The Lesson.

[Darth Ferus]

Just outside Silver Sanctum Space a small class was being held. A teacher and his group of younglings were visiting an old Jedi Temple on a remote planet with little life on it's surface. It was endless plains of grass, a special grass that didn't need much to grow. No other plants could survive on the soil, and no animals could eat this grass. Today's lesson, why the Force could exist where there was no sentient life. The younglings were to learn how the Force existed in everything.

An elder man, Zabrak, lead a small group of five children through the overgrown grass and to the small temple itself. It was a simple building, but built like all the rest. Each room, hidden or not, would be known to any Jedi who went in. The group of five younglings were a mix of races. Two humans, who seemed to be twins, another Zabrak, a twi'lek, and a nautolan. None of them had made their lightsaber yet.

They had been quiet after landing, instructed to simply feel the grass fields around them. Not by touch, but by the Force. Feel the life flowing through them, the life that chose to survive in a place where all other forms couldn't. That's what made this place so special after all. But not everyone in the group was content with this.

The twi'lek, a boy by the name of Jirun, broke the silence. "Master Fer'u, I don't understand why we're just walking through a grass field. This doesn't teach us how to stop the Sith. This doesn't teach us anything." Jirun was an orphan, his parents killed in battle against the One Sith. There was a desire for revenge in his young heart, and Fer'u knew this.

"There are times for war, Jirun, and times for peace. As Jedi, it is our duty to protect the peace. But to protect it, we must know what it is. We must know what it is to be at peace in order to truly be it's guardian." The group had stopped, leaving the others to stare between Jirun and Fer'u. "Now, come children. We still have to get to the temple to begin the lesson."

With a simple ushering motion the teacher got the younglings moving again. Except for one. One of the twins, Phira, stared opposite of the temple to what seemed to be nothing. Her brother who had begun to walk stopped, reaching out to touch her arm. "Come on Phira, we have to-" Kalan stopped mid-sentence as he felt his twin tremble. And their bond revealed to him why.

It was so cold.

Where she was staring, it was cold. Despite the sun's rays, everything felt frozen, dead, empty. Scared. His blue eyes widened as their combined focus came to the same conclusion. A man in a tattered red cloak. "M...Master!" Phira said through tearful eyes. Fer'u, who had been so focused on the students, finally turned to feel the same cold they did. All they knew was a man in red radiated cold and fear.

Fer'u knew it as a Sith Lord.

Instantly a lightsaber came to his hand, and his words echoed quietly to the group. "Bak'tu, take them to the hidden room," The young zabrak turned her brown gaze to the master as he spoke, "And do not make a sound. I will come to bring you back home, but for now you must hide." Bak'tu nodded once, and turned her brown gaze to the others. Out of all of them, she had proven to be the calmest and most mature. Even though she didn't feel the cold, she knew something was amiss.

Her hands grasped the hands of the twins, gently pulling them to follow her. "Come on, you heard the master. We must go." The pair, still shivering, turned their gaze to Bak'tu and nodded once. The Nautolan, who was a mute, followed behind. The only one left was Jirun, who's gaze had turned to where Fer'u's had. He felt the darkness.

"Master, let me help you fight! You know I have the strength to be able to." It was true, Jirun was powerful in the Force for his age. But he still had no control. And his lust for revenge was something Fer'u couldn't forget. The elder mans eyes traveled down to the twi'lek, and gently he patted the boys head.

"Perhaps one day, but for now you must go with them. They will need someone to defend them if there is another. I trust you to be that guardian." Fer'u could tell there was only one Sith based on the presence, but the task seemed to lighten the eyes of the twi'lek. Silently the boy nodded, and went after the group. Once they were out of sight, sweat began to form on the elder mans brow.

By the time they had made it to the temple, the Sith Lord was before him, cloaked in blood. Eyes burning with hate only the darkest of lords could make stared down the elder man. A snap hiss of a lightsaber covered them both in a blue glow. Fer'u kept both hands on his blade, staring down the Sith with a determination only a teacher could hold.

"You will turn back now, Dark Lord. There is nothing for you here."

