The Best Defense is a Good Defense II

[Caulder Dune]

HYPORI SYSTEM, HYPORI
NEW E'Y-AKH, OFFICE OF THE VICEROY

@[member="Anastasia Verd"]

When was the last time Tyrin had taken on an apprentice? It had been a while since he had instructed anyone in just about anything, but now here he sat, in his office, waiting for some pupil that had been flung at him to arrive. Presumably whatever this acolyte was looking for was outside the bounds of the Templars. Or they were severely lacking in good judgement when it came to picking their masters. No matter what the case was, Tyrin felt some sort of obligation to help whatever aspiring Sith came along. It was sort of his civic duty as the keeper of the Telos Holocron. Studying that device had given him a great amount of insight into many powers associated with the Dark Side of the Force, though not enough to use them himself. Not that things like Force Storm or something equally destructive were his shtick.

Ever since that catastrophic meltdown had been averted during the seizure of Subach's assets, Tyrin had been a little on edge. That had been far, far too close. Although his methods in seizing the facility had been considerably more high-brow than methods employed elsewhere, it had still almost ended in tragedy. He was going to have to scold every Viceroy involved in employing ham-fisted tactics against Subach. This total lack of finesse in executing of the mission made Tyrin's stomach churn. He had been so preoccupied with cleaning up Hypori that he almost forgot he was in charge of much, much more now. Every Viceroy was going to need a reality check.

That would have to wait. For now, there was an apprentice who needed instruction in Lightsaber combat.

 

[Anastasia Verd]

The planet notable for being a heavy battle droid producer, Hypori was where Anastasia had arrived to. Her father's Yacht left in the spacesport while the Kybuck speeder bike too her to the given address.

What the Apprentice knew was that he was a Sith Master and a Viceroy. And he was the man to talk to about lightsaber combat. Which was exactly what Anastasia needed. That knowledge alone brought her to Hypori and to New E'y-Akh. She had checked the route before leaving the yacht and downloaded it to her datapad.

Arriving to her destination, she parked it in the empty parking spot. Collecting a small bag that contained barely a few items, including a datapad and her communicator, the female went into the building. A quick explanation to the reception later, she was in the elevator as she was instructed how to get to the office of the Viceroy. When the lift opened, she couldn't miss the doors to the office. People of power tended to have even doors that matched their position.

She knocked twice, her knuckles hitting the doors and then waited for an answer on the other end.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

@[member="Anastasia Verd"]

Her knuckles would barely touch the extravagantly adorned durasteel door before the thing slid up, revealing a spacious office. It was less lavish than the doors would imply and rather dimly lit. Right behind Tyrin and his equally ornate desk was a large window, giving a striking view of New E'y-Akh's skyline. New E'y-Akh was no Coruscant, but it did comprise a half-dozen levels and enjoy a large amount of aerial traffic. Gerion narrowed his eyes at the entrant, already passing judgement on one thing or another. Just some other hot-shot young buck. Tyrin would relish breaking her and building her into a model Sith.

Not a brainless, neanderthaloid Sith that only lived for chaos and bloodshed. No, Tyrin despised those Sith. Especially if they were elvated to any position outside of pawn. A good Sith. A calculating, rational, pragmatic Sith unconstrained by concepts of honor, chivalry, and ludicrous pride.

"Enter." Tyrin said flatly, gesturing to the seat in front of him.

 

[Anastasia Verd]

Her knock had barely been a knock before the doors opened, showing her what lay behind them. Space but not quite what the entrance hinted at. That was surprising. Still, Anastasia took mere seconds to take in the full view, including the man at the desk and the view behind him before her black gaze returned to the Sith Master as he invited her in, indicating the chair.

Slowly, Anastasia blinked slowly and lowered her in greeting, keeping it down for a brief moment before she rose it again. Silent respect for a man of the highest Sith ranking beneath that of a Dark Lord. She knew the hierarchy. Only after that did she move forward, into the office and took a seat, her black gaze only partly on the man but not directly looking into his eyes.

All the while she said nothing. She was an Apprentice. He was a Master. Anastasia knew to wait and speak when told.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

@[member="Anastasia Verd"]

A silent-type, it seemed. That was good. Tyrin was loathe to start out introductions by Force choking people into silence, although he wasn't completely opposed. Evidently he wouldn't need to spend too much time explaining the hierarchy of the situation and making sure she understood that she was a lesser here. How refreshing. Tyrin couldn't keep track of the innumerable and repugnant Sith Apprentices running about with disciplinary problems back in his day. Especially Shorn. That man was a walking bastion of depravity. Maybe if his master had spent more time instilling the proper virtues on Shorn, he could channel his unrivaled powers into something marginally useful. There was no use crying over spilled potential at this point, though.

He waited until she was seated before saying anything, giving his usual emotionless, authoritarian spiel.

"What is it you hope to accomplish here?"

He skipped introductions completely. Names would only be important if she proved to be competent.

 

[Anastasia Verd]

Without making eye contact, Anastasia watched the Sith Master as he remained quiet for a while. Then finally, he asked his questions without making introductions. That was perfect fine.

"Advancement in my lightsaber training, Master." She answered in the most simplest of ways. Anastasia had been told @[member="Gerion Ardik"] was the Sith Master with knowledge in the Soresu form. IT was why she as here today. While she hard no mention of Makashi, she could work with just one for the time being. She expended simple by saying "the Resilience Form." It was neither a quarky remark nor a sign of disrespect. Anastasia meant neither and her near flat color of voice revealed nothing but a simple answer.

 

[Caulder Dune]

@[member="Anastasia Verd"]

"Smart." Tyrin approved, reclining slightly in his chair. "Any Sithling who can't properly defend herself isn't worth keeping around."

He drummed his fingers absent-mindedly on the desk, studying the young woman. Curt, but not impolitely so. Tyrin wasn't going to be losing any hair over this apprentice. Not that his previous students had ever been much of a problem. This had been an impromptu arrangement. Tyrin could have easily been saddled with a seven-foot tall barbarian with a slack jaw, a jutting brow, and a speech impediment. Not a fun time.

"I trust you already have a Lightsaber. What do you already know of the Force?"

 

[Anastasia Verd]

Any Sithling who can't properly defend herself isn't worth keeping around. Anastasia merely took in. Neither a refusial or denial of the man's word. She agreed though. Sometimes the good defense was the best offense.

He trusted she already had a lightsaber. Anastasia nodded but she didn't have a chance to speak the Sith Master asked of her knowledge of the Force. What did she know about the Force? The female formed an answer in her mind and answered his question: "The Force is beyond the physical, above what most comprehend and despite so many Jedi and Sith running around, it's not really something you can truly describe as the textbook will tell say. There are however some stories of it once being called the Way. While the Force itself does not choose to be light or dark itself, the users tend to classify aspects of it as such. They include feelings into their classifications and even view certain Force powers based on that."

That was really the basic of basic of it. All those groups, each with their own opinion on things had to be done but Anastasia herself accepted was that when all the thought Force Users put into it, the Force was one and unique. And none of their studies and debate about it would ever change that. However, it did get the thing done. Which was what also mattered.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"]