The Acolytes

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

Aellin stared at the monster for a moment as if he didn't quite understand the question. The answer was obvious enough to him, it should have been obvious to the creature as well. He supposed for a moment that not everyone had the same mental acumen that he did, supposed that this beast, whatever it's origins, simply didn't have the intelligence to actually think it's way through such a problem.

The Acolyte thought it a shame.

"We'll be going back up this way." Aellin motioned. "There will doubtless be a way to repair the turbo-lift within the Archives itself, and if not we have simply to use the force."

Or so he was confident anyway. "Worry not, creature. You shall not be trapped here."

That was at least true. Aellin had no plans of being trapped within the Archives, or anywhere else for that matter. He shifted slightly, stepping out of the lfit shaft and moving into the Archives proper. His lightsaber still glowed brightly, illuminating the area just around him. He wandered forward, moving towards one of the walls. Slowly he made his way around in a full circle, eventually finding a small breaker box. He smiled, then flipped the switch on the side of the wall.

In an instant, with a flourish of flickers the lights within the Archives came to life.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

The Sith staring at him seemed to indicate to Abelain that he had not thought through the process and was not coming up with a response to his interrogative. However, the answer that the same Sith gave indicated that he had considered it at least to a moderate degree. They would either find a way to repair the currently dysfunctional turbo-lift, or they would use their knowledge of the Force to achieve the height necessary to begin climbing back up using the wire. Those were fair enough plans, though once again the Arue'tii doubted whether he held the exact mental ability and talent to progress up the sheer drop. He held onto a faint glimmer of hope that they would find a way to repair the turbo-lift, thus saving him from needing to exert himself in the Force at a later date.

The next words to come from the Sith were viciously insulting, and Abelain could not find a different way to take them. Perhaps if the emphasis on the word creature had not been so heavy he might have assumed that it was simply referring to him as a living being without using the proper noun for his species name. However, conveyed through that word seemed to be the same words he used in reference to essentially all living things: Inferior. It was a slap to the face and a challenge to the Arue'tii, and he found himself unconsciously preparing to assault the Sith for his insolence. Restraint held him back, the Sith was necessary to discover the treasures of the Archives. Though, once they were finished with that discovery, there would be no harm in disposing of the filth.

Even with physical threat restrained from the Arue'tii, he could not help but hiss out words of reproof towards the man, "You shall not call me a creature again, lest you seek conflict, human." With his verbal punishment completed, Abelain watched as the Sith moved towards a wall and flipped a switch with a clang of metal. Immediately, the room was flooded with lights and the glimpses of crimson were drowned out by their radiance. Abelain took heed of the slight temperature change from the surface to this subterranean level, noting how it had become somewhat colder in the descent. Heat gently seeped away from his body, though not at a rate which worried him.

With disdain painting his eyes, he glared at the man, nodding towards the now lightened zone. "Lead."
[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

Aellin ignored the creature, deciding that it was best not to cause strife yet. In the end he might still need the beast in order to slay whatever had found its way into the Archives. There was no doubt that if something had come down here...well it would likely have made it's nest.

The Archives were a secluded space, dark, and completely sheltered from the harsh elements that the destruction of the surface had wrought. As he stepped into the larger portion of the grand archives Aellin couldn't help but let his eyes float around. He noticed hundreds, if not thousands, of bookshelves knocked over and completely decimate, he saw great stone statues toppled and large organic masses simply having been built around the ruins. His face contorted.

"There is something here." Aellin stated simply.

He did not know what sort of monster had made its way in here, aside from his partner of course.

Vine cats seemed the most likely, or perhaps one of the other species that made its home here on Dromund Kaas. There was no shortage of non-sentient beings that would ache to make their home in a safe place, not after the surface world ahd been destroyed and utterly torn apart by the efforts of the Mandalorians. He frowned slightly, his lightsaber slowly returning to it's hilt as he shut off the deep red blade. The cylinder was kept in his palm, just in case.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

The Archives seemed excessively quiet in their loneliness to the point of becoming eerie. Observation revealed that the vast structure had been mostly unharmed by the destruction that had wrought itself upon the surface, however there was still a mass disorder spread throughout the underground library. That disarray was especially noteworthy in the appearance of the bookshelves spilling their guts upon the floor, and the presence of great statues which had shattered into rubble. The most notable feature of all was the intense and suffocating darkness that spread across the entirety of the Archives not lit by the breaker box.