Even under that tattered cloak Fer'u could see the man's lips widen into a grin. Red eyes looked through Fer'u, and to the temple behind him. "Yes, there is. And you cannot stop it." It? What was it? Uncertainty creeped into the Jedi's mind, but that was quickly diminished. The Sith was trying to plant that feeling through the words and the Force itself.

"You cannot unnerve me, Sith. And I will stop you."

The grin formed into an amused smile, and those burning orbs hinted a joy. "Perhaps, but you can't stop my master. Did you think I would really come alone?" Fer'u's eyes widened with a sudden realization. He had assumed the Sith alone, but he should have known better. There were tricks to hide a signature in the Force. Tricks he didn't think about. Uncertainty about the safety of the younglings crept in, as well as something darker.

There were no more words as the Jedi lurched forward, surprisingly fast for his age. So much so that the Sith's eyes betrayed that exact emotion. Hastily the Sith went for his lightsaber, but to no avail. The Jedi struck true, cleaving into the tattered red cloak and the flesh behind. A pained gasp escaped the struck foe as he fell, unmoving.

Fer'u didn't bother to look twice.

With the same speed he went to the temple, lightsaber still in hand and active. He rushed through the temple doors, and right to the hidden room they had been tasked with hiding in. The Force opened the door wide. Within sat the children, all together, all safe. Jirun rushed over to the master, his eyes wide.

"Master, are you okay? The twins, they could feel it. The fight. It was over so quickly."

"I am alright Jirun. I'm glad to see you are the sa-" The snap hiss of a lightsaber filled the air behind Fer'u, as well as a mind numbing pain in his chest. His gaze began to fade, but not before he looked down to see the red energy that had pierced his heart. Even as his vision went, he could hear the whispers of the Sith Lord in the back of his mind. The illusion that had been created when his mental guard had faltered with worry. How Fer'u was used to show the Sith where the children were.

He had failed, and he died knowing it.

The younglings watched in horror as their master slumped to his knees. As he did, the blade burned through his flesh, causing his torso to split. The mangled corpse fell to the ground with a thud, the teacher dead before his face hit the ground. What's more, the children could see him now. That hateful gaze, the tattered red cloak.

A red blade.

The twins let out a shriek, stumbling back towards the far wall. The hidden room only had one entrance. The Nautolan joined them, his own eyes wide with speechless fear. It was only Jirun and Bak'tu who remained fearless. Bak'tu swallowed that fear not just for her sake, but for the sake of those behind her. She could buy them some time to get out, to call for help. Jirun could help her. Together they could take this Sith down.

But Jirun wasn't thinking clearly. Fear had become anger, hate. Consumed with rage at the sight of his masters death at the hands of a Sith, at another loved ones death at the hands of the Sith, he chose to rush. The Force called Fer'u;s saber to his hand, and with an angry roar he brought the blade up.

A crack stopped his roar midway through. Red eyes narrowed with joy as Jirun's gaze turned to the three cowering in fear. His neck was broken, and his head had been forced backwards by a simple hand gesture. The lightsaber went out, and the twi'lek fell beside his master, his lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling.

Another shriek was let loose, this time by Bak'tu. The girl could no longer keep her composure, not at the horrific sight of her friend and her masters dead bodies. She lost herself to madness, and it wasn't until her head jerked violently back against the wall behind her that she stopped. Her eyes rolled into the back of her skull as she, too, joined the dead.

The twins and the nautolan watched in silent horror as the Sith Lord casually stepped on the bodies of the recently murdered. There was no hope. Their eyes met the souless red gaze of the Sith Lord, and they knew there was no hope.

The lesson for them was now over.

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

Dust mites caught in the receding light of the sun as she pushed open the entrance and peered into the silent atrium. Muddy footprints led the way through the hall, a sharp right turn made almost as soon as they hit the main body of the building. Rushed... The feet had been rushed. Unorganized, clumsy footing, slip marks... They practically merged into one another. Five smaller sets, two bigger. One of them was calmer.

But why?

