jungle, she reached out with the force again, making sure she was the only thing on the area. She felt a faint force signature in the distance and she stopped. she focused for a second and she nudged the tiny Vong seed inside of her and she deadened her own force signature to virtually nothing. She didn't know what was out there that force capabilities, but she didn't want to broadcast that she was in the area as well. she slowly crept in the direction of the odd signature when she felt something grab her forearm. She tried to jerp away but the plant that she had been standing next to had a firm grip on her arm. She quickly flipped her lightsaber on and chopped the thick trapjaw in half. Her arm oozed a faint purple liquid along with a small amount of her own blood.

She stopped and took in a deep breath, the plant had some sort of toxin that she already felt in her arm. She closed her eyes and focused all of her energy on the invading substance. she had heard reports of powerful sith lords purging their bodies of poisons just by concentrating on it and burning it out with the power of the darkside. She was far from a powerful Sith Lord, but she concentrated on the blood flow in her arm, the veins that delivered the precious fluid to the rest of her body. She felt the pain growing as she used the force like a blunt stick, pushing the blood from her own veins hear the wound. She wasn't sure this would work to counter the poison, but she hoped that it would limit the amount that entered her system. She had no medical supplies to use to bind her arm so she quickly ripped of her bandeau top and wrapped it around her arm.

Her vest would cover her well enough so that she wasn't indecent while she continued her journey through the jungle. The time she had used tending her would could easily spell her doom if she didn't move quickly. Standing in one place on a world full of predators was more dangerous than searching out those same predators.

[member="Darth Raven"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Many dangers would come to face Dara within the week she remained on Felucia. From more horrific plant life to the need for food, while facing off with horrible ackelys and the like. This planet was as deadly as it was beautiful after all. All the while back on Courascant Darth Raven had kept herself in constant meditation to "look out" for [member="Dara Gola"] . Though planets away she was able to sense her through the many force signatures out in the galaxy. Having been with her for so long tended to help verify it from the others. She could onyl tell if she was in danger, never what sort or how great. It troubled her, sometimes forcing her to lose sleep or forget things. She only kept herself together as best she could all the days to pass.

One week later...

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara had suffered and starved for a how long she didn't know. Her right arm was infected from her elbow to the cybernetic implant from the plant venom, she had it wrapped in a sling made from strips of her pant legs. Her expensive and form fitting pants were now a pair of tight shorts, the scraps of which were wrapped around various parts of her body to cover the various cuts and scrapes she had gotten. She had spent a lot of time running and fighting during her week on the planet. She had killed several of the native Felucian as well as a few of the larger beasts that thought she was prey.

She didn't bother to keep any trophies or mementos of those encounters, those were the things that glory hounds did. Truly powerful beings didn't need a trophy to remind people they were powerful, they exuded power. She wondered how many days she had left in this jungle, how much longer she would have to kill before the jungle recoiled in fear from her.

[member="Darth Raven"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

The sith shuttle flew over the planet before finding signs of [member="Dara Gola"] on the surface. Upon seeing it the ship would however about long enough for her to see before setting down. When it did the plank opened and Darth Raven stepped out. She looked and scanned the surface, awaiting her apprentice to return. She was still dressed in her usual attire but her cloak was instead over her arm. She reached out with the Force, trying to draw Dara to her to make sure she was still alive. She hoped that the thing she made contact with was indeed her.

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara slashed down hard and the native Felucian died, a gurgling sound escaping it's lips as ti fell to the jungle floor. She had learned after the first day that they exhibited some sort of force sensitivity and they were easy to find after that. Her Vong seed had helped mask her presence to them as she slowly stalked them. They were the most dangerous predator in the jungle by a large margin, but she was an alpha predator the likes of which they could never match in skill and power. More than a few of them had learned that the hard way.