The Arue'tii took a deep whiff of the air, feeling it's dryness within his mouth, and the taste of dust coming with it. The temperature continued to feel increasingly chill, though it was clear that there were no gusts of wind. The scent of blood revealed itself in that observatory sniff, and Abelain's olfactory senses attempted to discern physical characteristics of the creature which stalked the ruins. He could not identify what it was as he had not scented it before, though, it appeared to be quite large and based on it's position, highly maneuverable. Abelain focused on the scent, noting how it leaped and bounded vertically, until it began to close in.

It was at that moment that the second scent struck him, this one from the direct opposite of the previous. It was the same scent, and this creature continued in a similar fashion, closing in on what they perceived either as interesting or prey. The Arue'tii shifted his hand to his side, clutching the lightsaber within it and igniting it with the typical snap-hiss. It's crimson light died upon the ground, unable to culminate itself with the glare of the ceiling lights above. The Arue'tii turned to his Sith companion, debating whether or not to warn him of the coming threat or leave him to be devoured, and decided against the latter.

He spoke, glancing between the two closing scents to ensure there was still no visual stimuli. "There are two creatures closing in, one is to our immediate right, and the other diagonally left. They appear to be excellent climbers, and quite large. I recommend caution." The Sith had felt something as well, but Abelain felt that his description provided far more information and forewarning.

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

Aellin growled slightly, though not towards the beasts warnings. Instead it was in annoyance. He had expected some resistance, but creatures such as these? He assumed that they were vine cats, and there was a spike of worry within him that they had ruined the section of the Archives that he yet required. There was no way of telling such a thing of course, no way of knowing whether or not they had actually destroyed what he needed, but it was a troublesome thought.

His fingers tightened around his saber.

"Take the one to the left." Aellin commanded, his body turning half towards the right as he began to move forward. Whatever these creatures were the Sith was more than willing to bet that they viewed Aellin and his companion as prey. There was not much food left on Dromund Kaas, at least not food that was easily gotten. These creatures likely heard the two Acolytes moving about, saw their size relative to their own, and made the decision that they would make a fine meal. The decision was an incorrect one of course, but one could hardly fault the mind of beasts for being too simplistic.

Aellin wandered forward, slowly moving alone and ahead of his companion.

He wanted to seem easy prey, the mark that one could consume. His lightsaber remained inert, inactive until the creature would strike.

Almost as if on cue, in the exact moment that the thought passed through Aellin's mind the Vine Cat jumped from it's hiding place. There was a great roar that passed from it's gaping maw, a swipe of it's massive claws as it bounded towards the Sith Acolyte. A snarl passed from Aellin's lips, his thumb slipping forward and activating his lightsaber blade with a loud snap hiss. The creature flared slightly, it's eyes closing as it was blinded by the light.

The Sith swept to the side, jumping to the right and slashing his lightsaber through the beasts leg.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

The division of hostiles was dispensed in the words spoken by the Sith, and Abelain moved to defend against the left-most creature. There was a strange hope that the beast would be decently large, especially since such a thing would imply that there were not many larger animals, nor smaller predators hidden within the Archives. As the Arue'tii drew nearer to the stalking monster, that hope began to declare itself true. He walked down a side passage, passing by several rows of ruined and destitute books splayed across the floor. His eyes examined this rapidly, searching for anything of immediate value that may otherwise be lost after the duel with the creature commenced, but there was nothing of interest within.