There ought to have been six here today. Five younglings - which accounted for the tiny impressions - and Master Fer'u. So why another set? Different sized, most definitely not his own doing. Had he called upon someone else, aside from Mysa, to assist in their teaching? Her lips pursed before settling into a flat line.

No, something was wrong.

She knelt to the ground, her time with the Valkyri apparently paying off as she studied the tracks in more detail. Her earlier assumptions seemed to be correct. Six had been hurried, one was evenly paced.

Rising, but remaining at a stooped height, she continued to follow the tracks. She did her best to keep her approach quiet, her breathing shallow, it was too quiet in here, far too quiet. She could feel a twisting in her gut, every bone in her body wanted to turn back the way she had come and leave. But her conscience would not allow it. Could not allow it.

Her eyes closed for a second, tightly shut until a pressure formed upon her brow. And then they opened. Intense, focused... Shifting over every piece of evidence she had. Someone had been dragged, or some bodies... Two sets of tracks that held no real distinct tread. Rushed off their feet, dragged, she could see the scene play out before her eyes though she remained hazy on the details.

Haste bred impatience.

So they had known they were being hunted. All the signs pointed to the fact.

She flicked her gaze up, grateful for the heritage of her people as her eyes so effortlessly pierced through the film of darkness which had settled over the Temple. Her hands drifted to her back when she stood to full height and continued on her way. She had to keep herself calm, her mind clear, had to rationalize what was playing out before her. It would not do to panic and make a mistake.

What if they were still here? The students, the teacher, their pursuer? Did she owe it to them to try and find out? To raise her voice and risk the wrath of whatever had tracked them here? It would not have ended well. One teacher, five students... What kind of Jedi Master would not lay down his own life to save the Younglings? And what kind of monster would let that stand in their way?

She felt sick to her stomach, but that didn't matter. This wasn't about her.

She had to try.

"Hello?" she called out, feeling the word stick to the back of her throat and come out as more of a husked croak than anything. "Master Fer'u?"

Folly. Pure folly. But she had to try.

If she had gotten here sooner, if she hadn't been caught up in a holo-conference with Voss, then maybe she could have helped. She did not know what had happened, but she could already sense the dread, the pure base fear, which permeated the room she was walking through. And Mysa Snowstrider knew that what she was walking toward would not be even remotely present. But her feet continued her along the same vein all the same.

Whether she liked it or not.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Oh now, this is odd." From directly ahead [member="Mysa Snowstrider"] would, after she asked her question, clearly see a red cloaked figure dragging a body out of a nearby room. It was mangled, looking half eaten, and clearly master Fer'u by what was left of the face. Darth Ferus was surprised by the sudden addition of another, but in a good way. Red eyes burned with interest as the Sith stared down the Snowstrider.
Well, unexpected things happened in all sorts of experiments after all.

"I wasn't expecting anyone to show up until after I had finished setting up and left. Ah well, I suppose I can make do.." It was clear that Ferus was mumbling to himself, especially as he dropped Feru's body. Sort of. It was more like the arm he was holding the corpse by was so broken it just ripped off. Casually the crazed man began to tap his chin with the severed limb, as if deep in thought.

For a moment, Mysa ceased to exist in his mind.

 

[Lief]

A slight step back was the only indication of surprise when the strangely manic voice sounded in the hallway. Her eyes narrowed and then... She gasped, pupils dilating at the sight of the mangled body which was being dragged out into the room with her. A trail of darkened red followed it, and Mysa didn't know whether to laugh or cry with disbelief. Shock froze her in place, breathing non-existent for just a second.

Her initial study of the body hinted at an older man. Zabrak. Master Fer'u?

Then she had been correct. If this was his fate, though, what about the children? The Younglings... Her stomach turned and she pressed her hand against the wall at her right to keep herself steady on her feet. Her already pale Umbaran skin turned practically green with the realization that they too were probably long gone. But what if they weren't?

Hand slipping to her belt she managed to grasp at the lightsaber she had crafted under the watch of her Master. The purple crystal was evident through the visible inner workings, and the mere touch of her thumb over the ignition brought about a strength to the young girl. She inhaled slowly, tearing her gaze away from Master Fer'u to instead glance upon this red-clad stranger.