She saw the shuttle and she could feel [member="Darth Raven"]'s presence near by, even before she felt the slight force nudge from her master. She wasted little time in getting to the destination, she was hungry and tired, but she had survived, nothing was going to keep her from leaving this jungle death trap. As she approached, she saw Sophie standing at the bottom of the ship, dressed as perfectly as usual, she had a robe on her arm. Dara approached cautiously, her eyes scanning the surrounding jungle carefully, she had spent enough time on Felucia to know that there were always dangers.

As she approached her master she made sure to bow as sue would usually do, even with her injured arm she was still going to show the respect to Sophie that she deserved. " You never said I was going on vacation." She said with a weak smile.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Seeing her the first thing Darth Raven thought was how much hell [member="Dara Gola"] had been through. She was then just so happy to see her she alsmot had to hold back hugging her then and there. Still keeping a Master presence she only smiled as her apprentice bowed than quipped about the time spent on Felucia. At least she survived. She'd done it. Sophie now was able to reach out and kiss her love for making it this far. She was so proud of her. After that she took the cloak and pulled it around the twi'lek, supporting her all the way back to the ship where an awaiting bunk laid for her. The ship was already in orbit by the time Sophie brought her in and laid her down, trying to help her recover.

"Bring medical aid and food and water. Now!" she ordered some of the droids standing at the doorway. She looked back and rubbed her knuckles against Dara's cheek, saying "You've done well, my dear. You are a strong warrior."

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara let herself be led into the ship, her legs almost gave out more than once. She felt the kiss but she was so tired that she barely returned the kiss with any effort. She allowed herself to be led into the small room and she lay down on the bed. she heard the hardness in [member="Darth Raven"]'s voice as she yelled at the droid. Her fingers were a welcome softness to the Dara. She smiled and turned her head to softly kiss Sophie's hand. She wasn't sure what was next for her, but she had survived the test that her master had given her, and she was stronger for it. She had no fear of failing, no fear of disappointing her master. She was a sharpened sword ready to be thrust forward into the galaxy to punish the enemies of her master.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Given how less she spoke Sophie knew Dara was too tired. The droids returned with everything, Sophie standing back to give them room. She watched and waited to see what would happen, all the while glad that [member="Dara Gola"] was still alive ad would be able to continue on after this. She was stronger now and Sophie was glad for it. Another strong ally at her side, and one she would not throw away to die like some common assassin or hired hand. As she sat to the side, watching the droids at work, she began to think how she would 'reward' Dara for this grand trail. It would have to be something especially grand this time. Something she knew would satisfy Dara for the same week that she had endured on Felucia. The wheels in her head began to turn...

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She was exhausted from a week of hell and trials. she had no idea what to expect next, but she was certain that she was capable of handling with it. For the first night in years her dreams weren't plagued with terrors from the past. There wasn't a vengeful with waiting to cut off her hand, nor was there a jedi hunting her for her crimes of the past. She did dream, and they were dreams of [member="Darth Raven"] and of the host lord, separate but linked in her mind by her loyalties. She was in her lover's arm and she was happy, and then she was standing next to the host lord, protecting her from hard and destroying her enemies. She slept softly and she felt nothing, for the first time in years, Dara was a happy person.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

By the time [member="Dara Gola"] would awake again she would be back in a normal bed. Sophie's in fact. Everything was normal. She had some bandages around her arm but was more or less alright. She had been dressed, however, in night clothes. Dark ones that were almost lacy enough to see through. Of course Sophie would make some false argument as to why they were needed. A cool breeze would keep her cool as she continued to wake. And then she would see, sitting over in a nearby chair, her master was asleep. She was resting with her hands over a book while slumped in the seat asleep. She was dressed in her usual attire while her glasses were skewed on her face.

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara's eyes fluttered open and she let out a small moan. She had no idea how long she had slept but it felt like her mouth was filled with cotton. She looked down at the clothes she was wearing and she wondered if they would do anything at all to cover her. She saw [member="Darth Raven"] sitting in the chair across from her, her eyes were closed and she looked like she had been sitting there for a long time. It made Dara smile and she couldn't resist the temptation in her mind. she slipped out of the bed, her feet padding softly across the carpet and she took off the glasses from Sophie's face and she gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.