The lights from above began to fade slightly the farther the explorer moved down the passage, and the crimson glow of his lightsaber began to grow more prominent as it lashed against the shadows upon the broken shelves. The scent was drawing near, and Abelain knew exactly where the creature was, yet he continued as if though ignorant. It could not read his mind, only see his body motions and interpret them to be foolishness and simple prey. Abelain was only at a slight disadvantage in terms of not quite knowing his opponent, or it's exact capabilities, though he had an estimate as to it's capabilities. The beast leaped onto the shelf to his left, rattling the remaining books with it's weight and then slung itself towards the chitinous back of the prey.

What the creature did not know was that Abelain had been raised in an environment where such animals were almost common. Predators stalked essentially the entirety of his home; Ghul, and the Arue'tii had learned long ago how to deal with such mindless assaults. He spun upon his heel, red cape flickering around his form and gently slapping the shelf as the blood red blade lashed out at the large feline. Abelain watched as the blade tore against it's face before the weight slammed into him and forced him to the ground, splintering one of the shelves behind with the sheer force of the tackle.

The monsters ear and right cheek had been cleaved off of it, and in it's place lay a scorching burn. It released a loud roar of anguish intermingling with bestial rage before slamming it's claws against the blue chitin and thrashing the Arue'tii around the corridor.

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

The creature kept up it's assault, or tried to.

It was already wounded, and although a wounded Vine Cat made for a fierce enemy it also made for a vulnerable one. The Sith Acolyte dashed to the side as the creatures swept towards him, the beast slashing its other front paw at him and attempting to dash towards Aellin's throat. He let out a growl, a small roar as his fingers suddenly came together in a clutch of the force. He did not grab after the great monster, but instead reached for a small statue that had toppled to the ground.

The piece of marble was hooked and wrenched, pulled towards the Vine Cat and smashed into the creatures face.

Another roar, but Aellin was already there.

As the Vine cat opened it's great maw it would be met with the stab of his lightsabers. Bright red seared it's way through flesh, cutting instantly through the inner skin of the Vine Cat's mouth and penetrating through the creatures skull and into it's brain. Aellin stared the monster int he eye as life left it, it's massive body suddenly going limp as it's life was snatched away within an instant. A grin befell his face, his eyes flickering over towards his ally.

A quick, sudden jerk and Aellin freed himself of the beasts mouth, letting the creature drop to the floor with a heavy thud.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

Wood splintered and shattered into chunks of debris as the large feline slammed it's captive into a nearby shelf. Pain shot up his back, forcing him to stiffen in slight agony at the force of the mauling. The creature assailed once more, slashing it's vicious claws up and down his body, scraping uselessly against the hide in what would have otherwise been a mortal wound. The rush of adrenaline surged through the sentient being, the same intoxicating feeling that had made warriors drunk on their warfare for millennium. The Arue'tii responded to the fierce blows by raising his elbows upwards, finding that his lightsaber was ineffectively stabbing into the ground and forming up a puddle of molten metal.

The embers flew gently off of the molten pile, and suddenly found themselves excited into splendorous dance as the sharpened chitin elbows began to rise and lower vertically multiple times. They slid into the weak underbelly of the monster above them, rending it's flesh and leaving horrendous gashes along the stomach. Blood leaked out onto the floor, and onto Abelain as the brawl turned fatal for the Vine Cat. It let out a shriek and a scream of agony as it was eviscerated, but soon it's mighty voice failed it and descended into a long piteous gargle. With a final thrust of his appendages, the beast fell limp onto it's murderer.

Abelain threw the fallen foe onto the cold ground to his side, withdrawing his lightsaber from it's place within the molten pile and deactivating it with a quick motion. He found himself covered in the scent of the creature's blood, and visual inspection revealed that he appeared to be a gory mess himself, though no obvious injuries marred his features. As he walked back towards his companion, he found himself curiously examining himself and coming to the ample conclusion that he had become a visage of brutality; if one were to have ever personified it.

"It is done... shall we proceed?" He groaned, wiping a handful of the crimson liquid and flickering it onto the floor.

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

The Vine Cat at Aellin's feet seemed to twitch for a moment, a last second death throw that caused the creature to swipe at his leg. The Acolyte stared at the creature for a moment, kicking it in the head before slowly reeling back and around. There was still much to do, they had to find what he was looking for, and then hopefully he would be able to end the creature that had been tagging along with him. He frowned slightly, shaking his head.