Forcing her mind out of turmoil, drawing on what little peace she still grasped onto, Mysa schooled her mind and allowed it to be free from all distraction. All thoughts of vengeance for the Jedi who had lost their life so brutally. She had been taught better than to let her emotions cloud her judgement. And she needed a clear head if she was going to survive this day.

"Now you just wait right there" she stammered, her voice growing just a touch stronger toward the end. "Don't move..."

The horrific sound that accompanied the Master's slump to the ground and the loss of his arm almost had her cringing. The way the stranger used the arm however made her blood boil. He had to have been strong, to take down Master Fer'u... Mysa wasn't strong, not at all, but she couldn't let that stop her from doing what was right.

Her free hand lowered to her belt, instinctively seeking out the commlink to send out a distress call... All the while her eyes lingered on his.

[ [member="Darth Ferus"] - Your call whether or not she actually manages to set off the beacon]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Hmm? Oh, right! You're still here. What's wrong? You seem kind of angry?" Red eyes went from the girl with the burning purple blade to the hand he was holding. He nodded in understanding as he dropped the limb. "Ah, yes. This man was a friend of yours, right? Well, I apologize, but I'm not the one who did this to him." The mangled part at least. The burned gape in Fer'u's shoulder Ferus would gladly take responsibility for. "The children didn't seem to like him, so they just.. Tore him apart." It was wrong, how he said it. It was as if they were his kids doing something he was proud of.

Something was certainly wrong with this man.

There was no signal jammier however, so [member="Mysa Snowstrider"] 's call would go out. How soon help would arrive however is yet to be seen.

 

[Lief]

The snap-hiss of her blade was met with a low humming as the room became lit in a vibrant purple glow. Her other hand lifted from the commlink in order to grasp at the lightsaber hilt in a stronger, more determined stance.

She had never really been taught her forms. She had never really fought with saber before, except when the Vinterbound had attacked... But that was years ago. And the hilt had been for training purposes only.

No time for nerves. No time for uncertainty.

She did not move closer, however. She did not press any sort of attack, she simply remained wary and distant.

"Step away from the body" came her somewhat firmer tone, no longer wavering. "Move into the center of the room, with your hands up."

Deep down she knew it was futile. Knew that he wasn't going to comply. Wasn't going to let her slap some stuncuffs over his wrists and haul him into Sanctum Space to stand trial...

His words, however, made her ever so slightly shudder. The children? The children had done this? No. She refused to believe that. Lifting her chin just a touch she steeled her expression and inhaled slowly. Still she did not move. Still she did not attack. While the distress call had been sent she knew it would be quite some time before anyone arrived. They were not in Sanctum Space, and even a jump through hyperspace took longer than most realized.

No, she was in this alone.

"Where are the children?" she asked, adjusting her hold on the hilt just a touch. "What have you done with the Younglings?"

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

To [member="Mysa Snowstrider"] 's surprise, the Sith Lord lifted his hands above his head. But he smiled that twisted smile, stepping towards the center of the room with a light laugh. "Look at you, so serious. Don't worry, the children are still moving. Would you like to see them?" It was almost song the way the Sith spoke. His eyes dared an acceptance to his challenge, threatening the worst of intentions. But he made no other move, simply standing there with his hands up, taunting. Oh, but how invigorated he was to test out what would come next. How would she feel? How would she react? He practically shivered at the idea.

 

[Lief]

Dun möch?

It certainly seemed that way. His actions and his words said one thing, luring her into a false sense of security, but his body language and vocal tone spoke of something all together different. Far more sinister.

She waited until he reached the center of the room, having said not a word even in response to his question, before stepping just a touch closer. One hand moved away from the lightsaber hilt, instead clutching for a set of cuffs she had taken to carrying when on Sanctum time.

His horrific laugh was almost piercing. If she hadn't steadied her mind earlier she may have backed up a little, ran for the hills, instead she held her resolve. If he was right then the children were still around. Still targets. She had to diffuse this situation before they were harmed.

Right?

