The Torch is Taken, Not Passed

[Kaalia Pavanos]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_CxKH4zMWw​

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Temple of Bastion, sometime at dusk​

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The sun was going down and it was progressively getting darker at the Sith temple that stood on the capital planet of the Sith Empire. Many Sith, some willingly and some less so, were taught the ways of the Dark side here. Within the structure was a face that was not seen often. It carried a scar that decorated her left eye, her normally brilliant emerald eyes ablaze with red and hints of sulphur. This woman remained in the shadows however, her Force presence shrunk to a minimum. She was not here to learn, or to teach.

She was here to kill.

In this temple, there was a zabrak who carried the title Lord of Trials. Most knew him as [member="Krest"], someone who had earned that title by teaching, and more importantly testing many Sith to find their limits. Often, as was the Sith way, those limits would be exceeded, leading to the student's death. Two would prosper however and rise, ascending to become Ladies of the Sith. Among them there was one who had decided that her rise was not yet finished, however. Her name was Darth Avacyn, and she was in the temple of Bastion to bring about the end of an era.

She was here to kill.

The woman wore the armor of the Valkyrie founders, an amulet hidden underneath it, only showing the bits of chain that weren't covered by the armor, and carried two lightsabers that hung at her hips. Although Cruentis Cor was found in its normal place, the hilt that was on her left hip was not Mirari unlike normal. The weapon she now carried for her dominant hand was a saber given to her by Krest himself, a blade that was once a pure white color. Now it was a vibrant red color that reflected her immersion into the Dark side, but it was a weapon that was not often used. Today however, it was a symbol, and it would be given a name.

Carefully the woman moved through the temple like a shadow, approaching the zabrak Sith with every step. Soon Darth Avacyn would find him. It was for everything he had put her through. It was to carry on the ways of the Sith. It was to show true superiority.

She was here to kill.

 

[Darth Ferus]

At this time of day Krest was in the top of the temple, his head lowered down to books and studying. Old literature, most in ancient Sith. The life of a teacher had become one where he needed to learn more himself to help others do the same. Those that survived of course. Only two truly beat his system to become something of themselves, one of which had just entered his temple.

A small grin formed on the Lords lips as he felt not [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] but the saber he had given her. It was odd that he didn't feel her, but as he closed his eyes and listened to the Force around him he heard whispers of death. Some were from the students below plotting their schemes to progress through the academy, but some were directed to him. Whispers of his death came to mind.

"So it begins." Slowly he closed the book he was reading and he pulled out a crystal vial filled with a deep amber liquid and two glasses. He poured out both before sipping at his, savoring the taste. It would be the last time he'd enjoy this brand.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

[member="Krest"] had sensed her, but instead of frustration there was a grin that formed on her face. It was no doubt the saber he had given her that revealed she was here, but it mattered little now. Some would argue the zabrak wasn't cunning, but he most definitely was just that behind his sometimes goofy personality. There was no stopping her approach now however.

With a flick of her hand Avacyn sent out a wave through to Force to open the door to her old master's chamber, her aura bursting outwards as she revealed her full presence. There was no point in a stealthy entrance any longer, instead Krest would meet his killer face to face before their inevitable duel.

As the woman walked in however, the one she had set out to kill had not readied himself for a fight. Rather he had a glass with an amber liquid in hand, with a vial and another glass next to him. In the moment before Krest's reaction she was ready to draw her lightsabers and put and end him, her eyes ablaze as she looked in his direction.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I'm surprised you're the one to act first. Then again, if Ophidia had I wouldn't have known she was here." He took another slow sip of the amber liquid, admiring the drink itself. [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] was the one named Lady of Defiance after all. Krest had no intention of getting up just yet, in fact he wanted to goad her into striking him down out of frustration and anger, luring her to attack.

"Why would you bring that saber? Irony? Justice? Consider this your final lesson. Never compromise your goals for things so petty."

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

"Or perhaps I do things my own way."

Perhaps he was right. It would have been easier to leave that saber where she had stored it and perhaps her job would have already been done. In the end however it changed not a single thing. Kaalia's mind was one that wouldn't budge. It may have been a petty thing in Krest's mind, but it was not just for herself. It was to show that the Jedi she once was had completely and utterly been removed from her being, for as much as she wished him dead, it was the least she could have done.

"It's not irony, nor is it justice. In an empire where everyone thinks of nobody but themselves, I decided I would grant you a final gift. Show you that I passed your little test." The lightsaber in question flew towards Avacyn's hand and without hesitation it ignited, the blade flaring to life and basking the room in crimson red glow.

Then a smirk appeared on the woman's face. "But now that we are here..." With her right hand she willed the Force to wrap around the second glass. Slowly it started to hover and move towards Kaalia who took hold of it as it moved into her grasp. "To your life."