"Yes." Aellin answered as he began to walk through the library once again.

The Archives were massive, really, hugely spacious and containing everything from data on planets to the people that lived on them. When they had been whole and intact a student could spend literal years within their halls, studying different things and learning from all aspects of the darkside of the force. It was something that Aellin wished he could have done, something that he craved the opportunity to do. History was important, it taught lessons that ordinarily would have been missed.

Knowledge was power after all. "So I know what you are."

Aellin began to question the creature.

"But who are you? I am guessing you are of the One Sith." Aellin began to poke for answers. "The little cult within the center of the galaxy as my father called it."

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

A final glance back towards the dead creatures reassured the Arue'tii that both beasts would escalate. They had fought well, especially against opponents that were without a doubt superior to them, such glory would be remarked upon when they would be reborn into their new bodies, to continue their struggle of reuniting with the One Escalation. He shifted his attention along several of the ruined shelves, taking notice of how some of them still stood upright and seemed at least moderately intact, while others were completely worthless. For just a brief moment, Abelain wished he could see this place in it's previous splendor, and walk it's many passages so that he might learn of forgotten truths that would forever elude sentient civilization now that it had been annihilated.

The Sith spoke, questioning who he was, specifically he seemed intent to know where his allegiances lie in terms of galactic politics. It was unlikely he would be asking the question of his identity, especially since that had already been revealed near the start of their adventure into the subterranean Archives. The way that the Sith spoke of the One Sith as a small cult at the center of the galaxy seemed highly inaccurate, wrong to the point of inciting interest. Mentally, he made a decision to set a small logical trap and to determine whether or not this individual was new to the greater galaxy as he himself had been until only recently.

He drew in breath, still somewhat tired from being thrashed before speaking through his 'smile', "I am an acolyte of that minor group. They are gathering up their power, soon it seems that they may make their first true territory acquisitions and reveal themselves, though I do not know whether such a plan is wise." The response given would reveal an excessive amount of information about the Sith depending on how much he knew of the galactic governments.

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

He gazed towards the creature a moment.

"Do not think me a fool." Aellin said simply. "My father may have thought of you as nothing more than a cult, but I know the truth of the matter. I encountered one of yours, a Sith Lady on Byss."

He knew her name, though he wouldn't reveal it to this thing. "She told me of your strength, the span of your power, but she also told me of the troubles and turmoil that rises within your faction. The fall of your Dark Lord and perhaps the impending doom of your people. She was very detailed, and clear that she intended to rise while the others fell."

Aellin smiled at that.

He was a Sith, a true Sith. It was how his father had raised him and how he had so far made his way within this galaxy. He had moved through this galaxy to gain strength and power, to render the Darkside unto him and grow before the eyes of those who watched. That was what a Sith was, at least to him. A singular purpose driven into a living being, a divine right and craving for absolute power and strength. That was what Aellin saw himself as, and it pleased him to see others who felt the same. The Sith Lady that he had met upon Byss was one of those, and through their deal the both of them had learned and gained an inkling of power.

Cooperation, even among Sith, was sometimes necessary. "I understand the One Sith, but I do not plan to join them."

Nor had he ever.

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

The explorer gave a snort of humor after listening to the dialogue from the Sith. Obviously the individual knew much more of the galaxy than the Arue'tii had initially determined, there was even the chance that he knew more of the galaxy, and there was a wish that he would share his knowledge. "It is clear that you know far more than I had originally thought, Sith." There the reference to the internal struggles within the organization, and Abelain wondered how they were viewed by outsiders and hostiles; Did they see them as weak and vulnerable? It was unlikely that they would attempt anything, though there were chances for many things in war and he did not wish to discount the possibility completely lest it bite him in the back.