She still had a feeling of discomfort within her core toward his words. They ripped Fer'u apart? They're wandering around in here somewhere? It just didn't make sense. Any of it. Why would the Younglings turn on their Master?

They wouldn't. Dun möch... Don't fall for it.

"Do not move. You're under arrest for trespassing, for the death of a Jedi Master, and for..." For what? What has he done to the children? She trailed off. Death was good enough.

Reaching up she grasped one of his wrists, all her senses on high alert incase he tried any funny business. She fully intended on locking one half of the restraints on his first wrist, but how well that would go for her was anybody's call...

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The Sith did nothing as [member="Mysa Snowstrider"] stepped over to him. Never once did Darth Ferus let his grin fade, and never once did he do anything in the Force. It was as if he was completely giving up. But as she reached out to grasp his arm, something odd happened. Her arm went right through his wrist, as if he was a cloud. The grin widened even more so, showing a twisted side that the Sith did his best to control.

"Foolish girl. Like I would give myself up so easily. By now, my ship is off world, with the real me on board. This is just a phantom. Something so I can watch what is about to happen." A Sith Familiar. It was Ferus's special brand, made to look like him. It had to be tethered of course, to an alchemic basin. This close to the phantom she could see the bubbling cauldron filled with what was clearly blood.

And there beside it crouched two of the children. The Zabrak female, Bak'tu. Her neck was oddly thin, and in the red glow her flesh was ragged, like it was falling off her very figure. Beside her, the Twi'lek, Jirun. His head hung loosely on his neck, as if the only thing keeping it attached was the skin that was left. The other three where missing entirely. "Be careful not to die so quickly. They're faster and stronger than you think."

An eerie whistle escaped the Sith's lips as he began to fade into the shadows behind him. The children twitched at the sound, and slowly they stood. The next sound was cracking. The cracking of a dead body being forced to move. The pair turned, revealing broken, hollow faces. What was worse, their eyes. They were missing, replaced by black holes with blood dripping down them. Yet somehow they could still see, and both stared right for Mysa.

They made no move towards her, simply standing there with the occasional twitch and cracking noise to accompany the movement.

 

[Lief]

This part is being finished as a solo thread. I'll continue the story in a secondary thread!​

​

Her hand fell through air, where a wrist ought to have been, and immediately she turned to survey her surroundings. Never once skipping a beat. Her eyes narrowed, and she tried not to let the deception frustrate her.

She had known he was tricking her, after all. One small exhale, and her mind removed itself from turmoil. She had to focus, for the sake of the children she had to.

His words cut through her like a red hot knife, however. He was gone. No justice to be had, not yet. She stared back at the phantom visage which for now still remained, committing all she could of him to memory. He would not get away with this.

"Coward" she spat. He had set a trap, and she had fallen right into it. Now that the game pieces shifted he decided to watch from afar. It was sick.

Her eyes narrowed, noticing a pot of blood and...

The children. What has he done to the children?

She took one measured step back. Where the younglings had once been, now only twisted visages remained. He had mutilated them, and forced them to arise in another form all together. Like the Vinterbound of her home. Her knees threatened to buckle, and chaos reigned within her mind.

What in the seven blazes of Chaos was she supposed to do?

There should've been more, but it did not bear thinking of where they could be. If she survived this day she would find them. Whether live or dead. She owed them that much. All of them. Including the two crouched before her, covered in blood.

"They... They're just children..."

She fought back the tears and stood firm. Right now she had to be strong. Her hand fell to the commlink again, and she pressed the distress signal several more times. Someone had to listen. Someone had to come.

But she knew that she was alone in this.

The phantom disappeared then, into shadow, leaving the children to painstakingly rise and turn toward her.

If she had thought it had been bad up until this point, she was in for a shock.

Never had she seen anything so gruesome in all her life.

They stared straight through her. They knew she was there, though they had not the eyes with which to see her. Her hand slowly, shakily, moved to her belt. She had a decision to make. There was no way they were going to live, whether by her hand or otherwise. They were dead already, there was no coming back from this.

But was it her place to put them out of their misery?

It had to be.

With a snap-hiss her saber ignited into the darkness, the noise further stirring the children.

And then they leapt.