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest casually lifted his glass as [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] claimed her own, a small smile on his face. Again he sipped his drink, savoring it, enjoying it. Not often did he bring out the good booze. "I am indeed pleased to see you've finished that final lesson." He smiled again, tilting his head back to stare up at the ceiling. He was completely open to attack by appearances alone, but Kaalia would know better.

"Shall we begin?"

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

There it was.

Any advantage an opponent had could be turned into a weakness with enough knowledge. Krest was somebody who loved to know everything about Kaalia, spy on her to figure exactly what she did at any given time. For a time it had worked, but slowly but surely she was able to cut off channel by channel until he no longer had any idea what the woman was up to. It seemed however that he still remained confident in his ability to know her next move, even making it so obvious that he wanted her to know that he had a trick up his sleeve. What he perhaps failed to realize however was that away from the zabrak's prying eyes she had not been sitting still. He wasn't dealing with Kaalia. He was dealing with Avacyn, and she didn't play his game.

The moment Krest took a sip of his drink and let it slip down his throat time seemed to slow down for her. In that moment she released the grip on her own glass, letting it come crashing down to the floor. As it did some of its contents already started falling out as the glass rotated in mid-air, but it was paid not a single drop of attention. The drops of water in the drink that was currently washing Krest's throat however had become the center of it.

"Focus on the ripples in the water, how it moves while I shake it from walking and setting it down." It was as if the parental bond had made it easy for Gideon to teach her. She had been able to learn very quickly, although it was likely amplified by her mastery of the Force in general. Without hesitation she reached out in the Force and sensed the small waves of energy found in the water and looked to connect with it. It was not entirely unlike Wind Shaping, although here it was more about the raw movements rather than the amplification of the movements' strength. Slowly the water started to rise as the redhead's hand did, the liquid bent to her will.

The woman had gone home. Finally she had found her roots, where she had come from. Touched the soil. Felt the Force of the planet.

Some hours passed as Kaalia kept her mind focussed on the water, looking for the opening for her to seize control. Her father simply watched on as he looked at her and saw himself in so many ways. In the past he had been as immersed into the Dark side as his daughter was now, but as he grew older he slowly but surely started finding himself walking a more neutral path. It was up to Kaalia to decide how to live her life and if it was the Dark side she belonged in he was at peace with that, however.

There, she had found her parents. It had been a satisfying moment. She had learned what truly happened, that it was never their choice, that she had been taken against their will.

"I see. That is how Water Shaping differs from Wind and Fire." The water shot up into a spike and started turning into a small cyclone before calming back down and slowly easing back into the jug. "Looks like the old man is still capable of passing on some of his knowledge. You're going to need to practice more before truly refining it, but you're starting to master the basics. Well done."

She had not only learned of her past, however. She had also been taught in the arts of Water and Earth shaping by her father and although she had yet to fully master the techniques her current skill was more than sufficient for what she was going to do. With her mind honed in on the liquid in his throat she changed its course, causing it to change course straight into his windpipe. The aim was to deprive him of oxygen, at the very least to force his hand. Avacyn didn't speak, there was no more need for words until the deed was done.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest immediately started gagging and coughing, a hand clutching at his throat as he did so. He fell backwards out of his seat, trying to forcefully expel the liquid stuck in his throat with the force of his lungs, but it wasn't working. [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] had learned some tricks. As he laid on the ground hacking and trying to breath he smiled and remained there, his eyes still staring up at the ceiling he had before.

The green glow began to shine brighter as it stared back hungrily.

Durgen stared down from above and a massive cloud of poison gas erupted from it's maw as the Kakdijs began to defend it's master.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

When it came to fights, especially against other Sith, it was important to be able to think on one's feet. Always expect another trick even when there are none left, do not let your opponent take a single breath without answering it. For this reason Avacyn did not show an ounce of surprise when the Sithspawn showed itself, she had seen more than enough that could have warranted such a reaction from the zabrak. It would get in the way of quick thinking, which would turn into a death sentence. And the woman wasn't looking to die this day. Jund was on Bastion, that much was true, but it would take too long for her own Kakdijs to arrive. In addition, it would make little difference other than buying her time, but instead she was going to do something different.

The Sithspawn was a blunt tool with no subtlety, and that had to be exploited. When it released a cloud of poison gas however, it seemed her life was made much, much easier. Reacting to it would force her to break off her water shaping, but it would have been too easy to end it off of a single move. The liquid would be given one final push towards his lungs before she released her hold on it and shifted her attention, her focus now on the shifting air. Grasping it tightly through the Force she channeled her will into it and infused it with power, creating a gust of wind as the woman pushed her hand forward, carrying away the gas and redirecting it all towards the Kakdijs' master.

[member="Krest"]