"You are well informed in the matter of the recent coup, it was a violent and costly combat, albeit quite short. I was personally present at that event, though I remained aboard my war vessel for the entirety of the conflict." Memories flooded his mind of brilliant spectacles of light, and of the idea of screaming crewmen being sucked into the void, the vacuum reaping it's brutal toll upon their bodies as they were literally turned inside-out. Space combat was such a messy business, though the scent of blood still lingering upon his form told the Arue'tii that the same was true for ground combat.

The Arue'tii began to search through nearby shelves for valuable items as he spoke, "I find it incredibly unlikely that the entire group shall die, there was many who allied themselves with the usurper, and he has power enough to solidify his rule if that is his wish." The power struggle had ended rather confusingly, and Abelain was still attempting to piece together the true outcome of the conflict in terms of political change or advantage. "It is your own prerogative that you do not join the One Sith, and I hold no blame to you for it, they are a vile order at times, their uses cannot be denied, however."

His eye caught notice of a gentle glint within a pile of rubble, and he began to excavate it from it's rocky prison, scenting the air so as to know the position of the Sith.

 

[Aellin Tedronai]

[member="Abelain Narv'uk"]

He halted for a moment, watching the beast dig through the rubble. It at least knew what it spoke about, it's assessment of the One Sith was accurate enough that Aellin actually found himself agreeing with what was said. That caused a frown to appear on his face, though the mask that had settled on his face was able to hide his expression. His eyes wandered away from the creature, his gaze falling on the library around them. The files that he wanted were still contained within the way back of the Archives, they would have to walk quite a ways still to find it.

"I do not think their fall will be instant." Aellin explained himself.

"I don't doubt the usurpers strength." For a moment he paused. "I met him before his coup. I had not known it at the time, and it came as a surprise when I saw his face upon the holo-net, but there was no mistaking him. We happened upon one another within the caves of Korriban. An interesting man, confident in himself, yet I somehow doubt his ability to take the reigns of those within the One Sith. Not because of his lack of power, but because of his lack of foresight."

The Sith frowned for a moment, finding amusement in having conversation with this...creature.

"Do you not think yourself more able to reach out on your own?" Aellin asked. "Away from their control."

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Aellin Tedronai"]

Grasping hands finally clutched at their shiny prize, yanking it free from the rubble and revealing it to be an electronic device of some form, likely a datacard. What knowledge would be contained on the small machine would be obscured until it could be properly read however; the title upon it was hidden by filth. Still, it was a reward that would have gone otherwise unnoticed had he not been specifically looking through the shelves, and he gave a mental commendation to himself for giving the otherwise empty rocks a thorough examination. He turned towards the Sith, finished with his excavation to listen to his reasoning.

"Indeed, the usurper while powerful does seem to lack a plan following his victory, that much is evident simply by the disruption of order and vagrant confusion running rampant." He paused, considering for a moment, "Still, it could be turned around if he would simply begin to operate on the restoration of social hierarchy." If the people were confused, it was likely because they were unsure who the new ruler really was, and what he would mean for their lives.

It was a notably wise thought from the inferior species, though he did not expect an idiotic one. The Sith had proven himself to be fairly knowledgeable of current galactic politics and affairs, likely even more accustomed to them simply due to his having been raised with such things present at all times. They were still new to the Arue'tii, even after having served many months within the One Sith. It was difficult at times to comprehend an organization so spectacularly large, especially when compared to his home.

The question Aellin raised seemed to give ring to a mental alert. Could it be possible that the 'Lost' fellow was attempting to reason him away from the group? Possible, but it seemed unlikely given the general disdain for both the organization and Abelain. "No, for the reason that I am already given a surprising amount of freedom. I have not been commanded or ordered to participate in any organized assaults as of yet, and am instead allowed to participate only when I wish." The Arue'tii gave a short chuckle at that, "It is likely due to a logistical error, seeing as how the vessel I currently command received an impromptu change of command. On top of that, we still have the general chaos from the recent coup obscuring it."

He spun upon his heel to face the way forward, speaking through the smile once more as he began to walk, "In conclusion, I find that I am granted resources and freedom, and therefore have no reason to malign myself to them."